neard, keeper of the king's wardrobe, and was taken in Percy's name, who might be thought to require a residence in that neighbourhood, while discharging his duties as gentleman pensioner. Fawkes was put in possession of it, having first assumed the name of Johnson, and given out that he was Percy's servant. Their purpose was to make a mine from the cellar of this house directly underneath the House of Lords, and then to deposit in it a sufficient quantity of gunpowder. Another house was taken in Lambeth, to be used as a repository for the materials which would be wanted; and this was intrusted to the care of Robert Keyes, a gentleman in reduced circumstances, and a Papist, who was, at the same time, admitted as a member of the conspiracy. Parliament having been adjourned till February, 1605, the conspirators separated for some months. They met again December 11, 1604, to commence operations. Christopher Wright, brother of John Wright, joined them. Having provided themselves with proper tools, and laid in a stock of provisions, they began their work. They had fire arms and ammunition in the house, and were prepared to defend themselves to the death, if attacked. Fawkes was appointed sentinel, to give notice if any one came near the house, that the necessary precautions might be taken. The others laboured hard in the cellar. The earth and rubbish were taken into the garden, and spread abroad over the surface every night, care being taken to cover the whole with turf, to prevent observation. The mine was underpropped, as they advanced, with wood. In this manner they were engaged till Christmas eve. Parliament being again adjourned from February till the following October, they left the house for some weeks. In the interval, three persons were sworn into the plot. One was John Grant, a gentleman of Warwickshire, whose large mansion at Norbrook, in that county, was extremely convenient for the reception of horses and ammunition. Another was Robert Winter, eldest brother of Thomas Winter. The third was Thomas Bates, an old servant of Catesby. Bates being directed to receive the sacrament on his being admitted into the conspiracy, went first to father Greenway, a Jesuit, to whom, in his confession, he revealed the whole affair. Greenway received his confession, and ab solved him: he told him, "that he should be secret in that which his master had imparted unto him, because it was for a good cause." "And that it was not dangerous unto him, nor any offence to conceal it." This clearly establishes Greenway's guilt, as an accessory to the treason. Some time before this, Catesby had told father Garnet, superior of the Jesuits in England, that "a design was on foot against the government, but without mentioning particulars. Garnet afterwards affirmed that he did all he could to discourage the attempt, assuring the parties that it was altogether contrary to the pope's wishes and commands; but whether he spoke the truth on that occasion is greatly to be questioned. The accession of such a man as Garnet to their number, or even his tacit connivance at the plot, could not but embolden the conspirators in the proseution of their design. Garnet was a native of Nottingham, and had embraced Popery in early life. He was but twenty-one years of age, when he became a Jesuit. This was in the year 1575. He studied in the Jesuits' College, at Rome, under cardinal Bellarmine and other celebrated professors, and made such proficiency, that he was chosen professor of Hebrew, and appointed lecturer in metaphysics. In the year 1586, he became a missionary priest in England. Two years after, he was chosen superior of the English Jesuits, which important office invested him with high authority, and gave him the opportunity of exerting a very powerful and extensive influence over the Romanists in this country. For several years he lived in or near London, "following various occupations, in order effectually to disguise his real calling." He was also a frequent visitor at the houses of the principal nobility of the Romanist persuasion, by whom he was held in high esteem. Lord Vaux of Harrowden was his particular friend. His lordship's daughter, Anne Vaux, attached herself to Garnet with singular affection, and was his constant companion in his wanderings. Whether their connexion was purely spiritual, is a question which has been warmly discussed, and cannot now be decided: but that it exposed both parties to strong suspicion of improper familiarity is too evident to be controverted. It may be further stated, that Garnet was on terms of intimacy with Catesby, Winter, and other traitors, and had been so deeply involved in treasonable intrigues, during the reign of Elizabeth, that on James's accession, he found it necessary to protect himself from his liability to prosecution, by the purchase of a general pardon. know whether it had been opened in their absence; and the conspirators again separated. During the summer, horses, arms, gunpowder, and other warlike stores were purchased, and distributed in the houses of the conspirators, in different parts of the country, that they might be prepared to meet any resistance that might be made to them after the fatal blow had been struck. Catesby spread a report that he was raising a troop of horse for the Spanish service in Flanders; upon which many gentlemen offered their assistance, and a considerable body of volunteers was collected. They were ordered to be ready at a moment's warning; and Catesby took care to select the officers from his personal friends, and to place among them several of his fellow conspirators. He hoped, by this means, to be able to employ the troop for the purposes of the conspiracy. Early in February, 1605, the conspirators resumed their labour in the mine. Their toil was excessive; for the stone wall of the parliament house was three yards in thickness. One day, while they were at work, they thought they heard a bell toll, and it seemed as if the bell was in the wall itself. Much alarmed at the circumstance, (they might think it a bad omen; a token for evil; a sign that their own funeral knell would soon be tolled,) they sprinkled the wall with holy water, with which some priest must have provided them, when the sound ceased, or at least they fancied that they heard it no more. Several times afterwards it trou- In the early part of June, if Garnet bled them again, but the holy water was may be believed, Catesby "propoundan infallible cure. No wonder they ed to him a question in general terms, were afraid, engaged as they were in a as to the lawfulness of a design intended work so impious. "The wicked flee for the promotion of the Catholic rewhen no man pursueth: but the righte-ligion, in the prosecution of which it ous are bold as a lion," Prov. xxviii. 1. But a circumstance occurred shortly afterwards, which give a new turn to their proceedings. One morning a great noise was heard over their heads. It was found to proceed from a large vault immediately under the House of Lords, then in the occupation of one Bright, who, being about to remove, was taking away his coals. Fawkes surveyed the place, and ascertained that it was exactly the spot they wanted. As soon as it became vacant, it was hired in Percy's name, under the pretence that he wanted it as a cellar for his wood and coals. The mine was forthwith abandoned. Twenty barrels of gunpowder were not long after carried from the house at Lambeth, and deposited in the vault. Iron bars, large stones, and all the mining tools, were thrown among the barrels, "to make the breach the greater," (as Fawkes afterwards confessed,) and the heap was covered with five hundred fagots, and a thousand billets of wood. Some lumber and bottles were also placed in the vault, to make it appear more evident that it was hired for Percy's private use. All these preparations were completed by the beginning of May. The vault was then closed, the door being first carefully marked inside, that they might would be necessary, together with many enemies, to destroy some innocent Catholic friends;" but without telling him the particular design in contemplation. Garnet's reply was, that, "in case the object was clearly good, and could be effected by no other means, it might be lawful, among many nocents [guilty persons] to destroy some innocents."* This was quite sufficient for Catesby's purpose; and the opinion, thus obtained, was made use of by him to remove the scruples of some whose better feelings revolted at the indiscriminate slaughter, which would inevitably result from the success of the plot. Not long after this, father Greenway disclosed the whole plot to Garnet, not in confessive, which would have placed it under the solemn seal of secrecy, (though that plea was afterwards set up,) but "by way of confession," as Garnet expressed it; that is to say, for the words appear to be fairly susceptible of no other meaning, Greenway communicated all he knew to Garnet, in "The good husbandman in the gospel," the historian Fuller observes, with his usual quaint ness, "permitted the fares to grow for the corn's sake; whereas here, by the contrary counsel of the Jesuit, the corn (so they reputed it) was to be book x. p. 34. rooted up for the tares' sake."-Church History, Parliament had been further adjourned from October 3 to November 5. The time was now near. Frequent meetings were held at White Webbs, a house near Enfield, at some of which Garnet was present. It was then agreed that Fawkes should set fire to the gunpowder by a slow burning match, and immediately cross the river and proceed to Flanders with the intelligence, a vessel for that purpose being prepared for him; that Digby should procure a meeting of gentlemen of tried principles, at Dunchurch, in Warwickshire, under pretence of hunting, and persuade them, as soon as he heard that the plot had taken effect, to assist him in seizing the princess Elizabeth, then on a visit at lord Harrington's, near Coventry, and in ob order that he might have the benefit of his advice, and the sanction of his authority. They were often together, and they conferred on the subject whenever they met. Garnet viewed the project as dangerous in the extreme, and of most uncertain issue; and therefore, much as he desired its accomplishment, and anxious as he was for the restoration of Popery, he endeavoured, if he and his apologists may be believed, to dissuade the conspirators from their purpose, hoping that the wished-for end might be attained by some other means. But while he kept the secret of the conspirators, he shared their guilt; and his close and continued intimacy with the chief movers in the affair, and his frequent interviews with them, cannot but be regarded as tokens of his approval of their entertaining horses and armour from Warwick prise. About Michaelmas, three gentlemen of wealth and influence were induced to join the traitorous confederacy. These were, sir Everard Digby, a young man of rich and honourable family, who had been knighted by king James, on his way to London, at his accession to the throne; Ambrose Rookwood, the head of an opulent family in Suffolk, whose house was well known as an asylum for Popish priests, and who had been frequently prosecuted for offences against the statutes of Elizabeth; and Francis Tresham, eldest son and heir of sir Thomas Tresham, upon whose death, a little while before, he had succeeded to large property in Northamptonshire. Digby contributed 15007., and Tresham, 20001., besides horses, arms, and ammunition. Rookwood's contribution is not stated, but there is no doubt that it was fully equal, according to his reSources, to those of his colleagues. Percy promised to abstract 40007. from the earl of Northumberland's rents. castle, and other places in the neighbour- course. One or two particulars respecting Garnet must be mentioned here. In the month of September, when Parliament was expected to meet on the 3rd of the following month, the adjournment not having then taken place, Garnet, accompanied by a party of Papists, about thirty in number, among whom were Rookwood and his wife, lady Digby, and Anne Vaux, undertook a pilgrimage to St. Winifred's well, in Flintshire. They started from Goathurst, a mansion of sir Everard Digby's, in Buckinghamshire. They rested at John Grant's house, at Norbrook, and at Robert Winter's, at Haddington, (two of the conspirators,) and Garnet said mass at each place. From Holt, in Flintshire, they went barefoot to the well, remained there all night, and then returned to Goathurst by the same route. Having remained there several weeks, on the 29th of October, only six days before the appointed fatal day, Garnet travelled from Goathurst to Coughton, in Warwickshire, Mr. Thomas Throckmorton's seat, accompanied by Anne Vaux, and the whole of sir Everard Digby's family. He was then in the immediate neighbourhood of the place fixed for the general rendezvous of the conspirators. His undertaking this journey, at such a time, and in connexion with the family of the man to whom the execution of an important part of the enterprise was confided, tended to confirm the impression that he was as guilty as the rest. THE THREE CROSSES. INTERESTING as are many spots on the surface of the earth, there is one which surpasses every other-it is Calvary. Thither, then, let us proceed in thought; and may the Spirit of God assist our meditations! Here, alone, we can learn to be peaceful and happy. Let the eye first dwell on that centre cross; it presents before us, like the rest, a fearful death. Crucifixion was not only a cruel and excruciating mode of ending life, but it was inflicted only on notorious criminals; thus adding shame to agony; for it was written, "Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree." Other circumstances strike us as unparalleled, in reference to the sufferer whom we now contemplated. He had attendants, who had listened to his gracious words, and had beheld the wondrous deeds he had performed, but these had fled. Crowds of passers by, drawn to the spot on the way to the temple, shook their heads, and railed at him as they went; the chief priests, too, as they proceeded thither to their usual duties, encouraged them in their revilings, by the bitter insults they uttered; while the soldiers mocked him as the king of the Jews, as if this were an honour to their own sovereign. Yea, more, the sky is darkened above, and the earth is rent under him; his cry, "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" is unheard in heaven, and mocked in hell; almighty power seems unequal or unwilling to support him; his groans are only answered by the moans of the earthquake, or the rending of the sepulchre; and his soul, sunk in unfathomable sorrow, can find no sympathy. "Great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh;" and in was that sufferer we behold Him. He who "in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God,-humbled himself, and became obedient to death, even the death of the cross." There he maintained a mighty contest with all the foes of fallen man. There he humbled to the dust our malignant conqueror, spoiled the spoiler of the world, and turned into mocking its "principalities and powers," that rejoiced when he was condemned to be crucified. He stood accursed: thus alone could man be reconciled to God: he was numbered with transgressors; thus alone could iniquity be forgiven: he died; thus alone could death be abolished. And now where is the conscience burdened by a load of guilt? where is the tumult of passion deplored? where is the gloom of fear experienced? Through the cross of Jesus relief may be enjoyed. Only let him become the object of trust, and all will be well. "Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," and "rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory." There is not a blessing possessed by the believer on earth, or the redeemed in heaven, but is to be traced to the suffering and dying Mediator. There is salvation in none other, and he is "able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him," Acts iv. 12; Heb. vii. 25. We turn now to another cross. It is that of a malefactor, a felon in fact, and a murderer in principle, who, like his fellow in suffering, has been reproaching the Saviour in the midst of his agonies. But now, a power, never till then experienced, begins to operate; it stops the current of impious reviling, it transforms the heart of stone into a heart of flesh, and the malefactor becomes a new creature. Of this he gives the clearest evidence. He begins, as every one truly penitent will, to pray in sincerity and truth. He sees the real character of Christ; for he says, "This man hath done nothing amiss;" and to assert the innocence of Jesus is to admit his Divinity; and addressing him as Lord, he offers him the tribute which is due to God alone. Still further; he beholds Christ as entering an eternal dominion, and cries, "Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom." As we think of this, we are lost in astonishment, until we reflect that he may well be wise whose teacher is omniscient; that he may well be strong, under whom is placed an almighty arm. Nature has its miracles; here is a miracle of grace! Have we already mused on faith as necessary to salvation? Here is an instance of its exercise. Here it appears, admitting fully the character of Christ, and surrendering the soul to his care, in the full confidence of its eternal security. Faith is trusting in the Mediator-a trusting in him wholly-a trusting in him only. It is a reposing in him the unreserved confidence of the soul, with the full persuasion that there is no other basis of hope. It is not like the leaning of an invalid on the arm of a friend, when many proffer their aid, or like that gentle pressure which is scarcely felt; it is rather like the clinging of a shipwrecked mariner to the only fragment of the vessel he can find, the only means of deliverance he can grasp, from imminent and irretrievable ruin. Reader, is such a faith yours? remember, no other will avail you. This faith alone will open for your enjoyment now, all the blessings which the gospel reveals, and, as the reply of Jesus did to the penitent malefactor here after, all the glory and happiness of heaven. But let us pause a moment at the third cross. There a malefactor is suspended, who continues "dead in trespasses and sins." "One was saved at the eleventh hour," it has been said, "that none might despair, and only one, that none might presume." Those, therefore, who presume, by cherishing indifference to the soul's welfare, or by hoping for salvation, without a reference to the mediation of Christ, or by delaying an application for mercy till the close of life, may expect to be left, like this man, to "eat of the fruit of their own way," and to "be filled with their own devices." An appropriate yet affecting inscription might be found, for many a tomb, in the language of Christ, in reference to Jerusalem: Oh that thou hadst known, even thou, at least, in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes!" Let, then, this solemn truth be devoutly regarded, and others which have now been urged on the mind, and we shall not have visited the three crosses of Calvary in vain. W. |