Part 13 (1/2)

Dom._, xii. 65; Docquet Book, 1605; _S. P. Dom._, xv. 106.

[196] To the theory that Salisbury wanted inconvenient witnesses disposed of, because the man who shot Percy and Catesby got a pension of two s.h.i.+llings a day, I reply that the Government was more afraid of a rebellion than of testimony. At all events, 2_s._ at that time was certainly not worth 1_l._ now, as Father Gerard a.s.sumes here, and in other pa.s.sages of his book. It is usual to estimate the value of money as being about four or five times as much as it is in the present day.

The relative price, however, depended so much on the commodities purchased that I hesitate to express myself positively on the subject.

The only thing that I am quite clear about is that Father Gerard's estimate is greatly exaggerated. It is true that he grounds his errors on a statement by Dr. Jessopp that 4,000 marks was equivalent to 30,000_l._, but the very exaggeration of these figures should have led him to suspect some error, or, at least--as I have recently been informed by Dr. Jessopp was the fact--that his calculation was based on other grounds than the relative price of commodities.

[197] Father Greenway's statement, that while the rebels were in the field, messengers came post haste continually one after the other, from the capital, all bearing proclamations mentioning Percy by name (_Gerard_, p. 155) is disposed of by the fact that there were only three proclamations in which Percy's name was mentioned, dated the 5th, the 7th, and the 8th. Percy was killed on the morning of the 8th, and even the messenger who started on the 7th can hardly have known that the sheriff had gone to Holbeche, and consequently could not himself have reached that place while Percy was living.

[198] See p. 11.

[199] T. Winter's examination, November 25 (_G. P. B._ No. 116). Compare Tresham's declaration of November 13 (_ib._ No. 63).

[200] Jardine's _Gunpowder Plot_, p. 91.

[201] _Add. MSS._ 11,402, fol. 109.

[202] Smith's _Antiquities of Westminster_, p. 41.

[203] See p. 31.

[204] On this, see p. 110.

[205] _Gerard_, p. 126, note 1.

[206] In an earlier part of the letter we are told of 'Johnson,' that 'on Tuesday at midnight, as he was busy to prepare his things for execution was apprehended in the place itself, with a false lantern, booted and spurred.'

[207] _S. P. France._

[208] See p. 31. I give the extract in the form received by Edmondes, that printed in _Winwood_, ii. 170, received by Cornwallis, being slightly different.

[209] _i.e._ 'owned.'

[210] _Gerard_, p. 127.

[211] _Winwood_, ii. 170.

[212] Chamberlain to Carleton, November 7.--_S. P. Dom._ xvi. 23.

[213] See p. 99.

[214] _G. P. B._ No. 129.

[215] _Winwood_, ii. 170.

[216] These words look as if he had been found not in the pa.s.sage but in the court.

[217] He was a favourite dependent of Knyvet's, who, on April 10, 1604, had recommended him for an office in the Tower.--_S. P. Dom._ vii. 18.

[218] See my _History of England_, 1603-1642, i. 80, 81.

[219] _I.e._ Guardians.