Page:A history of the gunpowder plot-The conspiracy and its agents (1904).djvu/158

this plot, I did ask Mr. Farmer^[1] what the meaning of the Pope's Brief was; he^[1] told me that they were not (meaning Priests) to undertake or procure stirs: but yet they would not hinder any, neither was it the Pope's mind they should that should be undertaken for Catholic good. I did never utter thus much, nor would not but to you; and this answer with Mr. Catesby's proceedings with him and me, give me absolute belief that the matter in general was approved, though every particular was not known. I dare not take that course that I could, to make it appear less odious; for divers were to have been brought out of the danger, which now would rather hurt them than otherwise. I do not think that there would have been three worth saving that should have been lost; you may guess that I had some friends that were in danger, which I had prevented, but they shall never know it. I will do as much as my partner wisheth, and it will then appear, that I have not hurt or accused one man, and howsoever I might in general possess them with fear, in hope to do the Cause good, yet my care was ever to lose my own life, rather than hurt the unworthiest member of the Catholic Church. Tell her I have ever loved her and her house, and though I could never shew it, I will not live to manifest the contrary. Her Go: I hope will

1. Father Garnet, SJ. In spite of this decisive evidence against him, Jesuit writers have pretended that Garnet never used the alias of 'Farmer'!