third whom they should call might acquaint whom they thought fit and willing to the business for many said he may be content that I should know who would not therefore that all the Company should be acquainted with their names to this we all agreed After this Master Fawkes laid into the Cellar which he had newly taken a thousand of Billets and five hundred of Fagots and with that covered the Powder because we might have the house free to suffer any one to enter that would Master Catesby wished us to consider whether it were not now necessary to send Master Fawkes over both to absent himself for a time as also to acquaint Sir William Stanley and Master Owen with this matter We all agreed that he should provided that he gave it them with the same Oath that we had taken it before viz. to keep it secret from all the world The reason why we desired Sir William Stanley should be acquaimed herewith was to have him with us so soon as he could And for Master Owen he might hold good correspondency after with forrain Princes So Master Fawkes departed about Easter for Flanders and returned the latter end of Angust He told me that when he arived at Brussels Sir William Stanley was not returned from Spaine so as he uttered the matter only to Owen who seemed well pleased with the business but told him that surely Sir William would not be acquainted with any Plot as having business now afoot in the Court of England but he himself would be alwaies ready to tell it him and send him away so soon as it were done About this time did Master Percy and Master Catesby meet at the Bathe where they agreed that the company being yet but few Master Catesby should have the others ther 's authority to call in whom he thought best By which Authority he called in after Sir Everad Digby though at what time I know not and last of all Master Francis Thresham The first promised as I heard Master Catesby say fifteen hundred pounds The second two thousand pounds Master Percy himself promised all that he could get of the Earle of Northumberlands rents which was about foure thousand pounds and to provide many galloping horses to the number of ten Mean while Master Fawkes and my self alone bought some new Powder as suspecting the first to be dampe and conveyed it into the Cellar and set it in order as we resolved it should stand Then was the Parliament a new prorogued untill the sift of November so as we all went down untill some ten daies before when Master Catesby came up with Master Fawkes to an house by Enfield-Chace called White-webbes whether I came to them and Master Catesby willed me to enquire whether the young Prince came to the Parliament I told him that I heard that his Grace thought not to be there Then must we haveour horses said Master Catesby beyond the water and provision of more company to surprize the Prince and leave the Duke alone Two daies after being Sunday at night in came one to my Chamber and told me that a letter had been given to my Lord Mounteagle to this effect That he wished his Lordships absence from the Parliament because a blow would there be given which Letter he presently carried to my Lord of Salisbury On the morrow I went to VVhite-VVebbes and told it Master Catesby assuring him withall that the matter was disclosed and wished him in any case to forsake his Country He told me he would see further as yet and resolved to send Master Fawkes to try the uttermost protesting if the part belonged to himself he would try the same adventure On Wednesday Master Fawkes went and returned at night of which we were very glad Thursday I came to London and Friday Master Catesby Master Thresham and I met at Barnet where we questioned how this letter should be sent to my Lord Mounteagle but could not conceive for Master Thresham forsware it whom we only suspected On Saturday night I met Master Thresham againe in Lincolns-Inne walkes Wherein he told me such speeches that my Lord of Salisbury should use to the King as I gave it lost the second time and repeated the same to Master Catesby who hereupon was resolved to be gone but staid to have Master Percy come up whose consent herein we wanted On Sunday Master Percy being dealt with to that end would needs abide the uttermost tryal This suspition of all hands put us into such confusion as Master Catesby resolved to goe down into the Country the Monday that Master Percy went to Syon and Master Percy resolved to follow the same night or early the next morning About five of the Clock being Tuesday came the younger Wright to my Chamber and told me that a Nobleman called the Lord Mounteagle saying Arise and come along to Essex-house for I am going to call up my Lord of Northumberland saying withall The matter is discovered Goe back Master Wright quoth I and learne what you can about Essex gate Shortly he returned and said Surely all is lost for Lepton is got on horseback at Essex door and as he parted he asked if their Lordships would have any more with him and being answered no is rode fast up Fleetstreet as he can ride Goe you then quoth I to Master Percy for sure it is for him they seek and bid him be gone I will stay and see the uttermost Then I went to the Court gates and found them straightly garded so as no body could enter From thence I went down towards the Parliament-house and in the middle of Kingsstreet found the Guard standing that would not let me pass And as I returned I heard one say there is a Treason discovered in which the King and the Lords should have been blows up So then I was fully satisfied that all was known and went to the Stable where my Gelding stood and rode into the Country Master Catesby had appointed our meeting at Dunchurch but I could not overtake them untill I came to my Brothers which was Wednesday night On Thursday we took the Armor at my Lord Winsors and went that night to one Stephen Littletous house where the next day being Friday as I was early abroad to discover my man came to me and said that a heavy mischance had severed all the company for that Master Catesby Master Rookwood and Master Grant were burned with Gunpowder upon which sight the rest dispersed Master Littleton wished me to flie and so would he I told him I would first see the body of my Friend and bury him whatsoever befell me When I came I found Master Catesby reasonable well Master Percy both the Wrights Master Rookwood and Master Grant I asked them what they resolved to doe they answered we meane here to dye I said again I would take such part as they did About eleven of the clock came the company to beset the house and as I walked into the Court
ENGLANDS Warning-Peece OR The HISTORY of THE Gun-powder Treason Inlarged with some Notable Passages not heretofore Published Whereunto is Annexed The ACT of PARLIAMENT for Publick Thanksgiving upon the Fifth day of November yearly By T. S. They conceive mischeif and bring forth vanity Job 15.35 Who so is wise and will observe these things even they shall understand the loving kindness of the Lord Psal 107 43. London Printed by T. N. for Tho. Pierrepont at the Sun in Pauls Churchyard 1659. TO The Courteous Reader AS time doth weare out the remembrance of actions most famous and worthy of marke so Historie the message of antiquitie doth bring back time with the wonderfull workes thereof to the knowledge of Posterity both for delight and benefit The memorial of this most prodigious Conspiracie which never had any fellow being almost obliterated and forgotten in many places of the land may be renewed revived and presented to succeeding generations by the use of this little Storie Little Books are fittest for little purses Such a one as this whose price I hope will never give just cause of repentance to the discreet buyer All that I desire by it is that the great preserver of man may have everlasting glory and our Nation his everlasting Protection Farewell Your Friend Tho. Spencer Englands Warning-peece OR The Historie of the Gunpowder Treason enlarged with some notable passages not heretofore published MAny and sundry were the Plots and Attempts of Treason against our most gracious Soveraign Queen Elizabeth of famous and ever blessed memorie Pope Pius the sifth cursed her and therefore Parrie and Savage would have stabbed her Somervil and Arderne would have killed her Squire Lopez the Jew would have poysoned her but they did all faile of their purposes for God Almighty blessed her and made her raign long and prosperous maugre the malice of all her Enemies both at home and abroad When the Pope and his welbeloved Sons falsely called Catholicks but truly Papists saw that no sorcerie could prevaile against her they did then cast about how they might serve their own turne and promote their own cause by her Majesties immediate Successor To this end Pope Clement the eight a little before her death sent two Bulls or Letters into England one after another wherein he did forbid any man to claim the Crown and take upon him the Rule and Government of the English Nation that would not conforme himself to the Church of Rome acknowledge the Supremacie of her head the Pope and stoop to his lure yea death was to be endured by his beloved Sons rather then such a one should be admitted that would tolerate any of the Protestant Religion And to debarr the King of Scotland of his right of succession he did liberally bestow upon him the disgraceful names of a Heretick a Schismatick an Apostate another Julian Such were the terrible words of his thunder Much about this time Robert Parsons the Jesuit wrote a Book of honorable descents and put it forth under the name of Dolmax wherein he did intitle the King of Spain to the Crown of England as being descended from Katharine the Daughter of John of Caunt Duke of Lancaster the fourth Son of our King Edward the third who was married to Henry the third King of Castile and Leon. And in another book he saith His Philopater Sect. 2 That it is the opinion both of Divines Lawyers That if any Christian Prince shal fall from the Catholick Religion and seek to draw others from the same he doth presently fall from all princely power and dignity Visib Monar lib. 2. cap. 4 And Sanders another bird of the same wing saith That the King that wil not submit himself to the authority of the Pope ought not to be tolerated but his Subjects ought to chuse another in his place assoon as may be These diplomatical and Jesuitical writings gave life and beginning to the greatest the rarest the vilest Treason that ever was invented plotted attempted against Prince and People famous throughout the world for the horrible infamy thereof the eternal shame of Poperie as shal be shewed in the course of our Historie Upon the soure and twentieth day of March in the year of our Lord One Thousand six hundred and two Queen Elizabeth a Princess full of happy daies but fuller of immortal Trophees of honor did change her corruptible Crown in this World for an incorruptible in Heaven and within four hours after her decease by the grave and wise Councel that she left behind her James the sixt of Scotland was Proclaimed King of England and Ireland at the Court-gate at Richmond which did much rejoyce the hearts of the godly people in England when they heard of it And in the sweet and pleasant moneth of May his Majesty made a safe arrival at London where he was received with great joy and acclamation The Princes of Europe did stand amazed and wondred when they heard that his Majesty had gotten the possession of two Kingdoms without the shedding of a drop of blood Many of them sent their Ambassadors and the King of Denmark who was brother to his Wife the Queen came in his own person to congratulate the greatness of his fortunes It was now a rare sight in London to see two Kings walke peaceably together in the streets His Majesty for some reasons did deferr his Coronation untill the twenty fifth of July In the meane while some turbulent and discontented spirits plotted a conspiracy and purposed to surprise the King and Prince Henry his eldest Son being instigated and perswaded thereunto by Watson and Clarke two Popish Priests who told them that the Act was lawfull for that the King was no King before he was Crowned The other persons of note involved in this Treason were Thomas Lord Grey of Wilton Henry Brooke Lord Cobham Sir Griffin Markham Sir Walter Rawleigh Sir Edward Parham George Broâ—ke Brother to the Lord Cobham Bartholomew Brookesly and Anthony Copley All which were indited Sir Edward Parham was acquitted by the Jury the rest were found guilty and condemned George Brooke and Watson and Clarke the two Priests were executed All the rest were graciously pardoned by his Majesty at which example of mercy the condemned wished that they might sacrifice their lives to gain the love and favor of so merciful a Prince But clemency to offenders makes men bold to offend One Treason is past and a greater follows at the heeles thereof For in the same yeer the old Serpent the Devil doth put it into the heart of Robert Catesby of Ashby in the County of Leicester Esquire to destroy the King with Gunpowder by blowing up the Parliament house when his Majesty the Queen the Prince the Duke the choycest of the Nobility and Gentry were there assembled for doing the turne most proper to their places and degrees And this damnable device he did maintain to be holy and lawful upon this ground of reason That if
by the two Bulls or Letters of Pope Clement the eight See the Hist of France P. 1196. they ought not to have received the King into the Kingdome then by a greater reason being received the Pope would have him made away as if Kings Free Princes and States were to live but at the pleasure of the Pope The proditorious doctrine of the Josuits did likewise add much fuel to this fiery enterprize which was first made known and revealed by Cateshy to Thomas Winter of Huddington in the County of Worcester when they met together at London who gave his consent and approbation thereunto And shortly after went into Flanders to negotiate with Baldwine the Jesuite with the Constable with Owen with Faewkes and also with Sir William Stanley who for many yeers together did lurk in those parts of the Netherlands that were under the obedience of Albertus Archduke of Austria and Clara Isabella his Wife the Daughter of the King of Spaine and durst not come into England For this was that Sir William Stanley who contrary to his Oath did treacherously deliver up Dâ—venter a rich Town in Oven Yssell to the King of Spaine which had bin gotten a little before by Robert Dudley Earl of Leicester sent into the low Countries with some considerable Forces by Queen Elizabeth to aid the Dutch against the Spaniard but the Town was regained shortly after by the States of Holland He that is false to God will be false to Man and when opportunity serves will keep no faith with them that are no better then Heretikes in his account When Winter had conferred with the parties aforesaid and had imparted to them so much of his minde as he thought convenient at this time he returned back into England and brought with him Guide Fawks a very desperate Souldier and a monstrous instrument of mercilese cruelty And when they came to London they met with Robert Catesby Thomas Percy and John Wright at a house behinde St. Clements Church without Temple Bar where they spake of doing some thing but first they thought it fit to take an Cath of secrecie which they gave to each other upon a Primer the contents whereof here followeth YOu shall swear by the blessed Trinity and by the Sacrament you now purpose to receive never to disclose directly nor indirectly by word or circumstance the matter that shall be proposed to you to keep secret nor desist from the Execution thereof untill the rest shall give you leave And for their further confirmation they went into a more private chamber and there heard Mass and received the blessed Sacrament at the hands of William Gerrard a Priest who told them that it was better that some Innocents did perish with the nocent for the advantage of the Catholicks rather then the service should quaile the necessitie of time and occasion so requiring it And now did Catesby and Winter disclose the business to the rest wherefore they took the Oath which they all approved And Percy by the Authority of the rest was sent to take some house or lower roome either under or near the Parliament house to lay in the Powder which was to be bought by Winter and Fawkes Now while this Cockatrices Egge horrible Treason was hatching to the end that it might succeed well and breake forth into a Basiliske a flying and fire-breathing Serpent whose deadly eye might destroy both Prince and People in a moment in the twinkling of an eye the Papists gave themselves to their devotions and Prayers both at home and abroad For although the vulgar sort knew not of the particulars of the damnable design yet they had a general notion and confused knowledge of some thing to be done in the Parliament for the good of their Church And the Priests and Jesuits themselves did usually conclude their Masses and oblatory Sacrifices with these verses made by Henry Garnet Provincial over the Jesuits here in England Gentem auferte perfidam credentium de finibus Vt Christo laudes debitas persolvamus alacriter Which I English thus Even from the Coasts of faithfull men A faithless Nation take That chearfully to Christ our Lord We may due praises make And others prayed See Speed his Chron. as they were taught thus Prosper Lord their paines that labour in thy cause day and night let Heresie vanish away like smoake let the memory of it perish with a crack like the ruine and fall of a broken house Hereby alluding to their working in the Myne the mounting smoak of the Powder and the violent fall of the Parliament house In Flanders Baldwine was not slack to improve his Interest in Heaven for the speeding of their great errand At Rome Parsons the Jesuite being Governor of that Colledge which was founded by Pope Gregorie the thirteenth for English Fugitives and discontented malignants did give order to the Students of the house after their ordinary devotions were ended to pray for some extraordinary thing Orate proconversione Turcae One while they must pray for the conversion of the Turke some two or three daies together Another while they must pray as long for the Captives in England meaning the Papists that were in Prison But for two moneths together before the day appointed for the execution of their bloodie design Orate pro Captivis in Anglia Parsons commanded them to pray for the intention of their Father Rector which made the Students of the house wonder what their Father Rectors intention should be Orate pro intentione Patris Rectoris They had set formes of Prayer for these things made by Parsons But when they heard of a Barbarous Treason discovered in England sixteen of them forsook the Colledge and came over the Alpes down into France waiting for a better season to return home with some of which who forsook the Church of Rome and embraced the reformed Religion I had some conference The King began his Raign as we have shewed upon the foure and twentieth day of March the last day of the year according to the date of the Lawyers in the yeer of our Lord God one thousand six hundred and two And in the Summer Quarter following and in part of the Autumnal the Plague in London made a lamentable ravage upon mankind the weekly Bills of mortalitie I very well remember were exceeding great But when it pleased God to lighten his hand and relent the violence of his devouring Angel against the people of that City giving good hope that the infection was come to a period then did his Majesty call his Parliament upon the nineteenth day of the next March and upon the seventh of Iuly concluded the first Sessions thereof and adjourned it to the seventh of February in the second yeer of his raign And before that time came he did adjourne it again to the sift of November in the third yeer of his raign and in the yeer of our Lord one thousand six hundred and five which proves a most
to his Majesty The contents whereof follow MY Lord out of theleve I beare to some of your friends I have a care of your preservation Theresore I would advise you as you fender your life to devise so me excuse to shift off your affendance at this Parliament For God and Man have toncurred to punish the wickedness of this time And thinke not nightly of this Aovertisement but retire your self into your Country where you may expect the event in safety For though there be no appeatance of any stir yet I say they shall receive a terrible blow this Parliament and yet they shall net see who burts them This Counsell is not to be contemned because it may doe you good and can doe you no barme for the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the Letter And I hope God will give you the grace to make good vse of it To whose holy profection I commend you The King no sooner read the Letter but after a little pause and then reading it over againe he delivered his judgement of it in such sort as he thought it was not to be contemned for that the style of it seemed to be more quick and pithie then is usual to be in any Pasquil or Libel the superfluities of idle brains But the Earle of Salisbury perceiving the King to apprehend it deeplier then he looked for knowing his nature told him that he thought by one sentence in it that it was like to be written by some Foole or Madman reading to him this sentence in it For the danger is past as soon as you have burnt the Letter which he said was likely to be the saysing of a Foole if the danger was past o soon as the Letter was burnt the warning behoved to be of little availe when the burning might make the danger to be eschewed But the King by the contrary considering the former sentence in the Letter That they should receive a terrible blow at this Parliament and yet should not see who hurt them joyning it to the sentence immediately following already alleadged did thereupon conjecture That the danger mentioned should be some suddain danger by blowing up of Powder For no other Insurrection Rebellion or whatsoever other private and desperate Attempt could be committed or attemoted in time of Parliament and the Authors thereof unseen except it were only by a blowing up of Powder which might he performed by one base knave in a dark corner whereupon he was move to interpret and construe the latter sentence in the Letter alleadged by the Earle of Salisbury against all ordinary sense and construction in Grammar as if by these words For the danger is past as soon as you have burned the Letter should be closely understood the suddainty 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 tnrning that word of as soon to the sense of as quickly And therefore wished that before his going to the Parliament the under rooms of the Parliament house might be well and narrowly searched But the Earle of Salisbury wondring at his Majesties Commentary which he knew to be so farre contrary to his ordinary and naturall disposition who did ever sin upon the other side in not apprehending nor trusting due Advertisements of practises and perils when he was truly informed of them whereby he had many times drawn himself into many desperate dangers and interpreting rightly this extraordinary caution at this time to proceed from the vigilant care he had of the whole State more then of his own person which could not but have all perished together if this designement had succeeded He thought good to dissemble still unto the King that there had been any just cause of such apprehension And ending the purpose with some merry jest upon this Subject as his custome is took his leave for that time But though he seemed so to neglect it to his Majesty yet his customable and watchfull care of the King and the State still boyling within him And having with the blessed Virgin Mary laid up in his heart the Kings so strange judgement and construction of it He could not be at rest till he had acquainted the foresaid Lords what had passed between the King and him in private Whereupon they were all earnest to renew again the memorie of the same purpose to his Majesty as it was agreed that he should the next day being Saturday repair to his Highness which he did in the same privy Gallery and renewed the memory thereof the Lord Chamberlain then being present with the King At what time it was determined that the said Lord Chamberlain should according to his Custome and Office view all the Parliament houses both above and below and consider what likelihood or appearance of any such danger might possibly be gathered by the sight of them But yet aswell for staying of idle rumors as for being the more able to discerne any mystery the nearer that things were in readiness his journey thither was ordained to be deferred till the afternoon before the sitting down of the Parliament which was upon the Monday following At what time he according to this conclusion went to the Parliament house accompanied with my Lord Mountegle being in reale to the Kings service earnest and curious to see the event of that accident whereof he had the fortune to be the first discovered Where having viewed all the lower rooms he found in the vault under the upper house great store and provision of Billets Fagots and Coales And enquiring of Whyneard keeper of the Wardrobe to what use he had put those lower rooms and cellars he told him that Thomas Percy had hired both the house and part of the Cellar or vault under the same and that the Wood and Coale therein was the said Gentlemans own provision Whereupon the Lord Chamberlain casting his eye aside perceived a fellow standing in a corner there calling himself the said Percies man keeper of that house for him but was indeed Cuido Fawkes the owner of that hand which should have acted that monstrous Tragedy The Lord Chamberlain looking upon all things with a heedfull indeed yet in outward appearance but with a careless and rackless eye as became so wise and diligent a Minister he presently addressed himself to the King in the said Privy Gallery where in the presence of the Lord Treasurer the Lord Admiral the Earles of Worcester Northampton and Salisbury he made his report what he had seen and observed there noting that Mountegle had told him That he no sooner heard Thomas Percy named to be the possessor of that house but considering both his backwardness in Religion and the old dearness in friendship between himself and the said Percy he did greatly suspect the matter and that the Letter should come from him The said Lord Chamberlain also told That he did not wonder a little at the extraordinary great
recantation Also this morning and much about the same time John Grant of Norbrook Lodowicke Grant his Brother and Henry Morgan with their associates and servants rode thorough the Town of Warwick to Dunchurch to joyn with Sir Everad Digby and his Complices and those Powder-Men that came down from London who brought them full assurance that their main Plot was failed and bewrayed whereupon they had builded the golden mountains of their glorious hopes Then and there did they all hold a consultation what way was best for them to take whether they should scatter and every man shift for himself or cluster together and stand upon their own defence They did conclude for the last and so turned the secret Treason into open Rebellion And for their first exploit by the Advice and Counsell of the Grants and Morgan they did resolve to strengthen themselves with certain great horses that were in the Castle stable at Warwick which did belong to divers Nobleman and Gentlemen of the Country who had put them into the hands of one Henry Bennock a skilful Rider to make them fit for their service William Lord Compton had a brace Grant had one there himself and Morgan had another and some other Gentlemen had the like to the number of twelve or there about And this act of violence and Robbery Gram made no doubt to performe easily and speedily as he did by the acquaintance he had with â—icholas Smith servant to Bennuck who lay in the Stable over the horses For the Stable at this time did lye opon to the Street and was not walled about as now it is That work of defence and much more about the Castle both for use and ornament hath been erected since by Sir Fulke Grevill Lord Brooke after that by the favor and bounty of King James he came to be the owner and possessor of it Upon the Tuesday night or rather the Wednesday morning some houres before day they all came from Dunchurch to Warwick and Grant and some others with him rode up to the Stable dore and called to Smith the Groom and said Nick what art a bed a good husband would be up and preparing his Horses to ride the Groom knowing Grants voyce by his often comming to see the riding of his owne Horse and expecting nothing but faire dealing having alwaies a Candle burning by him in the night in case the horses prove unruly or break loose rose up and being but half dressed opened the Stable dore Then the Rebels rushed in sadled all the horses and rode away with them to Norbrook Grants house two miles from Warwick Westward Where Rookwoods Wife Morgans Wife and some others of the same stamp were come together to sing and rejoyce for the downfall and destruction of the Hereticks But when they saw their Husbands much dejected in spirit their countenances fallen and understood the cause thereof their mirth was turned into mourning and their singing into sighing Yet did they not spare to upbraide them with dulness and cowardliness saying Are you the men that would Conquer Kingdoms and do you stay here go out for shame encrease your forces and try the uttermost of your fortunes This night Master John Norton the undersheriff who at this time dwelt at Alcester lay at the Swan in Warwick and being quickly informed of the ryot and robbery committed at the Castle Stable for all the Town was up in a tumult partly by the woful complaint of Smith for the loss of the horses and partly by the neighing and pransing of the horses when they came among the mares he sent a Messenger to Sir Richard Verney Sheriff of the County who came to Norbrooke and seized upon all the Cattel on the ground and goods in the house but the Rebels were gone before he came thither and their Wives became Prisoners to the under-sheriff from whom I had the information of these things He also sent Reynold Parker his own Man to Sir Eulke Grevile the Father of Fulk Lord Brooke one of the Deputy Lieutenants of the County who lived at Beauchamps Court a quarter of a mile from Alcester a Market Town Ten miles from Warwick bordering upon the County of Worcester This Messenger being afraid to go by Grants house went over Barford bridge to Stratford and so to Alcester where he set up his horse in his Masters Stable and spake not a word to any of the Town of what was done at Warwick but went hastily to Beauchamps Court to deliver his message The old Knight and noble Patriot no sooner heard of the manner of their taking away of the great horses the Winters and the Grants named whom he knew very well and also called to minde the late boldness and insolencie of the Papists before him in his course of justice menacing the Adversaries of the contrary Religion with the day of revenge for all their sufferings by the penal Laws and Statutes but he did presently conclude from these premises that they were entred into a practice of Rebellion and therefore without any delay he sent Edward Worthington the Steward of his house to Alcester to buy some Powder his store at this time being not answerable to his desire to make his defence against such enemies as he supposed were now coming towards him The Messenger that came to him from Warwick returned back with his Steward and when they came into the midst of the Town they there saw John Winter the youngest of the three brothers who was come thither to call a Trumpeter which he had there placed about a month before to learne to sound the points of War They cryed stop the Thief stop the Thief Winter florishing his naked sword over his head rode back with speed to meet his company The Townes men assayed to apprehend him Henry Eaton a Blacksmith smote at him but Edward Walden one of the Constables saluted him with his black staff the Ensign of his Office and made his horse reel out of his way At this very instant came the Head of the Rebels along the high way that did cross that end of the Town and looked aside they saw Winter like to be taken Then they cryed Arme arme arme and so turned into the Town and rescued him The Townsmen all amazed at their sudain surprizal by so gallant a Troop so bravely mounted knew not what to do but to save themselves by slipping into their houses This hurly burly being near the house of Master Fulke Madley Bayliff of the Town he came forth and charged them in the Kings name to keep the peace whereupon one of them smote him with the lock end of a Petronel or Horsemans peece which blow he felt to his dying day Some of them in their desperate fury and madness would have set the Town on fire but others gave Counsel to depart saying that if Sir Fulke Grevill should heare of them and come sorth with his men whom they knew to be alwaies well attended with a brave
in England if the Peace with Spaine helped us not but had as yet resolved upon nothing such or the like talke we passed at Graveling where I lay for a winde and when it served came both in one passage to Greenwich near which place we took a pair of Oares and so came up to London and came to Master Catesby whom we found in his lodging he welcomed us into England and asked me what news from the Constable I told him good words but I feared the deeds would not answer This was the beginning of Easter Terme and about the midst of the same Terme whether sent for by Master Catesby or upon some business of his own up came Mr. Thomas Percy The first words he spake after he came into our company was Shall we alwaies Gentlemen talke and never doe any thing Master Catesby took him aside and had speech about somewhat to be done so as first we might all take an Oath of secresie which we resolved within two or three daies to doe so as there we met behinde Saint Clements Master Catesby Master Percy Master Wright Master Guy Fawkes and my self and 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 Then did Master Catesby disclose to Master Percy and I together with Jack Wright tell to Master Fawkes the business for which we took this Oath which they both approved And then wâ—s Master Percy sent to take the house which Master Catesby in mine absence had learned did belong to one Ferris which with some difficulty in the end he obtained and became as Ferris before was Tenant to Whinniard Master Fawkes underwent the name of Master Percies man calling himself Johnson because his face was the most unknown and received the Keys of the house untill we heard that the Parliament was adjourned to the seventh of February At which time we all departed several waies into the Country to meet again at the beginning of Michaelmas Terme Before this time also it was thought convenient to have a house that might answer to Master Percies where we might make provision of Powder and Wood for the Mine which being there made ready should in a night be conveyed by boate to the house by the Parliament because we were loth to foule that with often going in and out There was none that we could devise so fit as Lambeth where Master Catesby often lay and to be keeper thereof by Master Catesbies choice we received into the number Keyes as a trusty honest man this was about a month before Michaelmas Some fortnight after towards the beginningof the Terme Master Fawkes and I came to Master Catesby at Marecrofts where we agreed that now was time to begin and sit things in order for the Mine so as Master Fawkes went to London and the next day sent for me to come over to him when I came the cause was for that the Scottish Lords were appointed to sit in conference of the Union in Master Percies house This hindred our beginning untill a fortnight before Christmas by which time both Master Percy and Master Wright were come to London and we against their coming had provided a good part of the Powder so as we all five entred with tooles fit to begin our work having provided our selves of Baked meats the less to need sending abroad We entred late in the night and were never seen save only Master Percies man untill Christmas Eve In which time we wrought under a little entry to the Wall of the Parliament house and underpropped it as we went with Wood. Whilst we were together we began to fashion our business and discoursed what we should do after this deed was done The first question was how we might surprize the next heire the Prince haply would be at the Parliament with the King his Father how should we then be able to seise on the Duke This burthen Master Percy undertook that by his acquaintance he with another Gentleman would enter the Chamber without suspition and having some dozen others at several dores to expect his coming and two or three on horseback at the Court gate to receive him he would undertake the blow being given until which he would attend in the Dukes Chamber to carry him safe away for he supposed most of the Court would be absent and such as were there not suspecting or unprovided for any such matter For the Lady Elizabeth it were easie to surprize her in the Country by drawing friends together at an Hunting near the Lord Haringtons and Ashby Master Catesbies house being not far off was a fit place for preparation The next was for money and horses which if we could provide in any reasonable measure having the Heire apparent and the first knowledge by foure or five daies was oddes sufficient Then what Lords we should save from the Parliament which was first agreed in general as many as we could that were Catholicks or so disposed But after we descended to speake of particulars Next what forrain Princes we should acquaint with this before or joyne with after For this point we agreed that first we could not enjoyn Princes to that secresie nor oblige them by Oath so to be secure of their promise besides we knew not whether they will approve the project or dislike it And if they doe allow thereof to prepare before might beget suspition and not to provide till the business were acted the same letter that carried news of the thing done might as well intreat their helpe and furtherance Spain is too slow in his preparations to hope any good from in the first extremities and France too near and too dangerous who with the shipping of Holland we feared of all the world might make away with us But while we were in the middle of these discourses we heard that the Parliament should be a new adjourned untill after Michaelmas upon which tidings we broke off both discourse and working untill after Christmas About Candlemas we brought over in a Boat the Powder which we had provided at Lambeth and laid it in Master Percies house because we were willing to have all our danger in one place We wrought also another fortnight in the Mine against the stone wall which was very hard to beat thorow at vvhich time vve called in Kit Wright and near to Easter as vve vvrought the third time opportunity vvas given to hire the Cellar in vvhich vve resolved to lay the Povvder and leave the Mine Novv by reason that the charge of maintaining us so long together besides the number of several houses vvhich for several uses had been hired and buying of Powder c. had laine heavie on Master Catesby alone to support it was necessary for him to call in some others to ease his charge and to that end desired leave that he with Master Percy and a