matter as doth appear by his depositions immediatly following The true Copy of the Depositions of Guido Fawkes taken in the presence of the Counsellors whose names are under written I confess that a practice in general was first broken unto me against his Majesty for releif of the Catholick canse and not invented or propounded by my self And this was first propounded unto me about Easter last was twelve moneth beyond the Seas in the Low Countries of the Archdukes obeisance by Thomas Winter who came thereupon with me into England and there we imparted our purpose to three other Gentlemen more namely Robert Catesby Thomas Peter and John Wright who all five consulting together of the means how to excute the same and taking a vow among our selves for secreâ—â—e Catesby pro pounded to have it performed by Gunpowder and by making a Myne under the upper-house of Parliament which place we made choice of the rather because Religion having been unjustly suppressed there it was fittest that Justioce and Punishment should be executed there This being resolved amongst us Thomas Percy hired and house at Westminster for that purpose near adjoyning to the Parliament house and there we begun to make our Myne about the eleventh of December 1604. The five that first entred into the work were Thomas Percy Robert Catesby Thomas Winter John Wright and my self and soon after me took another unto us Christopher Wright having sworn him also and taken the Sacrament for secresie When we came to the every foundation of the wall of the house which was about three yards thick and found it a matter of great difficulty we took unto us another Gentleman Robert Winter in like manner with Oath and Sacrament as aforesaid It was about Christmas when we brought our Myne unto the Wall and about Candlemas we had wrought the Wall half through And whilst they were in working I stood as Sentinell to discry any man that came neer whereof I gave them warning and so they ceased untill I gave notice again to proceed All we seven lay in the house and had shot and Powder being resolved to die in that place before we should yeeld or be taken As they were working upon the Wall they heard a rushing in a Cellar of removing of Coales whereupon we feared we had been discovered and they sent to go to the Cellar who finding that the Coales were a selling and that the Cellar was to be let viewing the commodity thereof for our purpose Percy went and hired the same for yeerly rent We had before this provided and brought into the house twenty Barrels of Powder which we removed into the Cellar and covered the same with Billet and Fagots which were provided for that purpose About Easter the Parliament being prorogued till October next we dispersed our selves and I returned into the Low Countries by advice and direction of the rest aswell to acquaint Owen with the Particulars of the plot as also least by my longer stay I might have grown suspitious and so have come in question In the mean time Percy having the Key of the Cellar laid in more Powder and Wood into it I returned about the beginning of September next and then receiving the Key again of Percy we brought in more Powder and Billers 〈◊〉 cover the same again and so I went fer a time into the Country till the 30 of October It was further resolved amongst us that the fame day that this Act 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 Lord Haringtons house and presently have proclaimed her Queen having a project of a Proclamation ready for that purpose wherein we made no mention of alteration of Religion nor would have we avowed the deed to beours untill we should have had power enough to make our party good and then we would have avowed both Concerning Duke Charles the Kings second Son we had sundry consultations how to seise on his person But because we found no means how to compass it the Duke being kept neer London where we had not forces enough we resolved to serve our turne with the Lady Elizabeth Commiss Edward Somer set Earle of Worcester Charles Howard Earle of Notingham Thomas Howard Earle of Suffolke Charles Blont Earle of Devonshire Henry Howard Earle of Northampton Robert Cicil Earle of Salisbury Lord Treasurer John Erskeine Earle of Marre William Constable Viscount Dunbar Sir Fohn Popham Sir Edward Cook Sir William Waad But here let us leave Fawkes in a lodging fit for such a guest and taking time to advise upon his conscience and turne our selves to that part of the History which concernes the fortune of the rest of his partakers in this abominable Treason The news was no soouer spread abroad that morning which was upon a Tuesday the fifth of November and the first day designed for that Session of Parliament but some of those conspirators namely Winter and the two Wrights brothers thought it high time to hasten out of the Town for Catesby was gone the night before and Percy at foure of the Clock in the morning the same day of the discovery and all of them held their course with more haste then good speed to Dunchurch upon Dun more in the County of Warwick where Sir Everard Digby and his complices had appointed a match of Hunting that under pretence of that sport they might come together without any suspition though his minde was Nimrod-like more bent upon the blood of reasonable men then brute beasts For when the terrible blow had been given at the Parliament house whereby the King and all the issue Male of the Seed Royal had been destroyed their purpose was to surprize the person of the Lady Elizabeth the Kings eldest Daughter who kept her residence at Combe the Lord Harringtons house by Coventry to proclaim her Queen to provide an Husband for her some Prince of the Popish prosession the Castilian was most likely to have the refusal for to him at this time they were much devoted and so England might have been made a province to Spain Notwith standing all their care to take a solemn Oath receive the blessed Sacrament for the observation of secresie yet asthe day appointed for the execution of their barbarous cruelty did draw nigh so did the knowlede thereofencrease among the common fort of their own faction who did measure their joy by their hopes of good success For upon this Tuesday morning early the Papists of Rowington came to Warwick to Ring the Bells and when Master Themas Hall the reverend Pastor of the Church heard who they were that were ringing he gave command that the Bells should cease saying that their meaning was Popish and superstitious but within two daies he sound it to be proditorious and merciless Let not any man sing a triumph before the victory least he be brought to his Pâ—linody or
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
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
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