telling him to haue his hovvse searched he though it great discourtosie for that he vvas a geÌ„tilman as he vvas for he did acount his hovvse as his castel alâ—o stoutely denying them for that they had no commission frome the Prince The sherife being very bold because he had a great company vvith him svvare by al the othes he could deuise that he vvould search his hovvse or els he vvould kil or be killed holding his hand vpon his dagger as though he vvould haue stabbed it into the Gentilman This violence being vsed he had leaue to search the house M. Tregians hovvse searched the first place they vvent vnto vvas M. Maines chamber vvhich being fast shut they bounsed and beat at the dore M. Maine came opened it being before in the garden vvhere he might haue gone from them assone as the Sherife came into the chamber he toke M. Maine by the bosome and said vnto him vvhat art thou he ansvvered I am a man vvhereat the Sherife being very hot asked vvhether he had a coat of maile vnder his dublet and so vnbuttened it and sound an AGNVS DEI case about his necke which he toke from him and called him traitor rebâ—â— with many other opprobrious names They carried him his bookes Papers and letters M. Maine caried to the superintendent to the superintendeÌ„t vvho vvhen he had talked with him and examined him of his religion he confessed that he vvas learned and had gathered very good notes in his bookes but no fauour he shevved him Thence the Sherife carried him from one Gentilmans hovvse to an other vntil he came to Lanstone Cruelly imprisoned vvhere he vvas cruelly emprisoned being chained to his bedde posts vvith a paire of great giues about his legges and strait commaundement giuen that no man should repaire vnto him Thus he remained in prison from Iune til Michelmas at what time the iudges came their circuit His arraignement the Earle of Bedford was also present at M. Maine arraignement and did deale most in the matter He vvas endited for hauing a Bul Holy graines and an Agnus Dei vvhich was against their hethenish statutes M. Maine ansvvered negatiuely to euery point of the enditement and did proue it very wel if they had not been blinded with malice and enuie The Iurie that went vpon him vvere chosen men for the purpose and thought him worthy of death vvhether there came any proofe against him or no because he vvas a Catholike Priest such is their euangelical conscience The sentence After the tvvelue had geuen their verdict guiltie the Iudges gaue sentence on him that he should be executed within xv daies but it vvas deferred vntil S. Andrevves day vpon what occasion I knovv not The Sherife in the meane time went to the court where he vvas made kinght for this notable peece of seruice and there he procured a commission that M. Maine might be executed which he sent into the countrey to the Iustices Three daies befor he vvas put to death there came a seruing man vnto him and vvilled him to prepare for death for saith he you are to be executed within these three daies at the farthest He taketh the aduertisment of his death thankfully His spiritual exercises Vvhich gentil admonition M. Maine toke very thankefully and said to the seruinge man that if he had any thing to geue he would rather bestovv it vpon him then on any other for he had done more for him then euer any man did After that aduertisment he gaue him self ernestly to praier and contemplation vntil his death The second night after he gaue him self to these spiritual exercises there vvas seen a great light in his chamber betvvene tvvelve one of the clocke in so much that some of the prisoners that lay in the next romes called vnto him to knovv what it was for they knovv very wel that he had neither fire nor candel he ansvvered willinge them to quiet them selues for it did nothing appâ—rtaine vnto them At the day of his execution many Iustices and Gentilmen came to see him The Ministers dispute vvith him brought with them tvvo proud Ministers which did dispute vvith him whom he did confute in euery point but the Iustices and Gentilmen who vvere blind iudges in their doings vvould heare nothing of that but they affirmed that the ignorant Ministers were much better lerned then he albeit they confesse he died very stoutely whereat they did much marueil saying to the ignorant people that he could auouch no scripture for his opinion which vvas most vntrue for I knovv by the report of honest men that vvere present that he did confirme euery point in question vvith testimonies of scriptures and doctors and that abundantly This ended he vvas to be dravven a quarter of a mile to the place of execution and vvhen he was to be laid on the fled A barbarous request some of the Iustices moued the Sherifes deputie that he would cause him to haue his head laid ouer the carre that it might be dashed against the stones in dravving M. Maine humilitie and M. Maine offered him self that it might be so but the Sherifes deputie vvould not suffer it Vvhen he came to the place of execution he kneled dovvne and praied as he was on the ladder and the rope about his necke he vvould haue spoken to the people but the Iustices would not suffer him but willed him to say his praiers which he did very deuoutely And as the hangeman was about to turne the ladder one of the Iustices spake to him in this manner Novv villaine and traitor thou knovvest that thou shalt dye A ProtestaÌ„ts spirit and therefore tel vs whether M. Tregian and Sir Iohn Arrundel did knovv of these thinges which thou art condemned for and also what thou doest knovv by them M. Maine ansvvered him againe very mildly saying I do knovv nothing by M. Tregian and S. Iohn Arrundel out that they be good and godly Gentilmen and as for the thinges I am condemned for they vvere onely knovven to me and to no other then he was cast of the ladder saying In manus tuas c and knocking his breast Some of the GeÌ„tilmen would haue had him cut dovvne straight way that they might No Gentilmans bloud in such cruel harts haue had him quartered aliue but the Sherifes deputie vvould not but let him hang til he was dead After he vvas quartered one quarter was sent to S. Probus where he was taken an other to wade-brig the third to Bastable in Deuonsheir where he was borne the fourth and his head remaine in Lanstone where he was executed This B. man M. Maine borne in Bastable in Deuonsheir had an old Schismatical Priest to his vncle and vvel beneficed who being very desirous to leaue his benefice to this his Nephevv brought him vp at scholle He vvas made Minister wheÌ„ he was xviij or xix yeres old got him
A BRIEFE HISTORIE OF THE GLORIOVS MARTYRDOM OF XII REVEREND Priests executed vvithin these tvvelue monethes for confession and defence of the CATHOLIKE FAITH But vnder the false pretence of TREASON Vvith a note of sundrie things that befel them in their life and imprisonment and a preface declaring their innocencie Set furth by such as were much conuersant vvith them in their life and present at their arraignement and death Occidistis sed non possedistis that is You haue slaine them but you haue not gotten possession 1582. THE NAMES OF THESE GLORIOVS MARTYRES VVITH the day and yere of their suffering FATHER Edmund Campion of the societie of IESVS the j. of Decemb. 1581. M. Raph Shervvine the same day M. Alexander Bryan the same day M. Thomas Ford. the xxviij of May 1582. M. Iohn Sherte the same day M. Robert Iohnson the same day M. Vvilliam Philbee the xxx of May 1582. M. Luke Kirbie the same day M. Lavvrence Richardson aliâs Iohnson the same day M. Thomas Cottam the same day M. Iohn Paine the ij of April 1582. M. Euerard Haunse the last of Iuly 1581. THE PREFACE TO the Reader IT vvas euer the fashion of the heathen but much more of Apostatats and Heretikes reuoulted from the Church when they deadly hated and persecuted the CATHOLIKE CHRISTIANS and specially GODS PRIESTS being the guides and Pastors of that flocke they seeke to destroy yet of purpose and pollicie pretend other causes of their punishement more hateful to the world then matter of faith and conscience So did the Arrian Emperors and their Bishops accuse Holy Athanasius of Nigromancie Ruffin histo aduolterie and conspiracie So did the president of Pontus an officer of Valens the heretical prince Naz. orat De Basilio persecut S. Basil for his religion but vnder pretence of an other crime in so much that to the wonder of the world he caused his chambre which the Angels of God as S. Gregorie Nazianzen writeth did reuerence for puritie to be sought by his officers for a vvoman So did Iulianus the Apostata Tripart lib. 6. c. 27. endeuoring to extinguishe the Christian faith and to preferre Paganisme cōdemne the Clergie to death and exile vnder pretense of diuers crimes and namely of sedition falsely forged against them So did the Vandals being Heretikes also Victor de persecut Vandalic extremely plage the Catholikes in Aphrike accusing them that they had secret conference by messengers and letters vvith the Romans against them So did the Emperesse Theodora a vvomā of the Eutichian heresie cruelly persecut Pope Siluerius and the Clergie saying that her coūsel had intercepted their letters vvhereby they called in the Goths and forraine povver to inuade the Citie of Rome the Empire So thy now faine interception of letters for the condemnation of holy men when al the world knevv she persecuted them for their religion and that they were neue◠guiltie of any such offences This shamful sutteltie and too foule and brode deceipt vvas neuer so notoriously vsed as in the late persecutions and practises of protestants specially in England against the CATHOLIKES in vvhich such as are not skilful in the old histories of the Church may as in a glasse behold at once al the miseries that she hath suffered in this kinde of calumniation by the Arians the Gothes the Vandals the Lumbards the Donatistes Eutichians Mahometists Hussists Hugonots and by what other sort in times past or present so euer I neede not put you in minde ho◠not many yeres sithence they arraigned to the great shame and confusion the most Reuerend father and Confessor The arraignement of the Archbishop of Armakan See the storie of his death the Arch-bishop of Armakan for rape or hovv the Ministers of Satan charged of late the blessed Martyr Priest of God M. Thomas Cottam at his execution with adulterie committed in Fish-streat or such like damnable fictions which without al free of God or shame of men the protestants print preach and geue out wittingly against Priests religious and Catholikes to beguile the poore people most subiect to such trumperie through their simplicitie The meanīg of the author in this treatise My meaning is specially by Gods helpe to set furth in English lay befor the eyes of al thos of our realme that were not present at the deathes or arraignement of the late famous men and Martyrs M. Campion and his happie fellovves and in latine and other langages to the vvhole Christian world for a spectacle of heretical crueltie and Macheuillian practises hovv by coulor of contriued treason and conspiracie the cause in dede-being religion the ennemies of the Christian faith haue shed their innocent blood to the infinite shame of our Nation befor men and no lesse peril of destruction of our vvhole common wealthe by Gods iust iudgement who euer reuengeth such publike iniquitie by inducing some great and common calamitie NOTE from which CHRIST of his mercie saue our countrie for their sake which are innumerable that haue not consented to this iniquitie hovv soeuer it seeme othervvise to proceed frō publike authoritie But to the matter after that it vvas agreed vpon by such as God hath geuen povver ouer vs that the holy Confessors whom they had in their hands should be made away because diuers of thē were farre better lerned then any of their sect could withstand and al so zelous as none could sturre them from their faith and fellovvship of the CATHOLIKE AND ROMAIN CHVRCH thinking it not good to kil them for their religiō they sought out vvith al arte and diligence hovv to find or faine handsomely any matter that coulorably might be dravven to treason or any capital crime in the old sense of our lavves The causes why they would not put them directly for their faith and conscience to death Notvvithstanding they had not long before made diuers lavves forcible inough for that purpose The causes vvhy they rather executed them for pretēded treason thē true religiō whereby sundrie principles and exercises of CHRISTIAN FAITH were made HIGH TREASON a lamentable case that our countrey is fallen to were these partely common to al old heretikes partely peculier to our countrey and present state First the cases of religion are diuers according as euery mans conscience is informed where other crimes of what sort so euer are agreed vpon of al hands to be punishable Secondly religion to wordly men specially to many Athiests novv a daies whom men cal honestly politikes seemeth not material any farther then as it pertaineth to the preseruation or destruction of the ciuil state Thirdly for that it is impossible or exceding hard to persvvad men of any wit or capacitie that to professe that religion should be an offence worthie death which al our ovvne auncesters and al nations round about vs so many hundereth yeres together vvere christened in and haue liued died and been saued in and is defended at
this day as cleerely as the sunne against the protestants both in our realme and al the Christian world beside Fourthly for that they can not put vs to death by any coulor of equitie as for our religion hauing no lavv nor determination of councel schole or parlement that hath made it heresie and to cal it treason though them selues haue made it so is to much mockery Fifthly for that our heretikes hold for their ovvne special saftie that none should be executed for their conscience that they would be counted both at home and abrode in such cases meeke and clement and not blouddy as they say the Papists were towardes them when the staffe was in their handes Sixtely for that the executing of them for the CATHOLIKE RELIGION whereof daily more and more are zelous fauorers in England might bread great daungers and discontentement to the euident peril of the whole state which they haue brought into such straite tearmes by this nevv religion that it can not be vpholden but by much iniustice Seuenthly the pretence of other crimes specially of the inuasion of the realme Seeking the destruction of both sorts they would put at variance the Catholikes amongest theÌ„ selues bringeth the zelous Catholikes and namely Gods Priests into great hatered not onely amongest the protestants but among others wel affected in religion though not so strong to stand to the losse of their life and goods whereby they subtily seeke to make a diuision betvvene the tvvo sorts of weaker and stronger Catholikes for the easier ouerthrovv of them both in deede hating and fering no lesse the closse dissembler then open professor Lastely they thought good rather to charge them vvith treason then religion thereby to haue better coulor to afflict and spoile more deeply al such of the Nobilitie or worship as they found or fained or hereafter shal forge to haue harbored and relieued them or conuersed with them And then to terrifie al Priests as they thought aftervvard for entering into the realme the subiects within for receiuing them or sending their sonnes to be brought vp in the societie or seminarie Vpon these and such like wordly considerations they did not onely pretend to endite condemne and execute them for contriued treason against the Q. ovvne rial person and realme specifying for the better couloring of the collusion daies places persons and maner of executing their intents but therevvith denounced and protested publikely both in open court and printed proclamation and bookes that they ment nothing in al this bloddy pursute for any matter of religion or conscience But God that streight discouered this cruel stratageme The persecutors put to double shame and easely ouer-reacheth the wisedom of the wise speadely hath met with their humane counsails and put the persecutors to double confusion in the sight of the whole world once for making them avvay in deede for religion for which they vvere neither arraigned nor condemned secondly for killing them for that offence which at the racke barre and their death they inuincibly shevved them selues in the sight and conscience as wel of Protestants as Catholikes to be as innocent as any Sainct or Angel in heauen Vvherevpon though some fevve hote Puritans were wel contended to see them by what meanes so euer out of their way yet the more prudent of euery sort marueled much at that vnvvonted impolitique proceding Error in gouernement being very sorovvful to see thereby her M honorable iustice and her most graue counsellers actions so notoriously and coulorably subiected to reprofe as in no case in mans memorie or in the records of antiquitie hath been lightely marked the like Vvhereof I could report the very words and communication of certaine principal persons of seruice the day of arraignement and actors in that bloddy tragedy complaining after their departure thence one to an other of the matter and of the shame of that daies worke But I may not name them lest they should incurre daunger thereby though if any of our aduersaries stand with me against the truth thereof I wil not sticke though to their some litle rebuke to vtter to Gods honor and these his blessed Sainctes who for the double confusion their persecutors haue receiued By their practise the Saints of God haue receiued double honor are doubly glorified first with the crowne of Martyrdom for coÌ„fession of their faith which was the true cause of their death and also with the noble renome and revvarde of such as be innoceÌ„t of the fault whereof they were executed which was the case of Abel and others murdered through enuie or malice of man specially as Naboth was by false accusation that he had spoken wordes against God and the king Vvhich kinde of iniquitie vsed against innocent men maketh their deaths also pretious in our Lords sight And men also of what religion or conscience so euer when they see any man hovvsoeuer he othervvise deserueth to be guiltles of the crime for which he dieth they pitie the case naturally and condemne in their harts and detest that iniurious course of proceding in place where iustice and iudgement should raigne Vvhich also hath dravven many thankes be to God to consider better of the true cause of their punishement which was the CATHOLIKE RELIGION and of the protestants actions and conscienceles faith Protestants conscienceles that can not be vpholden but by such sinful pollicie and patchery Trevvly for vs that through CHRISTS grace be Catholike if they had not vsed this matter in such an odde sort to bring not onely these men of God They them selues haue ministred the cause of al these vvritings in defence of Gods Saints but the vvhole Catholike flocke of Christs afflicted CHVRCH in our countrey into the sclaunderous suspitioÌ„ obloquie of crimes neuer thought of but onely executed their nevv lavves against them and made them avvay for religion without more a doe we should neuer haue complained of any farther iniquitie or violence done against vs but haue compted it as an act proceding of their erronious conscience and vnskilful zele in condemning the professors of truth for false teachers But novv vpon this double witting and wilful iniquitie if we should hold our peace heauen earth would condemne vs and we should be partakers of the vengeance that the cry of this innocent and sacred bloud calleth for at Gods hand against their persecutors Alas we that knevv them to the very bottome of their harts The testimonie of Caâ—holikes with whom they liued with whom they conuersed so sincerely and confidently in vvhose hovvses they were harbored so often what they daily talked in al familiaritie and secrecie heard our confessions deliuered vs the holy Sacraments preached to vs so commonly and yet neuer heard word nor half vvord of these supposed intentions against her M. and the state though their false accusers say it was their proper commission to deale vvith vs for to admit inuasion of strangers
mercie generally against 〈◊〉 of the Catholike societies beyond the seas the â—reater opinion of the mens excellencie and innoâ—encie daily ariseth And the povvers of the realme â—ode stil in great perplexitie vvhether it vvere â—ood to execute the rest that vvere condemned or 〈◊〉 them selues being not cruel The Q. merciful and her M. euer â—uch enclined to mercy loth they vvere to put â—em al to death knovving their innocencie in the â—atters pretended better then any man els did and â—eling the affection of the subiects of al sorts and â—e great mutation of mindes that the constant â—eath of so many qualified men were like to make â—et more loth to seeme by pardoning of them â—ithout any iote relenting Reasons vvhy they follovv this course either touching their â—ith or their supposed fact as it vvere to confesse â—eir vvrongful condemnation and their ovvne â—rmer error or to be ledd out of their intended â—urse by the out cries of the world or complaints 〈◊〉 Catholikes Therfore euen straight after the execution of â—e first Acknovvledging any offence or relenting in religioÌ„ might haue saued their liues they sent certaine vnto the condemned â—rsons to moue them to aske the Q. Mercie and â—rgiuenes and to acknovvledge onely in general at they had offended her highnes or at least to â—ent any litle in religion and they should liue â—d that they might do it vvith better pretence they brought preachers to conferre vvith some of them and vvhen that vvould not serue as is noted before thrust them into dongeons but vvhen after vj monethes they saw nothing could be obtained of those innocent constant confessors As M. Hart vvas they resolued plainely to execut them But least the last error should be worse then the first and especially for that there were not long before raised nevv brutes and muttering of vneauen dealing in the sending avvay of M. Paine so fare of to be arraigned and executed M. Paines sending avvay bread nevv concepts from vvhose mouth as they pretended before the rest vvere specially accused and condemned They sought their vvittes vvhich are in truth by long exercise and experience very pregnant of subtile inuention hovv to make them avvay vvith lesse offence to the vvorld to enduce her M. also to be vvilling they should be put to death vvhich by a certaine pitie and natural clemencie she is often hardly dravven vnto they deuised avvay hovv to make them to seeme as vvel to her M as to the people vvorthie death and in apparance plaine traitors though they vvere not guiltie at al of the crimes for vvhich they vvere endited arraigned and condemned A sinful pollicie Vvhich vngodly practise of executing them in the peoples sight for causes vvhereof they vvere neuer directly endited arraigned and vvhich in deed is by lavv no treason at al do proue againe most euidently that of the former offences whereof they vvere accused and condemned they vvere not at al guiltie Their deuise vvas to send vnto theÌ„ iiij lawiers ij of the common lavv vvho vvere the Q. Atturney and Soliciter and tvvo ciuilians D. Levves and D. Hammon To dravve out of them by vj articles or interrogatories not vvhat treasons or trespasses they had committed vvhich vvas none but what they had in their cogitatioÌ„s what were to be done vvhat they vvould doe By Ifs and And 's they vvould driue these poore men into the compasse of treason if such a thing or such a thing should fal what if they had been in Irland vvhen the rebellion vvas there vvhat vvould they haue done Vvhether there be any meanes to depose her M. or any other king for vvith these men it vvas not inough to ansvvere they al acknovvledged her for their lavvful soueraine that they neuer committed any thing in vvord nor deede against her M but they would knovv of them for the future time and for their very cogitations hart and affection vvhat they thought to be done Strange interrogatories and vvhat they meant to do for any cause hereafter that is for any Heresie Arianisme or the like or for Apostacie Turcisme or Atheisme from al which inconuenience CHRIST IESVS defeend her M. and the realme alvvaies whether yet if for any such crimes that the frailtie of Princes is subiect vnto she should be deposed vvhat then vvould they counsel the people to do or whether may she for any such matters be depriued To vvhich thinges being proposed vnto them by the said iiij lavviers the xiij of May 1582. in form of vj. articles or demaunds they ansvvered in the feare of God and simplicitie of hart as you see set dovvne hereafter seuerally together with the articles them selues euen as they vvere published by authoritie which ansvvers though conceiued of her M. and some other her Ministers as though they were tokens of their il affection tovvards her that thought any cause might euer happen for vvhich she might worthely be depriued and in some part seeming at the first sight to the simple to be odious and vndeutiful though in deede by no lavv nor reason they can be dravven to any treason and therefore not much vrged in their arraignements though some of them had geuen the same ansvvers to the like demaundes before as they haue set dovvne also in the same libel Yet they thought good to publish them and to make theÌ„ more odible to the shew they ioyne to them certaine passages of D. Saunders and D. Bristovves vvrittings A strong practize and a preface to al that of their ovvne making vvhich should thus not onely passe abrode amongest the subiects for a warning but specially vvas to be redd and spred as an other litle liueret vvas at the death of the former but this novv with more authoritie at the place and time of execution Vvhere there was appointed the strangest thing that euer we haue seen The second arraignemeÌ„t and coÌ„demnation euen at the gallovves redd or heard of as it were a nevv arraignement whereat not novv xij men representing the countrey but the whole people should be iudge therfore at the daies of their death euery one there as he vvas put into the cart was willed to confesse the treason which being denied of them euery one vpon their saluation and death Antony MuÌ„day brought to the gallovvs then Antony Munday one of the former false accusers was brought furth before al the presence called for by the Sherife who was redy to auouch whatsoeuer you would to their faces though of the seuen executed those twoe daies he neuer I thinke savv none beyond the seas where the treason was fained to be contriued saueing only M. Kirbie of vvhom in particular he could say nothing neither Yet it serued them for a pretie coulor to say in the hearing of the multitude Loe here is one of your companions the Popes ovvne scholler to aduovv it to your face But when they found the foole in deede could say
euery trifle yet they beleeue our othes no farther then is for their seruice and our affliction for I haue heard Norton him self say that svveare they neuer so fast he vvil not trust them except they goe to the Church meaning their schismatical seruice This same man not discouered onely of il affection but iustly put into the Tovver for seditious wordes plaine treason so much as would haue hāged an hundereth Catholikes honest men yet much complained that he vvas so vnkindely dealt withal M. Norton tooke great vnkindnes that a fevve rashe wordes which of many wise men were not misliked of as he saith could not be forgiuen but with such difficultie Specially to him that was so necessarie for their seruice that neither the citie of Lōdon to which he was a feed man nor the parliament wherein he did many good offices alvvaies nor the Prince in her commissions for religion wherein he was much emploied could spare him And M. Nortons wife if she wil be as plaine to the Counsel as she is to some of her neighbours can tel if M. Secretarie him self remember it not vvho put vnto this same Norton being then for the said treasons in the Tovver and iustly in disgrace with her M. to pen matters of state to set dovvne orders and articles to be treated of against Catholikes in the parliament and other places the said persons can tel you perhaps what he meant by these wordes often vttered in his disgrace Norton his suspicious vvordes VVORTHY WORTHY Marreth al but GRACIOVS GRACIOVS may make VVISER VVISER to amend al. the rack would picke as good matter out of this as out of any poore Catholikes breast in Englād And he to whom he vvrote these wordes Defend me and spare me not according to the Irish prouerbe can read the riddel The said Mistris Norton can tel also where her husband did lay vp Stubbs booke Stubbs his booke against her M. for a secret treasure which geare vvel sifted vvould bevvray vvorse affection and intention to then they shal euer find in Catholikes whilst they liue This Stubbs being the Q deadly enemie then in the Tovver for his traiterous booke vvas of M. Lieutenants Counsel in al things M. Lieutenants frendlines tovvardes the Q. ennemie far better entreated for his comfort and diet then the earle of klanrickard vttering to him al examinations of Catholikes vvhat other secresies soeuer to vvhom also Charke Stubs pervsed Charkes booke one that vvas once put to silence for puritanisme or a vvorse matter if worse can be sent his booke against F. Campion to be perused vvhich things the Lieutenant vvould neuer haue done or permitted if he had borne that good affection to her M. as he requireth in Catholikes or if he and his fellovves might be posed in their thoughts and of the time future and their intentions to come And it may be one of these fellovves deuises or some other of like spirit and inuention An other nevv practise and persecution to send the poore Catholikes whom they haue ruined at home to Terra Florida there to exercise their religion and to haue freedom of conscience a strange coozenage and craft to be rid of the poore gentilmen vnder pretence of their prefermēt but most men of the realme wish rather the puritans there as an humor that our cōmonvvealth had more need to be purged of Vvho are also better acquainted in those parts as being once sent thither out of Geneua by Caluin when the french made the like attempt vvith as good successe as I feare these shal haue which in truth can not by the lavv of God and good conscience if I take it right possesse those partes which by former composition and by decree of Alexander the vj pertaineth to an other Prince It is the Catholikes that haue iustly possessed England these thousand yeres it is no reason they should be thrust into the Indes for their dwelling but this is their art to weaken our side against the day of their ful reueng which may be reckoned amongest the greatest of our persecutions and to proceed of a shrevvder head then Nortons But al these deepe distresses calamities and iniuries The conclusion of the preface vvith an exhortation praier which we suffer not so much at her M. handes or her grauest Counsellers as by these sinful irreligious persons their il enformers vve do from the bottome of our harts forgiue and desire God of his vnspeakable mercie to turne avvay his heauie hand of iustice from the Realme and from euery one that either procured or consented to the deaths of these his blessed Saints or the trouble of his holy Israel vvhose blood and death most deare in our Lords sight I pray CHRIST IESVS they cal not for vengeance but for mercie and grace tovvards their persecutors that they may rather with penance consider in this life against vvhom they haue pricked then see and feele it to their confusion in the next But whatsoeuer fal through this great sinne or our other offenses either to their ennemies or to vs their frends that are yet left in this vvretched world in the worst daies that were this thovvsand yeres and in the heauiest and most douteful condition of our countrey that was since the cōuersion these Martyres are blessed The blisse of these martyrs soules safe free past al mortal miseries in the hands and garde of God vvhere the torment of malice can not touch them nor such reach them of whom our Sauiour said Be not afraid of them that kill the body and after that haue no more to do They are exceding happy certs that liue not these dooleful daies but a thousand times more happy that haue the grace and priuiledge to yeld any drop of bloud for the appeasing of Gods wrath and assvvaging this publike rage of sinne and heresie Their deaths precious their soules in glorie their memories in benediction their names eternal The honor of their bodies yea euen their bodies vvhich were the infirme part of these noble Machabees though hanging on ports pinnacles poles gibbets though torne of beasts and birdes yet rest in peace and are more honorable sacreed and soueraine then the embaumed bodies of vvhat worldly state soeuer in their regal sepulchres That day and hovver they stoode in the carte in misery and desolation as it seemed to the simple yet euen then were they more happy then al the multitude that beheld them neuer a wise man that there stoode thought othervvise though the present paines and briefe ignominie seemed to fooles carnal men to be extreeme miserie but al those were so momentaine that their better part was in heauens blisse before their bodies were cold or out of the bouchiers hand their soules praied vnto both by their happy fellovves openly and by many a good man secretly before their bonnes were cold Because S. Augustine geueth vs that rule That we must
shamful practize they vsed to entangle M. Cottam you I perceiue came into the realme not as the others did sent to moue sedition but for your health onely and in hope of this conueiance toke him out of the carte againe saying to him you vvere happie that you medled not in these other perilous matters that the rest are executed for telling him that the Q. vvould extend her mercie to him for which he hartely thanked her M. thinking in deed by these vvordes and by his loosing from the gallovves and taking dovvne out of the cart they vvould vvithout any more a do haue caried him backe againe At leinghth they said it vvas requisit he should stand vp and speake a fevv wordes to the people to signifie that he vvas sent for no such il purpose and that he misliked much the POPES doings in those matters But God gaue him grace to see their legierdemaine and to stand vpon the truth and innocencie and so he was executed vvith more despite then the rest when I vvrote his Martyrdom being not so nere as to heare this communication they had vvith him after he was letten dovvne out of the carte I could not reporte it but sithence one that did here it tould me Novv as vve see the aduersaries would haue made much aduantage of any ons acknovvledging of him self guiltie though al the world had seen it had been done for hope of life so by the constant denial of so many so godly so learned and wel quallified persons euen to the losse of their liues here and pledge of their eternal saluation in the world to come It giueth vs an inuincible proofe of their innocencie An inuincible argumeÌ„t of their INNOCENCIE an eternal reproch to al the ennemies of Gods Church and Priesthod Truely said the last of the Martyrs That among so many if any thing had been committed as is pretended no one should neither for gaine of his life nor for saluation of his soule confesse it vve vvere the strangest men that euer liued But not novv onely vvhen al and euery on seuerally had taken it vpon their death but vpon the like professioÌ„ of the first three al the realme almost and much more al foraine Nations generally pitied the case vvhere wel assured of their innocencie wherevpon partely for complaint of the iniurie partely for the excellencie of the persons to whom â—t vvas done and specially for the honor of God â—nd glorie of their notable Martyrdom diuers â—ookes verses pictures and such like came furth in diuers langages whereat the Magistrat that would gladly haue had the fovvlnes of their fact buried with the meÌ„ were much encoÌ„bered seeking by al humane prudence how to stop the further spreading of the matter they resolued by force and authoritie to defend and auouch the iniustice done vpon them and to punish with al extreme rigor whosoeuer should speake print or publish the contrary Vvherevpon Rigor vsed to al defenders of their INNOCENCIE Vallenger lost his eares some that had vvritten of F. Campion and his fled the Vniuersities and realme some lost both their eares as on Vallenger and others othervvise punished so odible was this truth and yet I am sure if al the eares in our countrey and al nations that glovv at the hearing of this fact were cut of half the Christians in England and Europe should be cropt But the better to put al to silence and out of doubt they caused a proclamation A proclamation to be made vnder her M. name and authoritie bering date the first of April and xxiiij of her highnes raigne whereby they assure al subiects vpoÌ„ her M. and the Counsels word and knovvledge and so commaund al men so to take it that the three first and then already executed vvere lavv fully endited arraigned and conuicted as the rest likevvise not then put to death were vvhich strange course caused men to suspect far more then al vvent not vvel that vvas to be salued so extraordinarely An extraordinary salue euery body of iudgement knowing right vvel that her M. and Counsel could know no more by them then was openly at the barre giuen in euidence and dilated against them on her M. parte for there was no store made â—hat day of any thing that might either directly or indirectly touch them Al vvhich being fully refelled both there in the sight of al men and by their profession at the hovvre of death though we yeld to authoritie al deutie and allegeance yet vve can not nor may not because it toucheth Gods honor the glorie of his Saincts in conscience acknovvledge their guilt in any of the crimes nor othervvise but that they died for defense of the CATHOLIKE FAITH vvithout al cogitation of treason against their Prince or countrey And the rather vve can not against our ovvne certaine knovvledge be ledde so to thinke in this case for that in pledable cases of treason her M. is a partie and can not by her proclamation or Princely prerogatiue othervvise giue attestation then as by processe of lavv irreprouably is adiudged and because vve are assured before God that her highnes Ministers be by our ennemies wrong enformed as in al others so in some things vttered agaiÌ„st our brethren euen in that same proclamation As vvhen they affirme that the like attempts of the Iesuists and Seminarie Priests vvere turned into actual rebellion in Irland Neither Iesuist nor Seminarie Priest in the commotion in Irland vvhere as true as God liueth there vvas no one Iesuit nor any that euer had been of either of the Seminaries of that action in Irland Making al Priests and Iesuists traitors no lesse then these proueth these as guiltles as the others But herein vve may be the shorter for that by the same proclamation euery man of intelligence may vnderstand that there vvere no particular attempts made by these blessed Fathers condemned and executed nor no other special causes nor personal crimes vvhy they should be condemned and counted traitors then are common to al other Iesuists and Priests of the colledges beyond the seas at this present Children vnborn made traitors by entering after into the colledges though diuers be but children or to such as shal here after enter into any of the said companies though they be yet vnborne The vvhole order and bothe the bodies and euery particular person thereof hovv innocent so euer they â—e in them selues a maruelous inconuenience and â—bsurdity vvithout any lavv of the realme therin â—assed A maruelous absurditie are made high traitors So it is you see for â—riginal sinne that F. Campion and his fellovves â—vere executed and not for any of their actual and â—ropre demerits And if this be good lavv it vvil â—ake easier euidence then to stand vpon euery ons â—articular arraignement and trial But these things passing thus namely against â—e persons partely dead and partely condemned â—ut yet aliue at the Q.
not pray for Martyrs but pray to them Vvhat honor shal they be in hereafter in Gods Church and in our coūtrey specially The honor they be in already when malice and enuie shal be worne out it is easie to coniecture Vvhen euen in the daies of their persecutors and in as sharpe punishment diligence and watchfulnes that their memories be not recommendable to the vvorld as euer was vsed of the old heathen persecutors against S. Policarp S. Albon and other auncient Martyrs yet their renoume hath passed through al the Christian world and hath pearsed the very heretikes harts in Fraunce Geneua and Germany No talke as I am credibly enformed more common there then of this late double slaughter first of F. Campion and his tvvo fellovves then of these vij Machabees And for the Catholikes of Italie Spaine Fraunce and namely which is lesse to be marueled at of England The great desire men haue of their reliques more then the vveight in golde would be geuen and is offered for any peece of their reliques either of their bodies haire bones or garments yea or any thing that hath any spot or staine of their innocent and sacred bloud Vvherein surely great diligence and honorable zeale hath been shevved by diuers noble gentilmē verteous people that haue to their great daūger obtained some good peeces of them to satisfie presently the godly greedy appetite of holy persons of diuers nations making extreeme sute for them The deuotiō of the people tovvards their bodies already Marry that is most notable and memorable that diuers deuoute people of our nation that can get no part of their sacred reliques yet come as it were on pilgrimage to the places vvhere their quarters or heades be set vp vnder pretence of gasing and asking vvhose heades or bodies they be and what traitors they were whose heades are set highe aboue others there to do their deuotion praiers vnto them vvhose liues they knevv to be so innocent and deathes so glorious befor God and the world IESV what a pleasur what honor and blessednes haue their ennemies done vnto them thus soddenly and euerlastingly to make them numbred in glorie amongest the saints we and al their frends and al the princes of the world if they could haue yelded to them al the Kingdomes of the earth and the glorie thereof could not haue benefited them so much vvitingly as their ennemies haue done against their intention but by the prouidence of God who turneth the wicked iniustice of man to the eternal good and honor of his Church and Saints O good God CHRIST IESVS geue these thy their and our persecutors for thy deaths sake and for this fresh bloud of thy MARTYRS and for the grones sighes and teares of so many thovvsand thy chained Imprisoned and afflicted Saints geue them mercie and grace to see that they goe not the right vvay to saue our coūtrey them selues from perdition either temporal or eternal humble their harts to the obedience of thy Lieutenant general and to thy holy spovvse in earth that so vnder thee and not against or aboue thee our Prince ELIZABETH as a mēber of thy Church and not as head of the same may reduce her Realme to the vnitie of the Christian vvorld and so rule and gouerne our temporal ciuil state in long peace much honor and securitie Amen Prouerb 17. Qui iustificat impium quim condemnat iustum abominabilis est vterque apud dominum that is He that iustifieth the impious and he that condemneth the iust both are abominable before God A TRVE REPORT OF the death and Martyrdom of F. Campion Iesuite and Priest M. Shervvin and M. Bryan Priestes Boetius li. 1 de consol philosoph Pro verae virtutis premijs falsi sceleris poenas subimus And first of F. Edmund Campion Priest of the societie of the name of IESVS Bachiler of Diuinitie and sometime fellovv of S. Iohn Baptists Colledge in Oxford THESE three glorious Confessors learned meeke godly and constant Priests vpon the first day of December in the yere of our Lord 1581 vvere vnder pretence of high treason most iniuriously to the great lamentation generally of al good men dravven from the Tovver to Tyborne there to be Martyred for the CATHOLIKE FAITH and RELIGION F. Campion was alone on one herdle the other tvvo together on an other all molested by Ministers and others calling vpon them by the vvay for their subuersion and by some also as opportunitie serued and as in a case of so great daunger it conueniently might be comforted and F. Campion specially by one consulted in some cases of conscience and religion and the myre wherevvith he vvas al to be moyled most courteously vviped his face Vvhen they vvere come to the place of execution where diuers of her M. honorable Counsel vvith many honorable personages and Gentilmen of vvorship and good accompt beside an infinit multitude of people attended their cōming F. Campion vvas first brought vp into the carte where after some smale pavvse and after the great rumor of so many people somevvhat appeased with graue countenance and svveet voice stovvtly spake as follovveth Spectaculum facti sumus c Mundo in the text Deo Angelis hominibus saying these are the wordes of S. Paule Englished thus Vve are made a spectacle or a sight vnto God vnto his Angels and vnto men verified this day in me who am here a spectacle vnto my Lord a spectacle vnto his Angels and vnto you men And here going forvvard in his text They would not suffer him to speake in religion lest he should haue persvvaded the people vvas interrupted and cut of by Sir Frauncis Knovvles and the Sherifes ernestly vrging him to cōfesse his treason against her M. to acknovvledge him self guiltie To whom he ansvvered saying For the treasons which haue been laid to my charge and I am come here to suffer for I desire you al to beare witnesse with me that thereof I am altogether innocent Vvherevpon ansvver was made to him by one of the Counsel that he might not seeme to deny the obiections against him hauing been proued so manifestly to his face both by sufficient witnes and euidence Vvel my Lord quoth F. Campion I am a Catholike man a Priest in that faith haue I liued hitherto and in that faith I do entend to dye and if you esteeme my religion Treason then of force I must graunt vnto you as for any other treason I neuer committed God is my Iudge But you haue now what you do desire I beseech you to haue patience and suffer me to speake a worde or tvvo for discharge of my conscience But being not suffered to goe forvvard he vvas forced to speake onely to that point which they most vrged His INNOCENCIE protesting that he was guiltles and innocent of al treason and conspiracie crauing credit to be giuen to his ansvvers as to the last ansvvere made vpon
theÌ„ it shal repeÌ„t you A vvorthie admonitioÌ„ that euer you câ—lled CHRISTES VICAR GENERAL in earth Vvhoore vvhen you I shal stand at one barre before that indifferent iudge vvho iudgeth al thinges a right then I say vvil you repent your saying then must I geue testimonie against you And the hangman making readie at the importunate clamor of the people vvho cried to dispatch As the IeWes cried against christ S. SteueÌ„ at the instigation of the Pharesies so now moued by the Ministers England can haue no excuse being so notoriously warned Haue not Catholikes coÌ„fidence in Christs passion saying that he had liued to long He deliuered his handkercheefe to the hangmaÌ„ with tvvo shillings therein saying take this for thy hire I pray God forgeue thee leauing this vvarning and testimonie to the vvhole people in a loud voice that al might here him denouncing as foloweth Vvhosoeuer dieth out of the CATHOLIQVE CHVRCH he dieth in the state of damnation Therevvith turned almost rouÌ„de about held vp his haÌ„ds vvagging them to the people and then beganne to pray as follovveth Domine IESV Christe fili Dei viui pone passionem crucem et mortem tuam c. vvith his Pater noster Aue Maria and other like praiers And vvhen the carte vvas trailed avvay his hands being before on high in the putting theÌ„ dovvne he light vpon the rope and so held it and the officers pulled them dovvne The Sherife then said A malicious folish interpretacioÌ„ for a man dying naturally taketh hold of any thing he lighteth on notvvithstanding his obstinacie see hovv vvilling he is to liue so he hanged til he vvas dead But it semed to me that his hands by chauÌ„ce as he vvas putting theÌ„ downe fel vpon the rope which he by chaÌ„ce held fast in his hands as in that case he vvould haue done any other thing if he had chanced vpon it M. Robert Iohnson priest A new inhumane practis to terrifie them and to force theÌ„ by horror to confesse the things wher of they were innocent M IOHNSON being brought from the herdel vvas commaunded to loke vpoÌ„ M. Sherte vvho was hanging and then immediatly cut dovvne And so being holpen into the carte vvas commaunded againe to looke backe tovvards M. Sherte vvho vvas then in quartering And after he turned him and signed himselfe vvith the signe of the crosse saying In nomine patris et filij et spiritus sancti Dispatch Crosses troubleth them The mildnes of the Martyr quoth the Sherife speake quietly I vvould be sorie ansvvered M. Iohnson to trouble or offend your vvorship You shal not offend me saith the Sherife so that you offend not God Iohnson I am a Catholike and am condemned for coÌ„spiring the Queenes Maiesties death at Remes vvith the other companie vvho vvere condemned vvith me I protest that as for some of them vvith vvhom I vvas condemned to haue conspired with al Plaine INNOCENCIE I did neuer see them before vve met at the barre neither did I euer vvrite vnto them or receiue letters from theÌ„ and as for any treasons I am neither guiltie in deede nor thought Sherife your ovvne hand subscribed to your examinatioÌ„ taken by men of good consciences God make them his seruants for diuers of them do against their conscience VvheÌ„ al faileth MuÌ„day is ready to helpe at a pinch vvith his othe testimonie the seruants of God M Poppam atturney general M. Egerton the soliciter M. Levves and M. Hammon doctors of the ciuil lavv sâ—al be laid against you Also if that wil not serue you shal haue him vvho vvas the Popes scholler a companioÌ„ amongest you to testifie your treasons viua voce one Munday wherevnto M. Iohnsons examinatioÌ„ novv in print vvas red his ansvvers to the vj articles proposed are as aboue But they vrged him further touching the fifth and the sixth articles And the Minister redd his ansvver to the fifth article to be That he alovved of Saunders Bristovves doings and vvritings To the which he ansvvered said my ansvvere vvas not so as you reade it neither in truth vvas it so in the booke but I ansvvered and so I say novv These Ministers can do nothing sincerely that as for the doings of D. Saunders D. Bristovve I am altogether ignorant of neither vvas I euer priuy to their factes and hovv then could I approue or disalovv them this vvas my ansvvere then and novv also I say the same To the last article his ansvver vvas red and novv being demaunded of the same he said he vvas of the same minde stil and vvould die in the same minde Sherife wel that is high c He was not coÌ„deÌ„ned for this treason He is in deed a companion but was neuer his companion treason but you shal heare also vvhat your ovvne companion named Munday can say against you vvhervpon Munday vvas called and came nigh to the carte Iohnson Munday did thou euer knowe me beyond the seas or vvas I euer in thy company Munday I vvas neuer in your company neither did I euer knovv you beyond the seas But I vvas priuy to your most horrible treasons Mundays coÌ„science may be turned in to a prouerbe vvhereof you vvere most clerely conuicted I speke this vvith safe conscience And vvere not priestes sent from b A most impudent and folish lie AuinioÌ„ for that purpose I pray God you may repent you thereof and that you may die a good subiect Iohnson Munday God geue the grace to repent thee of thy deedes truly thou arte a shrevvd fellovv but there is no time now to reason these matters with thee onely I protest before God I am not guiltie of any treason Sherife Doest thou acknovvledge the Queene for lavvful Queene repent thee and notwithstanding thy traitoros c How gladly they wold haue theÌ„ to coÌ„fesse that which neuer was to saue their credites for murdering of the rest A necessarie admonition practices we haue authoritie from the Queene to carrie the backe Iohnson I do acknovvledge her as lavvful as Q. Marie vvas I can say no more but pray to God to geue her grace that she may novv stay her hand from shedding of innocent bloude Sherife Doest thou acknovvledge her supreme head of the churche in ecclesiastical matters Iohnson They flee to matters of religion I do ackonvvledge her to haue as ful and great authority as euer Q. Marie had and more vvith saftie of conscience I can not geue her How proue you that The Sherife other said thou arte a traitor most obstinat Iohnson If I be a traitor for mainteining this faith theÌ„ was king Henry and al the kinges Queenes of this realme before time and al our auncitours traitors for they mainteined the same Sherife vvhat you vvil preach treason also if vve suffer you Iohnson I teach but the CATHOLIKE RELIGION One demauÌ„ded what do you meane by
Vvithers and D. Sone were with him persuading him ernestly to châ—ng his religion the which said they if you wil alter we doute not to procure mercie for you This M. Paine tould me him selfe for no body was suffered to come vnto them saying that the Ministers by their foolishe babling did much vexe trouble him I amongest many comming vnto him about x. of the clocke with the officers he most comfortably meekely vttered vvordes of constancie vnto me and vvith a louing kisse tooke his leaue of me The next Morning the ij of April about 8. of the clocke he was laide on the hurdel and brought to the place of execution where kneeling almost halfe an houre he earnestly praied arising and vevving the galloes he kissed it with a smiling countenance ascended and the halter being applied he lifted vpe vp his eies and handes tovvardes heauen a pretie while theÌ„ beganne to speake to the people first he made vnto them a declaration of his faith because he was before enformed by me By such lying meanes the ministers beguile the people that the common people thought him to be a Iesuit whose opinion they say is That Christ is not God confessing one God in essence or substance and Trinitie in persons and the VVORDE to be incarnat for mans redemption with other Catholike wordes Secondly he desired God to forgiue him his life past and to haue mercy on al sinners Thirdly he forgaue al which euer had offended him naming Eliot Vvonderful Charitie whom he desired God most earnestly to make with him a companioÌ„ in heauenly blisse Fourthly INNOCENCIE he said that his feete did neuer treade his handes did neuer write nor his witte did neuer inuente any treason against her Maiestie but that he alvvaies wished vnto her as to his ovvne soule desiring almightie God to giue her in earth a prosperouse raigne and aftervvarde eternal felicitie The Lord Rich willed him to confesse that he there died a traitorâ— and to be sorry therefore He coÌ„fessed a trevv confessioÌ„ of his innocency before To vvhom very paciently he ansvvered that he defied all treason and to confesse an vntruth was to condemne his ovvne soule I Confesse truly said he that I die a Christian Catholike Priest And desired the L. Rich to beare witnes of his death Good Lord giue her his grace her counsel to consider of the matter saying Svveete my Lorde certifie her Maiestie thereof that she suffer not hereafter innocent bloode to be cast avvay seeing it is no smal matter Then a Minister vvith an admiratiue replie said to the people that in these vvordes he shevved him selfe a great traitor because quoth he this man saith These Ministers truely are mad fellovves that if the Queene touch the annoynted of the Pope she sheddeth innocent bloode M. Paine turning vnto him said Truly you deale very vncharitably with me for saith he I desired my lorde to speake vnto her Maiestie that she suffer not innocent bloode to be cast avvay and then vttered his great affection to the Queene In course of talke my L. Rich said Paine haue you not had alvvaies desire to spende your life A pretie conceit to eÌ„trap the innoceÌ„t man they sport theÌ„ selâ—es vvith innoceÌ„t mens bloud for the Queenes death M. Paine then was in contemplation and not hearing ansvvered not if perchance he had ansvvered affirmatiuely not thinking of the word death put so sophistiâ—ally in the last place but of health then God to vvhom al mens intentions lie open knovveth what the aduersarie would haue gathered thereof A Minister said that although he denied this treason The Ministers spoke yet for al that he was a traitor for said he Campion and his company denied their treason and yet it vvas by more then tvvoe witnesses proued vnto them Ther vvas nothing proued but that thee vvere false vvitnesses The diuel is a lier the author of thes lies that his ministers vtter M. Paine ansvvered that immediatly before their execution he demaunded of them if these accusations of treasons had any grounde they said by their faith that it vvas neuer imagined nor hard of by them Then the Minister said M. Harte had confessed it he ansvvered that he vvould defende no mans doings but his owne and that he knevve not thereof straight waies they affirmed that he confessed such treason to the L. Poole he said that he knevve her not Then the Minister inferred that his brother confessed to him in his chamber seuen yeres a goe that he talked of such an intentioÌ„ To this he ansvvered being somvvhat moued Bone Deus My brother is and alvvaies hath been a very earnest protestant whom yet I knovv vvill not say so falsely of me and then desired that his brother should be sent for they called for him but then he was in the tovvne vvhen a sort of vs came from the execution we found his brother in our Inne of vvhoÌ„ vve asked if this was true vttering vnto him al the matter he svvore vnto vs with great admiration that it vvas most false and tolde vs that he vvould so certify my L. Rich immediatly he vvas sent for to my lorde and I tooke horse to ride avvay and thereof as yet here no more To conclude they vvould not tarry so longe til his brother should be sent for M. Paine often confessed that he died a Christian Catholike Priest If heretikes had any religion they world neuer desire to pray vvith one of an other faith They desired M. Paine to pray vvith theÌ„ in English but he vvas attentiue to his ende in coÌ„templation and being often called on by the Ministers to ioyne with theÌ„ in the lords praier he said that he had praied in a tonge which he wel vnderstood and againe when he was praying repeating their former requestes one answered that he then praied in English perhapps to satisfie the people for he hard not a vvorde After M. Paine told them that he said our lordes praier three times and told them that he would say the Psalme Miserere and said it forth A vvise question The Minister asked him vvhether he repented not that he had said Masse but he heard him not being in contemplation After all very mekely vvhen the ladder was about to be turned he said IESVS IESVS IESVS and so did hange not mouing hand or foote They very courtesly caused men to hange on his feeete and sette the knot to his eare and suffered him to hange to death commaunding Bul the hangman of Nevvgate to dispatch lest he should as they said reuiue and rebuked him that he did not dispatch speedely All the tovvne loued him excedingly the keepers and most of the Magistrats of the shere No man seemed in countenance to mislike with him but much sorovved and lamented his death who most constantly catholikely patiently and meekely ended this mortal life to rise triumphantly his innocency knovven to al the world He
to be made Minister at vvhat time as M. Maine him self with great sorovv and diep sighes did often tel me he knevv neither vvhat Ministrie nor religion meant Being sent after to Oxford he heard his course of logike in Alborne hal and there proceeded Bachiler of Art At that time S. Iohns Colledge wanted some good fellovv to play his part at the communion table His degrees in schole to play which part M. Maine was inuited and hired in which Colledge and function he liued many yeres being of so milde a nature and of such svveet behauiour that the Protestants did greatly loue him the Catholikes did greatly pietie him seeing so honest a nature cast avvay vpon so contemptible a function in so much that some dealing with him and aduertising him of the damnable â—â—ate he stoode in he was easely persuaded their doctrine to be heretical and vvithal brought to lament and deplore his ovvne miserable state and condition And so being in hart and minde a persuaded Catholike coÌ„tinued yet in the same Colledg for some yeres and there proceded M. of Art and euery sunday gaue them a drie coÌ„munion The drie coÌ„munion A vveet supper rightly handled for as I thinke he neuer gaue them the vveet supper but once at what time al the communicants put that prophane bread into their bosomes and did cast it aftervvard either to dogges or vpon the donghil As M. Read then a hote Protestant and one of these communicants novv a great preacher and my L. Treasurers chaplen can best tell you Some of his familiars being already beyond the seas for their conscience did oft solicit him by letters to leaue that damnable function of the Ministrie and inuited him to come to Dovvay one of these letters by chaunce fel into the superintendeÌ„ts hands of London vvho dispatched a purseuant straight to Oxford for M. Maine and some others the rest appeared and were sent to prison but by chaunce M. Maine was then in his countrey and being aduertised by his countreiman and frend M. Ford then fellovv of Trinitie Colledg in Oxford and of late Martyred that there was processe out for him he toke shipping on the coast of Cornvval and so vvent to Dovvay when the Seminary there was but nevvly erected He vvent to Dovvay Vvhere falling to Diuinitie and keeping the priuat exercises within the hovvse diligently and doing the publike exercises in the scholles vvith commeÌ„dation after some yeres proceded Bachiler of Diuinitie Made Bachiler of Diuinitie was made Priest desirous partly to honor God in this sacred order and to satisfie for that he had dishonored him by taking the sacrilegious title of Ministrie partly inflamed with zeal to saue soules he returned tovvards England together with M. Iohn Paine who was since Martyred the 14 of April in the yere 1576. M. Maine placed him self in his ovvne countrey with a Catholike vertuous Gentilman M. Tregian vvhere he had not been a ful yere but he was taken in the order aboue specified Vvhen the aduersarie made M. Maine this proffer to haue his life if he would svveare vpon a booke that the Q. was supreme head of the Church of England and if he did refuse then to be hanged dravven and quartered he tooke the Bible into his hands made the signe of the Crosse vpon it kissed it and said The Queene neither euer vvas nor is A most true othe nor euer shal be the head of the Church of England The Arraignement and condemnation of M. Iohn Nelson Priest vvho vvas Martyred the â—iij of February the yere M.D.lxxviij THIS vertuous Priest M. Nelson was taken in London vpon the first of December in the yere M.D.lxxvij His apprehension late in the euenning as he was saying the Nocturne of the Mattins for the next day folovving and vvas presently sent to prison vpon suspition of Papistry as they terme the Catholike faith And after v or vj daies He is examined of his faith He refuseth the othe of the supremacie he vvas brought furth to be examined before the high commissioners and there they tendered the othe of the Q. supremacie vnto him the which othe he refused to take and being asked why he would not svveare ansvvered because he neuer had heard or read that any laye Prince could haue that preeminence and being further demaunded who then was the head of the Church he ansvvered sincerely and boldly That the Pops Holines vvas He maketh a true confession to whom that supreme authoritie in earth was dvve as being Christs vicar and the lavvful successor of S. Peter The English religion is schismatical and heretical Schisme Secondly they asked him his opinion of the religion novv practized in England to which he ansvvered promptly that it was both Schismatical and heretical Vvherevpon they bid him define what schisme was he told them that it was A voluntary departure from the vnitie of the Catholike Roman faith They seek to entrappe him Then they inferred vvhat is the Queene a schismatike or no he ansvvered he could not tel because he knevv not her minde in setting furth or manteyning of the religion novv publikly vsed in England The commissioners replied that the Q. did both promulgat it and manteine it and vrging him that if she so did then whether she were a schismatike and heretike or no M. Nelson pavvsed a while as being looth to exasperat his prince if he might haue chosen but yet more loth to offend God and his owne coÌ„science or to geue scandal to the world ansvvered conditionally after this sort If she be the setter furth quoth he and defender of this religion novv practized in England They driue men into the compase of treason of purpose His arraignement then she is a SCHISMATIKE and an HERETIKE Vvhich ansvver when they had wroÌ„ge from him they said he had spoken inough they sought for no more at his handes And so he was desmissed and sent backe to prison And about vij weekes after he vvas brought furth to his arraignement and the same interrogatories propunded againe and he ansvvering stil the selfe same to euery question as he had donne before sentence of death was prononced against him as against one guiltie of treason the first day of february the yere 1578. His constancie of minde Vvhen the sentence was pronoÌ„ced against him he neuer changed his countenance nor there neuer appeared in him any signe of a troubled minde but toke his condemnation very meekly and prepared him self with a good courrage for death The gailours wife moued vvith compassion offered him vvine thereby as she thought to asvvage the heuines of his minde but he vvould not cast it He did voluntary penance after his coÌ„demnation saying he rather desired a cup of cold vvater as more meet for him And from the houre the sentence was prononced against him til the houre of his death he tooke no other foode but bread and smal
beere His minde only vpon heauenly things He was so delited with praier and secret meditation that he would not heare of any other things willingly Especially if they were wordly matters In so much that vvhen a frend of his for his greater comfort and the more to animate him against the terrors of death wished him to read and meditat vpon the liues and deaths of Martyrs as they are set dovvne in the seruice according to the vse of Rome He vvas ful of spiritual comforts albeit he misliked not of the couÌ„sel ansvvered yet that he had inough to occupie his minde withal and to meditat vpon ful wel And being put in minde by the same frend with what alacritie and ioye of minde many thousande Martyrs had suffered exquisite tormeÌ„tes for Christs sake and that they neuer complained of shrunke thereat he ansvvered In vvhat things he specially toâ— comfort that that cogitation came ofte to his minde and that he tooke such comfort thereof that he doubted nothing but that he should finde and feele the grace of Gods consolation in the middest of his agonie And surely this resolutnes of minde and willingnes to dye came of this that the Thursday before his arraignmeÌ„t and death he had clensed his conscience by confession The cheefe causes of his comforts and had fortified him self by receiuing the B. SACRAMENT of the ALTAR For a priest coÌ„ming to visit him vvith others in his companie desirous to communicat at M. Nelsons hands vvishing it might be vpoÌ„ Candelmas day because of the solemnitie of the feast but after they had coÌ„sidered on the matter a while they savv it vvas no fit day because such festiual daies are more subiect to suspitioÌ„ then other daies are It vvas Gods special prouidence that he should so resolue and therefore they concluded to difer it til the day after Candelmas day but M. Nelson vvished rather to preuent the feast and to communicat vpon the Thursday before which vvas done Though that neither he him self nor any of his frends had any the least coniecture that he should so shortly come to his Martyrdome And behold the very next day after word vvas brought him that on the morrovv he should be arraigned and vndoutedly condemned if he did not reuoke his former wordes and so it fel out in deed as you haue hard Vpon Munday the iij of February being the day of his Martyrdom His demeanor the day of his death he came very early before day vp to the higher part of the prison vvhereas from saterday til then he had been kept in a lovv dongeon Tvvo of his neerest kinsmen comming vnto him found him ernest at his praiers with his hands ioyned together and lifted vp in so much that the other prisoners there present did both marke it and vvounder at it much His cheerefulnes in God Vvhen they had talked a vvhile together he seeing them so ful of sorrovv that they had much a do to abstaine from vveeping yet for al that vvas nothing moued him self neither gaue any signe or apparaÌ„ce of sorovve either in voice or countenaÌ„ce but rebuked them saying that he lookeh for some comfort and consolation of them in that case and not by their teares be occasioned to greefe and sorow of minde Vvilling them farther to lament and vveepe for their ovvne sinnes and not for him for he had a sure confidence that al should goe wel with him Vvhen his kinsmen tooke their last farevvel of him they fel into such immoderat teares and lamentations that he vvas somevvhat moued therevvith but staied and repressed nature by and by and so dismissed them And they vvere no sonner gone The Diuels Ministers had no povver ouâ—â— him but tvvo proud Ministers of Satan came vnto him seeking by al meanes to remoue him from his faith but in vaine for he vtterly refused to haue any talke vvith them vvilling them to let him be in quiet and so they did and departed from him Vvhen he vvas brought furth of the prison and to be laide vpon the herdle some of the officers exhorted him to aske the Q. M. vvhom he had highly offended forgeuenes he ansvvered His innocencie I vvil aske her no pardon for because I neuer offended her At vvhich vvords the people that stode about him raged and threatened him that if he vvould not he should be hanged like a traitor as he vvas vvel saith he Gods vvil be done I perceiue that I most die His vvillingnes to dye and surely I am redy to die vvith a good vvil for better it is to abide al punishment be it neuer so greuous here then to suffer the eternal torments of hel fire Being come to the place of execution and put into the carâ—e the first vvordes he spake vvere His praiers at his death In man as â—â—as domine c. then he besought such of the standars by as vvere Catholikes to pray 〈◊〉 him and for him saying either in Latin or English the Pater noster the Aue Maria and the Creede vvhich he him self said in Latine adding therto the CoÌ„stiâ—â—r and the Psalmes Miserere and De profundis vvhich finished turning him self round aboue to al the people said vnto them in this sort I cal you al this day to vvitnes A notable profession his praier that I dye in the vnitie of the CATHOLIQVE CHVRCH and for that vnitie do novv most vvillingly suffer my bloud to be shed And therefor I beseech God and request you al to pray for the same that it vvould please God of his great mercie to make you and al others that are not trevve Catholiquâ— men and both 〈…〉 and die in the vnitie of our holy mother the Câ—THOLIKâ— ROMAN CHVRCH The deceiued peoples clamor At the which words the people cried out hence avvay vvith thee and thy Catholike Romiâ—h faith but this notvvithstanding he repeated the same praier againe Then he requested to be forgeuen of all men asvvel absent as present He praieth for his persecutors if he had offended any protesting that he forgaue al his ennemies and persecutors desiring God also to forgeue them Here againe he vvas vvilled to aske the Q. forgeuenes the vvhich he refused to do for a vvhile at the last he said If I haue offended her or any els I aske her and al the vvorld forgeuenes as I forgeue al. And so the hang man being vvilled to dispatch M. Nelson praied a litle vvhile to him self and then requested such of the assembly as vvere Catholikes to pray vvith him That CHRIST by the merites of his bitter PASSION would receiue his soule into euerlasting ioye His last praier Vvhen the carte vvas dravven avvay a great number cried vvith loude voice Lord receiue his soule He vvas cruelly executed He vvas cut dovvne before he vvas halfe dead dismembred and ripped vp and as the hangman plucked out his bare he lifted him self vp a
litle and aâ— some thaâ— stode nere report spake these vvordes I forgeue the Q. and al that vvere causeâ—s of my death But I though I savv his lipps moue yet heard not so much and the haÌ„gman had iij or iiij blovves at his head before he could stricke it of His quarters vvere hanged on foure gates of the citie and his head set vpon London-Bridge and thus he changed this mortal life vvith immortalitie God be blessed for him and blessed be the memorie of this his Martyrdom amongest men in al our posteriâ—ies Amen This man from his youth had the â—elâ— of God of his house excedingly detesting euer 〈…〉 had the knovvledg of the truth specially sinne 〈◊〉 vvas made priest and instructed beyond the seas tâ—e fâ—rst great necligence that most men of our Coâ—â—â—â—â—y eueâ— Catholikes Note this point wel in the beginning of this Q. raigne comitted in goeing to the Comunion Church and seruise of heretikes much glorifying God that he vouchsafed aftervvard to open that error to the people and to geue to so many the grace of reconciliation and constance to resist that vvickednes and to follovv the example of their cheefe pastors therein the holy Bishops and Confessors that then vvere depriued and in prison for the same After his death it is credibly reported that some sicke persons vvere restored miraculously to health by his holy Relikes And a man vvorthy of al credit riding downe from LondoÌ„ north ward streight vpon his execution spake these vvordes to a graue person that told me the storie It is novv come to passe said he that Iohn Nelson foretold me vij yeres since That he should dye for the Catholike faith He foretold his ovvne death and this persecution And diuers others may vvel remember hovv he vvould often times say That the Catholike religioÌ„ would neuer be restored in England vntil many should shee l their bloud for confession and testimonie of the same Vvhich vve may vndoubtedly take both for a prophecie of this great persecution and also for the conuersion of our countrey through the acceptable cry of so much holy innocent bloud so meekely yelded on the one side and so vniustly spilled on the other Vvhich God graunt for his Sonnes sake the Head and revvarder of al these blessed Martyrs The Martyrdom of Thomas Shervvod 1578. the vij of February THIS vvas a lay man and yong of yeres but by the special grace of God and his fathers a holy Confessors example and instruction excedingly geuen to the Catholike faith pietie great penance He was apprehended in the streats of London ready to goe ouer to the seminarie at Remes by the wickednes of Martine Tregonian Vvho by il company and education became a Caluinist and vpon suspicion that this yong man brought Priests to say Masse in his mothers house who vvas a good Catholike lady meeting him by chaunce in London cried A traitor A traitor stay stay the traitor Vvherevpon the people durst do no lesse but â—shevv out of their shopps and apprehend him so they brought him to the Recorder his accuser hauing nothing in the world to charge him vvith al but because it vvas for suspicion of religion they quickly entrapped him by enterrogatories of Pius quintus Bul of the excommunication of the Q. religion and vvhether she was an heretike and of her spiritual soueraignitie vnto al vvhich vâ—hen he ansvvered like a true Christian man â—oth then and aftervvard at this arraignement after about vj monethes miraculous constancie suffering of most cruel dongeons yrons famine and racking almost to death being the first that vvas racked for nere matter of faith in our memories aâ— lâ—â—gth the day and yere aboue specified he vvas â—â—â—â—en to Tyborne hanged cut dovvne bovveled a liue and so deuided and set vp his head and quarters he gloriously toke his leaue of the world and is receiued into the eternal tabernacles in glorie and felicitie eternal GENTIL READER CONSIDER OVR difficulties in printing and beare vvith the faults escaped vs. FINIS