Editing Gunpowder Plot (section)

===Initial recruitment===
[[Robert Catesby]] (1573–1605), a man of "ancient, historic and distinguished lineage", was the inspiration behind the plot. He was described by contemporaries as "a good-looking man, about six feet tall, athletic and a good swordsman". Along with several other conspirators, he took part in the [[Essex Rebellion]] in 1601, during which he was wounded and captured. Queen Elizabeth allowed him to escape with his life after fining him 4,000&nbsp;[[Mark (currency)#England and Scotland|marks]] (equivalent to more than £6&nbsp;million in 2008), after which he sold his estate in [[Chastleton]].{{efn|Comparing relative average earnings of £3,000 in 1601 with 2008.}}<ref name=MeasuringWorth /><ref>{{Harvnb|Haynes|2005|p=47}}</ref><ref name="NorthcotePP44-46" />

In 1603, Catesby helped to organise a mission to the new king of Spain, [[Philip III of Spain|Philip III]], urging Philip to launch an invasion attempt on England, which they assured him would be well supported, particularly by the English Catholics. [[Thomas Wintour]] (1571–1606) was chosen as the emissary, but the Spanish king, although sympathetic to the plight of Catholics in England, was intent on making peace with James.<ref>{{Harvnb|Northcote Parkinson|1976|pp=45–46}}</ref> Wintour had also attempted to convince the Spanish envoy Don [[Juan de Tassis, 1st Count of Villamediana|Juan de Tassis]] that "3,000 Catholics" were ready and waiting to support such an invasion.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|p=93}}</ref> Concern was voiced by [[Pope Clement VIII]] that using violence to achieve a restoration of Catholic power in England would result in the destruction of those that remained.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|p=90}}</ref>

According to contemporary accounts,{{efn|Some of the information in these accounts would have been given under pain or threat of torture, and may also have been subject to government interference, and should therefore be viewed with caution.}} in February 1604, Catesby invited Thomas Wintour to his house in [[Lambeth]], where they discussed Catesby's plan to re-establish Catholicism in England by blowing up the House of Lords during the State Opening of Parliament.<ref name="NorthcotePP44-46" /> Wintour was known as a competent scholar, able to speak several languages, and he had fought with the English army in the Netherlands.<ref>{{Harvnb|Haynes|2005|p=50}}</ref> His uncle, [[Francis Ingleby]], had been executed for being a Catholic priest in 1586, and Wintour later converted to Catholicism.<ref name="Fraserpp5961"/> Also present at the meeting was [[John and Christopher Wright|John Wright]], a devout Catholic said to be one of the best swordsmen of his day, and a man who had taken part with Catesby in the Earl of Essex's rebellion three years earlier.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|p=58}}</ref> Despite his reservations over the possible repercussions should the attempt fail, Wintour agreed to join the conspiracy, perhaps persuaded by Catesby's rhetoric: "Let us give the attempt and where it faileth, pass no further."<ref name="NorthcotePP44-46">{{Harvnb|Northcote Parkinson|1976|pp=44–46}}</ref>

Wintour travelled to [[Flanders]] to enquire about Spanish support. While there, he sought out Guy Fawkes (1570–1606), a committed Catholic who had served as a soldier in the [[Southern Netherlands]] under the command of [[William Stanley (Elizabethan)|William Stanley]], and in 1603 had been recommended for a captaincy.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|pp=84–89}}</ref> Accompanied by John Wright's brother Christopher, Fawkes had also been a member of the 1603 delegation to the Spanish court pleading for an invasion of England. Wintour told Fawkes that "{{langx|en-emodeng|label=none|some good frends of his wished his company in Ingland}}", and that certain gentlemen "{{langx|en-emodeng|label=none|were uppon a resolution to doe some whatt in Ingland if the pece with Spain healped us nott}}". The two men returned to England late in April 1604, telling Catesby that Spanish support was unlikely. Thomas Percy, Catesby's friend and John Wright's brother-in-law, was introduced to the plot several weeks later.<ref name="ODNB Thomas Wintour"/><ref name="NorthcotePP46-47">{{Harvnb|Northcote Parkinson|1976|pp=46–47}}</ref>

Percy had found employment with his kinsman the Earl of Northumberland, and by 1596, was his agent for the family's northern estates. About 1600–1601 he served with his patron in the [[Low Countries]]. At some point during Northumberland's command in the Low Countries, Percy became his agent in his communications with James I.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|pp=47–48}}</ref> Percy was reputedly a "serious" character who had converted to the Catholic faith. His early years were, according to a Catholic source, marked by a tendency to rely on "his sword and personal courage".<ref>{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|p=49}}; {{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|p=50}}</ref> Northumberland, although not a Catholic himself, planned to build a strong relationship with James I in order to better the prospects of English Catholics, and to reduce the family disgrace caused by his separation from his wife Martha Wright, a favourite of Elizabeth I.

Thomas Percy's meetings with James seemed to go well. Percy returned with promises of support for the Catholics,<!-- At the same time James was making similar noises to the Puritans p51 --> and Northumberland believed that James would go so far as to allow [[Mass in the Catholic Church|Mass]] in private houses, so as not to cause public offence. Percy, keen to improve his standing, went even further, claiming that the future king would guarantee the safety of English Catholics.<ref>{{Harvnb|Fraser|2005|pp=50–52}}</ref>