galloping horses, his number was ten.[1] Meanwhile, Mr. Faukes and myself alone bought some new powder, as suspecting the first to be dank, and conveyed it into the cellar, and set it in order, as we resolved it should stand. Then was the Parliament anew prorogued until the 5 of November; so as we all went down until some ten days before, when Mr. Catesby came up with Mr. Faukes to a house by Enfield Chace, called White Webbes, whither I came to them, and Mr. Catesby willed me to enquire whether the young Prince came to Parliament. I told him that his Grace thought not to be there. Then must we have our horses, said Mr. Catesby, beyond the water, and provision of more company to surprise the Prince, and leave the Duke alone. Two days after, being Sunday at night, in came one[2] to my chamber, and told me that a letter had been given to my lord Monteagle to, to this effect, that he wished his lordship's absence from the Parliament because a blow would there be given, which letter he presently carried to my lord of Salisbury. On the morrow[3] I went to White Webbs and told it to Mr. Catesby, assuring him withal that the matter was disclosed,
- ↑ 'An unclean phrase,' writes the King.
- ↑ It is astonishing that Winter should not have been forced to mention this person's name. The anonymous 'one' was, however, Warde, which fact strengthens my contention that the Government did their utmost to shield both him and Mounteagle. Had not this 'one' been under Government protection, the Privy Council would have insisted on his name being divulged, because he, by giving notice to Winter, was thereby committing misprision of treason. It seems extraordinary that previous writers on the plot should have omitted all reference to this incident.
- ↑ October 28, 1605.
