King James VI and I visited Woking in March 1606. While he was there, a false rumour spread in London that he had been assassinated with some of his courtiers by Catholic conspirators using poisoned knives or pistol shot. Whitehall Palace and the Tower of London were secured.Horatio Brown, Calendar State Papers, Venice: 1603–1607, vol. 10 (London, 1900), p. 333 no. 503. The king quickly returned to London unharmed and the church bells were rung at St Margaret's, Westminster.John Nichols, Progresses of James the First, vol. 2 (London, 1828), pp. 37–43.
