Theobalds The favorite residence of James I. originally belonged to Curl Earl of Salisbury and Sanderson in his life of Fames mentions his stopping at Theobalds, in his first progress towards London, how it came into his possession does not appear whether as a gift or a purchase in Chaney's Hertford notice is taken of Theobald Street, but none of the Palace. JAMES I. JAMES had not long been seated on the throne, before his religious principles became too well known to the Catholics, to leave them room to doubt his steady adherence to the reformed religion; the knowledge of which induced several desperate persons to frame a plot that has never been paralleled in the annals of any country. * THE BEST HISTORICAL ACCOUNT IS GIVEN BY HUME, WHICH IS HERE TRANSCRIBED, IN ORDER TO THROW SOME LIGHT ON THE INTENTIONS OF THE PERSONS INTERESTED IN THE CONSPIRACY. We are now to relate an event, one of the most memorable that history has conveyed to posterity, and containing at once a singular proof both of the strength and weakness of the human mind; its widest departure from morals, and most steady attachment to religious prejudices. 'Tis the GUNPOWDER TREASON of which I speak; a fact as certain as it appears incredible. The Roman Catholics had expected great favour and indulgence on the accession of James, both as he was descended from HENRY GARNET. THIS prime engine, and in all probability the contriver of the Gunpowder-Plot, was artful enough to screen himself for some time, even from the suspicion of being concerned therein; until the confession of Bates, Catesby's man, implicated him in the general crime. He was, however, after his apprehension, according to some accounts, examined no from Mary, whose life they believed to have been sacrificed to their cause, and as he himself, in his early youth, was imagined to have shewn some partiality towards them, which nothing they thought but interest and necessity had since restrained. It is pretended, that he had even entered into positive engagements to tolerate their religion, as soon as he should mount the throne of England; whether their credulity had interpreted in this sense, some obliging expressions of the king, or that he had employed such an artifice, in order to render them favourable to his title. Very soon they discovered their mistake; and were at once surprized and amazed to find James, on all occasions, express his intention of strictly executing the laws enacted against them, and of persevering in all the vigorous measures of Elizabeth. Catesby, |