t day such as they suspected.'

The Houses were, or seemed to be, so alarmed with the discovery of the
plot, that six days after they took a sacred vow and covenant, which
was also taken by the city and army, denouncing war against the King
more directly than they had done before. The earl of Portland and lord
Conway were imprisoned on Mr. Waller's accusation, and often
confronted with him before the committee, where they as peremptorily
denying, as he charging them, and there being no other witness but him
against them, they were kept a while in restraint, and then bailed.
Mr. Waller, after he had had 'says the earl of Clarendon, with
incredible dissimulation, acted such a remorse of conscience, that his
trial was put off out of christian compassion, till he should recover
his understanding (and that was not till the heat and fury of the
prosecutors was abated by the sacrifices they had made) and by drawing
visitants to himself of the most powerful ministers of all factions,
had by his liberality and penitence, his receiving vulgar and vile
sayings from them with humility and reverence, as clearer convictions,
and informations than in his life he had ever had; and distributing
great sums to them for their prayers and ghostly council, so satisfied
them, that they satisfied others; was brought at his suit to the bar
of the House of Commons on on the 4th of July 1643, where being a man
in truth very powerful in language, and who, by what he spoke, and the
manner of speaking it, exceedingly captivated the good will, and
benevolence of his hearers, with such flattery, as was most exactly
calculated to that meridian, with such a submission as their pride
took delight in, and such a dejection of mind and spirit, as was like
to couzen the major part. He laid before them, their own danger and
concernment if they should suffer one of their body, how unworthy and
monstrous soever, to be tried by the soldiers, who might thereby grow
to such power hereafter, that they would both try those they would not
be willing should be tried, and for things which they would account no
crime, the inconvenience and insupportable mischief whereof wise
commonwealths had foreseen and prevented, by exempting their own
members from all judgments but their own. He prevailed, not to be
tried by a Council of War, and thereby preserved his dear-bought life;
so that in truth he did as much owe the keeping his head to that
oration, as Cataline did the loss