A remark of Parsons' on this point, which at the time was considered almost blasphemous, will seem now almost a truism, viz., that the title of particular succession in kingdoms is founded only upon the positive laws of several countries, since neither kingdoms nor monarchies are of the essence of human society, and therefore every nation has a right to establish its own kings in what manner it likes, and upon what conditions. Wherefore, as each of the other great parties in England (whom he designates as Protestants and Puritans) will look chiefly to its own political interests, and exact from the monarch of its choice pledges to secure them, it behoves Catholics, being so large a part of the nation, to take their proper share in the settlement, and therefore to study betimes the arguments on which the claims of the competitors are severally based. APPENDIX D. (p. 36). _The Spanish Treason._ THE history of the alleged treasonable negotiations with Spain, conducted by various persons whose names were afterwards connected with the Gunpowder Plot, appears open to the gravest doubt and suspicion. It would be out of place to discuss the question here, but two articles on the subject, by the present writer, will be found in the _Month_ for May and June, 1896. APPENDIX E. (p. 60). _Site of Percy's lodging_ [_see_ View, p. 56, and Plan, p. 59.] THAT the lodging hired by Percy stood near the south-east corner of the old House of Lords (_i.e._ nearer to the river than that building, and adjacent to, if not adjoining, the Prince's Chamber) is shown by the following arguments. 1. John Shepherd, servant to Whynniard, gave evidence as to having on a certain occasion seen from the river "a boat lye cloase to the pale of Sir Thomas Parreys garden, and men going to and from the water through the back door that leadeth into Mr. Percy his lodging." [_Gunpowder Plot Book_, 40, part 2.] 2. Faukes, in his examination of November 5th, 1605, speaks of "the windowe in his chamber neere the parliament house towards the water side." 3. It is said that when digging their mine the conspirators were troubled by the influx of water from the river, which would be impossible if they were working at the opposite side of the Parliament House. [It has always been understood that Percy's house stood at the south end of the House of Lords, but Smith (_Antiquities of Westminster_, p. 39) places it to the south-west instead of the south-east, saying that it stood on the site of what was afterwards the Ordnance Office.] APPENDIX F. (p. 64). _Enrolment of Conspirators._ The evidence on this point is most contradictory. 1. The Indictment, on the trial of the conspirators, mentions the following dates. _May 20th, 1604._ [Besides Garnet, Greenway, Gerard, "and other Jesuits,"] there met together T. Winter, Faukes, Keyes, Bates, Catesby, Percy, the two Wrights, and Tresham, by whom the Plot was approved and undertaken.