scribed, and that it was his Majesty who first suggested the agency of
gunpowder: but the Earl of Salisbury, in a letter to Sir Charles
Cornwallis, ambassador at Madrid, asserts, that in a conversation between
the Earl of Suffolk (Lord Chamberlain) and himself, on perusal of the
anonymous letter, the employment of gunpowder first occurred to them, and
that the King subsequently concurred in _their_ opinion. The letter, after
having been communicated to several of the Privy Council, was shewn to the
King three or four days before the opening of Parliament, who, with great
prudence, gave orders that no notice whatever should be taken of it, but
that every thing should go on as usual, until the very day appointed. On
Saturday, the Lord Chamberlain, according to the customary forms of his
office previous to the meeting of every Parliament, viewed every room and
cellar belonging to the Parliament House, and amongst others the identical
vault in which the wood and powder was deposited, and observed a man, who
subsequently proved to be Guy Fawkes, standing there to answer any
questions that might have been asked. The Lord Chamberlain then went to the
Privy Council and reported what he had seen. After much discussion it was
resolved that a more minute search should be made, under pretence of
seeking for stolen goods, in order that no suspicion might arise if nothing
should be discovered. Accordingly, on Monday at midnight, Sir T. Knyvett,
accompanied by a small band of men, went to Percy's house, where, at the
door, they found Guy Fawkes with his clothes and boots on. Sir Thomas
immediately apprehended him, and then proceeded to search the house and
vault, and upon removing some of the wood, they soon discovered the powder
ready prepared for the explosion; then, directly afterwards, searching Guy
Fawkes, they found on him three matches and other instruments for setting
fire to the train. He confessed himself guilty, and boldly declared, that
if he had happened to have been within the house when Sir T. Knyvett
apprehended him, he would instantly have blown him up, house and all.

On the arrest of Guy Fawkes, such of the conspirators as at the time were
in London, fled into the country to meet Catesby at Dunchurch, according to
previous arrangement; and after taking some horses out of a stable at
Warwick, they reached Robert Wintour's house, at Huddington, on the
Wednesday night. On Thursday morning the whole party, amounting to abo