The Year 1606

This year no less than forty-seven priests were from different piisons sent into perpetual banishment: their names are recorded in the Doway Diary as follows: —

PRIESTS BANISHED IN l6o6.

Thomas Bramston. Philip Woodward. Abraham Sutton. William Singleton. Silvester Norrice, D.D. Richard Grisold. Thomas Burscough. Nicholas Jees.

Ralph Buckland. George Stransham. Francis Stafferton. Francis Forster. Anthony Rouse.

John Roberts.

Henry Chaterton. Simon Potinger.

Thomas Flint. Humfrey Meridale. William Clarjenet. Thomas Hodson. Thomas Thoresby. William Arton. Christopher Lass els. Charles Newport. Richard Newport. John Lloyd.

Robert Bastard. Edward Dawson. Robert Walsh, Hibern. John Hall.

Hugh Whitall.

John Starkey.

John Copley.

Fulk Nevile.

John Siclemore. George Gervase. Thomas Garnet. James Blundel. Thomas Laithwait. Thomas Stanney. Robert Bradshaw. Thomas Green. Thomas Butler. Edward Collier.

N. Pierson.

Andrew White.

N. Nightingal.

And with them were banished two others not yet priests, viz., William Alabaster and Hugh Bowens. The same diary takes notice, December 23, that Thomas Bramston, the first named in this catalogue, died at Doway College, aged sixty-six, after having been twenty years a prisoner in Wisbeach Castle for his faith, and twice banished.

HENRY GARNET, Priest, SJ *

Henry garnet was bom in the year 1554, as some say in Derbyshire, or as others will have it at Nottingham, where his father, Mr. Brian Garnet, was a schoolmaster. He had his first education in the college of William of Wickham, in Winchester, where he was looked upon as the most hopeful youth in the house;¹

i6o6]

and was to have been sent from thence to New College^ Oxford; but disliking the Protestant religion, he chose rather to be reconciled to the Catholic Church, and travelled abroad first into Spain ^ and from thence to Rome. He there entered into the Society of Jesiis^ anno 1571. After he had finished his noviceship, he applied himself close to his studies, and having the advantage of the best masters, both in divine and human sciences, such as Bellarmine, Suarez^ PereriiiSy Clavius, &c., he became a great proficient in all kind of learning, yet so as not to neglect the better part, by a serious attention to the science of the saints, the study of Christian and religious perfection. He was for some time professor of the Hebrew language in the Roman college of the Society, and then publicly taught metaphysics. He also supplied for a while the place of the celebrated Clavius in the school of mathematics; till in the year 1586, having long aspired after the English mission, he was sent with Father Robert Southwell to labour in this vineyard.

Two years after his arrival in England, Father William Weston, the superior of the English Jesuits, falling into the hands of the persecutors, and being committed to prison. Father Garnet was pitched upon as the most proper to succeed in that superiority. And from that time till the breaking out of the Gunpowder Plot, so in particular to the words “ there is but one man upon earth, who can prove that I had (knowledge of the plot).” The words might not be a breach of the seal, but they did not seem consistent with the heroic virtue necessary for the beatification of a martyr for the seal of confession. So while he did not vote directly against Garnet’s admission, he held himself as neutral in its regard. The advocate of the martyr was unable to clear up this doubt, and so the Sacred Congregation, following the Promotor’s verdict, would not pass Garnet to go on for beatification, though not deciding positively against him.

But though the story told by Challoner was contemporary in date, the opening of the Record Office has shown that, as regards the words now under discussion, it is not authentic. The original reports of the listeners are extant, signed by themselves; and they are supported by an independent report by Father Oldcorne, who was called upon to set down what he remembered of his conferences with Garnet. The reports are all printed in Foley’s Records, iv., pp. 148 to 153 and 228 to 232. But neither the words to which objection was taken, nor any of like significance can be there found. Critically considered, therefore, the objection loses its force; and we may hope that when Garnet’s cause can be again re-opened, a favourable view will be taken of his claim to martyrdom. (The words “ No living man could touch him but one ” are found in Father John Gerard’s early Narrative of the Gunpowder Plot, published in 1871 by Father John Morris in his Condition of Catholics under James I. Gerard wrote in 1606). — Editor.

behaved himself in that post as to be very much esteemed and loved by all those whom he had to deal with.

In the year 1603, Queen Elizabeth being called out of this world, King James 1. succeeded in the kingdom. This prince had given great hopes, and even promises to the Catholics before his coming to the crown, that he would put a stop to their sufferings, and grant them some toleration at least of their religion. But they quickly found he was not disposed to make good these promises; and that instead of repealing or qualifying any of the penal statutes of Queen Elizabeth^ he gave way to new laws and additional severities, enacted against all professors of the ancient religion. The generality of the Catholics of the nation, though much disappointed in their hopes, submitted their shoulders to this new cross after so many others they had endured, and disposed themselves to bear it with Christian patience. But some few there were (and indeed very few, for I can find but thirteen or fourteen in all, including such as were any ways conscious), men unworthy of the name of Catholics, who, being exasperated by their disappointment, were by degrees entangled by the artifices of Satan, and a Machiavellian politician, his instrument (designing thereby the ruin of the Catholic religion in 'England)^ in a most detestable conspiracy to blow up the Parliament House; which design was to have been executed at the first meeting of the Parliament on the 5th of November^ 1605; but was discovered by a letter sent ten days before to the Lord Mounteagle^ a Catholic peer, and by him communicated to the King and Council.

As to the religion of the conspirators, if they had any, they are generally supposed to have been Catholics; though the author of the Protestants' Plea, published in 1621, says, ‘ They were a few wicked and desperately minded men, whom many Protestants termed Papists; although the true priests and Catholics of England knew them not to be such; nor can any Protestant, says he, truly say that any one of them was such a one, as their laws and proceedings against us name Papists, Popish recusants, or the like;’ and he adds, ‘ All these were young, except Percy, and if any of them were Catholics, or so died, they were known Protestants not long before, and never frequenters of Catholic sacraments with any priests, as I could learn.’ So far this author.

Catesby, the chief of the conspirators, whether of his own accord or at the instigation of a certain minister of State, supposed to have had a great hand in the whole contrivance of this plot, and to have been particularly solicitous to draw the Jesuits into some share in the odium of it, laid open the design in confession to Father Green-way or Greenwell, alias Tesmond^ a Jesuit. The confessor represented to him the wickedness of the project, but could not prevail upon him to desist. However, Cateshy consented that Father Greenway should communicate the case under the seal of confession to Father Garnet; and if the matter should otherwise come to light, he gave leave that both the one and the other might then make use of the knowledge which he thus imparted to them, and not else. Father Garnet was struck with horror at the proposal, and as he could not discover it, laboured at least to divert the design; and he so far prevailed, that Cateshy promised he would attempt nothing without the knowledge and consent of the Holy See, which Father Garnet knew he would never obtain. But the wretch still went on in his design, till the plot was discovered; and then taking arms with Percy and the two Wrights, attended with some servants and a few others, being pursued by the High Sheriff of Warwick-shire ^ he took shelter in the house of Mr. Humphrey Littleton y near Stourhridgey and being there attacked by the Sheriff of Worcestershirey he was there slain with the other three in the conflict; the rest of the conspirators were taken, and were all executed, excepting Mr. Treshamy who died in the Tower.

Amongst those who were engaged in this plot was one Bates y a servant of Cateshy. This man, in hopes of saving his own life, insinuated (probably at the instigation of a certain great man) that the JesuitSy and in particular. Father Greenway and Father Garnety had some knowledge of the conspiracy; of which unjust insinuation he afterwards repented himself. Upon this a proclamation was issued out (two months after the discovery of the plot) for the apprehending of these two fathers, together with Father Gerardy of whom also they had conceived some suspicion. Greenway and Gerard fled beyond the seas: Father Garnet, who was then with Father Oldcorne at Henlip, the seat of Mr. Ahington, in Worcestershire, was soon after betrayed by Mr. Littleton, who being then a prisoner for having harboured some of the conspirators, in hopes of saving his own life, discovered where the father was hid. Upon which, after many days’ search, both Father Garnet and Father Oldcorne were apprehended, with their servants, John Owen and Ralph Ashley, and were carried to Worcester, and from thence by an order of the Council sent for up to London, and there committed first to the Gatehouse and then to the Tower.

Father Garnet was examined no less than twenty-three different times, so intent some people were to bring him in, if possible, guilty of some share in the plot; yet with all these examinations no sufficient matter could be discovered to condemn him, nor could any witnesses be found to appear against him. At length Cecil, Earl of Salisbury, who knew more of the whole affair perhaps than any man living, contrived to lodge Father Oldcorne in a chamber adjoin-' ing to Father Garnet, where they might through a chink converse together, and be overheard by two men whom he had placed in ambuscade for that purpose. This stratagem succeeded according to his wish. Father Garnet was privately informed by his keeper (under pretence of kindness) that Father Oldcorne might be spoke with through that chink; and he gladly embraced that opportunity of making his confession, and conversing with his friend, little suspecting the snare that was laid for him. Upon this occasion, being asked by Father Oldcorne whether he was still examined about the Plot } He answered. They have no proof that I ever had any knowledge at all of the matter; and there is but one man upon earth (meaning Father Greenway) who can prove that I had.^ These words were heard by the two spies, and were immediately carried to the Council. Upon this Father Garnet was again examined, and put upon the rack; where, when the whole story was related to him. and what he had been heard to say, he acknowledged he had been told of the plot by Father Greenway, but it was under the inviolable seal of confession; and that he had both recommended to Father Greenway and had used himself his best endeavours to divert the design. Upon this his confession, as they called it. Sir Edward Coke, the Attorney- General, was ordered to draw up an indictment of high treason against him; and he was brought to his trial at Guildhall, March the 28th, before the King’s delegates; His Majesty himself and many of the nobility being present. His enemies, to disgrace him, had published many falsehoods of him; and amongst the rest, that having been kept watching for six whole days and nights (a new kind of torment!) he had lost his senses: but this and other calumnies were dissipated by his public appearance and comportment at his trial. The Attorney- General held forth for several hours in his accusation, bringing in all the odious topics he could against the Jesuits in general, to prejudice the jury against the prisoner, and laying to their charge all the plots and conspiracies of Queen Elizabeth's reign, but in particular charging home upon Father Garnet the guilt of the late conspiracy. The father made a regular and excellent defence, both of his own innocence and of his Society, with that presence of mind and that graceful modesty, that many of the auditors, who came thither violently prepossessed against² i6o6]

him, were now convinced of his innocence; his very countenance, which was particularly venerable, pleading strongly in his behalf. However, the Protestant jury, either not believing his plea that he had no knowledge of the plot but by confession, or rather not regarding that inviolable secrecy which the Catholic Church enjoins to confessors, brought in their verdict guilty; and he received sentence of death in the usual form as in cases of high treason.

He remained prisoner in the Tower after sentence for about five weeks, and then was ordered for execution on the 3rd of May, 1606, He was drawn on a sledge from the Tower to St. PauVs Churchyard, where a scaffold and gibbet was erected for the purpose, and an innumerable multitude of people was assembled. As he was drawn through the streets his hands and eyes were lifted up towards heaven, where his heart was fixed. After he was taken off the sledge, and had recovered himself of the dizziness caused by the jogging of that incommodious vehicle, he ascended the scaffold and saluted the crowd with a smiling countenance. It was observed that the mob which had uttered many reviling speeches against him, calling him by a thousand opprobrious names before he came to the place, was now struck dumb at his venerable aspect, which both spoke his innocence and commanded reverence. Some of the ministers that were there offered to persuade him to conform in matters of religion (as, amongst other calumnies, it had been given out that he would), but he declared he would die in the Catholic faith, out of which there was no salvation.

It being the day of the Invention, or Finding of the Cross, Father Garnet took occasion from thence to speak to the people concerning this cross which he was to take up that day, declaring withal his innocence as to the conspiracy, and his having no knowledge of it but by confession; that as to his part he had always detested such treasonable practices, and that he knew them to be contrary" to the sentiments of the Bishop of Rome; and he begged of all Catholics never to think of any such attempts, which were entirely inconsistent with their religion, to fiy the conversation of uneasy and turbulent spirits, and to possess their souls in patience. Here Sir Henry Montague, the Recorder of London, told him he was certainly privy to the design out of confession. ‘ Mr. Cateshy,' said he, ‘ told you of it in private — we have it under your hand.’ Whatever is under my hand, said Father Garnet, I will not deny; hut indeed you have not this under my hand. Mr. Catesby only acquainted me in general terms that something might be done or was adoing for the benefit of the Catholic cause, without specifying what it was; and this is all I had from him as I hope for salvation. ‘ Then,’ said the Recorder, ‘do you ask the King’s pardon for concealing the treason?’ I do, said Father Garnet, thus far and no more, in that I did not reveal the suspicions I had of Mr. Catesby’s behaviour, though at the same time I dissuaded him from all treasonable attempts. And I do solemnly assure you had that wicked stratagem succeeded, I should always have detested both the fact and the persons engaged in it.

After this he was brought to the foot of the ladder, where the Recorder attacked him again upon the score of Mr. Catesby, pretending that they had it under his hand that he had discoursed with him in particular concerning the Gunpowder design, which Father Garnet denying, a gentleman there pretended to call for the paper, but it could not be found; at which the Father smiling said, / believe it never will be found. Then being stripped to his shirt, he kneeled down and prayed a while in silence at the foot of the ladder, then going up some steps he prayed aloud for the King, the Queen, the Prince, and all the Council, and begged the blessing of God for all the spectators, that God might make them all Roman Catholics, as the only way to secure their eternal welfare, declaring that for his own part he died a Catholic, and desired all such to pray for him and with him. Then, making the sign of the cross, he said, Adoramus te Christe, &c. We adore Thee, O Christ, and we bless Thee; because by Thy cross Thou hast redeemed the world. This sign of the cross shall be seen in heaven when the Lord shall come to judgment. Allelujah. Then saluting the Blessed Virgin with a short hymn, crossing his hands before his breast, and recommending his departing soul into the hands of his Creator, he was flung off the ladder. The executioner three several times attempted to cut the rope before he was dead, that he might be butchered alive according to sentence. But the people as often cried out. Hold, hold, hold; so much were they moved by his behaviour to judge more favourably of him than they had done, and to compassionate his case. And when his head was shewn by the executioner, instead of huzzas, usual on the like occasions, the people went off in silence.

Father Garnet suffered in the fifty-first year of his age, and the thirtieth after his entering into the Society. His head was fixed on London Bridge, and it was much remarked that his countenance, which was always venerable, retained for above twenty days the same lively colour which it had during life, which drew all London to the spectacle, and was interpreted as a testimony of his innocence, as was also an image of him wonderfully formed on the ear of a straw, on which a drop of his blood had fallen.

i6o6] EDWARD OLDCORNE AND COMPANIONS

EDWARD OLDCORNE, Priest, SJ., NICHOLAS OWEN, and RALPH ASHLEY, Laybrothers,

SJ.^

Edward OLDCORNE, known upon the mission by the name of Hally was born in Yorkshire. He performed his studies abroad, partly in the College then residing at Rhemes y and partly in that of Romey where he remained above six years, and then was made priest and sent upon the mission. Before he left Rome he obtained of Father Claudius AquavivUy General of the JesuitSy to be admitted into their Society, who being fully satisfied with the testimonials of his virtuous life and conversation in the College, was willing to dispense with the usual probation, and instead of a regular noviceship to appoint him this laborious and dangerous mission. He came over into England in the company of Father John Gerardy lately admitted in like manner into the Society in the year 1588, and was sent by Father Garnet y his superior, into Worcestershire y where he laboured for about seventeen years with admirable zeal and success in the conversion of souls. The place of his residence was Henlipy the seat of Mr. Abington. This gentleman’s sister, Mrs. Dorothy Abington y having been brought up in Queen Elizabeth's court, was an earnest Protestanty and violently prejudiced against Catholics, and especially against priests. Father Oldcorne endeavoured to reclaim her from her errors and reconcile her to the Catholic religion, but in vain; his arguments from Scripture and tradition, however strong in themselves, did not remove her prejudices, and she seemed obstinately resolved not to give ear to his remonstrances. He was determined, therefore, to try another expedient to cast out this deaf and dumb devif which was fasting and prayeTy and this quickly succeeded. The Protestant lady flung herself at his feet bathed in her tears, and desired to be received into the Catholic Church, which was done accordingly, to her great satisfaction.

Great were the labours of this zealous missioner in Worcestershire y and the neighbouring countries, and many the dangers he was exposed to, from which sometimes he was delivered by a very extra-³ ordinary, not to say miraculous, providence. His labours, added to his other mortifications and austerities, impaired his health so far that a vein breaking in his breast he had like to have died through loss of blood; and though he escaped death, such a weakness was left with him, especially at the return of the season of the year, that he was scarce able to stand; he was also afflicted with a cancerous ulcer in his mouth, for which he could find no cure. Upon this he resolved on a pilgrimage to St. Winef ride's Well, to obtain of God the recovery of his health and strength, by the intercession of that holy virgin and martyr; when, behold! in his way thither, lodging at a Catholic house, he was told by the priest of the family of a stone which had been taken out of the aforesaid well, and kept in that house. Father Oldcorne, after Mass, applied this stone to his mouth, devoutly recommending himself to the prayer of St. Winefride, and in half an hour was perfectly cured of his cancer, and proceeding on his journey, and bathing himself in the well, recovered also his health and strength. These particulars Father John Gerard declared he had both from Father Oldcorne himself, and from the priest of the family where he was cured of the cancer.

After the discovery of the Powder Plot, Father Garnet, as we have seen already, being sought after, and found at Henlip, in the same hole with Father Oldcorne, the latter was also apprehended and carried first to Worcester, and then to London, where he was five several times racked in the Tower, and once with the utmost severity for five or six hours together, and yet neither by his own confession, nor by any other sufficient testimony, could it appear that he had any manner of knowledge of the conspiracy. He was sent down again to Worcester, to be there tried in the Lenten assizes. The things alleged against him, besides his being a priest and a Jesuit, were, first, that he had invited to Henlip, and there harboured and concealed his superior, Father Garnet, who had been proclaimed a traitor. Secondly, that he had approved of the Gunpowder Treason, at least after its discovery, and had defended the contrivers of that villany. To the first he answered, that he had indeed invited Father Garnet to Henlip, but it was a month or six weeks before the proclamation was issued out against him, and if he did not afterwards discover and betray him, he did not conceive any crime in that. To the second he replied, that he had no manner of knowledge of the plot, till it was made public to all the world, and that he had neither approved nor defended it. However he was brought in guilty by the jury, and received sentence of death as in cases of i6o6] EDWARD OLDCORNE AND COMPANIONS high treason, and was accordingly executed at Worcester^ April 7, 1606, being Monday in Passion week. He had the comfort of reconciling to God and His Church one of the felons that were executed with him, who died with great marks of faith and repentance. Littleton also was executed at the same time, and in the hearing of thousands of people, publicly asked pardon of God, and Father Oldcorne^ for having wrongfully accused him of the conspiracy.

Father Oldcorne at his death recommended himself in his private devotions to Almighty God, begged the intercession of the Blessed Virgin, and the Saints his patrons; prayed aloud for the King and all the royal family, for his accuser, whom he said he heartily pardoned; for the judge, jury, and all in any way concerned in his death; protesting to the last his innocence as to the plot, and so was turned off the ladder, but quickly cut down and butchered alive, anno cetatis forty-five, Societatis eighteen. His head and quarters were set up on poles in different parts of that city; his heart and bowels were cast into the fire, which continued sending forth a lively flame for sixteen days, notwithstanding the rains that fell during that time, which was looked upon as a prodigy, and a testimony of his innocence.

Ralph Ashley was executed at the same time for no other crime but being servant to Father Oldcorne, and therefore, as it was supposed, an abettor of his pretended treasons.

[About the same time Nicholas Owen, commonly called Little John, a lay-brother of the Society, and servant to Father Henry Garnet, was so cruelly racked in prison, that he died soon after he was taken off the torture.]

Footnotes

1. While the causes of Father Oldcorne and of the two lay-brother serv'ants Nicholas Owen and Ralph Ashley have been admitted for beatification, so that they are Venerables; the cause of Father Henry Garnet has been postponed. The reason is that when the cases were first discussed at Rome, the Promotor Fidei took objection to the story above recited, and ↩

2. See note, p. 282. ↩

3. Ven. Edward Oldcorne, Nicholas Owen, and Ralph Ashley. — From Father More’s History of the English Province S.jf.; Father Bartoli, InghilterrOy etc,; see also Morris, Life of Gerard; TroubleSy i., ii., iii.; Foley, Records, iv. ↩