Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
"Out of the love I bear to some of your friends, I have a care for your preservation;
therefore I advise you, as you tender your life, to devise you some excuse to shift off your
attendance at this parliament; for God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness of
this time: and think not slightly of this advertisement, but retire yourself into the country,
where you may expect the event with safety, for though there be no appearance of any stir,
yet I say they shall 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 so soon (or as quickly) as you burn this letter; and I hope
God will give you the grace to make good use of it, to whose holy protection I commend
you."
The Lord Monteagle was, for some time, at a loss what judgment to form of this letter,
and unresolved whether he should slight the advertisement or not; and fancying it a trick of
his enemies to frighten him into an absence from parliament, would have determined on the
former, had his own safety been only in question: but apprehending the king's life might be
in danger, he took the letter at midnight to the earl of Salisbury, who was equally puzzled
about the meaning of it; and though he was inclined to think it merely a wild and waggish
contrivance to alarm Monteagle, yet he thought proper to consult about it with the earl of
Suffolk, lord chamberlain. The expression, "that the blow should come, without knowing
who hurt them," made them imagine that it would not be more proper than the time of
parliament, nor by any other way likely to be attempted than by gunpowder, while the king
was sitting to that assembly: the lord chamberlain thought this the more probable, because
there was a great cellar under the parliament-chamber, (as already mentioned,) never used
for any thing but wood or coal, belonging to Wineyard, the keeper of the palace; and having
communicated the letter to the earls of Nottingham, Worcester, and Northampton, they
proceeded no farther till the king came from Royston, on the 1st of November.[313]
His majesty being shown the letter by the earls, who, at the same time acquainted him
with their suspicions, was of opinion that either nothing should be done, or else enough to
prevent the danger: and that a search should be made on the day preceding that designed for
this execution of the diabolical enterprise.
Accordingly, on Monday, the 4th of November, in the afternoon, the lord chamberlain,
whose office it was to see all things put in readiness for the king's coming, accompanied by
Monteagle, went to visit all places about the parliament-house, and taking a slight occasion
to see the cellar, observed only piles of billets and fagots, but in greater number than he
thought Wineyard could want for his own use. On his asking who owned the wood, and being
told it belonged to one Mr. Percy, he began to have some suspicions, knowing him to be a
rigid papist, and so seldom there, that he had no occasion for such a quantity of fuel; and
Monteagle confirmed him therein, by observing that Percy had made him great professions
of friendship.
Though there was no other materials visible, yet Suffolk thought it was necessary to make
a further search; and, upon his return to the king, a resolution was taken that it should be
made in such a manner as should be effectual, without scandalizing any body, or giving any
alarm.
Sir Thomas Knevet, steward of Westminster, was accordingly ordered, under the pretext
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