THE GUNPOWDER PLOT

Northern Advocate, 14 November 1929, Page 3

THE GUNPOWDER PLOT

LETTERS IX THE RECORD OFFICE (By A. Hornet.) The Catesby conspiracy, better known n,s the “Gunpowder Plot,” was not only insane, but silly. The 'gentlemen who were concerned in this venture Mere grotesquely negligent of the primary functions of plotters. They started the game with 13 in the pool, which was just 12 too many. The humour of the design Mas to send King James, and his Hootch suite, at the opening of Pafliamont, to Kingdom come. Yet nearly all of the plotters had friends or relations who, with the King might have gone up in smoke had the 20 casks of powder exploded under the House, The amiable weakness of their human nature told them that while it was an excellent plan to blow up the villains, the same punishment, applied to .the virtuous, was distinctly sinful and immoral.

As time went on without a sound, these tM’o-footcd thoroughbred plotters became as nervous and restless as four-footed thoroughbred trot tors, so one of them thought that the best cordial for .drooping spirits was not alcohol in any form, but to sit down and write an anonymous letter. This “billet deux" Mas received by Lord Mbntoagle on the 2(sth of October, and is in the Record Office —Ref. S. P. D. James I. (216). The letter—“A.dvising him, as ho tenders his life, to devyso some exscuse to shift of his attendance at this parliament, for God and man bathe concurred to punishe the wickednes of this . tyme. He should retire into the country and there expect the event. They shall receyve a terrible blow r e this parliament, and yet they shall not see who hurts them. The danger will he passed as soon as he has burned this letter. ’ ’

Ou the receipt of the letter, Lord Monteagle consulted Robert Cecil. He, by this time, had 'grown into a baron, and was known as Lord Salisbury. After .due consideration, they decided to .show it to the King, and, putting it under his nose, said —“What can you make out of that?” “Why,” letter is as plain as a pike staff —just letttr is as plain as a pike staff —just a Papist plot to blow me up." Historians bestow undue praise on James for the interpretation which he put on the anonymous letter to Monteagle. That a blast was intended is correct, but the allusion to the plot being engineered by Catholics emanated from his prejudice towards that denomination. Any intelligent girl could see that, although the letter had no tongue it spelt out murder in a melo- 1 dramatic manner.

After an elapse of over 300 years there is still a mystery regarding the actual writer. Some think that Monteagle wrote the letter to himself, having had a hint from his relation, Francis Treshani, one of the leading conspirators, a son of Sir Thomas Treshani. But the consensus of opinion now points to Francis Treshani as having dictated the letter, which was written by his servant William Vavasour. Again, there is a shadow of suspicion that the whole plot was on eye-wash, concocted by James, with the help of Cecil, in order to wring money out of the wealthy Catholic noblemen. One significant fact has never been explained. The said Francis Treshani, a man in the prime of life, was arrested and shoved into, the Tower. A short time afterwards, he was found dead. The presumption is that some one gave him a dose of rat-poison as an antidote for babbling. The one man in the plot who did not. care a brass button, or even turn a hair, as to who went up in the air, was Mr Johnson, alias “Guido Foxo,” This gentleman expressed himself plainly to his confreres, that all he wanted was a tip-top good blast. Su4h a man as that would be worth his weight in radium were he in New Zealand to blow down kauri trees, thereby to sadden further with desolation its rough and rugged hills, in the hopes that every rood of land might maintain its cow. During the interval between the thith of October, and the sth of November, no steps appear to have 'been taken to catch the rascal. Mr Johnson, every day after breakfast, used to visit, his mine to see that all was in order. The other gentlemen conspirators valscd round as usual, and the general topic of conversation was “explosion.” From a cryptic letter in the Record Office, which is rather obscurely worded, it appears- that Cecil (Lord Salisbury) did try to obtain some information as to public opinion regarding the plot. The man of all others whom he selected for this secret service was no other than Ben Jonson, the dramatist. It. is certainly strange that Elizabeth's “little man” instead of having a committee of the House appointed to investigate the “fireworks” which turned out to bV, a “dnd, ” should seek the aid of “rare Ben Jonson,” a writer of comedies. Had Salisbury applied to Shakespeare, who was alive, and in the ranks of the unemployed, wo might have had an affusion more eompre hensible, one that would not vex the brain of a drowsy man. Jonson to Lord Salisbury, (Ref. S. P. The following is the letter from Ben Dorn. James I. 16, No 30 in Record Office) “There hath bene no wont in mee eyther of labor or sincerity, in the .discharge of this business to the satisfaction of your Lordship and the State. Yesterday, I saw the Venetian ambassador’s chaplin, who not only apprehended it well, but was in mind wilt ihee that no man of coniciehce or sity indiffeteht love to his counttey

would deny to doe it, and with all engage 'himself e to find out one, absolute in all numbers for the purpose. That party, however, cannot be found. 1 have since made attempt in other places, but can speake with no one in person (all being eyther removed or so concealed upon this present mischiefe), but by second means I have receaved answere . . . that they will make it a question to the Archpriest. I think they are so enweaved in it as it will make 500 gentlemen less© of the religion within a weeke, if they carry theyr understanding about them. If I had bene a prcist, I would have put wings to such an occasion, and have thought it no adventure, where I might have done (besides His Majesty and my countrey) all Christianity so good service.” 8 November 1605. (Signed) "Your honour’s most perfect servant and lover, Ben .Tonson.”

Next iveek I shall give an account of the fate of Guido Faux, taken from the documents in the Record Office.

(To be continued.)