Robert Cecil, 1st Earl of Salisbury

Cecil and the Gunpowder Plot

In 1605 Cecil was extensively involved in events surrounding the Gunpowder Plot, as naturally would be the case with someone in his position. There are some who argue that Cecil was in point of fact the éminence grise behind the plot itself. On the one hand, if James I lived through it, it would perhaps be a mechanism to move James I's position from one of relative tolerance of the catholics to one of repression. On the other hand, if James I was assassinated, then his heir, Henry, Prince of Wales, would be made sovereign, someone more closely associated with the 'Rosicrucianist' networks spreading through Europe, and likely a more pliable sovereign for the English parliamentary state's interests. A number of these arguments are interesting but ultimately inconclusive. Certainly it would not be the only occasion when the agenda of the British secret service was somewhat less desirable than would appear to be for the greater public good.

Related Topics:
1605 - Gunpowder Plot - Henry, Prince of Wales

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One of the arguments used to attempt to inculpate Cecil in the plot are the death-bed allegations of Robert Catesby's servant stating that Cecil and Catesby, one of the principal Gunpowder Plotters, met on three separate occasions in the period leading up to the events of the night of November 5 1605. This allegation may of course be entirely unfounded given that the witness may well have been attempting to smear Cecil.

Related Topics:
Robert Catesby - November 5 - 1605

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More interesting however, are the circumstances of the death of another person arrested in connection with the Plot, Francis Tresham, who some argue may well have been an agent working for Cecil. His death was officially listed as one of natural causes, although some have argued that he was poisoned in order to prevent him from making revelations which would not have been in either Cecil or Lord Monteagle's interests.

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