were subject, both in points of faith, and limitation of loyalty: And last of all, forcasting to what end their former protestation would come, when present satisfaction should shrink; he was ever fearful to embark himself for any further voyage and adventure in this strait, than his own compass might steer him, and his judgment level him. If any one green leaf for Catholics could have been visibly discerned by the eye of Catesby, Winter, Garnet, Fawkes, &c. they would neither have entered into practice with foreign princes during the queen's time for prevention of the king's lawful and hereditary right, nor have renewed the same both abroad and at home by missions and combinations, after his majesty was both applauded and entered.-It is true, that by Confessions we find, that false priest Watson, and arch traitor Percy, to have been the first devisers and divulgers of this scandalous report, as an accursed ground, where on they might with some advantage, as it was conceived, build the castles of their conspiracy.-Touching the first, no man can speak more soundly to the point than myself; for being sent into the prison by the king to charge him with this false alarm, only two days before his death, and upon his soul to press him in the presence of God, and as he would answer it at another bar, to confess directly whether at either of both these times he had access anto his majesty at Edinborough, his majesty did give him any promise, hope or comfort of encouragement to Catholics concerning toleration; he did there protest upon his soul that he could never win one inch of ground, or draw the smallest comfort from the king in those degrees, nor further than that he would have them ap reign parts, that seemed to be well affected to his future expectation, had used his name more audaciously, and spoken of his favour to the Catholics more forwardly than the king's own conscience and unchangeable decree could acknowledge or admit (either with a purpose to prepare the minds of foreign princes, or for a practice to estrange and alienate affections at home) not only utterly renounced and condemned these encroachments of blind zeal, and rash proceedings, by the voices of his own ministers, but was careful also for a caution to succeeding hopes, so far as lay in him, that by the disgrace of the delinquents in this kind, the minds of all English subjects chiefly might be secured, and the world satisfied.-No man can speak in this case more confidently than myself, that received in the queen's time, for the space of many years, directions and warnings to take heed, that neither any further comfort might be given to Catholics, concerning future favours, than he did intend, which was to bind all subjects in one kingdom to one law, concerning the religion established, howsoever in civil matters he might extend his favour as he found just cause nor any seeds of jealousy and diffidence sown in the minds of Protestants by Semeis and Achitophels, to make them doubtful of his constancy, to whom he would confirm with his dearest blood, that faith which he had sucked from the breast of his nurse, apprehended from the cradle of his infancy, and maintained with his uttermost endeavour, affection and strength: since he was more able out of reading and disputing, to give a reason of those principles which he had now digested and turned to nutriment. -He that wrote the Book of Titles before the late queen's death, declares abundantly by seek-prehend, that as he was a stranger to this state, ing to possess some foreign prince of the king's hereditary crowns, when the cause should come to the proof, and may witness instead of many; what hope there was of the king's favour or affection to Catholics in the case of toleration or dispensation, with exercise of conscience. For every man may guess that it was no slight or ordinary degree of despair, that made him and other of his suit renounce their portion in the son and heir of that renowned and rare lady Mary queen of Scotland, a member of the Roman church; as some did in David, Nulla nobis pars in David, nec hæreditas in filio Isai: For hereof by letters intercepted in their pas sage into Scotland, the records and proofs are evident. His majesty, so long as he was in expectation of that which by the work and grace of God he doth now possess, did ever seek to settle his establishment upon the faith of Protestants in generality, as the most assured sheet anchor. For though he found a number on the other side, as faithful and as well-affected to his person, claim and interest, as any men alive, as well in respect of their dependency upon the queen his mother, as for the taste which they had of the sweetness of himself; yet finding with what strength of blood many have been over-carried out of a fervency in zeal in former times, observing to what censures they so till he understood in all points how those matters stood, he would not promise favour any way; Lut did protest that all the crowns and kingdoins in this world, should not induce him to change any jot of his profession, which was the pasture of his soul, and earnest of his eternal inheritance. He did confess that in very deed, to keep up the hearts of Catholics in love and duty to the king, he had imparted the king's words to many, in a better tune, and a higher kind of descant, than his book of plain song did direct; because he knew that others like sly bargemen looked that way, when their stroke was bent another way. For this he craved pardon of the king in humble manner, and for his main treasons of a higher nature than these figures of hypocrisy; and seemed penitent, as well for the horror of his crime, as for the falsehood of his whisperings.-It hindered not the satisfaction which may be given to Percy's shadow (the most desperate Boutefeu in the pack), that as he died impenitent, for any thing we know: so likewise he died silent in the particu lars. For first, it is not strange that such a traitor should devise so scandalous a slander out of the malice of his heart, intending to destroy the king by any means, and to advance all means that might remove obstructions and impediments to the plot of gunpowder. The more odious that he could make him to the party malecontent, and the more sharply that be could set the party malecontent upon the point and humour of revenge: the stronger was his hope at the giving of the last blow, to be glorified and justified. But touching the truth of the matters, it will be witnessed by many, that this traitor Percy after both the first and second return from the king, brought to the Catholicks no spark of comfort, of encouragement, of hope; whereof no stronger proof of argument doth need, than that Fawkes and others were employed both into Spain and other parts, for the reviving of a practice suspended and covered, after Percy's coming back; as in likelihood they should not have been, in case he had returned with a branch of olive in his mouth, or yielded any ground of comfort to resolve upon.-Therefore I thought it thus far needful to proceed, for the clearing of those scandals that were cast abroad, by these forlorn hopes and graceless instruments. It only remains that I pray for your repentance in this world for the satisfaction of many, and forgiveness in the next world, for the saving of yourself; having had by the king's favour so long a time to cast up your account, before your appearance at the seat of the great auditor. Then spake the Earl of Salisbury, especially to that point, of his majesty's breaking of promise with Recusants, which was used and urged by sir Everard Digby, as a motive to draw him to participate in this so hideous a treason. Wherein his lordship, after acknowledgment that sir Everard Digby was his ally, and having made a zealous and religious protestation concerning the sincerity and truth of that which he would deliver: shortly and clearly defended the honour of the king herein, and freed his majesty from all imputation and scandal of irresolution in religion, and in the constant and perpetual maintaining thereof; as also from having at any time given the least hope, much less promise of toleration. To which purpose he declared how his majesty, as well before his coming to this crown, as at that very time, and always since, was so far from making of promise, or giving hope of Toleration, that he ever professed he should not endure the very motion thereof from any.-And here his lordship shewed what was done at Hampton-Court at the time of Watson's treason, where some of the greater recusants were convented: And being found then not to have their fingers in treason, were sent away again with encouragement to persist in their dutiful carriage, and with promise only of thus much favour. That those mean profits which had accrued since the king's time to his majesty for their recusancy, should be forgiven to the principal gentlemen, who had both at his entry shewed so much loyalty, and had kept themselves so free since from all conspiracies.-Then did his lordship also (the rather to shew how little truth sir Everard Digby's words did carry in any thing which he had spoken) plainly prove, that all his protestations wherein he denied so constantly to be privy to the Plot of Powder, were utterly false, by the testimony of Fawkes (there present at the bar) who had confessed, that certain months before that session, the said Fawkes being with Digby at his house in the country, about what time there had fallen much wet: Digby taking Fawkes aside after supper, told him that he was much afraid that the powder in the cellar was grown dank, and that some new must be provided, lest that should not take fire. Next, the said earl did justly and greatly commend the lord Mounteagle for his loyal and honourable care of his prince and country, in the speedy bringing forth of the letter sent unto him; wherein he said, that he had shewed both his discretion and fidelity. Which speech being ended, Digby then acknowledged, that he spake not that of the breach of promise out of his own knowledge, but from their relation whom he trusted; and namely from sir Tho. Tresham. Now were the Jury retrned, who having delivered their Verdict, whereby they jointly found those seven prisoners, arraigned upon the former Indictment, Guilty; Serjeant Philips craved Judgment against those seven upon their conviction and against sir Everard Digby upon his own Confession. Then the Lord Chief Justice of England, after a grave and prudent relation and defence of the laws made by queen Elizabeth against recusants, priests, and receivers of priests, together with the several occasions, progresses and reasons of the same; and having plainly demonstrated and proved that they were all necessary, mild, equal, moderate, and to be justified to all the world: pronounced Judg ment. Upon the rising of the court, sir Everard Digby bowing himself towards the lords, said, If I may but hear any of your lordships say, you forgive me, I shall go more chearfully to the gallows.-Whereunto the lords said, God forgive you, and we do. And so according to the Sentence, on Thursday following being the 30th of January, execution was done upon sir Everard Digby, Robert Winter, John Grant, and Thomas Bates, at the West end of Paul's church; and on Friday following, upon Thomas Winter, Ambrose Rookwood, Robert Keyes, and Guy Fawkes, within the old Palace-Yard, at Westminster, not far from the Parliament-House, YOL. II. The following History of the GUNPOWDER-PLOT, written by King James himself, is extracted from the first Collection of his Works published during his life-time by Mountague, Bishop of Winchester. | enabling them to deliver at that time 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 alms with one open hand, but carrying a stone in the other, in case of refusal. And therefore did the earl of Salisbury conclude with the lord Monteagle, that he would, in regard of the king's absence, impart the same Letter to some more of his majesty's council, whereof my lord Monteagle liked well, only adding this request, 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 sudden an apprehension, that he delivered this Letter; being only moved thereunto for demonstration of his WHILE this land and whole monarchy flourished in a most, happy and plentiful peace, as well at home, as abroad, sustained and conducted by these two main good pillars of all good government, piety and justice, no foreign grudge, nor inward whispering of discontentment any way appearing: the king being upon his return from his hunting exercise at Royston, upon occasion of the drawing near of the parliament-time, which had been twice prorogued already, partly in regard of the season of the year, and partly of the term: as the winds are ever stillest immediately before a storm; and, as the sun bleaks often hottest to foretel a following shower; so, at that time of greatest calm, did this secretly hatched thunder begin to cast forth the first flashes, and flaming lightnings of the approaching tempest. For, the Saturday of the week imme-ready devotion, and care for preservation of diately preceding the king's return, which was upon a Thursday, being but ten days before the parliament, the lord Monteagle, son and heir to the lord Morley, being in his own lodgings ready to go to supper, at seven of the clock at night, one of his footmen, whom he had sent of an errand over the street, was met by a man of a reasonable tall personage, who delivered him a Letter, charging him to put it in my lord his master's hands; which my lord no sooner received, but that, having broken it up, and perceiving the same to be of an unknown, and somewhat unlegible hand, and without either date or superscription, 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 conceal it, whatever might come of it. Whereupon, notwithstanding the lateness and darkness of the night in that season of the year, be presently repaired to his majesty's palace at Whitehall, and there delivered the same to the earl of Salisbury, his majesty's principal secretary. Whereupon, the said earl 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 purport of the Letter might prove hereafter, yet did this accident put him in mind of divers advertisements he had received rom beyond the seas, wherewith he had acquainted, as well the king himself, as divers of This privy-counsellors, concerning some business the Papists were in, both at home and abroad, making preparations for some combination zmongst them against this parliament-time, for his majesty and the state. And thus did the earl of Salisbury presently acquaint the lord chamberlain with the said Letter. Whereupon they two, in presence of the lord Monteagle, calling to mind 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 majesty's person, made them ap prehended, that some perilous attempt did thereby appear to be intended against the same, which did the more nearly concern the said lord chamberlain to have a care of, in regard that it doth belong to the charge of his office to oversee, as well all places of assembly where his majesty is to repair, as his highness's own private houses. And therefore did the said two counsellors conclude, that they should join unto themselves three more of the council, to wit, the lord admiral, the earls of Worcester and Northampton, to be also particularly acquainted with this accident, who having all of them concurred together to the re-examination of the contents of the said letter, they did conclude, 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 behoved them to have of the preservation of his majesty's 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, as well for the expectation and experience they had of his majesty's fortunate judgment, in clearing and solving obscure riddles and doubtful mysteries; as also, because the more time would, in the mean time, be given for the practice to ripen, if any was, whereby the discovery might be more clear and evident, and the ground of proceed ing thereupon more safe, just, and easy. And so according to their determination did the said earl of Salisbury repair to the king in his gallery upon Friday, being Allhallow's-day, in the afternoon, which was the day after his ma- jesty's arrival, and none but himself being present with his highness at that time, where, without any other speech, or judgment given of the Letter, but only relating simply the form of the delivery thereof, he presented it to his majesty. The contents whereof follow: My Lord; Out of the love I bear to some of your friends, I have a care of your preservation: therefore I would advise you, as you tender your life, to devise some excuse, to shift off your attendance at this parliament. For God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this time. And think not slightly of this advertisement, but retire your'self into your country, where you may expect the event in safety. For, though there 'be no appearance of any stir, yet I say, they shall receive a terrible blow this parliament, and yet they shall not see who hurts them, This counsel is not to be condemned, because < it may do you good, and cau do you no harm, for the danger is past so soon as you have 'burnt the Letter; and I hope God will give you grace to make good use of it; to whose holy protection I commend you.' The king no sooner read the letter, but after a little pause, and then reading it once again, he delivered his judgment of it in such sort, as 1 he thought it was not to be contemned, for that the stile of it seemed to be more quick and pithy, than is usual to be in any pasquil or libel, the superfluities of idle brains. But the earl of Salisbury, perceiving the king to apprehend it deeplier than he looked tor, knowing his nature, told him, that he thought, by one sentence in it, that it was like to be written by some fool, or madınan, 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 saying of a fool; for, if the danger was past, so soon as the letter was burnt, then the warning behoved to be of little avail, when the burning of the letter might make the danger to be eschewed. But the king, on 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, joining it to the sentence immediately following, already alledged, did thereupon conjecture, that the danger mentioned should be some sudden danger by blowing up of powder; for no other insurrection, rebellion, or whatsoever other private and desperate attempt could be cominitted, or attempted, in time of parliament, and the authors thereof unseen, except only if it were by a blowing up of powder, which might be performed by one base knave in a dark "Who it was" observes Kennett, "that corner: Whereupon he was moved to interpret wrote this Letter to the Lord Monteagle was ne- and construe the latter sentence in the letter, ver known, or how it came that king James sus- alledged by the earl of Salisbury, against all orpected its meaning to be what it really was, is dinary sense and construction in grammar, ast in a great part a mystery to this day. Yet I if by these words, For the danger is past, as cannot give myself leave to doubt, but king soon as you have burnt the letter;' should be James had some light given him from Henry closely understood the suddenness and quick4th of the designs of the Papists against him; ness of the danger, which should be as quickly for in the duke of Sully's Memoirs, there is performed and at an end, as that paper should more than once mention made of some sudden be a blazing up in the fire; turning that word Blow' they intended in England about that of as soon to the sense of as quickly; and time and in one Letter, king James is desired therefore wished, that, before bis going to the to take warning from the fate of Henry 3. I parliament, the under-rooms of the parliamentam the more confirmed in this opinion, that in house might be well and narrowly searched. the Harangue pronounced at Rome in praise But, the earl of Salisbury wondering at this his of Ravilliac the Assassin of Henry 4, which majesty's commentary, which he knew to be so has since been so often quoted by several au- far contrary to his ordinary and natural dispothors, both Papist and Protestant, as an argu-sition, who did rather ever sin upon the other ment that the Jesuits approved the murder: it is there said, 'That Henry 4, was not only 'an inveterate enemy to the Catholick religion in his heart, but had obstructed the glorious enterprizes of those that would have restored it in England, and occasioned them to be 'crown'd with Martyrdom.' Now it's well known, Garnet and the rest that were executed for the Gun-Powder-Plot, were reputed Martyrs for the Catholick cause by the college of Jesuits at Rome, where that Harangue was pronounced." See also Welwood.--It is now a common opinion that the above Letter to lord Mounteagle was sent by his sister Mary the wife of Thomas Habington or Abingdon. Some particulars of this family and of their concern with the treasonable transactions in the reigns of Elizabeth and James 1st. are to be found in Nash's History of Worcestershire. side, in not apprehending, nor trusting due advertisements of practices and perils, when he was truly informed of them, whereby he had many times drawn himself into many desperate dangers; and interpreting rightly this extraor dinary caution at this time to proceed from the vigilant care he had of the whole state, more than of his own person, which could not but have all perished together, if this designment 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 custom is, took his leave for that time., But, though he seemed so to neglect it to his majesty, yet, his customable and watchful care of the king and the state still boiling within him, and having, with the blessed virgin Mary, laid up in his heart the king's so strange judgment and construction of it, he could not This could not but increase the king's former be at rest, till he acquainted the foresaid lords apprehension and jealousy; whereupon, he inwhat had passed between the king and him insisted, as before, That the house was narrowly private. Whereupon they were all so earnest to be searched, and that those billets and coals to renew again the memory of the same pur- should be searched to the bottom, it being pose to his majesty, that it was agreed, that he most suspicious, that they were laid there only should the next day, being Saturday, repair to for covering of the powder. Of this same mind his highness; which he did in the same privy also were all the counsellors then present; but gallery, and renewed the memory thereof, the upon the fashion of making of the search was lord chamberlain then being present with the it long debated: For, upon the one side, they king. At which time it was determined, That were all so jealous of the king's safety, that the said lord chamberlain should, according to they all agreed, That there could not be too his custom and office, view all the parliament- much caution used for preventing his danger; houses, both above and below, and consider and yet, upon the other part, they were all exwhat likelihood or appearance of any such treme loth and dainty, that, in case this letter danger might possibly be gathered by the sight should prove to be nothing but the evaporaof them: But yet, as well for staying of idle tion of an idle brain, then a curious search rumours, as for being the more able to discern being made, and nothing found, should not any mystery, the nearer that things were in only turn to the general scandal of the king readiness, his journey thither was ordained to and the state, as being so suspicious of every be deferred till the afternoon before the sitting light and frivolous toy, but likewise lay an illdown of the parliament, which was upon the favoured imputation upon the earl of NorMonday following. At which time he (accord- thumberland, one of his majesty's greatest subing to this conclusion) went to the parliament-jects and counsellors, this Thomas Percy being house, accompanied with my lord Montcagle, his kinsman and most confident familiar. And being, in zeal to the king's service, earnest and the rather were they curious upon this point, curious to see the event of that accident, knowing how far the king detested to be thought whereof he had the fortune to be the first dis- suspicious or jealous of any of his good subjects, coverer; where, having viewed all the lower though of the meanest degree; and therefore, rooms, he found, in the vault, under the upper though they all agreed upon the main ground, house, great store and provision of billets, fag- which was to provide for the security of the gots, and coals; and, inquiring of Whyneard, king's person, yet did they much differ in the keeper of the wardrobe, To what use he had circumstances, by which this action might be put those lower rooms and cellars? He told best carried with least din and occasion of him, That Thomas Percy had hired both the slander. But, the king himself still persisting, house, and part of the cellar, or vault, under that there were divers shrewd appearances, and the same; and that the wood and coal therein that a narrow search of those places could prewere the said gentleman's own provision. judge no man that was innocent, he at last Whereupon, the lord chamberlain, casting his plainly resolved them, That either must all the eye aside, perceived a fellow standing in a parts of those rooms be narrowly searched, and corner there, calling himself the said Percy's no possibility of danger left unexamined, or else man, and keeper of that house for him, but in- he and they all must resolve not to meddle in it at deed was Guido Fawkes, the owner of that hand, all, but plainly to go the next day to the parliawhich should have acted that monstrous tragedy.ment, and leave the success to fortune; which, The lord chamberlain, looking upon all things with a heedful indeed, yet, in outward appearance, with but 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 earls of Worcester, Northampton, and Salisbury, he made his report what he had seen and observed there; noting, that Monteagle 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 coal in that house, where Thomas Percy had so seldom occasion to remain; as likewise it gave him in his mind, that his man looked like a very tall and desperate fellow. he believed, they would be loth to take upon their conscience; for, in such a case as this, an half-doing was worse than no doing at all, Whereupon it was at last concluded, That nothing should be left unsearched in those housts; and yet, for the better colour and stay of rumour, in case nothing were found, it was thought meet, that, upon a pretence of Whyneard's missing some of the king's stuff, or hangings, which he had in keeping, all those rooms should be narrowly ripped for them. And, to this purpose, was sir Thomas Knevet, (a gentleman of his majesty's privy-chamber) employed, being a justice of peace in Westminster, and one, of whose ancient fidelity both the late queen and our now sovereign have 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 in the house finding Thomas Percy's alledged was fit for that errand: but, before his entry man standing without the doors, his clothes and |