Thomas Percy Biography

Appointed Admiral of the Fleet

Negotiates peace with France

Created Earl of Worcester by Richard II

Death of Henry Percy, killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury

Death of Henry Percy, killed at the Battle of Shrewsbury

Following James's succession to the English throne in 1603, Percy became disenchanted with the new king, whom he supposed had reneged on his promises of toleration for English Catholics.

Thomas Percy meets with Robert Catesby, a religious zealot similarly unimpressed with the new royal dynasty, and joins Catesby's conspiracy to kill the king and his ministers by blowing up the House of Lords with gunpowder.

Thomas Percy, Catesby's friend and John Wright's brother-in-law, was introduced to the plot.

Thomas Percy, Catesbys friend and John Wrights brother-in-law, was introduced to the plot

Thomas Percy meets with Robert Catesby, a religious zealot similarly unimpressed with the new royal dynasty, & joins Catesbys conspiracy to kill the king and his ministers by blowing up the House of Lords with gunpowder

Percy is to remain in London and secure the capture of Prince Henry

Percy provided the group with funding and secured the leases to certain properties in London, one of which was the undercroft directly beneath the House of Lords, in which the gunpowder was finally placed.

Percys words at the Duck and Drake meeting were "Shall we always, gentlemen, talk and never do anything?".

The conspirators returned to London in October 1604, when Robert Keyes, a "desperate man, ruined and indebted" was admitted to the group. Fawkes, Catesby, Wright & Wintour agree the plot at the Duck & Drake in the Strand.

The plotters take a secret oath at the Duck and Drake inn near the Strand in London, they include Thomas Percy, Robert Catesby and his cousin Thomas Winterour, John Wright and Guy Fawkes.

Fawkes, Catesby, Wright & Wintour agree the plot at the Duck & Drake in the Strand

The first meeting between the five conspirators took place on 20 May 1604, probably at the Duck and Drake Inn, just off the Strand, Thomas Wintours usual residence when staying in London

The conspirators returned to London in October 1604, when Robert Keyes, a "desperate man, ruined and indebted" was admitted to the group

Percy hires the cellar beneath Parliament where the gunpowder barrels will be stored. Takes part in the Gunpowder Plot & is mortally wounded

Percy hires the cellar beneath Parliament where the gunpowder barrels will be stored

Percy obtains the lease for the undercroft directly underneath the first-floor House of Lords, it was into this room that the plotters moved 36 barrels of gunpowder from Catesbys lodgings on the opposite side of the River Thames

This record states: Percys patron, the Earl of Northumberland, appointed him to the Honourable Corps of Gentlemen at Arms, a mounted troop of 50 bodyguards to the King.

This record states: Through Northumberlands agents Dudley Carleton and John Hippesley, Thomas Percy subleased a house in Westminster from Henry Ferrers, a tenant of John Whynniard, and installed Fawkes there as his servant, "John Johnson".

This record states: While the plotters did not yet have a detailed plan, Percys appointment on 9 June as a Gentleman Pensioner gave him a reason to establish a London base.

Present at the search of the undercroft where the party are told by the owner of the house, John Whynniard, that its tenancy was then held by Thomas Percy, Monteagle then tells Suffolk the letter could be from Thomas Percy. As Fawkes identified himself as John Johnson, servant to Thomas Percy, it was Percys name which appeared on the Governments first arrest warrant

When the plot was exposed early on 5 November 1605, Percy immediately fled to the Midlands, catching up with the others en route to Dunchurch in Warwickshire

Percys flight ended with some of his fellow conspirators at about 10:00 pm on 7 November, at Holbeche House on the border of Staffordshire

Their flight ended on the border of Staffordshire, at Holbeche House, besieged early on 8 November by the pursuing Sheriff of Worcester and his men. Percy was reportedly killed by the same musketball as Catesby, his body was later exhumed, and his head exhibited outside Parliament

Richard Walsh, Sheriff of Worcester, and his company of 200 men besieged the Holbeche House. In the ensuing firefight Percy was reportedly killed by the same musketball as Catesby, fired by a John Streete of Worcester

On the orders of the Earl of Northampton, the bodies of Percy and Catesby were exhumed, and their heads displayed on spikes at the side of the Parliament House