Page:Guy Fawkes, or The history of the gunpowder plot.pdf/18

18 danger is over as soon as you have burned this letter. And I hope God will give you the grace to make use of it, to whose holy protection I commend you.—To the Right Honourable the Lord Mounteagle.'—This letter has been ascribed to Anne, the daughter of Lord Vaux, to Mrs Abington, Lord Mounteagle's sister, to Percy, and to others; but there seems greater reasons for believing that no one of these was the writer of it, but rather that Tresham was its author.

On the same evening, Lord Mounteagle shewed the letter to several Lords of the Council, who, with him, agreed that no steps should be taken until the King returned from hunting at Royston. The contents of the letter and its communication to many of the Council, as well as to the Secretary of State, soon reached the ears of the conspirators; but, though their danger was evident, and the vessel which was to convey Fawkes to Flanders was lying in the river, they made no attempt to escape. All suspected Tresham to be their betrayer, and he was accused by them, but he vehemently denied the accusation. Since they did not know accurately to what extent their proceedings had been divulged, they had still hope of effecting their design, especially as, upon examination, Fawkes found that the cellar was not watched and had not been disturbed. When, however, they heard that, on the 31st of October, the letter had been shewn to the King, their hope diminished and their fears increased. Some of the conspirators left London; others concealed themselves in an obscure lodging; all held themselves ready to start at a moment's warning. Fawkes alone, with the