[253] According to T. Winter's famous declaration, Monteagle, within ten days before the meeting of Parliament, told Catesby and the others that the Prince of Wales was not going to attend the opening ceremony, wherefore they resolved to "leave the Duke alone," and make arrangements to secure the elder brother.
The original of Winter's declaration, dated November 25th, which is at Hatfield, contains these and other particulars, which are altogether omitted in a "copy" of the same in the Record Office, dated, remarkably enough, on November the 23rd. It is from the latter that the version in the "King's Book" was printed.
[254] De Beaumont to Villeroy, September 17th, 1605.
[255] Mr. Gardiner alludes to it, History, i. 254 (note), but apparently attaches no importance to it.
[256] Brit. Museum, Add. MSS. 19402 fol. 143. See the letter in full, Appendix H.
[257] Discourse of the Manner of the Discovery (the "King's Book").
[258] Winwood, Memorials, ii. 170, etc. (November 9th). In the entry book of the Earl of Salisbury's letters (Phillipps' MSS. 6297, f. 39) this is described as "being the same that was sent to all his Majestie's Embassadors and Ministers abroade." To Parry, however, quite a different account was furnished.
[259] Cecil to Sir T. Parry, P.R.O. France, bundle 132 (November 6th).
[260] Gerard, Narrative, p. 101.
[261] Vol. ii. 15. The partisans of the government at the time appear to have solved the difficulty by invoking the direct guidance of Heaven: