1603 to 1605

As soon as Queen Elizabeth was dead, James ^ the sixth of that name, King of Scotland, was proclaimed King of England, under whom the Catholics hoped for better times. And in effect, not long after his accession to the throne, several recusants of the best rank were by order of His Majesty sent for to Hampton Court, and were there told (by his special direction to some of the Lords of the Council) that henceforth he was resolved to exonerate the Catholics of England of the usual fine or payment of £20 a month for recusancy; which favour they should so long enjoy as their behaviour towards the King and State was without contempt; and when the Catholics humbly desired to know whether their recusancy would not be interpreted contempt, they were assured it would not, and were ordered to signify as much to all of that profession. See a small tract called The Lay Catholics' Petition for Priests, etc., chap. i.

As to the priests, also, many of them who were in confinement experienced His Majesty’s clemency, by being allowed to sue forth their pardons, paying a small fine to the then Lord Chancellor: so that when the King, soon after his arrival in England, was told of one Mr. Freeman, put to death at Warwick for taking orders in the Church of Rome and remaining in England contrary to the statute, he said to those about him with some surprise, Alas! poor man, had he not four nobles to purchase his pardon? Some people looked upon this as a jest upon a certain great minister of State; but it was no jesting matter for the priest, who was hanged, drawn, and quartered according to sentence. See Protestants' Plea for Priests and Papists, p. 54. Of this Mr. Freeman I have found no farther particulars, nor any mention of him in any of our Catalogues, unless he be the

273 s same as ^Ir.John Sugar, priest, who suffered at Warwick, July 16, 1604, as we shall see hereafter.

But it was not long before the Catholics were made sensible that however the persecution might in some measure be abated, it was not to cease. For upon the 22d of February, 1603-4, King ‘ sent forth a proclamation, strictly commanding all priests to depart the realm before the 19th of March, upon pain of having the laws executed against them without the least favour or mercy; and at the same time giving orders to the deputy lieutenants, justices of the peace, and other magistrates, to be vigilant in their several posts, and to use great diligence for the discovering and apprehending of all such as, contrary to the aforesaid proclamation, should presume to remain in the kingdom after the said 19th of March. And as to those priests who at that time were already in prison, his Majesty, in the same proclamation, signifies that he hath given orders for their being shipped off at some convenient port, and for ever banished the kingdom.’ See Howe's Chronicle, p. 834.

Accordingly, in the month of September, we find twenty-one priests and three laymen taken out of divers prisons, by a warrant from the Lords of the Council, and put on board a ship to be transported into perpetual banishment; notwithstanding that many of them had his Majesty’s pardon to shew, since which they had not been convicted of any new offence punishable by the laws of the land with perpetual banishment (as they tell the Lords of the Council in their letter from the seaside, dated September 24, 1604). And not a few of them had voluntarily delivered themselves up pursuant to a proclamation set forth by the late Queen, not long before her death, giving assurance of pardon to all such priests as should deliver themselves up to the civil magistrate, and at the same time give proofs of their allegiance to her Majesty, both which conditions these men had punctually fulfilled; and therefore they thought themselves now hardly used, as they signified in the foresaid letter, a copy of which I have now by me, in the Manuscript Collections relating to the Sujferings of the English Catholics, by the Rev. Mr. Knaresborough, whose labours have been of no small service to me, especially with regard to this and the following reign.

But the severities exercised against Catholics did not stop here; for all the sanguinary laws enacted by Queen Elizabeth were from time to time put in execution by this King, during the greatest part at least of his reign, as we shall see anon. The first, whose name occurs in our Catalogues, who suffered death upon penal statutes, was —

JOHN SUGAR

JOHN SUGAR, Priest *

JOHN SUGAR was born at Womhorne, in Staffordshire, of a noted family in those parts. He made a good proficiency in his grammar studies at home in his own country, and then was sent to Oxford to Merton College, where he went through his course of philosophy. And now he was upon the point of receiving his degree of Bachelor of Arts; but there was an oath first to be taken of the Queen’s supremacy, which he boggled at; and upon this quitted the University. Yet I do not find that he embraced forthwith the Catholic religion. On the contrary, we are told that for some time after he exercised the office of a minister at Cank, in his own countr}% and there held forth against the Pope and the Catholic faith. But the Father of Mercies did not suffer him to continue long in this way, but by His heavenly light opened the eyes of his soul to see the beauty of truth, and inflamed his heart with the love of it; insomuch that he became a true convert and a hearty penitent, and forsaking all his worldly hopes, went abroad to Doway, to the English College, where, after two years spent in the study of divinity, he was made priest; and was sent upon the English mission in 1601 to labour there in seeking after the lost sheep.

‘ After his coming into England,'¹ says my old manuscript, ‘ he travelled afoot very much in Warwickshire, Staffordshire, and Worcestershire, to serve, help, and comfort the meaner and poorer sort of Catholics with the sacraments of the holy Catholic Church. He was in his life chaste and innocent, in conversation humble and mild, in helping the poor and distressed pitiful and charitable, in his diet very spare and temperate, and in prayer fervent and continual.

‘ In the first year of the reign of King James in England, Mr. Burgoyne, a Justice in the county of Warwick, on the 8th day of July, being Relic Sunday, sent a warrant to search the house of a Catholic dwelling in Romington, for the apprehension of a Seminary priest. And the searchers finding none there, went to search in the same town the house of Robei't, Henry, and Ambrose Grissold (or Greswold), three unmarried brethren. Catholics, for many years living and keeping house together. And in searching thereof, a constable called Richard Smith, and one Clement Grissold, nephew to the three aforesaid brethren, apprehended on the highway Mr. Sugar for a Seminary priest, as he was going with a Catholic servingman, nephew to the aforesaid three brethren, and cousin to the said Clement; who with the constable and one John Williams brought both him and Mr. Sugar to Mr. Burgoyne the Justice, who examined them and sent them to prison at Warwick; where they lay together a whole year, and suffered imprisonment.

‘ And at the assizes holden at Warwick the 13th and 14th of July, in the second year of King James his reign in England, Mr. Sugar was arraigned, and by Judge Kingsmill condemned to be hanged, drawn, and quartered for being a Seminary priest. In the morning when he was to suffer death, he said to his friends that came to visit him. Be ye all merry, for we have not occasion of sorrow hut of joy; for although I shall have a sharp dinner, yet I trust in Jesus Christ I shall have a most sweet supper. He also desired God to forgive the Judge and all his apprehenders and persecutors. As he was drawn on the hurdle to the place of his martyrdom, he gave money to fifty poor folks, and prayed very devoutly. An English minister at the gallows asked him how he did believe. His answer was, I believe as my mother the Catholic Church doth. Then he demanded of the minister who it was that first converted our country, when it was called Britain, to the Catholic religion: to whom the minister answered, I never heard this question asked before: but who converted it, say you? Mr. Sugar told him that it was the successor of St. Peter the apostle, viz.. Pope Eleutherius, who sent Damianus and Fugatius, two learned and godly men, by whom Lucius, King of Britain, and his people received the true Christian Catholic faith and religion. But this new religion, said he, crept into this country in the time of King Henry VHI.

‘ After this he was a good while on his knees, and prayed: and that being done, he was stripped to his shirt; and going up the ladder he said, I thank God I can climb pretty well to-day. As he stood upon the ladder, he very cheerfully said to the people, Be it knowii unto you, good people, that I come hither to die for my conscience. The Under- Sheriff answered. Thou diest not for thy conscience, but for treason. To which he replied. You do me wrong; there is none can touch me for treason, it is for conscience I die. Then a boy of about eighteen years of age put the rope about his neck. The martyr blessed the rope with the sign of the cross, saying, I came into the world with the sign of the cross, and with the sign of the cross I go out of it again. How dost thou prove that? said the Under- Sheriff; for thou wast not born with the sign of the cross. I make account,

JOHN SUGAR said Mr. Sugar ^ that I was not in this world as a Christian till I was signed with the sign of the cross in baptism; for then I first received my spiritual birth. Afterwards the Under- Sheriff willed him to pray for the King, to whom he said, / never denied to pray for him; and thereupon he prayed thus: God bless the King^ the Queen, the young Prince, and all the Council; God forgive the Judge, the Justice Mr. Burgoyne, and all that did apprehend me; and you too (looking on the Sheriff), as I would that God should forgive me. Then the hangman said, I pray you, good father, forgive me too. I forgive thee, hoy, with all my heart, said he. Then looking on the people with a cheerful countenance, he said to them. Good people, I die willingly, for I shall get a place of joy; and I beseech Jesus to receive my soul, and I beseech all the company of angels, martyrs, and saints to accompany my soul to that blessed place. I desire to he dissolved and to he with Christ, and I beseech God that all that are present may be partakers of that joy to which I am going. Then he desired our blessed Saviour to receive his soul, saying, Jesus, Jesus, receive my soul; unto which the people answered, Amen, Amen. Lastly, being asked if he was ready, viz., to die, he said, I am ready in Jesus. Thereupon he was turned off the ladder, and was cut down before he was fully dead; then was opened; his bowels were burnt, his head was cut off, his body was quartered, and his quarters were set up on the gates of Warwick. Thus he, having willingly, cheerfully, and constantly suffered death for his priestly function, and for the profession of the Catholic religion of Christ, hath thereby obtained a crown of eternal glory in heaven; for our Lord saith {Apoc. ii.). Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee the crown of life.'

He suffered 16, 1604.

ROBERT GRISSOLD, or GRESWOLD, Layman.²

Robert GRISSOLD, who was bom at Romington in Warwickshire, and was servant to Air. Sheldo7i, of Broadway, in Worcestershire, was,’ says my manuscript, ‘ simple and upright in his actions; unlearned, but enlightened with the Holy Ghost; feared God, hated sin, led a single life and chaste; was kind to his friends, mild in conversation, devout in prayer, bold and constant in professing the Catholic religion, and heartily loved and reverenced Catholic priests. When his cousin, Clement Grissold apprehended him going upon the way with Mr. Sugar, he said to him. Cousin, if you will go your way you may. I will not, answered he, except I may have my friend with me. Then the constable, Richard Smith, or his cousin, said. That you shall not, for he is a stranger, and I will carry him before Mr. Burgoyne. Then, said he, I will go with him to Mr. Burgoyne; for he knoweth me very well, and I hope he will do my friend no wrong, when he heareth me speak. Thereupon he went with Mr. Sugar (who was then called Mr. Cox) to the Justice, Mr. Burgoyne, who, after examination, sent them both to the prison of Warwick, where Robert Grissold had occasion offered him to get away; yet for the love of Mr. Sugar, and zeal for martyrdom, he would not, but there, with Mr. Sugar, remained a whole year, and with him suffered imprisonment, and afterwards death.

‘ In the second year of King James in England, and upon the 14th day oijuly, at the assizes holden at Warwick, he, being arraigned, was asked by the Judge Kingsmill if he would go to church } to whom he answered, I will not, my lord. Then thou shalt be hanged, quoth the Judge. I beseech you, my Lord, let me have justice, and let the country know wherefore I die. Thou shalt have justice, I warrant thee, said the Judge, and the country shall know that thou diest for felony. Wherein, quoth he, have I committed felony } Thou hast committed felony, saith the judge, in being in the company, in assisting, and relieving a Seminary priest, that is, a traitor. I have not therein committed felony, answered he. Then a Justice of Peace said to him, Grissold, Grissold, go to church, or else, God judge me, thou shalt be hanged. Then God’s will be done, quoth he. After that the Judge asked him again if he would go to church } I have answered you, my Lord, enough for that matter — I will not. Then thou shalt be hanged, said the Judge. I crave no favour of you, my Lord, in this action, answered he. What, said the Judge in a great rage, dost thou crave no favour at my hands } No, my Lord, said he, I crave no favour at your hands in this action. Thereupon the Judge afterwards condemned him to be hanged for accompanying, assisting, and relieving a Seminary priest, and while he pronounced judgment against him, he faltered in his speech and trembled with his hands. The next day after the Judge had condemned him, he sent to him in his chamber, where he proffered him life, if he would promise him to go to church; which he utterly refused.

ROBERT GRISSOLD

‘ In the morning, before he suffered death, he continued an hour in prayer, and requested of all the Catholics to say a Pater and Ave for him in the honour of God and of St. Catherine his patroness, that by the intercession of that blessed virgin and martyr he might obtain of God courage and fortitude to suffer death. And seeing a Catholic woman in the prison weeping for his death, he said to her. Good woman, why do you weep? Here is no place of weeping hut of rejoicing, for you must come into the Bridegroom^ s chamber not with tears, hut with rejoicing. The woman answered, I hoped you should have had your life. I do not want it now, said he, for I should be loth to lose this opportunity offered me to die; but yet, God’s will be done. Then a Catholic maid said. It is well said, friend Robert, for it is nothing to suffer death for so good a cause. Whereupon he said to the Catholics there present. Look that ye all continue to the end.

‘ As he was going on foot to the gallows, one willed him to go a fair way, and not to follow through the mire Mr. Sugar, who was drawn on the sledge before him, to whom he made answer: I have not thus far followed him to leave him now for a little mire. And so through the mire he went after him. When he came to the place of his martyrdom, for a good while he prayed very devoutly on his knees; and although he was by nature so timorous and weak that he once swooned at the sight of his thumb being only pricked with an awl, yet at the gallows he was, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, so much strengthened, that at the sight of Mr. Sugar's bleeding body, when quartered, he was no way terrified, but, on the contrary, was so stout and courageous, that when a Catholic woman stepped between him and Mr. Sugar's dead body whilst it was in quartering, lest the sight should terrify him, he took her by the arm, saying. Stand away, for I thank God the sight doth nothing terrify me.

‘ Afterwards the Under- Sheriff said to him, Grissold, thou dost thyself wrong, for thou art guilty of thy own death. No, quoth he, sir, you do me wrong in keeping me so long alive after Mr. Sugar, for I should have suffered with him, and I only desire to be with him. Then seeing the halter with which he was to be hanged lying on the ground, he was exceeding glad, and giving God thanks, he went and dipped it in Mr. Sugar's blood; and going up the ladder he said to the people. Bear witness, good people, that I die here not for theft, nor for felony, but for my conscience. Then he freely forgave all his persecutors, and the hangman, and devoutly said his Confiteor, often calling upon the name of Jesus. Lastly, he commended his soul into the hands of Almighty God; and so being turned off the

Memoirs of missionary priests [1604 ladder, he hanged until he was quite dead. His dead body, by the Under-Sheriff’s permission, was buried near the gallows. And thus this blessed martyr for the short transitory pain of death, which he willingly suffered for a work of charity, and for the professing the Catholic religion, hath gotten everlasting joy in the kingdom of heaven. So far the author of the manuscript relation of his death, who seems to have been an eyewitness of his and Mr. Sugar^s sufferings, or at least to have had his information from eyewitnesses.

He suffered Jw/jv i6, 1604.

LAURENCE BAILY, Layman *

Laurence BAILY was a Catholic layman, wRo was apprehended in Lancashire, for having been aiding and assisting to a priest, who had fallen into the hands of the pursuivants, and had made his escape from them. For this supposed offence he was cast into prison, where, as we are told by Molanus in his Catalogue, p. 77, he suffered much with great patience and constancy; and being brought upon his trial, was condemned to die as in case of felony, by the statute of the 27th of Elizabeth. He was executed at Lancaster, Dr. Worthington says sometime in August; but Molanus says it was on the i6th of September 1604.

THOMAS WELBOURN, JOHN FULTHERING, and WILLIAM BROWN, Laymen.f

Thomas WELBOURN was a schoolmaster, a native of Kitenbushel, in Yorkshire; and John Fulthering was a layman of the same county, who being zealous Catholics, and industrious in exhorting some of their neighbours to embrace the Catholic faith, were upon that account arraigned and condemned to suffer as in³⁴

THOMAS WELBOURN, ETC.

cases of high treason; as was also William Brown ^ another zealous Catholic layman, a native of Northamptonshire y convicted of the same offence. They all were executed according to sentence; Mr. Welbourn diiid M.r. Fulthering at Yorky the ist of August, 1605; Mr. Brown at Ripon, the 5th of September, the same year.

This year on the 5th of November was discovered that horrid plot, commonly called Gunpowder Treason; by which Catesby and some few others, his accomplices, designed to have blown up the Parliament House, which, though it were indeed a most wicked and detestable enterprise for which the conspirators were justly punished, is most unjustly urged against Catholics in general. For why should the wickedness of a handful of men, whose doings were both then and ever since abhorred by the whole body of Catholics, both at home and abroad, be laid to the charge of such as had no more hand in the guilt than the apostles had in the treason of Judas?

’Tis more than probable that this was originally a ministerial plot, set on foot by Cecil, then Secretary of State. ‘ Some have been of opinion,’ says the author of the Political Grammar, lately published (p. 46), ‘ that the Gunpowder Plot in the reign of James I. was of the same alloy [a ministerial plot]; and the awkward manner in which the letter was sent to Lord Mounteagle the night before the execution seems to confirm it, but much more the papers of the then minister, which have but lately appeared, by which the whole affair is brought to light. For it is evident by those papers that the minister was acquainted with the conspirators’ journal from the beginning, so that he might have easily stifled the design in its infancy; but that would not quadrate with his principal design, which was to divert King James from making any approaches towards popery, to which he seemed to be inclinable in the minister’s opinion, by engaging some papists in a desperate and horrid plot to destroy both King and Parliament. This was the original of that affair, which has filled the kingdom with astonishment for above a whole century.’ So far this author, who is not the only one, nor the first by a great many, who has been of this opinion, since Mr. Osborn has informed the world long ago (p. 34), that this plot was, as he terms it, a neat device of the Secretary; and King James the First himself was so sensible of it, that he used to call the 5th of November CeciVs Holiday.

Footnotes

1. Ven. John Sugar, or Suker. — From Arnoldus Raissius in his Catalogue of the Douay Martyrs, printed in 1630; and from an old Manuscript relation of his martyrdom sent me from Warwickshire; see also Camm, Forgotten Shrines. ↩

2. Ven. Robert Grissold, or Greswold. — From an ancient Manuscript relation of his martyrdom, of which I have a copy sent me out of Warwick-shire; see also Camm, Forgotten Shrines. ↩

3. Ven. Laurence Baily. — From Dr. Worthington’s Catalogue of Martyrs, published in 1614; see also Gillow. ↩

4. Ven. Thomas Welbourne, John Fulthering, and William Brown. — From the Catalogues of English Martyrs; see also Foley, Records, iii. ↩