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
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
remarkable date by reason of this monstrous and never enough abhorred Treason This long time between the first and the second Session of the Parliament gave good leisure and liberty to those of the Conspiracy not only to make a large provision of Powder Fagots Billets Barres and whatsoever else they thought necessarie for the execution of their devilish device but also to travell into forraine Countries to visit their Friends and welwishers and to sollicite them for their aid and best assistance when need should require it Winter makes a journey to Valladolit in Castile and Fawkes returnes into Flanders to consult with Sir William Stanley and the rest and then goes over the Alpes to Rome to obtain the blessing of Pope Paul the sift and to take the Counsel of Father Parsons a bitter enemy to his own Country In the latter end of the Summer preceding their intended fatal sift of November they returne back into England and doe finde their Diabolical machination in a safe and secure condition The time for the sitting of the Parliament doth now begin to draw nigh and the Nobility and Gentry that had places in that high Court did make preparation to come up to London The conspirators likewise did make all the preparation they could to give them the blow even that blow that should have been the common ruine of us all Cursed may it be called or blessed or both cursed in respect of the intent but blessed for ever in respect of the event For when we were white for their harvest and ready to be cut down by them then even then did the Almighty by his gracious Providence bring to light and discoverie this infernal and prodigious Plot as shall be shewed in the next part of the History wherein I will follow the Original Carleton and Speed as others have done before me The Saturday of the week immediatly preceding the Kings return from his hunting exercise at Royston which was upon a Thursday ten daies before the Parliament the Lord Montegle Son and Heire to the Lord Morley being in his own lodging ready to goe to supper at seaven of the Clock at night one of his footmen whom he had sent of an errand over the street was met by an unknown Man of a reasonable tall personage who delivered him a Letter charging him to put it in my Lord his Masters hands which my Lord no sooner received but having broken it up and perceiving the same to be of an unknown and somewhat unlegible hand and without either date or subscription did call one of his men unto him for helping him to read it But no sooner did he conceive the strange contents thereof although he was somewhat perplexed what construction to make of it as whether of a matter of consequence as indeed it was or whether some foolish devised pasquil by some of his Enemies to scare him from his attendance at the Parliament yet did he as a most dutiful and loyal Subject conclude not to conceale it what ever might come of it Whereupon notwithstanding the lateness and darkeness of the night in that season of the yeare he presently repaired to his Majesties Palace at Whitehall and there delivered the same to the Earle of Salisbury his Majesties principal Secretary Whereupon the said Earle of Salisbury having read the Letter and heard the manner of the coming of it to his hands did greatly encourage and commend my Lord for his discretion telling him plainly that whatsoever the purpose of the Letter might prove hereafter yet did this accident put him in minde of diverse advertisements he had received from beyond the Seas wherewith he had acquainted aswell the King himself as divers of his Privy Counsellors concerning some business the Papists were in both at home and abroad making preparations for some combination amongst them against this Parliament time for enabling them to deliver to the King some Petition for toleration of Religion 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 almes with one open hand but carrying a stone in the other in case of refusal And therefore did the Earle of Salisbury conclude with the Lord Montegle that he would in regard of the Kings absence impart the same Letter to some more of his Majesties Councell whereof my Lord Mountegle liked well only added this by way of protestation that whatsoever the event hereof might prove it should not be imputed to him as proceeding from too light and too suddain an apprehension that he delivered this Letter being only moved thereunto for demonstration of his ready devotion and care for preservation of his Majesty and the State And thus did the Earle of Salisbury presently acquaint the Lord Chamberlaine with the said Letter Whereupon they two in the presence of the Lord Mountegle calling to minde the former intelligence already mentioned which seemed to have some relation with this Letter The tender care which they ever carried to the preservation of his Majesties person made them apprehend that some perillous attempt did thereby appear to be intended against the same which did the more neerly concern the said Lord Chamberlain to have a care of in regard that it doth belong to the charge of his Office to oversee aswell all places of Assemblie where his Majesty is to repair as his Highness own private houses And therefore did the said two Counsellors conclude that they should joyn unto themselves three more of the Council to wit the Lord Admiral the Earles of Worcester and Northampton to be also particularly acquainted with this accident who having all of them concurred together to the reexamination of the contents of the said Letter they did cenclude that how slight a matter it might at the first appear to be yet was it not absolutely to be contemned in respect of the care which it behooved them to have of the preservation of his Majesties person But yet resolved for two reasons first to acquaint the King himself with the same before they proceeded to any further Inquisition in the matter aswell for the expectation and experience they had of his Majesties fortunate Judgment in cleering and solving of obscure riddles and doubtful mysteries as also because the more time would in the mean while be given for the practice to ripen if any was whereby the discovery might be the more cleer and evident and the ground of proceeding there upon more safe just and easie And so according to their determination The Letter shewed to the King did the said Earle of Salisbury repair to the King in his Gallery upon Friday being Alhollow day in the afternoon which was the day after his Majesties arrival and none but himself being present with his Highness at that time where without any other speech or judgement given of the Letter but only relating simplie the forme of the delivery thereof he presented it
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
provision of Wood and Coale in that house where Thomas Percy had so seldome occasion to remain As likewise it gave him in his minde that his man looked like a very tall and desperate fellow This could not but encrease the Kings former apprehension and jealousie whereupon he insisted as before that the House was narrowly to be searched and that those Billets and Coales would be searched to the bottom it being most suspitious that they were laid there only for covering of the powder Of this same mind also were all the Counsellors then present But upon the fashion of making the search was it long debated For upon the one side they were all so jealous of the Kings safety that they all agreed that there could not be too much caution used for preventing his danger And yet upon the other part they were all extreame loth and dainty that in case this Letter should prove to be nothing but the evaporation of an idle brain then a curious search being made and nothing found should not only turn to the general scandal of the King and the State as being so suspitious of every light and frivolous toy but likewise lay an illfavored imputation upon the Earle of Northumberland one of his Majesties greatest Subjects and Counfellors this Thomas Percy being his kinsman and most confident familiar And the rather were they curious in this point knowing how far the King detested to be thought suspitious or jealous of any of his good Subjects though of the meanest degree And therefore though they all agreed upon the maine ground which was to provide for the security of the Kings person yet did they much differ in the circumstances by which this action might be best carried with least din and occasion of slander But the King himself still persisting that there were divers shrewd appearances and that a narrow search of those places could prejudice no man that was innocent he at last plainly resolved them That either must all the parts of those roomes be narrowly searched and no possibility of danger left unexamined or else he and they all must resolve not to meddle in it at all but plainly to goe the next day to the Parliament and leave the success to fortune which he beleeved they would be loth to take upon their consciences for in such a case as this an halfe doing was worse then no doing at all Wherefore it was at last concluded That nothing should be left unsearched in those houses And yet for the better colour and stay of rumour in case nothing were found it was thought meet that upon a pretence of Whyneards missing some of the Kings stuff or Hangings which he had in keeping all those roomes should be narrowly ripped for them And to this purpose was Sir Thomas Knever a Gentleman of his Majesties privie Chamber employed being a Justice of Peace in Westminster and one of whose ancient fidelity both the late Queen and our now Soveraign hath had large proof who according to the trust committed unto him went about the midnight next after to the Parliament house accompanied with such a small number as was fit for that errand But before his entry into the house finding Thomas Percies alledged man standing without the dores his clothes and boots on at so dead a time of the night he resolved to apprehend him as he did and thereafter went forward to the searching of the house whereafter he had caused to be overturned some of the Billets and Coales he first found one of the small Barrels of Powder and after all the rest to the number of thirty six Barrels great and small And there after fearching the fellow whom he had taken found three matches and all other instruments fit for blowing up the powder ready upon him which made him instantly confess his own guiltiness declaring also unto him That if he had hapned to be within the house when he tookhim as he was immediatly before at the ending of his work he would not have failed to have blown him up house and all Thus after Sir Thomas had caused the wretch to be surely bound and well guarded by the company he had brought with him he himself returned back to the Kings Palace and gave warning of his success to the Lord Chamberlain and Earle of Salisbury who immed atly warning all the rest of the Counsell that lay in the house as soon as they could get themselves ready came with their fellow Counfellers to the Kings Bed-Chamber being at that time near four of the Clock in the morning And at the first entry of the Kings Chamber door the Lord Chamberlain being not any longer able to conceale his joy for the preventing of so great a danger told the King in a confused haste that all was found and discovered and the Traytor in hands and fast bound Then order being first taken for sending for the rest of the Council that lay in the Towne The Prisoner himself was brought into the house where in respect of the strangeness of the accident no man was staid from the sight or speaking with him And within a while after the Council did examine him who seemed to put on a Roman resolution did both to the Council and to every other person that spake with him that day appeare so constant and setled upon his grounds as we all thought we had found some new Mutius Scaevola borne in England For notwithstanding the horror of the Fact the guilt of his Conscience his suddain surprising the terror which should have been strucken in him by coming into the presence of so grave a Council and the restless and consused questions that every man all that day did vex him with yet was his countenance so far from being dejected as he often smiled in scornful manner not only avowing the Fact but repenting only with the said Scaevola his faâ—ling in the execution thereof whereof he said the Devil and not God was the discoverer answering quickly to every mans objection scossing at any idle questions which were propounded unto him and jesting with such as he thought had no authority to examine him All that day could the Council get nothing out of him touching his complices refusing to answer to any such questions which he thought might discover the plot and laying all the blame upon himself whereupon he said he was moved only for Religion and conscience sake denying the King to be his lawfull Soveraign or the anoynted of God in respect he was an Heretick and giving himself no other name then John Johnson servant to Thomas Percy But the next morning being carried to the Tower he did not there remaine above two or three daies being twice or thrice in that space re-examined and and the rack only offered and shewed unto him when the mask of his Roman fortitude did visibly begin to wear and slide of his face And then did he begin to confess part of the truth and thereafter to open the whole
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
a faire booty for the Conquerors who doe carry them away in triumph to the ordinary Goale of the County where they staied some few daies and then were sent to London to be judged by the Worthies of the Parliament whom they would have destroyed Most of their Servants led by their Masters had a gracions pardon But the Arch. Traytors had famous and honorable justice executed upon them in and about London and some of the meaner sort were sent back into the several Counties where they lived to have their tryal and execution there for the spreading of the more terror And Thomas Winter a principal Agent in promoting this terrible Treason being now a Prisoner in the Tower there made this confession as followeth The Confession of Thomas Winter taken the XXIII of November 1605. in the presence of the Counsellors whose names are under-written My most honorable Lords NOt out of hope to obtain pardon for speaking of my temporal part I may say The fault is greater then can be forgiven nor affecting hereby the Title of a good Subject for I must redeem my Country from as great a danger as I have hazarded the bringing of her into before I can purchase any such opinion Only at your Honors comand I will briefly set down mine own accusation and how far I have proceeded in this business which I shall the faithfuller doe since I see such courses are not pleasing to Almighty God and that all or the most material parts have been already confessed I remained with my brother in the Country from Alhallontide untill the beginning of Lent in the yeer of our Lord 1603. the first year of the Kings Raign about which time Master Caresby sent thither intreating me to come to London where he and other my friends world be glad to see me I desired him to excuse me for I found my self not very well disposed and which had happned never to me before returned the Messenger without my company Shortly I received another Letter in any wise to come At the second summons I presently came up and found him with Master John Wright at Lambeth where he brake with me how necessary it was not to forsake our Country for he knew I had then a resolution to goe over but to deliver her from the servitude in which she remained or at least to assist her with our uttermost endeavors I answered that I had often hazarded my life upon far lighter termes and now would not refuse any good occasion wherein I might doe service to the Catholick cause but for my self I knew no means probable to succeed He said that had bethought him of a way at one Instant to deliver us from all our Bonds and without any forrain helpe to replant again the Catholick Religion and withall told me in a word It was to Blow up the Parliament house with Gunpowder for said he in that place have they done us all the mischief and perchance God hath designed that place for their punishment I wondered at the strangeness of the conceit and told him that true it was this strake at the roote and would breed a confusion fit to beget new alterations But if it should not take effect as most of this nature miscarried the scandal would be so great which Catholick Religion might hereby sustain as not only our enemies but our friends also would with good reason condemn us He told me the nature of the disease required so sharp a remedy and asked me if I would give my consent I told him yes in this or what else soever if he resolved upon it I would veuture my life But I proposed many difficulties as want of an house and of one to cary the Myne noise in the working and such like His answer was Let us give an attempt and where it faileth pass no further But first quoth he Because we will leave no peaceable and quiet way untried you shall goe over and informe the Constable of the State of the Catholicks here in England intreating him to sollicite his Majesty at his comming hither that the Penall Lawes may be recalled and we admitted into the ranck of his other Subjects withall you may bring over some confident Gentleman such as you shall understand best able for this business and named unto me M. Fawkes Shortly after I passed the Sea and found the Constable at Bergen near Dunkirk where by helpe of Master Owen I delivered my message whose answer was that he had a strict command from his Master to do all good offices for the Catholicks and for his own part he thought himself bound in conscience so to do and that no good occasion should be omitted but spake to him nothing of this matter Returning to Dunkirk with Mr. Owen we had speech whether he thought the Constable would faithfully helpe us or no. He said he beleeved nothing less and that they sought only their own ends holding small account of Catholicks I told him that there were many Gentlemen in England who would not forsake their Country untill they hadtryed the uttermost would rather venture their lives then forsake her in this misery And to add one more to our number as a fit man both for Counsel and execution of whatsoever we should do wished for M. Fawkes whom I had heard good commendations of he told me the Gentleman deserved no less but was at Brussels and that if he came not as happily he might before my departure he would send him shortly after into England I vvent soon after to Ostend vvhere Sir William Stanley as then vvas not but came tvvo daies after I remained vvith him three or foure daies in vvhich time I asked him if the Catholicks in England should do any thing to help themselves vvhether he thought the Archduke vvould second them He ansvvered no for all those parts vvere so desirous of peace vvith England as they would endure no speech of other enterprise neither vvere it fit said he to set any project afoot novv the peace is upon concluding I told him there vvas no such resolution and so fell to discourse of other matters untill I came to speak of Mr. Fawkes vvhose company I vvished over into England I asked of his sufficiency in the vvarrs and told him vve should need such as he if occasion required he gave very good commendations of him And as vve vvere thus discoursing and I ready to depart for Newport and taking my leave of Sir William Mr. Fawkes came into our company nevvly returned and saluted us This is the Gentleman said Sir William that you wished for and so we embraced again I told him some good friends of his wished for his company in England and that if he pleased to come to Dunkirke we would have further conference whether I was then going so taking my leave of them both I departed and about two daies after came Mr. Fawkes to Dunkirke where I told him that we were upon a resolution to doe somewhat
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
worship the Devil that did hold it lawful or rather meritorious to kill Prince or people for quarrel of Religion the Papists only excepted who do palliate and cover all their perfidious practises with the fair pretext of conscience and the good of the Catholick cause When did the Bishop of Rome who is commonly called the Pope ever call any of these Priests and Jesuites in question that fled hence into Italy who were Fomenters of this damnable Conspiracy much less punished them for it Whatsoever is done in favor of the Church of Rome must be accounted well done though never so ill done His Holiness so called by an antiphrase and his Parasites will command bloody Massacres will commend Treason and Rebellion Pope Innocent the third who lived in the time of our King John and was his great and troublesome Enemy decreed an immortal war against the poor Christians that went under the names of Valdenses or Albigeans charging them with all kindes of Heresies because they blamed and detested the Vices and Errors of the Pope and his Clergy Many Princes are commanded by the Pontifical Authority to arme against them and the Croisado is preached against them as against Infidels See the History of France pag. 125. 131. This was in the year of our Lord a thousand two hundred and ten Simon Earl of Montfort is chosen General of the Army who enters into Languedoc and there besieges Bezeirs with such cruel success as having taken it the blood flowed by the loss of threescore thousand persons And when preparation was made for a new search to root out the remainder of them Lewis the ninth of France commonly called St Lewis would not give allowance to any further proceeding against them within his Dominions saying that they must be perswaded by reason and not constrained by violence For piety is a duty of man unto God over which worldly force hath no power Pope Sixtus the fifth mnde a Panegyrick Oration in his consistory wherein he did praise and commend the Divelish Fryer an excrement of Hell See King James his Apol. pag. 67 pa. 75. that murthered King Henry the third of France by sheathing a knife in the bottom of his belly Cardinal Richard Allen an English Fugitive being honored by the Pope with the degree of a red hat was not ashamed to publish in print an Apology for Sir William Starlies treason maintaining that by reason of Queen Elizabeth's excommunication and Heresie it was not only lawfull for any of her Subjects but they were even bound in conscience to deprive her of any strength which lay in their power to do And whether it were armies towns or fortresses of hers which they had in their hands they were obliged to put them in the King of Spain her Enemies hand she no more being the right owner of any thing But whatsoever the Cardinal saith the best policy is to be an honest man And Oldcorn that refined and sublimated Fryer preached Treason upon Treason and Rebellion upon Rebellion For after the discovery of this horrid intended Massacre and a little before notice was given to the Sheriff of the County of his hiding and for his apprehension at Henlip aforesaid he did there preach consolitary Doctrine to his popish Anditory exhorting them not to faint for the misgiving of this Enterprise nor think the worse thereof See King James his Premonition pag 127 128. that it succeeded not alleaging diverse Presidents of such godly enterprises that misgave in like manner especially that of St Lewis King of France who in his journey to the holy Land was taken prisoner by the Sultan of Egypt and the greatest part of his Army was destroyed by the Plague and thereupon exhorted and perswaded them not to give over but still to hope that God would bless their enterprize at some other time though this did fail By these demonstrations we may know the mind of all of that profession and what they would do if they had the power in their hands and were Lords over us When they want force of argument and sound reason to perswade us they will then use force of arms fire and sword treason and rebellion to destroy us which should rouse up our spirits and ingender in our hearts First a detestation of the bloody but cherlie and most ignoble practises of the Pope and his Adherents Secondly gratulation and thanksgiving to the most high God who hath hitherto compassed us about with songs of deliverance And lastly circumspection caution valour and vigilance for the time to come that we be not suddenly surprized and swallowed up quick of our implacable Enemies while we dally and play with Popery The Scorpion is not without a sting though he doth not always strike A Cain a Cataline a Catesby full of Malignity hating with cruel hatred will always be working some great mischief And therefore to our own safety and security our own diligence and sedulitie is evermore required Their thoughts are vain who think that their watching can preserve the City which God himself is not willing to keep And are not theirs as vain who think that God will keep that City for which they themselves are not carefull to watch The providence of the Almighty must be served with the use of lawful means In the Third YEAR of KING JAMES An ACT for a publicke Thanks-giving to Almighty God on the fifth day of November every Year FOrasmuch as Almighty God hath in all Ages shewed his Power and Mercy in the miraculous and gracious deliverance of his Church and in the protection of Religious Kings and States And that no Nation of the earth hath been blessed with greater benefits then this Kingdom now enjoyeth having the true and free profession of the Gospel under our most Soveraigne Lord King James the most Great Learned and Religious King that ever reigned therein inriched with a most hopeful and plentiful Progenie proceeding out of his Royal loynes promising continuance of this happiness and profession to all posterity the which many Malignant and Divellish Papists Iesuites nnd Seminary Priests much envying and fearing conspired most horribly when the Kings most excellent Majesty the Queen the Prince and all the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons should have been assembled in the Vpper-House of Parliament upon the fifth of November in the Year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and five suddainly to have blown up the said whole house with Gun-powder an invention so inhumane barbarous and cruel as the like was never before heard of and was as some of the principal Conspitors thereof confesse purposely devised and concluded to be done in the said House that where sundry necessary and Religious Laws for preservation of the Church and State were made which they falsely and standerously term cruel Laws enacted against them and their Religion both place and persons should be all destroyed and blown up at once which would have turned to the utter rume of this whole Kingdom had it not pleased Almighty God by inspiring the Kings most excellent Majesty with a Divine spirit to interpret some dark phrases of a Letter shewed to his Maiesty above and beyond all ordinary construction thereby miraculously discovering this hidden treason not many hours before the appointed time for the Execution thereof Therefore the Kings most excellent Maiesty the Lords Spiritual and temporal and all his Maiesties faithfull and loving Subiects do most iustly acknowledg this great and infinite Blessing to have proceeded meerly from God his great mercy and to his most holy name do ascribe all Honor Glory and Praise and to the end this unfeigned thankfulness may never be forgotten but be had in a perpetual remembrance that all ages to come may yield praises to his Divine Maiesty for the same and have in perpetuall memory This joyful day of deliverance Be it therefore enacted by the Kings most excellent Majesty the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same that all and singular Ministers in every Cathedral and Parish Church or other usuall place for common Prayer within this Realm of England and the Dominions of the same shall always upon the fifth day of November say morning Prayer and give unto Almighty God thanks for this most happy Deliverance And that all and every Person and Persons inhabiting within this Realm of England and the Dominions of the same shall always upon that day diligently and faithfully resort to the Parish Church or Chappel accustomed or to some usual Church or Chappel where the said Morning Prayer preaching or other service of God shall be used then and there to abide orderly and soberly during the time of the said Prayers preaching or other service of God there to be used and ministred And because all and every person may be put in mind of this Duty and be the better prepared to the said Holy Service Be it enacted by authority aforesaid that every Minister shall give warning to his Parishoners publikely in the Church at Morning Prayer the Sunday before every such fifth day of November for the due observation of the said Day And that after Morning Prayer or preaching upon the said fifth day of November they read distinctly and plainly this present ACT. FINIS