"The next was for money and horses, which if we could provide in
any reasonable measure (having the heir apparent) and the first
knowledge by four or five days was odds sufficient. Then, what
Lords we should save from the Parliament, which was agreed in
general as many as we could that were Catholics or so disposed.
Next, what foreign princes we should acquaint with this before or
join with after. For this point we agreed that first we would not
enjoin princes to that secrecy nor oblige them by oath so to be
secure of their promise; besides, we know not whether they will
approve the project or dislike it, and if they do allow thereof, to
prepare before might beget suspicion and[103] not to provide until
the business were acted; the same letter that carried news of the
thing done might as well entreat their help and furtherance. Spain
is too slow in his preparations to hope any good from in the first
extremities, and France too near and too dangerous, who with the
shipping of Holland we feared of all the world might make away with
us. But while we were in the middle of these discourses, we heard
that the Parliament should be anew adjourned until after
Michaelmas, upon which tidings we broke off both discourse and
working until after Christmas. About Candlemas we brought over in a
boat the powder which we had provided at Lambeth and layd it in Mr.
Percy's house because we were willing to have all our danger in one
place. We wrought also another fortnight in the mine against the
stone wall, which was very hard to beat through, at which time we
called in Kit Wright, and near to Easter[104] as we wrought the
third time, opportunity was given to hire the cellar, in which we
resolved to lay the powder and leave the mine.
"Now by reason that the charge of maintaining us all so long
together, besides the number of several houses which for several
uses had been hired, and buying of powder, &c., had lain heavy on
Mr. Catesby alone to support, it was necessary for to call in some
others to ease his charge, and to that end desired leave that he
with Mr. Percy and a third whom they should call might acquaint
whom they thought fit and willing to the business, for many, said
he, may be content that I should know who would not therefore that
all the Company should be acquainted with their names. To this we
all agreed.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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