[D] An uncle of Sir Everard, belike.
[E] An alias of Father Percy, afterwards famous for his historic controversy with Archbishop Laud.
(Endorsed) “11 Dec. 1605.
“The Examn of James Garvie srvt to Sr Everard Digby.”
Gunpowder Plot Books — No. 121.
[Abstract.]
“Th’examination of William Handy servaunte to Sr Everard Digby taken the xxvijth of November 1605
* * * * *
[Par. 4] — “Saith that he haith bin at many masses since Easter last sometimes at the howse of the said Digby sometimes at the howse of the L: Vaux sometimes at the howse of Mr. Throgmorton at the howse of Mr. Graunt at the house of Mr. Winter and at the house of Mr. Lacon in Shropshire and at Shrosbury in an Inn and at a Castle in the Holte in Denbeghe or Flintshire, and at St. Wynyfride’s Well in an Inn, from whence
the gentlewomen went barefoote to the said well and in their retourne from the said well at one Farmer’s howse about 7 miles from Shrosbury, and from thence to Mr. Lacon’s where they had masse whereat Sr Frauncis Lacon was from thence to Mr. Robert Winter’s and from thence to Mr. Graunte’s from thence to Deyntree and from thence to Sr Everard Digby at all which places they had masse.[A]
[A] The reason why the Examiner who took down the Evidence was particular to inquire about Masses was that for a priest to say (or offer) Mass was to be liable to a penalty of 200 marks (a mark being 13s. 4d.) and imprisonment for life; while for a lay person to hear (or assist at offering) Mass was to be liable to a penalty of 100 marks and imprisonment for life. To harbour a priest was felony and the penalty was hanging, but without the cutting down alive, drawing and quartering. This last was the portion of the priests who, by remaining in England 40 days, were held ipso facto guilty of High Treason without proof of the exercise of priestly functions. This last penalty, of course, rendered unnecessary the having recourse to the penalty of 200 marks fine and imprisonment for life, since the greater included the less.