one Conclave, the greatest part of the cardinals: the Sicilian Evensong, and the Parisian Mattins: nay, the wish of Nero, that Rome had but one head, which he might cut off at one blow, came far short to the mischief of this invention, which spared neither age, sex, nor degree. And therefore I confess, if Catesby your disciple were alive, thus far he might vaunt, and without exception, that he had surmounted and transcended Catiline in the sphere of his own treachery. But thus we learn by Tertullian, that favos etiam vespæ faciunt,' Wasps as well as bees make combs, though instead of honey, we find gunpowder. Surely this was not the Fire that appeared unto Moses in the burning Bush: it was not the fire that should purge the Sons of Levi, though your Levites conceived so it was not that Fire which was cast into the world by Christ, with a purpose that it might burn: It was not that, by which men should be saved. that build over weakly upon the true foundation of faith. But it resembles more lively that false fire which began to glimmer, Post commotionem, quando in commotione non erat Dominus.' It is like to that strange Fire which Nadab and Abihu would have offered upon God's Altar, with a zeal that was preposterous: it hath the wasting quality of that Wildfire, which issuing ex rhamno,' out of the bramble, would have destroyed the stately cedars of Libanus. Nay, to speak properly, or draw nearest to the nature of that quick dispatching fire, which you and your disciples, Mr. Garnet, utterly despairing to draw down from heaven (because you know that such a like de by you, and other of your ghostly complices, to many festered and filthy ulcers of this kind. By this free Pardon (so far as you have not since relapsed into worse attempts) even your self, Mr. Garnet, stand at this present, rectus ' in curia :' wherein though it become me not to descant about the measures and proportions of my master's infinite grace, yet I may tax you, for the bad requital of so high a benefit, and lament the king's misfortune, that like an eagle was in so great peril of receiving wounds (almost to the death) by the quills of his own clemency. These are not the true grounds, nor proper motives of your standing-forth; but your art in cherishing, your malice in encouraging, your impiety in strengthening a kind of practice, never heard nor thought upon before in any age, against the life of the most gracious and just King that ever reigned on either side of Trent; of a Queen renowned both for her own worth, and for her happy fruit; and of a prince, whom without ostentation I may be bold to call, the sweetest and the fairest blossom that ever budded, either out of the white or the red Rosary. God's law forbids a man that would live long and see chearful days, to destroy matrein cum filiis,' even in those creatures that are not images of the Deity: but you, Mr. Garnet, out of your anointed influence of superabundant grace, endeavoured your best and uttermost to bruise the very nest-egg of this royal and high-flying airey, if it had been possible: peers, bishops, knights, burgesses, judges, serjeants, and all sorts of officers were drawn in by a writ of Corpus cum causa' to this feu de joy,' that it might blaze more gal-mand received a repulse, whilst Christ was conlantly. It is not the wearing of a crucifix, versant on earth, among your betters) sought which you compare to the sign of Tau, that by a trick to obtain at the hand of Satan (the could have secured any of your own affection, great master of the Fire-works) and as the Poet if they had been left unwarned, though it had writeth, Flectere cum nequeas superos Achebeen hallowed at Rome. No relique (instead ronta movebas.' But God wrought so, that of the red List that was a token of protection by this Fire (since per illum fides proborum to Rahab and her family) could have distin-collucet') the faith of subjects that are dutiful guished a Catholick from a Protestant, when Guy Fawkes had the match in his hand. No kind of holy grains could have added the weight of one grain to the reputation of any Romanist, after once the hand of Greenwell had written the sense of the Hebrew word 'Thekell' upon the wall, (that is) Appensi in statera, inventi sunt minus habentes,' being weighed in the scales of your schools, should have been found over-light in the balance. Your end, as I imagine, was according to the eo major quo serior:' but if bloody passions threats of the Stoicks to purge this world by can thus far prevail in arido' what hope is fire, or in some way with Democritus, to create there of better proof in viridi,' which in coma new world ex atomis:' or because Catesbyparison is but linum fumigans? You seek to did set Thomas Percy's offer light, which was raise your glory out of your sin, but quæ est 'tollere unum,' your desire was by this one act gratia? What thank is it to you, according 'tollere,' not the man but humanity, not to the demand of an Apostle, if for your evil unum' but unity. The Plot whereof Livy deserts you suffer stripes? for what the Jews speaks, of dispatching the whole Senate of objected to our Saviour (though impudently) Rome in an hour; the Device at Carthage, to we dare speak truly and confidently to all those cut off one whole faction, by one enterprize that were privy to this pack with you, that the Conspiracy of Brutus and Cassius to kill Non de bono opere lapidantur, sed de blasCæsar in the senate: the project of destroying phemia.' Saint Augustine speaketh of some : 6 6 doth shine more brightly, and the State wins honour. Look not now therefore that the Ladies of Israel shall meet you with their timbrels in the honour of this attempt: for all actions are not praise-worthy, which some persons of your profession study to enamel with pretence of godliness. In thinking of Telemachus, we set little by Astyanax: easily may af fections wander, where the rules of conscience do shift: and we find, that umbra' is not ever 6 6 hot-headed fellows in his time, that notwith- that the Protestants accord with the Catholicks standing their life led in this world, more la- in more points of Faith and grounds of Doctronum,' yet in their ends affected cultum et trine at this day, than those of Sichem did with honorem martyrum: among whom I shali Jacob and his family. By resolving this pas ever rank (with just cause) these Powder-men, sage into parts, we shall find a great resemBut if as saint Peter saith, Bene facientes pa- blance both in the point of fact, and in the resotienter sustinetis, (which is far from the rage lution of right with this present case, upon which of your hot spirits) hæc est apud Deum gra- we have reason to fix both our eyes and obsertia,' which your projects merit not. These vation. For first, Jacob out of conscience and are perhaps the days which Nabal meant, com- humanity resolves, Non ituram animama suam complaininghodie increbuisse servos qui fu- in concilio Levi,' that his soul should never giunt;' nay, which is worse, qui persequ- march in the council of Levi, Nec in cœtu iluntur Dominos:' and therefore if you will lorum futuram gloriam,' nor his honour shine not learn of Balaam, to beware of speaking in their society: What is the reason? Because more than that which God putteth into your in their rage they have slain a man (much less mouth; yet howsoever passions may spur you than the destruction of a prince with his posteforward, learn of Balaam's Ass to shrink when rity and whole estate) Et in malitia suffodeyou find the Angel of God's wrath opposed, runt murum,' and in their malice digged down lest as Abigal spake religiously and wisely to a wall; which in my opinion either misseth king David, cun mors advenerit,' when Death hardly one hair, or very narrowly, your proshall approach, who stands upon the threshold,ject's invention, in digging at the wall of the and begins to knock at the door of your heart, parliament. What is Jacob's sentence upon sit tibi in singultum,' it cause you to sigh in- the fact? Maledictus illorum furor quia perwardly, not quod effuderis, sed quod effundere tinax, et indignatio quia dura:' which curse volueris, not for having shed, but because in a more lively manner (if possible it be) than you would have shed blood that is most inno- the very fact itself, suits the comparison. For who knoweth not, that when malice taketh hold of humour only, as fire doth of straw, tho it cause a great blaze at the first kindling, yet it is quickly spent, and only the smoke remains? but when it taketh hold of conscience, as fire doth of steel, ' Quod tardè acquisivit diu retinet,' then such marks are monuments. Touching the title which Jacob bestoweth for their labours, calling them Vasa iniquitatis cent. How well the Project of supplanting Princes, and subverting States, agrees either with the title of a Jesuit, or the duty of a Priest, who should rather temper passion, than disclaim charity; the Pharisees themselves express in teaching 'non licere,' that it was not lawful for them to kill any man; much less would they, as it is more than probable in the warp of youth, when their hair began to wax as white as snow, have taken eyes into their heads like burning-glasses to give fire to this train: and yet Truth itself hath said (which both sides must believe) that unless our righteousness exceeds theirs, we must not expect to be heirs of eternity. It will be long before some of you can protest with Paul, that you are mundi,' clean and pure from all men's blood, or with Gregory to Mauritius the Emperor, that he would never miscere se in cujusquani mortem,' or call to mind either the piety of that godly Bishop in a better time, that would not suffer those hands to be imposed on his head by Ordination, that were respersæ sanguine,' or the mishap of David that might not rear the Temple, for the staining and embruing of his hands with blood. Resort to the very text itself, (or if it please you, to your own Canons) to enquire whether Paul's Restraint of intermeddling with secular affairs were enjoyed with a non obstante,' so far only as concerned Projects and Plots for Gunpowder. Your safest course, Mr. Garnet, as I suppose, is to stay your judgment with that Staff of old Jacob, whereof mention is made in Genesis, in these breakneck passages, that is, with that advised Sentence which he pronounced against Levi the Father of succeeding Priests, for killing the Sons of Hemor after circumcision, the same being in that case as well a Bond of Promise, as a Seal of Faith; since I do verily believe 6 bellantia,' I may protest that both you and Greenwell, and all they that were privy to this accursed Plot, deserve this style upon better ground than Simeon and Levi; by so much as your indignation compared with theirs by due circumstances, was by infinite degrees durior,' more hard than theirs. For though the feat (God's name be praised) were not fully wrought, yet you know, Mr. Garnet, who it is that compriseth our consent both within the compass and the censure of a deadly sin, and what father saith that, Quod deest operi inest ' voluntati.' The common law would punish Treason in the very heart, if the eye of inquisition could extend so far; and therefore the providence of God in preventing by his mercy this destruction, is no discharge to your intention in contriving it. By the course and recourse of times and accidents, wise men observe, that very seldom hath any mischievous attempt been undertaken for disturbance of a state, without the counsel and assistance of a priest in the first, in the middle, or last act of the tragedy; and that all along with such a chorus of Confederates to entertain the stage, while the lives and fortunes of great princes being set upon the tenterhooks, have put all in hazard For while Moses stood in conference with God upon the mount, his brother Aaron impatient, as for the most part churchmen are in their desires, of pauses or delays, fell instantly to mould and worship the golden calf, to their commander's vexation and God's dishonour. Abiathar was condemned for complotting with the Shunamite, and Joab lieutenant-general against his sovereign. With what distemper and disorder some priests have rock'd the cradle of the churches infancy in raising heresies, the seeds of factions, only to that end, no man can be ignorant, that hath run over the churches histories. Odo, bishop of Bayonne, was imprisoned by his brother the first William, as a stirrer of Sedition, and after conspired with Robert earl of Mortaigne, to depose his son, against whom also Geffrey, bishop of Constance, fortified in actual rebellion the castle of Bristol. The captivity of the lion-hearted Richard, champion of the holy wars, was by the practice of Savaricus, bishop of Bath. Gervas the great preacher enter'd with Lewis the French king's son, purposing to root out the race of our kings, and to plant himself and his progeny. Of the rebellious army that usurped against Henry 3, the title of Exercitum Dei' (altho' by the pope's legate, reputati sunt filii Belial) Clerici fautores erant,' saith the monk of Chester. For conspiracy against the first Edward was the archbishop of Canterbury exiled the kingdom. And before that Isabel, the wife of the second, durst undertake the plot of deposing her husband by a damnable device, for the raising of her son, she sent in a pack of preachers, poisoned with prejudice against the present state, to prepare the people's minds by false suggestions, to the change which was intended to follow. And Adam de Orleton, bishop of Hereford, that was the first deviser, continued the chiefest feeder of that dissension between the husband and the wife, taking occasion in a sermon preached at Oxford, in the presence of the queen, and all the rebels, upon that text of the Scripture, Caput meum doleo,' to express by depravation of his lawful sovereign, how many mischiefs grew to the commonwealth by a corrupted head that governed them. For aiding the enemies of Edward 3 was the bishop of Hereford arraigned. And the chaplain of Wat Tyler, that advised his chieftain, as you Mr. Garnet did your followers, to destroy all the clergy and nobility, was Ball a mass-priest. With Glocester's duke against his sovereign Richard, was Oswald, bishop of Gallaway, the chief complotter. Priests and Friers they were that suborned a false Richard against the fourth Henry, whereof eight being Minors, were hanged at Tyburn: And Maudelen himself, that took upon him the habit and person of the king, was a priest also, to keep them company. Scroope, the archbishop of York, for complotting a conspiracy with the earl of Northumberland against the same king, lost his head for his labour. Beverly, an anointed priest, not to be behind some other of his fellows in these seditious attempts, conspired against the fifth Henry, with the lord Cobham, sir John Oldcastle. I have seen the copy of a learned and wise Letter, written by bishop Chicheley, a prelate of your own, chancellor to that king, gravely advising him to beware of admitting a legate resident in the realm, in respect of the sharp effects by stirs that have been raised in former times by persons of that habit; pointing as it were to Heny Beauford, who afterwards was both author and actor of more mischief than almost could be expected or feared. They were priests and friers that in the first of Edward 4, conspired with Jasper, earl of Pembroke, and were afterward attainted and executed by act of parliament. Dr. Shaw was a priest, whom Richard 3 made the trumpet at Paul's Cross of his wrongful claim against the rightful possession of his | innocent nephews. That Impostor that suborned Lambert, to take upon him the person, and usurp the right of the duke of York, against the blessed union of the two Roses, was a priest in Ireland. Wherein I note, that as a priest would then have forestalled, so now two priests, Greenwell and Garnet, would have cut off the union. He was a monk of Henton that inticed the duke of Buckingham by seducing hopes, to the ruin of as great a house as any subject in Europe (bearing not the surname of a king) can demonstrate: whereof both I receive a wound, and all that descend of him. I speak not of those popes, that exercising more the sword of Paul with passion, than the keys of Peter with instruction, have been kindlers of great broils: nor of the three powerful cardinals, York, Lorraine, and Arras in our age, that during their times were not much answerable for sloth or idleness, whatsoever they are otherwise for time ill employed, being persons of great spirit and too great activity: nor of those churchmen, that by their doctrine in the pulpit, and subscription of hands to traitorous decrees, embased the two daughters of king Henry 8, both before and after the death of king Edward 6, for satisfaction to the pride and ambition of an aspiring humour. I pass over the brainsick opposition of Knox and Goodman, against the two renowned Marys, both queens of Scotland, regent and inheritrice in our days: nor of the fiery triplicity of Ballard, Clarke, and Watson, of which number, the first practised the slaughter of the queen deceased, the other two of the king our sovereign. I rip not up the complots of Sergius the monk, to bring the Turk into the empire of the east: nor of those false prophets, that established the race of Xerif in Barbary. My only drift and purpose is, to compare former practices with the late attempt, (tho' far exceeding and surmounting all that went before) to make true subjects see for the better trial and examination of spirits, that as well some priests in Christendom, as those Salii that were chaplains to Mars at Rome in the reign of idolatry, took delight by fits in tossing firebrands from camp to camp, for the inflammation of evil affections and worse practices. But the circle of a crown imperial cannot be soldered, if it once receive the smallest crack. Sinews that are cut in sunder, can never knit : | shutting up of those mouths that were most neither is it possible that there should be in⚫tegralis unitas in solutione continui.' I will therefore conclude this point with the grave and learned judgment of Sozomen, an ancient writer of the Church Primitive, Universim accidere in sacerdotum dissidiis, ut respublica motibus et turbis agitetur:' that it happens generally in the dissensions of priests, that the commonwealth itself is shaken with the convulsions of conspiracy. It is very probable, Mr. Garnet, that the late queen, in case the thread of her worn life could have been spun further on toward these inisty days, (that have somewhat overcast the brightness of your enticing hopes upon the settling of this state in the succession of so rare a king) should have run some strange hazard both of her state and person, among your mines and powder trains (having indeed imbrued her sword in the blood of some choice persons of your society by the warrant of her laws;) since this sweet prince our sovereign, that before his coming always wrote his laws in milk, and ever since hath been very careful not to write in blood, can thus hardly either by his own gracious deserts, or his council's incessant care, be secured from the shambles. I have not read, neither do I believe, that the murder of any anointed king hath been accounted in any religious or just age, either an act of prowess, or a step, to martyrdom. I could not have thought, without this demonstration of proof, that any man had been left in the world, since the death of George Buchanan, to proclaim prizes for the slaughter as well of kings as of tygers. But if it were not unpossible (which now I find with grief of heart) for any one spark of loyalty to live in an ocean of immoderate and exorbitant affections; surely I should have expected from you and your friends, Mr. Garnet, effects of better inclinations toward so mild and gracious a prince, as never searcheth ulcers but with a shaking hand, and in searching | all, hath a more earnest desire, non invenire quod quærit, quam invenire quod puniat.' For, to speak truth without flattery, (which I abhor as the canker of all generous and worthy minds) have not both you and yours received and enjoyed many favours from the king, which in all likelihood were not in the last time to be looked for? Would the late queen, think you, have bestowed honour, by laying the sword of knighthood upon the heads of so many CathoHics, as the king hath done since his entrance? Would the queen have allowed unto all, or any of the Recusants, that free kind of access both to her person, or to her court, which the king hath done (not only upon just occasions, but for their comfort) and in effect, at their pleasure, without making any separation between those, that before his coming saluted the fair promise of his hopeful day, and others that would have prevented it? Was not the gate of justice opened Trojano Tyrióque to Protestants and Catholics alike, with that indifferent and equal regard, that it hath been since to the mutinous? Was the late queen so confident in the fidelity of any Catholics, as to employ them without distrust to foreign princes in embassy? Would the queen have called the chief Cathiolics to her council-board, that upon the laying open of their just complaints, they might have redress with favour? Might the recusants of best behaviour and countenance in the late queen's time, live in their own countries, dispose of their estates and tenants, and enjoy their pleasures, without any other mulct, than the former laws had laid on them? Was it free for recusants in those days, that had been cast behind in arrearages (for want of answering their payments in due time to the crown) to compound with a commission directed only to that end, almost for what term and at what rates he might best satisfy? Did the compassion of the late queen extend so far in favour of recusants, as to put them in possession of their whole estates, drawn out of the farmers hands upon due proof made of spoil, without further demand of any other contribution or taxation than the law limited? Was it any part of the late queen's care, to give order for the chastisement of informers and messengers, that preyed upon the prostrate fortunes of recusants with harder measure than the justice of the state warranted? Was it free for subjects of all affections and religions (during the late queen's life) that delighted in the wars, to serve what prince or state it pleased them, without either exception or punishment? Did the late time leave it to the choice of young gentlemen that had licence to travel, during the time of their abode in foreign parts, to frequent what places, courts or companies they would, without yielding an account at their return of their adventuring? Had it been possible to have drawn from the late queen either restitutions or pensions for the maintenance of recusants, in respect of service done to antecessors or ancestors? Was the late queen as cautious and tender in forbearing to take the lives of priests and Jesuits upon the point of summum jus, before she were made acquainted by the judges thoroughly with the state of their evidence? Was any magistrate ever called to his answer for proceeding in cold blood against a priest, that for want of means to procure a pardon had been kept in prison since the time of the queen deceased? Was the late queen ever pleased, that in the pardon general at the closing up of the parliament, priests and Jesuits should be comprised in the list, and among others you and Greenwell, that at the first opening of the spring resorted thither with as violent a thirst as ever you did to Jubilee; and yet in recompence thereof since that time, have been well content that the distributer of so great a portion of grace and bounty, should be blown up by your Boutefeux? A man would think in likelihood, that both you, and all they that were encouraged and warranted in this attempt by you, having received at the hands of so gracious a king so many talents in a royal kind of trust, should 6 rather have studied by your best endeavours to encrease the stock, than to lessen the principal, by burying your talent under ground among the powder works; especially considering that our king is not like the other mentioned in St. Luke, 'homo austerus, qui tollit quod non posuit, et 'metit quod non seminat but rather desirous with Moses to be rased out of the book of life; with Paul to be made Anathema for the common good of those subjects that live under him. Our royal master travels not as the other did, in longinquam regionen ut accipiat regnum,' into a foreign region to obtain a kingdom, but brought a kingdom with him out of the next region to ours, that hereafter we may live unanimes,' that have been so long severed and divided in fraternity. But such are the qualities of many men, and especially of you and your complices in this complot, that as one saith, Non tam agant gratias de tribunatu, quam quærunter quod non sunt evecti in consulatum.' But when you, or any man of your affection and humour, shall be able, out of quintessence of wit, or positions of state, or grounds of common sense, to prove, that a prince as opposite to your religion as you are to his, and that vows to set up his whole rest and adventure not only of all his crowns, but of his life and succession, upon those principles of faith (which he hath sucked from his infancy with his nurse's milk) to take a milder course with the Catholics than he hath hitherto done, without offence or scandal to the tender conscience of his own church, which he doth chiefly regard, I will acknowledge that you had more reason to bemoan yourselves (which is the furthest period of a subject's power) than, as your case is now, I can admit, looking into sundry circumstances of peril with a single eye, which is neither dazzled with self-love, nor distracted by slight appearance. For though you may perhaps conceive, that there wanted somewhat to the full measure of your vast desires; yet all men know that you prevailed far above the likelihood of any reasonable hope; which may move you to call to mind with more evenly poised thoughts, that judgment of a wise author, that inter voluptates tam numeratur • id quod habes, quàm id quod speras :' a good rule for a perverse interpreter. is the government. And this privation hath undoubtedly metamorphosed as many states and policies as the other hath done shapes and figures, if either the complaints of majesty, or the smart of patience may be accounted of in our audit. I confess with the woman of Samaria, that this well is not only deep, but that I want the bucket, which from such a well may be fit to draw: for every plummit is not for every sound, nor every line for every level: neither is it possible out of every block to carve Mercury; but yet since it is confessed by Robert Winter, Rookwood, Guy Fawkes, and others, that their error in believing this conclusion upon the warrant of a learned man (which as appeareth now, was yourself) hath been the greatest cause, and the strongest motive of their fatal fault; since in like sort, it agreeth fitly with my desire to reduce as many of those silly erring sheep that followed Absalom,' sed corde simplice et penitus causam ignorantes,' as I can from your acheldama,' or ager sanguinis,' (considering how many priests have practised in these late years to sound points of war) it were as meet that somewhat were set down for confutation, as for caution: and therefore I have been the more willing to engage my zeal and duty, though perhaps above the measure of my strength, upon this argument, et quantum in. me est,' to shake the whole foundation of future conspiracies. But before that I prepare myself to this encounter, or that I enter into this narrow list, wherein I expect as many adversaries as there be men that have humours to limit or to conquer kings, I hold myself bound in duty as well as drawn by method, to wipe away that weak excuse which you make of your disloyal heart, in publishing this doctrine of curbing, suspending, or deposing princes of high estate, upon this ground only, that in foreign parts. you found it neither severely taxed, nor capitally punished. To let go that maxim which binds all sorts of subjects to frame their actions rather to the law of the country wherein they live, than wherein they wander; and likewise the great improbability of so gross ignorance in yourself, and your friends, as not to take notice of a point of state so deeply riveted The quicksand upon which you plant the in all the courts of justice within the realm; I great artillery of your sentences and decrees must tell you further also, that princes fear not against the states and persons of all princes that those fires which are kindled in foreign states, square not with your rules, I take to be that before that some spark light either upon their idle impression, rather than true supposition of neighbours houses, or their own palaces. Idle a certain kind of prerogative, thought to be left lookers-on, and frank adventurers have not an by our Saviour to his spouse the church in de- equal sense of the danger, which the ships and posito,' for the deposing of princes, upon con- vessels richly freighted endure at the sea, viction of contumacy, from their seat of govern- either by false pirates or foul weather. • Qui ment. For as the great philosophers conclude sani sunt,' according to your construction of the whole world to be composed of three cer-sanitas,' Mr. Garnet, nec medicis egent, nec tain concurrent principles, that is, matter, form, and privation, holding the last of the three to be rather a principle of transmutation than of establishment: so likewise the schoolmen within these last 600 years, have dragged into the discipline a new kind of privation also beside the matter, which is the flock, and the form which metuunt medicinam.' Their ears are very dull, and unapt to musick, that cannot keep time when fortune plays, and all sorts of instruments are set in one key to make full harmony. So long doth the great brood-hen cluck her chickens, as she takes them to be hers: but if once they fly from the protection |