several marks of her Majesty's favour. On the coming in of King James, he went likewise to pay his duty, as others of his religion did; was very graciously received, and had the honour of knighthood conferred upon him, being looked on as a man of fair fortune, pregnant abilities, and a courtlike behaviour. He married Mary, daughter and sole heiress of William Mulsho, Esq. of Gothurst, in Buckinghamshire, with whom he had a great fortune, which, with his own estate, was settled upon the children of that marriage. One would have imagined that, considering his mild temper and happy

situ

the nation. Ten days before the meeting of parliament, Lord Monteagle, a Catholic, son to Lord Morley, received the following letter, which had been delivered to his servant by an unknown hand.

My Lord,

Out of the love I bear to some of your friends, I have a care of your preservation. Therefore I would advise you, as you tender your life, to devise some excuse to shift off your attendance at this parlia

ment.

For God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness of this time. And think not slightly of this advertisement; but retire yourself into your country, where you may expect the event in safety. For though there be no

situation in the world, this gentleman might have spent his days in honour and peace, without running the smallest hazard of meeting that disgraceful death, which has introduced his name into all our histories: but it happened far otherwise. He was drawn in to be privy to the gunpowder-plot; and though he was not a principal actor in this dreadful affair, or indeed an actor at all, yet he offered 15001. towards defraying the expences of it; entertained Guy Fawkes, who was to have executed it, in his house ; and was taken in open rebellion with other papists after the plot was detected and had miscarried. The

means

appearance of any stir, yet I say, they will receive a terrible blow this parliament; and yet they shall not see who hurts them. This counsel is not to be contemned, because it may do you good, and can do you no harm: for the danger is past, as soon as you have burned the letter. And I hope God will give you the grace to make good use of it; unto whose holy protection. I commend you.

Monteagle knew not what to make of this letter; and though inclined to think it a foolish attempt to frighten and ridicule him, he judged it safest to carry it to Lord Salis bury, Secretary of State.

Though Salisbury, too, was inclined to pay little attention to it, he thought proper to lay it before the King, who

came

means by which Sir Everard was wrought upon to engage in this affair, himself affirmed to be these: first, he was told that King James had broke his promises to the catholics; secondly, that several laws against popery would be made in the next parliament, that husbands would be made obnoxious for their wives' offences, and that it would be made a præmunire only to be a catholic; but the main point was, thirdly, that the restoring of the catholic religion was the duty of every member, and that, in consideration of this, he was not to regard any favours received from the crown, the tranquillity of his

came to town a few days after.

To the King it appeared not so light a matter: and from the serious earnest style of the letter, he conjectured that it implied something dangerous and important. A terrible blow, and yet the authors concealed, a danger so sudden, and yet so great; these circumstances seemed all to denote some contrivance by gunpowder; and it was thought adviseable to inspect all the vaults below the houses of parliament. This care belonged to the Earl of Suffolk, Lord Chamberlain; who purposely delayed the search till the day before the meeting of parliament. He remarked those great piles of wood and faggots which lay in a vault under the upper house; and he cast his eye upon Fawkes, who stood in a dark corner, and passed himself for Piercy's servant. That

daring

his country, or the hazards that might be run in respect to his life, his family, or his fortune.

Upon his commitment to the Tower he persisted steadily in maintaining his own innocence as to the powder-plot, and refused to discover any who were concerned in it; but when he was brought to his trial at Westminster, Jan. 27, 1606, and indicted for being acquainted with and concealing the powdertreason, taking the double oath of secrecy and constancy, and acting openly with other traitors in rebellion, he pleaded guilty.

After this, he endeavoured to extenuate his offence,

by

daring and determined courage, which so much distin guished this conspirator, even among those heroes in villainy, was fully painted in his countenance, and was not passed unnoticed by the Chamberlain. Such a quantity also of fuel, for the use of one who lived so little in town as Piercy, appeared a little extraordinary; and, upon comparing all circumstances, it was resolved that a more thorough inspection should be made. About midnight Sir Thomas Knevett, a justice of peace, was sent with proper attendants; and before the door of the vault finding Fawkes, who had just finished all his preparations, he immediately seized him; and turning over the faggots, discovered the powder. The matches, and every thing proper for setting fire to the train were taken in Fawkes's pocket; who find

ing

by explaining the motives before mentioned; and then requested that, as he had been alone in the crime, he might alone bear the punishment, without extending it to his family; and that his debts might be paid, and himself beheaded. When sentence of death was passed, he seemed to be very much affected; for making a low bow to those on the bench, he said, “If I could hear any of your lordships say you forgave me, I should go the more cheerfully to the gallows."

To this all the Lords answered, "God forgive you, and we do." He was, with other conspirators,

on

ing his guilt now apparent, and finding no refuge but in boldness and despair, expressed the utmost regret that he had lost the opportunity of firing the powder at once, and of sweetening his own death by that of his enemies. Before the council, he displayed the same intrepid firmness, mixed even with scorn and disdain; refusing to discover his accomplices, and shewing no concern but for the failure of the enterprize.

This obstinacy lasted two or three days: but being confined to the Tower, left to reflect on his guilt and danger, and the rack being just shewn to him, his courage, fatigued with so long an effort, and unsupported by hope or society, at last failed him, and he made a full discovery of all the conspirators,

Catesby,