Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
Chapter XV - The Gunpowder Plot
A conspiracy for the destruction of James I., the royal family, and both houses of
Parliament; commonly known by the name of the Gunpowder Plot.
The papists (of which there were great numbers in England at the time of the intended
Spanish invasion) were so irritated at the failure of that expedition, that they were
determined, if possible, to project a scheme at home, that might answer the purposes, to some
degree, of their blood-thirsty competitors. The vigorous administration of Elizabeth,
however, prevented their carrying any of their iniquitous designs into execution, although
they made many attempts with that view. The commencement of the reign of her successor
was destined to be the era of a plot, the barbarity of which transcends every thing related in
ancient or modern history.
In order to crush popery in the most effectual manner in this kingdom, James soon after
his succession, took proper measures for eclipsing the power of the Roman Catholics, by
enforcing those laws which had been made against them by his predecessors. This enraged
the papists to such a degree, that a conspiracy was formed, by some of the principal leaders,
of the most daring and impious nature; namely, to blow up the king, royal family, and both
houses of parliament, while in full session, and thus to involve the nation in utter and
inevitable ruin.
The cabal who formed the resolution of putting in practice this horrid scheme, consisted
of the following persons:—Henry Garnet, an Englishman, who, about the year 1586, had
been sent to England as superior of the English Jesuits; Catesby, an English gentleman;
Tesmond, a Jesuit; Thomas Wright; two gentlemen of the name of Winter; Thomas Percy, a
near relation of the earl of Northumberland; Guido Fawkes, a bold and enterprising soldier
of fortune; Sir Edward Digby; John Grant, Esq.; Francis Tresham, Esq.; Robert Keyes and
Thomas Bates, gentlemen.
Most of these were men both of birth and fortune; and Catesby, who had a large estate,
had already expended two thousand pounds in several voyages to the court of Spain, in order
to introduce an army of Spaniards into England, for overturning the protestant government,
and restoring the Roman Catholic religion; but, being disappointed in this project of an
invasion, he took an opportunity of disclosing to Percy (who was his intimate friend, and
who, in a sudden fit of passion, had hinted a design of assassinating the king) a nobler and
more extensive plan of treason, such as would include a sure execution of vengeance, and,
at one blow, consign over to destruction all their enemies.
Percy assented to the project proposed by Catesby, and they resolved to impart the matter
to a few more, and, by degrees, to all the rest of their cabal, every man being bound by an
oath, and taking the sacrament (the most sacred rite of their religion), not to disclose the least
syllable of the matter, or to withdraw from the association, without the consent of all persons
concerned.[311]
These consultations were held in the spring and summer of the year 1604, and it was
towards the close of that year that they began their operations; the manner of which, and the
discovery, we shall relate with as much brevity as is consistent with perspicuity.
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