Father Parsons'well-known book on this subject, written under the pseudonym of Doleman, was denounced by Sir Edward Coke as containing innumerable treasons and falsehoods. In fact, as may be seen in the work itself, it is an exhaustive and careful statement of the descent of each of the possible claimants, and of other considerations which must enter into the settlement. Sir Francis Inglefield wrote that it was necessary to take some step of this kind, to set men thinking on so important a question which would soon have to be decided, for that the anti-Catholic party had made it treason to discuss it during the queen's life, with intent to foist a successor of theirown selection on the nation, when the moment should arrive, trusting to the ignorance universally prevalent as to the rights of the matter; but that such lack of information could not help the people to a sound decision. [Stonyhurst MSS.,Anglia, iii. 32.]
The Spanish sympathies of Parsons and his party were afterwards made much of as evidence of their traitorous disposition. On this subject it must be noted (1) the Infanta of Spain was amongst those whose claim was urged on genealogical grounds; (2) the project was to marry her to an English nobleman. As Parsons tells us, when she married and was endowed with another estate, English Catholics ceased to think of her. [Ibid.ii. 444.] (3) Father Garnet notes that, "since the old king of Spain died [1598], there hath been no pretence ... for the Infanta, or the King [of Spain], or any of that family, but for any that should maintain Catholic religion, and principally for His Majesty" [James I.]. [Ibid.iii. n. 41.]
A remark of Parsons' on this point, which at the time was considered almost blasphemous, will seem now almost a truism, viz., that the title of particular succession in kingdoms is founded only upon the positive laws of several countries, since neither kingdoms nor monarchies are of the essence of human society, and therefore every nation has a right to establish its own kings in what manner it likes, and upon what conditions. Wherefore, as each of the other great parties in England (whom he designates as Protestants and Puritans) will look chiefly to its own political interests, and exact from the monarch of its choice pledges to secure them, it behoves Catholics, being so large a part of the nation, to take their propershare in the settlement, and therefore to study betimes the arguments on which the claims of the competitors are severally based.
Thehistory of the alleged treasonable negotiations with Spain, conducted by various persons whose names were afterwards connected with the Gunpowder Plot, appears open to the gravest doubt and suspicion. It would be out of place to discuss the question here, but two articles on the subject, by the present writer, will be found in theMonthfor May and June, 1896.
Thatthe lodging hired by Percy stood near the south-east corner of the old House of Lords (i.e. nearer to the river than that building, and adjacent to, if not adjoining, the Prince's Chamber) is shown by the following arguments.
[It has always been understood that Percy's house stood at the south end of the House of Lords, but Smith (Antiquities of Westminster, p. 39) places it to the south-west instead of the south-east, saying that it stood on the site of what was afterwards the Ordnance Office.]
The evidence on this point is most contradictory.
1. The Indictment, on the trial of the conspirators, mentions the following dates.
May 20th, 1604.[Besides Garnet, Greenway, Gerard, "and other Jesuits,"] there met together T. Winter, Faukes, Keyes, Bates, Catesby, Percy, the two Wrights, and Tresham, by whom the Plot was approved and undertaken.
March 31st, 1605, R. Winter, Grant, and Rokewood were enlisted.
[No mention is made of Digby, who was separately arraigned, nor in his arraignment is any date specified.]
2. According to Faukes' confession of November 17th, 1605, Percy, Catesby, T. Winter, J. Wright, and himself were the first associates. Soon afterwards C. Wright was added. After Christmas, Keyes was initiated and received the oath. At a later period, Digby, Rokewood, Tresham, Grant, and R. Winter were brought in. Bates is not mentioned.
[In this document the names of Keyes and R. Winter have been interchanged, in Cecil's writing, and thus it was printed: the latter being made to appear as an earlier confederate.]
3. According to T. Winter's declaration of November 23rd, 1605, Catesby, J. Wright, and himself were the first associates, Percy and Faukes being presently added. Keyes was enlisted before Michaelmas, C. Wright after Christmas, Digby at a later period, and Tresham "last of all." No others are mentioned.
4. Keyes—November 30th, 1605—says that he was inducted a little before Midsummer, 1604.
5. R. Winter and Grant (January 17th, 1605-6) fix January, 1604-5, for their introduction to the conspiracy, and Bates (December 4th, 1605) gives the preceding December for his. Neither date agrees with that of the indictment in support of which these confessions were cited.
6. There is, of course, no evidence of any kind to show that Father Garnet and the "other Jesuits" ever had any conference with the conspirators, nor was such a charge urged on his trial.
7. Sir Everard Digby's case is exceptionally puzzling. All the evidence represents him as having been initiated late in September, or early in October, 1605. Among the Hatfield MSS., however, there is a letter addressedto Sir Everard, by one G.D., and dated June 11th, 1605, which treats ostensibly of a hunt for "the otter that infesteth your brooks," to be undertaken when the hay has been cut, but has been endorsed by Cecil himself, "Letter written to Sir Everard Digby—Powder Treason;" the minister thus attributing to him a knowledge of the Plot, more than three months before it was ever alleged that he heard of it.
1.Letter to Sir T. Challoner, April, 1604.[Gunpowder Plot Book, n. 236.]
Good Sir Thomas, I am as eager for setting of the lodgings as you can be, and in truth whereas we desired but twenty, the discoverer had set and (if we accept it) can set above three score, but I told him that the State would take it for good service if he set twenty of the most principal Jesuits and seminary priests, and therewithal I gave him thirteen or fourteen names picked out of his own notes, among the which five of them were sworn to the secresy. He saith absolutely that by God's grace he will do it ere long, but he stayeth some few days purposely for the coming to town of Tesmond [Greenway] and Kempe, two principals; their lodgings are prepared, and they will be here, as he saith for certain, within these two days. For the treason, Davies neither hath nor will unfoldhimself for the discovery of it till he hath his pardon for it under seal, as I told you, which is now in great forwardness, and ready to be sealed so that you shall know all.... Your worship's most devoted,
Hen. Wright.
[A pardon to Joseph Davies for all treasons and other offences appears on the Pardon Roll, April 25th, 1605, thus supplying the approximate date of the above letter.]
2.Application to the King.[Gunpowder Plot Book, n. 237.]
"If it may please your Majesty, can you remember that the Lord Chief Justice Popham and Sir Thomas Challoner, Kt., had a hand in the discovery of the practices of the Jesuits in the powder, and did from time reveal the same to your Majesty, for two years' space almost before the said treason burst forth by an obscure letter to the Lord Mounteagle, which your Majesty, like an angel of God, interpreted, touching the blow, then intended to have been given by powder. The man that informed Sir Thomas Challoner and the Lord Popham of the said Jesuitical practices, their meetings and traitorous designs in that matter, whereof from time to time they informed your Majesty, was one Wright, who hath your Majesty's hand for his so doing, and never received any reward for his pains and charges laid out concerning the same. This Wright, if occasion serve, can do more service."
[Addressed, "Mr. Secretary Conway."
Headed, "Touching Wright and his services performed in the damnable plot of the Powder treason."]
"Mostgracious Soveraine.—Your maiestyes tender and fatherly love over me, In admonishinge me heartofore, to seake resolution In matter of religion, geves me both occasion, and Incouragement, as humbly to thanke your maiestye for this care of my soules good, so to crave leave of gevinge into your maiestyes hand this accompt, that your wisdome, seinge the course and end of my proceadinges, might rest assured that by the healp of god, I will [live and] dye, In that religion which I have nowe resolved to profes.
"It may please your maiestye therfore to knowe, that as I was breed upp In the Romish religion and walked in that, because I knew no better, so have I not sodainely or lightly made the chaunge, which nowe I desire to be seane In, for I speake, Sir, as before him that shall Judg my soule, I have by praier, for god his gidance, and with voues to him, to walk in that light he should shew me, and by longe carefull and diligent readinge, and conference with lerned men, on both sides, and impartiall examination of ther profes and argumentes, come to discerne the Ignorance I was formerly wrapped In, as I nowe wonder that ether my self, or any other of common understandinge, showld bee so blynded, as to Imbrace that gods trewth, [sic] which I nowe perseyue to be grounded uppon so weake foundations. And as I never could digest all poyntes therin, wherof not few seamed to bee made for gaineand ambition, of the papacye, so nowe I fynde that the hole frame and bodye of that religion (wherin they oppose us) difereth from the platforme, which god him self hath recorded In the holy scriptures, and hath In length of tyme, by the Ignorance and deceiptfulness of men, bene peaced together, and is now maintayned by factious obstinacye, and certain coulerable pretences, such as the wittes and learninge of men, are able to cast uppon any humaine errors, which they list to uphowld. Nether have I left any thinge I doubted of untried or unresolued, becawse I did Intend and desire to so take up the trewth of god, once discouered to me, as neuer to suffer yt to bee questioned any more In my owne consienc. And In all this, Sir, I protest to your maiestye, before almightye god, I have simply and only propounded to my self the trew seruise of god, and saluation of my owne soule, Not gaine, not honor, no not that which I doe most highly valew, your maiestyes fauour, or better opinion of me. Nether on the other side am I affraide of those censures of men whether of the partye I have abandoned, or of others which I shall Incur by this alteration, howldinge yt contentment Innough to my self, That god hath in mercye enlightened my mynde to see his sacred trewth, with desire to serue [the paper here is mutilated].... And rest, your maie[styes] most loyall and obedient servant W. Mownteagle."
Addressed, "To the Kinge his most excellent Maiestye."
From the absence of any allusion to the Powder Plot and its "discovery," it appears certain that this letter must have been written previously to it.
On August 1st, 1609, Sir Wm. Waad wrote to Salisbury that the disorders of Lord Monteagle's house were an offence to the country. At this period he appears to have been suspected of concealing Catholic students from St. Omers. [Calendar of State Papers.]
"Peter Heiwood, younger son ofPeter Heiwood, one of the Counsellors ofJamaica, ... Great Grandson toPeter HeiwoodofHeywoodin the County Palestine ofLancaster; who apprehendedGuy Fauxwith his dark Lanthorn; and for his zealous prosecution of Papists, as Justice of Peace, was stabbed inWestminster-HallbyJohn James, aDominicanFriar, An. Dom. 1640. ObiitNovem. 2. 1701.
Reader, if not a Papist bredUpon such Ashes gently tread."
Reader, if not a Papist bredUpon such Ashes gently tread."
It is to be presumed that the person who died in 1701 is not the same who was stabbed in 1640, or who discovered Guy Faukes in 1605.
The Dominican records contain no trace of any member of the Order named John James, nor does so remarkable an event as the stabbing of a Justice of Peace in Westminster Hall appear to be chronicled elsewhere.
Peter Heywood, J.P. for Westminster, was active as a magistrate as late as December 15th, 1641. [Calendar of State Papers.]
Therecan be no doubt that torture was freely employed to extract evidence from the conspirators and others who fell into the hands of the government.
The Earl of Salisbury, in his letter to Favat, of December 4th, 1605, clearly intimates that this was the case, when he complains "most of the prisoners have wilfully forsworn that the priests knew anything in particular, and obstinately refuse to be accusers of them,yea, what torture soever they be put to."
About the middle of November, Lord Dunfermline wrote to Salisbury [Dom. James I.xvi. 81] recommending that the prisoners should be confined apart and in darkness, that they should be examined by torchlight, and that the tortures should be slow and at intervals, as being thus most effectual.
There is every reason to believe that the Jesuit lay-brother, Nicholas Owen,aliasLittlejohn, actually died upon the rack. [VideFather Gerard'sNarrative of the Gunpowder Plot, p. 189.]
Finally we have the king's instructions as to Faukes [Gunpowder Plot Book, No. 17]. "The gentler tortours are to be first usid unto him,et sic per gradus adima tenditur,[458]and so God speede your goode worke."[459]Guy's signature of November 9th is sufficient evidence that it was none of the "gentler tortours" which he had endured.
In the violently Protestant account of the execution of the traitors,[460]we read: "Last of all came the great Devil of all Faukes, who should have put fire to the powder. His body being weak with torture and sickness, he was scarce able to go up the ladder, but with much ado, by the help of the hangman, went high enough to brake his neck with the fall."
Aroundthe Gunpowder Plot has gathered a mass of fabulous embellishment too curious to be passed over in silence. This has chiefly attached itself to Guy Faukes, who, on account of the desperate part allotted to him has impressed the public mind far more than any of his associates, and has come to be erroneously regarded as the moving spirit of the enterprise.
One of the best authenticated facts regarding him is that when apprehended he was booted and spurred for a journey, though it is usually said that he was to have travelled by water.
There is, however, a strange story, told with much circumstantiality, which gives an elaborate but incomprehensible account of a tragic underplot in connection with him. This is related at considerable length in a Latin hexameter poem,Venatio Catholica, published in 1609, in theHistory of the Popish Sham Plots, and elsewhere. According to this tangled tale the other conspirators wished both to get rid of Faukes, when he had served their purpose, and to throw the suspicion of their deed upon their enemies, the Puritans. To this end they devised a notable scheme. A certain Puritan, named Pickering, a courtier, but a godly man, foremost amongst his party, had a fine horse ("Bucephalum egregium"). This, Robert Keyes, his brother-in-law, purchased or hired, and placed at the service of Faukes for his escape. The steed was to await him at a certain spot, but in a wood hard by assassins were to lurk, who, when Guy appeared, should murder him, and having secured the money with which he was furnished, should leave his mangled corpse beside the Bucephalus, known as Mr. Pickering's. Thus Faukes would be able to tell no tales, and—though it does not appear why—suspicion would be sure to fall on thePuritan, and he would be proclaimed as the author of the recent catastrophe.
"Hoc astu se posse rati convertere in hostesFlagitii infamiam, causamque capessere vulgoQua Puritanos invisos reddere possent,Ut tantæ authores, tam immanis proditionis.Cognito equo, et facta (pro more) indagine cædis,Aulicus hic sceleris tanquam fabricator atrocisProclamandus erat, Falso (ne vera referreEt socios sceleris funesti prodere possit)Sublato."
"Hoc astu se posse rati convertere in hostesFlagitii infamiam, causamque capessere vulgoQua Puritanos invisos reddere possent,Ut tantæ authores, tam immanis proditionis.Cognito equo, et facta (pro more) indagine cædis,Aulicus hic sceleris tanquam fabricator atrocisProclamandus erat, Falso (ne vera referreEt socios sceleris funesti prodere possit)Sublato."
Many curious circumstances have likewise been imported into the history, and many places connected with it which appear to have no claim whatever to such a distinction.
Thus we hear (England's Warning Peece) that the Jesuit Cresswell came over from Spain for the occasion "to bear his part with the rest of his society in a victorial song of thanksgiving." Also that on November 5th, a large body of confederates assembled at Hampstead to see the House of Parliament go up in the air.
In theGentleman's Magazine, February, 1783, is a remarkable description of a summer house, in a garden at Newton Hall, near Kettering, Northamptonshire, in which the plotters used to meet and conspire, the place then belonging to the Treshams; "and for greater security, they placed a conspirator at each window, Guy Faukes, the arch villain, standing in the doorway, to prevent anybody overhearing them."
According to a wide-spread belief Guy Faukes was a Spaniard.[461]He has also been called a Londoner, andhis name being altered to Vaux, has been said to have a family connection with Vauxhall. He was in fact a Yorkshireman of good family, though belonging to a younger branch of no great estate. His father, Edward Faukes, was a notary at York, where he held the office of registrar and advocate of the cathedral church. Guy himself was an educated man, more than commonly well read. He is always described in the process as "Guido Faukes, Gentleman."
Another most extraordinary example of an obvious myth, which was nevertheless treated as sober history, is furnished by the absurd statement that the astute and wily Jesuits not only contrived the Plot, but published its details to the world long before its attempted execution, in order to vindicate to themselves the credit of so glorious a design. Thus Bishop Kennet, in a fifth of November sermon, preached at St. Paul's before the Lord Mayor, in 1715, tells us:[462]
"It was a general surmise at least among the whole Order of Jesuits in foreign parts: or else one of them could hardly have stated the case so exactly some four or five years before it broke out. Father Del-Rio, in a treatise printed An. 1600, put the case, as if he had already looked into the Mine and Cellars, and had surveyed the barrels of powder in them, and had heard the whole confessions of Faux and Catesby."
This "general surmise" does not appear to have been confined to the Jesuits themselves. Another ingenious writer, nearly a century earlier,[463]tells a wonderful story concerning the sermon of a Dominican,preached in the same year, 1600, wherein it was related how there was a special hell, beneath the other, for Jesuits, so thick and fast did they arrive as to need extra accommodation. The preacher avowed that he had, in his vision of the place, given warning to the demon in charge of it, "to search them with speed, for fear that they had conveyed hither some gunpowder with them, for they are very skilfull in Mine-workes, and in blowing up of whole States and Parliament-houses, and if they can blow you all up, then the Spanyards will come and take your kingdom from you."
Another notable specimen of the way in which reason and probability were cast to the winds is afforded by two letters written from Naples in 1610, one to King James and the other to Salisbury, by Sir Edwin Rich,[464]who announced that Father Greenway—who of all the Jesuits was said to be most clearly convicted as a traitor—intended to send to the king a present of an embroidered satin doublet and hose, which, being craftily poisoned, would be death to him if he put them on.
FOOTNOTES:[458]"And so by degrees to the uttermost."[459]These instructions furnish an interesting specimen of the king's broad Scotch,e.g., "Quhat Gentlewomans Letter it was ytwas founde upon him, and quhairfor doth she give him an other Name in it ynhe giues to himself. If he was ever a papiste; and if so, quho brocht him up in it. If otherwayes, hou was he convertid, quhair, quhan, and by quhom."The following passage is very characteristic of the writer:"Nou last, ye remember of the crewellie villanouse pasquille ytrayled upon me for yename of Brittanie. If I remember richt it spake something of harvest and prophecyed my destructi[oabout yttyme. Ye may think of ys, for it is lyke to be by yeLaboure of such a desperate fellow as ysis."[460]The Arraignment and execution of the late traitors, etc., 1606.[461]See, for instance,London and the Kingdom(mainly from the Guildhall Archives), by Reginald R. Sharpe, ii. 13.[462]P. 9.[463]Lewis Owen,Unmasking of all popish Monks, etc. (1628), p. 49.[464]Dom. James I.lvii. 92-93, October 5th.
[458]"And so by degrees to the uttermost."
[459]These instructions furnish an interesting specimen of the king's broad Scotch,e.g., "Quhat Gentlewomans Letter it was ytwas founde upon him, and quhairfor doth she give him an other Name in it ynhe giues to himself. If he was ever a papiste; and if so, quho brocht him up in it. If otherwayes, hou was he convertid, quhair, quhan, and by quhom."
The following passage is very characteristic of the writer:
"Nou last, ye remember of the crewellie villanouse pasquille ytrayled upon me for yename of Brittanie. If I remember richt it spake something of harvest and prophecyed my destructi[oabout yttyme. Ye may think of ys, for it is lyke to be by yeLaboure of such a desperate fellow as ysis."
[460]The Arraignment and execution of the late traitors, etc., 1606.
[461]See, for instance,London and the Kingdom(mainly from the Guildhall Archives), by Reginald R. Sharpe, ii. 13.
[462]P. 9.
[463]Lewis Owen,Unmasking of all popish Monks, etc. (1628), p. 49.
[464]Dom. James I.lvii. 92-93, October 5th.
Ina room of the Queen's House in the Tower, in which the conspirators are supposed to have been examined by the Lords of the Council, Sir WilliamWaad has left a series of inscriptions as memorials of the events in which he played so large a part. Of these the most noteworthy are the following:
I.
Jacobus Magnus, Magnæ Britanniærex, pietate, justitia, prudentia, doctrina, fortitudine,clementia, ceterisq. virtutibus regiis clariss'; Christianæfidei, salutis publicæ, pacis universalis propugnator, fautorauctor acerrimus, augustiss', auspicatiss'.Anna Regina Frederici 2. Danorum Regis invictiss' filia serenissa,Henricus princeps, naturæ ornamentis, doctrinæ præsidiis, gratiæMuneribus, instructiss', nobis et natus et a deo datus,Carolus dux Eboracensis divina ad omnem virtutem indole,[465]Elizabetha utriusq. soror Germana, utroque parente dignissimaHos velut pupillam oculi tenellamprovidus muni, procul impiorumimpetu alarum tuarum intrepidosconde sub umbra.
[This is evidently intended for a Sapphic stanza, but the last two words of v. 3 have been transposed, destroying the metre.]
II.
Robertus Cecil, Comes Sarisburiensis, summus et regisSecretarius, et Angliæ thesaurarius, clariss' patriset de repub. meritissimi filius, in paterna munerasuccessor longe dignissimus;Henricus, comes Northamptoniæ, quinq. portuum præfectus etprivati sigilli custos, disertorum litteratissimus, litteratorumdisertissimus;Carolus comes Nottingamiæ, magnus Angliæ admirallusvictoriosus;Thomas Suffolciæ comes, regis camerarius splendidissimus,tres viri nobilissimi ex antiqua Howardorum familia, ducumq.Norfolciæ prosapia;Edwardus Somersetus, comes Wigorniæ, equis regiis præfectusornatissimus;Carolus Blunt, comes Devoniæ, Hyberniæ prorex et pacificator,Joannes Areskinus,[466]illustris Marriæ comes, præcipuarum in Scotiaarcium præfectus;Georgius Humius, Dunbari comes, Scotiæ thesaurariusprudentiss'omnes illustriss' ordinis garteri milites;Joannes Popham, miles, justiciarius Angliæ capitalis,et justitiæ consultissimus:
Hi omnes illustrissimi viri, quorum nomina ad sempiternam eorum memoriam posteritati consecrandam proxime supra ad lineam posita sunt, ut regi a consiliis, ita ab eo delegati quæsitores, reis singulis incredibili diligentia ac cura sæpius appellatis, nec minore solertia et dexteritate pertentatis eorum animis, eos suis ipsorum inter se collatis responsionibus convictos, ad voluntariam confessionem adegerunt: et latentem nefarie conjurationis seriem, remq. omnem ut hactenus gesta et porro per eos gerenda esset, summa fide erutam, æterna cum laude sua, in lucem produxerunt, adeo ut divina singulari providentia effectum sit, ut tam præsens, tamq. fœda tempestas, a regia majestate, liberisq. regiis, et omni regno depulsa, in ipsos autores eorumq. socios redundarit.
III.
Conjuratorum Nomina, ad perpetuam ipsorum infamiam et tantæ diritatis detestationem sempiternam.
IV.
Besides the above there is a prolix description of the Plot, devised against the best of sovereigns, "a Jesuitis Romanensibus, perfidiæ Catholicæ et impietatis viperinæ autoribus et assertoribus, aliisq. ejusdem amentiæ scelerisq. patratoribus et sociis susceptæ, et in ipso pestis derepente inferendæ articulo (salutis anno 1605, mensis Novembris die quinto), tam præter spem quam supra fidem mirifice et divinitus detectæ."
There is, moreover, a sentence in Hebrew, with Waad's cipher beneath, and a number of what seem to be meant for verses. The following lines are evidently the Lieutenant's description of his own office:
"Custodis Custos sum, Carcer Carceris, arcisArx, atque Argu' Argus; sum speculæ specula;Sum vinclum in vinclis; compes cum compede, clavuFirmo hærens, teneo tentus, habens habeor.Dum regi regnoq. salus stet firma quieta,Splendida sim Compes Compedis usque licet."
"Custodis Custos sum, Carcer Carceris, arcisArx, atque Argu' Argus; sum speculæ specula;Sum vinclum in vinclis; compes cum compede, clavuFirmo hærens, teneo tentus, habens habeor.Dum regi regnoq. salus stet firma quieta,Splendida sim Compes Compedis usque licet."
This is considerably more metrical and intelligible than some of the rest.
In 1613 Waad was dismissed from his post, one of the charges against him being that he had embezzled the jewels of Arabella Stuart.[467]
In Theobald'sMemoirs of Sir Walter Raleigh(p. 16), Waad is described as "the Lieutenant of the Tower, and Cecil's great Creature."
FOOTNOTES:[465]At the time of the Plot Charles was not quite five years old.[466]Erskine.[467]Dom. James I.lxxii. 129.
[465]At the time of the Plot Charles was not quite five years old.
[466]Erskine.
[467]Dom. James I.lxxii. 129.
[Pg 268]
***Passages between square brackets have been cancelled.Those marked * have been ticked off for omission.
Heconfesseth that a Practise in generall was first broken unto him, agaynst his Majesty, for the Catholique cause, and not invented or propounded by himself, and this was first propounded unto him about Easter last was twelvemonth, beyond the seas in the Low countreyes, by an English Lay-man, and that English man came over with him in his company into England, and they tow and three more weare the first five mencioned in the former examination. And they five resolving to do some thinge for the Catholick cause,—a vowe being first taken by all of them for secrecye,—one of the other three propounded to perform it with Powder, and resolved that the place should be,—where this action should be performed and justice done,—in or neere the place of the sitting of the Parliament, wherein Religion had been uniustly suppressed. This beeinge resolved the manner [of it] was as followeth.
***Square brackets indicate an erasure. Italics an addition or substitution.
The[deposition]declarationof Guy Fawkes prisonner in the Tower of Londontaken the 17 of Nov. 1605, acknowledged before the Lords Commissioners.[468]
A.I confesse that a practise in generall was first broken unto me against his Majestie, for releife of the Catholique cause, and not invented or propounded by my self.
And this was first propounded unto me about Easter last was twelvemonth, beyond the Seas, in the Low countries of the Archdukes obeysance by Thomas Wynter, who came thereupon with me into England, and there wee imparted our purpose to three other Englishmen more, namely RobtCatesby, ThosPercy, and John Wright, who all five consulting together of the meanes how to execute the same, and taking a vowe among our selves for secresie Catesby propounded to have it performed by Gunpowder, and by making a myne under the upper house of Parliament, which place wee made choice of the rather,
[Pg 270]
[A. The draft.]
First they hyred the Howse at Westminster of one Ferris,[469]and havinge the howse they sought to make a myne under the upper howse of Parliament, and they begann to make the myne in or about the xi of December, and they five first entered into the worke, and soone after toke an other unto them, havinge first sworne him and taken the Sacrament, for secrecye. And when they came to the wall,—that was about three yards thicke,—and found it a matter of great difficultie, they tooke to them an other in like manner, with oath and Sacrament as afore sayd. All which seaven, were gentlemen of name and bloode, and not any man was employed in or about that action,—noe not so much as in digginge and myning that was not a gentleman. And having wrought to the wall before Christmas, they reasted untill after the holydayes, and the day before Christmas,—having a masse of earth that came out of the myne,—they carryed it into the Garden of the said Howse, and after Christmas they wrought on the wall till Candlemas, and wrought the wall half through, and sayeth that all the tyme while the others wrought he stood as Sentynell to descrie any man that came neere, and when any man came neere to the place, uppon warninge given by him they rested untill they had notyce to proceed from hym, and sayeth that they seaven all lay in the Howse, and had shott and powder, and they all resolved to dye in that place before they yeilded or weare taken.
[B. The Confession as signed.]
because Religion having been unjustly suppressed there, it was fittest that Justice and punishment should be executed there.
B.This being resolved amongst us, Thomas Percy hired a howse at Westminster for that purpose, neare adjoyning the Parlthowse, and there wee beganne to make a myne about the xi of December 1604. The fyve that entered into the woorck were Thomas Percye, Robert Catesby, Thomas Wynter, John Wright, and my self, and soon after we tooke another unto us, Christopher Wright, having sworn him also, and taken the Sacrament for secrecie.
C.When wee came to the verie foundation of the Wall of the house, which was about 3 yeards thick, and found it a matter of great difficultie, we took to us another gentleman Robert [Wynter]Keys[470]in like manner with our oathe and Sacrament as aforesaid.
D.It was about Christmas when wee brought our myne unto the Wall, and about Candlemas we had wrought the Wall half through. And whilst they were a working, I stood as sentinell, to descrie any man that came neare, whereof I gave them warning, and so they ceased untill I gave them notice agayne to proceede. All wee seaven lay in the house, and had shott and powder, being resolved to dye in that place before we should yeild or be taken.
[Pg 272]
[A. The draft.]
And as they weare workinge, they heard a rushinge in the cellar which grew byone[471]Brights selling of his coles whereuppon this Examinant, fearinge they had been discovered, went into the cellar and viewed the cellar, and perceivinge the commoditye thereof for their purposs, and understandinge how it would be letten his maister, MrPercy, hyred the Cellar for a yeare, for 4 pounds rent. And confesseth that after Christmas 20tybarrells of Powder weare brought by themselves to a Howse which they had on the Banksyde in Hampers, and from that Howse removed the powder to the sayd Howse, neere the upper Howse of Parliament. And presently upon hyringe the cellar, they themselfs removed the powder into the cellar, and couvered the same with faggots which they had before layd into the sellar.
After, about Easter, he went into the Low Countryes,—as he before hath declared in his former examination,—and that the trew purpos of his goinge over was least beinge a dangerous man he should be known and suspected, and in the meane tyme he left the key [of the cellar] with MrPercye, whoe in his absence caused more Billetts to be layd into the Cellar, as in his former examination he confessed, and retourned about the end of August or the beginninge of September, and went agayne to the sayd howse, nere to the sayd cellar, and received the key of the cellar agayne of one of the five. And then they brought in five or six barrells of powder more into the cellar, which all soe they couvered with billetts, saving fower little barrells covered with ffaggots, and then this examinant went into the Country about the end of September.
[B. The Confession as signed.]
E.As they were working upon the wall, they heard a rushing in a cellar of removing of coles; whereupon wee feared wee had been discovered, and they sent me to go to the cellar, who fynding that the coles were a selling, and that the Cellar was to be lett, viewing the commoditye thereof for our purpose, Percy went and hired the same for yearly Rent.
Wee had before this provyded and brought into the house 20 barrells of Powder, which wee removed into the Cellar, and covered the same with billets and fagots, which we provided for that purpose.
F.About Easter, the Parliament being proroged tyll October next, wee dispersed our selfs and I retired into the Low countryes,by advice and direction of the rest, as well to acquaint Owen with the particulars of the plot, as also[472]lest by my longer staye I might have grown suspicious, and so have come in question.
In the meane tyme Percy, having the key of the Cellar, layd in more powder and wood into it.
I returned about the beginning of September next and then receyving the key againe of Percy, we brought in more powder and billets to cover the same againe.
[Pg 274]
[A. The draft.]
* It appeareth the powder was in the cellar, placed as it was found the 5 of November, when the Lords came to proroge the Parliament, and sayeth that he returned agayne to the sayd Howse neare the cellar on Wednesday the 30 of October.
[He confesseth he was at the Erle of Montgomeryes marriage, but as he sayeth with noe intention of evill, havinge a sword about him, and was very neere to his Majesty and the Lords there present.]
Forasmuch as they knew not well how they should come by the person of the Duke Charles, beeinge neere London, where they had no forces,—if he had not been all soe blowne upp,—He confesseth that it was resolved amonge them, that the same day that this detestable act should have been performed, the same day should other of their confederacye have surprised the person of the Lady Elizabeth, and presently have proclaimed her queen [to which purpose a Proclamation was drawne, as well to avowe and justify the Action, as to have protested against the Union, and in no sort to have meddeled with Religion therein. And would have protested all soe agaynst all strangers] and this proclamation should have been made in the name of the Lady Elizabeth.
* Beinge demanded why they did not surprise the Kinges person and draw him to the effectinge of their purpose, sayeth that soe many must have been acquaynted with such an action as it could not have been kept secrett.
He confesseth that if their purpose had taken effect untill they had power enough they would not have avowed the deed to be theirs; but if their power,—for their defence and safetye,—had been sufficient they themselfes would have taken it upon them.
[B. The Confession as signed.]
And so [I] went for a tyme into the country, till the 30 of October.
G.It was farther resolved amongst us that the same day that this action should have been performed some other of our confederates should have surprised the person of the Lady Elizabeth the Kings eldest daughter, who was kept in Warwickshire at the Lo. Harringtons house, and presently have proclaimed her for Queene, having a project of a Proclamation ready for the purpose, wherein we made no mention of altering of Religion,——
—— nor would have avowed the deed to be ours untill we should have had power enough to make our partie good, and then we would have avowed both.
[Pg 276]
[A. The draft.]
* They meant all soe to have sent for the Prisoners in the Tower to have come to them, of whom particularly they had some consultation.
* He confesseth that the place of Rendez-vous was in Warwickshire, and that armour was sent thither, but the particuler thereof he knowes not.
He confesseth that they had consultation for the takinge of the Lady Marye into their possession, but knew not how to come by her.
And confesseth that provision was made by some of the conspiracye of some armour of proofe this last Summer for this Action.
* He confesseth that the powder was bought of the common Purse of the Confederates.
[Endorsed] Examination of Guy Fauks, Novr8th, 1605.
[B. The Confession as signed.]
H.Concerning Duke Charles, the Kings second son, we hadd sundrie consultations how to sease on his person, but because wee found no meanes how to compasse it,—the Duke being kept near London,—where we had not forces enough, wee resolved to serve ourselves with the Lady Elizabeth.
J.The names of other principall persons that were made privie afterwards to this horrible conspiracie.
[Signed]Guido Faukes.
Everard Digby, KnightAmbrose RuckwoodFrancis TreshamJohn GrantRobert [Keys]Wynter
Everard Digby, KnightAmbrose RuckwoodFrancis TreshamJohn GrantRobert [Keys]Wynter
[Witnessed] Edw. Coke W. Waad.
[Endorsed] Fawkes his [deposition]declaration 17 Nov. 1605.[473]