Remember, Remember Monteagle’s Letter
By Tony Morgan
We’ve all heard of Guy Fawkes and the
Gunpowder Plot, the Catholic conspiracy to kill King James I by blowing up
Parliament, but why did it fail?
Perhaps it was because the authorities
received a tip-off a terrorist attack was about to happen. This blog covers the
fascinating the tale of the tip-off, known as the “Monteagle letter”.
William Parker, both Baron and Lord
Monteagle, was a member of the House of Lords. Although the man had close connections
with prominent Catholic families, he’d pledged his allegiance to King James and
the state Protestant religion. However, some still suspected Monteagle of being
at least a Catholic sympathiser, if not a full-blown traitor, placing him in a
very precarious position.
 |
| Lord Monteagle. |
Monteagle was dining at his home in Hoxton
about three and a half miles north east of Westminster on 26th
October 1605 when he received, or at least claimed to have received, an
anonymous letter.
“My lord, out of the love I bear to some
of your friends, I have a care of your preservation, therefore I would advise
you as you tender your life to devise some excuse to shift your attendance at
this parliament, for God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness of
this time, and think not slightly of this advertisement, but retire yourself
into your country, where you may expect the event in safety, for though there
be no appearance of any stir, yet I say they shall receive a terrible blow this
parliament and yet they shall not see who hurts them, this counsel is not to be
condemned because it may do you good and can do you no harm, for the danger is
past as soon as you have burnt the letter and I hope God will give you the
grace to make good use of it, to whose holy protection I commend you.”
This was sensational. Monteagle was being
warned to stay away from the opening of Parliament to avoid being caught in “a
terrible blow”. The meaning was clear. With Parliament due to open in just over
a week’s time on the 5th November, an attack was planned.
What should the Lord do? Sit on the letter
or turn it over to the authorities? Monteagle chose the latter. With many
historians thinking him a Catholic sympathiser, why would he do this? Taking
good intentions aside, there’s a significant probability Monteagle thought the
letter was a trap, set for him by the Secretary of State and spymaster general,
Robert Cecil. He wouldn’t have been the first person tested in such a way. By keeping
quiet, he’d confirm his treachery, and open himself up for arrest and worse.
 |
| Robert Cecil. |
So, Monteagle duly handed the letter over
to Robert Cecil and the Privy Council. What Cecil did next was intriguing. He
didn’t immediately send a message to alert the King. Instead he waited a number
of days for James to return from his countryside hunting expedition, before
meeting with him and revealing the letter. King James was alarmed, and on November
4th two searches took place around the vicinity of Parliament.
Eventually, during the second search, Guy Fawkes was arrested, and his
gunpowder uncovered.
If this search seemed alarmingly late in
the day, perhaps Robert Cecil was already well aware of the Gunpowder Plot, and
only foiled it at the last minute to gain maximum exposure and kudos. Perhaps
he knew the details all along, and the letter was part of his scheme.
It’s also possible Monteagle discovered
the plot, and manufactured the letter, to throw suspicion away from himself
and/or for personal gain. After all, following the plot’s discovery, he was
rewarded with much money and land. There’s another theory the letter was
developed in cahoots by Monteagle and Cecil working together.
But what if the correspondence was
genuine? Could one of the plotters really have cared so much for Monteagle’s life,
they’d risk jeopardising their cause and their own personal safety? It’s
certainly possible, for at least three of the plotters had substantial motives.
Francis Tresham’s sister was Lord
Monteagle’s wife. Thomas Wintour had previously worked for Monteagle. And
finally, Thomas Percy had lent Monteagle a substantial amount of money. Dead
men make bad debtors, or creditors, depending on who you think wrote the letter.
If one of the Gunpowder Plotters did write it, they’d soon come to regret the
fact the man they tried to save didn’t burn the missive as they’d advised. By
the end of January 1606 all three of the plotters and ll their confederates had
been hunted down and killed or tried and executed.
The truth is, as is often the case, nobody
really knows who the author really was but it’s a fascinating puzzle, and one
of the many aspects of the Gunpowder Plot I focused in on when writing my first
novel “Remember, Remember the 6th of November”.
Remember,
Remember the 6th of November
By Tony
Morgan
Remember,
Remember the 6th of November
is a thrilling retelling of the story of Guy Fawkes and the Gunpowder Plot. England in 1605 is a country concerned about terrorism,
religious tensions, government surveillance and conflict with Europe. A small
group of conspirators led by charismatic Robert Catesby and Guy Fawkes plan
regime change. In a race against time can spymaster Robert Cecil and his lover
Katherine Suffolk prevent the country from descending into all-out civil war.
Remember, Remember the 6th of November is available in
Paperback and Kindle formats.
Pick up your copy TODAY!
1617
By Tony Morgan
1617 is the exciting sequel to Remember, Remember
the 6th of November - a thrilling alternate history filled with secrets,
treachery and intrigue. King James is dead. His daughter Queen Elizabeth has
transformed England into a centre for religious tolerance but conflict is
brewing across Europe and there’s trouble in Ireland. A peace envoy is needed.
Sir Everard Digby appears the perfect choice but he’s a man with a secret which
the Queen must not discover…
1617 is available in Paperback and Kindle
formats.
Pick
up your copy TODAY!
Tony
Morgan
No comments:
Post a Comment
See you on your next coffee break!
Take Care,
Mary Anne xxx