The Year 1587

In the beginning of this year, viz.^ February 8, 1587, Mary Queen of Scotland and Dowager of France was beheaded at Fotheringay Castle in Northamptonshire^ after an imprisonment of eighteen years. As her constancy in the Catholic religion was the chief cause of her death, whatever might otherwise be pretended, so is she usually reckoned amongst those who suffered for religion.

THOMAS PILCHARD, Priest.^

Thomas pilchard was bom at Battle, in Sussex, and educated in Doway College during its residence at Rhemes, where he was made priest, and sent upon the mission, anno 1 583. Here he was for some time an unwearied labourer in the vineyard of his Lord, till, falling into the hands of the persecutors, he was committed to prison, and banished in 1585; but returning upon the mission, he was again apprehended, tried, and condemned for being a priest ordained beyond the seas by authority of the See Apostolic, and for exercising his functions in England, and for reconciling the Queen’s subjects.

He was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Dorchester, March 21.

EDMUND SYKES, Priest.f

Edmund SYKES was bom at Leeds, in Yorkshire, and educated in the English College, then residing in Rhemes, where I find him, by the Doway Journals, to have been made priest the 21st of February 1581, and sent upon the mission the 5th of June the same, year. After having laboured with fruit for several years in the vineyard, he was apprehended some time in or before the year 1585, and was one of those priests that were sent into banishment that year. He quickly returned again into Engla7id, and after some time was taken again. Of this second imprisonment thus writes¹²

Dr. Champney, in the manuscript annals of Queen Elizabeth preserved in Doway College: — ‘ Edmund Sykes, born of honest parents in the town of Leeds, priest of the College of Doiiay, after some years fruitfully employed in the vineyards of the Lord, being apprehended, was thrust into a most strait and very troublesome prison, in which, by the experience of sufferings, he acquired the virtue of patience and learned to die. For he endured most grievous conflicts, not only from the world and the flesh, but also from the prince of darkness himself. For the other Catholics, who were kept prisoners in the same gaol, though not in the same room, heard in his room a noise as it were of one that was disputing and contending with him, whom he rebuked and rejected with contempt; and when afterwards they asked him what was the matter, he told them. That the devil had been there to trouble and 7nolest him, and to tempt and urge him to renounce his religion. Afterwards being brought to the bar, and arraigned for high treason, for being made priest, and returning into England, and there remaining, contrary to the statute, he acknowledged the matter of fact [of his being made priest, &c.,] but absolutely denied there was any guilt or treason in the case. Fle had sentence to die, according to which he was hanged, bowelled, and quartered at York, March 23.’ I have before me a manuscript catalogue of martyrs which refers his death to the following year.

ROBERT SUTTON, Priest.^

Robert SUTTON was bom at Burton upon Trent, and brought up in the University of Oxford, where he made a great progress in learning; but withal was strongly entangled, to use the expression of the Doway Journal, in the snares of the heretics, and of the world, till, by an extraordinary mercy of God, being frequently called upon by the letters of his friends from Doway, he took a generous resolution, together with his brother Abraham, who was in the same case, to disengage himself from all these bands, and leaving his station in the Protestant Church, to go over to Doway, where he and his brother were admitted, March 24, 1576-77. Here they applied themselves to the study of divinity, and were both made priests, and sent together upon the English mission the 19th of³

ROBERT SUTTON

March 1577-78, before the College was removed to Rhemes. Mr. Robert Sutton's labours seem to have been chiefly employed in his own county of Staffordshire. And he has the character in the manuscript annals of having been a man full of zeal and piety, who laboured for many years with great success in bringing back the lost sheep to the fold of Christ. Both he and his brother Abraham were of the number of those priests who fell into the hands of the persecutors and were banished in 1585. They both returned to their apostolic labours, and, after some time, Mr. Robert Sutton being again apprehended, was committed to Stafford Jail; and being brought upon his trial, was condemned by the statute of the 27th of Elizabeth, for being a priest and remaining in this realm. He had sentence to die as in cases of high treason, and suffered accordingly at Stafford, Preserving, says Molanus, a sound sold in a mangled body, and overcoming the cruelty of the executioners by Christian patience. He suffered, according to the m.anuscript annals and other authors, some time in March, though the larger Doway catalogue says the 27th of July. I have at present before me a letter written from Englandhy Mr. Jo/m Cleaton, an eye-witness, concerning a person possessed by a furious devil, who was wonderfully delivered by the relics of Mr. Robert Sutton.

Abraham Sutton, his brother, lived till the reign of YAngJ antes I., and was one of those priests who, being prisoners in the beginning of that reign, were sent into perpetual banishment in 1605.

STEPHEN ROUSHAM, Priest.^

STEPHEN ROUSHAM was born in Oxfordshire, and brought up in the University of Oxford, where he was for some time a minister in the Church of St. Mary's. Being converted to the Catholic faith, he went abroad, and was made priest in the English College, then residing at Rhemes, and from thence was sent upon the mission, anno 1582. He was but indifferently learned, says the manuscript history, and of a weak and sickly constitution of body, but his soul was robust, vigorous, and constant. He fell into the hands of the persecutors the same year, and was sent a prisoner to⁴

MEAIOIRS OF MISSIONARY PRIESTS [1587 the Tower by Secretary Wahingham on the 19th of May; and, not long after, thrust down into that dungeon which is called Little Ease, and it very well deserves the name. In this wretched hole this servant of God was kept eighteen whole months and thirteen days. His sufferings during his imprisonment were great, but God was not wanting in His comforts and heavenly visits to this holy soul that was suffering for His cause. ’Tis particularly recorded of him in the manuscript annals, that on the very day and hour when Mr. Ford, Mr. Shert, and Mr. Johnson, his familiar acquaintance (whom he had hoped to have accompanied), were glorifying God by suffering at Tyburn for their faith, Mr. Rousham being then in his lonesome dungeon, perceived a most sweet and most pleasant light, and felt, at the same time, three gentle strokes on his right hand, as it were to bespeak his attention to the glorious triumphs of his companions; and that another time, when he was daily looking to be called out to his trial, in order to undergo the same kind of death, he had an indication from heaven that his time was not yet come, but that he was to say many Masses more before his death. He was sent into banishment in 1585; but his ardent zeal of the salvation of souls, which in his banishment became greater every day than other, and the desire he had to glorify God by martyrdom, did not suffer him to stay long before he returned again upon the English mission, where, whilst he was diligently applying himself to his functions, he was apprehended in the house of a widow lady called Strange, and carried away to Gloucester Jail; and at the next assizes was brought to the bar, and arraigned for being made priest beyond the seas, and returning into England, and making it his business there to reconcile the Queen’s subjects to the Catholic Church. All this he freely confessed; but so far from acknowledging any guilt, much less any treason in the case, he openly protested. That if he had many lives, he would most willingly lay them all dow7i for so good a cause. When sentence was pronounced upon him according to the usual form as in cases of high treason, the joy that he showed on that occasion was admired by all.

He suffered with wonderful constancy at Gloucester' some time this year. Writers are not agreed about the day nor the month. Some say it was in March, others in July.

1587] JOHxN HAMBLEY— ALEXANDER CROW

JOHN HAMBI.EY, Priest.^

JOHN HAMBLEY was a native of the diocese of P^xeter^ and an alumnus and priest of Doway College during its residence at, Rhemes, from whence he was sent upon the English mission, anno 1585. I have not been able to find many particulars relating to his life or death; only that he was apprehended, tried, and condemned upon the statute of the 27th of Elizabeth as a priest, and had sentence to die as in cases of high treason. He had both his life and a good living proffered him if he would conform to the Protestant religion, as Molanus testifies, p. 14; but he rather chose to die than to renounce his faith. He suffered with a wonderful constancy, says Dr. Champney's manuscript history of the reign of Queen Pllizaheth; who, with some others, affirms that he was executed at York, September the 9th. But Father Wilson and Molanus, in their printed Catalogues, tell us that he suffered at Chard, which is a town of Somersetshire, on the confines of Dorsetshire and Devonshire. Molanus says it was on the 20th of July.

Those who affirm that Mr. Ilambley suffered at York, September 9th, give him for companion in death Mr. Ceorge Douglas, a secular priest of the Scottish nation, who was certainly executed at York that day, not precisely for being a priest, but for persuading the Queen’s subjects to the Catholic religion; for which supposed treason he was condemned to die, and was drawn, hanged, and quartered at York, suffering all with admirable constancy. Molanus calls him a priest of Doway College; but this circumstance is not found in any other catalogue, nor have I met with his name in the Journals of the College.

ALEXANDER CROW, Priest.f

^EXANDER CROW was born in Yorkshire, and for some time followed a trade in York. ‘ But going beyond the seas.

^ ^ out of his zeal to God and his country,’ says my manuscript,

‘ he fell to his studies at Rhemes, and became a priest, being, both for his said zeal and virtue, well esteemed of by his superiors, and⁵⁶ by them sent in an orderly mission into England for the salvation of souls, [anno 1584.] After he had laboured here some time, with much edification to all that knew him, he was taken at South Diiffield, coming thither to christen a child of one Cecily Gar7iet; and at the assizes held at York in November was arraigned and condemned for being a priest, and remaining in England contrary to the laws of the realm. He was hanged, drawn, and quartered at York^ the 30th November 1586,’ [according to this relation; but Yepez, Wilson, Molanus, Raissius, and the manuscript annals, say 1587,] being about the age of thirty- five.

The manuscript annals give this short account of Mr. Crow, anno Eliz. 29: — ‘ On the 30th day of the month of November, Alex-a7ider Crow, a priest of Doway College, after he had strenuously laboured in those difficult times in gathering together the sheep of Christ that had been scattered, falling into the hands of the wolves, stoutly laid down his life for Christ and His sheep, being put to death at York in the like manner as the other martyrs above mentioned.’

But the Bishop of Tarrasona, in his history above quoted, has something very remarkable relating to Mr. Crow which we must not omit. His words are as follow: — ‘ Another thing, not less worthy of notice, happened to a priest of the Seminary of Rhemes, named Alexander Crow, in the year 1587. This priest and soldier of Jesus Christ was a prisoner in York Castle, where, after much ill treatment, he received sentence of death; whereupon he began to be exceedingly comforted, and to show so great joy in the court that all that were present took notice of it; and returning to the prison (where he was lodged with another Catholic), he could not contain himself all that day, so great was the satisfaction he conceived by thinking that he was to die the next morning. When the night came, and the time of going to bed, he told the other Catholic, To take his rest; but for my part, said he, /or this one night which remains of life, I am willing to watch in prayer with Christ our Lord. And when the other Catholic insisted that either the Father should come to bed also, or should admit him to bear him company in his watching, he would not consent, but bid him. Go to bed arid leave him alone. The Catholic submitted, and went to bed, and the priest, lighting a taper that was there, and setting it upon the stool, knelt down, and began to enter into very quiet prayer, as his companion took notice, who remained awake to see what passed.

‘ After an hour of silent prayer, the Father began to speak as if he were holding a colloquy, and by little and little to enter into a

ALEXANDER CROW heat, so that his voice began to change like a man that was disturbed. At length, getting up, he went to the bed where his companion lay, and touching him with his hand, asked him if he was asleep; his companion answered. No. The priest begged of him then that he would recommend him, to the best of his power, to our Lord, because he stood in need of his prayers. So he returned again to his place, and began in the same manner to be troubled as before, giving signs in his exterior of being in great anguish, and, as it were, out of himself, till at length he put out with his own hand, like a man in anger, the taper that was burning by him. With all this his trouble did not cease, but he still continued, as it were, in a conflict and agony, sometimes speaking low, and begging the assistance of our Lord and the Saints, at other times raising his voice as one angry and in a rage; and this lasted for the space of half an hour after he had put out the light, whilst the poor gentleman in bed was not a little terrified at seeing and hearing what passed, and begged of our Lord as well as he was able to deliver him from this affliction, for he plainly perceived that he was in a conflict.

‘ At length he saw him coming towards the bed, reciting with much joy the psalm, Laudate Dominum de Coelis, Praise ye the Lord in the heavens, &c., continuing it to the end; and then, as one inebriated with an abundance of consolations, he broke out into other praises of our Lord God, admiring His unspeakable mercies and Plis divine sweetness towards the children of men. He set himself down on the bed by his companion, not having been able for many days to lift his feet up from the ground for the great weight of the bolts and chains, and remained as one asleep for a quarter of an hour; but at length he broke out again into the praises of God, and asked his companion. If he had not been frightened. The gentleman answered, He had, and withal begged of him. That he would tell him what was the meaning of that great noise and of those cha72ges and alterations he had discovered that night. The priest answered. That though as to his own part it would signify little to relate it, yet, as it might he of some comfort to the Catholics to know what had passed, he woidd tell him the whole matter.

‘ After a while, said he, that I had been in quiet prayer, my flesh began to creep upoji me and my hair to stand on end, and I perceived myself quite changed, and on a sudden I saw before my eyes a most ugly monster which began to terrify me, and when I least looked for it assaulted me with these words: Thou thinkest to-morrow to be a martyr, and to go straight to heaven; but I assure thee it will not be so, for I know thou art condemned to hell, and that the sentence is passed against thee in God’s tribunal, which cannot be recalled. And to-morrow, though thou shalt be drawn to the gallows, thou shalt not be executed, but they will keep thee two years longer in prison with these bolts and chains which thou hast on, and will give thee only two morsels of black bread and a little water every day, and thou shalt be abhorred by all, and shalt lead the most miserable life that ever man led upon earth. Therefore that thou mayest be delivered from so great sufferings it will be better for thee at present to put an end to thy life by a knife or a halter, and not to wait for to-morrow. And though I shook him ojf, said the Father, many times ^ answering what God put in my mind^ he never left off importuning me^ and whatever way I turned my eyes, he placed himself always before me, giving me intolerable trouble with his horrid figure. And when I extinguished the light, it was that I might no longer see so frightful a sight; but he still continued terrifying and molesting me very much, and the conflict went on still ina^easing, till our merciful Lord, taking pity of my weakness, sent me succour from heaven. And this was, that at the time when I found myself in the greatest straits, I sazv a great light come in at the door with two persons, who, as I believe, were our Lady and St. John the Evangelist, who by their presence gave me unspeakable comfort; and then the monster that had troubled me began to draw back and tremble; and one of them said to him. Begone from hence, thou cursed creature! thou hast no part in this servant of Christ, who will shed his blood to-morrow for his Lord, and will enter into his joy. Immediately the monster disappeared, and they likewise, leaving me so full of consolation that I cannot express it. Upon this, I came with great joy of heart and canticles of praise in my mouth, and sat me down here in the manner that you saw, not being sensible whether I was on the ground or in bed, in heaven or in earth. This one thing I beg of you for Christ’s sake, that you do not speak one word of this to any one till you see my race finished, and till I am delivered of the burden of the flesh. Having said this, they both glorified our Lord, and so continued till the morning, discoursing together with great satisfaction of heavenly things, &c.

‘ But the impudent enemy was not contented with having failed in this first attempt, but returned again to persecute this soldier of Christ, who being now upon the ladder at the gallows in profound prayer, before the hangman had put the rope about his neck, the devil, envying the happiness with which God rewarded His servant, and the consolation that He gave him in prayer, flung him down off the ladder; but yet he received no manner of hurt, though the fall was very high and with great violence, as it appeared to the standers

ALEXANDER CROW by. This gave occasion to the heretics that were there to cry out, That the Papist was in despair, and that he wanted to kill himself. But the Father mounted the ladder again, and told them with a great serenity of countenance and of heart, smiling, It is not as you think, my brethren, that I had a mind to kill?nyself, but it was the enemy who wanted to rob me of this glorious death, and out of envy flung me off the ladder, and this is not the first time that he has sought to deprive 7ne of the crown which God gives me, who has permitted him to do what he has done in your presence that you might know how little he is able to do; for how much soever he has sought it, he has not been able to do me any hurt either in soul or body, neither can he do any hurt to the servants of God more than their Lord is pleased to permit for their greater good. And upon this occasion, speaking more at large and with greater liberty to the people, he delivered many things of edification, exhorting them to the Catholic faith; and passing through the usual course of the ordinary butchery, he gloriously finished his career, and went to enjoy his God for ever.’

This year, 1587, I find in the Doway Memoirs mention of two others, the one a priest, the other a secular gentleman, both some time members of Doway Gollege,w)\o perished in prison for religious matters. The priest was Martin Sherton; the gentleman’s name was Gabriel Thimbleby.

This year also about thirty priests were committed prisoners to Wisbeach Castle in Cambridgeshire. Several had been sent thither in the foregoing years, but most of these being dead, the whole number of prisoners there at this time were thirty-three priests and one lay gentleman, viz., Thomas Pounds, Esq., a zealous Catholic, and great sufferer for his faith.

Footnotes

1. Ven. Thomas Pilchard. — From the Douay Journals and Catalogues, and the Manuscript History of Dr. Champney; Lives of E. M.; Acts of E. M.; Morris, Troubles, ii.; The Month (May, 1911). ↩

2. Ven. Edmund Sykes. — From the same Journals, Catalogues, and Manuscript; see also Troubles, iii.; Foley, iii. and vi.; Acts of E. M. ↩

3. Ven. Robert Sutton. — From the same Journals; Manuscript Annals, and other Memoirs of the College; see also Foley, Records, iii.; Acts of E. M.; Lives of E. M. ↩

4. Ven. Stephen Rousham, or Rowsham. — From the Journals of Douay College; the Diary of things transacted in the Tower from 1580 to 1585; the Catalogue of Martyrs; and Dr. Champney’s INIanuscript Annals of Queen Elizabeth; see also Warford’s Relation; Acts of E. M.; Lives of E. M. ↩

5. Ven. John Hambley. — From the Douay Journals and the Cataloj?ue of the Martyrs; see also Warford’s Relation; C.R.S., v.; jAves of E. M. ↩

6. Ven. Alexander Crow. — From the Journals of Douay College; from Dr. Champney’s Manuscript Annals of Queen Elizabeth, and another Manuscript in my hands by one that knew him; and from the History of the Persecution of England, by Yepez; see also Warford’s Relation; Troubles, iii. ↩