Page:A history of the gunpowder plot-The conspiracy and its agents (1904).djvu/168

144 the Tower after the failure of Babington's conspiracy in favour of the Queen of Scots. On his release, he retired to Hendlip, where he devoted himself to archaeology, taking great interest in antiquarian lore connected with Worcestershire and Staffordshire. But, notwithstanding his love of learning, his zeal for religion still moved him to commit imprudent but generous acts, and many a hunted priest found a safe refuge in one of the numerous 'holes' at Hendlip. Moreover, he maintained, at the time of the Plot, so dangerous a person in his service as the Jesuit Oldcorne, who acted as his chaplain, and who invited Garnet to come, with Owen and another lay-brother, to Hendlip, after Coughton had become too dangerous a retreat for Garnet to stay at much longer. The invitation was probably due to the intercession of Abington's wife, a devout Romanist, and sister to Lord Mounteagle, whose relationship to Abington was the means of saving the latter's life, and that on probably more than one occasion.

For about six weeks, Father Garnet remained hidden in peace at his new headquarters, before being perturbed by the pressing attentions of his enemies. On Sunday, January 19, 1606, however, Sir Henry Bromley, a magistrate, appeared before Hendlip, early in the morning, 'accompanied with