at first he denied all knowledge of the plot; then he confessed both Walpole's machinations and his own attempts; subsequently he retracted the admission of his own misdeeds, but finally he repeated his confession, perhaps under torture; the official statement was that it was made ‘without any rigour in the world.’ He was condemned and on 23 November was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn, repudiating his former confessions. A special order of prayer and thanksgiving was issued to celebrate the queen's escape. Controversy Squire's alleged treason was the subject of a literary war between the government and Roman Catholic apologists, and their respective versions differ in almost every detail. The official account, attributed by James Spedding to Bacon and printed among his works, was written by someone who was either present at Squire's examinations or had access to the official documents, which it closely follows. It is dated 23 December 1598, and was published as a ‘,’ London. It was reprinted in George Carleton's ‘Thankfull Remembrance,’ 1624; and again, in 1733, as ‘Authentic Memoirs of Father Richard Walpole,’ London, 1733. A reply to the official story (attributed to Walpole) appeared as ‘. Written … by M. A. Preest, that knew and dealt with Squyer in Spain,’ 1599. Another reply, ‘,’ was composed the same year by Thomas Fitzherbert, but not printed until 1602. References Year of birth missing 1598 deaths 16th-century births People from Greenwich Executed people from London People executed under Elizabeth I by hanging, drawing and quartering