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The Year 1585

THOMAS ALFIELD, Priest, and THOMAS WEBLEY, Layman *

Mr. ALFIELD, or AUFIELD, as some call him, was born in Gloucestershire, studied his divinity in the English College, then residing in Rhemes, where he wa smade priest in 1581, and so sent upon the E?iglish mission, where I find him a prisoner in April 1582. In the latter end of the year 1583 or the beginning1 of 1584, there came out a book penned, as it was supposed, by Cecily Lord Treasurer, entitled The Execution of Justice, &c.; or, Justitia Britannica. The drift of this book was to persuade the world that the Catholics who had suffered in England since the Queen’s accession to the crown had not suffered for religion, but for treason. The book was immediately answered by Dr. Allen, and the author fairly convicted of notorious untruths; but people in power will not bear to be told they lie. Mr. Alfield, therefore, who had found means to import into the kingdom some copies of Dr. Alienas Modest Answer to the English Persecutors, and had dispersed them by the help of one Thomas Webley, a dyer, was called to an account, as was also the said Webley, and both the one and the other were most cruelly toitured in prison, I suppose in order to make them discover the persons to whom they had distributed the said books. They were afterwards brought to their trial, and condemned on the 5th oijuly, and suffered at Tyburn on the day following, where both the one and the other had their life offered them if they would renounce the Pope and acknowledge the Queen’s Church headship, which they refusing to do, were both executed.

HUGH TAYLOR, Priest *

Hugh TAYLOR was bom at Durham, performed his studies in the English College, then residing at Rhemes, where he was made priest in 1584, and sent upon the English mission. He was apprehended some time in the following year, tried and condemned at York for being a priest, and for having received faculties from the See of Rome to absolve and reconcile the subjects of England, and denying the Queen’s supremacy.

He was drawn, hanged, and quartered at York, November 26,

Marmaduke Bowes, a married gentleman of Angram Grange, near Appleton, in Cleveland, was executed at the same time with Mr. Taylor, for having entertained the same gentleman in his house; or, as Mr. Leonard Brakenbury, a Yorkshire attorney, affirms in a manuscript which I have in my hands, for having only given him a cup of beer at his door. Mr. John Ingolby, counsellor at law, in2

HUGH TAYLOR another manuscript of which I have an extract, affirms that Mr. Bowes^ hearing of the priest’s being taken, came to York^ at the assizes, to try to free him by his appearance; whereupon, as soon as he was lighted from his horse, without pulling off his boots, he went straight to the Castle Yard to speak in the priest’s behalf. But himself being hereupon questioned, was immediately apprehended, tried, and condemned upon the statute lately made against harbouring or relieving priests, upon the accusation of one Martin Harrison; the Earl of Himtingdoji^ a bitter enemy of the Catholics, being then President of the North, and Laurence Mears, one of the Council, being judge. Some say he was hanged in his boots and spurs.

He suffered at the same time and place with Mr. Taylor, The providence of God in his regard was the more to be admired in bringing him to this happy end, because (as it seems by another relation that I have now before me) he had, though a Catholic in his heart, conformed in outward show to the religion of the times. ‘ He died very willingly, [says this relation by the Lady Baptliorp,] and professed his faith, with great repentance for having lived in schism.’

Mr. Taylor and Mr. Bowes were the first that suffered by the sanguinary statutes of this year (the 27th of Elizabeth), by which it was made high treason for any native of her Majesty’s dominions, made priest since the first year of her reign, by authority derived from Rome, to return into this kingdom or remain here, and felony for any person to harbour or relieve any such priest, knowing him to be a priest. By which statutes, as we shall see hereafter, most of those that have since suffered for religious matters were arraigned and condemned. The Catholics, perceiving the storm that was hanging over their heads, sought to divert it by a humble and dutiful address to the Queen, [which may be seen in a small tract, called English Protestants' Plea for Priests and Papists, 1621,] presented to her Majesty by Mr. Shelley of Sussex, one day as she was walking in her park at Greenwich. But this address had no other effect than causing the gentleman who presented it to be cast into the Marshalsea, where he died a close prisoner, for no other fault but presuming to present an address to the Queen without the knowledge and consent of the Lords of the Council.

What with these new laws and the others formerly made, the Catholics were so terrified, that many of them resolved to leave the nation, by this means to be out of the reach of these cruel statutes, and at the same time to enjoy the free exercise of their religion. This resolution was taken, amongst the rest, by that noble Lord,

Philip Howard, Earl of Arundel (eldest son to the late Duke of Norfolk^ who, by Leicester's contrivances, was brought to the block in 1572). But before he departed the realm he wrote a dutiful letter to the Queen, to be delivered when he was gone, signifying that, for his soul’s health and the service of God, he purposed to leave his native country, but not his loyal affection for her Majesty. His design miscarried; for just as he was going on board the ship, he was betrayed by one of his domestics, seized, brought back to London, and committed to the Tower. His brothers, uncle, and several of his kindred, friends, and servants, being at the same time committed to several prisons. For this offence he was first fined ten thousand pounds in the Star Chamber, and sentenced to be imprisoned during the Queen’s pleasure. Then, after some years’ confinement, upon new informations, he was brought upon his trial before his peers, found guilty, and had sentence of death, April 4, 1589. The crimes objected against him were chiefly his harbouring and relieving of priests, and corresponding with Dr. Allen and with Mary Queen of Scots. ’Tis true he was not executed, but permitted to die a lingering death under a tedious confinement, being kept a close prisoner for ten years, from the time of his condemnation till his death; during which time he gave himself up to a strict and penitential course of life, and to continual prayer and contemplation, to the great edification of all that knew him. The Bishop of Tarrasona, 1. 2, c. 4, relates, that he lay upon the ground, and fasted three days a week upon bread and water, &c.

This same year, 1^^^, Henry Percy, 'E^.rXoi Northumberland, who had been sent to the Tower the year before upon occasion of his friend the Lord Paget's privately retiring beyond the seas for his conscience’ sake, after many efforts of his enemies (of whom the Earl of Leicester was supposed to be the chiefest) to bring him in guilty of some treason, was found shot through the reins and groin. Great industry was used to persuade the nation that he was Felo de se; but it was violently suspected that he was made away by Leicester. This Henry was brother to Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland, who, with Charles Nevile, Earl of Westmorland, took up arms in the North for the Catholic religion in 1569, and was beheaded at York in 1572.

I find in an ancient catalogue the names of the following priests of the Seminaries, who died this year in prison for their religion: —

1st. Thomas Crowther, born in Herefordshire, priest of Poway College, ordained in 1575, and Bachelor of Divinity in that University. He was a man of extraordinary parts and learning, and a

HUGH TAYLOR notable missioner. He died in the Marshalsea^ after about two years’ imprisonment.

zdly. Edward Poole, sent priest from Rhemes in 1580, and apprehended and cast into prison the same year.

^dly. Laurence Vaux, formerly warden of Manchester (sometime convictor of the College of Doway or Rhemes), afterwards canon regular. He was cast into the prison of the Gatehouse, together with N. Titchhurn, Esq., by Elmer, Bishop of London, in 1580, and died there this year.

\thly. John Jetter, whom I find in the College of Rhemes in 1581, made subdeacon. I believe he was made priest at Rome.

Of the ancient confessors, this year died prisoner in Wisbech Castle the venerable JoAw Eeckenham, last Abbot of Westminster.

But one of the most remarkable occurrences in the history of this year is the banishment of about seventy priests within the compass of one twelvemonth. ‘ On the 21st of January 1584-85,’ says Mr. Stow in his Annals, ‘ Jesuits, Seminarists, and other massing priests, to the number of twenty-one, [one was only a lay gentleman,] late prisoners in the Tower of London, Marshalsea, and King's Bench, were shipped off at the Tower Wharf, to be carried towards Erance, and banished this realm for ever, by virtue of a commission from her Majesty bearing date the 15th of the same month, anno 1585.

‘ On the 15th of September the same year, by virtue of an order from the Lords of the Council, thirty- two priests more, and two laymen, at that time prisoners in the Tower, Marshalsea, &c., were embarked in the Mary Martin of Colchester, on the south side of the Thames over against St. Catharine' s, to be transported over unto the coasts of Normandy, and banished this realm for ever.’

There were about eighteen more, according to Camden and others (Dr. Bridgewater says twenty- two), all priests but one (he a deacon), sent into banishment from the Northern prisons about the same time; of whom Dr. Bridgewater writes that they were for the most part advanced in years, some being sixty, others seventy, or upwards, and one eighty years old; and that many of them had been a great many years in prison, some ever since the beginning of this reign, i.e., for twenty-six years {Bridgewater's Brevis Descriptio, &c., fol. 411).

The same author, in the foregoing page, relates also, as an occurrence of this year, the case of James Steile, priest, who, after having been twice taken and cast into prison, first at York and then at Manchester, was put on board a ship to be carried into perpetual banishment. He suffered much on shipboard, but little in comparison with the treatment he afterwards met with; for being cast upon the Irish shore, and stripped of all his clothes, even to his very shirt, he was carried to the next town, where a poor woman gave him a piece of a shift to cover his nakedness; and in that manner he was presented to the Sheriff of the county, who sent him, naked as he was, upon a horse, without saddle or bridle, to the city of Cork, conducted by certain wicked wretches, who sported themselves with whipping him frequently, during the whole journey, which was no less than twenty miles. When he arrived at his journey’s end, he was put into irons, and kept in the common gaol amongst the thieves, till, by the orders of the Earl of Derby and the Bishop of Cork, he was again shipped off, and sent into banishment.

The names of the twenty-one who were sent into banishment in January were —

  1. Jasper Haywood, S.J.

  2. James Bosgrave, S.J. — 3. John Hart, B.D. — 4. Edward Rush-ton. These three were condemned at the same time with Father Campion and his companions.

  3. John Colleton, or Collington, acquitted at that time, yet kept in prison till this present year.

  4. Arthur Pitts, afterwards Dean of Liver dun. — 7. Samuel Conyers. — 8. William Tedder. — 9. William Warmington. — 10. Richard Slack.

II. William Hartley. — 12. Robert Nutter. — 13. William Dean. These three were afterwards executed for their character.

  1. William Bishop, afterwards Bishop of Chalcedon.

  2. Thomas Worthington, who, after Cardinal Allen and Dr. Barret, was the third President of Doway College.

  3. Richard Norris. — 17. Thomas Stevenson. — 18. Christopher Thompson. — 19. John Barns. — 20. William Smith.

  4. Mr. Orton, a lay gentleman, condemned with Father Campion.

I have not been able to recover the names of all the rest that were banished this year. I find in the Doway catalogues that many of them came and made some stay in the College; as, besides several of those named above, did John Bennet, Steven Rousham, Lewis Hews, John Adams, John Vivian, Thomas Sympson, Andrew Fowler, Thomas Pilchard, Jonas Meredith, Nicholas Gar lick, Edmund Sykes. John Marsh, Thomas Freeman, and John Hewet.

EDWARD STRANSHAM

EDWARD STRANSHAM, or TRANSHAM,

Priest,3

Mr. EDWARD STRANSHAM, whom Mr. Stow in his Annals calls Edmund Barber, from the name under which he disguised himself upon the mission, was born at or near Oxford, and educated in St. John's College in that University, where he took the degree of Bachelor of Arts in 1575-76. Not long after this he left the University and the Protestant religion, and went over to Doway, where I find him in June 1576; and going afterwards to Rhemes (the College being translated thither), he was ordained priest in December 1580, and sent upon the mission on the last day of June 1581, with three others, one of which was Mr. Woodfen, who afterwards suffered with him.

The account that both Mr. Rishton and Dr. Bridgewater give of these two missioners is short, but very full and expressive. The former writes as follows: — ‘ At London, Edward Transham, a priest of remarkable zeal and piety, and endowed with the grace of the world, and his companion, Mr. Woodfen, a man of equal merit and constancy, glorified God by a most precious death and confession; whose bowels they plucked out whilst they were yet alive, and whose quarters they set up for a prey to the fowls of the air.^

The latter writes thus: — ‘ Mr. Edward Transham and Mr. Woodfen, Catholic priests, after they had given many and various arguments of their piety, charity, and Christian fortitude, in gathering together the scattered sheep of Great Britain, the time being now come in which they were both to glorify God by an illustrious confession of their faith, and confirm their brethren by the voluntary shedding of their blood, being approved by the testimony of faith, they offered their souls and bodies a living and holy sacrifice to God, their Creator and Redeemer.’

They suffered at Tyburn, January 21, 1585-86, barely for being priests. They are mentioned by Mr. Stow in his Annals, who calls Mr. Woodfen by the name of Devereux. ‘ Nicholas Devereux,' says he, ‘ was condemned for treason in being made a Seminary priest at Rhemes. Also Edmond Barber, made priest as aforesaid, was likewise condemned of treason; and both were drawn to Tyburn, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered.’

NICHOLAS WOODFEN, alias WHEELER,

Priest.4

This gentleman, whom Mr. Stow czWsDevereux^ from the name by which he was arraigned and condemned, was known at the College by the name of Woodfen, but his true name was Nicholas Wheeler. He was a native of Lemster or Leominster^ in Hereford-shire, and performed his studies at Doway and Rhemes, was made priest at Rhemes the 25th of March 1581, said his first Mass on the 5th of April following, and was sent upon the mission on the 30th of June. We have just now heard his character from Mr. Rishton and Dr. Bridgewater, and how he was put to death with Mr. Traiisham for being made priest by Roman authority, and remaining in this kingdom contrary to the statute of Elizabeth 27. What follows is a copy of a relation penned by an ancient missioner, his schoolfellow.

‘ Mr. Nicholas Devereux, priest, executed at Tyburn, was born at Lemster, a town in Herefordshire, in the Marches of Wales, with whom I was schoolfellow in Lemster, and then he was called Nicholas Wheeler, and held for one of the best scholars in the school; whom from that time I did never see, until he had taken holy orders beyond the seas, and returned into England. Coming to London after his return, he was driven to great necessity; and learning that I was entertained by Sir Thomas Tresham's lady, who lived in Tuttle Street, in Westminster (Sir Thomas Tresham, her husband, being prisoner [for his religion] at Hogsdon [or Hoxton,] beyond London), he came to an inn thereby and sent me a letter. I came unto him, who declared unto me, the tears standing in his eyes. That he had neither money to buy him any meat, nor scarce any clothes upon his back. I pitied his case, comforted him, and gave him such money as I had then present, and afterwards acquainted him with Catholics in London; and by the help of Mr. Francis Brown, the old Lord Montague's brother, I got him apparel, and furnished him in such sort as he took a chamber in Fleet Street, near the Conduit, at one Barton, a haberdasher’s house, and did much good among the gentlemen of the Inns of Court, and went in a gown as one of them, where he went by the name of Woodfen. But Norris, the pursuivant, ferreted

NICHOLAS WOODFEN him out, and forced him from thence. After that he came to Hogsdon to me, where, the next day after his coming, he fell into the like danger; for the house was beset and searched by two pursuivants, who, to be the more sure of their prey, brought with them the owner or landlord of the house; who, finding a certain door closed up, told Sir Thomas of it, who said it was true, that because his serving men lay in that chamber and his son in the next chamber, to the end that his men should not have access to his son, he barred up that door; wherein, indeed, the secret place was devised, which saved us both at that time; but, as our Saviour said, Nondum venit hora mea^ so his hour was not yet come, until falling the third time into the pursuivant’s hands, he was executed at Tyhurn^ January 21, 1586, by the name of Nicholas Devereiix. He was a man of a fine complexion of body, affable and courteous, and therefore, I think, he won the more love.’ So far Mr. Davis.

On the 20th of April following we find two more priests executed together at Tybnrn, of whom thus writes Mr. Stow in his Annals: — William Thompson, alias Blackburn, made priest at Rhemes, and Richard Lee, alias Long, made priest at Lyons, in France, and remaining here contrary to the stati||;e, were both condemned, and on the 20th of April drawn to Tyburn, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered.’

RICHARD SERGEANT, alias LONG, and WILLIAM THOMSON, alias BLACKBURN,

Priests,

Richard sergeant, who sometimes screened himself under the names of Lee and Long, was born in Gloucestershire. of a gentleman’s family, and was an alumnus and priest of the English College then residing at Rhemes, though he received the order of priesthood, according to Mr. Stow, at Lyons. He was a man of learning; and after he had for some time laboured with fruit in gaining souls to Christ, was apprehended, cast into prison, tried and condemned, barely for being a priest, and remaining in the kingdom contrary to the statute of 27 Elizabeth.5

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And William Thomson ^ sometimes known by the name of Black-burn^ born in the parish of Blackburn, in Lancashire, alumnus and priest of the same College, after many labours in the vineyard of his Lord, in administering, in the midst of dangers, the holy sacraments to Catholics, and reclaiming heretics from the way of perdition, was in like manner apprehended, tried, and condemned, for having been made priest by the authority of the See Apostolic, and remaining in England contrary to the statute. They were both drawn together to Tyburn, and there happily finished their course, being hanged, bowelled, and quartered, April 20, 1586.

This, or the next month, we find two more priests of the same College executed for the same cause in the Isle of Wight. These were —

ROBERT ANDERTON and WILLIAM MARSDEN, Priests,6

Robert ANDERTON, bom of an honourable family in the county palatine of Lancaster, and William Marsden, born in the parish of Goosenar, in the same county, both performed their studies in the College of Rhemes, and Mr. Anderton in particular has the character in the manuscript history of having been a man of great learning — Vir doctissimus. Being advanced to the dignity of priesthood, they were together sent over to labour in the vineyard; but going on shipboard, whilst they were sailing for some other part of the kingdom, a storm arising, drove them upon the Isle of Wight, where, being suspected to be priests, they were apprehended and carried before a justice of the peace, and upon examination, they not denying their character, were committed to prison. When they were brought upon their trial, they made it appear that they were cast upon shore against their will, and had not remained in the kingdom before their commitment the number of days mentioned in the statute, and therefore could not be guilty of the treason, or liable to the punishment of that statute. But this plea, how just soever, was overruled, and they were found guilty by their jury, and had sentence to die as in cases of high treason, and this barely for their being priests, made by authority derived from Rome, and

FRANCIS INGOLBY coming over into this kingdom. In consequence of this sentence, they were executed in the Isle of Wight on the 25th of Aprif according to a manuscript catalogue kept in Doway College^ which I believe to be the same as was drawn up by order of the Bishop of Chalcedon to be presented to the Pope. The constancy and cheerfulness with which these two holy confessors offered themselves to the worst of deaths, and their behaviour on this occasion, gave great edification to the Catholics and astonishment to their adversaries.

FRANCIS INGOLBY, Priest,^

Francis INGOLBY^ was son of sir WUUam higolby, Knight. He was born at Ripley, in Yorkshire; was an alumnus and priest of Doway College during its residence at Rhemes, and was ordained and sent upon the English mission, an7io 1584. Fie laboured with great fruit in the northern parts of this kingdom in the worst of times, where at length he was apprehended, tried, and condemned, barely for being a priest ordained by authority derived from the See of Rome, and remaining in this kingdom. He suffered at York on the 3d June 1586.

JOHN FINGLOW, or FINGLEY, Priest.f

JOHN FINGLOW, or FINGLEY, was born at Barneby, near Houden, in Yorkshire; had his education in the Ei^glish College, then residing at Rhemes, where he was ordained priest, March 25, being Easter Eve, 1581, and was sent upon the English mission the 24th of April following. After many labours in gaining souls to Christ in the northern parts of the kingdom, he was apprehended and committed to York Jail; and being brought upon his trial, was condemned of high treason, for being a priest made by Roman authority, and for having reconciled some of the Queen’s subjects to the Church of Rome. He was hanged, bowelled, and quartered at York, August 8, 1586. Some say 1587. He suffered, says Molanus, with78 that generous courage which seems to have been natural to the Seminarists from the very beginning, and with an ardent zeal for the confirmation of religion. Ingenita seminaristis jam inde ah initio generositate et ardore in religione confirmarida.

JOHN SANDYS, Priest.^

JOHN SANDY'S was born in the diocese of Chester^ was educated in Doway College during its residence at Rhemes, where he was made priest, and sent upon the English mission, anno 1584. After having for some time diligently applied himself to his missionary functions, he was apprehended, tried, and condemned for being a priest, and was drawn, hanged, bowelled, and quartered at Gloucester, August the nth (some say the 2d), 1586.

In October following I find three priests executed together at Tyburn, of whom thus writes Mr. Stow in his Chronicle: — ‘The 8th of October, John Lowe, J. Adams, and Richard Dibdale, being before condemned for treason in being made priests by authority of the Bishop of Rome, were drawn to Tyburn, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered.’

JOHN LOWE and JOHN ADAMS, Priests.f

JOHN LOWE was born at London, and was for some time a Protestant minister, but being converted, he went abroad, and was first an alumnus of Doway College, and afterwards sent from Dozvay to Rome in 1576, where he was made priest, and from thence returned upon the English mission. Here he was apprehended and cast into prison, and at length tried, condemned, and executed as in cases of high treason, barely for his priestly character and functions. He suffered at Tyburn, October 8, 1586.

John Adams was born at Martin's Town, in Dorsetshire, and performed his divinity studies in the English College, then residing at Rhemes, from whence he was sent priest unto the mission, anjio 1581.910

RICHARD DIBDALE

He was one of those priests that were banished in 1585; and upon that occasion returned to the College, but after a short stay went again into the vineyard, where he was again apprehended. Other particulars relating to him I have not found, only Molaniis signifies that his constancy was proof against the artifices and promises by which many sought to divert him from his generous resolution of laying down his life for his faith. Multorum elusis artibuSy qui constantiam de more Catholicorum variis promissis mollire conantur.

He was condemned barely for being a priest, and was executed at Tyburn y October 8, 1586.

RICHARD DIBDALE, Priest *

Richard, or, as he is called in most catalogues, Robert Dibdaley was born in Worcestershire y was an alumnus and priest of the English College, then residing at Rhemes y and from thence, anno 1584, was sent to labour in the English vineyard, which he diligently cultivated for some years, till, falling into the hands of the persecutors, he was tried and condemned to die for his priestly character and functions, and in consequence of this sentence was, together with Mr. Lowe and Mr. Adams y drawn to Tyburn y and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered, October 8, 1586.

Of him thus writes Mr. DavieSy an ancient missioner, in a manuscript relation sent over to Dowayy anno 1626: — ‘ Mr. Richard DibdalCy priest, was executed with Mr. John Lowe. I met him once at Sir George Peckham's of Denhamy beside Uxbridgey where he practised the office of an exorcist; for there were three persons bewitched and possessed — two maids and one man. Out of one of the maids he brought forth a great needle at her cheek, and two rusty nails and pieces of lead: her name was Afin Smith. The other was called Eidy who, after the apprehension of Mr. Dibdaley became concubine to Bancrofty called Archbishop of Canterbury y and had a child by him, as I have heard. I left him there upon Ascension Evey and coming to London y I was apprehended by Newal and Worseleyy two pursuivants, on Ascension Day in the morning, saying my prime, bound and sent to the Compter in Wood Street y and two gentlemen that were taken with me; the third gentleman, who brought me a missal, escaping by giving the pursuivants The same Mr. Dibdale 111 also met twice or thrice at the old Lord Vaux^s house, who then lived at London. More of him I cannot say of my own knowledge.’

Of the same Mr. Dihdale and his exorcisms, thus writes the learned and pious Diego de Yepez confessor to Philip II., King of Spain ^ and Bishop of Tarrasona^ in his Spanish History of the Persecution of England^ 1. 2, chap. 13: — ‘ Wonderful,’ says he, ‘ were the things that happened in the exorcisms of certain persons possessed by the devil, made by Mr. Dibdale, priest, who was since martyred, and by others, in the house of a certain Catholic, where many persons of distinction met, with great profit to their souls, to see and hear things far exceeding the forces of human nature, which obliged them to reverence the works of God, and the virtue and power which Christ our Lord has bequeathed to the ministers of His Church. The martyr Dihdale obliged the devil to bring up by the mouth of one of the possessed persons balls of hair and pieces of iron, and other such like things, which it was impossible could ever naturally have gone into, or afterwards have come out of, a human body. The devils also, upon this occasion, told what relics of the saints each one had privately brought with him, and obeyed the prayers and exorcisms of the Church, confessing and declaring to their own confusion the virtue which the sign of the cross, holy water, and relics (as well of the ancient saints as of those that suffer in these days in EnglaJid for the Catholic faith) have against them. All which, though some incredulous and hardened heretics slighted, yet others that were not so much biassed by passion, but more reasonable, were convinced by the evidence of what they saw, and thereupon renounced their errors.’ So far this prelate.

The same author, in this and the following chapters, relates several other remarkable histories which happened in these times of persons possessed by the devil. As of a young man in Derby-shire ^ who being a Catholic in heart, to save his worldly substance (for he was rich), outwardly conformed to the established religion, and received the Protestant communion; which he had no sooner done but he fell into a great trouble of mind, followed by strange fits, which, as it was not long after plainly discovered, proceeded from an evil spirit possessing him. Also of another young man in Hampshire ^ to whom the like happened upon his going, though but once, to the Protestant church. He was delivered by a Catholic priest, a prisoner for his faith, who, having reconciled him by confession, and given him the holy communion, sent him home perfectly cured, giving him withal, as a defence against the devil, the cassock of another priest who had suffered martyrdom a little before; ‘ which,’

RICHARD DIBDALE says my author, ‘ the young man kept with great reverence and devotion, and showed it to the person who related this history to me; and he is living at this day, with great edification to all that know him.’ He relates also of a third person, a student of Oxford, who was strangely obsessed by the devil, frequently persuading him to make away with himself. His friends would have it that he was mad, and sent him to Bedlam. After some time, by means of a Catholic gentleman, who recounted this history to my author, he was by degrees convinced of the errors in which he was brought up, and reconciled to the Catholic Church; and having made a general confession, and received the holy communion, was perfectly cured both in soul and body. But returning to the University, that he might not lose his place which he enjoyed before in his college, he concealed his being a Catholic, and went to the Protestant service, which he had no sooner done but the devil returned again, molesting him as before; and shortly after he hanged himself in despair. A fourth history, which the same author gives from the testimony of his English friends, is of one Mr. Bridges, a student of the Middle Temple, who, being possessed by the devil, was brought to Mr. Fox, the Protestant martyrologist, to be delivered by his prayers. His friends at first imagined that he was actually delivered, and published aloud the success of the preacher as a confirmation of their religion; but they were quickly undeceived, and the young gentleman was found to be worse than ever. They carried him, therefore, again to Mr. Fox; but instead of their finding him in a condition to deliver others, he appeared, by all symptoms, to be possessed himself, though his friends, desirous to disguise the matter, gave another turn to the strange agitations they saw in him, attributing them to a temptation of despair, from the great sense he had of his own sins and of God’s justice.

On the 26th of March (some say the 25th) of this or the foregoing year, for authors are divided about the time, Mrs. Margaret Clithero, whose maiden name was Middleton, a gentlewoman of a good family in Yorkshire, was pressed to death at York. She was prosecuted under that violent persecution raised in those times by the Earl of Hu7itingdoji. Lord President of the North. The crime she was charged with was relieving and harbouring priests. She refused to plead, that she might not bring others into danger by her conviction, or be accessory to the jurymen’s sins in condemning the innocent, and therefore, as the law appoints in such cases, she was pressed to death. She bore this cruel torment with invincible patience, often repeating in the way to execution. That this way to heaven was as short as any other. Her husband was forced into banishment. Her little children, who wept and lamented for their mother, were taken up, and being questioned concerning the articles of their religion, and answering as they had been taught by her, were severely whipped; and the eldest, who was but twelve years old, was cast into prison. Her life was written by the reverend and learned Mr. John Mushy her director, who, after many years’ labouring with great fruit in the English mission, after having suffered prisons and chains, and received even the sentence of death for his faith, died at length in his bed in a good old age in 1617.

In this, also, or the foregoing y Robert Bicker dike y gentleman, was executed at York for religious matters, October 8, — “ one manuscript says July 23.” He was born at Low Hally in Yorkshire y and suffered as in cases of high treason, for being reconciled, says this manuscript, to the Church of Romey and refusing to go to the Protestant church.

The Rev. Mr. Ralph Fishery in a manuscript relation which I have in my hands, recounts the following particulars of him: — ‘ Robert Bicker dike y gentleman, was born in Yorkshirey near to the town of Knaresboroughy but his dwelling was in the city of Yorky who being brought before the magistrate there for matters of conscience and religion, was examined, among other things, if the Pope or his agent, the King of Spain y should invade Eriglandy whether he would take the Queen’s part or the Pope’s? To this Mr. Bicker-dike did make answer: If any such thmg came to pasSy he would then do as God should put him in mind. Upon this answer he was first arraigned at the Lotidon Hall of the city of treason, but the jurors, being men of conscience, found him not guilty. • Whereupon the judge, being grieved that he was freed by the jury, caused him to be removed from the gaol or prison of the city to the Castle, and there again indicted him of the aforesaid treason, and by a new jury he was found guilty of treason. And the judge, whose name was Rhodes y gave sentence. That he should be hanged y dr awn y and quartered; and so constantly he suffered according to the same sentence, which was for that he would do as God should put him in mind.’

On the I St of December of this same year, 1586, Richard Langley y Esq., born at Grinthorpy in Yorkshirey was executed at York for harbouring and assisting priests.

This year also, as I find in an ancient catalogue, John Harrison y priest, of the College of RhemeSy died in chains, obiit in ‘cinculis. He was ordained and sent upon the mission in 1585.

1587] THOMAS PILCHARD— EDMUND SYKES

Footnotes

  1. Ven. Thomas Alfield and Thomas Webley. — From the Douay Journal and Catalogue, and from Bridgewater’s Concertatio, fob 203; Lives of E. M.; C.R.S., V.; Catholic Eiicyclopcedia, Gillow. ↩

  2. Ven. Hugh Taylor. — From the Douay Journal; Bridgewater, fol. 203, and Raissius’s Catalogue, p. 47; Lives of E. M.; Morris, Troubles, hi. ↩

  3. Ven. Edward Stransham, or Transham. — From Athence Oxon., Diary of Douay College; Rishton, lib. 3, De Schismate Angl. in fine; and Bridge-water’s Concertatio, fol. 204; Lives of E. M.; C.R.S., v. ↩

  4. Ven. Nicholas Woodfen, alias Wheeler. — From the Douay Diary, and from a Manuscript in my hands, by the Rev. Mr. Davis, an intimate acquaintance of Mr. Woodfen; see also Lives of E. M., I. ii. ↩

  5. Ven. Richard Sergeant, alias Long, and William Thomson, alias Blackburn. — From the Diaries and Catalogues of Martyrs of Douay College, and from a Manuscript Flistory kept in the same College, of affairs relating to the Catholics during the reign of Queen Elizabeth, by Dr. Champney; Lives of E. M.; Catholic Encyclopcedia. ↩

  6. Ven. Robert Anderton and William Marsden. — Fom the Diaries, Catalogues, and Manuscript History above quoted; C.R.S., v.; Lives of E. M.; Acts of E. M. ↩

  7. Ven. Francis Ingolby, or Ingleby. — From the Douay Diary, Catalogues, and Champney’s Manuscript History; Acts of E. M.; Lives of E. M.; Troubles, iii; Camm, Forgotten Shrines. ↩

  8. Ven. John Finglow, or Fingley. — From the Diary, Catalogues, and Manuscript History above quoted; Lives of E. M. ↩

  9. Ven. John Sandys. — From Diary, Catalogues, and Manuscript History; Lives of E. M. ↩

  10. Ven. John Lowe and John Adams. — From the Douay Memoirs above quoted; Lives of E. M.. ↩

  11. Ven. Richard Dibdale. — From the same Memoirs, and from a Manuscript in my hands. ↩

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