se papers an original letter, in Garnet's own hand, to Mrs. Vaux, in
which he acknowledged that he was so pressed by the testimony of two
witnesses who overheard the conversation between Hall and himself, that
he was, at length, determined to confess all rather than stand the
torture or trial by witnesses.

Garnet endeavoured to shelter himself from the guilt of the plot, under
the plea, that the treason was revealed to him under the seal of
confession. At first he endeavoured to deny that he was acquainted with
any particulars; but being forced from this subterfuge, he admitted his
knowledge, but contended that he was bound to conceal all that he knew.
He acknowledged also that he had concealed the treason with Spain.
"Only," says he, "I must needs confess, I did conceal it after the
example of Christ, who commands us, when our brother offends to reprove
him, for if he do amend we have gained him." With respect to the Powder
Treason he acknowledged, that Greenwell came to him in great perplexity
in consequence of what Catesby had intimated. He consented to hear it,
provided the fact of his doing so should not be revealed to Catesby, or
to any other person. Greenwell then revealed the whole plot. He
confessed that he was greatly distressed on the subject, "and sometimes
prayed to God that it should not take effect." On being questioned why
he did not reveal the conspiracy he stated that, "he might not disclose
it to any, because it was matter of secret confession, and would
endanger the lives of divers men." Cecil said, "I pray you, Mr. Garnet,
what encouraged Catesby that he might proceed, but your resolving him in
the first proposition? What warranted Faukes, but Catesby's explication
of Garnet's arguments? As appears infallibly by Winter's confession,
and by Faukes, that they knew the point had been resolved to Mr.
Catesby, by the best authority." It was evident, therefore, that he did
not merely conceal the matter; but that he was an active instigator of
the conspiracy.[22]

[Footnote 22: Mr. Hallam observes; "The Catholic writers
maintain that he had no knowledge of the conspiracy, except by
having heard it in confession. But this rests altogether on his
word; and the prevarication of which he has been proved to be
guilty (not to mention the damning circumstance that he was
taken at Hendlip in concealment along with the other
conspirators), makes it difficult for a candid man to acquit