The attempt to make Salisbury the originator of the Plot for his own purposes breaks down entirely, if only because, at the time when the plot was started, he had already pushed James to take the first step in the direction in which he wished him to go, and that every succeeding step carried him further in the same direction. It is also highly probable that he had no information about it till the Monteagle letter was placed in his hands. That there was a plot at all is undoubtedly owing to James’s conduct in receding from his promises. Yet, even his fault in this respect raises more difficult questions than Roman Catholic writers are inclined to admit. The question of toleration was a new one, and James may be credited with a sincere desire to avoid persecution for religion. He was, however, confronted by the question of allegiance. If the Roman Catholics increased in numbers, so far as to become a power in the land, would they or the Pope tolerate a ‘heretic’ King? This was the real crux of the situation. In the nineteenth century it is not felt, and we can regard it lightly. In the beginning of the seventeenth century men could remember how Henry IV. had been driven to submit to the Papal Church on pain of exclusion from the throne. Was there ever to be a possibility of the like happening to James? There can be no doubt that he believed in the doctrines of his own Church as firmly as any Jesuit believed in those which it was his duty to maintain. But, though this question of doctrine must not be left out of sight, it must by no means be forced into undue prominence. It was the question of allegiance that was at stake. James tried hard to avoid it, and it must be acknowledged that his efforts were, to some extent, reciprocated from the other side,[296] but the gulf could not be bridged over. In the end the antagonism took its fiercest shape in the disputation on the new oath of allegiance enjoined on all recusants in 1606. The respective claims of Pope and King to divine right were then brought sharply into collision. Now that we are removed by nearly three centuries from the combatants, we may look somewhat beyond the contentions of the disputants. Behind the arguments of the Royalist, we may discern the claim of a nation for supreme control over its own legislation and government. Behind the arguments of the Papalist, we may discern an anxiety to forbid any chance occupant of a throne, or any chance parliamentary majority, from dictating to the consciences of those who in all temporal matters are ready to yield obedience to existing authority.
INDEX
Aldobrandino, Cardinal, report by the Nuncio at Paris to, [151]
Bancroft, Archbishop, informs Salisbury that Percy had ridden towards Croydon, [23]
Banishment of the priests, [160]
Barlow, Bishop, mistaken reference to a book of, [84]
Barneby, reports to the Nuncio at Paris, [153]
Bartlet, George, said to have stated that Catesby visited Salisbury House, [11]
Bates, Thomas, arrest of, [47];
examination of, [179];
value of the evidence of, [182-189];
charge brought against Greenway by, [189]
Baynham, Sir Edmund, mission of, [195]
Brewer, Mr. H. W., author of a conjectural view of the neighbourhood of the old House of Lords, [93]
Brick, softer in 1605 than at present, [97]
Bright, Mrs., evidence of, [28].
See [Skinner, Mrs.]
Buck, Master, alleged statement by, [7]
Bufalo, del, see [Nuncio in Paris]
Capon, William, mistakes the position of Percy’s house, [77];
worthlessness of the evidence of, [107]
Catesby, Robert, said to visit Salisbury, [11];
cannot have given information, [121];
informs Greenway of the plot, [177];
his relations with Garnet, [192]
Cecil, Sir Robert, corresponds with James on toleration, [143-148];
forwards James’s reply to the Nuncio’s overtures, [156];
has no motive for inventing Gunpowder Plot, [160].
See [Cranborne, Viscount], and [Salisbury, Earl of]
Cellar, the, Fawkes antedates the hiring of, [18], [20];
new door made into, [25];
evidence on the lease of, [28];
supposed bargain between Ferrers and Percy for, [30];
Fawkes’s account of the hiring of, [34];
Winter’s account of the hiring of, [65];
partly let to Mrs. Skinner, [100], [101];
leased to Percy, [105];
the miners said to be ignorant of the position of, [105];
Capon’s evidence on the details of, [107];
new door into, ib.;
entrances into, [110];
alleged public access to, [111];
Knyvet’s visit to, [129];
Suffolk’s search in, [131]
Clement VIII., Pope, writes to James, [150];
annotates a report from the Nuncio at Paris, [151], [152];
rejects James’s proposals, [158];
his conduct towards James, [167];
Lindsay’s report on the proceedings of, [168]
Cobham, Lord, reports a saying of James I., [8]
Coe, Thomas, as informer, [175, note 1]
Coke, Attorney-General, conducts the first examination of Fawkes, [17];
attends the commissioners for the examination of the plot, [25];
his fishing inquiry, [40];
omits a passage in Fawkes’s confession, and brings a false charge against Gerard, [178]
Cornwallis, Salisbury’s letter to, [31]
Cranborne, Viscount, his conversation with the Venetian ambassador, [162-166].
See [Cecil, Sir Robert], and [Salisbury, Earl of]
Davies, an informer, [173]
Devonshire, Earl of, a commissioner to examine the plot, [24]
Digby, Sir Edward, misstatement about the knighting of the sons of, [10];
arrest of, [47];
writes to Salisbury, [169];
receives a letter about an otter hunt, [175, note 1];
his evidence against Garnet, [192]
Digby, Sir Kenelm, alleged statement by, [10]
Doubleday, Edmond, secures Fawkes, [135-137]
Dunchurch, hunting-match at, [30]
Edinburgh Reviewer, the, negative criticism of, [3];
his summary of the story of the plot, [14]
Edmondes, Salisbury’s letter to, [31]
Favat, Salisbury’s letter to, [183], [184]
Fawkes, Guy, first examination of, [17];
assumes the name of Johnson, [18];
shields his companions by false statements, [19];
alleged alteration of the examination of, [20];
confesses the whole of the design, [21];
second examination of, [25];
third examination of, [26];
fourth examination of, [30];
threatened with torture, [32];
fifth examination of, [33];
relation of the fifth examination of, with that of Nov. 17, [37];
his declaration under torture, [43];
gives the names of the plotters, [44];
examined on the hints given to noblemen to absent themselves from Parliament, [48];
a watch bought for, [49];
doubts as to the genuineness of his full account of the plot examined, [50-54];
capable of directing mining operations, [78];
ascertains that the cellar is to be let, [109];
alleged discrepancies in the accounts of the seizure of, [127];
arrest of, [132-136]
Ferrers, or Ferris, Henry, gives up his house to Percy, [29];
agreement for the lease by, [89]
Fulman’s Collection, notes on the plot preserved in, [9]
Garnet, Henry, receives information of the plot from Greenway, [177];
Digby’s evidence against, [192];
his knowledge of the plot, [193-199]
Gerard, John (Jesuit in the 17th century), not to be trusted when in ignorance of the facts, [7];
said to have given the sacrament to the conspirators, [44];
probably ignorant of the plot, [177];
false charge brought by Coke against, [178]
Gibbons, Mrs., has charge of the house, [28]
Goodman, Bishop, thinks Salisbury contrived the plot, [7]
Grant, John, his name erroneously given as digging the mine, [73]
Greenway (alias for Oswald Tesimond), informs Garnet of the plot, [177];
said to have been informed of the plot by Bates, [180];
discussion on Bates’s evidence against, [183-192];
his relations with Garnet, [195-198]
Grene, Father, reports a saying of Usher’s, [8]
Gunpowder stored by the plotters, exaggerations about the amount of, [112];
disposal of, [113]
Holbeche House, capture or death of the plotters at, [46]
House hired by Percy, the, Fawkes’s statement about, [18];
in charge of Mrs. Gibbons, [28];
evidence on the lease of, [29];
situation of, [77-91];
alleged smallness of, [91];
alleged populousness of the neighbourhood of, [92];
position of the garden belonging to, [96];
powder brought to, [102];
a carpenter admitted to, [104]
House of Lords, the old, description of, [100]
James, Roger, evidence of, [91]
James I. said to have called November 5 Cecil’s holiday, [8];
orders the use of torture, [26];
said to have interpreted the Monteagle letter by inspiration, [114], [125], [126];
his relations with the Catholics, [141-142];
refuses to sign a letter to the Pope, [143];
corresponds with Cecil on toleration, ib.;
letter falsely attributed to, [150];
interruption of Lindsay’s mission from, [151];
receives overtures from the Nuncio at Brussels, [151];
his position towards the recusants, [153];
is assured of the Pope’s desire to keep the Catholics in obedience, [154];
banishes the priests, [160]
Keyes, Robert, inquiry into the movements of, [24];
arrest of, [47];
confusion about his working in the mine, [71];
acknowledges that he worked at the mine, [74];
mistake in the ‘King’s Book’ about, ib.;
brought from Lambeth, [102]
‘King’s Book,’ the, erroneous account of Robert Winter’s proceedings in, [74];
probable date of the issue of, [74, note 1]
Knyvet, Sir Thomas, visits the cellar, [128], [136]
Lenthall said to have been told that Salisbury contrived the plot, [10];
Wood’s character of, [12]
Lindsay, Sir James, carries a letter from the Pope to James, [150];
is unable to return with the answer, [151];
starts for Italy, [156];
Cranborne’s opinion of, [162];
reports from Rome, [168]
Mar, Earl of, is a commissioner to examine the plot, [24]
Mine, the, silence of Fawkes about, [20];
Mrs. Whynniard ignorant of, [29];
the Government ignorant of, [30];
first mentioned by Fawkes, [33];
described by Winter, [63];
position of, [96];
made through the wall of Percy’s house, [97];
alleged inexperience of the makers of, [98];
precautions to avoid noise in, [99];
penetrates the wall under House of Lords, [102];
disposal of the earth and stones from, [103];
the Government ignorant of the position of, [104]
Montague, Lord, sent to the Tower, [48]
Monteagle, Lord, the letter addressed to said to have been known beforehand, [10];
false statements about the interpretation of, [114];
Salisbury said to have been previously informed of, [115];
delivery of, [122];
taken to Salisbury, [123]
Mordaunt, Lord, sent to the Tower, [48]
Northampton, Earl of, a commissioner to examine the plot, [24];
is a Catholic, [25]
Nottingham, Earl of, a commissioner to examine the plot, [24];
his relations to the Catholics, [25]
Nuncio at Brussels, the, makes overtures to James, [151]
Nuncio at Paris, the, reports on James’s proceedings, [151];
writes to Parry on the Pope’s desire to keep the Catholics in obedience, [154];
writes to James, [155];
James’s reply to the overtures of, [156];
sends the reply to Rome, [157]
Osborne, Francis, thinks the plot a device of Salisbury, [7]
Owen, Hugh, not a priest, [60, note 1]
Parry, Sir Thomas, draft of a letter to, [22];
uncertainty when Salisbury’s letter was sent to, [31];
receives overtures from the Nuncio, [154]
Percy, Thomas, Fawkes’s statement about the hiring of the house and cellar by, [18];
proclamation for the apprehension of, [23];
rumours about the movements of, ib.;
search of his house, [24];
enters into possession of the house and cellar, [29];
reward offered for the apprehension of, [44];
the Sheriff of Worcestershire announces the death of, [44];
buys a watch for Fawkes, [49];
Winter’s account of the proceedings of, [62-69];
agreement for the lease of the house to, [85];
not likely to be turned out when Parliament met, [86];
takes the cellar, [105];
alleged bigamy of, [115];
said to have visited Salisbury, [117];
displays his connection with the Court, [118];
receives a pass for post-horses, ib.;
alleged secret orders to kill, [119]
Pope, the (see [Clement VIII.])
Popham, Chief Justice, examines Fawkes, [17];
sends to Salisbury a rumour of Percy’s movements, [23];
makes inquiries into the movements of Catholics, [24];
a commissioner to examine the plot, [25]
Priests, the banishment of, proclamation for, [160]
Privy Councillors, form of publishing the signatures of, [40]
Recusants, their fines remitted, [149];
fines reimposed on, [161]
Rokewood, Ambrose, examination of the landlady of, [24]
Salisbury, Earl of, alleged to have invented the plot, [7];
said to have told his son that he had contrived the plot, [10];
writes an account of the plot to Parry, [22];
is a commissioner for the examination into the plot, [24];
his letter to the ambassadors, [31];
cannot have deceived his fellow-commissioners, [41];
said to have known of the plot before the Monteagle letter, [115];
said to have received visits from Percy, [117];
said to have issued orders not to take Percy alive, [119];
the Monteagle letter delivered to, [123];
probably knew nothing of the plot independent of the letter, [124];
was the probable interpreter of the letter, [125];
receives a letter from Sir E. Digby, [169];
has no motive for inventing the plot, [172];
expects plots, [176];
writes to Favat, [183];
failure of the charge against, [200]
Shepherd, John, evidence of, [77]
Skinner, Mrs., gives up the cellar to Percy, [28], [105]
Spedding, James, his canon of historical evidence, [5]
Speed, John, his statement that Percy’s house was only to be let when Parliament was not sitting, [85]
Standen, Sir Anthony, mission of, [158]
Suffolk, Earl of, a commissioner for examining the plot, [24];
friendly to the Catholics, [25];
sent to search the cellar, [131]
Talbot of Grafton, John, summoned before the Council, [48]
Tresham, Francis, informed of the plot, [66];
probably informs the Government, [121];
his connection with the letter to Monteagle, [122]
Usher, language used about the plot by, [8]
Vaux, Mrs., committed to the charge of an alderman, [48]
Vowell, Peter, said to assert the plot to have been invented, [10]
Waad, Sir William, gives information of Percy’s movements, [23];
pronounces Fawkes obstinate, [32];
informs Salisbury that Winter is ready to confess, [70]
Walsh, Sir Richard, writes to announce the death or capture of the plotters, [45]
Whynniard, John, Fawkes’s evidence about his lease to Percy, [18];
position of the house of, [77];
appointed keeper of the Old Palace, [86];
history of the land held by him, [93], [94];
position of the garden of, [95];
leases the cellar to Percy, [105]
Whynniard, Mrs., consents to the lease of the cellar, [28]
Winter, Robert, arrest of, 47;
incorrectly stated to have worked in the mine, [71];
his name substituted for that of Keyes, [73]
Winter, Thomas, inquiry into the movements of, [24];
captured at Holbeche, [46];
doubts as to the genuineness of his full account of the plot examined, [54-67];
his account of the plot, [57-69];
no evidence of the torture of, [70];
explanation of the confusion between Keyes and, [72];
Coke wishes to examine, [74]
Wood, Anthony, statements by a correspondent of, [9];
his character of Lenthall, [12]
Worcester, Earl of, a commissioner to examine the plot, [24];
is understood to be a Catholic, [25]
Wotton, Sir Henry, says that Cecil invented plots, [10]
Wright, Christopher, death of, [46], [47];
Robert Winter’s name substituted for, [73]
Wright, Henry, an informer, [173], [174]
Wright, John, killed at Holbeche, [46], [47]
Footnotes:
[1] London: Osgood, McIlvaine & Co., 1897.
[2] Gerard, p. 48.
[3] Ib. p. 51, note 2.