Thomas Wintour, English Gunpowder Plot conspirator (b. 1571)

The Wintour Brothers: Pivotal Figures in the Gunpowder Plot

Robert Wintour (1568 – 30 January 1606) and his younger brother, Thomas Wintour (1571 or 1572 – 31 January 1606), whose surname is also frequently spelt Winter, were central figures in the infamous Gunpowder Plot. This ambitious and ultimately failed conspiracy, hatched in the early years of King James I's reign, aimed to assassinate the monarch and Parliament simultaneously on 5 November 1605. Their involvement highlights the deep-seated religious tensions of the era, particularly among English Catholics who felt increasingly persecuted.

The brothers were closely connected to other key conspirators. Robert Catesby, the plot's instigator and mastermind, was their cousin, a familial link that underscored the plot's tightly knit and secretive nature. Following the discovery and failure of the conspiracy, their half-brother, John Wintour, also became entangled in the fallout, joining them as they attempted to evade capture.

Thomas Wintour: Scholar, Soldier, and Staunch Catholic

Thomas Wintour stands out among the conspirators for his remarkable intellect and diverse background. He was a highly educated man, fluent in several European languages and formally trained as a lawyer. However, he chose a path far removed from legal practice, embarking instead on a military career. He fought for England in various conflicts across the European continent, including the Low Countries (during the Eighty Years' War against Spanish rule), France, and potentially even in Central Europe, honing skills that would later prove ironic in his failed revolutionary efforts.

By 1600, a significant transformation occurred in Thomas's life as he abandoned his military pursuits and became a fervent Catholic. This shift was not uncommon among individuals during a period when religious identity was intrinsically linked to political allegiance and personal freedom. Facing increasingly stringent penal laws under Queen Elizabeth I and later King James I, which imposed heavy fines, restricted public office, and criminalized Catholic worship, many English Catholics felt marginalized and oppressed.

Driven by his newfound religious zeal and concern for his fellow Catholics, Thomas frequently travelled to the continent. On several occasions, he desperately entreated the Spanish Crown for support on behalf of England's beleaguered Catholic population. He proposed that, with substantial Spanish intervention, a Catholic rebellion in England was not only probable but also potentially successful in overthrowing the Protestant regime and restoring Catholicism as the state religion. His appeals, however, largely fell on deaf ears.

Why did Thomas Wintour seek Spanish support for English Catholics?
Thomas Wintour sought Spanish support because Spain was the preeminent Catholic power in Europe, often seen as a champion of the Counter-Reformation. He hoped that Spanish military and financial aid could instigate a rebellion among discontented English Catholics, leading to the restoration of Catholicism in England and an end to their persecution under Protestant monarchs.

The Genesis of the Plot: A Desperate Alliance

Thomas's repeated attempts to secure foreign intervention ultimately failed, particularly as momentum began to build behind a peace settlement between England and Spain. The Treaty of London, signed in August 1604, formally ended the Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604), rendering any hope of Spanish military aid for an English Catholic uprising virtually impossible. Faced with this diplomatic reality, Thomas and other disillusioned Catholics turned to more radical measures.

In 1604, Thomas decided to join forces with his cousin, Robert Catesby. Catesby's audacious plan aimed to address the perceived Catholic oppression by an extreme act: assassinating King James I and his government by blowing up the Houses of Parliament. This would then be followed by a popular revolt in the Midlands, a region with a significant Catholic presence. The ultimate goal was to seize control of the young Princess Elizabeth, James's daughter, and install her as a titular queen under a Catholic regency, thereby re-establishing Catholicism in England. This part of the plan demonstrates the conspirators' long-term vision beyond just regicide.

Thomas once again ventured to the continent, attempting for a final time to elicit Spanish support, but to no avail. Instead, during this journey, he encountered Guy Fawkes, a devout English Catholic who had been fighting for Spain in the Low Countries. Fawkes, known for his military experience and expertise with explosives, proved to be an invaluable recruit for Catesby's scheme. Thomas returned to England with Fawkes, bringing a critical operational asset to the conspiracy.

Robert Wintour, known for his unwavering Catholic faith and the owner of Huddington Court near Worcester, joined the conspiracy the following year, in 1605. His participation, like that of many others, was driven by intense religious conviction and a desperate desire to see Catholicism restored in England.

The Unraveling and Final Stand

The meticulously planned Gunpowder Plot began to unravel dramatically following the delivery of an anonymous letter on 26 October 1605 to William Parker, 4th Baron Monteagle. The letter, believed to have been sent by Monteagle's brother-in-law, Francis Tresham (who was also a conspirator), warned him to stay away from Parliament on the fateful day, hinting at a "terrible blow." Monteagle, whose sister Elizabeth was married to Robert Wintour, immediately reported the letter to Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, James I's chief minister, setting in motion the investigation that would expose the plot.

Upon learning of the letter, Thomas Wintour and Robert Catesby confronted Francis Tresham, threatening to kill him for what they perceived as his betrayal. Tresham, however, managed to convince them of his innocence, claiming the letter was a mere hoax. At this critical juncture, recognizing the immense danger, Thomas reportedly urged Catesby to abandon the entire scheme, fearing its imminent exposure. His plea, however, went unheeded by the determined Catesby.

The plot reached its climax when Guy Fawkes was discovered and captured in the cellars beneath the House of Lords at approximately midnight on 4 November 1605, guarding the barrels of gunpowder. With Fawkes apprehended, the remaining conspirators knew their time was short. Thomas Wintour immediately fled to Robert's ancestral home, Huddington Court, hoping to regroup.

Catesby and most of the other plotters embarked on a desperate two-day journey across the Midlands, attempting to incite a rebellion among the local Catholic populace. Their efforts were largely in vain, with few willing to join a seemingly hopeless cause. With an ever-diminishing group of supporters, they eventually sought refuge at Holbeche House in Staffordshire. Here, exhausted and resigned to their fate, they awaited the arrival of government forces. Thomas, by then having rejoined the group, made the conscious decision to remain with them and face the inevitable.

On 8 November 1605, government troops besieged Holbeche House. In the ensuing firefight, a tragic accident occurred: some of the stored gunpowder, damp from rain, was brought too close to the fire, causing it to ignite and injure several conspirators, including Catesby. During the brief but intense confrontation, Thomas Wintour was shot in the shoulder and captured. Robert Wintour, who had left Holbeche before the battle, managed to evade capture for several more weeks, but was eventually apprehended in January 1606, hidden near Hagley Park.

Confession, Trial, and Execution

Much of our historical understanding of the Gunpowder Plot, including the intricate details of its planning and the motivations of its participants, is derived from the comprehensive confessions given by Thomas Wintour. These confessions, extracted in the Tower of London in November 1605, likely under duress or torture (though official records downplay this), provided invaluable insights for the authorities.

The Wintour brothers, along with the other surviving conspirators, faced trial for high treason in Westminster Hall on 27 January 1606. Unsurprisingly, they were found guilty. Just a few days later, on 30 January 1606, Robert Wintour was executed, followed by Thomas Wintour on 31 January 1606. They, and other plotters, endured the horrific punishment reserved for traitors: being hanged, drawn, and quartered. This brutal sentence involved:

Their heads were then displayed on spikes at prominent locations in London, serving as a grim warning to anyone contemplating similar acts against the Crown. The Wintour brothers remain poignant figures in English history, epitomizing the desperate measures some were willing to take in an age defined by profound religious and political conflict.

Where were Robert and Thomas Wintour executed?
Robert and Thomas Wintour were executed in London, specifically at Westminster, near the Old Palace Yard, the very site they had intended to destroy.
What was the significance of Thomas Wintour's confessions?
Thomas Wintour's confessions were highly significant as they provided detailed insights into the Gunpowder Plot, including the identities of the conspirators, the planning stages, and their ultimate objectives. These confessions served as crucial evidence for the prosecution during the subsequent trials.