<h2><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</SPAN></span><SPAN name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></SPAN>CHAPTER VII.</h2>
<p class="summary long">THE TRIAL AND EXECUTION OF GARNET, THE JESUIT—THE
ALLEGED MIRACLE OF THE STRAW—IS DECLARED
A MARTYR.</p>
<p class="newsection"><span class="smcap">Some</span> time elapsed before Garnet was taken. He concealed
himself in various places during the few months
immediately subsequent to the discovery of the plot; the
strictest search, however, was made; rewards were offered
for his apprehension; and at last he was taken with Hall,
another jesuit, and his own servant, in the house of a
Roman Catholic. The servant became his own executioner
in the prison. The proclamation against Garnet and the
other jesuits, is dated January 14, 1605-6; but he was
not taken at the end of the month when the other conspirators
were executed. He did not, however, long elude
the pursuit which was instituted.</p>
<p>On Friday, March 26, 1605-6, he was brought to trial
at the Guildhall, in the city of London, before the lord
mayor, several members of the king’s council, and certain
of the judges. During his imprisonment he was treated
with much leniency, as he himself confessed on his trial.
In the indictment the various names of the prisoners were
specified; from which document we gather that he was
known under different designations according to circumstances.
Wally, Darcy, Roberts, Farmer, Philips, were
the names assumed by Garnet on different occasions for
the purpose of concealment. The indictment charged the
prisoner, with concurring with Catesby, and the other conspirators,
in the plot against the king and the state. The
jury were sworn, and the prisoner pleaded <i>not guilty</i>.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</SPAN></span>Sir Edward Coke, the attorney-general, proceeded to
open the case: and as this trial reflects much light on the
whole conspiracy, I shall notice all those parts which appear
to me of the most importance.</p>
<p>The attorney-general stated in the outset, that this trial
was but a latter act of that dismal tragedy, commonly
called the Powder Treason, for which several had already
suffered the extreme penalty of the law. Throughout the
trial he treated Garnet with great respect. From Sir
Edward Coke’s speech we learn, that Garnet was examined
for the first time February 13th, and that from that day to
the 26th of March, when the last examination took place, he
was examined before the council more than twenty times.</p>
<p>In speaking of the treason, Sir Edward remarks, “I
will call it the jesuits’ treason, as belonging to them, both
<i>ex congruo et condigno</i>: they were the proprietaries,
plotters, and procurers of it.” He then enters on a description
of some of the treasons, which were planned in
the reign of Queen Elizabeth, in which also Garnet was
concerned, as I have noticed in a preceding chapter.
Garnet confessed several particulars respecting those transactions
in which he had been engaged; and among other
things he admitted that the Romanists in England, after
the bull of excommunication had been issued against the
queen, were permitted to render her obedience with certain
cautions and limitations, namely, <i>Rebus sic stantibus</i>, and
<i>Donec publica bullæ executio fieret posset</i>. So that while
things continued in their present state, and till such time
as the bull could be executed, the Romanists might obey
the queen. This was confessed by Garnet himself.</p>
<p>It appears that Garnet came over into England in the
year 1586, two years before the sailing of the <i>Spanish
Armada</i>. As early as the reign of Edward the First, the
bringing in of a bull from Rome against any of the king’s
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</SPAN></span>subjects, without permission, was adjudged to be treason;
so that Garnet was a traitor by the ancient laws of the
land, for the bulls against King James were committed to
the keeping of that individual. The attorney-general had
declared, when speaking of Elizabeth, that four years had
never passed without a treason: and he adds, when he
speaks of King James, “and now since the coming of
great King James, there have not passed, I will not say
four years, but not four, nay not two months, without some
treason.” In these treasons Garnet and other jesuits were
implicated. The bulls which had been sent to Garnet
before the death of Elizabeth, and which were intended to
prevent the English Romanists from receiving any but a
popish sovereign, were burnt by him, as already mentioned,
when he perceived that King James’s accession could not be
prevented. There would have been danger in preserving
them, therefore they were committed to the flames. The
prisoner admitted that he had destroyed them.</p>
<p>It was shown on the trial that Garnet was privy to
the plot in various ways. Though Catesby was the only
layman with whom he would converse on the subject, yet
he did not hesitate to confer with his brother jesuits respecting
all the particulars. Greenwell pretended to confess
himself to Garnet his superior. Confession is appointed
by the church of Rome to be performed by the penitent in
a kneeling posture; but it seems that, on this occasion, the
two parties walked together; and during this walk Garnet
heard all the particulars of the treason—how it was to be
executed—and what was to take place subsequently. It
was proved also that he had proposed writing to the pope
on the subject, and that he met Catesby and some other of
the conspirators in Warwickshire. It will be seen that he
prayed for the success of the great action; and it is also a
certain fact, that all the English Romanists prayed for the
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</SPAN></span>success of the plot, whatever it might be, which they knew
was in agitation, though they were not acquainted with its
precise nature.</p>
<p>On the morning of November the 6th, when the plot
had failed, Catesby and some of the other conspirators sent
Bates to Garnet, who was then in Warwickshire, to entreat
his assistance in stirring up the people to open rebellion.
Greenwell was at this time with Garnet. Warwickshire
was appointed to be the place of meeting after the plot;
and on this account the jesuits assembled in that county.</p>
<p>I have mentioned that Garnet admitted that he was
acquainted with the plot, though he pretended that it was
revealed to him in confession, and that consequently he
was not at liberty to reveal it, a point which I shall notice
in a subsequent page. The means adopted to procure his
confession were curious, and perhaps not strictly justifiable.
A trap was set for the prisoner into which he readily fell.</p>
<p>For some time he would confess nothing. In those
days it was customary to extort confessions from prisoners,
by means of torture, a mode long since abolished in this
country; but the king and his ministers did not wish to
render themselve obnoxious to the Romanists by resorting
to the rack. Instead, therefore, of using torture, they
employed craft; and though Garnet was an adept in the art
of dissimilation, yet he was outwitted on this occasion. An
individual was appointed as the keeper of the prisoner, who,
by pretending to deplore the condition of the Romanists
in England, as well as by complaints against the king and
his ministers, at length succeeded in inducing Garnet to
believe that he was well affected to the church of Rome.
Two letters were written by Garnet, and entrusted to this
man, the one addressed to a lady, the other to a priest. In
the former letter he mentioned what things he had already
admitted in his examinations; but the second letter was the
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</SPAN></span>more important. The letter was written on a sheet of
paper, and appeared to contain matters only of an ordinary
kind, such as any one might read. He had, however, left
a very broad margin, which circumstance excited suspicion
in the breasts of the council. Nor were these suspicions
without foundation; for on examining the letter, by holding
it to the fire, it was found that he had written on the margin
with the juice of a lemon, beseeching his friends to deny
the truth of those things which he had already confessed.
He also expressed his hope, that he should escape from the
powder plot from want of proof; yet he had confessed to the
lords of the council, that he was guilty. It appears, however,
that he did not really expect to escape; for in this
same letter he applies the words of Caiaphas, who used
them when speaking of the Saviour, to himself, <i>Necesse
est ut unus homo moriatur pro populo</i>.</p>
<p>This letter, written with his own hand, was shown to
him at the trial. It is still in existence. Some years ago
it was discovered by Mr. Lemon in the State Paper Office,
where it is still preserved, not only as a proof of Garnet’s
guilt, but also as evidence, that the principles of the church
of Rome are not misrepresented by Protestant writers.</p>
<p>The man who had taken the charge of these letters conveyed
them immediately to the lords of the council. The
object was to have some public confession of his guilt on
his trial. They were apprehensive that he might deny even
what he had privately stated to the lords, which was much
less than what he had admitted in these letters. The trap
which had been set for him by the sage counsellors of his
majesty was not set in vain.</p>
<p>But other evidence was soon produced. The individual
to whom the letters were entrusted gained his entire confidence.
Garnet told him that he was very anxious to see
Hall, another jesuit, known also by the name of Oldcorn,
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</SPAN></span>who was then confined in the same prison. The keeper
promised to arrange a meeting between them. For this
purpose they were so placed, that they could converse together,
while he, to avoid suspicion, took a position so as to be
seen by both. At the same time two other individuals were
secreted in the prison sufficiently near to hear all that
passed between the prisoners. They conversed freely respecting
their previous confessions and examinations—the
excuses and evasions which they had prepared, and many
other matters connected with the plot. During the conversation
Garnet remarked to Hall, “They will charge me
with my prayer for the good success of the great action, in
the beginning of the parliament, and with the verses which
I added at the end of my prayer.” He added, that in his
defence he should state, that the success for which he
prayed related to the severe laws, which he apprehended
would, during the session, be enacted against the Romanists.
The verses alluded to were as follows:—</p>
<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
<span class="i0">Gentem auferte perfidam<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Credentium de finibus,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Ut Christo laudes debitas,<br/></span>
<span class="i0">Persolvamus alacriter.<br/></span></div>
</div>
<p>The next day Garnet and Hall were examined separately,
when they were charged with having held a private
conference. Garnet denied the fact in the most decided
terms. The parties who heard the conversation were then
produced: nor could Garnet object anything against their
statements.</p>
<p>Garnet said on his trial that he once thought of revealing
the plot, but not the conspirators. Cecil asked who
hindered him from making the discovery; to whom he replied,
“You, yourself; for I knew you would have racked
this poor body of mine to pieces, to make me confess.”
Fuller remarks on this assertion and in allusion to the
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</SPAN></span>interview with Hall, that “never any <i>rack</i> was used on
Garnet, except a <i>witrack</i>, wherewith he was worsted, and
this cunning archer outshot in his own bow. For being in
prison with <i>Father Oldcorn alias Hall</i>, they were put into
an <i>equivocating room</i> (as I may term it) which pretended
nothing but privacy, yet had a reservation of some invisible
persons within it, ear witnesses to all the passages betwixt
them.”</p>
<p>These confessions, denials, evasions, and palliations
were defended by Garnet under the plea of lawful <i>equivocation</i>,
a doctrine then at least taught very generally in the
church of Rome. Under shelter of this plea the jesuits
were prepared, not merely to conceal or to deny any fact,
but also to aver what they knew to be false. It was urged,
and in books too, that such a course might be adopted on
the ground that the parties reserved in their own minds a
secret and private sense. Thus any question might be
eluded: and this practice was publicly defended in a treatise
licensed by Garnet and Blackwall. Certain instances are
given in the work as illustrations of the doctrine. The
following is one of these cases. A man arrives at a certain
place, and is examined on oath at the gate, whether
he came from London, where the plague is supposed to be
raging at the time. The man, knowing that the plague is
not in London, or that he did no more than pass through
that city, may swear that he did not come from London.
It is argued, that such an answer would agree with their
intention, who proposed the question simply with a view to
ascertaining, whether their own city would be endangered
by his entrance. Such was the doctrine of equivocation,
under the plea of which Garnet sheltered himself when he
denied many things which were proved against him, and
which he had himself confessed. Even Sir Everard Digby
resorted to this papal doctrine of equivocation, as will be
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</SPAN></span>seen from the following extracts from his letters discovered
in 1675, and published by Bishop Barlow, in 1679:—“Yesterday
I was before Mr. Attorney and my Lord Chief Justice,
who asked me if I had taken the sacrament to keep
secret the plot as others did. I said that I had not, because
I would avoid the question of at whose hands it were.”—“I
have not as yet acknowledged the knowledge of any priest
in particular, nor will not do to the hurt of any but myself,
whatsoever betide me.” Speaking of a particular priest, he
says in another letter; “I have not been asked his name,
which if I had, should have been such a one as I knew not of.”
Again; “If I be called to question for the priest, I purpose
to name him Winscombe, unless I be advised otherwise.”
And, alluding to the same in a subsequent letter—“You
forget to tell me whether Winscombe be a fit name. I like
it, for I know none of it.” In another letter—“As yet they
have not got of me the affirming that I know any priest
particularly, nor shall ever do to the hurt of any one but
myself.” It is evident that he deemed it lawful to deny
anything calculated to bring reproach on his church; and
that he did not scruple to give a false name on his examination.
From the manner in which he speaks, there
can be no doubt, that he believed he might lawfully equivocate.
And from whom had he learned this monstrous doctrine?
From the church and her authorized teachers!!</p>
<p>The earl of Salisbury alluded on the trial to his denial
of the conversation with Hall, reminding him that he was
not questioned as to the matter of their conferences, but
simply as to the fact. Hall confessed the fact, and Garnet,
though he had so strongly denied it, then admitted the
whole. On being reminded of the matter by Cecil, he replied,
that when a man is asked a question before a magistrate
he is not bound to give an answer <i>quia nemo tenetur
prodere seipsum</i>.</p>
<p><span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</SPAN></span>Tresham, who died in the Tower, accused Garnet of a
previous treason in entering into a league with the king of
Spain against England. Before his death he was permitted
to see his wife, who was aware of his confession respecting
Garnet. Under her influence he dictated to his servant,
being too weak to use a pen himself, that he had not seen
Garnet during the last sixteen years, and retracted his previous
confession in which he admitted the contrary. Now
it was proved, and acknowledged by Garnet, that they had
met several times within the last two years. Garnet was
asked to explain Tresham’s conduct; and his reply was, “I
think he meant to equivocate.”</p>
<p>Tresham died within three hours after dictating this
letter. Mrs. Vaux, however, confessed that she had seen
Tresham with Garnet at her house three or four times
since the accession of King James, and that they had dined
together with her. Garnet also publicly acknowledged that
he had seen Tresham. A second confession of Mrs
Vaux’s was also read in the court, in which she admits that
she was with Garnet at Tresham’s house in Northamptonshire
not long since.</p>
<p>Garnet made a long defence at the bar; and on the
question of equivocation he defended himself with much
subtilty. He declared that the church of Rome condemned
lying; but he justified equivocation, which, he said,
was “to defend the use of certain propositions. For a
man may be asked of one, who hath no authority to interrogate
or examine, concerning something which belongeth not
to his cognizance who asketh, as what a man thinketh, &c.
So then no man may equivocate when he ought to tell the
truth, otherwise he may.” When he was reminded that he
had denied that he had written to Tesmond <i>alias</i> Greenwell,
or sent messages to him, he said he would not have
denied his letters if he had known that the lords had seen
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</SPAN></span>them; but supposing that they had not been seen he did
deny them, and that he might lawfully do so. This has
been confirmed by the papers in the State Paper Office.
There is amongst these papers an original letter, in Garnet’s
own hand, to Mrs. Vaux, in which he acknowledged
that he was so pressed by the testimony of two witnesses
who overheard the conversation between Hall and himself,
that he was, at length, determined to confess all
rather than stand the torture or trial by witnesses.</p>
<p>Garnet endeavoured to shelter himself from the guilt of
the plot, under the plea, that the treason was revealed to
him under the seal of confession. At first he endeavoured
to deny that he was acquainted with any particulars; but
being forced from this subterfuge, he admitted his knowledge,
but contended that he was bound to conceal all that
he knew. He acknowledged also that he had concealed the
treason with Spain. “Only,” says he, “I must needs confess,
I did conceal it after the example of Christ, who commands
us, when our brother offends to reprove him, for if
he do amend we have gained him.” With respect to the
Powder Treason he acknowledged, that Greenwell came to
him in great perplexity in consequence of what Catesby
had intimated. He consented to hear it, provided the fact
of his doing so should not be revealed to Catesby, or to
any other person. Greenwell then revealed the whole
plot. He confessed that he was greatly distressed on the
subject, “and sometimes prayed to God that it should not
take effect.” On being questioned why he did not reveal
the conspiracy he stated that, “he might not disclose it to
any, because it was matter of secret confession, and would
endanger the lives of divers men.” Cecil said, “I pray
you, Mr. Garnet, what encouraged Catesby that he might
proceed, but your resolving him in the first proposition?
What warranted Faukes, but Catesby’s explication of
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</SPAN></span>Garnet’s arguments? As appears infallibly by Winter’s
confession, and by Faukes, that they knew the point had
been resolved to Mr. Catesby, by the best authority.” It
was evident, therefore, that he did not merely conceal the matter;
but that he was an active instigator of the conspiracy.<SPAN name="FNanchor_22_22" id="FNanchor_22_22"></SPAN><SPAN href="#Footnote_22_22" class="fnanchor">[22]</SPAN></p>
<p>With respect to Garnet’s knowledge of the conspiracy,
it is perfectly clear that the matter was not merely revealed
in confession, but that he was one of the actors therein.
Nor was the plea of confession consistent with some of his
own declarations during his examinations. He admitted,
that the treason was mentioned to him in the way of consultation,
as a thing not yet executed; and moreover
Greenwell did not implicate himself; he merely told of
others, and consequently the seal of confession would not
have been broken, even if Garnet had revealed the whole
to the government. He chose, however, on his trial, to
adopt this line of defence, namely, that he was not at
liberty to disclose anything which was revealed to him in
sacramental confession. One of the lords asked him if a
man should confess to-day, that he intended to kill the
king to-morrow with a dagger, whether he must conceal the
matter? Garnet replied that he must conceal it. Parsons,
the jesuit, maintains the same opinion. Speaking of Garnet,
he remarks, that nothing was proved, “but that the prisoner
had received only a simple notice of that treason, by
such a means as he could not utter and reveal again by the
laws of Catholic doctrine, that is to say, in <i>confession</i>, and
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</SPAN></span>this but a very few days before the discovery, but yet never
gave any consent, help, hearkening, approbation, or co-operation
to the same; but contrariwise sought to dissuade,
dehort, and hinder the designment by all the
means he could. He, dying for the bare concealing of
that, which, by God’s, and the church’s ecclesiastical laws,
he could not disclose, and giving no consent or co-operation
to the treason itself, should have been accounted rather a
<i>martyr</i> than a <i>traitor</i>.”—See an answer to Sir <span class="smcap">Edward
Coke’s</span> <i>Reports</i>, 4to. 1606.</p>
<p>It is remarkable that in a treatise published <small>A.D.</small> 1600,
on auricular confession, a case is put to this effect; namely,
whether if a confederate discover, in confession, that he or
his companions have secretly deposited gunpowder under a
particular house, and that the <i>prince</i> will be destroyed
unless it is removed, the priest ought to reveal it. The
writer replies in the negative, and fortifies his opinion by
the authority of a bull of Clement VIII., against violating
the seal of confession. This treatise was published at
<i>Louvain</i>. Bishop Kennet remarks on this treatise, in his
Sermon, November 5th, 1715, that it appeared “as if the
writer had already looked into the cellar and had surveyed
the powder, and had heard the confessions of the conspirators.”</p>
<p>The proceedings were at length brought to a close; and
judgment was demanded against the prisoner. When the
clerk of the crown asked what he had to say why judgment
should not be given, Garnet replied that “he could say
nothing, but referred himself to the mercy of the king and
God Almighty.” Judgment was pronounced in the usual
form, that the prisoner should be hanged, drawn, and
quartered.</p>
<p>On the third of May 1606, the prisoner was executed
on a scaffold erected at the west end of St. Paul’s church-yard.
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</SPAN></span>Overal, dean of St. Paul’s, with the dean of Winchester,
exhorted him to make a plain confession to the
world of the offence of which he had been convicted.
Garnet desired them not to trouble him, as he came prepared
to die, and was resolved what he should do. The
recorder asked if he had anything to say to the people
before his death, reminding him that it was not the time to
dissemble, and that his treasons were manifest to the world.
Garnet evidently had no wish to address the crowd; and
without refusing the permission, he alleged that his voice
was weak, his strength exhausted, and that the people
would be unable to hear him, except in the immediate
vicinity of the scaffold. To those who stood near, however,
he said that the intention was wicked, and the fact would
have been cruel, and that he entirely abhorred it. He was
reminded that he had confessed his own participation in the
plot. It was also stated, that he had acknowledged, under
his own hand, that Greenway had asked him who should be
protector? and that he had replied that the matter was to
be deferred until the blow was actually struck. He confessed
that he had erred in not revealing all that he knew
of the plot; but he refused to make any further declaration
on the scaffold.</p>
<p>He kneeled down at the foot of the ladder; but so distracted
was he during his prayer, that he constantly paused
and looked about him, as if in expectation of a pardon.
He now expressed his sorrow in dissembling with the lords,
but justified himself by saying, that he was not aware that
they were in possession of such proofs against him. Then
exhorting all Romanists to abstain from treasonable practices,
he was launched into eternity.</p>
<p>Garnet was viewed as a martyr by his church after his
death. Yet he had confessed himself guilty. When asked
by some of the lords on his examination, if he approved
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</SPAN></span>that the church of Rome should one day declare him a
martyr, he cried, <i>Martyrem me, O qualem Martyrem</i>.
The church of Rome could not declare him a martyr however,
unless they could allege that a miracle had been
wrought at his death, or subsequent to it. A miracle
therefore was feigned, in order to pave the way into the
martyrology. This circumstance I will now relate.</p>
<p>While the body was quartered by the executioner, some
drops of blood fell upon the straw with which the scaffold
was strewed. A man of the name of Wilkinson, who was
present, was anxious to preserve some relic of the deceased,
and therefore carried home with him some of the straws
sprinkled with Garnet’s blood. These relics were committed
to the care of a woman, who preserved them under
a glass case. Wilkinson had come over from St. Omer’s
on purpose to be present at the execution. It was reported,
that the straws which had been carried away by Wilkinson
leaped up from the scaffold, or from the basket in which
the dissevered head was deposited, upon his person. Some
weeks after, on examining the straws, the parties pretended,
that they discovered a likeness of Garnet on one of the husks
which contained the grain. Wilkinson and several other
persons asserted that they perceived a likeness. The matter
was soon noised abroad, and the Romanists proclaimed that
a miracle had been wrought. It was thought necessary to
institute an examination into the matter; and accordingly
several witnesses gave their evidence before the archbishop
of Canterbury. Some persons had reported, that the head
on the ear of corn was surrounded with <i>glory</i>, or with
streaming rays; but Griffith, the husband of the woman
who had preserved the straw, declared, before the archbishop,
that he discovered nothing of the sort, and that the
face was no more like Garnet’s than that of any other man
who had a beard. Another witness deposed, that he believed
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</SPAN></span>that a good artisan could have drawn a better
likeness.</p>
<p>The matter, however, was not permitted to be forgotten;
and at Rome a print of the straw was published and
publicly exhibited. Some months afterwards Garnet was
declared to be a martyr by the pope; in which light he is
still regarded by Romanists. The miracle was undoubtedly
intended to afford the pope an excuse for his <i>beatification</i>,
which is the lowest degree of celestial dignity. “This
he did,” says Fuller, “to qualify the infamy of Garnet’s
death, and that the perfume of this new title might outscent
the stench of his treason.”</p>
<p>The Romanists of that day made the most of this
miracle. In a work published soon after, entitled, <i>The
True Christian Catholic</i>, it is boldly asserted that the
sight of Garnet’s straw caused at least five hundred persons
to embrace the Roman Catholic faith. The miracle was
published in all the Romanist states; but in England, it
was said, that the man who had been educated at Rome,
and commissioned to enter into a conspiracy against his
native country, deserved to be pictured in blood.</p>
<p>It appears from Osborne, a contemporary writer, that
more than one likeness was pretended. From his statement
it seems, that it was circulated, that all the husks in
the ears on the straws bore similar impressions of Garnet’s
features. Osborne says, that he had had some of these
straws in his hand; but that he could discover no resemblance
to a human face; “yet,” says he, “these no doubt
are sold and pass at this day for relics, as I know they did
twenty years after, and he for a holy saint<SPAN name="FNanchor_23_23" id="FNanchor_23_23"></SPAN><SPAN href="#Footnote_23_23" class="fnanchor">[23]</SPAN>.”</p>
<p>Many false reports were circulated on the Continent respecting
his death. It was said that he evinced much readiness
to die, whereas he manifested great fear. It was also reported
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</SPAN></span>that the people interposed and prevented the executioner from
quartering him while he was alive, but this favour was granted
by the command of the king; that the crowd nearly destroyed
the hangman, whereas no violence of any sort was used;
and that the people were perfectly silent when the head was
held up on the scaffold, whereas that act was attended with
loud acclamations. On the contrary, the people were with
difficulty restrained from taking the law into their own
hands, and inflicting summary punishment. The people
also understood that Spain and the pope had been plotting
with the traitors; and so high was their indignation, that it
was necessary for the Spanish ambassador to apply to the
government for a guard to protect him from the fury of the
populace. These reports were intended to divert attention
from his crime, and from the ignominy of his death. That
Garnet was a traitor against his sovereign and his country,
cannot be denied by any Romanists, without resorting to
the usual arts and sophistry of the jesuits, who contrive to
deny anything which it may be inconvenient to acknowledge.
Yet Bellarmine has defended him on the ground
that the treason was revealed in confession: “Why,” says
he, “was Henry Garnet, a man incomparable for learning
in all kinds and holiness of life, put to death, but because he
would not reveal that which he could not with a safe conscience?”
Garnet, however, as has been shown, acknowledged
that he ought to have revealed it; and besides, it
was proved on the trial, that he was acquainted with the
treason by other means than confession. He admitted that
the plot was revealed to him as they were walking, and
consequently not under the seal of confession.</p>
<p>The recently discovered papers in the State Paper
Office, confirm all the charges advanced against Garnet and
the other conspirators at their trial. In these documents there
is an account of Garnet’s examination. He is asked whether
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</SPAN></span>he took Greenwell’s discovery of the plot to be in confession
or not? he answered, “Not in confession, but by way of
confession.”</p>
<p>It has already been proved that, by the ancient laws
even, it was treason to bring in a bull from Rome; yet
Garnet acknowledged that he held three such documents at
King James’s accession. And on his trial, he justified
himself, or rather palliated his offence, by stating, that he
had shown them to very few of his own party, when he
understood that the king was peaceably put in possession of
the throne. He committed the bulls to the flames, but not
till he had ascertained that they could not be executed, and
that it would be dangerous to retain them, lest they should
be discovered in the event of his being taken.</p>
<p>I have already alluded to the mode, in which the continuator
of Sir James Mackintosh’s <i>History of England</i> in
<i>Lardner’s Cyclopædia</i>, writes the history of his country.
Another short sentence respecting Garnet, will show how
utterly regardless the writer is of truth in his statements:
“His guilt or innocence is a question of dispute to this
day.” He gives a reference to Lingard; but the words
are not given as a quotation. Yet Garnet acknowledged
his guilt, and it was clearly proved on the trial. Thus, in
a history intended for popular use, the guilt of a notorious
offender is questioned, and the principles of the church of
Rome indirectly defended. The writer further remarks,—“that
Garnet’s admissions were obtained by the most perfidious
and cruel acts of the inquisition; that conviction
under the circumstances of his trial, is scarcely a presumption
of guilt.” This is exactly the strain in which Romanists
are accustomed to speak of the plot. In short, the
writer has written as a Romanist, and appears to have
followed Lingard in every particular. Is such a man qualified
to write a history for popular use? But to disprove
<span class="pagenum"><SPAN name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</SPAN></span>all his assertions on this point, I simply quote a passage
from the <i>Trial</i>, which will prove that no cruel means were
resorted to in the case of Garnet. In addressing Garnet,
the earl of Salisbury said: “You do best know that since
your apprehension, even till this day, you have been as
Christianly, as courteously, and as carefully used, as ever
man could be, of any quality, or any profession; yea, it
may truly be said, that you have been as well attended for
health or otherwise, as a nurse-child. Is it true or no?”
said the earl. “It is most true, my lord,” said Garnet,
“I confess it.” Now, I ask, what dependence can be
placed on the continuator of the history in question? Yet
such men are employed in the present day to write books
for popular use.</p>
<div class="footnotes"><p class="footnotetitle">Footnotes:</p>
<div class="footnote"><p><SPAN name="Footnote_22_22" id="Footnote_22_22"></SPAN><SPAN href="#FNanchor_22_22"><span class="label">[22]</span></SPAN> Mr. Hallam observes; “The Catholic writers maintain that
he had no knowledge of the conspiracy, except by having heard it in
confession. But this rests altogether on his word; and the prevarication
of which he has been proved to be guilty (not to mention the
damning circumstance that he was taken at Hendlip in concealment
along with the other conspirators), makes it difficult for a candid
man to acquit him of a thorough participation in their guilt.”—<i>Const.
Hist.</i> i. 554-5.</p>
</div>
<div class="footnote"><p><SPAN name="Footnote_23_23" id="Footnote_23_23"></SPAN><SPAN href="#FNanchor_23_23"><span class="label">[23]</span></SPAN> <span class="smcap">Osborne’s</span> <i>Works</i>, p. 436.</p>
</div>
</div>
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