the hearth of a fireplace, which could be raised an lowered like
a trap-door.[1]

[Footnote 1: See Fowlis's _Romish Treasons._]

In a letter from Garnet to Ann Vaux, preserved in the Record
Office, he thus describes his precarious situation: "After we
had been in the hoale seven days and seven nights and some odd
hours, every man may well think we were well wearyed, and indeed
so it was, for we generally satte, save that some times we could
half stretch ourselves, the place not being high eno', and we had
our legges so straitened that we could not, sitting, find place
for them, so that we both were in continuous paine of our legges,
and both our legges, especially mine, were much swollen. We were
very merry and content within, and heard the searchers every day
most curious over us, which made me indeed think the place would
be found. When we came forth we appeared like ghosts."[2]

[Footnote 2: _State Papers_, Domestic (James I.).]

There is an old timber-framed cottage near the modern mansion
of Hindlip which is said to have had its share in sheltering the
plotters. A room is pointed out where Digby and Catesby concealed
themselves, and from one of the chimneys at some time or another
a priest was captured and led to execution.




CHAPTER III