but, neither by his own confession, nor by any other evidence, was the slightest knowledge of the conspiracy proved against him. His only legal guilt "thence by an order of the council sent for up to London, "and there committed first to the Gatehouse, and then to "the Tower.

"Father Garnet was examined no less than twenty-three "different times, so intent some people were to bring him in, "if possible, guilty of some share in the plot: yet with all "these examinations no sufficient matter could be disco"vered to condemn him, nor any witnesses could be found to "appear against him. At length Cecil earl of Salisbury, who "knew more of the whole affair perhaps than any man living, "contrived to lodge father Oldcorne in a chamber adjoining "to father Garnet, where they might through a chink con

verse together, and be overheard by two men, whom he ❝had placed in ambuscade for that purpose. This stratagem "succeeded according to his wish. Father Garnet was pri❝vately informed by his keeper (under pretence of kindness) "that father Oldcorne might be spoke with, through that "chink; and he gladly embraced that opportunity of making "his confession, and conversing with his friend, little sus"pecting the snare that was laid for him : upon this occasion, "being asked by father Oldcorne whether he was still exa"mined about the plot? he answered, they have no proof "that I ever had any knowledge at all of the matter; and "there is but one man upon earth (meaning father Greenway) "who can prove that I had. These words were heard by the "two spies, and were immediately carried to the council. "Upon this father Garnet was again examined, and put upon "the rack; where, when the whole story was related to him, ❝ and what he had been heard to say, he acknowledged he "had been told of the plot by father Greenway, but it was "under the inviolable seal of confession; and that he had "both recommended to father Greenway, and had used him"self his best endeavours to divert the design. Upon this "his confession, as they called it, sir Edward Coke the attor"ney-general was ordered to draw up an indictment of high

was, that, after the plot, and before the proclamation for the discovery of the conspirators, he had received father Garnet into his house, and did not

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"treason against him; and he was brought to his trial at "Guildhall, March the 28th, before the king's delegates; "his majesty himself and many of the nobility being present. "His enemies, to disgrace him, had published many false"hoods of him; and amongst the rest, that having been kept watching for six whole days and nights (a new kind of tor"ment!) he had lost his senses: but this and other calumnies "were dissipated by his public appearance and comportment "at his trial. The attorney-general held forth for several "hours in his accusation, bringing in all the odious topicks "he could against the jesuits in general, to prejudice the “jury against the prisoner, and laying to their charge all "the plots and conspiracies of queen Elizabeth's reign, but "in particular charging home upon father Garnet the guilt "of the late conspiracy. The father made a regular and "excellent defence, both of his own innocence and of his "society, with that presence of mind, and that graceful modesty, that many of the auditors who came thither vio"lently prepossessed against him, were now convinced of "his innocence, his very countenance, which was particularly " venerable, pleading strongly in his behalf: however, the "protestant jury, either not believing his plea that he had no knowledge of the plot but by confession, or rather not regarding that inviolable secrecy which the catholic church "enjoins to confessors, brought in their verdict guilty; and " he received sentence of death in the usual form as in cases "of high treason.

"He remained prisoner in the Tower after sentence for "for about five weeks, and then was ordered for execution on the 3d of May 1606. He was drawn on a sledge from "the Tower to St. Paul's church-yard, where a scaffold and "gibbet was erected for the purpose, and an innumerable "multitude of people was assembled. As he was drawn through the streets, his hands and eyes were lifted up

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afterwards disclose the circumstance to government. He was found guilty; executed, and, while alive, cut down, and embowelled. It is very remarkable,

"toward heaven, where his heart was fixed. After he was “taken off the sledge, and had recovered himself of the diz"ziness caused by the jogging of that incommodious vehicle, " he ascended the scaffold, and saluted the crowd with a smiling countenance. It was observed that the mob, which "had uttered many reviling speeches against him, calling him by a thousand opprobrious names before he came to the place, was now struck dumb at his venerable aspect, which "both spoke his innocence and commanded reverence. Some "of the ministers that were there offered to persuade him to "conform in matters of religion, (as, among other calumnies, "it had been given out that he would) but he declared he "would die in the catholic faith, out of which there was no "salvation.

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"It being the day of the Invention, or Finding of the Cross, "father Garnet took occasion from thence to speak to the "people concerning this cross which he was to take up that "day; declaring withal his innocence as to the conspiracy, " and his having no knowledge of it but by confession; that "as to his part, he had always detested such treasonable practices, and that he knew them to be contrary to the "sentiments of the bishop of Rome; and he begg'd of all "catholics never to think of any such attempts, which were "entirely inconsistent with their religion, to fly the conver"sation of uneasy and turbulent spirits, and to possess their "souls in patience. Here sir Henry Montague the recorder "of London told him he was certainly privy to the design, "out of confession. 'Mr. Catesby,' said he, told you of "it in private, we have it under your hand.' 'Whatever is "under my hand,' said father Garnet, I will not deny; but "indeed you have not this under my hand. Mr. Catesby "only acquainted me in general terms that something might be done, or was doing for the benefit of the catholic cause, without specifying what it was; and this

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that the demeanor of father Garnet, on his trial, and at his execution, interested the spectators greatly in his favour. After he had been hanged,

' is all I had from him, as I hope for salvation.' Then,' "said the recorder, do you ask the king's pardon for con"cealing the treason?' 'I do,' said father Garnet, thus «far, and no more, in that I did not reveal the suspicions "I had of Mr. Catesby's behaviour; tho' at the same time "I dissuaded him from all treasonable attempts. And I "do solemnly assure you, had that wicked stratagem suc'ceeded, I should always have detested both the fact, and "the persons engaged in it.'

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"After this he was brought to the foot of the ladder, where "the recorder attack'd him again upon the score of Mr. "Catesby, pretending that they had it under his hand, that he "had discoursed with him in particular, concerning the gun"powder design, which father Garnet denying, a gentleman "there pretended to call for the paper; but it could not be "found; at which the father smiling, said, I believe it never "will be found. Then being stripp'd to his shirt, he kneeled "down and prayed a while in silence at the foot of the ladder; "then going up some steps, he prayed aloud for the king, the re queen, the prince, and all the council, and begg'd the bless"ing of God for all the spectators, that God might make "them all roman-catholics, as the only way to secure their "eternal welfare; declaring that for his own part he died

a catholic, and desired all such to pray for him, and with "him. Then making the sign of the cross, he said, Adoramus "te, Christe, &c. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee; "because by thy cross thou hast redeemed the world. This sign

of the cross shall be seen in heaven, when the Lord shall come "to judgment. Allelujah. Then saluting the blessed virgin "with a short hymn, crossing his hands before his breast; "and recommending his departing soul into the hands of his "Creator, he was flung off the ladder. The executioner "three several times attempted to cut the rope before he was dead, that he might be butchered alive, according to

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and while he was yet alive, the executioner advanced, three times, to cut the cord; and was as often restrained by the cry of the multitude. His servant Owen was so cruelly racked in prison, that he died soon after he was taken off the torture.A general defence of Garnet, and the other priests implicated by the public voice in this unhappy business, is given by Dr. Milner, with his usual ability, in his seventh letter to a prebendary.

XXIV. 2.

Inquiry whether the Gunpowder Plot can justly be charged on the general body of the Catholics.

THAT much of Hume's relation of this horrid conspiracy is true, may be admitted. The question is, whether the guilt of it can be justly charged on the body of the English catholics.

Now, the smallness of the number of those, who were engaged in it, and the disapprobation expressed of it by the general body, seem to decide the question. No writer has calculated the pumber of catholics to have amounted, at this time, to less than one half,-and probably it greatly exceeded that proportion,-of the whole population

"sentence. But the people as often cried out hold, hold, "hold: so much were they moyed by his behaviour, to "judge more favourably of him than they had done, and to compassionate his case. And when his head was shown by "the executioner, instead of huzzas, usual on the like occa"sions, the people went off in silence."