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 I
confesse, that a practise in generall was first broken unto me, against
his Majestie for reliefe of the catholic cause, and not invented or
propounded by my selfe. And this was first propounded unto mee about
Easter Last was twelve moneth beyond the seas, in the Lowe Countries
of the Archdukes obeisance, by Thomas Winter, who came
thereupon with mee into England, and there we imparted our pupose
to three other Gentlemen more, namely, Robert Catesby, Thomas Percy,
and Iohn Wright, who all five consulting together of the means
how to execute the same, and taking a vow upon ourselves for secrecie,
Catesby propounded to have it performed by Gunpowder, and by
making a Myne under the upper House of Parliament: which place wee
made a choice of the rather because Religion having been unjustly
suppressed there, it was fittest that Iustice and punishment should
be executed there.
This being resolved amongst us, Thomas Percy hired an House
at Westminster for that purpose, neere adioyning to the Parliament
House, and there we begun to make our Myne about the II of December
1604.
The five that first entred into the worke were Thomas Percy,
Thomas Catesby, Thomas Winter, Iohn WrightChristopher Wright
having Sworne him also, and taken the Sacrament for secrecie.
When we came to the very foundation of the Wall of the House, which
was about three yards thicke, and found it a matter of great difficultie,
wee tooke unto us another Gentleman Robert Winter, in like
manner with oath and sacrament as afore said.
It was about Christmas when we brought our myne unto the Wall, and
about Candlemas we had wrought the wall halfe through: and whilst
they were in working, I stood as Sentinell to descrie any man that
came neere, whereof I gave them warning, and so they ceased until
I gave notice againe to proceede.
All we seven lay in the House, and had Shot and Powder, being resolved
to die in that place before we should yield or be taken. As they
were working upon the wall they heard a rushing in the Cellar of
removing of Coales, whereupon we feared we had been discovered:
and they sent me to go to the Cellar, who finding that the Coales
were a-selling and that the Cellar was to bee let, viewing the commoditie
thereof for our purpose, Percy went and hired the same for
yeerely rent.
We had before this provided and brought into the House twentie Barrels
of Powder, which we removed into the Cellar, and covered the same
with Billets and Faggots, which were provided for that purpose.
About Easter, the Parliament being prorogued till October next,
we dispersed ourselves and I retired into the Low countreys by advice
and direction of the rest, as well to aquaint Owen with the
particulars of the Plot, as also lest by my longer stay I might
have growen suspicious, and so have come into question.
In the meantime Percy having the key of the Cellar, laide
in more Powder and wood into it. I returned about the beginning
of September next, and then receiving the key againe of Percy, we
brought in more Powder and Billets to cover the same againe, and
so I went for a time into the Countrey till the 30 of October.
It was a further resolve amongst us that the same day that this
act should have been performed, some other of our Confederates should
have surprised the person of Lady Elizabeth the King's eldest daughter,
who was kept in Warwickshire at Lo. Harrington's house, and
presently have her proclaimed as Queen, having a proiect of a Proclamation
ready for that purpose, wherein we made no mention of altering of
Religion, nor would have avowed the deede to be ours, until we should
have had power enough to make our partie good and then we would
have avowed both.
Concerning Duke Charles, the King's second sonne, wee had sundry
consultations how to seise on his Person. But because we found no
means to compasse it (the Duke being kept neere London, where we
had not forces y-nough) we resolved to serve our turn with the Lady
Elizabeth.
THE NAMES OF OTHER PRINCIPALL
Persons, that were made privy
Afterwards to this horrible
Conspiracie
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