They then heard mass, and received the Sacrament from Father Gerard, a Jesuit mission⟨a⟩ry, in confirmation of their vow. Thomas Winter and Fawkes both state the secrot was ⟨n⟩ot communicated to Gerard. Percy took the ⟨n⟩ext step. He was a gentleman pensioner, ⟨a⟩nd, upon pretence that it would be convenient ⟨t⟩o him when in attendance in that capacity, he ⟨p⟩urchased of one Ferris the remainder of a ⟨s⟩hort term which he had in the lease of a house ⟨a⟩djoining the Parliament House. It was, ⟨a⟩ccordingly, taken in Percy's name, under a written agreement with Ferris, the original of which, dated May 24, 1604, may be seen at ⟨t⟩he State-Paper Office. From the cellar of ⟨t⟩his house a mine was to be made through tho wall of the Parliament House, and a quantity ⟨o⟩f gunpowder and combustibles to be deposit⟨e⟩d immediately under the House of Lords. Fawkes, who was unknown in London, and ⟨h⟩ad assumed the name of Johnson, acted as Percy's servant, and took possession of the ⟨h⟩ouse. Parliament was soon afterwards ad⟨j⟩ourned till the 7th February; and the con⟨s⟩pirators, having first hired a house in Lam⟨b⟩eth for the preparation of timber for the mine, and a place of deposit for combustibles, ⟨a⟩greed to meet in London about the begin⟨n⟩ing of November. The custody of the house ⟨i⟩n Lambeth was committed to Robert Keyes, ⟨t⟩he son of a Protestant clergyman in Derby⟨s⟩hire, but himself a Catholic: the oath of se⟨c⟩recy was administered to him also.
The proceedings of the Star-Chamber, during ⟨t⟩he interval of their meetings, so exasperated ⟨t⟩he conspirators, that they became more eager ⟨t⟩han ever about the plot. Catesby and his con-
