The Gunpowder-treason with a discourse of the manner of its discovery, and a perfect relation of the proceedings against those horrid conspirators, wherein is contained their examinations, tryals, and condemnations : likewise King James's speech to both houses of Parliament on that occasion, now reprinted : a preface touching that horrid conspiracy, by the Right Reverend Father in God, Thomas, Lord Bishop of Lincoln : and by the way of appendix, several papers or letters of Sir Everard Digby, chiefly relating to the gunpowder-plot, never before printed.

Iesus Maria.

THere be many reasons (my dear Chil∣dren) that might disswade me from putting Pen to Paper in this kind, and onely one which urgeth me to undertake this poor and fruitless pains. Wherefore to tell you what inciteth me to it, is my want of other means to shew my Fatherly affection to each of you: (which is so far from uttering, as my mind is willing to accept of poor means, ra∣ther than none to bewray my disposition) if I would have been checked from the perfor∣mance of these lines, by number and probabi∣lities of reasons; I might then have called to mind the unlikelihood, that these would ever have come to your view; with the malice of the world to me, which (I do imagine) will not fail to endeavour to possess you with a loath∣ness to hear of any thing that comes from me: as also I might, and do think, on my own disa∣bility in advising, with many other disswasive reasons, which my former recited single stirrer∣up hath banished.

Wherefore to begin with both and each of you, I send you by these my Fatherly and last blessing; which I have not failed to ask at Gods hands on my knees, that he will grant to descend so effectually on you (that his holy grace accompanying it) it may work in you the performance (on your part) of Gods sweet

and just commandments; and on his part to you, the Guerdon that his mercy inricheth his Servants withall.

Let this end (Gods Service I mean) be the chief and onely contentious strife between you, which with all vehemency and desire each of you may strive to attain soonest. Let this be the mark which your thoughts and actions may still level at; for here is the chiefest Prise, to recompense the best deserver. Believe me in this (my Sons) that though my unripe years afford me not general experience, yet my va∣riety of courses in the world (and Gods grace to illumine me) may sufficiently warrant the verity of this principle. If you make this your chief business, (as you ought to do, and for which end onely you were sent into the world) I doubt not but God will send you better means for your particular directions, than either the brevity of a Letter, or my ability can discharge. So that in this I will say no more, but pray that you may live as I hope to die, which is in the perfect obedience of the Catholick and onely saving Church.

I cannot but a little touch, what I could wish you did, and I hope will do to all sorts of people; it is a lesson I could never learn well my self, but perhaps see more▪ what is conve∣nient for others, than that I were ever able to shew the force of wholesome counsel, and good instructions in my own life.

Above all things in the world, seek to obey and follow your Mothers will and pleasure; who as she hath been the best wife to me that ever man enjoyed, so can she not fail to shew

her self equal to the best Mother, if you de∣serve not the contrary. If it please God to send her life, (though you have nothing else) I shall leave you enough: And on the contrary, if I could leave you ten times more than my self ever had, yet she being taken from you, I should think you but poor. It is not (my Sons) abundance of riches that makes a man happy, but a virtuous life; and as they are blessings from God, and cause of happiness to a man that useth them well, so are they cause of mi∣sery to most men even in this world.

You may read of divers men, who whiles they lived in private state, deserved the fame of all that knew them; but so soon as prospe∣rous fortune, and higher degrees, had taken pos∣session of them, they seemed not to be the same men, but grew into scorn of all the world. For example, Galba, whiles he lived in Spain as a private man, and, as it were, ba∣nished his Countrey, by a Charge that pro∣cured in him great pains and care; he was so well liked, that upon the death of Nero the Emperor, he was Elected in his room; but was no sooner in that Place, than he was plucked out of it again by violent death, as a man unfit for such a Charge, by reason of his alteration which that Dignity wrought in him.

You may see also in Otho, who succeeded him, that all the while of his prosperity, he lived a most dissolute life, and odious to all men; but he was no sooner touched with ad∣versity, but he grew to a brave and worthy re∣solution, making choice rather (not out of de∣speration)

of his own death, than that by his life the Common-weal sho•…•… •…•…e disturbed. And though I cannot but disallow the manner of his death, (by reason he knew not God truly) yet is it plain, that adversity brought him to that worthy mind, which contemned life in regard of his Countreys good; and which was so contrary to that mind that prosperity had missed in him. If then adverse Fortune were so powerful, more than prosperity, in Pagans and Misbelievers, to procure in them worthy minds; what may we expect the force of it should be in Christians, whose first Captain (not out of necessity, but free choice) made manifest to the world, by his own painful footsteps, that there is no other perfect and certain way to true happiness.

He hath not onely staid here in demonstra∣tion of his verity, but hath sent to all those (who, the world knows, he highliest esteemed, and best loved) nothing but variety of misery in this life, with cruel and forced death; the which thing truest wisdom esteems as the best tokens of Love from so powerful a Sender, and as the best and certainest way to bring a man to perfect happiness.

I speak not this to conclude, that no man is happy but those which run this strict and best course. But to tell you (my Children) that if the world seek and prevail to cut you off from enjoy∣in•…•… my Estate and Patrimony in this world, yet 〈◊〉〈◊〉 should not think your selves more unhappy 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for God, it may be, doth see, that 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 other course more fit for you; or 〈◊◊〉〈◊◊〉 would give great hazard to your

Souls health, which he taketh away, by re∣moving the occasion.

But howsoever you find your selves in for∣tunes of this world, use them to Gods best pleasure, and think your selves but Bailiffs of such things for an uncertain time. If they be few or poor, your fear of making a good ac∣compt may be the lesser; and know, that God can send more and richer, if it be requisite for his glory and your good: if they be many or great, so much the more care you ought to take in governing your selves, lest God, as holding you unworthy such a charge, by taking them from you, or you from them, do also pu∣nish you with eternal misery, for abusing his benefits. You shall the better learn to make true use and reckoning of these vanities, if with due obedience you do hearken to your Mothers wholesome counsel; and what want you shall find in my instructions, you may see better de∣clared to you by looking on her life, which though I cannot give assurance for any thing to be done in future times, yet can I not but very stedfastly believe, that the same Lord will give perseverance in vertue, where he hath laid so strong a foundation for his Spiritual building, and where there is such an humble and resigned will to the pleasure of her Lord and Maker.

The next part of my Charge shall be, in your mutual carriage the one to the other; in which, all reasons to move you to perfect accord, and entire love, do present themselves unto you, as the obligation of Christianity, the tie of natural and nearest Consanguinity, and the equality, or

very small difference of Age. There is in none of these any thing wanting, that may be an impe∣diment to truest Friendship, nor any thing to be added to them (for procuring your mutual and heartiest love) but your own consent and parti∣cular desert each to other. Since then there is all cause in each of you for this love, do not de∣prive your selves of that earthly happiness, which God, Nature, and Time offereth unto you: but if you think that the benefit which accord and friendship bringeth, be not sufficient to enkindle this love, (which God forbid you should) yet let the consideration of the misery which the contrary worketh in all degrees, stay your mind from dislike.

As no man in any Age, but may see great happiness to have been attained by good agree∣ment of Friends, Kinsmen, and Brethren; so wanteth there not too many examples of such, as by hate and discord have frustrated strong hopes sowed in peace, and brought to nothing great Fortunes; besides the incurring Gods dis∣pleasure, which still comes accompanied with perpetual misery. If you look into Divine Writ, you shall find, that this was the cause of Abel and Cain's misery, which the least hard hap that came to either of them, was to be murdered by his Brother.

If you look into Humane Stories, you need search no further to behold a most pitiful ob∣ject, than the two Sons of Philip King of Ma∣cedon, whose dislike each to other was so deeply rooted, that at length it burst forth to open complaints, the one of the other, to good old

Philip; who seeing it, could not be put off from a publick hearing, called both his Sons, (Demetrius and Perseus) and in both their hear∣ing made a most effectual speech of concord un∣to them; but finding that it would not take effect, gave them free leave to wound his heart with their unnatural accusations, the one against the other; which staid not there, by the unjust hastning of their Fathers sudden death, but caused the murther of one of them, with the utter overthrow of that Common∣wealth, and the misery of the Survivor. These things (I hope) will not be so necessary for your use, as they are hurtless to know, and effectual where need requires.

Besides these examples, and fore-recited ob∣ligations, let me joyn a Fathers charge, which ought not to be slightly esteemed in so just a cause. Let me tell you, my Son Kenelm, that you ought to be both a Father and a Brother to your unprovided for Brother, and think, that what I am hindred from performing to him by short life, and voluntary tie of my Land to you; so much account your self bound to do to him, both in Brotherly affection to him, and in natural duty to me. And you, my Son Iohn, know I send you as Fatherly a Blessing, as if I had also given you a great Patrimony; and that if my life had permitted, I would have done my endeavour that way. If you find any thing in that kind to come from your Brother, take it the more thankfully; but if that you do not, let it not lessen your love to him, who ought

not to be loved by you for his Fortune or Boun∣ty, but for himself. I am sorry that I am cut off by time from saying so much as I did in∣tend at the first; but since I may not, I will commend in my Prayers your instruction and guidance to the Giver of all goodness, who ever bless and keep you.

From my Prison this 23. of Jan. 1605.

Your affectionate Father, Eve. Digby.