CHAPTER XII.
THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER.
On the same day as the occurrences last related, Lord Mounteagle, whowas then staying at Southwark, suddenly intimated his intention ofpassing the night at his country mansion at Hoxton; a change of placewhich, trivial as it seemed at the moment, afterwards assumed animportance, from the circumstances that arose out of it. At the latterpart of the day, he accordingly proceeded to Hoxton, accompanied by hiscustomary attendants, and all appeared to pass on as usual, until, justas supper was over, one of his pages arrived from town, and desired tosee his lordship immediately.
Affecting to treat the matter with indifference, Lord Mounteaglecarelessly ordered the youth to be ushered into his presence; and whenhe appeared, he demanded his business. The page replied, that he broughta letter for his lordship, which had been delivered under circumstancesof great mystery.
"I had left the house just as it grew dusk," he said, "on an errand oflittle importance, when a man, muffled in a cloak, suddenly issued frombehind a corner, and demanded whether I was one of your lordship'sservants? On my replying in the affirmative, he produced this letter,and enjoined me, as I valued my life and your lordship's safety, todeliver it into your own hands without delay."
So saying, he delivered the letter to his lord, who, gazing at itsaddress, which was, "To the Right Honourable the Lord Mounteagle,"observed, "There is nothing very formidable in its appearance. What canit mean?"
Without even breaking the seal, which was secured with a silken thread,he gave it to one of his gentlemen, named Ward, who was standing nearhim.
"Read it aloud, sir," said the Earl, with a slight smile. "I have nodoubt it is some vapouring effusion, which will afford us occasion forlaughter. Before I hear what the writer has to say, I can promise him heshall not intimidate me."
Thus exhorted, Ward broken open the letter, and read as follows:--
"My lord, out of the love I bear to some of your friends, I have a careof your preservation. Therefore I would advise you, as you tender yourlife, to devise some excuse to shift from your attendance at thisParliament, for God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness ofthis time. Think not slightingly of this advice, but retire into thecountry, where you may expect the event in safety; for, though there beno appearance of any stir, yet I say they shall receive a terrible blowthis Parliament, and yet they shall not know who hurts them. Thiscounsel is not to be contemned. It may do you good, and can do you noharm, for the danger is passed as soon as you have burned the letter.God, I hope, will give you grace to make good use of it, to whose holyprotection I commend you."
"A singular letter!" exclaimed Mounteagle, as soon as Ward had finished."What is your opinion of it?"
"I think it hints at some dangerous plot, my lord," replied Ward, whohad received his instructions, "some treason against the state. Withsubmission, I would advise your lordship instantly to take it to theEarl of Salisbury."
"I see nothing in it," replied the Earl. "What is your opinion, Mervyn?"he added, turning to another of his gentlemen, to whom he had likewisegiven his lesson.
"I am of the same mind as Ward," replied the attendant.
"Your lordship will hardly hold yourself excused, if you neglect to givedue warning, should aught occur hereafter."
"Say you so, sirs?" cried Lord Mounteagle. "Let me hear it once more."
The letter was accordingly read again by Ward, and the Earl feigned toweigh over each passage.
"I am advised not to attend the Parliament," he said, "'for God and manhave concurred to punish the wickedness of this time.' That is too vagueto be regarded. Then I am urged to retire into the country. Therecommendation must proceed from some discontented Catholic, who doesnot wish me to be present at the opening of the house. This is not thefirst time I have been so adjured. 'They shall receive a terrible blowthis Parliament, and yet shall not know who hurts them.' That ismysterious enough, but it may mean nothing,--any more than what follows,namely, 'the danger is passed as soon as you have burnt the letter.'"
"I do not think so, my lord," replied Ward; "and though I cannot explainthe riddle, I am sure it means mischief."
"Well," said Lord Mounteagle, "since you are of this mind, I must loseno time in communicating the letter to the Secretary of State. It isbetter to err on the safe side."
Accordingly, after some further consultation, he set out at that latehour for Whitehall, where he roused the Earl of Salisbury, and showedhim the letter. It is almost needless to state that the whole was apreconcerted scheme between these two crafty statesmen; but as theinterview took place in the presence of their attendants, the utmostcaution was observed.
Salisbury pretended to be greatly alarmed at the communication, andcoupling it, he said, with previous intelligence which he had received,he could not help fearing, to adopt the words of the writer of themysterious letter, that the Parliament was indeed threatened with some"terrible blow." Acting, apparently, upon this supposition, he causedsuch of the lords of the Privy Council as lodged at Whitehall to besummoned, and submitting the letter to them, they all concurred in theopinion that it referred to some dangerous plot, though none could givea guess at its precise nature.
"It is clearly some Popish project," said Salisbury, "or Lord Mounteaglewould not have been the party warned. We must keep a look-out upon thedisaffected of his faith."
"As I have been the means of revealing the plot to your lordship--ifplot it be--I must pray you to deal gently with them," rejoinedMounteagle.
"I will be as lenient as I can," returned Salisbury; "but in a matter ofthis kind little favour can be shown. If your lordship will enable me todiscover the principal actors in this affair, I will take care that noinnocent party suffers."
"You ask an impossibility," replied Mounteagle. "I know nothing beyondwhat can be gathered from that letter. But I pray your lordship not tomake it a means of exercising unnecessary severity towards the membersof my religion."
"On that you may rely," returned the Earl. "His Majesty will not returnfrom the hunting expedition on which he is engaged at Royston tillThursday next, the 30th. I think it scarcely worth while (consideringhis naturally timid nature, with which your lordships are wellacquainted) to inform him of the threatened danger, until his arrival atthe palace. It will then be time enough to take any needful steps, asParliament will not meet for four or five days afterwards."
In the policy of this course the Privy Councillors agreed, and it wasarranged that the matter should be kept perfectly secret until theKing's opinion had been taken upon the letter. The assemblage then brokeup, it being previously arranged that, for fear of some attempt upon hislife, Lord Mounteagle should remain within the palace till fullinquiries had been instituted into the affair.
When the two confederate nobles were left alone, Salisbury observed,with a slight laugh, to his companion,
"Thus far we have proceeded well, and without suspicion, and, rely uponit, none shall fall on you. As soon as all is over, the most importantpost the King has to bestow shall be yours."
"But what of Tresham?" asked Mounteagle. "He was the deliverer of thisletter, and I have little faith in him."
"Hum!" said Salisbury, after a moment's reflection, "if you think itdesirable, we can remove him to the Tower, where he can be easilysilenced."
"It will be better so," replied Mounteagle. "He may else babblehereafter. I gave him a thousand pounds to send in his own name to theconspirators the other day to lure them into our nets."
"It shall be repaid you a hundred-fold," replied Salisbury. "But we areobserved, and must therefore separate."
So saying, he withdrew to his own chamber, while Lord Mounteagle wasushered to the apartments allotted to him.
To return to Guy Fawkes. Arriving at Southwark, he stationed himselfnear Lord Mounteagle's residence. But he observed nothing to awaken hissuspicions, until early in the morning he perceived a page approachingthe mansion, whom, from his livery, he knew to be one of LordMounteagle's household, (it
was, in fact, the very youth who haddelivered the mysterious letter,) and from him he ascertained all thathad occurred. Filled with alarm, and scarcely knowing what to do, hecrossed the river, and proceeding to the cellar, examined the marks atthe door, and finding all precisely as he had left it, felt certain,that whatever discovery had been made, the magazine had not beenvisited.
He next repaired to the house, of which he possessed the key, and wassatisfied that no one had been there. Somewhat relieved by this, he yetdetermined to keep watch during the day, and concealing himself near thecellar, remained on the look-out till night. But no one came; nor didanything occur to excite his suspicions. He would not, however, quit hispost till about six o'clock on the following evening, when, thinkingfurther delay might be attended with danger, he set out to White Webbs,to give his companions intelligence of the letter.
His news was received by all with the greatest alarm, and not one,except Catesby, who strove to put a bold face upon the matter, though hewas full of inward misgiving, but confessed that he thought all chanceof success was at an end. While deliberating upon what should be done inthis fearful emergency, they were greatly alarmed by a sudden knockingwithout. All the conspirators concealed themselves, except Guy Fawkes,who opening the door, found, to his infinite surprise, that the summonsproceeded from Tresham. He said nothing till the other had entered thehouse, and then suddenly drawing his dagger, held it to his throat.
"Make your shrift quickly, traitor," he cried in a furious tone, "foryour last hour is arrived. What ho!" he shouted to the others, whoinstantly issued from their hiding-places, "the fox has ventured intothe lion's den."
"You distrust me wrongfully," rejoined Tresham, with more confidencethan he usually exhibited in time of danger; "I am come to warn you, notbetray you. Is this the return you make me for the service?"
"Villain!" cried Catesby, rushing up to him, and holding his drawn swordto his breast. "You have conveyed the letter to Lord Mounteagle."
"It is false," replied Tresham; "I have only just heard of it; and, inspite of the risk I knew I should run from your suspicions, I came totell you what had happened."
"Why did you feign illness, and depart secretly for town, instead ofjoining us at Coughton?" demanded Catesby.
"I will instantly explain my motive, which, though it may not besatisfactory to you on one point, will be so on another," repliedTresham unhesitatingly, and with apparent frankness. "I was fearful youwould make a further tool of me, and resolved not to join you again tilla few days before the outbreak of the plot. To this determination Ishould have adhered, had I not learnt to-night that a letter had beentransmitted by some one to Lord Mounteagle, which he had conveyed to theEarl of Salisbury. It may not convey any notion of the plot, but it iscertain to occasion alarm, and I thought it my duty, in spite of everypersonal consideration, to give you warning. If you design to escape,there is yet time. A vessel lies in the river, in which we can allembark for Flanders."
"Can he be innocent?" said Catesby in a whisper to Garnet.
"If I had betrayed you," continued Tresham, "I should not have comehither. And I have no motive for such baseness, for I am in equal dangerwith yourselves. But though the alarm has been given, I do not think anydiscovery will be made. They are evidently on the wrong scent."
"I hope so," replied Catesby; "but I fear the contrary."
"Shall I put him to death?" demanded Fawkes of Garnet.
"Do not sully your hands with his blood, my son," returned Garnet. "Ifhe has betrayed us, he will reap the traitor's reward here andhereafter. If he has not, it would be to take away a life unjustly. Lethim depart. We shall feel more secure without him."
"Will it be safe to set him free, father?" cried Fawkes.
"I think so," replied Garnet. "We will not admit him to our furtherconferences; but let us act mercifully."
The major part of the conspirators concurring in this opinion, thoughFawkes and Catesby were opposed to it, Tresham was suffered to depart.As soon as he was gone, Garnet avowed that the further prosecution ofthe design appeared so hazardous, that it ought to be abandoned, andthat, in his opinion, each of the conspirators had better consult hisown safety by flight. He added, that at some future period the designmight be resumed, or another planned, which might be more securelycarried out.
After much discussion, all seemed disposed to acquiesce in the proposal,except Fawkes, who adhered doggedly to his purpose, and treated thedanger so slightingly, that he gradually brought the others round to hisviews. At length, it was resolved that Garnet should set out immediatelyfor Coughton Hall, and place himself under the protection of Sir EverardDigby, and there await the result of the attempt, while the otherconspirators decided upon remaining in town, in some secure places ofconcealment, until the event was known. Unmoved as ever, Guy Fawkesdeclared his intention of watching over the magazine of powder.
"If anything happens to me," he said, "you will take care of yourselves.You well know nothing will be wrung from me."
Catesby and the others, aware of his resolute nature, affected toremonstrate with him, but they willingly suffered him to take his owncourse. Attended by Bates, Garnet then set out for Warwickshire, and therest of the conspirators proceeded to London, where they dispersed,after appointing Lincoln's Inn Walks as their place of midnightrendezvous. Each then made preparations for sudden flight, in case itshould be necessary, and Rookwood provided relays of horses all the wayto Dunchurch.
Guy Fawkes alone remained at his post. He took up his abode in thecellar, resolved to blow up himself together with his foes, in case of asurprise.
On Thursday, the 31st of October, the King returned to Whitehall, andthe mysterious letter was laid before him in the presence of the PrivyCouncil by the Earl of Salisbury. James perused it carefully, but couldscarcely hide his perplexity.
"Your Majesty will not fail to remark the expressions, 'a terrible blow'to the Parliament, and 'that the danger will be past as soon as you haveburnt the letter,' evidently referring to combustion," observed theEarl.
"You are right, Salisbury," said James, snatching at the suggestion. "Ishould not wonder if these mischievous Papists mean to blow us all upwith gunpowder."
"Your Majesty has received a divine illumination," returned the Earl."Such an idea never occurred to me; but it must be as you intimate."
"Undoubtedly--undoubtedly," replied the monarch, pleased with thecompliment to his sagacity, though alarmed by the danger; "but whatdesperate traitors they must be to imagine such a deed! Blow us up!God's mercy, that were a dreadful death! And yet that must evidently bethe meaning of the passage. How else can it be construed, except byreference to the suddenness of the act, which might be as quicklyperformed as that paper would take to be consumed in the fire?"
"Your Majesty's penetration has discovered the truth," repliedSalisbury, "and by the help of your wisdom, I will fully develop thisdark design. Where, think you, the powder may lie hidden?"
"Are there any vaults beneath the Parliament House?" demanded James,trembling. "Heaven save us! We have often walked there--perhaps, over asecret mine."
"There are," replied Salisbury; "and I am again indebted to your Majestyfor a most important suggestion. Not a corner in the vaults shall beleft unsearched. But, perhaps you will think with me, that, in order tocatch these traitors in their own trap, it will be well to defer thesearch till the very night before the meeting of Parliament."
"I was about to recommend such a course myself, Salisbury," repliedJames.
"I was sure you would think so," returned the Earl; "and now I mustentreat you to dismiss the subject from your thoughts, and to sleepsecurely; for you may rely upon it (after your Majesty's discovery) thatthe plot shall be fully unravelled."
The significant tone in which the Earl uttered the latter part of thisspeech, convinced the King that he knew more of the matter than he caredto confess; and he contented himself with saying, "Well, let it be so.I trust all to you. But I at once divined their purpose,--I at oncedivin
ed it."
The Council then broke up, and James laughed and chuckled to himself atthe discernment he had displayed. Nor was he less pleased with hisminister for the credit given him in the affair. But he took care not toenter the Parliament House.
On the afternoon of Monday, the 4th of November, the Lord Chamberlain,accompanied by the Lords Salisbury and Mounteagle, visited the cellarsand vaults beneath the Parliament House. For some time, they discoverednothing to excite suspicion. At length, probably at the suggestion ofLord Mounteagle, who, as will be recollected, was acquainted with thesituation of the magazine, they proceeded to the cellar, where theyfound the store of powder; but not meeting with any of the conspirators,as they expected, they disturbed nothing, and went away, reporting theresult of their search to the King.
By the recommendation of the Earl of Salisbury, James advised that aguard should be placed near the cellar during the whole of the night,consisting of Topcliffe and a certain number of attendants, and headedby Sir Thomas Knevet, a magistrate of Westminster, upon whose courageand discretion full reliance could be placed. Lord Mounteagle alsorequested permission to keep guard with them to witness the result ofthe affair. To this the King assented, and as soon as it grew dark, theparty secretly took up their position at a point commanding the entranceof the magazine.
Fawkes, who chanced to be absent at the time the search was made,returned a few minutes afterwards, and remained within the cellar,seated upon a barrel of gunpowder, the head of which he had staved in,with a lantern in one hand, and petronel in the other, till pastmidnight.
The fifth of November was now at hand, and the clock of the adjoiningabbey had scarcely ceased tolling the hour that proclaimed its arrival,when Fawkes, somewhat wearied with his solitary watching, determined torepair, for a short space, to the adjoining house. He accordinglyquitted the cellar, leaving his lantern lighted within it in one corner.
Opening the door, he gazed cautiously around, but perceiving nothing,after waiting a few seconds, he proceeded to lock the door. While thusemployed, he thought he heard a noise behind him, and turning suddenly,he beheld through the gloom several persons rushing towards him,evidently with hostile intent. His first impulse was to draw a petronel,and grasp his sword: but before he could effect his purpose, his armswere pinioned by a powerful grasp from behind, while the light of alantern thrown full in his face revealed the barrel of a petronellevelled at his head, and an authoritative voice commanded him in theKing's name to surrender.
_Guy Fawkes arrested by Sir Thomas Knevet andTopcliffe_]