Robert Winter, the elder brother of Thomas, was then at Grafton, the residence of his father-in-law, stalwart old John Talbot, whither he and his wife had ridden on the last day of October. He was among the more innocent of the plotters, and had taken no active part in anything but the mining. Riding from Grafton, on the 4th, he spent the night at the Bull Inn, Coventry, and next day reached the Hall at Ashby Saint Ledgers, where the widowed Lady Catesby held her solitary state. Lady Catesby (_nee_ Anne Throckmorton) and her worthy son were not on the best terms, having found it necessary or amusing to sue one another in his Majesty's Law Courts; and shortly before this, Lady Catesby had been to Huddington to request Robert Winter's assistance in making peace with her son. He was now on his way to advise her, and had heard nothing of the proceedings in London. But soon after his arrival at the Hall, four weary, bemired men arrived also. These were Percy, the Wrights, and Rookwood, Keyes having left them on the way. "Lost, lost!" cried impetuous Percy, as he came, booted, spurred, and covered with mud, into the very neat drawing-room where Lady Catesby and her young daughter Elizabeth were engaged on their embroidery. "All is lost! the whole plot discovered. I cast no doubt proclamations shall be out by morning light to seize us all, with a full relation how short or how long we be." Lady Catesby exerted herself to provide for the refreshment and comfort other very unexpected guests, and they were soon on their way across the hall to supper, when one of the servants came up with a message that "one at the base door prayed speech of Mr Winter." Robert Winter excused himself to his hostess, and going to the back-door, he there found Martha Bates, wife of the Bates who was his fellow--conspirator and Catesby's servant. "Pray you, Sir," said Martha with a bob of deprecation mingled with deference, "to come into the fields by the town's end, where is one would speak quickly with you." "Who is it?" Martha glanced round, as if afraid of the chestnuts overhearing her. "Well, Sir, to tell truth, 'tis Mr Catesby; but I pray you, let not my Lady Anne know of his being here." Robert Winter took his way to the place appointed, and found a group of some twelve horsemen awaiting him. "Good even! Well, what news?" "The worst could be. Mr Fawkes is taken, and the whole plot discovered." "Ay, you have heard it, then? Here are come but now my cousins Wright, with Mr Percy and Mr Rookwood, bringing the same news. What now do we?" "What say you?" "Well, it seems to me best that each should submit himself." "We've not yet come to that. Bid them every one follow me to Dunchurch without loss of time. Only--mind you let not my mother know of my being here." "To Dunchurch--what, afore supper? We were but just come into the dining-chamber, and I smell somewhat uncommon good."