family in Gloucestershire," was admitted into the plot and sent to liome, not to reveal the project, hut, on its consummation, to gain the favor of the Vatican by ex- plaining that its object was the re-establighnijent of Koman Catholicism in England. A further proroga- tion of Parliament to Nov. 5 having been made, the conspirators were led, in consequence of the repeated prorogations, to fear that their plot was suspected; but Thomas Winter's examinations, made on the day of prorogation, served to reassure them. " Catesby pur- chased horses, arms, and powder, and, under the pre- tence of making levies for the archduke of Flanders, assembled friends who might be armed in the country when the first blow was struck." To obtain the re- quired means for these ends, three wealthy men were admitted (on oath as the others) into tlie conspiracy, viz. SirEverai-d Digby, of Kutlandshire, who promised to furnish £1500, and to collect his Roman Catholic friends on Dunsmore Heath, in Warwicksliire, ly Nov. 5, as if for a hunting party ; Ambrose Rookwood, of Suffolk, who owned a magnificent stud of horses ; and Francis Tresham, who "engaged to furnish £2000;" but Catesby mistrusted the latter, and sorely repented having intrusted his secret to him. As the 5th of Novenilier drew near, "it was resolved that Fawkes should fire tlie powder bj' means of a slow-burning match, which would allow him time to escape before the explosion" to a ship readj' to proceed witli him to Flanders ; and that, in the event of their losing the prince of Wales and prince Charles, the princess Eliz- abeth should be proclaimed queen, and "a regent ap- pointed during her minority." Ou another point they failed to haruionize so fully. Each consfiir.itor had a friend or friends in Parliament whose safety he wished to secure, but to communicate the project to so many persons involved too great risk, " and it was concluded that no express notice should be given them, but onl}' such persuasion, upon general grounds, as might deter them from attending. Many of the conspirators were averse to this resolve, "and angrj^ at its adoption; and Tresham in particular, for his sisters had married lords Stourton and Mounteaglo." On a refusal of Catesl)}^ and other leaders to allow him to notify di- rectly Mounteagle, it is said he hinted that the monej' promised by him would not be forthcoming, and ceased to attend the meetings. It is probable he warned Mounteagle, for this nobleman unexpectedly gave a supper, Oct. 2G, ten da3's before the meeting of Parlia- ment, at a house at Hoxton which he had not lately occupied, and while seated at table a page brought him a letter, stating that he had received it in the street from a stranger, who urged its immediate deliver}' into Mounteagle's hands. The letter warnetl Mounteagle not to attend the Parliament, and hinted at the plot, and was on the same evening shown by Jlounteagle to several lords of the council, and on (Jet. '.M shown to tlie king also. The conspirators suspected Tresliam of having betrayed them, and accused him of it, l)Ut he stoutly denied it. They were now thoroughlj- alarm- ed ; some left London, and others concealed themselves; hut Fawkes remained courageously at his jwst in the cellar, notwithstanding the hourly increasing intima- tion that the plot was known to government. On the evening of Nov. 4 the lord chamberlain visited the cel- lar, saw Fawkes there, and, noticing the piles of fag- ots, said to him, " Your master has laid in a good sup- ply of fuel." After informing Percy of tliis ominous circumstance, Fawkes returned to his post, where he was arrested about 2 o'clock on the morning of Nov. 5 bj' a company of soldiers under Sir Thomas Knevet, a Westminster magistrate, who had orders to search the houses and cellars in the neighborhood. On Fawkes's person was found a watch (then an uncommon thing), some slow matches, some tinder and touchwood, and behind the cellar door a dark lantern with a light burn- ing. Thej' removed tlie wood, etc., and discovered the gunpowder also. Fawkes was taken before the king
and council, where he boldly avowed his purpose, only expressing regret for its failure, and, in reply to the king's inquiry "how he could have the heart to destroy his children and so many innocent souls," said, "Dan- gerous diseases require desperate remedies." He ut- terl}' refused to name his accomplices, and neitlier temptations nor tortures, whose horriljle severity is shown b}' the contrast in his signatures on the 8th and 10th of November, could induce him to implicate oth- ers further tlian their own actions had already done, while at no time would he admit the complicity of sus- pected Jesuit priests, refusing to plead guilty on his tri- al because the indictment contained averments impli- cating them. For the connection of the Jesuits with tliis conspiracy, see Gaunet ; Jesuits ; and the au- thorities given at the end of this article.
Catesby and John "\\'right had departed for Dun- church before Fawkes's arrest, and the other conspir- ators, except Tresham, fled from London after that event. They met at Ashby Ledgers, and resolved to take up arms, and endeavor to excite to rebellion the Koman Catholics in "Warwickshire, Worcestershire, Staftbrdshire, and Wales ; but their failure was com- plete, and their efforts only served to point them out as members of the conspiracj'. They were pursued by the king's troops, and at Holbeach the two Wriglits, Percy, and Catesbj' were killed, and Rookwood and Thomas Winter wounded in a conflict with the troops. The others were soon captured. Tresham died in the Tower of disease ; the remaining seven, viz., Digby, Robert and Thomas Winter, Rookwood, Grant, Fawkes, Kay, and Bates, were tried on tlie 27th January, 1606, and executed on the 30th and 31st of tliat month. This diabolical plot reacted fearfully against the Romanists, and its memory is still a bulwark of Protestant feeling in England. The revolting atrocity of the deed pur- posed l)y these misguided men must ever excite horror and reprobation ; but we may hope tliat candid minds in this more tolerant age, while judging them, will con- demn also both the teachings which bred such fanati- cism, and the spirit of persecution which aroused it to action.