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 [Page] 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 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. [Page] 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 his death and soule: A time, whē such a man vvould ne­uer lye. adding that tou­ching this point, both the Iurie might easely be de­ceiued, and more also put into the euidence then was true. Notwithstāding he forgaue, as he would be forgiuen, Great cha­ritie. desiring al them to forgeue him whō he had cōfessed vpon the rack. (for vpon the cō ­missioners othes, that no harme should come vnto them, he vttered some persons, vvith vvhom he had been).

He expoun­deth his letter, falsely cōstrued by the aduersa­ries.Further he declared the meaning of a letter sent by him self in time of his imprisonement, to M. Pound a captiue then also in the Tovver, in which he vvrot, he vvould not disclose the secrets of some hovvses vvhere he had been entertained, af­firming on his soule, that the secrets he meāt in that letter, vvere not as it vvas misconstred by the en­nemie, treason or conspiracie, or any matter els, any way entented against her M. or the state, but saying of Masse hearing of confession, Vvhich in these mise­rable daies, must be do­ne as secret­ly, as murder or treason. preaching, and such like dueties and functions of Priesthod: this he protested to be true, as he vvould ansvver before God.

Then he desired Sir Frauncis Knovvles, and some other of nobilitie to heare him touching one Ri­chardson condemned about a booke of his, and ear­nestly besought them to haue consideration of that man, saying, he was not that Richardson vvhich brought his booke, and this he affirmed vvith vehe­ment protestation vpon his death. ( This notvvith­standing, Richardson was executed, one man for another, quid pro quo, like il poticaries.)

A nevv pra­ctise to cou­lor their in­iustice.Then one Hearne a schole Maister, as I lerned after, red the nevv aduertisement openely vvith loude voice to the people, published only to coulor so manifest and expresse iniurie: F. Campion al the [Page] time of his reading, deuoutely praying.

Notvvithstanding vvhich aduertisement or de­fence of theirs, as vvel because they distrusted their ovvne pollicie in publication thereof, as that they did also desire some better coulor or faster visard for their procedings, pressed him to declare his opinion of Pius quintus Bul concerning the excō ­munication of the Q. To which demaund he gaue no ansvvere.

But being asked whether he renounced the POPE, said he was a Catholike. wherevpon one in­ferred, saying: Catholicis­me is trea­son, in Atheisme. In your Catholicisme (I noted the worde) al treason is conteined. In fine, preparing him self to drinke his last draught of Christs cup, was interrupted in his praier by a Minister, willing him to say, Christ haue mercie vpon me, or some like praier with him: vnto whom he loking backe with milde countenance, humbly said: Catholikes may not pray vvith Heretikes. You and I are not one in religion, vvherefore I pray you content your self, I barre none of praier, only I desire them of the houshold of faith to pray vvith me, and in my agonie te say one CREEDE (for a signification that he died for the confession of the Catholike faith therein con­tained.)

Some also called on him to pray in English: to whom he ansvvered, that he vvould pray in a lan­guage that he wel vnderstood. And God to. At the vpshot of this conflict he was willed to aske the Q. forge­uenes and to pray for her.

He meekely ansvvered: Vvherein haue I offended her? In this I am innocent, this is my last speach, INNOCEN­CIE. in this giue me credit, I haue and do pray for her. Then did the Lord Charles Hovvard aske of him, For which Queene he praied, whether for Elizabeth Q. To whom he ansvvered, Yea for Elizabeth your Queene and my Queene. And the carte being dravven avvay, he meekly and svveetly yelded his soule vnto his [Page] Sauiour, protesting that he died a perfect Catho­like.

Vvhich his mylde death and former sincer pro­testations and speaches of his innocencie, In the boo­ke printed in Mundaies name, of his death. moued the people to such compassion and teares, that the aduersaries in their printed bookes were glad to excuse the matter.

So gratiously and gloriously this blessed man ended and ouercame in Christ al these mortal my­series, novv enjoying in heauen the triumphant crovvne of his happy confession and Martyrdom: F Campion martyred by Gods proui­dence in the citie of his natiuitie. made by Gods prouidence before all London, the place of his natiuitie. That such of his citizens as were not vvorthie to enioy the life and labours of one of the famousest persons that their citie hath bredde in our memorie: may yet, either by his sa­cred innocent bloude, He praieth for his frēds and enne­mies. povvred out here amonge them, or by his holy praiers, which he novv doubt­les maketh both for his louing frendes and deadly persecutors, be conuerted from their damnable and palpable errors.

His age.He liued in this worlde about fortie and tvvo yeres: after his childhod and education in London, he was brought vp in S. Iohns colledge of Oxford, passingly beloued for his singular graces, of the founder thereof, Sir Thomas Vvhite of worthie me­morie, at whose burial he made an eloquent ora­tion in latine, hauing made the like before in En­glish, at the funerals of my L. Dudley, late wife to the Earle of Leicester. Vvhere after he had passed with al commendation through such exercises, de­grees and offices, as the vniuersitie yeldeth to men of his condition: He passed through al offices in the vniuer­sitie. though he vvere neuer wholy inclinable to the sectes of this time, yet by the im­portunate persvvasions of some of his frendes. much desirous for his vvorldly honor and aduan­cement to haue him come to the pulpite, and take liuinges, he suffered him selfe to be made deacon [Page] after their nevve maner, not wel knovving then, hovve odible to God, that and the rest of their schismatical degrees be:

But for al that our Lord mercifully vvith held him frō that ambitious course vvhich is the goulfe that many goodly wittes haue perished in, He vvent into Irland & vvrot the storie ther­of eloquent­ly. in these daies. Therefor spending some more time in study, and trauailing into Irland, the historie of which countrey he vvrotte very truly and elo­quently, hearing that there vvas a Seminary not longe before begonne in Dovvay, thither he went, where after a yeres great diligence and many ex­cercises done booth in house and publike scholes, He vvent to the Semina­rie at Douay. he proceded bachilier of diuinitie, He procee­ded Bachi­ler of Diui­nitie. to his great comendation, and the honor of our nation.

Neuerthelesse al this while, specially, being novv of more deuotion, zeale, lerning and iudge­ment then before, the continual cogitation of that Schismatical order of English deaconshipe which he had taken, did so sore oppresse his minde, His trouble of minde for taking scismatical orders. and the conceite of the greatnes of that sinne, so bur­dened his conscience, that no counsel of lerned frendes could geue him satisfactiō, nor othervvise deliuer him of the fearful 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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. He offered his ij fellovves before in the time of the search, His charitie. that if they thought al that a doe vvas for him, and that his yelding might acquite them, he vvould geue him selfe vp to their handes, but they would not suffer that, in any vvise: but hearing one an others confession expected Gods good vvil toge­ther, euery one hauing enioyned penance to say thrise, Fiat voluntas tua domine, thy vvil be fulfilled and Sancte Ioannes Baptista ora pro me, saint Iohn Baptist pray for me. Vvhich blessed Saint they principally praied vnto, for that the said Father Campion, vvas deliuered as he toke it, His patrone. out of the searchers handes at Douer, by the holy mediation of that holy prophet, his special patrone.

But F. Campion the man of God, His behaui­our. being novv in the povver of his said traditor, and the officers, and made a spectacle, and matter of mockerie to the vnvvise multitude & vngodly of al sortes, shewed such marckable modestie, myldnes, patience, and Christian humilitie in al his speaches and doings, that the good vvere excedingly edified, and the ennemies much astonied.

After ij. His carying vp to Lon­don. daies that he vvas in the sherife of Barkeshires custodie, he vvas caried with the rest asvvel Priests as Gentilmen, and other in that place apprehended, tovvards London. In the vvay he had many pretie and plesant disputes, speaches and ansvvers vvith the Gentilmen that garded him, & other that came to see him: to their vvonderful liking & admiratiō of his so cheereful and Christiā behauiour, in the middest of his destresses, which to the worldly there about him seemed intolerable, but to him that had such an invvard man they were nothing.

At Abington among others, diuers schollers of Oxford came to see the man so famous, vvhereof being tolde by one M. Lidcote, he said, he vvas very glad, him selfe being once of that vniuersitie, and asked vvhether they vvould heare a sermon. There at dinner Eliote said vnto him, Eliots speach to F. Cam­pion. M. Campion, you looke cherefully vpon euery body but me, I knovve you are angrie vvith me in your hart for this vvorke: God forgeue the Eliot (said he) for so iudging of me: I forgeue thee, and in token thereof I drinke to thee, yea and if thou vvilt repent and come to con­fession I vvil absolue thee: but large penance thou must haue.

M. Filbies strange dre­ame.Aftervvard at Henley, M. Filby a Priest and one of the prisoners (not found in the house vvith the rest, but taken in the vvatch, as he vvas comming to the house) had in his sleepe a significant dreame or vision, of the ripping vp of his body and taking out of his bovvels: the terrour vvhereof caused him to cry so loud, that the vvhole house vvas raised ther­by, vvhich aftervvard in his ovvne, F. Campions, and other his fellowes Martyrdom, vvas accomplished.

Besides the tying of their legges vnder the hor­ses bellies, and binding their armes behind them, vvhich was done to others also, the Coūsel appoin­ted special punishement and disgraces for F. Cam­pion, Disgraces donne to F. Campion. not euer vvont to be done til the partie vvere conuicted of some crime, commaunding a paper to be set vpon his hat vvith great capital letters she­vving him to be CAMPION THE SEDITIOVS IESVIT: as the herodiās once reuested his Maister for the like cause, and in like kind of mockerie vvith kingly robe, crovvne, and scepter.

And to take their further pleasure of him, or­der vvas geuen, they should stay at Colbrucke a good peece of friday and al night that thence they might bring him and his fellovves vpon Saturday in triumph through the citie and the vvhole length [Page] thereof, specially through such places vvhere by reason of the markets of that day, the greatest con­course of the common people vvas, vvhom in such matters they seeke of pollicie most to please, vvhich vvas executed accordingly: The vvise lament. The simple gaze. al London almost be­holding the spectacle, the simple gasing and vvith delite beholding the noueltie, the vvise lamenting to see our countrie fallen to such barbarous iniqui­tie, as to abuse a sacred man so honorable in al na­tions for his lerning, and of so innocent a life.

Vvhen he came by the Crosse in Chepe, He doth re­uerēce to the CROSSE vvhich in these daies there, is o­dious. in the best maner he could being pinyoned, He christianly made the signe of our Sauiour vpon his brest: and vvith like humilitie, deeply bent his bodie for reue­rence tovvardes Christs image there. Vvhich vvas a strange sight to the deceiued people of that place.

So that day vvhich vvas the xxij. of Iuly, Committed to prison in the Tovver. he vvas deliuered vp to the Lieutenant of the Towere. Vvhere besides the ordinarie miseries incident to that kind of imprisonnement, doubled by the inhu­maine dealing and deepe hatred of Catholikes, The rigor and hatred of the Lieu­tenant. Often exa­mined and racked. The interrogatories at his first rac­king. of the cheefe officer there, after sundry examina­tions, terrors, and threattes by the L. Chauncellor and other of the Counsel and commission, he vvas diuers times racked, to vvring out of him by intol­lerable torments vvhose houses he frequented, by vvhom he vvas releiued, vvhom he had reconciled, vvhat he knevve (a strange case) by their confessions, vvhen, vvhich vvay, for vvhat purpose, by vvhat commission, he came into the Realme, hovv, vvhere, and by vvhom, he printed and dispersed his bookes and such like.

At his first racking they vvent no farther vvith him, vsing no great rigor vvith him in the torment: The 2. rac­king, is for forged Treasons. but aftervvard vvhen they savv he could not be vvon to cōdescende somvvhat at least in religion, vvhich they most desired, they thought good to forge matter of treason, and framed their demaun­des [Page] accordingly, about vvhich he vvas so cruelly torne and rent vpon the torture the tvvo laste times, that he told a secret frend of his that found meanes to speake vvith him, that he thought they meant to make him a vvay in that sort & that they demaunded him questions of relieuing vvith mo­ney the Irish rebells, of conspiring the Queenes death, inuasion of the realme, & of the sence of cer­taine vvordes of a letter vvhich he vvrote to M. Pound for ansvver of his former, The infide­litie of the Protestant messenger. vvhich a good fel­lovv promised by othe & his faith (that is the faith of a protestant) receiuing an angel for his labour to deliuer saffly, but did not. The meaning of the vvordes he both then and aftervvard, as vvel at the barre, as at his death vttered most sincerely: and for the rest if they had torne him in ten thousand pee­ces or stilled him to the quint essence, in that holy breast they should neuer haue found any peece of those fained treasons.

He vsed to fal dovvne at the rackehovvse dore vpon both knees to commend him selfe to Gods mercie and to craue his grace of patience in his paines. His vsage before he vvent to the rack. His pacience vpon the rack. As also being vpon the racke he cried con­tinually vvith much myldenes vpon God and the holy name of IESVS. And vvhen his body vvas so cruelly distent and streached vpon the torment that he did hang by his armes and feete onely, he most charitably forgaue his tormenters, His charitie. and the causers thereof, and thanked one of the rack men meekely for putting a stone vnder his backe bone. A pitiful case. He said to his keeper after his last racking, that it vvas a preface to death.

The cōmu­nication be­twixt him & his keeper.And his said keeper asking him the next day hovv he felt his handes and feet: he ansvvered, not il, because not at al. And being in that case benom­me [...] both of hand and fote, he likened him selfe to an elephant, He was merrie in God in al his myse­ries. vvhich being dovvne could not rise: vvhen he could hold the bread he had to eate, be­tvvixt [Page] both his handes, he vvould compare him selfe to an ape: so mirry the man of God vvas in minde in al his bodely miseries.

Novv the ennemies not contented thus, and by many other vnvvonted vvaies of tortures, secretly as is said vsed tovvard him to afflict his body, but also no lesse by a thousand deuilish deuises and sclaunderous reportes, The Mini­sters false reports and slaunders of him. sought to wronge him in his fame. Opening al the impure mouthes of the Mini­sters in London, to barke against the man of God: sometimes, that there vvas great hope he vvould be come a protestant: sometimes, that he had been at the Church, and seruice: an other vvhile, that he had vttered vpon the rack al that euer he knevv: yea somtime they blevve out of the Tovvre, that he had therefore killed himselfe in prison: vvhich no doute they vvould further haue auouched, if he had died by racking, as it vvas very like he should haue done.

The Lieutenant at the beginning hoping vere­ly that he might be gayned to their side in some pointes, either by svveete vvordes, The Lieute­nants pra­ctise. great promises of promotions, or extreme tormens, extolled the man excedingly, affirming diuers times that he vvas such an one as England neuer brought furth: and suer (said he) it is Gods singular goodnes that he retorned home. No doute her Maiestie vvil preferre him to great liuings.

And that he might lacke no good pretence to yeld vnto their desires, Potestants brought to cōfere vvith him. they often brought to him such diuines as they had, to conferre vvith him: and to persvvade him priuatly to relente somvvhat to their sect but not preuailing that vvay, they caused vnder coulor of satisfying his former chalenge of disputation, diuers publike disputs, Disputatiōs. or rather cer­taine light skirmishes, to barke at him, and exa­mine him: 4. or 5. of the contrary side, al prouided as vvel as they could, against one voyd of al helps [Page] sauing Gods grace and lerning: The disor­der of their conference. novv, one snatching and novv another, and somtimes al biting togea­ther, besides the Maisters of the game, that vvhen they savv F. Campion in ansvvering and defending him selfe (for he vvas neuer suffered to oppose) to gripe the aduersaries hard, The partia­litie vsed in the disputa­tions. then they parted them vvith their tipstaues, commaunding him to silence, and threatening him vvith lavves, authoritie and punishment.

Thus they disputed iij seueral times vvith the man of God, shevving nothing in the vvorld, but barbarous despite, malice, and so deepe ignorance in diuinitie, that truely diuers of the protestants them selues vvere ashamed thereof, Their igno­rance in di­uinitie. and marueled excedingly at the others lerning, meekenes, pa­tience and humilitie. But these disputatiōs are to be published, and long sithince should haue been, but that hauing but hard meanes to print, and fevv presses and many other bookes in hand, it could not yet be donne.

And novv by this time falling from al hope of his yelding to them, and so from al pitie and good affection tovvards him, they practised hovv to make him and his fellovves avvay by fome shevv of iustice, and that not for the nevv made treasons: that is to say, No care of religion. for meere religion, which in truth fevv of our aduersaries haue any care of: but for matters of treason, so called of old, and action a­gainst the state, meaning by the state (whatsoeuer they othervvise pretende) not the preseruation of her Maiestie & the weale-publike in deede, which would and might florish, and more securely stand with the Catholike Religiō, then by the sect novv allovved, but the wealfare of some fevv raised and vpholden by this nevv religion. Vvel they forged matter for their purpose and to English cares most odible: and found out three or foure false fellovves that would not sticke to svvere for their sake the [Page] same, against him whom they neuer knevv nor savv in their life, before his apprehension. And yeat fearing lest nothing which they could faine and forge should be hable for any ouert act done or past to touch him, they fraudulently sought before hand to seeke his invvard intentions and cogitations of future things also, by certaine de­maundes concerning the Bul of excommunication put furth against the Queene, or that might be pu­plished hereafter, that so at least they might seeme to cōdemne him for his internal il affection, whom they could not couinct of any traiterous external fact. So they caused an enditement to be dravven against him and a number more of most godly lear­ned Priests, comprising him and them al in one, and together, that whatsoeuer couloerably might be auouched or witnessed of the rest or any on of thē al either present or absent, al might seeme to the simple and to the Ieury deeply biazed by feare and authoritie, to touch him also vvith the rest.

The 14 day of Nouember an. 1581. he and seuen others were brought frome the towre to the kings beanches barre, and a bille of their enditement read in the hearing of F. Campion and the rest: hovv that in the xxij yere of the raigne of our soueraine Lady the Queene Maij vltimo, The endite­ment. in the parties beyond the seas, they had practised the Q. deposition and death, and the sturring of rebellion within, and in­uasion of the Realme from abrode and such like stuffe. Vvherevpon he was arraigned with the other, and commaunded as custome is in such cases, to hold vp his hand: but being pitifully by his often cruel racking benummed before of bothe his armes, and hauing them vvrapped in a furred cuffe, he vvas [...]ot able to lifte his hand so high, nor in that sor [...] [...]s the rest did, and vvas required of him: one of his fellovves humbly kissing his sacred handes, so vvroung for the confession of Christ, [Page] tooke of his cuffe, and so he lifted vp his arme as highe as he coulde pleading not guiltie, as the rest did and not much standing vpon priuilege of their cleargie, Smale re­spect of Cle­argie novv. vvhich they knevv in this vvicked time in that courte could haue no place, he and al the other agreed to be tried by God and their coun­trey. Vvherevvith F. Campion said as a true Father in the behalfe of him selfe and the rest of his chil­dren: F. Campions protestatiō. I protest before God and his Angels, before heauen and earth, before the vvorld and this barre vvhereat I stande, vvhich is but a smale resem­blance of the terrible iudgement of the next life, that I am not guiltie thereof, nor of any part of treason contained in the inditement, or of any other treason vvhatsoeuer. Againe (quoth he) to proue any such thing against me, it is merely im­possible. And then vvith great admiration and zea­lous indignation he lift vp his voice. Is it possible to find xij. so wicked and consciencelesse men in this citye or land, that vvil find vs guiltie togea­ther of this one crime, diuers of vs neuer meeting nor knowinge one the other before our bringing to this barre? And at the same time whē they asked the other seuerally by whom they would be tried, the blessed confessor M. Shervvine, with great cou­rage, M. Sherwins protestatiō. clapping his hand vpon the barre, answered, That they would be tried by God and the coun­trie, and by al the trials that be in heauen or earth, that God or man hath. Thus much onely done that day, and a quest was impanelled for the next mun­day: being the xx. day of the same moneth. But three of the first of that impanel being Squiers, Some vvere loth to be of the Quest. be­like fearing God, and doubting that iustice should haue no free course that day: but that conscience were like to be put to silence in these mens case, whose bloud was so ernestly thirsted a [...]er, those three I say appered not when the day came, M. Lye for­man of this Quest. Lye Vtterbarrester in the Inner temple with the rest, [Page] made their apparance. In the meane time F. Campion & his fellow confessors, were recaried to the pri­sons from vvhence they came.

They were brought backe againe to iudgemēt the xx. day of Nouembre before mentioned. The grea [...] number of nobles and others, that were present to see the euent of this strange ar­raignement. where notvvithstanding what commaundement soeuer, or order taken to the contrary, there vvas such a presence of people, & that of the more honorable, vvise, lerned and best sort, as vvas neuer seen nor heard of in that court, in our, or our fathers me­mories before vs, or at any arraignemēt of the grea­test dukes or peeres of this land (excepting the number of Lordes which are there in that case of necessitie) so vvonderful an expectation there was, of some, to see the ende of this maruelous tragedie, contening so many strang and diuers acts, of exa­mining, racking, disputing, treacheries, proditions, subornations of false vvitnesses, and the like: of others, to behold vvhether the old honor of lavv and iustice, wherein our nation hath of al the world had the praise, could or durst stand, not vvithstanding any violent impression of povver and authoritie to the contrary. Vvhether there vvere any Markams left in the land that would yeld vp coiffe, office and life, In Edvvard the 4 his daies. rather then geue sentence against such as they knevv in cōscience to be innocent, & in truth not touched by any euidence what soeuer. But this one day gaue that assembly and al the vvorld, both present and to come, proffe of the pitieful fal, together with the CATHOLIKE FAITH, of Equitie, lavv, conscience and iustice, in our poore countrie.

For nothing there said by the Queenes Attur­ney, Solliciter or other Councellers of that kinde, No sufficiē [...] prooffes brought a­gainst them. either by any of those that vvere at their racking, either by the suborned false vvitnesses, could in any wel enformed mans conscience, touch any of them: as euery of the rest, and specially this [Page] man of God F. Campion did point by point proue and declare, F. Campions actions least subiect to calumniatiō. as cleare as the sunne. Yet of al the rest F. Campions innocencie & defence vvas so plaine in al mens sight, that what coulor soeuer might be made for the others condemnation, yet for F. Cam­pions none at al. The iudge­ment of thē that stoode by. In so much that whilest the Ieurie vvere gone furth, diuers wise and vvel lerned law­iers and others, coniecturing and conferring one with an other what should be the verdict, they al agreed that it was impossible to condemne F. Cam­pion, although some of the rest perhaps might vpon some sequele be declared guiltie.

They sought specially F. Campions death. M. Popham gaue them a watch word that the Q. Would haue it founde.But it was F. Campion that specially vvas desi­gned to die, and for his sake the rest. And therefore no defence could serue. The poore xij. therefore did that, that they thought was loked for at their handes, and made them al guiltie, which M. Popham told them must needes be found: the vniustest ver­dict that euer I thinke vvas geuen vp in that land, vvhereat alredy, not onely England, but al the Christian vvorld doth vvonder, and al our poste­ritie shal lament, and be ashamed of the same. Therevpon the sentence of like iniquitie, The senten­ce. that al these holy men should be hanged, dravven and quartered, after the vsual termes of iudgement in the crime of treason, vvas geuen: & so that doleful day vvas spent. F. Campion and his happie associats reioyced in God, vsing diuers holy speaches of scriptures to their ovvne comforts and other mens much edifying, and so were sent backe to their prisons againe, vvhere being laied vp in yrons for the rest of their time, expected Gods mercie and the Queenes pleasure.

And this blessed F. Campion amongest the rest passed his time vvith such godly spiritual exercises, The good opinion of his keeper. vvith such patience and svveete speaches to his keeper and others that had to deale with him, who aftervvard hauing the custody of Norton, com­paring [Page] their conditions together, said plainely, he had before a Sainct in his keeping, & now a Diuel: for vvhich speach the plaine spoken man vvas shent.

And al this vvhile, His tempta­tiōs to yeld. they stil tempted him to their religion promising life and libertie, notvvithstan­ding his pretended hainous treasons, if he would yeld neuer so litle vnto them: The Lieute­nants prof­fer to his sister. in so much as the Lieutenant said to his sister that came to visite him but iij daies before his Martyrdom, if he wil yet conforme him self, I wil make him spend a hun­dereth povvnds by the eare. But his grace & excel­lencie could not be expugned by such base prof­fers, the kingdome of England and al the vvealth and glorie therein, not being a iust permutation for the least of his vertues, much lesse for his deare soule bought with Christs pretious bloud, and adorned with Gods so singular giftes and graces, the crovvne and revvarde whereof, he receiued vpon the first of December as is afore said.

The morning that he was brought furth to dye, he meet with M. Shervvin and M. Brian expecting his cōming in Coulharbar. Vvhere there passed much svveete speach and embrasing one of an other: al which vvhile M. Lieutenāt sought for F. Campions buffe ierkine, meaning if he could haue found it, for the more disgrace of the man of God, to haue executed him in it, so base is the despiteful malice of such, who vvith al the persecutors of Gods Sain­ctes, shal be doonge and durte, when these men shal be gloriouse in heauen and earth. The basse & malicious spite of the heretike. Vvhen he was brought furthe among the people, he said alovvde, God saue you, God blesse you al, and make you Catholikes.

And so was caried avvay to the ordinarie place of execution, and was hanged vpon the nevv gal­lovves, which is novv called among Catholikes the Gibbet of Martyrs, The Gibbet of Martyrs. because it was first set vp and [Page] dedicated in the bloud of an innocent Catholike Confessor, and aftervvard by this mans, and diuers Priests and others Martyrdoms, made sacred.

After he had trauailed a good while in the spi­ritual haruest of our countrey, he wrote this letter folovving of the state thereof to his general, which I wil set dovvne in Latine as he wrote it, because he had a special grace in that language.

M. RAPH. SHERWINE PRIEST, AND MASTER OF ARTE.

FATHER Campion hauing so glori­ously triumphed ouer the world the flesh the diuel, and Heresie, and had receiued his long desired crovvne: M. Sherwins spiritual ex­ [...]rcises. M. Raph Shervvine a godly, wise, discret, and lerned priest, was brought into the carte, a man so mortified, so feebled vvith fasting, vvatching, and such other spiritual exercises, as vvas wonderful vnto such, vvho had conuersed with him before his emprisonment.

His behaui­our in the carte.He standing vpon the carte, vvith closed eyes, vvith handes lifted vp to heauen in contemplation and praier, al men marking his demeanur, vvith milde voice first made this demaund: Doth the people expect that I should speake? Being ansvvered of many and some of nobilitie, yea, yea, vvith stoute courage and strong voice he said.

Then first, I thanke the omnipotent and most merciful God the Father, for my creation: my svveete and louing Sauiour CHRIST IESVS, for my redemption: and the holy Ghost, for my sancti­fication: three persons and one God.

After this thankes geuing vnto the holy and blessed Trinitie, entring into the discourse of his faith, his condemnation and death, vvas interrupted and staid by Sir Frauncis Knovvles and the Sherifes, saying: you haue declared your faith, and vve knovv it, come to the point, and confesse your treason & disloyaultie tovvards your Prince.

INNOCEN­CIE.Vvherevpon he constantly said, I am innocent and guiltles. And being stil vrged, ansvvered, I vvil not belie my self, for so should I condemne my ovvne soule. And although I haue confusion in this vvorld, yet I doubt not of my saluation in CHRIST IESVS, in vvhom only I looke to be saued, and in vvhose [Page] death, Passion, and bloud I only trust: and so made a svveete praier to IESVS acknovvledging the im­perfection, miserie, and sinful vvretchednes of his ovvne nature, The cause of his going beyond the seas. stil protesting his Innocencie from al Treasons and traiterous practises, & that his going out of this Realme beyond the seas, vvas only for his soules health, to learne to saue his soule.

And being againe interrupted by Sir Frauncis Knovvles he ansvvered in this vvise, Tush, tush, you and I shal ansvvere this before an other Iudge, vvhere my innocencie shalbe knovven, and you see that I am guilt­les of this. Vvherevpon Sir Frauncis said, By conse­quēce quoth he? vve knovve you are no contriuer or doer of this treason, for you are no man of armes, but you are a traitor by conse­quence.

But M. Shervvine boldly ansvvered, If to be a CATHOLIKE onely, if to be a perfect Catholike, be to be a traitor then am I a traitor. After vvhich vvordes being by authoritie debarred of further speach, he said, I forgeue al vvho either by general presumption, His charitie. or particular error haue procured my death, and so deuou­tely praied vnto IESVS: They batie this Bul wō ­derfully. after which praier he vvas vrged to speak his opinion touching POPE Pius his Bul. to vvhich point he gaue no ansvvere.

Then being vvilled to pray for the Q M. he ansvvered, I haue, and do. at vvhich vvordes the L. Hovvard againe asked, which Q. he meant, whe­ther Elizabeth Queene? He smileth as their fol­lie. to whom somewhat smi­ling he said, Yea for Elizabeth Queene, I novve at this instant pray my Lord God to make her his seruant in this life, and after this life coheir vvith CHRIST IESVS.

Vvhen he had thus praied, there vvere there, A hainous treason, to wish the Q. saluation. which said openly, that he ment, to make her a Papist, to vvhom he boldly replied, Els God forbid. And so collecting him selfe to praier, died pacient­ly, constantly, and mildely, crying, IESVS, IESVS, IESVS, esto mihi IESVS.

Thus this blessed man was deliuered of this cor­ruptible [Page] body. of vvhose life I thought good [...]o set downe some fevv lines also. He vvas a Master of arte, He vvas Se­nior in the act. and so vvel learned, that he vvas Senior of his act or commencement, vvhich is a schole charge of honor, and done by him in the presence of the Earle of Leicester, and diuers other of the nobilitie that came from the court, then lying at Vvodstocke, to their great liking and his commendation. And skilful in the tōges. Left the vni­uersitie. Vvent to Dovvay. He vvas also very skilful in the three tonges. And leauing the Vniuersitie, and the condition he had in his colledg, for cōscience sake, vvent ouer to Dovvay to the Seminarie that vvas then there: and after some yeres study in Diuinitie vvas made Priest the xxiij of March the yere M.D lxxvij. together with M. Lavvrence Iohnson, Vvas made Priest. that vvas martyred vnder the 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 vvith al to goe to the [...]c [...]ismatical Church. he vvas cal­led before the Lieutenāt (as likevvise al his fellovv prisoners vvere) vvho demaunded of him by com­mission [Page] from the Counsel, vvhether he vvould goe to their heretical seruice, vvho refusing, the Lieu­tenant told him the danger of a late statute made in that behalfe, and that farther he should be endited vpon that statute with in ij or iij daies, so that at that time as it should seeme, The treason as then not hatched. they had no such mat­ter to lay against him as after vvas pretended, for it vvas not as then, throughly hatched.

The order of his life in his spare diet, his conti­nual praier and meditation, Euen the Protestants did admire his vertues. his long vvatching vvith ofte & sharpe discipline vsed vpon his body caus [...]d great admiration to his keeper. who vvould alvvaies cal him, a man of God, and the best and de­uoutest Priest that euer he savv in his life.

Vvhen he came out of the Lieutenants hal (vvith other of his fellovves, tvvo daies or there about before he vvas Martyred, hauing talked vvith a Mi­nister, vvho was neuer so holden vp to the vval in his life, His no [...]able sp [...]ach to F. Campion. by report of such as stoode by) he vttered these vvordes, Ah F. Campion, I shal be shortely aboue yonder fellovv, pointing to the sunne, vvith such a courage, that some said he vvas the resolutest man that euer they savv.

He vvil neuer be forgotten in the Tovver, for some vvords which he spake when he vvas ready to goe to execution, attending F. Campion, vvho was lodged further of. Charke the Minister can best report them, The very Ministers iudge him innocent. vvho stoode harde by him. Some of Charkes fellow Ministers said, those vvordes could not come from a guiltie conscience.

M. Alexander Brian Priest, and graduat.

AFTER these tvvo glorious martyrs, vvas brought vnto his Martyrdome M. Alexander Brian, a man not vnler­ned, M. Brians rare giftes. of a very svveet grace in prea­ching, but of passing zeale, patience, constancie and humilitie, of whose pressures in prison and tortures (strange I dare say among hea­thens, more monstruous among Christians) I vvil speake a none.

Being in the carte prepared to death, he begane first to declare his bringing vp in the Catholike faith and religion, his being in Oxford, vpon which [Page] word he was staid by one saying: what haue vve to do with Oxford? come to the purpose, and con­fesse thy treason. INNOCEN­CIE. Vvherevpon he ansvvered, I am not guiltie of any such death, I vvas neuer at Rome, nor then at Remes, vvhen D. Saunders came into Irland. To this ende he spake and protested, as he would ansvvere before God.

He spake not much, but where as he was vrged more then the other to speake vvhat he thought of the said Bul of Pius quintus, This Bul is stil reuiued. he said he did beleeue of it as al Catholikes and the Catholike faith doth, and therevpon protesting him selfe to die a true Catholike, as he was saying Miserere mei Deus, was deliuered of the carte vvith more paine by necli­gence of the hangman then either of the other, who after his beheading, him self dismembred, his hart, bovvels, and intrailes burned, to the great admiration of some, being laid vpon the blocke his belly dovvnevvard, lifted vp his whole body then remayning from the ground: and this I adde vpon report of others, not mine ovvne sight.

Of this mans life vve wil not speake, though it vvas alvvaies for al vertue & grace most spectable, but adde onely a fevv wordes of the things that he endured for his faith in the time of his imprison­ment.

He is taken and his chā ­ber riffe­led.About the 28. of April he was apprehended in his chamber at midnight by Norton, his chamber riffeled, three poundes of money taken from him (for that is a principal verbe in al apprehensions of Catholikes) his apparel and other things, especial­ly a trunke vvherein was a siluer Chalice, & much other good stuffe, which vvas not his, but com­mitted to his custodie taken avvay also, and he sent close prisoner to the Counter, with commaunde­mēt to stay al that asked for him, He vvas al­most fa­mished. & that he should haue neither meat nor drinke, who in such order continued vntil he was almost famished.

In fine by frendship or what meanes. I knovv not, he gott a peny vvorth of hard cheese, and a litle broken bread, with a pinte of strong beare, which brought him into such an extreme thirst, that he assaied to take with his hatte the dropps of raine from the house eeues, but could not reach them.

The morrow after the Ascension day he vvas remoued to the Tower, vvhere he verely thought, He is remo­ued to the Tovver. he should haue been vtterly famished, & therefore caried vvith him a litle peece of his hard cheese, His feare of famine there. vvhich his keeper in searching him found about him, but M Brian humblie entreaded his keeper not to take it from him. His ordinarie allovvance in drinke, vvhich vvas at euery meale a potel-potful, could not for a great vvhile suffice him, such vvas his exceding thirst.

Vvithin tvvo daies after his comming to the Tower, he vvas brought before the Lieutenant, His exami­nation. M. D. Hammon, and Norton, vvho examined him after their common maner, first in tendering an othe to answere to al &c. And because he vvould not confesse vvhere he had seene F. Parsons, hovv he was māteined, vvhere he had said Masse, A cruel kind of Tormēt. and whose confessions he had hard: they caused needles to be thrust vnder his nailes, vvhereat M. Brian vvas not moued at al, but vvith a constant minde and plesant countenance said the Psalme Miserere, desiring God to forgeue his tormentors. Vvhereat D. Hammon stampt and stared, as a man half beside him selfe, saying, Vvhat a thing is this, if a man vvere not set­led in his religion, this vvere inough to conuert him.

He vvas euen to the dismembring of his body rent and torne vpon the rack, He vvas pi­tifully rac­ked. because he vvould not cofesse vvhere F. Parsons was, vvhere the print was, & vvhat bookes he had sould, and so vvas returned to his lodging for that time.

His racked againe al­most to death.Yet the next day follovving notvvithstanding the great distemperature and sorenes of his vvhole body, his senses being dead, and his bloud congea­led (for this is the effect of racking) he was brought to the torture againe, and there stretched with gre­ater seueritie then before (supposing vvith him self, that they vvould plucke him in peeces, and to his thinking there vvas a vaine broken in his hand, and that bloud ishued out there a pase) he put on the armor of patience, resoluing to dye, rather then to hurt any creature liuing, and hauing his minde raised in cōtemplation of Christs bitter PASSION, he sounded, that they vvere fame to sprinckle cold vvater on his face to reuiue him againe, yet they released no part of his paine.

The POPE, not the Queene, is head of the Church.And here Norton, because they could get nothing of him, asked him, vvhether the Queene vvere su­preme head of the Church of England or not, to this he said, I am a Catholike, and I beleeue in this as a Catholike should do. Vvhy said Norton, They say the POPE is. And so say I, ansvvered M. Brian.

So vvas CHRIST, and S. Paul vsed, by the like men.Here also the Lieutenant vsed railing and reui­ling vvords, and bobd him vnder the chinne, and flapt him on the cheekes after an vncharitable ma­ner. And al the commissioners rose vp and vvent their vvay, geuing commaundement to leaue him so al night, at vvhich vvhen they savv he vvas no­thing moued, they vvilled he should be taken from the torment, This is a ter­rible Don­geon. and sent him againe to Vvalesboure, vvhere not able to moue hand nor fote or any part of his body, he lay in his clothes xv. daies together vvithout bedding in great paine and anguish.

Vvhen he vvent to vvestminster hal to be con­demned, He vvas not asha­med of his Masters Bad­ge. he made a Crosse, of such vvodd as he could gett, vvhich he caried vvith him openly, he made shifte also to shaue his crovvne, because he vvold signifie to the prating Ministers, (vvhich scoffed and mocked him at his apprehension, saying [Page] that he vvas ashamed of his vocation) that he was not ashamed of his holy orders, nor yet that he vvould blush at his religion. Vvhen he vvas con­demned, yrons [...]vere cōmaunded vpon him, and the rest, as sone as they came home to the Tovver, and they vvere neuer taken of til they vvere fetch furth to be martyred.

These torments and the mans constancie are comparable truly to the old strange sufferings of the renommed Martyrs of the primatiue Church in the daies of Nero, Decius and Diocletian, vvhich he could neuer haue borne by humane streingth, if God had not geuen his singular and supernatural grace. Him self confessed that by a vovv he made and other special exercises, he had great cōsolation in al these vexations, whereof I wil set dovvne his ovvne vvordes in an Epistle that he vvrot to the Fathers of the societie in England.

And first of M. Thomas Forde, priest and Maister of arte.

THEY vvere al trailed vpon herdles from the Tovver of Lō ­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 cā not abid, the cō ­fessiō of the Catholike faith. saying, you come not hither to con­fesse your religiō, but as a traitor and male­factor to the Queenes Maiestie and the vvhole Realme, They harpe alwaies vpō one string, th [...]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, [Page] 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 sufficiēt 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, vvith the testi­monie of worshipfull men, Nothing wil serue to proue their condemnatiō to be iust. as the Queenes Atturney, D. Hammō, D. Levves & others, and if that vvil not serue, here is one of your ovvne companions that vvas the Po­pes scholler, to testifie your offence. To the which M. Forde ansvvered, that notvvith­standing, I am altogether not guilty vvhat soeuer you haue vvritten.

He cōtinued for the most parte in praier secretly to him self, during the time that the Sherife or any other spake to him. Then vvas a scrolle of his examination redd by a Minister, to some articles he said nothing, but to others he said that the POPE for [Page] some causes may depose a prince of his estate & dignitie, & discharge the subiectes of their deuties & allegeāce. for (quoth he) this question was disputed xiiij yeres since, at Oxford by the diuines there, Though not determined by whō, the prince might be deposed. before the Queenes Maiestie, and there it vvas made and proued to be a most cleere case in her ovvne presence. And here being inter­rupted, A notable cōpaniō for their purpo­se: that wil beare wit­nes of that which he neuer savv nor hard in his life. Munday the Popes scholler being called as a vvitnes, said, That Forde vvas priuey to their conspiracies, but vvas not able to affirme that euer he savv him be­yond the seas, this his assertion, M. Forde vtterly denied vpon his death. And being asked what he thought of the Queenes M, & vvithal vvilled to aske her & the whole realme, vvhom he had stirred to seditiō, for­geuenes. He said, that he acknovvledged her for his sufferaine and Queene, and that neuer in his life he offended her, INNOCENCIE. & so pray­ing secretly, desired al those that vvere of his faith to pray vvith him: & ended with this praier, IESVS, IESVS, IESVS, esto mihi IESVS. and hanged vntil his fellovv M. Shert (belike to terrifie him the more) might see him.

M. Iohn Shert Priest.

M. SHERT being broght frō the herdle, and seing his fellovv M. Forde hanged before him, vvith a confident courage, smyling countenance, and vvith his [Page] handes lifted vp, he spake as follovveth, O happie Tom, happie àrte thou that didst rūne that happie race, His martyr­dō and innocencie pro­ued him to be a Sainct, & as to such a on he prai­ed. O benedicta anima, thou art in good case. That blessed soule pray for me. And being lifted into the carte, he de­sired al Catholikes to pray for him. and turning to the place of execution (by the commaundement of the Sherife) seeing his fellovv bovveled and beheaded, he kneeled dovvne, and cried

O Tom, ô happie Tom, ô blessed soule happie arte thou, thy blessed soule pray for me. And being found fault withal, because he praied to those that were dead, he said, O blessed ladie mother of God pray for me, They cā not abid our La­dy to be praied vnto nei­ther. A marue­lous cōstācy and al the Sainctes of heauen pray for me, the Sherife finding fault vvith this as vvith erronious doctrine, he ansvvered that it vvas booth sound and true doc­trine, vvhich he vvould novv seale vvith his bloud. & after beganne as folovveth.

O blessed Lord, to thee be al honour and praise. First, I giue the most hartie thankes, A [...] goodly speach wor­thie such a Martyr. for that thou didst create me of nothing, to thy likenes & simili­tude. secondly, for my redemption by the death of thy svveete sonne IESVS CHRIST my Sa­uiour and redeemer. And lastly that thou vvilt bring me thy poore seruāt to so glorious & happie a death for thy sake, al though in the eies of world­linges contumelious and reprochefull, They seeme in the eies of fooles to die Sap. 3. yet to me most ioyfull and glorious, and for the vvhich I yeld the most hartie thankes, and therevvith vvas letted to proced further by the Sherife, M. Sherife loueth not such good talke. vvho said to him, aske the Queene forgiuenes for these trea­sons vvhereof thou arte cōdemned, vvho ansvve­red, The asking of forgiuenes doth implie an of­fence done, Douting thē selues of the vniust cōdē ­natiō, vvere forced to seeke nevv matter. for me to charge my self being inno­cent, it vvere not my deutie, and vve haue been rac­ked and tormented for these thinges, and nothing hath been found. also vve haue been tvvise examined since our condemnation, vvhich hath not been seen heretofore in any malefactor: those sup­posed [Page] treasons vvhereof I am condemned, I leaue betvvene God and my selfe, and vpon my death I am altogether innocent and faultles, and I vtterly refuse to aske her forgiuenes, for this fact vvher­of I am condemned, for that I am not guilty: but if in any other priuat matter I haue offended, I aske her and al the world forgiuenes, for it is impossible for me to be guilty of the conspiracie at Rhemes or Rome, being in England long time before the said supposed treasons committed, and continuing here stil sithence (the vvhich Munday being his ac­cuser did not much denie) for he said he neuer knevv him beyond the seas neither at Rome nor at Rhemes.

Then Sherife Martine requested a Minister that stoode besyde to reade his examination. Vvho ansvvered that as the man is obstinate now, so vpō his examination vvas he as obstinate, for he vttered nothing that is to be red, but that notvvithstāding he red the preface of the booke, A prety trick containinge, as is there to be seen, vvhich being redd, the Sherife de­sired M. Sherte againe, to knovvledge his offence seeing that it vvas so manifest, and to aske the Queene forgiuenes, It vvas ma­nifest by the preface of their ovvne making. What a moc­kery is this? affirming, that the Queene vvould deale very They knew he was as in nocēt as the Q. merciful. A markable saying. mercifully vvith him, and that he had authoritie him self, if he did acknovvledge his fault, to stay his execution and to returne him backe vvithout more a doe, and as euen not long since I found fault vvith you for svvearing, & you cryed God mercie therfore, so novv here confesse your offences and be sorie for them, vvho ansvve­red, should I for sauing this carkas condemne my soule? God forbid. Being asked vvhat he thought of the Queenes Maiestie, ansvvered: I acknovv­ledge her for my soueraigne ladie & Queene, for vvhose prosperous estat and vvel doing in prison and at libertie, INNOCENCIE. I did alvvaies pray. And being de­maunded vvhether he thought her to be supreme [Page] gouernor vnder Christ of the church of England? he said: Vvhen they can find no temporal & old treasons they flee to the spiritual treasons of their ovvne making.

I vvil geue to Caesar, that vvhich is his, & to God, that, that belongeth to God: She is not, nor cannot be, nor any other, but only the supreame pastor. Vvhat do you meane, that vvhore of Babilon the Pope, said the Sherife? Take heed M. Sherife (quoth M. Sherte) for the day vvil come vvhen that shal be a sore vvord for your soule, & thē it shal repēt you, A vvorthie admonitiō. that euer you c [...]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. Steuē, at the instigati­on of the Pharesies, so now moued by the Mini­sters. England can haue no ex­cuse, being so notoriously warned. Haue not Catholikes cōfidence in Christs pas­sion? saying, that he had liued to long. He deliuered his handkercheefe to the hangmā 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 roūde about, held vp his hāds 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 thē dovvne, he light vpon the rope, and so held it, and the officers pul­led them dovvne. The Sherife then said, A malicious & folish in­terpretaciō, 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 chaūce, as he vvas putting thē downe, fel vpon the rope which he by chāce 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 thē by horror to confesse the things wher of they were innocent. M. IOHNSON being brought from the herdel, vvas commaunded to loke vpō 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 cōspiring 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 thē. and as for any treasons I am neither guiltie in deede nor thought. Sherife. your ovvne hand subscribed to your examinatiō taken by men of good consciences, God make them his ser­uants, for diuers of them do against their consci­ence. Vvhē al fai­leth Mūday 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, s [...]al be laid against you. Also if that wil not serue, you shal haue him vvho vvas the Popes scholler & a companiō amongest you to testifie your treasons viua voce, one Munday, wherevnto M. Iohnsons ex­aminatiō 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 [Page] 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 He was not cōdēned 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 cō ­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 A most im­pudent and folish lie. Auiniō 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 How glad­ly they wold haue thē to cōfesse 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 [Page] 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, thē 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 demaūded, what do you meane by Catholike religion? Iohnson. I meane that religion vvhereof the POPE is supreame pastor. Then a Minister as­ked him, vvhat, vvas Athanasius a catholike? vvhat held he? to vvhom M. Iohnson ansvvered I am not so vvel red in Athanasius to know al his opiniōs. The other said, I am shure you haue read Quicūque vult &c.? vvherevnto M. Iohnson gaue no great at­tention. but he said againe, vvhat? haue you not redd Athanasius creede Quicunque vult &c? yes said he that I haue, and I beleeue it to be good and catholike. But in al that, said the Minister, you can not find the Pope once named. An argumēt meet for a Minister. It it not necessarie (quoth M. Iohnson) the Pope should be named in euery thing that appertaineth to the CATHOLIKE FAITH. Vvherevpon the rope vvas put about his necke, and he vvas vvilled to pray, which he did in latin. They willed him to pray in english that they might vvitnes vvith him: he said I pray that praier vvhich Christ taught, But God do­eth, to whō he praied, neither nee­deth he any witnes there of. The Mini­sters spea­ches ar euer like them selues. in a tonge I vvel vnderstand. Sherife. But vve do not vnderstand it. Iohnson. I do thinke your w. doth vnderstand it. Sherife. If I do, others do not: vvherefore pray in english that o­thers may testifie it, and pray vvith you. An other Minister cried pray as Christ taught. Iohnson. what? do you thinke that Christ taught in english? M. Iohnson praied in latin, saying his Pater noster his Aue and Creede and In manus tuas &c. & so the carte [Page] vvas trailed avvay, and he finished this life as the rest did: al hanged vntil they vvere dead, and so cut dovvne and quartered.

And first of M. Vvilliam Filbie, natiue of OXFORD.

ON wenesday being the 30 of May these 4 venerable Priests aboue named were trailed from the Tovver of Lon­don along the streates to Tyborne, a­bout vij of the clocke in the morning, when they were come to the place of execution, Vvilliam Filbie (being the yongest, not aboue xxvij yeres of age) was first taken from the herdle, and being lifted into the carte, he blessed him self with the signe of the Crosse, saying, In nomine pa­tris & filij & spiritus sancti. and so proceded with these wordes: Let me see my brethren, looking to the other which lay on the herdle. & there w [...]thal holding forth his handes to them, said, Pray for me. Then speaking to the companie, said: I am a Ca­tholike, and I protest before almightie God, that I am innocent of al these matters, whereof I am condemned, and I hope to be saued by the merites and death of our Sauiour IESVS CHRIST: beseeching him to haue mercie on me, and to for­giue me my offences. And therevvithal a procla­mation was red for keeping the Peace, and at the [Page] end thereof was said, God saue the Queene, to which he said, Amen.

The people asking him for what Queene he praied for, INNOCEN­CIE. he ansvvered, for Queene Elizabeth, beseeching God to send her a long & quiet raigne, to his good will, and make her his seruant, and preserue her from her enemies. Vvith that M. Top­cliff and others willed him to say, God saue her from the Pope. To whom he ansvvered he is not her ennemie, therevvith the Minister of S. Andre­wes in Holborne said, Note, that he saith the Pope is not the Queenes ennemie. A ministers note. And then a preacher called Charke, yes said he you are a traitor, for, you are svvorne to the Queenes svvorne ennemie. M, Filbie loking aside, said, what do you meane, I neuer toke othe in al my life. Vvhat said Charke, then are you not a Priest, you are deceiued, said M. Filbie, A promis of obedience to his ordi­narie: but therein is no mention of the Pope. it is a vow and not an othe. After that on of the Sherifes men standing in the carte with M Filbie, said vnto him, what hast thou there in thy handkercheefe, and therevvithal taking the hand­kercheefe from him, found a litle Crosse of wodde with in it, which he holding vp in his handes said, ô vvhat a villanous traitour is this, He vvas no more asha­med of this his Sauiours bāner, thē of his crovvne, the which he made shift to shaue. that hath a Crosse, diuerse times repeating it, and diuers of the people saying the same. Vvherevnto M. Filbie ansvvered nothing, onely smiling at them.

Then the articles, with the preface of the booke printed by authoritie, was redd, and his ansvvers vnto them. It was replied against him by some vrging him further vpon the same ansvver: if you hold this, then you can not be but a traitor to the Queenes Maiestie, for that the Pope hath deposed her by his Bul. M. Filbie said, that that Bull was per­chaunce called in againe by this Pope Gregorie the 13. to the sixt article he ansvvered, that if he had been in Irland, he would haue done as a Priest should haue done, that is to pray that the right might take [Page] place, to whom some replied did Saunders wel in that fact of Irland, I know not (quoth he) I was not priuie to his doinges, I neuer savv him or spake with him, let him ansvver for him self. Then Shreife Martine called vpon the hangman to dis­pacth, and the roope being about his necke, the Sherife said, Filbie, the Queene is merciful vnto you, and we haue authoritie from her, to carie you backe, if you vvil aske her mercie, INNOCEN­CIE. & confesse your fault doe not refuse mercie offered, aske the Q. forgiuenes, to whom M. Filbie ansvvered, I neuer offended her, wel then said the Sherife make an ende, & thus desiring al Catholikes to pray for him he praied, saying his Pater noster, his Aue, & In manus tuas &c. and when the carte was trailing avvay, he said Lord, receiue my soul. & so hanged knocking his breast seueral times til some pulled dovvne his handes, and so finished his life.

M. Luke Kirbie Priest, and M. of arte.

THEN was M. Luke kirbie brought to see his fellow hang, and being lifted vp to the carte, he beganne thus: O my frendes, ô my frendes, I am come hither for supposed treason, although in deede it be for my conscience, & after praied thus, O my Sauiour IESVS CHRIST by vvhose death and passion I hope to be saued, forgiue me sinfull sinner, my manifold sinnes and offences &c. and being cōmaunded to torne tovvardes the place of executiō, his fellow M. Filbie being beheaded, and as the maner is, the executioner lifting his head betvvene his handes, he cried, God saue the Queene, to the which M. kirbie said, Amen. & being asked what Queene, An vndis­crete questiō putting a scruple into the peoples heades. he ansvvered, Queene Elizabeth, to whom, he praied God to send a long and prosperouse raigne, and preserue her from her enemies. Charke willed him to say from the Pope his curse and povver. [Page] Kirbie, If the Pope leauie warre against her, or curse her vniustly, God preserue her from him also, and so to direct her in this life, as that she may further & mainteine Christs CATHOLIKE RELIGION, & at last enherite the kingdom of heauen.

And after, he made a solemne protestation of his innocencie in that, whereof he was condemned, adding, that if ther were any liuing that could iustly accuse him in any one point of that, whereof he was condemned, he was ready to submitte him self to her maiesties clemencie. And seing Munday present, he desired he might be brought in, to say what he could. Vvho being brought in, said, that being at Rome he persuaded him & an other yong man named Robinson, to stay there, and not to come to England, for that shortly some stirre or trouble vvas like to come, and seing that could not stay him, he said, that he willed him to per­suade those that were his frendes to the Catholike religion againe the great day. to which M. Kirbie ansvvered, that it was vnlike that he, who knew before his departure from Rome hovv he was affe­cted in religion, would vtter any such wordes to him, to persuade the people. To which Munday replied, that it was like, because he deliuered him some hallovved pictures to carie with him. To the which M. Kirbie ansvvered, that because he mistru­sted him he would deliuer, nor did deliuer him any but he said, he did deliuer him tvvo Iulies to bie pictures, and that now he was very ingratfully dealt with al, being by him falsely accused: he being such a benefactor to al his countreimen, al­though he knew them to be othervvise affected in religion then him self was. for he said he spake to some of the Popes chiffest officers, and was like through them, to come to trouble. to others, he said he deliuered the shert of his backe, and trauai­led with others, fortie miles for their saffe con­duct, and onely for good vvil: and said further, [Page] that vnvvitting to Munday, he vvrot a letter to one in Remes to deliuer him fiften shillinges, vvhich he neuer receiued, because he neuer went to receiue it. And he vrged Munday againe in the feare and loue of God to say but the truth, alled­ging farther hovv one Nicolls, who in his bookes vttered much more of him then Munday did, yet his consciēce accusing him, he came to his chamber in the Tovver and in presence of foure, whereof he named his keper to be one, recanted and denied that, which before he had affirmed in his booke. One Topcliffe said hovv do you knovv that Nicolls hath recanted. M. Kirbie ansvvered, he came into my chamber in the Tovver, and there befor foure he said these wordes. (See M. Kirbies letter at the ende of this tragedie.)

Then the Sherife enterrupted him, and said: Then, he ac­cused him falsely, and so there is no cause vvhy he should con­fesse it. euen as he hath recanted his error, and is sorie for it, so do you. M. Kirbie not regarding his wordes passed on, and shevved likevvise, that this Munday in presence of Sir ovven Hopton and others, did say, that he could charge him with nothing. Vvhich Munday denied. But he affirmed it againe, and said, that then one that vvas present said, that vpon that confession he might take aduantage. Then the Sherife asked who that was? and he after a while ansvvered that it vvas one Coudridg. After this, his ansvver to the forsaid articles vvas redd: where to the first, bein examined, he said, that the excom­munication of Pius Quintus was a matter of fact, vvherein the Pope might erre, the which I do leaue to him self to ansvver for. And vvhere he said that the POPE for some causes might depose a prince. novv he doth explaine it, that it was a question disputable in scholles, whether the POPE might depose princes? And being asked by Topcliff, whether he vvould die for a matter disputable in scholles? he said, he did only yeld his opinion. [Page] To the second, he added further, that he thought, some of the lerned that vvere there present vvould affirme that also. Vvhereat diuers with on voice said, No. Vvherevpon M. Kirbie called for one M. Crovvley Once or tvvise. By this Mi­nisters argu­ment the Emperor could not haue depo­sed Pilat from his president­shipe. And a Minister brought a place out of Salomon, which saith, By me kinges rule and Tyrants are exalted, and an other out of the Gospel, where it is said, vnto Pilat, Thou shouldest not haue any povver against me, vnles it vvere geuen the from aboue. Prouing, that because their authoritie vvas from God, no man might haue authoritie to displace them. And one Minister there argued thus to the same poorpose, That euery soule must be subiect to superior povvers, As though the Queene were not a soule also, & the Pope in higher su­perioritie then she. & therefor (quoth he) the Pope him selfe if he be a soule must be subiect, and consequently can not depose others of their soueranitie. And M. Kirbie being about to ansvver, was interrupted by an other Minister, who alle­ged the practise of the primitiue Church. vvhen, notvvithstanding that Christians liued vnder hea­then princes, yet they did obey them. To vvhich M. Kirbie said, The Church hath no au­ctoritie ouer infidels: but ouer al Christians. that the case did differ, for vvhere the Prince is once a Christian, and after falleth to infidelitie, there he may be disobeied, but where he was neuer Christian, the case is othervvise. To the fourth ansvvering as befor, notvvithstanding (faith he) I acknovvledge to my Prince and Q. [...] much deutie and authoritie as euer I did to Q. Marie, or as any subiect in France, Spaine, or Italie, do acknovvledge to his king or prince: and more I can not nor ought not of deutie geue her. And thervpon Topcliff demaunded, Wisely. what if al they be traitors, vvil you be a traitor to? to which he ansvvered, what? be they all traitors? God forbid. for if al they be traitors, then al our auncesters haue been traitors likevvise. And as for D. D. Saunders and Bristovv they might erre in their priuate opinions, the which I vvil defend no further [Page] then they doe agree with the iudgemēt of Christs CATHOLIKE CHVRCH.

Being demaunded. Vvhether he thought the Queene to be supreme gouernesse of the Church of England, he ansvvered, he was redy to yeld her as much authoritie as any other subiect ought to yeld his prince, or as he would yeld to Q. Marie, and more with saftie of conscience he could not do. Then Sherife Martine tould him, that the Q. vvas merciful and vvould take him to her mer­cie: so he would confesse his deutie towards her, and forsake that man of Rome, and that he had autho­ritie him selfe to stay execution & carie him backe againe.

Vvho ansvvered, that to deny the POPES au­thoritie was a point of faith: O Marue­lous con­stancie. which he would not deny for sauing of his life, being sure to dāne his soule. Then was it tendered him, that if he would but confesse his fault and aske the Queene forgeuenes, she would yet be merciful to him. He ansvvered againe, that his conscience did geue him a cleere testimonie that he neuer offended, and therefore he vvould neither confesse that, where­of he was innocent, neither aske forgeuenes, where no offence was committed against her Ma­iestie. Wel, By these nū ­bers of prof­fers, it is plaine they iudged them innocent in their con­science. (then said Sherife Martine) doe but acknovvledg those thinges which your fellovv Bosgraue hath done, such as appereth by his exami­nation, and I will yet saue your life. who denie [...] likevvise.

Then the people cried avvay with him, and he beganne to pray in latin, the Ministers and others desired him to pray in English, and they vvould pray with him. Who ansvvered, that in praying with them, he should deshonor God, but if you were of on faith with me, then I would pray with you. But he desired al those that were Catholikes to pray vvith him, and he vvould pray with them: [Page] and as for any other that vvas a Christian, and de­sirous to pray for him, he would not let them: although he would not pray with them. And so after that he had ended his Pater noster, & began his Aue, the carte vvas dravven avvay and there he hanged vntil he was dead, and vntil his tvvo fel­lovves Richardson and Cottam, did take the vevve of him. His speaches were very intricat, for that many did speake vnto him, & of seueral matters: but here are the principal thinges by him vttered to my remembrance.

M. LAVRENCE RICHARDSON vvhose right name vvas Iohnson, and M. Thomas Cottam, Priestes and graduates.

THESE tvvoe vvere brought together to looke vpon M. kirbie vvhich vvas then hanging, and being cut dovvne, they vvere put vp into the carte, vvhere vvith cheerefull countenances they signed them selues vvith the signe of the Crosse, saying: Here he bles­seth the peo­ple, & neuer cursed them, as lying Mū ­day vvriteth in his disco­uerie of Ed. Campion &c. In nomine patris & filij & spiritus sancti. M. Cottam tur­ning him about said, God blesse you al, our Lord blesse you al: vvith a smiling countenance. M. Richardson being commaunded by the sherifes man to looke vpon his fellovv; vvho vvas in cut­ting vp, said: ô Gods vvill be done. Vvith that one Field a preacher said, dispatch, dispatch. to vvhō M. Cottam said with smiling coūtenāce, what are you an executioner or a preacher, fye, fye. His mirth in God, proce­ded of a sin­cer, con­science and courage. A Minister standing by said, leaue of those iestes, it is no time to [...]east, he is a preacher, and not an executioner, he commeth to exhorth you to die vvel. Cottam. Tru­ly by his vvordes he seemed to be an executioner, for he said dispatch, dispatch. Field, A vvise an­svver. I did not say these vvordes to any such entent, but that they vvhich vvere about the other should be quiet. Cottam. I crie God mercie for al my idle vvordes, and I beseech you M. Sherife, that you vvil not be offended vvith me, for truely I vvould lye vnder your horse feete to be troden vpō, befor I should offend you.

Then M. Richardson being placed right vnder the place vvhere he should hang, diuers moued speaches to him al at one time. To vvhom he an­svvered, I pray you do not trouble me, if you de­maund any questions of me, let them be touching [Page] the matter whereof I was condemned, and do not moue nevv questions, and thervpon he was turned backe to look vpon M. Kirbie. who was then in quartering, which he did, and the head being cut of, they held it vp, saying: God saue the Queene, & he being demaunded vvhat he said, I say, Amen, I pray God saue her. INNO­CENCIE. O happie mē that die in the fel­lovvship of al our holy aunciters. And further said: I am come hither to die for treason, and I protest before God I am not guilty in any treason more then al Ca­tholike Bishops that euer were in this land sithen­ce the conuersion thereof, til our time: & as wel (if they were a lyue) might they be executed for treason, as I am novv. To vvhom a Minister re­plied thus: the case is not like, for then Popish Priests liued vnder Popish Princes, As though not to obey a prince in causes of re­ligion, vvere treason. and did not disobey them, & so were no traitors. In the meane time many wordes and sentences were vttered by M. Cottam. And a Minister amōgest other thinges, willed him to confesse his vvicked and leude be­hauiour which he had committed in fish-streat about foure yeres since. A diuilish sclaunder raised by the Minister to disgrace the man of God. Cottam. Vvhat do you meane? Sherife. He vvould haue you to confesse the filthe you committed in fish-streat. Cottam. O blessed IESV, thy name be praised, is this novv laid here to my charg? the Minister said, no we do not charge you with it, but we would haue you to descharg you thereof if there be any such thing. An other Minister ansvvered, He is char­ged vvith this act as truly, as vvith trea­son. no, it vvas not he, but his brother. Cottam. You shal here, you accuse me for filthe committed about foure yeres since in fish-street and I was not in London this seuen yeres, and if I had done any such thing, what do you meane to lay it to my charg. With that ij or iij of thē said that it was not he but his brother. After that whilest they vvere talking with M. Richardson M. Cottam toke Bul the hangman by the [...]leue and said to him, A very ze­lous & cha­ritable act. God forgeue the and make the his ser­uant, take hede in time, and cal for grace, and no [Page] dout but God wil heare the, take example by the executioner of S. Paul, who during the time of his execution, a litle drope of blood falling from S. Paul vpon his garment, white like milke, did after­vvard cal him to remembrance of him selfe, and so became penitent for his sinnes, and became a good man: vvhose example I pray God thou maiest fol­lovv, and I pray God geue the of his grace. The Minister of S. Andrevves said, what, did milke fal from his breast? Cottam. No, blood fel from his necke or head, in likenes of milke. The vvran­geling of a Minister. Minister of S. And. vvhat? do you say he was saued by that blood which fel vpon him? Cottam. No. I maruel vvhat you meane, and so was interrupted by some others to proceade. Then the articles were redd and his ansvvers to them adding that as touching the do­ctrine of D. D. Saunders and Bristovv he allovv­eth of it so farre forth as they agree with the true CATHOLIKE CHVRCH OF ROME. Topcliff and some other ministers said, he builded his faith vpon Saunders. To whom he ansvvered I build not my faith vpon any on man whatsoeuer, but vpon the vvhole CATHOLIKE CHVRCH.

Then the rope being put about both their neckes and fastened to the post. The Sherife said, Novv Richardson if thou vvilt confesse thy faultes and renounce the Pope, the Queene wil extend her mercie tovvards thee, & thou shalt be caried backe againe. M. Richardson ansvvered, I thancke her ma­iestie for her mercie, but I must not confesse an vntruth or renounce my faith. Al this vvhile M. Cottam was in praier, and vttering of diuers good sentences, saying, al that vve here sustaine, is for sauing of our soules, and therevvithal lifting vp his eyes to heauen, said: O Lord thou knovvest our innocencie. Then he vvas willed to confesse his treasons. ô Lord (said he) hovv willingly vvould I confesse, if I did knovv any thing that [Page] did charg me, and if we had been guilty of any such thing, A most no­torious eui­dence, of al their inno­cencie. In the most barboroust place vvher­of, he had found better intertaine­ment, then here at home. Hovv gladly they vvould haue had any one of them, to cō ­fesse the pre­tēded fault. surely on or other of vs either by rac­king or death, would haue confessed it, or els vve had been such people as neuer were hard of. And I protest befor God that before my comming into England I vvas armed to go into Indea: and if I might be sett at libertie, I would neuer rest but on the iorney tovvardes that countrie. with that the Sherife said, the Queene wilbe merciful to thee, if thou wilt thy selfe, he ansvvered I thancke her grace, saying farther, do vvith me what you thinke good and thervvithal the Sherife cōmaunded that the roope should be losed from the post. And he remoued dovvne from the carte.

Then M. Richardson was willed once againe to confesse and aske pardon of the Queene: he an­svvered, that he neuer offended her to his knovv­ledg. Then Topcliff said, the like mercie was neuer shevved to any offender, and if you were in any other common wealth you should be torne in peces with horses. That vvere strange. Then he was willed to pray, he praied, desiring al Catholikes to pray with him, he said his Pater noster, his Aue, and his Cre [...]de. and when the carte passed, Lord, receiue my soule. Lord IESV, receiue my 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 [Page] 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 straight to London, and when you come there, [Page] shifte you for your self, as I wil do for my self. Cō ­ming to London, M. Cottā repaired incontinent to one of the prisons and there conferred with a Ca­tholike a frende of his, recounting vnto him, the order and maner of his apprehension and eskape. his frende told him, that in conscience, he could not make that eskape, & perswaded him, to goe & yeld him self prisoner. Vvherevpon he came to his frende Hauard and requested him, to deliuer him the Maior of Douers lettre to my L. Cobham. Vvhat wil you do with it (quoth Hauard) Mary (quoth Cottam) I wil goe and carie it to him, He vvas a man of a maruelous zele, and of a timorous conscience. and yeld my self prisoner, for I am fully perswaded, that I can not make this eskape in conscience. why (quoth Hauard) this councel that hath bene giuen you procedeth I cōfesse from a zelous minde, mary I doute whether it carieth the waight of knovv­ledge with it: you shal not haue the letter, nor you may not in conscience yeld your self to the persecutor and aduersarie hauing so good meanes offered to eskape their crueltie. But M. Cottam persisting stil in his demaund, wel (quoth Hauard) seeing, you wil not be distorned from this opiniō, let vs goe first and consult with such a man (naming one but nevvly cummen then into the realme, whom M. Cottam greatly honoured and reueren­ced, for his singular witte and learning, for his rare vertues, and other giftes both of body and minde) and if he be of your opinion, you shal haue the letter and goe on Gods name. Vvhen they came to this man he vtterly disliked of his intention, and dissuaded him from so found a cogitation. M. Cot­tam being aflvvaged but not altogether satisfied, went quietly about his busines, and neuer voided London for the matter. The Maior of Douers letter being sent backe vnto him againe, with in ij or iij. daies after commeth vp the host of the inne where M. Cottam was taken.

This host by chaunce met with (Hauard) and taking him by the shulder said, Gentilman you had like to haue vndonne me, because the prisoner you promised to deliuer is eskaped. Vvherefore you must come with me to one M. Andrevves my L. Cobhams Deputie who lieth at the starre in new fish streat, and giue him satisfaction in the matter. This good fellow Hauard, was somevvhat amased at this sodaine sommoning, but after a while being come againe to him self, saith: why my host if I doe deliuer you the prisoner againe, you wil be cōten­ted yes saith the other, deliuer me the prisoner, & I haue nothing to say to you: vpō this they went to M. Cottams lodging, but he was remoued the folkes of the hovvse knew not whither. The host would faine haue had this Hauard, so called for the time, to goe with him to the said Andrevves. & Hauard sought al meanes to auoid his cōpany, being sure, that if he had once cummē with in the persecutors pavves, he should not haue eskaped thē so easily, & being as then loth to fal into further trouble, saith to the other, My host there is no such necessitie why I should goe to M. Andrevves, for if I did, peraduēture he would picke some quarrel vnto me by reason of the prisoners eskape, & I might come by trouble, & you should reape no gaine or profit thereby. I would be loth therefor to goe vnto him.

But this I wil doe for your discharge, I wil bring you to a marchant, who I thinke wil giue you his hād, that I shal bring you the prisoner by iiij of the clocke, or els, that I shal deliuer you my body againe. I am content saith he, so that I haue the one of you tvvoe. to the marchant they come who at his brother law Hauards request, gaue his hand and promise for the performance of the condition before specified (which promis albeit, it was per­formed, yet it cost the marchant viij monethes imprisonment aftervvard: but how iustly, wil be [Page] one day examined before the iust iudge) this Ha­uard leuing his host in the marchants hovvse went furth into the citie with a nother in his company to see if he could meet with M. Cottam.

And comming into cheapside there by chaunce he meet him. and after ordinary salutations he said, M. Cottam such a man is come to tovvne, and hath so seazed vpon me for your escape that you or I must needes goe to prison: you know my state and condition, A charitable deliberatiō, & most cha­ritable reso­lution. and may gesse how gentely I shal, be intreated if I once apeare vnder my right name be­fore them, your ovvne state also you know. Now it is in your choise whether of vs shal goe, for one must goe there is no remedie, and to force, you I wil not, for I had rather sustaine what punishment soeuer. M. Cottam lifting vp his eies and handes to heauen said these wordes: Now God be blessed, I should neuer while I liued haue bene without scruple and gruge of conscience if I had eskaped from them, nothing greueth me, but that I haue not dispatched some busines that I haue to do, why (quoth Hauard) it is but x of the clocke yet, and you may dispatch your busines by iiij of the clocke, and then you may goe to them. Vvhither is it saith he that I must goe? to the signe of the starre (quoth Hauard) in Nevv fish-streat, and there you must enquire for one M. Andrevves my L. Cobhams de­putie, to him you must yeld your self. I vvil quoth he. and so they departed and neuer savv one the o­therafter.

And so at iiij of the clocke after he had dis­patched al his busines, he vvent him self al alone to the place appointed, This doth proue his in­nocencie in­uincibly. & there yelded him self pri­soner, and vvas carried to the Court lying then at None such or Otlands, from vvhence (after fiue daies conference vvith diuers ministers that labou­red, but in vaine, to subuert him) he vvas sent to the Marshalsee for religion, and not for treason. and [Page] from thence to the Tovver, there to be racked, not for to reueile any secret treason as the aduersaries pretend ful falsly, but tormented because he would not confesse his priuat sinnes vnto them, as he both confidently and truly affirmed to their faces at his arraingment. and so leed to vvestminster & there vniustly cōdemned: and as you haue heard trailed to Tiborne vvhere he & the rest, vvere cruelly murdered. ending this miserable life by a constant & glorious Martyrdom. & novv doth follovv the im­maculat Lambe. To vvhom be al honnor & glorie for the constancie of these his Saincts. Amen.