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 chaÌ„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 commaundemeÌ„t 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 maÌ„teined vvhere he had said Masse A cruel kind of TormeÌ„t 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 coÌ„templation 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 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 â—vere coÌ„maunded 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 coÌ„solation 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 YET novv sith I am by the appointement of God depriued of libertie so as I can not any longer employe my selfe in this profitable exercise my desire is eftsones reuiued my spirit vvaxeth feruent hote at the last I haue made a vovv and promise to God not rashly as I hope but in the feare of God not to any other ende then that I might therby more deuoutly and more acceptably serue God to my more certain saluation and to a more gloriouse triumphe ouer
to be made Minister at vvhat time as M. Maine him self with great sorovv and diep sighes did often tel me he knevv neither vvhat Ministrie nor religion meant Being sent after to Oxford he heard his course of logike in Alborne hal and there proceeded Bachiler of Art At that time S. Iohns Colledge wanted some good fellovv to play his part at the communion table His degrees in schole to play which part M. Maine was inuited and hired in which Colledge and function he liued many yeres being of so milde a nature and of such svveet behauiour that the Protestants did greatly loue him the Catholikes did greatly pietie him seeing so honest a nature cast avvay vpon so contemptible a function in so much that some dealing with him and aduertising him of the damnable â—â—ate he stoode in he was easely persuaded their doctrine to be heretical and vvithal brought to lament and deplore his ovvne miserable state and condition And so being in hart and minde a persuaded Catholike coÌ„tinued yet in the same Colledg for some yeres and there proceded M. of Art and euery sunday gaue them a drie coÌ„munion The drie coÌ„munion A vveet supper rightly handled for as I thinke he neuer gaue them the vveet supper but once at what time al the communicants put that prophane bread into their bosomes and did cast it aftervvard either to dogges or vpon the donghil As M. Read then a hote Protestant and one of these communicants novv a great preacher and my L. Treasurers chaplen can best tell you Some of his familiars being already beyond the seas for their conscience did oft solicit him by letters to leaue that damnable function of the Ministrie and inuited him to come to Dovvay one of these letters by chaunce fel into the superintendeÌ„ts hands of London vvho dispatched a purseuant straight to Oxford for M. Maine and some others the rest appeared and were sent to prison but by chaunce M. Maine was then in his countrey and being aduertised by his countreiman and frend M. Ford then fellovv of Trinitie Colledg in Oxford and of late Martyred that there was processe out for him he toke shipping on the coast of Cornvval and so vvent to Dovvay when the Seminary there was but nevvly erected He vvent to Dovvay Vvhere falling to Diuinitie and keeping the priuat exercises within the hovvse diligently and doing the publike exercises in the scholles vvith commeÌ„dation after some yeres proceded Bachiler of Diuinitie Made Bachiler of Diuinitie was made Priest desirous partly to honor God in this sacred order and to satisfie for that he had dishonored him by taking the sacrilegious title of Ministrie partly inflamed with zeal to saue soules he returned tovvards England together with M. Iohn Paine who was since Martyred the 14 of April in the yere 1576. M. Maine placed him self in his ovvne countrey with a Catholike vertuous Gentilman M. Tregian vvhere he had not been a ful yere but he was taken in the order aboue specified Vvhen the aduersarie made M. Maine this proffer to haue his life if he would svveare vpon a booke that the Q. was supreme head of the Church of England and if he did refuse then to be hanged dravven and quartered he tooke the Bible into his hands made the signe of the Crosse vpon it kissed it and said The Queene neither euer vvas nor is A most true othe nor euer shal be the head of the Church of England The Arraignement and condemnation of M. Iohn Nelson Priest vvho vvas Martyred the â—iij of February the yere M.D.lxxviij THIS vertuous Priest M. Nelson was taken in London vpon the first of December in the yere M.D.lxxvij His apprehension late in the euenning as he was saying the Nocturne of the Mattins for the next day folovving and vvas presently sent to prison vpon suspition of Papistry as they terme the Catholike faith And after v or vj daies He is examined of his faith He refuseth the othe of the supremacie he vvas brought furth to be examined before the high commissioners and there they tendered the othe of the Q. supremacie vnto him the which othe he refused to take and being asked why he would not svveare ansvvered because he neuer had heard or read that any laye Prince could haue that preeminence and being further demaunded who then was the head of the Church he ansvvered sincerely and boldly That the Pops Holines vvas He maketh a true confession to whom that supreme authoritie in earth was dvve as being Christs vicar and the lavvful successor of S. Peter The English religion is schismatical and heretical Schisme Secondly they asked him his opinion of the religion novv practized in England to which he ansvvered promptly that it was both Schismatical and heretical Vvherevpon they bid him define what schisme was he told them that it was A voluntary departure from the vnitie of the Catholike Roman faith They seek to entrappe him Then they inferred vvhat is the Queene a schismatike or no he ansvvered he could not tel because he knevv not her minde in setting furth or manteyning of the religion novv publikly vsed in England The commissioners replied that the Q. did both promulgat it and manteine it and vrging him that if she so did then whether she were a schismatike and heretike or no M. Nelson pavvsed a while as being looth to exasperat his prince if he might haue chosen but yet more loth to offend God and his owne coÌ„science or to geue scandal to the world ansvvered conditionally after this sort If she be the setter furth quoth he and defender of this religion novv practized in England They driue men into the compase of treason of purpose His arraignement then she is a SCHISMATIKE and an HERETIKE Vvhich ansvver when they had wroÌ„ge from him they said he had spoken inough they sought for no more at his handes And so he was desmissed and sent backe to prison And about vij weekes after he vvas brought furth to his arraignement and the same interrogatories propunded againe and he ansvvering stil the selfe same to euery question as he had donne before sentence of death was prononced against him as against one guiltie of treason the first day of february the yere 1578. His constancie of minde Vvhen the sentence was pronoÌ„ced against him he neuer changed his countenance nor there neuer appeared in him any signe of a troubled minde but toke his condemnation very meekly and prepared him self with a good courrage for death The gailours wife moued vvith compassion offered him vvine thereby as she thought to asvvage the heuines of his minde but he vvould not cast it He did voluntary penance after his coÌ„demnation saying he rather desired a cup of cold vvater as more meet for him And from the houre the sentence was prononced against him til the houre of his death he tooke no other foode but bread and smal
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 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 handes lifted vp he spake as follovveth O happie Tom happie à rte 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 cōdēnatiō 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 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 c 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 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
to religion whom they had reconciled where they said Masse who harboured relieued them They racke Catholikes for triffeling causes vnvvoūtedly what they heard in confession a barbarouse impietie and such like for we may not thinke that they vse torments only for disclosing of great treasons or other crimes as they had wont to do and that not without great occasion but tovvards Catholikes and specially Gods annointed Priests they sticke not novv without pitie to vse al kind of torture often rather for a punishment of them or to make them by paines to forsake their faith or of malice and despite of the Catholike faith then for any matter they looke to be opened by them So they laid M. Tomson a learned graue Priest vpon the racke before they euer examined him M. T. bacheler of Diuinitie a thing most cruel and disorderly hauing nothing to charge him withal but onely to what end he kept certaine superaltares which were found in his chamber As for religion onely hauing no other pretence in the world they thrust him as is said v weekes together after the Lieutenant had spoiled him of v poundes and Thomas Burschoaghe Thomas Burschoagh a Catholike yong man and learned a quarter of a yere together into a grisely dongeon called Vvhalesboure without candel light and water til by the priuie there they were vvel neere pestred to death So did they afflict Iohn Hemslovv Iohn Hemslovv onely for burying his Catholike mother in the Church yard being cast out of their heretical synagogue for her faith thrusting him into a filthie vile hole after they had discharged him of his money for that is medius terminus euer al a lent long vvithout light fire or place to ease nature in til by his ovvne excrements discharged into a dongeon vnder him he had like to haue been stiffiled vvith stinch They racke Priests on sundaies holydaies specially And vvhich is vvorth the marking or rather lamenting of al Christian harts that for our more affliction they prophanely make choise to giue the torture to our brethren vpon sundaies and hie holydaies in Gods Church after the old maner of the heathen persecutors rather then vpon vvorken daies And to feede them selues vvith our calamities By vvhat cruel meanes they terrifie the Catholike prisoners and eftsons to terrifie other confessors the rather to enforce them from their faith they bring some nevv racked vnder their fellovv prisoners vvindovves and to their dores that by hering their pitiful sighes grones and complaints proceding of infinite paines they may be moued to relent in religon yea vvhich is more inhumanitie they set some of the confessors in bye darke corners vvhen other their brethren are in tormenting And no lesse torment both of body and minde is it to be haled and forced against their vvilles to their heretical church and sermons vvhere they must heare blasphemie and vvickednes and if they say nothing be rated of the Puritans and called dombe dogges if they reproue their Ministers they be offered violence and strokes As namely once a spiteful puritane laying his hand vpon his dagger A puritans spirit his teeth grinning in his head his face enflammed vvith malice came to one of the reuerend Priests and said thus Before God if it vvere not for feare of lavves I vvould presently stabbe my dagger to thy hart smale euidence would serue a Ieurie of such fellowes to cast away a thousand honest men and many dozens of these you may haue good cheape in England and this is our miserie novv that vve haue not onely the coulor of lavv against vs but al the vvicked of the realme our ennemies M. Hart miserably handeled for his conscience And al these pitiful vexations are they done vnto them for any thing but religion vvhen after M. Harts that learned reuerent Bachiler of Diuinities condemnation yet they vvould not let him rest but caused him to be conferred vvith al by Rainolds and others and vvhen he would not yeld miserably afflicted him by dongeon famine and other miseries Had they any cause then but religion or vvas it euer heard of in our realme that one alreddy hauing his iudgement should be aftervvards so manifoldly tormented M. Lieutenants courtesie For vvhat crime vvas it that the Lieutenant made a motion to D. Hammon his fellovv commissioner that the Priests last cōmitted to the Tovver might be sent to Bride-vvel to be vvhipt ô prophane irreligious and malicious Athiest That vvas a trike of Nortons spirit vvho could find in his hart to haue Norton his counsel sent the honorable confessor M. Povvnd to Bedlem to be treated like a mad man and had brought the Lieutenant to promise it befor a hal al most ful at his ovvne hovvse but as Gods prouidence hath directed matters sithence that diet is more fit for Nortons wife They say the Epistle of persecution hath rethorically amplified the Catholikes calamities in England So doth D. Humphrey in his vnlerned pamphlet against the Iesuists but our Lord IESVS vvho onely seeth through our miseries knovveth it hath not vttered the least parte of our daily distresses And how great or greuous so euer they be for religiō onely for no other treasons they are no other causes at the first pretended nor after any thing generally pursued but how to make them relēt in faith releasing euery body vvhat treason soeuer pretended if they would condescend vnto them in matter of religion Yea such as so did though they were these mens companions at Rome when and where these conspiracies were pretended to be wrought and some of them sent dovvne in their company and for the same ende yet vvere they neuer questioned vvithal of any such matter if they once vvould take the othe of the Q. supremacie ouer the church of England as Paschal Nicolls Osborne Caddey and such like as either of feare or for preferment then or aftervvard yelded Vvho should neuer haue eskaped so if they had been acquainted with such horrible treason the mistrust or pretence vvhereof vvas not as then skarcely formed in the Counsels intention nor resolued vpon vntil a good vvhile after they had apprehended examined and racked F. Campion The great desire they had to make a vvay F. Campiō vvas the cause of al this actiō vvhom they vvere exceding desirous to put away by some coulorable meanes thereby to extinguishe this spiritual practise in cases of religion in our countrey Diuers had been racked before that and nothing found or much mistrusted concerning this pretended conspiracie but to see their constancie in religion and pacience in their extremest torments that appalled the commissioners excedingly in so much that D. Hammon vpon the racking of M. Brian D. Hammons speach at M. Brians tormenting vttered in great terror of his conscience That if one vvere not very vvel grounded in his faith this geare might shake him And when M. Hart vvas taken from the
nothing then they went to the nevv euidence and nevv crime set forth in the booke of their ansvvers a Minister euer willed to read that ansvvere that the party there to be executed had made and subscribed vvhich if it sounded sometimes litle or nothing to the purpose then the Minister was willed to turne the leaffe and read the preface of the booke a shifte that passed both al vvit and folly that thereby A pretie sport or by the allegatiōs of D. Saunders and D. Bristovv at least these poore men might seeme to the vnaduised multitude though not guiltie of their former pretended crime úet of il affection tovvards her M. vvhich was inough in their iudgement to make them avvay And a fevve of the people set on by the Ministers that vse to follovv the gallovves gaue verdit and aime to the rest that stoode farther of to cry avvay with them avvay with them Though thousands went home after the sight of so notorious a spectacle as the constancie of the Martyrs yelded that time sighing weeping and lamenting the case Novv in al this maruelous proceding The aduersaries haue gained nothing The Cath. church hath gained much we wil not stand to examine what the aduersarie haue gained for their purpose being inough for our satisfaction that God knovveth and novv al England and a great part of Europe seeth the innocencie of these saints that our lord is glorified by their deaths and his Church enriched with nevv Martyres of most excellent vertue and constancie Neither becommeth it vs to fal in consideration of the pollicie vsed in renevving againe the old sore of the excommunication Them selues haue renued the question of the Q. excommunication vvhich hath laien deade and so might for vs Catholikes haue been deade with Pius quintus the author and publisher thereof for euer if them selues by vnvvonted driftes had not sought to cal the case in question and by vndevve waies gone about to make vs guiltie or odible by that wherevvith we were neuer acquainted Vvherevpon if further occasion be geuen to the lerned of our side to declare the truth of Gods Church and the opinion of the vniuersities and lerned of asvvel Protestants as Catholiques in an other special worke already in hand concerning those vj. articles and questions by them importunly moued they haue no reason to be offended with vs that stand onely at our defence and purgatiō in the same wherein notwithstanding we wil not descend so far as they haue prouoked vs to dispute particularly of her Maiesties interest for the duetie we ovve to our Prince and soueraine nor stand vpon D. Saunders and D. Bristovves wordes Smale vvisdom in setting out D. Saunders and D. Bristovvs opinions in this matter which we and al wise men maruel they would discouer to the people considering their names in scholes are so famous and so much diuulgated among men of our nation that it can not in deliberation but make scruple of matter in some mens heads Vve say nothing of their open declaration of their diffidēce tovvards al Catholikes impeaching them in maner generally of their fidelitie good affection tovvards their prince and countrey which geueth great occasion both at home and abrode of much discontentement and desperation Some not wel scoled with patience thinking it al on to be a traitor and to be reputed for such a one and for men abandoned out of her M. fauour and protection of vvhom the latine prouerbe may perhaps be found trevv Quod patientia laesa saepe vertitur in furorem The questiō of vvhat Queene is but madly asked Neither neede I speake of these strange words of demaund first vsed by one of great authoritie to F. Campion in his first examinatiō and aftervvard commonly taken vp to aske Catholikes whom they see in al duetie humilitie to speake wel to wish wel and daily pray for the Q. M. to aske I say Vvhich Queene and Vvhat Queene they meane by To what aduantage of the state these and such like things be done and spoken against vs vve wil not take vpon vs to discusse but referre al to men wise and indifferent onely of the propoūding those vj. articles to our brethren and measuring their loiaultie or fidelitie by their ansvvers Of the vj. arcles proposed to these Martyrs there vnto we must needes in al humble sort complaine and make brief remonstrance of the iniurie and their innocencie therein also In the other treatise of these vj. demaundes more largely For the present it is inough that al the world see our extreme calamitie that are punished euen by most cruel and ignominious death not onely for our pretended deedes wordes or any exterior actes which onely are punishable by mans lavves Thoughts punished by death but for our very cogitations gathered by false suppositions and vndevve meanes yea and for the future faults which we may commit in time to come which far passeth al Antichristian tyranny God him self that doth aboue mans lavv punish the trespasses euen of our hart God onely punisheth mens cogitations He punisheth not future crimes as our men do which are as open and subiect to his sight and iudgement as external actes be to men yet chargeth no man nor searcheth any man for the time to come nor for sinnes that he would haue committed or might or were like to haue committed if he had liued or had had such occasions prouocatiōs or tentations as other men or he might haue had But novv confessing the Prince to be our liege and soueraine Vnreasonable search of mens consciences doing al deuties of subiection to her that the lavves of God nature or the Realme al nations require onely not making her our God yet vve must be farther demaunded by authoritie othe or torment vvhat vve vvil do in such such cases to come or perchaunce neuer to come And therevpon if vve ansvver that for the cases contingent and to come vve can say nothing but vvil be subiect to the lavves or punishment of the lavves if at that time vve shal offend or as some ansvvered more generally that they then vvould do teach beleeue The best ansvver to captious questions Men are executed in England for only pretended il affection vvithout any act committed as the Catholike Church should resolue vpon such controuersies betvvixt the Prince and POPE or any other then they are condemned of a fault or crime of their hart and cogitation which they cal in the preface to the libel set furth against the vij last Martyres il affection or il disposition to the Queene so that they which offered to procure their pardon for the fained fact for vvhich they were condemned yet vvil needes haue them suffer for their il affection An other argument of their innocencie But that is a cleere demonstration of their innocencie touching the haynous pretended conspiracie vvhich being punishable by al lavves reason and vvithout
conceit of that prophane degree til he entered into religion by penance and holy profession to wipe a way the same So making his choise of the societie of the name of IESVS he vvent to Rome He vvent to Rome and there entered into religion where by the superior of that order he vvas admitted and so not remaining in the Citie much more then a moneth he was sent into Beameland He is sent into Beamland where he abode viij yeres and vvas made Priest in Prage continually teaching preaching catechizing writing and trauailing for the Church of God Made priest Vvhereby he became so famous that not onely other principal states He preacheth befor the Emperour but the Imperial Maiestie was contented often to heare him preach Til at lenght by the sute of such as knevve his great graces in dealing with heretikes for their conuersion his General called him thence to be bestovved vpon his ovvne natiue countrey Vvhithervvarde by longe and great trauail he came going about by Rome because his superiors knevve him not He is sent home againe by his superiors nor would not send him before they savve him and by Remes vvhere besides other communication parteining to the reduction of our countrey to the Catholike faith he demaunded of D. Allen whether he thought that any seruice he could do in England the time being as it is His cōmunicatiō with D. Allen. were like to be vvorth al these long labours and hazardes past and to come or might counteruaile the lackes that those should seeme to haue by his absence from whence he came To which D. Allen ansvvered Father quoth he first vvhatsoeuer you did there D. Allens ansvver may be done by others one or mo of your order Secondly you ovve more duetie to England then to Beamland and to London then to Prage though it liketh me vvel that you haue made some recompence to that countrey for the old wounde it receiued by vs. In vvicliffes time of vvhom they lerned their heresies Thirdly the recouerie of one soule from heresie is vvorth al your paines as I hope you shal gaine a great many because the haruest is both more plentiful and more ripe with vs then in those partes Finally the revvard may be greater for you may be martyred for it at home vvhich you can not obtaine lightely there So he vvas satisfied and of this communication I haue heard him often speake And at last he happely landed at Douer vpon the morrovv afser Midsomer-day The day of his arriual in England the yere 1580. being by Gods great goodnes deliuered out of the searchers and officers handes who held him with them vpon suspicion for certane houres He vvas staied at Douer vpon deliberation to haue sent him to the Councel That vvas Christes special vvorke and prouidence to be glorified booth in his preaching a vvhole yere to the inspeakable good of innumerable deceiued soules and also in his precious death aftervvard Comming therefore to London he preached there his first sermon vpon SS Peter and Paules day which I vvas at my selfe His first Sermon hauing a ful audience and very vvorshipful but aftervvard booth there and in sundry partes of the realme far greater through the fame and experience of his manifold vertues great eloquence and lerning many Protestantes of good nature at sundry times admitted also to the same vvho euer aftervvard contemned their vulgar pulpit men in comparison of him The first man of calling to whose hovvse he vvas conducted in the countrey The speaches bewixt him and the gentilman in vvhose house he first preached in the countrey demaunded of the person that brought him thither being him selfe of good worship what he vvas and from vvhence he came and lerning that he vvas a religious man and one that had bene long in foraine partes before he would admitte him toke him aside and asked the causes of his retorne home and repaire to him and whether he meant not vnder coulor of religion to withdravv her M. subiectes from their obedience To which he ansvvered protesting befor God that he had neither other commission of his superiors nor intētion of him self then to minister the holy Sacraments preach and teach the people to saluation and that he neither could nor vvould medle with matter of state Vvherevpon the partie embraced him and bid him hartely welcome to his hovvse Finding aftervvard by a littel further acquaintance which al the world might see that he vvas no man for worldly matters but only for the schole Church and pulpit wherein his giftes vvere excellent in the highest degree And from that day til his apprehension he preached once a day at the least He preached daily and often He conuerted many of the best sort often tvvise and sometimes thrise whereby through Gods goodnes he conuerted sundry in most shires of the Realme of most wisdome and vvorshipe besides yong Gentilmen studentes and others of al sortes At his first entrance he made his proffer of disputation for such causes as he alleaged in the same His chalēdg and his booke vvritten to the vniuersities and more at large aftervvard in his eloquent and lerned booke to both the vniuersities Vvhereby the Protestant Preachers and Prelates found them selues so deeply wounded in their doctrine and credite notvvithstanding they had patched vp a fevv pamphletes without al grace against him that they pricked her M. Councel to alter the question from controuersie in religion The protestants deuise to ouerthrovv him to the cause of the Prince and matter of state that so they might defende that by force authoritie which they could not do by all their lerning and diuinitie Therevpon it was geuen out by diuers speaches and proclamations that great consederacies of POPE and foraine Princes vvere made for the inuasion of the Lande and that the Iesuistes and Seminary Priestes were sent in forsoth to prepare their waies and such like trumperie to beguile and incense the simple against them Then al exquisite diligence was vsed for the apprehension of others but specially of F. Campion vvhom being but one among thousandes of the Churches children The follie of the aduersarie nor the cheefe in England of his order yet they called the Popes Champian and right hand At length after he had laboured in Gods haruest wel nere xiij Monethes by the notorious wickednes of on George Eliote a forelorne fellovv Eliot the traditor such as for affliction of holy men this vvorld commonly vseth after long search and much a doe by Gods permission he fel into the persecutors hands the xvij His apprehension of Iuly 1581. being found in a secret closset in a Catholike Gentilman and confessors house called M. Yates of Lyford And in what sort tvvoe Godly Priests M. Forde and M. Collington being with him al lying vvhen the ennemy discouered them vpon a bed their faces handes lifted vp to heauen
raigne and preserue her from her enemies Charke willed him to say from the Pope his curse and povver 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 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 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 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
had been long in prison very il vsed cuelly handeled and extremely racked he was once or tvvise demaunded whether he would goe to their church for that would haue made amendes for al these treasons why said he you say I am in fâ—r treason discharge me of that and then you shal knovv farther of my minde for the other Al faier meanes al foule meanes al extremitie al pollicie were vsed to finde that which was not After his racking the Lieutenant sent to him for his farther examining or rather tormenting his seruant vvith this letter follovving I haue here with sent you pen inke and paper and I pray you writte what you haue said to Eliot and to your Host in London concerning the Queene and the state and thereof faile not as you will answere at your vttermost peril M. Paines ansvver RIGHT worshipfull my deutie remembred being not hable to writte without better handes I haue by your appointment vsed the helpe of your seruant for ansvvere vnto your interrogatories I haue already said sufficient for a man that regardeth his ovvne saluation and that with such aduised asseuerations vttered as amongest christian men ought to be beleeued yet once againe briefly for obedience sake First touching her Maiestie I pray God long to preserue her highnes to his honnor and her hartes desire vnto whom I alvvaies haue and during life wil wishe no worse then to my ovvne soule If her pleasure be not that I shal liue and serue her as my soueraigne Prince then wil I willingly die her faithful subiect and I trust Gods true seruant Touching the state I protest that I am and euer haue been free from the knovvledge of any practise whatsoeuer either within or without the realme intended against the same for the verity whereof as I haue often before you the rest her graces commissioners called God to witnes so doe I now againe and on day before his Maiestie the truth now not credited wil be then reuealed For Eliot I forgiue his monstrous wickednes and defie his malicious inuentions wishing that his former behauiour tovvards others being wel knovven as hereafter it wil were not a sufficient disprose of these deuised sclaunders For host or other person liuing in London or els where vnles they be by subornation of my blouddy ennemy corrupted I know they can neither for word deede or any disloyaultie iustly touch me and so before the seat of God as also before the sight of men wil I ansvver at my vttermost peril Her Maiesties faithful subiect and your worships humble prisoner Iohn Paine Priest THE ARRAIGNEMENT AND Martyrdom of M. Euerard Haunse Priest vvho vvas arraigned the xxviij Day of Iulie 1581. and Martyred the xxxj of the same Moneth M EVERARD HAVNSE sometime a Minister of the Heretical seruice and wel beneficed fel by Gods prouidence and mercie tovvards him into a greuous sicknes in which as wel by that chastisment as by some special miraculous admonitions from aboue he beganne to consider of his former life and the damnable state function he was in Vvherevpon calling for a Catholike Priest he reconciled him self to the Church forsooke the sacrilegious function of the Ministrie abandoned his wrongfully gotten and holden benefice The heretikes say he could not gett lerning inough to be a Priest so quickly and yet they thought him lerned inough to be a Minister 4. or 5. yeres before and so passed ouer to Romes Vvhere hauing liued nere ij yeres in most zelous and studious sort and by that time through continual exercise wel instructed in cases of conscience and al deuties of Priesthod he was for the vnspeakable desire he had to gaine both others but specially some of his dearest frendes into the vnitie of the Church and saluation much moued to be Priest and to retorne home He had his intent and so came into England Vvhere he had not been long but aduenturing one day to goe visit certaine prisoners in the Marshal see there he was apprehended being examined by an Officer what he was and from whence he came without more adoe confessing boldly him self to be a Catholike a Priest and a Seminarie man of Rhemes vvas therevpon cast into Nevv-gate amongest theeues and laden with yrons And a few daies after when the gaile deliuery of that prison was holden he was brought to the barre with other malefactors Vvhere M Flitvvod the recorder sitting in iudgement asked him where he was made Priest what was the cause of his comming into England and the like Vvhich the man of God maruelous resolute without feare or dissimulation told him affirming the cause of his retorne to be to gaine soules and that he was made Priest at Rhemes Then saith he you are a subiect to the POPE so I am sir saith M. Haunse to which M. Flitvvod replied then the POPE hath some superioritie ouer you that is true quoth he what in England said the Recorder It is no temporal lavv that can take from him the right that Christ hath giuen him yea in England saith he for he hath as much authoritie and right in spiritual gouernement in this realme as euer he had and as much as he hath in any other countrie or in Rome it self Vpon which most true and syncere confession the Heretikes as their fashion is to falsifie althings and by contriued sclaunders to to make odious the seruants of God gaue out aftervvard in print that he should say Hovv heretikes bely the Catholikes That Princes had not any supreamicie or souerantie in their ovvne realmes but the POPE only which was far from his and euery Catholike mans minde But vpon his former ansvver to bring him by course of question into the compase of some of their new statuts of treason they asked him further whether he thought the POPE could not erre to which though he expressely ansvvered that in life and maners he might offend How where and vvhen the Pope is free from error An other forgerie of the protestants as in his priuate doctrine or vvriting erre also yet as in iudicial definition and deciding matters of controuersie he did neuer erre this plaine speach notwithstanding the ennemies gaue out that he should say The Pope could not sinne Then they proceded with him further and demaunded whether the POPE did not iudicially procede in the deposition of the Queene And therevpon redde a peece of the Bul of Pius qnintus those wordes specially in which he declared her to be an Heretike and a fautor of Heretikes and depriued her of al regal authoritie pretended right of these dominions In a matter of fact the Pope may be misin formed or doe sometimes things that are not profitable for the Church though it be a good maÌ„s part to trust that his cheefe pastor doeth al things vvith good consideration An other snare absoluing al her subiects from her obedience did he not erre quoth they in this I hope said M. Haunse he did