And Who Else… ?

When Elizabeth died in 1603 she was succeeded by James VI of Scotland. His accession to the English throne seems, in retrospect, to be ‘right and proper’. He was, after all the descendent of Henry VII’s eldest daughter Margaret, sister to Henry VIII, who had married James IV of Scotland. However, Elizabeth had refused ever to name a successor, and Henry VIII’s will, enshrined in an Act of Parliament, had overlooked the Scottish line in favour of  the descendants of Henry VIII’s younger sister, Mary Brandon.  It was by no means certain that James would inherit the throne, and after his accession that Act of Parliament was repealed.

The repression of the Catholics under Elizabeth is well known and towards the end of her reign Catholics began sending envoys to both Phillip II of Spain and James VI of Scotland. The Essex Rebellion of 1601 brought the names of many of those who were at the forefront of the Catholic cause to the attention of the Government, including that of Robert Catesby, later leader of the Gunpowder Plot. It is said that English Catholics acquired from James the promise of toleration in the event that he did succeed Elizabeth.

Almost immediately after James’s accession there was a plot to place Arbella Stuart, another of Margaret Tudor’s descendants, on the throne. She was Catholic. It is hardly surprising that  the harsh penalties for recusancy were re-introduced – and  it is hardly surprising that many Catholics felt betrayed.

The story of the Gunpowder Plot is far too well to be retold here. Guy Fawkes is reputed to have said that the purpose of the plot was to “Blow the Scotsman back to Scotland”. But it would seem that the idea was to kill James, and a large number of MPs and put James’s daughter, nine year old Elizabeth, on the throne.

Warning! This is long….

This picture is a 1605 engraving by an unknown artist – unfortunately, I had to cut the names off to fit in the available space. It shows the eight of the thirteen principle conspirators.  It is interesting to note that ten of the conspirators, Guy Fawkes, Sir Everard Digby and Thomas Bates excepted, were related either by blood or marriage.  Guy Fawkes and the two Wright brothers had been fellow students at St Peter’s School in York. It was very much a ‘family affair’!

It is because Guy Fawkes was found holding the ‘taper’ , so to speak, that he is seen as the leader of the Plot. He was, in fact, a relatively late comer to the conspiracy and it was his experience in munitions in the Low Countries, where he had been taught how to “fire a slow train”, that gave him the job of ensuring that the gunpowder was  ignited. Most of the conspirators fled from London after they learned of the plot’s discovery, trying to enlist support along the way. Several made a stand against the pursuing Sheriff of Worcester and his men at Holbeche House, in Staffordshire. In the ensuing battle several of the conspirators were killed.

So who were these men whose names are now, generally,  forgotten?

Thomas Bates (a/k/a Thomas Bate) was born at Lapworth, Warwickshire. He was a long-standing retainer to to Robert Catesby and the Catesby family, living in a cottage at Ashby St. Ledgers with his wife, Martha, and their children. In his indictment he was described as a yeoman. He was employed as a cattle-dealer on behalf of Catesby, to whom he was totally devoted. Bates proved to be invaluable to the conspirators, being totally loyal and reliable. As a man of “ordinary condition,” he was able to undertake many activities, such as driving wagons and acting as a messenger, without attracting suspicion. After the discovery of the plot, Bates fled London in the company of Catesby, but lost all resolve after he witnessed Catesby’s injuries in a gunpowder explosion at Holbreche House. Given 100 pounds sterling by Christopher Wright, Bates fled the scene only to be captured in Staffordshire on November 12th. Being of low birth, he was incarcerated in the Gatehouse Prison instead of the Tower. During his examination on December 4th, it is believed that the evidence Bates gave may have been falsely used to implicate the Jesuits in the Gunpowder Plot and that he may have tried to purchase a pardon for himself by offering to pay the 100 pounds. As he was being dragged to the execution site in St. Paul’s Churchyard on January 30 1606, Bates’ wife managed to break through the guards and throw herself on her husband. It is thought that Bates took this opportunity to tell her where he had hidden the 100 pounds. On the scaffold, Bates was completely penitent, asking for forgiveness and claiming that it was loyalty to Catesby which had prevented him from obeying God, his country and the King. Given the weaknesses Bates displayed during his captivity, he has been credited with having faced death by displaying “much more courage than some expected of him.”

Robert Wintour (a/k/a Winter) was born in 1565 or 1567. He was the oldest of the convicted Wintour brothers. Described as a wise and resolute man, Wintour was married with two children.  In the proclamation for his capture, he was depicted as a man of “mean stature, rather low than otherwise, square made, somewhat stooping…his hair and beard brown, his beard not much and his hair short.” Although older than his brother, Thomas, it is noted that Wintour was apt to follow his younger sibling’s lead and was enlisted into the plot because he was known as “a man of substance.” Although he initially refused to join, Wintour eventually agreed to be sworn in (along with John Grant) at the Catherine Wheel Inn in Oxford some time during February of 1604. It has been noted however, that throughout the course of the campaign, he often displayed a lack of committment to the cause. Managing to escape the raid on Holbeche House, Wintour remained at large for two months thereafter, eventually being captured at Hagley Park on January 9 1606, along with a minor conspirator by the name of Stephen Littleton. Wintour was executed on January 30, 1606 in St. Pauls’ Churchyard, London, along with Sir Everard Digby, John Grant and Thomas Bates. On the scaffold, he was quiet and withdrawn, saying little. Although he appeared to be praying to himself, Wintour did not publicly ask mercy of either God or King for his offence.

Christopher Wright was born in 1570 in Welwick, Yorkshire. He  was the younger brother of John Wright, another of the co-conspirators.  Tall and of strong build with a somewhat ruddy complexion, Wright was discreet, a man of few words and well able to keep a secret. He was recruited as a participant in the plot some time after Christmas of 1604  in order to help his brother with the initial tunneling beneath Parliament.  At one time, it was thought that he may have been the author of the warning letter. After discovery of the plot, Wright was dispatched by Thomas Wintour to warn Thomas Percy. He was among the number killed outright at Holbeche House, where he had fled in the company of Percy. He was shot in the courtyard along with his brother John, Ambrose Rookwood and Thomas Wintour. After death, Wright was stripped of his boots and fine silk stockings, as well as a number of souvenirs.

John Wright was born in 1568 in Holderness,  Yorkshire.  Believed to be one of the finest swordsmen of his day, the part Wright played in the attempt to blow up the Houses of Parliament is somewhat unclear but he was, by all accounts, the third to be initiated into the Gunpowder Plot around May of 1604 and an active participant in all its events. Described as “strong, stout…of very good wit, though slow of speech,” Wright was much admired for his courage and ability to maintain secrets. He is said to have been somewhat taciturn in manner but very loyal to his friends. It was Wright and Thomas Wintour who introduced Guy Fawkes to the Gunpowder plot. Caught at Holbeche House, he was shot in the courtyard along with his brother Christopher, Thomas Wintour and Ambrose Rookwood. Wright is believed to have been mortally wounded in the assault, but “lingered for a day, if not longer.” As with all those who met their doom at Holbeche House, Wright’s body was later exhumed and the head removed for display at Westminster Palace.

Thomas Percy was born sometime before 1563. It is commonly accepted that he was the great-grandson of the Fourth Earl of Northumberland. Much of Percy’s early life remains a mystery. He entered Peterson College at Cambridge in July of 1579 and may have taken a sailing trip to the Azores the following year. He is described as being a rather wild youth who “relied much upon his sword and personal courage.” Tall and well-built, Percy was said to have had a serious expression but an attractive manner, with “large and lively” eyes. Percy had a reputation as an enthusiastic if somewhat reckless swordsman. Together with John Wright, they would travel the country in order to seek out and challenge other skilled swordsmen. However, such duels seldom resulted in death…the prime purpose being to hone their skills. Nevertheless, as a matter of pride, both Percy and Wright would perform without any type of protective equipment. In 1591, Percy married Martha Wright (sister to John and Christopher Wright), although it is possible that Percy already had a wife in another part of the country. In May 1604, Percy became one of the original five conspirators of the Gunpowder Plot. Percy had much to offer the conspiracy: zeal, dedication to the cause and valuable connections with Northumberland, not to mention free access to the Court. After the discovery of the plot, proclamations were issued for Percy’s immediate apprehension. Percy was killed at Holbeche House on November 8, 1605 by a bullet from the musket of one John Streete of Worcester (who later claimed compensation from the government for his markmanship). He died instantly. The same bullet also claimed the life of Catesby, who managed to crawl back inside the house before expiring.

Guy Fawkes was born in about 1570 in York. His father died in 1578 and his mother remarried. It would seem that she and the second husband used Guy’s inheritance until he came of age. Almost immediately, Guy leased out his property and headed for Flanders. He is known to have held a post of command when the Spanish took Calais in 1596 under the orders of King Philip II. Described at this time as a man of “excellent good natural parts, very resolute and universally learned,” Fawkes was “sought by all the most distinguished in the Archduke’s camp for nobility and virtue.” He is also described as “a man of great piety, of exemplary temperance, of mild and cheeful demeanour, an enemy of broils and disputes, a faithful friend, and remarkable for his punctual attendance upon religious observance.”  He was invited to join the conspiracy by Thomas Wintour.

Robert Catesby was born in 1573. His ancestry was an illustrious one, being a descendant of William Catesby, a powerful councillor at the Court of King Richard III. His mother’s first cousin (Elizabeth) was the wife of Sir Walter Raleigh. Labelled as “very wild” in his youth, Catesby was approximately six feet tall and considered a handsome, dashing man of noble character and impressive dignity. He was also known to be a courageous horseman and supreme swordfighter. Generous and affable, Catesby was well-liked by those who knew him. He won many acquaintances over to Catholicism and had great success in converting Protestants to his faith. Catesby’s house in Lambeth was the first headquarters of the Gunpowder Plot and was used for the initial storage of munitions. Catesby died during the raid on Holbeche House in Staffordshire (the home of Stephen Littleton) on November 8, 1605, after escaping from London early on the morning of Tuesday, November 5th. Catesby and Thomas Percy were both apparently shot with a single bullet. Catesby is reported to have died clutching a picture of the Virgin Mary. Although his body was buried at the location where he was killed, Catesby’s remains were later exhumed and the head carried to Westminster in order that it might be put on display.

Thomas Wintour (a/k/a Winter) was born in 1571. He is known to be one of the original instigators of the Gunpowder Plot along with Robert Catesby, his cousin, and John Wright. Wintour, described as clever, witty and restless, hailed from Huddington, east of Worcester. Not much is known about his private life although he may have been married to Elizabeth Catesby, sister to Robert Catesby. Wintour proposed a mission to King Philip of Spain to request aid in order to relieve the plight of English Catholics, but the Spanish refused assistance. Therefore, Wintour undertook a search for Guy Fawkes, who was known to be skillful as a miner and had distinguished himself on the continent in the Spanish Army. It was Wintour who located Fawkes and brought him back to England. Upon discovery of the plot, Wintour fled to the Midlands in the company of Robert Catesby, where they met up with the rest of their party in Warwickshire. After a failed attempt to rally support, the group traveled for three days before reaching Holbeche House. Initially wounded in the courtyard of Holbeche, both Wintour and Ambrose Rookwood were taken away to London and imprisoned in the Tower, where they were questioned and tortured. After a brief trial in January of 1606, Wintour was hung, drawn and quartered on the last day of that month in the Old Palace Yard, Westminster, along with Rookwood, Robert Keyes and Guy Fawkes.

Not included in the engraving are:

John Grant, date of birth unknown, was Lord of the Manor of Norbrook, close to Lapwoth.   He was married to Dorothy Wintour, sister or, more probably, half-sister of Robert and Thomas Wintour. Grant’s personality has long been disputed by historians. He has been described as “melancholy” and “taciturn” and even “stupid” while, on the other hand, being depicted as an “intellectual” who “studied Latin and other foreign languages for pleasure.” He may have originally been of the Protestant faith. Grant is generally accepted as having been a man who could show plenty of spirit when called upon to do so and possessed of undaunted courage. Norbrook formed part of the belt of Catholic houses in the Midlands region of England. It was also a noted refuge for priests. Grant’s involvement seems to have been twofold. He and Robert Wintour were responsbile for amassing a stockpile of weapons and preparing stables of horses to be used during the anticipated rebellion. In addition, Grant was to be responsible for the abduction of the young Princess Elizabeth from Coombe Abbey near Rugby in Warwickshire. Grant was seriously injured at Holbeche House when some gunpowder which had been laid out in front of the fire to dry, caught an ember and exploded. Robert Catesby and Ambrose Rookwood were also injured, but it was Grant who sustained the most severe harm, his face being “much disfigured, and his eyes almost burnt out.” During his trial, Grant said very little but is reported to have displayed great courage and self-assurance. He was executed on January 30, 1606 at St. Paul’s Churchyard, along with Sir Everard Digby, Robert Wintour and Thomas Bates. Since the injuries he sustained in the accident at Holbeche House had left Grant virtually blinded, he was led to the scaffold which he was reported to have mounted with “great zeal.” Grant, believed to have been 30 years old at the time of execution, expressed no sorrow for his part in the Gunpowder Plot, stating that he was convinced the project was far from sinful. He is said to have crossed himself before he fell.

Sir Everard Digby was born in 1576 or 1578. A staunch and wealthy Catholic convert, Digby possessed wide estates in Rutland. His role was to lead the Midlands Rebellion after the demise of Parliament.  At court, where he was a very popular character, Digby played the part of a Gentleman Pensioner. Known to be handsome, strong and well-built, he was the embodiment of all the qualities expected of a dashing young courtier of the time, being an excellent horseman, swordsman and musician, with a passion and ability for field sports. Digby entered the plot at the end of August in 1605, via an introduction by Robert Catesby while on a pilgrimage to Saint Winifred’s Well, but only after he became convinced that the Jesuits had given their approval. Digby provided money and management skills to the conspirators, contributing the princely sum of 1500 pounds sterling to the cause, and was to play a major role in the Midland Uprising, although he did not have much of an interest in politics. He reunited with Catesby after the failure of the plot and assisted in the writing of the letter to Father Garnet which explained the purpose of the scheme and thereby broke the seal of the confessional. Digby fled Holbeche House after the gunpowder explosion but was arrested shortly thereafter near Dudly. While in the Tower, he was treated relatively leniently and is believed to have not been tortured. He was tried separately from the other conspirators since he was the only one of them who pleaded guilty. He also requested, given his status, that he be beheaded. The request was denied. His execution on January 30 1606 was said to be a highly dramatic affair with Digby in good spirits and unrepentant while maintaining a courtly civility. Digby was hung only for a very short time and was undoubtedly alive when he went to the quartering block to be disembowelled. The first of four to be executed that day (the other three being Robert Wintour, John Grant and Thomas Bates), Digby is said to have contradicted the executioner who, upon displaying Digby’s heart to the watching crowd, stated: “This is the heart of a traitor.” Digby is then reported to have replied: “Thou liest.” He was one of the last conspirators to join the group, being enlisted for his wealth, ability and devotion. Digby is believed to have been 24 years old at the time of his death and was one of only two conspirators (the other being Ambrose Rookwood) to be lamented by the crowd, possibly due to his youth and earlier popularity.

Robert Keyes may have been born around 1565. He was the son of a Protestant rector, although his mother was a member of the devoutly Catholic Tyrwhitt family of Kettleby, Lincolnshire. Thus, Keyes was kin to the Wright brothers and to the Wintour brothers, as well as being the cousin of Ambrose Rookwood.  A Jesuit convert, Keyes has been described as a tall man with a red beard. Keyes was the sixth conspirator to join the plot. Far from a wealthy man, his main function in the plot was to tend to Robert Catesby’s home in Lambeth, which was used as a storage facility for gunpowder and other necessary supplies. His involvement may also have included assistance in digging the original mine. He believed riches would come to him after the installation of a Catholic state. Concerned about the fate of his employer, Keyes (accompanied by Francis Tresham) approached Catesby in the hope of helping Lord Mordaunt to avoid disaster. It was Keyes (on behalf of Thomas Percy) who presented Guy Fawkes with the watch for the timing of the fuse which would initiate the explosion. After discovery of the plot, Keyes was among the last to leave London, preceded by all except Rookwood (who stayed to gather information) and Francis Tresham (who seemed to be in no hurry to flee the city, an action which further fueled the suspicion that he had become a betrayer). There is some speculation that he was considering deserting his co-conspirators altogether, hoping to hide out at the estate of Lord Mordaunt. Keyes was captured in Warwickshire on November 9, 1605 and interrogated three days later. During his trial, he spoke little but is said to have displayed plenty of spirit. He claimed his motive had been to promote the common good and turn the country back toward the Catholic faith. He was executed in the Old Palace Yard at Westminster on January 31, 1606, together with Ambrose Rookwood, Thomas Wintour and Guy Fawkes (who was the last to mount the scaffold). Compared to Rookwood and Wintour, Keyes is described as a “desperate villain, using his speech, with small or no show of repentance” as he “went stoutly up the ladder.” During his execution, the rope used to hang him snapped and he was quickly removed to the waiting quartering block.

Ambrose Rookwood may have been born in 1578. The staunchly Catholic Rookwood family was an old and influential in Suffolk. Ambrose Rookwood, along with his two brothers and a sister, were smuggled to Flanders while young in order to pursue an education. The boys were among the first pupils at St. Omers, a seminary school founded by Robert Persons. Rookwood was considered to be a ‘genial and educated man…somewhat short in stature, but well-built and handsome. His marriage to Elizabeth Tyrwhitt of Lincolnshire made him a relation of Robert Keyes. He was also related by marriage to the Wright brothers and the Wintour brothers. As a member of the Catholic elite, Rookwood employed Coldham Hall as a safe haven for priests. His chief part in the plot was to provide horses for those who would carry news of the Parliament explosion to Robert Catesby and other conspirators who were waiting in Dunchurch. He is also believed to have supplied Catesby with gunpowder. The exact date of Rookwood’s enlistment is disputed. He was something of a reluctant plotter, convinced only by Catesby’s logic of the religious justification for the murder of innocents. Nevertheless, he paid the ultimate price for his involvement. Rookwood was one of the last of the conspirators to flee from London, remaining behind to gather as much information as he could. Despite his delayed start, however, his posting of fast mounts enable him to make an epic rode, quickly catching up to the other members of the group and continue with them onto Holbeche House. First slightly injured by the explosion of the gunpowder at Holbeche House, Rookwood later sustained further injury at the hands of one John Street during the raid. At trial, Rookwood defended the Catholic cause, but admitted that his offenses were so terrible, he could not expect any mercy. That having been said, he then asked for mercy because he has been neither “author nor actor” and desired not to leave a “blemish and blot unto all ages.” Rookwood was executed on in Old Palace Yard at Wesminser on January 31, 1606, together with Thomas Wintour, Robert Keyes and Guy Fawkes. On the scaffold, he made a complete confession, offered up a prayer that the King convert to the Catholic faith and requested God to bless the monarch and the royal family in order that they might “live long to reign in peace and happiness.” This speech earned him some degree of clemency – he was hanged until he reached the point of unconsciousness before being transported to the quartering block. Along with Sir Everard Digby, Rookwood was one of only two conspirators whose bravery brought tears to the eyes of the watching crowd.

Francis Tresham is believed to have been born in 1567. He was the first son and oldest of eleven children born to Sir Thomas Tresham of Rushton, Northamptonshire. He was descended from a long line of respected ancestors and was cousin to Robert Catesby, the historical originator of the Gunpowder Plot. At the time of the scheme, he had recently inherited extensive estates in Northamptonshire. Tresham, an unstable character, was infamous for his reckless spending of money and extravagant lifestyle. However, since Tresham’s father had died intestate and in debt, he was soon unable to fund the project any further and was also very concerned for the salvation of his two brothers-in-law, Lord Mounteagle and Lord Stourton, which made Tresham the prime suspect as author of the warning letter. Many historians believe that he may indeed have played a major role in the betrayal of the plot, acting as a double agent, although he did manage to persuade Catesby and Thomas Wintour otherwise. November 2nd found Tresham attempting to convince the other conspirators that their plot had been discovered and that they should all take safety in flight. In fact, Tresham himself had received a licence that very day permitting him to travel abroad for two years. Tresham was in no hurry to leave London after the arrest of Guy Fawkes and it has been suggested that he may have taken the opportunity to have offered his services to the government. Nevertheless, Tresham was arrested on November 12th and promptly wrote a full confession. Later that month, he also implicated Henry Garnet. The only chief conspirator never to be indicted, it is believed that Tresham may have fallen victim to poison while imprisoned in the Tower – the object being to silence him or that he may have died as a result of an acute and painful inflammation of the urinary tract resulting in retention of fluid. There is speculation however, that he was allowed to escape incarceration and flee to Spain, where he adopted the alias of Matthew Brunninge. General concensus, due partly to the confessions of Guy Fawkes and Thomas Wintour, would indicate that Tresham was the last conspirator to be admitted into the group. Thus, bringing the number to thirteen.

Mostly taken from http://www.novareinna.com/festive/guy.html