The Year 1588

NICHOLAS GARLICK, Priest.¹

Nicholas GARLICK, says Mr. Bagshaw, ‘ was descended of honest parentage, in a little town called Dinting, in Glossopdale, within the county of Derby, and was, for the space of seven years, schoolmaster at Tidswell (in the same county), so well discharging his duty therein, that, by his good and most charitable care he had of his scholars, as if they had been his own children, he caused three of them to take the same venture and most happy course that he himself did, viz.^ to go over to the English College then at Rhemes, who were all made priests, and returned to their country with happy success, by increasing servants of God unto their mother the Catholic Church; whereof one, called Christopher Buxton, was martyred, [October i, 1588,] at that memorable place of our former saints of England, Canterbury.'

Mr. Garlick was made priest, as appears by the Dozvay Journal, in the latter end of March 1582, and was sent upon the English mission, January 25, 1582-3. How long he laboured here before his first commitment, I have not found; but certain it is that he was a prisoner in 1585, and was one of those priests who were sent into banishment that year. Upon this occasion he made a short visit to his mother College, where he arrived October 17, but on the 19th of the same month he set out again for England in the company of Mr. John Harrison, priest, who afterwards suffered in the same cause. Mr. Garlick's missionary labours seem to have been in his own county of Derbyshire, where he was apprehended some time between the Lent and summer assizes, 1588, together with Mr. Robert Liidlam, who was afterwards his companion in death. They were taken in the house of Mr. John Fitzherbert, by George Earl of Shrewsbury, and committed to Derby Jail, where they found Mr. Richard Sympson, who had been condemned in the Lent assizes before for being a priest, but was reprieved, as it was commonly apprehended and spoken, because he either actually had gone to the Protestant church and service, or had made promise or given hopes he would so do. Him these two confessors of Christ encouraged in such manner that he did not only repent him of his act or promise, but, as we shall see by-and-by, suffered death with them at the summer assizes, being within one fortnight, or a little more, after the imprisonment of the said Mr. Garlick and Mr. Ludlam.

At these assizes ‘ these two glorious men,’ says Mr. Broughton' s manuscript, ‘ with much constancy and Christian magnanimity, without the least sign of fear or dismay, professing themselves to be Catholic priests, greatly rejoicing in that sacred calling and reign of Queen Elizabeth, and from two other Manuscript relations in my hands — the one sent over by Mr. Robert Bagshaw, priest, some time scholar to Mr. Garlick, the other by the Rev. and learned Mr. Richard Broughton, Vicar-General of the northern parts, penned by one that was present at the execution of Mr. Garlick and his two companions; see also Foley, Records, iii.; Lives of E. M.

ROBERT LUDLAM functions, were condemned to the terrible death of drawing, hanging, and quartering, for being of that holy religion and profession, and were thereupon, after many hard usages, cruelly put to death at the said town of Derby ^ July 24, 1588.’

They were all three drawn together on hurdles to the place of execution, where, when they were arrived, it seem.s Mr. Sympson was to have gone first up the ladder, but whether he shewed on this occasion some signs of fear, as Dr. Champney's manuscript signifies, or whether it was that Mr. Garlick only apprehended a danger lest his companion’s courage should fail him if he were to be the first in the combat, he hastened to the ladder, and kissing it, went up first, and with remarkable joy and alacrity finished his course.

ROBERT LUDLAM, Priest.^

He was born of honest parentage near Sheffield, performed his studies abroad in the English College, then residing at Rhemes, where he was made priest, and from thence sent into England upon the mission, anno 1582. Mr. Bagshaw gives him this character, that ‘ for his modesty and good life, and zeal to win souls to God, he was beloved of all that love the Catholic Church.’ He was apprehended, tried, and condemned at the same time and for the same cause as Mr. Garlick, viz., for being a Catholic priest, and remaining in this realm contrary to the statute, and he showed the same courage and constancy both at his trial and at his death. Whilst Mr. Garlick was under execution Mr. Liidlam stood by with a smiling countenance, discovering in his exterior the interior joy of his heart that he was going to suffer death for such a cause. When he was upon the ladder, and just ready to be cast off, ‘ looking up towards heaven with a smiling countenance (as we learn from an eye-witness of his death), as if he had seen some heavenly vision of angels, he uttered these his last words, as speaking to saints or angels appearing to him, Venite, henedicti Dei — Come, you blessed of God.’ And with these words he was flung off the ladder, and so went to enjoy their happy company.²

RICHARD SYMPSON, Priest,³

Richard SYMPSON, according to Mr. Bagshaw's relation, was born in Lancashire of good and honest parents, but the Doway Journal calls him Eboracensis, of Yorkshire, and the Bishop of Chalcedon's catalogue names the place of his birth, viz., Well, near Ripon, in that county. ‘ He had been a minister,’ says Air. Bagshaw, ‘ but, after knowledge of the absurdity and falsehood of his religion, he became priest, and used much preaching in defence of the Catholic faith to win souls.’ It appears from the Doway Journal that after his conversion he suffered a long and severe imprisonment in York for the Catholic religion; after which, going abroad, he was admitted into Doway College, May the 19th, 1577, and not long after made priest and sent into England. Here he fell into the hands of the persecutors, and was sent from prison into banishment in 1585; but quickly returned again into the vineyard, and was apprehended again a second time, going from Lancashire into Derbyshire, and committed to the county gaol at Derby, and there tried and condemned at the Lent assizes, 1588, for being a priest made by the authority and rites of the Roman Church.

He was reprieved till the summer assizes, and, as it is said, made some steps towards a conformity, or at least gave some hopes to the adversaries of a compliance; but he was reclaimed by Air. Garlick and Air. Ludlam, and bitterly repented himself of this slip, punishing himself for it with fasting, watching, and hair cloth for the remainder of his life, which was but short; for the Protestants, finding themselves disappointed of their hopes, ordered him for execution, together with the other two whom we have spoken of. ‘ He suffered with great constancy,’ says an eye-witness, ‘ though not with such (remarkable) signs of joy and alacrity as the other two.’

‘ Their heads and quarters were set upon poles in divers places in and about the town of Derby, and the penner of this their martyrdom (who was also present at their deaths), with two other resolute Catholic gentlemen, going in the night divers miles well armed, took down one of their heads from the top of a house standing on the bridge, and a quarter from the end of the bridge, the watchman of the town seeing them (as was afterwards confessed) and making no resistance. These they buried with as great decency and reverence as they could. Soon after, the rest of the heads and quarters were taken away secretly by others.’

WILLIAM DEAN

Of these three priests, thus writes the author of an ancient ode or poem, who seems also to have been an eye-witness of their death: —

When Garlick did the ladder kiss.

And Sympson after hie,

Methoiight that there St. Andrew was Desirous for to die.

When Ludlam looked smilingly,

And joyful did remain.

It seemed St. Stephen was standing by.

For to be stoned again, 8c c.

And what if Sympson seemed to yield.

For doubt and dread to die;

He rose again, and won the field.

And died most constantly.

His watching, fasting, shirt of hair;

His speech, his death, and all.

Do record give, do witness bear.

He wailed his former fall.

WILLIAM DEAN, Priest, and HENRY WEBLEY, Layman *

WILLIAM DEAN was born in Yorkshire, and was an alumnus and priest of the English College, then residing at Rhemes, from whence he was sent upon the English mission, anno 1582. Dr. Champney and Father Ribadeneira give him the character of vir morum gravitate et doctrina conspicuus — a man remarkably grave and learned; but the iniquity of the times permitted him not to employ his talents to the best advantage. He fell into the hands of the persecutors some time before 1585, and was one of those priests that were banished in the beginning of that year. He quickly returned again to his missionary labours, and falling a second time into the adversaries’ hands, was tried and condemned, August 22, 1588, for being made priest by Roman authority, and remaining in this realm contrary to the statute of 27 Elizabeth.

It is here to be observed that as soon as the Queen and her⁴

Council were delivered from their apprehensions of the Spa7iish Armada^ they immediately raised a greater persecution than ever against the English Catholics, though no ways concerned in that designed invasion. Robert Dudley^ Earl of Leicester, the Queen’s great favourite, and the capital enemy of the Catholics, is believed to have been the chief promoter of those cruelties. By his instigation a new proclamation was published against the Papists, and six new gallowses were erected in and about London for the executing of them. This wicked Hainan (who had been heard to say. That he desired to see all the streets of London washed with the blood of Papists) had drawn up a long list of them whom he particularly designed for the butchery. For a prelude of this tragedy, and for ths hanselling his new gallows, ‘ on the 26th of August,' says Mr. Stow in his Annals, ‘ in the Sessions Hall without Newgate of London, were condemned six persons for being made priests beyond the seas, and remaining in this realm contrary to the statute; four temporal men for being reconciled to the Roman Church, and four others for relieving and abetting the others. And on the 28th, William Dean and Henry Webley were hanged at Mile's End, W. Gunter at the Theatre, R. Morton and Hugh Moor at Lincoln's Inn Fields, Thomas Acton at Clerkenwell, Thomas Felton and James Clarkson between Brentford and Hounslow. And on the 30th of August, Richard Flower, Edward Shelley, R. Leigh, R. Martin, J. Roch, and Margaret Ward, gentlewoman (who had conveyed a cord to a priest in Bridewell, by means of which he had made his escape), were hanged at Tyburn.'

Thus the unhappy Leicester was filling up the measure of his sins when he was overtaken by Divine justice, and carried off by death on the 5th of September, within a week after these executions. However, the Queen, who was almost the only person that regretted his death, took care that the Catholics should have no great reason to rejoice at it, when, in the following months, she caused a great many of those, whom Leicester had marked out for the slaughter, to be put to death in divers parts of the kingdom. Of this Leicester, Dr. Heylin, the Protestant historian, in his History of the Reformation, PP- 339> 34O) gives this character, ‘ That he was a man so unappeasable in his malice and insatiable in his lusts, so sacrilegious in his rapines, so false in promises and treacherous in point of trust, and finally, so destructive of the rights and properties of particular persons, that his little finger lay far heavier on the subjects than the loins of all the favourites of the two last kings.’ So far the Doctor, who informs us, in the same place. That this man had the disposing of all offices in court and state, and of all preferments in the Church, so

WILLIAM GUNTER that Catholics had little good to expect in a reign where Leicester did all.

But to return to Mr. Dean. He was, on the 28th of August^ drawn to Mile's End Green ^ and there executed according to sentence. At the place of execution he was beginning to speak of the cause for which he and his companions were condemned to die, but his mouth was stopped by some that were in the cart, in such a violent manner, that they were like to have prevented the hangman of his wages. With Mr. Dean was executed Henry Webley, a layman, for having been aiding and assisting to him.

WILLIAM GUNTER, Priest.⁵

WILLIAM GUNTER was born at Ragland^ in Monmouth-shire, was an alumnus and priest of Doway College during its residence at Rhemes, from whence he was sent upon the English mission, anno 1587. He was apprehended, tried, and condemned barely for his priestly character and the exercise of his functions in this realm; and he was drawn, on the 28th of August, from Newgate to the new pair of gallows set up at the Theatre, and there was hanged, bowelled, and quartered. He suffered, as did all the rest that were executed at this time, with great constancy and joy; and though they were not permitted to speak, yet their very silence spoke for them, and strongly recommended the religion for which they so willingly died.

ROBERT MORTON, Priest, and HUGH MOOR,

Gentleman. f

Robert MORTON was bom in Yorkshire, and going abroad, had his education partly in the English College of Rome, and partly in that of Doway, at that time residing at Rhemes. In the latter he was promoted to priesthood, and from thence was sent missioner into England, anno 1587. He was apprehended, tried,⁶ and condemned by the sanguinary statute of the 27th of Elizabeth, barely for his priestly character and functions. He received sentence of death on the 26th of August, 1588; and on the 28th of the same month w^as drawn from Newgate to a new pair of gallows set up in Lincoln's Inn Fields, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered. With him was executed —

Hugh Moor, gentleman, born at Grantham, in Lincolnshire, who, after a Protestant edu option, being reconciled to the Catholic Church, went abroad to the College then residing at Rhemes, and was for some time a student there; but returning into England, was apprehended and cast into prison, and after some time tried and condemmed for being reconciled to the Catholic Church, and going abroad to a Romish Seminary. He absolutely refused to go to church, for this would have made atonement for his pretended treason, and therefore had sentence to die, and was executed accordingly, August 28, in Lincoln's Inn Fields.

Of these two, and of all the others that suffered at this time. Father Rihadeneira, in his Appendix to Dr. Saunders's History, writes that they all suffered with admirable constancy and patience, yea, with joy and pleasure; that they were not allowed, indeed, to speak to the people, because the persecutors were afraid lest their words should make a strong impression on the minds of the hearers in favour of the old religion. But that the very death of so many saint-like innocent men (whose lives were unimpeachable), and of several young gentlemen, which they endured with so much joy, strongly pleaded for the cause for which they died.

THOMAS HOLFORD, alias ACTON, Priest *

Mr. THOMAS HOLFORD (whom Stow calleth Acton) was born in Cheshire, hwt in what place I know not — [the Bishop of Chalcedon' s catalogue says it was at Aston] — his father being a minister. I knew him in Herefordshire, where he was schoolmaster to Sir James Scudamore of Holm Lacy, that now is, and his two brethren, Mr. Harry and John. After my first coming over into England, going unto Hereford city, where I was born, to see my parents, I did send for him, and so dealt with him, gratia Dei cooper ante, with the help of God’s grace, that before I knew any-⁷

THOMAS HOLFORD thing of it, he was gone to Rhemes^ [to the English College, then residing there,] where he received holy orders, and was returned again within the space of two years.

‘ Meeting with him again some four years after, I acquainted him where I lay myself; where, to his welcome, at his first coming, the house was searched upon All Souls' Day, when Mr. Bavin was making a sermon. The pursuivants were Newall and Worseley, but we all three escaped. After that he fell into a second danger, in the time of the search for Babington and his company (of which tragedy Sir Francis Walsingham was the chief actor and contriver, as I gathered by Mr. Babington himself, who was with me the night before he was apprehended); for after he [Mr. Holford] had escaped two or three watches, he came to me, and the next day the house where I remained was searched, but we both escaped by a secret place which was made at the foot of the stairs where we lay, going into a hay barn. Which troubles being passed, Mr. Holford the next year after went into his own county, which was Cheshire, hoping to gain some of his friends there unto the Catholic Church; but there he was apprehended and imprisoned in the Castle of West Chester, and from thence was sent, with two pursuivants (as I take it) to London. Who lodging in Holborn, at the sign of the Bell, or the Exchequer (I do not well remember whether), the good man rising about five in the morning, pulled on a yellow stocking upon one of his legs, and had his white boot-hose on the other, and walked up and down the chamber. One of his keepers looked up (for they had drank hard the night before, and watched late), and seeing him there, fell to sleep again, which he perceiving, went down into the hall. The tapster met him, and asked him. What lack you, gentleman? But the tapster being gone, Mr. Holford went out, and so down Holborn to the Conduit, where a Catholic gentleman meeting him (but not knowing him) thought he was a madman. Then he turned into the little lane into Gray's Inn Fields, where he pulled off his stocking and boot hose. What way he went afterwards I know not; but betwixt ten and eleven of the clock at night he came to me where I lay about eight miles from London. He had eaten nothing all that day. His feet were galled with gravel stones, and his legs all scratched with briars and thorns (for he dared not to keep the highway), so that the blood followed in some places. The gentleman and mistress of the house caused a bath with sweet herbs to be made, and their two daughters washed and bathed his legs and feet, after which he went to bed.

‘ After this escape, he avoided London for a time, but the next year, 1 588, he came to London to buy him a suit of apparel. At which time, going to Mr. Swithin Wells's house, near St. Andrew's Church in Holborn, to serve God (i.e., to say Mass), Hodgkins, the pursuivant, espying him as he came forth, dogged him into his tailor’s house, and there apprehended him.

‘ He was executed on the 28th August at Clerkenwell.' So far Mr. Davis.

JAMES CLAXTON, Priest, and THOMAS FELTON, Gentleman.⁸

Mr. JAMES CLAXTON, or CLARKSON, was born in Yorkshire, studied in Doway College during its residence at Rhemes, and was there made priest; and from thence was sent upon the English mission, anno 1582. He w^as apprehended and committed to prison some time in or before the year 1585; for he was one of those priests that were sent into banishment in that year. But he returned again to his missionary labours; and falling again into the hands of the persecutors, was tried and condemned upon 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 was executed between Brentford and Hounslow on the 28th of August^ 1588.

‘ Thomas Felton was born,’ says my manuscript, ‘ about the year of our Lord 1567, at Bermondsey Abbey, in the parish of St. Mary Magdalene, within a mile of Southwark, London, in Surrey. He was son to John Felton, gentleman, wLo suffered at London in the year 1570 for setting up the bull of Pius V. concerning the excommunication of Queen Elizabeth. Being yet a young youth, he w^as taken by the old Lady L.ovett to be her page; but not staying there long, he was sent over to the English College at Rhemes to be brought up in piety and learning, in both which he profited so much, that shortly after he became a clergyman, receiving tonsure at the hands of the Cardinal de Guise, then Archbishop of Rhemes, which was in the year 1583. After that he had continued a while longer in the College of Rheims, he had a desire to enter into the Order of the Minims, and was admitted therein by the commendations of Dr. Allen, then President of the English College. But his body not serving well for

1588] JAMES CLAXTON AND THOMAS FELTON the strictness of that life, he was enforced within a while to return to his native country for the recovery of his health. Being there sufficiently recovered, and resolving to return again beyond the seas, it happened that he was stopped at the sea side by the officers, and after examination sent up to London^ and committed to the Compter in the Poultry^ in which place he remained prisoner some two years. At this time an aunt of his, one Mrs. Blount, out of love to Thomas, laboured much, by means of some friends she had at court, to procure his liberty, which was at length effected. After his releasement, thinking to pass over into France, as formerly he intended, he was the second time intercepted, and committed to Bridewell, from whence, after some time of durance, he was released by the procurement of the Lady Lovett, his mistress in time past, then prisoner in the Fleet for her religion. Being a second time released, he again adventured to go beyond the seas to the College of Rhemes, but was again the third time stayed and apprehended at the port, and therewithal committed again to Bridewell, from whence he had been delivered but a little before.

‘ In this imprisonment he was very cruelly treated; for, first he was put into Little Ease, where he remained three days and three nights, not being able to stand, or lie, or sit, and fed only with bread and water, as both the keeper’s wife and Thomas himself afterwards told Frances Felton (then a maid, but afterwards married to one Mr. Salisbury), his own sister. After this he was put into the mill to grind, and was fed no otherwise all the while he laboured in it than he had been before in Little Ease, viz., with bread and water only. Then he was hanged up by the hands, to the end to draw from him, by way of confession, what priests he knew beyond the seas or in England, which punishment was so grievous that therewith the blood sprung forth at his fingers’ ends. At another time, upon a Sunday, he was violently taken by certain officers and carried betwixt two, fast bound in a chair, into the chapel at Bridewell to their service. He having his hands at first at liberty stopped his ears with his fingers, that he might not hear what the minister said; then they bound down his hands also to the chair; but being set down to the ground, bound in the manner aforesaid, he stamped with his feet, and made that noise with his mouth, shouting and hollowing, and crying oftentimes Jesus, Jesus, that nothing which the minister said could be heard by any then present at the service. His sister, Frances Felton afore mentioned, who at that time came to the prison to visit him, was present at the church at this passage, not being then a Catholic.

‘After this he was called to the bar at the sessions of Newgate. The Spanish fleet, making towards England^ having then newly been defeated, he was questioned whether he would have taken the Queen’s part or the Pope’s and Spaniards', if those forces had landed. He answered. He would have taken part with God and his country. Then the judge asked him whether he did acknowledge the Queen to be the supreme head of the Church of England. Whereunto he made answer. That he had read divers chronicles, but never read that God ordained a woman should be supreme head of the Church. For this speech of his the judge condemned him. The next day, being Wednesday, the 28th of August, he was hanged near Brentford, in Middlesex, with a priest at the same time condemned with him, whose name was Mr. James Claxton or Clarkson. They were carried together from Bridewell on horseback, about four of the clock in the afternoon, and presently hanged after their arrival at the place of execution. He suffered about the age of twenty or twenty- one. His friends had got a pardon for him after his condemnation, which was brought to him immediately before he was to go to the place of execution, which, notwithstanding, he refused to accept of, choosing rather to die for God than to live any longer in this world.’ So far the manuscript relation of Mrs. Salisbury. Others say that he was condemned for being reconciled to the Catholic Church. What his sister mentions of his not accepting the pardon, I suppose must be understood by reason of some condition with which this pardon was clogged, which he could not in conscience accept of.

RICHARD LEIGH, Priest,=^

He was born in London, and going abroad, was for some time student in the College of Rhemes, and from thence, in 1582, was, with several others, sent to Rome, where he finished his studies and was made priest, and so went upon the English mission. Here he was soon after apprehended and cast into prison, and then sent into banishment; but he returned again to the work of his Lord, and fell a second time into the hands of the persecutors, by whom he was marked out for the slaughter amongst the many others that were butchered in this year of blood. The Bishop of Tarrasona, who calls Mr. Leigh a learned priest, relates that being present, with many⁹

RICHARD LEIGH others, when a Catholic gentleman was examined upon his religion by Elmer, the Protestant Bishop of London, and the lay gentleman excused himself from entering into argument with his Lordship, upon which the prelate began to triumph, as if the gentleman could say nothing for his religion, Mr. Leigh thought himself obliged modestly to offer not only to satisfy the queries which the Bishop had proposed, but in all other points of religion to give an answer to whatever his Lordship should think fit to object. The Bishop, instead of accepting the offer, called him a Popish dog and a traitor, and delivered him up to the secular court for his mouth to be stopped with a halter, as it was not long after; though this way of arguing and determining controversies appeared not a little shocking even to the Protestants themselves who were witnesses of it.

Mr. Leigh was condemned, as we have already seen from Mr. Stow's Chronicle, on the 26th of August, 1588, for no other crime but for having been made priest beyond the seas, and remaining in this realm contrary to the statute. For this he had sentence to die as in cases of high treason, and was accordingly executed at Tyburn, August the 30th.

With Mr. Leigh were executed five others, viz., Edward Shelley, gentleman, of the family of the Shelleys of Sussex; Richard Martin, Richard Flower, and John Roch, laymen; and Margaret Ward, gentlewoman; some for being reconciled to the Church, others for abetting and relieving priests. And as for Mrs. Ward, as we have seen from Mr. Stow, her crime was conveying a cord to a priest in Bridewell, by means of which he made his escape. But of her we shall say more by-and-by.

Dr. Champney, in his manuscript history, relates after Ribadeneira, 1. ,De Schism., and Bishop Yepez, 1. 5, chap, i, ‘ that when these confessors of Christ were drawn through the streets of London to Tyburn, a gentlewoman of fashion, animated with a zeal and fortitude above her sex, crying out with a loud voice, exhorted them to be constant in their faith; and then forcing her way through the crowd, and kneeling down, asked their benediction. Upon which she was immediately apprehended and committed to prison; as was also another Catholic, who, at the place of execution, hearing one of the confessors earnestly requesting of all Catholics, if any were there present, to pray for him, because he stood in much need of their prayers, and not thinking it enough to pray secretly in his heart, as others did, knelt down before all the multitude and prayed aloud for him, to the great encouragement of the confessor, and great mortification of the persecutors.

THE HISTORY of MRS. MARGARET WARD."=

Mrs. MARGARET WARD was born at Congleton^ in Cheshire, of a gentleman’s family, and was in the service of a lady of distinction when Mr. Watson, a secular priest, was confined in Bridewell for his religion. The story of this gentleman is thus related by the Bishop of Tarrasona, 1. 2, chap. 5.

Richard Watson was a priest of the Seminary of Rhemes, a virtuous and zealous missioner, who had laboured much in the Lord’s vineyard; but being apprehended and confined to Bridewell, was at length, by force of torments, and the insupportable labours and other miseries of the place, prevailed upon, through human frailty, to go once to the Protestant church, upon which he was set at liberty. But such was the remorse he felt in his soul after this sin, that, instead of bettering his condition by being thus enlarged, he found his case far worse, and the present torments of his mind much more insupportable than those which he before had endured in his body; the more because he had now lost his God, whose Divine grace had formerly been his comfort and support; whereas he now could find no comfort either from God or man, but the heavens were become to him as of brass, and the earth as iron.

In this melancholy condition he went to one of the prisons where some others, his fellow-priests, were confined, to seek for counsel and comfort from them; and here, having confessed his fault with great marks of a sincere repentance, and received absolution, desiring to repair the scandal he had given in the same place where he had sinned, he returned to the Church of Bridewell, and there, in the middle of the congregation, declared with a loud voice. That he had done very ill in coming lately to church with them and joining in their service, which, said he, you untruly call the service of God, for it is indeed the service of the devil. He would have said much more, but was prevented by the people, who immediately laid hold of him, and stopping his mouth, dragged him to prison, where they thrust him into a dungeon so low and so strait, that he could neither stand up in it nor lay himself down at his full length to sleep. Here they loaded him with irons, and kept him for a whole month upon bread and water, of which they allowed him so small a pittance that it was scarce enough to keep him alive, not suffering any one to come near him to comfort him or speak to him.¹⁰

MRS. MARGARET WARD

At the month’s end, he was translated from this dungeon to a lodging at the top of the house, where at least he could see the light, and was less straitened for room; but the adversaries of his faith made this lodging more troublesome to him than the former by plying him continually sometimes wdth threats, sometimes with prayers and promises, to engage him to go again to church, and to seem at least outwardly, whatever he might inwardly believe, to be of their religion, so that their continual importunities made him perfectly weary of his life. In the mean time the Catholics, w'ho heard of his sufferings, durst not attempt to come near him to succour or comfort him for fear of being taken for the persons who had persuaded him to what he had done, till Mrs. Margaret Ward, a gentlewoman of a courage above her sex, undertook to do it.

She was in the service of a lady of the first rank, who then resided in London, and hearing of the afflicted condition of Mr. Watson, asked and obtained leave of her lady to go and attempt to visit and relieve him. In order to this she changed her dress, and taking a basket upon her arm full of provisions, went to the prison, but could not have leave to come at the priest, till, by the intercession of the jailor’s wife, whom Mrs. Ward had found means to make her friend, with much ado she obtained permission to see him from time to time, and bring him necessaries, upon condition that she should be searched in coming in and going out, that she might carry no letter to him or from him; which was so strictly observed for the first month, that they even broke the loaves or pies that she brought him, lest any paper should thereby be conveyed to him; and all the while she was with him, care was taken that some one should stand by to hear all that was said. But at length, beginning to be persuaded that she came out of pure compassion to assist him, they were less strict in searching her basket, and in hearkening to their conversation; so that he had an opportunity of telling her. That he had found a way by which, if he had a cord long enough for that purpose, he could let himself down from the top of the house and inake his escape.

Mrs. Ward soon procured the cord, which she brought in her basket under the bread and other eatables, and appointed two Catholic watermen, who were let into the secret, to attend with their boat near Bridewell between two and three o’clock the next morning, at which time Mr. Watson, applying to the corner of the Cornish his cord, which he had doubled, not sufficiently considering the height of the building, began to let himself down, holding the two ends of the cord in his hands, with a design of carrying it away with him after he had got down, that it might not be discovered by what means he had made his escape. But by the time he had come down something more than half the way, he found that his cord, which he had doubled, was not now long enough, and he for some time remained suspended in the air, being neither able to ascend or descend without danger of his life.

At length, recommending himself to God, he let go one end of his cord, and suffered himself to fall down upon an old shed or penthouse, which, with the weight of his body, fell in with a great noise. He was very much hurt and stunned by the fall, and broke his right leg and right arm, but the watermen run in immediately to his assistance, and carried him away to their boat. Here he soon came to himself, and, feeling the cold, remembered his coat which he had left in the fall, which he desired one of the watermen to go and bring him. And when they were now advanced in their way, he bethought himself of the cord, and told the watermen. That if they did not return to fetch it, the poor gentlewoman that had given it him would certainly he put to trouble. But it was now too late, for the noise having alarmed the jailor, and others in the neighbourhood, they came to the place, and finding the cord, immediately suspected what the matter was, and made what search they could to find the priest, but in vain; for the watermen, who had carried him off, took proper care to conceal him and keep him safe till he was cured; but God was pleased that, instead of one who thus escaped from prison, two others, upon this occasion, should meet with the crown of martyrdom, as we shall now see.

For the jailor seeing the cord, and being convinced that no one but Mrs. Ward could have brought it to the prisoner, and having before found out where she lived, sent early in the morning justices and constables to the house, who, rushing in, found her up, and just upon the point of going out in order to change her lodgings. They immediately apprehended her, and carried her away to prison, where they loaded her with irons, and kept her in this manner for eight days. Dr. Champney and Father Rihadeneira add that they hung her up by the hands and cruelly scourged her, which torments she bore with wonderful courage, saying. They were preludes of martyrdom, with which, by the grace of God, she hoped she should he honoured.

After eight days she was brought to the bar, where, being asked by the judges if she was guilty of that treachery to the Queen and to the laws of the realm of furnishing the means by which a traitor of a priest, as they were pleased to call him, had escaped from justice, she answered with a cheerful countenance in the affirmative. And that she never in her life had done anything of which sheTess repented

MRS. MARGARET WARD than the delivering that innocent lamb from the hands of those bloody wolves. They sought to terrify her by their threats, and to oblige her to confess where the priest was, but in vain; and therefore they proceeded to pronounce sentence of death upon her as in cases of felony; but withal they told her that the Queen was merciful, and that if she would ask pardon of her IMajesty, and would promise to go to church, she should be set at liberty, otherwise she must look for nothing but certain death.

She answered. That as to the Queen ^ she had never offended her Majesty, and that it was not just to confess a fault by asking pardon for it where there was none; that as to what she had done in favouring the priest's escape, she believed the Queen herself, if she had the bowels of a woman, would have done as much, if she had known the ill-treatment he underwent; that as to the going to the church, she had for many years been convinced that it was not lawful for her so to do, and that she found no reason now to change her mind, and would not act against her conscience; and therefore they might proceed, if they pleased, to the execution of the sentence pronounced against her, for that death for such a cause would be very welcoine to her, and that she was willing to lay down not one life only, but many, if she had them, rather than betray her conscience or act against her duty to God and His holy religion.

She was executed at Tyburn, August 30, 1588, shewing to 'the end a wonderful constancy and alacrity, by which the spectators were much moved and greatly edified.

Whilst these things were acting, Mr. Watson was under cure in the waterman’s house, who, as soon as he was recovered, thought proper to withdraw further from danger, and that he might be the better disguised, changed clothes with the waterman, who joyfully accepted the change, and put on, with great devotion, the clothes of one whom he regarded as a confessor of Christ. But not long after, walking in the streets, he met the jailor, who took notice of the clothes, and caused him to be apprehended and carried before a justice of peace, where, being examined how he came by those clothes, he confessed the whole truth, upon which he was committed, prosecuted, and condemned; and making the same answers as Mrs. Ward had done with regard to the begging the Queen’s pardon and going to church, he endured the same death with much spiritual joy in his soul, and a constancy which many admired, and were very much edified by it.

K

WILLIAM WAY, Priest.^

He was born in Cornwall, had his education in Doway College during its residence at Rheynes, was an alumnus and priest of that College, and from thence was sent upon the English mission in 1 586. When and how he was apprehended I have not found, or how long he had been in prison before his execution, or any other particulars relating to him, only that he was prosecuted and condemned upon the penal statutes for having been made priest beyond the seas by Roman authority, and coming into this realm, and remaining here. For this supposed treason he was hanged, bowelled, and quartered at Kingston, in Surrey; some say on the ist of October, but the Bishop of Chalcedon' s catalogue says on the 23 d of September; who believes him to be the same whom Mr. Stow in his Chronicle calls Flower, when, writing of the year 1588, he says: ‘ On the 23d of September, a seminary priest, named Flower, was hanged, headed, and quartered at Kingston ’ — though Bishop Yepez and others speak of Mr. Flower and Mr. Way as two different persons.

ROBERT WILCOX, EDWARD CAMPION, and CHRISTOPHER BUXTON, Priests.f

Robert WILCOX was bom at Chester, and performed his studies at Rhemes, where the English College then resided. Of this College he was an alumnus and priest, and from hence was sent upon the mission in 1586. His mission seems to have been in Kent. When and how he fell into the hands of the persecutors I have not found, but only that he was condemned to die as in cases of high treason, merely upon account of his character and functions; and, in consequence of this sentence, was hanged, drawn, and quartered at Canterbury. Raissius says it w’as some time in September. Others affirm it was on the ist of October, 1588. Mr. Edward Campion and Mr. Buxton, priests, and Mr. Widmerpool, a layman, suffered with him. Mr. Wilcox was the first who was called upon to go up¹¹¹²

WILCOX, CAMPION, AND BUXTON the ladder, which he did with great cheerfulness; and when he was up, turning to his companions with a smiling countenance, he bid them be of good heart, telling them. That he was going to heaven before them, where he should carry the tidings of their coming after him.

He suffered with great constancy and alacrity, to the great edification of the faithful and confusion of the persecutors.

Edward Campion was born in Kent, of a gentleman’s family, was an alumnus and priest of Doway College during its residence at Rhemes, from whence he was sent upon the mission in 1587. He was apprehended, prosecuted, and condemned to die, merely for his character and exercising his priestly functions in England; and for this supposed treason was hanged, bowelled, and quartered on the same day, and at the same place, with Mr. Wilcox, and with the same courage and cheerfulness.

Christopher Buxton was born in Derbyshire, and brought up in Mr. Gar lick's school at Tidswell, in that county, from whence he passed over to the College then residing at Rhemes, and there for some time prosecuted his studies. Dr. Champney, in his manuscript history, with Raissius and Molanus in their printed catalogues, call him a priest of Doway College; but as I find not his name in the old Doway catalogue of those that were sent priests from Rhemes upon the mission, I rather believe the account given by the Bishop of Chalcedon, who calls him alumnus and cleric of the College of Doway during its residence at Rhemes, but priest of the College of Rome. He was condemned for the same cause as Mr. Wilcox and Mr. Campion, viz., for coming into England, being a priest, and remaining there contrary to the statute; and suffered at the same time and place,, and with the like courage. He was the youngest of the three, and was obliged to stand a spectator of the barbarous butchery of his companions; but when the persecutors, thinking, perhaps, that his constancy had been shook with the sight of this scene of blood, offered him his life upon condition that he would conform to their religion, he generously answered. That he woidd not purchase a corruptible life at such a rate, and that if he had a hundred lives he would willingly lay them all down in defence of his faith.

Robert Widmerpool, who suffered at the same time, was a gentleman born at Widmerpool, in Nottinghamshire, who was for some time tutor to the sons of Henry Percy, Earl of Northumberland. The cause for which he was condemned to die was his hospitality to priests, and in particular, his having introduced a priest into the house of the Countess of Northumberland. At the place of execution he with great affection kissed both the ladder and the rope as the instruments of his martyrdom; and having now the rope about his neck, began to speak to the people, giving God most hearty thanks. For bringing him to so great a glory as that of dying for His faith and truth in the same place where the glorious martyr St. Thomas of Canterbury had shed his blood for the honour of his Divine Majesty. Some of the people at these words cried out. Away, away with the traitor; but he, not moved at all with their clamours, looking round him and recommending himself to the prayers of the Catholics, was flung off the ladder, and so happily exchanged this mortal life for immortality.

RALPH CROKETT, and EDWARD JAMES,

Priests.¹³

Ralph CROKETT was bom at Barton upon the Hill, in Cheshire, performed his studies 2X Rhemes, and was an alumnus and priest of the College then residing in that city, from whence he was sent upon the English mission in 1585. The particulars of his missionary labours, or of his apprehension and trial, I have not found, only that he was prosecuted and condemned upon the penal statute of 27 Elizabeth, and had sentence to die as in cases of high treason, barely upon account of his priestly character and functions.

He was drawn, hanged, bowelled, and quartered at Chichester, October i, 1588.

Edward James was born at Braiston [? Beeston], in Derbyshire, and was for some time student in the College of Rhemes, from whence he was sent to Rome in 1588. Here he was made priest, and from hence he was sent upon the English mission. He was apprehended, prosecuted, and condemned, barely upon account of his priestly character, and was hanged, bowelled, and quartered on the same day and at the same place with Mr. Crokett.

Their quarters were set upon poles over the gates of the city, through one of which a Catholic man passing early in the morning, found one of these quarters which had fallen down, which, by the size, was judged to be Mr. Croketfs (he having been a tall man, whereas Mr. James was of low stature). This quarter was carried off and sent over to Doway, where I have seen it.

JOHN ROBINSON

JOHN ROBINSON, Priest,^

Mr. ROBINSON was born at Fernsby, in the North Riding of Yorkshire. His character in Dr. Champney is, That he was a man of extraordinary Christian simplicity and sincerity; in a word^ a true Israelite, in whom there was no guile. After having lived some time in the world in a married state, becoming a widower by the death of his wife, he went over to Rhemes, where the College then was; and there applying himself to his studies, was at length made priest, and sent upon the mission. He no sooner came to England than he was apprehended in the very port, and sent up to London, where, after some months’ imprisonment, he was brought to the bar, and condemned to die upon, account of his priestly character. Dr. Champney relates of him that he was used to say. If he could not dispute for his faith as well as some others, he could die for it as well as the best. He was sent down to suffer at Ipswich, in Suffolk, where he was hanged, bow’elled, and quartered, October i, 1588. Concerning him thus writes the Rev. Mr. Haynes: — ‘ Mr. John Robinson, a secular priest, being in the year 1588 prisoner in the Clink at London, when the rest that had been there prisoners with him (whom he called his bairns, and they, for his age and sincerity, called him Father) were for the Catholic faith sent into divers parts of the kingdom to be executed, the good old man, being left alone, lamented for divers days together exceedingly, until at last a warrant was sent from the Council to execute him also; the news whereof did much revive him, and to him that brought the warrant he gave his purse and all his money, and fell down on his knees and gave God thanks. Being to set forward in his journey, they willed him to put on boots, for it was in winter, and as far as Ipswich in Suffolk where he was sent to suffer. Nay, said the good man, these legs had never boots on yet since they were mine, and now surely they shall perform this journey without boots, for they shall be well paid for their pains. ^

He left behind him a son, Francis Robinson, who was also a priest, and a true heir of his father’s virtue.

The next that occur in the catalogues of those that suffered this year, 1588, are Mr. Hartley and Mr. Weldon, of whom Mr. Stow in his Chronicle writes thus: — ‘ The 5th of October, J. Weldon and W. Hartley, made priests at Paris, and remaining here contrary to the¹⁴ statute, were hanged, the one at the Mile's End, the other nigh the Theatre; and Robert Sutton, for being reconciled to the See of Rome, was hanged at Clerkenwell.'

WILLIAM HARTLEY, Priest, and ROBERT SUTTON, Layman.'^

WILLIAM HARTLEY was born in the diocese of Lichfield, performed his higher studies in the College of Rhemes, from whence he was sent priest upon the English mission, anno 1580. Mr. Stow says he was ordained at Paris, which may very well be, for the superiors of the College had an indult from the Pope to present their alumni for holy orders to any of the bishops of the province of Rhemes or Sens, one of which the Bishop of Paris was at that time. Mr. Hartley had not laboured above a twelvemonth in the vineyard of his Lord before he was apprehended in the house of the Lady Stonor, and carried prisoner to the Tower, August the 13th, 1581, together with Mr. John Stonor and Mr. Steven Brinkley, lay gentlemen. Here he was confined till September 16, 1582, and then was translated from the Tower to another prison, where he remained till January, 1585, when, with about twenty other priests, he was shipped off into banishment. Upon this occasion he returned to Rhemes to the College; but after some short stay there, set out again for England, being more afraid of being wanting to the cause of God and the salvation of souls than of a cruel death, which he was certain to look for if he fell again, as most probably he would, into the hands of the persecutors. In effect, he was again apprehended some time in or before the year 1588, and then brought upon his trial, and condemned to die upon account of his priestly character. He was executed near the Theatre, October 5, 1588, his mother looking on, as Raissius relates, [Catalog. Martyr. Anglo-Duac., p. 52,] and rejoicing exceedingly that she had brought forth a son to glorify God by such a death.¹⁵

588] JOHN HEWIT AND EDWARD BURDEN

On the same day Jo/m Weldon^ priest [of the^ College of Doway, according to Champney and Molanus], condemned for the same cause, was drawn to Mile’s End GreeUy and there executed. About the same time (some say the same day), Richard Williams, a venerable priest who had been ordained in Englandhtiort the change of religion, was also for religious matters hanged at Holloway ^ near London.

Robert Sutton, layman, suffered on the same day at Clerkenwell. The cause of his death was purely his religion, viz.^ because he had been reconciled to the Church of Rome. His life was offered him at the gallows if he would acknowledge the Queen’s ecclesiastical supremacy, as I learn from the copy of a letter which I have in my hands written by Mr. William Naylor, who was an eye-witness of his death. ‘ I saw,’ says he, ‘ one Mr. Sutton, a layman and a schoolmaster, put to death at Cle7'kenwell in London, to whom the Sheriff promised to procure his pardon if he would but pronounce absolutely the word all; for he would that he should acknowledge the Queen to be supreme head in all causes without any restriction; but he, [Mr. Sutton^ would acknowledge her to be supreme head in all causes temporal; and for that he would not pronounce the word all without any restriction, he was executed. This I heard and saw.’ So far Mr. Naylor.

JOHN HEWITT and EDWARD BURDEN,

Priests,¹⁶

These two were both priests of Doway College during its residence at Rhemes. The former fell into the hands of the adversaries of his faith whilst he was as yet only deacon, and was sent into banishment in 1585, but returning to Rhemes, he was made priest, and sent upon the mission. The latter, who was a native of the bishopric of Durham, and educated in Trinity College, Oxford, was made priest in 1584, and sent into England in 1586. They were both condemned upon account of their priesthood, and were hanged, drawn, and quartered — the former at Mile End Green on the 5th of October, the latter at York on the 29th of November, 1588.

This same year also William Lampley, layman, suffered at Gloucester for the Catholic religion.

Footnotes

1. Ven. Nicholas Garlick. — From the Journals or Diary of Douay College; from the Catalogue of Martyrs drawn up by orders of the Bishop of Chalcedon in 1626; from Dr. Champney’s Manuscript History of the ↩

2. Ven. Robert Ludlam. — From the same Manuscripts, &c.; see also Lives of E. M. ↩

3. Ven. Richard Sympson. — From the same Manuscripts, &c.; see also Lives of E. M. ↩

4. Ven. William Dean. — From the Douay Diary; the Bishop of Chalcedon’s Catalogue; Dr. Champney’s Manuscript; Ribadeneira’s Appendix to Saunders’s De Schismate Angl., c. i.; and Bishop Yepez’s History of the Persecution of England; see also Lives of E. M. ↩

5. Ven. William Gunter. — From the Douay Diary; the Bishop of Chalcedon’s Catalogue; and a letter of a Missioner, written the December following, apud Yepez; see also Acts of E. M.; Lives of E. M.; C.R.S., v. ↩

6. Ven. Robert Morton and Hugh Moor. — From the same Memoirs; see also Lives of E. M. ↩

7. Ven. Thomas Holford, alias Acton. — From a Manuscript Relation by the Rev. Mr. Davis; see also Lives of E. M.; C.R.S., v. ↩

8. Ven. James Claxton and Thomas Felton. — PTom the Douay Records and from a Manuscript in my hands by Mrs. Salisbury, sister to Mr. Felton; see also Lives of E. M.; C.R.S., v. ↩

9. Ven. Richard Leigh. — From the Bishop of Chalcedon’s Catalogue, from Dr. Champney’s Manuscript History, and from Bishop Yepez; see also Lives of E. M.; Troubles, ii.; C.R.S., v. ↩

10. The History of Mrs. Margaret Ward, — From Dr. Champney’s Manuscript and the Bishop of Tarrasona in his History of the Persecution’, see also Acts ofE. M.; Lives ofE. M. For Richard (really William) Watson see D.N. B. ↩

11. Ven. William Way. — From the Doua^'^ Diaries and Catalogues; see also Fives of E. M. ↩

12. Ven. Robert Wilcox, Edward Campion, and Christopher Buxton. — From the same Memoirs, and from Dr. Champney’s IVIanuscript History; see also Lives of E. M.; C.R.S., v. ↩

13. Ven. Ralph Crokett and Edward James. — From the Bishop of Chalcedon’s Catalogue and the Douay Journals; see also Lives of E. M.; Rambler, N.S., vii. 279; C.R.S., v. ↩

14. Ven. John Robinson. — From the Douay Catalogues; Dr. Champney’s Manuscript; and the Relation of the Rev. Mr. Joseph Haynes; see also Lives of E. M. ↩

15. Ven. William Hartley and John Weldon. — From the Douay Diary and Catalogues; from the Journal of things transacted in the Tower from 1580 till 1585; see also Lives of E. M.; Acts of E. M.; Month, }^.n. 1879. [From these latter it appears that Challoner‘s list must be emended at this point. John Weldon is the assumed name of John Hewitt mentioned below. Richard Williams suffered in 1592. The sufferer whose place he has taken at this point was a layman, one Symonds or Harrison, about whose life we unfortunately know nothing. — Editor.] ↩

16. Ven. John Hewitt, alias Weldon, and Edward Burden. — From the Douay Diaries and Catalogues; see also Lives of E. M.; Troubles, iii.; C.R.S., v. ↩