diff options
Diffstat (limited to '35501-tei/35501-tei.tei')
| -rw-r--r-- | 35501-tei/35501-tei.tei | 27901 |
1 files changed, 27901 insertions, 0 deletions
diff --git a/35501-tei/35501-tei.tei b/35501-tei/35501-tei.tei new file mode 100644 index 0000000..03a2542 --- /dev/null +++ b/35501-tei/35501-tei.tei @@ -0,0 +1,27901 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> + +<!DOCTYPE TEI.2 SYSTEM "http://www.gutenberg.org/tei/marcello/0.4/dtd/pgtei.dtd" [ + +<!ENTITY u5 "http://www.tei-c.org/Lite/"> + +]> + +<TEI.2 lang="en"> +<teiHeader> + <fileDesc> + <titleStmt> + <title>The Condition of Catholics Under James I.</title> + <author><name reg="Morris, John">John Morris</name></author> + <author><name reg="Gerard, John">John Gerard</name></author> + </titleStmt> + <editionStmt> + <edition n="1">Edition 1</edition> + </editionStmt> + <publicationStmt> + <publisher>Project Gutenberg</publisher> + <date>February 7, 2011</date> + <idno type="etext-no">35501</idno> + <availability> + <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and + with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it + away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg + License online at www.gutenberg.org/license</p> + </availability> + </publicationStmt> + <sourceDesc> + <bibl> + Created electronically. + </bibl> + </sourceDesc> + </fileDesc> + <encodingDesc> + </encodingDesc> + <profileDesc> + <langUsage> + <language id="en"></language> + <language id="fr"></language> + <language id="la"></language> + </langUsage> + </profileDesc> + <revisionDesc> + <change> + <date value="2011-02-07">February 7, 2011</date> + <respStmt> + <name> + Produced by Robert Cicconetti, David King, and the Online + Distributed Proofreading Team at <http://www.pgdp.net/>. + (This file was produced from images generously made + available by The Internet Archive/Canadian Libraries.) + </name> + </respStmt> + <item>Project Gutenberg TEI edition 1</item> + </change> + </revisionDesc> +</teiHeader> + +<pgExtensions> + <pgStyleSheet> + .boxed { x-class: boxed } + .shaded { x-class: shaded } + .rules { x-class: rules; rules: all } + .indent { margin-left: 2 } + .bold { font-weight: bold } + .italic { font-style: italic } + .smallcaps { font-variant: small-caps } + </pgStyleSheet> + + <pgCharMap formats="txt.iso-8859-1"> + <char id="U0x2014"> + <charName>mdash</charName> + <desc>EM DASH</desc> + <mapping>--</mapping> + </char> + <char id="U0x2003"> + <charName>emsp</charName> + <desc>EM SPACE</desc> + <mapping> </mapping> + </char> + <char id="U0x2026"> + <charName>hellip</charName> + <desc>HORIZONTAL ELLIPSIS</desc> + <mapping>...</mapping> + </char> + </pgCharMap> +</pgExtensions> + +<text lang="en"> + <front> + <div> + <divGen type="pgheader" /> + </div> + <div> + <divGen type="encodingDesc" /> + </div> + + <div rend="page-break-before: always"> + <p rend="font-size: xx-large; text-align: center">The Condition of Catholics Under James I.</p> + <p rend="font-size: x-large; text-align: center">Father Gerard's Narrative of the Gunpowder Plot</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">Edited, With His Life, By</p> + <p rend="font-size: x-large; text-align: center">John Morris,</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">Priest of the Society of Jesus</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">London: Longmans, Green, & Co.</p> + <p rend="text-align: center">1871</p> + </div> + <div rend="page-break-before: always"> + <head>Contents</head> + <divGen type="toc" /> + </div> + + </front> +<body> + +<pb n='ix'/><anchor id='Pgix'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>The Life Of Father John Gerard</head> + +<div> +<head>I.</head> + +<p> +The life and character of a witness are the grounds on which we +base our estimate of his credibility. That he should have spoken +of himself at great length and with many and minute details is a +circumstance most favourable to the formation of an accurate +judgment respecting him. Such is fortunately our position with +regard to Father John Gerard, the author of the Narrative of the +Gunpowder Plot. He has left a full and most interesting +autobiography in Latin; and we have felt that we could not do +the reader a better service, or better establish the good fame of a +man who has been unjustly accused, than by prefixing to his +Narrative translations of large portions of his Autobiography. +When the life of Father Gerard is before the reader, we will +address ourselves directly to the subject of his veracity, and in +conclusion, we will give what is known of the history of the +Autobiography, and of the autograph manuscript from which the +Narrative of the Powder Plot is printed. +</p> + +<p> +John Gerard was the second son of Sir Thomas Gerard, of +Bryn,<note place='foot'><q>William Gerard, son of William who died at Eton-hall in 26 Edward III. +[1352], by his marriage with Joan, daughter and heiress of Sir Peter Bryn de +Brynhill, convertible into Sir Peter Brynhill de Bryn, became possessed of +Bryn, Ashton, and other estates, which have remained in the Gerards of Bryn +ever since.</q> ... <q>This family have had four seats within the township of +Ashton, viz., Old Bryn, abandoned five centuries ago; New Bryn, erected +in the reign of Edward VI.; Garswood, taken down at the beginning of the +present century; and the New Hall, the present residence of the family, built +by the Launders about the year 1692, and purchased by the Gerards forty +years ago</q> (Baines, <hi rend='italic'>Hist. of Lancaster</hi>, 1836, vol. iii., pp. 637, 639).</note> Lancashire, Knight, and Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John +Port, of Etwal, Derbyshire, Knight. In the Narrative<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Infra</hi> p. <ref target='Pg027'>27</ref>.</note> of the +Plot, when he has occasion to speak of his elder brother Thomas, +who received knighthood from King James on his accession, he +says <q>that was to him no advancement whose ancestors had been +<pb n='x'/><anchor id='Pgx'/> +so for sixteen or seventeen descents together.</q> This Sir Thomas +was made a baronet at the first creation of that dignity in 1611. +</p> + +<p> +<q>I was born,</q> in 1564, <q>of Catholic parents, who never concealed +their profession, for which they suffered much from our +heretic rulers; so much so that, when a child of five years of age, +I was forced, together with my brother who was also a child, +to dwell among heretics under another roof, for that my father, +with two other gentlemen, had been cast into the Tower of +London, for having conspired to restore the Scottish Queen to +liberty and to her kingdom. She was at that time confined in the +county of Derby</q> [at Tutbury<note place='foot'>Tutbury is in Staffordshire, on the borders of Derbyshire, near to Etwal.</note>] <q>at two miles distance from us. +Three years afterwards, my father, having obtained his release by +the payment of a large sum, brought us home, free however from +any taint of heresy, as he had maintained a Catholic tutor over us.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Sir Thomas Gerard was again in the Tower of London later +on, and had been there more than two years when his son landed +in England as a Priest.<note place='foot'>Public Record Office, <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Elizabeth</hi>, vol. 215, n. 19. <q>Return of +Prisoners in the Tower,</q> endorsed in Lord Burghley's hand, <q>2 Julii, 1588</q> +[an error for August]. <q>April 1, 1585. <hi rend='italic'>Imprimis</hi>, the Earl of Arundel, +prisoner three years four months.... August 23, 1586. Sir Thomas Gerard, +Knight, prisoner one year eleven months: indicted for treason.</q> At the end +of the list are the names of five Priests <q>committed for religion.</q> From +the Tower Sir Thomas Gerard was removed to the Counter in Wood-street +(<hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 217, n. 27).</note> A little before this imprisonment, he +had been summoned by his kinsman,<note place='foot'>Sir Gilbert Gerard was of the family of the Gerards of Ince, a younger +branch of the Gerards of Bryn. His eldest son, Sir Thomas, was the first +Lord Gerard of Gerards Bromley.</note> Sir Gilbert Gerard, the +Master of the Rolls, to compound for his recusancy by the <q>free +offer</q> of a yearly sum to be paid to the Queen, <q>to be freed from +the penalty of the statute.</q> As it gives an excellent idea of the +exactions to which wealthy Catholics were continually subjected +in those days, we subjoin Sir Thomas' <q>offer.</q> The original in +the Public Record Office<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 187, n. 48, viii.</note> is signed by himself. +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q rend='pre'>14 die Martii, 1585.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Sir Thomas Gerard saith that he is greatly in debt, by reason +of his troubles and suretyship, and payeth large interest for the +<pb n='xi'/><anchor id='Pgxi'/> +same; and hath sold much of his lands and departed with a large +portion of the rest unto his sons; and hath two daughters to +bestow, so that he is not able to offer any great sums unto Her +Highness in this behalf</q> [preparation to resist the Spanish +invasion]. <q>Yet, nevertheless, he most humbly submitteth +himself unto Her Majesty's pleasure, offering his person to +serve Her Highness in any place of the world. And if he shall +not be admitted thereto, then he offereth, with very good will, +30<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a-year, which is the fourth part of his small portion remaining, +now left to maintain himself, his poor wife and children.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='smallcaps'>Thomas Gerard.</hi></q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +The name of <q>Dame Elizabeth Gerard</q> heads the list of +thirty-three <q>Recusants sometimes resident about London and in +Middlesex, but now dispersed into other countries.</q> +</p> + +<p> +With regard to the mention of property transferred by Sir +Thomas Gerard to his sons, it may be interesting to quote from +the information of a spy,<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 251, n. 14. Feb. 3, 1595.</note> given just ten years later, the following +details— +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='italic'>Item</hi>, John Gerard the Jesuit hath certain houses in Lancashire, +called Brockehouse Row, near Ashton; he hath made +leases, and one tenant hath not paid all his fine: old John +Southworth, dwelling thereabouts, is his bailiff, who can show +how else the land and title standeth.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>At the age of fifteen,</q> the Autobiography resumes, <q rend='pre'>I was +sent to Exeter College, Oxford, where my tutor was a certain +Mr. Leutner,<note place='foot'>Probably Edmund Lewckener, who appears in the College books as one +of the new fellows on Sir W. Petre's foundation in 1566.</note> a good and learned man, and a Catholic in mind +and heart. There however I did not stay more than a twelvemonth, +as at Easter the heretics sought to force us to attend their +worship, and to partake of their counterfeit sacrament. I returned +then with my brother to my father's house, whither Mr. Leutner +himself soon followed us, being resolved to live as a Catholic in +very deed, and not merely in desire. While there, he superintended +our Latin studies for the next two years, but afterwards +going to Belgium, he lived and died there most holily. As for +Greek, we were at the same time placed under the tuition of a +<pb n='xii'/><anchor id='Pgxii'/> +good and pious Priest, William Sutton by name, to whom this +occupation served as an occasion for dwelling in our house +unmolested. He afterwards entered the Society, and was drowned +on the coast of Spain, whither Superiors had called him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>At the age of nineteen I passed over to France, by permission, +with the object of learning the French tongue, and +resided for three years at Rhemes. While there, though yet a lad, +and far from being solidly grounded in my Humanities, I applied +myself to the study of Sacred Scripture, consulting the commentators +for the sense of the more difficult passages, and writing +down with my own hand the explanations given publicly to the +theological students. Being my own master, I did not, as I +ought to have done, lay a sufficiently solid foundation. My own +taste guided my choice of authors, and I sedulously read the +works of St. Bernard and St. Bonaventure, and such other spiritual +writers. About this time I made, by God's providence, the +acquaintance of a saintly young man, who had been admitted into +the Society at Rome, but having for reasons of health been sent +out for a time, was then living at Rhemes. He gave me the +details of his past life; he told me (may the Lord reward him) +how he had been educated in the household of God; he taught +me how good and wholesome it was for a man to have borne the +yoke from his youth. He taught me the method of mental prayer; +for which exercise we were wont to meet together at stated hours, +as we were not living in the College, but in different lodgings in +the town. It was there that, when about twenty years of age, +I heard the call of God's infinite mercy and loving kindness +inviting me from the crooked ways of the world to the straight +path, to the perfect following of Christ in His holy Society.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>After my three years' residence at Rhemes, I went to +Clermont College, at Paris, to see more closely the manner of the +Society's life, and to be more solidly grounded in Humanities and +Philosophy. I had not been there one year, when I fell dangerously +ill. After my recovery, I accompanied Father Thomas +Darbyshire to Rouen, in order to see Father Persons, who had +arrived thither from England, and was staying incognito in that +city, to superintend the publication of his <hi rend='italic'>Christian Directory</hi>, a +most useful and happy work, which in my opinion has converted to +<pb n='xiii'/><anchor id='Pgxiii'/> +God more souls than it contains pages. The heretics themselves +have known how to appreciate it, as appears from a recent edition +thereof published by one of their ministers, who sought to claim +the glory of so important a work. To Father Persons then did I +communicate my vocation, and my desire of joining the Society. +But as I was not yet strong, nor fit to continue my studies, and, +moreover, as I had some property to dispose of and arrangements +to make in England, he advised me to return thither, so as to +recruit my health by breathing my native air, and at the same +time to free myself from every obstacle which might prevent or +delay me in my pursuit of perfection and the Religious life. I +accordingly went home, and after settling my affairs, set out on +my return, in about a year; this time, however, without having +asked for a license, for I had no hope of obtaining it, as I did not +venture to communicate my plans to my parents.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I embarked then with some other Catholics, and after having +been kept five days at sea by contrary winds, we were forced to +put in at the port of Dover. On arriving thither, we were all +seized by the Custom House officers, and forwarded to London in +custody. My companions were imprisoned, on a warrant of the +Queen's Privy Council. For my own part, though I declared +myself a Catholic, and refused to attend their worship, I escaped +imprisonment at that time, as there were some of the Council that +were friendly to my family, and had procured me the license to +travel abroad on the former occasion. They entertained, it would +seem, some hopes of perverting me in course of time, so I was +sent to my maternal uncle's, a Protestant, to be kept in his +custody, and if possible, to be perverted. He, after three months, +sought to obtain my full liberty by praying or paying;<note place='foot'>Prece vel pretio (MS.).</note> but +being asked whether I had <hi rend='italic'>gone to church</hi>, as they call it, he was +obliged to acknowledge that he could never bring me to do so. +Thereupon the Council sent me with a letter to the pseudo-Bishop +of London,<note place='foot'>John Elmer, Bishop of London from 1576 to 1588.</note> who having read it, asked whether I would +allow him to confer with me on religious matters. I replied, that +as I doubted of nothing, I had rather decline. <q>You must in that +case,</q> answered the Superintendent, <q>remain here in custody.</q> I +<pb n='xiv'/><anchor id='Pgxiv'/> +replied that in this I was obliged to acquiesce, through force and +the command of the Government. He treated me with kindness, +with a view perhaps of thus drawing me over. But he ordered his +chaplain's bed to be brought into my chamber. At first I repeatedly +declared my determination not to enter into any dispute +with this man on matters of faith, as to which my mind was +settled, nor to receive religious instruction from him; but as he +ceased not pouring forth abuse and blasphemy against the Saints +in Heaven, and against our Holy Mother the Church, I was +forced to defend the truth, and then almost the whole night was +spent in disputing. I soon discovered that in him at least God's +truth had no very formidable adversary. After two days, as they +saw my case was hopeless, they sent me back to the Council with +letters of recommendation forsooth, for the so-called Bishop told +me that he had greatly striven in my favour, and that he had great +hopes of my being set at large. It was, however, a Uriah's letter +that I carried, for no sooner had the Council read it, than they +ordered me to be imprisoned until I had learnt to be a loyal +subject. For they hold him a bad subject who will not subject +himself to their heresies and their sacrilegious worship.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Being committed to the Marshalsea prison, I found there +numbers of Catholics and some Priests<note place='foot'>There were 47 Catholics in the prison, of whom 11 were Priests, amongst +whom were William Hartley and John Adams, future martyrs, and William +Bishop, the first Vicar Apostolic (P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 170, n. 11).</note> awaiting judgment of +death with the greatest joy. In this school of Christ I was +detained from the beginning of one Lent</q> [March 5, 1584] +<q>to the end of the following, not without abundant consolation +of mind, and good opportunity for study.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Twice during this interval we were all dragged before the +Courts, not to be tried for our lives, but to be fined according +to the law against recusants. I was condemned to pay 2,000 +florins [200<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>].<note place='foot'>In a letter dated October 3, 1614 (Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, iv., 24), +Father Gerard says that <q>7 florins of Liége make but 6 of Brabant, 12s. +English.</q> So we may turn his florins into pounds by taking off the last cypher.</note> The Court was held in the country, some six +miles out of London....</q><note place='foot'>Another occasion may present itself for placing before the reader the +many anecdotes of the English Martyrs related in the Autobiography, that are +now passed over.</note> +</p> + +<pb n='xv'/><anchor id='Pgxv'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>At times our cells were visited, and a strict search made for +church stuff, Agnus Dei, and relics. Once we were, almost all +of us, betrayed by a false brother, who had feigned to be a +Catholic, and disclosed our hidden stores to the authorities. On +this occasion were seized quantities of Catholic books and sacred +objects, enough to fill a cart. In my cell were found nearly all +the requisites for saying Mass: for my next-door neighbour was +a good Priest, and we discovered a secret way of opening the +door between us so that we had Mass very early every morning. +We afterwards repaired our losses, nor could the malice of the +devil again deprive us of so great a consolation in our bonds.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In the course of the following year, my liberty was obtained +by the importunities of my friends, who however were bound as +sureties, to the extent of a heavy sum of money, for my remaining +in the kingdom. I was, moreover, to present myself at the +prison at the three months' end. And these sureties had to be +renewed three or four times before I was able to resume my +project. At length the long-wished-for opportunity presented +itself. A very dear friend of mine offered himself as bail to meet +whatever demand might be made, if I was discovered to be +missing after the appointed time. After my departure, he forfeited +not indeed his money, but his life: for he was one of the most +conspicuous of those fourteen gentlemen who suffered in connection +with the captive Queen of Scots, and whose execution, as +events soon showed, was but a prelude to taking off the Queen +herself.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Being at length free, I went to Paris;<note place='foot'>Father Gerard was present, he says, at the martyrdom of William +Thomson, who suffered at Tyburn, April 20, 1586. Father Holt became +Rector of the English College at Rome, October 24, 1586; and the name of +John Gerard is the first entry for 1587 in the College Catalogue.</note> and finding Father +William Holt, who had just arrived from Scotland, ready to start +for Rome with the Provincial of France, I joined myself to their +company. At Rome I was advised to pursue my studies in the +English College, and to take Priest's Orders before I entered +the Society. I followed this advice, despite my ardent desire +of entering Religion, which I communicated to Father Persons, +and to Father Holt, the then Rector of the English College. +<pb n='xvi'/><anchor id='Pgxvi'/> +But as the Roman climate was not suited to my constitution, +and I had an extreme desire of going to England, it seemed +good to the Fathers to put me at the beginning of the year +to casuistry and controversies; I went therefore through a complete +course of Positive Theology. Towards its close, when +the Spanish Armada was nearing the coasts of England, Cardinal +Allen thought fit to send me to England for various matters +connected with Catholic interests, but as I still wanted several +months of the lawful age for taking Priest's Orders, a Papal +dispensation was obtained. I was most unwilling to depart unless +I was first admitted into the Society, so Father Persons, out of +his singular charity towards me, obtained my admission to the +Novitiate, which I was to finish in England. There were at that +time in the English College some others who had the like +vocation, and we used to strive to conform ourselves as much as +possible to the Novices at St. Andrew's, serving in the kitchen, +and visiting hospitals. On the Feast of the Assumption of the +Most Blessed Virgin Mary, 1588, our Very Rev. Father General +Aquaviva received Father Edward Ouldcorne of blessed memory +and my unworthy self into the Society of Jesus, and gave us his +blessing for the English Mission.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>II.</head> + +<p> +<q>I started then on my homeward journey,<note place='foot'>When Father Gerard has occasion, in his Narrative of the Powder Plot, +to relate what he knows of Father Ouldcorne's history, he gives an account +of this journey (<hi rend='italic'>infr.</hi> p. <ref target='Pg279'>279</ref>).</note> in company with +Father Ouldcorne and two other Priests who had been students +at the English College.</q>... <q>As we passed through Rhemes, +where there was an English Seminary, and through Paris, we +kept the strictest incognito.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Father Gerard's passing through Paris was not as little known +as he thought, and without being aware of it, he then fell into +the gravest of the perils that beset the poor Catholics of England, +the <q>perils from false brethren.</q> Gilbert Gifford, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Jacques +Colerdin, <q>an English Priest and Bachelor in Theology,</q> as he +describes himself in his petition<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi> vol. 217, n. 81.</note> to the Archbishop of Paris for +<pb n='xvii'/><anchor id='Pgxvii'/> +liberation from his prison in Paris, was one of Sir Francis +Walsyngham's most copious correspondents. He had been +arrested for Babington's conspiracy, and turned spy to save his +life. He had a pension<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 199, nn. 95, 96.</note> from Walsyngham of 100<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a-year for his +treachery, the suspicion of which caused his imprisonment. +Apparently from his prison, he found means to write a letter<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Ibid</hi>, vol. 217, n. 3. The Calendar gives for its date Oct. 1, 1588. The +postscript of the letter bears the date <q>8 Septembris.</q></note> to +his employers, in which the following sentence occurs: <q>There +be 8 Priests over from Rome, whereof John Gerard and Arthur +Shefford a Priest, and his man, will be in England within five days.</q> +</p> + +<p> +In all unconsciousness Father Gerard proceeds: <q rend='pre'>At length +we came to Eu, where a College for English youths had been +established, which was afterwards abandoned on account of +the wars, and another more extensive establishment erected at +St. Omers. Our Fathers at Eu, after conferring with those +who had the management of the College in that town, all +strongly opposed our venturing into England as circumstances +then were, for that the Spanish attempt had exasperated the +public mind against Catholics, and most rigid searches and +domiciliary visits had been set on foot; that guards were posted +in every village along the roads and streets; that the Earl of +Leicester, then at the height of his favour, had sworn not to +leave a single Catholic alive at the close of the year, but this +man of blood did not live out half his days, for he was cut off +in that very same year. We were compelled then to stay there +for a time, until fresh instructions were sent us by Father Persons +in the name of Father General. They were to this effect, that +the state of affairs had indeed much changed since our departure +from Rome, but that, as it was the Lord's business that we had to +do, he left us free either to wait the return of greater calm or to +pursue the course we had entered upon. On receiving this +desirable message we did not long deliberate, but immediately +hired a ship to land us in the northern part of England, which +seemed to be less disturbed. Two Priests from Rhemes joined +us, as our former companions preferred to take time before they +faced the dangers which awaited them on the opposite shores.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='xviii'/><anchor id='Pgxviii'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The ship then set sail with four Priests on board, a goodly +cargo indeed, had not my unworthiness deprived me of the crown, +for all those other three suffered martyrdom for the faith. The +two Priests were soon taken, and being in a short space made +perfect, they fulfilled a long time. Their names were Christopher +Bales and George Beesley,<note place='foot'>They both suffered in Fleet Street; Christopher Bales on March 4, 1590, +and George Beesley on July 2, 1591. They were condemned under the statute +27 Elizabeth, for being made Priests beyond the seas and exercising their +functions in England.</note> but my companion, the blessed +Father Ouldcorne, after having spent eighteen years of toil and +labour in the Lord's vineyard, watered it at length with his blood.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>After crossing the Channel, as we were sailing along the +English coast on the third day, my companion and I, seeing +a convenient spot in which the ship's boat might easily set us on +shore, and considering that it were dangerous if we were to land +all together, recommended the matter to God and took counsel +with our companions. We then ordered the ship to anchor +until dark, and in the first watch we were put ashore in the +boat and left there, whereupon the ship immediately set sail +and departed. We remained there awhile commending ourselves +in prayer to God's providence; then we sought out some path +which might lead us further inland, at a greater distance from the +sea, before the day should dawn. But the night being dark and +cloudy we could not strike out any path that would lead us to the +open country, but every way we tried always brought us to some +dwelling, as we were made aware by the barking of the dogs. +As this happened some two or three times we began to fear lest +we might rouse some of the inhabitants, and be seized upon as +thieves or burglars. We therefore turned into a neighbouring +wood, where we proposed to rest during the night. But the rain +and the cold (for it was about the end of October) rendered sleep +impossible, nor did we dare to speak aloud to one another, as the +wood was in the neighbourhood of a house, but we deliberated in +whispers whether to set out together for London or to part +company, so that if one were taken the other might escape. +Having pondered the reasons on both sides, we determined to +set forth each by himself, and to take different routes.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='xix'/><anchor id='Pgxix'/> + +<p> +<q>At day-dawn, then, we cast lots who should first leave the +wood, and the lot fell on the good Father who was also the first +to leave this world for Heaven. We then made an equal division +of what money we had, and after embracing and receiving one +from the other a blessing, the future martyr went along the +sea-shore to a neighbouring town, where he fell in with some +sailors who were thinking of going to London. Being prudent +and cautious, he strove by cheerfulness to accommodate himself +to their humours in indifferent things. But twice or thrice he +could not withhold from reproving their coarse and filthy +language, though he imperilled himself by so doing, as he +afterwards told me.</q>... <q rend='pre'>Evil as they were, he did not so +displease them, but that, by their means, and the protection they +unwittingly afforded, he was enabled to reach London without +molestation; for the watchers, who were in almost every town +through which he passed, taking him to be one of the party, cared +not to annoy those whose appearance and carriage distinguished +them so completely from those for whom they were keeping +watch.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When my companion had departed, I too set out, but by a +different road. I had not gone far before I saw some country +folks coming towards me. I went up to them and inquired about +a stray falcon, whether they had heard the tinkling of his bells. +For I wanted them to think that I had lost a falcon, and was +going through the country in search of it, as is usual with those +who have sustained such a loss, so that they might not wonder +why I was strange to the country and had to ask my way. They +of course had neither seen nor heard any such thing of late, and +seemed sorry that they could not direct my search. I then went +with a disappointed air to examine the neighbouring trees and +hedges, as if to look for my bird. Thus I was able, without +awakening suspicion, to keep clear of the highway, and to get +further and further from the sea-shore by going across country. +Whenever I saw any one in a field I went up to him and put the +same series of questions about the falcon, concealing thereby my +anxiety to keep out of the public roads and villages, where I +knew sentinels were posted with power to examine every +stranger. I thus managed to expend the best part of that day, +<pb n='xx'/><anchor id='Pgxx'/> +walking some eight or ten miles, not in a straight line, but by +doubling and returning frequently on my steps. At length, being +quite soaked with rain and exhausted with hunger and fatigue, +for I had scarcely been able to take any food or rest on board +ship for the tossing of the waves, I turned into a village inn +which lay in my road, for those who go to the inns are less liable +to be questioned.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>There I refreshed myself well, and found mine host very +agreeable, especially as I wanted to buy a pony he had in his +stable. I concluded the bargain at a reasonable price, for the +owner was not very rich, but I took it as a means of more speedy +and safer transit, for foot-passengers are frequently looked upon +as vagrants, and even in quiet times are liable to arrest.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Next morning I mounted my pony and turned towards +Norwich, the capital of that county. I had scarcely ridden two +miles when I fell in with the watchers at the entrance of a +village, who bade me halt and began to ask me who I was and +whence I came. I told them that I was the servant of a certain +lord who lived in a neighbouring county (with whom I was well +acquainted, though he was unknown to them), that my falcon +had flown away, and that I had come to this part of the country +to recover him if he should have been found. They found no +flaw in my story, yet they would not let me go, but said I must +be brought before the constable and the beadle,<note place='foot'>Ad subcuratorem pacis, et ad censorem (MS.). The above are conjectural +renderings. These seem to have been only village officials.</note> who were both +in church at the time, at their profane heretical service. I saw +that I could neither fly nor resist, nor could I prevail with these +men, so, yielding to necessity, I went with them as far as the +churchyard. One of the party entered the church and brought +word that the beadle wished me to come into the church, and +that he would see me when service was over. I replied that I +would wait for him where I was. <q>No, no,</q> said the messenger, +<q>you must go into the church.</q> <q>I shall stop here,</q> I returned, +<q>I do not want to lose sight of my horse.</q> <q>What!</q> said the +man, <q>you won't dismount to go and hear the Word of God! +I can only warn you that you will make no very favourable +impression; as to your horse, I myself will engage to get you a +<pb n='xxi'/><anchor id='Pgxxi'/> +better one, if you are so anxious about him.</q> <q>Go and tell +him,</q> said I, <q>that if he wants me, either he must come at once +or I will wait here.</q> As soon as my message was taken to him, +the beadle came out with some others to examine me. I could +easily see he was not best pleased. He began by demanding +whence I came. I answered by naming certain places which I +had learnt were not far off. To his questions as to my name, +condition, dwelling, and business, I made the same answers as +above. He then asked whether I had any letters with me, on +which I offered to allow him to search my person. This he did +not do, but said he should be obliged to take me before the +Justice of the Peace.<note place='foot'>Irenarchâ aut curatore pacis (MS.).</note> I professed my readiness to go, should he +deem it needful, but that I was in a hurry to get back to my +master after my long absence, so that if it could be managed I +should be better pleased to be allowed to go on. At first he +stood to his resolution, and I saw nothing for it but to go before +the Justice and to be committed to gaol, as doubtless would have +been the case. But suddenly looking at me with a calmer +countenance, he said, <q>You look like an honest man: go on in +God's name, I do not want to trouble you any more.</q> Nor did +God's providence abandon me in my further journey. As I rode +onward towards the town, I saw a young man on horseback with a +pack riding on before me. I wanted to come up with him, so as +to get information about the state of the town, and ask the fittest +inn for me to put up at, and he looked like one of whom I could +make such inquiries without exciting suspicion; but his horse +being better than mine I could not gain upon him, urge my pony +how I would. After following him at a distance for two or three +miles, it chanced by God's will that he dropped his pack, and was +obliged to dismount in order to pick it up and strap it on. As I +came up I found he was an unpolished youth, well fitted for my +purpose. From him I acquired information that would have +been very useful had any danger befallen, but, as it was, by his +means the Lord so guided me, that I escaped all danger. For I +inquired about a good inn near the city gate, that I might not +weary my horse in going from street to street in search of one. +He told me there was such an inn on the other side of the city; +<pb n='xxii'/><anchor id='Pgxxii'/> +but that if I wanted to put up there I must go round the town. +Having learnt the way thereto and the sign of the house, I +thanked my informant, and left him to pursue his road, which +led straight through the town, the same way I should have +followed had I not met with such a guide, and in that case I +should have run into certain danger, nor would any of those +things have befallen which afterwards came to pass for God's +greater glory and the salvation of many souls.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Following then the advice of the young man, I went round +the skirts of the city to the gate he had described, and as soon as +I entered I saw my inn. I had rested me but a little while there, +when a man who seemed to be an acquaintance of the people of +the house came in. After greeting me civilly, he sat down in the +chimney corner, and dropped some words about some Catholic +gentlemen who were kept in gaol there; and he mentioned one +whose relative had been a companion of mine in the Marshalsea +some seven years since. I silently noted his words, and when he +had gone out, I asked who he might be. They answered that he +was a very honest fellow in other points, but a Papist. I inquired +how they came to know that. They replied that it was a well-known +fact, as he had been many years imprisoned in the Castle +there (which was but a stone's throw from where I was); that +many Catholic gentlemen were confined there, and that he had +been but lately let out. I asked whether he had abandoned the +Faith in order to be at large. <q>No indeed,</q> said they, <q>nor is he +likely to, for he is a most obstinate man. But he has been set +free under an engagement to come back to prison, when called +for. He has some business with a gentleman in the prison, and +he comes here pretty often, on that account.</q> I held my tongue, +and awaited his return. As soon as he came back, and we were +alone, I told him I should wish to speak with him apart, that I +had heard that he was a Catholic, and for that reason I trusted +him, as I also was a Catholic: that I had come there by a sort of +chance, but wanted to get on to London: that it would be a good +deed worthy of a Catholic, were he to do me the favour of introducing +me to some parties who might be going the same road, +and who were well known, so that I might be allowed to pass on +by favour of their company: that being able to pay my expenses, +<pb n='xxiii'/><anchor id='Pgxxiii'/> +I should be no burden to my companions. He replied that he +knew not of any one who was then going to London. I hereon +inquired if he could hire a person who would accompany me for a +set price. He said he would look out some such one, but that +he knew of a gentleman then in the town, who might be able to +forward my business. He went to find him, and soon returning +desired me to accompany him. He took me into a shop, as if he +were going to make some purchase. The gentleman he had +mentioned was there, having appointed the place that he might +see me before he made himself known. At length he joined us, +and told my companion in a whisper that he believed I was a +Priest. He led us therefore to the cathedral, and having put me +many questions, he at last urged me to say whether or no I was +a Priest, promising that he would assist me, at that time a most +acceptable offer. On my side, I inquired from my previous +acquaintance the name and condition of this party; and on +learning it, as I saw God's providence in so ready an assistance, +I told him I was a Priest of the Society, who had come from +Rome. He performed his promise, and procured for me a change +of clothes, and made me mount a good horse, and took me +without delay into the country to the house of a personal friend, +leaving one of his servants to bring on my little pony. The next +day we arrived at his house, where he and his family resided, +together with a brother of his who was a heretic. They had with +them a widowed sister, also a heretic, who kept house for them; +so that I was obliged to be careful not to give any ground for +them to suspect my calling. The heretic brother at my first +coming was somewhat suspicious, seeing me arrive in his Catholic +brother's company unknown as I was, and perceiving no reason +why the latter should make so much of me. But after a day or +so, he quite abandoned all mistrust, as I spoke of hunting and +falconry with all the details that none but a practised person could +command. For many make sad blunders in attempting this, as +Father Southwell, who was afterwards my companion in many +journeys, was wont to complain. He frequently got me to instruct +him in the technical terms of sport, and used to complain of his +bad memory for such things, for on many occasions when he fell +in with Protestant gentlemen, he found it necessary to speak of +<pb n='xxiv'/><anchor id='Pgxxiv'/> +these matters, which are the sole topics of their conversation, save +when they talk obscenity, or break out into blasphemies and abuse +of the Saints or the Catholic faith. In these cases it is of course +desirable to turn the conversation to other subjects, and to speak +of horses, of hounds, and such like. Thus it often happens that +trifling covers truth,<note place='foot'>Ut vanitas veritatem occultet (MS.).</note> as it did with me on this occasion. After a +short sojourn of a few days, I proposed to my newly-found friend, +the Catholic brother, my intention of going to London, to meet +my Superior. He therefore provided me with a horse, and sent a +servant along with me; begging me at the same time to obtain +leave to return to that county, and to make his house my home, +for he assured me that I should bring over many to the faith, were +I to converse with them publicly as he had seen me do. I +pledged myself to lay his offer before Father Garnett, and said +that I would willingly return if he should approve of it. So I +departed, and arrived in London without accident, having met +with no obstacle on the road. I have gone into these particulars, +to show how God's providence guarded me on my first landing in +England; for without knowing a single soul in that county, where +until then I had never set foot, as it was far distant from my +native place, on the very first day I found a friend who not only +saved me from present peril, but who afterwards, by introducing +me to the principal families in the county, furnished an opportunity +for many conversions; and from the acquaintance I then +made, and the knowledge the Catholics in those parts had of me +in consequence, all that God chose hereafter to do by my weakness +took its origin, as will appear by the sequel.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>III.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>On my arrival in London, by the help of certain Catholics I +discovered Father Henry Garnett, who was then Superior. Besides +him, the only others of our Society then in England were Father +Edmund Weston,<note place='foot'>Father William Weston, commonly called Father Edmonds.</note> confined at Wisbech (who, had he been at +large, would have been Superior), Father Robert Southwell, and +we two new-comers.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='xxv'/><anchor id='Pgxxv'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>My companion, Father Ouldcorne, had already arrived, so the +Superior was rather anxious on my account, as nothing had been +heard of me; but yet for that very reason hopes were entertained +of my safety. It was with exceeding joy on both sides that we +met at last. I stayed some time with the Fathers, and we held +frequent consultations as to our future proceedings. The good +Superior gave us excellent instructions as to the method of +helping and gaining souls, as did also Father Southwell, who +much excelled in that art, being at once prudent, pious, meek, +and exceedingly winning. As Christmas was nigh at hand, it was +necessary to separate, both for the consolation of the Faithful, and +because the dangers are always greater in the great solemnities.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I was then sent back to my friend in the county where I was +first set ashore. This time the Superior provided me with clothes +and other necessaries, that I might not be a burden to my charitable +host at the outset. But afterwards, throughout the whole period +of my missionary labours, the fatherly providence of God supplied +both for me and for some others. My dress was of the same +fashion as that of gentlemen of moderate means. The necessity +of this was shown by reason and subsequent events; for, from my +former position, I was more at ease in this costume, and could +maintain a less embarrassed bearing, than if I had assumed a +character to which I was unaccustomed. Then, too, I had to +appear in public and meet many Protestant gentlemen, with +whom I could not have held communication with a view to lead +them on to a love of the Faith and a desire of virtue, had I not +adopted this garb. I found it helped me, not only to speak more +freely and with greater authority, but to remain with greater safety, +and for a longer interval of time, in any place or family to which +my host introduced me as his friend and acquaintance.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Thus it happened that I remained for six or eight months, +with some profit to souls, in the family of my first friend and +host; during which time, he took me with him to nearly every +gentleman's house in the county. Before the eight months were +passed, I gained over and converted many to the Church: among +whom were my host's brother, his brother-in-law, and his two +sisters; one of these, as I have before mentioned, was my friend's +housekeeper, and had been all along a notable Calvinist.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='xxvi'/><anchor id='Pgxxvi'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I reconciled, moreover, the sister of a Judge<note place='foot'>The name <q>Yelverton</q> is added in the margin. Sir Christopher +Yelverton was at this time Queen's Serjeant, and subsequently Speaker of the +House of Commons, and Puisne Judge of the King's Bench. He died in +1607. His son, Sir Henry Yelverton, Judge of the Court of Common Pleas, +condemned Father Edmund Arrowsmith in 1628, and died in the January +following.</note> who even now +is the most firm support of the Calvinist party. This lady, +having been brought up in his house, had been strongly imbued +with this heresy. A very remarkable thing had happened to her +some time previously. Being very anxious as to the state of her +soul, she went to a certain Doctor of the University of Cambridge, +of the name of Perne,<note place='foot'>Dr. Andrew Perne, Master of Peter-house, Cambridge, and second Dean +of Ely. He is incidentally mentioned by Miss Strickland as having changed +his religion four times (<hi rend='italic'>Lives of the Queens of England</hi>, vol. vii., p. 208).</note> who she knew had changed his religion +some three or four times under different sovereigns, but yet was +in high repute for learning. Going to this Dr. Perne, then, who +was an intimate friend of her family, she conjured him to tell +her honestly and undisguisedly what was the sound orthodox faith +whereby she might attain Heaven. The Doctor, finding himself +thus earnestly appealed to by a woman of discretion and good +sense, replied: <q>I conjure you never to disclose to another what +I am going to say. Since, then, you have pressed me to answer +as if I had to give an account of your soul, I will tell you, that +you can, if you please, <emph>live</emph> in the religion now professed by the +Queen and her whole kingdom, for so you will live more at ease, +and be exempt from all the vexations the Catholics have to +undergo. But by no means <emph>die</emph> out of the faith and communion +of the Catholic Church, if you would save your soul.</q> Such was +the answer of this poor man, but such was not his practice; for, +putting off his conversion from day to day, it fell out that, when +he least expected, on his return home from dining with the +pseudo-Archbishop of Canterbury, he dropped down dead as he +was entering his apartment, without the least sign of repentance, +or of Christian hope of that eternal bliss which he had too easily +promised to himself and to others after a life of a contrary +tendency. She to whom he gave the above-mentioned advice +was more fortunate than he, and though she at first by no means +accepted his estimate of the Catholic faith, yet later on, having +<pb n='xxvii'/><anchor id='Pgxxvii'/> +frequently heard from me that the Catholic faith alone was true +and holy, she began to have doubts, and in consequence brought +me an heretical work which had served to confirm her in her +heresy, and showed me the various arguments it contained. I, +on the other hand, pointed out to her the quibbles, the dishonest +quotations from Scripture and the Fathers, and the misstatement +of facts which the book contained. And so, by God's grace, from +the scorpion itself was drawn the remedy against the scorpion's +sting, and she has lived ever since constant in her profession of +the Catholic faith to which she then returned.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I must not omit mentioning an instance of the wonderful +efficacy of the Sacraments as shown in the case of the married +sister of my host. She had married a man of high rank, and +being favourably inclined to the Church, she had been so well +prepared by her brother, that it cost me but little labour to make +her a child of the Catholic Church. After her conversion she +endured much from her husband when he found that she refused +to join in heretical worship, but her patience withstood and +overcame all. It happened on one occasion that she was so +exhausted after a difficult and dangerous labour, that her life was +despaired of. A clever physician was at once brought from +Cambridge, who on seeing her said that he could indeed give +her medicine, but that he could give no hopes of her recovery; +and having prescribed some remedies, he left. I was at that time +on a visit to the house, having come, as was my wont, in company +with her brother. The master of the house was glad to see us, +although he well knew we were Catholics, and used in fact to +confer with me on religious subjects. I had nearly convinced +his understanding and judgment, but the will was rooted to the +earth, <q>for he had great possessions.</q> But being anxious for his +wife, whom he dearly loved, he allowed his brother to persuade +him, as there was no longer any hope for her present life, to allow +her all freedom to prepare for the one to come. With his +permission, then, we promised to bring in an old Priest on the +following night: for those Priests who were ordained before +Elizabeth's reign were not exposed to such dangers and penalties +as the others. We therefore made use of his ministry, in order +that this lady might receive all the rites of the Church. Having +<pb n='xxviii'/><anchor id='Pgxxviii'/> +made her confession and been anointed with great devotion, +she received the Holy Viaticum; and behold in half an +hour's time she so far recovered, as to be wholly out of +danger; the disease and its cause had vanished, and she +had only to recover her strength. The husband seeing his +wife thus snatched from the jaws of death, wished to know +the reason. We told him that it was one of the effects of +the holy Sacrament of Extreme Unction, that it restored bodily +health when Divine Wisdom saw that it was expedient for the +good of the soul. This was the cause of his conversion; for +admiring the power and efficacy of the Sacraments of the true +Church, he allowed himself to be persuaded to seek in that +Church the health of his own soul. I, being eager to strike the +iron while it was hot, began without delay to prepare him for +confession; but not wishing just then that he should know me for +a Priest, I said that I would instruct him as I had been instructed +by Priests in my time. He prepared himself, and awaited the +Priest's arrival. His brother-in-law told him that this must be at +night time. So, having sent away the servants who used to attend +him to his chamber, he went into the library, where I left him +praying, telling him that I would return directly with the Priest. I +went downstairs and put on my soutane, and returned so changed +in appearance, that he, never dreaming of any such thing, was +speechless with amazement. My friend and I showed him that +our conduct was necessary, not so much in order to avoid danger, +but in order to cheat the devil and to snatch souls from his +clutches. He well knew, I said, that I could in no other way +converse with him and his equals, and without conversation it +was impossible to bring round those who were so ill-disposed. +The same considerations served to dispel all anxieties as to the +consequence of my sojourn under his roof. I appealed to his own +experience, and reminded him, that though I had been in continual +contact with him, he had not once suspected my priestly +character. He thus became a Catholic; and his lady, grateful to +God for this two-fold blessing, perseveres still in the Faith, and +has endured much since that time from the hands of heretics.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Besides these, I reconciled to the Church, during the period +of my appearance in public, more than twenty fathers and +<pb n='xxix'/><anchor id='Pgxxix'/> +mothers of families, equal, and some even superior, in station to +the above mentioned. For prudence sake I omit their names. +As for poor persons and servants, I received a great many; the +exact number I do not remember.</q> ... +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>After some six or seven months, I received a visit from a +Catholic gentleman of another county, a relative of one of my +spiritual children, who was very desirous to make acquaintance +with a Jesuit. He was a devout young man, and heir to a pretty +considerable estate, one half of which came into his possession by +his brother's death, the other portion being held for life by his +mother, who was a good Catholic widow lady. Her son lived +with her, and they kept a Priest in the house. He had then sold +a portion of his estate, and devoted the proceeds to pious uses, +for he was fervent and full of charity. After the lapse of a few +days, as I saw his aspiration to a higher life and his desires of +perfection wax stronger, I told him that there were certain +spiritual exercises, by means of which a well-disposed person +could discover a short road to perfection, and be best prepared to +make choice of a state of life. He most earnestly begged to be +allowed to make them. I acceded to his request, and he made +great spiritual profit thereby, not only in that he made the best +choice, which was that he would enter the Society of Jesus as +soon as possible, but also because he made the best and most +proper arrangements to carry his purpose into execution, and to +preserve meanwhile his present fervour. After his retreat he +expressed the greatest wish that I should come and live with him, +and I had no rest until I promised to submit the matter to my +Superior. For my own part, I could not but reflect that my +present public mode of life, though in the beginning it had its +advantages, could not be long continued, because the more +people I knew and the more I was known to, the less became my +safety, and the greater my distractions. Hence it was not without +acknowledging God's special providence that I heard him make +me this invitation. So, after having consulted with my Superior, +and obtained his permission to accept the offer, I bade adieu to +my old friends, and stationed a Priest where they might conveniently +have recourse to his ministry. He still remains there, to +the great profit of souls, though in the endurance of many perils.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='xxx'/><anchor id='Pgxxx'/> + +<p> +<q>In my new abode, I was able to live much more quietly and +more to my taste, inasmuch as nearly all the members of the house +were Catholics; and thus it was easier for me to conform to the +manner of life of the Society, both as regards dress and the +arrangement of my time.... While in this residence (and I +was there all but two years) I gave much time to my studies. At +times I made missionary excursions, and not only did I reconcile +many, but I confirmed some Catholic families in the Faith, and +placed two Priests in stations where they might be useful to souls.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Amongst those to whom Father Gerard gave the Spiritual +Exercises while in this residence, were two brothers of the name +of Wiseman, who entered the Novitiate of St. Andrew at Rome +<q>under the names of Starkie and Standish, which they assumed,</q> +says Father Gerard, <q>as a remembrance of me; for under these +I passed in the first and second county where I took up my +residence.</q> The one died there, and the other at St. Omers, not +long after. Their eldest brother was William Wiseman, of Braddocks, +or Broadoaks, a family mansion<note place='foot'><q>It [Braddocks] seems to have been formerly moated round, and two +sides of the moat remain at present</q> (Morant, <hi rend='italic'>History of Essex</hi>, London, +1768, vol ii., p. 559).</note> which stands in the fields +two miles from Wimbish Church, in Essex. <q>He had lately come +to his estate on the death of his father, and had made himself a +large deer park in it. There he lived like a little king, in ease and +independence, surrounded by his children, to whom, as well as to +his wife, he was tenderly attached. As he kept clear of Priests +from the Seminaries, he lived unmolested, feeling nothing of the +burden and heat of the day; for the persecutors troubled chiefly +those who harboured the Seminarists, not caring to inquire after +those who kept the old Priests, that is, those who had taken Orders +before the reign of Elizabeth.... In his house there was +living my host's mother, a most excellent widow lady, happy in +her children, but still happier in her private virtues. She had +four sons and four daughters. These latter, without exception, +devoted their virginity to God. Two had already joined the holy +Order of St. Bridget before my arrival,</q> Ann and Barbara;<note place='foot'>Their names appear in 1580, among the signatures of the thirty Nuns of +Sion, then at Rouen, in a petition to the Catholics of England, praying them +not to allow <q>the only Religious Convent remaining of our country</q> to perish +for want of support (Public Record Office, <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 146, n. 114). +The convent reached Lisbon in 1594, and in 1863 returned to England and +settled at Spetisbury, near Blandford. It is the only Religious House in +England that can trace an unbroken descent from a foundation made before +the Reformation. Sion House was founded by Henry V. in 1413.</note> <q>and +<pb n='xxxi'/><anchor id='Pgxxxi'/> +one of these,</q> Barbara, <q>is even at this day Abbess in Lisbon. I +sent the two others,</q> Jane and Bridget <q>to Flanders, where they +still serve God in the Order of St. Augustine at Louvain. Her +sons were all pious young men; two,</q> Thomas and John, <q>died in +the Society, as was related above; the third,</q> Robert, <q>chose the +army, and was lately slain in a battle with the heretics in Belgium; +he fell fighting when many around him had surrendered; the +fourth,</q> William,<note place='foot'>William is said to have been knighted at a later date. Three baronetcies +were conferred on various branches of the family, William of Canfield (1628), +Richard of Thundersley (1628), and Sir William Wiseman, Knight, of Riverhall +(1660). The two last mentioned are extinct. The Wisemans of Braddocks +were descended from John Wiseman, Esq., ancestor of the present baronet, +who purchased the estate in Northend about 1430, and was the first of the +family who lived in Essex.</note> who married Jane, daughter of Sir Edmund +Huddleston, Knight, <q>was the master of that house, who to his +mother's great joy, had given himself up to every good work.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Mrs. Wiseman, or <q>the Widow Wiseman,</q> as it seems more +natural to call her, had a house of her own at Northend in the +parish of Great Waltham, which had been in possession of the +family since the time of Henry VI. On Father Gerard's recommendation +she went to live there, and maintained a Priest, <q>in +order that so noble a soul, and one so ready for all good deeds, +might be a profit not only to herself but to many, as in fact +she became. Her house was a retreat and no small protection +both to ours and to other Priests.</q> This valiant Catholic woman +and her brave son were in bad repute with the persecuting +authorities, and the Public Record Office preserves many reports +respecting them. In January, 1594, Justice Young writes to Lord +Keeper Puckering,<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 247, n. 3.</note> <q>Mrs. Jane Wiseman her house is the only +resort for these wicked persons. She was at Wisbech with the +Seminaries and Jesuits there, and she did repent that she had not +gone bare-footed thither, and she is a great reliever of them, and +she made a rich vestment and sent it them, as your Lordship +doth remember as I think, when you and my Lord of Buckhurst +<pb n='xxxii'/><anchor id='Pgxxxii'/> +sent to Wisbech to search, for that I had letters which did +decypher all her doings.</q> She was condemned in 1598 to the +<foreign lang='fr' rend='italic'>peine forte et dure</foreign> for refusing to plead when indicted for +harbouring Father Jones, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Buckley, the Franciscan martyr. +<q>However, on account of her rank and the good name which +she had, the Queen's councillors would not let such barbarity be +practised in London. So they transferred her after her condemnation +to a more loathsome prison, and kept her there. They +wanted at the same time to seize her income for the Queen. +Now if she had been dead, this income would not have gone to +the Queen, but to the widow's son, my host. The godly woman +therefore lived in this prison, reft of her goods but not of her life, +of which she most desired to be reft. She pined in a narrow and +filthy cell till the accession of King James, when, as is usual at +the crowning of a new King, she received a pardon, and returned +home; where she now serves the servants of God, and has two of +ours with her in the house.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>IV.</head> + +<p> +While Braddocks was his head-quarters, <q>I found time,</q> he +says, <q rend='pre'>both for study and missionary excursions. I took care +that all in the house should approach the Sacraments frequently, +which none before, save the good widow, used to do oftener than +four times a year. Now they come every week. On feast-days, +and often on Sundays, I preached in the chapel; moreover, I +showed those who had leisure the way to meditate by themselves, +and taught all how to examine their conscience. I also brought in +the custom of reading pious books, which we did even at meals, +when there were no strangers there; for at that time we Priests +sat with the rest, even with our gowns on. I had a soutane +besides and a biretta, but the Superior would not have us use +these except in the chapel.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In my excursions I almost always gained some to God. +There is, however, a great difference to be observed between these +counties where I then was, and other parts of England; for in +some places, where many of the common people are Catholics, +and almost all lean towards the Catholic faith, it is easy to bring +many into the bosom of the Church, and to have many hearers +<pb n='xxxiii'/><anchor id='Pgxxxiii'/> +together at a sermon. I myself have seen in Lancashire two +hundred together at Mass and sermon; and as these easily come +in, so also they easily scatter when the storm of persecution +draws near, and come back again when the alarm has blown over. +On the contrary, in those parts where I was now staying there +were very few Catholics, but these were of the higher classes; +scarcely any of the common people, for they cannot live in peace, +surrounded as they are by most violent heretics. The way of +managing in such cases, is first to gain the gentry, then the servants: +for Catholic masters cannot do without Catholic servants.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>About this time I gained to God and the Church my +hostess' brother, the only son of a certain Knight,</q> Henry, son +of Sir Edmund Huddleston, of Sawston.<note place='foot'><q>While the house at Sawston was erecting, Sir Edmund resided on his +estates in Essex, and served the office of Sheriff for that county in 20, 21, +[1578-9] and 30 Elizabeth</q> [1588] (Burke's <hi rend='italic'>Landed Gentry</hi>, 1850, vol. i., +p. 602).</note> <q>I ever after found +him a most faithful friend in all circumstances. He afterwards +took to wife a relative<note place='foot'>The relationship is by affinity and half-blood. Jane, daughter of Sir +William Dormer, by his first wife, Mary Sidney, married Don Gomez Suarez, +Count of Feria; and Dorothy's father, Robert Lord Dormer, was a son of Sir +William, by his second wife, Dorothy Catesby (Burke's <hi rend='italic'>Peerage</hi>).</note> in the third degree of the most illustrious +Spanish Duke of Feria,</q> Dorothy, daughter of Robert first Lord +Dormer, by his wife, Elizabeth Browne, daughter of Anthony +first Viscount Montague. <q>This pious pair are so attached to +our Priests, that now in these terrible times they always keep +one in their house, and often two or three.</q> ... +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Besides others of less standing whom my host's mother, in +her great zeal for souls, brought me to be reconciled, she had +nearly won over a certain great lady, a neighbour of hers. +Though this lady was the wife of the richest<note place='foot'>Lady Penelope Devereux, daughter of Walter first Earl of Essex, wife of +Robert third Lord Rich, afterwards Earl of Warwick.</note> lord in the whole +county, and sister to the Earl of Essex (then most powerful with +the Queen), and was wholly given to vanities, nevertheless she +brought her so far as to be quite willing to speak with a Priest, if +only he could come to her without being known. This the good +widow told me. I consequently went to her house openly, and +addressed her as though I had something to tell her from a +<pb n='xxxiv'/><anchor id='Pgxxxiv'/> +certain great lady her kinswoman, for so it had been agreed. I +dined openly with her and all the gentry in the house, and spent +three hours at least in private talk with her. I first satisfied her +in all the doubts which she laid before me about faith; next, I +set myself to stir up her will, and before my departure I so +wrought upon her, that she asked for instructions how to prepare +herself for confession, and fixed a day for making it. Nay, she +afterwards wrote to me earnestly protesting that she desired +nothing in the world so much as to open to me the inmost +recesses of her heart. But the judgments of God are a deep +abyss, and it is a dreadful thing to expose oneself to the +occasions of sin. Now there was a nobleman<note place='foot'>Charles Blount, eighth Baron Mountjoy, who in 1603 was created Earl of +Devonshire. He was married December 26, 1605, to Lady Rich, after her +divorce, and in the lifetime of her husband, by William Laud, afterwards +Archbishop of Canterbury. The Earl of Devonshire died in a few months +after this marriage, April 3, 1606.</note> in London, who +had loved her long and deeply; to him she disclosed her purpose +by letter, perchance to bid him farewell; but she roused a +sleeping adder. For he hastened to her, and began to dissuade +her in every kind of way; and being himself a heretic, and not +wanting in learning, he cunningly coaxed her to get him an +answer to certain doubts of his from the same guide that she +herself followed; saying that if he was satisfied in this, he too +would become a Catholic. He implored her to take no step in +the meantime, if she did not wish for his death. So he filled two +sheets of paper about the Pope, the worship of Saints, and the +like. She sent them with a letter of her own, begging me to be so +good as to answer them, for it would be a great gain if such a +soul could be won over. He did not, however, write from a wish +to learn, but rather with the treacherous design of delaying her +conversion. For he got an answer, a full one I think, to which +he made no reply. But meanwhile he endeavoured to get her to +London, and succeeded in making her first postpone, and afterwards +altogether neglect her resolution. By all this, however, he +was unwittingly bringing on his own ruin; for later on, returning +from Ireland laden with glory, on account of his successful +administration, and his victory over the Spanish forces that had +landed there (on which occasion he brought over with him the +<pb n='xxxv'/><anchor id='Pgxxxv'/> +Earl of Tyrone, who had been the most powerful opponent of +heresy in that country, and most sturdy champion of the ancient +faith), he was created an Earl, and though conqueror of others, he +conquered not himself, but was kept a helpless captive by his +love of this lady. This madness of his caused him to commit +such extravagances that he became quite notorious, and was +publicly disgraced. Unable to endure this dishonour, and yet +unwilling to renounce the cause of it, he died of grief, invoking, +alas! not God, but this goddess, <q>his angel,</q> as he called her, and +leaving her heiress of all his property. Such was his miserable +end, in bad repute of all men. The lady, though now very rich, +often afterwards began to think of her former resolution, and +often spoke of me to a certain Catholic maid of honour that she +had about her. This latter coming into Belgium about three +years back to become a Nun, related this to me, and begged me +to write to her and fan the yet unquenched spark into a flame. +But when I was setting about the letter, I heard that she had +been carried off by a fever, not, however, before she had been +reconciled to the Church by one of ours. I have set this forth at +some length, that the providence of God with regard to her +whose conversion was hindered, and His judgment upon him +who was the cause of the hindrance, may more clearly appear.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I used also to make other missionary excursions at this time +to more distant counties towards the north. On the way I had to +pass through my native place, and through the midst of my +kindred and acquaintance; but I could not do much good there, +though there were many who professed themselves great friends +of mine. I experienced in fact most fully the truth of that saying +of Truth Himself, that no prophet is received in his own country; +so that I felt little wish at any time to linger among them. It +happened once that I went to lodge on one of those journeys +with a Catholic kinsman.<note place='foot'>William Wiseman, Richard Fulwood, and Ralph Willis were with +Father Gerard at Lady Gerard's house before Michaelmas, 1592 (P. R. O., +<hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 248, n. 103).</note> I found him in hunter's trim, ready to +start for a grand hunt, for which many of his friends had met +together. He asked me to go with him, and try to gain over a +certain gentleman who had married a cousin of his and mine. I +<pb n='xxxvi'/><anchor id='Pgxxxvi'/> +answered that some other occasion would be more fit. He +disagreed with me, however, maintaining that unless I took this +chance of going with him, I should not be able to get near the +person in question. I went accordingly, and during the hunt +joined company with him for whose soul I myself was on the +hunt. The hounds being at fault from time to time, and ceasing +to give tongue, while we were awaiting the renewal of this hunters' +music, I took the opportunity of following my own chase, and +gave tongue myself in good earnest. Thus, beginning to speak of +the great pains that we took over chasing a poor animal, I +brought the conversation to the necessity of seeking an everlasting +kingdom, and the proper method of gaining it, to wit, by +employing all manner of care and industry; as the devil on his +part never sleeps, but hunts after our souls as hounds hunt after +their prey. We said but little on disputed points of faith, for he +was rather a schismatic than a heretic, but to move his will to act +required a longer talk. This work was continued that day and +the day after; and on the fourth day he was spiritually born and +made a Catholic. He still remains one, and often supports +Priests at home and sends them to other people.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>V.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>My journeys northwards were undertaken for the purpose of +visiting, and strengthening in the faith, certain persons who there +afforded no small aid to the common cause. Among them were +two sisters of high nobility, daughters of an Earl of very old +family who had laid down his life for the Catholic faith.<note place='foot'>Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland, was beheaded at York, +in 1572. He had four daughters: Elizabeth, wife of Richard Woodroff; +Lucy, wife of Sir Edward Stanley; Jane, wife of Lord Henry Seymour; and +Mary, the second Abbess of the English Benedictine Convent at Brussels.</note> They +lived together, and manifested a great desire to have me not +merely visit them sometimes, but rather stay altogether with them. +The elder, who had a family, became a pillar of support to that +portion of our afflicted Church. She kept two Priests with her +at home, and received all who came to her with great charity. +There are numbers of Priests in that part of the country, and +many Catholics, mostly of the poorer sort. Indeed, I was hardly +<pb n='xxxvii'/><anchor id='Pgxxxvii'/> +ever there without our counting before my departure six or +seven Priests together in her house. Thus she gave great help +to religion in the whole district during her abode there, which +lasted till I was seized and thrown into prison; whereupon she +was constrained by her husband to change her abode and go +to London, a proceeding which did neither of them any good, +and deprived the poor Catholics of many advantages. Her +sister was chosen by God for Himself. I found her unmarried, +humble and modest. Gradually she was fitted for something +higher. She learnt the practice of meditation; and profited so +well thereby, that the world soon grew vile in her eyes, and +Heaven seemed the only thing worthy of her love. I afterwards +sent her to Father Holt, in Belgium. He wrote to me on one +occasion about her in these terms: <q>Never has there come into +these parts a countrywoman of ours that has given such good +example, or done such honour to our nation.</q> She had the +chief hand in the foundation of the present convent of English +Benedictine Nuns at Brussels,<note place='foot'>This venerable Community was transferred in 1794 to Winchester, and +in 1857 to East Bergholt, in Suffolk. This was the first English Convent +founded after the Reformation, and the first to come to England at the French +Revolution.</note> where she still lives, and has +arrived to a great pitch of virtue and self-denial. She yearns +for a more retired life, and has often proposed to her director +to allow her to live as a recluse, but gives in to his reasons to +the contrary.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>At first I used to carry with me on these journeys my +altar furniture, which was meagre but decent, and so contrived +that it could be easily carried, along with several other necessary +articles, by him who acted as my servant. In this way I used +to say Mass in the morning in every place where I lodged, not +however before I had looked into every corner around, that +there might be no one peering in through the chinks. I brought +my own things mainly on account of certain Catholics, my +entertainers, not having yet what was necessary for the Holy +Sacrifice. But after some years this cause was removed; for +in nearly every place that I came to they had got ready the +sacred vestments beforehand. Moreover, I had so many friends +<pb n='xxxviii'/><anchor id='Pgxxxviii'/> +to visit on the way, and these at such distances from one another, +that it was hardly ever necessary for me to lodge at an inn on +a journey of one hundred and fifty miles; and at last I hardly +slept at an inn once in two years.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I used to visit my Superior,</q> Father Garnett, <q rend='pre'>several times +a year, when I wished to consult him on matters of importance. +Not only I, but all of us used to resort to him twice a year to give +our half-yearly account of conscience and renew the offering of +our vows to our Lord Jesus. I always remarked that the others +drew great profit from this holy custom of our Society. As for +myself, to speak my mind frankly, I never found anything do me +more good, or stir up my courage more to fulfil all the duties +which belong to our Institute, and are required of the workmen +who till the Lord's vineyard in that country. Besides experiencing +great spiritual joy from the renewal itself, I found my interior +strength recruited, and a new zeal kindled within me afterwards +in consequence; so that if I have not done any good, it must +have come from my carelessness and thanklessness, and not +from any fault of the Society, which afforded me such means +and helps to perfection.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>On one occasion we were all met together in the Superior's +house while he yet resided in the country,</q> in Worcestershire, <q rend='pre'>and +were employed in the renovation of spirit. We had had several +conferences, and the Superior had given each of us some advice +in private, when the question was started what we should do if the +Priest-hunters suddenly came upon us, seeing that there were so +many of us, and there were nothing like enough hiding-places for +all. We numbered then, I think, nine or ten of ours, besides other +Priests our friends, and some Catholics who would also have had +to seek concealment. The blessed<note place='foot'>When this was written, the strict laws of Urban VIII. had not yet been +made, which forbid the introduction of any public religious veneration except +by the authority of the Holy See.</note> Father Garnett answered, +<q>True, we ought not all to meet together now that our number is +daily increasing; however, as we are here assembled for the +greater glory of God, I will be answerable for all till the renovation +is over, but beyond that I will not promise.</q> Accordingly, on +the very day of the renovation, though he had been quite unconcerned +<pb n='xxxix'/><anchor id='Pgxxxix'/> +before, he earnestly warned every one to look to himself, +and not to tarry without necessity, adding, <q>I do not guarantee +your safety any longer.</q> Some, hearing this, mounted their +horses after dinner and rode off. Five of ours and two Secular +Priests stayed behind.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Next morning, about five o'clock, when Father Southwell +was beginning Mass, and the others and myself were at meditation, +I heard a bustle at the house door. Directly after I +heard cries and oaths poured forth against the servant for refusing +admittance. The fact was, that four Priest-hunters, or pursuivants +as they are called, with drawn swords were trying to break down +the door and force an entrance. The faithful servant withstood +them, otherwise we should have been all made prisoners. But +by this time Father Southwell had heard the uproar, and, +guessing what it meant, had at once taken off his vestments +and stripped the altar; while we strove to seek out everything +belonging to us, so that there might be nothing found to betray +the presence of a Priest. We did not even wish to leave boots +and swords lying about, which would serve to show there had +been many guests though none of them appeared. Hence many +of us were anxious about our beds, which were still warm, and +only covered, according to custom, previous to being made. +Some, therefore, went and turned their beds, so that the +colder part might deceive anybody who put his hand in to feel. +Thus, while the enemy was shouting and bawling outside, and +our servants were keeping the door, saying that the mistress of +the house, a widow, had not yet got up, but that she was coming +directly and would give them an answer, we profited by the +delay to stow away ourselves and all our baggage in a cleverly-contrived +hiding-place.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>At last these four leopards were let in. They raged about +the house, looking everywhere, and prying into the darkest +corners with candles. They took four hours over the business; +but failed in their search,<note place='foot'>Defecerunt scrutantes scrutinio (MS.).</note> and only brought out the forbearance +of the Catholics in suffering, and their own spite and obstinacy in +seeking. At last they took themselves off, after getting paid, +forsooth, for their trouble. So pitiful is the lot of the Catholics, +<pb n='xl'/><anchor id='Pgxl'/> +that those who come with a warrant to annoy them in this or +in other way, have to be paid for so doing by the suffering +party instead of by the authorities who send them, as though +it were not enough to endure wrong, but they must also pay +for their endurance of it. When they were gone, and were +now some way off, so that there was no fear of their returning, +as they sometimes do, a lady came and summoned out of the +den, not one, but many Daniels. The hiding-place was underground, +covered with water at the bottom, so that I was standing +with my feet in water all the time. We had there Father Garnett, +Father Southwell, and Father Ouldcorne (three future martyrs), +Father Stanny, and myself, two Secular Priests, and two or +three lay gentlemen. Having thus escaped that day's danger, +Father Southwell and I set off the next day together, as we +had come. Father Ouldcorne stayed, his dwelling or residence +being</q> at Henlip House, <q>not far off.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>VI.</head> + +<p> +But Father Gerard's good works were now to be interfered +with by the treachery of a servant. This man's name was +John Frank, and his deposition taken before Justice Young, +May 12, 1594,<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 248, n. 103.</note> will illustrate Father Gerard's story. The Father +introduces the traitor without naming him. +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>There is a time for gathering stones together, and a time for +scattering them. The time had now come for trying the servants +of God, my hosts, and myself along with them. And that they +might be more like in their sufferings to their Lord for Whom +they suffered, God allowed them to be betrayed by their own +servant, whom they loved. He was not a Catholic, nor a servant +of the house, but had been once in the service of the second +brother, who when he crossed the sea recommended him to his +mother and brother. He lived in London, but often used to visit +them, and knew nearly everything that happened in either of their +houses. I had no reason for suspecting one whom all trusted. +Still I never let him see me acting as a Priest, or dressed in such +a way as to give him grounds to say that I was one. However, as +<pb n='xli'/><anchor id='Pgxli'/> +he acknowledged afterwards, he guessed what I was from seeing +his master treat me with such respect; for he nearly always set +me two or three miles on my journeys. Often too my host would +bear me company to London, where we used at that time to lodge +in this servant's house. I had not yet found by experience, that +the safest plan was to have a lodging of my own. Such were the +facts which, as the traitor afterwards stated, gave rise to his +suspicions. Feeling sure that he could get more than three +hundred pieces of silver for the sale of his master, he went to the +magistrates and bargained to betray him. They, it seems, sent +him for a while to spy out who were Priests, and how many +there were of them haunting the houses of the widow and her son.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The widow's house was first searched. The Priest that +usually dwelt there was then at home, but escaped for that time +by taking refuge in a hiding-place. As for the pious widow, +they forced her to go to London, there to appear before the +Judges who tried cases concerning Catholics. At her appearance +she answered with the greatest courage, more like a free woman +than a grievously persecuted prisoner. She was thrown into gaol.</q> +From Frank we learn that the search was made Dec. 26, 1593. +</p> + +<p> +<q>He saith that one Brewster, a Priest, being a tall man with a +white flaxen beard, was at old Mrs. Wiseman's house at Northend +from Michaelmas till Christmas last, and was in the house when +the pursuivants were there on Wednesday the 26th of December +last, hid in a privy place in a chamber. And William Suffield, +Mr. William Wiseman's man, came thither for him on Thursday +in the Christmas week, at five o'clock in the night, and carried +him to Mr. William Wiseman's house at Braddocks (as this +examinate heard). And afterwards Suffield came again and rode +with old Mrs. Wiseman to the Lord Rich's.</q> The seat of Lord +Rich was at Lee Priory, not far from Northend. The widow, +therefore, was not arrested on this occasion. +</p> + +<p> +Of the search, Justice Young made the following report to +Lord Keeper Puckering.<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 247, n. 3.</note> <q>Right honourable, my humble duty +remembered, this is to advertize your honour that the bearers +hereof, Mr. Worsley and Mr. Newall,</q> pursuivants who were +Topcliffe's chief aiders in the searches made in the houses of +<pb n='xlii'/><anchor id='Pgxlii'/> +Catholics, <q>hath been in Essex at Mrs. Wiseman's house, being a +widow, and there they found a Mass a preparing, but the Priest +escaped, but they brought from thence Robert Wiseman her son,<note place='foot'><q>Robert Wiseman, her other son, is also an obstinate recusant and will +by no means take the oath. He is prisoner in the Clink.</q> (Young, Apr. 14, +1594. P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Dom. Eliz.</hi>, vol. 248, n. 68).</note> +and William Clarke, a lawyer, and Henry Cranedge, a physician, +and Robert Foxe, who doth acknowledge themselves all to be +recusants, and do deny to take an oath to answer truly to such +matters as shall touch the Queen's Majesty and the State, whereupon +I have committed them close prisoners, one from another. +Also they found in the said house one Nicholas Norffooke, Samuel +Savage, and one Daniell, servants unto the said Mrs. Wiseman, +and one Mrs. Ann Wiseman, a widow, and Mary Wiseman her +daughter, and Elizabeth Cranedge, and Alice Jenings, wife of +Richard Jenings, and Mary Wiseman, daughter to Mr. George +Wiseman, of Upminster, and is in Commission of the Peace, and +all these in the said house are recusants; wherefore it may stand +with your lordship's good liking, I think it were well that they +were all sent for hither to be examined, for that, the said Mrs. Jane +Wiseman——</q> and then follows the remembrance of old Mrs. +Wiseman's wish that her pilgrimage to the Priests at Wisbech had +been barefooted, that we have already given. +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><hi rend='italic'>Item</hi>, he saith,</q> to return to Frank's examination, <q>that Mr. +Gerard, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Tanfield, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Staunton, the Priest Jesuit, was at +Mr. William Wiseman's house at Braddocks all the Christmas +last, and Richard Fulwood was his man attending on him, and +was two years coming and going thither, and was also with Mr. +Wiseman in Lancashire a little before Michaelmas was twelve +months, as Ralph Willis, who then attended on Master Gerard, +told this examinate, and were at the Lady Gerard's house, she +being at home.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><hi rend='italic'>Item</hi>, he saith that he hath seen Mr. Gerard dine and sup +ordinarily with Mr. Wiseman at his own table in his house at +Braddocks about twelve months past, and that at Michaelmas was +twelve months they were both together in the examinate's house,</q>—Father +Gerard has just told us that they used to go there till he +got a lodging of his own—<q>and Mr. Ormes, the tailor of Fleet-street, +<pb n='xliii'/><anchor id='Pgxliii'/> +was there with him, and did take measure of Mr. Gerard +by the name of Mr. Tanfield, to make him garments.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='italic'>Item</hi>, he saith that the said Gerard lay one night at the +Lady Mary's in Blackfriars (as he thinketh) a little before Easter +last,<note place='foot'>The Lady Mary Percy, of whom mention has been previously made. +She <q>was a devout Catholic, and had come to London a little before my +imprisonment, to get my help in passing over to Belgium, there to consecrate +herself to God. She was staying at the house of her sister,</q> who had lost the +faith, Jane, the wife of Lord Henry Seymour, with whose Protestant servants +Father Gerard was confronted later on. <q>I dined with them on the day the +witnesses mentioned. It was Lent; and they told how their mistress ate meat, +while the Lady Mary and I ate nothing but fish </q> (<hi rend='italic'>infr.</hi> p. <ref target='Pglxviii'>lxviii</ref>.).</note> and Ralph Willis, his servant, lay that night at this examinate's +house, and that Richard Fulwood, since his imprisonment +in Bridewell at Easter last, wrote a letter and sent it from +Bridewell to the Lady Mary's, and there this examinate received +it and went down with it to Mr. Gerard, who was at Mr. William +Wiseman's house at Braddocks all the Easter last, and hidden in +the house while the pursuivants were there, which letters aforesaid +this examinate did deliver to Ralph Willis, who carried them +immediately to Mr. Gerard. And this examinate saw the letters +in Mr. Gerard's hands, and heard him read them. Wherein +Fulwood wrote that he expected torture every day, and Mr. +Gerard wished that he might bear some of Fulwood's punishment.</q> ... +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><hi rend='italic'>Item</hi>, he saith that the satin doublet and velvet hose which +were found in Middleton's house at the apprehension of Mr. +Gerard were Mr. Wiseman's, and the ruffs were Mrs. Wiseman's; +and if they had not been taken, the apparel should have been +carried by this examinate the next day to Mr. Wiseman in the +Counter.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='italic'>Item</hi>, he saith that about three weeks before Michaelmas last +or thereabouts, this examinate was sent by old Mrs. Wiseman to +Mr. Gerard, from Northend to London, with Scudamore, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> +John Wiseman, the Priest,<note place='foot'>He had previously said that <q>between Midsummer and Michaelmas last, +Scudamore the Priest was there by the name of John Wiseman and stayed +there one night.</q> John was apparently the name of the younger Jesuit, who +died in the Novitiate at Rome.</note> and a boy named Richard Cranishe, +of the age of 16 years, son of Robert Cranishe, and afterwards +<pb n='xliv'/><anchor id='Pgxliv'/> +Mrs. Jane Wiseman<note place='foot'>Amongst the letters seized at Braddocks in a search apparently in 1592, +was one <q>sent by Dolman the Priest to Mrs. Wiseman, dated 28 die Jun., +advertizing her of her son Thomas and her son John their healths, and of his +going to Wisbech, and that he was sorry her daughter Jane had no warning +whereby she might have wrote an epistle in Latin to the Priests at Wisbech, +that they might have understood her zeal</q> (P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Dom. Eliz.</hi>, vol. 243, +n. 95).</note> and Mrs. Bridget Wiseman, sisters to Mr. +William Wiseman, came up also; and William Savage, tailor, +servant to old Mrs. Wiseman, and Richard Fulwood, Mr. +Gerard's man, attended on them, and John Jeppes came up +at the same time; all of which persons (saving Jeppes) lay +at this examinate's house a week. And then Scudamore, +the two gentlewomen, Cranishe, Savage, and this examinate, +embarked themselves at Gravesend in one Motte his bark, +and went over to Middleborough, and there lay at one Charles +his house about a fortnight, and then went to Antwerp, and +this examinate returned back again, but whether Mr. William +Wiseman did know of their going over or no he cannot +tell.</q> ... +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='italic'>Item</hi>, he saith that Nicholas Owen, who was taken in bed +with Mr. Gerard the Jesuit, was at Mr. Wiseman's house at +Christmas was twelve months, and called by the name of Little +John and Little Michael, and the cloak that he wore was Mr. +Wiseman's cloak a year past, and was of sad green cloth with +sleeves, caped with tawny velvet and little gold strips turning on +the cape. And the said Owen was at Mr. Emerson's at Felsted +while Mrs. Wiseman lay there.</q> ... +</p> + +<p> +Such is Frank's examination, taken in May, 1594, and it will +throw much light on the subsequent narrative. On the 14th of +April, Justice Young sent to Lord Keeper Puckering<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Dom. Eliz.</hi>, vol. 248, n. 68.</note> <q>the names +of them that were found in Mr. Wiseman's house: John +Fulwood, Richard Fulwood, Richard Wallis, William Wallis, +William Suffield, Ralph Williamson, John Stratforde. These +men are all recusants, and will not take an oath to the Queen's +Majesty, nor to answer to anything. One Thomas was apprehended +when his master was taken, and he fled away with his +master's best gelding and a handful of gold that his master gave +<pb n='xlv'/><anchor id='Pgxlv'/> +him. All these were servants<note place='foot'>Young adds, <q>Mr. Wiseman and his mother had many more servants, +both men and maids, all which were recusants, and none of them would come +to church, to the great offence and scandal of all Her Majesty's good subjects +in that country.</q></note> to Mr. William Wiseman, who is a +continual receiver of all Seminary Priests, and went to Wisbech +to visit the Priests and Jesuits there, and since his imprisonment +there was a Seminary Priest in his house which escaped away +from the Justices and pursuivants and left his apparel behind +him.</q> This was, as we shall see, Father Gerard himself, and +later on he was made to try on the clothes thus found, and +<q>they were just a fit.</q> All this was to prove Mr. Wiseman guilty +of harbouring a Priest, <q>which,</q> Father Gerard says, <q>they were +never able to do.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Father Garnett, in a letter<note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS. <hi rend='italic'>P.</hi>, ii., p. 550.</note> to Father Persons at Rome, dated +Sept. 6, 1594, thus describes the capture of the servants. <q>The +Friday night before Passion Sunday</q> [March 15] <q>was such a +hurly-burly in London as never was seen in man's memory; no, +not when Wyatt was at the gates. A general search in all London, +the Justices and chief citizens going in person; all unknown +persons taken and put in churches till the next day. No Catholics +found, but one poor tailor's house at Golding-lane end, which was +esteemed such a booty as never was got since this Queen's days. +The tailor and divers others there taken lie yet in prison, and +some of them have been tortured. That mischance touched us +near; they were our friends and chiefest instruments. That very +night had been there <hi rend='italic'>Long John</hi> with the little beard, once your +pupil</q> [in the margin is written <hi rend='italic'>John Gerard</hi>], <q>if I had not +more importunately stayed him than ever before. But soon after +he was apprehended, being betrayed we know not how; he will be +stout I doubt not. He hath been very close, but now is removed +from the Counter to the Clink, where he may in time do much +good. He was glad of Mr. Homulus<note place='foot'>Mr. <q>Homulus</q> is Ralph Emerson, the Lay-brother, of whom Father +Campion wrote to the General, <q>Homulus meus et ego</q> (<hi rend='italic'>infr.</hi> p. <ref target='Pglxx'>lxx</ref>). It +was of the greatest consequence that no names to strike the eye should appear +in letters, in case they were intercepted.</note> his company, but he had +been taken from him and carried to Newgate, whence he hopeth +to redeem him again.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='xlvi'/><anchor id='Pgxlvi'/> + +<p> +Father Gerard tells the story thus. <q>The hidden traitor, +wholly unknown to his master, was watching his chance of +giving us up without betraying his own treachery. At first he +settled to have me seized in a house</q> in Golding-lane <q rend='pre'>which +had been lately hired in London to answer my own and my +friends' purposes. From his master's employing him in many +affairs, he could not help knowing the place which his master had +hired for my use. Consequently he promised the magistrates to +tell them when I was coming, so that they might surround the +house during the night with their officers, and cut off my escape. +The plan would have succeeded, had not God provided otherwise +through an act of obedience.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>My Superior had lately come to live four or five miles from +London.<note place='foot'>Probably White Webbs in Enfield Chase, called <q>Dr. Hewick's house</q> +(P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Gunpowder Plot Book</hi>, n. 70).</note> I had gone to see him, and had been with him a day +or two, when, having business in London, I wrote to those who +kept the house to expect me on such a night, and bring in +certain friends whom I wanted to see. The traitor, who was +now often seen in the house, which belonged ostensibly to his +master, learnt the time, and got the Priest-hunters to come there +at midnight with their band.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Just before mounting my horse to depart, I went to take +leave of my Superior. He would have me stay that night. I told +him my business, and my wish to keep my appointment with my +friends; but the blessed Father would not allow it, though, as he +said afterwards, he knew no reason, nor was it his wont to act in +this manner. Without doubt he was guided by the inspiration of +God; for early next morning we heard that some Papists had been +seized in that house, and the story ran that a Priest was among +them. The fact was that my servant, Richard Fulwood, was +caught trying to hide himself in a dark place, there being as +yet no regular hiding-places, though I meant to make some. As +he cut a good figure, and neither the traitor nor any one else that +knew him was there, he was taken for a Priest. Three Catholics +and one schismatic were seized and thrown into prison. The +latter was a Catholic at heart, but did not refuse to go to the +heretics' churches. As he was a trusty man, I employed him as +<pb n='xlvii'/><anchor id='Pgxlvii'/> +keeper of the house, to manage any business in the neighbourhood. +At their examination they all showed themselves steadfast +and true, and answered nothing that could give the enemy any +inkling that the house belonged to me instead of to my host. It +was well that it was so; for things would have gone harder with +the latter had it been otherwise. The magistrates sent him a +special summons, in the hope that my arrest would enable them +to make out a stronger case against him. As soon as he arrived +in London he went straight to the house, never dreaming what +had happened there, in order to treat with me as to the reason of +his summons, and how he was to answer it. So he came and +knocked at the door. It was opened to him at once; but, poor +sheep of Christ, he fell into the clutches of wolves, instead of the +arms of his shepherd and friend. For the house had been broken +into the night before, and there were some ministers of Satan still +lingering there, to watch for any Catholics that might come, +before all got scent of the danger. Out came these men then; +the good gentleman found himself ensnared, and was led prisoner +to the magistrates. <q>How many Priests do you keep in your +house?</q> <q>Who are they?</q> were the questions poured in upon +him on all sides. He made answer, that harbouring Priests was a +thing punishable with death, and so he had taken good care not +to run such a risk. On their still pressing him, he said that he +was ready to meet any accusation that could be brought against +him on this head. However, they would not hint anything about +me, because though disappointed this time, they still hoped to +catch me later, as the traitor was as yet unsuspected.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>My host had on hand a translation of a work of Father +Jerome Platus, <hi rend='italic'>On the Happiness of a Religious State</hi>. He had +just finished the second part, and had brought it with him to see +me about it. When he was seized, these papers were seized too. +Being asked what they were, he said it was a book of devotion. +Now the heretics are wont to pry into any writings that they find, +because they are afraid of anything being published against themselves +and their false doctrine. Not having time to go on with +the whole case, they were very earnest about his being answerable +for those papers. He said that there was nothing contained in +them against the State or against sound teaching; and offered on +<pb n='xlviii'/><anchor id='Pgxlviii'/> +the spot to prove the goodness and holiness of everything that +was there set down. In so doing, as he told me afterwards, he +felt great comfort at having to answer for so good a book. He +was thrown into prison, and kept in such close confinement that +only one of his servants was allowed to go near him, and that +was the traitor. Knowing that his master had no inkling of +his bad faith, they hoped by his means to find out my retreat, +and seize my person much sooner than they could otherwise have +done.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The following is Mr. Wiseman's examination, taken before +Sir Edward Coke and others, in which will be found the defence +of Father Jerome Platus, which Father Gerard so accurately +remembered, and embodied in his Narrative. +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The examination<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Dom. Eliz.</hi>, vol. 248, n. 36.</note> of William Wiseman, of Wymbyshe, in +the county of Essex, gentleman, taken the 19th day of March, in +the thirty-sixth year of Her Majesty's reign [1594].</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He saith that he hath the murrey</q> [mulberry-coloured] +<q rend='pre'>beads (showed unto him upon his examination) of a gentlewoman +and friend of his, and that he will not tell her name, for that she +is a Catholic, as he termeth her, and saith that he hath had these +beads about a year and a quarter, and received the same at +Wymbyshe aforesaid, at his house there, called Broadoaks, and +saith now, upon better advertisement, that his sister, Bridget +Wiseman, now being beyond sea, did get the said beads and +string the same for him, this examinate, but where she had them +he cannot tell. Being demanded whether he knew a book +(showed to him upon his examination) called <hi rend='italic'>Breviarium +Romanum</hi>, he denieth that he knoweth the book or whose it +is. He supposeth that a letter showed unto him upon his +examination, beginning, <q>Dear son, this day,</q> &c. &c., and +ending with <q>Commendation to all my friends,</q> is his mother's +own handwriting, and sent unto him, this examinate, to his house +aforesaid to-morrow shall be a seven-night.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>And saith that a friend of his hath hired the house in +Golding-lane, where he was apprehended, but denieth to tell +his name for charity sake, but saith that his friend hired it of +<pb n='xlix'/><anchor id='Pgxlix'/> +Mr. Tute, dwelling in the next house unto it, and saith that he +hired it the last term. And saith that his friend did hire the said +house for him, this examinate, and his mother, and saith that he +never was at the house before, but came to the said house by +such description as his friend made to him of it, and that this +examinate came thither on Saturday at night to lie there, and his +man (whose name <emph>he will not tell</emph>,<note place='foot'>In the original the words <q>is Richard Fulwood</q> are interlined, and +<q>he will not tell</q> underlined or erased.</note> is Richard Fulwood) provided +him by his commandment and appointment a bed and furniture +belonging to the same in the said house, and knoweth not +whether the bedding was in the house before he, this examinate, +hired the same house or no, but thinketh that some of the +bedding that now is there was in the house before.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>He saith that the said Richard Fulwood hath served him +about Shrovetide last was two years.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>And saith that since he, this examinate, was confined, he +hath used John Fulwood, brother to the said Richard Fulwood, +in travelling about his business.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>And saith that his servant, Thomas Barker, after he was +apprehended and under arrest, was sent by this examinate to his +inn, to return to him again as he saith, and further saith that +before the said Thomas Barker went off out of the constable's +custody, he, this examinate, laid two angels in the headborough's +hand, and to take them to his own use if his servant did not +return again. He thinketh he is gone to this examinate's house +and denieth that he gave any message to the said Thomas Barker, +save only that he should signify to his housekeeper where he this +examinate was, and saith that Thomas Barker hath dwelt with +him above a year past, and was commended to him by a friend of +his being a Catholic, and refuseth to tell his name; and saith that +both his said servants have been recusants ever since they dwelt +with him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>And confesseth that a book intituled <hi rend='italic'>Hieronymi Plati de +Societate Jesu de bono statu religionis</hi> is his own, and that he +caused the same to be bought at Cawood's shop in Paul's +Churchyard, and saith that the book containeth nothing but true +doctrine, and that he translated it through with his own hand—which +<pb n='l'/><anchor id='Pgl'/> +was found and yet remaineth—the book; and that his +servant Richard Fulwood bought the same, and hath had it or +the like by the space of these two years and more, and saith that +certain of his friends<note place='foot'>Being learned. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> coming to him this examinate, he the said +examinate commended the same book to them to be a good book, +and delivered the same book to them, to be seen and read of, +and saith within the said two years he this examinate bought +divers of the said book and hath sent of the same to some of the +examinate's friends, as namely to the Priests at Wisbech, that is +to say, Father Edmonds, and to no other by name but to him, but +generally to the Priests, which is about a year past: and that the +said Father Edmonds returned thanks [in] answer to the examinate +that he liked the book very well, and this book he sent and +received answer by his said servant Thomas Barker, who was +born in Norwich, and saith that this examinate hath read over +the first and half the second of the said book unto the 12th +chapter, and that he dare to take upon him to defend so much to +be sound and true: and saith that this examinate was with Father +Edmonds at Wisbech about Michaelmas last was twelve months, +and there saw and spake with him both privately and in company.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><hi rend='smallcaps'>W. Wiseman.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Examined by</q> +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'><hi rend='smallcaps'>Edw. Coke</hi></q></l> +<l><q rend='pre'><hi rend='smallcaps'>Will. Danyell.</hi></q></l> +<l><q rend='pre'><hi rend='smallcaps'>Edw. Vaughan.</hi></q></l> +<l><q rend='pre'><hi rend='smallcaps'>R. Watson.</hi></q></l> +<l><q><hi rend='smallcaps'>Ryc. Young.</hi></q></l> +</lg> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>VII.</head> + +<p> +<q>On learning the seizure of our house at London,</q> Father Gerard +continues, <q rend='pre'>and my host's imprisonment, I went down to his +country house to settle with his wife and friends what was to be +done, and put all our effects in safe keeping. As we wanted the +altar furniture for the approaching Easter, we sent very little of it +to our friends. Of course I could not stay away from my entertainers +at so holy a time, especially as they were in sorrow and +trouble. In Holy Week the treacherous servant came from +<pb n='li'/><anchor id='Pgli'/> +London with a letter from his master, wherein the latter set forth +all that had befallen him, the questions that had been put to him, +and his answers. This letter, though seen, had been let pass for +the credit of the bearer, to give him a chance of seeing whether I +was in the house at this solemn season. He brought me another +letter from my servant, whose capture I spoke of above. When +from the traitor's information they knew him to be my servant, +hoping to wrest from him the disclosure of his friends and +abettors, they kept him in solitary confinement in the loathsome +prison of Bridewell. The purport of the letter was how he had +denied everything,<note place='foot'>It was of the last importance for the friends of a prisoner to know, if +possible, what replies he had really given, not only that they might take +measures, if necessary, for their own safety, but also that they might know +how far to go in their own answers when summoned. The persecutors were +constantly in the habit of publishing all sorts of pretended replies which they +said had been given by prisoners in their secret examinations, so that prisoners +seized every possible opportunity of communicating the truth to their friends, +often, as we shall see, in the most ingenious way.</note> what threats had been held out to him, and +what his sufferings were in prison. He had, he said, hardly +enough black bread to keep him from starving; his abode was a +narrow strongly-built cell, in which there was no bed, so that he +had to sleep sitting on the window-sill, and was months without +taking off his clothes. There was a little straw in the place, but +it was so trodden down and swarming with vermin that he could +not lie on it. But what was most intolerable to him was their +leaving all that came from him in an open vessel in that narrow +den, so that he was continually distressed and almost stifled by +the smell. Besides all this, he was daily awaiting an examination +by torture.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>While reading the letter to my hostess in presence of the +traitor, I chanced to say at this last part, <q>I wish I could bear +some of his tortures, so that there might be less for him.</q> It was +these words of mine that let us know later on who was the traitor, +and author of all our woes. For when I was taken and questioned, +and declared I was quite unacquainted with the family, those who +were examining me forgot their secret, and cried out, <q>What lies +you tell!—did you not say so-and-so before such a lady, as you +read your servant's letter?</q> But I still denied it, giving them +<pb n='lii'/><anchor id='Pglii'/> +good reasons, however, why, even if it had been true, I could +and ought to have denied it.<note place='foot'>It will be noticed, both from this passage and many others, that the +persecuted Catholics followed that common doctrine of theologians, maintained +also by many Protestant moralists, that an unjust oppressor has no right, by +the law of God, to exact or expect true answers from his victims, if such true +answers would help his unjust designs, except where the question is of the +faith of the prisoner. It is quite likely that many will be startled now-a-days +at such direct denials, owing to our present freedom from those extreme +circumstances in which such denials were then made. Their own lives were at +stake, or those of other innocent persons, whom it would have been a sin to +betray; and for those persons' sake, if they held such denials to be lawful, they +were bound to make them. The English law, with a tenderness then unknown, +would now protect a man from all efforts to make him criminate himself. +The persecutors themselves, who showed so great indignation at their victims' +falsehoods, told lies systematically <emph>in order to ensnare the Catholics</emph>; a thing +which no code of morality ever countenanced, whether Catholic or Protestant. +We propose to discuss this subject more fully in the sequel.</note> But to take up the thread of my +story.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The traitor on his return to London informed our enemies of +everything. Forthwith they sent two of their best messengers, or +pursuivants as they call them, to two gentlemen of the county, +who were Justices of the Peace, bidding them search the house +carefully with their men. The traitor also returned on Easter +Sunday, on pretence of bringing a fresh letter from London, but +in reality to play into the hands of our enemies and acquaint them +with our plans. On Easter Monday</q> [April 1, 1594], <q rend='pre'>on account +of the dangers that threatened us, we rose before our usual hour, +and were trying to get ready for Mass before sunrise, when suddenly +we heard the noise of horses galloping, and of a multitude of men +coming to surround the house and cut off all escape. Seeing +what was going to happen, we had the doors kept fast. Meanwhile +the ornaments were pulled off the altar, the hiding-places +thrown open, my books and papers carried into them, and an +effort was made to hide me and all my effects together. I wanted to +get into a hiding-place near the dining-room, as well to be further +from the chapel and the more suspicious part of the house, as +because there was store of provisions there, to wit, a bottle of +wine, and certain light but strengthening food, such as biscuit +made to keep, &c. Moreover, I hoped to hear our enemies talk, +wherein there might be something, perchance, which bore upon +<pb n='liii'/><anchor id='Pgliii'/> +our interests. These reasons, then, moved me to choose that +place, and, in sooth, it was very fit and safe for hiding in. But +God so willed it, that the mistress of the house should in nowise +agree. She would have me go into a place near the chapel, where +the altar furniture could sooner be stowed with me. I yielded, +though there was nothing there for me to eat in case the search +should last long. I went in, then, after everything was safe that +needed putting away.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Scarcely had I done so, when the searchers broke down the +door, and forcing their way in, spread through the house with +great noise and racket. Their first step was to lock up the +mistress of the house in her own room with her maids; and +the Catholic servants they kept locked up in divers places in +the same part of the house. They then took to themselves the +whole house, which was of a good size, and made a thorough +search in every part, not forgetting even to look under the tiles +of the roof. The darkest corners they examined with the help of +candles. Finding nothing whatever, they began to break down +certain places that they suspected. They measured the walls with +long rods, so that if they did not tally, they might pierce the part +not accounted for. Thus they sounded the walls and all the +boards, to find out and break into any hollow places that there +might be.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>They spent two days in this work without finding anything. +Thinking, therefore, that I had gone on Easter Sunday, the two +magistrates went away on the second day, leaving the pursuivants +to take the mistress of the house, and all her Catholic servants of +both sexes, to London, to be examined and imprisoned. They +meant to leave some who were not Catholics to keep the house, +the traitor being one of them. The good lady was pleased at this, +for she hoped that he would be the means of freeing me, and +rescuing me from death: for she knew that I had made up my +mind to suffer and die of starvation between two walls, rather than +come forth and save my own life at the expense of others. In +fact, during those four days that I lay hid, I had nothing to eat +but a biscuit or two and a little quince jelly, which my hostess +had at hand and gave me as I was going in. She did not look +for any more, as she supposed that the search would not last +<pb n='liv'/><anchor id='Pgliv'/> +beyond a day. But now that two days were gone, and she was +to be carried off on the third with all her trusty servants, she +began to be afraid of my dying of sheer hunger. She bethought +herself then of the traitor, who she heard was to be left behind. +He had made a great fuss and show of eagerness in withstanding +the searchers, when they first forced their way in. For all that, +she would not have let him know of the hiding-places, had she +not been in such straits. Thinking it better, however, to rescue +me from certain death, though it was at her own risk, she charged +him, when she was taken away, and every one had gone, to go +into a certain room, call me by my wonted name, and tell me that +the others had been taken to prison, but that he was left to deliver +me. I would then answer, she said, from behind the wainscot +where I lay concealed.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The traitor promised to obey faithfully, but was faithful only +to the faithless, for he unfolded the whole matter to the ruffians +who had been left behind. No sooner had they heard it, than +they called back the magistrates who had departed. These +returned early in the morning, and renewed the search. They +measured and sounded everywhere, much more carefully than +before, especially in the chamber above mentioned, in order to +find out some hollow place. But finding nothing whatever during +the whole of the third day, they purposed on the morrow to strip +off all the wainscot of that room. Meanwhile they set guards in all +the rooms about, to watch all night lest I should escape. I heard +from my hiding-place the pass-word which the captain of the band +gave to his soldiers, and I might have got off by using it, were it +not that they would have seen me issuing from my retreat: for +there were two on guard in the chapel where I got into my +hiding-place, and several also in the large wainscotted room which +had been pointed out to them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>But mark the wonderful providence of God. Here was I in +my hiding-place. The way I got into it was by taking up the +floor, made of wood and bricks, under the fire-place. The place +was so constructed that a fire could not be lit in it without +damaging the house; though we made a point of keeping wood +there, as if it were meant for a fire. Well, the men on the night-watch +lit a fire in this very grate, and began chatting together +<pb n='lv'/><anchor id='Pglv'/> +close to it. Soon the bricks, which had not bricks but wood +underneath them, got loose, and nearly fell out of their places, as +the wood gave way. On noticing this and probing the bottom +with a stick, they found that the bottom was made of wood; +whereupon they remarked that this was something curious. I +thought that they were going there and then to break open the +place and enter; but they made up their minds at last to put off +further examination till next day. Meanwhile, though nothing was +further from my thoughts than any chance of escaping, I besought +the Lord earnestly, that if it were for the glory of His Name, I +might not be taken in that house, and so endanger my entertainers; +nor in any other house, where others would share my +disaster. My prayer was heard. I was preserved in that house +in a wonderful manner; and when, a few days after, I was taken, +it was without prejudice to any one, as shall be presently seen.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Next morning, therefore, they renewed the search most carefully, +everywhere except in the top chamber which served as a +chapel, and in which the two watchmen had made a fire over my +head, and had noticed the strange make of the grate. God had +blotted out of their memory all remembrance of the thing. Nay, +none of the searchers entered the place the whole day, though it +was the one that was most open to suspicion, and if they had +entered, they would have found me without any search; rather, I +should say, they would have seen me, for the fire had burnt a +great hole in my hiding-place, and had I not got a little out of the +way, the hot embers would have fallen on me. The searchers, +forgetting or not caring about this room, busied themselves in +ransacking the rooms below, in one of which I was said to be. +In fact, they found the other hiding-place to which I thought of +going, as I mentioned before. It was not far off, so I could hear +their shouts of joy when they first found it. But after joy comes +grief; and so it was with them. The only thing that they found, +was a goodly store of provision laid up. Hence they may have +thought that this was the place that the mistress of the house +meant; in fact, an answer might have been given from it to the +call of a person in the room mentioned by her.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>They stuck to their purpose, however, of stripping off all the +wainscot of the other large room. So they set a man to work +<pb n='lvi'/><anchor id='Pglvi'/> +near the ceiling, close to the place where I was: for the lower +part of the walls was covered with tapestry, not with wainscot. So +they stripped off the wainscot all round, till they came again to the +very place where I lay, and there they lost heart and gave up the +search. My hiding-place was in a thick wall of the chimney, +behind a finely laid and carved mantel-piece. They could not +well take the carving down without risk of breaking it. Broken, +however, it would have been, and that into a thousand pieces, +had they any conception that I could be concealed behind it. +But knowing that there were two flues, they did not think that +there could be room enough there for a man. Nay, before this, +on the second day of the search, they had gone into the room +above, and tried the fire-place through which I had got into my +hole. They then got into the chimney by a ladder to sound with +their hammers. One said to another in my hearing, <q>Might there +not be a place here for a person to get down into the wall of the +chimney below, by lifting up this hearth?</q> <q>No,</q> answered one +of the pursuivants, whose voice I knew, <q>you could not get down +that way into the chimney underneath, but there might easily be +an entrance at the back of this chimney.</q> So saying, he gave the +place a kick. I was afraid that he would hear the hollow sound +of the hole where I was. But God, Who set bounds to the sea, +said also to their dogged obstinacy, <q>Thus far shalt thou go, and +no further;</q> and He spared His sorely-stricken children, and gave +them not up into their persecutors' hands, nor allowed utter ruin +to light upon them for their great charity towards me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Seeing that their toil availed them naught, they thought that +I had escaped somehow, and so they went away at the end of +four days, leaving the mistress and her servants free. The yet +unbetrayed traitor stayed after the searchers were gone. As soon +as the doors of the house were made fast, the mistress came to +call me, another four-days-buried Lazarus, from what would have +been my tomb had the search continued a little longer. For I +was all wasted and weakened, as well with hunger, as with want +of sleep, and with having to sit so long in such a narrow place. +The mistress of the house, too, had eaten nothing whatever during +the whole time, not only to share my distress, and to try on +herself how long I could live without food, but chiefly to draw +<pb n='lvii'/><anchor id='Pglvii'/> +down the mercy of God on me, herself, and her family, by this +fasting and prayer. Indeed, her face was so changed when I +came out, that she seemed quite another woman, and I should +not have known her but for her voice and her dress. After +coming out, I was seen by the traitor, whose treachery was still +unknown to us. He did nothing then, not even send after the +searchers, as he knew that I meant to be off before they could be +recalled.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>VIII.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>As soon as I had taken a little refreshment and rest, I set out +and went to a friend's house, where I kept still for a fortnight. +Then knowing that I had left my friends in great distress, I +proceeded to London to aid and comfort them. I got a safe +lodging with a person of rank.<note place='foot'>This was the unfortunate Countess of Arundel, whose husband, Philip +Howard, Earl of Arundel, was at this time (1594) in the tenth year of his +imprisonment in the Tower. He died the following year in the same prison, +the noblest victim to the jealous and suspicious tyranny of Elizabeth, <hi rend='italic'>non sine +veneni suspicione</hi>, as his epitaph still testifies.</note> A year ago it had been Father +Southwell's abode, before his seizure and imprisonment in the +Tower of London, where he now was. I wanted, however, to +hire a house where I might be safe and unknown, and be free to +treat with my friends; for I could not manage my business in a +house that was not my own, especially in such a one as I then +dwelt in. I had recourse to a servant of Father Garnett, named +Little John,<note place='foot'>This holy martyr's true name was Nicholas Owen. Father Gerard gives +an interesting account of him in the Narrative of the Powder Plot (<hi rend='italic'>infra</hi> +p. <ref target='Pg182'>182</ref>).</note> an excellent man and one well able to help me. He +it was that used to make our hiding-places; in fact, he made the +one to which I owed my safety. Thanks to his endeavours, I +found a house well suited for my purpose, and settled with my +landlord about the rent. Till the house was furnished, I hired +a room in my landlord's own house.<note place='foot'>We learn from Frank that it was called Middleton's.</note> There I resolved to pass +two or three nights in arranging my affairs, getting letters from +my friends in distress, and writing back letters of comfort in +return. Thus it was that the traitor got sent to the place, which +<pb n='lviii'/><anchor id='Pglviii'/> +was only known to a small circle of friends. It was God's will +that my hour should then come.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>One night, when Little John and I had to sleep in that +room, the traitor had to bring a letter that needed an answer, and +he left with the answer about ten o'clock. I had only come in +about nine, sorely against the will of the lady, my entertainer, +who was uncommonly earnest that I should not leave her house +that night. Away went the traitor then, and gave information to +the Priest-hunters both when and where he had left me. They +got together a band, and came at midnight to the house, just as I +had gone to sleep. Little John and I were both awakened by the +noise outside. I guessed what it was, and told John to hide the +letter received that night in the ashes where the fire had been. +No sooner had he done so and got into bed again, than the noise +which we had heard before seemed to travel up to our room. +Then some men began knocking at the chamber-door, ready to +break it in if it was not opened at once. There was no exit +except by the door where our foes were; so I bade John get up +and open the door. The room was at once filled with men, +armed with swords and staves; and many more stood outside, +who were not able to enter. Among the rest stood two pursuivants, +one of whom knew me well, so there was no chance of my +passing unknown.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I got up and dressed, as I was bid. All my effects were +searched, but without a single thing being found that could do +harm to any man. My companion and I were then taken off to +prison. By God's grace we did not feel distressed, nor did we +show any token of fear. What I was most afraid of was, that they +had seen me come out of that lady's house, and had tracked me +to the room that I had hired; and so that the noble family that +had harboured me would suffer on my account. But this fear was +unfounded; for I learnt afterwards that the traitor had simply +told them where he had left me, and there it was that they +found me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The pursuivant who knew me, kept me in his house two +nights; either because those who were to examine me were +hindered from doing so on the first day, or (as it struck me +afterwards) because they wished first to examine my companion, +<pb n='lix'/><anchor id='Pglix'/> +Little John. I noticed the first night, that the room where I was +locked up was not far from the ground; and that it would be +easy to let myself down from the window by tearing up the bedclothes +and making a rope of them. I should have done so that +very night, had I not heard some one stirring in the next room. +I thought that he was put there to watch me, and so it turned +out. However, I meant to carry out my plan the night after, if +the watchman went away; but my keeper forestalled me; for to +save the expense of a guard, he put irons on my arms, which +prevented me from bringing my hands together and from separating +them. Then in truth I was more at ease in mind, though +less in body; for the thought of escape vanished, and there came +in its place a feeling of joy that I had been vouchsafed this +suffering for the sake of Christ, and I thanked the Lord for it as +well as I could.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Next day I was brought before the Commissioners, at the +head of whom was one who is now Lord Chancellor of the +realm.<note place='foot'>Sir Thomas Egerton, afterwards Lord Ellesmere and Viscount Brackley, +was Attorney General at this date, 1594, and Lord Chancellor in 1609, when +this was written. His having been a Catholic is not mentioned by his +biographers.</note> He had been a Catholic, but went over to the other side, +for he loved the things of this world.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>They first asked me my name and calling. I gave them the +name I passed by; whereupon one called me by my true name, +and said that I was a Jesuit. As I was aware that the pursuivant +knew me, I answered that I would be frank and open in everything +that belonged to myself, but would say nothing that could +affect others. So I told them my name and calling, to wit +that, though most unworthy, I was a Priest of the Society of +Jesus.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Who sent you into England?</q> they asked.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>The Superiors of the Society.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>To what end?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>To bring back stray souls to their Creator.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>No, no,</q> said they; <q>you were sent for matters of State; +and to lure people from the obedience of the Queen to the +obedience of the Pope.</q></q> +</p> + +<pb n='lx'/><anchor id='Pglx'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>As for matters of State,</q> I replied, <q>we are forbidden to +have anything to say to them, as they do not belong to our +Institute. This prohibition, indeed, extends to all the members of +the Society; but on us Missioners it is particularly enjoined in a +special instruction. As for the obedience due to the Queen and +the Pope, each is to be obeyed in that wherein they have jurisdiction; +and one obedience does not clash with the other, as +England and all Christian realms have hitherto experienced.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>How long have you been doing duty as a Priest in this +country?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>About six years.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>How, and where, did you land, and where have you lived +since your landing?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I cannot in conscience answer any of these questions,</q> I +replied, <q>especially the last, as it would bring mischief on others; +so I crave pardon for not satisfying your wishes.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Nay,</q> said they, <q>it is just on these heads that we chiefly +desire you to satisfy us, and we bid you in the Queen's name to +do so.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I honour the Queen,</q> said I, <q>and will obey her and you +in all that is lawful, but here you must hold me excused: for +were I to mention any person or place where I have been lodged, +the innocent would have to suffer, according to your laws, for +the kind service they have done me. Such behaviour on my +part would be against all justice and charity, and therefore I +never will be guilty of it.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>You shall do so by force, if not by goodwill.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I hope,</q> I said, <q>by the grace of God, it shall not be as +you say. I beg you, therefore, to take this my answer: that +neither now nor at any other time will I disclose what you +demand of me.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Thereupon they wrote a warrant for my imprisonment, and +gave it to the pursuivants, bidding them take me to prison. As +we were leaving, he who is now Chancellor said that I must be +kept in close confinement, as in cases of high treason. <q>But +tell the gaolers,</q> he added, <q>to treat him well on account of his +birth.</q> It seems, however, that the head gaoler gave orders at +variance with this humane recommendation: for I was lodged +<pb n='lxi'/><anchor id='Pglxi'/> +in a garret,<note place='foot'>Father Gerard was first confined in the Counter, as he tells us later. +Father Garnett in one of his letters speaks of the Counter as <q>a very evil +prison and without comfort.</q> There were in London three prisons of this +name: the Counter, a part of the parish church of St. Margaret in Southwark; +the Counter in the Poultry, <q>some four houses west from the parish church +of St. Mildred</q>; and the new Counter in Wood-street, removed from Bread-street +in 1555 (Stow's <hi rend='italic'>Survey of London</hi>, ed. Thoms, pp. 99, 131).</note> where there was nothing but a bed, and no room +to stand up straight, except just where the bed was. There was +one window always open, through which foul air entered and +rain fell on to my bed. The room door was so low, that I +had to enter, not on my feet, but on my knees, and even then +I was forced to stoop. However, I reckoned this rather an +advantage, inasmuch as it helped to keep out the stench (certainly +no small one) that came from the privy close to my door, which +was used by all the prisoners in that part of the house. I was +often kept awake, or woke up, by the bad smell.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In this place I passed two or three days of true repose. +I felt no pain or anxiety of mind, and enjoyed, by the blessing +of God, that peace which the world does not and cannot give.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>On the third or fourth day, I was taken for a second +examination to the house of a magistrate called Young. He +it was who had the management of all the searches and persecutions +that the Catholics in the neighbourhood of London had +to endure; and it was to him that the traitor had given his +information. Along with him was another, who had for many +years conducted the examination by torture, Topcliffe by name. +He was a man of cruelty, athirst for the blood of the Catholics, +and so crafty and cunning, that all the wily wit of his companion +seemed abashed into silence by his presence; in fact, the Justice +spoke very little during the whole examination. I found the +two of them alone: Young in a civilian's dress, Topcliffe with +a sword by his side and in a Court dress. He was an old man, +grown grey in wickedness. Young began questioning me as to +my place of abode, and the Catholics that I knew. I answered +that I neither could nor would make disclosures that would get +any one into trouble, for reasons already stated. He turned then +to Topcliffe and said, <q>I told you how you would find him.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Topcliffe looked frowningly at me and said, <q>Do you know +<pb n='lxii'/><anchor id='Pglxii'/> +me? I am Topcliffe, of whom I doubt not you have often +heard.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>He meant this to frighten me. To heighten the effect, he +had laid his sword on the table near his hand, as though he +were ready to use it on occasion. But he failed certainly, and +caused me not the least alarm; and whereas I was wont to +answer with deference on other occasions, this time I did quite +the contrary, because I saw him making a show to scare me. +Finding that he could get no other manner of reply from me +than what I had given, he took a pen and wrote an artful and +malicious form of examination.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Here,</q> says he, <q>read this paper. I shall show it to the +Privy Council, that they may see what a traitor you are to the +realm, and how manifestly guilty.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The contents of the paper were as follows: <q>The examinate +was sent by the Pope and the Jesuit Persons, and coming +through Belgium there had interviews with the Jesuit Holt and +Sir William Stanley; thence he came into England, on a political +errand, to beguile the Queen's subjects, and lure them from their +obedience to their Sovereign. If, therefore, he will not disclose +the places and persons with whom he has lived, it is presumed +that he has done much mischief to the State,</q> &c.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>On reading this, I saw that I could not meet so many +falsehoods with one single denial; and as I was desirous that +he should show my way of answering to the Council, I said that +I also wished to answer in writing. Hereat Topcliffe was overjoyed, +and cried out, <q>Oh! now you are a reasonable man;</q> but +he was disappointed. He had hoped to catch me in my words, +or at least to find out my handwriting, so that some of the +papers found in the houses of the Catholics might be proved +to be mine. I foresaw this, and therefore wrote in a feigned +hand as follows: <q>I was sent by my Superiors. I never was in +Belgium. I have not seen Father Holt since the time that I +left Rome. I have not seen Sir William Stanley since he left +England with the Earl of Leicester. I am forbidden to meddle +with matters of State; I never have done, and never will do so. +I have tried to bring back souls to the knowledge and love of +their Creator, and to make them show obedience to the laws +<pb n='lxiii'/><anchor id='Pglxiii'/> +of God and man; and I hold this last point to be a matter +of conscience. I humbly crave that my refusal to answer +anything concerning the persons that I know, may not be set +down to contempt of authority; seeing that God's commandment +forces me to follow this course, and to act otherwise would be +against justice and charity.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>While I was writing this, the old man waxed wroth. He +shook with passion, and would fain have snatched the paper +from me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>If you don't want me to write the truth,</q> said I, <q>I'll not +write at all.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Nay,</q> quoth he, <q>write so-and-so, and I'll copy out what +you have written.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I shall write what <emph>I</emph> please,</q> I answered, <q>and not what <emph>you</emph> +please. Show what I have written to the Council, for I shall +add nothing but my name.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>This I signed so near the writing, that nothing could be put +in between. The hot-tempered man, seeing himself disappointed, +broke out into threats and blasphemies. <q>I'll get you put into +my power, and hang you in the air, and show you no mercy; +and then I shall see what God will rescue you out of my hands.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>From the abundance of his heart he poured forth these evil +words; but by this he raised my hopes, just the opposite effect to +what he wanted.<note place='foot'>Even the gentle Father Southwell could not but show his estimate of this +reprobate man. We translate the following from Father More's <hi rend='italic'>History of the +English Province</hi>, l. v., n. 15. <q>Though he readily answered the questions +of others, yet if Topcliffe interposed he never deigned him a reply; and when +asked the cause of this, he answered: <q>Because I have found by experience +that the man is not open to reason.</q></q></note> Neither then nor since have I ever reckoned +aught of a blasphemer; and, in sooth, I have found by experience, +that God increases the confidence of His servants, when +He allows strife to rise up against them. I gave, therefore, this +short answer: <q>You will be able to do nothing without the +leave of God, Who never abandons those that hope in Him. +The will of God be done.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Thereupon Young called the gaoler who had brought me, to +take me back to prison. As he was leading me off, Topcliffe +addressed him and bade him put irons on my legs. Both then +<pb n='lxiv'/><anchor id='Pglxiv'/> +fell a-chiding him for having brought me by himself, fearing +perchance lest I should escape from his hands. When I had crept +back to my little closet, my legs were garnished according to order. +The man seemed grieved that put the fetters on. For my part, +instead of grief I felt very much joy, such is God's goodness to +the most unworthy of His creatures. To pay the man for the kind +turn that he had done me, I gave him some money for his job; +and told him it was no punishment to suffer in so good a cause.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Father Garnett described this act of faith and courage in the +following terms in a letter to the General of the Society, which we +translate from the Italian: <q>This Father has always been very +courageous, and when he was first taken, and the gaoler put +very heavy irons on his legs, he gave him some money. The +following day, the gaoler, thinking that if he took off the irons +doubtless he would give him more, took them off, but got nothing. +After some days he came to put them on again, and received a +reward, and then taking them off did not get a farthing. They +went on playing thus with one another several times, but at last +the gaoler, seeing that he did not give him anything for taking +off his irons, left him for a long time in confinement, so that the +great toe of one foot was for almost two years in great danger of +mortification. So your Reverence sees that in these times the +courage of true Christian soldiers is not wanting. May our Lord +give him perseverance, and to those who follow him the grace to +imitate him.</q><note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. ii., n. 27; <hi rend='italic'>P.</hi>, vol. ii., f. 604.</note> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>IX.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Here I stayed upwards of three months. During the first +month I made from memory, as well as I could, the Spiritual +Exercises; giving four and sometimes five hours a day to meditation. +God lavished His goodness on me throughout, and I had +proof that He opens His bounteous hands to His servants most of +all when He has closed up the sources of earthly comfort to them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When I was quietly lodged in prison, without being brought +out or undergoing any further examination for many days, they +examined and put to the torture Richard Fulwood, whom the +traitor had pointed out as my servant, and Little John, who had +<pb n='lxv'/><anchor id='Pglxv'/> +been taken with me. Unable, either by coaxing or bribery, to +draw anything from them that would compromise others, they +had recourse to threats, and then to force: but the force of the +Holy Ghost in them was too great to be overcome by men. +They were both hung up for three hours together, having their +arms fixed into iron rings, and their bodies hanging in the air; a +torture which causes frightful pain and intolerable extension of +the sinews. It was all to no purpose; no disclosure could be +wrested from them that was hurtful to others; no rewards could +entice, no threats or punishments force them, to discover where I +or any of ours had been harboured, or to name any of our +acquaintances or abettors.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Here I ought not to pass over in silence God's great +goodness and mercy to me, the most unworthy of all His servants. +It was shown in this, that there was not a single traitor, either +among those that were then seized in my house or in the house of +the good gentleman, my entertainer; no, nor even among those +that, in the other persecutions which by God's providence afterwards +befel me, were imprisoned, tortured, and treated with the +utmost cruelty. Not one of them, I say, ever yielded, but all, by +the grace of God, held steadfast through everything. Those +who were my companions, or the servants I intrusted with +commissions to the gentlemen of my acquaintance, as they +necessarily knew all my friends, would have been able to do very +great mischief, and enrich themselves by ruining others: yet not +one of them ever caused any harm either by word or deed, +wittingly or unwittingly; nor, as far as I remember, did they +ever give one cause of complaint. On many of them God, in +His goodness, poured the choicest gifts of His Holy Spirit.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>John Lasnet, the first that I had, died in Spain a Lay-brother +of the Society. The second that I had for some little +while was Michael Walpole, who is now a Priest of the Society, +and labouring in England. The third was named [Ralph] +Willis. He had a vocation, so I sent him to study in the +Seminary at Rhemes, where he went through his course of +philosophy. His behaviour there was orderly, but afterwards at +Rome he joined a turbulent party, thus returning evil for good. +He was the only one of my helpmates that walked at all awry. +<pb n='lxvi'/><anchor id='Pglxvi'/> +He was, however, made Priest, and sent into England. There he +was seized, and condemned to death for the Faith, and answered +unflinchingly before the tribunal; but instead of losing his life, he +was kept some time in prison; whence he effected his escape, +and is still labouring in England.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>After him I had a godly man of the name of John Sutton, +the brother of three Priests, one of whom was a martyr, and +another died in the Society. Father Garnett kept him in his +house for many years, up to the time of his own arrest.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The next that I had was Richard Fulwood, of whom I have +spoken above. He managed to make his escape, and during my +imprisonment was employed by Father Garnett until that Father's +happy death. He managed nearly all his master's business with +strangers, not without the knowledge of the persecutors, who +offered a handsome sum for his capture, and were still more +anxious about it after Father Garnett was taken. In fact, they +gave the poor man no peace until they drove him into banishment, +where he yet remains, doing good service to our mission +notwithstanding.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>After him I had John Lilly, a man well known at Rome; he +died lately in England, a Lay-brother of the Society. Next came +two other godly men, whom I did not take to keep, but merely as +makeshifts till I could get a man every way suited to my wants, +and endowed with a religious spirit. I found one at length; and +when I quitted England, I took him with me, and left him at +St. Omers. There he was well grounded in Greek and Latin, and +became a great favourite with all the Fathers, who sent him into +Spain with the highest recommendations. He still remains there, +growing always in virtue and learning. Not long ago I had a +letter from the Father Prefect of Studies, in which he tells me +that he is the best student in his course.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Such were the mercies of God vouchsafed to His unworthy +servant, in answer to my constant prayers. Many gentlemen +intrust themselves and their interests to our servants' good faith +no less than to ours; so that there could be no greater let or +hindrance to our good work, than any treachery on their part; +indeed, the defection of such a one would be likely to cause the +most frightful ruin among Catholics. For if one servant, and he +<pb n='lxvii'/><anchor id='Pglxvii'/> +neither a Catholic nor one of the household, like the traitor of +whom I have spoken, made such havoc in his master's family, +what mischief could a Priest's servant do to the many persons of +high rank that had harboured him and his master! God has +hitherto kept me free from the like betrayal.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>To return to my story. They could wrest nothing out of +Little John and Fulwood; and none of my host's Catholic +servants would make any avowal, or own that he knew me. +Seeing that they could bring no witness against him, they +gradually lost the hope they had of seizing his chattels and +revenue.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Sometimes they would bring me up for examination, when +they had anything new against me. Once they called me to try on +a suit of clothes, which had been found in my host's house, and +which the traitor said were mine. I put them on, and they were +just a fit, for the truth was that they had been made for me; +however, I would not own them, nor admit them to be mine. +Hereupon Young flew into a passion, called me a headstrong +and unreasonable man. He was so barefaced as to add <q>How +much more sensible is Southwell, who after long wilfulness is now +ready to conform, and wishes to treat with some man of learning.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Nay,</q> I answered, <q>I will never believe that Father Southwell +wishes to treat with any one from any wavering in his faith, +or to learn what to believe from a heretic; but he might +perchance challenge any heretic to dispute with him that dared, +as Father Campion did, and as many others would do if you +would let them, and appoint proper umpires.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Then Young seized hold of the book, and kissing it, cried: +<q>I swear upon this book that Southwell has offered to treat, with +a view of embracing our religion.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I do not believe he ever did so,</q> said I.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>What,</q> said an officer of the Court, <q>do you not believe his +oath?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>No,</q> was my reply, <q>I neither can nor will believe him; for +I have a better opinion of Father Southwell's firmness than of +his truthfulness; since perhaps he thinks that he is allowed to +make this statement to beguile me.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>No such thing,</q> said Young; <q>but are you ready to conform +<pb n='lxviii'/><anchor id='Pglxviii'/> +if he has done so?</q> (To conform, in their sense, means to +embrace their deformed religion.)</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Certainly not,</q> I answered; <q>for if I keep myself free +from heresy and heretical meetings, it is not because he or any +man on earth does the same; but because to act otherwise would +be to deny Christ, by denying His faith, which may be done by +deed as well as by word. This is what our Lord forbade under +pain of a heavier punishment than man can inflict, when He said, +<q>He that shall deny Me before men, him will I deny before My +Father Who is in Heaven.</q></q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>To this the heretic answered not a word, save that I was +stiff-necked (a name that was applicable rather to himself), and +bade them take me back to prison.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Another time I was sent for to be confronted with three +witnesses, servants of a certain nobleman named Lord Henry +Seymour, son of the Duke of Somerset. They were heretics, and +avouched that on a certain day I had dined with their mistress +and her sister, while they, among others, waited at table. The +two sisters were daughters of the Earl of Northumberland. One +of them was a devout Catholic, and had come to London a little +before my imprisonment to get my help in passing over to +Belgium, there to consecrate herself to God. She was staying at +the house of her sister, the wife of the aforesaid lord. She +wanted to bring back this sister to the Catholic faith, which the +latter had abandoned after her good father's death. I dined with +them on the day the witnesses mentioned. It was in Lent; and +they told how their mistress ate meat, while the Lady Mary and I +ate nothing but fish. Young flung this charge in my teeth with +an air of triumph, as though I could not help acknowledging it, +and thereby disclosing some of my acquaintances. I answered +that I did not know the men whom he had brought up.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>But we know you,</q> said they, <q>to be the same that was at +such a place on such a day.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>You wrong your mistress,</q> said I, <q>in saying so. I, however, +will not so wrong her.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>What a barefaced fellow you are!</q> exclaimed Young.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Doubtless,</q> I answered, <q>were these men's statements true. +As for me, I cannot in conscience speak positively in the matter, +<pb n='lxix'/><anchor id='Pglxix'/> +for reasons that I have often alleged; let them look to the truth +and justice of what they say.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Young then, in a rage, remanded me to prison.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>After three months some of my friends made efforts to have me +removed to another more comfortable prison, seeing that nothing +could be proved against me except my Priesthood; and this they +obtained by means of a handsome bribe to Young. So they sent +to my prison, which was called the Counter, and took off my +fetters. These were rusty when they were first put on; but by +wearing and moving about in them every day, I had rendered +them quite bright and shining. My cell was so small, that a man +who had his legs free, might take the whole length of it in three +steps. I used to shuffle from one end to the other, as well for +exercise, as because the people underneath used to sing lewd +songs and Geneva psalms; and I wanted to drown by the +clanking of my chain a noise that struck still more harshly on +my ear. My fetters then being removed, and my expenses paid +(which were not great, as I had had little but butter and cheese +to season my bread withal), they brought me before Young, who, +making a show of anger, began to chide and upbraid me more +than was his wont, and asked me whether I was yet willing to +acknowledge where and with whom I had lived. I answered that +I could not do so with a safe conscience, and therefore would not.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Well then,</q> said he, <q>I will put you in closer confinement, +where you shall be safer lodged, and have iron bars before your +window.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Forthwith he wrote a warrant, and sent me to the prison +that is called the Clink.<note place='foot'>This was a prison in Southwark, adjoining the palace of the Bishops of +Winchester. In Father More's Latin Narrative it appears as <hi rend='italic'>Atrium Wintoniense</hi>. +<q>It was a small place of confinement on the Bankside, called the +Clink from being the prison of the <q>Clink liberty or manor of Southwark,</q> +belonging to the Bishops of Winchester</q> (Brayley, <hi rend='italic'>History of Surrey</hi>, vol. 5, +p. 348).</note> He made all this show, that he might +not appear to have taken money for what he did. The fact was, +that the prison to which I was now sent was far better than the +other, and more comfortable for all prisoners; but to me it +afforded especial comfort, on account of the great number of +Catholics whom I found there.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='lxx'/><anchor id='Pglxx'/> + +<p> +<q>They could not now hinder me from approaching the Sacraments, +and being comforted in divers other ways, as I shall +afterwards show; for when I had been there a few months, the +place was by God's grace so improved, that as for discharging all +the duties of the Society, I should never wish to be at large in +England, provided I could always live in the like prison and +after the like fashion.<note place='foot'>Father Garnett writes, Nov. 19, 1594: <q>Sir Thomas Wilks goeth into +Flanders, as it is thought for peace; whereupon the arraignment of the three +Jesuits, Southwell, Walpole, and Gerard, is stayed. Gerard is in the Clink, +somewhat free; the other two so close in the Tower that none can hear from +them</q> (Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>P.</hi>, ii., p. 550).</note> So my being shut up in the Clink seemed +like a change from Purgatory to Paradise. Instead of lewd songs +and blasphemies, the prayers of some Catholic neighbours in the +next room met my ear. They came to my door to cheer me up, +and showed me a way by which we could open a free communication. +This was through a hole in the wall, which they had +covered with a picture, that it might not be seen. By means of +it they gave me on the morrow a letter from my friends; and at +the same time furnished me with materials for writing back. I +wrote, therefore, to Father Garnett, and told him the whole truth +of what had happened to me, and what manner of replies I had +made, as I have set forth above.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I also confessed, and received the Most Holy Body of +Christ, through that same hole. But I had not to do this long, +for the Catholics contrived to fashion a key that would open my +door; and then every morning, before the gaoler got up, they +brought me to another part of the prison, where I said Mass, +and administered the Sacraments to the prisoners lodged in +that quarter; for all of them had got keys of their cells.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I had just such neighbours as I would have picked out had +I had my choice. My next-door neighbour was our Brother, +Ralph Emerson, of whom Father Campion, in a letter to Father +General, makes mention in these terms, <q>My little man and I.</q> +He was indeed small in body,<note place='foot'><q>There is a little fellow called Ralph, who is in England for Father +Persons, is a great dealer for all the Papists; he is a very slender, brown little +fellow</q> (Confession of Ralph Miller. P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 173, +n. 64).</note> but in steadfastness and endurance +<pb n='lxxi'/><anchor id='Pglxxi'/> +he was great. He had been already many long years in bonds, +ever keeping godly and devout, like a man of the Society: and +after my coming to the Clink, he remained six or seven years +more. At last he was sent off, with other confessors of Christ, to +the Castle of Wisbech, where he was attacked with palsy. One +half of his body was powerless, so that he could not move about +or do the least thing for himself. He lived, notwithstanding, to +add by his patience fresh jewels to the crown that awaited him. +Being driven into banishment with the same company, he came +to St. Omers, and died a holy death there, to the great edification +of the by-standers. I found this good Brother my next neighbour +in the Clink; overhead I had John Lilly, whom God's providence +had shut up there for his own good and mine. I had other godly +men around me, all true to their faith.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>These having the free run of the prison, any one might visit +them without danger. I arranged, therefore, that when any of +my friends came to the prison, they should ask to see one of +these; and thus they got to have talk with me without its being +noticed. I did not, however, let them into my room, but spoke +to them through the aforesaid hole.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>So I passed some time in great comfort and repose; striving +the while to gather fruit of souls, by letter and by word of mouth. +My first gaoler was a sour-tempered man, who watched very +closely to see that there were no unlawful doings amongst us. +This called for great wariness on our part, to avoid discovery; +but ere long God summoned him from the wardenship of the +prison, and from the prison of his body at the same time.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>His successor was a younger man of a milder turn. What +with coaxing, and what with bribes, I got him not to look into +our doings too nicely, and not to come when he was not called +for, except at certain fixed times, at which he always found me +ready to receive him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I used the liberty thus granted me for my neighbour's profit. +I began to hear many confessions, and reconciled many persons +to the Catholic Church. Some of them were heretics, but the +greater number were only schismatics, as I could deal more +freely with these than with the others. It was only after long +acquaintance, and on the recommendation of trusty friends, that +<pb n='lxxii'/><anchor id='Pglxxii'/> +I would let any heretics know how little restraint was put upon +me. I do not remember above eight or ten converts from heresy, +of whom four entered Religion. Two joined our Society, and the +other two went into other Orders. As for schismatics, I brought +back a goodly number of them to the bosom of the Church. +Some became Religious: and others gave themselves to good +works in England during the persecution. Of these last was +Mr. John Rigby, afterwards martyred.</q><note place='foot'>John Rigby suffered at St. Thomas' Watering, June 21, 1600, for having +been reconciled by a Catholic Priest.</note> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>X.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>During my stay in this prison, I found means to give the +Spiritual Exercises. The gaoler did as I wished him to do; he +never came to me without being called, and never went into my +neighbours' rooms at all. So we fitted an upper chamber to serve +as a chapel, where six or seven made the Exercises, all of whom +resolved to follow the counsels of Christ our Lord, and not one of +them flinched from his purpose.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I found means also to provide for a very pressing need. +Many Priests of my acquaintance, being unable to meet with safe +lodgings when they came to London, used to put up at inns till +they had settled the business that brought them. Again, as my +abode was fixed, and easy to find, the greater part of the Priests +that were sent from the Seminaries abroad had instructions to +apply to me, that through me they might be introduced to their +Superior, and might receive other assistance at my hands. Not +having always places prepared, nor houses of Catholics to which +I could send them, I rented a house and garden in a suitable +spot, and furnished it, as far as was wanted, by the help of my +friends. Thither I used to send those who brought letters of +recommendation from our Fathers, and who I was assured led a +holy life and seemed well fitted for the mission. I maintained +them there till I had supplied them, through the aid of certain +friends, with clothes and necessaries, sometimes even with a +residence, or with a horse to go to their friends and kinsmen in +the country. I covered all the expenses of this house with the +<pb n='lxxiii'/><anchor id='Pglxxiii'/> +alms that were bestowed on me. I did not receive alms from +many persons, still less from all that came to see me; indeed, +both out of prison and in prison, I often refused such offers. +I was afraid that if I always accepted what was offered, I might +scare from me souls that wished to treat with me on the business +of their salvation; or receive gifts from those that could either +ill afford it, or would afterwards repent of it. I made it a rule, +therefore, never to take alms except from a small number of +persons, whom I knew well. Most of what I got was from those +devoted friends, who offered me not only their money but themselves, +and looked upon it as a favour when I took their offer.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I gave charge of this house to a very godly and discreet +matron of good birth, whom the Lord honoured with martyrdom.<note place='foot'>Ann Line executed at Tyburn, Feb. 27, 1601, for harbouring a Catholic +Priest. <q>She told her confessor, some years before her death, that Mr. +Thomson (Blackburn), a former confessor of hers, who ended his days by +martyrdom in 1586, had promised her, that if God should make him worthy +of that glorious end he would pray for her, that she might obtain the like +happiness</q> (Challoner, from Champney's MS. History).</note> +Her maiden name was Heigham, but she bore the name of Line +from her deceased husband. Both she and her husband were +beloved by God, and had much to suffer for His sake. This +lady's father was a Protestant, and when he heard of his +daughter's becoming a Catholic, he withheld the dower which +he had promised her. He disinherited one of his sons for the +same reason. This son, called William Heigham, is now in +Spain, a Lay-brother of the Society. It is twenty-six years since +I knew him. He was then a well-educated gentleman, finely +dressed like other high-born Londoners. He supported a Priest +named Thomson, whom I afterwards saw martyred. As soon as +his father learned that he, too, had become a Catholic, he went +and sold his estate, the rents of which were reckoned at 6,000 +florins [600<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>] yearly, that it might not pass to his son. The son was +afterwards arrested for the Faith; and he and his Priest together, +if I mistake not, were thrown into the prison of Bridewell, where +vagrants are shut up and put to hard labour under the lash. +I paid him a visit there, and found him toiling at the tread-mill, +all covered with sweat. On recovering his freedom he hired +himself out as a servant to a gentleman, that had to wife a +<pb n='lxxiv'/><anchor id='Pglxxiv'/> +Catholic lady whom I knew. She intrusted her son to his care: +he taught the boy the ground-work of the Latin tongue, besides +giving him lessons on the harp, which he himself touched +admirably. I went to see him in this situation, and had a long +talk with him about his call to his present state.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Mistress Line, his sister, married a good husband and a +staunch Catholic. He had been heir to a fine estate; but his +father or uncle (for he was heir to both) sent a message from his +death-bed to young Line, then a prisoner for the Faith, asking him +to conform and go to some heretical church for once; otherwise +he would have to give up his inheritance to his younger brother. +<q>If I must either give up God or the world,</q> was his courageous +answer, <q>I prefer to give up the world, for it is good to cleave +unto God.</q> So both his father's and his uncle's estate went to his +younger brother. I saw this latter once in his elder brother's +room, dressed in silk and other finery, while his brother had on +plain and mean clothes. This good man afterwards went into +Belgium, where he obtained a pension from the King of Spain, +part of which he sent to his wife; and thus they lived a poor and +holy life. His death, which happened in Belgium, left his widow +friendless, so that she had to look to Providence for her support. +Before my imprisonment she had been charitably taken by my +entertainers into their own house. They furnished her with board +and lodging, and I made up the rest.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>She was just the sort of person that I wanted as head of the +house that I have spoken of, to manage the money matters, take +care of the guests, and meet the inquiries of strangers. She had +good store of charity and wariness, and in great patience she +possessed her soul. She was nearly always ill from one or other +of many divers diseases, which purified her and made her ready +for Heaven. She used often to say to me: <q>Though I desire +above all things to die for Christ, I dare not hope to die by the +hand of the executioner; but perhaps the Lord will let me be +taken some time in the same house with a Priest, and then be +thrown into a chill and filthy dungeon, where I shall not be able +to last out long in this wretched life.</q> Her delight was in the +Lord, and the Lord granted her the desires of her heart.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When I was rescued out of prison, she gave up the management +<pb n='lxxv'/><anchor id='Pglxxv'/> +of my house; for then so many people knew who she was, +that her being in a place was enough to render it unsafe for me. +So a room was hired for her in another person's house, where +she often used to harbour Priests. One day (it was the Feast +of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin) she let in a great many +Catholics to hear Mass, a thing which she would never have +done in my house. Good soul, she was more careful of me +than of herself. Some neighbours noticed the throng, and called +the constables. They went upstairs into the room, which they +found full of people. The celebrant was Father Francis Page, +S.J., who was afterwards martyred.<note place='foot'>Francis Page, S.J., suffered at Tyburn, April 20, 1602, for his Priesthood.</note> He had pulled off his +vestments before the Priest-hunters came in; so that they could +not readily make out which was the Priest. However, from the +Father's grave and modest look, they thought that he must be +their man. Accordingly, they laid hold of him, and began +questioning him and the others also. No one would own that +there was a Priest there; but as the altar had been found ready +for Mass, they acknowledged that they had been waiting for a +Priest to come. While the Catholics and their persecutors were +wrangling on this point, Father Francis Page, taking advantage +of some one's opening the door, got away from those that held +him and slipped out, shutting the door behind him. He then +went upstairs to a place that he knew, where Mrs. Line had had +a hiding-place made, and there he ensconced himself. Search +was made for him the whole house over, to no purpose.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>So they took Mrs. Line and the richer ones of the party +to prison, and let the others go on bail. God lengthened out +the martyr's life beyond her expectation. It was some months +before she was brought to trial, on a charge of harbouring and +supporting Priests. To the question of <q>guilty or not guilty,</q> she +made no direct answer, but cried out in a loud voice, so that +all could hear her: <q>My lords, nothing grieves me, but that I +could not receive a thousand more.</q><note place='foot'>These words are given in the MS. in English.</note> She listened to the sentence +of death with great show of joy and thanksgiving to the Lord +God. She was so weak, that she had to be carried to Court in +<pb n='lxxvi'/><anchor id='Pglxxvi'/> +a chair, and sat there during the whole of the trial. After her +return to prison, a little before her death, she wrote to Father +Page, who had escaped. The letter is in my hands at present. +She disposed therein of the few things that she had, leaving to +me a fine large cross of gold that had belonged to her husband. +She mentioned me thrice in the letter, calling me her Father. +She also left some few debts which she begged me to see paid. +Afterwards she bequeathed me her bed by word of mouth. I +wanted to purchase it from the gaolers, who had plundered +everything found in her cell after her death; but I could only +get the coverlet, which I used ever after during my stay in +London, and reckoned it no small safeguard.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Being arrived at the place of punishment, some preachers +wanted to tease her, as usual, with warnings to abandon her +errors; but she cut them short, saying, <q>Away! I have no +dealings nor communion with you.</q> Then, kissing the gallows +with great joy, she knelt down to pray, and kept on praying +till the hangman had done his duty. So she gave up her soul +to God, along with the martyr Father Filcock, S.J.,<note place='foot'>Roger Filcock, S.J., <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Arthur, executed for his Priesthood, with +Mark Barkworth, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Lambert, O.S.B., and Ann Line, at Tyburn, Feb. 27, +1601.</note> who had +often been her confessor, and had always been her friend. Her +martyrdom, however, happened six or seven years after the time +of which I am now speaking. She managed my house for three +years, and received therein many holy Priests.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I always had a Priest residing in this house, whom I used +to send to assist and console my friends, as I was unable, during +my imprisonment, to visit them myself. The first I had there +was Father Jones, a Franciscan Recollect, afterwards martyred,<note place='foot'>John Jones, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Buckley, suffered at St. Thomas' Watering, July 12, +1598; and Robert Drury at Tyburn, Feb. 26, 1607, for being Priests in +England.</note> +but then newly arrived in England.... After him I received +another Priest, lately arrived from Spain, and formerly known to +me, Robert Drury by name. He was of gentle birth and well +educated, and could consequently associate with gentlemen +without causing any suspicion. I introduced him, therefore, to +my chief friends; and he assisted them well and zealously for +<pb n='lxxvii'/><anchor id='Pglxxvii'/> +two years and more that he tarried in my house. This good +Priest also God chose to be His witness and martyr....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In that house of mine, while I was in prison, there lived +awhile one of our Fathers, who was in ill health, Father John +Curry. There also he died, and there he lies buried in some +secret corner. For those Priests who live secretly on the mission, +we are obliged also to bury secretly when they die.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>All this while my good host, who had been taken a little +before me, was kept imprisoned; and for the first four months +so straitly, that neither his wife nor any of his friends were +allowed to have any access to him. After this, however, the +persecutors, seeing that they could not produce any proof against +him, because none of the Catholic servants would acknowledge +anything and the traitor had never seen me in Priest's guise, and +was only one witness after all, by degrees relaxed a little of +their harshness, and permitted him to be visited and cared for, +though they still kept him in strict custody.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>While thus close shut up, he wrote a work by no means +contemptible, which he divided into three parts, and called +<q>Three Farewells to the world, or three deaths in different +states of soul.</q><note place='foot'>Tres valedictiones mundo datæ a tribus in diverso statu morientibus (MS.).</note> In the first book he described a man of moral +life, and virtuous in the opinion of men, but directing himself +in all things by his own lights.... In the second book he +described a good and pious lady, who at first wished to be +guided in everything, but subsequently, deceived by the devil, +determined in some things to follow her own ideas.... In +the third book he described the death of a pious and devoted +man, who, though living in the world and possessed of riches, +yet always sought and followed the counsels of his spiritual +Father, manifesting himself entirely for the purpose of being +directed by him to the greater glory of God.</q> ... +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>It was written, not with ink, but merely with pencil, upon +loose scraps of paper, for at that time he was kept so close +that he could get no ink. As he finished each of the three +parts, he sent it to me, that I might correct anything I might +find against sound doctrine. He gave as a reason for writing +the work, that he had himself found, as he thought, so immense +<pb n='lxxviii'/><anchor id='Pglxxviii'/> +a benefit from giving himself thoroughly to the direction of his +spiritual guide, and had felt in consequence so undisturbed a +peace of mind, even when the malice of the persecutors was +daily threatening him with death, that he could not refrain from +recommending the same course to others whom he loved. He +said, moreover, that he wrote the book, not for the public, but +principally for his own family, and secondly for his relations +and friends; for that, as he could not communicate with them +by word of mouth, he desired to show them in writing the most +secure and meritorious way to perfection while living in the world. +For he endeavoured to prove that perfection was even more +necessary for those who lived in the world than for Religious.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Such were the sentiments of this good man. He noways +regretted that he had during four years given himself up to my +direction, though he found himself in consequence exposed to +such extreme distresses, and saw his family and fortune made +a mark for the persecutors as a result of having harboured me. +Nay, it was not only that he bore all these trials patiently, but +he really thought it all joy to suffer thus for the good cause. +His wife, also, though she loved her husband most tenderly, and +was of a peculiarly sensitive mind, yet in this juncture bore +everything with a singular sweetness and patience. After I was +transferred to the Clink, where there was more chance of communicating +with me either by word or letter, she took a house +in the immediate neighbourhood of my prison, in order that +she might consult me constantly, and provide me with everything +I needed. In this house she and her husband, who obtained +his release after a time by large payments of money, resided +while I remained in that prison. But after my escape from the +Tower, they betook themselves back to their country seat, in +order that they might have me with them there again.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XI.</head> + +<p> +<q>In the meantime, I was so fully taken up in the prison with +business, and with the visits of Catholics, that in the next room, +which was Brother Emerson's, there were often six or eight +persons at once, waiting their turn to see me. Nay, many of my +most intimate and attached friends have oft-times had to wait +<pb n='lxxix'/><anchor id='Pglxxix'/> +many hours at a stretch, and even then I have been obliged to +ask them to come another time....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>While I remained in this prison, I sent over numbers of +boys and young men to Catholic Seminaries abroad. Some of +these are, at this present, Priests of the Society, and engaged on +the English mission: others still remain in the Seminaries, in +positions of authority, to assist in training labourers for the same +field. On one occasion I had sent two boys on their way to +St. Omers, and had given them letters of recommendation, +written with lemon-juice, so that the writing was not visible on +the paper. In the paper itself I wrapped up a few collars, so that +it might seem that its only use was to keep the collars clean. +The boys were taken, and on being questioned, confessed that I +had sent them. They let it out also that I had given them this +letter, and had told them, when they came to a certain College of +ours, on their way to St. Omers (for they had to pass by +Ostend, which is not the usual way, and thus they came to +be taken), to bid the Fathers steep the paper in water, +and they would be able to read what I had written. On this +information, then, the paper was steeped by the authorities, and +two letters of mine were read, written on the same paper. One +was written in Latin to our Belgian Fathers; this I had consequently +signed with my own proper name. The other was +addressed to our English Fathers at St. Omers. The letters +having been thus discovered, I was sent for to be examined.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Young, however, was no longer to be my examiner. He +had died in his sins, and that most miserably. As he lived, so he +died:<note place='foot'>Qualis vita, finis ita (MS.).</note> he lived the devil's confessor, he died the devil's martyr; +for not only did he die in the devil's service, but he brought on +his death through that very service. He was accustomed to work +night and day to increase the distress of the Catholics, and to go +forth frequently in inclement weather, at one or two o'clock in +the morning, to search their houses. By these labours he fell into +a consumption,<note place='foot'><q>Morbum regium</q> (MS.). Consumption is a form of scrofula, or King's +evil, and seems to be the form most likely to be brought on by the causes here +mentioned. In classical Latin, however, <hi rend='italic'>morbus regius</hi> signifies <hi rend='italic'>jaundice</hi>; and +this may be the meaning here.</note> of which he died. He died, moreover, overwhelmed +<pb n='lxxx'/><anchor id='Pglxxx'/> +with debt, so that it might be clear that he abandoned +all things for the devil's service. Notwithstanding all the emoluments +of his office, all the plunder he took from the persecuted +Catholics, and the large bribes they were constantly giving him to +buy off his malicious oppression, his debts were said to amount +to no less a sum than a hundred thousand florins [10,000<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>]; and I +have heard even a larger sum mentioned than this. Perhaps he +expected the Queen would pay his debts; but she did nothing of +the sort. All she did was once to send a gentleman from Court to +visit him, when he was confined to his bed, and near death; and +this mark of favour so delighted him, that he seemed ready to +sing <hi rend='italic'>Nunc dimittis</hi>. But it was a false peace, and the lifting up of +the soul that goes before a fall; and like another Aman, he was +bidden not to a banquet, but to execution, and that for ever. So +with his mouth full of the Queen's praises, and his great obligations +to Her Majesty, he died a miserable death, and anguish +took the place of his joy. The joy of the hypocrite is but for an +instant.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>This man's successor in the office of persecuting and +harassing the servants of God, was William Wade, now Governor +of the Tower of London, but at that time Secretary to the +Lords of the Council. For the members of the Council choose +always to have a man in their service to whose cruelty anything +particularly odious may be attributed, instead of its being +supposed to be done by their warrant. This Wade then sent for +me, and first of all showed me the blank paper that I had given +to the boys, and asked me if I recognized it. I answered, <q>No, I +did not.</q> And in fact I did not recognize it, for I did not know +the boys had been taken. Then he dipped the paper in a basin +of water, and showed me the writing, and my name subscribed in +full. When I saw it, I said: <q>I do not acknowledge the writing. +Any one may easily have counterfeited my handwriting and +forged my signature; and if such boys as you speak of have been +taken, they may perhaps in their terror say anything that their +examiners want them to say, to their own prejudice and that of +their friends; a thing I will never do. At the same time, I do not +deny that it would be a good deed to send such boys abroad to +be better educated; and I would gladly do it if I had the means; +<pb n='lxxxi'/><anchor id='Pglxxxi'/> +but closely confined as I am in prison, I cannot do anything of +the kind, though I should like to do it.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>He replied to me with a torrent of abuse for denying my +signature and handwriting, and said: <q>In truth, you have far too +much liberty; but you shall not enjoy it long.</q> Then he rated +the gaoler soundly for letting me have so much liberty.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I was sent for on two or three other occasions, to be +examined; and whenever I came out of this prison, I always +wore a Jesuit's cassock and cloak,<note place='foot'><p>Father Bartoli, in his <hi rend='italic'>Inghilterra</hi> (bk. v., ch. 13), has the following +passage about Father Gerard, whom he knew personally at Rome: <q>At his +first entrance into this prison (the Clink) he procured himself a habit of the +Society, and continued to wear it from that time forward, even in the face of +all London when he was being taken to his different examinations; so that the +people crowded to see a Jesuit in his habit, while the preachers were all the +more exasperated at what they thought an open defiance of them.</q> +</p> +<p> +Father Weston in his Narrative (Father Laurenson's copy, p. 93) gives it +as one of the signs that warned Catholics that Anthony Tyrrel was wavering +in his faith, that without any necessity, in the Clink prison, he would wear +secular dress. His own clerical costume in prison he mentions as a matter of +course. <q>Egressus sum sequenti die, mutato habitu in sæcularem</q> (p. 98).</p></note> which I had had made as soon +as I came among Catholic fellow-prisoners. The sight of this +dress raised mocks from the boys in the streets, and put my +persecutors in a rage. On the first occasion, they said I was a +hypocrite. I replied: <q>When I was arrested, you called me a +courtier, and said that I had dressed myself in that fashion in +order to disguise my real character, and to be able to deal with +persons of rank in safety, and without being recognized. I told +you then, that I did not like a layman's dress, and would much +rather wear my own. Well, now I am doing so; and you are in a +rage again. In fact, you are not satisfied with either piping or +mourning, but you seek excuses for inveighing against me.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>To this they answered: <q>Why did you not go about in this +dress before, instead of wearing a disguise, and taking a false +name? A thing no good man would do.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I replied: <q>I am aware you would like us not to do so, in +order that we might be arrested at once, and not be able to do +any good in the work of rescuing and gaining souls. But do you +not know that St. Raphael personated another, and took another +name, in order that, not being known, he might better accomplish +God's work for which he had been sent?</q></q> +</p> + +<pb n='lxxxii'/><anchor id='Pglxxxii'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>At another time I was examined before the Dean of Westminster, +the dignitary who has taken the place of the former +Abbot of the great royal monastery there. Topcliffe and some +other Commissioners were present. Their object was to confront +me with the good widow, my host's mother, of whom I have +before spoken, and who was confined at this time in a prison<note place='foot'>The Gatehouse prison, near the west end of the Abbey, <q>is so called of +two gates, the one out of the College court towards the north, on the east side +whereof was the Bishop of London's prison for clerks convict; and the other +gate, adjoining the first, but towards the west, is a gaol or prison for offenders +thither committed</q> (Stow, p. 176).</note> +near the church at Westminster, for she was not yet condemned +to death; that happened later. They wanted to see if she +recognized me. So when I came into the room where they +brought me, I found her already there. When she saw me coming +in with the gaolers, she almost jumped for joy; but she controlled +herself, and said to them: <q>Is that the person you spoke of? I +do not know him; but he looks like a Priest.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Upon this she made me a very low reverence, and I bowed +in return. Then they asked me if I did not recognize her?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I answered: <q>I do not recognize her. At the same time, +you know this is my usual way of answering, and I will never +mention any places, or give the names of any persons that are +known to me (which this lady, however, is not); because to do +so, as I have told you before, would be contrary both to justice +and charity.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Then Topcliffe said: <q>Tell the truth; have you reconciled +any persons to the Church of Rome?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I quite understood his bloodthirsty intention, that being a +thing expressly prohibited under penalty of high treason; but +then I knew I was already as much compromised on account of +my Priesthood, and therefore I answered boldly: <q>Yes, in truth, +I have received some persons, and am sorry that I have not done +this good service to more.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Well,</q> said Topcliffe, <q>how many would you like to have +reconciled, if you could? A thousand?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Certainly,</q> I said, <q>a hundred thousand, and many more +still, if I could.</q></q> +</p> + +<pb n='lxxxiii'/><anchor id='Pglxxxiii'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>That would be enough,</q> said Topcliffe, <q>to levy an army +against the Queen.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Those whom I reconciled,</q> said I, <q>would not be against +the Queen, but all for her; for we hold that obedience to +superiors is of obligation.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>No such thing,</q> said Topcliffe, <q>you teach rebellion. See, +I have here a Bull of the Pope, granted to Sanders<note place='foot'>The celebrated theologian and controversialist, Dr. Sanders, was sent as +Papal Legate into Ireland by Gregory XIII. in 1579.</note> when he +went to Ireland to stir up the Queen's subjects to rebellion. See, +here it is. Read it.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I answered: <q>There is no need to read it. It is likely +enough that the Pontiff, if he sent him, gave him authority. But +I have no power to meddle at all in such matters. We are +forbidden to have anything to do with such things. I never have, +and never will.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Take and read it,</q> he said; <q>I will have you read it.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>So I took it, and seeing the name of Jesus on the top, I +reverently kissed it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>What,</q> said Topcliffe, <q>you kiss a Bull of the Pope, do +you?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I kissed,</q> said I, <q>the name of Jesus, to which all love and +honour are due. But if it is a Bull of the Pope, as you say, I +reverence it also on that score.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>And so saying, I kissed the printed paper again. Then +Topcliffe, in a furious passion, began to abuse me in indecent +terms.... At this insolence, to own the truth, I somewhat lost +command of myself; and though I knew that he had no grounds +which seemed probable even to himself for what he said, but had +uttered it from pure malice, I exclaimed: <q>I call the Great and +Blessed God to witness, that all your insinuations are false.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>And, as I spoke, I laid my hand on the book that was open +before me on the table. It was a copy of the Holy Bible, but +according to their corrupt translation into the vulgar tongue. +Then Topcliffe held his peace; but the Dean took up the word. +<q>Are you willing,</q> said he, <q>to be sworn on our Bible?</q> The +better instructed Catholics, who can show the dishonesty of that +translation, usually refuse this.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='lxxxiv'/><anchor id='Pglxxxiv'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I replied: <q>In truth, under the necessity of rebutting this +man's false charges at once, I did not take notice what version +this was. However, there are some truths, as, for instance, the +Incarnation and Passion of Christ, that have not been corrupted +by mistranslation; and by these I call the truth of God to +witness. There are many other things falsely rendered, so as +to involve heresies; and these I detest and anathematize.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>So saying, I laid my hand again upon the book, and more +firmly than before. The old man was angry and said: <q>I will +prove that you are a heretic.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I replied: <q>You cannot prove it.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I will prove it,</q> he said, <q>thus: Whoever denies Holy +Scripture is a heretic; you deny this to be Holy Scripture: <hi rend='italic'>Ergo</hi>.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I replied: <q>This is no true syllogism; it shifts from general +to particular, and so has four terms.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The old man answered: <q>I could make syllogisms before +you were born.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Very likely,</q> I said; <q>but the one you have just produced +is not a true one.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>However, the good old man<note place='foot'>Gabriel Goodman, Dean of Westminster from 1561 to 1601.</note> would not try a new middle +term, and made no further attempt to prove me a heretic. But +one urged one thing, and another another, not in the way of +argument, but after their usual plan, asking me such questions as +they knew very well I did not like to answer; and then, in the +end, they sent me back to prison.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XII.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>On another occasion they examined me, and all the other +Catholics that were confined in the same prison with me, in a +public place called Guildhall, where Topcliffe and several other +Commissioners were present. When they had put their usual +questions, and received from me the usual answers, they came to +the point, intending, I imagine, to sound us all as to our feelings +towards the State, or else to entrap us in some expressions about +the State that might be made matter of accusation. They asked +me, then, whether I acknowledged the Queen as the true Governor +and Queen of England.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='lxxxv'/><anchor id='Pglxxxv'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I answered: <q>I do acknowledge her as such.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>What,</q> said Topcliffe, <q>in spite of Pius V.'s excommunication?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I answered: <q>I acknowledge her as our Queen, notwithstanding +I know there is such an excommunication.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The fact was, I knew that the operation of that excommunication +had been suspended for all in England by a declaration of +the Pontiff, till such time as its execution became possible.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Topcliffe proceeded: <q>What would you do in case the Pope +sent an army into England, asserting that the object was solely +to bring back the kingdom to the Catholic religion, and protesting +that there was no other way left of introducing the Catholic faith, +and, moreover, commanding all in virtue of his Apostolical +authority to aid his cause? Whose side would you then take, +the Pope's or the Queen's?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I saw the malicious man's cunning, and that his aim was, +that whichever way I answered I might injure myself, either in +soul or body; and so I worded my reply thus: <q>I am a true +Catholic, and a true subject of the Queen. If, then, this were to +happen, which is unlikely, and which I think will never be the +case, I would act as became a true Catholic and a true subject.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Nay, nay,</q> said he; <q>answer positively and to the point.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I have declared my mind,</q> said I, <q>and no other answer +will I make.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>On this he flew into a most violent rage, and vomited out a +torrent of curses; and ended by saying: <q>You think you will +creep to kiss the Cross this year; but before the time comes, I +will take good care you do no such thing.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>He meant to intimate, in the abundance of his charity, that +he would take care I should go to Heaven by the rope before +that time. But he had not been admitted into the secrets of +God's sanctuary, and did not know my great unworthiness. +Though God had permitted him to execute his malice on others, +whom the Divine Wisdom knew to be worthy and well prepared, +as on Father Southwell and others, whom he pursued to the +death, yet no such great mercy of God came to me from his +anger. Others indeed, for whom a kingdom was prepared by +the Father, were advanced to Heaven by our Lord Jesus +<pb n='lxxxvi'/><anchor id='Pglxxxvi'/> +through his means; but this heavenly gift was too great for +an angry man to be allowed to bestow on me. However, he +was really in some sort a prophet in uttering these words, though +he meant them differently from the sense in which they were +fulfilled.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>What I have mentioned happened about Christmas. In the +following Lent, he himself was thrown into prison for disrespect to +the members of the Queen's Council, on an occasion, if I mistake +not, when he had pleaded too boldly in behalf of his only son, +who had killed a man with his sword in the great hall of the +Court of Queen's Bench. This took place about Passion Sunday. +We, then, who were in prison for the Faith, seeing our enemy, +Aman, about to be hanged on his own gibbet, began to lift up our +heads, and to use what liberty we had a little more freely, and we +admitted a greater number to the Sacraments, and to assist at the +services and holy rites of the Church. Thus it was that on Good +Friday a large number of us were together in the room over +mine, in fact, all the Catholics in the prison, and a number of +others from without. I had gone through all the service, and said +all the prayers appointed for the day, up to the point where the +Priest has to lay aside his shoes. I had put them off, and had +knelt down, and was about to creep towards the Cross and make +the triple adoration of it; when, lo! just as I had moved two +paces, the head gaoler came and knocked at the door of my room +underneath, and as I did not answer from within, he began to +batter violently at the door and make a great noise. As soon as +I heard it, I knew that the chief gaoler was there, because no +other would have ventured to behave in that way to me: so I +sent some one to say that I would come directly, and then, +instead of going on with the adoration of the material Cross, +I hastened to the spiritual cross that God presented to me, and +taking off the sacred vestments that I was wearing, I went down +with speed, for fear the gaoler might come up after me, and find a +number of others, who would thus have been brought into trouble. +When he saw me, he said in a loud tone of voice: <q>How comes +it that I find you out of your room, when you ought to be kept +strictly confined to it?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>As I knew the nature of the man, I pretended, in reply, to +<pb n='lxxxvii'/><anchor id='Pglxxxvii'/> +be angry, that one who professed to be a friend should have come +at such a time as that, when, if ever, we were bound to be busy at +our prayers.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>What,</q> said he, <q>you were at Mass, were you? I will go +and see.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>No such thing,</q> I said; <q>you seem to know very little of +our ways. There is not a single Mass said to-day throughout the +whole Church. Go up if you like; but understand that, if you +do, neither I nor any one of the Catholics will ever pay anything +for our rooms. You may put us all, if you like, in the common +prison of the poor who do not pay. But you will be no gainer +by that; whereas, if you act in a friendly way with us, and do not +come upon us unawares in this manner, you will not find us +ungrateful, as you have not found us hitherto.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>He softened down a little at this; and then I said: <q>What +have you come for now, I pray.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Surely,</q> said he, <q>to greet you from Master Topcliffe.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>From him?</q> I said; <q>and how is it that he and I are such +great friends? Is he not in such a prison? He cannot do +anything against me just now, I fancy.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>No,</q> said the gaoler, <q>he cannot. But he really sends to +greet you. When I visited him to-day, he asked me how you +were. I replied that you were very well. <q>But he does not +bear his imprisonment,</q> said Master Topcliffe, <q>as patiently as I +do mine. I would have you greet him, then, in my name, and +tell him what I have said.</q> So I have come now for the purpose +of repeating his message to you.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Very well,</q> I replied. <q>Now tell him from me, that by the +grace of God I willingly bear my imprisonment for the cause of +the Faith, and I could wish his cause were the same.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Thereupon the gaoler went away, rating his servant, however, +for not having kept me more closely confined. And thus Topcliffe +really accomplished what he had promised, having checked me in +the very act of adoration, although without thinking of what he +said, and with another intent at the time. Thus was Saul among +the prophets. However, he did not prevent my going up again +and completing what I had begun.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The man who had charge of my room would not do anything +<pb n='lxxxviii'/><anchor id='Pglxxxviii'/> +in our rooms without my leave. And after my first gaoler, who +soon died, the others who succeeded were well disposed to oblige +me. One of them, who had the gaolership by inheritance, I made +a Catholic. He immediately gave up his post and sold the right +of succession, and became the attendant of a Catholic gentleman, +a friend of mine, and afterwards accompanied his son to Italy, +and got a vocation to the Religious state. At present he is a +prisoner in the very prison where he had been my gaoler. The +next who had the charge of me after him, being a married man +with children, was kept by fear of poverty from becoming a +Catholic; but yet he was afterwards so attached to myself and all +our friends, that he received us into his own house, and sometimes +concealed there such Catholics as were more sorely pressed than +others by the persecution. And when I was to be got out of the +Tower of London, with serious risk to all who aided the enterprise, +he himself in person was one of the three who exposed themselves +to such great danger. And although he was nearly drowned the first +night of the attempt, he rowed the boat the next night as before, +as I shall hereafter relate. For not long after what I just now +mentioned, I was removed from that prison to the Tower of +London; the occasion of which was the following.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XIII.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>There was in the prison with me a certain Priest,<note place='foot'>William Atkinson, the apostate Priest, in a letter to Blackwell the Archpriest, +dated Apr. 9, 1602, said that he was in prison with Father Gerard +(Bartoli, <hi rend='italic'>Inghilterra</hi>, p. 416). This man dared to offer to poison the Earl of +Tyrone in a host (P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 251, n. 49).</note> to whom I +had done many good services. When he first came to England, +I had lodged him in an excellent house with some of my best +friends; I had made Catholics of his mother and only brother; I +had secured him a number of friends when he was thrown into +prison, and had made him considerable presents. I had always +shown him affection, although, perceiving that he was not firm +and steady in spirit, but rather hankered too much after freedom, +I did not deal confidently with him, as with others in the prison, +especially Brother Emerson and John Lilly. Nevertheless, this +good man, from some motive or other, procured my removal; +<pb n='lxxxix'/><anchor id='Pglxxxix'/> +whether in the desire and expectation that, if I were gone, all +whom he saw come to me would thenceforth come to him, or in +order to curry favour with our enemies, and obtain liberty or some +such boon for himself, is not certain. Be that as it may, he +reported to our enemies that he was standing by when I handed +a packet of letters dated from Rome and Brussels to a servant of +Father Garnett's, of the name of Little John, about whom I have +before spoken. This latter, after having been arrested in my +company, as I have related, and subjected to various examinations, +but without disclosing anything, had been released for a sum of +money which some Catholic gentlemen had paid. For his services +were indispensable to them and many others, as he was a first-rate +hand at contriving Priests' hiding-places. The Priest then reported +that I had given this man letters, and that I was in the habit +of receiving letters from beyond the sea addressed both to my +Superior and to myself.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Acting on this information, the persecutors sent a Justice of +the Peace to me one day, with two Queen's messengers, or +pursuivants as they call them. These came up to my room on +a sudden with the head gaoler; but by God's providence they +found no one with me at the time except two boys, whom I was +instructing with intention to send them abroad; one of whom, if +I remember right, escaped, the other they imprisoned for a time. +But they found nothing else in my room that I was afraid of +being seen; for I was accustomed to keep all my manuscripts +and other articles of importance in some holes made to hide +things. All these holes were known to Brother Emerson; and +so after my removal he took out everything, and among the rest a +reliquary that I have with me now, and a store of money that +I had in hand for the expenses of my house in town, of which I +have before spoken, to the amount of thirteen hundred florins +[130<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>]. This money he sent to my Superior, who took charge of +the house from that time till I was got out of prison.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When these officials came in they began to question me; +and when the examination was over, which it soon was, as they +could get nothing from me of what they wanted to know, they +began to search the room all over, to find letters or something +else, that might serve their turn and injure me. While the Justice +<pb n='xc'/><anchor id='Pgxc'/> +of the Peace was rummaging my books, one of the pursuivants +searched my person, and opening my doublet, he discovered my +hairshirt. At first he did not know what it was, and said: +<q>What is this?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>A shirt,</q> I replied.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Ho, ho!</q> said he, <q>it is a hairshirt.</q> And he caught +hold of it, and wanted to drag it off my body by force.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>This insolence of the varlet, to confess my imperfection +honestly, excited me more than anything that I have ever had to +endure from my enemies, and I was within a little of thrusting +him violently back; but I checked myself by God's grace, and +claimed the Justice's protection, who immediately made him give +over. So they sought, but found nothing in my room that they +sought for except myself; and me they took at once, and went +straight to the Tower of London with me, and there handed me +to the Governor, whose title is King's Lieutenant. He was a +Knight of the name of Barkley. He conducted me at once to a +large high tower of three stories, with a separate lock-up place in +each, one of a number of different towers contained within the +whole inclosure. He left me for the night in the lowest part, +and committed the custody of my person to a servant in whom +he placed great confidence. The servant brought a little straw at +once, and throwing it down on the ground, went away, fastening +the door of my prison, and securing the upper door both with a +great bolt and with iron bars. I recommended myself therefore +to God, Who is wont to go down with His people into the pit, +and Who never abandoned me in my bondage, as well as to the +most Blessed Virgin, the Mother of Mercy, and to my Patron +Saints and Guardian Angel; and after prayer I lay down with a +calm mind on the straw, and slept very well that night.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The next day I examined the place, for there was some +light, though dim; and I found the name of Father Henry +Walpole, of blessed memory,<note place='foot'>Henry Walpole, S.J., was executed at York, April 7, 1595, for his +Priesthood.</note> cut with a knife on the wall, and +not far from there I found his oratory, which was a space where +there had been a narrow window, now blocked up with stones. +There he had written on either side with chalk the names of the +<pb n='xci'/><anchor id='Pgxci'/> +different choirs of Angels, and on the top, above the Cherubim +and Seraphim, the name of Mary Mother of God, and over that +the name of Jesus, and over that again, in Latin, Greek, and +Hebrew, the name of GOD. It was truly a great consolation to +me to find myself in this place, hallowed by the presence of so +great and so devoted a martyr, the place, too, in which he was +frequently tortured, to the number, as I have heard, of fourteen +times. Probably they were unwilling to torture him in public and +in the ordinary place, because they did it oftener than they would +have it known. And I can well believe that he was racked that +number of times, for he lost through it the proper use of his +fingers. This I can vouch for from the following circumstance. +He was carried back to York, to be executed in the place where +he was taken on his first landing in England, and while in prison +there he had a discussion with some ministers which he wrote out +with his own hand.<note place='foot'>It was Father Walpole's custom to make notes of his conferences with +ministers. In the Public Record Office (<hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 248., n. 51) +there is an interesting record in his own hand of his discussions while he was +in the custody of Outlaw, the pursuivant.</note> A part of this writing was given to me, +together with some meditations on the Passion of Christ, which +he had written in prison before his own passion. These writings, +however, I could scarcely read at all, not because they were +written hastily, but because the hand of the writer could not +form the letters. It seemed more like the first attempts of a +child, than the handwriting of a scholar and a gentleman, such as +he was. Yet he used to be at Court before the death of Father +Campion, in whose honour he also wrote some beautiful verses +in the English tongue, declaring that he and many others had +received the warmth of life from that blessed martyr's blood,<note place='foot'>Edmund Campion, S.J., suffered at Tyburn, Dec. 1, 1581, for a pretended +conspiracy at Rome and Rhemes. The Act of 27 Elizabeth (1585), +which made the mere presence of a Priest in England high treason, had not +yet been passed.</note> and +had been animated by it to follow the more perfect counsels of +Christ.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>When, therefore, I found myself in Father Walpole's cell I +rejoiced exceedingly thereat; but I was not worthy to be the +successor of such a man in his place of suffering. For on the +<pb n='xcii'/><anchor id='Pgxcii'/> +day following my gaoler, either because he thought to do me a +favour, or in consequence of his master's orders, brought me into +the upper room, which was sufficiently large and commodious for +a prisoner. I told him that I preferred to stay in the lower +dungeon, and mentioned the reason, but as he showed himself +opposed to this, I asked him to allow me sometimes to go there +and pray. This he promised me, and in fact frequently permitted. +Then he inquired of me if he could go for me anywhere to any +friends of mine who would be willing to send me a bed. For it +is the custom in this prison that a bed should not be provided, +but that a prisoner should provide himself a bed and other +furniture, which afterwards goes to the Lieutenant of the Tower, +even though the prisoner should be liberated. I replied that I +had no friends to whom I could send, except such as I left in the +prison from which I had been brought;<note place='foot'>This was said, of course, because it was dangerous to mention the names +of any friends who were still at liberty. It could do no harm to mention those +already in prison.</note> these, perhaps, if he +would call there, would give me a plain bed by way of alms. The +gaoler therefore went to the Catholics detained in the Clink, who +immediately sent me a bed such as they knew I wished for; that +is, a mattrass stuffed with wool and feathers after the Italian +fashion. They sent also a cloak and some linen for me; and +asked him always to come there for anything I wanted, and +promised to give money or anything else, provided he brought +a note signed by me of things I needed. They also gave him +money at that time for himself, and besought him to treat me +kindly.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XIV.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>On the third day, immediately after dinner, came my gaoler +to me, and with sorrowful mien told me the Lords Commissioners +had come, and with them the Queen's Attorney General, and that +I must go down to them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I am ready,</q> I replied. <q>I only ask you to allow me to say +a <hi rend='italic'>Pater</hi> and <hi rend='italic'>Ave</hi> in the lower dungeon.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>This he allowed; and then we went together to the house of +the Lieutenant, which was within the Tower walls. There I +<pb n='xciii'/><anchor id='Pgxciii'/> +found five men, none of whom had before examined me except +Wade, who was there for the purpose of accusing me on all +points.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Queen's Attorney General then took a sheet of paper, +and began to write a solemn form of juridical examination.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The examination of Father Gerard on this occasion is preserved +in the Public Record Office.<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 262, n. 123.</note> The Commissioners were +Sir Richard Barkley, Lieutenant of the Tower, Sir Edward Coke, +then Attorney General, Thomas Fleming, a Privy Councillor, +Sir Francis Bacon, afterwards Lord Chancellor, and William +Wade, or Waad, afterwards Lieutenant of the Tower. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The examination of John Gerard, Priest, taken this 14th +day of April, 1597.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Being demanded whether he received any letters from +the parts beyond the seas or no, confesseth that within these +four or five days he received<note place='foot'>As he supposed. <hi rend='italic'>Erased.</hi></note> from Antwerp (as he supposeth) +letters inclosed and sealed up. But how many letters were +inclosed therein he knoweth not, and saith that the said letters +were directed to him by the name of Standish; and being +demanded from whom those letters were sent,<note place='foot'>Denieth that. <hi rend='italic'>Erased.</hi></note> saith that he +knoweth not from whom the same were sent, and denieth that +he read them or that he knoweth the contents of the same, and +at the first he said that he burnt them, but afterwards retracted +that and confesseth that he sent them over to whom the same +appertained, but<note place='foot'>Denieth that. <hi rend='italic'>Erased.</hi></note> refuseth to declare to whom the same were +delivered over, and refuseth also to declare who brought the +same to him, or by whom he conveyed them over. He confesseth +that he received within this year past other letters from +the parts beyond the seas, and two or three of them he confesseth +he did read, and saith that those letters contained matter concerning +maintenance of scholars beyond sea, but refuseth to +declare who sent those letters or by whom the same were +brought, and saith that some of those letters were sent from +St. Omers; and two or three other letters which he received +from the parts beyond the seas he conveyed over to some other +<pb n='xciv'/><anchor id='Pgxciv'/> +within this realm, but denieth that he knew the contents of +those letters, and refuseth to tell who sent or brought the same +or to whom the same were conveyed, but saith that the same +were sent over to him to whom the said last letters which he +received were conveyed unto. And being demanded whether +he sent not those letters to Garnett, his Superior, saith that he +will name no name; but saith that those letters came to him +because he had more opportunity to receive them and to convey +them over. And confesseth that the party to whom he sent +those letters is a Priest, and being demanded how it is possible +that he should know to whom the said last letters appertained, +considering that he saith that he neither knoweth from whom +the same were sent, nor knoweth the contents of the same, +especially the said letters being directed to himself by the name +of Standish, saith that he<note place='foot'>Thinketh that some <hi rend='italic'>substituted for</hi> knoweth who.</note> thinketh that some within this realm +have greater<note place='foot'>Care <hi rend='italic'>substituted for</hi> charge.</note> care and authority to provide for such scholars +as be beyond sea than he, and saith that he sent those last +letters as he had done other to that person, taking the same +to contain no other matter but only concerning<note place='foot'>Maintenance of, &c, <hi rend='italic'>interlined</hi>.</note> maintenance +of scholars and such as be sent from hence for the like matters. +And being demanded whether he opened not the outermost +sealed of those last letters, confesseth that he did; and being +also demanded to whom the letters within inclosed were directed, +saith that he remembereth not<note place='foot'>The name ... person <hi rend='italic'>interlined in place of</hi> to whom.</note> the name, but saith that he +thinketh it was to the said former person, and saith that there +was nothing written within the outermost paper, and thinketh, +that there were two letters within that which he conveyed over. +And saith that the letters within were not directed as the outermost +was, but saith that he remembereth not<note place='foot'>By what name <hi rend='italic'>substituted for</hi> to whom.</note> by what name the +same were directed.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><hi rend='italic'>I refuse not for any disloyal mind, I protest as I look to be +saved, but for that I take these things not to have concerned any +matter of State, with which I would not have dealt, nor any other +but matters of devotion as before.</hi></q> +</p> + +<pb n='xcv'/><anchor id='Pgxcv'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>And being demanded whether this subscription is his usual +manner of writing, saith that he useth the same in his subscriptions +to his examinations, and saith that the cause thereof is that he +would bring no man to trouble and that he will not acknowledge +his own hand, and saith that he never wrote any letter to any +man in this hand, saving once to Mr. Topcliffe. And being +demanded what was the cause that moved him to have escaped +out of prison of late, saith that the cause was that he might +have more opportunity to have won souls. And being demanded +who procured the counterfeit keys for him, by means whereof +he should have escaped, refuseth to tell who it was, for that, as +he saith, he will not discover anything against any other that +may bring them to trouble.</q> +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'><hi rend='smallcaps'>John Gerard.</hi><note place='foot'>The spelling in those days was simply reckless. Father Gerard signs this +Examination <q>Jhon Gerrard;</q> it is endorsed <q>Jo. Jerrard;</q> and Sir Edward +Coke's note on it is <q>Jarrard.</q> It becomes difficult to know how to print +proper names; <hi rend='italic'>e.g.</hi>, Campion or Campian, Persons or Parsons, Garnet or +Garnett, Ouldcorne or Oldcorn. In the Narrative of the Gunpowder Plot the +form of name is adopted that is most prevalent in the autograph from which it +is printed.</note></q></l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><q>Examined by us,</q></l> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Ry. Barkeley.</hi></l> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Edw. Coke.</hi></l> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Tho. Fflemynge.</hi></l> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Fr. Bacon.</hi></l> +<l><q rend='post'><hi rend='smallcaps'>W. Waad.</hi></q><note place='foot'><p>On the back of a playing card (the seven of spades), which is attached to +the original document, is written in Sir Edward Coke's handwriting: +</p> +<p> +<q>Polewhele 1<lb/> +Walpole 1<lb/> +PatCullen 1<lb/> +Annias 31<lb/> +Willms 1<lb/> +Squier<lb/> +Jarrard 1.</q> +</p> +<p> +Polewhele, Patrick Cullen or O'Collun, Williams, and Squire were all +executed for high treason, the latter on the accusation of having, at Father +Walpole's instigation, poisoned the pommel of Elizabeth's saddle. Annias +apostatized after two years' imprisonment.</p></note></l> +</lg> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +We now return to the impression that remained on Father +Gerard's memory of this examination, when he wrote his life +<pb n='xcvi'/><anchor id='Pgxcvi'/> +some twelve years afterwards. <q rend='pre'>They did not ask anything +at that time about private Catholics, but only about matters of +State, to which I answered as before in general terms; namely, +that all such things were strictly forbidden to us of the Society, +that I had consequently never mixed myself up with political +matters, sufficient proof whereof, I said, was to be found in the +fact that, though they had had me in custody for three years +and had constantly examined me, they had never been able to +produce a single line of my writing, nor a single trustworthy +witness, to show that I had ever injured the State in a single +point.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>They then inquired what letters I had lately received from +our Fathers abroad. Here it was I first divined the reason of +my being transferred to the Tower. I answered, however, that +if I had ever received any letters from abroad, they never had +any connection with matters of State, but related solely to the +money matters of certain Catholics who were living beyond seas.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Did not you,</q> said Wade, <q>receive lately a packet of +letters; and did you not deliver them to such a one for Henry +Garnett?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>If I have received any such,</q> I answered, <q>and delivered +them as you say, I only did my duty. But I never received nor +delivered any but what related to the private money matters of +certain Religious or students who are pursuing their studies +beyond seas, as I have before said.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Well,</q> said they, <q>where is he to be found to whom you +delivered the letters, and how is he called?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I do not know,</q> I answered; <q>and if I did know, I neither +could nor would tell you.</q> And then I alleged the usual reasons.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>You tell us,</q> said the Attorney General, <q>that you do not +wish to offend against the State. Tell us, then, where this +Garnett is; for he is an enemy of the State, and you are bound +to give information of such people.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>He is no enemy of the State,</q> I replied; <q>but, on the +contrary, I am sure that he would be ready to lay down his +life for the Queen and the State. However, I do not know +where he is, and if I did know I would not tell you.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>But you shall tell us,</q> said they, <q>before we leave this place.</q></q> +</p> + +<pb n='xcvii'/><anchor id='Pgxcvii'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Please God,</q> said I, <q>that shall never be.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>They then produced the warrant which they had for putting +me to the torture, and gave it me to read; for it is not allowed +in this prison to put any one to the torture without express +warrant. I saw the document was duly signed, so I said: <q>By +the help of God, I will never do what is against God, against +justice, and against the Catholic faith. You have me in your +power; do what God permits you, for you certainly cannot go +beyond.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Then they began to entreat me not to force them to do +what they were loath to do; and told me they were bound not +to desist from putting me to the torture day after day, as long +as my life lasted, until I gave the information they sought from +me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I trust in God's goodness,</q> I answered, <q>that He will never +allow me to do so base an act as to bring innocent persons to +harm. Nor, indeed, do I fear what you can do to me, since all +of us are in God's hands.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Such was the purport of my replies, as far as I can remember.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Then we proceeded to the place appointed for the torture. +We went in a sort of solemn procession; the attendants preceding +us with lighted candles, because the place was underground and +very dark, especially about the entrance. It was a place of +immense extent, and in it were ranged divers sorts of racks, and +other instruments of torture. Some of these they displayed before +me, and told me I should have to taste them every one. Then +again they asked me if I was willing to satisfy them on the points +on which they had questioned me. <q>It is out of my power to +satisfy you,</q> I answered; and throwing myself on my knees, I +said a prayer or two.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Then they led me to a great upright beam, or pillar of wood, +which was one of the supports of this vast crypt. At the summit +of this column were fixed certain iron staples for supporting +weights. Here they placed on my wrists manacles of iron, and +ordered me to mount upon two or three wicker steps;<note place='foot'>Scirpicula quaedam duo vel tria ex juncis facta (MS.). It is not easy to +understand exactly what these were.</note> then +raising my arms, they inserted an iron bar through the rings of +<pb n='xcviii'/><anchor id='Pgxcviii'/> +the manacles, and then through the staples in the pillar, putting a +pin through the bar so that it could not slip. My arms being thus +fixed above my head, they withdrew those wicker steps I spoke +of, one by one, from beneath my feet, so that I hung by my +hands and arms. The tips of my toes, however, still touched the +ground;<note place='foot'>Father Gerard's great stature could not be more clearly indicated. This +would of course involve a greater weight of body, and consequently greater +severity in this mode of torture. <q>Erat enim,</q> says Father More, in his +History, <q>pleno et procero corpore.</q></note> so they dug away the ground beneath, as they could +not raise me higher, for they had suspended me from the +topmost staples in the pillar.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Thus hanging by my wrists, I began to pray, while those +gentlemen standing round asked me again if I was willing to +confess. I replied, <q>I neither can nor will.</q> But so terrible a +pain began to oppress me, that I was scarce able to speak the +words. The worst pain was in my breast and belly, my arms and +hands. It seemed to me that all the blood in my body rushed +up my arms into my hands; and I was under the impression at +the time that the blood actually burst forth from my fingers and +at the back of my hands. This was, however, a mistake; the +sensation was caused by the swelling of the flesh over the iron +that bound it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I felt now such intense pain (and the effect was probably +heightened by an interior temptation), that it seemed to me +impossible to continue enduring it. It did not, however, go so +far as to make me feel any inclination or real disposition to give +the information they wanted. For as the eyes of our merciful +Lord had seen my imperfection, He did <q>not suffer me to be +tempted above what I was able, but with the temptation made +also a way of escape.</q> Seeing me therefore in this agony of pain +and this interior distress, His infinite mercy sent me this thought: +<q>The very furthest and utmost they can do is to take away thy +life; and often hast thou desired to give thy life for God: thou +art in God's hands, Who knoweth well what thou sufferest, and +is all-powerful to sustain thee.</q> With this thought our good God +gave me also out of His immense bounty the grace to resign +myself, and offer myself utterly to His good pleasure, together +<pb n='ic'/><anchor id='Pgic'/> +with some hope and desire of dying for His sake. From that +moment I felt no more trouble in my soul, and even the bodily +pain seemed to be more bearable than before, although I doubt +not that it really increased, from the continued strain that was +exercised on every part of my body.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Hereupon those gentlemen, seeing that I gave them no +further answer, departed to the Lieutenant's house; and there they +waited, sending now and then to know how things were going on +in the crypt. There were left with me three or four strong men, +to superintend my torture. My gaoler also remained, I fully +believe out of kindness to me, and kept wiping away with a +handkerchief the sweat that ran down from my face the whole +time, as, indeed, it did from my whole body. So far, indeed, he +did me a service; but by his words, he rather added to my +distress, for he never stopped beseeching and entreating me to +have pity on myself, and tell these gentlemen what they wanted +to know; and so many human reasons did he allege, that I verily +believe he was either instigated directly by the devil under +pretence of affection for me, or had been left there purposely by +the persecutors to influence me by his show of sympathy. In any +case, these shafts of the enemy seemed to be spent before they +reached me, for though annoying, they did me no real hurt, nor +did they seem to touch my soul, or move it in the least. I said, +therefore, to him, <q>I pray, you to say no more on that point, for I +am not minded to lose my soul for the sake of my body, and you +pain me by what you say.</q> Yet I could not prevail with him to +be silent. The others also who stood by said: <q>He will be a +cripple all his life, if he lives through it; but he will have to +be tortured daily till he confesses.</q> But I kept praying in a +low voice, and continually uttered the holy names of Jesus +and Mary.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I had hung in this way till after one of the clock, as I think, +when I fainted. How long I was in the faint I know not; +perhaps not long; for the men who stood by lifted me up, or +replaced those wicker steps under my feet, until I came to +myself; and immediately they heard me praying, they let me +down again. This they did over and over again when the faint +came on, eight or nine times before five of the clock. Somewhat +<pb n='c'/><anchor id='Pgc'/> +before five came Wade again, and drawing near said, <q>Will you +yet obey the commands of the Queen and the Council?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>No,</q> said I, <q>what you ask is unlawful, therefore I will +never do it.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>At least then,</q> said Wade, <q>say that you would like to speak +to Secretary Cecil.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I have nothing to say to him,</q> I replied, <q>more than I have +said already; and if I were to ask to speak to him, scandal would +be caused, for people would imagine that I was yielding at +length, and wished to give information.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Upon this Wade suddenly turned his back in a rage, and +departed, saying in a loud and angry tone, <q>Hang there, then, till +you rot!</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>So he went away, and I think all the Commissioners then +left the Tower; for at five of the clock the great bell of the +Tower sounds, as a signal for all to leave who do not wish to be +locked in all night. Soon after this they took me down from my +cross, and though neither foot nor leg was injured, yet I could +hardly stand.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XV.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I was helped back to my cell by the gaoler, and meeting on the +way some of the prisoners who had the range of the Tower, I +addressed the gaoler in their hearing, saying I wondered how +those gentlemen could insist so on my telling them where Father +Garnett was, since every one must acknowledge it to be a sin to +betray an innocent man, a thing I would never do, though I +should die for it. This I said out loud, on purpose that the +authorities might not have it in their power to publish a report +about me that I had made a confession, as they often did in such +cases. I had also another reason, which was that word might +reach Father Garnett, through these persons spreading abroad +what they heard me say, that it was about him I was chiefly +examined, in order that he might look to himself. I noticed that +my gaoler was very unwilling that I should speak thus before the +others, but I did not stint for that. My gaoler appeared sincerely +to compassionate my state, and when he reached my cell he laid +me a fire, and brought me some food, as supper-time had nearly +<pb n='ci'/><anchor id='Pgci'/> +come. I scarcely tasted anything, but laid myself on my bed, +and remained quiet there till the next morning.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Early next morning, however, soon after the Tower gates +were opened, my gaoler came up to the cell and told me that +Master Wade had arrived, and that I must go down to him. +I went down, therefore, that time in a sort of cloak with wide +sleeves, for my hands were so swollen that they would not have +passed through ordinary sleeves. When I had come to the +Lieutenant's house, Wade addressed me thus: <q>I am sent to +you on the part of the Queen and of Master Secretary Cecil, the +first of whom assures you on the word of a Sovereign, the other +on his word of honour, that they know for certain that Garnett is +in the habit of meddling in political matters, and that he is an +enemy of the State. Consequently, unless you mean to contradict +them flatly, you ought to submit your judgment, and +produce him.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>They cannot possibly know this,</q> I replied, <q>by their own +experience and of certain knowledge, since they have no personal +knowledge of the man. Now, I have lived with him and know +him well, and I know him to be no such character as you say.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Well then,</q> returned he, <q>you will not acknowledge it, nor +tell us what we ask?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>No, certainly not,</q> said I; <q>I neither can nor will.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>It would be better for you if you did,</q> he replied. And +thereupon he summoned from the next room a gentleman who +had been there waiting, a tall and commanding figure, whom he +called the Superintendent of Torture. I knew there was such an +officer, but this man was not really in that charge, as I heard +afterwards, but was Master of the Artillery in the Tower. However, +Wade called him by that name to strike the greater terror +into me, and said to him, <q>In the name of the Queen, and of +the Lords of her Council, I deliver this man into your hands. +You are to rack him twice to-day, and twice daily until such time +as he chooses to confess.</q> The officer then took charge of me, +and Wade departed.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Thereupon we descended with the same solemnity as before +into the place appointed for torture, and again they put the +manacles on the same part of my arms as before; indeed, they +<pb n='cii'/><anchor id='Pgcii'/> +could not be put on in any other part, for the flesh had so risen +on both sides that there were two hills of flesh with a valley +between, and the manacles would not meet anywhere but in the +valley. Here then were they put on, not without causing me +much pain. Our good Lord, however, helped me, and I cheerfully +offered Him my hands and my heart. So I was hung up again +as I before described; and in my hands I felt a great deal more +pain than on the previous day, but not so much in my breast and +belly, perhaps because this day I had eaten nothing.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>While thus hanging I prayed, sometimes silently, sometimes +aloud, recommending myself to our Lord Jesus and His Blessed +Mother. I hung much longer this time without fainting, but at +length I fainted so thoroughly that they could not bring me to, +and they thought that I either was dead or soon would be. So +they called the Lieutenant, but how long he was there I know +not, nor how long I remained in the faint. When I came round, +however, I found myself no longer hanging by my hands, but +supported sitting on a bench, with many people round me, +who had opened my teeth with some iron instrument, and +were pouring warm water down my throat. Now when the +Lieutenant saw I could speak, he said: <q>Do you not see how +much better it is for you to yield to the wishes of the Queen than +to lose your life this way?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>By God's help I answered him with more spirit than I had +ever before felt, <q>No, certainly I do not see it. I would rather +die a thousand times than do what they require of me.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>You will not, then,</q> he repeated.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>No, indeed I will not,</q> I answered, <q>while a breath remains +in my body.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Well then,</q> said he, and he seemed to say it sorrowfully, as +if reluctant to carry out his orders, <q>we must hang you up again +now, and after dinner too.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Let us go, then, in the name of God,</q> I said; <q>I have but +one life, and if I had more I would offer them all for this cause.</q> +And with this I attempted to rise in order to go to the pillar, but +they were obliged to support me, as I was very weak in body +from the torture. And if there was any strength in my soul it was +the gift of God, and given, I am convinced, because I was a +<pb n='ciii'/><anchor id='Pgciii'/> +member of the Society, though a most unworthy one. I was +suspended, therefore, a third time, and hung there in very great +pain of body, but not without great consolation of soul, which +seemed to me to arise from the prospect of dying. Whether it +was from a true love of suffering for Christ, or from a sort of +selfish desire to be with Christ, God knows best; but I certainly +thought that I should die, and felt great joy in committing myself +to the will and good pleasure of my God, and contemning entirely +the will of men. Oh, that God would grant me always to have +that same spirit (though I doubt not that it wanted much of true +perfection in His eyes), for a longer life remains to me than I +then thought, and He granted me time to prepare myself better +for His holy presence.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>After awhile the Lieutenant, seeing that he made no way +with me by continuing the torture, or because the dinner-hour +was near at hand, or perhaps through a natural feeling of compassion, +ordered me to be taken down. I think I hung not +quite an hour this third time. I am rather inclined to think that +the Lieutenant released me from compassion; for, some time +after my escape, a gentleman of quality told me he had it from +Sir Richard Barkley himself (who was this very Lieutenant of +whom I speak), that he had of his own accord resigned the office +he held, because he would no longer be an instrument in torturing +innocent men so cruelly. And, in fact, he gave up the post after +holding it but three or four months, and another Knight was +appointed in his stead, in whose time it was that I made my +escape.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>So I was brought back to my room by my gaoler, who +seemed to have his eyes full of tears, and he assured me that his +wife had been weeping and praying for me the whole time, +though I had never seen the good woman in all my life. Then +he brought me some food, of which I could eat but little, and +that little he was obliged to cut for me and put into my mouth. +I could not hold a knife in my hands for many days after, much +less now when I was not even able to move my fingers, nor help +myself in anything, so that he was obliged to do everything for +me. However, by order of the authorities he took away my +knife, scissors, and razors, lest I should kill myself, I believe; +<pb n='civ'/><anchor id='Pgciv'/> +for they always do this in the Tower as long as the prisoner is +under warrant for torture. I expected, therefore, daily to be sent +for again to the torture-chamber, according to order; but our +merciful God, while to other stronger champions, such as Father +Walpole and Father Southwell, He gave a sharp struggle that +they might overcome, gave His weak soldier but a short trial that +he might not be overcome. They indeed, being perfected in a +short time, fulfilled a long space; but I, unworthy of so great a +good, was left to run out my days, and so supply for my defects +by washing my soul with my tears, since I deserved not to wash +it with my blood. God so ordained it, and may that be done +which is good in His eyes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Father Garnett, in his letters, mentions Father Gerard's torture +for the first time when writing to Father Persons at Rome, April +23, 1597:<note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>P.</hi>, vol. ii., f. 547.</note> <q>John Gerard hath been sore tortured in the Tower: +it is thought it was for some letters directed to him out of Spain.</q> +Between this date and the next, some details had reached Father +Garnett, for on the 7th of May, 1597, he wrote to the General +(we translate from the Italian):<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Ibid.</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. ii., n. 27; P., vol. ii., f. 604.</note> <q>Of John Gerard I have already +written to you where he is. He hath been twice hanged up by +the hands, with great cruelty of others, and not less suffering of +his own. The inquisitors here say that he is very obstinate, and +that he has a great alliance with God or the devil, as they cannot +draw the least word out of his mouth, except that in torment he +cries <q>Jesus.</q> They took him lately to the rack, and the torturers +and examiners were there ready, but he suddenly, when he entered +the place, knelt down, and with a loud voice prayed to our Lord +that, as He had given grace and strength to some of His Saints +to bear with Christian patience being torn to pieces by horses +for His love, so He would be pleased to give him grace and +courage, rather to be dragged into a thousand pieces than to say +anything that might injure any person or the Divine glory. And +so they left him without tormenting him, seeing him so resolved.</q> +On June 13, 1597 (in the copy it is <hi rend='italic'>Jan. 10</hi>, evidently a mistake), +he writes:<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Ibid.</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>P.</hi>, vol. ii., f. 548.</note> <q>I wrote unto you heretofore of the remove of Mr. +<pb n='cv'/><anchor id='Pgcv'/> +Gerard to the Tower: he hath been thrice hanged up by the +hands, every time until he was almost dead, and that in one day +twice. The cause was (as now I understand perfectly) for to tell +where his Superior was, and by whom he had sent him letters +which were delivered him from Father Persons, and he was +discovered by one of his fellow-prisoners. The Earl of Essex +saith he must needs honour him for his constancy.</q> Again, a +letter of Father Garnett to the General, in Latin, dated June 11, +1597, runs thus:<note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>P.</hi>, vol. ii., f. 601.</note> <q>I have written to you more than once of our +Mr. John Gerard, that he has been thrice tortured, but that he +has borne all with invincible courage. We have also lately heard +for certain that the Earl of Essex praised his constancy, declaring +that he could not help honouring and admiring the man. A +secretary of the Royal Council denies that the Queen wishes to +have him executed. To John this will be a great trouble.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XVI.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I remained therefore in my cell, spending my time principally +in prayer. And now again I made the Spiritual Exercises, as I +had done at the beginning of my imprisonment, giving four or +five hours a day to meditation for a whole month. I had a +breviary with me, so that I was able to say my Office; and +every day I said a dry Mass (such as is said by those who are +practising Mass before the Priesthood), and that with great +reverence and desire of communicating, especially at that part +where I should have communicated if the Sacrifice had been real. +And these practices consoled me in my tribulation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>At the end of three weeks, as far as I can remember, I was +able to move my fingers, and help myself a little, and even hold +a knife. So when I had finished my retreat, I asked leave to have +some books, but they only allowed me a Bible, which I obtained +from my friends in my former prison. I sent to them for some +money, by which means I saw that I should be able to enlist the +sympathies of my gaoler, and induce him to allow me things, and +even to bring me some books. My friends sent me by him all +that I asked for. I got my gaoler to buy some large oranges, a +fruit of which he was very fond. But besides gratifying him +<pb n='cvi'/><anchor id='Pgcvi'/> +with a present of them, I meditated making another use of them +in time.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I now began to exercise my hands a little after dinner. +Supper I never took, though it was always allowed; indeed, there +was no stint of food in the prison, all being furnished at the +Queen's expense; for there were given me daily six small rolls of +very good bread. There are different scales of diet fixed in the +prison, according to the rank of the prisoner; the religious state, +indeed, they take no account of, but only human rank, thus +making most of what ought to be esteemed the least. Well, the +exercise which I gave my hands was to cut the peel of these +oranges into the form of crosses, and sew them two and two +together. I made many of these crosses, and many rosaries also +strung on silken cord. Then I asked my gaoler if he would +carry some of these crosses and rosaries to my friends in my old +prison? He, seeing nothing in this to compromise him, readily +undertook to do so. In the meanwhile, I put some of the +orange-juice in a small jug. I was now in want of a pen, but I +dared not openly ask for one; nay, even if I had asked, and +obtained my request, I could at this time scarcely have written, +or but very badly; for though I could hold a pen, I could +hardly feel that I had anything in my fingers. The sense of +touch was not recovered for five months, and even then not fully, +for I was never without a certain numbness in my hands up to +the time of my escape, which was more than six months after the +torture. So I begged for a quill to make myself a toothpick, +which he readily brought me. I made this into a pen fit for +writing, then cutting off a short piece of the pointed end, I fixed +it on a small stick. With the rest of the quill I made a toothpick, +so long that nothing appeared to have been cut off, and this +I afterwards showed my gaoler. Then I begged for some paper +to wrap up my rosaries and crosses, and obtained his leave also +to write a line or two with pencil on the paper, asking my friends +to pray for me. All this he allowed, not suspecting that he was +carrying anything but what he knew. But I had managed to write +on the paper with some orange-juice, telling my friends to write +back to me in the same way, but sparingly at first; asking them +also to give the bearer a little money, and promise him some as +<pb n='cvii'/><anchor id='Pgcvii'/> +often as he should bring any crosses or rosaries from me, with a +few words of my writing to assure them that I was well.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When they received the paper and the rosaries, knowing +that I should if possible have written something with orange-juice, +as I used to do with them, they immediately retired to +their room, and held the paper to a fire. Thus they read all I +had written, and wrote back to me in the same way, sending me +some comfits or dried sweetmeats wrapped up in the paper on +which they had written. We continued this method of communication +for about half a year; but we soon proceeded with much +greater confidence when we found that the man never failed to +deliver our missives faithfully. For full three months, however, he +had no idea that he was conveying letters to and fro. But after +three months I began to ask him to allow me to write with a +pencil at greater length, which he permitted. I always gave him +these letters open, that he might see what I wrote, and I wrote +nothing but spiritual matters that he could see, but on the blank +part of the paper I had written with orange-juice directions +and particular advice for my different friends, about which he +knew nothing.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>As it happened, indeed, I need not have been so circumspect; +for the man, as I found out after some time, could not +read. He pretended, however, that he was able, and used to +stand and look over my shoulder while I read to him what I had +written with pencil. At length it occurred to me that possibly he +could not read; so in order to make the trial, while he was +looking over the paper, I read it altogether in a different way +from what I had written. After doing this on two or three +occasions without his taking any notice, I said openly to him, +with a smile, that he need not look over my shoulder any more. +He acknowledged, indeed, that he could not read, but said that he +took great pleasure in hearing what I read to him. After this he +let me write what I would, and carried everything as faithfully as +ever. He even provided me with ink, and carried closed letters +to and fro between my friends and me. For seeing that I had to +do with very few, and those discreet and trustworthy people, and +thinking that neither I nor they were likely to betray him, he did +just what we asked him for a consideration, for he always +<pb n='cviii'/><anchor id='Pgcviii'/> +received a stipulated payment. He begged me, however, not to +require him to go so often to the Clink prison, lest suspicion +should arise from these frequent visits, which might cause harm +not only to him, but to me; he proposed, therefore, that some +friend of mine should meet him near the Tower and deliver the +letters to him. But I was loath to risk the safety of any one by +putting him thus in the man's power. It made no difference to +those already in custody; they could, without much additional +danger, hold correspondence with me, and send me anything for +my support by way of alms. Besides, I knew that my messenger +would not be likely to speak of the letter he carried, as he was +quite conscious that this would be as dangerous for himself as +for those to whom he carried them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Nay, even if he had wished he could not have done much +injury either to me or my friends, because I took good care never +to name any of them in my letters: but before I was in prison, +and after, I invariably used pseudonyms which were understood +by those to whom I wrote. Thus, I called one <q>Brother,</q> another +<q>Son,</q> another <q>Nephew,</q> or <q>Friend,</q> and so of their wives, +calling this one <q>Sister,</q> that one <q>Niece,</q> or <q>Daughter.</q> In +this way no one not in the secret could possibly tell whom I +meant, even if the letters had been intercepted, which they never +were. I may add that even if the letters had been betrayed and +read, they could never have been made further use of by the +enemy, in allowing them to be carried to their destination to lure +the correspondents on till they should compromise themselves, as +was sometimes done. For I never wrote now with lemon-juice, +as I once did in the Clink; which letter was betrayed to the +persecutor Wade, as I before related. The reason of my doing +so then was because there were two letters there, which had +to be read in one place, and then carried to another. Now +lemon-juice has this property, that what is written in it can be +read in water quite as well as by fire, and when the paper is +dried the writing disappears again till it is steeped afresh, or +again held to the fire. But anything written with orange-juice is +at once washed out by water, and cannot be read at all in that +way; and if held to the fire, though the characters are thus made +to appear, and can be read, they will not disappear; so that a +<pb n='cix'/><anchor id='Pgcix'/> +letter of this sort, once read, can never be delivered to any one +as if it had not been read. The party will see at once that it has +been read, and will certainly refuse and disown it, if it should +contain anything dangerous. It was in this way I knew that my +letters always reached my friends, and that theirs reached me in +safety. And so our correspondence continued, I obtaining sure +information of all my friends, and they receiving at my hands the +consolation they sought.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In order, however, that matters might go on still more +securely, I managed, through some of my friends, that John Lilly's +release should be purchased; and from that time I always got +him to bring to my gaoler everything that reached me from the +outside. It was through his means too, a little later, that I +escaped from the Tower, although nothing certainly was farther +from my thoughts when I thus secured his services. All I had in +view was to be able to increase my correspondence with safety. +This went on for about four months, and after the first month I +gave a good time to study by means of books secretly procured. +But at this time an event occurred which caused me great +anxiety.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Master Francis Page, of whom I have before spoken, was +now living with my former host,</q> Mr. Wiseman, <q rend='pre'>who had +been released from prison. After my removal to the Tower, +he got to learn in what part of it I was confined; and out +of regard for me used to come daily to a spot from whence +he could see my window, in order to get the chance some +day of seeing me there. At last it so happened that going +one day to the window (it was a warm day in summer), I +noticed a gentleman at some distance pull off his hat as if +to me; then he walked to and fro, and frequently stopped and +made pretence of arranging his hair, in order to have the opportunity +of doffing his hat to me without attracting the attention of +others. At last I recognized him by the clothes that he was +accustomed to wear, and made him a sign of recognition, and +giving him my blessing, I withdrew at once from the window, +lest others should see me, and have suspicion of him. But the +good man was not content with this; daily did he come for my +blessing, and stopped some time, walking to and fro, and ever as +<pb n='cx'/><anchor id='Pgcx'/> +he turned he doffed his hat, though I frequently made signals to +him not to do so. At length he was noticed doing this, and one +day as I was looking I saw him, to my great grief, seized and led +away. He was brought to the Lieutenant of the Tower, who +examined him about me and my friends. But he denied everything, +and said that he simply walked there for his amusement, it +being a fine open space close to the river Thames. So they +kept him a prisoner for some days, and meanwhile by inquiry +found that he was living with my former host. This increased +their suspicion that he had been sent there to give me some sign. +But as he constantly denied everything, they at last had recourse +to me, and sent for me to be examined. Now, as I was going +to the examination, Master Page was walking up and down with +my gaoler in the hall, through which I was taken to the chamber +where the authorities awaited me. Immediately I was introduced, +the examiners said to me: <q>There is a young man here named +Francis Page, who says he knows you and desires to speak with +you.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>He can do so if he wishes,</q> I replied; <q>but who is this +Francis Page? I know no such person.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Not know him?</q> said they; <q>he at any rate knows you so +well that he can recognize you at a distance, and has come daily +to salute you.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I, however, maintained I knew no such man. So when they +found they could twist nothing out of me either by wiles or +threats, they sent me back. But as I passed again through the +hall where Master Page was with the others, I looked all round, +and said with a loud voice, <q>Is there any one here of the name +of Francis Page, who says he knows me well, and has often +come before my window to see me? Which of all these is he? +I know no such person, and I wonder that any one should be +willing to injure himself by saying such things.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>All this while the gaoler was trying to prevent my speaking, +but was unable. I said this, not because I had any idea that he +had acknowledged that he knew me, but for fear they might +afterwards tell him of me what they had told me of him. And so +it turned out. For they had told him already that I had acknowledged +I knew him, and they had only sent for me then that he +<pb n='cxi'/><anchor id='Pgcxi'/> +might see me go in, intending to tell him I had confirmed all I +said before. But now they could not so impose on him. For +when he was summoned, he immediately told them what I had +said publicly in the hall as I passed through. The men, in their +disappointment, stormed against the gaoler and me, but being +thus baffled, could not carry out their deception.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>A little later they released Master Page for money, who +soon crossed the sea, and, after going through his studies in +Belgium, was made Priest. Thence he returned afterwards to +England and remained mostly in London, where he was much +beloved, and useful to many souls. One of his penitents was +that Mistress Line whose martyrdom I have above related. In +her house he was once taken, as I said, but that time he escaped. +A little after he obtained his desire of being admitted into the +Society, but before he could be sent over to Belgium for his +noviceship, he was again taken, and being tried like gold in the +furnace, and accepted as the victim of a holocaust, he washed his +robe in the blood of the Lamb, and is now in the possession of +his reward. And he sees me now no longer detained in the +Tower while he is walking by the water of the Thames, but +rather he beholds me on the waters, still tossed by the various +winds and storms, while he is secure of his own eternal happiness, +and solicitous, as I hope, for mine. Before all this, however, he +used to say that he was much encouraged and amused by +hearing what I said as I passed through the hall, as it enabled +him to detect and avoid the snares of the enemy.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>During the time I was detained at the Tower, no one was +allowed to visit me, so that I could afford no help to souls by my +words; by letter, however, I did what I could with those to +whom I could venture to trust the secret of how they might +correspond with me. Once, however, after John Lilly's release, as +he was walking in London streets, two ladies, mother and +daughter, accosted him, and begged him if it was by any means +possible to bring them where they could see me. He, knowing +the extreme danger of such an attempt, endeavoured to dissuade +them, but they gave him no peace till he promised to open the +matter to the gaoler, and try to get him to admit them, as if they +were relations of his. Gained over by large promises, the man +<pb n='cxii'/><anchor id='Pgcxii'/> +consented; the ladies had also made a present of a new gown to +his wife. They therefore, dressing themselves as simple London +citizens, the fashion of whose garments is very different from that +of ladies of quality, came with John Lilly under pretence of +visiting the gaoler's wife, and seeing the lions that are kept in the +Tower, and the other animals there which the curious are in the +habit of coming to see. After they had seen all the sights, the +gaoler led them within the walls of the Tower, and when he +found a good opportunity, introduced them and John Lilly into +my room, exposing himself to a great danger for a small gain. +When they saw me they could not restrain themselves from running +and kissing my feet, and even strove with one another who should +first kiss them. For my part, I could not deny them what they +had bought so dear, and then begged for so earnestly, but I only +allowed them to offer this homage to me as to the prisoner of +Christ, not as to the sinner that I am. We conversed a little, then +leaving with me what they had brought for my use, they returned +in safety much consoled, but not without tears, for they thought +they should never see my face again, inasmuch as they had heard +in the city that I was to be brought to trial and executed.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XVII.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Once also Father Garnett, my Superior, sent me similar happy +news, warning me in a letter full of consolation to prepare myself +for death. And, indeed, I cannot deny that I rejoiced at the +things that were said to me; but my great unworthiness prevented +me from going into the House of the Lord. In fact, the good +Father, though he knew it not, was to obtain this mercy before +me; and God grant that I may be able to follow him even at a +distance to the Cross which he so much loved and honoured. +God gave him the desire of his heart; for it was on the Feast +of the Invention of the Holy Cross that he found Him Whom +his soul loved. On this same Feast of the Holy Cross on +which this holy Father found his crown, I received, by his +intercession I fully believe, two great favours, of which I will +speak further at the close of this narration; to which close, +indeed, it behoves me to hasten, for I am conscious that I have +already been more diffuse than such small matters warranted.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='cxiii'/><anchor id='Pgcxiii'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>What good Father Garnett warned me of by letter, the enemy +threatened also by words and acts about that time. For those +who had come before with authority to put me to the torture, now +came again, but with another object, to wit, to take my formal +examination in preparation for my trial. So the Queen's Attorney +General questioned me on all points, and wrote everything down +in that order which he meant to observe in prosecuting me at +the assizes, as he told me. He asked me, therefore, about my +Priesthood, and about my coming to England as a Priest and +a Jesuit, and inquired whether I had dealt with any to reconcile +them to the Pope, and draw them away from the faith and +religious profession which was approved in England. All these +things I freely confessed that I had done; answers which +furnished quite sufficient matter for my condemnation according +to their laws. When they asked, however, with whom I had +communicated in political matters, I replied that I had never +meddled with such things. But they urged the point, and said +it was impossible that I, who so much desired the conversion +of England, should not have tried these means also, as being +very well adapted to the end. To this I replied, as far as I +recollect, in the following way: <q>I will tell you my mind candidly +in this matter, and about the State, in order that you may have +no doubt about my intent, nor question me any more on the +subject; and in what I say, lo! before God and His holy Angels +I lie not, nor do I add aught to the true feeling of my heart. +I wish, indeed, that the whole of England should be converted +to the Catholic and Roman faith; that the Queen, too, should +be converted, and all the Privy Council; yourselves also, and +all the magistrates of the realm: but so that the Queen and +you all without a single exception should continue to hold +the same powers and dignities that you do at present, and +that not a single hair of your head should perish, that so +you may be happy both in this life and the next. Do not +think, however, that I desire this conversion for my own sake, +in order to regain my liberty and follow my vocation in freedom. +No; I call God to witness that I would gladly consent to be +hanged to-morrow if all this could be brought about by that +means. This is my mind and my desire: consequently I +<pb n='cxiv'/><anchor id='Pgcxiv'/> +am no enemy of the Queen's nor of yours, nor have I ever +been so.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Hereupon Mr. Attorney kept silence for a time, and then +he began afresh to ask me what Catholics I knew; did I know +such-and-such? I answered, <q>I do not know them.</q> And I +added the usual reasons why I should still make the same +answer even if I did know them. Upon this, he digressed to +the question of equivocation, and began to inveigh against Father +Southwell,</q> whose conduct I defended by several arguments.<note place='foot'>These arguments are purposely omitted in this place, and they are +reserved for insertion later, when we propose to examine into the morality +of the answers made by Father Gerard and others in their judicial interrogations.</note> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>They made no reply to me; but the Attorney General +wrote everything down, and said he should use it against me +at my trial in a short time. But he did not keep his word: +for I was not worthy to enter under God's roof, where nothing +denied can enter. I have, therefore, still to be purified by a +prolonged sojourn in exile, and so at length, if God please, be +saved as by fire.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>This my last examination was in Trinity term, as they +call it. They have four terms in the year, during which many +come up to London to have their causes tried, for these are +times that the law courts are open. It is during these terms, +on account of the great confluence of people, that they bring +those Priests to trial whom they have determined to prosecute; +and probably this was what they proposed to do in my case: +but man proposes and God disposes, and He had disposed +otherwise. When this time, therefore, had passed away, there was +no longer any probability that they would proceed against me +publicly. I turned my attention consequently to study in this +time of enforced leisure, as I thought they had now determined +only to prevent my communication with others, and that this +was the reason they had transferred me to my present prison, as +being more strict and more secure.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='cxv'/><anchor id='Pgcxv'/> + +<div> +<head>XVIII.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I thus endeavoured to conform myself to the decrees of God +and the tyranny of man; when lo! on the last day of July [1597], +the anniversary of our holy Father Ignatius' departure from this +life, while I was in meditation and was entertaining a vehement +desire of an opportunity for saying Mass, it came into my head +that this really might be accomplished in the cell of a certain +Catholic gentleman, which lay opposite mine on the other side +of a small garden within the Tower. This gentleman<note place='foot'>We find from an extract of one of Father Garnett's letters in the +Stonyhurst MSS. that this gentleman's name was Arden. <q>Oct. 8, 1597. +Upon St. Francis' day at night broke out of the Tower one Arden and +Mr. Gerard the Jesuit. There is yet no inquiry after him</q> (<hi rend='italic'>P.</hi>, vol. ii., +f. 548). Father Bartoli, also, and Father More mention Arden as the name of +Father Gerard's companion. Francis Arden was committed to the Tower, +Feb. 22, 1584. He was probably a relation of Edward Arden, who was +hanged Dec. 23, 1583, <q>protesting his innocence of every charge, and +declaring that his only crime was the profession of the Catholic religion</q> +(Rishton's <hi rend='italic'>Diary in the Tower</hi>).</note> had been +detained ten years in prison. He had been, indeed, condemned +to death, but the sentence was not carried out. He was in the +habit of going up daily on the leads of the building in which +he was confined, which he was allowed to use as a place of +exercise. Here he would salute me, and wait for my blessing +on bended knees.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>On examining this idea of mine more at leisure, I concluded +that the matter was feasible, if I could prevail on my gaoler to +allow me to visit this gentleman. For he had a wife who had +obtained permission to visit him at fixed times, and bring him +changes of linen and other little comforts in a basket; and as +this had now gone on many years, the officers had come to be +not so particular in examining the basket as they were at first. +I hoped, therefore, that there would be a possibility of introducing +gradually by means of this lady all things necessary for +the celebration of Mass, which my friends would supply. Resolving +to make the trial, I made a sign to the gentleman to attend +to what I was going to indicate to him. I then took pen and +paper and made as if I was writing somewhat; then, after holding +the paper to the fire, I made a show of reading it, and lastly I +<pb n='cxvi'/><anchor id='Pgcxvi'/> +wrapped up one of my crosses in it, and made a sign of sending +it over to him. I dared not speak to him across the garden, as +what I said would easily have been heard by others. Then I +began treating with my gaoler to convey a cross or a rosary for +me to my fellow-prisoner, for the same man had charge of both +of us, as we were near neighbours. At first he refused, saying +that he durst not venture, as he had had no proof of the other +prisoner's fidelity in keeping a secret. <q>For if,</q> said he, <q>the +gentleman's wife were to talk of this, and it should become +known I had done such a thing, it would be all over with me.</q> +I reassured him, however, and convinced him that such a result +was not likely, and, as I added a little bribe, I prevailed upon +him as usual to gratify me. He took my letter, and the other +received what I sent; but he wrote me nothing back as I had +requested him to do. Next morning when he made his appearance +on the leads he thanked me by signs, and showed the +cross I had sent him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>After three days, as I got no answer from him, I began to +suspect the real reason, namely, that he had not read my letter. +So I called his attention again, and went through the whole +process in greater detail. Thus, I took an orange and squeezed +the juice into a little cup, then I took a pen and wrote with the +orange-juice, and holding the paper some time before the fire, +that the writing might be visible, I perused it before him, trying +to make him understand that this was what he should do with +my next paper. This time he fathomed my meaning, and thus +read the next letter I sent him. He soon sent me a reply, +saying that he thought the first time I wanted him to burn the +paper, as I had written a few visible words on it with pencil; +therefore he had done so. To my proposal, moreover, he +answered, that the thing could be done, if my gaoler would +allow me to visit him in the evening and remain with him the +next day; and that his wife would bring all the furniture that +should be given her for the purpose.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>As a next step, I sounded the gaoler about allowing me to +visit my fellow-prisoner, and proposed he should let me go just +once and dine with him, and that he, the gaoler, should have +his share in the feast. He refused absolutely, and showed great +<pb n='cxvii'/><anchor id='Pgcxvii'/> +fear of the possibility of my being seen as I crossed the garden, +or lest the Lieutenant might take it into his head to pay me a +visit that very day. But as he was never in the habit of visiting +me, I argued that it was very improbable that the thing should +happen as he feared. After this, the golden arguments I +adduced proved completely successful, for I promised him +a crown for his kindness; and he acceded to my request. +So I fixed on the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin; and in the +meanwhile I told my neighbour to let his wife call at such a +place in London, having previously sent word to John Lilly +what he should give her to bring. I told him, moreover, to +send a pyx and a number of small hosts, that I might be able +to reserve the Blessed Sacrament. He provided all I told him, +and the good lady got them safely to her husband's cell. So +on the appointed day I went over with my gaoler, and stayed +with my fellow-prisoner that night and the next day; but the +gaoler exacted a promise that not a word of this should be said +to the gentleman's wife. The next morning, then, said I Mass, +to my great consolation; and that confessor of Christ communicated, +after having been so many years deprived of that +favour. In this Mass I consecrated also two-and-twenty particles, +which I reserved in the pyx with a corporal; these I took back +with me to my cell, and for many days renewed the divine +banquet with ever fresh delight and consolation.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XIX.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Now while we were together that day, I—though nothing was less +in my thoughts when I came over than any idea of escape (for I +sought only our true deliverer, Jesus Christ, as He was prefigured +in the little ash-baked loaf of Elias, that I might with more +strength and courage travel the rest of my way even to the Mount +of God),—seeing how close this part of the Tower was to the +moat by which it was surrounded, began to think with myself that +it were a possible thing for a man to descend by a rope from the +top of the building to the other side of the moat. I asked my +companion, therefore, what he thought about it, and whether it +seemed possible to him. <q>Certainly,</q> said he, <q>it could be done, +<pb n='cxviii'/><anchor id='Pgcxviii'/> +if a man had some real and true friends to assist him, who +would not shrink from exposing themselves to danger to rescue +one they loved.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>There is no want of such friends,</q> I replied, <q>if only the +thing is feasible and worth while trying,</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>For my part,</q> said he, <q>I should only be too glad to make +the attempt; since it would be far better for me to live even in +hiding, where I could enjoy the Sacraments and the company of +good men, than to spend my life here in solitude between four +walls.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Well, then,</q> I answered, <q>let us commend the matter to +God in prayer; in the meanwhile I will write to my Superior, +and what he thinks best we will do.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>While we remained together, we took counsel on all the +details that would have to be carried out, if the plan were adopted. +I returned that night to my cell, and wrote a letter to Father +Garnett by John Lilly, putting all the circumstances before him. +He answered me that the thing should be attempted by all +means, if I thought it could be done without danger to my life +in the descent.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Upon this I wrote to</q> Mr. Wiseman, <q rend='pre'>my former host, telling +him that an escape in this way could be managed, but that the +matter must be communicated to as few as possible, lest it should +get noised about and stopped. I appointed, moreover, John Lilly +and Richard Fulwood, the latter of whom was at that time serving +Father Garnett, if they were willing to expose themselves to the +peril, to come on such a night to the outer bank of the moat +opposite the little tower in which my friend was kept, and near +the place where Master Page was apprehended, as I described +before. They were to bring with them a rope, one end of which +they were to tie to a stake; then we, from the leads on the top +of the tower, would throw over to them a ball of lead with a stout +string attached, such as men use for sewing up bales of goods. +This they would find in the dark by the noise it would make in +falling, and would attach the string to the free end of their rope, +so that we, who retained one end of the string, would thus be able +to pull the rope up. I ordered, moreover, that they should have +on their breasts a white paper or handkerchief, that we might +<pb n='cxix'/><anchor id='Pgcxix'/> +recognize them as friends before throwing out our string, and that +they should come provided with a boat in which we might quickly +make our escape.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When these arrangements had been made and a night fixed, +yet my host wished that a less hazardous attempt should first be +made, by trying whether my gaoler could be bribed to let me +out, which he could easily do by permitting a disguise. John +Lilly therefore offered him, on the part of a friend of mine, a +thousand florins [100<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>] on the spot, and a hundred florins [10<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>] +yearly for his life, if he would agree to favour my escape. The +man would not listen to anything of the kind, saying he should +have to live an outcast if he did so, and should be sure to be +hanged if ever he was caught. Nothing, therefore, could be done +with him in this line. So we went on with our preparations +according to our previous plan; and the matter was commended +to God with many prayers by all those to whom the secret +was committed. One gentleman, indeed, heir to a large estate, +made a vow to fast once a week during his life if I escaped safely. +When the appointed night came, I prevailed on the gaoler, by +entreaties and bribes, to allow me to visit my friend. So he +locked us both in together with bolts and bars of iron as usual, +and departed. But as he had also locked the inside door that +led to the roof, we had to loosen the stone into which the bolt +shot with our knives, or otherwise we could not get out. This +we succeeded in doing at length, and mounted the leads softly +and without a light, for a sentinel was placed in the garden every +night, so that we durst not even speak to each other but in a very +low whisper.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>About midnight we saw the boat coming with our friends, +namely, John Lilly, Richard Fulwood, and another, who had been +my gaoler in the former prison, through whom they procured the +boat, and who steered the boat himself. They neared the shore; +but just as they were about to land, some one came out of one +of the poor cottages thereabouts, and seeing their boat making +for the shore, hailed them, taking them for fishermen. The man +indeed returned to his bed without suspecting anything, but our +boatmen durst not venture to land till they thought the man had +gone to sleep again. They paddled about so long, however, that +<pb n='cxx'/><anchor id='Pgcxx'/> +the time slipped away, and it became impossible to accomplish +anything that night; so they returned by London Bridge. But +the tide was now flowing so strongly, that their boat was forced +against some piles there fixed to break the force of the water, so +that they could neither get on nor get back. Meanwhile, the tide +was still rising, and now came so violently on the boat that it +seemed as if it would be upset at every wave. Being in these +straits, they commended themselves to God by prayers, and called +for help from men by their cries.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>All this while we on the top of the tower heard them shouting, +and saw men coming out on the bank of the river with candles, +running up and getting into their boats to rescue those in danger. +Many boats approached them, but none durst go up to them, +fearing the force of the current.<note place='foot'>The number of piers in Old London Bridge was so large, and offered +so great an obstruction to the water, that it was always a service of danger to +pass under the arches while the tide was running, and often the river formed +a regular cataract at this part.</note> So they stood there in a sort of +circle round them, spectators of their peril, but not daring to +assist. I recognized Richard Fulwood's voice in the shouts, and +said, <q>I know it is our friends who are in danger.</q> My companion +indeed did not believe I could distinguish any one's voice at that +great distance;<note place='foot'>The distance would be something over half a mile.</note> but I knew it well, and groaned inwardly to +think that such devoted men were in peril of their lives for my +sake. We prayed fervently, therefore, for them, for we saw that +they were not yet saved, though many had gone to assist them. +Then we saw a light let down from the bridge,<note place='foot'>Our readers will remember that at this time each side of the bridge was +lined with houses, which looked sheer down into the river.</note> and a sort of +basket attached to a rope, by which they might be drawn up, if +they could reach it. This it seems they were not able to do. +But God had regard to the peril of His servants, and at last there +came a strong sea-boat with six sailors, who worked bravely, and +bringing their boat up to the one in danger, took out Lilly and +Fulwood. Immediately they had got out, the boat they had left +capsized before the third could be rescued, as if it had only kept +right for the sake of the two who were Catholics. However, by +God's mercy, the one who was thrown into the river caught a +<pb n='cxxi'/><anchor id='Pgcxxi'/> +rope that was let down from the bridge, and was so dragged up +and saved. So they were all rescued and got back to their +homes.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XX.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>On the following day<note place='foot'>Oct. 4, 1597, says Father Bartoli (<hi rend='italic'>Inghilterra</hi>, p. 426) quoting Father +Garnett's letter of Oct. 8.</note> John Lilly wrote me by the gaoler as +usual. What could I expect him to say but this: <q>We see, and +have proved it by our peril, that it is not God's will we should +proceed any further in this business.</q> But I found him saying +just the contrary. For he began his letter as follows: <q>It was +not the will of God that we should accomplish our desire last +night; still He rescued us from a great danger, that we might +succeed better the next time. What is put off is not cut off:<note place='foot'>Quod differtur, non aufertur (MS.).</note> so +we mean to come again to-night, with God's help.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>My companion, on seeing such constancy joined with such +strong and at the same time pious affection, was greatly consoled, +and did not doubt success. But I had great ado to obtain leave +from the gaoler to remain another night out of my cell; and had +misgivings that he would discover the loosening of the stone when +he locked the door again. He, however, remarked nothing of it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In the meantime I had written three letters to be left behind. +One was to the gaoler, justifying myself for taking this step +without a word to him; I told him I was but exercising my right, +since I was detained in prison without any crime, and added that +I would always remember him in my prayers, if I could not help +him in any other way. I wrote this letter with the hope that if +the man were taken into custody for my escape, it might help to +show that he was not to blame. The second letter was to the +Lieutenant, in which I still further exonerated the gaoler, protesting +before God that he knew nothing whatever about my escape, +which was, of course, perfectly true, and that he certainly would +not have allowed it if he had suspected anything. This I confirmed +by repeating the very tempting offer which had been made +him and which he had refused. As to his having allowed me to +go to another prisoner's cell, I said I had extorted it from him +with the greatest difficulty by repeated importunities, and therefore +<pb n='cxxii'/><anchor id='Pgcxxii'/> +it would not be right that he should suffer death for it. The third +letter was to the Lords of the Council, in which I stated first the +causes which moved me to the recovery of my liberty, of which I +had been unjustly deprived. It was not so much the mere love +of freedom, I said, as the love of souls which were daily perishing +in England that led me to attempt the escape, in order that I +might assist in bringing them back from sin and heresy. As for +matters of State, as they had hitherto found me averse to meddling +with them, so they might be sure that I should continue the same. +Besides this, I exonerated the Lieutenant and gaoler from all +consent to, or connivance at, my escape, assuring them that I had +recovered my liberty entirely by my own and my friends' exertions. +I prepared another letter also, which would be taken next morning +to my gaoler, not, however, by John Lilly, but by another, as I +shall narrate presently.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>At the proper hour we mounted again on the leads. The +boat arrived and put to shore without any interruption. The +schismatic, my former gaoler, remained with the boat, and the +two Catholics came with the rope. It was a new rope, for they +had lost the former one in the river on occasion of their disaster. +They fastened the rope to a stake, as I had told them; they +found the leaden ball which we threw, and tied the string to the +rope. We had great difficulty, however, in pulling up the rope, +for it was of considerable thickness, and double too. In fact, +Father Garnett ordered this arrangement, fearing lest, otherwise, +the rope might break by the weight of my body. But now +another element of danger showed itself, which we had not +reckoned on: for the distance was so great between the tower +and the stake to which the rope was attached, that it seemed to +stretch horizontally rather than slopingly; so that we could not +get along it merely by our weight, but would have to propel +ourselves by some exertion of our own. We proved this first by +a bundle we had made of books and some other things wrapped +up in my cloak. This bundle we placed on the double rope to +see if it would slide down of itself, but it stuck at once. And it +was well it did; for if it had gone out of our reach before it stuck, +we should never have got down ourselves. So we took the +bundle back and left it behind.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='cxxiii'/><anchor id='Pgcxxiii'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>My companion, who had before spoken of the descent as a +thing of the greatest ease, now changed his mind, and confessed +it to be very difficult and full of danger. <q>However,</q> said +he, <q>I shall most certainly be hanged if I remain now, for we +cannot throw the rope back without its falling into the water, and +so betraying us both and our friends. I will therefore descend, +please God, preferring to expose myself to danger with the hope +of freedom, rather than to remain here with good certainty of +being hanged.</q> So he said a prayer, and took to the rope. He +descended fairly enough, for he was strong and vigorous, and +the rope was then taut: his weight, however, slackened it +considerably, which made the danger for me greater, and though +I did not then notice this, yet I found it out afterwards when I +came to make the trial.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>So commending myself to God, to our Lord Jesus, to the +Blessed Virgin, to my Guardian Angel, and all my Patrons, +particularly to Father Southwell, who had been imprisoned +near this place for nearly three years before his martyrdom, +to Father Walpole, and to all our Saints, I took the rope +in my right hand and held it also with my left arm; then +I twisted my legs about it, to prevent falling, in such a way +that the rope passed between my shins. I descended some +three or four yards face downwards, when suddenly my body +swung round by its own weight and hung under the rope. +The shock was so great that I nearly lost my hold, for I +was still but weak, especially in the hands and arms. In +fact, with the rope so slack and my body hanging beneath it, +I could hardly get on at all. At length, I made a shift to get on +as far as the middle of the rope, and there I stuck, my breath and +my strength failing me, neither of which were very copious to +begin with. After a little time, the Saints assisting me, and my +good friends below drawing me to them by their prayers, I got on +a little further and stuck again, thinking I should never be able to +accomplish it. Yet I was loath to drop into the water as long +as I could possibly hold on. After another rest, therefore, I +summoned what remained of my strength, and helping myself +with legs and arms as well as I could, I got as far as the wall on +the other side of the moat. But my feet only touched the top of +<pb n='cxxiv'/><anchor id='Pgcxxiv'/> +the wall, and my whole body hung horizontally, my head being +no higher than my feet, so slack was the rope. In such a position, +and exhausted as I was, it was hopeless to expect to get over the +wall by my own unaided strength. So John Lilly got on to +the wall somehow or other (for, as he afterwards asserted, he +never knew how he got there), took hold of my feet, and by +them pulled me to him, and got me over the wall on to the +ground. But I was quite unable to stand, so they gave me some +cordial waters and restoratives, which they had brought on +purpose. By the help of these I managed to walk to the boat, +into which we all entered. They had, however, before leaving +the wall, untied the rope from the stake and cut off a part of it, +so that it hung down the wall of the tower. We had previously, +indeed, determined to pull it away altogether, and had with this +object passed it round a great gun on the tower without +knotting it. But God so willed it that we were not able by any +exertion to get it away; and if we had succeeded, it would +certainly have made a loud splash in the water, and perhaps have +brought us into a worse danger.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>On entering the boat we gave hearty thanks to God, Who +had delivered us from the hand of the persecutor and from all +the expectation of the people; we returned our best thanks also +to those who had exposed themselves to such labours and perils +for our sakes. We went some considerable distance in the boat +before landing. After we had landed I sent the gentleman, my +companion, with John Lilly, to my house, of which I have before +spoken, which was managed by that saintly widow, Mistress Line. +I myself, however, with Richard Fulwood, went to a house which +Father Garnett had in the suburbs; and there Little John and I, +a little before daylight, mounted our horses, which he had ready +there for the purpose, and rode straight off to Father Garnett, +who was then living a short distance in the country.<note place='foot'>This may very likely be White Webbs in Enfield Chase.</note> We got +there by dinner-time, and great rejoicing there was on my arrival, +and much thanksgiving to God at my having thus escaped from +the hands of my enemies in the name of the Lord.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In the meanwhile I had sent Richard Fulwood with a couple +of horses to a certain spot, that he might be ready to ride off with +<pb n='cxxv'/><anchor id='Pgcxxv'/> +my gaoler, if he wished to consult his immediate safety. For I +had a letter written, of which I made previous mention, which +was to be taken to him early in the morning at the place where +he was accustomed to meet John Lilly. Lilly, however, did not +carry the letter, for I had bidden him remain quiet within doors +until such time as the storm which was to be expected had blown +over. So another, who also knew the gaoler, took the letter, and +gave it to him at the usual meeting-place. He was indeed +surprised at another's coming, but took the letter without remark, +and was about to depart with the intention of delivering it to me +as usual; but the other stopped him, saying, <q>The letter is for +you, and not for any one else.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>For me?</q> said the gaoler, <q>from whom then does it come?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>From a friend of yours,</q> replied the other; <q>but who he is I +don't know.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The gaoler was still more astonished at this, and said, <q>I +cannot myself read; if, then, it is a matter which requires +immediate attention, pray read it for me.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>So the man that brought the letter read it for him. It was +to the effect that I had made my escape from prison; and here I +added a few words on the reasons of my conduct, for the purpose +of calming his mind. Then I told him, that though I was nowise +bound to protect him from the consequences, as I had but used +my just right, yet, as I had found him faithful in the things which +I had intrusted him with, I was loath to leave him in the lurch. +If, therefore, he was inclined to provide for his own safety immediately, +there was a horse waiting for him with a guide who would +bring him to a place of safety, sufficiently distant from London, +where I would maintain him for life, allowing him two hundred +florins [20<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>] yearly, which would support him comfortably. I +added that if he thought of accepting this offer, he had better +settle his affairs as quickly as possible, and betake himself to the +place which the bearer of the letter would show him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The poor man was, as may well be supposed, in a great +fright, and accepted the offer; but, as he was about to return +to the Tower to settle matters and get his wife away, a mate of +his met him, and said, <q>Be off with you as quick as you can; for +your prisoners have escaped from the little tower, and Master +<pb n='cxxvi'/><anchor id='Pgcxxvi'/> +Lieutenant is looking for you everywhere. Woe to you if he +finds you!</q> So, returning all in a tremble to the bearer of the +letter, he besought him for the love of God to take him at once +to where the horse was waiting for him. He took him, therefore, +and handed him over to Richard Fulwood, who was to be his +guide. Fulwood took him to the house of a friend of mine +residing at the distance of a hundred miles from London, to +whom I had written, asking him, if such a person should come, +to take him in and provide for him. I warned him, however, not +to put confidence in him, nor to acknowledge any acquaintance +with me. I told him that Richard Fulwood would reimburse him +for all the expenses, but that he must never listen to the man if +at any time he began to talk about me or about himself.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Everything was done as I had arranged; my friend received +no damage, and the gaoler remained there out of danger. After +a year he went into another county, and, becoming a Catholic, +lived there comfortably for some five years with his family on the +annuity which I sent him regularly according to promise. He +died at the end of those five years, having been through that +trouble rescued by God from the occasions of sin, and, as I hope, +brought to Heaven. I had frequently in the prison sounded him +in matters of religion; and though his reason was perfectly convinced, +I was never able to move his will. My temporal escape, +then, I trust, was by the sweet disposition of God's merciful +providence the occasion of his eternal salvation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The Lieutenant of the Tower, when he could not find either +his prisoners or their gaoler, hastened to the Lords of the Council +with the letters which he had found. They wondered greatly +that I should have been able to escape in such a way; but one +of the chief members of the Council, as I afterwards heard, said +to a gentleman who was in attendance that he was exceedingly +glad I had got off. And when the Lieutenant demanded +authority and assistance to search all London for me, and any +suspected places in the neighbourhood, they all told him it would +be of no use. <q>You cannot hope to find him,</q> said they; <q>for if +he had such determined friends as to accomplish what they have, +depend upon it they will have made further arrangements, and +provided horses and hiding-places to keep him quite out of your +<pb n='cxxvii'/><anchor id='Pgcxxvii'/> +reach.</q> They made search, however, in one or two places, but +no one of any mark was taken that I could ever hear of.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>For my part, I remained quietly with Father Garnett for a +few days, both to recruit myself and to allow the talk about my +escape to subside. Then my former hosts, who had proved +themselves such devoted friends, urged my return to them, first +to their London house close to the Clink prison, where they +were as yet residing. So I went to them, and remained there +in secrecy, admitting but very few visitors; nor did I ever leave +the house except at night, a practice I always observed when in +London, though at this time I did even this very sparingly, and +visited only a few of my chief friends.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>At this time I also visited my house, which was then under +the care of Mistress Line, afterwards martyred. Another future +martyr was then residing there of whom I have previously spoken, +namely, Mr. Robert Drury, Priest. In this house about this time +I received a certain parson who had been chaplain to the Earl of +Essex in his expedition against the Spanish King, when he took +Cadiz. He was an eloquent man and learned in languages; and +when converted to the Catholic faith he had abandoned divers +great preferments, nay, had likewise endured imprisonment for +his religion. Hearing that he had an opportunity of making his +escape, I offered that he should come to my house. There I +maintained him for two or three months, during which time I +gave him the Spiritual Exercises. In the course of his retreat, he +came to the determination of offering himself to the Society; +upon which I asked him to tell me candidly how he, who had +been bred up in Calvin's bosom as it were, had been accustomed +to military life, and had learnt in heresy and had long been +accustomed to prefer his own will to other people's, could bring +himself to enter the Society, where he knew, or certainly should +know, that the very opposite principles prevailed. To this he +replied, <q>There are three things, in fact, which have especially +induced me to take this step. First, because I see that heretics +and evil livers hold the Society in far greater detestation than +they do any other Religious Order; from which I judge that it has +the Spirit of God in an especial degree, which the spirit of the +devil cannot endure, and that it has been ordained by God to +<pb n='cxxviii'/><anchor id='Pgcxxviii'/> +destroy heresy, and wage war against sin in general. Secondly, +because all ecclesiastical dignities are excluded by its Constitutions, +whence it follows that there is in it a greater certainty of a +pure intention; and as its more eminent members are not taken +from it for the Episcopate, it is more likely to retain its first +fervour and its high estimation for virtue and learning. Thirdly, +because in it obedience is cultivated with particular care, a virtue +for which I have the greatest veneration, not only on account +of the excellent effects produced thereby in the soul, but also +because all things must needs go on well in a body where the +wills of the members are bound together, and all are directed +by God.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>These were his reasons; so I sent him into Belgium, that +he might be forwarded to the College at Rome by Father Holt, +giving him three hundred florins [30<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>] for his expenses. I gave +the Spiritual Exercises also to some others in that house before +I gave it up, among whom was a pious and good Priest named +Woodward, who also found a vocation to the Society, and afterwards +passed into Belgium with the intention of entering it; +but as there was a great want of English Priests in the army at +the time, he was appointed to that work, and died in it, greatly +loved and reverenced by all.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I did not, however, keep that house long after the recovery +of my liberty, because it was now known to a large number of +persons, and was frequented during my imprisonment by many +more than I should have permitted if I had been free. My +principal reason, however, for giving it up was because it was +known to the person who had been the cause of my being sent to +the Tower. He had indeed expressed sorrow for his act, and +had written to me to beg my pardon, which I freely gave him; +yet, as he was released from prison soon after my escape, and I +found that those among whom he had lived had no very good +opinion of his character, I did not think it well that a thing +involving the safety of many should remain within his knowledge. +Mistress Line, also, a woman of singular prudence and +virtue, was of the same mind. So I determined to make other +arrangements as soon as possible....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>It seemed best, therefore, that Mistress Line should lodge +<pb n='cxxix'/><anchor id='Pgcxxix'/> +for a space by herself in a hired room of a private house; while +I, who did not wish to be without a place in London where I +could safely admit some of my principal friends, and perhaps +house a Priest from time to time, joined with a prudent and pious +gentleman, who had a wife of similar character, in renting a large +and spacious house between us. Half the house was to be for +their use and the other half for mine, in which I had a fair chapel +well provided and ornamented. Hither I resorted when I came +to London, and here also I sent from time to time those I would, +paying a certain sum for their board. In this way I expended +scarce half the amount I did formerly under the other arrangement, +when I was obliged to maintain a household whether there +were any guests in the house or not; though indeed it was seldom +that the house was empty of guests.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I made this new provision for my own and my friends' +accommodation just in good time; for most certainly had I +remained in my former house I should have been taken again. +The thing happened in this wise. The Priest who, as I have +related, got me promoted from a more obscure prison to a +nobler one, began to importune me with continual letters that +I would grant him an interview. Partly by delaying to answer +him, partly by excusing myself on the score of occupation, I put +him off for about half a year. At length he urged his request +very pressingly, and complained to me by letter that I showed +contempt of him. I sent him no answer, but on a convenient +occasion, knowing where he lodged, I despatched a friend to him +to tell him that if he wished to see me, he must come at once +with the messenger. I warned the messenger, however, not to +permit any delay, nor to allow him to write anything nor address +any one on the way if he wished to have an interview with me. +I arranged, moreover, that he should be brought not to any +house, but to a certain field near one of the Inns of Court, which +was a common promenade, and that the messenger should walk +there alone with him till I came. It was at night, and there was +a bright moon. I came there with a couple of friends, in case +any attempt should be made against me, and making a half +circuit outside (that he might not know in what part of London I +lived), I happened to enter the field near the house of a Catholic +<pb n='cxxx'/><anchor id='Pgcxxx'/> +which adjoined it; and our good friend catching first sight of +me near this house, thought perhaps that I came out of it, and in +fact the Archpriest was lodging in it at the time. However that +may be, I found him there walking and waiting for me, and when +I had heard all he had to say, I saw that there was nothing which +he had not already said in his letters, and to which he had +not had my answer. My suspicion was therefore increased, and +certainly not without reason. For within a day or two that +corner house near which he saw me enter the field, and my old +house which I had lately left (though he knew not that I had left +it), were both of them surrounded and strictly searched on the same +night and at the same hour. The Archpriest was all but caught +in the one; he had just time to get into a hiding-place, and so +escaped.<note place='foot'>Atkinson was not always so unsuccessful. Sir Robert Cecil endorsed the +letter quoted in a former note, <q>Atkinson's letter, the Priest that discovered +Tychburn and was brought me by Mr. Fouler.</q> Thomas Tichburn suffered at +Tyburn, April 20, 1601, for his Priesthood.</note> The search lasted two whole days in the other house, +which the Priest knew me to have occupied at one time. The +Lieutenant of the Tower and the Knight Marshal<note place='foot'>The Knight Marshal had jurisdiction within the precincts of the Court, +that is, twelve miles from the lodging of the Sovereign, even on a progress, +though not a chase. The Marshalsea was the prison originally attached to the +King's house, and at first was intended only for the committal of persons accused +of offences within the jurisdiction of the Knight Marshal. It stood in High-street, +Southwark, on the south side, between King-street and Mermaid-court, +over against Union-street (Cunningham's <hi rend='italic'>Handbook of London</hi>, p. 316). Queen +Elizabeth's Knight Marshal was Sir Thomas Gerard, already mentioned as +created by King James Lord Gerard of Gerard's Bromley.</note> conducted the +searches in person, a task they never undertake unless one of +their prisoners has escaped. From these circumstances it is +sufficiently clear, both of whom they were in search and from +whom they got their information.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But when they found me not (nor indeed did they find the +Priest who was then in the house, living with a Catholic to whom +I had let it), they sent pursuivants on the next day to the house +of my host, who had by this time returned to his country seat, +but by God's mercy they did not find me there either. It was +well, therefore, that I acted cautiously with the above-mentioned +Priest, and also that I had so opportunely changed my residence +in London.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='cxxxi'/><anchor id='Pgcxxxi'/> + +<div> +<head>XXI.</head> + +<p> +<q>I saw also that it would soon be necessary for me to give up +my present residence in the country, and betake myself elsewhere; +otherwise those good and faithful friends of mine,</q> the +Wisemans, <q rend='pre'>would always be suffering some annoyance for my +sake. I proposed the matter, therefore, to them, but they refused +to listen to me in this point, though in all other things they were +most obedient. But I thought more of their peace than of their +wishes, however pious these wishes were; and therefore I laid +the matter before my Superior,<note place='foot'>About this time Father Garnett thought of sending Father Gerard out of +England, evidently from fear lest, owing to his zeal, he should be recaptured +and be still more hardly dealt with, for on March 31, 1598, he wrote to Rome, +probably to Father Persons: <q>Father Gerard is much dismayed this day when +I wrote to him to prepare himself to go. He came to me of purpose. Indeed +he is very profitable to me, and his going would be wondered at. I hope he +will walk warily enough.... You know my mind; if you think it good, I +desire his stay. All the rest are well</q> (Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>P.</hi>, vol. ii., f. 551).</note> who approved my views. So I +obtained from Father Garnett another of ours, a pious and +learned man, whom I had known at Rome, and who at that +time was companion to Father Ouldcorne, of blessed memory; +this was Father Richard Banks, now professed of four vows. +I took him to live with me for a time, that I might by degrees +introduce him into the family in my place; and in the meantime +I made more frequent excursions than usual.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>In one of these excursions I visited a noble family, by +whom I had long been invited and often expected, but I had +never yet been able to visit them on account of my pressing +occupations. Here I found the lady of the house, a widow, +very pious and devout, but at this present overwhelmed with +grief at the loss of her husband. She had, indeed, been so +affected by this loss that for a whole year she scarce stirred out +of her chamber, and for the next three years which had intervened +before my visit, had never brought herself to go to that +part of the mansion in which her husband had died. To this +grief and trouble were added certain anxieties about the bringing +up of her son, who was yet a child under his mother's care. He +was one of the first Barons of the realm; but his parents had +<pb n='cxxxii'/><anchor id='Pgcxxxii'/> +suffered so much for the Faith, and had mortgaged so much of +their property to meet the constant exactions of an heretical +Government, that the remaining income was scarcely sufficient +for their proper maintenance. But a wise woman builds up her +house and is proved in it....</q> +</p> + +<p> +This lady was Elizabeth, daughter of Sir John Roper, who +was raised to the peerage in 1616 as Lord Teynham. In 1590<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 233, n. 3.</note> +she married George, the second son of William, Lord Vaux of +Harrowden, but her husband died in 1594, during the lifetime of +his father. When in the following year her father-in-law also died, +she was left in charge of her infant son, Edward fourth Baron +Vaux. +</p> + +<p> +As she wished me to reside in her house, <q rend='pre'>on my return to +London I proposed the matter to Father Garnett, who was much +rejoiced at the offer, knowing the place to be one where much +good might be done both directly and indirectly. He said, too, +that the offer had occurred most opportunely, for that there +were some Catholics in another county more to the north, +where Catholics were more numerous and there was no Priest +of the Society, who had been long petitioning for the Father at +present stationed at that house, and who would much rejoice +at the prospect of having him among them. To this I urged +that the place was large enough for two, and that I very much +desired to have a companion of the Society with me, and I +requested that he would assign me Father John Percy, with +whom I had become acquainted during my imprisonment, not +indeed personally, but by frequent interchange of letters. This +Father had been brought prisoner from Flanders to Holland,<note place='foot'><q>He was sent to Tournay for his Noviceship in 1594, and towards the +end of his second year over-application had so injured his head that he had to +be forbidden to use any kind of prayer. Sent to recruit in his native air, he +passed through Holland on his way to England. At Flushing he was taken +by some English soldiers. The letter he was carrying showing who he was, +they threatened him with torture unless he would say who had brought him +over from Rotterdam. He was ready to confess anything about himself, but +he would say nothing of any one else; so, instead of offering, as he had hoped +to do that day, the Sacrifice of the Body of Christ, he offered that of his own, +to undergo anything rather than injure others. They hung him up by the +hands to a pulley, and then tortured him by twisting a sailor's rope round his +head. During the torture he fixed his mind on the eternity of either pain or +joy, and uttered nothing but <q>O eternity!</q> The harm the soldiers tried to do +him turned out a remedy; for the head-ache and singing in the head, from +which he had suffered in the Noviceship, diminished from that time and +gradually ceased. He was taken to London in custody and committed to +Bridewell, where his cell was an utterly unfurnished turret. He bed was the +brick floor and a little straw, till he was helped by the care and charity of his +Catholic fellow-prisoners, and of our Father Gerard. The latter, who was in +the Clink, kept up a secret correspondence with him, and came to his help +both with his advice and money. After about seven months he succeeded in +making his escape through the tiling, together with two other Priests and +seven laymen</q> (Father More, <hi rend='italic'>Historia Provinciæ</hi>, l. viii., c. 23).</note> +<pb n='cxxxiii'/><anchor id='Pgcxxxiii'/> +where he was recognized and tortured; he was afterwards thrown +into the foul gaol of Bridewell, and after remaining there some +time made a shift to escape from a window with another Priest, +letting himself down with a rope. Mistress Line made him +welcome in my house, where he tarried for a time; but soon after +went down into the county of York, and dwelt there with a pious +Catholic. In this part he made himself so dear to every one, that +though I had Father Garnett's consent, it was a full year before +I could get him away from them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Since now to the desire of this noble widow was added the +approval of Father Garnett, I so settled my affairs as to provide +amply for the security and advantage of my former hosts. For I +left with them Father Banks, a most superior man in every +respect; and although at first my old friends did not value him +so much, yet, as they became better acquainted, they found that +the good account I had given them was no more than the +truth, and soon came to esteem him as a father. I often +afterwards visited their house, where I had found so great faith +and piety.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When I was domiciled in my new residence, I began by +degrees to wean my hostess' mind from that excessive grief; +showing how that we ought to mourn moderately only over our +dead, and not to grieve like those who have no hope. I added +that as her husband had become a Catholic before his death, one +little prayer would do him more good than many tears; that our +tears should be reserved for our own and others' sins, for our +own souls stood in need of floods of that cleansing water, +and it was to the concerns of our own souls that all our +<pb n='cxxxiv'/><anchor id='Pgcxxxiv'/> +thoughts and labours should be turned. I then taught her the +use of meditation, finding her quite capable of profiting by it, +for her mental powers were of a very high order. I thus gradually +brought her first to change that old style of grief for a more +worthy one; then to give eternal concerns the preference over +worldly matters; and to consider how she might transform her +life, which before was good and holy, into better and holier, by +endeavouring as much as she could to imitate the life of our Lord +and of His Saints.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>She was ready to set up her residence wherever I judged it +best for the good of religion, whether in London,<note place='foot'>The confession of Ralph Myller (9 Oct. 1584) gives us an insight into the +late Lord Vaux's London house: <q>This examinant did afterwards meet one +Robert Browne, who hath an uncle a Priest with the Lord Vaux, who is a +little man with white head, and a little brown hair on his face, goeth in an +ash-colour doublet coat and a gown faced with cony, and he was made Priest +long sithence at Cambray as this examinate thinketh. This examinant spoke +with the Lord Vaux and with his lady at Hackney, after that his son, Mr. +George, and the said Robert Browne had told him that this examinant was a +tailor of Rhemes; and on Sunday was fortnight this examinant did hear Mass +there, whereat were present about xviii. persons, being my lord's household, +and the Priest last before named said the Mass. The said Priest lieth in a +chamber beyond the hall, on the left hand the stair that leadeth to the +chambers, and the Mass is said in the chapel, being right over the port +entering into the hall; and the way into it is up the stair aforesaid, on the +left hand, at the further end of the gallery: and there is a very fair crucifix of +silver</q> (P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 173, n. 64).</note> or in the most +remote part of the island, as she often protested to me. I +considered, however, that though a residence in or near London +would be better for the gaining of souls, yet that it was not at +present very safe for me; nor, indeed, could she remain there in +private, since she was well known for a Catholic, and the Lords of +the Council demanded from her frequent accounts of her son, the +Baron, where and how he was educated. Moreover, as she had +the management of her son's estate while he was a minor, +stewards and bailiffs, and other such persons, must have constant +communication with her; so that it was quite out of the question +her living near London under an assumed name; yet this was +absolutely necessary if a person wished to carry on the good work +in that neighbourhood. It was thus those ladies did with whom +Father Garnett lived so long, who were in fact sisters of this lady's +<pb n='cxxxv'/><anchor id='Pgcxxxv'/> +deceased husband, one unmarried, the other a widow.<note place='foot'>Anne Vaux and Eleanor, widow of Edward Brooksby, daughters of +William third Lord Vaux, by his first wife, Elizabeth, daughter of John +Beaumont of Gracedieu, in Leicestershire, Esq. The mother of George Vaux +was Mary, sister of Sir Thomas Tresham, of Rushton, in Northamptonshire, +Knight.</note> I saw, +therefore, no fitter place for her to fix her residence than where +she was among her own people, where she had the chief people +of the county connected with her and her son, either by blood +or friendship.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The only difficulty which remained was about the exact +spot. The house in which she was actually living was not only +old, but antiquated. It had been the residence of her husband's +father, who had married a wife who was a better hand at spending +than at gathering, and consequently the house was very poorly +appointed for a family of their dignity. There was another and +larger house of theirs at</q> Great Harrowden, <q rend='pre'>a distance of +about three miles, which had been the old family seat. This +had also been neglected, so that it was in some part quite +ruinous, and not fit for our purpose, namely, to receive the +Catholic gentry who might come to visit me. In addition to +this, it was not well adapted for defence against any sudden +intrusions of the heretics, and consequently we should not be +able to be as free there as my hostess wished. Her desire was +to have a house where we might as nearly as possible conform +ourselves to the manner of life followed in our Colleges; and +this in the end she brought about.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>She sought everywhere for such a house, and we looked at +many houses in the county; but something or other was always +wanting to her wishes. At last we found a house which had been +built by the late Chancellor of England,<note place='foot'>Sir Christopher Hatton, who died childless, November 21, 1591, had +built a country house at Stoke Pogis, Bucks (Campbell's <hi rend='italic'>Lives of the +Chancellors</hi>, 3rd edit., vol. ii., p. 180).</note> who had died childless, +and was now to be let for a term of years. It was truly a princely +place, large and well built, surrounded by gardens and orchards, +and so far removed from other houses that no one could notice +our coming in or going out. This house she took on payment of +fifteen thousand florins [1,500<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>], and began to fit it up for our +<pb n='cxxxvi'/><anchor id='Pgcxxxvi'/> +accommodation. She wished to finish the alterations before we +removed thither; but man proposes, and God disposes as He +wills, though always for the best, and for the true good of His +elect.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When I came to the lady's house, she had a great number of +servants, some heretics, others indeed Catholics, but allowing +themselves too much liberty. By degrees things got into better +order; some became Catholics; others, through public and +private exhortations, became by the grace of God more fervent; +and some, of whom there did not appear any hope of amendment, +were dismissed. There was one who brought great +trouble on us. For on one occasion when we were in London, +either from thoughtlessness or loquacity, or because the yoke +of a stricter discipline, now begun in the family, sat uneasily +upon him, he said to a false brother that I had lately come to live +at his lady's house, and had carried on such and such doings +there; and that I was then in London at such a house, naming +the house of which I rented half, as I have before said; he told +him also that he himself had gone to that house with his lady +at a time when she and I were in town on business connected +with her son, and that he had seen the master and mistress of +that house when they called on his lady, as they had often done. +My hostess had now returned into the country with this servant, +leaving me for a short time in town. But the man had left this +tale behind him, which soon came to the ears of the Council, how +that I had my residence with such a lady, and was at this +moment at such a house in London. They instantly, therefore, +commissioned two Justices of the Peace to search the house.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I, who had no inkling of such a danger, had remained in +town for certain business, and was giving a retreat to three +gentlemen in the house before mentioned. One of these three +gentlemen was Master Roger Lee, now Minister in the English +College of St. Omers. He was a gentleman of high family, and +of so noble a character and such winning manners that he +was a universal favourite, especially with the nobility, in whose +company he constantly was, being greatly given to hunting, +hawking, and all other noble sports. He was, indeed, excellent +at everything, but he was withal a Catholic, and so bent on the +<pb n='cxxxvii'/><anchor id='Pgcxxxvii'/> +study of virtue that he was meditating a retreat from the world +and a more immediate following of Christ. He used frequently +to visit me when I was in the Clink prison, and I clearly saw +that he was called to greater things than catching birds of the +air, and that he was meant rather to be a catcher of men. I had +now, therefore, fixed a time with this gentleman and good friend +of mine, in which he should seek out, by means of the Spiritual +Exercises, the strait path that leads to life, under the guidance of +Him Who is Himself the Way and the Life.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>But while he and the others were engaged privately in their +chambers in the study of this heroic philosophy, suddenly the +storm burst upon us. I, too, in fact, after finishing my business +in town, had taken the opportunity of a little quiet to begin my +own retreat, giving out that I had returned into the country. I +was now in the fourth or fifth day of the retreat, when about three +o'clock in the afternoon John Lilly hurried to my room, and +without knocking, entered with his sword drawn.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Surprised at this sudden intrusion, I asked what was the +matter.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>It is a matter of searching the house,</q> he replied.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>What house?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>This very house: and they are in it already!</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In fact, they had been cunning enough to knock gently, as +friends were wont to do, and the servant opened readily to them, +without the least suspicion until he saw them rush in and scatter +themselves in all directions.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>While John was telling me this, up came the searching party, +together with the mistress of the house, to the very room in which +we were. Now, just opposite to my room was the chapel, so that +from the passage the door of the chapel opened on the one hand, +and that of my room on the other. The magistrates, then, seeing +the door of the chapel open, went in, and found there an altar +richly adorned, and the priestly vestments laid out close by, so +handsome as to cause expressions of admiration from the heretics +themselves. In the meanwhile I, in the room opposite, was quite +at my wit's end what to do; for there was no hiding-place in the +room, nor any means of exit except by the open passage were the +enemy were. However, I changed the soutane which I was +<pb n='cxxxviii'/><anchor id='Pgcxxxviii'/> +wearing for a secular coat, but my books and manuscript meditations, +which I had there in considerable quantities, I was quite +unable to conceal.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>We stood there with our ears close to the chink of the door, +listening to catch what they said: and I heard one exclaim from +the chapel, <q>Good God! what have we found here? I had no +thoughts of coming to this house to-day!</q> From this I concluded +that it was a mere chance search, and that they had no special +warrant. Probably, therefore, I thought they had but few men +with them. So we began to consult together whether it were not +better to rush out with drawn swords, seize the keys from the +searching party, and so escape; for we should have Master Lee +and the master of the house to help us, besides two or three +men-servants. Moreover, I considered that if we should be +taken in the house, the master would certainly be visited with a +far greater punishment than what the law prescribes for resistance +to a magistrate's search.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>While we were thus deliberating, the searchers came to the +door of my room and knocked. We made no answer, but pressed +the latch hard down, for the door had no bolt or lock. As they +continued knocking, the mistress of the house said, <q>Perhaps the +man-servant who sleeps in that room may have taken away the +key. I will go and look for him.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>No, no,</q> said they, <q>you go nowhere without us, or you will +be hiding away something.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>And so they went with her, not staying to examine whether +the door had a lock or not. Thus did God blind the eyes of the +Assyrians, that they should not find the place, nor the means of +hurting His servants, nor know where they were going.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When they had got below-stairs, the mistress of the house, +who had great presence of mind, took them into a room in which +some ladies were, the sister, namely, of my hostess in the country, +and Mistress Line; and while the magistrates were questioning +these ladies, she ran up to us, saying, <q>Quick, quick! get into +the hiding-place!</q> She had scarce said this and run down again, +before the searchers had missed her and were for remounting the +stairs. But she stood in their way on the bottom step, so that +they immediately suspected what the case was, and were eager to +<pb n='cxxxix'/><anchor id='Pgcxxxix'/> +get past. This, however, they could not do without laying +forcible hands on the lady, a thing which, as gentlemen, they +shrank from doing. One of them, however, as she stood there +purposely occupying the whole width of the stair-way, thrust his +head past her, in hopes of seeing what was going on above-stairs. +And indeed he almost caught sight of me as I passed along to +the hiding-place. For as soon as I heard the lady's words of +warning, I opened the door, and with the least possible noise +mounted from a stool to the hiding-place, which was arranged in +a secret gable of the roof. When I had myself mounted, I bade +John Lilly come up also, but he, more careful of me than of +himself, refused to follow me, saying: <q>No, Father; I shall not +come. There must be some one to own the books and papers +in your room; otherwise, upon finding them, they will never rest +till they have found you too: only pray for me.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>So spoke this truly faithful and prudent servant, so full of +charity as to offer his life for his friend. There was no time for +further words. I acquiesced reluctantly and closed the small +trap-door by which I had entered, but I could not open the door +of the inner hiding-place, so that I should infallibly have been +taken if they had not found John Lilly, and mistaking him for a +Priest ceased from any further search. For this was what +happened, God so disposing it, and John's prudence and +intrepidity helping thereto.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>For scarcely had he removed the stool by which I mounted, +and had gone back to the room and shut the door, when the +two chiefs of the searching party again came upstairs and +knocked violently at the door, ready to break it open if the +key were not found. Then the intrepid soldier of Christ threw +open the door and presented himself undaunted to the persecutors.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Who are you?</q> they asked.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>A man, as you see,</q> he replied.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>But what are you? Are you a Priest?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I do not say I am a Priest,</q> replied John; <q>that is for you +to prove. But I am a Catholic certainly.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Then they found there on the table all my meditations, my +breviary, and many Catholic books, and what grieved me most +<pb n='cxl'/><anchor id='Pgcxl'/> +of all to lose, my manuscript sermons and notes for sermons, +which I had been writing or compiling for the last ten years, +and which I made more account of, perhaps, than they did of +all their money. After examining all these they asked whose +they were.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>They are mine,</q> said John.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Then there can be no doubt you are a Priest. And this +cassock, whose is this?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>That is a dressing-gown, to be used for convenience now +and then.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Convinced now that they had caught a Priest, they carefully +locked up all the books and papers in a box, to be taken away +with them. Then they locked the chapel door and put their seal +upon it, and taking John by the arm they led him downstairs, +and delivered him into the custody of their officers. Now when +he entered with his captors into the room where the ladies were, +he, who at other times was always wont to conduct himself with +humility and stand uncovered in such company, now, on the +contrary, after saluting them, covered his head and sat down. +Nay, assuming a sort of authority, he said to the magistrates: +<q>These are noble ladies; it is your duty to treat them with +consideration. I do not, indeed, know them, but it is quite +evident that they are entitled to the greatest respect.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I should have mentioned that there was a second Priest in +the house with me, Father Pullen,<note place='foot'>Patrem Pulvium (MS.). We give the English form of the name on the +authority of Dr. Oliver, in his <hi rend='italic'>Collectanea</hi>, s.v. Pullen.</note> an old man, who had quite +lately made his noviceship at Rome. He luckily had a hiding-place +in his room, and had got into it at the first alarm.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The ladies, therefore, now perceiving that I was safe, and that +the other Priest had also escaped, and seeing also John's assumed +dignity, could scarce refrain from showing their joy. They made +no account now of the loss of property, or the annoyance they +should have to undergo from the suspicion of having had a Priest +in the house. They wondered indeed and rejoiced, and almost +laughed to see John playing the Priest, for so well did he do it +as to deceive those deceivers, and divert them from any further +search.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='cxli'/><anchor id='Pgcxli'/> + +<div> +<head>XXII.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The magistrates who had searched the house took away John +Lilly with them, and the master of the house also with his two +men-servants, under the idea that all his property would be +confiscated for harbouring a Priest.<note place='foot'>In the Public Record Office there is a letter, dated July 22, 1599, +purporting to be from Francis Cordale to his partner Balthasar Gybels, at +Antwerp, which says, <q>I wrote to you of one Mr. Heywood's house searched +and a man there taken. I have learned his name since to be John Lilly. He +is sent to the Tower upon suspicion of helping Gerard the Jesuit out of the +same place</q> (<hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 271, n. 107).</note> The ladies, however, +represented that they had merely come to pay an after-dinner +visit to the mistress of the house, without knowing anything about +a Priest being there; so they were let off on giving bail to appear +when summoned. The same favour was ultimately shown to +Master Roger Lee, though it was with greater difficulty the +magistrates could be persuaded that he was only a visitor. At +last, then, they departed well satisfied, and locked up their +prisoners for the night to wait their morrow's examination.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Immediately on their departure, the mistress of the house +and those other ladies came with great joy to give me notice; +and we all joined in giving thanks to God, Who had delivered us +all from such imminent danger by the prudence and fidelity of +one. Father Pullen and I removed that very night to another +place, lest the searchers should find out their error and return.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The next day I made a long journey to my hostess' house in +the country, and caused much fear, and then much joy, as I +related all that God had done for us. Then we all heartily +commended John Lilly to God in prayer. And, indeed, there +was reason enough to do so. For the magistrates, making full +inquiries the next day, found that John had been an apothecary +in London for seven years, and then had been imprisoned +in the Clink for eight or nine more, and that he had been the +person who had communicated with me in the Tower, for the +gaoler's wife had been apprehended after her husband's flight, and +had confessed so much. They saw, therefore, clearly that they +had been tricked, and that John was not a Priest, but a Priest's +servant; and they now began to have a shrewd suspicion, though +<pb n='cxlii'/><anchor id='Pgcxlii'/> +rather too late, that I had been hidden at the time in the same +house where they caught him, especially as they found so many +books and writings which they did not doubt were mine. They +sent, therefore, to search the house again, but they found only +an empty nest, for the birds were flown.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>John was carried to the Tower and confined there in chains. +Then they examined him about my escape, and about all the +places he had been to with me since. He, seeing that his +dealings with the gaoler were already known to them, and +desirous (if God would grant him such a favour), to lay down +his life for Christ, freely confessed that it was he who had +compassed my deliverance, and that he took great pleasure in +the thought of having done so; he added that he was in the +mind to do the same again if occasion required and opportunity +offered. The gaoler, however, he exonerated, and protested that +he was not privy to the escape. With regard to the places where +he had been with me, he answered (as he had been often taught +to do) that he would bring no one into trouble, and that he would +not name a single place, for to do so would be a sin against +charity and justice. Upon this they said they would not press +him any further in words, but would convince him by deeds that +he must tell them all they wanted. John replied: <q>It is a thing +that, with the help of God, I will never do. You have me in +your power; do what God permits you.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Then they took him to the torture-chamber, and hung him +up in the way I have before described, and tortured him cruelly +for the space of three hours. But nothing could they wring from +him that they could use either against me or against others, so that +from that time they gave up all hope of obtaining anything against +any one from him either by force or fear. Consequently they +tortured him no more, but kept him in the closest custody for +about four months to try and tire him into compliance. Failing +also in this, and seeing that their pains availed them nothing, they +sent him to another prison, where prisoners are usually sent who +are awaiting execution, and probably it was their intention to deal +that way with him, but God otherwise determined. For after +a long detention here, and having been allowed a little communication +with other Catholic prisoners, he was asked by a certain +<pb n='cxliii'/><anchor id='Pgcxliii'/> +Priest to assist him in making his escape. Turning his attention, +therefore, to the matter, he found a way by which he delivered +both the Priest and himself from captivity.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I ought not, however, to omit an incident that happened +during his detention in the Tower, since it is in such things that +the dealings of God's providence are often to be very plainly +recognized. While he was under examination about me and +others of the Society, Wade, who was at that time the chief +persecutor, asked him if he knew Garnett. John said he +did not.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>No?</q> said Wade, with a sour smile; <q>and you don't know +his house in the Spital<note place='foot'>Tali loco qui vocatur <hi rend='italic'>Spitell</hi> (MS). Spitalfields, a district without +Bishopsgate, once belonged to the Priory and Hospital of St. Mary Spital, +founded in 1197, in the parish of St. Botolph (Cunningham's <hi rend='italic'>Handbook of +London</hi>, p. 463).</note> either, I dare say! I don't mind letting +you know,</q> he continued, <q>now that I have you safe, that I am +acquainted with his residence, and that we are sure of having +him here in a day or two to keep you company. For when he +comes to London he puts up at that house, and then we shall +catch him.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>John knew well that the house named was Father Garnett's +resort, and was in great distress to find that the secret had been +betrayed to the enemy; and, though kept as close as possible, +yet he managed in a few days by God's good providence +to get an opportunity of sending some little article <emph>wrapped +up in blank paper</emph> to a friend in London. His friend on +receiving it carefully smoothed out the paper and held it to +the fire, knowing that John would be likely to communicate by +the means of orange-juice if he had the opportunity, and there +he found it written that this residence of Father Garnett's had +been betrayed, and that Father Garnett must be warned of it. +This was instantly done, and in this way the Father was saved, +for otherwise he would assuredly, as Wade had said, have betaken +himself to that house in a day or two. Now, however, he not +only did not go, but took all his things away, so that when the +house was searched they found nothing. Had it not been for +this providential warning from our greatest enemy, they would +<pb n='cxliv'/><anchor id='Pgcxliv'/> +have found plenty; they would have found him, his books, +altar furniture, and other things of a similar nature. Father +Garnett, then, escaped this time by John's good help, as I had +done previously.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>After his escape John came to me, but though I desired +much to keep him, it was out of the question, for he was now so +marked a man that his presence would have been a continual +danger for me and all my friends. For I was wont in the +country to go openly to the houses of Catholic gentlemen, and +it might well happen that John might come across persons that +knew him, and would know me through him. Whereas but very +few of the enemy knew me, for I was always detained in close +custody, and none but Catholics saw me in prison, nay, such +Catholics only as I knew to be specially trustworthy. I had, +indeed, been examined publicly in London several times, but the +persons concerned in the examinations very seldom left town, +and if they had done so I should have been warned of it instantly, +and should have taken good care never to trust myself in their +neighbourhood. So I put John with Father Garnett, to stay in +quiet hiding for a time; and when opportunity offered sent him +over to Father Persons, that he might obtain, what he had long +hoped for, admission to the Society. He was admitted at Rome,<note place='foot'>John Lilly entered the Society Feb. 2, 1602, æt. 37 (Bartoli, <hi rend='italic'>Inghilterra</hi>, +p. 429).</note> +and lived there for six or seven years as a Lay-brother, much +esteemed, I believe, by everybody. I can on my part testify +about him to the greater glory of God, and that the more +allowably because I believe he has died in England before this +present writing, whither he returned with a consumption on him: +I can, I say, testify that for nearly six years that he was with me +in England, and had his hands full of business for me, though he +had to do with all sorts of men in all sorts of places (for while +I was engaged upstairs with the gentry and nobility, he was +associating downstairs with the servants, often very indifferent +characters), yet the whole of this time he so guarded his heart +and his soul that I never found him to have been even in danger +of mortal sin. Truly his was an innocent soul, and endowed +with great prudence and cleverness.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='cxlv'/><anchor id='Pgcxlv'/> + +<p> +<q>But now that I have brought the history of John Lilly to its +close, it is time to return to myself, who, having just escaped one +danger, had like to have fallen into a second and still greater one, +had not God again interposed His hand.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XXIII.</head> + +<p> +<q>I mentioned just now that one of my hostess' servants told a +friend of his, but an enemy of ours, that I habitually resided at +his mistress' house, and that at that particular time I was at such +a house in London. How this house was searched, and how +they seized my companion and my manuscripts, but missed me, I +have related. The Council, therefore, now knowing my residence +in the country, issued a commission to some Justices of the +Peace in that county to search this lady's house for a Priest. It +had, in fact, began to be talked of in the county that she had +taken this grand house in order that she might harbour Priests +there in larger numbers and with greater freedom, because it was +more private; and in this people were not far wrong.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Now at this time, that is, soon after my return from London, +we had driven over to the new house to make arrangements for +our removal thither, and with the special object of determining +where to construct hiding-places. To this end we had Little +John with us, whom I have before mentioned as very clever at +constructing these places, and whom Father Garnett had lent to +us for a time for this purpose. Having made all the necessary +arrangements we left Little John behind, and Hugh Sheldon also +to help him, who is now at Rome with Father Persons in the +room of John Lilly. These two, whom we had always found +most faithful, were to construct the hiding-places, and to be the +only ones beside ourselves to know anything about them. The +rest of us, however, returned the same day to our hostess' own +house, and by the advice of one of the servants, God so disposing +it, we came back a different way, as being easier for the carriage. +Had we returned by the way we went, the searchers would have +come early to the house where we were, and most probably +catching us entirely unprepared, would have found what they +came to seek. The fact was that the road by which we went to +<pb n='cxlvi'/><anchor id='Pgcxlvi'/> +the new house ran through a town, where some of the enemy +were on the watch and had seen us pass, but not seeing us +return they concluded that we were spending the night at +the new house, and went there the first thing in the morning +to search.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>But the house was so large that, although they had a +numerous body of followers, they were not able to surround it +entirely, nor to watch all the outlets so narrowly, but what Little +John managed to make off safely. Hugh Sheldon they caught, +but could get nothing out of him, so they sent him afterwards to +prison at Wisbech, and from thence later to some other prison +in company with many Priests, and at last in the same good +company into exile.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When, however, the Justices found that they were wrong, +and that the lady had returned home the previous day, they +retraced their steps and came as fast as their horses could carry +them to the old house. They arrived at our dinner-hour, and +being admitted by the carelessness of the porter, got into the hall +before we had any warning. Now as the lady of the house was +a little indisposed that morning, we were going to take our dinner +in my room, that is, Father Percy, myself, and Master Roger +Lee, who had come down from London to finish his retreat which +had been so rudely interrupted before. So when I heard who +had come, that they were in the great hall, and that his lordship +himself, who was indeed but a boy at that time, could not prevent +them from intruding into his room, though he was also unwell, I +made a pretty shrewd guess what they had come about, and +snatching up such things as wanted hiding I made the best of +my way to the hiding-place, together with Father Percy and +Master Roger Lee. For it would not do for this latter to have +been found here, especially as he had already been found in the +house in London where I was known to have been, and would +therefore have given good reason to think that I was here also. +But we had to pass by the door of the room in which the enemy +were as yet waiting, and exclaiming that they would wait no +longer. Nay, one of the pursuivants opened the door and +looked out; and some of the servants said that he must have +seen me as I passed. But God certainly interposed, for it was +<pb n='cxlvii'/><anchor id='Pgcxlvii'/> +surely not to be expected from natural causes that men who had +come eager to search the house at once, and were loudly +declaring they would do so, should stay in a room where they +were not locked in, just as long as was necessary for us to hide +ourselves, and then come forth as if they had been let loose, +intrude upon the lady of the house, and course through all the +rooms like bloodhounds after their prey. I cannot but think +that this was the finger of God, Who would not that the good +intentions of this lady should be so soon frustrated, but rather +wished by so evident a display of His providence to confirm +her in her determinations, and preserve her for many more +good works.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The authorities searched the house thoroughly the whole day, +but found nothing. At last they retired disappointed, and wrote +to the Council what they had done. We soon discovered who +had done the mischief (for he had not done it secretly) and +discharged him, but without unkindness. I gave out also that I +should quit the place altogether, and for a time we practised +particular caution in all points.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In consequence of this mishap it became impossible for us +to remove to the new house. For those same Justices, who were +pestilent heretics, and several others in the same county, Puritans, +declared they would never suffer her ladyship to live at peace if +she came there, as her only object was to harbour Priests. Being +deterred, therefore, from that place, but not from her design, she +set about fitting up her own present residence for that same +purpose, and built us separate quarters close to the old chapel, +which had been erected anciently by former Barons of the family +to hear Mass in when the weather might make it unpleasant to go +to the parish church. Here, then, she built a little wing of three +stories for Father Percy and me. The place was exceedingly +convenient, and so free from observation that from our rooms we +could step out into the private garden, and thence through +spacious walks into the fields, where we could mount our horses +and ride whither we would.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>As we lived here safely and quietly, I frequently left Father +Percy at home, and made excursions to see if I could establish +similar centres of operation among other families; and in this +<pb n='cxlviii'/><anchor id='Pgcxlviii'/> +Father Roger Lee (to give him his present title) helped me not a +little. He first took me to the house of a relation of his, who +lived in princely splendour, and whose father was one of the +Queen's Council. This young nobleman was a schismatic, that is, +a Catholic by conviction, but conforming externally to the State +religion; and there seemed no hope of getting him any further, +for he contented himself with <foreign rend='italic'>velleities</foreign>, and was fearful of +offending his father. His wife, however, who was a heretic, had +begun to listen with interest to Catholic doctrine, so that there +was hope she might in time be brought into the Church. Their +house was full of heretic servants, and there was a constant +coming and going of heretic gentry either on business or on visit; +it was therefore imperatively necessary that, as I could only go +there publicly, I should well conceal my purpose.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>We paid a visit, then, to this house, and were made very +welcome, Master Lee for his own sake, as being much beloved, +and I for his. On the first day I looked in vain for an opportunity +of a conversation with the lady of the house, for there was +always some one by. We were obliged to play at cards to pass +the time, as those are wont to do who know not the eternal value +of time, or at least care not for it. On the next day, however, as +the lady of the house stept aside once to the window to set her +watch, I joined her there, and after talking a little about the +watch, passed on to matters which I had more in view, saying I +wished we took as much pains to set our souls in order as we did +our watches. She looked up at me in pure surprise to hear such +things from my lips; and as I saw I might never get a better +opportunity than the present, I began to open a little further, and +told her that I had come there with Master Lee specially for her +sake, hearing from him that she took interest in matters of +religion, and that I was ready to explain the Catholic doctrine to +her, and satisfy all the doubts she could possibly have; moreover, +that I could point out the way to a height of virtue which she +had hitherto never dreamt of, for that in heresy she could neither +find that way, nor any who made account of it. She was struck +with what I said, and promised to find some opportunity for +further conversation, when we might speak more fully on the +matter. I gave her this hint of a higher virtue, because she had +<pb n='cxlix'/><anchor id='Pgcxlix'/> +been represented to me, as she really was, as a lady of most +earnest and conscientious character.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>She found the time according to her promise; all her +difficulties were removed, and she became a Catholic. After reconciling +her to the Church, I made some other converts in the same +house; then I recommended her a Catholic maid, and suggested +that she should keep a Priest always in the house, to which she +gladly assented. This was a thing that might easily be managed, +not indeed as it was in our house, where the whole household +was Catholic, and knew us to be Priests; but a Priest could well +live in the upper part of the house, from which all heretics might +be kept away, especially now that some of the servants were +Catholics. And, indeed, the accommodation was such that I do +not know any place in England where a Priest who wished to be +private could live more conveniently. For he could have, in +the first place, a fine room to himself, opening on a spacious +corridor of some eighty paces, which looked on a garden, the +laying out of which had cost, as I was told, ten thousand florins +[1,000<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>]; in this corridor, moreover, was a separate room, which +would serve excellently as a chapel, and another for his meals, +with fire-places and every convenience. It was a pity, I said, +that such a place had not a resident Priest, where the mistress +was a devout Catholic, and the master no enemy to religion. +Her husband, indeed, made no difficulty of receiving Priests; +nay, he sometimes came to hear me preach, and at last went so +far as to be fond of dressing the altar with his own hands, and of +saying the breviary: yet with all this he still remains outside the +ark, liable to be swept off by the waters of the deluge when they +break forth, for he presumes too much on an opportunity of +doing penance before death.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The lady then readily fell in with my suggestion of having +a Priest in her house; so I brought thither Father Antony +Hoskins, a man of great ability, who had lately come over from +Spain, where he had spent ten years in the Society with remarkable +success in his studies. Being placed there, he did a great +deal of good on all sides, and remained with them almost up to +the present time, when at length he has been removed and put to +greater things. He did not, however, stay constantly at home, for +<pb n='cl'/><anchor id='Pgcl'/> +he is a man whom, when once known, many would wish to +confer with, so that he was forced to go about at times. At +present there is another Father in the house, a most devoted +man. But the lady directs herself chiefly by Father Percy, who +this very week addressed me a letter in the following words:—<q>Such +a one</q> (meaning this lady of whom I have been speaking) +<q>is going on very well. She has put her whole house under the +protection of our Blessed Lady of Loretto, and offers her heart +to her, to serve her and her Son for ever, with all that she +possesses; and in token of this she has had made a beautiful +heart of gold, which she wishes to send to Loretto by the first +opportunity. We desire, therefore, to hear from you by whom she +can send this offering.</q> Thus he writes about this lady. In this +way then, by the grace of God, was this house, with its domestic +church, established and confirmed in the Faith.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Master Roger also introduced me to some neighbours of +his; among others to a gentleman of the Queen's Court,</q><note place='foot'>In the margin of the MS. is written <q>Digbæus,</q> in the same hand as the +text.</note> Sir +Everard Digby, <q>who had inherited a large estate, and had +married a lady who was sole heiress to all her father's property,</q> +Mary Mulshaw, of Gothurst, in Buckinghamshire. <q rend='pre'>Not one of +this family was a Catholic, nor even inclined to the Catholic faith. +The wife's father, who was the head of the house, was a thorough +heretic, and had his thoughts entirely occupied in hoarding +money for his daughter, and increasing her revenues. His son-in-law +devoted himself wholly to juvenile sports. When in London, +he attended at Court, being one of the Queen's gentlemen +pensioners; but in the country he spent almost his whole time in +hunting and hawking. Hence it happened that Master Roger +Lee, who was a neighbour of his, and fond of similar sports, +often joined him on such occasions, and brought his falcons to +hawk in company. We two, therefore, took advantage of this +acquaintanceship, and I was introduced to this gentleman's house +as a friend and intimate of Master Lee's. We made frequent +visits there, and took every opportunity of speaking of Catholic +doctrine and practice. I took care, however, that Master Lee +should always speak more frequently and more earnestly than I, +<pb n='cli'/><anchor id='Pgcli'/> +that no suspicion might arise about my real character. Indeed, so +far was this gentleman from having the least suspicion about me, +that he seriously asked Master Lee whether he thought I was a +good match for his sister, whom he wished to see married well, +and to a Catholic, for he looked on Catholics as good and +honourable men.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>We had, therefore, as I said, frequent converse on matters of +salvation; and the wife was the first to listen with any fruit, at +a time when she was living in the country but her husband was +up in town. Her parents were now dead, and she was mistress +of the house, so that we were able to deal more directly with her. +At last she came to the point of wishing to be a Catholic, and +told me she should be glad to speak with a Priest. I could +scarce forbear a smile at this. I answered, however, that the +thing might be managed, and that I would speak with Master +Lee on the subject. <q>In the meantime,</q> I added, <q>I can teach +you the way to examine your conscience, as I myself was +taught to do it by an experienced Priest.</q> So I told Master +Roger that as she was now determined and prepared, he might +inform her of my being a Priest. This he did, but she for +some time refused to believe it, saying, <q>How is it possible +he can be a Priest? Has he not lived among us rather as a +courtier? Has he not played at cards with my husband, and +played well too, which is impossible for those not accustomed +to the game? Has he not gone out hunting with my husband, +and frequently in my hearing spoken of the hunt and of the +hawks in proper terms, without tripping, which no one could but +one who has been trained to it?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Many other things she adduced to show I could not be a +Priest: to all of which Master Lee replied, <q>It is true that he +said and did what you say; and unless he had done so, how +could he have gained entrance here, and conversed with you, and +by his conversation brought you to the Faith? For if he had +presented himself as a Priest (which he would much prefer, were +it feasible), how would your father, who was then living, have +allowed his introduction, or you yourselves?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>She could not but admit the truth of this; yet she found it +hard to believe that it was so. <q>I pray you,</q> she said, <q>not to be +<pb n='clii'/><anchor id='Pgclii'/> +angry with me, if I ask further whether any other Catholic knows +him to be a Priest but you. Does so-and-so know him?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Yes,</q> he answered, <q>and goes to confession to him.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Then she mentioned other names, and at last that of my +hostess, who lived in the neighbourhood, but ten miles off.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Does she, too, know him as a Priest, and deal with him +as such?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Why,</q> said Master Lee, <q>she not only knows him as a +Priest, but has given herself, and all her household, and all that +she has, to be directed by him, and takes no other guide but +him.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Then at length she confessed herself satisfied.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>You will find him, however,</q> added Master Lee, <q>quite a +different man when he has put off his present character.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>This she acknowledged the next day, when she saw me in +my soutane and other priestly garments, such as she had never +before seen. She made a most careful confession, and came to +have so great an opinion of my poor powers, that she gave herself +entirely to my direction, meditated great things, which, indeed, +she carried out, and carries out still.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When this matter was thus happily terminated, we all three +consulted together, how we could induce her husband to enter +also into St. Peter's net. Now, it so happened that he had fallen +sick in London, and his wife on hearing it determined to go and +nurse him. We, however, went up before her, and, travelling +more expeditiously, had time to deal with him before she came. +I spoke to him of the uncertainty of life, and the certainty of +misery, not only in this life, but especially in the next, unless +we provided against it: and I showed him that we have here +no abiding city, but must look for one to come. As affliction +oftentimes brings sense, so it happened in his case; for we +found but little difficulty in gaining his goodwill. And as he +was a man of solid sense and excellent heart, he laid a firm +foundation from the beginning. He prepared himself well for +confession, after being taught the way; and when he learnt that I +was a Priest, he felt no such difficulty in believing as his wife had +done, because he had known similar cases; but he rather rejoiced +at having found a confessor who had experience among persons +<pb n='cliii'/><anchor id='Pgcliii'/> +of his rank of life, and with whom he could deal at all times +without danger of its being known that he was dealing with a +Priest. After his reconciliation, he began on his part to be +anxious about his wife, and wished to consult with us how best +to bring her to the Catholic religion. We both smiled at this, +but said nothing at that time, determining to wait till his wife +came up to town, that we might witness how each loving soul +would strive to win the other.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Certainly they were a favoured pair. Both gave themselves +wholly to God's service, and the husband afterwards sacrificed all +his property, his liberty, nay, even his life, for God's Church, as I +shall relate hereafter. For this was that Sir Everard Digby, Knight, +of whom later on I should have had to say many things, if so +much had not been already written and published about him and +his companions. But never in any of these writings has justice +been done to the sincerity of his intention, nor the circumstances +properly set forth which would put his conduct in its true light.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>After this they both came to see me at my residence in the +country. But while there he was again taken ill, and that so +violently and dangerously, that all the Oxford doctors despaired +of his life. As, therefore, in all likelihood he had not long to +live, he began to prepare himself earnestly for a good death, and +his wife to think of a more perfect way of life. For some days +she gave herself to learn the method of meditation, and to find +out God's will with regard to her future life, how she might best +direct it to His glory. To be brief, she came to this determination, +that if her husband should die, she would devote herself +entirely to good works, observe perpetual chastity and exact +obedience; that as for her property, which would be very extensive +as they were without children, she would spend it all in pious +uses according to my direction; she would herself live where and +in what style I judged best for the advancement of God's honour +and the good of her own soul; and she added that her desire was +to wear poor clothing wherever she might be, and observe all +the rules of poverty. All this was to be while the persecution +might last in England. If, however, it should cease, and England +should become Catholic, then she would give her house (a very +large and fine one), and all the property her father left her, for +<pb n='cliv'/><anchor id='Pgcliv'/> +the foundation of a College of the Society: and this would have +been amply sufficient for a first-rate foundation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>This was her resolution, but God had otherwise arranged, +and for that time happily. For when all the Oxford doctors gave +up Sir Everard's case as hopeless, I, who loved him much, did +not lose heart, but without his knowledge I sent for a certain +Cambridge doctor, a Catholic, and a man of much learning and +experience, whom I had known to cure cases abandoned by other +physicians. On his arrival at our house, where Sir Everard Digby +then was with his wife, after telling him all about the patient, I +got him to examine the sick man himself, and learn from him all +about his habit of body and general constitution. Then I asked +him if he thought there was any hope. He answered, <q>If Sir +Everard will venture to put himself entirely in my hands, I have +good hopes, with the help of God, of bringing him round.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The patient on hearing this said to me, <q>Since this doctor is +known to your Reverence, and is chosen by you, I give myself +willingly into his hands.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>By this doctor, then, he was cured beyond all expectation, +and so completely restored to perfect health that there was not a +more robust or stalwart man in a thousand. He was a most +devoted friend to me, just as if he had been my twin-brother. +And this name of brother we always used in writing to each other. +How greatly he was attached me, may be seen from the following +incident. Once when I had gone to a certain house to assist a +soul in agony, he got to learn that I was in great danger there: +upon this he at first expressed a terrible distress, and then immediately +said to his wife that if I should be taken, he was resolved +to watch the roads by which I should be carried prisoner to +London, and take with him a sufficient number of friends and +servants to rescue me by force from those who had me in custody; +and if he should miss me on the road, he would accomplish my +release one way or another, even though he should spend his +whole fortune in the venture. Such, then, was his attachment to +me at that time, and this he retained always in the same—nay, +rather in an increased—degree to the end of his life; as he +showed by the way he spoke of me when pleading for his life +before the public court. At this time, however, as I said, he was +<pb n='clv'/><anchor id='Pgclv'/> +restored to health; and he and his wife got together a little +domestic church after the pattern of that in our own house, and +built a chapel with a sacristy, furnishing it with costly and +beautiful vestments, and obtained a Priest of the Society for +their chaplain, who remained with them to Sir Everard's death.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>What was done by this family was done by others also. For +many of the Catholic gentry coming to our house, and seeing the +arrangements and manner of life, followed the example themselves, +establishing a sort of congregation in each of their houses, +providing handsome altar furniture, making convenient arrangements +for the residence of Priests, and showing especial respect +and reverence to them.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Among those who came to this determination was a certain +lady resident near Oxford, whose husband was indeed a Catholic, +but overmuch devoted to worldly pursuits. She, however, gave +herself to be directed by me as far as she could, having such a +husband. I often visited them, and was always welcomed by +both; and there I established one of our Fathers, Edward +Walpole, whom I mentioned at an early part of this narrative as +having left a large patrimony for the sake of following Christ our +Lord, in the first year of my residence in England.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>There was another lady also who had a similar wish: she +was a relative of my hostess, and she also resided in the county +of Oxford. Her husband was a Knight of very large property, +who hoped to be created a Baron, and still hopes for it. This +lady came on a visit to our house, and wished to learn the way +of meditating, which I taught her; but as her husband was a +heretic, it was impossible for her to have a Priest in her house, +as she greatly wished. She took, however, the resolution of +supporting a Priest, who should come to her at convenient times. +She resolved, also, to make a meditation every day, and to give +one or two hours daily to spiritual reading, when she had no +guests in the house. On her coming to me every six months, I +found that she had never omitted her meditation, nor her daily +examination of conscience, except on one occasion when her +husband insisted on her staying with the guests. Yet she had a +large and busy household to superintend, and a continual coming +and going of guests.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='clvi'/><anchor id='Pgclvi'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>It happened on one occasion when I was in this lady's +house, and was sitting with her after dinner, the servants having +gone down to get their own dinner, that suddenly a guest was +shown up who had just arrived. This was an Oxford Doctor +of Divinity, a heretic of some note and a persecutor of Catholics; +his name was Dr. Abbot.<note place='foot'>George Abbot was appointed Dean of Winton in 1559, in 1609 Bishop +of Lichfield and Coventry, from which in about a month he was translated to +London, and thence in 1611 to Canterbury. In July, 1621, as he was shooting +at a deer with a cross-bow, he shot the keeper, for which King James gave +him a dispensation. In 1627 he was sequestered from his office, and his +metropolitan jurisdiction put into commission, but about a year after he was +restored. He died at Croydon, Aug. 4, 1633, æt. 71.</note> He had just before this published +a book against Father Southwell, who had been executed, and +Father Gerard, who had escaped from the Tower, because these +two had defended the doctrine of equivocation, which he chose +to impugn. After this publication, the good man had been made +Dean of Winchester, a post which brought him in a yearly income +of eight thousand florins [800<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>]. This man then, as I said, +was shown up, and entered the dining-room, dressed in a sort +of silk soutane coming down to his knees, as is the manner of +their chief ministers. We were in appearance sitting at cards, +though when the servants had all left the room we had laid the +cards down to attend to better things. Hearing, however, this +gentleman announced, we resumed our game, so that he found +us playing, with a good sum of money on the table.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I may here mention, that when I played thus with Catholics, +with the view of maintaining among a mixed company the +character in which I appeared, I always agreed that each one +should have his money back afterwards, but should say an <hi rend='italic'>Ave +Maria</hi> for each piece that was returned to him. It was on these +terms that I frequently played with my brother Digby and other +Catholics, where it appeared necessary, so that the by-standers +thought we were playing for money, and were in hot earnest +over it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>So also this minister never conceived the slightest suspicion +of me, but after the first courtesies began to talk at a pretty pace: +for this is the only thing those chattering ministers can do, who +possess no solid knowledge, but by the persuasive words of +<pb n='clvii'/><anchor id='Pgclvii'/> +human wisdom lead souls astray, and subvert houses, teaching +things that are not convenient. So he, after much frivolous talk, +began to tell us the latest news from London; how a certain +Puritan had thrown himself down from the steeple of a church, +having left it in writing that he knew himself to be secure of +his eternal salvation. About this writing, however, the learned +Doctor said nothing, but I had heard the particulars myself from +another quarter.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Wretched man!</q> said I; <q>what could induce him thus to +destroy body and soul by one and the same act!</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Sir,</q> said the Doctor, learnedly enough and magisterially, +<q>we must not judge any man.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>True,</q> I replied; <q>it is just possible that, as he was falling, +he repented of his sin: <hi rend='italic'>inter pontem et fontem</hi>, as they say. But +this is extremely improbable; since the last act of the man of +which we have any means of judging was a mortal sin and +deserving of damnation.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>But,</q> said the Doctor, <q>we cannot know whether this was +such a sin.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Nay,</q> I replied, <q>this is not left to our judgment; it is +God's own verdict, when He forbids us under pain of hell to +kill any one: a prohibition which applies especially to the killing +of ourselves, for charity begins from oneself.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The good Doctor being here caught, said no more on this +point, but turned the subject, and said, smiling, <q>Gentlemen +must not dispute on theological matters.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>True,</q> said I, <q>we do not make profession of knowing +theology; but at least we ought to know the law of God, though +our profession is to play at cards.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The lady with whom I was playing, hearing him speak to +me in this way, could scarce keep her countenance, thinking +within herself what he would have said if he had known who +it was he was answering. The Doctor, however, did not stay +much longer. Whether he departed sooner than he at first +intended, I know not; but I know that we much preferred his +room to his company.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='clviii'/><anchor id='Pgclviii'/> + +<div> +<head>XXIV.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I must now return to London, and relate what happened after +John Lilly was taken, and the gentleman imprisoned with whom +I rented my London house. This house being now closed to +me, I sought out another, but on a different plan. I did not +now join in partnership with any one, because I was unwilling +to be in the house of one known to be a Catholic. I managed +that this new house should be hired by a nephew of Master +Roger Lee, whom with his wife I had reconciled to the Catholic +Church; and, as he was not known to be a Catholic, the house +was entirely free from all suspicion. I had the use of this house +for three years, and during that time it was not once searched; +nor even before the Queen's death, though there were many +general searches made, and the prisons were choked with +Catholics, did they ever come to this house.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I had a man to keep the house who was a schismatic, but +otherwise an honest and upright person. When I was in residence, +this man provided me with necessaries; and when I was +away, he managed any business for me according to my written +directions. In all appearance he was the servant of the gentleman +who owned the house, and so he was esteemed and called +by the neighbours; and since, as a schismatic, he frequented +their churches, they entertained no suspicion of him, nor of the +house.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>For myself, when I came to town, I always entered the +house after dark, and in summer time scarce ever went out while +I remained there. But my friends would come to visit me by +ones and twos on different days, that no special attention might +be drawn to the house from the number of visitors. Nor did +they ever bring any servants with them, though some were of +very high rank, and usually went about with a large number of +attendants. By these means I provided better for them and for +myself, and was able to continue longer in this way of life....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>When I was in London I did not allow every one to come +to my house whose desire to converse with me I was willing to +gratify; but I would sometimes, especially after dark in winter +time, go myself to their houses. On one occasion I was asked +<pb n='clix'/><anchor id='Pgclix'/> +by a certain lady to her house to hear the confession of a young +nobleman attached to the Court, who was a dear friend of her +husband's. Her husband was also a Catholic and well known +to me: though quite a young man, he had been one of the +principal captains in the Irish war. And the young nobleman +just mentioned was a Baron, and son to an Irish Earl, and at this +present writing he has himself succeeded to the earldom on his +father's death.<note place='foot'>Richard de Burgh, commonly called Richard of Kinsale, from his conduct +at that place, Baron of Dunkellin, succeeded his father as fourth Earl of +Clanricarde, May 20, 1601. He was subsequently made Earl of St. Albans, +and died Nov. 12, 1635. He married Frances, daughter and heiress of Sir +Francis Walsyngham, Knight, widow of Robert second Earl of Essex. She +died in 1632. Thus Walsyngham's only child became a Catholic.</note> This young Baron, then,</q> Lord Dunkellin, +<q rend='pre'>wished to make his confession to me. As I had not known +him before, I put a few questions to him, according to my +wont, beforehand. I asked him, therefore, if he was prepared +at once. He answered that he was. I then asked how often in +the year he was accustomed to go to the Sacraments. <q>Twice +or thrice in the year,</q> he said.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>It would be better,</q> said I, <q>to come more frequently, and +then less preparation would be necessary. As it is, I should +advise you to take a few days for the exact and diligent examination +of your conscience, according to the method that I will +show you; then you will come with greater fruit, and with greater +satisfaction to yourself and to me. And for the future I would +recommend a more frequent use of the holy Sacraments.</q> And I +brought some reasons for my advice.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>He listened to me very patiently, and when I had finished +he replied, <q>I will do in future what you recommend, and I +would willingly follow your counsel at present, if it were possible; +it is, however, impossible to put off my present confession.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Why is it impossible?</q> I asked.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Because,</q> he replied, <q>to-morrow I shall be in circumstances +of danger, and I desire to prepare myself by confession to-day.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>What danger is this,</q> I asked again, <q>to which you will be +exposed?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>There is a gentleman at Court,</q> he said, <q>who has +grievously insulted me, so that I was compelled in defence of +<pb n='clx'/><anchor id='Pgclx'/> +my honour to challenge him to single combat, and we meet +to-morrow at an appointed spot at some distance from town.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>My lord,</q> I exclaimed, <q>to approach the Sacrament in such +a frame of mind is not to prepare yourself for danger, nor to +cleanse your soul (though I doubt not it was with a good +intention you proposed it), but rather to sully your soul more +than ever, to affront God still further, and render Him still more +your enemy. For to come to confession with a determination of +taking vengeance is to put an obstacle to the grace of the Sacrament; +and, moreover, this particular action on which you are +resolved is not only a sin, but is visited with excommunication. +I urge you, therefore, to give up this intention; you will be able +to preserve your honour by some other way. Nay, the honour +you think to preserve by this is not real honour, but merely the +estimation of bad men founded on bad principles: men who +exalt their own worldly ideas above the law and honour of God.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>It is impossible to withdraw now,</q> he said, <q>for the thing +is known to many, and has been taken even to the Queen, who +has expressly forbidden us to pursue the matter any further.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Well then,</q> said I, <q>you have the best possible reason for +laying aside the quarrel, namely, obedience to the Queen's +behest. Moreover, you must remember that you are known +for the intimate friend of the Earl of Essex, and that, if you +overcome your adversary, the Queen (if it be only to spite the +Earl) will certainly visit you with some heavy punishment for +having disregarded her commands; but if you should kill him, +unquestionably she will take your life. On the other hand, if +you should be vanquished, what becomes of the honour you wish +to defend, and if you should be slain in that state of soul in +which you go to the fight, you go straight to eternal fire and +everlasting shame, for while you are defending your body from +your adversary's sword, you forget to parry the mortal thrust that +the devil is aiming at your soul.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>But spite of all I could say, the fear of the world, which is +fatally powerful with men of this rank, prevailed, and his reply +was, <q>I implore you, Father, to pray for me, and to hear my +confession if you possibly can.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Certainly I cannot hear you,</q> I said, <q>for that honour +<pb n='clxi'/><anchor id='Pgclxi'/> +which you worship is not necessary to you, in the sense in +which it is to those who are obliged to take their part in a war. +Besides, you are the challenger, and you took this unlawful +course when it was possible for you to follow some other method +of vindicating yourself, and so whatever necessity there is for +pursuing the matter has been created by yourself. But this is +what I will do; I will give you from my reliquary a particle of +the Holy Cross, inclosed with an Agnus Dei, and you shall wear +it upon you. Perhaps God may have mercy upon you for the +sake of this, and afford you time for penance. Understand, +however, I do not give it you in order to encourage you in your +bad purpose, but that you may wear it with all reverence and +respect, so that, should you come into danger (which certainly I +do not desire), God may be moved to preserve your life, in the +consideration of the good will you have of honouring His Cross.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>He took my gift very thankfully and reverentially, and had +it sewed inside his shirt over his heart, for it was arranged that +they should fight in their shirts without cuirass. It happened, +God so allowing it, that his adversary made a lunge at his heart +and pierced his shirt, but did not touch his skin. He on his side +wounded and prostrated his enemy, then gave him his life and +came off victorious. He then came to me in high spirits, and +told me how he had been preserved by the power of the Holy +Cross; then he thanked me very earnestly, and promised to be +more on his guard in future. The Queen soon after took a fancy +to this young nobleman, and kept him close to her at Court for a +time. But tiring soon of this sort of life, at his father's death he +married the widow of the Earl of Essex. She was a heretic when +he married her, but he soon made her a Catholic, and they both +live now as Catholics in Ireland, as I hear.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>That Knight, moreover, who introduced this young Baron +to me, followed my counsel at that time, and after devoting +several days to a diligent examination of conscience, made a +general confession of his whole life, with a view of reforming it +for the future. A little later he was desirous of returning to the +Irish wars, but as I was in doubt whether this was lawful in +conscience, he promised me to resign his appointment and +return to England, if the Priests there, to whom I referred him +<pb n='clxii'/><anchor id='Pgclxii'/> +as living on the spot, and therefore having a closer knowledge of +the circumstances, decided that it was unlawful. Soon after his +arrival in Ireland, in a certain fight, while he was bravely +mounting a wall and animating his men to follow, he was +struck dead by a musket-ball. He had, however, before the +fight, carefully written me a letter and sent it off, informing me +that he had consulted the Priests in the country, and had +received this answer, that it was lawful to fight against the +Catholic party, because it was not clear to all why they had +taken up arms.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>After his death a remarkable incident occurred, which I will +relate. His wife, pious soul, who never had the least idea of her +husband's death, about that time heard every night some one +knocking at her chamber door, and that so loudly as to wake her. +Her maids heard it too, but on opening the door there was no +one to be seen. She therefore got a Priest to stay with her and +her maids till the usual time of the knocking, and when the same +noise and knocking at the door were heard, the Priest himself +went to the door, but found no one. This knocking went on till +such time as news of her husband's death reached her, as if it had +been a warning from his Angel to pray for his soul....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Having held this house for three years, I let it to a Catholic +friend, and took another house near the principal street in +London, called the Strand. Since most of my friends lived in +that street, they were thus able to visit me more easily, and I +them. After my removal I discovered how entirely free from +suspicion was the house which I had left, and in which I had +dwelt for three years; for the servant who kept my house sent +for a gardener with whom he had been acquainted in the other +house (for the garden of the new house needed to be put in +order), and the gardener remarked to him, <q>Some Papists have +come to live in your old house:</q> as though they who had +previously dwelt there had been good Protestants.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>This new house was very suitable and convenient, and had +private entrances on both sides, and I had contrived in it some +most excellent hiding-places; and there I should long have +remained, free from all peril or even suspicion, if some friends of +mine, while I was absent from London, had not availed themselves +<pb n='clxiii'/><anchor id='Pgclxiii'/> +of the house rather rashly. It remained, however, in the +same state up to the time of the great and terrible disturbance of +the Powder Plot, as I shall hereafter shortly mention.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Meantime my friends brought me another who was heir to a +barony, and is himself now a peer, and by God's grace I +persuaded him to take on his shoulders the yoke of the law of +Christ and of the Catholic faith, and made him a member of the +Church. Another whom I had previously known in the world, +and had seen to be wholly devoted to every kind of vanity, fell +sick. He had abounded with riches and pleasures, and passed +his days in jollity, destined, however, to fall from thence in a +moment, had not God patiently waited, and in a suitable time led +him to penance. He then was lying sick of a grievous illness, +but yet had not begun to think of death. I heard that he was +sick, and obtained an entry into his chamber at eleven o'clock at +night, after the departure of his friends. He recognized me, and +was pleased at my visit. I explained why I had come, and +warned him to think seriously of the state of his soul, and, +instead of a Judge, render God a Friend and most loving Father, +however much he might have wasted all his substance. So then +weakness of body opened the ears of his heart, and in an +acceptable time God heard us, and in the day of salvation helped +us; insomuch that he offered himself as at once ready to make +his confession. I, however, said I would return on the following +night, and advised him meantime to procure that there should be +read to him, by a friend whom I named, Father Lewis of Grenada's +<hi rend='italic'>Explanation of the Commandments</hi>: that after each Commandment +he should occupy some little time in reflection, and call to mind +how, and how often, he had offended against that Commandment; +that he should then make an act of sorrow regarding each, and so +go on to the next. He promised that he would do so, and I +promised that I would return on the following night. This I did, +and heard his confession; I gave him all the assistance I could, +for the time had been short, especially for a sick man, to prepare +for such a confession, but he dared no longer defer it, although +he still seemed tolerably strong. I advised him to use the utmost +care in discharging all his debts, which were great, through the +extravagant expenditure in which he had indulged; I also +<pb n='clxiv'/><anchor id='Pgclxiv'/> +exhorted him to redeem his sins by alms. He did both by the +will he made the following day, and bequeathed a large sum for +pious uses, which, as I heard, was honestly paid.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I also bade him prepare for the Holy Communion and +Extreme Unction against the following night, and to have some +pious book read to him meantime. He not only did what I +advised, but exhorted all that came to visit him on the following +day, to repent at once of their former life, and not defer their +amendment as he had done: <q>Do not,</q> he said, <q>look for the +mercy which I have found, for this is to be presumptuous and +to irritate God; for I have deserved hell a thousand times on this +account.</q> And much more to the same effect did he speak, with +so much earnestness and freedom, that all marvelled at so sudden +a change. They asked him to hide the cross which he had +hanging from his neck (for I had lent him my own cross full of +relics to kiss, and exercise acts of reverence and love); but he +answered, <q>Hide it! Nay, I would not hide it, even if the most +bitter heretics were here. Too long have I refrained from +profession of the Catholic faith, and now, if God gave me life, I +would publicly profess myself a Catholic:</q> so that all marvelled +and were much edified and moved at his words. He spoke thus +to all the peers and great men that visited him. His conversion +thus became publicly known, and many of the courtiers afterwards +spoke of it. On the third night of my visiting him according to +my promise, he again made his confession with great expressions +of sorrow, and begged for the Sacrament of Extreme Unction, and +when he received it, himself arranged for me more conveniently +to reach the different parts of his body, just as though he had +been a Catholic many years. Seeing him in such good disposition, +I asked him whether he did not put all his trust in the merits of +Christ and in the mercy of God. <q>Surely!</q> said he; <q>did I not +do so, and did not that mercy give me salvation, I should have +been condemned to the pit of hell; in myself I find no ground of +hope, but rather of trembling. But I feel great hope in the mercy +and goodness of God, Who has so long waited for me, and now +has called me when I deserved, aye, and thought of, anything +but this!</q> Then he took my hand and said, <q>Father, I cannot +express how much I am indebted to you, for you were sent by +<pb n='clxv'/><anchor id='Pgclxv'/> +God to give me this happiness.</q> I found, moreover, that he had +no temptation against faith, but most firmly believed and confessed +every point, and I saw most clearly that God had poured +into his soul the habits of many virtues. Then I erected an altar +in his chamber with the ornaments which I had brought, and I +said Mass, while he assisted with great devotion and comfort. I +afterwards gave him the Viaticum, which he received with the +utmost reverence. When I had finished everything, I gave him +some advice that would be useful should he fall into his agony +before my return, and I left him full of consolation. Now, see +the providence of God: but a few hours after my departure, as he +was persevering in petitions for mercy, and in acts of thanksgiving +for the mercy he had received, he rendered up his soul to God. +But before his death, he asked the by-standers whether certain +purple and red robes could be applied to the use of the altar, +which he had received from the King when he was created a +Knight of the Order of the Bath. The investiture of this order +takes place only at the coronation of the King, and the Knights +enjoy precedence before all other Knights except those of the +most noble Order of the Garter, almost all of whom are Earls or +other peers. He, however, was a Knight of the Bath, and he +wished that the robes with which he had been invested at the +coronation should be devoted to the use of the altar; for he said +that he had derived great comfort from seeing my vestments, +which were merely light and portable, but yet handsome, of red +silk embroidered with silver lace. So after his death they gave me +his suit of the peculiar robes of that order, and out of them I +made sets of vestments of two colours, one of which the College +of St. Omers still possesses. Thus is the pious desire of the +deceased fulfilled, in whose conversion I could not fail to see +God's great goodness and providence.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>About the same time I received into the Church a lady, the +wife of a certain Knight, who is at the present day a very good +and useful friend of our Fathers. Her husband was at this time +a heretic, but his brother had been brought by me, through the +Spiritual Exercises, to despise the world and follow the counsels +of Christ. He introduced me to his sister, and after one or two +interviews she embraced the Catholic faith, although she was +<pb n='clxvi'/><anchor id='Pgclxvi'/> +well assured that she would incur great losses as soon as it should +become known to her husband, as in truth it came to pass. For +he first tried caresses, then threats, and left no means unemployed +to shake her resolution, insomuch that for a long time she had +nothing to expect or hope but to be separated from her husband, +and stripped of all the goods of the world, that so in patience +she might possess her soul. When her husband was on her +account deprived of the public employment which he held, she +bore it with great fortitude, and remained ever constant and even +in mind. At length, by her virtue and her patience, she rendered +her husband a friend to Catholics, and afterwards himself a +Catholic. He was reconciled by the ministry of Father Walpole, +to whom I had recommended her on my leaving England.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>There were many other conversions, which I cannot mention +separately, for I have already carried to too great length the +narrative of these events, which are truly very insignificant if +they are compared with the actions of others.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XXV.</head> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>One case more I cannot pass over, which gave me especial +pleasure for the sake of the person concerned; for I do not +know that any one was ever more dear to me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Sir Everard Digby, of whom I have spoken above, had +a friend for whom he felt a peculiar affection. He had often +recommended him to me, and was anxious to give me an +opportunity of making his acquaintance and gaining him over, +if it possibly might be; but because he held an office in the +Court, requiring daily attendance about the King's person, so +that he could not be absent for long together, our desire was +long delayed.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>At last Sir Everard met his friend, while we were both +together in London; and he took an opportunity of asking +him to come at a certain time to his chamber, to play at cards, +for these are the books gentlemen in London study both night +and day. He promised to come, and on his arrival he did +not find a party at play, but only us two sitting and conversing +very seriously; so Sir Everard asked him to sit down a little, +until the rest should arrive. Then, in an interval of silence, +<pb n='clxvii'/><anchor id='Pgclxvii'/> +Sir Everard said, <q>We two were engaged in a very serious +conversation, in fact, concerning religion. You know,</q> he said, +addressing the visitor, <q>that I am friendly to Catholics and to +the Catholic faith; I was, nevertheless, disputing with this gentleman, +who is a friend of mine, against the Catholic faith, +in order to see what defence he could make; for he is an earnest +Catholic, as I do not hesitate to tell you.</q> Then, turning to +me, he begged me not to be vexed that he betrayed me to a +stranger. <q>And I must say,</q> he continued, <q>he so well defended +the Catholic faith that I could not answer him, and I am glad +that you have come to help me.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The visitor was young and confident, and trusting in his +own great abilities, expected to carry everything before him, so +good was his cause and so lightly did he esteem me, as he +afterwards confessed. So he began to allege many objections +to the arguments before used. I waited with patience until he +ceased speaking, and then answered in few words. He urged +his points, and so we argued one against the other for a short +hour's space. Afterwards I began to explain my view more fully, +and to confirm it with texts of Holy Scripture and passages from +the Fathers, and with such reasons as came to my mind. And +I felt, as I often did, God supplying me words as I spoke on +His behalf in great might, not for the sake of me that spoke, nor +for any desert of mine, but just as He gives milk to a mother +when she has an infant who needs to be fed with milk. My +young friend was of a docile nature, and could no way bear to +speak against the truth when he saw it; so that he listened in +silence, and God was meantime speaking to his heart with a +voice far more powerful and efficacious. God, too, gave him +ears to hear, so that the word fell not upon stony ground, nor +among thorns, but into good soil, yea, very good, that yielded +by God's grace a hundred-fold in its season. So before he left, +he was fully resolved to become a Catholic, and took with him +a book to assist him in preparing for a good confession, which +he made before a week had passed. And from that time it was +not enough for him to walk in the ordinary path of God's +commandments, but God prepared him for higher things; and +whatever counsels I gave him he received with eagerness, and +<pb n='clxviii'/><anchor id='Pgclxviii'/> +retained not only in a faithful memory, but in a most ready will. +He began to use the daily examination of conscience, and even +learned the method of meditation, and made a meditation every +day. He was forced to rise very early to do this before he went +to the King, which in summer was at break of day, for the King +went hunting every day, and he, by duty of his office, was +necessarily present at the royal breakfast. He would, moreover, +so with his whole soul devour pious books, that he always had +one in his pocket; and in the King's Court and in the Presence-chamber, +while courtiers and ladies were standing around, you +might see him turn himself to a window, and there read a chapter +of Thomas à Kempis' <hi rend='italic'>Imitation of Christ</hi>, a book with which +he was most intimate; and after he had read it, you might see +him turn in body, but not in mind, towards the others, for there +he would stand rapt in thought, while the rest perhaps were +supposing that he was admiring the beauty of some lady, or +thinking over the means to climb to great honours. In truth, +he had no need to take particular pains about this, for, in the +first place, he was son and brother to an Earl, and, moreover, +the place and office which he filled were very honourable, giving +him the ear of the King every day. His wit could not fail to +distinguish favourable opportunities for gaining his requests, and, +in fact, the King had given him an office which he afterwards +sold, but which, had he kept it, would have brought him in more +than ten thousand florins [1,000<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>] a year. In short, such was his +position that he would undoubtedly have soon risen to great +honours; for he made himself acceptable to all, and was not +a little beloved, insomuch that after he had left the Court and +given up all hope of worldly honour, I heard it said by some +persons of the greatest eminence and experience in the ways of +the Court, that they had never in forty years' space known any +one so highly valued and beloved in every quarter.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But, what is far more important, he was beloved in the +Court of the King of Kings, and inspired to desire and seek after +greater and more abiding blessings. So he conceived the wish +of trying the Spiritual Exercises, in the course of which he +determined to desert the Court, and devote himself to those +pursuits which would render him most pleasing to God and +<pb n='clxix'/><anchor id='Pgclxix'/> +most profitable to his neighbour; so with as little delay as +possible he made such a disposition of his goods as would +enable him freely to make his escape from England. He then, +to the surprise of all, asked and obtained the King's leave to +go to Italy, where he still resides, and he is so well known to +our Fathers that there is no need to write anything more concerning +him; but this I can say, that wherever I have known +him to have been, he has left men filled with great esteem for +him, and expectation of yet greater things....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The conversions which took place in the country were not +few, and some were cases of heads of families; but I have already +gone to great length, and I will here recount one only, the +beginning and end of which I saw to be good.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>There was a lady, a kinswoman of my hostess, whose +husband had now many years been a Catholic, yet neither her +husband, nor any of her friends, nor my hostess herself, who +loved her as a sister, could ever lead her to become a Catholic. +She did not object to listen to Catholics, even to Priests, and was +fond of earnest argument with them; but she would believe no +one but herself, and indeed her talents were greater than I have +often met with in a woman. My hostess often mourned over this +lady, and grieved that no remedy could be found; she wished +that I should once see her. She spoke highly in praise of her +talents and amiable disposition, and of her life and behaviour in +all respects, with the one solitary exception of her being an +obstinate heretic. I asked my hostess, therefore, to invite her +to pay us a visit, although she lived in a distant county. She +came according to the invitation, and we took care that she +should find me showing myself in public, and dressed as though +I had been a guest just arrived from London. On the first two +days we did but little, for we knew that she would have plenty of +time afterwards, and I wished to remove all timidity from her; +for though she had been accustomed to meet Priests at that +house, yet they had kept mostly to their chambers. But as soon +as I judged her to be convinced that I was a Catholic, but not a +Priest, I began slowly to turn my conversation with her often +upon religion. At first I spoke little, but to such purpose that +she could not answer me; and so I left her, not urging her, but +<pb n='clxx'/><anchor id='Pgclxx'/> +rather leaving her with a desire to hear more. At length, after a +few days, I judged her thoroughly prepared, and I arranged that +my hostess should begin to talk seriously upon these topics, and +that when she saw me enter into the conversation and carry it on, +she should leave us in company with one or two of the lady's +daughters, for she had brought three with her. This having been +done, we began the combat with, as it seemed to her, various +success, for one or two hours; and then she listened to me as I +spoke without interruption for two or three hours more. She +spoke little in answer, and did not like on the spot to acknowledge +herself vanquished, but she thanked me heartily, and went +away quite red and flushed in the face. She was truly moved, or, +rather, changed interiorly, and straightway she ran to my hostess +and said, <q>Oh, cousin, what have you done?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>What have I done?</q> replied the other.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Oh, who is it,</q> she rejoined, <q>that you introduced me to? Is +he such a one as you represented to me? At any rate, he is,</q> ... +and she spoke in much higher terms of my learning and language +than I deserved, and she added that she could not resist what I +urged, nor answer it.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>On the following day God confirmed what He had wrought +in her, and she surrendered at discretion, and accepted a book to +help her to prepare for confession. Meantime, with the mother's +consent and assistance, I instructed her three daughters, and +when they had learned the catechism, I heard their confessions. +The mother, however, during the time of her preparation, began +to be filled with trouble and sorrow, not on account of leaving +her heresy, but through fear of confession. I, on the contrary, +encouraged her to persevere, and adduced arguments against her +timidity, but I could not rid her of it, and so, seeing that she was +ready as far as examination was concerned, but nevertheless put +the matter off from day to day, and begged a little more time to +prepare, I would not consent. I told her that this came from the +enemy, who grieved to leave his habitation, and at length she saw +and acknowledged this. For as soon as out of obedience she had +made her confession, she felt relieved of a great burden, and +filled with consolation; and she told me that now she was glad +not to have delayed longer.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='clxxi'/><anchor id='Pgclxxi'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I have often found this, that some souls experience great +trouble when first they make confession on being reconciled to +the Church of God. Some persons even fall sick and faint, so as +to be forced to cease speaking for a time and sit down, until they +have recovered a little and are able to continue; and this has +happened even when at their first coming they were in sound +health, and ready to confess. And then when they recommenced, +they again fell ill, and this happened two or three times in the +course of their first confession. But when the confession was +finished, they not only felt no sickness, but having received +absolution, they went away full of joy and consolation. Some, in +fact, have remarked to me, that did men but know what consolation +is gained in confession, they would never be deprived of +so great a happiness.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Among these was to be reckoned this lady, who came forth +from confession full of consolation, and gave most hearty thanks +to her cousin, for that by her means she had been admitted to +share in so great a happiness. So great was God's mercy towards +her, that thenceforth she gave herself wholly up to devotion. On +her return home she devoted herself to making handsome vestments, +and, whenever she was able, she procured the company of +Priests. And not content with this, she was anxious to return +wholly to our house, and to dwell with us, in order to have more +frequent access to the Sacraments, and the opportunity of hearing +the public and private exhortations that we had every Sunday and +Festival-day. She stayed with us about two years, and all that +time she gave herself up to devotion and the constant reading of +pious books. She was clearly led to this course of life by the +special mercy and providence of God; for at the end of the +period I have mentioned, although she seemed stout and strong, +she was suddenly attacked with disease, by which, within a few +days, she was so weakened, that no skill of the physicians could +restore her strength. She was warned to prepare for the life to +come, and she repeated a good and careful confession of her +whole life.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>At length, finding herself in her last agony, she wished to +write a letter to her brother, who was a heretic, and almost the +greatest enemy the Catholics had in the county in which he +<pb n='clxxii'/><anchor id='Pgclxxii'/> +dwelt. To him, then, she wished to send a letter, written by her +daughter's hand, but subscribed with her own, to the following +effect: That he knew she had long been a strenuous upholder of +this new religion, so that he might be the more convinced that +she would not have changed it without good grounds, and that +she had certain and unanswerable authorities for the faith which +she had adopted; wherefore she protested to him that ever since +the time when she embraced the faith she had lived in peace of +conscience, and that never before that time had she enjoyed true +internal consolation; finally, she begged him to have a care of +his soul, and proceeded thus: <q>I, your sister, now at the point of +death, by these my last words, beg and beseech you to embrace +the Catholic and ancient faith; and I protest that there is no +other in which you can be saved.</q> These were her sentiments +when almost come into her last agony, from which I perceived +that she was wholly converted from heresy, and full of charity +towards her neighbour; so having asked her a few questions, and +found that she was not troubled with any temptations of presumption +or of despair, I gave her as much help as I could in forming +and uttering acts of the opposite virtues. After which, when she +was on the point of death, I offered her a picture of the Passion +of Christ, and she embraced and kissed it with the greatest +affection. I put also a blessed medal into her hands, and +reminded her to invoke the name of Jesus in her heart at least, in +order to gain the indulgences, although she could not speak. I +then asked her to give some sign to show that she did thus from +her heart, whereupon she caught hold of the medal and kissed it, +repeating this action several times. Observing she made answer +to me by signs, I bade her conceive a great sorrow for ever +having offended God, Who was so good in Himself, and had +shown so great mercy to her, and to give a sign of it by raising +her hand: she did so with great earnestness; then to conceive +sorrow that she had ever been in heresy, and had resisted God +and the Church, of which also she gave a sign; then to conceive +the wish that all heretics might be converted, and that she +willingly offered her life for their conversion, and she again made +the signal with great earnestness, and also took my hand within +her own, which were already chill, and held it firmly, repeating +<pb n='clxxiii'/><anchor id='Pgclxxiii'/> +the signs that she was pleased with the suggestions I made to +her. And I continued up to her last gasp, encouraging her, and +exhorting her to praise God in her heart, to desire that all +creatures should praise and serve Him, and to offer her life for +this end. And she gave me answer to everything, now raising, now +lowering her hand; just as I asked her to do in assent to what I +suggested. All the by-standers, who were numerous, and a Priest +also who was among them, were in great admiration, and declared +that they never witnessed such a death as this. For she continued, +as I have said, responding to my suggestions up to the very last +breath, raising her hand slightly when she could no longer raise it +much. In these interior acts she gave up her soul, without any +trouble of mind or convulsion of body, but like one going off to +sleep, she went to rest in peace.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Her youngest daughter had already died holily in our house +before her mother. The second daughter married a rich man, +and brought him to me from a considerable distance to be made +a Catholic. The eldest still lives in the same house, to be +espoused not to man but to God, for she has a vocation to the +Religious state. In the meantime she lives there religiously, and +devotes herself to the service of Religious, as the lady of the house +always did, and does still....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I gave the Spiritual Exercises in this house to many others, +as well to those who formed part of the family as to others; and +in each case the fruit which I hoped for was produced....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>But suddenly all things were upset for a time, and all good +hindered by the Powder Plot, as it is called. And if proof were +wanting that I knew nothing of this affair, this alone would be +sufficient, that at that very time I had sent several from England +across the sea into these parts. One was a lady, who was going +to be a Nun in the Benedictine Convent at Brussels, whither I +had sent two others not long before, who are now in high authority +there. Another had been an heretical minister, whom I had +brought to the Faith and instructed. He was the last that I +received into the Church before these disturbances. When these +persons, with certain others, were on the point of crossing the +Channel, orders were sent to allow no ships to leave; they were, +consequently, all taken and thrown into prison, from which they +<pb n='clxxiv'/><anchor id='Pgclxxiv'/> +were released two years ago. He who had been a minister is at +present studying in the Roman College; and the lady of whom I +spoke is now professed in the convent whither she was going +when she was taken. Only one other minister besides the one +just mentioned did I convert in England, and he is now a Priest +and is working in that vineyard. I also sent over many youths +to the Seminaries while I was in this last residence of mine, who +will, by God's help, give fruit in due season.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>But if we have received good things from God's hands, why +should we not also bear with evil things?—if those things can be +truly called evil which are sent from Him, and therefore sent that +He may draw good from them, for those who receive them well, +and humbly recognize and adore His providence, both when He +gives and when He takes away. He had, indeed, given me many +and great consolations in this residence; interior consolations +chiefly, from conversions and from the signal progress in virtue of +many souls; but exterior consolations were not wanting. For in +external matters everything was well and abundantly supplied me. +I had several excellent horses for my missionary journeys, and all +that I could wish for to carry on the work I had in hand. Then, +in the house itself, the arrangements were made in the best way +both for our health and our convenience. And for companion I +had Father Strange, who is now in the Tower<note place='foot'>Qui nunc in rure est (MS.). An evident mistake of the copyist for <q>in +turre,</q> as is clear from a former passage, where Father Gerard says, <q>Father +Thomas Strange is at present suffering imprisonment in the Tower of London, +where he has had to undergo many grievous tortures, and a long solitary confinement. +This solitude indeed, if we look only to his natural disposition, +cannot but be very irksome and oppressive to him; but <emph>he</emph> is not solitary who +has God always present with him, consoling him, and supplying in an eminent +degree and full abundance all those comforts which we are wont to go begging +for from creatures.</q></note> (for Master Digby +had obtained Father Percy from the Superior), and another Priest +who resided a long time with us. We had, moreover, good store +of useful books, which were kept in a library without any concealment, +because they had the appearance of belonging to the young +Baron, and of having been left him by his uncle,<note place='foot'>Sir Ambrose Vaux, Prior of St. John of Jerusalem.</note> who was a very +learned and studious nobleman, and was well known for his piety. +He had, in fact, resigned the right and title of the barony to his +<pb n='clxxv'/><anchor id='Pgclxxv'/> +younger brother, the father of the present lord, in order that he +might more entirely and securely devote himself to God and his +studies. If he had lived a little longer, he would assuredly have +been a member of our Society, for on his death-bed this was the +only thing that caused him regret, namely, that he could not then +be admitted into the Society, a thing he desired most earnestly.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Our vestments and altar furniture were both plentiful and +costly. We had two sets for each colour which the Church uses; +one for ordinary use, the other for Feast-days: some of these latter +were embroidered with gold and pearls, and figured by well-skilled +hands. We had six massive silver candlesticks on the altar, +besides those at the sides for the Elevation; the cruets were of +silver also, as were the basin for the lavabo, the bell, and the +thurible. There were, moreover, lamps hanging from silver chains, +and a silver crucifix on the altar. For greater Festivals, however, +I had a crucifix of gold, a foot in height, on the top of which was +represented a pelican, while on the right arm of the cross was an +eagle with expanded wings carrying on its back its young ones, +who were also attempting to fly; on the left arm a phœnix +expiring in flames that it might leave an offspring after it; and +at the foot was a hen with her chickens, gathering them under +her wings. All this was made of wrought gold by a celebrated +artist....</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>But I, who was not sufficiently grateful to God for these +benefits which I have mentioned, and many others, was compelled +to leave them to others who could use them better and to +greater advantage.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>For since it was my chief friends who were involved in that +disaster of the Powder Plot, the Council on this account believed +me to be privy to it, and from the first sought for me with great +persistence and severity. They sent certain magistrates to search +our house most exactly, with orders, if they found me not, to stay +in the house till recalled, to post guards all round the house +every night, and to have men on the watch both day and night +at a distance of three miles from the house on every side, who +were to apprehend all whom they did not know and bring them +before the Justices. All this was done to the letter. But +immediately the news reached us of such a plot having been +<pb n='clxxvi'/><anchor id='Pgclxxvi'/> +discovered, and we learnt that certain of our friends had been +killed and others taken, expecting that in such a season we, +too, should have something to suffer, we had made all snug +before they came, so that they found nothing. They continued +searching, however, for many days, till at last my hostess discovered +to the Justice in chief command one of the hiding-places +in which a few books had been stowed away, thinking that he +would then desist from searching any further, under the +impression that if a Priest had been in the house he would +have been hidden there, yet they continued in the house for full +nine days; and I, meanwhile, remained shut up in a hole where +I could sit, but not stand upright. This time, however, I did +not suffer from hunger, for every night food was brought to me +secretly; nay, after four or five days, when the rigour of the +search was somewhat relaxed, my friends even took me out at +night and warmed me at a fire, for it was wintry weather, just +before Christmas-tide. And when nine days had passed the +searching party withdrew, believing it impossible I could be +there so long without being discovered.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In the meantime they had taken a Priest, who, knowing +nothing of the watch set about the place, was coming to our +house for safety. This good Priest (by name Thomas Laithwaite,<note place='foot'>This name is written <q>Lathuilli</q> in the MS. English names frequently +suffer at the hands of this copyist. We have restored the true name by the aid +of Dr. Oliver's <hi rend='italic'>Collectanea</hi>.</note> +who is now of our Society, and is labouring in England) had left +us a few days before at my request, when we heard of the Plot, in +order to communicate with Father Garnett, and obtain from him +for me instructions how to act in the present crisis. Even on his +way thither he was taken, but escaped again for that time in the +following manner. His captors took him to an inn, intending to +bring him up for examination and committal the next day. On +entering the inn he took off his cloak and sword and laid them on +a bench; then, on pretence of looking after his horse and getting +him taken to water, he went to the stable, and, as there was a +stream near the house, he bade the boy lead the horse thither at +once, and himself went along also. When they had come to the +stream and the horse was drinking, <q>Go,</q> said he to the lad, <q>get +<pb n='clxxvii'/><anchor id='Pgclxxvii'/> +ready the hay and the straw for his bed, and I will bring him +back when he has drunk.</q> The boy returned to the stable +without further thought, and he, mounting his horse, spurred +him into the stream, and swam him to the opposite bank. Those +in the inn, seeing his cloak and sword still lying there, had for +some time no suspicion of his stratagem; but hearing from the +stable-boy what had happened, they saw they had been outwitted, +and immediately set off in pursuit. They were, however, too late, +for the fugitive, knowing the way well, got to the house of a +Catholic before night, and lay hid there for a few days. Then, +finding that he could not get to Father Garnett, and thinking all +danger had passed in our direction, he tried to return to me. +But while avoiding Charybdis he fell into the clutches of Scylla; +for, as I said above, he was taken on his way to our house, and +dragged to London. They were not able, however, to prove him +a Priest, and his brother was allowed to buy him his freedom for +a sum of money.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Two other Priests who were resident with me in that house +(one of whom, as I said before, was Father Strange), at the +beginning of their troubles wished to go to Father Garnett and +remain with him. Both of them, however, were taken prisoners +on their way; one was thrown into Bridewell, and was afterwards +banished, together with other Priests, while Father Strange, the +other, was sent to the Tower, where he suffered much, as has +been before mentioned.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XXVI.</head> + +<p> +<q>The history of the Plot, its causes and consequences, is but +too well known; since it has been written by both friends and +enemies, though perhaps by neither exactly as it ought to be. I +myself, when I came from England to Rome, was ordered to put +in writing an account of the whole affair, and did so as well as I +could. There is no need, therefore, to repeat here what I +wrote at length on that occasion....</q><note place='foot'>Father Gerard here gives a summary of his Narrative of the Gunpowder +Plot.</note> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I will now add a few words about myself before closing this +narrative. I have stated in the other treatise, of which I spoke, +<pb n='clxxviii'/><anchor id='Pgclxxviii'/> +that a proclamation was issued against three Jesuit Fathers, of +whom I was one; and, though the most unworthy, I was named +first in the proclamation, whereas I was the subject of one, and +far inferior in all respects to the other. All this, however, I +solemnly protest, was utterly groundless; for I knew absolutely +nothing of the Plot from any one whatsoever, not even under the +seal of confession as the other two did; nor had I the slightest +notion that any such scheme was entertained by any Catholic +gentleman, until by public rumour news was brought us of +its discovery, as it was to all others dwelling in that part of the +country.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When I saw by that long search of nine days that I was +sought after and aimed at in particular, I wrote a public letter, as +if to some friends, in which, by many arguments, and by protestations +beyond all cavil, I maintained my entire innocence of +the charges brought against me. Of this letter I caused many +copies to be taken, and to be dropped about the London streets +very early in the morning. These were found and read by many +persons, and a copy was shown to the King by one of the Lords +of Council, who was no enemy either of mine or of my cause. +The King, as I heard, was personally satisfied by this. Afterwards, +however, when information was given them of Father Garnett's +hiding-place, and they conceived hopes of catching him, and of +turning the whole charge on the Society, they thought it +necessary to publish the names of some of ours as the principal +contrivers of the Plot. So they put my name down, as well as +those of the other two Fathers, of whom they had heard from a +certain servant of Master Catesby. This man, however, before +his death, repenting of this injury he had done them, confessed +that he had been induced to say what he did of them against his +conscience, by the fear of death on the one hand, and by the +hope of pardon, and by the persuasions and suggestions of +Secretary Cecil on the other. And it is possible that some +persons at that time had a real suspicion that I was privy to the +thing, because they knew that many of the gentlemen who had +been taken were friends of mine, and were in the habit of visiting +me at my London house. This, indeed, was acknowledged by +one of them in his examination, though at the same time he +<pb n='clxxix'/><anchor id='Pgclxxix'/> +affirmed that I knew nothing of their scheme. Nor did they +ever get a single word against me from any of their examinations. +Master Digby, indeed, who was known to be most +intimate with me, and for that reason was most strictly examined +about me, publicly protested in open court that he never dare +mention a syllable of it to me, because I should never have +permitted him to go on with it. When I heard of all this, and, +besides, had learnt several particulars concerning Father Garnett, +which proved that any knowledge he had was under seal of confession, +and imparted to him by the only Priest of the Society +who knew of it, and that also only in confession, it seemed to +me that I was sufficiently cleared of the charge; and in order to +bring this fact into notice, I prepared three letters to three Lords +of the Council, a little before the death of the condemned +conspirators, in which I showed more at full that I was +completely ignorant of the whole matter, and pointed out how +they might satisfy themselves of the same while those gentlemen +were yet alive. Whether they did so or not, I do not know; but +this much I know, that in the whole process of Father Garnett's +trial, in which after the receipt of these letters they tried their +utmost to defame the whole Society, and in particular to charge +this Plot on the English mission, they never once mentioned me. +They spoke, indeed, of three Fathers as guilty, but they named +those two who had heard of it in confession, and Father +Ouldcorne, not as privy to the Plot beforehand, but as an +accomplice <hi rend='italic'>post factum</hi>.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Nevertheless, I took the greatest precaution to remain +hidden; and I lay at a place in London known to no one. +So by the protection of God I continued safe, and if it had +seemed good I could have remained so still longer. I did not, +therefore, leave England to avoid being taken, but as in that great +disturbance it was no time for labouring, but rather for keeping +quiet, I took a favourable opportunity that presented itself of +passing over into these parts and reposing a little, that after so +long a period of distracting work in all kinds of company, I +might take breath and recover strength for future labours. Why, +even at that very time when I was keeping so close, and when +nearly all my friends were either in prison, or so upset that they +<pb n='clxxx'/><anchor id='Pgclxxx'/> +could scarcely help themselves, much less me, though I had lost +the house I had in London, through the fault of one who disclosed +it, as I have said, and though strict watch was kept +everywhere, and danger beset me on all sides; yet, before I +had settled to leave England, I managed to hire another house +in London very fit for my purpose, perhaps more so than the +former. I managed also to furnish it with everything necessary, +and made some good hiding-places in it; and there I remained +in safety the whole of Lent before my departure. Besides this +house I also hired another, finer and larger than this, which I +intended should be in common between Father Antony +Hoskins and me. This house after my departure was used by +the Superior of the mission for a considerable time.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The first of these last-mentioned houses I brought into +some little danger, about the end of Lent, in order to rescue one +of our Fathers from imminent danger. The thing happened in +this wise. The good Father, by name Thomas Everett, had gone +to a gentleman's house in London, where there were some false +brethren, or else some talkative ones; for the fact reached the +ears of the Council. And as he is something of my height, and +has black hair, Cecil thought it was I of whom notice was given +him, and said to a private friend of his, <q>Now we shall have him,</q> +naming me. However, he had neither the one nor the other. +For I, learning that the Father had gone to this place, where he +could not possibly remain hidden, asked my friend, in whose +house I had myself been concealed before I had procured and +furnished my new abode, to fetch him and keep him close in his +house for a time, which he did. Here he remained while the +house he had just left was undergoing a strict search. Now it so +happened that, after a few days, a search was also made in the +very place to which he had been brought, on account of some +books of Father Garnett's which had been seen, and which this +gentleman used to keep for him. After rifling the place well and +finding no one, for Father Everett had betaken himself to a +hiding-place, they carried off the master and mistress of the +house, and threw them into prison. Now when I heard this, and +knew there was no Catholic left in the house, fearing lest the +Father should either perish with hunger, or come forth to be +<pb n='clxxxi'/><anchor id='Pgclxxxi'/> +taken, I sent persons from my own house, to whom I described +the position of his hiding-place. They went thither, and called +to him, and knocked at the place, for him to open it; he, +however, would neither open nor answer, though they said that I +had sent them for him. For, as he did not know their voices, he +was afraid that this was a trick of the searchers, who sometimes +pretend to depart, and then after a time return, and assuming a +friendly tone, go about the rooms, asking any who are hidden +to come out, for that the searchers are all gone. The good +Father suspected that this was the case now, and therefore made +no answer. My messengers remained a long time trying to +reassure him, and at last were obliged to return, but so late, that +they fell into the hands of the watch. They were detained in +custody that night, and got off with some difficulty the next day. +One of them, however, was recognized as having formerly lived +with a Catholic, and was therefore believed to be a Catholic +himself, and as it was now known that he lived in the house +that I had hired, this brought that house into suspicion, though +it had been ostensibly hired by a schismatic, who was under no +suspicion at all. The consequence was that some four days later +the chief magistrate of London, who is called the mayor, came +with a <hi rend='italic'>posse</hi> of constables to search the house.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In the meantime, hearing that Father Thomas would not +answer, and knowing well that he was there, to prevent his +perishing from starvation, I sent the next night another party with +the man who had made the hiding-place and knew how to open it. +The place was thus opened, and the good Father rescued from +his perilous position. They brought him to my house, and there he +remained. I myself, however, before he arrived, had gone to a +friend's house, a very secure place, for the purpose of staying there +a little, as I had some fears that the apprehension of my servants +a day or two back might bring the searchers to my house. My +fears were well founded: for on Holy Thursday, while Father +Everett was saying Mass, and had just finished the Offertory, +there was a great tumult and noise at the garden gate; and the +mayor used such violence, and made such quick work of it, as to +have entered the garden, and the house, and to be now actually +mounting the stairs, just as the Father, all vested as he was, and +<pb n='clxxxii'/><anchor id='Pgclxxxii'/> +with all the altar furniture bundled up, had entered his hiding-place. +So near a matter was it, that the mayor and his company +smelt the smoke of the extinguished candles, so that they made +sure a Priest had been there, and were the more eager in their +search. But of the three hiding-places in the house they did not +find one. So they departed, taking with them those men whom +they found in the house, and who acknowledged themselves to be +Catholics, and the schismatic also who passed for the house-holder. +After this, having again released Father Everett from his +hiding-hole and advised him to leave London, I determined not +to use that house again for some time. And seeing that the +times were such as called us rather to remain quiet, than to gird +ourselves for work, I took the first opportunity of crossing the sea +and coming into these parts.<note place='foot'>In a letter addressed by Father Ouldcorne to the Council, dated March +25, 1606, in which he relates all that had passed in the Tower between Father +Garnett and himself, but in a way that could not be hurtful to either, the +following passage occurs. <q>Also Mr. Garnett told me that while he was in +the Gatehouse he received a note written in orange (but he told me not from +whom) whereby he understood that Father Tesimond was gone over sea, and +that Father Gerard would presently follow him after he had recovered a little +more strength: <q>whereby</q> (said Garnett) <q>I gather he hath been lately in some +secret place, as we were; but by this I hope he hath recovered his strength, +and is also past over the sea</q></q> (P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Gunpowder Plot Book</hi>, n. 214).</note></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I recommended my friends to different Fathers, asking them +to have special care of them during my absence. As for my +hostess,</q> Mrs. Vaux, <q rend='pre'>she was brought to London after that long +search for me, and strictly examined about me by the Lords of +the Council; but she answered to everything so discreetly as to +escape all blame. At last they produced a letter of hers to a +certain relative, asking for the release of Father Strange and +another, of whom I spoke before. This relative of hers was the +chief man in the county in which they had been taken, and she +thought she could by her intercession with him prevail for their +release. But the treacherous man, who had often enough, so far +as words went, offered to serve her in any way, proved the truth +of our Lord's prophecy: <q>A man's enemies shall be those of his +own household;</q> for he immediately sent up her letter to the +Council. They showed her, therefore, her own letter, and said to +her, <q>You see now that you are entirely at the King's mercy for +<pb n='clxxxiii'/><anchor id='Pgclxxxiii'/> +life or death; so if you consent to tell us where Father Gerard is, +you shall have your life.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>I do not know where he is,</q> she answered; <q>and if I did +know, I would not tell you.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Then rose one of the lords who had been a former friend of +hers, to accompany her to the door out of courtesy, and on the +way said to her persuasively, <q>Have pity on yourself and on your +children, and say what is required of you, or otherwise you will +certainly die.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>To which she answered with a loud voice, <q>Then, my lord, +I will die.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>This was said when the door had been opened, so that her +servants who were waiting for her heard what she said, and all +burst into weeping. But the Council only said this to terrify her, +for they did not commit her to prison, but sent her to the house +of a certain gentleman in the city, and after being held here in +custody for a time, she was released, but on condition of +remaining in London. And one of the principal Lords of the +Council acknowledged to a friend that he had nothing against her +except that she was a stout Papist, going ahead of others, and, as +it were, a leader in evil.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Immediately she was released from custody, knowing that I +was then in London, quite forgetful of herself, she set about +taking care of me, and provided all the furniture and other things +necessary for my new house. Moreover, she sent me whole sheets +daily, recounting everything that occurred; and when she knew +that I wished to cross the sea for a time, she bid me not spare +expense, so that I secured a safe passage, for that she would pay +everything, though it should cost five thousand florins; and, in +fact, she sent me at once a thousand florins [100<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>] for my journey. +I left her in the care of Father Percy, who had already, as my +companion, lived a long time at her house. There he still +remains, and does much good. I went straight to Rome, and +being sent back thence to these parts, was fixed at Louvain.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I have received two signal benefits on the 3rd of May, +through the intercession, as I think, of blessed Father Garnett, +who went to Heaven on that day. The first was as follows: When +I had come to the port where, according to agreement, I was to +<pb n='clxxxiv'/><anchor id='Pgclxxxiv'/> +embark with certain high personages, in order to pass unchallenged +out of England, they, out of fear, excused themselves from performing +their promise. And in this mind they continued till the +hour of the day fixed for embarking. Now just at that time Father +Garnett's martyrdom was consummated in London, and he being +received into Heaven remembered me upon earth; for the minds +of those lords were so changed, that the Ambassadors themselves +came to fetch me, and with their own hands helped to dress me in +Spanish costume, so that I might be taken for one of their suite, +and so pass free. All went well, and I do not doubt that I owed +it to Father Garnett's prayers.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The other and greater benefit is that three years later, on +the same 3rd of May, I was admitted into the body of the Society, +by the four solemn vows,<note place='foot'>Both Father Bartoli and Father More remark that Father Gerard was +admitted to the solemn vows of a Professed Father by a special favour, as his +learning, owing to the short course of study through which he had passed, fell +short of that which the Society requires as a condition of Profession. Father +Bartoli says that this <q>most rare but most just privilege</q> was conferred on +him, <q>as virtue, in which he exceeded the standard, supplied for the studies in +which he fell short of it</q> (<hi rend='italic'>Inghilterra</hi>, p. 586).</note> though most unworthy. This I look +upon as the greatest and most signal favour I have ever received, +and it seems to me that God wished to show me that I owed this +also to the prayers of Father Garnett, from an exact similarity +in the circumstance of time between my profession and his +martyrdom. For the day originally fixed for both had been the +1st of May, the Feast of the Holy Apostles SS. Philip and James, +and in both cases unforeseen delays postponed the event till the +3rd of May.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>God grant that I may truly love and worthily carry the +Cross of Jesus, that I may walk worthy of the vocation whereunto +I am called. This one thing I have asked of our Lord, and this +will I continue to ask, that I may dwell in the House of God all +my days, until I begin to prove myself grateful for so great a +favour, and that though hitherto unfruitful, yet by the fertility +of the olive-tree in which I have been grafted, I may at length +begin to bear some fruit!</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='clxxxv'/><anchor id='Pgclxxxv'/> + +<div> +<head>XXVII.</head> + +<p> +Here the Autobiography of Father Gerard ends. Though he +survived his escape from England thirty-one years,<note place='foot'>Bartoli, <hi rend='italic'>Inghilterra</hi>, pp. 586, 592.</note> we have not +much more to relate of the events of his life. We have, however, +first a few notes to record on the concluding portion of the +narrative. +</p> + +<p> +First, with regard to the brave Elizabeth Vaux. She was +re-arrested, long after the liberation of which Father Gerard has +told us, for in a letter from Louvain to Father Aquaviva, the +General of the Society, dated August 17, 1612, he gives the +following account of her conduct, and that of her son, Lord +Vaux, in prison. We translate from the Latin original.<note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iii., n. 111.</note> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Lord Vaux remains in prison under condemnation, but by +no means cast down. He seems with invincible courage to +trample on rather than to be deprived of the world, and not so +much to have lost as to have contemned its goods. His praise +certainly is in the mouths of all men. And his cause is so honourable +to him, and to the Catholic religion, and so disgraceful to his +enemies, that the King seemed to be ready to let the Baron go, +and to restore him all his goods, when, God so disposing it, and +preserving His servant for great things, some men making a more +careful search than usual, found out that the mother of the Baron, +who was herself under condemnation and in prison, but who +retained all her fervour and devotion, had received a Priest into +her cell on the very Feast of St. John Baptist. When the officers +entered, they found a good Father who had just completed the +Holy Sacrifice, and was in the act of distributing the most holy +Body of Christ to those who were assisting. Mrs. Vaux herself, +and two others, had communicated. The Priest turned back to +the altar, and quietly received the remaining Hosts, lest they +should fall into sacrilegious hands. The first man who entered +the room, seeing the altar well appointed, and all of them +kneeling before the Blessed Sacrament, was astounded; and +forgetting the fierceness with which, under similar circumstances, +most people rush upon a Priest, only uttered these words: +<pb n='clxxxvi'/><anchor id='Pgclxxxvi'/> +<q>Has not your ladyship suffered enough already for this sort +of thing?</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>The wonder is of old standing on the part of those who do +not understand how blessed is the life that God will give to those +who never change their fidelity to Him, and who, fearing God +more than the King, even though they have but just escaped +death, still wish to bury the dead. So our good Father Cornforth +was taken: a very holy man, whose life well deserves recording. +He was carried off to the pseudo-Prelate of Canterbury, and as he +could not conceal his Priesthood on account of those with whom +he was taken, so neither would he for his own safety's sake, hide +his Religious state. So he was sent off to that prison from which +they usually take their victims when they want an offering for the +god of heresy. Canterbury then went to the King in all haste +and fury, and putting fire to the cotton to raise a flame, so +inflamed the King's mind against the Baron, that he seems to +have diverted him from his inclination to set him free to the very +reverse. But notwithstanding all this, as the Baron has those +counsellors for him who are most powerful with the King, we all +hope that the King will soon be pacified, and that all will end +well for our friend, especially if your Paternity and yours will help +him with your holy prayers.</q> +</p> + +<p> +In the Public Record Office we have various papers which +add a little to what Father Gerard has here written. Letters<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, James I.</hi>, vol. 68, n. 67, and vol. 71, n. 24; Chamberlain +to Carleton.</note> +dated February 26 and October 22, 1612, say that Mrs. Vaux, +Lord Vaux's mother, was condemned to perpetual imprisonment +for refusing to take the oath of allegiance, and that Lord +Vaux was transferred to the custody of the Dean of Westminster. +The Privy Councillor, who was their friend, was Henry Howard, +Earl of Northampton. There are three letters<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, James I.</hi>, vol. 70, nn. 25, 46, 55; dated August 3, +12, and 20, 1612.</note> extant from him +to Viscount Rochester in behalf of the Vauxes. In the first he +says that Lord Vaux's sister [Katherine, wife of Henry Nevill, +Lord Abergavenny] has presented a petition that her brother and +mother may, on account of the hot season, be removed from their +<pb n='clxxxvii'/><anchor id='Pgclxxxvii'/> +keeper's house in town to that in the country; but they being +imprisoned for life on a <foreign rend='italic'>prœmunire</foreign>, the matter rests with the +King. And this, in the third letter, he says the Archbishop and +Council consented to, if they can still be under charge of their +keeper. The second letter thanks Lord Rochester for his intercession +in behalf of Lord Vaux and his mother, and adds that +they expect but little mercy where the Metropolitan [Archbishop +Abbot] is mediator. Lastly, we have the grant<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Sign. Man.</hi>, vol. iii., n. 6.</note> to Lord Vaux of +Harrowden of his lands, &c., at Harrowden and elsewhere, in the +counties of Essex, Bedford, Nottingham, Lincoln, and Cambridge, +which were forfeited to the King on his conviction in a <foreign rend='italic'>prœmunire</foreign> +for refusing the oath of allegiance. Later on, May 4, 1625, +Charles I. granted him a special pardon<note place='foot'>Rymer's <hi rend='italic'>Fœdera</hi>, t. xviii., f. 44.</note> for <q>not repairing to +the Protestant church and forbearing the same,</q> which is recited +to be <q>a contempt of the King's crown and dignity.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The proclamation for the apprehension of the three Fathers +gives a description of Father Gerard.<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Proclamation Book</hi>, p. 121.</note> <q>John Gerard, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> +Brooke, of stature tall, and according thereunto well set; his +complexion swart or blackish; his face large; his cheeks sticking +out, and somewhat hollow underneath the cheeks; the hair of his +head long if it be not cut off; his beard cut close, saving little +mustachoes, and a little tuft under his lower lip; about forty +years old.</q> To this we may add the description<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 165, n. 21.</note> of Father +Gerard given by the ruffian Topcliffe, whose spelling is sufficiently +<q>kewryoos</q> to be worth retaining. It is dated in the Calendar +of the Record Office, 1583, but this is evidently erroneous, as +Father Gerard escaped from the Tower in 1597. +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Jhon Gerrarde y<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>e</hi> Jhezew<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>t</hi> preest that escaip out of the +Tower and Richard Blount a Seam<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>ry</hi> preest of estymacion, and a +thirde preest intend to passe ou<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>r</hi> rather after then w<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>th</hi> the Lo +Imbass at Dov<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>r</hi> Rye or thirabowtts upon y<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>t</hi> coast.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>They have provided for a Culler to passe w<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>thout</hi> suspycion a +Seale lyke a Seale of the Counsall table to bleare the Eye<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>s</hi> of +Seartchers and officers. Therefore it were not amysse That some +<pb n='clxxxviii'/><anchor id='Pgclxxxviii'/> +order were lefte w<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>th</hi> my Lorde Trasorr that he gyve order that the +Lres do passe under such a Seale from y<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>r</hi> Lls. But under & w<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>th</hi> +summe prevey mark upon the lres besides the seale. Then any +passendg<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>r</hi> that carryethe a lre w<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>thowte</hi> suche a prevy mrk Is +fytt to be stayed for a tyme Until hee bee knowen.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Jhon Gerrarde, y<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>e</hi> Jhezew<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>t</hi> is about 30 years oulde Of a +good stature sumwhat highe<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>r</hi> then S<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>r</hi> Tho Layton & upright in his +paysse and countenance sum what stayring in his look or Eyes +Currilde heire by Nature & blackyshe & not apt to have much +heire of his bearde. I thincke his noase sum what wide and +turninge Upp Blubarde Lipps turninge outwards Especially the +over Lipps most Uppwards toword the Noase Kewryoos in +speetche If he do now contynewe his custome ... And in his +speetche he flourrethe & smyles much & a falteringe or Lispinge, +or dooblinge of his Tonge in his speeche.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Yor honor<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>s</hi> as you will comāde me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><hi rend='smallcaps'>Ric Topclyffe</hi> alias.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Endorsed</hi>—<q>Concerning Gerrard the Priest and others.</q> +</p> + +</quote> + +<p> +What Sir Thomas Leighton's height may have been we do not +know, but in the copy of this description sent by Cecil to Anne, +Lady Markham,<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, James I.</hi>, vol. 18, n. 19.</note> a pen has been passed through the words <q>Sir +Thomas Leighton,</q> and the word <q>ordinary</q> is written in its +stead. The proclamation was nearer the truth than Topcliffe +as to Father Gerard's age, which was then forty-two. +</p> + +<p> +A correspondence between Cecil and Lady Markham betrays +to us an offer made by her <q>to deliver the person of Gerard into +the hands of the State.</q> Her object was to obtain the pardon and +restoration of her husband, Sir Griffin Markham, who was in +banishment for having taken part in Watson's conspiracy. One of +Cecil's correspondents says,<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, James I.</hi>, vol. 47, n. 96.</note> of <q>certain lady of Nottinghamshire, +called the Lady Markham,</q> <q>this more I know, that there +is not the like pragmatical-headed lady in this part of England.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Her letters<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, James I.</hi>, vol. 16, n. 88; vol. 18, n. 4.</note> are interesting for the mention of her two +<pb n='clxxxix'/><anchor id='Pgclxxxix'/> +servants, who had gone to live with Father Gerard, but still more +for the testimony she bears to the general belief entertained by +Catholics in Father Gerard's sanctity, and to the improbability in +the judgment of all who knew him of his being a party to +the Plot. +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q>Right Honourable,—Your lordship may think me slack in +performing that which I so freely made promise of, but the death +of my father hath so much appalled me as I am not fit to do +as I would. I did hear Mr. Gerard was taken, which something +stayed me. Moreover, your lordship hath Mr. Ha. Hurlston in +hold, who may direct you the best concerning him of any I know, +as also I take it Sir Everard Digby came for Mr. Walley</q> +[Father Garnett]; <q rend='pre'>but thus it is I cannot learn where Mrs. +Vaux is, neither if I knew durst I visit her. And this is most +strange to me, neither of those which were my servants comes to +me, which makes me think they remove with Mr. Gerard, or are +imprisoned, but I rather think they are shifted out of the way, +because their attendance will make their master more acceptable, +one of them being an exquisite painter and the other a perfect +good embroiderer. The painter is a black man, and taller than +the embroiderer, whose hair is yellowish, and was called +Christopher Parker by his true name. The painter was called +Brian Hunston. I am bold to inform you thus largely of them +because I verily suppose they attend their wandering friend and +master, but where, till I either see them or hear some directions, +I cannot imagine; but I protest to your lordship, if I could learn +I am resolved he should speak with you, if by any means I could +procure it, for I fear this most vile and hateful Plot hath taken +deep and dangerous root, because I meet with many that will as +easily be persuaded there was no gunpowder laid as that holy +good man was an actor in the Plot; and surely the generality did +ever so much admire him, that they were happy or blessed in +hearing him, and their roof sanctified by his appearance in their +house. I am to go shortly into the country. If it would please +your lordship to give me leave to send a man to my husband +I should be much bound to you, for I cannot tell till I hear +from him how to determine of those businesses occasioned by +<pb n='cxc'/><anchor id='Pgcxc'/> +my father's death. I humbly beseech you commiserate my +affliction and grant me this poor request, if it stand with your +liking, and I shall ever pray for your increase of honour and +happiness. So I humbly take my leave this 18th of November, +1605.</q> +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'>Your lordship's most humble to command,</q></l> +<l><q><hi rend='smallcaps'>Anne Markham.</hi></q></l> +</lg> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Endorsed</hi>—<q>The Lady Markham to my Lord.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Right Honourable,—Afore I came out of London I sent to +know your lordship's pleasure, but mine uncle could not meet +with Mr. Lewnus, and indeed I did think my credit was so +decayed with the Padre that I could not do as I would, employ +my best endeavours to perform thereby to express my great +desire of your lordship's good opinion. Now I find either +necessity of their part or my two servants' credits hath given +me so much power as I shall shortly see Mr. Gerard, but for the +day or certain time they are too crafty to appoint, but whensoever +I will do my best to keep him within my kenning till I hear from +your lordship, and then, my credit preserved, which is dearer to me +than life, your command shall be as truly obeyed as if your most +trusty servant were commanded. I do perceive there are great +business in hand, and your lordship is, next to His Majesty, most +shot at, but what the project is I dare not be very inquisitive of, +because it is not ripe, as by circumstance I perceive; and I +labour to make myself in good estimation with them, which +would not be if I covet to know more than they like. This, I +protest to God, is only to do service to your lordship. There +had been some of them with me ere this, but great occasion hath +drawn them to haste into other places, whither I know not. If +the watch had continued but two days longer, Mr. Gerard had +been pined out at Harrowden. I hear Ric. the butler is close in +the Gatehouse, yet your lordship knows that prisons are places of +such corruption as money will help letters to their friends to tell +what they have been examined of, so they will guess shrewdly +how to shift. I have none that I do trust about me with my +resolution to do my best endeavours to preserve your lordship, +therefore I am enforced to be brief. I beseech you pardon it in +<pb n='cxci'/><anchor id='Pgcxci'/> +me, that writes in fear, but if it please your honour to send your +note or directions to mine Uncle Harvey, I will expect till that he +send them, and ever pray God to protect you from these most +dangerous conspirators. For the true trial of my devotion in that +prayer I will most sincerely labour your preservation, so I humbly +take my leave this 3rd of January.</q> +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'>Your lordship's at command,</q></l> +<l><q><hi rend='smallcaps'>Anne Markham.</hi></q></l> +</lg> + +<p> +<q>To the Right Honourable my very good lord the Earl of +Salisbury. Haste this.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Endorsed</hi>—<q>3rd January, 1605[-6]. Lady Markham to my +Lord.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +The following is Cecil's answer.<note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, James I.</hi>, vol. 18, n. 19.</note> +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Madam,—Although I do confess my great mislike of the +daily resort and residence of the Priests, and especially the Jesuits, +whose end can be no other than of pernicious consequence to this +estate, yet, being in hope that warnings would make them retire +from further tempting of law, I have used no extraordinary course +for their apprehension, being, I confess, full of tenderness in +matters of blood. But having now discovered, by many confessions +of the late conspirators, that some of these Jesuits have +passed so far as to be persuaders and actors in this barbarous +conspiracy, which excludeth almost all offices of humanity from +men that have softest hearts, I have thought good to take your +offer for His Majesty's service, to deliver the person of Gerard +(who is one of those) into the hands of the State. For which +purpose, although your letter doth not well express what you +would have done, whereby both the service may be effected and +your name covered; yet I have procured a warrant, here inclosed, +which will be sufficient to authorize and command any man to +whom you shall direct it, which I have left to your own choice to +put in, because I know not who they are which dwell thereabouts +in whom you dare repose trust. And unless you have the warrant +presently, and in the instant to execute, I know the inconvenience +<pb n='cxcii'/><anchor id='Pgcxcii'/> +of the protraction. You shall therefore do very well to observe +how the warrant is made, and thereby shall you perceive that the +party to whomsoever you shall direct it is authorized sufficiently, +and will receive this warrant from anybody's hands whom you +shall send; so as if you will choose any of your own to carry it to +any such gentleman as you shall like, that third party need not +say he comes from you, but from some other, and yet he may +bring the gentleman that you shall name upon the back of the +warrant to execute all things according to your direction. Lastly, +madam, this I say unto you, that either your religion is very foul, +or you will make no difficulty to discover such a pernicious +creature, as differs so far from the rest of the society (as I am +persuaded); wherein I will add thus much further, that you shall +be an instrument of reflecting His Majesty's good opinion to +your husband, and confirm the conceit I have of you, that you +would not trouble yourself and me in this kind unless you meant +sincerely. And so I commit you to God. From the Court at +Whitehall, this 15th of January, 1605[-6].</q> +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'>Your ladyship's loving friend,</q></l> +<l><q><hi rend='smallcaps'>Salisbury.</hi></q></l> +</lg> + +<p> +<q>There are only three of your churchmen in this wicked +predicament, Gerard, Father Walley, and Father Greeneway, so +as it is indifferent to the State which of these be come by. This +letter is sent according to your direction to Mr. Stringer, who +shall receive it from the next post to him, and the packet to the +post is signed by the postmaster's hand, and not by mine, who +knoweth not the contents nor anything of you, and yet his hand +will make the less suspicion. I desire you to keep safe both +this mine own letter and the warrant, because I may have both +delivered again hereafter, if there be no cause continuing to use +them hereafter, and I will do the like with your letter, which I +reserve for you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Endorsed</hi>—<q>To the Lady Markham.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +The <q>certain high personages</q> with whom he crossed the +Channel were the Ambassadors of Spain and Flanders.<note place='foot'>Bartoli, <hi rend='italic'>Inghilterra</hi>, p. 586.</note> The +<pb n='cxciii'/><anchor id='Pgcxciii'/> +former was the Conde de Villa Mediana, the latter Don Pedro de +Zuniga. It is remarkable that, though Topcliffe had said that +Father Gerard intended <q>to pass over rather after than with the +Lord Ambassador,</q> his conspicuous person should have been +allowed to pass. +</p> + +<p> +On reaching the Continent in safety, he went, as he tells us, +straight to Rome, whence, we learn from Father More,<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Hist. Prov.</hi>, lib. vii., n. 43, p. 339.</note> he was +sent to Tivoli for awhile, for rest of mind and body. He was +then appointed English Penitentiary in the Basilica of St. Peter,<note place='foot'>Archives of the English College at Rome, <hi rend='italic'>Scritture</hi>, vol. 30; 1632.</note> +and this was his field of work till the spring of 1611.<note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., Father Grene's <hi rend='italic'>Miscell. de Coll. Angl.</hi>, p. 19.</note> +</p> + +<p> +We have a letter,<note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iii., n. 70.</note> dated <q>this Simon and Jude's daie, 1606,</q> +from Father Andrew Whyte, afterwards the Apostle of Maryland, +addressed, <q>To his especial good friende Mr. Garret geue these +att Roome.</q> It was to ask him to speak to Father Persons to get +Richard Green received into the Society, who had been sent to +College by Father Gerard, and had been imprisoned <q>about the +time of this late commotion.</q> Green <q>was received very kindly</q> +by Father Walley [Garnett] <q>and provided for very charitably in a +manner as one of the Society, with a promise that the year following +he should be received without fail;</q> but now, as <q>few or +none of Father Walley's writings or determinations were found, +and Richard Fulwood gone which should have given particular +testimony,</q> Father Whyte begs that <q>he may either be sent to +the Novitiates of other countries with the license of the General, +or else may have a promise to be next that is received at +Louvain.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XXVIII.</head> + +<p> +To this Novitiate at Louvain we now turn, as it was thither that +Father Gerard was next sent. It was the foundation of Donna +Luisa de Carvajal, who by her will<note place='foot'>More, <hi rend='italic'>Hist. Prov.</hi>, lib. vii., cap. 3, p. 291.</note> dated Valladolid, Dec. 22, +1604, left 12,000 ducats for the establishment of an English +Novitiate. The document is an admirable specimen of true +Spanish devotion and humility. After commending her soul to +<pb n='cxciv'/><anchor id='Pgcxciv'/> +God by the intercession of our Blessed Lady, she proceeds—<q>For +the love of God I humbly pray the Superiors of the Society +of Jesus and the Præpositus of the Professed House, as a favour, +to grant me some little place in their church where my body may +be buried, in consideration of the devotion I have ever entertained +for their holy Religious Order: to which Order, in the +manner that I have thought would be most to the glory of God, +I offer, with the greatest affection, a gift which, though but small, +is all that I have. And if a burial-place be refused me in that +church, my executors will obtain for me a resting-place in some +other church of the Society: and if they are unable to obtain this, +let me be buried in some monastery in which, for the love of +God, they may be willing to give burial to a poor person like +myself; and let my funeral be conducted in accordance with this +my poverty. As executors I name Father Richard Walpole, +the Vice-Prefect of the English Mission, and the Confessor of the +English College in this city, or their successors. After them (and +I have named them first from respect to their priestly dignity) I +name the Condessa de Miranda, Donna Maria de Zuniga, Donna +Maria Gasca, Don Frances de Contreras, Melchior de Molina, +and Don Luis de Carrillo e Toledo, Conde de Caracena. First +of all I declare that many years ago, when I was with my uncle, +I made a vow to God to dedicate all my goods to His glory and +greatest service. Then His Divine Majesty gave me large desires +and vehement attraction to spend myself above all things for the +preservation and advancement of the English Fathers of the +Society of Jesus, who sustain that kingdom like strong columns, +defend it from an otherwise inevitable ruin, and supply efficacious +means of salvation for thousands and thousands of souls. Wherefore +I offer them to the most holy Virgin our Lady, I place them +under her protection, and I name and leave her universal heir of +all my goods.... And I give possession of them henceforward +to the most glorious Virgin, and in her name and place to Father +Robert Persons, or failing him, to the Father who shall succeed +him as Superior of the Mission: but with this condition and +obligation, that such goods shall be applied to the founding of a +Novitiate of English Religious of the Society of Jesus, in whatever +kingdom or part of the world shall seem to Father Persons to be +<pb n='cxcv'/><anchor id='Pgcxcv'/> +to the greater glory of God. But in the case that England shall +be brought back to the faith and obedience of the Roman Church, +my will is that the said revenue be transferred into that kingdom, +for the foundation of a Novitiate of the Society there, unless it +shall seem better to Father Persons, for reasons concerning the +Catholic religion, to leave the Novitiate beyond the kingdom.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Time was not lost in carrying out the intentions of this pious +benefactress.<note place='foot'>More, <hi rend='italic'>Hist. Prov.</hi>, lib. viii., n. 8, p. 355.</note> In 1606, Father Persons obtained possession of +a large house in Louvain, which had been inhabited by the +Knights of Malta, and thus came to be called St. John's, though +the church attached to it was dedicated to St. Gregory the Apostle +of England and other Saints. Father More, who lived there with +Father Gerard, tells us that it was on high ground commanding +the whole city; below was a walled garden, and on the slope of +the hill pleasant walks amongst the vines which were ranged in +terraces, and the whole, though within the city walls, as quiet and +calm as befitted a house of prayer. +</p> + +<p> +We do not know exactly the date of Father Gerard's arrival at +Louvain, or the office to which he was first appointed there. The +letter of the 17th August, 1612, to the General, from which we +have already given a large extract concerning Mrs. Vaux, is dated +from Louvain. It proceeds with an account of a miraculous cure +at the intercession of Father Thomas Garnett, the nephew of the +Provincial, who was martyred at Tyburn on the 3rd of June, 1608. +This father was the first Novice of St. John's, Louvain. That +Noviceship commenced in February, 1607, with six Priests, two +Scholastics, and five Lay-brothers, Novices, under Father Thomas +Talbot as their Novice Master. In 1614, St. John's received +students in philosophy and theology, as well as Novices, when a +house in the garden was fitted up for the Novitiate and Father +Henry Silisdon was installed in St. John's as Rector of the new +College. This arrangement did not last long, for at the end of +the year the Novitiate was transferred to Liége. No less than +fifteen letters have come down to us written by Father Gerard +in the year 1614, addressed to the Prefect of the English Mission, +Father Thomas Owen, Rector of the English College at Rome. +They treat chiefly of the purchase of the new house at Liége, +<pb n='cxcvi'/><anchor id='Pgcxcvi'/> +and the transfer of the Novitiate to that city. Some extracts +relating to Father Gerard himself will be found interesting. +Some of them are signed John Nelson and others John Tomson. +In later years he seems to have been known only by the name +of Tomson. +</p> + +<p> +The choice of Liége as a residence seems to have been +mainly owing to the disquiet caused to the Catholics in the +Low Countries by the remonstrances of the English Government. +We have some specimens of it in the following +extracts, in which we find Father Gerard true to the natural +fearlessness of his character. <q>Concerning<note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iv., n. 5.</note> my wariness in +avoiding the eyes of spies, I have been all this year more +sparing in that kind than divers friends here did think needful, +although some one or two did think it dangerous to go any +journey, as doubting I might be killed by the way, but this was +but according to their accustomed fears with which I have been +long acquainted. But, indeed, Father, I am so far from desire +to go many journeys, that it is a pain to me to think of going +anywhither, and the reason why I never went to any of those +places your Reverence mentioneth in this year past (but only the +last Lent to Maclin for Mr. Rouse) was not that I thought it +dangerous (being known so well to live here public that it cannot +be unknown to any spies), nor for that I wanted leave, for I had +the other Provincial's particular and willing grant, without my own +asking, to go to any place of these countries; but it was because +I had rather be at home: and in the town of Lovaine itself, I go +not abroad half so much as I think were needful for the contentment +of others. I was not at the Teresians, where the Mother of +the House (to whom I gave the Exercise four years ago) and +Father Scott's<note place='foot'>This is Father Thomas Laithwaite, also called Kensington (More, <hi rend='italic'>Hist. +Prov.</hi>, lib. ix., n. 1, p. 391; <hi rend='italic'>supra</hi> p. <ref target='Pgclxxvi'>clxxvi</ref>).</note> sister do much desire my often coming, any more +than once since the last Lent. At the Monastery of St. Monica's, +my cousin Shurley hath requested my coming thither for these +three or four months, to bestow one afternoon upon her and +some younger Nuns whom she hath charge of, that they may +altogether ask me what spiritual questions they may like best, +<pb n='cxcvii'/><anchor id='Pgcxcvii'/> +and I have never yet found a fit time for it; and, indeed, I +doubt I am to blame for it. The gentlemen in the town<note place='foot'>In 1617, Sir Thomas Leeds was Prefect and Sir Ralph Babthorpe +Secretary of the Congregation of the Blessed Virgin at Louvain (Stonyhurst +MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iv., n. 47). A considerable number of Catholic families +had settled in Louvain, and in 1614 they were disturbed by a summons to +appear in England under pain of losing their possessions. On a remonstrance +being made by the Spanish Ambassador, King James disclaimed the summons, +on which the magistrates of Louvain expelled the pursuivant from the town +(More, <hi rend='italic'>Hist. Prov.</hi>, lib. ix., n. 10, p. 406).</note> I +doubt I visit not once in a quarter of a year, and I have some +reason to think that either they think me careless of them, or +afraid to be seen abroad, as though my case were very dangerous, +which would also make them or any other that should come to +town more fearful to come into my company, and consequently +hinder the little good that I might do with them. But I hope I +shall be as wary as your Reverence wisheth, and if this course go +forwards of being Rector without the name of Rector, there will +be less inconvenience, whosoever see me seeing me still as a +private man.</q> In this he alludes to a plan of his own, that +Father Blackfan should have the title of Rector, although he +himself had been appointed to the Rectorship of the Novitiate. +</p> + +<p> +The next letter is dated April 6, 1614.<note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iv., n. 6.</note> <q>I have yours of +the 15th March, and see in that, as in all of yours, your fatherly +care of me, which, by the grace of God, I will labour to deserve. +I am well satisfied with Father General's order, and shall endeavour +to get this building finished for the Novitiate as soon as +I can, and then will settle to my book as much as my health +and letters will permit.... Having writ thus far, I was +called to go to Bruxels with Father Rector (by Father Blacfan's +and Father Percy his advice) to speak with the Duke's<note place='foot'>The Archduke Albert, Governor of Flanders.</note> Secretary, +who telling Father Percy the last week that the Agent did solicit +against me, and that he could not well answer him, unless he +delivered him some reasons in writing for my innocency, this +writing was promised him by Father Percy; but I being loath +to have any such writing sent, as thinking it the likeliest means +to raise a new persecution against me, though for the Secretary's +satisfaction we drew and delivered him a brief note of four or +<pb n='cxcviii'/><anchor id='Pgcxcviii'/> +five effectual proofs, yet both to the Secretary first, and afterwards +to the Nuncio, I told this day that if any such writing were +sent it would do me great harm, for Canterbury having such a +writing would doubtless show it at the Council table, and then +those lords who secretly do know me to be innocent, and wish +me well, will be, as it were, forced to speak against me, lest +they should seem to favour me, and so the King should be +more incensed. The Nuncio did promise Father Rector and +me that he would seriously deal both with the Secretary and +the Prince himself in the cause.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Writing under date April 18, 1614,<note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iv., n. 7.</note> he shows that he thinks +that too much importance had been given to the Agent's interference. +<q>I think your Reverence was made to believe by +letters sent about Easter, that there was some new troubles +against me here, out of England, and consequently that there was +need of such information to the Nuncio and Father Provincial +as had been given. But when I heard of it, I said it was nothing +but Trumbol his own device, in hope to work upon the weakness +of the Prince; and so now it proves, for I am going to the +Secretary himself with our Father Rector, as I wrote from +Bruxells, and giving him a paper of some few points for my +innocency, with the request he would not deliver it, but show +it if he would to the Agent. The Secretary answered he would +advertise me if it were needful; but since the note was showed +unto Trumbol, and he showed to be satisfied with it, and +afterwards meeting the Secretary told him that he took it to +be only matter of religion; but that being now made matter +of State, he, being a servant employed in matter of State, could +not but seek to concur with them that employed him, as it were +granting that himself was satisfied, and yielding a reason why he +had moved the matter. And this being understood both by the +Prince and the Nuncio, they were very glad of it.... I +write this from Maclin, whither Sir William [Stanley] was desirous +to have me come for his comfort now and after the death and +funeral of his lady.</q> +</p> + +<p> +But such a man as Father Gerard was not likely to be left in +peace in those intriguing times. In the August following, Father +<pb n='cxcix'/><anchor id='Pgcxcix'/> +Silisdon writes to Father Owen.<note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iv., n. 17.</note> <q>Even now I have advice +that His Majesty of England hath made two complaints to the +Prince, and that the first is against Father Gerard's being in his +dominions.</q> The consequence was that a transfer to another +territory became desirable, and Father Gerard set his heart on +migrating with his Novices to Liége. He writes from that city, +under the signature of John Nelson, Sept. 19, 1614.<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Ibid.</hi>, n. 22.</note> <q>There +be many causes to be alleged why here, rather than in any +place; as the commodity of dealing with our English in the +summer, the opportunity of keeping our Novices unknown, the +excellent seat far beyond Lovaine, and that bestowed on us, +the present helps sent for this beginning, with great likelihood +of much more; the great favour which is to be expected from +this Prince and his family, and is to be strengthened by my two +cousins, Sir William and Mr. Morton, and Sir William hath +written to him that he doth much joy in his cousin who is +there to be Rector.</q> The two cousins of whom Father Gerard +here speaks were two very powerful friends. The one was +Sir William Stanley, who showed himself a kind friend to Father +Gerard and his charge by negotiating the purchase of the +property at Liége in his own name, and advancing the purchase +money—at least, that portion of it which had to be paid +down<note place='foot'>Father Gerard bought a house and ten acres of land; and the price was +less than <q>200<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> in present money and the rent of 30<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> with which the house +and grounds are already charged, which then we may redeem by little and +little, as we get friends to buy it out</q> (Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iv., +n. 23). As the rent could be redeemed at fifteen years' purchase, the whole +price was thus under 650<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi></note>—probably (as Father Gerard speaks of the <q>seat being +bestowed upon us</q>) regarding it as a gift. Whatever else was +requisite for the purchase was provided by Brother William +Browne, who, though<note place='foot'>More, <hi rend='italic'>Hist. Prov.</hi>, lib. ix., n. II, p. 406.</note> grandson, brother, and uncle of Viscounts +Montague,—his grandfather was Queen Mary's Ambassador to +the Holy See—was himself content to spend his life in the +humble duties of a Jesuit Lay-brother. +</p> + +<p> +The <q>Mr. Morton</q> was Sir George Talbot of Grafton, afterwards +<pb n='cc'/><anchor id='Pgcc'/> +ninth Earl of Shrewsbury. He was a scholar of some repute,<note place='foot'><q>Sir Basil Brooke telleth that our German friend is very well at his +house, and in protection of the King, that Canterbury has used him very +kindly, and entreated him, as one whose scholarship is famous, to make use +of his library [as] it shall please him.</q> Father Silisdon to Father Owen, +August 25, 1614. Endorsed by Father Owen—<q>Sir Geo. Talbott well +entertained by K. and Cant.</q> (Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iv., n. 17).</note> +and an intimate friend of Maximilian, Duke of Bavaria. As +Ferdinand, the Prince-Bishop of Liége, was Maximilian's brother, +it was no little help to Father Gerard to be on <q>cousinly</q> terms +with George Talbot. The Duke became a generous benefactor +to the new House at Liége. In 1618 he sent Father Gerard, +through Sir George Talbot, 5,000 florins for the Noviceship.<note place='foot'>More, <hi rend='italic'>Hist. Prov.</hi>, lib. ix., n. 15, p. 414.</note> +In a letter dated Jan. 25, 1620, the Duke writes to Father +Gerard, who had promised to pray that he might have a son: +<q>I bound myself once by vow to your Blessed Ignatius, that +if he would obtain this favour for me, I would give my son the +name of Ignatius, and would build and endow a College of +the Society wherever Father General might judge it most useful. +What if God should purpose thus to provide for you?</q><note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Ibid.</hi>, pp. 415, 424. Maximilian had two sons by his second wife, Mary +Anne of Austria, when he was over 60 years of age, and the eldest he named +Ignatius.</note> In +July of the same year he wrote: <q>We have sent you a contribution +of 1,300 German florins by Father Mayer for a tabernacle +for the Blessed Sacrament, and for a niche for an image of the +Blessed Virgin.</q> Even after Father Gerard's departure from +the House, Duke Maximilian's liberality to it did not fail. +Father Silisdon, Father Gerard's successor as Master of Novices, +removed the Novitiate to Watten,<note place='foot'>The Priory of Watten, with its revenue of 3000 florins of Brabant, was +transferred to the Society in 1611 by James Blase, O. S. F., Bishop of St. +Omers. The proposal had been approved of by the King of Spain in 1604, +and by Pope Paul V. in 1607, but the jealousy of the English felt by the +Archduke Albert delayed the establishment of an English Novitiate there till +his death in 1622 (More, <hi rend='italic'>Hist. Prov.</hi>, lib. vii., nn. 5-7, lib. ix., n. 17, +pp. 294-298, 416).</note> and not long after the Duke +settled a permanent endowment upon the College of Liége, +which was begun in the House that Father Gerard had established. +</p> + +<p> +Father Gerard's Socius or <q>Compagnion,</q> as he calls him, +<pb n='cci'/><anchor id='Pgcci'/> +was Father Henry More, subsequently the historian of the +Province. When discussing, before his appointment, those +Fathers who were fitted for that office, after mentioning others, he +says: <q>Father Nicholson is far short of either of them for my turn, +for he is no good Latinist, I think little better than myself, though +he be much better scholar; neither hath he any other language +but Spanish, of which I shall have small use. Father Henry +More hath French well, Dutch prettily, and Italian sufficiently, +besides Spanish very well, and Latin as I would wish him.</q><note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iv., n. 20.</note> +</p> + +<p> +As to his first Novices, he had twelve, which made what he +styled <q>a pretty beginning.</q><note place='foot'>They soon increased in numbers, for in 1617 Father More says there was +a Community at Liége of 45, of whom 30 were Novices (p. 424).</note> They were <q>the two that expect +at Liége, the two that are come from Rome, and four out of +Spain, with Mr. Lewkner and Mr. Whitmore, besides Grafton, +when he comes, and a tailor now servant in this house, who by +all judgments here is as fit to be received as Brother Silvester, +the young tailor now in the Noviceship, is fit to be dismissed.</q><note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iv., n. 29.</note> +</p> + +<p> +Of the two that <q>expected at Liége,</q> a previous letter had +said, <q>Here be also Mr. Mansel and Mr. Owen Shelley, by the +names of Mr. Griffin and Mr. Titchborn: both expect, the first +with some loathness to stay long, the second is wholly resigned. +The first is a pious man, and to those that know his fashion +will be profitable for some uses in the Society, but the second +will be practical and fit for anything, and in truth I think he +will do very well.</q><note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Ibid.</hi>, n. 23.</note> This Father Owen Shelley was afterwards +Rector of the College of Liége, and justified Father Gerard's +judgment of his character. +</p> + +<p> +Amongst the <q>four which are come out of Spain</q> were +two that must have constantly served to remind their Rector +at Liége of the Gunpowder Plot, as the remonstrances of King +James' Agent had managed to do at Louvain. <q>One of them,</q> +he says, <q>is akin to Father Garnett, and of his name, though +we call him Gilford, as he was called at St. Omers. William +Ellis, but we call him John Williams, for he was page<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Infra</hi> p. <ref target='Pg110'>110</ref>.</note> to Sir +<pb n='ccii'/><anchor id='Pgccii'/> +Everard Digby, and taken with him, though he might have +escaped, for his master offered him horse and money to shift +for himself, but the youth said he would live and die with him; +and so, being taken, was condemned at Stafford, and should +have been executed. He was offered to have his life if he +would go to their church, which he refused. In the end they +saved him and some others. He never [yielded] in the least +point. He hath good friends near Sir Everard Digby's whom +I know, and he is heir to 80<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a year, if his father do him right.</q><note place='foot'>Stonyhurst, MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iv., n. 29.</note> +</p> + +<p> +At the close of this short notice of Father Gerard's Rectorship +it will be but right to record an unfavourable judgment passed +upon him, as it will help us to form a true appreciation of his +character. It is the only instance that has come down to us +of blame on the part of one of his own brethren. <q>I see a +general fear in all ours, those of best judgment, of the success +of Father Nelson's government, and unless he hath a companion +that may moderate him, his zeal will, I fear, carry him too far; +and I fear it so much the more because I see him loath to have +anybody with him who is likely to propose anything to him +contrary to his own zealous desires.</q> This is in a confidential +letter<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Ibid.</hi>, n. 31.</note> from Father Silisdon to Father Owen, dated Oct. 31, +1614, so that, as it was written before the transfer to Liége, it +was a misgiving lest he should be indiscreet as a Rector, rather +than a judgment on his actual conduct as a Superior. +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XXIX.</head> + +<p> +During his residence at Liége, amongst Father Gerard's correspondents +were two venerable servants of God, Robert Cardinal +Bellarmine, and Father Luis de la Puente, better known by the +Latinized form of his name, de Ponte. As by a man's friends we +can obtain an insight into his character, we have thought it +desirable to give the few letters from these two holy men to +Father Gerard that have come down to us. Cardinal Bellarmine's +autograph is preserved at Stonyhurst.<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Ibid.</hi>, vol. iii., n. 107.</note> We translate the letter +from the original Latin. +</p> + +<pb n='cciii'/><anchor id='Pgcciii'/> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Very Rev. and beloved Father in Christ,—I have received +your Reverence's letter dated from Liége the 23rd November, +with the little presents inclosed in it, an English knife, a little +case (either bone or ivory, I do not know which), and three small +toothpicks. I do not know whether these were sent me for use, +or as having some special meaning. Whichever it be they were +welcome, as a proof of friendship and brotherhood.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The memory of that excellent Mr. Oliver,<note place='foot'>This would appear to be a mention of the death of the <q>son and +brother of an Earl,</q> Sir Everard Digby's great friend, who was converted +when holding some office in personal attendance on King James, and, +after his conversion, received the King's leave to go to Italy (<hi rend='italic'>supra</hi> +p. <ref target='Pgclxvi'>clxvi</ref>.). The intermediate link is furnished in Father Gerard's letter to +Father Aquaviva, Louvain, August 17, 1612 (Stonyhurst MSS., Angl. A., +vol. iii., n. 111). <q>Now at length our friend Oliver has passed over from +Paris to England, for the Treasurer is gone, his and all good men's +enemy.</q> [Robert Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, died May 24, 1612] <q>and +others are about to succeed him, who, as we hope, entertain for Oliver an +ancient and particular affection. Besides, his eldest brother is dead, and the +second brother left inheritor of all the honours and wealth, so that a manifold +occasion is offered to this our friend of helping himself in temporal affairs, and +others to some extent in spiritual and greater goods. Summoned by his family +he has left in haste, humbly asking your Paternity's benediction; in the efficacy +of which he disregards all that heretical fury or perverse malice can invent +against him. The King is going this summer to his brother the new Earl's +castle, to remain there awhile for hunting. Perhaps Oliver will take that +occasion of presenting himself to the King, who liked him when he was +in his service before he entered the service of God, and whom he has never +offended in anything, except in choosing to be an abject in the House of God, +rather than to dwell in the tabernacles of men.</q> We have here the necessary +data for determining that the convert in question was Sir Oliver Manners, +fourth son of John fourth Earl of Rutland, knighted at Belvoir Castle, +April 22, 1603, by James I. on his coming from Scotland. The eldest brother +Roger, fifth Earl, married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Philip Sidney, and died +without issue, June 26, 1612, when he was succeeded by his brother Francis.</note> whose acquaintance +I made very late, has brought me no little sadness, or rather +grief, not on his account, who is translated from this world to the +joys of Paradise, but for the sake of many whom without doubt +he would have converted to a good life if Divine Providence had +permitted him to live awhile longer. But the good pleasure of +God must ever be fulfilled, and the very same, in order that +it may be fulfilled, must ever be pleasing to us under all +circumstances.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I was pleased to read what your Reverence relates in your +<pb n='cciv'/><anchor id='Pgcciv'/> +letter of your journeys; of your office of Master of Novices; of +the building which you have bought at Liége; of the visitation of +His Serene Highness Ferdinand, the Prince-Bishop of Liége, and +of the promise that the Priory, at its next vacancy, shall be +applied to the College. If my assistance in carrying this out can +be of any use to you with the Pope, it shall not be wanting.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Of Dr. Singleton I have heard much, and have defended +him to the best of my power, as long as I could, but the party +opposed to him has prevailed. Nor do I see how I can help him +at so great a distance, and especially as I should be suspected, +because I am a Jesuit. The devil is envious of the harmony +between the English at Douay and the Fathers of the Society, for +which the good Cardinal Allen cared so much; but all means +must be tried to re-establish a true and sincere friendship, and +agreement in teaching; otherwise a kingdom divided against itself +shall be brought to desolation. For many reasons I say freely that +nothing can be done by me in his behalf; first, as I was just saying, +because I should be under suspicion, being a Jesuit. Then +because I am an old man of seven-and-seventy years of age, and +I daily expect the dissolution of my tabernacle. Thirdly, because +I cannot think of any manner in which I could help him. The +common way of helping men of this sort is to give them ecclesiastical +benefices, but here in Rome the multitude of those who +aspire to and seek after such benefits is so great that their +number is almost infinite. Nor are they only Italians, but +Spaniards also, Frenchmen, Germans, who look for nothing but +benefices at Rome. I myself, who was thought to have some +influence with the Pope, have laboured for more than ten years +for a Spaniard, an excellent man and a great friend of mine, to +obtain for him a good benefice falling vacant in his own country. +I could say the same of Flemish and German friends of mine. +What then would be the case with English people, in whose +country there are no ecclesiastical benefices for Catholics? But, +since these temporal things are nothing when compared to eternal +benefices, our friend Dr. Singleton must not be cast down if our +Lord treats him now, as of old He treated His Apostles, who +He willed should enter into the Kingdom of Heaven through +many tribulations. But I must not be too lengthy, for I know +<pb n='ccv'/><anchor id='Pgccv'/> +that both he and your Reverence stand in no need of my exhortations. +I know that your Reverence will have hard work to +read my bad writing, but Father Coffin<note place='foot'>Father Edward Coffin was Confessor of the English College for nearly +twenty years. He was succeeded by Father Gerard, who held the same office +for the last fifteen years of his life.</note> would have it that I +should write to you with my own hand.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>With this I bid your Reverence farewell. Commend me to +the prayers of Dr. Singleton, and of all your College; but your +Reverence's self especially, for our old friendship and brotherhood, +must diligently commend me to the Lord our God.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>From Rome, on Christmas Day, December 25, 1618.<note place='foot'>Dr. Oliver has misread this date 1611. Cardinal Bellarmine was born +October 4, 1542, so that he would be in his seventy-seventh year in 1618-9.</note></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Your Reverence's brother and servant in Christ,</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='smallcaps'>Robert Card. Bellarmine</hi>.</q> +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'>To the Very Rev. Father John Tomson, S.J.,</q></l> +<l><q>Rector of the College of the English Novices at Liége.</q></l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<p> +The two letters which have come down to us, addressed to +Father Gerard by the venerable Father Luis de la Puente, were +written just as his residence<note place='foot'>Dr. Oliver says that Father Silisdon succeeded Father Gerard as Rector +and Master of Novices in 1620, and transferred the Novitiate to Watten in +1622. Father More (<hi rend='italic'>Hist. Prov.</hi>, p. 416) may certainly so be understood, +but it is clear from the <hi rend='italic'>Florus Anglo-Bavaricus</hi> (p. 11) that Father Gerard +was Rector in March, 1622, and that the transfer to Watten took place in +1625. And in the Archives of the English College at Rome (<hi rend='italic'>Scritture</hi>, vol. 30), +in a notice of him written in 1632, he is said to have been Rector of the English +Noviceship at Liége for eight years.</note> at Liége was drawing to a close. +We translate from Father Grene's transcript of the originals.<note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>P.</hi>, vol. ii., f. 532.</note> +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I. H. S.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>P.C.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>When I received your Reverence's letters, I was unable to +answer them at once, for I was suffering from extreme weakness, +which usually afflicts me every year all through the winter. +Blessed be our great God, from Whose providence come health +and sickness, life and death, and whatever prosperity and adversity +there is in this world. The height of felicity in this life is to be +<pb n='ccvi'/><anchor id='Pgccvi'/> +superior to all these things, seeking only God's good pleasure in +all things, for life in His will, and health, honour, happiness, +spiritual progress, and all sanctity consist in the fulfilment of +the will of God: and so every day I would that at every breath I +could say, May Thy most holy and most sweet will be done in +me, concerning me, and by me and about me, in all things and +by all things, now and always and for ever. Amen.<note place='foot'>Fiat in me, de me et per me, et circa me, sanctissima et dulcissima +voluntas Tua, in omnibus et per omnia, nunc et semper ac in æternum. +Amen (MS.).</note> God always +pours His spirit of prayer into those who so submit their will to +His; wherefore the Psalmist says—<q>Be subject unto the Lord +and pray to Him,</q> for when any one with prompt obedience and +entire resignation humbly submits himself to God, God Himself, +Who does the will of those that fear Him, in a certain way is +made subject to him, so that He does whatever is asked, God +becoming obedient to the voice of a man—not of any man soever, +but of the man who obeys God. Oh, wonderful power of prayer +and of obedience! Let us pray, my Father, that we may be +perfectly obedient, and let us obey, that we may be able to pray, +and to speak worthily with God.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>It will help wonderfully both one and the other, to meditate +profoundly on these two things: to wit, Who God is in Himself, +and what He is towards us, and then what we are of ourselves, +and what towards God. For whilst I think of God, His Trinity +and Unity, most beautiful, most wise, most holy, most full +of love for me, immense and everywhere present, the fountain of +all good things that are in me and beyond me, from Whom I +myself depend, and all that is mine, and everything that I use +and enjoy, how can I do otherwise than love Him with all my +strength? How shall I not praise Him and thank Him constantly? +How shall I not give my whole self to His service? +And these affections become the more ardent as I ponder that I +have nothing of myself; that I am nothing, and that I and all +that is mine would be reduced to nothing unless I were preserved +by Him. Now whilst, within this immensity of God, I consider +what I have been and what I am towards Him, I am horrified +and tremble as I ponder on my malice, my ingratitude, my slothfulness. +<pb n='ccvii'/><anchor id='Pgccvii'/> +Hence arise feelings of hatred of self, of humiliation +and self-denial, and various acts and exercises of penance, which +not only nourish humility by which a man, through a truthful +knowledge of himself, becomes vile to himself, but they also +arouse a most ardent charity by which he loves his Supreme +Benefactor, Who has conferred and still confers so many and +such great benefits on one who is ungrateful and unworthy. Thus +the mind is elevated to perfect contemplation and union with God +Himself, and, as it were forgetful of itself, is immersed in Him, +or rather God hides it in the concealment of His countenance +from all disturbance of men.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Here is a short epitome of my mystical theology, which I +have put out at rather greater length in my book; but why should +I teach these things to a doctor of others and my own master? +Surely I have become foolish, but your letters compelled me. +Would that you would help me by your prayers, that what I write +in my letters I may perform in deed. Forgive my humble and +poor style, for I know not any more elegant; but I am sure that +you do not care for words, but for the sense that is in the words. +I value very highly the cross which you have sent me, and I will +always bear it with me. I hope, by the intercession of the Blessed +Virgin, who appeared in that tree,<note place='foot'>An allusion, no doubt, to one of the Belgian Sanctuaries of our Blessed +Lady, perhaps that at Montaigu.</note> and who confers such benefits +on those who are there and those who visit her, that I may be a +partaker of those benefits, for though I am absent in the body I +am present in spirit.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I humbly commend myself to the Holy Sacrifices of your +Reverence.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Your Reverence's unworthy servant in Christ,</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>[Cross] <hi rend='smallcaps'>Ludovicus de Ponte.</hi> [Cross]</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Valladolid, March 23, 1621.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Postscript</hi>—<q>By God's help I have finished a great work. Its +title is, <hi rend='italic'>Expositio Moralis in Canticum Canticorum</hi>, containing +exhortations on all the mysteries and virtues of the Christian +religion. It is divided into two volumes, and each volume into +five books. The arrangement is new and singular, but not without +<pb n='ccviii'/><anchor id='Pgccviii'/> +foundation in the Sacred Text. The matter is grave in itself, and +very copious, taken out of Holy Scripture and the holy Fathers. +The style is humble, but clear and chaste, and not out of +harmony with matter that is spiritual and sacred, and therefore +elevated. It is printed at Paris, and will soon reach Germany +and Belgium. Would that it may be to the glory of God, the +edification of the Church, and of use to one's neighbour.</q> +</p> + +</quote> + +<p> +The other letter from the same Father was written in reply to +one from Father Gerard announcing that he was about to leave +Belgium. +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I. H. S.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>P.C.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>May the Almighty and most pitiful Lord accompany you in +the journey that you begin, for with such a Guide and Companion +you will be everywhere safe and cheerful, and making true progress. +Let Him ever dwell in your memory, understanding, and will, for +His most sweet providence especially protects those who make +their journeys from obedience to Superiors, as Jacob did, who at +his father's bidding journeyed through the desert into Mesopotamia, +where he heard the voice of the Lord, which said to him, +<q>I will be thy Keeper whithersoever thou goest.</q> Trusting to +this hope, and protected by this guardianship, you will happily +fulfil what you have begun.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I commend myself to your Reverence's Sacrifices and +prayers, for my weakness oppresses me much; but may the will +of God be done in me and about me in all things and by all +things, to Whom concerning all things be glory for ever. Amen.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>[Cross] <hi rend='smallcaps'>Ludovicus de la Puente.</hi> [Cross]</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Valladolid, Feb. 2, 1622.</q> +</p> + +</quote> + +<p> +With these saintly words our materials for writing the life of +Father John Gerard abruptly fail us. Beyond what has been +recorded we only know that he was sent first to Spain, and then +to Rome, which he reached Jan. 15, 1623.<note place='foot'>Stonyhurst MSS., Father Grene's <hi rend='italic'>Miscell. de Coll. Angl.</hi>, p. 19, quoting +<q>Baines his diary.</q></note> He was Confessor to +the English College till his death, July 27, 1637, at the ripe age of +seventy-three, and upwards. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='ccix'/><anchor id='Pgccix'/> + +<div> +<head>XXX.</head> + +<p> +In this Autobiography Father Gerard has laid before us his life in +all the freedom and unreserve of a confidential communication +with his Religious brethren and Superiors. It is not possible, we +are convinced, for any impartial person to rise from its perusal +without a deep conviction that Father Gerard was a gentleman +and a Christian, a man of honour and religious principle; and in +many cases this sense of his integrity will be accompanied with +some of that personal regard and affection with which he inspired +those who lived in intimacy with him. He bore too much for +principle, and made too great sacrifices, for us to think that he +would deliberately and perseveringly commit sin to free himself +from blame. Yet this is the supposition that is involved in an +attack upon his veracity in the compilation of his Narrative of the +Gunpowder Plot. +</p> + +<p> +It is quite true that he, and many others, considered themselves +justified, when their own lives or those of innocent persons +were at stake, in the use of assertions that were simple falsehoods +in the ordinary sense of the terms employed. These they called +equivocations; and we find no trace in the period of which we +are writing of the modern sense of the word, that is, of a true +expression which is really beside the point, though it is so +employed that it is very unlikely to be seen to be so by the +person to whom it is addressed, who thus is said rather to be +suffered to deceive himself than to be deceived. Practically the +distinction is hard to draw, and it has the disadvantage of +seeming to make the morality of the expression depend on the +quickness and readiness of the person in danger, who may be +able to think of phrases containing a real ambiguity but which yet +would throw the hearers off the right scent. +</p> + +<p> +According to modern feeling, Father Gerard would have been +quite justified in examining the trees and hedges in search of a +falcon<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Supra</hi> p. <ref target='Pgxxi'>xxi</ref>.</note> he had not lost, and inquiring of all he met whether they +had heard the tinkling of the bird's bells, although it was to make +them think that he had lost a falcon, in other words, to deceive +<pb n='ccx'/><anchor id='Pgccx'/> +them; but by the same modern feeling he would be held to be +guilty of a lie when he said that he was the servant of a lord in a +neighbouring county, though he might, without guilt, have worn +that lord's livery as a disguise if he could have obtained it, +which would have been a more effectual deception than any +words. +</p> + +<p> +Again, according to modern judgment, John Lilly would be +held guilty of a lie when he said<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Supra</hi> p. <ref target='Pgcxl'>cxl</ref>.</note> of Gerard's books and manuscripts, +<q>They are mine;</q> but quite guiltless when, with the +same intention of making the magistrates believe him to be a +Priest when he was not, he said, <q>I do not say I am a Priest, +that is for you to prove.</q> Yet the latter expression was +far more likely to deceive than the former. It was more +like what a Priest, under the circumstances, would have said. +Present feeling would condemn him of a lie for saying simply, +that the books were his, when it would acquit him if he +had thought of using far more deceptive expressions, such +as <q>I am not bound to compromise myself by saying whose +they are.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The only difference between modern morality and that on +which Father Gerard acted was that now-a-days men say, <q>Have +recourse to evasions.</q> Then men said, <q>Say what you like, it is +their fault if they think it true.</q> It is evident that of the two +courses of proceeding, the plain-spoken old way is the least open +to abuse. No one certainly would have recourse to it excepting +from a well-weighed plea of a sorrowful necessity. Whereas, on +the other hand, evasions are not startling, and the conscience +may lay but little stress on the presence or absence of +justifying circumstances. For it is most necessary to bear +seriously in mind that all Catholic divines then held, and now +hold, that to make use of equivocation excepting under those +peculiar circumstances that make it lawful, is in itself a sin, and +thus no escape from the sin of lying. So Father Garnett plainly +said when on his trial,<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Infra</hi> p. <ref target='Pg244'>244</ref>.</note> <q>As I say it is never lawful to equivocate +in matters of faith, so also in matters of human conversation, it +may not be used promiscually or at our pleasure, as in matters of +contract, in matters of testimony, or before a competent judge, or +<pb n='ccxi'/><anchor id='Pgccxi'/> +to the prejudice of any third person: in which cases we judge it +altogether unlawful.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It is but fair that, in reading the narrative of times when many +lives hung on successful disguise and concealment, we should +remember that the modern sense of equivocation was then +unknown. Protestant moralists have spoken out their minds +plainly enough on this subject. +</p> + +<p> +<q>Great English authors, Jeremy Taylor, Milton, Paley, Johnson, +men of very distinct schools of thought, distinctly say that under +certain extreme circumstances it is allowable to tell a lie. Taylor +says: <q>To tell a lie for charity, to save a man's life, the life of a +friend, of a husband, of a prince, of a useful and a public person, +hath not only been done at all times, but commended by great +and wise and good men. Who would not save his father's life, at +the charge of a harmless lie, from persecutors or tyrants?</q> +Again, Milton says: <q>What man in his senses would deny that +there are those whom we have the best ground for considering +that we ought to deceive, as boys, madmen, the sick, the intoxicated, +enemies, men in error, thieves? I would ask, by which of +the Commandments is lying forbidden? You will say, by the +ninth. If then my lie does not injure my neighbour, certainly it is +not forbidden by this Commandment.</q> Paley says: <q>There are +falsehoods which are not lies, that is, which are not criminal.</q> +Johnson: <q>The general rule is, that truth should never be +violated; there must, however, be some exceptions. If, for +instance, a murderer should ask you which way a man is +gone.</q></q><note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Apologia pro Vita sua</hi>, by John Henry Newman, D.D. London, 1864, +p. 418. The reader's attention is earnestly called to Dr. Newman's treatment +of this subject, both at the page quoted, and in the Appendix, p. 72. To the +Protestant authors quoted above may be added Mr. Froude (<hi rend='italic'>History of England</hi>, +vol. ii., ch. vi., p. 57, note). <q>It seems obvious that a falsehood of this sort is +different in kind from what we commonly mean by unveracity, and has no +affinity with it.... Rahab of Jericho did the same thing which Dalaber +did</q> [a Protestant, who gave false answers and swore to them, to save Garret, +his fellow] <q>and on that very ground was placed in the catalogue of Saints.</q></note> +</p> + +<p> +This <emph>language</emph> would not have been used by Catholics. +With them the word <q>lie</q> signified a simple falsehood; and an +<q>equivocation</q> was a false expression used under such circumstances +that if they to whom it was addressed were deceived by it, +<pb n='ccxii'/><anchor id='Pgccxii'/> +it was their own fault. They had then no right to the truth, and +even in some cases it would have been a sin to tell them the +truth. +</p> + +<p> +In substance, however, though not in form, the doctrine of +Gerard, Southwell, and Garnett, was the same as that of Taylor, +Milton, and Johnson. But to confine ourselves to the practice of +Father Gerard, this doctrine is not necessary for his defence, and +if his conduct be fairly examined, he will be held, even from +the modern point of view, to have done no wrong. Protestant +moralists, as we have seen, permit men under certain circumstances +to tell a lie with intent to deceive. And Catholic +moralists permit under such circumstances assertions which +would lead the hearers to deceive themselves by neglecting to +advert to the limit of the speaker's obligation to tell the truth. +But with regard to Father Gerard's legal interrogations, we may +waive the question whether they are right or wrong in their +morality, for we see clearly that he so expressed himself as to +show that his words were not intended to be believed. +</p> + +<p> +The real parallel to them, alleged by Gerard himself, as we +shall shortly see, is the prisoner's usual plea of <q>Not guilty.</q> This +is the only form in which the <emph>question</emph> is now put to a person +accused. But in those days the question was put over and over +again, and in every variety of form. To deny was really to plead +<q>Not guilty,</q> and if this be lawful once, it was lawful whenever +they were forced to repeat it. Not only was it a capital offence +to be a Priest within the realm, but it was high treason to be +reconciled to the Church, or absolved by a Priest, or to harbour +or comfort one. Thus the interrogations addressed to prisoners +were always intended to make them criminate themselves or +others; that is, in the one case to cause them to plead guilty, so +that they might be condemned to death on their own confessions; +or, in the other case, to force them to become Queen's evidence, +and be accessory to the infliction upon others of the extremest +penalties enacted by an unjust law. +</p> + +<p> +The first instance that occurs in Father Gerard's Life, is that +when, after his apprehension, on being questioned he declared +that he was quite unacquainted with the family of the Wisemans, +and those who were examining him betrayed their informer +<pb n='ccxiii'/><anchor id='Pgccxiii'/> +by crying out, <q>What lies you tell! Did you not say so-and-so +before such a lady as you read your servant's letter?</q> +Then he adds, <q>But I still denied it, <emph>giving them good reasons +however why, even if it had been true, I could and ought to have +denied it</emph>.</q><note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Supra</hi> p. <ref target='Pgli'>li</ref>.</note> +</p> + +<p> +Another time<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Supra</hi> p. <ref target='Pglxviii'>lxviii</ref>.</note> he was confronted with three servants of Lord +Henry Seymour, who avouched that he had dined with their +mistress and her sister, the Lady Mary Percy, that it was in Lent, +and they told how their mistress ate meat, while Lady Mary and +Father Gerard ate nothing but fish. <q rend='pre'>Young flung this charge in +my teeth with an air of triumph, as though I could not help +acknowledging it, and thereby disclosing some of my acquaintances. +I answered that I did not know the men whom he had +brought up.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>But we know you,</q> said they, <q>to be the same that was at +such a place on such a day.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>You wrong your mistress,</q> said I, <q>in saying so. I, however, +will not so wrong her.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>What a barefaced fellow you are!</q> exclaimed Young.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><q>Doubtless,</q> I answered, <q>were these men's statements true. +<emph>As for me, I cannot in conscience speak positively in the matter, for +reasons that I have often alleged; let them look to the truth and +justice of what they say.</emph></q></q> +</p> + +<p> +A third instance is the interview<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Supra</hi> p. <ref target='Pglxxxii'>lxxxii</ref>.</note> between Father Gerard and +the widow Wiseman, in the presence of the Dean of Westminster, +Topcliffe, and others. <q rend='pre'>They wanted to see if she recognized +me. So when I came into the room where they brought me, +I found her already there. When she saw me coming in with the +gaolers, she almost jumped for joy; but she controlled herself, +and said to them: <q>Is that the person you spoke of? I do not +know him; but he looks like a Priest.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Upon this she made me a very low reverence, and I bowed +in return. Then they asked me if I did not recognize her?</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I answered: <q>I do not recognize her. <emph>At the same time, +you know this is my usual way of answering, and I will never +mention any places, or give the names of any persons that are +known to me</emph> (which this lady, however, is not); <emph>because to do +<pb n='ccxiv'/><anchor id='Pgccxiv'/> +so, as I have told you before, would be contrary both to justice +and charity</emph>.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +Lastly, when examined<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Supra</hi> p. <ref target='Pgcxiv'>cxiv</ref>.</note> by the Attorney General, after having +received a letter from Father Garnett, warning him to prepare +himself for death, and after having freely confessed that he was a +Priest and a Jesuit, and that he had reconciled others to the Pope, +and drawn them away from the faith and religious profession +which was approved in England, <q>answers,</q> he says himself, +<q>which furnished quite sufficient matter for my condemnation, +according to their laws,</q> and after having denied that he had +meddled in political matters; his examination proceeded as +follows. +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Hereupon Mr. Attorney kept silence for a time, and then +he began afresh to ask me what Catholics I knew; did I know +such-and-such? I answered, <q>I do not know them.</q> <emph>And I +added the usual reasons why I should still make the same +answer even if I did know them.</emph><note place='foot'>Ostendi non esse hoc falsum dicere (MS.).</note> Upon this, he digressed to +the question of equivocation, and began to inveigh against +Father Southwell, because on his trial he denied that he knew +the woman who was brought forward to accuse him.<note place='foot'>This was the wretched Anne Bellamy, a young Catholic gentlewoman, +who for some overbold denunciation of the persecutors was given into the +custody of the ruffian Topcliffe, and was so deeply depraved by him, as to be +brought to the almost incredible infamy of serving as his tool to inveigle and +betray Priests.</note> She +swore that he had come to her father's house and was received +there as a Priest; this he positively denied, though he had +been taken in that house and was found in a hiding-place, +having been betrayed by this wretched woman. (A dutiful +daughter truly, who thus betrayed to death both her spiritual +and her natural father! Christ our Lord, however, came not +to send peace, but a sword to divide between the good and +the bad; and in this case he divided the bad daughter from +the good parents.) Good Father Southwell, then, though he +marvelled at the impudence of this miserable wench, yet denied +what she asserted, and <emph>gave good reasons for his denial</emph>, well +knowing and solidly proving that it was not lawful for him +<pb n='ccxv'/><anchor id='Pgccxv'/> +to do otherwise, lest he should add to the injury of those who +were already suffering for the Faith, and for charity shown to +him. Taking this occasion, therefore, he showed very learnedly +that it was lawful in some cases, nay, even necessary perhaps, +to use equivocation; which doctrine he established and confirmed +by strong arguments and copious authorities, drawn as +well from Holy Scripture as from the writings of the Doctors +of the Church.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The Attorney General inveighed much against this, and +tried to make out that this was to foster lying, and so destroy +all reliable communications between men, and, therefore, all +bonds of society. I, on the other hand, maintained that this +was not falsehood, nor supposed an intention of deceiving, +which is necessary to constitute a lie, but merely a keeping +back of the truth, and that where one is not bound to declare +it: consequently there is no deception, because nothing is refused +which the other has a right to claim. I showed, moreover, that +our doctrine did no way involve a destruction of the bonds of +society, because the use of equivocation is never allowed in making +contracts, since all are bound to give their neighbour his due, +and in making of contracts truth is due to the party contracting. +It should be remarked also, I said, that it is not allowed to +use equivocation in ordinary conversation to the detriment of +plain truth and Christian simplicity, much less in matters properly +falling under the cognizance of civil authority,<note place='foot'>In subornatâ gubernatione Reipublicæ (MS.). There is clearly some +blunder here. Probably we ought to read <q>subordinatâ;</q> yet, even so, the +phrase is not very intelligible. We have judged of the sense intended, by +the context.</note> since it is not +lawful to deny even a capital crime if the accused is questioned +juridically. He asked me, therefore, what I considered a juridical +questioning. I answered that the questioners must be really +superiors and judges in the matter under examination; then, the +matter itself must be some crime hurtful to the common weal, +in order that it may come under their jurisdiction; for sins +merely internal were reserved for God's judgment. Again, there +must be some trustworthy testimony brought against the +accused; thus, it is the custom in England that all who are put +<pb n='ccxvi'/><anchor id='Pgccxvi'/> +on their trial, when first asked by the Judge if they are guilty +or not, answer, <q>Not guilty,</q> before any witness is brought +against them, or any verdict found by the jury; and though +they answer the same way, whether really guilty or not, yet no +one accuses them of lying. Therefore I laid down this general +principle, that no one is allowed to use equivocation except in +the case when something is asked him, either actually or virtually, +which the questioner has no right to ask, and the declaration of +which will turn to his own hurt, if he answers according to the +intention of the questioner. I showed that this had been our +Lord's practice, and that of the Saints. I showed that it was +the practice of all prudent men, and would certainly be followed +by my interrogators themselves in case they were asked about +some secret sin, for example, or were asked by robbers where +their money was hid.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>They asked me, therefore, when our Lord ever made use +of equivocations; to which I replied, <q>When He told His +Apostles that no one knew the Day of Judgment, not even the +Son of Man; and again, when He said that He was not going +up to the Festival at Jerusalem, and yet He went; yea, and +He knew that He should go when He said He would not.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Wade here interrupted me, saying, <q>Christ really did not +know the Day of Judgment, as Son of Man.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><q>It cannot be,</q> said I, <q>that the Word of God Incarnate, +and with a human nature hypostatically united to God, should +be subject to ignorance; nor that He Who was appointed +Judge by God the Father should be ignorant of those facts +which belonged necessarily to His office; nor that He should +be of infinite wisdom, and yet not know what intimately concerned +Himself.</q> In fact, these heretics do not practically admit +what the Apostle teaches (though they boast of following his +doctrines), namely, that all the fulness of the Divinity resided +corporally in Christ, and that in Him were all the treasures of +the wisdom and knowledge of God. It did not, however, occur +to me at the moment to adduce this passage of St. Paul.</q> +</p> + +<p> +In every one of these instances words are carefully introduced +to show that the denials in question were uttered not with the +intent of deceiving the hearers (though even that, according to +<pb n='ccxvii'/><anchor id='Pgccxvii'/> +the grave Protestant authorities recently quoted, would have been +lawful), nor of allowing them to deceive themselves if they did +not choose to advert to the circumstances in which the denials +were made (as Catholic divines would have permitted);<note place='foot'>Sir Walter Scott's words have been often quoted, and they are fair +specimens of what an honourable man considers lawful. As they were no +hasty and unconsidered expressions, they are deserving of insertion in this +place. Lockhart calls them <q>a style of equivoque which could never seriously +be misunderstood.</q> To John Murray Scott wrote: <q>I give you heartily joy +of the success of the Tales, although I do not claim that paternal interest in +them which my friends do me the credit to assign me. I assure you I have +never read a volume of them until they were printed, and can only join with +the rest of the world in applauding the true and striking portraits which they +present of old Scottish manners. I do not expect implicit reliance to be placed +on my disavowal, because I know very well that he who is disposed not to own +a work must necessarily deny it, and that otherwise his secret would be at the +mercy of all who choose to ask the question, since silence in such a case must +always pass for consent, or rather assent. But I have a mode of convincing +you that I am perfectly serious in my denial—pretty similar to that by which +Solomon distinguished the fictitious from the real mother—and that is, by +reviewing the work, which I take to be an operation equal to that of quartering +the child.</q> And, in a letter written two years later, he says: <q>I own I did +mystify Mrs. —— a little about the report you mention; and I am glad to hear +the finesse succeeded. She came up to me with a great overflow of gratitude +for the delight and pleasure, and so forth, which she owed to me on account of +these books. Now, as she knew very well that I had never owned myself the +author, this was not <emph>polite</emph> politeness, and she had no right to force me up into +a corner and compel me to tell her a word more than I chose, upon a subject +which concerned no one but myself—and I have no notion of being pumped by +any old dowager Lady of Session, male or female. So I gave in dilatory +defences, under protestation to add and eik; for I trust, in learning a new +slang, you have not forgot the old. In plain words, I denied the charge, and +as she insisted to know who else <emph>could</emph> write these novels, I suggested Adam +Fergusson as a person having all the information and capacity necessary for +that purpose. But the inference that he <emph>was</emph> the author was of her own +deducing; and thus ended her attempt, notwithstanding her having primed the +pump with a good dose of flattery</q> (Lockhart's <hi rend='italic'>Memoirs of Sir Walter Scott</hi>, +1844, pp. 338, 389).</note> but +avowedly in order that they might not be available as legal +evidence against the speaker or his friends. +</p> + +<p> +To Father Gerard's defence of himself it may be as well to +add that of Father Southwell,<note place='foot'>We translate partly from Bartoli, <hi rend='italic'>Inghilterra</hi>, lib. v., c. 9, and partly +from More, <hi rend='italic'>Hist. Prov.</hi>, lib. v., c. 29.</note> who was assailed by Sir Edward +Coke. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The Father would have spoken further on this point [obedience +to the laws] had they not attacked him on another,</q> +<pb n='ccxviii'/><anchor id='Pgccxviii'/> +objecting to him a statement of Anne Bellamy's, who deposed +that Father Robert had instructed her, that if asked by searchers +or persecutors if there was a Priest in the house, she could say +<q>No,</q> though she knew there was one: nay, that if asked on oath, +she could swear there was not. No sooner was this brought out +than the Judges and officers of the court showed themselves +highly scandalized, and were for stopping their ears:<note place='foot'>Father Bartoli here asks us to contrast the pious horror expressed by the +officials at Father Southwell's doctrine with the fact related by Father Gerard +(<hi rend='italic'>supra</hi> p. <ref target='Pglxvii'>lxvii</ref>.) of the magistrate Young swearing on the Scriptures to what +he knew to be false, that Father Southwell had expressed a desire to confer +with a Protestant minister with the view of abandoning the Catholic faith.</note> as if, forsooth, +the seeking for Catholic Priests to put them to a traitor's +death, or force them to apostatize, were a proceeding so clearly +and so indubitably just, as to make it as clearly and indubitably +unjust to hide them from such an ordeal, or to deny them to +their pursuers: nor, indeed, would the harm be confined to the +cruel execution of the Priest, but with him the whole of the +family in whose house he was found would be liable to the same +death of traitors. Coke, therefore, the Attorney General, made +the most he could of this matter, insisting that such a pernicious +doctrine tended to destroy all truth, and all reliance of men +in each other's veracity, and if allowed to prevail, would upset +all good government. Topcliffe also inveighed against it so +exorbitantly, that Judge Popham silenced him. Father Robert +then, as soon as he was allowed to reply, explained briefly what +he had said to the witness, whose statement was not altogether +exact, and addressing the Judge, said: +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>If you will have the patience to listen to me, I shall be +able to prove to you from the Holy Scriptures, from the Fathers, +from theologians, and from reason, that in case a demand is +made against justice and with the view of doing grievous harm +to an innocent person, to give an answer not according to the +intent of the questioner is no offence against either the divine +law or the natural law. Nay, I will prove that this doctrine in +no wise threatens the good government of states and kingdoms: +and that, where the other necessary conditions of an oath are +present, there is nothing wrong in confirming such an answer in +that manner. Now I ask you, Mr. Attorney, Supposing the +<pb n='ccxix'/><anchor id='Pgccxix'/> +King of France (which God forbid) were to invade this country +successfully, and having obtained full possession of this city, were +to make search for Her Majesty the Queen, whom you knew to +be hidden in a secret apartment of the palace: supposing, +moreover, that you were seized in the palace and brought before +the King, and that he asked you where the Queen was, and +would receive no profession of ignorance from you except on +oath: what would you do? To palter or hesitate is to show +that she is there: to refuse to swear is equivalent to a betrayal. +What would you answer? I suppose, forsooth, you would point +out the place! Yet who of all who now hear me would not cry +out upon you for a traitor? You would then, if you had any +sense, swear at once, either that you knew not where she was, +or that you knew she was not in the palace, in order that your +knowledge might not become instrumental to her harm. Of this +kind, in fact, was the answer of Christ in the Gospel, when He +said that concerning the Day of Judgment no one had any +knowledge, neither the Angels in Heaven, nor the Son: that is, +according to the interpretation of the Fathers, such knowledge +that He could communicate to others. Now this is the condition +of Catholics in England: they are in peril of their liberty, +their fortunes, and their lives, if they should have a Priest in +their houses. How can it be forbidden them to escape these +evils by an equivocal answer, and to confirm this answer, if +necessary, by an oath? For in such a case, three things must +be remembered: first, that a wrong is done unless you swear; +secondly, that no one is obliged to answer everybody's questions +about everything; thirdly, that an oath is always lawful, if made +with truth, with judgment, and with justice, all which are found +in this case.</q><note place='foot'>This last consideration applies, of course, not to the general question of +equivocation (for in that case it would involve a <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>petitio principii</foreign>), but to the +sub-question whether supposing a simple equivocation lawful (<hi rend='italic'>i.e.</hi>, allowing it +to be no violation of veracity in some cases), it could ever be lawful to add +to it the confirmation of an oath. Father Southwell maintains reasonably, +that whatever it is lawful to say, it is lawful also to swear to, provided the +other conditions for an oath are present.</note></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>He went on to exemplify his position by supposed queries of +robbers and highwaymen; but he was interrupted by abuse.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='ccxx'/><anchor id='Pgccxx'/> + +<p> +Father Garnett has defended himself at sufficient length in +his speech on his trial;<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Infra</hi> p. <ref target='Pg244'>244</ref>.</note> but as he there refers to his previous +answers, we have thought it best to give insertion here to an +autograph paper of his preserved in the Public Record Office.<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Gunpowder Plot Book</hi>, n. 217<hi rend='smallcaps'>A</hi>.</note> +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Concerning equivocation, which I seemed to condemn in +moral things, my meaning was in moral and human conversation, +in which the virtue of verity is required among friends, for otherwise +it were injurious to all humanity. Neither is equivocation +at all to be justified, but in case of necessary defence from +injustice or wrong, or the obtaining some good of great importance, +when there is no danger of harm to others, as in the case +of Coventry,<note place='foot'>Cowetry (MS.). If this word is read thus correctly, it is a curious proof +of the antiquity of the phrase <q>being sent to Coventry.</q></note> wherein I suppose it is a great advantage to me +for to be admitted, and no harm can ensue to the city. For the +city seeketh nothing but to be free from the sickness, and if it +were possible that the city knew me to be free of certainty, they +would admit me presently, which is confirmed by the custom of +places beyond [sea], where, though they know a man to come +from a place infected, yet after they have kept him in some +several place, with convenient diet, for forty days, they admit him.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>As for Mr. Tresham's equivocation, I am loath to judge; yet +I think ignorance might excuse him, because he might think it +lawful in that case to equivocate for the excuse of his friend, yet +would I be loath to allow of it or practise it: he being not then +urged, but voluntarily offering it himself, contrary to that which +he had before set down, and especially being in case of manifest +treason, as I will after explain. But in case a man be urged at +the hour of his death, it is lawful for to equivocate, <emph>with such +due circumstances as are required in his life</emph>. An example we may +bring in another matter. For the divines hold that in some cases +a man may be bound to conceal <emph>something in his confession</emph>, +because of some great harm which may ensue of it. And as he +may do so in his life, so may he at his death, if the danger of the +harm continue still.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The case being propounded, supposing that I knew Gerard +<pb n='ccxxi'/><anchor id='Pgccxxi'/> +acquainted with this treason, and having been often demanded +thereof, I still denying it, by way of equivocation, whether at the +hour of my death, either natural or by course of justice, I may by +equivocation seek to clear him again.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I answer, that in case I be not urged I may not, but I must +leave the matter in case in which it stand; but if I be urged, then +I may clear him by equivocation, whereas otherwise my silence +would be accounted an accusation. But all this I understand +when the case is such that I am bound to conceal Gerard's +treason, as if I had heard it in confession. For this is a general +rule, that in cases of true and manifest treason,<note place='foot'><p><q>One necessary condition,</q> says Father Garnett in another paper +(P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Domestic, James I.</hi>, vol. 20, n. 2), <q rend='pre'>required in every law is that it +be just. For if this condition be wanting, that the law be unjust, then is it +<foreign rend='italic'>ipso facto</foreign> void and of no force, neither hath it any power to oblige any. And +this is a maxim, not only of divines, but of Aristotle and all philosophers. +Hereupon ensueth that no power on earth can forbid or punish any action +which we are bound unto by the law of God, which is the true pattern of all +justice. So that the laws against recusants, against receiving of Priests, against +confession, against Mass, or other rites of Catholic religion, are to be esteemed +as no laws by such as steadfastly believe these to be necessary observances of +the true religion.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Likewise Almighty God hath absolute right for to send His preachers of +His Gospel to any place in the world. <q>Euntes decete omnes gentes.</q> So +that the law against Priests coming into the realm sincerely to preach, is no +law, and those that are put to death by virtue of that decree are verily martyrs +because they die for the preaching of true religion.</q> +</p> +<p> +<q>Being asked what I meant by true treason, I answer that that is a true +treason which is made treason by any just law, and that is no treason at all +which is made treason by an unjust law.</q></p></note> a man is bound +voluntarily in utter and very truth by no way to equivocate, if he +know it not by way of confession, in which case also he is bound +to seek all lawful ways to discover, <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>salvo sigillo</foreign>.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><hi rend='smallcaps'>Henry Garnett.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>29° Martii.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>All the Doctors that hold equivocation to be lawful do +maintain that it is not lawful when the examinate is bound to +tell the simple truth, that is, according to the civil law, when +there is a competent judge, and the cause subject to his jurisdiction, +and sufficient proofs. But in case of treason a man is +bound to confess of another without any witness at all, yea, +voluntarily to disclose it; not so of himself.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='ccxxii'/><anchor id='Pgccxxii'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>And how far the common law bindeth in cases that are not +treason a man to confess of himself, I know not. In the civil +law, it is sufficient to have <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>semiplenam probationem</foreign>, that is, <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>unum +testem omni exceptione majorem</foreign>, or <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>manifesta indicia</foreign>.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Our law I take to be more mild, and that a man may put all +to witnesses without confessing, except in cases of treason. For, +according to our law, <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>non pervertitur judicium tacendo vel negando</foreign>, +as in the civil law, where is required <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>reus confitens</foreign>. But generally, +when a man is bound to confess, there is no place of equivocation. +And when he is not bound to confess according to the laws of +each country, then may he equivocate.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +In the last paper Father Garnett is not speaking of equivocation +used in defence of an innocent person, but of what we +may call the persistent plea of <q>Not guilty,</q> and he there draws +an interesting distinction between the Roman civil law and our +own, which he calls <q>more mild,</q> in that it professed to regard +a prisoner as innocent till he is proved to be guilty. Happily +this is our practice now, as well as our profession, and our +quotations are needed to enable us to form judgments of conduct +in times that have happily passed away. +</p> + +<p> +But with regard to the trustworthiness of Father John +Gerard's evidence, as we have it before us in his Narrative of +the Gunpowder Plot, even if the lawfulness of his proceedings +were not admitted, all that we are concerned to show is, that +untrue statements, made by a man under circumstances which, +rightly or wrongly, he considers to justify him in making them, +furnish no presumption whatever that, under other circumstances, +affording to his conscience no such justification, his word cannot +be trusted. It is an evident instance of the maxim that the +exception proves the rule. Restraining himself carefully within +the limits of what he held to be lawful under circumstances of +extreme difficulty and great personal danger, are we not rather to +conclude that, under far less pressure, he will as carefully confine +himself to the laws imposed by his conscience? Clearly there is +nothing in Father Gerard's practice under examination to cause +us to hesitate in placing implicit trust in his word when he speaks +as an historian; and, in addition, we are sure that no one will rise +<pb n='ccxxiii'/><anchor id='Pgccxxiii'/> +from the perusal of the exculpatory letters which we propose to +subjoin, without a full conviction of his innocence and truthfulness. +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XXXI.</head> + +<p> +But before we close this subject by producing these letters, we +think it desirable to answer in detail two particular accusations +that have been brought against Father Gerard's veracity by a +modern writer. Canon Tierney says:<note place='foot'>Dodd's <hi rend='italic'>Church History</hi>, ed. Tierney, vol. iv., p. 44, note.</note> <q>To show how very little +reliance can be placed on the asseverations of Gerard when +employed in his own vindication, it is only right to observe that, +referring to this transaction</q> [the Communion of the conspirators +after their oath of secresy] <q>in his manuscript narrative, he first +boldly and very properly asserts, on the authority of Winter's +confession, that the Priest who administered the Sacrament was +not privy to the designs of the conspirators; and then ignorant of +Faukes' declaration which had not been published, and supposing +that his name had not transpired, as that of the Clergyman who +had officiated upon the occasion, he returns at once to the +artifice which I have elsewhere noticed, of substituting a third +person as the narrator, and solemnly protests on his salvation that +he knows not the Priest from whom Catesby and his associates +received the Communion!</q> +</p> + +<p> +Dr. Lingard also says simply that the Communion was +received by the conspirators <q>from the hand of the Jesuit +missionary Father Gerard,</q><note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>History of England</hi>, ed. 1849, vol. vii., p. 44.</note> apparently unconscious that he had +ever denied it. +</p> + +<p> +We have little doubt that the house in which the oath of +secrecy was taken and holy Communion received, was really +Father Gerard's house. The <q>house in the fields behind St. +Clement's Inn,</q> as Faulks calls it; <q>behind St. Clement's,</q> as +it appears in Winter's confession, seems to be the house described +by Father Gerard as that which he occupied up to the time of the +Powder Plot, <q>nearer the principal street in London, called the +Strand,</q><note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Supra</hi> p. <ref target='Pgclxii'>clxii</ref>.</note> in which street most of his friends lived. But he was +not the only Priest who lived in that house. At least two other +<pb n='ccxxiv'/><anchor id='Pgccxxiv'/> +Priests<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Supra</hi> pp. <ref target='Pgclxxiv'>clxxiv</ref>., <ref target='Pgclxxvii'>clxxvii</ref>.</note> resided habitually with him. One was Father Strange, +who was in the Tower when the Autobiography was written; the +other, whose name he does not give, <q>was thrown into Bridewell, +and was afterwards banished, together with other Priests.</q> Then +there was also Thomas Laithwaite,<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Supra</hi> p. <ref target='Pgclxxvi'>clxxvi</ref>.</note> who afterwards became a +Jesuit, who frequented the house if he did not live there. Father +Gerard says, <q>There I should long have remained, free from all +peril or even suspicion, if some friends of mine, while I was +absent from London, had not availed themselves of the house +rather rashly.</q> What meaning can this have but that Catholics +were allowed, in Father Gerard's absence, to come to the house +too freely to receive the Sacraments, so that it became too widely +known that it was his house? +</p> + +<p> +Immediately after binding themselves by oath to secrecy, the +minds of the conspirators must have been preoccupied with the +thoughts of the tremendous undertaking to which they had just +pledged themselves; and it is very unlikely that mention should +be made, in subsequent conversation among them, of the name +of the Priest, whom they had only seen at the altar, especially as +he <q>was not acquainted with their purpose.</q><note place='foot'>Faulks' confession, P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Gunpowder Plot Book</hi>, n. 54.</note> The only two +conspirators who mention Father Gerard's name are Faulks and +Thomas Winter. Faulks was a stranger, who had <q>spent most of +his time in the wars of Flanders, which is the cause that he was +less known here in England.</q><note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Infra</hi> p. <ref target='Pg059'>59</ref>.</note> We have no trace of any personal +intercourse between Thomas Winter and Father Gerard. What +can have been more natural than that they should have been told +to meet at Father Gerard's house, and that those who did not +know him by sight should have concluded that it was Father +Gerard's Mass that they heard? It surely is more probable that +they should have been mistaken in a name than that Father +Gerard should have been guilty of perjury in contradicting, from +a place of safety, that which was no accusation against him, but a +harmless statement that, in ignorance of the oath taken, he had +given Communion to certain Catholics. +</p> + +<pb n='ccxxv'/><anchor id='Pgccxxv'/> + +<p> +Faulks' confession was extorted by torture. King James had +given orders, <q>The gentler tortours are to be first usid unto him, +<foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>et sic per gradus ad ima tenditur</foreign>, and so God speede your goode +work.</q><note place='foot'>In the King's own hand. P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Gunpowder Plot Book</hi>, n. 17.</note> Faulks was under none of the <q>gentler tortures</q> when +in a tremulous hand he wrote <q>Guido</q> on that declaration. +<q>The prisoner is supposed to have fainted before completing</q><note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Calendar of State Papers</hi>, by M. E. Green. James I., 1603-10, p. 247.</note> +the signature. Before the words exculpating Father Gerard from +all knowledge of the conspirators' purpose, the word <hi rend='italic'>Hucusque</hi> +appears in the handwriting of Sir Edward Coke, who has underlined +the sentence in red. The ideas of justice of this great +lawyer permitted him to publish the mention there made of +Father Gerard's name, and to suppress the statement of his +innocence. There is also a red line drawn beneath the following +words in Thomas Winter's examination: <q>But Gerard knew not +of the provision of the powder, to his knowledge.</q><note place='foot'>P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Gunpowder Plot Book</hi>, n. 164.</note> +</p> + +<p> +The second accusation brought by the same writer,<note place='foot'>Dodd's <hi rend='italic'>Church History</hi>, by Tierney, vol. iv., p. cii.</note> is +couched as follows: <q>Relying upon the fidelity of Gerard, who +declares <emph>upon his conscience</emph>, that he has <q>set down Father +Garnett's words truly and sincerely as they lie in his letter,</q> +Dr. Lingard has printed what is given by that writer, and from it +has argued, with Greenway, that Garnett on the 4th of October, +the date assigned to it both by Gerard and Greenway, was still +ignorant of the nature of the Plot. The truth, however, is, that +although the <emph>letter</emph> was written on the <emph>fourth</emph>, the <emph>postcript</emph> was not +added until the <emph>twenty-first</emph> of October; that from this postscript +the two Jesuit writers have selected a sentence, which they have +transferred to the body of the letter; and then, concealing both +the existence of the postscript and the date of the 21st, +have represented the whole as written and dispatched on the +4th. The motive for this proceeding, especially on the part of +Greenway, is obvious. That writer's argument is, that the +Parliament had been summoned to meet on the 3rd of October, +that Garnett had not heard of the intention to prorogue it to the +following month (this, to say the least, is very improbable); that, +<pb n='ccxxvi'/><anchor id='Pgccxxvi'/> +for anything he could have known to the contrary, the great blow +had already been struck, at the very time when he was writing; +and, consequently, that, had he been acquainted with the intentions +of Catesby and his confederates, he would never, at such a +moment, have thought of proceeding, as he says he was about to +proceed, towards London, and thus exposing himself to the +almost inevitable danger of falling into the hands of his enemies.... +Now the whole of this reasoning is founded on the assumption +that the letter bore only the single date of the 4th. On the +21st, the supposed danger of a journey to London no longer +existed. At that period, too, Garnett, instead of proceeding +towards the metropolis, had not only removed in the opposite +direction, from Goathurst, in Buckinghamshire, to Harrowden, +the seat of Lord Vaux, in Northamptonshire, but was also +preparing to withdraw himself still further from the capital, and by +the end of the month, was actually at Coughton, in the neighbourhood +of Alcester. In fact, what was written on the 4th, he had +practically contradicted on the 21st, and to have allowed any part +of the letter, therefore, to carry this later date, would have been +to supply the refutation of the very argument which it was +intended to support. Hence the expedient to which this writer +has had recourse. The postscript and its date are carefully +suppressed; and we are told that, looking at the contents of the +letter, Garnett, when he wrote it, could have known nothing of +the designs of the conspirators: <q>Quando scrisse questa lettera, +che fu alli quattro d'Ottobre, non sapeva niente del disegno di +questi gentilhuomini, altro che il sospetto che prima havea +havuto</q> (Greenway's MS., 51b). Without stopping to notice the +falsehood contained in the concluding words of this sentence, and +without intending to offer an opinion here, as to the principal +question of Garnett's conduct, I may still remark that even the +friends of that Jesuit universally admit him to have received the +details of the plot from Greenway about the 21st; and that this +fact alone may be regarded as supplying another and a sufficient +motive both to the latter and to Gerard, for the suppression of +that date.</q> +</p> + +<p> +This note by Canon Tierney produced its effect on Dr. +Lingard, and that historian, in the edition of his work published +<pb n='ccxxvii'/><anchor id='Pgccxxvii'/> +in 1849, remarks upon the matter as follows.<note place='foot'>Vol. viii., p. 543.</note> <q>The object for +which this letter was made up in the shape which it thus assumes +in Gerard's MS., is plain from the reasoning which both he and +Greenway found upon it. They contend that, if Garnett had +been privy to the conspiracy, he must have believed on the 4th +that the explosion had already taken place on the 3rd, the day +on which the Parliament had been summoned to meet; though +no reason is assigned why he might not, as well as others, have +been aware of the prorogation to the 5th of November, and +they add that, under such belief, he would never have resolved +to encounter the dangers of making, as he proposed to do, a +journey to London, though in fact he made no such journey, +but changed his route, and was actually, at the time in which +he wrote, on his way to the meeting appointed at Dunchurch. +Hence it became necessary to suppress the postscript, because +it was irreconcileable with such statements. There was, moreover, +this benefit in the suppression, that it kept the reader in +ignorance (1) of the real date of the letter, the 21st of October, +the very time when it is admitted that Greenway made to +Garnett a full disclosure of the Plot; and (2) that Garnett +took that opportunity of blotting out a most important passage +in the letter written on the 4th, with a promise to forward the +same passage later in an epistle apart; two facts which would +furnish strong presumptions against the alleged innocence of the +Provincial.</q> +</p> + +<p> +One word in passing, in reply to the <q>two facts which would +furnish strong presumptions against</q> Father Garnett's innocence. +1. Dr. Lingard has forgotten that <q>the full disclosure of the +Plot</q> was made in confession, and that Father Garnett could +make no use of it in any way, until the conjuncture arose when +the penitent gave him leave. 2. It is true that a passage, +written to Father Persons on the 4th October, was erased by +Father Garnett on the 21st; but what presumption does this +furnish? The <q>promise to forward the same passage later in +an epistle apart,</q> could not mean that he would write him word +of the Powder Plot when it was safe to do so. Is it likely that +a conspirator would have written to his friend, with all the +<pb n='ccxxviii'/><anchor id='Pgccxxviii'/> +chances of a letter being intercepted, that they were proposing +to blow up the Houses of Parliament? What would he have +gained even had he but risked a phrase as oracular as that of +the letter to Lord Mounteagle? Such a supposition assumes +that Father Garnett was not only guilty of the Plot, but that +he had lost all common sense and ordinary caution; and that +he was indebted to the accidental return of his letter to his +hands, seventeen days after he had written it, for an opportunity +of destroying proof under his own hand that he was guilty. If +this consideration is not conclusive, we have but to refer to the +context, as given from the original by Mr. Tierney himself,<note place='foot'>Tierney's <hi rend='italic'>Dodd</hi>, vol. iv., p. cv. The original letter is now in the +archives of the Archbishop of Westminster.</note> and +our sense of the ridiculous must settle the question. Father +Garnett must have been the most erratic of letter-writers, if he +could insert a reference to the Gunpowder Treason, or to any +other treason, between two such subjects as the choice of +Lay-brothers and his own want of money. The letter ends +as follows. +</p> + +<p> +<q><q>I pray you send word how many Coadjutors</q></q> [Jesuit Lay-brothers] +<q rend='pre'><q>you will have. I have one, a citizen of London, +of very good experience, which may benefit us, in buying and +selling without taxes. But he is fifty years old: and I think +it not amiss to have, at the first, some ancient men for such. +Send your will herein.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><hi rend='italic'>A short but separate paragraph of three lines is here carefully +obliterated.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><q>I am in wonderful distress, for want of the ordinary allowance +from Joseph</q></q> [Creswell, the Superior in Spain]. <q><q>I pray +you write for all the arrearages, which, if it may all be gotten, +I can spare you some. Thus, with humble remembrance to +Claud</q></q> [Aquaviva, the General], <q><q>Fabio, Perez, Duras, and the +rest, I cease, 4<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>o</hi> Octobris.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +But let us address ourselves to the grave accusation made +against Gerard and Greenway. That Dr. Lingard should have +made such a statement at all is owing, first, to the fact that at +the time when he was preparing the new edition of his History, +he had no longer access to the manuscript of Father Gerard, +<pb n='ccxxix'/><anchor id='Pgccxxix'/> +of which he had had the use<note place='foot'>Vol. iii., p. 37, note.</note> when originally compiling his +work. The reader, who has Gerard's Narrative now beneath +his eyes, can speedily convince himself of this fact. And, +secondly, to a misunderstanding of Canon Tierney's note, for +which that writer's expressions are to blame. If it had been +true, as Dr. Lingard understood Mr. Tierney to say, that Gerard +and Greenway drew the same argument from the date of Father +Garnett's letter, their conduct would have been entirely indefensible, +and they would have deserved the blame brought against +them. +</p> + +<p> +The truth however is, and in this lies an ample defence +for both of them, that this is not so. Father Gerard quotes +Father Garnett's letter only and solely to illustrate the state of +the Catholics in England. For this purpose, the date of the +letter he was quoting was entirely unimportant. Indeed, he +originally quoted the letter without any date; and then he +interlined the date of Oct. 4th, but laying no more stress upon +it than he had laid on the dates of the other letters of July 24th +and August 28th. For the same reason it would not occur to +him to note that the passage respecting Ireland was taken from +a postcript. It was enough for him that he gave Father Garnett's +very words, as he declared <q>upon his conscience</q> that he did; +and that he had Father Garnett's authority for the account that +he was giving of the condition and state of feeling of Catholics. +When he turned to the letter for a date, it was natural enough +that he should take that which was endorsed upon it by Father +Persons, who, having erased the date of the 21st which he had +originally written upon it, had substituted the 4th, and <q>in +another corner of the paper also, where it appears most likely +to catch the eye, inscribed the same date thus, <q>4° 8<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>bris</hi>.</q></q><note place='foot'>Tierney's Dodd, vol. iv., p. cvi.</note> As +there is no ground for blaming Father Persons for thus endorsing +a single date on a letter which continued to bear two, so neither +is it reasonable to blame Father Gerard for quoting the letter +under one date only. It is clear, therefore, that there is no +accusation whatever against Father Gerard, and if Father +Greenway had not drawn from the date of the letter the argument +regarding Father Garnett, none would ever have been +<pb n='ccxxx'/><anchor id='Pgccxxx'/> +made. It is gravely to be regretted that Mr. Tierney should +have said that there was <q>a sufficient motive both to the latter +<emph>and to Gerard</emph> for the suppression of that date.</q> This expression +evidently misled Dr. Lingard, and led him erroneously to speak +of <q>the reasoning which both he [Gerard] and Greenway found +upon it.</q> Had Dr. Lingard not trusted to Mr. Tierney, but +referred to Gerard's Narrative, he would have said of the +whole charge that which he has said<note place='foot'>Vol. vii., p. 542.</note> of the alterations of names +in the first part of the letter. Of this his expression is, <q>Had +his object been only to present the public with an account of +the persecution to which the English Catholics were at that +moment subjected, there would not have been great cause to +complain.</q> This <emph>was</emph> his only object,<note place='foot'>See Narrative, <hi rend='italic'>infra</hi> p. <ref target='Pg079'>79</ref>.</note> and therefore there was, +in Dr. Lingard's judgment, no great cause to complain. +</p> + +<p> +Father Greenway derived his information of the letter from +Father Gerard's Narrative, of which he was translator. Whether +the argument he has founded on the date of the letter has any +and what force is not here under discussion, but it is evident that +he propounded it in good faith. The original letter was in +existence to confute him. If he had seen it or noticed the +postscript and its date, he would never have exposed himself to +such a confutation. He was misled, innocently enough, but +seriously, by the manner in which the letter appeared in Father +Gerard's pages which he was translating. +</p> + +<p> +In a word, the accusation is this. Gerard and Greenway +found an argument on the fact that a letter of Garnett's was +dated the 4th of October, when they knew that it was in his +hands on the 21st. And the answer is this. Gerard may have +known, but had no need to notice, the fact of the double date, as +he founded no argument whatever upon it: Greenway, who did +found an argument on it, had no reason for suspecting the +existence of a later date on the letter. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='ccxxxi'/><anchor id='Pgccxxxi'/> + +<div> +<head>XXXII.</head> + +<p> +Having thus vindicated the fair fame of these Fathers from the +unmerited imputations brought against them, it remains for us to +produce the letters which were written expressly to prove Father +Gerard's innocence of all complicity with the conspiracy. We +first take from the Public Record Office<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Domestic, James I.</hi>, vol. xviii., n. 35.</note> his letter to the Duke of +Lenox, enclosing letters to the Earl of Salisbury and Sir Everard +Digby. These are the letters described by Father Gerard himself +in the twelfth chapter of his Narrative.<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Supra</hi> p. <ref target='Pgclxxix'>clxxix</ref>; <hi rend='italic'>infra</hi> p. <ref target='Pg208'>208</ref></note> +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Right Honourable,—Seeing all laws, both divine and +human, do license the innocent to plead for himself, and the same +laws do strictly require and highly commend an open ear in any +of authority to give audience and equal trial to a plaintiff in such +a case, my hope is that your Grace will excuse this my boldness +in offering up by your hands my humble petition for trial of my +innocence touching the late most impious treason, whereof I am +wrongfully accused, by some lost companions, I assure me, who, +to save themselves from deserved punishment, will not stick to +accuse any innocent of any crime wherein their bare word may +pass for proof. There is none so innocent but may be wrongfully +accused, sith innocency itself in our Lord and Master was +accused and condemned as an enemy to the State and no friend +to Cæsar. The servant must not look to be more free from +wrongs than his Master was. But happy is that man by whom +the truth is tried in judgment and innocency cleared.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I durst not presume, being branded with the odious name of +traitor, to offer my petition to my Sovereign (to whom, as God is +witness, I wish long life and all happiness as to my own soul). +But if by your Grace's means (of whose piety and worthy disposition +I have heard so much good) the humble suit of a +distressed suppliant (prostrate at His Majesty's feet) may be +offered up, I hope it shall be found not unfit for your Grace to +offer, and most fit and reasonable for so wise and righteous a +Prince to grant.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='ccxxxii'/><anchor id='Pgccxxxii'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>My humble petition is only this. That, whereas I have +protested before God and the world, I was not privy to that +horrible Plot of destroying the King's Majesty and his posterity, +&c., by powder (wherewith I am now so publicly taxed in the +proclamation), that full trial may be made, whether I be guilty +therein or not. And if so it be proved, that then all shame +and pain may light upon me; but if the truth appear on the +contrary side, that then I may be cleared from this so grievous an +infamation and punishment not deserved. Two kinds of proofs +may be made in this cause, which I humbly beseech your Grace, +for God's cause, may be performed. One is, that all the principal +conspirators (with whom I am said to have practised the foresaid +Plot of Powder against the Parliament House) may be asked at +their death, as they will answer at the dreadful tribunal unto +which they are going, whether ever they did impart the matter to +me, or I practise the same with them in the least degree, or +whether they can but say of their knowledge that I did know of +it. And I know it will then appear that no one of them will +accuse me, if it be not apparent they do it in hope of life, but do +give signs that they die in the fear of God and hope of their +salvation.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>And as by this trial it will appear (in this time most fit for +saying truth) that there is not sufficient witness against me, so I +humbly desire also trial may be made by examining a witness, +who can, if he will, fully clear me, and I hope he will not deny +me that right, especially being<note place='foot'>Here the paper is torn, and three or four words are consequently illegible.</note> ... the place of right and +justice himself. Sir Everard Digby can testify for me, how +ignorant I was of any such matter but two days before that +unnatural parricide should have been practised. I have, for full +trial thereof, enclosed a letter unto him, which I humbly beseech +may be delivered before your Grace and the other two lords, +whose favour and equity I have likewise humbly entreated by +these letters unto them. All which I am bold to direct unto your +Grace's hands, presuming upon your gracious furtherance, not +having other means, in this my distressed case, to have them +severally delivered. God of His goodness will reward, I hope, in +full measure, this your Grace's favour and pity showed to an +<pb n='ccxxxiii'/><anchor id='Pgccxxxiii'/> +innocent wrongly accused, who would rather suffer any death +than not to be found ever faithful to God and his Sovereign,</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><hi rend='smallcaps'>John Gerard.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>This 23rd of January.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Addressed</hi>—<q>To the Right Honourable the Duke of Lenox, +these deliver.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Endorsed in Cecil's hand</hi>—<q>Gerard the Jesuit to the Duke of +Lenox.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Right Honourable,—Although I can expect no other from +one in your place, but that you should permit the course of justice +to proceed against any that are proved guilty of treason to His +Majesty and the State, especially in so foul and unnatural a +treason as was lately discovered, yet I cannot but hope where +there is so much wisdom, and so vigilant a care for the preservation +of this State, your lordship will also be pleased to hear, +and forward to make trial, who may be wrongfully accused, +knowing right well that it is as necessary in any Government to +protect the innocent as to punish the offenders.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>What proof there is of my accusation I know not, and +therefore cannot answer it. But this I know: that none can truly +produce the least proof that ever I was made privy to that +treason of which I am accused, and much less a practiser with +the principal conspirators in the same, as I am denounced to be. +Therefore, sith I know not my accusers, God I hope will be +judge between them and me, to Whom I refer my cause, and in +Whom my trust is, and ever shall be, that He will right me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In the meantime my humble request is, that your lordship, +who have been so often seen to be pitiful towards any in distress, +and a potent helper to those who were oppressed (a special +ornament in so eminent a person, and much commended and +rewarded by God Himself), will show your accustomed commiseration +in my case, and afford me therein such audience as may be +sufficient to make trial of my innocency. Wherein your lordship +shall imitate the just proceeding of the highest Lord, from Whom +both yourself, and all that govern, have all your power. For God +Himself, although He know all things before He call us to +account, yet, to give us the form of just proceeding, is said in +<pb n='ccxxxiv'/><anchor id='Pgccxxxiv'/> +Holy Scripture to be ever careful in hearing what the accused can +say for himself before He proceeds to give sentence. So we read +that God said to Abraham, <q>Clamor Sodomorum etc., multiplicatus +est, etc., descendam et videbo utrum clamorem qui venit ad me +opere compleverint, an non est ita, ut sciam.</q> So again in the +Gospel when He heard a complaint against His steward, He +would not proceed against him without full audience, but called +him and said, <q>Quid hæc audio de te? redde rationem +villicationis tuae.</q> These most high and worthy examples I trust +your lordship will follow in my case, as you have been known to +do with others. And then I doubt not but that shall appear true +which I have most sincerely protested before God and the world.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>My humble petition therefore is, that a witness may be +asked his knowledge who is well able to clear me if he will, and I +hope he will not be so unjust in this time of his own danger as to +conceal so needful a proof being so demanded of him. Sir Everard +Digby doth well know how far I was from knowledge of any such +matter but two days before the treason was known to all men. I +have therefore written a letter unto him, to require his testimony +of that which passed between him and me at that time. Wherein, +if I may have your lordship's furtherance to have just trial made +of the truth whilst yet he liveth, I shall ever esteem myself most +deeply bound to pray for your lordship's happiness both in this +world and in the next. In which hope I will rest, your lordship's +prone and humble suppliant, never to be proved false to King +and country,</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><hi rend='smallcaps'>John Gerard.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>This 23rd of January.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Addressed</hi>—<q>To the Right Honourable the Earl of Salisbury, +Principal Secretary to His Majesty, these.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Endorsed in Cecil's hand</hi>—<q>Gerard the Jesuit to my son.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Sir Everard Digby,—I presume so much of your sincerity +both to God and man, that I cannot fear you will be loath to utter +your knowledge for the clearing of one that is innocent from a +most unjust accusation, importing both loss of life to him that is +accused, and of his good name also, which he much more +esteemeth.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='ccxxxv'/><anchor id='Pgccxxxv'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>So it is that upon some false information (given, as I +suppose, by some base fellows, desirous to save their lives by the +loss of their honesty) there is come forth a proclamation against +my Superior, and one other of the Society, and myself, as against +three notorious practisers with divers of the principal conspirators +in this late most odious treason of destroying the King's Majesty +and all in the Parliament House with powder. And myself am +put in the first place, as the first or chiefest offender therein.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Now God I call to witness, Who must be my Judge, that I +did never know of it before the rumour of the country brought it +to the place where I was, after the treason was publicly discovered. +And if this protestation be not sincerely true, without any equivocation, +and the words thereof so understood by me, as they sound +to others, I neither desire nor expect any favour at God's hand +when I shall stand before His tribunal. But because this +protestation doth only clear me in their opinion who are so +persuaded of my conscience that they think I would not condemn +my soul to save my body (which I hope by God's grace shall +never be my mind): therefore, to give more full proof of my +innocency to those also may doubt the truth of my words, I take +witness to yourself whether you, upon your certain knowledge, +cannot clear me. I wrote a letter before Christmas which I +hoped would be sufficient to have cleared me; wherein, +beside a most serious protestation (such as no honest man can +use if he were guilty, as for my part my conscience doth +persuade me), I alleged some other reasons which did make it +more than probable, in my opinion, that I was neither to be +charged with this late treason, nor chargeable with former dealing +in State matters. But I did of purpose forbear this proof (which +now I allege), although I did assure myself it would clear me +from all just suspicion of being privy to that last and greatest +treason; and I did forbear to set it down, in regard I would not +take knowledge of any personal acquaintance with you, especially +at your own house, not knowing how far you were to be touched +for your life, and therefore would not add unto your danger. But +now that it appears by your confession and trial in the country +that you stand at the King's mercy for greater matters than your +acquaintance with a Priest, I hope you will not be loath I should +<pb n='ccxxxvi'/><anchor id='Pgccxxxvi'/> +publish that which cannot hurt you, and may help myself in a +matter of such importance. And as I know you could never like +to stoop to so base and unworthy a humour as to flatter or +dissemble with any man, so much less can I fear that now (being +in the case you are in) you can ever think it fit to dissemble with +God, or not to utter your every knowledge, being required as from +Him, and in the behalf of truth. Therefore I desire you will bear +witness of the truth which followeth (if it be true that I affirm of +my demand to you, growing upon my ignorance in the matter +then in hand) as you expect truth and mercy at God's hand +hereafter.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>First, I desire you to bear witness whether, coming to your +house upon All Souls' Day last, before dinner, with intention and +hope to celebrate there, and finding all things hid out of the way +and many of your household gone, you did not perceive me to be +astonished at it, as a thing much contrary to my expectation. +Whereupon I asked you what was become of them. And when +you told me you had sent them into Warwickshire, and your +hounds also, and yourself were going presently after, about a +hunting match which you had made, though I seemed satisfied +for the present because a stranger was there with you, yet +whether I did not soon after (when I had compared many +particulars together which seemed strange unto me) draw you +into a chamber apart, and there urge you to tell me what was the +reason both of that sudden alteration in your house and of divers +other things which I had observed before, but did not until then +reflect upon them so much, as, for example, the number of horses +that you had not long before in your stable, the sums of money +which I had been told you had made of your stock and grounds, +which (said I) in one of your judgment and provident care of +your estate, are not likely to be done without some great cause, +and seemed to think you had something in hand for the Catholic +cause. Your answer was, <q>No, there was nothing in hand that +you knew of, or could tell me of.</q> And when I replied that I had +some fear of it by those signs, considering you would not hurt +your estate so much in likelihood without some cause equivalent +(for I knew very well you meant to pay the statute, and so stood +not in fear of losing your stock), and therefore willed you to look +<pb n='ccxxxvii'/><anchor id='Pgccxxxvii'/> +well that you followed counsel in your proceedings, or else you +might hurt both yourself and the cause, your answer was (which +I have remembered often since), <q>That you respected the Catholic +cause much more than your own commodity, as it should well +appear whensoever you undertook anything.</q> I asked you once +again whether, then, there were anything to be done, and whether +you expected any help by foreign power, whereunto you answered, +holding up the end of your finger, that you would not adventure +so much in hope thereof. Then I said, <q>I pray God you follow +counsel in your doings. If there be any matter in hand, doth +Mr. Walley know of it?</q> You answered, <q>In truth, I think he +doth not.</q> Then I said further, <q>In truth, Sir Everard Digby, if +there should be anything in hand, and that you retire yourself +and company into Warwickshire, as into a place of most safety, I +should think you did not perform the part of a friend to some of +your neighbours not far off, and persons that, as you know, +deserve every respect, and to whom you have professed much +friendship, that they are left behind, and have not any warning to +make so much provision for their own safety as were needful in +such a time, but to defend themselves from rogues.</q> Your answer +was (as I will be sworn), <q>I warrant you it shall not need.</q> And +so you gave me assurance that, if there had been anything needful +for them or me to know, you would assuredly have told me. So I +rested satisfied and parted from you, and after that I never saw +you nor any of the conspirators. These were my questions unto +you. And thus clear I was from the knowledge of that Plot +against the Parliament House, whereof, notwithstanding, I am +accused and proclaimed to be a practiser with the principal +conspirators. But I refer me to God and your conscience, who +are able to clear me, and I challenge the conscience of any one +that certainly expecteth death, and desireth to die in the fear of +God and with hope of his salvation, to accuse me of it if he can. +God, of His mercy, grant unto us all grace to see and do His +will, and to live and die His servants, for they only are and shall +be happy for ever.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Your companion in tribulation though not in the cause,</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='smallcaps'>John Gerard.</hi></q> +</p> + +<pb n='ccxxxviii'/><anchor id='Pgccxxxviii'/> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Postcript</hi>—<q>I hope you will also witness with me that you +have ever seen me much averted from such violent courses, and +hopeful rather of help by favour than by force. And, indeed, if +I had not now been satisfied by your assurance that there was +nothing in hand, it should presently have appeared how much I +had misliked any forcible attempts, the counsel of Christ and the +commandment of our superiors requiring the contrary, and that +in patience we should possess our souls.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Addressed</hi>—<q>To Sir Everard Digby, prisoner in the Tower.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<hi rend='italic'>Endorsed in Cecil's hand</hi>—<q>Gerard the Priest to Sir Everard +Digby.</q> +</p> + +</quote> + +<p> +From Father Bartoli<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Inghilterra</hi>, lib. vi., cap. 6, p. 513.</note> we take a letter written from Rome, +twenty-five years after the Powder Plot, addressed by Father +Gerard to Dr. Smith, Bishop of Chalcedon, and Vicar Apostolic +of England. The translation from Bartoli's Italian version is a +very old one; the date of the letter is September 1, 1630. +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> + +<p> +<q>My Lord,—Not long since I received information that a +manuscript dissertation, with the title of <hi rend='italic'>Brevis Inquisitio, &c.</hi>, +had been circulated in your parts; in the course of which it is +pretended that a certain person continues to glory, to the present +day, that by working under ground in the mine of Mr. Catesby +and other conspirators, by excavating and carrying out the soil +with his own hands, he has often found his shirt wet through and +dripping with sweat as copiously as if it had been dragged +through a river; and that this person is no other than myself, +according to the opinion expressed in the letter. I despised such +an idle tale as undeserving of an answer, knowing it, as most +others must know it, to be not only most false, but, moreover, +most remote, from probability. I only begged of a good Priest, +who was setting out for England, to make known to your lordship +what I had heard concerning such a deed laid to my charge, so +contrary to all truth and justice; and that I hoped you would +not give credit to it, but rather on hearing it mentioned by any +one, would show the falsehood as it is. But in the meantime, +<pb n='ccxxxix'/><anchor id='Pgccxxxix'/> +while the Priest is yet on his journey, I have learned from good +authority that the book has been printed and published, curtailed +indeed of that story, which is, however, circulated in manuscript +through the hands of many, with every circumstance and +embellishment; whence has arisen the general opinion that I +am the person there spoken of, the testimony of a Priest being +alleged, who says that he has heard me boast of it. Truly I +cannot sufficiently express my astonishment on perceiving that +there can be found a Catholic, and if a Priest so much the worse, +who has so shameless a conscience as to dare assert what he must +necessarily know to be false, and injurious to one who never did +him any harm or injury whatever. This I can affirm of myself +with respect to every Priest in England, to many of whom I +have often afforded assistance, but, to my knowledge, have never +offended one. Your lordship, moreover, must be aware how +very improbable it is that I should boast of a crime so false, so +horrible. Now, with all due reverence, I call God to witness that +I had no more knowledge of the conspiracy than a new-born +infant might have; that I never heard any one mention it; that I +had not even a suspicion of the provision of gunpowder for the +mine, excepting only when the Plot was detected, made public, +and known to every one, and when the conspirators appeared +openly in arms in the county of Warwick; then only did I hear +of it for the first time, by a message brought to the place where +I resided; and this place was so ill provided that of itself it +proved I could have no knowledge of the conspiracy, either from +the expressions of others or from my own suspicions; there being +in that place neither men nor arms sufficient to defend us from +the marauders, who on every occasion of similar commotions +issue forth and unite in bodies for plunder. Neither did this +happen for want of sufficient means to furnish and reinforce the +house with men and arms, but solely because we had no suspicion +of a commotion, much less any knowledge of a conspiracy. +Besides this, the accomplices in the Plot were subjected to the +most rigorous examination, and questioned concerning me; and +although some of them under the torture named one or others of +those who were privy to the conspiracy, nevertheless all constantly +denied it of me. Sir Everard Digby, who of all the others, +<pb n='ccxl'/><anchor id='Pgccxl'/> +for many reasons, was most suspected of having possibly revealed +the secret to me, protested in open court and declared that he +had often been instigated to say I knew something of the Plot, +but that he had always answered in the negative, alleging the +reason why he had never dared to disclose it to me, because, he +said, he feared lest I should dissuade him from it. Therefore the +greater part of the Privy Councillors considered my innocence +established, it being proved by the concurrent testimony of so +many, and by a letter in which I defended and cleared myself +from such a groundless suspicion. In that letter, besides the +reasons therein produced in proof of my innocence, I protested +before Heaven and earth that, so far from being engaged in the +conspiracy, I was as ignorant of it as man could be. Being at +that time in imminent danger of falling into the hands of the +Privy Councillors, who with the most refined diligence sent in +every direction in quest of me, I had thoughts of surrendering +myself up to every torment imaginable, and what is more to be +regarded, to the terrible and disgraceful charge of perjury, if +having me in their power they could convict me, by legal proof, +of being privy to the conspiracy. There was a time, when under +Elizabeth they held me prisoner for something more than three +years, during which period, many times and in as many ways as +they chose, did they examine me, to discover in general if I had +ever meddled in affairs of State. I challenged them to produce in +proof a single character in my hand, a single word, or anything +else sufficient to show it, and then to punish me when convicted +with the most cruel death that could be inflicted. There never +was brought forward the smallest trace or shadow of a proof. +How much more improbable is it that I should consent to a Plot +so inhuman, I who, from the natural disposition of my soul, +independently of supernatural motives, hold in abhorrence +everything that has the smallest appearance of cruelty. This +I can affirm with truth, that from the time I first embraced the +profession of life in which I am engaged, down to the present +moment, I have never, by God's mercy, desired the grievous +harm, much less the death, of any man in the world, although he +may have been my most inveterate enemy: how could I then +have had any hand or part in the sudden, unexpected, and on +<pb n='ccxli'/><anchor id='Pgccxli'/> +that account tremendous death of so many personages of such +high quality, for whom I have ever borne the greatest respect. +A person was employed to scatter copies of my forementioned +letter through various streets of London, and one in particular +was delivered to the Earl of Northampton, and by him laid before +the King, on whom my reasons so far prevailed to his satisfaction +that he would have desisted from the rigorous search +made after me, had not Cecil, for his own private ends, rendered +him more violent than ever. For being persuaded that some of +the conspirators had plotted against his life in particular, and +knowing that most of them were my friends, he hoped if he could +once lay hold of me, to find out from me how many and who +were the conspirators. For this sole reason he never rested until +he had again persuaded the King, as a thing evidently known to +him and clearly demonstrated, that I was not only an accomplice +but the ringleader in the Plot, and therefore to be the first +named in the proclamation; which was so done. Perceiving from +this that the persecution was not likely to abate, and that I might +be discovered and arrested, I took the advice to withdraw myself +for a time, and to <q>give place to wrath,</q> and, after so many years +of hard labour in England, with the Apostles <q>to come apart into +a desert place and rest a little:</q> nor was there any other principal +motive of my leaving the kingdom. In fine, this is the simple +naked truth; I was totally ignorant of the provision of gunpowder +and of the mine; I was and I am as innocent of this and of +every other conspiracy as your lordship or any other man living; +and this I affirm and swear upon my soul, without any equivocation +whatsoever; in such sort, that if the facts do not +correspond truly to the meaning of the words, or if I had any +information of the forementioned Plot before it was made public +to the whole world, as I have before said, I own myself guilty of +perjury before God and men; and as far as it is true that I had +no knowledge of it, so far and no more do I ask mercy at the +throne of God: and it is very probable that it will not be long +before I must appear at the divine tribunal, considering my age +and the present contagion in the neighbourhood; for if it should +reach us it is hardly possible I can escape, on account of the +assistance which it is my duty to render to this Community, +<pb n='ccxlii'/><anchor id='Pgccxlii'/> +whose souls are committed to my care.<note place='foot'>He was then Confessor in the English College at Rome.</note> Therefore I am induced +to hope that your lordship will not consider me so careless and +prodigal of my eternal salvation, after having spent so many +years in no other employment than that of seeking to know and +to accomplish the will of God, and of teaching the same to others, +as to be now willing to burthen my conscience and risk the +salvation of my soul by a protestation so solemn and spontaneous, +if my conscience were not pure, my cause evident, and my words +true in all sincerity. Now, as I doubt not that God, the Supreme +Judge, Who sees and knows all things, will pass sentence on my +cause according to its merits, so I hope that your lordship, now +knowing me to be innocent, will not wish me to appear guilty, by +permitting to stand against me without contradiction an accusation +so false and of such enormous infamy. Since this +accusation derives its greatest force from the authority of your +lordship, who, it is publicly said, gives credit and support to it, I +beseech you, by that love which you have for charity and justice, +to oppose the falsity of the calumny by the truth of this my +justification. With respect to the Priest, whoever he may be, +by whose false allegation your lordship appears to have been +deceived, I desire with all my heart he may meet with true +repentance before he dies, so that we may all live together and +love God in a blessed eternity.</q> +</p> + +</quote> + +<p> +Next, we find, in Father Henry More's <hi rend='italic'>History of the English +Province S.J.</hi>,<note place='foot'>Lib. vii., n. 44, p. 339.</note> a letter from Father Thomas Fitzherbert, Rector +of the English College at Rome, of which house Father Gerard +was then Confessor. It is not necessary for us to translate it from +his Latin version, as it exists in English amongst the Stonyhurst +MSS.<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. iv., n. 92.</note> It is dated some months later than the foregoing letter of +Father Gerard, and was sent by Mutius Vitelleschi, General of the +Society, to the Bishop of Chalcedon, by the hands of Fathers +Henry Floyd and Thomas Bapthorpe, who were at the same +time bearers of a second letter from Father Gerard to Bishop +Smith, extracts from which we subjoin, translated from Bartoli.<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Inghilterra</hi>, pp. 510, 512.</note> +</p> + +<pb n='ccxliii'/><anchor id='Pgccxliii'/> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Right Rev. and my honorable good Lord,—Having understood +that one of our Society hath been of late traduced, +<hi rend='italic'>tacito nomine</hi>, in a printed book as to have bragged that +he had sweat in working in the Powder Plot, and that your +lordship have named him, and as it seemeth, dost believe him +to be Father John Gerard, I think myself obliged to represent +to your lordship's consideration some things concerning him, and +that matter, as well in respect of the common bond of our +religion and his great merits, as also for that he is at this +present under my charge (albeit I acknowledge myself unworthy +to have such a subject), and lastly for the knowledge I have had +many years of his innocency in that point ever since that +slanderous calumny was first raised by the heretics against him, +at which time I myself and many other of his friends and +kinsmen did very diligently and curiously inform ourselves of +the truth thereof, and found that he was fully cleared of it even +by the public and solemn testimony of the delinquents themselves, +namely of Sir Everard Digby (with whom he was known +to be most familiar and confident), who publicly protested at +his arraignment that he did never acquaint him with their +design, being assured that he would not like of it, but dissuade +him from it; and of this I can show good testimony by letters +from London written hither at the same time, bearing date the +29th of January, in the year 1606. Therefore, to the end that +your lordship may the better believe it, I have thought good to +shew the same to some very credible persons, who are shortly to +depart from hence, and do mean to present themselves to your +lordship, of whom you may (if it please you) understand the +truth of it. Besides that for your better satisfaction, I have also +by our right reverend Father General's express order and commission +commanded him in their presence upon obedience +(which commandment we hold by our Rule and Institute to +bind, under pain of mortal sin) to declare the truth whether +he had any knowledge of that Powder Plot or no, and he hath +in their presence protested upon his salvation, that he had never +any knowledge of it, either by Sir Everard Digby, or any other, +until it was discovered, and that he came to know it by +common fame; besides that alleged many pregnant proofs of +<pb n='ccxliv'/><anchor id='Pgccxliv'/> +his innocency therein which I omit to write, because he himself +doth represent them to your lordship by a letter of his own; and +of this also the witnesses aforesaid may inform your lordship +if you be not otherways satisfied. In the meantime, I have +only thought it my part to give this my testimony of his solemn +protestation and oath, and withal to send to your lordship the +enclosed copies of two clauses of letters from England and +Flanders touching this matter, not doubting but that your +lordship's charity will move you to admit the same as sufficient +to clear him of that calumny, seeing there was never any proof +produced against him, nor yet any ground of that slander but +the malicious conceit and suspicion of heretics, by reason of +his acquaintance with some of the delinquents, in which case +a solemn protestation and oath, as he hath freely and voluntarily +made, may suffice both in conscience and law for a +canonical purgation to clear him from all suspicion as well of +that fact as of all collusion or double dealing in this his protestation, +especially seeing he hath always been not only <hi rend='italic'>integerrimæ +famæ</hi>, but also of singular estimation in England for his many +years' most zealous and fruitful labours there, and his constant +suffering of imprisonment and torments for the Catholic faith. +Besides that, he hath been ever since a worthily esteemed and +principal member of our Society, and given sufficient proof +of a most religious and sincere conscience, to the edification of +us all. This being considered, I cannot but hope that your +lordship will rest satisfied of his innocency in this point, and +out of your charity procure also to satisfy others who may have, +by any speech of your lordship's, conceived worse of him than +he hath deserved; for so your lordship shall provide as well for +the reparation of his fame as for the discharge of your own +conscience, being bound both by justice and charity to restitution +in this case, as I make no doubt but that your lordship would +judge if it were another man's case; yea, and exact also of +others if the like wrong had been done either to yourself, or to +any kinsman, dear friend, or subject of yours, all which he is to +me; and, therefore, I am the bolder, I will not say to expect +this at your lordship's hands (because it doth not become me), +<pb n='ccxlv'/><anchor id='Pgccxlv'/> +but humbly to crave it of you as a thing which I shall take for +a favour, no less to myself than to the Society; and so this to +no other end, I humbly take my leave, wishing to your lordship +all true felicity, this 15th of March, 1631.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Your lordship's humble servant,</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='smallcaps'>Thomas Fitzherbert.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Ex literis P. Ægidii Schondonchii Seminarii Audomarensis +Rectoris 1 Martii 1606:</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Dum has scribo accepi literas recentissime datas a viro +claro quibus significavit Dominum Everardum Digbæum, dum a +Judicibus pronuntiaretur in eum mortis sententia, coram eisdem +protestatum esse nullum penitus in Anglia Jesuitam hujus rei +fuisse conscium, Nam, inquit, familiaris Patri Gerardo si quis +alius, neque unquam ausus fui indicare tantillum, veritus ne +conaretur frangere nostros conatus. Itaque sancte asseruit se id +solo ex puro Catholicæ ac Romanæ Ecclesiæ zelo neque ullo +alio humano respectu suscepisse.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Out of the letter of Father Michael Walpole written to +Father Persons, the 29th of January, 1606:</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'><q>Touching Gerard's letter which I have seen, I can only +say this much, that it seemeth to me to be so effectual, as +nothing can be more, so that I am fully persuaded that the +King's Majestie himself and the whole Council remain satisfied +of him [in] their own hearts, and his Majesty is reported +for certain to have declared so much in words upon the sight +of his letter.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>In the end, after his name, he writeth as followeth:</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><q>This letter is confirmed since by Sir Everard Digby's speech +at his arraignment, in which he cleared all Jesuits and Priests +(to his knowledge) upon his salvation. And in particular, +that though he was particularly acquainted with Gerard, yet +he never durst mention this matter, being fully assured that +he would be wholly against it, to which my Lord of Salisbury +replied, affirming the contrary, and that he knew him to be +guilty.</q></q> +</p> + +</quote> + +<pb n='ccxlvi'/><anchor id='Pgccxlvi'/> + +<p> +The first extract of the letter enclosed from Father Gerard +runs thus: +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q>It is known to all how those of any blood have loved and +served King James. My father knew it to his cost, for he was +twice imprisoned for attempting to set free the glorious Queen +Mary, the King's mother, and to secure the succession to her +children: which intent of his own was so clear to the Ministers +of State, that besides imprisonment, to purchase his life of them +cost him some thousands of crowns, especially the first time when +there were but three accused and he one of them, and of the +other two, one lost his life. Of all which King James was +mindful when he came from Scotland to be crowned King of +England, and my brother at York offered him his service and +that of all his house. <q>I am particularly bound,</q> said he, <q>to love +your blood, on account of the persecution that you have borne +for me, and of that his love he there gave him the first pledge by +making him a Knight.</q></q><note place='foot'>Bartoli, <hi rend='italic'>Inghilterra</hi>, lib. vi., c. 6, p. 510.</note> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +The remaining extract concludes our series of exculpatory +letters: +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q>I send your lordship a copy of the three letters that I wrote +to three Councillors of State, that you may see in them how I +trusted to my innocence, when I offered to put it to the proof +in the two ways which I there proposed to them. Further than +this, though the conspirators had been put to death, and I saw that +the course proposed by me to the Councillors was not accepted, +while the matter was fresh, and I yet in London, I requested of +our Fathers that I might present myself in person to the Council +of State, which I would have done had they but given me leave; +and if the Council would have proceeded against me, not on the +score of religion, but for the conspiracy only, which alone was +in question, and for which, if they had found me guilty of it, +they might have done to me their very worst. This request I +can swear that I made and renewed several times to our Fathers, +and there are some yet alive who can bear witness to it; but it +did not seem good to them to consent to it.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<pb n='ccxlvii'/><anchor id='Pgccxlvii'/> + +<p> +The matter does not seem to have rested here, unless there +is some mistake in a date, for Dr. Lingard<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>History of England</hi>, ed. 1849, vol. vii., p. 549.</note> quotes from a MS. +copy, dated April 17, 1631, an affidavit made by Anthony Smith, +a Secular Priest, before the Bishop of Chalcedon, <q>that in his +hearing, Gerard had said in the Novitiate at Liége, that he +worked in the mine with the lay conspirators till his clothes were +as wet with perspiration as if they had been dipped in water; +and that the general condemnation of the Plot was chiefly owing +to its bad success, as had often happened to the attempts of +unfortunate generals in war.</q> It would seem as if this were a +repetition of the original accusation, in answer to which the +letters given above were written. Of the attack on Father +Gerard, Dr. Lingard says, <q>For my own part, upon having read +what he wrote in his own vindication, I cannot doubt his innocence, +and suspect that Smith unintentionally attributed to him +what he had heard him say of some other person.</q><note place='foot'>There is a letter extant from Father Blount, the Provincial, to the +General, dated Feb. 10, 1632, which has been understood to relate to the +accusation against Father Gerard, or to a similar accusation against some +other member of the Society. It must, however, relate to some other matter, +as it says, <q>Vivit enim adhuc author ipse criminis,</q> and that the alleged +offence took place five years before the entrance into the Society of the Father +in question.</note> +</p> + +</div> + +<div> +<head>XXXIV.</head> + +<p> +It remains for us only to give an account of the manuscripts that +have been used as well in the Narrative of the Powder Plot as in +the Autobiography of its author. +</p> + +<p> +Father Christopher Grene, who was English Penitentiary at +St. Peter's, died in Rome in 1697.<note place='foot'>Oliver's <hi rend='italic'>Collectanea S. J.</hi></note> This Father was a most +diligent collector of all the documents that related to the history +of the persecutions of Catholics in England.<note place='foot'>Father Martin Grene wrote a letter (Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, +vol. v., n. 69) to his brother, January 1, 1665, addressed, <q>for Mr. Christopher +Grene, at Hilton</q> [Hilton, <hi rend='italic'>i.e.</hi>, Hill-town, meant Rome, as in the same +language <emph>customer</emph> was the Archpriest, <emph>physicians</emph> were Priests, <emph>workmen</emph>, +secular Priests, <emph>journeymen</emph>, Jesuits, &c.]. His brother had asked him to give +what help he could to Father Bartoli. Speaking of the Gunpowder Plot, he +says, <q>I had once occasion to inform myself of that history, and I found none +better than the two books of Eudæmon Johannes, the one <hi rend='italic'>Ad actionem +Edouardi Coqui Apologia pro P. Hen. Garnetto</hi>, the other, <hi rend='italic'>Parallelus Torti ac +Tortoris</hi>. Though the things be there spread and scattered, yet they are (if +collected) very pertinent to clear Father Garnett and ours; for example, +among other things this is one, that the traitors had among themselves made +an oath that they would never speak of their designs to any Priests, because +they knew they would not allow of it; also, that they were specially offended +with the Jesuits for preaching patience and submission. There are divers other +circumstances which manifestly excuse ours. I had a relation made me by one +of ours who had it in Civil [Seville], which clearly shows that the whole Plot +was of Cecil's making; but it being only told by an old man, who forgot both +times and persons, I believe I shall never make use of it. Yet I have heard +strange things, which, if ever I can make out, will be very pertinent. For +certain the late Bishop of Armagh, Usher, was divers times heard to say that +if Papists knew what he knew, the blame of the Gunpowder Treason would not +lie on them. And other things I have heard, which, if I can find grounded, +I hope to make good use of. It may be if you write Civil to my brother +Frank, he will, or somebody else there, give you some light in this business.</q></note> He copied volumes +<pb n='ccxlviii'/><anchor id='Pgccxlviii'/> +of such documents, several of which are still extant. In one +which is preserved at Stonyhurst, entitled by him, <hi rend='italic'>Miscellanea de +Martyribus et Persecutione in Anglia signanda lit.</hi> M. ... <hi rend='italic'>incept. +anno 1690</hi>, he informs us that there were various books called +<hi rend='italic'>Collectanea</hi> in the Archives of the English College at Rome, +distinguished by the letters of the alphabet, of the contents of +which he gives us an account. At folio 51 we have: <q>Ex libro +Collectaneorum in folio signato lit<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>a</hi> <hi rend='italic'>C</hi> in Arch<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>o</hi> Coll<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>i</hi> Angl. hoc +die 24 Jan. 1689. A relation of y<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>e</hi> Gunpowder Treason and of +Father Garnett's araignm<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>t</hi> and martyrdome, &c., written by Father +John Gerard: 'tis y<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>e</hi> the original written soon after y<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>e</hi> sayd +martyrdome. It contains 85 sheetes of paper, and is an excellent +work, and should be printed.</q> After a short analysis of the book, +the pages quoted agreeing with the Stonyhurst MS. of the Narrative, +we have, <q>A p. 176 in eod. libro Collectan. <hi rend='italic'>C</hi> una relatione +del P. Filippo Bemondo<note place='foot'>This Philip Beaumont was Father Oswald Tesimond, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Greenway, +(More, <hi rend='italic'>Hist. Prov.</hi>, l. vii., n. 40, p. 336).</note> della sua Missione in Inghilt<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>a</hi>,</q> &c. +The last page of the Stonyhurst MS., bearing the endorsement, +<q>A Relation of y<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>e</hi> Gunpowder Treason, y<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>e</hi> execution, &c. +Also of F. Garnett's arrayment,</q> is numbered 176. The first +page bears in Father Grene's handwriting the inscription, <q>Of +the Gunpowder Treason, written by F. John Gerard, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> +Tomson, it is the originall.</q> We are thus enabled to recognize +our manuscript as the commencement of Father Grene's volume <hi rend='italic'>C</hi>. +<pb n='ccxlix'/><anchor id='Pgccxlix'/> +The subsequent history of the MS. is related in the two +following letters, which Dr. Oliver appended to the copy that he +made of the Narrative. It is only necessary to add that the Rev. +Marmaduke Stone, to whom the second letter is addressed, +transferred the Academy of Liége (as it was called after the +suppression of the Society), of which he was made President in +1790, to Stonyhurst, in 1794. In 1803 he was appointed +Provincial in England by the General of the Society in Russia. +In all probability, therefore, the MS. was given by Father Thorpe +to Father Stone, at Liége, and by him was brought to Stonyhurst, +where it now is. +</p> + +<milestone unit='tb' rend='rule: 50%'/> + +<p> +The following extract is taken from a letter addressed by the +Rev. John Thorpe from Rome, August 12, 1789, to Henry, eighth +Lord Arundell. +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q rend='pre'>The collection of ancient papers at the English College here +consisted of two sorts. The first belonged to the Stuart family, +and was deposited there only after the old Chevalier retired into +Italy. Neither Rector nor any other person in the College knew +anything of the contents, which were locked up in a strong +chamber, of which the keys were kept in the Palace of SS. +Apostoli, and everything was carefully removed to that palace +several months before the oppression of the Society. The other +collection related to ecclesiastical matters, from the time of +Henry VIII. to the beginning of the present century; it had been +a repository of all papers and letters of many indefatigable men +in preserving a faithful remembrance of whatever was interesting +to religion during that period. But different removals of these +papers, which were very many, had thrown them into disorder. +Father Booth can tell in what state he left them. I have before +mentioned to your lordship a MS. relating to our British saints, +written in the manner of a calendar, in which many curious +passages of history frequently occurred. I do not think it had +been seen either by Father Alford (who wrote the annals of our +British Church up to the year 1180) or by Mr. Wilson, who +digested the English Martyrology that was daily read at St. Omer. +Other MSS. of this kind were also in the same place, while I lived +in the College. Afterwards, when the storm began to blacken over +<pb n='ccl'/><anchor id='Pgccl'/> +us, divers attempts were made to put these papers into a place of +security; but every means miscarried. They never belonged to +the College, and among what are the College archives many +very interesting papers remain belonging to the Jesuits. The +papers above mentioned were finally destroyed by one accident +or another, to prevent further fears of molestation in those days +of arbitrary persecution. If anciently there had been any +valuable MSS. in the old hospital, they were supposed to have +been removed when it was converted to the purpose of a College, +because scarce anything more than accounts of pilgrims, house +expenses, and like articles, remained under that date, and even +these in no regular order. Thus I apprehend that no material +intelligence of remote historical facts can be gathered from hence.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>I will now venture to tell your lordship of a curious +MS. that a very unforeseen accident brought into my hands, +at a considerable distance of time from the oppression of +the Society, and from the total removal of the Jesuits from +the College. It is a long account of the Gunpowder Plot, +from beginning to the end in the original handwriting of +Father John Gerard. It is a folio volume of about 300 pages, +composed with an extensive knowledge of the persons concerned, +and of whom several curious anecdotes are recounted. Father +John Gerard suffered much on occasion of that Plot, wherein the +prosecutors tried every means to involve him in one manner or +another. During the plundering and ransacking of the Houses at +the oppression, such an account was reported to have been found +in the Novitiate by the notorious Alfani, and it immediately was +sought for by our countrymen, and instructions were said to have +come from our Court at London for obtaining it at any price. +But on further examination that account contained no more than +relations of the religious lives and edifying death of those Jesuits +who suffered on that occasion. I have never heard what became +of those papers, but suppose them to have been destroyed, with +very many others of no less edification. I must find some good +place wherein to deposit the relation above mentioned; it is +very curious, though it contains no new intelligence of the fact +described in it. It is written with a singular candour that distinguishes +the good religious man, and with a politeness that marks +<pb n='ccli'/><anchor id='Pgccli'/> +the gentleman. Your lordship may signify all this with my best +respects to Mr. More</q> [the last English Provincial before the +suppression], <q>desiring his counsel on the manner of disposing +of this valuable MS., every line of which may be +esteemed a relic for the eminent sanctity of the writer.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +Lastly, we have an extract from a letter written from Rome, +March 26, 1791, by the Rev. John Thorpe to the Rev. Marmaduke +Stone, President of the English Academy at Liége. +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q>Among other things with me is one very singular piece, which +I look upon as a kind of property of your House, at least in the +light wherein it stood twenty years ago. It is an original folio MS. +all in the handwriting of venerable Father John Gerard, wherein +he gives an ample relation of the Gunpowder Plot; and it is, I +believe, the only relation extant that was written by a person +accused of being in any manner acquainted of it. This article +demands your secrecy, and it is earnestly recommended to it; but +your counsel is also asked, where and how this rare <foreign rend='italic'>depositum</foreign> +should be placed. Religion has nothing to fear from it. A +summary of its contents was sent some time ago to England, and +was in the hands of Lord Arundell. At the time of the Society's +suppression here, a commission came hither from England +(supposed to be given by the Court) for purchasing at any rate, if +any such relation should be found among the Jesuits' archives. A +long Latin account of Father Garnett's sufferings was triumphantly +seized among the papers of the Novitiate, and occasioned +the vulgar mistake of what was sought being really found; but the +contents, when understood, notoriously demonstrated the contrary. +This is written in English, in that easy devout style for which +everything of the writer is remarkable. It is a valuable relic.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +Though we cannot exactly determine the date of the MS., +we can approximate to it pretty nearly. First of all, it is clear +from the mention of Sir Thomas Gerard's knighthood at p. 27, +that the book was written before the creation of baronets in 1611. +At page 282, Father Southwell's martyrdom is said to have +happened eleven years before. As he died in 1595, and Father +Gerard escaped from England in May, 1606, the Narrative would +seem to have been written in the latter part of that year. We +<pb n='cclii'/><anchor id='Pgcclii'/> +have, besides, Father Grene's statement that it was <q>written +soon after the martyrdom</q> of Father Garnett, and Father Gerard's +own assertion in his Autobiography: <q>I myself, when I came +from England to Rome, was ordered to put in writing an account +of the whole affair, and did so as well as I could.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The original MS. of the Autobiography no longer exists. +Father Grene had seen it; for an analysis of it, <hi rend='italic'>transcript. ex +autographo ipsius</hi>, in his hand is in the second volume of the +MSS. kept at Stonyhurst under the name of <hi rend='italic'>Collectanea</hi>, which +we have quoted under the letter <hi rend='italic'>P</hi>. The MS. we have used,<note place='foot'>For our translation we are indebted to the pen of Father Kingdon. +Portions of it have appeared in the <hi rend='italic'>Month</hi>, and, rendered into French by +Father Forbes, in the <hi rend='italic'>Etudes Théologiques</hi> at Paris.</note> +which belongs to Stonyhurst, bears the title, <q>Narratio Patris +Joannis Gerardi de rebus a se in Anglia gestis.</q> It purports +to be a copy from an original at the Novitiate of St. Andrew, +in the hands of Father Francis Sacchini, the historian. We +have no means of knowing whether it is the same copy as +that which existed, according to Father Grene,<note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Collectanea M</hi>, f. 52 h.</note> in the +volume of the <hi rend='italic'>Collectanea</hi> called <hi rend='italic'>D</hi>, in the English College at +Rome. He mentions it under the title of <q>Narratio P. Joannis +Gerardi de tota vita sua. Copia.</q> The Autobiography was +composed in 1609, as is plain from the mention of Robert +Drury's martyrdom, which our author says happened two years +before the time when he was writing. This good Priest suffered +at Tyburn, Feb. 26, 1607. +</p> + +<p> +We now leave Father John Gerard in the hands of the reader, +parting from him with sincere respect, and sharing good old +Father Grene's affection for him, who in some notes, written in +preparation, apparently, for an English Menology, has set down as +applicable to Father Gerard the phrases, <q>Non ipse martyrio, sed +ipsi martyrium defuit,</q> and, again, the Church's antiphon for +St. Martin, <q>O beatum virum, qui totis visceribus diligebat +Christum! O sanctissima anima, quam etsi gladius persecutoris +non abstulit, palmam tamen martyrii non amisit.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='ccliii'/><anchor id='Pgccliii'/> + +<div> +<head>Additional Notes.</head> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>. and p. <ref target='Pg026'>26</ref>.—Elizabeth, the mother of John Gerard, was the eldest of +the three daughters and co-heiresses of Sir John Port, and at her father's +death, June 6, 1557, Etwall became the property of Sir Thomas Gerard. +This is the <q>dwelling-house within two miles of</q> Tutbury <q>Castle where</q> +Mary Queen of Scots <q>was kept,</q> where Father Gerard lived when a +child for three years. Sir John's second daughter, Dorothy, took Dale Abbey +in Derbyshire to her husband, George Hastings fourth Earl of Huntingdon; +and Margaret, the third daughter, by her marriage conveyed Cubley in the +same county to Sir Thomas Stanhope, grandfather of the first Earl of +Chesterfield. +</p> + +<p> +Father Gerard had three sisters, Mary, wife of John Jenison; Dorothy, +wife of Edmund Peckham; and Martha, wife of Michael Jenison. In the +British Museum (Harl. MSS. 6998, f. 197) there is a report, dated June 16, +1595, from Edward Cokayne, evidently a Derbyshire magistrate, of assistance +given by him to William Newall, <q>one of the messengers of Her Majesty's +Chamber,</q> in searches in that county. The following paragraph relates to +one of Father Gerard's sisters: <q>The first house that we searched according to +his direction was the house of one Mr. Jenison, that married one of my Lady +Gerard's daughters, she being a great recusant, and not her husband: howsoever, +it is reported that there is great resort of strangers, but what they be, we +cannot learn, neither at this time did we find any there, but pictures in the +chambers according to their profession. Only one West that was a messenger +between the seminaries was fled six weeks before we came, and whither he +is gone, as yet we cannot learn.</q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgxii'>xii</ref>.—It is not easy to reconcile the dates at this period of Father +Gerard's life. He could not have been nineteen when he went to France, for +he lived at Rhemes three years, one at Clermont, and about a year in England +before he was committed to the Marshalsea; he was a full year in that prison, +and after his discharge his recognizances were renewed for perhaps another +year before leaving England for Rome, and he was in the College about +seventeen months before he was ordained Priest towards the close of 1587, +when he yet wanted several months of the canonical age for the Priesthood, +that is, twenty-five. From this we should gather that when he first went to +Rhemes he was under seventeen, which would have been in 1580. +</p> + +<p> +On the other hand, it is equally difficult to understand the date given in the +Douay Diary, August or September, 1577, which would make him fourteen. +Perhaps this was a visit to the continent before going to Oxford, which he says +was when he was fifteen, spending a year there and two years afterwards +with Mr. Leutner as a tutor. The Douay Diary has the following entry. +<pb n='ccliv'/><anchor id='Pgccliv'/> +<q>1577. Aug. 29 die, advenerunt ex Anglia Mr. Paschallus vir nobilis, et +quidam Aldrigius mercator: eodem etiam tempore adventavit Mr. Gerrardus +D. Tho. Gerrardi Equitis Aurati filius.</q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgxv'>xv</ref>.—The following is the entry respecting Father John Gerard in the +<hi rend='italic'>Liber Annalium</hi> of the English College at Rome: <q rend='pre'>Joannes Gerardus Anglus +dioecesis Lichfeldiensis annum agens 23<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>m</hi>, aptus ad theologiam positivam, +receptus fuit in hoc Anglorum Collegium inter alumnos SSmi. D. N. Sixti V. +a P. Gulielmo Holto hujus Collegii Rectore de mandato Illmi. Hippoliti +Cardis. Aldobrandini Viceprotectoris sub die 5<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>o</hi> Aprilis Anno Dni. 1587, cum +fuisset antea Convictor per septem menses.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Anno Dni. 1587 mense ... accepit ordines minores, et mense Augusto +Subdiaconatum, et Diaconatum 9<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>o</hi> mense die 16.</q> +</p> + +<p> +His name appears in the Pilgrims' Register of the English College, as +having been there received Aug. 5, 1586 (Stonyhurst MSS., Father Grene's +<hi rend='italic'>Miscell. de Coll. Angl.</hi>, p. 19). +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgxvi'>xvi</ref>.—The Douay Diary gives us the dates of Father Gerard's arrival at +Rhemes and his departure thence, together with the names of his fellow-travellers. +It is clear that if they left Rhemes on the 26th of September, and +remained at Eu until they could receive an answer from Rome, they could not +possibly have landed in England so soon as the end of October. <q>1588. +Sept. 21 die, Roma ad nos venerunt D. Rodolphus Buckland, D. Joannes +Gerard filius D. Thomæ Gerard Equitis Aurati, D. Arthurus Stratford</q> +[whom Gifford, the spy, called Shefford], <q>D. Edouardus Oldcorn presbyteri. +Die 26 Angliam ituri discesserunt D. Jo. Gerard, D. Rodolphus Buckland, +D. Arthurus Stratford et D. Edouardus Oldcorn.</q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>.—In the Public Record Office (<hi rend='italic'>Domestic, Eliz.</hi>, vol. 244, n. 7) are +two forms of indictment of Richard Jackson, Priest, for saying Mass, and of +various members of the Wiseman family for being present at Mass, on the 25th +August and the 8th September, 34 Eliz., 1592. The endorsement is <q>Masse-mongers.</q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgxxxviii'>xxxviii</ref>.—Line 22, for <q>Worcestershire</q> read <q>Warwickshire.</q> See +p. <ref target='Pg282'>282</ref>. +</p> + +<p> +Pp. <ref target='Pgxlv'>xlv</ref>., <ref target='Pglxx'>lxx</ref>.—In his examination Brother Emerson frankly acknowledged +himself to be a Jesuit Lay-brother, and <q>sometime Campion's boy.</q> A copy +of his examination is in the British Museum (Harleian MSS., 6998, f. 65). It +is dated April 17, 1593, and bears the marginal note <q>Ley Jesuite.</q> <q rend='pre'>Ralph +Emerson of the bishopric of Durham, scholar, of the age of forty-two years +or thereabouts, examined before Sir Owen Hopton, Knight, Mr. Doctor +Goodman, Dean of Westminster, Mr. Dale, Mr. Fuller, and Mr. Young, who +refuseth to be sworn, but saith first that he hath [been] in prison these nine +years—namely, three years and a quarter in the Counter in the Poultry, and +the rest of that time hath been in the Clink—committed by Mr. Young for +bringing over of books, called my Lord of Leicester's books as he saith, and +hath been examined before Sir Francis Walsingham, and before Mr. Young, +and before others divers times, and was never indicted to his knowledge.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Item, he confesseth that he is a Lay Jesuit, and took that degree at +Rome fourteen years since, and was sometime Campion's boy, and sayeth +when he took that Order he did vow chastity, poverty, and obedience to the +Superior of their House, and if he sent him to the Turk he must go.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Item, being urged to take the oath of allegiance to Her Majesty, +refuseth the same, and saith he may not take any oath.</q> +</p> + +<pb n='cclv'/><anchor id='Pgcclv'/> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Item, he saith he hath neither lands, goods, nor other living, but will +not set down by whom he is maintained and now relieved.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Item, he refuseth to be reformed, and to come to Church, affirming that +he will live and die in his faith.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Item, being demanded whether if the Pope should send an army into this +realm, to establish that which he calleth the Catholic Romish religion, he +would in the like case fight for the Queen's Majesty on her side against the +said army, or on the army's side, saith that he will never fight against Her +Majesty, nor against the religion which he professeth.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>Concordat cum originali.—H. Fermor.</q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgxlvi'>xlvi</ref>.—Father Tesimond, in the Italian narrative already mentioned +(p. <ref target='Pgccxlviii'>ccxlviii</ref>) as forming part of Father Grene's volume <hi rend='italic'>C</hi> (fol. 185), says that, +when he came to England in 1597, Father Garnett was living in a house called +Morecroftes, at Uxbridge, twelve or thirteen miles from London. There may +have been a friendly house at Brentford, for this was their place of meeting on +one occasion when they had suddenly to leave Uxbridge on account of a +search. +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgliii'>liii</ref>.—Dominam ipsam domus in suo cubiculo cum puellis suis clauserunt +(MS.) More probably <q>with her daughters</q> than <q>with her maids.</q> William +and Jane Wiseman had three children, Jane, Dorothea, and Winifred. John +who married Mary, daughter of Sir Rowland Rydgeley, had two daughters, +Lucy and Elizabeth, and an only son, Aurelius Piercy Wiseman, who was +killed in a duel in London in 1680. The following inscription on his grave, in +Wimbish Church, is given by Wright (<hi rend='italic'>History of Essex</hi>, vol. ii., p. 134): +<q>Here rest the sad remains of Aurelius Piercy Wiseman, of Broad Oak, in +this parish, Esq., the last of the name of that place, and head and chief of that +right worshipful and ancient family, who was unfortunately killed in the flower +of his age, December 11, 1680.</q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pglvii'>lvii</ref>.—From the <hi rend='italic'>Life of Anne Countess of Arundel</hi>, published in 1857 by +the Duke of Norfolk (p. 308), we learn that, during the Earl's imprisonment, +<q>she hired a little house at Acton, Middlesex, six miles distant from London.</q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgcxl'>cxl</ref>.—Father Tesimond relates a search some two years earlier than this, +in which Father Joseph Pollen escaped capture (Stonyhurst MSS., C, fol. 184). +</p> + +<p> +Pp. <ref target='Pgclxvi'>clxvi.</ref> and <ref target='Pgcciii'>cciii.</ref>—Sir Oliver Manners wrote the following letter in +Italian to Father Aquaviva, General of the Society, from Turin, April 17, +1612, shortly before his eldest brother's death (Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, +vol. vi.). <q>I cannot tell you what comfort I received from the letters of your +Paternity. The troubles I then had will tell it better than I can, for, when I +was seriously ill, my brother the Earl sent to say that I was to expect no more +help from England, as the King has entrusted my houses and estates to him, +and would not permit him to send me a penny. Precisely at that moment the +letters of your Paternity reached me, and seemed to me sent by the Lord to +make me touch with my hand how His Divine Majesty never abandons those +who hope in Him and suffer for His love; and as at that time I had a great +desire of suffering more and more, if so it should please our Lord, so my +strength returned to me far more rapidly than I could have expected, and thus +I assured myself that it was the Divine will that I should reach my intended +goal, there to do something for His service, <hi rend='italic'>sive per vitam sive per mortem</hi>. +And so I undertook my journey, and have already reached Turin. To-morrow +I start for Lyons. In England I cannot expect anything better than that which +has befallen the Baron</q> [Vaux], <q>my companion, who is in prison by the +<pb n='cclvi'/><anchor id='Pgcclvi'/> +King's express orders, and expects to lose all he has; for his mother is already +condemned to the punishment called <foreign rend='italic'>præmunire</foreign>, that is, the loss of all temporalities +and perpetual imprisonment, for refusing the oath of allegiance, as they +call it. The grace I ask from God is so to bear myself that I may always show +myself grateful for the many favours of your Paternity, as becomes a disciple of +the Society, and for this intention with all humility I asked to be armed with +your blessing, and I beg to be partaker of the Holy Sacrifices and prayers of +your Paternity and of all the Society. In conclusion with all reverence I kiss +your hand.</q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgclxxxiv'>clxxxiv.</ref>—The following is the confidential report made to the General +respecting Father Gerard, previous to his profession. By a singular chance the +paper in which it is contained is the only one of similar reports that has come +to our hands. It is amongst the Stonyhurst MSS. (<hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. vi.). Father +Gerard's name is the ninth on the paper. We translate from the Latin: +<q>Father John Gerard, English, forty-five years old, nineteen in the Society, +twenty-one on the English mission.</q> [The writer was not aware of the true +date of his admission into the Society.] <q>He studied at Rome in the English +College controversy and cases of conscience for four years.</q> [These four years +must include his three years residence at Rhemes.] <q>He was admitted in +England, where he made his noviceship. He is a very spiritual man; he is +endowed with an admirable power of gaining souls; he has also more than +middling talent for preaching; and he is held to be not unfit for government. +If these talents can supply the defect of learning, taking also into account all +that he has suffered for the Catholic faith, then he is proposed for the four vows. +It would be a consolation both to himself and to the many Catholics of note, by +whom he is held in high esteem. But if not, then he is proposed for profession +of the three vows.</q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgcxc'>cxc.</ref>—Among the papers of Sir Edward Phelips, preserved at Montacute +House, Somersetshire, of which a copy has been deposited in the Public Record +Office by the Historical MSS. Commission, we have the examinations of two +of Mrs. Vaux' servants, one of whom is the <q>Ric. the butler</q> of whom Lady +Markham speaks. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The examination of Francis Swetnam, servant to Mrs. Elizabeth Vaux, +and served her in the bakehouse, taken the third of December, 1605. +Saith that he hath been a recusant these two years, but will now come to the +Church, for that he had rather adventure his own soul than loosen his five +children, but cannot give any reason why he should adventure his soul by +coming to Church. Saith that he was taken in his mistress' house and brought +up with her to London, but denieth that he was ever at any Mass, or that he +knoweth any Priest, and cannot deliver any other material thing to be set down. +The mark of Francis Swetnam, Jul. Cæsar, Rog.<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>r</hi> Wilbraham, E. Phelipps, +Jo. Croke, George More, Walter Cope, Fr. Bacon, John Doddridge</q> (f. 25). +</p> + +<p> +<q>The examination of Richard Richardson, butler to Mrs. Vaux. He saith +he hath served his mistress about six years, and hath not come to Church +since he was eleven year old. Saith that since Midsummer last Catesby +was at Harwardds [Harrowden] only one time, which was about St. Luke's +Day; and Sir Everard Digby was there only twice, the former time about the +6th of August and the later time about St. Luke's Day; and that Francis +Tresham was not there this twelvemonth; Mr. Rookwood these three years; +and that Winter, Grant, Percy, Morgan, were never there during his service. +And for matter of faith or revealing of Priests or Masses, he desireth to be +<pb n='cclvii'/><anchor id='Pgcclvii'/> +spared, because it concerneth his soul. Richard Richardson, Jul. Cæsar, +Rog.<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>r</hi> Wilbraham, Jo. Croke, John Doddridge, Walter Cope, George More, +Fr. Bacon.</q> <hi rend='italic'>Endorsed</hi>—<q>6° December, 1605</q> (f. 32). +</p> + +<p> +These papers (f. 58 et seq.) likewise contain Serjeant Phelips' Brief for the +prosecution of Sir John Yorke for complicity with the Powder Plot, about +1612. The first three of <q>five general heads</q> of accusation are: <q>1. That +Gerard was received by Sir John Yorke both before and after the Powder +Treason. 2. That secret passages and places were made for Gerard at +Golthwaite. 3. That a private diet was provided for him.</q> A few specimens +of the evidence will show that, whoever it was who frequented Sir John Yorke's +house, at all events it was not Father Gerard, who never set foot in England +after May, 1606. Francis Brown: <q>He hath seen Gerard the Jesuit at Sir +John Yorke's house called Golthwaite both before and after the Powder +Treason. He hath seen Gerard the Jesuit within this seven years at least +twenty times. The last time was at Audebroughe in Christmas last [1610], +when Gerard lay secret in the house all the Christmas. And once he went up +into the chamber where Gerard was sitting by the fire. And resteth assured +that Sir John Yorke knows where Gerard is. That there was no half year +passed since the Powder Treason but he saw him at one of Sir John Yorke's +houses, and mentioneth four particular times.</q> The marginal note is, <q>The +servants to Sir John Yorke all deny the conveying of Gerard or the knowledge +of him, whereof Johnson was put to torture and denied it.</q> William Browne +the elder <q>names the place where he met him in North Wales, soon after the +Powder Treason and before the Proclamation.</q> William Browne the younger: +<q>On Martinmas Day was two years, in a Close called Burnings, near Sir John +Yorke's house, near a ford, he met Johnson on foot, and a man like to the +person described by the Proclamation to be Gerard on a mare of Sir John +Yorke's called White Friar.</q> Robert Joye: <q>As he was working in the hall +at Golthwaite in the summer before the Powder Treason, about the later Lady +Day in harvest, Marmaduke Lupton, the steward to Sir John Yorke, came to +him and told him it was my lady's pleasure he should remove out of the hall +and work in the buttery. Whereupon he removed into the buttery, and +Lupton put the door to. Whereat he marvelling pulled open the door a little, +and saw Lupton bring in a reasonable broad man. And the Lady Yorke +came out of the parlour and met him in the entry that goeth to the kitchen, +and up the stairs to the garret she said, 'Welcome, Mr. Gerard,' which this +examinate perfectly heard, for there was but an inch board between. Mr. +Gerard was carried up to the garret chamber, and remained there a month, not +coming openly down. Heard Lupton, Grange, and Almond many times +severally ask the cook secretly whether Mr. Gerard's meat were ready.</q> +Sampson Baines: <q>The Lady Yorke did use to appoint what meat he should +dress for dinner, and what for the chamber, which was commonly two dishes +and no more.</q> The margin here has, Margaret Almond: <q>She carried no +meat at any time to any strangers, saving such as were her master's and lady's +friends. She made shift to carry up meat, though she go with a crutch and +have but one leg.</q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgcxciii'>cxciii.</ref>—From the following letter it appears plain that the names of the +Ambassadors are wrongly given. And a witness named Parsons, examined +Dec. 12, 1605, says that a <q>Priest named Tempest went over with the Spanish +Ambassador about Bartholomew-tide last</q> (Montacute Papers, f. 46). So the +Conde de Villa Mediana left England in the latter part of August, 1605. +</p> + +<pb n='cclviii'/><anchor id='Pgcclviii'/> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +Father Baldwin from Brussels to Father Persons at Rome, May 20, +1606. <q>Since my last, five days ago, arrived at —5 (St. Omers), 469 +(Father Gerard), where also is one</q> [Richard Fulwood] <q>whom 456 (H. +Garnett) was wont to use in all his chief business of passage, receiving +and retaining of all things. I take it he be 229 (Jesuit) also. They are yet +627 (secret), and so it is requisite for a time, especially in that the 194 225 +(Marquis Ambassador) brought them, and by his dexterous and courteous +manner had great care of them. The Marquis of St. Germain came hither two +days ago, and both he and D. Blasco de Arragon came as well informed of our +English matters as I could wish. They have made relation accordingly to the +Nuncio, and this morning to me, who have been with them a long while. +They praise the courage and constancy of Catholics marvellously, and have an +apprehension of the daily increase of them, as also that the better sort in +England are inclined Catholicly and such in profession. They speak much of +the zeal of the Lady of Shrewsbury and of the indignation of the King, who, +hearing of the manner of Father Ouldcorne's death and requesting all Catholics +to pray for him and say <hi rend='italic'>De profundis</hi>, there were found so many to say that +aloud, as they were esteemed a great part of the number, and so many by +signs and voices to have given show of Catholic profession, as all were amazed. +Thus they report; and also that Father Garnett was to be executed the day +which they came away, in Paul's Churchyard, although another writing from +St. Omers says that it was deferred the day following, for that the day first +appointed was May Day, and Father Garnett, being advertised of his death, +should answer, <q>What then, will you make a May-game of me?</q> Howsoever, +it is held for certain that he is dead, and that Marquis told the Nuncio +that therefore he departed the sooner, as unwilling to be present at such a +tragedy.... I think Father Gerard may live in these countries after that +Mr. Owen is delivered (of whom the Archduke mindeth to have great care), +yet he who is said to have had correspondence with him, one Philips the +decipherer, is now committed to the Tower. And it were very necessary one +of ours remain in Paris, for which place Father Keynes might serve for a time, +at least in that he is not a man noted, and hath the French tongue, as having +lived there. Father Schondonch is of my opinion, and Father Gerard will do +well in his place after some month or two, if things alter not much, for he can +hardly be in any other place in regard of his indisposition, if it be as I have +heard. I shall soon know more thereof. Father Lee were good in England +in my opinion, for the consolation of many of ours, and Father Gerard's friends, +all which I remit to your consideration.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The same to the same, July 3, 1606. <q>I have not as yet received from +England from any of our Fathers; only John Powell, the interpreter of the +Spanish Ambassador, relateth what passed at the execution of Father Garnett, +upon the 13th May Stylo Novo and the 3rd Stylo Vetere. He hath given +exceeding satisfaction to all sorts, and much confounded our enemies of the +one sort and other. He was drawn according to the usual manner to +Paul's Churchyard upon a hurdle and straw; his arms were not bound neither +when he was executed. Such concourse of people as hath not been seen.... +The Spanish Ambassador would not remain in London that day; he hath got +his shirt, and some of his blood is sent to Spain, which I have seen here, also +his apparel is gotten, as I hear. Here now is Richard Fulwood, who telleth +me that Father Gerard is very sick at St. Omers; that said you would have +him come to Rome. I fear me that journey will kill him.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<pb n='cclix'/><anchor id='Pgcclix'/> + +<p> +Father Gerard quickly rallied from his sickness, for in less than a fortnight +after this he wrote from Brussels to Father Persons, under the pseudonym of Fr. +Harrison. The letter is so characteristic of the man that, though long, we give it +in full, from the original at Stonyhurst (<hi rend='italic'>Angl. A.</hi>, vol. vi). +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +<q rend='pre'>July 15, 1606.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Jesus. Maria.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Pax C.<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>ti</hi>.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Most dear and respected Father,</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>I have received your letters of the —— last, wherein +you show your fatherly care and undeserved love unto me, as were +sufficient to bind unto you any grateful heart, although he were not tied with +former obligations. But I am so much and so many ways bound unto you +before by favours of the highest kind, that these do only tie me unto you with +new knots, though I was before so wholly yours and so firmly tied that sincerely +I had rather not to be than be untied. I beseech you, sir, that you will be +pleased to present my humble duty unto Father General, in whose favour +though your good word do procure me that place which I can no ways deserve, +yet this I hope you may promise for me, that I will now begin to do my best +endeavours, that I may be framed in all things as is fit for a child of that most +holy family whereof he hath the care, that both by my voice and hands he may +acknowledge me for his child, the better to deserve the blessing of so great and +good a father. I would now acknowledge my duty by letters, but that I am +ashamed of my Latin, and loath to trouble with so rude lines, unless there were +further occasion or that you thought it needful. But I hope to come and do +my duty in person so soon that it will not be necessary to signify it by letters. +I will stay as you appoint until I have your letters for my coming forward, and +in the meantime will not be solicitous one whit, having no desire in the world +whereof I would not most willingly leave the whole care unto you, and indeed +desiring to have no other desires but yours so far as I may be able to discern +them, after that I have expressed my reasons as I know you would have me to +do, and after that you know me better and my many great wants, which, that +they may be more exactly known unto you, makes me so desirous to be with +you for some time, howsoever it may please you to dispose of me afterwards. +And if the chief cause why you think it best for me to stay awhile in these +parts be for that you would have me secret as yet, and especially not to be +seen with you there whilst the appellants are negotiating their uncharitable +accusations of their brethren, then I suppose you will think I may be fully as +secret there as here, if I be first wary in my coming into the town and then be +your prisoner for some time (which I most desire), and then go to St. Andrew's, +without visiting any holy places and being seen in the town until you think it +convenient. And because, in my second and third letters, I expressed my +earnest desire of this private course at my first coming, I suppose I shall hear +from you in your next letter or the next but one, that you think best I come +forward, unless you wish my stay for some other reasons than the desire of my +being secret. I grant I might perform my desire of some time of recollection +either in Louvain or in the new House if it go forwards, under Father Talbot; +but I have many reasons why I desire first to be with you for some time, +which I think you would allow of if you knew them. And I would be glad +also if it might be to begin in St. Andrew's, to draw there some lively water +out of the chiefest fountain, and this rather in the winter than to come the +next spring, because I much fear my health if I be there in the heats. But +<pb n='cclx'/><anchor id='Pgcclx'/> +after I have been there for some time, for so long time as you shall think it +convenient that I stay in that school, I shall be glad to be Father Talbot's +Minister here, or to have some office of action under him, if my health do +require any exercise of body. I hear there is one prepared for Minister that is +very fit, but I could have care of the Church, and then perhaps should +get some stuff to furnish it from some friends of mine in England; or I could +have care of the garden, for I am excellent at that (if you will permit me to +praise myself), for that was much of my recreation in England, and I hope +my brother will witness with me that he hath seen a good many plants of my +setting and tasted the fruit of some of them. But indeed, dear Father, if it +may stand with your liking, I would be very glad to see you and be with you +for some days before I settle anywhere, how private soever my abode there be, +either at the first or for the whole time of my stay, as yourself shall see it best. +As for the settling of any with my friends, I have done it before my departure, +leaving my old companion and dear friend, Father Percy, in the place where I +was, who is so much esteemed and desired by them as none can be likely to +be more profitable. Most of my other special friends I commended partly +to Father Antony [Hoskins], and partly to him, both which are most +grateful to all my friends and acquaintance, and indeed I know not any two +there that, in my simple opinion, better deserve it. As concerning Father +Roger Lee's going into England, if you please that I write justly that I think, +there be divers reasons for which I think it, at this time, very inconvenient. +First, in that he is so profitable where he is, that it will not be easy to find +another will do so much good in that place; and, in one word to express my +opinion, for ought I see, the most good of the House, both for external discipline +and for progress in spirit, dependeth upon his care and effectual industry, +wherein I should think it more needful to provide him more helpers of like +desires and practical endeavours (who would conspire with him and have +talents to effect both with the good Rector and with the scholars, that which +they should together find to be most expedient). The Fathers which be there +do very well, but all are not of like apprehensions and proceedings, and I +suppose if yourself did see all particulars, you would think Father Roger to be +a strong helper to the good of that House, and that it would nourish much if +it had some others of his like. I know not where to name one upon the +sudden, unless it be Father Henry Flud [Floyd], whose zeal and practical proceedings +I think would be very profitable for that House, if he may be spared, +and truly in my opinion upon the good of that House dependeth much the +good and quiet of the other Colleges, besides much edification to many, both +friends and enemies, unto whom this is a continual spectacle.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>But besides this reason (which alone I take to be sufficient) I wish Father +Roger's stay for the good he may hereafter do in England, which I do hope +will be great, and therefore great pity it should now be lost before the fruit of +so likely a tree can come to ripeness. For, sir, yourself can better judge that +none can be much profitable in England until he have gotten acquaintance there, +and until his acquaintance by their trial of him have gotten a great opinion +and estimation of him, which then they will spread from one to another, and +every one will bring his friend, who upon hearing will be desirous to try, but +after trial will say unto the friend that brought him, <q><hi rend='italic'>Jam non propter +sermonem tuum credimus sed ipsi</hi>,</q> &c. By this means one shall have, after +some continuance, more acquaintances and devoted friends than he can satisfy, +and more business in that kind than he can turn his hands unto; but this is +<pb n='cclxi'/><anchor id='Pgcclxi'/> +supposing he may at the first go up and down to get this acquaintance, and to +be so known unto many; and until he have means so to do, if he have never +so good talents, yet he shall not do so much good as a meaner person that is +better acquainted. Now in this time I do verily think, if the laws be put in +execution, there will be no means at all to get acquaintance, but the best +acquainted shall have difficulty to help his known friends, and to be helped by +them with safe places of abode as [I have declared at] large in my last letters, +and they must lie much still and private and do [good part of] their [work by +means of le]tters. Therefore, although I know Father Roger would be as +much esteemed of my special friends as any that could be sent (unless my +brother</q> [probably Sir Oliver Manners] <q>had served his apprenticeship +and were made a journeyman, for of his skill and workmanship in +framing the best wedding garment there is great and general hope conceived) +yet, things staying as they do in England, and Father Roger so +well acquainted now with the place where he is, and thereby also more +profitable there than a stranger could be, although as fit for the place as +himself (which truly I think will be hard to find) my friends also being already +furnished in England: these reasons move me to think it neither needful nor +best that Father Roger go thither as yet: which yet in a more quiet time I +shall be bold to beg for, if I see the College where he is so furnished that +without great loss it might want him. I find Father Roger desirous of England +if it were thought best, but wholly desirous to do that which yourself do think +most convenient, but when I urge him to speak his very thoughts whether he +do not think the College would be at want, he cannot deny but that the College +hath need rather of more than less help, and surely I think if it were another's +case of whom he might with humility acknowledge how profitable he is, I do +think he would absolutely do his best to hinder it as I do.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>For the answer to your questions, though in my last long letters I did in +part answer to most of them before I received yours, yet now I will briefly +again set down my opinion to the several points, Father Baldwin having +written of them in his last, I being at St. Omers; but now I am come to him, +being advised by the physician there to go to the Spa for the drying up of my +rheum, which here I shall take further counsel of, how far it is needful, and +whether the great rains have not made the waters of less force. I am here +private, and more private than I could be at St. Omers whilst the banished +Priests are passing by. I think I shall hear within two or three posts your +further pleasure; if not, I will return and then begin to talk with the youths +there, or do any service I can as you appointed in your last. In the meantime, +with many humble thanks for your many undeserved favours, I rest this 15th +of July.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Your Rev. son and servant wholly to command,</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q><hi rend='smallcaps'>Fr. Harrison.</hi></q> +</p> + +<p> +Address—<q>Al molto Rev. in Christo Padre, il Padre Roberto Parsonio, +Rettore del Collegio delli Inglesi, Roma.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +<p> +To these we must add an extract from a letter of Father Persons dated +December 29, 1606, and evidently written while Father Gerard was at Tivoli +(Stonyhurst MSS., <hi rend='italic'>P.</hi>, vol. ii., f. 447). <q>The man you name, to wit, Ger[ard] +passed this way some months gone, but made little or no abode, lest offence +might be taken thereat, only I can say that during the few days which he +remained he gave great edification for his behaviour and sundry great testimonies +<pb n='cclxii'/><anchor id='Pgcclxii'/> +of his rare virtue, but most of all of his innocency concerning that crime +whereof he was imputed in the proclamation, about which himself procured +that his General should judicially examine in presence of divers witnesses, +commanding him <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>in virtute sanctæ obedientiæ</foreign> to utter the truth therein to his +Superior, whereupon he swore and protested that he was wholly innocent +therein, which the rest of his behaviour doth easily make probable. I shall +cause him to be advertised by the first commodity of the note you write about +his friends.</q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pgccviii'>ccviii.</ref>—As Father Gerard certainly left Belgium in 1622, and therefore +could not have been in the Tertianship at Ghent in 1624, there must be a +mistake in the name of the Father who reconciled to the Church James, Lord +Maltravers, in the July of that year, as related in the <hi rend='italic'>Life of Anne Countess of +Arundel</hi> (p. 232). It is there said that <q>before his death he was so fortunate +as to be visited by Father John Gerard, a Priest of the Society, who, together +with others, lived there</q> [at Ghent] <q>in the house which his grandmother +a little before had erected.... By that Father he was in fine reconciled to +the Holy Church.</q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pg240'>240</ref>.—James Garney, servant to Sir Everard Digby, <q>confesseth the +journey to St. Winifred's Well and the particular places where they lay, and +that Darcy [Father Garnett] and Fisher [Father Percy] were with them, and +the whole company thirty horse</q> (Montacute Papers, f. 52). +</p> + +<p> +Pp. <ref target='Pg240'>240</ref> and <ref target='Pg254'>254</ref>.—Father Ouldcorne in his letter to the Privy Council +(P. R. O., <hi rend='italic'>Gunpowder Plot Book</hi>, n. 214) says respecting the verse of the +hymn of All Saints: <q>Also he [Father Garnett] told me they charged him +with a prayer that he should pen or make against the beginning of this +Parliament: but he said that he denied that ever he penned or made any such. +<q>Perhaps</q> (said he), <q>they have heard that sometimes this summer I have +wished Catholics to pray, for that we had cause to fear there would be more +severe laws made against us this Parliament than had been as yet. Or else +they have heard how sometimes upon occasions I have told how Cardinal +Allen had got an indulgence of Gregory XIII. for all those that did devoutly +for the conversion of England say that verse which is in the hymn of All-Hallow +Day, <hi rend='italic'>Gentem auferte perfidam</hi>, &c., and the Psalm lxxviii., <hi rend='italic'>Deus +venerunt gentes</hi>.</q></q> +</p> + +<p> +P. <ref target='Pg306'>306</ref>.—Father Garnett to Anne Vaux from the Tower (P. R. O., +<hi rend='italic'>Gunpowder Plot Book</hi>, n. 245). <q>Mr. Hall [Father Ouldcorne] dreamed that +Father General would have him and me professed. He said that I was +professed already. <q>Yea,</q> quoth he, <q>but I will have him professed of ten or +eleven vows more.</q> And there were provided two fair tabernacles or seats for +us. And so he awaked, and falling asleep again, had the same dream.</q> Anne +Vaux to Father Garnett (<hi rend='italic'>ibid.</hi>, n. 246). <q>Mr. Hall his dream had been a +great comfort, if at the foot of the throne there had been a place for me. God +and you know my unworthiness. I beseech you help me with your prayers.</q> +</p> + +</div> + +</div> + +<pb n='001'/><anchor id='Pg001'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>A Narrative Of The Gunpowder Plot.</head> + +<div> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Jesus Maria. The Preface.</head> + +<p> +The blessed Apostle, Master, and Teacher of us Gentiles, +instructing the Romans in the cause and means of their +salvation, affirmeth, that God hath ordained we +must be conformed to the image of His Son, our Lord +and Saviour Jesus, <q>Et quos præscivit (saith he) et prædestinavit +conformes fieri imaginis filii sui.</q><note place='foot'><q>For whom He foreknew, He also predestinated to be made conformable +to the image of His Son</q> (Rom. viii. 29).</note> Upon which place +St. Jerome and other Doctors do teach that it is the +will of God, both in this life and in the next, to frame +and fashion us both in grace and glory unto that most +perfect pattern. +</p> + +<p> +So that if we will reign with Christ, we must expect +to suffer with Him in the way unto His Kingdom, <q>si +compatimur et conglorificabimur: si commortui sumus +et convivemus; si sustinebimus et conregnabimus.</q><note place='foot'><q>If we be dead with Him, we shall also live with him: if we suffer, we +shall also reign with Him</q> (2 Tim. ii. 11).</note> +Yea, with that condition we are accepted, and +in that measure we must look to be rewarded, ut <q>sicut +socii passionum sumus, sic simus et consolationis.</q><note place='foot'><q>As you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the +consolation</q> (2 Cor. i. 7).</note> +</p> + +<p> +This, therefore, hath been the course and manner of +proceeding of Almighty God with His elected servants; +<pb n='002'/><anchor id='Pg002'/> +even from the beginning, and will continue unto the end +of the world. So when there were but two men born +upon the earth, and those brethren, yet one did persecute +the other, the wicked did kill the innocent. The +Patriarchs had all their several probations, and lived +but as pilgrims in the world; the Prophets sustained many +persecutions, and sundry of them were put to cruel deaths +for avouching the truth. The best and chosen part of +God's servants towards the end of the Old Testament were +proved and purged with many tribulations, they were +diversely tormented and slaughtered in such manner as +that saying of the Prophet David was justly applied unto +them, <q>Carnes sanctorum tuorum et sanguinem +ipsorum effuderunt in circuitu Jerusalem, et non erat +qui sepeliret.</q><note place='foot'><q>The flesh of Thy saints and the blood of them they have shed round +about Jerusalem, and there was none to bury them</q> (1 Mach. vii. 17).</note> And St. Paul doth reckon up in few words +the many pressures both of those and other Saints of the +Old Testament, saying, <q>Lapidati sunt, secti sunt, +in occisione gladii mortui sunt, circuierunt in melotis,</q> etc.<note place='foot'><q>They were stoned, they were cut asunder, ... they were put to +death by the sword, they wandered about in sheep-skins,</q> &c. (Heb. xi. 37).</note> +</p> + +<p> +So that this being the case and condition of the +servants and Saints of God even before the law of grace, +much more may we expect, and it will be expected at +our hands, that seeing now our King and Captain, Christ +Jesus, doth go before us with a Cross, we should all, and +each of us in particular, both willingly and joyfully take +up our crosses and follow Him: seeing Truth Himself +came down from Heaven to lead us by Himself this way +unto life everlasting, good reason we should follow +Him in the same path, <q>quia nemo venit ad Patrem +nisi per eum.</q><note place='foot'><q>No man cometh to the Father but by Me</q> (St. John xiv. 6).</note> If Christ did confirm it by many scriptures, +<q>quod oportebat Christum pati, et sic intrare in +gloriam suam,</q><note place='foot'><q>Ought not Christ to have suffered these things, and so to enter into +His glory?</q> (St. Luke xxiv. 26).</note> much more must we contend to enter in at +<pb n='003'/><anchor id='Pg003'/> +the same gate, although it be narrow and strait, +especially seeing we enter not into our own but into +His glory. And it were a monstrous thing that the +head should go in at one door, and the parts of the +body in at another; neither can it be so, unless the +parts be divided from the head, and consequently not +quickened with the same spirit that giveth life to the +body, than which nothing in this world should be so +dreadful. +</p> + +<p> +This made the Apostles willingly to accept of that +portion which Christ did leave them, as it were, for an +inheritance in this world, when he said, <q>In mundo +pressuram habebitis,</q> and again, <q>plorabitis et flebitis +vos, mundus autem gaudebit, vos autem contristabimini;</q><note place='foot'><q>You shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice, and you shall +be made sorrowful.... In the world you shall have distress</q> (St. John +xvi. 20, 33).</note> +that knowing well, that His promise was most assured, +and that their sorrow should be turned in gladness, <q>et +hoc gaudium nemo tolleret ab eis.</q><note place='foot'><q>And your joy no man shall take from you</q> (St. John xvi. 22).</note> +</p> + +<p> +The same lesson have all the Saints of God learned and +in all ages have practised. The vineyard of Christ was watered +for 300 years together with continual showers of blood +running abundantly out of the holy veins of slaughtered +martyrs, from whence, although there did rise a plentiful +harvest of famous conversions and gain of souls, and at the +last succeeded the peace and propagation of the Church, +in so much that crowns and sceptres of Kings and Emperors +were submitted unto it, yet did not Peter's ship sail +long with a prosperous gale, though Christ were in +the ship, Who would not suffer it to sink; for He did +sleep again, and suffer the bark to be tossed with many +furious storms by Arians and other succeeding heretics +who rising in several ages did impugn the verity of +our Christian faith, as before the heathens had fought +<pb n='004'/><anchor id='Pg004'/> +against the divinity of the Father, so then the Arians +against the divinity and equality of the Son, and others +in their times and turns against the several articles of +the Creed, until the Grecians raised war also against +the third principal part thereof, denying the procession +of the Holy Ghost from the Son; and lastly, now, towards +the end of the world, the heretics of our age, Luther +and his progeny, do perfect that imperfect work, and +fight against God's truth in the last articles of the Creed +with all their force. Wherein, although the fury of their +raging waves do beat in vain against the ship of Christ, +against which <q>nec portæ inferi prævalebunt,</q><note place='foot'><q>The gates of hell shall not prevail</q> (St. Matt. xvi. 18).</note> yet +is the ship in the meantime in the midst of the storm, +<q>motus autem magnus factus est in mari et navicula +operitur fluctibus.</q><note place='foot'><q>A great tempest arose in the sea, so that the boat was covered with +waves</q> (St. Matt. viii. 24).</note> And this much more in our +afflicted country of England for the present than in any +other, which now may justly be said to be that <q>stagnum +in quod descendit procella venti ita ut compleatur +navis nostra fluctibus et periclitamur.</q><note place='foot'><q>There came down a storm of wind upon the lake, and they were filled +and were in danger</q> (St. Luke viii. 23).</note> So that no +marvel though His disciples be there troubled, though +yet we should not be terrified, having Him ever present +with us, <q>qui imperat ventis et mari et obediunt ei,</q> and of +Whom it is truly said, <q>Ego dormio, et cor meum +vigilat.</q><note place='foot'><q>I sleep and My Heart watcheth</q> (Cant. v. 2).</note> For although He seem to wink for the time, and +to dissemble the injuries that are done unto His servants, +yet is His Heart awake, and His will doth both watch to +defend and ward us from evil in the meantime, and +He will in time, when He seeth it fit and best for us, +impose silence to our adversaries, and give peace to His +tried servants. +</p> + +<p> +This is then the state of this present age, and this +<pb n='005'/><anchor id='Pg005'/> +the course which God hath ever continued from the first, to +purge and perfect His Church by oppositions, by tribulations +and afflictions; that He may hew the stones here hard +by the quarry, which must afterwards be placed in their +due order and ranks in His heavenly temple, where no +blows with the hatchet must once be given, no +sound of the hammer must be heard, that may hinder the +happiness or disturb the harmony of that heavenly city. +Here in this vale of misery all are beforehand fitted +and prepared (as the Church doth sing in a holy hymn +speaking of the like matter)— +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<lg> +<l>Tunsionibus, pressuris,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Expoliti lapides,</l> +<l>Suis coaptantur locis</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Per manus artificis,</l> +<l>Disponuntur permansuri</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Sacris ædificiis.<note place='foot'><q>Stones, polished smooth by blow and pressure, are fitted together each +in place by workman's hand, and set in order, ever to abide in the sacred +fane.</q></note></l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<p> +And this being so, and so much to the advantage +of those who are so exercised and perfected by the same, +so prepared by crosses to receive crowns of everlasting +glory, we may gather thereby both what mind they +should be of, that are in the battle, and what their +thoughts and actions that are lookers-on. +</p> + +<p> +For the first, no doubt but remembering Whose cause +it is we do sustain, Whom we have for our King and +Captain in the combat, and Who it is that hath promised +to assist us in our sufferings, and to reward and crown +us for our labours sustained and victories obtained in +this spiritual battle. [As<note place='foot'>The passages in this Preface enclosed in brackets are alterations in the +original MS. made in another but contemporary handwriting. The erasures in +the original are given in the footnotes.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> before hath been touched,] +there<note place='foot'>I say. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> is no doubt but we should think it most just and +requisite to sustain all difficulties in the cause of so great +<pb n='006'/><anchor id='Pg006'/> +and good a Lord, most honourable to follow such a +Captain, and most comfortable and commodious to serve +and suffer for such a [Master]<note place='foot'>Such a Lord and so true and liberal a paymaster. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> and so true and liberal a +[rewarder]; and therefore grant that we are bound by many +titles with ready will and earnest desire, yea, with +true contentment and assured confidence to bear the +poise of this persecution. +</p> + +<p> +But it is no less apparent what in the meantime +should be conceived of our case, and what should be +performed by those that are not in the present labours +which we poor men are forced to sustain, nor under +the [scourge]<note place='foot'>Whip. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> which God for the time doth suffer to be +laid upon us. No doubt but they also should humble +themselves under the mighty hand of God, considering +that their time of temptation and trial +may also come (as it is an easy matter when one house +is on fire for the next neighbours' houses to [take the +same fire]<note place='foot'>To be inflamed. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note>), and withal that they are to conceive worthily +and honourably of their brethren, whom they now see +to be tried and purified in the furnace of many tribulations +by the heavenly goldsmith, thereby the better to beat +and fashion the metal of their eternal crowns; with whom +in the meantime they should concur and cooperate by +their charitable assistance in prayers and other helps. +</p> + +<p> +This may well be thought to be their part, and so they +may expect to be partakers with us also in the retribution, +which we expect at the hands of God. So doth the Apostle +counsel the Corinthians, touching corporal assistance +to their absent and afflicted brethren. Having praised +the Macedonians for the like, he saith, <q>Non enim ut aliis +sit remissio, vobis autem tribulatio, sed ex æqualitate. +In præsenti tempore vestra abundantia illorum inopiam +suppleat, ut et illorum abundantia vestræ inopiæ sit supplementum,</q> +<pb n='007'/><anchor id='Pg007'/> +etc.<note place='foot'><q>For I mean not that others should be eased and you burthened, but by +an equality. In this present time let your abundance supply their want, that +their abundance also may supply your want</q> (2 Cor. viii. 13, 14).</note> In like manner may we desire and expect +help from our neighbours, that they out of the abundance +of their present peace and power to do us good, will help +in what they can, every one in that wherein he most aboundeth: +Princes with their power and authority, in being mediators +for us to our King for some mitigation of our afflictions; +courtiers, in often soliciting for this help at their Princes' +hands; the Clergy, by often offering the Divine Sacrifice, +and holding up their hands with Moses unto +God for us, that we may not faint in the battle; preachers, +by often commending our case unto the people; the +Religious, by applying their prayers and merit for the +continuance and increase of our constancy; and secular +persons, in such several manners as they are best able +to perform; the wise, in commending and justifying our +cause; the rich, in opening their purse unto our present +needs, and maintaining of such scholars as are preparing +in our seminaries to be workmen for the harvest. Yea, +the poorest and meanest sort of our Christian Catholic +brethren [abroad] may assist us much by their good wishes +and good words when occasion is offered; and all by +their daily prayers both to God and His Saints for us, +<q>ut possimus accipere armaturam Dei, et resistere +in die malo, et in omnibus perfecti stare,</q> etc.<note place='foot'><q>Take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the +evil day and to stand in all things perfect</q> (Ephes. vi. 13).</note> And so +by this means assisting us about our tents and provision, +either in furnishing or in guarding the same, although they +be not present with us in the battle, yet will our just +David give them their share and part in our +victory and spoils, every one according to the measure +of his aid and assistance. +</p> + +<p> +But here, if any do seem to complain of our want of +constancy and patience in suffering—and some perhaps +<pb n='008'/><anchor id='Pg008'/> +be rather ready to blame than to pity us, in regard of a +late attempt of some Catholic [gentlemen]<note place='foot'>Catholics. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> in our country, +most worthy indeed to be blamed and misliked [for the +rashness and temerity thereof]—we expect notwithstanding +more equity and charity at their hands than to condemn +the whole number for the error of a few, or to deem that +action the effect of all our desires, or fruit of our endeavours; +[whereas]<note place='foot'>For. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> the contrary is most true, and so testified by +the chief of the [conspirators themselves]<note place='foot'>Contrary party. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note>, and proved by +the process of all examinations and proceedings in law +against the [said] delinquents, as shall after appear. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>Sir Everard Digby +in clearing the Society.</note> +Yea, the [dealers]<note place='foot'>Actors. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> in that tragical device had so little +hope of help from other Catholics, either spiritual or +temporal, towards their designments in that plot, that +they neither did nor durst impart the same even to their +nearest and dearest friends, in whom otherwise they had +all confidence and trial both for secrecy and fidelity in +other matters, as the chiefest and wisest +amongst them all did testify at the bar in public audience. +Neither did any Priest once dream of the matter, or so +much as know of it by way of confession [or otherwise] +until the [whole plot was]<note place='foot'>Until the whole matter was plotted and prepared and had been without +doubt. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> contrived, and had been [by all +likelihood] put in execution if the Parliament had gone +forward on the first or second days in which it was +appointed. But when the said session was prorogued the +third time, and some of the conspirators in long delays, +[besides the general light which they presumed to have +drawn by certain obscure questions which to that end they +had proposed, though their purpose was not understood +by them that gave the answers,] were desirous to have +some [more particular] advice of some one or two of the +<pb n='009'/><anchor id='Pg009'/> +most learned and virtuous they could find, they opened +the matter in confession unto one of the Society, and by +him in like manner unto his Superior, with most strict +charge unto both of all secrecy, according to the privilege +and seal of that holy Sacrament. At which time the +Superior did not only charge the other to dissuade and +forbid that unlawful and inhuman action, but did likewise +by all lawful means himself seek to hinder it, as shall +appear in the sequel of [the ensuing narration]<note place='foot'>This discourse following. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note>. +</p> + +<p> +If then they had neither help nor heartening, neither +counsel nor encouragement from any Catholic [man and +much less Priests, but rather to the contrary from]<note place='foot'>But the contrary from. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> those +few that by chance, and in that most secret manner, came +to know of it much against their will, how can it then +be laid unto the rest? How can others be blamed for it +where all were ignorant of the matter [except only the +said]<note place='foot'>But. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> two persons, and those did seek to hinder it with all +their power? Doth equity or charity permit to lay the +fault on those that were not guilty? or to attribute part +of the blame to those that were noways partakers in the +crime? Yea, doth not charity rather move the minds of +just men to take pity and compassion of those few that +were offenders [rather than] to be stirred with indignation +against them, and for their sakes against others that +are innocent? <q>Vera justitia (saith St. Gregory) +compassionem habet, falsa verò dedignationem.</q><note place='foot'><q>True justice hath compassion, but that which is false indignation.</q></note> And doth +not St. Bernard counsel us to excuse the fact if we can; +if not (as in this present matter where it is so apparent +to be evil), yet to excuse the intention; and in the hardest +and plainest case that may be, at least to search out +what motives and incentives they might have urging them +to such an error. +</p> + +<pb n='010'/><anchor id='Pg010'/> + +<p> +Truly, if we [may]<note place='foot'>Should. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> judge of their minds by the words +that came from them even when they had no hope of +life, or by all the signs that were to be seen either in +those that died in the field, or those that were put to +public justice, [at the very last instant of their lives,] we +should rather be moved to think that [not so much]<note place='foot'>No impatience but zeal. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> impatience +[as] zeal (although <q>non secundum scientiam</q>) did +stir them up to that strange and [violent]<note place='foot'>Desperate. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> attempt, for so +they all deeply and seriously protested at their death. +Assuming belike the Machabees for their example, who +seeing numbers of their brethren to suffer +patiently the unjust oppressions of their adversaries, answering +only in words unto them and saying, <q>Moriamur +omnes in simplicitate nostra et testes erunt super nos +cœlum et terra quod injuste perditis nos.</q><note place='foot'><q>Let us all die in our innocency, and heaven and earth shall be witnesses +for us that you put us to death wrongfully.</q> <q>If we shall all do as our +brethren have done, and not fight against the heathen for our lives and our +justifications, they will now quickly root us out of the earth.</q> 1 Mach. ii. 37, 40.</note> They would +not follow the example of their [said] brethren therein; +[but being of more intolerant heat and fervour than the +rest, said one to another]<note place='foot'>But said one to another. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note>, <q>Si omnes fecerimus sicut +fratres nostri fecerunt et non pugnaverimus pro animabus +nostris et justificationibus nostris, nunc citius disperdent +nos a terra.</q> This, [I say, seemed to have been in their +minds and apprehensions]<note place='foot'>This might seem to have come into their minds if we shall judge. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> if we may judge of them by +their carriage in their greatest extremities, with which also +they opened unto the world other motives [both at their +arraignment and death], which they thought to be of no +small moment; as the many and great calamities they +had long endured; the promises of toleration received +from the King, now contradicted both in word and action; +all hopes cut off of help from other Princes either by +<pb n='011'/><anchor id='Pg011'/> +force or favour, seeing many of them would not so much +as believe the persecution to be great, but rather give credit +to their persecutors' tales, seeking by all subtle means +and many instruments sent abroad for the purpose to +have the contrary believed in foreign countries; which, with +the general peace concluded [with all Catholic Princes +round about], and no peace granted to Catholics, but their +penalties increased, and like so to continue by the likelihood +of continuance of that flourishing issue with which +God hath blessed our King (which they thought did alter +the state of their sufferings very much from that it was +in Queen Elizabeth's time). These things did seem to +move them much, and as they thought necessarily to seek a +remedy, if not for themselves, yet for the relief of others, +which they being but a few, and out of hope of any help +from the most and best of the Catholics of England, could +not possibly effect, [as erroneously they conceived,] but +by some such stratagem, wherein the chiefest strength +should be resolution and secrecy, both which in the chosen +number of so few persons they thought abundantly provided +for. They took not indeed the course of the +Machabees, which they deemed in their case to be merely +impossible. But they affirmed their end to be same, +and their cause and reasons much more important. So +Catesby protested at his death in the field, and Digby +at the bar, that not for themselves but for the cause +of Christ; not for their wives and children, but for the +Church, the Spouse of Christ, and saving so many thousand +souls, the children of God, from eternal flames, they +attempted with fire to cut off the chiefest heads and only +causes of that greater ruin. <q>Yea,</q> said Digby [ready now +to die], <q>in respect of this cause, I little regard, or rather +I could be well content, both to offer my life and fortune +and also to have my posterity rooted out for ever.</q> So +that if we shall judge of these men by their zeal, or their +zeal by all the signs by which men's minds are judged +<pb n='012'/><anchor id='Pg012'/> +(especially in cases of extremity where human respects +give little cause to move dissimulation), we may the better +follow St. Bernard's rule and interpret charitably [with +compassion] their [final] intention, although [their immediate +motives were unlawful, and therefore] the action +for many and great respects neither was nor is to be +allowed. +</p> + +<p> +And if St. Bernard did think this manner of interpretation +of others' actions to be requisite in the lovers of +charity, I hope then I may much more require that at +least others will support with patience that act of impatience +in that small number of our brethren and [not +impute it to the whole number of Catholics; no, nor +beyond the rule of charity to condemn the delinquents +themselves by extreme exclamations and maledictions, +as some do, but rather according to the Apostle's rule +in lenity of spirit to have pity of them, and reproving their +fact, esteem of their persons and other parts, as otherwise +they depend, of whom myself and many others can testify +that, setting aside this unfortunate evil action, by all good +men deplored, they were known and held, before they +fell into the same, to have been as wise, temperate, circumspect, +and devout gentlemen as commonly England +had, and such as would not have committed a voluntary +injury against any man for a world]<note place='foot'>That they will follow the rule of the Apostle, saying, <q>Fratres, si præoccupatus +fuerit homo in aliquo delicto, vos qui spirituales estis hujusmodi +instruite in spiritu lenitatis.</q> This is not to condemn them severely, to cry +out against them, to inveigh bitterly against the men and their minds and +intentions whatsoever: oh no, <q>in spiritu lenitatis,</q> saith the Apostle. We +that be Catholics in England do all with one voice grant the fact to be evil, +we neither did nor would for a world have concurred with the action; but we +pity the persons whom we knew to be otherwise wise and circumspect as any +they left behind them; yea, devout and zealous men as any one shall see in +a kingdom, and divers of them of so tender consciences that they would not to +save their life have deceived their neighbour of a penny, or wittingly have +admitted the least offence to God. <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note>. +</p> + +<p> +Thus we disclaim from all participation of this [fact] +intended by a few in their deceived zeal. Yet we follow +<pb n='013'/><anchor id='Pg013'/> +not the example of those that will not follow the rule +of charity in their judgments. And much more we do +and may stand upon the justice of our cause, and prove +that it is altogether against the rules of reason, justice, +and charity, to lay the fault of a few upon the whole +number of Catholics in that country; who neither did nor +would have concurred, nor were partakers either by work +or will in so barbarous a cruelty intended: no, nor so +much as imagined there could enter such a thought into +the hearts of any of their company. +</p> + +<p> +The verity whereof with the innocency of all Catholics +in that respect will plainly appear by the narration following +of the whole matter how it passed, which at the +earnest request of some principal friends on that side the +sea I am moved to set down. And although I know myself +much less able than they imagine to pen it in such +manner as the greatness of the matter and rareness of +such an event deserveth, yet I hope to satisfy their desire +for the matter itself, if not their expectation for the +manner of handling, promising to [set down] the story +truly as it passed, without partiality to the one or other +side; and to conceal no circumstance (whereof I could +have sufficient information) which may truly explain the +intentions, actions, and events of the whole matter, wherein +I had perhaps more helps to know both many and true +particulars than others could easily procure. +</p> + +<p> +The whole I intend and offer to God's glory and the +good of souls: desiring only this of the pious reader, that +as I will perform my part in truth and fidelity in the +whole narration, so he will not be wanting of his part +to perform the rules of equity and charity both towards +me and the matter I write of; especially towards those +that in so honourable a manner do daily and hourly +sustain the cause and quarrel of Christ, not only <q>in<note place='foot'>Not only <q>in the sun and dust</q> but <q>in blood</q> also and <q>many +wounds.</q></note> sole +<pb n='014'/><anchor id='Pg014'/> +et pulvere,</q> but <q>in sanguine,</q> also <q>et vulneribus multis.</q> +And so <q>alter alterius onera portantes adimplebimus +legem Christi.</q><note place='foot'><q>Bear ye one another's burdens, and so you shall fulfil the law of Christ</q> +Gal. vi. 2.</note> +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<p> +Or thus it may end:— +</p> + +<p> +And so we suffering for the cause and they assisting in the +cause <q>alter alterius onera portantes</q> (according to the counsel +of the Apostle) <q>adimplebimus legem Christi.</q> And being with +charity joined in the works of grace we shall by the author of +charity be conjoined in the rewards of glory, <q>quæ +præparavit Deus diligentibus se.</q> +</p> +</quote> + +</div> + +<pb n='015'/><anchor id='Pg015'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter II. [I.] +The State Of Persecuted Catholics At The Queen's +Death And The King's Entry, With Their Hopes +Of Relaxation By Him, Whereof They Failed.</head> + +<p> +I was desirous by the former chapter to make known +unto you the state of things how they passed in England +until the end of Queen Elizabeth's reign; wherein though +I was more long than I had thought to be, yet little methinks +is said in comparison of that feeling which we must +needs have that live here, and see daily before our eyes +<q>abominationem desolationis stantem in loco sancto;</q><note place='foot'><q>The abomination of desolation standing in the holy place</q> (St. Matt. +xxiv. 15).</note> that +have so many causes to put us often in mind of the +glory and splendour of the Church robbed and spoiled +by the first schism under King Henry, overthrown and +defaced by heresy, beginning to prevail under King +Edward; and wholly trodden upon and cruelly persecuted +during all the long reign of Queen Elizabeth, in which +all means were used that policy could invent, or power +perform, to root out all Catholics and Catholic religion +out of England. +</p> + +<p> +To which effect they continually devised and imposed +all kinds of penalties upon such as would profess the +Roman Faith. They made sundry and most severe statutes +(as may appear in the end of this book) against +all practice of Catholic religion. They made it death +to receive the absolution of a Priest; yea, death to harbour +a Priest in house, or to give him a cup of drink, or any +assistance in his need; death to persuade any to the +<pb n='016'/><anchor id='Pg016'/> +Catholic religion. They laid the premunire, which is a +punishment worse than death, for keeping an Agnus Dei, +or hallowed grains, or such like comforts of soul, that +come from Rome. Finally, whatsoever the wit or malice +of the least pitiful hearts could find out, all that was +inflicted and laid upon our backs. For commonly they +were such that were put in authority, either in searches, +or examinations, or executions—such were authorized, +such were countenanced, and borne out whatsoever insolencies +they committed against us, of which infinite +examples might be alleged. As for death itself, though +it was the ordinary pain of the law against Catholics for +practice of their Faith (acts of religion being now made +acts of treason), and so came often in practice; yet was +it not so heavy a load as we felt by the other laws, +and the outrageous execution of them, in far worse sort +than yet the laws permitted or had devised against us. +True it is they put to cruel death many and worthy +persons. One famous and religious Queen, mother to this +King who now reigneth—an act not oft recorded in other +persecutions, though never so severe. One also of the +ancient Earls they put to death in like manner by the +sword; two or three others of the chiefest whilst they +were in prison. Other noblemen died in banishment; and +many persons of great families and estimation were at +several times put to death under pretence of treason, +which also was their cloak to cover their cruelties against +such Priests and Religious as were sent into England +by authority from His Holiness to teach and preach the +Faith of Christ and to minister the Sacraments. But he +that would endeavour those things in this time was not +<q>amicus Cæsaris,</q><note place='foot'><q>Cæsar's friend</q> (St. John xix. 12).</note> and as such, both the Priest himself +must be condemned and he that would show him any +favour. +</p> + +<p> +Of this kind the number was great that suffered (our +<pb n='017'/><anchor id='Pg017'/> +difficulty considered in preparing them, and penury of +so fit workmen), but their worth was much greater than +this short treatise can or may contain: it is worthily +reserved for a more full discourse, and indeed it will +require a just volume by itself. It shall suffice us here +to know, that as all were holy and full of spirit, fit for +men that are sent in such an Apostolical mission, so many +of them excelled in rare gifts, and for such were known +and esteemed highly by Catholics before their apprehension. +There was of them a Campian, so eloquent, and so much +overmatching the heretics in public disputation (although +they came fully armed and provided against a prisoner +after tortures, preparing himself to die), that a courtier +went from the disputation presently to the Queen, and +said if that man were suffered to live he were enough +to pervert the whole realm. Convert, they would have +said, but that heresy would not permit their tongue to +tell the truth. There died with him a most valiant +Sherwin, full of St. Laurence his fervent spirit, and ten +other Priests, redoubted servants of Christ, each one +singular in their kind. Amongst whom one other was +of the Society, called Brian; a man of such devotion +to the Passion of Christ, that when he was extremely +racked before his martyrdom, his mind being fixed in +the meditation of Christ His Passion, he felt not their +torments, nor any pain but only a little in one hand, +upon a lively impression he then had of the pain our +Lord suffered when His holy hands were pierced. What +should I reckon up a Cornelius, so famous in preaching +that all Catholics followed him as children do their nurse +when they long for milk, and the man so full of the +Apostle's charity, that with one fervent speech in imitation +of the offer which St. Paul made to be <q>anathema pro +fratribus,</q><note place='foot'><q>I wished myself to be an anathema from Christ for my brethren</q> +(Rom. ix. 3).</note> he expelled a devil out of a person whom he +<pb n='018'/><anchor id='Pg018'/> +was exorcising. I know the time and place where it was +performed; and where another wicked spirit confessed in a +possessed person that his fellow was cast out by Cornelius +his charity. This good Father was the third of the +Society which suffered death by public justice for profession +of the Catholic Roman Faith. +</p> + +<p> +What a famous man, and how much beloved was +Father Southwell! whose excellent parts England cannot +forget; and if it would be so ungrateful, yet his works +there extant, so full of spirit and eloquence both in prose +and verse, would suffice abundantly to make the cruelty +of his persecutors much accused, and his life so shortened +much lamented, who living would have been so profitable +and pleasing to all sorts. His value and high merit +before God was much to be seen, in that he was delivered +over by God's ordinance to encounter hand to hand the +cruelest tyrant of all England, Topliffe, a man most +infamous and hateful to all the realm for his bloody and +butcherly mind; and this man had Father Southwell many +weeks together in his house alone to use him at his +pleasure, where he kept him in his boots as he was +taken, with bolts of iron upon his arms, and in a chamber +without any bed or straw to lie upon, where he was to +turn himself upon his side, and lie upon the floor like +a dog when he list to sleep, as full of lice as he might +hold. There also he put him nine times most cruelly +upon the torture, which Father Southwell at his arraignment +professed was more grievous to him than nine deaths +could or would have been. About that time also suffered +at York another famous Priest of the Society called Father +Henry Walpole, whom first they had tortured fourteen +times in the Tower, and that in very extreme manner. +This gentleman was known to be of excellent parts before +his going over to take that happy course of Religious life, +in so much that with his sweet conversation and devout +carriage he won divers to be Catholics even then before +<pb n='019'/><anchor id='Pg019'/> +he was Priest, and it was expected he would have proved +an excellent workman in that harvest, if the cruelty of +heresy had not cut him off. But his merits were such +as God would defer his crown no longer, and so at his +first landing he was apprehended in the north, and therefore +carried thither again to be executed, after they +had in vain made trial at London to make him confess +by torments something against the state of Catholics +and their profession or practice. When he came to die +all men admired his patience, and religious humility, and +mortification, wherein he very much excelled. +</p> + +<p> +It were too long, and not for this place to reckon +up the great number of rare men both Religious and +Secular Priests that suffered in Queen Elizabeth's times, +<q>quibus dignus non erat mundus.</q><note place='foot'><q>Of whom the world was not worthy</q> (Heb. xi. 31).</note> But yet this persecution +by death, though it were cruel to them that suffered, +and most injurious to the Catholics that were by that +means bereaved of their most beloved Fathers, yet were +the persecutions in other respects more grievous to be +borne and much more intolerable. Their torturing of +men when they were taken to make them confess their +acquaintance and relievers, was more terrible than death +by much, as Bl. Father Southwell professed at the bar; +and this the rather both because the pain continued longer +and was often iterated, and chiefly for that it was not +an end of their probation in this world, but many after +such torments are forced to walk on their voyage towards +Heaven for many years, being uncertain of their perseverance +in that estate of fervent love to God with which +they offered themselves for Him to torments, and would +more gladly have done it unto death, if such had been +His pleasure at that time. +</p> + +<p> +Besides the spoiling and robbing laymen of their +livings and goods, with which they should maintain their +families, is to many more grievous than death would be, +<pb n='020'/><anchor id='Pg020'/> +when those that have lived in good estate and countenance +in their country shall see before them their whole life +to be led in misery, and not only themselves, but their +wives and children to go a-begging. And some, in like +manner, that lose not all at once, but have somewhat +left, are worse than the rest, for they have not so much +as is proportionable to their charge, and yet being known +to have something, can have no colour to live on alms, +as others do (even some of very worshipful families), and +live much better than diverse of these that have this +little left them. +</p> + +<p> +And to these the continual and cruel searches, which +I have found to be more terrible than taking itself. The +insolencies and abuses offered in them, and in the seizures +of goods, the continual awe and fear that men are kept +in by the daily expectance of these things, sith every +malicious man (of which heresy can want no plenty) is +made an officer in these affairs, and every officer a King, +as it were, to command and insult upon Catholics at +their pleasure. These, and the like aggrievances, Catholics +having now sustained during the whole reign of Queen +Elizabeth, was it not now time for them to hope that +God would say unto them, <q>Levate capita vestra quia ecce +appropinquat redemptio vestra?</q><note place='foot'><q>Lift up your heads because your redemption is at hand</q> (St. Luke +xxi. 25).</note> We had now suffered +more than the full number of years, not days, of this +deluge of persecution pouring down upon us. Was it +not now time for us to look out and to long that the +earth would begin to dry and afford us some quiet habitation +upon it? Were we not now to expect that some +gracious bird would bring us an olive branch in sign of +peace, which we had looked for so long and desired so +much? True it is that most Catholics had great hope +and expectation of this King James, then King of Scotland +only. And this hope, as a human help of no small force, +<pb n='021'/><anchor id='Pg021'/> +did join with God's grace and bring some comfort with +it, amidst the many discomforts sustained under the long-continued +reign of Queen Elizabeth. +</p> + +<p> +First, they did, and might, expect that the son of +such a mother (who not only lived a Catholic in her +kingdom and in prison, but died also because she was a +Catholic) would himself also be a friend to Catholics at +least, if he would not be a follower of Catholic religion. +St. Monica, by her tears and prayers, did win her son, +St. Augustin; the hope was also in England that <q>filius +tantorum meritorum perire non poterat.</q><note place='foot'><q>The son of such great merits could not perish.</q></note> And who could +think that the son would join in friendship and confidence +with them, and with only them that had betrayed and +slain both his father and mother, and who had kept +himself so long like a ward in his own kingdom. Besides +they could see no cause why King James should follow +the course that Queen Elizabeth had done. For she in +the beginning of her reign was persuaded by her Council +that for reason of State it was needful she should break +with the See Apostolic and maintain the new religion, +that might depend upon her supremacy and supreme +authority expressed by the laws of Parliament. This +they pretended to be needful, first, in respect of her +nativity, which they knew was not esteemed legitimate +by the See of Rome. Again, in regard of the particular +favour which it was known the same See did bear unto +Queen Mary, then Dowager of France and Queen of +Scotland, living and reigning there in all prosperity; who +therefore was much envied and feared by Queen Elizabeth +and her Council at that time. Unto which also was +added the well-known affection of all Catholics in England +unto the said Queen Mary, in respect of her true descent +from King Henry VII. and her constant love and profession +of the Catholic faith: these seemed great motives +to Queen Elizabeth, and sufficient to lead her into the +<pb n='022'/><anchor id='Pg022'/> +labyrinth of an heretical course. But these could not be +objected unto our King James, who was the true and +hopeful issue of his so worthy mother and the same so +glorious a martyr. Neither could he fear the favour or +furtherance of the See Apostolic, which favoured him +much and assisted him many ways whilst yet he was +but King of Scotland and professed a contrary faith. +What might he then have expected if he had offered +himself and his realm of England unto the obedience of +the Church, if he had trodden that path which all his +ancestors had walked, and wherein both they and the +kingdom of England did so much flourish. Yea, what +applause, what congratulation, what assurance of friendship +and assistance against all his enemies might he +have expected as most certain, both from His Holiness, +and the like from all Christian Princes? Yea, truly, +this seemed so strong a reason to induce His Majesty +to that happy course, that many Catholics, knowing his +wisdom and learning, could not persuade themselves how +it could be possible that he would be drawn to any other +manner of proceeding, especially seeing that as on the +one side all peace with the Christian world was sure to +be knit in firmest league of friendship; on the other side, +they could not see how he could expect any long or +assured peace with the pillars of God's Church, if he +should begin to persecute the same afresh, as the late +Queen had done before him. For it were in vain to begin +that war against the Church, if he meant not to do his +best endeavours to root out the same out of the world, +if he could; because he might be sure the more he proceeded +therein the more he would exasperate both God +and all good men against him. This mind Catholics +could not expect in a Prince of so great judgment and +so many good parts, as they had cause to think him to +be of. These hopes also were much strengthened by his +own words, published unto the world in that fatherly and +<pb n='023'/><anchor id='Pg023'/> +princely gift of his unto his son, wherein amongst many +other grave and wise documents unto the young Prince, +one is, that he do cherish and make much of those servants +whom he hath known to be faithful unto his parents, of +which his counsel he first giveth divers true and judicial +reasons, and afterwards confirmeth the same with his own +experience, affirming in plain words he found those most +true and trusty to himself who had been faithful followers +of hers, and so on the contrary side in like manner. To +this effect His Majesty delivered his mind unto his son, +and therewith great and comfortable hopes unto all +Catholics, that they who had been true lovers and followers +of his mother should find favour, and that such as had +either done or suffered greatly in her service should find +an answerable requital and advancement. +</p> + +<p> +These hopeful signs of future favour were yet much +in particular confirmed by the constant report and asseveration +of divers, who in the said Queen Elizabeth's reign +had lived under His Majesty in Scotland, as well English +as of the Scottish nation, who did everywhere affirm and +divulge both at home and abroad, and in all Princes' +Courts of the world (as it is well known to the said +Princes), the great and singular hope and expectation +that was to be conceived of this King for his good nature +and rare parts, as mansuetude, compassion, equanimity, +high esteem of his said mother and of all those that had +faithfully loved and served her. And albeit that for his +religion he could be no other than as he had been brought +up and instructed, yet was he averse from all severity of +persecution against such as were of different religion, +especially the Catholic; granting it to be the ancient +mother religion of all the rest, though in some things now +amiss in his opinion. And that out of his own reading +he had observed that all his ancestors, Kings and Queens +both of England and Scotland, without exception had +been of the Catholic Roman faith and religion, and that +<pb n='024'/><anchor id='Pg024'/> +himself was the first among them all that ever professed +a different religion from them. These reports were spread +by many and in many places. But some others more +particular and assured are said to have been sent by +particular embassagies and letters from His Majesty unto +other Princes, giving hope at least of toleration to Catholics +in England, of which letters divers were translated this +year into French and came so into England, as divers +affirmed that had seen them. Yea, and further than +this, I am well assured that immediately upon Queen +Elizabeth's sickness and death, divers Catholics of note +and fame, Priests also, did ride post into Scotland, as +well to carry the assurance of dutiful affection from all +Catholics unto His Majesty as also to obtain his gracious +favour for them and his royal word for confirmation of +the same. At that time, and to those persons, it is certain +he did promise that Catholics should not only be quiet +from any molestations, but should also enjoy such liberty +in their houses privately as themselves would desire, and +have both Priests and Sacraments with full toleration and +desired quiet. Both the Priests that did kneel before him +when he gave this promise (binding it with the word of +a Prince, which he said was never yet broken), did protest +so much unto divers from whom I have it. And divers +others, persons of great worth, have assured me the same +upon the like promise received from His Majesty, both +for the common state of Catholics and their own particular. +</p> + +<p> +Now, more than this I think could not be, to give +assured hope unto Catholics of some present relaxation +by his gracious help from the many miseries and afflictions +they had so long endured, being as much as they could +expect or he perform until his settling. How ready +Catholics were in all countries to receive him for their +King, how forward to proclaim him, yea, how joyful to +entertain and welcome him with all care and cost that +might be, all the realm is witness. Insomuch that some +<pb n='025'/><anchor id='Pg025'/> +set vessels of wine in the streets for all comers to drink, +in show of their gladness; other Catholic noblemen at +London cast store of money about the streets in sign of +their universal joy. What cost all sorts of Catholics +bestowed upon such furniture as was fit to welcome and +meet both King and Queen, with the Prince who came +at several times! All was done with such applause and +jubilee as did well witness the joy and hopes they had +conceived. +</p> + +<p> +But now what shall we think to have been the state +of all Catholic minds when all these hopes did vanish +away; and as a flash of lightning, giving for the time a +pale light unto those that sit in darkness, doth afterwards +leave them in more desolation? What grief may we +imagine they felt generally, when not only no one of +these hopes did bring forth the hoped fruit, nor any +promise was performed, but when, on the contrary side, +His Majesty did suffer himself to be guided and as it +were governed by those that had so long time inured +their hands and hardened their hearts with so violent +a persecution; yea, when he did not only confirm the +former laws with which we were afflicted, but permitted +new and more grievous vexations to fall upon us than +before we had felt, and prepared yet more and more heavy +whips wherewith to scourge us? Truly the event proved +contrary to all our hopes. For, first, it was observed +that some weeks after his being in England, he began +to use far different speech of and against Catholics than +was expected from the son of such a mother. And when +soon afterward there ensued his first Parliament, he made +a bitter speech (now extant in print) against them all; +but especially, to our greater increase of grief and despair +of comfort, against the See Apostolic, much different from +that was expected, where so great favours and tokens of +love had been received. +</p> + +<p> +Now, whereas Catholics expected his published and +<pb n='026'/><anchor id='Pg026'/> +promised honour to his mother and rewards unto her +servants, it grieved them much when they saw no memory +at all made of so memorable a mother either in word or +work; she lying until this day obscurely in that place +where her enemies cast her after cutting off her head: +nor any man gratefully looked on or respected that +belonged unto her or that made mention of her. As for +those that did or suffered anything in her cause and +quarrel, there is not any advanced nor yet recompensed +for the great losses which some of them sustained in her +behalf. Not long after the said Queen's imprisonment +in England, there were three, two knights and one gentleman, +that intended her deliverance and assistance to her +settling again in her kingdom of Scotland [one of the +three was Sir Thomas Stanley, next brother to the Earl of +Derby, who had much land and many friends in that +country where she was prisoner; the second was Sir +Thomas Gerard, whose dwelling-house was within two +miles of the castle where she was kept, and at that time +had means sufficient to do good service in that behalf; +the third was one Mr. Roulston, an esquire of good +worth in the same country, and a very devout Catholic +man and a stout gentleman].<note place='foot'>The passage within brackets is erased in the original.</note> The meanest of which +three had a son, being then a pensioner in the Court, who +betrayed the whole matter and caused them all to be +clapt in the Tower, where they were kept a long time +in strait prison, and Mr. Roulston was condemned to die, +against whom they were able it is likely to prove more +particulars of the secret (by his son's means), than against +the others. But it cost the others large sums of money +and sale of land before they could be freed. +</p> + +<p> +After this, about twenty years ago, there was another +matter intended by fourteen gentlemen, Mr. Babington, +Mr. Salesberie, and others of the choice of England, for +the said Queen's deliverance and restoring to her right; +<pb n='027'/><anchor id='Pg027'/> +wherein, though they were ensnared and entrapped by +some politic heads that sought both their overthrow +and thereby a seeming justifiable pretence to cut off the +said Queen also, yet it was apparent by their examinations +and executions, taking their death in so devout +and resolute manner, that they intended sincerely the +Queen's delivery for the advancement of the Catholic +cause. At the same time, also, one of the foresaid knights<note place='foot'>Sir Thomas Gerard. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in orig.</hi></note> +was again committed to the Tower for the same cause, and +kept there at least two years, though he had been so +wary of his trust that they could not prove anything +against him to put him to death with the rest; but it +cost him much this time again, as that prison is ever +wont to do to those that live in it, but especially to those +that get out. Nor these nor any others of like deserts +in other kind have been rewarded. True it is that the +elder son of the knight,<note place='foot'>Sir Thomas Gerard. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in orig.</hi></note> going to meet the King at +his coming into England, His Majesty told him before +divers (from whom I had it), <q>That he must love his +blood, for that he and his had suffered persecution for +him.</q> These were his words, showing indeed in His +Majesty a good consideration of his servants and inclination +to do for them; but it is likely that others overrule +the matter, for,<note place='foot'>Underlined <hi rend='italic'>in orig.</hi> probably for erasure.</note> though he made that gentleman knight +at that time, yet that was to him no advancement whose +ancestors had been so for sixteen or seventeen descents +together; but since he hath had no preferment at all, +but rather kept back, as being known that his house +hath ever been Catholic, though himself having long time +followed the Court do not profess it as he should. +</p> + +<p> +Another<note place='foot'>This whole paragraph is marked in the original.</note> worthy gentleman also, one Mr. Abington, was +in the Tower for the same cause when the fourteen gentlemen +<pb n='028'/><anchor id='Pg028'/> +were there prisoners. And this gentleman, having lately +some Priests taken in his house, was condemned to die; +and though his life be spared for a time (they say, in +respect of his former suffering; but, indeed, obtained by +the Lord Mounteagle, whose sister he hath married), yet +is his house taken from him, one of the fairest in all +the country, and all his lands and goods forfeited: which +is much more grievous than death to a man of his devotion +and resolution. These and many such examples are seen +and noted in the realm, and not any seen to be advanced +nor regarded that truly served or suffered for his mother: +yea, rather the contrary; that His Majesty was so prevented +and preoccupated with divers that pursued and +both sought and wrought the ruin of his mother, that he +seemed to give himself wholly into their hands, and not +only himself but Catholics also, to be afflicted by them +at their pleasure. +</p> + +<p> +All this, we say, moved great exasperation and exulceration +of minds, mixed with grief and despair, foreseeing +that all would pass worse for Catholics under his reign +than in Queen Elizabeth's time; when those that did +persecute under her were doubtful what side might prevail +or bear sway after her death, and therefore would be +more sparing, and divers would seek to make the +principal Catholics their friends against those times of +uncertain event, which could not be far off in respect of +the great age of Queen Elizabeth and her want of issue; +whereas now no such fear is thought needful nor any +such caution in policy requisite, the King being young +and his issue like to continue and to uphold their proceedings: +so that they may more freely and without +fear persecute at their pleasure. Besides unto this general +fear, which all Catholics had in seeing these former hopes +of theirs to fail them, was added a full experience that +neither hopes were to be by them expected nor promises +by others to be performed. For whereas His Majesty, +<pb n='029'/><anchor id='Pg029'/> +out of his gracious disposition, had promised much favour +towards Catholics, both to other Princes and to divers +particular Catholics that went unto him before his coming +in, now the contrary was so much practised and all these +promised favours so plainly denied, that they might not +be so much as once spoken of or remembered that ever +any such had been. +</p> + +<p> +For, first, when at the end of the first Parliament +the Puritans packed together therein, as well against +His Majesty and his desires in the matter of union of +the two kingdoms as also against the Catholics, and +urged many new laws to their prejudice and for their +greater affliction, His Majesty, that with one word might +have staid their fury by saying (as it is accustomed in +such cases when a Prince will show favour) that he would +deliberate and consider of the matter, he confirmed first +all the most sharp and rigorous laws and statutes which +the late Queen or her father or brother had made against +Catholics for afflicting them or shedding their blood. +And, secondly, he adjoined new statutes of his own that +augmented greatly the grievances of the former (which +afterwards shall be set down), so as every sort of men, +but especially the Puritans (that by all means desired +to make the King odious unto Catholics), applied unto +them presently those words of the young King Roboam +to his aggrieved people—<q>My father pressed you with a +grievous yoke; but I will aggravate the same yet more. +My father beat you with whips; but I will scourge you +with scorpions.</q> So that it is easy to guess +with what terror and affliction the Catholics remained +at that time. By all which we may plainly see, that +not only all hopes were failed whereupon Catholics did +build their comforts, but that it was also seriously +endeavoured by some to give now all assurance of the +contrary opinion, and so to drive men to despair, presuming +perhaps that some amongst so many thousands +<pb n='030'/><anchor id='Pg030'/> +would not be so patient as to bear it long, but that +despair would urge them to some desperate attempt, +whereby the chief causers of this persecution might give +the better pretence of the cruelty they intended against +them for the satisfaction of foreign Princes, that they +might suppose these laws to be afterwards devised and +not before determined or practised. And it is no marvel +though divers Princes have been long in this error, knowing +not the state of things with us; yea, rather being possessed +of a contrary opinion to the truth of our sufferings +by instruments employed of purpose, as also their whole +estates were in like manner by the ordinary news, which +were written in the gazettes to the end to be divulged. +But Catholics that felt the smart before, had cause to +believe the contrary, and that they received<note place='foot'>Were first beat till they cried, and then beaten for crying. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in +orig.</hi></note> one blow +upon the face with the fist, to make them fetch another +against the wall. Yea, it is verily thought by many of +the wiser sort, that these very things, with others that +followed, were the spurs that set those gentlemen upon +that furious and fiery course which they afterwards fell +into; and being otherwise too forward of themselves, and +not apt in those things to be retained with the bridle, +did urge them to take the bit in their teeth and run +headlong (being thus filled with despair of any good +from this King's government) to that desperate course +of cutting off the same to set up one of his younger +children—a thing very much lamented by all the body of +Catholics in England, whose thoughts were only bent +how to possess their souls in patience, notwithstanding +all the causes of grief and despair of remedy which I +have alleged, and more that I must allege in the chapter +following. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='031'/><anchor id='Pg031'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter III. [II.] +The Increase Of Persecution And All Kind Of +Molestations Unto Catholics, With Their Failing +Of All Hopes, Procured By The Puritan +Faction.</head> + +<p> +Such as be acquainted with the state of affairs in England +cannot be ignorant that there be many at this time of the +Puritan faction put in authority and place of government, +especially concerning the persecution of Catholics. All +which, as they be further gone in heresy than the ordinary +sort of moral Protestants be, so are they more violent +enemies against all Catholics and Catholic proceedings. +And this not only in respect of that spirit of heresy, +which doth in greater measure possess them, but for +reason of policy also they hold it very requisite. For +although the Protestants are at this time the chief in +Government, and their laws and ordinances preferred both +in ecclesiastical and secular causes, yet are not the Puritans +out of hope (if the Catholic party were taken away) to +prevail against them in time, either by force or friendly +means procured from their complices in other countries, +in which kind they are much stronger than the Protestants, +or else by force of argument and the Word, wherein they +persuade themselves to have great power. And true it is, +that under the pretence of more pure profession of Calvin's +doctrine and a greater outward show of a more formal +religion, they do win daily some or other new-fangled +heads unto their sect from the Protestants, whose grounds +are more uncertain to themselves, and nothing certain +unto them but the following of the will and pleasure of +<pb n='032'/><anchor id='Pg032'/> +those that guide the State, whatsoever they hold or ordain +to be professed or practised. But as for the Catholics, +they are holden and tried by the Puritans and the other +also to be inflexible for matter of their faith, as having +most sure and infallible grounds to rest upon, alleging +for the same all kind of authority, showing antiquity +with universal consent of all nations; and remaining now, +as others of their side have done before them, in perfect +union amongst themselves in all points of their belief. +So that the Puritans having no hope at all that ever +their private spirit shall be able to prevail against such +an army of impregnable proofs by force of reason or +argument they seek therefore, by all means they can +devise, the overthrow of Catholics much more earnestly +than the Protestants do, who are in themselves commonly +less violent; and being placed at the helm in the chief +seats for commodity and honour, are content to rest when +they are well, and are not so busy and stirring as the +Puritans are, whose rising spirit cannot be at rest until +they be in possession of that which the others enjoy and +they desire. Hereupon it followeth that the Puritans are +most forward continually to incense the King against us; +most violent also to execute all laws, and lay all kind of +molestations and afflictions upon us, and besides most +desirous of all occasions whereby to put us utterly in +despair of help or favour, and so to force some or other +to unfit courses, that the rest may be punished for their +sake. And truly, as they were the men that did frame +the Bills against us in the first Parliament after the King's +entry, and did follow the matter most hotly to have both +the former cruel laws remain in force and new penalties +imposed upon Catholics, so when His Majesty had granted +and confirmed all their desires against us, it is strange +to see with what fury they sought in all places to execute +the same cruelties—yea, much further in most places than +the laws themselves did allow or would permit. And it +<pb n='033'/><anchor id='Pg033'/> +is to be noted, that although the Puritans are not generally +put in authority or used for the government of the Commonwealth +(as men known to bear but hollow hearts unto +the King, and to be much disgusted with his proceedings), +yet are they ordinarily employed in the punishing and +executing all kind of rigour against Catholics, as being +tried by experience to be most vigilant in finding them +out, most violent in afflicting them and most pitiless in +their pains. So that in every shire, those Justices which +be known to be most forward in the Puritan faction, +though otherways they be little employed in matters of +the country or esteemed of by the State, yet they are +the men that are put in commission against Catholics—they +are the searchers, they are the informers, they are +the Judges, and they are made, as it were, the kings +of Catholics. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>Execution of penal laws +upon Catholics.</note> +From hence it came that the pressures of Catholics +were much increased after the first Parliament and +before that rash attempt of those gentlemen who +were urged to that conspiracy (as most men think in +those parts that know how things passed) by extremities +which they saw to increase so fast, and their despair of +helps in vain expected. For then presently, the execution +of all laws against Catholics, both old and new, being +committed for the most part to the Chief Justice, who +is known to be hot and vehement in the Puritan faction +and a bloody enemy to the said Catholics; and he, by +direction of others and his own desire, having picked out +men in every shire of the same humour to execute the +same laws with all the rigour and despite they could +devise. Then followed afresh the exaction +of 20<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi><note place='foot'><hi rend='italic'>Interlined</hi> 80 crowns <hi rend='italic'>and in another hand</hi> 88 at least.</note> a month, which was imposed by Queen +Elizabeth upon every Catholic that would not go unto +their service, although for a time after the King's coming +there was hope given both by King and Council that it +<pb n='034'/><anchor id='Pg034'/> +should not be exacted: but then the whole was urged +together with the arrearages. Yea, and not contented with +twelve months in the year (as Nature hath appointed by +course of the sun), they would have the payment for +thirteen months in the year, after the account of four +weeks in the month, contrary to the rule of ancient law +affirming that <hi rend='italic'>Pœnæ non sunt ampliandæ</hi>. But if Catholics +could enjoy for this payment any reasonable quiet, they +would think themselves in great ease. But there is a +law for the poorer sort of Catholics, that they shall forfeit +two parts of their lands and leases, and all their goods +and chattels whatsoever that can be found; upon which +law (being executed as the Puritans use to do) many +and great molestations do further ensue; for by this +means they are not only indicted and cast into jails and +prisons and their lands seized, as the statute alloweth, +but also their goods embezzled and their cattle driven +away. And if they find no cattle which they are assured +to be the recusants', but that his fields be rented and +stocked by other men, they drive that cattle also and +put them to prove whose they were; and thereby terrify +all men from hiring their said lands, wherein they also +add diverse other particular afflictions that exasperate +greatly the sufferer. These matters being committed +for the most part to their handling, that care not how +much or how far they strain poor Catholics, whereof no +marvel if it come to pass according to the proverb—<hi rend='italic'>Qui +nimium emungit elicit sanguinem</hi>—<q>He that scrapeth or +rubbeth too much, draweth blood at last.</q> +</p> + +<p> +It hath been also a matter of no small grief and complaint, +that whereas there be now in England certain hungry +and ravenous people that importuned the King for relief, +having no rents or revenues in the land and yet living at +a high rate and great charges many ways, His Majesty to +give them content hath willed them to seek out Popish +recusants which he might bestow upon them; wherein they +<pb n='035'/><anchor id='Pg035'/> +then become diligent to inquire them out and restless +in prosecuting them to the uttermost, and think all they +can get too little: as it is indeed too little to satisfy +their needs; which was a thing foreseen and foretold by +some who yet are no prophets nor sons of prophets, but +Protestants of the wiser sort, who, as it is said, when it +was consulted of amongst all the Peers of the realm, +before the King's coming, concerning his admission to +the crown, some amongst them alleged that it might +well be feared that the lean and hungry oxen which +Pharao saw in his dream would devour all the fat and +goodly oxen which their English fertile ground had fed +so well before, and that these ravenous beasts would eat +them up and yet seem to be nothing satisfied. Thus they. +</p> + +<p> +And truly the meaner sort of these to whom +Catholics were thus given, were not satisfied with the +Catholics they could find out, but they also procured +divers to be presented and indicted for recusants who +were but well-wishers unto Catholics and went to church +themselves; and yet some of them could not be delivered +except they would publicly abjure their faith at the +Assizes and Sessions, whereof sundry rueful examples +might be given. In all which, the case seemeth to divers +both grievous and odious, that true and freeborn subjects +of good quality should be given as it were in prey to +others. And for that the sequel of this matter appertaineth +to many, the exasperation also rising thereof must +needs be very general. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The violent manner +of searches.</note> +Now if we should stand upon the particular +enumeration of the calamities which fall upon Catholics by +private persons, and especially Puritans put in authority +over them, the many insolences and molestations which +are offered in the searches which are used in most odious +manner, and so have been ever since this first Parliament, +it would much afflict the hearts of the pious readers. And +it is to be thought that many particulars thereof are not +<pb n='036'/><anchor id='Pg036'/> +known to His Majesty, though all exercised and executed +in his name and under his authority. What a thing is it +for a Catholic gentleman to have his house suddenly beset +on all sides with a number of men in arms both horse and +foot, and not only his house and gardens and such inclosed +places all beset, but all highways laid for some miles near +unto him, that none shall pass but they shall be examined! +Then are these searchers ofttimes so rude and barbarous +that, if the doors be not opened in the instant when they +would enter, they break open the doors with all violence, as +if they were to sack a town of enemies won by the sword, +which is a strange proceeding, and proper only to our +persecuted state at this time, for it is not used elsewhere, +but with us so common that no man can have assurance of +one hour's quiet or safety within the walls of his own +habitation, which yet in just and peaceable commonwealths +should be his fortress and castle. Whereupon it +seemed so strange to the Scottish gentlemen that came +into England with His Majesty, that divers of them said—<q>If +we in Scotland should be thus used, or that any should +enter our house by force and against our will, we should +presently have killed them.</q> If they said this for this +forcible entry only, what may be said for their manner of +proceeding being entered? Which I will therefore set down +more in particular, that by this the reader may judge of +our usage in other things. +</p> + +<p> +The searchers being thus entered, it hath been usual +with pursuivants to run up the stairs and into the chambers +with their drawn swords, enough to drive the weaker sort of +women and children out of their wits. Then they begin to +break off locks and open all the doors of the house +presently, that they may at one time search in many +places. Then if they find no Priest nor suspected persons +for Priests in any of the chambers or closets, they go +presently to search for secret places, and this they do +most cunningly and strictly, sounding the floors and walls +<pb n='037'/><anchor id='Pg037'/> +to see if they can find any hollow places. They do also +measure the walls of the house and go round about the +house on the outside to see if one part do answer to +another, in hope to find some void part left hollow, +wherein a man may be hid. Sometimes, if the walls be +not made of stone, but of wainscot or other weak matter, +they will thrust through it with their swords in many +places, hoping that in some place or other they may light +upon a Priest, and this they do also in the roof of the +house, upon suspicion there may be some conveyance, +though they cannot find the entry into it, as, indeed, the +doors of the secret places are commonly made with such +art as it is hard to find them or espy them, otherwise it +were not possible to keep Priests so long as some Catholics +do and have done. But the searchers, if they find any +likely cause of suspicion, not contented with that dangerous +manner of trial with their swords (in which cases +some Priests have escaped very hardly of being wounded +or slain), they then break down the walls wholly and +enter themselves to search with candles and torches in all +such dark places and in housetops, where sometimes +nothing but mice or birds have come of many years. +This we hope will be a means to prevent the diligent +search of God's judgments wherein he saith—<q>Scrutabor +Jerusalem in lucernis.</q><note place='foot'><q>I will search Jerusalem with lamps</q> (Soph. i. 12).</note> But if this be permitted +by God's judgment to be done to His servants in this life, +what shall be done to the doers of this in the next? <q>Si +in viridi ligno hæc faciunt, in arido quid fiet?</q><note place='foot'><q>For if in the green wood they do these things, what shall be done in +the dry?</q> (St. Luke xxiii. 31).</note> +<q>Incipit judicium (saith St. Peter) a domo Dei. Si autem +primum a nobis, quis finis eorum qui non credunt Evangelio?</q><note place='foot'><q>For the time is that judgment should begin at the house of God. And +if first at us, what shall be the end of them that believe not the Gospel of +God?</q> (1 St. Peter iv. 17).</note> +But to return unto our narration. +</p> + +<pb n='038'/><anchor id='Pg038'/> + +<p> +When the searchers find not any Priest for all this +cruel diligence they have used, they will not yet give +over, but supposing there is or may be some so secretly +hidden that yet he is there for all that they have +done, then they appoint a watch about the house and +every part thereof of fifty or sixty men, and sometimes +more, and these with guns and bills, &c.; and this +they keep for many days together (intending to starve +him out), sometimes for six, yea, ten and twelve days' +continuance. Sometimes, also, they place watchmen in +the chambers of the house within, both to keep that no +Catholic shall stir to relieve the Priest (though commonly +they make them sure for that by locking them up all in +one part of the house together, which they mean least to +search as being least suspected); and besides that they +may hearken if any little stirring be behind a wall, yea, but +the breathing or coughing of a Priest (which was the means +indeed by which Fr. Cornelius before mentioned was found +out and apprehended), to which end also they do sometimes +cunningly speak aloud, one to another, that they will +begone away because they can find nothing, and seem to +make a noise as though they did depart; then will they go +softly into the chambers a little after and seem to be of the +house, and knock softly at every wall, willing the good +man to come forth, for now the searchers are gone, thanks +be to God. This subtlety is usual to these men—<q>Sed +deficient scrutantes scrutinio et exaltabitur Dominus et +sagittæ parvulorum sicut plagæ eorum.</q><note place='foot'><q>They have searched after iniquities: they have failed in their search +... and God shall be exalted: the arrows of children are their wounds</q> +(Psalm lxiii. 7, 8).</note> And +truly sometimes the protection of God is wonderful in +these cases, that men do escape their hands, when by +human means one would think it were wholly impossible, +of which I have known many examples. +</p> + +<p> +But the searchers, in the meantime, when they can +<pb n='039'/><anchor id='Pg039'/> +find no Priest, whom they chiefly desire to take in any +man's house, because then his lands and goods and life also +are all forfeited:—but if that will not be, then they rifle +every little corner for church stuff, for copes and vestments, +chalices, pixes, and such. For these they break open chests +and trunks; then to cabinets and little boxes for letters, +hoping to find some spiritual advice in them (though not +to follow it, God knows), but thereby to infer that they +are Priests' letters with whom they have acquaintance; or +if they find any Agnus Deis, or beads or medals that they +can prove are hallowed, then also all the lands and goods +of the parties are seized and themselves condemned to +perpetual prison, which was the case of Mr. Tregian, a +worthy gentleman of great estate. Many examples of all +these particulars might be alleged, but it were too long for +the reader, and not safe for the parties of whom the stories +must be told, especially if they be truly set down in such +barbarous manner as they were performed, which is +sometimes so uncivil that they will search the very beds +where man and wife do lie at their first breaking into the +house, when they come in the night, as in London, it +is most commonly, yea, sometimes into the beds where +women lie in childbed. Yea, they will not spare grave +ancient matrons and women of great place. One ancient +lady, lying in Holborn, in London, was +in this sort so rudely handled by them that she fell sick +upon it and lived not long after—a grave lady, and a +woman of great virtue. +</p> + +<p> +Briefly, their insolences are so many and so outrageous, +and thereby the miseries and afflictions of Catholics were +so much increased and multiplied, that it seemed to many +very intolerable to be long endured. The only hope might +be that which at those times Priests did labour to persuade, +and divers of the graver Catholics were yet content to +believe, might be possible (as in darkness, the least +glimpse of light, though but far off, doth bring some +<pb n='040'/><anchor id='Pg040'/> +comfort, in hope it may come nearer), and that was the +memory of His Majesty's faithful promises, which, being +given on the word of a Prince, they thought could not be +violated, unless they should hear himself to speak the +contrary. This only hope did yet live in some, though +many apparent proofs to the contrary did continually +weaken it. But this little spark of light also was soon +after clean put out, no doubt by the industry and +malicitious procurement of the Puritans, whose custom +it is to incense the King against Catholics by some false +information, and thereby to draw from His Majesty +certain bitter speeches and invectives against Catholics, +which then themselves are forward to publish, thereby to +put Catholics the more in despair, and by despair into some +cause giving of further afflictions, like him that will beat a +child to make him cry, and then beat him because he crieth. +</p> + +<p> +But first, that which did seem to extinguish wholly all +hopes of help from His Majesty was, that whereas, in the +beginning of the year 1605, it pleased him to call a +conference between the Protestant Bishops and the chief +of the Puritan side, in which conference or disputation the +King, as head of the Church of England in ecclesiastical +matters (which the Puritans acknowledge not), sat as chief +moderator or judge in all things—though I say it was his +pleasure to give unto the Puritans a day of hearing, yea, +three days together full audience of all that they could say +or allege for themselves and for their novelties and newly +coined heretical inventions, yet would he not once admit +the Catholics to be heard or any for them, notwithstanding +their prescription and long-continued possession in their +religion, and that they hold no other faith than that which +was warranted from erring by Christ Himself, received +from the seat of the Apostle St. Peter, commended for +universal by St. Paul, planted in our own country with +miracles, watered with the blood of acknowledged martyrs, +strengthened with the authority of all the ancient Doctors, +<pb n='041'/><anchor id='Pg041'/> +practised and delivered unto us by known and granted +Saints, honoured and professed by all his ancestors, +approved, commended, and commanded by all the ancient +Parliaments and laws of the realm; notwithstanding all +these and many other titles unto truth of doctrine which +we can allege, prove, and convince to be on our side, and +only to stand for us, yet we were put to silence, our mouth +was shut, yea, and stopped also (at the instance of the +Puritans), least we should be heard to cry that might not +be suffered to speak. Which, that you may the better see +to be most true, you shall understand that when His +Majesty, having heard the Puritans at full, and knowing +them to be a restless and imperious company if they +should be approved in their opinions, and dangerous to +his person and State (as he had often trial in Scotland) if +they should be permitted to grow to greater strength—for +this cause he and his Council thought it needful to define +all matters in controversy between the Protestants and +them wholly in every point against the Puritans, but then, +being willing to give them satisfaction in some things, +<q>Et nesciens quomodo aliter placeret eis, nisi in capitibus +nostris,</q><note place='foot'><q>For how can he otherwise appease his master, but with our heads?</q> +(1 Kings xxix. 4).</note> he first, in the whole conference, uttered +divers things that were very afflictive to Catholics, proceeding +from the mouth of their King, whom they had so +much honoured and in whom they had hoped. Then, +drawing towards the end of the said conference, he urged +the Bishops very much to a diligent inquiry and punishment +of the said Catholics (which needed not, I wis, in +respect of their known malice and vigilancy against +them). At which time His Majesty said he observed +and discovered three degrees of recusant Papists, as he +called them; one that refused to go to the communion +but not to the service or sermons, the other refused to go +to communion or service but not to sermons, the third +<pb n='042'/><anchor id='Pg042'/> +refused all three, in which distinction His Majesty did +comprehend those also whom we count schismatics and +well-wishers only, we esteeming, indeed, none for Catholics, +nor admitting any unto the Sacraments of the Church, but +those which refuse all communion with heretics in any of +the three. +</p> + +<p> +But all these kinds His Majesty said were carefully to +be sought out and prosecuted, &c. And when the Chancellor +there present, and ready to devise new afflictions unto +Catholics for the satisfaction of the Puritans and his credit +with the King, proposed for a greater and sharper galling +of them, that ordinary processes <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>de excommunicato capiendo</foreign> +might be exercised upon them, saying that no other punishment +would vex them so much; for that by force of this +they should be barred from making testaments; they should +also be holden as outlaws and used accordingly; no man +needed to pay them any debts, nor any tenant their rents, +unless they list; and what injury soever they then receive, +they can have no remedy. This huge and universal affliction +the Chancellor had no scruple to entreat for us, and that he +might have license to give out commandment for the same, +and that all under officers might be punished that any +way failed thereof. Whereunto, saith the book wherein all +this conference is printed at large, His Majesty yielded +and gave consent. By which one consent you may imagine +how great a sea of molestations he did let forth upon the +said Catholics, and no less also by his consent to the 104 +Canons at that time set down and agreed on, all which +were devised and planted by the said Bishops to beat and +batter the said Catholics withal. By this it is easy to +judge what cause all Catholics had by this time of extreme +diffidence of help from thence where it was most expected. +And that Catholics might know the better what to trust +unto concerning all their former hopes conceived or +promises received, the contrary was afterwards more +plainly made known unto them by divers persons in +<pb n='043'/><anchor id='Pg043'/> +authority, and that in serious and public manner, of +which I will only allege two examples, by which you may +guess at the rest; both which are published in print by +themselves in a book intituled <hi rend='italic'>The late Commotion in +Herefordshire</hi>, &c., printed by J. Charlton and F. Burton. +One is that upon the 5th of August, in the year 1605, +the then named Bishop of London, now of +Canterbury, preaching at Paul's Cross, did utter a certain +protestation of His Majesty, made, as he saith, +before God and His Angels, that he was so constant and +firm for the maintenance of the English religion which now +he professed, as that he would not only spend his own +dearest blood in defence thereof together with all his kingdoms +if he had ten times so many as he hath; but moreover +desired of God, that if He saw any of his children would be +of other mind after him, He should take them away in his +lifetime, that he might see them brought to their grave +before him, to the end that their shame might be buried in +his lifetime. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The L. Chancellor, +his speech in the +Star Chamber.</note> +All which words of the King's related by the Bishop, +the author of the book doth avow were spoken by His +Majesty principally against Papists and their hope of +toleration or mitigation of their pressures, which he saith +to be a vain hope, &c. The other example is the Lord +Chancellor his speech in the Star Chamber +some days before this, to wit, Thursday, the +20th of June in the same year, where, speaking unto the +Judges before they went their circuit, and to the Justices of +Peace, gentlemen and others, that were to return into their +countries after the Term ended and relate what they had +heard in London, he delivered in vehement sort a large and +sharp speech as from His Majesty's sense, words and commandment +against all sorts of Catholics, but especially +Priests, Jesuits, and recusants, and such as did acknowledge +the authority of the Pope of Rome, ordaining and charging +in His Majesty's name that all Judges in their circuits, all +<pb n='044'/><anchor id='Pg044'/> +Justices of Peace in their districts, all gentlemen in their +countries, and other people in the places where they should +abide, should inquire after them, pursue and seek them out, +that they might be punished, adding thereunto a certain +new rigour of punishment not before in use, but designed +now by His Majesty, as he said, to wit, that every Justice +of Peace, though himself were no Papist, yet if he were +thought to favour or tolerate Papists, or if his wife, +children, or servants were Papists, they should lose their +offices and be removed out of the Commission of +Peace, as unfit members to hold that place (which could +be for no other reason, but lest by some means or other +some little favour might happen to some Catholic by +their means, as a town that is very strictly besieged is +commonly barred from all relief both by sea and land). +Finally, he concluded with that in effect which the Bishop +spake at Paul's Cross concerning the vain hopes of +Catholics for any toleration or alleviation of their afflictions; +hereunto adding a speech (saith the book) of His +Majesty's concerning the folly of Papists, how they were +besotted, yea and more than bewitched to suppose any +such matter of toleration, wondering whereupon they +should build their false hopes, adding also that His +Majesty had vowed unto his Privy Council, that if he +did know that any of his children after him would go +back from this, he would lay his curse upon him. +</p> + +<p> +These and the like speeches do our chiefest enemies, +the Puritans, use to draw from His Majesty, and afterwards +cause to be divulged also to no small prejudice of +the mutual love and goodwill, reverence, and respect, +which ought to be between the Prince and his subjects, +as between the father and his children: they being not +ignorant what effect such speeches do work, and that any +injury is more easily borne at a Prince's hand than contumely +against a multitude. +</p> + +<p> +Whereupon they have further procured that ordinarily +<pb n='045'/><anchor id='Pg045'/> +when His Majesty cometh to dinner or supper, some one +shall be ready to give occasion of hard speeches against +the Catholics; and this is commonly the office of Mr. +Mountague, dean of his chapel, who was in profession +so earnest a Puritan that he would not wear the cap or +surplice (which Protestants admit) before the King's +coming for any persuasion; but since, in respect of the +deanery in that place of credit, he is content to dispense +with his conscience, though his mother, the Lady +Mountague, have given him her curse for his labour, +and saith she will not acknowledge him for her son in +respect of that dissimulation, as she calleth it. But +howsoever it be, his partners, the Puritans, make evil use +of his place, being such as may so often and so easily have +the King's ear, whereunto he is so ready, that, besides +other tricks, he hath this now and then, to bring some +Catholic book in his bosom, with the leaf turned into +some place or other where the author doth speak any +thing that may offend His Majesty, as, namely, of the +Bishop of Rome, especially when it toucheth his spiritual +authority over Princes; which His Majesty reading or +hearing read, and growing thereby into heat of disputation, +refutation, or reprehension, uttereth oftentimes words +which these men and their adherents do no less odiously +urge and divulge afterward, than craftily and maliciously +they procured before. As for example, that His Majesty +doth hold all Catholics that esteem of the Pope's authority +for traitors, and especially recusants that will not in respect +of their religion communicate with Protestants in their +service and sacraments, and finally that none can hold +all points of Catholic religion and be a true subject; with +divers other such speeches which gall and grieve the +hearts of Catholics above measure, all which are afterward +avouched by the standers-by in His Majesty's name, +by citing his authority for it. Whereof we could allege +too many examples, which we pretermit, for that it is +<pb n='046'/><anchor id='Pg046'/> +likely that His Majesty had not so grievous meaning +therein against his Catholic subjects, as the words do +sound or as by such seditious people is wont to be inferred +or urged, the sooner to put men into despair. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>Sir Edward Coke, now L. Chief, +in his 5th part of Reports.</note> +And yet we must confess that one circumstance hath +greatly increased the fear of all Catholics touching His +Majesty's meaning in this most deeply touching point, +which is, that his Attorney-General +(a man not lightly esteemed in his profession of the +common laws of our country) having made a book +whereby he would fain prove Catholic recusants to be +traitors, wresting and enforcing the common laws of the +realm to that same purpose; and presenting the said +book unto the King, it was not only gratefully received by +His Majesty, but highly commended also, and the doctrine +allowed, so far forth that the King affirmed the same by +oath and said, <q>By my sall, I do hold them all for +traitors indeed, and it is here very sufficiently and truly +proved.</q> And this was spoken publicly at His Majesty's +table, divers noblemen standing by, and some that were +not ill-affected to Catholics and knew their minds and +deserts unto His Majesty to be much contrary to this +construction. +</p> + +<p> +This therefore being known to Catholics, it is easy +to be seen how first their hopes were turned into fears +and then their fears into full knowledge that all the +contrary to that they hoped was intended and prepared +for them. It being well known that this book was made +by the Attorney according to the direction of the +Council, to prepare the mind of His Majesty and the +other Peers of the realm against the ensuing Parliament +then to make laws against Catholics of such nature and +force as are fit and usual to be made against traitors; and +therefore cunningly they caused it first to be delivered to +His Majesty in public place, presuming that when the +King had approved the book, and showed himself of the +<pb n='047'/><anchor id='Pg047'/> +same opinion, no subject durst seem to think the contrary, +and therefore that none would be slack in giving assent +to any laws intended, how cruel soever. And this is +thought to have been a great cause of hastening the +impatience and temerity of those gentlemen who (as we +find now by their examinations) about these times conspired +to work their designment against the Parliament, +as thinking by like, that sith they were condemned for +traitors and to be used for such at the Parliament, they +had no way to defend their life but by seeking to hinder +the Parliament, and that also, by so doing, they should +be no more esteemed traitors than they were already, +nor their brethren neither, being all esteemed and condemned +beforehand for such. So that if they failed of +their purpose, they should not increase any evils to +themselves or others; and if their desires took effect, then +they should free both (which otherwise they thought +impossible), besides the delivery of infinite souls from +schism and heresy, from sin and damnation, which they +all protested at their death was their principal intention. +</p> + +<p> +But howsoever their intention was for the cause of +their enterprise (which I leave to the judgment of God), +sure we are the thing intended was most unfit, and a +thing that I suppose hath brought more grief to the hearts +of Catholics generally in England than ever anything did +in all this time of their sufferings. But by this we may +see how rash and temerarious attempts extremity doth +sometimes suggest, and that the counsel was wise which +Abner gave to Joab, when he did prosecute his +victory with too great violence. <q>An ignoras,</q> saith he, +<q>quod periculosa sit desperatio?</q><note place='foot'><q>Knowest thou not that it is dangerous to drive people to despair?</q> +(2 Kings ii. 28).</note> As if he should say, +Art thou so skilful a captain and art ignorant that despair +doth often drive those that fly to turn head again with +new and redoubled forces? especially when the despair +<pb n='048'/><anchor id='Pg048'/> +of escaping by flight is so great that they see rather +increase of hope than of danger by fighting, which hope +of theirs men will then seek to strengthen with their +uttermost forces; whereof the event is often such as it +turns the danger on the contrary side, of which kind +many examples are daily seen. And that not only in +men, that by natural reason are led to choose the less +danger, but in the poorest and most fearful creatures also +that be, which of their own natures are so timorous that +they fly at the very sight of man, as we see in many silly +beasts both in house and fields; yet when they are so +pursued and pressed, as they are put in desperation of +their life, they turn again and leap in a man's face itself. +So that this course of giving too much cause of despair +is holden dangerous by all wise men, and as such is +carefully foreseen and prevented in most commonwealths. +But our rulers had been so long acquainted with our +patience, and made trial thereof by so many and so +urging cruelties, that they thought themselves sure the +Catholics would never attempt anything in their own +defence that might offend the State, howsoever they were +used. And surely so it had continued still, as it hath +long done, if this enterprise had been in their power to +prevent. But it was carried with that secrecy and with +such manner of proceeding as it was not possible for +others to hinder it, nor seemed probable that any did +intend it; as now it will appear more plainly in the +chapters following. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='049'/><anchor id='Pg049'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter III. +How Upon These And The Like Motives Divers +Gentlemen Did Conspire And Conclude Upon +Some Violent Remedy.</head> + +<p> +By that which hath been set down in the former chapter, +every prudent man will easily conceive what was like to be +the sense and feeling of all Catholics in this so great +increase of their long-endured afflictions, in this utter +despair of any help from His Majesty (in whose promised +clemency all their hopes were placed), and in a certain +expectation of other most cruel and newly-invented laws +to be further imposed upon them at the next Parliament +as against traitors not worthy to live in a commonwealth, +and as such already published in books framed and printed +by authority, and so censured and pronounced by the King +himself. In what other state could they be but a general +and most afflicting desolation, and as the Prophet Esay +saith, <q>Omne caput languidum et omne cor +mœrens</q><note place='foot'><q>The whole head is sick and the whole heart is sad</q> (Isaias i. 5).</note> from the highest to the lowest. +</p> + +<p> +But the cogitations of men, as they were all much +afflicted in such an inundation of evils upon them without +hope of ease or end, so yet no doubt they were very different +according to the divers states of minds in plenty or +penury of grace, and partly also according to their different +natures and dispositions, some more able and apt than others +to bear injuries with patience. We know right well, and all +England will witness with us, that the greatest part by much +did follow the example and exhortation of the Religious +and Priests that were their guides, moving them and leading +<pb n='050'/><anchor id='Pg050'/> +them by their own practice to make their refuge unto God +in so great extremities, <q>Qui nunquam deserit +sperantes in se;</q><note place='foot'><q>Who hath not forsaken them that hope in Him</q> (Judith xiii. 17).</note> <q>Nec patietur nos tentari supra +id quod possumus, sed faciet cum tentatione proventum ut +possimus sustinere.</q><note place='foot'><q>Who will not suffer you to be tempted above that which you are able, +but will make also with temptation issue, that you may be able to bear it</q> +(1 Cor. x. 13).</note> <q>Immo modicum passos ipse +proficiet, confirmabit, solidabitque.</q><note place='foot'><q>Who after you have suffered a little, will Himself perfect you and +confirm you and establish you</q> (1 St. Peter v. 10).</note> This we found to be +believed practically by most, and followed as faithfully, +preparing themselves by more often frequentation of the +Sacraments, by more fervent prayer, and by perfect resignation +of their will to God, against the cloud that was like +to cover them, and the shower that might be expected +would pour down upon them after the Parliament, unto +which all the chief Puritans of the land were called, and +only they or their friends selected out of every shire to +be the framers of the laws, which thereby we might easily +know were chiefly intended and prepared against us. But +in so great a multitude all are not so perfect, some few +fainted in courage, and, as St. Cyprian noteth of his times, +did offer themselves unto the persecutors before they felt +the chief force of the blow that was to be expected. +</p> + +<p> +Others again (as since it hath appeared) were much +different from these, and ran headlong into a contrary +error. For being resolved never to yield or forsake their +faith, they had not patience and longanimity to expect +the Providence of God, <q>qui attingit a fine usque +ad finem fortiter et disponit omnia suaviter.</q><note place='foot'><q>She reacheth from end to end mightily and ordereth all things sweetly</q> +(Wisd. viii. 1).</note> They +would not endure to see their brethren so trodden upon +by every Puritan, so made a prey to every needy follower +of the Court or servant to a Councillor, so presented and +pursued by every churchwarden and minister, so hauled +<pb n='051'/><anchor id='Pg051'/> +to every sessions when the Justices list to meet, so wronged +on every side by the process of excommunication or outlawry, +and forced to seek for their own by law, and then +also to be denied law, because they were Papists; finally +both themselves and all others to be denounced traitors, +and designed to the slaughter. These things they would +not endure now to begin afresh after so long endurance, +and therefore began amongst themselves to consult what +remedy they might apply to all these evils (and few +greater than these by the daily destruction of innumerable +souls, as they alleged at their death), so that it seems they +did not so much respect what the remedy were, or how +it might be procured, as that it might be sure and +speedy, to wit, to take effect before the end of the Parliament +from whence they seemed to expect their greatest +harm. +</p> + +<p> +And this I do guess to have been the likeliest +motive, to make that stratagem of the Parliament House +to come into their head, unless perhaps they did think +it was impossible for them to prevail any other way. +Now peace being concluded by other Princes, they could +not expect any sufficient aid from them. And they saw +that other Princes were willing with the peace in regard +of their own affairs (which might be cause sufficient), +although there the peace of Catholics was not included; yea +presently upon the concluding of that, they saw and felt that +the persecution began afresh and in far worse manner than +before (as in the precedent chapters hath been related), +yet they found that their case would not be understood in +many Princes' Courts, but rather the Ambassadors and +other instruments employed by their persecutors believed, +than their case credited when it was laid down by witnesses +of unstained integrity. And seeing for these causes no +hope of help from others, they knew well that of themselves +by open rising in field they were not able to resist +and repel the force of the whole State, both because all +<pb n='052'/><anchor id='Pg052'/> +Catholics would not join in those courses, and because +both Protestants and Puritans would then join together +against them; therefore this public course being not probable +to take effect, it is like they fell to search out what +private way might be within their power and yet might +be effectual. And then, as it seems by their confessions +(made after to the Council), Mr. Catesby proposed that +fatal and final course of overthrowing the Parliament +House, alleging for his reason that which before I gathered +to be his mind out of his own words: that so, said he, +we may deliver our country from the servitude she is in, +and at one instant deliver us from all our bonds, and +although we can have no foreign help, yet so may we +plant again the Catholic religion in our country. Thus +you may see how good desires may be followed by unfit +means, and how much a man may be deceived when he +doth follow but his own ways, how good or great soever +the motives be or the wished effect of that he goeth +about, for <q>non est faciendum malum ut inde eveniat +bonum.</q><note place='foot'><q>We must not do evil that good may come.</q></note> +</p> + +<p> +And when one of his companions, called Mr. Winter, proposed +that the matter was so great and imported so many +that it would be well considered of, Mr. Catesby answered, +<q>The nature of the disease was such that it required +so sharp a remedy, and that the Parliament was the place +where all the laws had been made against Catholics, and +therefore the fittest for the makers of those laws there +to receive their punishment, especially there being then +chosen all the Puritans of the realm, of purpose to make +much more cruel laws than before; so that at one blow +they should cut off all the greatest enemies of God's +Church, and the greatest persecutors both of their souls +and bodies, which they could not do by any other possible +means; and not doing that, they would never prevail nor +save the whole country from destruction of their souls, +<pb n='053'/><anchor id='Pg053'/> +nor their brethren and themselves from slaughter of their +bodies.</q> Thus he. This, therefore, seeming probable and +pious to their deceived judgments, they fell upon that +conclusion, that they would prepare for it as soon as they +could, but in such secret manner that no living creature +for no cause should understand of their designments but +themselves that then consulted, who were but five in +number, and they would take an oath of secrecy upon +a Primer to that effect. Only some months after, when they +found some more help was needful for them, they concluded +that three of the five, whereof Mr. Catesby and +another of the chiefest to be two, might impart it to some +other chosen person to draw him into the action. So great +care they had, that it might not be so much as suspected +by other Catholics, and especially they meant to keep +it from their ghostly Fathers and all kind of Religious +men or Priests, knowing well they should never have their +assent to an action of that nature. And besides, for that +they had no doubt at that time or any scruple in the +matter for the causes before alleged, gathered out of +Mr. Catesby his words, though afterwards when the matter +depended much longer than they expected, upon some +occasion or other that belike was offered, they began to +doubt of one circumstance, and then sought resolution, +but in such cunning and close manner, as shall afterwards +appear in the process of the story. And thirdly, for that +they feared their ghostly Fathers would assuredly draw +them out of that course if they should have understanding +of it, which to be a principal cause of their keeping the +matter so secret from them, may appear by the speeches +which Sir Everard Digby used afterwards at the time +of his arraignment. +</p> + +<p> +The five that concluded first upon this preposterous +Plot of Powder were these, Mr. Robert Catesby, Mr. +Thomas Percy, Mr. Thomas Winter, Mr. John Wright, +and Mr. Guy Fawks, as appeareth by the confession +<pb n='054'/><anchor id='Pg054'/> +of the said Mr. Thomas Winter: ¶<note place='foot'>Where this kind of mark ¶ is found, my meaning is to have a new line +begin. <hi rend='italic'>Orig. in marg.</hi></note> out of whose examinations +with the others that were made in the time of +their imprisonment, I must gather and set down all that +is to be said or collected of their purposes and proceedings +in this heady enterprise. For that as I have said, they +kept it so wholly secret from all men, that until their +flight and apprehension it was not known to any that +such a matter was in hand, and then there could none +have access unto them to learn the particulars. But we +must be contented with that which some of those that +lived to be examined, did therein deliver. Only for that +some of their servants that were up in arms with them +in the country did afterwards escape, somewhat might +be learned by them of their carriage in their last extremities, +and some such words as they then uttered, whereby their +mind in the whole matter is something the more opened, +and all as I have heard then I will faithfully relate. +</p> + +<p> +But first that these first conspirators may be the better +known, together with the matter and manner of their conspiracy, +it shall be good to let you see in particular what +the persons were. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Catesby (who as it seems by many +circumstances was the first inventor and the chiefest +furtherer of the Plot) was a gentleman of an ancient and +great family in England, whose chief estate and dwelling +was in Warwickshire, though his ancestors had much living +in other shires also. Some of his ancestors had borne great +sway in England. But commonly the greatest men are not +the best. Some others have been of great esteem for virtue, +as namely one knight of his house (I take it some four or +five descents ago) was commonly known and called in all +the country, <q>good Sir William Catesby,</q> of whom this +memorable thing is recorded; that when he had lived long +in the fear of God and works of charity, one time as he +<pb n='055'/><anchor id='Pg055'/> +was walking in the fields, his good Angel appeared and +showed him the anatomy of a dead man and willed him +to prepare him, for he should die by such a time. The +good knight presently accepting of the message willingly, +recommended himself with a fervent prayer unto our +Blessed Lady in that place and then went home and +settled all his business both towards God and the world, +and died at his time appointed. This story is painted +upon a wall in the church of Ashby, where that knight +and other of Mr. Catesby's ancestors lie buried. Myself +have both seen the pictures and read the prayer in that +place. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Catesby his estate in his father's time was great, +above 3,000<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a year, which now were worth much more; but +Sir William Catesby, his father, being a Catholic and often in +prison for his faith, suffered many losses and much impaired +his estate. This son of his when he came to the living was +very wild, and as he kept company with the best noblemen +of the land, so he spent much above his rate and so wasted +also good part of his living. Some four or five years before +Queen Elizabeth died, he was reclaimed from his wild +courses and became a Catholic, unto which he had always +been inclined in opinion, though not in practice. But after +this time he left his swearing and excess of play and +apparel and all wild company and began to use daily +practices of religion instead of them, insomuch that his +former companions did marvel to see him so changed; for +he concealed his being a Catholic a long time. After that, +about three years before the Queen's death, when the Earl +of Essex did intend and attempt by force to put down +some of those that ruled the State and meant (as it is +thought) to have brought in His Majesty that now is into +the realm at that time, and to that end combined many +noblemen and gentlemen together in the enterprise, then +was Mr. Catesby a principal man in the action, having first +received a faithful promise from the Earl of toleration +<pb n='056'/><anchor id='Pg056'/> +at least for all Catholics: yea and to that end he procured +some other Catholics to join also. +</p> + +<p> +In that business, though it was weakly performed by +those that had the chief carriage, especially that Earl of +Essex, yet did Mr. Catesby show such valour and fought so +long and stoutly, as divers afterwards of those swordsmen +did exceedingly esteem him and follow him in regard thereof, +and only commended Sir Christopher Blunt and him, both +which were often compared together, as well for their +performance, as for the hurts they received; though Mr. +Catesby kept his very secret in prison, being in hope to +escape with a ransom, as he did, paying 2,000<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>, but it cost +him 3,000<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> before he got out. All which I therefore relate, +as a chief means of his getting aid and followers in the other +enterprise following, in which although he and his complices +did us as great a wrong as might be, and took themselves +a most wrong course in their deceived zeal; yet I will not +wrong them with false reports in anything, nor wrong the +reader so much, as not to let him plainly know what kind +of men they were, and to that end do relate both their good +and their evil. +</p> + +<p> +When Mr. Catesby was cured of his hurts and had +paid his ransom and procured his liberty, he was so much +esteemed and respected in all companies of such as are +counted there swordsmen or men of action, that few were +in the opinions of most men preferred before him, and +he increased much his acquaintance and friends. Upon +which occasion he then began to labour to win many to the +Catholic faith, which he performed, and brought many to +be Catholics of the better sort, and was a continual means +of helping others to often frequentation of the Sacraments, +to which end he kept and maintained Priests in several places. +And for himself he duly received the Blessed Sacrament +every Sunday and Festival-day, and grew to such a composition +of manners and carriage, to such a care in his +speech (that it might never be hurtful to others, but taking +<pb n='057'/><anchor id='Pg057'/> +all occasions of doing good), to such a zealous course of life, +both for the cause in general and every particular person +whom he could help in God's service, as that he grew to +be very much respected by most of the better and +graver sort of Catholics, and of Priests, and Religious also, +whom he did much satisfy in the care of his conscience; +so that it might plainly appear he had the fear of God +joined with an earnest desire to serve Him. And so no +marvel though many Priests did know him and were often +in his company. He was moreover very wise and of great +judgment, though his utterance not so good. Besides he was +so liberal and apt to help all sorts, as it got him much love. +He was of person above two yards high and, though slender, +yet as well proportioned to his height as any man one +should see. His age (I take it) at his death was about +thirty-five, or thereabouts. And to do him right, if he had +not fallen into this foul action and followed his own judgment +in it (to the hurt and scandal of many), asking no +advice but of his own reasons deceived and blinded under +the shadow of zeal; if, I say, it had not been for this, he +had truly been a man worthy to be highly esteemed and +prized in any commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Thomas Percy was of the name and kindred +of one of the ancientest and greatest Earls in England, +though I think he was not very near in blood, although +they called him cousin. His estate was not great, depending +most upon the same Earl that now is of the house +of Percies, under whom he had the keeping of a castle +and the receiving of his rents, with the overlooking and +command of his tenants in those parts. For the most part +of his youth he had been very wild more than ordinary, +and much given to fighting, so much that it was noted in +him and in Mr. John Wright (whose sister he afterwards +married) that if they had heard of any man in the country +to be esteemed more valiant and resolute than others, +one or the other of them would surely have picked some +<pb n='058'/><anchor id='Pg058'/> +quarrel against him and fought with him to have made +trial of his valour. This Mr. Percy was for most of his time +affected to Catholics and a friend unto them, and did +labour and was the means to get some out of prison; +but himself far from professing the same, or following +their counsel or example, until within five or six years +before his death, and I think about the time of my Lord +of Essex his enterprise he became Catholic; for he was also +one in the action and a very forward man, hoping that +some ease at least would have come to Catholics by the +means. After that he was much more reclaimed, and +grew in time, by keeping Catholics' company, and often +frequentation of the Sacraments, to leave all his old +customs, and to live a very staid and sober life, and for +a year or two before his death kept a Priest continually +in the country to do good unto his family and neighbours, +though himself came thither but at times, living +for the most part in London, where he was made one of +the Gentlemen Pensioners in Ordinary, and so continued +till his death. He had a great wit and a very good +delivery of his mind, and so was able to speak as well as +most in the things wherein he had experience. He was +tall, and of a very comely face and fashion; of age near +fifty, as I take it, for his head and beard was much changed +white. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Thomas Winter was a younger brother +of the house of Huddington, in the county of Worcester, +whose eldest brother and another younger than himself were +also brought after into the action by his means. This +gentleman had spent his youth well as it seemed by the +parts he had, for he was a reasonable good scholar, and +able to talk in many matters of learning, but especially in +philosophy or histories very well and judicially. He could +speak both Latin, Italian, Spanish, and French. He had +been a soldier both in Flanders, France, and, I think, +against the Turk, and could discourse exceeding well of +<pb n='059'/><anchor id='Pg059'/> +those matters. And was of such a wit, and so fine carriage, +that he was of so pleasing conversation, desired much +of the better sort, but an inseparable friend to Mr. Robert +Catesby. He was of mean stature, but strong and comely +and very valiant, about thirty-three years old or somewhat +more. His means were not great, but he lived in good +sort, and with the best. He was very devout and zealous +in his faith, and careful to come often to the Sacraments, +and of very grave and discreet carriage, offensive to no +man, and fit for any employment. I wish therefore he had +been employed in some better business. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. John Wright was a gentleman of Yorkshire, +not born to any great fortune, but lived always in place +and company of the better sort. In his youth and for the +most of his time very wild and disposed to fighting and trial +of his manhood, as I touched before. He became Catholic +about the time of my Lord of Essex his attempt, in which +he was; and after that time kept much with Mr. Catesby +and some other gentlemen of his friends and acquaintance. +He grew to be staid and of good sober carriage after he +was Catholic, and kept house in Lincolnshire, where he +had Priests come often, both for his spiritual comfort and +their own in corporal helps. He was about forty years old, +a strong and a stout man, and of a very good wit, though +slow of speech; much loved by Mr. Catesby for his valour +and secrecy in carriage of any business, which, I suppose, +was the cause why he was one of the first acquainted with +this unfortunate enterprise. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Guido Faulks spent most of his time +in the wars of Flanders, which is the cause that he was less +known here in England, but those that have known him do +affirm that as he did bear office in the camp under the +English coronell on the Catholic side, so he was a man every +way deserving it whilst he stayed there, both for devotion +more than is ordinarily found in soldiers, and especially for +his skill in martial affairs and great valour, for which he +<pb n='060'/><anchor id='Pg060'/> +was there much esteemed. And that was the cause, as it +may be thought, why Mr. Catesby and the rest of the +conspirators cast their eyes upon him before others, when +they desired one out of Flanders to be their assistant. +</p> + +<p> +But would to God these gentlemen had used their talents +better and employed them to the service of God and their +country, for which they were given, and not to the offence +of the one and destruction of the other, as we find now +to our great increase of grief amidst the rest of our many +calamities and heavy burthen of persecution, of which +the memory of this matter is not the least. Undoubtedly +they were men of able parts to perform much in God's +service, and so it is like they would have continued as +they had begun if they would have feared sufficiently their +own fancies, and followed the grave example and advice +of those from whom they sought for help in all other +matters that concerned their soul. And yet at length they +began to doubt in some points of this also, as shall appear +in the chapter following. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='061'/><anchor id='Pg061'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter IV. +How After They Had Begun Their Enterprise, They +Fell Into Some Scruple, And Went About To +Satisfy Their Conscience By Asking Questions +Afar Off, Of Learned Men, Without Opening +The Case.</head> + +<p> +It appeareth by the confession which Mr. Thomas Winter +made unto the Lords of the Council, being published in +print by order from the said Council, that these gentlemen +having concluded upon this course of violent remedy +(because they resolved to undertake it as their last refuge +and remedy of all the evils they sought to prevent), Mr. +Catesby, who first proposed this fatal blow to be given +to the Parliament House, did also first propose unto them +the last trial which he thought likely to prevail for redress +of those evils by quiet means; and to use his own words, +there related by Mr. Winter, <q>First (said he to Mr. +Thomas Winter) because we will leave no peaceable and +quiet way untried, you shall go over and inform the Constable +(who was then upon his coming in) of the state +of the Catholics here in England, entreating him to solicit +His Majesty at his coming hither, that the Penal Laws +may be recalled, and we admitted into the rank of his +other subjects.</q> Mr. Winter went over and delivered his +message unto the Constable as in the name of all the +Catholics of England, whose answer was, that he had +strict command from His Majesty of Spain to do all good +offices for the Catholics; and for his own part, he thought +himself bound in conscience so to do, and that no good +occasion should be omitted. Thus much the Constable +promised at that time, and no doubt performed it both +wisely and charitably in what he could. But it is an +<pb n='062'/><anchor id='Pg062'/> +easy matter to satisfy with hopes of future favours, when +he that receives the promises shall not be present to see +the performance. +</p> + +<p> +So soon as the peace was concluded, and the Constable +[of Spain] departed, the stream of persecution began +to run more violently than before. Searches were more +frequent, the seizure of goods more ordinary and violent, +the payment of 20<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a month with the arrearages also +were enacted, and (which terrified most) the Puritans, +who were the chief men selected and summoned for the +Parliament, were so full of their designments against +Catholics, that they could not choose but [cast out great +threats]<note place='foot'><q>Eructare verbum malum.</q> <hi rend='italic'>Orig.</hi></note> against them in every place where they came; +some affirming they would now set up their rest and +have their will of Catholics; some that they would leave +no Catholics in England after a while; others that they +hoped to see them all hanged ere it were long. Yea, I know +a town myself whither some Puritans came to seize some +goods of Catholics long before the Parliament, where the +party whose goods were taken, complaining of the rigour in +the manner of proceeding, the officers answered, <q>They +hoped to see all the Catholics' throats cut shortly, therefore +this was nothing.</q> Things therefore standing in these +terms with Catholics, these gentlemen resolved to expect no +further trials, but, as I said, concluded upon their intended +stratagem, bound each other by oath to the highest degree +of secrecy, and so it seems they went about their business, +never fearing any fault in the thing itself, nor fall that +might come to Catholics by their error; and thus it continued +for a good space with them. +</p> + +<p> +They hired a house by the water side (as may appear in +Mr. Winter's confession) where they might first land their +powder when they had bought it, and from whence they +might easily transport it by boat also unto the place appointed, +which was a house close by the Parliament House, +<pb n='063'/><anchor id='Pg063'/> +hired by Mr. Thomas Percy, as a fit residence for himself +near the Court, being Pensioner, and to wait daily in his +quarters. And Mr. Faulks went as his man to keep the house. +In this house, to prevent occasions of often going out, +because they would not seem to be many in the house, they +bought baked meats and made provision at once for a long +time. They began to work underground at such times +as they could least be heard, and wrought the mine until +they came to the wall of the Parliament House, which +finding to be hard stone, they were long about a little +progress, and were to be more wary than before in respect +of the noise. Whilst they were thus together, and proceeding +daily as they might, they had leisure, saith Mr. +Winter, to fashion all their business, and to discourse of +all things that were to be done in the matter, whereby it +may seem their first resolution of the thing itself was +sudden, and such as young heads and forward minds do +often bring forth, without due consideration of circumstances +and likely events, which would not have been if +they had asked counsel in the cause; but rather, if the +matter had been of that quality that it had been fit to +have proceeded in it (as this was most unfit of all others), +then would all the circumstance of importance have been +foreseen beforehand, and all likely events forecast, and +according to them the resolution left off or undertaken. +But these gentlemen, as it seems then, with that leisure +and opportunity of being so much in private together, +began to fashion their business, after they had begun the +enterprise. Then they began to think how they should +get into their hands the next heir, whom they might +set up and strengthen against the meaner sort of Puritans +that would be left; so that his authority being used in +his nonage, the Catholic religion might be erected, and +he so brought up, as that he would at his full years be +a patron of the same. And Mr. Percy undertook that +charge, being one that might best be seen in the Court, +<pb n='064'/><anchor id='Pg064'/> +in regard of his place. Then they discoursed what foreign +Princes they should acquaint with the business, in respect +of their help after against the heretics, if they did stand +out long. And they resolved to acquaint none; first, +because they could not oblige them by oath to secrecy, so +as they might be sufficiently assured thereof, which they +esteemed the most necessary point of all others, and the +strength of the whole business; secondly, for that it seemed +they were doubtful the matter would be misliked by other +Princes, as indeed they had cause to think it, not likely +only, but certain; and so no doubt they would have found +it, if it had been imparted to any, especially if the least +notice had come unto His Holiness, who had ever showed a +special care of our King, and had great hope that in time +he would do well both for himself and his country. Then +also they began to think what Lords they should save out +of the Parliament. And first they resolved they would save +as many as they could. Then they descended more into +particulars, to consider whom they might draw out of the +danger, without danger of discovering unto them the cause +why, or so that they might have the least suspicion of +the matter intended. +</p> + +<p> +And here, belike, finding it would be very hard to +save so many as they desired, and yet withal to save +the secrecy of their enterprise (in which consisted the +safety of themselves and of the cause), here it is very +likely they began to have that scruple in which afterwards +they sought to satisfy their conscience, but not +in right and plain matter as they should, by explaining +the case of which they demanded, but afar off, as a +thing by chance coming into their mind, and concerning +rather a point of warlike affairs in general, than any +particular intention of theirs at that time to be put in +practice. For whilst they were in the middle of their +discourses (saith Mr. Winter), understanding that the Parliament +should be anew adjourned, they left off their work +<pb n='065'/><anchor id='Pg065'/> +for that time, and went to keep Christmas in several places, +which was always their custom, to avoid suspicion. Then +the chiefest of them took the present commodity offered +by meeting with learned Priests that holy time, and +meant to inform themselves of such doubts as were risen +concerning the lawfulness of the business they had in hand. +And, having a great opinion both of the learning and virtue +of the Fathers of the Society, Mr. Catesby desired to get, +by cunning means, the judgment of their Superior, so as +he should never perceive to what end the question were +asked. Therefore coming to Father Garnett, after much +ordinary talk, and some time passed over after his arrival, +one time he took occasion (upon some speech proposed +about the wars in the Low Countries or such like) to ask +how far it might be lawful for the party that hath the +just quarrel to proceed in sacking or destroying a town +of the enemy's or fortress when it is holden against them +by strong hands. The Father answered that in a just war +it was lawful for those that had right to wage battle +against the enemies of their commonwealth, to authorize +their captains or soldiers, as their officers, to annoy or +destroy any town that is unjustly holden against them, and +that such is the common doctrine of all Divines: in respect +that every commonwealth must by the Law of Nature be +sufficient for itself, and therefore as well able to repel +injuries as to provide necessaries; and that, as a private +person may <foreign rend='italic'>vim vi repellere</foreign>, so may the commonwealth +do the like with so much more right as the whole is of +more importance than a part; which, if it were not true, +it should follow that Nature had provided better for +beasts than for men, furnishing them with natural weapons +as well to offend as to defend themselves, which we see also +they have a natural instinct to use, when the offence of +the invader is necessary for their own defence. And therefore +that it is not fit to think that God, Who by natural +reason, doth provide in a more universal and more noble +<pb n='066'/><anchor id='Pg066'/> +manner for men than by natural instinct for beasts, hath +left any particular person, and much less a commonwealth, +without sufficient means to defend and conserve itself; +and therefore not without power to provide and use likely +means to repel present injuries, and to repress known and +hurtful enemies. And that, in all these, the head of the +commonwealth may judge what is expedient and needful +for the body thereof. Unto which Mr. Catesby answering +that all this seemed to be plain in common reason, and +the same also practised by all well-governed commonwealths +that ever have been, were they never so pious +or devout. But, said he, some put the greatest difficulty +in the sackage of towns and overthrowing or drowning +up of forts, which, in the Low Countries, and in all wars +is endeavoured, when the fort cannot otherwise be +surprised, and the same of great importance to be taken. +How then those who have right to make the war may +justify that destruction of the town or fort, wherein there +be many innocents and young children, and some perhaps +unchristened, which must needs perish withal? Unto +this the Father answered, that indeed therein was the +greatest difficulty; and that it was a thing could never +be lawful in itself, to kill an innocent, for that the reason +ceaseth in them for which the pain of death may be +inflicted by authority, seeing the cause why a malefactor +and enemy to the commonwealth may be put to death +is in respect of the common good, which is to be preferred +before his private (for otherwise, considering the thing +only in itself, it were not lawful to put any man to death); +and so because the malefactor doth <foreign rend='italic'>in re gravi</foreign> hinder +the common good, therefore by the authority of the +magistrate that impediment may be removed. But now, +as for the innocent and good, their life is a help and +furtherance to the common good, and therefore in no sort +it can be lawful to kill or destroy an innocent. But, said +Mr. Catesby, that is done ordinarily in the destruction +<pb n='067'/><anchor id='Pg067'/> +of these forts I spake of. It is true, said the Father, it +is there permitted, because it cannot be avoided; but +is done as <foreign rend='italic'>per accidens</foreign>, and not as a thing intended by +or for itself, and so it is not unlawful. As if we were shot +into the arm with a poisoned bullet, so that we could not +escape with life unless we cut off our arm; then <foreign rend='italic'>per accidens</foreign> +we cut off our hand and fingers also which were sound, +and yet being, at that time of danger, inseparably joined +to the arm, lawful to be cut off, which it were not lawful +otherwise to do without mortal sin. And such was the +case of the town of Gabaa, and the other towns of the +tribe of Benjamin, wherein many were destroyed that +had not offended. With which Mr. Catesby seeming +fully satisfied, brake presently into other talk, the Father +at that time little imagining whereat he aimed, though +afterwards, when the matter was known, he told some +friends what had passed between by Mr. Catesby and +him about this matter, and that he little suspected then +he would so have applied the general doctrine of Divines +to the practice of a private and so perilous a case, without +expressing all particulars, which course may give occasion +of great errors, as we see it did in this. +</p> + +<p> +Now Mr. Catesby having found as much as he thought +was needful for his purpose, related the same unto the rest +of the conspirators, and all were animated in their proceedings +without any further scruple for a long time, but +applied all by their own divinity unto their own case, +persuading themselves belike, that they had all the conditions +of a lawful war with the Puritans and Protestant +parties. First, a just cause, in defence of their goods, lives, +and liberty, both of themselves and their brethren, and +especially for the delivery and safety of so many thousand +souls inthralled by sin and heresy; secondly, they thought +they found in themselves a right intention to suppress +evil and erect and strengthen that which was good and +needful; thirdly, about authority to commence the same, +<pb n='068'/><anchor id='Pg068'/> +I suppose they had most difficulty, and do not see how +they could satisfy their own reason (much less the rules +that are required in schools) in that behalf, seeing they +did know so well, and had been so often told by the +said Father Garnett and others of their spiritual guides, +that His Holiness had given strict charge there should +be nothing attempted against His Majesty [and the State], +but that all Catholics should seek in patience to possess +their souls, and thereby, and not by force, to plead for +favour. I know not therefore from what ground they +could imagine themselves to have authority, although in +a far less matter. For it is not likely that they should think +of the opinion of some that hold <q>quod defensio manualis +cum sit de Jure Naturali non potest auferri per Superiorem +vel contrarium præcipi.</q><note place='foot'><q>That, as the right of hand to hand defence is of the Natural Law, the +Superior cannot take it away, or enjoin the contrary.</q></note> And besides, that is to be +understood <foreign rend='italic'>in ipso conflictu</foreign>, and not <foreign rend='italic'>longe ante</foreign>, as in this +case of the Parliament. +</p> + +<p> +But it is an easy matter for an earnest desire to +draw a man's opinion after it, and so their great and +unadvised zeal to remedy the wrongs done to Catholics +both in soul and body, might perhaps make them think +that this opportunity of the Parliament being omitted, +they should never again have power or opportunity to +defend the Catholic party. And that there was not sufficient +access to inform Superiors of the case of Catholics, +neither that their extremities were believed, and that if +they were truly known, they neither would nor could +be tolerated when remedy might be applied, in which +they thought themselves as it were the officers and hands +of the commonwealth, in whose hands and power it was +then to perform it as they thought, but would not be +so if they should ask counsel or leave of others, because +so great a secret could not be kept in the mouths of +many, and those not in like manner or measure affected +<pb n='069'/><anchor id='Pg069'/> +to the business. Thus we may see how oftentimes it +happens that a greedy affection and desire of the prey doth +not let the bird consider or see the danger of the net which +hangeth between the prey and it. And so as it is in too +earnest pursuit of riches, that <q>qui volunt divites +fieri incidunt in tentationem et in laqueum diaboli,</q><note place='foot'><q>For they that will become rich, fall into temptation, and into the snare +of the devil</q> (1 Tim. vi. 9).</note> +so in this case, their vehement desire of their prefixed end, +did make them oversee a number of inconveniences and +perils both of soul and body, that did hang upon this +lamentable enterprise, which they did afterwards find, +and as I hope repented: and others for their fault have +felt more at leisure since this matter happened. +</p> + +<p> +But we that be innocent in the case, and were no ways +accessary to the cause giving, must not repine at God's +judgments, if He suffer us to be beaten for the error by +others committed: Et si in vincula conjiciamur quasi +mala operantes et ante reges et præsides ducamur quasi +non existentes amici Cæsaris,<note place='foot'><q>Though we be cast into bonds as evil doers, and be brought before +Kings and rulers as not being Cæsar's friends.</q></note> yet we must be comforted +in the testimony of our own conscience, that we do hate +all treason against our Prince as much as those that punish +us for traitors, and would no ways have joined in this if we +had known it, but our earnest endeavours against it should +have given sufficient testimony of a contrary mind in us, as +may and will appear in the chapter following was done by +Father Garnett when he began to fear they had something +in hand, although he could never guess or suspect so +strange a practice as they were then in plotting or rather +in perfecting to be performed. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='070'/><anchor id='Pg070'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter V. +How Father Garnett Beginning To Suspect Somewhat +By Certain Generalities He Understood +Of The Gentlemen, Wrote Divers Letters To +Rome For Prevention Of Rebellion.</head> + +<p> +When Mr. Catesby had thus satisfied his particular +doubts out of this general doctrine, both he and his +company went forward in their former purposes and after +Christmas met again and began to labour afresh in the +mine, to work through the wall of the Parliament House +which they found to be difficult and long in doing. Whereupon +by mutual consent they took in another assistant who +was Mr. Christopher Wright, younger +brother to John Wright before described in the third +chapter, by whom also this other may be known without +new description. For though he were not like him in +face, as being fatter and a lighter coloured hair and taller of +person, yet was he very like to the other in conditions and +qualities, and both esteemed and tried to be as stout a man +as England had and withal a zealous Catholic and trusty +and secret in any business as could be wished: in respect +whereof they esteemed him very fit to be of their company +and so caused him to take the oath of secrecy and he +received the Blessed Sacrament thereupon (as they had also +done) and so admitted him. Not long after they admitted +also another, which was Mr. Robert Winter, the eldest +brother to Thomas Winter before spoken of. +</p> + +<p> +This Robert Winter was a gentleman of +good estate in Worcestershire, about one thousand marks +a year, and had matched with the daughter of Mr. John +Talbot, an ancient Catholic and one of the greatest men +<pb n='071'/><anchor id='Pg071'/> +in the whole shire for blood, for living, and for power. +Mr. Robert Winter was also an earnest Catholic, though +not as yet generally known to be so. He was a wise +man and of grave and sober carriage and very stout, +as all of that name have been esteemed. This gentleman +then with like ceremonies and obligation to secrecy +was joined to their number and made them up seven; +who all laboured hard in the mine to get through the +foundation of the house, which was a hard stone wall +of three yards thick. And so they continued working +until near Easter, at which time finding that a cellar under +the side of their house (which was until that time in the +possession of others) was then to be let for rent, Mr. Percy +presently took the same, as if it were to lay in fuel for his +house and they found it so commodious for their purpose, +that they left off their other laborious work in the mine; +and in the cellar placed all their powder and covered the +same with billets, in such sort as it could not be suspected: +intending to store it better with powder and other necessaries +nearer to the time of the Parliament which then +was adjourned. +</p> + +<p> +In the meantime Father Garnett understanding by +some friends that Mr. Catesby was much missing from +the places where he was wont continually to resort for +spiritual helps; and hearing also, that he and other +gentlemen of his forward humour did keep much together +and had many secret meetings, he began to suspect +they had something in hand that might tend to some +commotion and that they did labour to get adherents +for some attempt to be performed in forcible manner. +Whereupon he wrote presently to his Superiors at Rome, +that by their means there might be procured from His +Holiness a prohibition to be sent unto Catholics from +attempting anything by way of force, and of this kind he +wrote divers letters which myself have seen since that time. +And having had good commodity to see the copies of them +<pb n='072'/><anchor id='Pg072'/> +lately in a place where they are safely kept, I will set down +his own words written in several letters, that the reader +may see his wise and quiet proceeding and the mild spirit +of the man, much different from the calumnious reports his +enemies have given of him concerning this action and +directly contrary to the turbulent spirit of those that have +been professed teachers of heresy both in those and other +countries. +</p> + +<p> +And first he wrote one letter to his Superiors in the year +1604, dated on the 29 of August, whilst the peace was yet +in treaty and some hope yet living in Catholics that their +peace would also be included, in which he hath these words +(showing how difficult a matter it was for Catholics to be +heard in their own cause even by some of those that were +to plead for them). <q>Some,</q> saith he, <q>are so jealous of their +peace that whosoever dealt earnestly with them to further +religion, they sticked not to say that they were seditious +and statesmen. <q>Nunquid pax est perniciosa religioni?</q><note place='foot'><q>Can peace be hurtful to religion?</q></note> +said one of them. But no wise men misliked the peace and +we hope for good of religion, which Catholics do patiently +expect.</q> These are his words: and truly if all that had to +do in the matter had dealt as effectually for us in that kind +as the Constable did in the small time of his stay there, +perhaps things might have gone better with us than they +did; but as he received promises which were not performed +after his departure; so others were with like policy made +believe that things did not go so hard with us as indeed +we felt them: although it be true that the hardest of all +began after the peace was fully concluded. In the same +letter of Father Garnett's one may see also what difficulty +he had on the other side with some Catholics to keep them +quiet if some mitigation should not be obtained for them +after so long expectance, wherein he meant belike Mr. +Catesby and some such whom he most feared, about which +he wrote these words following in cypher: <q>If the affair of +<pb n='073'/><anchor id='Pg073'/> +toleration go not well, Catholics will no more be quiet. +What shall we do? Jesuits cannot hinder it. Let Pope +forbid all Catholics to stir.</q> These are his words, which +sufficiently declare both his desires and endeavours to +further peace and to hinder the contrary. +</p> + +<p> +About a month after he wrote another letter in answer +of one he had received from his Superiors not long before +(as I perceive by the party that hath the keeping of these +letters), wherein they did require to be informed whether +himself or any of the Society in England were against the +peace, or did favour or further unquiet proceedings in any +respect; for that such an information had been sent to Padua +out of England, but not known by whom, unto which he +answered as followeth: <q>That which was written to Padua, +that the King is much moved against Catholics through the +fervour of some Jesuits, is known to be false here by all, +as well enemies as friends. For they were the setters on +of the suit for peace, and the Agent always used their +counsel, and without their credit and friends he had never +gone so forward. Besides, an Earl of great account commended +publicly the Jesuits in the Parliament House, as +persons wise, learned, and of sincere conscience, and great +setters forwards of peace. In Watson's business it is well +known how many had been entangled, and what danger +would have followed if they had not hindered. For +although they cannot hinder what every tumultuous head +intendeth, yet can they carry with them to peaceable +courses the best and most Catholics. Finally, our enemies +see our courses and stick not to say that we flatter the +Council, whose good opinion we have gotten. Thus +humbly saluting yourself and all our friends, I cease this +21 of September.</q> Thus the good Father, in whose +words we may see how, with truth and sincere dealing, +he was able, and had need to defend himself and his +Company from virulent surmises and false informations +on both sides; some informing they did bend to the one +<pb n='074'/><anchor id='Pg074'/> +extremity, and some thinking they did lean unto the other; +but virtue is in the mean, in which path both he and +his did walk. +</p> + +<p> +And as for that matter of Watson's, thus much I +can say upon my knowledge, that when the Plot was +revealed unto Father Gerard to have his counsel and +furtherance therein, he first refused absolutely to meddle +in the matter, and wished the other party to desist himself +and to dissuade others from it, as a thing absolutely unlawful +and many ways hurtful. Then presently, for better +prevention thereof, he sent to London of purpose, both +to inform his own Superior, Father Garnett, and the Archpriest, +Mr. Blackwell, wishing they would presently forbid +all their acquaintance from entering into the cause, and +to stay it what they could; by which course he thought +he had done sufficient to hinder the proceeding of the +matter, not knowing then that any others were interested +therein but those few Catholics from whom and of whom +he had heard it. But afterwards, understanding again +that the intention did go on, and that they were to be +at London at Midsummer to effect their intent (which +was to apprehend the King's person as he should be +hunting in a park); and seeing that Midsummer was then +at hand, and the time so short, that he feared much no +warning to the parties themselves would be sufficient to +stay them, he then, to be more sure of the safety of His +Majesty's person, made known the whole intention unto +one of His Majesty's servants, a Scottish gentleman and +a Catholic, and as such well known unto His Majesty, +who presently made haste unto the Court to open the +matter unto the King himself; but found it was known +the day before he came, and so spake nothing of it, being +not then needful, nor he willing without cause to be +acknowen of his acquaintance with Father Gerard: for which +cause also I do here suppress his name; but if occasion +were, I doubt not but he would be willing to bear witness +<pb n='075'/><anchor id='Pg075'/> +with what care and fidelity the said Father Gerard did +seek to prevent the danger to His Majesty. All which +having heard from Father Gerard himself upon his protestation +to be true in every point as I have here related, +I do the rather set it down, because he was one of +the three afterwards most wrongfully accused of this other +much greater and more pernicious conspiracy, whereof he +had not so much as the least knowledge, as will afterwards +more plainly appear. +</p> + +<p> +But to return to the letters of Father Garnett. When +once he began to suspect that the gentlemen aforesaid +had something in their heads, and perceived by divers +words and signs, that they were the more strange with +the Society; and as it were offended that the Society were +still so earnest to persuade all men to expect the Providence +of God, and the help that might be procured by +the mediation of other Princes, wherein also they assured +all Catholics that His Holiness would effectually procure +them to do their best. These gentlemen were impatient +to hear of any longer stay upon unlikely hopes, and therein +esteemed the Society hinderers of their good, as may +appear by a letter of Father Garnett, written in the 8 of +May, 1605, wherein he hath these words set down all in +cypher: <q>All are desperate, divers Catholics are offended +with Jesuits; they say that Jesuits do impugn and hinder +all forcible enterprises. I dare not inform myself of their +affairs, because of the prohibition of Father General for +meddling in such affairs.</q> Then out of cypher followeth: +<q>And so I cannot give you exact account; this I know +by mere chance.</q> Thus much Father Garnett, whereby +may appear both what commandment he had received +from his Superiors and how carefully he performed it, even +to the offence of these forward-minded Catholics, who were +then well forward in their cruel enterprise. For this was +after they had left the mine, and hired the cellar, as I +said in the last chapter, as more commodious for their +<pb n='076'/><anchor id='Pg076'/> +purpose. But of all that Father Garnett had not then +the least imagination, only so much as he gathered by +generalities, he informed his Superiors that they might +hinder. Whereupon, having soon after received answer +of these from Father Persons, with strict charge in the +name of His Holiness, with Father General's letters also +to the same effect, that he and his should continue, by +all means possible, to hinder any insurrection or undutiful +proceedings against His Majesty or the State. Unto +those letters Father Garnett made this answer following, +dated the 24 of July, the same year 1605. +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Magnifice Domine,</q> +</p> + +<p> +Accepimus Dominationis vestræ litteras, quas, eâ quâ +par est reverentiâ erga suam Sanctitatem et vestram Paternitatem +amplectimur. Et quidem pro meâ parte quater +hactenus tumultum impedivi. Nec dubium est quin publicos +omnes armorum apparatus prohibere possimus; cum certum +sit multos Catholicos absque nostro consensu nihil ejusmodi +(nisi urgente necessitate) attentare velle. Duo tamen sunt +quæ nos valde solicitos tenent. Primum ne alii fortassis +in unâ aliquâ Provinciâ ad arma convolent, unde alios +ipsa necessitas ad similia studia compellat. Sunt enim +non pauci qui nudâ suæ Sanctitatis jussione cohiberi non +possunt. Ausi sunt enim, vivo Papâ Clemente, interrogare, +num posset Papa illos prohibere, quominus vitam suam +defendant? Dicunt insuper, suorum secretorum Presbyterum +nullum fore conscium, nominatim vero de nobis +conqueruntur etiam amici nonnulli nos illorum molitionibus +obicem ponere. Atque ut hos aliquo modo leniremus +et saltem tempus lucraremur, ut dilatione aliquâ adhiberi +possint congrua remedia, hortati sumus ut communi consilio +aliquem ad Sanctissimum mitterent, quod factum est, +eumque ad Illustrissimum Nuncium in Flandriam direxi, +ut ab ipso suæ Sanctitati commendetur; scriptis etiam +litteris, quibus eorum sententiam exposui, et rationes pro +<pb n='077'/><anchor id='Pg077'/> +utrâque parte. Hæ litteræ fuse scriptæ ac plenius fuere, +tutissime enim transferentur. Atque hæc de primo periculo. +Alterum est aliquanto deterius, quia periculum est +ne privatim aliqua proditio aut vis Regi offeratur, et hoc +pacto omnes Catholici ad arma compellantur. Quare, +meo quidem judicio duo necessaria sunt; primum ut sua +Sanctitas præscribat quid quoquo in casu agendum sit; +deinde ut sub censuris omnem armorum vim Catholicis +prohibeat, idque Brevi publice edito, cujus occasio obtendi +potest nuper excitatus in Walliâ tumultus qui demum in +nihilum recidit. Restat ut (cum in pejus omnia quotidie +prolabantur) oremus S. Sanctitatem his tantis periculis +ut brevi necessarium aliquod remedium adhibeat, cujus +sicut et Rdæ. Ptis. vræ benedictionem imploramus.<note place='foot'><q>We have received your letters and accept them with all the reverence due +to His Holiness and your Paternity. For my part four times up to the present +I have hindered disturbances. Nor is there any doubt that we can prevent all +public taking up of arms, as it is certain that many Catholics would never +attempt anything of this sort without our consent, except under the pressure of +a great necessity. But two things make us very anxious. The first is lest +some in some one province should fly to arms, and that then very necessity +should compel others to like courses. For there are not a few who will not be +kept back by a mere prohibition of His Holiness. There were some who dared +to ask, when Pope Clement was alive, whether the Pope could prohibit their +defending their lives. They further say that no Priest shall know their secrets; +and of us by name even some friends complain that we put an obstacle in the +way of their plans. Now to soften these in some way, and at least to gain +time, that by delay some fitting remedy may be applied, we have advised them +that by common consent they should send some one to the Holy Father, which +they have done, and I have sent him into Flanders to the Nuncio, that he may +commend him to His Holiness, and I have sent by him letters explaining their +opinions and the reasons on both sides. These letters are written at some +length, as they will be carried very safely. And this for the first danger. +The other is somewhat worse, for the danger is lest secretly some treason or +violence be shown to the King, and so all Catholics may be compelled to take +arms. Wherefore, in my judgment, two things are necessary: first, that His +Holiness should prescribe what in any case is to be done; and then, that he +should forbid any force of arms to the Catholics under censures, and by Brief +publicly promulgated, an occasion for which can be taken from the disturbance +lately raised in Wales, which has at length come to nothing. It remains that +as all things are daily becoming worse, we should beseech His Holiness soon +to give a necessary remedy for these great dangers, and we ask his blessing +and that of your Paternity.</q></note> +</p> + +<p> +<q rend='pre'>Londini, 24 Julii, 1605.</q> +</p> + +<lg> +<l><q rend='pre'>Magcæ. Dnis. Væ. Servus</q></l> +<l><q><hi rend='smallcaps'>Henricus G.</hi></q></l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<pb n='078'/><anchor id='Pg078'/> + +<p> +By these we may see that Father Garnett having now +great suspicion that these gentlemen had something in +hand against the State, or perhaps perceiving by some +general signs there was some such matter, he sought +presently to apply the surest remedy from His Holiness. +And true it is, as will appear after in Father Garnett's +arraignment, that Mr. Catesby offered sometimes to tell him +that they would not endure to be so long so much abused, +but would take some course to right themselves, sith others +would not respect them or could not relieve them; unto +which general speeches Father Garnett would give no ear, +nor durst not enter to inquire further of the matter, in +respect of a prohibition from his Superiors, which he touched +in the former letters. But yet upon this general knowledge, +you see how earnestly he wrote for an authentical instrument +of prohibition from such authority as he knew they +would not resist, although perhaps his own words, in a +matter of so great weight, would not suffice for all, though +for the most and best it would, as before he also touched. +</p> + +<p> +And it seemed soon after, as he thought that he had +done some good with those gentlemen also, whom he +feared most, or else that they had promised him to lay +aside all thought of those matters, until they had answer +from the gentleman whose sending, as you see, he had +proposed to defer their hot desires until a cooling card +might be sent from Rome, in answer of this his letter. For +soon after, he wrote other letters of the 28 of August, +wherein (having first declared how both his houses were +discovered unto the Council, and he thereby utterly unfurnished +of a safe place, and thereupon resolved to spend +most of the summer in travel to visit a holy well of +St. Winifred, which is a great pilgrimage in England, and +to do what good he could at friends' houses by the way, +both going and coming, until a fit house could be provided +for him, wherein he might settle for the winter); this +declared, he wrote as followeth: <q>And for anything we +<pb n='079'/><anchor id='Pg079'/> +can see, Catholics are quiet, and likely to continue their +old patience, and to trust to the King or his son for to +remedy all in time. The increase of Catholics is great, +and I hope in this journey (which I undertake to-morrow, +both for health and want of a house) I shall have occasion +of much good. I leave for substitute,</q> &c. And so he +proceedeth to show whom he left to dispatch his London +business in his absence. But where Father Garnett said +in this letter that for ought he could see Catholics were +quiet, his meaning was, no doubt, quiet from any attempts, +as he supposed. For as for other quietness, or repose from +persecution, you shall see what quiet there was by another +letter of his written in October following, towards the +end of his journey; which, being the true relation of the +present state of things to be seen in such a man's letter, +I think best to set it down verbatim: <q>My very loving Sir, +we are to go within few days nearer London, yet are we +unprovided of a house, nor can find any convenient for +any long time. But we must be fain to borrow some private +house for a time, and live more privately until this storm +be overblown. For most strict inquiries are practised, +wherein if my hostess be not quite undone, she speedeth +better than many of her neighbours. The courses taken +are more severe than in Queen Elizabeth's time. Every six +weeks is a several court; juries appointed to indict, present, +find the goods of Catholics, prize them, yea in many places +to drive away whatsoever they find <q>contra ordinem juris,</q> +and put the owners, if perhaps Protestants, to prove that +they be theirs, and not of recusants with whom they deal. +The Commissioners, in all countries, are the most earnest +and base Puritans, whom otherwise the King discountenanceth. +The prisoners at Wisbich are almost famished; +they are very close, and can have no help from abroad; +but the King allowing a mark a week for each one, the +keeper maketh his gains, and giveth them meat but three +days a week. If any recusant buy his goods again, they +<pb n='080'/><anchor id='Pg080'/> +inquire diligently if the money be his own, otherwise they +would have that too. In fine, if these courses hold, every +man must be fain to redeem once in six months the very +bed he lieth on. And hereof (that is of twice redeeming) +besides other precedents, I find one in this lodging of +——, where now I am.</q> (In his letter it is described, +but here not fit to set down.) <q>The judges now openly +protest that the King now will have blood, and hath taken +blood in Yorkshire; that the King hath hitherto stroked +Papists, but now will strike. And this is without any least +desert of Catholics. The execution of two in the North +is certain, and whereas it was done upon cold blood, that +is, with so great stay after their condemnation, it argueth +a deliberate resolution of what we may expect. So that +there is no hope that [Pope] Paul [V.] can do anything; +and whatsover men give out there, of easy proceedings +with Catholics, is mere fabulous. And yet I am assured, +notwithstanding, that the best sort of Catholics will bear +all their losses with patience. But how these tyrannical +proceedings of such base officers may drive particular men +to desperate attempts, that I cannot answer for. The +King's wisdom will foresee. In my journey,</q> &c. So he +proceedeth to relate some particular occurrents that +happened in his journey not needful here to be set down, +yet towards the end of the letter he setteth down this: <q>I +have a letter from Field in Ireland who telleth me that +of late there was a very severe proclamation against all +Ecclesiastical persons, and a general command for going +to the church, with a solemn protestation that the King +never promised nor meant to give toleration.</q> All these +are Father Garnett's words truly and sincerely set down +as they lie in his letter written by his own hand, dated +the 4th of October, 1605,<note place='foot'>This date is an interlineation. Father Gerard has not noticed that the +passage <q>I have a letter from Field,</q> &c., is taken from the PS. of this letter, +and that the PS. bears date 21 Octobris. For this omission he has been +severely blamed by Mr. Tierney.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> which I am the more glad +<pb n='081'/><anchor id='Pg081'/> +I lit on, because it doth agree so just with my former +relation of the state of England touching persecution of +Catholics before the time of this late conspiracy; whereby +some may see, by the plain words of so grave a witness as +Father Garnett was, how much they are deceived, when they +think that the persecution was caused by the conspiracy, +and not, <foreign rend='italic'>e contra</foreign>, the conspiracy intended and attempted +by those gentlemen out of impatience to bear so great +abuses, and that from so base and cruel enemies as the +Puritans are, who were everywhere made princes over +Catholics, though otherwise not thought worthy to be +esteemed or countenanced. +</p> + +<p> +All these, I say, be Father Garnett his letters, whereof I +have seen the copies and have truly set down his own words +as they are in the same (as I assure the reader upon my +conscience), and the letters themselves, as I understand for +certain, are as yet to be seen in Rome under his own hand, +if occasion require. And by all these it is most apparent +that Father Garnett was as careful as a man could be, to +observe the strict commandment he had received both from +His Holiness and from Father General and Father Persons +his Superiors not to assent to any tumult, but to use all +means he could to keep Catholics in quiet and in their +former long combined patience, which he performed of his +part with all sorts, and therein prevailed with the most and +the best, as himself noteth. And how effectual his persuasions +were, may also appear in that, when the gentlemen +were up in arms, no Catholic of account would come to assist +them, no, not those that were hard by the place; and men +of great power, much greater than those that were risen: +yea and some of them near of kindred, some nearly allied +unto them; and yet they would neither go, nor send them +any assistance; yea they shut their gates against them, +when others came to demand it. Such was their resolution +to obey the order they had received and to keep themselves +quiet, according to the commandment they had from +<pb n='082'/><anchor id='Pg082'/> +His Holiness, by the means of Father Garnett made known +unto them. And whereas, Father Garnett did fear at the +first, and afterwards find, that he could not rule some others +so well, them he persuaded to defer at the least all such +practices, until they had sent to know His Holiness' will: +he, in the mean time, labouring, as you have seen, to have +an effectual prohibition by a public instrument from the +same authority. So that, it is most apparent, he was not +only innocent from any furtherance or approbation of the +treason itself; but also, an earnest hinderer of all kind +of undutiful courses and violent attempts: and therein +a most diligent and religious observer of his Superiors' will +and commandment. Yet all this would not serve to work +sufficient patience, or any longer expectance in the minds of +these foresaid gentlemen, who, although they bare Father +Garnett in hand that they would expect answer, this, as it +seems, was but a show of expectance in them, and continued +only until they saw the Parliament was almost at hand, and +that it was too late for him to send further notice to his +Superiors, and receive their answer. And they, in the +mean time, proceeded, as afterwards Father Garnett also +chanced to know, very much against his will, as will appear +in that which followeth. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='083'/><anchor id='Pg083'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter VI. +How In The Mean Space, The Conspirators Proceeded +In Their Purpose, And Drew In More +Complices, And What They Were.</head> + +<p> +Whilst the great persecution before recited did reign so +much, and brought with it so many and so great afflictions +upon all sorts of Catholics, as before you have read, and +whilst Father Garnett did verily persuade himself that +notwithstanding all those great difficulties, all was and +would be borne with patience, until further order could be +taken, and the same patient toleration publicly commanded +which he had privately counselled; these foresaid gentlemen +who had commenced a course before that time which +Father Garnett did little dream of, although they did bear +him in hand whom they saw resolute for quiet courses, that +they would expect until order came from authority, after +their messenger had been heard, whom they had sent to +explain their griefs according to his counsel, yet they, +persuading themselves (as they afterwards affirmed to some +that were with them, when they were in arms in the country, +but were not taken with them) that if contrary order to +their designments should come from higher authority (as +they feared in likelihood it would, and therefore were loth +to expect so long) that the same was only upon mistaking +of their case or upon some hope perhaps His Holiness +might have that things would be better with Catholics +after a time, and that favour would be procured by fair +means; and this hope grounded upon promises from those +that had deceived many with the like and never kept +any yet that they made in that kind. They therefore, +<pb n='084'/><anchor id='Pg084'/> +thinking themselves to have had so long trial hereof, +would not be staid, as it seems, from their present purpose +by future expectations, but proceeded in what way they +had begun, and provided still more powder to such a +quantity as made up in all thirty-six barrels, some +bigger and some less; all which they placed so in the +cellar under the Parliament House, as must needs have +overthrown the same and some other buildings also that +had been near unto it, if it had been set on fire as was +intended; especially having placed thereon many billets of +wood to cover the same powder and some bars of iron also +of purpose: all which being blown up with the powder, +would have made sure to tear and rend the Parliament +House in pieces. +</p> + +<p> +Thus having disposed all things in the cellar as they +would have them, they absented themselves much from +thence; because they would give no cause of note over +that place more than others, whereof they were ever very +careful. And so they had good cause, being men as +likely to be noted by the State for men of action and performance, +as any in the realm; and then, being withal +known to be resolute Catholics, their often meetings or +haunting much to one place, especially near the Court, +would not have been free from suspect. For the same +cause also, during all the time they wrought in the mine or +cellar, they would have but small company, and were but +seven acquainted with the matter, all which I named before. +Only one man of meaner condition they admitted there into +the secret, to help them in making provision of their powder, +and that was one Bates, a servant of Mr. Robert +Catesby's, whom he had great opinion of for his long tried +fidelity towards him, which the poor fellow continued even +until he saw his master dead; and then, it is like, his heart +was dead withal, for he showed some fear after, when he +was taken, which gave others occasion to work upon his +weakness and to give some beginning of colour towards the +<pb n='085'/><anchor id='Pg085'/> +accusation of divers that were not guilty in the matter, as +shall afterwards appear. But these foresaid gentlemen +having left the cellar, as they desired to find it, were then +to seek for further helps wherewith to effect their designments +when that act should be performed. For then their +purpose was (saith Mr. Winter in his printed confession) to +seize upon the person of the young Prince, if he were not in +the Parliament House, which they much desired. But if +he were, then upon the young Duke Charles, who then +should be the next heir, and him they would erect, and with +him and by his authority, the Catholic religion. If that +did also fail them, then had they a resolution to take the +Lady Elizabeth, who was in the keeping of the Lord Harrington +in Warwickshire; and so by one means or other, they +would be certain to settle in the crown one of the true heirs +unto the same. But to perform this part of their exploit +required more hands and help than as yet they had at +command. Wherefore they bethought themselves what help +they might adjoin unto them in that great secret, without +likely danger and yet with the assistance which they +wanted, which partly required some more men of strength +both in mind and body; but chiefly for supply of money, +which if they had in readiness, and that placed in those +countries where they meant to gather to a head, and where, +for the most part, all sorts are either Catholic or affected to +Catholics, they thought then they could want neither men +nor any needful provision. +</p> + +<p> +To this effect they first acquainted Mr. +Ambrose Rookewood with the business, a gentleman of good +worth in the county of Suffolk and of a very ancient family +and himself the heir of the eldest house. This gentleman +was brought up in Catholic religion from his infancy and +was ever very devout. His parents also were very virtuous +and suffered much persecution for their Faith, both in +payment of money and loss of their goods and many other +molestations; yet was their house a continual receptacle +<pb n='086'/><anchor id='Pg086'/> +for Priests, and a place wherein many other Catholics did +often find great spiritual comfort, the house being a very +fair great house and his living very sufficient. But that +which moved them specially to make choice of Mr. Rookewood +was, I suppose, not so much to have his help by his +living as by his person, and some provision of horses, +of which he had divers of the best: but for himself, he was +known to be of great virtue and no less valour and very +secret. He was also of very good parts otherwise as for wit +and learning, having spent of his youth in study. He was +at this time, as I take it, not past twenty-six or twenty-seven +years old and had married a gentlewoman of a great +family, a virtuous Catholic also, by whom he had divers +young children. Yet it seemed all those did little move +him nor any respect to his living or fortune, though he had +enjoyed them but a little time; whereby I do gather, they +made a great account of this business, in respect whereof, it +seems, they made account of nothing. +</p> + +<p> +Next unto him was a Warwickshire +gentleman, one Mr. John Grant, a man of sufficient estate +for his own charge, and lived well in his country; but +of no great ability to help in the business, otherwise +than by his acquaintance (being well beloved and allied +in that country where they were chiefly to need help). +But for his own person he was as fierce as a lion, of a very +undaunted courage as could be found in a country: which +mind of his he had often showed unto pursuivants and +prowling companions, when they would come to his house +to search and ransack the same, as they did to divers of +his neighbours. But he paid them so well for their labour +not with crowns of gold but with cracked crowns sometimes, +and with dry blows instead of drink and other good cheer, +that they durst not visit him any more, unless they brought +great store of help with them. Truth is, his mettle and +manner of proceeding was so well known unto them, that +it kept them very much in awe and himself in much quiet +<pb n='087'/><anchor id='Pg087'/> +which he did the rather use, that he might with more safety +keep a Priest in his house, which he did with great fruit +unto his neighbours and comfort to himself. This gentleman +therefore they adjoined to their company, as they had +done Mr. Rookewood, giving to them both the oath of +secrecy, according to their custom. +</p> + +<p> +Then they called in one Mr. Robert +Keyes, a grave and sober man, and of great wit and +sufficiency, as I have heard divers say, that were well +acquainted with him. His virtue and valour were the +chiefest things wherein they could expect assistance from +him; for otherwise, his means were not great, but in those +two, by report, he had great measure. More was the pity +that such men, so worthy to be esteemed, should lose +themselves in such a labyrinth of erring courses. +</p> + +<p> +But of all others, he that was most pitied and generally +most commended of all men, was the next whom Mr. +Catesby thought fit to acquaint with the matter, therein to +have his help and assistance in all kinds, both for counsel +and forces and provision of money, of horses and armour +and men and followers; in all which, put them all together +and there was not such a man amongst them. And this +was Sir Everard Digby, a Knight of great +living and great account in his country. He was of an ancient +and great family, whose ancestors were a great help to the +suppressing of Richard III. the tyrant, and the bringing and +setting up of King Henry VII. from whom our King James +is lineally descended: whereupon King Henry did make +Knights in the field seven brothers of his house at one time, +from whom descended divers houses of that name, which +live all in good reputation in their several countries. But +this Sir Everard Digby was the heir of the eldest and chiefest +house, and one of the chiefest men in Rutlandshire where +he dwelt, as his ancestors had done before him, though he +had also much living in Leicestershire and other shires +adjoining. His estate was not fully come into his hands, +<pb n='088'/><anchor id='Pg088'/> +for his mother lived, who had above seven or eight hundred +pounds a year; but he had in his hands above 2,000 marks +a year. This gentleman was always Catholicly affected, +and heir unto the piety of his parents, as well as to their +living: for they were ever the most noted and known +Catholics in that country. And although this gentleman +being left a ward by his Father's untimely death, was not +brought up Catholicly in his youth, but at the University +by his guardians, as other young gentlemen use to be; yet +when he came to be of riper years, and had the guiding of +himself and his own estate, he affected most the company +of Catholics and finding by them the necessity not only of +believing but of practising also and professing that religion, +he presently made election rather to suffer with Catholic +religion, and to bear with Catholics the cross of persecution +than to rise with heresy and to be advanced in the Court, +which until then he had followed, and was as likely to +be raised as any there, if he would have followed the +time. For indeed to do him right, he was as complete a +man in all things that deserved estimation or might win +affection, as one should see in a kingdom. He was of +stature about two yards high, very little lower than Mr. +Catesby but of stronger making; of countenance so comely +and manlike, that when he was taken and brought up to the +Court (not in the best case to make show of himself as you +may imagine), yet some of the chiefest in the Court seeing +him out of a window brought in that manner, lamented +him much, and said he was the goodliest man in the whole +Court. He was skilful in all things that belonged unto a +gentleman, very cunning at his weapon, much practised and +expert in riding of great horses, of which he kept divers in +his stable continually with a skilful rider for them. For +other sports of hunting or hawking, which gentlemen in +England so much use and delight in, he had the best of +both kinds in the country round about, insomuch that he +made that the colour of his going into Warwickshire at this +<pb n='089'/><anchor id='Pg089'/> +time, and of drawing company together of his friends, as it +were to a match of hunting which he had made. For all +manner of games which are also usual for gentlemen in foul +weather, when they are forced to keep house, he was not +only able therein to keep company with the best; but was +so cunning in them all, that those who knew him well, had +rather take his part than be against him. He was a good +musician and kept divers good musicians in his house; +and himself also could play well of divers instruments. +But those who were well acquainted with him do affirm that +in gifts of mind he excelled much more than in his natural +parts; although in those also it were hard to find so many +in one man in such a measure. But of wisdom he had an +extraordinary talent, such a judicial wit and so well able to +discern and discourse of any matter, as truly I have heard +many say they have not seen the like of a young man, and +that his carriage and manner of discourse were more like to +a grave Councillor of State, than to a gallant of the Court +as he was, and a man but of twenty-six years old (which +I think was his age or thereabouts). And though his +behaviour were courteous to all, and offensive to none, yet +was he a man of great courage and of noted valour, which +at his end he showed plainly to the world, all men seeing +and affirming that he made no account at all of death. +He was so studious a follower of virtue, after he became +Catholic, that he gave great comfort to those that had the +guiding of his soul (as I have heard them seriously affirm +more than once or twice), he used his prayers daily both +mental and vocal, and daily and diligent examination of his +conscience: the Sacraments he frequented devoutly every +week, and to that end kept a Priest in his house continually, +who for virtue and learning hath not many his betters in +England. Briefly I have heard it reported of this Knight by +those that knew him well, and that were often in his company, +that they did note in him a special care of avoiding +all occasions of sin and of furthering acts of virtue in what +<pb n='090'/><anchor id='Pg090'/> +he could; to which end he was not only studious to bring +as many to be Catholics as he could (studying books of +purpose to enable himself in that kind), and brought in +divers of that sort and some of great account and place. +Not only in this highest kind, wherein he took very great joy +and comfort, but also in ordinary talk, when he had observed +that the speech did tend to any evil, as detraction or other +kind of evil words which sometimes will happen in company, +his custom was presently to take some occasion to alter the +talk, and cunningly to bring in some other good matter or +profitable subject to talk of. And this, when the matter was +not very grossly evil, or spoken to the dishonour of God or +disgrace of His servants; for then, his zeal and courage +were such, that he could not bear it, but would publicly and +stoutly contradict it, whereof I could give divers instances +worth relating, but am loth to hold the reader longer; having +written thus much of him, that it may appear what was the +cause why he was so much and so generally lamented, and +is so much esteemed and praised by all sorts in England, +both Catholics and others, although neither side do or +can approve this last outrageous and exorbitant attempt +against our King and country, wherein a man otherwise so +worthy, was so unworthily lost and cast away to the great +grief of all that knew him and especially of all that loved +him. And truly it was hard to do the one and not the +other. +</p> + +<p> +The last of all that was called to be +partaker in this treacherous plot was Mr. Francis Tresham, +a gentleman of Northamptonshire of great estate, esteemed +then worth 3,000<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a year. His parents had been long time +Catholic and his father often in prison for his conscience, +although he paid the statute duly besides of 20<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a month for +his refusing to go to Church with heretics. This gentleman +had been wild in his youth, and even till his end was not +known to be of so good example as the rest, though, towards +his later years, much reclaimed and good hope conceived of +<pb n='091'/><anchor id='Pg091'/> +him by divers of good judgment. I think Mr. Catesby +(who was his near kinsman) did chiefly acquaint him with +the matter in regard of his help by provision of money +which Mr. Tresham was as well able to do as the best, +and thought to be as likely to be both faithful and forward +as any, having been, before, a companion with them in +that action of the Earl of Essex in Queen Elizabeth's +time, and both then and since, continually discontented +with the proceedings of the State. But it is thought by +most, that Mr. Tresham had not that zeal for the advancement +of the Catholics' cause in respect of itself, as the others +had. And it seems by Mr. Winter's confession, they also +repented afterwards that they had made him of their +council, fearing him to be the man who had opened the +matter and so defeated them of their purpose; whereof +I must treat in the next chapter. +</p> + +<p> +But these gentlemen being thus added to the number +of the conspirators, they then began to conclude amongst +themselves how everything should be acted, as saith Mr. +Winter. They designed Mr. Faulkes to be the man that +should strike that first and fatal stroke and attend upon the +powder ready prepared in the cellar, to set it on fire with a +match, when the hour appointed should be come, which +should be the first day of the Parliament, because then the +King would certainly be there, and all the Lords also (but +those whom they meant to keep from thence by some +means or other), likewise all their Bishops and most of the +chiefest Puritans of the land. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Percy his office should be (with a certain company +ready to assist him) presently after that first blow to enter +the place where the young Prince or the Duke Charles +were kept, to seize upon his person, who being safely +placed in the custody of Catholics, presently they would +have proclaimed him King. Sir Everard Digby was in +Warwickshire at the time appointed, as it was agreed +amongst them, where, under pretence of a hunting match +<pb n='092'/><anchor id='Pg092'/> +(having brought his hawks and hounds to Dunsmore Heath +for the purpose, and hunted there two or three days before), +he gathered many of his friends together, and had himself +great store of men, and many fair and goodly horses. +He had also made great provision of armour and shot, +which he sent before him in a cart with some trusty +servants, and had made ready above 1,000<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> in ready coin, +as his servants since have averred that did escape, and one +of them delivered up great part of the money to the King's +officers so soon as he saw his master fallen into the lapse. +</p> + +<p> +Their intention was that if they failed of the Prince +or Duke about London, which was not unlike they +should, then would some of them hasten down to Sir +Everard Digby after the blow were given, others stopping +the ways that no news might pass but by their permission; +and then should Sir Everard Digby have made +sure, with his forces and friends, to have taken the Lady +Elizabeth out of the Lord Harrington his hands, whom +then they would presently have proclaimed heir-apparent +to the Crown. Then had they (as is expressed in their +confessions) a proclamation ready penned, wherein they +would have commanded all sorts of men, by authority +of the Prince or Princess, who would have been in their +custody, to assist the quiet settling of the young King +or Queen in their seat. They would have offered freedom +from all taxes and impositions, and payments of subsidies, +and such like; and for religion, they would have left it +as yet free for all sorts to follow their own conscience +without compulsion, which afterwards they meant (saith +the printed confession) to have set better in order. And +so indeed the Catholics are able to perform it, if they +might have freedom, by many means more effectual than +force of arms, in such an unsettled State as that must +needs have been for a time; and by many means more +effectual than heretics have, who therefore only use the +sword. For, if the truth might freely be preached, if +<pb n='093'/><anchor id='Pg093'/> +the lives and examples of Catholics, and especially of +Religious Orders, might be seen and suffered in public, +if those that be followers of the Apostles, and expert in +their trade of fishing for men, might be freely permitted +to use and show their skill in gaining of souls, no doubt +then but the sun shining so bright, as it would be seen +to do in the doctrine of Truth, would disperse the clouds +of error; no doubt but the candle set upon the candlestick +would give light unto many minds that now are groping +in the Egyptian darkness of heresy. And no question +but many and great fishes would be taken, when the night +being past, our Lord would both license and direct His +servants to cast their net on the right hand, and that such +a net as would not break, the net of Peter that is entire and +undivided, although it be able to catch at one draught a +hundred, fifty and three great fishes, wherein is +designed by a great and certain number an uncertain and +not to be numbered gain of souls, that the Apostles and +Apostolic men should gain to Christ. And this these +gentlemen hoped had been the time. But God, in Whose +only hands and disposition are the moments of time, and +Who hath placed bounds and limits unto the sea, and saith +unto it, <q>Usque huc venies et non procedes amplius +et hic confringes tumentes fluctus tuos:</q><note place='foot'><q>Hitherto thou shalt come, and shalt go no further, and here thou shalt +break thy swelling waves</q> (Job xxxviii. 11).</note> He Who is the +Master must be also the Measurer of time, and He will not +easily make men of His council when their afflictions shall +end and how far they shall proceed; especially such men as +themselves will not follow counsel, but run headlong upon +such a course as this, which no wise man could or would +have counselled. No, on the contrary side, that was verified +in this practice which Christ foretold unto St. Peter, when +upon zeal he drew his sword in defence of his Master, +</p> + +<p> +<q>Omnes qui acceperint gladium, gladio peribunt,</q><note place='foot'><q>All that take the sword, shall perish with the sword</q> (St. Matt. xxvi. 52).</note> +<pb n='094'/><anchor id='Pg094'/> +said our Lord, forewarning all men, that howsoever they +may receive the sword or use it, when it is given them +by authority (as it is to all lawful governors and officers in +commonwealths), yet to take the sword (which noteth a +private will or power not authorized) is not without a +fault, nor shall be without a fall. And so it happened +to these conspirators, as the sequent chapter will declare. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='095'/><anchor id='Pg095'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter VII. +How, The Parliament Drawing Near, The Whole +Plot Was Discovered, And That Which Ensued +Thereupon.</head> + +<p> +The mercies of God are great, and His patient expectance +of us, granting time and occasions and motives to repent, +is most gracious and full of longanimity. The foresaid +conspirators had intended and prepared, as you have heard, +the utter destruction and overthrow both of the King with +the chiefest of his family, of the Council also, with most of +the nobility, and with their clergy, and others that belonged +to both the Houses of Parliament. But the mercies of +God were such, that He would not permit so great and +universal a ruin to light upon so many, and amongst them +so many worthy persons, amongst whom, it is to be hoped, +His infinite wisdom hath foreseen many upon whom His +goodness will bestow His grace hereafter, and so make +them vessels of election, who now perhaps, in ignorant +zeal, do persecute the servants of Christ and Christ in +them. +</p> + +<p> +And if there were any there who finally will prove but +cockle in the field, yet the Father of the family +would not have them so digged out as His unskilful +servants desired, <q>ne forte eradicantibus illis zizania, eradicatum +fuisset simul et triticum.</q><note place='foot'><q>Lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together +with it</q> (St. Matt. xiii. 29).</note> We hope and pray for +much good unto many of those, who should have been +present at that eruption of fire, if it had succeeded according +to their intent, which God forbid. And God did forbid +it, for no doubt it was His will it should be discovered, +<pb n='096'/><anchor id='Pg096'/> +which happened in this manner. About ten days before +the Parliament should have begun the Lord Mounteagle +(whose affection to Catholics hath long time been known +unto divers) being at his own house and at supper, a man +came to his page in the street and delivered him a letter +wishing him to deliver the same unto his Lord's own +hands, which the page performed, but made no stay of +the bringer thereof, who presently departed. The Lord +Mounteagle not knowing the hand, and seeing no name +subscribed, caused one of his men to read it unto him, +and it was of this tenour. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The letter sent to the +Lord Mounteagle.</note> +<q>My Lord, out of the love I bear to some +of your friends, I have a care of your preservation, therefore +I would advise you, as you tender your life, to devise some +excuse to shift off your attendance at this Parliament, for +God and man have concurred to punish the wickedness +of this time. And think not slightly of this advertisement, +but retire yourself into your country, where you may expect +the event in safety. For though there be no appearance +of any stir, yet, I say, they shall receive a terrible blow +this Parliament, and yet they shall not see who hurts +them. This counsel is not to be contemned, because it +may do you good, and can do you no harm, for the +danger is past so soon as you have burnt the letter. And +I hope God will give you the grace to make use of it, +to Whose holy protection I commend you.</q> +</p> + +<p> +This was the letter which the Lord Mounteagle having +considered, and seeing so dangerous matter contained in it, +he presently went to the Lord of Salisbury, who is Chief +Secretary to His Majesty, and delivered the letter unto +him, with relation of all circumstances in the receipt and +reading of the letter. The Lord of Salisbury seemed +not at the first to make any great account of it, yet said +he would acquaint some other Lords of the Council with +the same, and commended the Lord Mounteagle for his +fidelity and care of His Majesty's safety, and of the State, +<pb n='097'/><anchor id='Pg097'/> +and presently showed the letter to the Lord Chamberlain, +and then both of them thought the letter might have some +relation with other informations the Lord of Salisbury +had received from beyond seas, concerning some business +intended by the Papists; and they seemed to think +there might be some perilous attempt intended. And +therefore they two concluded to join with them three +other of the Council, to wit, the Lord Admiral, the Earl +of Worcester and Northampton, to be acquainted with +this matter; who having all of them concurred together to +the examination of the contents of the said letter, they +did conclude (saith the book written of the discovery of +this treason) that how slight soever a matter it might +at the first appear, yet was it not absolutely to be contemned, +in respect of the care which it behoved them to +have of the preservation of His Majesty's person. Yet they +resolved, for two reasons, first to acquaint the King himself +with the same, before they proceeded to any further +inquisition in the matter, as well (saith the book) for the +expectation and experience they had of His Majesty's +fortunate judgment in clearing and solving of obscure +riddles and doubtful mysteries, as also because the more +time would in the meanwhile be given for the practice to +ripen (if any was) whereby the discovery might be the more +clear and evident, and the ground of proceeding thereupon +more safe, just, and easy. And so according to their +determination the said Earl of Salisbury did repair to +the King upon the Friday after, being All-Hallow-day, +which was the day after His Majesty's arrival from Royston, +where he had been at his hunting exercise, and was come +up to London to be present at the beginning of the Parliament. +The Earl therefore finding the King alone in +his gallery, without any other speech or judgment giving +of the letter, but only relating simply the form of the +delivery thereof, he presented it to His Highness. The +King no sooner read the letter, but after a little pause, +<pb n='098'/><anchor id='Pg098'/> +and then reading it over again, he delivered his judgment +of it in such sort, as he thought it was not to be contemned; +for that the style of it seemed to be more quick +and pithy than is usual to be in any pasquil or libel, +the superfluities of idle brains. But the Earl of Salisbury +perceiving the King to apprehend it deeplier than he looked +for, knowing his nature, told him that he thought by one +sentence in it, that it was like to be written by some +fool or madman, reading to him that sentence in it, <q>For +the danger is past as soon as you have burnt the letter,</q> +which he said was likely to be the saying of a fool; +for if the danger was past so soon as the letter was burnt, +then the warning behoved to be of little avail, when the +burning of the letter might make the danger to be +eschewed. But the King by the contrary, considering the +former sentence in the letter, <q>That they should receive +a terrible blow at this Parliament, and yet should not +see who hurt them;</q> joining it to the sentence immediately +following already alleged, did thereupon conjecture that +the danger mentioned should be some sudden danger by +blowing up of powder. For no other insurrection, rebellion, +or whatsoever other private and desperate attempt could +be committed or attempted in time of Parliament and the +authors thereof unseen except only if it were by a blowing +up of powder, which might be performed by one base +knave in a dark corner: whereupon he was moved to +interpret and construe the later sentence in the letter +(alleged by the Earl of Salisbury against all ordinary sense +and construction in grammar) as if by these words, <q>For the +danger is past as soon as you have burned the letter,</q> +should be closely understood the suddenty and quickness +of the danger, which should be as quickly performed and +at an end, as that paper should be of blazing up in the fire, +turning the word of <q>as soon</q> to the sense of <q>as quickly;</q> +and therefore His Majesty wished that before his going to +the Parliament, the under rooms to the Parliament House +<pb n='099'/><anchor id='Pg099'/> +might be well and narrowly searched. The Earl of Salisbury +wondering at this His Majesty's commentary, which +he knew to be so far contrary to his ordinary and natural +disposition, who did rather ever sin upon the other side, +in not apprehending nor trusting the advertisements of +practices and perils when he was freely informed of them, +and interpreting rightly this extraordinary caution at this +time to proceed from the vigilant care he had of the whole +State more than of his own person, yet he thought good +to dissemble still unto the King, that there was any just +cause of such apprehension, and ended the present talk +with some merry jest as his custom is. But though he +seemed to neglect it to His Majesty, yet he could not be +at rest till with the Lord Chamberlain he came again unto +His Majesty, at which time it was agreed that the said +Lord Chamberlain should according to his custom and +office view all the Parliament Houses both above and +below, and consider what likelihood or appearance of any +such danger might be gathered: but yet this was deferred +until the afternoon before the sitting down of the Parliament, +which was upon the Monday following: at what time, +he according to this conclusion went to the Parliament +House accompanied with the Lord Mounteagle, where +having viewed all the lower rooms, he found in the vault +under the Upper House great store and provision of billets, +faggots, and coals: and inquiring of Whyneyard, keeper of +the wardrobe, to what use he had put the lower rooms and +cellars, he told him that Mr. Thomas Percy had hired both +the house and part of the cellar or vault under the same and +that the wood and coal therein was the said gentleman's +own provision. Whereupon the Lord Chamberlain looking +into the room perceived a fellow standing in a corner, who +called himself the said Percy his man, and keeper of that +house for him, but indeed was Guido Faulks, the man that +should have acted that monstrous tragedy. +</p> + +<p> +The Lord Chamberlain looking upon all things with a +<pb n='100'/><anchor id='Pg100'/> +heedful eye, though in outward show he seemed careless, +presently addressed himself to the King, and in the presence +of the Lord Treasurer, the Lord Admiral, the Earls of +Worcester, Northampton, and Salisbury, he made his report +what he had seen and observed there, affirming that he did +wonder not a little at the extraordinary great provision of +wood and coal in that house where Thomas Percy had so +seldom occasion to remain, as likewise it gave him in his +mind, that his man looked like a very tall and desperate +fellow. This could not but increase the King's former apprehension, +whereupon he willed that those billets and coals +should be searched to the bottom: and of the same opinion +were the Lords there present, although they thought it fit to +have it done in the night, and by a Justice of Peace only +under pretence of searching for some of the King's stuff +that was missing; and this for two reasons; one was lest +if nothing were found, it should seem the King and State +were too suspicious of every light toy; also for that they +said it would lay an ill-favoured imputation upon the Earl +of Northumberland, one of His Majesty's greatest subjects +and Councillors: this Thomas Percy being his kinsman and +most confident familiar. +</p> + +<p> +Thus far the book of the discovery of this treason discourseth +of the manner how the same did come to light. +And because the same was set forth by authority, with desire +that men all should conceive this to be the manner how it +came to light, it may be thought that so it was. Yet there +want not many others of great judgment, that think His +Majesty and divers of those Councillors also, who had the +scanning of the letter, to be well able in shorter time and +with fewer doubts to decipher a darker riddle and find out +a greater secret than that matter was, after so plain a letter +was delivered, importing in so plain terms an intended +punishment both by God and man, and so terrible a blow +to be given at that very time and yet the actors invisible. +And those that be of this opinion do persuade themselves +<pb n='101'/><anchor id='Pg101'/> +the matter came out by some other means, and that this +letter was but framed and sent of purpose to give another +show of casual discovery both to hide the true means and +to make the especial preservation of the King and State to +be better discerned to come from God Himself. Unto +which opinion they were the rather inclined by the circumstance +of the matter. First, in that the Lord Mounteagle did +that night wherein the letter was to be delivered, appoint a +supper to be made for him at his own house a mile or two +out of London, where he had not supped or lain of a twelve-month +and more before that time, and therefore strange that +party should seek him there. Then the manner of delivery +seemed strange, to be so weakly handled by any that had +judgment as to be delivered to a page and to be read by +his Lord in the time of supper, when he could not with +safety have concealed the matter, if he would. Again it +was so written, as that my Lord of Salisbury might well +say it was like to be the writing of a fool or a madman. For +no other assuredly would have committed so great a secret +to ink and paper in so plain manner and that so long +before the time; especially there being many other means +likely enough to be effectual for the staying of my Lord +Mounteagle from the Parliament that one day, and that +without his danger of concealing any practice against the +State. For if some special friend had seemed to be in +extremity and sent for him in the instant, he would not +have failed him. Besides many sudden occasions would +have sufficed, as a certain and present opportunity of some +commodious bargain for provision of money or jewels or +such like, which courtiers often have want of, if another, +time would not have served, would have been more likely +to call him that very morning than this letter so delivered +to stay him ten days before. +</p> + +<p> +But although many were of opinion that this was not +the first means of this discovery, yet none that ever I could +hear of, was able to give a certain judgment, which way +<pb n='102'/><anchor id='Pg102'/> +indeed it was discovered. It seems the gentlemen themselves +did most fear Mr. Francis Tresham to be the man that should +send this letter unto the Lord Mounteagle, which Lord had +married Mr. Tresham his sister. But that was nothing likely, +for he was very witty; and surely the sending of such a +letter in such a manner was nothing wittingly contrived, if +it were done <hi rend='italic'>bona fide</hi>; neither would Mr. Tresham have +adventured his life and estate (which was great) for his +brother-in-law, if he had not thought him worthy of further +trust. For if he did not think the letter would persuade, +why should he write it so plainly to the overthrow of +the business and so also of himself, which if the Lord +followed not his counsel, must needs follow. And if +he did believe it would persuade, why did he not rather +do it by word of mouth the very morning it should +have been done, which for divers reasons had been most +likely to be effectual; whereas on the other side he might +well think the Lord Mounteagle could not discern by the +letter, whether it came from friend or foe, being without +name and in an unknown hand: and from a friend he +could not think it being sent in so simple and yet so public +manner. If from a foe, he were undone, if he did conceal +it. No, Mr. Tresham had too much wit to deal so sillily in a +thing of such importance. More did doubt want of fidelity +than of wit in Mr. Tresham, and therefore it was rather +supposed, by most that doubted him to be the man, that +he first opened the matter unto the Council, as thinking +thereby to be raised to some place of credit, which then he +might think himself with wit and living able to bear out with +the best. This opinion was the rather believed afterwards, +when it was evident that none of the rest had done it, who +were privy unto the matter; but that every one of them either +died in the field because they would not be taken, or being +taken were all executed and so left not the least suspicion +of having opened the matter. Again, this opinion was +increased when the matter being discovered, all the gentlemen +<pb n='103'/><anchor id='Pg103'/> +fled into Warwickshire and then according to their +former designments, rose in arms, thinking to have made a +head. But Mr. Tresham staid still in London and never +stirred foot, though as far in as the best. And thirdly, the +opinion was yet more confirmed when afterwards Mr. +Tresham was also taken and kept close prisoner, at which +time the general bruit was, that he confessed all he +knew; but none of his confessions were published, neither +did himself ever come to light afterwards, but died in the +Tower; so that it is not known what he had discovered first +or last, or what he would have confirmed, or repented, if +he had come unto his trial and execution as the rest +did. +</p> + +<p> +But whosoever was the discoverer of this matter or by +what means soever it came to light, we are much to thank +God that it was discovered, from whom we must acknowledge +the benefit received as from the chief cause, <q>a quo +omne donum optimum et omne bonum procedit,</q><note place='foot'><q>Every best gift and every perfect is from above</q> (St. James i. 17).</note> and +these especially which most concern the public good. +</p> + +<p> +The letter therefore being so understood as before I +declared, and the place itself being viewed by the Lord +Chamberlain giving such cause of suspicion, as is already +noted, that night following being Monday night (when the +Parliament should have begun <emph>and ended also</emph> the next day) +Sir Thomas Knevet, a gentleman of His Majesty's Privy +Chamber, was sent to search the place at midnight under +pretence of looking for some other things as was before +devised. When he came to the Parliament House before his +entry into Mr. Percy his lodging, he found the foresaid man +that had the keeping of the house for Mr. Percy standing +without the house and seeing him with his clothes on and +booted at so dead a time of the night, the Justice apprehended +him: and after went forward to the searching of the +house, where after he had caused to be overturned some of +the billets and coals, he first found one of the small barrels +<pb n='104'/><anchor id='Pg104'/> +of powder, and after, all the rest, to the number of thirty-six +barrels great and small. And thereafter searching the +fellow whom he had taken, found three matches and all +other instruments fit for blowing up of the powder ready +upon him: which made him instantly to confess what his +intent was, affirming withal that if he had happened to have +been within the house when he was taken, as he was +immediately before at the ending of his work, he would not +have failed to have blown up the Justice, house and all, +belike imagining that some part of the danger might have +lit upon the Court and done some harm to those, to whom +he most desired it. For otherwise I know not what +meaning he should have, unless by his own sudden death +also, which would have followed, he meant to escape the +extremity of torture which he might well expect: but +this we did not hear that he attempted afterwards to +himself nor seemed to desire it. +</p> + +<p> +This done, the prisoner was carried fast bound unto +the Court and the news of all particulars presently carried +unto the King by those of the Council who lay in the +house, although it were but four hours after midnight. +Afterwards all the rest of the Council being sent for +into the town, they examined the prisoner, who both to +the Council and to all the rest that spake with him that +day, appeared so constant and settled upon his grounds, +as all the Council said they thought they had found another +Mutius Scævola born in England. For notwithstanding the +horror of the fact, his sudden surprising, the terror which +might have been stricken into him by coming into such a +presence and the restless and confused questions that every +man all that day did vex him with, yet was his countenance +so far from being dejected, as he often smiled in scornful +manner, not only avowing the fact, but repenting only with +the said Scævola his failing in the execution thereof, +whereof, he said, the devil and not God was the discoverer: +answering quickly to every man's objection, scoffing at +<pb n='105'/><anchor id='Pg105'/> +many idle questions that were propounded unto him and +jesting with such as he thought had no authority to +examine him. All that day the Council could get nothing +out of him concerning his complices, refusing to answer to +any such questions which he thought might discover the +plot and laying all the blame upon himself, whereunto he +said he was moved only for religion and conscience sake, +denying the King to be his lawful sovereign or the anointed +of God, in respect he was an heretic; and would acknowledge +no other name to himself but John Johnson, servant to +Thomas Percy. But after he had been three or four days +in the Tower and was threatened the rack only, as the +printed book saith (though the common voice was, that he +was extremely racked the first days), then, whether to avoid +torments, or for that he might understand that the gentlemen +had discovered themselves by rising up in arms in the +country, he <emph>then</emph> named some of his complices, with his own +name also, and how the matter was broken unto him, and +how begun and prosecuted, as I have before declared; +yet I cannot find by his confession which is published in +print, that he named above six of those who had wrought +in the mine and provision of the powder and who then were +all known to be up in arms. And here we must leave this +prisoner, who now was known to be Guido Faulks, close kept +in the Tower; and will let you see what course the rest of +the conspirators took, when they understood the matter was +plainly discovered. +</p> + +<p> +First, upon the knowledge that such a letter was +delivered to the Lord Mounteagle ten days before, they +grew very doubtful of the matter, and fearing only Mr. +Tresham in that kind, had divers meetings with him to +examine and try him how far he had proceeded. But he +forswearing all and that he knew nothing how it came +about, they had divers consultations what were best to do; +but (as Mr. Thomas Winter saith in his confession) first +that Mr. Catesby resolved, he would not fly his country, +<pb n='106'/><anchor id='Pg106'/> +he would see further yet. And then they sent Mr. +Faulks to see if all were well in the cellar, who adventured +to go notwithstanding the doubt and returned to them at +night and told them all was yet well, which it seems gave +them some hope, yet afterwards when they heard what +conference had passed between my Lord of Salisbury and +His Majesty about the letter, they gave it lost the second +time, and then Mr. Catesby would not go until Mr. Percy +were come up, who came the next day and he would needs +abide the uttermost trial. But upon Tuesday morning +(which was the day appointed for the fact) Mr. Faulks being +taken in the search that night as is declared, they heard and +saw so many and so plain circumstances, that they must +needs know the whole matter was discovered and no hope at +all that way to be left them. Then they, being all excellently +well horsed, rode into the country keeping the highway; but +so fast a pace and with such a resolution, that it was very +hard to overtake them and would not have been easy to have +stayed them. They rode two and three together; and they +did ride that day notwithstanding the foulness of the winter +ways to Dunchurch (which I take it, is almost eighty<note place='foot'>Is above 60. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> miles), +where Sir Everard Digby stayed in readiness to have +surprised the person of the King's daughter in case they +had brought other news. But they bringing such news as +was little expected and less welcome, as it may well be +supposed, they all entered into consultation what was best +to be done, and it was much marvelled at by divers of Sir +Everard Digby his friends, who were there with him in +company for his match of hunting, to see so many gallant +gentlemen come in of sudden so late in the evening and so +well appointed. And seeing them enter into serious consultation +in a chamber apart, they knew not what to make +of it; but soon after they might perceive, when they all +came out, as men resolved upon some enterprise. And Sir +Everard caused all his men and horses presently to be ready +<pb n='107'/><anchor id='Pg107'/> +and departed with them. Mr. Catesby also and other of the +gentlemen had prepared their horses and furniture ready in +that place beforehand, although they thought they should +have used it with more advantage. For now when the +matter was known and bruited in the country, that such an +act should have been performed in London, which had +failed and that all was safe there, and that it was apparent +these were the conspirators by the course they took, none +would come to assist them;<note place='foot'>Neither friends to their persons, nor friends to their religion. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in +Orig.</hi></note> nor had they any with them, +but such servants and followers as themselves had provided +beforehand under other pretences, which therefore for +danger of giving suspicion could not be many. Neither do +I think they were ever above eighty in the whole company, +although the fame in other countries went first that they were +150, then 300, and some said they were 1,000 strong. But +if that had been so, it is like the matter had not been so +soon ended, as it proved to be.<note place='foot'>But this bruit, indeed, had been the likeliest way to increase their number +by the resort of other Catholics from other countries, if the fact itself had not +disliked other Catholics, and their minds had not been well prepared beforehand +to refuse all such attempts by the persuasion of Father Garnett and others +by his direction, according to the order sent from His Holiness and the like +commandment also from Father General and Father Persons, as before hath +been declared. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> But these conspirators, as +it seems, hoped the matter would prove otherwise than it +did, and that many would have joined with them, when once +they saw them gathered to a head. And to make their +rising the more bruited and withal to furnish themselves of +some horses for the great saddle, they went presently to +Warwick and there out of a house which is adjoining to the +Castle, they seized upon certain great horse belonging to +some noblemen and gentlemen which were kept there by a +rider to be taught. From thence they went and took all +my Lord Winsor's armour, which by report was able to +furnish a much greater company then ever they had with +them. From thence they went forward through Worcestershire +<pb n='108'/><anchor id='Pg108'/> +towards Staffordshire, offering no violence or hurt +to any.<note place='foot'>But expecting belike that divers Catholic gentlemen of those countries +(where there be very many, and some of great worth and large estates) should +have come unto them. And Mr. Thomas Winter was sent unto one of the +greatest (whose daughter Mr. Robert Winter aforesaid had married), but he +caused his gates to be shut against him and would not so much as hear him +speak. And yet the said gentleman was afterward in great trouble and had like +to have lost all his estate, as bearing good-will unto them. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig. +The lines of erasure extend over the following sentence also.</hi></note> +</p> + +<p> +The country in the meantime began to rise on every +side, yet none did as yet set upon them, nor until Friday +following;<note place='foot'>This must be in. <hi rend='italic'>Orig. in marg.</hi></note> and on Thursday night they came to one +Mr. Stephen Littleton's house in Staffordshire, who had +adjoined himself unto them. And being there it pleased +God to send them such a fortune as seemed very much +to alter their resolutions, and made them resolve neither +to fight nor fly, but to give up themselves willingly unto +death. For in the morning early when some were gone +abroad to discover what companies were coming, and +others were preparing their shot and powder in a readiness, +because there was some of the powder that they +thought to be somewhat dankish which they set before +the fire and were busy about it, whilst behold, a spark +falling out of the fire took hold of the powder, and that +blowing up, hurt divers of them, especially Mr. Catesby, +Mr. Rookewood, but most of all Mr. Grant, whose face was +much disfigured, and his eyes almost burnt out. This +loe<note place='foot'>Compare the German <q>Lohe,</q> a flame. Some English dictionaries give +<q>Low,</q> a local and obsolete word, with the same meaning.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> made them see it was not best for them to proceed +in their commenced course; and, as it seems, they took +it for a sign of God's will that He would not have them +prepare to resist, but rather to prepare themselves to +suffer, which they did. For, as Mr. Thomas Winter said +in his confession, when himself (with Mr. Littleton being +abroad in the fields to discover) had understood of this +heavy chance, and the matter being told him by his man +<pb n='109'/><anchor id='Pg109'/> +in worse sort than indeed it was (to wit, that Mr. Catesby, +Mr. Rookewood, and Mr. Grant were burnt up with powder, +and the rest of the company dispersed upon sight thereof), +he resolving not to fly, as Mr. Littleton advised him, but +first to see and bury the body of his friend Mr. Catesby, +so returned back to the house, and there found the gentlemen +reasonable well in respect of what he had heard, +and asked them what they resolved to do. They answered, +<q>We mean here to die.</q> Then said Mr. Thomas Winter, +<q>I will take such part as you do.</q> Then they all fell +earnestly to their prayers, the Litanies and such like (as +since some of the company affirmed that escaped taking, +being none of the conspirators, but such as joined with +them in the country); they also spent an hour in meditation, +and divers of their company departed to shift for +themselves, the house being not yet beset. +</p> + +<p> +About an hour before mid-day the High Sheriff came +with the forces of the country and beset the house. Mr. +Thomas Winter going into the court of the house was +shot into the shoulder with which he lost the use of his +arm. The next shot was the elder Wright, who was +stricken dead. After him the younger Wright, and fourthly +Mr. Rookewood, but he was only wounded in four or +five places, and so taken and afterwards put to death at +London. So were also Mr. Thomas Winter and Mr. Grant +and all the rest but Mr. Catesby and Mr. Percy, who +resolved they would not be taken, but rather suffer death +at that time in the field. Wherefore Mr. Catesby took +from his neck a cross of gold which he always used to +wear about him, and blessing himself with it and kissing +it, showed it unto the people, protesting there solemnly +before them all, it was only for the honour of the Cross, +and the exaltation of that Faith which honoured the Cross, +and for the saving of their souls in the same Faith, that +had moved him to undertake the business; and sith he +saw it was not God's will it should succeed in that manner +<pb n='110'/><anchor id='Pg110'/> +they intended or at that time, he was willing and ready +to give his life for the same cause, only he would not +be taken by any, and against that only he would defend +himself with his sword.<note place='foot'>He also protested there was no more the conspiracy than those who had +there published themselves by that public rising in arms. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi> +This is not good to be in, because of Mr. Tresham, who was one, and not with +them. <hi rend='italic'>In marg. in another hand.</hi></note> This done, Mr. Catesby and Mr. +Percy turned back to back, resolving to yield themselves to +no man, but to death as to the messenger of God. None +of their adversaries did come near them; but one fellow +standing behind a tree with a musket shot them both +with one bullet, and Mr. Catesby was shot almost dead, the +other lived three or four days.<note place='foot'>If he lived so many days, he should have carried from that place and +examined, etc. <hi rend='italic'>In marg. in yet another hand.</hi></note> Mr. Catesby being fallen +to the ground, as they say, went upon his knees into the +house, and there got a picture of our Blessed Lady in his +arms (unto whom he was accustomed to be very devout), +and so embracing and kissing the same he died. +</p> + +<p> +Some of the chiefest of them did think to have escaped, +as Sir Everard Digby, Mr. Robert Winter, and Mr. Stephen +Littleton; and these two last knowing the country better +than the other, did indeed escape for the time.<note place='foot'>And got to some friends' houses, where they lived safe for a month or +more, but afterwards were discovered and taken. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> Sir +Everard Digby thinking also to take that course, offered all +his servants that they might take their horses and money +and shift for themselves. But his page and one other said +they would never leave him but against their will. Therefore +being well mounted, they three went together, but +they found the country so up on every side, and all +drawing towards the place where the voice was the conspirators +were beset, that it was not possible for them to +pass or go unknown, especially Sir Everard Digby, being +so noted a man for his stature and personage, and withal +so well appointed as he was. Whereupon he did rather +choose (after he had gained a little ground) to strike into +<pb n='111'/><anchor id='Pg111'/> +a wood, and thought there in a dry pit to have staid +with his horses until the company had been passed. But +they tracked his horses unto the very pit side, and then +cried out, <q>Here he is, here he is.</q> Sir Everard being +altogether undaunted, answered, <q>Here he is indeed, what +then?</q> and advanced his horse in the manner of curvetting +(which he was expert in) and thought to have borne them +over, and so to break from them, esteeming them to be +but ten or twelve persons, whom he saw about the pit, +and though he made them easily give way, yet then he +saw above a hundred people hard by and coming upon +him: so that seeing it in vain to resist, he willingly yielded +himself to the likeliest man of the company, upon a desire +he had to have some time before his death for his better +preparation, and withal out of a desire (as it afterwards +appeared) to have done some service to the Catholic cause +by word, sith he saw he could not do it by the sword. +For being then taken and carried up to London prisoner +and to the Court, he made earnest request to have spoken +with His Majesty if it might have been admitted, intending +to lay down the causes so plainly which had moved them +to this attempt, and withal how dangerous it was for His +Majesty to take the course he did, as that he hoped to persuade +at least some mitigation, if not toleration, for Catholics. +</p> + +<p> +But the Council knowing well how judicial a man he +was, and how well able to work his intent with sound +reasons, would not assent unto his desire, but sent him +presently prisoner unto the Tower, where also all the +rest of the conspirators that were taken at Mr. Littleton's +in Staffordshire were presently lodged upon their bringing +up, which was as soon as their hurts would give them leave +to travel. So that only four were slain in the country, +Mr. Robert Catesby, Mr. Thomas Percy, Mr. John Wright, +and his brother, Christopher Wright. The rest were all +put into the Tower for further trial according to law, which +were these: Sir Everard Digby, Mr. Ambrose Rookewood, +<pb n='112'/><anchor id='Pg112'/> +Mr. Thomas Winter, Mr. John Grant, Mr. Robert Keyes, Mr. +Francis Tresham, and Mr. Guido Faulks, who were there +before; unto them also were adjoined afterwards, Mr. +Robert Winter and Mr. Stephen Littleton, who being discovered<note place='foot'>Let all this be in and stand for the end of this chapter, until you come +to that which is blotted out. <hi rend='italic'>Orig. in marg.</hi></note> +in one place where they had been at least a +month, they went into a house of the Widow Littleton's +a woman of great estate, and there were kept in a chamber +by Humphrey Littleton, her alliance, she being then at +London; but their being in that house was found out +by the cook of the house, in the provision of meal, and +so by him they were discovered, and taken by the next +Justices and so carried up to London and laid with the +rest in the Tower. All<note place='foot'>This must be in. <hi rend='italic'>Orig. in marg.</hi></note> these prisoners were divers times +examined, but only two of their examinations published +in print, which were of Mr. Guido Faulks and Mr. Thomas +Winter, both which agreed in one, only Mr. Winter's was +the larger, and contained much of the matter which I +have before expressed, concerning their first intention, the +names and number of the conspirators, the course they +took to keep it secret, their manner of proceeding in the +whole, and their intention afterwards to set up one of +the King's children, and with them the Catholic religion. +And both in all their examinations and the whole process +of the matter it appeared plainly they were all and the +only conspirators. The rest of the Catholics were free, +as shall more appear in the chapter following.<note place='foot'>All unto this place must be in. <hi rend='italic'>Orig. in marg.</hi> They affirmed constantly +there were no other conspirators than were taken. And as for Priests, they +did both then and at their death protest there was none in the action, +insomuch that it was generally voiced and believed through England that there +was no Priest accused or could be touched with the treason, which gave +generally great satisfaction both to Catholics and others. And so in right it +should still have continued; but the Puritans did much envy that they should +be free from blame, upon whom they wished rather that all might light. And +therefore they began to practise and work the contrary opinion, first in the +King, and afterwards in public show unto the country, as shall afterwards +appear. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='113'/><anchor id='Pg113'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter VIII. +How Upon Examination Of The Prisoners It Was +Apparent That No Other Catholics Could Be +Touched With The Conspiracy. The Same Also +Confirmed By His Majesty's Own Words, To The +Great Comfort Of Catholics.</head> + +<p> +When all these conspirators were brought to the Tower +(which is the ordinary prison for such as are found guilty +or suspected of high treason, and especially for persons +of account, or in causes of great moment), they were all +severally and several times examined by the Lords of +the Council, and then it was in vain for them either to +hide the matter, which was apparently known in the great +preparation of powder which had been found, or to conceal +the persons or qualities of the conspirators, who had all +published themselves in prosecuting their first intended +treason with a second attempt of public rebellion. Therefore +all did acknowledge the fact, though none would +directly yield it to be an offence to God, though they +said it was so unto their Prince and the present State +of the country. Their examinations did all agree in all +material points, and therefore two only were published in +print, containing the substance of the rest. And indeed +the sum of that which I have been able to say in this +narration touching either their first intentions or the names +or number of the conspirators, or concerning the course +they took to keep the matter so absolutely secret, or, +finally, touching the manner of their beginning and proceeding +in the whole matter; for that (as I noted before) +it being kept as such a vowed secret in the heads and +hearts of so few, and those also afterwards apprehended +<pb n='114'/><anchor id='Pg114'/> +before they could have means to declare the particulars +in any private manner, therefore no more can be known +of the matter or manner of this tragedy than is found +or gathered out of their examinations. The effect whereof +I have set down before, in prosecution of the story, and +shall not need here to repeat. +</p> + +<p> +But this they all agreed in, that no other Catholics were +to be touched with the matter, nor had any ways assisted +them therein, but those who were now well known to the +whole realm by their public rising in arms, of which also +the greatest part did but join with them in the second, and +had not any knowledge at all of the first attempt. Hereupon +it followed, that whereas at the first breaking out +of this monstrous Plot most men according to their humour +and aversion from Catholics and their religion, would +give their censure, that sure many Papists would be touched +with this matter, and especially the Priests no doubt were +the devisers and incentors of this intended fiery treason. +Now after all these prisoners had been often and seriously +examined, their general voice was turned and their conceit +changed, and it was as general a report both in London +and through England, that not one Priest could be touched +with the Plot, nor any other Catholics but those that were +already taken, and some few others that were well known +by their public rebellion, and were in chace in the country +and much watch laid for them everywhere, with public +proclamation and description of their persons, as is usual +in such cases. This, you must think, was a great comfort +unto Catholics in so great a distress; and this comfort +was much increased also, when Catholics did see that +His Majesty did free most of his Catholic subjects +from imputation of this crime in his proclamation about +this matter, dated the 7th of November, which was +after the examination and confessions of Faulks; wherein +naming eight principal heads or contrivers of this conspiracy, +who had published themselves in the country. +</p> + +<pb n='115'/><anchor id='Pg115'/> + +<p> +For in that proclamation, though at the beginning out of +his persuasion of a contrary religion, he do say that they +were persons known to be so utterly corrupted with the +superstition of the Romish religion, as seduced with the +blindness thereof; yet afterwards in the body of the same +proclamation he doth prudently and more equally distinguish +between them and other Catholics, affirming that +by good experience he was so well persuaded of the +loyalty of divers of his said Catholic subjects, that he +held himself assured they do as much abhor this detestable +conspiracy as himself, and would be ready to do their best +endeavours (though with expense of their blood) to suppress +all attempts against his safety and the quiet of his +State, and to discover whomsoever they should suspect +to be of rebellious and traitorous disposition, &c. Which +equanimity of His Majesty distinguishing between the +guilty and the guiltless, did much edify and content all +wise and grave men of what religion soever, who cannot +but greatly detest and condemn the attempt, under what +pretence, cause or intention soever, it were conceived. +</p> + +<p> +And as the whole multitude of Catholics were free from +all consent or knowledge thereof, and could not in justice +be touched therewith, so much less the religion which they +profess, which in her doctrine doth no ways allow or avow +any such attempt, whatsoever the enemies thereof, and +namely the Puritans, may persuade His Majesty to the +contrary; as it appeared they began not long after to +labour His Highness upon this occasion, to be so conceited +of Catholics (if they were perfect Catholics indeed) and +so much more of their religion; seeming to think it more +likely in them that were better grounded and more exact +professors of the same religion. To which effect were His +Majesty's words in his public speech in the Parliament +House not long after, in the hearing of all the Puritans,<note place='foot'>Who had much laboured to possess the King with that opinion as being +most for their advantage. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +<pb n='116'/><anchor id='Pg116'/> +seeming desirous to give contentment to all parties. For +first after all the conspirators had been thoroughly tried +and examined in the Tower (as I have declared), and that +it was now apparent by all the success of the matter, and +by all their examinations, that not only the multitude of +Catholics were clear, but also that there were no more +to be touched than were already discovered, insomuch +that the general voice and opinion of all men was changed, +as is said before, then did His Majesty in his public speech +confirm again his good opinion of his Catholic subjects +in that behalf; but withal seemed to believe the Puritans +further in their malicious reports of us and our minds, than +upon due trial His Majesty will find to be true. For in +the said speech after he had first given due thanks to God +for his happy delivery from so great a danger, then he +declared whom he took to be the practisers and plotters +of this treason, and seeming to point as it were to the +conspirators already discovered, those he showed to be +men unto which he had not given any cause of disgust. +<q>If, (saith he) these conspirators had only been bankrupt +persons, or discontented upon occasion of any disgrace +done unto them, this might have seemed to be but a work +of revenge. But for my own part, as I scarcely ever knew +any of them, so cannot they allege so much as a pretended +cause of grief.<note place='foot'>By which we may gather that their grief and motives were chiefly for the +common cause, as was gathered before out of their own words and protestations. +<hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> And the wretch himself in hands doth +confess that there was no cause moving him or them +but merely and only religion.</q> Where by the way we +may observe both out of the reason which His Majesty +allegeth, and out of their own protestations, wherein they +all agreed, that no particular grudge or respect to themselves +was their motive to this action, but their zeal to the +common cause, though not <q>secundum scientiam.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Then His Majesty proceedeth in his speech, admiring +<pb n='117'/><anchor id='Pg117'/> +<q>that Christian men and Englishmen, and one of them +his sworn servant in an honourable place, should enter into +such a practice, wherein, saith he, their following obstinacy +is so joined to their former malice, as the fellow himself +that is in hand cannot be moved to discover any signs +or notes of repentance, except only that he doth not yet +stand to avow that he repents for not being able to perform +his intent</q> A great testimony being spoken by the King +himself, both of the man's great courage, which could not +be brought down with so great torments as he had then +sustained, and besides of the great opinion he had in his +deceived conscience that the thing was lawful, sith he +would not even then repent that he had intended it, but +only seemed no more to desire the thing itself, which he +might also see God would not have go forward. And +truly this testimony of His Majesty's words doth make +me the rather to believe that of him which was reported +by divers of credit, to wit, that at his apprehension he had +a shirt of hair found upon his back when he was first +searched. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The Puritans so ready +to execute severity upon +all Catholics that they +were restrained by the +King.</note> +It followeth then in the King's speech (after the rehearsing +more at large the wonderful manner of his deliverance +by his strange interpretation of the letter, as I set down +before), then he cometh to declare that he doth not condemn +his other Catholic subjects for the fault of those few, +and laboureth to restrain the Puritans from that conceit; +whereby it appears they had laboured also to put that +opinion into His Majesty's head and heart against all +Catholics, if his wisdom and upright judgment had not been +the greater. <q>It resteth now (saith he) that I should shortly +inform you what is to be done hereafter upon the occasion +of this horrible and strange accident. As for your part that +are my faithful and loving subjects of all +degrees, I know that your hearts are so +burnt up with zeal in this errant, and your +tongues so ready to utter your dutiful affections, and your +<pb n='118'/><anchor id='Pg118'/> +hands and feet so bent to concur in the execution thereof +(for which, as I need not to spur you, so can I not but praise +you for the same), as it may very well be possible that the +zeal of your hearts shall make some of you in your speeches +rashly to blame such as may be innocent of this attempt; +but upon the other part I wish you to consider, that I would +be sorry that any being innocent of this practice, either +domestical or foreign, should receive blame or harm for the +same. For although it cannot be denied, that it was the only +blind superstition of their errors in religion that led them +to this desperate device; yet doth it not follow that all +professing that Romish religion were guilty of the same. +For as it is true that no other sect of heretics, not excepting +Turk, Jew, nor Pagan, no not even those of Calicut (who +adore the devil), did ever maintain by the grounds of their +religion that it was lawful or rather meritorious, as the +Romish Catholic call it, to murder Princes or people, for +quarrel of religion, &c.; yet it is true on the other side, that +many honest men blinded peradventure with some opinions +of Popery (as if they be not sound in the questions of the +Real Presence, or in the number of the Sacraments, or some +such School question), yet do they either not know, or at +least not believe all the true grounds of Popery, which is +indeed the Mystery of Iniquity. And therefore do we +justly confess that many Papists, especially our forefathers, +laying their only trust upon Christ His merits at their +last breath, may be and oftentimes are saved; detesting +in that point and thinking the cruelty of Puritans worthy +of fire, that will admit no salvation to any Papist. I +therefore thus do conclude this point, that as upon the +one part many honest men seduced with some errors of +Popery may yet remain good and faithful subjects; so +upon the other part, none of those that truly know and +believe the whole grounds and School conclusions of their +doctrine, can ever prove either good Christians or good +subjects,</q> &c. +</p> + +<pb n='119'/><anchor id='Pg119'/> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The first chief point of +the King's speech.</note> +These be the words of His Majesty's +speech in Parliament,<note place='foot'>Concerning his opinion of his Catholic subjects. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> wherein we may +observe two things. First, that the Puritans had laboured +and in some sort prevailed with His Majesty to make him +believe, that it is holden by the doctrine of Catholics lawful +to kill and murder Princes, &c, wherein that they might the +better persuade and work His Highness' mind to their +opinion, or rather his opinion to their desire, they did set +forth two pestilent books full of subtle falsehood, one of the +which I had occasion before to write of, which was directed +to that unlawful end to prove all Catholics traitors by +the laws of the realm. The other was yet a more impudent +and malicious book, entitled <hi rend='italic'>The Popish Positions</hi>, +wherein by a number of Canons and sayings of Popes +and Doctors, falsely alleged and sophistically inferred, the +Puritans labour to prove that it is by the Catholic doctrine +holden and approved for lawful to kill and murder Princes, +&c., and therefore not possible they should be good +subjects but traitors, and so to be esteemed and used. In +which case I leave it to the reader's judgment what was the +mark they shot at. But I may not leave him in that error +(if by chance he be one that know not our opinions) that +we either hold or teach so erroneous and wicked doctrine, +as they would infer out of many places which themselves +understand not, and others which they falsely allege. I +will not stand to answer any particular of the book, which +is not for this place, and shall be no doubt much better +and more at large performed by others. But this I desire +the reader to remember, that out of this very story, wherein +yet there is a sorer proof against us in this point, so far +as concerneth the only practice of a few, than can be +equalled in the examples of many ages; yet doth it plainly +appear that Catholics do hold and teach the very contrary, +as if it please him to turn back unto the answer which +Father Garnett gave unto Mr. Catesby in questions of the +<pb n='120'/><anchor id='Pg120'/> +like kind but of far less moment, he shall plainly see. For +although he was not demanded any such barbarous question +as whether it were lawful to murder Kings (unto which his +answer would have been quick and sharp no doubt, as +becometh a Religious man, whose ears must be hedged +about with thorns against any such traitorous tongues), +but the demand being only this: <q>For whom it was lawful +to make war and how far to proceed therein,</q> he showed +that no war was lawful without authority, nor any authority +able to give leave but from those that had the government +of the commonwealth. His answer therefore was much +contrary to this malicious inference of his untrue reporting +enemies, although he then spoke unto a confident friend, +where he feared no rehearsal of the matter; and to one +also that he feared to be too forward in those causes, and +therefore if he had been desirous to set him more forward +in that mind, and had been of that opinion himself, or +that opinion true and lawful to be practised, which our +enemies slander us withal, surely he would then have +delivered his mind plainly to that effect. But the truth +is so far on the contrary side, that all Catholics received +strict commandment from the See Apostolic, that in no case +they should stir or attempt anything against His Majesty +or the State, and this both from Pope Clement VIII. +of pious memory, and from Paulus V<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>tus</hi>. that now sitteth +in the Chair, who both before and since his assumption +to that supreme dignity of governing the Church of Christ, +hath showed himself most earnest to procure the quiet, +safety, and security of our Sovereign, both by liking and +allowing of the leagues that other Catholic Princes have +made with him, as also by often intimation and signification +into England both by letters and message, that +no Catholic people should go about to interrupt or +trouble the same by their impatient proceedings. This +likewise was the commandment sent from the General +of the Society and Father Persons to Father Garnett, as +<pb n='121'/><anchor id='Pg121'/> +hath been showed before. This was also Father Garnett +his practice and earnest endeavour, as may plainly be seen +in his own letters before set down; and may be seen also +in the proof and sequel of this business, sith it may plainly +appear he prevailed much with all the best sort of Catholics +in England, as his letters do also import that he hoped +he should, whereas these conspirators rising in arms, and +with protestation that they rise only for cause of religion, +unto the which they were well known to be fervently +addicted, and no light-headed or hare-brained persons, but +men known to be full of valour and of wit, and esteemed +also before this action by all that knew them well, to be +full of virtue. Yea, although divers of them were much +befriended and allied in those countries where they took +arms, and the countries also very well stored with many +Catholics of worth, yet for all this, so far had Father +Garnett prevailed with them, or rather the commandment +of His Holiness delivered by him, that none would or did +come to help them, or offer to stand for the cause in that +kind or course of forcible attempt. No, neither friends to +their persons nor friends to their religion would either +by themselves or their forces give them any help at all. +And yet they sought it earnestly, insomuch that they sent +Mr. Thomas Winter to one Catholic gentleman of a noble +house and great account, and whose daughter also his +brother, Mr. Robert Winter, had married, and yet this +gentleman being a known and constant Catholic, and a +man otherwise very stout and withal of great power in +those parts, he was so far from helping or assisting them +in any sort, that he would not so much as hear Mr. Winter +speak, but caused his gates to be shut against him. And +yet the said noble gentleman was afterwards in great +trouble and had like to have lost all his estate, which is +very great, upon presumption that he did bear some good +will unto them. So that hereby it is most apparent, how +contrary the doctrine and practice also both of Superiors +<pb n='122'/><anchor id='Pg122'/> +and subjects in Catholic religion is from that which the +Puritans did labour by their books to persuade, and it +seems His Majesty was in part wrought to believe. +</p> + +<p> +But whatsoever the Catholics do herein, it is well known +that the Puritans do both hold it for sound doctrine, and are +not ashamed to teach it as lawful and necessary, and to +practise it also (not as these few Catholics did, out of their +own opinion ill-applied, and blamed for it by all of their +own side), but as proceeding out of their doctrine, yea +and warranted by the same, or rather urged upon the +people by the preachers of the said doctrine, for which +they say they bring the Word in great plenty. +</p> + +<p> +I will not here cite Luther and Calvin, who are very +copious in this kind, and will be fittest for those to bring +that answer the foresaid books. It sufficeth here to consider +our home examples and that of the chief apostles and +pillars of the religion now professed under His Majesty's +name and authority in Scotland, to wit, John Knox, the +first broacher and preacher thereof, and Buchanan's chief +assistant therein, and master also and bringer up of His +Majesty's person. Both which in their +public writings do not only place the +restraint, coaction, punishment, arraignment, +condemnation, deposition, yea and +execution also of Princes in the people's +hands when they govern not well (according to their judgment), +but further also do wish that public rewards should +be appointed by the same people for such as kill tyrants, +as commonly there are, say they, for those that kill wolves +or bears or take their whelps. So they. Whereunto if we +add these authors' own inference in the same places here +quoted, which is, that when the people are negligent in +punishing evil Princes, their particular ministers may cite +them; yea, and by excommunication cast them into hell, +and make them unworthy to enjoy life upon earth, as +their own words are. By this doctrine, and by their +<pb n='123'/><anchor id='Pg123'/> +practice according to the same (whereof His Majesty is +best able to bear witness out of his own trial), the reader +may judge how different the state of Princes' safety is +under the one and the other doctrine and discipline, and +from the one and the other sort of subjects. And by this +I leave him to discern whether the Catholics or the +Puritans deserve better to be compared with Turk, Jew, or +Pagan, or the inhabitants of Calicut, in respect of cruelty +or disobedience growing out of their doctrine. +</p> + +<p> +And surely His Majesty was not ignorant of the mind +and doctrine and manner of proceeding of the Puritans in +this point; but out of his wisdom, he thought it best rather +to please them for the time in seeming to believe what they +had written of us than to rehearse their own doctrine, +whereof he had tasted too much, knowing right well that +their patience was not able to bear to be rubbed upon the +back, which indeed was much galled in that kind of +doctrine about government. So that herein we may think it +pleased His Highness to practise<note place='foot'>Upon this occasion of the disobedience in these few gentlemen. <hi rend='italic'>Erased +in Orig.</hi></note> that in this his grave +and princely speech in the Parliament House, which sometimes +before he had used to say in mirth, when he would +show the difference between the Papists and Puritans, in +matter of patient sufferance. For His Majesty would often +affirm that he had in his realm two asses, an old ass and a +young ass. The old ass, which was the Papist, would +willingly and patiently bear what loads soever he laid upon +his back; but the young ass, which was the Puritan, was +so unruly, that if he laid the least burden upon his back, +he would never leave wincing and flinging until he had +gotten it off, and perhaps would do much harm in the +meantime with his heels. And we must for this time bear +with so much the more patience this imputation as a +punishment for the ill desert of these few gentlemen, +although it be most apparent that our doctrine and our +<pb n='124'/><anchor id='Pg124'/> +general practice deserve much the contrary, which also +His Majesty in the same speech doth seem to allow as +true in the minds and manners of most of his Catholic +subjects; and in that regard doth wisely and graciously +restrain the too great forwardness and fury of the Puritans, +which, he saith, he counteth worthy of fire, allowing the +Catholics neither for saved souls in Heaven, nor good +subjects in earth. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The second chief point +of the King's speech.</note> +But yet whereas His Majesty doth +distinguish between the learned and +unlearned Papists, and seemeth to think those which +know the less, and believe and follow the fewer of our +grounds and points of doctrine, to be the better sort +of Catholics, and more likely to be the better subjects +and more obedient both to God in Heaven and to their +Kings and Princes on earth: this is the second point +I touched before, which I must grant I do not well understand. +For being granted that some of our religion +be good, and God's servants, and go to heaven, I do not +see how it is possible that those who know and practise +more of that with which the others were good, can thereby +become the worse. +</p> + +<p> +For as it is most assured, that none can have grace in +this life, nor glory in the next without faith—<q>sine +qua impossible est placere Deo:</q><note place='foot'><q>Without faith it is impossible to please God</q> (Hebr. xi. 6).</note> so no faith but the true +faith which Christ delivered to His Church, and the Apostles +planted in His Church, can be this necessary foundation +to this good estate of a soul either in grace or glory. +<q>Fundamentum enim aliud nemo potest ponere +praeter id quod positum est.</q><note place='foot'><q>For other foundation no man can lay but that which is laid</q> +(1 Cor. iii. 11).</note> Therefore these simpler +Catholics being saved must needs both have had faith, +and that the true faith of Christ. Now I suppose the true +faith of Christ can teach none to be disloyal. Again this +<pb n='125'/><anchor id='Pg125'/> +faith of Christ, being but one (as there is but one Lord and +one baptism), cannot be divided, or in part believed +and followed and in part refused, <q>quam nisi quisque fideliter +firmiterque crediderit, salvus esse non poterit, eamque +nisi quis integram inviolatamque servaverit, absque dubio in +æternum peribit.</q><note place='foot'><q>Which unless every one shall believe faithfully and firmly, he cannot be +saved: and unless a man shall keep it whole and inviolate, without doubt he +will perish for ever.</q></note> So that the most simple Catholics both +do and must believe and profess the same faith in all points +which the learned do, although they are not bound explicite +to know all particulars more than the articles of their +Creed and the Sacraments and other needful helps to +salvation which they are to use; for the rest it sufficeth +they believe the Church in all things as being <q>Columna +et firmamentum veritatis,</q><note place='foot'><q>The pillar and ground of the truth</q> (1 Tim. iii. 15).</note> and the same also one article +of their Creed, which all are bound both to believe and +know; and so consequently the simpler sort believe +implicite and virtually all that is generally taught and +believed by School Doctors for matter of faith: and so +their faith and the grounds of their faith being all one, +can work no different effect. And if there should be any +difference, methinks the better lot should not light to the +share of the more simple, for then it would be good to +be unskilful in the law and in the grounds of faith, contrary +to that which God saith by His Prophet, <q>Conticuit +populus meus, eo quod non habuerit scientiam: +quia tu scientiam repulisti, repellam et ego,</q><note place='foot'><q>My people have been silent because they had no knowledge; because +thou hast rejected knowledge, I will reject thee</q> (Osee iv. 6).</note> &c. And this +was the ordinary cavil against us in the late alteration +of religion (though unjustly imposed), as though we had +willingly kept the people in ignorance, and therefore would +not permit them the Scriptures in English. But as reason +did then, so since experience hath proved that was not the +cause; but as nurses that feed their children, as St. Paul +<pb n='126'/><anchor id='Pg126'/> +did his, first with milk and then with solid meat, so we. +And this to prevent their danger, which since we see +hath followed, that rule being neglected under pretence, +forsooth, of remedying the ignorance which Papists were +kept in. But if then the case of the ignorant had been +the better, we had the more wrong to be blamed for doing +the best. Finally, this faith which may and often hath saved +some of the ignorant Papists; as it is but one, and must +be entirely believed and professed, so it is also holy, as +being the faith of Christ (as before I proved), and the +foundation of that Church which is <q>una et sancta,</q> &c.: +and being holy it cannot follow that the greater measure +should hurt, where the less doth good; for as we see, if a +little fire give warmth, a greater will give a greater heat, and +the sun which giveth light being under a cloud, will shine +more brightly when it is fully seen: so that the more +virtue is in the agent, and the more the same is applied, +the more is the same effect brought forth in the patient, +unless it be <q>propter debilitatem organi,</q> as in our eye +against the light of the sun when we gaze upon it, which +defect is not in our soul, the same being made for God Himself +as for the final end of man, and therefore capable still +of more and more increase of grace, as we see in the +Apostles, &c.; and as God saith by His Prophet, <q>Dilata +os tuum et implebo illud.</q><note place='foot'><q>Open thy mouth wide and I will fill it</q> (Ps. lxxx. 11).</note> Therefore it must needs +follow that the more and more perfectly and exactly the +rules and grounds of this holy faith are known, the more +holy it doth make the knowers and believers and followers +of the same. Neither can it possibly be otherwise; for as +our Lord Himself saith, <q>Non potest arbor bona fructus +malos facere.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Well may it happen, and doth often (as His Majesty +did wisely and truly note), that <q>particular men of all +professions and religions have been, some thieves, some +murderers, some traitors,</q> &c., but this then is contrary +<pb n='127'/><anchor id='Pg127'/> +to their doctrine, if their doctrine be that good Tree +of which our Saviour speaketh, and which He planted +in His Church. For that being <q>Arbor bona non +potest malos fructus facere,</q> where we must understand, +<q>quatenus talis arbor.</q> The best tree that is hath some +fruit that doth miscarry. Some are blasted in the bud, +some shaken off with the wind, some pecked with birds, +some with one mischance and some with another miscarrieth +before it come to ripeness or perfection; but by these we +never measure the goodness of the tree. But if we see +an apple or apricock hang upon the tree of perfect colour, +of just bigness and shape, so that we may see it is come +to that perfection which the tree can naturally bring it +unto, then according to the taste of the fruit, we judge +the goodness of the tree. If then the fruit be sour, we +call the tree a crab-tree; if bitter, so we also term the +tree and say it is nought; and justly, being warranted +by Him that made them, <q>Quia non potest arbor bona +fructus malos facere, nec arbor mala fructus bonos facere.</q><note place='foot'><q>A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can an evil tree bring +forth good fruit</q> (St. Matt. vii. 18).</note> +So that here is the difference: an evil tree cannot bring +forth good fruit, that is, neither grace nor glory can grow +into a man's soul out of evil doctrine, and so that soul +not possible to be saved, unless his branch be cut from +his own root and grafted into the stock of the good tree +to receive the juice and sap of the same, as St. Paul +saith we Gentiles were into the trunk of the Jews' fruitful +olive. On the contrary part, a good tree may have some +miscarry, but then it is not long of the tree, but of +other mischances. And so the Catholic doctrine being +holy, and in this very point of obedience holy, as teaching +that all subjects are bound to obey, not +as Luther teacheth, for policy only, making all +men equal and to have no superior but Christ; nor as +I showed before out of Knox and Buchanan; but as +<pb n='128'/><anchor id='Pg128'/> +the truth is, and as St. Paul teacheth, that there is distinction +of degrees and the subjects bound to obey, and +that not <hi rend='italic'>ad libitum</hi>, or outwardly only, <q>ad oculum servientes,</q><note place='foot'><q>Not serving to the eye ... but ... as to the Lord</q> (Col. iii. 22, +23; Eph. vi. 6).</note> +but in conscience and of necessity, <q>et tanquam +Domino,</q> and as to our Lord Himself, to Whom we serve +in obeying our superiors according to His commandment. +This is the doctrine of the Holy Catholic Faith in this point, +wherein although some may miscarry and take wrong +courses, as these few of late did, following their own conceits +and desires against the direction and wills of those who +delivered the contrary doctrine (as hath been declared), yet +this is no impeachment to the Tree, nor to the rest of the +fruit. This act of theirs cannot be laid upon the doctrine +which is holy and bringeth forth no disobedient fruit, +but the contrary in great measure, and that so much the +more in those that know more and are the more perfect +in the grounds thereof, as being the fruit which this +<q>Arbor bona</q> hath brought to best perfection. +</p> + +<p> +And this clearness and innocency touching this late +attempt is not only thus apparently proved to be in the +whole body of Catholics, but was then the general opinion +of all, the Puritans excepted, who are ever ready to impugn +<q>agnitam veritatem.</q> His Majesty, as you have seen, did +partly affirm it and granted some other part, out of which +you see it is convinced. +</p> + +<p> +The prisoners being all at that time often and carefully +examined, they affirmed constantly and jointly (though +severally examined) that there were no other conspirators +than were taken and publicly known. And as for Priests, +they did both then and at their death protest there was +none in the action: whereupon His Majesty in the whole +course of his speech did only lay the fault upon them +that were discovered, and did seem to excuse the rest, +as you have heard. So that it was as generally, as justly +<pb n='129'/><anchor id='Pg129'/> +believed and voiced through England, that other Catholics +were all free, and no Priest at all accused or could be +touched with the treason, which gave no small satisfaction +both to Catholics and others. And so in right it should +have continued. But the Puritans did much grieve and envy +that those should be free from blame, upon whom they +rather wished that all might light. And therefore they +began to practise and work the contrary opinion, first +in the King, and afterwards in public show unto the +country, as shall appear in the next chapter. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='130'/><anchor id='Pg130'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter IX. +How The Fathers Of The Society Were By Industry +Of The Heretics Drawn Into This Matter, To +Incense The King Against Them, And For Them +Against The Catholic Religion.</head> + +<p> +The Prophet doth in few words very fully express the +desires and endeavours of such as are most guided by that +spirit of pride, who is a professed enemy to God and to all +good men. <q>Superbia eorum (saith he) qui te oderunt, +ascendit semper.</q><note place='foot'><q>The pride of them that hate Thee ascendeth continually</q> (Ps. lxxiii. 23).</note> As if he should say to Almighty +God, not only the apostate Angel himself doth hate Thee, +and all those for Thy sake whom he seeth Thee to love; but +those also, who are full of his rising and resisting spirit, do +still raise themselves against Thee and all Thine, but most +against those whom they see Thee most to favour, or most +to use and employ in Thy service. <q>Ascendit semper:</q> +their spirit still fighteth against those whom at least they +think the highest; although in this man's judgment often +erreth, guessing by outward signs and not being able to +search the heart of man, as He doth that is <q>Scrutator +cordis et renum,</q> is therefore not able to judge, or their +judgment to be taken for a certain proof, who be most in +God's favour. But this their practice was plainly proved +true in this present matter, whereof we have already treated +and are as yet further to declare. For although we are to +presume that His Majesty and the Council did proceed +without passion in the matter, His Majesty having in many +parts of his speech showed great equanimity and gracious +opinion of his faithful Catholic subjects; yea, although His +<pb n='131'/><anchor id='Pg131'/> +Highness did in the same speech correct the malice of +Puritans against all Catholics in general, and did seek to +repress their fury, which he saw so ready by word and +action to oppress all Catholics upon this occasion offered, +and to persecute the innocent multitude for the fault of a +few: yet all this would not suffice to quench or assuage +that fire (as the King did wisely observe and so express it +in his speech) <q>with which their hearts were burnt up in this +errant.</q> But as they had before determined, so they never +left labouring, until they had wrought their will, and found +out a device which they hoped would serve both to discredit +and discourage Catholics; and beginning with some of the +chiefest (as they thought), to proceed with better colour +in punishing and persecuting of the rest. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore whereas they did know very well how great +esteem Catholics did generally make of the Fathers of the +Society, and how much they did all for the most part +(especially the better sort) rely upon their advice, reputing +them to be men of great learning and judgment, and chiefly +to be of approved virtue and spirit and both skill and experience +in direction of souls: at these Fathers therefore did +these Puritans resolve to level their first poisoned arrows, +drawn out of the quiver of malice and shot from the bow of +open injustice. But you must understand that this is not the +first time they have aimed at this mark. No; they have been +the men upon their eye of envy and spite hath ever been +fixed since the first coming into England of those two famous +men, Father Persons and blessed Father Campian, whose +wisdom and spiritual instructions did so settle the hearts of +Catholics in profession of their faith and whose exhortations +both private and public did so kindle the zeal of devotion +in all their minds, that the heretics might see another face +of things in the persecuted state of the English Church, +unto which afterwards being added the frequent and learned +books of the one, and the challenged and performed disputation +of the other (with all which they were convinced and +<pb n='132'/><anchor id='Pg132'/> +confounded), these were motives sufficient to set malice on +fire against them, and their Society for their sake, although +they had found no like causes in their followers. But when +they saw the like course to be continued; of exemplary +virtue in Father Edmonds,<note place='foot'>Father William Weston was known by this name.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> of wise direction for progress in +devotion in blessed Father Garnett, and of learned and +spiritual books in blessed Father Southwell; also when +they had tried the constancy of blessed Father Walpole +and others to be inflexible and not to be drawn either by +force or favour to their will, either against God's honour +or the good of their neighbours; when they found that no +one of the Society that were sent into England could ever +be wrought by them neither by torments to yield in +infirmity, nor yet by their subtle examinations to be overreached +so far, no not so much as out of simplicity to accuse +the least Catholic of his acquaintance, or so that any did +come in trouble by any undiscreet answer of theirs. +</p> + +<p> +This long and sufficient trial hath made them so much +malign the men of that Society, that they have never ceased +labouring by one means or other to practise all hostility +against them, as against their chief enemies. From hence +hath proceeded the many slanders they have sought to +publish of them: from hence the many false and foul +reports in several kinds, which they by themselves have +published in books and procured the like to be done by all +others whom they could work unto their will, as namely +those of Mr. Watson's writing, which he so much repented +at his death, asking humble pardon both of God and of the +Society for the many falsehoods and slanders fathered +upon them in the same. From hence also did proceed the +disobedience of some scholars against the Fathers in the +Seminaries, secretly wrought in their minds by some +instruments which the chief of these Puritans had employed +to that end and purpose. Finally, from hence as from a +troubled fountain have flowed all the streams of disgraces +<pb n='133'/><anchor id='Pg133'/> +and disturbance and persecutions both against the Fathers +themselves, and against the places where they have been +presumed to be; yea, against all those who have been conceived +to be favourers or well-willers to them: insomuch +that in hatred of the Fathers, they would often show favour +to the places where other Priests were taken. But if the +Priest were a Jesuit, or but a friend of theirs, and one that +were known to love them and to follow some of their +spiritual courses, of which number I acknowledge myself to +be; then should they and their receivers be sure to drink +of the whip and to have <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>summum jus</foreign> instead of mercy. +And as they at the first, when Seminary Priests did come in +apace and did much good, made severe laws against them, +punishing with pain of death the receivers of them, in all +which they exempted the old Queen Mary Priests, because +they saw the others, with their apostolical zeal and fervour, +to work much greater effect in the minds of men; so now +in the practice of those laws, they made a plain distinction +between all Priests and Jesuits, whom they esteemed the +greatest enemies to the proceeding and increase of heresy. +And, but howsoever that is, would to God there were a +divorce between them and heresy (unto which as yet their +minds are so much wedded) undoubtedly they should then +find they had no friends in the world more faithful, nor any +that would be more ready to serve them in the service of +God, than those whom now they hate and persecute so +much, upon a contrary supposed ground, and the same +most contrary to all truth and justice. +</p> + +<p> +But their minds being in this manner settled upon their +courses, and so grounded in opinion of chief resistance in +the Fathers of the Society and by their means, they +resolved absolutely by one means or other to effect that +which they had so much desired and so many ways +laboured for. And having this opportunity of colour +offered, of this late attempt of the foresaid gentlemen, and +knowing the same to be so odious not only to His Majesty +<pb n='134'/><anchor id='Pg134'/> +and the Council, but in like manner to all the graver and +better sort of Catholics both in England and elsewhere, +they did imagine that if they could with any little show of +pretence but father this matter upon those Fathers, they +should by that means either have all, or at least some of +their desires performed against them. For if they could +not convince them to be guilty, yet because the matter was +so hateful, they hoped either in the meantime whilst the +matter were in handling and not fully cleared, to procure that +they might be called out of England (which hath long time +been a chief part of their desires) or at least to make many +Catholics both shy of them and fearful to deal with them; +whilst they by extraordinary and exquisite searching might +apprehend the most of them. Or at the least, if none of +these took effect (as thanks be to God, the contrary through +God's providence was proved true), yet they might hereupon +ground the pretence of just occasion to enact those +severe laws against Catholics, which they had determined +and prepared long before, as I showed in the former chapters. +</p> + +<p> +Now therefore they began with all diligence to seek out +likely pretences for their purpose: and it was no hard +matter to find a staff to beat these dogs prepared by Christ, +the Chief Shepherd, against the wolves that seek to devour +His flock. For although they could not find in all the +several examinations and confessions of the conspirators +now in prison any little proof that they were in the Plot, +but the contrary to be averred by them all with solemn +protestation, yet they would have it suffice for a likelihood, +that divers of these gentlemen were known unto divers of +the Fathers and did sometimes come unto them for helps +in the Sacraments. But so did many hundreds besides +those gentlemen: and the Fathers dispense faithfully those +divine mysteries to all, without exception of any, if they +find them desirous and prepared, and without suspicion of +any to bear undutiful minds.<note place='foot'>To be lions within when they seem lambs without. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> And if all the acquaintance, +<pb n='135'/><anchor id='Pg135'/> +yea, or the familiar and inward friends unto these gentlemen +should have been called in suspicion, not only many other +Catholics in England, who neither are nor can be appeached +of any such matter, should be convented, but as well, many +of their own side, even some of those that sat as judges +of them in the Parliament. Briefly, a bad excuse must +stand for good, where no better can be found, and where +the matter is resolved, and the parties condemned, before +the proof can be found or the witnesses produced. But +behold one single and he but a seeming witness was found, +or rather was supposed to be found; for he also failed +them, as I shall after declare. +</p> + +<p> +There was one Bates a servant to Mr. Robert Catesby, +of whom I made mention before; and this man having +been employed by his master in the whole action for provision +of powder, &c., and seeing himself so far in danger +as the best, and yet not stored with so much grace and +generous mind as was needful, nor perhaps entering the +action with so seeming good motives as those gentlemen, +who protested they did it merely for service to God and +exaltation of religion; which it may be feared was not the +motive to this fellow,<note place='foot'>Bates was a very honest and devout man. <hi rend='italic'>Orig. in marg. in another +hand.</hi></note> being but a serving-man and never +of any extraordinary capacity or devotion, but only trusty +to his master, and belike, in respect of that employed. +Therefore now when he saw his master gone, and all hopes +by him failed, it may well be this wind would make his +house to shake, if it were so built upon the sand; and +when he saw likewise the likely storm coming of death +which he was to expect, and of torments also in likelihood, +if he did not seek to please: these loe were great +temptations to the poor fellow and sufficient to toss and +bend that reed which way the wind would blow; especially +those fears being seconded with hopes of favour; which +were also promised, as shall afterwards appear in his words, +<pb n='136'/><anchor id='Pg136'/> +when he repented his frailty before his death. And so this<note place='foot'>Poor. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +fellow being earnestly urged by persons of great authority +to confess some proofs or likelihood that the Jesuits were +in this action, the poor man, of frailty and desire of life (as +afterwards himself affirmed), told them that his master and +another of those gentlemen had been not past a fortnight +before the action broke out, at a nobleman's house where +three Jesuits were, to wit, Father Henry Garnett, Father +Osmund Tesimond, and Father John Gerard. He affirmed +also that himself was sent with a letter by his master after +they were up in arms, to a house in Warwickshire, where +two of the said Jesuits were, <hi rend='italic'>vidlt.</hi>, Father Garnett and +Father Tesimond: and that Father Tesimond then went +with him to his master, who was at Mr. Winter's with the +rest of the company; but that the said Father Tesimond +staid not with them, but rode presently away; yet did +the poor fellow in his weakness yield so far as to say, +that he thought Father Tesimond did know of the Plot, +which yet he affirmed not of the other two. +</p> + +<p> +This was the ground and the only foundation upon which +they built that great and slanderous calumniation against +all the Jesuits in England; whereas this was no proof +at all, but only the single conceit of one simple man, and +that only set down as a mere thought of his own head, and +but of one of the three. For as for the seeing of them all +three at my Lord Vaux's, it is certain that was not true. +For I have inquired of the matter since, and so have found +it, as I say, to be false; besides, Father Gerard in his +letters sent unto the Council in his own purgation, did +protest he had not seen that Bates of at least a twelve-month +before, and these letters were so sent, as they were +received by the Council, whilst Bates was living and in their +hands. But Bates perhaps might think it true that he was +there at that time, that being the place which was generally +supposed to be his chief abode, and so esteemed by the +<pb n='137'/><anchor id='Pg137'/> +Council themselves, as appeared by the several searches +had been made there for him, before as well as after this +false suspicion. Besides if he would be there at any +time, Bates might think it likely he would not be absent +at that time, when two aunts of the Lord Vaux that now +is, were come thither in their return from a long journey, +who had not been there together of many years before; +especially because Bates did suppose that Father Garnett, +who was the Superior of all the Society in England, +did continue with those two sisters, and was then come +with them unto the same house, as Bates did imagine, and +that Father Tesimond also did meet him there. All which +might be very likely, if Father Garnett did go along in +that journey with those devout gentlewomen; for it might +well be supposed Father Gerard would not then be missing, +but would rather be there of purpose to give his Superior +the best entertainment he could procure, and this, if it +were so, was cause sufficient, without any thought of the +other cause of meeting, which I have heard Father Gerard +himself protest, he did not so much as imagine before +the thing itself was known to all men. And as for +Mr. Catesby his being there, he was near cousin both +unto the same Lord Vaux, and his mother who kept the +house, and to those two gentlewomen whom he met there +at that time, as he had done in many other places, both +before and since this conspiracy was dreamt of. And as +for Sir Everard Digby, there was more occasion of his +being there, and there at that time (as I have since +learned), for that he was a near neighbour and a great +and tried friend unto the same Lord Vaux and his mother, +as it was very well known unto divers of the Council, +and the same also allowed of and well liked by them, with +whom he had dealt concerning the said Lord and his mother +about a match that should have been between the Lord +Chamberlain<note place='foot'>Earl of Suffolk. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> his daughter and the young Lord Vaux. +</p> + +<pb n='138'/><anchor id='Pg138'/> + +<p> +So that Sir Everard Digby had many serious occasions +to come to my Lord Vaux's; and then in particular, as I +have learned since, being come from his ancient house +and chief living which lay in Rutlandshire, from whence +he could not go unto the house<note place='foot'>Of his ordinary abode. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> where his wife and family +lay, but he must pass by the door of my Lord Vaux +his house, which also made him there an ordinary guest. +</p> + +<p> +So that all this supposal had been nothing if it had +been true; and as Bates neither did nor could affirm +it to be true that the three Jesuits were there, but only +that the two gentlewomen were there, taking their sister's +house in their way at their return, and his master also, +and Sir Everard Digby met them, of which one also came +merely by chance; what the other did I know not. And +whereas I say that Bates did not affirm this of the Jesuits, +no, nor of their only being in the house, so absolutely +as he did affirm that he afterwards saw Father Garnett +and Father Tesimond in Warwickshire, shall appear in +his own words, when I set down his letter, whereof I +have the true copy. +</p> + +<p> +But yet this doubtful and uncertain affirmation of +his, which, if it had been most true and certain, had +been also certain to be no proof at all or just cause +of presumption, where there were so many other causes +concurring which would have required the being of +Father Gerard in that house at that time (if that were the +place of his most residence), yet was this no cause made +cause sufficient of great trouble to that noble family. For +presently there was commission granted out for a most +severe search to be made in that house of my Lord Vaux's, +and also in another house of the said Lord's three miles +off, lest perhaps Father Gerard might be kept there in +that troublesome time. The commission was directed +to the most forward Puritans of the country, with strict +charge not only to search narrowly for the said Father, +<pb n='139'/><anchor id='Pg139'/> +but whether they found him or not, to keep possession +of the house and the keys of the rooms, until the Commissioners +should have further order from the Council. +All this and much more was performed in so strict manner +as might be. For although the Lord Vaux and his mother +were very much beloved and respected in all the country, +he being the most ancient Baron and first in place of all +the shire, and so linked to most houses of worth within +the shire that it was hard to find any man of account +therein that was not either akin or allied or a dear friend +unto their house; yet all this notwithstanding, the search +was most severe, as I have been credibly informed by +those that were present. The house was beset with at +least a hundred men, and those well appointed. The +young Lord made no resistance, as having no cause to +fear, but brought the Commissioners presently in to his +mother, who delivered unto them all the keys of her +house, and willed them to use their pleasure. They +searched for two or three days continually, and searched +with candles in cellars and several dark corners. They +searched every cabinet and box in her own closet for +letters, in hope to find some little scroll that might show +Father Gerard had been an actor in this treason, or that +she or her son had received some knowledge of it. But +they found not with all this diligence the least tittle of +advantage in the matter, insomuch that the chief man +in commission for this search (though an earnest Puritan) +yet sent a very full information unto the Council that he +had found the house most clear, the young Lord and his +mother very respective unto authority, admitting any kind +of search or inquiry that he could desire and yet very +confident in their own innocency; and that he found not +any preparation in the house for war, or any show at all +that they had the least knowledge of any such attempt +intended. +</p> + +<p> +Notwithstanding, this information sent after full trial +<pb n='140'/><anchor id='Pg140'/> +made by search, the Council sent for the young Lord +and his mother up to London presently, where they were +both examined; the young Lord by my Lord Salisbury +alone, who cleared himself so by his answer that he was +no further restrained, but only commanded to stay in the +city of London. His mother was examined before the +whole Council, where she did clear herself fully from +all cause of suspicion in that treason, and affirmed constantly, +that although she were a firm Catholic, and so +would live and die by the grace of God, yet that fact +she did as much mislike and condemn as themselves; +and that so she had been taught by those that had care +of her soul. They urged her that she knew Father Gerard, +and had received him many times into her house. She +answered she hoped none could justly accuse her that +she had received either him or any other Priest, and +that she would not accuse herself, the same being a Penal +Law. They insisted she was bound to tell of him, for +that he was known to be a traitor and a chief plotter of +this action. She answered with serious protestation, that +she had never the least cause to think so of him (if she +did know him, as they presupposed); and said that she +had heard so much good of the man (though she did +not know him) that she would pawn her whole estate, +yea, and her life also, that he was not guilty of that Plot, +nor justly to be touched with it. Then the Council produced +a letter which she had written unto the Sheriff +of Warwickshire, her cousin, for the delivery of two Priests, +who were taken passing through the country after the +stirs were begun, which letter the sheriff had sent unto +the Council (more like a Puritan as he is, than a kinsman +as he should be). This letter, said the Lords of the +Council, being written for the delivery of Strange, the +Jesuit (now in the Tower, and since very sore tortured, as +I shall afterwards declare), and for another Priest, one +of Blackwell the Archpriest his assistants, and the same +<pb n='141'/><anchor id='Pg141'/> +also written in so earnest and effectual manner, doth +convince you to be guilty of treason in that Statute of +aiding Priests.<note place='foot'>So that you are now in the King's mercy. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> She answered that she wrote for them +indeed, and that she desired much to set them free, but +she knew them not to be Priests, but took them for +Catholic gentlemen that came sometimes to her house +as others did, and looked nothing like Priests. Then +finally, some of the Council said, that whereas she was +now in the King's mercy to live or die, she should have +her life and lose nothing of her estate, if she would +tell where Gerard the Jesuit was to be found. She +answered, she knew not; but if she did know she would +not tell it them to save her life and many lives. <q>Why +then,</q> said they, <q>Lady, you must die.</q> <q>Why then, I will +die, my Lords,</q> said she, <q>for I will never do the other.</q> +So they sent her away to prison, not to an ordinary gaol, +but to a rich Alderman's house in London, where she +was well respected, and yet kept so close that not her +own son might come to see her, only she had a gentlewoman +of her own to attend her. There were also divers +of her servants committed to several prisons, and often +and strictly examined with many menacings if they would +not confess Father Gerard to have been at the Lord Vaux +his house, but nothing could be wrung out of them. The +house in the country was all this while watched within and +without for nine or ten days together, that if Father Gerard +were still in the house hid in any secret place, he either +might be starved to death, or by famine forced to come +out. And for two or three miles round about the house +there was watch kept in the country, and all passengers +examined in desire to find the said Father, but all in vain; +for where God will protect, man's forces or policies are +frustrate, <q>et deficient scrutantes scrutinio.</q><note place='foot'>And searching they will fail in their search.</note> +</p> + +<p> +Soon after this search was past, Father Gerard lying +<pb n='142'/><anchor id='Pg142'/> +secretly in another country, and understanding how +that house had been severely searched for him as +for one of this conspiracy, he thought it fit and +needful to show his innocency in the matter by a +public letter, which he performed presently, and I have +read the letter. It contained, first, some reasons why +he did seek to clear himself, and that by the way +of protestation, the matter being true and just and <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>in +re gravi</foreign>. Then he did solemnly and seriously protest +before God and all the Court of Heaven, that he was +never privy to the matter, nor had heard so much as +one word of that Plot of Powder before the thing itself +was discovered and the knowledge thereof brought unto +him by public fame; and that his meaning was, he had +not known of it either in secret or otherwise, no, not so +much as in confession. Also he did exclude all equivocation +so far forth, that if he did in any sort equivocate in +this protestation, he did yield himself as guilty of the whole +both in the sight of God and men. Further he alleged +divers reasons why it was not likely he should know thereof, +as in respect of the badness of the matter, which he utterly +disliked and condemned, no man more. In respect of +his estate and the prohibition he had received from his +Superiors, not to meddle with any State matters at all; +and much less with any such outrageous attempt. Also, +that the Council had tried him sufficiently in those matters +in the time of Queen Elizabeth's reign, when they had him +in their hands from three years and more, often labouring +to have found him guilty, or to have him confess he +had dealt in State matters; but he was ever found clear, +insomuch that they could not produce the least word +of his writing or witness against him in all that time +of his imprisonment, nor find him guilty in the least point, +although they put him to the uttermost trials to see +whether force or favour would sooner prevail with him. +Then further in this letter he alleged, that if in Queen +<pb n='143'/><anchor id='Pg143'/> +Elizabeth's time it could not be proved he had meddled +in any matters of State, much more it was to be presumed +he would be far from dealing in this highest kind of +treason, and that against this King, for whom it was well +known his father had suffered and lost much, whereof it +pleased His Majesty to take knowledge unto his brother +at his first coming to the Crown. And lastly, he said +he was so far from ever consenting or knowing of any +such matter, that he offered freely, if either before his +taking or after,<note place='foot'>Whensoever it should please God to permit it. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> it could be proved, that ever he had +any kind of knowledge of that Plot of Powder, that then +he would freely give them leave, whensoever it should +please God to deliver him into their hands, to put him +to all the torments could be imagined, and pull one +piece of him from another, and withal that all men of +what side or sect soever should then repute him as a +perjured creature, and to have neither faith to God nor +man. This was the effect of his letter in brief, the letter +itself containing a sheet or two of paper, which letter +being published in London, did give great satisfaction +not only to Catholics (who could not easily believe such +reports of him before) but even to the Protestants themselves. +Yea, it was showed unto the King himself by an +Earl in great favour with His Majesty, and His Highness +for that time was very well satisfied therewith. +</p> + +<p> +But notwithstanding this and the general opinion which +most men conceived of his innocency, and although there +were no proof at all or sufficient grounds to proceed against +any of the rest, yet such was the settled resolution of +some to bring them into the suspicion and slander of +this treason, that they proposed it unto His Majesty as +a thing very requisite, to have a public proclamation sent +forth against the Jesuits, and first to begin with these +three, meaning to bring in the rest also by degrees. The +King referred the matter unto the Council, as his manner +<pb n='144'/><anchor id='Pg144'/> +is. The cause was therefore discussed at the council-table, +and being proposed by those that were of great +authority in that place, it was not much gainsaid, at least +for two of the three. But for the third, which was Father +Gerard, it was answered by some, that there was no reason +he should be put in the number; and one Earl at +the table, being of great account both for wisdom and +learning, said that sith Gerard had so fully cleared himself +by so ample a protestation and was a gentleman, he +thought it was very hard to lay so severe a punishment +upon him, upon the single accusation of one witness, +and he but a base fellow and in fear of his life. For it +was then supposed that Bates did accuse all these three, +and perhaps so proposed also to make the matter seem +more justly grounded. But it was not so, as will appear +in the words of Bates his letter hereafter. But neither +this pious answer, nor truth itself, which I doubt not +answered for all the three in the conscience of those +that most furthered this cruel course, could anything at +all prevail against the course which was before intended, +insomuch that it was there resolved a proclamation should +presently be sent forth against those three before named. +Yea, and Father Gerard was put in the first place, as if he +had been the principal person of the three, which though +some do think to have been done only by the penner +of the proclamation in respect of his blood or kindred +in the world, which they (looking only with fleshly eyes) +make more account of than of spiritual dignities; yet sure +it was done of purpose, to make him the more odious +thereby, and to hide the want of proof which they had +against him: that when all men did see him set before +the other two, whereof one was his Superior, and the +other his ancient every way, they might the rather +think there was some great matter found out against +him. And so all men might be incensed the more +to betray him or apprehend him, for that was the chief +<pb n='145'/><anchor id='Pg145'/> +intention of the proclamation against all the three. And +to that end in the proclamation, first the names of the +persons and the nature of their supposed offence was +set down; then a subtle inducement joined with a serious +commandment unto all men to discover them and to help +to apprehend them, unto which also was annexed large +promises to those that should be found the particular +instruments of their apprehension; and lastly, a severe +protestation that whosoever should presume to be a harbourer, +maintainer, or concealer of any of them, or should +not do their best for their discovery or apprehension, that +they should hope for no mercy, but that the laws should +be most severely executed upon them, as upon persons +no less pernicious than the actors and concealers of the +main treason itself. In the end of all the three persons +were described, that they might the better be known, +by their stature, their colour, and countenance. By all +which it may appear how violent a desire of their +apprehension those had who procured the proclamation, +as the most forcible and likely means to that effect. I +pray God avert the violence of His justice from their +souls, and send them to find mercy, when this forcible +proceeding of theirs doth come to be examined. For +otherwise a dreadful doom must be expected, <q>quia +potentes potenter tormenta patientur: horrende et cito +apparebit eis,</q><note place='foot'><q>Horribly and speedily will He appear to you, for a most severe +judgment shall be for them that bear rule</q> (Wisd. vi. 6).</note> saith the wise man. I pray God they +may prevent it, before it light upon them; otherwise this +blow will hurt and wound the strikers much more than +them against whom it was intended.<note place='foot'>One thing was observed by many at that time as markable in respect of +the event, although the foresight were but casual, which was a prediction by +one of their kind of prophets, one Gresham, a man of special fame amongst +them for skill in astrology and making of almanacs, with certain predictions of +events, not only of the weather, but of other accidental matters depending +of man's free-will, and therefore far past his skill to divine of. Yet this man, +in an almanac which he had set forth for that year of 1605, had assigned for +every particular day some special event of things that should then happen. +Amongst the rest, the mark which was set upon the day of the date of this +proclamation, and in which it was published in London, was this, <q>Might +against right;</q> which, seeing it was prepared and printed before the proclamation +was thought of, it gave many cause to think that the pen of this man +was guided by a better foresight than his own, and directed to set down the +truth by the same power that could make the beast that Balaam rode upon to +reprehend his master, and afterwards caused that covetous +Prophet to bless the people of God and to foretell the truth, much against +his own inclination and the intention of his coming. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +</p> + +<pb n='146'/><anchor id='Pg146'/> + +<p> +This proclamation being published in London, it was +presently carried into all the market-towns of England +(as the custom is) to be there proclaimed, to the end +that all men taking notice of the names and the description +of the persons of these three supposed traitors, it might +be unpossible in any short time for any of them to +pass safely through any town, but that they would be +descried, discovered, and apprehended. So that they +were now to be esteemed in all human likelihood, +<q>tanquam oves occisionis,</q> like sheep designed to the +slaughter. <q>Sed ira viri justitiam Dei non +operatur;</q><note place='foot'><q>For the anger of man worketh not the justice of God</q> (St. James i. 20).</note> and whom God will protect <q>nemo potest +rapere de manu illius.</q><note place='foot'><q>No one can snatch them out of the hand of My Father</q> (St John +i. 29).</note> God provided for them such +friends as knew their innocency well, and did most willingly +adventure with them, not regarding the threats nor respecting +the promises in the proclamation of a straw. Yea, +I know where some of them refused the earnest entreaties +of some persons of great worth instantly desiring to have +had them in their houses. But they were well and safely +provided for, for insomuch that until this day two of +them were never in danger to fall into their enemies' +hands, <q>sed liberati sunt de manu Herodis et de omni +expectatione plebis Judæorum.</q><note place='foot'>They are <q>delivered out of the hand of Herod, and from all the expectation +of the people of the Jews</q> (Acts xii. 11).</note> And the third was +provided for sufficiently in a house of great safety, and +where he might have continued long enough without +<pb n='147'/><anchor id='Pg147'/> +danger, if he had not been by God's permission betrayed +into their hands as his Master was; <q>sed advenerat hora +ejus.</q><note place='foot'>But his hour was come.</note> And he that betrayed him for <q>Quid vultis mihi +dare?</q><note place='foot'><q>What will you give me?</q> (St. Matt. xxvi. 15).</note> had a halter for his pains, as Judas had, though +he died not desperate, as Judas did, but very penitent +for his fact, as the sequent chapters shall declare. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='148'/><anchor id='Pg148'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter X. +How Father Garnett, The Superior, Was Discovered +And Taken In Worcestershire And +Brought Up To London: And Of His First +Entreaty And Examination.</head> + +<p> +When all England was filled with this new rumour by +means of this proclamation, that now the Jesuits were +also found to be in the Plot of Powder, and especially +those three, who therefore were named and described +and publicly proclaimed, though Catholics did generally +believe the contrary of them, many being witnesses of their +innocency, and of their often and earnest persuasions to +peace and quietness, and to patience in this time of +persecution. And though many wise men did say in +their hearts, <q>Quam accusationem affertis adversus homines +istos?</q><note place='foot'><q>What accusation bring you against</q> these men? (St. John xviii. 29).</note> because they saw them traduced by the proclamation +in general words as heinous traitors and contrivers +of the whole Plot, and as men so proved to be by the +several examinations of the prisoners in the Tower. But +when they looked for these proofs in the examinations, +even those which were chosen out amongst the rest to +be published in print, as the chiefest and most fit for +the full discovery of the whole Plot and the plotters +of the same; and finding there no one word of any of +them, but the contrary, in that the whole course of the +matter was there seen to be carried by others there +mentioned with all particulars of their proceedings. And +hearing also by many certain reports that the prisoners +did all protest there was no Priests at all guilty of the +<pb n='149'/><anchor id='Pg149'/> +conspiracy, or that did any ways assist them therein: +these and the like reasons did make the wiser and more +reasonable sort, even of Protestants themselves, to think, +as the truth was, <q>quod ex invidiâ tradidissent eos.</q><note place='foot'><q>For envy they had delivered</q> them (St. Matt. xxvii. 18).</note> +</p> + +<p> +But this was no impediment to the forcible authority of +the proclamation, which went out under the King's name. +And instead of particular accusations, it must suffice for +the present, <q>quod si non essent hi malefactores, non +tradidisset eos potestas regia;</q><note place='foot'>If they were not malefactors, the royal power would not have delivered +them up.</note> and indeed other proofs +they could have none at all against all the three neither +then nor since, although against two of them, to wit, +against Fathers Garnett and Tesimond,<note place='foot'>Greenway. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> they framed afterwards +some pretended matter in particular, much like to +that whereof their Master was accused, <q>quod subverteret +gentem et prohiberet tributum dari Cæsari:</q><note place='foot'><q>Perverting our nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar</q> +(St. Luke xxiii. 2).</note> <q>Sed sufficit +discipulis ut sint sicut Magister eorum.</q><note place='foot'><q>It is enough for the disciple that he be as his Master</q> (St. Matt. x. 25).</note> In the meantime +Father Garnett thought best to retire himself to a house +of great safety near unto the place where then he was, +and there meant to lie private till the heat of this +persecution were passed, and that it might be more safe +travelling towards London where he meant to settle as +he had been accustomed. The house was called Henlip, +two miles distant from the city of Worcester, and so +large and fair a house that it might be seen over great +part of the country; and indeed it was so fair and +commodious a house that it had often caused the owner +of it much trouble, being an eyesore unto some Puritans +of great wealth that were neighbours, within some miles, +and nothing so well seated; who therefore procured often +warrants to search that house in hope to find some Priest +<pb n='150'/><anchor id='Pg150'/> +there, for which the house and the whole estate of the +gentleman might be forfeited to the King, and so begged +by them that were the causers and actors of such apprehension. +But this being often essayed was never permitted +by God until this time, <q>quæ erat hora illorum et potestas +tenebrarum.</q><note place='foot'>Which was their <q>hour and the power of darkness</q> (St. Luke xxii. 53).</note> +</p> + +<p> +The proclamation being published containing, besides +other persuasions, large promises to any that would +be discoverers of any of the three; it happened that +there was a gentleman called Humphrey Littleton, +then fallen into trouble for receiving and concealing Mr. +Robert Winter, one of the principal conspirators, and +Mr. Stephen Littleton, his kinsman, who had joined himself +unto the conspirators in rebellion. These two having +escaped from this Stephen Littleton his house, where the +rest of the conspirators were, some slain and some taken +(as before hath been declared), and having escaped taking +a month and more in several places where they lay hid, +did finally come to this Humphrey Littleton for harbour: +and he received them into his kinswoman's house, where +he then lay, and kept them in his own chamber, where +they were discovered and apprehended.<note place='foot'>If this be particularly set down in the former chapter, it may be here left +out. <hi rend='italic'>Orig. in marg. in another hand.</hi></note> Humphrey Littleton +therefore being in danger of his life for having +harboured them, and seeing so large promises of favour +and rewards to those that would discover any of the three, +thought to save himself from a temporal punishment by +doing that which deserved an eternal pain, and sent up +word unto the Council, that he had been not long before at +Mr. Abington his house, called Henlip, before mentioned, +where he heard a Jesuit preach called Ouldcorne, who did +there reside for the most part, and where he thought also +Garnett was to be found. +</p> + +<p> +Upon this information a warrant was presently despatched +<pb n='151'/><anchor id='Pg151'/> +into the country to Sir Henry Bromley, a +Knight, who was the next Justice of account unto +Mr. Abington's house, and who was best experienced +in searching of that house, which he had often performed +before upon less likelihood of speeding than now he carried +with him by means of this discovery, and the extraordinary +authority he had to use his pleasure. He came therefore +to the house on a Sunday morning very early, accompanied +with above a hundred men with him, armed and furnished +all <q>cum gladiis et fustibus</q><note place='foot'><q>With swords and clubs</q> (St. Matt. xxvi. 47).</note> and with guns, and all kind +of weapons, more fit for an army than an orderly search. +And beginning to beat at the gate with great importunity +to be let in presently, the Catholics within the house +soon perceiving their intention, made all the haste possible +to hide both the Priests and Church stuff, and books, +and all such persons and things as belonged to the Priests, +or might give cause of suspicion. In the meantime sending +to the gates, as the custom is, to know the cause of their +coming, and to keep them in talk with messages to and +fro, from the master or mistress of the house, all to gain +time, whilst they within were hiding all things in the +most safe secret places they had. +</p> + +<p> +But Sir Henry Bromley, impatient of this delay, +caused the gates with great violence and force of men +to be broken down, which yet he could not perform in +so short a time (by reason they were very strong and +answerable to the greatness of the house) before they +within had made all safe which they would hide from +this violent invasion. The Knight being entered by force, +sent presently some principal persons with men enough +to assist each of them into all the several parts of the +house, as well to take possession of the same, as to make +stay of any persons that were suspicious, and to be sure +that nothing should then be hidden after his entry. +Himself showed unto the mistress of the house (Mr. +<pb n='152'/><anchor id='Pg152'/> +Abington himself being not then at home) his large commission +to search, and the proclamation against those +for whom he would search. She yielded to his authority, +and gave him full power to do his will. He began +after the accustomed manner, to go through all the rooms +of the house, which were many and very large; he had +with him Argus his eyes, many watchful and subtle companions, +that would spy out the least advantage or cause +of suspicion, and yet they searched and sounded every +corner in that great house till they were all weary, and +found no likelihood of finding that they came for, though +they continued the daily search, and that with double +diligence, all the whole week following. But upon Saturday +two laymen that did usually attend upon the two +Priests, and were hid in a place by themselves, being +almost starved to death, came out of their own accord. +For they had placed the Priests in another secret conveyance +where there was some provision of victuals laid +up for their sustenance a few days; but themselves were +forced to go into a place on the sudden, which though +it were safe from finding, yet had no provision at all to +eat, and, as I have heard, they had but one apple between +them in all those six or seven days. Whereupon they +thought it best to come out; and yet not that so much +to save themselves from death by famine, as for that they +perceived the resolution of the searchers to be of staying +in the house until they had either found or famished those +whom they knew to be within. Therefore these two +virtuous men being in hope that upon their taking, the +searchers would be satisfied and depart (as either thinking +them to be Priests, or that if there had been any more +to be found, they would also have been forced to come +out), this hope made them resolve to offer themselves +to their enemies' hands, to save the lives of those whom +they loved better than themselves. And their coming out +was in such manner as could endanger nothing but themselves; +<pb n='153'/><anchor id='Pg153'/> +one of the two especially, whose name was Nicholas +Owen, abounding in discretion, which was the man that +attended on Father Garnett, and is thought by all men +to have been a Brother of the Society, of whom we shall +have occasion to speak afterwards, for he suffered many +and great torments, and is now a glorious martyr. +</p> + +<p> +They therefore perceiving that some of the searchers +did continually by turns watch and walk up and down +in the room where they were hidden, which was a long +and fair gallery four square, going round about the house, +they watched their time when the searchers were furthest +off, and came out so secretly and stilly, and shut the +place again so finely, that they were not one whit heard +or perceived when or where they came out, and so they +walked in the gallery towards the door, which they thought +belike to have found open. But the searchers being turned +back in their walk, and perceiving two strange men to +be there, whom they had not seen before, presently ran +unto them, and asked what they were. They answered +they were men that were in the house, and would be +content to depart if it pleased them. The others asked +whether they were Priests: they answered they were +Catholics, and that further they would not answer, being +no doubt desirous to be taken for such, the better to satisfy +the insatiable mind of those blood-suckers. Then being +asked where they had been all that while, they answered +they had hid themselves, being Catholics, to avoid taking. +And being urged to tell or show the place where, they +absolutely refused. +</p> + +<p> +But the searchers knowing well that it must needs +be in the gallery by all circumstances, began afresh +to search more violently than ever, and to break down +the wainscot with which the gallery was lined, and +the walls also in a number of places. And so they +continued with all violence for five or six days after, +and leaving no place untried in so great leisure as they +<pb n='154'/><anchor id='Pg154'/> +had, it pleased God to end the misery in which they +kept those two good Fathers by their so long and strait +inclosure, and to deliver them <q>in manus quærentium +animam illorum,</q><note place='foot'>Into the hands of those that sought their life.</note> by permitting the searchers at last to +light upon the place itself, where they had been hid so +many days, <q>sustentati aquâ, angustiæ et pane tribulationis.</q><note place='foot'>Fed <q>with bread of affliction and water of distress</q> (3 Kings xxii. 27).</note> +For the Fathers were resolved (as since I have been +informed) there to have ended their days (which could +not much longer have continued, the uneasiness of the +room and their slender provision considered) rather than +by coming out to have endangered their friends in whose +house they had been so charitably entreated. But it +was God's will to have their great patience and many +virtues better known by their public sufferance of violent +death, than it could have been if they had been in that +manner privately pined up in a corner. The searchers +therefore having found and entered the secret place, they +took out the two Fathers out of their close and painful +prison, and they seized upon such Church stuff and books +as were also laid up in the same place, which had made +the room more strait and uneasy for the Fathers than +otherwise it would have been. When the Fathers were +taken, they soon knew who Father Ouldcorne was, because +he had continued in that country many years and was +well known and highly respected by most of the Catholics +in all those parts. +</p> + +<p> +He had also been often seen by many heretics of the +country, and was once in their hands before in Queen +Elizabeth's time, taken on the sudden by some that came to +search the house, as he was walking with another gentleman +in the garden. But then out of his ready wit he escaped +their hands; for coming with the searchers to the door, +which went of the parlour into the garden, and finding +it locked (which it is like the servants had done after they +<pb n='155'/><anchor id='Pg155'/> +perceived the search, because they would have respite +to pull down the altar and to hide the Church stuff and +other things of peril), Father Ouldcorne, therefore, finding +this door shut, called the servants hastily, as if he did +reprehend them for keeping out the Queen's officers, and +when they came to open the door he stept in first, as if +he did continue his speech of finding fault with their +long stay, and suddenly clapt to the door upon the +searchers, leaving them shut out and in the garden with the +other gentleman; himself presently got into a secret place, +perhaps the same which now was found, though then they +could not find neither it nor the man again, though they +sought him long and with great diligence. And the like +strange escapes had happened to Father Garnett often, +though in other manner. +</p> + +<p> +And so we see, that when God will protect, he can +hide a Felix between two walls, and make spiders His +workmen to cover the entry with their webs. And +again, when it is His pleasure to deliver up His servants +to their last conflicts, no secret, no hide, no defence +shall serve; but He will deliver them like sheep to +the devouring of wolves, when He hath ordained them +to so high an honour, as to suffer for His holy name, +<q>ut simul compatiantur in hoc sæculo, qui conregnaturi +sunt in futuro.</q><note place='foot'>That they may suffer together in this world, who are to reign together +in the world to come.</note> So it fell out to these two holy men, +who after they had spent so many years in the gaining +of souls, labouring both faithfully and fruitfully in God's +vineyard, so that they might say with the blessed Apostle, +<q>Bonum certamen certavimus, cursum consummavimus, +fidem servavimus:</q><note place='foot'>We <q>have fought a good fight,</q> we <q>have finished the course,</q> we +<q>have kept the faith</q> (2 Tim. iv. 7).</note> what was now remaining +but that they should be called by the just Judge to receive +<q>illam coronam justitiæ quæ reposita erat illis,</q><note place='foot'>The crown of justice which was laid up for them, and for those also who +love the coming of Christ.</note> and which +<pb n='156'/><anchor id='Pg156'/> +therefore the Apostle doth not only appropriate to himself, +but <q>iis etiam qui diligunt adventum Christi,</q> which truly +was performed by these two in great measure, as both +in their life and at their death they showed abundantly. +Thus therefore Father Garnett and Father Ouldcorne +being taken, and Father Ouldcorne soon known who he +was, they laboured much to know whether the other were +Father Garnett or no, and though they brought divers +unto him to see if they did know him, yet they could +find none for a good while that could and would discover +who he was, until at last one poor man was brought, who +had drunk too much of that cup of contradiction with which +the craft of heresy hath sought of late to infect the minds +of some of the weaker sort, thereby to divide, and so to +destroy the kingdom of faith in our country; and this +poor man, I hope rather out of simplicity than malice, took +knowledge of him, having known him before and been +beholden to him, and called him both by his own name +Garnett, and by other names that he had known him to +go by, by which he was also described in the proclamation. +And this silly man did utter it with a kind of spleen, +as seeming to hope that now the Jesuits would bear +less sway than he thought they had done. It is thought +he hoped for some favour from the Council for this his +good service unto them (though a Priest, and then a +prisoner in Worcester); but I cannot hear that he reaped +any fruit besides a wounded conscience <q>ex hâc delatione +et accusatione fratris sui;</q><note place='foot'>From this delation and accusation of his brother.</note> and Father Garnett's answer +unto him was with great mildness and charity, according +to his custom. Sir Henry Bromley now having what he +desired, presently despatched posts unto the Council with +this news, and kept the prisoners at his own house in +the meantime until he might receive further order. +</p> + +<p> +Unto these foresaid prisoners, Mr. Thomas Abington, +the master of the house where they were taken, was also +<pb n='157'/><anchor id='Pg157'/> +now adjoined, who came home to his own house two days +after the search began, and was presently apprehended, that +he might be in safety if any of these supposed traitors +should chance to be taken in his house: because then by +the laws he loseth both life and living. Sir Henry Bromley +soon after receiving order from the Council to bring up +Father Garnett and Father Ouldcorne with a good guard +and strength to London, he performed presently their +commandment, and went towards London attended with +a great number of horses for the more safe custody of his +charge. But the more he conversed with Father Garnett, +the more he grew in estimation of him, and the more +he showed in all things to respect him, although the man +be otherwise a very earnest Puritan, and one of the +forwardest that way of all Worcestershire. It happened +by the way that the Minister who went with Sir Henry +Bromley as his chaplain or preacher, seeing Father Garnett +so modest and to speak so little, especially of matters +of controversy, thought belike that he had been utterly +unskilful in them, and desirous to get himself some credit +in that kind, began to provoke Father Garnett to the +combat; but Father Garnett, loth to give offence unto +any, and esteeming the example of modesty more fruitful +to a proud heretic than to contend with one so likely to +resist the known truth, did once or twice put him off +with a mild answer, showing only what the other should +believe in such a case, and forbearing to allege any further +reasons. Whereupon the heretic grew more insolent (as +their custom is), and then began in sort to triumph in +the hearing of others, which Father Garnett perceiving, +and then doubting that his good meaning would be so +easily discerned by his silence as misconstrued, without +giving further answer to the Minister, he hastened his +horse a little to overtake Sir Henry Bromley that rode +before, and told him how his Minister had divers times +provoked him to disputation, which he had purposely +<pb n='158'/><anchor id='Pg158'/> +forborne, being loth to give offence unto him in whose +custody now he was; and partly also, because he knew +such disputations to be often fruitless where there is no +judge of authority to restrain the subdued party from +entering into terms of blasphemy and such like, which himself +was not willing to hear, and therefore thought it better +in such a case to be silent. But that if it pleased Sir Henry +to hear the one and restrain the other in case it should +be offered, he then for his part was very ready to give +his Minister satisfaction to anything he would or could +propound. Sir Henry commended very much his wisdom +and government in the manner of his proceeding, and +called the Minister presently, willing him to propound +all things freely that he would, but yet with modesty. +So the Minister began to discourse after their diffuse +manner, producing many things not digested into any +good method, nor founded upon any sure grounds of +faith or learning. Father Garnett suffered him to speak +his fill, as long as he seemed to continue in one matter, +and then desired leave to speak. Then he in few words +and excellent order related the substance of all that the +other had said, and then repelled it with so substantial +grounds, and with such demonstration of learning, and that +even in those kinds which they most esteem and stand +upon, which is the Scriptures and Tongues, that it put +the Minister to silence and the Knight to great admiration, +and all the audience were so satisfied both with his +modesty and profound learning as it was reported presently +by them all over London, to the great commendation +of the good Father. But Sir Henry Bromley did +seem so greatly to admire and affect him, that he affirmed +to divers gentlemen of account, when he came to London, +that he never in his life met the like man to Mr. Garnett +either for modesty, wisdom, or learning, and that he would +kneel before the King to save his life, if he were not +found guilty of the Powder. +</p> + +<pb n='159'/><anchor id='Pg159'/> + +<p> +When they were come to London, the two Fathers +were first committed close prisoners to the Gatehouse, +their two servants to other prisons. When Father Garnett +was carried into the prison, there stood a great number +of prisoners at the gate expecting to see him as he +passed, whom he seeing, asked aloud, <q>Is there any of +you that be in for the Catholic faith?</q> And divers +Catholics answering, <q>Yes, yes, we are Catholics, and +prisoners for our conscience,</q> <q>Then,</q> said he, <q>I am +your fellow.</q> So he was locked up in a chamber. +</p> + +<p> +And it was two days after before he was examined, +whereof the reason was guessed to be in that the Council, +hearing so much fame of his virtue, gravity, and learning, +and knowing well how much he was respected by many +great persons, and esteemed also by the Ambassadors of +the Catholic Princes then residing in London, it made +them very wary, and to deliberate much how to proceed +with him, and would not call him to examination before +they had informed themselves of as much as they could +learn of his words and carriage at his taking and bringing +up to London, many of which (to our great grief and loss) +are unknown to us; for that the three that were taken and +brought up with him are all put to death, and were kept +close until their death, and the times also have been so +troublesome since, that we could not have such means as +we desire to meet and talk with those that were eyewitnesses +of many notable accidents, which we hope to do +hereafter, and to have many things brought to light which +will be greatly to God's glory and all our comfort. +</p> + +<p> +The third or fourth day after Father Garnett was committed +to the Gatehouse he was sent for to be examined by +five or six of the Privy Council, at which time, as ever after, +they used him with great respect, unusual from meaner +Commissioners than the Privy Council when Priests are +examined, and especially those of the Society, whom, as +being more hated by them, they are accustomed to revile +<pb n='160'/><anchor id='Pg160'/> +with many bitter and disgraceful terms, whereof traitor is +the least. But to Father Garnett the contrary was so far +used that the Lords themselves would seldom speak unto +him but they would put off their hat, and sometimes hold +it off a good while, and they did usually call him Mr. +Garnett at every word. Of this his first examination we +have not the particular; but this only in general, that he +answered so to all their questions that he gave them great +satisfaction, and they after his departure gave him great +commendation. Yea, one of the Council said, <q>he could +not be misliked but for matter of doctrine only. As for +the Powder he was clear of it.</q> So he was sent back to the +Gatehouse for the time. But that time was very short, for +he was soon after lodged in a stronger hold and in a +straiter prison, where neither any that wished him well +could come near him to understand how he was used, and +where there wanted not instruments full of subtlety and +cruel hatred against him, who would be sure to use him far +otherwise than so mild a disposition and so worthy a man +deserved. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='161'/><anchor id='Pg161'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter XI. +Of Father Garnett, His Carriage To The Tower +And Subtle Usage There. Also Of The Usage +Of Fr. Ouldcorne And Nicholas Owen, Ralph, +And John Grisoll In The Same Place.</head> + +<p> +The expectation of this matter touching Father Garnett +was great in every place, and the conceits of men very +diverse and their discourses different what would become +of so notable a man, being so famous for learning and +piety and modesty as that his very enemies could speak +no other but much good of him, unless they would so +apparently wrong their judgments by judging contrary to +the sight of all men. Some thought he should have +favour, because they saw him used with such respect; +some deemed it most likely they meant to permit his +friends to redeem his life, as not finding sufficient pretence +to put him to death, and therefore better to gratify some +courtier with that which would be given for his life; in +which hope I know one devout gentlewoman who offered +500<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> as a fee to a courtier, that was very likely to obtain +it if that had been their intention. Others judged this +stay that was made of sending him to the Tower was but +to give such hope to Catholics, and to see who would make +suit for him in any kind; others, again, that it was done to +try his constancy first by fair means, meaning afterwards +to make trial of him by contrary usage, if that would not +serve the turn. Briefly, the general report was that he +was free from the Plot, and not to be touched with +this conspiracy, which even Protestants affirmed to be +most likely, in that he was not accused by any of the +<pb n='162'/><anchor id='Pg162'/> +conspirators, as might be easily seen in their printed +examinations, for that above all the rest would have been +printed, if by favour or force or fear it could have been +wrung out of them. Now as for Catholics, it was generally +their opinion that he was innocent, for they knew very well +he could not be guilty who had so often and so effectually +laboured to stay them from all attempts or disobedience, +though in matters of much less moment than this so cruel +intention against the Parliament House. +</p> + +<p> +But whilst all London and England was full of +expectation what issue this cause would have, and every +man gave his judgment of the matter according to his +several humour and opinion, that course was taken +which was from the first intended, and he was delivered +up to the Lieutenant of the Tower, a fit instrument +for such a purpose, as being a man most pliable to +the will of those that had no will to do Father Garnett +good. And the man's mind and manner of proceeding +may be seen by his first salutation to Father Garnett when +he was brought into the Tower, for presently he began to +revile him, saying <q>he was a plotter of all treasons.</q> But +Father Garnett gave him no answer, and being demanded +why he did not answer to those accusing words, he said +<q>he was not moved with his words, for Christ his Master +had taught him by His own example to bear quietly such +contumely.</q> +</p> + +<p> +His lodging and first usage there was not evil in +exterior things (supposing the condition of the place), +which doth allow no bed or any such provision to any +prisoner but such as himself doth provide from his friends +abroad; which help, until it be procured, a prisoner there +may by favour have some straw to lie upon, and that was +Father Garnett his couch until such necessaries could be +sent unto him, which in his case could hardly be procured +without danger to the senders, nor but by divers circumstances. +First he was to send to some known prisoner or +<pb n='163'/><anchor id='Pg163'/> +notorious Catholic, not as acquainted with him, but as +by request in the way of charity. Then that party did +send unto his friends, and after that it was not long in +doing, but yet all done with great circumspection, as not +doubting but all those that brought such things to that +Catholic's house that must seem to send them, would be +watched narrowly, and perhaps dogged to their home, +which is an ordinary practice in all such cases. +</p> + +<p> +Being now settled in the Tower, the Council came +thither to examine him, but found him always the same +man, both constant in his faith and function, and faithful +to his friends. For though they pretended they would not +deal with him in any matter concerning his Priesthood +(desiring, indeed, to have his case esteemed different from +others against whom they had formerly proceeded), yet +were many questions such as if he had answered either +weakly or unwisely he must needs have brought many of +his friends to great trouble; as, where he had lived for a +long time, how he had been maintained, what places he was +at in that last journey, what company he had met at the +places which they affirmed he did stay in, and finally, whom +he knew or had had any dealings withal. But he quit +himself so wisely, and answered so resolutely in them all, +as did sufficiently declare he neither could lawfully, nor +would upon any condition detect others, knowing nothing +by them but the exercise of Catholic religion and practice +of virtue. Finally, there was not any whosoever of high or +low degree that came in trouble by his default or oversight. +There were also many occasions offered in those several +examinations of showing his skill and knowledge in +matters of learning. In particular for matter of equivocation, +wherein he was much and often urged, and ever +gave them such satisfaction as in reason they could +wish no more. The particulars of divers such-like +things we cannot as yet procure, they are kept so close +(as commonly it is most done where they find least +<pb n='164'/><anchor id='Pg164'/> +advantage); only that matter of equivocation being spoken +of again at the bar by Mr. Attorney,<note place='foot'>Who must needs have a fling at it, because his place was not to speak +much before, when the Council did examine him. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> then he referred to +the former full satisfaction he had given them in his +several examinations, though there again he repeated some +points thereof briefly, as shall appear when we come to +handle his arraignment. +</p> + +<p> +The Council, finding that no advantage was to be +gotten of him in his examinations, either against himself +or others in this chief matter, they committed the care and +charge of proceeding with him in that kind unto the Lord +Chief Justice and the Attorney-General, to wit, Popham +and Coke, both professed enemies to Catholics and their +religion, who were so forward or rather so desirous to +undertake the business, that (as it is said) they offered, if +they might have their full scope to deal with him as they +thought good, they would undertake to prove him guilty in +the Plot of Powder. I pray God, that of the Prophet David +be not proved against them both, <q>Veloces pedes eorum +ad effundendum sanguinem,</q><note place='foot'><q>Their feet are swift to shed blood</q> (Psalm xiii. 3).</note> when they shall be cited to a +higher Tribunal, where neither the one shall plead nor the +other be judge, but both be judged <q>secundum mensuram +quâ mensi fuerint.</q><note place='foot'>According to the measure they have meted.</note> +</p> + +<p> +Father Garnett was delivered over to their pleasure,<note place='foot'>As Job to the accusing enemy, to persecute by bloody interrogations and +other vexations also, as they should find it needful, reserving his life. <hi rend='italic'>Erased +in Orig.</hi></note> +and it pleased them to examine him very often. In +all which, though they found no advantage at all, yet, +after three or four examinations, they were so bold as +to give it out that he had confessed all. But this was +for another end. For hereupon presently the Attorney +spake in the Parliament House to have eight Jesuits +condemned of this treason by the High Court of Parliament, +<pb n='165'/><anchor id='Pg165'/> +<hi rend='italic'>vidlt.</hi>, Garnett, Hall, Greenway, Gerard, Hamon, +Westmoreland (there being no such of the Society), +Cresswell, and Baldwin. But the Parliament refused to +condemn these men without better proof of their being +guilty, and therefore willed the Attorney (seeing he had +Garnett's examinations) to lay down the next day the +proofs before them, which he promised to do in so clear +manner as their lordships should rest satisfied of their +guiltiness, and that by Garnett's own confession. At the +time appointed he brings his proofs, which all proved no +confession of Father Garnett (as he had promised), and +indeed nothing else but mere conjectures, imaginations, +and inferences of his own, and that with so little colour of +likely truth as no man applauded the motion, although +there were very many that were no friends to the +parties accused (to speak the least), and so Mr. Attorney +his motion died, and was never after revived. Yea, a +nobleman coming from the Parliament at that time, said +to his friend, that these lawyers were so accustomed to +lie that they could say truth in no place. But indeed +Mr. Attorney must be excused for this time, the cause and +case being very particular and a thing much sought for +and long desired; and if it could have been thus huddled +up without further examination, that so many of the +Society might have stood convicted by Act of Parliament, +it would have been (as they well hoped) a stain of record +to the whole Society. But it pleased God otherwise to +afflict and exercise his servants at that time <q>et infatuavit +Deus consilium Achitophel.</q><note place='foot'>And God infatuated <q>the counsel of Achitophel</q> (2 Kings xv. 31).</note> I wish him from my heart a +better end than Achitophel had, though his device and +advice in this matter was of like malice. There were +also some questions sent unto Father Garnett from the +Parliament itself, and he answered to all their demands by +writing in such sort as gave good satisfaction. +</p> + +<p> +The Chief Justice and Attorney, in the meantime, did +<pb n='166'/><anchor id='Pg166'/> +often visit Father Garnett, but not in that manner that they +may expect to hear for their labour, <q>In carcere eram +et visitastis Me.</q><note place='foot'><q>I was in prison and you came to Me</q> (St. Matt. xxv. 36).</note> They did daily vex him with subtle +examinations and cruel interrogations, but finding they +could win nothing by these means, they devised, by +treacherous stratagems, to discover the secrets of his +heart, if any were concealed by him of which they might +take advantage. And to this end caused the keeper that +had particular charge to keep his prison close and surely +locked, and who alone was admitted to come unto him and +to bring him his meat and other necessaries which he +wanted. This man was directed to feign himself much +moved with Father Garnett his behaviour and words (as, +indeed, they were sufficient to move a better and wiser man +than him that had not been without grace), and to pretend +that he began to be much inclined and almost won to the +Catholic faith, and, in the meantime, to show himself very +friendly, and promise to be faithful to Father Garnett in +anything wherein he might do him service. And the +fellow was so cunning in this art of cozenage, and set so +fair a gilt upon his copper, that the good Father, being full +of charity, <q>quæ omnia credit et omnia sperat,</q><note place='foot'><q>Which believeth all things, hopeth all things</q> (1 Cor. xiii. 7).</note> did hope +the best of his mind, though he meant not to trust him so +far as might greatly endanger either himself or others until +he had better trial. But yet he made use of his offer so +far as to send by him some notes of ordinary matters +(as the fellow might think); first unto a prisoner in the +Gatehouse, a virtuous Priest and his kinsman of his own +name, unto whom he sent a short letter concerning some +necessaries that he wanted, which letter being written with +ordinary ink, he wrote besides in the margent and in the +free parts of the paper some other things with the juice of +orange, which could not be seen without holding to the +fire, and would not have been suspected if the letter had +<pb n='167'/><anchor id='Pg167'/> +only by casualty come to light. But this faithless +messenger, opposing his malice to the Father's charity, +carried the letter presently to be scanned, which imported +(besides the writing in black) a brief relation of the Father's +estate, the effect of his examination, and that he was so +clear of the Powder that the same could not be proved +against him. When this letter was thus read by warming +at the fire, because it could not then be delivered to the +Priest, they therefore counterfeited the Father's hand +and sent it to Mr. Garnett in the Gatehouse, to deceive +him also and to make him to return answer to the Father, +that so he might think himself secure, and be emboldened +to commit yet further trust unto this false messenger.<note place='foot'>This letter was so cunningly counterfeited that it could not be distinguished +from Fr. Garnett his own hand, and it was signed also and so licensed to pass +with the lieutenant his brand unto it. Yet all such necessaries as the Father +writ for and the other sent were seized upon by the Lieutenant, and the Priest +himself brought after in great trouble for returning this charitable answer. +<hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +</p> + +<p> +Then the Father, knowing how great care his friends +abroad had of him, hoped he might use this man in like +manner unto Mrs. Ann Vaux, a noble gentlewoman, and +aunt unto the Baron I had occasion to speak of in +the former chapters, who had for a long time showed great +devotion and charity, serving Christ in His servants, much +like, in her intended course, to those holy women of +Matt. 27. whom the Evangelist speaketh, <q>Quæ secutæ +sunt Jesum a Galilæa ministrantes ei.</q><note place='foot'><q>Who had followed Jesus from Galilee, ministering unto Him</q> (St. Matt. +xxvii. 55).</note> This gentlewoman, +out of her great and faithful charity to Father Garnett, +followed him, indeed, not only when she might with liberty +enjoy the comfort of his spiritual and fatherly counsel, but +also with great constancy and an undaunted mind, seeking +by all means possible how she might assist him in his +troubles. She therefore, being most desirous to perform +all friendly offices to Father Garnett, and, as charity is +ever more careful of another's want than fearful of their +<pb n='168'/><anchor id='Pg168'/> +own danger, and more solicitous to provide for the one +than to prevent the other: understanding that Mr. Garnett +in the Gatehouse had received a letter safely (as it was +thought) by the means of this keeper, she procured to +speak with the man, and finding by all outward signs that +he did much affect the good Father (whom she well knew +to deserve so much affection), she thought she might be +bold to send unto her good Father by him. And so +she did, desiring to know what he wanted, and what +she might perform to procure him any comfort. So +that under hope of this safe means there passed divers +letters between them by this keeper, all which were +first delivered by him to those that had employed him in +that bad office; who procured the letters to be so finely +counterfeited, that being delivered they were received on +both sides for the true hands of the first writers. And so +their trust was deceived on both sides, and their letters +sent by so false a messenger were continually read, which +they thought had passed so safely. By which train they +afterwards entrapped the gentlewoman and bred her +trouble, as I will declare in his place. +</p> + +<p> +But in the meantime, finding nothing by all this +that might touch Father Garnett in that degree which +they most desired (there passing nothing in those +letters but either spiritual comforts from the good +Father, or relation of his estate and examinations, and +how he would have some matters disposed of which +belonged to his charge, and which he had not means +before to give order for, in respect of the late great +troubles which had happened); therefore, this not succeeding +as yet to their full desire, though they kept this still +on foot, yet they invented and put in practice another +subtle craft, so much further from suspicion as it was +nearer home, where the Father might to his thinking +freely speak unto his friend without fear that his words +should come to scanning, which letters are often subject unto. +</p> + +<pb n='169'/><anchor id='Pg169'/> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The hole in the wall where the +FFrs. were overheard.</note> +To this end they placed Father +Ouldcorne in a chamber near unto +Father Garnett. And one time this sly companion +and cunning or rather cozening keeper, making show +of great love to Father Garnett, told him there was +a thing wherein he knew the Father would take great +comfort, and which he would be willing to grant (as +desiring to do him any service), but that he durst never +as yet tell him of it, least it should be espied by others, +and then he was undone. And this was, forsooth, that he +might at some convenient times come to speak with +Father Ouldcorne; and that he would willingly grant them +both this favour, so that Father Garnett would promise +never to disclose it, and give the like charge unto Father +Ouldcorne. This being promised, the fellow showed Father +Garnett the way unto the wall of Father Ouldcorne's +chamber, wherein there was a cleft by which they might +well speak together and hear one the other, if they did +speak of any loudness. This was accepted by both the +Fathers as a great courtesy; as indeed it is no small +comfort in such a place to men of their quality, if this +honey had not been stuffed with too much gall. But this +dogged fellow dogged them so closely, as they could never +meet but he would be of the council, though unseen by +them; for the place was purposely so contrived as that the +sound of their words must needs be carried to another +place not far off, where this keeper would stand and some +other with him, to have a double witness in their double +dealing. Whereupon it happened not long after that these +two Fathers, thinking themselves secure in this point, took +some fit time (as they thought) to have each other's help +in the Sacrament of Confession. And after they had +ended their spiritual business, they began to confer of +each other's estate, demanding what had been asked +and what answered in the times of their examinations. +Amongst other things, Father Ouldcorne demanding of +<pb n='170'/><anchor id='Pg170'/> +Father Garnett whether Mr. Winter's going into Spain +and his negotiation there were not laid to his charge, +to this the Father answered, <q>He could answer that well +enough, for after that time he had the King's general +pardon at the time of his coming to the crown, that +other business with Spain being in the reign of Queen +Elizabeth.</q> Then Father Ouldcorne also demanded +whether he were not pressed with this matter of the +Powder Treason, as being a likely thing they would +urge that above all other matters against him. Father +Garnett answered, that <q>so they did; but that they +could prove no such matter against him, and that +no man living could touch him in that matter, but +one.</q> This, lo, was the word that afterwards bred him +so much trouble, and others of his friends so much +grief, until by his public answers he had cleared their +doubts, and by his death put the matter out of doubt, +that he was not to be charged with any crime in the +matter of that treason, but that there was one man +alone that could accuse him so far forth as might give +a likely pretence to their laws to proceed against him, +especially his enemies being his judges, and they not +judged or ruled by the law of conscience, in which the +Father was clear. This word, as the rest also, was overheard +by the keeper and another easing-dropper, his +companion in that listening and cony-catching office. Then +they thought they had enough. This was carried with +all speed unto the Council, with no small joy; as it was +foretold by Christ should befall his followers. <q>Mundus +gaudebit, vos vero contristabimini.</q><note place='foot'><q>The world shall rejoice and you shall be made sorrowful, but your +sorrow shall be turned into joy ... and your joy no man shall take from +you</q> (St. John xvi. 20, 22).</note> But this lot is not +ever to lie on their side; for He that permits this to His +servants for a time, hath promised also <q>quod tristitia +vestra vertetur in gaudium,</q> and then <q>gaudium vestrum +<pb n='171'/><anchor id='Pg171'/> +nemo toilet a vobis.</q> Then shall be verified, <q>Væ vobis +qui ridetis nunc, quia flebitis,</q><note place='foot'><q>Woe to you that now laugh, for you shall mourn and weep</q> (St. Luke vi. 25).</note> and that with fruitless and +yet everlasting tears. God grant they may see and shun +the danger, which is far greater and more to be feared +than that which did or could befall this good Father by +this seeming misfortune. But to proceed. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The trouble of Mrs. Ann Vaux.</note> +Then it was resolved presently, that either by fear +or force they would wring out of him who this person +was that only could accuse him, and how far he could +be accused. Then they resolved also to pull off the +vizard from the dissembling face of the false keeper, +and that he should no more show his former readiness to +please or pleasure the good Father; but only that he +should bring the good gentlewoman into the snare, which +he had before drawn her into by his faithless promising, +which he performed in this manner. Finding the devout +gentlewoman desirous to see her +good Father at the window of his prison, he promised +to satisfy her wishes therein, and appointed a time +when she should come to the Tower privately, and he +would carry her to a place where she should at the +least see him, if not speak with him. She failed not +of her time; but coming thither found such signs and +causes of distrust, that she returned sooner than she +had intended, and was followed by persons prepared for +the purpose, to see whither she would go to take her +lodging, thereby not only to bring her, but her friends also +in question. The gentlewoman, perceiving herself to be +dogged, would not go to her own lodging nor to any +Catholic house; but wisely intended to have gone into the +prison of Newgate, where there was great store of Priests +and other Catholics, unto which many of all sorts had +continual access. Thus far they let her pass quietly, but +when they saw she intended to go no further, they +presently staid her, and with some rough usage carried her +<pb n='172'/><anchor id='Pg172'/> +back unto the Tower, from whence she came, and there +committed her prisoner, which is a very unwonted place +for women to be committed in. But her extraordinary +zeal towards her good Father deserved this extraordinary +honour of being thereby more noted and spoken of, by this +confession both of her faith and fervour, which was so +much the more honourable as the confession was more +public, and that was so much the more, as the place was +more eminent where she was imprisoned. +</p> + +<p> +Presently after her imprisonment, there were many +false rumours spread and slanders raised, according to +their custom in such cases (where they desire most +to obscure the most known virtues and best deserving +persons) for it was reported in many mouths that +Father Garnett was married to this gentlewoman, and +such like stuff, which forsooth they would have therefore +the rather believed in that she was forward to +adventure for him, and to go to see a man in so great +danger as he was: not understanding how much more +force true charity hath than fond affection, but <q>Animalis +homo non percipit ea quæ Dei sunt.</q><note place='foot'><q>The sensual man perceiveth not these things that are of the Spirit of +God</q> (1 Cor. ii. 14).</note> And they measure +others by their own desires, not feeling any spark of that +heat which moved so many good Maries to follow Christ +and His Apostles, nor tasting any part of their comfort, +who ministering corporal food unto their spiritual Pastors, +receive also from God by their ministration that heavenly +manna <q>quod nemo novit nisi qui accipit.</q><note place='foot'>Which no man knoweth but he who receiveth it.</note> But those +reports soon died, when they saw her sober and modest +behaviour, giving very good example and as great edification +by her carriage as she did satisfaction by her +answers in all the time of her imprisonment, never +relenting or repenting the forward zeal she had showed to +help her good Father in his need; but rather contrary, that +<pb n='173'/><anchor id='Pg173'/> +she should as willingly bestow her life as her labour to do +God service in that kind. And so my Lord of Salisbury +did give her testimony at Father Garnett's arraignment. +</p> + +<p> +About this time also was Mr. Garnett, the Priest in the +Gatehouse, brought into further trouble for the letter he +had received by the treacherous keeper, although it was +signed and so licensed with the Lieutenant his hand, who +had also, notwithstanding this leave given, seized upon all +such necessaries as were then sent unto Father Garnett by +this good Priest, and he was now also called into question +about the whole matter, and strictly examined, and so +removed from the Gatehouse to the Tower, where he +remained in likely expectation both of torture and death +for his charity shown to Father Garnett, to whom no man +could show any friendship, and be withal esteemed +<q>amicus Cæsaris.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Then the Council appointed a set time of coming +to the Tower to examine Father Garnett upon this +advantage they had by cunning won of him out of his +own words. There came thither to that end the Lord +of Salisbury, the Lord of Suffolk, the Lord Northampton +and others. How Father Garnett had been used in +the meantime for his preparation to this business we +cannot learn, but we have cause to think it was not so well +at this time especially, as he out of his modesty was +content to affirm of his usage in general, being asked the +question at his arraignment. For when he was brought +before the Lords, he was in a very strange plight, so +thirsty as not able to spit or speak; beer was called for, +and he drank two glasses before them; withal he was +so drowsy, as not able to hold up his head; he complaining +that he had not slept in five nights before. It +was reported by divers of good intelligence in London, that +he was watched of purpose and kept from sleep to make +his head light, and himself less able to bear that which +should be imposed upon him; also that he had some +<pb n='174'/><anchor id='Pg174'/> +mixtures of intoxicating drink given him which should +obscure his understanding and distemper his body. But +in respect that Father Garnett being asked the question +in public, did not take knowledge of any extraordinary +hard usage in those kinds, I for my part do rather think +it was done, but in such manner as himself could not +perceive, by mixing his drink or meat with such confections +as might work both those effects to distemper his +body and hinder his sleep, and yet the Father not know +when or how it was procured. +</p> + +<p> +At this time he was so heavy in his head, that being +not fit to be examined, the Lords permitted him to go +sleep an hour, and then being awaked, he was brought +unto them again, but was little better. Then they did +examine him of many things concerning the Powder +Treason, and particularly seemed to take knowledge that +one had confessed something of him in that kind, and +asked seriously whether there were not some one that +could accuse him therein: which he confidently denied as +thinking himself as secure from being accused in the +knowledge of the matter as he was in conscience clear +from all consent or approbation of the thing itself. When +they saw him so absolute in denying this point, they +carried him to the house of torture and there did torture +him for some time; it is thought not very long.<note place='foot'>But the time we cannot certainly learn. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> For then +they opened the whole secret, how he had been overheard +speak at the hole in the wall with Father Ouldcorne, and +that he said, there was one man that could accuse him, of +which words they produced two witnesses that said they +heard him speak them; and how many more were brought +in we know not. But Father Garnett then seeing his trust +deceived and the matter discovered, thought it best for +divers reasons not to stand in it any longer; but said that +<q>in tantâ nube testium,</q><note place='foot'>In so great a cloud of witnesses.</note> he would utter the matter justly as +<pb n='175'/><anchor id='Pg175'/> +it was, that being the time wherein he might lawfully do +it, and before he could not: the knowledge that he had +being a secret committed to him in confession, which the +penitent did only license him to utter, to save himself +from torture, but not in any other case. +</p> + +<p> +Then being taken down from the torture, he was +demanded, how far he was of counsel or a furtherer of the +Plot of Powder. He answered he was never any furtherer +of it, but did ever both mislike it in his heart, and in what +he could did hinder it. And being asked how it was, or by +whom he might then be accused; he answered that he +could not be otherwise accused of it, but that he had only +a simple knowledge of it, and that also in so secret a +manner as that it was never lawful for him to utter it, +being in confession. They asked him how it came to be +more lawful now to utter it than before. He said, in +respect that now he had leave granted by the penitent, +who had licensed him to utter it, rather than endure +torture for keeping his confession secret. And being urged +by some of the Lords, why it might be lawful to utter the +secret of confession to save himself from torture, and not +lawful to utter it for the saving of so many great persons +from death, &c, he answered it was lawful in neither case, +but by the license of the penitent, who only could <q>dilatare</q> +or <q>restringere sigillum secreti,</q><note place='foot'>To enlarge or restrain the seal of the secret.</note> which appertained to +himself. Being then required to tell who that party was; he +answered, they should see, he would deal plainly with them +in all things, it being now lawful to utter his knowledge +therein; and said, <q>the man was Father Oswald Tesimond.</q> +</p> + +<p> +This acknowledgment of Father Garnett's was after +censured by many; and even by some of his friends and +well-wishers esteemed a weakness in him. But if the causes +that moved him thereunto be well weighed (as they were no +doubt very well considered by him) the matter will not be +found to deserve any imputation of fear or imprudence in +<pb n='176'/><anchor id='Pg176'/> +Father Garnett. For after it was once bolted out at the +hole in the wall that he was to be accused of it (which +thing indeed made the overture to all) if he had then +insisted upon denial, that would neither have saved his +life, nor his estimation touching that matter; yea rather, it +would have left him suspected of further practice as a +principal plotter of the matter, and withal would have +made all the rest of his true assertions the more distrusted. +Whereas by telling the plain truth, that he only heard it in +confession, he did both show himself and the party from +whom he heard it to be free from being either principals or +parties in the action, especially declaring unto them as he +did how the matter passed, to wit, that Father Tesimond +came unto him much troubled about the matter, desiring +for the ease of his conscience to go to confession, and +therein declared, that such an intention and practice was +opened unto him; wherein he might have some doubt +whether he had done his duty. For though (as I have heard +it affirmed by some of credit, that since have spoken with +Father Tesimond) he did utterly mislike the practice, and +refuse to assist them any way, either by counsel or otherwise, +yet doubts or scruples fit for confession might arise in +his mind two divers ways. First, on the one side he might +be doubtful whether he had sufficiently dissuaded them +from it, and used the best and most effectual reasons to +withdraw them from proceeding therein, both in respect of +the matter itself and of the charge he had from his +Superiors not to meddle with any matter of State, much +less of that quality that concerned the life of any, or +attempts against the Prince. So on the other side, he +might have some motions to doubt whether in that case<note place='foot'>Being no causer of it himself, he should not have left them to themselves +without seeking to divert them from their purpose; not knowing whether. +<hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +God did not intend by them to punish heresy and revenge +the cause and quarrel of his servants with a temporal +<pb n='177'/><anchor id='Pg177'/> +affliction to some of their chiefest afflictors, which he knew +well would be much more severely punished in the next +world if it be not repented in this. Therefore being +uncertain of the secret judgments of God, and seeing them +so resolute in it, and to protest they did it only for the +redeeming of the Church from persecution in England +and like danger in other places, if the root of heresy +should continue; but especially that they did it to save +so many souls as daily were cast away, whilst heresy was in +that strength and power, against which also, they said, no +other means was left in human likelihood by which they +could hope redress of so many evils, much greater without +comparison than the loss of such as were to perish in the +action. Remembering therefore the reasons they alleged, +though he was sure he might not himself be an actor or +furtherer thereof in any kind, yet perhaps he might doubt +how far he was bound to hinder it in others. And so the +matter on both sides might breed some doubts, and +whether he feared he had done too much, or too little, in +the cause, yet his fear on either side might be cause +sufficient of confession;<note place='foot'>And the confession being only of his knowledge what others had opened +unto him of their intentions so long time after they had begun the practice. +<hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> and his confession a sign that he +rather disliked than approved the Plot in any sort. For +either he must confess that he had hindered it or not. +If that he had hindered it, then he was no furtherer of it; +if that he had not hindered it sufficiently, then it was +apparent he misliked the Plot, and meant to hinder it. +But the truth indeed was (as I have heard it) that he had +sought to hinder it by persuasion; but was doubtful +whether in so earnest and effectual manner as might be +likely to prevail with so absolute resolutions. +</p> + +<p> +Father Garnett, therefore, opening the plain truth of +the matter according to the leave he had of the penitent in +that case, did not any way prejudice, but rather relieve, +<pb n='178'/><anchor id='Pg178'/> +both his own and his penitent's case as things then stood. +But some will say, what needed Father Garnett have +opened the name of the party, and not rather indefinitely +have affirmed that some one in confession did open it +unto him. But this (if it be well considered) would not +have served. For, first, if he had named no person, he +could never have taken away the fear and jealousy of the +King and State, knowing assuredly that one man yet lived +that was privy to the matter, and for ought they knew +might be still in the same mind, and live in place, or be of +power, to effect some mischief. Besides, by such concealment, +he might fear great troubles would follow to many +Catholics, especially that all the friends of the Society +would have been troubled with continual examinations, +searches, and vexations; and that his particular acquaintance +should assuredly have been suspected, imprisoned, +and convented before the Council as traitors under this +pretence; and so to save one man from trouble he should +have been the cause of trouble to many, besides his own +extremity of torture, which would have been with all force +and fury laid upon him until he had told the truth. And +to name any other person living, it was not lawful, because +not true; and to name one of the gentlemen that were +slain would not have been sufficient, he having said that +one man living might accuse him. And to name in +particular Father Tesimond did not seem to give any just +cause of increase to the hard opinion they had of him +before, knowing by Mr. Winter of his going into Spain +with him (though they mistook the cause) and by Bates<note place='foot'>Of his knowledge thereof from him, and. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> of +his going unto the gentlemen in Warwickshire after they +were up in arms, though there also they misinterpret his +intention. But this supposed, and he thereby as much +laid for and as likely to suffer (if he were taken) by their +former conceits, as by this one particular, this circumstance +of his uttering it in confession might rather extenuate than +<pb n='179'/><anchor id='Pg179'/> +aggravate his peril in just reason and the opinion conceived +of him. For as I showed before, it proved a dislike of the +action, or an endeavour against it, or both, and this before +his confession. Then Father Garnett adding thereunto his +further charge, that he should do his uttermost to dissuade +and divert them from their purpose, and he promising to do +his best, all these points do prove sufficiently that he was +neither contriver nor counsellor, nor yet consenter to the +Plot, of all which he stood then accused in the proclamation, +so that the knowledge of the truth might seem to +help and not to hinder him in anything. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>All others of the Society apparently +cleared from any knowledge of +the Plot.</note> +These and many more effectual reasons no doubt were +considered by Father Garnett, which moved him not to +conceal the whole truth of his knowledge, and the means +how it came unto him; which cannot therefore be justly +imputed to any frailty or imprudence in him, but rather +esteemed as an argument of his care to take away +jealousies from the King, who could not fear any further +power or practice in Father Tesimond; to prevent troubles +from Catholics; to free himself and the other also from +opinion of any consent unto the Plot; but especially to +clear all the rest of the Society +from so much as the least knowledge +that any such thing was intended. Which truth +may evidently be proved out of Father Garnett's words, +<q>That one only could accuse him of his knowledge +thereof;</q> for if any more of the Society had known thereof, +it is certain they would and must have confessed the same +to him, if they took it for a fault; if otherwise, at least +have sought his advice out of confession. So that no more +imparting the matter to him, it was apparent no more +did know of it; and therefore very likely to be God's +especial providence that Father Garnett should be overheard +to speak these words unto his confident friend in private +(whereby it was most apparent he meant not to be heard +by others), that thereby all others might be cleared; though +<pb n='180'/><anchor id='Pg180'/> +for the time it occasioned his further trouble, which God +doth often permit to His elected servants, for their further +increase of glory in another world. +</p> + +<p> +This, therefore, Father Garnett acknowledged then in +his examination before the Council, that they might see, +as he told them, he dealt truly and plainly with them in +all things. And they asking him why he did not before +acknowledge so much, but did protest against it, he +answered it was not before lawful for him to do it, because +he had no leave but in that case; and that it was a thing +both lawful in all laws, divine and human, and ordinary also +in their own practice, for men to plead not guilty, until +they be convicted by witness, which he especially might do +in this case, this being no sin or crime in him, and was bound +to do until this time, it being before <q>sigillum secreti confessionis,</q><note place='foot'>The seal of the secret of confession.</note> +which now was released by the penitent's leave. +</p> + +<p> +So they left Father Garnett for the time; but +carried with them matter enough, as they thought, to +convict him of this treason in show of the world. To +which end it was presently given out through the whole +town, that he had confessed all, and now they could +prove the Jesuits to be principal plotters of this treason, +and him and Greenway to be chief authors and devisers +of the same; and it was in most men's mouths that +all this was under Garnett's hand confessed. And this +presently carried unto the Ambassadors there residing, +that by them it might be divulged in others States; and +so a falsehood first grounded, might be more hard to be +removed by sequent information of the truth, and their +proceedings against Father Garnett might seem more justifiable. +This report, although it troubled the Catholics of +England much until they knew the contrary, yet could they +not believe it, being so well acquainted with the giving out +of such things, as the chiefest do desire to have believed, +although the truth be often found on the contrary side. +</p> + +<pb n='181'/><anchor id='Pg181'/> + +<p> +In the meantime Father Ouldcorne was also called in +further question about this conference and about his +knowledge of the treason; but they found him always +like himself, both virtuous and wise and constant in both, +and as, indeed, he knew nothing thereof, so he ever +professed his absolute innocency therein and patiently +endured the extreme torments they +put him unto, as I have heard five hours every day, four +or five days together, which was a greater extremity than +one will easily believe that hath not tried it. +</p> + +<p> +Likewise one that did attend upon Father Ouldcorne, +and did assist him in his journeys and many good works +when he was at liberty, did now suffer with him, as he +afterwards died with him. His name was +Ralph ———;<note place='foot'>Ralph Ashley, for eight years Father Ouldcorne's servant, is believed, +like Nicholas Owen, to have been a Lay-brother of the Society.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> and he was divers times put upon the torture; +but the certain number or measure of the times I cannot +yet learn. But he patiently and constantly endured all +without revealing any one place or person of his master's +acquaintance. +</p> + +<p> +But, above all, they were most troubled and tormented +that were known most to belong unto Father Garnett; +of which kind they had first taken one John Grissold, an +honest faithful man, who had the +keeping of a house where the foresaid +Mrs. Ann Vaux and a kinswoman of hers did use to +dwell near unto London, and where they imagined +Father Garnett did also remain with them. This honest +man being taken in the beginning of the troubles, was +first committed close prisoner to the Gatehouse and +there lodged in a dungeon upon the bare ground, for +the keeper (though he were earnestly entreated by the +other prisoners) would not allow him so much as +straw to lie upon, pretending that if he had any straw +to lie on, he would with that set fire on the house. This +<pb n='182'/><anchor id='Pg182'/> +man did both endure his affliction with great patience and +answer in all his examinations with great constancy and +fidelity. But afterwards, when Father Garnett was taken +and prisoner in the Tower, the Commissioners desiring to +get matter against him, removed this man to the Tower +also, and there put him to the torture with great extremity +and very often, almost every day for a long time together, +as we did confidently hear reported; with which and with +other bad usage in his diet and lodging, he was for a long +time after like to die, and it was thought by many that +he was dead, and doubtless he escaped very hardly. +</p> + +<p> +But the man that was most extremely +used and with extremities brought unto +the last extremity, which is death itself, was one Nicholas +Oven, commonly called and most known by the +name of Little John. By which name he was so famous +and so much esteemed by all Catholics, especially +those of the better sort, that few in England, either +Priests or others, were of more credit. This man did +for seventeen or eighteen<note place='foot'>18 or 19. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> years continually attend upon +Father Garnett, and assist him in many occasions. But +his chief employment was in making of secret places +to hide Priests and Church stuff in from the fury of +searches; in which kind he was so skilful both to devise +and frame the places in the best manner, and his help +therein desired in so many places, that I verily think no +man can be said to have done more good of all those that +laboured in the English vineyard. For, first, he was the +immediate occasion of saving the lives of many hundreds +of persons, both ecclesiastical and secular, and of the +estates also of these seculars, which had been lost and +forfeited many times over if the Priests had been taken +in their houses; of which some have escaped, not once +but many times, in several searches that have come to the +same house, and sometimes five or six Priests together at +<pb n='183'/><anchor id='Pg183'/> +the same time. Myself have been one of the seven that +have escaped that danger at one time in a secret place +of his making. How many Priests then may we think +this man did save by his endeavours in the space of +seventeen years, having laboured in all shires and in the +chiefest Catholic houses of England? Then for spiritual +good, it is to be noted he was partner with them all in +the gain of souls wherein he did preserve them; and to +which end he intended directly all his works, labouring +in that painful and dangerous business to keep them in +safety for the saving of souls, which it appeared well he +respected more than his own body, for he was not ignorant +that his office was much subject to the danger of spies, +and that when he should happen to be taken he was sure +to be extremely handled to wrest out of him the secrets +of other men's houses. And so, <hi rend='italic'>de facto</hi>, he did prove +it ten years before this his last apprehension, at which +time being taken with Father Gerard, though it were not +known directly that he was the man that used to make +secret places, neither the time as then all out so violent +(things passing much with us by storms and calms, as in +times of former persecution), yet was he then put to +extreme torture, and used besides with all cunning to +see if either force or fear would make him to relent. But +when they found that he was so constant he would not +yield in the least point, and so discreet withal that they +could not take any advantage of his answers either against +himself or others, having no evidence at all nor witness to +come in against him, they could do no more but keep +him still in prison, which they did until Catholics, that +could hardly want him abroad, with a good round sum +of money did purchase his liberty. +</p> + +<p> +One reason that made him so much desired by +Catholics of account, who might have had other workmen +enough to make conveyances in their houses, was +a known and tried care he had of secrecy, not only +<pb n='184'/><anchor id='Pg184'/> +from such as would of malice be inquisitive, but from +all others to whom it belonged not to know; in which +he was so careful that you should never hear him +speak of any houses or places where he had made such +hides, though sometimes he had occasion to discourse of +the fashion of them for the making of others. Yea, he +did much strive to make them of several fashions in several +places, that one being taken might give no light to the +discovery of another. Wherein he had no doubt great +aid from Almighty God, for his places were exceeding +fortunate (if so we may term the providence of God), +and no marvel, for he ever began his work with communicating +that day he entered upon it, and, as much +as his labour would give him leave, did continually pray +whilst he was working. But the contriving of his works +in the safest manner were also very much assisted by an +extraordinary wit and discretion which he had in such +measure as I have seldom in my life seen the like in a +man of his quality, which is also the opinion of most that +did know him well. But, above all, that which did most +commend him both in the sight of God and man, was +his innocent life and earnest practice of solid virtues. For +the first it was such, that I think no man can say that +in all that seventeen or eighteen years they heard him +swear by any oath, or ever saw him out of charity; yea, +I have heard his ghostly Fathers affirm very seriously, +that in all that time they never knew him to have committed +mortal sin, nor anything that might be doubted +to be such. His practice of the chiefest virtues was such +that he had gotten great habits both in the religious +virtues of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and no less +in humility, patience, and charity, which upon all occasions +were very plainly seen in his conversation and actions, +insomuch that he was as a pattern of those virtues in every +house where he came. One trial of his patience I cannot +omit, because it was most apparent and worthy memory. +</p> + +<pb n='185'/><anchor id='Pg185'/> + +<p> +He was sent on a time to London by his Superior to fetch +certain household stuff behind him upon a horse that was +somewhat resty. He loaded his horse in an inn, and +afterwards got up in the saddle with great difficulty; but +then the horse would not forward, whether misliking his +load or no, it is uncertain; but instead of going forward +he rose so high with his forefeet that he fell backward and +fell upon the man and burst his leg; which sore hurt he +did bear with so great patience, and in like sort the +dressing thereof divers times, but especially when being +false knit, it was needful to have it broken the second +which was worse than the first, that they all admired him +in the inn, where he was forced to lie a long time. And +whereas his friends were much afraid he would there have +been discovered in his long abode, yet his patience and +virtue got him so much love that he received no harm, +but was ever after most welcome to the place. +</p> + +<p> +Upon this hurt and the ill-setting of the leg-bone, one +leg was a little bended and shorter than the other, whereof +he had some halt, but so little as you could scarcely discern +it; wherein, as he was made somewhat like in his pace unto +blessed Father Ignatius (whose child and scholar he was), +so did he labour to follow his steps in his Rules and holy +Institution, whereof he was a most religious observer, and +as we generally think a Lay-coadjutor of the Society, +admitted by Father Garnett some years before his death, +though his humble and discreet carriage was such as you +could not discern any liberty of fellowlike conversation +that he took thereupon with any of the Society, but rather +carried himself in all things as a servant. And I have +some reasons more in particulars to think that he was +assuredly admitted of the Order, yet those can better tell +that are of the Society here in England. +</p> + +<p> +Now to come to the manner of his death. It was +such as might be expected from so innocent and holy a +life; yea, such as the enemy did therefore much malign +<pb n='186'/><anchor id='Pg186'/> +and to seek to hide, and that with disgrace in all he +might. Being taken with Father Garnett, as hath been +said, he was first committed to the Marshalsea, and not +close prisoner of purpose (as it is thought) to observe +who would come unto him; but he was too wise to give +any advantage. When Father Garnett was committed +to the Tower, he also was sent thither, there to be tortured, +and that with all extremity, as it was before intended +when he was first known to be taken; for even then a +chief Councillor said, <q>Is he taken that knows all the secret +places? I am very glad of that. We will have a trick for +him.</q> And so indeed they tricked him when they had +him in the Tower, for they tortured him so long and so +often that his bowels gushed out together with his life; +which when they did espy, thinking to cover their own +cruelty with his slander, they gave it out that he had +slain himself with a knife that was lent him to eat his +meat withal. And to make this report to go for current +amongst the common people, they set forth a ballad with +his picture, ripping out his own bowels with a knife as he +lay in bed, his keeper being also in the chamber busy +about some other thing. But this false slander was so +improbable that even his enemies did not believe it, much +less his friends that were so well acquainted with his +innocent life and long-continued practice in virtue, besides +his former tried constancy in that kind. For all men did +see it stood with no likelihood that, after all his torments +so patiently sustained, he should then of impatience or +fear of more torments cast away himself; for then he +would rather have done it before his torments, or after the +first time to prevent the next, for he was beforehand well +assured they meant to use him with all extremity; and +yet all the while he was in the Marshalsea, or where his +carriage might be seen, no sign of fear or trouble of mind +could be discerned, but an humble and quiet settled mind, +using great diligence in prayer, as one that prepared +<pb n='187'/><anchor id='Pg187'/> +himself to his last conflict, which he might well expect, +especially knowing the state of his body, as he did, which +I will by-and-bye declare. Again, if he would have yielded +to sin to save himself from pain, would he not rather have +yielded to their desires and discovered the secret places +that he knew, for which he might be well assured not only +to escape torments, but to be most highly rewarded, as one +that could have done them more service in that kind than +any man in England whosoever, and might have brought +more Priests into their hands and more gentlemen's and +noblemen's livings into their possession than any one man +could; yea, he might have made it almost an impossible +thing for Priests to escape, knowing the residences of most +Priests in England, and of all those of the Society, whom +he might have taken as partridges in a net, knowing all +their secret places which himself had made, and the +like conveyances in most of the chief Catholics' houses in +England, and the means and manner how all such places +were to be found, though made by others. So that as no +one man did more good than he in assisting the labours +of all the Priests that were workmen in that vineyard, so no +ten men could have done so much harm as he alone might +if he had been so disposed; by which he well knew he +might have made himself great in the world, not only by +their rewards for so great and extraordinary service, but +also by the spoil of Catholics' goods, being so many and +so great, as he might have come to the rifling of, and have +had no doubt much thereof for his own share, especially +the Church stuff, which he knew to be very rich in some +places, and where and how it was laid up. These motives +therefore of riches, credit, and pleasure, being joined with +assurance of life and liberty, had been more likely baits +for him to have bitten at, if he would have swallowed the +hook of sin for the avoiding of torment, than by the +torment of death voluntarily assumed, not to end his +torments, as he well knew, but to begin a never-ending +<pb n='188'/><anchor id='Pg188'/> +and that also much more intolerable torment in hell-fire. He +wanted neither wit nor knowledge in spiritual things to +discern the great difference between these two; especially +seeing on the one side with pleasures and riches in the +world to be joined a longer life, and so a time wherein he +might at last hope to do penance and be saved. Whereas +on the other side he could see nothing but present death +without comfort, and that but <q>initium dolorum,</q><note place='foot'><q>The beginnings of sorrows</q> (St. Matt. xxiv. 8).</note> the door, +as it were, into the house of horror, despair, and everlasting +torments. +</p> + +<p> +No; the truth was this: the man had lived a saintly +life, and his death was answerable, and he a glorious +martyr of extraordinary merit. God assisted him with so +much grace that in all his torments he gave not the least +sign of relenting, not any sign of impatience, not any one +word by which the least of his acquaintance either did or +might come in any trouble, of which three kinds they could +not so much as feign any little instance to set forth with +their forged slander, but set out the bare lie without any +colour or likelihood at all. Indeed, I think they intended +not to have killed him by torture, though they meant to +give him enough, and more than ever any sustained of +whom we can find records. For he hung in the torture +seven hours together, and this divers times, though we +cannot as yet learn the certain number, but day after day +we heard of his being carried to torments. Now true it is, +and well known to many, that the man had a rupture in +his belly, taken with excessive pains in his former labours; +and a man in that case is so unable to abide torments, that +the civil law doth forbid to torture any man that is broken. +He, therefore, being not only tortured, but that with so +much extremity and so long continuance, it could not be +otherwise but that his bowels should come out; which, +when they perceived, and minding as yet to continue that +course with him, they girded his belly with a plate of iron +<pb n='189'/><anchor id='Pg189'/> +to keep in his bowels, but the extremity of pain (which is +most, in that kind of torment, about the breast and belly) +did force out his guts, and so the iron did serve but to cut +and wound his body, which, perhaps, did afterwards put +them in mind to give it out that he had ripped his belly +with a knife. Which, besides all the former reasons, is in +itself improbable, if not impossible. For first, in that case, +knives are not allowed, but only in time of meat, whilst +one stands by, and those such as are broad at the point, +and will only cut towards the midst. And if one be sore +tortured (though much less than he was), he is not able to +handle that knife neither for many days, but his keeper +must cut his meat for him. But his particular case proceeded +yet further, for his weakness was such that when a +kinswoman of his (to whom they sent for some relief for +him) desired to see by his handwriting what he would have, +his keeper answered, <q>What would you have him write? +He is not able to put on his own cap: no, not to feed +himself, but I am forced to feed him.</q> This man was likely, +then, belike, to do such a deed with a knife which he was +not able to grasp. But afterwards, the same party, seeking +further to know his estate, and coming to the keeper to +learn, as desirous to help him with anything that was +needful, he secretly wished her to trouble herself no more, +for, said he, <q>The man is dead, he died in our hands.</q> +This was known presently to divers Catholics, though +reported in private, as it was spoken, for fear of further +examination and trouble. For after they had published +that he had killed himself, and seeing it was not believed, +the only argument they had to give it credit was to +commit those to prison that spake against it, of which +there were divers examples to terrify others. <q>Sed Deus +revelabit abscondita tenebrarum et manifestabit consilia +cordium.</q><note place='foot'>But God <q>will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will +make manifest the counsels of the hearts</q> (1 Cor. iv. 5).</note> And of this great and worthy martyr there is no +<pb n='190'/><anchor id='Pg190'/> +question but many witnesses will one day be produced to +the glory of God and His servant, and the safety of their +own souls if ever they come to penance. In the meantime +I desire my soul may have part with his, and myself may +be assisted with his holy prayers. About whose life and +death I have been the longer, to show how much the truth +of his virtuous life and glorious death is contrary to the +published slander. This happy soul suffering all this, only +for his conscience and constant practice of charity, not +being so much as accused of any other crime.<note place='foot'>Now I must set down their proceedings by course of law against the +gentlemen that were the conspirators in the treason (of which I formerly +treated), and this I will do in this chapter following. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='191'/><anchor id='Pg191'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter XII. +Of The Arraignment, Condemnation, And Execution +Of The Conspirators, With The Full Clearing +Of Some Of The Society Falsely Accused In +This Arraignment.</head> + +<p> +About<note place='foot'>This great diligence and often iterated examinations of Father Garnett +continued so long that it was almost the end of March before they could bring +matters to that pass which hath been declared, and so that they might have any +little show to prove the Father guilty against the laws of the realm for his only +concealing of that which by the laws of God he could not reveal. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in +Orig.</hi></note> this time was discovered unto the Council the +place where Father Garnett was, insomuch as they gave +present order for his apprehension, as I will declare in the +next chapter; but it could not be so soon effected as it +was hoped and desired, so that in the meantime, although +they were most desirous to defer the execution of the +conspirators as long as might be, coveting to have found +matter in Father Garnett whereby he might have been +joined to them as a party at least, if not a principal +contriver and author of their plot, yet finding his apprehension +not to be speedy, and having no proofs and therefore +weak hopes of proving him guilty, they could not well +defer the trial of the conspirators so long time. Therefore +upon the —<note place='foot'>The 27th.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> of January, they were all carried from +the Tower to Westminster Hall by water, being nine in +number: <hi rend='italic'>vidlt.</hi>, Sir Everard Digby, Knight, Mr. Robert +Winter, Esquire, Mr. Ambrose Rokewood, Esquire, Mr. +John Grant, Esquire, Mr. Thomas Winter, and Mr. John +Winter, brothers unto Robert Winter, Mr. Guido Faulks, +<pb n='192'/><anchor id='Pg192'/> +Mr. Robert Keyes, and Thomas Bates, servant to Mr. +Robert Catesby, of all which mention hath been made in +the precedent chapters, sufficient both to declare the +quality and conditions of each one of them, unto which I +remit the careful reader, if he be desirous to renew his +memory and to join the consideration of their life with the +inspection of their death. +</p> + +<p> +Being brought to Westminster Hall before the Court +was ready to sit, they were staid some half-hour in the +Star Chamber, where in that little time of stay all men did +note a great resolution in them, not seeming to fear or +respect either judgment or death itself; nor showing any +sign of sorrow for their attempt, in regard of their intention +thereby to have pulled down heresy and set up the +Catholic religion. Their state of mind and manner of +carriage may in part be discerned by that printed +pamphlet, which was presently set forth, entitled <hi rend='italic'>A true +report of the Imprisonment, Arraignment, and Death of the +late Traitors</hi>, wherein although all their particular words +and actions were of set purpose left out, which might +sound to their commendation, and many words of contumely +and disgrace heaped upon them and their religion +also in the most odious manner that could be devised; yet +even that which is there set down of them did confirm +very many in opinion that they thought themselves clear +from offence to God in the matter, and that they were +thereby made the more willing to suffer for the same cause. +For there it is set down <q>that they spake little but in +commendation of their conceited religion; also, that they +asked no mercy either of God or the King for their +offence, but seemed as though in their conscience they +thought the work to be meritorious; also, that some did +seem to enforce a stern look, as if they would fear death +with a frown; also, that they did only pray by the dozens +upon their beads.</q> Thus they scoff at the iteration of the +<hi rend='italic'>Ave Maria</hi> and the set number of them which Catholics use +<pb n='193'/><anchor id='Pg193'/> +in saying their beads. But by all these it appears they were +nothing daunted with that which they expected, but were +well persuaded of their cause, although they knew it was +and would be condemned by the world. All which I do +the rather set down, as well for the verity of the story, as +that all men may see how needful it is even for the best +minds to follow counsel, although their intentions be never +so direct; seeing men of so excellent parts ran into so +foul an error, and attempted so dangerous an enterprise +against the whole State, by their own rash and heady +courses, against the advice of their spiritual guides. For if +they would have followed the advice of Father Garnett, +they had never fallen into this grievous disorder. +</p> + +<p> +When the Court was set, they were all brought into the +hall and placed upon the scaffold at the bar to answer to +their indictments. And, first, their indictments were read, +wherein, as the manner is, their whole designment was +laid open, together with the names and number of the +conspirators, and the beginning and prosecution of the +whole Plot, in such order as hath been before declared +out of their confessions, only now they intermixed +many untruths devised of their own head against the +Jesuits, accusing them without any instance of time or +place, and without any proof or witness at all, not only as +parties of the conspiracy, but as principal actors, yea, and +authors of the whole Plot. And to this end they did name +those three as principal, whom they had before put in the +proclamation, <hi rend='italic'>vidlt.</hi>, Garnett, Tesimond,<note place='foot'>Greeneway. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> and Gerard; yet +always adding unto them <q>and other Jesuits,</q> whereby it +is apparent they meant by degrees to bring in the whole +Company, having no proof against any, more than evil will +suggested. For this was before they came to know that +Father Garnett and Father Tesimond were acquainted with +it in that secret manner that they could not reveal it,<note place='foot'>As in the last chapter hath been declared. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> at +<pb n='194'/><anchor id='Pg194'/> +which time both they dissuaded it, and by all lawful means +did labour to hinder it. But here both they and Father +Gerard by name, and other also without name, were accused +of it, who never had the least knowledge or imagination of +such a matter. And yet to make the matter good against +them, here they were accused in this indictment, where +none of them were present to answer for themselves; and +were joined with the conspirators who were sure to be +convicted and condemned of the fact, that the Jesuits might +also seem to stand convicted and proved guilty with them; +and this not only as partners, but, as I have said, as principal +counsellors and causers of the whole treason. To which +end they brought in in the indictment certain solemn +meetings and consultations between the aforesaid three +Jesuits<note place='foot'>And with divers others. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> and the principal of these gentlemen, especially +Catesby, Winter, Percy, Faulks, and Wright; at which +time these Jesuits (said the indictment) did persuade those +gentlemen that the King being an heretic stood excommunicate, +and therefore might be deposed, and finally +persuaded them that there was no better way to effect +that and restore Catholic religion than to blow up the +Parliament House with gunpowder. All this was there +fathered upon the Jesuits, whereof there was no one word +true, as hath already and shall hereafter more apparently +be showed. +</p> + +<p> +And first, the prisoners unto this indictment did all +plead not guilty, which though it be an ordinary course for +all to do, until they have answered for themselves what +they can, and then be cast by the verdict of the jury, yet +in their case it was thought strange; they having all +confessed the fact before in their several examinations. It +was asked therefore afterwards of Mr. Guido Faulks, how +he could plead not guilty, being so apparently taken in the +place where the powder was laid up, and with matches and +instruments about him for the purpose he intended, and +<pb n='195'/><anchor id='Pg195'/> +seeing that also he never denied the fact nor the intention; +but had confessed himself privy to the whole designment +and of the most secret counsel from the beginning. It was +much marvelled, therefore, how he amongst all the rest +could plead not guilty; unto which he answered that he +granted all to be true which they now spake of himself; +but that he pleaded not guilty to the indictment, in regard +of the meetings and consultations there alleged between +the Jesuits and them, of which he said he knew nothing +nor ever heard of any such counsel or persuasion from +them. Now unto this his speech, which did so clearly +discharge the Jesuits from all the imposed crime, what +answer, think you, was given? Truly a very poor one. +Forsooth, that all that was put in for form of law, because +it must be presupposed. +</p> + +<p> +But must untruths be presupposed in the place of +justice, where right and truth stand to be tried from +faults and falsehood, as gold and brass distinguished +by the touchstone? And if some consultations must +for form sake be set down before the acts themselves +be said to be concluded of or commenced, yet must +the innocent needs be thrust into the number and +made the principals in the parley? Let us suppose +the indictment had been drawn by some lawyers that +had been no good friends to the Chief Justice and +Attorney and Solicitor there present, and that their +three names had been put into the indictment instead +of the three Jesuits there named, and the whole matter +laid upon their counsel and persuasion; would this have +seemed to them to be just dealing and fit for the place of +justice, only for that such consultations must be presupposed? +Well, the time must come (and God knoweth +how soon) when they and all that were the compilers +of that indictment shall stand at the bar in a higher +court, where their indictment will also be read, being +already written by themselves in these their actions, +<pb n='196'/><anchor id='Pg196'/> +<q>Eadem enim mensura, quâ mensi fuerint, remetietur +eis.</q><note place='foot'>For with the same measure with which they shall have meted, it shall be +measured to them again.</note> +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The Attorney his Speech.</note> +But to proceed in the narration. When the indictment +was read, and they all pleaded not guilty, then according +to the custom in such cases, the King's Serjeant-at-Law +(whose name was Sir Edward Philips) endeavoured to +lay open the indictment that the cause of those that +stood indicted might seem the more odious unto the +jury and all the standers-by. After +him Sir Edward Coke, the King's Attorney-General, began +his speech, wherein first he laboured to excuse the long +stay that had been made of that trial and arraignment of +the conspirators, which he supposed many did marvel to +see so long deferred, supposing the grievousness of their +fact and the apparent evidence that was to be brought +against them. For excuse whereof he alleged divers reasons +which some of the standers-by thought very insufficient; as, +namely, that Mr. Robert Winter and Mr. Stephen Littleton +were not long before taken. But what if it had been some +months after before they had been apprehended (as it might +well have been if by accident they had not been discovered), +should then the execution have been deferred until their +taking? Also he alleged, that if they had made more +haste, they might have hanged Johnson instead of Faulks. +But that had been a small matter, they being sure of the +same man, and he of his punishment, which would have +been neither greater nor less to him if he had received it +by a wrong name. If Johnson and Faulks had been two +several men, and then one hanged for the other, such a +mistaking of the men or matter had been indeed an error, +and to be prevented with some longer stay. But Mr. +Attorney did not allege that which was the chief cause of +this stay of execution, to wit, an earnest desire to have +brought the Jesuits upon the stage if they could have +<pb n='197'/><anchor id='Pg197'/> +been proved guilty, as they did their names into the indictment +without any proof at all; yea, contrary to the +published examinations and the now public witness of the +conspirators themselves, as there it appeared. Secondly, +Mr. Attorney did seek to excuse himself to foreign Princes +in that he was forced to produce their names in that odious +action, which he said he would not otherwise have done, +but that he was enforced thereunto by the confessions of +the conspirators, which he was to urge against them, and +said he, the names of foreign Princes were so woven into +the matter by their confessions, that they could not +conveniently be left out. In all which I must allow of +Mr. Attorney his modesty and care not to offend so great +persons, who, though they were named, yet in no sort +accused by any of the conspirators. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>Father Gerard false accused +and fully cleared.</note> +But here in defence of the innocent, we have cause to +demand of Mr. Attorney why he was not also careful to +forbear the offence of a much higher Majesty, that is, of +God Himself, by accusing His servants wrongfully, without +any cause at all given by them, or occasion offered by the +confession of the conspirators, in which they were not so +much as named? Yet Mr. Attorney would needs enforce +those meetings and consultations to be true which the +indictment had mentioned, and which, you heard before, +the conspirators disclaimed, and in respect thereof did all +plead not guilty: although for their own part, they denied +not the fact, nor the consultations which they had amongst +themselves before they concluded of the matter. Mr. +Attorney, notwithstanding, would +needs insist in the same disproved +falsehood, and added thereunto another most egregious +untruth, never so much as thought of by the party accused, +as he hath often and most seriously protested to his +private and confident friends, and once in my own hearing. +The tale is this: that Father Gerard did give the oath of +secrecy and perseverance in this treason unto the conspirators, +<pb n='198'/><anchor id='Pg198'/> +and then heard their confessions and ministered +the Blessed Sacrament unto them. Than which a more +false and pernicious slander could not be raised or reported +of any man living, nor more contrary to his very natural +disposition and known manner of proceeding, as all men +will answer for him that are much conversant with him. +</p> + +<p> +But I would ask Mr. Attorney upon what ground he +did raise and report this false surmise? Did any one man +ever accuse him of it, or could it be justly gathered by any +little word or tittle of their confessions? They are printed +and published, and I have them now by me whilst I write +this. I have often read them over, and my eyes are not of +so quick a sight as to discern the least cause of surmise +leading to any such matter. But perhaps Mr. Attorney +had it by revelation. Certainly he neither had nor brought +any proof at all of so foul an accusation, which had been +requisite to a man of his place. And it had been well he +would have considered for his own credit that which all +men know, that if there had been any such thing confessed +by the conspirators, without which he could never know it, +infallibly it would have been set down in their confessions; +which I prove apparently by this reason: Mr. Attorney +here affirmeth that he was forced to speak of other Princes, +because their names were so intermixed or woven (as he +termeth it) into their confessions, that he could not declare +the one without the other. If then that which he saith he +was so unwilling to speak of was publicly set down in their +printed confessions, because they were annexed by the +examinates to the discourse of their said confessions, how +much more would this against a Jesuit have been left in +(which here they charged him withal)<note place='foot'>And namely Fr. Gerard. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> if any such thing +had been true, or confessed for such by the conspirators? +I hope Mr. Attorney will not say that he suppressed the +matter for good-will unto him, and was more loth to have +his name spoken of in so odious a cause than the names of +<pb n='199'/><anchor id='Pg199'/> +those Princes which he would so fain have concealed, but +that he could not unweave their confessions so much, into +which they were inserted. +</p> + +<p> +But if you will indeed know the true reason why this +absurd fiction was not set down in their printed confessions, +and yet was here averred by Mr. Attorney, you must +understand that the author of that first relation and +discourse of all this treason and of the course and proceeding +thereof (wherein the treason itself of gunpowder, +the discovery thereof, the rebellion of the conspirators, +their apprehension, and their confessions, were all published +with all known, due, and true circumstances) was so careful +of his authority and the credit of his narration, that he +would not blemish the same with reporting any known +untruth. And indeed the author was said to be of no less +authority than the King himself; as it is easy to be +gathered out of another book set forth soon after by the +Earl of Salisbury, entitled <hi rend='italic'>An Answer to certain Scandalous +Papers</hi>, in which, he saith, speaking of that discourse, +<q>that every line discovered where Apelles' hand hath +been.</q> Now, on the other side, Mr. Attorney being not so +sure a friend to truth, nor so careful of his own credit in +that point, did not stick to allege this dream or device of +his own for a true narrative, than which there never was a +more foul untruth devised, the party accused being no more +privy unto the giving or taking of any such oath, nor to +any such plot or purpose in any one of the conspirators +than the Attorney himself was, or whosoever doth think +himself the furthest from it. And so it may appear +that others of greater authority and judgment than Mr. +Attorney were persuaded of him. For although when the +matter first broke out the Council perhaps might have +some suspicion that he was privy unto the Plot, in respect +he was supposed to be acquainted with some of the +gentlemen that were in the conspiracy, and thereupon his +name put in the proclamation, yet after the conspirators +<pb n='200'/><anchor id='Pg200'/> +were taken, and had been examined, and no proof at all +found against him, or mention made of him in any of their +confessions, it seems that the wisest, and those that had +most to deal in the matter, did hold him free; and therefore +neither the Earl of Salisbury nor of Northampton did +produce any such accusation against him, although in their +several speeches they had often occasion to mention that +matter of the oath taken by the conspirators (which oath, +as Mr. Winter directly saith in his confession,<note place='foot'>Related in that discourse set forth by His Majesty, as I said before, was +concluded of amongst themselves and. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> was taken by +themselves being alone and private in a chamber):<note place='foot'>And that after they went into another chamber to confess and to receive +the Blessed Sacrament: so that it appears most evidently by His Majesty's +own narration of the conspirators their confessions that Mr. Attorney did that +public audience speak <emph>or</emph> deliver, &c. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig. The following passage +in the text from</hi> For these be the words <hi rend='italic'>to</hi> he doth not know <hi rend='italic'>are in the margin of the Orig.</hi></note> for +these be the words of Mr. Winter's confession related in +the foresaid discourse of the whole treason set forth by +His Majesty himself, as before hath been declared. +<q>First,</q> saith Mr. Thomas Winter, <q>Mr. Percy said unto +Mr. Catesby and myself, <q>Shall we always, gentlemen, +talk and never do anything?</q> Then Mr. Catesby took +him aside and had speech about somewhat to be done; so +as first we might all take an oath of secrecy, which we +resolved within two or three days to do. So as there we +met, Mr. Catesby, Mr. Percy, Mr. John Wright, Mr. Guy +Faulks, and myself; and having upon a Primer given each +other the oath of secrecy in a chamber where no other +body was, we went after into the next room and heard +Mass and received the Blessed Sacrament upon the same. +Then did Mr. Catesby disclose to Mr. Percy, and I together +with Jack Wright tell to Mr. Faulks, the business for which +we took this oath, which they both approved; and then +was Mr. Percy sent to take the house, where the mine was +to be begun,</q> &c. +</p> + +<p> +Here it is most apparent, that in this great business +<pb n='201'/><anchor id='Pg201'/> +they consulted only with themselves; they took the oath +by themselves; they imparted the matter amongst themselves; +and assented unto it of themselves; and did admit +neither counsel, nor persuasion, nor presence of any other +in talking of the same. As for their hearing Mass and +receiving the Blessed Sacrament, who seeth not but that +might be done, and the Priest not privy to the matter? +Whereof they made no scruple at all, as appears by their +present receiving, but esteemed the case and cause meritorious +and not belonging to confession. And yet who +that Priest was, I have heard Father Gerard protest upon +his soul and salvation that he doth not know. This +confession of Mr. Thomas Winter is likewise approved in +the confession of Mr. Faulks related also in the same +discourse of this late intended treason, and contradicted +by none. But we must pardon Mr. Attorney this overlashing +in this his discourse, which seemed rather to be +intended against the Jesuits, than to prove the prisoners +guilty that were there present before him; for it appeared +by his words in divers places, that the chief mark he shot +at was, like another Aman, to root out the whole Order of +them, not out of England only, but out of the world, if he +could; for to that end he compared them with the Order +of the Templars, which was suppressed by the See +Apostolic. To that end it pleased him, out of his too +great liberty of speech, to accuse them of teaching damned +heresies, and besides, that they approve for lawful and +meritorious the killing of Kings. In which last point, to +show his good-will as well to the Head as to the members, +he joined them with the Pope himself, affirming that Pope +Sixtus V<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>tus</hi> did not only allow of the fact of that Dominican +who killed the King of France, but did highly commend +the same in a public oration in his Consistory. No marvel +therefore if Mr. Attorney did pass the bounds of justice in +his reports of those three Jesuits, and had no regard of +truth in that fiction of his own fathered upon Father Gerard +<pb n='202'/><anchor id='Pg202'/> +in particular, sith he showed so great a malice against the +whole Order in general, and was so bold as to accuse the +Pope himself in that public place, contrary to the rule of +modesty in his speech, which himself had before acknowledged +to be needful; and contrary to the counsel that is +given in such cases, that at least his memory should be +good, if his words were not true. But for the further +convincing of that fiction, and full clearing of Father +Gerard, I will afterwards briefly set down what course he +held, to show his innocency both from that and all other +participation in this treason. +</p> + +<p> +Now to proceed to Mr. Attorney his speech. He endeavoured +to lay open the foulness of the treason intended, +with all the parts and circumstances thereof; and showed +how great harm and ruin might have come to the commonwealth +by their rash and unnatural attempt. Yet for the +persons of those that were the conspirators, whereof some +were slain and most of them were present, he said, <q>though +some reported them to be persons of mean account, yet,</q> +said he, <q>not to wrong them, they are gentlemen of good +houses and of excellent parts, howsoever most perniciously +seduced, corrupted, and Jesuited</q> (this was his phrase), <q>of +very competent fortunes and estates;</q> besides he named +three that were of very noble houses. But the most of +his speech was directly or indirectly still bent against the +Jesuits, as the men most maligned by him, and that, in +respect of their religion and the industry they use to +promote the same, for other matter he had not there, which +he could with any justice or truth allege against them. +</p> + +<p> +When it came to the prisoners' turn to answer for +themselves, although they had pleaded not guilty, as +I said before, that was partly in respect of those conferences +between the Jesuits and them, which were not +true and therefore by them denied; partly also for that +although they acknowledged the fact, yet they accounted +themselves not guilty of any crime in the sight of God, +<pb n='203'/><anchor id='Pg203'/> +<note place='margin'>The speech of the prisoners +at the bar.</note> +Whom they sought to serve and please in the action, and +would not for any other respect have attempted it. To +this effect answered Mr. Robert +Winter and his brother Thomas, the +elder of which, though he were known to be a man +both wise and stout, yet he said but little in that +place, as it is thought, for that he saw it was in vain +to justify the action, and yet he would not condemn it, +but showed a willing mind to suffer for the fact which +he confessed. In like manner the younger brother, +Thomas, though he were a man of very good discourse +and had delivered his mind at large before the Council +about the whole matter, and that in so good order and +with such resolution that he was much commended and +pitied by them all, so far that the Earl of Salisbury said +if his case were any other but for this Powder Treason, +he would have saved his life; yet now in this place he +said little or nothing for himself, rather showing a contented, +ready mind to suffer: only he asked mercy of +the King for his brother, who was, as he said, drawn into +the action by himself. It is not amiss to see what is +said of them both by that pamphlet which was then by +some base person published of their arraignment and +execution; for that being written in as disgraceful manner +of them as could be devised, it is the surer witness of +anything that may be well interpreted of their mind. +Of the elder he hath this, that he said little, but had a +guilty conscience, that he swallowed and concealed his +grief and made little show of sorrow for that time. Of +the younger, he saith that he thought himself already +half a saint for his whole villainy, that he said little that +either made show of sorrow or sought mercy, but only +made a request to the King for his brother, &c. By which +relation set down to their disgrace, it may appear what +opinion they had of the attempt itself and of their present +state of mind in regard of their intention in the former. +</p> + +<pb n='204'/><anchor id='Pg204'/> + +<p> +Mr. Rookwood spake more at large, declaring how +he had ever been brought up in the Catholic religion, +and taught to fear God from his infancy; that he was +the rather induced to attempt this enterprise, as thinking +it the only likely means to restore the Catholic religion; +that his friendship also and love to Mr. Catesby was +such as moved him the sooner to follow his counsel and +example: he requested, withal, favour for his wife and +children. Of him the aforesaid book hath these words, +<q>That he would fain have made his bringing up and +breeding in idolatry to have been some excuse to his +villainy; but a fair tale could not help a foul deed.</q> +So he. +</p> + +<p> +Of Mr. Grant the book hath this. <q>Grant, stubborn +in his idolatry, nothing penitent for his villainy, asked +little mercy; but, as it were, careless of grace, received +the doom of his desert.</q> In which words one may +sufficiently see the state of the man's mind to be answerable +to the description in the —<note place='foot'>The sixth.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> chapter, though in +other language here expressed, where the Catholic religion +is, as you see, esteemed and called idolatry. +</p> + +<p> +The youngest brother of the three Winters did speak +little, but only that he did not begin nor assist to the +Plot of Powder, but was after drawn in by the example +and persuasion of his brother. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Faulks did show a mind answerable to his former +proceedings, and gave that reason for his pleading not +guilty which I set down before in this chapter: for his +own part freely and willingly acknowledging the fact, for +which he was ready to suffer. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Keyes did speak but few words, but such as did +make show of great spirit. He affirmed that the persecution +was such before they undertook this business, and +himself had his goods seized with such violence, that to +live in such misery seemed worse than death, and therefore +<pb n='205'/><anchor id='Pg205'/> +to free both himself and others, he was glad of this +occasion. +</p> + +<p> +Bates, being the last of the eight which were all +included in one indictment, and being but a serving-man, +showed more servile fear both now and at his death +than any of them all, answerable perhaps to the motives +that made him first to undertake it, which being most +like to be the love to his master, or some such human +respect, so now he showed most sense in foregoing that +which it seems before he had most respected. +</p> + +<p> +Last of all was read a particular indictment of Sir +Everard Digby, of which he stood indicted and convicted +already in the country in the county of Northampton, where +the matter was imparted unto him by Mr. Robert Catesby, +and where he gave his consent with promise to provide +1,500<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> in money, with horses and other furniture fit for +assistance and prosecution of the enterprise, as he himself +had formerly confessed and now again acknowledged at +the bar. Therefore when his indictment was read to this +effect, and he required to speak what he would in his +own defence, he answered that he could not deny the +fact nor would defend it, but that he must needs defend +his intention, which was to please God and profit others +by the action; that his motives were neither for ambition +and desire of worldly preferment, nor discontentment of +his worldly estate, which it was well known he had no +cause to mislike, nor yet was he moved thereunto by +malice or ill-will against any particular person; but that +his motives were these. First, that which moved him to +listen and to trust and to conceal the matter being opened +unto him, was his love to Mr. Catesby, for whose love +and friendship he would have adventured his estates and +fortunes. But another greater reason which moved him +indeed to enter into the action was the relief of Catholics, +for whom he saw no other remedy, seeing that the King, +he said, had broken his word and promise of giving relief +<pb n='206'/><anchor id='Pg206'/> +unto them, at least by toleration; which promise, said he, +they received from him by divers messages; and whereof +now there was no hope at all, but rather that they did +all expect and see a preparation to make other laws in +that Parliament more strict than the former, and that +they had to that end packed all the Puritans together, +which was the cause that moved them the rather to +attempt that matter against the Parliament House. But +the chiefest motive he said was the cause of religion, +which alone, said he, seeing it lay at the stake, in that +behalf he neglected his estate, his life, his name, his +memory, yea, and his posterity and all the world and whatsoever +the world could afford him. These were his words +as near as they could be taken, which were noted by very +many, and he exceedingly pitied even by many of those +that were enemies to his religion, in which he showed so +great a resolution and zeal, with so great estimation +thereof and contempt of himself in regard thereof, which +many of the hearers did so generally commend and so +publicly affirm that they could never forget it, he being +known to have enjoyed and that he might still have +enjoyed as much worldly contentment as any man of his +estate in England. After this he made some petitions unto +the King and Council, that whereas his fault against the +State had passed no further than himself, he neither +having drawn others into the action nor performed anything +to the hurt of others, therefore he desired in like +manner that his punishment might be extended no further +but to himself, and so that his wife and children might +neither of them sustain loss, but the one enjoy her jointure, +the other his lands, so far as they were entailed upon +them in law before this matter was thought of. Also +that his debts might be discharged out of his estate; and +for himself he craved no other favour but that, if it pleased +the King, he might be beheaded instead of hanging. +Lastly, whereas he had noted in the indictment and in +<pb n='207'/><anchor id='Pg207'/> +Mr. Attorney his speech, divers of the Fathers of the +Society to be accused as principal counsellors and persuaders +unto this enterprise, he there protested that in +his conscience he thought them all clear. And in +particular for Father Gerard he could best testify, being +best acquainted with him, and therefore was bound in +conscience to set down his knowledge that <q>he was wholly +innocent and did never so much as know of the matter, +yea (said he), I never durst tell him of it, for fear he +would have drawn me out of it.</q> This was his testimony +and protestation in that public place, being ready to +receive the sentence of death; which he was likewise +beginning to iterate again at the time of his death, but +that he was interrupted. Now concerning this matter, +if it were not for staying the reader too long from the +story itself, I could here set down certain letters sent +unto the Council by Father Gerard at this very time, +which would make it apparent that he never knew of the +conspiracy until all England knew it. But for that this +chapter will grow too long, I will only set down the +course he took to clear himself and the contents of the +letters in few words, though I have now the copies by me +procured of purpose to have been set down in this place. +</p> + +<p> +I made mention before in the —<note place='foot'>The ninth.—<hi rend='italic'>Ed.</hi></note> chapter how +Father Gerard, before the proclamation came out, seeing +himself to be searched for as guilty of this conspiracy, +did write a long letter of protestation that he was wholly +innocent and had not the least knowledge of the matter. +This letter was seen to divers and even to the King +himself, as hath been said, and gave good satisfaction. +But notwithstanding this, some heavy friends of his (to +whom he never gave any cause of offence) procured a +proclamation to be set forth against him and two others +of the Society, as hath been said; which when he perceived, +and knowing very well that there was no proof at all which +<pb n='208'/><anchor id='Pg208'/> +was or could be brought forth against him, he presently +wrote four letters and sent them to London, three of +which were to three of the chiefest of the Council and one +to Sir Everard Digby, then prisoner in the Tower. The +letters to the Council were to the Duke of Lenox, the +Earl of Northampton, and the Earl of Salisbury; in all +which he did humbly and instantly require, that whereas +he was accused of so great a crime, in which he was not +partaker in the least degree, nor ever in any sort made +privy unto it, that it would please them for God's cause +and for their love to equity, to show him so much justice +as to afford him such trial as might be made of his +innocency; whereof he proposed in those letters, two +kinds, the one affirmative, the other negative. The one +was that the letter to Sir Everard Digby, which was sent +enclosed in theirs and unsealed might be delivered in +their presence, and he examined upon the points thereof, +containing a discourse between him and Father Gerard +but three days before the Plot of Powder was publicly +discovered, by which discourse (if any such discourse were +then between them) it was most apparent that Father +Gerard knew nothing in the world of the conspiracy. +And of the verity of that discourse, the Council might +by that letter make full trial, in which the time and +place and words that passed between them were expressly +set down, all which, if Sir Everard Digby did not affirm +and agree with his letter, he would grant they had some +proof against him. The trial by negatives which he +required was this: that it would please them to cause +all the conspirators at the hour of their death to be +publicly examined, whether ever any of them had imparted +the matter unto him, or would but say upon their +conscience that he had the least knowledge thereof, either +by them or any other means. And if they did not all +of them deny it (being urged, as they would answer the +Highest Judge, to speak the sincere truth), he would then +<pb n='209'/><anchor id='Pg209'/> +yield they had some proof against him, so that the parties +that should so accuse him did it not in hope of pardon, but +did certainly know they should die and did make show +to die in the fear of God and hope of their salvation. +</p> + +<p> +These two ways of trial were proposed and most +earnestly requested by Father Gerard in those his letters, +which were as sufficient to try the truth of the matter +(all circumstances considered) as any could be wished. +And these letters were sent in such time to London, as +that they certainly came to the Council's hands that very +day of the arraignment of the conspirators; so that there +was time enough to have had both kinds of trial made +which he required, and in equity and justice might require. +</p> + +<p> +But neither of them were performed. And it is thought +generally that they were forborne, because it was sufficiently +known beforehand that thereby he would be proved +clear, whereof the Council were before that persuaded; +but that they were willing to have the proclamation go +forward against him, as against the rest, to hinder him +thereby from conversion of souls and drawing many from +them to the Catholic faith, and that of the better sort, +with whom his conversation and practice was for the +most part; which made them so desirous to take him +by means of the proclamation, even after they knew he +was not guilty of this treason whereof he was accused. +</p> + +<p> +And see the providence of God. That Sir Everard +Digby, knowing nothing at all of this Father's demand of +trial by his testimony, yet hearing him so wrongfully accused +in the process against them, he did of his own accord there +publicly protest his knowledge of the Father's innocency, +yea, and of his inclination also against such practices, +which was more than the Father desired in his letters +should be demanded. Now, because these trials were not +made which Father Gerard so earnestly requested, he +therefore, before his going out of England, did publish +these letters to some of his friends, that the world might +<pb n='210'/><anchor id='Pg210'/> +see how clear he was, and what equal and full trial he +offered to show his innocency. +</p> + +<p> +Now, whereas it was reported that Bates had accused +Father Gerard, and that, upon his accusation Father +Gerard was put in the proclamation with the others, that is +also apparently disproved by Bates his own letter, written +a day or two before his arraignment, and sent unto a Priest +his last ghostly Father, who did help him with the Sacraments +after his examinations and some weakness showed +in them, as may appear also by his letter, whereof the +original is kept under his own hand, and may be seen to +be the same handwriting which is annexed unto his examinations +themselves. The true copy is this: +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<q>Sir, I humbly thank you for your great comfort and +pains taken for me. I praise God I find myself more +stronger to resist, and do hope shall more and more. Sir, +when I was at Hobadge House, where my master was +slain, that morning at my going away from him, by +reason of the misfortune that fell amongst us by powder, +Mr. Christopher Wright flung me out of a window an +100<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>, and desired me, as I was a Catholic, to give unto +his wife and his brother's wife 80<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>, and take 20<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> myself. +I took out by guess some 22<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>, as I think, and left it with a +friend of mine, and desired him, if I did miscarry in this +action, he should bestow it amongst my children. Now, I +would entreat you to give my fellow George instructions +what to do in it. I refer it to you. Mr. Wright had of +me at times, in money and kine, as much as came to some +28<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>, but my master told me he would pay me, but he did +not. Now whether my wife may take that money out of +that I refer to you. Also, further, I have dealt with my +keeper to deal with the Clerk of the Council for my +pardon, and have promised an 100<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> if it may be had, +which I made account that money should have served +that turn; but I am out of all hope for that, unless it be +<pb n='211'/><anchor id='Pg211'/> +God's will to deliver me. This morning I was sent for down, +and there was a fellow ready with a new suit of fustian, and +my keeper made me to essay it, and neither said it was for +me nor anything, but I know it was provided for me. +The meaning I know not. And before that my Lord of +Salisbury asked me what I wanted, and caused the keeper +to buy me a new gown, and bade him use me extraordinary +well. All this makes me full of doubts, for I fear it is but +to serve their own turns of me and then to hang me. Is it +not best for me, if the clothes be offered me, to refuse them? +I pray you resolve me in that, for I have a purpose to tell +the keeper, <q>I have clothes good enough to serve me as long +as I live, I fear, and therefore will none.</q> I beseech you to +send me word what your opinion is in these things being +offered me. At my last being before them I told them I +thought Mr. Greenway knew of this business, but I did not +charge the others with it, but that I saw them all together +with my master at my Lord Vaux's, and that after I saw +Mr. Walley and Mr. Greenway at Coughton, and it is true. +For I was sent thither with a letter, and Mr. Greenway rode +with me to Mr. Winter's to my master, and from thence he +rode to Mr. Abington's. This I told them and no more. For +which I am heartily sorry for, and I trust God will forgive +me, for I did it not out of malice but in hope to gain my +life by it, which I think now did me no good. Thus +desiring your daily prayers I commit you to God.</q> +</quote> + +<p> +This is the true copy of his letter, by which it appears +that a man so weak and so ignorant, as here he showeth +himself to be, might easily be wrought upon, especially by +those means that here he expresseth were used to him; +and that such an one to save his life would strain his +conscience far, as indeed he did when he saith that he saw +those three at my Lord Vaux's; for in truth he did not, +nor saw Father Gerard of a year or two before; but if he +had seen him in that place at that time, yet that had been +<pb n='212'/><anchor id='Pg212'/> +no accusation of this treason (as is sufficiently proved in +the —<note place='foot'>The ninth.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> chapter where the same matter is handled); and +as himself directly saith in this letter, that he did not +accuse him at all, nor Father Walley, nor the other neither +of knowledge; but only that he thought he knew of the +business: whereby it appears that it is not true, which was +afterwards affirmed in Father Garnett's arraignment that +Bates had told Mr. Greenway of the matter in confession. +And this Bates being the only one of the conspirators of +whom it was reported that he had accused Father Gerard, +which here in plain words you see himself doth say he did +not, it remains apparent that never any did accuse him. +And this letter under Bates his own hand being haply +brought to Father Gerard a little before his departure out +of England,<note place='foot'>When he meant to publish those foresaid letters he had sent unto the +Council, and did withal. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> he did annex the true copy of the same unto +the letters before mentioned, which he had sent unto the +Council, and sent them unto a friend to be published by +him after his departure; and of them all there be divers +copies taken, of which myself have one, in which there is +this clause amongst others for his clearing, which methinks +doth offer enough, if reason may be accepted and the promise +there alleged performed. After he had offered and humbly +desired of the Council two sufficient kinds of trial of his +cause before specified, seeing that neither of them were +performed, in his letter wherewith he published those offers +made, he citeth a sentence out of my Lord of Salisbury his +book then newly come forth, wherein the Earl declared his +mind to be no ways bent to seek the blood of any but +such as had themselves laboured to seek the blood of +others, saying that he only desired, <q>Necis artifices arte +perire suâ.</q><note place='foot'>That the craftsmen of death should perish by their own craft.</note> This sentence (worthy indeed the pen and +practice of a Councillor in so eminent authority<note place='foot'>As the Earl of Salisbury now is placed in. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note>) Father +<pb n='213'/><anchor id='Pg213'/> +Gerard desired should be made the rule or square whereby +the line of his accusation might be straitened; and offered +that if it could be duly proved, that ever, either in this +most unnatural treason or in any other action, he had +wrought or sought the death of any man, let him then +be punished with as cruel a death as wit of man could +devise, and find no eye nor heart to pity him. This was his +offer, and then he addeth further: <q>But if,</q> saith he, +<q>neither this can be proved nor any proofs of my innocency +(whereof there be divers produced for me and none +against me) may be in my case admitted, but that I must +remain, &c., yet I would not the world should think it +doth or can bereave me of that quiet and contentment +of mind, which I have in the confident expectation of +God's protection and favour;</q> and so he goeth forward, +laying down sufficient reasons for both to the full satisfaction +of the reader, both of his innocency touching this +accusation and of his willing acceptance of God's blessed +will and disposition. +</p> + +<p> +Now to return unto Sir Everard Digby. After he had +ended his speech with the foresaid protestation,<note place='foot'>Of his knowledge touching Father Gerard his innocency. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> that he +thought assuredly all the Fathers were innocent of this +treason, and that he knew for certain that Father Gerard had +not so much as any knowledge at all thereof, then the Earl +of Northampton made a speech, which he chiefly directed +to Sir Everard Digby in answer of that point, especially +where Sir Everard urged the King's promise for toleration. +And, first, the Earl said that, if he could lament any man +upon earth in that case, he could pity him in respect of his +worth many ways, and the good opinion he had formerly +conceived of him. He witnessed also that Queen Elizabeth +esteemed him much, and, to his own knowledge, +had spoken of Sir Everard with great grace. Then, after +a sufficient discourse, proving by sound reasons the +foulness of this treason, his Lordship came to that +<pb n='214'/><anchor id='Pg214'/> +promise of the King, which there he utterly denied, and +proved it by Watson his confession before his death, who +had been a chief man to divulge the same before. And +that Watson affirmed likewise, he had given out such +hopes before contrary to his knowledge, only to move +Catholics to a willing acceptance of the King. All which, +though we admit as true, being affirmed by the Earl as +spoken to himself, yet Catholics are not thereby persuaded +that Watson received no such hopes from His Majesty +when he kneeled before him in Scotland. For they think it +much more likely that Watson, being in this peril of death +and in the power of the Council, would misreport his +former persuasion of mind and the cause thereof, thereby +to please the more, and by pleasing to obtain favour, which +divers of his other words at that time, related also in this +speech, did plainly show he did both desire and hope for. +Whereas, when he returned out of Scotland he had no such +cause to dissemble, and to relate such assured promises to +so many Catholics, as it is known he did, if himself had +been out of hope thereof; yea, and that he did not therein +dissemble his sequent actions did apparently prove. For +he was the first man that laboured to persuade Catholics +to take arms against His Majesty, as hath been declared +before (though, thanks be to God, he could prevail but with +a very few therein), which, happening within the first year, it +appears he ran that contrary course so soon as he had the +contrary opinion; which, if he had brought with him out +of Scotland (as he affirmed to the Earl of Northampton in +the time of his imprisonment), then had it been more easy +for him to have persuaded Catholics there was no hope to +be had, and so to have kept him out, than after he had +assured them the contrary, and the King was settled in +his throne, then to persuade them thereunto, which then +was much more difficult and unlikely. And, therefore, +nothing likely he would first have been so forward to plant +that tree, which so soon after himself did first endeavour to +<pb n='215'/><anchor id='Pg215'/> +cut down, and that with hazard and loss of his life, unless +he had first expected other fruit than afterwards he found. +But Watson's reports were not the greatest grounds that +Catholics did build their hopes upon. Divers men, his +betters much, did affirm the same, whose words were more +esteemed than either Watson's or Percy's in that cause. It +was not the least part of needful policy that such a conceit +should run for current in the minds of Catholics generally, +and such hopes to be thought likely at that time by whomsoever +they were given out, which I will not here dispute; +for that persuasion, no doubt, did strengthen much the +Catholics' mind, which was found so ready to receive their +King with all peace and comfort. And I make no question +but if it pleased His Majesty to perform as much as then +was hoped, it would prove no less profitable in all respects +unto the stability of peace and happiness than pleasing to +the receivers, in regard of their ease and mitigation of their +afflictions. +</p> + +<p> +Unto the speech of Sir Everard Digby the Earl of +Salisbury did likewise answer in defence of the King's +word, esteeming that Sir Everard did seem to tax His +Majesty with breach of promise, which many think was +not the intention of the prisoner, but only to show that, +such general hopes being conceived upon some likely +ground as they presumed, and now seeing all hopes to +fail, they were the more easily induced to run this other +course for the redress of their own miseries. And so, +against the likelihood of these hopes, the Earl's speech +did prove fully that the King had always professed the +contrary religion most earnestly, and that His Majesty was +so far from giving hope of toleration that he would not +endure the least motion thereof to be proposed. And yet +the Earl in the same speech declared how His Majesty +had dealt favourably with divers principal Catholic +gentlemen who were sent for to the Court in the time of +Watson his treason before mentioned; at which time +<pb n='216'/><anchor id='Pg216'/> +finding them free from having their hands in any treason +(said the Earl) they were dismissed with encouragement to +persist in their dutiful carriage, and that the payments for +not going to Church should be forgiven them in respect of +their so much loyalty showed at the King's entry, and for +that they had afterwards kept themselves so free.<note place='foot'>This clause may be omitted in this place, and serve better to be alleged in +the last chapter. <hi rend='italic'>Orig. in marg.</hi></note> In this +speech the Earl of Salisbury did show great zeal to defend +His Majesty from the least touch of breach of his promise, +and therein to disprove that which he thought would be +conceived of Sir Everard Digby's words. And though +otherwise he acknowledged Sir Everard to be his alliance +by marriage, yet it is thought that in regard chiefly of this +his speech, he had not his petition granted of being +beheaded, but was with all the rest adjudged presently to +be hanged, drawn, and quartered, according to the ordinary +form of judgment in case of high treason. So then, having +received the sentence of death, they were all returned to +their prisons until Thursday and Friday following, which +were the days of their execution; only Mr. John Winter +(being the youngest of the three brothers) was not then +put to death, but carried after into the country and +suffered at Worcester, as shall afterward be declared. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>Sir Everard Digby +his death.</note> +On Thursday, therefore, being the 30th of January, four +of the eight were drawn upon sledges and hurdles from the +Tower to St. Paul's Churchyard, where they were to +suffer, <hi rend='italic'>vidlt.</hi>, Sir Everard Digby, Mr. Robert Winter, Mr. +John Graunt, and —— Bates. And being arrived there, +first Sir Everard Digby was taken off the hurdle and led +up to the scaffold, of whom the pamphlet before alleged +set forth of their judgment and death as much to disgrace +them as might be, yet hath these words, <q>First went +up Digby, a man of a goodly personage +and a manly aspect. He enforced himself +to speak as stoutly as he could; his speech was not +<pb n='217'/><anchor id='Pg217'/> +long and to little good purpose, only that his belied +conscience (being but indeed a blinded conceit) had +led him into this offence, which, in respect of his +religion (<hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> indeed idolatry), he held no offence, but, in +respect of the law, he held an offence, for which he asked +forgiveness; and so, with vain and superstitious crossing +of himself, betook him to his Latin prayers, mumbling to +himself, refusing to have any prayers of any but of the +Romish Catholics, went up the ladder.</q> Thus he. By +which relation, though set down with much ill-will against +him and his religion, yet it is easy to see thereby what +state of mind he died in. The truth is he gave great +satisfaction to all the standers-by.<note place='foot'>Who returned from the execution full of pity towards so worthy a man, +yea, so full of admiration of his fortitude and great opinion of his devotion that +they could talk almost of nothing else all that day. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> When he was first +brought up to the scaffold, after he had commended +himself to God, being wished, as the custom is, to +acknowledge his treason for which he died, he did accordingly +acknowledge the fact intended according to his +judgment, but withal he declared that his motives were no +evil will to any, nor any love to himself for worldly +respects, but the ending of persecution of Catholics, the +good of souls, and the cause of religion. In which regard he +could not condemn himself of any offence to God, though +he granted he had offended the laws of the realm, for +which he asked their pardon, and was willing to suffer +death, and thought nothing too much to suffer for those +respects which had moved him to that enterprise. The +preachers standing by, as the fashion is, did move him +to pray with them. He absolutely refused, and desired +the assistance and prayers of all good Catholics, himself +fell to his prayers with such devotion as much moved all +the beholders. And when he had done, he stood up and +saluted all the noblemen and gentlemen that stood upon +the scaffold, every one according to his estate, to the +<pb n='218'/><anchor id='Pg218'/> +noblemen with a lower <foreign rend='italic'>congé</foreign>, to others with more show of +equality, but to all in so friendly and so cheerful a manner, +as they afterwards said, he seemed so free from fear of death +as that he showed no feeling at all of any passion therein, +but took his leave of them as he was wont to do when he +went from the Court or out of the city to his own house +in the country; yet withal he showed so great devotion of +mind, so much fervour and humility in his prayers, and so +great confidence in God, as that very many said<note place='foot'>Here wants something. <hi rend='italic'>In another hand, erased in Orig.</hi></note> they made +no doubt but his soul was happy, and wished themselves +might die in the like state of mind. He was no sooner turned +off the ladder but very speedily cut down, and that with +such haste as that he fell upon his face, and so somewhat +bruised his forehead, yet, though he could not be dead, he +made no resistance at the block whilst he was in quartering; +and after his bowels and heart were cast into the fire, and +his head cut off, the hangman holding it up as is usual to +do, it was noted that there was no alteration at all in +his countenance, but had the same man-like and comely +aspect he had before his death. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>Mr Robert Winter +his death.</note> +After him went up Mr. Robert Winter, of whom the +foresaid pamphlet hath this, <q>After him went Winter up +to the scaffold, where he used few words to +any good effect; without asking mercy +either of God or the King for his offence, went up the +ladder, and making a few prayers to himself, staid not long +for his execution.</q> By which words it may appear that Mr. +Winter died much in the like mind and manner as the +other gentleman before him. He was esteemed in his life +to be one of the wisest and most resolute and sufficient +gentlemen in Worcestershire, where he dwelt, as formerly +hath been declared. +</p> + +<p> +After him went up Mr. Graunt, who showed extraordinary +zeal, as it may appear by the foresaid book, +which saith <q>that he, being abominably blinded with his +<pb n='219'/><anchor id='Pg219'/> +idolatry, though he confessed his offence to be heinous, yet +would fain have excused it by his conscience and religion. +He having used a few idle words to ill effect, was, as his +fellows before him, led the way to the halter, and so, after +his crossing of himself, to the last part of his tragedy.</q> +Whereby it appears he alleged the same reasons and died +with the same resolution the former had done. +</p> + +<p> +Last of them was Bates, of whom the book saith <q>that +he seemed sorry for his offence, and asked forgiveness +of God and the King and of the whole kingdom, +prayed to God for the preservation of them all; and, as he +said, only for his love to his master (Mr. Robert Catesby) +drawn to forget his duty to God, his King, and country.</q> +These words which Bates spake at his death, and the mind +he showed, declare sufficiently what hath been said of him +before; and his motives being but human respects (as here +he acknowledgeth), no marvel though he had showed less +store of grace and assistance thereof both before and at +his death. But seeing he showed to die penitent for his +fact, it is to be hoped he found mercy at God's hands. +Thus ended the execution of this day. And many of the +beholders returned full of pity and compassion towards so +worthy-minded men as the first three were, especially Sir +Everard Digby, whose fortitude of mind they did so much +admire, and had so great opinion of his devotion that for +all that day and some time after they could talk almost +of nothing else. +</p> + +<p> +The next day, being Friday, were drawn from the +Tower to the Old Palace in Westminster over against the +Parliament House, Mr. Thomas Winter, the second brother +of the Winters, Mr. Ambrose Rookwood, Mr. Robert Keyes, +and Mr. Guy Faulks. By the way, as they were drawn +upon the Strand, Mr. Rookwood had provided that he +should be admonished when he came over against the +lodging where his wife lay; and being come unto the +place, he opened his eyes (which before he kept shut to +<pb n='220'/><anchor id='Pg220'/> +attend better to his prayers), and seeing her stand in a +window to see him pass by, he raised himself as well as he +could up from the hurdle, and said aloud unto her: <q>Pray +for me, pray for me.</q> She answered him also aloud: <q>I +will; and be of good courage and offer thyself wholly to +God. I, for my part, do as freely restore thee to God as +He gave thee unto me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>Mr. Thomas Winter his death.</note> +Being all come to the place of +execution, first Mr. Thomas Winter was led to the +scaffold, as the principal in the business, who was from +the first acquainted therewith, and a chief actor therein. +Of him the book saith that <q>he seemed after a sort +as it were sorry for his offence, and yet crossed himself,</q> +saith he, <q>as though those were sufficient wards against +the devil; that he protested to die a true Catholic, and +so went up the ladder.</q> Truth is, Mr. Thomas Winter +spake not much at his execution, seeming more willing +to prepare himself for death; whereat some of the +standers-by marvelling, who knew him to be a wise +and well-spoken man, seemed desirous to have him +speak at large. But he answered he had spoken at large +unto the Council concerning all their intentions and the +causes that moved them to that enterprise, and he hoped +he had given satisfaction in the whole; that this was no +time to discourse; he was come to die, wherein he desired +the prayers and assistance of all good Catholics. Only this +he said in particular, that whereas divers of the Fathers of +the Society were accused of counselling and furthering +them in this treason, he could clear them all, and particularly +Father Tesimond, from all fault and participation +therein. And indeed Mr. Thomas Winter might best clear +that good Father, with whom he was best acquainted, and +knew very well how far he was from counselling or plotting +that business. For himself, having first told the Father of +it (as I have heard), long after the thing was ready, and +that in such secret as he might not utter it, but with his +<pb n='221'/><anchor id='Pg221'/> +leave, unto his Superior only, the Father, both then and +after, did so earnestly persuade him, and by him the rest, +to leave off that course (as his duty was), that Mr. Winter +might well find himself bound in conscience to clear this +Father from his wrongful accusation of being a counseller +and furtherer of the Plot.<note place='foot'>This sentence in the original is underlined, and marked with crosses in +the margin.</note> +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>Mr. Rookwood his death.</note> +Next him came Mr. Rookwood, who +made a speech of some longer time, acknowledged and asked +forgiveness for his offence to His Majesty and the State. +He prayed earnestly for the King and Queen and all their +children, and wished them long life and a happy reign, and +last of all (which, the foresaid book saith, was to mar all the +pottage with one filthy weed) he prayed God to make the +King a Catholic. And so, desiring favour for his wife +and children, protesting, saith the book, to die in his +idolatry, a Romish Catholic, he went up the ladder, and +hanging until he was almost dead, was drawn to the block, +where he gave his last gasp. The devotion and resolute +mind of this gentleman was very well known to many, and +he was very much pitied, as he had been much beloved. +</p> + +<p> +After him came Mr. Keyes, of whom the book saith +thus: <q>That he, like a desperate villain, used little speech, +showed small or no sign of repentance, went up the ladder +stoutly, where, not staying the hangman's turn, turned +himself off, and with the swing broke the halter, but after +his fall was quickly drawn to the block and there divided +into four parts.</q> But he did not, as here it is said, leap +down of himself, but when he thought himself ready he +showed his ready mind to go off the ladder without force, +lest the hangman should take him on a sudden, when his +mind was not actually upon it, and so be cause of some +little reluctation. +</p> + +<p> +Last of all Mr. Faulks was led to the scaffold, of whom +the book hath this: <q>That his body being weak with +<pb n='222'/><anchor id='Pg222'/> +torture and sickness he was scarce able to go up the +ladder; also that he made no long speech, but after a +sort seeming to be sorry for his offence, asked a kind of +forgiveness of the King and the State for his bloody +intent, and, with his crosses and idle ceremonies, made his +end upon the gallows and the block.</q> Thus saith the +author of that pamphlet, and where he said that Mr. +Faulks seemed to be sorry after a sort, and asked a kind +of forgiveness, he maketh it apparent that he did as his +fellows had done, acknowledge their intended action to +be displeasing to the King and State, whose favour they +desired, and therefore in that respect asked them forgiveness; +but that they did not hold it for an offence to God in +respect of their intention to please Him and serve Him in +the whole, as thinking when they began the action and +professing when they ended their life that there was no +other likely means to restore religion in England. And +would to God herein they had been as well advised as they +were absolute to believe and follow their own advice. Then +had they neither hurt themselves nor others by this rash +and heady enterprise, most unfit for subjects to undertake +against their Prince and country, especially all attempts +being so forbidden by His Holiness as they were, and so +often and earnestly dissuaded by the Fathers of the +Society, as hath been declared. And yet it is strange to +see how impudently that heretical pamphlet which I have +cited before so often of their arraignment and death +(set forth by one T.W., I know not who), doth rail first at +the Pope himself and then against all Jesuits and Priests, +as against the authors and plotters of this business. For +he saith: <q>Thus I have ended my discourse of the +arraignment and execution of these eight traitors.</q> Then +a little after he prosecuteth in this manner: <q>Was there +ever seen such a hellish Plot since the betraying of the +Lord of Heaven? If the Pope were not a very devil, and +these Jesuits, or rather Jebusites and satanical seminaries, +<pb n='223'/><anchor id='Pg223'/> +very spirits of wickedness, that whisper in the ears of +Evahs to bring a world of Adams to destruction, how +could nature be senseless or reason so graceless,</q> &c. So +he proceedeth, inveighing against His Holiness and religion, +and all that he imagined did favour or further the same +religion in any great measure. +</p> + +<p> +But silence is the best answer to such witless and wilful +assertions, uttered against the truth so many ways manifestly +proved. But this fellow, and such as he is, will rather +<q>impugnare agnitam veritatem</q><note place='foot'>Impugn the known truth.</note> than omit any opportunity +to revile against the Pope and those that most do stand +for his authority; which is no news for poor Catholics in +England to hear of daily to their grief, long before this +act was commenced or thought of by these few laymen, +who had not the counsel or help of any one Priest amongst +them. Yea, for these many years the most part of their +sermons is in this relative kind, devising names of reproach +against His Holiness, so far forth that many youths, when +they are first brought to be Catholics, will hardly be +brought to think that he is a natural man, and not some +devil or monster, as they have heard him often described. +And this custom of the heretics is so common, and yet so +grievous for zealous Catholics to endure, that it is rather to +be pitied than marvelled that these few gentlemen, being +men of great spirit, did want patience to endure any longer +when they saw all other hopes of help to fail them. We +hope all others will be warned hereafter, and temper their +zeal by the counsel of their guides, which, if these had +done, according to the earnest wishes and serious labours +of Father Garnett, then had not he sustained so many +troubles (as I am now to declare) for their trespass, which +he by all lawful means sought to hinder. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='224'/><anchor id='Pg224'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter XIII. +Of The Arraignment And Condemnation Of +Father Garnett.</head> + +<p> +Whereas it was now plainly and directly known unto +the Council (by the means and in the manner aforesaid) +how far this matter could be laid unto Father Garnett's +charge; and that they had no further expectation to find +him guilty of any help or furtherance at all given by him to +this Powder Treason, it was resolved to proceed against +him only upon his simple knowledge thereof which he had +received in confession; esteeming it not fit to let go this +opportunity, sith no greater advantage could be gotten; +especially seeing by this time all men were full of expectation +what would become of the matter after so long time of +trial and so many and strict examinations. It was hoped +also, that howsoever he might excuse himself from fault in +the sight of God for not revealing the seal and secret of +confession, yet that he could not justify it before the world: +it being accounted treason by the laws of England to +know of treason intended and not to reveal it. In which +law (now) the knowledge which is had by confession is +not excepted; because confession itself being in England +rejected, the good and necessity of the secrecy thereof +is not so much esteemed, as their public peace and prosperous +proceedings in their worldly estate. Upon this +ground therefore it was hoped they had matter enough +against Father Garnett both to make him odious to the +people, and all Jesuits for his sake; and therefore it was +intended, that his trial should be performed in the most +public and solemn manner they could devise, thereby to +<pb n='225'/><anchor id='Pg225'/> +disgrace the more both him and his religion; for so in +express words the Earl of Salisbury did twice publicly +affirm in the time of his arraignment; and that otherwise +such preparation and solemnity had not been needful for +the arraignment of a poor religious man, and said <q>he held +himself much honoured that day to be an assistant where +God's cause should be so much honoured</q> (meaning the +Protestants' religion). And how should this be performed? +<q>By discrediting,</q> said he, <q>the person of Garnett, on +whom the common adversary had thought to confer the +usurpation of so eminent jurisdiction.</q> So that one may +see plainly the whole day's work was bent against +religion; and whatsoever was pretended against Father +Garnett in this matter, all was directly intended <q>in +odium Catholicæ Fidei.</q><note place='foot'>In hatred of the Catholic faith.</note> And so we may see in the +process of the accusation, when the Attorney brought +against Father Garnett all other former matter that +had been forged against the martyrs in Queen Elizabeth's +time, with which (if they had been true) yet they +could no more have charged Father Garnett with them in +justice, than the child that was then unborn. +</p> + +<p> +Therefore the day appointed being come, which was +a Friday, the 28th March, about eight of the clock, he +was brought from the Tower in a coach with the Lieutenant +of the Tower, Sir William Wade, and another +Knight, the curtains being close drawn about them. +Which manner of carriage to judgment being very extraordinary +and not used to any before him, the people did +much wonder at it, and thought it strange he should be so +carried, considering that most of those that were indeed +conspirators in the treason were men of better birth and +blood than he (which by them is much respected) and yet +were used in much different manner. But some did more +truly guess that this was not done for any grace unto him +(whom they sought to disgrace in all they could), but +<pb n='226'/><anchor id='Pg226'/> +to grace their own cause, by making him seem a man of +greatest account amongst the Papists, against whom they +meant to object and hoped to prove the Powder Treason, +and so all Papists to be as it were proved guilty in him +they chiefly esteemed and followed. But the curtains +doubtless were kept close, that the people might not be +moved with the sight of so reverend a man, or he moved +upon any occasion to speak unto them in his own clearing. +</p> + +<p> +There were set in place of judgment in the Guildhall +the Lord Mayor of London (who in that Court is the +King's Lieutenant), the Lord Charles Howard, Earl of +Nottingham, the Lord Thomas Howard, Earl of Suffolk, +the Lord Somerset, Earl of Worcester, the Lord Henry +Howard, Earl of Northampton, the Lord Robert Cecil, +Earl of Salisbury, with Sir John Popham, Lord Chief +Justice of England, the Lord Chief Baron, and Justice +Yelverton, Commissioners for His Majesty in that behalf, +The Lieutenant of the Tower being come with Father +Garnett to the place of judgment, he returned his writ +unto the Council (by virtue whereof he had kept the +prisoner) together with the body of the prisoner there +present.<note place='foot'>But the Commission was not read, which was expected as needful. +<hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +</p> + +<p> +The indictment was read and the prisoner called to +hold up his hand at the bar, as the fashion is. The +effect of the indictment was this. <q>That Henry Garnett, +<hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Walley, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Farmer, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Darcy, had conspired with +Robert Catesby and the rest of his confederates (the 9th of +June last past, in the parish of St Michael in the ward of +Queenhithe in London) to withdraw the hearts of the +subjects from their due obedience to God and their King, +and to deprive the King of his crown, to kill him and the +Prince, and to slaughter the whole Parliament assembled, +to raise rebellion, to change religion, to ruin the commonwealth +and to bring in strangers: and that this 9th of +<pb n='227'/><anchor id='Pg227'/> +June he met with Catesby and Tesimond and did treat of +means to accomplish the same, and did conclude that +Winter, Faulks and others should blow up with powder +the Parliament House.</q> To this indictment the prisoner +pleaded <q>not guilty,</q> and for his trial referred himself to +God and his country as the manner is. Whereupon a jury +of substantial citizens was impanelled, and twelve of +them sworn to try the issue between His Majesty and +Henry Garnett according to the evidence produced against +him; which being done, the indictment was read the +second time, and then Sir John Crooke, Knight, the King's +Serjeant, began to plead in this manner (as near as it +could be remembered by two or three sufficient men that +were present and did carefully observe both that and all +the other speeches). +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The speech of Mr. Crooke, +the King's Serjeant.</note> +<q><q>Nihil est occultum,</q></q> said he, <q><q>quod non manifestabitur; +nihil secretum quod non revelabitur.</q><note place='foot'><q>There is nothing hid, that shall not be revealed; nor secret that shall +not be known</q> (St. Matt. x. 26).</note> +Thus saith the Truth itself, +<q>qui consilium pravorum dissipat:</q><note place='foot'>God <q>disappointeth the counsel of the wicked</q> (Job v. 13).</note> which as it is generally +true, so is the truth thereof laid open in the discovery +of the late horrible treason, which though it were closely +carried, yet by the providence of God, it hath been +most apparently revealed. And truly when I cast mine +eyes upon this prisoner, the rotten root of this corrupted +tree of treason, I am stricken with great horror to +think that under the cover of so grave a countenance, +should lurk such a poisoned heart. He is a man, <q>multorum +nominum sed nullius boni nominis</q><note place='foot'>Of many names but of no good name.</note>—of no good +name, nor honest conversation, but infamous for many +treasons, and especially for this last and most abominable +treason, whereby he intended the subversion of the King, +Queen, Prince, State, and religion; and for testimony of his +guiltiness therein,</q> he said, <q>they should have <q>loquentia +<pb n='228'/><anchor id='Pg228'/> +signa, testimonia rerum,</q> and <q>confitentem reum,</q> nay, <q>reos +confitentes,</q><note place='foot'>Speaking signs, the testimonies of circumstances, and the confession of +the accused.</note> that is the persons guilty accusing one the +other. We have,</q> said he, <q>Garnett and Hall accusing +Greenway, as shall be laid open by the ensuing discourse +of him to whom it belongeth.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The speech of the +Attorney-General.</note> +This speech being ended, Sir Edward Coke, His +Majesty's Attorney-General, began his speech with a low +voice, that so his words could not at the first be so distinctly +heard: but it tended to this effect. +<q>That this was a later act of this horrible +Powder Treason, that first he craved pardon of their +Lordships that he might reiterate some things of which +he had formerly discoursed, <q>quia nunquam nimis dicitur, +quod nunquam satis discitur.</q><note place='foot'>For that can never be said too often which cannot be sufficiently well +learnt.</note> Secondly, he craved +pardon that without offence to any he might nominate +some great persons, who were sometimes interested in +some of these causes; but he would do it without any +disgrace at all unto their persons, because,</q> said he, <q>there +is great difference to be made between times of hostility and +times of amity. Thirdly, he desired to satisfy two sorts of +people that might marvel this execution of justice should +be so long deferred; the first of such, as might think such +delays inconvenient lest the impunity of the malefactors +might seem to patronize the offence; the second of such +persons, as might think the delay of trial argued his clearness +in the cause. To those both he answered, that the +Lords of the Council (whose great wisdom he would not in +that place much commend, because <q>coram laudare est clam +vituperare</q><note place='foot'>Public praise is private blame.</note>) had spent many days in examinations of +those affairs, and that the prisoner had been twenty-three +[times] examined; so that the trial could not have been much +sooner.</q> (But this seemed to many rather an excuse than +<pb n='229'/><anchor id='Pg229'/> +accusation to the prisoner, in whom there could not with so +much labour and in so long time be found any crime to +be justly imposed, for <q>frustra fit per plura quod fieri +potest per pauciora.</q><note place='foot'>It is a mistake to use many means when a few will suffice.</note>) <q>But to draw nearer the cause +of the prisoner,</q> said Mr. Attorney. <q>Henry Garnett, +<hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Walley, &c, is a man grave, discreet, wise, learned, +and of excellent ornaments both of nature and arts.</q> +(He might have added grace also, if he had had grace to +see it.) <q>And one that, if he will, may do His Majesty as +much good service as any subject I know in England.</q> +(By this and the like speeches which it seems they used +often, to work him to yield from profession of his faith, it +is apparent they would have given him both life and much +preferment, if he had not rather chosen to die for God than +to live to the world.) <q>Besides this man,</q> saith he, <q>was +a scholar in Winchester, from thence went to Oxford, +and there was well esteemed.</q> (This Mr. Attorney did +mistake, for he was never student in Oxford.) <q>But he +hath abused his learning to the ruin of his country, as we +shall hereafter declare in the discourse following, wherein I +will speak of nothing but of this late horrible treason; which +treason for distinction sake, I will call the Jesuits' treason: +for the Jesuits were the authors thereof; therefore I will not +do them the wrong to take from them anything which is +theirs, especially seeing in every crime <q>plus peccat author +quam actor,</q><note place='foot'>The author of an evil is more guilty than the actual perpetrator.</note> as it appeareth by Adam and Eve and the +serpent.</q> (But here he presupposeth Father Garnett had +counselled the Plot, as the indictment had said before, but +that never was, nor ever can be proved.) <q rend='pre'>In this discourse +I will speak of circumstances and observations touching the +matter in hand: of no other circumstances but of treason, +and of no other treasons but the Jesuits' treasons; and of no +other Jesuits' treasons but such as shall particularly concern +this prisoner, seeing all have been practised, since he was +<pb n='230'/><anchor id='Pg230'/> +their Superior; and these circumstances I will divide into +precedent, concurrent, and subsequent.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>For the precedent circumstances; you must understand +this man hath been in England this twenty years, +and from the very first hour he set foot in England +hath been a notorious traitor, because he came in +contrary to a statute made the year before his coming +in, Anno 27º. of our late sovereign of happy memory, +whereby it was made high treason for any Priest that +had received Orders from any authority derived from +the See of Rome beyond the seas, which I beseech your +Lordships to observe; for of Queen Mary's Priests nothing +was spoken in the law.</q> (And the reason hereof is given +in the former ——<note place='foot'>The Ninth.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> chapter, but here it is apparent, that this +treason so earnestly urged, was merely matter of religion, +as in all former martyrs.) <q>Contrary to which statute this +prisoner came in, and by consequence at that very instant +was a traitor. But he will say, this is a new law; these laws +were never heard of before Luther's days; this law is a cruel +law, a bloody law, prohibiting men to exercise their function, +to gain souls to God; and that their religion is the old +religion, where ours is the new and confined in England, +where on the contrary side their religion is universal and +embraced of the greatest part of this Christian world. And +thus for the maintenance of their rotten religion, do they +seek to disgrace our gospel and do calumniate just laws +with title of cruelty. But to this I answer,</q> saith he, <q>that if +our religion be as ancient as Luther, it is more ancient than +the Jesuits are.<note place='foot'>(So the Attorney, and truly it is a grief to pass forward in this narration +and not to refute such absurd speeches as a man +findeth therein, but if I should do so this chapter +would be much too long, and it is already sufficiently +done by others. He proceedeth:). <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi> The passage is in a +different hand.</note> Albeit it neither be contained in those +narrow limits of place, nor bounds of time, which they +feignedly imagine, having been ever since the time of Christ +<pb n='231'/><anchor id='Pg231'/> +and His Apostles. For we do not deny but Rome was the +Mother Church and had thirty-two virginal Martyrs for her +Popes a row; and so continued till in succeeding ages it +brought in a mass of errors and idle ceremonies. But you +will ask, where our Church lurked before Luther's coming +for some hundreds of years. But I say it makes no great +matter where it was, so that I be certain it was; for as a +wedge of gold, if it be mixed with a mass of other metal,</q> +&c. (By your leave, Mr. Attorney, if I know not where the +true Church is, I cannot be of it: if I be not of it, I cannot +be saved: and if this be no matter to you, yet to God's +children it is a great matter. And your simile of the wedge +is lame of all the feet: for the Church if it be invisible to +all men is gone, <q>quia ore fit confessio ad salutem,</q><note place='foot'><q>With the mouth confession is made unto salvation</q> (Rom. x. 10).</note> and so +Christ had no true servants on earth; but this is like your +dream before that the true Church could degenerate into +errors, and yet those coming in, no man being able to name +the time, the place, nor the person, that did alter any substantial +point of faith. But can Mr. Attorney think that +Christ our Lord would put His candle under a bushel, which +He had lighted with so great labour? And that which He +saith no man will do, as being an idle and foolish thing, yet +will Mr. Attorney have the Wisdom of God to do? But +good Mr. Attorney, give me leave to believe Christ our Lord +before you; and therefore that the city could not be hid +which Christ had built upon a hill. And so your imagined +gold is turned into alchymy, and passeth away in smoke; +but if the material wedge of gold be hid, men say you +know where to find it, if you will but search your coffers +with half the pains you took to find out this invisible +wedge of gold. Pardon me for this digression, I could +not well let such false follies pass without a word or two; +but I will not trouble the reader any more, but leave it +to others: neither should I or any other have had need +to admonish Mr. Attorney, if Father Garnett had been +<pb n='232'/><anchor id='Pg232'/> +suffered to speak at large, as he was often of set purpose +interrupted. But let us proceed in Mr. Attorney his speech.) +<q>For as a wedge of gold, if it be dissolved and mixed with +a mass of brass or other metal, it doth not lose its nature, +but remaineth gold still, although we cannot determine in +what part of the mass it is contained, but the touch-stone +will find that out; so though our Church hath ever been +since Christ His time in the world, yet being mixed and +covered with innovations and errors we cannot tell in what +part it was.</q> (This is the truest word in all Mr. Attorney his +speech, but presently linked with the contrary, for he saith:) +<q>And I dare say it is now more extended than theirs is, +for we have all England, all Scotland, all Germany, all +Denmark, a great part of France, all Poland, and some +part of Italy. Now as for the statute which they call a +bloody and cruel statute, I will make it apparent to be the +mildest law, the sweetest law, the law most full of mercy +and pity,</q> (It is a great pity it were not executed upon +Mr. Attorney:) <q>that ever was enacted by any Prince +so injuriously provoked as she was. And if I prove not +this, then let the world say that Garnett is an honest +man. And to prove this, we must remember that Pius or +rather Impius Quintus, the Pope, in the eleventh year of +our late Queen deceased, sent over a Bull of Excommunication +against Her Majesty, discharging all her subjects +from their allegiance, whereupon arose the insurrection in +the North, and other rebellions, for which divers were +apprehended and executed. And here we may observe the +misery of Popish Catholics, who if they do obey the Bulls +of the Pope are apprehended and hanged as traitors; and +if they do not obey them, are by the Pope excommunicated +and cursed. But to go forward: from this excommunication +also proceeded that the Popish Catholics refused to come +to our churches; so that the reason of refusal is not +religion, but the Pope's Bull, which now being not of force, +there is no doubt but that they both may and will come to +<pb n='233'/><anchor id='Pg233'/> +our churches.</q> (False.) <q>Then after the suppression of the +rebels in the North, the Popish Catholics being thought too +weak to make a party, then did the Pope give them a +toleration <q>rebus sic stantibus et donec commoda executio +Bullæ fieri posset.</q><note place='foot'>While circumstances should remain as they were, and until it should be +fitting to carry out the Bull.</note> Then to make a party of Popish +Catholics against the Queen, was sent in Campion and a +crew of Priests with him, that laboured to pervert Her +Majesty's subjects and draw them to bloody practices, +which Her Majesty sought to prevent, and withal out of +her singular clemency made a law, and that the fullest of +pity that could be devised, to wit, That they should keep +themselves there (beyond the seas), and not to come into +her dominions under pain of high treason. Now tell me I +pray you, was this law made to spill their blood?</q> (Yes, +either to spill the Blood of Christ by the loss of souls, if +the Priests came not in, or if they did, then theirs.) <q>No, +it was made to save their blood, by keeping them there, +which by coming hither would be spilt in bloody practices</q> +(which were fathered upon them, that it might not seem +to be cause of religion.) <q rend='pre'>Then comes in Garnett in the +twenty-seventh year of the Queen. His purpose was to +prepare the way against the great compounded navy, +which may well be called a compounded navy, because it +consisted of the ships of all nations in Christendom, that +either they could beg, hire, or borrow. He came in, I +say, to be the forerunner of this navy. The Pope was the +inciter and the Spaniards the actors; and this great navy +was overthrown, not so much by our power, as by themselves, +their own ships severing and scattering them. So +that we may well apply those verses to our late sovereign, +which Claudian sung to his Emperor Theodosius:</q> +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<lg> +<l>O nimium dilecta Deo, cui militat æther,</l> +<l>Et conjurati veniunt ad classica venti.<note place='foot'>O well beloved of God, for whom the very air fights, and the winds +conspire to come to the trumpet call.</note></l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<pb n='234'/><anchor id='Pg234'/> + +<p> +<q>But was this a sufficient warning to the Romish +Catholics to desist from their treasonable practices? No, +for when they saw that open invasion served not their turn, +they took themselves to private treacheries; insomuch that +I dare boldly say</q> (but not truly) <q>there passed no four years +without some one or other treason. For shortly after came +Patrick Collyn, sent from Father Holt and Father Sherwood, +two Jesuits, to kill the Queen. Shortly after cometh Lopez +to poison the Queen, incited likewise by the instigation of +the Jesuits.</q> (This Lopez was a Jew, the Queen's physician, +living in London, a rich man, and knew no Jesuit in the +world, nor was acquainted with any Catholics in England +that I know of.) <q>After him came Yorke and Williams +from Father Holt, who likewise had plotted to kill the +Queen. Not long after him comes Squire, sent by Father +Walpole from Spain, to poison Her Majesty.</q> And here Mr. +Attorney desired licence to advertise the Lords that each +of these treasons were accompanied with some devilish +book. <q>As for example, the plot of Patrick Collyn was +accompanied with the book of Philopater written by +Cresswell the Jesuit, their ledger in Spain. Then cometh +Squire with his plot, and this was accompanied with another +most pernicious book written by Dolman, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Persons, +their great ledger<note place='foot'>Prefect. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> in Rome. And now we are come +to the Spanish treason, which was in the forty-fourth +year of our late sovereign. And that you may know +there was a Spanish treason, you shall understand that +Thomas Winter, and Father Greenway, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Tesimond, +the Jesuit, went over commended by Garnett to offer their +obedience and service to the King of Spain, and to promise +him their assistance, when time should serve for advancement +of his title to the crown of England, and withal to +entreat him to send them an army, to be conveyed hither +by the galleys of Spinola; which army, if it were great, +should land in Kent; if it were small, it might land at +<pb n='235'/><anchor id='Pg235'/> +Milford Haven; that they should bring with them a round +sum of money, and in the meantime to bestow some annual +pensions upon certain discontented persons here; and that +they for their part would prepare two thousand horses, +which in such attempts were like to be the greatest want. +This motion being made to the King, they were brought +unto him; from him they were directed to the Duke of +Lerma, who received them gracefully, and finally for their +answer they were referred to the Conde de Miranda, who +assured them the King his master liked very well of their +motion and would be ready to further them in their just +request, and would henceforward account the English as +his own Castilians. With this resolution Thomas Winter +and Greenway returned, expecting the next summer the +arrival of their navy. And here were not wanting the books +I mentioned before; but what books? They had no books +indeed; but that want was supplied with two Breves or +Bulls, as we call them, and they were most pernicious and +treacherous, which by God's providence came lately to +light. The first was directed <q>Principibus et Nobilibus +Catholicis totius Regni Anglicani.</q><note place='foot'>To the Catholic Princes and Nobles of the whole Kingdom of England.</note> The tenour of this first +was an admonition that <q>postquam contigerit miseram +fœminam e vitâ excedere,</q></q><note place='foot'>When it shall happen that that miserable woman shall depart this life.</note> &c. Here you may mark this +foul-mouthed monster that calleth our dread sovereign of +happy memory, <q>miseram fœminam;</q> being one of the +most renowned of Princes. (Here the reader indeed hath +cause to mark a foul mouth, that durst call the Vicegerent +of God Himself a foul-mouthed monster; nor will he mark +that the Bull speaking only of the time after the Queen's +death, was not to accompany the army, which, if any such +were intended, was to come at a certain prefixed time; yea, +it rather showeth the Pope would have nothing attempted +in her lifetime.) <q>But well,</q> saith he, <q>what followeth in the +Bull? Marry, when it shall happen that miserable woman +<pb n='236'/><anchor id='Pg236'/> +shall depart this life, they shall not admit of any other to +succeed in her place, <q>quâcumque propinquitate sanguinis +niteretur,</q><note place='foot'>Whatsoever be the nearness of blood on which his claim rests.</note> except that first they promise not only to tolerate +the Catholic religion, but also do bind themselves by oath +to maintain it and no other: and this to deprive King James +from his rightful inheritance</q> (nay, rather to move him to be +Catholic, and so to get him also a much greater kingdom in +Heaven). <q>To exclude him therefore cometh this roaring +Bull, that warned them also to give notice of her sickness or +death, as soon as may be, when it should happen, to his +Legate in Flanders. And so accordingly presently upon +her indisposition, Christopher Wright was despatched with +letters of commendation from Garnett the Jesuit, as appeared +by a confession then produced and read. And here, my Lords, +let me observe another circumstance very markable; that +these peculiar traitors were severally commended by Garnett +the Jesuit, as for example, Thomas Winter went over: +wherefore? For treason; and yet was he commended by +Garnett the Jesuit. Christopher Wright went over: wherefore? +For treason; and yet was he likewise commended by +Garnett the Jesuit. Guy Faulks was sent over: wherefore? +For treason—that is, to solicit and deal with Owen, that +Spinola and Sir William Stanley might draw their forces +near to the sea-side, that when the time served they might +come over with the more expedition: and yet he also is +commended by Garnett the Jesuit. Sir Edward Baynham +was sent over to acquaint the Pope with this business, when +the blow should be given</q> (By this known untruth the rest +may be judged of the better:) <q>which Edward Baynham +was a fit messenger between the Pope and the devil; and +yet he had also letters of commendation from Garnett the +Jesuit. So that hereby it is apparent that Garnett was +not only privy, but consenting to their several practices. +Now when King James was settled in this kingdom, and +received of all, then did Garnett burn the Bull. But out of +<pb n='237'/><anchor id='Pg237'/> +that Bull did Catesby infer that it was lawful for him to +entertain any practice against our sovereign that now is; +for, said he, it is as lawful for us to expel him and cast him +out now, seeing by experience he doth persecute religion, +as by the Breve it was lawful to resist him and reject, when +we did but fear he would not favour Catholics.</q> (True it +is Mr. Catesby did argue thus; but was answered by +Father Garnett, that the case was not like before and after +admission, and that we must not by ourselves attempt anything, +the Pope now commanding to be quiet.) <q rend='pre'>The +other Bull was to the Archpriest and his associates, +commending their patience and longanimity, and willing +them to counsel all sorts of lay people to be forward in +execution of the Pope's command. Well then, out of +these circumstances, I infer that Garnett was not only +privy, but an author and actor in this treason.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<q>But now let us consider other circumstances that are +<q>omni acceptione majores.</q><note place='foot'>Unexceptionable.</note> Your Lordships must understand +that Garnett would not be known to any of the actors in +these bloody practices, but only to Catesby, being a man +<q>vafro et versuto ingenio et profundâ perfidiâ,</q><note place='foot'>Of a cunning and subtle wit and profound perfidy.</note> so that all +we have against him must be chiefly drawn from himself.</q> +(Indeed Mr. Catesby was dead, and never affirmed any +such thing, and the rest of the conspirators in their examinations +and public speeches affirmed the contrary; so that +Mr. Attorney did want proof very much, when he brought +in a dead man to be witness, like to them that brought the +sleeping soldiers at Christ His sepulchre to be witnesses +that his body was stolen whilst they were asleep.) <q>Well +then, this Garnett confesseth that Catesby had in general +imparted to him that something would be done by the +Catholics, but could not reveal in particular what it was +without the consent of two others of his consorts, which +Garnett saith he dissuaded him from; but how know we +<pb n='238'/><anchor id='Pg238'/> +that he did so? Only by his own words, who useth to deal +sincerely in nothing that concerneth himself. But I will +prove that he did not dissuade them, but did encourage +them, even to the Powder Treason itself.</q> (Here, by the +way, I would gladly ask Mr. Attorney how he doth save +the accusation recited in the indictment from a false +slander, where it is said that Garnett and Greenway did in +the beginning meet with Catesby at Queenhithe, and there +conclude upon destroying the King and Queen and the +Parliament House by powder? How could this be true, +seeing that here now long after, and after the gentlemen +had concluded as it seems of the matter, and bound one +another to secrecy, so that as you see Mr. Catesby could +not reveal it to Father Garnett without leave of two others, +Father Garnett was all this while ignorant of it: yea, and +now also had but a general knowledge of something to be +done, from which also he dissuaded them? We may see in +this contradiction Father Garnett his innocency; and +that Mr. Attorney should be mindful of what he hath +said, if he will not say the truth. But let us see how +he seeketh to prove by likelihoods, that here Father +Garnett, getting some knowledge of the thing in general, +did persuade it in particular.) <q>For +Father Garnett,</q> said he, <q>confesseth +moreover that Mr. Catesby did in general terms propound +a case unto him, whether it were not lawful +to destroy many enemies assembled together to our +ruin, although some innocents must needs be inwrapped +in the slaughter. To this Garnett answered that in +just war when a town or castle is besieged that could +not be taken without battering the walls, and that not +to be performed without perishing of some innocents, +in that case, if the advantage which redounded to the +general good by the death of those enemies were greater +than the loss should be by the destruction of those +innocents, that then it was lawful. I beseech your Lordships +<pb n='239'/><anchor id='Pg239'/> +mark here, that Garnett approveth this fact in +particular; for this resolution was Catesby's whole ground; +and this I prove by Rookwood his confession (which he +brought forth), and therein it appeared that when Catesby +made the first overture of this matter unto him, he conceived +great horror of the fact in respect of the innocents that +were to be there, whereunto Catesby answered, that he had +advice of the most learned, that it was lawful, not by proposing +the case in particular, but in a like.</q> (Here Mr. +Attorney, by his plain proof which he promised, hath +proved himself to be guilty of a malicious and false +inference, and Father Garnett to be clear from all furtherance +to the Plot. For, first, this case was put to Father +Garnett before the time this general notice of something in +hand was given him by Mr. Catesby: though here Mr. +Attorney did maliciously put it after, to make it seem that +Father Garnett might gather some light what should be +meant by them, hearing now this particular case out of the +former general knowledge, which the Attorney saith he +had before received. But the general knowledge came after, +which I prove by these alleged words of Mr. Attorney. +For here he saith, he had resolution in this case before he +acquainted Rookwood; and that general knowledge was +given after the matter was commenced: for, so he said, +there was something in hand, but he could not tell him +without leave of two; at which time Father Garnett +refused to know the matter, but dissuaded it in general. +Now that he proveth also Father Garnett clear from +persuasion or consent, I prove by his own words, where he +saith that Mr. Catesby persuaded Mr. Rookwood to yield, +upon the resolution he had received of the like case, not of +the same case; whereby it appears, they first concluded of +it amongst themselves, and the rest consented to it, without +Father Garnett his knowledge or privity, much less his +counsel. Now whereas Mr. Attorney will needs conclude, +that because Mr. Catesby did infer the lawfulness of the +<pb n='240'/><anchor id='Pg240'/> +particular out of the resolution in general, therefore Father +Garnett should be guilty of the powder; by the same +reason he may prove many Doctors in the Schools, and the +most learned writers that are or have been, to be guilty of +the same treason; for they deliver the same doctrine in the +same case, as it was put to Father Garnett. And as they, +being wholly ignorant of the matter, cannot be touched +with it, for delivering their true opinion, so Father Garnett, +when that case was put, thought of nothing less than that +they had any such intent. And afterward when he perceived +something in general, that he also laboured to +hinder by persuasion: and so no way to be blamed, but +much to be commended, if he had his right). +</p> + +<p> +<q>Then further,</q> says Mr. Attorney, <q>Garnett, under +pretence of a journey to St. Winifred's Well, and I know +not what marriage, retired himself into Warwickshire, +which was the rendezvous for all the conspirators, +pretending he had no place to abide in until the +Parliament.</q> (It is well known to many Catholics that +all the safe lodgings which Father Garnett had about +London were lately before discovered, and that was a chief +cause of his journey; and it was unfit to take a new house +about London, before they might see what laws would be +made at the Parliament, which were expected would be +such as there would be no abiding there.) <q rend='pre'>He also made +a prayer for the great business about the Parliament time, +which was</q> +</p> + +<quote rend='display'> +<lg> +<l>Gentem<note place='foot'>Take away the faithless people from the boundaries of the Faithful, that +we may joyfully give due praises unto Christ.</note> auferte perfidam</l> +<l>Credentium de finibus,</l> +<l>Ut Christo laudes debitas</l> +<l><q rend='post'>Persolvamus alacriter.</q><note place='foot'>This was the hymn of that time, being the Feast of All Saints, and so +applied by Father Garnett to the hindrance of heretics in making heretical laws +intended against Catholics. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note></l> +</lg> +</quote> + +<pb n='241'/><anchor id='Pg241'/> + +<p> +Now for the subsequent circumstances Mr. Attorney +produced, an interlocution between Father Garnett and +Father Ouldcorne in the Tower; which thing is before +declared at large and therefore needs not here be set +down, the chapter growing too long by other points +not before so much declared. Only this here is to be +noted, that Mr. Attorney reported the matter otherwise +than it was; for he said, that by reason the Tower was full +of prisoners, the Lieutenant was constrained for want of +room to lodge them in two chambers joining one upon +another, which they perceiving did often discourse together, +and being overheard by the Lieutenant's men passing to +other prisoners, some of them were placed near adjoining +to overhear them.<note place='foot'>Thus he. But he did not know that my Lord of Salisbury would afterwards +tell the case truly that it was done of policy. So we see that Mr. +Attorney can add and diminish like a cunning orator. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> And so out of that interlocution, and +Father Garnett his confession taken by the Lords after the +same, he proved that Father Garnett was told in confession +of the Powder Treason; which point alone he was able +to prove against Father Garnett, and the which Father +Garnett acknowledged, but proved it to be both lawful and +necessary for him to proceed as he did therein. Then Mr. +Attorney began to exaggerate the greatness of the treason, +because it was intended against so worthy a Prince, and +so noble a progeny, in whose praises he spent a long time; +but not needful to be set down in this place. Then he +praised and sought to please the City of London, affirming +that the King, in desire to give contentment unto the +city, had caused that solemn trial to be made in that +place, which belonged to the public justice of the city. +</p> + +<p> +Then he returned to Father Garnett, and said that he +and the Jesuits had plotted these foresaid treasons against all +these so worthy persons; and that the Jesuits were Doctors +of four D's; first of Dissimulation, wherein he made an +invective against the doctrine of equivocation, showing a +<pb n='242'/><anchor id='Pg242'/> +written book of that matter which had been taken in some +search, the title whereof was written with Father Garnett +his own hand, <q>Against lying and untruths;</q> and, said Mr. +Attorney,<note place='foot'>(Either mistaking or misreporting the state of the question). <hi rend='italic'>Erased +in Orig.</hi></note> <q>If this doctrine might be admitted, that men +may swear and forswear what they list, there would be no +martyrs: the holy Ridley, Cranmer, and Latimer would +not have been martyred.</q> (These were three notorious +heretics burnt in Queen Mary's time.) <q>The thirty-two +Popes, that were virginal martyrs, would not have suffered +on a row. This doctrine was begun by Arius, who having +a schedule of the Catholic doctrine in his left hand, and +another of his own opinion in his bosom, laid his right +hand upon his breast and sware he believed and would +maintain that doctrine <emph>he had in his hand</emph> during his life.</q> +(Many such things he said against <q>equivocatio,</q> either +mistaking or misreporting wholly the state of the question.) +The second D, he said, was Deposing of Princes, for which +he produced a place out of Philopater, affirming that +heretics cannot bear rule over Catholics; and another out of +Dolman's book of titles to the like effect, also two places of +Simanha, whom he termed the Spanish Jesuit. The first, +that all heretics were excommunicate <hi rend='italic'>de jure</hi> at Easter, +and were excommunicate <hi rend='italic'>de facto</hi>. The second was that +a Prince once excommunicate <q>amittit jus regnandi;</q><note place='foot'>Loses the right of reigning.</note> and +not only for himself, but for his heirs. The third D, is the +Disposing of kingdoms, for proof whereof, he alleged that +they would have disposed of the kingdom of England to +the Infanta of Spain, without any memory of King James. +The fourth and last D, was the Deterring of Princes with +fear of their excommunications, and I know not what. And +then, with some invectives against Jesuits, he dehorted all +men from conversing with them, with this saying, <q>Qui +cum Jesu itis, non itis cum Jesuitis.</q> <q>Neither,</q> said he, <q>are +<pb n='243'/><anchor id='Pg243'/> +their Priests less perilous than they of whom I hope I may +presage the destruction near at hand; for seeing I am +informed they are in number about four hundred, they may +fitly be resembled to the four hundred false prophets that +Micheas had in his company;<note place='foot'>Dreamed of. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> for as they were possessed of +lying spirits and then perishing, so may we hope that these +Priests and Jesuits publicly teaching this doctrine of lying +and equivocating are near their downfall.</q> And then +making a low reverence he concluded his speech. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>Father Garnett +his speech.</note> +Mr. Attorney having ended,<note place='foot'>His long discourse. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> Father Garnett, having +first made his reverence with a very modest countenance +began his speech, first craving pardon for the +weakness of his memory, if he should fail to give them +satisfaction in any particular that had been objected +against him. <q>But I trust,</q> said he, <q rend='pre'>with the +help of Mr. Attorney, I shall fail in nothing of +consequence. And considering the whole discourse of Mr. +Attorney, I find the things by him treated of, may be +reduced to four principal heads: the first, concerning our +doctrine in general; the second, concerning recusants in +general; third, concerning Jesuits in general; the last, concerning +myself in particular.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>1. Concerning Catholic +doctrine in general.</note> +<q>And for the first, Mr. Attorney inveigheth greatly +against that point of doctrine wherein +we teach that equivocations in some cases +may be lawfully used, as a doctrine which he supposeth +to hinder Martyrs from their crowns and to +break the bonds of human society; neither of which +can ensue out of that doctrine, as we do teach it. +For we do not teach (as Mr. Attorney affirmeth) that +it is lawful to equivocate in matters of faith; but we +teach the contrary most expressly, rejecting that doctrine +as an heresy, condemned long since in the Priscilianists. +Yea, some Catholics have suffered death for answering +<pb n='244'/><anchor id='Pg244'/> +directly to questions which they might have avoided, but +that they feared they should then equivocate in matters +of faith, or seem to deny their religion. And, my Lords, +because I have discoursed to your Lordships of this point +heretofore, and to other learned men sent to me in the +Tower, I will be the shorter at this present: and as I +say, it is never lawful to equivocate in matters of faith, so +also in matters of human conversation, it may not be used +promiscually, or at our pleasure; as in matters of contract, +in matters of testimony, or before a competent judge, or +to the prejudice of any third person: in which cases we +judge it altogether unlawful. But only we think it lawful +when it is no way prejudicial to others and to be used for +our own or our brother's good, or when we are pressed to +questions that are hurtful to be answered unto, or urged +upon examination to answer to one who is no competent +judge, or who would force us to open matters not liable to +his court: as if they should examine me of the secrets of +my heart, or the secrets I have heard in confession; +because these secrets are not liable to any external court, +I may in these cases, for avoiding of inconvenience, and +redeeming my own vexation, lawfully use some reservation. +Neither doth this liberty prejudice any whit human +conversation; but it is conformable to reason, agreeable to +the doctrine of the holy Fathers, and to the consent of all +learned men, without contradiction of any one that ever I +heard or read of, who teach generally with St. Thomas of +Aquin, affirming the same which I have said, in several +places, and specially in that place where he teacheth that +if a Confessor should by any man whosoever be examined +concerning points which he knoweth only by confession, he +may lawfully, yea, he is bound to disavow them. And this +doctrine is also found in the Scripture itself; for confirmation +whereof, I will cite only two places. The first is +that place where our Saviour being demanded concerning +the Day of Judgment by His disciples made answer, <q>De +<pb n='245'/><anchor id='Pg245'/> +die illâ nemo novit, neque Angeli Dei, neque filius hominis, +nisi solus Pater.</q><note place='foot'><q>Of that day or hour no man knoweth, neither the Angels in heaven, +nor the Son, but the Father</q> (St. Mark xiii. 32; Cf. St. Matt. xxiv. 36).</note> But certain it is that Christ our +Saviour did know of the Day of Judgment, not +only as He was God, but as He was Man also, as all holy +Doctors and Divines do constantly affirm. Wherefore it +cannot be denied but therein He used some mental reservation. +For lying can no ways be tolerable and much less +practised by Him that is the rule and measure of all truth, +as St. Augustine excellently proveth in that place where he +distinguisheth eight kind of lies, all of them being sins; and +the least of those when it is <q>mendacium officiosum,</q> to +the good of some, without the hurt of any. So that seeing +this saying of our Saviour cannot be verified otherwise but, +as St. Augustine expoundeth it, with this secret reservation +that He knew it not to reveal it, it cannot be denied but +these reservations in some cases are lawful. The second +example is, where He said to His Disciples, <q>Vos ascendite +ad diem festum hunc: ego autem non ascendo ad diem +festum istum.</q><note place='foot'><q>Go you up to this festival-day: but I go not up to this festival-day</q> +(St. John vii. 8).</note> And yet, notwithstanding, the +Evangelist affirmeth that after they were gone to the feast, +<q>tunc et ipse ascendit ad diem festum non manifeste, sed +quasi in occulto,</q><note place='foot'><q>Then He also went up to the feast, not publicly, but as it were in +private</q> (St. John vii. 10).</note> which argueth that in this general denial +to go, He meant only that He would not go in public, +which in His mind He reserved.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Here my Lord of Salisbury interrupted the prisoner and +said, that because the truth was oftentimes more plainly +discovered by interposition of questions and answers, than +by a continual speech delivered together, he would ask of +Mr. Garnett one question concerning that doctrine he +delivered. <q>For you teach it,</q> said he, <q>to be unlawful to +equivocate before a competent judge, and I trust you take +<pb n='246'/><anchor id='Pg246'/> +us to be such. At the least I do. Now did not you deny in +the Tower unto me with earnest asseveration, that you had +not any conference with Hall, until the witness was produced +against you, and then you confessed it? Is not this +to equivocate before a competent judge, and in a matter of +small consequence?</q> To this the prisoner answered that +he did so because, until the witness came, he did think +the matter wholly secret, and therefore not liable to the +examination of any judge, though otherwise competent; +besides he deemed it prejudicial to a third person, whom +then he accounted an honest man. Then he went forward +in his speech. +</p> + +<p> +<q>The second point of our doctrine,</q> said he, <q>that Mr. +Attorney greatly inveigheth against, is the doctrine of deposing +of Princes and excommunicating of Kings. Whereof +although I could discourse at large, yet for that I am unwilling +in this honourable assembly to speak anything which +may be offensive to His Majesty or to them, I will only say a +word or two in just excuse of myself and my brethren, the +Catholics of England. And, first, I beseech your Lordships +to consider that our doctrine in this point is the very same +which is taught and holden by all Catholic Divines and +other subjects in all Catholic Universities and countries of +the Christian world, which subjects are not by their Princes +censured for this doctrine or condemned as traitors, nor +their doctrine judged to be seditious or treasonable. And +therefore I cannot see why we, concurring with them and +with all our predecessors in this kingdom, without +innovation or changing any one principle or tittle in that +matter, should be so severely branded with such notes of +infamy. Secondly, for clearing our case the more, I will +observe a great difference to be made between our +Sovereign that now is, and other Princes that have once +embraced and professed the Catholic faith and do afterwards +revolt and decline into heresies, parting themselves from +that body unto which they were before united, disjoining +<pb n='247'/><anchor id='Pg247'/> +and dividing themselves from that Head to whom before +they had submitted themselves and by whom they were +governed; for they incur the censures which those authors, +cited by Mr. Attorney, do speak of, and are punishable by +that power which in precedent times they admitted. But +His Majesty's case is different from theirs; for he maintaineth +no other doctrine than that which from his cradle +he hath been nourished and brought up in. And therefore +those general sentences are not by any private +man to be applied to his case in particular.</q> Here the +Earl of Salisbury again interrupted him and demanded +if the Pope could excommunicate King James, his +Sovereign. The prisoner answered, <q>My Lord, I cannot +deny the authority of His Holiness.</q> Then my Lord of +Salisbury demanded, whether if he should be excommunicated, +it were lawful for his subjects to rebel against +him. <q>My Lord,</q> said he, <q>I have already answered that +point. I beseech your Lordship to press me no further. +You have my opinion in the Canon of Nos Sanctorum +which I before alleged.</q> Then Mr. Attorney produced the +Canon, which was publicly read with derision of divers +standers-by, who thought it ridiculous that the Pope +should have such authority over Princes. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>2. Concerning recusants +in general.</note> +After this the Father proceeded and +the second thing he would answer +unto, should be recusants in general, <q>who,</q> saith he, +<q>are accused by Mr. Attorney that they only grounded +their recusancy upon the excommunication of the Queen +by Pius V<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>tus</hi>, which, if it were true, then Mr. Attorney +did infer that, seeing that our Sovereign that now is +stands not excommunicate, it were lawful to repair +to the churches and service of England. But if this +were lawful, doubtless Catholics would have done it before +this, thereby to avoid the penalty of those statutes +which in that case are enacted. Neither is it true, that +Mr. Attorney so constantly avoucheth, that till the eleventh +<pb n='248'/><anchor id='Pg248'/> +year of Queen Elizabeth all Catholics did resort to their +churches. For I knew many Catholics at that time living, +that I am certain never went to Protestants' churches in +their lives. And Sir Thomas Fitzherbert of my knowledge +did not only refuse it before that time himself, but also had +written a treatise to prove that it could not be tolerated in +any Catholic; and it is apparent to the world that before +that time many Catholic Bishops and Priests were +imprisoned for their refusal. Whereby it is evident that +their recusancy is not founded upon any excommunication; +but only upon mere matter of conscience, judging it unlawful +to communicate in their service<note place='foot'>In divinis. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> with such as have +separated themselves from the Church. Which doctrine is +as ancient as the condemnation of the Arian heresy; for +even then the Catholics refused <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>in divinis</foreign> to communicate +with the Arians, albeit they had Priests, Masses, Altars +and their whole service, the same both in substance and +ceremony. Which doctrine hath also been taught by the +most learned of the Protestants, Calvin, Luther, Beza and +others, who all teach it to be unlawful to be present at our +service, not only at Mass, which they count idolatry, but +at Evensong also. Yet I grant this point was not so +clearly understood by Catholics here until the Council of +Trent, where twelve most grave and learned men were +appointed to consult and conclude of this matter; who +without controversy determined, that it was in no case +lawful to communicate with the heretics in their service, no, +not to avoid any torment whatsoever. And their decision +was by the whole Council approved; although the same +was also concluded of by the Council of Nice above 1,300 +years ago.</q> Here again he was interrupted by my Lord +of Salisbury, saying, <q>You go about to seduce the people.</q> +The rest of his speech only tended to the City of London, +and seemed to tell them they should see such an anatomy +of the Popish doctrine, that he hoped after that it would +<pb n='249'/><anchor id='Pg249'/> +not have so many followers, with other words to like effect; +which speech being ended, the prisoner resumed his +discourse and said: +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>3. The Jesuits in +general.</note> +<q rend='pre'>The third thing I determined to speak +of was the Jesuits in general; of whom some +have been by Mr. Attorney accused of undertaking +several treasonable attempts, as the matters of Patrick +Collyn, Yorke, Williams, and Squire, of all which I can +say no more but this, that I have had the hands and +protestations of those Fathers that are accused, as Father +Holt and Father Walpole, who on their salvations +affirm they never treated with the parties concerning any +such matter; and that it was very unlikely, seeing the +enterprisers of them were no Catholics, or but feigned +Catholics, as Yorke and Squire were, who died Protestants, +and were of so little acquaintance with those Fathers that +it was no way probable they would employ them in +matters of such weight. And howsoever they might in +time of torture, or for fear, be brought to accuse themselves, +yet at their death some of them discovered the practices +and protested they died innocent of the facts for which +they suffered, as Williams and Squire did. And for +Father Sherwood, accused also by Mr. Attorney, there +neither is nor was any such Father of the Society. Indeed +there was one of that name that entered the Society; but +he died before he came to be Priest. But I am sure there +was none such of the Society, as Mr. Attorney accuseth.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>4. Father Garnett in +particular.</note> +<q>Now for myself in particular. First +I protest I am clear from approving, and +much more from furthering, either this or any other +treasonable attempts, and have ever thought and taught +them to be unlawful; and have by all my best endeavours +laboured to divert and suppress them. True it is,<note place='foot'>Albeit I must acknowledge. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> that +I did understand in general by Mr. Catesby,<note place='foot'>Long since. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> that +<pb n='250'/><anchor id='Pg250'/> +he would have attempted something for the good of +Catholics; which I dissuaded him from so effectually, that +I well hoped he would have desisted from all such +pretences. And this I revealed not, because as a Religious +Priest I thought to suppress it between him and me; +which course our Saviour prescribeth, warning us, that if +our brother offend in anything, we should admonish him +between him and us: and if this prevail, <q>Lucratus es +fratrem tuum,</q><note place='foot'><q>Thou shalt gain thy brother</q> (St. Matt. xviii. 15).</note> saith our Saviour; and if that reclaim him +not, then we may proceed further. Now, my Lords, +because I was persuaded that upon this admonition he +would give over his former designs, I held myself in +conscience discharged from making any further discovery +of that practice. Howbeit that in your common law I +think that insufficient, in regard it deemeth it not convenient +to leave the safety of the commonwealth +depending on the discretion or peculiar provision of any +private person. But yet, my Lords, that I did dislike such +proceedings, and as much as I could did endeavour to +reclaim them, your Lordships may gather by the express +commandment which I procured by means of our Superior, +whereby was expressly forbidden all attempts against the +King in general, and also by the endeavours I used as +seriously as I could to procure the like prohibition, and that +under pain of some heavier censure: which I would never +have endeavoured, if I had any way approved it. And I +knew very well His Holiness much disliked all such courses; +and, as I was informed, commended my care and vigilancy +in seeking to repress the former stirs, wherein Watson and +Clarke did join with others the first year of the King's +coming into England. And lastly, in that I knew them to +be contrary to our Religious obedience (of which virtue in +the Society we make special account), by which we were +expressly forbidden to meddle in any such causes.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Here Mr. Attorney interrupted him and said, that he +<pb n='251'/><anchor id='Pg251'/> +did not forbid them, for he could prove no such matter, but +only by his words, who used to speak the best in favour of +himself, <q>and,</q> said he, <q>for that prohibition which you +procured, I do not think you did it for love to us, but for +your own ends, lest that by some matter of small importance +your main plot should be prevented and hindered.</q> +To this he answered, <q>That all were prohibited in general, +and therefore it could not be in favour of any one in +particular.</q> (Besides that prohibition was procured long +before Father Garnett knew of this particular designment +of those gentlemen, which as it appears by all proofs, was +long after the powder was all placed, and but a little time +before it should have been put in execution.) <q>And, Mr. +Attorney,</q> said Father Garnett, <q>howsoever you labour to +misconstrue my intentions, my meaning was so as I have +said. And to proceed further, I am blamed also for giving +letters of commendation to Mr. Thomas Winter and Faulks +and others that went over (as now it appears) for accomplishing +of treasons. And to this I answer, that I gave them +indeed letters of commendation; but I protest I knew not +that they went over about matters of treason, for that I never +inquired of their businesses. But if I knew them to be +Catholic men and of good conversation, then,<note place='foot'>Upon means made unto me. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> without +further inquiry, I gave them letters to testify so much to +my friends beyond seas, desiring their favours and furtherance +for them in any ordinary matter of courtesy or charity. +And the like letters I have given to divers other Catholics +that were no ways to be touched with any treacherous +attempts: and these were altogether unknown to me.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Here my Lord of Salisbury did interrupt him. <q>Mr. +Garnett,</q> said he, <q>did you give them the letters without +knowing the end why they were sent over?</q> <q>Yea, +my Lord,</q> said he. <q>Why,</q> said my Lord of Salisbury, +<q>did not you yourself tell me that you did nominate +Sir Edmond Baynham as a fit man to go over to the +<pb n='252'/><anchor id='Pg252'/> +Pope?</q> <q>My Lord,</q> said Father Garnett, <q>I told your +Honour thus much: that it was thought convenient that +some one should inform His Holiness of the estate of our +country, and that it was a great charge to send over one of +purpose for that business; knowing therefore that Sir +Edmond Baynham was going over, and had been so +resolved for above two years, I thought it better, that now +he might discharge that care and save that charge, than +that one should be sent over to the Pope of set purpose to +inform of the state of England.</q> <q>Nay,</q> said my Lord of +Salisbury, <q>you told me that Sir Edmond Baynham went +over to acquaint the Pope with this Plot of Treason, and +that therefore you would not have him said to be sent by +you, because the Pope would be offended that you employed +a layman in that business.</q> <q>My Lord,</q> said Father +Garnett, <q>at the going over of Sir Edmond Baynham I did +not know of that treason myself, and therefore could not +think that Sir Edmond went to acquaint him with it.</q> +(Note the modesty of this Father that would not contradict +the Earl, although the matter touched him very near; but +rather proved, by a necessary consequence, that he could +not say so unto him, than he would seem to aver the other +had misreported his words.) <q>Nay I am persuaded,</q> +said the Father, <q>that Mr. Catesby would not have +revealed the matter in particular to the Pope himself. +Howbeit, afterwards I imagined with myself that peradventure +Mr. Catesby by his means might intend to +acquaint His Holiness with some pretence in general +for the Catholic cause, which they would undertake if +His Holiness should approve it And this I supposed +only because Mr. Catesby promised me that he would +not go forward with any attempt till the Pope had +been acquainted and made privy to it And I said to your +Lordship, that therefore I would not that Sir Edmond +should be sent from us; for that it would displease the Pope +we should send or employ any person whomsoever in the +<pb n='253'/><anchor id='Pg253'/> +affairs of England; but refer them to others, whom it more +concerned.</q><note place='foot'>This part may be omitted. <hi rend='italic'>In marg. against this sentence.</hi></note> +</p> + +<p> +Then Mr. Attorney replied that Mr. Faulks had +confessed that Sir Edmond Baynham was to give notice +unto the Pope of this their attempt: and to this effect was +produced a confession of Faulks which said that Sir +Edmond Baynham was sent to Rome to acquaint the Pope +with the matter when the blow should be given, and to +crave his assistance and furtherance in all. To this he +answered: <q>What they determined, I know not. And it +may be, they thought at that time to have conveyed him +some letter to give him notice thereof. But it is more +than I know, and very unlikely that the first news should +come by me, for the common fame and rumour thereof +would have prevented my letters by a great while.</q> Then +said Mr. Attorney: <q>You see, my Lords, what great care +this man had for the preventing of this so great a danger; +and yet he saith he did not approve nor consent to it. +But I will prove that he did both; for, as I have said +before, he gave Catesby the resolution that it was lawful +to be done not in that case, but in another like to it; which +notwithstanding was the sole ground Catesby stood upon, +as appeareth by Rookwood's confession, before alleged and +now again produced and read. Besides he made a prayer +for the good success of the Powder Treason, about the +time it should have been put in practice, he having known +thereof in particular before by Greenway his confession.</q> +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The case concerning innocents, +answered by Father Garnett.</note> +To this the prisoner answered: +<q>That the case was proposed to him +in general, and so he resolved it, being a case common +in all just wars, where if a town could not be taken, +or a wall beaten down without the death of some +innocents, all casuists do hold that fact to be lawful. But +that Mr. Catesby misapplied this general question, was +neither fault nor approbation of mine; which when I heard +<pb n='254'/><anchor id='Pg254'/> +<note place='margin'>The prayer objected to Father +Garnett answered by him.</note> +of, I conceived a great horror at the thing itself, and +thought it would be a scandal and disgrace to Catholics; +and therefore, besides the former means which I had used +to suppress it, I did also in my prayers desire some milder +course might be taken, if it were God's will.</q> <q>Nay,</q> said +my Lord of Salisbury, <q>you prayed not with that condition; +for you said to me in the gallery, that although we did not +approve of your Masses, yet you did think assuredly that +they had done us good; for you prayed heartily that it +might not come to pass, except it were for the good of the +Church.</q> Father Garnett answered +<q>that he said not so; but that he +desired God to make a milder course, if it were His +holy will. As for the prayer upon All-Hallow Day, +wherein you note those words so precisely, <q>Gentem +auferte perfidam,</q> you must understand it was the hymn +of the same Feast, which in my exhortation I admonished +the hearers to iterate unto Almighty God for the Catholic +cause, the Parliament being then at hand, and great fears in +us of more severity ensuing towards us; and therefore I +meant not the Powder Treason, but to desire God that He +would put in the mind of His Majesty and the Lords there +assembled in the Parliament not to permit those rigorous +laws to pass against us, which we feared would at that +time be concluded of, and to restrain the too much forwardness +of some others in the company that were more violent +against us.</q> <q>Indeed,</q> said Mr. Attorney, <q>you said you +would so colour it.</q> <q>No, in truth,</q> said the Father, +<q>that was my true intention.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Then witnesses were called into the Court which had +heard the interlocution; and Mr. Attorney spake in commendation +of one of them, saying he was a great linguist, a +Justice of Peace, and a learned man, and one that would do +wrong to no man. Father Garnett said he thought so too, +but he might be mistaken, for that which he said was no +more but that he could answer that point very well, for he +<pb n='255'/><anchor id='Pg255'/> +would say (as in truth it was) that he meant, that the laws +intended might not pass against us. <q>And how say you, +Mr. Fawcet, bethink yourself, were you not mistaken?</q> +(Here one may see the good Father had some hope left, +that some sparks of grace and true dealing had been left in +the man according to his former promises of friendly +meaning; but he found the contrary, and that they were +agreed together what they would aver, <q>convenientes in unum +adversus christum Domini,</q><note place='foot'>Agreeing together against the anointed of the Lord (<hi rend='italic'>Vid.</hi> Psalm ii. 2).</note> for he answered,) <q>No,</q> said he, +<q>we both understood it so and writ it down so, and have had +so great care to do you no wrong, that we omitted divers +things wherein we agreed not, and nothing was set down, +but with both our consents.</q> <q>No,</q> saith my Lord of +Salisbury, <q>if we would touch you with the testimony of one +witness, we could charge you with further matters than +these, but we will not do so, that the world may see what +mildness and mercy we use in execution of justice, and to +this end my Sovereign determined that your trial should be +in this honourable assembly. For who is Garnett that he +should be called hither; or we should trouble ourselves in +this Court with him? which I protest were sufficient for the +greatest Cardinal in Rome, if in this case he should be +tried. No, Mr. Garnett, it is not for your cause that you +are called hither, but to testify to the world the foulness +of your fact, the errors of your religion, and His +Majesty's clemency. For these causes His Majesty ordained +your trial should be in this Court before this honourable +assembly, wherein we may glory as much as if the greatest +Cardinal in Rome were pleading at the bar. And, +therefore, the witness is a man of reputation and who +would do you no wrong.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Garnett said he thought so too, but he might be +mistaken. <q>No,</q> said my Lord of Salisbury, <q>he was near +you enough to understand your words: for Hall and you, +of policy, were lodged so near one to the other and in such a +<pb n='256'/><anchor id='Pg256'/> +place where your interlocutions might be easily heard.</q> +(Here it appears Mr. Attorney his speech was idle when he +said it was for want of rooms and by chance that they +were overheard; but he did not foresee that the Earl +meant to make the truth in this point of policy serve his +turn for a further policy, as here it appeareth. Unto which +end also the good usage was directed to satisfy the +Ambassadors who were then present, and others that were +like to inquire of his usage in particular.) <q>For Christian +policy is not to be condemned in any well-governed +commonwealth, and if we should not use such courses, I +know not how we should deal with such people as you. +You have in your pamphlets so described us for cruelties +and persecutions. But let him testify that is here at the +bar, whether he hath not been used with extraordinary +favour? How say you, Mr. Garnett, is it not so?</q> <q>My +Lord,</q> said the Father, <q>I must acknowledge my entreaty +to have been very honourable, for which I esteem myself +much bound to His Majesty.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Then my Lord of Salisbury urged that he was +bound to have discovered the Powder Treason which he +knew by Greenway his confession, <q>being no sacramental +confession by your own laws,</q> said he, <q>for it had no +contrition and was <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>de futuris</foreign>, and so could not be a +Sacrament in your own religion.</q> (This point is answered +where the thing itself is particularly declared at the time and +place when it happened. Here the Father did only answer +to the Earl's chief intention and said:) <q>Though he +nothing doubted but Mr. Greenway had contrition and all +things needful to make it a sacramental confession, yet +howsoever the party were penitent or not, the Confessor +may not reveal it without mortal sin, if he utter himself in +confession, and not in derision of the Sacrament.</q> Then +said the Earl of Northampton, <q>Mr. Garnett, Greenway in +his reservative clause was more careful of you than of the +King or commonwealth, in giving liberty to you to reveal +<pb n='257'/><anchor id='Pg257'/> +it in time of your own danger, which should have +been rather to have prevented the danger to the King +and commonwealth.</q> Father Garnett answered that Mr. +Greenway having it himself also from them by confession, +was restrained and limited how far he should give leave to +open it; and that the Confessor hath no extensive liberty +at all further than the penitent gives unto him. +</p> + +<p> +Then said the Earl of Nottingham, <q>Mr. Garnett, +if a man should tell you in confession that he would +stab the King with a dagger to-morrow, are you not +bound to reveal it?</q> <q>My Lord,</q> said he, <q>unless +I could know it by some other means, I might not.</q> +Hereupon the people fell into a great laughter, not +understanding that the secrecy of confession concerneth a +greater good in the life of many souls, than the corporal life +can be of any particular man. When the laughter ceased, +the Father proceeded and said, <q>In that case, my Lord, +my duty were to dissuade the party from it, to refuse +to give absolution, and by all<note place='foot'>Indirect. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> means to labour to +divert it, which might not open the confession.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Then said the Earl of Northampton, <q>Mr. Garnett, you +were consenting to the Powder Treason, for you did not +forbid it: and it is a case by every good Priest approved, +that <q>Qui non prohibet cum potest, jubet.</q></q><note place='foot'>Not to prohibit when possible, is to order.</note> <q>My Lord,</q> +said the Father, <q>I did prohibit it, as much as in me lay.</q> +My Lord of Northampton replied, <q>Why did you not then +make it known to those that could and would have hindered +it?</q> Father Garnett answered, as before, that he could +not do it, because he knew it only in confession. Then the +Attorney pressed him in this manner. <q>Although you could +not discover Mr. Greenway, by whose confession you knew +it, yet might you have well discovered what you understood +concerning Catesby and his associates, whose confessions +you heard not.</q> The Father answered, <q>What sin soever is +<pb n='258'/><anchor id='Pg258'/> +heard in confession, although it concern not the penitent +but some other, cannot lawfully be revealed.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Attorney then urged him with his being in +Warwickshire at that time when these troubles should +have happened, amplifying it again, as in his former speech +he had done. To which Father Garnett answered that +by reason of a journey which he had made that summer to +St. Winifred's Well, he passed through that country, and +was by the entreaty of some of his friends and some +occasion also of business detained there for a time, not +suspecting any such troubles would have happened in that +place: which, if by any forecast he could have foreseen, +they might well imagine he would in discretion have been +a good way off from that place and country. +</p> + +<p> +<q>But,</q> said my Lord of Salisbury, <q>what did you, +Mr. Garnett, the 6th day of November, when Bates +came to you with a letter from Catesby, after the Plot +was discovered and they in open rebellion?</q> <q>My +Lord,</q> said Father Garnett, <q>I said I would not meddle +with him that had wrought himself into such treasonable +attempts, and thereby endangered himself and his friends.</q> +<q>Yea, but,</q> replied the Earl of Salisbury, <q>did not you send +Greenway to Catesby, who went to raise the countries +abroad?</q> <q>My Lord,</q> said Father Garnett, <q>he went +without my knowledge; neither could I gather by any +speech of his that he had any such intention, as Bates +could testify, if he were alive.</q> And indeed Bates +had said as much as that in his letter, before set down +verbatim in the 11th chapter, which was more than Father +Garnett could know of. +</p> + +<p> +Then, for conclusion, Mr. Attorney desired license +to read a letter written by Mr. Tresham, lying upon +his death-bed in the Tower, wherein upon his salvation +he cleared Father Garnett of any notice of the +Spanish treason, protesting that he had wronged him +in it, and that he had not seen Father Garnett of +<pb n='259'/><anchor id='Pg259'/> +fourteen years before. <q>Now,</q> said Mr. Attorney, <q>to prove +this untrue, here is a confession of Mrs. Ann Vaux, who +(though otherwise a very obstinate woman) yet in this she +confesseth plainly, that within these three years Tresham +had been several times at her house with Father Garnett, +and twice this last year, at which times Father Garnett had +given him very good counsel. So that you see,</q> saith +Mr. Attorney, <q>they will swear and forswear anything.</q> +The like said my Earl of Salisbury upon the same +occasion. +</p> + +<p> +But they did not (or would not) mark, that Mrs. +Ann Vaux her confession doth make nothing at all +against Mr. Tresham his protestation; for he said not +he had not seen Father Garnett within the last three +years; but that he had not seen him of fourteen years +before the Spanish treason, which was the year before +the Queen's death; as his words are plain, and the cause +also of his writing doth make it plain, for his intention was +only to clear the Father of the Spanish treason, which he +had wrongfully accused him of, and therefore it was a very +material proof that he had not seen him of fourteen years +before that business;<note place='foot'>This may be left out. <hi rend='italic'>In marg.</hi></note> but they would needs draw his meaning +to be, that he had not seen him of fourteen years before the +writing of the letter. But this was their misconstruing, not +his equivocating; yea, then his words had been very +unproper, for he should rather then have said, <q>I have not +seen him of fourteen year, or this fourteen years;</q> but +whereas he said, <q>I did not see him of fourteen years +before,</q> he must needs mean of fourteen years before the +time he spake of, which was the Spanish treason. Therefore +they were to blame, that did so much insult upon Mr. +Tresham after his death, as though he had been found to +have protested an untruth. But they did it to take +occasion to infer thereby that other protestations also were +like to be untrue, which divers of the conspirators had +<pb n='260'/><anchor id='Pg260'/> +made before their death to clear the Fathers. But against +theirs, no pretence of exception could be alleged; but only +that theirs might be false, because this was false: which +had been an evil consequence, although this had not been +true. But this of Mr. Tresham's was true: and the others +undoubted, and no ways to be disproved. And it is worthy +to be noted how Almighty God did permit them now, at +the end of this long day's trial of Father Garnett, to bring +forth this letter (whereby they thought so clearly to disprove +such testimonies as might be afterwards brought for +Father Garnett), which letter did indeed so clearly prove +him innocent in that former dealing with Spain, whereof +there were more likely presumptions against him than +about this Powder Treason. +</p> + +<p> +The cause and manner of writing this letter was +this. Mr. Thomas Winter had confessed that six gentlemen +were acquainted with that Plot, but could say +nothing of Father Garnett, that he did so much as +know of it. Mr. Tresham acknowledged in his first +examinations that himself was acquainted with it, <hi rend='italic'>vdlt.</hi>, +that money and men should have come from thence; +and being found more fearful and easy to be wrought upon +than the rest, he was urged to confess Garnett to be privy +thereunto; to which he answered, <q>Perhaps he was.</q> On +which words reflecting afterwards when he lay in extremity +of sickness in the Tower, and prepared himself to die, he +thought the Council would take advantage against Father +Garnett by that which he had said: therefore before his +death he caused his man to write in his name unto the Earl +of Salisbury, protesting upon his salvation, that Mr. Garnett +was not acquainted therewith, &c, as before was set down +out of the letter read. This letter he was not then able to +sign himself, he was so weak at that time, and therefore +caused his wife to do it, and commanded her, as she would +answer it before God, to deliver it to my Lord of Salisbury, +for the discharge of his conscience; but afterwards growing +<pb n='261'/><anchor id='Pg261'/> +somewhat better, he did call for the writing again, and +signed it with his own hand. And his wife after his +death, because she could not be admitted to come to my +Lord of Salisbury, inclosed it in a letter of her own, and +sent it to his Lordship. And the man that wrote this +letter, being afterwards taken by Sir William Wade, +Lieutenant of the Tower, for fear of his threats, affirmed +his master had written the letter himself (not daring to be +known, that he had written it at his master's appointment), +but afterwards being at liberty, he went to the Recorder +and affirmed before him, that it was his master that had +caused him to write it, and had himself subscribed it: and +for this the man was committed to a close and strait +prison, to Bridewell, the worst prison about London. +</p> + +<p> +Notwithstanding all this, upon the reading of this letter, +my Lord of Salisbury presupposed it as granted that Mr. +Tresham did mean to equivocate in this letter, which the +good Father did not contradict, not observing perhaps the +circumstance of Mr. Tresham his words before alleged, +which was no marvel, being clean wearied out with so long +standing at the bar, and answering to every man's questions +before, which more concerned himself; and himself so often +interrupted in his own discourse, that it was misliked by +divers of the standers-by; yea, the King himself, who was +there in private, sent word at length to my Lord of +Salisbury, he should give the prisoner leave to speak freely. +My Lord of Salisbury therefore took occasion upon this +supposition to speak at large, and said, though he would +not meddle with Mr. Garnett in matters of divinity, yet +because he had been particularly employed in that service, +he desired to demonstrate with what sincerity and moderation +His Majesty's justice was carried in all points. And +so he discoursed of the manner of the proceeding therein, +and said it was not performed with such solemnity in +respect of Garnett, who was but a private man, but to +discredit in his person his religion, and to credit the +<pb n='262'/><anchor id='Pg262'/> +Gospel, and also to show the King's just proceedings to the +world, and withal to favour the City of London, in doing it +in the sight of the city. Then he showed how gently Father +Garnett had been used, more like a nurse-child than otherwise, +and that in this arraignment divers things had been +permitted to be read, which made for Father Garnett; as +namely this testimony of Mrs. Vaux, who, said the Earl, +would sacrifice her life to do him good. And so he concluded, +affirming that the whole course of proceedings +in that matter had been mixed with such clemency, +as he thought there was none so malicious that could +calumniate. My Lord of Northampton also made a speech +much to the like effect, to show the foulness of the Plot +of Powder, the just and merciful proceedings of the King, +and the presumptions of Father Garnett his being guilty. +</p> + +<p> +Which done, the jury was willed to go together, and +Father Garnett, ere they departed, desired them they would +take such things as he had denied, to be justly and truly +disavowed, except they had more evidence to the contrary; +and desired them to give their verdict only upon that +which was acknowledged to be true, and not upon any +other presumptions. And so indeed (by God's providence) +it was performed: for they went together for a short time, +and presently returned and pronounced him guilty directly +for not revealing this treason.<note place='foot'>Which was indeed. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +</p> + +<p> +He was then asked whether he had any more to +say for himself, and my Lord of Salisbury told him it +was the King's pleasure he should have free leave to +speak (but this leave was pronounced very late, after so +many hours of continual interruption). The Father +answered he had no more to say but God save the +King; and referred himself to the mercy of God and the +King, and that he desired their Lordships to recommend +his cause unto His Majesty, whom if it would please to +grant him life, he would labour to deserve it the best he +<pb n='263'/><anchor id='Pg263'/> +could, his conscience reserved. If otherwise, he was prepared +to die. +</p> + +<p> +Then Serjeant Crooke prayed judgment might be +given. The crier was willed to proclaim silence. The +Lord Chief Justice, Sir John Popham, pronounced sentence +of judgment against him, which was, to be hanged, drawn, +and quartered. +</p> + +<p> +The Earl of Northampton made a second speech to +this effect unto the prisoner. <q>Nothing is, that hath not +been: nor nothing hath been, that is not. That all which +hath been spoken this day might be rightly understood, +you are condemned not for religion or your profession; +but for treason verified by pregnant proofs. It is necessary +to look into the ground of this action and safety of the +King; which by the Scripture is sufficiently commanded +and proved, that there is no cause sufficient to depose +Princes, neither tyranny, nor adultery, nor idolatry, nor +apprehending of Priests, nor simony, nor heresy, nor +apostacy. No power upon earth can dispossess him. +That Popes have attempted it sometimes, hath been abuse +crept in within these five or six hundred years, but the +ancient Popes would never do it, yea, St. Gregory calleth +the Emperor, his Lord. No man may lay hands upon the +King, as is proved by many examples in the Old +Testament. You are commanded in the New Testament +to obey your Princes; and so all the ancient Fathers teach. +For the Prince's life is in no man's power, but in the hands +of God Himself. All examples of Scripture prove you +ought not to touch his body, but to persuade his soul. +You allege the Canon of <hi rend='italic'>Nos Sanctorum</hi> to prove it in the +Pope's power to depose Princes for some causes; but it +never can be proved lawful by any learning or law for this +1600 years. Therefore whosoever doth maintain it, is in +a foul and most gross and grievous error.</q> +</p> + +<p> +This was about six or seven o'clock at night. Then +the Court broke up; and Father Garnett being condemned +<pb n='264'/><anchor id='Pg264'/> +to die was returned back to the Tower until +the day of his execution. The King as he went +from the place of trial, where he had been in private, +was heard to say, they had done the prisoner wrong +to interrupt him so often; and also, that if he had been +in the prisoner's place he could have defended himself +better in some points. The Protestants were generally much +appalled at the beginning of Father Garnett his speech, +and some that came from the hall said, that never any +man did speak so at that bar. But towards the end, they +did weary him exceedingly with so many interruptions and +interrogations. But it did comfort the Catholics much that +he was condemned only for concealing the treason which +he had only heard in confession; and consequently his +condemnation and death was only for concealing confession, +which is a most happy cause, and the case of a +martyr, as all the Catholics did then account him, and as +the justice of his cause did then approve him: and God +hath since his death declared by diverse signs, of which I +will afterwards speak in their fit place. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='265'/><anchor id='Pg265'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter XIV. +Of The Arraignment And Execution Of Father +Ouldcorne And Those That Suffered With Him, +And Of The Occurrences There, With A Brief +Relation Of His Life.</head> + +<p> +Whilst Father Garnett was kept as yet in the Tower and +the expectation great<note place='foot'>In every place. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> what would become of him, not only +of all the people, but of many principal persons also (the +resolution of the Council concerning him being known to +very few), and whilst, in the meantime, the whole afflicted +company of his friends and spiritual children did join +in earnest prayers unto God for him; whilst this was +the thought and the business of the poor distressed +Catholics, it was determined by the State that Father +Ouldcorne should be sent into the country, where Father +Garnett and he were taken, there to be arraigned, +condemned, and executed. Wherein assuredly the providence +of God, and His sweet disposition was plainly to +be seen both towards the good Father himself and all the +Catholics of that shire. For doubtless a more grateful thing +could not have happened to that Father than to suffer +in that place where he had laboured so long, and now to +water those plants with his innocent blood which he had, +with the help of God's grace, so carefully planted, and so +many years watered before with Catholic doctrine and +instructions of good life. Neither could anything have been +provided more profitable or pleasing to that country than +to have him die amongst them, whom in his life they did +so highly and so worthily esteem, and to see his constancy +at the end of his course, whose virtues they had seen and +<pb n='266'/><anchor id='Pg266'/> +admired in so many years' conversation. Briefly, they +might well and did esteem it a great happiness to see him +go to a crown of glory who had assisted so many of them +to the obtaining of grace, <q>ut coronati essent in misericordiâ +et miserationibus.</q><note place='foot'>That they might be crowned with mercies and compassion (Cf. Ps. iii. 4).</note> And so to have him a patron +to their country for time to come who had been a pattern +to them in the way of virtue whilst he walked amongst +them. +</p> + +<p> +This good Father, therefore, about the midst of Lent +was sent from the Tower towards the county of Worcester, +and with him Mr. Thomas Abington, in whose house both +Father Garnett and Father Ouldcorne were taken; with +them also Mr. John Winter, the youngest of the three +brothers, who was before condemned when his brothers and +the rest of the conspirators were condemned, but was not +executed with them, because the Council would have some +of them executed in the country for the greater terror; and +rather this than the rest, because he was no actor about the +Powder, but only a party in the rebellion, which, therefore, +was thought fittest to be punished where it was performed: +and withal it was the rather deferred until this time of +Father Ouldcorne his execution, to make a show unto the +people that Father Ouldcorne was to be touched with the +same conspiracy or rebellion for which it was known the +other suffered. With him also was sent down Ralph ———<note place='foot'>Ralph Ashley, for eight years Father Ouldcorne's servant, is believed, +like Nicholas Owen, to have been a Lay-brother of the Society.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> +of whom I spake before, who had for some years faithfully +served Father Ouldcorne in his spiritual business and +negotiation for souls, and was taken with him, and brought +up to London with him, and had suffered torture in the +Tower with him, and now was carried down with him, and +was to go to Heaven with him. +</p> + +<p> +As they went through Holborn, going out of London, +Mrs. Abington<note place='foot'>The Lord Mounteagle's sister. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> did meet her husband, Mr. Thomas +<pb n='267'/><anchor id='Pg267'/> +Abington, and, with many tears, took her leave of +him, but yet promised to labour earnestly with the +King for his pardon, which she hoped to obtain the +rather by her brother's means, who was the Lord Mounteagle, +now in special favour, as you may guess, being +the man that had discovered the Plot of Powder.<note place='foot'>As you might read in the beginning. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> Mr. +Abington wished her to be of good comfort, for himself +was not troubled; and withal, willed her to put His +Majesty in mind how he had suffered four years' imprisonment +for his good mother, for whom also his elder brother +was executed, and that himself had never undutifully +thought against him or his in his life. They were all +carried down to Worcester like prisoners, and prisoners +supposed to be guilty of most heinous treason, and their +usage by the way and at their coming to Worcester +answerable thereunto. +</p> + +<p> +They were arraigned at the Lent Assizes, which is a +Court of public justice holden twice a year in every county +for the trial, as well of country causes in law, as for life and +death, touching all such malefactors as are taken and do +belong to those shires in which the Assizes are holden. +Therefore, at the Lent Assizes at Worcester were brought +to the bar Father Edward Ouldcorne and Ralph ——, also +Mr. Thomas Abington and Mr. Humphrey Littleton, of +whom I have declared before that he was the man in whose +chamber Mr. Robert Winter and Mr. Stephen Littleton +were taken. In which respect this Humphrey Littleton, +hoping to deliver himself from danger of the law (upon +the large promises that were contained in the proclamation +to any that would be the means of taking Father Garnett), +discovered Mr. Abington his house, where both Father +Garnett and Father Ouldcorne were taken. And yet it +was not God's will he should for so evil a deed have his +expected pardon, for his greater good, as it is to be hoped, +for, seeing worldly hopes and promises to fail him, he +<pb n='268'/><anchor id='Pg268'/> +sought for mercy<note place='foot'>Where it is ever found by those that seek it with a penitent heart, which +he did, and acknowledged his fault to be exceeding great in betraying those +Fathers. And both there publicly in the Shire Hall did ask Father Ouldcorne +publicly forgiveness and again at the time of his execution, acknowledging +that he had done both them and all the Catholics of England great wrong in +being cause of their apprehension. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> at God's hand, and became very penitent +for his fault and frailty showed in that discovery. Mr. +Abington was indicted and condemned upon the statute +of relieving Priests, although he did allege for himself that +which had been sufficient to clear him, <hi rend='italic'>vdlt.</hi>, that he was +absent from his own house, and who might come in his +absence he knew not, nor could hinder; and, before he +came, they were so shut up and besieged in secret places, +that they could not be gone; therefore he, neither being +cause of their coming nor staying, could not justly be +found guilty of that penal statute. But they knew so well +his constant love to Catholic religion (which had been +so often times and so well tried before), and his devotion +also and respect unto Priests was so well known unto them, +that they made no scruple at all to presume that those two +Fathers were there with his approbation and good liking; +in which respect they doubted not to condemn him as +guilty, although, before the time of execution, there came +a reprieve from London, obtained by his wife and the Lord +Mounteagle of His Majesty; and so his life remaineth still +at the King's pleasure, and his lands and goods forfeited: +which lands of his, because they should have returned to +his heirs in case he had been put to death (this statute +being but of felony and not of treason), they might be a +motive to save his life, that so the gain might be greater +by his life than by his death it could be.<note place='foot'>I am uncertain whether he was condemned of felony or treason, because +of harbouring a proclaimed traitor. <hi rend='italic'>In marg. in another hand.</hi></note> The gentleman +showed great constancy, courage, and devotion at the +receiving his judgment, as he had often done before in his +examinations and conventions before many several commissioners +for the cause of religion, where at all times he +<pb n='269'/><anchor id='Pg269'/> +did answer with such learning, judgment, and sufficiency +(being a man of great reading and of a very good understanding), +that his adversaries were generally unwilling to +deal with him in that kind. And several Bishops of +Worcester (to whom he had been prisoner)<note place='foot'>And the Bishops of Worcester in particular (whose prisoner he had been +before that). <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> had received +diverse foils at his hand both in private and public +conferences. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Humphrey Littleton was indicted and condemned +of high treason, for receiving and harbouring the two +gentlemen before named, Mr. Robert Winter and Stephen +Littleton, who were proclaimed traitors. He acknowledged +that fact, which he could not deny, but yielded he had +much more deserved death for his treason to God in +betraying his servants those two good Fathers, than in +any ill intention he had unto the State, in not delivering +up those two for whom he was condemned. +</p> + +<p> +Father Ouldcorne his indictment was so framed that one +might see they much desired to have drawn him within +the compass of some participation of this late treason; to +which effect they first did seem to suppose it as likely that +he should send letters up and down to prepare men's +minds for the insurrection. But for this they had no other +ground but that he was a man so much esteemed by the +best Catholics in those parts, and those countries were the +place which it seemed the conspirators did most trust upon +for assistance. They also did seem to think that he had +written some letters for the relief and conveying away of +Mr. Robert Winter and Mr. Stephen Littleton after their +rebellion, and before they came to Humphrey Littleton's, +where they were apprehended. Also, they accused him of +a sermon made in Christmas, wherein he should seem to +excuse the conspirators, or to extenuate their fact, and, +withal, that speaking with Humphrey Littleton in private +about the same matter, he should advise him not to judge +<pb n='270'/><anchor id='Pg270'/> +of the cause, or to condemn the gentlemen by the event, +alleging some examples and authorities to prove that God +doth not always give present success to such causes as +yet He doth approve and will afterwards prosper. <q>Sed +nullam istarum causarum poterant probare, Patre rationem +reddente, quoniam neque in Legem, neque in Regem +quicquam peccavit.</q><note place='foot'>But none of these causes could they prove, the Father showing that he +had not sinned in anything, either against the law or against the King.</note> +</p> + +<p> +And for the first, being a mere supposition, without any +proof or instance to be alleged, it could not have any force +against him, whereas his protestation was of great force in +denial thereof, affirming seriously, upon his death and salvation, +that he never knew anything at all of that treason, and +that he was as innocent thereof as the child new-born. And +for the second, as they without proof did suppose that he had +holpen to convey away Mr. Robert Winter and Mr. Stephen +Littleton, being his ghostly children and dear friends, he +cleared himself very sufficiently from so unjust an accusation. +But, withal, did prove very learnedly there at the bar, +that if he had so done, yet he could not be justly condemned +for that by any law, all circumstances considered of his +estate and theirs, they having been reputed for so virtuous +men before this error, and might justly be presumed to be +very penitent now for this enterprise so unadvisedly undertaken.<note place='foot'>In which case the gravest casuists of this time. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +For the last, he utterly denied he had spoken +anything, either in public or private exhortations, to justify +the attempt of the conspirators, and declared there what +he had said and with what intention. And Mr. Humphrey +Littleton, who had been his accuser in those points, did +there publicly ask him forgiveness in the Shire Hall, and +said he had much wronged him. +</p> + +<p> +But when none of these things could be proved against +him, yet, being a Priest and a Jesuit well known to have +gained many souls to the Catholic faith, he was found guilty +<pb n='271'/><anchor id='Pg271'/> +by the jury and condemned by the judge to be hanged, +drawn, and quartered, as in case of treason, and as blessed +Father Campian and Father Southwell and others of his +predecessors had been before him. He received the +sentence with joy, and told them there in public that he +had been tortured in the Tower five hours five several days +together, one after another, which, if it were five hours at +a time even one of the days (as his words were understood), +then was it a most great extremity that he sustained. For +one hour's torture will make the hands so swollen and so +sore (besides the pain in the other parts of the body), that +it is a very cruel thing to put a man to the like the next +day after. <q>Sed Deus non deserit sperantes in se, in quo +omnia possumus.</q><note place='foot'>But God, in Whom we can do all things, does not forsake them that +hope in Him (Cf. Jud. xiii. 17).</note> +</p> + +<p> +Ralph —— was also indicted and condemned, upon +supposition that he had carried letters to and fro about +this conspiracy. But they neither did nor could allege any +instance or proof against him, and he solemnly protested, +upon the salvation of his soul, that he had never known of +the treason in the least degree. So that he could not be +condemned nor suffer for any other cause but for the +helping and assisting the good Father there condemned +with him, in his spiritual functions. Which cause, as it +was glorious in itself, so for it the good and virtuous man +did very gladly accept both sentence of death and death +itself, as he showed most apparently after, when he came +to his execution. +</p> + +<p> +Thus they received all four sentence of death, but Mr. +Abington was reprieved, and they three were kept in the +jail together, with Mr. John Winter, until the next Monday +after, which was the day of execution. In the mean time +Father Ouldcorne added one gem more unto his crown by +the conversion of an obstinate sinner, who was condemned +to die for his notorious wickedness. This man <q>cum in +<pb n='272'/><anchor id='Pg272'/> +eâdem damnatione esset, necdum tamen timebat Deum,</q><note place='foot'>Being under the same condemnation, and not as yet fearing God (Cf. +St. Luke xxii. 40).</note> +but the very day before he was to die went singing and +whistling up and down the prison, and jesting now with +this man and then with another, which thing being +observed by Mr. John Winter, the young man, pitying +much the lamentable state of soul of that poor heretic, +began to admonish him that such neglect of his future +account could not proceed but from a great blindness of +soul and obduration of heart, affirming, withal, that in the +Catholic religion he had been taught a much different +manner of proceeding, especially at such a time. The +careless heretic answered him he saw no cause to be sad, +for he should be with the Lord before the next day at that +time. Mr. Winter replied that he could not be sure of that, +and that it depended much upon his care and penance +and preparation in the mean time. The heretic replied he +need not to take care for that which Christ had taken +care for sufficiently. By which answer and manner of +proceeding of this poor man,<note place='foot'>Blinded soul. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> one may plainly see the +spiritual blindness<note place='foot'>The great blindness of heart. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> and desperate danger which heresy +hath brought souls unto in this country, this being not +only an opinion which some of them do hold, but an +absolute point of their faith to believe, that they<note place='foot'>Are elected and. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> shall +certainly be saved, and that so soon as they are dead +(because they believe no Purgatory). Yea, this is with +them not only a point of faith, but their very justifying +faith, by which, they say, they must be saved without +necessity of good works. Wherefore no marvel, though +this poor fellow did out of that ground build his secure +and careless proceedings, laying all upon Christ His back, +wherein they pretend that they attribute much to the +Passion of Christ, and that we dishonour the same by +<pb n='273'/><anchor id='Pg273'/> +requiring the necessary concurrence of our own cooperation. +</p> + +<p> +Mr. Winter, finding the heretic obstinate, and yet +seeing and pitying his lamentable estate, told him he +was far wide, <q>but,</q> saith he, <q>if you will talk with +the Father that must die with you to-morrow, he will +make it plain unto you that you are in error, and +will show you the right way how to save your soul.</q> +The man answered he cared not with whom he talked, +for he knew no man could prove him to be in error. Mr. +Winter called the Father, who was retired to his prayers, +and hearing of this opportunity of doing good, came +gladly, took the man aside, and began to catechise the man +with such judgment, learning, and spirit, that he first led +him out of the labyrinth of his errors, then taught him +what was necessary for him to believe and know expressly, +and in all the rest to<note place='foot'>Believe and. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> submit his judgment to the Catholic +Church, which he proved unto him invincibly could not +err nor lead into error. Then taught him how to prepare +himself to become a member of that Church, and having +instructed him how to examine his conscience carefully, +sent him away to do it by himself, and promised that +night to hear his confession. The man returned from the +Father greatly satisfied and contented, and forthwith +applied himself to his business, left all his companions, +and got himself into a corner, there to recount his years +so carelessly spent, and so little thought of before that +time. His companions, wondering at this sudden alteration, +came to invite him to be merry and drink with them, as he +had before, but he sent them away with this answer, that +he had serious business to think of. That night the +good Father kept his promise, and reduced this stray +sheep into the flock of Christ, supplying with his +prudence and skill that which, in so short a time and +so raw a scholar, was likely to be<note place='foot'>Must needs be very. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> imperfect in the preparation +<pb n='274'/><anchor id='Pg274'/> +of his penitent. Yea, he made good proof in this +one patient how great dexterity and skill he had in the +curing of diseased souls. For, with the effectual assistance +of God's grace, he wrought this man's mind, not only to a +constant belief of the Catholic faith, but to a fervent +profession also of the same, and a public demonstration +of a perfect conversion. For the next morning, when the +Father was laid upon the hurdle and drawn to the place of +execution, according to the use and the form of sentence +which was pronounced, this neophyte, being led in company +of other prisoners in a foot-path hard by the horse-way, +when he saw his Father come by lying upon the hurdle, he +suddenly slipped from the rest of the company and stepped +into the horse-way and followed the hurdle directly, though +the way were foul and no footman went in it but himself. +The keepers and the rest of the prisoners called upon him, +and asked him why he did so. He answered, he would +follow his Father to his death, whom he hoped to follow +after death to a better place. <q>Why,</q> said they, <q>art +thou become a Papist?</q> <q>I am a Catholic,</q> said he, <q>I +thank God and this good Father, and so I mean to die.</q> +They replied that he was a notorious thief, and known to +have committed many mischiefs. <q>It is true,</q> said he, <q>I +was so indeed when I was of your religion. I was then a +Protestant and a thief, now I am a Catholic and penitent; +and as heresy was the cause of my disorders then, so +now the Catholic religion is the cause and means of my +repentance.</q> And in this mind and manner of proceeding +he continued till his death, to the admiration of all who had +known his former courses, which gave occasion to divers to +see and acknowledge the great difference between those +trees which brought forth such different fruits. +</p> + +<p> +Father Ouldcorne, being come to the place appointed +for their death, first with great fervour commended himself +to Almighty God, to the Blessed Virgin, and to his patron, +St. Jerome, to whom he was ever very much devoted. He +<pb n='275'/><anchor id='Pg275'/> +then declared unto the people that he came thither to die +for the Catholic faith and for the practice of his function, +seeing that they neither had nor could prove anything +against him which, even by their own laws, was sufficient +to condemn him, but that he was a Priest of the Society +of Jesus, wherein he much rejoiced, and was ready and +desirous to give his life for the profession of that faith +which he had taught many years in that very country, +and which it was necessary for every one to embrace that +would save their souls. Then, being asked again about +the treason and taking part with the conspirators, he protested +there again that he never had the least knowledge of +the treason, and took it upon his death that he was as clear +as the new-born child from the whole Plot or any part +thereof. Then, commending his soul with great devotion, +humility, and confidence into the hands of God and to the +Blessed Virgin, St. Jerome, St. Winifred, and his good +Angel, he was turned off the ladder, and hanging awhile, +was cut down and quartered, and so his innocent and thrice +happy soul went to receive the reward of his many and +great labours. +</p> + +<p> +After him followed Ralph, his faithful follower and +companion of his labours, who showed at his death great +devotion and fervour, as may be guessed by this one action +of his; for whilst Father Ouldcorne stood upon the ladder +and was preparing himself to die, Ralph, standing by the +ladder, suddenly stepped forward and takes hold of his +good Father's feet, embracing and kissing them with great +devotion, and said, <q>What a happy man am I, to follow +here the steps of my sweet Father!</q> And when his own +turn came, he also first commended himself by earnest +prayers unto God, then told the people that he died for +religion and not for treason, whereof he had not had the +least knowledge; and as he had heard this good Father +before him freely forgive his persecutors and pray for the +King and country, so did he also. Then, before he was +<pb n='276'/><anchor id='Pg276'/> +stripped of his clothes (which is usual to all such as are +afterwards to be quartered, that their bodies may be the +sooner cut up after they are laid upon the block), he, +perceiving a Catholic maid of his acquaintance stand +weeping by the gallows, he ungartereth himself, and, with +dexterity, casteth them so unto her that others could not +perceive that he did it of purpose. But the maid doth still +keep the garters as great jewels, and thereby it may appear +what opinion he had of his own innocency and the cause of +his death. He showed at his death great resolution joined +with great devotion, and so resigning his soul into the +hands of God, was turned off the ladder, and changed this +life for a better. +</p> + +<p> +At this time also suffered Mr. John Winter, who, as I +have said, was condemned at London with his two brothers +and the rest of the conspirators, but reserved to die at +this time for reasons before declared in the beginning of +this chapter. He died with great show of devotion and +good state of mind, as might appear also by his fervent +endeavours the night before to help towards the conversion +of that soul before mentioned. He acknowledged +the fact for which he died, to wit, that he had risen in +arms and joined himself to the other conspirators; but +affirmed that he did it only to restore the Catholic +religion: and so took his death patiently and with +show of a contented, willing mind in respect of that +intention. +</p> + +<p> +Then suffered also Mr. Humphrey Littleton, who, before +his death, and before the Father was put to death, did +there again ask him forgiveness, and said he had wronged +him much: also he asked forgiveness of Mr. Abington in +particular, and of all Catholics in general, in respect that +he was the cause of the apprehension of the two Fathers at +Mr. Abington's house, for which he acknowledged he +deserved death much more than for the relieving of Mr. +Robert Winter and his cousin, Mr. Stephen Littleton, for +<pb n='277'/><anchor id='Pg277'/> +which he was to suffer. He died with show of great +repentance, and so with sorrow and humility and patient +acceptance of his death made amends for his former frailty +and too unworthy desire of life. +</p> + +<p> +There had also suffered the like death<note place='foot'>In the same place and. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> for the same +occasion, <hi rend='italic'>vdlt.</hi>, for relieving of Mr. Robert Winter and Mr. +Stephen Littleton before they were apprehended, one +Perkises and his man in the same city of Worcester, the +27th of January before<note place='foot'>After the old account. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note>: and about the same time, for +the same cause, two others in Wolverhampton: all which I +suppose to have been Catholics, in that it was not likely +those gentlemen would commit themselves to the fidelity +of any others; but as yet I cannot learn the certainty. +That same Mr. Stephen Littleton was sent down into +Staffordshire, to be tried and executed in Stafford, in +respect that his house was in that shire where all the +conspirators were last received, and where some of them +were slain and the rest taken. For which assistance given +unto the conspirators, and for joining with them in open +rebellion, Mr. Stephen Littleton was condemned and executed. +At his death he acknowledged the fact, and said +he did it only for religion, for which he was ready and +willing to die. He showed great resolution and devotion, +to the satisfaction of all the country. +</p> + +<p> +With him were sent down twelve or thirteen others, +some gentlemen, some serving-men, who were arraigned +and executed in the same place, who, although they were +taken with their masters being in rebellion, yet they stood +unto it they did it only for religion; and divers of them +were offered their lives if they would go but once to +heretical service, which they refused to do, and, consequently, +died most happily, <q>eligentes potius absque opere +incidere in manus hominum, quam peccare in conspectu +Domini, et morientes propter justitiam regnum cœlorum +<pb n='278'/><anchor id='Pg278'/> +adepti sunt.</q><note place='foot'>Choosing rather without offence to fall into the hands of men than to sin +in God's sight, and dying for justice's sake, they have gained the Kingdom of +Heaven.</note> But as for Father Ouldcorne and Ralph, +their case was so clear that no Catholics in all the country +doubted to call them, and to call upon them presently as +Martyrs, and did strive exceedingly for some part of their +holy relics. Besides, Almighty God did testify by special +signs the great merits of blessed Father Ouldcorne, which I +think fit here to set down, after some brief rehearsal of the +course of his life, so far as it hath come unto my knowledge. +</p> + +<p> +Father Ouldcorne was born in the county of York of +honest and faithful parents, who brought him up in the +Catholic religion, and in his young years kept him to school; +so that he was a good grammar scholar when he first went +over beyond the seas, which was about the twenty-second +year of his age, and some twenty-seven or twenty-eight +years ago.<note place='foot'>Father Ouldcorne suffered April 7, 1606, æt. 45. So Dr. Oliver. Father +Gerard, <hi rend='italic'>infra.</hi> p. <ref target='Pg285'>285</ref>, says that he was <q>near fifty years old.</q>—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> He first studied in France in the English +Seminary at Rheims some two or three years, and from +thence was sent to the English College at Rome, where +he remained ——<note place='foot'>Seven, according to Father Henry More.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> years. He heard his course of +Logic, Philosophy, and —— years of Divinity, in +all which he profited very well, being of a very good +capacity. But his chief care and desire was to profit +in spirit, which he did in such sort as was greatly to +the satisfaction of all his Superiors, and the edification +of the whole College. No man more careful to observe +the rules, no man more forward to the practice of +any mortification, often begging leave of his Superiors +to go to hospitals and to serve in the kitchen, with other +such like practices of humiliation, which he knew to be +usual in the Society, unto which he had a vocation a long +time before he could obtain his desire; though he was not +deferred for any want of liking which his Superiors had, +<pb n='279'/><anchor id='Pg279'/> +either of his spirit or other talents; but rather in their +desire to further as many good spirits and sufficient men +as they could to the end of the College, and to furnish the +Clergy of England with able men against the time that +God should please to have mercy upon our country. For +the opinion his Superiors had of him was well declared in +the particular choice they made of him, to send him into +the kingdom of Naples and Sicily to negotiate for the +College and to procure some alms, in a time of great want, +when the College was far in debt, being overcharged with +the number of scholars, more than their receipts were able +to maintain; and yet the charity of the governors thereof +such, and the want of fit workmen in the English harvest +so great, that they would not lose good spirits when they +offered themselves to that vocation. Father Ouldcorne, +therefore, was sent about this business; and did perform it +with such discretion and fidelity, that he brought a good +round sum of money unto the College at his return. +</p> + +<p> +In the year 1588, he and Father Gerard were received +together into the Society by the Rev. Father Claudius +Aquaviva, General of the same, upon the Assumption of +our Blessed Lady; and within five or six weeks after were +sent together into England, in company with two other +Priests who were not of the Society. By the way Father +Ouldcorne gave very great edification unto all his company +with his religious behaviour, showing in all his actions +great humility and readiness to help and assist any of +them in their needs. When they came to the sea-side, +they understood of the extraordinary difficulty to pass into +England, and of such persecution in England at that time, +as had not been of long time before, the Earl of Leicester +(who then ruled and overruled all under Queen Elizabeth) +having made a solemn vow, that within a twelvemonth he +would not leave one Papist in England; but God with His +mercy prevented the malice of that persecutor, and called +him out of this life within half the time that he had limited +<pb n='280'/><anchor id='Pg280'/> +for the life of others. But in the meantime he caused divers +to be put to death, both Priests and others, and set watch +and ward in every town, so that none could pass the country +that were not known, and could not satisfy the officers +of their dwelling and manner of life. In which regard +those Fathers of the College where Father Ouldcorne and +Father Gerard stayed whilst a passage was preparing, +would not by any means let them pass, thinking it impossible +they should land safely and get safely to London. +</p> + +<p> +Whereupon they wrote back to Rome, to know their +Superiors' mind, yet with earnest suit that it might please +them to permit their going forward. They received answer +from Father Persons, that the times were much more +periculous than was expected when they went from Rome, +yet sith the cause was God's, and their will so good to +prefer the safety of others' souls before the safety of their +own bodies, they might in the name of God proceed, if +their desire still continued; but that it was left unto their +own election. These letters were received with great joy, +and the two Fathers, within few days after, got a ship +wherein they embarked, thinking to have landed in the +north parts of England; but sailing along the coast of +England one evening, and seeing a shore where they might +be set on land, and no town nor house near them to see +where they landed, they resolved to commit themselves to +the providence of God, and caused the sailors<note place='foot'>Shippers. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> to cast +anchor until it was dark, and then in a cock-boat to set +them on land. When they were landed, having first +commended themselves to God, they purposed to have +gone forward in the first way they could find, to get as far +from the sea-side before morning as they could; but they +found that every path did lead them to some house or +other, where the dogs making a noise,<note place='foot'>And finding it so in two or three trials. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> they durst proceed +no further in that course; but got them into a wood, and +<pb n='281'/><anchor id='Pg281'/> +there stayed all night, whilst it rained a good pace. But +yet they were as merry as might be, and well contented +with their wet lodging, as I have heard one of them affirm +from whom I have these particulars. Towards day they +commended their business earnestly to God, and, after +their prayers, resolved not to adventure both to go one +way to London, but to take several courses, that so if one +were taken in the time of danger, the other might scape. +They therefore looked into their provision of money, and +he that had more gave it unto the other to make it equal, +and then they embraced and gave one the other their +benediction; and one went out on the one side of the +wood, the other went out of the other hand. They never +had been in that country before, nor knew any one person +in the country, nor the way to London, where they +promised to meet. But God provided for them both. +</p> + +<p> +Father Ouldcorne joined himself to some company that +he found travelling that way, and being himself of an +excellent wit and very sociable in company, he did so +join those companions that they desired his company to +London, and so they, being known in the way, did pass +freely through watch and ward, and he also as one of +their company was permitted to go without any further +questions. Father Gerard was stayed by the watch in +the first town he went through, and was carried by the +watchmen to the chief officers of the town, who were then +at their heretical service (it being Sunday morning). These +officers willed the watchmen to bring him into service, and +afterwards they would examine him. But Father Gerard +refusing to go into their church, the officers were the more +displeased, and sent twice or thrice commanding him to +come in. But in the end, when they saw he would not, +they were glad to come out to him, and examined him of +many particulars, unto which he answered readily; yet +they threatened to send him to the Commissioners of the +shire. And when he expected no other but to have been +<pb n='282'/><anchor id='Pg282'/> +sent first to them and then to prison, these officers said, +<q>He looks like an honest man. Let him go; we will not +trouble him.</q> That first danger being past, he came +safely unto the city that was the chief of that shire; and +there, by special providence of God, did light into the +company of some Catholics, and at last came acquainted +with one gentleman of good worth, who provided him a +horse and fit apparel for travel in that country, and +carried him out of the city in his own company and to +his own house; from thence let him have horses and a +man with him to London, so that he passed very safely. +And this gentleman sent earnest request unto his Superior +that he might return into that country, which he granted; +and so Father Gerard stayed a long time in that gentleman's +house, who was his first host, and by his means +got acquaintance in all that country and the countries +thereabouts. +</p> + +<p> +Father Ouldcorne and he met at London according +to their first appointment, and by good hap found the +Superior then at London, though his ordinary abode were +then in Warwickshire, almost a hundred miles from +London. There were then no more of the Society in +England but Father Henry Garnett, the Superior, and +Father Robert Southwell, who was since martyred about +eleven years ago,<note place='foot'>Father Southwell was executed February 21, 1595, æt. 34.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> and Father Weston, who was then in +prison,<note place='foot'>Father Weston was apprehended in 1586, and, after imprisonment in the +Clink, was sent to Wisbech Castle in 1587. In 1598 he was prisoner in the +Tower of London, and he was banished in 1603.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> where he remained until this King's time, for the +space of seventeen or eighteen years, and then was +banished with divers other Priests. So that at liberty +there was no more but Father Garnett and Father +Southwell, and these two Fathers last come, of which +Father Gerard was sent back to the country where they +landed, and Father Garnett took Father Ouldcorne with +him into the country where he remained. And there he +<pb n='283'/><anchor id='Pg283'/> +employed him in divers missions round about,<note place='foot'>The place where he remained. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> and found +him so practical and industrious that he doubted not to +send him to the most difficult enterprises. Amongst the +rest there was one gentlewoman,<note place='foot'>Her name is given by Father More as Dorothy Abington.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> sister unto a very honest +Catholic gentleman, their great friend. But this gentlewoman +was an heretic, and could not by any reasons or +persuasion be reduced from her errors, though divers +Priests had talked with her and much labour had been +spent in vain about her. But no doubt she was reserved +for Father Ouldcorne, for he being sent unto her, within +a few days brought her to be a perfect Catholic; and +afterwards she continued ever so devout that she did +more good than any Catholic in all the country, and +with her Father Ouldcorne did chiefly remain for sixteen +or seventeen years together. In which time of his abode +in those parts it is not easy to be believed how many +obstinate heretics he converted, how many weak Catholics +he confirmed, how many scholars he sent over to the +Seminaries and religious women to monasteries, how many +houses he brought to that degree of devotion that he +might and did settle Priests in them. Indeed, I may +safely say of him, without amplification, that <q>in illis +partibus totas fere fundavit rexitque ecclesias domesticas.</q><note place='foot'>He founded and governed nearly all the domestic churches in those parts.</note> +Yea, in my knowledge, he assisted Father Garnett also +with yearly provision of money, procured from his own +acquaintance, towards his charges and maintenance of +others, when the Society grew to be there of greater +number. All the chiefest gentlemen and best Catholics of +the country where he remained, and the countries adjoining, +depended upon his advice and counsel, and he was +infatigable in his journeys. I neither do nor have known +any one Priest in England that did go so many journeys +as he did, especially towards the latter end of his time, +<pb n='284'/><anchor id='Pg284'/> +when he grew to be acquainted in so many places, and so +much esteemed in all places, that he could never almost +stay three days at home but he should be sent for. +</p> + +<p> +Yet was he for many years together of very weak +health, proceeding partly of his pains-taking and partly of +study, unto which he was very much addicted, and spent +in it almost all the time that he had free from needful +business. By which means about some eight or nine years +ago he did spit blood in great abundance, but being +very carefully tended and provided of all helps needful +in such a case, he recovered; yet afterwards, with his +like labours and earnest manner of preaching (in which +he had a very good talent, though his voice were somewhat +hoarse and painful unto himself, yet audible unto his +hearers), he fell again to spit blood three or four times, +which brought him to that weakness that no man thought +he could recover. And being much consumed, he grew +to have a cancer in his mouth, which afterwards was +miraculously cured, as himself did tell me the story in +this very manner. +</p> + +<p> +When the physicians did give their judgment that +the cancer could not be cured, but that he must +have some parts of the roof of his mouth cut out, +and some bones also, he resolved first to try what +help he could have from St. Winifred, a notable Virgin +and Martyr, who hath in those parts a well famous for +many miracles, where she was beheaded. Thither did +Father Ouldcorne resolve to go on pilgrimage before he +tried any further physic. And in his journey coming to +a Catholic house, where he meant to celebrate, he found +upon the altar divers relics, and amongst the rest a little +stone of St. Winifred's Well with drops of blood upon it +(as many of the stones have that are taken up in that +well and in the current that runs from it). This stone +Father Ouldcorne took and went aside into a place by +himself, and fell earnestly to his prayers, desiring St. +<pb n='285'/><anchor id='Pg285'/> +Winifred's help for his health, if so it were best for the +service of God. Then he put the stone into his mouth +and held it there some time, and behold within half an +hour his mouth was perfectly well. He went forward to +St. Winifred's Well, and there also recovered the strength +of his whole body, and returned home so strong and in +such sort that all wondered exceedingly. And after this +time<note place='foot'>(As himself did constantly affirm unto me). <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> he was more able to endure pains than he was +before; and whereas once a year, commonly about the +same time, he did usually grow weak and enter as it +were into his consumption together, he used then no +other physic but to go to St. Winifred's Well, whence +he ever returned with perfect strength and health, which +lasted him until that time twelvemonth again. All which +particulars I set down as himself did recount them unto me. +</p> + +<p> +Thus he continued his labours until it pleased Almighty +God to call him to receive a full reward for his so faithful +service and fruitful endeavours: at which time he was near +fifty years old.<note place='foot'>And his head full of grey hairs, the rather occasioned by his much loss of +blood before mentioned. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> The manner of his apprehension with +Father Garnett, also of his strict examinations and cruel +tortures received in the Tower, I have set down in the +former chapters, and in this chapter I have declared how +he was carried down to Worcester and there condemned +and executed in the place which of all others he would +have chosen, if he might have had his wishes, <q>Domino +voluntatem faciente timentium se.</q><note place='foot'>Our Lord doing the will of those who fear Him.</note> +</p> + +<p> +After his death it pleased Almighty God to testify +his fervent charity and received crown of glory by these +two notable signs. For, first, the place where his bowels +were cast into the fire (as the custom is), being in the +open field and subject to rain and all injury of weather, +yet did the fire continue burning there, and could not +be extinguished for sixteen or seventeen days together, +<pb n='286'/><anchor id='Pg286'/> +until at last the town of Worcester, fearing a miracle, +did send to put it out with violence. But they could not +hinder the people from seeing the wonder to be great, +and more than natural, giving unto Catholics just cause +to remember with what zeal of burning charity he had +for the like number of years sought to enkindle their hearts +with heavenly fire, like the true disciple of Him that said, +<q>Ignem veni mittere in terram et quid volo nisi ut ardeat.</q><note place='foot'><q>I am come to send fire on the earth, and what will I but that it be +kindled?</q> (St. Luke xii. 49).</note> +</p> + +<p> +In like manner there was seen to grow within the +court of Henlip (which is Mr. Abington his house, where +Father Garnett and Father Ouldcorne were taken, and +where Father Ouldcorne had for many years together +deserved a crown of glory), a formal crown of grass, both +higher and of different colour from the rest of the grass +round about it. And the wonder was the more in respect +that the gates of the house being broken down at the time +of the search, and so continually standing open, and both +swine and other kind of cattle coming in, yet none of +them would either eat of that grass or did tread upon +it to deface it; yea, when neighbours did cut it down, +in like manner as they had extinguished the fire, yet did +it grow up again in like height and form as it was before, +and so continued to the great admiration of all the country +thereabouts. But it is to me much greater marvel that +they will not open their eyes and see <q>quam mirabilis +Deus in sanctis suis.</q><note place='foot'>How <q>God is wonderful in His Saints</q> (Ps. xxii. 36).</note> I hope in God the time will come +when the city of Worcester will see and acknowledge both +the burning charity with which blessed Father Ouldcorne +lived and died amongst them, and the crown of glory +which he hath received at the hand of God for his faith +so truly kept and his course so happily consummate. +His life was holy; his death saintly. God send us part +of his blessed merits and intercession. +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='287'/><anchor id='Pg287'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter XV. +Of The Execution Of Father Garnett, With A +Brief Relation Of His Life.<note place='foot'>And of the signs by which it hath pleased God to show his innocency and +martyrdom. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note></head> + +<p> +After the condemnation of Father Garnett and the +execution of Father Ouldcorne, they kept Father Garnett +still in the Tower, to the marvel of many, from the time of +his arraignment, which was the twenty-eighth of March, +until the third of May. In the meantime there was of +purpose spread many false rumours of his, that forsooth +he would yield and go to church with heretics, and that +they should see him preach publicly heretical doctrine, and +such like; all which things God knows were far from his +thoughts, as he showed by his great constancy, and in +express words also when he came to die. But this was +done to diminish the great and worthy opinion which was +conceived of him generally, and to cause some bad +rumours to be spread of him in other countries before his +death, that the truth itself, when it came to be opened by +his constant suffering, might have the less credit, at least +in some men's minds, where the contrary prejudicate +opinion should be before settled. +</p> + +<p> +All this time, which God of His gracious providence +gave unto the holy man for his better preparation and +perfecting of his fervent and religious desires, his enemies +also gave him good occasion to increase his merits, often +soliciting him<note place='foot'>To draw some other great person into. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> to declare who was intended for Protector +by the Catholics if the Plot had gone forward, whereby it +<pb n='288'/><anchor id='Pg288'/> +was thought likely that the Earl of Northumberland would +have been deeply touched. And to this end it was +constantly affirmed by some that knew much how things +passed, that both life and favour were often and earnestly +offered him, if he would have yielded in that point. But +Father Garnett was far from any such base and unworthy +mind: neither could he ever be brought to repair his own +liberty with the ruins of others.<note place='foot'>This may be considered whether it be convenient to be left out. <hi rend='italic'>In +marg. in another hand.</hi></note> +</p> + +<p> +Wherefore when it was plainly seen that there was +no hope to draw him to anything unlawful or unfit for +a Religious Priest, it was then determined presently that +he should suffer. And the day was assigned to be the +first of May, which being told unto Father Garnett, +he misliked the choice they had made of that day, as +well in regard it hath not been usual to put any to +death upon such great Feasts, as for that it hath long +time been a custom in England upon that day in the +morning early, for the people to go into the fields and +come home with green boughs in their hands in sign of +joy, and to spend most of that day in triumph and +pastime. To which effect Father Garnett made answer, +<q>What, will they make a May game of me?</q> which +words of his (as it afterwards proved) he was by God's +providence directed to speak. For when it was told to the +Council what he said, they saw it was not fit, and altered +the day from Thursday, which was May-day, until the +Saturday following, which was the Invention of the Holy +Cross, and the day no doubt assigned by Almighty God +for his martyrdom; for, of all other days in that season, +the martyr himself was most affected unto that, having +ever had a special devotion unto the Cross and Passion of +Christ; wherefore as he misliked the unfit choice of the +other day, so he rejoiced exceedingly at this election, and +prepared himself gladly to find this cross which God +<pb n='289'/><anchor id='Pg289'/> +would send him upon that day, and by that cross to +find the way to Heaven. He showed himself a true +disciple and follower of the Apostle <q>et gloriatus est +in cruce Domini nostri Jesu Christi, in quo est salus, +vita et resurrectio ejus, per quem salvatus et liberatus +est.</q><note place='foot'>And he gloried in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, in Whom is his +salvation, life, and resurrection, by Whom he is saved and delivered.</note> +</p> + +<p> +The manner of his preparation we cannot learn, all +things being kept so close in that most close and strict +prison, where none but his only keeper could possibly come +to him; and that keeper a most malicious naughty fellow, +as before hath been showed. But we may well judge of +his preparation by the effects of his well prepared mind +and his cheerful carriage, which, in so grave a man, was a +sign of great peace and contentment of mind. When the +desired day was come, Father Garnett was brought down +from his chamber in the Tower, where first there met him +one of the cooks of the house, who used to provide him +his meat,<note place='foot'>Dinner. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> and this man took his leave of him saying, +<q>Farewell, good sir;</q> upon whom Father Garnett looking +with a pleasant smiling countenance, said, <q>Farewell, good +friend Tom, this day I will save thee a labour to provide +my dinner.</q> And going a little further towards the hurdle, +there met him also the Lieutenant's wife to take her leave, +who said, <q>God be with you, and comfort you, good +Mr. Garnett, I will pray for you.</q> To whom, with a joyful +countenance, he gave thanks, saying, <q>I thank you, good +madam, and for your prayers, you may keep them at this +time; and if it pleaseth God to give me perseverance, I +will not forget you in my prayers.</q> Then being brought +unto the hurdle, there he was laid as the order is, having a +black cloak somewhat long upon his other clothes, and a +hat on his head. All the way as he was drawn (with three +horses), he held his hands together, lifted up somewhat +<pb n='290'/><anchor id='Pg290'/> +towards Heaven, and kept his eyes shut for the most part, +as a man in deep contemplation. +</p> + +<p> +The place of the execution was St. Paul's churchyard, +on the west end,<note place='foot'>Side. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> over against the Bishop's house; provided +so by God, that as by his virtuous life and doctrine he +had confuted heresy, so by his constant death he might +confound both it and the teachers thereof. In that place +there was a great scaffold made, and a gibbet in the midst +of the scaffold. And such multitudes of people, noble and +ignoble, so many standings set up by carpenters to hire +out for money, that a mere place to stand on would cost +twelvepence well; and the party from whom I chiefly +have many of these particulars (being a Priest of great +credit and estimation) was glad to give twelvepence only +to stand upon a wall. All windows were full, yea, the tops +of houses full of people, so that it is not known the like +hath been at any execution. When he was taken up from +the hurdle, his arms being still unbound, there met him +the Dean of St. Paul's and of Winchester,<note place='foot'>Dr. John Overal, afterwards Bishop of Lichfield and Coventry, and Dr. +George Abbot, afterwards Archbishop of Canterbury.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> with a +company of other ministers. And the Dean of St. Paul's +said unto him (both he and the rest having their hats in +their hands and with great show of reverence), <q>Mr. +Garnett, I am sent unto you from His Majesty, to will +you, that now being in the last hour of your mortal life, +you will perform the duty of a true subject, to which you +are obliged by the laws of God and nature; and therefore +to disclose such treasons as you know intended towards +His Majesty's danger and the commonwealth.</q> By this +it may appear they had often laboured him to confess +something, and could never get anything in that kind, +which moved them now again to make this last trial. To +this Father Garnett answered, <q>Mr. Dean, it may please +you to tell His Majesty, that I have been arraigned, and +<pb n='291'/><anchor id='Pg291'/> +what could be laid to my charge, I have there answered, +and said as much as I could; so that in this place I have +no more to say.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Then the Dean and other ministers began to persuade +him to a true and lively faith (meaning their own solifidian +doctrine), but in this he cut them off quickly, +desiring them not to trouble themselves, nor him; and +said that for his estate of soul he needed not their instructions; +he came prepared and was resolved. Which two last +words are of themselves sufficient to convince all the +slanders his enemies would fain have imposed upon +him, and to declare what he had done in his private +prison, whereof as yet we cannot learn the particulars. +Then he was brought upon the scaffold, where there was +both the Sheriffs of London, the Recorder, with the Deans +and Doctors before mentioned, and some other petty +officers, as also some Catholics of reckoning, and well-wishers,<note place='foot'>Staying for him. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +all which he saluted very kindly and cheerfully. +</p> + +<p> +And first he asked whether there was not some place to +pray;<note place='foot'>And perceiving that there was no place of retiring, he began to speak of +the present festivity of the Cross. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> but the Recorder began to say unto him, that he +and others were there by order from His Majesty, to bring +him to remembrance of his treason, and that he should +acknowledge he was justly condemned, and ask the King's +forgiveness. To which he answered, he had not committed +any treason nor offence against His Majesty, nor +was ever guilty of the Powder Treason in the least degree, +but had earnestly dissuaded and sought to hinder both +that and all other attempts against His Majesty; neither +could they condemn him for anything, but for not opening +the secret of confession, in which only he had knowledge +of that Powder Treason, and in which he had done +according to his function, and therefore could not justly +be condemned for it; neither had any ways willingly +<pb n='292'/><anchor id='Pg292'/> +offended His Majesty. But so far forth as this concealing +of the treason (unto which he was bound in conscience) did +any ways offend His Majesty or the State, he did ask +them forgiveness with all his heart. +</p> + +<p> +Thereupon the Recorder taking hold, said to the hearers, +<q>Do you hear, gentlemen? He asketh the King forgiveness +for the Powder Treason.</q> To which Father Garnett +answered, <q>You do me wrong: for I have no cause to ask +forgiveness for that whereof I was never guilty, nor was +privy to it in such sort that it may justly be imputed to me +for concealing it.</q> The Recorder then would gladly have +made good his former speech with facing down the Father, +and said: <q>What! will you deny your own hand? We +have it under your hand, that you knew of it by other +means than confession, that Greenway told you of it by +way of consultation, and that Catesby and Greenway +came together to be resolved of you.</q> <q>No,</q> said the +Father, <q>Mr. Catesby never told me of any particular. +And for Mr. Greenway, I knew it only, as I have said, +by confession, which therefore I could not lawfully open, +until now that I had leave so to do. Neither would I +have named him as I have done,<note place='foot'>In the matter. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> but lest any might +think him guilty of counselling or furthering in the matter, +and<note place='foot'>Further to be touched than he is. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> to the end the very truth might be known, because +false reports make him thought more guilty than he is. +What is under my hand I will not deny, but you shall +never show my hand contrary to what I have spoken.</q> +</p> + +<p> +The Recorder answered, <q>You do but equivocate, and +if you will deny it, after your death we will publish your +own hand, that the world may see your false dealing.</q> The +Father answered, <q>This is no time to talk of equivocation, +neither do I equivocate. But in troth, in troth, you shall +not find my hand otherwise than I have said.</q> Which +double asseveration did satisfy the hearers much, though +<pb n='293'/><anchor id='Pg293'/> +he would not be satisfied that was resolved and prepared +to contradict. Wherefore the Recorder said to one of +his followers, <q>Let him see his own handwriting.</q> <q>You +cannot,</q> saith the Father, <q>show me any such writing of +my hand.</q> Then he that should have had the note, said it +was not there; it was left at home (at which divers of the +standers-by laughed in their sleeves). <q>No,</q> saith the +Father, <q>neither here nor at home you have any such.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Then they asked him whether he had anything to say +unto the people. He answered his voice was low and +himself weak; he doubted they could not hear him. But +yet he<note place='foot'>Went to the side of the scaffold. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> turned him to the people and said, <q>Upon this day +is recorded the Invention of the Cross of Christ; and upon +this day I thank God I have found my cross, by which I +hope to end all the crosses of my life, and to rest in the +next by the grace and merits of my Blessed Saviour. As +for the treasons which are laid against me, I protest now at +my death that I am not guilty of them, neither had knowledge +of the Powder but in confession, and then I utterly +disliked it and earnestly dissuaded it. Yea, I protest upon +my soul I should have abhorred it ever, though it had +succeeded. And I am sorry with all my heart that any +Catholics had ever any such intention, knowing that such +attempts are not allowable, and to my own knowledge +contrary to the Pope's mind. And, therefore, I wish all +Catholics to be quiet, and not to be moved by any difficulties +to the raising of tumults, but to possess their souls +in peace. And God will not be forgetful of them, or of +His promise, but will send them help and comfort when it +is most to His glory and to their good.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Then some one that stood near unto him, seeking +to interrupt him, and saying, <q>But, Mr. Garnett, were +not you married to Mrs. Ann Vaux?</q> thereupon he, +turning himself from the people to those about him, +said, <q>That honourable gentlewoman hath great wrong +<pb n='294'/><anchor id='Pg294'/> +by such false reports. And for my own part, as I have +been always free from such crimes, so I may protest +for her upon my conscience that I think her to be a perfect +pure virgin, if any other in England or otherwise alive. +She is a virtuous good gentlewoman, and, therefore, to +impute any such thing unto her cannot proceed but of +malice.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Then, no more being said unto him, he prepared +himself to execution, and asked if he might be permitted +to pray, to which was answered, he might. Then he kneeled +down at the ladder-foot, and there prayed for a good space +in devout and religious manner. Then he helped to strip +himself of his cloth unto his shirt, which was somewhat +long, and himself had also sewed down the sides thereof +almost to the bottom, that the wind might not blow it up, +which was noted by many as a sign of great modesty +in the Father. About that time a minister seemed again +to insinuate himself as desirous to speak unto him in way +of exhortation, but the Father desired him to hold himself +contented, and not to trouble him any further. +</p> + +<p> +And being upon the ladder, after he had made the +sign of the Cross and desired the prayers of all good +Catholics, one said unto him aloud, <q>Mr. Garnett, it is +expected you should recant from your religion and +become a Protestant,</q> for so it was given out that he +would do, and afterwards preach at Paul's Cross. The +Father answered, <q>God forbid. I had never any such +meaning, but ever meant to die a true and perfect +Catholic.</q> And then, looking upon the people with +a pious and undaunted countenance, he wished them to +consider well the state of their souls, assuring them, upon +his conscience and salvation, there was no other way for +their eternal bliss but to live and die in the profession of +the Catholic faith. Then said the Dean of St. Paul's, +<q>But, Mr. Garnett, we are all Catholics.</q> <q>No, no,</q> said +Father Garnett, <q>you are not, for such are only Catholics +<pb n='295'/><anchor id='Pg295'/> +as live in unity and profession of one faith, under one +supreme head of God's Church, which is the Pope's Holiness, +and you must be all of the Catholic Roman Church, +or you cannot be saved.</q> +</p> + +<p> +Then he prayed for the King, Queen, Prince, the +Council, and the whole State. Then he desired the +hangman to give him warning before he did cast him off +the ladder. Then, making the sign of the Cross with <q>In +nomine Patris et Filii et Spiritus Sancti,</q> he said, <q>Adoramus +te, Christe, et benedicimus tibi, quia per sanctam +crucem tuam redemisti mundum;</q><note place='foot'><q>We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee, because by Thy holy +Cross Thou hast redeemed the world.</q></note> then, <q>Maria Mater +gratiæ, Mater misericordiæ, tu nos ab hoste protege et +horâ mortis suscipe;</q><note place='foot'><q>Mary, Mother of grace, Mother of mercy, protect us from the enemy, +and receive us at the hour of death.</q></note> then, <q>In manus tuas, Domine, +commendo spiritum meum,</q><note place='foot'><q>Into Thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.</q></note> which he repeated twice or +thrice; then,<note place='foot'>Again, <q>Maria mater gratiæ, Mater misericordiæ, tu nos,</q> etc. <hi rend='italic'>Erased +in Orig.</hi></note> <q>Per crucis hoc signum (blessing himself) +fugiat procul omne malignum. Infige crucem tuam in +corde meo, Domine;</q><note place='foot'><q>By this sign of the Cross, may all that is wicked fly far away. Fix Thy +Cross in my heart, O Lord.</q></note> then returned again to <q>Maria +Mater gratiæ, Mater misericordiæ, tu nos ab hoste,</q> +&c. Then he told the hangman he was ready, and +being desirous to carry the Cross with him out of +the world imprinted in his heart,<note place='foot'>(Unto which he was so much devoted). <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> he crossed his arms +over his heart upon his breast, and so was cast off the +ladder, and his arms continued so across as he had placed +them (not being bound, nor he making any struggling at +all with death) until he had rendered his spirit to his +Redeemer. +</p> + +<p> +Neither was he cut down before he was perfectly +dead. For the people was so much moved with his +<pb n='296'/><anchor id='Pg296'/> +modesty, and so altered from their former hard conceits +of him by the sight of his constancy, and by his protestation +of innocency at his death, that they prevented +the hangman with a loud cry that he might not cut +him down too soon. Who thereupon, having permitted +him to hang awhile, would then have cut him down when +he presumed him to be half-dead; but the people cried out +again, <q>Hold, hold,</q> and so again the third time, not +permitting him to be cut down until he was thoroughly +dead. Yea, and one of the citizens took him by the legs +and pulled him to put him out of his pain, and that he +might not be cut down alive. Which kind of favours are +nothing usual when the people do presume men die for +treason, and were not used to the gentlemen that suffered +before, although men of good sort, and much beloved +and esteemed before this enterprise. +</p> + +<p> +And it was much marvelled how the people durst +do this so publicly, seeing the State so generally bent +against Father Garnett in this cause. But most of +them proceeded much further than this. For when +he was cut up and his bowels cast into the fire, and +his heart pulled out and showed unto the people +with these words, which are ever used in such cases, +<q>Behold the heart of a traitor,</q> there was not heard any +applause, or those that cried, <q>God save the King,</q> which +is always usual when the heart or head is holden up in +that kind. +</p> + +<p> +Yea, so strange and unexpected an alteration there +was in the very heretics themselves that some of them +said, without doubt he was in Heaven; others said, +<q>He died like a Saint;</q> others, that he looked not +like a contriver of treason. Yea, and some ministers +themselves were heard to say that questionless his soul +was in Heaven. And, generally, the people went away +much satisfied of his innocency and sanctity. +</p> + +<p> +The Priest, of whom I spake before, who saw and +<pb n='297'/><anchor id='Pg297'/> +heard most of these things, going down from his standing, +went under the scaffold in desire to get some drops of +his blood, which he did, and found divers there hunting +for the same prey. Besides, his shirt was presently gotten +by a person of great account, and most of his apparel +also was redeemed by several persons, and are now +esteemed of more than their weight in gold. +</p> + +<p> +One marvellous thing happened whilst his body was +dividing on the block, about a straw or ear of corn, +which did strangely leap out of the basket into which +his head and quarters were cast as they were cut up. This +straw did leap into the hand of a Catholic, who stood by +with great desire to get some part of the martyr's blood, +but durst not be seen to take it. But, for that the +chiefest marvel that concerneth this straw was not discerned +at the first, but was discovered some days after, to the +great comfort of Catholics and wonder of many: therefore +I reserve it for the next chapter, as also some other marvel +seen about Father Garnett's head. +</p> + +<p> +Now, therefore, having declared how he finished his +holy life,<note place='foot'>With a happy death. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> I will here set down so much of his whole +course therein as I could learn from some of those that +have been very inward with him, that it may the more +plainly appear how his religious virtues did prepare and +perfect him to this last conflict and conquest over the +world. +</p> + +<p> +He was born in the county of Derby. His parents were +well esteemed, and well able to maintain the charge of +their family. His father was given to learning, insomuch +that he made profession thereof, and taught Free School +in the next shire-town, which was of Nottingham.<note place='foot'>The chapter is unfinished.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='298'/><anchor id='Pg298'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter XVI. +Of The State Of Catholics After Father Garnett +His Execution: How God Did Comfort Them +With Some Miraculous Events, And How Their +Zeal Increased, Notwithstanding The Increase +Of Persecution.</head> + +<p> +It was certainly expected by the Puritans and enemies of +the Catholic cause that, together with the death of Father +Garnett, the hopes also and courage of Catholics would +have died, and that, when they should see so chief a man +so publicly arraigned and executed under the title of so +foul a matter, none would after that adventure to deal with +the Society, which was the principal mark at which they +aimed, with all their solemnities and unwonted preparation +in the foresaid passages both of his trial and death. But +the wisdom of God (against which the wit of man doth +labour in vain), having determined to conform His elected +servants unto His own image, and that as well by pressures +and crosses in this world as by rewards and crowns of glory +in the next, hath ever used a contrary course to the +expectation of His enemies, and doth not permit His +Church by persecutions to be dejected, but doth rather +dilate the palm-tree when it is suppressed, <q>et facit cum +tentatione proventum ut possimus sustinere, educens nobis +aquam de petra, oleumque de saxo durissimo.</q><note place='foot'>And makes <q>with the temptation issue, that</q> we <q>may be able to +bear it</q> (1 Cor. x. 13), bringing forth for us <q>water out of the rock</q> +(Ps. lxxvii. 16), <q>and oil out of the hardest stone</q> (Deut. xxxii. 13).</note> And He +that doth daily make the most barren and stony mountains +to bring forth the sweetest oil for our corporal uses, much +more for the good of our souls doth use to make sweet the +<pb n='299'/><anchor id='Pg299'/> +yoke of persecutions with the oil of His grace and mercy, +<q>computrescere faciens jugum a facie olei.</q><note place='foot'>Making <q>the yoke</q> to <q>putrefy at the presence of the oil</q> (Is. xi. 27).</note> +</p> + +<p> +Therefore much otherwise than was expected, this holy +seed of Father Garnett's slaughtered body falling upon +the earth did bring forth great fruit. His mortified and +divided parts did quicken and unite the minds of many +that were before distracted with fears and uncertain +reports, and his innocent blood did water the field of +Christ in this country, and brought forth a plentiful +harvest; yea, it did mollify the hearts of some that were +before very hard to believe well of the Society, touching +these imposed crimes. For although very many Catholics +were before well satisfied of Father Garnett his innocency, +and especially those that had dealings with him could not +be ignorant how far he was from any such attempts, that +laboured so much to suppress the least disorder in that +kind; yet generally the heretics were otherwise persuaded, +giving credit to those reports that were everywhere bruited +of him. And some friends also stood doubtful how far he +might be touched therein, upon the constant asseveration +of his guiltiness in the cause, and that also given out by +persons of no mean account. But when they heard him +clear himself so fully at his arraignment from all concurrence +or connivency in the matter, and perceived plainly +he could and would have said much more in that place, +if he had not been so often interrupted of purpose to +put him out, and to disturb both his own memory<note place='foot'>The memory of the prisoner. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> and +the understanding of his hearers. And when at his death +they viewed his innocency, patience, and religious manner +of suffering, and saw most apparently both by the one +and the other that no one of the Society was to be +touched with any help or furtherance, or any willing assent +unto that conspiracy, nor any one of the Company<note place='foot'>Whosoever but he. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> have +had the least knowledge thereof by any means whatsoever, +<pb n='300'/><anchor id='Pg300'/> +but himself and that one Father from whom he had it, and +they restrained by the secret of confession from opening it +to others, and dissuading and hindering the same by all +lawful means they could use. These things being plainly +seen, and to be testified by so many witnesses as were +there present both at his judgment and death, did fully +satisfy all doubts, and clear the conceits of such as did +before suspend their judgments of him. But especially +when by his great patience and constancy seen at his +death, his rare virtues did more appear, and his lamp, +<q>quæ erat lucerna lucens et ardens,</q><note place='foot'>Which <q>was a burning and a shining light</q> (St. John v. 35).</note> did show itself so +much the more brightly, his earthly vessel being broken, +to the confusion of his enemies, and increase of comfort +and courage to the faithful soldiers of our true Gideon. +</p> + +<p> +Then, as I related in the last chapter, not only the +Catholics and his friends that were beholders were much +confirmed, and their tears turned into triumph for the +victory which this champion of God had gotten of the +slanders of the world and malice of sin and heresy, but +many also of his enemies did bear witness of his innocency, +<q>dicentes, Verè hic homo justus erat,</q><note place='foot'><q>Saying, Indeed this was a just man</q> (St. Luke xxiii. 47).</note> and wished +their souls with his. Such force hath truth, that it cannot +be conquered, and innocency, that it cannot be confounded. +Well may it be oppressed for a time, but it +cannot be suppressed; <q>aporiamur, sed non destituimur, +persecutionem patimur sed non derelinquimur, +dejicimur sed non perimus.</q><note place='foot'><q>We suffer tribulation, but are not distressed: we are straitened, but are +not destitute: we suffer persecution, but are not forsaken: we are cast down, +but we perish not</q> (2 Cor. iv. 8, 9).</note> Yea rather, in the greatest +needs our merciful God doth send the greatest comforts, +and where His enemies do think most to triumph over +Him, there doth He ofttimes manifest the truth, and set +forth His own glory and the innocency of His servants +with most apparent signs. +</p> + +<pb n='301'/><anchor id='Pg301'/> + +<p> +And so it happened in this case of Father Garnett: for +whereas the Fathers that suffered before in Queen Elizabeth's +time were well known to all men to suffer only for +their conscience, insomuch that although some matter or +other were ever feigned to make it seem that they suffered +for treason, yet the fictions were so palpable of matters +never intended, nor so much as thought or heard of before +the time they were objected, and those that were said to be +joint-conspirators ofttimes so mere strangers that they never +had seen or heard of one the other before: these apparent +contradictions did make so manifest their innocent cause, +that there need no divine testimonies to a truth so evident. +But in this latter cause of Father Garnett, the case was +somewhat different in the opinion of many, though his +innocency the same, and the equity of his cause equal with +the former. In this, it was very true, there was a real +ground upon which the adversaries might raise a pretence +of seeming truth in their accusation. There was a great +and dangerous conspiracy intended and plotted and +proceeded in by those gentlemen of whom I have before +discoursed. Divers of these gentlemen were known to +Father Garnett, and some of them had often used his +help and the help of others of the Society in their +spiritual affairs. And this matter also they had at +length opened a little before it should have been +executed unto two of the Society in the secret of +confession, as I have before declared. Therefore in +this case Almighty God did think it more needful +in His divine providence to give testimony of His +servant's innocency than in former times, when the +cause itself was so plain, that it could not be contradicted. +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>Of the miraculous straw.</note> +The first sign by which it pleased God to show the +merit and glory of this His martyr was +concerning his relics, which were eagerly sought for by many +Catholics at the very time of his martyrdom. Amongst the +<pb n='302'/><anchor id='Pg302'/> +which there was one young man,<note place='foot'>This was John Wilkinson, who afterwards became a student at St Omers, +and on his death-bed in that College dictated a narrative of Father Garnett's +execution and the finding of the straw, which is given by Father More, <hi rend='italic'>Hist. +Prov. Angl. S. J.</hi>, lib. vii., n. 35.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> who<note place='foot'>Is now a scholar in the English College at St. Omers. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> stood by the block +where the martyr's body was cut up, with great desire at +least to get some drop of his holy blood.<note place='foot'>In such sort as it might not be espied. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> And whilst he +had these thoughts, not daring to take where he desired +for fear he might be espied, it fortuned that the hangman +having cut off the martyr's head and showed it to the +people (as the custom is), he cast it into a basket standing +there of purpose, full of straw, to hold the head and +quarters when they were divided. Out of this basket did +leap a straw, or ear void of corn, in strange manner +into the hand of this young man, which he beholding, +and seeing some blood upon it, kept it with great care, +and no little joy that he had obtained his desire. He +carried it away safely and delivered it unto a Catholic +gentlewoman<note place='foot'>Her name was Griffin.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> of his acquaintance, who kept it in a +reliquary with great devotion; and after three or four +days,<note place='foot'>Two or three months. <hi rend='italic'>Interlined in Orig</hi>. Wilkinson himself says, +<q>Paucis post diebus.</q></note> a devout Catholic gentleman coming thither, she +showed him the bloody straw, which he was also glad +to see and reverence; but beholding the same more +curiously than the others had done, he saw a perfect +face, as if it had been painted, upon one of the husks +of the empty ear, and showed the same unto the company, +which they all did plainly behold, and with no small +wonder, but with much greater joy did acknowledge the +mighty hand of God, Who can and doth often use the +meanest creatures to set forth His glory, and is able +both out of stones and straws to raise a sufficient defence +for His faithful servants. +</p> + +<p> +They put up the straw again with great admiration, +<pb n='303'/><anchor id='Pg303'/> +and kept it now with much more reverence and devotion +than before. This was quickly published to many of the +chiefest Catholics about London, who much desiring to +see this wonder, it was carried unto divers, who all are +witnesses of this truth. At length it came to the Council's +ear, and some of them desiring much to see it, it was +granted, being now in the keeping of a great person,<note place='foot'>Father More says it was the Spanish Ambassador, and he gives an +attestation of the Baron de Hobocque, dated in 1625, attesting that he had +seen it in 1606, when he was in London as Ambassador of the Princes of the +Netherlands.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> but +with promise to have it safely restored; so that some of +them did see it, and did much admire it, affirming that +it must needs be more than natural. Others after desired +to see it and to seize upon it, because now the fame did +grow so great of this image of Father Garnett drawn by +the hand of God, whose image and memory they sought +to deface in all they could, that they feared the evidence +of the miracle would plead against their proceedings and +prove him innocent whom they had punished as guilty. +Therefore the Bishop of Canterbury<note place='foot'>Dr. Richard Bancroft.—<hi rend='smallcaps'>Ed.</hi></note> sought to have +the miraculous straw into his hands, but it was denied, +and none would acknowledge where it was to be found. +He learned out the party to whom the keeping of it +was first committed, and sent for her<note place='foot'>The gentlewoman's. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> husband, who was +a known Catholic and a virtuous man. He examined +him strictly how it came to pass, and where the straw +was. The Catholic affirmed the truth of the thing, and +described it unto him in words; but said it was not now +in his keeping, and he knew not where to find it. And +when they could get no other answer of him, they committed +him to prison; but afterwards, having sundry and +great friends in the Court, he got out upon bonds to +appear again at certain days' warning. +</p> + +<p> +In the meantime it happened that two were miraculously +<pb n='304'/><anchor id='Pg304'/> +cured by application of the same straw. One was +a gentlewoman in great peril of her life by danger of +childbirth, who, when she had sustained long and painful +travail and could not be delivered of her burthen, and +now was out of hope of life, unless she might obtain +some help from God, some of her friends made earnest +means to get this holy straw to bring unto her; which +being obtained, and the straw brought and applied with +great reverence, presently she received help, and was +delivered by the mighty hand of God and merits of the +martyr, whom no midwife's skill or endeavours could +help before. +</p> + +<p> +Another was the gentlewoman herself who first had +this miraculous relic delivered her to keep. For she +being very much subject to sickness, and sometimes in +such extremity therewith that you would not think she +could be able to live an hour, it happened that in one +of her extremest fits, when she could find no medicine +or means that could bring her any ease, she earnestly +desired a special friend to make suit for the straw to be +returned unto her for a small time, which was granted; +and as soon as it came (she receiving it with great devotion +and reverence) she presently found ease, and within half +an hour was so perfectly well that she rose from her bed, +and went to entertain some strangers that then were in +the house, and <q>erat una ex discumbentibus.</q><note place='foot'><q>Was one of them that were at table</q> (St. John xii. 2).</note> +</p> + +<p> +This sudden and strange cure of hers being spoken +of by divers Catholics, it came out to be known unto the +Council, who sent again for the husband of the gentlewoman, +and took this new occasion to commit him the +second time to prison. +</p> + +<p> +The Council afterwards understanding that this miraculous +picture in the straw had been showed to divers +painters in London, they sent for the painters, and willed +them to make the like portrait to that which they had +<pb n='305'/><anchor id='Pg305'/> +seen in a like empty ear of corn; but they all answered +it was not possible for them to do it: neither could the +draught of that face, in so little a room and so loose a +groundwork as that empty ear, be otherwise drawn than +by supernatural power. And this testimony they gave of +it that had both skill to judge and no will to favour the +Catholic cause (being in opinion heretics), but only convinced +in their understanding by the evidence of the miracle.<note place='foot'>Father Richard Blount, in a letter dated Nov. 8, 1606, says—<q>A Catholic +person in London having kept, since the execution of Mr. Garnett, a straw that +was embued in his blood, now these days past, being viewed again by the party +and others, they espy in the ear of the straw a perfect face of a man dead, his +eyes, nose, beard, and neck so lively representing Mr. Garnett, as not only in +my eyes, but in the eyes of others which knew him, it doth lively represent +him. This hath been seen by Catholics and Protestants of the best sort and +divers others, who much admire it, &c. This you may boldly report, for, +besides ourselves, a thousand others are witnesses of it.</q> And in another letter, +dated March, 1607, <q>It cannot be a thing natural or artificial. The sprinkling +of blood hath made so plain a face, so well proportioned, so lively shadowed, +as no art in such a manner is able to counterfeit the like.</q> Father More, +whose history was published in 1660, says that the straw was kept in the Jesuit +College at Liége. The last mention we have met of it is by the Abbé Feller, +in his <hi rend='italic'>Dictionnaire Historique</hi>, which was published at Liége in 1797, and +therefore after the suppression of the Society, <q>L'épi est aujourdhui entre les +mains d'un de mes amis, qui le conserve soigneusement</q> (Art. Garnett).</note> +</p> + +<p> +Another marvellous thing which it pleased Almighty +God to show for a public testimony of the glory which +blessed Father Garnett now possesseth, is a visible and +apparent circle of red about his head in the form of a +crown, which was and is to be seen about his head, where +it is set up, as the custom is, with the heads of others that +died for treason. This hath had so many witnesses as +would go to behold it, which were not a few, and besides, +they did affirm that his face did continue so comely and +with so pleasing a countenance, as it seemed rather the +head of a man alive than separated from the body; and +all his quarters also so purely white, that it was much +admired by all that did behold them. +</p> + +<p> +To these I may adjoin the crown of grass which did +grow in Mr. Abington his court, in the house where both +<pb n='306'/><anchor id='Pg306'/> +blessed Father Garnett and blessed Father Ouldcorne +were taken, which may be taken as a sign of his glory +and crown of immortality as well as Father Ouldcorne's. +And of this I spake sufficiently in the last chapter but +one. I could hereunto add a vision which both of these +blessed Fathers had in the Tower the 7th of March before +their martyrdom, the very night before they were hung +upon the torture. It happened in this manner. Father +Ouldcorne in his sleep did seem to behold a very sumptuous +throne set up, with great care and cost adorned, at +which sight when Father Ouldcorne much admired, not +knowing to what end it should be prepared, it seemed unto +him that there entered into the room the most<note place='foot'>Our. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> Reverend +Father General, and with him some other ancient Fathers; +and that Father Ouldcorne did demand of Father General +what should be the meaning or intention of that throne so +much adorned; and that the Father should answer that +both Father Garnett and himself should presently be professed. +To which Father Ouldcorne made answer that +Father Garnett was already professed. Then Father +General replied, he would now have him make a more +excellent profession than before. This vision Father +Ouldcorne the next morning told unto his keeper, desiring +he would tell it unto Father Garnett, which he performed; +and Father Garnett assured him the very same thing, in +the same manner, had also that night appeared unto him. +But Father Ouldcorne did see it again the next night after. +This was so generally spoken of in the Tower about that +time, that if there had been no other means afterwards to +know the truth, that alone had been sufficient to publish it. +</p> + +<p> +Now, when the other foresaid marvels were seen about +his head after his martyrdom, and that the miraculous +image of the straw was visibly seen by many Catholics, +and generally known to all, you may well think that +Catholics were greatly animated, receiving now, in their +<pb n='307'/><anchor id='Pg307'/> +greatest distress, such comforts from the merciful hand of +God, <q>qui est Pater misericordiarum et Deus totius consolationis, +qui consolatur nos in omni tribulatione nostrâ.</q><note place='foot'>Who is <q>the Father of mercies and the God of all comfort, Who comforteth +us in all our tribulation</q> (2 Cor. i. 3, 4).</note> +And, indeed, the effect of these heavenly comforts was +such in the hearts of poor afflicted Catholics, but especially +the force of the martyr's blood and the merits of his +innocent death (which now was plainly seen by all well-meaning +men, and acknowledged by many also of his +enemies, as before I have related), that whereas the +Catholics did already feel a sharp shower of persecution +in continual searchings and imprisonments and vexations +much more than in former years they had experienced; +and whereas they might easily discern a greater storm +coming towards them, seeing, as it were, a thick and dark +cloud coming on apace, carried furiously with the wind in +such sort that it was likely to spread itself over all their +hemisphere, intending to make a destroying deluge, no less +universal than violent: though they might plainly see +and hear daily thundered in their ears what cutting and +cruel laws were intended and prepared against the Parliament +which then was at hand: though they were assured +beforehand that the penal statutes which then were to be +enacted were so many and so merciless that their life would +be more tedious (and terrible to many minds) than death +itself: though they could find no friends that could or +would now oppose themselves <q>murum pro domo Dei;</q><note place='foot'><q>A wall for the house of Israel</q> (Ezech. xiii. 5).</note> +the noblemen that were Catholics or esteemed friends to +Catholics, together with all principal recusants, being +clapt in prison; and all others that before did seem to +favour the cause now being blown away with this storm +of persecution, and carried with the current of the present +stream rather to oppose themselves against Catholics, both +in word and action, than any ways to seek the release or +<pb n='308'/><anchor id='Pg308'/> +relaxation of their present afflictions or prepared penalties: +though all this, and more than I can in this place commodiously +set down, were felt and feared by the Catholics +at this time, yet such was the goodness of God towards us, +such the force of His grace obtained by the merits of these +holy martyrs, that presently, upon the death of blessed +Father Garnett, you might see his innocent blood had +warmed all their hearts; you might see in them a new +fervour, expecting persecution with a peaceable and +cheerful mind; you might see them everywhere begin +to prepare themselves neither to resist nor run away, +but how to bear the blows of persecution with Christian +patience. +</p> + +<p> +And although there were some few examples of human +frailty, making choice rather to do against their conscience +in going to heretical service than to adventure the loss +of their earthly commodities, yet these were so few in +number, and so followed afterwards with the remorse of +conscience and the justice of God, that their example +did rather confirm than weaken the constancy of other +Catholics. I could hear but of three men of any note +then fallen in that sort, whereof one was a knight, of a +worthy family, and himself ever a devout Catholic; his +lady also, ever forward but much affected to those<note place='foot'>Party. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> men +that would not at the first submit themselves to [the] +Archpriest, whom His Holiness had appointed to be +their Superior in England. This good gentleman, as I +heard, having long paid the statute for his recusancy, +which is 20<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a month, now upon this increase of +persecution, and the commodity of his recusancy which +should accrue unto the King being given unto a Scottish +man, the Catholic gentleman offered him 2,000<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> for a fine, +and to pay the rent of 20<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a month, as he was wont to do +beside; but the Scottish man refusing to take his offer +upon hope to make a greater gain of him, the knight would +<pb n='309'/><anchor id='Pg309'/> +not endure to be made a prey to a man of so insatiable a +mind, and therefore resolved for the time to forfeit rather +the greater goods, the goods of grace, and said he would +conform himself to the law. He went, therefore, to their +heretical service, and saved the forfeiture of his worldly +estate, but with so great a torment of conscience that, +poor gentleman, he fell into such fits of melancholy and +distemper therewith, that it was generally given out that +he was distract of his wits. +</p> + +<p> +There was another knight also, more rich in worldly +substance than furnished with spiritual money to maintain +the war against his spiritual enemies. This man, +seeing persecution to come against him with double +forces to the strength of grace which he had provided +to resist, <q>rogavit ea quæ pacis erant,</q><note place='foot'>He desired <q>conditions of peace</q> (St. Luke xiv. 32).</note> and did it in +such manner as that <q>omnes qui viderunt, inceperunt +illudere ei.</q><note place='foot'><q>All that</q> saw it began <q>to mock him</q> (St. Luke xiv. 29).</note> For, thinking to give double satisfaction if +he could bring his wife to church with him, he laboured +to overthrow her constancy in that kind, and when he +found she would not yield unto his desires therein, the +poor gentleman, out of his too much desire to seem conformable, +went unto the Commissioners and complains of +his wife's obstinacy in that point, desiring them to help +him to reform his wife, or rather, indeed, to deform her +according to his ill example. But she remained constant, +and he, poor knight, was laughed at for his labour, even +by his very enemies, with whom he sought to gain much +credit with that double diligence. +</p> + +<p> +A third example I heard, of a gentleman of good +estate, who, preferring darkness before light, and seeking +to make a convention or union between God and Belial +in his soul, offered himself to go to their heretical conventicles +for the saving of his worldly substance; and so +he did, and escaped the punishment of the law: <q>sed +<pb n='310'/><anchor id='Pg310'/> +nunquid Deum fallere aut fugere potuit?</q><note place='foot'>But could he deceive or escape God?</note> No. <q>Qui +voluit animam suam salvam facere, perdidit eam.</q><note place='foot'>He who would save his life, lost it (Cf. St. Luke ix. 24).</note> He +went to church: he thought to preserve his goods for +the provision of many years, <q>et stultus non prævidit +quod illâ nocte repeterent animam suam;</q><note place='foot'>And in his folly did not foresee that that night they would require his +soul of him (Cf. St. Luke xii. 20).</note> he was +stricken with sudden death, leaving his goods to the +fruition<note place='foot'>Enjoying. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> of others, and this dreadful example to the +admonition of all. +</p> + +<p> +So merciful hath God been unto us in these times of +our greatest needs and trial, as to encourage us by the +worthy example of many that stand, and to terrify by the +example of these few that have fallen; for I have not +heard of any other examples of any men<note place='foot'>Worthy. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> of note; which, +if we compare with that which St. Cyprian recordeth of +his times, when great numbers did run to offer themselves +before they felt the force of persecution, upon the only +fame and fear that an edict was to be published against +the Christians, this may give us great hope that God +neither is nor will be wanting with His graces, if we be +not wanting to ourselves, but will give us abundance of +spiritual forces answerable to the measure of that trial He +will put us unto, <q>nec patietur nos tentari ultra<note place='foot'>Supra. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> id quod +possumus, sed faciet cum tentatione proventum ut possimus +sustinere.</q><note place='foot'>He <q>will not suffer</q> us <q>to be tempted above that which</q> we <q>are +able; but will make also with temptation issue, that</q> we <q>may be able to +bear it</q> (1 Cor. x. 13).</note> +</p> + +<p> +The Parliament presently ensued, against which time +the Puritans had provided two pestilent books, as hath +been touched before: the one to prove all recusants to +be traitors, the other that the rules and precepts of the +Catholic doctrine, yea, the very fruit of the whole tree +<pb n='311'/><anchor id='Pg311'/> +of the Catholic Roman faith, was to teach men disobedience +to Princes, yea, to deprive Kings of their +temporal estates, and, finally, to kill, murder, and destroy +their persons. And all this to the end that both the +King himself and all the Peers of the realm might be +so incensed against Catholics and their religion, as to +proceed by laws against the one, as against traitors proved +and convinced so to be, and to seek by all means possible, +not only to cut down the other as a tree bearing in their +opinion such poisoned fruit, but rather wholly to root it +out of their earth of England, that there might be no +memory left of the name of a Catholic in the land. And +they prevailed so far with the false reasons set down in +these malicious books, and with their most<note place='foot'>Secret and. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> subtle and +manifold subornations exhibited unto His Majesty and +the Peers in the Parliament House, taking occasion +to blow the coals that already were kindled in dislike +taken against Catholics for the late attempt, that they +easily prevailed to get those laws passed which before +they were resolved of, and which in particular were known +to be a breeding when those gentlemen ran so heady a +course to prevent so great a deluge of persecution, which +they feared, and we have felt to light upon us. +</p> + +<p> +For although they now intitle this new increase of persecution +to be occasioned by that temerarious conspiracy, +which is disliked by us as much as by themselves, yet +certain it is (as I have showed before) that these laws +were intended and prepared before either they or we knew +anything of this intention of conspiracy. And many of +the Puritans themselves, <q>ex abundantiâ cordis,</q><note place='foot'><q>Out of the abundance of the heart</q> (St. Matt. xii. 34).</note> could +not choose but utter how fully they were resolved in +that Parliament to seek the utter extirpation of the +Catholics, and what things in particular they would +procure and were prepared to be enacted against them. +<pb n='312'/><anchor id='Pg312'/> +And truly the laws which they then intended, and which +they afterwards in the Parliament procured to pass against +us, were very sufficient in the likelihood of human reason +to work the effect which they most wished, and to root +out Catholic religion and all that professed the same +out of the land, if God did not stand in defence of His +servants,<note place='foot'>Beholding St. Stephen's conflict.—<hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> against Whom neither wit nor force of man, +<q>imo nec portæ inferi prævalebunt.</q><note place='foot'>Nor even the gates of hell shall prevail (Cf. St. Matt. xvi. 18).</note> How cruel and +afflictive the laws are in themselves, and how grievous +and intolerable it is for Catholics to live where they are +put in execution, I will leave to the judgment of the +prudent reader, meaning in the next chapter to set down +a catalogue of them, that he may see in one place collected +together a sum of those afflictions unto which we are +continually subject, that he may not hereafter permit +himself to be deceived with such false reports, as are +of purpose given out by the politics of England, that +forsooth the persecution is not great and that none are +there punished, especially not with death, but for matter +of State and treason against the Prince; which to be most +untrue his own eyes shall be judge, when he reads the +very words of the statutes enacted, which I will truly but +briefly set down as they lie in the statute-book, which +is printed and in every man's hands through England, so +well known that it cannot be contradicted. +</p> + +<p> +And now, after the Parliament in which all these +laws were passed against us, to add unto the weight of +our heavy burthen, two other new afflictions were devised, +not specified in the laws: the one to punish the bodies +of Priests, the other to afflict and wound the minds of +all sorts of Catholics. +</p> + +<p> +The first was a proclamation of banishment to all +Priests, that by such a day, which was there limited +within a short compass in the edict, all should depart +<pb n='313'/><anchor id='Pg313'/> +the realm; if not, to expect no mercy but present death +upon their taking. By which banishment, as they pretended, +on the one side, to do it in show of favour (as +though they sought not their deaths, but rather wished +they would draw themselves out of danger by their +voluntary departure). And, indeed, it is true they do +not so much seek their deaths as their departure, knowing +on the one side, by experience, what force the blood +of martyrs is of, both for the confirmation of Catholics +and conversion of heretics; and withal that there is +no means so effectual to scatter St. Peter's sheep, and +to make them a prey unto the wolf, as to take their +Pastors from them: for, as St. Bernard wisely saith, +<q>Væ illis qui assumuntur ad opera fortium, et non aluntur +cibo fortium.</q><note place='foot'>Woe unto those who are chosen for the works of the strong, and are not +fed with the food of the strong.</note> So that with this counsel, this seeming +favour, but indeed a slow consuming fire of persecution +was put in practice, and many Priests that were in prison +in several places of England were, according to the same +edict, put into ships and banished the realm by the day +prefixed. Knowing withal what misery and want they +were like to suffer in foreign countries, where they were +not capable of benefices or cure of souls for want of +language, and where their wants must needs be exceeding +great, having no friends nor acquaintance nor means to +furnish themselves even with necessaries, unless it please +Almighty God to move the hearts of Princes to impart +some temporal relief unto them, that they may be +partakers of their spiritual riches and the merits of their +sufferings. And this was hoped by the heretics would +not be very plentiful, in respect of the seminaries and +the wants of other afflicted Catholics in those parts, who +have also continual need of their charitable helps. And +hitherto, as I understand, their wants are very great and +the provision very small which is made for them, and the +<pb n='314'/><anchor id='Pg314'/> +hopes and desires of the heretics too much followed. But +God will raise them friends, I trust, and send them +provision in due season, <q>qui recordatus est Danielis in +lacu leonum et pascit etiam pullos corvorum invocantes +eum;</q><note place='foot'>Who remembered Daniel in the lions' den, and feeds even <q>the young +ravens that call upon Him</q> (Ps. cxlvi. 9).</note> and though sometimes He will try His servants +far, yet doth never forget the least of them, <q>quorum etiam +capilli numerati sunt.</q><note place='foot'>Whose very hairs are numbered (Cf. St. Matt. x. 30).</note> +</p> + +<p> +The other more universal affliction, and the same so +much more grievous as it was more internal and piercing +even to the very souls of those that did accept it, was +a new oath devised for the distinction, as was pretended, +between faithful and faithless subjects to their Prince, +but indeed to distinguish the true subjects of the See +Apostolic from those that would renounce the power +thereof for the pleasing of their Prince.<note place='foot'>Here must be added the oath, and some few words after, to bring in the +other chapter. <hi rend='italic'>In marg.</hi></note> +</p> + +</div> + +<pb n='315'/><anchor id='Pg315'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Chapter XVII. +A Catalogue Of The Laws Against Catholics Made +By Queen Elizabeth And Confirmed By This +King, And Of Others Added By Himself.</head> + +<p> +It hath ever been one point of policy in the Government +of England, since the beginning of persecution there, to +hide the same from the knowledge of the world, and from +being judged to be such by other kingdoms round about +them, as much as could be possible. To this end they +have ever sent and maintained their instruments in other +countries to<note place='foot'>Establish and. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> maintain that opinion in men's minds. To +this effect often advices have been<note place='foot'>Usually. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> sent into all Princes' +Courts by letters, which their friends and favourers there +should publish and procure to be believed. For this cause, +when any Catholic Princes' Ambassadors have come into +England, there hath been cunning wits ever employed to +resort unto them and possess them with a different +conceit from that which is and hath been the true state +of Catholics in England. And if they were such as come +with intention to labour for the help or ease of Catholics +in any sort, then, perhaps, for a time there should be some +cessation, or else some hope or half promises given, of +toleration, or mitigation at least, in that matter. And +that which they could not hide from being seen, they +would at least cover, and keep from being known to be +persecution for cause of religion. And, therefore, both in +their laws at home, and letters of information sent abroad, +would invest the same with other names, as of treason, and +<pb n='316'/><anchor id='Pg316'/> +offences against the State; when nothing less than disobedience +to the civil government was found in Catholics, +nor any subjects in the realm more faithful, or loving, or +obedient to their Prince in all things which were not +against their faith or religion. Yet did the politics ever +with printed books endeavour to prove that all was but +the execution of justice against traitors and persons +disobedient to the State. But herein they follow the +platform of the first enemies and persecutors of Christ +and His Church; and we the example of our Master, +suffering as He did, for that which we neither preach nor +practise, nor can be proved against us. Although they cry +out never so loud, <q>Invenimus hos subvertentes gentem +nostram,</q><note place='foot'><q>We have found</q> these men <q>perverting our nation</q> (St. Luke xxiii. 2).</note> because we desire to draw them to their ancient +faith and profession of the same: <q>et prohibentes tributum +dari Cæsari,</q><note place='foot'><q>And forbidding to give tribute to Cæsar</q> (<hi rend='italic'>Ibid</hi>).</note> because we will not grant the +supremacy in ecclesiastical matters which he affecteth, +(for as for other corporal tributes, none are so ready as +Catholics to pay all duties): <q>et dicentes se Christum +et regem habere<note place='foot'>In Roma. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> alium,</q><note place='foot'>And saying that they have another Christ and King.</note> because we say and profess that +the Pope is Christ His Vicegerent on earth and governeth +His spiritual Kingdom, and we His children and subjects +in this spiritual government.<note place='foot'>Which Himself denied not to Pilate to be in the world, though it were +not a kingdom of the world. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +</p> + +<p> +Therefore, although they cry out never so much that +this is <q>contradicere Cæsari,</q><note place='foot'>To speak <q>against Cæsar</q> (St. John xix. 12).</note> and that whosoever doth +favour this cause is not <q>amicus Cæsaris;</q><note place='foot'><q>Cæsar's friend</q> (<hi rend='italic'>Ibid</hi>).</note> yea, though +they cry, <q>Crucifige, crucifige,</q><note place='foot'><q>Crucify, crucify</q> (St. Luke xxiii. 21).</note> against us, and lay the +heavy cross of persecution upon our shoulders for this +cause, we must and will have patience, because it is +<pb n='317'/><anchor id='Pg317'/> +Christ His cause and quarrel, and not as they affirm, +and would have the world believe, that we suffer for +matter of State, or for stubbornness and disobedience +to<note place='foot'>Our Prince. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> the King or civil government. +</p> + +<p> +And that the truth may herein the better appear, I +will now, according to my former promise, set down a +Catalogue of the laws that are made and stand in force +against Catholics in England, which being carefully considered +by the discreet and pious reader, I will ask no +other judge than himself, either touching the greatness or +the cause of persecution in England, for I know he will +both see and say much contrary to that which the politic +heretics in our country and their favourers in other places +have given out, and would gladly have to be believed. +</p> + +<p> +And albeit there be many severe and rigorous +laws and statutes in force against Catholics at this day +in England, that were made by King Henry the Eighth +after his revolt from the Church of Rome, as also in<note place='foot'>By. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> the +Governors of King Edward the Sixth, under whom +religion was first altered and the sects of Zuinglius and +Calvin were brought into our country: which laws and +statutes, being repealed by the Princes of pious memory, +King Philip and Queen Mary, were revived again and +established by the authority of other Parliaments under +Queen Elizabeth and the same confirmed, as hath been +said, by His Majesty that now is: yet do I not think it +necessary to set down<note place='foot'>Cite. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> in this place any other statutes +than such as were made and allowed by these two latter +Princes, which comprehend all the other, with many +additions and aggravations besides. And in citing them, +I will use as near as I can the very words themselves of +the statutes, as they are in print. +</p> + +<p> +First, then, Queen Elizabeth, coming to the crown in +<pb n='318'/><anchor id='Pg318'/> +the year of Christ 1558, she called a Parliament soon after, +in the said first year of her reign, wherein she repealed all +the good statutes and laws which her sister, Queen Mary, +had made in favour of Catholic religion, conform to the +laws of all her ancestors, Kings of England, from the +first Christian King until that time, except the latter end +of her father's reign, King Henry the Eighth, and the +minority of her brother, King Edward the Sixth, whose +laws in favour of schism and sectaries<note place='foot'>Heresy. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> Queen Elizabeth +revived, adding many of her own, which after do ensue. +</p> + +<p> +And first of all, she meaning to break principally with +the See of Rome, as well in regard of her nativity, which +the said See held not for legitimate, as of the favour borne +by the said See to Queen Mary of France and Scotland, +mother to our King that now is, then living and reigning +in prosperity, and much envied and suspected by the other; +it was enacted that every Englishman, of what state, +degree, or condition soever, whensoever he taketh any +office, dignity, ecclesiastical benefice, or holy orders, any +degree of school, university, profession, or other promotion +temporal or spiritual, shall take a corporal oath upon the +Evangelist protesting and swearing that he doth utterly +testify and declare in his conscience that the Queen is +Supreme Head of the Church of England and not the +Pope; and that neither he nor the See of Rome had any +ecclesiastical jurisdiction, power, superiority, or pre-eminence +over that Church, nor ought to have. So help +him God.<note place='foot'>As by the contents of that book, &c. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi> Elizab. cap. 1°.</note> <hi rend='italic'>Stat. an° 1° Elizab. cap. 1°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +And moreover, that whosoever shall refuse to take and +make this oath, being required thereunto, shall for the +first time of denial, not only be disabled of the foresaid +preferments, offices, degrees, and dignities whatsoever, but +also lose and forfeit all his goods and lands to the said +Queen, and suffer perpetual imprisonment as in case of +<pb n='319'/><anchor id='Pg319'/> +<hi rend='italic'>præmunire</hi>. And for the second time, if he persist three +months in the same after the first tender, and will not take +and pronounce the same oath in form aforesaid, then he +shall forfeit, lose, and suffer death, and other like pains, +forfeitures, judgments, and executions as is used in cases +of high treason. <hi rend='italic'>Ibid. et an° 5° cap. 1°.</hi> This treason +you may see was only against the state of heresy and +schism, not against the State of Queen or Commonwealth. +</p> + +<p> +And then yet further. Whosoever shall by writing, +printing, preaching, or teaching, by express words, deed, +or act (for so are the words of the statute), advisedly and +directly affirm, hold, set forth, maintain or defend the +authority, power, or jurisdiction spiritual or ecclesiastical +of the Bishop of Rome, or his See, heretofore claimed +or used within the realm of England, or of any other +dominion or country thereunto belonging; for his first +offence he shall forfeit and lose all his goods and chattels, +as well real as personal: and for the second offence, +besides the loss of goods and lands, he shall be cast into +perpetual prison: and for the third time (if again he offend +in defending the said Pope's authority), he shall suffer the +pains of death, and other penalties, forfeitures, and losses +appointed in the cases of high treason. <hi rend='italic'>An° 1° Eliz. cap. +3° et an° 5° cit°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +And then for conclusion. Whosoever shall be aiders +or abettors to any such offenders, assisting or comforting +them to set forth and extol the said power and ecclesiastical +authority of the Bishop of Rome, or to refuse +the foresaid oath in form before set down, and shall be +lawfully convicted thereof; they shall for the first time +lose all their goods and lands, and for the second be +condemned to perpetual prison as in the statute of provision +or <hi rend='italic'>præmunire. An° 5° Eliz. cap. 1°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +And these punishments were afterwards more increased +by another Act of the same Queen, in the fifth year of her +reign, where it was ordained that all aiders, counsellers, +<pb n='320'/><anchor id='Pg320'/> +and comforters<note place='foot'>And abettors. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> in this case should for the second time +suffer the pains of death, and other forfeitures and losses +of their goods, lands, honours, and nobility, as in cases +of high treason. <hi rend='italic'>An° 5° cap. 1°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +It was ordained in like manner, for preventing of +the Catholic education of all English youths, that no +person shall take upon him to be a schoolmaster or +teacher of children, either in public schools or private +houses, except he first take the said oath against the +Pope's spiritual authority, and that he believe the supreme +authority of the Queen in all causes ecclesiastical. <hi rend='italic'>Ibid.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +Moreover, it is enacted by authority of the said Parliament +that all clergymen shall leave and abandon from +this time forward the old Roman use of Latin service, +Mass, and administration of other Sacraments, and shall +betake themselves to say or sing the same in English in +all churches and chapels, and to administer the Sacraments +after the manner, rites, and fashion which is set down and +prescribed in a new book of Common Prayer set forth for +the purpose, and he that shall refuse to do so, or shall use +any other rite or form of service or Sacraments than is +therein appointed, shall for his first default be committed +to prison for six months and lose the fruits of all his +ecclesiastical living for a whole year, and for the second +offence shall lose all his living for ever and lie in prison a +year, and for the third time shall be condemned to +perpetual prison all the time of his life. <hi rend='italic'>An° 1° Eliz. +cap. 2°.</hi> Here you may see what it is they intend when +they urge Catholics to come to their churches and service, +and that it is no act of temporal duty or obedience in +civil matters which they require (as they will sometimes +pretend, to make us thought disobedient and stubborn), but +a renunciation of our old and the only true religion and a +conformity to their new doctrine. This is the thing which +we refuse, and for which they call us recusants, and for +<pb n='321'/><anchor id='Pg321'/> +which they punish us by many and severe penalties, as +shall appear by those that follow. +</p> + +<p> +And conform to this it was also decreed that if any +layman that hath no ecclesiastical livings shall be present +at any other sort of service than the aforesaid appointed in +the common book of prayer, as, for example, at Mass or +Roman service, or shall receive any other sacraments, or +after other manner, form, or ceremony than is there prescribed, +he shall, for the first time of his so offending, +forfeit an hundred marks of lawful English money unto +the Queen, for the second four hundred marks, and for the +third shall lie in prison all days of his life. And if he +refuse to come to the church he shall pay xiid. for every +Sunday and holiday wherein he faileth. <hi rend='italic'>Anno 1° et 5° +Eliz. cap. 2°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +These laws made Queen Elizabeth in the first five years +of her reign. But afterwards, growing more angry with +Catholics and Catholic religion, but especially with the +See of Rome for the sentence of Pius V<hi rend='vertical-align: super'>tus</hi> against her, she +added many bloody laws more, in the thirteenth year of +her reign. As, for example, that if any man shall bring +into England or into any of the dominions thereunto +belonging, from the Pope of Rome or from any man that +hath authority from him, any Bull, writing, instrument, or +authority to absolve or reconcile any person, or to promise +any such absolution or reconciliation by speech, preaching, +teaching, writing, or any other open deed, that then all and +every such act or acts, offence or offences, shall be deemed +and adjudged by the authority of this Act to be high +treason. And as well the offenders as the procurers, +abettors, and counsellors, shall suffer death and other +losses as traitors. <hi rend='italic'>Anno 13° Eliz. cap. 1°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +Moreover, that if any person within the realm of +England or dominions thereof, after the first day of +July, Anno Domini 1571, shall willingly receive or take +any such absolution or reconciliation from the said Bishop +<pb n='322'/><anchor id='Pg322'/> +of Rome or any of his successors, or by any that have +authority from him; yea, if he shall receive or admit any +manner of Bull, writing, or instrument from the said See +of Rome, written or printed, containing any such thing, +matter, or cause whatsoever, or if any offer thereof, motion, +or persuasion being made unto him, shall not disclose or +reveal the same to some of the Privy Council, all shall be +high treason in him, and he shall suffer death and other +losses for the same, as in cases of that crime is accustomed. +<hi rend='italic'>Ibidem.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +And yet further, that whosoever shall bring into any +dominions of England after the time before named any +token or tokens, thing or things, called by the name of +Agnus Dei, or any crosses, pictures, beads, or any such +like, from the Bishop or See of Rome, or from any person +or persons authorized from the said Bishop or See to +consecrate or hallow the same; or shall deliver or offer, +or cause to be delivered, any part thereof to any subject of +this realm, or of any the dominions thereof, to be worn +or used in any wise, that then, as well the same person or +persons that shall receive the same to the intent to use and +wear, being thereof lawfully convicted by the order of the +common laws of this realm, shall incur the penalties, +pains, and forfeitures provided by the statute of <hi rend='italic'>præmunire</hi>, +which are the loss of all his lands and goods and +perpetual imprisonment. <hi rend='italic'>Anno 13º Eliz. cap. 2°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +Now when, by the acerbity and peril of so many cruel +laws and statutes, divers Catholics, being terrified, desired +and sought means to go into voluntary banishment beyond +the seas, and to leave the realm either with or without +licence, the Queen, understanding thereof, prevented them +with another new law the very next year after, enacting +that all and every person and persons, of what state, +degree, or condition soever they be, under the obeisance +of the said Queen, who sithence the first day of her reign +have passed or hereafter shall pass into any dominions +<pb n='323'/><anchor id='Pg323'/> +of foreign Princes without her special licence by writing, +under the great seal of England, privy seal, or privy signet, +and shall not return within the space of six months next +after proclamation made for them to return and yield +their bodies to the custody and ward of the sheriff of the +county, &c.; all such persons shall forfeit and lose to the +said Queen the whole profits of their manors, lands, tenements, +and hereditaments during their lives, and all their +goods and chattels for ever. <hi rend='italic'>Anno 14° cap. 6°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +Moreover, that if any person, born under the obedience +of Her Majesty, have or shall pass into foreign countries +with leave and licence, as before is prescribed, and shall +not presently, within six months after the expiring of the +said licence, return home and yield their bodies in custody, +as is before prescribed, shall suffer the same loss of goods +and chattels and the rents of their lands as the other that +went forth without licence. +</p> + +<p> +And whatsoever conveyances, estates, grants, leases, +gifts, or devises, they or any of them shall be found to +have made of their lands and goods for their own relief to +defraud the Queen, shall be utterly void, and of no +validity at all in law. <hi rend='italic'>Anno 14º Eliz. cap. 6°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +These laws passed in the first fourteen years of the +Queen's government. But afterwards, as she grew older, +she did in most Parliaments aggravate the same. As, +namely, in the twenty-third year of her reign, taking upon +her to expound and explicate the former statute of +bringing in Bulls, &c., from Rome, she determineth that +by what means soever any man did pretend faculty or +power to absolve any person or persons from their sins, or +shall reconcile them to the Roman Church, or persuade to +the acknowledgment of the Pope's ecclesiastical authority +over England, it shall be high treason both to the +absolver and the absolved, to the reconciler and to the +reconciled, that shall willingly yield thereunto, yea, and to +all the procurers, aiders, and counsellors. All which, being +<pb n='324'/><anchor id='Pg324'/> +lawfully convicted thereof, shall suffer death, as in case of +high treason. <hi rend='italic'>Anno 23° Eliz. cap. 2°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +And if any person or persons shall come to know of +any man so absolved and reconciled, or of any such that +doth absolve or reconcile, and shall not, within twenty +days at the furthest, disclose the same to some justice of +peace, or to some higher officer of the Prince, he shall be +taken, tried, and judged, suffer and forfeit as offenders in +misprision of treason, <hi rend='italic'>vdlt.</hi>, he shall forfeit his lands and +livings, but not suffer death for the same. <hi rend='italic'>Ibidem.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>Month's Recusance.</note> +In this Parliament also it was decreed, that for so much +as many Catholics did upon conscience retire themselves +from going to the Protestants' church and service more +than before, that every such recusant, +being above the age of sixteen years, instead of paying +xii<hi rend='italic'>d.</hi> for every Sunday, which was by former statute +appointed, should now forfeit and pay to the Queen 20<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> +of lawful English money for every month, and, besides +this, should be bound to put in sufficient sureties in the +[sum] of 200<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> at the least for their good behaviour, and so +to continue bound until such time as the person so bound +do conform himself to come to church. <hi rend='italic'>Anno 29° Eliz. +cap. 2°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +And, moreover, because it was presumed that every +recusant would not be able to pay this 20<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a month for +his recusancy, it was enacted that such as were not able to +pay the said statute should pay two parts of three of all +their lands and goods, so as he that should (for example) +have three hundred should pay two hundred yearly to +the Queen for his recusancy, and retain one hundred for +maintenance of himself, his wife, children, and family. +</p> + +<p> +In the same Parliament it was also enacted that if any +person or persons, body politic or corporal, after the Feast +of Pentecost then next ensuing, should keep any schoolmaster +for their children which should not repair to the +church, or not be allowed by the Bishop or Ordinary of the +<pb n='325'/><anchor id='Pg325'/> +diocese (which allowance could not be had without abjuring +the Pope's authority and the Catholic religion, as before +hath been showed), then shall he or they forfeit and lose +for every month<note place='foot'>So keeping. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> 10<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi>, and the schoolmaster or teacher +himself, besides his lying in prison for one whole year, +shall be disabled for ever to be a teacher of youth or to +exercise that office in any place afterwards. +</p> + +<p> +And to the end that Catholic recusants might be able +to pay these payments and pecuniary forfeitures to the +Queen, and not be able to make away any part of their +livings for their better relief, it was also enacted and +declared in this Parliament that every grant or conveyance +of goods or lands, every bond, judgment, or +execution had or made from that time forward which +should be judged to be done of purpose to defraud the +Queen, or to save their lands or goods from being forfeited +by virtue of<note place='foot'>According to. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> this statute, that all such conveyance made +by any Catholic recusant since the beginning of the said +Queen's reign, or after to be made for the use and relief +of the said recusant, or any of his, should not be available +in law, but all void, as if they had not been made. <hi rend='italic'>Anno +28° Eliz. cap. 6°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +But a little before this, to wit, in the precedent year, +the said Queen, understanding that Priests and ecclesiastical +men were multiplied in England by reason of +the English Seminaries in Catholic Princes' dominions,<note place='foot'>Foreign countries. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> +caused terrible thundering statutes to be made against +them. And first, that all and every Jesuit, Seminary +Priests, and other Priests whatsoever, made and ordained +out of the realm of England by any authority, power, or +jurisdiction derived, challenged, or pretended, from the +See of Rome, since the Feast of the Nativity of St. John +Baptist in the first year of the said Queen's reign, 1559, +<pb n='326'/><anchor id='Pg326'/> +shall within forty days depart out of the realm, and shall +not return again without peculiar licence of Her Majesty, +under pain of death and other losses and forfeitures +accustomed in cases of high treason. <hi rend='italic'>Anno 27° Eliz. +cap. 2°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +And then, secondly, if any subject of the realm +whatsoever, after the said time of forty days expired, +shall wittingly and willingly receive, relieve, comfort, or +maintain any such Jesuit, Seminary Priest, or other Priest, +Deacon, Religious, or ecclesiastical person as is aforesaid, +knowing him to be such an one, such suffer the pain of +death, and other losses, as in case of felony. <hi rend='italic'>Ibidem.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +Moreover, it was enacted by authority aforesaid, that if +any of Her Majesty's subjects or their children, now being +or hereafter shall be brought up in any College of Jesuits +or Seminary already erected or hereafter to be erected in +the parts beyond the seas, shall not within six months +next after proclamation in that behalf, to be made in the +City of London under the great seal of England, return +into this realm, and thereupon, within two days next after +his return, before the Bishop of the diocese, or two justices +of peace of the county where he shall arrive, submit +himself to Her Majesty and the laws, and take the oath +of supremacy against the Bishop of Rome his ecclesiastical +jurisdiction, set forth in the first year of the Queen's reign; +that then every such person otherwise returning or abiding +without such submission and forswearing his religion, as is +aforesaid, shall be adjudged a traitor, and suffer, lose, and +forfeit, as in cases of high treason. <hi rend='italic'>Anno 21° Eliz. cap. 6°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +And it was further enacted in the same Parliament +that, if any subject of the Queen's, after the foresaid forty +days expired, shall either by way of exchange, bank, +merchandize, or any shift or means whatsoever, wittingly +and willingly, directly or indirectly, convey or send over +the seas or out of the Queen's dominions any money or +other relief to or for any Jesuit, Seminary Priest, Deacon, +<pb n='327'/><anchor id='Pg327'/> +Religious, or ecclesiastical person, scholar, student, or the +like, or for the maintenance or relief of any College or +Seminary already erected or to be erected, that every such +person so offending shall lose all his goods and lands and +suffer perpetual imprisonment, as in case of <hi rend='italic'>præmunire</hi>. +Also it was enacted that whosoever should send over any +such students as aforesaid to the Seminaries shall for every +time forfeit 100<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +<note place='margin'>The Statute of confinement.</note> +And yet further, in the year 35 +of the Queen's reign it was enacted that every +recusant persevering in denial to go to the Protestants' +churches should be bound to go to their ordinary places of +dwelling, and not to depart from thence above five miles, +under pain of losing all their goods and chattels. And +they which should have no certain dwelling-place should +repair to the place where their father and mother dwelt, +under the same pains and forfeiture. And he that should +fail in this either is condemned to live in perpetual prison +or to abjure the land. <hi rend='italic'>Anno 35° Eliz. cap. 2°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +And yet this being not thought sufficient severity in this +kind, another statute was made, ordaining that whosoever, +by printing, writing, or express words, deeds, or speeches, +should practise or go about to move or persuade any of the +Queen's subjects to deny her power in ecclesiastical causes, +or to abstain from going to the Protestants' church, or to +be present at any unlawful assemblies under colour or +pretence of any exercise of religion contrary to Her +Majesty's laws, or shall themselves refuse for three +months' space to go to the said churches and hear divine +service, that then they shall be forced to abjure the realm +and go into perpetual banishment, or if they refuse the +same, they shall suffer death and other losses for it, as in +cases of felony. <hi rend='italic'>Anno 35° Eliz. cap. 1°.</hi> +</p> + +<p> +These are the chief statutes made against Catholic +religion in general by the late Queen Elizabeth. For we +do pretermit divers others more particular, and concerning +<pb n='328'/><anchor id='Pg328'/> +particular persons. As, for example, that of the 28th of +her reign (cap. 1°), wherein the Lord Thomas Paget, Baron, +Sir Francis Inglefield, Knight (one of the Privy Council +to Queen Mary, of worthy memory), and other Catholic +gentlemen, were attainted of treason, their goods and lands +confiscate, upon the former statute of fugitives, for that +they either went forth of England without licence, for +preservation of their consciences, or returned not when +their licence was ended. +</p> + +<p> +Another statute was also made in the 39th year of +Queen Elizabeth's reign (cap. 8°), wherein it was decreed +that all such Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, and other +spiritual Prelates of Queen Mary's time, as were deprived +by this Queen's ecclesiastical authority, for that they +would not accommodate themselves unto the form of +religion by her set forth, were well and lawfully deprived, +and by their deprivation the said bishoprics were made +merely void, and the others invested in their places by the +Queen's authority were only the true Bishops and had +lawful episcopal jurisdiction.<note place='foot'>Authority. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> And divers other such +particular things, which in this place we think good to +pass over. +</p> + +<p> +All these statutes, then, of Queen Elizabeth against +Catholic people and their religion, being so grievous and +rigorous, as you see, were confirmed by His Majesty that +now is, without any restraint or mitigation, in the first +Parliament, as before hath been said, with divers other +aggrievances thereunto added of new; as that Catholic +recusants should not only pay the 20<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a month ordained +by the former statute for such as refused to go to the +Protestants' church and service for conscience sake, but, +besides this 20<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a month to be paid for himself, he should +also pay 10<hi rend='italic'>l.</hi> a month for his wife or children that shall +refuse to go to the said churches, yea, and another also for +his servants. +</p> + +<pb n='329'/><anchor id='Pg329'/> + +<p> +Moreover, that all such young men or children that +shall study on that<note place='foot'>This. <hi rend='italic'>Erased in Orig.</hi></note> side the seas (being Catholics) or +frequent the schools or Colleges of any of the Jesuits, or +shall not return home within a certain time limited to +give account of themselves and their religion, shall forfeit +their inheritances in England and other dominions of His +Majesty, and the next of his kindred shall enjoy the +forfeiture that will conform himself, &c. +</p> + +<p> +And furthermore, whereas, in the beginning of his said +reign, certain new canons, constitutions, and ordinances +were agreed upon by those of the Protestant clergy to +molest and afflict Catholics withal, by pretended censures +of excommunications, as, namely, that four times at least +every year all preachers, readers of divinity, and all other +ecclesiastical persons, in sermons, collations, and lectures, +shall teach open and declare to the people that all authority +and jurisdiction of the Pope of Rome (as a thing not +having any ground by the law of God) is, for most just +causes, taken away and abolished, and that therefore no +manner of obedience or subjection is due thereunto, but +only that the King's power, which in his dominions and +countries is the highest power under God, above all other +powers and potentates upon earth; and that whosoever +denieth this, let him be excommunicated <hi rend='italic'>ipso facto</hi>, and +not restored but only by the Archbishop after his +repentance and public revocation of those his wicked +errors. These are the words of his first two canons. +</p> + +<p> +And the same punishment is laid upon whomsoever +shall hold or affirm that the Church of England now +established by law under His Majesty, is not a true and +Apostolical Church, teaching and maintaining the doctrine +of the Apostles. +</p> + +<p> +And many other things like unto this, passing from one +article to another of their sect, and binding Catholics, +under pain of excommunication, to believe and hold +<pb n='330'/><anchor id='Pg330'/> +all that they hold, or else to be vexed with citations, +condemnations, excommunications, and other vexations, +together with the writs and processes <foreign lang='la' rend='italic'>de excommunicato</foreign> +capiendo, as before you have heard suggested by the +Chancellor. Unto all which His Majesty gave consent +and authority by his letters patent, under the great seal +of England, upon the year 1603, and first of his reign, in +these words:— +</p> + +<p> +<q>We have, for us and our heirs and lawful successors, +of our especial grace, certain knowledge and mere motion +given, and by these presents do give our royal assent to +all and every of the said canons, orders and ordinances +and constitutions, and to all and everything in them +contained. And we do, by our said prerogative royal +and supreme authority in causes ecclesiastical, notify, +confirm, and establish, by these our letters patent, the +said canons, orders, &c., and all and everything in them +contained. And, moreover, do straitly enjoin and +command by our said authority, and by these our letters +patent, that the same be diligently observed and executed,</q> +&c. +</p> + +<p> +So His Majesty, in the first year of his reign, after he +had confirmed and revived all the laws of Queen Elizabeth +made and executed against Catholics; by all which he +made it evident unto his Catholic subjects that he would +not only continue and go forward in the steps of Queen +Elizabeth touching the persecution of Catholics, but +increase and add unto the same. For this increase of +afflictions, which was laid upon Catholics the first year of +his reign, was little in respect of that which was intended +against them. Which divers of the forward Puritans did +not stick to affirm and to threaten in the King's +name, as Roboam did in the beginning of his reign, saying, +<q>Minimus digitus meus grossior est dorso patris mei. Et +nunc pater meus posuit super vos jugum grave, ego autem +addam super jugum vestrum; pater meus cecidit vos +<pb n='331'/><anchor id='Pg331'/> +flagellis, ego autem cædam vos scorpionibus.</q><note place='foot'><q>My little finger is thicker than the back of my father. And now my +father put a heavy yoke upon you, but I will add to your yoke: my father beat +you with whips, but I will beat you with scorpions</q> (3 Kings xii. 10, 11).</note> To the +like effect did many of his officers give out His Majesty's +intentions to be; which, though we may presume to have +been contrary to his royal disposition, yet they did so far +prevail with him, that he afterwards verified what they had +foretold, by confirming the former laws of Queen Elizabeth +and adding unto them as you have heard. But especially +when he called the second Parliament, and in that suffered +to be packed together all the principal Puritans of the +realm, whose insatiable hatred against Catholics we knew +very well would never take up until they had made laws +answerable to their mind and malice against us. Then +they all before the Parliament consulted, and concluded +of the bills and laws they would urge to be passed against +Catholics, as afterwards, indeed, it was performed. And +many of those intended laws were known to divers +Catholics long before the Parliament time, which, as it +is thought, was a great motive unto the gentlemen to +undertake their rash and dangerous conspiracy, as deeming +so desperate a course to be a needful remedy in so +desperate a case.<note place='foot'>Here must be added the chief laws made in the third year of the King's +reign. And after that some few lines to show how much Catholics must +needs suffer under so heavy a yoke, more than they do under the Turk or any +other Government, and how hard it is for Catholics to live in such trials, being +so barred the Sacraments and helps, according to that of St. Bernard, <q>Væ +illis qui assumuntur in fortium et non aluntur fortium.</q> <hi rend='italic'>In marg.</hi></note> +</p> + +<p> +End Of The Narrative. +</p> + +</div> + +</div> + +<pb n='333'/><anchor id='Pg333'/> + +<div rend='page-break-before: always'> +<index index='toc'/> +<index index='pdf'/> +<head>Alphabetical Index.</head> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Abbot, George</hi>, Archbishop;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a visit from clvi, present at Fr. Garnett's death <ref target='Pg290'>290</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>persecutes Fr. Cornforth and the Vauxes <ref target='Pgclxxxvi'>clxxxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>receives Sir George Talbot <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Abergavenny, Katherine Lady;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Lord Vaux's sister <ref target='Pgclxxxvi'>clxxxvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Abington, Dorothy;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her conversion by Fr. Ouldcorne <ref target='Pg283'>283</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Abington, Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in the Tower <ref target='Pg027'>27</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>condemned to death for harbouring Priests <ref target='Pg028'>28</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>life spared at Lord Mounteagle's intercession <ref target='Pg028'>28</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>absent when Henlip is searched <ref target='Pg152'>152</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>apprehended <ref target='Pg157'>157</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>sent to Worcester <ref target='Pg266'>266</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>meets his wife <ref target='Pg266'>266</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried <ref target='Pg267'>267</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>reprieved <ref target='Pg268'>268</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>foils various Bishops of Worcester <ref target='Pg269'>269</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Adams, John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr, in the Marshalsea <ref target='Pgxiv'>xiv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Albert, Archduke, Governor of Flanders; <ref target='Pgcxcvii'>cxcvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>delays foundation of Watten <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Aldobrandini, Hippolitus Cardinal;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Viceprotector of the English College, Rome <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Aldridge;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a merchant, reaches Douay <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Alfani,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>sends a MS. to England from Rome <ref target='Pgccl'>ccl</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Alford, Michael, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>author of <hi rend='italic'>Annals</hi> <ref target='Pgccxlix'>ccxlix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Allen, Wm., Cardinal;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>wishes Fr. Gerard to return to England <ref target='Pgxvi'>xvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>desired harmony between seculars and Society <ref target='Pgcciv'>cciv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>obtains an indulgence for a prayer for the conversion of England <ref target='Pgcclxii'>cclxii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Aquaviva, Claude, General S.J.; <ref target='Pgccxxviii'>ccxxviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>admits Fr. Gerard and Fr. Ouldcorne into the Society <ref target='Pgxvi'>xvi</ref>, <ref target='Pg279'>279</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Arden, Edward;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>executed <ref target='Pgcxv'>cxv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Arden, Francis;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>escapes from the Tower with Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgcxv'>cxv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Arragon, D. Blasco de, <ref target='Pgcclviii'>cclviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Arundel, Anne Countess of;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>receives Fr. Southwell and Fr. Gerard lvii, at Acton <ref target='Pgcclv'>cclv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Arundel, Philip Earl of;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in the Tower x, <ref target='Pglvii'>lvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Arundell, Henry Lord; letter from Fr. Thorpe <ref target='Pgccxlix'>ccxlix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Ashby Church;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>story of <q>good Sir Wm. Catesby</q> painted in <ref target='Pg055'>55</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Ashley, Ralph, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tortured <ref target='Pg181'>181</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken to Worcester <ref target='Pg266'>266</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried <ref target='Pg271'>271</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyred <ref target='Pg275'>275</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Atkinson, William;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a Priest spy, informs of Fr. Gerard's letters <ref target='Pglxxxviii'>lxxxviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tries to have him rearrested <ref target='Pgcxxix'>cxxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>betrays Thomas Tichburn, the martyr <ref target='Pgcxxx'>cxxx</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Babington's</hi> plot; <ref target='Pgxv'>xv</ref>, <ref target='Pgxvii'>xvii</ref>, <ref target='Pg026'>26</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Babthorpe, Sir Ralph;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Louvain <ref target='Pgcxcvii'>cxcvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Babthorpe, Thomas, S.J.; <ref target='Pgccxlii'>ccxlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Bacon, Sir Francis;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Fr. Gerard xciii, and two servants of Mrs. Vaux <ref target='Pgcclvi'>cclvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Baldwin, William, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his letter to Fr. Persons cclviii, proposed for attainder <ref target='Pg165'>165</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Bales, Christopher;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr <ref target='Pgxviii'>xviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Bancroft, Richard, Bishop of London;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>sermon at Paul's Cross <ref target='Pg043'>43</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>enquires respecting Father Garnett's straw <ref target='Pg303'>303</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Banks, Richard, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>succeeds Fr. Gerard at Braddocks <ref target='Pgcxxxi'>cxxxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Barker, Thomas.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>William Wiseman's servant <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>, <ref target='Pgxlix'>xlix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Barkley, Sir Richard, Governor of the Tower;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgxciii'>xciii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>resigns his governorship <ref target='Pgciii'>ciii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<pb n='334'/><anchor id='Pg334'/> + +<lg> +<l>Bates, Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>servant of Catesby, enters conspiracy <ref target='Pg084'>84</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>suspected <ref target='Pg135'>135</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried in Westminster Hall <ref target='Pg192'>192</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his letter of regrets <ref target='Pg210'>210</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his death <ref target='Pg219'>219</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Baynham, Sir Edmund;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><ref target='Pg077'>77</ref>, <ref target='Pg082'>82</ref>, <ref target='Pg236'>236</ref>, <ref target='Pg251'>251</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Beaumont, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Tesimond'>Tesimond</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Beesley, George;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr <ref target='Pgxviii'>xviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Bellamy, Anne;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>betrays Father Southwell <ref target='Pgccxiv'>ccxiv</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxviii'>ccxviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Bellarmine, Robert Cardinal;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his letter to Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgcciii'>cciii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Bergholt, East, St. Mary's Abbey; <ref target='Pgxxxvii'>xxxvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Bishop, William;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in the Marshalsea <ref target='Pgxiv'>xiv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Blackburn, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Thomson'>Thomson</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Blackfan, John, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>proposed as nominal Rector of Louvain <ref target='Pgcxcvii'>cxcvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Blackwell, George, the Archpriest;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his house near the Inns of Court <ref target='Pgcxxx'>cxxx</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>informed of Watson's plot by Fr. Gerard, <ref target='Pg074'>74</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Blase, James, O.S.F., Bishop of St. Omers;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>transfers Watten to Society <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Blount, Richard, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>intending to leave England <ref target='Pgclxxxvii'>clxxxvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>letter to Fr. Aquaviva <ref target='Pgccxlvii'>ccxlvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Blunt, Sir Christopher;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in Earl of Essex's rising <ref target='Pg056'>56</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Booth, Charles, S.J.; <ref target='Pgccxlix'>ccxlix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Brabant, florin of; <ref target='Pgxiv'>xiv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Braddocks;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>William Wiseman's house <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's residence <ref target='Pgxxxii'>xxxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>searched <ref target='Pglii'>lii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Mass at <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Brewster, a Priest at Northend <ref target='Pgxli'>xli</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Briant or Brian, Alexander, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr <ref target='Pg017'>17</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Bridewell;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Richard Fulwood in <ref target='Pgxliii'>xliii</ref>, <ref target='Pgli'>li</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Bromley, Sir Henry;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>searches Henlip <ref target='Pg151'>151</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>takes Fr. Garnett and Fr. Ouldcorne to London <ref target='Pg157'>157</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Brooke, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Gerard'>Gerard</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Brooke, Sir Basil; <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Brooksby, Eleanor; <ref target='Pgcxxxv'>cxxxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Lord Vaux's <ref target='Pg137'>137</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Browne, Robert;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a Priest <ref target='Pgcxxxiv'>cxxxiv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Browne, William, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a Lay-brother <ref target='Pgcxcix'>cxcix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Brussels, Benedictine Convent <ref target='Pgxxxvii'>xxxvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Bryn;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>seat of the Gerards <ref target='Pgix'>ix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Brynhill, Sir Peter de; <ref target='Pgix'>ix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Buckley, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Jones'>Jones</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Buckland, Ralph;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's fellow-traveller <ref target='Pgxvi'>xvi</ref>, <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Buchanan;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>teaches regicide <ref target='Pg122'>122</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Campion</hi>, Edmund, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr <ref target='Pg017'>17</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his praises by Fr. Henry Walpole <ref target='Pgxci'>xci</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>effects of his coming to England <ref target='Pg131'>131</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Caracena, Conde de; <ref target='Pgcxciv'>cxciv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Carvajal, Donna Luisa de;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her will <ref target='Pgcxciii'>cxciii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>founds English Novitiate <ref target='Pgcxciv'>cxciv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Catesby, Robert;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>entered the Plot in good faith <ref target='Pg011'>11</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>proposes it <ref target='Pg052'>52</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>descended from <q>good Sir William</q> <ref target='Pg054'>54</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his early life <ref target='Pg055'>55</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>wounded in and fined for the Earl of Essex's rising <ref target='Pg056'>56</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>consults Fr. Garnett in general terms <ref target='Pg065'>65</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>conduct on discovery of the Plot <ref target='Pg106'>106</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>scorched with powder <ref target='Pg108'>108</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>shot <ref target='Pg109'>109</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>manner of his death <ref target='Pg110'>110</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Lord Vaux's <ref target='Pg137'>137</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclvi'>cclvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Charles, Duke of York; <ref target='Pg085'>85</ref>, <ref target='Pg091'>91</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Clarke;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his treason <ref target='Pg250'>250</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Clarke, William;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>committed as a recusant <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Clermont College, Paris;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard at <ref target='Pgxii'>xii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Clink, prison;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>spiritual exercises in <ref target='Pglxxii'>lxxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Good Friday in <ref target='Pglxxxvi'>lxxxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard in <ref target='Pglxix'>lxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Percy in <ref target='Pgcxxxiii'>cxxxiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Brother Emerson in <ref target='Pgxlv'>xlv</ref>, <ref target='Pglxx'>lxx</ref>, <ref target='Pglxxviii'>lxxviii</ref>, <ref target='Pglxxxix'>lxxxix</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclix'>ccliv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Brother Lilly in <ref target='Pglxxi'>lxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>John Rigby, the martyr, converted by Fr. Gerard in <ref target='Pglxxii'>lxxii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Cokayne, Edward;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>reports a search in Mrs. Jenison's house <ref target='Pgccliii'>ccliii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Coke, Sir Edward;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines William Wiseman i,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Fr. Gerard xciii, his book <ref target='Pg046'>46</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Fr. Garnett <ref target='Pg164'>164</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>proposes 8 Jesuits for attainder by Parliament <ref target='Pg164'>164</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his speech at Fr. Garnett's trial <ref target='Pg228'>228</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Colendin, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Gifford'>Gifford</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Collyn, Patrick;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his treason <ref target='Pg234'>234</ref>, <ref target='Pg249'>249</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxv'>xcv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<pb n='335'/><anchor id='Pg335'/> + +<lg> +<l>Conference of Protestant Bishops and Puritans in 1605; <ref target='Pg040'>40</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Contreras, Don Frances de; <ref target='Pgcxciv'>cxciv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Cornelius John, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr <ref target='Pg017'>17</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>manner of arrest <ref target='Pg038'>38</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Cornforth, Thomas, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>caught at Mass <ref target='Pgclxxxvi'>clxxxvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Coughton;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Bates saw Father Garnett and Father Tesimond at <ref target='Pg211'>211</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Counter, the prisons so called; <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>, <ref target='Pglxi'>lxi</ref>, <ref target='Pglxix'>lxix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Cranedge, Henry and Elizabeth;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>recusants <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Cranishe, Richard;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>son of Robert, crosses to Middleborough <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Cresswell, Joseph, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Father Persons' <hi rend='italic'>Philopater</hi> attributed to him <ref target='Pg234'>234</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>proposed for attainder <ref target='Pg164'>164</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>superior in Spain <ref target='Pgccxxviii'>ccxxviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Crooke, Sir John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>opens prosecution of Fr. Garnett <ref target='Pg227'>227</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Dale</hi>, Mr.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Brother Emerson <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Daniell;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Mrs. Wiseman's servant <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Darbyshire, Thomas, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>goes with Fr. Gerard to Rouen <ref target='Pgxii'>xii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Darcy, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Garnett'>Garnett</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Digby, Sir Everard;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his and his wife's conversion <ref target='Pgcl'>cl</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his illness <ref target='Pgcliii'>cliii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his affection for Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgcliv'>cliv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>helps to convert a friend <ref target='Pgclxvi'>clxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>entered into the Plot <ref target='Pg087'>87</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in good faith <ref target='Pg011'>11</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his family <ref target='Pg087'>87</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his manliness <ref target='Pg088'>88</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his Catholic life <ref target='Pg089'>89</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his office in the Plot <ref target='Pg091'>91</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Dunchurch <ref target='Pg106'>106</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his page William Ellis <ref target='Pg110'>110</ref>, <ref target='Pgccii'>ccii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken <ref target='Pg111'>111</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>proposes match between Lord Vaux and Earl of Suffolk's daughter <ref target='Pg137'>137</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Lord Vaux's <ref target='Pgcclvi'>cclvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his house in Rutlandshire, <ref target='Pg138'>138</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried in Westminster Hall <ref target='Pg191'>191</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>exculpates Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pg209'>209</ref>, <ref target='Pgclxxix'>clxxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>clears the Society <ref target='Pg008'>8</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>allied to Earl of Salisbury <ref target='Pg216'>216</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>asks to be beheaded <ref target='Pg216'>216</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his death <ref target='Pg216'>216</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's letter to <ref target='Pgccxxxiv'>ccxxxiv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Dolman, the priest;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>letter to Mrs. Wiseman <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Dormer, Dorothy;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>marries Sir Henry Huddleston <ref target='Pgxxxiii'>xxxiii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Dormer, Jane;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>marries Duke of Feria <ref target='Pgxxxiii'>xxxiii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Drury, Robert;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr <ref target='Pglxxvi'>lxxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>living in Fr. Gerard's house <ref target='Pgcxxvii'>cxxvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Dunkellin, Richard Lord;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>wishes to go to confession <ref target='Pgclix'>clix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>fights a duel <ref target='Pgclxi'>clxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>marries and converts Walsyngham's daughter <ref target='Pgclix'>clix</ref>, <ref target='Pgclxi'>clxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Dunsmore Heath; <ref target='Pg092'>92</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Egerton, Sir Thomas</hi>, Lord Chancellor;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>once a Catholic <ref target='Pglix'>lix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Elizabeth, Princess; <ref target='Pg085'>85</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Ellis'/> +<l>Ellis, William <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> John Williams;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>page to Sir Everard Digby <ref target='Pg110'>110</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>novice S.J. <ref target='Pgccii'>ccii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Elmer, John, Bishop of London;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard in his custody, <ref target='Pgxiii'>xiii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Emerson;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>of Felsted <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Emerson'/> +<l>Emerson, Ralph, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Homulus <ref target='Pgxlv'>xlv</ref>, <ref target='Pglxx'>lxx</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in Clink <ref target='Pgxlv'>xlv</ref>, <ref target='Pglxx'>lxx</ref>, <ref target='Pglxxviii'>lxxviii</ref>, <ref target='Pglxxxix'>lxxxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his examination <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>moved to Newgate <ref target='Pgxlv'>xlv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>sent to Wisbech, into banishment, dies at St. Omers <ref target='Pglxxi'>lxxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Essex, Earl of;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his rising <ref target='Pg055'>55</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Eu, College at;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><ref target='Pgxvii'>xvii</ref>, <ref target='Pg280'>280</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Everett, Thomas, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in hiding <ref target='Pgclxxx'>clxxx</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>surprised at Mass <ref target='Pgclxxxi'>clxxxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Excommunications; <ref target='Pg042'>42</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Farmer</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Garnett'>Garnett</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Fawcet;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a witness against Fr. Garnett <ref target='Pg255'>255</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Fawkes or Faulks, Guido or Guy;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>one of the first conspirators <ref target='Pg053'>53</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a good soldier in Flanders <ref target='Pg059'>59</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>passes as Percy's man <ref target='Pg063'>63</ref>, <ref target='Pg105'>105</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his office in the Plot <ref target='Pg091'>91</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>found in the vault <ref target='Pg099'>99</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>apprehended <ref target='Pg103'>103</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> John Johnson <ref target='Pg105'>105</ref>, <ref target='Pg196'>196</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in the Tower <ref target='Pg112'>112</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his confession <ref target='Pgccxxiv'>ccxxiv</ref>, <ref target='Pg112'>112</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tortured ccxxv, <ref target='Pg221'>221</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried in Westminster Hall <ref target='Pg191'>191</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>reason for pleading <q>Not guilty</q> <ref target='Pg195'>195</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his death <ref target='Pg221'>221</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Feller;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his mention of Fr. Garnett's straw <ref target='Pg305'>305</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Ferdinand, Prince Bishop of Liége; <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>, <ref target='Pgcciv'>cciv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Feria, Duke of;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his wife Jane Dormer <ref target='Pgxxxiii'>xxxiii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Filcock, Roger, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr <ref target='Pglxxvi'>lxxvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Fisher, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Percy'>Percy</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<pb n='336'/><anchor id='Pg336'/> + +<lg> +<l>Fitzherbert, Thomas, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>letter to Bishop of Chalcedon <ref target='Pgccxlii'>ccxlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Fleming, Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgxciii'>xciii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Floyd, Henry, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><ref target='Pgccxlii'>ccxlii</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclx'>cclx</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Foxe, Robert;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>committed as a recusant <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Frank, John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>betrays his master and Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgxl'>xl</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his deposition <ref target='Pgxli'>xli</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Froude;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>quotation from, on equivocation <ref target='Pgccxi'>ccxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Fuller, Mr.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Brother Emerson <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Fulwood, John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>found in Mr. Wiseman's house <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>, <ref target='Pgxlix'>xlix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Fulwood, Richard, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Father Gerard's man <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>, <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>visits Lady Gerard <ref target='Pgxxxv'>xxxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken <ref target='Pgxlvi'>xlvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>imprisoned in Bridewell <ref target='Pgxliii'>xliii</ref>, <ref target='Pgli'>li</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tortured <ref target='Pgli'>li</ref>, <ref target='Pglxiv'>lxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>escapes <ref target='Pglxvi'>lxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>helps Fr. Gerard to escape from the Tower <ref target='Pgcxviii'>cxviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in Belgium <ref target='Pgcclviii'>cclviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Garnett <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Gilford;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Novice S.J. <ref target='Pgcci'>cci</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Garnett'/> +<l>Garnett, Henry, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Darcy <ref target='Pgcclxii'>cclxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Walley <ref target='Pg211'>211</ref>, <ref target='Pgclxxxix'>clxxxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Farmer <ref target='Pg226'>226</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his parentage <ref target='Pg297'>297</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Father Gerard finds him in London, <ref target='Pg282'>282</ref>, <ref target='Pgxxiv'>xxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>lives in Warwickshire <ref target='Pg282'>282</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his instructions <ref target='Pgxxv'>xxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>renewal of vows <ref target='Pgxxxviii'>xxxviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his foresight <ref target='Pgxxxviii'>xxxviii</ref>, <ref target='Pgxlv'>xlv</ref>, <ref target='Pgxlvi'>xlvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard tortured to say where he is <ref target='Pgxcvi'>xcvi</ref>, <ref target='Pgc'>c</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>receives Fr. Gerard on his escape from Tower <ref target='Pgcxxiv'>cxxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his house called Morecroftes at Uxbridge, <ref target='Pgcclv'>cclv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his house in Spital <ref target='Pgcxliii'>cxliii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>informed of Watson's plot by Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pg074'>74</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>consulted by Catesby on death of innocents <ref target='Pg065'>65</ref>, <ref target='Pg120'>120</ref>, <ref target='Pg253'>253</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>wrote to Rome his fears <ref target='Pg071'>71</ref>, <ref target='Pg075'>75</ref>, <ref target='Pg121'>121</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>goes to St. Winifred's Well <ref target='Pg078'>78</ref>, <ref target='Pg240'>240</ref>, <ref target='Pg258'>258</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclxii'>cclxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>persuades discontented Catholics to send Sir Edmund Baynham to the Pope <ref target='Pg077'>77</ref>, <ref target='Pg082'>82</ref>, <ref target='Pg236'>236</ref>, <ref target='Pg251'>251</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his wise direction <ref target='Pg132'>132</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Bates' evidence against him <ref target='Pg136'>136</ref>, <ref target='Pg211'>211</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>accused in Proclamation <ref target='Pg144'>144</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his attainder proposed <ref target='Pg165'>165</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>hides at Henlip <ref target='Pg150'>150</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>betrayed by Humphrey Littleton <ref target='Pg150'>150</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken <ref target='Pg154'>154</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>identified by a Priest <ref target='Pg156'>156</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>silences Sir Henry Bromley's chaplain <ref target='Pg157'>157</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>committed to Gatehouse <ref target='Pg159'>159</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><ref target='Pgclxxxii'>clxxxii</ref>, examined by Privy Council <ref target='Pg159'>159</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>transferred to Tower <ref target='Pg160'>160</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>cozened by his keeper <ref target='Pg166'>166</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>overheard in conference with Fr. Ouldcorne <ref target='Pg169'>169</ref>, <ref target='Pg241'>241</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>kept from sleep and drugged <ref target='Pg173'>173</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tortured <ref target='Pg174'>174</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>may now tell what he heard in confession <ref target='Pg175'>175</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried at Guildhall <ref target='Pg225'>225</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his indictment <ref target='Pg226'>226</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his speech <ref target='Pg243'>243</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his martyrdom <ref target='Pg288'>288</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclviii'>cclviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>the miraculous straw <ref target='Pg297'>297</ref>, <ref target='Pg301'>301</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>other signs <ref target='Pg305'>305</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>on equivocation <ref target='Pg244'>244</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxx'>ccxx</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his letters <ref target='Pgxlv'>xlv</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxxviii'>ccxxviii</ref>, <ref target='Pg072'>72</ref> <hi rend='italic'>et seq.</hi></l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Garnett, Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in Gatehouse <ref target='Pg166'>166</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>sent to Tower <ref target='Pg173'>173</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyred <ref target='Pgcxcv'>cxcv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Novice at St. John's, Louvain <ref target='Pgcxcv'>cxcv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Garney, James;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Sir Everard Digby's servant, <ref target='Pgcclxii'>cclxii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Garswood;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>seat of the Gerards <ref target='Pgix'>ix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Gasca, Donna Maria; <ref target='Pgcxciv'>cxciv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Gatehouse; Fr. Garnett and Fr. Ouldcorne committed to <ref target='Pg159'>159</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Thomas Garnett there <ref target='Pg166'>166</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>John Grissold there <ref target='Pg181'>181</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Gerard'/> +<l>Gerard John, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Starkie, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Standish <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>, <ref target='Pgxciii'>xciii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Tanfield, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Staunton, <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Brooke <ref target='Pgclxxxvii'>clxxxvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Nelson, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Tomson <ref target='Pgcxcvi'>cxcvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Harrison <ref target='Pgcclix'>cclix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>parentage <ref target='Pgix'>ix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>childhood <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>is sent to Derbyshire <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>has property at Ashton <ref target='Pgxi'>xi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>sent to Exeter College, Oxford <ref target='Pgxi'>xi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>goes to Rhemes <ref target='Pgxii'>xii</ref>, <ref target='Pgccliii'>ccliii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>to Paris and Rouen <ref target='Pgxii'>xii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his vocation <ref target='Pgxii'>xii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>falls ill and returns to England <ref target='Pgxiii'>xiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in custody of Elmer, Bishop of London <ref target='Pgxiii'>xiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>committed to Marshalsea <ref target='Pgxiv'>xiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>fined for recusancy <ref target='Pgxiv'>xiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>goes to Paris and Rome <ref target='Pgxv'>xv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>enters English College <ref target='Pgxv'>xv</ref>, <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>ordained Priest <ref target='Pgxvi'>xvi</ref>, <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>admitted into Society <ref target='Pgxvi'>xvi</ref>, <ref target='Pg279'>279</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>starts for England <ref target='Pgxvi'>xvi</ref>, <ref target='Pg280'>280</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>lands <ref target='Pgxviii'>xviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>arrested <ref target='Pgxxi'>xxi</ref>, <ref target='Pg281'>281</ref>,</l> +<pb n='337'/><anchor id='Pg337'/> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>reaches Norwich <ref target='Pgxxii'>xxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>arrives in London <ref target='Pgxxiv'>xxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>returns to Norfolk <ref target='Pgxxv'>xxv</ref>, <ref target='Pg282'>282</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>changes his residence <ref target='Pgxxix'>xxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>goes to live at Braddocks <ref target='Pgxxxii'>xxxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>hires a house in Golding-lane <ref target='Pgxlvi'>xlvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in hiding-places <ref target='Pgxxxix'>xxxix</ref>, <ref target='Pglii'>lii</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxxxix'>cxxxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>received by Countess of Arundel <ref target='Pglvii'>lvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken at Middleton's <ref target='Pglviii'>lviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examined <ref target='Pglix'>lix</ref>, <ref target='Pglxi'>lxi</ref>, <ref target='Pglxxx'>lxxx</ref>, <ref target='Pglxxxii'>lxxxii</ref>, <ref target='Pgxciii'>xciii</ref>, <ref target='Pglxxxiv'>lxxxiv</ref>, <ref target='Pgcx'>cx</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxiii'>cxiii</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxiv'>ccxiv</ref>;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>sent to the Counter <ref target='Pglxi'>lxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>put in irons <ref target='Pglix'>lix</ref>, <ref target='Pglxiv'>lxiv</ref>, <ref target='Pglxix'>lxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his servants <ref target='Pglxv'>lxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>removed to the Clink <ref target='Pglxix'>lxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his house in charge of Ann Line <ref target='Pglxxii'>lxxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>wears Jesuit's dress in prison <ref target='Pglxxxi'>lxxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>cell in Clink searched <ref target='Pglxxxix'>lxxxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>removed to Tower <ref target='Pgxc'>xc</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tortured the first time <ref target='Pgxcvii'>xcvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>the second time <ref target='Pgci'>ci</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>the third time <ref target='Pgciii'>ciii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>says Mass <ref target='Pgcxv'>cxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>escapes from Tower <ref target='Pgcxvii'>cxvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>leaves the Wisemans <ref target='Pgcxxxi'>cxxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>fears to have to leave England <ref target='Pgcxxxi'>cxxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>removes to Harrowden <ref target='Pgcxxxiii'>cxxxiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>takes half of a house in London <ref target='Pgcxxxix'>cxxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>which is searched <ref target='Pgcxxxvi'>cxxxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>moves to a house near the Strand <ref target='Pgclxii'>clxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>where without his knowledge the conspirators receive Communion, <ref target='Pg197'>197</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxxiii'>ccxxiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his innocence of Powder Plot <ref target='Pgclxxiii'>clxxiii</ref>, <ref target='Pgclxxviii'>clxxviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in hiding <ref target='Pgclxxxii'>clxxxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>leaves England <ref target='Pgclxxxiv'>clxxxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at St. Omers and Brussels <ref target='Pgcclviii'>cclviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>goes to Rome <ref target='Pgcclxi'>cclxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>and Louvain <ref target='Pgclxxxiii'>clxxxiii</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxciii'>cxciii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his character <ref target='Pgccli'>ccli</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his Profession <ref target='Pgclxxxiv'>clxxxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Bates' evidence against him <ref target='Pg136'>136</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his letters to the Council <ref target='Pg136'>136</ref>, <ref target='Pg142'>142</ref>, <ref target='Pg207'>207</ref>, <ref target='Pg212'>212</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>accused in Proclamation <ref target='Pg143'>143</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>proposed for attainder <ref target='Pg165'>165</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>cleared by Sir Everard Digby <ref target='Pg209'>209</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his letters <ref target='Pgclxxxv'>clxxxv</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxcv'>cxcv</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxxxi'>ccxxxi</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxlvi'>ccxlvi</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclix'>cclix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his description <ref target='Pgclxxxvii'>clxxxvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>disturbed in Belgium by English Government <ref target='Pgcxcvi'>cxcvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>returns through Spain to Rome <ref target='Pgccviii'>ccviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>dies there <ref target='Pgccix'>ccix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>on equivocation <ref target='Pgccix'>ccix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his MS. on Powder Plot <ref target='Pgccxlviii'>ccxlviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his autobiography <ref target='Pgcclii'>cclii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Gerard Sir Gilbert;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Master of the Rolls <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Gerard, Sir Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>first Baronet <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>knighted at James I.'s accession with fair words <ref target='Pg027'>27</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Gerard, Sir Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>first Lord Gerard <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Knight Marshal <ref target='Pgcxxx'>cxxx</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Gerard, Sir Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Knight, of Bryn <ref target='Pgix'>ix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>imprisoned twice in the Tower <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>, <ref target='Pg027'>27</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>released at great cost <ref target='Pg027'>27</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>compounds for his recusancy <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>dwelt at Etwall, within two miles of Tutbury Castle, <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>, <ref target='Pgccliii'>ccliii</ref>, <ref target='Pg026'>26</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Ghent;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Tertianship founded by Anne Countess of Arundel <ref target='Pgcclxii'>cclxii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Gifford'/> +<l>Gifford, Gilbert, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Jacques Colendin;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a Priest and spy <ref target='Pgxvi'>xvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Gilford, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Garnett'>Garnett</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Golding-lane;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's house there searched <ref target='Pgxlv'>xlv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Golthwaite;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Sir John Yorke's house <ref target='Pgcclvii'>cclvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Goodman, Gabriel, Dean of Westminster;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pglxxxii'>lxxxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Br. Emerson <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Grafton, Novice, S.J.; <ref target='Pgcci'>cci</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Grant, John; beats pursuivants <ref target='Pg086'>86</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>joins the conspiracy <ref target='Pg087'>87</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>much scorched with powder <ref target='Pg108'>108</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken <ref target='Pg109'>109</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried in Westminster Hall <ref target='Pg191'>191</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his death <ref target='Pg218'>218</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>not at Lord Vaux's <ref target='Pgcclvi'>cclvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Green, Richard;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>candidate for Society <ref target='Pgcxciii'>cxciii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Greenway, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Tesimond'>Tesimond</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Grene, Christopher, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>Collectanea</hi> <ref target='Pgccxlvii'>ccxlvii</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxlix'>ccxlix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Grene, Martin, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>letter about Powder Plot <ref target='Pgccxlvii'>ccxlvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Griffin, Mrs.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>receives Fr. Garnett's straw <ref target='Pg302'>302</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>cured by it <ref target='Pg304'>304</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Grissold, John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tortured <ref target='Pg181'>181</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Guildhall;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard examined at <ref target='Pglxxxiv'>lxxxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Garnett tried in <ref target='Pg226'>226</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Hall</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Ouldcorne'>Ouldcorne</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Harrington, Lord;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in charge of the Lady Elizabeth <ref target='Pg085'>85</ref>, <ref target='Pg092'>92</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Harrison, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Gerard'>Gerard</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Harrowden, Great; <ref target='Pgcxxxv'>cxxxv</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxlvii'>cxlvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>altar furniture at <ref target='Pgclxxv'>clxxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>searched for nine days <ref target='Pgclxxv'>clxxv</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxc'>cxc</ref>, <ref target='Pg141'>141</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Bates saw the Fathers at <ref target='Pg136'>136</ref>, <ref target='Pg211'>211</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>restored to Lord Vaux <ref target='Pgclxxxvii'>clxxxvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Hartley, William;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr, in the Marshalsea <ref target='Pgxiv'>xiv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<pb n='338'/><anchor id='Pg338'/> + +<lg> +<l>Hatton, Sir Christopher;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his house <ref target='Pgcxxxv'>cxxxv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Heigham, William, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>maintains William Thomson the martyr <ref target='Pglxxiii'>lxxiii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Henlip;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Thomas Abington's house, <ref target='Pg149'>149</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Garnett hides there <ref target='Pg150'>150</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Ouldcorne lives there <ref target='Pgxl'>xl</ref>, <ref target='Pg150'>150</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>searched <ref target='Pg151'>151</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Heywood, Mrs.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her presence of mind when her house is searched <ref target='Pgcxxxviii'>cxxxviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Hobadge House;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Stephen Littleton's <ref target='Pg108'>108</ref>, <ref target='Pg210'>210</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Hobocque, Baron de;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Flemish ambassador, testifies to Father Garnett's straw <ref target='Pg303'>303</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Holt, William, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Rector of English College at Rome <ref target='Pgxv'>xv</ref>, <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in Belgium <ref target='Pgcxxviii'>cxxviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>unjustly accused <ref target='Pg249'>249</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Homulus, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Emerson'>Emerson</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Hopton, Sir Owen;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Brother Emerson <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Hoskins, Anthony, S.J.; <ref target='Pgcxlix'>cxlix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>with Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgclxxx'>clxxx</ref>, with Fr. Gerard's friends <ref target='Pgcclx'>cclx</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Huddington;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Winters of <ref target='Pg058'>58</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Huddleston, Sir Henry;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>converted <ref target='Pgxxxiii'>xxxiii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Hunston, Brian;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in Fr. Gerard's service <ref target='Pgclxxxix'>clxxxix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Huntingdon, Earl of;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his wife Fr. Gerard's aunt <ref target='Pgccliii'>ccliii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Hurlston, Ha.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in prison <ref target='Pgclxxxix'>clxxxix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Hymn of All Saints; <ref target='Pg240'>240</ref>, <ref target='Pg254'>254</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclxii'>cclxii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Inglefield, Sir Francis</hi>; attainted <ref target='Pg328'>328</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Jackson, Richard</hi>;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>indicted for saying Mass at Braddocks <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>James I.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his book for his son <ref target='Pg023'>23</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>compares Papists and Puritans to two asses <ref target='Pg123'>123</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>expectations on his accession <ref target='Pg020'>20</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>disappointment <ref target='Pg025'>25</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>deciphers the letter <ref target='Pg098'>98</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>proclamation of Nov. 7, <ref target='Pg114'>114</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his speech <ref target='Pg116'>116</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his book on the Powder Plot <ref target='Pg199'>199</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Jenings, Alice, wife of Richard;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a recusant <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Jenison, John and Michael;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's brothers-in-law <ref target='Pgccliii'>ccliii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Jeppes, John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>stayed at Frank's with the Wisemans <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Jesuits;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>accused <ref target='Pg148'>148</ref>, <ref target='Pg193'>193</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>cleared <ref target='Pg179'>179</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Coke proposes eight for attainder by Parliament <ref target='Pg164'>164</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Johnson;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>quotation from, on equivocation <ref target='Pgccxi'>ccxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Jones'/> +<l>Jones, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Buckley, John, O.S.F.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr <ref target='Pgxxxii'>xxxii</ref>, <ref target='Pglxxvi'>lxxvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Kensington</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Laithwaite'>Laithwaite</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Keyes, Robert;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his virtue and valour <ref target='Pg087'>87</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>joins the conspiracy <ref target='Pg087'>87</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken <ref target='Pg112'>112</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried in Westminster Hall <ref target='Pg192'>192</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his death <ref target='Pg221'>221</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Keynes, George, S.J.; <ref target='Pgcclviii'>cclviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Knevet, Sir Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>searches the vault <ref target='Pg103'>103</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Knox, John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>teaches regicide <ref target='Pg122'>122</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Laithwaite'/> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Laithwaite, Thos.</hi>, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken, escapes, is retaken <ref target='Pgclxxvi'>clxxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Scott <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Kensington <ref target='Pgcxcvi'>cxcvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>frequents Fr. Gerard's house <ref target='Pgclxxvi'>clxxvi</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxxiv'>ccxxiv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Lasnet, John, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>serves Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pglxv'>lxv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Laud, William Archbishop;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>marries Lord Mountjoy and Lady Rich <ref target='Pgxxxiv'>xxxiv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Lee Priory;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Lord Rich's house, <ref target='Pgxli'>xli</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Lee, Roger, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in retreat <ref target='Pgcxxxvi'>cxxxvi</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxlvi'>cxlvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>helps to convert his friends <ref target='Pgcxlviii'>cxlviii</ref>, <ref target='Pgcl'>cl</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Baldwin would send him to England <ref target='Pgcclviii'>cclviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard opposed to this as premature <ref target='Pgcclx'>cclx</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Leeds, Sir Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Louvain <ref target='Pgcxcvii'>cxcvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Leicester, Earl of; <ref target='Pglxii'>lxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>threats against Catholics xvii, <ref target='Pg279'>279</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><q>my Lord of Leicester's books</q> <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Lenox, Duke of;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's letter to <ref target='Pgccxxxi'>ccxxxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Lerma, Duke of; <ref target='Pg235'>235</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Leutner, or Lewckener, Edmund;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>of Exeter College, Oxford <ref target='Pgxi'>xi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Lewkner, Thomas, Novice S.J. <ref target='Pgcci'>cci</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Liége, florin of <ref target='Pgxiv'>xiv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Liége, foundation at <ref target='Pgcxcvi'>cxcvi</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxcix'>cxcix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Lilly, John S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in the Clink <ref target='Pglxxi'>lxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>liberty purchased <ref target='Pgcix'>cix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>visits Fr. Gerard in the Tower <ref target='Pgcxi'>cxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>helps him to escape from the Tower <ref target='Pgcxviii'>cxviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>is taken in his stead <ref target='Pgcxxxix'>cxxxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>outwits Wade <ref target='Pgcxliii'>cxliii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>death <ref target='Pglxvi'>lxvi</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxliv'>cxliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<pb n='339'/><anchor id='Pg339'/> + +<lg> +<l>Line, Anne;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr, has charge of Father Gerard's house <ref target='Pglxxiii'>lxxiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>changes house <ref target='Pgcxxviii'>cxxviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her husband <ref target='Pglxxiv'>lxxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>visits Mrs. Heywood <ref target='Pgcxxxviii'>cxxxviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her arrest at Mass <ref target='Pglxxv'>lxxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her conduct in Court <ref target='Pglxxv'>lxxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her death <ref target='Pglxxvi'>lxxvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Lingard, John, D.D.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>on the Communion of the conspirators <ref target='Pgccxxiii'>ccxxiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>on the date of a letter quoted <ref target='Pgccxxvii'>ccxxvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>quotes affidavit of Anthony Smith <ref target='Pgccxlvii'>ccxlvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Little John and Little Michael, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Owen'>Owen</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Littleton, Humphrey;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>shelters Robert Winter and Stephen Littleton <ref target='Pg112'>112</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>betrays Father Garnett and Fr. Ouldcorne <ref target='Pg150'>150</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried at Worcester <ref target='Pg267'>267</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>repents of his treachery <ref target='Pg268'>268</ref>, <ref target='Pg269'>269</ref>, <ref target='Pg270'>270</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Littleton, Stephen;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>receives the conspirators <ref target='Pg108'>108</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>escapes for a time <ref target='Pg110'>110</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Hobadge House <ref target='Pg108'>108</ref>, <ref target='Pg210'>210</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken <ref target='Pg112'>112</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried and executed at Stafford <ref target='Pg277'>277</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Lopez;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his treason <ref target='Pg234'>234</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Louvain, St. John's;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>the first English Novitiate S.J. <ref target='Pgcxcv'>cxcv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Louvain, St. Monica's; <ref target='Pgxxxi'>xxxi</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxcvi'>cxcvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Maltravers, James Lord</hi>;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>erroneously said to have been converted by Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgcclxii'>cclxii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Manners, Sir Oliver;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his conversion <ref target='Pgclxvi'>clxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his letter to Fr. Aquaviva <ref target='Pgcclv'>cclv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his return to England <ref target='Pgcciii'>cciii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his death <ref target='Pgcciii'>cciii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>praise perhaps of him as intending to be a Priest <ref target='Pgcclxi'>cclxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Mansel'/> +<l>Mansel <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Griffin, Richard;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Novice S.J. <ref target='Pgcci'>cci</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Markham, Anne Lady;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>correspondence with Earl of Salisbury about betraying Father Gerard <ref target='Pgclxxxviii'>clxxxviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Marshalsea Prison; <ref target='Pgcxxx'>cxxx</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard in <ref target='Pgxiv'>xiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Br. Nicholas Owen in <ref target='Pg186'>186</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Mary, Queen of Scots; <ref target='Pg021'>21</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>died because she was a Catholic <ref target='Pg016'>16</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a martyr <ref target='Pg022'>22</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>confined at Tutbury Castle <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>, <ref target='Pgccliii'>ccliii</ref>, <ref target='Pg026'>26</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Babington's plot for <ref target='Pgxv'>xv</ref>, <ref target='Pgxvii'>xvii</ref>, <ref target='Pg026'>26</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Sir Thomas Stanley, Sir Thomas Gerard, and Mr. Roulston take her part <ref target='Pg026'>26</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Maximilian, Duke of Bavaria;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>sends gifts to new House at Liége <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>endows the College there <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his children <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Mayer, Father, S.J.; <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Mayor of London, the Lord;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>searches Fr. Gerard's house <ref target='Pgclxxxi'>clxxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>one of Fr. Garnett's judges <ref target='Pg226'>226</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Middleton's;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard and Nicholas Owen taken there <ref target='Pgxliii'>xliii</ref>, <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>, <ref target='Pglviii'>lviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Milton;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>quotation from, on equivocation <ref target='Pgccxi'>ccxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Miranda, Conde de; <ref target='Pg235'>235</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Condessa de <ref target='Pgcxciv'>cxciv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Molina, Melchior de; <ref target='Pgcxciv'>cxciv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Montacute Papers; <ref target='Pgcclvi'>cclvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Montague, Anthony Viscount; <ref target='Pgxxxiii'>xxxiii</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxcix'>cxcix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>More, Thomas, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>last English Provincial before the suppression <ref target='Pgccli'>ccli</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>More, Henry, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>lived at St. John's, Louvain <ref target='Pgcxcv'>cxcv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Socius to Fr. Gerard at Louvain <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his scholarship <ref target='Pgcci'>cci</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Morecroftes at Uxbridge;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Garnett's house <ref target='Pgcclv'>cclv</ref>, <hi rend='italic'>perhaps</hi> <ref target='Pgxlvi'>xlvi</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxxiv'>cxxiv</ref>, <ref target='Pg181'>181</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Morton, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Talbot'>Talbot</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Motte;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his bark <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Mountague, Dean of Chapel Royal; <ref target='Pg045'>45</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Mounteagle, the Lord;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>the letter to <ref target='Pg096'>96</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his supper <ref target='Pg101'>101</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Mountjoy, Lord;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>seduces Lady Rich <ref target='Pgxxxiv'>xxxiv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Myller, Ralph;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a tailor of Rhemes, his confession <ref target='Pgxxxiv'>cxxxiv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Nelson</hi>, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Gerard'>Gerard</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Nevill, the Lady;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>died of ill-treatment in a search <ref target='Pg039'>39</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Newall, William;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a pursuivant <ref target='Pgxli'>xli</ref>, <ref target='Pgccliii'>ccliii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Newman, John Henry, D.D.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>quotation from <ref target='Pgccxi'>ccxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Norffooke, Nicholas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Mr. Wiseman's servant <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Northampton, Earl of;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>reads the letter <ref target='Pg097'>97</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Fr. Garnett <ref target='Pg173'>173</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>speech at conspirators' trial <ref target='Pg213'>213</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>one of Fr. Garnett's judges <ref target='Pg226'>226</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>intercedes for the Vauxes <ref target='Pgclxxxvi'>clxxxvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<pb n='340'/><anchor id='Pg340'/> + +<lg> +<l>Northend, Great Waltham;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Mrs. Wiseman's house <ref target='Pgxxxi'>xxxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Northumberland, Earl of;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his four daughters <ref target='Pgxxxvi'>xxxvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Nottingham, Earl of;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>one of Fr. Garnett's judges <ref target='Pg226'>226</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Ormes</hi>; a tailor <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Ostend;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>boys taken going to St. Omers by <ref target='Pglxxix'>lxxix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Ouldcorne'/> +<l>Ouldcorne, Edward, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'><hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Hall <ref target='Pg165'>165</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>sent to Naples to beg for the English College, Rome, <ref target='Pg278'>278</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>admitted into the Society xvi, <ref target='Pg279'>279</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>goes to England xvi, ccliv, <ref target='Pg280'>280</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>converts Dorothy Abington <ref target='Pg283'>283</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>cured of cancer in the mouth by St. Winifred <ref target='Pg284'>284</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>danger on occasion of renewal of vows <ref target='Pgxl'>xl</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>betrayed by Humphrey Littleton <ref target='Pg150'>150</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>an escape by ready wit <ref target='Pg154'>154</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>committed to Gatehouse <ref target='Pg159'>159</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>overheard in conference with Fr. Garnett in the Tower <ref target='Pg169'>169</ref>, <ref target='Pg241'>241</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tortured <ref target='Pg181'>181</ref>, <ref target='Pg285'>285</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken to Worcester <ref target='Pg265'>265</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried <ref target='Pg267'>267</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his indictment <ref target='Pg269'>269</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>converts a felon in prison <ref target='Pg271'>271</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyrdom <ref target='Pg274'>274</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclviii'>cclviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>two notable signs after his death <ref target='Pg285'>285</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his dream <ref target='Pg306'>306</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclxii'>cclxii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Overal, John, Dean of St. Paul's;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>present at Fr. Garnett's death <ref target='Pg290'>290</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Owen'/> +<l>Owen, Nicholas, S.J., <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Little John and Little Michael;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken with Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>, <ref target='Pglviii'>lviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>makes hiding-places <ref target='Pglvii'>lvii</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxlv'>cxlv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tortured <ref target='Pglxiv'>lxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>receives Father Garnett's letters <ref target='Pglxxxix'>lxxxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken at Henlip <ref target='Pg153'>153</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>committed to the Marshalsea <ref target='Pg186'>186</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tortured to death in Tower <ref target='Pg182'>182</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his patience when his leg was broken <ref target='Pg185'>185</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Owen, Thomas, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Prefect of the English Mission <ref target='Pgcxcv'>cxcv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Page, Francis</hi>, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr <ref target='Pgcxi'>cxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>surprised at Mass <ref target='Pglxxv'>lxxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>is taken when visiting Fr. Gerard in the Tower <ref target='Pgcx'>cx</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>released for money, becomes a Priest, a Jesuit, and a martyr <ref target='Pgcxi'>cxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Paget, Lord;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>attainted <ref target='Pg328'>328</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Paley;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>quotation from, on equivocation <ref target='Pgccxi'>ccxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Parker, Christopher;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in Father Gerard's service <ref target='Pgclxxxix'>clxxxix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Paschal, Mr.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>reaches Douay <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Peckham, Edmund;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's brother-in-law <ref target='Pgccliii'>ccliii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Penal laws; <ref target='Pg015'>15</ref>, <ref target='Pg033'>33</ref>, <ref target='Pg315'>315</ref>, <hi rend='italic'>et seq.</hi>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>James' statutes <ref target='Pg029'>29</ref>, <ref target='Pg328'>328</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Percy'/> +<l>Percy, John, S.J., <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Fisher; <ref target='Pgcclxii'>cclxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his sufferings at Flushing <ref target='Pgcxxxii'>cxxxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>imprisoned in and escape from Bridewell <ref target='Pgcxxxiii'>cxxxiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in Yorkshire <ref target='Pgcxxxiii'>cxxxiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>with Fr. Gerard at Stoke Pogis <ref target='Pgcxlvi'>cxlvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Harrowden <ref target='Pgcxlvii'>cxlvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>goes to Sir Everard Digby <ref target='Pgclxxiv'>clxxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>returns to Mrs. Vaux <ref target='Pgclxxxiii'>clxxxiii</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclx'>cclx</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in Belgium <ref target='Pgcxcvii'>cxcvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Percy, Lady Mary;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her life in England <ref target='Pgxxxvi'>xxxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her vocation <ref target='Pgxxxvii'>xxxvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her sisters <ref target='Pgxxxvi'>xxxvi</ref>, <ref target='Pgxliii'>xliii</ref>, <ref target='Pglxviii'>lxviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Percy, Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>one of the first conspirators <ref target='Pg053'>53</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>connection of Earl of Northumberland <ref target='Pg057'>57</ref>, <ref target='Pg100'>100</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>married John Wright's sister <ref target='Pg057'>57</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his early life <ref target='Pg057'>57</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>converted <ref target='Pg058'>58</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a Gentleman Pensioner <ref target='Pg058'>58</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>hires house by the river <ref target='Pg063'>63</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>and cellar for fuel <ref target='Pg071'>71</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his office in the Plot <ref target='Pg063'>63</ref>, <ref target='Pg091'>91</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>shot <ref target='Pg110'>110</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Perkises and his man executed at Worcester <ref target='Pg277'>277</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Perne, Andrew;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his religion <ref target='Pgxxvi'>xxvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Persons, Robert, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his <hi rend='italic'>Christian Directory</hi> <ref target='Pgxii'>xii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>forbids state affairs <ref target='Pg076'>76</ref>, <ref target='Pg081'>81</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>effects of his coming to England <ref target='Pg131'>131</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Prefect of the English Mission <ref target='Pgxv'>xv</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxciii'>cxciii</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclix'>cclix</ref>, <ref target='Pg280'>280</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>admits Fr. Gerard into the Novitiate <ref target='Pgxvi'>xvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>praises Father Gerard's behaviour after the Powder Plot <ref target='Pgcclxi'>cclxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Phelips, Sir Edward;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>opens Powder Plot indictment <ref target='Pg196'>196</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his papers <ref target='Pgcclvi'>cclvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Philips the decipherer;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>committed to Tower for correspondence with Mr. Owen <ref target='Pgcclviii'>cclviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Pilgrims' Register at Rome;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>entry of Fr. Gerard's name <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Polewhele;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his treason <ref target='Pgxcv'>xcv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Pollen, Joseph, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in hiding <ref target='Pgcxl'>cxl</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclv'>cclv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Popham, Sir John, Chief Justice;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>execution of penal laws intrusted to <ref target='Pg033'>33</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Fr. Garnett <ref target='Pg164'>164</ref>,</l> +<pb n='341'/><anchor id='Pg341'/> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>one of his judges <ref target='Pg226'>226</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>pronounces sentence <ref target='Pg263'>263</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Port, Sir John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his three daughters <ref target='Pgcliii'>cliii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Priests;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>cleared by the Conspirators <ref target='Pg128'>128</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Queen Mary's <ref target='Pgxxvii'>xxvii</ref>, <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>, <ref target='Pg133'>133</ref>, <ref target='Pg231'>231</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Puckering, Lord Keeper;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>report made to <ref target='Pgxxxi'>xxxi</ref>, <ref target='Pgxli'>xli</ref>, <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Puente, Luis de la, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his two letters to Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgccv'>ccv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Puritans in Parliament <ref target='Pg029'>29</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>and in authority <ref target='Pg031'>31</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Queenhithe</hi>, Conspiracy laid in, in Fr. Garnett's indictment <ref target='Pg226'>226</ref>, <ref target='Pg238'>238</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Recusants</hi> given over to enrich courtiers <ref target='Pg034'>34</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>three degrees of, according to King James, <ref target='Pg041'>41</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Richard, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Mansel'>Mansel</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Richardson, Richard;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in Gatehouse <ref target='Pgcxc'>cxc</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his examination <ref target='Pgcclvi'>cclvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Rich, Lord;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his house <ref target='Pgxli'>xli</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Rich, Penelope Lady;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her story <ref target='Pgxxxiii'>xxxiii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Rigby, John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr, converted in the Clink by Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pglxxii'>lxxii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Rookwood, Ambrose;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his family <ref target='Pg085'>85</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>joins the conspiracy <ref target='Pg086'>86</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>scorched with powder <ref target='Pg108'>108</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>wounded and taken <ref target='Pg109'>109</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried in Westminster Hall <ref target='Pg191'>191</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>farewell to his wife <ref target='Pg219'>219</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his death <ref target='Pg221'>221</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>when at Lord Vaux's <ref target='Pgcclvi'>cclvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Roulston;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>took part with Mary Queen of Scots, betrayed by his son <ref target='Pg026'>26</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Rouse;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Mechlin <ref target='Pgcxcvi'>cxcvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Rydgeley, Mary;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>marries John Wiseman <ref target='Pgcclv'>cclv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Sacchini, Francis</hi>, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>had the original of Fr. Gerard's Autobiography <ref target='Pgcclii'>cclii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Salesberie, Mr.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in Babington's plot, <ref target='Pg026'>26</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Salisbury, Earl of;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>discloses the Plot <ref target='Pg097'>97</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pg173'>173</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his book <hi rend='italic'>An Answer to certain Scandalous Papers</hi> <ref target='Pg199'>199</ref>, <ref target='Pg212'>212</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>speech in answer to Sir Everard Digby <ref target='Pg215'>215</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>one of Fr. Garnett's judges <ref target='Pg226'>226</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's letter to <ref target='Pgccxxxiii'>ccxxxiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>correspondence with Lady Markham <ref target='Pgclxxxix'>clxxxix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Savage, Samuel;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Mrs. Wiseman's servant <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Savage, William;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tailor, crosses to Middleborough <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Schondonch, Giles, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Rector of St. Omers cclviii, extract of letter <ref target='Pgccxlv'>ccxlv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Scott, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Laithwaite'>Laithwaite</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Scott, Sir Walter;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>equivocation <ref target='Pgccxvii'>ccxvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Scudamore <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> John Wiseman;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Northend <ref target='Pgxliii'>xliii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>crosses to Middleborough <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Searches;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Fr. Garnett's <ref target='Pgxxxix'>xxxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Golding-lane <ref target='Pgxlv'>xlv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Northend <ref target='Pgxli'>xli</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Braddocks <ref target='Pglii'>lii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>house in London <ref target='Pgcxxxvi'>cxxxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Harrowden for nine days <ref target='Pgclxxv'>clxxv</ref>, <ref target='Pg138'>138</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Henlip <ref target='Pg151'>151</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Mrs. Jenison's <ref target='Pgccliii'>ccliii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>manner of in general <ref target='Pg035'>35</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Lady Nevill's death caused by <ref target='Pg039'>39</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Seymour, Lady Jane;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>daughter of Thomas, Earl of Northumberland <ref target='Pgxxxvi'>xxxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a Protestant <ref target='Pgxliii'>xliii</ref>, <ref target='Pglxxviii'>lxviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Shefford, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Stratford'>Stratford</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Sheldon, Hugh, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>makes hiding-places <ref target='Pgcxlv'>cxlv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>caught, sent to Wisbech and banished <ref target='Pgcxlvi'>cxlvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Shelley'/> +<l>Shelley, Owen <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Titchborn;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Novice S.J. <ref target='Pgcci'>cci</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Rector of Liége <ref target='Pgcci'>cci</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Sherwin, Ralph;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr <ref target='Pg017'>17</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Sherwood, Father; <ref target='Pg234'>234</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>none such in the Society <ref target='Pg249'>249</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Sherwood, John, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>died before he came to be a Priest <ref target='Pg249'>249</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Shrewsbury, the Lady;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her zeal praised <ref target='Pgcclviii'>cclviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Shurley;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Mistress of Novices at St. Monica's, Louvain <ref target='Pgcxcvi'>cxcvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Silisdon, Henry, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Rector at Louvain <ref target='Pgcxcv'>cxcv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Master of Novices at Liége <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>, <ref target='Pgccv'>ccv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his opinion of Fr. Gerard's talent for government <ref target='Pgccii'>ccii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Silvester, Novice S.J.; <ref target='Pgcci'>cci</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Singleton, Dr.; <ref target='Pgcciv'>cciv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Sion House; Nuns of <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Smith, Anthony;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>affidavit respecting Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgccxlvii'>ccxlvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Smith, William, Bishop of Chalcedon;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Fitzherbert's letter to +<pb n='342'/><anchor id='Pg342'/> +<ref target='Pgcclxii'>cclxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's letter to <ref target='Pgccxxxviii'>ccxxxviii</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxlvi'>ccxlvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Southwell, Robert, S.J.; <ref target='Pgxxiv'>xxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his journeys with Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgxxiii'>xxiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his instructions <ref target='Pgxxv'>xxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>surprised at Mass <ref target='Pgxxxix'>xxxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>lived with Countess of Arundel <ref target='Pglvii'>lvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>maligned by Young <ref target='Pglxvii'>lxvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tortured by Topcliffe <ref target='Pg018'>18</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>invoked by Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgcxxiii'>cxxiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his spiritual books <ref target='Pg132'>132</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>date of his martyrdom <ref target='Pg282'>282</ref>, <ref target='Pgccli'>ccli</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>betrayed by Anne Bellamy <ref target='Pgccxiv'>ccxiv</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxvii'>ccxvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>on equivocation <ref target='Pgccxiv'>ccxiv</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxviii'>ccxviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Southworth, John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's bailiff, <ref target='Pgxi'>xi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Squire;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his treason <ref target='Pg234'>234</ref>, <ref target='Pg249'>249</ref>, <ref target='Pgxcv'>xcv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Standish;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's pseudonym taken by John Wiseman, S.J. <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Stanhope, Sir Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his wife Father Gerard's aunt <ref target='Pgccliii'>ccliii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Stanley, Sir William; <ref target='Pglxii'>lxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his wife's death <ref target='Pgcxcviii'>cxcviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>calls Fr. Gerard cousin <ref target='Pgcxcix'>cxcix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>buys the Liége property <ref target='Pgcxcix'>cxcix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his forces <ref target='Pg236'>236</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Stanley, Sir Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>took part with Mary Queen of Scots <ref target='Pg026'>26</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Stanny, Thomas, S.J.; <ref target='Pgxl'>xl</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Starkie;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's pseudonym taken by Thomas Wiseman, S.J., <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Staunton, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Gerard'>Gerard</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>St. Germain, Marquis of; <ref target='Pgcclviii'>cclviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Stoke Pogis;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>house at <ref target='Pgcxxxv'>cxxxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>searched <ref target='Pgcxlvi'>cxlvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Stone, Marmaduke, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Father Gerard's MS. received by <ref target='Pgccxlix'>ccxlix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Strand;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's house near <ref target='Pgclxii'>clxii</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxxiii'>ccxxiii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Strange, Thomas, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tortured in the Tower <ref target='Pgclxxiv'>clxxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>with Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgclxxiv'>clxxiv</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxxix'>ccxxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken in Warwickshire <ref target='Pgclxxvii'>clxxvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Mrs. Vaux asks his release <ref target='Pgclxxxii'>clxxxii</ref>, <ref target='Pg140'>140</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Stratford'/> +<l>Stratford, Arthur <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Shefford; <ref target='Pgxvii'>xvii</ref>, <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Stratforde, John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>found in Mr. Wiseman's house <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Stuart Papers at Rome <ref target='Pgccxlix'>ccxlix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Suffield, William;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>William Wiseman's man, <ref target='Pgxli'>xli</ref>, <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Suffolk, Earl of, Lord Chamberlain;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>marriage proposed between his daughter and Lord Vaux <ref target='Pg137'>137</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>reads the letter <ref target='Pg097'>97</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>searches the vaults <ref target='Pg099'>99</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Fr. Garnett, <ref target='Pg173'>173</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>one of Father Garnett's judges <ref target='Pg226'>226</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Sutton, John; <ref target='Pglxvi'>lxvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Sutton, William, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard's tutor <ref target='Pgxii'>xii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Swetnam, Francis;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>servant to Mrs. Vaux, examined <ref target='Pgcclvi'>cclvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Talbot'/> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Talbot, Sir George</hi>, of Grafton, <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Morton;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard calls him cousin <ref target='Pgcxcix'>cxcix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>friend of Maximilian Duke of Bavaria <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>well received by King James and Archbishop Abbot <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>afterwards ninth Earl of Shrewsbury <ref target='Pgcc'>cc</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Talbot, Thomas, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Novice Master at Louvain <ref target='Pgcxcv'>cxcv</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclix'>cclix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Tanfield, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Gerard'>Gerard</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Taylor, Jeremy;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>quotation from, on equivocation <ref target='Pgccxi'>ccxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Tesimond'/> +<l>Tesimond, Oswald <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Greenway <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Philip Beaumont, S.J.; ccxlviii,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Bates' evidence against <ref target='Pg136'>136</ref>, <ref target='Pg211'>211</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>accused in Proclamation <ref target='Pg143'>143</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>proposed for attainder <ref target='Pg165'>165</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>named by Fr. Garnett <ref target='Pg175'>175</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>cleared by Thomas Winter <ref target='Pg220'>220</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>crossed the sea <ref target='Pgclxxxii'>clxxxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his narrative <ref target='Pgcxxvi'>cxxvi</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxlviii'>ccxlviii</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclv'>cclv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<anchor id='Index-Thomson'/> +<l>Thomson <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Blackburn, Wm.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr <ref target='Pgxv'>xv</ref>, <ref target='Pglxxiii'>lxxiii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Thorpe, John, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>letter to Lord Arundell <ref target='Pgccxlix'>ccxlix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>letter to Father Stone <ref target='Pgccli'>ccli</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Tichburn, Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr, betrayed by Atkinson <ref target='Pgcxxx'>cxxx</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Tierney, Mark Anthony, Canon;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>on the Communion of the conspirators <ref target='Pgccxxiii'>ccxxiii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>on the date of a quoted letter <ref target='Pgccxxv'>ccxxv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Titchborn, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Shelley'>Shelley</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Tomson, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Gerard'>Gerard</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Topcliffe, Richard;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examinations by <ref target='Pglxi'>lxi</ref>, <ref target='Pglxxxii'>lxxxii</ref>, <ref target='Pglxxxiv'>lxxxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>imprisoned <ref target='Pglxxxvi'>lxxxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a prophet <ref target='Pglxxxvi'>lxxxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tortures Fr. Southwell <ref target='Pg018'>18</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>describes Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgclxxxvii'>clxxxvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Torture in the Tower;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>manner of <ref target='Pgxcvii'>xcvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>effects of <ref target='Pgcv'>cv</ref>, <ref target='Pg189'>189</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Tower;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Sir Thomas Stanley, Sir Thomas Gerard and Mr. Roulston in <ref target='Pg026'>26</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Sir Thomas Gerard +<pb n='343'/><anchor id='Pg343'/> +in the second time <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>, <ref target='Pg027'>27</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Father Gerard removed to <ref target='Pgxc'>xc</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Henry Walpole's cell in <ref target='Pgxc'>xc</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>torture in <ref target='Pgxcvii'>xcvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>beasts in <ref target='Pgcxii'>cxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Mass in <ref target='Pgcxv'>cxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard escapes from <ref target='Pgcxvii'>cxvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Garnett and Fr. Ouldcorne sent to <ref target='Pg160'>160</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Anne Vaux taken to <ref target='Pg172'>172</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Ralph Ashley and John Grissold tortured in <ref target='Pg181'>181</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Nicholas Owen killed by torture in <ref target='Pg182'>182</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Tregian, Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>condemned for having an Agnus Dei <ref target='Pg039'>39</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Tresham, Francis;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his family <ref target='Pg090'>90</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>out with Lord Essex <ref target='Pg091'>91</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>joins the Plot <ref target='Pg091'>91</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>suspected of betraying it <ref target='Pg102'>102</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken. <ref target='Pg112'>112</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>when dying retracts what he had said against Fr. Garnett <ref target='Pg260'>260</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>when at Lord Vaux's <ref target='Pgcclvi'>cclvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Trumbol;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>English Agent in Belgium <ref target='Pgcxcviii'>cxcviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Tutbury Castle;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Mary Queen of Scots confined there <ref target='Pgx'>x</ref>, <ref target='Pgccliii'>ccliii</ref>, <ref target='Pg026'>26</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Tyrrel, Anthony;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in the Clink <ref target='Pglxxxi'>lxxxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Usher</hi>, Bishop of Armagh;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his opinion of Powder Plot <ref target='Pgccxlviii'>ccxlviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Vaux, Anne</hi>; visits Mrs. Heywood <ref target='Pgcxxxviii'>cxxxviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>returns to Lord Vaux's from a long journey <ref target='Pg137'>137</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her friendly offices to Father Garnett <ref target='Pg167'>167</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>defended by him at his death <ref target='Pg293'>293</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>deceived by the keeper <ref target='Pg168'>168</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken to the Tower <ref target='Pg172'>172</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her confession <ref target='Pg259'>259</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Vaux, Edward Lord; <ref target='Pgcxxxi'>cxxxi</ref>, <ref target='Pg136'>136</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>marriage proposed with Earl of Suffolk's daughter <ref target='Pg137'>137</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>has two houses three miles apart <ref target='Pg138'>138</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>imprisoned <ref target='Pgclxxxv'>clxxxv</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclv'>cclv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examined by Lord Salisbury <ref target='Pg140'>140</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Vaux, Elizabeth; <ref target='Pgcxxxi'>cxxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her courage before the Council <ref target='Pgclxxxii'>clxxxii</ref>, <ref target='Pg140'>140</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>imprisoned and found at Mass <ref target='Pgclxxxv'>clxxxv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Vaux, George;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>marries Elizabeth Roper <ref target='Pgcxxxii'>cxxxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Hackney <ref target='Pgcxxxiv'>cxxxiv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his mother <ref target='Pgcxxxv'>cxxxv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Vaux, Sir Ambrose; <ref target='Pgclxxiv'>clxxiv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Villa Mediana, Conde de;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Spanish Ambassador, <ref target='Pgcxciii'>cxciii</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclvii'>cclvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>had Father Garnett's straw in his keeping <ref target='Pg303'>303</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Vitelleschi, Mutius, General S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>sends to the Bishop of Chalcedon to clear Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgcclxii'>cclxii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Wade, Sir William</hi>;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Secretary to Privy Council <ref target='Pglxxx'>lxxx</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgxciii'>xciii</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxvi'>ccxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>while under torture <ref target='Pgc'>c</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>professes to bring message from the Queen <ref target='Pgci'>ci</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>shows his knowledge of Fr. Garnett's house in Spital <ref target='Pgcxliii'>cxliii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>reviles Fr. Garnett <ref target='Pg162'>162</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>brings him for trial <ref target='Pg225'>225</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>takes Mr. Tresham's man <ref target='Pg261'>261</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wales, Prince of; <ref target='Pg063'>63</ref>, <ref target='Pg085'>85</ref>, <ref target='Pg091'>91</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Walley, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Garnett'>Garnett</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wallis, Richard and Wm.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>found in Mr. Wiseman's house <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Walpole, Henry, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>martyr <ref target='Pg018'>18</ref>, <ref target='Pgxcv'>xcv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his cell in Tower <ref target='Pgxc'>xc</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>invoked by Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgcxxiii'>cxxiii</ref>, his constancy <ref target='Pg132'>132</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Walpole, Michael, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>serves Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pglxv'>lxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>reconciles a knight <ref target='Pgclxvi'>clxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>extract of a letter from <ref target='Pgccxlv'>ccxlv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Walpole, Richard, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>at Valladolid, Vice-prefect of the English mission <ref target='Pgcxciv'>cxciv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Walsyngham, Sir Francis;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his daughter marries Lord Dunkellin and is converted <ref target='Pgclix'>clix</ref>, <ref target='Pgclxi'>clxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines Br. Emerson <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Waltham, Great;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Northend in <ref target='Pgxxxi'>xxxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Watson's;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his treason hindered by Jesuits <ref target='Pg073'>73</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>specially by Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pg074'>74</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>and by Fr. Garnett <ref target='Pg250'>250</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>he begs pardon of the Society at his death <ref target='Pg132'>132</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>James' promises to him <ref target='Pg214'>214</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>West;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a messenger between Priests <ref target='Pgccliii'>ccliii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Westmoreland;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>no such of the Society <ref target='Pg165'>165</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Weston, William <hi rend='italic'>alias</hi> Edmunds, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>wears clerical dress in prison <ref target='Pglxxxi'>lxxxi</ref>, in Wisbech <ref target='Pgxxiv'>xxiv</ref>, <ref target='Pg282'>282</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his virtue <ref target='Pg132'>132</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Whitmore, Novice, S.J.; <ref target='Pgcci'>cci</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Whyneyard, Keeper of Wardrobe;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>lets the vaults <ref target='Pg099'>99</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Whyte, Andrew, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>writes to Fr. Gerard for Green <ref target='Pgcxciii'>cxciii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wilkinson, John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>finds Father Garnett's straw <ref target='Pg302'>302</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Williams, <hi rend='italic'>see</hi> <ref target='Index-Ellis'>Ellis</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<pb n='344'/><anchor id='Pg344'/> + +<lg> +<l>Williams; his treason <ref target='Pg234'>234</ref>, <ref target='Pg249'>249</ref>, <ref target='Pgxcv'>xcv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Williamson, Ralph;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>found in Mr. Wiseman's house <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Willis, Ralph;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>goes to Lady Gerard's <ref target='Pgxxxv'>xxxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>attends on Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>, <ref target='Pgxliii'>xliii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>made Priest at Rome <ref target='Pglxv'>lxv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wilson;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>author of <hi rend='italic'>English Martyrology</hi> <ref target='Pgccxlix'>ccxlix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wimbish;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Braddocks in, <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Winchester Nuns; <ref target='Pgxxxvii'>xxxvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Winifred's (St.) Well;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Garnett's journey <ref target='Pg078'>78</ref>, <ref target='Pg240'>240</ref>, <ref target='Pg258'>258</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclxii'>cclxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Ouldcorne cured <ref target='Pg284'>284</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Winsor, the Lord;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his armoury at Warwick <ref target='Pg107'>107</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Winter John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried in Westminster Hall <ref target='Pg191'>191</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>sent to Worcester <ref target='Pg266'>266</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>converts a felon in prison <ref target='Pg271'>271</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>execution <ref target='Pg276'>276</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Winter, Robert;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his estate and marriage <ref target='Pg070'>70</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>joins the Plot <ref target='Pg071'>71</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>escapes for a time <ref target='Pg110'>110</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken <ref target='Pg112'>112</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>tried in Westminster Hall <ref target='Pg191'>191</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his death <ref target='Pg216'>216</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Winter, Thomas;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>one of the first conspirators <ref target='Pg053'>53</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>of Huddington <ref target='Pg058'>58</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his scholarship <ref target='Pg058'>58</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a friend of Catesby <ref target='Pg059'>59</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>is sent to the Constable of Spain <ref target='Pg061'>61</ref>, <ref target='Pg236'>236</ref>, <ref target='Pg251'>251</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>wounded and taken <ref target='Pg109'>109</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his confession <ref target='Pgccxxiv'>ccxxiv</ref>, <ref target='Pg112'>112</ref>, <ref target='Pg200'>200</ref>, and <hi rend='italic'>passim</hi>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken to Westminster Hall for trial <ref target='Pg191'>191</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his death <ref target='Pg220'>220</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>not at Lord Vaux's <ref target='Pgcclvi'>cclvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wisbech;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>prisoners at famished <ref target='Pg079'>79</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, Anne;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a Nun of Sion <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, Anne;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a widow <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, Barbara;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Abbess of Sion <ref target='Pgxxxi'>xxxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, Bridget;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>an Augustinianess at Louvain <ref target='Pgxxxi'>xxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>crosses the sea <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, George;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>of Upminster, Justice of Peace <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, Jane;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>an Augustinianess at Louvain <ref target='Pgxxxi'>xxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>crosses the sea <ref target='Pgxliv'>xliv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, Jane;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>daughter of Sir Edmund Huddleston <ref target='Pgxxxi'>xxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her character <ref target='Pglxxviii'>lxxviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, Jane;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>the widow <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her house at Northend <ref target='Pgxxxi'>xxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her pilgrimage to Wisbech <ref target='Pgxxxi'>xxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>condemned to <hi rend='italic'>peine forte et dure</hi> <ref target='Pgxxxii'>xxxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>her house searched <ref target='Pgxli'>xli</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in the Gatehouse <ref target='Pglxxxii'>lxxxii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>confronted with Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pglxxxii'>lxxxii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, John, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>entered the Society in Rome and died there <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>pseudonym of Scudamore a Priest <ref target='Pgxliii'>xliii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, Mary;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>daughter of Anne, a recusant <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, Mary;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>daughter of George, a recusant <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, Robert;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>in the Clink <ref target='Pgxlii'>xlii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>died in battle in Belgium <ref target='Pgxxxi'>xxxi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, Thomas, S.J.;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>entered the Society in Rome and died at St. Omers <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wiseman, William;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his house, Braddocks, in Wimbish, <ref target='Pgxxx'>xxx</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>knighted <ref target='Pgxxxi'>xxxi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his descendants <ref target='Pgcclv'>cclv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>visits Lady Gerard <ref target='Pgxxxv'>xxxv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his arrest <ref target='Pgxlvii'>xlvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his examination <ref target='Pgxlviii'>xlviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Braddocks searched <ref target='Pglii'>lii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his book written in prison <ref target='Pglxxvii'>lxxvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>released for money, lives near the Clink, returns to Braddocks <ref target='Pglxxviii'>lxxviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Woodroff, Lady Elizabeth; <ref target='Pgxxxvi'>xxxvi</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Woodward;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a Priest <ref target='Pgcxxviii'>cxxviii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Worcester, Earl of;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>one of Fr. Garnett's judges <ref target='Pg226'>226</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Worsley;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>a pursuivant <ref target='Pgxli'>xli</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wright,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Christopher; enters the conspiracy <ref target='Pg070'>70</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>entrusts money to Bates <ref target='Pg210'>210</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>sent to Flanders <ref target='Pg236'>236</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>shot <ref target='Pg109'>109</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Wright, John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>one of the first conspirators <ref target='Pg053'>53</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his early life <ref target='Pg059'>59</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>shot <ref target='Pg109'>109</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>taken to Westminster Hall for trial <ref target='Pg191'>191</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Yelverton, Sir Christopher</hi>;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his sister converted <ref target='Pgxxvi'>xxvi</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>one of Fr. Garnett's judges <ref target='Pg226'>226</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Yorke;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>his treason <ref target='Pg234'>234</ref>, <ref target='Pg249'>249</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Yorke, Sir John;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>brief for his prosecution <ref target='Pgcclvii'>cclvii</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l>Young, Richard;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>examines John Frank <ref target='Pgxl'>xl</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>William Wiseman <ref target='Pgl'>l</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Fr. Gerard <ref target='Pglxi'>lxi</ref>, <ref target='Pglxvii'>lxvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Brother Emerson <ref target='Pgccliv'>ccliv</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>takes a bribe <ref target='Pglxix'>lxix</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>forswears himself <ref target='Pglxvii'>lxvii</ref>, <ref target='Pgccxviii'>ccxviii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>dies miserably <ref target='Pglxxix'>lxxix</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +<lg> +<l><hi rend='smallcaps'>Zuniga, Don Pedro de</hi>;</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Flemish Ambassador <ref target='Pgclxxxiv'>clxxxiv</ref>, <ref target='Pgcxciii'>cxciii</ref>, <ref target='Pgcclvii'>cclvii</ref>,</l> +<l rend='margin-left: 2'>Donna Maria de <ref target='Pgcxciv'>cxciv</ref>.</l> +</lg> + +</div> + +</body> +<back rend="page-break-before: right"> + <div id="footnotes"> + <index index="toc" /> + <index index="pdf" /> + <head>Footnotes</head> + <divGen type="footnotes"/> + </div> + <div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <divGen type="pgfooter" /> + </div> +</back> +</text> +</TEI.2> |