bee deceiued in these poynts of their bookes but vvhether they vvere deceiued or not he referreth to God To the last he sayth that vvhen the case shall happen hee must then take counsel vvhat vvere best for him to doe Luke Kirby Iohn Popham Thomas Egerton Da. Levves Iohn Hammond Thomas Cottoms Ansvvere THOMAS COTTOM To ye first in this al other questions he beleeueth as the Catholique Church vvhich he taketh to be the Church of Rome teacheth him And other ansvvere he maketh not to any of the rest of these articles By me Thomas Cottom Priest Iohn Popham Thomas Egerton Da. Levves Iohn Hammond Lavvrence Richardsons Ansvvere LAWRENCE RICHARDSON To the fifth article hee ansvvereth that so farre as Doctour Saunders Doctour Bristovve agree vvith the Catholique doctrine of the Church of Rome hee allovveth that doctrine to be true And touching the first and all the rest of the articles hee sayth that in all matters not repugnant to the Catholike religion hee professeth obedience to her Maiestie and othervvise maketh no ansvvere to any of them but beleeueth therein as hee is taught by the Catholique Church of Rome Lavvrence Richardson Iohn Popham Thomas Egerton Da. Levves Iohn Hammond Thomas Fordes Ansvvere THOMAS FORD To the first he saith that he cannot ansvvere because he is not priuy to the circumstances of that Bull but if he did see a Bul published by Gregory the thirteenth he would then deliuer his opinion thereof To the second hee saith that the Pope hath authoritie to depose a prince vpon certaine occasions and vvhen such a Bul shal be pronounced against her Maiestie he vvill then ansvvere vvhat the duety of her subiects and vvhat her right is To the third he saith he is a priuate subiect and vvil not ansvvere to any of these questions To the fourth hee sayth that the Pope hath authoritie vpoÌ„ certaine occasions vvhich he vvil not name to discharge subiects of their obedience to their Prince To the fift he saieth that Doctour Saunders and Doctour Bristovve bee learned men vvhether they haue taught truely in their bookes meÌ„tioned in this article hee referreth the ansvvere to them selues for him selfe vvil not ansvvere To the last he sayth that vvhen that case shal happen he vvil make ansvvere and not before Thomas Forde Iohn Popham Thomas Egerton Da. Levves Iohn Hammond Iohn Sherts Ansvvere IOHN SHERT To all the articles he saith that he is a Catholique and svvarueth in no poynt from the Catholique faith in other sort to any of these articles he refuseth to ansvvere Iohn Shert Iohn Popham Thomas Egerton Da. Levves Iohn Hammond Robert Iohnsons Ansvvere ROBERT IOHNSON To the first he saith he can not ansvvere To the second he cannot tel vvhat power or authoritie the Pope hath in the poynts named in this article To the third he thinketh that the Pope hath authoritie in some cases to authorize subiects to take armes against their Prince To the fourrh he thinketh that the Pope for some causes may discharge subiects of their allegiance and obedience to their natural Prince To the fifth he saith the ansvvere to this article dependeth vpon the lavvfulnesse of the cause for the vvhich the Pope hath giuen sentence against her but if the cause vvas iust then hee thinketh the doctrine of Doctour Saunders and Doctour Bristovv to be true Whether the cause vvere iust or not hee taketh not vpon him to iudge To the last he saith that if such depriuation and inuasion should be made for teÌ„poral matter he would take part vvith her Maiestie but if it vvere for any matter of his faith he thinketh hee vvere then bouÌ„de to take part vvith the Pope Robert Iohnson Iohn Popham Thomas Egerton Da. Levves Iohn Hammond VVilliam Filbee his Ansvvere VVILLIAM FILBEE To the first he saith the Pope hath authoritie to depose any prince and such sentences vvhen they bee promulgated ought to be obeyed by the subiects of any prince but touching the Bul of Pius quintus he can say nothing but if it vvas such as it is affirmed to be he doth allovv it and saith that it ought to be obeyed To the second he saith it is an hard question and therefore he can not ansvvere it but vpon further aduisement he ansvvereth as to the first To the third he knovveth not vvhat to saye thervnto To the fourth hee sayth that so long as her Maiestie remaynerh Queene the Pope hath no authoritie to vvarrant her subiects to take armes against her or to disobey her but if he should depose her then hee might discharge them of their allegeance obedieÌ„ce to her Maiestie To the fifth he sayth he vvil not meddle vvith the doctrine of Doctour Saunders and Doctour Bristovve To the last vvhen this case happeneth then hee saith hee vvill ansvvere if he had bene in Ireland vvhen Doctour Saunders vvas there hee vvoulde haue done as a priest should haue done that is to pray that the right may haue place VVilliam Filbee Iohn Popham Thomas Egerton Da. Levves Iohn Hammond THE MARTYRDOMES OE THE REVEREND PRIESTES M. THOMAS FORDE M. Iohn Sherte M. Robert Iohnson the XXVIII of Maye 1582. And first of M. Thomas Forde priest and Maister of arte THEY vvere al trailed vpon herdles from the Tovver of LoÌ„don alonge the streates thereof vnto Tyborne betvvixt vj vij of the clocke in the morning first M. Ford being set vp in the carte he blessed him self vvith the signe of the Crosse being so vveake as he fel dovvne in the carte after he vvas vp he said I am a Catholike and do dye in the catholike religion and therevvith he vvas interrupted by Sherife Martine They caÌ„ not abid the coÌ„fessioÌ„ of the Catholike faith saying you come not hither to confesse your religioÌ„ but as a traitor and malefactor to the Queenes Maiestie and the vvhole Realme They harpe alwaies vpoÌ„ one string thâ—t vvil not sound mouing and sturing of sedition And therfore I pray you goe to and confesse your fault and submitte your selfe to the Queenes mercie and no doubt but she vvould forgiue you Vvherevnto he answered That supposed offence vvherof I vvas endyted condemned vvas the conspiring of her Maiesties death at Rome and Rhemes Neither was he euer as Rome or Remes in al his life vvhereof I vvas altogether not guitly for the offence vvas supposed for conspiring the Queenes Maiesties death in the 22 yere of her Maiesties raigne at vvhich time I vvas in England remaining longe before that for I haue remained here for the space of vj or vij yeres and neuer departed this realme vvhereof I might bring the vvitnes of an hundreth yea fyue hundreth sufficieÌ„t men and had therevpon been discharged at the barre A notable charitie and worthy such a priest if I would haue disclosed their names vvith vvhom I had been vvhich I did forbeare onely for feare to bring them in to trouble Then Sherife Martine said here is your ovvne hand vvriting
and to with dravv our selues from our soueraines obedience vve therfor for their cleering and our ovvne in that case and al the Catholikes in the realme cal God and his holy Angels to vvitnes that these men of God vvere most iniuriously and vvilfully murdered And as we their frends in England acquainted with al their actions sithence their repaire into the realme can testifie this vpon our ovvne certaine knovvledge Testimonie of forreiners and the forraine Princes whose instruments they were fained to be for inuading the land and the Superiours of their Societie and Colledges by whose appointement and direction they came in can and wil if neede be giue authentical intelligence vpon their honors and conscience of the truth hereof So may euery man that was present either at their examining racking arraigning or death or that hath heard of the same or of the strange course of proceding tovvards them either before their condemnation or aftervvard cleerely behold the same The effect of the enditement To proue that they practised the Q. death at Rome and Remes and inuasion of the realme by forraine povvers in the xxij yere of her M. raigne the last of March and last of May and diuers other times which was the effect of their enditement there was neither witnes confession of the parties probable presumptions nor any word spoken or euidence in the world that was to the point of the enditement or that could touch any of them that vvere vpon the same enditement arraigned the second day They charged them al vvith one crime of conspiracie diuers of them neuer seeing one an other before they came to that barre in their liues nor neuer writing one to an other nor proued by any testimonie or presumptioÌ„ that euer any tvvo of them together or any one alone had any such talke or â—ntention of conspiracie The Q. counsel charged them vvith no other â—hing al that day long but vvith other mens fauts They were charged only vvith other mens faults â—ot being able to proue that they al or any of them â—uer consented vnto them yea and vvith diuers â—hings whereof they could none of them possibly â—e partakers As the insurrection of the North the CommotioÌ„ in Irland the Popes excommunication â—f the Q. D. Saunders writings D. Bristovves motiues D. Allens approuing the booke letters intercepted of I can not tel whom of what or to whom with â—iphers and charecters that could not be read but yet must needes meane some persons places and â—reparations for inuasion And when the poore innocent men cried for â—ustice to the Q. counsel that they would not amâ—lifie against them to the abusing of the Iury These iust petitions of the innoceÌ„t men vvere not at al regarded other â—ens offences To the Lord cheefe Iustice that for â—he honor of God and fauor of innocencie he would not suffer them to be charged with matters â—hat neither touched them nor the enditement To the Tvvelue that for discharge of their deuties â—nd conscience they would consider maturely whether any of these accusations touched them â—ftsones desired them for the loue of CHIST when any thing might seeme to be said for euidence against them to marke whether it partaine â—o al or some to vvhom specially lest al should â—e cast avvay for one mans offense or one for an other Vvhich might easely be done in such conâ—use huddeling of purpose against them of al the â—reasons and trespasses committed in England or vvith out for that tvventie yeres Yet litle eare vvas giuen of any hand to so iust a demaund but stil they enlarged their accusation and euidence vvith other mens faults because the poore men them selues had committed none Yea such arte and conueiance was vsed in this matteâ— to make other mens offenses to seeme to the Iurie to be theirs or at lest to be true of their fellovves that they purposly toke order that some A damnable pollicie whose pretended crimes conspiracies confession were produced for euidence against those that were arraigned the first day should not them selues be present because they could easely haue ansvvered and refuted them but be arraigned an other day some As M. Paine vvas in other places after these should be condemned So M. Hart if he had been there could easely haue reproued whatsoeuer they said he had confessed vpon the racke So if M. Richardson whose name and person was wholy mistaken euen til his death They executed one man for an other had been arraigned the former day as he was the later M. Campion might be like haue discharged him But specially in the matter pretended against M. Paine The iniquitie of the Iudge the L. Cheefe Iustice that should haue been indifferent betvvixt her M. and these desolat persons committed notorious partialitie and iniustice to suffer euidence to be brought in and an othe to be ministred to a witnes for profe thereof when it concerned onely one absent and touched none of them present which shameful wrong was committed to make that odious matter whereof the euidence was giuen in the sight of the Iurie to pertaine to those that then were arraigned compting al guiltie that there were at the barre of what crime soeuer was thereof any man absent discouered The most pietiful practiz that euer vvas heard of to shee l innocent bloud by face of publike iustice Vvhich is a thousand times before God more damnable and punishable by his diuine povver Publike iniurie farre more greuous then priuat then if mans life were taken from him by priuate murder Moreouer many of them were arraigned and condemned for a fact fained to be committed in â—ose places that is to say at Rome and Rhemes â—d times â—â—â—ln the xxij of her M. raigne They vvere condemned for things done where they neuer vvere and such day of March and of May of which some were 〈◊〉 neither place in their life as M. Ford and M. Colâ—gton some had not been there of some yeres â—efore as M. Sherte some not at that time nor many â—oneths before as M. Brian and M. Richardson and 〈◊〉 M. Collington had not by Gods prouidence had â—e present to testifie for him that he had been in â—ngland long before that time when the conspiâ—cie was fained to be made he had died as the rest â—nd some of the rest being as certainely knovven â—o haue been in England that time and before as he â—as yet were wickedly condemned for that fact â—en there coÌ„mitted when al the world knovveth â—at they were not there Yea M. Brian had witnes â—ereof as wel as M. Collington By a note sent vs out â—f the regester booke of the Colledg of Remes we â—nd that M. Brian departed there hence tovvards â—ngland the iij of August 1579 which was viij â—onethes before the sermon was made at which â—ledd and Munday affirme M. Brian to haue been â—ut al is one for these that were there in either
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
conceit of that prophane degree til he entered into religion by penance and holy profession to wipe a way the same So making his choise of the societie of the name of IESVS he vvent to Rome He vvent to Rome and there entered into religion where by the superior of that order he vvas admitted and so not remaining in the Citie much more then a moneth he was sent into Beameland He is sent into Beamland where he abode viij yeres and vvas made Priest in Prage continually teaching preaching catechizing writing and trauailing for the Church of God Made priest Vvhereby he became so famous that not onely other principal states He preacheth befor the Emperour but the Imperial Maiestie was contented often to heare him preach Til at lenght by the sute of such as knevve his great graces in dealing with heretikes for their conuersion his General called him thence to be bestovved vpon his ovvne natiue countrey Vvhithervvarde by longe and great trauail he came going about by Rome because his superiors knevve him not He is sent home againe by his superiors nor would not send him before they savve him and by Remes vvhere besides other communication parteining to the reduction of our countrey to the Catholike faith he demaunded of D. Allen whether he thought that any seruice he could do in England the time being as it is His cōmunicatiō with D. Allen. were like to be vvorth al these long labours and hazardes past and to come or might counteruaile the lackes that those should seeme to haue by his absence from whence he came To which D. Allen ansvvered Father quoth he first vvhatsoeuer you did there D. Allens ansvver may be done by others one or mo of your order Secondly you ovve more duetie to England then to Beamland and to London then to Prage though it liketh me vvel that you haue made some recompence to that countrey for the old wounde it receiued by vs. In vvicliffes time of vvhom they lerned their heresies Thirdly the recouerie of one soule from heresie is vvorth al your paines as I hope you shal gaine a great many because the haruest is both more plentiful and more ripe with vs then in those partes Finally the revvard may be greater for you may be martyred for it at home vvhich you can not obtaine lightely there So he vvas satisfied and of this communication I haue heard him often speake And at last he happely landed at Douer vpon the morrovv afser Midsomer-day The day of his arriual in England the yere 1580. being by Gods great goodnes deliuered out of the searchers and officers handes who held him with them vpon suspicion for certane houres He vvas staied at Douer vpon deliberation to haue sent him to the Councel That vvas Christes special vvorke and prouidence to be glorified booth in his preaching a vvhole yere to the inspeakable good of innumerable deceiued soules and also in his precious death aftervvard Comming therefore to London he preached there his first sermon vpon SS Peter and Paules day which I vvas at my selfe His first Sermon hauing a ful audience and very vvorshipful but aftervvard booth there and in sundry partes of the realme far greater through the fame and experience of his manifold vertues great eloquence and lerning many Protestantes of good nature at sundry times admitted also to the same vvho euer aftervvard contemned their vulgar pulpit men in comparison of him The first man of calling to whose hovvse he vvas conducted in the countrey The speaches bewixt him and the gentilman in vvhose house he first preached in the countrey demaunded of the person that brought him thither being him selfe of good worship what he vvas and from vvhence he came and lerning that he vvas a religious man and one that had bene long in foraine partes before he would admitte him toke him aside and asked the causes of his retorne home and repaire to him and whether he meant not vnder coulor of religion to withdravv her M. subiectes from their obedience To which he ansvvered protesting befor God that he had neither other commission of his superiors nor intētion of him self then to minister the holy Sacraments preach and teach the people to saluation and that he neither could nor vvould medle with matter of state Vvherevpon the partie embraced him and bid him hartely welcome to his hovvse Finding aftervvard by a littel further acquaintance which al the world might see that he vvas no man for worldly matters but only for the schole Church and pulpit wherein his giftes vvere excellent in the highest degree And from that day til his apprehension he preached once a day at the least He preached daily and often He conuerted many of the best sort often tvvise and sometimes thrise whereby through Gods goodnes he conuerted sundry in most shires of the Realme of most wisdome and vvorshipe besides yong Gentilmen studentes and others of al sortes At his first entrance he made his proffer of disputation for such causes as he alleaged in the same His chalēdg and his booke vvritten to the vniuersities and more at large aftervvard in his eloquent and lerned booke to both the vniuersities Vvhereby the Protestant Preachers and Prelates found them selues so deeply wounded in their doctrine and credite notvvithstanding they had patched vp a fevv pamphletes without al grace against him that they pricked her M. Councel to alter the question from controuersie in religion The protestants deuise to ouerthrovv him to the cause of the Prince and matter of state that so they might defende that by force authoritie which they could not do by all their lerning and diuinitie Therevpon it was geuen out by diuers speaches and proclamations that great consederacies of POPE and foraine Princes vvere made for the inuasion of the Lande and that the Iesuistes and Seminary Priestes were sent in forsoth to prepare their waies and such like trumperie to beguile and incense the simple against them Then al exquisite diligence was vsed for the apprehension of others but specially of F. Campion vvhom being but one among thousandes of the Churches children The follie of the aduersarie nor the cheefe in England of his order yet they called the Popes Champian and right hand At length after he had laboured in Gods haruest wel nere xiij Monethes by the notorious wickednes of on George Eliote a forelorne fellovv Eliot the traditor such as for affliction of holy men this vvorld commonly vseth after long search and much a doe by Gods permission he fel into the persecutors hands the xvij His apprehension of Iuly 1581. being found in a secret closset in a Catholike Gentilman and confessors house called M. Yates of Lyford And in what sort tvvoe Godly Priests M. Forde and M. Collington being with him al lying vvhen the ennemy discouered them vpon a bed their faces handes lifted vp to heauen
name of Richardson and the ij of August the same yere He vvent to Rome he vvas sent to Rome in cōpany vvith M. Rishton vvho vvas cōdemned vvith him also vvhere he studied in the Seminarie til the yere M.D.LXXX at vvhat time he retorned homevvard and came to Remes vvhere he staied certaine daies after his fellovves vvho then by diuers vvaies and portes vvere entered into the Realme vpon this occasion A motion made to the Pope of a Suffragane for Englād There vvas not long before special sute made to his Holines that as vve had of priests to al spiritual purposes good store for our countrey so vve might haue at least one Suffragane or Bishop to supplie diuers necessarie functions that could not be done by the inferior cleargie as amongest other things the sacrament of Cōfirmation Great lacke of Confirmation which being specially ordained of our Sauiour to geue strength and constancie to stand in defence of the faith in such times of persecution as this is vvas much necessarie for our countrey and could not be had by reason al our true Bishops vvere either dead in prison or so restrained that they could not exercise that or other their holy Ministeries The POPE though he deliberated therevpon some daies Causes vvhy the Pope vvould not graunt it yet in the end vpon very many vvise considerations and specially for that he would not haue any of that high calling to fal into the hands of the ennemy not doubting but that they would vse such an one as barbarously as any other Priest or Catholike did not thinke it good at that time to create any such But aftervvard the right Reuerend in God Thomas Goldvvel Bishop of S. Assaph The cause vvhy the Bishop of S. Assaph came out of Italy a most Venerable and auncient Confessor that hath suffered banishment for his conscience halfe his life though he be vvel nere lxxx yeres of age hearing the maruelous zeale of so many Godly Priests and their heroical endeuours for the saluation of their countrey vvas sturred in spirit and much desired to end the remnant of his old yeres in the seruice of his countrey vvent to his Holines to desire his leaue and benediction in that behalfe and with much adoe for that great respect was had of his dignitie and old age it vvas graunted him Vvherevpon the old honorable Father aduentured dovvne as fare as Rhemes in al the heate where he gaue to the Seminarie the greatest comfort and the same yelded to him al the contentement in the vvorld Cōsulting there hovv to gaine our countrey to saluation by any office of life or by glad suffering of death it self Vvhich meeting Vvhat the Coūsel imagined of his and others comming dovvne and specially that old and Reuerend Confessors comming dovvne for England as they al deemed put maruelous concepts into the Counsels heads that there was some great and nevve attempt or inuasion tovvard for worldly men standing only at the vvatch of the temporal state could not imagine that for gaining of a soule or tvvo or for conuersion of a kingdom either such men would be so diligēt and venturous as to come vpon their pickes and roopes vvithout some vvorldly succours The cause of the Bishops stay and retorne Novv it so chanced by Gods prouidence that the said Lord of S. Assaph for other causes and specially for that he fel into a very daungerous ague vvith the contagious cough vvhich then raigned in Rhemes he could not passe on in his iorney so spedely as other of the Societie and Priests did and therfore for his more honor comfort some other specially this man of God M. Shervvine offered to tarie vvith his Lordship during his sicknes and then vvhen God should send him strength to be one of his chapliens and conductors into his countrey but it vvas resolued at length that for the vncertentie of his recouery M. Shervvine should passe forvvard tovvard Roan and there rather to expect him as he did But the good Father novv much vveakened by his sickenes and othervvise not vvel appointed nor in deed fit for to take the paines nor any waies by reason of his markeable person very great age and feeblenes long like to escape the persecutors hands was in fine altered from that purpose and after his recouery he thought good rather to retorne into Italie againe as he did His apprehension And M. Shervvine vvent forvvard tovvards England vvhere after his arriual he occupied him self in al functions belonging to Priesthod vvith great zeale and charitie and sone after he vvas taken in M. Roscarrokes chamber in London Hovv he vvas vsed in prison and committed to the Marshalsey vvhere he lay night and day in a great paire of shakles for the space of a moneth In Nouember after his emprisonement there came vvord from the Knight Marshal to the keeper of the Marshalsey to vnderstand of him vvhether there vvere any Papists in his prison that durst or vvould maintaine their cause by disputation A motion of disputatiōs and if there were any such that then they should send him such questions as they would defend subscribed vvith their handes and make them ready to dispute for they should vnderstād from him shortely of the maner time and place hovv and vvhere to dispute This motion vvas so vvel liked of the Catholikes Accepted by the Catholikes that this M. Shervvine and tvvo other Priests that vvere condemned vvith him aftervvard M. Hart M. Bosgraue offered them selues to the combat drevve out questions subscribed their names and sent them to the said K Marshal But their questions pleasing him not they do accept and allovve of other questions sent vnto them from the said K. Marshal and do expect with ioyful minde the day appointed to dispute But loe He is remoued to the Tovver euen the day before they should haue disputed M. Shervvine was remoued to the Tovver vvhere he vvas at sundrie seueral times examined and racked In his first racking he was asked vvhere F. Campion and F. Parsons vvere His racking and the interrogatories vvhy he and they came ouer into England vvhat acquaintance he had here in England vvhether he had said Masse in M. Roskarokes chamber and vvhether he had of him at any time money His conferences vvith the Ministers did much good He was close prisoner almost a whole yere in which time he had diuers conferences with Ministers both priuately and in some open audience both of honorable and worshipful to the honor of God the benefit of his afflicted Church and to the admiration of most of the hearers He vvas after his first racking fet out in a great snovv and laid vpon the racke Great crueltie and the Gentilman in whose chamber he was taken was kept in a bye darck corner to heare his pitiful grones and complaints On Midsomer-day in the yere 1581 He vvas delt
soule And euen as the carte passed avvay M. Cottam said ô good Lavvrence pray for me Lord IESVS receiue thy soule which he repeated seueral times Al this time M. Cottam vvas with the Sherife and the rest of the Ministers vpon the ground hauing the rope stile about his necke I could not wel heare what persuasions the Sherife and the Ministers had vvith him But I doe coniecture that if he would renounce his faith he should haue his pardon For I hard him wel vtter these wordes I vvil not svvarue a iote from my faith A notable constancie for any thing yea if I had ten thousand liues I would rather lose them al then forsake the CATHOLIKE FAITH in any pointe And vvith that he was lifted vp into the carte againe And the Sherife said withal dispatch him since he is so stubborne Then he vvas turned backvvard to looke vpon M. Richardson vvho vvas then in quartering which he did saying Lord IESVS haue mercie vpon them Lord haue mercie vpon them O Lord geue me grace to endure to the end Lord geue me constancie to the end which saying he vttered almost for al the time that M. Richardson vvas in quartering sauing once he said Thy soule pray for me and at the last said O Lord vvhat a spectacle hast thou made vnto me the vvhich he repeated twise or thrise and thē the head of M. Richardson was holden vp by the executioner INNOCENCIE who said as the maner is God saue the Queene to vvhich M. Cottam said I beseech God to saue her and blesse her withal my hart I wish her prosperity as my lieage and soueraine Queene cheefe gouernesse By this it is euident that al vvas for religion and not at al for treason They vvilled him to say and supreme head in matters ecclesiastical to vvhom he ansvvered If I vvould haue put in those vvordes I had been discharged almost two yeres since Then the Sherife said You are a traitor if you deny that M. Cottam said No that is a matter of faith and vnles it be for my conscience and faith I neuer offended her Maiestie vvith that he looked vp to heauen and praied secretly and vttered these vvordes That is 〈◊〉 Lord thou hast suffered more for me In te domine speraui non cōfundar in eternum O domine tu plura pro me passus es c tvvise more repeating plura Then the Sherife said to him Yet Cottam cal for mercie and confesse and no dout the Q. vvil be merciful vnto you Vvho ansvvered my consciēce geueth me a cleere testimonie that I neuer offēded her to vvhom he vvished as much good as to his ovvne soule vvhose estat he so fauored and honored that for al the gold vnder the cope of heauen he vvould not vvish that any on heare of her head should perish to do her harme And that al that here he did suffer was for sauing his soule desiring almightie God for his svveete Sonnes sake that he vvould vouchsaffe to take him to his mercie saying that him onely he had offended desiring God that if there were any more vnspoken which were conuenient to be spoken that he would put it into his minde novv And then he praied desiring al the whole world of forgiuenes and that he did from the bottom of his hart forgiue al. A warning That the sheading of innocent bloud crieth veangeance against the realme Adding that the sinnes of this realme hath deserued infinite punishment and Gods iust indignation desiring him of his mercie that he would turne his wrath from them and cal them to repentance to see and acknovvledge their sinnes And desiring al Catholikes to pray with him after he had said his Pater noster and in his Aue the carte was driuen avvay and so hanged til he was dead and being stripped naked as he hanged within his sherte he did were a shert without sleues of very course canuas dovvne beneath his midle Vvhich belike was a sherte of heere for the punishment of his body wherevvith England is not now acquainted The maner and order of his apprehension And because the order and maner of M. Cottams first apprehension wil cleere him from al suspition of treason and treacherie and yeld an inuincible argument of loyaltie and innocencie I wil set it downe briefly but yet truely to the great cōtentation and satisfaction of al good Catholikes and to the confusion and ignominie of al our bloudy persecutors and aduersaries SLEDD that Notorius varlet and infamous Iudas I wil not say wicked homicid hauing entēded to worke some mischefe came from Rome in the company of diuers English men whose names and markes he toke very diligently being come to Lions found M. Cottam there who hauing entered into the societie of the name of IESVS at Rome and being there fallen into a consuming and lingering sicknes was by his superiors sent to Lions to trie if by change of aire he might be recouered The cause of M Cortams cōming out of the Societie of his retorne to England but the sicknes so grevve encreased vpō him that he vvas made an vnhable and vnfitte man for them and therevpon they dismissed him and trauailing in his company for some daies ioruneis vnderstood of him belike that he ment very shortly to repair home to his natiue coūtrey wherevpō Sledd tooke his markes more exactly and precisely and being arriued at Paris there he presented the L. Embassador with the names and markes he had taken Vvho sent them ouer to the Q. Counsel and from them they were sent to the searchers of the portes M. Cottam son after his arriual at Rhemes being a Deacon and a good preacher long before was made Priest hearing of company that were ready to goe into England made great hast to goe with them and ernest shute to haue leaue partely for his health specially for the great zeal he had to gaine saue soules He arriued at Douer about the xvj or xviij day of Iune in the yere 1580 in the company of M. Iohn Hart M. Edvvard Rishton tvvo lerned Priests which both are also condemned and an other lay man After these iiij had bene searched vnto their skinnes and nothing found vpon them M. Cottam staied at the port and M. Harte staied and taken for M. Orton to whom he nothing at al resembled M. Cottam was likevvise staied by reason the markes which Sledd had giuen of him were in deede very cleere apparēt in him And for the auoiding of charges one Allen then Maior of Douer Steuens the searcher requested the lay man M. Cottams companion who named him self Hauard to cary him as a prisoner to my L. Cobhame who agreed very easily therevnto But assone as they were out of the tovvne I can not in conscience nor wil not quoth Hauard being my self a Catholike deliuer you a Catholike Priest prisoner to my L. Cobham But we wil
to vvhat end but aftervvard aduertised hovv the matter stoode and perceiuing that he was to be remoued The key of the doore vvas taken from the keeper and the L. HoptoÌ„ after her fashion seased on the purse per vsucapionem he desired leaue to retorne into his chamber to make him selfe ready and to featch his purse which he had left behinde him but it vvould not be graunted but he commaunded him to be deliuered to certaine officers there attending as he said for his conducting to Essex appointed by the cheefe of the councel M. Paine in his cassocke onely went forvvard with them beeing the more gentely dealt with that he vvas not bound at al. On Thursday at night his name vvas recited with about 13. witches As our Sauiour Cum iniquis deputatus est c. other murderers and theeues On Friday about 10. of the cloke he vvas arraigned after this maner First his endightemeÌ„t was read viz. that M. Paine should vtter to Eliot at a certaine Christemas lying with him in his chamber that many deuises haue been heretofore concerning the chang of religion and yet none haue prosperously succeded but of al others this seemeth the best vvhich I haue hearde quoth he sometime mentioned of the Earle of Vvestmerland D. Allen and D. Bristovve that 50. men wel appointed with priuy coates and dagges As though the Catholikes vvould care for these if her M. vvere dead This poore captiue ladie is touched in al these forgeres of purpose to make her odious should espie some opportunitie vvhen the Queene were at progresse and sley the Queenes Maiestie the E. of Leicester and M. Vvalsingham and then to proclaime the Queene of Scottes Q. also that it should be no greater an offence to kill the Queene then to dispatche a brute beaste This being read M. Paine denied the endightement and defied al treason Protesting that he alvvaies in minde worde honored the Queenes Maiestie aboue any woman in the world that he would gladly alvvaies haue spent his life for her pleasure in any lavvfull seruice that he praied for her as for his ovvne soule that he neuer inuented or compassed any treason against her Maiestie or any of the nobilitie of England Then M. Morice the Queenes counseller on the parte of her Maiestie begane to proue M. Paine to be a traitor tvvo waies by presumption and deposition The presumption was gathered for that about v. yeres past Either great simplicitie or great deceit to say that in taking orders they svveare to the Pope Persons are named that the lie may seeme more probable he went beyond the seas and retorned againe speedely Secondly because he vvas made Priest of the Bishope of Cambray and so had sworne him selfe to the Pope vvho is our most open ennemy Thirdly that he had speach with traitors in Flaunders with the E. of Vvestmerland D. Allen and D. Bristovve Fourthly that he trauailed vvith a traitors sonne M. Vvilliam Tempest The deposition was of Eliots othe and his ovvne confession on the racke Consequently Eliots svvore that the endightement vvas true and M. Paines confession was read This being donne M. Paine ansvvered to the presumptions saying that to goe beyond the seas was not a sufficient token of a traitor neither to be made Priest of the Bishope of Cambray for so were many others Vvhen he vvas of the seminarie it had no pension of the Pope nothing at al thinking of treason confessing also that he vvas not the Popes scholler neither had any maintenaunce of him To the third he ansvvered that he neuer talked with the Earle of Vvestmerland and that D. Allen and D. Bristovve neuer talked to his knovvledg of any such thinges To the fourth That M. Tempest was an honest gentilman and neuer talked with him about treason neither was it vnlavvfull to keepe him companie seeing that he was seruant to a right honorable counseller Sir Christopher Hatton He refelled Eliots deposition first taking God to witnes on his soule that he neuer had such speach with him Secondly he brought tvvoe places of Scripture and a statute to proue that vvithout twoe sufficient witnesses no man should be condemned the scriptures are Io. 8. v. 17. 1 Elizab. 6.13 Elizab. 1.1 Ed. c. 12. The testimonie of tvvo men is true and Deut. 17. v. 6. In the mouth of tvvo or three vvitnesses shal he perishe vvhich shal be put to death let no man be put to death one only bering vvitnes against him Thirdly Vvhat kinde of men the persecutors procure to be vvitnesses against God Priestes he proued Eliot insufficient to be a witnes for oppression of poore men euen to death for a Rape and other manifest levvde actes with women for breach of coÌ„tracte for cozoning the L. Peter of Money for changing ofte his religion for malice against him self for being attached of murder and such like actes after he made a long discourse of Eliots dessembling vvhen he came to M. Moores for him with a warrant inducing him to warvvicksheere about his mariage Herevpon a Iury vvas impanneld vvho on friday after dinner brought euidence that he was guilty VpoÌ„ Saturday a littel befor dinner coÌ„ming againe to the barre iudge Gaudy asked M. Paine vvhat he could say for him selfe Vvho ansvvered that he had said sufficiently alledging that it vvas against the lavv of God and man that he should be condemned for on mans witnes notoriously infamous Then the iudge said that if he were not guilty the countrey would haue found it M. Paine ansvvered that those men of the Iury were poore simple men nothing at al vnderstanding what treason is and that he had demaunded the definition of conspiracie before of M. Morice and them which they would not geue but if it please the Queene and her councel A blessed resolution that I shal die I referre my cause to God Then the iudge said that his ovvne vvordes made most against him and if Eliot had svvorne falsly Nether Eliots othe nor the Iuries verdit shal excuse the iudge befor God his death should be required at his handes the vvhich no man knevve but God and him selfe M. Paine said that al was but trecherie in seaking of his bloode In fine iudge Gaudy pronouÌ„ced the sentence of condemnatioÌ„ and aftervvarde exhorted him to repent him selfe although said he you may better instructe me herin The people are made beleeue that Catholikes put not their vvhole trust in Christ Thos men are no fit matter for Ministers â—o vvorke on persons ladeÌ„ vvith sinne are subiect to their persuasions M. Paine demaunded the time when he should suffer it was ansvvered on Munday follovving about 8 of the clocke After that he was retorned to prison the highe Sherife and others came to him and demaunded Vvhether he made IESVS CHRIST the only cause of his saluation to whom he ansvvered affirmatiuely professing vnto them the Catholike veritie Al sunday till v. of the clocke one D.
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