Relation of sixtene martyrs glorified in England in twelve monethes With a declaration That English catholiques suffer for the catholique religion and That the Seminarie priests agree with the Jesuites By Thomas WORTHINGTON Printed at Doway by the widow of James Boscard 1601. THE MANER OF PROCEDING AGAINST M. IOHN RIGBIE a Catholique Gentleman put to death in London this present yeare 1600. AMongst other common occurrents which minister occation of speach and discourse in sundrie partes of the world it is neither the least nor of least importaÌ„ce that is dayly reported of manie Catholiques put to death and otherwise afflicted these late yeares in England Whose present hard state and the true cause therof though the best and mightiest Princes and Potentates of the Christian world as also manie others of al estates do wel see and knowe and with compassionable charitie do manie wayes like the good Samaritan Luc. â— releue and assist them yet there be two other sortes of men the one not sufficiently wel the other very il affected towards these distressed Catholiques For the former seing and not regarding their calamities passe on their waies like the Iudaical and carnal Priests and Leuits as if it nothing at al pertained to them either to take notice or to haue care and compassioâ— of their neighbours miseries Of which kind of people I haue litle more now to say but hartely pray God to make them more mercifull that they may find mercie in the time of nede For that I am here principally to deale with the last sort who more actually persecute Catholiques not only depriving them by violence of their goods liberties and liues but also accusing and slandering them of hainous crimes wherof they are most free and innocent to make them odious or their martyrdom lesse glorious amongst the ignorant at home and strangers abrode saing and auouching with great wordes othes and protestations that they die not nor suffer not for cause of Religion but for matter of treason against their Quene and Soueraigne though in their consciences they can not but knowe it to be farre oterwise For why els besides other proofes are they so vnwilling to report and so loath to heare what maner of treason this is but for that when the same is sincerly declared it easely and euidently appeareth to be no other thing then mere Religion and necessarie confession of the Catholique faith As hath bene very often proued not only by other irreprouable testimonies and manifest demoÌ„strations but also by their owne tribunals in publique place of Iustice in the most principal cities and townes of the Realme as at London Yorke Lanceston Chenceford Lancaster Winchester Durram Newcastle Carlel Oxford Dorcester Glocester Wrixam Warwike Darbie Stafford Bewmatis Nottingam Canturbutie Lincolne and other places But for somuch as our aduersaries persist stil in auouching and mantaining their pretended Iustice in this behalfe I shal for the more honour of God morâ— manifestation of the truth and better information of such as be not sufficiently satisfied sincerly relate an other example of trial made in the cause of à Catholique gentleman put to death in London the 21. day of Iune this present holie yeare 1600. In which narration for auoiding of al partialitie I wil omit other proofes of our Religion and iust commendations of the partie which may notwithstanding hereafter be more largely published and simply in tvvo woordes touch those onlie points vvhich concerne the necessarie knowledge of his person and pertained directly to the cause of his death and then set before your eyes the whole processe as it passed before manie vvitnesses in forme and shew of publique iustice The diuulging wherof in print no resonable men and namely the Magistrats and others that concurred in this action can not dislike nor possibly be offended thervvith except their consciences accuse them of some vniust dealing against the person whom they haue so publikly apprehended examined indicted iudged and bereued of his life Briefly therefore his name was M. Iohn Rigbie one of the younger sonnes of M. Nicolas Rigbie of Harrock in the Countie of Lancaster geÌ„tleman VVho coming to yeares ad vse of reason coÌ„petent for that purpose so sufficieÌ„tly learned the principal articles of his faith that continually even to death he held al the same to be vndoubtedly true and necessarie to saluation as wel appeareth by that which here foloweth He attayned also the Latin tongue and further proceded not in learning The rest of his youth he spent partly in his fathers house partly in seruice where through humaine frailtie for feare of punishment and in hope of temporal preferment ioyned with il example and earnest perswasions of some worldlie freinds he yelded so farre to the Protestants Parlament lawes made for the abolishing of the holie Sacrifice and other Catholique Rites and for practice of the new forme of english seruice as to heare sometimes the same seruice But being afterwards very sorrowful for having so conformed him selfe by exteriour act and personal presence in the Protestants Chruches VVhich is there the note and character 〈◊〉 13 of conformitie to their religion and therby also depriuing him selfe of the holie Sacraments and necessarie foode of his soule for none may 〈◊〉 13 â—ate of the Altar of Christ that serue the Tabernacle and much lesse that serue a new Religion which was never approued in Gods Church he resolued by Gods grace to leaue againe that course of life and so was absolued from his sinnes and reconciled to God by a Catholique Priest And thence forth liued in great peace of his conscience and alacritie of mind with zeale and feruour of deuotion by word and example dravving so manie as he could to the like good estate for their soules health Amongst others which I may not here omit though I promised breuitie by his earnest prayers most dutiful endeuour and Godlie persuasions he procured his owne father to be reconciled to God in his old age by which worke of singular pietie and by manie others he dayly prepared the way to the glorious crowne that he novv possesseth Wherunto likvvise concurred certaine other occasions which it pleased God also to permit and to vse in bringing him to this blessed end For being as is wel knowne in the seruice of Sir Edmund Hudleston knight he was sent by his maister to Sir Richard Martin Alderman of London about certaine busines Where the young man dealnig somewhat roundly and sincerly as it became a faithful seruant in his maisters affaires this Sir Richard conceiued offence and displeasure against him Which he stil bore in minde like Herode and 〈…〉 Herodias wayting opportunitie to be reuenged of S. Iohn Baptist til a fit time happened for his purpose as shortly it fel out by this accident Maistris Fortescue a Catholique widow and daughter of the same Sir Edmund Hudleston was sommoned to the Sessions at Newgate â—oâ— cauâ—es of ReligioÌ„ who being sicke and not able to
glorie Ego autem iam delibor teÌ„pus resolutionis meae instat before this come vnto you I shal if God make me vvorthie conclude an vnhappie life with a most happie death Omnia possum in eo qui me confortat From Lancaster Castle the 21. of Iulij this holie yeare 1600. Al yours in Christ EDVVARD THVVEING SIX OTHER MARTYRS AGaine this last spring before the same yeare was ended by our English account it hath pleased God to glorifie sâ—â— more Martyrs in our countrie VVhose names I haue also thought necessarie to adde hereunto hoping herafter to make more ample relation of them and the rest The first of these vvas M. Iohn Pibush VVho being condemned about six yeares before only for that he vvas a Seminarie Priest and al that time most cruelly vsed at last receiued his happie crovvne at London the eleuenth of Februarie And the 27. of the same moneth M. Roger Filcock and M. Marck Barckvvorth also Seminarie Priests in the same place and for the same cause and maistris Line a vvidovv gentlewoman for receiuing prists in her house receiued the like revvard in erernal glorie About the same time also other tvvo Seminarie Priests M. Thurstan Hunt and M. Robert Midleton being taken in Lancashire and from thence sent to London vvere presently returned thither againe and so condemned and executed at Lancaster meerly for their Priesthood Thus we haue sixtene glorious and conspicous Martyrs besides those that are starued in prisons and by other afflictions for the same faith vvithin the space of twelue moneths that is in this one holie yeare for euerie hundreth yeare since Christ one A most happie Iubiley to them a singuâ—â—r consolation to al Catholiques and a hapâ—ie example also of Gods mercie tovvards â—l of other Religions that vvil consider their ovvne estates vvherin they liue and the true cause for which al these and some hundreths more these late yeares haue bestovved their liues For so they shal clerly see that they vvere al accused and condemned for the old true Holie Catholique and Apostolique faith as offenders against certaine nevv Statutes made of late the like neuer heard of before in a Christian Countrie nor as yet approued for good elsvvhere in the vvorld and most specially vrged to go to the Protestants Churches Which alone would haue saued their temporal liues longer For the same cause also manie other ancient and most constant Catholique prisoners in the Citie of Yorke by the commandement of the L. Burley President of the North partes and his assistants haue bene this yeare violently and often dravvne and haled by meere force to heretical Sermons And aftervvards because they reproued the prechers for diuerse blasphemies and other false and absurde doctrines haue bene shut vp in streicter prisons laden with irons and pinched vvith famine neither did they forbeare nor feare to reprehend blasphemies vvhen they vvere brought to the same place againe But certaine of them beiâ—g learned openly reproued the blasphemous prechers and aftervvards before the same President and others clerly confuted their errors Others of lesse learning yet also of great zeale stopped their ovvne eares in fight of the persecutors who therfore appointed to ech of them two men to hold downe their hands al the sermon time and yet would they not for al that harken to the sermons but partly by strugling and chiding with their tormenters partly 〈◊〉 whispering and talking among themseluâ—â— they made such a blacke Sanctus that neitâ—â—â— one nor other could much marke vvhat the preacher said So vnpossible it is either for Catholiques to be inrest or for persecuters to haue their vvole vvilles vvhere the furie of heresie rageth And much lesse is it possible to extinguish the Catholique faith by force and violence for the more it is sovved with teares and watered vvith bloud the more it increaseth and prospereth As we see not only in the primitue Church but also novv in England where through Gods special grace and by the prayers and bloud of so manie Martyrs there be farre more Catholiques at this day then were fourtie yeares agoe DEO GRATIAS Yours al and euer T. W. a Seminarie Priest AN ADVERTISMENT TO THE READER touching the contents order and title of this booke INtending at first gentle reader to make a briefe relation of tenne Martyrs in the holie yeare and by the maner of proceding against them to declare that they suffered meerly for Religion I put M. Iohn Rigbie his processe first though he was not the first of these Martyrs because I ment to set the same downe more at large as being most notorious and most amply handled in publique place of Iustice But when I had donne so much and by reason of a iorney that I made leift it with a freind to publish for the common good vpon certaine considerations it was not peâ—fâ—â—â—ed as I expected And in the meane 〈◊〉 vnderstanding that it was opprobriously obiected to M. Wharton as also to some others to the offence of manie and scandal of the weake that the Seminarie Priests were at dissention and debate against Iesuites I thought good to explicat more fully his answer to that false and absurde sclander And hearing also that it hath pleased God to glorifie six more Martyrs I would in nowise omit to adde their names herunto By which occasions I vvas forced also to change the former title to make it conformable to the whole contents T. W. FINIS Hunc libellum cui titulus est Narratio de sexdecim martyribus c. cum declaratione quòd Catholici Angli persecutionem sustineant pro fide orthodoxa quòd inter Seminaristas sacerdotes Anglos ac Patres Societ Iesu benè conueniat à viris Anglicae linguae peritis 〈◊〉 eruditionis Theologicae nomine 〈◊〉 perlectum nec quicquam deprâ—heâ—sum habere quod editionem impediat excudi permisimus Actum Duaci mense Septembri 1601. Bartholomaeus Petrus S. Th. Doct. Profess 〈…〉 pâ—oue this â—a 〈…〉 dubios â—â—â—tus affâ—â—uo falsâ—◠〈…〉 deposâ—â—◠〈◊〉 dâ— more sequâ—◠〈◊〉 mod◠〈…〉 〈…〉 locus 〈…〉
canst thou say for thy self wherfore thou shouldest noâ— haue iudgement of death I answered if that which before I said wil not serue I can say no more Good Rigbie said he thinck not I seeke â—our death wil you yet go to Church No my Lord. why then said he iudgement must passe with a good wil my Lord said I. Then he pronounced his sentence as you know the manner is Which when he had ended I said Deo gratias al is but one death my Lord and aflea byting in comparison of that vvhich it pleased my svvete Sauiour IESVS to suffer for my saluation I humbly â—â— is â— paâ—â— of â—â—ts â—hich â—o the â—anâ—ents God faith Ieâ—â— â—oâ— â—â— thank your Lordship for your great paines and friely forgiue your Lordship and this poore Iurie and al other persecutors in this cause vvho soeuer Wel said saith he in dede you shew your charitie and then gaue iudgement to the rest And vvhen he had done he called vs together and began his exhortation perswading vs for our end vvilling vs to send for a Minister and prouide for death I desired his Lordship to spare my presence and bestovv that counsail els vvhere For I hope I am as vvel prouided as by his exhortation I should be If you be said he it is the better for you God spede you vvel and so vve parted I pray God forgeue them al. and amend them if it be his vvil Amen Christo laudes sanctae Matri eius honor Amen Thus much he vvrit himself after he vvas repriued and sent it to a deare friend vvho kepeth safe the original For Iustice Gaudy vvho pronounced sentence of death against him the fourth of March caused him for that time to be repriued and so he continued prisoner in the vvhit Lion in Southvvork aboue three monethes more On thursday the â—9 of Iune in the Assises holden at S. Magarets hil in Southvvorke Iustice Kingsmâ—l sitting vpon criminal causes and Iustice Gaudy vpon ciuil matters and suites in Lavv vvho in lent Assises before had the contrarie offices M. Rigbie vvas produced again to the barre and asked by Iustice Kingsmel vvhether he vvould yet go to the Church or no And he ansvvered I thanck God I am the same man that I vvas It is not lavvful to go to your Church I vvil not go to it Then thou must nedes dye saith the Iustice for longer repriue thou canst not haue he answered my Lord that is the thing vvhich I desire and looke for but I thinck my self farr vnvvorthie to dye for so good a cause The Iudge perceuing that he had no irons on his legges being a condemned man sharply rebuked the keper and commanded a fine of fourtie shillings for that default to be set on his head vvhervpon the keper brought a strong payre of shackells vvhich M. Rigbie taking into his handes kneeling downe and making the signe of the Crosse kissed them and gaue them again to the keper and so going vnto the blocke the kepers man riuited them on very fast on both his legges and so they continued al that day and the night folowing The next day being friday he vvas broght again to the Sessions house in the forenoone VVhere after he had stoode a vvhile the irons fel from of his legges vpon the grounde vvherat he smiled the keper demanunding vvhy he smiled he told him his shackles vvere fallen of and bad him riuite them on faster vvhich he did as he thought very sure but vvithin a litle space they fel of again vvhervpon he called again vpon his keper and vvilled him to make them faster For I esteme them said he Iewells of to great pricè to be lost The kepers man that had put them oâ—twise before being much amazed refused to do it againe I wil fasten them no more said he for I thinck it is not Gods vvil you should vveare anie irons in so much that the keper commaunded an other of his men to do it And then Maister Rigbie remembring that à Catholique maide in the prison called Mercie had that morning told him that the night before she saw in her dreame as she thought his irons fal of from his legges said to his keper novv the maides dreame is found to be â—rue and sent also vvord therof to the maide from the Sessions house Most men that saw it or haue heard of it vndoubtedly thinck it to be miraculous What the Iudges vvith the rest of the bench and others in authoritie thinck of it is hard to iudge They knew not be like them selues what to say and therfore neither that day nor afterwards spoke at al to the prisoner but consulted amongst them selues and vvith much difference of opinions and often altering of ther purposes at last one concluded that which others misliked that he must dye In the meane time returning that euening with his keper to the prison he vvas permitted to lodge in his accustomed chaÌ„ber vvhere manie had before visited him being much delighted with his milde and swete conuersation And now manie more resorted vnto the prison to see him vpon the reporte of his irons so strangely salling of his legges Amongst other things a Catholique prisoner in the same house demaÌ„ded of him what he thought of that falling of of his chaines He answered that he hoped the bandes of his mortalitie should shortly be loosed as in dede it proued An other considering that oftentimes men of excellent corege and resolution of mind do notvvithstanding sustaine great conflicts betwen the soule and the bodie betweÌ„ reasoÌ„ and the sensual part asked him how he felt him selfe I am said he I thaÌ„ke our Lord in very great coÌ„forte and coÌ„solation of mind the residue of his time he spent likevviâ—â— vertous exercises vvith great deuotion 〈◊〉 quent prayer much abstinence watching and fasting more and more as his end drew neâ—eâ— Oâ— saturday in the morning vvord vvas brought him that he should dye that day he ansvvered very cherfâ—lly Deo gratias It is the best tydings that euer vvas broght me of anâ—â— thing sithence I vvas borne so vvillingly â—â— beleued that vvhich he desired though mosâ— men did not yet thinck it probable for thâ— reasons aforesaid For it is vvel knovveâ— and reported by such as could tel that thâ— Iudges put his name twise in the Calendaâ— of those that vvere to dye and tvvise ouâ— againe the same day before he vvas executed For Iustice Gaudie endeuoring to repriue him loÌ„ger Iustice Kingsmel vrged and vvould nedes haue him to dye And in fine Iustice Gaudy seenig his inteÌ„tioÌ„ crossed by Kingsmel vvho the third time put his name in that calendar agane and so deliuered it vp amoÌ„gst those vvhich should dye turned himself from the companie and vvas by some sene to vvepe This vncertentie especially the Calendar being brought to the keper his name leaft out after it had bene tvvise sent for and altered deceiued manie of his frends vvho had a purpose to haue
bene present at his death had they not thus bene perswaded to thinck vndoubtedly that he vvas againe repriued The same day the Minister of Saint George his Church adioyning to the prison coÌ„ming â—o Maister Rigbie he curtously saluted him and asked vvho he vvas The Minister said I am parson of Saint Georges parish and hearnig you are this day to dye am come by commandement to confer vvith you and to instruct you I thanke you said M. Rigbie for your paines but vve tvvo are opposite in Religion Therfore I am not to conferre vvith you in matters of faith I haue long looked for death I am prepared fully resolued and most readie to offer vp my life for so vvorthie a cause The minister benig hervpon about to depart Maister Rigbie tooke him by the hand and very courtously toke leaue vvith him saing Fare you vvel Sir I pray God make you a good man Betvvixt fiue and six of the clocke in the afternone M. Cheeke one of the vndershrifs officiers comming to the prison called for M. Iohn Rigbie saing they staid for him He ansvvered I am readie for you good M. Cheeke May it please you to stay but a very little vvhile and I come Ad so hastening he vvent most sweetly and curtously to salute and take his leaue of his felovv Catholique prisoners and other freÌ„des then present vvith him vvho al vvith great respect as to one going to possesse a Kingdom for revvard of his faithful seruice euerie one humbly kneeled vnto him and he vvith like respect to them as to Gods designed Martyrs also kneâ—led and to their great consolation imbraced and saluted euerie one of them with a kissâ— of peace In which deuout manner leauing them and desiring their charities to assist him in this his iourney tovvards his owne country with their deuout prayers promised them that he wold remember them as they requested in his assuredly Then going downe into the yarde he found the hurdle at the stayers foote redie prepared Where he kneling downe and first signing himself with the signe of the Crosse framed himself to say some prayer but presently one Maister More the vndershrifs deputie interrupted him and he rising smot his hand vpon the horse merily saing Go thy vvayes this is the ioyfulest day that euer I knevv And signing himself again with the signe of the Crosse laid himself gently downe vpon the hurdle vvith great alacritie of minde as wel appeared by his svvete Angelical contenaunce vvhich the standers by curiously obseruing some asked him if he laughed from his hart he answered yes verily from my hart And beare vvitnes vvith me al good people that I am now forthvvith to giue my life only for the Catholique cause Maister More taking exceptions said No Maister Rigbie you dye for treason in the highest degree for being reconcilid by a Seminarie Priest Yes Maister More said he again for neither can that be treason nor yet I dye not for that only For as you knovv the Iudge offered me oftentimes to saue my life for only going to Church Then pulling his hat downe to shadovv his eyes bad them In the name of our Lord go on and so setled himself to his deuotions But they making a litle staye he said merily vvhen go you I think your horse is not able to draw me At vvhich vvords they vvent forvvard and he fel vnto his prayers In the vvay tovvards the place of execution called S. Thomas Watering came ryding as was thought two courtiers but shortly one of them was knowne to be the Earle of RutlaÌ„d and the other was Captaine Whytlock in his coÌ„panie they coÌ„ming nere the hurdle and viewing the prisoner the Captaine demaunded of him vvhat he vvas of vvhat yeares and what might by the cause of his coÌ„demnation to this kind of death M. Rigbie looking vp and hearing some name the Earle of Rutland supposing the Captaine to be the Earle tooke of his hat and desired his honor humbly to pardon him in being so vndutiful as to haue bene covered in his presence for I knew not said he of such honorable asseÌ„blie and to your questioÌ„s may it like your honour my name is Iohn Rigbie a poore gentleman of the house of Harrock in Lancashire my agâ— about thirtie yeares my iudgement and 〈◊〉 demnation to this death is only and merely for that I ansvvered the Iudge that I vvas reconciled and for that I refused to go vnto the Church to heare the English seruice Wherat the Captanine seemed to meruel and said sure it is very strange that anie man should be put to death for that vndoubtedly said the prisoner it is for no other cause â—â— doe assure you The Captaine vvished hiâ— to doe as the Quene vvould haue him that is to go to the Protestants Church and turniâ—â— to the Shriâ—s deputie conferred vvith hiâ— about the matter After a little space thâ— Earle and the Captain rode againe to thâ— hurdle and causing it a little to be stayd thâ— captaine said are you a maried man or no No sir said he I am a bacheler and in smiling wise more then that I am a maide that is much said the Captain for a man of your yeares you haue it seemeth striuen much against your owne flesh M. Rigbie ansvvered I vvould be loath to speake anie thing contrarie to the truth I am in dede a maide and that is more then I neded to say The Captain concluded Then I see thou hast vvorthily deserued a virgins crowne I pray God send the the KingdoÌ„ of heauen and that thou maist do vvel I desire thee pray for me and so they rid to the place of execution not speaking anie more to him and vvhen the officiers vvere readie to turne him of the â—â—rt the Earle and the Captain posted avvay much astonished at his courege and constancie The Captain often related these particulars and vvithal added that he had seene manie dye but neuer had nor should see the like to him for modestie patience and vndoubted resolution in his Religion And that it vvold not be good for our state to put such men to death Novv the prisoner being in place to end this tragedie the officiers brought him froÌ„ the hurdle to the cart vvhere he kneled dovvne and said the Parer noster Aue Maria Credo and Confiteor al alovvde vntil he came to those vvordes the holie Apostls S. Peter and Saint Paule wherat the ruder sort of the people exclamed that he prayed to Saints and so he vvas not permitted to come to the end The executioneâ— helping him vp into the cart he gaue him an angel of gold saing here take this in token that I friely forgiue thee and al others that haue bene accessarie to my death Thou shalt haue more a poore suâ—e of fustian and a new shert vvhich I put on this morning I vvould it vvere better for thee Then taking of his hat he threw it from him And making the signe of the Crosse he vewed
the multitude vvhich vvas very great rovvnd about him And vvith cherful contenance holding his handes before his breast vvith his eyes closed he meditated a litle while And after looking vp semed to make couâ—â—â—nance to some of his freinds in the presse The executioner in the meane time vntâ—â—eâ— his garters himselfe vntrussed his points and that so nimbly as the beholders merueled to see a man in such case so quick and actiue and nothing dismade for death so nere approching Taking also his falling band from his neck he rowled it on a heape and cast it from him as farre as he could Wherupoâ— some said that wil be taken vp for a Reliquâ— His clothes being taken of al to his shert thâ— hangman offered to put the halter ouer hâ—â— head which he stayed taking it betwixt botâ— his handes so kissed it and gaue it to hiâ— againe saying Now do your pleasure with it And presently he put it ouer his head Beginning then to speake to the people More the vndershrifes deputie bade him pray for the Quene which he did very affectionatly as might appeare to come from a charitable and loyal hart The deputie asked him What Traitors knowest thou in England If thou knowest anie reueale them God is my witnes said he I know none VVat saith the deputie again if he vvil confesse nothing driue avvay the cart VVhich vvas donne so sudainly that he could neither speake to the people nor recommend his soule againe to God as he vvas about to do Again the deputie very shortly commanded the hangman to do his dutie meaning that he should cut the rope and let him fal downe vvhich vvas so incontinently done that he stood vpright vpon his feete like to a man a litle amazed til the butchering fellovves clasping about him by maine force threvv him on the ground Where coming againe perfectly to himselfe he said alovvd and distinctly God forgeue you Iesus receiue my soule And immediatly an other cruel felovv standing by who was no officer at al but a common porter set his foote vpon the Martyrs throte and so held him dovvne that he could not speake anie more VVherof the same felovv made great vaunt and bosted aftervvards vntil some of the more ciuil people reprehending him for his bad mind and hard hart he began to be ashamed of his fact and denied it to others that charged him thervvith Others held his armeâ— and legges whiles the executioner dismembred and vnbovveled him And vvhen he felt them pulling out his hart he vvas yet so strong that he thrust the men from him which held his armes Finally they cut of his head and diuided his quarters disposing of them in seueral places about Southvvork as is accustomed The people going avvay muttered much at the crueltie vsed in the executioÌ„ And generally al sortes bevvayled his death Thus you haue a plaine and sincere narration of this maÌ„s death and of the cause therof Which vvas as you see for being reconciled â—nd â—o◠〈◊〉 to go to tâ—e 〈◊〉 Church For he vvas in dede condemned foâ— the one and executed for the other Now whether either of these or both together be treason or may truly be so called is thâ— principal question of controuersie touching this mans and other Catholiques suffering in our countrie For resolution wherof if but in England it selfe the greatest number of voices of alâ— English persons supposing that al durst and would speake that they think might decide the matter there were no great doubt but the verdict would be clere and absolute for the Catholiques in this behalfe For not onlie Catholiques themselues which God be thanked are a very great number but also most Protestants and in maner al Puritanes and some others of diuers other sects take these facts of Catholiques to be mere matters of conscience and voide of al treason and but those few onlie in whose handes the gouernment of the Realme now specially consisteth with a few more that folow the sway of authoritie do hold or professe the contrarie opinion Or els if the whole state of the land of former times from our first conuersion to Christ to these late yeares Or finally if the whole Christian world both of times past and present might be Iudge as by al reason it should then sentence would easely be for vs and al further dispute would be 〈◊〉 For neither in England before our dayes nor els where before nor as yet in al Christendom no not in those other places which are also diuided from the Roman Church is there anie such opinion holden nor such lawes made that to be reconciled or absolued from sinnes by a Catholique Priest should be treason but only in England within these last 40. yeares For albeit in Geneua and in some parts of Germanie as also in Holland and some other like places they punish with lesse penalties such as go to Confession heare Masse or otherwise practise the Catholique Religion yet none such are in anie of those places estemed nor iudged Traitors nor bereued of their liues for the same Neither are anie punished at al but oÌ„ly in England for refusing to sweare that they think in their conscience that the King Quene or Prince is and ought to be supreme head or supreme gouernour of the Church immediatly vnder Christ in al causes as wel spiritual as temporal For asking or receuing anie maner of dispensation indulgence or other grace of the Sea Apostolique For hauing an Agnus Dei Beades Graines Crosses Medails Images Pictures or other things blessed by the Bishop of Rome For perswading anie person to be a member of the Catholique Roman Chruch â—or hauing authoritie subordinat to the same Roman Chruch to absolue from sinnes For being made Priest in anie English College or Seminarie without the Realme and so returning into their countrie And for the like things enacted and made as heynous crimes by new Parliament lawes Al which pertaine directly and euidently to Gods special Seruice Sacrifice Sacraments spiritual regiment reliefe and health of soules And so are matters of Religion most really distinct in nature and substance from matters of temporal state and much more from treason and from al disobedience to temporal Princes Whose Soueraigntie and securitie both is and alwayes hath benne most specially maintained and neuer oppugned by the Catholique Religion For euen as Christ him selfe and his Apostles and their perpetual Successors yelded and taught al men to yeld tribute Pâ—t obedience and al dutifid honour and seruice to temporol Powres and Princes and diligently Tim. to pray for al such both publikly and priuatly so al Catholiques in England and euery where continually do the same And namely this holie Martyr as appeareth before 〈◊〉 32 acknowledged and yelded al temporal powre and authoritie to the Quene stil professing and behauing him selfe as a faithful and loyal subiect seruing her and praying for her and euen to death denying and detesting al treasons and travtors How
stil that most men think they vvil not be so good You say there is no iust nor reasonable cause VVhy Catholiques should entertaine Iesuites before you folovv their counsels rather then yours aduenture al they haue by receuing them then by receuing you commit to their discretions the distribution of their almose and charitable beneuolenceâ—â—â— more then to yours These be the blocks yâ—â— stumble at And you can no more condemâ—â— Iesuites for condescending to serue good Catholiques in these and the like things then you condemne your selues for al that you do to the liking of your ghostlie children Perhaps you vvould haue them vvhen they are vvilled to do such good offices to refuse to do them and to send them to you as though al such affayres depended vpon your vvills vvho should manage them and as though the request of the partie vvere not sufficient vvarrant for euerie one to do the good he can in order and subordination to his Superior Yet suppose the fathers should â—â—rect such persons to you as come to them â—â—inke you that the parties vvould forthvvith â—â—paire to you intertayne you folovv your â—ounsel commit much to your discretions â—o surely in this they vvould not folovv the â—athers counsel For those that seke first and principally to direct their liues and actions â—y aduise of the Fathers of the Societie do secondly desire to be directed by such other Priests as most imitate the Fathers in manner of liefe such as loue them best and best agree vvith them And the cause of this better liking which so manie haue to be assisted by Iesuites besides the particular vertues of euerie one must nedes be some important good and conspicuous things in the Order it self which are not in our vocation As particularly their Religious profession their stricter discipline and set rules of life their renounciation to al dignities and proprieties in this vvorld and the resignation of their ovvne wills liuing alvvayes in obedience to a Superiour vvho taketh due account of their behauiors of their labours of their fruites and of their talents what they are able to do where and wherin they may do most good and so the same Superior imploieth them If they haue imperfections they haue special approued remedies to amend the same and if they correct not themselues the sooner this Superior in the meane time hath care to cure euerie one and is readie to ansvver for his subiecâ— vvhersoeuer he abides which is a good vvarrant for their host and vvhosoeuer dealeth vvith them And special care is alwayes taken to haue them very fit for mission before they be sent and at al seasons they are readie to be changed from their imployments Whersoueuer they go they are stil in a strong castle defended with ioined forces of expert soldiars firme vvals good armour and al necessarie furniture which make not only themselues more safe from the assaults of the spiritual enemie but also by hovv much they are better guarded and furnished so much more able are they to assist guide and lead others safly Whereas vve of the other vocation though Ecclesiastical and Clergimen are abrode in the vvorld hold our interests proprieties or possibilities in the vvorld vve are more at our ovvne liberties and make not so often account of our baylivvickes nor yeld so frequent reaconings vvhat profite vve make of our talents nor vvhat fruit anie reape by our labours vve vvander abrode as single men in open filds or vnfensed villages so much more subiect to tentations as vve are more intangled in the vvorld and the lesse able to resist because vve haue not renounced the vvorld nor our ovvne vvils And vvhy should vve then meruel that men are more afeard to be guided by vs then by those they finde more like to guide them aright And what wrong is donne to vs by other mens seeking ther ovvne secucicie Thus vve see briefly vvhence this controuersie sprong and hovv this il seede came into our fild vvhere first none but good vvas sovven Now vve are to consider vvherin it consisteth Which is not as our aduersaries vvould haue it and falsly reporte in anie point or article of the Catholique faith for vvhosoeuer obstinately defendeth anie such error is an Heretike and no Catholique but it consisteth in the varietie of opinions desires and endeuors about the persons that are specially to direct others as guides or heades and about the maner of proceeding in our common vvorke for the reducing of our countrie to the Catholique Religion And thus farre vve al agree that some fevv or rather some one ought to be chiefe leader of al the rest because manie heades hauing or arrogating equal autoritie must nedes make confusion And at the begining al that entred into this holie vvorke either gaue theÌ„selues vvholy to the direction of D. Allen and that long before he vvas Cardinal or els concurred vvith him in al their actions tending to this purpose not anie one Catholique man of our nation opposing against him from the time of erecting of Dovvay College til that about the yeare 82. three or foure gentlemen in Paris began the first contradiction against the said D. Allen and against F. Parsons Sir Frances Inglefild M. Hugh Ovven and al other agreing vvith them For these men neither vouchsafing to folovv the high and straight vvay alredy vvel found out and very vvel proceded in nor to sit quiet and at rest deuised other byvvaies cast nevv plots which neuer had good effect but much hindred and ouerthrevv diuerse good things intended as is vvel knovvne They thought it reason to exclude D. Allen by the title of a Breuiarie man from dealing any further in helping of our countrie but only by his education of schollers to be Priests For these men vvould geue them instructions hovv to behaue themselues tovvards the state of England And so they vvould bring D. Allen and al his into their countrie as one of them was not ashamed to bragge and that in D. Allens ovvne presence In like sorte they excluded F. Parsons from their counsel and from knovvledge of their deuises because he is a religious man as though he vvere not more fit and no vvay lesse fit for that For vvho is so meete to geue aduise in spiritual or in vvorldlie affaires as those which haue renounced al priuat interest and proprietie in the vvorld Doth not our Sauiour say that those which haue left 〈…〉 al in this vvorld shal sit with him in iudgement and iudge the world Doth not S. Paule hervpon inferr that seing he and other Apostles and Religious men shal iudge the world and the Apostata 〈…〉 6. Angels much more it is conuenient that they shal iudge secular affaires They excluded Sir Frances Inglefild because he had bene long forth of the Realme and novv ignorant as they supposed of the state of things there as though he that had bene of the priuie Councel to Q Marie vvere not more able both for
shortly after he was made Cardinal to M. Thomas Bailey his substitute in the College at Rhemes do sufficiently testifie in these words you are al glad and reioyce saith he for my promotion God graunt it be as I trust it is to his more honour and good of our Countrie for else I had rather haue kept my black cappe stil But how much soeuâ—r you haue cause to reioyce in this behalf so much more al you that loue me so dearly are bound by a new obligation to loue and be gratful to the whole Societie and namely to our own special good Father and chiefe cooperator For next vnder Heauen F. Parsons made me Cardinal And more to the same effect in the same letter And that he continued the same affection and sincere correspondence with the fathers his owne good Nephew M. Thomas Allen and sundrie of his letters doe testifie amongst which one vvas vvritten not long before his death to one that then began to be malcontented 〈…〉 1. and since hath ioyned vvith others yea and as is more then probable dravvne others vvith him This then being clere touching the Cardinal the same must also needs be true in al that sincerly loued and agreed vvith him For othervvise in breaking his expresse commandement in that verie point vvherin they pretend to agree vvith him they erre as farre from the truth as he that saith he 〈…〉 loueth God and breaketh his commandements In so much that during the Cardinals time not aboue foure or fiue in England besides flat Apostates durst shevv the contrarie though after his death more appeared therby bevvraing their former dissimulations their litle regard of his svvete and fatherly admonitions and their meruelous ingratitude both tovvards him their late Superior and the fathers by vvhom they had receaued no smal benefite in their education and learning But God be thanked yet al these are not nor euer vvere so manie neither in England nor abroad as they vse to count themselues For vpon occasion of their accusing the fathers some yeares agoe in the name of our nation trial vvas made amogst the English in the lovv countries by manie seueral letters and subscriptions to a general attestation remaning in record to be sene vvhere so manie of the eldest and chiefest clergie men of our nation and some chiefe of the laitie also and so manie others of good account testified the great and charitable offices of the fathers tovvards our contrie that of three or foure hundred scarse foureteene refused to subscribe Of which some vvere opposites to the fathers and some neutrals And in England scarse tenne at that time did shevv themselues against the fathers Againe at this day though there be some more Seminarie Priests latly seduced by the ouer diligence of the former ringleaders yet they are stil matched and ouer matched in number vvith those only that be in office and autoritie for the seruice of our countrie vvho for that they are officers ought and must by al reason preuaile against priuat men if they vvere manie more as in dede they are rather fevver But if vve doe also compare as vvhy shal vve not the vvhole number asvvel of the ancient Catholique as later Seminarie Priests which reuerence loue and like vvel both the fathers and the Archpriest and al other superiours in our English clergie they vvil be founde tvventie or thirtie times so manie as the part or particle that opposeth against the same Fathers and Superiors and the rest of the bodie And if vve extend this comparison to al Seminarie men designed for the same vvorke or yet goe forvvard to al English Catholiques or finally obserue the iudgments of al Cathoâ—â—ques in the world the further we procede the more oddes we finde nature and reason mouing al men of consideration as wel to like and loue so holie and so perfect an Order of Religious men and to alowe and approue what so euer such a vvhole Order alloweth and approueth as also to prefer the ordinances and procedings of lawful Superiors before the disliking of others that complaine or speake il therof And thus much may suffice for declaration that this controuersie risen amongst English Catholiques is not in matter of faith â—or betwen the Seminarie Priests and the Iesuites as is vniustly said but about the Subordination lately restored in our clergie and the fathers of the Societie labouring in the same worke and so is betwen the bodie of English Catholiques that is al the heads with most of the members agreing wholy with the fathers and a smal partie of opposits disliking the same Subordination and the fathers of the Societie To returne therfore whence I am digressed I most hartely wish and in our L. I. Ch. I instantlie besech al our discontented brethren to liue and dye in peace and perfect vnion so much as in vs lieth with al the world but more especially with al Catholiques and most of al with our Superiors brethren and felow soldiars as this our blessed brother M. Wharton now a martyr most gladly and louingly acknowledged his appointed Superiour the R. R. Archpriest and most sincerely alwayes agreed with the reuerend fathers of the Societie of Iesus And yet was he as ancient as graue and as learned a Graduate of the Vniuersitie of Oxford as whosoeuer of the discontented most vrgeth these respects For he was felovv and companion in Trinitie College vvith the same M. George Blackwel novv Archpriest vvith M. Thomas Ford and M. Edward Burden both martyrs and with M. William Sutton after of the Societie neither did he disdaine that his equals yea diuerse otherwise his inferios in degre yeares and lerning were put in office himselfe remaining in his priuat state As vvere sundrie of the tvvelue Assistants Whom he also obeyed and for his humiltie feruent charitie and other great vertues is now exalted to a glorious croune of martyrdome Which together vvith his Priesthode and holie profession the same F. Sutton by way of probable coniecture congratulated vvith him long before in a letter dated at Mussipont the 17. of Nouember 1584. which yet remaineth in the English College in Dovvay by the same prouidence of God as I may interpret by which it was vvritten The copie wherof I haue here adioined as it is in latin supposing manie vvil desire to reade it Surely it is à letter vvorthie of a Iesuit to a Seminarie Priest The Superscription only is in English and is thus TO M. CHRISTOPHER WHARTON IN THE ENGLISH COLLEGE AT RHEMES MAgnum mihi attulerunt solatium optime Christophore tuae literae quibus intellexi te non solum deserta Anglicana nostra Aegypto à qua iam pridem pedem subtraxisti Ecclesiae matris obsequentissimum esse filium ac iam illius foelicissimi Collegij alumnum verum etiam ad sacros Ordines hoc est vt nunc rem interpretor ad ipsa martyrij auspicia aspirasse Foelicem ego illum esse praedico qui nunc in
he we striue in vaine we hoped these old Papistical Priests dying al Papistrie should haue died and ended with them but this new broode wil neuer be rooted out it is impossible euer to be rid of them nor to extirpat this Papistical faith out of the land And much more manie Heretiques despaired of euer effectuating this their desire to abolish the Catholique Religion in England vvhen they savve this nevv fire of the Societie of IESVS seaze vpon English harts Wherupon manie of al other sorts of people and some also of their Rabbins and greatest Doctors disvvaded so much as they could from rigorous persecution of Iesuits Seminarie Priests and of al other Catholiques for that the more they should blovv this fire the more it vvould burne As namely Doctor Humfrey of Oxford did so much dislike the putting to death of father Campion that he could not dissemble his counsel and opinion no not after the Martyrs death vvhen it vvas to late to recal him to liefe againe but in his booke intituled De praxi Romanae Curiae bevvailed the ouersight of those that caused his death affirming that in Campion the prouerb Mortuus non mordet vvas not true in Campianâ— Campianus enim mortuus adhuc mordet For Campian saith he being dead doth yet bite Wherby and by innumerable other examples and testimonies al the vvorld doth see though some of mere malice vvil not confesse it that the Catholique cause is meruelous vvel amended by the coming of zealous Seminarie Priests and of Iesuites That by their abode the same good is dayly augmented and multiplied And therfore the parting à vvay of either sorte which God forbid must nedes be an intolerable losse and hinderaÌ„ce to the coÌ„uersion of our countrie how soeuer some few catholiques these later yeares falling into faction wish al the Iesuites and manie others to be remoued from this worke both within and without the Realme But how much more necessarie it is that these fevv disturbers of the common good be corrected or remoued shal be easie to iudge if vve examine from vvhat roote this stirring of theirs procedeth and vvhither it tendeth For euident it is by this litle I haue novv said that sometime al ranne vvel al sovved good seede al labored in peace vnion and mutual loue Whence then came this il seede this dislike this dissention this debate vvhich novv appeareth The enimie man hath sowed it and it is a massin of manie vvedes Old Satan seing â—at â— infinite good fruit spring and prosper in the fertil English filde of mere enuie for that is his propertie so bevvitched some by ambition vaine liking of themselues and desire to be estemed and preferred before others that seing other men do more good haue more credite and be more estemed then themselues begane to repine and disdaine at others more estimation and not being able othervvise to excel nor yet match them fel into that bad sinck of emulation and anger against those of better talents and vertues that they could not abide to heare others more commended then them selues As shortly appeared by their rustie Raca and mutterings For vvhen they chaunched to read or heare other mens greater praises streight auerting their countenance insinuated as in clovvdes or in general termes as if they knevv these men not to be so good nor so lerned nor vvise as they vvere reputed and so proceded from degree to degree into open detraction false sclandring malicious accusing scandalous publishing and into most absurde and impudent auouching of faults deuised by them selues or wrasted from other mens fovvle mouthes and made worse and agrauated against their brethren for no other true cause but for that they are estemed their betters and to bring them selues therby to more equal balance and so to be thought as good as they To these vices other the like did also concurre as seruants and copemates 〈◊〉 stil made the persons more and more different and vnlike in qualities VVherby also the emulation vvas more increased As the more loose and idle life of some made them dislike the better discipline and greater diligence in others Also hastines of nature pronnes to anger vvith litle mortificacion oâ— inordinat passions much impatience and the like il behauiour made some Priests lesse desired of other Catholiques and herevpon again did often grovv false suspicions sinister surmisses and rash iudgments that they were cast out of fauoure or disgraced by those vvhom they did emulate Where as indeede there vvas no other cause but their ovvne il cariage and especialy their il tongues against good and innocent persons vvhom for their more credite they coulâ— not brooke Vpon these strings and the likâ— the subtile serpent plaid his part and thâ— diligence of Heretiques toke hold of the occasions to nourish and egge forvvard these humurous phantasies and animosities of busie heads fraight vvith ambition and desire to rule others vvho haue neither vvel lerned to rule themselues nor to be ruled being voide of that charitie by vvhich they ought to build to the increase of the vvhole bodie and not to diminish the same bodie nor to hinder nor pul dovvne that which others build â—nd al this principally because they savve our â—ate good Cardinal in his time and others with â—im especially the Iesuits both then and after â—o be more in credite and fauour vvith great Princes and other great or rich persons which they often obiect for a great quarrelle not mentioning that they ate more estemed vvith the meaner and poorer forte also But I pray you deare brethren and freinds that vvould be more estemed then you are tel me vvhat fault is in the fathers or in other men for this Is not honour and estimation the revvard of vertue especially amongst good men such as you can not denie these Catholiques to be vvho ordinarily prefer Iesuits before you vvil you blame them for being more vertuous and for deseruing better then you for if they did not deserue better so manie good â—hen vvould not more esteme them Or els vvil you blame the vvhole Catholique vvorld and al other countries that beginne or returne to be Catholiques for embracing the Iesuits labours more then yours vvil you barre mens iudgments in making their ovvne choice by vvhat spiritual men they vvil be chiefly directed Or vvil you abridge their liberties and force them to leaue the Fathers vvhose conuersation and discretion they like better then yours and to be directed by you of vvhom they haue not so great an opinion Is this the libertie you talke of and which you promise if you may haue your will that ghostly children shal first forsake their glostly fathers whom they most desire and then be bond to those which you like best Truly most men thinke that nevv ones of your appointment vvil not be so good You vvil say they shal be better and fitter you can say no lesse for vvhy should they change but for the better And yet we tel yoy