Treason > Guy Fawkes, or The history of the gunpowder plot

Tin: GUNPOWDER PLOT. 17
sisters had married Lords StourtoQ and Mount-
eagle. Indeed, Tresham so passionately re¬
quired that Lord Mounteagle should have
warning of his danger, that very high words
ensued; and when he was thwarted in his
wishes, he hinted that the money he had pro¬
mised would not be forthcoming ; and from
this time he ceased to attend their councils.
On Saturday, the 26th of October, ten days
before the meeting of Parliament, Lord Mount-
eagle unexpectedly gave a supper in a house
which he had not lately occupied. Circum¬
stances have given rise to a belief that he was
privy to the plot at the time that he invited
his friends, and that the supper was only given
as a convenient opportunity of discovering the
conspiracy to them. Be this as it may, whilst
he was at table, a letter was brought to him by
■ 1 one of his pages, who stated that he had re¬
ceived it in the street from a stranger, who
pressed its instant delivery into his master’s
- hands. The letter was as follows :—
‘ My Lord,—Out of the love I bear to some
1 of your friends, I have a care for your preserv-
ation ; therefore, I would advise you, as you
| tender your life, to devise some excuse to shift
) off* your attendance on this Parliament, for
God and man have determined to punish the
wickedness of the times. And think not
slightly of this advertisement ; but retire your¬
self into the country, where you may expect
| the event in safety. For though there be no
appearance of any stir, yet I say they will re¬
ceive a terrible blow this Parliament ; and yet
they shall not see who hurts them. This coun¬
sel is not to be contemned, because it may do
you good, and can do you no harm ; for the