At Ostend, Wintour was introduced to Mr. Fawkes by Sir Wm. Stanley. Guy
Fawkes was a man of desperate character. In his person he was tall and
athletic, his countenance was manly, and the determined expression of his
features was not a little heightened by a profusion of brown hair, and an
auburn-coloured beard. He was descended from a respectable family in
Yorkshire, and having soon squandered the property he inherited at the
decease of his father, his restless spirit associated itself with the
discontented and factious of his age. Wintour and Fawkes came over to
England together, and shortly after met Catesby, Thomas Percy, and John
Wright, in a house behind St. Clement's; where, in a chamber with no other
person present, each administered an oath of secresy to the other, and then
went into another room to hear mass, and to receive the sacrament. Percy
was then sent to hire a house fit for their purpose, and found one
belonging to Mr. Whinniard, Yeoman to the King's Wardrobe of the Beds, then
in the occupation of one Henry Ferrers; of which, after some negociation,
he succeeded in obtaining possession, at the rent of twelve pounds per
annum, and the key was delivered to Guy Fawkes, who acted as Mr. Percy's
man, and assumed the name of John Johnson. Their object in hiring this
house was to obtain an easy communication with the upper Parliament House,
and by digging through the wall that separated them, to form an extensive
mine under the foundations. A house was also hired in Lambeth, to serve as
a depository for the powder, and Mr. Keys, who was then admitted as one of
the number, was placed in charge. The whole party then dispersed, and
agreed to meet again at Michaelmas. At Michaelmas it was resolved that the
time was arrived when they should commence working at their mine; but
various causes hindered them from beginning, till within a fortnight of
Christmas. The party, at that time, consisting of five, then entered upon
their work; and, having first provided themselves with baked meat that they
might not have occasion to leave the house, they worked incessantly till
Christmas Eve, underpropping the walls, as they proceeded, with wood. A