GLEANINGS. AUTOGRAPHS OF THE CONSPIRATORS IN THE GUNPOWDER PLOT. DEATH-BED SCENE OF CHARLES II. Explanatory of the Plate accompanying this on his death-bed, was officially attended by Number. several of the Bishops of the English church, as if he were a Protestant; but that on the evening before his decease, he received ab The Plate exhibits the autographs of some of the principal conspirators in the gunpow-solution and the sacrament from Father der plot. Robert Catesbye.-Taken from an original letter from Catesbye to his cousin, John Grant, entreating him to provide money against a certain time. This autograph is very rare. Guido Fawkes.-Taken from his declaration made in the Tower, on the 19th of November, and afterwards acknowledged before the Lords Commissioners. When first apprehended he called himself John Johnson, and it was not until his third examination he confessed his name was Guy Fawkes. Thomas Percy.-From an original letter to W. Wycliff, Esq. of York, date at Gainsborough, November 2nd, 1605. Henry Garnet. From one of his examinations, wherein he confessed to have been on a pilgrimage to Winifred's Well. Ambrose Rookewood.-From an original letter declaring that he had felt a scruple of conscience, the fact seeming too bluddy." Thomas Wintour.-From an original examination before the Lords Commissioners, on the 25th of November, 1605. Francis Tresam.-From his examination relative to the book on Equivocation. Tresam escaped being hanged by dying in the Tower, on the 23rd of December, 1605. Sir Everard Digby. From an original examination. He was related to John Digby, subsequently created Baron Digby and Earl of Bristol, and was a young man of considerable talent. He was in the 24th year of his age when executed. To the Right Hon. the Lord Mounteagle. The superscription to the anonymous letter that led to the discovery of the plot. By whom it was written still remains in mystery. The Conspirators themselves suspected Tresam, but he solemnly denied it; and nothing transpired on the trials of any of the Conspirators, by which the author could be ascertained. All the principal Conspirators were married and had families; several of them possessed considerable property, and were highly, and in some instances nobly re lated. L* Hudleston, a Popish priest who was pri- ment. "The King went through the agonies of death with a calm and a constancy that amazed all who were about him and knew how he lived. This made some conclade that he had made a Will, and that his quiet was the effect of that. Ken applied himself much to the awaking the King's conscience. He spoke with a great elevation, both of thought and expression, like a man inspired, as those who were present told me. He resumed the matter often, and He Pronounced many short ejaculations and Father. And upon that, all kneeled down | a christian: and the physicians, who have for his blessing, which he gave them. The seen so many leave this world, doe say, they King suffered much inwardly, and said he was burnt up within; of which he complained often but with great decency. He said once, he hoped he should climb up to Heaven's gates; which was the only word savouring of religion that he was heard to speak. "He gathered all his strength to speak his last words to the Duke, to which every one hearkened with great attention. He expressed his kindness to him, and that he now delivered all over to him with great joy. He recommended Lady Portsmouth over and over again to him. He said he had always loved her, and he loved her now to the last; and besought the Duke in as melting words as he could fetch out, to be very kind to her and her son. He recommended his other children to him; and concluded, Let not poor Nelly starve; that was Mrs. Gwyn. But he said nothing of the Queen, nor any one word of his people, or his servants; nor did he speak one word of Religion, or concerning the payment of his debts, though he left behind him about ninety thousand guineas, which he had gathered, either out of the privy purse, or out of the money which was sent him from France, or by other methods; and which he had kept so secretly that no person whatever knew any thing of it. "He continued in the agony till Friday at eleven o'clock, being the sixth of February 168; and then died in the fifty-fourth year of his age." The Chaplain of the Bishop of Ely, who was in the King's chamber at the time, wrote thus to a brother clergyman the next day : : "Ely House, Feb 7, 1684-5. REV. SIR, Yesterday noon, I doe believe the most lamented Prince that ever satt upon a throue, one of the best of Kings, after near five days sickness, left this world; translated doubtless to a much more glorious kingdome then all those which he has left behind him now bewailing of their losse. 'Twas a great piece of providence that this fatal blow was not so sudden as it would have been, if he had dy'd on Munday, when his fitt first took him as he must have done if Dr. King had not been by, by chance, and lett him blood. By these few dayes respitt, he had opportunity (which accordingly be did embrace) of thinking of another world; and wee are all prepared the better to sustain so great a loss. He showed himself, throughout his sickness, one of the best natur'd men that ever lived; and by abundance of fine things he sayd in reference to his soul, he showed he dyed as good never saw the like as to his courage, so unconcerned he was at death, though sensible to all degrees imaginable, to the very last. He often in extremity of pain would say he suffered, but thank'd God that he did so, and that he suffered patiently. He every now and then would seem to wish for death, and beg the pardon of the standers by, and those that were employed about him, that he gave them so much trouble: that he hoped the work was almost over: he was weary of this world: he had enough of it: and he was going to a better. There was so much affection and tenderness express'd between the two Royal brothers, the one upon the bed, the other almost drowned in tears upon his knees and kissing of his dying brother's hand, as could not but extremely move the standers by. He thank'd our present King for having always been the best of brothers and of friends, and begg'd his pardon for the trouble he had given him from time to time, and for the several risks of fortune he had run on his account. He told him now he freely left him all, and begg'd of God to bless him with a prosperous reign. He recommended all his children to his care by name, except the Duke of Monmouth, whom he was not heard so much as to make mention of. He bless'd all his children, one by one, pulling them to him on the bed: and then the Bishops moved him, as he was the Lord's anointed, and the father of his countrey, to bless them also, and all that were there present, and in them the whole body of his subjects: whereupon, the room being full, all fell down upon their knees, and he raised himself in his bed, and very solemnly blessed them all. This was so like a great good Prince, and the solemnity of it so very surprizing, as was extreamly moving, and caused a general lamentation throughout; and no one hears it without being much affected with it; being new and great. 'Tis not to be express'd how strangely every body was concern'd, when they perceiv'd there was but little hopes. To all appearance, never any Prince came to a crown with more regrett, with more unwillingness, because it could not bee without the loss of one he lov'd so dearly, then did our gracious Prince (whom God preserve). He joyn'd as heartily as any of the company in all the prayers the Bishops offered up to God. He was as much upon his knees as any one, and said amen as heartily and no one doubts but he as much desired God would hear their prayers, as any one of all that prayed. The Queen, whom he had asked for the first thing he said on Munday when he came out of his fit, (she having been present as long as her extraordinary passion would give her leave, which at length threw her into fits, not being able to speak while with him,) sent a message to him to excuse her absence, and to beg his pardon if ever she had offended him in all her life. He replied, alas! poor woman! she beg my pardon! I beg her's with all my heart.' "The Queen that now is was a most passionate mourner, and so tender hearted, as to think a crown dearly bought with the loss of such a brother. There was, indeed, no one of either sex but wept like children. "On Friday morning all the churches were so throng'd with people to pray for him, all in tears and with dejected looks, that for my part I found it a hard task, and so I doe believe did many more, to goe through with the service so melancholy was the sight, as well as were the thoughts of the occasion of it. : honor, and the happiness of his soul at this last moment, on which eternity depends. The King then declared himself: That he desired to die in the faith and communion of the Holy Roman Catholic Church; that he was most heartily sorry for all the sins of his life past, and particularly for that he had deferred his reconciliation so long; that through the merits of Christ's passion he hoped for salvation; that he was in charity with all the world; that with all his heart he pardoned his enemies and desired pardon of all those whom he had any wise offended, and that if it pleased God to spare him longer life, he would amend it, detesting all sin. "I then advertis'd his Majesty of the benefit and necessity of the Sacrament of Penance, which advertisement the King most willingly embracing, made an exact Confession of his whole life with exceeding ended, I desired him, in farther sign of repentance and true sorrow for his sins, to say with me this little short Act of Contrition. "The Bishop of Bath and Wells watch-compunction and tenderness of heart; which ing on Wednesday night (as my Lord had done the night before), there appearing then some danger, began to discourse to him as a divine and thereupon he did continue the speaker for the rest to the last, the other Bishops giving their assistance both by prayers and otherwise, as they saw occasion, with very good ejaculations and short speeches, till his speech quite left him; and afterwards, by lifting up his hand, expressing his attention to the prayers, he made as very glorious christian exit, after as lasting and as strong an agony of death, almost as ere was known." Father Hudleston's account is as follows: "A Brief Account of Particulars occurring at the happy Death of our late Sovereign Lord King Charles the Second, in regard to Religion; faithfully related by his then Assistant, Mr. Jo. Hudleston. "Upon Thursday, the fifth of February, 1685, between seven and eight a clock in the evening, I was sent for in bast to the Queen's Back-stairs at Whitehal, and desired to bring with me all things necessary for a dying person. Accordingly I came, and was order'd not to stir from thence till further notice. Being thus obliged to wait, and not having had time to bring along with me the most Holy Sacrament of the Altar, I was in some anxiety how to procure it: In this conjuncture (the Divine Providence so disposing) Father Bento de Lemos, a Portuguez, came thither, and understanding the circumstance I was in, readily profer'd himself to go to St. James's, and bring the most Holy Sacrament along with him. "Soon after his departure I was call'd into the King's bed chamber, where approaching to the bed side, and kneeling down, I in brief presented his Majesty with what service I could perform for God's "O my Lord God, with my whole heart and soul I detest all the sins of my life past for the love of thee, whom I love above all things; and I firmly purpose by thy holy grace never to offend thee more, amen, sweet Jesus, amen. Into thy hands, sweet Jesus, I commend my soul; mercy, sweet Jesus, mercy.' "This he pronounced with a clear and audible voice, which done, and his sacramental penance admitted, I gave him Absolution. "After some time thus spent, I asked his Majesty if he did not also desire to have the other Sacraments of the Holy Church administered to him? He replyed, By all means I desire to be partaker of all the helps and succours necessary and expedient for a Catholic Christian in my condition.' I added, And doth not your Majesty also desire to receive the pretious body and blood of our dear Saviour Jesus Christ in the most Holy Sacrament of the Eucharist?' His answer was this: If I am worthy, pray fail not to let me have it.' I then told him, it would be brought to him very speedily, and desired his Majesty, that in the interim, he would give me leave to proceed to the Sacrament of Extreme Unction; he replyed, With all my heart:' I then anoyled him, which as soon as perform'd I was cal'd to the door, whither the blessed Sacrament was now brought and delivered to me. "Then returning to the King, I entreated his Majesty that he would prepare and dispose himself to receive. At which the King, raising up himself, said, 'Let me meet my Heavenly Lord in a better posture than in my bed.' But I humbly begg'd his Majesty to repose himself: God Almighty, and fresh in your heart: beseech him, with who saw his heart, would accept of his good all humility, that his most precious blood intention. The King then having again re- may not be shed in vain for you; and that it cited the forementioned Act of Contrition will please him, by the merits of his bitter with me, he received the most Holy Sacra- death and passion, to pardon and forgive you ment for his Viaticum, with all the symp- all your offences; and finally to receive toms of devotion imaginable. The Com- your soul into his blessed hands; and when munion being ended, I read the usual it shall please him to take it out of this tranprayers, termed the Re-commendation of the Soul,' appointed by the Church for Catholics in his condition. After which the King desired the Act of Contrition, O my Lord God,' &c. to be repeated: this done, for his last spiritual encouragement I said, sitory world, to grant you a joyfull resurrection and an eternal crown of glory in the next. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost. Amen.' "So, recommending his Majesty on my knees, with all the transport of devotion I was able, to the divine mercy and proteotion, I withdrew out of the chamber. "In testimony of all which I have hereunto subscribed my name. "Your Majesty hath now received the comfort and benefit of all the Sacraments that a good Christian (ready to depart out of this world) can have or desire. Now it rests only, that you think upon the death "JO. HUDLESTON." and passion of our dear Saviour Jesus Thus died Charles II.; as a Protestant Christ, of which I present unto you this before Protestants, as a Papist before Pafigure (shewing him a crucifix); lift up pists-receiving consolation and absolution therefore the eyes of your soul, and represent to yourself your sweet Saviour here crucified: bowing down his head to kiss you; his arms stretched out to embrace you; his body and members all bloody and pale with death to redeem you; and, as you see him Vide Ellis's Original Letters, vol. iii. p. dead and fixed upon the cross for your re- 333-338, first series; and vol. iv. p. 78— demption, so have his remembrance fixed 80, second series. from both parties, yet most probably in his heart despising both. What an awful combination of hypocrisy, presumption, and profanation of holy things do these statements present! INTELLIGENCE. FOREIGN. SOUTH AMERICA. Mr. James Thomson, in his "Letters on the Moral and Religious state of South America," has related some interesting facts which show that the spirit of enquiry is on the alert in that part of the world. The following occurs in the account of his passage from Guayaquil to Babahoyo: told you of the evangelical aspect of the streets of Guayaquil, and the same aspect at times was exhibited on board, both of the New Testaments being frequently in use at the same time. During the many things that were said, arising from what was read, (the reading being frequently aloud,) a conversation took place, the relation of which will probably interest you, and more especially as it affords a specimen of the progress of thinking upon religious subjects in this country. The subject was a delicate one, but so much the better, as a specimen. The worship of saints was the matter treat"Many topics of conversation occurred ed of, though I do not remember what gave during our passage up the river. The sale rise to it. I stated my views upon the of our New Testaments was known to every subject, appealing to the Scriptures and to body, and thus afforded a subject of conver- common sense in support of my opinion. A sation in which we could all take a part. very keen and interesting conversation imOf course I had also something to say upon mediately took place, in which four, besides this subject, as it was well known that I myself, took a part, and you will be surwas the seller of them. Two copies were prised when I tell you that three of the four on board, one of which had been purchased took my side of the question. The one who by the captain of our canoe, and the other was opposed to us happened to be a stout by one of the passengers. I have already disputant, and thus gave occasion to a This was a hard question, and it was an- thorough discussion of the matter. Among and it completely silenced the other, and other things brought forward to show the left him without any thing to say upon the incongruity and sinfulness of the worshipping subject, except mere general talk and reof saints, I stated that the Apostle Peter petition. Our captain having gained this himself, (who according to them is the triumph, turned to one of the four, who prince of Apostles and saints,) refused this seemed rather to acquiesce in the strength worship, and in proof of this, I referred him of our arguments from the Scripture, than This zealously to defend our side, and put this to the tenth chapter of the Acts. "Can you tell me," said passage was turned up and read by one of question to him. the company, and it appeared to all of us, he, "why the priest reads all the service except one, conclusive upon the subject. and prays in Latin, a language of which I Our opponent, however, defended himself, do not understand a word, and thus leaving by alleging that although Peter, upon that me, when in church, as a mere statue, withoccasion, refused worship, he refused it be-out knowing what I am saying or doing?" cause he was not glorified, but that after death things were otherwise. You agree then, I remarked, that worship is not to be given to the saints when upon earth, but it is lawful, you say, to give this worship to them after their death. Let us then go to another passage, I said, and see who of the inhabitants of heaven are to be worshipped. I then referred to the last chapter of the Revelation, namely, "When I had heard and seen, I fell down before the feet of the angel who showed me these things. Then saith he unto me, see thou do it not, for I am thy fellow servant, and of thy brethren the prophets, and of them who keep the sayings of this book: Worship Gcd." This passage cut off the refuge which our friend had taken in his distinction between worshipping a saint on earth, and a saint in heaven. He then took refuge in the church, alleging that since authority had been given to it by Jesus Christ to order and direct the concerns of his kingdom after his ascension, it was our duty to obey its orders, and one of these orders was, the praying to the saints. You know, of course, how I would have got rid of this objection, that is, by sweep-nothing." I should not omit an observaing away this authority of the church altogether, and I stated this to be my opinion. The captain of our canoe, who took a large share in the conversation, and who saw in the church an authority to which he considered himself bound to submit, assailed our opponent by another argument, and a very effectual one. He came close up to him, and with an air of having something in his mind worth saying, "Is it not," said he, "the duty of children to reverence their parents, and to obey them readily and constantly?"- Certainly it is," replied his friend. Our captain continued: And if a parent should tell his child to steal, to lie, and such like things, should the child obey?"-"Certainly not," was the reply. "You are right," says the captain, "and that is just our case with the church. it is our duty to obey it, as it is our duty to obey our parents, but if our parents or the church bid us do what is obviously wrong, in that case it is our duty to disobey." You see what an excellent argument this was, " tion of one of our female passengers. When two of us were debating about the worship of saints, she observed to me that she did not like such conversation. Why so, I replied. Because, said she, if saints are not to be worshipped, then it will follow that we are not to pray to the Virgin Mary neither. I said, in reply, that I thought her reasoning worth being heard, as it was a fair deduction, and requested her to put it in the form of a question, to the one of the four who appeared the coolest, and who, as I said before, rather acquiesced in the strength of our arguments than defended our side. As soon as silence was obtained, the question was put, and the answer returned was just what I would have said if called upon to reply. You will see in the whole of this conversation a freedom of thinking and of speaking, which you probably did not expect, and I confess that I was myself greatly surprised at it, notwithstanding the many opportunities I have had of observing the sentiments T T |