What was the Gunpowder Plot? Part 3

A marginal note explains that these were, "Richard Duke of Gloster, and Robert Earl of Salisburie;" the anagram, of which t.i.tle is "A silie burs." He also styles the late minister a monkey (_cercopithecus_) and hobgoblin (_empusa_).

[50] Osborne, _Traditional Memoirs_, p. 236 (ed. 1811).

[51] _Court of King James_, i. 44.

[52] _Traditional Memoirs_, 181.

[53] This feeling was expressed in lampoons quoted by Osborne, e.g.:

"Here lies Hobinall, our pastor while here, That once in a quarter our fleeces did sheare.

For oblation to Pan his custom was thus, He first gave a trifle, then offer'd up us: And through his false wors.h.i.+p such power he did gaine, As kept him o' th' mountain, and us on the plaine."

Again, he is described as

"Little bossive Robin that was so great, Who seemed as sent from ugly fate, To spoyle the prince, and rob the state, Owning a mind of dismall endes, As trappes for foes, and tricks for friends."

(_Ibid._ 236.)

Oldmixon (_History of Queen Elizabeth_, p. 620) says of the Earl of Ess.e.x, "'Twas not likely that Cecil, whose Soul was of a narrow Size, and had no Room for enlarged Sentiments of Ambition, Glory, and Public Spirit, should cease to undermine a Hero, in comparison with whom he was both in Body and Mind a Piece of Deformity, if there's nothing beautiful in Craft."

[54] _Court and Character of King James_, -- 10.

[55] _Amba.s.sade_, i. 58.

[56] _Ibid._ 401.

[57] Against Northumberland nothing was proved (_vide_ de la Boderie, _Amba.s.sade_, i. 178), except that he had admitted Thomas Percy amongst the royal pensioners without exacting the usual oath. He in vain demanded an open trial, but was prosecuted in the Star Chamber, and there sentenced to a fine of 30,000 (equal to at least ten times that sum in our money), and to be imprisoned for life.

Mr. Gardiner considers that, in regard both of Raleigh and of Northumberland, Cecil acted with great moderation. It must, however, be remembered that in his secret correspondence with King James, before the death of the queen, he had strenuously endeavoured to poison the mind of that monarch against these his rivals. Thus he wrote, December 4th, 1601 (as usual through Lord Henry Howard): "You must remember that I gave you notice of the diabolical triplicity, that is, Cobham, Raleigh, and Northumberland, that met every day at Durham-house, where Raleigh lies, in consultation, which awaked all the best wits of the town ... to watch what chickens they could hatch out of these c.o.c.katrice eggs that were daily and nightly sitten on." (_Secret Correspondence of Sir Robert Cecil with James VI., King of Scotland_, Edinburgh, 1766, p. 29.) Coming after this, the speedy ruin of all these men appears highly suspicious.

[58] Sir Walter Cope in his _Apology_ (Gutch, _Collectanea Curiosa_, i.

No. 10) says: "When living, the world observed with all admiration and applause; no sooner dead, but it seeketh finally to suppress his excellent parts, and load his memory with all imputations of corruption."

Among such charges are enumerated "His Falsehood in Friends.h.i.+p.--That he often made his friends fair promises, and underhand laid rubs to hinder their preferment.--The secret pa.s.sage of things I know not.... Great Counsellors have their private and their publique ends...." etc.

[59] Lord Castlemaine after mentioning the chief features of the Gunpowder Plot, goes on: "But let it not displease you, if we ask whether Ulysses be no better known?" (_Catholique Apology_, p. 30.)

Francis Herring in his Latin poem, _Pietas Pontificia_ (published 1606), speaking of Monteagle (called "Morleius," from his father's t.i.tle), who took the celebrated letter to Cecil, writes thus:

"Morleius Regis de consultoribus unum, (Quem norat veteri nil quicquam cedere Ulyssi, Juditio pollentem acri, ingenioque sagaci) Seligit, atque illi Rem totam ex ordine pandit."

[60] This is so evident that it appears unnecessary to occupy s.p.a.ce with proofs in detail. De la Boderie remarks (_Amba.s.sade_, i. 71) on the extraordinary rancour of the minister against Catholics, and especially against Jesuits, and that "he wishes to destroy them everywhere." Of this a remarkable confirmation is afforded by the instructions given to Sir Thomas Parry when he was sent as amba.s.sador, "Leiger," to Paris, in 1603, at the head of which stood these extraordinary articles:

1. "To intimate to the French king the jealousy conceived in England upon the revocation of the Jesuits, against former edicts.

2. "To inform the French king that the English were disgusted at the maintenance allowed to the French king's prelates and clergy, to priests and Jesuits that pa.s.sed out of his dominions into England, Scotland, and Ireland, to do bad offices." (P.R.O. _France_, bundle 132, f. 314.)

[61] Jardine, _Gunpowder Plot_, p. 5. Strype says of the time of Elizabeth: "The faction of the Catholics in England is great, and able, if the kingdom were divided into three parts, to make two of them."

(_Annals_, iii. 313, quoted by Butler, _Historical Memoirs_, ii. 177.)

At the execution of Father Oldcorne, 1606, a proof was given of their numbers which is said to have alarmed the king greatly. The Father having from the scaffold invited all Catholics to pray with him, almost all present uncovered.

[62] Of this there can be no doubt, in spite of James's subsequent denial. Father Garnet wrote to Parsons (April 16th, 1603): "There hath happened a great alteration by the death of the Queen. Great fears were, but all are turned into greatest security, and a golden time we have of unexpected freedom abroade.... The Catholicks have great cause to hope for great respect, in that the n.o.bility all almost labour for it, and have good promise thereof from his Majesty." (Stonyhurst MSS. _Anglia_, iii. 32.)

Goodman says: "And certainly they [the Catholics] had very great promises from him." (_Court of King James_, i. 86.)

[63] "The Penal Laws, a code as savage as any that can be conceived since the foundation of the world."--Lord Chief Justice Coleridge. (_To Lord Mayor Knill_, Nov. 9, 1892.)

[64] Gardiner, i. 100.

[65] Jardine, _Gunpowder Plot_, 18.

[66] _Ibid._ 20.

[67] Gardiner, i. 166.

[68] Green, _History of the English People_, iii. 62. Mr. Green adds: "Rumours of Catholic conversions spread a panic which showed itself in an Act of the Parliament of 1604 confirming the statutes of Elizabeth; and to this James gave his a.s.sent. He promised, indeed, that the statute should remain inoperative." In May, 1604, the Catholics boasted that they had been joined by 10,000 converts. (Gardiner, _Hist_. i. 202.)

[69] _Catholique Apology_, 404.

[70] Salisbury, in reward of his services on this occasion, received the Garter, May 20th, 1606, and was honoured on the occasion with an almost regal triumph.

Of the proceedings subsequent to the Plot we are told: "In pa.s.sing these laws for the security of the Protestant Religion, the Earl of Salisbury exerted himself with distinguished zeal and vigour, which gained him great love and honour from the kingdom, as appeared in some measure, in the universal attendance on him at his installation with the Order of the Garter, on the 20th of May, 1606, at Windsor." (Birch, _Historical View_, p. 256.)

[71] This belief is so notorious that one instance must suffice as evidence for it. A paper of informations addressed to Cecil himself, April, 1604, declares that the Catholics hoped to see a good day yet, and that "his Majesty would suffer a kinde of Tolleracyon, for his inclynacyon is good, howsoever the Councell set out his speeches."

(S.P.O. _Dom. James I._ vii. 86.)

[72] Mr. Gardiner (_Hist._ i. 229, note) says that arrears were never demanded in the case of the fine of 20 per lunar month for non-attendance at the parish church. Father Gerard, however, a contemporary witness, distinctly states that they were. (_Narrative of the Gunpowder Plot_, ed. Morris, p. 62.)

[73] _Court of King James_, i. 100.

[74] _Narrative_, p. 46.

[75] Stonyhurst MSS., _Anglia_, iii. 103.

[76] Of the Prince of Wales it was prophesied:

"The eighth Henry did pull down Monks and their cells, The ninth will pull down Bishops and their bells."

[77] Concerning this letter see Appendix B, _Digby's Letter to Salisbury_.

[78] R.O. _Dom. James I._ xvii. 10.

[79] Hallam, _Const.i.tutional Hist._ i. 392 (3rd ed.).

[80] See Appendix C, _The Question of Succession_.

[81] _Agriculture and Prices_, v. 5.