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TO FA C E PA G E 135. ]
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Fro77i the * Apology o f Eudiemon-yoanjies*
iJa tR ay (SvCLrri©ry ^Fraco, 1 3 5
quantity of dry Straw had been thrown with Garnet’s head and
quarters from the scaffold into the basket; but whether this ear
came into my hand from the scaffold or from the basket, I cannot
venture to affirm : this only I can truly say, that a Straw of this
kind was thrown towards me before it had touched the ground.
This Straw I afterwards delivered to Mrs. N., a matron of singular
Catholic piety, who inclosed it in a bottle, which being rather
shorter than the Straw, it became slightly bent. A few days afterwards,
Mrs. N. showed the Straw in the bottle to a certain noble
person, her intimate acquaintance, who, looking at it attentively,
at length said, ‘ I can see nothing in it but a man’s face.’ At this,
Mrs. N. and I, being astonished at the unexpected exclamation,
again and again examined the ear of Straw, and distindtly perceived
in it a human countenance, which others, also coming in as
casua spectators, or expressly called by us as witnesses, also
beheld at that time. This is, as God knoweth, the true history of
Father Garnet’s Straw.”
In process of time, the fame of the prodig}' encouraged those
who had an interest in upholding it to add considerably to the
miracle as it was at first promulgated. Wilkinson and the first
observers of the marvel merely represented that the appearance of
a face was shown on so diminutive a scale, upon the husk or
sheath of a single grain, as scarcely to be visible unless specifically
pointed out. Fig. i in the accompanying plate accurately depicils
the miracle as it was at first displayed.
But a much more imposing image was afterwards discovered.
Two faces appeared upon the middle part of the Straw, both
surrounded with rays of g lo ry ; the head of the principal figure,
which represented Garnet, was encircled with a martyr’s crown,
and the face of a cherub appeared in the midst of his beard. In
this improved state of the miracle, the story was circulated in
England, and excited the most profound and universal attention ;
and thus depicted, the miraculous Straw became generally known
throughout the Christian world. Fig. 2 in the sketch exactly
represents the prodigy in its improved state: it is taken from the
frontispiece to the ‘ Apology of Eudaemon-Joannes.’
So great was the scandal occasioned by this story of Father
Garnet’s miraculous Straw, that Archbishop Bancroft was commissioned
by the Privy Council to institute an inquiry, and, if possible,
to detect and punish the perpetration of what he considered a gross
imposture; but although a great many persons were examined, no
distinct evidence of imposition could be obtained. It was proved,
however, that the face might have been limned on the Straw by
Wilkinson, or under his direction, during the interval which occurred
between the time of Garnet’s death and the discovery of the
miraculous head. At all events, the inquiry had the desired effect
of staying public curiosity in England; and upon this the Privy
Council took no further proceedings against any of tke parties.