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The several Papers of SIR EVERARD DIGBY, which are (as we have been credibly informed) the original papers and letters written by him, concerning the Gunpowder Treason, were found by us, SIR RICE RUDD, Baronet, and WILLIAM WOGAN, of Gray's Inn, Esq., in the presence of MRS. URSULA GILES, and MR. THOMAS HUGHES, about the month of September, 1675, at the House of CHARLES CORNWALLIS, Esq., who was executor of SIR KENELM DIGBY (Son and heir to the said SIR EVERARD) tied up in two silk bags, amongst the deeds, evidences, and writings of the said SIR KENELM DIGBY.

RICE RUDD,
WILLIAM WOGAN.

JESUS.

I have not named any, either living or dead, that should have hurt my Lord Salisbury; and only intended these general informations to procure me access of some friend, that I might inform my knowledge-for I never intended to hurt any creature, though it would have gained me all the world. As yet they have not got of me the affirming that I know any priest particularly, nor shall ever do to the hurt of any but myself. At my first examination the Earl of Salisbury told me, that some things should be affirmed against me by Gerrard, the priest, who, saith he, I am sure you know well. My answer was, that if Í might see him, I would tell him whether I knew him or no; by that name I did not know him, nor at Mrs. Vaux's, as he said I did; for I never saw a priest there. Yesterday I was before Mr. Attorney and my Lord Chief Justice, who asked me if I had taken the sacrament to keep secret the Plot, as others did. I said that I had not, because I would avoid the question of at whose hands it were. They told me that five had taken it of Gerrard, and that he knew of the Plot, which I said was more than I knew.

but

Now for my intention, let me tell you, that if I had thought there had been the least sin in the Plot, I would not have been of it for all the world; and no other cause drew me to hazard my fortune and life, but zeal to God's religion. For my keeping it secret, it was caused by certain belief, that those which were best able to judge of the lawfulness of it, had been acquainted with it, and given way unto it. More reasons I had to persuade me to this belief than I dare utter, which I will never, to the suspicion of any, though I should go to the rack for it, and as I did not know it directly that it was approved by such, so did I hold it in my conscience the best not to know any more if I might.

I have before all the lords cleared all the priests in it, for anything that I know; but now let me tell you, what a grief it hath been to me, to hear so much condemned what I did believe would have been otherwise thought of by Catholics; there is no other cause but this, which hath made me desire life, for when I came into prison death would have been a welcome friend unto me, and was most desired; but when I heard how Catholics and priests thought of the matter, and that it should be a great sin that should be the cause of my end, it called my conscience in doubt of my very best actions and intentions in question: for I knew that myself might easily be deceived in such a business, therefore I protest unto you that the doubts I had of my own good state, which only proceeded from the censure of others, caused more bitterness of grief in me than all the miseries that ever I suffered, and only this caused me wish life till I might meet with a ghostly friend. For some good space I could do nothing, but with tears ask pardon at God's hands for all my errors, both in actions and intentions, in this business and in my whole life, which the censure of this, contrary to my expectance, caused me to doubt: I did humbly beseech that my death might satisfy for my offence, which I should and shall offer most gladly to the Giver of life. I assure you, as I hope in God, that the love of all my estate and worldly happiness did never trouble me, nor the love of it since my imprisonment did ever move me to wish life. But if that I may live to make satisfaction to God and the world where I have given any scandal, I shall not grieve if I should never look living creature in the face again, and besides that deprivation endure all worldly misery. I shall not need to clear any living body, either private or public, for I never named anybody, but reported that those that are dead did promise, that all forces in those parts about Mr. Talbot would assist us, but this can hurt nothing, for they openly spoke it. brother see this, or know the contents. Tell him I love his sweet comforts as my greatest jewel in this place; if I can, I will convey in the tables a copy of a letter which I sent yesterday; it is as near as I can understand the meaning of the instruction. I perceive it works with the lords, for I shall be sent to them. Oh, how full of joy should I die if I could do anything for the cause which I love more than life! Farewell my

my

Let my

2. Besides the trunk of armour which was sent to Mr. Catesby, I did carry but one other trunk with me, which had in it clothes of mine, as a white satin doublet cut with purple, a jerkin and hose of De-roi, colour satin laid very thick with gold

lace. There were other garments in it of mine, with a new black winter gown of my wife's. There was also in the trunk £300 in money, and this trunk did I see safe at Mr. Littleton's house after the blowing up of the powder Since that

Mr. Adis cannot spare time from his business to sell such goods as shall be necessary to defray the expense of my wife, children, and family, and my own charges, my desire therefore is, that one Andrew Knight, of Newport, dwelling near the house where 'these goods are, should have power given him to make sale of such things as shall be thought necessary for these purposes. EVERARD DIGBY.

By me

W. WAAD, Locum ten. Turris.

6. You forgot to tell me whether Winscombe be a fit name. I like it, for I know none of it. You need not fear this lord, for he never looks in the tables, nor dare show them to any. Tell my brother I do honour him as befits me; but I did not think I could have increased in so much, loving him more as his charitable lessons would make me. Your information doth much comfort me; but I pray you, after my death, let me not want good prayers, for my need is great, though my trust in God is not small. As occasion falls out you will know. Farewell.

;

9. My dearest, the I take at the uncharitable taking of these matters, will make me say more than ever I thought to have done; for if this design had taken place, there could have been no doubt of other success; for that night, before any other could have brought the news, we should have known it by Mr. Catesby, who should have proclaimed the heir-apparent at Charing Cross, as he came out of town; to which purpose there was a proclamation drawn. If the duke had not been in the House, then was there a certain way laid for the possessing him; but in regard of the assurance, they should have been there therefore the greatest of our business stood in the possessing the Lady Elizabeth, who lying within eight miles of Dunchurch, we would have easily surprised before the knowledge of any doubt. This was the cause of my being there. If she had been in Rutland, then Stokes was near, and in either place we had taken sufficient order to have been possessed of her. There was also courses taken for the satisfying the people if the first had taken effect, as the speedy notice of liberty and freedom from all manner of slavery, as the ceasing of wardships and all monopolies which, with change, would have been more plausible to the

people, if the first had been, than it is now. There was also a course taken to have given present notice to all princes, and to associate them with an oath answerable to the league in France. I have not uttered any of these things, nor ever thought to do; for my going from Dunchurch I had this reason. First, I knew that Fawkes could reveal me, for I must make choice of two besides Mr. Catesby, which I did of him and Mr. Winter. I knew he had been employed in great matters, and till torture sure he carried it very well. Secondly, we all thought if we could procure Mr. Talbot to rise that

known.

party

that was not little,

at least to a composition because we had in our company his son-in-law, who gave us some hope of, and did not much doubt it. I answer your speech with Mr. Brown thus. Before that I knew anything of this plot, I asked Mr. Farmer what the meaning of the Pope's brief was. He told me that they were not (meaning priests) to undertake or procure stirs ; but yet they would not hinder any, neither was it the Pope's mind they should, that should be undertaken for Catholic good. I did never utter thus much, nor would not but to you; and this answer, with Mr. Catesby's proceedings with him and me, gave me absolute belief that the matter in general was approved, though every particular was not I dare not take that course that I could to make it appear less odious; for divers were to have been brought out of the danger, which now would rather hurt them than otherwise. I do not think there would have been three worth saving that should have been lost. You may guess that I had some friends that were in danger, which I had prevented, but they shall never know it. I will do as much as my partner wisheth, and it will then appear that I have not hurt or accused one man; and howsoever I might in general possess them with fear, in hope to do the cause good, yet my care was ever to lose my own life rather than hurt the unworthiest member of the Catholic church. Tell her I have ever loved her and her house, and though I could never show it, I will not live to manifest the contrary. Her Go. I hope will remember me, who I am in temporal respects indebted to. Your sister salute from me, whose noble mind to me in this misery I will never my Lord of Arundell may do much with the lord and the queen. One that you write of which dearly loveth him, and is dearly loved of him again, can tell him that I love him, and did manifest it in his sight, and he might have found it; last time as I saw him, was in his company, as I think. I am sure when this was, he was there. If your mother were in town you should do it to

her. Farewell, and where you cannot understand, send to me by your next, and I will explain.

JESUS MARIA.

THERE be many reasons, my dear children, that might dissuade me from putting pen to paper in this kind, and only one which urgeth me to undertake this poor and fruitless pains. Wherefore to tell you what inciteth me to it, is my want of other means to show my fatherly affection to each of you-which is so far from uttering, as my mind is willing to accept of poor means, rather than none to betray my disposition-if I would have been checked from the performance of these lines by number and probabilities of reasons, I might then have called to mind the unlikelihood that these would ever have come to your view; with the malice of the world to me, which, I do imagine, will not fail to endeavour to possess you with a loathness to hear of anything that comes from me; as also I might, and do think, on my own disability in advising, with many other dissuasive reasons, which my former recited single stirrer-up hath banished.

Wherefore, to begin with both and each of you, I send you my fatherly and last blessing, which I have not failed to ask at God's hands on my knee, that he will grant to descend so effectually on you, that, his holy grace accompanying it, it may work in you the performance, on your part, of God's sweet and just commandments; and on his part to you, the guerdon, that his mercy enricheth his servants withal.

Let this end-God's service, I mean-be the chief and only contentious strife between you, which, with all vehemency and desire, each of you may strive to attain soonest. Let this be the mark which your thoughts and actions may still level at; for here is the chiefest prize, to recompense the best deserver. Believe me in this, my sons, that though my unripe years afford me not general experience, yet my variety of courses in the world, and God's grace to illumine me, may sufficiently warrant the verity of this principle. If you make this your chief business— as you ought to do, and for which only you were sent into the world-I doubt not but God will send you better means for your particular directions, than either the brevity of a letter, or my ability can discharge. So that in this I will say no more, but pray that you may live as I hope to die, which is in the perfect obedience of the Catholic and only saving church.

I cannot but a little touch what I could wish you did, and I hope will do, to all sorts of people; it is a lesson I could never

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