Chapter XLIX

At the beginning of the month of September, 1605, Father Garnet was at Gothurst,[A] three miles from Newport Pagnell, in the County of Buckinghamshire, and about the 5th of September from this still standing stately English home there proceeded the nucleus of a pilgrim-band bent for the famous well of St. Winifred, the British Saint, situated at Holywell, in North Wales.

Sir Everard Digby, the Master of Gothurst, was not of the company, as he was engaged in negotiating a match between the young Lord Vaux of Harrowden, then a youth of about fourteen years of age, with one of the daughters of the Lord Chamberlain, the Earl of Suffolk. But Lady Digby formed one of the band, as did the uncle of Lord Vaux, Edward Brookesby, Esquire, of Arundell House, Shouldby, Leicestershire, and his wife the Honourable Eleanor Brookesby, together with her sister the Honourable Anne Vaux.

At least two Jesuits formed part of the cavalcade, Father Henry Garnet and Father John Percy, the chaplain to Sir Everard Digby.

Father John Gerard, who had “reconciled to the Church,” as the phrase went, both Sir Everard and Lady Digby and was their intimate and honoured friend, as well as the friend of the Dowager Lady Vaux of Harrowden and her family, did not join the pilgrimage.

Father Gerard was most probably in Yorkshire at this time. For there is interesting evidence tending to prove that about the 25th of August, 1605, this Lancashire Jesuit was being harboured as the guest of Sir John and Lady Yorke, at Gowthwaite (or Goulthwaite) Hall, near Pateley Bridge, in Nidderdale.[A]

The following abstracts from the Evidence of two of Sir Everard Digby’s serving-men, who accompanied their devout, charming young mistress on this now famous pilgrimage, will give the best account of what took place on this occasion.[A] They are as follow: —

Gunpowder Plot Books — No. 153.

[Abstract.] ii. Dec. 1605 [In Cal. 11 Dec. 1605.] “Th’examination of James Garvey serv^t to S^r Everard Digby

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“Saieth about Bartholmew tide last his ladie roade to St. Wenefred’s Well from Gotehurst: first daie to Deyntrie:[A] 2 to Grantz:[B] 3 to Winters:[C] 4 to Mr. Lacon’s:[D] 5 to Shrewsberie: 6 to holte:[E] 7 to the well: they staied at the well but one night: and retorned the first day 2 to holt 2 to Mr. Banester’s at Wen[F] 2 to Mr. Lacon’s againe and so retorned to Gotehurst.

“Saieth ther were in that jorney the ladie Digby, Mrs. Vaux,[B] Mr. Brookysby and his wief Mr. Darcy[C] one Thomas Digby[D] a tall gentleman: one fisher[E] a little man: S^r frauncis Lacon and his daughter and two or 3 gentlemen more went with them from Mr. Lacon’s to the well, &c., &c.

(Endorsed) “11 Dec. 1605.

“The Examⁿ of James Garvie srv^t to S^r Everard Digby.”

Gunpowder Plot Books — No. 121.

[Abstract.] “Th’examination of William Handy servaunte to S^r Everard Digby taken the xxvij^th of November 1605

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[Par. 4] — “Saith that he haith bin at many masses since Easter last sometimes at the howse of the said Digby sometimes at the howse of the L: Vaux sometimes at the howse of Mr. Throgmorton at the howse of Mr. Graunt at the house of Mr. Winter and at the house of Mr. Lacon in Shropshire and at Shrosbury in an Inn and at a Castle in the Holte in Denbeghe or Flintshire, and at St. Wynyfride’s Well in an Inn, from whence the gentlewomen went barefoote to the said well and in their retourne from the said well at one Farmer’s howse about 7 miles from Shrosbury, and from thence to Mr. Lacon’s where they had masse whereat S^r Frauncis Lacon was from thence to Mr. Robert Winter’s and from thence to Mr. Graunte’s from thence to Deyntree and from thence to S^r Everard Digby at all which places they had masse.[A]

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(Endorsed) “27 Nov. 1605.

“Th’examination of Wm. Handy serv^t to S^r Everard Digby.”