Editing Gunpowder Plot (section)

===Monteagle letter<span class="anchor" id="Letter"></span>===
[[File:Monteagle letter.jpeg|right|thumb|300px|alt=A damaged and aged piece of paper, or parchment, with multiple lines of handwritten English text.|An anonymous letter, sent to William Parker, {{nowrap|4th Baron Monteagle}}, was instrumental in exposing the plot. Its author's identity has never been reliably established, although Francis Tresham has long been a suspect. Monteagle himself has been considered responsible,<ref>{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|pp=182–185}}</ref> as has Salisbury.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haynes|2005|pp=85–86}}</ref>]]
The details of the plot were finalised in October, in a series of taverns across London and [[Daventry]].{{efn|The playwright [[Ben Jonson]] was present at one of these parties, and following the discovery of the plot was forced to work hard at distancing himself from the conspirators.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|p=179}}</ref>}} Fawkes would be left to light the fuse and then escape across the Thames, while simultaneously a revolt in the Midlands would help to ensure the capture of the King's daughter, Elizabeth. Fawkes would leave for the continent, to explain events in England to the European Catholic powers.<ref name="Fraser 1999 178–179">{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|pp=178–179}}</ref>

The wives of those involved and [[Anne Vaux]] (a friend of Garnet who often shielded priests at her home) became increasingly concerned by what they suspected was about to happen.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haynes|2005|pp=78–79}}</ref> Several of the conspirators expressed worries about the safety of fellow Catholics who would be present in Parliament on the day of the planned explosion.<ref>{{Harvnb|Northcote Parkinson|1976|pp=62–63}}</ref> Percy was concerned for his patron, Northumberland, and the young [[Thomas Howard, 21st Earl of Arundel|Earl of Arundel]]'s name was brought up; Catesby suggested that a minor wound might keep him from the chamber on that day. The Lords Vaux, [[Anthony-Maria Browne, 2nd Viscount Montagu|Montagu]], [[William Parker, 4th Baron Monteagle|Monteagle]], and Stourton were also mentioned. Keyes suggested warning Lord Mordaunt, his wife's employer, to derision from Catesby.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haynes|2005|p=82}}</ref>

On Saturday 26 October, Monteagle (Tresham's brother-in-law) arranged a meal in a long-disused house at [[Hoxton]]. Suddenly a servant appeared saying he had been handed a letter for Lord Monteagle from a stranger in the road. Monteagle ordered it to be read aloud to the company.

{{blockquote|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 hath 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 passed 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.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|pp=179–180}}</ref>}}

Uncertain of the letter's meaning, Monteagle promptly rode to [[Whitehall]] and handed it to Cecil (then [[Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury|Earl of Salisbury]]).<ref>{{Harvnb|Haynes|2005|p=89}}</ref> Salisbury informed the [[Edward Somerset, 4th Earl of Worcester|Earl of Worcester]], considered to have recusant sympathies, and the suspected Catholic [[Henry Howard, 1st Earl of Northampton]], but kept news of the plot from the King, who was busy hunting in [[Cambridgeshire]] and not expected back for several days. Monteagle's servant, Thomas Ward, had family connections with the Wright brothers, and sent a message to Catesby about the betrayal. Catesby, who had been due to go hunting with the King, suspected that Tresham was responsible for the letter, and with Thomas Wintour confronted the recently recruited conspirator. Tresham managed to convince the pair that he had not written the letter, but urged them to abandon the plot.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|pp=180–182}}</ref> Salisbury was already aware of certain stirrings before he received the letter, but did not yet know the exact nature of the plot, or who exactly was involved. He therefore elected to wait, to see how events unfolded.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|pp=187–189}}</ref>