Generalities He Understood Of The Gentlemen, Wrote Divers Letters To Rome
For Prevention Of Rebellion.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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). “Some,” saith he, “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. ‘Nunquid pax est perniciosa
religioni?’(299) said one of them. But no wise men misliked the peace and
we hope for good of religion, which Catholics do patiently expect.” 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: “If the affair of 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.” These are his words, which
sufficiently declare both his desires and endeavours to further peace and
to hinder the contrary.
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: “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.” 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 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.
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 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.
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: “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.” Then out of cypher
followeth: “And so I cannot give you exact account; this I know by mere
chance.” 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 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.
“Magnifice Domine,
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
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.(300)
“Londini, 24 Julii, 1605.
“Magcæ. Dnis. Væ. Servus
“HENRICUS G.”
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.
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: “And for anything we
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,” &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: “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 ‘contra ordinem juris,’ 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 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.” (In his
letter it is described, but here not fit to set down.) “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,” &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: “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.” 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,(301) which I am the more glad 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, _e contra_, 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.
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 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.