Purpose, And Drew In More Complices, And What They Were.
Whilst the great persecution before recited did reign so much, and brought
with it so many and so great afflictions upon all sorts of Catholics, as
before you have read, and whilst Father Garnett did verily persuade
himself that notwithstanding all those great difficulties, all was and
would be borne with patience, until further order could be taken, and the
same patient toleration publicly commanded which he had privately
counselled; these foresaid gentlemen who had commenced a course before
that time which Father Garnett did little dream of, although they did bear
him in hand whom they saw resolute for quiet courses, that they would
expect until order came from authority, after their messenger had been
heard, whom they had sent to explain their griefs according to his
counsel, yet they, persuading themselves (as they afterwards affirmed to
some that were with them, when they were in arms in the country, but were
not taken with them) that if contrary order to their designments should
come from higher authority (as they feared in likelihood it would, and
therefore were loth to expect so long) that the same was only upon
mistaking of their case or upon some hope perhaps His Holiness might have
that things would be better with Catholics after a time, and that favour
would be procured by fair means; and this hope grounded upon promises from
those that had deceived many with the like and never kept any yet that
they made in that kind. They therefore, thinking themselves to have had so
long trial hereof, would not be staid, as it seems, from their present
purpose by future expectations, but proceeded in what way they had begun,
and provided still more powder to such a quantity as made up in all
thirty-six barrels, some bigger and some less; all which they placed so in
the cellar under the Parliament House, as must needs have overthrown the
same and some other buildings also that had been near unto it, if it had
been set on fire as was intended; especially having placed thereon many
billets of wood to cover the same powder and some bars of iron also of
purpose: all which being blown up with the powder, would have made sure to
tear and rend the Parliament House in pieces.
Thus having disposed all things in the cellar as they would have them,
they absented themselves much from thence; because they would give no
cause of note over that place more than others, whereof they were ever
very careful. And so they had good cause, being men as likely to be noted
by the State for men of action and performance, as any in the realm; and
then, being withal known to be resolute Catholics, their often meetings or
haunting much to one place, especially near the Court, would not have been
free from suspect. For the same cause also, during all the time they
wrought in the mine or cellar, they would have but small company, and were
but seven acquainted with the matter, all which I named before. Only one
man of meaner condition they admitted there into the secret, to help them
in making provision of their powder, and that was one Bates, a servant of
Mr. Robert Catesby’s, whom he had great opinion of for his long tried
fidelity towards him, which the poor fellow continued even until he saw
his master dead; and then, it is like, his heart was dead withal, for he
showed some fear after, when he was taken, which gave others occasion to
work upon his weakness and to give some beginning of colour towards the
accusation of divers that were not guilty in the matter, as shall
afterwards appear. But these foresaid gentlemen having left the cellar, as
they desired to find it, were then to seek for further helps wherewith to
effect their designments when that act should be performed. For then their
purpose was (saith Mr. Winter in his printed confession) to seize upon the
person of the young Prince, if he were not in the Parliament House, which
they much desired. But if he were, then upon the young Duke Charles, who
then should be the next heir, and him they would erect, and with him and
by his authority, the Catholic religion. If that did also fail them, then
had they a resolution to take the Lady Elizabeth, who was in the keeping
of the Lord Harrington in Warwickshire; and so by one means or other, they
would be certain to settle in the crown one of the true heirs unto the
same. But to perform this part of their exploit required more hands and
help than as yet they had at command. Wherefore they bethought themselves
what help they might adjoin unto them in that great secret, without likely
danger and yet with the assistance which they wanted, which partly
required some more men of strength both in mind and body; but chiefly for
supply of money, which if they had in readiness, and that placed in those
countries where they meant to gather to a head, and where, for the most
part, all sorts are either Catholic or affected to Catholics, they thought
then they could want neither men nor any needful provision.
To this effect they first acquainted Mr. Ambrose Rookewood with the
business, a gentleman of good worth in the county of Suffolk and of a very
ancient family and himself the heir of the eldest house. This gentleman
was brought up in Catholic religion from his infancy and was ever very
devout. His parents also were very virtuous and suffered much persecution
for their Faith, both in payment of money and loss of their goods and many
other molestations; yet was their house a continual receptacle for
Priests, and a place wherein many other Catholics did often find great
spiritual comfort, the house being a very fair great house and his living
very sufficient. But that which moved them specially to make choice of Mr.
Rookewood was, I suppose, not so much to have his help by his living as by
his person, and some provision of horses, of which he had divers of the
best: but for himself, he was known to be of great virtue and no less
valour and very secret. He was also of very good parts otherwise as for
wit and learning, having spent of his youth in study. He was at this time,
as I take it, not past twenty-six or twenty-seven years old and had
married a gentlewoman of a great family, a virtuous Catholic also, by whom
he had divers young children. Yet it seemed all those did little move him
nor any respect to his living or fortune, though he had enjoyed them but a
little time; whereby I do gather, they made a great account of this
business, in respect whereof, it seems, they made account of nothing.
Next unto him was a Warwickshire gentleman, one Mr. John Grant, a man of
sufficient estate for his own charge, and lived well in his country; but
of no great ability to help in the business, otherwise than by his
acquaintance (being well beloved and allied in that country where they
were chiefly to need help). But for his own person he was as fierce as a
lion, of a very undaunted courage as could be found in a country: which
mind of his he had often showed unto pursuivants and prowling companions,
when they would come to his house to search and ransack the same, as they
did to divers of his neighbours. But he paid them so well for their labour
not with crowns of gold but with cracked crowns sometimes, and with dry
blows instead of drink and other good cheer, that they durst not visit him
any more, unless they brought great store of help with them. Truth is, his
mettle and manner of proceeding was so well known unto them, that it kept
them very much in awe and himself in much quiet which he did the rather
use, that he might with more safety keep a Priest in his house, which he
did with great fruit unto his neighbours and comfort to himself. This
gentleman therefore they adjoined to their company, as they had done Mr.
Rookewood, giving to them both the oath of secrecy, according to their
custom.
Then they called in one Mr. Robert Keyes, a grave and sober man, and of
great wit and sufficiency, as I have heard divers say, that were well
acquainted with him. His virtue and valour were the chiefest things
wherein they could expect assistance from him; for otherwise, his means
were not great, but in those two, by report, he had great measure. More
was the pity that such men, so worthy to be esteemed, should lose
themselves in such a labyrinth of erring courses.
But of all others, he that was most pitied and generally most commended of
all men, was the next whom Mr. Catesby thought fit to acquaint with the
matter, therein to have his help and assistance in all kinds, both for
counsel and forces and provision of money, of horses and armour and men
and followers; in all which, put them all together and there was not such
a man amongst them. And this was Sir Everard Digby, a Knight of great
living and great account in his country. He was of an ancient and great
family, whose ancestors were a great help to the suppressing of Richard
III. the tyrant, and the bringing and setting up of King Henry VII. from
whom our King James is lineally descended: whereupon King Henry did make
Knights in the field seven brothers of his house at one time, from whom
descended divers houses of that name, which live all in good reputation in
their several countries. But this Sir Everard Digby was the heir of the
eldest and chiefest house, and one of the chiefest men in Rutlandshire
where he dwelt, as his ancestors had done before him, though he had also
much living in Leicestershire and other shires adjoining. His estate was
not fully come into his hands, for his mother lived, who had above seven
or eight hundred pounds a year; but he had in his hands above 2,000 marks
a year. This gentleman was always Catholicly affected, and heir unto the
piety of his parents, as well as to their living: for they were ever the
most noted and known Catholics in that country. And although this
gentleman being left a ward by his Father’s untimely death, was not
brought up Catholicly in his youth, but at the University by his
guardians, as other young gentlemen use to be; yet when he came to be of
riper years, and had the guiding of himself and his own estate, he
affected most the company of Catholics and finding by them the necessity
not only of believing but of practising also and professing that religion,
he presently made election rather to suffer with Catholic religion, and to
bear with Catholics the cross of persecution than to rise with heresy and
to be advanced in the Court, which until then he had followed, and was as
likely to be raised as any there, if he would have followed the time. For
indeed to do him right, he was as complete a man in all things that
deserved estimation or might win affection, as one should see in a
kingdom. He was of stature about two yards high, very little lower than
Mr. Catesby but of stronger making; of countenance so comely and manlike,
that when he was taken and brought up to the Court (not in the best case
to make show of himself as you may imagine), yet some of the chiefest in
the Court seeing him out of a window brought in that manner, lamented him
much, and said he was the goodliest man in the whole Court. He was skilful
in all things that belonged unto a gentleman, very cunning at his weapon,
much practised and expert in riding of great horses, of which he kept
divers in his stable continually with a skilful rider for them. For other
sports of hunting or hawking, which gentlemen in England so much use and
delight in, he had the best of both kinds in the country round about,
insomuch that he made that the colour of his going into Warwickshire at
this time, and of drawing company together of his friends, as it were to a
match of hunting which he had made. For all manner of games which are also
usual for gentlemen in foul weather, when they are forced to keep house,
he was not only able therein to keep company with the best; but was so
cunning in them all, that those who knew him well, had rather take his
part than be against him. He was a good musician and kept divers good
musicians in his house; and himself also could play well of divers
instruments. But those who were well acquainted with him do affirm that in
gifts of mind he excelled much more than in his natural parts; although in
those also it were hard to find so many in one man in such a measure. But
of wisdom he had an extraordinary talent, such a judicial wit and so well
able to discern and discourse of any matter, as truly I have heard many
say they have not seen the like of a young man, and that his carriage and
manner of discourse were more like to a grave Councillor of State, than to
a gallant of the Court as he was, and a man but of twenty-six years old
(which I think was his age or thereabouts). And though his behaviour were
courteous to all, and offensive to none, yet was he a man of great courage
and of noted valour, which at his end he showed plainly to the world, all
men seeing and affirming that he made no account at all of death. He was
so studious a follower of virtue, after he became Catholic, that he gave
great comfort to those that had the guiding of his soul (as I have heard
them seriously affirm more than once or twice), he used his prayers daily
both mental and vocal, and daily and diligent examination of his
conscience: the Sacraments he frequented devoutly every week, and to that
end kept a Priest in his house continually, who for virtue and learning
hath not many his betters in England. Briefly I have heard it reported of
this Knight by those that knew him well, and that were often in his
company, that they did note in him a special care of avoiding all
occasions of sin and of furthering acts of virtue in what he could; to
which end he was not only studious to bring as many to be Catholics as he
could (studying books of purpose to enable himself in that kind), and
brought in divers of that sort and some of great account and place. Not
only in this highest kind, wherein he took very great joy and comfort, but
also in ordinary talk, when he had observed that the speech did tend to
any evil, as detraction or other kind of evil words which sometimes will
happen in company, his custom was presently to take some occasion to alter
the talk, and cunningly to bring in some other good matter or profitable
subject to talk of. And this, when the matter was not very grossly evil,
or spoken to the dishonour of God or disgrace of His servants; for then,
his zeal and courage were such, that he could not bear it, but would
publicly and stoutly contradict it, whereof I could give divers instances
worth relating, but am loth to hold the reader longer; having written thus
much of him, that it may appear what was the cause why he was so much and
so generally lamented, and is so much esteemed and praised by all sorts in
England, both Catholics and others, although neither side do or can
approve this last outrageous and exorbitant attempt against our King and
country, wherein a man otherwise so worthy, was so unworthily lost and
cast away to the great grief of all that knew him and especially of all
that loved him. And truly it was hard to do the one and not the other.
The last of all that was called to be partaker in this treacherous plot
was Mr. Francis Tresham, a gentleman of Northamptonshire of great estate,
esteemed then worth 3,000_l._ a year. His parents had been long time
Catholic and his father often in prison for his conscience, although he
paid the statute duly besides of 20_l._ a month for his refusing to go to
Church with heretics. This gentleman had been wild in his youth, and even
till his end was not known to be of so good example as the rest, though,
towards his later years, much reclaimed and good hope conceived of him by
divers of good judgment. I think Mr. Catesby (who was his near kinsman)
did chiefly acquaint him with the matter in regard of his help by
provision of money which Mr. Tresham was as well able to do as the best,
and thought to be as likely to be both faithful and forward as any, having
been, before, a companion with them in that action of the Earl of Essex in
Queen Elizabeth’s time, and both then and since, continually discontented
with the proceedings of the State. But it is thought by most, that Mr.
Tresham had not that zeal for the advancement of the Catholics’ cause in
respect of itself, as the others had. And it seems by Mr. Winter’s
confession, they also repented afterwards that they had made him of their
council, fearing him to be the man who had opened the matter and so
defeated them of their purpose; whereof I must treat in the next chapter.
But these gentlemen being thus added to the number of the conspirators,
they then began to conclude amongst themselves how everything should be
acted, as saith Mr. Winter. They designed Mr. Faulkes to be the man that
should strike that first and fatal stroke and attend upon the powder ready
prepared in the cellar, to set it on fire with a match, when the hour
appointed should be come, which should be the first day of the Parliament,
because then the King would certainly be there, and all the Lords also
(but those whom they meant to keep from thence by some means or other),
likewise all their Bishops and most of the chiefest Puritans of the land.
Mr. Percy his office should be (with a certain company ready to assist
him) presently after that first blow to enter the place where the young
Prince or the Duke Charles were kept, to seize upon his person, who being
safely placed in the custody of Catholics, presently they would have
proclaimed him King. Sir Everard Digby was in Warwickshire at the time
appointed, as it was agreed amongst them, where, under pretence of a
hunting match (having brought his hawks and hounds to Dunsmore Heath for
the purpose, and hunted there two or three days before), he gathered many
of his friends together, and had himself great store of men, and many fair
and goodly horses. He had also made great provision of armour and shot,
which he sent before him in a cart with some trusty servants, and had made
ready above 1,000_l._ in ready coin, as his servants since have averred
that did escape, and one of them delivered up great part of the money to
the King’s officers so soon as he saw his master fallen into the lapse.
Their intention was that if they failed of the Prince or Duke about
London, which was not unlike they should, then would some of them hasten
down to Sir Everard Digby after the blow were given, others stopping the
ways that no news might pass but by their permission; and then should Sir
Everard Digby have made sure, with his forces and friends, to have taken
the Lady Elizabeth out of the Lord Harrington his hands, whom then they
would presently have proclaimed heir-apparent to the Crown. Then had they
(as is expressed in their confessions) a proclamation ready penned,
wherein they would have commanded all sorts of men, by authority of the
Prince or Princess, who would have been in their custody, to assist the
quiet settling of the young King or Queen in their seat. They would have
offered freedom from all taxes and impositions, and payments of subsidies,
and such like; and for religion, they would have left it as yet free for
all sorts to follow their own conscience without compulsion, which
afterwards they meant (saith the printed confession) to have set better in
order. And so indeed the Catholics are able to perform it, if they might
have freedom, by many means more effectual than force of arms, in such an
unsettled State as that must needs have been for a time; and by many means
more effectual than heretics have, who therefore only use the sword. For,
if the truth might freely be preached, if the lives and examples of
Catholics, and especially of Religious Orders, might be seen and suffered
in public, if those that be followers of the Apostles, and expert in their
trade of fishing for men, might be freely permitted to use and show their
skill in gaining of souls, no doubt then but the sun shining so bright, as
it would be seen to do in the doctrine of Truth, would disperse the clouds
of error; no doubt but the candle set upon the candlestick would give
light unto many minds that now are groping in the Egyptian darkness of
heresy. And no question but many and great fishes would be taken, when the
night being past, our Lord would both license and direct His servants to
cast their net on the right hand, and that such a net as would not break,
the net of Peter that is entire and undivided, although it be able to
catch at one draught a hundred, fifty and three great fishes, wherein is
designed by a great and certain number an uncertain and not to be numbered
gain of souls, that the Apostles and Apostolic men should gain to Christ.
And this these gentlemen hoped had been the time. But God, in Whose only
hands and disposition are the moments of time, and Who hath placed bounds
and limits unto the sea, and saith unto it, “Usque huc venies et non
procedes amplius et hic confringes tumentes fluctus tuos:”(302) He Who is
the Master must be also the Measurer of time, and He will not easily make
men of His council when their afflictions shall end and how far they shall
proceed; especially such men as themselves will not follow counsel, but
run headlong upon such a course as this, which no wise man could or would
have counselled. No, on the contrary side, that was verified in this
practice which Christ foretold unto St. Peter, when upon zeal he drew his
sword in defence of his Master,
“Omnes qui acceperint gladium, gladio peribunt,”(303) said our Lord,
forewarning all men, that howsoever they may receive the sword or use it,
when it is given them by authority (as it is to all lawful governors and
officers in commonwealths), yet to take the sword (which noteth a private
will or power not authorized) is not without a fault, nor shall be without
a fall. And so it happened to these conspirators, as the sequent chapter
will declare.