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
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
I was shot into the shoulder which lost me the use of mine Arme the next shot was the elder Wright stricken dead after him the younger Master Wright and fourthly Ambrose Rookwood Then said Master Catesby to me standing before the dore they were to enter stand by me Tom and we will die together Sir quoth I I have lost the use of my right Arme and I feare that will cause me to be taken So as we stood close together Master Catesby Master Percy and my self they two were shot as far as I could guess with one Bullet and then the company entred upon me hurt me in the Belly with a Pike and gave me other wounds untill one came behind and caught hold of both mine armes And so Iremaine yours c. Commiss Edward Somerset Earle of Worcester Charles Earle of Notingham Lord Admiral Thomas Earle of Suffolke Lord Chamberlaine Charles Earle of Devonshire Lord Deputy of Ireland Henry Earle of Northampton Lord Privie Seale Robert Earle of Salisbury Principal Secretary John Erskeine Earle of Marre and Garioth William Constable Viscount Dunbar Sir John Popham Lord Chief Justice Sir Edward Cooke Atturney General Sir William Waad Lievtenant of the Tower The names of those that were first in the Treason and laboured in the Myne Robert Catesby Esquires Robert Winter Esquires Thomas Percy Gentlemen Thomas Winter Gentlemen John Wright Gentlemen Christopher Wright Gentlemen Guido Fawkes And Bates Catesbies man The names of those that were made acquainted with it though not personally labouring in the Myne nor in the Cellar Everard Digby Knight Ambrose Rookwood Esquires Francis Tresham Esquires Stephen Littleton Esquires John Grant Gent. Robert Keyes Gent. Sir Everad Digby and some others of the chiefest were executed in Pauls-Church-yard The Names of those that did rise in Rebellion with them and also of those that did harbor and releeve some of them contrary to the Kings Proclamations posted down into the Country Lodow. Grant Gent. Executed at Warwi H. Morgan Gent. Executed at Warwi John Winter Gent. Executed at Worcester Hum. Littleton Gent. Executed at Worcester Perks of Hagley and Burford his man Executed at Worcester Smart and lihead Executed at Stafford For harboring and releeving Robert Winter and Stephen Littleton at West-Bramwich before they fled to Hagley When these monstrous offenders were made examples of famous and honorable justice the King and the Parliament took special care to find out such Popish Divines as gave Counsel and countenance to this unheard of villany For it is proper to all the Treasons attempted in England to have some Romish Priest or Jesuite in the practice The Devill who was a Murtherer from the beginning will evermore make choice of the fittest instruments that may be for the bringing of his cursed and cruel designes into action Not the dull Asse not the heavy Oxe not the silly sheep but the subtile serpent must help to set forward his work of temptation Many of these Incendiaries inspired by the powers of darkness with a transcendent rage against the State being chased with the guiltiness of their own consciencies fled from their triall into forraine Countries for their better safety Father Creswell puting himself into the habit of a Merchant took shipping at Bristol and wafted into Spaine where he had been leiger Jesuite a little before and came into England at this time to beare his part with the rest of his society in a victoral song or song of thanksgiving for the extirpation and rooting out of those who do worship God after that way which they call Heresie But Garnet and Oldcerne two of the principal were apprehended at Henlip in the County of Worcester in Mr Abingtons house where they were immured and closed up in a stack of Chymnies the way or passage into the Cave or Vault where they lay was in an upper room or chamber by taking up the half pace before the hearth whose wooden border was made like to a trap-door to pluck up and let down and then the bricks were laid in their courses and order again Such holes have these Foxes made for their hiding places Upon their examination and confession of their own guiltiness of their foreknowledge and concealment of this so detestable a Treason they did both suffer condigne punishment and Garnet whose Authority was great and Reverend with Catesby and the rest of the Arch. Traytors was executed in Pauls-Church-yard upon the third of May next ensuing the discovery of the Plot. He was a man saith the Un-Jesuited Cardinal incomparable for learning of all kindes but surely had he had less learning and more grace he would never have had a hand in so foul a business As for the gentle hearted Jesuite Parsons who had dipt his pen in gall against our most renowned Queen Elizabeth he always kept himself without the reach and jerke of the rod of Justice and dyed shortly after at Rome in that old House which was converted to a New-Colledge by Pope Gregory the thirteenth as we have said before whereof he was Rector much grieved no doubt for that their holy Enterprize did so miscarrie And Owen brother to Owen of Godstow by Oxford succeeded him in that place and to him succeeded Fitz-Herbert But Baldwine who was of the Councel of this horrible Treason whiles he lurked in the Low-Countries was many years after apprehended at Basil in Switzerland as he was going up into Italy and being brought into England and falling into the hands of a mercifull Prince found more favor then he deserved For by the means and mediation of Don Gondomar the Spanish Ambassador an honorable Spy the King granted him his pardon And the Ambassador with all his train went to the prison and with great veneration brought him forth and set him at liberty which made the account of his Ambassage the more acceptable to the Duke of Lerma President of the grand Counsel of Spain when he returned home We have now seen how much was wrought to have turned the Parliament-House into a Slaughter-house to have brought our Nation under the calamity of Antichristian servitude and once more to have clapt the Popes Saddle upon Englands back which if God Almighty had suffered for our sins to have been brought to pass then might our neighbors of the Reformed Churches beyond the Seas have said and that truly that the Divel did ride us Notwithstanding the greatness of this Treason so great as no history can equal yet some of the Traytors viler then the earth See King James his premonition pag. 6. and his Apology pag. 78. at the time of their death would not ask God or King forgiveness nor acknowledg that they had done any fault unless the Church of Rome should first condemn it as if Treason were no Treason and Murder were no Murder unless the Church of Rome judg it to be so Never was there any Sect or sort of people in the World neither Turk nor Jew nor Infidel no not those of Calicute which
compapany of stout fellowes the Town and Country would side with him and so they might have the worst Upon their departure the Townsmen being informed of their ryot and misbehavior at Warwick did set a strong watch upon the high-wayes and presently took one Yorke and Ward and Johnson and Tom Suoâ— servant to Robert Winter the eldest of the three brothers and some of them that came in the Reare seeing their fellows apprehended made a retreat and fled over Bidford bridge towards Campden and Evesham But the maine Troop supposed to be about fourescore went eight miles further to Huddington the house of Robert Winter within foure miles of Worcester Here a neighbor of Crowle the next Parish seeing such an unusual company of strangers and perceiving their muttering and whispering together and also noting the great waste they made in the Barne by putting their horses to a heap of wheate in the chaff did resolve with himself though the way were foul and the night darke to go to Worcester to acquaint the Bayliff of the Towne for then the head-Officer was so called with their number and behavior for he did imagine that they had some bad business in hand Assoon as this man came to the Gate of the City he was apprehended by a watch for they had received Letters of Hue and Cry after the horses by a special messenger who went from Warwick to Wich and so to Worcester about an houre before he came thither The Watchmen threatned to carry him before the Magistrate for a spy he shewed some unwillingness which made them to drag him with more eagerness to that place whether he did desire to goe And when they came to the Convocation house where the Bayliff and his Brethren were in consultation about the strange newes they had received from Warwick he was admitted into their presence to whom he made report of what he had heard and seen at Huddington which gave them full assurance that Rebellion was come into their Country Wherefore a Messenger with all intelligence was posted to Sir Richard Walsh Sheriff of the County who lived on the West side of the River Severne about four miles from VVorcester And a speedy preparation was made both for their own defence and also for the subduement of the approaching enemy Upon the Thursday morning by the dawning of the day foure hundred of them kept their Rendezvouz upon Oddingley Heath near to VVinters house but before they came thither the Rebels were fled Northward thorow the Forrest of Feckenham to Hewell the house of the Lord VVinsor and there they took all the Armour they could finde and carried it away in a Cart which they brought with them from Huddington went that night to Holbeach the house of Stephen Littleton within the edge and confines of Staffordshire about Twenty miles from VVorcester Sir Richard VValsh and the VVigornians pursued them with as much speed as the season of the yeere would give them leave And when they heard that the Rebells had taken harbour at Holbeach they made their advance to the house and besieged it sheltring themselves under the brick-wall which surrounded the house And then did they summon them by a Trumpeter to render themselves to the Sheriff his Majesties Officer but they returned this scornful answer and said That he had need of better assistance then of those few numbers that were with him before he could be able to command or compell them The Sheriff and his company being justly incensed by their arrogant answer did make preparation to give them a furious assault and upon the Friday morning early many of the Country did come in to their aid And the other party within the house did likewise make themselves ready to give them the repulse But as they were drying about two pound weight of Powder a little from the Chimney in their Chamber by the mending of the fire a small coale of fire spurted out upon it which being thereby blown up scorched and burned the faces the hands the sides of Catesby Rookwood Grant and divers others of greatest account among them who were thereby not only made unable for defence but also wonderfully discouraged and cast down For now they did begin to see the pride of their own heart that had deceived them Now they did begin to see the wrath of the Almighty waxing hot against them who had thus perfumed them with their own smoak and paid them with their own Coyn. And therefore they resolved no longer to make resistance but to endeavor to save themselves by flight Stephen Littleton and Robert VVinter made an escape and fled to Hagley in the County of VVorcester where contrary to the Kings Proclamation they were first hid and releived in the Barne of one Perks but doubting of their safety thete by reason of a poore fellow who had been stealing of Conies in the night and being beaten from his worke by foule weather came to the Barne and climbing up into it to lodge there all night fell into the hole between two mowes where they lay hid they removed themselves and were received harboured and relieved by Humphry Littleton for distinction commonly called Yellow Humphrey who was the Governor of the house in the absence of Mistriss Littleton the owner thereof Here they vvere not many daies but the Cook of the house did vvonder vvhat use this Humphrey Littleton should make of so many dishes of meat in his Chamber at every meals time and to satisfie his own curiosity went secretly to his Chamber dore and peeping thorow they Keyhole saw Stephen Littleton and another man with him at which sight he was so terrified and affrighted as he knew not what to do For to reveale them might endanger their lives and to conceale them might cost him his own After some debate with his own soule he did resolve to save himself harmless what ever came of it and therefore went and disclosed them to one Jobber of the Town to whom he had some relation whereupon followed their apprehension and afterward their conviction condemnation and execution Let us now return back to Holbeach and see how it fared with the rest of this hellish society there shall we finde first the Elder Wright slain secondly the younger Wright his brother thirdly Rookwood and last of all Percy and Catesby were slain by John Street of Worcester who had charged his Musquet as he himself told me with a brace of Bullets and resting it upon the Wall by the Gate shot at them as they were coming in rank and not in file from the dore towards the Gate each Bullet as he thought killed a man for which Fact the King gave him two shillings a day during his natural life to be paid him out of the Exchequer All the rest of these merciless Monsters were taken Prisoners by Sir Richard Walsh and his company who did enrich themselves with the spoile of the Enemy Their Horses their Armes their Silver their Gold becomes
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