with it, and entrance was obtained through part of the flooring
of an apartment, the movable part of the boards revolving upon
pivots and sufficiently solid to vanquish any suspicion as to
a hollow space beneath.

[Illustration: ASHBY ST. LEDGERS, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE]

[Illustration: THE PLOT ROOM, ASHBY ST. LEGERS]

As may be supposed, tradition says that at the time of Digby's
arrest he was dragged forth from this hole, but history shows
that he was taken prisoner at Holbeach House (where, it will be
remembered, the conspirators Catesby and Percy were shot), and
led to execution. For a time Digby sought security at Coughton
Court, the seat of the Throckmortons, in Warwickshire. The house of
this old Roman Catholic family, of course, had its hiding-holes,
one of which remains to this day. Holbeach as well as Hagley
Hall, the homes of the Litteltons, have been rebuilt. The latter
was pulled down in the middle of the eighteenth century. Here
it was that Stephen Littleton and Robert Winter were captured
through the treachery of the cook. Grant's house, Norbrook, in
Warwickshire, has also given way to a modern one.

Ambrose Rookwood's seat, Coldham Hall, near Bury St. Edmunds,
exists and retains its secret chapel and hiding-places. There are
three of the latter; one of them, now a small withdrawing-room,
is entered from the oak wainscoted hall. When the house was in
the market a few years ago, the "priests' holes" duly figured in
the advertisements with the rest of the apartments and offices.
It read a little odd, this juxtaposition of modern conveniences