e," the latter having a masked entrance high
up in the wall, which led to a space under a gable projection
of the roof. For double security this contained yet an inner
hiding-place. In the existing Brooke House are incorporated the
modernised remains of this mansion.

CHAPTER IV

THE GUNPOWDER PLOT CONSPIRATORS

Lord Vaux of Harrowden, Sir William Catesby of Ashby St. Ledgers,
and Sir Thomas Tresham of Rushton Hall (all in Northamptonshire)
were upon more than one occasion arraigned before the Court of the
Star Chamber for harbouring Jesuits. The old mansions Ashby St.
Ledgers and Rushton fortunately still remain intact and preserve
many traditions of Romanist plots. Sir William Catesby's son Robert,
the chief conspirator, is said to have held secret meetings in the
curious oak-panelled room over the gate-house of the former, which
goes by the name of "the Plot Room." Once upon a time it was provided
with a secret means of escape. At Rushton Hall a hiding-place was
discovered in 1832 behind a lintel over a doorway; it was full
of bundles of manuscripts, prohibited books, and incriminating
correspondence of the conspirator Tresham. Another place of
concealment was situated in the chimney of the great hall and in
this Father Oldcorn was hidden for a time. Gayhurst, or Gothurst,
in Buckinghamshire, the seat of Sir Everard Digby, also remains
intact, one of the finest late Tudor buildings in the country;
unfortunately, however, only recently a remarkable "priest's
hole" that was here has been destroyed in consequence of modern
improvements. It was a double hiding-place, one situated beneath
the other; the lower one being so arranged as to receive light and
air from the bottom portion of a large mullioned window--a most
ingenious device. A secret passage in the hall had communication
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,