"But others," said Winter, "I hope, may, and therefore, I pray you, let this alone." Then Catesby spoke words in ill accordance with those which he had used to encourage Digby before leaving Dunchurch. "What! hast thou any hope, Robin? I assure thee there is none that knoweth of this action but shall perish." On reaching Warwick, they left the trunk-horses with their attendants[281] at the entrance to the town, in case their intended raid should lead to any scrimmage or retaliation; and then they proceeded to the horse-breakers' stable and stole nine or ten horses. This took about half-an-hour, and when the robbery had been accomplished, they sent back for the trunk-horses and proceeded on their night-journey. [281] See the examination of Richard Hollis, S. P. Gunpowder Treason, 1605, Part II. No. 138. It was not far from Warwick to Norbrook, the house of John Grant, one of the conspirators. Here they made a brief halt, and, on entering the hall, they found two tables furnished with muskets and armour.[282] After taking a very short rest--William Handy, one of Sir Everard's servants, says half-an-hour;[283] but Jardine says an hour or two,[284] and Richard Hollis, a servant of Sir Everard's, says, "some howres,"[285]--the cavalcade again started on its dark nocturnal march. The intention of its leaders was to ride to Huddington, near Droitwich, the house of Robert Winter; and on the way thither, to send a messenger a little to the right of their road, with a letter to Father Garnet at Coughton, explaining the desperate position in which they were placed. On arriving at Huddington, their host was to be sent to his father-in-law, Talbot of Grafton, to inform him of all that had happened, and to urge him to join the insurrection with as many men as he could muster. [282] S. P. Gunpowder Plot Book, Part II. No. 121. [283] _Ib._ [284] P. 111. [285] S. P. Gunpowder Plot Book, Part II. No. 138. Some time after sunrise, which does not take place at that time of the year till after seven o'clock, they drew near Alcester, and despatched their messenger to Coughton. The man chosen was Catesby's servant, Thomas Bates, the only menial who was a sworn conspirator. Besides the letter to Father Garnet, he was entrusted with one for Lady Digby, written by her husband. The most trying part of Sir Everard Digby's long and gloomy ride must have been to pass within a couple of miles of his wife and children, as he went through Alcester in the early morning, without going to see them. Well-horsed, as he was, it might almost appear that he could have made time to visit them for at least a few minutes, and then ridden on to Huddington, where the expedition was to make a long halt. Did he hesitate to go to Coughton through fear of Catesby, or was he afraid to trust himself in the presence of his wife?