The Gunpowder Plot and Lord Mounteagle's Letter: Being a Proof, with Moral ...

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Table Of Contents

PAGB

INTRODUCTORY LETTER TO THE VISCOUNT HALIFAX.. vii

PREFACE . . . . xiii

Chapter 1. 1 ^

Reasons given why subordinate conspirator, Francis Tresham, cannot have "discovered" Plot — True principles laid down to guide mind of Inquirer into personnel of (1) Revealing Conspirator, (2) Penman of Letter.

OHAPTER IF. . . , 4- N-

A "division of labour" in beneficent work of "discovering"' Plot — Why? — Probabilities of case suggest at least three persons engaged in "swinging round on its axis diabolical Plot" — Whom Revealing conspirator would employ — * Persons most likely.

Who was Lord Mounteagle ? — Ancestry— Father : Lord Morley — Title, Mounteagle, derived through mother. Honourable Elizabeth Stanley, heiress of William Stanley third Lord Mounteagle — Mother akin to Howards through Tieybournes of Westmoreland.

i

XVlll

P.VGE.

CHAPTER IV. . . . . . . ^ V^

Lord Mounteagle receives Letter 26th October, 1605, between "six aiid seven of the clock," at Hoxton, near London — Opened by Mounteagle — Eead by a member of his household, Thomas Ward — Full text of Letter given— 27th October, Ward tells Thomas Winter, a conspirator, that Letter had been received by Mounteagle — Had been taken to Robert Cecil first Earl of Salisbury, Principal Secretary of JState — 28th October, Winter repairs to White Webbs by Enfield Chase, ten miles north of Westminster — Informs Catesby that "game was up" — Catesby says "would see further as yet" — Guy Fawkes sent from Wliite Webbs to view cellar under House of Lords— Finds all marks undisturbed — Thirty-six barrels of gunpowder, wood, and coal all ready for fatal Fifth — Fawkes leturns at night safely — Thomas Winter meets (or is met by) subordinate conspirator, Christopher Wright — Fawkes captured early on Tuesday, November 5th — Christopher Wright announces to Thomas Winter Fawkes' capture.

CHAPTER V. . . 14 G

In reign of Queen Elizabeth and early part of James I., "the castellated castles, moated halls, and gabled manor-houses " of old England "the sheltering, romantic roof-trees of those who clung" to the ancient Faith — Why? — Heury YITI/s religious "change" and that of his progeny, King Edward VI. and Queen Elizabeth, unlikely to be acceptable " all on a sudden " to bulk of English people — AVhy? — Penal Legislation against Papists on part of Government — Jesuits in England, 1580 — Campion and Parsons —Three Classes of English Jesuits — Mystics, or Politicians — Mvstics and Politicians — The thirteen Gunpowder plotters well-disposed towards Jesuits — But plotters onlv Politicians.

CHAPTER YI. . . . . lO* .

Sir AVilliam Catesby (father of the arch-conspirator Robert Catesby) and Sir Thomas Tresham (father of Francis Tresbam), fine old English gentlemen — Types of best class of Elizabethan Catholic gentry — Both j^ersecuted by

XIX

PAGB '

GoYernment — Sir Thomas Treshaiu for nmre tlian twenty years pays for Fines equal in our money to ^2,080 a year, as a "popish recusant" — Sir Thomas suffers imprisonment for at least twenty-one years after being Star-Chaiubered — Such transactions account for phenomenon of Gunpowder Treason Ph)t.

CHAPTER VII. .. .. 21 ^'-

All thirteen plotters "gentlemen of name and blood'* (save Thomas Bates, a respectable serving-man of Catesby) — Names of plotters as follow :— liobert Catesby (Ashby St. Legers, Northamptonshire) — Thomas Winter (Iluddington, near Droit wich, Worcestershire) -Thomas Percy (Beverley, E.R. Yorkshire) — John Wright (Plowland, Holderness, E.R. Yorkshire) — Guy (or Guido) Fawkes (York) — Robert Keyes (Drayton, Northamptonshire) — Christopher Wright (Plowland, Holderness, E.R. Yorkshire) — Robert Winter, (Huddington, near Droitwich, Worcestershire) — Ambrose Rookwood (Coldham, Stanningfield, Suffolk) — John Grant (Norbrook, Warwickshire)— Sir Everard Digby (Gothurst, near Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire) — Francis Tresham (Rushton, Northamptonshire) — Four out of conspirators natives of Yorkshire : Thomas Percy, John Wright, Christopher Wright, and Guy (or Giiido) Fawkes — Five others indirectly connected with it : Thomas Winter, Robert Winter, John Grant, Robert Keyes, and Ambrose Rookwood — Thomas Winter and Robert Winter, grandsons of distinguished Knight, Sir William Ingleby, of Ripley Castle, near Knaresbrough and Bilton-cum-Harrogate, Nidderdale, Yorkshii'e -John Gr»ant*s wife, Dorothy Grant, a grand-daughter of said Knight — Robert Keyes, a grandson of Key (or Kay), Require, of Woodsome, Almondbury, near JIuddersfield.

CHAPTER Vlll. (same continued) .. .. 26 ^^^

Jesuit Father Edward Oldcorne a native of York — Oswald Tesiraond most probably a native of York likewise — Before going to Rheims and Rome Oldcorne studied medicine.

s/

XX

PA6B

Further analysis of problem as to what conspirator would be likely to "disco^^r" Plot — A subordinate plotter — Introduced late into Plot —One witli good moral training at home in childhood — One with trust worth v friend to act as Penman of warning Letter — One witii trustworthy friend who could act as Go-between with Government— Christopher Wright, Edward Oldcome, Thomas Ward.

CHAPTER XI. . . 37

Fawkes, in Confession, dated 17th November, 1605, says mine from Percy's house, adjoining Parliament House, begun 11th December, 1604, by five principal conspirators — Christopher Wright sworn in to help in mining work "soon after ** — Text of conspirators' secret oath.

CHAPTER XII. . . 40 Q

Christopher Wright's family further described— Father: Robert Wright, Esquire, of Plowland, Holderness — Mother: Ursula Rudston, of Rudstons, Lords of Hay ton, near Pocklington— Mother akin to Mallories, of Studley Royal, near Ripon — Wrights akin to Wards, of Mulwith, Newby, and Givendale, near Ripon, likewise— Christopher Wright's wife, Margaret Wright, possibly net Margaret Ward, of the W\ards, of Mulwith.

CHAPTER XIII. . . 45 :j

Edward Oldcome described — A native of St. Sampsons Parish, York — A student of medicine — Goes to Rheitns and Rome for higher studies — Ordained Priest — Joins Society of Jesus — In 1588 lands in England — Stationed by Father Henry Garnet, chief of Jesuits in England, at Hindlip Hall, four miles from Worcester — Hindlip Hall home of Thomas Abington, Esquire, and the Honourable Mary (Parker) Abington, daughter of the Lord ]\forley and sister to the Lord Mounteagle — Oldcorne's extraordinary influence in Worcestershire — Styled "the Apostle of Worcestershire" — A man of mental equipoise.

CHAPTER XIV. . . . . . . 48 y

"The I-iCtter*' critically examined.

XXI

PAGE

Purther critical examination of '*the Letter/'

CHAPTEE XVI. . . . . 56 v/

V

Mounteagle **knew there was a Letter to come to him before it came " — "Who was his " Secretary," Thomas Ward ? — Almost certainly brother-in-law to Christopher Wright — Proofs of this assertion — Entry of marriage in St. Michael-le-Belfrey's Church, York, of a "Thomas Warde of Mulwaith, in the p'ishe of Eippon, and M'rgery Slater, 29th May, 1579'' — Entry of burial of "Marjory wife of Thomas Warde of Mulwith," in Eegister at Eipon Minster, about eleven years after, 20th May, 1590.

CHAPTEK XVII. . . , . . . 59

Entry of christening of Edward, son of Christopher Wright, of Bondgate, Bipon, in Eipon Minster Eegisters, 6th October, 1589— Of Eliza, daughter of Christopher Wright, of Newbie, 23rd July, 1594 — Of Francis, son of Christopher Wright, of Newbie, 12th July, 1596 — Of Marmaduke, son of Christopher Wright, of Skelton, 3rd February, 1601 — Thomas Warde, of "Mulwaith," in 1579— Thomas Warde, of " Mulwith," in 1590 — Inference of propinquity between Christopher Wright and Thomas Warde, at least between years 1589 and 1590 inclusive — Thomas Warde probably in diplomatic service of Qneen Elizabeth, under Sir Francis Walsingham — Probably sent on mission to Low Countries in 1585.

CHAPTEE XVIII. . . 6:i s .

Pi-oof that William Ward, a son of Marmaduke Ward, of NewbT, had an uncle who lived at Court — Inference that this was Thomas Ward, member of household of Lord Mounteagle.

Inference drawn that Christopher Wright, Thomas Warde, and Lord Mounteagle were personidly acquainted.

1/

J

J

XXll

PAGE

MfAFfKK XX, .. 70

Marmaduke WarrI at Lapfiorth, in "Warn icksh ire — Arrested hj Gori-mment— Released —Inference that he had a powerful friend at Court, i'lfAPTEK XXL .:

Hiigi^f'flted prrx>f of how 3Iounteagle came to be associated with Thomas Ward — Biographical and Topographical evidence adduced in support.

w

<:IM ITER XX 11. (wme continued; .. 76 m

<'HAPTER XXIII. (same further continued) .. .. 81 , ,

CIIAITER XXIV. ^^ x/

/ I-<<j(ter conveyed to Hoxton on Saturday evening, 26th October, 1605, between six and seven of the clock, in pursuance of pre-arrangement— Suggested that pre-arrangement was made by Thomas Ward.

(CHAPTER XXV. .. ., 87

/ Thomas Ward sees Thomas Winter, one of the chief con- Bpirators — Suggested inference that Christopher Wright had bidden Thomas Ward so to do — In order to compass flight of rest of conspirators.

<^IIAPTER XXVI. .. 9^ v''

Thomas Winter interviews Francis Tresham, one of subordinate conspirators, on Saturday night, 2nd November, one week after delivery of Letter to Ijord Mounteagle,

<mPTER XXVII. 92

/ Tn^sham tells Winter that Government knew of existence of ^

tht «m'ii<» How had Government such knowledge? — Suggested concatenation of evidence that Christopher Wright told fact to Thomas Ward (or AVarde); Ward to Lord >rounteagle : Mounteagle to Francis Tresham ; Tresham to ThouKis Winter,

XXlll

PAUK

CHAPTER XXVIII. .. .. .. 94 ^

v Earl of Suffolk (Lord Chamberlain) accompanied by Lord Mounteagle \mts cellar under House of Lords, where thirty-six barrels of gunpowder are stored —They light upon Guy (or Guido) Fawkes.

CHAPTER XXIX. . . . . . . . . 90 y

Quotation from ^^ King's Book^ — Version of Gunpowder Plot put forth by " lawful authority " — Showing procedure of Earl of Suffolk and Lord Mounteagle on search of cellar under House of Lords, , Monday, 4th November — Thirty-six barrels of gunpowder stored ready for firing by Fawkes on fatal Fifth.

CHAPTER XXX. . . 99 ^

Quotation from the " Hatfield MSS.,*' giving account of meeting at Freraland, Essex, in July, 1605 — Present thereat (amongst others) Lord 3Iounteagle, his brother-in-law Francis Tresham, and Father Henry Garnet, then Superior of English Jesuits — Account of Sir Edmund Baynham — Despatched in September on double n!ission to Pope of Rome — Baynham described — A Gloucestershire Roman Catholic gentleman — Belike of the swashbuckler type.

CHAPTER XXXI. . . . . 102 /[\

Christopher Wright. ^

CHAPTER XXXII. . . 104 ^^ ,

Marmaduke Ward, of Newbie (or Newby), near Ripon, comes up to Lapworth, in Warwickshire — Lapwortb, the birthplace of arch-conspirator Robert Catesby — One of the large Catesby Warwickshire possessions — In May, 1605, Lapworth let by Catesby to John Wright — Marmaduke Ward, brother-in-law to John Wright and Christopher Wright, arrives at Lapworth about 24th October, 1605 — Suggestion that Marmaduke Ward was sent for by Thomas Ward — In order, haply, to prevail upon brothers Wright to abandon scheme of insurrectionary stir in Midlands.

XXIV

PAGR

CHAPTEE XXXin. . . . . 107 /

What objections against hypothesis that Christopher Wright was lievealing conspirator? — What objections against hypothesis that Father Edward Oldcorne was Penman of Letter ? — Evidence of one William Handy, serving-man to Sir Everard Digby, Knt., quoted, weighed, and disposed of.

Evidence of a certain Dr. Williams, of reign of Charles 11., author of pamphlet pur^wrting to be History of the Gunpowder Treason Plot, quoted.

CHAPTER XXXV. . . . . ^^^ /

Probable untrustworthiness of Dr. Williams' reported statement ^

manifested by convincing argument — Singular story that Letter was penned by the Honourable Anne Vaux, one of the daughters of William Lord Vaux of Harrowden — Story told, examined, and disposed of.

v/

CHAPTER XXX VL .. .. .. ..11^

Dr. Williams' reported statement a faint adumbration of truth — Why? — Because Williams* report tends to corroborate evidence that Letter emanated from Hindlip Hall — Suggestion made as to whence and how Williams' report had its origin — The Lady of Hindlip may have guessed truths through her womanly perspicacity.

CHAPTER XXXVII. 120 ^

Evidence, deductions, and suggestions finally considered tending . to show that Christopher Wright after delivery of Letter exhibited consciousness of having revealed Plot.

CHAPTER XXXVllI. . . . . . . . . 124

Old Dutch print, published immediately after detection of Plot ^ (reprinted in ^^ Connoisseur^* for November, 1901), shows

Christopher Wright in act of engaging in earnest discourse with arch-conspirator Robert Catesby — Slightly tends to confirm tradition that (1) Christopher Wright first

XXV

PAGK y ascertained that Plot was discovered, and that (2) Christopher Wright counselled that "each conspirator should betake himself to flight in a different direction from any of his companions."

CHAPTEE XXXIX. , . . . 12(>

Evidence of William Kyddall — Kyddall accompanies Christopher Wright from Lap\s'orth (twenty miles from Hindlip Hall) to London, on Monday, 28th October — Arrive in London, on Wednesday, 30th — Evidence of Mistress Dorathie Bobinson, Christopher Wright*s Lpndon landlady, as to padlocked hampers, evidently containing fresh gunpowder.

CH APTEli XL. . . . . Idi

Conspirators are "shriven" and "houselled" at Huddington by Jesuit Father Nicholas Hart — Ambrose Bookwood — Hook wood "absolved'' by the Jesuit priest "without remark" — Eeason why suggested.

CHAPTEE XLI. (same continued) . . . . . . 134 >-/

m

CHAPTEE XLIL . . 136

Eobert Cecil first Earl of Salisbury, Principal Secretary of State, instructs Sir Edward Coke, Attorney-General, to disclaim (hat any of these wrote Letter — Eeason why suggested.

CHAPTEE XLIIL . . 140

Archbishop tJsher reported divers times to have said "that if Papists knew' what he knew, the blame of the Gunpowder , Treason would not lie on them" — Suggested explanation of the oracular words — Second Earl of Salisbury reported to have confessed that the Gunpowder Plot was "his father's contrivance'* — Suggested explanation of this strange report.

CHAPTEE XLIV. , . . . . . . . I 144

Critical examination of the Letter renewed — Writer must

have regarded Plot as a scheme defecated of criminous quality — Eeason why.

XXVI

PAGE

CHAPTER XLV. . . . . 148

CoughtoQ Hall (now Coughton Court), in Warwickshire, ancestral home of grand old Englii^b Eoman Catholic family of Throckmorton — Father Henry Garnet, Superior of English Jesuits, harboured here from 29th October, 1605, to 16th December, 1605— Fatlier Oswald Tesimond at Coughton on Wednesday, 6th November — Bat^s sent with lett-ers from Catesby and Sir Everard Bigby to Father (^^arnet and Lady Digby — Bates despatched from Norbrook, in Warwickshire — Arrives at Conghton — Fathers Garnet and Tesimond have conference for half-an-hour — Garnet gives leave to Tesimond to proceed to Huddington, in Worcestershire — Whither conspirators and rebels were coDje, early on Wednesday, 6th November — Tesimond arrives at Huddington — Psycho-electrical will force of Catesby works on mind of Tesimond — Tesimond inspired with rebellious ardour against Government— Dasfies on to Hindlip, within five miles of Huddington.

CHAPTER XLVI. . . . . . . 152

Tesimond arrives at Hindlip — Urges the Master of Hindlip and Father Oldcorne to join rebels— Master of Hindlip and Father Oldcorne decline — Anger kindled in breast of Tesimond — Rides off towards Lancashire in hope of rousing to arms dwellers in that Catholic county.

J y

CHAPTER XLVIl. 154

Who and what was Father Henry Garnet? — A native of Nottingham (1555) — A scholar of Winchester School — Joins Jesuit Novitiate in Rome (1575) — Problem of Garnet's moral and legal guilt (or otherwise) impartially discussed.

CHAPTER XLVIIL (same continued) . . 157

CHAPTER XLIX. , . 160

At the end of August, 1G05, Garnet leaves London for' Gothurst — Famous pilgrimage to St. Winifred's Well, Flintshire, North Wales, about 5th September, made from Gothurst — Lady Digby, Ambrose Rookwood and his wife,

J^fsTS.

XXVll

PAGB the Honourable Anne Vaux, and upwards of thirty others, join the pilgrim-band — Father Garnet and Father Percy, chaplain to Sir Everard Digby, lead the cavalcade— Away about a fortnight.

CHAPTER L. . . 165

Pilgrims return from 8t. Winifred's Well to Gothurst — A fortnight before Michaelmas (11th October, old style) — Father Garnet at Great Harrowden, Northamptonshire, — Ancestral home of Edward Lord Vaux of Harrowden.

4th October, 1605, Father Garnet at Great Harrowden — Pens a long letter to Father Parsons in Rome.

CHAPTER LII. . . . . 169

21st October, Father Garnet at Gothurst (most probably) \/

— Pens a short |?<w/ scriptum to letter of 4th October — Blots out three lines of letter — Assigns as cause therefor **fob

BEASOX OF A friend's STAY IN THE WAY " — WTlO Was this

friend ?

CHAPTER LIT!. (Chapters XLV. and XLVI. with more particularity) 172 ^ , Sir Everard Digby rents Cougbton, near Alcester, Warwickshire — Sir Ererard to be in command of Midland Rising against Government — Many Catholic gentlemen from Midland counties expected to rebel by reason of galling anti- Catholic persecution — Sir Everard Digby, on Sunday, 3rd November, rides to Dunchurch, near Rugby, in Warwickshire — Robert Winter, of Huddington, joined by Stephen Littleton, of Hoi beach, Staffordshire, also by latter's cousin, Humphrey Littleton — Tuesday, November 5th, Cousins Littleton, Sir Robert Digby (Coleshill), younger Acton (Ribbesford), and many others, join "hunting match" on Dunsmore Heath — Some of these gentlemen with leader. Sir Everard Digby, await arrival of Catesby and the rest of conspirators in an Inn at Dunchurch — At six of the clock in evening of Tuesday, fatal Fifth, in wild headlong flight from London, Catesby, Percy, two Wrights, and Ambrose Rookwood rusb into ancient mansion-house of

XXVlll

PAGli

Catesbies at Ashby St. Legers, Northamptonshire — Announce capture of Fawkes — Hold short council of war — Snatch up weapons .of warfare — North-westwards that • November night — Arrive at Dunchurch Inn — Digby

told of capture of Fawkes — Many Catholic gentlemen return to their homes — Plottere and rebel-allies plunge into the darkness — Make for " Shakespeare's country " — Arrive at Warwick by three of the clock on Wednesday morning — From stables near Warwick Castle take fresh horses, leaving their own steeds in exchange therefor — Dash on towards John Grant s " moated grange," Norbrook, Snitterfield (where Shakespeare's mother held property) — At Norbrook "take bite and sup" — Rest their fatigued limbs awliile— On saddle-back once more — This time bound for Huddington, near Droitwich, Worcestershire, the seat of Robert Winter — Arrive there probably about twelve o'clock noon of Wednesday (some authorities say two o'clock in the afternoon) — Tesimond comes from Coughton to Huddington — Catesby hails Tesimond with joy — Tesimond proceeds to Hindlip Hall — On Thursday morning, at about three of the clock, all company at Huddington "assist" at Mass offered by Father Nicholas Hart, a Jesuit from Great Harrowden — Whole company " shriven and houselled" — Before daybreak all on march again north-westwards — Halt at Whewell Grange, seat of the Lord Windsor — Tliere help themselves to large store of arms and armour — Plotters and rebels then numbered about sixty all told— Cross the River Stour, in flood — A cart of gunpowder rendered "dank" in crossing — Proceed to Holbeach House, in Staffordshire —Mansion-house of Stephen littleton. Esquire, a Roman Catholic gentleman of ancient lineage.

High Sheriffs of Warwickshire and Worcestershire with j?m*6' comitatits in pursuit — Plotters and rebels arrive at Holbeach (near Stourbridge) at ten of the clock on Thursday night — Early Friday morning explosion of drying gunpowder at Holbeach- -Catesby, Rook wood, and Grant burnt — Catesby unnerved — Arch-conspirator and others betake themselves

PAGB

XXIX

to prayers — ''Litanies and such like" — Make an hour's ** meditation " — About eleven of the clock on Friday, 8th November, Sheriff of Worcestershii» and "hue and cry" surround Holbeach — Siege laid thereto — Thomas Winter ,

disabled by an arrow from crossbow — Catesby and Percy, standing sword in liand, «hot by one musket — Catesby expires— John Wright wounded unto death — Christopher Wright mortally wounded — Percy grievously wounded — Dies a day or two afterwards — Ambrose Book wood wounded— Sir Everard Digby apprehended — Rest tiiken prisoners, except Stephen Littleton and Eobert Winter, who escape.

CHAPTER LV. . . .181

Father Henry Garnet changes his mind — Does not go up to London— But from Gothurst, in Buckinghamshire, goes down to Cough ton, in Warwickshire, on the 29th October — All Saints* D«ay (November 1st) at Coughton Hall (now Coughton Court) — Mass "offered" by Father Garnet.

CHAPTER LVI. . . 185

Stephen Littleton, the M&^er of Holbeach, and Robert Winter, the Master of Huddington, harboured at Rowley Regis, in Staffordshire, by a tenant of Humphrey Littleton, Esquire, of Hagley, Worcestershire, a cousin to Stephen Littleton — Humphrey Littleton harbours the two fugitives from justice at Hagley House, home of his sister-in-law, Mrs. John Littleton — Both fugitives betrayed by mancook at Hagle} — Delivered over to the officers of the law and conveyed to the Tower of London.

CHAPTER LVII. . . 188

Humphrey Littleton consults Father Edward Oldcome, the Jesuit, respecting the moral rightness or wrongness of the Gunpowder ftot— Father Oldcorne's Reply to Littleton in extenso,

CHAPTER LVIII. 190

Reply analyzed — Divisible into two distinct parts — First part: gives an answer soundin<j in abstract truth alone, in other

FAGK

word*, U^r^r^ Lilt^t'^r- ««< al^rar-y — >ecoT^l jor* : d:5<"L:i-* kno*'j:<l'^ #if ^*ic? ji>i*er% had in x\*rv ai.d i-^.-»j«* tLer

CHAPTER LIX 15U

>feUiplir«ical An^uiueiit groan dt^ an Oi-ie^mtrV Kepir to Humphrey' LittKrton — Ar^^ument seeks to dt-roonstnte tliat from tenour and purport of Oldoorue's Kt-plr, the Jesuit mti^t har«* liad a special interior knowledge of ttie PIt»t.

Clf A PTRB LX. (same continued; Ut:y Clf AFTER LXf. (same continued) . . . . 19S

CH A FfER LX I L (same continued) .. 2im> -

Clf AFrEtt LXIV. (same continued) . . l>Oi -

CHAPTER LXV. (same continued) .. 2uS

CHAIH'ER LXVL (same continued) . . 21^

CHAFIER LXVII. (same continued) 212

CHA ITER LX VI J I. (same continued) 215

CHAPTER LXIX. (same continued) . . 22^

Fathers Garnet and Oldcorne captured at Hindlip Hall the last week of January, 1605-6— Conveyed to the Tower of London — Father Oldcorne "racked five times, and once with the greatest severity for several hours" — On 7tli April, 1606, at Kedhill, near Worcester, Father Edward Oldcorne, Priest and Jesuit, hanged, drawn, and quartered as a traitor — Brother Ralph Ashley, his servant, hanged at the same time and place.

True inferences to he drawn from Father Oldcorne's "last dying speech and confession."

XXXI

FAGK.

Edward Oldcorne— Ralph Ashley.

CHAPTER LXXl II. 229 a ^

Thomas Ward.

RECAPITULATION OF PROOFS, ARGUMENTS. AND CON- CLUSIONS . . . . . . . . . . 233- ^'

SUPPLEMENTA.

SUPPLEMENTUM I. 23^

Guv Fawkes.

SUPPLEMENTUM II. .. 280

I-»etter of Lord Bisliop of Worcester (Dr. Bilsoii), to Sir Robert Cecil, as to Diocese of Worcester.

SUPPLEMENTUM III. . . . . 264

Thomas Ward (or Warde).

SUPPLEMENTUM IV. 271

Mulwith, near Ripon.

SUPPLEMENTUM V. 279

Plowland, llolderness.

SUPPLEMENTUxM VI. . . i87

Equivocation. Letter of tlie Rev. George Canning, S.J., Professor of Etliics, St. Mary's Hall, Stonyhiirst.

XXXll

PAGE appendicp:s.

APPENDIX A . . 295

Circumstantial Evidence defined.

(a) Evidence generally: (by Mr. Frank Pick, York).

APPENDIX B .. .. 299

Discrepancy as to date when immaterial (per Lord Chief Justice Scroggs, temp, Charles II.).

APPENDIX C . . 300

List of those apprehended for Plot in Warwicksliire, <&c.

(a) List of tliose frequenting Clopton (or Clapton) Hall,

m

Strat ford-on- A von, Warwickshire.

APPENDIX D . . . , . . 304

Kichard Browne (servant to Christopher Wright), his evidence.

William Grantham (servant to Hewett, Hatter), his evidence.

APPENDIX F . . . . 307

Robert Rookes (servant to Ambrose Rook wood), his evidence.

APPENDIX G . . . . 30S

John Cradock (Cutler), his evidence.

APPENDIX H . . 310

Lord Chief Justice Popham's statement as to Christopher Wright.

APPENDIX I .. 312

Sir Richard Verney, Knt., John Ferrers, William Combe, Bart. Hales (Warwickshire Justices): Joint Statement to Earl of Salisbury, as to Mrs. John Grant and Mrs. Thomas Percy.

APPENDIX J .. .. 313

Paris (boatman), his evidence, as to taking Guy Faukt»s to Gravelines, France, during " vacation," 1605.

XXXI 11

I'AGE

APPENDIX K . . 314

Miss Emma M. Walford, her opinion as to resemblance between Edward Oldcorne's original Declaration of 12th March, 1605-6, and original Letter to Lord Mounteagle (both in Becord Office, Chancery Lane, London, "W.C).

APPENDIX L . . 315

Prof essor ' Bertram C. A. Windle, M.D., F.R.S., his opinion as to distances between certain localities in Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Northamptonshire, and Buckinghamshire.

APPENDIX M . . 318

Letter of Lieut.-Golonel Carmichael as to same.

APPENDIX N . . 319

Order of Queen Elizabeth in Council, dated 31st December, 1582, addressed to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of York.

NOTE (as to authenticity of Thomas Winter's Confession) . . 323

FINJS 411

EEEATA.

The author regrets to have to request his indulgent readers to be kind enough to make the following corrections : —

>"> « Page 19, line 14 from top. — Put ) afterword "conspirators/' not after

word " Treshamr

Page 77, line 9 from top. — Bead: and '* great great grandfather of Philip Howard Earl of Arundel," imUad of *•*• greatr-grandfaiher'^

Page 79, in note, line 5 from top. — Kead : " ninth Earl of Carlisle," instead of *^ seventJi Earl of Carlisle.*^

Page 87, in note, line 8 from bottom. — Read : ** Burns & Gates."

Page 117, line 5 from top. — Read: "William Abington," instead of *' Thomas Abhigt07i.''

Page 122, in note, lir\e 2 from top. — Read: "Duke of Beaufort,*' instead of " Duhe of St, Albans,*^

Page 140, line 4 from top. — Read : " incarcerated," instead of " inccarerated."

Page 285, in note, line 2 from top. — Read : " kinswoman,** instead of " kinsmanJ^

Page 321, line 16 from top. — Read: "Deprave," Instead of ^' depeaveJ*

PBELUDE.

In order that the problem of the Gunpowder Plot may be understood, it is necessary for the reader to bear in mind that there were three movements — distinct though connected — against the Government on the part of the oppressed Koman Catholic recusants in the year 1(505. The first of these movements was a general wave of insurrectionary feeling, of which there is •evidence in Yorkshire as far back as 1596 ; in Lancashire about 1600 ; and in Herefordshire, at a later date, much more markedly. Then there was the Gunpowder Plot itself. And, lastly, there was the rebellion that was planned to take place in the Midlands, which, to a very limited extent, did take place, and in the course of which four of the conspirators were slain. That Salisbury's spies and decoys — who were, like Walsingham's, usually not Protestants but " bad Catholics " — had something to do ^ith stirring up the general revolutionary feeling is more than probable ; but that either he or they planned, either jointly or severally, the particular enterprise known as the Gunpowder Treason Plot — which was as insane as it was infamous — I do not for a moment believe.

All students of English History, however, are greatly indebted to the Eev. John Gerard, S.J., for his three

XXXVl recent critical works on this subject ; but still that the main outlines of the Plot are as thev have come down to us by tradition, to my mind, Dr. Samuel Rawson Gardiner abundantly proves in his book in reply to the Rev. John Gerard.

The names of the works to which I refer are : — ^' What tvas the Gunpowder Plot ? " the Rev. J. Gerard, S.J. (Osgood, Mcllvaine & Co.) ; *' The Gunpowder Plot and Plotters " (Harper Bros.) ; '* Thomas Winter's Confession and the Gunpowder Plof (Harper Bros.); and '* What Gunpotvder Plot was,'' S. R. Gardiner, D.C.L., LL.D. (Longmans).

The Articles in '' The Dictionary of National Biography" dealing with the chief actors in this notable tragedy are all worthy of careful perusal.

'' The History of the Jesuits in England, 1580-1773, '^ by the Rev. Ethelred L. Taunton, with twelve illustrations (Methuen & Co., 1901), contains a chapter on the Gunpowder Plot ; and the Plot is referred to in Major Hume's recent work, entitled, '^ Treason and Plot '* (Nisbet, 1901).

# CHAPTEK I.

One of the unsolved problems of English History is the question : *' Who wrote the Letter to the Lord ' Mounteagle ?." surely, one of the most momentous documents ever penned by the hand of man, which discovered the Gunpowder Treason, and so saved a King of England, Wales, Scotland, and Ireland — to say nothing of France — his Koyal Consort, his Counsellors, and Senators, from a bloody, cruel, and untimely death.

In every conspiracy there is a knave or a fool, and sometimes, happily, " a repentant sinner."

Now it is well known that the contrivers of the Gunpowder Treason themselves suspected Francis Tresham — a subordinate conspirator and brother-in-law to Lord Mounteagle — and many historians have rashly jumped to the conclusion that, therefore, Tresham must have been; the author.

But, when charged at Barnet by Catesby and Thomaj^ Winter, two of his -infuriated fellow-plotters, with having sent the Letter, Tresham so stoutly and energetically denied the charge that his denial saved him from the point of their poniards.