[242] "Lastly, and this you must not omit, you must deliver, in commendation of my Lord Mounteagle, words to show how sincerely he dealt, and how fortunately it proved that he was the instrument of so great a blessing, ... because it is so lewdly given out that he was once of this plot of powder, and afterwards betrayed it all to me."--Cecil to Coke. (Draft in the R.O., printed by Jardine, _Criminal Trials_, ii. 120.) [243] £500 as an annuity for life, and £200 per annum to him and his heirs for ever in fee farm rents. [244] See Thorold Rogers, _Agriculture and Prices_, v. 631, and Jessopp, _One Generation of a Norfolk House_, p. 285. [245] R.O. _Dom. James I._ xx. 56. [246] _Criminal Trials_, ii. 65. [247] _Ibid._ 68. [248] Note on Fuller's _Church History_, x. § 39, and _on The Student's Hume_. [249] _History_, i. 251. [250] _Criminal Trials_, ii. 69. [251] On March 13th, 1600-1, Monteagle wrote to Cecil from the Tower, "My conscience tells me that I am no way gilty of these Imputations, and that mearely the blindness of Ignorance lead me into these infamous errors." (Brit. Mus. MSS. Add. 6177). [252] The letter is printed in _Archæologia_, xxviii. 422, by Mr. Bruce, who argues from it Monteagle's complicity with the Plot. Mr. Jardine's reply is found _ibid._ xxix. 80. [253] According to T. Winter's famous declaration, Monteagle, within ten days before the meeting of Parliament, told Catesby and the others that the Prince of Wales was not going to attend the opening ceremony, wherefore they resolved to "leave the Duke alone," and make arrangements to secure the elder brother. The original of Winter's declaration, dated November 25th, which is at Hatfield, contains these and other particulars, which are altogether omitted in a "copy" of the same in the Record Office, dated, remarkably enough, on November the 23rd. It is from the latter that the version in the "King's Book" was printed. [254] De Beaumont to Villeroy, September 17th, 1605. [255] Mr. Gardiner alludes to it, _History_, i. 254 (note), but apparently attaches no importance to it. [256] Brit. Museum, Add. MSS. 19402 fol. 143. See the letter in full, Appendix H. [257] _Discourse of the Manner of the Discovery_ (the "King's Book"). [258] Winwood, _Memorials_, ii. 170, etc. (November 9th). In the entry book of the Earl of Salisbury's letters (Phillipps' MSS. 6297, f. 39) this is described as "being the same that was sent to all his Majestie's Embassadors and Ministers abroade." To Parry, however, quite a different account was furnished. [259] Cecil to Sir T. Parry, P.R.O. _France_, bundle 132 (November 6th). [260] Gerard, _Narrative_, p. 101. [261] Vol. ii. 15. The partisans of the government at the time appear to have solved the difficulty by invoking the direct guidance of Heaven: