[238] Garnet’s letters to the fathers and brethren, Palm Sunday, after his trial. Antilogia, p. 141. Jardine, p. 319.
[239] Gunpowder Treason, p. 13.
[240] Lingard, Vol. vii. chap. i.
[241] It would be beyond my sphere, nor have I the space, to go into the vexed question of the authorship of this letter. Nor can I here inquire whether Mounteagle was privy to the plot. A very affectionate letter from Mounteagle to Catesby is given in Archæologia, Vol. xxviii. pp. 423-4, and with it are some interesting remarks by Mr Bruce upon this subject. He infers from some, at first sight, playful words about “the ellimentes of Aier and fyre,”and “the fyre of your spirite,”that Mounteagle referred to the Gunpowder Plot; and he suspects that in telling Catesby that he “accumptes thy person the only sone that must Ripene our harvest,”Mounteagle implies that Catesby is the chief instigator of the great blow that is to deliver the Catholics from persecution. The letter invites Catesby to meet him at Bath, and Mr Bruce says, “Catesby went to Bath about Michaelmas 1605, it now appears, in consequence of the above invitation. Percy, and, as we may conclude, Lord Mounteagle, met him there.”This must have been either immediately before, or immediately after, Catesby revealed the Plot to Sir Everard Digby. Mr Bruce thinks before.
[242] Father Garnet and the Gunpowder Plot, p. 23.
[243] Hist, of Eng., Vol. vii. Appendix H.H.H.
[244] Father Garnet and the Gunpowder Plot, p. 23.
[245] See Jardine, p. 217.
[246] Narrative of the G. P., by Father Gerard, p.92.
[247] Life of Father J. Gerard, p. ccxxxvi.-vii.