Now, Mr Thomas Ward was in the confidence of the conspirators,--a fact of which there is no doubt: and that Lord Monteagle was the same may not inaptly be described as a fact of which there is doubt--an extremely strong probability, which has been called in question without any disproof [see Appendix]. Both these gentlemen, however, conducted themselves with perfect decorum, and as if the subject were entirely new to them. This was what Mr Ward read:-- "My Lord out of the loue i beare you [this word was crossed out, and instead of it was written] some of youere trends i haue a caer of youer preseruacion. Therfor i would aduyse yowe as yowe tender youer lyf to deuyse some exscuse to shift of youer attendance at this parleament. For god and man hathe concurred to punishe the wickednes of this tyme and thinke not slightlye of this aduertisment but retire youer self into youre contri wheare yowe maye expect the euent in safti for thowghe theare be no apparance of anni stir yet i saye they shall receyue a terrible blowe this Parleament and yet they shall not seie who hurts them This councel is not to be acontemned because it maye do yowe good and can do yowe no harm for the dangere is passed as soon as yowe have burnt the letter and I hope god will giue yowe the grace to mak good use of it to whose holy proteccion I commend yowe." The writing was tall, cramped, and angular. There was neither signature nor date. The hearers gazed on each other in perplexed astonishment, not unmixed with fear. "What can it mean?" asked one of the guests. "Some fool's prating," replied Lord Monteagle. "How else could the danger be past so soon as I had burnt the letter?" This question no one could answer. Lord Monteagle took the letter from the reader, pocketed it, and turned the conversation to other topics. The thoughts of the company soon passed from the singular warning; and occupied by their own fancies and amusements, they did not notice that their host quitted them as soon as they left the dining-room. With the letter in his pocket, Lord Monteagle slipped out of his garden gate, mounted his horse, and rode to his house in the Strand. Leaving the horse here, he went down to the water-side, where he hailed a boat, and was rowed to Westminster Stairs. To hail a boat was as natural and common an incident to a Londoner of that day as it is now to call a cab or stop an omnibus. Lord Monteagle stepped lightly ashore, made his way to the Palace of Whitehall, and asked to speak at once with the Earl of Salisbury, Lord High Treasurer of England. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Note 1. These exemplary women really resided at Southampton, a few years later. Note 2. A letter of Lord Chief-Justice Popham would be a suitable subject for a competitive examination. CHAPTER EIGHT. THE FIFTH OF NOVEMBER.