The Third Wintour Brother and the Gunpowder Treason
John Wintour , executed Redhill, April 1606
As we are now entering the Gunpowder Treason Season, thought that would share some of my (inconclusive) research of the life of John Wintour, the younger half brother of Thomas Wintour and Robert Wintour, who were both executed for their involvement in the Gunpowder Plot .I have used the spelling 'Wintour ', though 'Winter' or 'Wynter' are sometimes used for the family name. For this piece, have broadly taken the official 'King's Book' version of what happened at face value, though quite understand why others choose not to.
The Scene at the Execution of the Gunpowder Plotters. Date: 1606 Nikolaus Visscher (1597–1651)
Following the 400th anniversary of the Plot in 2005, a new wave of books documentaries, TV dramas have emerged, The downfall of the two elder Wintour brothers was well portrayed and sometimes embellished . There is a strong contrast- the elder Robert, married with children, owning land, wealth, and the moated manor of Huddington Court, who staked and lost everything. Generally thought to have joined the Gunpowder conspiracy quite late, swearing his oath of admittance at 'The Catherine Wheel Inn', Oxford in January 1605. It is quite possible that he was asked to join as the conspirators urgently needed more money as their plans progressed beyond devastating Westminster with Gunpowder, Robert largely remained active in the West Midlands trying to gather arms and horses for a post explosion rebellion.
Thomas the wayward second son, who had to make his own way in life through soldiering, taking part in treasonable activities, trying to encourage Spain to invade and inciting the English Catholics to rebel to support them. .Joined the conspiracy perhaps as early as February 1604. Spoke several languages and possibly trained as a lawyer. Thomas Wintour had originally fought in the Low Countries against Spain but changed sides. In 1600 he went on pilgrimage to Rome. In 1602 he visited the Spanish Court to raise support, and enlisted Guido Fawkes into the conspiracy. He was one of the Plotters who were beavering away in Westminster planting the gunpowder.
Thomas had previously worked on a strange scheme to procure 1,500 horses (FRASER), for the use of an invading Spanish army once they landed, as if such a large number of beasts could be trained for battle without raising suspicion. The Treaty of London, which brought peace with Spain in 1604 ended such plans. Thomas did manage to gain the promise of some funds from the Spanish Court during his 1602 mission, and part of it was even paid (DAVIS).
The Wintour family seemed to have occupied Huddingon Court, near Droitwhich , Worcestershire, as from 1487. George Wintour's first wife was Jane Ingelby, from a Yorkshire family, whose brother Francis Ingelby was a Jesuit priest executed in York in 1586. Jane was mother to Robert and Thomas. It is apparent that she died when the boys were young. George Wintour remarried and had three more children, John, Dorothy, and Anne. Dorothy was to marry another of the Gunpowder Plotters, John Grant.
But what of John Wintour, their young half brother ? Most likely born in 1586 or 1587. John attended Oxford University but left in 1603 , Like many young Catholic men, would have been unable to attain a degree without swearing the oath of allegiance to Queen Elizabeth. It is assumed that he drifted back to Huddington Court , and placed there on 5th November 1605. How much John would have known about the Treason is not easy to gauge. Paul Durst in his 1970 work 'Intended Treason' was one of the few historians to have noted the existence of John Wintour and his connection to the Gunpowder Treason (DURST). .
In 1605, Sir Everard Digby , another of the 'Plotters from the West Midlands, had organised a hunting party at the Red Lion Inn, Dunchurch for the evening of the 5th November 1605. Many local Catholic gentry were assembled. A messenger was sent to John Wintour who was in Rugby to 'come and make merry'. John duly left with his servant Thomas Edgin to attend. (FRASER).
But the party goers were interrupted by the arrival of Robert Catesby, and other leading conspirators including Robert Wintour. Catesby claimed - that the houses of Westminster had been blown up and proceeded to announce that an insurrection of English Catholics was now underway. Quite a number of those present left, realising that they were about to be tricked into committing Treason. John Wintour presumably could have taken the opportunity to leave, but chose to remain with the rebels.
The English Catholic insurrection planned in the wake of the Gunpowder Treason proceeded in a dismal fashion. The rebel band made their way through the West Midlands, trying to gain recruits and failing, even losing their original supporters. They made a visit to Huddington Court, meeting up with Thomas Wintour who had arrived from London. And also managed to steal some horses from Warwick Castle. Eventually converged on Holbeach House in Staffordshire . John Wintour was still with them but slipped away on the night of 7th- 8th November 1605. Robert Wintour had fled around the same time. It is not clear whether John went back to Huddington Court, handed himself into or was arrested by the militia men who were pursuing the rebels, but he was amongst those rebels who were interrogated by Walsh, the sheriff of Worcestershire on 12th November 1605 ( NICHOLLS)
On 8th November 1605 the rebels made a defiant last stand at Holbeach House, Robert Catesby, Thomas Percy, John and Christopher Wright were killed. Thomas Wintour fought the sheriff's men, sword in hand, but was shot in the shoulder, and was amongst those captured. Robert Wintour remained on the run and was not caught until 9th January 1606.
After the initial interrogations, it was decided to move the prisoners to the Tower of London for further interrogation and committal . There is some confusion over John Wintour's predicament, though seems that John was amongst those sent to the Tower ( DURST, NICHOLSON) . Paul Durst in fact made the claim that John Wintour was indited with the leading conspirators including his two half brothers. The trial took place on 27th January 1606, and is depicted in a record known as ' The King's Book ', essentially a collection of speeches, along with the official version of the trial, interrogation records. Combing through this collection, there seems to be no mention of John Wintour as either being indited or even mentioned.
Furthermore , Thomas Wintour was interrogated in the Tower at least four times, but according to the official interrogation records, made no mention of John Wintour. (The accuracy of the interrogation records are disputed). After being found guilty, Thomas asked the Court whether he could be hanged for his brother as well as himself. Paul Durst raised the question, ( if we accept that John was tried at the same time) which brother he was trying to protect, or perhaps he meant both brothers? Robert Wintour was amongst those hanged, drawn and quartered at St Paul's Churchyard on 30th January 1606, Thomas Wintour followed him on 31st January 1606, meeting the same fate along with three other 'Plotters including Guido Fawkes, at the Old Palace Yard at Westminster.
The second part to 'The Third Wintour Brother' can be found here
Sources
Please note that any errors or howlers in this piece are my responsibility, and can not be connected to any of the source material that I have cited.
Thank you to all visitors to this blog from different parts in the world. Hope that you all can stay safe and well during these challenging times.
Michael Bully
1st October 2021
Books
DAVIS, John Paul. 'Pity for the Guy'-A Biography of Guy Fawkes' Peter Owen, 2010
DURST ,Paul ' Intended Treason- What really happened in the Gunpowder Plot' ,W H Allen, 1970
FRASER, Antonia, 'The Gunpowder Plot -Terror and Faith in 1605' , Wedienfield & Nicholson, 1996
NICHOLLS, Mark 'Investigating Gunpowder Plot' , Manchester University Press, 1991
TRAVERS, James, 'Gunpowder-The Players behind the Plot', National Archives, 2005
Websites
The Kings Book James I Gunpowder Plot Incredible collection of assembled documents to read online which reflect the 'official' narrative.
Huddington Parish entry British History On line/ History of Worcestershire
The Link Between the Burbury Family & The Gunpowder Plot
Guy Fawkes & the Gunpowder Plot (Public Facebook Group)
Other Blogs by Michael Bully
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