[135] See Appendix E, Site of Percy's house.
[136] Evidence of Mrs. Whynniard, November 7th, 1605. Epsley is evidently the same person as Hoppisley, who was examined on the 23rd of the same month.
[137] Birch, Historical View, p. 227.
[138] Historie, p. 1231.
[139] Gunpowder Treason, Harleian Miscellany, iii. 121.
[140] At his first examination, November 5th 1605, Faukes declared that he had not been sure the king would come to the Parliament House on that day, and that his purpose was to have blown it up whenever his Majesty was there.
[141] The agreement between Percy and Ferrers is in the Record Office (Gunpowder Plot Book, 1.) and is endorsed by Cecil, "The bargaine ... for the bloody sellar." Upon this there will be more to remark later.
[142] Jardine, Gunpowder Plot, p. 42.
[143] The 11th of December, O.S., was at that period the shortest day, which circumstance suggested to Sir E. Coke, on the trial of the conspirators, one of his characteristic facetiæ; he bade his hearers note "That it was in the entring of the Sun into the Tropick of Capricorn, when they began their Mine; noting that by Mining they should descend, and by Hanging, ascend."
[144] "Gentlemen not accustomed to labour or to be pioneers."—Goodman, Court of King James, p. 103.