What Gunpowder Plot Was Part 10

[49] Robert Winter. The question whether Keyes worked at this time will be discussed later on.

[50] 'Any man,' in the Stowe copy.

[51] 'Others,' in the Stowe copy.

[52] 'One' is inserted above the line.

[53] This is an obvious mistake, as the widow Skinner was not at this time married to Bright, but one just as likely to be made by Fawkes himself as by his examiners.

[54] 'Viewed it,' in the Stowe copy.

[55] 'Taken,' in Stowe copy.

[56] 'Thence,' in Stowe copy.

[57] Percy.

[58] The words in italics are marked by penstrokes across them for omission.

[59] 'With that practice, that,' in the Stowe copy.

[60] 'Then,' omitted in the Stowe copy.

[61] 'But,' omitted in the Stowe copy.

[62] 'Whereof,' in the Stowe copy.

[63] _G. P. B._, No. 49. In the Stowe copy the names of the Commissioners are omitted, and a list of fifteen plotters added. As the paper was inclosed in a letter to Edmondes of the 14th, these might easily be added at any date preceding that.

[64] _Gerard_, p. 268.

[65] _Stowe MSS._, 168, fol. 223.

[66] _Gerard_, p. 170.

[67] _Gerard_, p. 169.

[68] _S. P. Dom._ xii. 24.

[69] _Gerard_, p. 175. c.o.ke's questions are in _S. P. Dom._ xvi. 38.

[70] The handwriting is quite different.

[71] This declaration, therefore, was not, as Mrs. Everett Green says, 'made to Salisbury.'

[72] If anyone chooses to argue that this examination was drawn up regardless of its truth, and only signed by Fawkes after torture had made him incapable of distinguishing truth from falsehood, he may be answered that, in that case, those who prepared it would never have added to the allegation that some of the conspirators had received the Sacrament from Gerard the Jesuit to bind them to secrecy, the pa.s.sage:--"But he saith that Gerard was not acquainted with their purpose." This pa.s.sage is marked for omission by c.o.ke, and it a.s.suredly would not have been found in the doc.u.ment unless it had really proceeded from Fawkes.

[73] About whom more hereafter.

[74] Gerard afterwards denied that this was true, and the late Father Morris (_Life of Gerard_, p. 437) argues, with a good deal of probability, that Fawkes mistook another priest for Gerard. For my purpose it is not a matter of any importance.

[75] This should be John.

[76] Probably, as Father Gerard suggests, what would now be known as a coursing match.

[77] _Proclamation Book, R.O._ p. 117.

[78] A late postscript added to the letter to the Amba.s.sadors sent off on the 9th (_Winwood_, ii. 173) shows that before the end of the day Salisbury had learnt even more of the details than were comprised in the Sheriff's letter.

[79] Nov. 5.

[80] Nov. 6.

[81] Nov. 7.

[82] Nov. 8.

[83] The question whether Winter or Keyes was one of two workers will be subsequently discussed.

[84] Mrs. Everett Green suggests Nov. 8 (_G. P. B._ No. 133), but this is merely a deduction from her mistaken date of the examination of the 17th (see p. 17, note 1). In Fawkes's confession of the 9th Keyes's Christian name appears to have been subsequently added.

[85] Extracts from the Council Registers, _Add. MSS._ 11,402, fol. 108.

The volume of the Council Book itself which recorded the transactions of these years has been lost.

[86] _G. P. B._ No. 101. There is a facsimile in _National MSS._ Part iv. No. 8.

[87] See pp. 18, 20.

[88] _Gerard_, p. 174.

[89] _Gerard_, p. 268.

[90] The erasure of Winter's name, and the subst.i.tution of that of Keyes, will be dealt with later.

[91] _Gerard_, p. 168.

[92] Father Gerard appears to show his dislike of Salisbury by denying him his t.i.tle.

[93] All Saints Day.

[94] Compare this with Fawkes's declaration at his second examination (_G. P. B._ 16, A.) "Being demanded when this good act had been done which must have brought this realm in peril to be subdued by some foreign prince, of what foreign prince he and his compliees could have wished to have been governed, one more than another, he doth protest upon his soul that neither he nor any other with whom he had conferred would have spared the last drop of their blood to have resisted any foreign prince whatsoever." Are we seriously asked to believe that Salisbury placed this crown of st.u.r.dy patriotism on the brows of those whom he wished to paint as the most atrocious villains?

[95] Juan de Velasco, Duke of Frias, Constable of Castile, arrived at Brussels about the middle of January 1604 to conduct a negotiation for peace with England. There he remained, delegating his powers to others.

This date of the Constable's arrival is important, as showing that Winter's conversation with Catesby cannot have taken place earlier than the second half of January.

[96] Hugh Owen was, as Father Gerard says (p. 173, note 1), 'A soldier and not a priest, though in the _Calendar of State Papers_ he is continually styled "Father Owen," or "Owen the Jesuit."' He is however mistaken in saying that Mrs. Everett Green inserted the t.i.tle without warrant in the original doc.u.ments. A paper of intelligence received on April 29, 1604, begins, "Father Owen, Father Baldwin and Colonel Jaques, three men that rule the Archduke at their pleasure," &c.

[97] In 1604 Easter term began on April 25, and ended May 21.