CHAPTER XIII.
THE TRIAL.
The trial of the conspirators, which had been delayed in order that fullevidence might be procured against them, was, at length, appointed totake place in Westminster Hall, on Monday, the 27th of January, 1606.Early on the morning of this day, the eight surviving confederates(Garnet and Oldcorne being at this time secreted at Hendlip) wereconveyed in two large covered wherries from the fortress to the place oftrial. In spite of the severity of the weather,--it was snowing heavily,and the river was covered with sheets of ice,--they were attended by avast number of boats filled with persons anxious to obtain a sight ofthem. Such was the abhorrence in which the actors in the conspiracy wereheld by the populace, that, not content with menaces and execrations,many of these persons hurled missiles against the wherries, and wouldhave proceeded to further violence if they had not been restrained bythe pikemen. When the prisoners landed, a tremendous and fearful shoutwas raised by the mob stationed at the head of the stairs, and itrequired the utmost efforts of the guard to protect them from injury.Two lines of soldiers, with calivers on their shoulders, were drawn outfrom the banks of the river to the entrance of the Hall, and betweenthem the conspirators marched.
The melancholy procession was headed by Sir William Waad, who wasfollowed by an officer of the guard and six halberdiers. Then came theexecutioner, carrying the gleaming implement of death with its edgeturned from the prisoners. He was followed by Sir Everard Digby, whosenoble figure and handsome countenance excited much sympathy among thebeholders, and Ambrose Rookwood. Next came the two Winters, both of whomappeared greatly dejected. Next, John Grant and Robert Bates,--Catesby'sservant, who had been captured at Holbeach. And lastly, Keyes andFawkes.
Bitterly and justly incensed as were the multitude against theconspirators, their feelings underwent some change as they beheld thehaggard countenance and shattered frame of Guy Fawkes. It was soonunderstood that he was the individual who had been found in the vaultnear the Parliament House, with the touchwood and matches in his beltready to fire the train; and the greatest curiosity was exhibited to seehim.
Just as the foremost of the conspirators reached the entrance of theHall, a terrific yell, resembling nothing human, except the roar of athousand tigers thirsting for blood, was uttered by the mob, and atremendous but ineffectual attempt was made to break through the linesof the guard. Never before had so large an assemblage been collected onthe spot. The whole of the space extending on one hand from WestminsterHall to the gates of Whitehall, and on the other to the Abbey, wasfilled with spectators; and every roof, window, and buttress wasoccupied. Nor was the interior of the Hall less crowded. Not an inch ofroom was unoccupied; and it was afterwards complained in Parliament,that the members of the house had been so pressed and incommoded, thatthey could not hear what was said at the arraignment.
The conspirators were first conveyed to the court of the Star-Chamber,where they remained till the Lords Commissioners had arrived, and takentheir seats. The commissioners were the Earl of Nottingham, Lord HighAdmiral of England; the Earl of Suffolk, Steward of the Household; theEarl of Worcester, Master of the Horse; the Earl of Devonshire, Masterof the Ordnance; the Earl of Northampton, Warden of the Cinque-Ports;the Earl of Salisbury, Principal Secretary of State; Sir John Popham,Lord Chief Justice; Sir Thomas Fleming, Lord Chief Baron of theExchequer; and Sir Thomas Walmisley and Sir Peter Warburton, Knights,and both Justices of the Common Pleas.
Summoned by an usher, the conspirators were conducted to a platformcovered with black cloth, which had been erected at the lower end of theHall. A murmur of indignation, vainly sought to be repressed by thegrave looks of the Commissioners, burst from the immense assemblage, asthey one by one ascended the steps of the platform. Guy Fawkes was thelast to mount, and his appearance was followed by a deep groan.Supporting himself against the rail of the scaffold, he surveyed theassemblage with a stern and undaunted look. As he gazed around, he couldnot help marvelling at the vast multitude before him. The whole of thepeers and all the members of the House of Commons were present, while ina box on the left, though screened by a lattice, sat the Queen andPrince Henry; and in another on the right, and protected in the sameway, the King and his courtiers.
Silence being peremptorily commanded, the indictment was read, whereinthe prisoners were charged with conspiring to blow up the King and thepeers with gunpowder, and with attempting to incite the Papists, andother persons, to open rebellion; to which all the conspirators, to theno small surprise of those who heard them, and were aware that they hadsubscribed their confessions, pleaded not guilty.
"How, sir!" cried the Lord Chief Justice, in a stern tone to Fawkes."With what face can you pretend to deny the indictment, when you wereactually taken in the cellar with the powder, and have already confessedyour treasonable intentions?"
"I do not mean to deny what I have confessed, my lord," replied Fawkes."But this indictment contains many matters which I neither can nor willcountenance by assent or silence. And I therefore deny it."
"It is well," replied the Lord Chief Justice. "Let the trial proceed."
The indictment being opened by Sir Edward Philips, sergeant-at-law, hewas followed by Sir Edward Coke, the attorney-general, who in aneloquent and elaborate speech, which produced an extraordinary effectupon the assemblage, expatiated upon the monstrous nature of the plot,which he characterised as "the greatest treason that ever was plotted inEngland, and against the greatest king that ever reigned in England;"and after narrating the origin and progress of the conspiracy, concludedby desiring that the confessions of the prisoners should be openly read.This done, the jury were ordered by the Lord Chief Justice to retire,and the injunction being obeyed, they almost instantly returned with averdict of guilty.
A deep, dread silence then prevailed throughout the Hall, and every eyewas bent upon the conspirators, all of whom maintained a composeddemeanour. They were then questioned by the Lord Chief Justice whetherthey had anything to say why judgment of death should not be pronouncedagainst them.
"All I have to crave of your lordships," said Thomas Winter, "is, thatbeing the chief offender of the two, I may die for my brother andmyself."
"And I ask only that my brother's request may not be granted," saidRobert Winter. "If he is condemned, I do not desire to live."
"I have nothing to solicit--not even pardon," said Keyes, carelessly."My fortunes were always desperate, and are better now than they haveever been."
"I desire mercy," said Rookwood, "not from any fear of death, butbecause so shameful an ending will leave a perpetual stain upon my nameand blood. I humbly submit myself to the King, and pray him to imitateour Supreme Judge, who sometimes punishes corporally, but not mortally."
"I have been guilty of a conspiracy, intended but never effected," saidJohn Grant, "and solicit forgiveness on that plea."
"My crime has been fidelity to my master," said Bates. "If the King willlet me live, I will serve him as faithfully as I did Mr. Catesby."
"I would not utter a word," said Fawkes, looking sternly round; "if Idid not fear my silence might be misinterpreted. I would not accept apardon if it were offered me. I regard the project as a glorious one,and only lament its failure."
"Silence the vile traitor," said the Earl of Salisbury, rising.
And as he spoke two halberdiers sprang up the steps of the scaffold, andplacing themselves on either side of Fawkes, prepared to gag him.
"I have done," he said, contemptuously regarding them.
"I have nothing to say save this," said Sir Everard Digby, bowing to thejudges. "If any of your lordships will tell me you forgive me, I shallgo more cheerfully to the scaffold."
"Heaven forgive you, Sir Everard," said the Earl of Nottingham,returning his reverence, "as we do."
"I humbly thank your lordship," replied Digby.
Sentence was then passed upon the prisoners by Lord Chief JusticePopham, and they were removed from the platform.
As they issued from the Hall, and
it became known to the assemblagewithout that they were condemned, a shout of fierce exultation rent theair, and they were so violently assailed on all sides, that they hadgreat difficulty in reaching the wherries. The guard, however,succeeded, at length, in accomplishing their embarkation, and they wereconveyed back in safety to the Tower.