Chapter I: Front Matter

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WHAT GUNPOWDER PLOT WAS

_The words 'Prince's Chamber, House of Lords,' in the foreground can only mean that those buildings are behind the house._]

WHAT GUNPOWDER PLOT WAS

BY
SAMUEL RAWSON GARDINER, D.C.L., LL.D.
FELLOW OF MERTON COLLEGE, OXFORD

LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO.
39 PATERNOSTER ROW, LONDON
NEW YORK AND BOMBAY
1897

All rights reserved

WORKS BY SAMUEL RAWSON GARDINER, D.C.L. LL.D.

HISTORY OF ENGLAND, from the Accession of James I. to the Outbreak of the Civil War, 1603-1642. 10 vols. crown 8vo. 6s. each.

A HISTORY OF THE GREAT CIVIL WAR, 1642-1649. 4 vols. crown 8vo. 6s. each.

A HISTORY OF THE COMMONWEALTH AND THE PROTECTORATE. 1649-1660. Vol. I. 1649-1651. With 14 Maps. 8vo. 21s.

A STUDENT'S HISTORY OF ENGLAND. From the Earliest Times to 1885.

Vol. I. (B.C. 55-A.D. 1509.) With 173 Illustrations. Crown 8vo.
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Vol. II. (1509-1689.) With 96 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 4s.

Vol. III. (1689-1885.) With 109 Illustrations. Crown 8vo. 4s.

Complete in One Volume, with 378 Illustrations, crown 8vo. 12s.

A SCHOOL ATLAS OF ENGLISH HISTORY. Edited by SAMUEL RAWSON GARDINER, D.C.L. LL.D. With 66 Coloured Maps and 22 Plans of Battles and Sieges. Fcp. 4to. 5s.

This Atlas is intended to serve as a companion to Mr. S. R. Gardiner's 'Student's History of England.' In addition to the historical maps of the British Isles, in whole or in part, are others of Continental countries or districts which were the scenes of events connected more or less closely with English History. Indian and Colonial development also obtain due recognition.

CROMWELL'S PLACE IN HISTORY, Founded on Six Lectures delivered at Oxford. Crown 8vo. 3s. 6d.

WHAT GUNPOWDER PLOT WAS: a Reply to Father Gerard.

THE FIRST TWO STUARTS AND THE PURITAN REVOLUTION, 1603-1660. 4 Maps. Fcp. 8vo. 2s. 6d.

THE THIRTY YEARS' WAR, 1618-1648. With a Map. Fcp. 8vo. 2s. 6d.

OUTLINE OF ENGLISH HISTORY, B.C. 55-A.D. 1895. With 67 Woodcuts and 17 Maps. Fcp. 8vo. 2s. 6d.

THE FRENCH REVOLUTION, 1789-1795. By Mrs. S. R. GARDINER. With 7 Maps. Fcp. 8vo. 2s. 6d.

LONGMANS, GREEN, & CO. 39 Paternoster Row, London
New York and Bombay.

CONTENTS

CHAPTER PAGE

I. HISTORICAL EVIDENCE 1

II. GUY FAWKES'S STORY 17

III. THE LATER DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE 43

IV. STRUCTURAL DIFFICULTIES 77

V. THE DISCOVERY 114

VI. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE CATHOLICS 138

VII. THE GOVERNMENT AND THE PRIESTS 173

ILLUSTRATIONS

PAGE

VIEW OF THE RIVER FRONT OF THE HOUSE OCCUPIED BY WHYNNIARD _Frontispiece_

FROM A PLAN OF THE ANCIENT PALACE OF WESTMINSTER, BY THE LATE MR. W. CAPON 80

FROM A PLAN OF PART OF WESTMINSTER, 1685 81

FROM A PLAN OF PART OF WESTMINSTER, 1739 82

FROM A PLAN OF WESTMINSTER HALL AND THE HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT, 1761 83

EAST END OF THE PRINCE'S CHAMBER 88

VIEWS OF THE EAST SIDE OF THE HOUSE OF LORDS, &C. 89

THE FOUR WALLS OF THE SO-CALLED CELLAR UNDER THE HOUSE OF LORDS 109

CHRONOLOGICAL NOTES

(_Political events in italics_)

1603. March 24.--_Accession of James I._

June 17.--_James informs Rosny of his intention to remit the
Recusancy fines._

July 17.--_James assures a deputation of Catholics that the fines
will be remitted._

Aug. 20.--_Parry writes to announce the overtures of the Nuncio in
Paris._

1604. Feb. 22.--_Proclamation banishing priests._

March.--Catesby imparts the design to Winter.

About the beginning of April.--Winter goes to Flanders.

Towards the end of April.--Winter returns with Fawkes.

Early in May.--The five conspirators take an oath, and then receive
the sacrament.

May 24.--Agreement for a lease of part of Whynniard's block of
houses.

June.--(Shortly before midsummer Keyes sworn in and intrusted with
the charge of the powder at Lambeth).

July 7.--_The Royal consent given to a new Recusancy Act._

Aug.--_Executions under the Recusancy Act._

Sept 5.--_Commission appointed to preside over the banishment of
the priests._

Sept. 14.--_The Council recommends that the Act shall not be put in
force against lay Catholics._

Nov. 28.--_Fines required from thirteen Catholics rich enough to pay
20l. a month._

About Dec.--Bates sworn.

About Dec. 11.--The five conspirators begin to dig the mine.

Before Christmas.--The diggers having reached the wall of the House
of Lords, suspend their work.

1605. Jan.--The day cannot be fixed.--John Grant and Robert Winter sworn.

About Jan. 18.--Work resumed.

Jan.--Christopher Wright and Keyes brought to join in the work.

About Feb. 2.--Wall of House of Lords excavated halfway through.

Feb. 10.--_James orders that the Recusancy Act be fully executed._

March, before Lady Day.--The conspirators begin to work a third time,
but finding that the 'cellar' is to let, hire it, and having
moved the powder into it, disperse.

Oct. 26.--Monteagle receives the letter.

27.--Ward informs Winter.

28.--Winter informs Catesby.

30.--Tresham returns to London.

31.--Winter summons Tresham.

Nov. 1.--Meeting of Tresham with Catesby and Winter.

2.--Winter meets Tresham at Lincoln's Inn.

3.--Meeting behind St. Clement's.

4.--Percy goes to Sion. Fawkes taken.

5.--Flight of the conspirators.

6.--Arrival at Huddington at 2 P.M.

7.--Arrival at Holbeche at 10 P.M.

8.--Capture at Holbeche.

WHAT GUNPOWDER PLOT WAS