* * * * ing, shouting, crying "Welcome," the townsmen, that never in a and "God save King James," till night thought themselves securer; they were (in a manner) entreated but the journey of the hours is to be silent. As soon as it pleased always one, however they are the people to give him leave that made long or short by the apprehe might speak, Mr. Parkinson, hension of joy or sufferance of the recorder of Berwick, being a grief. The morning's sun chased man grave and reverend, made a away the clouds of sleep from brief speech to his Majesty, ac- every eye, which the more willknowledging him their sole and ingly opened, that they might be sovereign lord, to whom (in the comforted with the sight of their town's name) he surrendered their beloved sovereign, who in his charter, presenting his Highness, estate (attended on by the goveralso from them, with a purse of nor and the noblemen, together gold, which, as an offering of their with the magistrates and officers love, he graciously received, and of the town) passed to the church, for their charter he answered them where he stayed the divine prayers most benign and royally, that it and sermon, which, when with his should be continued, and that he wonted humility he had heard would maintain their privileges, finished, in the like estate he reand uphold them and their town turned to his palace. in all equity, by reason it was the principal and first place honoured with his mighty and most gracious person. These ceremonies among the townsmen ended, as his usual manner is after any journey, his Majesty passed to the church, there to humble himself before the exalter of the humble, and thank Him for the benefits bestowed upon him and all his people; at which time preached before him the Reverend Father in God, Tobie Matthew, Bishop of Durham, who made a most learned and worthy sermon, which finished, the king departed to his palace, and then they gave him a peal of great ordnance, more hot than before; Berwick having never had king to rest in her walls well nigh these hundred years. The night was quickly overpast, especially with The 7th of May being Saturday, his Majesty removed from Theobald's towards London, riding through the meadows, where within two miles on this side Waltham, Sir Henry Denny discharged his followers, and one of the sheriffs of London and Middlesex attended his Highness, viz. Master John Swinnerton, the other * * * sheriff being then sick. At Stamford Hill the Lord Mayor presented him with the sword and keys of the city, with whom were the knights and aldermen in scarlet gowns, and great chains of gold about their necks, with all the chief officers and council of the city, besides five hundred citizens, all very well mounted, clad in velvet coats and chains of gold, with the chief gentlemen of the hundreds, who made a gallant show to entertain their sovereign. The multitude of people in highways, fields, meadows, closes, and on trees, were such, that they covered the beauty of the fields; and so greedy were they to behold the countenance of the king, that with much unruliness they injured and hurt one another, some even hazarded to the danger of death; but as uncivil as they were among themselves, all the way as his Majesty passed, with shouts and cries, and casting up of hats (of which many never returned into the owners' hands), he passed by them over the Fields, and came in at the back of the Charterhouse. Thither being come, he was most royally received and entertained by the Lord Thomas Howard, where was such abundance of provision of all manner of things, that greater could not be, both of rare and wild fowls, many rare and extraordinary banquets, to the great liking of his Majesty, and contentment of the whole train. He lay there three nights in which time the lords of the council oft Upon Wednesday, the 11th of May, his Majesty set forward from the Charter-house to the Tower of London, in going quietly on horseback to Whitehall, where he took barge; having shot the bridge, his present landing was expected at Tower Stairs, but it pleased his Highness to pass the Tower Stairs toward St. Katherine's, and there stayed on the water to see the ordnance on the White Tower, (commonly called Julius Caesar's Tower), being in number twenty pieces, with the great ordnance on Tower wharf, being in number a hundred, and chambers to the number one hundred and thirty, discharged and shot off. Of which all services were so sufficiently performed by the gunners, that a peal of so good order was never heard before; which was most commendable to all sorts, and very acceptable to the king. Then his royal person arrived at his own stairs, so called the King's Stairs, etc. etc. etc. THE GUNPOWDER PLOT. (Stow's Annals, continued by Edmond Howes.) A.D. 1605. THE king's first parliament ended in July, the second year of his reign, wherein Catesby, Percy, Wright, and the rest, seeing therein nothing done to their ease or content, began to consider of such encouragement as they had received from Flanders in June the year before and Percy sware he would undertake to kill the king; whereunto Catesby answered, If you do kill him, it is to no purpose in respect of the general cause, but stay awhile, for I have devised a far surer course and readier way to effect what we desire, and that without the help of any foreign nation: but as yet he did not impart his secret project to any man until after the return of Thomas Winter, whom he sent to confer with the Constable of Castile, being now in Flanders, ready to come for England to take the king's oath for confirmation of the articles of peace agreed upon by the commissioners, all which being consummate, and the parties before-named observing that the purpose of this peace was only for the universal good of all Christendom without respect of any particular place or people, and therewithal noting the careless inclination of the Constable to their desire, which was earnestly to move the King of England in favour of the Catholics, as also that the general peace would prove a continual means for their adversaries to proceed at all times in any course whatsoever against the English Catholics, and prevent them of all hope of succour and sustentation from any foreign potentate; from this time one incensed another speedily to attempt some hope of remedy for themselves by themselves: Percy, more prone than divers others, with a great oath said, Let us now do something, and not always talk. Catesby being now resolved to put in practice his long-concealed project, being well assured he had found fit persons for his purpose, acquainted Thomas Percy, Thomas Winter, John Wright, and Guido Fawkes, with his device, viz. to undermine the Upper Parliament House, and to blow it up with | labour; then they took into their ment. gunpowder, at the very instant of the great assembly, the 7th of February next following, having before given them the oath of secrecy, which they as willingly embraced as his heart desired: and after that, for more assurance of secrecy, they received the sacraThis combustible combination thus concluded, each man prepares to do his utmost in the enterprise, like those headstrong horses of whom the kingly prophet speaks, bend themselves to run a desperate course, respectless what misery might befall on king, country, or commonwealth; and if their deep device, borrowed from the lowest hell, had taken effect, yet the chief purpose of their project, if well weighed, had been never the nearer, but rather further off, with apparent likelihood of sudden slaughter of themselves, their faction, and their friends. Presently, upon the compact aforesaid, Percy hired a house close adjoining to the Upper Parliament; and from this time, unto the day of discovery, by a general consent among themselves, Guido Fawkes changeth his whole name, and is called John Johnson, Master Percy's man; and about the beginning of December those five began the mine, having at first entrance made competent provision for twenty days, of wine, beer, and baked meats, because their being there should neither be seen nor suspected of any, neither caine they forth until Christmas Eve, and for certain days ceased their aid Christopher Wright, having likewise taken oath and sacrament for secrecy, and so about the 20th of January they began to work afresh; and for that they would be secure from any sudden discovery or apprehension they caused John Johnson, whom they knew to be an excellent, skilful, and resolute soldier, to keep wary sentinel, who continually gave them warning upon the least sign of suspicion, when to cease, and when to work again: they had also furnished themselves with weapons, shot, and powder, being determined rather to die there in their own defence than to be apprehended. When they came to the foundation of the wall, which was three yards thick, and found it a matter of great difficulty, they took unto them Robert Winter, after he had taken oath and sacrament like the rest. About Candlemas they had wrought the wall half through, and as they were at work they heard a rushing of sea-coals in the next room, which was a cellar right under the Parliament House, and then they feared they had been discovered; whereupon Johnson went thither, who being returned told them it was a cellar full of seacoals, which were now a-selling; and that the same was to be let for yearly rent, assuring them withal, that he had well observed the manner of that cellar, and that it was most commodious for their purpose; and then Master Percy forthwith hired the same for yearly rent, being now fully persuaded | have avowed both. Secondly, they they should do justice upon that considered upon foreign aid; and place where their religion was in their opinion Spain was too suppressed, and where so many remote and slow to help them in severe laws had passed against their most extremity: France was them ; and then they laid into the too near and too mighty; and, cellars twenty barrels of powder, having command of Holland, ships which were formerly provided, would easily make away with them: and covered them with billets and marry, Sir William Stanley, Owen, faggots, provided for that purpose. and others, on the hither part of But when they understood that Flanders, with their particular the parliament was adjourned to friends and forces, might give October they dispersed themselves, them more fit and friendly aid. having held many counsels how to Lastly, they considered what lords manage the affairs of State if the to save from the parliament, as deed were done; one while they well in respect of religion as for purposed to surprise the person of policy; upon all which particulars, the prince, another while the Duke though they often conferred, yet of York, and for performance of concluded nothing, saving only to either of these, Percy was the man send one to Rome, to acquaint the that, with his friends, would | Pope with their project, and to undertake the charge; then they know whether the Pope would considered that if they could not approve or condemn it, carrying a seize upon the person of any of kind of jealousy amongst themthem two, because the prince would selves that their seducers had be at the Parliament House, and already run too far in usurpation, the duke being kept so near and thereupon, under pretence to London, where they wanted be ascertained, they sent friends, how they might surprise | Edward Bayneham for a breviat the person of the Lady Elizabeth, from his holiness; which said Sir being in the custody of the Lord Edward departed from England, Harrington, in Warwickshire; and but in August before the parliain the end resolved to adventure ment, in which space the aforesaid their fortune upon her whom they conspirators never stayed their meant to proclaim queen, and in intent, nor omitted anything that her name to proceed in all things, might prefer their most pernicious having in readiness a project of a proclamation to that purpose, wherein was no mention of religion, neither would they have avowed the deed to have been theirs, until they had tried their friends and strength, as well abroad as at home, and then they would course. Sir The chief conspirators having many ways spent great sums of money in this action, especially Catesby, upon whom lay the most part of expense, being now quite destitute of foreign aid, and having already taken up as much money |