After having said these comparatively gentle words concerning the laity, he launched forth in declamation against "those of the spirituality," not one of whom was actually on his trial. "It is falsely said," he cried, "that there is never a religious man in this action; for I never yet knew a treason without a Romish priest; but in this there are very many Jesuits, who are known to have dealt and passed through the whole action." He then named four of these, beginning with Father Garnet, "besides their cursory men," the first of which was Father Gerard. "The studies and practises of this sect principally consisted in two D's, to wit, in deposing of kings and disposing of kingdoms." Having thundered away at Jesuits and priests to his heart's content, he exclaimed that "the Romish Catholicks" had put themselves under "Gunpowder Law, fit for Justices of Hell." "Note," said he, with great vehemence, "that gunpowder was the invention of a Friar, one of that Romish Rabble."[390] "All friars, religions, and priests were bad"; but "the principal offenders are the seducing Jesuits, men that use the reverence of Religion, yea, even the most Sacred and Blessed name of JESUS as a mantle to cover their impiety, blasphemy, treason, and rebellion, and all manner of wickedness." [390] So it is commonly said; but Mr Tomlinson, in his article on Gunpowder in the _Ency. Brit._, Vol. xi. p. 150, ed. 1856, says that it was known, in some form at least, in the year 355 B.C. No speech in those days was considered perfect without a few words of astrology, so he called the attention of the Court to the remarkable fact "that it was in the entering of the Sun into the Tropick of _Capricorn_, when they" [the conspirators] "began their mine; noting that by mineing they should descend, and by hanging ascend." In the latter part of his pompous harangue, there was a passage which must have been very unpleasant hearing to the prisoners, however interesting to the rest of the audience.[391] [391] _Gunpowder Treason_, by Thomas, Bp. of Lincoln, pp. (48)-(50).