Never did Father

riage between them or no. Cranmer, Father Latimer, or Father Ridleythose blessed martyrs-know these shifts, neither would they have used them to have saved their lives. And surely let every good man take heed of such jurors or witnesses, there' being no faith, no bond of religion or civility, no conscience of truth in such men; and therefore the conclusion shall be that of the prophet David-Domine, libera animam meam à labiis iniquis et à lingua dolosa-"Deliver me, O Lord, from lying lips, and from a deceitful tongue."

S. P. Q. R. was sometimes taken for these words-Senatus Populusque Romanus-the senate and people of Rome; but now they may truly be expressed thus-Stultus populus quærit Romam-a foolish people that runneth to Rome. And here was very aptly and delightfully inserted and related the apologue or tale of the cat and the mice. The cat having a long time preyed upon the mice, the poor creatures at last, for their safety, contained themselves within their holes; but the cat finding his prey to cease, as being known to the mice that he was indeed their enemy, and a cat, deviseth the course following, viz., changeth his hue, getteth on a religious habit, shaveth his crown, walks gravely by their holes; and yet, perceiving that the mice kept their holes, and looking out, suspected the worst-he formally, and father-like said unto them, Quod fueram non sum, frater, caput aspice tonsum-O brother, I am not as you take me for; no more a cat: see my habit and shaven crown. Hereupon some of the more credulous and bold among them were again by this deceit snatched up; and, therefore, when afterwards he came as before to entice them forth, they would come out no more, but answered, Cor tibi restat idem, vix tibi præsto fidem-Talk what you can, we will

never believe you; you have still a cat's heart within you: you do not watch and pray, but you watch to prey. And so have the Jesuits, yea, and priests too; for they are all joined in the tails like Sampson's foxes-Ephraim against Manasses, and Manasses against Ephraim-but both against Judah.

8. The last consideration is, concerning the admirable discovery of this treason, which was by one of themselves, who had taken the oath and sacrament, as hath been said, against his own will: the means was, by a dark and doubtful letter sent to my Lord Mounteagle. And thus much as touching the considerations; the observations follow, to be considered in this Powder Treason, and are briefly thus,

(1.) If the cellar had not been hired, the mine work could hardly or not at all have been discovered; for the mine was neither found, nor suspected, until the danger was past, and the capital offenders apprehended, and by themselves, upon examination, confessed.

(2.) How the king was divinely illuminated by Almighty God, the only ruler of princes, like an angel of God, to direct and point as it were to the very place, to cause a search to be made there, out of those dark words of the letter concerning a terrible blow.

(3.) Observe a miraculous accident which befel in Stephen Littleton's house, called Holbeach, in Staffordshire, after they had been two days in open rebellion, immediately before the apprehension of these traitors for some of them standing by the fire-side, and having set above 2 lbs. of powder to dry in a platter before the fire, and underset the said platter with a great linen bag, full of other powder, containing some fifteen or sixteen pounds; it so fell out, that one coming to put more wood into the fire, and casting it on, there flew a coal into the platter, by reason whereof the powder taking

F

fire and blowing up, scorched those who were nearest, as Catesby, Grant, and Rookwood, blew up the roof of the house, and the linen bag which was set under the platter being therewith suddenly carried out through the breach, fell down in the court-yard whole and unfired; which if it had took fire in the room, would have slain them all there, so that they never should have come to this trial. And, lex justior ulla est, quàm necis artifices arte perire sua?

(4). Note, that gunpowder was the invention of a friar, one of that Romish rabble; as printing was of a soldier.

(5.) Observe the sending of Baynham, one of the damned crew, to the high priest of Rome, to give signification of this blow, and to crave his direction and aid.

(6.) That for all their stirring and rising in open rebellion, and notwithstanding the false rumours given out by them, that the throats of all Catholics should be cut, such is his majesty's blessed government, and the loyalty of his subjects, as they got not any one man to take their parts besides their own company.

(7.) Observe, the sheriff, the ordinary minister of justice, according to the duty of his office, with such power as he on a sudden by law collected, suppressed them.

(8.) That God suffered their intended mischief to come so near the period, as not to be discovered but within a few hours before it should have been executed.

(9.) That it was in the entering of the sun into the tropic of Capricorn, when they began their mine; noting that by mining they should descend, and by hanging ascend.

(10.) That there was never any Protestant minister in any treason and murder, as yet attempted within this realm.

Comparisons. I am now come to the last part, which I

proposed in the beginning of this discourse, and that is, touching certain comparisons of this powder treason of the Jesuits, with that of Raleigh, and the other of the priests, Watson and Clark. 1. They had all one end, and that was the Romish Catholic cause. 2. The same means, by Popish and discontented persons, priests and laymen. 3. They all played at hazard; the priests were at the by, Raleigh at the main; but these in at all, as purposing to destroy all the king's royal issue, and withal the whole estate. 4. They were all alike obliged by the same oath and sacrament. 5. The same proclamations were intended, after the fact, to be published for reformation of abuses. 6. The like army provided for invading, to land at Milford Haven, or in Kent. 7. The same pensions of crowns promised. 8. The agreeing of the times of the treason of Raleigh and these men, which was, when the Constable of Spain was coming hither, and Raleigh said there could be no suspicion of any invasion, seeing that the Constable of Spain was then expected for a treaty of peace; and the navy might be brought to the Groine, under pretence of the service in the Low Countries. And Raleigh further said, that many more were hanged for words than for deeds. And before Raleigh's treason was discovered, it was reported in Spain that Don Raleigh and Don Cobham should cut the King of England's throat. I say not that we have any proofs that these of the Powder-Plot were acquainted with Raleigh, or Raleigh with them; but, as before was spoken of the Jesuits and priests, so they all were joined in the ends, like Samson's foxes in the tails, howsoever severed in their heads.

The conclusion shall be from the admirable Conclusion. clemency and moderation of the king, in that howsoever these traitors have exceeded all others their predecessors in mischief, and so Crescente

High Treason.

malitia, crescere debuit et pæna, yet neither will the king exceed the usual punishment of law, nor invent any new torture or torment for them, but is graciously pleased to afford them Punishment for as well an ordinary course of trial as an ordinary punishment, much inferior to their offence. And surely worthy of observation is the punishment by law provided and appointed for high treason, which we call crimen læsæ majestatis. For first, after a traitor hath had his just trial, and is convicted and attainted, he shall have his judgment, to be drawn to the place of execution from his prison, as being not worthy any more to tread upon the face of the earth, whereof he was made. Also, for that he hath been retrogade to nature, therefore is he drawn backwards at a horse's tail. And whereas God hath made the head of man the highest and most supreme part, as being his chief grace and ornament, pronique cum spectent animalia catera terram, os homini sublime dedit, he must be drawn with his head declining downward, and lying so near the ground as may be, being thought unfit to take benefit of the common air. For which cause also he shall be strangled, being hanged up by the neck between heaven and earth, as deemed unworthy of both, or either, as likewise that the eyes of men may behold, and their hearts contemn him. Then is he to be cut down alive, and to have his privy parts cut off, and burnt before his face, as being unworthily begotten, and unfit to leave any generation after him. His bowels and inlayed parts taken out and burnt, who inwardly had conceived and harboured in his heart such horrible treason; after to have his head cut off, which had imagined the mischief; and lastly, his body to be quartered, and the quarters set up in some high and eminent place, to the view and detestation of men, and to become a prey for the fowls of the air. And this is a reward due to traitors,