Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
It had been agreed that a few of the conspirators should run a mine below the hall in which
the parliament was to assemble, and that they should choose the very moment when the king
should deliver his speech to both houses, for springing the mine, and thus, by one blow cut
off the king, the royal family, lords, commons, and all the other enemies of the catholic
religion in that very spot where that religion has been most oppressed. For this purpose,
Percy, who was at that time a gentleman-pensioner undertook to hire a house adjoining to
the upper house of parliament with all diligence. This was accordingly done, and the
conspirators expecting the parliament would meet on the 17th of February following, began,
on the 11th of December, to dig in the cellar, through the wall of partition, which was three
yards thick. There was seven in number joined in this labour: they went in by night, and
never after appeared in sight, for, having supplied themselves with all necessary provisions,
they had no occasion to go out. In case of discovery, they had provided themselves with
powder, shot, and fire arms, and formed a resolution rather to die than be taken.
On Candlemas-day, 1605, they had dug so far through the wall as to be able to hear a noise
on the other side: upon which unexpected event, fearing a discovery, Guido Fawkes, (who
personated Percy's footman,) was despatched to know the occasion, and returned with the
favourable report, that the place from whence the noise came was a large cellar under the
upper house of parliament, full of sea-coal which was then on sale, and the cellar offered to
be let.
On this information, Percy immediately hired the cellar, and bought the remainder of the
coals: he then sent for thirty barrels of gunpowder from Holland, and landing them at
Lambeth, conveyed them gradually by night to this cellar, where they were covered with
stones, iron bars, a thousand billets, and five hundred fagots; all which they did at their
leisure, the parliament being prorogued to the 5th of November.
This being done, the conspirators next consulted how they should secure the duke of
York, [B] who was too young to be expected at the parliament house, and his sister, the Princess
Elizabeth, educated at Lord Harrington's, in Warwickshire. It was resolved, that Percy and
another should enter into the duke's chamber, and a dozen more, properly disposed at several
doors, with two or three on horseback at the court-gate to receive him, should carry him safe
away as soon as the parliament-house was blown up; or, if that could not be effected, that
they should kill him, and declare the princess Elizabeth queen, having secured her, under
pretence of a hunting-match, that day.
Several of the conspirators proposed obtaining foreign aid previous to the execution of
their design; but this was over-ruled, and it was agreed only to apply to France, Spain, and
other powers for assistance after the plot had taken effect; they also resolved to proclaim the
princess Elizabeth queen, and to spread a report, after the blow was given, that the puritans
were the perpetrators of so inhuman an action.
All matters being now prepared by the conspirators, they, without the least remorse of
conscience, and with the utmost impatience, expected the 5th of November. But all their
counsels were blasted by a happy and providential circumstance. One of the conspirators,
having a desire to save William Parker, Lord Monteagle, sent him the following letter:
"My Lord,
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