Thomas Bates

Thomas Bates
A contemporary engraving of Bates, by Crispijn van de Passe.
Born	1567 Lapworth, Warwickshire
Died	(1606-01-30)January 30, 1606 (aged 38–39) Westminster, London, England
Cause of death	Hanged, drawn and quartered
Occupation	Retainer
Spouse	Martha Bates
Motive	Gunpowder plot, a conspiracy to assassinate King James VI & I and members of the Houses of Parliament
Conviction(s)	High treason
Criminal penalty	Hanged, drawn and quartered
Role	Catesby's retainer

Thomas Bates (1567 – 30 January 1606) was a member of the group of provincial English Catholics who planned the failed Gunpowder Plot of 1605.

Bates was born at Lapworth in Warwickshire, and became a retainer to Robert Catesby, who from 1604 planned to kill King James I by blowing up the House of Lords with gunpowder, and inciting a popular revolt during which a Catholic monarch would be restored to the English throne. Bates was invited to join the conspiracy after he accidentally became aware of it. As he rode with Catesby to prepare for the group's planned uprising on 5 November 1605, Guy Fawkes was found guarding the gunpowder stored under the House of Lords and arrested. Bates subsequently accompanied Catesby and his small group of fugitives to Holbeche House in Staffordshire, but left shortly before his master was killed there by government forces on 8 November. He was subsequently captured and taken to London.

Bates was the only member of the group to implicate the Jesuits in the conspiracy, but may have done so only to alleviate his punishment. He retracted his statement when it became clear he was to be executed. Three days after his trial on 27 January 1606, he was hanged, drawn and quartered.