66

"While he was dying, a deep silence and much compassion appeared. Some argued, from his "modest gravity, some from the steadiness of his "mind and countenance, which he preserved even "in death, others from his sensible answers, that "a deed so atrocious, as that with which he was charged, could not have been committed by such a man; and they declared, that he was a saint, "and without doubt received into heaven. So powerful is innocence against any false accusation "whatever!"

66

66

CHAP. XLVI.

GUNPOWDER CONSPIRACY CONTINUED: MISCELLANEOUS OCCURRENCES AND REFLECTIONS.

WE have presented our readers with the accounts published of the gunpowder conspiracy, by two historians of very different characters, and who have written with very different views: we shall now attempt to present them, I. With a summary mention of the principal publications to which the conspiracy gave rise : II. An account of some other fathers of the society of Jesus, who were accused of concurring in it: III. Some observations on the conduct of father Garnett, in respect to it, and in respect to certain circumstances, with which it was connected: IV. A discussion of the charge brought against Cecil, earl of Salisbury, that he was privy to it, and that it was secretly fomented by him : V. And an inquiry, whether the guilt of it can be

justly charged on the general body of English catholics.

XLVI. 1.

Writers to be consulted on the subject.

THOSE, who wish to have a complete knowledge of the nature and extent of the gunpowder conspiracy, and of all that protestants have said upon it, to criminate the catholics, and of all which catholics have asserted in their defence, should peruse several other publications beside those, which have been noticed: particularly the Relation of it which was printed by the order of government*; king James's Account of it †, Isaac Casaubon's Letter upon it, to the learned jesuit Fronto le Duct, the Tortura Torti of the bishop of Chichester§, and the

"A true and perfect Relation of the whole Proceedings "against the most barbarous Traitors, Garnett a jesuit and his "Confederates; containing sundry speeches delivered by the "lords commissioners, at their arraignments, for the better "satisfaction of those that were hearers, as occasion was

The earl of Northampton's speech has been en"larged upon those grounds, which were set down; and lastly, "all that passed at Garnett's execution. Imprinted at Lon"don by Robert Barker, printer to the king's most excellent "majestie, 1606:"-Reprinted with a preface and several papers or letters of sir Everard Digby, chiefly relating to the gunpowder plot, by Thomas lord bishop of Lincoln, in 1679, 8vo.

+ James's Apology and Præmonition, printed among his other works.

Isaaci Casauboni Epistolæ, Haga Com. 1638. Ep. clxx. 4to. p. 251.

4to.

Tortura Torti, seu Responsio ad Torti Librum, London,

Antilogia of Dr. Abbott*. All these publications, (but least of them, that of king James), are unfavourable to the catholics. On the other hand, the catholics have been ably defended by cardinal Bellarminet, Andreas Eudæmon-Johannes, aCretan jesuit, Dr. Challoners, and Dr. Milner.-The official account of the plot, inserted in Winwood's Memorials, has been already noticed.

XLVI. 2.

Other Jesuits accused of being concerned in the Conspiracy

THREE jesuits, besides Garnett, were alleged to have been implicated in the conspiracy; father Gerard, father Oldcorn, and father Greenway. The two first were apprehended; father Greenway, on the first discovery of the conspiracy, fled to the

continent.

Father Gerard was, almost immediately after his apprehension, imprisoned in the Tower. There, he was taken into a dungeon; various instruments of torture in it were shown to him; and he was threatened with the severest applications of them,

Antilogia, adversus Apologiam Eudæmon-Joannis pro Garneto, 1613.

+ Matthæi Torti Responsio ad Librum Jacobi Regis Magna Britanniæ, de Juramento Fidelitatis. Col. 8vo. 1610.

Andreæ Eudæmon-Joannis Cydonii Apologia pro Garneto, 1613. 8vo.

§ Memoirs of Missionary Priests, vol. ii. p. 246.

Letters to a Prebendary. Letter vii.

¶ There is a curious letter respecting Gerard, in Strype's Annals, vol. iv. p. 307.

After a

unless he made the expected discoveries. short time had elapsed, without his making any such communication, his hands were screwed into two iron rings, and by these, he was fastened to a column, at a height which did not allow his feet to touch the ground. He was kept in this excruciating torture during one hour: a block was then placed under his feet, and he remained in that state during five more hours. He was then removed. On the next day the same torture was inflicted on him. He fainted under it, and was recalled to sense by the pouring of vinegar down his throat; but the torture was continued. On the followiug day he was ordered to it, for the third time, but the governor of the Tower interfered and prevented it. He was then permitted to remain in quiet, and at the end of twenty days the use of his limbs began to be restored to him. With the connivance of some persons within the Tower, and the assistance of some of his friends without it, he made his escape. He then buried himself in obscurity; still exercising, as far as he was able, his missionary duties; but finding himself in danger of being retaken, he crossed the seas. Twenty-six years after this time, a libel was published, accusing him of having boasted that he had taken an active part in the plot, and of his even having shown, with exultation, the handkerchief, with which he wiped the sweat from his brow, while he was working in the vault, in which the powder was deposited. Upon this, the general of the society of Jesus required of him, in the most solemn manner, to declare the truth. In obedience

part in

to this order, he affirmed, upon his oath, before God and his angels, that the story of his "working "in the powder vault, or taking any other "the conspiracy, was absolutely false." A copy of this declaration was sent by the order of the general to Dr. Smith, bishop of Chalcedon in Asia, and then exercising, under delegation from the Roman see, episcopal functions in England; the prelate was requested to call upon the author of the report, to make good the charge; but the author never came forward to prove or even to avow it.

Father Oldcorn was racked five times, and once, with great severity, during several hours. His only legal guilt was, that, after the discovery of the plot, and before the proclamation for apprehending the offenders was issued, he received father Garnett into his house, and did not disclose the circumstance to government. There was not even the slightest evidence of his having been concerned in the plot, or acquainted with any circumstanoe connected with it. He was however tried, for misprision of treason, and found guilty: he was cut down alive, and embowelled.

It has been mentioned, that father Greenway escaped to the continent: he persisted to the last in declaring his innocence of the conspiracy, and that he had no other knowledge of it, than from Catesby in the way of sacramental confession.