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diff --git a/34807.txt b/34807.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..2830ef1 --- /dev/null +++ b/34807.txt @@ -0,0 +1,9687 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of What was the Gunpowder Plot?, by John Gerard + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: What was the Gunpowder Plot? + The Traditional Story Tested by Original Evidence + +Author: John Gerard + +Release Date: January 1, 2011 [EBook #34807] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT WAS THE GUNPOWDER PLOT? *** + + + + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Adam Styles and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + + + + + + +TRANSCRIBER'S NOTES: Text in italics is enclosed by underscore +characters. Where small capitals were used, text has been presented in +uppercase. Abbreviations use superscript; the caret, ^, is used before +superscript characters. Where multiple superscript characters are used +they are enclosed in curly braces, {}. A small number of macron +diacritical marks are used in the text and appear as an overlined +letter. These marks are indicated by [=a] where a is the overlined +character. + +This text makes extensive use of archaic spellings in quoted material +which has not been amended or modernized. Where typographic errors have +been repaired, they are detailed in further transcribers' notes at the +end of the text. + + + + +[Illustration: THE POWDER PLOT] + + + + + + WHAT WAS THE + GUNPOWDER PLOT? + + THE TRADITIONAL STORY TESTED BY + ORIGINAL EVIDENCE + + BY + JOHN GERARD, S.J. + + [Illustration] + + LONDON + OSGOOD, McILVAINE & CO. + 45, ALBEMARLE STREET, W. + 1897 + + + + +PREFACE. + + +THE following study of the Gunpowder Plot has grown out of the +accidental circumstance that, having undertaken to read a paper before +the Historical Research Society, at Archbishop's House, Westminster, as +the day on which it was to be read chanced to be the 5th of November,[1] +I was asked to take the famous conspiracy for my subject. It was with +much reluctance that I agreed to do so, believing, as I then did, that +there was absolutely nothing fresh to say upon this topic, that no +incident in our annals had been more thoroughly threshed out, and that +in regard of none, so far, at least, as its broader outlines are +concerned, was the truth more clearly established. + +When, however, I turned to the sources whence our knowledge of the +transaction is derived, and in particular to the original documents upon +which it is ultimately based, I was startled to find how grave were the +doubts and difficulties which suggested themselves at every turn, while, +though slowly and gradually, yet with ever gathering force, the +conviction forced itself upon me, that, not merely in its details is the +traditional story unworthy of credit, but that all the evidence points +to a conclusion fundamentally at variance with it. Nothing contributed +so powerfully to this conviction as to find that every fresh line of +reasoning or channel of information which could be discovered inevitably +tended, in one way or another, towards the same result. In the following +pages are presented to the reader the principal arguments which have +wrought this change of view in my own mind.[2] + +I cannot pretend to furnish any full or wholly satisfactory answer to +the question which stands upon the title-page. The real history of the +Plot in all its stages we shall, in all probability, never know. If, +however, we cannot satisfy ourselves of the truth, it will be much to +ascertain what is false; to convince ourselves that the account of the +matter officially supplied, and almost universally accepted, is +obviously untrue, and that the balance of probability lies heavily +against those who invented it, as having been the real plotters, +devising and working the scheme for their own ends. + +Neither have I any wish to ignore, or to extenuate, the objections which +militate against such a conclusion, objections arising from +considerations of a general character, rather than from any positive +evidence. Why, it may reasonably be asked, if the government of the day +were ready to go so far as is alleged, did they not go further? Why, +being supremely anxious to incriminate the priests, did they not +fabricate unequivocal evidence against them, instead of satisfying +themselves with what appears to us far from conclusive? Why did they +encumber their tale with incidents, which, if they did not really occur, +could serve only to damage it, inasmuch as we, at this distance of +time, can argue that they are impossible and absurd? How is it, +moreover, that the absurdity was not patent to contemporaries, and was +not urged by those who had every reason to mislike and mistrust the +party in power? + +Considerations such as these undoubtedly deserve all attention, and must +be fully weighed, but while they avail to establish a certain +presumption in favour of the official story, I cannot but think that the +sum of probabilities tells strongly the other way. It must be remembered +that three centuries ago the intrinsic likelihood or unlikelihood of a +tale did not go for much, and the accounts of plots in particular appear +to have obtained general credence in proportion as they were incredible, +as the case of Squires a few years earlier, and of Titus Oates somewhat +later, sufficiently testify. It is moreover as difficult for us to enter +into the crooked and complex methods of action which commended +themselves to the statesmen of the period, as to appreciate the force of +the cumbrous and abusive harangues which earned for Sir Edward Coke the +character of an incomparable pleader. On the other hand, it appears +certain that they who had so long played the game must have understood +it best, and, whatever else may be said of them, they always contrived +to win. In regard of Father Garnet, for example, we may think the +evidence adduced by the prosecution quite insufficient, but none the +less it in fact availed not only to send him to the gallows, but to +brand him in popular estimation for generations, and even for centuries, +as the arch-traitor to whose machinations the whole enterprise was due. +In the case of some individuals obnoxious to the government, it seems +evident that downright forgery was actually practised. + +The question of Father Garnet's complicity, though usually considered as +the one point in connection with the Plot requiring to be discussed, is +not treated in the following pages. It is doubtless true that to prove +the conspiracy to have been a trick of State, is not the same thing as +proving that he was not entangled in it; but, at the same time, the +first point, if it can be established, will deprive the other of almost +all its interest. Nevertheless, Father Garnet's case will still require +to be fully treated on its own merits, but this cannot be done within +the limits of such an inquiry as the present. It is not by confining our +attention to one isolated incident in his career, nor by discussing once +again the familiar documents connected therewith, that we can form a +sound and satisfactory judgment about him. For this purpose, full +consideration must be given to what has hitherto been almost entirely +ignored, the nature and character of the man, as exhibited especially +during the eighteen years of his missionary life in England, during most +of which period he acted as the superior of his brother Jesuits. There +exist abundant materials for his biography, in his official and +confidential correspondence, preserved at Stonyhurst and elsewhere, and +not till the information thus supplied shall have been duly utilized +will it be possible to judge whether the part assigned to him by his +enemies in this wild and wicked design can, even conceivably, represent +the truth. It may, I trust, be possible at no distant date to attempt +this work, but it is not possible now, and to introduce this topic into +our present discussion would only confuse the issue which is before us. + +Except in one or two instances, I have judged it advisable, for the sake +of clearness, to modernize the spelling of documents quoted in the text. +In the notes they are usually given in their original form. + +I have to acknowledge my indebtedness in many particulars to Mr. H.W. +Brewer, who not only contributes valuable sketches to illustrate the +narrative, but has furnished many important notes and suggestions, based +upon his exhaustive knowledge of ancient London. I have to thank the +Marquis of Salisbury for permission to examine MSS. in the Hatfield +collection, and his lordship's librarian, Mr. Gunton, for information +supplied from the same source. Through the courtesy of the Deputy-Keeper +of the Public Records, every facility has been afforded me for +consulting the precious documents contained in the "Gunpowder Plot +Book." The Dean of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, has kindly given me +access to an important MS. in the College Library; and I have been +allowed by the Rector of Stonyhurst to retain in my hands Father +Greenway's MS. history of the Plot during the whole period of my work. +The proprietors of the _Daily Graphic_ have allowed me to use two +sketches of the interior of "Guy Faukes' Cellar," and one of his +lantern, originally prepared by Mr. Brewer for that journal. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[1] 1894. + +[2] Some of these have been partially set forth in a series of six +articles appearing in _The Month_, December 1894-May, 1895. + + + + +CONTENTS. + + + CHAP. PAGE + + I. THE STATE OF THE QUESTION 1 + + Disclosure of the Plot--Arrest of Guy Faukes--Flight of his + associates--Their abortive insurrection--Their fate--The crime + charged on Catholics in general--Garnet and other Jesuits proclaimed + as the ringleaders--Capture of Garnet--Efforts to procure evidence + against him--His execution--Previous history of the Plot as + traditionally narrated; Proceedings and plans of the + conspirators--Manner of the discovery. + + Reasons for suspecting the truth of this history--Previous plots + originated or manipulated by the government--Suspicious + circumstances respecting the Gunpowder Plot in particular--Essential + points of the inquiry. + + II. THE PERSONS CONCERNED 19 + + Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury--His character variously + estimated--Discreditable incidents of his career--Contemporary + judgments of him--His unpopularity--His political difficulties + largely dissipated in consequence of the Plot. + + His hatred of and hostility towards the Catholics--Their numbers and + importance--Their hopes from King James, and their + disappointment--The probability that some would have recourse to + violence--The conspirators known as men likely to seek such a + remedy--Their previous history--Difficulties and contradictions in + regard of their character. + + III. THE OPINION OF CONTEMPORARIES AND HISTORIANS 42 + + The government at once suspected of having contrived or fomented the + Plot--Persistence of these suspicions, to which historians for more + than a century bear witness--No fresh information accounts for their + disappearance. + + IV. THE TRADITIONAL STORY 54 + + The old House of Lords and its surroundings--House hired by the + conspirators--They attempt to dig a mine beneath the Peers' + Chamber--Difficulties and improbabilities of the account--The + "Cellar" hired--Its position and character--The gunpowder bought and + stored--Further problems concerning it--The conspirators' + plans--Contradictions respecting them--Their wild and absurd + character--Impossibility of the supposition that the proceedings + escaped the notice of the government. + + V. THE GOVERNMENT INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT 93 + + Evidence that the government were fully aware of what was in + progress--Various intelligence supplied to them--Cecil's uneasiness + on account of the spread of Catholicity, and the king's + communication with the pope--His evident determination to force on + James a policy of intolerance--He intimates that a great move is + about to be made, and acknowledges to information concerning the + conspirators and their schemes--His political methods illustrated. + + VI. THE "DISCOVERY" 114 + + Importance of the letter received by Lord Monteagle--Extraordinary + prominence given to it--Monteagle's character--He receives the + letter--Suspicious circumstances connected with its arrival--It is + shown to Cecil--Hopeless contradictions of the official narrative as + to what followed--Impossibility of ascertaining what actually + occurred--The French version of the story--The conduct of the + government at variance with their own professions--Their + inexplicable delay in making the discovery--They take no precautions + against the recurrence of danger--The mystery of the + gunpowder--Incredibility of the official narration. + + VII. PERCY, CATESBY, AND TRESHAM 147 + + Probability that the government had an agent among the + conspirators--Suspicious circumstances regarding Percy--His private + life--His alleged intercourse with Cecil--His death. + + Catesby and Tresham likewise accused of secret dealings with + Cecil--Catesby's falsehood towards his associates and Father + Garnet--Tresham's strange conduct after the discovery--His + mysterious death. + + Alleged positive evidence against the government. + + VIII. THE GOVERNMENT'S CASE 163 + + A monopoly secured for the official narrative, which is admittedly + untruthful--Suspicions suggested by such a course, especially in + such a case--The confessions of Faukes and Winter, on which this + narrative is based, deserve no credit--Nor does the evidence of + Bates against Greenway--Indications of foul play in regard of Robert + Winter--The case of Owen, Baldwin and Cresswell; assertions made + respecting them of which no proof can be produced--Efforts to + implicate Sir Walter Raleigh and others--Falsification of + evidence--The service of forgers employed. + + Catholic writers have drawn their accounts from the sources provided + by the government. + + IX. THE SEQUEL 209 + + Cecil well informed as to the real nature of the conspiracy, and + apprehends no danger from it--At once turns it to account by + promoting anti-Catholic legislation--Honour and popularity resulting + to him--Ruin of the Earl of Northumberland--Cecil's manifesto--His + alleged attempt to start a second plot. + + The popular history of the Plot, and how it was circulated--Singular + suitability of the Fifth of November for the "Discovery." + + Summary of the argument. + + + APPENDIX A. NOTES ON THE ILLUSTRATIONS 235 + + APPENDIX B. SIR EVERARD DIGBY'S LETTER TO SALISBURY 245 + + APPENDIX C. THE QUESTION OF SUCCESSION 249 + + APPENDIX D. THE SPANISH TREASON 251 + + APPENDIX E. SITE OF PERCY'S LODGING 251 + + APPENDIX F. ENROLMENT OF CONSPIRATORS 252 + + APPENDIX G. HENRY WRIGHT THE INFORMER 254 + + APPENDIX H. MONTEAGLE'S LETTER TO KING JAMES 256 + + APPENDIX I. EPITAPH ON PETER HEIWOOD 258 + + APPENDIX K. THE USE OF TORTURE 259 + + APPENDIX L. MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE PLOT 260 + + APPENDIX M. MEMORIAL INSCRIPTIONS IN THE TOWER 264 + + APPENDIX N. GUY FAUKES' PUBLISHED CONFESSION 268 + + + INDEX 279 + + + + +LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. + + + PAGE + + 1. MEDAL COMMEMORATIVE OF THE GUNPOWDER PLOT _Title-page_ + + 2. THE GUNPOWDER PLOT. I. _Frontispiece_ + + 3. " " " II. 90 + + 4. " " " III. 215 + + 5. " " " IV. 227 + + 6. " " " V. 229 + + 7. DISCOVERY OF THE GUNPOWDER PLOT 136 + + 8. MONTEAGLE AND LETTER 115 + + 9. ARREST OF FAUKES 125 + + 10. GUY FAUKES' LANTERN 139 + + 11. GROUP OF CONSPIRATORS 3 + + 12. THOMAS PERCY 149 + + 13. HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT IN 1605 56-7 + + 14. GROUND PLAN OF THE SAME 59 + + 15. HOUSE OF LORDS IN 1807 61 + + 16. INTERIOR OF HOUSE OF LORDS, 1755 97 + + 17. INTERIOR OF "CELLAR" 71 + + 18. ARCHES FROM "CELLAR" 75 + + 19. VAULT UNDER PAINTED CHAMBER 73 + + 20. CELL ADJOINING PAINTED CHAMBER 83 + + 21. FACSIMILE OF PART OF WINTER'S CONFESSION, NOV. 23 168 + + 22. SIGNATURES OF FAUKES AND OLDCORNE 173 + + 23. FACSIMILE OF PART OF FAUKES' CONFESSION OF NOV. 9 199 + + + + + "Quis haec posteris sic narrare poterit, ut facta non ficta esse + videantur?" + + "Ages to come will be in doubt whether it were a fact or a fiction." + + _Sir Edw. Coke on the trial of the Conspirators._ + + + + +WHAT WAS THE GUNPOWDER PLOT? + + + + +CHAPTER I. + +THE STATE OF THE QUESTION. + + +ON the morning of Tuesday, the 5th of November, 1605, which day was +appointed for the opening of a new Parliamentary session, London rang +with the news that in the course of the night a diabolical plot had been +discovered, by which the king and legislature were to have been +destroyed at a blow. In a chamber beneath the House of Lords had been +found a great quantity of gunpowder, and with it a man, calling himself +John Johnson, who, finding that the game was up, fully acknowledged his +intention to have fired the magazine while the royal speech was being +delivered, according to custom, overhead, and so to have blown King, +Lords, and Commons into the air. At the same time, he doggedly refused +to say who were his accomplices, or whether he had any. + +This is the earliest point at which the story of the Gunpowder Plot can +be taken up with any certainty. Of what followed, at least as to the +main outlines, we are sufficiently well informed. Johnson, whose true +name was presently found to be Guy, or Guido, Faukes,[3] proved, it is +true, a most obstinate and unsatisfactory witness, and obstinately +refused to give any evidence which might incriminate others. But the +actions of his confederates quickly supplied the information which he +withheld. It was known that the "cellar" in which the powder was found, +as well as a house adjacent, had been hired in the name of one Thomas +Percy, a Catholic gentleman, perhaps a kinsman, and certainly a +dependent, of the Earl of Northumberland. It was now discovered that he +and others of his acquaintance had fled from London on the previous day, +upon receipt of intelligence that the plot seemed at least to be +suspected. Not many hours later the fugitives were heard of in +Warwickshire, Worcestershire, and Staffordshire, the native counties of +several amongst them, attempting to rally others to their desperate +fortunes, and to levy war against the crown. For this purpose they +forcibly seized cavalry horses[4] at Warwick, and arms at Whewell +Grange, a seat of Lord Windsor's. These violent proceedings having +raised the country behind them, they were pursued by the sheriffs with +what forces could be got together, and finally brought to bay at +Holbeche, in Staffordshire, the residence of one Stephen Littleton, a +Catholic gentleman. + +There proved to have been thirteen men in all who had undoubtedly been +participators in the treason. Of these Faukes, as we have seen, was +already in the hands of justice. Another, Francis Tresham, had not fled +with his associates, but remained quietly, and without attempting +concealment, in London, even going to the council and offering them his +services; after a week he was taken into custody. The eleven who either +betook themselves to the country, or were already there, awaiting the +issue of the enterprise, and prepared to co-operate in the rising which +was to be its sequel, were Robert Catesby, Thomas Percy, Robert and +Thomas Winter, John and Christopher Wright, John Grant, Robert Keyes, +Ambrose Rokewood, Sir Everard Digby, and Thomas Bates. All were +Catholics, and all, with the exception of Bates, Catesby's servant, were +"gentlemen of blood and name," some of them, notably Robert Winter, +Rokewood, Digby, and Tresham, being men of ample fortune. + +[Illustration: THE CONSPIRATORS, FROM A PRINT PUBLISHED AT AMSTERDAM.] + +On Friday, November 8th, three days after the discovery, Sir Richard +Walsh, sheriff of Worcestershire, attacked Holbeche. Catesby, Percy, and +the two Wrights were killed or mortally wounded in the assault. The +others were taken prisoners on the spot or in its neighbourhood, with +the exception of Robert Winter, who, accompanied by their host, Stephen +Littleton, contrived to elude capture for upwards of two months, being +at last apprehended, in January, at Hagley Hall, Worcestershire. All the +prisoners were at once taken up to London, and being there confined, +were frequently and diligently examined by the council, to trace, if +possible, farther ramifications of the conspiracy, and especially to +inculpate the Catholic clergy.[5] Torture, it is evident, was employed +with this object. + +Meanwhile, on November 9th, King James addressed to his Parliament a +speech, wherein he declared that the abominable crime which had been +intended was the direct result of Catholic principles, Popery being "the +true mystery of iniquity." In like manner Chichester, the Lord Deputy in +Ireland, was informed by Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, his Majesty's +Secretary of State, that the Plot was an "abominable practice of Rome +and Satan,"[6] while the monarch himself sent word to Sir John Harington +that "these designs were not formed by a few," that "the whole legion of +Catholics were consulted," that "the priests were to pacify their +consciences, and the Pope confirm a general absolution for this glorious +deed."[7] + +Then follows an interval during which we know little of the course of +events which were proceeding in the seclusion of the council-room and +torture-chamber; but on December 4th we find Cecil complaining that he +could obtain little or no evidence against the really important persons: +"Most of the prisoners," he writes,[8] "have wilfully forsworn that the +priests knew anything in particular, and obstinately refuse to be +accusers of them, yea, what torture soever they be put to." + +On January 15th, 1605-6, a proclamation was issued declaring that the +Jesuit fathers, John Gerard, Henry Garnet, and Oswald Greenway, or +Tesimond, were proved to have been "peculiarly practisers" in the +treason, and offering a reward for their apprehension. On the 21st of +the same month Parliament met, having been prorogued immediately after +the king's speech of November 9th, and four days later an Act was passed +for the perpetual solemnization of the anniversary of the projected +crime, the preamble whereof charged its guilt upon "Many malignant and +devilish papists, jesuits, and seminary priests, much envying the true +and free possession of the Gospel by the nation, under the greatest, +most learned, and most religious monarch who had ever occupied the +throne."[9] + +In consequence of this Act, was introduced into the Anglican liturgy the +celebrated Fifth of November service, in the collect of which the king, +royal family, nobility, clergy, and commons are spoken of as having +been "by Popish treachery appointed as sheep to the slaughter, in a most +barbarous and savage manner, beyond the examples of former ages;" while +the day itself was marked in the calendar as the "Papists' Conspiracy." + +It will thus be seen that the Powder Plot was by this time officially +stigmatized as the work of the Catholic body in general, and in +particular of their priests; thus acquiring an importance and a +significance which could not be attributed to it were it but the wild +attempt of a few turbulent men. As a natural corollary we find +Parliament busily engaged upon measures to insure the more effectual +execution of the penal laws.[10] + +On January 27th the surviving conspirators, Robert and Thomas Winter, +Faukes, Grant, Rokewood, Keyes, Digby, and Bates,[11] were put upon +their trial. In the indictment preferred against them, it was explicitly +stated that the Plot was contrived by Garnet, Gerard, Greenway, and +other Jesuits, to whose traitorous persuasions the prisoners at the bar +had wickedly yielded. All were found guilty, Digby, Robert Winter, +Grant, and Bates being executed at the west end of St. Paul's Church, on +January the 30th, and the rest on the following day in Old Palace Yard. + +On the very day upon which the first company suffered, Father Garnet, +whose hiding-place was known, and who had been closely invested for nine +days, was captured, in company with another Jesuit, Father Oldcorne. The +latter, though never charged with knowledge of the plot, was put to +death for having aided and abetted Garnet in his attempt to escape. +Garnet himself, being brought to London, was lodged first in the +Gatehouse and afterwards in the Tower. + +As we have seen, he had already been proclaimed as a traitor, and +"particular practiser" in the conspiracy, and had moreover been +officially described as the head and front of the treason. Of the latter +charge, after his capture, nothing was ever heard. Of his participation, +proofs, it appeared, still remained to be discovered, for on the 3rd of +March Cecil still spoke of them as in the future.[12] In order to obtain +the required evidence of his complicity, Garnet was examined +three-and-twenty times before the council, and, in addition, various +artifices were practised which need not now be detailed. On the 28th of +March, 1606, he was brought to trial, and on May 3rd he was hanged at +St. Paul's. The Gunpowder Conspirators were thenceforth described in +government publications as "Garnet, a Jesuit, and his confederates." + +Such is, in outline, the course of events which followed the discovery +of November 5th, all circumstances being here omitted which are by +possibility open to dispute. + +It will probably be maintained, as our best and most circumspect +historians appear to have assumed, that we are in possession of +information enabling us to construct a similar sketch of what preceded +and led up to these events,--whatever obscurity there may be regarding +the complicity of those whose participation would invest the plot with +the significance which has been attributed to it. If it were indeed but +the individual design of a small knot of men, acting for themselves and +of themselves, then, though they were all Catholics, and were actuated +by a desire to aid the Catholic cause, the crime they intended could not +justly be charged upon the body of their co-religionists. It would be +quite otherwise if Catholics in general were shown to have countenanced +it, or even if such representative men as members of the priesthood were +found to have approved so abominable a project, or even to have +consented to it, or knowingly kept silence regarding it. Of the +complicity of Catholics in general or of their priesthood as a body +there is no proof whatever, nor has it ever been seriously attempted to +establish such a charge. As to the three Jesuits already named, who +alone have been seriously accused, there is no proof, the sufficiency of +which may not be questioned. But as to the fact that they who originated +the Plot were Catholics, that they acted simply with the object of +benefiting their Church, and that the nation most narrowly escaped an +appalling disaster at their hands, can there be any reasonable doubt? Is +not the account of their proceedings, to be read in any work on the +subject, as absolutely certain as anything in our history? + +This account is as follows. About a year after the accession of James +I.,[13] when it began to be evident that the hopes of toleration at his +hands, which the Catholics had entertained, were to be disappointed, +Robert Catesby, a man of strong character, and with an extraordinary +power of influencing others, bethought him in his wrath of this means +whereby to take summary vengeance at once upon the monarch and the +legislators, under whose cruelty he himself and his fellows were +groaning. The plan was proposed to John Wright and Thomas Winter, who +approved it. Faukes was brought over from the Low Countries, as a man +likely to be of much service in such an enterprise. Shortly afterwards +Percy joined them,[14] and somewhat later Keyes and Christopher Wright +were added to their number.[15] All the associates were required to take +an oath of secrecy,[16] and to confirm it by receiving Holy +Communion.[17] + +These are the seven "gentlemen of blood and name," as Faukes describes +them, who had the main hand in the operations which we have to study. At +a later period six others were associated with them, Robert Winter, +elder brother of Thomas, and Grant, both gentlemen of property, Bates, +Catesby's servant, and finally, Rokewood, Digby, and Tresham, all rich +men, who were brought in chiefly for the sake of their wealth, and were +enlisted when the preparations for the intended explosion had all been +completed, in view of the rising which was to follow.[18] + +Commencing operations about the middle of December, 1604, these +confederates first endeavoured to dig a mine under the House of Lords, +and afterwards hired a large room, described as a cellar, situated +beneath the Peers' Chamber, and in this stored a quantity of gunpowder, +which Faukes was to fire by a train, while the King, Lords, and Commons, +were assembled above. + +Their enemies being thus destroyed, they did not contemplate a +revolution, but were resolved to get possession of one of the king's +sons, or, failing that, of one of his daughters, whom they would +proclaim as sovereign, constituting themselves the guardians of the new +monarch. They also contrived a "hunting match" on Dunsmoor heath, near +Rugby, which was to be in progress when the news of the catastrophe in +London should arrive; the sportsmen assembled for which would furnish, +it was hoped, the nucleus of an army. + +Meanwhile, as we are assured--and this is the crucial point of the whole +story--the government of James I. had no suspicion of what was going on, +and, lulled in false security, were on the verge of destruction, when a +lucky circumstance intervened. On October 26th, ten days before the +meeting of Parliament, a Catholic peer, Lord Monteagle, received an +anonymous letter, couched in vague and incoherent language, warning him +to absent himself from the opening ceremony. This document Monteagle at +once took to the king's prime minister, Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, +who promptly divined its meaning and the precise danger indicated, +although he allowed King James to fancy that he was himself the first to +interpret it, when it was shown to him five days later.[19] Not for +four other days were active steps taken, that is, till the early morning +of the fatal Fifth. Then took place the discovery of which we have +already heard. + +Such is, in brief, the accepted version of the history, and of its +substantial correctness there is commonly assumed to be no room for +reasonable doubt. As Mr. Jardine writes,[20] "The outlines of the +transaction were too notorious to be suppressed or disguised; that a +design had been formed to blow up the Parliament House, with the King, +the Royal Family, the Lords and Commons, and that this design was formed +by Catholic men and for Catholic purposes, could never admit of +controversy or concealment." In like manner, while acknowledging that in +approaching the question of Father Garnet's complicity, or that of other +priests, we find ourselves upon uncertain ground, Mr. Gardiner has no +hesitation in declaring that "the whole story of the plot, as far as it +relates to the lay conspirators, rests upon indisputable evidence."[21] + +Nevertheless there appear to be considerations, demanding more attention +than they have hitherto received, which forbid the supposition that, in +regard of what is most vital, this official story can possibly be true; +while the extreme care with which it has obviously been elaborated, +suggests the conclusion that it was intended to disguise facts, to the +concealment of which the government of the day attached supreme +importance. + +As has been said, the cardinal point of the tale, as commonly told, is +that the Plot was a secret and dangerous conspiracy, conducted with so +much craft as to have baffled detection, but for a lucky accident; that +the vigilance of the authorities was completely at fault; and that they +found themselves suddenly on the very brink of a terrible catastrophe of +which they had no suspicion.[22] If, on the contrary, it should appear +that they had ample information of what was going on, while feigning +absolute ignorance; that they studiously devised a false account of the +manner in which it came to their knowledge; and that their whole conduct +is quite inconsistent with that sense of imminent danger which they so +loudly professed--the question inevitably suggests itself as to whether +we can rely upon the authenticity of the opening chapters of a history, +the conclusion of which has been so dexterously manipulated. + +A French writer has observed[23] that the plots undertaken under +Elizabeth and James I. have this feature in common, that they proved, +one and all, extremely opportune for those against whom they were +directed. To this law the Gunpowder Plot was no exception. Whatever be +the true history of its origin, it certainly placed in the hands of the +king's chief minister a most effective weapon for the enforcement of his +favourite policy, and very materially strengthened his own position. +Without doubt the sensational manner of its "discovery" largely +contributed to its success in this respect; and if this were ingeniously +contrived for such a purpose, may it not be that a like ingenuity had +been employed in providing the material destined to be so artistically +utilized? + +There can be no question as to the wide prevalence of the belief that +previous plots had owed their origin to the policy of the statesmen who +finally detected them, a belief witnessed to by Lord Castlemaine,[24] +who declares that "it was a piece of wit in Queen Elizabeth's days to +draw men into such devices," and that "making and fomenting plots was +then in fashion; nor can it be denied that good grounds for such an +opinion were not lacking". The unfortunate man Squires had been executed +on the ridiculous charge that he had come over from Spain in order to +poison the pommel of Queen Elizabeth's saddle. Dr. Parry, we are +informed by Bishop Goodman, whose verdict is endorsed by Mr. Brewer,[25] +was put to death by those who knew him to be guiltless in their regard, +they having themselves employed him in the business for which he +suffered. Concerning Babington's famous plot, it is absolutely certain +that, whatever its origin, it was, almost from the first, fully known to +Walsingham, through whose hands passed the correspondence between the +conspirators, and who assiduously worked the enterprise, in order to +turn it to the destruction of the Queen of Scots. As to Lopez, the +Jewish physician, it is impossible not to concur in the verdict that +his condemnation was at least as much owing to political intrigue as to +the weight of evidence.[26] Concerning this period Mr. Brewer says: "The +Roman Catholics seem to have made just complaints of the subtle and +unworthy artifices of Leicester and Walsingham, by whom they were +entrapped into the guilt of high treason. 'And verily,' as [Camden] +expresses it, there were at this time crafty ways devised to try how men +stood affected; counterfeit letters were sent in the name of the Queen +of Scots and left at papists' houses; spies were sent up and down the +country to note people's dispositions and lay hold of their words; and +reporters of vain and idle stories were credited and encouraged."[27] +Under King James,[28] as Bishop Goodman declares, the priest Watson was +hanged for treason by those who had employed him.[29] + +It must farther be observed that the particular Plot which is our +subject was stamped with certain features more than commonly suspicious. +Even on the face of things, as will be seen from the summary already +given, it was steadily utilized from the first for a purpose which it +could not legitimately be made to serve. That the Catholics of England, +as a body, had any connection with it there is not, nor ever appeared to +be, any vestige of a proof; still less that the official superiors of +the Church, including the Pope himself, were concerned in it. Yet the +first act of the government was to lay it at the door of all these, thus +investing it with a character which was, indeed, eminently fitted to +sustain their own policy, but to which it was no-wise entitled. Even in +regard of Father Garnet and his fellow Jesuits, whatever judgment may +now be formed concerning them, it is clear that it was determined to +connect them with the conspiracy long before any evidence at all was +forthcoming to sustain the charge. The actual confederates were, in +fact, treated throughout as in themselves of little or no account, and +as important only in so far as they might consent to incriminate those +whom the authorities wished to be incriminated. + +The determined manner in which this object was ever kept in view, the +unscrupulous means constantly employed for its attainment, the vehemence +with which matters were asserted to have been proved, any proof of which +was never even seriously attempted--in a word, the elaborate system of +falsification by which alone the story of the conspiracy was made to +suit the purpose it so effectually served, can inspire us with no +confidence that the foundation upon which such a superstructure was +erected, was itself what it was said to be. + +On the other hand, when we examine into the details supplied to us as to +the progress of the affair, we find that much of what the conspirators +are said to have done is well-nigh incredible, while it is utterly +impossible that if they really acted in the manner described, the public +authorities should not have had full knowledge of their proceedings. We +also find not only that the same authorities, while feigning ignorance +of anything of the kind, were perfectly well aware that these very +conspirators had something in hand, but that long before the +"discovery," in fact, at the very time when the conspiracy is said to +have been hatched, their officials were working a Catholic plot, by +means of secret agents, and even making arrangements as to who were to +be implicated therein. + +These are, in brief, some of the considerations which point to a +conclusion utterly at variance with the received version of the story, +the conclusion, namely, that, for purposes of State, the government of +the day either found means to instigate the conspirators to undertake +their enterprise, or, at least, being, from an early stage of the +undertaking, fully aware of what was going on, sedulously nursed the +insane scheme till the time came to make capital out of it. That the +conspirators, or the greater number of them, really meant to strike a +great blow is not to be denied, though it may be less easy to assure +ourselves as to its precise character; and their guilt will not be +palliated should it appear that, in projecting an atrocious crime, they +were unwittingly playing the game of plotters more astute than +themselves. At the same time, while fully endorsing the sentiment of a +Catholic writer,[30] that they who suffer themselves to be drawn into a +plot like fools, deserve to be hanged for it like knaves, it is +impossible not to agree with another when he writes:[31] "This account +does not excuse the conspirators, but lays a heavy weight upon the +devils who tempted them beyond their strength." + +The view thus set forth will perhaps be considered unworthy of serious +discussion, and it must be fully admitted, that there can be no excuse +for making charges such as it involves, unless solid grounds can be +alleged for so doing. That any such grounds are to be found historians +of good repute utterly deny. Mr. Hallam roundly declares:[32] "To deny +that there was such a plot, or, which is the same thing, to throw the +whole on the contrivance and management of Cecil, as has sometimes been +done, argues great effrontery in those who lead, and great stupidity in +those who follow." Similarly, Mr. Gardiner,[33] while allowing that +contemporaries accused Cecil of inventing the Plot, is content to +dismiss such a charge as "absurd." + +Whether it be so or not we have now to inquire. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[3] So he himself always wrote it. + +[4] Also described as "Great Horses," or "Horses for the great Saddle." + +[5] "The great object of the Government now was to obtain evidence +against the priests."--GARDINER, _History of England_, i. 267. Ed. 1883. + +[6] See his despatch in reply. _Irish State Papers_, vol. 217, 95. +Cornwallis received Cecil's letter on November 22nd. + +[7] See Harington's account of the king's message, _Nugae Antiquae_, i. +374. + +[8] To Favat. (Copy) Brit. Mus. MSS. Add. 6178, fol. 625. + +[9] Statutes: Anno 3^o Jacobi, c. 1. + +[10] This work was taken in hand by the Commons, when, in spite of the +alarming circumstances of the time, they met on November 5th, and was +carried on at every subsequent sitting. The Lords also met on the 5th, +but transacted no business. _Journals of Parliament._ + +[11] Tresham had died in the Tower, December 22nd. Although he had not +been tried, his remains were treated as those of a traitor, his head +being cut off and fixed above the gates of Northampton (_Dom. James I._ +xvii. 62.) + +[12] "That which remaineth is but this, to assure you that ere many +daies you shall hear that Father Garnet ... is layd open for a +principall conspirator even in the particular Treason of the +Powder."--_To Sir Henry Bruncard, P.R.O. Ireland_, vol. 218, March +3rd, 1605-6. Also (Calendar) _Dom. James I._ xix. 10. + +[13] In Lent, 1603-4. Easter fell that year on April 8th. + +[14] "About the middle of Easter Term."--_Thomas Winter's declaration_, +of November 23rd, 1605. + +[15] "Keyes, about a month before Michaelmas."--_Ibid._ About +Christopher Wright there is much confusion, Faukes (November 17th, 1605) +implying that he was introduced before Christmas, and Thomas Winter +(November 23rd, 1605) that it was about a fortnight after the following +Candlemas, _i.e._, about the middle of February. + +[16] The form of this oath is thus given in the official account: "You +shall swear by the blessed Trinity, and by the Sacrament you now propose +to receive, never to disclose directly or indirectly, by word or +circumstance, the matter that shall be proposed to you to keep secret, +nor desist from the execution thereof until the rest shall give you +leave." It is a singular circumstance that the form of this oath, which +was repeated in official publications, with an emphasis itself +inexplicable, occurs in only one of the conspirators' confessions, viz., +the oft-quoted declaration of T. Winter, November 23rd, 1605. This--as +we shall see, a most suspicious document--was one of the two selected +for publication, on which the traditional history of the plot depends. +Curiously enough, however, the oath, with sundry other matters, was +omitted from the published version of the confession. + +[Published in the "King's Book:" copy, or draft, for publication, in the +Record Office: original at Hatfield. Copy of original Brit. Mus. Add. +MSS., 6178, 75.] + +[17] T. Winter says: "Having upon a primer given each other the oath of +secrecy, in a chamber where no other body was, we went after into the +next room and heard mass, and received the blessed Sacrament upon the +same."--_Declaration_, November 23rd, 1605. + +[18] Digby was enlisted "about Michaelmas, 1605;" Rokewood about a month +before the 5th of November. Tresham gives October 14th as the date of +his own initiation. _Examination_, November 13th, 1605. + +[19] This is clear from a comparison of Cecil's private letter to +Cornwallis and others (Winwood, _Memorials_, ii. 170), with the official +account published in the _Discourse of the manner of the Discovery of +the Gunpowder Plot_. + +[20] _Criminal Trials_, ii. 3. + +[21] _History of England_, i. 269 (1883). + +[22] "We had all been blowne up at a clapp, if God out of His Mercie and +just Reuenge against so great an Abomination, had not destined it to be +discovered, though very miraculously, even some twelve Houres before the +matter should have been put in execution."--_Cecil to Cornwallis_, +November 9th, 1605. Winwood, _Memorials_, ii. 170. + +[23] M. l'Abbe Destombes, _La persecution en Angleterre sous le regne +d'Elizabeth_, p. 176. + +[24] _Catholique Apology_, third edition, p. 403. + +[25] Goodman's _Court of King James_, i. 121. + +[26] Mr. Sidney Lee, _Dictionary of National Biography_, _sub nom._ + +[27] Goodman's _Court of King James_, i. 121. Ed. J.S. Brewer. + +[28] _Court of King James_, p. 64. + +[29] Of this affair,--the "Bye" and the "Main,"--Goodman says, "[This] I +did ever think to be an old relic of the treasons in Q. Elizabeth's +time, and that George Brooks was the contriver thereof, who being +brother-in-law to the Secretary, and having great wit, small means, and +a vast expense, did only try men's allegiance, and had an intent to +betray one another, but were all taken napping and so involved in one +net. This in effect appears by Brooks' confession; and certainly K. +James ... had no opinion of that treason, and therefore was pleased to +pardon all save only Brooks and the priests."--_Court of King James_, i. +160. + +[30] _A plain and rational account of the Catholick Faith_, etc. Rouen, +1721, p. 200. + +[31] Dodd, _Church History of England_, Brussels, 1739, i. 334. + +[32] _Constitutional History_, i. 406, note, Seventh Edition. In the +same note the historian, discussing the case of Father Garnet, speaks of +"the damning circumstance that he was taken at Hendlip in concealment +along with the other conspirators." He who wrote thus can have had but a +slight acquaintance with the details of the history. None of the +conspirators, except Robert Winter, who was captured at Hagley Hall, +were taken in concealment, and none at Hendlip, where there is no reason +to suppose they ever were. Father Garnet was discovered there, nearly +three months later, in company with another Jesuit, Father Oldcorne, on +the very day when the conspirators were executed in London, and it was +never alleged that he had ever, upon any occasion, been seen in company +with "the other conspirators." + +[33] _History_, i. 255, note. + + + + +CHAPTER II. + +THE PERSONS CONCERNED. + + +AT the period with which we have to deal the chief minister of James I. +was Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury,[34] the political heir of his +father, William Cecil, Lord Burghley,[35] and of Walsingham, his +predecessor in the office of secretary. It is clear that he had +inherited from them ideas of statesmanship of the order then in vogue, +and from nature, the kind of ability required to put these successfully +in practice. Sir Robert Naunton thus describes him:[36] + +"This great minister of state, and the staff of the Queen's declining +age, though his little crooked person[37] could not provide any great +supportation, yet it carried thereon a head and a headpiece of vast +content, and therein, it seems, nature was so diligent to complete one, +and the best, part about him, as that to the perfection of his memory +and intellectuals, she took care also of his senses, and to put him in +_Lynceos oculos_, or to pleasure him the more, borrowed of Argus, so to +give him a perfective sight. And for the rest of his sensitive virtues, +his predecessor had left him a receipt, to smell out what was done in +the Conclave; and his good old father was so well seen in the +mathematicks, as that he could tell you throughout Spain, every part, +every ship, with their burthens, whither bound, what preparation, what +impediments for diversion of enterprises, counsels, and resolutions." +The writer then proceeds to give a striking instance to show "how +docible was this little man." + +Of his character, as estimated by competent judges, his contemporaries, +we have very different accounts. Mr. Gardiner, who may fairly be chosen +to represent his apologists, speaks thus:[38] + +"Although there are circumstances in his life which tell against him, it +is difficult to read the whole of the letters and documents which have +come down to us from his pen, without becoming gradually convinced of +his honesty of intention. It cannot be denied that he was satisfied with +the ordinary morality of his time, and that he thought it no shame to +keep a State secret or to discover a plot by means of a falsehood. If he +grasped at power as one who took pleasure in the exercise of it, he used +it for what he regarded as the true interests of his king and country. +Nor are we left to his own acts and words as the only means by which we +are enabled to form a judgment of his character. Of all the statesmen of +the day, not one has left a more blameless character than the Earl of +Dorset. Dorset took the opportunity of leaving upon record in his will, +which would not be read till he had no longer injury or favour to expect +in this world, the very high admiration in which his colleague was held +by him." + +This, it must be allowed, is a somewhat facile species of argument. +Though wills are not formally opened until after the testators' deaths, +it is not impossible for their contents to be previously communicated to +others, when there is an object for so doing.[39] But, however this may +be, it can scarcely be said that the weight of evidence tends in this +direction. Not to mention the fact that, while enjoying the entire +confidence of Queen Elizabeth, Cecil was engaged in a secret +correspondence with King James, which she would have regarded as +treasonable--and which he so carefully concealed that for a century +afterwards and more it was not suspected--there remains the other +indubitable fact, that while similarly trusted by James, and while all +affairs of State were entirely in his hands, he was in receipt of a +secret pension from the King of Spain,[40] the very monarch any +communication with whom he treated as treason on the part of others.[41] +It is certain that the Earl of Essex, when on his trial, asserted that +Cecil had declared the Spanish Infanta to be the rightful heir to the +crown, and though the secretary vehemently denied the imputation, he +equally repudiated the notion that he favoured the King of Scots.[42] We +know, moreover, that one who as Spanish Ambassador had dealings with +him, pronounced him to be a venal traitor, who was ready to sell his +soul for money,[43] while another intimated[44] that it was in his +power to have charged him with "unwarrantable practices." Similarly, we +hear from the French minister of the ingrained habit of falsehood which +made it impossible for the English secretary to speak the truth even to +friends;[45] and, from the French Ambassador, of the resolution imputed +to the same statesman, to remove from his path every rival who seemed +likely to jeopardize his tenure of power.[46] + +What was the opinion of his own countrymen, appeared with startling +emphasis when, in 1612, the Earl died. On May 22nd we find the Earl of +Northampton writing to Rochester that the "little man" is dead, "for +which so many rejoice, and so few even seem to be sorry."[47] Five days +later, Chamberlain, writing[48] to his friend Dudley Carleton, to +announce the same event, thus expresses himself: "As the case stands it +was best that he gave over the world, for they say his friends fell from +him apace, and some near about him, and however he had fared with his +health, it is verily thought he would never have been himself again in +power and credit. I never knew so great a man so soon and so openly +censured, for men's tongues walk very liberally and freely, but how +truly I cannot judge." On June 25th he again reports: "The outrageous +speeches against the deceased Lord continue still, and there be fresh +libels come out every day, and I doubt his actions will be hardly +censured in the next parliament, if the King be not the more gracious to +repress them." Moreover, his funeral was attended by few or none of the +gentry, and those only were present whose official position compelled +them. His own opinion Chamberlain expresses in two epigrams and an +anagram, which, although of small literary merit, contrive clearly to +express the most undisguised animosity and contempt for the late +minister.[49] + +There is abundant proof that such sentiments were not first entertained +when he had passed away, though, naturally, they were less openly +expressed when he was alive and practically all powerful. Cecil seems, +in fact, to have been throughout his career a lonely man, with no real +friends and many enemies, desperately fighting for his own hand, and for +the retention of that power which he prized above all else, aspiring, as +a contemporary satirist puts it, to be "both shepherd and dog."[50] +Since the accession of James he had felt his tenure of office to be +insecure. Goodman tells us[51] that "it is certain the king did not love +him;" Osborne,[52] "that he had forfeited the love of the people by the +hate he expressed to their darling Essex, and the desire he had to +render justice and prerogative arbitrary."[53] Sir Anthony Weldon speaks +of him[54] as "Sir Robert Cecil, a very wise man, but much hated in +England by reason of the fresh bleeding of that universally beloved Earl +of Essex, and for that clouded also in the king's favour." De la +Boderie, the French Ambassador, tells us[55] that the nobility were +exceedingly jealous of his dignity and power, and[56] that he in his +turn was jealous of the growing influence of Prince Henry, the heir +apparent, who made no secret of his dislike of him. Meanwhile there were +rivals who, it seemed not improbable, might supplant him. One of these, +Sir Walter Raleigh, had already been rendered harmless on account of his +connection with the "Main," the mysterious conspiracy which inaugurated +the reign of James. There remained the Earl of Northumberland, and it +may be remarked in passing that one of the effects of the Gunpowder Plot +was to dispose of him likewise.[57] Even the apologists of the minister +do not attempt to deny either the fact that he was accustomed to work by +stratagems and disguises, nor the obloquy that followed on his +death;[58] while by friends and foes alike he was compared to Ulysses of +many wiles.[59] + +But amongst those whom he had to dread, there can be no doubt that the +members of the Catholic party appeared to the secretary the most +formidable. It was known on all hands, nor did he attempt to disguise +the fact, that he was the irreconcilable opponent of any remission of +the penal laws enacted for the purpose of stamping out the old +faith.[60] The work, however, had as yet been very incompletely done. At +the beginning of the reign of King James, the Catholics formed at least +a half, probably a majority,[61] of the English people. There were +amongst them many noblemen, fitted to hold offices of State. Moreover, +the king, who before his accession had unquestionably assured the +Catholics at least of toleration,[62] showed at his first coming a +manifest disposition to relieve them from the grievous persecution under +which they had groaned so long.[63] He remitted a large part of the +fines which had so grievously pressed upon all recusants, declaring that +he would not make merchandise of conscience, nor set a price upon +faith;[64] he invited to his presence leading Catholics from various +parts of the country, assuring them, and bidding them assure their +co-religionists, of his gracious intentions in their regard;[65] titles +of honour and lucrative employments were bestowed on some of their +number;[66] one professed Catholic, Henry Howard, presently created Earl +of Northampton, being enrolled in the Privy Council; and in the first +speech which he addressed to his Parliament James declared that, as to +the papists, he had no desire to persecute them, especially those of the +laity who would be quiet.[67] The immediate effect of this milder +policy was to afford evidence of the real strength of the Catholics, +many now openly declaring themselves who had previously conformed to the +State church. In the diocese of Chester alone the number of Catholics +was increased by a thousand.[68] + +It is scarcely to be wondered at that men who were familiar with the +political methods of the age should see in all this a motive sufficient +to explain a great stroke for the destruction of those who appeared to +be so formidable, devised by such a minister as was then in power, "the +statesman," writes Lord Castlemaine,[69] "who bore (as everybody knew) a +particular hatred to all of our profession, and this increased to hear +his Majesty speak a little in his first speech to the two Houses against +persecution of papists, whereas there had been nothing within those +walls but invectives and defamations for above forty years together." + +This much is certain, that, whatever its origin, the Gunpowder Plot +immensely increased Cecil's influence and power, and, for a time, even +his popularity, assuring the success of that anti-Catholic policy with +which he was identified.[70] + +Of no less importance is it to understand the position of the Catholic +body, and the character of the particular Catholics who engaged in this +enterprise. We have seen with what hopes the advent of King James had +been hailed by those who had suffered so much for his mother's sake, and +who interpreted in a too sanguine and trustful spirit his own words and +deeds. Their dream of enjoying even toleration at his hands was soon +rudely dispelled. After giving them the briefest of respites, the +monarch, under the influence, as all believed, of his council, and +especially of his chief minister,[71] suddenly reversed his line of +action and persecuted his Catholic subjects more cruelly than had his +predecessor, calling up the arrears of fines which they fancied had been +altogether remitted, ruining many in the process who had hitherto +contrived to pay their way,[72] and adding to the sense of injury which +such a course necessarily provoked by farming out wealthy recusants to +needy courtiers, "to make their profit of," in particular to the Scots +who had followed their royal master across the border. Soon it was +announced that the king would have blood; all priests were ordered to +leave the realm under pain of death, and the searches for them became +more frequent and violent than ever. In no long time, as Goodman tells +us,[73] "a gentlewoman was hanged only for relieving and harbouring a +priest; a citizen was hanged only for being reconciled to the Church of +Rome; besides the penal laws were such and so executed that they could +not subsist." Father Gerard says:[74] "This being known to Catholics, it +is easy to be seen how first their hopes were turned into fears, and +then their fears into full knowledge that all the contrary to that they +had hoped was intended and prepared for them", and, as one of the victims +of these proceedings wrote, "the times of Elizabeth, although most +cruel, were the mildest and happiest in comparison with those of King +James."[75] + +In such circumstances, the Catholic body being so numerous as it was, it +is not to be wondered at that individuals should be found, who, smarting +under their injuries, and indignant at the bad faith of which they +considered themselves the dupes, looked to violent remedies for relief, +and might without difficulty be worked upon to that effect. Their case +seemed far more hopeless than ever. Queen Elizabeth's quarrel with Rome +had been in a great degree personal; and moreover, as she had no direct +heir, it was confidently anticipated that the demise of the crown would +introduce a new era. King James's proceedings, on the other hand, seemed +to indicate a deliberate policy which there was no prospect of +reversing, especially as his eldest son, should he prove true to his +promise, might be expected to do that zealously, and of himself, which +his father was held to do under the constraint of others.[76] As Sir +Everard Digby warned Cecil, in the remarkable letter which he addressed +to him on the subject:[77] "If your Lordship and the State think fit to +deal severely with the Catholics, within brief space there will be +massacres, rebellions, and desperate attempts against the King and the +State. For it is a general received reason among Catholics, that there +is not that expecting and suffering course now to be run that was in the +Queen's time, who was the last of her line, and last in expectance to +run violent courses against Catholics; for then it was hoped that the +King that now is, would have been at least free from persecuting, as his +promise was before his coming into this realm, and as divers his +promises have been since his coming. All these promises every man sees +broken."[78] + +It must likewise be remembered that if stratagems and "practices" were +the recognized weapons of ministers, turbulence and arms were, at this +period, the familiar, and indeed the only, resource of those in +opposition, nor did any stigma attach to their employment unless taken +up on the losing side. Not a little of this kind of thing had been done +on behalf of James himself. As is well known, he succeeded to the throne +by a title upon which he could not have recovered at law an acre of +land.[79] Elizabeth had so absolutely forbidden all discussion of the +question of the succession as to leave it in a state of utter +confusion.[80] There were more than a dozen possible competitors, and +amongst these the claim of the King of Scots was technically not the +strongest, for though nearest in blood his claims had been barred by a +special Act of Parliament, excluding the Scottish line. As Professor +Thorold Rogers says, "For a year after his accession James, if Acts of +Parliament are to go for anything, was not legally King."[81] + +Nevertheless the cause of James was vigorously taken up in all +directions, and promoted by means which might well have been styled +treason against the authority of Parliament. Thus, old Sir Thomas +Tresham, father of Francis Tresham, the Gunpowder Conspirator, who had +been an eminent sufferer for his religion, at considerable personal +risk, and against much resistance on the part of the local magistrates +and the populace, publicly proclaimed the new king at Northampton, while +Francis Tresham himself and his brother Lewis, with Lord Monteagle, +their brother-in-law, supported the Earl of Southampton in holding the +Tower of London on his behalf.[82] In London indeed everybody took to +arms as soon as the queen's illness had been known; watch and ward were +kept in the City; rich men brought their plate and treasure from the +country, and placed them where they would be safest,[83] and the +approaches were guarded. Cecil himself related in open court, in praise +of the Londoners, how, when he himself, attended by most of the peers +and privy councillors of the kingdom, wished to enter the City to +proclaim the new sovereign, they found the gates closed against them +till they had publicly declared that they were about to proclaim James +and no one else.[84] + +In times when statesmen could approve such methods of political action, +it was inevitable that violent enterprises should have come to be +considered the natural resource of those out of power, and it is very +clear that there were numerous individuals, of whom no one party had the +monopoly, who were ready at any moment to risk everything for the cause +they served, and such men, although their proclivities were well known, +did not suffer much in public esteem. + +The Gunpowder Conspirators were eminently men of this stamp, and +notoriously so. So well was their character known, that when, in 1596, +eight years before the commencement of the Plot, Queen Elizabeth had +been unwell, the Lords of the Council, as a precautionary measure +arrested some of the principal amongst them, Catesby, the two Wrights, +Tresham, and others, as being persons who would certainly give trouble +should a chance occur.[85] Since that time they had not improved their +record. All those above-named, as well as Thomas Winter, Christopher +Wright, Percy, Grant, and perhaps others, had been engaged in the +ill-starred rebellion of Essex, on which occasion Catesby was wounded, +and both he and Tresham came remarkably near being hanged.[86] They had +likewise been variously implicated in all the seditious attempts which +had since been made--Catesby and Tresham being named by Sir Edward Coke +as being engaged with Watson in the "Bye." Thomas Winter, Christopher +Wright, and Faukes, had, if we may believe the same authority, been sent +to Spain on treasonable embassies.[87] Grant made himself very +conspicuous by frequently resisting the officers of the law when they +appeared to search his house.[88] John Wright and Percy had, at least +till a very recent period, been notorious bravoes, who made a point of +picking a quarrel with any man who was reported to be a good swordsman, +they being both expert with the weapon.[89] + +It is evident that men of this stamp were not unlikely to prove restive +under such treatment as was meted out to the Catholics, from which +moreover, as gentlemen, they themselves suffered in a special degree. +Lord Castlemaine remarks that loose people may usually be drawn into a +plot when statesmen lay gins, and that it was no hard thing for a +Secretary of State, should he desire any such thing, to know of +turbulent and ambitious spirits to be his unconscious instruments,[90] +and it is obvious that no great perspicacity would have been required to +fix upon those who had given such evidence of their disposition as had +these men. + +It must, at the same time, be confessed that the character of the +plotters is one of the most perplexing features of the Plot. The crime +contemplated was without parallel in its brutal and senseless atrocity. +There had, it is true, been powder-plots before, notably that which had +effected the destruction of the king's own father, Lord Darnley, a fact +undoubtedly calculated to make much impression upon the timorous mind +of James. But what marked off our Gunpowder Plot from all others, was +the wholesale and indiscriminate slaughter in which it must have +resulted, and the absence of any possibility that the cause could be +benefited which the conspirators had at heart. It was at once reprobated +and denounced by the Catholics of England, and by the friends and near +relatives of the conspirators themselves.[91] It might be supposed that +those who undertook such an enterprise were criminals of the deepest +dye, and ruffians of a more than usually repulsive type. In spite, +however, of the turbulent element in their character of which we have +seen something, such a judgment would, in the opinion of historians, be +altogether erroneous. Far from their being utterly unredeemed villains, +it appears, in fact, that apart from the one monstrous transgression +which has made them infamous, they should be distinguished in the annals +of crime as the least disreputable gang of conspirators who ever plotted +a treason. On this point we have ample evidence from those who are by no +means their friends. "Atrocious as their whole undertaking was," writes +Mr. Gardiner,[92] "great as must have been the moral obliquity of their +minds before they could have conceived such a project, there was at +least nothing mean or selfish about them. They boldly risked their lives +for what they honestly believed to be the cause of God and of their +country. Theirs was a crime which it would never have entered into the +heart of any man to commit who was not raised above the low aims of the +ordinary criminal." Similarly Mr. Jardine, a still less friendly +witness, tells us[93] that "several at least of the conspirators were +men of mild and amiable manners, averse to tumults and bloodshed, and +dwelling quietly amidst the humanities of domestic life," a description +which he applies especially to Rokewood and Digby; while of Guy Faukes +himself he says[94] that, according to the accounts which we hear of +him, he is not to be regarded as a mercenary ruffian, ready for hire to +do any deed of blood; but as a zealot, misled by misguided fanaticism, +who was, however, by no means destitute either of piety or of humanity. +Moreover, as Mr. Jardine farther remarks, the conspirators as a body +were of the class which we should least expect to find engaged in +desperate enterprises, being, as Sir E. Coke described them, "gentlemen +of good houses, of excellent parts, and of very competent fortunes and +estates," none of them, except perhaps Catesby, being in pecuniary +difficulties, while several--notably Robert Winter, Rokewood, Digby, +Tresham, and Grant--were men of large possessions. It has also been +observed by a recent biographer of Sir Everard Digby,[95] that, for the +furtherance of their projects after the explosion, the confederates were +able to provide a sum equal at least to L75,000 of our money--a +sufficient proof of their worldly position. + +That men of such a class should so lightly and easily have adopted a +scheme so desperate and atrocious as that of "murdering a kingdom in its +representatives," is undoubtedly not the least incomprehensible feature +of this strange story. At the same time it must not be forgotten that +there is another, and a very different account of these men, which comes +to us on the authority of a Catholic priest living in England at the +time,[96] who speaks of the conspirators as follows: + +"They were a few wicked and desperate wretches, whom many Protestants +termed Papists, although the priests and the true Catholics knew them +not to be such.... They were never frequenters of Catholic Sacraments +with any priest, as I could ever learn; and, as all the Protestant +Courts will witness, not one of them was a convicted or known Catholic +or Recusant."[97] + +Similarly Cornwallis, writing from Madrid,[98] reported that the king +and Estate of Spain were "much grieved that they being atheists and +devils in their inward parts, should paint their outside with +Catholicism." + +In view of evidence so contradictory, it is difficult, if not +impossible, to form a confident judgment as to the real character of +those whose history we are attempting to trace; but, leaving aside what +is matter of doubt, the undisputed facts of their previous career +appear to show unmistakably that they were just the men who would be +ready to look to violence for a remedy of existing evils, and to whom it +would not be difficult to suggest its adoption. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[34] When James came to the throne Cecil was but a knight. He was +created Baron Cecil of Essendon, May 13th, 1603; Viscount Cranborne, +August 20th, 1604; Earl of Salisbury, May 4th, 1605. + +[35] Robert, as the second son, did not succeed to his father's title, +which devolved upon Thomas, the eldest, who was created Earl of Exeter +on the same day on which Robert became Earl of Salisbury. + +[36] _Fragmenta Regalia_, 37. Ed. 1642. + +[37] He was but little above five feet in height, and, in the phrase of +the time, a "Crouchback." King James, who was not a man of much delicacy +in such matters, was fond of giving him nicknames in consequence. Cecil +wrote to Sir Thomas Lake, October 24th, 1605: "I see nothing y^t I can +doe, can procure me so much favor, as to be sure one whole day what +title I shall have another. For from Essenden to Cranborne, from +Cranborne to Salisbury, from Salisbury to Beagle, from Beagle to Thom +Derry, from Thom Derry to Parret which I hate most, I have been so +walked, as I think by y^t I come to Theobalds, I shall be called Tare or +Sophie." (R.O. _Dom. James I._ xv. 105.) + +[38] _History_, i. 92. + +[39] In the same document James I. is spoken of as "the most judycious, +learned, and rareste kinge, that ever this worlde produced." (R.O. +_Dom. James I._ xxviii. 29.) + +[40] Digby to the King, S. P., _Spain_, Aug. 8. Gardiner, _History_, ii. +216. + +[41] At the trial of Essex, Cecil exclaimed, "I pray God to consume me +where I stand, if I hate not the Spaniard as much as any man living." +(Bruce, _Introduction to Secret Correspondence of Sir R. Cecil_, +xxxiii.) + +Of the Spanish pension Mr. Gardiner, after endeavouring to show that +originally Cecil's acceptance of it may have been comparatively +innocent, thus continues (_History of England_, i. 216): "But it is +plain that, even if this is the explanation of his original intentions, +such a comparatively innocent connection with Spain soon extended itself +to something worse, and that he consented to furnish the ambassadors, +from time to time, with information on the policy and intentions of the +English Government.... Of the persistence with which he exacted payment +there can be no doubt whatever. Five years later, when the opposition +between the two governments became more decided, he asked for an +increase of his payments, and demanded that they should be made in large +sums as each piece of information was given." + +At the same time it appears highly probable that he was similarly in the +pay of France. _Ibid._ + +[42] Queen Elizabeth regarded as treasonable any discussion of the +question of the succession. + +[43] Gardiner, i. 215. + +[44] _Chamberlain to Carleton_, July 9th, 1612, R.O. + +[45] "Tout ce que vous a dit le Comte de Salisbury touchant le mariage +d'Espagne est rempli de deguisements et artifices a son accoutumee.... +Toutefois, je ne veux pas jurer qu'ils negocient plus sincerement et de +meilleur foi avec lesdites Espagnols qu'avec nous. Ils corromproient par +trop leur naturel, s'ils le faisoient, pour des gens qui ne leur +scauroient guere de gre."--Le Fevre de la Boderie, _Ambassade_, i. 170. + +[46] (Of the Earl of Northumberland.) "On tient le Comte de Salisbury +pour principal auteur de sa persecution, comme celui qui veut ne laisser +personne en pied qui puisse lui faire tete." De la Boderie. _Ibid._ 178. + +[47] R.O. _Dom. James I._ lxix. 56. + +[48] _Ibid._, May 27, 1612. Bishop Goodman, no enemy of Cecil, is +inclined to believe that at the time of the secretary's death there was +a warrant out for his arrest. _Court of King James_, i. 45. + +[49] The first of these epigrams, in Latin, concludes thus: + + Sero, Recurve, moreris sed serio; + Sero, jaces (bis mortuus) sed serio: + Sero saluti publicae, serio tuae. + +The second is in English: + + Whiles two RR's, both crouchbacks, stood at the helm, + The one spilt the blood royall, the other the realm. + +A marginal note explains that these were, "Richard Duke of Gloster, and +Robert Earl of Salisburie;" the anagram, of which title is "A silie +burs." He also styles the late minister a monkey (_cercopithecus_) and +hobgoblin (_empusa_). + +[50] Osborne, _Traditional Memoirs_, p. 236 (ed. 1811). + +[51] _Court of King James_, i. 44. + +[52] _Traditional Memoirs_, 181. + +[53] This feeling was expressed in lampoons quoted by Osborne, e.g.: + + "Here lies Hobinall, our pastor while here, + That once in a quarter our fleeces did sheare. + For oblation to Pan his custom was thus, + He first gave a trifle, then offer'd up us: + And through his false worship such power he did gaine, + As kept him o' th' mountain, and us on the plaine." + +Again, he is described as + + "Little bossive Robin that was so great, + Who seemed as sent from ugly fate, + To spoyle the prince, and rob the state, + Owning a mind of dismall endes, + As trappes for foes, and tricks for friends." + + (_Ibid._ 236.) + +Oldmixon (_History of Queen Elizabeth_, p. 620) says of the Earl of +Essex, "'Twas not likely that Cecil, whose Soul was of a narrow Size, +and had no Room for enlarged Sentiments of Ambition, Glory, and Public +Spirit, should cease to undermine a Hero, in comparison with whom he was +both in Body and Mind a Piece of Deformity, if there's nothing beautiful +in Craft." + +[54] _Court and Character of King James_, Sec. 10. + +[55] _Ambassade_, i. 58. + +[56] _Ibid._ 401. + +[57] Against Northumberland nothing was proved (_vide_ de la Boderie, +_Ambassade_, i. 178), except that he had admitted Thomas Percy amongst +the royal pensioners without exacting the usual oath. He in vain +demanded an open trial, but was prosecuted in the Star Chamber, and +there sentenced to a fine of L30,000 (equal to at least ten times that +sum in our money), and to be imprisoned for life. + +Mr. Gardiner considers that, in regard both of Raleigh and of +Northumberland, Cecil acted with great moderation. It must, however, be +remembered that in his secret correspondence with King James, before the +death of the queen, he had strenuously endeavoured to poison the mind of +that monarch against these his rivals. Thus he wrote, December 4th, 1601 +(as usual through Lord Henry Howard): "You must remember that I gave you +notice of the diabolical triplicity, that is, Cobham, Raleigh, and +Northumberland, that met every day at Durham-house, where Raleigh lies, +in consultation, which awaked all the best wits of the town ... to watch +what chickens they could hatch out of these cockatrice eggs that were +daily and nightly sitten on." (_Secret Correspondence of Sir Robert +Cecil with James VI., King of Scotland_, Edinburgh, 1766, p. 29.) Coming +after this, the speedy ruin of all these men appears highly suspicious. + +[58] Sir Walter Cope in his _Apology_ (Gutch, _Collectanea Curiosa_, i. +No. 10) says: "When living, the world observed with all admiration and +applause; no sooner dead, but it seeketh finally to suppress his +excellent parts, and load his memory with all imputations of +corruption." + +Among such charges are enumerated "His Falsehood in Friendship.--That he +often made his friends fair promises, and underhand laid rubs to hinder +their preferment.--The secret passage of things I know not.... Great +Counsellors have their private and their publique ends...." etc. + +[59] Lord Castlemaine after mentioning the chief features of the +Gunpowder Plot, goes on: "But let it not displease you, if we ask +whether Ulysses be no better known?" (_Catholique Apology_, p. 30.) + +Francis Herring in his Latin poem, _Pietas Pontificia_ (published 1606), +speaking of Monteagle (called "Morleius," from his father's title), who +took the celebrated letter to Cecil, writes thus: + + "Morleius Regis de consultoribus unum, + (Quem norat veteri nil quicquam cedere Ulyssi, + Juditio pollentem acri, ingenioque sagaci) + Seligit, atque illi Rem totam ex ordine pandit." + +[60] This is so evident that it appears unnecessary to occupy space with +proofs in detail. De la Boderie remarks (_Ambassade_, i. 71) on the +extraordinary rancour of the minister against Catholics, and especially +against Jesuits, and that "he wishes to destroy them everywhere." Of +this a remarkable confirmation is afforded by the instructions given to +Sir Thomas Parry when he was sent as ambassador, "Leiger," to Paris, in +1603, at the head of which stood these extraordinary articles: + +1. "To intimate to the French king the jealousy conceived in England +upon the revocation of the Jesuits, against former edicts. + +2. "To inform the French king that the English were disgusted at the +maintenance allowed to the French king's prelates and clergy, to priests +and Jesuits that passed out of his dominions into England, Scotland, and +Ireland, to do bad offices." (P.R.O. _France_, bundle 132, f. 314.) + +[61] Jardine, _Gunpowder Plot_, p. 5. Strype says of the time of +Elizabeth: "The faction of the Catholics in England is great, and able, +if the kingdom were divided into three parts, to make two of them." +(_Annals_, iii. 313, quoted by Butler, _Historical Memoirs_, ii. 177.) + +At the execution of Father Oldcorne, 1606, a proof was given of their +numbers which is said to have alarmed the king greatly. The Father +having from the scaffold invited all Catholics to pray with him, almost +all present uncovered. + +[62] Of this there can be no doubt, in spite of James's subsequent +denial. Father Garnet wrote to Parsons (April 16th, 1603): "There hath +happened a great alteration by the death of the Queen. Great fears were, +but all are turned into greatest security, and a golden time we have of +unexpected freedom abroade.... The Catholicks have great cause to hope +for great respect, in that the nobility all almost labour for it, and +have good promise thereof from his Majesty." (Stonyhurst MSS. _Anglia_, +iii. 32.) + +Goodman says: "And certainly they [the Catholics] had very great +promises from him." (_Court of King James_, i. 86.) + +[63] "The Penal Laws, a code as savage as any that can be conceived +since the foundation of the world."--Lord Chief Justice Coleridge. (_To +Lord Mayor Knill_, Nov. 9, 1892.) + +[64] Gardiner, i. 100. + +[65] Jardine, _Gunpowder Plot_, 18. + +[66] _Ibid._ 20. + +[67] Gardiner, i. 166. + +[68] Green, _History of the English People_, iii. 62. Mr. Green adds: +"Rumours of Catholic conversions spread a panic which showed itself in +an Act of the Parliament of 1604 confirming the statutes of Elizabeth; +and to this James gave his assent. He promised, indeed, that the statute +should remain inoperative." In May, 1604, the Catholics boasted that +they had been joined by 10,000 converts. (Gardiner, _Hist_. i. 202.) + +[69] _Catholique Apology_, 404. + +[70] Salisbury, in reward of his services on this occasion, received the +Garter, May 20th, 1606, and was honoured on the occasion with an almost +regal triumph. + +Of the proceedings subsequent to the Plot we are told: "In passing these +laws for the security of the Protestant Religion, the Earl of Salisbury +exerted himself with distinguished zeal and vigour, which gained him +great love and honour from the kingdom, as appeared in some measure, in +the universal attendance on him at his installation with the Order of +the Garter, on the 20th of May, 1606, at Windsor." (Birch, _Historical +View_, p. 256.) + +[71] This belief is so notorious that one instance must suffice as +evidence for it. A paper of informations addressed to Cecil himself, +April, 1604, declares that the Catholics hoped to see a good day yet, +and that "his Majesty would suffer a kinde of Tolleracyon, for his +inclynacyon is good, howsoever the Councell set out his speeches." +(S.P.O. _Dom. James I._ vii. 86.) + +[72] Mr. Gardiner (_Hist._ i. 229, note) says that arrears were never +demanded in the case of the fine of L20 per lunar month for +non-attendance at the parish church. Father Gerard, however, a +contemporary witness, distinctly states that they were. (_Narrative of +the Gunpowder Plot_, ed. Morris, p. 62.) + +[73] _Court of King James_, i. 100. + +[74] _Narrative_, p. 46. + +[75] Stonyhurst MSS., _Anglia_, iii. 103. + +[76] Of the Prince of Wales it was prophesied: + + "The eighth Henry did pull down Monks and their cells, + The ninth will pull down Bishops and their bells." + +[77] Concerning this letter see Appendix B, _Digby's Letter to +Salisbury_. + +[78] R.O. _Dom. James I._ xvii. 10. + +[79] Hallam, _Constitutional Hist._ i. 392 (3rd ed.). + +[80] See Appendix C, _The Question of Succession_. + +[81] _Agriculture and Prices_, v. 5. + +[82] Jardine, _Gunpowder Plot_, p. 17. + +[83] Gardiner, _Hist._ i. 84. + +[84] Trial of Father Garnet (Cobbett's _State Trials_, ii. 243). + +[85] Camden, the historian, to Sir R. Cotton, March 15th, 1596. (Birch, +_Original Letters_, 2nd series, iii. p. 179.) Various writers +erroneously suppose this transaction to have occurred in March, 1603, on +occasion of Elizabeth's last illness. The correct date, 1596, given by +Sir Henry Ellis, is supplied by a statement contained in the letter, +that this was her Majesty's "climacterick year," that is, her +sixty-third, this number, as the multiple of the potent factors seven +and nine, being held of prime importance in human life. Elizabeth was +born in 1533. + +From Garnet's examination of March 14th, 1605-6 (_Dom. James I._ xix. +44), we learn that Catesby was at large at the time of the queen's +demise. + +For Cecil's description of the men, see Winwood's _Memorials_, ii. 172. + +[86] Catesby purchased his life for a fine of 4,000 marks, and Tresham +of 3,000. Mr. Jessopp says that the former sum is equivalent at least to +L30,000 at the present day. (_Dict. Nat. Biog., Catesby_.) + +[87] But see Appendix D, _The Spanish Treason_. + +[88] Father Gerard says of him that "he paid them [the pursuivants] so +well for their labour not with crowns of gold, but with cracked crowns +sometimes, and with dry blows instead of drink and other good cheer, +that they durst not visit him any more unless they brought store of help +with them." (_Narrative of the Gunpowder Plot_, p. 86.) + +[89] _Ibid._, p. 57. + +[90] _Catholique Apology_, p. 403. + +[91] _E.g._, by Mr. Talbot of Grafton, father-in-law of Robert Winter, +who drove their envoys away with threats and reproaches (Jardine, +_Gunpowder Plot_, p. 112), and by Sir Robert Digby, of Coleshill, cousin +to Sir Everard, who assisted in taking prisoners. (R.O. _Gunpowder Plot +Book_, 42.) + +[92] _History_, i. 263. + +[93] _Gunpowder Plot_, p. 151. + +[94] _Ibid._, p. 38. + +[95] _Life of a Conspirator, by one of his Descendants_, p. 150. + +[96] _English Protestants' Plea and Petition for English Priests and +Papists._ The author of this book (published 1621) describes himself as +a priest who has been for many years on the English mission. His title +indicates that he draws his arguments from Protestant sources. + +[97] P. 56. + +[98] November 25th, 1605, _Stowe MSS._ 168, 61. + + + + +CHAPTER III. + +THE OPINION OF CONTEMPORARIES AND HISTORIANS. + + +WE have now for so long a period been accustomed to accept the official +story regarding the Gunpowder Plot, that most readers will be surprised +to hear that at the time of its occurrence, and for more than a century +afterwards, there were, to say the least, many intelligent men who took +for granted that in some way or other the actual conspirators were but +the dupes and instruments of more crafty men than themselves, and in +their mad enterprise unwittingly played the game of ministers of State. + +From the beginning the government itself anticipated this, as is +evidenced by the careful and elaborate account of the whole +affair drawn up on the 7th of November, 1605--two days after the +"discovery"--seemingly for the benefit of the Privy Council.[99] This +important document, which is in the handwriting of Levinus Munck, +Cecil's secretary, with numerous and significant emendations from the +hand of Cecil himself, speaks, amongst other things, of the need of +circumspection, "considering how apt the world is nowadays to think all +providence and intelligences to be but practices." The result did not +falsify the expectation. Within five weeks we find a letter written from +London to a correspondent abroad,[100] wherein it is said: "Those that +have practical experience of the way in which things are done, hold it +as certain that there has been foul play, and that some of the Council +secretly spun the web to entangle these poor gentlemen, as did Secretary +Walsingham in other cases," and it is clear that the writer has but +recorded an opinion widely prevalent. To this the government again bear +witness, for they found it advisable to issue an official version of the +history, in the _True and Perfect Relation_, and the _Discourse of the +Manner of the Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot_, the appearance of which +was justified expressly on the ground that "there do pass from hand to +hand divers uncertain, untrue, and incoherent reports and relations," +and that it is very important "for men to understand the birth and +growth of the said abominable and detestable conspiracy." The accounts +published with this object are, by the common consent of historians, +flagrantly untruthful and untrustworthy.[101] We likewise find +Secretary Cecil writing to instruct Sir E. Coke, the Attorney-General, +as to his conduct of the case against the conspirators, in view of the +"lewd" reports current in regard of the manner in which it had been +discovered.[102] The same minister, in the curious political manifesto +which he issued in connection with the affair,[103] again bears witness +to the same effect, when he declares that the papists, after the manner +of Nero, were throwing the blame of their crime upon others. + +Clearly, however, it was not to the papists alone that such an +explanation commended itself. The Puritan Osborne[104] speaks of the +manner in which the "discovery" was managed as "a neat device of the +Treasurer's, he being very plentiful in such plots." Goodman, Anglican +Bishop of Gloucester, another contemporary, is even more explicit. After +describing the indignation of the Catholics when they found themselves +deceived in their hopes at the hands of James, he goes on: "The great +statesman had intelligence of all this, and because he would show his +service to the State, he would first contrive and then discover a +treason, and the more odious and hateful the treason were, his service +would be the greater and the more acceptable."[105] Another notable +witness is quoted by the Jesuit Father Martin Grene, in a letter to his +brother Christopher, January 1st, 1665-6:[106] "I have heard strange +things, which, if ever I can make out, will be very pertinent: for +certain, the late Bishop of Armagh, Usher, was divers times heard to +say, that if papists knew what he knew, the blame of the Gunpowder +Treason would not lie on them." In like manner we find it frequently +asserted on the authority of Lord Cobham and others,[107] that King +James himself, when he had time to realize the truth of the matter, was +in the habit of speaking of the Fifth of November as "Cecil's holiday." + +Such a belief must have been widely entertained, otherwise it could not +have been handed on, as it was, for generations. It is not too much to +say that historians for almost a century and a half, if they did not +themselves favour the theory of the government's complicity, at least +bore witness how widely that idea prevailed. Thus, to confine ourselves +at present to Protestant writers, Sanderson,[108] acknowledging that the +secretary was accused of having manipulated the transaction, says no +word to indicate that he repudiates such a charge. Welwood[109] is of +opinion that Cecil was aware of the Plot long before the "discovery," +and that the famous letter to Monteagle was "a contrivance of his own." +Oldmixon writes[110] "notwithstanding the general joy, ... there were +some who insinuated that the Plot was of the King's own making, or that +he was privy to it from first to last." Carte[111] does not believe that +James knew anything of it, but considers it "not improbable" that Cecil +was better informed. Burnet[112] complains of the impudence of the +papists of his day, who denied the conspiracy, and pretended it was an +artifice of the minister's "to engage some desperate men into a plot, +which he managed so that he could discover it when he pleased." +Fuller[113] bears witness to the general belief, but considers it +inconsistent with the well-known piety of King James. Bishop Kennet, in +his Fifth of November sermon at St. Paul's, in 1715, talks in a similar +strain. So extreme, indeed, does the incredulity and uncertainty appear +to have been, that the Puritan Prynne[114] is inclined to suspect +Bancroft, the Archbishop of Canterbury, of having been engaged in the +conspiracy; while one of the furious zealots who followed the lead of +Titus Oates, mournfully testified that there were those in his day who +looked upon the Powder Treason "as upon a romantic story, or a politic +invention, or a State trick," giving no more credence to it than to the +histories of the "Grand Cyrus, or Guy of Warwick, or Amadis de +Gaul,"--or, as we should now say, Jack the Giant Killer. + +The general scope and drift of such suspicions are well indicated by +Bevil Higgons, "This impious design," he writes[115] of the Plot, "gave +the greatest blow to the Catholic interest in England, by rendering that +religion so odious to the people. The common opinion concerning the +discovery of the Plot, by a letter to the Lord Mounteagle, has not been +universally allowed to be the real truth of the matter, for some have +affirmed that this design was first hammered in the forge of Cecil, who +intended to have produced this plot in the time of Queen Elizabeth, but +prevented by her death he resumed his project in this reign, with a +design to have so enraged the nation as to have expelled all Roman +Catholics, and confiscated their estates. To this end, by his secret +emissaries, he enticed some hot-headed men of that persuasion, who, +ignorant whence the design first came, heartily engaged in this +execrable Powder Treason.... Though this account should not be true," he +continues, "it is certain that the Court of England had notice of this +Plot from France and Italy long before the pretended discovery; upon +which Cecil ... framed that letter to the Lord Mounteagle, with a design +to make the discovery seem the more miraculous, and at the same time +magnify the judgment of the king, who by his deep penetration was to +have the honour of unravelling so ambiguous and dark a riddle." + +It may be added that amongst modern historians who have given special +attention to this period, several, though repudiating the notion that +Cecil originated the Plot, are strongly of opinion that as to the +important episode of the "discovery," the traditional story is a +fabrication. Thus, Mr. Brewer[116] declares it to be quite certain that +Cecil had previous knowledge of the design, and that the "discovery" was +a fraud. Lodge[117] is of the same opinion, and so is the author of the +_Annals of England_.[118] Jardine[119] inclines to the belief that the +government contrived the letter to Monteagle in order to conceal the +means by which their information had in reality been obtained. Mr. +Gardiner, though dismissing the idea as "absurd," acknowledges that his +contemporaries accused Cecil of inventing the whole Plot.[120] + +So much for the testimony of Protestants. As for those who had to suffer +in consequence of the affair, there is no need to multiply testimonies. +Lord Castlemaine tells us[121] that "the Catholics of England, who knew +Cecil's ways of acting and their own innocence, suspected him from the +beginning, as hundreds still alive can testify." Father Henry More, +S.J., a contemporary, speaks to the same effect.[122] Father John +Gerard, who was not only a contemporary, but one of those accused of +complicity, intimates[123] his utter disbelief of the official narrative +concerning the discovery, and his conviction that those who had the +scanning of the redoubtable letter were "well able in shorter time and +with fewer doubts to decipher a darker riddle and find out a greater +secret than that matter was." One Floyde, a spy, testified in 1615[124] +to having frequently heard various Jesuits say, that the government were +aware of the Plot several months before they thought fit to "discover" +it. + +The Catholic view is expressed with much point and force by an anonymous +writer of the eighteenth century:[125] "I shall touch briefly upon a few +particulars relating to this Plot, for the happy discovery whereof an +anniversary holiday has now been kept for above a hundred years. Is it +out of pure gratitude to God the nation is so particularly devout on +this occasion? If so, it is highly commendable: for we ought to thank +God for all things, and therefore I cannot deny but there is all the +reason in the world to give him solemn thanks, for that the king and +Parliament never were in any danger of being hurt by the Powder Plot.... +I am far from denying the Gunpowder Plot. Nay, I believe as firmly that +Catesby, with twelve more popish associates, had a design to blow up K. +James, as I believe that the father of that same king was effectually +blown up by the Earls of Murray, Morton, Bothwell, and others of the +Reformed Church of Scotland. However ... I humbly conceive I may say the +king and Parliament were in no danger of being hurt by it, and my reason +is because they had not less a man than the prime minister of state for +their tutelar angel; a person deeply read in politics; who had inherited +the double spirit of his predecessor Walsingham, knew all his tricks of +legerdemain, and could as seasonably discover plots as contrive them.... +This much at least is certain, that the letter written to my Lord +Mounteagle, by which the Plot was discovered, had not a fool, but a very +wise sophister for its author: for it was so craftily worded, that +though it was mysterious enough on the one hand to prevent a full +evidence that it was written on purpose to discover the Plot, yet it was +clear enough on the other to be understood with the help of a little +consideration, as the event soon showed. Indeed, when it was brought to +Secretary Cecil, he, poor gentleman, had not penetration enough to +understand the meaning of it, and said it was certainly written by a +madman. But there, I fear, he wronged himself. For the secretary was no +madman. On the contrary, he had too much wit to explain it himself, and +was too refined a politician to let slip so favourable an occasion of +making his court to the king, who was to have the compliment made him of +being the only Solomon wise enough to unfold this dark mystery. Which +while his Majesty was doing with a great deal of ease, the secretary was +all the while at his elbow admiring and applauding his wonderful +sagacity.... So that, in all probability, the same man was the chief +underhand contriver and discoverer of the Plot; and the greatest part of +the bubbles concerned in it were trapanned into it by one who took sure +care that none but themselves should be hurt by it.... But be that as it +will, there is no doubt but that they who suffer themselves to be drawn +into a plot like fools, deserve to be hanged for it like knaves." + +The opinion of Dodd, the historian, has already been indicated, which in +another place he thus emphasizes and explains:[126] "Some persons in +chief power suspecting the king would be very indulgent to Catholics, +several stratagems were made use of to exasperate him against them, and +cherishing the Gunpowder Plot is thought to be a masterpiece in this +way."[127] + +It would not be difficult to continue similar citations, but enough has +now been said to show that it is nothing new to charge the chief +minister of James I. with having fostered the conspiracy for his own +purposes, or even to have actually set it a-going. It appears perfectly +clear that from the first there were not a few, and those not Catholics +only, who entertained such a belief, and that the facts of the case are +inadequately represented by historians, who imply, like Mr. Jardine, +that such a theory was first broached long afterwards, and adopted by +Catholics alone.[128] + +It is moreover apparent that if in recent times historians have +forgotten that such a view was ever held, or consider it too +preposterous for serious discussion, this is not because fuller +knowledge of the details of the conspiracy have discredited it. The +official version of the story has remained in possession of the field, +and it has gradually been assumed that this must substantially be true. +In consequence, as it seems, writers of history, approaching the subject +with this conviction, have failed to remark many points suggested even +by the documentary evidence at our disposal, and still more emphatically +by the recorded facts, which cannot but throw grave doubt upon almost +every particular of the traditional account, while making it impossible +to believe that, as to what is most essential, the Plot was in reality +what has for so long been supposed. That long before the "discovery" the +Plot must have been, and in fact was, known to the government; that this +knowledge was artfully dissimulated, in order to make political capital +out of it; that for the same purpose the sensational circumstances of +its discovery were deliberately arranged; and that there are grave +reasons for suspecting the beginnings of the desperate enterprise, as +well as its catastrophe, to have been dexterously manipulated for State +purposes;--such are the conclusions, the evidence for which will now be +considered. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[99] _Gunpowder Plot Book_, 129. Printed in _Archaeologia_, xii. 202*. + +[100] R.O. _Roman Transcripts_ (Bliss), No. 86, December 10th, 1605 +(Italian). + +[101] Mr. Jardine writes (_Criminal Trials_, ii. p. 235), "_The True and +Perfect Relation_ ... is certainly not deserving of the character which +its title imports. It is not _true_, because many occurrences on the +trial are wilfully misrepresented; and it is not _perfect_, because the +whole evidence, and many facts and circumstances which must have +happened, are omitted, and incidents are inserted which could not by +possibility have taken place on the occasion. It is obviously a false +and imperfect relation of the proceedings; a tale artfully garbled and +misrepresented, like many others of the same age, to serve a State +purpose, and intended and calculated to mislead the judgment of the +world upon the facts of the case." Of the _Discourse_ he speaks in +similar terms. (_Ibid._, p. 4.) + +[102] R.O. _Dom. James I._ xix. 94. Printed by Jardine, _Criminal +Trials_, ii. 120 (note). + +[103] _Answere to certaine Scandalous Papers, scattered abroad under +colour of a Catholic Admonition._ (Published in January, 1605-6.) + +[104] _Traditional Memoirs_, 36. Of this writer Lord Castlemaine says, +"He was born before this plot, and was also an inquisitive man, a +frequenter of company, of a noted wit, of an excellent family, and as +Protestant a one as any in the whole nation." + +[105] _Court of King James_ (1839), i. 102. + +[106] Stonyhurst MSS., _Anglia_, v. 67. + +[107] _E.g._, in the _Advocate of Conscience Liberty_ (1673), p. 225. + +[108] _History of Mary Queen of Scots and James I._, p. 334. Bishop +Kennet, in his Fifth of November Sermon, 1715, boldly declares that +Sanderson speaks not of Cecil the statesman, but of Cecil "a busy Romish +priest" (and, he might have added, a paid government spy). The assertion +is utterly and obviously false. + +[109] _Memoirs_, p. 22. + +[110] _History of England, Royal House of Stuart_, p. 27. + +[111] _General History of England_, iii. 757. + +[112] _History of His Own Times_, i. 11. + +[113] _Church History_, Book X. Sec. 39. + +[114] _Antipathie of the English Lordly Prelacie, to the regall +Monarchie and Civill Unity_, p. 151. + +[115] _A Short View of the English History_, p. 296. + +[116] Note to _Fuller's Church History_, x. Sec. 39, and to the _Student's +Hume_. + +[117] _Illustrations_, iii. 172. + +[118] Parker and Co. This author says of Cecil and his rival Raleigh, +"Both were unprincipled men, but Cecil was probably the worst. He is +suspected not only of having contrived the strange plot in which Raleigh +was involved, but of being privy to the proceedings of Catesby and his +associates, though he suffered them to remain unmolested, in order to +secure the forfeiture of their estates" (p. 338). + +[119] _Criminal Trials_, ii. 68. + +[120] _History of England_, i. 254, note. + +[121] _Catholique Apology_, p. 412. + +[122] _Hist. Prov. Angl. S.J._, p. 310. + +[123] _Condition of Catholics under James I._, p. 100. + +[124] R.O. _Dom. James I._, lxxxi. 70, August 29th, 1615. + +[125] _A Plain and Rational Account of the Catholick Faith_, Rouen, +1721, p. 197. + +[126] _Certamen utriusque Ecclesiae_, James I. + +[127] The author of the _English Protestants' Plea_ (1621) says: "Old +stratagems and tragedies of Queene Elizabeth's time must needs be +renewed and playde againe, to bring not only the Catholikes of England, +but their holy religion into obloquy" (p. 56). + +Peter Talbot, Bishop of Dublin, in the _Polititian's Catechisme_ (1658) +writes: "That Cecil was the contriver, or at least the fomenter of [the +Plot,] was testified by one of his own domestick Gentlemen, who +advertised a certain Catholike, by name Master Buck, two months before, +of a wicked designe his Master had against Catholikes" (p. 94). + +[128] A writer, signing himself "Architect," in an article describing +the old palace of Westminster (_Gentleman's Magazine_, July, 1800, p. +627), having occasion to mention the Gunpowder Plot, observes: "This +Plot is now pretty well understood not to have been hatched by the +Papists, but by an inveterate foe of the Catholicks of that day, the +famous minister of James.... All well-informed persons at present laugh +at the whole of this business." + + + + +CHAPTER IV. + +THE TRADITIONAL STORY. + + +THE history of the Gunpowder Plot prior to its discovery, as related +with much circumstantiality by the government of the day, has, in all +essential particulars, been accepted without demur by the great majority +of modern writers. We have already seen that those who lived nearer to +the period in question were less easily convinced; it remains to show +that the internal evidence of the story itself is incompatible with its +truthfulness. + +The point upon which everything turns is the secret, and therefore +dangerous, character of the conspiracy, which, as we are told, +completely eluded the vigilance of the authorities, and was on the very +verge of success before even a breath of suspicion was aroused, being +balked only by a lucky accident occurring at the eleventh hour, in a +manner fitly described as miraculous. + +On the other hand, however, many plain and obvious considerations +combine to show that such an account cannot be true. It is not easy to +believe that much which is said to have been done by the conspirators +ever occurred at all. It is clear that, if such things did occur, they +can by no possibility have escaped observation. There is evidence that +the government knew of the Plot long before they suddenly "discovered" +it. Finally, the story of the said "discovery," and the manner in which +it took place, is plainly not only untrue, but devised to conceal the +truth; while the elaborate care expended upon it sufficiently indicates +how important it was held that the truth should be concealed. + +There are, moreover, arguments, which appear to deserve consideration, +suggesting the conclusion that the Plot was actually set on foot by the +secret instigation of those who designed to make it serve their ends, as +in fact it did. For our purpose, however, it is not necessary to insist +greatly upon these. It will be enough to show that, whatever its origin, +the conspiracy was, and must have been, known to those in power, who, +playing with their infatuated dupes, allowed them to go on with their +mad scheme, till the moment came to strike with full effect; thus +impressing the nation with a profound sense of its marvellous +deliverance, and winning its confidence for those to whose vigilance and +sagacity alone that deliverance appeared due. + +That we may rightly follow the details of the story told to us, we must +in the first place understand the topography of the scene of operations, +which, with the aid of the illustrations given, will not be difficult. + +[Illustration: HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT IN THE TIME OF JAMES I.] + +[Illustration: INDEX. PARLIAMENT HOUSES IN THE TIME OF JAMES I. + +A. The House of Lords. + +B. Chamber under the House of Lords, called "Guy Faukes' Cellar." + +C. The Prince's Chamber. + +D. The Painted Chamber. + +E. The "White Hall" or Court of Requests. + +F. The House of Commons (formerly St. Stephen's Chapel). + +G. Westminster Hall. + +H. St. Stephen's Cloisters, converted into houses for the Tellers of the +Exchequer. + +I. Garden of the Old Palace (afterwards called "Cotton Garden"). + +J. House built on the site of the Chapel of "Our Lady of the Pew" +(called later "Cotton House"). + +K K K. Houses built upon ruins of the walls of the Old Palace. + +L. Vault under the Painted Chamber. + +M. Yard or Court into which a doorway opened from Guy Faukes' Cellar. + +N. Passage leading from the same Yard or Court into Parliament Place. + +O. Parliament Place. + +P. Parliament Stairs (formerly called "The Queen's Bridge"). + +Q Q. The River Thames. + +R. Old Palace Yard. + +S. Westminster Abbey. + +T. St. Margaret's Church. + +U V W. Buildings of the Old Palace, called "Heaven" (or "Paradise"), +"Hell," and "Purgatory." + +X. New Palace Yard. + +Y. Bell Tower of St. Stephen's. + +Z. The Speaker's Garden.] + +The old House of Lords[129] was a chamber occupying the first floor of +a building which stood about fifty yards from the left bank of the +Thames, to which it was parallel, the stream at this point running +almost due north. Beneath the Peers' Chamber, on the ground floor, was a +large room, which plays an important part in our history. This had +originally served as the palace kitchen,[130] and though commonly +described as a "cellar" or a "vault" was in reality neither, for it +stood on the level of the ground outside, and had a flat ceiling, formed +by the beams which supported the flooring of the Lords' apartment +above.[131] It ran beneath the said Peers' Chamber from end to end, and +measured 77 feet in length, by 24 feet 4 inches in width. + +At either end, the building abutted upon another running transversely to +it; that on the north being the "Painted Chamber," probably erected by +Edward the Confessor, and that on the south the "Prince's Chamber," +assigned by its architectural features to the reign of Henry III. The +former served as a place of conference for Lords and Commons,[132] the +latter as the robing-room of the Lords. The royal throne stood at the +south end of the House, near the Prince's Chamber. + +[Illustration: GROUND PLAN OF THE SCENE OF ACTION.] + +Originally the Parliament Chamber and the "cellar" beneath it were +lighted by large windows on both sides; subsequently, houses raised +against it blocked these up, and the Lords were supplied with light by +dormers constructed in the roof. The walls of their apartment were then +hung with tapestry, representing the defeat of the Spanish Armada. +Although precise information on the point is not easy to obtain, it +would appear that this did not occur till a period later than that with +which we are concerned.[133] + +Such was the position to be attacked. As a first step, the conspirators +resolved to hire a house in the immediate neighbourhood, to serve them +as a base of operations. Thomas Percy was selected to appear as the +principal in this part of the business, for, being one of the king's +pensioners, he had frequently to be in attendance at Court, and might +naturally wish to have a lodging close at hand. The house chosen was +one, or rather a part of one,[134] standing near the Prince's Chamber, +and on the side towards the river.[135] + +In treating for the lease of this tenement Percy seems to have conducted +himself in a manner altogether different from what we might have +expected of one whose object required him, above all, to avoid +attracting notice. He appears, in fact, to have made the greatest +possible ado about the business. The apartments were already let to one +Ferrers, who was unwilling to give them up, and Percy eventually +succeeded in his purpose, after not only "long suit by himself," but +also "great intreaty of Mr. Carleton, Mr. Epsley, and other gentlemen +belonging to the Earl of Northumberland."[136] These gentlemen were +never said to have been privy to the Conspiracy, and one of them, the +well-known Dudley Carleton, afterwards Viscount Dorchester, was not only +at this time secretary to Sir Thomas Parry, the Ambassador in France, +but was "patronised" by Cecil himself.[137] + +[Illustration: THE OLD HOUSE OF LORDS, FROM THE EAST OR RIVER SIDE, +SHOWING THE GARDEN.] + +Neither does the house appear to have been well suited to serve the +purposes for which it was taken. Speed tells us,[138] and he is +confirmed by Bishop Barlow of Lincoln,[139] that it was let out to +tenants only when Parliament was not assembled, and during a session +formed part of the premises at the disposal of the Lords, whom it served +as a withdrawing room. As the Plot was, of necessity, to take effect +during a session,[140] when the place would thus be in other hands, it +is very hard to understand how it was intended that the final and all +important operation should be conducted. + +The bargain for the house was concluded May 24th, 1604,[141] but the +proposed operations were delayed till a much later date, by a +circumstance which clearly shows the public nature of the premises, and +that the lease obtained conferred no exclusive right of occupation. The +question of a union with Scotland, for which King James was very +anxious, was at the time being agitated, and commissioners having been +appointed to discuss it, this very house was placed at their disposal +for their meetings. Consequently the summer and autumn passed without +any farther steps being taken by the conspirators. + +At last, in December, they were free to take in hand the extraordinary +scheme they had matured. This was, starting from a cellar of Percy's +house,[142] to dig thence an underground mine to the foundations of the +Parliament House, and through them; and then to construct within, +beneath the Peers' Chamber itself, a "concavity" large enough to contain +the amount of powder requisite for their purpose. On December 11th, +1604, they commenced operations,[143] and in a fortnight, that is by +Christmas, they had tunnelled from their starting-point to the wall they +had to breach; and that this first operation was of no small magnitude, +especially for men who had never before handled pick or shovel,[144] is +shown by the fact that what they contrived to do in so short a time was +quoted as evidence of the extraordinary zeal they displayed in their +nefarious enterprise.[145] Having rested a little, for the Christmas +holidays, they began upon the wall, which presented an unexpected +obstacle. They found that it was not only "very hard to beat through," +but, moreover, nine feet thick, though since, as we shall see, they +never penetrated to the other side, it is not clear how they were able +to measure it.[146] Up to this point but five persons had engaged in the +work, Catesby, Percy, Thomas Winter, John Wright, and Faukes. In +consequence however of the difficulties now experienced, Keyes was +called in to their aid. He had already been initiated in the Plot, and +appointed to take charge of the powder, which was being accumulated and +stored in a house hired for the purpose across the Thames, at Lambeth. +It was therefore necessary to bring over the powder with him, which +amounted at this time to twenty barrels, and was placed either in +Percy's lodging itself, or in an outhouse belonging to it. About the +same time Christopher Wright was also initiated and took his share of +the labour.[147] + +The gang thus composed laboured upon the wall from the beginning of +January, 1604-5, to the middle of March,[148] by which time they had +succeeded in getting only half way through. While the others worked, +Faukes stood on sentry to warn them of any danger. + +Meanwhile, it must be asked how proceedings so remarkable could have +escaped the notice, not only of the government, but of the entire +neighbourhood. This, it must be remembered, was most populous. There +were people living in the very building, a part of which sheltered the +conspirators. Around, were thickly clustered the dwellings of the keeper +of the Wardrobe, auditors and tellers of the Exchequer, and other such +officials.[149] There were tradespeople and workmen constantly employed +close to the spot where the work was going on; while the public +character of the place makes it impossible to suppose that tenants such +as Percy and his friends, who were little better than lodgers, could +claim the exclusive use of anything beyond the rooms they rented--even +when allowed the use of these--or could shut against the neighbours and +visitors in general the precincts of so much frequented a spot. + +How, then, did they dispose of the mass of soil dug out in making a +tunnel through which barrels and hogsheads were to be conveyed? No man +who has had practical experience of the unexpected quantity of earth +which comes out of the most insignificant excavation, will be likely to +rest satisfied with the explanation officially given, that it was +sufficiently concealed by being hidden beneath the turf in the little +garden adjoining.[150] What, moreover, was done with the great stones +that came out of the foundations? Of these there must have been on hand +at least some sixty cubic feet, probably much more, and they, at any +rate, can scarcely have been stowed away beneath the turf. + +What, above all, of the noise made during the space of a couple of +months, in assaulting a wall "very hard to beat through"? It is a matter +of common observation how sound travels in the ground, and every stroke +of the pick upon the stone must have been distinctly heard for more than +a hundred yards all around, constituting a public nuisance. Meanwhile, +not only were there people living close by on every side, but men were +constantly at work right over the heads of the diggers, and only a few +feet from them: yet we are required to believe that neither these nor +any others had any notion that anything unusual was going on. + +Neither is it easy to understand how these amateurs contrived to do so +much without a catastrophe. To make a tunnel through soft earth is a +very delicate operation, replete with unlooked-for difficulties. To +shore up the roof and sides there must, moreover, have been required a +large quantity of the "framed timber" of which Speed tells us, and the +provision and importation of this must have been almost as hard to keep +dark as the exportation of the earth and stones. A still more critical +operation is that of meddling with the foundations of a +house--especially of an old and heavy structure--which a professional +craftsman would not venture upon except with extreme care, and the +employment of many precautions of which these light-hearted adventurers +knew nothing. Yet, recklessly breaking their way out of one building, +and to a large extent into another, they appear to have occasioned +neither crack nor settlement in either. + +We are by no means at the end of our difficulties. According to the tale +told by Faukes,[151] all the seven miners "lay in Percy's house," never +showing themselves while the work was in progress. This circumstance, to +say nothing of the storage of powder barrels and timber, seems to imply +that the premises were spacious and commodious. We learn, however, on +the unimpeachable evidence of Mrs. Whynniard's servant,[152] that the +house afforded accommodation only for one person at a time, so that when +Percy came there to spend the night, Faukes, who passed for his man, had +to lodge out. This suggests another question. Percy's pretext for laying +in so much fuel was that he meant to bring up his wife to live there. +But how could this be under such conditions? + +Still more serious is another problem. When the mining operations were +commenced, in December, 1604, Parliament was appointed to meet on the +7th of February following, by which time, as is evident, the +preparations of the conspirators could not have been completed. While +they were working, however, news came that the session was to be +postponed till October. This information the conspirators appear to +have received quite casually before Christmas, for it is said that on +the strength of it, they thought they could afford to take a +holiday.[153] Early in January they were again at work,[154] and they +continued their operations thenceforth, without any circumstance +intervening to interrupt or alarm them, of which we hear anything either +from themselves or from subsequent writers. Nevertheless, it is quite +certain that the Lords actually met on February 7th--that is while the +mining operations were going on--and not only went through the ceremony +of prorogation, but transacted some little business besides, Lord Denny +being introduced and his writ of summons read.[155] It is equally +incomprehensible that the miners should have known nothing of so +startling an occurrence, or that knowing of it they should never have +made the slightest mention thereof. It is even more difficult to explain +how the Peers thus assembled, and their attendants, could have failed to +remark the mine, then actually open, in premises belonging to +themselves, or any suspicious features of earth, stones, timber, or +barrels. + +The difficulties presented by the stubborn nature of the foundation-wall +proved well-nigh insuperable, but, as is observed by Father +Greenway,[156] one still more grave awaited the diggers had they +succeeded in making their way through. The "concavity" to be excavated +within, to contain the large number of powder barrels required for their +purpose, would have involved engineering work of the most hazardous +kind, and heavily laden as the floor above proved to be, it must, +according to all rules of calculation, have collapsed, when thus +undermined. But at this juncture, when the wall had been half pierced, a +circumstance occurred, not less extraordinary than others we have +considered, to change the whole plan of operations. + +All this time, ridiculous as is the supposition, the conspirators appear +to have been ignorant of the existence of the "cellar," and to have +fancied that they were working their way immediately beneath the Chamber +of the Peers.[157] If such a circumstance be incredible, the +consequences must be borne by the narrative of which it forms an +essential feature. That it is incredible can hardly be questioned. The +so-called "cellar," as we have seen, was a large and conspicuous room +above ground. There are reasons for believing that it served habitually +as a passage between the different parts of the palace. It appears +certain that some of the conspirators, Percy in particular, as being one +of his Majesty's pensioners, must have frequently been in the House of +Lords itself, and therefore have known where it was; and clearly men of +their position were able to attend there when they chose.[158] + +The manner in which they came at last to discover the "cellar" is thus +related by Mr. Jardine:[159] "One morning, while working upon the wall, +they suddenly heard a rushing noise in a cellar, nearly above their +heads. At first they imagined that they had been discovered; but Fawkes +being despatched to reconnoitre, found that one Bright, to whom the +cellar belonged, was selling off his coals[160] in order to remove, and +that the noise proceeded from this cause. Fawkes carefully surveyed the +place, which proved to be a large vault, situated immediately below the +House of Lords, and extremely convenient for the purpose they had in +view.... Finding that the cellar would shortly become vacant, the +conspirators agreed that it should be hired in Percy's name, under the +pretext that he wanted it for his own coals and wood. This was +accordingly done, and immediate possession was obtained."[161] + +[Illustration: CELLAR UNDER HOUSE OF LORDS.] + +It is obvious that Mr. Bright's men must on this, as presumably upon +many previous occasions, have been at work among the coals, while the +miners were hammering at the foundations beneath them, and yet have been +as little aware of what was going on as were the others of the existence +of the "cellar." It must, farther, be noted that the hiring of this +receptacle was, in fact, by no means so easy a matter as the accounts +ordinarily given would lead us to suppose. Faukes, in the narrative on +which the whole history of this episode has been based, is made to say +that he found that the coals were a-selling, and the cellar was to be +let, whereupon Percy went and hired it. Mrs. Whynniard, however, tells +us that the cellar was not to let, and that Bright had not the disposal +of the lease, but one Skinner, and that Percy "laboured very earnestly" +before he succeeded in obtaining it. + +[Illustration: VAULT, EAST END OF PAINTED CHAMBER, ERRONEOUSLY STYLED +"GUY FAUKES' CELLAR."] + +But, whatever the circumstances and manner of the transaction, it +appears that at Lady-day, 1605, this chamber came into the hands of +those who were to make it so famous; whereupon, we are told, they +resolved to abandon the mine, and use this ready-made cavity for their +purposes. To it, accordingly, they transferred their powder, the +barrels, by subsequent additions, being increased to thirty-six, and the +amount to nine or ten thousand pounds.[162] The casks were covered with +firewood, 500 faggots and 3,000 billets being brought in by hired +porters and piled up by Faukes, to whose charge, in his assumed +character of Percy's servant, the cellar was committed. It is stated in +Winter's long declaration on this subject,[163] that the barrels were +thus completely hidden, "because we might have the house free, to suffer +anyone to enter that would," and we find it mentioned by various writers +subsequently, that free ingress was actually allowed to the public. Thus +we read[164] of "the deep cunning [of the conspirators] in throwing +open the vault, as if there had been nothing to conceal;" while another +writer[165] tells us, "The place was hired by Percy; 36 barrels of +gunpowder were lodged in it; the whole covered up with billets and +faggots; the doors of the cellar boldly flung open, and everybody +admitted, as though it contained nothing dangerous." On the top of the +barrels were likewise placed "great bars of iron and massy stones," in +order "to make the breach the greater." + +[Illustration: ARCHES FROM THE "CELLAR" UNDER THE HOUSE OF LORDS.] + +We may here pause to review the extraordinary story to which we have +been listening. A group of men, known for as dangerous characters as any +in England, men, in Cecil's own words,[166] "spent in their fortunes," +"hunger-starved for innovations," "turbulent spirits," and "fit for all +alterations," take a house within the precincts of a royal palace, and +close to the Upper House of Parliament, dig a mine, hammer away for over +two months at the wall, acquire and bring in four tons of gunpowder, +storing it in a large and conspicuous chamber immediately beneath that +of the Peers, and covering it with an amount of fuel sufficient for a +royal establishment--and meanwhile those responsible for the government +of the country have not even the faintest suspicion of any possible +danger. "Never," it is said,[167] "was treason more secret, or ruin more +apparently inevitable," while the Secretary of State himself +declared[168] that such ruin was averted only by the direct +interposition of Heaven, in a manner nothing short of miraculous. + +It must be remembered that the government thus credited with childlike +and culpable simplicity, was probably the most suspicious and +inquisitive that ever held power in this country, for its tenure whereof +it trusted mainly to the elaborate efficiency of its intelligence +department. Of a former secretary, Walsingham, Parsons wrote that he +"spent infinite upon spyery,"[169] and there can be no doubt that his +successor, now in office, had studied his methods to good purpose. "He," +according to a panegyrist,[170] "was his craft's master in foreign +intelligence and for domestic affairs," who could tell at any moment +what ships there were in every port of Spain, their burdens, their +equipment, and their destination. We are told[171] that he could +discover the most secret business transacted in the Papal Court before +it was known to the Catholics in England. He could intercept letters +written from Paris to Brussels, or from Rome to Naples.[172] What was +his activity at home is sufficiently evidenced by the reports furnished +by his numerous agents concerning everything done throughout the +country, in particular by Recusants; whereof we shall see more, in +connection with this particular affair. That those so remarkably +wide-awake in regard of all else should have been blind and deaf to what +was passing at their own doors appears altogether incredible. + +More especially do difficulties connect themselves with the gunpowder +itself. Of this, according to the lowest figure given us, there were +over four tons.[173] How, we may ask, could half a dozen men, "notorious +Recusants," and bearing, moreover, such a character as we have heard, +without attracting any notice, and no question being asked, possess +themselves of such a quantity of so dangerous a material?[174] How large +was the amount may be estimated from the fact that it was more than a +quarter of what, in 1607, was delivered from the royal store, for all +purposes, and was equal to what was thought sufficient for Dover Castle, +while there was no more in the four fortresses of Arcliffe, Walmer, +Deal, and Camber together.[175] + +The twenty barrels first procured were first, as we have seen, stored +beyond the Thames, at Lambeth, whence they had to be ferried across the +river, hauled up the much frequented Parliament Stairs, carried down +Parliament Place, as busy a quarter as any in the city of Westminster, +and into the building adjoining the Parliament House, or the "cellar" +beneath the same. All this, we are to suppose, without attracting +attention or remark.[176] + +The conspirators, while making these material preparations, were +likewise busy in settling their plan of action when the intended blow +should have been struck. It was by no means their intention to attempt a +revolution. Their quarrel was purely personal with King James, his +Council, and his Parliament, and, these being removed, they desired to +continue the succession in its legitimate course, and to seat on the +throne the nearest heir who might be available for the purpose; placing +the new sovereign, however, under such tutelage as should insure the +inauguration of a right course of policy. The details of the scheme were +of as lunatic a character as the rest of the business. The confederates +would have wished to possess themselves of Prince Henry, the king's +eldest son; but as he would probably accompany his father to the +opening of Parliament, and so perish, their desire was to get hold of +his brother, the Duke of York, afterwards Charles I., then but five +years old. It was, however, possible that he too might go to Parliament, +and otherwise it might not improbably be impossible to get possession of +him: in which case they were prepared to be satisfied with the Princess +Elizabeth,[177] or even with her infant sister Mary, for whom, as being +English born, a special claim might be urged. + +Such was the project in general. When we come to details, we are +confronted, as might be anticipated, with statements impossible to +reconcile. We are told,[178] that Percy undertook to seize and carry off +Duke Charles; and again,[179] that, despairing of being able to lay +hands upon him, they resolved "to serve themselves with the Lady +Elizabeth," and that Percy was one of those who made arrangements for +seizing her;[180] and again, that having learnt that Prince Henry was +not to go to the House, they determined to surprise him, "and leave the +young Duke alone;"[181] and once more, that they never entered into any +consultation or formed any project whatever as to the succession.[182] + +Still more serious are the contradictions on another point. We are told, +on the one hand, that a proclamation was drawn up for the inauguration +of the new sovereign--whoever this was[183]--and, on the other, that the +associates were resolved not to avow the explosion to be their work +until they should see how the country took it, or till they had gathered +a sufficient force,[184] and accordingly that they had no more than a +project of a proclamation to be issued in due season. But, again, it is +said[185] that Catesby on his way out of town, after the event, was to +proclaim the new monarch at Charing Cross, though it is equally hard to +understand, either how he was to know which of the plans had succeeded, +and who that monarch was to be,--whether a king or a queen,--or what +effect such proclamation by an obscure individual like himself was +expected to produce; or how this, or indeed any item in the programme +was compatible with the incognito of the actors in the great tragedy. + +Amid this hopeless tangle one point alone is perfectly clear. Whatever +was the scheme, it was absolutely insane, and could by no possibility +have succeeded. As Mr. Gardiner says:[186] "With the advantage of having +an infant sovereign in their hands, with a little money and a few +horses, these sanguine dreamers fancied that they would have the whole +of England at their feet." + +Such is in outline the authorized version of the history concerning what +Father John Gerard styles "this preposterous Plot of Powder;" and +preposterous it undoubtedly appears to be in more senses than he +intended. It is, in the first place, almost impossible to believe that +the important and dramatic episode of the mine ever, in fact, occurred. +We have seen something of the difficulties against accepting this part +of the story, which the circumstantial evidence suggests. When, on the +other hand, we ask upon what testimony it rests, it is a surprise to +find that for so prominent and striking an incident we are wholly +dependent upon two documents, published by the government, a confession +of Thomas Winter and another of Faukes, both of which present features +rendering them in the highest degree suspicious. Amongst the many +confessions and declarations made by the conspirators in general, and +these individuals in particular, these two alone describe the mining +operations.[187] + +[Illustration: CELL IN STAIRCASE TURRET, S.E. CORNER, PAINTED CHAMBER, +OFTEN CALLED "GUY FAUKES' CELL."] + +On the other hand, it is somewhat startling to find no less a person +than the Earl of Salisbury himself ignorant or oblivious of so +remarkable a circumstance. In Thomas Winter's lodging was found the +agreement between Percy and Ferrers for the lease of the house, which +was taken, as has been said, in May, 1604. This is still preserved, and +has been endorsed by Cecil, "The bargaine between Percy and Ferrers for +the bloody sellar...." But this contract had nothing to do with the +"bloody sellar," which was not rented till ten months later. Again, +writing November 9th, 1605, to Cornwallis and Edmondes, Cecil says: +"This Percy had about a year and a half ago hired a part of Vyniard's +house in the old Palace, from whence he had access into this vault to +lay his wood and coal, and as it seemeth now [had] taken this place of +purpose to work some mischief in a fit time." When this was written the +premises had been for four days in the hands of the government. It is +clearly impossible that the remains of the mine, had they existed, +should not have been found, and equally so that Cecil should not have +alluded to the overwhelming evidence they afforded as to the intention +of Percy and his associates to "work some mischief," but should, again, +have connected the tenancy of the house only with the "cellar." + +It will, moreover, be found by investigators that when exceptional +stress is laid on any point by Sir E. Coke, the Attorney General, a +_prima facie_ case against the genuine nature of the evidence in regard +of that point is thereby established. In his speech on the trial of the +conspirators we find him declaring that, "If the cellar had not been +hired, the mine work could hardly, or not at all, have been discovered, +for the mine was neither found nor suspected until the danger was past, +and the capital offenders apprehended, and by themselves, upon +examination, confessed." That is to say, the government could not, +though provided with information that there was a powder-mine under the +Parliament House, have discovered this extraordinary piece of +engineering; and moreover, after its abandonment, the traces of the +excavation were so artfully hidden as to elude observation till the +prisoners drew attention to them. Such assertions cannot possibly be +true; but they might serve to meet the objection that no one had seen +the mine. + +We likewise find that in his examination of November 5th, Faukes is made +to say: "He confesseth that about Christmas last [1604], he brought in +the nighttime Gunpowder _to the cellar under the upper house of +Parliament_," that is some three months before the cellar was hired. +Moreover, the words italicised have been added as an interlineation, +apparently by Cecil himself. Evidently when this was done the mine was +still undiscovered. + +Yet more remarkable is the fact that it would appear to have remained +undiscovered ever afterwards, and that no marks seem to have been left +upon the wall which had been so roughly handled. It is certainly +impossible to find any record that such traces were observed when the +building was demolished, though they could scarcely have failed to +attract attention and interest. On this subject we have the important +evidence of Mr. William Capon, who carefully examined every detail +connected with the old palace, and evidently had the opportunity of +studying the foundations of the House of Lords when, in 1823, that +building was removed.[188] He does, indeed, mention what he conceives +to be the traces of the conspirators' work, of which he gives the +following description: + +"Adjoining the south end of the Cellar, or more properly the ancient +Kitchen, to the west, was a small room separated only by a stone +doorway, with a pointed head, and with very substantial masonry joined +to the older walls.... At the North side [of this] there had been an +opening, a doorway of very solid thick stonemasonry, through which was a +way seemingly forced through by great violence.... In 1799 it was +asserted that this was always understood to have been the place where +the conspirators broke into the vault which adjoined that called Guy +Vaux's cellar."[189] + +But against such a supposition there are three fatal objections. (1) +This places the conspirators on the wrong side of the house, for they +most certainly worked from the east, or river side, not from the +west.[190] (2) It makes the mine above ground instead of below. (3) The +conspirators never broke into the cellar at all, but hired it in the +ordinary way of business. + +Such considerations as the above may well make us sceptical in regard to +the mine, and if this element of the story, upon which so much stress +has always been laid, prove to be untrustworthy, it must needs follow +that grave suspicion will be cast upon the rest. + +There are, likewise, various problems in connection with the "cellar," +especially as concerns the means of ingress to it, and its consequent +privacy or publicity. + +(_a_) Faukes says (November 6th, 1605) that about the middle of Lent of +that year Percy caused "a new dore" to be made into it, "that he might +have a neerer way out of his own house into the cellar." + +This seems to imply that Percy took the cellar for his firewood when +there was no convenient communication between it and his house. Moreover +it is not very easy to understand how a tenant under such conditions as +his was allowed at discretion to knock doors through the walls of a +royal palace. Neither did the landlady say anything of this door-making, +when detailing what she knew about Percy's proceedings. + +(_b_) In some notes by Sir E. Coke,[191] it is said: "The powder was +first brought into Percy's house, and lay there in a low room new built, +and could not have been conveyed into the cellar by the old door but +that all the street must have seen it; and therefore he caused a new +door out of his house into the cellar to be made, where before there had +been a grate of iron." + +This, it must be confessed, looks very like an afterthought to explain +away a difficulty, but failing to do so. When the door is said to have +been made, the powder was already on the premises, having been brought +there in sight of the whole street and the river. It could hardly, in so +small a tenement, escape the observation of the workmen,[192] while the +operations of these latter in breaking through the wall would have +served yet farther to attract the attention of the neighbourhood. + +(_c_) We are told by Faukes and others, that either he or Percy always +kept the key, and that marks were made to indicate whether anyone had +entered the place in their absence. + +(_d_) On the other hand, to say nothing of Winter's declaration that the +confederates so arranged as to leave the cellar free for all to enter +who would, Lord Salisbury informed Sir Thomas Parry[193] that the +captors of Faukes entered through "another door," which clearly did not +require to be opened by him; while as to the ordinary door, whichever +this was, the "King's Book" itself plainly intimates, in the account of +the chamberlain's visit, that Whynniard, the landlord, was able to open +it when he chose. + +The "other door" spoken of by Cecil, a most important feature of the +chamber, is nowhere else mentioned.[194] + +It appears certain that the conspirators really had a plot in hand, that +they fancied themselves to be about to strike a great blow, and that by +means of gunpowder; but what was the precise nature of their plans and +preparations it is not so easy to determine. Farther discussion of these +particulars must be deferred to a later chapter. Meanwhile, according to +the accepted history, when they had stored their powder there was +nothing more to do but to await the assembling of the intended +victims. Parliament stood prorogued till October 3rd, and was afterwards +further adjourned till the fateful 5th of November. That they might not +excite suspicion, the confederates separated, most of them retiring to +their country seats, and Faukes going over to Flanders.[195] In his +absence Percy kept the key of the cellar, and, according to Faukes,[196] +laid in more powder and wood while he himself was absent. + +[Illustration: THE POWDER PLOT. II.] + +It is not easy to understand what became of the cellar during this long +interval, and apparently it was left in great measure, with its +compromising contents, to take care of itself, for Percy, amongst other +places, went with Catesby to Bath to take the waters.[197] If the +premises were of so public a nature as the testimony of Winter and +others would imply, it appears impossible that they should have remained +all this time sealed up, or that these astute and crafty plotters should +with a light heart have ignored the probability that they would be +visited and inspected. As Father Greenway observes,[198] it can hardly +be supposed that the landlord[199] had not a duplicate key, while Cecil +himself, in his letter to Sir Thomas Parry, plainly indicates that +access to the cellar could freely be procured independently of the +conspirators. We can only say that the conduct of the confederates in +this particular appears to have been quite in keeping with their method +of conspiring secretly as we have already seen it, and undoubtedly one +more difficulty is thus opposed to the supposition that their enterprise +was chiefly dangerous on account of the clandestine and dexterous manner +in which it was conducted. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[129] The name "old House of Lords" is somewhat ambiguous, being +variously applicable to three different buildings: + +(i.) That here described, which continued to be used till the Irish +Union, A.D. 1800. + +(ii.) The "Court of Requests," or "White Hall," used from 1800 till the +fire of 1834. + +(iii.) The "Painted Chamber," which, having been repaired after the said +fire, became the place of assembly for the Lords, as did the Court of +Requests for the Commons. + +The original House of Lords was demolished in 1823 by Sir John Soane, +who on its site erected his Royal Gallery. (See Brayley and Britton, +_History of the Palace of Westminster_.) + +[130] The authority for this is the Earl of Northampton, who at Father +Garnet's trial mentioned that it was so stated in ancient records. +Remains of a buttery hatch in the south wall confirmed his assertion. + +The foundations of the building were believed to date from the time of +Edward the Confessor, and the style of architecture of the +superstructure assigned it to the early part of the thirteenth century, +as likewise the "Prince's Chamber." + +[131] Brayley and Britton, _History of the Palace of Westminster_, p. +421; J. T. Smith, _Antiquities of Westminster_, p. 39 (where +illustrations will be found); _Gentleman's Magazine_, July, 1800, p. +626. + +[132] It was here that the death warrant of Charles I. was signed. + +[133] An old print (which states that it is taken from "a painted print +in the Cottonian library,") representing the two Houses assembled in +presence of Queen Elizabeth, has windows on both sides. The same plate, +with the figure of the sovereign alone changed, was made to do duty +likewise for a Parliament of James I. By Hollar's time (1640-77) the +windows had been blocked up and the tapestry hung. + +[134] Cecil wrote to Cornwallis, Edmondes, and others, November 9th, +1605, "This Piercey had a bout a year and a half a goe hyred a parte of +Vyniards house in the old Palace," which appears to be Mr. Hepworth +Dixon's sole authority for styling the tenement "Vinegar House." + +[135] See Appendix E, _Site of Percy's house_. + +[136] Evidence of Mrs. Whynniard, November 7th, 1605. Epsley is +evidently the same person as Hoppisley, who was examined on the 23rd of +the same month. + +[137] Birch, _Historical View_, p. 227. + +[138] _Historie_, p. 1231. + +[139] _Gunpowder Treason, Harleian Miscellany_, iii. 121. + +[140] At his first examination, November 5th 1605, Faukes declared that +he had not been sure the king would come to the Parliament House on that +day, and that his purpose was to have blown it up whenever his Majesty +was there. + +[141] The agreement between Percy and Ferrers is in the Record Office +(_Gunpowder Plot Book_, 1.) and is endorsed by Cecil, "The bargaine ... +for the bloody sellar." Upon this there will be more to remark later. + +[142] Jardine, _Gunpowder Plot_, p. 42. + +[143] The 11th of December, O. S., was at that period the shortest day, +which circumstance suggested to Sir E. Coke, on the trial of the +conspirators, one of his characteristic facetiae; he bade his hearers +note "That it was in the entring of the Sun into the Tropick of +Capricorn, when they began their Mine; noting that by Mining they should +descend, and by Hanging, ascend." + +[144] "Gentlemen not accustomed to labour or to be pioneers."--Goodman, +_Court of King James_, p. 103. + +[145] "The Moles that first underwent these underminings were all +grounded Schollers of the Romish Schoole, and such earnest Labourers in +their Vault of Villany, that by Christmas Eve they had brought the worke +under an entry, unto the Wall of the Parliament House, underpropping +still as they went the Earth with their framed Timber."--Speed, +_Historie_, p. 1232 (pub. 1611). + +[146] In Barlow's _Gunpowder Treason_ these foundations are stated to +have been three ells thick, _i.e._, eleven and a quarter feet. _Harleian +Miscellany_, iii. 122. + +[147] See Appendix F, _The enrolment of the Conspirators_, for the +discrepancies as to dates. T. Winter (November 23rd, 1605) says that the +powder was laid "in Mr. Percy's house;" Faukes, "in a low Room new +builded." + +[148] There is, as usual, hopeless contradiction between the two +witnesses upon whom, as will be seen, we wholly depend for this portion +of the story. Faukes (November 17th, 1605) makes the mining operations +terminate at Candlemas. T. Winter (November 23rd) says that they went on +to "near Easter" (March 31st). The date of hiring the "cellar," was +about Lady Day (March 25th). + +[149] The buildings of the dissolved College of St. Stephen, comprising +those around the House of Lords, were granted by Edward VI. to Sir Ralph +Lane. They reverted to the crown under Elizabeth, and were appropriated +as residences for the auditors and tellers of the Exchequer. The +locality became so populous that in 1606 it was forbidden to erect more +houses. + +[150] Jardine, _Gunpowder Plot_, p. 48. + +[151] November 17th, 1605. + +[152] November 7th, 1605. + +[153] Winter says: "... We heard that the Parliament should be anew +adjourned until after Michaelmas; upon which tidings we broke off both +discourse and working until after Christmas" (November 23rd, 1605). + +Lingard writes, "When a fortnight had thus been devoted to uninterrupted +labour, Faukes informed his associates that the Parliament was prorogued +from the 7th of February to the 3rd of October. They immediately +separated to spend the Christmas holidays at their respective +homes."--_History_, vii. 47 (ed. 1883). + +[154] Faukes, as has been said, makes the work upon the wall terminate +at Candlemas. Winter (_ut sup._) says that they brought over the powder +at Candlemas, that is, after they had been some time engaged upon the +wall, and found the need of the assistance of Keyes. + +[155] _Lord's Journals_ "A^o 1604(5) 2 Jac.--Memorandum quod hodierno +die, septimo die Februarii, A^o Regis nri Jacobi, _viz._ Angliae (etc.) +2^{ndo}, & Scotiae 38^o, in quem diem prorogatum fuerat hoc praesens +parliamentum, convenere Proceres tam Spirituales quam Temporales, quorum +nomina subscribuntur." + +Then follow twenty-nine names, including the Archbishop of Canterbury, +Lords Ellesmere (_Chancellor_), Dorset (_Treasurer_), Nottingham +(_Admiral_), Suffolk (_Chamberlain_), Northumberland, Cranborne (Cecil), +Northampton, etc. It is noted "Lords Montagu, Petre, and Gerard [all +three Catholics] were present, though they were none of the +Commissioners." + +[156] _Narrative_ (Stonyhurst MSS.), fol. 44 b. + +[157] This absurd supposition is obviously implied by Faukes (November +17th, 1605), and T. Winter (November 23rd), in the only two accounts +furnished by any of the conspirators wherein the episode of the mine is +mentioned. In Barlow's _Gunpowder Treason_ (_Harleian Miscellany_, iii. +123) it is expressly stated that the confederates "came to the knowledge +of the vault" only on the occasion now detailed. Tierney says (Dodd's +_Church History_, iv. 45, note): "At this moment an accidental noise ... +first acquainted them with the existence of the cellar." + +[158] On the 3rd of October following, Thomas Winter was sent to be +present at the ceremony of prorogation, and to watch the demeanour of +the assembled peers. + +[159] _Gunpowder Plot_, p. 55. This account is based almost entirely on +that of Faukes, November 17th, 1605. + +[160] In his Italian version of Father Gerard's history, Father Greenway +interpolates the following note: "Questi non erano carboni di legno, ma +una sorte di pietra negra, la quale come carbone abrugia et fa un fuogo +bellissimo et ottimo" (fol. 44 b). + +[161] + "These Pioneers through Piercies chamber brought + Th' exhausted earth, great baskets full of clay; + Thereby t' have made a mighty concave vau't, + And of the house the ground worke tooke away: + But then at last an obstacle they finde, + Which to remove proud Piercy casts in 's mind. + A thick stone wall their passage then did let; + Whereby they cou'd not finish their intent. + Then forthwith Piercy did a sellar get, + Under that sacred house for yearly rent: + Feigning to fill 't with Char coal, Wood, & Beere, + From all suspect themselves to cloake & cleere." + + JOHN VICARS, _Mischeefes Mysterie_. + +This remarkable poem, published 1617, is a much expanded translation of +_Pietas Pontificia_ (in Latin hexameter verse) by Francis Herring, which +appeared in 1606. + +[162] On this point we are furnished with more than the usual amount of +variety as to details. Cecil, writing to the ambassadors (Cornwallis, +Edmondes, etc.), says there were "two hodgsheads and some 30 small +barrels." The King's _Discourse_ mentions 36 barrels. Barclay +(_Conspiratio Anglicana_) says there were over 9,000 lb. of powder, in +32 barrels, and that one of extra size had been placed under the throne, +for treason could not without dread assail Majesty even when unarmed. +The indictment of the conspirators named 30 barrels and 4 hogsheads. Sir +E. Coke always said 36 barrels. Barlow's _Gunpowder Treason_ makes the +extraordinary statement, frequently reproduced, that "to the 20 Barrels +of Powder laid in at first, they added in July 20 more, and at last made +up the number Thirty-six." Faukes (November 5th) said that of the powder +"some was put in hoggesheads, some in Barrels, and some in firkins." +Faukes also says that the powder was conveyed to the place in hampers. +John Chamberlain, writing to Dudley Carleton, November 7th, 1605, says +it was carried in satchels. Barlow (_ut sup._) quotes the amount as +9,000 or 10,000 lb. + +[163] November 23rd, 1605. + +[164] _The Gunpowder Plot_, by L., 1805. It seems highly probable that +the "cellar" was used as a public passage. + +[165] Hugh F. Martyndale, _A Familiar Analysis of the Calendar of the +Church of England_ (November 5th). London, Effingham Wilson. + +[166] _Letter to Cornwallis and Edmondes_, November 9th, 1605. + +[167] H. F. Martyndale, _ut sup._ + +[168] Letter to the Ambassadors, _ut sup._ + +[169] _An Advertisement written to a Secretarie_, etc. (1592), p. 13. + +[170] Sir R. Naunton, _Fragmenta Regalia (Harleian Miscellany_, ii. +106). + +[171] Blount to Parsons (Stonyhurst MSS.), _Anglia_, vi. 64. + +[172] Such letters are found amongst the State Papers. + +[173] The amount, it would seem, cannot have been less than this. A +barrel of gunpowder, containing four firkins, weighed 400 lb., and had +the casks in the cellar all been barrels, in the strict sense of the +word, the amount would therefore have exceeded six tons. Some of these +casks, we are told, were small, but some were hogsheads. The twenty +barrels first laid in are described as "whole barrels." (Faukes, January +20th, 1605-6.) + +[174] An interesting illustration of this point is furnished by a +strange piece of evidence furnished by W. Andrew, servant to Sir E. +Digby. Sir Everard's office was to organize the rising in the Midlands, +after the catastrophe, but he apparently forgot to supply himself with +powder till the very eve of the appointed day. Andrew averred that on +the night of November 4th, his master secretly asked him to procure some +powder in the neighbouring town, whereupon he asked, "How much? A pound, +or half a pound?" Sir Everard said 200 or 300 lb. Deponent purchased one +pound. (Tanner MSS. lxxv. f. 205 b.) + +One Matthew Batty mentioned Lord Monteagle as having bought gunpowder. +(_Ibid._ v. 40.) + +In the same collection is a copy of some notes by Sir E. Coke (f. 185 +b), in which the price of the powder discovered is put down as L200, +_i.e._ some L2,000 of our money. + +[175] Gunpowder was measured by the _last_ = 2,400 lb. (Tomline's _Law +Dictionary_.) In 1607 there were delivered out of the store 14 lasts and +some cwts. In 1608 the amount in various strong places is entered as: +"_Dover Castle_, 4 lasts; _Arcliffe Bullwark_, 1 last; _Walmer_, 1 last, +8 cwt.; _Deal Castle_, 1 last; _Sandown Castle_, 2 lasts, etc.; +_Sandgate_, 1 last; _Camber_, 1 last." + +[176] The position and character of the "cellar" admit of no doubt, as +appears from the testimony of Smith's _Antiquities of Westminster_, +Brayley and Britton's _Ancient Palace of Westminster_, and Capon's notes +on the same, _Vetusta Monumenta_, v. They are, however, inconsistent +with some circumstances alleged by the government. Thus, Sir Everard +Digby's complicity with "the worst part" of the treason, which on +several occasions he denied, is held to be established by a confession +of Faukes, which cannot now be found among the State Papers, but which +is mentioned in Sir E. Coke's speech upon Digby's arraignment, and is +printed in Barlow's _Gunpowder Treason_, p. 68. In Sir E. Coke's version +it runs thus: "Fawkes, then present at the bar, had confessed, that some +time before that session, the said Fawkes being with Digby at his house +in the country, about which time there had fallen much wet, Digby taking +Fawkes aside after supper, told him he was much afraid that the powder +in the cellar was grown damp, and that some new must be provided, lest +that should not take fire." + +Seeing, however, that the powder stood above ground, within a most +substantial building, and could be reached by the rain only if this +should first flood the Chamber of the Peers, it does not seem as if the +idea of such a danger should have suggested itself. + +Another interesting point in connection with the "cellar" is that the +House of Lords having subsequently been removed to the Court of +Requests, and afterwards to the Painted Chamber, "Guy Faukes' Cellar" on +each occasion accompanied the migration. From Leigh's _New Picture of +London_ we find that in 1824-5, when the Court of Requests was in use, +and the old cellar had completely disappeared, Guy's Cellar was still +shown; while a plate given in Knight's _Old England_, and elsewhere, +represents a vault under the Painted Chamber, not used as the House of +Lords till after 1832. Such a cellar seems to have been considered a +necessary appurtenance of the House. + +[177] Afterwards the Electress Palatine. + +[178] Gardiner, _Hist._ i. 245; Lingard, vii. 59; T. Winter, November +23rd, 1605. + +[179] Faukes, November 17th, 1605. + +[180] Harry Morgan, _Examination_ (R.O.), November 12th, 1605. + +[181] T. Winter, November 23rd and 25th, 1605. As the information about +Prince Henry was alleged to have been communicated by Lord Monteagle, +the passage has been mutilated in the published version to conceal this +circumstance. + +[182] Faukes, November 5th, 1605. + +[183] Sir E. Digby, Barlow's _Gunpowder Treason_, App. 249. + +[184] Faukes, November 17th, 1605. + +[185] Digby, _ut sup._ + +[186] _History_, i. 239. + +[187] There is also an allusion to the same in the confession of Keyes, +November 30th, 1605; but this document also is of a highly suspicious +character. Of the seven miners, none but these three were taken alive; +Catesby, Percy, and the two Wrights being killed in the field. Strangely +enough, though Keyes may be cited as a witness on this subject, on which +his evidence is of such singular importance, the government, for some +purpose of its own, tampered with the confession of Faukes wherein he is +mentioned as one of the excavators, substituting Robert Winter's name +for his, and placing Keyes amongst those "that wrought not in the myne." +See Jardine's remarks on this point, _Criminal Trials_, ii. 6. + +[188] His detailed notes and plans are given in _Vetusta Monumenta_, +vol. v. + +[189] Page 4. + +[190] See Appendix E, _Site of Percy's house_. + +[191] Tanner MSS. lxxv. Sec. 185, b. + +[192] Faukes, November 6th, uses the same expression, "a low room new +builded," which seems to imply that this receptacle had been constructed +since Percy came into possession of the house. + +[193] November 6th, 1605. More will be seen of the important document +containing this information. + +[194] According to Smith's plan (_sup._ p. 59) there were four entrances +to the cellar, none of which can have been Percy's "new dore." + +[195] We are told that Faukes was selected to take charge of the house, +and perform other duties which would bring him into notice, because +being unknown in London he was not likely to excite remark. In his +declaration, November 8th, however, he gives as his reason for going +abroad, "lest, being a dangerous man, he should be known and suspected." +It is obvious that in the meantime the cellar must either have been left +in charge of others better known, and therefore more likely to excite +suspicion, or have been left unprotected. + +[196] November 17th, 1605. + +[197] Thomas Winter, November 23rd, 1605. + +[198] F. 66. + +[199] This, as we have heard, was Mr. Whynniard, who unfortunately died +very suddenly on the morning of November 5th, on hearing of the +"discovery," evidence of great importance as to the hiring of the house +and "cellar" being thus lost. "As for the keeper of the parliament +house," says Goodman, "who let out the lodgings to Percy, it is said +that as soon as ever he heard of the news what Percy intended, he +instantly fell into a fright and died; so that it could not be certainly +known who procured him the house, or by whose means."--_Court of King +James_, i. 107. + + + + +CHAPTER V. + +THE GOVERNMENT INTELLIGENCE DEPARTMENT. + + +HAVING followed the history of the plotters and their doings, to the +point when everything was ready for action, we have now to inquire what, +in the meantime, those were about for whose destruction such notable +preparations were making, and whether in truth they were, as we are +assured, wrapped in a sense of false security, and altogether +unconscious of the signs and tokens that should have awakened their +suspicion and alarm. + +When, by the aid of such evidence as remains to us, we turn to examine +the facts of the case, we discover in them, it must be confessed, no +symptoms whatever of supineness or lethargy. It appears, on the +contrary, that throughout the period when the government are supposed to +have been living in a fool's paradise, and tranquilly assuming that all +was well, they were in reality busily at work through their emissaries +and informers, prying into all the doings of the recusant Catholics, +receiving frequent intimation of all that was undertaken, or even +projected, and, apparently, regulating the main features of a +treasonable conspiracy, which can have been no other than the Powder +Plot itself, determining, in particular, what individuals should be +implicated therein. + +In April, 1604, at the very time when we hear of the Plot as being +hatched, a letter was addressed to Sir Thomas Challoner, an official +frequently mixed up with business of this kind, by one Henry +Wright,[200] reporting the proceedings of a subordinate agent, by name +Davies, whom he styles a "discoverer,"[201] then engaged in working a +Catholic treason, with the special object of incriminating priests. +Davies has offered to "set," or mark down,[202] over threescore of +these, but Wright has told him that so many are not required, and that +he will satisfy his employers if he implicate twenty, provided they be +"most principal Jesuits and seminary priests," and therewithal has given +him thirteen or fourteen names that will serve the required purpose. +Davies replies, "that by God's grace he will absolutely do it ere +long."[203] + +That the treason in question was none other than the Gunpowder Plot +there can be no question, unless indeed we are to say that the +authorities were engaged in fabricating a bogus conspiracy for which +there was no foundation whatever in fact. It was not the way of +statesmen of the period, when on the track of sedition, to relinquish +the pursuit till they had sifted it to the bottom, and at this juncture, +especially, every shred of evidence regarding Catholics and their +conduct was threshed out to the uttermost. In consequence, we are able +to say with certainty, that besides the enterprise of Catesby and his +associates, there was no other conspiracy of any kind on foot. We have, +moreover, already seen that the very same point thus by anticipation +represented as all important, is that which after the "discovery" every +nerve was strained to establish, namely, the complicity of the Catholic +clergy. If we had no more than this internal evidence, it would +abundantly suffice to assure us that the conspiracy thus sedulously +watched was the same as that miraculously "discovered" a year and a half +later. + +But we are not left to such inferences alone. In March, 1606, we find +Wright applying to the minister for a reward on account of his services +"in discovering villainous practices," thus indicating that by this time +those which he had been tracking had been brought to light. More +explicit still is a memorial presented to the king, at a later date, on +his behalf. This is entitled--"Touching Wright and his services +performed _in the damnable plot of the Powder treason_." King James is +reminded that Chief Justice Popham and Sir Thomas Challoner had a hand +in the discovery of the Powder, and this by means of information +supplied by Wright, "for two years space almost" before his Majesty +interpreted the famous letter to Lord Monteagle, "like an angel of God." +This information Popham and Challoner had from time to time communicated +to his Majesty, "whose hand Wright hath in testimony of his services in +the matter."[204] + +In the same month of April, 1604, was supplied another piece of +information, singularly interesting and important,[205] in which were +detailed the particulars of a design amongst the Catholics at home and +abroad. Much, in fact the bulk, of the information given, is seen, in +the light of our present knowledge, to be purely fictitious, affording a +good example of the "sophistications" which, as Cecil himself +complained, his agents were wont to mingle with their intelligence. The +design in question was represented as being of the most serious and +secret nature, the papists thinking that it "must now be so handled and +carried as the great cause may lose no reputation, or if any suspicion +should grow in the state, or any come in question therefore, the main +point might never come to light;" the said "main point" being of course +the complicity of the Catholic clergy. + +What invests this document with singular importance is the fact that we +hear of it again. In April, 1606, it was quoted for the benefit of +Parliament by the Attorney General, Sir E. Coke, and explicitly as +having reference to the Gunpowder Plot, forming part of the evidence +adduced by him to secure the attainder of persons accused of being +partakers in that treason.[206] It thus affords a proof, on the +authority of the government itself, that eighteen months before the +conspiracy was "discovered," intelligence regarding it had been received +and was being attended to. + +[Illustration: A VIEW OF THE HOUSE OF PEERS, 1755.] + +This is, however, by no means the only information of which we find +traces. Amongst the Cecil papers at Hatfield is a letter dated December +20th, 1605, addressed to the Earl of Salisbury by one Thomas Coe, who +claims to have previously forwarded to his Majesty "the primary +intelligence of these late dangerous treasons," upon which communication +the historian Lodge observes,[207] "It should seem then that the famous +letter transmitted to James by Lord Monteagle, for the right +construction of which that Prince's penetration hath been so highly +extolled by some historians, was not the only previous intelligence +communicated to him of the Gunpowder Treason." + +Meanwhile the officers of the government, in all parts, appear to have +been no less alert than was their wont. On the 9th of January, 1604-5, +for instance, Sir Thomas Parry writes from Paris,[208] inclosing a note +from an informer at Dieppe, concerning an English Catholic returning +from Italy and Spain with letters for Fathers Garnet and Oldcorne, and a +cipher of three lines for a lawyer at Douay, and although the messenger +has contrived to give him the slip, he is able to send particulars +concerning his personal appearance, and the locality in London where he +is likely to be found. On the 25th of the same month, Cecil replies to +Parry[209] concerning priests and their doings, and makes the valuable +admission that their proceedings are always known to him by means of +false brethren, though, he adds, these informers always add to their +intelligence "sophistications" of their own, a fact which must not be +lost sight of in studying the reports of such folk. We hear +particularly of informations supplied by the priests Bagshawe and Cecil, +by Captain Turner, Charles Paget, and sundry others. + +At the beginning of October, 1605, we make the acquaintance of another +notable informer. On the first of the month, William Willaston, then +engaged on a commission in France in connection with a proposed +commercial treaty, writes to Cecil from Paris[210] concerning a Catholic +design attributed chiefly to priests and Jesuits, who have assurance +that their friends in England, who are many and of good sort, intend "to +kindle a fire in many corners of our land, and a rebellion in Ireland," +and that these matters be almost grown to a head, "some of their fingers +itching to be set to work." Willaston adds, "there is a particular +irreconcilable desperate malice against your Honour's person, which is +principally the cause I make bold to write unto your Lordship. You have +yet the papists in your hands, and are masters; if you let them increase +and grow so insolent, assuredly it will come to pass as to the King of +Israel, who having overthrown Benhadab ..." and so on. + +On October 14th, Willaston again writes from Rouen[211] "about some +matters pretended by our Romish Catholics." The party, he says, "who" +has given light into this business "is one George Southwaick, well-known +to many of your Lordship's followers." This Southwaick, he holds to be +"very honest;" he is going to England with sundry priests and others, +and upon landing will at once communicate with the authorities and have +his comrades arrested. "Southwaick himself," adds Willaston, "must be +taken as well as the others, for he desireth not to be known to have +given any information against the rest. If it please your Lordship to +take order for his imprisonment apart, that conference privately may be +had with him, until such time as shall be thought fit to deliver him, he +can give you good directions for many matters, and may stand your honour +in stead for such purposes." + +There follows a notable suggestion: "If your Lordship would be pleased +to set some man to win the Nuncio of the Pope his secretary in Paris, +you should receive very direct and sound instructions from him." The +writer goes on to speak of an intended rebellion in England, and the +kindling of a fire there, and dutifully concludes, "God grant they touch +not the person of the King nor of his children." + +On the 27th of October, nine days before the "discovery," Southwaick +himself, now in England, writes to Cecil,[212] urging that the impending +arrest of priests and others should be deferred, and that for better +management of "the business, and for the better and more substantial +manifestation thereof," he ventures to suggest that "more scope of time +would make the service of more worth." Moreover, he gives warning of +preparations for trouble in the shires, in connection with "their plot," +and finally promises, "your Honour shall not only have knowledge of all +such as are any way intercepted in the same, but also knowledge of the +end of their whole purpose, and withal be certain of their meeting here +in London, where I do not doubt to apprehend forty priests, with many +great of name, at mass, in good speed of their great intent." + +On the morning of the 5th of November itself, evidently before receiving +news that the final blow had been struck, Southwaick writes to Levinus +Munck, Cecil's private secretary.[213] He excuses himself for recent +silence on the ground that he could not without prejudice to "the +business" have communicated with his employers. "The parties," he +declares, "have had, ever since I saw you, such obscure meetings, such +mutable purposes, such uncertain resolutions, as hath made me ride both +day and night, as well in foul weather as fair, omitting no +opportunities, lest I should not effect what I have by the weight of my +credit and the engagement of my duty and reputation propounded to my +honourable Lord." He farther begs that nothing may be done that might +disclose his true character to his intended victims, and concludes by +declaring that, if he be not much mistaken, he is about "a singular +service." + +If such letters proved nothing more, they would abundantly serve to +discredit the idea that a government which conducted its operations in +such a fashion could be hoodwinked by such clumsy contrivances as those +of the cellar and the mine. + +Five days later,[214] Southwaick again writes to Munck, inclosing a note +of the priests who have had meetings in Paris, or have been written to +in England. The Ambassador (in Paris) will, he says, bear witness that, +although unable to particularize, he had given notice two months since +that there was a plot brewing. He adds a significant hint, the like of +which we have already seen: "Should I chance to be apprehended, I will +rest myself upon my honourable Lord."[215] + +Meanwhile the English ambassadors abroad were no less active and +vigilant than the informers at home, and while clearly aware that there +was some danger on foot, never doubted that the king's government would +not be caught napping. + +On the 9th of October, Sir Thomas Edmondes wrote to Cecil from +Brussels[216] to warn him of suspicious symptoms in the Low Countries; +and on the following day Cecil wrote to Edmondes[217] expressing +apprehensions of trouble from the Jesuits abroad. On the same day, +October 10th, Sir Thomas Parry wrote from Paris to the secretary,[218] +of a petition which the Catholics were preparing against the meeting of +Parliament, "and some further designs upon refusal;" and in another +letter informed Edmondes:[219] "somewhat is at present in hand amongst +these desperate hypocrites, which I trust God shall divert, by the +vigilant care of his Majesty's faithful servants and friends abroad, and +prudence of his council at home." + +That such confidence was not misplaced is shown by Cecil's assurance to +Sir Thomas Parry,[220] mentioned above, that the proceedings of the +priests were never unknown to Government. + +Amongst the papers at Hatfield is a curious note, anonymous and +undated, giving information of a plot involving murder and treason, +which, like the letter to Monteagle, simulates rather too obviously the +workmanship of an illiterate person, and artfully insinuates that the +design in question is undertaken in the name of religion, and chiefly +favoured by the priests.[221] + +Another remarkable document is preserved in the same collection. This is +a letter written to Sir Everard Digby, June 11th, 1605, and treating of +an otter hunt to be undertaken when the hay shall be cut. It has, +however, been endorsed by Salisbury, "Letter written to Sir Everard +Digby--Powder Treason."[222] Not only is it hard to see how the terms +of the document lend themselves to such an interpretation, but the date +at which it was written was fully three months prior to Digby's +initiation in the conspiracy. The idea is certainly suggested that, far +from being passive and indolent, the authorities were sedulously seeking +pretexts to entangle as many as possible of those "great of name," +concerning whom we have already heard from one of their informers. This +much, at any rate, seems clear. Those at the centre of this complex web +of espionage, to whom were addressed all these informations and +admonitions, cannot have been, as they protested somewhat overmuch, in a +state of careless inactivity, depending for security only upon the +protection of the Almighty, "who," as the secretary afterwards piously +declared, "blessed us in our slumber [and] will not forsake us now that +we are awake."[223] + +The slumber would at least appear not to have been dreamless. On the one +hand, the secretary was evidently much exercised by a threatened +_rapprochement_ between his royal master and Pope Clement VIII., who, +through a Scotch Catholic gentleman, Sir James Lindsay, had sent a +friendly message to King James, which had elicited a courteous and +almost cordial reply.[224] The significance of this Cecil strenuously +endeavoured, in a letter to the Duke of Lenox,[225] to explain away, and +in February, 1604-5, we find him assuring the Archbishop of York with an +earnestness somewhat suspicious,[226] "I love not to procure or yield +any toleration; a matter which I well know no creature living durst +propound to our religious Sovereign." For himself, he thus declares: "I +will be much less than I am, or rather nothing at all, before I shall +become an instrument of such a miserable change." Nevertheless, on the +17th of April following, he was fain to acknowledge, in writing to +Parry,[227] that the news of Pope Clement's death had much eased him in +his mind. + +It would, however, appear that the spectre of possible toleration still +haunted him, and that he felt it necessary to commit the king to a +course of severity. In a minute of September 12th, 1605, addressed to +the same ambassador, which has been corrected and amended with an amount +of care sufficiently testifying to the importance of the subject,[228] +after speaking of "the plots and business of the priests," and the +tendency of Englishmen going abroad "in this time of peace" to become +Catholics, he thus continues: "Only this is it wherein my own heart +receiveth comfort, that we live under a most religious and understanding +Prince, who sticketh not to publish, as well in his own particular, as +in the form of his government, how contrary that religion is to his +resolution, and how far he will be from ever gracing [it]." He goes on +to declare that nothing will so avail to make his Majesty withdraw his +countenance from any man as such "falling away." + +About the same time as this was written, we are told by a writer, almost +a contemporary,[229] that a dependent of Cecil's warned a Catholic +gentleman, by name Buck, of a "wicked design" which his master had in +hand against the papists. + +On the 17th of October, more than a week before the first hint of danger +is said to have been breathed, we find the minister writing to Sir +Thomas Edmondes, at Brussels,[230] in terms which certainly appear to +couple together the growing danger of conversions to Catholicism, of +which we have heard above, and the remedy soon to be supplied by the new +policy which the discovery of the Plot so effectively established. He +speaks of the "insolencies" of the priests and Jesuits, who are doing +much injury by infecting with their poison "every youth that cometh +amongst them;" ominously adding, "which liberty must, for one cause or +another, be retrenched." + +There can be no doubt that the issue of the Gunpowder Plot was eminently +calculated to work such an effect; and even more would seem to have +been anticipated from it than was actually realized, for the secretary, +we are told, promised King James that in consequence of it not a single +Jesuit should remain in England. + +In the accounts supplied to us as to the manner of the "discovery," we +obtain much interesting information from the utterances of the +government itself. In studying these we cannot fail to notice an evident +effort to reconcile two conflicting interests. On the one hand, that the +king and the nation should be properly impressed with a sense of their +marvellous deliverance, it was essential to represent the catastrophe as +having been imminent, which could not be unless the preparations for it +had been altogether unsuspected; and it was likewise desirable to +magnify the divine sagacity of the monarch, which had been the +instrument of Providence to avert a disaster otherwise inevitable. On +the other hand, however, it should not be made to appear that those to +whose keeping the public safety was intrusted had shown themselves +culpably negligent or incompetent; and it had therefore to be insinuated +that, after all, they were not without "sufficient advertisement" of +danger, and even of danger specifically connected with the actual +conspirators, and directed against the Parliament. But, again, lest such +information should appear suspiciously accurate, the actual plotters had +to be merged in a larger body of their co-religionists, and their design +to be represented in vague and general terms. At the time, no doubt, +this was effective enough. Now however that we know, by the light of +subsequent investigations, who exactly were engaged, and what was in +hand, it is possible to estimate these declarations at their true +value.[231] + +Except with the aid of such an explanation as this, it seems impossible +to understand the endless inconsistencies and contradictions of the +official narrative. This we have in four forms, all coming to us on the +highest authority, but addressed to different audiences, and hopelessly +at variance upon almost every point. One is that given to the world as +the "King's Book,"[232] containing, as Mr. Jardine tells us, the version +which it was desired that the general public should accept. A second was +furnished by Cecil himself to the ambassadors at Madrid and Brussels, +and the Lord Deputy in Ireland,[233] and a third to the ambassador at +Paris.[234] We have likewise the minute of November 7th, already +mentioned as perhaps intended for the information of the Privy Council, +which, although it has seemingly served as the basis of the story told +in the "King's Book," contradicts that story in various not unimportant +particulars. + +We shall afterwards have to examine in some detail the divergencies of +these several narratives: at present we are concerned only with the +intimation which they afford of a previous knowledge of the Plot on the +part of the government. In the "King's Book"--which was not only to be +disseminated broadcast at home, but to be translated and spread abroad, +and, moreover, to be suited to the taste of its supposed author--the +preternatural acuteness of the monarch is extolled in terms of most +preposterous flattery, and his secretary is represented as altogether +incredulous of danger, and unwilling to be convinced even by his royal +master's wonderful interpretation of the mysterious warning. +Nevertheless, not only is mention parenthetically introduced of the +minister's "customable and watchful care of the king and State, boiling +within him," of his laying up these things in his heart, "like the +Blessed Virgin Mary," and being unable to rest till he had followed the +matter farther,--but it is dexterously intimated that, for all his +hardness of belief, he was sufficiently well informed before the warning +came to hand, and that "this accident did put him in mind of divers +advertisements he had received from beyond the seas, wherewith he had +acquainted as well the king himself, as divers of his Privy Councillors, +concerning some business the Papists were in, both at home and abroad, +making combination amongst them for some combination against this +Parliament time," their object being to approach the king with a +petition for toleration, "which should be delivered in some such order, +and so well backed, as the king should be loth to refuse their +requests; like the sturdy beggars craving alms with one open hand, but +carrying a stone in the other, in case of refusal." + +As prepared for the Privy Council, the account, though substantially the +same, was somewhat more explicit. The secretary was fully aware, so the +Lords were told, "that some practices might be doubted," and he "had, +any time these three months, acquainted the King, and some of his +Majesty's inward Counsellors, that the priests and laymen abroad and at +home were full of the papists of this kingdom, seeking still to lay some +_plot_ for procuring at this Parliament exercise of their religion." + +In his letter to the ambassadors Cecil was able to speak more plainly, +for this document was not to meet the eye of James. Accordingly, he not +only acknowledges that on seeing the Monteagle letter he at once divined +the truth, and understood all about the powder, and moreover reverses +the parts played by his Majesty and himself--making the former +incredulous in spite of what he himself could urge in support of his +opinion--but he goes on to give his previous information a far more +definite complexion: "Not but that I had sufficient advertisement that +most of these that now are fled [_i.e._ the conspirators]--being all +notorious Recusants--with many others of that kind, had a practice in +hand for some stir this Parliament." He, moreover, describes the +plotters, in terms already cited, as "gentlemen spent in their fortunes +and fit for all alterations." + +In view of all this it is quite impossible to believe the account given +of themselves by those who were responsible for the public safety, and +to suppose that they were not only so neglectful of their duty, but so +incredibly foolish, and so unlike themselves, as to permit a gross and +palpable peril to approach unnoticed. If, on the other hand, as appears +to be certain, the information with which they were supplied were +copious and minute, erring by excess far more than by defect, if, +instead of lethargy and carelessness, we find in their conduct, at every +stage of the proceedings, evidence of the extremest vigilance and of +constant activity, and if they held it of prime importance to disguise +the facts, and were willing to incur the charge of having been asleep at +their posts, rather than let it be thought that they knew what they did, +it can scarcely be doubted that the history of the Gunpowder Plot given +to the world was in its essential features what they wished it to +be.[235] + +A practical illustration of the methods freely employed by statesmen of +the period will serve to throw fuller light upon this portion of our +inquiry. In the service of the government was one Thomas Phelippes,[236] +by trade a "decipherer," who was employed to "make English" of +intercepted letters written in cipher. His services had been largely +used in connection with Mary, Queen of Scots, some of whose letters he +thus interpreted, having it in his power, as Mr. Tytler remarks, to +garble or falsify them at pleasure.[237] Moreover, to serve the purposes +of his masters, as he himself acknowledges,[238] he had upon occasion +forged one side of a correspondence, in order to induce the person +addressed to commit himself in reply.[239] At the time of the Gunpowder +Plot, however, Phelippes had himself fallen under suspicion, on account +of a correspondence with Hugh Owen, of whom we shall hear elsewhere. +Accordingly, an attempt was made to hoist him with his own petard, and +another agent, named Barnes, was employed by Cecil to write a letter, as +coming from Phelippes (who was then in England) and carry it to Owen in +Flanders in order to draw him out. At Dover, however, Barnes was +arrested, being mistaken for another man for whom a watch was being +kept. Thereupon, his papers being seized and sent to the Earl of +Northampton, who appears not to have been in the secret of this matter, +Cecil was obliged to arrest Phelippes at once, as though the letter were +genuine, instead of waiting, as he had intended, in order to worm out +more. + +The story of this complex and crooked business is frankly told by Cecil +himself in a letter to Edmondes, English ambassador at Brussels, which, +after the above abstract, will be sufficiently intelligible.[240] + +"As for Barnes, he is now returning again into Flanders, with many vows +and promises to continue to do good service. As he was at Dover with my +pass, carrying a letter from Philipps to Owen (of Barnes own +handwriting, wherewith I was before acquainted), he was suddenly stayed +by order from the Lord Warden, upon suspicion that he was one Acton, a +traitor of the late conspiracy.... Whereupon, his papers and letters +being sent to my Lord of Northampton, I thought fit not to defer any +longer the calling of Philipps into question; which till then I had +forborne, hoping by Barnes his means to have discovered some further +matter than before I could do." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[200] He appears to have been no relation of John and Christopher +Wright, the conspirators. + +[201] Davies was employed in other affairs of a similar nature. See +_Dom. James I._, xix. 83, I (P.R.O.). + +[202] Cf. a "setter dog." + +[203] See the full text of Wright's letter, Appendix G. + +[204] See the text of the memorial, Appendix G. + +[205] Copy in the P.R.O. _Dom. James I._ vii. 86, and xx. 52. The +informer's name is given in the latter, viz., Ralph Ratcliffe. + +[206] It was likewise cited in the interrogatories prepared for the +Jesuit Thomas Strange (Brit. Mus. _MSS. Add._ 6178, 74) in November, +1605, and in this case also as treating of the Gunpowder Plot and no +other. + +[207] _Illustrations_, iii. 301. + +[208] P.R.O. _France_, b. 132. + +[209] _Ibid._ + +[210] P.R.O. _France_, bundle 132. + +[211] _Ibid._ f. 273 b. + +[212] Hatfield MSS. 112, n. 141. + +[213] P.R.O. _Gunpowder Plot Book_, 16. + +[214] November 10th, 1605, _Dom. James I._ xvi. 44. + +[215] At a later period (July 20th, 1606) we find that Southwaick ("or +Southwell") had lost favour and was warned by Salisbury to leave the +country. "I hold him," says the Earl, "to be a very impostor." (_To +Edmondes_, Phillipps MS. f. 165.) + +[216] Stowe MSS., 168, 39. + +[217] _Ibid._ 40. + +[218] _Ibid._ 42. + +[219] Birch, _Historical View_, p. 234. + +[220] P.R.O. _France_, bundle 132, January 25th, 1604-5. + +[221] "Who so evar finds this box of letars let him carry hit to the +Kings magesty: my mastar litel thinks I knows of this, but yn ridinge +wth him that browt the letar to my mastar to a Katholyk gentlemans hows +anward of his way ynto lin konsher [Lincolnshire], he told me al his +purpos, and what he ment to do; and he beinge a prest absolved me and +mad me swar nevar to revel hit to ane man. I confes myself a Katholyk, +and do hate the protystans relygon with my hart, and yit I detest to +consent ethar to murdar or treson. I have blotyd out sartyn nams in the +letars becas I wold not have ethar my mastar or ane of his frends trobyl +aboute this; for by his menes I was mad a goud Katholyk, and I wod to +God the King war a good Katholyk: that is all the harm I wish him; and +let him tak hed what petysons or suplycasons he take of ane man; and I +hop this box will be found by som that will giv hit to the King, hit may +do him good one day. I men not to com to my mastar any moe, but wil +return unto my contry from whens I cam. As for my nam and contry I +consel that; and God make the King a goud Katholyk; and let Ser Robart +Sesil and my lord Cohef Gustyse lok to them selvse." (Printed in +Appendix to _Third Report of Historical MSS. Commission_, p. 148.) + +[222] It is signed "G.D.," and was possibly written by a relation of Sir +Everard's. + +[223] To Sir H. Bruncard, March 3rd, 1605-6. P.R.O. _Ireland_, vol. +218. + +[224] "Instructions to my trusty servant Sir James Lindsay, for answer +to the lettre and Commission brought by him from the Pope unto me." +A^o 1604. (P.R.O. _France_, b. 132.) + +In these notes the king explains that the things of greatest import +cannot be written, but have been imparted "by tongue" to the envoy, to +be delivered to his holiness. Moreover he thus charges Lindsay: "You +shall assure him that I shall never be forgetful of the continual proof +I have had of his courtesy and long inclination towards me, and +especially by this his so courteous and unexpected message, which I +shall be careful to requite thankfully by all civil courtesies that +shall be in my power, the particulars whereof I remit likewise to your +declaration." Besides this, he protests that he will ever inviolably +observe two points: first, never to dissemble what he thinks, especially +in matters of conscience; secondly, never to reject reason when he hears +it urged on the other side. + +[225] P.R.O. _France_, b. 132. + +[226] Lodge, _Illustrations_, iii. 262. + +[227] P.R.O. _France_, b. 132. + +[228] _Ibid._ + +[229] _The Politician's Catechism_, 1658. + +[230] Birch, _Historical View_, p. 234. + +[231] "If the Priestes and Catholickes, so many thousands in England +would have entertayned it, no man can be so malicious and simple to +thinke but there would have been a greater assembly than fourscore [in +the Midlands] to take such an action in hand, and the Council could not +be so winking eyed, but they would have found forth some one or other +culpable, which they could never do, though some of them, most powerable +in it, tendered and racked forth their hatred against us to the +uttermost limites they could extend." _English Protestants' plea_, p. +60. + +[232] _Discourse of the manner of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot._ +Printed in the Collected Works of King James, by Bishop Mountague, by +Bishop Barlow, in _Gunpowder Treason_, and in Cobbett's _State Trials_, +as an appendix to that of the conspirators. + +[233] _I.e._, Cornwallis, Edmondes, and Chichester. The despatch to +Cornwallis is printed in Winwood's _Memorials_, ii. 170. + +[234] Sir Thoms Parry, P.R.O. _France_, bundle 132. + +[235] Mr. Hepworth Dixon observes (_Her Majesty's Tower_, i. 352, +seventh edition) that a man must have been in no common measure ignorant +of Cecil and Northampton who could dream that such a design could escape +the greatest masters of intrigue alive, and that abundant evidence makes +it clear that the Council were informed of the Plot in almost every +stage, and that their agents dogged the footsteps of those whom they +suspected, taking note of all their proceedings. "It was no part of +Cecil's policy," adds Mr. Dixon, "to step in before the dramatic time." + +[236] Often called Phelipps, or Philipps. + +[237] _History of Scotland_, iii. 376, note (ed. Eadie). It was on one +of these letters which had been in the hands of Phelippes that Mary was +convicted. + +[238] _Dom. James I._ xx. 51. April, 1606. + +[239] In the fragment cited above, Phelippes says that Queen Elizabeth +and the Earl of Essex largely availed themselves of this device of his, +and that "My Lord of Salisbury had himself made some use of it in the +Queen's time." + +[240] February 12th, 1605-6. (Stowe MSS. 168.) + + + + +CHAPTER VI. + +THE "DISCOVERY." + + +WHEN the conspirators first undertook their enterprise, Parliament was +appointed to meet on February 7th, 1604-5, but, as has been seen, it was +subsequently prorogued till October 3rd, and then again till Tuesday, +November 5th. On occasion of the October prorogation, the confederates +employed Thomas Winter to attend the ceremony in order to learn from the +demeanour of the assembled Peers whether any suspicion of their design +had suggested this unexpected adjournment. He returned to report that no +symptom could be discerned of alarm or uneasiness, and that the presence +of the volcano underfoot was evidently unsuspected. Thus reassured, his +associates awaited with confidence the advent of the fatal Fifth. + +In the interval occurred the event which forms the official link +connecting the secret and the public history of the Plot, namely, the +receipt of the letter of warning by Lord Monteagle. That the document is +of supreme importance in our history cannot be denied, for the +government account clearly stands or falls with the assertion that this +was in reality the means whereby the impending catastrophe was averted. +That it was so, the official story proclaimed from the first with a +vehemence in itself suspicious, and the famous letter was exhibited to +the world with a persistence and solicitude not easy to explain; being +printed in the "King's Book," and in every other account of the affair; +while transcribed copies were sent to the ambassadors at foreign courts +and other public personages.[241] Had a warning really been given, in +such a case, to save the life of a kinsman or friend, the circumstance, +however fortunate, would scarcely have been wonderful, nor can we think +that the document would thus have been multiplied for inspection. If, on +the other hand, it had been carefully contrived for its purpose, it +would not be unnatural for those who knew where the weak point lay, to +wish the world to be convinced that there really had been a letter. It +is, moreover, not easy to understand the importance attributed to +Monteagle's service in connection with it. To have handed to the +authorities such a message, evidently of an alarming nature, though he +himself did not professedly understand it, does not appear to have +entitled him to the extraordinary consideration which he in fact +received. The Attorney General was specially instructed, at the trial, +to extol his lordship's conduct.[242] Wherever, in the confession of the +conspirators, his name was mentioned, it was erased, or pasted over with +paper, or the whole passage was omitted before publication of the +document. All this is easy to understand if he were the instrument +employed for a critical and delicate transaction, depending for success +upon his discretion and reticence. On any other supposition it seems +inexplicable. + +[Illustration: MONTEAGLE AND LETTER. + + The gallant _Eagle_, soaring vp on high: + Beares in his beake, _Treasons_ discouery. + MOVNT, noble EAGLE, with thy happy prey, + And thy rich _Prize_ to th' _King_ with speed conuay.] + +Moreover, Monteagle's services received most substantial acknowledgment +in the form of a grant of L700 a year,[243] equivalent, at least, to +ten times that amount in money of the present day.[244] There still +exists[245] the draft preamble of the grant making this award, which has +been altered and emended with an amount of care which sufficiently +testifies to the importance of the matter. In this it is said of the +letter that by the knowledge thereof "we had the first _and only_ means +to discover that most wicked and barbarous plot"--the words italicised +being added as an interlineation by Cecil himself. Nevertheless, it +appears certain that this is not, and cannot be, the truth; indeed, +historians of all shades equally discountenance the idea. Mr. +Jardine[246] considers it "hardly credible that the letter was really +the means by which the plot was discovered," and inclines to the +belief[247] that the whole story concerning it "was merely a device of +the government ... to conceal the means by which their information had +been derived." Similarly Mr. J.S. Brewer[248] holds it as certain that +this part, at least, of the story is a fiction designed to conceal the +truth. Mr. Gardiner, who is less inclined than others to give up the +received story, thinks that, to say the least of it, it is highly +probable that Monteagle expected the letter before it came.[249] + +For a right understanding of the point it is necessary to consider the +character of the man who plays so important a part in this episode. Lord +Monteagle, the eldest son of Lord Morley, ennobled under a title derived +through his mother, was, in Mr. Jardine's opinion,[250] "a person +precisely adapted for an instrument on such an occasion;" and the +description appears even more applicable than was intended. He had been +implicated in all the doings of the turbulent section of the English +Catholics[251] for several years, having taken part in the rising of +Essex, and in the Spanish negotiations, whatever they were, conducted +through the instrumentality of Thomas Winter. With Catesby, and others +of the conspirators, he was on terms of the closest and most intimate +friendship, and Tresham was his brother-in-law. A letter of his to +Catesby is still preserved, which, in the opinion of some, affords +evidence of his having been actually engaged in the Powder Plot +itself;[252] and Mr. Jardine, though dissenting from the view that the +letter proves so much, judges it not at all impossible or improbable +that he was in fact privy to the conspiracy. It is likewise certain that +up to the last moment Monteagle was on familiar terms with the plotters, +to whom, a few days before the final catastrophe, he imparted an +important piece of information.[253] + +At the same time it is evident that Monteagle was in high favour at +Court, as is sufficiently evidenced by the fact that he was appointed to +be one of the commissioners for the prorogation of October 3rd, a most +unusual distinction for one in his position, as also by the pains taken +by the government on behalf of his brother, who had shortly before got +himself into trouble in France.[254] A still more remarkable +circumstance has been strangely overlooked by historians.[255] Monteagle +always passed for a Catholic, turbulent indeed and prone to violence, +but attached, even fanatically, to his creed, like his friend Catesby +and the rest. There remains, however, an undated letter of his to the +king,[256] in which he expresses his determination to become a +Protestant; and while in fulsome language extolling his Majesty's zeal +for his spiritual welfare, speaks with bitterness and contempt of the +faith which, nevertheless, he continued to profess to the end of his +life, and that without exciting suspicion of his deceit among the +Catholics. Not only must this shake our confidence in the genuine +nature of any transaction in which such a man played a prominent part, +it must likewise suggest a doubt whether others may not in like manner +have passed themselves off for what they were not, without arousing +suspicion. + +The precise facts as to the actual receipt of the famous letter are +involved, like every other particular of this history, in the obscurity +begotten of contradictory evidence. In the published account,[257] it is +stated with great precision that it was received by Monteagle on +Saturday, October 26th, being but ten days before the Parliament. In his +letter to the ambassadors abroad,[258] Cecil dates its receipt "about +eight days before the Parliament should have begun." In the account +furnished for the benefit of the King of France,[259] the same authority +declares that it came to hand "some four or five days before." A doubt +is thus unquestionably suggested as to whether the circumstances of its +coming to Monteagle's hands are those traditionally described: for our +present purpose, however, it will perhaps be sufficient to follow the +story as formally told by authority in the king's own book. + +On Saturday, October 26th, ten days before the assembly of Parliament, +Monteagle suddenly, and without previous notice, ordered a supper to be +prepared at his house at Hoxton "where he had not supped or lain of a +twelvemonth and more before that time."[260] While he was at table one +of his pages brought him a letter which had been given to him by a man +in the street, whose features he could not distinguish, with injunctions +to place it in his master's own hands. It is undoubtedly a singular +circumstance, which did not escape notice at the time, that the bearer +of this missive should have thus been able to find Monteagle at a spot +which he was not accustomed to frequent, and the obvious inference was +drawn, that the arrival of the letter was expected. On this point, +indeed, there is somewhat more than inference to go upon, for in +Fulman's MS. collection at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, among some +interesting notes concerning the Plot, of which we shall see more, +occurs the statement that "the Lord Monteagle knew there was a letter to +be sent to him before it came."[261] + +Monteagle opened the letter, and, glancing at it, perceived that it bore +neither date nor signature, whereupon he handed it to a gentleman of his +household, named Ward, to read aloud, an apparently unnatural and +imprudent proceeding not easy to explain, but, at least, inconsistent +with the conduct of one receiving an obviously important communication +in such mysterious circumstances. The famous epistle must be given in +its native form. + + _My lord out of the love i beare to some of youere frends i have a + caer of youer preseruacion therfor i would advyse yowe as yowe + tender youer lyf to devys some excuse to shift of youer attendance + at this parleament for god and man hath concurred to punishe the + wickednes of this tyme and think not slightlye of this advertisment + but retyre youre self into youre contri wheare yowe may expect the + event in safti for thowghe theare be no apparence of anni stir yet i + saye they shall receyve a terrible blowe this parleament and yet + they shall not seie who hurts them this cowncel is not to be + contemned because it maye do yowe good and can do yowe no harme for + the dangere is passed as soon as yowe have burnt the letter and i + hope god will give yowe the grace to mak good use of it to whose + holy proteccion i comend yowe_ + + (Addressed) _to the ryht honorable the lord mo[=u]teagle_ + +Monteagle, though he saw little or nothing in this strange effusion, +resolved at once to communicate with the king's ministers, his Majesty +being at the time engaged at Royston in his favourite pastime of the +chase, and accordingly proceeding at once to town, he placed the +mysterious document in the hands of the Earl of Salisbury.[262] + +As to what thereafter followed and the manner in which from this clue +the discovery was actually accomplished, it is impossible to say more +than this, that the accounts handed down cannot by any possibility be +true, inasmuch as on every single point they are utterly and hopelessly +at variance. We can do no more than set down the particulars as supplied +to us on the very highest authority. + + +A.--_The account published in the "King's Book."_ + +1. The letter was received ten days before the meeting of Parliament, +_i.e._, on October 26th. + +2. The Earl of Salisbury judged it to be the effusion of a lunatic, but +thought it well, nevertheless, to communicate it to the king. + +3. This was done five days afterwards, November 1st, when, in spite of +his minister's incredulity, James insisted that the letter could intend +nothing but the blowing up of the Parliament with gunpowder, and that a +search must be made, which, however, should be postponed till the last +moment. + +4. Accordingly, on the afternoon of Monday, November 4th, the Lord +Chamberlain going on a tour of inspection, visited the "cellar" and +found there "great store of billets, faggots, and coals," and moreover, +"casting his eye aside, perceived a fellow standing in a corner ... +Guido Fawkes the owner of that hand which should have acted that +monstrous tragedy." Coming back, the chamberlain reported that the +provision of fuel appeared extraordinary, and that as to the man, "he +looked like a very tall and desperate fellow." + +5. Thereupon the king insisted that a thorough scrutiny must be made, +and that "those billets and coals should be searched to the bottom, it +being most suspicious that they were laid there only for covering of the +powder." For this purpose Sir Thomas Knyvet, a magistrate, was +despatched with a suitable retinue. + +6. Before his entrance to the house, Knyvet found Faukes "standing +without the doors, his boots and clothes on," and straightway +apprehended him. Then, going into the cellar, he removed the firewood +and at once discovered the barrels. + + +B.--_The Account sent by Salisbury to the Ambassadors abroad, and the +Deputy in Ireland, November 9th, 1605._ + +1. The letter was received about _eight_ days before the Parliament. + +2. Upon perusal thereof, Salisbury and Suffolk, the chamberlain, "both +conceived that it could not be more proper than the time of Parliament, +nor by any other way to be attempted than with powder, while the King +was sitting in that Assembly." With this interpretation other Lords of +the Council agreed; but they thought it well not to impart the matter to +the king till three or four days before the session. + +3. His Majesty was "hard of belief" that any such thing was intended, +but his advisers overruled him and insisted on a search, not however +till the last moment. + +[Illustration: ARREST OF GUY FAUKES.] + +4. About 3 o'clock on the afternoon of Monday, November 4th, the Lord +Chamberlain, Suffolk, visited the cellar, and found in it only firewood +and not Faukes. + +5. The lords however insisting, in spite of the king, that the matter +should be probed to the bottom, Knyvet was despatched with orders to +"_remove all the wood, and so to see the plain ground underneath_." + +6. Knyvet, about midnight, "going unlooked for into the vault, found +that fellow Johnson [_i.e._, Faukes] _newly come out of the vault_," and +seized him. Then, having removed the wood, he perceived the barrels. + + +C.--_The Account furnished by Salisbury for the information of the King +of France, November 6th, 1605. (Original draft, in the P.R.O.)_ + +1. The letter was received _some four or five days_ before the +Parliament. + +2. This being shown to the king and the lords, "their lordships found +not good ... to give much credit to it, nor yet so to contemn it as to +do nothing at all." + +3. It was accordingly determined, the night before, "to make search +about that place and to appoint a watch in the old Palace, to observe +what persons might resort thereabouts." + +4. Sir T. Knyvet, being appointed to the charge thereof, _going by +chance, about midnight, into the vault, by another door, found Faukes +within_. Thereupon he caused some few faggots to be removed, and so +discovered some of the barrels, "_merely, as it were, by God's +direction, having no other cause but a general jealousy_."[263] + +Never, assuredly, was a true story so hard to tell. Contradictions like +these, upon every single point of the narrative, are just such as are +wont to betray the author of a fiction when compelled to be +circumstantial. + +To say nothing of the curious discrepancies as to the date of the +warning, it is clearly impossible to determine the locality of Guy's +arrest. The account officially published in the "King's Book" says that +this took place in the street. The letter to the ambassadors assigns it +to the cellar and afterwards to the street; that to Parry, to the cellar +only. Faukes himself, in his confession of November 5th, says that he +was apprehended neither in the street nor in the cellar, but in his own +room in the adjoining house. Chamberlain writes to Carleton, November +7th, that it was in the cellar. Howes, in his continuation of Stowe's +_Annals_, describes two arrests of Faukes, one in the street, the other +upstairs in his own chamber. This point, though seemingly somewhat +trivial, has been invested with much importance. According to the +time-honoured story, the baffled desperado roundly declared that had he +been within reach of the powder when his captors appeared, he would +have applied a match and involved them in his own destruction. This +circumstance is strongly insisted on not only in the "King's Book," but +also in his Majesty's speech to Parliament on November 9th, which +declared, "and in that also was there a wonderful providence of God, +that when the party himself was taken he was but new come out of his +house from working, having his fire-work for kindling ready in his +pocket, wherewith, as he confesseth, if he been taken immediately +before, he was resolved to have blown up himself with his takers." We +learn, however, from Cecil's earliest version of the history, that +Faukes was apprehended in the very situation most suitable for such a +purpose, "in the place itself, as he was busy to prepare his things for +execution," while Chamberlain adds that he was actually engaged in +"making his trains." + +Far more serious, to say nothing of the episode of the chamberlain's +visit, are the divergencies of the several versions as to the very +substance of the story. We are told that King James was the first to +understand and interpret the letter which had baffled the sagacity of +his Privy Council; that the Lords of the Council had fully interpreted +it several days before the king saw it; that the said lords would not +credit the king's interpretation; that the king would not believe their +interpretation; and that neither the one nor the other ever interpreted +it at all; that his Majesty insisted on a search being made in spite of +the reluctance of his ministers; that they insisted on the search in +spite of the reluctance of their royal master; and that no such search +was ever proposed by either; that Knyvet was despatched expressly to +look for gunpowder, with instructions to rummage the firewood to the +bottom, leaving no cover in which a barrel might lie hid; and that +having no instructions to do anything of the kind, nor any reason to +suspect the existence of any barrels, he discovered them only by a piece +of luck, so purely fortuitous as to be clearly providential. On this +last point especially the contradictions are absolutely irreconcilable. + +It is abundantly evident that those who with elaborate care produced +these various versions were not supremely solicitous about the truth of +the matter, and varied the tale according to the requirements of +circumstances. As Mr. Jardine acknowledges,[264] the great object of the +official accounts was to obtain credence for what the government wished +to be believed, or, as Father Gerard puts it,[265] these accounts were +composed "with desire that men should all conceive this to be the manner +how the treason came to light." If from time to time the details were +altogether transformed, it was clearly not through any abstract love of +historical accuracy, but rather that there were difficulties to meet and +doubts to satisfy, which had to be dealt with in order to produce the +desired effect. + +That, from the beginning, there was whispered disbelief, which it was +held all-important to silence, is sufficiently attested by Cecil +himself, when, on the very morrow of the discovery, he sent to Parry his +first draft of the history. "Thus much," he wrote, "I have thought +necessary to impart unto you in haste, to the end that you may deliver +as much to the French king, for prevention of false bruits, which I +know, as the nature of fame is, will be _increased_,[266] perverted, and +disguised according to the disposition of men." + +It does not appear why the appearance of erroneous versions of so +striking an event should have been thus confidently anticipated if the +facts were undeniably established; while, on the other hand, it is not a +little remarkable that the narrative thus expressly designed to +establish the truth, should have been forthwith abandoned and +contradicted by its author in every single particular. + +Important information upon the same point is furnished by Cecil in +another letter, written in the following January.[267] He undertakes to +explain to his correspondent how it came to pass that a circumstance of +supreme importance, of which the government were fully cognizant,[268] +was not mentioned in the official account. This he does as follows: "And +although in his Majesty's book there is not any mention made of them +[the Jesuits], and of many things else which came to the knowledge of +the State, yet is it but a frivolous inference that thereby [they] seek +to serve their turn, considering the purpose of his Majesty was not to +deliver unto the world all that was confessed concerning this action, +_but so much only of the manner and form of it, and the means of the +discovery_, as might make it apparent, both how wickedly it was +conceived by those devilish instruments, and _how graciously it pleased +God to deal with us in such an extraordinary discovery thereof_." + +Turning to the details of the story which survive the struggle for +existence in the conflict of testimony, if any can be said to do so, +there is abundant matter deserving attention, albeit we may at once +dismiss the time-honoured legend concerning the sagacity of the British +Solomon, and his marvellous interpretation of the riddling phrases which +baffled the perspicacity of all besides himself.[269] + +More important is Cecil's admission that the presence of the powder +under the Parliament House was at least suspected for several days +before anything was done to interfere with the proceedings of those who +had put it there. The reasons alleged for so extraordinary a course are +manifestly absurd. It was resolved, he told the ambassadors, "that, till +the night before, nothing should be done to interrupt any purpose of +theirs that had any such devilish practice, but rather to suffer them to +go on to the end of their day." In like manner he informed the Privy +Council[270] that it was determined to make no earlier search, that +"such as had such practice in hand might not be scared before they had +let the matter run on to a full ripeness for discovery." It certainly +appears that, at least, it would have been well before the eleventh hour +to institute observations as to who might be coming and going about the +cellar. On the other hand, can it be imagined that any minister in his +right senses would have allowed the existence of a danger so appalling +to continue so long, and have suffered a desperado like Faukes to have +gone on knocking about with his flint and steel and lantern in a powder +magazine beneath the House of Parliament? Accidents are proverbially +always possible, and in the circumstances described to us there would +have been much more than a mere possibility, for the action said to have +been taken by the authorities, in sending the chamberlain to "peruse" +the vault, seems to have been expressly intended to give the alarm; and +had the conspirators been scared it would evidently have been their +safest plan to have precipitated the catastrophe, that in the confusion +it would cause they might escape. How terrible such a catastrophe would +have been is indicated by Father Greenway:[271] "Over and above the +grievous loss involved in the destruction of these ancient and noble +buildings, of the archives and national records, the king himself might +have been in peril, and other royal edifices, though situate at a +distance, and undoubtedly many would have perished who had come up to +attend the Parliament." Moreover, the loss of life in so thickly +populated a spot must have been frightful, and especially amongst the +official classes. + +Father Greenway expresses his utter disbelief in the incident of the +chamberlain's visit:[272] "To speak my own mind," he writes, "I do not +see in this portion of the story any sort of probability." He adds +another remark of great importance. If the Lord Chamberlain,--and, we +may add, Sir T. Knyvet,--could get into the cellar without the +assistance of Faukes, to say nothing of the "other door" which makes its +appearance in Cecil's first version, there is an end of the secret and +hidden nature of the place, and some one else must have had a key. How, +then, about the months during which the powder had been lying in it; +during much of which time it had been, apparently, left to take care of +itself? Did no man ever enter and inspect it before? + +But questions far more fundamental inevitably suggest themselves. If, +during ten, or even during five days, a minister so astute and vigilant +was willing to risk the danger of an explosion, it certainly does not +appear that he was much afraid of the powder, or thought there was any +harm in it. We have already remarked on the strangeness of the +circumstance that the plotters were able so easily to procure it. It may +be observed that they appear themselves to have been disappointed with +its quality, for we are told[273] that late in the summer they added to +their store "as suspecting the former to be dank." Still more +remarkable, however, was the conduct of the government. Immediately upon +the "discovery" they instituted the most minute and searching inquiries +as to every other particular connected with the conspirators. We find +copious evidence taken about their haunts, their lodgings, and their +associates: of the boatmen who conveyed them hither and thither, the +porters who carried billets, and the carpenters who worked for them: +inquiries were diligently instituted as to where were purchased the iron +bars laid on top of the barrels, which appear to have been considered +especially dangerous; we hear of sword-hilts engraved for some of the +company, of three beaver hats bought by another, and of the sixpence +given to the boy who brought them home. But concerning the gunpowder no +question appears ever to have been asked, whence it came, or who +furnished it. Yet this would appear to be a point at least as important +as the rest, and if it was left in absolute obscurity, the inference is +undoubtedly suggested that it was not wished to have questions raised. +It may be added that no mention is discoverable of the augmentation of +the royal stores by so notable a contribution as this would have +furnished. + +Neither can it escape observation that whereas the powder was discovered +only on the morning[274] of November 5th, the peers met as usual in +their chamber that very day.[275] It cannot be supposed either that four +tons of powder could have been so soon removed, or that the most +valuable persons in the State would have been suffered to expose +themselves to the risk of assembling in so perilous a situation.[276] + +However this may be, from the moment of the "discovery" the discovered +gunpowder disappears from history.[277] + +[Illustration: DISCOVERY OF GUNPOWDER PLOT, AND COINS OF JAMES I. + +_Coins_ in King James I. Reign; _with the Discovery of the_ Gun Powder +Plot.] + +There is another point which must be noticed. It might naturally be +supposed that after so narrow an escape, and in accordance with their +loud protestations of alarm at the proximity of a shocking calamity from +which they had been so providentially delivered, the official +authorities would have carefully guarded against the possibility of the +like happening again. Their acts, however, were quite inconsistent with +their words, for they did nothing of the kind. For more than seventy +years afterwards the famous "cellar" continued to be leased in the same +easy-going fashion to any who chose to hire it, and continued to be the +receptacle of all manner of rubbish and lumber, eminently suited to +mask another battery. Not till the days of the mendacious Titus Oates, +and under the influence of the panic he had engendered, did the Peers +bethink themselves that a project such as that of Guy Faukes might +really be a danger, and command that the "cellar" should be +searched.[278] This was done, in November, 1678, by no less personages +than Sir Christopher Wren and Sir Jonas Moore, who reported that the +vaults and cellars under and near the House of Lords were in such a +condition that there could be no assurance of safety. It was accordingly +ordered that they should be cleared of all timber, firewood, coals, and +other materials, and that passages should be made through them all, to +the end that they might easily be examined. At this time, and not +before, was instituted the traditional searching of the cellars on the +eve of Parliament.[279] + +What then, it will be asked, really did occur? What was done by the +conspirators? and what by those who discovered them? + +Truth to tell, it is difficult, or rather impossible, to answer such +questions. That there was a plot of some kind cannot, of course, be +doubted; that it was of such a nature as we have been accustomed to +believe, can be affirmed only if we are willing to ignore difficulties +which are by no means slight. There is, doubtless, a mass of evidence in +support of the traditional story upon these points, but while its value +has yet to be discussed, there are other considerations, hitherto +overlooked, which are in conflict with it. + +Something has been said of the amazing contradictions which a very +slight examination of the official story reveals at every turn, and much +more might be added under the same head.[280] + +[Illustration: "GUY FAUKES' LANTERN."] + +On the other hand it is clear that even as to the material facts there +was not at the time that unanimity which might have been expected. We +have seen how anxious was the Secretary of State that the French court +should at once be rightly informed as to all particulars. We learn, +however, from Mr. Dudley Carleton, then attached to the embassy at +Paris,[281] that in spite of Cecil's promptitude he was anticipated by a +version of the affair sent over from the French embassy in London, +giving an utterly different complexion to it. According to this, the +design had been, "That the council being set, and some lords besides in +the chamber, a barrel of gunpowder should be fired underneath them, and +the greater part, if not all, blown up." According to this informant, +therefore, it was not the Parliament House but the Council Chamber which +was to have been assailed, there is no mention of the king, and we have +one barrel of powder instead of thirty-six. It is not easy to understand +how in such a matter a mistake like this could have been made, for it is +the inevitable tendency of men to begin by exaggerating, and not by +minimizing, a sudden and startling peril.[282] + +Moreover, even this modest version of the affair was not suffered to +pass unchallenged. Three days later Carleton again wrote:[283] "The fire +which was said to have burnt our king and council, and hath been so hot +these two days past in every man's mouth, proves but _ignis fatuus_, or +a flash of some foolish fellow's brain to abuse the world; for it is now +as confidently reported there was no such matter, nor anything near it +more than a barrel of powder found near the court." + +It must here be observed that the scepticism thus early manifested +appears never to have been exorcised from the minds of French writers, +many of whom, of all shades of thought, continue, down to our day, to +assume that the real plotters were the king's government.[284] + +Neither can we overlook sundry difficulties, again suggested by the +facts of the case, which make it hard to understand how the plans of the +plotters can in reality have been as they are represented. + +We have already observed on the nature of the house occupied in Percy's +name. If this were, as Speed tells us, and as there is no reason to +doubt, at the service of the Peers during a session, for a +withdrawing-room, and if the session was to begin on November 5th, how +could Faukes hope not only to remain in possession, but to carry on his +strange proceedings unobserved, amid the crowd of lacqueys and officials +with whom the opening of Parliament by the Sovereign must needs have +flooded the premises? How was he, unobserved, to get into the fatal +"cellar"? + +This difficulty is emphasized by another. We learn, on the unimpeachable +testimony of Mrs. Whynniard, the landlady, that Faukes not only paid the +last instalment of rent on Sunday, November 3rd, but on the following +day, the day immediately preceding the intended explosion, had +carpenters and other workfolk in the house "for mending and repairing +thereof."[285] To say nothing of the wonderful honesty of paying rent +under the circumstances, what was the sense of putting a house in repair +upon Monday, which on Tuesday was to be blown to atoms? And how could +the practised eyes of such workmen fail to detect some trace of the +extraordinary and unskilled operations of which the house is said to +have been the theatre? If, indeed, the truth is that on the Tuesday the +premises were to be handed over for official use, it is easy to +understand why it was thought necessary to set them in order, but on no +other supposition does this appear comprehensible. + +Problems, not easy to solve, connect themselves, likewise, with the +actual execution of the conspirators' plan. If it would have been hard +for Guy Faukes to get into the "cellar," how was he ever to get out of +it again? We are so accustomed to the idea of darkness and obscurity in +connection with him and his business, as perhaps to forget that his +project was to have been executed in the very middle of the day, about +noon or shortly afterwards. The king was to come in state with retinue +and guards, and attended by a large concourse of spectators, who, as is +usual on such occasions, would throng every nook and corner whence could +be obtained a glimpse of the building in which the royal speech was +being delivered.[286] It cannot be doubted, in particular, that the open +spaces adjacent to the House itself would be strictly guarded, and the +populace not suffered to approach too near the sacred precincts, more +especially when, as we have seen, so many suspicions were abroad of +danger to his sacred Majesty, and to the Parliament. + +On a sudden a door immediately beneath the spot where the flower of the +nation were assembled, would be unlocked and opened, and there would +issue there-from a man, "looking like a very tall and desperate fellow," +booted and spurred and equipped for travel. He was to have but a quarter +of an hour to save himself from the ruin he had prepared.[287] What +possible chance was there that he would have been allowed to pass? + +As to his further plans, we have the most extravagant and contradictory +accounts, some obviously fabulous.[288] According to the least +incredible, a vessel was lying below London Bridge ready at once to +proceed to sea and carry him to Flanders; while a boat, awaiting him at +the Parliament stairs, was to convey him to the ship.[289] If this were +so, it is not clear why he equipped himself with his spurs, which, +however, are authenticated by as good evidence as any other feature of +the story. It would also appear that, here again, the plan proposed was +altogether impracticable, for at the time of his projected flight the +tide would have been flowing,[290] and it is well known that to attempt +to pass Old London Bridge against it would have been like trying to row +up a waterfall. Neither does it seem probable that the vessel would have +been able to get out of the Thames for several hours, before which time +all egress would doubtless have been stopped. + +Such considerations must at least avail to make us pause before we can +unhesitatingly accept the traditional history, even in those broad +outlines which appear to be best established. The main point is, +however, independent of their truth. Though all be as has been affirmed +concerning the "cellar" and its contents, and the plan of operations +agreed upon by the traitors, the question remains as to the real nature +of the "discovery." We have seen, on the one hand, that the official +narrative bristles with contradictions, and, whatever be the truth, with +falsehoods. On the other hand, the said narrative was avowedly prepared +with the object of obtaining credence for the picturesque but +unveracious assertion that the plotters' design was detected "very +miraculously, even some twelve hours before the matter should have been +put in execution." On the Earl of Salisbury's own admission, it had been +divined almost as many days previously, and it was laid open at the last +moment only because he deliberately chose to wait till the last moment +before doing anything. No doubt a dramatic feature was thus added to the +business, and one eminently calculated to impress the public mind: but +they who insist so loudly on the miraculousness of an event which they +alone have invested with the character of a miracle, must be content to +have it believed that they knew still more than in an unguarded moment +they acknowledged, and arranged other things concerning the Plot than +its ultimate disclosure.[291] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[241] Copies were sent by Cecil to Cornwallis at Madrid, Parry at Paris, +Edmondes at Brussels, and Chichester at Dublin. Also by Chamberlain to +Dudley Carleton. + +[242] "Lastly, and this you must not omit, you must deliver, in +commendation of my Lord Mounteagle, words to show how sincerely he +dealt, and how fortunately it proved that he was the instrument of so +great a blessing, ... because it is so lewdly given out that he was once +of this plot of powder, and afterwards betrayed it all to me."--Cecil to +Coke. (Draft in the R.O., printed by Jardine, _Criminal Trials_, ii. +120.) + +[243] L500 as an annuity for life, and L200 per annum to him and his +heirs for ever in fee farm rents. + +[244] See Thorold Rogers, _Agriculture and Prices_, v. 631, and Jessopp, +_One Generation of a Norfolk House_, p. 285. + +[245] R.O. _Dom. James I._ xx. 56. + +[246] _Criminal Trials_, ii. 65. + +[247] _Ibid._ 68. + +[248] Note on Fuller's _Church History_, x. Sec. 39, and _on The Student's +Hume_. + +[249] _History_, i. 251. + +[250] _Criminal Trials_, ii. 69. + +[251] On March 13th, 1600-1, Monteagle wrote to Cecil from the Tower, +"My conscience tells me that I am no way gilty of these Imputations, and +that mearely the blindness of Ignorance lead me into these infamous +errors." (Brit. Mus. MSS. Add. 6177). + +[252] The letter is printed in _Archaeologia_, xxviii. 422, by Mr. Bruce, +who argues from it Monteagle's complicity with the Plot. Mr. Jardine's +reply is found _ibid._ xxix. 80. + +[253] According to T. Winter's famous declaration, Monteagle, within ten +days before the meeting of Parliament, told Catesby and the others that +the Prince of Wales was not going to attend the opening ceremony, +wherefore they resolved to "leave the Duke alone," and make arrangements +to secure the elder brother. + +The original of Winter's declaration, dated November 25th, which is at +Hatfield, contains these and other particulars, which are altogether +omitted in a "copy" of the same in the Record Office, dated, remarkably +enough, on November the 23rd. It is from the latter that the version in +the "King's Book" was printed. + +[254] De Beaumont to Villeroy, September 17th, 1605. + +[255] Mr. Gardiner alludes to it, _History_, i. 254 (note), but +apparently attaches no importance to it. + +[256] Brit. Museum, Add. MSS. 19402 fol. 143. See the letter in full, +Appendix H. + +[257] _Discourse of the Manner of the Discovery_ (the "King's Book"). + +[258] Winwood, _Memorials_, ii. 170, etc. (November 9th). In the entry +book of the Earl of Salisbury's letters (Phillipps' MSS. 6297, f. 39) +this is described as "being the same that was sent to all his Majestie's +Embassadors and Ministers abroade." To Parry, however, quite a different +account was furnished. + +[259] Cecil to Sir T. Parry, P.R.O. _France_, bundle 132 (November +6th). + +[260] Gerard, _Narrative_, p. 101. + +[261] Vol. ii. 15. The partisans of the government at the time appear to +have solved the difficulty by invoking the direct guidance of Heaven: + + "For thus the Lord in's all-protecting grace, + Ten days before the Parliament began, + Ordained that one of that most trayterous race + Did meet the Lord Mounteagles Serving-man, + Who about Seven a clocke at night was sent + Upon some errand, and as thus he went, + Crossing the street a fellow to him came, + A man to him unknowen, of personage tall, + In's hand a Letter, and he gave the same + Unto this Serving-man, and therewithall + Did strictly charge him to take speciall heede + To give it into's Masters hand with speede." + + _Mischeefes Mystery_ (1617). + +[262] Here again evidence was found of the direct guidance of Heaven: + + "And thus with loyall heart away he goes, + Thereto resolved whatever should betide, + To th' Court he went this matter to disclose, + To th' Earle of Salsb'ryes chamber soone he hide, + Whither heavens finger doubtless him directed, + As the best meanes to have this fact detected." + + _Mischeefes Mystery._ + +[263] In the account forwarded to the ambassadors, there is a curious +contradiction. In the general sketch of the discovery with which it +opens, it is said that Faukes was captured "in the place itself," with +his lantern, "making his preparations." Afterwards, in the detailed +narrative of the proceedings, that he was taken outside. The fact is, +that the first portion of this letter is taken bodily from that of +November 6th to Parry, wherein the arrest of Faukes in the vault was a +principal point. Between the 6th and the 9th this part of the story had +been altered, but it does not seem to have been noticed that a remnant +of the earlier version still existed in the introductory portion. + +It will be remarked that the account of November 6th makes no mention of +the visit of the chamberlain to the vault, nor that of November 9th to +the presence of Faukes at the time of this visit. The minute of November +7th says that Faukes admitted the chamberlain to the vault. + +[264] _Criminal Trials_, ii. 3-5. + +[265] _Narrative_, p. 100. + +[266] This word is cancelled in the original draft. + +[267] To Sir T. Edmondes, January 22nd, 1605-6.--Stowe MSS., 168, 73, f. +301. + +[268] _Viz._, the complicity of the Jesuits, "not only as being casually +acquainted with the Plot," but as having been "principall comforters, to +instruct the consciences of some of these wicked Traytors, in the +lawfulnesse of the Act and meritoriousnesse of the same." + +On this it is enough to remark that when Father Garnet, the chief of the +said Jesuits, came afterwards to be tried, no attempt whatever was made +to prove any such thing. Cecil therefore wrote thus, and made so grave +an assertion, without having any evidence in his hands to justify it. + +[269] That King James alone solved the enigma was put forth as an +article of faith. In the preamble to the Act for the solemnization of +the 5th of November, Parliament declared that the treason "would have +turned to utter ruin of this whole kingdom, had it not pleased Almighty +God, by inspiring the king's most excellent Majesty with a divine +Spirit, to discover some dark phrases of a letter...." In like manner, +the monarch himself, in his speech to the Houses, of November 9th, +informed them: "I did upon the instant interpret and apprehend some dark +phrases therein, contrary to the ordinary grammar construction of them, +and in another sort, than I am sure any divine or lawyer in any +university would have taken them." + +This "dark phrase" was the sentence--"For the danger is past as soon as +you have burnt the letter," which the royal sage interpreted to mean "as +quickly," and that by these words "should be closely understood the +suddenty and quickness of the danger, which should be as quickly +performed and at an end as that paper should be of blazing up in the +fire." + +Of this famous interpretation Mr. Gardiner says that it is "certainly +absurd;" while Mr. Jardine is of opinion that the words in question +"must appear to every common understanding mere nonsense." + +When it was proposed in the House of Commons (January 31st, 1605-6,) to +pass a vote of thanks to Lord Monteagle for his share in the +"discovery," one Mr. Fuller objected that this would be to detract from +the honour of his Majesty, for "the true discoverer was the king." + +The reader will perhaps be reminded of Sir Walter Scott's inimitable +picture of the king's satisfaction in this notable achievement. + +"Do I not ken the smell of pouther, think ye? Who else nosed out the +Fifth of November, save our royal selves? Cecil, and Suffolk, and all of +them, were at fault, like sae mony mongrel tikes, when I puzzled it out; +and trow ye that I cannot smell pouther? Why, 'sblood, man, Joannes +Barclaius thought my ingine was in some manner inspiration, and terms +his history of the plot, _Series patefacti divinitus parricidii_; and +Spondanus, in like manner, saith of us, _Divinitus evasit_."--_Fortunes of +Nigel_, c. xxvii. + +[270] _Relation_ ..., November 7th, 1605 (P.R.O.). + +[271] _Narrative_, f. 68 b.--Stonyhurst MSS. + +[272] F. 66. It will be remembered that this episode is not mentioned by +Cecil in his version of November 6th. Bishop Goodman's opinion is that +this and other points of the story were contrived for stage effect: "The +King must have the honour to interpret that it was by gunpowder; and the +very night before the parliament began it was to be discovered, to make +the matter the more odious, and the deliverance the more miraculous. No +less than the lord chamberlain must search for it and discover it, and +Faux with his dark lantern must be apprehended." (_Court of King James_, +p. 105.) + +[273] T. Winter, November 23rd, 1605. + +[274] There is, of course, abundant contradiction upon this point, as +all others, but the balance of evidence appears to point to 2 a.m. or +thereabouts. + +[275] The customary hour for the meeting of the Houses was 9 a.m., or +even earlier. (_Journals of Parliament._) + +[276] The list of those present is given in the _Lords' Journals_; it is +headed by the Lord Chancellor (Ellesmere), and includes the Archbishop +of Canterbury, fourteen bishops, and thirty-one peers, of whom Lord +Monteagle was one. In 1598, as Mr. Atkinson tells us in his preface to +the lately published volume of the _Calendar of Irish State Papers_, the +cellars of the Dublin Law Courts were used as a powder magazine. The +English Privy Council, startled to hear of this remarkable arrangement, +pointed out that it might probably further diminish the number of loyal +subjects in that kingdom, but were quaintly reassured by the Irish Lords +Justices, who explained that, in view of the troublous state of the +times, the sittings of the courts had been discontinued, and were not +likely to be resumed for the present. + +[277] The only allusion to it I have been able to find occurs in the +_Politician's Catechism_ (1658), p. 95: "Yet the barells, wherein the +powder was, are kept as reliques, and were often shown to the king and +his posterity, that they might not entertain the least thought of +clemency towards the Catholique Religion. There is not an ignorant +Minister or Tub-preacher, who doth not (when all other matter fails) +remit his auditors to the Gunpowder Treason, and describe those tubs +very pathetically, the only reliques thought fit by them to be kept in +memory." + +[278] _Journals of the House of Lords_, November 1st and 2nd, 1678. + +[279] _Ibid._, November 2nd, 1678. + +[280] I have already remarked upon Faukes' statement that he was +arrested in quite a different place from any mentioned in the government +accounts. It should be added, that as to the person who arrested him, +there is a somewhat similar discrepancy of evidence. The honour is +universally assigned by the official accounts to Sir T. Knyvet, who in +the following year was created a peer, which shows that he undoubtedly +rendered some valuable service on the occasion. An epitaph, however, in +St. Anne's Church, Aldersgate (printed in Maitland's _History of +London_, p. 1065, 3rd ed.), declares that it was Peter Heiwood, of +Heywood, Lancashire, "who apprehended Guy Faux, with his dark Lanthorn; +and for his zealous Prosecution of Papists, as Justice of Peace, was +stabbed, in Westminster Hall, by John James, a Dominican Friar, A.D. +1640." No trace of this assassination can be found, nor does the name of +John James occur in the Dominican records. It is, however, a curious +coincidence that the "Guy Faukes' Lantern," exhibited in the Ashmolean +Museum at Oxford, bears the inscription: "_Laterna ilia ipsa qua usus +est, et cum qua deprehensus Guido Faux in crypta subterranea, ubi domo_ +[sic] _Parliamenti difflandae operam dabat. Ex dono Robti. Heywood nuper +Academiae Procuratoris, Ap. 4^o, 1641._" See the epitaph in full, +Appendix I. + +[281] To J. Chamberlain, 10th-20th November, 1605. P.R.O. _France_, b. +132, f. 335 b. + +[282] The Council appears at this time to have met in the Painted +Chamber, and, without at all wishing to lay too much stress upon this +point, I cannot but remark that the supposition that this was the +original scene assigned to the operations of Faukes would solve various +difficulties: + +1. Beneath the Painted Chamber was a vaulted cellar, answering to the +description we have so frequently heard, whereas under the House of +Lords was neither a cellar nor a vault. + +2. This crypt beneath the Painted Chamber has been constantly shown as +"Guy Faukes' Cellar." + +3. In prints of the period, Faukes is usually represented as going to +blow up this chamber, never the House of Lords. + +[283] To Chamberlain, November 13th (O.S.), 1605. P.R.O. + +[284] Thus M. Bouillet, in the latest edition of his _Dictionnaire +d'histoire et geographie_, speaks as follows: "Le ministre cupide et +orgueilleux, Cecil, semble avoir ete l'ame du complot, et l'avoir +decouvert lui meme au moment propice, apres avoir presente a l'esprit +faible de Jacques I. les dangers auxquels il etait en but de la part des +Catholiques." + +Gazeau and Prampain (_Hist. Mod._, tome i.) speak of the conspiracy as +"cette plaisanterie;" and say of the conspirators, "Dans une cave, ils +avaient depose 36 barils contenant (ou soi-disant tels) de la poudre." + +[285] P.R.O. _Gunpowder Plot Book_, 39 (November 7). + +[286] In Herring's _Pietas Pontificia_ (1606) the king is described as +coming to the House: + + "Magna cum Pompa, stipatorumque Caterva, + Palmatisque, Togis, Gemmis, auroque refulgent: + Ingens fit Populi concursus, compita complens, + Turbis se adglomerant densis, spectantque Triumphum." + +[287] Faukes himself says--examination of November 16th--that the +touchwood would have burnt a quarter of an hour. + +[288] See Appendix K, _Myths of the Powder Plot_. + +[289] In connection with this appears an interesting example of the +natural philosophy of the time, it being said that Faukes selected this +mode of escape, hoping that water, being a non-conductor, would save him +from the effects of the explosion. + +[290] I am informed on high authority that on the day in question it was +high water at London Bridge between five and six p.m. In his _Memorials +of the Tower of London_ (p. 136) Lord de Ros says that the vessel +destined to convey him to Flanders was to be in waiting for Faukes at +the river side close by, and that in it he was to drop down the river +with the ebb tide. It would, of course, have been impossible for any +sea-going craft to make its way up to Westminster; nor would the ebb +tide run to order. + +[291] It is frequently said that the testimony of Bishop Goodman, who +has been so often cited, is discredited by the fact that he probably +died a Catholic, for he was attended on his death-bed by the Dominican +Father, Francis a S. Clara (Christopher Davenport), chaplain to Queen +Henrietta Maria, a learned man who indulged in the dream of corporate +reunion between England and Rome, maintaining that the Anglican articles +were in accordance with Catholic doctrine. + +In his will Goodman professed that as he lived, so he died, most +constant in all the articles of the Christian Faith, and in all the +doctrine of God's holy Catholic and Apostolic Church, "whereof," he +says, "I do acknowledge the Church of Rome to be the Mother Church. And +I do verily believe that no other church hath any salvation in it, but +only so far as it concurs with the faith of the Church of Rome." On +this, Mr. Brewer, his editor, observes that a sound Protestant might +profess as much, the question being what meaning is to be given to the +terms employed. Moreover, the same writer continues, Goodman cannot have +imagined that his life had been a constant profession of Roman doctrine, +inasmuch as he advanced steadily from one preferment to another in the +Church of England, and strongly maintaining her doctrines formally +denounced those of Rome. What is certain, however, is this, that in the +very work from which his evidence is quoted he speaks in such a manner +as to show that whatever were his religious opinions, he was a firm +believer in the Royal Supremacy and a lover of King James, whom he thus +describes: "Truly I did never know any man of so great an apprehension, +of so great love and affection,--a man so truly just, so free from all +cruelty and pride, such a lover of the church, and one that had done so +much good for the church." (_Court of King James_, i. 91.) + + + + +CHAPTER VII. + +PERCY, CATESBY, AND TRESHAM. + + +ON occasion of a notorious trial in the Star Chamber, in the year +1604,[292] Bancroft, the Archbishop of Canterbury, made the significant +observation[293] that nothing was to be discovered concerning the +Catholics "but by putting some Judas amongst them." That amongst the +Powder Plot conspirators there was some one who played such a part, who +perhaps even acted as a decoy-duck to lure the others to destruction, +has always been suspected, but with sundry differences of opinion as to +which of the band it was. Francis Tresham has most commonly been +supposed at least to have sent the warning letter to Monteagle, which +proved fatal to himself and his comrades: some writers have conjectured +that he did a good deal more.[294] Monteagle himself, as we have seen, +has been supposed by others to have been in the Plot and to have +betrayed it. It would appear, however, that neither of these has so +strong a claim to this equivocal distinction as one whose name has been +scarcely mentioned hitherto in such a connection. + +The part played in the conspiracy by Thomas Percy is undoubtedly very +singular, and the more so when we learn something of the history and +character of the man. Till within some three years previously[295] he +had been a Protestant, and, moreover, unusually wild and dissolute. +After his conversion, he acquired the character of a zealous, if +turbulent, Catholic, and is so described, not only by Father Gerard and +Father Greenway, but by himself. In a letter written so late as November +2nd, 1605,[296] he represents that he has to leave Yorkshire, being +threatened by the Archbishop with arrest, "as the chief pillar of +papistry in that county." + +It unfortunately appears that all the time this zealous convert was a +bigamist, having one wife living in the capital and another in the +provinces. When his name was published in connection with the Plot, the +magistrates of London arrested the one, and those of Warwickshire the +other, alike reporting to the secretary what they had done, as may be +seen in the State Paper Office.[297] + +Gravely suspicious as such a fact must appear in connection with one +professing exceptional religious fervour, it by no means stands alone. +Father Greenway, in describing the character of Percy,[298] dwells much +on his sensitiveness to the suspicion of having played false to his +fellow Catholics in his dealings with King James in Scotland, coupled +with protestations of his determination to do something to show that he +as well as they had been deceived by that monarch. We find evidence that +as a fact some Catholics distrusted him, as in the examination of one +Cary, who, being interrogated concerning the Powder Plot, protested that +"Percy was no Papist but a Puritan."[299] There is likewise in the +king's own book a strange and obscure reference to Percy as the possible +author of the letter to Monteagle, one of the chief grounds for +suspecting him being "his backwardness in religion." It would moreover +appear that he was not a man who always impressed those favourably who +had to do with him, for Chamberlain reminds his friend Carleton that the +latter had ever considered him "a subtle, flattering, dangerous +knave."[300] + +[Illustration: THOMAS PERCY.] + +We have seen something of the extraordinary manner in which Percy +transacted the business of hiring the house and "cellar," wholly unlike +what we should expect from one whose main object was to escape +observation, and that he brought to bear the influence of sundry +Protestant gentlemen, amongst them Dudley Carleton himself,[301] in +order to obtain the desired lease. We know, moreover, that various +unfortunate accidents prevented the history of these negotiations from +ever being fully told. + +Yet more remarkable is a piece of information supplied by Bishop +Goodman, his authority being the eminent lawyer Sir Francis Moore, who, +says he, "is beyond all exception."[302] Moore, having occasion during +the period when the Plot was in progress to be out on business late at +night, and going homeward to the Middle Temple at two in the morning, +"several times he met Mr. Percy coming out of the great statesman's +house, and wondered what his business should be there." Such wonder was +certainly not unnatural, and must be shared by us. That a man who was +ostensibly the life and soul of a conspiracy directed against the king's +chief minister, even more than against the sovereign himself, should +resort for conference with his intended victim at an hour when he was +most likely to escape observation, is assuredly not the least +extraordinary feature in this strange and tangled tale. + +Not less suspicious is another circumstance. Immediately before the +fatal Fifth of November, Percy had been away in the north, and he +returned to London only on the evening of Saturday, the 2nd. Of this +return, Cecil, writing a week later,[303] made a great mystery, as +though the traitor's movements had been of a most stealthy and secret +character, and declared that the fact had been discovered from Faukes +only with infinite difficulty, and after many denials. It happens, +however, that amongst the State Papers is preserved a pass dated October +25th, issued by the Commissioners of the North, for Thomas Percy, +posting to Court upon the king's especial service, and charging all +mayors, sheriffs, and postmasters to provide him with three good horses +all along the road.[304] It is manifestly absurd to speak of secrecy or +stealth in connection with such a journey, or to pretend that the Chief +Secretary of State could have any difficulty in tracing the movements of +a man who travelled in this fashion; and protestations of ignorance +serve only to show that to seem ignorant was thought desirable. + +Considerations like these, it will hardly be denied, countenance the +notion that Percy was, in King James's own phrase, a tame duck employed +to catch wild ones. Against such a supposition, however, a grave +objection at once presents itself. Percy was amongst the very first +victims of the enterprise, being one of the four who were killed at +Holbeche when the conspirators were brought to bay. + +This, unquestionably, must at first sight appear to be fatal to the +theory of his complicity, and the importance of such a fact should not +be extenuated. At the same time, on further scrutiny, the argument which +it supplies loses much of its force. + +It must, in the first place, be remembered, that according to the belief +then current, it was no uncommon thing, as Lord Castlemaine expresses +it[305] the game being secured, to hang the spaniel which caught it, +that its master's art might not appear, and, to cite no other instance, +we have the example of Dr. Parry, who, as Mr. Brewer acknowledges,[306] +was involved in the ruin of those whom he had been engaged to lure to +destruction. + +There are, moreover, various remarkable circumstances in regard to the +case of Percy in particular. It was observed at the time as strange and +suspicious that any of the rebels should have been slain at all, for +they were almost defenceless, having no fire-arms; they did not succeed +in killing a single one of their assailants, and might all have been +captured without difficulty. Nevertheless, the attacking party were not +only allowed to shoot, but selected just the wrong men as their mark, +precisely those who, being chiefly implicated in the beginnings of the +Plot, could have afforded the most valuable information,[307] for +besides Percy, were shot down Catesby and the two Wrights,[308] all +deeply implicated from the first. So unaccountable did such a course +appear as at once to suggest sinister interpretations--especially as +regarded the case of Percy and Catesby, who were always held to be the +ringleaders of the band. As Goodman tells us,[309] "Some will not stick +to report that the great statesman sending to apprehend these traitors +gave special charge and direction for Percy and Catesby, 'Let me never +see them alive;' who it may be would have revealed some evil counsel +given." A similar suspicion seems to be insinuated by Sir Edward Hoby, +writing to Edmondes, the Ambassador at Brussels[310]: "Percy is dead: +who it is thought by some particular men could have said more than any +other." + +More suspicious still appears the fact that the king's government +thought it necessary to explain how it had come to pass that Percy was +not secured alive, and to protest that they had been anxious above all +for his capture, but had been frustrated by the inconsiderate zeal of +their subordinates. In the "King's Book" we read as follows: "Although +divers of the King's Proclamations were posted down after those Traitors +with all speed possible, declaring the odiousness of that bloody +attempt, and the necessity to have Percy preserved alive, if it had been +possible, ... yet the far distance of the way (which was above an +hundred miles), together with the extreme deepness thereof, joined also +with the shortness of the day, was the cause that the hearty and loving +affection of the King's good subjects in those parts prevented the speed +of his Proclamations." + +Such an explanation cannot be deemed satisfactory. The distance to be +covered was about 112 miles, and there were three days to do it, for not +till November 8th were the fugitives surrounded. They in their flight +had the same difficulties to contend with, as are here enumerated, yet +they accomplished their journey in a single day, and they had not, like +the king's couriers, fresh horses ready for them at every post. + +But we have positive evidence upon this point. Father Greenway, who was +at the time in the Midlands, close to the scene of action, incidentally +mentions, without any reference to our present question,[311] that while +the rebels were in the field, messengers came post haste continually, +one after the other, from the capital, all bearing proclamations +mentioning Percy by name. + +It must also be observed that though the couriers, we are told, could +not in three days get from London to Holbeche to hinder Percy's death, +they contrived to ride in one from Holbeche to London with news that he +was dead.[312] + +Another circumstance not easy to explain is, that the man who killed +Percy and Catesby,[313] John Streete by name, received for his service +the handsome pension of two shillings a day for life, equal at least to +a pound of our present money.[314] This is certainly a large reward for +having done the very thing that the government most desired to avoid, +and for an action, moreover, involving no sort of personal risk, killing +two practically unarmed men from behind a tree.[315] If, however, he had +silenced a dangerous witness, it is easy to understand the munificence +of his recompense. + +Against Catesby, likewise, there are serious indictments, and it seems +impossible to believe him to have been, as commonly represented, a man, +however blinded by fanaticism, yet honest in his bad enterprise, who +would not stoop to fraud or untruth. It is abundantly evident that on +many occasions he deliberately deceived his associates, and those whom +he called his spiritual guides, making promises which he did not mean to +keep, and giving assurances which he knew to be false.[316] It will be +sufficient to quote one or two examples quite sufficient to stamp him as +a man utterly unscrupulous about the means employed to gain his ends. + +On the 5th of November, when, after the failure of the enterprise, he +arrived at Dunchurch, in Warwickshire, Catesby, in order to induce Sir +Everard Digby to commit himself to the hopeless campaign now to be +undertaken, assured him,[317] that though the powder was discovered, yet +the king and Salisbury were killed; all were in "a pother;" the +Catholics were sure to rise in a body, one family alone, the Littletons, +would bring in one thousand men the next day; and so on,--all this +being absolutely untrue. That he had previously employed similar means +on a large scale to inveigle his friends into his atrocious and +senseless scheme, there is much evidence, strongest of all that of +Father Garnet;[318] "I doubt not that Mr. Catesby hath feigned many such +things for to induce others." + +Worst of all, we learn from another intercepted letter of Garnet's, +Catesby had for his own purposes circulated an atrocious slander against +Garnet himself, although passing as his devoted disciple and friend: +"Master Catesby," he wrote,[319] "did me much wrong, and hath confessed +that he told them he asked me a question in Q. Elizabeth's time of the +powder action,[320] and that I said it was lawful. All which is most +untrue. He did it to draw in others." + +In view of this, and much else of a similar kind, it is difficult to +read Father Gerard's _Narrative_, and more particularly Father +Greenway's additions thereto, without a growing feeling that if Catesby +sought counsel it was with no intention of being guided by it, and that +his sole desire was to get hold of something which might serve his own +purposes. + +We have already seen that a great deal of mystery attaches to Francis +Tresham, who is generally supposed to have written the letter to +Monteagle, and was clearly suspected by some of having done a great deal +more; for the author of the _Politician's Catechism_ speaks of him as +having access to Cecil's house even at midnight, along with another +whose name is not given, these two being therefore supposed to have been +the secretary's instruments in all this business. What is certain is, +that Tresham did not fly like the rest when the "discovery" had taken +place, not only remaining in London, and showing himself openly in the +streets, but actually presenting himself to the council, and offering +them his services. Moreover, though his name was known to the +government, at least on November 7th, as one of the accomplices, it was +for several days omitted from their published proclamations, and not +till the 12th was he taken into custody. Being confined in the Tower, he +was shortly attacked by a painful malady, and on December 23rd he died, +as was officially announced, of a "strangury," as Salisbury assures +Cornwallis "by a natural sickness, such as he hath been a long time +subject to."[321] Throughout his sickness he himself and his friends +loudly declared that should he survive it "they feared not the course of +justice."[322] Such confidence, as Mr. Jardine remarks, could be +grounded only on his possession of knowledge which the authorities would +not venture to reveal, and it is not surprising that his death should +have been attributed, by the enemies of the government, to poison. It is +no doubt an argument against such a supposition that during his illness +Tresham was allowed to be attended by his wife and a confidential +servant. On the other hand, not only does Bishop Goodman inform us[323] +that "Butler, the great physician of Cambridge," declared him to have +been poisoned; but the author of _Mischeefes Mystery_, a violent +government partisan, contradicts the notion of a natural death, by +asserting that "Tresham murthered himself in the Tower." + +It thus appears, once again, that the more its details are scrutinized, +the less does the traditional history of the Plot commend itself to our +acceptance. It is hard to believe that within the ranks of the +conspirators themselves, there was no treachery, no one who, lending +himself to work the ruin of his associates, unwittingly wrought his own. + + * * * * * + +The evidence hitherto considered may fitly conclude with the testimony +of a witness living near the time in question, who had evidently been at +pains to make inquiries amongst those most likely to give information. +This is an anonymous correspondent of Anthony a Wood, whose notes are +preserved in Fulman's collection in the library of Corpus Christi +College, Oxford. These remarkable notes have been seen by Fulman, who +inserted in the margin various questions and objections, to which the +writer always supplied precise and definite replies. In the following +version this supplementary information is incorporated in the body of +his statement, being distinguished by italics. The writer, who explains +that his full materials are in the country, speaks thus:[324] + +"I should be glad to understand what your friend driveth at about the +Fifth of November. It was, without all peradventure, a State Plot. I +have collected many pregnant circumstances concerning it. + +"'Tis certain that the last Earl of Salisbury[325] confessed to William +Lenthal[326] it was his father's contrivance, which Lenthal soon after +told one Mr. Webb (_John Webb, Esq._), a person of quality, and his +kinsman, yet alive. + +"Sir Henry Wotton says 'twas usual with Cecil to create plots, that he +might have the honour of the discovery, or to such effect. + +"The Lord Mounteagle knew there was a letter to be sent to him before it +came. (_Known by Edmund Church, Esq., his confidant._) + +"Sir Everard Digby's sons were both knighted soon after, and Sir Kenelm +would often say it was a State design, to disengage the king of his +promise to the Pope and the King of Spain, to indulge the Catholics if +ever he came to be king here; and somewhat to his purpose was found in +the Lord Wimbledon's papers after his death.[327] + +"Mr. Vowell, who was executed in the Rump time, did also affirm it +so.[328] + +"Catesby's man (_George Bartlet_),[329] on his death-bed, confessed his +master went to Salisbury House several nights before the discovery, and +was always brought privately in at a back door." + +Then, in answer to an objection of Fulman's, is added: "Catesby, 'tis +like, did not mean to betray his friends or his own life--he was drawn +in and made believe strange things. All good men condemn him and the +rest as most desperate wretches; yet most believed the original +contrivance of the Plot was not theirs." + +Whatever else may be thought of the above statements, they at least +serve to contradict Mr. Jardine's assertion,[330] that the notion of +Cecil's complicity,--which he terms a strange suggestion, scarce worthy +of notice,--was first heard of long after the transaction, and was +adopted exclusively by Catholics. Clearly it was not unknown to +Protestants who were contemporaries, or personally acquainted with +contemporaries, of the event. Yet the document here cited was known to +Mr. Jardine, who mentions one of its statements, that relating to Lord +Monteagle, but says nothing of its more serious allegations. + +It must also be remarked that we find some traces in the evidence which +remains of certain mysterious conspirators of great importance, +concerning whom no investigation whatever appears to have been made, +they being at once permitted to drop into the profoundest obscurity, in +a manner quite contrary to the habitual practice of the authorities. + +One such instance is afforded by the testimony of a mariner, Henry +Paris, of Barking,[331] that Guy Faukes, _alias_ Johnson, hired a boat +of him, "wherein was carried over to Gravelines a man supposed of great +import: he went disguised, and would not suffer any one man to go with +him but this Vaux, nor to return with him. This Paris did attend for him +back at Gravelines six weeks. If cause require there are several proofs +of this matter." None of these, however, seem to have been sought. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[292] That of Mr. Pound. + +[293] Jardine, _Criminal Trials_, ii. 38, n. + +[294] _E.g._, the author of the _Politician's Catechism_. + +[295] "About the time of my Lord Essex his enterprise he became +Catholic" (_i.e._ 1601). Father Gerard, _Narrative_, p. 58. + +[296] P.R.O. _Gunpowder Plot Book_, n. 4. + +[297] Justice Grange, of St. Giles-in-the-Fields, to Salisbury, November +5th, 1605. Justices of Warwickshire, to the same, November 12th. + +[298] MS., f. 31-32. + +[299] Tanner MSS., _ut sup._, f. 167. + +[300] P.R.O. _Dom. James I._, November 7th, 1605. + +[301] The case of Carleton is not without mystery. At the time of the +discovery he was at Paris, as secretary to the English ambassador, but +about the middle of the month was ordered home in hot haste and placed +"in restraint." On February 28th, 1605-6, he wrote to his friend +Chamberlain that he was airing himself on the Chilterns to get rid of +the scent of powder, asking his correspondent to consult a patron as to +his best means of promotion (_Dom. James I._ xviii. 125). Far from being +injured by any suspicion that he might seem to have incurred, he +subsequently rose rapidly in favour, was intrusted with most important +diplomatic missions, and was finally created Viscount Dorchester. + +[302] _Court of King James_, i. 105. + +[303] To the ambassadors, November 9th. + +[304] _Dom. James I._ xv. 106. + +[305] _Catholique Apology_, p. 415. + +[306] Goodman's _Court of King James_, i. 121, note. + +[307] See Goodman's remarks on this subject (_Court of King James_, i. +106). The author of the _Politician's Catechism_ writes: "It is very +certaine that Percy and Catesby might have been taken alive, when they +were killed, but Cecil knew full well that these two unfortunate +Gentlemen would have related the story lesse to his owne advantage, than +himself caused it to be published: therefore they were dispatched when +they might have been made prisoners, having no other weapons, offensive +or defensive, but their swords." + +[308] About the death of the Wrights there are extraordinary +contradictions. In the "original" of his famous confession T. Winter +says: "The next shot was the elder Wright, stone dead; after him the +younger Mr. Wright." In _Mischeefes Mystery_ we read that Percy and +Catesby were killed "with a gunne," the two Wrights "with Halberts." The +day after the attack, November 9th, Sir Edward Leigh wrote to the +Council, that the Wrights were not slain, as reputed, but wounded. Not +till the 13th was their death certified by Sir Richard Walsh. + +[309] _Court of King James_, i. 106. + +[310] Nichols, _Progresses of King James I._, i. 588. + +[311] MS., f. 70, b. + +[312] Cecil writing to the ambassadors, November 9th, mentions in a +postscript the fate of the rebels. + +[313] They were slain by two balls from the same musket. + +[314] Warrant, P.R.O. + +[315] Father Gerard mentions this circumstance (_Narrative_, p. 110). + +[316] This point is well developed in the recent _Life of a +Conspirator_, pp. 120-126. + +[317] _Dom. James I._ xvi. 97. + +[318] _Dom. James I._, March 4th, 1605-6. + +[319] _Gunpowder Plot Book_, 242. + +[320] The strange story of a powder-plot under Elizabeth is variously +told. According to one of the mysterious confessions attributed to +Faukes, which have disappeared from the State Papers, Owen told him in +Flanders that one Thomas Morgan had proposed to blow up her majesty +(Abbot, _Antilogia_, 137). The _Memorial to Protestants_ by Bishop +Kennet (1713) says that the man's name was Moody, who wanted the French +ambassador to subsidise him. The idea was to place a 20 lb. bag of +powder under the queen's bed, and explode it in the middle of the night, +but how this was to be managed is not explained. + +[321] Winwood, _Memorials_, ii. 189. + +[322] Wood to Salisbury, December 23rd, 1605. + +[323] _Court of King James_, i. 107. + +[324] _Collection_, vol. ii. 15. + +[325] William, second earl (born 1591, died 1668), son of the minister +of James I. + +[326] Speaker of the Long Parliament. + +[327] Edward Cecil, Viscount Wimbledon, third son of Thomas, first Earl +of Exeter (the elder brother of Robert Cecil, first Earl of Salisbury), +died 1638. + +[328] Peter Vowell, a Protestant, executed with Colonel John Gerard for +an alleged plot against Cromwell, July 10th, 1654. + +[329] "George Bartlett, Mr. Catesby's servant," appears amongst the +suspected persons whose names were sent up to Cecil by the justices of +Warwickshire, November 12th, 1605. (_Gunpowder Plot Book_, 134.) + +[330] _Criminal Trials_, ii. 188. + +[331] _Gunpowder Plot Book_, 130. + + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + +THE GOVERNMENT'S CASE. + + +WE have hitherto confined our attention to sources of information other +than those with which the authors of the official narrative have +supplied us, and upon which they based the same. It remains to inquire +how far the evidence presented by them can avail to substantiate the +traditional history, and to rebut the various arguments against its +authenticity which have been adduced. + +For brevity and clearness' sake it will be advisable to divide this +investigation under several heads. + + +i. _The Trial of the Conspirators._ + +On the threshold of our inquiry we are met by a most singular and +startling fact. As to what passed on the trial of the conspirators, what +evidence was produced against them, how it was supported,--nay, even how +the tale of their enterprise was told--we have no information upon which +any reliance can be placed. One version alone has come down to us of the +proceedings upon this occasion--that published "by authority"--and of +this we can be sure only that it is utterly untrustworthy. It was issued +under the title of the _True and Perfect Relation_, but, as Mr. Jardine +has already told us, is certainly not deserving of the character which +its title imports. "It is not true, because many occurrences on the +trial are wilfully misrepresented; and it is not _perfect_, because the +whole evidence, and many facts and circumstances which must have +happened, are omitted, and incidents are inserted which could not by +possibility have taken place on the occasion. It is obviously a false +and imperfect relation of the proceedings; a tale artfully garbled and +misrepresented ... to serve a State purpose, and intended and calculated +to mislead the judgment of the world upon the facts of the case."[332] +Again the same author remarks,[333] "that every line of the published +trial was rigidly weighed and considered, not with reference to its +accuracy, but its effect on the minds of those who might read it, is +manifest." + +Moreover, the narrative thus obviously dishonest, was admittedly issued +in contradiction of divers others already passing "from hand to hand," +which were at variance with itself in points of importance, and which it +stigmatized as "uncertain, untrue, and incoherent;" it justified its +appearance on the ground that it was supremely important for the public +to be rightly informed in such a case:[334] and so successful were the +efforts made to secure for it a monopoly, that no single document has +come down to us by which its statements might be checked. In +consequence, to quote Mr. Jardine once more,[335] there is no trial +since the time of Henry VIII. in regard of which we are so ignorant as +to what actually occurred.[336] + +The employment of methods such as these would in any circumstances +forfeit all credit on behalf of the story thus presented. In the present +instance the presumption raised against it is even stronger than it +would commonly be. If the Gunpowder Plot were in reality what was +represented, why was it deemed necessary, in Cecil's own phrase, to +pervert and disguise its history in order to produce the desired effect? +A project so singular and diabolical in its atrocity, prepared for on so +large a scale, and so nearly successful, should, it would appear, have +needed no fictitious adjuncts to enhance its enormity; and for the +conviction of miscreants caught red-handed in such an enterprise no +evidence should have been so effectual as that furnished by the facts of +the case, which of their nature should have been patent and +unquestionable. When we find, on the contrary, a web of falsehood and +mystery woven with elaborate care over the whole history of the +transaction, it is not unnatural to infer that to have told the simple +truth would not have suited the purpose of those who had the telling of +the tale; and it is obviously necessary that the evidence whereby their +story was supported should be rigorously sifted. + +What has been said, though in great measure true of the trial of Father +Garnet, at the end of March, is especially applicable to that of the +conspirators, two months earlier, for in regard of this we have +absolutely no information beyond that officially supplied. The execution +of Faukes and his companions following close upon their +arraignment,[337] all that had been elicited, or was said to have been +elicited, at their trial, became henceforth evidence which could not be +contradicted, the prosecution thus having a free hand in dealing with +their subsequent victim.[338] In view of this circumstance it has been +noted as remarkable that whereas the conspirators had been kept alive +and untried for nearly three months, they were thus summarily dealt with +at the moment when it was known that the capture of Father Garnet was +imminent, and, as a matter of fact, he was taken on the very day on +which the first company were executed.[339] It would appear that +nothing should have seemed more desirable than to confront the Jesuit +superior with those whom he was declared to have instigated to their +crime, instead of putting them out of the way at the very moment when +there was a prospect of doing so. + + +ii. _The Fundamental Evidence._ + +Amongst all the confessions and "voluntary declarations" extracted from +the conspirators, there are two of exceptional importance, as having +furnished the basis of the story told by the government, and ever since +generally accepted. These are a long declaration made by Thomas Winter, +and another by Guy Faukes, which alone were made public, being printed +in the "King's Book," and from which are gathered the essential +particulars of the story as we are accustomed to hear it. + +Of Winter's declaration, which is in the form of a letter to the Lords +Commissioners, there is found in the State Paper Office only a copy, +bearing date November 23rd, 1605, in the handwriting of Levinus Munck, +Cecil's private secretary. This copy has been shown to the King, who in +a marginal note objects to a certain "uncleare phrase," which has +accordingly been altered in accordance with the royal criticism: and +from it has evidently been taken the printed version, which agrees with +it in every respect, including the above-mentioned emendation of the +phraseology. + +[Illustration: FROM WINTER'S CONFESSION, NOVEMBER 23.] + +It must strike the reader as remarkable that, whereas, as has been said, +the body of the letter is in the handwriting of the secretary, Munck, +the names of the witnesses who attest it[340] are added in that of his +master, Cecil himself. + +The "original" document, in Winter's own hand, is at Hatfield, and +agrees in general so exactly with the copy, as to demonstrate the +identity of their origin.[341] But while, as we have seen, the "copy" is +dated November 23rd, the "original" is dated on the 25th.[342] On a +circumstance so singular, light is possibly thrown by a letter from +Waad, the Lieutenant of the Tower, to Cecil, on the 21st of the same +month.[343] "Thomas Winter," he wrote, "doth find his hand so strong, as +after dinner he will settle himself to write that he hath verbally +declared to your Lordship, adding what he shall remember." The inference +is certainly suggested that torture had been used until the prisoner's +spirit was sufficiently broken to be ready to tell the story required of +him, and that the details were furnished by those who demanded it. It +must, moreover, be remarked that although Winter's "original" +declaration is witnessed only by Sir E. Coke, the Attorney General, it +appears in print attested by all those whom Cecil had selected for the +purpose two days before the declaration was made.[344] It may be said +that the inference drawn above is violent and unfair, and, perhaps, were +there no other case to go upon but that of Winter, so grave a charge as +it implies should not be made. There remains, however, the companion +case of Faukes, which is yet more extraordinary. + +His declaration first makes its appearance as "The examination of Guy +Fawkes, taken the 8th of November."[345] The document thus described is +manifestly a draft, and not a copy of a deposition actually taken. It is +unsigned: the list of witnesses is in the same handwriting as the rest, +and in no instance is a witness indicated by such a title as he would +employ for his signature.[346] Throughout this paper Faukes is made to +speak in the third person, and the names of accomplices to whom he +refers are not given. + +What, however, is most remarkable is the frank manner in which this +document is treated as a draft. Several passages are cancelled and +others substituted, sometimes in quite a contrary sense, so that the +same deponent cannot possibly have made the statements contained in both +versions. Other paragraphs are "ticked off," as the event proves, for +omission. + +Nine days later, November 17th,[347] Faukes was induced to put his name +to the substance of the matter contained in the draft.[348] The document +is headed "The declaration[349] of Guy Fawkes, prisoner in the Tower of +London." Faukes speaks throughout in the first person, and supplies the +names previously omitted.[350] Most noteworthy is the manner in which +this version is adapted to the emendations of the draft. The passages +ticked off have disappeared entirely, amongst them the remarkable +statements that "they [the confederates] meant also to have sent for the +prisoners in the Tower, of whom particularly they had some +consultation,"--that "they had consultation for the taking of the Lady +Mary [the infant daughter of King James] into their possession"--and +that "provision was made by some of the conspiracy of armour of proof +this last summer, for this action." Where an alteration has been made in +the draft, great skill is shown in combining what is important in both +versions.[351] + +As to the means which were employed to compel Faukes to sign the +declaration there can be no doubt; his signature bearing evidence that +he had been tortured with extreme severity. The witnesses are but two, +Coke, the Attorney General, and Waad, the Lieutenant of the Tower. When, +however, the document came to be printed, as in the other case, a fuller +list was appended, but not exactly that previously indicated, for to +Faukes were assigned the same witnesses as to Winter, including the +Earls of Worcester and Dunbar over and above his own list.[352] + +[Illustration: SIGNATURES OF FAUKES AND OLDCORNE.[353]] + +The printed version exhibits other points of interest. There was in the +Archduke's service, in Flanders, an English soldier, Hugh Owen,[354] +whom the government were for some reason, excessively desirous to +incriminate, and get into their hands. For this purpose, a passage was +artfully interpolated in the statement of Faukes, whereof no trace is +found in the original. In the "King's Book," the passage in question +stands thus, the words italicised being those fraudulently introduced: + +"About Easter, the parliament being prorogued till October next, we +dispersed ourselves, and I retired into the Low-countries, _by advice +and direction of the rest; as well to acquaint Owen with the particulars +of the plot, as also_, lest, by my longer stay, I might have grown +suspicious." But of Owen we shall see more in particular. It must not be +forgotten that on several other days besides those named above, Faukes +made declarations, still extant, viz., November 5th, 6th, 7th, 9th, and +16th, and January 9th and 20th. The most important items of information +furnished by that selected for publication were not even hinted at in +any of these. + +Farther light appears to be thrown on the manner in which this important +declaration was prepared by another document found amongst the State +Papers. This is an "interrogatory" drawn up by Sir E. Coke on November +8th, the very day of the "draft," expressly for the benefit of +Faukes.[355] That the "draft" was composed from this appears to be shown +by a curious piece of evidence. We have already noticed the strange +phraseology of one of the passages attributed to Faukes: "He confesseth +that the same day that this detestable act should have been performed +the same day should other of their confederacy have surprised the person +of the Lady Elizabeth," etc. Precisely the same repetition occurs in +the sixth of Mr. Attorney's suggested questions. "_Item_, was it not +agreed that the same day that the act should have been done, the same +day or soon after the person of the Lady Elizabeth should have been +surprised," etc.? + +Moreover, it is apparent that this interrogatory is not founded on +information already obtained, but is, in fact, what is known as a +"fishing" document, intended to elicit evidence of some kind. In the +first place, some of its suggestions are mutually incompatible. Thus in +another place it implies that not Elizabeth but her infant sister Mary +was the choice of the queen-makers:--"Who should have been protector of +the Lady Mary, who, being born in England, they meant to prefer to the +crown. With whom should she have married?" (She was then seven months +old.) Again it asks: "What should have become of the Prince?" as though +he might after all be the sovereign intended. + +Besides this, many points are raised which are evidently purely +imaginary, inasmuch as no more was ever heard of them though if +substantiated, they would have been supremely important.[356] + +The above details will not appear superfluous if the importance of these +documents be fully understood. It is upon these narratives, stamped with +features so incompatible with their trustworthiness, that we entirely +depend for much of prime importance in the history of the conspiracy, in +particular for the notable episode of the mine, which they alone relate, +and which is not even mentioned, either in the other numerous +confessions of Faukes and Winter themselves, or by any of the other +confederates. Save for an incidental remark of Keyes, that he helped to +work in the mine, we hear nothing else of it; while not only is this +confession quite as strange a document as the two others, but, to +complicate the matter still more, Keyes is expressly described by +Cecil[357] himself as one of those that "wrought not in the mine." + +It is hard to understand how so remarkable an operation should have been +totally ignored in all the other confessions and declarations, numerous +and various as they are; while, on the other hand, should this striking +feature of the Plot prove to be a fabrication, what is there of which to +be certain? + + +iii. _The Confession of Thomas Bates (December 4th, 1605)._ + +There is another piece of evidence to which exceptional prominence has +been given, the confession of Thomas Bates, Catesby's servant, dated +December 4th, 1605. This is the only one of the conspirators' +confessions specifically mentioned in the government account of their +trial, and it is mentioned twice over--a circumstance not unsuspicious +in view of the nature of that account as already described.[358] + +It is not necessary at present to enter upon the large question of the +attitude of the Jesuits towards the Plot, nor to discuss their guilt or +innocence. This is, however, beyond dispute, that the government were +above all things anxious to prove them guilty,[359] and no document ever +produced was so effective for this purpose as the said confession, for, +if it were true, there could be no question as to the guilt of one +Jesuit, at least, Father Greenway _alias_ Tesimond. The substance of +Bates' declaration was as follows: + +That being introduced and sworn into the conspiracy by his master, +Catesby, he was then told that, as a pledge of fidelity, he must receive +the sacrament upon his oath, and accordingly he went to confession to +Greenway, the Jesuit. + +_That in his confession he fully informed Greenway of the design, and +that Greenway bade him obey his master, because it was for a good cause, +and be secret, and mention the matter to no other priest._ + +That he was absolved by Greenway, and afterwards received Holy +Communion. + +It will be observed that the second paragraph, here italicized, is of +supreme importance. We have evidence that although the conspirators, +during the course of their operations, frequented the sacraments, they +expressly avoided all mention of their design to their confessors, +Catesby having required this of them, assuring them that he had fully +satisfied himself that the project, far from being sinful, was +meritorious, but that the priests were likely to give trouble.[360] We +are even told by some authors that Catesby exacted of his confederates +an oath of secrecy in this regard. It is clear that his authority must +have had special weight with his own servant, who was, moreover, +devotedly attached to his master, as he proved in the crisis of his +fate. We might, therefore, naturally be prepared to learn that Bates, +though confessing to Greenway, never acquainted him with the Plot; and, +that in fact he never did so, there is some interesting evidence. + +It cannot escape observation as a suspicious circumstance that this +most important confession, upon which so much stress was laid, exists +amongst the State Papers only in a copy.[361] Moreover, this copy has +been treated as though it were an original, being officially endorsed, +and it has on some occasion been used in Court.[362] If, however, this +version were not genuine, but prepared for a purpose, it is clear that +it could not have been produced while Bates was alive to contradict it, +and there appears to be no doubt that it was not heard of till after his +death. + +This appears, in the first place, from a manuscript account of the +Plot,[363] written between the trial of the conspirators and that of +Father Garnet, that is, within two months of the former. The author sets +himself expressly to prove that the priests must have been cognizant of +the design, for, he argues, Catholics, when they have anything of the +kind in hand, always consult their confessors about it, and it cannot be +supposed that on this occasion only did they omit to do so. In support +of his assertion, he quotes the instances of Parry, Babington, and +Squires, but says nothing of Bates. He mentions Greenway as undoubtedly +one of the guilty priests, but only because "his Majesty's proclamation +so speaks it." Had the confession of Bates, as we have it, been so +prominently adduced at the trial, as the official narrative represents, +it is quite impossible that such a writer should have been content with +these feeble inferences. + +Still more explicit is the evidence furnished by another MS. containing +a report of Father Garnet's trial.[364] In this the confession of Bates +is cited, but precisely without the significant passage of which we have +spoken, as follows: "Catesby afterwards discovered the project unto him; +shortly after which discovery, Bates went to Mass to Tesimond +[Greenway], and there was confessed and had absolution." + +Here, again, it is impossible to suppose that the all-important point +was the one omitted. It is clear, however, that the mention of a +confession made to Greenway would _prima facie_ afford a presumption +that this particular matter had been confessed, thus furnishing a +foundation whereon to build; and, knowing as we do how evidence was +manipulated, it is quite conceivable that the copy now extant +incorporates the improved version thus suggested. + +Such an explanation was unmistakably insinuated by Father Garnet, when, +on his trial, this evidence was urged against him; for he significantly +replied that "Bates was a dead man."[365] Greenway himself afterwards, +when beyond danger, denied on his salvation that Bates had ever on any +occasion mentioned to him any word concerning the Plot. It is still more +singular that Bates himself appears to have known nothing of his own +declaration. He had apparently said, in some examination of which no +record remains, that he thought Greenway "knew of the business." This +statement he afterwards retracted as having been elicited by a vain +hope of pardon, in a letter which is given in full by Father +Gerard,[366] and of which Cecil himself made mention at Garnet's +trial.[367] But of the far more serious accusation we are considering he +said never a word. + +There is, however, evidence still more notable. On the same day, +December 4th, on which Bates made his declaration, Cecil wrote a most +important letter to one Favat,[368] who had been commissioned by King +James to urge the necessity of obtaining evidence without delay against +the priests. This document is valuable as furnishing explicit testimony +that torture was employed with this object. "Most of the prisoners," +says the secretary, "have wilfully forsworn that the priests knew +anything in particular, and obstinately refuse to be accusers of them, +yea, what torture soever they be put to." + +He goes on, however, to assure his Majesty that the desired object is +now in sight, particularly referring to a confession which can be none +other than that of Bates, but likewise cannot be that afterwards given +to the world; for it is spoken of as affording promise, but not yet +satisfactory in its performance. + +"You may tell his Majesty that if he please to read privately what this +day we have drawn from a voluntary and penitent examination, the point I +am persuaded (but I am no undertaker) shall be so well cleared, if he +forbear to speak much of this but few days, as we shall see all fall out +to the end whereat his Majesty shooteth." + +It seems clear, therefore, that the famous declaration of Bates, like +those of Faukes and Winter, tends to discredit the story which in +particulars so important rests upon such evidence. + +It may be farther observed that if the confession of Bates, as +officially preserved, were of any worth, it would have helped to raise +other issues of supreme importance. Thus its concluding paragraph runs +as follows: + +"He confesseth that he heard his master, Thomas Winter, and Guy Fawkes +say (presently upon the coming over of Fawkes) that they should have the +sum of five-and-twenty thousand pounds out of Spain." + +This clearly means that the King of Spain was privy to the design, for a +sum equivalent to a quarter of a million of our money could not have +been furnished by private persons. The government, however, constantly +assured the English ambassadors abroad of the great satisfaction with +which they found that no suspicion whatever rested upon any foreign +prince. + + +iv. _Robert Winter._ + +There are various traces of foul play in regard of this conspirator in +particular, which serve to shake our confidence as to the treatment of +all. Robert Winter was the eldest brother of Thomas, and held the family +property, which was considerable. Whether this motive, as Mr. Jardine +suggests, or some other, prompted the step, certain it is that the +government in their published history falsified the documents in order +to incriminate him more deeply. Faukes, in the confession of Nov. 17th, +mentioned Robert Keyes as amongst the first seven of the conspirators +who worked in the mine, and Robert Winter as one of the five introduced +at a later period. The names of these two were deliberately interchanged +in the published version, Robert Winter appearing as a worker in the +mine, and Keyes, who was an obscure man of no substance, among the +gentlemen of property whose resources were to have supported the +subsequent rebellion. Moreover, in the account of the same confession +sent to Edmondes by Cecil three days before Faukes signed it (_i.e._, +Nov. 14th), the same transposition occurs, Keyes being explicitly +described as one of those "who wrought not in the mine," although, as we +have seen, he is one of the three who alone make any mention of it. + +Still more singular is another circumstance. About November 28th, Sir +Edward Coke, the attorney-general, drew up certain farther notes of +questions to be put to various prisoners.[369] Amongst these we read: +"Winter to be examined of his brother. For no man else can accuse him." +But a fortnight or so before this time the Secretary of State had +officially informed the ambassador in the Low Countries that Robert +Winter was one of those deepest in the treason, and, to say nothing of +other evidence, a proclamation for his apprehension had been issued on +November 18th. Yet Coke's interrogatory seems to imply that nothing had +yet been established against him, and that he was not known to the +general body of the traitors as a fellow-conspirator. + + +v. _Captain Hugh Owen, Father William Baldwin, and others._ + +We have seen something of the extreme anxiety evinced by the English +government to incriminate a certain Hugh Owen, a Welsh soldier of +fortune serving in Flanders under the archduke.[370] With him were +joined Father Baldwin, the Jesuit, and Sir William Stanley, who, like +Owen, was in the archduke's service. The measures taken in regard of +them are exceedingly instructive if we would understand upon what sort +of evidence the guilt of obnoxious individuals was proclaimed as +incontrovertible. + +No time was lost in commencing operations. On November 14th, three days +before Faukes signed the celebrated declaration which we have examined, +and in which Owen was not mentioned, the Earl of Salisbury wrote to +Edmondes, ambassador at Brussels,[371] that Faukes had now directly +accused Owen, whose extradition must therefore be demanded. In proof of +this assertion he inclosed a copy of the declaration, in which, however, +curiously enough, no mention of Owen's name occurs.[372] + +Edmondes on his side was equally prompt. He at once laid the matter +before the archduke and his ministers, and on November 19th was able to +write to Salisbury that Owen and his secretary were apprehended and +their papers and ciphers seized, and that, "If there shall fall out +matter to charge Owen with partaking in the treason, the archduke will +not refuse the king to yield him to be answerable to justice,"[373] +though venturing to hope that he would be able to clear himself of so +terrible an accusation. + +On "the last of November" the subject was pursued in an epistle from the +King himself to the "Archdukes,"[374] in which the undoubted guilt of +both Owen and Baldwin was roundly affirmed.[375] + +On December 2nd, 1605, Salisbury wrote to Edmondes:[376] "I do warrant +you to deliver upon the forfeiture of my judgment in your opinion that +it shall appear as evident as the sun in the clearest day, that Baldwin +by means of Owen, and Owen directly by himself, have been particular +conspirators." + +In spite of this, the authorities in Flanders asked for proofs of the +guilt of those whom they were asked to give up. Wherefore Edmondes wrote +(December 27th) to secure the co-operation of Cornwallis, his +fellow-ambassador, at Madrid. After declaring that Owen and Baldwin were +now found to have been "principal dealers in the late execrable +treason," with remarkable _naivete_ he thus continues:[377] + +"I will not conceal from your lordship that they have been here so +unrespective as to desire for their better satisfaction to have a copy +of the information against the said persons to be sent over hither; +which I fear will be very displeasing to his Majesty to understand." + +In January (1605-6), Salisbury sending, in the King's name, instructions +to Sir E. Coke as to the trial of the conspirators, concluded with this +admonition:[378] "You must remember to lay Owen as foul in this as you +can," which certainly does not suggest that the case against him was +overwhelmingly strong. + +After the execution of the traitors, an Act of Attainder passed by +Parliament included Owen amongst them.[379] + +The archdukes remaining unconvinced, another and very notable argument +was brought into play. On February 12th, 1605-6, Salisbury wrote to +Edmondes:[380] + +"As for the particular depositions against Owen and Baldwin, which the +archdukes desire to have a sight of, you may let them know that it is a +matter which can make but little to the purpose, considering that his +Majesty already upon his royal word hath certified the archdukes of +their guilt." + +As to Owen's own papers which had been seized, the archduke assured the +English ambassador,[381] "that if there had been anything to have been +discovered out of the said papers touching the late treason (as he was +well assured of the contrary), he would not have failed to have imparted +the same to his Majesty." + +At a later date the Spanish minister De Grenada wrote from +Valladolid[382] that men could not be delivered up on mere suspicion, +which might prove groundless, but that the archduke had received orders +to sift the matter to the bottom, in order that justice might be done +"very fully." + +About the same time President Richardot informed Edmondes[383] that Owen +strenuously denied the charges against him, "and that there is the more +probability of his innocency for that his papers having been carefully +visited, there doth not appear anything in them to charge him concerning +the said matter." + +On April 21st Salisbury informed Edmondes of a conference on the subject +between the king and the archduke's ambassador.[384] The latter declared +that his master was ready to prosecute the accused in his own courts if +evidence was furnished him, but in reply King James explained that this +was impossible, and that he "was loth to send any papers or accusations +over, not knowing how they might be framed or construed there by the +formalities of their laws." He added that it was useless now to talk of +evidence, "seeing the wretch is already condemned by the public sentence +of the whole Parliament, which sentence the archdukes might see if they +would." The ambassador thereupon asked to have a copy, but was curtly +told that it would presently be printed, when he could buy one for +twelve pence and send it to his masters, but that the king was not +disposed to make a present of it. + +In these circumstances the archdukes determined to detain Owen no +longer, and he was presently discharged. The news of this proceeding +produced a remarkable change in the tone of his accusers. On June 18th, +the secretary wrote to Edmondes[385] that Owen's enlargement "seemed to +give too much credit to his innocency;" moreover, that "though his +Majesty showed no great disposition (for many considerations specified +unto you) to send over the papers and accusations against him, ... yet +this proceeded not out of any conscience of the invalidity of the +proofs, but rather in respect that his process being made here, and the +caitiff condemned by the public sentence of the Parliament, it would +have come all to one issue, seeing they have proceeded when his Majesty +left it to themselves to do as they thought fit." + +To reinforce this lucid explanation Salisbury sent six days later what +had before been refused, an abstract of "confessions against Owen," and +a corrected copy of the Act of Attainder. These documents deserve some +consideration. + +We have seen how much stress was laid upon the action of Parliament in +regard of Owen, although the Act of Attainder which it passed affords no +information whatever to assist our judgment of his case. In moving for +this attainder, Sir E. Coke appeared at the bar of the House of Commons +(April 29th, 1606) to exhibit the evidence on which the charge rested. +His notes of this evidence, which are extant,[386] clearly show that the +government possessed no proofs at all beyond surmise and inference.[387] +Three testimonies were cited which were quite inconsistent and mutually +destructive: (1) An extract from a confession of Guy Faukes, January +20th, 1605-6, declaring that he had himself initiated Owen in the Plot +in May, 1605. (2) An information of one Ralph Ratcliffe, to the effect +that Owen and Baldwin were busy with the Plot in April, 1604. (3) T. +Winter's testimony--from his famous confession of November 23rd, or +25th, 1605--that in the spring of 1604 Owen had assisted him to secure +the services of Faukes. + +In Salisbury's letter to Edmondes, the first and the last of these alone +were cited,[388] probably because it had by this time been perceived +that Ratcliffe's evidence flatly contradicted that of Faukes. + +Winter's confession has already been discussed, and moreover affords no +proof that Owen was acquainted with the purpose for which the services +of Faukes were required. There remains the very circumstantial story of +Faukes himself, which belongs to a curious and interesting class of +documents, containing matter of the highest importance, whereof no +trace, not even a copy, is to be found amongst the State Papers. These +comprise various confessions of Faukes, dated November 19th, 25th, and +30th, 1605, and January 20th, 1605-6, all dealing with information of a +sensational nature, concerning which we learn nothing from the eleven +depositions of the same conspirator preserved in the Record Office.[389] +For our knowledge of these mysterious documents we have to depend on +transcripts of portions of them among the Tanner MSS. in the Bodleian +Library, on fragmentary Latin versions in the _Antilogia_ of Bishop +Abbot, and on the extract cited from the last amongst them by Sir Edward +Coke, which exactly agrees with that sent by Salisbury to Edmondes, as +above mentioned. + +It cannot escape notice that although these versions all profess to be +taken from the originals under Faukes' hand, they are so utterly +different as to preclude the belief that they have been copied from the +same documents.[390] + +It must farther be observed that we hear nothing of important matters +contained in these confessions till the supposed author and his +confederates were all dead, whereas these are such as would certainly +have been produced on their trial had this been possible.[391] Some of +the evidence thus afforded is, in fact, too good, for the Government's +purpose, to be true, for if authentic, it would have secured results +which, though much desired, were never obtained. In particular it would +have established beyond question the guilt of the Jesuits abroad, and +especially of Father Baldwin.[392] It is this Father, however, whose +case conclusively proves the utter worthlessness of the evidence. Having +been proclaimed and branded by the English government as a convicted +traitor, he, five years later, fell into their hands, being delivered +up, in 1610, by their ally the Elector Palatine. He was at once thrown +into the Tower, where he was frequently and rigorously examined, it is +said even on the rack.[393] After a confinement of eight years he was +discharged "with honour," his innocence being attested by the respect +with which he was treated by men of all parties.[394] In view of this +unquestionable acquittal the famous proofs of his criminality, though +certified on the royal word of King James himself, forfeit all claim to +consideration. + +A word may be added concerning Father Cresswell, an English Jesuit +residing in Spain. He, too, was assumed to have been deeply implicated +in this and other treasons. In November, 1605, Cecil included his name +in a list of traitors against whom proofs were to be procured.[395] It +was even asserted that at the time of the intended explosion he came +over to England "to bear his part with the rest of his Society in a +victorial song of thanksgiving."[396] He was, moreover, loudly denounced +as the principal agent in the notorious Spanish Treason. + +After all this it is somewhat surprising to find Sir Charles Cornwallis, +the English Ambassador, while the excitement of the Powder Plot was at +its height, testifying in the most cordial terms to his esteem for the +said Cresswell. The latter having been called to Rome by his superiors, +Cornwallis (December 23rd, N.S. 1605,) addressed to him the following +letter.[397] + + "Sir, although in matter of religion well you know that there are + many discords between us, yet sure in your duty and loyalty to my + King and Country I find in you so good a concordance I cannot but + much reverence and love you, and wish you all the happiness that a + man of your sort upon the earth can desire. + + "Much am I (I assure you) grieved at your departure, and the more + that I was put in so good hope that your journey should have been + stayed. The time of the year unpleasant to travel in, your body, as + I think, not much accustomed to journeys of so great length, and the + great good you did here to your poor countrymen (which now they + want) are great motives to make your friends to wish your will in + that voyage had been broken. + + "If it be not, I shall not believe in words, for many here do + greatly desire you for causes spiritual, and some for temporal. In + the latter number am I, who, not affecting your spiritualities (for + that these in you abound to superfluity), do much reverence and + respect your temporal abilities, as wherein I acknowledge much + wisdom, temper, and sincerity. So no friends you have shall ever + more desire good unto you than myself. And therefore I wish I were + able to make so good demonstration as willingly I would that I ever + will here and in all places in this world rest + + "Your very assured loving friend, + + "CH. CO." + +About the same time, in an undated letter to Lord Salisbury,[398] +Cornwallis again expresses his regret on account of the removal of +Cresswell from Spain. + + +vi. _Other Documents._ + +It is impossible to analyze in detail the evidence supplied by the +several conspirators after their capture, or to examine the endless +inconsistencies and contradictions with which it abounds. One or two +points must, however, be indicated. + +1. As we have seen, it is clear that at the beginning an effort was made +to invest the Plot with a far wider political significance than was +afterwards attempted, and to introduce elements which were soon quietly +laid aside. In the interrogatories prepared by Sir E. Coke and Chief +Justice Popham, we find it suggested that the death of the Earl of +Salisbury was a main feature of the scheme, "absolutely agreed upon" +among the conspirators. Also that the titular Earl of Westmoreland, the +titular Lord Dacre, the Earl of Northumberland, Sir Walter Raleigh, and +others were mixed up in the business. + +Nor were such endeavours altogether fruitless, for, supposing the +testimony extorted from the prisoners to be worthy of credit, +information was obtained altogether changing the character and +complexion of the design. This was, however, presently buried in +oblivion and treated as of no moment whatever. + +Thus in Sir Everard Digby's declaration of Nov. 23rd,[399] we find him +testifying that the Earls of Westmoreland and Derby,[400] were to have +been sent to raise forces in the north. Faukes, in the famous confession +which we have so fully discussed, was made to say "They meant also to +have sent for the prisoners in the Tower to have come to them, of whom +particularly they had some consultation," and although this important +clause was omitted from the finished version finally adopted, it appears +in that of Nov. 14th, sent by Cecil to the ambassador at Brussels. +Again, in his examination of November 9th, famous for the ghastly +evidence of torture afforded by his signature, we find Faukes declaring, +"He confesseth also that there was speech amongst them to draw Sir +Walter Rawley to take part with them, being one that might stand them in +good stead, _as others in like sort were named_."[401] + +With regard to Raleigh it must be remembered that he was in a very +special manner obnoxious to Salisbury, who, however, was at great pains +to disguise his hostility. On occasion of Sir Walter's trial, in 1603, +he vehemently protested that it was a great grief to him to have to +pronounce against one whom he had hitherto loved.[402] But two years +earlier, in his secret correspondence with James, he had not only +described Raleigh to the future king as one of the diabolical +triplicity hatching cockatrice eggs, but had solemnly protested that if +he feigned friendship for such a wretch, it was only with the purpose of +drawing him on to discover his real nature.[403] + +2. Even more worthy of notice is the shameless manner in which evidence +was falsified. That produced in court consisted entirely of the written +depositions of the prisoners themselves, and of those who had been +similarly examined. It was, however, carefully manipulated before it was +read; all that told in favour of those whose conviction was desired +being omitted, and only so much retained as would tell against them. On +this subject Mr. Jardine well remarks:[404] "This mode of dealing with +the admissions of an accused person is pure and unmixed injustice; it is +in truth a forgery of evidence; for when a qualified statement is made, +the suppression of the qualification is no less a forgery than if the +whole statement had been fabricated." + +It will be sufficient to cite one notorious and compendious example. +In regard of the oath of secrecy taken by the conspirators, Faukes (Nov. +9th, 1605) and Thomas Winter (Jan. 9th, 1605-6) related how they +administered it to one another, "in a chamber," to quote Winter, "where +no other body was," and afterwards proceeded to another chamber where +they heard Mass and received Communion at the hands of Father +Gerard.[405] Both witnesses, however, emphatically declared that the +Father knew nothing of the oath that had been taken, or of the purpose +of the associates. + +[Illustration: FROM FAUKES' CONFESSION OF NOVEMBER 9, 1605.] + +Such testimony in favour of one whom they were anxious above all things +to incriminate, the government would not allow to appear. Accordingly, +Sir E. Coke, preparing the documents to be used in court as evidence, +marked off the exculpatory passages, with directions that they were not +to be read.[406] Having thus suppressed the passage which declared that +the Jesuit was unaware of the conspirators' purpose, and of their oath, +Coke went on to inform the jury, in his speech, "This oath was by Gerard +the Jesuit given to Catesby, Percy, Christopher Wright, and Thomas +Winter, and by Greenwell [Greenway] the Jesuit to Bates at another time, +and so to the rest."[407] + +3. Neither must it be forgotten that even apart from these manifest +instances of tampering, the confessions themselves, obtained in such +circumstances, are open to much suspicion. In an intercepted letter to +Father Baldwin, of whom we have heard, Father Schondonck, another +Jesuit, then rector of St. Omers, speaks thus:[408] "I much rejoice +that, as I hear, there is no confession produced, by which, either in +court or at the place of execution, any of our society is accused of so +abominable a crime. This I consider a point of prime importance. _Of +secret confessions, or those extorted by violence or torture, less +account must be made; for we have many examples whereby the dishonesty +of our enemies in such matters has been fully displayed._" + +Father John Gerard in his Autobiography[409] relates an experience of +his own which illustrates the methods employed to procure evidence such +as was required. When, in Queen Elizabeth's time, he had himself been +taken and thrown into prison, the notorious Topcliffe, the +priest-hunter, endeavoured to force him into an acknowledgment of +various matters of a treasonable character. Father Gerard undertook to +write what he had to say on the subject, and proceeded to set down an +explicit denial of what his questioner suggested. What followed he thus +relates.[410] + +"While I was writing this, the old man waxed wroth. He shook with +passion, and would fain have snatched the paper from me." + +"'If you don't want me to write the truth,' said I, 'I'll not write at +all.'" + +"'Nay,' quoth he, 'write so and so, and I'll copy out what you have +written.'" + +"'I shall write what I please,' I answered, 'and not what _you_ please. +Show what I have written to the Council, for I shall add nothing but my +name.'" + +"_Then I signed so near the writing, that nothing could be put in +between._ The hot-tempered man, seeing himself disappointed, broke out +into threats and blasphemies: 'I'll get you into my power, and hang you +in the air, and show you no mercy: and then I shall see what God will +rescue you out of my hands.'" + +It was not by Catholics alone that allegations of this sort were +advanced. Sir Anthony Weldon tells us[411] that on the trial of Raleigh +and Cobham, the latter protested that he had never made the declaration +attributed to him incriminating Raleigh. "That villain Wade,"[412] said +he, "did often solicit me, and, not prevailing, got me, by a trick, to +write my name on a piece of white paper, which I, thinking nothing, did; +so that if any charge came under my hand, it was forged by that villain +Wade, by writing something above my hand, without my consent or +knowledge." + +Moreover, there exists undoubted evidence that the king's chief minister +availed himself upon occasion of the services of such as could +counterfeit handwriting and forge evidence against suspected persons. +One Arthur Gregory[413] appears to have been thus employed, and he +subsequently wrote to Salisbury reminding him of what he had done.[414] +After acknowledging that he owes his life to the secretary who knows how +to appreciate "an honest desire in respect of his Majesty's public +service," Gregory thus continues: + +"Your Lordship hath had a present trial of that which none but myself +hath done before, _to write in another man's hand_, and, discovering the +secret writing being in blank, to abuse a most cunning villain in his +own subtlety, leaving the same at last in blank again, wherein although +there be difficulty their answers show they have no suspicion." + +This the calendarer of State Papers believes to refer to the case of +Father Garnet, and it is certain from Gregory's own letter that at one +time he held a post in the Tower. Is it not possible that an explanation +may here be found of the strange circumstance, that perhaps the most +important of Father Garnet's examinations[415] bears an endorsement, +"This was forbydden by the King to be given in evidence"? + +Gregory's letter, of which we have been speaking, has appended to it an +instructive postscript: + +"Mr. Lieutenant expecteth something to be written in the blank leaf of a +Latin Bible, which is pasted in already for the purpose. I will attend +it, and whatsoever else cometh."[416] + + +vii. _Catholic Testimony._ + +It will not improbably be urged that the government history is confirmed +in all essential particulars by authorities to whom no exception can be +taken, namely, contemporary Catholic writers, and especially the Jesuits +Gerard and Greenway, whose narratives of the conspiracy corroborate +every detail concerning which doubts have been insinuated. + +This argument is undoubtedly deserving of all consideration, but upon +examination appears to lose much of its force. If the narratives in +question agree with that furnished by the government, it is because they +are based almost entirely upon it, and upon those published confessions +of Winter and Faukes with which we are familiar. + +On this point Father Gerard is very explicit:[417] "Out of [Mr. Thomas +Winter's] examination, with the others that were made in the time of +their imprisonment, I must gather and set down all that is to be said or +collected of their purposes and proceedings in this heady enterprize. +For that, as I have said, they kept it so wholly secret from all men, +that until their flight and apprehension it was not known to any that +such a matter was in hand, and then there could none have access to them +to learn the particulars. But we must be contented with that which some +of those that lived to be examined, did therein deliver. Only for that +some of their servants that were up in arms with them in the country did +afterwards escape, somewhat might be learned by them of their carriage +in their last extremities, and some such words as they then uttered, +whereby their mind in the whole matter is something the more opened." + +Elsewhere he writes, exhibiting more confidence in government documents +than we can feel:[418] + +"[The prisoners'] examinations did all agree in all material points, and +therefore two only were published in print, containing the substance of +the rest. And indeed [this is] the sum of that which I have been able to +say in this narration touching either their first intentions or the +names or number of the conspirators, or concerning the course they took +to keep the matter so absolutely secret, or, finally, touching the +manner of their beginning and proceeding in the whole matter; for +that--as I noted before--it being kept a vowed secret in the heads and +hearts of so few, and those also afterwards apprehended before they +could have means to declare the particulars in any private manner, +therefore no more can be known of the matter or manner of this tragedy +than is found or gathered out of their examinations." + +As for Greenway, it should not be forgotten that for the most part he +confined himself to translating Gerard's narrative from English into +Italian, though he supplemented it occasionally with items furnished by +his own experience as to the character and general conduct of the +conspirators on previous occasions, or during their last desperate +rally. Of this he was able to speak with more authority, as he not only +chanced to be in the immediate neighbourhood, but actually visited them +at Huddington House (the seat of Robert Winter) on November 6th, being +summoned thither by Catesby through his servant Bates.[419] Greenway, +like Gerard, constantly refers to the published confessions of Winter +and Faukes as the sources of his information. + +It may here be observed that the practical identity of the narratives +of these two fathers was unknown to Mr. Jardine, who having seen only +that of Father Greenway, and believing it to be an original work, +founded upon this erroneous assumption an argument which loses its force +when we learn the real author to have been Gerard. Mr. Jardine maintains +that the narrator must, from internal evidence, have been an active and +zealous member of the conspiracy, "approving, promoting and encouraging +it with the utmost enthusiasm."[420] It so happens, however, that the +real author, Father Gerard, is just the one of the incriminated Jesuits +whose innocence is held by historians certainly not partial to his +Order, to be beyond question. Mr. Gardiner considers[421] that there is +"strong reason" to believe him not to have been acquainted with the +Plot. Dr. Jessopp is still more emphatic, and declares[422] that it is +impossible for any candid reader of all the evidence to doubt that +Gerard must be exonerated. + +What has been said of Gerard and Greenway may serve also for Father +Garnet, who in his various examinations and other utterances assumes the +truth of the government story, for neither had he materials to go upon +except those officially supplied. + + * * * * * + +It is obvious that the conclusion to be drawn from the above +considerations is chiefly negative. That the conspirators embarked on a +plot against the state, is, of course unquestionable. What was the +precise nature of that plot is by no means clear, and still less what +were the exact circumstances of its initiation and its collapse. This +only appears to be certain, that things did not happen as they were +officially related, while the elaborate care expended on the +falsification of the story seems to indicate that the true version would +not have served the purposes to which that story was actually put. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[332] _Criminal Trials_, ii. 235. Mr. Jardine is here speaking expressly +of the trial of Father Garnet, as reported in the book, but evidently +intends his observations to extend to that of the conspirators as well. + +[333] _Ibid._ 105. + +[334] _True and Perfect Relation_, Introduction. + +[335] _Criminal Trials_, ii. 113. + +[336] The contemporary, Hawarde (_Les Reportes del Cases in Camera +Stellata_) gives a report of the trial of the conspirators, under the +curious title "_Al le arraignemente del Traitors por le grande treason +of blowinge up the Parliamente Howse_," which, although evidently based +upon the official account, differs in two remarkable particulars. In the +first place it gives a different list of the commissioners by whom the +trial was conducted, omitting Justice Warburton, and including instead, +Lord Chief Baron Flemming, Justices Yelverton and Williams, and Baron +Saville. Moreover, Hawarde says that the king and queen "were both there +in pryvate," an important circumstance, of which the _True and Perfect +Relation_ says nothing. + +[337] Viz., on January 30th and 31st: not January 31st and February 1st, +as Mr. Gardiner has it. + +[338] Father Garnet clearly believed that this advantage was used +unscrupulously against him, for when certain evidence attributed to +Bates was cited, he replied that "Bates was a dead man," and would +testify otherwise if he were alive. (Brit. Mus. MSS. Add. 21203. +_Foley's Records_, iv. p. 188.) + +[339] It is frequently said that the search at Hendlip was undertaken +not for Garnet but for Oldcorne, whose presence there was known by the +confession of Humphrey Littleton. But this confession was made several +days after the search had been begun, and the directions for it given by +Cecil to the sheriff, Sir H. Bromley, clearly indicate that he had in +view some capture of prime importance. (See Gardiner's _History_, i. +271, and Brit. Mus. MSS. Add. 6178, f. 693.) + +[340] Viz.: Nottingham, Suffolk, Worcester, Devonshire, Northampton, +Salisbury, Marr, Dunbar, Popham, Coke, and Waad. + +[341] In the "original," however, there are some passages which do not +appear in the copy, notably one in which Lord Monteagle is mentioned. It +appears, therefore, that the "copy" is not the first version produced, +but has been edited from another still earlier. + +[342] That this is not a slip of the pen is evidenced by the fact that +Winter first wrote 23, and then corrected it to 25. + +[343] Brit. Mus. MSS. Add. 6178, 84. + +[344] The document is headed in the printed version: "Thomas Winter's +Confession, taken the Twenty-third of November, 1605, in the Presence of +the Counsellors, whose Names are underwritten." + +[345] _Gunpowder Plot Book_, 49. + +[346] The list stands thus: "L. Admyrall--L. Chamberlayn--Erle of +Devonshire--Erle of Northampton--Erle of Salisbury--Erle of Marr--L. +Cheif Justice--attended by Mr. Attorney Generall." + +The Lord Admiral was the Earl of Nottingham, better known as Lord Howard +of Effingham, the commander-in-chief against the Spanish Armada. There +appears to be no foundation for the supposition that he was a Catholic. +Northampton (Henry Howard) was a professing Catholic. The chamberlain +was the Earl of Suffolk, the Chief Justice, Popham. + +[347] The _Calendar of State Papers_ assigns this document, like the +other, to the 8th, a mistake not easy to understand, for not only is the +date clearly written, but the printed version in the "King's Book" gives +it correctly. + +[348] _Gunpowder Plot Book_, 101. + +[349] This was originally written "deposition;" the title is altered in +Coke's hand, who also added the words, "taken the 17 of Nov. 1605: +acknowledged before the Lords Commissioners." + +[350] Thus the _examination_ of November 8th begins as follows: "He +confesseth that a Practise in generall was first broken unto him, +agaynst his Majesty, for the Catholique cause, and not invented, or +propounded by himself: and this was first propounded unto him, about +Easter last was twelvemonth, beyond the seas, in the Low Countreyes, by +an English Lay-man, and that English man came over with him in his +company, into England, and they tow and three more were the first five, +mencioned in the former examination," etc. + +The _declaration_ of November 17th opens: "I confesse that a practise in +general was first broken unto me against his Majesty, for releife of the +Catholique cause, and not invented or propounded by myself. And this was +first propounded unto me about Easter last was twelvemonth, beyond the +Seas, in the Low Countries of the Archdukes obeysance, by Thomas Winter, +who came thereupon with me into England, and there wee imparted our +purpose to three other Englishmen more, namely Rob^t Catesby, Tho^s +Percy, and John Wright, who all five consulting together," etc. See both +documents in full, Appendix N. + +[351] Thus, in the confession of November 8th, we read as follows: "He +confesseth, that it was resolved amonge them, that the same day that +this detestable act should have been performed, the same day [_sic_] +should other of their confederacye have surprised the person of the Lady +Elizabeth and presently have proclaimed her queen [to which purpose a +Proclamation was drawne, as well to avow and justifye the Action, as to +have protested against the Union, and in noe sort to have meddled with +Religion therein. And would have protested all soe against all +strangers,] and this Proclamation should have been made in the name of +the Lady Elizabeth." + +The portion within brackets is cancelled, and the following substituted: +"He confesseth that if their purpose had taken effect, untill they had +power enough, they would not have avowed the deed to be theirs; but if +their power ... had been sufficient, they thereafter would have taken it +upon them." + +The corresponding portion of the declaration of November 17th runs thus: +"It was further resolved amongst us, that the same day that this action +should have been performed, some other of our confederates should have +surprised the person of the L. Elizabeth, the King's eldest daughter, +... and presently proclaimed her for Queene, having a _project_ of a +Proclamation ready for the purpose, wherein we made no mention of +altering of Religion, nor would have avowed the deed to be ours, untill +we should have had power enough to make our partie good, and then we +would have avowed both." + +[352] The printed version of Fauke's declaration is headed: "The true +Copy of the Deposition of Guido Fawkes, taken in the Presence of the +Counsellors, whose Names are under written." + +[353] See Appendix K., _The Use of Torture_. + +[354] In the _Calendar of State Papers_ he is continually styled "Father +Owen," or "Owen the Jesuit," without warrant in the original documents. +That he was a soldier and not a priest there is no doubt. + +[355] _Dom. James I._ xvi. 38. + +[356] E.g. _Item._ Where you have confessed that it was discoursed +between you that the prisoners in the Tower should have had intelligence +after the act done, declare the particularity of that discourse, and +whether some prisoners in the Tower should not have been called to +office or place, or have been employed, etc. + +_Item._ Where you have confessed that the L. Elizabeth should have +succeeded, and that she should have been brought up as a Catholic, and +married to an English Catholic. (1) Who should have had the government +of her? (2) Who was nominated to be the fittest to have married her? + +_Item._ Was it not resolved amongst you that after the act done you +would have taken the Tower, or any other place of strength, and meant +you not to have taken the spoil of London, and whom should you have +instantly proclaimed? + +_Item._ By what priests or Jesuits were you resolved that it was godly +and lawful to execute the act? + +_Item._ Whether was it not resolved that if it were discovered Catesby +and others should have killed the king coming from Royston? + +_Item._ Were not Edw. Neville, calling himself Earl of Westmorland, Mr. +Dacre, calling himself Lord Dacre, or any of the Nobility, privy to it? +How many of the Nobility have you known at Mass? What persons in the +Tower were named to be partakers with you? + +[357] To Edmondes, November 14th, 1605. (Stowe MSS.) + +[358] _Viz., The True and Perfect Relation._ The confession of Bates is +mentioned but not textually quoted. It is in the "King's Book" that the +confessions of Winter and Faukes are given. + +[359] "The great object of the government now was to obtain evidence +against the priests."--Gardiner, _History of England_, i. 267. + +[360] See Rokewood's examination, December 2nd, 1605. (_Gunpowder Plot +Book_, 136.) In the confession of Keyes, November 30th, 1605 (_Gunpowder +Plot Book_, 126) we read: "He sayth that the reason that he revealed not +the project to his ghostly father was for that Catesby told him that he +had good warrant and authoritie that it might safely and with good +conscience be done," etc. + +[361] _Gunpowder Plot Book_, 145. + +[362] This is shown by a mark (Sec.) in the margin opposite the important +passage, attention being called to this by the same mark, and the name +"Greenway" in the endorsement. + +[363] Brit. Mus., Harleian 360, f. 96. + +[364] Brit. Mus., Harleian 360, f. 109, etc. The reporter had clearly +been present. + +[365] Brit. Mus., MSS. Add. 21, 203; Plut. ciii. F. Printed by Foley, +_Records_, iv. 164 _seq._ + +[366] _Narrative_, p. 210. + +[367] Plut. ciii. F. Sec. 39. + +[368] Brit. Mus. MSS. Add. 6178, Sec. 625. + +[369] _Dom. James I._ xvi. 116. + +[370] In the _Calendar of State Papers_, Mrs. Everett Green, as has been +said, quite gratuitously and without warrant from the original +documents, uniformly describes him as "Father Owen," or "Owen the +Jesuit." Mr. Gardiner (_Hist._ i. 242) has been led into the same error. + +It is not impossible that Owen had some knowledge of the conspiracy, +though the course adopted by his enemies seems to afford strong +presumption to the contrary. It must, moreover, be remembered that, as +Father Gerard tells us, he and others similarly accused, vehemently +protested against the imputation, while in his case in particular we +have some evidence to the same effect. Thomas Phelippes, the +"Decipherer," of whom we have already heard, was on terms of close +intimacy with Owen, and in December, 1605, wrote to him about the Plot +in terms which certainly appear to imply a strong conviction that his +friend had nothing to do with it. + +"There hath been and yet is still great paynes taken to search to the +bottom of the late damnable conspiracy. The Parliamente hit seemes shall +not be troubled with any extraordinarie course for their exemplarye +punishment, as was supposed upon the Kinges speeche, but onlye with +their attaynder, the more is the pitye I saye."--_Dom. James I._ xvii. +62. + +[371] Stowe MSS. 168, 54. + +[372] This version of the deposition is interesting as being a form +intermediate between the draft of November 8th and the finished document +of November 17th. The passages cancelled in the former are simply +omitted without any attempt to complete the sense of the passages in +which they occurred. Those "ticked off" are retained. + +[373] Stowe MSS. 168, 58. + +[374] _I.e._, the Archduke Albert, and his consort the Infanta, daughter +of Philip II., who, as governors of the Low Countries, were usually so +designated. + +[375] "Nous avons bien voulu aussy par ces presentes, nous mesmes vous +asseurer que ce qu'il [Edmondes] vous en a desja declare, est fonde sur +tout verite; et vous dire en oultre, que ces meschantes Creatures d'Owen +et Baldouin, gens de mesme farine, ont eu aussi leur part en particulier +a ceste malheureuse conspiration de Pouldre."--_Phillipps' MS._ 6297, f. +129. + +[376] Stowe, 168, 65. + +[377] Winwood, ii. 183. + +[378] _Dom. James I._ xix. 94. + +[379] 3^o _Jac. I._ c. 3. On the 21st of June following, Salisbury +forwarded to Edmondes a fresh copy of this Act, "because in the former +there was a great error committed in the printing." (Phillipps, f. 157.) +It would be highly interesting to know what the first version was. In +that now extant it is only said regarding Owen, that inasmuch as he +obstinately keeps beyond the seas, he cannot be arraigned, nor can +evidence and proofs be produced against him. (_Statutes at large._) + +[380] Stowe, 168, 76; Phillipps, f. 141. + +[381] Edmondes to Salisbury, January 23rd, 1605(6). P.R.O., Flanders, +38. + +[382] April 19th, 1606, _ibid._ + +[383] Edmondes to Salisbury, April 5th, 1606, _ibid._ + +[384] Phillipps, f. 150. + +[385] Phillipps, f. 152. + +[386] _Dom. James I._ xx. 52. + +[387] This is obvious from a marginal note in Coke's own hand, arguing +that Owen must be guilty in this instance, as he has been guilty on +former occasions, and "Qui semel malus est semper praesumitur esse malus +in eodem genere mali." + +[388] It will be noticed that the confession of Faukes cited against +Owen is dated two months after he had first been declared to be proved +guilty by Faukes' testimony. + +[389] These are dated November 5th, 6th [bis], 7th, 8th [the "draft"], +9th, 16th, 17th, January 9th, 20th, 26th. + +[390] Thus, to confine ourselves to the confession of January 20th, with +which we are particularly concerned, we have the following variations: + +_Tanner transcript._ "At my going over M^r Catesby charged me two things +more: the one to desire of Baldwin & M^r Owen to deal with the Marquis +[Spinola] to send over the regiment of which he [Catesby] expected to +have been Lieutenant Colonel under Sir Charles [Percy].... He wished me +secondly to be earnest with Baldwin to deal with the Marquis to give the +said M^r Catesby order for a Company of Horse, thinking by that means to +have opportunity to buy Horses and Arms without suspition." + +According to _Abbot_, Faukes was to give instructions that when the time +of Parliament approached, Sir Wm. Stanley was on some pretext to lead +the English forces in the archduke's service towards the sea, and with +them any others he could manage to influence. He also mentions the +conspiracy of Morgan, as spoken of by Coke. + +In addition to all this, Abbot cites from the same confession the +following extraordinary particulars (p. 160): Faukes, when he came to +London, with T. Winter, went to Percy's house and found there Catesby +and Father Gerard. They talked over matters, and agreed that nothing was +to be hoped from foreign aid, nor from a general rising of Catholics, +and that the only plan was to strike at the king's person: whereupon +Catesby, Percy, John Wright, Winter, and himself, were sworn in by +Gerard. + +[This is in absolute contradiction to Winter's evidence (November 23rd) +that Percy was initiated in the middle of the Easter term, the other +four having agreed on the scheme at the beginning of the same term; and +to that of Faukes himself (November 17th) that he and Winter first +resolved on a plot for the benefit of the Catholic cause, and afterwards +imparted their idea to Catesby, Wright, and Percy.] + +_Sir E. Coke's Version._ "After the powder treason was resolved upon by +Catesbye, Thomas Winter, the Wrightes, my self, and others, and +preparation made by us for the execution of it, by their advise and +direction I went into fflanders and had leave given unto me to discover +our project in every particular to Hughe Owen and others, but with +condicion that they should sweare first to secrecie as we our selves had +done. When I arryved in fflanders I found M^r Owen at Bruxelles to whom +after I had given the oathe of secrecye I discovered the whole busines, +howe we had layed 20 whole barrells of powder in the celler under the +parliament howse, and howe we ment to give it fire the first day of the +parliament when the King, the prince, the duke, the Lords spirituall and +temporall, and all the knights, citizens, and burgesses of parliament +should be there assembled. And that we meant to take the Ladye Elizabeth +and proclaime hir for we thought most like that the prince and duke +would be there with the king. M^r Owen liked the plott very well, and +said that Thomas Morgan had once propounded the very same in quene +Elizabeth's time, and willed me that by ani meanes we should not make +any mencion of religion at the first, and assured me that so soone as he +should have certaine newes that this exploit had taken effect that he +would give us what assistance he could and that he would procure that +Sir W^m Stanley should have leave to come with those English men which +be there and what other forces he could procure." + +The confession of Faukes in the Record Office, dated the same, January +20th, is thus summarized in the _Calendar of State Papers_ (_Dom. James +I._ xviii. 28): "Talked with Catesby about noblemen being absent from +the meeting of Parliament; he said Lord Mordaunt would not be there, +because he did not like to absent himself from the sermons, as the king +did not know he was a Catholic; and that Lord Stourton would not come to +town till the Friday after the opening." + +[391] The powder design of Morgan is an instance in point. The Thomas +Morgan in question was doubtless the same as the partisan of Mary Queen +of Scots. + +[392] _E.g._: "Winter came over to Owen, by him and the Fathers to be +informed of a fit and resolute man for the execution of the enterprise. +This examinate (being by the Fathers and Owen recommended to be used and +trusted in any action for the Catholicks) came into England with +Winter."--Faukes, November 19th, 1605 (Tanner MSS.). + +Abbot, whose whole object is to incriminate the Jesuits, does not +mention this remarkable statement. + +Again we read, November 30th (_ibid._): "Father Baldwin told this +examinate that about 2,000 horses would be provided by the Catholicks of +England to join with the Spanish forces ... and willed this examinate to +intimate so much to Father Creswell, which this examinate did." + +[393] Oliver, _Collectanea_, sub nom.; Foley, _Records_, iv. 120, note. + +[394] Foley, _Records_, iii. 509; _English Protestants' Plea_, p. 59. + +[395] _Dom. James I._ xvi. 115. + +[396] _England's Warning Peece_, by T. S. [Thomas Spencer], P.73. + +[397] Cotton MSS. _Vespasian C._, ix. f. 259. + +[398] Winwood, _Memorials_, ii. 178. + +[399] _Dom. James I._ xvi. 104. + +[400] William Stanley. + +[401] The last words are added in another hand. + +[402] "I am in great dispute with myself to speak in the case of this +gentleman. A former dearness between me and him tied so firm a knot of +my conceit of his virtues, now broken by discovery of his imperfections, +that I protest, did I serve a king that I knew would be displeased with +me for speaking, in this case I would speak, whatever came of it; but +seeing he is compacted of piety and justice, and one that will not +mislike of any man for speaking a truth, I will answer," etc.--_State +Trials._ + +[403] "For this do I profess in the presence of Him that knoweth and +searcheth all men's harts, that if I did not some tyme cast a stone into +the mouth of these gaping crabbs, when they are in their prodigall +humour of discourses, they wold not stick to confess dayly how contrary +it is to their nature to be under your soverainty; though they confess +(Ralegh especially) that (_rebus sic stantibus_) naturall pollicy +forceth them to keep on foot such a trade against the great day of mart. +In all which light and soddain humours of his, though I do no way check +him, because he shall not think I reject his freedome or his affection +... yet under pretext of extraordinary care of his well doing, I have +seemed to dissuade him from ingaging himself so farr," etc.--_Hatfield +MSS._, cxxxv. f. 65. + +[404] _Criminal Trials_, ii. 358. + +[405] Father Gerard (_Narrative_, p. 201) denies in the most emphatic +terms that he was the priest who said mass on this occasion. The point +is fully discussed by the late Father Morris, S. J., in his Life of +Father Gerard, pp. 437-438. + +[406] The accompanying facsimile of this portion of Faukes' confession +exhibits the marks made by Coke, and his added direction in the margin, +_hucusque_ ("thus far"). In the original his additions are in red ink. + +[407] It is singular that he should not mention Faukes himself as one of +those who received the oath from Gerard. There is no mention in any +document of Greenway as giving the oath to Bates, or anyone else. + +The facsimile of Faukes' signature, appended to his confession of +November 9th, though affording unmistakable evidence of torture, gives +no idea of the original, wherein the letters are so faintly traced as to +be scarcely visible. It is evident that the writer had been so severely +racked as to have no strength left in his hands to press the pen upon +the paper. He must have fainted when he had written his Christian name, +two dashes alone representing the other. + +This signature, with other of the more sensational documents connected +with the Plot, is exhibited in the newly established museum at the +Record Office. + +[408] _Dom. James I._ xviii. 97, February 27th, 1606, N. S. (Latin). + +[409] _Narratio de rebus a se in Anglia gestis_ (Stonyhurst MSS.). +Published in Father G. R. Kingdon's translation under the title of +_During the Persecution_. + +[410] _During the Persecution_, p. 83. + +[411] _Court and Character of King James_, p. 350 (ed. 1811). + +[412] Sir William Waad, Lieutenant of the Tower, to whose charge the +Powder Plot conspirators were committed, was afterwards dismissed from +his office on a charge of embezzling the jewels of the Lady Arabella +Stuart. + +[413] Presumably the same Arthur Gregory who at an earlier period had +counterfeited the seals of Mary Queen of Scots' correspondence. + +[414] _Dom. James I._ xxiv. 38. + +[415] March 3rd, 1605-6 (Hatfield MSS.). + +[416] Eudaemon Joannes cites the renegade Alabaster as testifying to +having seen a letter seemingly of his own to Garnet, which he had never +written. (_Answer to Casaubon_, p. 159.) + +[417] _Narrative_, p. 54. + +[418] _Ibid._ p. 113. + +[419] Though we have not now to consider the question of Father +Greenway's connection with the conspirators, it may not be out of place +to cite his own account of this visit (_Narrative_, Stonyhurst MSS., f. +86 b): + +"Father Oswald [Greenway] went to assist these gentlemen with the +Sacraments of the Church, understanding their danger and their need, and +this with evident danger to his own person and life: and all those +gentlemen could have borne witness that he publicly told them how he +grieved not so much because of their wretched and shameful plight, and +the extremity of their peril, as that by their headlong course they had +given the heretics occasion to slander the whole body of Catholics in +the kingdom, and that he flatly refused to stay in their company, lest +the heretics should be able to calumniate himself and the other Fathers +of the Society." + +[420] In this, as in some other respects, Mr. Jardine shows himself +rather an advocate than an impartial historian. He holds that the +complicity of the writer of the _Narrative_ with the plotters is proved +by the intimate knowledge he displays concerning them, "their general +conduct--their superstitious fears--their dreams--'their thick coming +fancies'--in the progress of the work of destruction." (_Criminal +Trials_, ii. xi.) + +There is here an evident allusion to the silly story of the "bell in the +wall" (related by Greenway and not by Gerard), to which Mr. Jardine +gives extraordinary prominence. He does not, however, inform us that +Greenway relates this (_Narrative_, f. 58 b) and some similar matters, +on the authority of "an acquaintance to whom Catesby told it shortly +before his death," and that he leaves it to the judgment of his readers. + +Greenway's frequent and earnest protestations of innocence Mr. Jardine +summarily dismisses with the observation that they are "entitled to no +credit whatever" (p. xii). + +[421] _History_, i. 243. + +[422] _Dictionary of National Biography_ (Digby, Sir E.). + + + + +CHAPTER IX. + +THE SEQUEL. + + +AS we have already seen, the Gunpowder Plot formed no exception to the +general law observable in conspiracies of its period, proving extremely +advantageous to those against whom it was principally directed. No +single individual was injured by it except those concerned in it, or +accused of being so concerned. On the other hand, it marked an epoch in +public policy, and irrevocably committed the king and the nation to a +line of action towards Catholics, which up to that time they had hoped, +and their enemies had feared, would not be permanently pursued. + +"The political consequences of this transaction," says Mr. Jardine,[423] +"are extremely important and interesting. It fixed the timid and +wavering mind of the king in his adherence to the Protestant party, in +opposition to the Roman Catholics; and the universal horror, which was +naturally excited not only in England but throughout Europe by so +barbarous an attempt, was artfully converted into an engine for the +suppression of the Roman Catholic Church: so that the ministers of James +I., having procured the reluctant acquiescence of the king, and the +cordial assent of public opinion, were enabled to continue in full force +the severe laws previously passed against Papists, and to enact others +of no less rigour and injustice." + +Such was the effect in fact produced, and the calm deliberation +displayed in dealing with the crisis appears to indicate that no +misgivings were entertained as to the chance of anything but advantage +resulting from it. We have already seen with what strange equanimity the +presence of the powder beneath the Parliament House was treated. Not +less serene was the attitude of the minister chiefly responsible for the +safety of the State in face of the grave dangers still declared to be +threatening, even after the "discovery." Preparations, it was officially +announced, had been made for an extensive rising of the Catholics, and +this had still to be reckoned with. As the king himself informed Sir +John Harington, the design was not formed by a few, the "whole legion of +Catholics" were implicated: the priests had been active in preaching the +holy war, and the Pope himself had employed his authority on behalf of +the cause.[424] + +Moreover, the conspirators, except Faukes, escaped from London, and +hurried to the intended scene of action, where, though no man +voluntarily joined them, they were able at first to collect a certain +force of their own retainers and domestics, and began to traverse the +shires in which their influence was greatest, committing acts of plunder +and violence, and calling on all men to join them for God and the +country. For a couple of days the local magistrates did not feel strong +enough to cope with them, and forwarded to the capital reports capable, +it might be supposed, of alarming those who were bewildered by so +totally unexpected an assault, for which the evidence in hand showed +preparations of no ordinary magnitude to have been made. The numbers of +the insurgents, it was said, were constantly increasing; only a feeble +force could be brought against them; they were seizing horses and +ammunition, and all this in "a very Catholic country." + +In his famous speech to Parliament, delivered on November 9th, the king +dwelt feelingly on the danger of the land, left exposed to the traitors, +in the absence of the members of the legislature, its natural guardians. +"These rebels," he declared,[425] "that now wander through the country +could never have gotten so fit a time of safety in their passage, or +whatsoever unlawful actions, as now; when the country, by the aforesaid +occasions, is, in a manner, left desolate and waste unto them."[426] + +Meanwhile, however, the secretary remained imperturbably tranquil as +before, and so well aware of the true state of the case that he could +afford to make merry over the madcap adventurers. On the same 9th of +November he wrote to the ambassadors: "It is also thought fit that some +martial men should presently repair down to those countries where the +Robin Hoods are assembled, to encourage the good and to terrify the bad. +In which service the Earl of Devonshire is used, a commission going +forth for him as general: although I am easily persuaded that this +Faggot will be burnt to ashes before he shall be twenty miles on his +way." + +His prescience was not at fault, for before despatching the letter the +minister was able to announce the utter collapse of the foolish and +unsupported enterprise. + +No time was lost in turning the defeated conspiracy to practical +account. On the very 5th of November[427] itself the Commons proceeded, +before all other business, to the first reading of a bill for the better +execution of penal statutes against Recusants. On the following day this +was read a second time. The house next met on the 9th, to hear the +king's speech, and was then prorogued to January 21st following. On that +day, the foremost article on the programme was the first reading of a +bill (whether the same or another) for the better execution of penal +statutes; another was likewise proposed for prevention of the danger of +papistical practices; and a committee was appointed "to consider of some +course for the timely and severe proceeding against Jesuits, Seminaries, +and other popish agents and practisers, and for the prevention and +suppression of their plots and practices."[428] On the 22nd there was a +motion directed against the seminaries beyond the seas, and the bill for +better execution of penal statutes was read a second time. On the 23rd +the bill for a public thanksgiving was read twice, being finally passed +on the 25th. Its preamble runs thus: "Forasmuch as ... no nation of the +earth hath been blessed with greater benefits than this kingdom now +enjoyeth, having the true and free profession of the gospel under our +most gracious sovereign lord King James, the most great, learned, and +religious king that ever reigned therein ... the which many malignant +and devilish papists, Jesuits, and seminary priests, much envying and +fearing, conspired most horribly ..." and so forth. + +Thus did the Commons set to work, and the other House, though they +declined to sanction all that was proposed in the way of exceptional +severity towards the actual conspirators, were no wise lacking in zeal +against the Catholic body. + +The course of legislation that ensued is thus described by Birch:[429] + +"The discovery of the Plot occasioned the Parliament to enjoin the oath +of allegiance to the king, and to enact several laws against Popery, and +especially against the Jesuits and Priests who, as the Earl of Salisbury +observed,[430] sought to bring all things into confusion.... In passing +these laws for the security of the Protestant religion, the Earl of +Salisbury exerted himself with distinguished zeal and vigour, which +gained him great love and honour from the kingdom, as appeared, in some +measure, in the unusual attendance upon him at his installation into the +Order of the Garter, on the 20th of May, 1606,[431] at Windsor." + +It is, indeed, abundantly clear that beyond all others this statesman +benefited by the Plot, in consequence of which he obtained, at least for +a time, a high degree of both power and popularity. His installation at +Windsor, above mentioned, was an almost regal triumph. Baker notes[432] +that he was attended on the occasion "beyond ordinary promotion." Howes +writes[433] that he "set forward from his house in the Strand, being +almost as honourably accompanied, and with as great a train of lords, +knights, gentlemen, and officers of the Court, with others besides his +peculiar servants, very richly attired and bravely mounted, as was the +King when he rid in state through London." + +Neither were there wanting to the secretary other advantages which, if +less showy, were not less substantial. It will be remembered how, in +his secret correspondence with the King of Scots before the death of +Elizabeth, Cecil had constantly endeavoured to turn the mind of his +future sovereign against the Earl of Northumberland, whom he declared to +be associated with Raleigh and Cobham in a "diabolical triplicity," and +to be "a sworn enemy of King James."[434] These efforts had not been +altogether successful, and though Cobham and Raleigh had been +effectually disposed of in connection with the conspiracy known as the +"Main," Northumberland was still powerful, and was thought by many to be +Cecil's most formidable rival. As one result of the Gunpowder Plot, he +now disappeared for ever from public life. + +[Illustration: THE POWDER PLOT. III.] + +When we remember the terms in which the secretary had previously +described him, as well as the result about to ensue, it is not a little +startling to remark with what emphasis it was protested, in season and +out, that a ruling principle of the government's action was to do +nothing which might even seem to cast a slur upon the earl's character, +while at the same time the very point is artfully insinuated which was +to be turned against him.[435] Thus in the "King's Book," in explanation +of the curious roundabout courses adopted in connection with the +"discovery," we are told that a far-fetched excuse was devised for the +search determined upon, lest it might "lay an ill-favoured imputation +upon the Earl of Northumberland, one of his Majesty's greatest subjects +and counsellors; this Thomas Percy being his kinsman and most confident +familiar." So again Cecil wrote to the ambassadors: "It hath been +thought meet in policy of State (all circumstances considered) to commit +the Earl of Northumberland to the Archbishop of Canterbury, there to be +honourably used, until things be more quiet. Whereof if you shall hear +any judgment made, as if his Majesty or his council could harbour a +thought of such a savage practice to be lodged in such a nobleman's +breast, you shall do well to suppress it as a malicious discourse and +invention, this being only done to satisfy the world that nothing be +undone which belongs to policy of State, when the whole monarchy was +proscribed to dissolution; and being no more than himself discreetly +approved when he received the sentence of the council for his +restraint." + +Yet what was the issue? A series of charges were brought against +Northumberland, all of which broke down except that of having, as +Captain of the Royal Pensioners, admitted Percy amongst them without +exacting the usual oath. He in vain demanded an open trial, and was +brought before the Star Chamber, by which, after he had been assailed by +Coke in the same violent strain previously employed against Raleigh, he +was sentenced to forfeit all offices which he held under the Crown, to +be imprisoned during the king's pleasure, and to pay a fine of L30,000, +equal to at least ten times that sum at the present day. + +As if this were not enough, fresh proceedings were taken against him six +years later, when he was again subjected to examination, and again, says +Lingard,[436] foiled the ingenuity or malice of his persecutor. + +It seems, therefore, by no means extraordinary that men, as we have +heard from the French ambassador, should have commonly attributed the +earl's ruin to the resolution of his great rival to remove from his own +path every obstacle likely to be dangerous, or that Cecil should himself +bear witness,[437] in 1611, to the "bruites" touching Northumberland +which were afloat, and should be anxious, as "knowing how various a +discourse a subject of this nature doth beget," to "prevent any +erroneous impression by a brief narrative of the true motive and +progress of the business." + +As to Northumberland's own sentiments, he, we are told by Osborne,[438] +declared that the blood of Percy would refuse to mix with that of Cecil +if they were poured together in the same basin. + +It is, moreover, evident not only that the great statesman, to use +Bishop Goodman's term, actually profited largely by the powder business, +but that from the first he saw in it a means for materially +strengthening his position; an opportunity which he lost no time in +turning to account by making it appear that in such a crisis he was +absolutely necessary to the State. This is shown by the remarkable +manifesto which he promptly issued, a document which appears to have +been almost forgotten, though well deserving attention. + +A characteristic feature of the traitorous proceedings of the period was +the inveterate habit of conspirators to drop compromising documents in +the street, or to throw them into yards and windows. In the court of +Salisbury House was found, in November, 1605, a threatening letter, more +than usually extraordinary. It purported to come from five Catholics, +who began by unreservedly condemning the Gunpowder Plot as a work +abhorred by their co-religionists as much as by any Protestants. Since, +however, his lordship, beyond all others, seemed disposed to take +advantage of so foul a scandal, in order to root out all memory of the +Catholic religion, they proceeded to warn him that they had themselves +vowed his death, and in such fashion that their success was certain. +None of the accomplices knew who the others were, but it was settled who +should first make the attempt, and who, in order, afterwards. Moreover, +death had no terrors for any of them, two being stricken with mortal +sickness, which must soon be fatal; while the other three were in such +mental affliction as not to care what became of them. + +As a reply to this strange effusion Cecil published a tract,[439] +obviously intended as a companion to the famous "King's Book," in which +with elaborate modesty he owned to the impeachment of being more zealous +than others in the good cause, and protested his resolution, at whatever +peril to himself, to continue his services to his king and country. The +sum and substance of this curious apology is as follows. + +Having resolved to recall his thoughts from the earthly theatre to +higher things, which statesmen are supposed overmuch to neglect, he had +felt he could choose no better theme for his meditations than the +"King's Book," wherein so many lively images of God's great favour and +providence are represented, every line discovering where Apelles' hand +hath been; so that all may see there needs now no Elisha to tell the +King of Israel what the Aramites do in their privatest councils. + +While in this most serious and silent meditation, divided between +rapture at God's infinite mercy and justice, and thought of his own +happiness to live under a king pleasing to God for his zealous +endeavours to cleanse the vessels of his kingdom from the dregs and lees +of the Romish grape,--and while his heart was not a little cheered to +observe any note of his own name in the royal register, for one that had +been of any little use in this so fortunate discovery,--as the poor day +labourer who taketh contentment when he passeth that glorious +architecture, to the building whereof he can remember to have carried +some few sticks and stones,--while thus blissfully engaged, he is +grieved to find himself singled out from the honourable body of the +council,--why, he knows not, for with it he would be content to be +identified--as the author of the policy which is being adopted; and, +conscious that in his humble person the Body of Authority is assailed, +he thinks it well, for once, to make a reply. + +Having recited the threatening letter in full, he presently continues: + +"Though I participate not in the follies of that fly who thought herself +to raise the dust because she sat on the chariot-wheel, yet I am so far +from disavowing my honest ambition of my master's favour, as I am +desirous that the world should hold me, not so much his creature, by the +undeserved honours I hold from his grace and power, as my desire to be +the shadow of his mind, and to frame my judgment, knowledge, and +affections according to his. Towards whose Royal Person I shall glory +more to be always found an honest and humble subject, than I should to +command absolutely in any other calling." + +Of those who threaten him he says very little, assuming, however, as +self-evident, that they are set on by some priest, who, after the manner +of his tribe, doth "carry the unlearned Catholics, like hawks hooded, +into those dangerous positions." + +But, as for himself, let the world understand that he is not the man to +neglect his duty on account of the personal danger it entails. "Far I +hope it shall be from me, who know so well in whose HOLY BOOK my days +are numbered, once to entertain a thought to purchase a span of time, at +so dear a rate, as for the fear of any mortal power, in my poor talent, +_Aut Deo, aut Patriae, aut Patri patriae deesse_."[440] + +In spite of the singular ability of this manifesto, the art of the +writer is undoubtedly somewhat too conspicuous to permit us to accept it +as the kind of document which would be produced by one who felt himself +confronted by a serious peril. An interesting and most pertinent +commentary is supplied by a contemporary Jesuit, Giles Schondonck, +Rector of St. Omers College, in a letter to Father Baldwin, the same of +whom we have already heard in connection with the Plot.[441] + +Schondonck has, he says, read and re-read Cecil's book, which Baldwin +had lent him. If his opinion be required, he finds in it many flowers of +wit and eloquence, and it is a composition well adapted for its object; +but the original letter which has evoked this brilliant rejoinder is a +manifest fraud, not emanating from any Catholic, but devised by the +enemies of the Church for her injury. The writers plainly contradict +themselves. They begin by denouncing the Powder Plot as impious and +abominable, and they do so most righteously, and they declare its +authors to have been turbulent spirits and not religious, in which also +they are right. But they go on to approve the design of murdering Cecil. +What sense is there in this? If the one design be impious and +detestable, with what colour or conscience can the other be approved? +There is no difference of principle, though in the one case many were to +be murdered, in the other but a single man. No one having in him any +spark of religion could defend either project, much less approve it. +Moreover, much that is set down is simply ridiculous. Men in the last +extremity of sickness, or broken down by sorrow, are not of the stuff +whereof those are made by whom desperate deeds are done. + +From another Jesuit we obtain instructive information which at least +serves to show what was the opinion of Catholics as to the way in which +things were being managed. This is conveyed in a letter addressed +December 1st, 1606, to the famous Father Parsons by Father Richard +Blount, Father Garnet's successor as superior of the English +mission.[442] It must be remembered that this was not meant for the +public eye, and in fact was never published. It cannot have been +intended to obtain credence for a particular version of history, and it +was written to him who, of all men, was behind the scenes so far as the +English Jesuits were concerned. Much of it is in cipher which, +fortunately, has been interpreted for us by the recipient. + +Blount begins with a piece of intelligence which is startling enough. +Amongst the lords of the council none was a more zealous enemy of Popery +than the chamberlain, the Earl of Suffolk,[443] who was more than once +on the commission for expelling priests and Jesuits, and had in +particular been so energetic in the matter of the Powder Plot that +Salisbury modestly confessed that in regard of the "discovery" he had +himself been "much less forward."[444] Now, however, we are told, only a +twelvemonth later, that this nobleman and his wife are ready for a +sufficient fee to procure "some kind of peace" for the Catholics. The +needful sum may probably be raised through the Spanish Ambassador, but +the issue is doubtful "because Salisbury will resist."--"Yet such is the +want of money with the chamberlain at this time--whose expenses are +infinite--that either Salisbury must supply, or else he must needs break +with him."[445] + +After some particulars concerning the jealousy against the Scots, and +the matter of the union (which "sticketh much in the Parliament's +teeth") Blount goes on to relate how Cecil has been attempting to float +a second Powder Plot--the scene being this time the king's court itself. +He has had another letter brought in, to set it going, and had seemingly +calculated on capturing the writer himself and some of his brethren in +connection with it. In this, however, he has been foiled, and the matter +appears to have been dropped. In Blount's own words:[446] + +"Now these last days we expected some new stratagem, because Salisbury +pretended a letter to be brought to his lordship found by chance in St. +Clement's Churchyard, written in ciphers, wherein were many persons +named, and a question asked, whether there were any concavity under the +stage in the court. But belike the device failed, and so we hear no +words of it. About this time this house was ransacked, where by chance +Blount came late the night before, finding four more, Talbot, N. Smith, +Wright, Arnold; being all besieged from morning to night. If things had +fallen out as was expected, then that letter would have haply been +spoken of, whereas now it is very secret, and only served to pick a +thanks of King James, with whom Salisbury keepeth his credit by such +tricks, as upon whose vigilancy his majesty's life dependeth." + + * * * * * + +One other feature of the after history demands consideration. As Fuller +tells us,[447] "a learned author, making mention of this treason, +breaketh forth into the following rapture: + + 'Excidat illa dies aevo, ne postera credant + Saecula; nos certe taceamus, et obruta multa + Nocte tegi propriae patiamur crimina gentis.' + + 'Oh, let that day be quite dashed out of time, + And not believ'd by the next generation; + In night of silence we'll conceal the crime, + Thereby to save the credit of the nation.'" + +"A wish," he adds, "which in my opinion, hath more of poetry than of +piety therein, and from which I must be forced to dissent." Assuredly +if it were judged that silence and oblivion should be the lot of the +conspiracy, no stranger means were ever adopted to secure the desired +object. A public thanksgiving was appointed to be held every year, on +the anniversary of the "discovery;" a special service for that day was +inserted in the Anglican liturgy, and Gunpowder Plot Sermons kept the +memory of the Treason green in the mind not of one but of many +generations. + +Moreover, the country was flooded with literature on the subject, in +prose and rhyme, and the example of Milton is sufficient to show how +favourite a topic it was with youthful poets essaying to try their +wings.[448] + +In regard of the history, one line was consistently adopted. The Church +of England in its calendar marked November 5th, as the _Papists' +Conspiracy_, and in the collect appointed for the day the king and +estates of the realm were described as being "by Popish treachery +appointed as sheep to the slaughter, in a most barbarous and savage +manner, beyond the examples of former ages." Similarly, preachers and +writers alike concurred in saying little or nothing about the actual +conspirators, but much about the iniquity of Rome; the official +character of the Plot, and its sanction, even its first suggestion, by +the highest authorities of the Church, being the chief feature of the +tale hammered year after year into the ears of the English people. The +details of history supplied are frequently pure and unmixed fables.[449] + +[Illustration: THE POWDER PLOT. IV.] + +Nor was the pencil less active than the pen in popularizing the same +belief. Great was the ingenuity spent in devising and producing pictures +which should impress on the minds of the most illiterate a holy horror +of the Church which had doomed the nation to destruction. One of the +most elaborate of these was headed by an inscription which admirably +summarizes the moral of the tale. + +THE POWDER TREASON.--Propounded by _Satan_: Approved by _Antichrist_ +[_i.e._ the Pope]: Enterprised by _Papists_: Practized by _Traitors_: +Revealed by an _Eagle_ [Monteagle]: Expounded by an _Oracle_ [King +James]: Founded in _Hell_: Confounded in _Heaven_. + +Accordingly we find representations of Lucifer, the Pope, the King of +Spain, the General of the Jesuits, and other such worthies, conspiring +in the background while the redoubtable Guy walks arm in arm with a +demon to fire the mine, the latter grasping a papal Bull (unknown to the +Bullarium), expedited to promote the project: or again, Faukes and +Catesby stand secretly conspiring in the middle of the street, while +Father Garnet, in full Jesuit habit (or what is meant for such) exhorts +them to go on: or a priest gives the conspirators "the sacrament of +secrecy;" or representative Romish dignitaries blow threats and curses +against England and her Parliament House,--or the Jesuits are buried in +Hell in recompense of their perfidy. + +It cannot, however, escape remark that while the limners have been +conscientiously careful in respect of these details, they have one and +all discarded accuracy in regard of another matter in which we might +naturally have expected it. In no single instance is Guy Faukes +represented as about to blow up the right house. Sometimes it is the +House of Commons that he is going to destroy, more frequently the +Painted Chamber, often a nondescript building corresponding to nothing +in particular,--but in no single instance is it the House of Lords. + +[Illustration: THE POWDER PLOT. V.] + +The most extraordinary instance of so strange a vagary is afforded by a +plate produced immediately after the occurrence it commemorates, in the +year 1605 itself.[450] In this, Faukes with his inseparable lantern, but +without the usual spurs, is seen advancing to the door of the "cellar," +which stands conspicuous above ground. Aloft is seen the crescent moon, +represented in exactly the right phase for the date of the +discovery.[451] The accuracy exhibited as to this singular detail makes +it more than ever extraordinary that the building to which he directs +his steps is unquestionably St. Stephen's Chapel--The House of Commons. + +One point of the history, in itself apparently insignificant, was at the +time invested with such extravagant importance, as to suggest a question +in its regard, namely the day itself whereon the marvellous deliverance +took place. A curious combination of circumstances alone assigned it to +the notorious Fifth of November. Parliament, as we have seen, was +originally appointed to meet on the 3rd of October, but was suddenly +adjourned for about a month, and so little reason did there seem to be +for the prorogation[452] as to fill the conspirators with alarm lest +some suspicion of their design had prompted it; wherefore they sent +Thomas Winter to attend the prorogation ceremony, and observe the +demeanour of those who took part in it. Afterwards, though the discovery +might have easily been made any time during the preceding week, nothing +practical was done till the fateful day itself had actually begun, when, +as the acute Lingard has not failed to observe, a remarkable change at +once came over the conduct of the authorities, who discarding the +aimless and dilatory manner of proceeding which had hitherto +characterized them, went straight to the point with a promptitude and +directness leaving nothing to be desired. + +Whatever were their motive in all this, the action of the government +undoubtedly brought it about that the great blow should be struck on a +day which not a little enhanced the evidence for the providential +character of the whole affair. Tuesday was King James' lucky day, more +especially when it happened to be the 5th of the month, for on Tuesday, +August the 5th, 1600, he had escaped the mysterious treason of the +Gowries. + +This coincidence evidently created a profound impression. "Curious folks +observe," wrote Chamberlain to Carleton,[453] "that this deliverance +happened on the fifth of November, answerable to the fifth of August, +both Tuesdays; and this plot to be executed by Johnson [the assumed name +of Faukes], and that at Johnstown [_i.e._, Perth]." On the 27th of +November, Lake suggested to the Archbishop of Canterbury,[454] that as +a perpetual memorial of this so providential circumstance, the +anniversary sermon should always be delivered upon a Tuesday. Two days +later, the Archbishop wrote to his suffragans,[455] reminding them how +on a Tuesday his majesty had escaped the Gowries, and now, on another +Tuesday, a peril still more terrible, which must have ruined the whole +nation, had not the Holy Ghost illumined the king's heart with a divine +spirit. In remembrance of which singular instance of God's governance, +there was to be an annual celebration.[456] + +Most important of all, King James himself much appreciated the +significance of this token of divine protection, and not only impressed +this upon his Parliament, but proroguing it forthwith till after +Christmas, selected the same propitious day of the week for its next +meeting, as a safeguard against possible danger. "Since it has pleased +God," said his majesty,[457] "to grant me two such notable deliveries +upon one day of the week, which was Tuesday, and likewise one day of the +month, which was the fifth, thereby to teach me that as it was the same +devil that still persecuted me, so it was one and the same God that +still mightily delivered me, I thought it therefore not amiss, that the +twenty-first day which fell to be upon Tuesday, should be the day of +meeting of this next session of parliament, hoping and assuring myself, +that the same God, who hath now granted me and you all so notable and +gracious a delivery, shall prosper all our affairs at that next session, +and bring them to an happy conclusion." + + * * * * * + +Whatever may be thought of this particular element of its history, it is +perfectly clear that the fashion in which the Plot was habitually set +before the English people, and which contributed more than anything else +to work the effect actually produced, was characterized from the first +by an utter disregard of truth on the part of those whose purposes it so +opportunely served, and with such lasting results. + + +A SUMMARY. + +The evidence available to us appears to establish principally two +points,--that the true history of the Gunpowder Plot is now known to no +man, and that the history commonly received is certainly untrue. + +It is quite impossible to believe that the government were not aware of +the Plot long before they announced its discovery. + +It is difficult to believe that the proceedings of the conspirators were +actually such as they are related to have been. + +It is unquestionable that the government consistently falsified the +story and the evidence as presented to the world, and that the points +upon which they most insisted prove upon examination to be the most +doubtful. + +There are grave reasons for the conclusion that the whole transaction +was dexterously contrived for the purpose which in fact it opportunely +served, by those who alone reaped benefit from it, and who showed +themselves so unscrupulous in the manner of reaping. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[423] _Criminal Trials_, ii. I. + +[424] _Nugae Antiquae_, i. 374. + +[425] _Harleian Miscellany_, iv. 249. + +[426] This terrible state of things was alleged as a principal reason +for the prorogation of the Parliament for two months and a half. As a +matter of fact, the rebels had been overthrown and captured the day +before that on which the king's speech was delivered, and news of that +event was received that same evening. + +[427] _Commons' Journals._ + +[428] In the preamble of the Act so passed we read: "Forasmuch as it is +found by daily experience, that many his Majesty's subjects that adhere +in their hearts to the popish religion, by the infection drawn from +thence, and by the wicked and devilish counsel of Jesuits, seminaries, +and other like persons dangerous to the church and state, are so +perverted in the point of their loyalties and due allegiance unto the +King's majesty, and the Crown of England, as they are ready to entertain +and execute any treasonable conspiracies and practices, as evidently +appears by that more than barbarous and horrible attempt to have blown +up with gunpowder the King, Queen ..." etc., etc. + +[429] _Negotiations_, p. 256. + +[430] "Our parliament is prorogued till the 18th of next November. Many +things have been considerable in it, but especially the zeal of both +Houses for the preservation of God's true religion, by establishing many +good laws against Popery and those firebrands, Jesuits, and Priests, +that seek to bring all things into confusion. His Majesty resolveth once +more by proclamation to banish them all; and afterwards, if they shall +not obey, then the laws shall go upon them without any more +forbearance."--Cecil to Winwood, June 7th, 1606 (Winwood, _Memorials_, +ii. 219). + +[431] In the _Dictionary of National Biography_, and Doyle's _Official +Baronage_, this installation is erroneously assigned to 1605. + +[432] _Chronicle_, p. 408. + +[433] Continuation of Stowe's _Annals_, p. 883. + +[434] Letter iii. + +[435] At Northumberland's trial Lord Salisbury thus expressed +himself: "I have taken paines in my nowne heart to clear my lord's +offences, which now have leade me from the contemplation of his +virtues; for I knowe him vertuous, wyse, valiaunte, and of use and +ornamente to the state.... The cause of this combustion was the +papistes seekinge to restore their religion. Non libens dico, sed res +ipsa loquitur."--Hawarde, _Les Reportes_, etc. + +[436] _History_, vii. 84, note. On this subject Mr. Sawyer, the editor +of Winwood (1715), has the following remark: "We meet with some account +of his [Northumberland's] offence, though couched in such tender terms, +that 'tis a little difficult to conceive it deserved so heavy a +punishment as a fine of L30,000 and perpetual imprisonment." +(_Memorials_, iii. 287, note.) + +[437] To Winwood, _Memorials_, iii. 287. + +[438] _Traditional Memoirs_, p. 214. + +[439] _An Answere to certaine Scandalous Papers, scattered abroad under +colour of a Catholicke Admonition._ "Qui facit vivere, docet orare." +Imprinted at London by Robert Barker, Printer to the King's most +Eccellent Majestie. Anno 1606. + +This was published in January, 1605-6, on the 28th of which month Sir W. +Browne, writing from Flushing, mentions that "my lord of Salisbury hath +lately published a little booke as a kynd of answer to som secrett +threatning libelling letters cast into his chamber." (Stowe MSS., 168, +74, f. 308.) + +[440] On this subject Cornwallis wrote to Salisbury (Winwood, ii. 193): +"Many reports are here spread of the Combination against your Lordship, +and that five English Romanists would resolve your death. It seems that +since they cannot be allowed _Sacrificium incruentum_, they will now +altogether put in use their sacrifices of blood. But I hope and suppose +that their hearts and their hands want much of the vigour that rests in +their wills and their pens. Your Lordship doth take especial courage in +this, that they single you out as the chief and principal watch Tower of +your Country and Commonwealth, and turn the strength of their malice to +you whom they hold the discoverer of all their unnatural and destructive +inventions against their prince and country," etc. + +[441] P.R.O. _Dom. James I._ xviii. 97, February 27th, N.S., 1606. The +original, which is in Latin, has been utterly misunderstood by the +Calendarer of State Papers. + +[442] Stonyhurst MSS., _Anglia_, iii. 72. + +[443] Thomas Howard, cr. 1603. + +[444] To the ambassadors. + +[445] Father Blount's account is undoubtedly in keeping with what we +know of the Earl, and especially of his Countess, who was a sister of +Sir Thomas Knyvet, the captor of Guy Faukes. Suffolk, in 1614, became +Lord High Treasurer, but four years afterwards grave irregularities were +discovered in his office; he was accused of embezzlement and extortion, +in which work his wife was proved to have been even more active than +himself. They were sentenced to restore all money wrongfully extorted, +to a fine of L30,000, and to imprisonment during pleasure. + +[446] In this letter all proper names are in cipher, as well as various +other words. + +[447] _Church History_, x. 40. + +[448] We have four Latin epigrams of Milton's, _In proditionem +Bombardicam_, which, though pointless, are bitterly anti-Catholic. A +longer poem, of 226 lines, _In quintum Novembris_, is still more +virulent. + +It is somewhat remarkable that the universal Shakespeare should make no +allusion to the Plot, beyond the doubtful reference to equivocation in +_Macbeth_ (ii. 3). He was at the time of its occurrence in the full flow +of his dramatic activity. + +[449] See Appendix L, _Myths and Legends of the Powder Plot_. + +[450] Brit. Mus. Print Room, Crace Collection, portf. xv. 28. This is +reproduced, as our frontispiece. + +[451] There was a new moon at 11.30 p.m. on October 31st. + +[452] The reasons assigned in the proclamation for this prorogation are +plainly insufficient: viz., "That the holding of it [the Parliament] so +soone is not convenient, as well for that the ordinary course of our +subjects resorting to the citie for their usuall affaires at the Terme +is not for the most part till Allhallowtide or thereabouts." Why, then, +had the meeting been fixed for so unsuitable a date? + +[453] November 7th, 1605. (_Dom. James I._) + +[454] Tanner MSS. lxxv. 44. + +[455] _Ibid._ + +[456] On his arrival in England, as Osborne tells us (_Memoirs_, p. +276), King James "brought a new holiday into the Church of England, +wherein God had publick thanks given him for his majestie's deliverance +out of the hands of Earle Goury;" but the introduction was not a +success, Englishmen and Scots alike ridiculing it. Gunpowder Plot Day +was more fortunate. + +[457] _Harleian Miscellany_, iv. 251. + + + + +APPENDIX A. + +NOTES ON THE ILLUSTRATIONS. + + +_Frontispiece. The Powder Plot. I._ + +FROM the Crace Collection, British Museum, _Portf._ xv. 20. Thus +described in the catalogue of the collection: + +"A small etching of the House of Lords. Guy Fawkes in the foreground. +W.E. exc. 1605." + +This plate is of exceptional interest as having been executed within +five months of the discovery of the Plot, _i.e._, previously to March +25th, 1606, the first day of the year, Old Style. + +Guy Faukes is represented as approaching the House of Commons (St. +Stephen's Chapel), not the House of Lords, as the catalogue says. + + +_Title-Page._ + +Obverse, or reverse, of a medal struck, by order of the Dutch senate, to +commemorate the double event of the discovery of the Gunpowder Plot and +the expulsion of the Jesuits from Holland. Drawn from a copy of the +medal in pewter, by Paul Woodroffe. The design here exhibited is thus +described in Hawkins and Frank's _Medallic Illustrations_: + +"The name of Jehovah, in Hebrew, radiate, within a crown of thorns." + +"Legend, chronogrammatic, + + Non DorMItastI AntIstes IaCobI" + +[which gives the date 1605] + +On its other face the medal bears a snake gliding amid roses and lilies +[symbolizing Jesuit intrigues in England and France], with the legend +_Detectus qui latuit. S.C._ [Senatus Consulto]." + +This is reproduced on the cover. + + +_Group of Conspirators_ (p. 3). + +From a print published at Amsterdam. + +Eight conspirators are represented, five being omitted, viz., Grant, +Keyes, Digby, Rokewood, and Tresham. + +Bates, as a servant, wears no hat. + + +_The Houses of Parliament in the time of James I._ (pp. 56-7). + +Restored from the best authorities, and drawn for the author by H.W. +Brewer. + + +_Ground Plan of House of Lords and adjacent Buildings_ (p. 59). + +Extracted from the "Foundation plan of the Ancient Palace of +Westminster; measured, drawn and engraved by J. T. Smith" (_Antiquities +of Westminster_, p. 125) + + +_The House of Lords in 1807_ (p. 61). + +From J.T. Smith's _Antiquities of Westminster_. + +This sketch, made from the east, or river, side, was taken during the +demolition of the buildings erected against the sides of the Parliament +House. These were put up previously to the time when Hollar made his +drawing of the interior (temp. Charles II.), which shows the walls hung +with tapestry, the windows having been blocked up. + +According to a writer in the _Gentleman's Magazine_ (No. 70, July, +1800), who signs himself "Architect," in a print of the time of James I. +the tapestry is not seen, and the House "appears to have preserved much +of its original work." The only print answering to this description +which I have been able to find exhibits the windows, but is of no value +for historical purposes, as it is a reproduction of one of the time of +Queen Elizabeth, the figure of the sovereign alone being changed. This +engraving is said to be "taken from a painted print in the Cottonian +Library," of which I can find no trace. [B. Mus., K. 24. 19. b.] + +To the left of our illustration is seen the gable of the Prince's +Chamber. The door to the right of this opened into the cellar, and by +it, according to tradition, Faukes was to have made his exit. + +In front of this is seen part of the garden attached to Percy's lodging. + + +_Interior of "Guy Faukes' Cellar"_ (p. 71). + +Two views of the interior of the "cellar," drawn by H. W. Brewer, from +elevations in J.T. Smith's _Antiquities of Westminster_, p. 39. + +The remains of a buttery-hatch, at the southern end, testify to the +ancient use of the chamber as the palace kitchen; of which the Earl of +Northampton made mention at Father Garnet's trial. + +The very ancient doorway in the eastern wall, seen on the left of the +picture, was of Saxon workmanship, and, like the foundations beneath, +probably dated from the time of Edward the Confessor, who first erected +this portion of the palace, most of which had been rebuilt about the +time of Henry III. By this doorway, according to some accounts, Faukes +intended to escape after firing the train, though others assign this +distinction to one near the other end. + +These two illustrations were originally prepared for the _Daily Graphic_ +of November 5th, 1894, and it is by the courtesy of the proprietors of +that journal that they are here reproduced. + + +_Vault under the East End of the Painted Chamber_ (p. 73). + +From Brayley and Britton's _Palace of Westminster_, p. 247. + +This has been constantly depicted and described as "Guy Faukes' Cellar." + + +_Arches from Guy Faukes' Cellar_ (p. 75). + +Drawn for the author by H. W. Brewer. + +Sir John Soane, who in 1823 took down the old House of Lords, removed +the arches from the "cellar" beneath it, to his own house in Lincoln's +Inn Fields, now the Soane Museum, where they are still to be seen in a +small court adjoining the building. They do not, however, appear to have +been set up precisely in their original form, being dwarfed by the +omission of some stones, presumably that they might occupy less space. +In our illustration they are represented exactly as they now stand, +with the modern building behind them. Some incongruous relics of other +stonework which have been introduced amongst them have, however, been +omitted. + +The architecture of these arches, and of the adjacent Prince's Chamber, +assigns them to the best period of thirteenth century Gothic. + + +_Cell at S.E. corner of Painted Chamber_ (p. 83). + +Often styled "Guy Faukes' Cell." + +From Brayley and Britton, _op. cit._, p. 360. + +There appears to be no reason for associating this with Faukes. + + +_The Powder Plot. II._ (p. 90). + +"Invented by Samuel Ward, Preacher, of Ipswich. Imprinted at Amsterdam, +1621." [British Museum, _Political and Personal Satires_, i. 41.] + +This is the portion to the right of a composition representing on the +left the Spanish Armada, and in the centre a council table at which are +gathered the Devil, the Pope, the King of Spain, the General of the +Jesuits, and others. An eye above is fixed on the cellar. Faukes in this +case is going to blow up the Painted Chamber. + + +_Interior of the old House of Lords (Scene on occasion of the King's +Speech, 1755)_ (p. 97). + +This plate represents the House in the reign of George II. In the +century and a half since the time of the Powder Plot it is probable that +the windows in the side walls had been blocked up, and the tapestry +hung. The latter represented the defeat of the Armada. + +[From Maitland's _London_ (1756), ii. 1340.] + + +_Lord Monteagle and the Letter_ (p. 115). + +From _Mischeefes Mystery_. + +King James enthroned, with crown and sceptre, upon a dais, at the foot +of which stands the Earl of Salisbury. An eagle bears a letter in its +beak, to receive which the king and his minister extend their left +hands. + +The English poem, by John Vicars, embellished with this woodcut, was +published in 1617, being a much expanded version of one in Latin +hexameters, entitled _Pietas Pontificia_, by Francis Herring, which +appeared in 1606. + + +_Arrest of Guy Faukes_ (p. 125). + +From _Mischeefes Mystery_. + +Guy Faukes booted and spurred, and with his lantern, prepares to open a +door at the extremity of the Painted Chamber. Sir Thomas Knyvet with his +retinue approaches unseen. The stars and the beams from the lantern show +that it is the middle of the night. + + +_Discovery of the Gunpowder Plot_ (p. 136). + +From a print in the Guildhall Library. + +Catesby, Faukes, and Garnet (the latter in what is apparently meant for +the Jesuit habit) stand in the middle of the street conspiring +secretly. Through the open door of the "cellar" the powder barrels are +seen. + +This illustration (without the coins) stands at the head of Book XVIII. +of M. Rapin de Thoyras' _History of England_, translated by N. Tindal. + + +"_Guy Faukes' Lantern_" (p. 139). + +Drawn by H.W. Brewer. + +This object, the authenticity of which is not unquestionable, is +exhibited in the Ashmolean Museum, Oxford. It bears the inscription, +"Laterna illa ipsa qua usus est, et cum qua deprehensus Guido Faux in +crypta subterranea ubi domo Parliamenti difflandae operam dabat. Ex dono +Robti Heywood nuper Academiae Procuratoris, Ap. 4^o, 1641." + +It will be remembered that the honour of having arrested Faukes has been +claimed for one of the name of Heywood. + +The history of the famous lantern has not escaped the variations which +we are accustomed to meet with on other points. Faukes is generally said +to have been found with it in his hands, and it has consequently become +an inseparable adjunct in pictures of him. On the other hand, we are +told, "In a corner, behind the door, was a dark lantern containing a +light" (Brayley and Britton, _Palace of Westminster_, p. 377). + + +_Thomas Percy_ (p. 149). + +From Grainger. + +Around the portrait are four small engravings representing: + +1. The arrest of Guy Faukes, who is here called "Thomas Ichrup." + +2. The presentation of Thomas Ichrup to the King of Jerusalem (_i.e._, +the British Solomon). + +3. The assault and bombardment of the "citadel" to which Percy has fled. + +4. Percy killed by an arrow. + + +_Thomas Winter's Confession_ (p. 168). + +A portion of the copy of Winter's confession, in the handwriting of +Levinus Munck, Lord Salisbury's private secretary, and dated November +23rd. In the margin is a note in the handwriting of King James, +objecting to a certain "uncleare phrase," which has been altered in +accordance with the royal wish. In the printed version it appears in the +amended form. + + +_Signatures exemplifying the Effects of Torture_ (p. 173). + +Three signatures of Faukes (November 9th, 1605), and three of Father +Edward Oldcorne (March 6th, 1605-6), at different stages of the same +examination. + + +_Guy Faukes' Confession of November 9th, 1605_ (p. 199). + +A portion of this confession, in which Faukes speaks of the oath taken +by the conspirators and of their reception of the sacrament at the hands +of Father John Gerard, adding, however, that "Gerard was not acquainted +with their purpose." The last clause has been marked for omission by Sir +Edward Coke who has written in the margin _hucusq._ ("thus far"). + +The letter B in the margin is also inserted by Coke, who habitually +indicated by such letters which portions of the depositions were to be +read in court and which omitted, all being always suppressed which told +in any way in favour of the accused. + +The document is written by a clerk, and signed by Faukes at the foot of +each page. + + +_The Powder Plot. III._ (p. 215). + +This is taken from a large plate [British Museum, _Political and +Personal Satires_, i. 67], of which only the lower portion is here +reproduced. At the top is the inscription: + +THE POWDER TREASON, Propounded by Sathan, Approved by Anti-Christ, +Enterprised by Papists, Practized by Traitors, Reveled by an Eagle, +Expounded by an Oracle.--Founded in Hell, Confounded in Heaven. + +Beneath are many emblematical devices. + +In the portion here exhibited, King James is seen on his throne with +Lords and Commons before him. Under the floor is a diminutive figure of +Faukes with an ample store of barrels. At the bottom, in the left hand +corner, some of the conspirators receive the sacrament from Father +Gerard: on the right they are executed. On a lunette are the thirteen +conspirators, with the arch-traitor Garnet in the centre, the band being +described as "The Pope's Saltpeeter Saints." Within the lunette are the +Jesuits in Hell. + + +_The Powder Plot. IV._ (p. 227). + +This is the portion on the left of a composite picture [British Museum, +_Political and Personal Satires_, 63], on the right being represented +the catastrophe known as the "Blackfriars Downfall." On Sunday, October +26th, 1623, many Catholics having assembled in an upper room of the +French ambassador's house, in Blackfriars, to hear a sermon from the +Jesuit, Father Drury, the floor collapsed, and many, including the +preacher, were killed. As October 26th, O.S., corresponded to November +5th, N.S., it was ingeniously discovered that the accident was meant to +signalize Gunpowder Plot day, though this fell on November 5th, O.S., or +November 15th, N.S. + +In our illustration the Parliament House is represented by a nondescript +edifice, the wall of which is partially removed, showing King James and +some of the Peers. An oven-like vault beneath represents the "cellar," +well stored with barrels, which Faukes is preparing to light with a +torch fanned by a crowned fiend with a pair of bellows. A company of +halberdiers approaches under the guidance of an angel. In the background +is a royal funeral procession. + +A Latin inscription is attached which runs thus: + + "Anno 1623, Quinto Novembris, eo scripto die quo Angliae + Parliamentum, a^o 1605, proditione et insidiis Jesuitarum, pulvere + nitreo inflammari et in aethera spargi debuit, Jesuitarum conventus + Londini, ... ad missam et conciones audiendas congregatus, fatali + providentia, aedium ruina praecipitatus et dissipatus est, oppressis + centum et plus totidem vulneratis. + + Loiolides sanctos efflare volebat ad astra; + Astra repercutiunt fulmine Loiolidem. + Loiolides, sine te penetrabit astra fidelis: + Tu fato ad Stygias praecipitaris aquas." + + +_The Powder Plot. V._ (p. 229). + +This is an edition of Samuel Ward's print described above, improved and +embellished by a "Transmariner" in 1689. [British Museum, _Political and +Personal Satires_, i. 43.] + +The tent in which the council table stands is ornamented at the four +corners with figures of a wolf, a parrot, an owl, and a dragon: a +cockatrice is on the table; on the top lie a gun, a sword, and a brace +of pistols. A demon, bearing behind him a Papal Bull, accompanies +Faukes, beneath whose lantern, as a play on his name, is written _Fax_. +At the door of the cellar are scorpions and a serpent. On the top of the +barrels within are seen the "yron barres," placed there to make the +breach the greater. + + + + +APPENDIX B. (p. 33). + +_Sir Everard Digby's letter to Salisbury._ + + +IT seems to have been always assumed that this celebrated letter, which +is undated, was written after the failure of the Gunpowder Plot, and the +consequent arrest of Sir Everard, and doubtless to some extent internal +evidence supports this view, as the writer speaks of himself as +deserving punishment, and of "our offence." It is, moreover, clear that +the letter, which is undated, cannot have been written before May 4th, +1605, the date of Cecil's earldom. On the other hand, the whole tone of +the document appears utterly inconsistent with the supposition that it +was written by one branded with the stigma of such a crime as the +Powder Plot. Some of the expressions used, especially in the opening +sentence, appear, likewise, incompatible with such a supposition, and +the letter bears the usual form of address for those sent in ordinary +course of post, "To the Right Hon. the Earl of Salisburie give these"; +it has moreover been sealed with a crest or coat-of-arms; all of which +is quite unlike a document prepared by a prisoner for those who had him +under lock and key. It is noteworthy, too, that at the trial, according +to the testimony of the official account itself, on the very subject of +the treatment of Catholics, Salisbury acknowledged "that Sir E. Digby +was his ally." + +It seems probable, therefore, that the letter was written before Digby +had been entangled by Catesby in the conspiracy (_i.e._, between May and +September, 1605). If so, what was the "offence" of which he speaks? The +answer to this question would throw an interesting light on this +perplexed history. The following is Sir Everard's letter: + +"Right Honourable, I have better reflected on your late speeches than at +the present I could do, both for the small stay which I made, and for my +indisposition that day, not being very well, and though perhaps your +Lordship may judge me peremptory in meddling, and idle in propounding, +yet the desire I have to establish the King in safety will not suffer me +to be silent. + +"One part of your Lordship's speech (as I remember) was that the King +could not get so much from the Pope (even then when his Majesty had done +nothing against Catholics) as a promise that he would not excommunicate +him, so long as that mild course was continued, wherefore it gave +occasion to suspect, that if Catholics were suffered to increase, the +Pope might afterwards proceed to excommunication, if the King would not +change his religion. But to take away that doubt, I do assure myself +that his Holiness may be drawn to manifest so contrary a disposition of +excommunicating the King, that he will proceed with the same course +against all such as shall go about to disturb the King's quiet and happy +reign; and the willingness of Catholics, especially of priests and +Jesuits, is such as I dare undertake to procure any priest in England +(though it were the Superior of the Jesuits) to go himself to Rome to +negotiate this business, and that both he and all other religious men +(till the Pope's pleasure be known) shall take any spiritual course to +stop the effect that may proceed from any discontented or despairing +Catholic. + +"And I doubt not but his return would bring both assurance that such +course should not be taken with the King, and that it should be +performed against any that should seek to disturb him for religion. If +this were done, there could then be no cause to fear any Catholic, and +this may be done only with those proceedings (which as I understood your +lordship) should be used. If your Lordship apprehend it to be worth the +doing, I shall be glad to be the instrument, for no hope to put off from +myself any punishment, but only that I wish safety to the King and ease +to Catholics. If your Lordship and the State think it fit to deal +severely with Catholics, within brief there will be massacres, +rebellions, and desperate attempts against the King and State. For it is +a general received reason amongst Catholics, that there is not that +expecting and suffering course now to be run that was in the Queen's +time, who was the last of her line, and last in expectance to run +violent courses against Catholics; for then it was hoped that the King +that now is would have been at least free from persecuting, as his +promise was before his coming into this realm, and as divers his +promises have been since his coming, saying that he would take no soul +money nor blood. Also, as it appeared, was the whole body of the +Council's pleasure, when they sent for divers of the better sort of +Catholics (as Sir Thos. Tressam and others) and told them it was the +King's pleasure to forgive the payment of Catholics, so long as they +should carry themselves dutifully and well. All these promises every man +sees broken, and to thrust them further in despair, most Catholics take +note of a vehement book written by Mr. Attorney, whose drift (as I have +heard) is to prove that the only being a Catholic is to be a traitor, +which book coming forth, after the breach of so many promises, and +before the ending of such a violent parliament, can work no less effect +in men's minds than a belief that every Catholic will be brought within +that compass before the King and State have done with them. And I know, +as the priest himself told me, that if he had not hindered there had +somewhat been attempted, before our offence, to give ease to Catholics. +But being so safely prevented, and so necessary to avoid, I doubt not +but your Lordship and the rest of the Lords will think of a more mild +and undoubted safe course, in which I will undertake the performance of +what I have promised and as much as can be expected, and when I have +done, I shall be as willing to die as I am ready to offer my service, +and expect not nor desire favour for it, either before the doing it, nor +in the doing it, nor after it is done, but refer myself to the resolved +course for me. So, leaving to trouble your Lordship any further, I +humbly take my leave. Your Lordship's poor bedesman, EV. DIGBY." + +_Addressed_ "To the Right Honourable the Earl of Salisburie give these." + +_Sealed._ [P.R.O. _Dom. James I._ xvii. 10.] + + + + +APPENDIX C. (p. 34). + +_The Question of Succession._ + + +FATHER PARSONS' well-known book on this subject, written under the +pseudonym of Doleman, was denounced by Sir Edward Coke as containing +innumerable treasons and falsehoods. In fact, as may be seen in the work +itself, it is an exhaustive and careful statement of the descent of each +of the possible claimants, and of other considerations which must enter +into the settlement. Sir Francis Inglefield wrote that it was necessary +to take some step of this kind, to set men thinking on so important a +question which would soon have to be decided, for that the anti-Catholic +party had made it treason to discuss it during the queen's life, with +intent to foist a successor of their own selection on the nation, when +the moment should arrive, trusting to the ignorance universally +prevalent as to the rights of the matter; but that such lack of +information could not help the people to a sound decision. [Stonyhurst +MSS., _Anglia_, iii. 32.] + +The Spanish sympathies of Parsons and his party were afterwards made +much of as evidence of their traitorous disposition. On this subject it +must be noted (1) the Infanta of Spain was amongst those whose claim was +urged on genealogical grounds; (2) the project was to marry her to an +English nobleman. As Parsons tells us, when she married and was endowed +with another estate, English Catholics ceased to think of her. [_Ibid._ +ii. 444.] (3) Father Garnet notes that, "since the old king of Spain +died [1598], there hath been no pretence ... for the Infanta, or the +King [of Spain], or any of that family, but for any that should maintain +Catholic religion, and principally for His Majesty" [James I.]. [_Ibid._ +iii. n. 41.] + +A remark of Parsons' on this point, which at the time was considered +almost blasphemous, will seem now almost a truism, viz., that the title +of particular succession in kingdoms is founded only upon the positive +laws of several countries, since neither kingdoms nor monarchies are of +the essence of human society, and therefore every nation has a right to +establish its own kings in what manner it likes, and upon what +conditions. Wherefore, as each of the other great parties in England +(whom he designates as Protestants and Puritans) will look chiefly to +its own political interests, and exact from the monarch of its choice +pledges to secure them, it behoves Catholics, being so large a part of +the nation, to take their proper share in the settlement, and therefore +to study betimes the arguments on which the claims of the competitors +are severally based. + + + + +APPENDIX D. (p. 36). + +_The Spanish Treason._ + + +THE history of the alleged treasonable negotiations with Spain, +conducted by various persons whose names were afterwards connected with +the Gunpowder Plot, appears open to the gravest doubt and suspicion. It +would be out of place to discuss the question here, but two articles on +the subject, by the present writer, will be found in the _Month_ for May +and June, 1896. + + + + +APPENDIX E. (p. 60). + +_Site of Percy's lodging_ [_see_ View, p. 56, and Plan, p. 59.] + + +THAT the lodging hired by Percy stood near the south-east corner of the +old House of Lords (_i.e._ nearer to the river than that building, and +adjacent to, if not adjoining, the Prince's Chamber) is shown by the +following arguments. + +1. John Shepherd, servant to Whynniard, gave evidence as to having on a +certain occasion seen from the river "a boat lye cloase to the pale of +Sir Thomas Parreys garden, and men going to and from the water through +the back door that leadeth into Mr. Percy his lodging." [_Gunpowder Plot +Book_, 40, part 2.] + +2. Faukes, in his examination of November 5th, 1605, speaks of "the +windowe in his chamber neere the parliament house towards the water +side." + +3. It is said that when digging their mine the conspirators were +troubled by the influx of water from the river, which would be +impossible if they were working at the opposite side of the Parliament +House. + +[It has always been understood that Percy's house stood at the south end +of the House of Lords, but Smith (_Antiquities of Westminster_, p. 39) +places it to the south-west instead of the south-east, saying that it +stood on the site of what was afterwards the Ordnance Office.] + + + + +APPENDIX F. (p. 64). + +_Enrolment of Conspirators._ + + +The evidence on this point is most contradictory. + +1. The Indictment, on the trial of the conspirators, mentions the +following dates. + +_May 20th, 1604._ [Besides Garnet, Greenway, Gerard, "and other +Jesuits,"] there met together T. Winter, Faukes, Keyes, Bates, Catesby, +Percy, the two Wrights, and Tresham, by whom the Plot was approved and +undertaken. + +_March 31st, 1605_, R. Winter, Grant, and Rokewood were enlisted. + +[No mention is made of Digby, who was separately arraigned, nor in his +arraignment is any date specified.] + +2. According to Faukes' confession of November 17th, 1605, Percy, +Catesby, T. Winter, J. Wright, and himself were the first associates. +Soon afterwards C. Wright was added. After Christmas, Keyes was +initiated and received the oath. At a later period, Digby, Rokewood, +Tresham, Grant, and R. Winter were brought in. Bates is not mentioned. + +[In this document the names of Keyes and R. Winter have been +interchanged, in Cecil's writing, and thus it was printed: the latter +being made to appear as an earlier confederate.] + +3. According to T. Winter's declaration of November 23rd, 1605, Catesby, +J. Wright, and himself were the first associates, Percy and Faukes being +presently added. Keyes was enlisted before Michaelmas, C. Wright after +Christmas, Digby at a later period, and Tresham "last of all." No others +are mentioned. + +4. Keyes--November 30th, 1605--says that he was inducted a little before +Midsummer, 1604. + +5. R. Winter and Grant (January 17th, 1605-6) fix January, 1604-5, for +their introduction to the conspiracy, and Bates (December 4th, 1605) +gives the preceding December for his. Neither date agrees with that of +the indictment in support of which these confessions were cited. + +6. There is, of course, no evidence of any kind to show that Father +Garnet and the "other Jesuits" ever had any conference with the +conspirators, nor was such a charge urged on his trial. + +7. Sir Everard Digby's case is exceptionally puzzling. All the evidence +represents him as having been initiated late in September, or early in +October, 1605. Among the Hatfield MSS., however, there is a letter +addressed to Sir Everard, by one G. D., and dated June 11th, 1605, +which treats ostensibly of a hunt for "the otter that infesteth your +brooks," to be undertaken when the hay has been cut, but has been +endorsed by Cecil himself, "Letter written to Sir Everard Digby--_Powder +Treason_;" the minister thus attributing to him a knowledge of the Plot, +more than three months before it was ever alleged that he heard of it. + + + + +APPENDIX G. (p. 94). + +_Henry Wright the Informer._ + + +1. _Letter to Sir T. Challoner, April, 1604._ [_Gunpowder Plot Book_, n. +236.] + +Good Sir Thomas, I am as eager for setting of the lodgings as you can +be, and in truth whereas we desired but twenty, the discoverer had set +and (if we accept it) can set above three score, but I told him that the +State would take it for good service if he set twenty of the most +principal Jesuits and seminary priests, and therewithal I gave him +thirteen or fourteen names picked out of his own notes, among the which +five of them were sworn to the secresy. He saith absolutely that by +God's grace he will do it ere long, but he stayeth some few days +purposely for the coming to town of Tesmond [Greenway] and Kempe, two +principals; their lodgings are prepared, and they will be here, as he +saith for certain, within these two days. For the treason, Davies +neither hath nor will unfold himself for the discovery of it till he +hath his pardon for it under seal, as I told you, which is now in great +forwardness, and ready to be sealed so that you shall know all.... Your +worship's most devoted, + +HEN. WRIGHT. + +[A pardon to Joseph Davies for all treasons and other offences appears +on the Pardon Roll, April 25th, 1605, thus supplying the approximate +date of the above letter.] + +2. _Application to the King._ [_Gunpowder Plot Book_, n. 237.] + +"If it may please your Majesty, can you remember that the Lord Chief +Justice Popham and Sir Thomas Challoner, Kt., had a hand in the +discovery of the practices of the Jesuits in the powder, and did from +time reveal the same to your Majesty, for two years' space almost before +the said treason burst forth by an obscure letter to the Lord +Mounteagle, which your Majesty, like an angel of God, interpreted, +touching the blow, then intended to have been given by powder. The man +that informed Sir Thomas Challoner and the Lord Popham of the said +Jesuitical practices, their meetings and traitorous designs in that +matter, whereof from time to time they informed your Majesty, was one +Wright, who hath your Majesty's hand for his so doing, and never +received any reward for his pains and charges laid out concerning the +same. This Wright, if occasion serve, can do more service." + +[_Addressed_, "Mr. Secretary Conway." + +_Headed_, "Touching Wright and his services performed in the damnable +plot of the Powder treason."] + + + + +APPENDIX H. (p. 119). + +_Lord Monteagle to King James_, (British Museum MSS. Add. 19402, f. +146.) + + +"MOST gracious Soveraine.--Your maiestyes tender and fatherly love over +me, In admonishinge me heartofore, to seake resolution In matter of +religion, geves me both occasion, and Incouragement, as humbly to thanke +your maiestye for this care of my soules good, so to crave leave of +gevinge into your maiestyes hand this accompt, that your wisdome, seinge +the course and end of my proceadinges, might rest assured that by the +healp of god, I will [live and] dye, In that religion which I have nowe +resolved to profes. + +"It may please your maiestye therfore to knowe, that as I was breed upp +In the Romish religion and walked in that, because I knew no better, so +have I not sodainely or lightly made the chaunge, which nowe I desire to +be seane In, for I speake, Sir, as before him that shall Judg my soule, +I have by praier, for god his gidance, and with voues to him, to walk in +that light he should shew me, and by longe carefull and diligent +readinge, and conference with lerned men, on both sides, and impartiall +examination of ther profes and argumentes, come to discerne the +Ignorance I was formerly wrapped In, as I nowe wonder that ether my +self, or any other of common understandinge, showld bee so blynded, as +to Imbrace that gods trewth, [_sic_] which I nowe perseyue to be +grounded uppon so weake foundations. And as I never could digest all +poyntes therin, wherof not few seamed to bee made for gaine and +ambition, of the papacye, so nowe I fynde that the hole frame and bodye +of that religion (wherin they oppose us) difereth from the platforme, +which god him self hath recorded In the holy scriptures, and hath In +length of tyme, by the Ignorance and deceiptfulness of men, bene peaced +together, and is now maintayned by factious obstinacye, and certain +coulerable pretences, such as the wittes and learninge of men, are able +to cast uppon any humaine errors, which they list to uphowld. Nether +have I left any thinge I doubted of untried or unresolued, becawse I did +Intend and desire to so take up the trewth of god, once discouered to +me, as neuer to suffer yt to bee questioned any more In my owne +consienc. And In all this, Sir, I protest to your maiestye, before +almightye god, I have simply and only propounded to my self the trew +seruise of god, and saluation of my owne soule, Not gaine, not honor, no +not that which I doe most highly valew, your maiestyes fauour, or better +opinion of me. Nether on the other side am I affraide of those censures +of men whether of the partye I have abandoned, or of others which I +shall Incur by this alteration, howldinge yt contentment Innough to my +self, That god hath in mercye enlightened my mynde to see his sacred +trewth, with desire to serue [the paper here is mutilated].... And rest, +your maie[styes] most loyall and obedient servant W. Mownteagle." + +_Addressed_, "To the Kinge his most excellent Maiestye." + +From the absence of any allusion to the Powder Plot and its "discovery," +it appears certain that this letter must have been written previously to +it. + +On August 1st, 1609, Sir Wm. Waad wrote to Salisbury that the disorders +of Lord Monteagle's house were an offence to the country. At this period +he appears to have been suspected of concealing Catholic students from +St. Omers. [_Calendar of State Papers._] + + + + +APPENDIX I. (p. 140). + +_Epitaph in St. Anne's, Aldersgate._ [Maitland, London (1756), p. 1065.] + + +"_Peter Heiwood_, younger son of _Peter Heiwood_, one of the Counsellors +of _Jamaica_, ... Great Grandson to _Peter Heiwood_ of _Heywood_ in the +County Palestine of _Lancaster_; who apprehended _Guy Faux_ with his +dark Lanthorn; and for his zealous prosecution of Papists, as Justice of +Peace, was stabbed in _Westminster-Hall_ by _John James_, a _Dominican_ +Friar, An. Dom. 1640. Obiit _Novem. 2. 1701_. + + Reader, if not a Papist bred + Upon such Ashes gently tread." + +It is to be presumed that the person who died in 1701 is not the same +who was stabbed in 1640, or who discovered Guy Faukes in 1605. + +The Dominican records contain no trace of any member of the Order named +John James, nor does so remarkable an event as the stabbing of a Justice +of Peace in Westminster Hall appear to be chronicled elsewhere. + +Peter Heywood, J.P. for Westminster, was active as a magistrate as late +as December 15th, 1641. [_Calendar of State Papers._] + + + + +APPENDIX K. (p. 173). + +_The Use of Torture._ + + +THERE can be no doubt that torture was freely employed to extract +evidence from the conspirators and others who fell into the hands of the +government. + +The Earl of Salisbury, in his letter to Favat, of December 4th, 1605, +clearly intimates that this was the case, when he complains "most of the +prisoners have wilfully forsworn that the priests knew anything in +particular, and obstinately refuse to be accusers of them, _yea, what +torture soever they be put to_." + +About the middle of November, Lord Dunfermline wrote to Salisbury [_Dom. +James I._ xvi. 81] recommending that the prisoners should be confined +apart and in darkness, that they should be examined by torchlight, and +that the tortures should be slow and at intervals, as being thus most +effectual. + +There is every reason to believe that the Jesuit lay-brother, Nicholas +Owen, _alias_ Littlejohn, actually died upon the rack. [_Vide_ Father +Gerard's _Narrative of the Gunpowder Plot_, p. 189.] + +Finally we have the king's instructions as to Faukes [_Gunpowder Plot +Book_, No. 17]. "The gentler tortours are to be first usid unto him, _et +sic per gradus ad ima tenditur_,[458] and so God speede your goode +worke."[459] Guy's signature of November 9th is sufficient evidence that +it was none of the "gentler tortours" which he had endured. + +In the violently Protestant account of the execution of the +traitors,[460] we read: "Last of all came the great Devil of all Faukes, +who should have put fire to the powder. His body being weak with torture +and sickness, he was scarce able to go up the ladder, but with much ado, +by the help of the hangman, went high enough to brake his neck with the +fall." + + + + +APPENDIX L. (p. 227). + +_Myths and Legends of the Powder Plot._ + + +AROUND the Gunpowder Plot has gathered a mass of fabulous embellishment +too curious to be passed over in silence. This has chiefly attached +itself to Guy Faukes, who, on account of the desperate part allotted to +him has impressed the public mind far more than any of his associates, +and has come to be erroneously regarded as the moving spirit of the +enterprise. + +One of the best authenticated facts regarding him is that when +apprehended he was booted and spurred for a journey, though it is +usually said that he was to have travelled by water. + +There is, however, a strange story, told with much circumstantiality, +which gives an elaborate but incomprehensible account of a tragic +underplot in connection with him. This is related at considerable length +in a Latin hexameter poem, _Venatio Catholica_, published in 1609, in +the _History of the Popish Sham Plots_, and elsewhere. According to this +tangled tale the other conspirators wished both to get rid of Faukes, +when he had served their purpose, and to throw the suspicion of their +deed upon their enemies, the Puritans. To this end they devised a +notable scheme. A certain Puritan, named Pickering, a courtier, but a +godly man, foremost amongst his party, had a fine horse ("Bucephalum +egregium"). This, Robert Keyes, his brother-in-law, purchased or hired, +and placed at the service of Faukes for his escape. The steed was to +await him at a certain spot, but in a wood hard by assassins were to +lurk, who, when Guy appeared, should murder him, and having secured the +money with which he was furnished, should leave his mangled corpse +beside the Bucephalus, known as Mr. Pickering's. Thus Faukes would be +able to tell no tales, and--though it does not appear why--suspicion +would be sure to fall on the Puritan, and he would be proclaimed as the +author of the recent catastrophe. + + "Hoc astu se posse rati convertere in hostes + Flagitii infamiam, causamque capessere vulgo + Qua Puritanos invisos reddere possent, + Ut tantae authores, tam immanis proditionis. + Cognito equo, et facta (pro more) indagine caedis, + Aulicus hic sceleris tanquam fabricator atrocis + Proclamandus erat, Falso (ne vera referre + Et socios sceleris funesti prodere possit) + Sublato." + +Many curious circumstances have likewise been imported into the history, +and many places connected with it which appear to have no claim whatever +to such a distinction. + +Thus we hear (_England's Warning Peece_) that the Jesuit Cresswell came +over from Spain for the occasion "to bear his part with the rest of his +society in a victorial song of thanksgiving." Also that on November 5th, +a large body of confederates assembled at Hampstead to see the House of +Parliament go up in the air. + +In the _Gentleman's Magazine_, February, 1783, is a remarkable +description of a summer house, in a garden at Newton Hall, near +Kettering, Northamptonshire, in which the plotters used to meet and +conspire, the place then belonging to the Treshams; "and for greater +security, they placed a conspirator at each window, Guy Faukes, the arch +villain, standing in the doorway, to prevent anybody overhearing them." + +According to a wide-spread belief Guy Faukes was a Spaniard.[461] He has +also been called a Londoner, and his name being altered to Vaux, has +been said to have a family connection with Vauxhall. He was in fact a +Yorkshireman of good family, though belonging to a younger branch of no +great estate. His father, Edward Faukes, was a notary at York, where he +held the office of registrar and advocate of the cathedral church. Guy +himself was an educated man, more than commonly well read. He is always +described in the process as "Guido Faukes, Gentleman." + +Another most extraordinary example of an obvious myth, which was +nevertheless treated as sober history, is furnished by the absurd +statement that the astute and wily Jesuits not only contrived the Plot, +but published its details to the world long before its attempted +execution, in order to vindicate to themselves the credit of so glorious +a design. Thus Bishop Kennet, in a fifth of November sermon, preached at +St. Paul's before the Lord Mayor, in 1715, tells us:[462] + +"It was a general surmise at least among the whole Order of Jesuits in +foreign parts: or else one of them could hardly have stated the case so +exactly some four or five years before it broke out. Father Del-Rio, in +a treatise printed An. 1600, put the case, as if he had already looked +into the Mine and Cellars, and had surveyed the barrels of powder in +them, and had heard the whole confessions of Faux and Catesby." + +This "general surmise" does not appear to have been confined to the +Jesuits themselves. Another ingenious writer, nearly a century +earlier,[463] tells a wonderful story concerning the sermon of a +Dominican, preached in the same year, 1600, wherein it was related how +there was a special hell, beneath the other, for Jesuits, so thick and +fast did they arrive as to need extra accommodation. The preacher avowed +that he had, in his vision of the place, given warning to the demon in +charge of it, "to search them with speed, for fear that they had +conveyed hither some gunpowder with them, for they are very skilfull in +Mine-workes, and in blowing up of whole States and Parliament-houses, +and if they can blow you all up, then the Spanyards will come and take +your kingdom from you." + +Another notable specimen of the way in which reason and probability were +cast to the winds is afforded by two letters written from Naples in +1610, one to King James and the other to Salisbury, by Sir Edwin +Rich,[464] who announced that Father Greenway--who of all the Jesuits +was said to be most clearly convicted as a traitor--intended to send to +the king a present of an embroidered satin doublet and hose, which, +being craftily poisoned, would be death to him if he put them on. + +FOOTNOTES: + +[458] "And so by degrees to the uttermost." + +[459] These instructions furnish an interesting specimen of the king's +broad Scotch, _e.g._, "Quhat Gentlewomans Letter it was y^t was founde +upon him, and quhairfor doth she give him an other Name in it y^n he +giues to himself. If he was ever a papiste; and if so, quho brocht him +up in it. If otherwayes, hou was he convertid, quhair, quhan, and by +quhom." + +The following passage is very characteristic of the writer: + +"Nou last, ye remember of the crewellie villanouse pasquille y^t rayled +upon me for y^e name of Brittanie. If I remember richt it spake +something of harvest and prophecyed my destructi[=o] about y^t tyme. Ye +may think of y^s, for it is lyke to be by y^e Laboure of such a +desperate fellow as y^s is." + +[460] _The Arraignment and execution of the late traitors_, etc., 1606. + +[461] See, for instance, _London and the Kingdom_ (mainly from the +Guildhall Archives), by Reginald R. Sharpe, ii. 13. + +[462] P. 9. + +[463] Lewis Owen, _Unmasking of all popish Monks_, etc. (1628), p. 49. + +[464] _Dom. James I._ lvii. 92-93, October 5th. + + + + +APPENDIX M. + +_Sir William Waad's Memorial Inscriptions._ + + +IN a room of the Queen's House in the Tower, in which the conspirators +are supposed to have been examined by the Lords of the Council, Sir +William Waad has left a series of inscriptions as memorials of the +events in which he played so large a part. Of these the most noteworthy +are the following: + +I. + + Jacobus Magnus, Magnae Britanniae + rex, pietate, justitia, prudentia, doctrina, fortitudine, + clementia, ceterisq. virtutibus regiis clariss'; Christianae + fidei, salutis publicae, pacis universalis propugnator, fautor + auctor acerrimus, augustiss', auspicatiss'. + Anna Regina Frederici 2. Danorum Regis invictiss' filia sereniss^a, + Henricus princeps, naturae ornamentis, doctrinae praesidiis, gratiae + Muneribus, instructiss', nobis et natus et a deo datus, + Carolus dux Eboracensis divina ad omnem virtutem indole,[465] + Elizabetha utriusq. soror Germana, utroque parente dignissima + Hos velut pupillam oculi tenellam + providus muni, procul impiorum + impetu alarum tuarum intrepidos + conde sub umbra. + +[This is evidently intended for a Sapphic stanza, but the last two words +of v. 3 have been transposed, destroying the metre.] + +II. + + Robertus Cecil, Comes Sarisburiensis, summus et regis + Secretarius, et Angliae thesaurarius, clariss' patris + et de repub. meritissimi filius, in paterna munera + successor longe dignissimus; + Henricus, comes Northamptoniae, quinq. portuum praefectus et + privati sigilli custos, disertorum litteratissimus, litteratorum + disertissimus; + Carolus comes Nottingamiae, magnus Angliae admirallus + victoriosus; + Thomas Suffolciae comes, regis camerarius splendidissimus, + tres viri nobilissimi ex antiqua Howardorum familia, ducumq. + Norfolciae prosapia; + Edwardus Somersetus, comes Wigorniae, equis regiis praefectus + ornatissimus; + Carolus Blunt, comes Devoniae, Hyberniae prorex et pacificator, + Joannes Areskinus,[466] illustris Marriae comes, praecipuarum in + Scotia arcium praefectus; + Georgius Humius, Dunbari comes, Scotiae thesaurarius + prudentiss' + omnes illustriss' ordinis garteri milites; + Joannes Popham, miles, justiciarius Angliae capitalis, + et justitiae consultissimus: + + Hi omnes illustrissimi viri, quorum nomina ad sempiternam eorum + memoriam posteritati consecrandam proxime supra ad lineam posita + sunt, ut regi a consiliis, ita ab eo delegati quaesitores, reis + singulis incredibili diligentia ac cura saepius appellatis, nec + minore solertia et dexteritate pertentatis eorum animis, eos suis + ipsorum inter se collatis responsionibus convictos, ad voluntariam + confessionem adegerunt: et latentem nefarie conjurationis seriem, + remq. omnem ut hactenus gesta et porro per eos gerenda esset, summa + fide erutam, aeterna cum laude sua, in lucem produxerunt, adeo ut + divina singulari providentia effectum sit, ut tam praesens, tamq. + f[oe]da tempestas, a regia majestate, liberisq. regiis, et omni + regno depulsa, in ipsos autores eorumq. socios redundarit. + +III. + +Conjuratorum Nomina, ad perpetuam ipsorum infamiam et tantae diritatis +detestationem sempiternam. + + Thomas Winter Thomas Percy + Robert Winter Robert Catesby + _Monachi_ { Henry Garnet John Winter John Wright + _salutare_ { John Gerrard Guy Fawkes Christopher Wright + _Jesu_ { Oswald Tesmond Thomas Bates Francis Tresham + _nom[=e]_ { Ham[=o] Everard Digby, K. Thomas Abbington + _ementiti_ { Baldw[=i] Am' Rookewood Edmond Baineham, K. + John Graunt William Stanley, K. + Robert Keyes Hughe Owen. + Henry Morg[=a] + +IV. + +Besides the above there is a prolix description of the Plot, devised +against the best of sovereigns, "a Jesuitis Romanensibus, perfidiae +Catholicae et impietatis viperinae autoribus et assertoribus, aliisq. +ejusdem amentiae scelerisq. patratoribus et sociis susceptae, et in ipso +pestis derepente inferendae articulo (salutis anno 1605, mensis Novembris +die quinto), tam praeter spem quam supra fidem mirifice et divinitus +detectae." + +There is, moreover, a sentence in Hebrew, with Waad's cipher beneath, +and a number of what seem to be meant for verses. The following lines +are evidently the Lieutenant's description of his own office: + + "Custodis Custos sum, Carcer Carceris, arcis + Arx, atque Argu' Argus; sum speculae specula; + Sum vinclum in vinclis; compes cum compede, clav[=u] + Firmo haerens, teneo tentus, habens habeor. + Dum regi regnoq. salus stet firma quieta, + Splendida sim Compes Compedis usque licet." + +This is considerably more metrical and intelligible than some of the +rest. + +In 1613 Waad was dismissed from his post, one of the charges against him +being that he had embezzled the jewels of Arabella Stuart.[467] + +In Theobald's _Memoirs of Sir Walter Raleigh_ (p. 16), Waad is described +as "the Lieutenant of the Tower, and Cecil's great Creature." + +FOOTNOTES: + +[464] _Dom. James I._ lvii. 92-93, October 5th. + +[465] At the time of the Plot Charles was not quite five years old. + +[466] Erskine. + +[467] _Dom. James I._ lxxii. 129. + + + + +APPENDIX N. + +THE PUBLISHED CONFESSION OF GUY FAUKES. A. + + +_The draft, November 8th, 1605_ (G.P.B. 49). + +*** Passages between square brackets have been cancelled. Those marked * +have been ticked off for omission. + + +_The Confession of Guy Fawkes, taken the 8 of November, 1605._ + +HE confesseth that a Practise in generall was first broken unto him, +agaynst his Majesty, for the Catholique cause, and not invented or +propounded by himself, and this was first propounded unto him about +Easter last was twelvemonth, beyond the seas in the Low countreyes, by +an English Lay-man, and that English man came over with him in his +company into England, and they tow and three more weare the first five +mencioned in the former examination. And they five resolving to do some +thinge for the Catholick cause,--a vowe being first taken by all of them +for secrecye,--one of the other three propounded to perform it with +Powder, and resolved that the place should be,--where this action should +be performed and justice done,--in or neere the place of the sitting of +the Parliament, wherein Religion had been uniustly suppressed. This +beeinge resolved the manner [of it] was as followeth. + + +THE PUBLISHED CONFESSION OF GUY FAUKES. B. + +_As signed by Faukes, November 17th, 1605_ (G.P.B. 101). + +*** Square brackets indicate an erasure. Italics an addition or +substitution. + +The [deposition] _declaration_ of Guy Fawkes prisonner in the Tower of +London _taken the 17 of Nov. 1605, acknowledged before the Lords +Commissioners._[468] + + +_A._ I confesse that a practise in generall was first broken unto me +against his Majestie, for releife of the Catholique cause, and not +invented or propounded by my self. + +And this was first propounded unto me about Easter last was twelvemonth, +beyond the Seas, in the Low countries of the Archdukes obeysance by +Thomas Wynter, who came thereupon with me into England, and there wee +imparted our purpose to three other Englishmen more, namely Rob^t +Catesby, Tho^s Percy, and John Wright, who all five consulting together +of the meanes how to execute the same, and taking a vowe among our +selves for secresie Catesby propounded to have it performed by +Gunpowder, and by making a myne under the upper house of Parliament, +which place wee made choice of the rather, + + +[_A. The draft._] + +First they hyred the Howse at Westminster of one Ferris,[469] and +havinge the howse they sought to make a myne under the upper howse of +Parliament, and they begann to make the myne in or about the xi of +December, and they five first entered into the worke, and soone after +toke an other unto them, havinge first sworne him and taken the +Sacrament, for secrecye. And when they came to the wall,--that was about +three yards thicke,--and found it a matter of great difficultie, they +tooke to them an other in like manner, with oath and Sacrament as afore +sayd. All which seaven, were gentlemen of name and bloode, and not any +man was employed in or about that action,--noe not so much as in +digginge and myning that was not a gentleman. And having wrought to the +wall before Christmas, they reasted untill after the holydayes, and the +day before Christmas,--having a masse of earth that came out of the +myne,--they carryed it into the Garden of the said Howse, and after +Christmas they wrought on the wall till Candlemas, and wrought the wall +half through, and sayeth that all the tyme while the others wrought he +stood as Sentynell to descrie any man that came neere, and when any man +came neere to the place, uppon warninge given by him they rested untill +they had notyce to proceed from hym, and sayeth that they seaven all lay +in the Howse, and had shott and powder, and they all resolved to dye in +that place before they yeilded or weare taken. + + +[_B. The Confession as signed._] + +because Religion having been unjustly suppressed there, it was fittest +that Justice and punishment should be executed there. + +_B._ This being resolved amongst us, Thomas Percy hired a howse at +Westminster for that purpose, neare adjoyning the Parl^t howse, and +there wee beganne to make a myne about the xi of December 1604. The fyve +that entered into the woorck were Thomas Percye, Robert Catesby, Thomas +Wynter, John Wright, and my self, and soon after we tooke another unto +us, Christopher Wright, having sworn him also, and taken the Sacrament +for secrecie. + +_C._ When wee came to the verie foundation of the Wall of the house, +which was about 3 yeards thick, and found it a matter of great +difficultie, we took to us another gentleman Robert [Wynter] _Keys_[470] +in like manner with our oathe and Sacrament as aforesaid. + + * * * * * + +_D._ It was about Christmas when wee brought our myne unto the Wall, and +about Candlemas we had wrought the Wall half through. And whilst they +were a working, I stood as sentinell, to descrie any man that came +neare, whereof I gave them warning, and so they ceased untill I gave +them notice agayne to proceede. All wee seaven lay in the house, and had +shott and powder, being resolved to dye in that place before we should +yeild or be taken. + + +[_A. The draft._] + +And as they weare workinge, they heard a rushinge in the cellar which +grew by _one_[471] Brights selling of his coles whereuppon this +Examinant, fearinge they had been discovered, went into the cellar and +viewed the cellar, and perceivinge the commoditye thereof for their +purposs, and understandinge how it would be letten his maister, M^r +Percy, hyred the Cellar for a yeare, for 4 pounds rent. And confesseth +that after Christmas 20^{ty} barrells of Powder weare brought by +themselves to a Howse which they had on the Banksyde in Hampers, and +from that Howse removed the powder to the sayd Howse, neere the upper +Howse of Parliament. And presently upon hyringe the cellar, they +themselfs removed the powder into the cellar, and couvered the same with +faggots which they had before layd into the sellar. + +After, about Easter, he went into the Low Countryes,--as he before hath +declared in his former examination,--and that the trew purpos of his +goinge over was least beinge a dangerous man he should be known and +suspected, and in the meane tyme he left the key [of the cellar] with +M^r Percye, whoe in his absence caused more Billetts to be layd into the +Cellar, as in his former examination he confessed, and retourned about +the end of August or the beginninge of September, and went agayne to the +sayd howse, nere to the sayd cellar, and received the key of the cellar +agayne of one of the five. And then they brought in five or six barrells +of powder more into the cellar, which all soe they couvered with +billetts, saving fower little barrells covered with ffaggots, and then +this examinant went into the Country about the end of September. + + +[_B. The Confession as signed._] + +_E._ As they were working upon the wall, they heard a rushing in a +cellar of removing of coles; whereupon wee feared wee had been +discovered, and they sent me to go to the cellar, who fynding that the +coles were a selling, and that the Cellar was to be lett, viewing the +commoditye thereof for our purpose, Percy went and hired the same for +yearly Rent. + +Wee had before this provyded and brought into the house 20 barrells of +Powder, which wee removed into the Cellar, and covered the same with +billets and fagots, which we provided for that purpose. + + * * * * * + +_F._ About Easter, the Parliament being proroged tyll October next, wee +dispersed our selfs and I retired into the Low countryes, _by advice and +direction of the rest, as well to acquaint Owen with the particulars of +the plot, as also_[472] lest by my longer staye I might have grown +suspicious, and so have come in question. + +In the meane tyme Percy, having the key of the Cellar, layd in more +powder and wood into it. + +I returned about the beginning of September next and then receyving the +key againe of Percy, we brought in more powder and billets to cover the +same againe. + + +[_A. The draft._] + +* It appeareth the powder was in the cellar, placed as it was found the +5 of November, when the Lords came to proroge the Parliament, and sayeth +that he returned agayne to the sayd Howse neare the cellar on Wednesday +the 30 of October. + +[He confesseth he was at the Erle of Montgomeryes marriage, but as he +sayeth with noe intention of evill, havinge a sword about him, and was +very neere to his Majesty and the Lords there present.] + +Forasmuch as they knew not well how they should come by the person of +the Duke Charles, beeinge neere London, where they had no forces,--if he +had not been all soe blowne upp,--He confesseth that it was resolved +amonge them, that the same day that this detestable act should have been +performed, the same day should other of their confederacye have +surprised the person of the Lady Elizabeth, and presently have +proclaimed her queen [to which purpose a Proclamation was drawne, as +well to avowe and justify the Action, as to have protested against the +Union, and in no sort to have meddeled with Religion therein. And would +have protested all soe agaynst all strangers] and this proclamation +should have been made in the name of the Lady Elizabeth. + +* Beinge demanded why they did not surprise the Kinges person and draw +him to the effectinge of their purpose, sayeth that soe many must have +been acquaynted with such an action as it could not have been kept +secrett. + +He confesseth that if their purpose had taken effect untill they had +power enough they would not have avowed the deed to be theirs; but if +their power,--for their defence and safetye,--had been sufficient they +themselfes would have taken it upon them. + + +[_B. The Confession as signed._] + +And so [I] went for a tyme into the country, till the 30 of October. + + * * * * * + +_G._ It was farther resolved amongst us that the same day that this +action should have been performed some other of our confederates should +have surprised the person of the Lady Elizabeth the Kings eldest +daughter, who was kept in Warwickshire at the Lo. Harringtons house, and +presently have proclaimed her for Queene, having a project of a +Proclamation ready for the purpose, wherein we made no mention of +altering of Religion,---- + + * * * * * + +---- nor would have avowed the deed to be ours untill we should have had +power enough to make our partie good, and then we would have avowed +both. + + +[_A. The draft._] + +* They meant all soe to have sent for the Prisoners in the Tower to have +come to them, of whom particularly they had some consultation. + +* He confesseth that the place of Rendez-vous was in Warwickshire, and +that armour was sent thither, but the particuler thereof he knowes not. + +He confesseth that they had consultation for the takinge of the Lady +Marye into their possession, but knew not how to come by her. + +And confesseth that provision was made by some of the conspiracye of +some armour of proofe this last Summer for this Action. + +* He confesseth that the powder was bought of the common Purse of the +Confederates. + + L. Admyrall } + L. Chamberlayne } + Erle of Devonshire } attended by M^r + Erle of Northampton } Attorney generall. + Erle of Salisbury } + Erle of Marr } + L. cheif Justice } + +[_Endorsed_] Examination of Guy Fauks, Nov^r 8th, 1605. + + +[_B. The Confession as signed._] + +_H._ Concerning Duke Charles, the Kings second son, we hadd sundrie +consultations how to sease on his person, but because wee found no +meanes how to compasse it,--the Duke being kept near London,--where we +had not forces enough, wee resolved to serve ourselves with the Lady +Elizabeth. + + * * * * * + +_J._ The names of other principall persons that were made privie +afterwards to this horrible conspiracie. + + [_Signed_] GUIDO FAUKES. + + Everard Digby, Knight + Ambrose Ruckwood + Francis Tresham + John Grant + Robert [Keys] _Wynter_ + + [_Witnessed_] Edw. Coke W. Waad. + + [_Endorsed_] Fawkes his [deposition] _declaration 17 Nov. + 1605_.[473] + +FOOTNOTES: + +[468] Alterations and additions (in italics) made by Sir Edward Coke. + +[469] This name has seemingly been tampered with. + +[470] Changed by Cecil; but on November 14th, writing to Edmondes, he +included Keyes amongst those that "wrought not in the myne," and R. +Winter amongst those who did. + +[471] Interlined. + +[472] The words italicised are added in the published version. + +[473] Words in italics added by Coke. + + + + +INDEX. + + + Abbot, Robert, Bishop of Salisbury, his version of the missing + confessions of Faukes, 192 _seq._ + + Acton, Robert, 113. + + Alabaster, Thomas, a priest in government employ, 204 _note_. + + Andrew, William, servant to Sir E. Digby, evidence of, 78 _note_. + + _Annals of England_, cited, 48. + + _Answere to Scandalous papers_ (Cecil's manifesto), 44, 219 _seq._ + + + Babington's Plot, 14. + + Baldwin, Father William, S.J.; allegations against him, 185, 187 + _seq._; which are not substantiated, 195; correspondence with Father + Schondonck, 201, 222. + + Bancroft, Richard, Archbishop of Canterbury, 46, 147. + + Barlow, Thomas, Bishop of Lincoln, 62, 70 _note_. + + Barnes, a government agent, 112. + + Bartlett, George, servant to Catesby, his evidence reported, 160. + + Bates, Thomas, servant to Catesby, his introduction to the + Conspiracy, 3, 178; his alleged evidence against Greenway, 178-183; + trial and execution, 6. _See also_ Conspirators. + + Batty, Matthew, evidence regarding Monteagle, 78 _note_. + + "Blackfriars Downfall," the, 242. + + Blount, Father Richard, S.J., on government intelligence, 77; on + Suffolk's proposal of toleration, 224; on Cecil's "new stratagem," + 224, 225. + + Brayley and Britton (_Palace of Westminster_), 79 _note_. + + Brewer, Rev. John Sherren, on the fate of Parry, the conspirator, + 14; on government devices, 15; on Cecil's knowledge of the Plot, 48; + on the Monteagle letter, 117. + + Bromley, Sir Henry, Sheriff of Worcestershire, 167 _note_. + + Buck, Mr., alleged warning given to, 51 _note_, 106. + + Burnet, Gilbert, Bishop of Salisbury, 46. + + "Bye," the, 15 _note_. + + + Camden, William, the historian, 36 _note_. + + Capon, William, on the old Palace of Westminster, 79, 86; on traces + of the mine, 87. + + Carleton, Dudley, afterwards Viscount Dorchester, patronized by + Cecil, 62; assists Percy to hire the house at Westminster, 61; + reports the French version of the Plot, 140; and its contradiction, + 141; his mysterious connection with the Conspiracy, 150 _note_; his + opinion of Percy, 150. + + Castlemaine, Earl of (Roger Palmer), on State plots, 14, 48; on + Osborne's qualifications as an historian, 44 _note_; on the fate of + decoy ducks, 152. + + Carte, Thomas (_General History of England_), 46. + + Carey, ----, evidence regarding Percy, 150. + + Catesby, Robert, a ringleader in the Conspiracy, 9, 64; his + character and antecedents, 35 _seq._; persuades his associates not + to reveal their project to priests, 179; undertakes to proclaim the + new sovereign, 83; his death, 4, 152 _seq._; suspicions concerning + him, 156, 160. _See also_ Conspirators. + + Catholics, their numbers, 28; their condition under Elizabeth, 29; + their hopes from James, 31, 33, 247, 248; his promises to them, 29; + they welcome his accession, _ibid_, 34; temporary relief at his + hands, _ibid_; their consequent increase, 28, 30; Cecil's hostility, + 28, 30, 47, 48, 51, 105; attempt to charge them with the Plot, 4-6, + 107, 108; legislation against them on account of it, 212 _seq._; its + lasting effects in their regard, 209, 225. + + Cecil, Robert, first Earl of Salisbury, his character, 19 _seq._; + dignities conferred by James I., 19 _note_; and nicknames, 19 + _note_; his unpopularity, 21 _seq._; difficulties and dangers of his + position, 26 _seq._; in the pay of Spain, 21; and probably of + France, 22 _note_; his secret correspondence with King James, 21; + his intrigues against Northumberland and Raleigh, 26, 198, 216; + hostility to the Catholics, 27, 95, 105; anxiety on account of the + king's attitude, 28; and dealings with Pope Clement VIII., 104; + endeavours to commit James to a policy of intolerance, 105; his + political methods, 44, 111; employs the services of forgers, 112 + _note_, 203; his knowledge of the Plot, 94 _seq._; alleged secret + dealings with Percy, 15; Tresham, 158; and Catesby, 160; contradicts + himself concerning the "discovery," 123 _seq._; his inexplicable + delay in making it, 132; and conduct afterwards, 137; was not taken + by surprise, 210; at once turns the Plot to his advantage, 213; his + determination to incriminate priests, 4 _seq._, 130; advantages + reaped by him, 30, 213 _seq._; his Manifesto, 218 _seq._; suspected + of having originated or manipulated the Conspiracy, 43 _seq._; + alleged attempt to float a second Plot, 225. + + Cecil, Thomas, first Earl of Exeter, 19 _note_, 160 _note_. + + Cecil, William, second Earl of Salisbury, his testimony reported, + 160. + + Cecil, William, a priest in government employ, 45 _note_. + + "Cellar," the, its situation and character, 58, 79 _note_; hired by + the conspirators, 69 _seq._; problems concerning it, 87 _seq._; its + after history, 137; accompanies the migrations of the House of + Lords, 80 _note_. + + Challoner, Sir Thomas, information addressed to, 94, 95. + + Chamberlain, John, M.P., on Cecil's death and character, 23, 24; + account of the "discovery," 128; on the King's lucky day, 231; on + Percy's character, 150. + + Charles, Duke of York, afterwards Charles I.; plans of the + conspirators regarding him, 81 _seq._ + + Chichester, Sir Arthur, Deputy in Ireland, 4, 108, 124. + + Coal, Father Greenway's description of, 71 _note_. + + Cobham, eighth Lord (Henry Brooke), his charge of forgery against + Waad, 202. + + Cobham, ninth Lord (William Brooke), his evidence reported, 45. + + Coke, Sir Edward, Attorney-General, his falsification of evidence, + 200; Cecil's instructions to him, 116 _note_; his assertions, 85, + 88; interrogatories prepared by him, 176; his humour, 63 _note_; + proofs against Owen, 190; witnesses Thomas Winter's declaration, + 169; and that of Faukes, 172; his treatment of Raleigh and + Northumberland, 217. + + Coleridge, Lord Chief Justice, on the English penal laws, 29 _note_. + + Conspirators, the, list of, 2, 3; their character and antecedents, + 35-41; their enrolment, 9, 64, 252; their plans and proceedings, + 9-11, 60 _seq._; mining operations, 10, 63; incredibility of the + story, 65 _seq._, 76 _seq._, 141; they hire the "cellar," 69 _seq._; + purchase and store gunpowder, 78; difficulties concerning it, 78, + 132, 134-137; further designs, 11, 80-82; alarmed by the + prorogation, 114, 230; flight and attempted rebellion, 2; their + fate, 4-6. + + Cope, Sir Walter, on the character of Cecil, 27 _note_. + + Cornwallis, Sir Charles, English Ambassador in Spain, on the + character of the conspirators, 40; letter to Father Cresswell, 195; + on the Catholic design to murder Cecil, 221 _note_. + + Cresswell, Father Joseph, S.J., allegations concerning him, 195; + Cornwallis' letter to him, _ibid_. + + + Dacre, Francis, titular Lord, efforts to connect him with the Plot, + 177. + + Darnley, Henry, Lord, father of James I., the victim of a gunpowder + plot, 37, 50. + + Davenport, Father Christopher, O.P. (Francis a S. Clara), 145 + _note_. + + Davies, Joseph, a government "discoverer," 94. + + De Beaumont, M., French Ambassador, 119 _note_. + + De la Boderie, M., French Ambassador, on Cecil's insecurity, 26; on + the ruin of Northumberland, 23. + + Del-Rio, Father Martin, S.J., said to have described the Plot A.D. + 1600, 263. + + Derby, Earl of (William Stanley), attempt to incriminate him, 198. + + De Ros, Lord, on Faukes' plan of escape, 144 _note_. + + Devonshire, Earl of (Charles Blount), 168 _note_, 170 _note_, 211, + 266. + + Digby, Sir Everard, joins the Conspiracy, 10, 253; difficulties and + contradictions regarding him, 79 _note_, 253; his letter to + Salisbury, 33, 245; part assigned to him, 78 _note_; his fate, 6. + _See also_ Conspirators. + + Digby, Sir John, English Ambassador in Spain, 22 _note_. + + Digby, Sir Kenelm, his evidence reported, 160. + + Digby, Sir Robert, 38 _note_. + + Dixon, Hepworth (_Her Majesty's Tower_), on government intelligence, + 111 _note_. + + Dodd, Rev. Charles, on the origin of the Plot, 18, 51. + + Dorset, Earl of (Thomas Sackville), his esteem for Cecil, 21. + + Dunbar, Earl of (George Hume), 168 _note_, 172, 266. + + Dunfermline, Earl of (Alexander Seaton), on the effective use of + torture, 259. + + Dunsmoor Heath, projected hunting match on, 11. + + + Edmondes, Sir Thomas, English Ambassador at Brussels, account of the + "discovery" sent to him, 108, 124; version of Faukes' confession + sent to him, 186; proofs against Owen sent to him, 190, 191; his + negotiations with the archdukes, 186 _seq._; letters of, 102, 187, + 188, 189; letters to, 85, 106, 113, 154, 186, 187, 188, 189, 190. + + Elizabeth, Princess, daughter of James I., designs of the + conspirators regarding her, 81. + + _England's Warning Peece_, 195, 262. + + _English Protestants' Plea_, 40, 51, 108 _note_, 195 _note_. + + Eudaemon-Joannes, Father Andrew, S.J., 204. + + + Faukes, Guy or Guido, _alias_ John Johnson, his position and + character, 39, 262; his Spanish mission, 36; introduced to the + Conspiracy, 9, 64; passes as Percy's servant, 71, 77; keeps guard + while the others work, 66; discovers the "cellar," 70; has charge of + the premises, 77, 89, 142; visits Flanders, 91, 162; appointed to + fire the powder, 1; plans for his escape, 144; arrest, 123-128; + published confession, 169 _seq._, 268 _seq._; evidence falsified, + 200; missing depositions, 191; tortured, 172, 200, 260; trial and + execution, 6, 260; fables respecting him, 261. _See also_ + Conspirators. + + Favat, Mr., Cecil's letter to, 5, 182. + + Ferrers, Henry, sub-lets the house at Westminster to Percy, 61. + + Fifth of November, a propitious day for the "discovery," 231; the + day solemnized, 5. + + Floyde, Griffith, a government spy, 49. + + French historians on the Plot, 141 _note_. + + French official accounts of the Plot, 140, 141. + + Fuller, Mr., M.P., 132 _note_. + + Fuller, Thomas (_Church History of Britain_), 46, 225. + + Fulman MSS., 169. + + + Gardiner, Professor Samuel Rawson, his favourable estimate of + Cecil's character, 20; on the Spanish pension, 22 _note_; repudiates + imputations against the government, 18; on the conspirators' plans, + 82; on the Monteagle letter, 117; on the king's interpretation, 132 + _note_; on the desire to incriminate priests, 4 _note_. + + Garnet, Father Henry, S.J., proclaimed as a principal conspirator, + 5; his capture, 7, 166; lack of evidence, 7; trial and execution, + _ibid_.; his account of the conspirators' proceedings, 208; his + evidence against Catesby, 157; on the accession of James, 29 _note_. + + _Gentleman's Magazine_, 52 _note_, 262. + + Gerard, Col. John, 160 _note_. + + Gerard, Father John, S.J., proclaimed as a principal conspirator, 5; + exonerated by historians, 237; his history of the Plot, 205; his + experiences in the Tower, 202; on the persecution of Catholics, 32; + opinion of the "discovery," 49; and of the official narrative, 129; + on the death of Percy and Catesby, 156 _note_. + + Goodman, Godfrey, Bishop of Gloucester, on the origin of the + Conspiracy, 44; on the king's promises to Catholics, 29 _note_; on + the persecution of Catholics, 32; on the "discovery," 134 _note_; on + the death of Whynniard, 92 _note_; on Percy's intercourse with + Cecil, 151; on the death of Percy and Catesby, 154; his religious + views, 145 _note_. + + Gowrie Conspiracy, the, 231, 232. + + "Great Horses," 2 _note_. + + Grange, Justice E., 148 _note_. + + Grant, John, 37. _See also_ Conspirators. + + Green, Mrs. Everett, wrongly describes Owen as a Jesuit, 185 _note_. + + Green, John Richard (_History of the English People_), 30. + + Greenway, _alias_ Tesimond, Father Oswald, S.J., proclaimed as a + principal conspirator, 5; Bates' alleged evidence against him, + 178-183; his history of the Plot, 206; opinion of the official + narrative, 134; on the effects of an explosion, 133; on government + despatches concerning Percy, 155; his visit to the rebels at + Huddington, 206 _note_; fables respecting him, 264. + + Gregory, Arthur, a forger employed by government, 203. + + Grene, Father Martin, S.J., notes on the Plot, 45. + + Gunpowder, amount procured by the conspirators, 78; difficulties + concerning it, 132 _seq._ + + + Hagley Hall, R. Winter and S. Littleton captured there, 4. + + Hallam, Henry (_Constitutional History_), repudiates imputations + against the government, 18; on Father Garnet's capture, _ibid_., + _note_; on King James's title to the crown, 34. + + Harington, Sir John, 4. + + Hawarde, John (_Les Reportes del Cases in Camera Stellata_), 165 + _note_. + + Heiwood, or Heywood, Peter, 139 _note_, 258. + + Hendlip House (Thomas Abbington's), the scene of Father Garnet's + capture, 18 _note_, 166 _note_. + + Henry, Prince of Wales, anticipations concerning him, 33; the + conspirators' plans in his regard, 80, 81, 176. + + Herring, Francis (_Pietas Pontificia_), 27 _note_, 143 _note_. + + Higgons, Bevil (_English History_), 47. + + Hoby, Sir Edward, on the death of Percy, 154. + + Holbeche House (Stephen Littleton's), the conspirators there slain + or captured, 2, 4. + + House of Lords, its situation and subsequent migrations, 55 _seq._; + never represented in pictures of the Plot, 228. + + House, Percy's, at Westminster, its position, 60, 251; circumstances + of the bargain for it, 60; difficulties concerning it, 62, 64, 67, + 88. + + Howes, Edmund (continuation of Stowe's _Chronicle_), 127. + + Huddington House (Robert Winter's), 206 _note_. + + + Ichrup, Thomas, name given to Faukes, 149, 244. + + Inglefield, Sir Francis, 249. + + + James I., King of Great Britain, his claim to the succession, 34; + circumstances of his accession, 34, 35; hopes of the Catholics, 28; + who support his cause, 34; his policy at first favourable to them, + 29; soon reversed, 31; his dealings with Pope Clement VIII., 104; + his supposed interpretation of the letter, 128, 131; Tuesday his + lucky day, 230; his speech to Parliament, 211; accuses Catholics in + general and the Pope, 4; suspected of previous knowledge of the + Plot, 46; anxiety for evidence against priests, 182; letter to the + Archdukes, 187 _note_; alleged subsequent opinion of the Plot, 45; + instructions for the torture of Faukes, 259; his Scotch dialect, 260 + _note_; gives his royal word against Owen and Baldwin, 187; his + policy permanently affected, 209. + + James, John, a supposed Dominican, 139 _note_, 258. + + Jardine, David, on the character of the official narrative, 129, + 163; on the falsification of evidence, 199; on the Monteagle letter, + 117; on the king's interpretation, 132 _note_; on the established + facts of the case, 12; not perfectly impartial, 161, 207; on the + results of the Plot, 213. + + Jessopp, Augustus, D.D., on the value of money, 36 _note_, 117 + _note_; on Father Gerard's innocence, 207. + + Jesuits, efforts to incriminate, 177 _note_; Cecil on their + "insolencies," 106. + + + Kennet, White, Bishop of Peterborough, 45 _note_, 46, 263. + + Keyes, Robert, contradictions respecting him, 84 _note_, 183. _See + also_ Conspirators. + + "King's Book," the, its character, 108; Cecil's description of it, + 219, 220. + + Knyvet, or Knevet, Sir Thomas, leads the party which captures + Faukes, 124 _seq._; receives a peerage, 139 _note_; the Countess of + Suffolk his sister, 224 _note_. + + + Lake, Sir Thomas, 19, 232. + + Lenthal, William, Speaker of the Long Parliament, his evidence + reported, 160. + + Lindsay, Sir James, conveys messages between King James and Pope + Clement VIII., 104. + + Lingard, John, D.D., 68 _note_, 231. + + Littleton, Humphrey, 167 _note_. + + Littleton, Stephen, 2, 4, 156. + + Lodge, Edmund, F.S.A. (_Illustrations of British History_), 98. + + Lopez' Plot, 14. + + + "Main," the, 15 _note_, 26, 216. + + Mar, Earl of (John Erskine), 168 _note_, 172, 266. + + Mary, Princess, daughter of James I., 81, 176. + + Milton, poems on the Plot, 226. + + Mine, the, story told respecting it, 63 _seq._; difficulties + respecting it, 84 _seq._ + + _Mischeefe's Mystery_, 72, 115, 121, 123, 153 _note_, 159. + + Money, value of, 36 _note_, 117 _note_; amount raised by + conspirators, 39. + + Monteagle, Lord (William Parker), his character and antecedents, + 118; relations with the king and court, 34, 119; letter to the king, + 119, 256; connection with the conspirators, 118; communicates the + warning letter to Cecil, 120-123, 160; attends parliament on the day + of the "discovery," 137 _note_; devices of the government on his + behalf, 116; rewards conferred, 116; subsequent conduct, 258. + + Moore, Sir Francis, his evidence reported, 151. + + Moore, Sir Jonas, 138. + + More, Father Henry, S.J., 49. + + Morgan, Harry, 81 _note_. + + Morgan, Thomas, 157 _note_, 193 _note_. + + + Naunton, Sir Robert, on Cecil's character, 19. + + Northampton, Earl of (Henry Howard), a nominal Catholic promoted by + King James, 29; Cecil's agent in his secret correspondence, 26 + _note_; on Cecil's death, 23; on the history of the "cellar," 58 + _note_; not admitted to all Cecil's secrets, 112. + + Northumberland, Earl of (Henry Percy), a rival of Cecil's, 26; who + secretly traduces him, 26 _note_, 215, 216; the Plot turned to his + ruin, 26, 107, 216-218; which is attributed to Cecil, 26 _note_, + 218, his sentiments in return, 218. + + Nottingham, Earl of, Lord Admiral (Charles Howard), 170 _note_, + 265. + + + Oates, Titus, 46, 138. + + Oath taken by the conspirators, 9. + + Oldcorne, _alias_ Hall, Father Edward, S.J., captured along with + Garnet, 7; never accused of complicity _ib._; Catholic demonstration + at his execution, 28 _note_; tortured, 173. + + Oldmixon (_Royal House of Stuart_), 25 _note_, 46. + + Osborne, Francis, on Cecil's unpopularity, 25; on the "discovery," + 44; on the 5th of August celebration, 232 _note_; on Northumberland + and Cecil, 218; his qualifications as an historian, 44. + + Owen, Captain Hugh, falsely described as a Jesuit, 173 _note_, 185 + _note_; particularly obnoxious to the government, 173, 185; evidence + fabricated against him, 174; Cecil's instruction respecting him, 116 + _note_; efforts made to secure him, 185 _seq._; his intercourse with + Phelippes, 112, 185 _note_. + + Owen, Lewis, 263. + + + Paris, Henry, 162. + + Parliament, its successive adjournments, 67, 70 _note_, 91, 114, + 230; meets on the day of the "discovery," 136; activity against + Catholics, 5, 212 _seq._ + + Parry, Sir Thomas, English Ambassador at Paris, instructions given + to, 28 _note_; intelligence supplied by, 98, 101, 102; account of + the discovery furnished to, 126 _seq._ + + Parry, Dr. William, his Plot, 14, 153. + + Parsons, Father Robert, S.J., letters to, 29 _note_, 77, 223; his + views as to the succession, 249; on Walsingham's "spyery," 77. + + Percy, Sir Charles, 192 _note_. + + Percy, Thomas, one of the first and principal conspirators, 9, 64; + his antecedents, 36, 37, 148; house hired by him, 60; and "cellar," + 75; strange conduct in both transactions, 88; conduct afterwards, + 88, 91; undertakes to seize Duke Charles or Princess Elizabeth, 82; + his death, 4, 152 _seq_; profession of religious zeal, 148; bigamy, + _ibid_; Catholics suspicious of him, 150; alleged secret dealings + with Cecil, 151; the case against him, 148-156. _See also_ + Conspirators. + + Phelippes, Thomas, the "decipherer," employed by the government, + 111; their devices against him, 112; correspondence with Hugh Owen, + 185 _note_. + + Pickering, Mr., and his horse, 261. _Plain and Rational Account of + the Catholick Faith_, 49. + + Plots under Elizabeth and James I., 14, 15, 153, 157 _note_, 193 + _note_; their common feature, 13. + + _Polititian's Catechism_, 51 _note_, 106, 137 _note_. + + Pope Clement VIII., interchanges communications with James I., 104. + + Pope Paul V., represented as an accomplice in the Plot, 5, 239. + + Popham, Sir John, Lord Chief Justice, 170 _note_, 197, 266. + + + Raleigh, Sir Walter, Cecil's enmity towards him, 26 _note_, 48 + _note_, 198; his ruin, 26, 216; attempt to implicate him in the + Powder Plot, 197, 198. + + Ratcliffe, Ralph, a government spy, 95, 96, 191. + + Rich, Sir Edwin, 264. + + Richardot, President, 189. + + Rogers, Professor Thorold, on the value of money, 117 _note_; on + James's title to the throne, 34. + + Rokewood, Ambrose, 179 _note_. _See also_ Conspirators. + + + Salisbury, first Earl of. _See_ Cecil, Robert. + + Salisbury, second Earl of. _See_ Cecil, William. + + Sanderson, Sir William, 46. + + Schondonck, Father Giles, S. J., Rector of St. Omers, on the + innocence of the Jesuits, 201; on Cecil's manifesto, 222. + + Scott, Sir Walter, 132 _note_. + + Shakespeare, never alludes to the Plot, 226 _note_. + + Sharpe, Dr. R. R., 262 _note_. + + Shepherd, John, evidence of, 251. + + Smith, John Thomas (_Antiquities of Westminster_), 58 _note_, 79 + _note_, 89 _note_. + + Soane, Sir John, 238. + + Southwaick, or Southwell, a government spy, 99-102. + + Speed, John (_Historie_), 62, 63 _note_. + + Squires, Edward, his plot, 14. + + Stanley, Sir William, 185, 192 _note_. + + Strange, Father Thomas, S. J., 96 _note_. + + Streete, John, pensioned for killing Percy and Catesby, 155. + + Strype, John (_Annals_), 28 _note_. + + Suffolk, Earl of, Lord Chamberlain (Thomas Howard), his venality, + 224. + + + Talbot, John, of Grafton, 38 _note_. + + Talbot, Peter, Archbishop of Dublin. _See Polititian's Catechism._ + + Theobald, Lewis, 267. + + Topcliffe, Richard, priest-hunter, 202. + + Torture, use of, 4, 5, 172, 173, 201 _note_, 259, 260. + + Tresham, Francis, enlisted in the enterprise, 10, 252 _seq_.; his + previous record, 35, 36; his action on behalf of King James, 34; + suspected of writing the warning letter, 147, 158; and of collusion + with Cecil, _ibid._; his conduct after the "discovery," 3, 158; his + death in the Tower, 6 _note_, 158. _See also_ Conspirators. + + Tresham, Sir Thomas, proclaims King James, 34; summoned to Court, + 248. + + _True and Perfect Relation_, character of the narrative, 43, 163. + + Tytler, Patrick Fraser, 112. + + + Usher, James, Archbishop of Armagh, his evidence reported, 45. + + + _Venatio Catholica_, 261. + + _Vetusta Monumenta_, 79, 86. + + Villeroy, M., on Cecil's duplicity, 23. + + "Vinegar House," 60 _note_. + + Vowell, Peter, evidence reported, 160. + + + Waad, Sir William, lieutenant of the Tower, charged by Cobham with + forgery of evidence, 202; dismissed from his post, 203 _note_, 267; + his inscriptions in the Tower, 264, 267; letters to Cecil, 168, 258. + + Walsh, Sir Richard, sheriff of Worcestershire, 4, 154 _note_. + + Ward, Samuel, preacher and artist, 239. + + Webb, John, evidence reported, 160. + + Weldon, Sir Anthony, on Cecil's unpopularity, 25. + + Welwood, James (_Memoirs_), 46. + + Westmoreland, titular Earl of (Henry Neville), attempt to implicate + him, 197. + + Whynniard, Mr., landlord of Percy's house, 61 _note_, 89; his sudden + death, 92 _note_. + + Whynniard, Mrs., evidence of, 61, 67, 72, 88, 142. + + Willaston, William, intelligence supplied by, 99. + + Wimbledon, Viscount (Edward Cecil), his evidence reported, 160. + + Windsor, Lord, his house plundered by the conspirators, 2. + + Winter, Robert, introduced to the conspiracy, 10; captured at + Hagley, 4; evidences of foul play in his regard, 183, 184; trial and + execution, 6. _See also_ Conspirators. + + Winter, Thomas, one of the first conspirators, 9, 64; character, 35; + Spanish mission, 36, 118; brings Faukes from Flanders, 9; attends + the prorogation, Oct. 3rd, 74 _note_, 230; captured at Holbeche, 4; + his published confession, 167 _seq._; probably tortured, 169; trial + and execution, 6. _See also_ Conspirators. + + Wood, Anthony a, notes addressed to, 159. + + Worcester, Earl of (Edward Somerset), 168 _note_, 266. + + Wotton, Sir Henry, 160. + + Wren, Sir Christopher, 138. + + Wright, Christopher, his introduction to the Conspiracy, 9, 64; + character, 35, 37; previous employment in Spain, 36; killed at + Holbeche, 4, 152. _See also_ Conspirators. + + Wright, Henry, his informations, 94, 95, 254. + + Wright, John, one of the first conspirators, 9, 64; character, 35, + 37; killed at Holbeche, 4, 152. _See also_ Conspirators. + + +CHISWICK PRESS:--CHARLES WHITTINGHAM AND CO. +TOOKS COURT, CHANCERY LANE, LONDON. + + +TRANSCRIBERS' NOTES: + +p 14: there is no closing quotation mark following the line '"making and +fomenting plots was then in fashion; nor can it be denied that good +grounds for such an opinion were not lacking.' The closing mark is +placed at the end of this sentence, though this may be incorrect. + +p 20: continuation of footnote 37 from previous page begins with 'avor'; +this is a typo for 'favor'. + +p 24: 'the' repeated in footnote 49, epigram 2; one 'the' removed. + +p 32: added a closing quotation mark following 'and prepared for them'. + +p 36: added . to end of footnote 87, after 'The Spanish Treason'. + +p 49: Inserted , into footnote 124; 'James I., lxxxi.'. + +p 120: footnote 257: missing closing bracket; corrected. + +p 154: inserted , into footnote 310; 'James I., i. 588'. + +p 160: changed ' to " to match quote mark style, footnote 329. + +p 194: footnote 396: 'Englands' changed to 'England's'. + +p 248: added missing full-stop: 'give ease to Catholics'. + +p 255: added opening double-quote marks to the passage entitled +'Application to the King.' + +p 266: the oe ligature was represented as [oe] + +p 268, 269: uncommon 'inverted asterism' topographic marks are used to +signify important notes on conventions used in the text; they have the +form of three asterixes arranged in a v-shape. For simplicity, they are +replaced with '***' in this document. + +p 281: 'incrediblty' changed to 'incredibility', 'o' changed to 'of'. + + + + + +End of Project Gutenberg's What was the Gunpowder Plot?, by John Gerard + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK WHAT WAS THE GUNPOWDER PLOT? *** + +***** This file should be named 34807.txt or 34807.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + http://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/8/0/34807/ + +Produced by Robert Cicconetti, Adam Styles and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net (This +file was produced from images generously made available +by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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