Discovered, And That Which Ensued Thereupon.
The mercies of God are great, and His patient expectance of us, granting
time and occasions and motives to repent, is most gracious and full of
longanimity. The foresaid conspirators had intended and prepared, as you
have heard, the utter destruction and overthrow both of the King with the
chiefest of his family, of the Council also, with most of the nobility,
and with their clergy, and others that belonged to both the Houses of
Parliament. But the mercies of God were such, that He would not permit so
great and universal a ruin to light upon so many, and amongst them so many
worthy persons, amongst whom, it is to be hoped, His infinite wisdom hath
foreseen many upon whom His goodness will bestow His grace hereafter, and
so make them vessels of election, who now perhaps, in ignorant zeal, do
persecute the servants of Christ and Christ in them.
And if there were any there who finally will prove but cockle in the
field, yet the Father of the family would not have them so digged out as
His unskilful servants desired, “ne forte eradicantibus illis zizania,
eradicatum fuisset simul et triticum.”(304) We hope and pray for much good
unto many of those, who should have been present at that eruption of fire,
if it had succeeded according to their intent, which God forbid. And God
did forbid it, for no doubt it was His will it should be discovered, which
happened in this manner. About ten days before the Parliament should have
begun the Lord Mounteagle (whose affection to Catholics hath long time
been known unto divers) being at his own house and at supper, a man came
to his page in the street and delivered him a letter wishing him to
deliver the same unto his Lord’s own hands, which the page performed, but
made no stay of the bringer thereof, who presently departed. The Lord
Mounteagle not knowing the hand, and seeing no name subscribed, caused one
of his men to read it unto him, and it was of this tenour.
(M6) “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
yourself 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 contemned, because it may do you good, and
can do you no harm, for the danger is past so soon as you have burnt the
letter. And I hope God will give you the grace to make use of it, to Whose
holy protection I commend you.”
This was the letter which the Lord Mounteagle having considered, and
seeing so dangerous matter contained in it, he presently went to the Lord
of Salisbury, who is Chief Secretary to His Majesty, and delivered the
letter unto him, with relation of all circumstances in the receipt and
reading of the letter. The Lord of Salisbury seemed not at the first to
make any great account of it, yet said he would acquaint some other Lords
of the Council with the same, and commended the Lord Mounteagle for his
fidelity and care of His Majesty’s safety, and of the State, and presently
showed the letter to the Lord Chamberlain, and then both of them thought
the letter might have some relation with other informations the Lord of
Salisbury had received from beyond seas, concerning some business intended
by the Papists; and they seemed to think there might be some perilous
attempt intended. And therefore they two concluded to join with them three
other of the Council, to wit, the Lord Admiral, the Earl of Worcester and
Northampton, to be acquainted with this matter; who having all of them
concurred together to the examination of the contents of the said letter,
they did conclude (saith the book written of the discovery of this
treason) that how slight soever a matter it might at the first appear, 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. Yet they
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 (saith the book) for the expectation and experience they had of His
Majesty’s fortunate judgment in clearing and solving of obscure riddles
and doubtful mysteries, as also because the more time would in the
meanwhile be given for the practice to ripen (if any was) whereby the
discovery might be the more clear and evident, and the ground of
proceeding thereupon more safe, just, and easy. And so according to their
determination the said Earl of Salisbury did repair to the King upon the
Friday after, being All-Hallow-day, which was the day after His Majesty’s
arrival from Royston, where he had been at his hunting exercise, and was
come up to London to be present at the beginning of the Parliament. The
Earl therefore finding the King alone in his gallery, without any other
speech or judgment giving of the letter, but only relating simply the form
of the delivery thereof, he presented it to His Highness. The King no
sooner read the letter, but after a little pause, and then reading it over
again, he delivered his judgment of it in such sort, as he thought it was
not to be contemned; for that the style of it seemed to be more quick and
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 for, knowing his nature, told him that he thought
by one sentence in it, that it was like to be written by some fool or
madman, reading to him that 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 by the
contrary, considering the former sentence in the letter, “That they should
receive a terrible blow at this Parliament, and yet should not see who
hurt them;” joining it to the sentence immediately following already
alleged, 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
committed 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 corner: whereupon he was moved to
interpret and construe the later sentence in the letter (alleged by the
Earl of Salisbury against all ordinary sense and construction in grammar)
as if by these words, “For the danger is past as soon as you have burned
the letter,” should be closely understood the suddenty and quickness of
the danger, which should be as quickly performed and at an end, as that
paper should be of blazing up in the fire, turning the word of “as soon”
to the sense of “as quickly;” and therefore His Majesty wished that before
his going to the Parliament, the under rooms to the Parliament House might
be well and narrowly searched. The Earl of Salisbury wondering at this His
Majesty’s commentary, which he knew to be so far contrary to his ordinary
and natural disposition, who did rather ever sin upon the other side, in
not apprehending nor trusting the advertisements of practices and perils
when he was freely informed of them, and interpreting rightly this
extraordinary caution at this time to proceed from the vigilant care he
had of the whole State more than of his own person, yet he thought good to
dissemble still unto the King, that there was any just cause of such
apprehension, and ended the present talk with some merry jest as his
custom is. But though he seemed to neglect it to His Majesty, yet he could
not be at rest till with the Lord Chamberlain he came again unto His
Majesty, at which time it was agreed that the said Lord Chamberlain should
according to his custom and office view all the Parliament Houses both
above and below, and consider what likelihood or appearance of any such
danger might be gathered: but yet this was deferred until the afternoon
before the sitting down of the Parliament, which was upon the Monday
following: at what time, he according to this conclusion went to the
Parliament House accompanied with the Lord Mounteagle, where having viewed
all the lower rooms, he found in the vault under the Upper House great
store and provision of billets, faggots, and coals: and inquiring of
Whyneyard, keeper of the wardrobe, to what use he had put the lower rooms
and cellars, he told him that Mr. Thomas Percy had hired both the house
and part of the cellar or vault under the same and that the wood and coal
therein was the said gentleman’s own provision. Whereupon the Lord
Chamberlain looking into the room perceived a fellow standing in a corner,
who called himself the said Percy his man, and keeper of that house for
him, but indeed was Guido Faulks, the man that should have acted that
monstrous tragedy.
The Lord Chamberlain looking upon all things with a heedful eye, though in
outward show he seemed careless, presently addressed himself to the King,
and 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, affirming that he did wonder not 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. This
could not but increase the King’s former apprehension, whereupon he willed
that those billets and coals should be searched to the bottom: and of the
same opinion were the Lords there present, although they thought it fit to
have it done in the night, and by a Justice of Peace only under pretence
of searching for some of the King’s stuff that was missing; and this for
two reasons; one was lest if nothing were found, it should seem the King
and State were too suspicious of every light toy; also for that they said
it would lay an ill-favoured imputation upon the Earl of Northumberland,
one of His Majesty’s greatest subjects and Councillors: this Thomas Percy
being his kinsman and most confident familiar.
Thus far the book of the discovery of this treason discourseth of the
manner how the same did come to light. And because the same was set forth
by authority, with desire that men all should conceive this to be the
manner how it came to light, it may be thought that so it was. Yet there
want not many others of great judgment, that think His Majesty and divers
of those Councillors also, who had the scanning of the letter, to be well
able in shorter time and with fewer doubts to decipher a darker riddle and
find out a greater secret than that matter was, after so plain a letter
was delivered, importing in so plain terms an intended punishment both by
God and man, and so terrible a blow to be given at that very time and yet
the actors invisible. And those that be of this opinion do persuade
themselves the matter came out by some other means, and that this letter
was but framed and sent of purpose to give another show of casual
discovery both to hide the true means and to make the especial
preservation of the King and State to be better discerned to come from God
Himself. Unto which opinion they were the rather inclined by the
circumstance of the matter. First, in that the Lord Mounteagle did that
night wherein the letter was to be delivered, appoint a supper to be made
for him at his own house a mile or two out of London, where he had not
supped or lain of a twelve-month and more before that time, and therefore
strange that party should seek him there. Then the manner of delivery
seemed strange, to be so weakly handled by any that had judgment as to be
delivered to a page and to be read by his Lord in the time of supper, when
he could not with safety have concealed the matter, if he would. Again it
was so written, as that my Lord of Salisbury might well say it was like to
be the writing of a fool or a madman. For no other assuredly would have
committed so great a secret to ink and paper in so plain manner and that
so long before the time; especially there being many other means likely
enough to be effectual for the staying of my Lord Mounteagle from the
Parliament that one day, and that without his danger of concealing any
practice against the State. For if some special friend had seemed to be in
extremity and sent for him in the instant, he would not have failed him.
Besides many sudden occasions would have sufficed, as a certain and
present opportunity of some commodious bargain for provision of money or
jewels or such like, which courtiers often have want of, if another, time
would not have served, would have been more likely to call him that very
morning than this letter so delivered to stay him ten days before.
But although many were of opinion that this was not the first means of
this discovery, yet none that ever I could hear of, was able to give a
certain judgment, which way indeed it was discovered. It seems the
gentlemen themselves did most fear Mr. Francis Tresham to be the man that
should send this letter unto the Lord Mounteagle, which Lord had married
Mr. Tresham his sister. But that was nothing likely, for he was very
witty; and surely the sending of such a letter in such a manner was
nothing wittingly contrived, if it were done _bona fide_; neither would
Mr. Tresham have adventured his life and estate (which was great) for his
brother-in-law, if he had not thought him worthy of further trust. For if
he did not think the letter would persuade, why should he write it so
plainly to the overthrow of the business and so also of himself, which if
the Lord followed not his counsel, must needs follow. And if he did
believe it would persuade, why did he not rather do it by word of mouth
the very morning it should have been done, which for divers reasons had
been most likely to be effectual; whereas on the other side he might well
think the Lord Mounteagle could not discern by the letter, whether it came
from friend or foe, being without name and in an unknown hand: and from a
friend he could not think it being sent in so simple and yet so public
manner. If from a foe, he were undone, if he did conceal it. No, Mr.
Tresham had too much wit to deal so sillily in a thing of such importance.
More did doubt want of fidelity than of wit in Mr. Tresham, and therefore
it was rather supposed, by most that doubted him to be the man, that he
first opened the matter unto the Council, as thinking thereby to be raised
to some place of credit, which then he might think himself with wit and
living able to bear out with the best. This opinion was the rather
believed afterwards, when it was evident that none of the rest had done
it, who were privy unto the matter; but that every one of them either died
in the field because they would not be taken, or being taken were all
executed and so left not the least suspicion of having opened the matter.
Again, this opinion was increased when the matter being discovered, all
the gentlemen fled into Warwickshire and then according to their former
designments, rose in arms, thinking to have made a head. But Mr. Tresham
staid still in London and never stirred foot, though as far in as the
best. And thirdly, the opinion was yet more confirmed when afterwards Mr.
Tresham was also taken and kept close prisoner, at which time the general
bruit was, that he confessed all he knew; but none of his confessions were
published, neither did himself ever come to light afterwards, but died in
the Tower; so that it is not known what he had discovered first or last,
or what he would have confirmed, or repented, if he had come unto his
trial and execution as the rest did.
But whosoever was the discoverer of this matter or by what means soever it
came to light, we are much to thank God that it was discovered, from whom
we must acknowledge the benefit received as from the chief cause, “a quo
omne donum optimum et omne bonum procedit,”(305) and these especially
which most concern the public good.
The letter therefore being so understood as before I declared, and the
place itself being viewed by the Lord Chamberlain giving such cause of
suspicion, as is already noted, that night following being Monday night
(when the Parliament should have begun _and ended also_ the next day) Sir
Thomas Knevet, a gentleman of His Majesty’s Privy Chamber, was sent to
search the place at midnight under pretence of looking for some other
things as was before devised. When he came to the Parliament House before
his entry into Mr. Percy his lodging, he found the foresaid man that had
the keeping of the house for Mr. Percy standing without the house and
seeing him with his clothes on and booted at so dead a time of the night,
the Justice apprehended him: and after went forward to the searching of
the house, where after he had caused to be overturned some of the billets
and coals, he first found one of the small barrels of powder, and after,
all the rest, to the number of thirty-six barrels great and small. And
thereafter searching the fellow whom he had taken, found three matches and
all other instruments fit for blowing up of the powder ready upon him:
which made him instantly to confess what his intent was, affirming withal
that if he had happened to have been within the house when he was taken,
as he was immediately before at the ending of his work, he would not have
failed to have blown up the Justice, house and all, belike imagining that
some part of the danger might have lit upon the Court and done some harm
to those, to whom he most desired it. For otherwise I know not what
meaning he should have, unless by his own sudden death also, which would
have followed, he meant to escape the extremity of torture which he might
well expect: but this we did not hear that he attempted afterwards to
himself nor seemed to desire it.
This done, the prisoner was carried fast bound unto the Court and the news
of all particulars presently carried unto the King by those of the Council
who lay in the house, although it were but four hours after midnight.
Afterwards all the rest of the Council being sent for into the town, they
examined the prisoner, who both to the Council and to all the rest that
spake with him that day, appeared so constant and settled upon his
grounds, as all the Council said they thought they had found another
Mutius Scævola born in England. For notwithstanding the horror of the
fact, his sudden surprising, the terror which might have been stricken
into him by coming into such a presence and the restless and confused
questions that every man all that day did vex him with, yet was his
countenance so far from being dejected, as he often smiled in scornful
manner, not only avowing the fact, but repenting only with the said
Scævola his failing in the execution thereof, whereof, he said, the devil
and not God was the discoverer: answering quickly to every man’s
objection, scoffing at many idle questions that were propounded unto him
and jesting with such as he thought had no authority to examine him. All
that day the Council could get nothing out of him concerning his
complices, refusing to answer to any such questions which he thought might
discover the plot and laying all the blame upon himself, whereunto he said
he was moved only for religion and conscience sake, denying the King to be
his lawful sovereign or the anointed of God, in respect he was an heretic;
and would acknowledge no other name to himself but John Johnson, servant
to Thomas Percy. But after he had been three or four days in the Tower and
was threatened the rack only, as the printed book saith (though the common
voice was, that he was extremely racked the first days), then, whether to
avoid torments, or for that he might understand that the gentlemen had
discovered themselves by rising up in arms in the country, he _then_ named
some of his complices, with his own name also, and how the matter was
broken unto him, and how begun and prosecuted, as I have before declared;
yet I cannot find by his confession which is published in print, that he
named above six of those who had wrought in the mine and provision of the
powder and who then were all known to be up in arms. And here we must
leave this prisoner, who now was known to be Guido Faulks, close kept in
the Tower; and will let you see what course the rest of the conspirators
took, when they understood the matter was plainly discovered.
First, upon the knowledge that such a letter was delivered to the Lord
Mounteagle ten days before, they grew very doubtful of the matter, and
fearing only Mr. Tresham in that kind, had divers meetings with him to
examine and try him how far he had proceeded. But he forswearing all and
that he knew nothing how it came about, they had divers consultations what
were best to do; but (as Mr. Thomas Winter saith in his confession) first
that Mr. Catesby resolved, he would not fly his country, he would see
further yet. And then they sent Mr. Faulks to see if all were well in the
cellar, who adventured to go notwithstanding the doubt and returned to
them at night and told them all was yet well, which it seems gave them
some hope, yet afterwards when they heard what conference had passed
between my Lord of Salisbury and His Majesty about the letter, they gave
it lost the second time, and then Mr. Catesby would not go until Mr. Percy
were come up, who came the next day and he would needs abide the uttermost
trial. But upon Tuesday morning (which was the day appointed for the fact)
Mr. Faulks being taken in the search that night as is declared, they heard
and saw so many and so plain circumstances, that they must needs know the
whole matter was discovered and no hope at all that way to be left them.
Then they, being all excellently well horsed, rode into the country
keeping the highway; but so fast a pace and with such a resolution, that
it was very hard to overtake them and would not have been easy to have
stayed them. They rode two and three together; and they did ride that day
notwithstanding the foulness of the winter ways to Dunchurch (which I take
it, is almost eighty(306) miles), where Sir Everard Digby stayed in
readiness to have surprised the person of the King’s daughter in case they
had brought other news. But they bringing such news as was little expected
and less welcome, as it may well be supposed, they all entered into
consultation what was best to be done, and it was much marvelled at by
divers of Sir Everard Digby his friends, who were there with him in
company for his match of hunting, to see so many gallant gentlemen come in
of sudden so late in the evening and so well appointed. And seeing them
enter into serious consultation in a chamber apart, they knew not what to
make of it; but soon after they might perceive, when they all came out, as
men resolved upon some enterprise. And Sir Everard caused all his men and
horses presently to be ready and departed with them. Mr. Catesby also and
other of the gentlemen had prepared their horses and furniture ready in
that place beforehand, although they thought they should have used it with
more advantage. For now when the matter was known and bruited in the
country, that such an act should have been performed in London, which had
failed and that all was safe there, and that it was apparent these were
the conspirators by the course they took, none would come to assist
them;(307) nor had they any with them, but such servants and followers as
themselves had provided beforehand under other pretences, which therefore
for danger of giving suspicion could not be many. Neither do I think they
were ever above eighty in the whole company, although the fame in other
countries went first that they were 150, then 300, and some said they were
1,000 strong. But if that had been so, it is like the matter had not been
so soon ended, as it proved to be.(308) But these conspirators, as it
seems, hoped the matter would prove otherwise than it did, and that many
would have joined with them, when once they saw them gathered to a head.
And to make their rising the more bruited and withal to furnish themselves
of some horses for the great saddle, they went presently to Warwick and
there out of a house which is adjoining to the Castle, they seized upon
certain great horse belonging to some noblemen and gentlemen which were
kept there by a rider to be taught. From thence they went and took all my
Lord Winsor’s armour, which by report was able to furnish a much greater
company then ever they had with them. From thence they went forward
through Worcestershire towards Staffordshire, offering no violence or hurt
to any.(309)
The country in the meantime began to rise on every side, yet none did as
yet set upon them, nor until Friday following;(310) and on Thursday night
they came to one Mr. Stephen Littleton’s house in Staffordshire, who had
adjoined himself unto them. And being there it pleased God to send them
such a fortune as seemed very much to alter their resolutions, and made
them resolve neither to fight nor fly, but to give up themselves willingly
unto death. For in the morning early when some were gone abroad to
discover what companies were coming, and others were preparing their shot
and powder in a readiness, because there was some of the powder that they
thought to be somewhat dankish which they set before the fire and were
busy about it, whilst behold, a spark falling out of the fire took hold of
the powder, and that blowing up, hurt divers of them, especially Mr.
Catesby, Mr. Rookewood, but most of all Mr. Grant, whose face was much
disfigured, and his eyes almost burnt out. This loe(311) made them see it
was not best for them to proceed in their commenced course; and, as it
seems, they took it for a sign of God’s will that He would not have them
prepare to resist, but rather to prepare themselves to suffer, which they
did. For, as Mr. Thomas Winter said in his confession, when himself (with
Mr. Littleton being abroad in the fields to discover) had understood of
this heavy chance, and the matter being told him by his man in worse sort
than indeed it was (to wit, that Mr. Catesby, Mr. Rookewood, and Mr. Grant
were burnt up with powder, and the rest of the company dispersed upon
sight thereof), he resolving not to fly, as Mr. Littleton advised him, but
first to see and bury the body of his friend Mr. Catesby, so returned back
to the house, and there found the gentlemen reasonable well in respect of
what he had heard, and asked them what they resolved to do. They answered,
“We mean here to die.” Then said Mr. Thomas Winter, “I will take such part
as you do.” Then they all fell earnestly to their prayers, the Litanies
and such like (as since some of the company affirmed that escaped taking,
being none of the conspirators, but such as joined with them in the
country); they also spent an hour in meditation, and divers of their
company departed to shift for themselves, the house being not yet beset.
About an hour before mid-day the High Sheriff came with the forces of the
country and beset the house. Mr. Thomas Winter going into the court of the
house was shot into the shoulder with which he lost the use of his arm.
The next shot was the elder Wright, who was stricken dead. After him the
younger Wright, and fourthly Mr. Rookewood, but he was only wounded in
four or five places, and so taken and afterwards put to death at London.
So were also Mr. Thomas Winter and Mr. Grant and all the rest but Mr.
Catesby and Mr. Percy, who resolved they would not be taken, but rather
suffer death at that time in the field. Wherefore Mr. Catesby took from
his neck a cross of gold which he always used to wear about him, and
blessing himself with it and kissing it, showed it unto the people,
protesting there solemnly before them all, it was only for the honour of
the Cross, and the exaltation of that Faith which honoured the Cross, and
for the saving of their souls in the same Faith, that had moved him to
undertake the business; and sith he saw it was not God’s will it should
succeed in that manner they intended or at that time, he was willing and
ready to give his life for the same cause, only he would not be taken by
any, and against that only he would defend himself with his sword.(312)
This done, Mr. Catesby and Mr. Percy turned back to back, resolving to
yield themselves to no man, but to death as to the messenger of God. None
of their adversaries did come near them; but one fellow standing behind a
tree with a musket shot them both with one bullet, and Mr. Catesby was
shot almost dead, the other lived three or four days.(313) Mr. Catesby
being fallen to the ground, as they say, went upon his knees into the
house, and there got a picture of our Blessed Lady in his arms (unto whom
he was accustomed to be very devout), and so embracing and kissing the
same he died.
Some of the chiefest of them did think to have escaped, as Sir Everard
Digby, Mr. Robert Winter, and Mr. Stephen Littleton; and these two last
knowing the country better than the other, did indeed escape for the
time.(314) Sir Everard Digby thinking also to take that course, offered
all his servants that they might take their horses and money and shift for
themselves. But his page and one other said they would never leave him but
against their will. Therefore being well mounted, they three went
together, but they found the country so up on every side, and all drawing
towards the place where the voice was the conspirators were beset, that it
was not possible for them to pass or go unknown, especially Sir Everard
Digby, being so noted a man for his stature and personage, and withal so
well appointed as he was. Whereupon he did rather choose (after he had
gained a little ground) to strike into a wood, and thought there in a dry
pit to have staid with his horses until the company had been passed. But
they tracked his horses unto the very pit side, and then cried out, “Here
he is, here he is.” Sir Everard being altogether undaunted, answered,
“Here he is indeed, what then?” and advanced his horse in the manner of
curvetting (which he was expert in) and thought to have borne them over,
and so to break from them, esteeming them to be but ten or twelve persons,
whom he saw about the pit, and though he made them easily give way, yet
then he saw above a hundred people hard by and coming upon him: so that
seeing it in vain to resist, he willingly yielded himself to the likeliest
man of the company, upon a desire he had to have some time before his
death for his better preparation, and withal out of a desire (as it
afterwards appeared) to have done some service to the Catholic cause by
word, sith he saw he could not do it by the sword. For being then taken
and carried up to London prisoner and to the Court, he made earnest
request to have spoken with His Majesty if it might have been admitted,
intending to lay down the causes so plainly which had moved them to this
attempt, and withal how dangerous it was for His Majesty to take the
course he did, as that he hoped to persuade at least some mitigation, if
not toleration, for Catholics.
But the Council knowing well how judicial a man he was, and how well able
to work his intent with sound reasons, would not assent unto his desire,
but sent him presently prisoner unto the Tower, where also all the rest of
the conspirators that were taken at Mr. Littleton’s in Staffordshire were
presently lodged upon their bringing up, which was as soon as their hurts
would give them leave to travel. So that only four were slain in the
country, Mr. Robert Catesby, Mr. Thomas Percy, Mr. John Wright, and his
brother, Christopher Wright. The rest were all put into the Tower for
further trial according to law, which were these: Sir Everard Digby, Mr.
Ambrose Rookewood, Mr. Thomas Winter, Mr. John Grant, Mr. Robert Keyes,
Mr. Francis Tresham, and Mr. Guido Faulks, who were there before; unto
them also were adjoined afterwards, Mr. Robert Winter and Mr. Stephen
Littleton, who being discovered(315) in one place where they had been at
least a month, they went into a house of the Widow Littleton’s a woman of
great estate, and there were kept in a chamber by Humphrey Littleton, her
alliance, she being then at London; but their being in that house was
found out by the cook of the house, in the provision of meal, and so by
him they were discovered, and taken by the next Justices and so carried up
to London and laid with the rest in the Tower. All(316) these prisoners
were divers times examined, but only two of their examinations published
in print, which were of Mr. Guido Faulks and Mr. Thomas Winter, both which
agreed in one, only Mr. Winter’s was the larger, and contained much of the
matter which I have before expressed, concerning their first intention,
the names and number of the conspirators, the course they took to keep it
secret, their manner of proceeding in the whole, and their intention
afterwards to set up one of the King’s children, and with them the
Catholic religion. And both in all their examinations and the whole
process of the matter it appeared plainly they were all and the only
conspirators. The rest of the Catholics were free, as shall more appear in
the chapter following.(317)