The Year 1602

JAMES HARRISON, Priest *

This gentleman, who by some is confounded with Matthias Harrison (of whom we have spoken in 1599), and by others is called Matthew Harrison, alias Hayes, in the Records and

Catalogues is called James, and is said to have been a native of the Diocese of Lichfield, ordained at Rhemes in 1583, and sent from thence upon the English mission in 1584. He fell into the hands of the persecutors a little before the Lent Assizes, 1601-2, and being brought upon his trial was sentenced to die, as in cases of high¹

JAMES DUCKETT l602j treason, barely on account of exercising his priestly functions in England. Raissius relates that, being told by his keeper the night before execution that he was to suffer the next day, which it seems was an unexpected piece of news (for the judges had left the town without determining any thing of the time of his suffering), he shewed not the least sign of being troubled at the message; but, with a cheerful countenance, set himself down to supper, saying. Let m eat and drinky for to-morrow we shall die. He drank up the cup of his Lord the next day, says RaissiuSy with great constancy and fervour, being executed at Yorky March 22, 1602. His head, says the same author, is religiously kept by the English Franciscans at Doway.

With Mr. Harrison was hanged Mr. Anthony Batticy or, as others call him, BateSy a lay gentleman of YorkshirCy for having entertained the said Mr. Harrison in his house, knowing him to be a priest.

JAMES DUCKETT, Layman.=^

JAMES DUCKETT was a younger son of Mr. Duckett of Gil-f or trigs y in the parish of Skelsmerghy in Westmoreland. He had the name of James given him in baptism from his godfather, James Leyburny Esq., Lord of Skelsmerghy who was drawn, hanged, and quartered at Lancaster y March 22, 1583, for denying the Queen’s supremacy; yet it seems he was brought up a Protestant, and after some years passed in the schools, was bound apprentice in London. Here, after some time, a countryman of his, one Peter MausoUy put a book in his hands, entitled. The Foundation of the Catholic Religion y which he diligently perused, and by the reading of it was brought to stagger very much in his opinion; insomuch that he, who before was so zealous in his way, that he would have heard two or three sermons a day, began now to withdraw himself from their sermons and service, and to be more and more convinced of the falsehood of his former belief. This change was soon perceived by those with whom he lived, who finding also the book which had occasioned this alteration, carried it to Mr. Goodakery the minister of St. Edmunds y in Lombard Street y who sent for Mr. James y and examined him why he went no more to church. He answered. He neither did² nor would go more to churchy till he had better satisfaction in their religion than he could give him. Upon this answer, he was committed to Bridewelf from whence, after some time, he was set free by his master’s means; but not long after he was again questioned for not going to church, and was then sent to the Compter.. His master procured his liberty once more, but was afraid of keeping him any longer, lest himself should incur any danger thereby; so Mr. Duckett was forced to compound and buy out the remainder of his time.

Being now his own master, he sought the means of being instructed and received into the Catholic Church; and within two months, to his great comfort, he was reconciled by Mr. Weeks, a venerable priest, prisoner in the Gatehouse. After which he lived two or three years a single life, with great zeal and fervour in religion; and then took a wife, a good Catholic widow, with whom he lived twelve years in wedlock, dealing mostly in books, with which he furnished Catholics, as well for their own comfort and instruction, as for the assistance of their neighbours’ souls. This exposed him to many dangers and persecutions, and he was often apprehended and cast into prison, both in town and country, and kept sometimes for a long while together in gaol; insomuch that of twelve years he lived a married man, he passed nine of them in prisons. His last apprehension, which brought him to his happy end, and the manner of his trial and death, is thus related by his son: —

‘ Peter Bullock, a bookbinder, after he had been condemned a twelvemonth, in hope, as many imagined, of obtaining his pardon, informed Lord Chief Justice Popham that James Duckett had had twenty-five of [Father Southwell’s] Supplications to the Queen, and had published them. Upon this his house was searched at midnight, but no such book found, nor sign thereof; yet they found the whole impression of Mount Calvary and some other Catholic books. However, he was apprehended and carried to Newgate, it being the 4th of March. At the next Sessions he was called to the bar, and Mr. Watkinson, a virtuous and worthy priest, who newly was come into England and taken, was also brought in. James Duckett perceiving him to look pale, and thinking it might be through fear, which indeed was only his sickness, began in his best manner to encourage him, which Popham understanding (Mr. Watkinson being first arraigned), calls out, Duckett, now speak for thyself. Then evidence being called in, the same Peter Bullock accused him that he had some of Father Southwell's Supplications to the Queen, which he denied, having had none of them. Bullock also avouched that he had bound for him divers Catholic books, and, amongst the rest,

JAMES DUCKETT

Bristowe^s Motives^ which he acknowledged. The jury being called, and hearing what was alleged against him by one only witness, went out, and having consulted, returned again and found him not guilty. Judge Popham^ who was bloodily bent against him, stood up and bid them consider well of what they did; for that Duckett had had Bristowe's Motives bound for him. Upon whose words they went out again, and soon returning, declared him guilty of felony. The jury’s verdict being given, sentence of death was pronounced against him, as also against the three priests, Mr. Page, Mr. Tichburn, and Mr. Watkinson.

‘ On Monday morning, the day designed for his death, his wife came to speak to him, which she could not without tears. He bid her be of good comfort, and said. His death was no more to him than to drink off the caudle which stood there ready for him. If I were made, said he, the Queen's secretary or treasurer you would not weep. Do but keep yourself God's servant, and in the unity of God's Church, and I shall be able to do you more good, being now to go to the King of kings. As you love me, do not grudge that the good men {the three priests) are reprieved, and not I; for I take it for a great favour from Almighty God that I am placed amongst the thieves, as He himself, my Lord and Master, was. As he was carried towards the place of execution, in the way his wife called for a pint of wine to drink to him. He drank, and desired her to drink to Peter Bullock, and freely to forgive him; for he, after all his hopes, was, in the selfsame cart, carried also to execution. Being come to the place, and both he and Peter standing up in the cart, Peter, saith he, the cause of my coming hither, God and thyself knowest, for which I, from my heart, forgive thee, and that the world and all here may witness that I die in charity with thee, he kissed him, both having the ropes about their necks. Then he said to him. Thy life and mine are not long. Wilt thou promise me one thing? If thou wilt, speak: wilt thou die, as I die, a Catholic? Bullock replied. He would die as a Christian should do. And so the cart was drawn from under them.’

Mr. Duckett suffered at Tyburn, April 19, 1601, and he is mentioned by Mr. Howes upon Stow, in his Chronicle. Dr. Champney, in his manuscript history of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, which he concludes with this year, adds, that Kiv.John Colins, another Catholic, after a long imprisonment, suffered death for the same cause, though he knows not whether it was at the same time or no. As to the three priests who were condemned with Mr. Duckett, they were reprieved, indeed, at the intercession of the Freiich ambassador; but it was for a very short time: for, ‘ on the 20th of April,' says Howes, in his

Chronicle, ‘ Thomas Tichhiirn^ Robert Watkinson^ and James (he should have said Francis) Page, Seminary priests, were drawn to Tyburn, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered, for coming into the kingdom contrary to the statute of the 27th of Elizabeth.^

THOMAS TICHBURN and ROBERT WATKINSON, Priests.³

Thomas TICHBURN was bom of an ancient family at Hartley, in Hampshire. His education abroad was first in the College at Rhemes, and afterwards in that of to which he was sent from Rhemes, September 2, 1587. At Rome he w^as made priest, and from thence was sent upon the English mission. Here he fell into the hands of the adversaries of his faith, and suffered bands and prisons for some years, till, as we have seen above, he was rescued by that bold youth who lost his own life upon that account. It was not long before he was again apprehended by the means of one Atkinson, a fallen priest, who meeting him in the streets, and knowing him, ceased not to cry out, A priest! a priest! — stop the priest! till he was seized upon; though Mr. Tichburn, to stop his mouth and carry off the matter, told him, which was very true. That he was no more a priest than himself. Thus he was again committed to prison, and soon after arraigned, condemned, and executed merely on account of his priesthood. He was far gone in a hectic fever, and naturally could have lived but a very short time longer; so that his apprehension and condemnation at this time was a more particular favour of Divine providence, which had chosen for him this more glorious and happy death.

He suffered at Tyburn, April 20, 1601.

Robert Watkinson was born at Hemingborough, in Yorkshire, and had his education abroad, partly in the College of Doway, and partly in that of Rome. He went through his course of philosophy in the latter, but was obliged, for his health, to return to Doway to study his divinity. But the change of air made no great alteration in the state of his health; so that his superiors thought it best to present him to holy orders, and send him over into England. He was i6o2] THOS. TICHBURN AND ROBT. WATKINSON ordained priest at Arras ^ March 25, 1602, and on the 3d of April following began his journey to England, Whilst he was at London^ under the care of a physician, he was betrayed by ontjohn Fawether, a false brother, apprehended, arraigned, and condemned on the 17th of April, and executed on the 20th of the same month. He suffered with great constancy at Tyburn, in the company of Mr. Tichhurn and Mr. Page.

There is a very remarkable story concerning this Mr. Watkinson in the Doway Diary, which is, that the day before he was apprehended, as he was walking in London streets with another Catholic, he met a stranger, who appeared to be a venerable old man, who saluted him with these words — Jesus bless you, sir; you seem to be sick and troubled with many infirmities; but be of good cheer, for within these four days you shall be cured of all, which happened accordingly; for the next day he was apprehended, tried and condemned, which was on Saturday, and on the Tuesday following he received his crown. The same diary adds that, Mr. Watkinson having found means to celebrate Mass in prison the morning before he went out to execution, they that were present, “ and in particular,” says Dr. Champney, “ Mr. Henry Owen, a prisoner for his conscience, who then served at his Mass,” perceived about his head, sometimes on the one side, sometimes on the other, a most bright light, like a ray of glory, which from the Consecration till after the Communion, rested directly over his head, and then disappeared.

FRANCIS PAGE, Priest, SJ.^

He was born, according to the Bishop of Chalcedon's Catalogue, of a gentleman’s family at Harrow on the Hill, in the county of Middlesex, or, as some others say, at Antwerp, which it seems he pleaded at his trial, but was not regarded. He was brought up in the Protestant religion, and to the study of the law, and was for some time clerk to a noted lawyer in town. Here he fell in love with a young gentlewoman, a Catholic, and partly upon her account, partly by the persuasion of a Catholic companion, was induced to make a more serious inquiry into matters of religion. His friend brought him to Father Gerard Thomson, his own confessor, who gave him⁴ full satisfaction in his doubts, and reconciled him to the Church. But this was not all. Mr. Page not only became a Catholic, but by degrees was quite weaned from earthly affections, and his heart was set upon better things. So that Father Gerard, being not long after apprehended, and committed close prisoner to the Tower, Mr. Page, renouncing the advantageous match of which he had so near a prospect, resolved upon a more perfect state of life, and going over to Doway, there entered himself an alumnus in the English College of the secular clergy. And after having employed some time in this Seminary of martyrs, in the study of divinity and in the practice of all Christian virtues, he was by his superiors presented to holy orders and ordained priest, and not long after was sent upon the English Toi^^Aon, June 10, 1600.

He had not been long in England, when he narrowly escaped the pursuivants’ hands, in the house of Mrs. Line, when — he being at the altar in his vestments — on Candlemas Day, they broke into the house; as we have seen in the account of that holy widow. However, as his time was not yet come, he made a shift to unvest himself before they could come into the chamber where he was, and to step aside to a private place, where they could not find him. After this escape, he diligently applied himself to his missionary functions, till he was apprehended in the following manner: — Going out one night to the duties of his calling, he perceived a woman coming after him whom he knew, who had for some time professed herself a Catholic, but now made it her business, for the sake of a little lucre, to betray and take up priests. The sight of this woman made him mend his pace; but she knowing him made no less haste after him, calling out, Mr. Page, I want to speak to you. He would not seem to hear her, but stepped into the first open house, and shutting the door after him, desired the master of the house, who was a Protestant, to let him out by a back-door; which he was going to do, when this wicked woman coming up, knocked violently at the door, crying out, A traitor! a traitor! a Seminary priest! and raised a mob about the door; so that the man of the house, being afraid of the consequences, would not suffer Mr. Page to go further, but delivered him up into the hands of the constables. He was carried before the Lord Chief Justice Popham, a cruel enemy of the Catholics — the same as before condemned Mrs. Line — wFo, understanding that this was the priest who had escaped from that widow’s house, after having examined him, sent him to Newgate, where he was put down into Limbo. And at the next Sessions, which came on within a few days, he was brought to the bar, together with Mr. Tichhurn and Mr. Watkinson,

FRANCIS PAGE and with them condemned, barely upon account of his priesthood, by the same Lord Chief Justice Pophatn.

There was at the same time in Newgate one Mr. Henry Floyd, a priest, who, when Mr. Page was brought back to prison after his condemnation, falling upon his knees, testified the greatness of his grief by the tears which plentifully flowed from him. Mr. Page, lifting him up, spoke to him in this manner: What is the meaning of this, sir? Do you weep at my condition, which is most happy? You ought rather to rejoice and congratulate with me for so happy a lot, which opens to me a way to eternal bliss. And so great was the joy that Mr. Page found in himself at the approach of his martyrdom that, after having made a general confession of his whole life to the same Mr. Floyd, and assisted at his Mass, he was in a doubt whether he should venture to celebrate Mass himself, for fear that he should not be able to contain himself, during the Sacred Mysteries, from discovering the extraordinary motions of his heart, by such outward gestures and words, as would be taken notice of, and be heard by the other prisoners and by the keepers.

The day before execution, the keeper desired Mr. Floyd to acquaint Mr. Page that he was to die on the morrow, adding that, for his own part, he could not endure to be the bearer of such tidings. Mr. Page received this message as coming from heaven; and having obtained leave of the keeper to stay that day and night with Mr. Floyd, and having celebrated with him the Tremendous Mysteries with wonderful sentiments of joy and devotion, he declared to this holy man some part of the favours which God was pleased to shew him that night, which had filled his soul with such wonderful lights and so high a knowledge of the Divine greatness, as he could never have obtained by books or study; so that he thought nothing could ever more separate him from the love of so great a Lord. But that he might experimentally know that these extraordinary sentiments of devotion are a gratuitous gift of God, which He gives and takes away when He pleases, and that he might have some experience also of the great anguish and agony of Mount Olivet, as well as of the sweets of Mount Thahor, he was all on a sudden deprived of these extraordinary gusts and of all manner of sensible devotions, and, like his Saviour in the Garden of Gethsemane, became sad and sorrowful, even unto death; so that in this extremity of fear, grief, and anguish, he earnestly desired Mr. Floyd's prayers, shewing by the paleness of his countenance and other outward signs the inward conflicts of his soul. This storm continued till the Sheriff sent to him to prepare himself for execution, for that the hour was now drawing on; which message in a moment restored a calm to his soul, and filled him with a new joy; so that he went out to meet death with as much cheerfulness, as if he was going to a feast.

When he came forth to the hurdle which was prepared for him, seeing a vast crowd of people, who were come thither to accompany him to Tyburn y he took that occasion to declare to them, with a loud voice, the sanctity of the Catholic faith, and the necessity of holding this faith in order to eternal salvation. Then he laid himself down upon the hurdle, and whilst he was tied down upon it, as well as during the whole way to Tyburn^ he employed his soul in prayer. When he was taken off the hurdle and put into the cart, a minister offered to trouble him with some questions about religion, but the confessor of Christ would not hearken to him. But after having made a profession of his faith, he declared he was most willing to die for so good a cause, viz.^ for his faith and priesthood, and for aiding and assisting, by his priestly functions, the souls of his neighbours. He also, upon that occasion, 'declared the Promise^ or Vow that he had lately made to enter into the Society of Jesus ^ as Father Moor expresses it; or. That he was a novice of that Society^ as Tannerus words it. And at the pronouncing of that holy name of Jesus the cart was drawn away; and he hanged till he expired. He was afterwards cut down, bowelled, and quartered.

He suffered April 20, 1602.

Footnotes

1. Ven. James Harrison. — From the Catalogue of Arnoldus Raissius; Dr. Champney’s Manuscript, etc.; see also Lives of E. M.; Catholic Encyclopcedia. ↩

2. Ven. James Duckett. — From a Manuscript sent me from Doua College, written by Father Duckett, Prior to the English Carthusians at Newport, son of this same Mr. James Duckett; see also Lives of E. M. ↩

3. Ven. Thomas Tichburn and Robert Watkinson. — From the Douay Diary; Dr. Champney’s Manuscript; and the Catalogues of Chalcedon and Raissius; see also Lives of E. M.; Catholic Encyclopcedia. ↩

4. Ven. Francis Page. — From the Douay Diary, and from Father More’s History of the English Province of the Society of Jesus; see also Lives of E. M.; Foley, Records, vii. ↩