ivLESE IvfBRARY 
 
 ^ • OK. TIIK 
 
 UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA 
 
 C/iISS A 
 
THE CATHOLICS OF YORK UNDER 
 ELIZABETH 
 
Digitized by the Internet Archive 
 
 in 2008 with funding from 
 
 IVIicrosoft Corporation 
 
 http://www.archive.org/details/catholicsofyorkuOOmorrrich 
 
THE CATHOLICS OF YORK 
 UNDER ELIZABETH 
 
 EDITED KY 
 
 JOHN MORRIS 
 
 M 
 Priest of the Society of Jesus 
 
 I.ONDON: BURNS AND OATES 
 J8c|i 
 

This volume was originally one of the three Series 
 that made up the book called The Troubles of our 
 Catholic Forefathers. The First Series has long 
 been out of print, but as some copies remain of 
 the other two, it has been thought that they might 
 be reissued separately with a new title, for the 
 contents of the volumes are entirely independent 
 of one another. 
 
 The title chosen for this volume shows the 
 nature of its contents. It belongs exclusively to 
 the reign of Elizabeth, and it is a contribution to 
 the history of the persecutions of that period. 
 Original documents throughout speak for them- 
 selves. 
 
 12401 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 For the documents contained in the present volume 
 I am indebted to the kindness of the Very Reverend 
 Canon Northcote, President of St. Mary's College, 
 Oscott, the Reverend Father Purbrick, Rector of 
 Stonyhurst, the Reverend Mother of St. Mary's 
 Convent, York, and of William Middelton, Esq., 
 of Myddelton Lodge. I am sincerely grateful for 
 the patience with which they have intrusted their 
 treasures to my keeping, sometimes for many 
 months together. 
 
 My special thanks are also due to Joseph 
 Wilkinson, Esq., Town Clerk of York, and to 
 John Holtby, Esq., Clerk of the Peace, for the 
 great courtesy and willing readiness w^ith which 
 they gave me access to the records in their official 
 custody ; and I am under great obligation to the 
 Reverend Canon Raine, not only for my intro- 
 duction to the noble archives of York Minster, but 
 also for his valuable personal assistance. 
 
 The present volume is more like the first than 
 the second of this series. It has not the advantage 
 of being a consecutive personal narrative, like the 
 Life of Father Weston ; but this volume has a 
 
viii Preface. 
 
 unity which the first did not possess, for it relates 
 all but exclusively to one time and one place. York 
 is its centre, and almost entirely its scene ; and its 
 time is confined to the twenty years during w^hich 
 Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon, was Lord 
 President of the North. 
 
 This volume contains harder words than its 
 predecessors. I am sorry that it should be so. 
 I have left out a considerable number of pages 
 of mere declamation, and I should have been glad 
 not to have had any vehement expressions to print. 
 The "Yorkshire Recusant" and good Mr. John 
 Mush are not sparing in strong words. It is, for 
 example, a little too bad of Mr. Mush to compare 
 " parson Wiggington," who spoke openly and 
 bravely in Margaret Clitherow's behalf, to Balaam's 
 ass. But we, who live without their trials, can well 
 afford to be patient with the Indignation of these 
 honest Yorkshiremen, which certainly was not un- 
 provoked. At all events, if I had shrunk from 
 producing this warmth of language, I should have 
 failed in my attempt to put before the reader tlie 
 materials for an accurate idea of those times. 
 
 The drawback of occasional repetition might, 
 of course, have been saved by omissions, but there 
 is no harm In hearing the same story told b\' 
 different persons. This is not a consecutive histor)- 
 of the northern persecution, but an endeavour to 
 let the reader judge for himself from the evidence 
 of contemporary witnesses. We find it ver>' difficult 
 to recognize the fact that a state of things, so 
 different from our own, existed in our own countr\', 
 
Preface. ix 
 
 or that such unrelenting seventy was the means by 
 which religious conformity was attained in England. 
 It is necessary that the truth should be told, because 
 it is the truth ; and it Is better for us all that we 
 should know what the facts really were. A critic 
 of a former volume complained that I am eng?Lged 
 in the endeavour to stir up old animosities. I am 
 not so foolish, for I am quite aware who would 
 be the sufferers if the old feelings were revived. 
 Neither is It necessary for me by these proofs to 
 refute the now exploded tradition that, while blood 
 was freely shed for religious causes in Queen Mary's 
 reign, Queen Elizabeth scrupulously respected the 
 rights of conscience. But I print these narratives 
 because it would be cruelly ungrateful If we Catholics 
 permit these brave souls to remain unhonoured and 
 forgotten, who bore the brunt of an awful perse- 
 cution for the faith that we value above our lives : 
 and, I will add because the lesson is never mis- 
 placed, that when conscience is at stake, bending 
 to the storm is simply fatal. Thousands in those 
 times consented to go to the Protestant church, 
 when they believed It to be a sin to do so, — yielding 
 as they then thought for a while, till the storm 
 should be overpast. In the vast majority of 
 Instances, they and their children were lost to the 
 faith. This being so, all the more honour Is due 
 to those who stood steadfast, and have left us an 
 admirable example of courage and constancy. 
 
 The prisons of York, around which the narra- 
 tives of this volume centre, differed from the prisons 
 of the rest of England only In this, that the number 
 
X Preface. 
 
 of Catholic prisoners confined there was greater 
 than elsewhere. The prisons themselves were of 
 much the same character all over England. Of 
 those in the north of England, I will quote the 
 words of one to whom I have already expressed 
 my obligations.^ He will pardon me, I am sure, 
 for the remark that his knowledge of the "dun- 
 geons of the Inquisition" is more vague than 
 that which his great antiquarian researches have 
 given him of the ancient prisons of England. 
 " It is impossible," he says, " to speak in terms 
 of too strong reprobation of the state of the 
 northern prisons in the seventeenth century, and 
 of the conduct of their keepers. They were dens 
 of iniquity and horror, in which men and women 
 herded together indiscriminately. The dungeons 
 of the Inquisition themselves were scarcely worse. 
 Some of them had no light and no ventilation ; 
 several were partly under water whenever there 
 was a flood. The number of prisoners who died 
 in gaol during this century is positively startling. 
 And how could they live in such places, where 
 they were treated worse than savages themselves ? 
 The ordinary conveniences and necessaries of life 
 were denied to them. They were at the mercy 
 of the gaolers for their food and for everything 
 they possessed. They had the meanest fare at the 
 most exorbitant price. If they resisted, there were 
 irons and screws that compelled them to be silent. 
 
 * Canon Raine's Preface to Depositions from the Castle of York^ relating 
 to offences committed in the Northern Counties in the Seventeenth Century. 
 Edited for the Surtecs Society in l86i. 
 
Prefdce, xi 
 
 There was also the greatest inequality and Injustice 
 in the treatment of the prisoners. Those that had 
 money had many Indulgences. They were allowed 
 to go to places of amusement without the walls 
 of the gaol, and some were even permitted to lodge 
 beyond the precincts, subjected only to some trifling 
 surveillance. Peter prison In York, and the hold 
 in Ousebridge, were a disgrace to any civilized 
 country. The cells In the latter place would almost 
 have rivalled the notorious Black Hole. Air, light, 
 and ventilation were absent, and the waters of the 
 river rushed in when they were above their usual 
 level." 
 
 In 1596 one of the Sheriffs whose business it 
 usually was to commit others to the Kidcotes, was 
 himself committed for insulting the Lord Mayor. 
 In a petition to the Council of the North, he 
 described the Lord Mayors KIdcote, in which he 
 was confined, to be a "noisome or unwholesome 
 prison, not convenient, moist, and evil air."^ What 
 would he have said if his place of confinement had 
 been that to which the Catholics were so often 
 doomed, the "low prison," which was but little 
 above the mud of a tidal river ? 
 
 The facts of the persecution will soon be well 
 known, and it is a great satisfaction to learn that 
 publications on the subject may be expected from 
 other and far more competent hands than mine. 
 The knowledge of those facts cannot fail to arouse 
 a deep religious interest in the hearts of all 
 Catholics, and the desire will grow daily stronger, 
 
 ^ Housebooks of the City of York, n. 31, fol. 197 /^ 
 
xii Preface. 
 
 and the prayers more fervent, that the Holy See 
 may be pleased to pronounce its judgment on the 
 cause of those who gave their lives for the faith. 
 Meanwhile, in accordance with the discipline of the 
 Church, it is my duty to submit all that is here 
 published to the decisions of Supreme Authority, 
 and to protest that no word here used is intended 
 as an anticipation of the decrees of the Church, 
 and that the statements here made rest only on 
 the individual testimonies of the writers. 
 
 J. M. 
 
 St. Beuno's College, St. Asaph, 
 November 30, 1876. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 I. AN ANCIENT EDITOR'S NOTE BOOK . . . . i 
 
 Introduction - ... 3 
 
 Chapter I. — Unjust use of the Laws . , 8- 
 
 ,, II. — Frauds that legal penalties may be incurred . . .11 
 ,, III. — Benefit of the Laws refused ...... 12 
 
 ,, IV. — How the Laws are carried out . . . . '13. 
 
 ,, V. — Vexations of those at liberty 16 
 
 ,, VI. — Pretended pursuivants .19^ 
 
 ,, VII. — Reputation of Catholics blackened 20 
 
 ,, VIII. — Goods of Catholics despoiled 22 
 
 ,, IX. — Loss of friends • . -25 
 
 ,, X. — Loss of liberty 26 
 
 ,, XI. — Misery of Catholics 3a 
 
 ,, XII. — Trials and Sentences 33 
 
 ,, XIII. — Those that died in prison . . . . . .35 
 
 ,, XIV. — Martyrdoms . 37 
 
 ,, XV. — Blessings from Martyrs and others 50 
 
 „ XVL— Relics 52 
 
 „ XVII. — ^The power of Priests 52 
 
 „ XVIIL— Devotion of Catholics 54 
 
 ,, XIX.— God's judgments "57 
 
 II. A YORKSHIRE RECUSANT'S RELATION ... 61 
 Introduction ........... 63 
 
 Chapter I. — The persecutor 65 
 
 „ II. — Searches 6S 
 
 ,, III. — Examinations. ... . . 71 
 
xiv Co7itents. 
 
 Page 
 
 Chapter IV. — Spiritual murder 73 
 
 „ V. — Prisons 74 
 
 ,, VI. — Arraignments. ........ 81 
 
 „ VII. — Executions 96 
 
 III. FATHER RICHARD HOLTBY ON PERSECUTION IN 
 
 THE NORTH 103 
 
 Introduction 105 
 
 Father Holtby's Narrative 118 
 
 Note. Extracts from the original Acts of the Ecclesiastical Commission 
 
 of the North to ilhistrate Father Holtby's Narrative . 213 
 
 Father Holtby's Account of Three Martyrs : Introduction . . . 220 
 
 Father Holtby's Narrative 221 
 
 IV.— NOTES BY A PRISONER IN OUSEBRIDGE KIDCOTE 231 
 
 Introduction 233 
 
 Notes by a Prisoner in Ousebridge Kidcote ...... 299 
 
 Note. Some information respecting many of the persons who died in 
 
 the York and Hull prisons 315 
 
 V. MR. JOHN MUSH'S LIFE OF MARGARET CLITHEROW 331 
 
 Introduction 333 
 
 A TRUE Report of the Life and Martyrdom of 
 Mrs. Margaret Clitiierow. 
 
 Chapter I. — Introduction 360 
 
 II. — Of the virtuous Education of Mrs. Margaret Clitherow . 36S 
 
 HI. — Of her humility, the foundation of all her virtues . . 372 
 
 IV. — Of her perfect charity and love to God .... 376 
 
 V. — Of her obedience to her ghostly Father .... 378 
 
 VI. — Of her charity to herneighbours 383 
 
 VII. — Of her zeal and fervour in the Catholic religion . . 387 
 
 VIII. — Of her alacrity and joy in mind and body . . . 388 
 
 IX. — Of her devotion and spiritual exercise .... 390 
 
 X. — Of her abstinence 394 
 
 XI. — Of her pilgrimage 395 
 
Contents, xv 
 
 Page 
 
 ChapterXII. — Of her marvellous desire to suffer for Christ and His truth 397 
 
 XIII. — Of her contempt of the world and all pleasures thereof . 399 
 
 XIV. — Of her discretion and prudence in all her businesses . 400 
 
 XV. — Of the love she had amongst her neighbours . . . 402 
 
 XVI. — Of the persecution she suffered among the good . . 404 
 
 XVII. — Of her diligence in observing other folk's virtues . . 4O8 
 
 XVIII. — Of her apprehension 409 
 
 XIX. — Of her arraignment 412 
 
 XX.— Of her martyrdom 429 
 
 XXI. — The Conclusion, wherein is partly showed the unjust 
 
 dealings of the heretics with this Martyr . . . 433 
 
 VI.— FATHER POLLARD'S RECOLLECTIONS OF THE 
 
 YORKSHIRE MISSION 441 
 
 Introduction .... 443 
 
 Father Pollard's Recollections . . . . . . . . 445 
 
 Alphabetical Index 471 
 
I. 
 
 AN ANCIENT EDITOR'S 
 NOTE BOOK. 
 
AN ANCIENT EDITOR'S NOTE BOOK. 
 
 Father Christopher Grene, or as he sometimes Italianized 
 his name Christoforo Grino, was the English penitentiary, first at 
 the Holy House of Loretto, and then at St. Peter's at Rome.^ 
 During the latter portion of his life, which was prolonged for five 
 years after he ceased to be Penitentiary at St. Peter's, he lived at 
 the English College at Rome, and there died in 1697. He was a 
 great lover of the English Martyrs, and he has done more than 
 any other man to save the records of their sufferings from 
 perishing, and to transmit to us materials for the history of 
 the times of persecution in England. 
 
 A very large number of documents passed through Father 
 Grene's hands, and those that he saw and used may be recognized 
 in two ways. First, it is safe to say that there is not one of them 
 on which he has not left an endorsement of some sort in his bold, 
 clear, unmistakeable handwriting. By this he has spared his 
 successors many doubts and much labour, for thanks to his 
 notes we can at once see what was known of the papers at the 
 end of the seventeenth century. But besides this service, we 
 have to thank him for the order in which he placed them, and 
 better still, for the way in which he freely transcribed at least 
 the most interesting portions of the documents before him, and 
 
 ^ " P. Christophorus Grinus rediit Lauretum die ii Novemb. 1682 et ibi fuit 
 Poenitentiarius usq. ad 24 Octob. 1686 quando discessit Romam versus ad Poeni- 
 tentiariam Vaticanam." This note in his own handwriting is at the top of a 
 page which is the only surviving portion of a list of the Loretto Penitentiaries 
 drawn up by him. His list of the Vatican Penitentiaries contains the following 
 mention of him. ** P. Christophorus Grinus ex Poenitentiaria Lauretana, ubi 
 duodecim annis vixerat, hue advenit primo Novemb. 1686, mansit usque ad 
 mensem Julii 1692." Though these lists were amongst the Stonyhurst papers 
 to which Dr. Oliver had access, he does not seem to have used them in his 
 biographies of the English Jesuits. 
 
4 An Ancient Editor's Note Book. 
 
 made the most careful and repeated references to the documents 
 themselves. We are thus not left without information even of 
 the papers that have not come down to us. 
 
 These collections he distinguished by the letters of the 
 alphabet, and the precious volumes were placed, he tells us, 
 " in a cubbard or arjnario^' at the English College in Rome, of 
 which he says, " it all belongeth to our province " of the Society 
 of Jesus. The earliest notes made by him were afterwards 
 marked by him with the letter "N" in four parts, and these 
 are now bound in two volumes and form part of the Stonyhurst 
 collection of manuscripts. When he began to write these notes, 
 two volumes only seem to have been made and marked. 
 
 Of the first of these he says, " Varia dc persecutione in Anglia 
 et viartyribus^ in folio, or Collections as it seemes made by Father 
 Creswel signed A in folio." As far as is known this volume is 
 broken up or lost. We are able to identify a considerable por- 
 tion of its contents, for in the volume which contains the chief 
 portion of his transcripts, marked ''M," he refers to a large 
 number of the articles it contained. There are no less than 
 thirty-eight different references to " A " in " M," and some of 
 them very tantalizing ; as for instance " f. ZZ. The martyrdom 
 of Mr, Scott and Mr. Beesley, set down by one present." "f. 148 
 usque ad 156. Additions and corrections for a new print of the 
 Concertation, written by one of Douay Seminary (in May 1591), 
 and very well." "f. 166. MM. at York from 1582 to 1590." 
 "f. 172. Relations of Mr. George Stoker and Mr. Heath con- 
 cerning martyrs." That the volume is not altogether lost but 
 broken up and scattered seems to be indicated by the presence, 
 in the Stonyhurst collection of manuscripts called "Angl. A.," 
 of an original letter by Father Henry Walpole, which in Father 
 Gr^ne's time fgrmed part of Father Cresswell's volume "A." 
 
 The other volume that apparently existed prior to the com- 
 mencement of Father Grene's, he thus describes : " A number 
 of papers, letters, &c. of the Persecution, &c. in folio, bound up 
 together and signed B." This volume is in the Cardinal's 
 Archives, and fortunately it is not necessary to describe it in 
 any way, as we may hope before long to see its valuable con- 
 tents in print, for the Fathers of the Brompton Oratory have 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 5 
 
 promised to follow up the publication of the Douay Diary by 
 a volume of documents respecting the martyrs, preserved in the 
 Metropolitan Archives. 
 
 The volume " C " was made up by Father Grene, whilst he 
 was making the notes now called "N." In his annotation on 
 Richard Blundell, he speaks of the account of his death as 
 "covered w*^ redd paper "in folio." It forms a part of the 
 volume called " C." And under the name of Thomas Strange 
 he mentions the same paper twice, once as in fasdado, and again, 
 in a later note, as in " C." 
 
 This interesting volume contained as its first two articles, the 
 autograph narrative of the Gunpov/der Plot by Father John 
 Gerard, and the autograph translation of the same into Italian 
 by Father Oswald Tesimond. At the suppression of the Society 
 in 1773 the volume was broken up, and the whole of Father 
 Gerard's narrative was folded up into the shape of letters, pro- 
 bably by Father Thorpe, by whom doubtless it was ultimately 
 transmitted to Stonyhurst. Father Tesimond's translation was 
 sent to Canon Tierney by Dr. Lingard, who received it from 
 Dr. Gradwell. It has been given to Stonyhurst by the Bishop 
 of Southwark, owing to whose goodness, after separation from 
 the companion documents for exactly a century, it has been 
 replaced in the volume the sequence of which was indicated 
 by the paging in Father Grene's handwriting. The other papers 
 belonging to the volume were found in loose bundles, and the 
 volume is now at Stonyhurst, complete with the exception of 
 only four leaves. 
 
 In " M " the only quotation from " D " is from Father John 
 Gerard's autobiography. It would appear that the volume once 
 contained other documents, for Father Grene's mention of it in 
 li ^ n -g u Miscell. D. in 4to transcripta ex variis autographis." 
 The copy of Father Gerard's autobiography at Stonyhurst is in 
 4to, a transcript ; but no other portion of " D " is known to exist, 
 or probably could now be identified. 
 
 The volume "E" is the property of St. Mary's College, 
 Oscott, and by the kind permission of Canon Northcote its most 
 interesting portions form the first part of the present series. How 
 the volume came to Oscott is not known, though it may be con_ 
 
6 An Ancient Editor* s Note Book, 
 
 jectured that it formed a part of the legacy of papers left to the 
 College by Dr. Kirk of Lichfield. It has narrowly escaped 
 destruction in comparatively recent times, for it had been sent to 
 Mr. Toovey of Piccadilly to be bound, when the shop took fire, 
 and the manuscript suffered slightly from scorching and more 
 seriously from water. The Editor owes the copy which has been 
 sent to press to the intelligent and persevering industry of some 
 religious of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin in St. Mar/s 
 Convent, York, without whose laborious aid the deciphering 
 and transcription would have taken him too long a time to be 
 practicable. 
 
 Of " F " it is not necessary here to speak, as we are informed 
 by the Reverend Joseph Stevenson that the volume still exists in 
 the Archives of the English College at Rome. " G " unhappily 
 has been lost. A considerable portion of its contents was in 
 Spanish. This volume also may have been broken up, for it 
 contained the " Opus tmperfectum de vita Ca7npiam^^ by Father 
 Persons, the original of which is now in the Stonyhurst collection, 
 Angl. A. vol. ii. n. 14. The volume contained an article which 
 it is a pity we have lost, ^^ De editioiie Concertationis Anglicana, 
 opus imperfedum Fersonit." 
 
 " P " is at Stonyhurst, its four parts bound in two large 
 quarto volumes. Father Grene sometimes quotes two of its 
 parts as "my Persons" and "my Garnet." These are his 
 transcripts, and though in some cases the originals have 
 survived, there are references to others which show us some 
 part of what we have lost, and extracts which save some 
 portion for us from the wreck. 
 
 Of " M " and " N " it has been already said that the surviving 
 portions are at Stonyhurst. " M " was once in three parts, of 
 which two have perished. Of the value of the surviving part it is 
 impossible to speak too highly. Without it we should have been 
 in ignorance of most of that which has been here said of this 
 invaluable collection of documents. 
 
 It will have been noticed that the volumes marked by the 
 letters of the alphabet by Father Grene are now singularly 
 scattered. A small collection, which formed no part of one of 
 these volumes, but remained up to the suppression of the Society 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 7 
 
 as a fasciculus, has wandered further than any. Under the name 
 of Francis Slingsby, Father Grene in " N " notes " Lege fasci- 
 culum scripturaru7n de ipsms morte et virtutibus in Archivto." 
 It is now in the Burgundian Library at Brussels, wretchedly 
 bound, the letters of which it consists placed within one 
 another, and lettered *' Correspondence Jesuitique." The late 
 Mr. Richard Simpson made much use of it in the book that 
 he published on Lady Falkland. 
 
 The persecution in Yorkshire was so heavy, and the details are 
 so interesting and so little known, that it has appeared desirable 
 to give a prominent place in this, the third series of the Troubles 
 of our Catholic Forefathers, to various narratives having York for 
 their centre. The first, however, by no means exclusively relates 
 to Yorkshire, though perhaps the larger portion belongs to the 
 North of England. The date of the last additions to the 
 compilation is early in 1592, as the mart3n:dom of William 
 Patenson, who suffered Jan. 22 in that year, is spoken of as a 
 "late execution." "An Ancient Editor's Note Book" is a 
 title given to the paper by its modem Editor, to whom it 
 seems to be a compilation made in preparation for a book 
 in character like to Father Bridgwater's Concertatio. It has 
 been thought better to give it in its original roughness rather than 
 by any polishing to imperil its raciness. The ancient order of 
 the paragraphs and the headings of the chapters have been 
 preserved, though the arrangement is far from perfect. The 
 book was evidently intended for publication in Latin, from 
 which language the titles of the chapters have been translated. 
 
AN ANCIENT EDITOR'S NOTE BOOK. 
 
 From the original manuscript at St. Mary's College, Oscott. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 UNJUST USE OF THE LAWS. 
 
 A PRISONER in Chester, the space of twenty-seven years, 
 had all his living expended, having long before made a 
 lease for his two daughters' preferment : this was found 
 fraudulent, and the same granted in lease from her Majesty 
 to a promoter. 
 
 The same man's wife imprisoned for not acknow- 
 ledging where she was purified, and where her children 
 were christened ; the Chancellor in open court said she 
 would be accounted a harlot and her children bastards. 
 
 Mr. Wolsley, Maxfield,^ Thornbery, and others con- 
 demned to death at Stafford, 1587, because Mr. Sutton,* 
 a priest, and they were together in a chamber and the 
 door shut ; but [they were] not executed. [Men of menial 
 occupation not permitted to work by others of the same 
 art because recusants, and if by chance sometimes they 
 get work they are denied payment and no remedy in 
 that behalf Erased.'] 
 
 One^ George Ilsley, nephew unto L. Collier, an old 
 priest, having conveyed unto him from his uncle absolutely 
 
 * Mr. Maxfield was probably the father of Thomas Maxfield, priest and 
 martyr, who Dodd (vol. ii. p. 378) states to have been "born at Chesterton 
 Hall, near Newcastle in Staffordshire, while his father and mother were both 
 prisoners for recusancy the latter end of Queen Elizabeth's reign, his father 
 dying under sentence of death." 
 
 * Robert Sutton was martyred at Stafford, July 27, 1587- 
 ' *' Ex propria sent entia." Margin, 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 9 
 
 a little temporal living which he enjoyed, Toplifif and 
 Thornes entered upon the same living, took away all his 
 goods, committed the man to prison, pretending the cause 
 to be for that he would not tell where his uncle was (not- 
 withstanding that this George was never Catholic), and 
 so kept him in prison close two years. After his uncle 
 taken, imprisoned, and there dead, they dismissed the 
 man to his liberty but not to his living before ; suit 
 made to all the Council, and certificate brought from 
 the justices of the country for his conformity, but not 
 prevailing. 
 
 John Saunders, a poor man, coming to York with 
 his horse into an inn, whither he had brought certain 
 provision for the prisoners, the officers came to his host 
 to know what guest he had in his house. The poor 
 man supposing danger got him away. They, finding 
 his horse without a master, took him away. They were 
 told who was owner and that he was gone abroad about 
 business, but that would not serve. Afterwards one from 
 them made him believe for \/\s. he should have his 
 horse again ; but the money delivered, he could never 
 get either horse or money. 
 
 Two maidens, one put in Little Ease at York, the 
 other in place removed from the city, where long before 
 none had inhabited, full of toads and serpents, kept there 
 eleven weeks with an halfpenny a day bread and water, 
 because they would not confess they had taken away 
 the heads of the martyrs, being thereof accused by a 
 boy of eight years old, first whipped and ill-used, a 
 prisoner's son.^ ... 
 
 A gentleman, his wife, and another were indicted for 
 hearing of Mass in Staffordshire, anno 1579, upon the 
 accusation of their servant. Among other untruths, she 
 
 ^ Two paragraphs are here'bmitted, one relating to Mrs. Anne Tesh, and 
 the other to Robert Bickerdike, both of which are given in the "Yorkshire 
 Recusant's Relation. " 
 
lo An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 
 
 deposed upon her oath that in the chamber where the 
 Mass was said, she saw an altar-stone. The gentleman 
 showed forth a stone of alabaster with two coats of 
 arms engraved on it, and said this was the stone she 
 meant. " No," said she, "the stone that I did see had on 
 it the picture of a man, body, head, arms and legs and 
 all." The gentleman prayed the justices and judges judg- 
 ment of her evidence, proving further how lewd she was, 
 both of her hands and body, and how she had been pro- 
 cured thither by a minister and some other his enemies. 
 This notwithstanding, her evidence was allowed good, 
 without any other witness, and they found guilty, con- 
 demned, and imprisoned six months. 
 
 The Bishop of Chester ^ had two pursuivants, one 
 dwelling in Lancashire, the other, named Gelson, in 
 Chester. When he meant to send for any recusant, he 
 used to send the pursuivant of the contrary shire, thereby 
 charging the prisoner with extraordinary fees : as, if he 
 were of Lancashire, then according to the rate of the 
 pursuivant's house in Chester ^d. a mile, et sic e coiitrario. 
 
 At the arraignment of the E[arl] of A[rundel], my 
 L[ord] T[reasurer] said her Majesty would have it so, and 
 so was it convenient in respect of the time. 
 
 A poor man was presented at Durham because he had 
 his shirt marked with a cross, and was amerced and 
 enforced to pay 2s. for the same. 
 
 ^ William Chaderton, made Bishop of Chester November 9, 1579, trans* 
 lated to Lincoln in 1595. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book, ii 
 
 CHAPTER Yl. 
 
 FRAUDS THAT LEGAL PENALTIES MAY BE INCURRED. 
 
 Mrs. Anne Killingale/ in Durham, having been 
 hardly imprisoned and used by the bishop,^ her husband 
 a schismatic not permitted to come unto her, she was at 
 length offered before my lord of Hunsdon and the bishop 
 the oath of supremacy ; which she refusing to take, the 
 bishop said she took from her Majesty her lawful power. 
 " No," saith she, " I give to Caesar that which is Caesar's, 
 and to God that which is God's." "Then," say they, "you 
 call the Queen an infidel, for so was Caesar." She 
 answered, " No ; " and perceiving they intended to take 
 her life from her by these questions, she refused to 
 answer any further unto them. Whereupon returned 
 again to prison, they sent to the same place a false 
 brother under pretence of being a Catholic, who there 
 made outward show of great piety purposely to creep 
 into some familiarity with her, and so to have taken 
 her at some advantage, whereby they might have taken 
 her life from her ; but she finding their drift so behaved 
 herself as it not prevailed. 
 
 Divers poor men in Staffordshire, refusing to receive 
 the Communion, were convented to appear before Benton,^ 
 
 ^ Anne the wife of Henry Killingale of Sadbery, co. Durham, Esq. This 
 gentleman had been denounced as a recusant by his brother Thomas, for 
 having been married and having had his child baptized by a Catholic priest. 
 He conformed, but his wife was very steadfast. The date of her answers to 
 the Ecclesiastical Commissioners here mentioned was Michaelmas 1582. She 
 was then prisoner in the bishop's gaol at Bishop Auckland, where every day 
 for six weeks she was compelled to hear the Protestant service, which was 
 read in her cell. Thence she was sent to the gaol at Sadbery, an old ruinous 
 building, where exposed to the weather and destitute of the necessaries of life 
 she bore a child, whom she had the greatest difficulty in rearing. From 
 Sadbery she was sent to Durham gaol, and lastly to York Castle. 
 
 ' Richard Barnes was translated from Carlisle to Durham in 1577, and 
 died August 24, 1587. 
 
 * Thomas Bentham died February 21, 1578. 
 
12 A 71 Aiicietit Editor* s Note Book. 
 
 then Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield. After some con- 
 ference he told them they must enter into band [bond] of a 
 great sum to appear the next court, and caused his clerk 
 to put into the band cunningly that they should then 
 further abide his order. Some of the men, not thinking 
 any fraud, sealed those bands. He thereupon the next 
 court told them the danger of their band, ordering them 
 not only to receive but to publish such recantations as 
 he had penned, which for fear of their bands the poor 
 men did. The other that espied his drift and refused 
 to seal those bands, he committed to prison, where soon 
 after they became good Catholics. The recantation so 
 spiteful as the Protestants misliked it. 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 BENEFIT OF THE LAWS REFUSED. 
 
 One Ratcliffe, in Yorkshire, having spoiled many poor 
 Catholics of all whatsoever they possessed without all 
 law and order, the poor men drew a supplication, and 
 sought for ordinary relief in that behalf at the Council's 
 and Justices' hands. There the man that delivered the 
 supplication was committed to prison and hardly used, 
 all the others sharply reprehended that they durst exhibit 
 any such petition, and so no redress. My Lord of • 
 Huntingdon, President there, said openly that no Papist 
 in England should have that right at his hands in any 
 matter which law would give ; and to prove that he meant 
 no less, soon after Mr. Leonard Babthorpe,^ a counsellor, 
 and Mr. Lander, an attorney, for pleading law in their 
 Catholic wives' behalf were first both by him committed 
 to prison, then grievous fines set upon their heads, which 
 
 ^ Leonard, second son of Sir William IJabthorpe and Agnes Palmes, 
 married Jane daughter of William Redman of Twislelon, Lancashire. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book. 13 
 
 they were enforced to pay, deprived them from all further 
 practice to their undoings, and lastly for their further 
 disgrace set [one of them erased'l upon the pillory. 
 
 Upon the law made for payment of 20/. a month if 
 one come not to church or oratory of theirs, one shall 
 be convicted by oath of the jurors only, which do say 
 they know that such a one cometh not to church, whereas 
 they cannot know it to be true, many times not knowing 
 the man, and so many times incurring wilful perjury. 
 And if a Catholic upon this or any other more sufficient 
 matter seek to reverse this judgment by writ of error or 
 otherwise, it is never allowed him. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 HOW THE LAWS ARE CARRIED OUT. 
 
 A VISITOR of my Lord of York's coming to Namptwich, 
 fell in liking of three several supposed widows, saying 
 he would have one and so made choice of and married 
 one that was before married to one Mr. Butler of 
 Bucey, and at her request, for considerations as he 
 said, he granted his lordship's free pardon for criminal 
 causes. 
 
 One Dubberly, a minister, with other pursuivants 
 about the forest of Deane in Gloucestershire, brought 
 by the parson of the town to a Catholic house, finding 
 none at home but a poor, lame, blind woodman, the 
 doctor and pursuivants beat at the doors barred against 
 them, and while this battery continued the said minister 
 found a weak window which he brake, and so crept 
 into the house and opened the door to his companions, 
 who ransacked every part of the house, at last found 
 26j. '^d, in a chest of the poor woman's, which was her 
 brother's money, a poor serving-man. This they took, 
 and away they went out of hand, as having found that 
 
14 An Ancieftt Editor* s Note Book. 
 
 they sought for ; and the serving [man was] ever without 
 remedy, notwithstanding that he sought all means, 
 especially to the parson of the town, a d[octor] of divinity 
 and the Queen's chaplain, that set them on work and 
 was with them ; unto whom bringing a w[orshipful] 
 man's letters from the Court, he answered the pursuivants 
 were gone that had the money, and it was not reason 
 that he should now pay it of his own purse. Marry in 
 respect of his master and his other worshipful friend 
 that had written him the letter, he licenced the serving 
 man to come to his house at any time, promising that 
 he would vouchsafe to admit him to his presence and 
 to hear him in any suits he had to him. And so 
 with a cup of beer and a waft with his velvet bonnet 
 dismissed him. 
 
 The younger sons of justices and the under-sheriffs 
 are commonly assistant to pursuivants and such fellows 
 duly in hope of part of the prey. They [are] ever accus- 
 tomed where they find no money to take and drive away 
 kine, cattle, and such like. 
 
 Henry Dingley the younger, some time a Catholic, 
 now an apostata or atheist, outlawed, being bankrupt 
 and in every man's debt, never daring to show his face 
 but when he heareth of any pursuivants in the country, 
 and then armed with sword and dagger, a pistol by his 
 side, and a javelin in his hand, he goeth or rideth unto 
 them, and then protected by these his prince's affairs, 
 he forbeareth not to trouble his own father and mother, 
 his sister, and friends, and all other Catholics without 
 any further authority, using them in most strange manner, 
 pinioning their hands, binding their legs under their horse's 
 belly, and so carrying them to the gaol. 
 
 One Badam, an old worn minister of Gloucestershire, 
 deprived of all living by the Superintendent of Hereford ^ 
 
 * John Scory, made Bishop of Rochester and of Chichester by Edward 
 VI. and by Queen Elizabeth placed at Hereford, where he died June 26, 1585. 
 
An Ancient Editor* s Note Book. 15 
 
 for his lewd conversation, and among the rest for making 
 of ministers for money, without his lordship's knowledge 
 or condescension (a thing peculiar only and commonly 
 practised by his lordship) is now become a follower of 
 the pursuivants, assisting them in all their actions, naming 
 himself Mr. Berrington, a justice of that county, and so 
 plays his part not unlike to pursuivants and as their 
 agent. 
 
 When men and their wives are imprisoned by such 
 companions, first spoiled by them, then come other mali- 
 cious neighbours and take what they have left, and being 
 by the honester sort reprehended, they answer that the 
 owners care not for the world, nor anything in the same, and 
 therefore as well they as'others may take what they can. 
 
 William Ratcliffe, a man infamous for his theft, rob- 
 beries, and other his enormous crimes, having gotten a 
 commission from some Justices of Peace in Yorkshire 
 to take the benefit of an old statute of i2d. forfeiture for 
 every Sunday they are absent from church, did under this 
 pretence rob and spoil all the Catholics of the inferior 
 sort of all manner [of] moveables, yea, their very ordinary 
 provision, bread, meat, drink, and other necessaries. The 
 same man being accused before the justices for stealing 
 of sheep, the theft manifest, and the accuser ready to 
 prosecute law against him, he was forbidden to follow 
 the same, for that the malefactor was a man that had 
 very well deserved for his good service in those parts 
 against Catholics, and so was dismissed without further 
 trouble. Afterwards, for like felonies, hardly pursued by 
 hue and cry, he was driven to fly the country and leave 
 his commission.^ 
 
 Thornes, practising to apprehend Mr. Richard Fitz- 
 herbert,^ used this policy. To Norbury, where he knew 
 
 ^ The following memorandum occurs here in the manuscript : ** Norton, 
 Younge, Topcliflfe, Cuffe, Fitzherbert, Thornes." 
 
 2 Richard, of Hartsmere, co. Stafford, was the fifth son of Sir Anthony 
 Fitzherbert of Norbury. 
 
1 6 An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 
 
 this gentleman lay, came three lame supposed beggars, 
 one man, two women, among divers others that there 
 had alms, and when all were served as accustomed, these 
 three continued still crying and craving more alms, as 
 seeming more needy. The good gentleman going down 
 himself at their pitiful cry to give them some money, 
 the man beggar arrested him, laying hands on him to 
 carry him to an officer, and threw the gentleman down. 
 With this noise his friends within came out to rescue him. 
 The beggar seeing that, having a dagg^ ready charged at 
 his girdle, offered to discharge it at Mr. Fitzherbert's 
 breast, but it went not off. Thereupon the beggar, beaten, 
 let fall his dagg and went a little way off, where Thornes 
 expected his return with hope of prey. The dagg then 
 taken up by one of that house, went off itself without 
 hurting anybody, albeit there were many present 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 VEXATIONS OF THOSE AT LIBERTY. 
 
 All houses are subject to searches and Catholics to 
 apprehension. Upon Monday in Easter week, the house 
 of Mr. Heathe at Cumberford searched by Thornes and 
 Cawdwell, and Mr. Harrison, a priest, there apprehended. 
 They so cruelly used Mrs. Hcathc at that time, tossing 
 and tumbling her, that she, thereby frighted, died the 
 Friday following. 
 
 [Richard Fitzherbert, George Cooke, William Poker, 
 John Coher, Timothy Browne, dispossessed of their houses 
 and goods by Thornes, and they imprisoned. Erased^ 
 
 John Eldersha of Andelen, of the age of ninety years 
 
 or thereabout, by officers apprehended. They thought 
 
 to have carried him to Chester gaol. On the way 
 
 the old man, by reason of a fall and other natural 
 
 * Dag, a liand-gun, a pistol. Johnson. 
 
An Ancient Editor 's Note Book, 1 7 
 
 infirmities, unable to go forward, the officers left him 
 in an ale-house, advertised the bishop of his estate, and 
 so were dismissed. The old man, something recovered, 
 returned again to his own house, which as soon as the 
 commissioners understood, they sent warrant to the sheriff 
 to bring the old man and his son Richard before them, 
 qiLocinnqiie inodo. The sheriff, coming to his son's house, 
 apprehended him (his wife before great with child, with 
 that fear falling in labour and in great danger), and so 
 went to the old man's house, where the doors being shut, 
 they essayed to break them with a smith's great sledge. 
 In the meanwhile they within conveyed the old man into 
 a secret place, so that the sheriff entering and searching 
 could not find him, albeit his bed was then warm, the 
 old man, through infirmity ever bedridden : so that 
 the sheriff took with him his son, much discontented 
 that he could not find the old man, who, by cold taken 
 at that being in the hole, was never after able to go or 
 stand, and soon after died. 
 
 All Catholics despoiled of their armour by the Council's 
 commandment. 
 
 Many gentlemen give very large sums by the way of 
 composition to avoid the seizure of their lands. 
 
 Pursuivants coming to the house of Ralph Macclesfield, 
 for that his man, Michael Wright, did not presently open 
 the door at their commandment, they called him into 
 the Star Chamber before the Lords, to his master his 
 great charge. And the next assize, the said Ralph, 
 being eighty years old, was sent for to Stafford, whom, 
 unable to ride or go so far through impotency, they 
 carried perforce, being a gentleman, in a cart. 
 
 Pursuivants searching the house of Hugh Erdeswicke 
 in his absence, he coming in the mangling, finding his 
 chests all broken open and his evidences dispersed, one of 
 them arrested him and called him traitor, whereto being 
 moved, bestowed some blows upon him, for which he 
 c 
 
1 8 An A7icie7it Editor's Note Book, 
 
 was soon after deeply fined and endured long imprison- 
 ment. 
 
 Hodgkinson, searching and rifling the house of Dorothy 
 Heveringham, violently took from one of her daughters' 
 neck a crucifix of gold, which he would by no means 
 restore until he had five marks given him by her mother, 
 which was accounted the value. 
 
 William Stapleton's house searched ; himself appre- 
 hended and sent to London, there imprisoned, a lease of 
 his living begged by Cuffe, he was enforced to take a 
 lease of his own living at Cuffe's hands, having otherwise 
 no remedy at all. 
 
 Pursuivants come from London, from York, from 
 bishops, from noblemen, besides justices, sheriffs, justices* 
 ministers, &c. ; if all daytimes will not serve, nights 
 must. Most upon the most festival days, when, as they 
 think, Catholics will for charity to themselves have 
 priests, they charitably come to apprehend them. If 
 they have not what they will, they take the man, wife, 
 children and servants all to prison. No help; yea, they 
 are praised for it. Justices and they beset two gentle 
 houses in the night, raising the one and setting watch 
 ready at the other, to rush in as soon as the doors 
 should be opened in the morning. 
 
 Robert Jebbe, a farmer, poor yet religious, that he might 
 sometime the more securely entertain priests, his own 
 house being inconvenient, he built in his fields among 
 many bushes a little house seven foot broad, ten foot 
 long, and eight foot high, where he did securely con- 
 verse with them a long time. At length, his own house 
 searched and himself to go to prison, he acquainted a 
 kinsman of his with his secret house, who soon after 
 betrayed the place to the Lord Evers,^ who presently 
 beset the same, and had like to have taken there a 
 priest, but that by chance he was gone a little before. 
 * Ralph, third Lord Eure, Vice-president of the North. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book. 19 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 PRETENDED PURSUIVANTS. 
 
 William Newnham, alias Claxton, condemned at Not- 
 tingham for a robbery committed by him on the highway, 
 brake from his keeper, the gaoler there, took away with 
 him the daughter of one Griffith Aparraye, minister, and 
 now hath gotten a counterfeit pursuivant's scutcheon 
 and warrant, and so under that pretence robbeth and 
 spoileth as others of like quality. 
 
 One Reynold in Yorkshire, 1588, who, seeing the 
 magistrates to take pleasure in the misery and ruin of 
 Catholics, counterfeited a warrant for himself, nothing 
 doubting of their confirmation. Presently he entered and 
 searched many Catholic houses, never ceasing to search 
 where he had begun until he had found either a prey or 
 had gotten a bribe. Amongst divers others he entered 
 the house of one Ledam on the sudden, and there by 
 chance finding one Richard Bowes, a priest, and thinking 
 that a good opportunity, he cast out the woman and all 
 her children out of doors and took the spoil of all that 
 ever she had of any value or moment, and so carried 
 the priest to prison. Persevering in this course, he 
 came to a place called Hutton, the ancient house of one 
 Mr. Christopher Coniers, where one seeing him disordering 
 of the hay and casting it into the wet, took a staff and 
 beat him, and had killed him with a thrust in the breast, 
 had he not had a bag of money in the belly of his doublet, 
 which, aye, he had before gotten by the spoil of Catholics. 
 Upon this, terming them traitors, and saying he would 
 complain to the President, he departed. But doubting 
 his authority might be called in question, he put up the 
 blows, and since hath surceased from further proceeding. 
 
 One Price, a serjeant-at-arms, and Vaughan, by the 
 
20 A 71 Anciejit Editor's Note Book. 
 
 name of Dr. Goloeke, in a doctor's habit, with their train 
 and company suitable, having counterfeited a commission, 
 went to most known Catholic houses in England search- 
 ing, where binding whom they list to appear before the 
 Council, ransacking and rifling all the houses they came 
 in, unless largely bribed, carrying many as prisoners up 
 and down with them, and at length dismissing them for 
 money, and delivering other their bands again upon com- 
 position of great sums paid in fine. Upon complaint of 
 some the matter so manifest, they were convened before 
 the Council for the fact. Price and Vaughan were com- 
 mitted to prison, adjudged to the pillory, and he degraded 
 from his office. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 RErUTATION OF CATHOLICS BLACKENED. 
 
 It is ordinary with them to call Catholics traitors, and to 
 proceed against them in their judgments as in cases of 
 treason, notwithstanding that the cause be directly con- 
 science. This general in all judgments. 
 
 At York assizes the Catholics were brought to the bar, 
 first two Catholics and then two thieves, and so two of the 
 one and two of the other. At the bar the keeper placed 
 the Catholics first, for which the bishop sharply rebuked 
 him, willing him to put them in the worst place, accus- 
 tomed for notorious malefactors, where being put, they 
 were driven to stand from one of the clock afternoon till 
 eight at night, not permitted to case or rest themselves all 
 that while. 
 
 In Yorkshire, Cumberland, Westmoreland, and the 
 Bishopric from St. Matthew's day^ in September, 1586, 
 until Christmas, the persecution was so great that the 
 Council then sent their precepts to all justices and their 
 
 * The manuscript says " St. Matthias," but that feast is Februar}' 24, and 
 St. Matthew's September 21. 
 
An Ancie^it Editor ^s Note Book. 21 
 
 adherents, that with numbers of armed men they should 
 go unto, find out, and search all the houses possessed by 
 any Catholic, which was in like manner performed with 
 such terror and tumult as if some cruel war or great 
 danger had been like to have happened, to the ruin of the 
 whole commonwealth. 
 
 Ratcliffe accused one Fotherlay and his son for 
 speaking malicious words against one of the Council. 
 Seeing one John Hanckrick walking by the sea-side with 
 another, gave presently information that he saw him 
 walking and talking with a Spaniard. One William 
 Typlady, willing him to desist from these his proceedings, he 
 went about to bring him within the compass of the statute 
 of persuasion. The said Ratcliffe coming into the house 
 of one widow Gibson, finding there a red cross, demanding 
 where she had it, and she answering of one good wife 
 Hobb, her neighbour, he preferred an indictment against 
 them both, calling the same the Pope's Bull, and a certain 
 token sent to all the Catholics, by the which they might 
 be known and so save themselves harmless when the 
 Spaniards should invade England. . . 
 
 Certain houses in London accidentally by negligence 
 of servants set on fire and burnt, they gave out this was 
 done by Catholics. 
 
 Certain mad men or counterfeits, now known Puritans, 
 crying out in London streets and exclaiming against the 
 Lord Chancellor and the Archbishop of Canterbury, 
 terming them little better than traitors, and so like to 
 have been authors of sedition : some by and by gave 
 out that this was a device of the Papists. 
 
 If any man will but yield to go to Church all treasons 
 are remitted. 
 
 They print seditious pamphlets, setting titles and tables 
 on their gibbets at their executions. 
 
 A plumber in Staffordshire, by name Francis Oliver, 
 from a heretic converted to a Catholic, because in mending 
 
22 An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 
 
 of a church he did not cease knocking while the service 
 was saying, was apprehended and brought before the 
 bishop. The poor man unlearned, having by chance read 
 Scatojis Logic} to the interrogatories of the bishop and his 
 chaplain made such syllogistical answers that they thought 
 him a great clerk, and so brought him into their open 
 court, where, to disgrace him, the bishop said he was a 
 shameful usurer. "I was one indeed," said he, "when 
 I followed your religion ; but now I have made restitution 
 and do detest it. That was the fruit of your religion, but 
 this reformation of this which I now profess." 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 GOODS OF CATHOLICS DESPOILED. 
 
 A FORFEITURE of 2o/. a month for not coming to church. 
 Thirteen months made in the year: those that are not 
 able to pay the whole to forfeit two parts of the profits of 
 their land, all leases, chattels, and goods. 
 
 All gentlemen of worth pay the whole penalty. Others 
 in the seizure of the two parts miserably used, as by having 
 their land unequally divided, and on those two parts all 
 manner of wastes to be committed, especially in cutting 
 down their woods at unseasonable times, whereby they 
 cannot grow again, and suffering their ancient houses and 
 fair building to go to ruin and decay. 
 
 Besides this, in Yorkshire the Council granted to one 
 Radcliffc, before convicted of felony, a commission to levy 
 among the poorer sort the old forfeiture of 12^. for every 
 Sunday ; and this by him without order of law was put in 
 execution, and for default of present payment he spoiled 
 thirty poor men and women of all their cattle, household 
 stuff, apparel, yea, necessary provision, and sold the same 
 
 * This must have been a translation of the Dialectica Joannis Setoni Canta 
 brigiensiSf of which several editions appeared between 1563 and 1577. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 23 
 
 before their faces, and they without remedy ; for one 
 Douthwhat of Tussege, one of those so spoiled, for that 
 his wife was supposed a recusant, complaining to the Lord 
 Evers and other justices, showing that his wife, besides 
 that she was then in childbed, was not able by extremity 
 of sickness to go to Church, and this averred by writing 
 under all or most of his neighbours' hands ; his complaint 
 yet was not accounted of, neither any restitution made. 
 
 A gentleman in Gloucestershire of good account, but 
 a younger brother, and his living consisting most of leases, 
 to the end they might make him forfeit all, secretly in- 
 dicted him, and thereupon outlawed him. 
 
 Another gentleman there of like account, a prisoner, 
 hath all his living and goods taken away, so that both 
 himself and many his little children live now only of such 
 a poor pension as he that begged his living will allow. 
 
 Thornes, in Staffordshire, hath driven away hundreds 
 of cattle from Catholics at a time, even all that many 
 householders had, and afterwards turned them out of their 
 houses and kept possession against them, namely, Knolles, 
 widow Wade, George Cooke, William Poker, John Coher, 
 Timothy Browne, Mr. Richard Fitzherbert, and many 
 others. 
 
 A proviso is made in every lease granted of any 
 recusant's living, that neither the recusant himself that 
 ow[n]eth it, neither any other recusant, shall by any 
 means have any commodity thereby, nor take the same 
 to farm of the grantee. 
 
 The livings of recusants are sometimes begged of \i.e. by] 
 three or four several men, and grants made to all of them. 
 If he or any their friends for them think good to deal for the 
 lease, they must compound with them all, notwithstanding^- 
 that only the first grant be good as against the Queen, 
 but all allowed current against Catholics. This experienced 
 in Mr. Henry Carey's case and divers others. 
 
 Known spies and catchpolls are the only means to 
 
24 Alt Ancient Editor's Note Book, 
 
 procure liberty for Catholic prisoners, and this they do for 
 priests or laymen upon an agreement for some certain 
 sum. Their suits in these cases are many times easily 
 obtained, in recompense of their services in that behalf 
 
 Pursuivants in their searches many times, finding either 
 jewels, plate, or money, they take it away, and the party 
 without remedy for restitution ; those in authority willing 
 to wink at such matters, thereby to satisfy them of their 
 proceedings in that behalf 
 
 One Pepper, under the pretence of a commission 
 granted under seven of the Council's hands to search any 
 man's house for suspect persons, recusants, and this word 
 " Catholics " named also in the same, to open and break 
 chests, coffers, desks, &c., hath searched in Yorkshire many 
 houses, and where he findeth anything forbidden he com- 
 poundeth with them for a sum of money. Amongst others 
 he searched the house of an apostata married priest in 
 Northallerton, and finding something that of old belonged 
 to the Church, compounded with him for twenty marks and 
 a gelding. 
 
 Another in that country hath a commission to appre- 
 hend six Catholics, and seize upon their goods for his 
 preferment. 
 
 At the going of Leicester into Flanders all Catholics 
 of account were taxed, some lOO/., some 50/., and some 
 25/., to furnish great horses for that good service, and the 
 most enforced to pay it 
 
 When Elmer^ came to be first Bishop of London, the 
 only forfeiture being then \2d. for every Sunday, he devised 
 a new law spiritual in his consistory, that Catholics should 
 be enjoined to receive by the next court, then called in, 
 and upon demand answering that they neither had nor 
 would, this he adjudged a contempt and there finable, and 
 so fined one Throgmorton 40/., Humphrey Cumberford as 
 much, Roland Bulkelye 20/., Richard Gravenor twenty 
 ^ John Elmer, made Bishop of London March 24, 1576, died June 3, 1594. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book. 25 
 
 marks, and divers other to the sum of 500/. in one term, 
 and this certified into the Exchequer, where afterwards 
 they were enforced to reverse this as done contrary to law, 
 to their great trouble and little less charge than their fines 
 would have been. 
 
 Rowland Bulkeley, William Heigham, and Dudley 
 
 disinherited by their fathers for being Catholics. So were 
 Hugh Moore, Carleton, Jenison, Hummerstone, and divers 
 others. 
 
 Munday, the pursuivant, searching the house of one 
 Mrs. Vernon, had of her and her children for fees 10/. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 LOSS OF FRIENDS. 
 
 Catholics' children, besides difficulty of christening, 
 taken from their parents : they permitted to keep no 
 Catholic schoolmaster, neither may they put them to any 
 University or Inns of Court. 
 
 Husbands accused by their wives, fathers by their 
 children, ct e converso. One Mr. Francis Rolson was appre- 
 hended and condemned to die by the procurement and 
 evidence of his own son, but the precedent so bad he had 
 his pardon, Mr. John Fitzherbert in like manner molested 
 and troubled by his own son, imprisoned, and there dead. 
 This imp also, Thomas Fitzherbert, hath sought by all 
 means to take away the life of old Sir Thomas Fitzherbert,^ 
 who made him his heir and brought him up from a child. 
 He hath caused him to be suspected of statute treason, 
 and to be committed to the Tower, where he continueth. 
 He hath procured also divers of his uncle's tenants to be 
 
 ^ Sir Thomas was the third and eldest surviving son of Sir Anthony. 
 Thomas the "imp," the ally of Topcliffe against his own flesh and blood, was 
 the third son of John, next brother to Sir Thomas. 
 
26 An Ancient Editor's Note Book. 
 
 imprisoned in Stafford, and there some of them are dead. 
 [Old Sir Thomas now^ dead in the Tower. Liierlincd.'] 
 
 My Lady Englefield against Sir Francis,- the old 
 Countess of Derby against her husband,^ my Lady Paget 
 against my Lord,* Mrs. Shelley against her husband 
 remaining condemned in the Gatehouse,^ the Countess of 
 Shrewsbury against Father Abraham. ° 
 
 A father in London caused his son to be whipped and 
 burnt through the ear for being a Catholic. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 LOSS OF LIBERTY. 
 
 In Hampshire all Catholics at liberty are fined and taxed 
 at great sums, and this they enforced to pay, besides the 
 danger of the statutes, and the reason of their fining is 
 alleged in respect that her Majesty spareth their life. 
 
 ^ The commissions to the escheators of Staffordshire and Derbyshire, issued 
 on the death of Sir Thomas Fitzherbert, are dated Dec. i, 1591. P.R.O., 
 Docquet. 
 
 ^ Sir Francis Englefield, knighted in 1547, convicted of high treason in 
 1564, died at Valladolid about 1592, married Catherine daughter of Thomas 
 Fettiplace. 
 
 ' The "old Countess of Derby" was probably Mary, daughter of Sir 
 George Cotton, the third wife of Edward third Earl of Derby, who after his 
 death in 1573 married Henry Earl of Kent. She died in 1580. 
 
 * Margaret, daughter of Sir John Newton of Barr's Court, co. Somerset, 
 widow of Sir Thomas Southwell K.B., was the wife of Thomas, third Lord 
 Paget, who was attainted, and died at Brussels in 1589. She died in 1583. 
 
 * Jane Shelley, whose husband was in the Gatehouse many years, was not 
 a wise woman. She confessed (Jan. 28, 1593), before Sir William Waad and 
 Richard Young, that she had consulted John Fletcher, M.A., P'ellow of 
 Gonville and Caius College, who was "said to be skilful in astronomy," 
 enquiring of him "what would become of her husband, he being a prisoner 
 and a dead man in law." John Alfrey at the same time deposed that he had 
 told Mrs. Shelley that her husband should be drawn on a hurdle in spring, and 
 she said, "I would to God he were gone, but I believe he will not live so long, 
 he doth use so much physic." P.R.O., Domestic ^ Elizabeth^ vol. ccxliv. n. 42. 
 
 ® The Countess of Shrewsbury must be the well known Bess of Hardwicke, 
 but who was her kinsman. Father Abraham ? Abraham Sutton, a priest in 
 exile in 1588, when the Concertatio was published, is the only priest mentioned 
 in that book whose Christian name was Abraham. 
 
An Ancieftt Editor's Note Book. 27 
 
 Rich and poor, all are charged more than they are able to 
 bear, and, if it be not ready when the officers come, they 
 distrain their cattle. 
 
 Such Catholics as had their furniture [armour interlined] 
 there taken from them, having provided other upon com- 
 mand in great haste, it will not be accepted, be it never so 
 good, but they must pay the value in money. 
 
 William Price, meeting upon the way with a Puritan 
 by him unknown, importuned to talk of religion, after a 
 little communication, at the next town apprehended him 
 for a Catholic, and so was sent to Shrewsbury gaol, where 
 enduring great misery, at length for not being content to 
 lie there, at so great charge as his keeper would have him, 
 was accused as if he endeavoured to break prison, and so 
 was laden with two pair of irons, the one so strait they 
 were like to lame him. 
 
 In Hampshire there is a new prison erected, whereof 
 one of Cooper's men is keeper. 
 
 Men and their wives committed, and their houses 
 spoiled and goods taken away by pursuivants and ill 
 neighbours. 
 
 Thomas Trym, a poor occupier, a prisoner in Chester 
 nine years for his conscience. 
 
 Mr. Baker and Mr. Bikerton, old priests, imprisoned in 
 Shrewsbury. 
 
 In Stafford imprisoned thirty, whereof six yet remain, 
 the others for the most part dead. 
 
 In Herefordshire, prisoners seven gentlemen, three 
 priests, four poor men, and three gentlewomen. 
 
 In the same shire four other gentlemen miserably 
 persecuted but not apprehended, whereof one Mr. William 
 Minors had his house searched on New Years' day by 
 seven score men in arms, but not finding him, they indicted 
 him for felony for receiving seminary priests. 
 
 In Monmouthshire, prisoners in all eight, whereof two, 
 John Thomas and Roger Price, were whipped at the 
 
28 A 71 Ancient Editor's Note Book. 
 
 assizes [which they took so patiently that they endured 
 it with silence, whereat the justices marvelling, said, "If 
 we whip rogues we shall hear them cry all over the town, 
 but these make no noise." I ntcrlmcd?^ 
 
 Out of that country were sent to London, prisoners, 
 Mr. Jetter and Mr. David Jones, servants to the Earl of 
 Worcester, and there died in prison. 
 
 Five there imprisoned for burying a Catholic without 
 a minister. 
 
 In Shropshire, prisoners, four gentlemen all spoiled of 
 their living. Of them one Mr. Thomas Floed had taken 
 from him at one time a goodly farm, with all his stock, 
 about a hundred and sixty sheep besides other cattle. 
 
 In Cheshire, prisoners, in all eleven, whereof one Mr. 
 Hocknell killed by his keeper. 
 
 In Denbighshire, four, whereof one John Hughes is 
 condemned of high treason by the Statute of Persuasion. 
 
 In Flintshire, four, whereof one a maid. 
 
 In Carmarthenshire, three, whereof one dying, was 
 buried in an old chapel uncovered, his fellow prisoner 
 having but one little nag, gave it to a tiler to cover 
 the chapel. At the next assizes this informed was 
 thought a very heinous deed, and the man the more 
 troubled. 
 
 In the Gatehouse were prisoners, seven priests and 
 twenty laymen, all examined upon capital questions of 
 supremacy, excommunication, deprivation, and taking part 
 [in case of invasion by the Pope], unto the priests further 
 whom they had reconciled, absolved, or ministered sacra- 
 ments unto ; to the laymen, when and by whom they were 
 absolved or confessed. Three that acknowledged con- 
 fession [two of old men interlined'] and reconciliation were 
 indicted of high treason, the one martyred, a second con- 
 demned and pardoned, the third not proceeded against 
 further than indicted and since bailed. 
 
 Two lay gentlemen executed, the one for giving a 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book. 29 
 
 priest a quart of wine, the other a supper. The priest not 
 taken, nor certainly known to be a priest. 
 
 [Gatehouse, interlined\. The priests removed from the 
 laymen, first into a little garret, five together, where they 
 continued two months, where they were driven to buy all 
 their victuals of their keepers at an excessive price, and 
 yet could hardly come by it, enforced to cry many times 
 for necessaries, but heard at leisure, every way very much 
 abused by the servants of the house, so that in fine they 
 were enforced to go down to the lower wards of the 
 common gaol, where they were put all together into a hole 
 with only straw for their lodging, and without other light 
 but of a candle, and so continued from the beginning of 
 Advent until the fourth week in Lent. 
 
 A gentlewoman of great account bound to appear at 
 an assize holden in her country, for her conscience. The 
 place where the assize v/as kept being about twenty miles 
 from her house, the gentlewoman at that time and six 
 months before being extreme sick of a dangerous disease 
 gotten in prison, not able without apparent peril of her 
 life to go out of her chamber, caused divers worshipful 
 gentle knowing this to be true to advertise the judges 
 thereof, praying them to hold her default excused. But 
 such was the fury of one of the judges that he would not 
 forbear her presence, and gave the sheriff presently great 
 charge to send for her with force. The sick gentlewoman 
 on that was brought, and when he saw her, his fury over- 
 past, he only said she was a grave matron, and so dismissed 
 her, binding her over to the next assize. And it pleased 
 God withal, contrary to the expectation of all men, that 
 this journey turned her to the restoring of her health, 
 whereas by supposal his sending for her was only of pur- 
 pose that thereby she might have died. 
 
 Another, so weak with a continual fever which he had 
 long time and even then did endure, by judgment of 
 physicians in manifest peril of death, on a solemn feast 
 
30 An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 
 
 day, by counterfeit yet base authorized pursuivants, had 
 his chamber searched and himself taken by force out of 
 his bed, scarce able to stand or go, and so put in a boat 
 and carried six miles by water, whither when he came to 
 attend the examiner's leisure he was laid in the open 
 air on the grass, then in his fit ; and so in the end his 
 estate being such through sickness as no keeper was 
 willing to take him prisoner, he was for money dismissed 
 upon bands and returned again in the night, for that they 
 seemed in the end ashamed of the fact. 
 
 CHAPTER XI. 
 
 MISERY OF CATHOLICS. 
 
 In Worcester two old priests and two laymen. These 
 have been there these two years, often brought to the 
 bar at the assize time, and once asked by Manwood,^ 
 judge, why they would not come to Church, one 
 answered stoutly, ** Because we know God's service is not 
 there." " Whose service then ? " said the judge. " Look 
 you to that," quoth the priest. Whereupon he com- 
 manded bolts to be laid on them, and all that day to 
 keep them fast in the stocks. 
 
 An alms of milk being given to one Mother Taylefathes, 
 aged and decrepit, one Rogers, a persecutor, that had 
 before offered to discharge his dagg [pistol] at another 
 Catholic, that had but the use of one of his hands, he 
 took this milk from the poor woman, and washed his 
 hands in it, saying she was unworthy to have alms, and 
 that whosoever gave her anything should repent it all 
 the days they had to live. 
 
 Divers pursuivants dwell in the country. When they 
 have wearied themselves in searching, they send to 
 London for their companions. Then they divide thcm- 
 * See TroiibUs, First Series, p. 79, twtf. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book. 31 
 
 selves into divers troops, and so search in divers places 
 at once ; and when one company hath searched in one 
 place, another company succeedeth in the same, continuing 
 sometimes a month together in this order. Sometimes 
 they give a fierce assault all at one time, in one place, 
 staying all they find, that none escape to give warning 
 to others. There done, in all possible haste they gallop 
 to the next Catholic house, making forcible entries, 
 leaving nothing unsearched. After a little intermission 
 they come again, saying they have new and more ample 
 commission, and behave themselves accordingly. If any 
 man seems to resist them, they by and by carry them 
 to prison, terming them rebels, and the Queen's enemies. 
 There shall they lie without remedy, either for liberty 
 or their goods wrongfully taken away. Their worshipful 
 friends about Court telling some in secret, in this cause 
 they durst do nothing ; but were it either for robbery, 
 murder, or any such outrage, they could and would help 
 them. 
 
 1588. William Brestock, having his house violently 
 assaulted by pursuivants, and by them his wife stricken 
 down to the ground, coming to recover his wife, who lay 
 sprawling on the ground, and by them set upon, defending 
 himself was by them taken, his arms pinioned, his legs 
 bound under a horse's belly, and so carried to Worcester 
 gaol. This happening on Good Friday, to the great comfort 
 of the confessor, for that, carried along the country with 
 many men in arms which the pursuivants had raised in 
 the Queen's name, he had a forcible apprehension of our 
 Saviour His usage that day, and so rejoiced that he did 
 in something imitate it. [He] after died in prison, annoyed 
 with the corrupt air of his noisome lodging, leaving his 
 constant wife and four children, the eldest not twelve 
 years old, behind him, and nothing to keep them withal ; 
 himself before, for his conscience, spoiled of all. 
 
 Many Catholics have fled the realm, others live 
 
32 A 71 Ancient Edito7''s Note Book, 
 
 obscure in unknown places by contrary names. Some 
 commend themselves prisoners to noblemen, whereof one so 
 prisoner his patience, demeanour, and purity of life were 
 such that the lady of the same house said to some secret 
 friends of hers, " If all Papists lived so well as my lord's 
 prisoner did, Protestants must needs be in ill state towards 
 God." 
 
 A farmer dead in prison, despoiled of all he had, 
 leaving his wife and eight children, all under twenty years 
 old, to the world. 
 
 In York, prisoners sixty. 
 
 In Hampshire, as many in the gaol. Bridewell and 
 other new erected prisons ; for the most part very poor 
 men that live by spinning and such base trades, and 
 alms. 
 
 When priests are apprehended and imprisoned, they 
 suborn some of their keeper's servants to take upon them 
 to be Catholics, and so to persuade them to write to their 
 friends, promising safe delivery. If they write, as some 
 have done, those letters are carried to Topcliffe or such 
 like. They either then intercept, if matter sufficient, and 
 so apprehend the parties, or otherwise send the letters new 
 written in a counterfeit hand, and so pass them to and 
 fro, till they [think] the parties be within danger, and 
 then entrap them. This experienced in Mr. Gerard's^ 
 letters to Mr. Dryland, and Mr. Jones' to others. 
 
 Two gentlemen taken, imprisoned, and very hardly 
 used, for that at the arraignment of Mr. Jones,- they 
 seemed to show him a familiar countenance. 
 
 One being at the execution of Mr. Middleton, upon 
 a very good gelding of his master, being indeed but a 
 poor horsekeeper, for that he was supposed to be like 
 
 * Perhaps Miles Gerard, who was martyred at Rochester, April 30, 1590. 
 Christopher Dryland was a prisoner at Wisbech, and so was Alexander Gerard. 
 
 ' Edward Jones and Anthony Middleton, priests, suffered May 6, 1590, the 
 one in Fleet street, the other in Clerkenwell. 
 
An A7icient Editor's Note Book, 33 
 
 one that had been seen at Rome, was apprehended, and 
 albeit mistaken, being found to be a Catholic, his gelding 
 was taken from him, and he committed to Bridewell, 
 where he was forced to go in the mill many days in 
 his boots, and to endure many other miseries, hanging 
 him up by the hands, and such like. 
 
 In Hampshire, three prisons full of Catholics to the 
 number of eighty at least, but most poor men, who pray 
 earnestly to be made worthy to suffer death in God's 
 cause. The gentlemen are removed from their country, 
 lest among their neighbours, tenants, and acquaintance 
 their good life and behaviour should win many unto them, 
 as in truth it did whilst they were there imprisoned. 
 
 CHAPTER XIL 
 
 TRIALS AND SENTENCES. 
 
 The form of the indictment against priests is thus. 
 " Inquiratur pro domina Regina si R. S. nuper de L. in 
 comitatu M. clericus, natus apud N. in comltatu pn-edlcto 
 infra regnum Angllae, et post festum Natlvitatis S^^ Joan- 
 nis Baptistae, anno regni D"^ N""^ Elizabeth, etc. primo 
 factus ordinatus et professus sacerdos seminarius, Angllce 
 A Senimary priest ^ aucthoritate et jurisdictlone derivata 
 clamata et pretensa a sede Romana, a partibus trans- 
 marinis applicult et die et anno — prodltorle fuit et remansit 
 apud C. in comltatu praedlcto contra formam statuti in 
 hujusmodi casu editi et provisi et contra pacem dictae 
 Dominas Reginae coronam et dignitatem suas." 
 
 Divers priests taken at sea, or presently upon their 
 landing, it not appearing directly that their intention 
 was for England. Notwithstanding they were indicted, 
 arraigned, condemned, and executed, as flat within the 
 compass of the statute ; as four priests at Durham, 
 Mr. Gerard and Mr. Dickinson in Kent, others in the 
 D 
 
34 ^^ A7icie7tt Edito7''s Note Book, 
 
 Isle of Wight, and Mr. Robinson at Ipswich, with divers 
 others.^ 
 
 And whereas by statute all that wittingly and willingly 
 shall receive, relieve, aid, or comfort a Seminary priest, 
 are felons, the law is taken so hard in that behalf, as 
 Mr. Martin and Mr. Floyd were indicted, condemned, 
 and executed for relieving one Mr. Horner, alias Forest,^ 
 a priest, the one only giving him a quart of wine, the 
 other a supper, notwithstanding that the supposed priest 
 was neither in hold, condemned, nor outlawed, and so 
 uncertain to the judge and jury whether a priest or no, 
 or whether such a priest as the statute forbids, not con- 
 formed, &c. Whereas by law such aiders, and relievers, 
 which are but offenders in a second degree, ought not 
 to be arraigned before the principal in the highest degree 
 had been condemned. 
 
 And whereas reconciliation by express word of the 
 statute is made treason, the law is so hardly construed, 
 that if any Catholic do by circumstance confess that at 
 any time he hath been confessed to any priest, either 
 Seminary or otherwise, he is by and by adjudged in case 
 of treason. So Henry Foxwell, gentleman, saying that 
 he was confessed and absolved by Mr. Baldwin, priest, 
 they both living prisoners in the Gatehouse, and the 
 priest there before dead ; he was for this indicted, and 
 
 ' The four priests martyred at Durham were Edmund Duke, Richard 
 Hill, John Hogg and Richard Holiday. They suffered May 27, 1590 ; Miles 
 Gerard and Francis Dicconson at Rochester, April 30, 1 590 j Robert Ander- 
 ton and William Marsden in the Isle of Wight, April 25, 1586; John 
 Robinson at Ipswich, October i, 1588 ; Richard Martin and Richard Flower, 
 laymen, at Tyburn, August 30, 1588 ; Robert Sutton, schoolmaster, at 
 Clerkenwell, October $, 1588. 
 
 * Justice Young wrote to the Lord Keeper, December 23, 1592, that 
 Robert Faux confessed that three or four years since, before he was committed 
 to prison, he gave a grey nag with a saddle and bridle to Forrest, a priest, at 
 an alehouse in Stoke, in the county of Northampton, and that he heard six or 
 seven years ago that the said priest was about Harborough. Faux was put to 
 the torture for a while, but Young says that he could not draw any further 
 matter from him. P.R.O. Domestky Elizabeth ^ vol. ccxliii. n. 93. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 35 
 
 condemned of high treason, but by the humble suit of 
 his wife reprieved and pardoned to his great charge. So 
 Robert Sutton, Master of Art, saying that he was con- 
 fessed and absolved by an old priest, and by him brought 
 in gremium Ecclesice, to which he was drawn by the 
 examiners' saying that unless he would confess himself 
 to be reconciled, all his Catholic brethren would cast 
 him out of their society, was arraigned, condemned, and 
 executed at Clerkenwell, but pardoned of drawing and 
 quartering, only hanged on a gibbet set up of purpose, 
 as a great malefactor. Divers others for the like words 
 have been indicted, and some shortly after bailed, not- 
 withstanding this great treason. 
 
 A gentleman, a bill of indictment being framed 
 against him for four months recusancy, and so forfeiture 
 of 80/., two neighbours of his, substantial men, stood 
 up, and said they would depose they saw him at Church 
 within one month. And in truth, he had not been so 
 long Catholic. Notwithstanding, this judge said he 
 knew the contrary, and would not allow of their testimony, 
 but commanded the jury to find the bill, which was done 
 accordingly. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 THOSE THAT DIED IN PRISON. 
 
 1589. Richard Bolbett, Thomas Cosen and his wife; at 
 the same time Ann Launder, the wife of John Launder. 
 
 1590, the 26th of January, the aforesaid John, who had 
 suffered for the cause (for the space of twelve years his 
 wife and he had lived in continency), all these made blessed 
 ends in the Clink. 
 
 Mr. Cumberford at Hull, having been long before 
 prisoner at York. 
 
 Dr. Draycott, long prisoner, at length getting a little 
 liberty, went to Draycot, and there died. 
 
36 Aft Ancient Editor* s Note Book 
 
 Hugh Dutton, in the Counter, Wood Street. 
 
 In Worcester, two old reverend priests, the one of 
 them so terrified at his apprehension that he lost the 
 perfect use of his memory until a little before his death, 
 when [it was] restored, he and the other there happily 
 changed this life. 
 
 Two gentlemen there dead also in the gaol ; Mr. 
 William Bredstock and Mr. William Heath. This Heath 
 [was] nephew to Mr. Dr. Heath, Archbishop of York and 
 Chancellor of England. These gentlemen had endured 
 much in prison, having continued there three or four years, 
 and all they had taken from them. 
 
 Mr. Green and Thomas Lynch dead in Sarum. 
 
 1586. Robert Holland, gentleman, aged forty-eight, 
 in June ; Gabriel Empringham, gentleman, aged twenty, 
 in September ; Peter Lawson, gentleman, aged' forty- 
 eight, in September; Edmund Sexten, gentleman, aged 
 sixty, in October ; Henry Riston, gentleman, aged thirty- 
 six, in November ; and Richard Weston, aged thirty ; all 
 prisoners in the Marshalsea, for their conscience, there 
 died. 
 
 1587. Martin Sherson, priest, aged twenty-eight, there 
 imprisoned, died in February. 
 
 Mrs. Philip Lowe, before condemned as a felon for 
 receiving priests, having for many years endured much 
 vexations both in prison and abroad, aged fifty, in April, 
 1588, died in the White Lion. 
 
 At Dorchester, dead in prison, an old priest, and John 
 Jessop, gentleman, Mrs. Tremaine, and divers others. 
 
 In Carnarvonshire, William Griffith, a schoolmaster, 
 upon the uproar at the death of the Queen of Scots, 
 committed by his keeper to the dungeon in great misery ; 
 removed thence a fortnight after, as soon as he came 
 into the fresh air, died. 
 
 July 15th, 1590, Mrs. Ursula Forster, died in Shrews- 
 bury gaol, having there worn irons, very much misused 
 
An Ancient Edlto7'''s Note Book. 2)7 
 
 by the keeper, and not an hour before her death threat- 
 ened with the dungeon. 
 
 John Thomas, sometimes Bishop Goldwell's man, died 
 in the Counter. Edward ElHs, a gentleman, falling sick 
 in the Fleet, where he was committed for conscience, 
 removed by suit to a friend's house in the city, there 
 died presently. 
 
 David Gwynne, in the Counter, by the infection of 
 the prison. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 MARTYRDOMS. 
 
 Anno Domini 1588, the 26th of August,^ Mr. Wilham 
 Gunter, priest, was arraigned and condemned at Newgate^ 
 for that being demanded by the Commissioners whether he 
 had reconciled any since he came into England, he, resolute 
 and willing to die, answered he had, which his examination 
 at his arraignment for that he confessed it true, he had 
 judgment without any jury ; and so a day after was 
 carried to the place of execution, where the sheriff telling 
 him that the Queen had pardoned him that he should 
 not be quartered : " It is requisite," said he, *' for I am 
 not worthy to suffer so much as those martyrs that have 
 gone before me." 
 
 1588, 1 6th Septembris. Mr. John Robinson,^ prisoner 
 in the Clink with Mr. James and Mr. Way, priests ; 
 these two being sent for to be arraigned, he desired also 
 of God that he might be one, saying : " Jesu, Jesu, Jesu, how 
 happy were I if God would bestow so good a turn upon 
 me as that I might now die for this cause." Scarce had 
 he ended these words but he was presently sent for, and 
 
 ^ Bishop Challoner says August 28, which is more probably correct, as on 
 that day seven other martyrs suffered in different parts of London. William 
 Gunter was executed at " the new pair of gallows set up at the Theatre." 
 
 ^ See Troubles f Second Series, p. 180. 
 
38 An Ancient Editor* s Note Book, 
 
 so carried to Ipswich, where at his arraignment the judge 
 wondering to see him so resolute as he was in his answers, 
 said : " I think this fellow is determined to die." " For 
 no other cause," quoth he, "came I hither," and so 
 received his judgment joyfully, and most patiently suffered 
 his martyrdom. 
 
 1588. Mr. William Way,^ priest, a man much mortified 
 by great abstinence and other austerities, lying ever in 
 prison upon the boards and wearing continually a shirt 
 of hair, so desirous of martyrdom that he would many 
 times cry out : " Oh, I shall never come to it," was 
 conveyed from London to Kingston-upon-Thames, where 
 answering with great constancy, was drawn, hanged, and 
 quartered with severity. 
 
 Mr. [Richard Wynne alias\ White, at Wrexham, in 
 Denbighshire. [October 17, 1584.] 
 
 1588. Mr. Edward James, priest, a man very modest 
 and humble, ever contemning death, much given to 
 meditation, and receiving thereby many spiritual consola- 
 tions, having vowed himself into the Society, from 
 London was conveyed to Horsham, and so to Chichester, 
 where he was martyred with Mr. Crockett [October i]. 
 
 Before these, Mr. Adams, Mr. Lowe, and Mr. Transam,^ 
 out of the Clink, died most gloriously. 
 
 Robert Sutton, layman. Master of Arts, having en- 
 dured long imprisonment in the Gatehouse, was arraigned, 
 condemned, and executed at Clerkenwell upon the statute 
 of reconciliation, for saying he was confessed and absolved 
 by an old priest and by him brought in granmm EcclcsicB^ 
 pardoned of quartering. 
 
 1589. In July, Mr. Nichols and Mr. Richard Yaxley, 
 priests, Mr. Belson, gentleman, and one Humphrey [Pri- 
 
 * See Troubles^ Second Series, p. 234. 
 
 ' Edward Transham or Stransham, alias Edmund Barber, suffered at 
 Tyburn, January 21, isSg^j John Lowe and John Adams also at Tyburn, 
 October 8, 1586. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book. 39 
 
 chard], a poor tailor in Oxford, were removed from the 
 Gatehouse to Oxford assizes, where they were taken, and 
 there all executed [July 5], the priests for remaining in 
 the realm contrary to the statute, the laymen for aiding 
 them in their function. [All executed but the tailor. He 
 was offered, if he would go to church, to be saved; he 
 answered, he had rather die with his friends than live 
 with those conditions. Their faces turned all east, the 
 chiefest west. Interlined?^ 
 
 1590. Four other priests executed out of the Gate- 
 house, with Miles Gerard and Francis Dickenson in 
 Kent, Mr. Christopher Bales and Mr. Edward Jones in 
 Fleet street,^ all for coming into the realm contrary to 
 the statute. With Mr. Bales, at that time were executed 
 as felons Nicholas Horner upon a gibbet in Smithfield 
 and Saunder Blake upon a gibbet in Gray's Inn lane 
 before his own house, for receiving and relieving priests, 
 the one a tailor, the other a poor man that kept 
 lodging. 
 
 1588. In October, Edward Campion, aged thirty-six, 
 Ralph Crockett, thirty-six, Christopher Buxton, aged thirty, 
 Robert Wilcocks, aged thirty, all priests out of the 
 Marshalsea, for being priests and in England contrary 
 to the statute, had judgment, and were executed as 
 traitors [at Canterbury]. 
 
 Edmund Shelley, gentleman, aged forty-eight, Hugh 
 Moore, gentleman, aged twenty-five, and Henry Webly, 
 aged thirty, laymen, for their conscience were hanged.^ 
 
 Robert Sutton, priest, condemned at Stafford, and there 
 executed [July 27, 1587]. 
 
 1582, 27th August, William Lacy, Richard Kirkman, 
 priests. November 26th, James Thompson, priest. 1583, 
 
 ^ Christopher Bayles, Nicholas Horner, and Alexander Blake martyred 
 March 4, 1590 ; Edward Jones, May 6, in the same year. 
 
 2 Edward Shelley, suffered at Tyburn, August 30,. 1588 ; Hugh Moore at 
 Lincoln's Inn Fields, August 28, and Henry Webley at Mile's End Green on 
 the same day. 
 
40 A 71 Ancient Editor's Note Book. 
 
 March i6th, William Hart, priest. May 29th, Richard 
 Thirkeld, priest. 1584, August 8th, John Finglay, priest. 
 1585, November i6th, Hugh Taylor, priest. November 17th, 
 Marmaduke Bowes, gentleman, a layman. 1586, March 
 25th, Mrs. Clitherow. June 3rd, Francis Ingleby, priest. 
 July 23rd, Robert Bickerdick, a layman. November 30th, 
 Alexander Crowe, priest. December ist, Richard Longley, 
 gentleman, a layman. 1587, March 23rd, Edmund Sykes, 
 priest. September 9th, George Douglas, a Scot, priest. 
 1588, November 30th, Edward Burdon, priest. 1589, 
 March i6th, Robert Dalbye, John Amyas, priests. 1589, 
 September 14th, William Spencer, priest, and Robert 
 Hardisty, layman, all martyrs at York.^ 
 
 Mr. Sykes, a man of great abstinence and austerity 
 of life, using twice every week discipline, continuing it 
 after his condemnation ; when, as he found repugnance 
 in himself against it, whereof acquainting another priest 
 with it, he told him he should not punish his body any 
 more, it being then about to be glorified. He used once 
 every day to prostrate himself half-an-hour on the cold 
 ground ; to say, besides his breviary, weekly the whole 
 psalter, besides many other his prayers and devotions, &c. 
 
 Anno Domini 1590, the 27th of May, Edmund Duke, 
 Richard Hill, John Hogg, and Richard Holiday, priests, 
 were arraigned, condemned, and executed at Durham, 
 upon the statute of coming into the realm. At the same 
 time and place were put to death four men for felonies, 
 who all there protested that they would die in the same 
 faith those four priests had died for. "Sure," said they, 
 " they were God's priests." Divers beholders, when these 
 martyrs were offered their pardons if they would go to 
 church, said boldly they had rather die themselves than 
 
 * Bishop Challoner gives August 22 as the day of the martyrdom of Lacy 
 and Kirkman, November 28 of Thompson, March 15 of Hart, November 26 
 of Taylor and Bowes, October 8 of Bickerdike, November 29 of Burdon, 
 September 24 of Spencer and Hardisty, and June 3, 1586 of Finglay. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book. 41 
 
 any of them should relent, one saying (he had seven 
 children) : " I would to God they might all go the same 
 way in making such a confession of their faith." Others 
 saying : " They have done their parts ; if we be damned, 
 it is long of ourselves. This is a preaching unto us, they 
 die for Him that died for them." When their heads 
 were cut off and holden up as the manner is, not one 
 would say : " God save the Queen," except the catchpolls 
 themselves and a minister or two^ 
 
 1587. Mr. Holford,^ a priest, apprehended in Gloucester- 
 shire, was there arraigned, condemned, and executed for 
 coming into the realm. The man that was cause of his 
 apprehension, after his condemnation came into the prison, 
 and on his knees with weeping tears, asked him forgive- 
 ness. He continued most zealously in doing his function 
 unto his very death. That very day he suffered, having 
 offered the most Divine Sacrifice, and made a very fervent 
 and forcible exhortation to many Catholics there present 
 in secret for their perseverance in the Catholic faith, as 
 he was at his nine-hour \i.e. saying None] or thereabouts, 
 word was brought him that the executioners staid for 
 him at the prison gate ; he, desiring their patience a 
 little, ended his service, blessed and kissed the company, 
 and so departed to his martyrdom, wherein he abode such 
 inhuman cruel butchery that the adversary preachers 
 exclaimed in their sermons against it. 
 
 Anno 1588. In the same country was taken and 
 imprisoned Mr. Stephen Rowsome,^ priest, arraigned, con- 
 demned, and executed for the same cause. This man 
 had been banished and was returned. A man of singular 
 perfection, he had in his lifetime many heavenly visions, 
 as great lights in windows and places where he was alone 
 and sometimes with others. His crown of martyrdom 
 
 ^ Thomas Holford, alias Acton, was taken in London and executed 
 August 28, 1588, at Clerkenwell. 
 
 ^ Stephen Rousham suffered at Gloucester in March or July, 15S7. 
 
42 An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 
 
 showed him most gloriously, being yet a minister, and 
 in schism. Afterwards a priest and in prison, God the 
 Father, Christ our Saviour, our Blessed Lady, glorious 
 souls of saints, full often appeared unto him, leaving 
 behind them such odoriferous smells, and sometimes 
 lasting many hours with him, that for the space of one 
 day and a half he thought himself in heaven, his joys 
 were so great and strange. This heavenly company had 
 divers speeches with him in their several shows [appear- 
 ances] to him, which he would not utter, neither did he 
 reveal this but a little before his martyrdom to a dear 
 worshipful friend after long suit to him. This martyr 
 standing among the common prisoners at his arraign- 
 ment, even before the judges' bench and whole multi- 
 tude, did not cease to persuade divers there prisoners 
 and thereby gained divers of them to God, some dying 
 with him at the same time for their faults in the same 
 faith, and others then quit and since delivered, still 
 continuing constant Catholics. He celebrated daily in 
 prison, even on the day he died ; and, as it happened 
 before to Mr. Holford, so he had not full made an end 
 of his Mass when the tormentors came to have him to 
 his death. Many were confessed and communicated by 
 him that day, and still were present with him to receive 
 his benediction and kiss of peace at his departure ; which 
 done, he went to the executioners that expected his 
 coming. Then was he laid on the draw, and by that 
 he came to the place of execution. He had wholly un- 
 braced and untrussed himself, thinking they would have 
 used him as savagely as they had his predecessor there ; 
 viz., cut him down by and by alive, and so by untying 
 his clothes after, to bowel and quarter him, to suffer him 
 wholly revive, and thereby pass with the more extremity 
 of pain ; but the dean and preachers there, both then 
 and before, with such vehemency had exclaimed against 
 that inhuman dealing, that they friendly suffered him to 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 43 
 
 hang until he were dead, which martyrdom he endured 
 with great mildness, saying that he should forthwith 
 conquer the world, the flesh, and the devil. After his 
 judgment, as he came to the prison, his persecutors had 
 provided many boys and placed them on a dunghill to 
 annoy the blessed martyr by throwing filth on him as 
 he came by ; by doing and performing whereof they showed 
 the filth of their minds. 
 
 1589. At the same place was arraigned, condemned, 
 aad executed a poor man, by occupation a glover,^ for 
 persuading some of his kin to the Catholic religion, one 
 only being witness against him, that had before imprisoned 
 his own wife for her conscience, and so indebted as not 
 daring to show his face, but that he was only for that 
 time and purpose protected by Judge Manwood, who 
 after he had condemned him, seemed unwilling that he 
 should die, and therefore made him that offer that if he 
 would but say he would go to church he should have 
 his pardon. Besides he appointed his friends and kindred, 
 the officers and preachers, to persuade with him but to 
 promise so much, which when they could not obtain of 
 him, when he was ready to go to execution they caused 
 the passing bell to go for him, thinking that with the 
 terror thereof he would be moved to grant so much. 
 Again and again at the place of execution they made 
 the same offer, but all in vain ; with fervent constancy 
 he most willingly yielded himself to those their torments, 
 and therefore they ended him as butcherly and bloodily 
 as ever they did any. 
 
 Mr. Pilchard,^ in Dorsetshire. Mr. Gunter, a priest in 
 London, some saying and singing as he hanged after his 
 death, "This man for the Pope is hanged with a rope." 
 
 ^ Probably William Latnpley, of whom Bishop Challoner only says that 
 he suffered at Gloucester in 1588. 
 
 2 Thomas Pilchard suffered at Dorchester, March 21, 1587, and William 
 Gunter in London, at the Theatre, August 28, 1588. 
 
44 ^^^ Ancient Editor's Note Book. 
 
 Mr. Richard White, in Wales. The Earl of Northumber- 
 land murdered in the Tower with a dagg [pistol]. 
 
 1589.^ In Hampshire, a young man of eighteen years, 
 having been a very earnest heretic, offering to dispute with 
 Catholics, and yet being able but to read English, lighted 
 upon some Catholic books. By reading he desired confe- 
 rence with a priest ; upon conference, became Catholic; con- 
 tinued very constant, and lived very virtuous. Soon after, 
 falling into extreme sickness, in this extremity he used 
 some words against the Queen, saying she was an heretic. 
 This overheard by some by chance in the house where he 
 lay, he was forthwith taken out of his bed, committed to 
 the gaol at Winchester for treason, fettered to one in for 
 felonies, and there lodged among them on the ground. It 
 pleased God to restore him his health. He then took upon 
 him all the base offices of the prison, so far entreating his 
 companion that he would stand still some two hours in 
 a day whilst he said his prayers. The prisoners persuaded 
 him to go to church, otherwise they said he would be 
 hanged ; he answered he never would alter his religion, 
 and for hanging he prayed God make him worthy. At 
 the next assize being called, the judge showed him a pair 
 of beads and a crucifix hanged to it found with him ; he 
 desired to see it, which receiving, he reverently kissed it and 
 blessed himself with a fire \i.e. fervently]. Said the judge, 
 " Thou takest that for thy God 1 " " Not so, my lord ; but 
 for a remembrance of the death which my Saviour suffered 
 for me." He was indicted of high treason upon those 
 words [said in his illness], and being willed to confess 
 them, he said that to his knowledge or remembrance he 
 never spake them ; but because the witnesses said he did, 
 he would not stand in it. Whereupon he had judgment 
 
 * This date, which is interlined, is a mistake. Laurence Humphreys, the 
 account of whose martyrdom is here given, suffered at Winchester in 1591, in 
 the twenty-first year of his age. In all other respects this nan-ativc agrees 
 with that written by Father Thomas .Stanney, S.J., by whom he was 
 converted. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 45 
 
 to go to the place from whence he came, thence to be 
 drawn to the place of execution, there to be half hanged, 
 so to be cut down, then to be unbowelled, his head 
 to be cut off, his body to be quart[er]ed, his head to 
 be set on a pole, his quarters on the four gates of the city. 
 "And all this," said he, "is but one thing." "What 
 thing ? " said the judge. He answered, " One death." 
 Thereupon had away, he was beset with a rabblement of 
 ministers, who asking him what he was, he answered "A 
 Cathohc." They replying further "What is a Catholic.?" 
 he said, " He that believeth that which the Catholic Church 
 teacheth and preacheth, according to the consent of all 
 ancient and holy fathers." Hereupon the ministers forsook 
 him. Being laid again in prison, he spent all that time 
 that he had in prayer prostrate on the ground. When 
 he was to be laid on the hurdle he made the sign of the 
 Cross and laid him down. Going up to the gallows, the 
 hangman reviled him, saying, "Thou boldest with the 
 Pope, but he hath brought thee to the rope, and the hang- 
 man shall have thy coat." At which v/ords he smiled and 
 said nothing ; thereupon the hangman gave him a blow 
 under the ear, saying, " What ! dost thou laugh me to 
 scorn } " And he mildly answering him, " Why strikest 
 thou me } I have given thee no such occasion." His words 
 scarce ended, the hangman turned the ladder and so he 
 happily obtained his wish for glorious martyrdom. 
 
 Mr. Bales at his execution said that if he were again 
 free in France, and sure to remain there in safety, or other- 
 wise to return into England certainly knowing that then 
 here he should die this kind of death, he would notwith- 
 standing come if he might gain but one soul unto God. 
 
 Mr. Jones having endured more than human cruelty 
 in prison, upon the ladder said that he died only for being 
 a priest and coming into the realm to do his function, first 
 affirming the title set upon his gibbet to be most false, 
 namely, " For treason and favouring foreign invasions " 
 
46 An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 
 
 ( — this was written in great letters and set upon divers 
 gibbets in the streets where Mr. Bales, Jones, Middleton, 
 priests, Horner and Blake, laymen, were executed — ), and 
 by and by was cast over the ladder. 
 
 Mr. Middleton at that time suffered with him, but not 
 at that place, being taken but two days before. At the 
 execution of Mr. Jones they placed him so nigh his 
 butchering for a terror that his blood sprinkled on him. 
 He despatched, they drew him to another part of the city, 
 where a gibbet was in like manner prepared. All the way 
 as he went he smiled, and looked very cheerfully going up 
 the ladder. Troubled with a minister full of words, he 
 answered him, " Heretic, farewell ! now I am no more in 
 thy power." Then he asked Topcliffe whether it were 
 lawful for him to speak. "Aye," said he, "so you speak 
 to the glory of God and good of her Majesty." Whereby 
 perceiving that he should speak but what they list, " Well," 
 said he, "since it is not lawful to speak, behold, the Catholic 
 Roman faith, which by my speech I cannot, by my death 
 I will, confirm," and so was thrown over the ladder. 
 
 Mr. Anderson and his fellow, both priests, executed in 
 the Isle of Wight. 
 
 Mr. Body, Mr. Slade, in Hampshire, for supremacy. 
 
 Robert Hardesty, a young man, apprehended upon 
 the way by Sir William Mallory, in Yorkshire, supposed 
 in the company of Mr. William Spenser, priest, albeit he 
 was some furlong before him, and denied that he knew the 
 said Mr. Spenser ; notwithstanding his horse and cloak 
 taken away, and his arms pinioned, and so carried through 
 the city of York. He was there committed to the Castle, 
 where giving himself much to contemplation and prayer, 
 desiring ever to be solitary, saying over his beads every 
 day twelve times, besides other devotions, he began to feel 
 extraordinary sweetness therein, and thereby grew into a 
 
 * Robert Hardesty suffered with William Spenser at York, September 24, 
 1589. What is here detailed is all that is known concerning him. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book. 47 
 
 little vain liking of himself. Admonished by his chamber- 
 fellow to take heed of illusions of the enemy and not to 
 desire to be singular in anything, he began to grow in 
 some doubt of his well-doing, fearing lest that he had been 
 too credulous to those sweet motions that he felt, and that 
 they might have proceeded from the enemy, whereupon 
 he desired to be confessed to the same Mr. Spenser, being 
 in the same prison, but so separated as he had no other 
 shift or mean to speak unto him, but through a rift or 
 hole, where he began to make his confession. Whilst he 
 came to Mea culpa, where as he could go no further, but 
 began to howl, lament, roar, and cry out so mightily and 
 so loud, as he was heard over all the prison. His fellow- 
 prisoners, laying their hands on him to carry him to bed, 
 he smote with feet and hands at them, and cried out 
 pitifully ; in fine, laid on a bed, the light stopped, and the 
 chamber dark, those about him fell to their prayers. 
 Within three hours the blessed man had his senses and 
 was come to perfect memory again, desiring them still to 
 pray for him, saying that he would never be singular again, 
 but follow the orders of the house in all respects ; " for," 
 quoth he, " the enemy had gotten such power over me for 
 that time you see me so senseless, that all the parts of 
 my body were so sore that I could not abide without 
 crying, if any of you should so much as lay on me a finger, 
 but that it went to my heart every time you touched 
 me never so lightly, as though a knife had been thrust 
 into my flesh." Straight after this he and the priest, 
 Mr. Spenser, were carried before Mr. Meares to receive 
 their trial upon their lives, and having no matter to charge 
 this Hardesty, they produced the gaoler and his man to 
 depose that they had known the said Robert to have 
 relieved the Papists his prisoners, and that he brought 
 them sundry times venison, (whereof himself had part), and 
 other relief Upon this the good man had judgment 
 against him as in case of felony for relieving priests, and 
 
48 A 71 Ancient Editor's Note Book. 
 
 was executed accordingly, together with Mr. Spenser for 
 being a priest, who, after the jury had given their verdict 
 without any evidence at all, said to the foreman : " Ha, 
 Mr. Bowemer, I willed you aforehand to take heed what 
 you did, and to be sure you did not yield against equity 
 and conscience, not for any account I make of myself (for 
 I am willing to die for so glorious a cause), but for avoiding 
 the heavy hand of God and the shedding of innocent blood, 
 which chiefly dependeth on your conscience. I said only 
 I was a priest and an Englishman ; but what was my 
 name, where and when I was made priest, I did not con- 
 fess, neither had you any evidence." " Alas ! sir," quoth 
 the foreman, "we did nothing but as we were appointed 
 and charged by Mr. Meares and Mr. Rooksby, to find 
 you guilty because you were a priest ; for where should 
 you be made priest, being so young a man, but beyond 
 the seas, and therefore a Seminary.^" "Thereof had you 
 no evidence," quoth he, " and you ought not to have con- 
 demned me upon supposal. And if I had thought you 
 could have found in me any cause worthy of death, I 
 would not for any thing have put my life in your arbitre- 
 ment, but my case being so clear I was content ; else 
 should the magistrates themselves have answered for my 
 blood, and upon their heads it should have lain, and not on 
 yours." Afterward the foreman and another of the jury 
 came unto him weeping, having remorse for their rash and 
 ungodly verdict, acknowledging their fault, saying they 
 were sorrowful for that they had done. 
 
 The 6th of December, 1591, at Westminster, were 
 arraigned Polidore Plaisden, Hustes [Eustace] White, and 
 [Edmund] Jennings, priests, for coming into England con- 
 trary to the statute, and condemned. 
 
 At the same time were also arraigned Swithin Wells, 
 gentleman, and his wife, a man of Mr. Owen's^ and one 
 
 * This man's name was John Mason. These three priests and four laymen 
 were martyred on the loth of December, 1 591. 
 
An Ancie7it Editor's Note Book, 49 
 
 Sidney Hodgson, for receiving and relieving ; Mr. Wells 
 and his wife for having Mr. Jennings [Genings] found in 
 his house ; and the other two for resisting the pursuivants 
 until such time as the priest had ended Mass and put 
 off his vestments. 
 
 All except the women were executed the 8th December 
 following. Mr. Jennings and Mr. Wells at his own door, 
 and the same performed with great cruelty ; the rest at 
 Tyburn, with no less rigour. 
 
 At the same time was with them also executed as 
 a reliever of priests, one Bryan Lacy, a kinsman of 
 Mr. Scott's,^ some four days before condemned, for that 
 when Mr. Scott had warrant for banishment, in the time 
 that he should have had for his taking leave of his friends, 
 he accompanied him as his man, and after apprehended 
 with him, for that he would not tell at whose houses they 
 had been, and yet the same justifiable in some sort by 
 law, but no law allowed ; he was so executed. 
 
 The 23rd January was executed one Mr. Pattison,^ a 
 priest, for coming into England, ut siiprUy taken in the 
 house of one Mr. Mompesson, who escaping himself by 
 chance the persecutor's hands, had all his goods taken 
 away, his house entered and rifled, and now indicted of 
 felony, and enforced to leave his country. 
 
 This Pattison was most cruelly used, as cut down 
 very lively, standing upright on his feet, and so quartered. 
 After his condemnation, he was put in the Limbo with 
 six other prisoners condemned to die for felonies ; he 
 persuaded and reconciled five of them, the sixth betrayed 
 it, but the other five died in their faith Catholic, albeit 
 
 ^ Perhaps William Scott, O.S.B., in religion Father Maurus, who was 
 martyred May 30, 16 12. He was several times banished. 
 
 ' William Patenson suffered at Tyburn, January 22, 159-^. James Young, 
 an apostate priest, wrote to Lord Keeper Puckering, August 27, 1592, that he 
 " said Mass every Sunday to Mrs. Mompesson, as did Patenson, another 
 pi-iest since executed, to the rest of the household, Mr. Mompesson standing 
 behind the door, to hear and not be seen by the servants." P.R.O., Domestia 
 Elizabeth, vol. ccxlii. n. 122. 
 
50 A 71 Ancient Editor'' s Note Book. 
 
 not openly protesting the same, as forbidden by their 
 ghostly father, to the end that the like opportunity of 
 saving souls may not be prevented hereafter, by separating 
 the one from the other, as the malice of heresy would 
 if they knew it. 
 
 Of these late executions, you shall have shortly a 
 more particular and true advertisement, by a priest 
 present at the stratagem, who hath promised to put 
 the same in writing. 
 
 Of our late persecution in general it is so extreme 
 as the like was never. All prisons are full of all sorts, 
 old and young men, wives, widows, and maids. It is 
 not enough to use all allegiance by way of protestation, 
 unless they can get one to renounce the Pope and confer 
 with the ministry, or else to be committed and indicted 
 for 20/. by the month, and all further misery to be inflicted 
 that they can possibly devise. 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 BLESSINGS FROM MARTYRS AND OTHERS. 
 
 Many reconciled, incestuous marriages remedied, wrongs 
 redressed. 
 
 Thirty-six reconciled by one priest in the space of 
 two years, fifteen of them gentlemen, ten housekeepers. 
 
 Five hundred pounds restitution procured by the 
 same priest in that space. 
 
 Ten prisoners committed at York, for felonies, 
 murders, &c., moved by the good example and virtuous 
 lives of Catholics there, have stoutly detested their former 
 heresy, cursing the time that ever they knew the ministers 
 and their religion, saying that was it that had made them 
 thieves, most constantly professed the Catholic religion, 
 desiring the Catholic prayers, and so at their execution 
 professing, resolutely died. 
 
vmwi^^isv 
 
 An Ancient-Editor's Note Book, 51 
 
 One Bramley, in York prison for felonies, when 
 Mr. Amyas and Dalby^ were arraigned, saw hanging 
 over their heads a great round light, which every time 
 they spake, would as it were move itself, and at the 
 end of their speeches vanished away. This man, ever 
 before an heretic, was so moved therewith, as also with 
 their speeches to the judges, as repenting his former life, 
 he desired to be made a Catholic, and soon after for 
 his fact executed, he refused to pray with the 
 ministers, saying he had been too long of their synagogue 
 and that he did then believe in all things as the Catholic 
 Church taught him, and so commending himself to the 
 prayers of Catholics, he patiently died with those blessed 
 martyrs. 
 
 Fifty reconciled by three priests. 
 
 One that had been with Drake in the action of 
 St. Domingo, ever an heretic, coming home chanced to 
 read the " Resolution," ^ with the terror whereof he was so 
 frighted that his hair stood on end, went presently to 
 some Catholic friends, desiring them to help him to a 
 priest. They not trusting him, he persevered in reading 
 of good books with such show of hearty sorrow for his 
 former life that they fulfilled his request. He became 
 Catholic, and continueth very constant, even with danger 
 of being disinherited for it. In all that voyage with 
 Drake, he never had anything of all their spoils. 
 
 One hundred and sixty reduced from schism and 
 heresy by one priest, some of the nobility, some gentle- 
 men, gentlewomen, and of all sorts. 
 
 ^ John Amias and Robert Dalby were martyred at York, March i6, is8|» 
 * "The Book of Resolution" is the first title of Father Persons' " Christian 
 Directory." 
 
52 A 71 Ancient Editor's Note Book, 
 
 CHAPTER XVI. 
 
 RELICS. 
 
 Mr. Robinson's head fetched from Ipswich with appa- 
 rent danger out of the midst of the town. 
 
 The body of Mrs. CHtherow being by her tormentors 
 buried in a filthy place the same night she was martyred, 
 six weeks after a Catholic by diligent search found it, 
 and taking it up he found it whole without any putre- 
 faction, and so carried it a great journey where he 
 buried it again more decently eight weeks after her 
 martyrdom, leaving then her body so pure and uncor- 
 rupted as though the blessed soul had departed from 
 the body the day before, albeit it was so pressed and 
 bruised, as in the order of her death is set down. 
 
 A gentleman in Gloucestershire, very much troubled 
 and molested, long kept in prison for having the bloody 
 shirt of the blessed martyr, Mr. Holford, wherein he 
 was executed. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 THE POWER OF PRIESTS. 
 
 Mr. Bennet,^ a priest in Flintshire, brought before the 
 Council of the Marches, and by them committed with 
 another Catholic to close prison, they were put into a 
 chamber where some wicked spirits had accustomed to 
 frequent. At their first being in that chamber, their 
 trenchers, or what else stood on the board, would fall 
 down on the floor hard by: then would they be thrown 
 
 * John Bennct was ordainecl priest March 29, 1578, immediately before 
 the transfer of the Douay College to Rheims. Six of the thirteen ordainetl 
 that day afterwards became Jesuits, and of these Father Hcnnet was one. His 
 examinations and tortures at Hawarden in 1583, and those of his fellow 
 prisoner, Henry Pugh, are told in the Conccrtatio, fol. 194. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 53 
 
 every night further than other: at length they seemed 
 to be thrown with great force the full length of the 
 chamber, and ever they would light upon the wall next 
 the side of the bed where Mr. Bennet lay. In the end 
 Mr. Bennet made the sign of the Cross upon those things 
 so accustomed to be thrown, and they lay ever after 
 unmoved ; but some other thing, either not signed by 
 forgetfulness, or in the chamber unknown to them^ 
 would be so cast, and this continued for a week, in the 
 beginning of the night, until Mr. Bennet, finding the 
 means to make holy water, and sprinkling the chamber 
 round about, they were troubled no more, saving that 
 in the next chamber in the depth of night they should 
 hear a trampling, sounding as though one went upon 
 stilts. 
 
 In reconciling one obsessed, the devil, in the midst 
 of the penitent's confession, stopped his breath, so as 
 he could not go forwards, until by the priest he was 
 commanded to the contrary. 
 
 All gentlemen had great bands offered them to seal 
 with condition not to receive priests, and by them refused. 
 
 1590. A gentleman apprehended, his name Martin 
 Rudsdon, and accused to be a priest, notwithstanding 
 that he appeared before the Commissioners with an 
 hawk on his fist. He answered he was no priest, where- 
 upon Dr. Bennet said : " Indeed, priests used not to deny 
 their profession being demanded," and so without further 
 examination he was committed for being a recusant. 
 
 A priest boarded at sea by pirates and shot at, but 
 the guns would not go off. Soon after landed, taken 
 by a constable, having in his bosom a breviary and other 
 note books. Yielding himself willingly to go before a 
 justice they willingly let him go. In his travels, he hath 
 passed the watch secure, when other of his company 
 have been stayed ; in house he hath escaped many 
 narrow searches. He had once a sword thrust within 
 
54 ^« Ancient Editor's Note Book, 
 
 a handful of his head. Before that, in a secret place, 
 he had such a trembling in one of his legs, that it 
 shaked the whole place where he was ; and, when by 
 no means he could stay it, at length by making the 
 sign of the Cross on it, it ceased. For avoiding searches 
 he hath been compelled five days and nights to lie in 
 the woods, and other times to walk on hills and forests, 
 and lie in hay-barns. He hath reconciled one hundred 
 and sixty. He hath been driven to sit up four whole 
 nights together to do works of charity, sometimes hearing 
 one hundred several confessions at one time. 
 
 Mr. Spenser, a priest in York, being called before 
 Meares and others in authority, and coming in his attire 
 priestlike, Mr. Meares would have had him stript into 
 his doublet and hose, saying, his very habit was able 
 to persuade folks in the streets to be of his religion. 
 Notwithstanding, they permitted him to go as he came, 
 sharply rebuking his keeper for permitting him to wear 
 that attire. 
 
 CHAPTER XVHI. 
 
 DEVOTION OF CATHOLICS. 
 
 A GENTLEWOMAN very sick, so that physicians and friends 
 did altogether despair of recovery, seeking for a priest, her 
 messenger chanced to find him that was her first ghostly 
 father, who came, heard her confession, and annealed 
 [anointed] her. She presently thereupon recovered, so that 
 within less than half an hour after all danger of death was 
 past. Her husband, before a heretic, having heard that 
 sacrament to have wrought miraculously, loving his wife, 
 and knowing her to be Catholic, he himself put her in 
 mind to seek for the benefit thereof, and the rather for 
 that he was willing to experiment the same. Afterwards 
 seeing the wonderful operation, God's grace so concurring, 
 he became Catholic. 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 55 
 
 At Cold Hatton, in the parish of Hodnet in Stafford- 
 shire, divers houses by casualty set on fire on St. Mark's 
 day, every of the neighbours removing their goods out 
 of those houses adjoining, one man only omitted to 
 remove anything out of his house, whereat his neighbours 
 marvelling, he said, "I have fasted this day, as all my 
 forefathers have done, let God work His will." In sequel 
 not one house in all that town escaped unburnt besides 
 that, and that remained untouched. 
 
 Many miracles in North Wales. 
 
 1590. In Norfolk, one Mrs. Tymperly, having a 
 fistula in her face, which did so strangely go in and out 
 that it was accounted three quarters of a yard long. She 
 had long time applied remedies unto it, with great pain 
 and small profit. On Trinity even, she felt extraordinary 
 pain, and the sore being searched they found another 
 new passage, which went dangerously up into her throat, 
 and made both her and her friends to greatly doubt the 
 event. She had at that time a fervent desire the next 
 day to receive the Blessed Sacrament, and to that purpose 
 in all that pain, she went some two miles off, where she 
 found a priest, where at her receiving she commended 
 herself humbly and entirely into the hands of God, 
 offering herself to abide His will, but with earnest petition 
 that, if it might stand with His pleasure, she might have 
 help, and to the end did conditionally vow every year 
 to clothe three poor men in honour of the Blessed 
 Trinity. Having satisfied her devotion, she went again 
 presently home and laid her down to rest, being not able 
 to eat or keep company for extraordinary pain. That 
 night when the sore should be dressed, the lint was 
 pulled out and came out as it was wont, but when a 
 new should have been put in, it would not enter, neither 
 could they get it in by any means, but after many essays 
 were glad to lap it and let it alone unlinted. The next 
 morning it was perfectly whole, and so remaineth to this 
 
56 An Ancient Editor's Note Book. 
 
 hour, to the admiration and comfort of herself and all 
 her friends. 
 
 A young man of Staffordshire, one Maundy Thursday, 
 providing flesh, and setting [it] over the fire, his house 
 with the fire presently burnt. 
 
 Onslow, the Queen's solicitor for the Marches, coming 
 to Salop his country, meeting certain gentlemen at 
 Shrewsbury in the Lent, they fell to eating of rashers made 
 of bacon on the coals. The solicitor died suddenly that 
 night ; the bacon, when he was opened, found raw in his 
 stomach. 
 
 It was said, he that was the busiest in pulling down 
 the cross at Shrewsbury brake his neck off" a house shortly 
 after. 
 
 A gentlewoman in Hampshire, having made her 
 confession and received, and ready to yield up her ghost, 
 sang most sweetly, descanting upon pricksong, which 
 before she could not, saying, "I will praise Thee with 
 angel and archangel." For which cause a priest that 
 was with her talked unto her of heaven, to try if she 
 did it not through lightness of head. She answered, she 
 hoped to be partaker of those joys by the death and 
 passion of our Saviour. [She] never spoke more words, 
 but departed this life even as the priest had pronounced 
 the last words of commending her soul. And on the 
 tile where she lay appeared a white cross, as though it 
 had been artificially made, but it was never seen before. 
 And others dying in prison in that shire, right over the 
 house were seen many bright crosses. The same gentle- 
 woman, when she began to be very sick, began to fall 
 into despair. A priest coming, and hearing her confession, 
 she presently received great comfort, and was no more 
 tempted, desiring death. A day after, in the morning, 
 being asked by him how she did, she answered, " Well, 
 I thank God, for that I am now one step nearer to 
 heaven ; " by reason that her sight was gone. Whereupon 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book. 57 
 
 she desired to be confessed, to receive, and to be annealed. 
 For satisfying her desire, the priest said Mass in the 
 chamber where she lay ; which as he began to say, so 
 she began to see, and at the Elevation she received again 
 her perfect sight. After being annealed, she, to all men's 
 judgment, recovered again, free from all sign of death. 
 Whereupon she said, "I had thought that I should have 
 troubled you no more, but I see it is otherwise. I have 
 not yet satisfied for my sins." Three or four days after 
 she made a most miraculous end, as before [said]. 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 god's judgments. 
 
 One Browne, by report a married bishop of Ireland, had 
 a son who after was hanged on Shooter's Hill, for 
 murdering Mr. Saunders and his man ; this bishop him- 
 self, as it IS said, after killed with horses. 
 
 One Robert Aston, parson, of Mucklaston in Stafford- 
 shire, the first married priest that ever was in that diocese, 
 one of Fox his confessors in his Book of Montiments^ deny- 
 ing upon his oath the receipt of an advowson delivered him 
 by certain gentlemen of trust, was suddenly with a just 
 punishment from God deprived both of his tongue and 
 his wit ; and living four or five years after, had neither 
 tongue nor discretion to talk anything readily during his 
 life. 
 
 One Cherington, of the county of Salop, compelling 
 his son to receive the communion against his conscience, 
 being in mind a Catholic, he became thereby soon after 
 out of his mind ; but since, by the help of a priest, much 
 amended, and as it is thought, almost recovered. 
 
 One Sir Walter Aston, of Staffordshire, a great 
 persecutor, especially of Mr. Sutton the martyr, having 
 twice at his examination stricken him, once to the ground, 
 
58 A71 Ancient Editor's Note Book, 
 
 after the principal mean or agent in his martyrdom, was 
 buried on May day next after. A priest, by occasion 
 being within some three miles of the house the same day, 
 saw with many others such terrible lightnings, besides 
 many monstrous thunder claps, as had seldom been seen 
 before, but only that day that Leicester was buried. 
 Those lightnings seemed to ascend upwards from round 
 about the house of Ticksall [Tixall] into the air, and not 
 contrariwise, like other lightning ; much like squibs for 
 the fleeting upward violently, but incomparably with 
 greater light and terror. 
 
 A justice, riding on Whitsunday to search and molest 
 Catholics, fell from his horse, broke one or both of his 
 legs. The same justice, for his malice towards crosses, 
 is called Justice Killcross. His wife is as malicious as 
 himself, and rather more, for when she finds him not 
 so willing as she would have him, she never leaves biting, 
 pinching, scratching, and brawling with him until she 
 have gotten him from his bed, and seen him out of doors 
 to that purpose ; hoping at least that thereby he may 
 get some chalices or such commodity, the better to 
 maintain their beggarly estate. 
 
 Richard Barnes, an apostata priest, twice married, a 
 common drunkard. Bishop of Durham, accustomed to 
 drink seven times every meal, and as many between meals, 
 every draught containing a pint ; and in his public 
 consistory to offenders accustomed to use most obscene 
 and filthy words, fell at length, with intemperance, into 
 a fever, and so into a frenzy. One night, as he was about 
 to rise out of his bed he fell out of his bed, and was 
 like to have broken his neck, but for that time and with 
 great difficulty recovered. 
 
 Soon after his disease brought him to his last exigent, 
 when as past speech Toby Matthew willing him in sign 
 of his faith to hold up his hands, he always held his 
 fingers to his mouth, which one Ralph Hilton, his base 
 
An Ancient Editor's Note Book, 59 
 
 son, marking [it] swore, and said, Mr. Dean did mistake 
 his father, for that his finger to his mouth did desire 
 nothing but drink. And so desperately he died, and 
 was buried the next night at midnight. 
 
 One Blunt, a great preacher, hanged in Staffordshire, 
 for such filthiness not fit to be spoken. 
 
 One Mutton, sometime sheriff of Chester, had no 
 greater felicity than in the breaking of crosses and 
 chalices, and such like ; which he performed most when 
 he was in his office, and would at the same time have 
 broken the high cross in Chester, but denied by some 
 present, he came after in the night and broke it. Shortly 
 after, even as he came by the same place, he was suddenly 
 stricken with sickness, and was thence carried home, where 
 he died miserably, and his goods procured much trouble 
 after his death. 
 
 A preacher and chaplain of Dr. Walles, in Chester, 
 in scorn of Tyburn and of a square cap, swore he would 
 never wear a corner cap, and soon after hanged himself. 
 
 Walsingham, being well at four o'clock in the after- 
 noon, was dead before eleven of the same night. His 
 body did presently savour so that no man was able to 
 endure it, and very much ado they had to keep the body 
 with all manner of spices until the next night, when, 
 as it was secretly carried and buried in Paul's about 
 midnight, one of those that carried him soon after dying 
 impoisoned with that most noisome smell. 
 
 Hurlestone [Huddlestone], a great persecutor in the 
 north, the very hour he died, surprised by sudden death, 
 did stink so abominably that nobody could endure to 
 come nigh him. 
 
II. 
 
 A YORKSHIRE RECUSANT'S 
 RELATION. 
 
A YORKSHIRE RECUSANT'S RELATION. 
 
 The following narrative is taken from the same manuscript as 
 the preceding, Father Grene's volume " E," now at Oscott. No 
 introduction is needed, except the remark that a great many- 
 pages at the beginning of the paper are omitted, as they throw 
 no additional light on the history of the persecution. It was 
 written in 1586, as Father Grene has concluded from internal 
 evidence, and has noted on the manuscript. 
 
 It may be convenient for the reader to be here furnished 
 with a list of the Lords President of the North, and of the 
 Council of the North during the Presidentship of the Earl of 
 Huntingdon. In the latter the true shape will be seen of 
 various names th^t occur in the " Relation." 
 
 Lords President of the North. ^ 
 
 28 Henry VIII. 1537. April 2$. Thomas Howard, Duke of 
 
 Norfolk. 
 
 29 Henry VIII. 1538. Oct. 18. Cuthbert Tunstall, Bishop of 
 
 Durham. 
 
 30 Henry VIII. 1539. Sept. 30. Robert Holgate, Bishop of 
 
 Landaff. 
 4 Edw. VI. 1556. Feb. 24. Francis Talbot, Earl of Shrews- 
 bury. 
 3 Elizabeth, 1561. Feb. 24. Henry Manners, Earl of Rutland. 
 6 Elizabeth, 1564. June 20. Thomas Younge, Archbishop of 
 
 York. 
 15 Elizabeth, 1572. Dec. i. Henry Hastings, Earl of Hun- 
 tingdon. 
 41 Elizabeth, 1599. Dec. 9. Thomas Cecil, Lord Burghley. 
 
 ^ Drake's £hracumj London, 1736, p. 368. 
 
64 A Yorks/m^e Recusant* s Relation, 
 
 I James I. 1602. Sept. 19. Edmund Lord Sheffield. 
 17 James I. 1619. Sept. Emanuel Lord Scrope. 
 
 5 Charles I. 1629. Thomas Viscount Wentworth. 
 17 Charles I. 1641. Thomas Viscount Savile. 
 
 The Council of the North in 1572. 
 The Earl of Huntingdon, Lord President. 
 Sir Thomas Gargrave, Knt. Ralph Huddlestone, Esq. 
 
 Sir Henry Gates, Knt. Edward Stanhope, Esq. 
 
 Sir William Fairfax, Knt. George Gibson, LL.D. 
 
 Sir George Bowes, Knt. William Cardinal, Esq. 
 
 Sir Thomas Fairfax, Knt. Charles Hales, Esq. 
 
 Sir Christopher Hildyard, Knt. John Rookeby, LL.D. 
 Francis Wortley, Esq. John Bennet, LL.D. 
 
 Laurence Meeres, Esq. Thomas Ennys, Esq. 
 
 John Rokeby, Esq. George Blyth, Esq. 
 
 Br. Bridges, Esq. Henry Cheeke, Esq. 
 
 Humphrey Purefoy, Esq. Rad. Rookby, Esq. 
 
 Laurence Bramston, Esq. John Fearne, Esq. 
 
A YORKSHIRE RECUSANT'S RELATION. 
 
 From the original manuscript at St Mary's College, Oscott. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 THE PERSECUTOR. 
 
 The chiefest deviser and contriver of our troubles here 
 is Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon, and President in 
 the North. This man, though he be descended of most 
 noble parentage, and himself the top of the emulous house 
 (as you have read), yet is he basely accounted of and had 
 in no worthy estimation, as you know, in your parts. He is 
 degenerated from all true nobility of his ancestors into a 
 most bloody and heretical tyrant, insatiably thirsting for the 
 lives and destruction of all good men, a fit instrument for 
 the devil to work his will by, of no towardness in natural 
 wit or wisdom to do well, a pestiferous and most irreligious 
 dissembler for his own gain and credit. Only this un- 
 gracious insufficiency is in him, that, placed in authority, he 
 can trouble, molest, and oppress whole countries, torment 
 good men, and do good to none. In these parts this 
 monster is god, king, bishop, president, catchpoll, and 
 whatsoever else to annoy the Catholics. In future times 
 you know he expecteth to be supreme head and chief 
 senior of the Puritan synagogue, for of that dissembling 
 sect he is already (though covertly) a principal member, 
 fraudulently using this present time and state of the 
 Protestant regiment to his most advantage. His visage 
 bewrayeth him to be a tyrant, for at his first coming to 
 F 
 
66 A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation, 
 
 York as President, a most virtuous and learned man 
 beholding him, said, " Truly I am greatly deceived if this 
 man prove not as notable a tyrant as was Richard III., 
 for," quoth he, " he beareth the very countenance and face 
 of a tyrant." And no marvel, though this [man who] said 
 thus, since which time hath tasted of his tyrant's cup, and 
 now, I trust, is glorious in heaven for his patient suffering 
 and long martyrdom here. When also the right honour- 
 able Countess, his mother,^ seeing his barbarous and bloody 
 mind, and fearing against herself his cruelty, many times 
 would pray to God and wish she might end this mortal 
 life before he should come to the supreme authority he 
 aspired to. Neither did this good lady, his own mother, 
 without great cause, fear herself to feel the smart of this her 
 son Nero his knife, whose nature and inclination she knew 
 to be infected with heretical fury, when also himself would 
 often gloriously vaunt and say, that if the day should [come] 
 he hoped for, when he might have authority and control- 
 ment, he would begin with them of his own kindred and 
 root out of them as many as were Catholics. To this 
 tyrant are adjoined Meares, Hurlstone, and yet another 
 st07ie — some say they call him Ludstone — Purfer, Hutton, 
 the pretended dean, and divers others, the chief members 
 of the council of iniquity, all which being most greedy 
 of preferment, gain, and credit, frame themselves in most 
 flattering hypocrisy to his bloody humour, they ever 
 bearing most credit with him which can contrive most 
 wickedness. . . .^ 
 
 Lastly followeth the whole crew and rout of rascality, 
 that is, bailiffs, catchpolls, promoters, summoners, pur- 
 suivants, and serving-men. This ravenous nest of spend- 
 
 * His mother was Catherine, daughter of Henry Pole, Lord Montague, 
 and grand -daughter of Margaret, Countess of Salisbury, who was the daughter 
 of George, Duke of Clarence, the brother of King Edward IV. 
 
 * In a long passage of similar rhetoric here omitted, the writer calls ** the 
 miserable rout of profane and licentious ministers" by the title of *'this black 
 guard." 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 6f 
 
 thrifts continually wait to prey upon us. The world never 
 goeth well with them that day wherein they catch not a 
 booty by some kind of prowling, most of these being fcux^ 
 popidiy wallowing in all dishonesty and vicious lives (for 
 such are fittest instruments for the tyrant, as greedy of 
 other men's harms as they are ever pinched with want and 
 beggary through their slothful loitering), pretend great zeal 
 in religion, and busily bestir themselves in promoting,, 
 searching, spoiling, apprehending, and tormenting us. When 
 need in purse, clothes, or food pincheth them, their only 
 comfort and shift is to increase and stir up their masters 
 and justices with so colourable forged matter to search our 
 houses, and to apprehend us. In all which affairs these 
 zealous fellows for their licentious gospel use double 
 diligence above the justices, to break open coffers, to rifle 
 up chests and trunks, to turn houses upside down, and 
 malpertly in their masters' presence to injure whom they 
 list. Every their finger is a lime twig, and hardly faileth to 
 catch one thing or another. All these sorts of devouring 
 wolves persecute and daily prey upon us, besides gaolers, 
 keepers, pen-clerks, and such like. Now, therefore, judge 
 you whether our miseries be not most extreme whilst we 
 suffer the malicious teeth of all these to gnaw upon us at 
 their pleasure, which afflictions we sustain more cruel and 
 intolerable in these parts than in any other province of 
 the realm, where the Government is not committed to so 
 notable a tyrant as [it] is here, but [is] in the hands of civil 
 and reasonable men. 
 
68 A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation, 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 SEARCHES. 
 
 Some of our knights and justices are so vainglorious, rude, 
 uncivil and uncourteous, that no stranger almost can pass 
 or travel unexamined by them ; who he is, from where 
 he came, whither he goeth, yea, and what affairs and 
 business also in particular he hath. They have conceit 
 that to be thus inquisitive and busy in other men's matters, 
 how clownish and rude soever it be among civil men, yet 
 to be a good gentleman-like quality, for hereby they may 
 be known to have authority, and to be diligent and service- 
 able for the preservation of the State. But I little marvel 
 at this unseemly condition in them, because I see in every 
 place among these heretical, profane, and irreligious gen- 
 tlemen possessions only with vicious rudeness to be 
 accounted the chiefest parts of worship and nobility; and 
 virtues (without which there can be no true worthiness in 
 any man) to be nothing at all required in them, but rather 
 with derision and contempt abandoned and vehemently 
 persecuted by them all. These uncivil gentlemen do not 
 so vaingloriously practise this in the highways and abroad, 
 where they might meet with passengers ; but the hungry 
 catchpolls and bailiffs, yea, the tipplers and innholders, 
 use it as braggingly in towns also, especially nigh to the 
 houses of such justices, hoping not only for lucre and 
 bribes, but also hoping to pick thanks of their masters for 
 the imitating of their malapert and undecent manners. 
 This point of rudeness is not in all, nor in the best and 
 wisest sort of our knights and gentlemen, but in some few 
 haughty-minded and busy-headed men, which have great 
 conceit of themselves as pillars of the present State, and 
 God be thanked we suffer not so much harm by this kind 
 of discourtesy and clownishncss, as many honest men are 
 
A Yo7^kshi7'e Reacsa7ii*s Relation. 69 
 
 molested and many times horse-stealers and such-like: 
 companions of their own religion are apprehended, hereby 
 also the justices themselves are not a little discredited and 
 misliked among their neighbours, and condemned as rude^ 
 troublesome, and toto-officious. By these means I have 
 known divers Catholics in danger and partly affrighted^ 
 but not many apprehended, besides Mr, Kirkman, a priest,^ 
 and now martyr, and with him a virtuous layman in the 
 way by Mr. Worsley, Mr. Woodrofe, and others, and two 
 or three by Sir William Mallory, who, in his unmannerly 
 and vainglorious rudeness, most delighteth and passeth all 
 other, for no stranger or countryman can escape him. I 
 have yet this much spoken of it, because it is by these 
 justices principally intended against us. . . . 
 
 Before they search a man's house, the doughty cham- 
 pions send forth their scouts, place their spies at every 
 door and window, appoint a guard before themselves, give 
 the charge and assault. Then they enter the house with 
 drawn blades, bent crossbows, and charged dags. If they 
 find a priest or Catholic, they shout and cry as though they 
 had won a field ; then they turn him naked, and take spoil 
 of all he hath, and with marvellous pride and vainglory as 
 famous champions, they carry him to the tyrant. When 
 they find a priest they seize up and sweep away all the 
 goods, and most barbarously execute their harbourers, as 
 I shall show hereafter. In these searches also with much 
 diligence they observe one point of devilish cruelty, that is, 
 by threats, by dissembling promises, by flattery, and by all 
 wicked means to force servants to betray their masters 
 and children their own parents, requiring no more for the 
 murdering of father or mother than one child's word, 
 barbarously extorted by fear and threats. Finally, no man 
 or family where they come escapeth their fury without 
 some notable injury and harm, for the more mischief they 
 do to their Catholic neighbours, the more welcome and 
 
 * John Kirkman suffered at York, August 22, 1582. 
 
yo A Yorkshire Recusa7it's Relation, 
 
 more gratefully are they accepted of the tyrant. Notwith- 
 standing all this, he bewrayeth apparently his suspicious, 
 jealous head over divers of these justices, that he putteth 
 no affiance or surety in them. [They] knowing themselves 
 more to deserve hatred of all than love of any, have not 
 much affiance and trust in their favourers, for many times 
 he sendeth direction to them to search, and fearing they 
 should show any favour, or forget to use extreme cruelty 
 in any point, he joineth one or two of his own men with 
 them, or some hot minister, to be overseers and true 
 reporters of their diligence, which thing some gentlemen 
 fearing, though perhaps they would show themselves other- 
 wise courteous and indifferent, yet by reason of these his 
 surveyors, they execute his will in most violent manner, 
 the silly men not perceiving, or else for want of true gentry 
 not accounting, how in this tyrannous distrust he doth 
 abuse them with no small injuries of disgrace. Sometimes 
 also he commandeth gentlemen to search, and in the mean- 
 time he appointeth others to search their houses, that 
 whilst they are busily troubling their neighbours, their 
 own families do not escape scot free ; and to be short, 
 these uncivil heretics are not ashamed to search and rifle 
 women's beds, though they lie sick in them ; but these 
 dishonest and unmannerly factions are the pleasant fruits 
 of heretics and the necessary effects of their filthy gospel. 
 Certain also of these worthy justices in their sessions for 
 credit's sake, charge the people to raise hue and cry after 
 Catholics when they see them abroad, and to shoot at 
 them and kill them if they will not yield and be taken. 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 71 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 EXAMINATIONS. 
 
 When any priest or Catholic is apprehended and brought 
 before the tyrant or his council, this is the ordinary usage 
 by railing, arrogant and foolish speeches to abuse them. 
 The whole desire, intent, and drift of these blood-suckers 
 is by some question to entrap him and bring him within 
 danger of their impious statutes that they may murder 
 him. Sometimes they will provoke him to impatience, 
 that in some heat of choler he may overshoot himself in 
 words which they fail not to catch hold upon with 
 advantage ; sometimes by fair flattery to allure him to 
 utter some hurtful and dangerous words to himself and 
 others. Sometimes they ask twenty impertinent and bye 
 questions, and among them craftily foist in some perni- 
 cious demand, that he answering securely to that which is 
 impertinent may at unawares be entangled in that which 
 is pernicious. Sometimes they terrify the simple with 
 threats and oaths to make them answer to all their 
 demands. Of late, it is a usual question with them to 
 ask whose part we will take and fight against if the 
 Pope should invade this realm ; for they vehemently 
 dread that he will be their bane, and that their most 
 arrogant and shameful apostasy from him their Supreme 
 Pastor on earth will end miserably and fall out in short 
 time to their destruction. By this interrogatory they 
 have great hope to entrap within the compass of their 
 treasonable statutes the timorous consciences of the 
 simple, which never intended to oflend either Queen or 
 Pope, and when that occasion should befall, would be 
 most careful and provident to perform the duty of a 
 true Christian subject, though at unawares they cannot 
 safely answer to such pestiferous questions of future and 
 
72 A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation, 
 
 uncertain events without great danger to offend God, 
 their own consciences, or their two superiors. If we 
 answer not to these questions, then without law they 
 condemn us for traitors ; if we answer ChristianHke, that 
 if these things happen we will do as it shall please God 
 to put in our minds, yet are we traitors. If we answer 
 any otherwise than in their own railing and uncharitable 
 words we are still murdered as traitors; and briefly, they 
 are so insatiably thirsty for our blood, that in every word 
 or interrogatory they lay a snare to bring us within the 
 danger of their tyrannous statutes, for that they may 
 have some show of matter thereupon to frame an indict- 
 ment of treason against us. For they perceiving that our 
 troubles, persecutions, and martyrdoms for the ancient 
 Catholic faith (for which only they hate us and we suffer 
 their tyranny to most extreme deaths) doth win them no 
 credit nor friends at all, but internally much alienateth 
 men's affections from them and their bloody gospel, and 
 moveth them to consider more deeply of their Christian 
 duties to the Catholic Church and religion for the which 
 they behold many constantly to give their lives ; they per- 
 ceiving this, I say, bend themselves to this ancient, ethnic 
 [heathen], and heretical policy, to smother our true cause 
 of religion with deceitful ashes of their own treasonable 
 forgeries, foolishly imagining this malicious fraud to be 
 so cunningly conveyed that none can espy it. But God 
 be thanked, their treacherous dealings in this sort are so 
 palpable and apparent to most men that only extreme fear 
 of their tyrannical regiment withholdeth them to show 
 their concealed good wills, though not to wish and expect 
 daily for occasion of liberty to save their own souls, and 
 to revenge the unjust oppressions and deaths of their 
 dearest Catholic friends. If by no subtle shift they can 
 snatch hold to halter us, then rail they against our reli- 
 gion and sometimes dispute after the wrangling fashion 
 of ignorant and irreligious apostatas, prating blasphem- 
 
& 
 
 A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. j^ 
 
 ously at their pleasure, without all shame and honesty 
 belying us and our faith, impudently denying any truth 
 and obstinately affirming any falsehood. The tyrant also 
 himself with high conceit of his own wit and knowledge 
 much delighteth to dispute with the simple Catholic. 
 His rhetoric and skill consisteth most in vain-glorious 
 ruffling and railing against the Catholic faith, and in 
 arrogant controlling the whole known Church of Christ 
 in everything which his incredulous head cannot con- 
 ceive ; and when he cannot prevail with flattery, threats, 
 or heretical sophisms to pervert us, then he propoundeth 
 this strong tyrannical argument, or rather his insoluble 
 conclusion, upon no reasonable premisses, "Away with 
 him to the Castle, lay irons on him, he is not the Queen's 
 friend, he is a traitor," &c. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 SPIRITUAL MURDER. 
 
 In another thing also he proveth himself to be not only 
 a most wicked and malicious Hmb of Satan, but also a 
 most injurious and a violent tyrant. For not only, as I 
 have said, he laboureth to pervert men in faith, and when 
 he can espy advantage murder them for pretended treasons 
 but also he tyrannizeth over their consciences in this im- 
 pious sort, first to compel and force them by threats and 
 punishments to go with him to his heretical church, though 
 he well know it to be against their consciences ; and 
 secondly, when he is neither able to confute by reasons 
 the meanly learned Catholics in their faith, nor persuade 
 any of them to take liking of his sect, nor to remove the 
 simpler sort from their forefathers' ancient Catholic religion 
 to consent with him in* his new heresies, then he endea- 
 voureth to bring them to his master the devil, by forcing 
 them to commit this schismatical act of going to 
 
74 A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation, 
 
 church contrary to their own consciences, which witness 
 it to be unlawful, and a heinous sin ofvdamnable schism, 
 to participate with heretics in any religious act or cere- 
 mony. If he obtain thus much of any Catholic, though 
 he manifestly seeth it to be done dissemblingly, for fear, 
 and not for any good love or liking of his religion and 
 church newly erected by the temporal politics and their 
 profane authority against the true religion and Church of 
 God, yet he much glorieth in this spiritual murder, and 
 greatly vaunteth in so damnable a victory, and though in 
 some part he remit his fury against such dissembling 
 and hollow-hearted schismatics upon their revolt, yet 
 most deadly rancour hath so taken root in his heart 
 against them, that unless they also receive with him his 
 bready idol, and become as malicious in heretical zeal 
 as himself, he never ceaseth to frown upon them, and 
 watch some opportunity to work them displeasures. . , . 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 PRISONS. 
 
 If I should declare all the cruelties we sustain in prisons, 
 I should extend my labour to over long a work ; for 
 assure yourself that the tyrant's brutish malice hath 
 neither end nor measure in afflicting those whom he hath 
 caught within his reach. The gaolers be either his own 
 men, which after long service he promoteth to this 
 prowling office, otherwise, as you know, not being well 
 able to give them preferment of his own ; or else some 
 hot familiar of this Puritan congregation, which cither 
 be impoverished by round courtesies lent him in his 
 insatiable need, he in this sort rcquiteth and raiseth up 
 again, or else, being fallen into miserable beggary, he 
 thus maintaineth by pilling and robbing. And he is very 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 75 
 
 provident and wary that these fellows want no prisoners, 
 but specially Catholics, v/hose just complaints against 
 most unjust extortioners cannot be heard. For more 
 certainty of this pillage, he hath ordained new fees in 
 the Castle of York ; that besides the gaoler's own continual 
 prowling at his pleasure, these fees may be demanded as 
 due, and by the tyrant's authority. At the first committing 
 and entry every Catholic yeoman payeth lOj-. for fetters, 
 every gentleman 20^., every esquire 40^-. Amongst gentle- 
 men, for this gain, they number priests, though in other 
 usage they esteem them with the worst. Then for fees, a 
 yeoman payeth 26s. 8d. ; a gentleman, 4 marks. Then for 
 weekly diet, a yeoman payeth 6s. Sd. or 8s. 4d. ; a gentle- 
 man at his table, los. 4^. or 13^. 4d. Which orders this 
 malignant tyrant, with his council and Mr. Sands, the 
 pretended bishop, have appointed for to spoil us. Which 
 orders Mr. Sands hath reported since that they were first 
 made only to terrify the Papists, and not with intent to be 
 at any time exacted. Very few Catholics are of ability to 
 bear the charges of their table for weekly diet, wherefore 
 to compound with the gaolers both at York and Hull they 
 pay them some unreasonable chamber-rents, that they 
 may make and provide their own commons ; except they 
 be in Dearman's, the pursuivant's gaol, where the house- 
 wife, being once before married to a priest, exacts what 
 she lists, without any favour or mitigation, how poorly 
 soever abilities serve us. The furious woman, if she hath 
 not her own will and desire in everything she asketh, 
 will withhold meat and drink by three or four days 
 together ; nay, and except we yield to her, she will ^ 
 feed us continually with bread and water, and that in 
 great scarcity. It were an infinite labour to write the 
 wickedness of this woman towards all in her custody, 
 therefore I will let it go, and return again to the other 
 gaolers. 
 
 ^ ** She will scale feed us." Orig. 
 
76 A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation, 
 
 The weekly chamber- rents I spoke of are in the 
 poorest \2d., in others i6d., in others 2od., in others 
 2s., 3J. 4//., or 45-., we ourselves providing all neces- 
 saries ; and as many pestered into every chamber as 
 it will receive, by reason of which throng and straitness 
 oftentimes infectious sicknesses do reign amongst us. 
 These gaolers being purposely placed over us to enrich 
 themselves by as many prowling shifts as they can devise 
 to impoverish and rob us, have liberty without restraint 
 to work their own gain. And therefore they invent an 
 hundred shifts of extortion, as the two keepers in Hull 
 take a portion of every Catholic because they will not 
 be at their diet, then another sum for buying their victuals, 
 and yet a third, which is to pay 6^. or %d. for that which 
 cost in the market 4^. ; yea, and yet another for cooking 
 it, besides that the cooks for dressing every dish must 
 of courtesy lick their fingers. It were over long to write 
 what treacheries and malicious stratagems have been 
 devised against the Catholic prisoners in that town, as by 
 extreme and long famine, by debarring them of all 
 necessaries at the keeper's furious will, and twice or thrice 
 by poisoning their water, which was procured and done 
 by the ministers and other heretics of that place, and 
 discovered by the carriers, which, though they were also 
 heretics, yet abhorred to see good and innocent men so 
 villanously murdered. But who think you was the broker 
 of these villanies ? Who more likely than the tyrant 
 himself, who one day sitting on the bench in Hull, when 
 he gave sentence of death against a distracted Catholic 
 (as the keeper publicly confessed at the bar), for writing 
 of a letter to the Queen, wherein he admonished her to 
 amend her life, because she should die at New Year's day 
 following, said openly to the keeper, "It were more worthy 
 to hang thee than this Papist, for if thou hadst been an 
 honest man or a true subject, all the Papists in thy 
 custody had been despatched ere this day." By which 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 77 
 
 speeches, and his other bloody practices against us, it 
 plainly appeareth that this tyrant's hands were defiled 
 with those and other poisonful treacheries, though the 
 inferior keepers, either detesting, or not willing to forego 
 their daily gain reaped by our lives, would not at his 
 commandment contrive our deaths. At York I cannot 
 learn that he practised any such thing as yet. And why 
 so, think you t Is not perhaps his deadly rancour extended 
 to all the Catholics there } No man need doubt but that 
 his tyrannous malice is in will the same everywhere, and 
 never restrained from bloody effects, but either by superior 
 authority within some part keepeth back his fury, or else 
 by some vicious affection which overruleth him for the 
 time, as it doth over the gaoler of the castle and Dearman 
 the pursuivant ; for it is probably thought that both he 
 and Meares, and others also of their council, receive no 
 small fruits of both these gaols. The gaoler being as 
 ready to requite their courtesies for committing many 
 prisoners, as also to procure that with a bribe, or some 
 favourable supply, when they have need to borrow ; and 
 this money, being gotten by their favours and means, is 
 perhaps not so wholly to be accounted the gaoler's that 
 they should in reason be excluded from a good portion 
 thereof, or unworthy to detain as their own all which 
 the gaolers lend them. Notwithstanding the gaolers repine 
 thereat, and to their friends secretly complain of such evil 
 debtors ; as Burley, the tyrant's man, and last gaoler of 
 the Castle of York, was much accustomed to do, and with 
 open mouth cry out against the tyrant when amongst his 
 pots he called to mind his debt ; and Meverell also, the 
 ignorant Puritan, once soldier at Berwick, where as men 
 say, for his free heart in lending money to the tyrant 
 and his familiars, with Sir Robert Bowes and others, 
 and for his hot spirit in Puritanism, was preferred to the 
 same office after Burley, to recover again upon Catholics 
 his losses sustained by those debtors. [He] used much to 
 
78 A Yorkshire Rectcsant's Relatio7i. 
 
 complain for want of prisoners, and say he would return 
 again his office upon my lord, unless more prisoners were 
 committed ; and that he hoped to have his house fully 
 stuffed at the tyrant's coming down. This hope in the 
 tyrant's cruelty deceived him not, for since his coming 
 into these countries, which was September last, he hath 
 filled the prisons with Catholics, and hath wonderfully 
 raged to show his unseemly authority of lieutenantship. 
 And this is his deep policy, to terrify the country upon 
 any light suspicion, surmise, or colour of matter, to 
 apprehend Catholics or schismatics, to imprison them, and 
 without cause to detain and keep them still in his paws, 
 as though he had dangerous matters wherewith to charge 
 them. In prisons we are shut up close, and by his com- 
 mandment so charily looked to, that none can have any 
 access to us, or speak with us, but in the audience of 
 the gaolers. Thieves, murderers, pirates, and all other 
 sorts of malefactors enjoy all liberties which the tyrant 
 denyeth us ; the cause, no doubt, he more hateth the 
 Catholic faith in us than he doth others' theft, murder, 
 piracy, or the like, in all which he hath showed favour 
 and mercy to some ; and yet was he never favourable, but 
 malicious and unmerciful towards us, these crimes perhaps 
 not being so strange nor loathsome to his vicious mind, 
 infected with the same diseases and unjust tyranny, as 
 is the Catholic faith and religion, which detectcth and 
 reproveth all his treacheries. If he can learn of any 
 that relieve us in prisons, he picketh some troublesome 
 quarrel against them, and revileth them as maintainers 
 of the Queen's enemies and traitors, for so they call us. 
 And they prove it ordinarily, as Ramsdayne, the Puritan 
 and false archdeacon, did of late to a friend of ours, with 
 whom he found the common prayer for the Pope, Dens 
 fidclium pater, &c. " You are the Queen's enemies," quoth 
 Ramsdayne, " We are not," quoth our friend. " I prove 
 it," quoth Ramsdayne, "thus. None that praycth for 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation, 79 
 
 the Queen's enemies are the Queen's friends ; but you 
 Papists pray for the Pope, which is the Queen's enemy, 
 for this is your prayer, so you are not the Queen's friends, 
 but her enemies, and traitors." So that by this fellow's 
 divinity Christ's precept of charity, whereby we are 
 commanded to pray for our enemies and persecutors, 
 is treason, and to be rejected as false ; and con- 
 sequently none can be friends to the Queen that will 
 obey Christ. 
 
 It were extreme madness to believe these men to have 
 the true Christian religion when we see them in doctrine 
 so plain contrary to Christ, and not only the simple and 
 ignorant, but also they that be the chiefest pillars and 
 most vaunt of the purity of this new sect, to bring forth 
 so plentiful fruits of malice against Christians, or any 
 other creatures, as they do continually with great praise 
 and the approbation of all their synagogue. For besides 
 all which hitherto I have said, and, moreover, that there 
 is not one Protestant, or Puritan, or other sectary, yea, 
 or schismatic almost, that will do any one work of charity 
 to us in our needs and extremities, either in prisons or 
 abroad, yet they all so much envy and heart eat the good 
 and relief which they see us have or to be given us, that 
 they raise odious outcries and exclamations when we 
 receive victuals from charitable people. And sometimes 
 they examine, apprehend, and search the carriers, as 
 Meverell hath done some ; the malicious Puritan hoping 
 by this barbarous diligence to have the same committed to 
 his gaol. And sometimes also the furious sheriffs and 
 craftsmen in the city (which to please the tyrant pass the 
 bounds of all humanity and Christian charity) do the 
 like towards the Catholics on the bridge,^ yea, and violently 
 take from them their victuals sent from friends, and 
 distribute it to the felons, which violent and most shame- 
 less parts practised by these new uncharitable Gospellers 
 
 ^ The Kidcote or city prison on Ousebridge in York. 
 
8o A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation, 
 
 against us has caused the restraint of almost all necessary 
 relief from our friends abroad. 
 
 The tyrant hath yet another way to poll us, whereby 
 we get some little ease, though it be to our great 
 cost. This is to grant to some of his familiars, as to 
 gaolers, pursuivants, promoters, and bankrupts, the 
 delivery or bailment of some one or other Catholic, 
 that these companions may sell us our liberty of one 
 quarter or half a year for lo/. or 20/., which sum they 
 that are of ability and have urgent affairs abroad are 
 forced to give for so short a time rather than to incur 
 greater losses by staying in prison. But this charitable 
 courtesy is not often showed by the tyrant, his deadly 
 malice and thirst of our destruction overruling that vicious 
 passion of unjust liberality. 
 
 To be short, all these hot Puritans and heretics 
 run upon us for revenge for their griefs and misfor- 
 tunes, snatching hold of every trifling word and occasion 
 as sufficient matter to afflict us. But you would 
 less marvel of these exactions towards us if you heard 
 what colourable pilling and extortion the tyrant and his 
 council use in the country, as collecting gross sums of 
 money to build a common hall in the castle-yard, and 
 after that another mass through the whole shire to build 
 the castle bridge, after which small works left imperfect 
 and unfinished, the remanent sum how much soever he 
 would make it miscarry in his bottomless purse, and never 
 come to light ; as also taxing none or small offences 
 with unreasonable great fines and penalties. For one 
 suffered a long half year's imprisonment, and was fined to 
 pay them 20/. for saying that Meares would take bribes, 
 as also exacting in the country new fines, and inducing 
 strange and unusual customs for his own private lucre, for 
 either all or else a great part of the fines and forfeitures 
 are his own ; or if a portion belong to the Queen, [it] passeth 
 through his hands, for which cause he is most vigilant 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 8i 
 
 and careful that neither true faults nor surmised crimes 
 escape unfined. And touching Meares, the tyrant's 
 councillor, I myself have heard some credible gentlemen 
 say that they feed him yearly with lo/. or 20 marks, for 
 promising to protect their wives from this unjust trouble 
 for their conscience. This man's affection to bribes, where 
 he may have them covertly, is so thoroughly known, that 
 in good sooth poor Robert Freer, of Ripon, was very 
 unjustly condemned to pay 20/. fine for defaming him of 
 this notorious vice, which all the country knoweth perfectly 
 to reign in him, and would say as much as Freer did if 
 they feared not the like success as Freer had. These two 
 are the chiefest in authority here, which in this sort oppress 
 us and pester the country. By them you may probably 
 conjecture what imps the rest be which endeavour to 
 imitate perfectly the tyrant in all injustice and raging zeal, 
 knowing this the only way here to rise to credit and 
 preferment, which is the only mark they shoot at. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ARRAIGNMENTS. 
 
 It is very difficult to write what injuries we suffer in 
 our arraignments, which are altogether unjust and 
 tyrannical, unless I should make relation of many several 
 and particular arraignments, which thing I cannot do at 
 this time so largely, yet I will briefly touch some shameful 
 parts, that you may not be altogether ignorant of our 
 state in this point. As I said before, the tyrant and 
 his complices are most diligent by their examinations, 
 to circumvent and entrap us in some matter of State 
 that we may be prosecuted and made away, rather for 
 surmised enmity and treasons to Caesar than as true 
 Christians for our constancy in the Catholic religion. 
 Out of these examinations, and their unjust dealings 
 G 
 
&2 A Yorkshire Remsajit's Relation. 
 
 with us, they forge some colourable matter, whereupon 
 they frame indictments to bring us, at least apparently, 
 within the danger of their new statutes, and then are 
 we sure to be murdered. And though these new statutes 
 be most tyrannical and of purpose decreed with cruel 
 rigour for our destruction, against the ancient laws of 
 this realm, (whereby not only our Catholic faith was 
 maintained, but also their heresies repressed as much 
 as was necessary for defence and government of Christ's 
 Church, so long as it only without any heretical 
 synagogue bore sway in England), yet their malice 
 is so great and deadly that impudently they deny us 
 the small benefit which the statutes grant us, neither 
 will they permit that we discuss them, or plead for 
 only just defence their own laws unjustly made against 
 us, for the tyrant hath plainly said that no Papist in 
 England should have that right at his hands in any 
 matter which law would give him. And for his performance 
 of this word, you have heard, I daresay, how he abused 
 Mr. Leonard Babthorpe, the counsellor, and Mr. Launder, 
 the attorney, for pleading law in their Catholic wives* 
 behalfs. First, he committed them both to prison, then 
 lightened their purses with an unreasonable fine, then 
 deprived them of the whole practice in law to their un- 
 doings, then in most villanous manner disgraced one upon 
 the pillory, and yet ceaseth not to persecute them as mali- 
 ciously as he is able ; for this the tyrant's nature to be im- 
 placable where he hath once conceived offence or displea- 
 sure, though it be without just cause, and to pursue till 
 death such as he may overrun, though he be most cowardish 
 and hen-hearted to encounter his equal. All the Catholics 
 in these parts, yea, and many schismatical dissemblers 
 also, which have had occasion of suits before him, can 
 witness how his heavy malice to them for their Catholic 
 faith at all times overswayed the equity of their causes 
 to make judgment proceed against them, unless before 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relatio7i, 2>'^ 
 
 he gave sentence they removed their causes to the courts 
 at London, which thing if any do it vexeth him wonder- 
 fully, for he perceiveth this to be some reproach to him, 
 and he would be accounted just and worthy of credit 
 in all matters. Besides the tyrant and Meares, and 
 Hurlstone and the other stone and others I named 
 before, which persecute us as partly I have showed, there 
 be also many more which are companions and fellows 
 with them in murdering us, as of late since the wicked 
 statutes were enacted against priests and their harbourers, 
 the Lord Evers, Sir Thomas Fairfax, Sir William Mallory, 
 all three vice-presidents at divers gaol-deliveries in the 
 tyrant's absence at the assizes, Judge Clinche, Sergeant 
 Rhodes, &c., and at every turn one arrogant heretic called 
 Birkhead, the Queen's attorney. Until summer last we 
 were greatly injured and persecuted by a malicious Puritan 
 called Cheeke, who was here secretary to the tyrant and 
 his council, and in the tyrant's absence ruled all. This 
 persecutor (if we may conjecture anything by a miserable 
 life and death, for he was suddenly smitten with a fit 
 of raging madness, and after four or five days died in 
 it), about midsummer received a just sentence of damna- 
 tion for his unjust murdering many virtuous Catholic 
 priests and lay people. Many more also there be as 
 unconscionable jurors picked forth and of purpose kept 
 at hand to give what verdict the tyrant, Meares, &c., will 
 require them. When they intend to make us away, the 
 tyrant himself seldom of late hath sitten on the bench to 
 condemn us, but some of his vice-presidents with Meares, 
 Hurlstone, and others, working all mischief against us 
 according to his will and direction. 
 
 At the gaol-delivery before Christmas last,^ Anno Dni., 
 1585, Elizabeth 28° (for I will let pass all the priests and 
 
 * This passage fixes the date of this narration as before Christmas, 1586. 
 The latest event mentioned in it is the martyrdom of Richard Langley, 
 December i, 1586. 
 
84 A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation, 
 
 Catholics murdered before this time by the tyrant), they 
 executed one priest as traitor, named Mr. Hugh Taylor, 
 taken by the Lord Evers, when he searched a Catholic 
 man's house. This martyr was the first that suffered 
 here since the statutes. They alleged no other matter 
 against him but that he was a seminary priest, and for 
 this they put [him] to a traitor's death. At this time also 
 they murdered a secular gentleman called Mr. Bowes,^ 
 for harbouring the same priest long before he was appre- 
 hended in another man's house. The Lord Evers sitting 
 as vice-president with Meares, Hurlstone, Cheeke, and the 
 rest, this Mr. Bowes was arraigned, and evidence was pro- 
 duced against him by one schoolmaster only. This fellow 
 being a Catholic taught Mr. Bowes his children, and was 
 apprehended travelling in the Bishopric, as I remember, 
 by John Barnes, brother to the false bishop, about Whit- 
 sunday last before. The heretics by cruel usage caused 
 him to forsake his faith, and to accuse as many Catholics 
 as he knew. And after his apostasy from God and His 
 Church, he accused Mr. Bowes for harbouring Mr. Taylor, 
 priest. Mr. Bowes being arraigned, this apostata's word 
 was judged by our wise benchers testimony sufficient 
 enough against him, though this schoolmaster was but 
 one, and for fear had forsaken before men his faith, and 
 was reported to the bench and known to be of very evil 
 fame, and that both for fear and lucre he was ready to 
 affirm or deny whatsoever they would desire (as Mr. Bowes 
 offered to prove by the general and whole consent, record 
 and report of neighbours which had long known him), 
 yet their malice was so great against him, and they so 
 vehemently thirsted for his blood, that no insufficiency 
 in the witness could take place, but in anywise they 
 would have the gentleman's life, judging it to be con- 
 venient and necessary for the politic maintaining of 
 
 ' For Lady Babthorpe's account of the martyrdom of Marmaduke Bowes, 
 see Troubles^ First Series, p. 244. 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relatio7t, 85 
 
 their tyrannical state that now and then they murder 
 some, though unjustly, for the terrifying of the country. 
 Yet this cruel fact was loathsome and horrible to the 
 country, most men murmuring that this honest gentleman's 
 life should be thus shamefully taken away for the testi- 
 mony of one infamous person, and faithless apostata. 
 
 After this, at Lent Assizes, the Lord Evers, Meares^ 
 Hurlstone, Cheeke, &c., of the malignant council, appre- 
 hended a gentlewoman called Mrs. Margaret Clitherow, 
 citizen of York, upon surmise that she harboured priests, 
 and through fear and threats constrained a Flemish boy 
 about eleven years old to affirm that she had received- 
 one or two; they took it for sufficient proof, resolved to 
 suck her blood, and caused her to be arraigned before 
 Judge Clinche, Rhodes, and themselves. This happy 
 martyr knowing her cause to be so just and godly, that 
 neither any human law could justly reprove it, nor any 
 profane judge be competent by any pretence of equity 
 to deal against her for her religious works and Christian 
 duty, and moreover, perceiving that all the jurors should 
 be guilty of her blood, if by their unlawful verdict she 
 were condemned, as she knew Meares and the rest of the 
 council would have it done, refused common trial of 
 the country, and referred the whole matter to the judges 
 themselves. These men perceiving the council's inclina- 
 tion and resolution to murder her, and either hoping by 
 these means to aspire to credit, or else fearing to fall in 
 some disgrace with the rulers in the State if they justly 
 dismissed her, took the cause into their own hands, and 
 upon that boy's extorted testimony, found her guilty of 
 death, and adjudged her to the death of pressing because 
 she refused ordinary trial. And although the boy's testi- 
 mony was of no force by law to prove her guilty of death, 
 nor her refusal of common trial without sufficient proof 
 of the fact or trespass could by the common law of the 
 land bring her to the death of pressing, which refusal the 
 
86 A Yorkshire Reacsant's Relation, 
 
 Judges and council (either ignorantly or guilefully reported 
 to be by law a just cause of death, though there were no 
 crime at all committed), yet were the unjust and corrupt 
 judges drawn into this shameful murder, by the continual 
 suits and outcries of Meares, Cheeke, Hurlstone, &c., which 
 hereby intended to justify and to make seem just their own 
 murdering of Mr. Bowes, which Rhodes reported as unjust, 
 because they condemned him by the testimony of one 
 infamous person only, contrary to the order of the common 
 law. For in respect of this done by the judges through 
 their instigation against Mrs. Clitherow, the other against 
 Mr. Bowes hath great show of justice, as proceeding upon 
 the testimony of one wicked man, yet a man, and this 
 upon the testimony of a Flemish boy. I need not to stay 
 long in this matter, to show their malice and unjust 
 dealings against this blessed woman, for that a friend of 
 ours^ hath written at large both her virtuous life and their 
 most shameful proceedings against her, how the judge 
 Glinche and Rhodes, contrary to common law and prac- 
 tice, admitted the Flemish child's testimony as sufficient 
 and lawful against her. Again, how they condemned 
 her to death of pressing, only, as they said, for refusing 
 ordinary trial, which they said also to be just cause of 
 that death, though no sufficient evidence could be pro- 
 duced to convince her guilty of the crime, directly 
 contrary to the statute West. cap. 13, amio 3° 
 Edw. I., and to judge Stamford's learned exposition of 
 it in his "Pleas of the Crown," folio no. Again, 
 how unjustly they presumed that since the statute she 
 harboured seminary priests, upon these reasons : first, 
 because she was a notorious Catholic, because the boy 
 named two priests which had been there as he said, as 
 though these things had been by any reason or law 
 sufficient to control general presumption, which is that 
 
 * The life of Margaret Clitherow was \vritten by her director, Mr. John 
 Mush. 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's RelaHo7i. 87 
 
 everyone will the best provide for himself he can, and 
 that way whereby least danger may ensue, which common 
 presumption always standeth good by their own law 
 until the contrary be plainly and evidently proved, as 
 by these reasons it never could be in ordinary dealing. 
 And again, how she, being a young woman, about 
 thirty years old, and conversant until that day with her 
 husband, these judges denied her the privilege of her 
 condition, after herself doubted whether she were with 
 child or not, and lastly how their barbarous cruelty 
 raged against her until her death, and after also. All 
 which things our said friend hath set down more at large, 
 as you may read. Against this holy martyr, Rhodes, 
 Cheeke, Meares, and Hurlstone, and the rest, in the heat 
 of their raging spirits, railed wonderfully, sitting on the 
 bench, reviling and slandering her approved honesty, 
 meaning thereby to make her and the Catholic cause 
 odious to the people. But, God be thanked, she was known 
 to be of that rare virtue, that their impudence turned to 
 her great glory, discovered their own filthy and vicious 
 disposition, everyone judging them to vaunt their own 
 malice according to the abundance of their own infected 
 and loathsome humours. 
 
 After Whitsunday next following, at the gaol-delivery. 
 Sir Thomas Fairfax, vice-president, Cheeke, Hurlstone, 
 and the rest, arraigned Mr. Francis Ingleby,^ condemned 
 and murdered him as a traitor, because he was a priest 
 of Rheims. With him they used much guileful dealing, 
 that they might entangle him with an oath to disclose 
 in what Catholic men's houses he had been harboured, 
 but they could not deceive him. When he was about 
 to speak anything, they stopped him with railing and 
 blasphemies, overthwarting him in every word, and 
 
 ^ Francis was the fourth son of Sir William Ingleby of Ripley. Peacock's 
 List of Rotnan Catholics in the County of York in 1604, p. 48. He suffered at 
 York, June 3, 1586. 
 
88 A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 
 
 interrupting him by one frivolous question upon another, 
 that before he had answered two words to one matter, 
 they came upon him with another, insomuch that many 
 noted how they would not suffer him to make a perfect 
 end of any one sentence ; which barbarous dealing is a 
 special point of their policy, for they cannot abide that 
 the people should hear us speak any word, either in 
 defence or manifestation of our Catholic cause, or of 
 their sacrilegious tyranny, wherewith they no less fraudu- 
 lently undo the whole country, than they unjustly oppress 
 us. And this they practise chiefly against such as either 
 have any good quality of knowledge and utterance, or 
 otherwise are descended of good kindred, or are well 
 accounted of and beloved among the people. But if 
 they perceive a man to want such qualities as may 
 commend him to the people, or to have anything whereby 
 he may be made odious or contemptible to the vulgar sort, 
 which judge according to external show and appearance 
 of natural imperfections and extern[al] not a man's 
 internal graces and virtues, then in their scornful mocking, 
 gibing, railing, and slanderous humours they bait him 
 one after another, and when they are weary of baiting 
 against him, they give him the deadly blow, which they 
 had determined before he was arraigned. 
 
 If a priest have any priestlike apparel, as cassock, 
 gown, cap, &c., they rage [against] him like madmen, 
 and never cease until these garments be taken from 
 him, and the secular garments in which he was appre- 
 hended be put on. If you would see in them a fit of 
 malicious fury it is motive strong enough to let a priest 
 come before them wearing a cassock, a gown, or a cap, 
 or having his crown shaven ; the very sight of these 
 things confoundeth them, as sacrilegious parricides, and 
 guilty of innocent blood, which crime as they imagine 
 is something shadowed, or at least doth not move the 
 senses so vehemently to perceive their own ugly shame 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 
 
 89 
 
 by wearing secular apparel. And again, they imagine 
 in this disguised attire that priests are neither so revered 
 nor esteemed of with the rude people as they would be 
 in their clergy weed, nor their own foul murders to seem 
 so impious to the people, when priests are murdered in 
 apparel not like priests', as they would do if they were 
 clothed in such wise as their profession requireth. At 
 these arraignments little is spoken against us, but one 
 reviling word or other flieth with all. 
 
 At Lammas assizes following for want of priests they 
 arraigned divers Catholic prisoners, being determined to 
 murder some of them, for at every gaol-delivery and assize 
 it is their policy to murder either Catholic priest or lay 
 person, as well to keep their hands in use with blood- 
 shedding as to terrify the country from the Catholic faith. 
 At this time, therefore, they arraigned one Mrs. Anne Tesh,^ 
 whom they had apprehended at the same time when they 
 did apprehend Mrs. Clitherow, intending in this drift of 
 time to find out some colourable matter against her to make 
 her away ; for they often searched her house and straitly 
 imprisoned her servants, to extort anything whereupon 
 they might have show of a just indictment. The Flemish 
 boy accused her, as Cheeke said, to have heard Mass in 
 Mrs. Clitherow's house, whereupon they sent for her, and 
 in her presence asked the boy if he knew that woman. 
 He said, "No." "Then," quoth Cheeke, "this is Mrs. Tesh, 
 thou knowest her well enough." The boy stood amazed, 
 answering nothing. " No marvel," quoth Mrs. Tesh, " if 
 he know me now, after you have told him who I am." 
 At this arraignment Hurlstone, Rhodes, and the rest railed 
 
 ^ In 1596 Mrs. Anne Tesh and Mrs. Bridget Maskevv were condemned to 
 be burnt alive, — the punishment of high treason in the case of a woman. They 
 were reprieved, and remained in York Castle as long as Queen Elizabeth lived. 
 George Errington, William Knight, William Gibson, and Henry Abbot, who 
 were condemned at the same time, were executed Not. 29, 1596. Lady 
 Babthorpe tells the story of the cause of this martyrdom. Troubles^ First 
 Series, p. 243. Three of the names are supplied by Bishop Challoner. 
 
 / 
 
90 A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 
 
 shamefully against her with many dishonest speeches, 
 charged her that she had harboured priests, and openly 
 said to the jury (according to their impudent iniquity), 
 " Find her guilty ; " which yet they did not for harbouring 
 any priest, but upon the boy's words and a little girl's, 
 about twelve years of age, they condemned her in a hun- 
 dred marks for hearing Mass, and the bench said, " If we 
 live to the next assizes for we will have thee found guilty 
 harbouring priests." They arraigned also one layman, 
 called Francis Hemsworth, whom they had kept many 
 years prisoner in the Castle for his Catholic faith, pur- 
 posing now to despatch him, because he had answered 
 directly to the interrogatories about the supremacy, 
 &c. ; but upon this occasion they let him pass at this 
 time. 
 
 They had apprehended a Catholic young man, called 
 Robert Bickerdike, more than a year before, for being 
 seen in company with a priest. This young man had 
 many malicious merchants of York his enemies, for he had 
 served as 'prentice there, and was known to be Catholicly 
 affected. Amongst which was one Brooke, and Andrew 
 Trewe, two as malicious as ignorant Puritans. By the means 
 and envious procurement of these and their complices, he 
 was at his first taking arraigned in the Common Hall 
 in York, and indicted for aiding the priest, because they 
 were seen drink together, and the heretics surmised that 
 this young man paid for the pot of ale, which they thought 
 was matter sufficient to hang him. Also he was then 
 indicted for saying to an heretical 'prentice, which with 
 vehement fury railed against him and the Catholics, calling 
 them traitors, that he might now say his pleasure, for the 
 sap is, quoth he, with Catholics in the root of the tree, 
 but it may perhaps ascend upwards towards Michaelmas, 
 and then he would use no such railing words ; meaning 
 only hereby (as himself said) that in this prosperous time 
 with heretics they might say and do what they listed, but 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 91 
 
 if God should send a Catholic time, heretics' tongues would 
 be stabled [stopped]. 
 
 The jury did requite [acquit] and clear him of all 
 these things, and so he was committed to prison again 
 only as a recusant, until this Lammas assizes, when 
 they arraigned him afresh, for the Puritans' malice could 
 not be quenched without his blood. At this time, there- 
 fore, Clinche and Rhodes, sitting as judges on the 
 bench, asked him of the former points. He answered 
 that he had been cleared of them by a jury in that place a 
 year before. Then they asked him whose part he would 
 take if the Pope should invade the realm. He said he 
 could not tell before what he would do in time to come. 
 " But," quoth he, " I will do as it shall please God to put 
 me in mind ; " for which words they railed and called him 
 traitor, and thereupon indicted him. The [jury] perceiving 
 this apparent injury and malice in both the wicked judges, 
 and also in the merchants, which, for want of true crime or 
 trespass already committed by the young man, would so 
 impudently by their deceitful and bloody demand entangle 
 him with some offensive matter, cleared him of all, and 
 upon their oaths and consciences gave their verdict for his 
 innocency, saying, "Not guilty." At which thing they 
 all stormed and said he should not escape them so. And 
 Birkhead, the Queen's Attorney, said he would frame new 
 indictment against him, whereupon they removed him to 
 the Castle (for until that time he was prisoner on the 
 bridge). 
 
 Being arraigned again in the Castle, and indicted 
 upon the same articles whereof he was acquitted before, 
 Rhodes said to the jury, " This traitor had too favourable 
 and too scrupulous a jury in the town, but I trust," quoth he, 
 "you will look otherwise to him, being the Queen's enemy 
 and a notorious traitor." Upon which daily Rhodes' and 
 Birkhead's earnest pursuit, the jury forthwith found him 
 guilty of high treason. When he was about to speak any- 
 
92 A Yorkshire Recusant's Relatioji. 
 
 thing, Rhodes and Birkhead made outcries against him, 
 saying, "Behold how treason bloweth forth of his mouth, 
 hear not the traitor, away with the traitor ; " and yet all 
 the country well perceived that his words had no resem- 
 blance of treason, or could justly be any offence to Queen 
 or subject. But, for want of just matter, these heretics 
 oppressed this just man with these railing slanders and 
 odious speeches, and shed his innocent blood.^ 
 
 By reason of this murder, Francis Hemsworth^ escaped at 
 this time, but yet was he shut up in prison again, as store for 
 another day. All the country was amazed to see this young 
 man so unjustly made away, and some gentlemen being in 
 company with Rhodes before he departed from Yorkshire, 
 asked him whether the young man's answer that, "he would 
 do in time to come as it should please God to put in his 
 mind," was treason by any statute and law, or no. Which 
 demand Rhodes took in great dudgeon, and said, " You do 
 us no less injury than the traitor did at the bar when he 
 asked us the same question. We are not sent hither to 
 scan and dispute the statutes, but to give judgment against 
 offenders." Thus was the wicked man offended to have 
 his dealings sifted, thinking all to run around, so long as 
 in a flourish of false and railing words he might cover his 
 great iniquity, swaying wholly with the time to work any 
 mischief he list devise against God's Church, and not re- 
 membering how very shortly all his wickedness must be 
 detected and searched to the bottom by the most just 
 Judge, to whose eye every guileful deed and thought lieth 
 open. 
 
 At the gaol-delivery following, which was this last 
 November, anno 1586, sat on the bench Sir William Mallory, 
 Meares, Hurlstone, Dr. Gibson, &c. They had apprehended 
 a little before Mr. Alexander Crowe, [made] priest at 
 
 * Robert Bickerdike suffered at York, October 8, 1586. 
 
 * In 1604, "Jane the wife of Francis Hymsworth, a notorious recusant," 
 was living at Sherburne, " maintained for seven years last by Agnes Rawson." 
 Peacock, pp. 23, 24. 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 93 
 
 Rheims, whom they kept in double fetters amongst the felons 
 from his first apprehension, until the time he was hauled 
 to martyrdom. They arraigned him, and after they had 
 railed at their pleasures, mocked and contemned him, and 
 made him odious to the people after their fashion by lies 
 and slander^, they condemned him of high treason, for being 
 a Catholic priest of Rheims. He had caused his crown to 
 be shaven before his arraignment, which the bench perceiv- 
 ing at his departure was cast into a furious pang [passion] 
 against the Puritan gaoler, as though he had permitted 
 it to be done of purpose. This martyr they executed upon 
 St. Andrew's day, late at night.^ He was very sick before 
 his arraignment until his martyrdom, and, being upon the 
 ladder, he fell from it in a swoon, upon which casualty 
 the heretics raised a slander, saying he would have killed 
 himself They took him up and hanged him a little, and 
 in most cruel manner ripped him alive. 
 
 At this time also they had apprehended Mr. Richard 
 Langley,'^ a gentleman well in years, who had lived in 
 the country with very great love and worshipful credit, 
 a man of approved honesty, wisdom, and sobriety, 
 and well qualified in all virtues. The tyrant sent, 
 upon Simon and Jude's even, divers of his young 
 heretical justices and ministers to search this gentle- 
 man's two houses, one distant a mile from the other. 
 The justices' names were Gates, Boynton [?] Hussey [.?], 
 &c., with Ramsdayne, the licentious archdeacon, Wright, the 
 minister, Francis Wood, an ungracious heretic and spend- 
 thrift, who with Ramsdayne first broached this matter, 
 
 ^ Dr. Challoner gives as the date of the martyrdom of Alexander Crow 
 from a **mamiscript in his hands by one who knew him," November 30, 
 1586. That this is the correct date our Yorkshire recusant clearly shows, though 
 Yepez, Wilson, Molanus, Raissius, and Champney say 1587 ; but these cannot 
 be considered independent authorities. 
 
 ^ Bishop Challoner has no information respecting this martyr, except that 
 he was born at Grinthorpe in Yorkshire. Richard Langley of Owsthorpe, 
 near Pocklington, and probably also of Rathorpe Hall in Dalton, married 
 Agnes, daughter of Richard Hansby of Malton, and had a son Christopher, 
 who married Ursula Rudstone. 
 
94 ^ Yorkshire Remsa7it's Relation, 
 
 with many other lewd companions and ministers. At 
 one house they found two priests, and carried them with 
 Mr. Langley to the tyrant at York. After he had rolled 
 in his furious and heretical arrogance awhile, he committed 
 the two priests and Mr. Langley to the Castle. These 
 priests, with another they found there out of Bishopric, 
 finding convenient way and opportunity, made their escape 
 and fled again to feed their flocks. Mr. Langley was 
 arraigned (for the tyrant having promised and, as men 
 say, given his letters to Mr. Langley's brother that he 
 should be reprieved unto Lent assizes following), guilefully 
 underhand sent commandment to Mallory, Meares, &c., to 
 execute him without delay. He was condemned without 
 any proof or evidence against him, that he knew them for 
 Seminary priests, and was executed the ist of December. 
 
 The heretics much abused this gentleman at the bar, 
 with railing and uncourteous speeches. At his first coming 
 into the hall to be arraigned, he knelt down and asked 
 Mr. Crowe the priest, his blessing. He said that he would 
 never repent that he had harboured priests, and that they 
 were the messengers of God, but rather was sorry that 
 he had not harboured more and oftener than he had done ; 
 also that he thanked God that he might die for so good a 
 cause. He would not make suit to the tyrant nor the 
 Privy Council for his life in this cause, which sentence 
 grieved the tyrant and his complices exceedingly, inso- 
 much that they altered the jury, which was first impanelled 
 of his honest neighbours, fearing these would deal favour- 
 ably and justly, and instead of them appointed such as they 
 knew would work their desire to murder him, as tliey did. 
 
 In all arraignments, as well of Catholic priests as lay 
 people, they labour much to alter our Catholic cause into 
 some matter of State, and though their statutes against 
 Catholic priests and their harbourcrs be manifestly impious 
 and unjust, and yet extremely executed by them, yet are they 
 so ashamed of the execution of these the wicked laws 
 
A Yorkshire Rectcsant^s Relation. 
 
 95 
 
 (the like never being practised before but by infidels and 
 heretics against God's Church), that themselves abhor the 
 cruelty of them, and are unwilling that the country should 
 perceive their dealings, for which causes they would seem 
 and make the simple believe that none of us is murdered 
 for the Catholic faith and religion, but the priests for 
 treason and their harbourers for maintaining of traitors. As 
 though to be a Catholic priest were to be a traitor, and 
 to receive them could be an act of felony by any just law 
 or reason. To persuade the people thus, and to cover the 
 foulness of their treacheries against innocent Catholics, 
 they never cease bawling out and crying when we stand 
 arraigned before them that we be traitors, that we be 
 enemies to the Queen, &c. And notwithstanding all their 
 cruelty and these slanderous exclamations, the whole 
 country is persuaded of our innocency, and that in truth 
 we be neither enemies nor traitors to Queen, country, or 
 good men, but only to the devil and heresy, and so dis- 
 posed towards these ungracious heretics that with all our 
 hearts we wish and pray for their conversion and not their 
 hurt in any respect ; which true persuasion entereth more 
 deeply in the hearts of men, because they plainly see inno- 
 cence murdered with furious tyranny against all right, 
 reason, conscience, or charity, and our adversaries to deal 
 with all guile, deceit, impudence, and barbarousness, not 
 so zealous to execute justice, for the preservation of the 
 realm and State, upon the traitors, thieves, murderers, 
 pirates, and such like malefactors of their own heretical 
 congregation, after trespasses be indeed committed, as they 
 are furious without law and justice. In fine, no doubt but 
 to the utter overthrow of public peace and the whole State, 
 to compel and force the pernicious questions and demands, 
 innocent Catholics do incur the dangers of their laws, and 
 to make them offenders where they were none at all, but 
 notwithstanding all this these high treasons and felonies 
 are ever pardonable if we will consent to go to church. 
 
96 A Yorkshire Recusatit's Relation, 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 EXECUTIONS. 
 
 After unjust malice hath condemned us, the same still 
 pursueth us in death with as much cruelty, violence, hatred, 
 and barbarousness as it did at other times before. The 
 time wherein they intend to murder us is kept as secret 
 and unknown as may be, both from us and the people, 
 and at unawares, when and where it is least looked for, 
 they send the tormentors to make us away, ever choosing 
 such times as the people will least suspect any such thing, 
 or can make the smallest concourse to the place of execu- 
 tion. They condemned Mr. Hugh Taylor one Friday^ with 
 the felons, and within two or three hours after murdered 
 him, and reserved the other condemned prisoners until 
 Saturday. They also pressed Mrs. Clitherow, upon the 
 feast of the Annunciation of our Blessed Lady, in the 
 morning, in a close house, as obscurely as was possible. 
 And upon St. Andrew's day, at night, they despatched 
 Mr. Crowe. This policy to murder us secretly, and at 
 unsuspected times, they use as well to take us unprovided* 
 which they never can, we always standing prepared against 
 them and not ignorant of their fraud, as also to hinder 
 the people for being present at our deaths. For God be 
 thanked, the constancy and fortitude of Catholics thus 
 murdered for their faith and conscience worketh exceeding 
 good to many, but specially to those which behold their 
 gracious ends ; for hereby they enter into consideration 
 of their own estate, and judge it no trifles nor our religion 
 so absurd as the heretics slander, for the which so many 
 good and innocent people of all sorts with great joy and 
 gladness give their lives. By the victory of one, many 
 
 * This fixes the clay of his martyrdom as November 25, 1585, for the 
 following day, which is that usually assigned, was Saturday. 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 97 
 
 weaklings are confirmed in their faith, and, where they 
 quaked at every blast of persecution before, they now fear 
 not to encounter the bloody adversary and stoutly to give 
 their lives. Many also of their own heretical congregation, 
 moved with our victories, return home amazed at the 
 matter, and then become favourable or more indifferent 
 towards the Catholic faith, or else renounce their erro- 
 neous, pleasant, licentious, and libertine gospel and become 
 Catholics, with great disadvantage to their sects. The 
 tyrant and his fellows, perceiving [this] to come by our 
 constant deaths, labour to murder us as privily as they 
 can devise. At the place of execution, in one thing above 
 all others they detect their own wickedness and show them- 
 selves indeed to be the malicious hell-hounds of Satan, 
 labouring to chase our souls into their ugly master's net, 
 for the ministers are always ready placed there to molest 
 and trouble us with their ignorant, railing, slanderous, blas- 
 phemous, and frivolous questions, disputations, accusations, 
 and lies. They also with the gross Puritans and fantastical 
 merchants and craftsmen, on every hand vexing us and 
 crying that we be traitors. Papists, seductors, and Queen's 
 enemies, in great despite mocking and slandering us, bely- 
 ing and blaspheming the Catholic faith, by which damnable 
 means they also intend to murder our souls, that the 
 moving us to impatience and disquietness of mind in our 
 last agony may send us to their master, Satan, and so 
 destroy not only our bodies but also our souls. But He 
 that patiently sustained the like villanies of the Jews, 
 hanging upon the Cross for our redemption and example, 
 assisteth us with His grace, that in this hour our meekness^ 
 joy, and peace of heart are manifest, to the confusion of 
 our adversaries and the godly edification of all charitable 
 beholders. These heretics are also most jocund, pleasant, 
 and glad if they can by any means get some little show 
 and colour of evil matter, that we died not well, that any 
 Christian may easily perceive them to be of his family 
 H 
 
98 A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 
 
 who rejoiceth in the miseries and damnation of Christian 
 souls and envieth the well doing and gracious end of any. 
 And to this end they have raised slanders of divers, that 
 standing upon the ladder, ready to be cast from it, they 
 hanged themselves, when either by faintness, sickness, slip 
 of foot, or sudden stirring of the ladder, they fall down ; 
 but these slanders neither please nor take hold with any 
 but such as have their heretical spirit open, and ready both 
 to forge and to receive any impudent and malicious 
 untruth against the innocent children of God, that, by lies 
 and slanders, they may in their own conceit justify their 
 treacheries against us. Much vexation also at this instant 
 they make us, with their importunate cries to pray for the 
 Queen, and to pray with them, and to confess our treasons 
 and disloyalty to the prince. And commonly, in despite, 
 they cast us from the ladder when we refused to pray with 
 them and request the Catholics to pray with us, before we 
 can make an end of a Pater noster or a Creed. Such as 
 they make traitors they murder ordinarily with horrible 
 cruelty, dismembering them and ripping them alive. They 
 pressed Mrs. Clitherow naked. As for such as they make 
 felons, they hang until they be dead, because their own 
 law forbiddeth to use any other cruelty against felons. 
 In all this time spies are set abroad to mark the counte- 
 nances and behaviour of the bystanders, and to note if 
 any be there which by word, gesture, or any other way 
 seem favourable to us, lament our unjust deaths, or show 
 any sign of charitable compassion towards us in our agony, 
 or endeavour to get of our blood or other relics, for all 
 such they apprehend as traitors and enemies to the Queen. 
 Moreover, they use singular diligence and wariness in 
 martyring us, that no part of blood, or flesh, or garment, 
 or anything belonging to the martyr be either unburnt 
 or escape their hands. The sacred blood they conculcate 
 and cast into the fire. The apparel the murderers take 
 and disperse, the pins, points, buttons, and all, lest Catholics 
 
A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation. 99 
 
 get them and use them for rdics. They boil also the 
 quarters in some filthy mixture, and the heads they bedaub 
 with some black matter, to cause them to seem more 
 loathsome and grizzly. Their malice was so great against 
 Mr. Langley that they would not suffer him to have a 
 winding-sheet, nor his body to be interred but among the 
 thieves, putting him the undermost of twelve. All such 
 as die in prisons they will not permit to be buried in 
 churchyards, but in obscure and profane places, as dung- 
 hills. Mrs. Clitherow's body was buried beside a dunghtll 
 in the town, where it lay full six weeks without putre- 
 faction, at which time it was secretly taken up by Catholics 
 and carried on horseback a long journey, to a place where 
 It rested six days unbowelled, before necessary preserva- 
 tives could be gotten, all which time it remained without 
 corruption or evil savour, and after was laid up as a worthy 
 treasure until God redeem us out of the servitude and 
 tyranny of these furious blood-suckers and send His peace 
 again unto His Church, that then it may be kept with due 
 honour. 
 
 Thus have I shown you part of our miseries and some 
 tokens of their heretical malice, as the shortness of time 
 and other businesses would permit me. But you will 
 perhaps marvel why, in all this story, I make no mention 
 of Mr. Sands, the old apostata and false archbishop, seeing 
 he is well known to be as furious and unreasonable in all 
 his doings as any other. I have not spoken of him because 
 the tyrant (as I said in the beginning) is god, king, bishop 
 president, catchpoll and all in this country. He hath taken 
 the persecution of the Catholics into his own hands, both 
 because he feareth that Mr. Sands would deal more favour- 
 ably with us, as also meaning hereby to overthrow him for 
 as you have heard, the two have been at daggers drawing 
 and notcatercousins of old, and yet still there remaineth 
 a continual grudge and hatred betwixt them. Sands being 
 a profane Protestant and the other a dissembling Puritan. 
 
lOO A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation, 
 
 The tyrant thinketh that none can persecute us extremely 
 enough but himself, and therefore he will do all. The 
 other apostata will not deal where his adversary hath any 
 intermeddling. Through this discord, though we fare no 
 better, yet Hutton, the pretended dean, which cannot 
 brook nor patiently bear any superiority in Sands over 
 him, is for this emulation chosen as a partner with the 
 tyrant, though he also be a mere Protestant, to turn with 
 every wind against the old apostata, and accounted a fit 
 match both to countenance him and also an ungracious 
 instrument to persecute us in such bloody manner as the 
 tyrant shall require. This Hutton, being a licentious com- 
 panion and an irreligious, dissembling atheist, and bearing 
 among the ignorant a name of learning, but in truth very 
 dotish and unlearned, the tyrant useth as a fit fellow to 
 serve his turn, though they close not in Puritanism ; but 
 this fellow is of that metal that he can apply himself to 
 the tyrant's hands in everything, and frame his talk in 
 religion as he perceiveth the tyrant's humour to flow, by 
 reason of which hypocrisy, the tyrant having in special 
 favour all such as by flattery can feed and please his 
 arrogant mind, this licentious fellow beareth the greatest 
 sway with him of all the rout of ministers in these parts. 
 And for the tyrant himself, of what constitution and 
 complexion he is in other matters I need not to write, 
 you know it better than I : — aye, how that after his 
 first coming into these countries he won to him by 
 great flattery divers worshipful gentlemen, and by their 
 means sounded the hearts of the rest, what they would 
 do for him if his desired day should come. Them he 
 made his instruments to prepare and win to him the 
 chiefest in these parts against that day. How also 
 he was a most rebellious malcontent at the arriving 
 of Mounser,^ every day ready to stir rebellion and rise to 
 
 * Monsietir was the Duke of Anjou, who was in England in 1 581 and 
 1582, seeking to marry Elizabeth. 
 
A Yo7^kshire Recusant'' s Relation. loi 
 
 arms with the disgraced sort against the Prince herself, for 
 which purpose at the same time he made a new horse-race 
 in the forest near to York,^ that he might know where to 
 have approved coursers if need required. How also he 
 sent to his brethren in Leicestershire, when he heard her 
 Majesty to be dangerous sick, to keep his house [at] Ashby, 
 and to make in readiness the armour intending, certes, 
 to be the first that should by force make claim and begin 
 civil war. How also he abhorred the supreme ecclesiastical 
 authority in the Queen as much as Catholics, and yet, 
 dissembling this point, doth persecute us to death for the 
 same. How also he was a chief broker of the shameful 
 marriage betwixt Mr. Beckwith, his man, and one of 
 his lady's waiting women, though he knew Beckwith 
 to have one wife at the least at the same time livingf 
 in England, which yet liveth, if he had not besides her 
 one or two more in Ireland, but I am not sure whether 
 this kind of filthy connection be holden lawful in this 
 Puritanism, or no. How, promising Mrs. Atterton, then 
 Mrs. Conyers,^ by his own letters, the liberty of her con- 
 science and no molestation for recusancy, if she would 
 at his request marry his man Atterton, himself shortly 
 after, by threats and other evil usages enforced her to go 
 to church, saying he would permit no recusants to live 
 under his authority, which was quite contrary to his former 
 grant. And, finally, how unjustly he demeaneth himself 
 among his own tenants and neighbours, the injurious 
 violence done to the gentleman, his tenant, in the park 
 
 ^ Camden, in his "Britannia," mentions a yearly horse-race in the forest 
 of Galtres, where the prize for the horse that won was a Httle golden bell, from 
 whence no doubt comes the proverb, "to bear away the bell." Drake's 
 Eboracuni, p. 24 1. Early in the last century the races were held for a few 
 years at Clifton-ings, and ever since at Knavesmire, the common pasturage, on 
 the side of which, opposite to Hobmoor-lane, stood the gallows where forty-nine 
 Catholics died for their religion. 
 
 ^ Probably Catherine, third daughter of John Lord Conyers of Homby, 
 who man-ied John Atherton, son of Sir John Atherton of Atherton. She 
 maiTied secondly Francis Savile. 
 
I02 A Yorkshire Recusant's Relation, 
 
 at Loughborowe doth declare. This only thought is his 
 chief policy, to persecute and destroy as many Catholics 
 as he can, that when his expected day cometh there may 
 be few or none of them to hinder his ambitious climbing- 
 It is time now to make an end, wherefore I beseech you 
 that as you were desirous to know our calamities, so now 
 for the love of God and for all friendship you will pray 
 earnestly that God, through His infinite mercy, turn from 
 us the malice of these heretics and His wrath, that we may 
 serve Him in holiness and peace, to the honour of His 
 blessed Name. Amen. 
 
III. 
 
 FATHER RICHARD HOLTBY ON 
 PERSECUTION IN THE NORTH. 
 
FATHER RICHARD HOLTBY ON PER- 
 SECUTION IN THE NORTH. 
 
 Richard Holtby was bom at Fraiton [Fryton] in Yorkshire, in 
 
 1553, according to Father Henry More.^ The dates given in the 
 
 Summaria Defunciorum for 1640, would place his birth two 
 
 years earlier; but as Father More must have had before his 
 
 eyes that account which was written after Father Holtby's death, 
 
 we may regard his variation from it as an intentional correction. 
 
 Holtby was first at Cambridge and then at Oxford. At the 
 
 latter University, More says that he took his bachelor's degree 
 
 and taught philosophy, but that his sympathies, as well as those of 
 
 his scholars, being Catholic, and the necessity of attending public 
 
 prayers pressing on him for a decision, he resolved to sacrifice 
 
 his position and go over to the College of Douay. Anthony k 
 
 Wood,- however, who on such a point is necessarily better 
 
 informed, says that, "departing without any degree in this 
 
 University, he went beyond the seas to Douay." From the same 
 
 authority we learn that he was at Hart Hall [now Hertford 
 
 College], " during the principality of Philip Rondell, who, ha^ 
 
 weathered out several changes of religion, though in his beart 
 
 he was a Papist, but durst not show it." Wood adds that, 
 
 "many persons who were aftenvards noted in the Roman 
 
 Church were educated under Rondell : " and, with regard to 
 
 Richard Holtby, that Alexander Briant and he were at Hart 
 
 Hall together, being admitted there together in 1574, when 
 
 the one was seventeen and the other twenty-one, and that Holtby 
 
 became Briant's tutor — a tutor, he says, "sufficiently addicted 
 
 to Popery." 
 
 On the 3rd of August, 1577, Holtby reached the College of 
 
 Douay by way of Antwerp, in company with a Mr. Fowler, who 
 
 ^ Historia Frov. Angl. S.J. p. 349. 
 2 Wood's Athena Oxon. vol. i. p. 210. 
 
io6 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 afterwards accompanied Dr. Allen to Rorae.^ His time of theo- 
 logical studies was exceedingly short. Father More says that 
 he spent three years at Douay and Rheims in the study of the 
 Sacred Scripture and of cases of conscience; but the Douay 
 Diary shows that when he was ordained priest he had been 
 barely eight months in the College. However he remained 
 eleven months longer before going on the mission. On the 
 23rd of February, 1578,2 Richard Holtby was ordained sub- 
 deacon, leaving Douay on the 20th, and returning to the College 
 from Cambray on the 24th. The whole number ordained on 
 that day was nineteen, of whom twelve were ordained sub-deacons 
 and seven priests. Amongst the latter was Robert Sutton, who 
 was afterwards martyred, and Abraham Sutton, his brother; and 
 from the form of the entry ^ in the Douay Diary, it is plain 
 that the writer of the Diary was one of the party. 
 
 The list of those who were ordained priests^ with Richard 
 
 ^ 3° die [Aug. 1577] hue venerunt ab Antverpia Mr. Foulerus et Richardus 
 Holtbeius qui ex Anglia illuc transfretaverat. Hie quod studium Theologice 
 meditabatur hue se contulit, et ad nostra communia receptus fuit." Second 
 Douay Diary. 
 
 ^ As the Gregorian Calendar was not introduced till 1582, no distinction of 
 style has to be added to the date ; but as in England the year began on the 
 2Sth of March, this date would there have been called 1577. 
 
 ^ "Die 24 [Feb. 1578] reverlebamur Cameraco qui eo sacros ordincs sus- 
 cipiendi causa die 20 profecti fuimus, ad numerum 19. Honim autem 
 sacrum subdiaconatus ordinem susceperunt 12, quonini nomina sunt haec : 
 Mr. Persus, Gulielmus Sladus, Thomas Stranshamus, Richardus Iloltbeus, 
 Mr. Brianus, Gulielmus Watsus, Mr. Barnsus, Mr. I'ullanus, Mr. Floydus, 
 Mr. Philbeus, Robertus Wottonus. Isti autem eodem tempore creati sunt Pres- 
 byter! : Mr. Leonardus Fitzsimon, Robertus Sultonus et Abrahamus Suttonus 
 fratres, Mr. Alanus, Griffinus, Edovardus Hewes, Thomas Blewettus ; cum 
 his etiam eumdem ordinem adeptus est Cameraci D. Wendonus." Second 
 Douay Diary. 
 
 * '*29 Martii [Holy Saturday, 1578]. Joannes Filbeus Oxoniensis. 
 
 Joannes Hartus Oxoniensis. Josue Pullanus Eboracen. 
 
 Guilielmus Pearseus Cestrien. Odoenus Floydus Bangorien. 
 
 Guilielmus Sladus Lichfildien. Joannes Bennettus Asaphen. 
 
 Thomas Stranshamus Oxonicn. Richardus Iloltbeus Cestrien. 
 
 Joannes Barnes Vintonien. Guilclmus Watseus Mcnevcn. 
 
 Alexander Briantus Exonien. M 16. Robertus Woottonus Londincn. M 17. 
 
 Omncs supradicli promoti sunt ad sacerdotium antcquam migravimus ex 
 Academia Duacensi in Rhcmcnsem." First Douay Diary. Yox some notice 
 of Josue Pullan or Joseph Pollen, see Father John Gerard's Life, in The 
 Condition of Catholics under James J. pp. cxl. cclv. ; and of William Watts or 
 Waytes, see Troubles ^ Second Scries, p. 16. 
 
071 Perseaition in the North, 107 
 
 Holtby is the same as that of his companions when he 
 received the sub-deaconship, with the addition of John Hart 
 and John Bennet. Of these not a few were notable men 
 — among the rest John Hart^ and John Bennet themselves, 
 — but the most notable was Alexander Briant, the glorious 
 martyr, who suffered death with Father Campion and Ralph 
 Sherwin. Another is marked in the Douay ordination list as 
 martyr, Robert Wootton, but of him nothing is known. Perhaps 
 he died in prison, as several others did who are so noted in the 
 same catalogue. It has been already remarked,^ in a note to the 
 name of Father John Bennet, the apostle of North Wales, that 
 of the thirteen Douay students who were raised to the priesthood 
 at this single ordination, six sooner or later entered the Society. 
 
 Father More ^ says that Holtby found three English Jesuits at 
 Douay, but his arrival was after the death of one of the three, 
 and before tlie return of the other from the noviceship. The 
 one who died before his coming was John Bustard, of the diocese 
 of Oxford, who entered the Society at Louvain in the year 
 1570, being then but nineteen. After his noviceship he taught 
 metaphysics for a short time, and when he had finished his 
 studies in theology he was sent to teach philosophy at Douay, 
 but he died* on Midsummer day, 1576, before his professorship 
 had lasted a year. On the other hand Thomas Marshall can 
 hardly have come to Douay as professor before Holtby left it for 
 the English Mission. This Marshall was at Lincoln College, 
 Oxford, and took his B.A., April 8th, 1562. He was already a 
 priest when he came to Douay in 1575, and he passed at once^ 
 
 ^ Troubles, Second Series, pp. 28 — 34. 
 
 ^ Supra, p. 52, note. 
 
 ^ Historia Pi'ov. Angl. p. 21. 
 
 * "Festo Nativitatis Beati Joannes Baptistee [1576] diem siium obiit claris- 
 simus et sanctissimus adolescens D. Jo. Busthardus Anglus, unus de Societate 
 Jesu, et apud illos maxima cum laude per longum tempus Philosophise Pro- 
 fessor, in Sacra Theologia Baccalaureus." Second Douay Diary. 
 
 ^ "Anno [i5]75 ingressi sunt Societatem Jesu duo sacerdotes viri graves 
 D. Thomas Robinsonus Lincolnien, et D. Thomas Martialis Eboracen." 
 First Douay Diary, second part. In the first part of the same Diary there 
 is the entry: "Accesserunt hoc anno [1575] . . . D. Thomas Martialis 
 Eboracen." Dodd's account of Thomas Marshall (vol. ii. p. 136) is very 
 incorrect. 
 
io8 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 to the novitiate at Louvain. He taught philosophy for nine 
 years at Douay, coming there probably in 1579, At the end of 
 that time he was sent to Rome to be confessor in the English 
 College, but being taken ill almost immediately, he was removed 
 to the Roman College, where, after being admitted to the solemn 
 vows of a Professed Father, he died July 22, 1589. 
 
 These two Jesuit Fathers, llustard and Marshall, were pro- 
 bably not at the English College at Douay, but at one of the lesser 
 Colleges which were under the charge of the Society in Douay 
 — either the College de Marchiennes, or the College d' Anchin, 
 the noble foundations of the great Benedictine Abbeys from 
 which they have taken their names. But there was one English 
 Jesuit who was attached to the English College by its President, 
 Dr. Allen, and he was there while Holtby was at the College. 
 This was John Columb, a Devonshire man, who was confessor 
 and preacher there, dying in the year 1582, when he had been in 
 the Society ten years, and was in the thirty-sixth year of his age. 
 He was mentioned by John Ingram, the martyr, on his trial, as 
 having been his instructor at Douay. 
 
 All the time that Holtby was at Douay, the position of the 
 English in that city was rendered exceedingly unpleasant by 
 popular feeling. The cause of the suspicion which the populace 
 entertained of the English Catholics is not easy to explain. Some 
 attribute it to the Huguenots, others to the machinations of 
 Elizabeth's emissaries. The result was singular, for thus, as Dodd 
 remarks,^ the Catholics, who in England were regarded as traitors 
 corresponding with Spain, when on Spanish territory, as Flanders 
 then was, were suspected to be spies of the French. The dis- 
 comfort arising from these absurd suspicions had prevailed for 
 some time. In 1575, Wilson, the English Ambassador, had 
 induced Requesens, the Governor of the Low Countries, to insist 
 on the removal of the Earl of Westmoreland and other English 
 exiles from the Spanish Netherlands. Things after this had 
 quieted down again, but towards the end of 1576 Douay became 
 a disagreeable, if not a dangerous, place for the English, 
 and in consequence the Douay Diary for November in that 
 year contains a long list of departures from the town, partly 
 * Tiemey's Dodd^ vol. ii. p. 165. 
 
on PerseciUion i7i the North, 109 
 
 for Paris, partly for England. The number of students in the 
 College must have seriously diminished in consequence of these 
 troubles, for while in October, 1576, there were 170 in the 
 College, and though in April, 1577, it is noted that the number 
 began to increase, in May, 1577, there were but 65, and at the 
 end of July only 60. Perhaps the disturbed state of things was 
 the reason why Richard Holtby was ordained after so short a 
 course of study. 
 
 While he was absent with the other ordinandi at Cambray,^ 
 the troubles of the College reached their climax. Dr. Ely, who 
 with other students of law had formed a community in the town 
 of Douay, was hooted as a traitor in the streets. Frequent 
 domiciliary visits of the Governor and magistrates satisfied the 
 authorities but not the populace ; and Dr. Allen, seeing the 
 necessity of a change of site for the College, obtained letters 
 from the Cardinal of Guise to the magistrates of Rheims, and 
 made all preparations for the transfer of the College to that city 
 and university. At last the Echevins of Douay made a pro- 
 clamation "au son de tambour," on the 22nd of March, 1578, 
 being the Saturday before Palm Sunday, that all the English 
 capable of bearing arms should take their departure within two 
 days. The College presented a petition for delay, in which, after 
 asking for a certificate of good conduct, the following clause 
 appears. 
 
 "As it is all but impossible for all those who are included 
 in the precept to leave within the two days, as a great part of 
 them are at this moment absent at Cambray for the ordinations 
 [we ask] that the time may be prolonged at least till Low 
 Monday : if not for the care of our souls in these most holy 
 days which we desire to keep holily, yet at least for our bodily 
 necessity, in order that being a great number of very poor persons, 
 we may be able to sell what we have, to provide for the journey, 
 lest we be obliged to beg by the way ; and that going in small 
 parties and not all together we may find carriage; and lastly, 
 
 ^ While the College was at Douay, its students were generally ordained at 
 Cambray, which see in 1559 had been made an archbishopric, with Arras, 
 Toumay, St. Omers, and Namur for suffragans. During the stay of the College 
 at Rheims, its ordinations were usually held either in that city or at Laon. 
 
no Father Richard Holtby 
 
 lest if we refuse flesh meat during Lent in English inns, we 
 betray ourselves to the persecutors, who have already put three 
 of us to a very cruel death." 
 
 This was dated the 25th of March, but the next entry in the 
 Diary is that on the 27th Dr. Webb reached Rheims with the 
 students. On the 8th and 9th the newly ordained priests 
 arrived, Richard Holtby forming one of the latter party ; ^ their 
 ordination in the Cathedral at Cambray having been on 
 Easter Eve. 
 
 On the 19th of May Dr. Allen reached Rheims, having been 
 on a journey to Namur and Lou vain. Just before his arrival a 
 return was made to the magistrates of Rheims of the number 
 of the English who had come to take up their abode in the 
 city. The University students in all were 55, of whom 44 were 
 in the College ; and they had been accompanied by two 
 families, which raised their numbers to 68. These families 
 were that of John Harris, Sir Thomas More's secretary, whose 
 wife Dorothy had been Margaret Roper's maid,^ and that of 
 Jane Bristow, then a widow, the mother of the celebrated Dr. 
 Richard Bristow, at this time a professor in the College. 
 
 The shortness of Holtby's theological training before ordi- 
 nation was to some small extent supplied by his remaining in the 
 College as a priest for nearly a year. He left Rheims in company 
 with three other priests^ on the 26th of February, 1579. His lot was 
 
 ^ "Die 9 [Aprilis, 1578] venerunt Rhemos Guilielmus Reignolse, et Joannes 
 Lyons laici, quibuscum etiam adventarunt sacerdotes 4, nempe Mr. Jo. Hartus, 
 Robertus Wottonus, Mr. Watte et Mr. Holbeus, ct cum his etiam unus 
 Diaconus scilicet Thomas Hodsonus." 
 
 * Troubles^ First Series, p. 5 note. 
 
 * '* Die 26 [Feb., 1579] profecti sunt in Angliam ex seminario 
 sacerdotes quatuor, D. Stampe, D. Holtby, D. Transham, D. Philby." — 
 Second Dotiay Diary. In the list of priests sent on the mission, which forms 
 the second part of the First Douay Diary, the name of "Richanhis Iloltbeius 
 Cestrien." appears as the second priest sent to England from Rheims. This 
 is under the date 1578, and it stands on the list between two martyrs, Luke 
 Kirby and John Shert. In this the two Diaries are not in accord. The 
 Second Diary enters Kirby's departure for England on May 31, 1578 ; but he 
 returned from England to Rheims July 15, and started for Rome, August 17. 
 Shert arrived from Rome July 23, and left for England August 27 ; and 
 after this, seven other priests were sent to England from Rheims before 
 Holtby and his companions. 
 
on Persecution in the No7^th. 1 1 1 
 
 cast on the mission in the northern counties. Of this portion 
 of his life we have but a single record,^ but that is important and 
 doubtless one that largely affected his after career. He received 
 Father Campion into his house, and then took him to a 
 thoroughly retired place, where he could have a quiet time for 
 the preparation of his famous Ten Reasons. It is characteristic 
 of the remarkable power that Father Holtby showed all his life 
 of keeping out of the hands of the Government, that carefully 
 as, after Father Campion's capture. Lord Burghley traced his 
 journey in the north and the places where he had lodged, he 
 did not succeed in getting any information respecting the time 
 spent under Holtby's guidance. In consequence Campion's 
 biographer 2 passes over this portion of Campion's stay in the 
 north. It should probably be placed after the time spent with 
 Mr. William Harrington of Mount St. John, where Campion is 
 said to have been occupied about twelve days in writing the 
 Tai Reasons. With Holtby for his host, his work was in giving 
 them their polish and final preparation for the press. This will 
 have been before Easter in 1581. 
 
 On the 17th of July in that year Campion was taken prisoner, 
 and on the ist of December Campion, Sherwin, and Briant passed 
 through their cruel butchery at Tyburn. Briant had become a 
 Jesuit just before his death, and Holtby resolved to follow in the 
 footsteps of his former pupil. His vocation seemed to be the 
 reward of the hospitality with which he had received Father 
 Campion. A few months after that memorable martyrdom 
 Richard Holtby was walking in a garden, deliberating on his 
 future life, when on the one hand the shortness and imperfection 
 of his preparation for the mission came strongly before him, and 
 on the other a call to the Society presented itself so vividly to 
 his mind, that he then and there knelt down under a tree 
 and made the three religious vows; and as Lent had begun, 
 and he could not possibly leave his work for the present, he 
 added a fourth vow that on Low Monday he would start for 
 London. 
 
 When Holtby reached London in 1582 Father Persons was 
 in France, and Father Jaspar Haywood, on whose shoulders the 
 ^ More, Historia Prov. Angl. p. 349. " Simpson's Life of Cavipion^ p. 188. 
 
1 1 2 Father Richard Holt by 
 
 mantle of superiority had fallen, was at work in some other 
 part of England. Holtby at once sold his horse, and with the 
 proceeds took ship for France. He made his way to Paris, 
 where Father Thomas Darbyshire was living, and there having 
 made the Exercises of St. Ignatius under that Father's direction, 
 he was admitted into the Society by Father Otho Pagbs, the 
 French Provincial, and by the beginning of the year 1583 he 
 was safe in the Novitiate at Verdun. So when in the following 
 year Father Darbyshire wrote,^ "We are now nine English in 
 this province, praise be to Christ," Richard Holtby was one of 
 the nine. 
 
 The exercises and trials of the noviceship over, four years 
 of the study of theology at the University of Pont-h-Mousson 
 made up the deficiencies of his earlier course. Father Holtby 
 was then made Superior of the Scotch College, which had been 
 founded in 1576 at Pont-a-Mousson by Dr. James Cheyne, a 
 Scotch priest. This appointment will have been probably in 
 1587, and one of his years of novitiate will have been spent 
 in study, for thus only will it have been possible for him to have 
 returned to England in 1589, as More says he did. 
 
 We now get a little fact connected with the early history of 
 the Scotch College, and the scrap is the more interesting as 
 so little is yet known of the history of that College.^ The plague 
 was prevalent in Pont-h.-Mousson, and Father Holtby was obliged 
 to send away the students of his College. Thirteen only remained 
 in the house, and of these he buried ten with his own hands. 
 One he carried on his shoulders, " and broad shoulders they 
 were," says Father More, through the midst of the city to be 
 buried in the fields. He and two lay-brothers survived, and it 
 was noted that the only remedy they employed was to wash 
 their face and hands with vinegar. 
 
 After this a little while was spent at Treves and Mayence to 
 recruit, and on his return to Pont-h-Mousson, Father Claude 
 Matthieu, the Provincial, communicated to Father Holtby the 
 
 * Troubles ^ Second Series, p. 27. 
 
 ' The registers of the College, which happily have been preserved, are 
 the property of Robert Maxwell Witham, of Kirkconnell, Esquire, and they 
 are described in the Fifth Report of tlu Historical Commission^ p. 652. 
 
on Persecution i7i the North. 113 
 
 orders sent by Father Aquaviva that he should pass over into 
 England. This was in 1589, and from this time to 1640 which 
 was the year of his death, his missionary labours were never 
 interrupted either by a day's illness or by arrest at the hands 
 of any constable or pursuivant. 
 
 It was not that the Government of Elizabeth was without 
 information respecting him. Spies and weak brethren now and 
 again mentioned his name and residence. Thus, at the beginning 
 of 1593, Thomas Clerk, a priest, confessed^ that "on landing 
 at the Shields by Newcastle-upon-Tyne in 1590, he and Francis 
 Clayton went to the house of one Mr. Trollope in Thorneley 
 or Thornton, in the Bishopric of Durham, where they met with 
 Richard Houtbee, a Jesuit, to whom they were specially directed, 
 with whom this examinate continued about a week, and had a 
 frieze jerkin made him by Houtbee's procurement ... He saith 
 he brought over no letters, superaltare, or such like, for that 
 there needed none, because the Jesuits have authority to make 
 and consecrate such stuff as should be needful." 
 
 A few days after this the Earl of Huntingdon sent Lord 
 Burghley a list,- written by some priest, dated January 20, 1593, 
 which names four Jesuits : " Mr. Henry Garnet, Mr. Robert 
 Southwell, Mr. Curry, I hear, Mr. Richard Holtbie, Jesuits;" 
 but besides these the writer mentions several others whom he 
 did not know to be Jesuits : " Mr. John Gerard, Mr. Stanny alias 
 Pinke, Mr. Cornelius, Mr. Warnford, Mr. Blount," all in south 
 parts ; and in Yorkshire, " Mr. John PuUen alias Old Master, and 
 Mr. Oldcorne." 
 
 Another "note^ of certain priests that are in the north 
 country," is more descriptive. " Richard Holtby alias Duckett, 
 a Jesuit, was for the most part abiding at Mr. Trollope's house 
 at Thorneley in the Bishopric of Durham, and came over five 
 years past. He is a little man with a reddish beard, about 
 the age of forty-three years, and was born in Yorkshire." As 
 this report is dated May, 1593, the spy has given Father Holtby 
 three years beyond his true age. 
 
 ^ P.R.O. Domestic, Elizabeth^ vol. cxliv. n. 5. 
 2 P.R.O. Domestic, Elizabeth, Addenda, vol. xxxii. n. 64. 
 
 * P.R.O. Domestic, Elizabeth, vol. ccxlv. n. 24. 
 I 
 
114 Father Richard Holt by 
 
 At the date of these informations Father Holtby wrote the 
 narrative,^ which is printed the second of the two from his pen 
 which we here give. It mentions himself in the following words '- 
 ""This year, 1593, on the ist of February, began a search for 
 Catholics all over Yorkshire, Richmondshire, Cleveland, and the 
 Bishopric of Durham, and Northumberland ... yet it had no 
 great effect, save that a few laymen were taken, and one only 
 priest, called Anthony Page . . . and myself with my brother 
 John escaped very narrowly." 
 
 Another narrow escape after this is related by Richard Verstegan 
 in a letter to Roger Baines, dated April 16, 1594, which has been 
 embodied by Father Bartoli in his History. 2 Father Holtby, and 
 the eldest son of Mr. John TroUope, Father Holtby's host, had 
 gone to a considerable distance from home for the baptism of a 
 child, and on their returning, being hardly a bowshot from the 
 house, they saw sentries posted about, by which they understood 
 that a search was going on. They were at once perceived, and as 
 they ran away for dear life, the watch pursued them. The 
 country was fortunately well wooded, and as the young gentleman 
 had threaded every path in search of game, his knowledge of the 
 ground enabled them to distance their pursuers. There they both 
 remained hidden in the thickest part of the wood for two days and 
 nights, one night in a tree, the other in a cave. Meanwhile, 
 Mr. Trollope, his wife, a son and a niece, the latter thirteen years 
 old, together with two servants, were shut up in an underground 
 hole for three days and nights, without a mouthful of bread or a 
 drop of water to break their fast. Their patience tired out their 
 persecutors, and when the coast was clear, the poor hunted 
 Catholics met again under their roof half dead with their 
 privations. 
 
 Father Garnet also tells this story,^ and shows that the confine- 
 ment of the Trollopes in their hiding place was for two, not three 
 days and nights. He thus describes the way in which the search 
 was conducted : "The Lord President brought :if>osse from York- 
 shire into Bishopric to make a sudden attack on the house of Mr. 
 
 * Stonyhurst MSS. Angl. A. vol. i. n. 74 ; Grenc's Colkctan. M. fol. 150. 
 
 ' In^hilterray lib. v. cap. 5, p. 349. 
 ^ Stonyhurst MSS. Angl, A. vol. i. n. *Ji. Wc translate from the Latin. 
 
on Persecution in the North, 115 
 
 John Trollope. That gentleman at once concealed himself, his 
 wife and son, a niece of thirteen, and two maid-servants in a hiding 
 place, leaving one Catholic maid to keep the house and answer 
 questions. Of the other servants some were absent, some engaged 
 in out-door work, and in ignorance whether their master and his 
 family were at home — for when at home, like all Catholics, they 
 were obliged to keep themselves very quiet. The searchers, not 
 finding the owner of the house, began a hunt for money. They 
 broke open doors, forced locks, tore down partitions, and in order 
 to show that they were acting officially they refused the keys of 
 rooms or boxes when offered to them, and preferred to use violence. 
 They took away with them three silver cups with a cover, weighing 
 fifteen pounds, and worth sixty crowns, sixteen silver spoons, 
 clothes, all the linen, boots, saddles, fowling-pieces, knives, daggers, 
 scissors, and whatever else was of any value ; and they did not 
 spare the provisions, or the corn and hay, using and wasting freely 
 for the two days. And all this while, that is from the evening of 
 Monday in Holy Week to the evening of Wednesday, those who 
 were in concealment had to remain without food or drink. These 
 cunning searchers brought with them a little bell, that by the 
 variation in its sound they might judge where there were any 
 hollow places ; and they measured the house inside and out, to 
 ascertain where the inside measure differed from the outside. 
 They would distribute themselves through the house and keep 
 profound silence to catch the sound of a cough, a sigh, the 
 breathing or any movement of those who were hidden ; and one 
 or another would suddenly call out, ' Here they are, mates, we've 
 got them,' that the Catholics might betray their whereabouts by a 
 start of surprise. It certainly is surprising that for so long a time 
 they could keep quiet, especially as it is hard sometimes not to 
 clear the throat. The maid who was left in the house, seeing 
 they were going to take her to prison, saved herself by flight." 
 Father Richard had in the course of his missionary labours 
 come to be well known to the Catholics of the North, and was 
 trusted far and wide. His delight was to use the power this 
 position conferred, to facilitate the entry of young priests on the 
 Mission. He knew where to recommend them to take up their 
 abode, and he was very large handed in providing them with 
 
1 1 6 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 horses and money at the outset of their work. He was also very 
 charitable in collecting alms for the Catholics who were in prison, 
 whose miserable state he describes in his narrative. 
 
 For himself, he was very ready with his hands ; he was a good 
 gardener, mason, carpenter, and turner ; and he was so exceedingly 
 skilful in making hiding places for priests, that it was said that no 
 pursuivant ever succeeded in finding one of them. He was also 
 fond of embroidering vestments, and he sent a specimen of his 
 handiwork as a present to Father Mutius Vitelleschi, the General 
 of the Society, which was long preserved in the Sacristy of the 
 Professed House at Rome. 
 
 During this time he was Socius to Father Henry Garnet, Vice- 
 Prefect of the English Mission ; Father Persons at Rome being 
 Prefect till his death in 1610. Father Garnet in his account of 
 the persecution which is preserved at Stonyhurst, a long passage 
 from which we have just translated, evidently refers to the 
 narrative of the persecution which we now print, and says that 
 it was sent to him by his " Socius D. Ricardus." 
 
 On Father Garnet's martyrdom, May 3, 1606, Father Richard 
 Holtby was chosen to succeed him as Vice-Prefect. Tho times 
 were very difficult, as it was necessary for Father Holtby, without 
 assuming in any way a position of superiority over the Archpriest, 
 George Blackwell, yet to withstand him as he had yielded to King 
 James and defended the lawfulness of taking the proposed oath of 
 allegiance. Holtby showed great prudence and firmness. He for- 
 bade the Jesuit Fathers, whb were now forty-two in number on the 
 English mission, to write or preach against the oath, but left them 
 free to give advice to all who consulted them ; and he meanwhile 
 kept Pope Paul V. fully informed on the matter, and the Pope by 
 two briefs plainly and positively condemned the oath. 
 
 Holtby was Superior in England for three years, and in 1609 
 he was succeeded by Father Robert Jones. After him came 
 Michael Walpole, and then Richard Blount, who was the first 
 Provincial. Father Holtby lived to see the erection of the English 
 Province in 1623, and indeed though the first Provincial was 
 fifteen years in office, Father Holtby survived him, for he did 
 not die till ^lay J 5, 1640, when he was eighty-seven years old, 
 of which he had spent fifty-eight in the Society and thirty-seven 
 
on Pei^secution ift the North, 117 
 
 as a Professed Father in the same. He had been a priest for 
 the long term of sixty-two years. Ahnost all this time was 
 spent by him in the north of England. We cannot always trace 
 his residence, but we have seen that in 1593 he was living with 
 Mr. Trollope at Thorneley. In another list,^ dating a little before 
 the death of Elizabeth, he was reported to the Earl of Salisbury 
 as " Mr. Holtby, with Mr. Hodgson, at Heborne, three miles from 
 Newcastle." When Superior after Father Garnet's death he may 
 have resided in London ; and on ceasing to be Superior he paid a 
 visit to Belgium, for he was at Louvain- when the English nuns 
 were taking possession of St. Monica's Convent, and he said Mass 
 for them at St. Peter's Church as they passed from St. Ursula's to 
 their new house. But he returned again to the north of England, 
 and when Archbishop Abbot wrote in 161 2 to tell King James 
 that he had taken P'ather Blackfan prisoner, he said^ of him, 
 " Since his coming into England, he maketh the despatches between 
 Jones, the Superior of the Jesuits, who lieth always near London, 
 and Holtby, who was the Superior next before Jones, and lieth 
 commonly in Yorkshire." When Father Richard Holtby died, he 
 was in what was called in the Society " the Residence of St. John 
 the Evangelist," a term by which the counties of Durham and 
 Cumberland were signified. 
 
 The following paper is by the kind permission of the Rev. 
 Father Purbrick, Rector of Stonyhurst College, printed from the 
 original in Father Holtby's hand, which was sent by him to Father 
 Henry Garnet. Its reference among the Stonyhurst manuscripts 
 is Aiigl. A., vol. ii., n. 12. A considerable portion of it has been 
 printed by Canon Tierney in the third volume of his Dodd, p. 75. 
 On this account there was ground for hesitation as to its insertion 
 amongst papers that are hitherto unpublished, but the rarity of 
 Canon Tierney's volumes, the interest and appositeness of the 
 narrative itself, and the fact that it has not yet been printed in 
 its integrity, are sufficient reasons for its insertion. 
 
 ^ Troubles^ First Series, p. 191. 
 2 Ibid. p. 50. 
 
 ' P.R.O., Domestic, James /. vol. Ixx. n. 33; Records 0/ the English 
 Province^ vol. i., p. 630. 
 
FATHER RICHARD HOLTBY ON PERSE- 
 CUTION IN THE NORTH. 
 
 From the Original^ at Stonyhurst College. 
 
 Reverend Father, — Understanding by a friend that 
 my former letters being intercepted were not delivered 
 unto you, wherein divers things were contained concerning 
 the estate and persecution of Catholics in this north 
 country, together with certain copies of several letters 
 directed unto me from Mr. H[enry] W[alpole] after his 
 apprehension, though to my remembrance nothing was 
 written in them that might prejudice any person or place 
 of our friends, where you or any other doth frequent, other 
 than you shall perceive to be signified in these presents, 
 the which I am forced to write that you may as near 
 as I can call to mind thereby understand the contents 
 of the former, with some particular intelligence of such 
 accidents as of late have happened in these parts. And 
 first, to speak in general, such is our present estate, the 
 which, daily by experience, we have cause more and more 
 to lament, that, unless God of His great goodness and 
 mercy stay the rage of our persecutors, and dissipate the 
 pernicious counsels, plots, and enterprises of our malignant 
 adversaries, it is greatly to be feared that in short time the 
 weak and small number of God's servants shall come 
 
 * " Relations of many executions in Yorkshire and Durham during the 
 years '93, '94, '95." Endorsed in the handwriting of Father Grene: "It seems 
 the handwriting of Richard Fetherston, by comparing it with dirers his writing. 
 Sedqtiis hie R. Fetherston? Certainly 'twas Father R. Holtby, fl//Vw North, 
 Puckctt, &c," 
 
Father Richard Holtby. 119 
 
 to ruin, and the little sparkle of Catholic religion, as yet 
 reserved amongst us, shall be quite extinguished. And I 
 beseech Almighty God, whose divine providence is in 
 and over all, that our sins be not of more force in His 
 presence, to exact a further scourge, than our patient 
 affliction is of value, through His grace, to deserve a 
 merciful remission of these our troubles, to His honour^ 
 and the reducing of many a straying sheep into His 
 Church's fold. For mine own part I fear it greatly, when 
 I behold in little storms what numbers are lost, yea, how 
 many willingly cast themselves away before they be 
 greatly urged, and how few there be that abide so long 
 until they come unto a just trial of their constancy. 
 Whereas a great part of those also that, in the beginning, 
 and a good while, have submitted themselves, for the 
 safety of their souls, patiently to suffer such extremities 
 as it should please God to lay upon them, have, after 
 many injuries offered, perils passed, disgrace in the world, 
 loss of their goods, and imprisonment of body, with other 
 calamities long endured, in the end tired with miseries, 
 and overcome with temptations, have yielded themselves 
 unto the time, and thereby lost all the fruits of their 
 former travail ; declaring themselves therein not unlike 
 the feigned gold of an alchymist's forge, which, being 
 put into the furnace, is never able to endure the seventh 
 fire, of which sort I could name a great number of the 
 laity, both men and women of all degrees, with some 
 also of the clergy, if it were not that, seeing Almighty 
 God hath yet prolonged their time to bring them to 
 repentance, \ live in hope and expectation of their 
 amendment. Yet unto the terror of such as defer their 
 conversion, and abuse the time God hath granted them, 
 by continuing and multiplying their offences, wherein they 
 ought to seek and sue for mercy, let them consider how 
 few there be that have grace to come home in time, 
 perhaps two amongst a thousand, whereas, ordinarily 
 
I20 Fathei" Richard Ho It by 
 
 by the custom and acquaintance with sin and sinful 
 persons, wherein they lie, and with whom they daily 
 converse, their hearts are hardened, and their souls so 
 blinded that, although continually the grace of God 
 ceaseth not to call upon them, yet they are neither 
 moved to compunction living, while it is in their power 
 to have it, nor the means afforded them dying to obtain 
 it, because before they neglected it. That it may be 
 well said of them that is written : Iinpii proficient 
 in pejus errantes et in crrorcm mittentes : ^ and again, 
 Thesaurizastis vobis iram in die ircBy^ at which day they 
 shall begin to be wise though too late, and repenting 
 themselves shall say, though out of season, Expcctavimns 
 pacem^ et non est bonum, et tempus cnrationiSy et ecce tiirbatio.^ 
 On the other side our enemies go forward, and they 
 prosper in their ways. Their policies take place, and 
 their desires are accomplished. If they seek to know 
 us, we are bewrayed and described unto them ; if they 
 search, they find us ; if they find, they commit us ; but 
 whether they find or no, they ransack, rob, and spoil us. 
 No friendship can we expect when we are apprehended, 
 nor safety assure us to live untaken. To abide at 
 home, if it be espied, we dare not ; and to fly far we 
 are forbidden by statute. Five miles are our compass, 
 without the which we incur no little penalty, within the 
 which we live in extreme danger. Either publicly or 
 privately, the one must of necessity be chosen, though 
 neither can content our adversaries, and both are preju- 
 dicial to ourselves. For, if we converse openly, if we buy 
 or sell, if we traffic in our necessary affairs, or take care of 
 our own commodities ; if we laugh, recreate ourselves, or 
 
 * "Evil men and seducers shall grow worse and worse, erring, and driving 
 into error." 2 Tim. iii. 13. 
 
 - "Treasuring up to themselves wrath, against the day of wrath." 
 Rom. ii. 5. 
 
 3 "We have looked for peace, and there is no good, and for the time of 
 healing, and behold trouble." Jer. xiv. 19. 
 
on Persecution in the North. 121 
 
 carry any indifferent countenance, then are we either too 
 wealthy, or else too well, to live : such prosperous fortune 
 is not tolerable in men of our profession. The felicity 
 they covet themselves, they envy that we should have it, 
 and a small worldly favour obtained by us doth turn us to 
 no little prejudice : seeing we gain nothing thereby but 
 hatred. But if we live in secret, and delight ourselves 
 to be solitary, if we cut off all access of our neighbours, or 
 refuse to keep company with such as love us not, then 
 do we busy our heads in their conceit, to devise against 
 them secret conspiracies ; and our leisure is a sufficient 
 argument with them, that we occupy ourselves about no 
 other matter, save only to stir and contrive seditious 
 factions. Indeed, a lecher feareth none be honest, and 
 a guilty conscience suspecteth all it loveth not. Otherwise 
 what reason moveth them to doubt us, seeing by con- 
 tinual vexations they have disabled us, and by taking 
 our weapons from us they have disarmed us t Yea, 
 such a continual eye and watch they have over all our 
 actions, that if there were but any light sign or token to 
 be found of any such attempt or enterprise, it could not 
 escape unespied. For first of all, they have planted 
 themselves and their officers, Serjeants, pursuivants, factors, 
 favourites, and intelligencers, in every county and shire, 
 in such sort that there is no Catholic can remain in 
 any place so privately, but that he shall have one or 
 other of his adversaries so near unto him, that shall 
 oversee all his doings, in such sort that it shall be 
 very hard to conceal any matter from him. Besides, 
 they have suborned such a number of secret spies, who, 
 under colour of Catholic religion, do insinuate themselves 
 into our company and familiarity, and that with pretence 
 of such zeal, sincerity, and friendship, that it seemeth 
 a thing almost impossible either to decipher or avoid 
 them. These men do give intelligence, and inform our 
 adversaries continually of all our actions, sayings, and 
 
122 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 many times our secret intents, if they gather by any sign 
 or sinister suspicion of their own that we are conceited 
 otherwise than they would have us. Furthermore, of our 
 own company many times both priests and others there 
 be, of whom the Apostle spoke long since : Quoniam 
 iiitrabunt htpl rapaces in vos, non parcentes gregiy et ex 
 vohis ipsis siirgcnt viri loqiicntcs perversa. ^ And these 
 men, like children of Cham his kind, are not ashamed 
 to reveal the secrets of their parents, yea, more impious 
 than Cain that murdered his brother, or Judas that 
 betrayed his Master, do seek the lives of all their brethren, 
 friends, and benefactors, with the overthrow of their 
 whole charge and families. Such are Bell, Hardesty, 
 Clark, Major, and others, who, not content to reveal the 
 places where they have had charitable relief, because 
 they once bore the name of God's priests, but also have 
 bewrayed unto the persecutors all the names and con- 
 ditions of their brethren and other acquaintance, and 
 now of the sheep of Christ's flock being degenerate 
 into the nature of wolves, do pursue by false doctrine, 
 and what other means their malice urgeth them unto, 
 the rest of the same flock, it being the Spouse of Christ, 
 and the Mother that instructed them in faith, they being 
 now become traitors and renegades from the same. 
 
 Moreover, lest we should take any breath to look about 
 us, we are vexed and oppressed so urgently, with such 
 often and most cruel searches, that we have more occasion 
 ofifered to study how to save ourselves from present 
 dangers, rather than to devise by what means we may 
 eyade others. Add unto these the singular industry 
 and diligence proceeding from an implacable hatred 
 and malice, which our persecutors use in pursuing us, 
 and inventing all means possible to hinder our rising, 
 or to procure our ruin. What precise course and vigilant 
 
 ^ ** Ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock ; and 
 of your own selves shall arise men speaking peiTerse things." Acts x.\. 29, 30. 
 
on PersectUion in the North, 123 
 
 care is there taken that none shall pass from any port 
 in all this north country to go beyond the seas, or come 
 from thence and arrive at any haven, but that he shall 
 be searched and examined what he is, of what profession, 
 of what religion, from whence he cometh, whither he 
 goeth, what he bringeth or carrieth with him, yea, and 
 many times attendance made for him, and intelligence 
 given of him, long before his arrival ; so that none can 
 pass either to or fro, without manifest peril of present 
 apprehension ? What enquiry is made and search also, 
 with examination of parents and friends, who hath his 
 son or brother beyond the seas ? Who relieveth any, 
 or favoureth any in those parts ? Also what general 
 enquiries and searches are there made, not only in some 
 particular private houses, but also in common inns, and 
 whole towns, as Durham, Yarm, and many others, for 
 all strangers and passengers, and that upon any light 
 occasion ? What charge is given in all sessions, assizes, 
 courts, commissions, gaol deliveries, and other meetings, 
 to enquire, present, and indict all persons, as well servants 
 as masters, and all matters that any way tend unto the 
 furtherance of the Catholic cause ? How curious is every 
 one, both officers and others, now become, some of malice, 
 some for gain, others of ftattery, to win favour or credit, 
 to observe and espy into every man's actions, with such 
 suspicion and jealousy of every one, that no stranger 
 can pass any way, or light in any company, but that 
 he shall be questioned, sifted, and examined of every 
 peasant, both of his name, dwelling, acquaintance, busi- 
 ness, calling, and other particulars ; that if he chance 
 to dissemble, or fail in any of his words or answers, 
 presently he shall be in danger to be suspected of 
 further matters, and forced to appear before some 
 officer, for some further examination and trouble. 
 
 Finally, so odious a thing it is amongst all, to be 
 suspected or accounted a Catholic, that even those who 
 
1 24 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 in their hearts love our religion, do notwithstanding, 
 hate our profession of the same : for to aid us they 
 dare not, lest they be taken as favourites ; and to 
 speak for us they will not, lest it breed their dis- 
 credit. Our parents and kinsfolks refuse to show 
 us that friendship which both the law admitteth and 
 nature exacteth, lest they should seem so to affect our 
 faith, by favouring our persons. Thus are we spited 
 because we live, and, living in misery, we are not pitied ; 
 and though our life be tedious to live thus oppressed, 
 yet must we think we have great favour showed us, 
 that we are not quite despatched. What other favour 
 we get is more to our cost ; for the friendship granted 
 unto us, is always the prey of our adversaries. First 
 they spoil us of our goods, and after, persecute our 
 persons : they imprison our bodies, and afflict our 
 families in our absence. No little gain they make 
 of us, while we remain in their custody ; and small is 
 our winning if wc chance to get liberty. The chiefest 
 favour must be procured by their means that have 
 spoiled us before ; and yet their lip-labour is so costly 
 unto us, that it picks round sums out of our purses, 
 and, although no right we can get without money, yet 
 must we think ourselves beholden to them for their 
 courtesy. Which friendship commonly is granted on 
 such terms and conditions, that hardly can we accept 
 of it, or use it, without manifest peril of damnation. 
 To conclude, all the favours they offer, or show unto 
 us, are no otherwise to be esteemed of, than as most 
 dangerous snares laid in our ways to entrap us unawares, 
 or as so many poisoned baits, craftily invented to feed 
 themselves with our destruction ; that in every respect 
 may be verified in them that which is written, Gladium 
 evaginavernnt peccatores intenderunt arcuin suutn, ut 
 dejiciant pauperem et inopem et triicident rectos corde; and 
 again, Insidiantiir ut rapiant pauperem^ rapcrc pauperem 
 
on Pei^sectUioft in the North. 125 
 
 dttm attrahant emn.^ We in the meantime do expect 
 no other remedy, but only from God, who is our 
 refuge and assured haven, where no storm can oppress 
 us ; unto whom, with the prophet, we do complain con- 
 tinually, Usquequo Domine claviabo, et 11011 exandies ; voci- 
 ferabor ad te vim patieiis, et 11011 salvabis ? Quare ostendisti 
 iiiihi iiiiqintatem et laborem, videre prcedani et injustitiani 
 contra me? Qnare respicis contemptores et taces, coii- 
 citlcaiite inipio jtistiorem se ? ^ And with another : Quare 
 via impiorum prosperatur^ bene est omnibus^ qui prcevari- 
 caiitur et inique agunt? Plantasti eos et radicem miser unty 
 prqficiunt et faciunt fructuni : prope es tit ori eorum, et 
 loiige a renibus eorum. But what followeth ? Congrega eos 
 quasi gregem ad victimam et sanctifica eos in die occisionis ; 
 and a little after : Venite congregamini omnes besticB agri, 
 properate ad devorandum? Which revenge I beseech 
 God may light upon their sins, and not upon their 
 persons, that their souls may be saved. 
 
 But to descend unto particulars. Let us consider 
 and examine what their laws enacted be, what injurious 
 commissions are directed, what impious and cruel officers 
 are chosen and appointed, their manner of proceeding, 
 their practices and executions, that it may appear how 
 conformable this affliction of ours is unto the ancient 
 
 ■* "The wicked have drawn out the sword, they have bent their bow, 
 to cast down the poor and needy, to kill the upright of heart." "He lieth 
 in ambush that he may catch the poor man ; to catch the poor, whilst he 
 draweth him to him." Psalm xxxvi. 14 ; x. 9. 
 
 2 " How long, O Lord, shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear ; shall I cry 
 out to Thee suffering violence, and Thou wilt not save? Why hast Thou 
 shown me iniquity and grievance, to see rapine and injustice before me ? Why 
 lookest Thou upon them that do unjust things, and boldest Thy peace 
 when the wicked devoureth the man that is more just than himself?" 
 Habuc. i. 2, 3, 13. 
 
 •^ " Why doth the way of the wicked prosper : Why is it well with all them 
 that transgress, and do wickedly? Thou hast planted them, and they have 
 taken root : they prosper and bring forth fruit : Thou art near in their mouth, 
 and far from their reins. . . . Gather them together as sheep for a sacrifice, 
 and prepare them for the day of slaughter. . . . Come ye, assemble yourselves, 
 all ye beasts of the earth, make haste to devour." Jer. xii. i, 2, 3, 9. 
 
126 Father Richard Ho It by 
 
 persecutions raised by the Jews, heathen, and heretics 
 against our forefathers, and wherein they strive every 
 day more and more to become more ingenious in devis- 
 ing new means and occasions to oppress us, and by 
 progress in impiety to excel themselves ; as it is said : 
 Fiimt novissima eortun pejora prioribtiSy et superbia eoriim 
 qui te oderimt ascendit semper} And first of all their 
 laws and statutes, from time to time enacted for this 
 purpose, may plainly convince and declare unto us 
 what cruel minds they bear against us, and how all 
 their study and endeavour tendeth our overthrow ; for 
 the laws are the rules whereunto men direct all their 
 actions. 
 
 "In the first Parliament, following the steps of her brother 
 and father, qui peccare fecit Israel^ it was decreed that all 
 authority, pre-eminence, privilege, and jurisdiction spiritual 
 within this realm belonging unto the See of Rome should 
 be quite extinguished and abrogated, and that the same 
 should be annexed for ever unto the Crown of England ; 
 and, together with the material crown and temporal juris- 
 diction, be derived {taiiqiiam ex traduce)^ unto the prince's 
 person, and that by the title of King or Queen, or, as in 
 that respect she is Queen, she might visit, order, reform, 
 and correct the clergy, and that for all errors, heresies, 
 schisms, &c., and universally in all causes, as well eccle- 
 siastical as civil ; and that for the defence of the said 
 power she might exact a corporal oath on all her subjects 
 in any office or dignity in the commonwealth whatsoever, 
 as bishops, priests, and others within orders, all graduates 
 in universities and schoolmasters otherwheres, all temporal 
 magistrates, judges, pleaders, attorneys, burgesses, barons, 
 &c., from which authority no appeal shall be made nor 
 
 ^ " And the last state of that man is worse than the first. The pride of them 
 that hate Thee ascendeth continually." St. Matt. xii. 45 ; Psalni K\iii. 23. 
 ' Who made Israel to sin. 
 ^ As from its source. 
 
on Persecutio7i in the North, 127 
 
 process got or procured from Rome, upon danger of falling 
 into the case of premiinire, Elizabeth 2° ; but afterwards, 
 Elizabeth 5°, there was a penalty added unto every one 
 that should refuse to take that oath being tendered, /r^- 
 iminire for the first time, but for the second time to be 
 used as a traitor. Yea, Elizabeth 13°, they went a step 
 further, decreeing that whosoever should procure or obtain 
 any Bull, writing, or instrument concerning any matter or 
 cause whatsoever, and all his abettors, counsellors, also the 
 writers, printers, publishers, and furtherers by any means, 
 to be judged as high traitors against the Queen or realm ; 
 in which year also appeals were made treason, which were 
 but premnnire before. Item, indeed to absolve or be 
 absolved, reconcile or be reconciled by any such Bull or 
 authority, treason, Elizabeth 13°; and their aiders and 
 comforters, premiLnire. Yea, their concealers, though not 
 consenting, misprision of treason. Ibidem, and to stop all 
 our mouths withal, to extol, commend, or set forth the 
 See of Rome by writing, ciphering, preaching, or word of 
 mouth, or to attribute any jurisdiction thereunto, /r^;////;//r^ 
 for the first time, and after treason, Elizabeth 5^. As for 
 religion itself, and the exercise thereof, at the first the 
 Catholic Roman faith was abolished, but as time increased 
 so were punishments multiplied. Elizabeth 23°, he that 
 should say Mass, two hundred marks and one year's im- 
 prisonment ; and the hearer, one hundred marks and half 
 a year's imprisonment. But now this last Parliament, Eliza- 
 beth 350 [1592-3], every one that shall resort to any exercise 
 of other religion than that is now current in England, shall 
 be imprisoned until he make his open submission and 
 declaration of conformity ; which refusing to do within 
 three months, shall by a corporal oath abjure the land, and 
 depart, never to return upon pain of felony. Further, if 
 any shall persuade any to the Roman religion, absolve, 
 reconcile, be absolved or reconciled, or shall withdraw any 
 from the religion that now is in practice, he committeth 
 
128 Fatho' Richard Holt by 
 
 treason, Elizabeth 23^. Yea, every priest, Jesuit, religious 
 man, or others that take orders by any derivation from 
 Rome, coming into the land, or abiding, are traitors ipso 
 factOy Elizabeth 27° And all their receivers, comforters, 
 &c., are felons ; yea, every other person that is or shall be 
 beyond the seas, in any seminary that now is or shall be 
 erected, and coming home and [not] conforming himself, is 
 a traitor, and the relievers of such persons or places, in 
 case oi prcmiinirc, Elizabeth 27° Furthermore, all those 
 that come not to their heretical church and service are to 
 pay \2d. for every holiday they are absent, Elizabeth 1°. 
 But fearing that penalty would not serve, it is augmented to 
 20/. for every month's recusancy, Elizabeth 23°. Yet may 
 the Queen never show such favour unto the poorer sort 
 not able to pay the penalty, as to be satisfied by depriving 
 them of all their goods, with two parts of their lands and 
 livings during their life, reserving through pure pity and 
 compassion the third part only for the maintenance of 
 themselves, wives, and families, Elizabeth 29° ; and fearing 
 lest any should either escape their hands by absenting 
 themselves from their own houses to live in more secret 
 manner in places where they are not known, or lest any 
 should find any relief among their friends that are not so 
 well provided of their own, this last [Act], Elizabeth 3 5°, hath 
 restrained their limits and barred all their benefactors, con- 
 juring every one within the circle of five miles compass of 
 his dwelling-place, or where he was born, and forbidding 
 everyone to depart out of his limits, upon pain of forfeiting 
 all his goods, and lands also during his life, with imprison- 
 ment of his body also for ever, if he be of wealth sufficient; 
 but not being worth forty marks, after three month's im- 
 prisonment, wherein they shall probably spend that they 
 have, shall abjure the realm for ever, lest they live too well 
 at home in prison, or want wherewithal to enrich their 
 adversaries' purses, for lack of ability ; provided, moreover, 
 that if any shall relieve, maintain, or retain any recusant 
 
on Persectition in the North. 129 
 
 that is not either their ward, or within the first degree of 
 consanguinity or affinity unto them, being destitute of a 
 dwelling-place of their own, such a friend relieving shall 
 forfeit 10/. every month, after warning given or notice that 
 he hath such persons in his house, or relieved by him. 
 Finally, albeit these laws are most cruel against us, and 
 heresy established by them, and the Church and Catholic 
 religion and profession much injured, as is most evident, 
 yet may we not, under pain of high treason, complain [of] 
 our wrong, or to take her for an heretic, schismatic, or 
 tyrant, or by word or writing publish the same, Elizabeth 130 
 These, with many others of the same stamp, are the 
 laws, orders, and directions set forth by public edict, in 
 this irreligious Government of ours, to the defacing and 
 utter overthrow of the Catholic faith and all true Christianity 
 amongst us ; the which laws, as by tract of time they have 
 never remitted anything of their former rigour, but by new 
 additions thereunto from year to year marvellously in- 
 creased the same, so they manifestly declare the progress 
 of their authors in hatred and malice, and that continually 
 the latter Parliaments do excel the former in cruelty, 
 whereby we may easily conjecture what we daily suffer 
 in these later years, and what more we may expect at 
 their hands in time to come, if God shall permit them long 
 to continue. For if men might gather grapes of thorns, or 
 brambles could yield figs of pleasant taste, then might we 
 also perhaps look for better of so bad a generation, and 
 hope that in time their bloody minds would mollify again ; 
 but seeing we are taught by experience, both in these our 
 days and all ages past, that the hatred of heresy is always 
 in growing, and this of ours is so far from recovery that it 
 declineth rather into a plain apostasy, we must prepare 
 ourselves still to suffer, and abide with patience our present 
 trial, donee fiat mutatio dextercB Excelsi} 
 
 ^ Until there be "the change of the Right Hand of the Most High.*' 
 Psalm Ixvii. ii. 
 
130 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 Two things I do note out of the very laws, whereof 
 the one must of necessity follow, that either by them 
 the prince is made a god, or else religion is nothing 
 with them but a mere policy. What meaneth this 
 precise exaction of conformity in matters of religion, as 
 frequenting their churches, prayers, and sacraments, &c., 
 the which in their laws and statutes they term a natural 
 obedience due to the Queen, if they did not pretend 
 thereby the prince to be more than a creature ? For if 
 the obedience in us be natural, then surely the superiority, 
 jurisdiction, and pre-eminence in her is natural, after 
 the same manner as all other princely power belonging 
 to a King or Queen is ; then naturally may she institute 
 bishops, priests, pastors, and preachers in the Church, and 
 naturally give them power to bind, loose, feed, rule, and 
 chastise in all matters belonging to heaven, hell, salvation, 
 damnation, and universally in the spiritual government of 
 men's souls, unto all which things the jurisdiction and 
 authority of the Pope, Christ's Vicar and Vicegerent, did 
 extend : yea, in this she goeth beyond him, in that this 
 authority naturally belongeth unto her, which only by 
 grace and to the discharge of a supernatural or spiritual 
 office is granted unto him. And whereas no spiritual juris- 
 diction can in anywise be natural unto any man, angel, or 
 pure creature whatsoever, save only unto Him whose nature 
 is supernatural, whose essence is the fountain of all grace, 
 and whose power is omnipotency itself, it followeth that 
 she also must attribute unto her something more than is 
 to be found in any creature, in which respect this juris- 
 diction and spiritual power is natural unto her, and whereby 
 she may, as Queen, exact this natural obedience of us ; 
 and consequently, ncque rapinain arbitretur esse se cequalan 
 Deo} to whom only by nature such pre-eminence and sove- 
 reign authority is due. And so without blame may she 
 account and condemn us for traitors, and all our actions 
 
 ^ "Thought it not robbery to be equal with God." Philipp. ii. 6. 
 
on Persecution in the North, 131 
 
 for treasons, whensoever we deny, w^ithstand, or derogate 
 from this spiritual power, so natural unto our prince's 
 person ; and of the contrary, not to esteem it any flattery 
 if we call her our * saint,' or our 'goddess,' which titles she 
 doth not utterly mislike being offered and attributed unto 
 her Highness sometimes by her flattering clients. And 
 finally, supposing this to be true, it ought not to seem 
 strange unto us to consecrate in religious manner all our 
 substance, our labours and endeavours, both temporal and 
 spiritual, in her sacred service, but to sacrifice also our- 
 selves, our friends, our bodies, lives, and souls to the setting 
 forth, extolling, and maintaining of her celestial power, 
 pre-eminence, and jurisdiction. Now, if shame (whatsoever 
 her arrogancy inclineth her unto) will not permit her to 
 acknowledge these titles, as all Christian ears and hearts 
 abhor to consider, it, then surely she cannot avoid the 
 other inconvenience, that by their laws and government 
 religion is perverted into a mere human policy. Every 
 one hearing the name of a king or queen understands 
 nothing else thereby but a secular prince or a temporal 
 governor; neither did I ever hear (to my remembrance) 
 that she did at any time acknowledge or term herself a 
 spiritual magistrate, or take upon her to exercise or execute 
 any spiritual function. Yea, by special words in their in- 
 junctions, such offices are excepted and exempted from 
 her. But if she, being but a temporal prince or magistrate, 
 may of her own due and proper or natural authority, or 
 (as the law speaketh,) as Queen or Sovereign, direct, order, 
 reform, and correct all persons, both ecclesiastical and 
 temporal, in all causes also, ecclesiastical or spiritual, as 
 errors, heresies, schisms, &c., then must it of necessity 
 follow that all those persons, actions, and causes depend 
 and are subject unto the temporal magistrate and her 
 government, and consequently to be, of right, by human 
 prudence, wisdom, and policy, ordered and directed. And 
 what other thing is this but flatly to deny that there are 
 
132 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 any spiritual or ecclesiastical causes, authority, or juris- 
 diction at all, and to abolish all faith and religion, with the 
 truth and virtue thereof, and wholly to submit all to man's 
 reason alone ; reserving only for a show the bare names 
 and titles of religion, and all religious power, causes, and 
 operations ? For sure it is, the effect cannot exceed the 
 virtue of its cause ; nor any orderly action the perfection 
 of its rule and direction ; nor any inferior science, power, 
 or office, the force, dignity, and end of its superior. Where- 
 fore, if the kingly authority give power, virtue, and direction 
 unto all, then let the soul give place to the carcass, let 
 faith yield to reason, let heaven bow down unto the world. 
 Yea, seeing the power and policy of the King, as he is 
 a King, cannot reach or extend itself to any of these, let 
 us take away and banish quite from our hearts all con- 
 sideration of what shall befall us after this life, and let us 
 say there is no judgment, no resurrection, no eternity of the 
 soul, no heaven, no felicity, no God, — hell only excepted, 
 the which, will we nill we, shall be the final end of all our 
 policies and assured inheritance of all unbelievers, both 
 princes and subjects. And, verily, this is the religion now 
 embraced amongst the heads, and not abhorred of a great 
 number of followers, as most evidently appeareth, if any 
 list to consider the trees by their fruits, and guess of their 
 minds by their proceedings, practices, and behaviour. 
 
 Amongst all that in our time have borne office in this 
 north country, this Earl of Huntingdon, Lord Henry 
 Hastings, may easily take the upper hand of all, for his 
 bloody and cruel mind against Catholic men and their 
 religion ; a man, as he is thought, of no deep reach in 
 matters of weight or judgment, yet through continual 
 practice in persecuting us these twenty-two years he has 
 borne the office of President, is grown so ingenious to work 
 us trouble and disquietness, that herein he need not to give 
 place unto any, though they be of greater wit and capacity. 
 What helps he hath herein, you may consider; for he 
 
on Persecution in the North, 133 
 
 wanteth not his special authority and commissions, granted 
 him from the higher magistrates of purpose. He is not to 
 seek his directions and instructions, and especially from the 
 old practising Treasurer [Lord Burghley]. He hath his 
 Council of chosen men for the turn, his espials, his 
 informers, his executioners, of picked companions, so 
 ready to run, to seek, to take, to spoil, and to execute 
 whatsoever he biddeth them, with such expedition, such 
 insolency, such cruelty, that neither fear of God, 
 respect of law or equity, nor regard of civil honesty, 
 taketh any place amongst them : and although himself 
 be of a weak constitution of body yet it is incredible 
 what pains he taketh, both day and night, in watching, 
 in writing, in travelling, without respect of frost, snow, 
 and other importunate weather ; that a man may well 
 perceive that his malice goeth far beyond his might, 
 yet is his might more than enough, seeing unjustly it 
 oppresseth so many. In religion he is taken for a prince 
 of Puritans, wherein he showeth great zeal and forwardness 
 externally, and all are welcome to him that are accounted 
 friends of that faction. But religion in magistrates is 
 framed now in England, commonly after Machiavel's rule, 
 to make a show of a thing where the substance wanteth, 
 and any may serve well enough if it agree with their 
 policy ; and he, being a competitor to the Crown, if any 
 thing fall, supposeth perhaps that sort of people the fittest 
 instruments to compass his purpose, as they accord best 
 with his humour ; for their religion consisteth rather of a 
 furious hatred or presumptuous obstinacy to contradict 
 others, than in any positive doctrine of their own, unless 
 it be in singing of a psalm, or hearing of a sermon, wherein 
 they be rather auditores obiiviosi, quam factorcs verbi} 
 seeing good works with them are but tokens of papistry. 
 As for others, what estate or calling soever they be of, if 
 they be either suspected to favour the Catholic, or not 
 
 ^ Forgetful hearers than doers of the word. 
 
134 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 forward in the show of Puritanism, or such as are not 
 ready to employ themselves, or be employed by him 
 and others at his appointment, to the trouble and moles- 
 tation of their quiet and innocent neighbours, seldom can 
 they have either access to him, or favourable countenance 
 of him ; whereas, of the contrary, how base or naughty a 
 companion soever he be, if he be zealous, as they term 
 him, a betrayer of his friends, a spy, an intelligencer, a 
 deceiver, a dissembler, a catchpoll, and such like, but he 
 shall have free access at all times, his favour, his coun- 
 tenance, his hand, his embracing, yea offices and authorities, 
 and what other friendship he shall require ; whereby they 
 grow so malapert, that they respect not what injury they 
 do, whom they accuse, slander, oppress. Yea, the best in 
 the county dare not contrary them, lest they be com- 
 plained of by them unto the President, and receive a check 
 or displeasure for it. 
 
 An example may be given of one, Henry Saunderson, 
 a bankrupt merchant, and base companion ; yet for his 
 pretended zeal in Puritanism, and Machiavelian subtlety, 
 a special instrument to the President, who being contra- 
 dicted by the sheriff of Newcastle-upon-Tyne in that he 
 sought to cozen the town in a matter committed to his 
 industry to obtain at the Queen's hands, he began to vaunt 
 of himself, and to make comparisons something odious 
 towards his betters, which moved the sheriff to use some 
 speeches more choleric, and by a letter to challenge him ; 
 but Saunderson informing the President thereof, brought 
 the sheriff into disgrace, and forced him to cease from 
 execution of his office, and to substitute another in his 
 place. Another time, being made gaoler of Bransby Castle, 
 a house belonging unto the Earl of Westmoreland, but now 
 a prison for Catholic men, a gentleman had gotten a 
 warrant for the delivery of his wife, being there in hold 
 for her conscience; and Saunderson, the gaoler, demanding 
 his fees, the gentleman opened his purse, laid forth 
 
011 Persecution hi the North. 135 
 
 money as much as he thought sufficient, wilHng him to 
 take his right, saying, " Mr. Gaoler, serve yourself." But 
 he took it so grievously that the gentleman called him 
 a gaoler (though he were so indeed) that he informed the 
 President that the gentleman had abused him ; where- 
 upon the gentleman's wife was still kept a prisoner, not- 
 withstanding the former warrant. 
 
 A worshipful squire, being Catholic, in a search at his 
 house, offered by issuing forth to make his escape, having 
 two of his sons in company with him, whereof the one 
 chanced in his father's defence to break the head of one 
 in the company that had leaped over the wall, before any 
 commission was known : but the gentleman was carried 
 away, and his two sons committed to prison for the fact; 
 and himself in the end, was forced by the President to pay 
 26/. 6s. Zd. unto Pinkston (that was the fellow's name) in way 
 of satisfaction for his broken head. The same gentleman, 
 before that, had his house searched by one Cobham and 
 two other catchpolls, accompanied with certain of the 
 President's men, who spoiled his house, and took away 
 his silver plate, and other things of value; and the under- 
 sheriff of the shire being sent in the bishop's behalf, to see 
 that no outrage were committed contrary to equity, seeing 
 Cobham and his fellows taking away the gentleman's 
 goods, and being demanded why he would suffer it, 
 answered that he durst not contrary them, though he knew 
 it were injustice. Many more examples I could allege to 
 show what credit and sway such cozening companions do 
 bear with the President ; whereas others of the best worship 
 and wisdom in the country are rejected, and scarce well 
 looked upon, because their credit and honesty doth not 
 permit them to be employed in every base and odious 
 enterprise at his pleasure. 
 
 And of these kinds of men he hath such plenty and 
 variety, that not only his own household and family con- 
 sisteth most of them, but every place in the country is 
 
136 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 replenished, punished, pestered, and oppressed with them. 
 Some are set to observe, watch, and oversee every man's 
 actions, behaviours, and inclinations, and thereof to give 
 continual notice and information. Some are employed by 
 flattery, colour of friendship, and show of religion, not only 
 to associate themselves, enter in, and sift out every man's 
 secret actions and intentions, but also to push and draw 
 men into divers companies, places, and exercises, to that 
 end they may accuse them, or bring them into danger or 
 trouble. Some are instructed and warranted by precepts 
 and particular commissions to search, examine, apprehend, 
 and carry to prison, when and whom they list, as by 
 intelligence they shall be advertised, or by false brethren 
 matters shall be bewrayed unto them ; others are placed 
 in public office and authority, to countenance, aid, assist 
 these other catchpolls, that no resistance be made nor any 
 attempt be fustrate, as justices of the peace, bailiffs, con- 
 stables, churchwardens, and head commissioners, also 
 sheriffs and undersheriffs, &c., in which rooms such men 
 are most preferred who are most forward in Puritanism, 
 or of least conscience, reason, and honesty, not only of the 
 laity, but also of the ministry. And if it happen that any 
 officer seem negligent, calm, of mild disposition, loth to be 
 a persecutor or disturber of his neighbours, or [do] any 
 thing to favour the afflicted, then means are devised, cither 
 to sharpen and prick them forward by checks, threats, or 
 flatteries, or else utterly to discountenance or displace 
 them, and thrust into their rooms others of less honesty, 
 and more cruelty ; wherein such diligent care is had, that 
 in such offices as go by election of voices, or are at the 
 disposition of some other superior officers, the President 
 seeketh by covert means to have them at his own appoint- 
 ment. Thus he entreatcth and indenteth with divers 
 gentlemen in the country, that, if it be their lot to be 
 chosen into the office of sheriff, they will be content he 
 shall have the nomination of their undershcriff ; so 
 
on Persecution in the North, 137 
 
 likewise in corporate towns, to have the mayors and other 
 officers at his disposition. Whereby it cometh to pass that 
 both sheriffs and other superior officers, of their own nature 
 otherwise modest and reasonable, are forced to use much 
 cruelty, lest they be accused of slackness by their own 
 substitutes, being factors for the President. Yea, if they 
 deal little or nothing at all in person, yet shall they be the 
 authors of much mischief, injury, and injustice, by means 
 of these substitutes, who will take upon them in their 
 names, to execute their office at their pleasure and discre- 
 tion ; who, if they abuse this authority, yet dare they not 
 correct or find fault with them, lest they incur thereby the 
 President's displeasure. By this means many that seem 
 well affected, yet either to win credit, which otherwise can- 
 not be gotten, or for avoiding of disgrace and further 
 inconvenience, are drawn by little and little into these bad 
 actions and causes, that, lest they should be suspected to 
 bear the affection they have in deed, they become more 
 cruel than the rest, and using themselves no otherwise than 
 lions by kind, amongst whom they are muzzled and trained : 
 Didicet'iint prcEdam caper e et homines devorare^ et viduas et 
 civitatcs eorum in desertnin addncere.'^ Finally the whole 
 country framing themselves after these examples, and 
 desirous to feed the humours of such heads, partly for fear 
 and partly to gain favour, are become ready and forward 
 to execute whatsoever they are invited or called unto ; as 
 appeared by the search made at Candlemas was a twelve- 
 month, when the whole country over Yorkshire, Richmond- 
 shire, Bishopric, Northumberland, were up upon one night 
 to search and rifle Catholic men's houses, in such numbers 
 that some one poor house was set about and sacked with 
 one hundred, six score, and seven score men at once : at 
 which time, although the chief commissions for searching 
 were directed to the justfces and certain other other trusty 
 
 ^ " And leani to catch prey, to devour men, to make widows; and the land 
 became desolate." Ezech. xix. 6, 7. 
 
138 Father Richard Ho It by 
 
 and forward fellows (who ordinarily are joined in com- 
 mission to oversee the justices' actions, that no favour be 
 showed) yet every one for his credit did thrust himself into 
 action among the commissioners, breaking, spoiling, tossing, 
 and turning poor Catholics' houses at their pleasure, a 
 thing tolerated and winked at in such affairs. What need 
 I speak of the diligence was used, not only in sifting every 
 corner of their houses, chambers, parlours, stables, barns, 
 lofts, privies, chimnies, yea, the fields and woods abroad 
 also, so that no place remained unsought ; no door, chest, 
 coffer, desk, casket, or whatsoever thing was locked, was 
 left unlocked, or broken open if the keys were not presently 
 brought ; but also for divers days and especially nights 
 going before, all fords, bridges, and passengers were laid, 
 and the houses watched, to mark who passed to and fro, 
 and what resort or company was in every place ; yea, small 
 respect of civility or compassion was used ; for at the same 
 time, a Catholic gentlewoman, Mrs. Foulthroppe by name, 
 being in travail of child, the midwife being with her, and 
 having sent one of her maids into the town to call for the 
 company of wives to assist her in that time of danger and 
 extremity, the searchers in the meantime coming and 
 besetting the house, would neither permit the wives, nor yet 
 the maid that was sent to call them, to enter in to help her 
 mistress ; the gentlewoman labouring without sufficient 
 company, was glad to use the help of such persons as she 
 had of her own, and God assisting her, she was delivered 
 of two children ; and after the searchers, threatening to 
 burst open the door where the gentlewoman was, were let 
 in, searched her chamber, not sparing the very bed wherein 
 she lay, thrusting their swords into the same, and frightening 
 the poor gentlewoman in such sort, that she never 
 recovered her perfect health, and died not long after. 
 And because they would not have the innocent children 
 to escape their part of misery, they made the father write 
 a bond of a good sum of money, to cause them to be 
 
on Persectitio7i in the North, 139 
 
 carried unto the heretics' church, and to be christened 
 by a minister in contempt of their mother's religion. 
 
 Apprehension of Mr. ^^ this preSCnt SCarch upon Candle- 
 
 Anthony Page, priest, j^^g ^^y morning, was Mr. Anthony 
 
 Page,^ the priest, taken in a gentleman's house within 
 half a mile of York, whose name was William Thwing, 
 his sister, Anne Thwing, a Catholic, keeping the 
 house, and her brother at that time lying in the city. 
 A little conveyance [hiding place] had been made in 
 a place where the hay was laid, whither the priest 
 was conveyed for avoiding the peril of search, but the 
 entrance thereof not being well stopped, one of the 
 searchers climbing up upon the hay fell into the place 
 wherein Mr. Anthony was, and so was he taken, whereat 
 great joy was made, and the President himself, not a little 
 rejoicing, and the rather, because the gentleman's house 
 stood in a very convenient place and was a pretty building, 
 and he thought by this occasion to pick a quarrel unto it ; 
 wherefore, presently the gentleman himself was sought for, 
 and understanding he was in the city, was apprehended, 
 committed, indicted, arraigned, and in great peril to be 
 condemned, though he pleaded both his absence and 
 ignorance of the matter ; and certainly he had been con- 
 demned, if his sister had not voluntarily and boldly come 
 in before the judges and jury, protested her brother's 
 ignorance of the matter, and affirmed constantly withal 
 that it was her own deed, and that she had received and 
 kept the man of God, v/ithout her brother's consent and 
 knov/ledge. Upon which evidence, contrary to all men's 
 expectation, the jury quit [acquitted] the gentleman, and 
 
 ^ Anthony Page was of the family of the Pages of Harrow, and therefore 
 a connection of the Bellamys of Uxendon, The Thwings of Heworth Hall, near 
 York, were excellent Catholics, and the family had the honour of martyrdom 
 in the person of two of its members, both priests, Edward Thwing, who 
 suffered at Lancaster, July 26, 1600, and Thomas Thwing, the last martyred 
 priest, who suffered at York, Oct. 23, 1680. *'In 1604 there was living in 
 St. Cuthbert's parish, York, jjane] Thwing, wife of William Thwing, Esq., 
 old recusants." Peacock, p. 57. 
 
140 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 so he was dismissed. His sister [was] committed to prison 
 in his place, who remaining constant in her profession, 
 doth still abide in prison, and (as I think) uncondemned. 
 Whereby it may appear what mark those persecutors shoot 
 at, who upon small presumption would have condemned 
 the brother upon whom the living depended, and so easily 
 spared the sister confessing the fact, because no lucre else 
 they expected by her death, save only that her innocent 
 blood being shed unjustly would cry unto God for revenge 
 against their tyranny. 
 
 Father Anthony Page in the meantime during his 
 imprisonment behaved himself so well, that by his innocent 
 and mild conversation he gained the hearts of his very 
 adversaries, who easily would have spared his life if he 
 would have consented to any little show of relent or 
 conformity; insomuch that if he would have granted only 
 to have conferred (for that they take for a sign of 
 indifferency, or of no obstinate mind, as they call it) 
 with any layman in the company, but he refused to do so ; 
 as also to dispute or confer with ministers, whom they 
 made repair unto him in prison. But being urged there- 
 unto [he] answered that he would admit no private con- 
 ference ; but if they would dispute openly, then he would 
 be content to be one amongst the rest to defend the 
 Catholic faith, if the Fathers at Wisbech should think it 
 convenient. The gaoler's wife, moved with compassion 
 towards his innocency, demanded of him once if he had 
 any friends that would labour or disburse anything to 
 obtain his liberty ; to whom he said that he thought that 
 he had friends that would travail for him if it were a money 
 matter ; but afterwards perceiving his execution a little 
 prolonged, he repented himself of his answer, signifying 
 unto a friend of his that he thought his own words would 
 hinder his crown, whereof he declared himself to be 
 sorry. But in all his extremities he was very joyful 
 and much comforted in mind ; the which he could not 
 
on Persecutio7i in the North, 141 
 
 conceal outwardly with a most pleasant and smiling 
 countenance, declaring the inward joy he felt in heart, and 
 that before the President and other officers until his 
 execution, insomuch that the commissioners and officers 
 charged him sometimes that he mocked and laughed them 
 to scorn ; behaving himself always as mild as a lamb, 
 whereby he was made a sacrifice unto God most sweet and 
 acceptable in His presence: Vere Israelita, in quo non erat 
 doliLs}- in whom the dove's simplicity was to be seen joined 
 together with equal wisdom of the serpent, stopping his 
 ears unto the wicked charms of heretics, exposing all his 
 body to death, quartering, burning, and boiling, to save his 
 Catholic head of faith from wounds of infidelity, and 
 hazarding to pass through the strait hole of a violent end, 
 that being thereby spoiled of his mortal and corruptible 
 carcass, he might enjoy the robe of immortality. Observing 
 therein also a wonderful modesty and perfect contempt of 
 his own will and judgment, whereby he framed himself to 
 follow the advice and counsel of his Catholic brethren 
 abroad, so sincerely and with such humility, that he 
 desired always to be directed by them ; neither would he 
 willingly, even in matters concerning his confession and 
 martyrdom, enterprise anything, if he did not first perceive 
 that it was agreeable unto the judgment of his brethren, as 
 by several letters directed unto them did appear. 
 
 What singular good zeal he had of souls, but especially 
 towards the salvation of his carnal friends and kinsfolks who 
 lived in schism, may appear most evidently, not only by his 
 long and dangerous journeys taken into the south country 
 purposely to visit and persuade with them to return home 
 again unto their Catholic Mother, the Church of Christ, 
 but also by his letters directed unto them out of prison, a 
 little before his execution. One of them directed unto his 
 uncle, I delivered unto you, and since that time I found 
 amongst my papers another of his own hand, written unto 
 his mother, the which I should have sent unto her for a 
 
 ^ A true Israelite in whom there was no guile. 
 
142 Father Richard Holt by 
 
 token and his last farewell unto her ; but that I had laid it 
 up so surely, that I could not tell where to find it ; but 
 now the copy of it I here send unto you, desiring you to 
 send a copy of the same unto his mother, for the letter 
 itself was almost perished with the moisture of the place 
 where it was kept, that I could not well send it, lest it 
 should be cancelled in the carriage. His words then are 
 these : 
 
 "Dear Mother, 
 
 "As nature bindeth me to have care 
 of your temporal prosperity, insomuch that I were bound 
 to minister relief unto you, if necessity oppressed you, and 
 sufficient were given to me by the bounty of Almighty 
 God ; so (yea a thousand times more) doth the supernatural 
 bond of charity, being added unto nature, bind me to have 
 care of your soul and eternal salvation ; which in truth, in 
 part you have perceived heretofore, both by my presence 
 and also by my writing ; but because they took no place, 
 and it hath pleased Almighty God of His infinite goodness 
 to open the burning desire of my heart unto you, by such a 
 work as cannot choose but make you sensibly feel my 
 charitable affection towards you ; that, where persuasion 
 could not take place, yet at the least the very force and 
 efiicacy of deeds, might convince you to say that the finger 
 of God was in them, and consequently for them, to believe 
 my words. If then the continual prayers and tears of the 
 mother of St. Austin were of such cfiect, that St. Ambrose 
 doubted not to say that the son of so many tears could not 
 peri.sh, some comfortable confidence then must I needs take 
 that you at the length will recall yourself, being sought by 
 me (your unworthy son) not with tears, but with the shed- 
 ding of my blood ; and this I offer unto Almighty God as a 
 sacrifice, not only for mine own sins, which are most grievous, 
 but also, and that particularly, in the behalf of your poor 
 soul, which in truth, God knoweth, was the chief cause of 
 
071 PersectUio7t in the North, 
 
 143 
 
 my venturing my life, and the only cause of my coming 
 soon into the danger. And for the love of God, and care 
 which you ought to have of your own soul, I desire you, 
 by the bitter passion of our Saviour Jesus Christ, to accept 
 this my voluntary oblation of my life, and shedding of my 
 blood, as a most forcible vocation and calling of Almighty 
 God, and most sure token of my inflamed charity towards 
 you ; for no man hath greater charity than to lose his life 
 for his friend. Neither ought this to breed any grief in 
 you that you want your son, for that such a death is the 
 greatest dignity which a child can possibly be preferred unto 
 in the world ; which was the cause why the mother of 
 seven sons, whom we read of in the Machabees, stood by 
 them all, and most forcibly animated them to suffer so 
 glorious a death as it was to die for righteousness' sake, 
 unto which is promised the present possession of the king- 
 dom of heaven ; and precious in the sight of God is the 
 death of his saints. Wherefore (because I cannot be long) 
 take comfort in these words rehearsed. 
 
 " Your obedient son, 
 
 "Anthony Page, Pr.'* 
 
 This letter was written the 30th day of March, 1593, 
 a few days before his execution, which was the 20th of 
 April following. But let us return again unto the matter 
 we begun to speak of As the officers appointed are com- 
 monly men of least conscience, and most forward in 
 heretical fury, so great care is taken by the President 
 and other superiors to espy out, preserve, and cherish 
 such persons as are of evil demeanour and bad condi- 
 tions, whereby, as out of a seminary of all mischief, they 
 may never want fit instruments to supply the places of 
 such as either by death are taken away, or for their good 
 services are advanced to higher offices. In this sort did 
 the President, and doth yet, most unjustly, and not with- 
 out great damages, by daily, or rather nightly incursions 
 
144 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 made into the country, towns, hamlets, granges, and out- 
 houses of many inhabitants, stay and hinder that the law 
 should not proceed against a company of thieves, outlaws, 
 and spoilers of their neighbours and country, who upon a 
 night had made a raid into the Bishopric, and therein had 
 taken and driven away almost all the beasts and cattle 
 of a town called Ayston,^ and the thieves being known and 
 the fact proved, the persons injured can have neither law 
 to proceed against the malefactors, nor redress of their 
 losses and injuries sustained, because the President putteth 
 off their suit from time to time, pretending, notwith- 
 standing, in words, that he will do what he can to make 
 them have justice , but indeed protecting the malefactors 
 because they be fit men (as they term it) to do the Queen 
 good service. How commodious they be in the mean 
 time in his affairs, living at liberty, God wot ; but the 
 town aforesaid, and parish thereof, do complain that, 
 since the former fact committed, which is now about one 
 year ago, they have sustained about 700/. damages by the 
 former offenders and their adherents, while they cannot be 
 permitted to obtain justice. What other injuries are com- 
 mitted in other places, by the same men, I leave it to your 
 own estimation, especially they being many of them gen- 
 tlemen, and such as bear a sway and countenance in the 
 country. 
 
 A burgess of the town of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, of 
 good credit and estimation, was falsely accused unto the 
 President, and defamed by two wicked fellows, his own 
 tenants, suborned by one Hinde, the searcher of the town, 
 with hope of some preferment [by] the President, in divers 
 articles touching not only his credit, but also his life, if any 
 of them could have been proved against him, and in especial 
 that he was a favourer of the Earls of Westmoreland and 
 
 ^ Ayton, East and West, and Ayton, Great and Little, are all in Yorkshire, 
 and not in "the Bishopric," that is Durham. Canon Tierr.ey misread the 
 name Clifton. 
 
on Persecution in the North, 145 
 
 Northumberland ; but when no matter could be avouched 
 upon him, and the one man's conscience something 
 ashamed of so bad a part towards his master, refused to 
 pursue so heinous an enterprise any further, but revealed 
 it to his master. The burgess requested at the President's 
 hands that he might have law and justice against his 
 accusers for his injury and slander sustained ; but the 
 President not enduring that such honest companions 
 should have reward according to their deserts, answered 
 that if such men should be punished there should be 
 none found that would give informations for the Queen, 
 insinuating thereby most evidently what good and gra- 
 cious disposition those men be of, whom ordinarily they 
 employ in their government. 
 
 John Spence, godson unto Mr. Trollope, and his father, 
 being his household servant from, his youth, for betraying 
 his ^master and godfather, being then a Catholic, was 
 therefore entertained into the President's service. Francis 
 Eglesfield for betraying Mr. John Boast, and one Thomson 
 for apprehending Sir Henry Stapper, priests, were therefore 
 accepted to wear the President's cloth ; men void of all 
 grace and honesty, whereof the last named had a com- 
 mission granted him from his lord and master (as he 
 boasted himself, for his good service, and further prefer- 
 ment) to search Catholic or such suspected places in 
 Richmondshire where he dwelt, when, and as often as 
 he listed. And indeed, about Christmas last, he searched 
 the most of the Catholic houses thereabouts ; during which 
 commission (which I fear is not yet expired, for they grant 
 sometimes commissions dormant, which few know of 
 besides themselves), there happened a certain man to 
 pass through fields near the town where a pursuivant 
 dwelt ; and not perfect in the way whither he was to go, 
 demanded of one ploughing in the field the way unto a 
 place, naming the house of a Catholic. The ploughman, 
 suspecting the traveller, as it should seem, to be a priest, 
 K 
 
146 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 being in apparel something scholarlike, showed him the 
 way, saying withal unto him that he took him for a 
 good man; for so Catholics used to call their Catholic 
 priests. " Yea," said the traveller, " that I am." Then 
 the ploughman began to moan himself and the case 
 of other Catholics thereabouts, as though himself had 
 been one indeed ; that they were in great distress of 
 sacraments, for want oi good men to help them, desiring 
 withal that it would please him to do them that friendship, 
 as in some place to serve them in their need. To whom 
 the other man said that if he would come in the 
 morning unto the gentlewoman's house thereby, he would 
 serve his turn ; and so went on his way. The ploughman 
 supposing to have found a prey for his neighbour, 
 Topclifife,^ informed him of all [that] had passed between 
 him and the traveller, describing the man by his shape, 
 his apparel, and a dog that followed him. [Topcliffe] 
 called his mates together, [and] assured them of a prey. 
 Early in the morning [they] beset the gentlewoman's 
 house, enter in by virtue of their commission, search up 
 and down in every corner to find the priest, but fail of 
 their purpose. In the meantime the traveller who had 
 been there the evening before, and after lodged all night 
 in a town hard by, comcth unto the door, knocketh at the 
 gate ; the pursuivant ^ playing the porter for the time 
 openeth, and by the description of his person given him 
 before, suspecting he was the man he sought for, examined 
 him what he was. "A man," quoth he, "as you see." 
 *^ So I perceive," said the other, " but I ween you be the 
 man we seek for." '* It may be so," quoth he. " What," 
 saith he,^ *' are you not a priest } " " No," quoth he, " I 
 am no priest : but if you had said I was a clerk you had 
 guessed better, for I am indeed the clerk of such a toivn^ 
 
 * The word Topcliffe is erased, but can be clearly traced. 
 
 ^ The name is also erased, and in another hand pi/rsutvatt/ inserted. 
 
 * So here, and the word Ae substituted. 
 
oil Persecution in the North, 147 
 
 flaming the tozun." ^ And so the whole fable ended plea- 
 santly. Yet hereby you may perceive by what means 
 many times Catholics fall into trouble, the watchfulness 
 of our persecutors, and virtue of their commissions. 
 
 Luke Hutton, nephew unto the false Bishop of Durham 
 that now is, from a cut-throat and common thief, was pre- 
 ferred by his uncle unto the office of the bailiff of Sadberge,- 
 and a prison being in the town, for his more commodity 
 was made gaoler unto the Catholic prisoners ; who being 
 practised before in picking men's purses was thought a 
 more fit instrument to impoverish his prisoners ; wherein 
 he used such art and industry, that, if he could have 
 observed any reason or mean in his own expenses, his 
 gain might easily have maintained him after the port of 
 a gentleman. But lightly come (as the proverb is) is 
 lightly gone ; and evil gotten is worse spent. Divers were 
 committed unto his custody, both worshipful and others, 
 with whom he dealt in this manner. At their first com- 
 mitting to prison he would make them pay a fine of five 
 marks, three pounds, forty shillings, or as much as he could 
 wring out of them by extremities ; for some of them he 
 thrust down into a low dungeon or vault under the ground, 
 where there was neither light nor air convenient for man's 
 health to live eight days to an end without danger of death 
 or other grievous malady. There would he shut up the 
 poor men until they compounded with him according unto 
 his desire ; and when he had thus wrung out of them, and 
 racked the poor men to disburse more than they were able 
 to get many times (for the Catholic gentlemen there im- 
 prisoned were contented to collect and disburse the money 
 for them sometimes, lest the poor men's want should occa- 
 sion their greater distress at the cruel gaoler's hands, in 
 whom there was neither pity nor mercy) then afterwards 
 
 ^ The name completely erased, and the words in italics inserted, 
 2 Sadbery, in the gaol of which place Mrs. Killingale was imprisoned. 
 Stcpra, p. 1 1, note. 
 
148 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 they were at more quiet with him. One poor Catholic 
 having been thrust down for a few days, and after com- 
 position permitted the liberty of the upper house, remained 
 something heavy that he had [a]light[ed] into the custody 
 of so cruel a keeper ; whom the gaoler perceiving to be sad 
 and nothing well contented, came to him and said, to 
 comfort him withal, "Be of good cheer, man, the worst 
 is past ; " declaring thereby that the desire of lucre was 
 the cause of his cruelty. The gentlemen being better able 
 to buy his friendship, which only was to be purchased with 
 money, lived at the gaoler's table and diet, paying 'js. 
 weekly for every man's commons, which was a sufficient 
 gain to the gaoler, their fare well considered, which ordin- 
 arily was nothing else but a piece of salt beef ; which kind 
 of diet the gentlemen not being acquainted withal, as also 
 hurtful to the health of some of them, they requested of 
 the gaoler's wife that, seeing they paid so well for their 
 commons, that at the least .she would provide for them 
 some wholesome fare, or that their beef might be more 
 fresh, or better steeped ; but the covetous woman sup- 
 posing that, if she should condescend unto their petition, 
 that then the toothsomeness of their slender allowance 
 would be a mean that, her guests feeding more liberally 
 thereon, nothing would remain in the empty dishes for the 
 sustenance of her family, which altogether depended upon 
 the gentlemen's charges and allowance, answered them 
 very thriftily, that there was no profit or thrift in so 
 doing. Wherefore they, fearing some inconvenience by their 
 diet, made suit unto the gaoler that they might be permitted 
 to be at their own diet, yielding unto him for the rent of 
 their chamber (for they were all thrust up together in one) 
 30/. yearly, which was agreed upon, and some part of the 
 rent paid beforehand ; but within a while, the gaoler per- 
 ceiving a want in his housekeeping, because he swept no 
 crumbs after them, as he was wont to do, sought to draw 
 them again unto his table, as before ; but they refusing 
 
on Persecution in the No7^th, 149 
 
 to be any more at his diet, having both made a covenant 
 with him otherways and paid their money, and also having 
 been at great charges for buying pots, pans, and other 
 vessels and implements, with hired servants to employ 
 about their necessaries, he shut them all up close in their 
 chamber not suffering any to have access unto them ; but 
 if their servants or other friends came, he searched them, 
 sometimes unto the very shirt and saddle, read their 
 letters, and showed other extremities unto them ; seeking 
 by this means, either to find some matter against them, 
 for fear whereof he should in time make them incline unto 
 his desire, or by wearing them out with extremities, force 
 them to return unto his table; in which case they remained 
 until he, being known for committing a robbery, was forced 
 to fly his house and forsake his office. 
 
 This same, besides the offices aforesaid, pretended to 
 have a commission : I know not if he had one in truth, or 
 not ; but he had gathered into a scroll a great sort of 
 names of Catholics within the Bishopric, whom he said the 
 bishop had granted him to be his prisoners if he could 
 apprehend them. Wherefore he took upon him to search 
 their houses, and did apprehend divers Catholics, and 
 carried them straight unto his gaol, without presenting 
 them unto any other officer ; but of his own authority 
 committed them, and for bribes of monies and certain 
 annual penalties and pensions covenanted with them, did, 
 without further warrant, enlarge them, and promised to 
 protect them, or at the least not to trouble them ; thinking 
 thereby better to make a gain of them abroad than to 
 pester his house with too many at once, having no con- 
 venient room to receive them. And amongst other his 
 bold attempts, he presumed to search a gentleman's house, 
 called Henry Lawson, a man conformable unto the laws, 
 his wife being a Catholic, and in prison otherwheres for 
 her conscience, and without any warrant at all apprehended 
 the gentleman himself, and carried him straight unto his 
 
150 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 prison. But the bishop, or his secretary by his consent, 
 understanding the matter, was so far from rebuking him 
 for his act, that by a letter written unto him he greatly 
 commended his forwardness, and withal, lest the gentleman 
 should sue him of an action of false imprisonment, sent him 
 a warrant for his apprehension after the deed was done, 
 having no matter colourable to charge the gentleman withal. 
 In searching of one Catholic's house he happened to 
 light upon a sum of money of ten pounds, belonging unto 
 Margaret Henfield, a Catholic woman, being absent ; the 
 which he took and carried away, and would not restore it 
 unless the woman herself would come in and make claim 
 unto it ; but she being afraid of being committed to his 
 prison for her conscience if she should appear, was glad 
 to forego her money. In the end, no bribes, no extortions, 
 exactions, and spoil of poor Catholic men sufficing the lust 
 of such a prodigal, drunken, and licentious fellow, he fell 
 again unto his ancient trade of theft, burglary, and robbery, 
 associating and alluring unto his fellowship a company of 
 licentious youths, of whom he became captain himself, 
 and, as a master expert, and well practised in the science, 
 began to train and embolden his novices with such 
 authority, skill, and audacity, that none could pass the 
 streets where they haunted but he was discharged of his 
 money, if his purse were not empty : not forgetting therein 
 the office and authority of a commissioner in exacting an 
 oath of such as were spoiled, that they should not bewray 
 them, or raise the cry after them, that so with more 
 security they might watch other preys of passengers 
 coming after. So that, in one day, there chanced at 
 several times above twenty-six persons to be spoiled by 
 them in the very open street, where there were neither 
 woods nor other places of refuge to convey themselves 
 unto, if, being descried, the country had sought to pursue 
 them. Finally, after many injuries and robberies com- 
 mitted, wherefore he was forced to fly the country, 
 
071 Persecution m the North, 151 
 
 through his lewd demeanours (as he was a man givert 
 over unto all mischief and vicious living) he fell into 
 disease, and now in Scotland, if he be not already dead, 
 there liveth in great shame, distress, and misery. 
 
 What should I speak of Richard Outlaw, Collier, 
 Robson, Saunderson, Spain, RoUinson, Bannister, Scar- 
 croft, and a great number more, of no better disposition; 
 than the former, whose lives, practices, and behaviours are 
 [so] notorious, that if I should write all I hear reported 
 by the mouths of credible persons, I should easily fill a 
 whole book with tragical discourses of their infamous 
 actions ? This, I have already said, may suffice to give 
 some aim what disposition the rest are of, and what kind 
 of men they be that now-a-days are desired, chosen, and 
 employed for principal instruments and actors of this 
 present persecution ; who being of their own nature and 
 vicious inclination prone to exercise cruelty, you may 
 easily conjecture what mischief they are like to practice 
 against Catholic men, to whose oppression they are 
 destinate principally, if their proceedings be not only ta 
 the show justified with pretence of law, but also confirmed 
 and warranted by special authority and particular com- 
 missions, directed and given unto them : the which they 
 always interpret in such ample sense and execute with 
 such rigour, that the only name of their commission serveth 
 them to justify all actions and injuries committed by them, 
 where the words and construction of their commissions 
 doth by no means insinuate any licence to approve many 
 voluntary attempts. 
 
 And because, after the Wise Man's experience, Vidi- 
 mus sub sole in loco judicii impietateni^ ct in loco justitice 
 iniqiiitateni,^ let us first consider the authority of the 
 President, and other chief officers, with the use or abuse 
 thereof, and from them descend unto their inferior 
 
 ^ We have seen "under the sun in the place of judgment wickedness, and 
 in the place of justice iniquity." Eccles. iii. i6. 
 
152 Father" Richard Ho It by 
 
 vassals. The President in this nortli country hath had, 
 and hath yet, as he takcth upon him, three several and 
 printed authorities granted unto him, of president, of 
 lieutenant, and also of a head commissioner, next after 
 the supposed Archbishop of York, who is the foremost 
 and first of that commission. By the two former he 
 supplicth the place of the Prince's Majesty (except in 
 such matters as are proper unto the Prince's person and 
 Privy Council, or in some other cases excepted and 
 reserved) in all temporal affairs, politic and martial ; by 
 the last he hath to deal in causes concerning religion, 
 together with the rest joined with him in the commission ; 
 wherein, notwithstanding he make a show to the contrary, 
 yet in truth all is directed, ordered, and executed at his 
 pleasure and according unto his only will and appointment, 
 neither can or dare the rest do anything, but strive only 
 which way to please and feed his humour ; yea, he useth 
 these several offices in such sort, that he makcth one of 
 them to countenance the other, and confounding their 
 distinct functions and places, applieth cither of them to 
 perform the office of the rest. In this wise, sitting as a 
 head commissioner upon religious matters, he terrifieth 
 with the name [of] lieutenant, making no difference 
 between peace and war, and threatening to execute martial 
 law upon afflicted Catholics if they refuse to show friend- 
 ship and conformity to schism and heresy ; to which effect 
 provost-marshals were appointed in divers places to put 
 them in fear thereof. The same time, which was imme- 
 diately upon the great proclamation, were a great number 
 of justices of peace appointed commissioners, to take 
 informations, call, and examine all Catholics ; and after- 
 wards letters were directed again unto some of them, that 
 they should further inquire and inform unto the Privy 
 Council if there were any of the said commissioners 
 appointed that had either his wife or his son a Catholic 
 recusant, that all such might be put off the commission as 
 
on Persecution in the North, - 153 
 
 not fit for the office, and others more forward and less 
 suspected to show favour might be substitute in their 
 places. These had bailiffs appointed to serve all process 
 directed by them, and the ministers, churchwardens, and 
 other picked men for the purpose, were directed to give 
 informations upon their oaths unto them, and they them- 
 selves at certain times appointed and agreed upon, to sit 
 upon these matters, and to make relation and certificate 
 unto the Council above of all the names of those that 
 were presented unto them, and their other manner of pro- 
 ceeding. This inquiry and information was so strictly and 
 diligently observed, that no Catholic householder, servant, 
 or other escaped unpresented ; for the churchwardens 
 being sworn, durst not omit or show favour unto any, lest 
 they should incur the danger of perjury, having others 
 joined with them of purpose to oversee their actions, and 
 to observe and inform against them if they discharged not 
 their oath, and withal to supply their defect if by chance, 
 or through ignorance, any escaped unpresented. And of 
 this I suppose you have received something in my other 
 letters before. 
 
 And at the same time (that is, two years and a half 
 since), and to the same effect, a commission was directed 
 unto them that an oath should be tendered unto all 
 Catholics, both in prison and abroad, whether at any time 
 they had been solicited, moved, or persuaded by either 
 Jesuit or Seminary priest, &c., that if an invasion should 
 be made by the Pope, or other foreign prince or power, 
 they should take part against their Queen and country ; 
 and a speech was given forth, that they were in mind to 
 execute martial law upon all that should not answer to 
 their contentment. The prisoners were sworn unto the 
 article aforesaid, and without oath examined in divers 
 other questions proposed unto them, and process was 
 directed for others abroad, that they likewise should 
 present themselves to do the same. In this commission 
 
154 FatJm^ Richard Holtby 
 
 no authority was granted to commit such as appeared ; 
 yet nevertheless they committed some, others did they 
 force either to enter into bond to appear before the Lord 
 President, at time set down, or else presently to go to 
 prison, v/hich was no small inconvenience ; for that was 
 in effect to bind them never to be freed from trouble again. 
 
 The President therefore intending, about Lammas 'size 
 following (which was Anno Domini 1592), to assault the 
 constancy of Catholics by a more cruel and fierce onset 
 than before, sent out his process and precepts abroad, 
 commanding, not only the Catholics, but also such as, 
 being conformable themselves, had their wives recusants, 
 that, upon peril of further inconvenience, they should 
 make their appearance and present themselves or their 
 wives before him and the rest of the commission at 
 Durham or Newcastle. He came first to Durham, but 
 little was there said unto any : from thence to Newcastle, 
 where the gentlemen of Northumberland were to appear. 
 There the President appointed to sit in commission, in 
 his own chamber, in H. Saunderson's house, something 
 privately ; having with him in his company, to make 
 up a sufficient commission, one Stanhope, of the Council 
 at York, whom he brought with him of purpose out of 
 Yorkshire, lest the Bishopric should not afford him such 
 commissioners of their own as were best for his purpose. 
 In this commission sat the President, the supposed Bishop 
 of Durham, Matthew Hutton, Toby Matthews, also called 
 Dean of Durham, with others. There were called in, 
 Mr. Ralph Gray, then Sheriff of Northumberiand, and 
 Mr. William Fenwicke, in behalf of their Catholic wives : 
 but they, being men otherways not only conformable, but 
 also well thought of for their forwardness to be employed, 
 got despatched in the end, although at that present it 
 appeared some rigour was shown unto them, in entering 
 bond for bringing in of their wives, &c. 
 
 Then was Mr. Francis Ratcliffc, Esq., being a Catholic 
 
071 Persecution in the North. 155 
 
 himself, called into the chamber, and there continued 
 two or three hours among them, and was examined in 
 many things ; yea, and reasoned withal, in many points 
 of faith and religion, whereof, as yet, I could not certainly 
 get the particulars : but he behaved himself in his answers 
 very wisely and well ; for he was one that had under- 
 standing, and bestowed some time in reading matters of 
 controversy. But this also I was assured of by very 
 credible persons, that, all the time he was before them, 
 the President forced him to sit upon his knees \i.e. to kneel], 
 a thing not used, neither of duty to be exacted, unless 
 the Prince's person were in place, or some of her Prime 
 Council did there [re]present the same ; and the like was 
 exacted upon those that appeared at Durham soon after, 
 unless they were such whom the President did vouchsafe 
 some favour unto. Whereby you may see what mark 
 he aimeth at, who, of his own head, taketh so much upon 
 him. This gentleman being committed prisoner, for no 
 other matter but only for refusing to go to their heretical 
 church, the rest were commanded to attend at Durham, 
 where they sat again in commission : at which place were 
 committed, and used in like sort, Mr. Thomas Colling- 
 wood, a gentleman of Northumberland (who, notwith- 
 standing, escaped from his gaoler, H. Saunderson, as he 
 was to be conveyed to prison), Lancelot Hodson, with 
 others being Catholics. Also divers other gentlemen, yet 
 conformable (as they term them) were called in for their 
 Catholic wives. These also were commanded to sit upon 
 their knees ; and being demanded if they had their 
 process or writs about them, served on them for their 
 appearance, and showing the same, the President took 
 them and would not suffer them to have them again. 
 What the mystery of it was I wot not ; but it seemed 
 there was something in it not justifiable by law. In the 
 end, these gentlemen were constrained to enter into bond 
 of recognisance for the bringing in of their wives, or else 
 
156 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 to go to prison themselves. The conditions of which 
 bonds were these, in form as follovveth. 
 
 *' The condition of this recognisance is such that, if the 
 above bounden R. F. do, from henceforth, provide and 
 procure that, morning and evening prayers, as is appointed 
 and set down in the Book of Common Prayer, be pubHcly 
 read in his house three days in every week at the least, 
 viz., Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday, at the which 
 himself, his children, his household and servants (except 
 his wife) to be present, having no lawful excuse of their 
 absence (for the which he shall answer) ; and do not 
 retain and keep in his house any other person which 
 shall not dutifully and usually resort to the church to 
 hear Divine service, and reverently receive the Holy Com- 
 munion, so often yearly as is appointed in the said Book 
 of Common Prayer ; and do not admit or suffer any 
 Jesuit, Seminary or Popish priest, nor any person that 
 shall be known to him to be disobedient in matter of 
 religion now established within this realm, to remain or 
 usually to repair in or to his said house, other than the 
 now wife of the said R.F.: and further, if A., the now 
 wife of the said R., shall be and personally appear 
 before three of Her Majesty's commissioners for causes 
 ecclesiastical within the province of York, whereof the 
 most reverend father, the Lord Archbishop of York his 
 grace, the right honourable the Lord President of Her 
 Highness' Council in the north, and Lord Lieutenant, and 
 the Lord Bishop of Durham, and the right worshipful 
 Mr. Dean of Durham, to be one, at such day, hour, and 
 place as upon fourteen days' warning to be given at the 
 now dwelling-house of the said R. shall be appointed 
 and declared. And lastly, if neither the said A., nor any 
 of his said household or family, shall have any conference 
 with any such Jesuit, Seminary priest. Papist, or other 
 notorious disobedient person in matters of religion, then 
 this recognisance to be void, or else to stand in full power 
 
on Persecution in the North. 157 
 
 and virtue. Capt. et recog. apud Dunclin. 26 August. An. 
 Domini 1592 coram, &c." 
 
 If any did refuse to accept of these conditions, he was 
 presently committed to prison. Amongst the rest, there 
 was one who had been afore, by the like injury, forced 
 to bring in his wife ; and she having continued thereby 
 in divers prisons, restrained of liberty four or five years, 
 to the great damage of her husband, he made suit, in 
 the end, unto the Council above and obtained her liberty, 
 upon bond to appear before the Privy Council, upon 
 certain days' warning ; which recognisance notwith- 
 standing, the President commanded him to bring her in 
 ap-ain before him, and he, refusing to do it, because he 
 was otherways bound to the Council, was himself com- 
 mitted to prison by the President, and there remained 
 nine weeks. In the meantime he laboured unto the 
 Council again, and his bill was preferred at the Council 
 table ; whereupon, after the cause being examined and 
 discussed, the Council directed out letters unto the Bishop 
 in the man's behalf, in form following. 
 
 "After our hearty commendations to your lordship, 
 humble suit hath been moved unto us by T. N., &c., that, 
 whereas, eight or nine years since, E., the wife of this 
 suppliant, being with divers other women committed 
 for recusancy in the gaols of Sadberge and York, was, by 
 virtue of letters directed from us to our very good lord, 
 the Earl of Huntingdon, set at liberty, upon good bonds 
 entered into by the said suppliant for the appearance and 
 forthcoming of his said wife, within twenty days' warning 
 next after, before us ; which was done at the special suit 
 of the husbands of the same women, who, notwithstanding 
 their wives' obstinacy, are very conformable themselves in 
 religion, and live like good subjects in due obedience 
 towards Her Majesty and her laws, and therefore had 
 their wives delivered to their charge, in hope of some 
 conformity by their good persuasion to be wrought in 
 
158 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 them : Forasmuch as we are credibly given to under- 
 stand that, notwithstanding the bonds so taken, as above- 
 said, for their forthcoming before us, the said T. N. is of 
 late imprisoned in that gaol of Durham for not bringing 
 in his said wife before you and the rest of the com- 
 missioners ecclesiastical of that diocese, fearing lest she 
 should be imprisoned, to his utter undoing, as heretofore 
 she had been, for the four or five years ; We have, there- 
 fore, thought good to pray and require your lordship to 
 let the said N. at liberty, upon good bonds to be taken 
 of the suppliant for his wife's good behaviour, as is 
 accustomed in like cases, and for her forthcoming before 
 us, within twenty days next after warning given him, or 
 within some convenient time to be set down by you in 
 that behalf So praying your lordship to have care for 
 the performance hereof, we bid you very heartily farewell. 
 From the Court at Greenwich, the 24th of May, 1591. 
 Your very loving friends, L. Arch. Cant, L. Chancellor, 
 L. Treasurer, L. Darby, L. Cobham, L. Buckhurst." 
 
 Upon which letters the Bishop set him at liberty, 
 taking bond of him, as was appointed by the Council's 
 letters. But now, these letters notwithstanding, which had 
 been of sufficient virtue in a matter of greater weight 
 to have kept the man from further injury, the President 
 committed him again for the same, that is to say, for not 
 bringing in liis wife to appear before him ; and [he] 
 remained in Durham gaol for the space of a year after, 
 to his exceeding great loss of his goods at home, by 
 default of his care and presence. Whereby it may appear 
 what small regard of conscience, law, or reason is used 
 by those who bear the name of head commissioners, 
 especially by the President himself, who, neither observ- 
 ing the rules of his commission, nor yet the letters 
 and directions of the Privy Council, from whom all his 
 authority granted him doth proceed, callcth, committeth, 
 and punisheth by imprisonment, without colour of justice, 
 
on Persecution in the North. 159 
 
 as oft, how long, and whom he Hsteth ; laying most 
 impious and unreasonable bonds, prohibitions, conditions, 
 and penalties upon the husbands, yea, upon the children 
 and whole families, to the utter overthrow of their souls, 
 not for the wives' fault, but for their sincere faith, con- 
 stancy, and religious profession. 
 
 As for the inferior officers and other men, used as 
 necessary instruments to procure and maintain this perse- 
 cution against us, they are principally employed to espy, 
 betray, search, apprehend, spoil, and otherwise to molest 
 and injure us, in all matters and by all means they can 
 devise, without controlment, and as far as God's judgment 
 or mercy hath preordinate to permit them, for our better 
 purgation and trial, and greater glories of His Divine 
 Majesty, with our increase of grace and glory. One 
 notable example I intend here to set down, for a scantling, 
 to weigh and measure thereby their malice and manner 
 of behaviour towards us, in the rest of their practices, by 
 a search made before Christmas last at York, in the castle, 
 where the Catholics are kept in durance for the defence 
 and profession of their faith. The President had been 
 informed, by the means of a false brother and others his 
 intelligencers, that there was a Seminary priest kept 
 among the Catholic prisoners secretly, whose name, visage, 
 and personage they made particular description of Where- 
 fore the President ordained a search, which begun upon 
 Tuesday morning about seven or eight o'clock, being the 
 1 8th day of December, 1593, and continued until eight 
 o'clock at night upon Thursday following. The manner of 
 their proceeding was signified unto me by several letters 
 out of the castle, in these words following. 
 
 " Whereas many of our friends, we doubt not, are not 
 only sorrowful for our losses and spoil, happened unto us 
 by the Lord President's appointment, but. also desirous to 
 know the manner and cause how it chanced unto us; these 
 may be, therefore, to signify unto all our benefactors and 
 
i6o Father Richard Holtby 
 
 well-wishers that upon Tuesday, the i8th of December, 
 Mr. Rokeby, one of her Majesty's Council at York, came 
 into the castle, wh^re we are imprisoned, with a great 
 company of men ; whereupon we grew in some suspicion 
 of a search, and, looking out at our windows, suddenly we 
 see the castle beset round about with bills and halberds. 
 But they used, aT the first, some subtlety ; for they went 
 first into the MoOl-hall, which is an ordinary thing, and 
 sent to the castle for one Mayfield, being a man condemned 
 for felony, as though the intent of their coming had apper- 
 tained nothing at all unto us ; and then, of a sudden, came 
 forth of the hall and sent for us. By and by, our keepers 
 called us all down in great haste into the castle yard, 
 where Mr. Rokeby stayed, expecting our coming ; who said 
 that the Lord President and his council were informed 
 that a Seminary priest was amongst us, Avho said Mass 
 the same morning in our house. His name was John 
 Fisher, and this they were assured of, for some of our own 
 company had betrayed him ; and, except he be found, they 
 would not depart, but would pull down the house upon 
 our heads. Wherefore searchers, being appointed to rifle 
 our chambers and poor lodgings, fell to their work, and so 
 continued till seven o'clock at night ; and from us they 
 went into Mr. Fletcher's house, the keeper of the castle, 
 who lying sick in his bed, they gave him no sparing, but 
 searched it, yea, and the very bed wherein he did lie ; and 
 what other discourtesies they offered him the writer hereof 
 knoweth not, but he died within a few hours after, the 
 same night. They found, in searching, the passage of the 
 party (as they said) whom they sought for ; lighting, in- 
 deed, upon an entrance, sufficient for a man to pass, towards 
 the water ; and thereupon began very hotly to rifle and 
 break all below, in the kitchen, parlour, and other places 
 thereabouts, supposing him to be near the outgate. They 
 brake the ceiling over where it was, and in the new chamber 
 above, and threatened the next day to pull down the new 
 
on Persecution in the North. i6i 
 
 building, and the little chamber which stood thereon. But 
 they found not much the first day ; but, having set their 
 watch, one to walk up and down within the house, and 
 many abroad without, that none should convey the priest 
 away, the next morning, coming again, they brought with 
 them workmen with all their tools and implements, to try^ 
 by sounding, for hollow places, and break up all ; " for the 
 traitor Seminary,' quoth they, *you have among you,, 
 without whom we will not depart. Therefore, bring him 
 out to us, or else we will pull down the house upon your 
 heads.' With such like speeches [they] menaced us all 
 the three days, and, in all the time of searching they shut 
 us up, men, women, and children, in a little house, where 
 one of us could scarce stand besides another. Remedy 
 could we have none ; although the young children cried 
 and the mothers lamented their babes, small pity was. 
 showed. 
 
 " This day they carried eight of our company to the 
 Manor, where they expected the Lord President until 
 seven o'clock at night, at which time, Mansfield, one of 
 the hottest searchers, coming out of the President's chamber 
 with a writing in his hand, carried them to Mr. Rokeby's- 
 house to be examined ; where four only being examined 
 severally, they were sent all to three several prisons, until-, 
 the search was ended, one of them being sent unto a place 
 by himself, with commandment that he should be well 
 used, who was suspected by the company to have been the 
 author and betrayer of all. Also they took away a little 
 girl, and threatened to beat her (being ten years old)„ 
 except she would confess where John Fisher, the Seminary,, 
 was to be found ; and, keeping her, the^ gave it out that 
 the child had told all, and that now they could go and lay 
 their hand upon his head where he sat But all was false- 
 In the meantime the searchers wrought diligently, knocking 
 and sounding every wall and floor under their feet. They 
 broke and beat down, without scruple, walls, ceilings, floors,. 
 I. 
 
1 62 FatJier RicJiard Holtby 
 
 hearths of chimnies, boards, yea, they untiled the house ; 
 and, breaking down all within the chambers, they tossed 
 and trod under their feet our clothes and bedding, the 
 lime, plaster, dust, and dirt falling upon it, and made their 
 common way over all, without sparing. They found great 
 store of books and church stuff also, as chalice and cruets 
 of silver, crosses of silver and gilt, with relics, pictures, 
 antependiums, borders, and all other furniture belonging 
 unto the altar, which had been sent and bestowed upon 
 us by former prisoners and good benefactors. And now, 
 alas ! they have harried us of all ; yea, many of us have 
 not left so much as a prayer-book, or a piece or part of 
 one ; for all was fish that came to their net. Books, lawful 
 by their own laws, they violently took away; yea, the very 
 money, which the poor men had to live upon, they snatched 
 away most greedily. After these gentlemen searchers, there 
 followed hungry rascals, who licked up their leavings, 
 sparing neither silver spoons, nor other like jewels, neither 
 linen nor woollen, as stockings of hose, remnants of cloth, 
 kerchiefs, coifs, patlets,^ shirtbands, napkins, gloves, garters, 
 combs, knives, or anything else that could be handsomely 
 carried away : and the worst is, we have Judas amongst 
 us, and cannot find means to exclude him out of our 
 company. 
 
 " The next day, being St. Thomas* eve, they came 
 again in like manner, with their workmen, yet to pull more 
 down. And now they put no doubts but to have him ; 
 and amongst us he was (they said), *for,' quoth they, 'on 
 Tuesday, when we began, it is confessed by some of your 
 fellows, that he said Mass amongst you ; and ever since 
 hath there not only been a continual watch without, but 
 also within, amongst you : every night have we had one 
 to foresee that you .should not steal him away from us.' 
 
 ^ *^ Pallet ox parti d^ a ruff or band formerly much worn about the neck by 
 both sexes, but more latterly it seems to have been worn exclusively by women." 
 IlalliwelU 
 
071 Persecution in the North, 163 
 
 So they knocked down and rifled again and again, until 
 dinner-time, and after dinner until eight o'clock at night, 
 in such sort as they did the days before ; and that was 
 thus : — The rooms being little, they divided themselves 
 into many companies, and that which the first company 
 had searched, the next that came after did the like, and 
 so did the third, fourth, and fifth, and last of all the 
 gleaners, as sweepstakes, who raked up without scruple 
 all that whereof the other made some conscience. A great 
 spite they had about chimnies, and kept much ado about 
 them : and, climbing up to the tops of them, cast down 
 stones, to see whether there were any false tones. They 
 termed one chamber * the priest's chamber,' and battered 
 it foully, as they did the rest also. If they chanced to 
 find any conveyance (as they did many), wherein anything 
 was found, then he that found it would shout and cry to 
 them in the gutter of the house above, and they then 
 would do the like to them beneath in the yard. They 
 used the barbarousest speeches that could be uttered 
 against priests and Catholics : they swore also the watch- 
 men, but especially those that belonged unto the keeper, 
 whether they had not consented to the conveying forth of 
 the priest. This was the course they continued, three 
 whole days together ; and what shall happen unto us yet 
 hereafter we know not, but only commend ourselves to 
 God, whose cause it is we have in hand, and in whose holy 
 help we have also all our trust and confidence, and that 
 He grant us perseverance and constancy, without the 
 which neither getteth the champion his conquest, nor the 
 conqueror his crown : for, take away perseverance, and 
 no service hath any pay, nor good turn any thanks." 
 
 These were the very words of their letters for the most 
 part. The cruelty of this search was such that, by the 
 estimation of some, the damages of the prison itself, 
 besides all the prey carried away, could hardly be repaired 
 without forty pounds charges. 
 
164 Father Richard Holt by 
 
 The President, therefore, having missed his purpose, 
 was much disquieted in mind, and all melancholy, and, 
 not finding which way better to satisfy his fury (although 
 he offered money to those that could betray the man he 
 sought for), determined with himself to disperse the 
 prisoners of the castle into other places, where they should 
 be kept under a more strait custody, lest they should at 
 any time, through the negligence of their keepers, obtain 
 or devise the means to receive comfort, by access of their 
 pastors, as he suspected they had done before. Where- 
 fore, not long after, he sent seventeen of the principal into 
 Hull, whereof nine were committed unto Henry Hubbart, 
 the keeper of the north Blockhouse, and the rest to 
 Beesely, keeper of the Castle, which two prisons were wont 
 to be the worst places, for extremity showed, in all this 
 north country. 
 
 Upon Easter Tuesday following [1594] he caused 
 another search to be made at a gentlewoman's house in 
 Nidderdale, called Mrs. Ardington ; for it had been cer- 
 tified him by his espials that Mr. David Ingleby (the 
 gentlewoman's brother, and one whom the President loveth 
 not, being a Catholic) and the Lady Anne Neville were 
 there. Wherefore [he] sent with all speed a company of 
 bad companions of his own household, for more trust and 
 assurance, amongst whom by name were Pollard, gaoler of 
 Sheriff Hutton, Outlav/, the President's pursuivant, and a 
 gaoler also, with one Eglesfield, a traitor, of whom you 
 shall hear more afterwards. In their way they forced a 
 poor man out of his house to be their guide ; and coming 
 near the house they drew their swords, bent their pistols, 
 and buckled themselves for battle, as though they would 
 have made an assault to the gentlewoman's house; but 
 perceiving by one of the house that there was no fear 
 of fighting, the greatest resistance consisting only in a 
 company of women, they put up their weapons, entered 
 in, the door being open, searched, rifled, turned and tossed 
 
on Persecutio7i in the North. 165 
 
 all things upside down, but found nothing greatly for their 
 purpose. Yet, fearing to be disappointed of their journey, 
 they determined not to depart with speed, but seated 
 themselves in the house, and, as though all were their own, 
 made provision for themselves at the gentlewoman's cost 
 until Thursday or Friday following : during which time 
 they kept the house, they found in the house certain 
 apparel of some gentleman, as doublets, hose, silk and 
 Guernsey stockings. Upon them they seized by the Pre- 
 sident's w^arrant, whose beggary is such that he is not 
 otherways wont to reward his trusty servants than with 
 the spoils of such as he persecuteth. Yet the pursuivant 
 returned home all in a chafe that he sped no better ; and 
 his wife also not well appaied^ that his budget came so 
 light home ; for she was accustomed always to give the 
 first welcome unto his capcase at his return home, which 
 seldom or never before came so empty. 
 
 But I note in the meantime that although traitors be 
 always v/elcome unto the President, so long as they are 
 employed, or are thought for his purpose, yet their con- 
 ditions are such that, although they seek by treacheries 
 to win credit, yet they seldom get that they gape for, but 
 rather contempt and hatred. For the President's men, 
 albeit they used the industry of Eglesfield in searching, 
 because he was forward to mischief, yet they declared well 
 what conceit and opinion they carried of him for his 
 treasons committed, not using him otherwise than as a 
 stock to laugh at. Sometimes the maid of the house 
 having dressed the chambers for her master's sake, carried 
 forth the vessel under her apron to empty the same ; there- 
 with being perceived by some, straightways they called for 
 Eglesfield (who w^as busy to see all), that nothing should 
 be conveyed away that might serve for their purpose ; thus 
 having invited him to a prey, it was sport unto them to 
 see him descend. The like pastime they devised in 
 
 ^ ** Zi? appay, from appayer, old French, to satisfy." Johnson. 
 
1 66 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 drawing him with great secrecy to break open a commode, 
 and merely mocked him when he had found what he 
 deserved. Thus may it be verified that is spoken of old, 
 that princes like treasons though they love not the traitors. 
 One Leonard Atkinson had a commission granted him, 
 and authority to summon, search, and apprehend, or vex 
 the Catholics in Richmondshire ; the which of his own 
 head, without further warrant, he enlarged in such sort, 
 that for his greater gain he took upon him, under the 
 colour thereof, not only for money to discharge and grant 
 liberty unto those whom he apprehended, but also for 
 bribes to seem to protect others from troubles, whom he 
 threatened to vex unless they Avould condescend unto him : 
 although he could not protect any indeed ; but only sought, 
 by deceiving them by vain proffers, to fill his purse. 
 Whereunto it served his turn sufficiently, that none durst be 
 so bold as to contradict him, for fear to be apprehended by 
 virtue of his commission. Which course he used so long, 
 until the matter being over evident, and complaint being 
 made to the President, for shame he recalled his com- 
 mission. This fellow behaved himself so diligently in the 
 time of his office, that, by his own report, he watched 
 nightly to espy occasions to get his prey upon some 
 Seminary ; yea, sometimes a great number of nights 
 together : insomuch that, for a long time, there was one 
 gentlewoman's house of good worship nigh unto him so 
 straitly looked unto, that no stranger could come unto her, 
 neither day nor any time upon the night, so secretly but 
 he should be espied, and in danger to be apprehended by 
 a search. One time he waited his opportunity so vigilantly 
 that he took a good company of Catholics together assem- 
 bled, with an old priest in their company ; but the old man 
 not being of such danger and account that the President, as 
 he supposed, would greatly rejoice at his apprehension, or 
 that he expected, by that present, to be rewarded greatly of 
 his lord and master, he took a more commodious way to 
 
071 Persecution hi the North, 167 
 
 reward himself, by picking twenty pounds out of the poor 
 old man's purse, for his escape at that time, in hope at 
 some fitter opportunity to gratify the President with a 
 more desired prey. 
 
 Within twenty days after the great search, made at 
 Candlemas in the year 1593, there was another commission, 
 directed to search and take away from all Catholic men's 
 houses all armour and other furniture and munitions for 
 war : the which commission, although expressly it con- 
 cerned nothing else but only to enquire for armour, yet,, 
 either by the presumption and interpretation of the 
 searchers, or by some other secret instructions or warrant 
 given them underhand, they took upon them in many 
 places to search both for men and other things also ; rifling 
 and turning all, and examining servants, in houses where 
 they came, to that effect. So was old Mr. John Trollope,. 
 a Catholic, taken, and forced to appear before the next 
 commission, and others escaped very narrowly, yea, many 
 were put in danger, because the search came at that time 
 unexpected.^ 
 
 The President and the false Bishops of York and 
 Durham have certain officers, who, I think, indeed, to be 
 no other than somners,^ yet called commonly for their 
 greater credit, authority, and terror of the people, by the 
 name of pursuivants ; and, for their greater gain, claiming 
 and exacting greater fees than common somners do. These 
 men have in their beadrolls all the names of Catholics 
 within their circuits, and are employed continually in citing 
 or summoning, sometimes by special writ and sometimes 
 without writs, all Catholics to appear and present themselves 
 to the commissioners sitting upon such matters, at times 
 appointed. These men cannot be contented, according 
 unto their offices, to summon, or serve their writs and process 
 
 * In page 114 we have given an account of one of the searches at Mr. 
 TroUope's house, and of the narrow escape of Father Hohby on that occasion. 
 2 Somnour, a sumtjioner, apparitor. HalliweU. 
 
1 68 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 to appear; but they take upon them usually, yea, now 
 seldom otherways, like unto justices or other higher 
 officers, to force men either to enter into bonds of a kind 
 of recognizance to appear, or cause them to lay in some 
 others bound or as sureties for their appearance ; other- 
 ways, as though they were true pursuivants indeed, or men 
 of greater authority, they will attach and carry away such 
 as refuse to be bound, or commit them unto the constables 
 or other officers to bring them in. And albeit they neither 
 have any such authority, nor any law doth constrain men 
 to yield unto them, yet the constables dare not disobey 
 them, lest, the catchpolls informing against them, they 
 breed them more trouble ; and cause them to be punished 
 as contemners of the authority they had not. 
 
 The President and others of the Commission^ have 
 taken a course now divers years past, which I touched 
 before, for a more easy way to persecute those Catholic 
 "wives whose husbands are men conformable to their laws, 
 contrary to the law of God and nature, to make the 
 husbands tyrants to their own flesh and bones, and [compel 
 them], for saving the catchpolls some labour, to bring in 
 their own wives, present them to the magistrates, vex them 
 by threats, persuasions, and otherwise, both in prison and 
 at liberty, to procure thereby their fall. Of this number 
 there were and are a great sort of gentlemen, of the best 
 wealth and worship, that delivered their wives to the will 
 of the tyrant ; as Sir Henry Constable, Philip Constable, 
 Thomas Metham, Ralph Babthorpe, Henry Cholmondeley, 
 William Ingleby, esquires and knights' sons all ; Mr. Ralph 
 Lawson, Marmaduke Cholmondeley, Thomas Barton, Lister, 
 Palmes, Holtby, Hungate, Vaux, Salvin, in Yorkshire ; and 
 
 * The original Acts of the High Court of the Ecclesiastical Commission of 
 the North have fortunately been preserved. Some extracts from them, relating 
 to many of the names here mentioned by Father Holtby, were published in the 
 Month for October, 1875. They are too long to be placed at the foot of this 
 page ; but as specimens, showing the proof that exists of Father Holtby's 
 accuracy, they are given at the end of this narrative. 
 
on Persecution in the North. 169 
 
 in the Bishopric of Durham, Henry Killingale, Francis 
 Trollope, George Middleton, Charles Hedworth, Fulthrop, 
 Whitfield, Welbery, and divers other gentlemen both in 
 Yorkshire and the Bishopric of Durham, as also others 
 of meaner calling. These gentlemen, finding both incon- 
 venience both in the government of their families and 
 education of their children, together with no little dis- 
 comfort and greater damages by the want and absence of 
 their most godly, loving, obedient, and careful wives, 
 laboured very earnestly by continual suit unto the 
 President and other Commissioners, to obtain their wives' 
 liberty ; but the cruel President being inexorable, nothing 
 could be gotten, without great friends made, large cost, 
 and impious conditions. In the meantime the wives were 
 kept so strait and close in prison, that no access of friends, 
 unless they were such as sought to vex and pervert their 
 constancy, could be permitted them : yea, their own 
 husbands were so barred from them, that, unless with 
 much labour obtaining a warrant from the President, and 
 that not without charges also, as oft as they did so visit 
 them, they were constrained to buy now and then a short 
 lodging with their best beloved in prison. Neither would 
 they permit the Catholic women in prison to have free 
 access or recourse one to another ; but shut them up apart, 
 into several lodgings, lest one should take comfort or 
 encourage the other to constancy. Yea, they sent ministers 
 to bait them with heretical arguments, that so, the body 
 oppressed with extremities of imprisonment, and the minds 
 continually battered with the pestilent and importunate 
 cries of most impious seducers, and all passage stopped 
 from them of the loving and faithful friends* succours, they 
 should be constrained, in the end, to yield up the fortress 
 of their faith, and be content, at the least, to accept of 
 unequal conditions, if not to become altogether captive, 
 and slaves to heresy. Some of their worldly husbands, 
 either impatient of their expenses (which were great, for 
 
I JO Father Riclmrd Ho It by 
 
 the President committed many of them as prisoners into 
 the custody of his trusty servants, as Saunderson, Pollard, 
 and others, to make their game of them), or being men of 
 some worship and stomach, loth to seek friendship by 
 some base companions' means unto the President (for such 
 bear the only sway with him, as agreeing best with his 
 humour), or disdaining to labour for his friendship by 
 whom they were so oft and easily rejected (for he made 
 them wait and give attendance from time to time, 
 scarce affording them, at any time, but with difficulty 
 either speech or countenance), or finally, expecting no 
 favour in their behalf, their requests being so oft denied 
 or deferred, began to be so unkind in the end unto their 
 loving spouses, that their marital affection was turned 
 into hatred. Others complained [of] their families* 
 misery at home, and accused the hard hearts of their 
 wives, who, for the love of God's honour and safety of 
 their souls, would put their husbands to such loss and 
 extremity : others exclaimed against Catholic priests, who, 
 seeing both wives and husbands in misery, the one by 
 disgrace in the world, the other by restraint of liberty, 
 would not dispense with the one to commit now and then 
 a sin, that both might live in earthly prosperity ; others 
 would neither vouchsafe to visit their wives, nor yet to 
 make them any allowance in prison ; and the rest, remaining 
 discontented, to their great hindrance temporal, as they 
 were able, discharged their expenses, especially for those 
 at Sheriff Hutton with Pollard, who, besides the charge of 
 their diet (which they made of their own provision), and 
 other extraordinaries (the gaoler also claiming weekly, 
 besides his table amongst them, ten shillings of every one 
 for his attendance, as he called it), were most costly to 
 their husbands, and commodious to many their persecutors. 
 The gentlemen [in Yorkshire interlined^ ceased not to 
 make means for their wives* enlargement, not only by 
 entreaty at the President's hands themselves, but also pro- 
 
on Persecution in the North. 171 
 
 curing divers letters from great lords and ladies above 
 unto him; yea, several letters and warrants from some of 
 the Privy Council, whereunto sometime six of their hands 
 were subscribed at once for their delivery. But the Presi- 
 dent, taking it in evil part that the gentlemen should go 
 about to get their wives' liberty by any others' means than 
 his own who had committed them, was the further off 
 from showing them favour; but, feeding them up with 
 fair words, pretended causes of delay, informing the Privy 
 Council, meanwhile, how unmeet it was they should go 
 home, being aiders, relievers, maintainers, or furtherers of 
 traitors and Seminaries ; yea, perceiving that some of them, 
 waxing weary with hard imprisonment, began to slack in 
 constancy, that he was in great hope and certain expecta- 
 tion, by extremity, to make them conformable. With these 
 and such like informations he deluded the gentlemen's 
 labour ; although some were of opinion, that all was but 
 a policy between the old Treasurer with others of the Privy 
 Council, that the Lord President should, by these means, 
 vex, impoverish, weaken, break, and keep down the hearts 
 of these gentlemen, having no other cause to molest them, 
 save only by picking a quarrel at them for their wives : 
 because they carry such a jealous conceit of them, that, 
 although, for fear of laws and danger of the time, they 
 yield themselves in show conformable, yet they suspect 
 them rather to be dissembling schismatics than formal 
 heretics, and secret favourites of their wives' religion, 
 though openly they take part with their persecutors ; and, 
 therefore, hate them no less than professed Catholics, as 
 back friends or adversaries unto their impious State and 
 Government, if [opportunity] and fit occasion should at any 
 time be offered them, to declare their inward mind and 
 contrary affection. Howsoever it was, the gentlemen all 
 (except Sir Henry Constable, who, upon a warrant from 
 the Council, got his lady first removed into the south as 
 a prisoner, and after, upon bond to appear at the Privy 
 
172 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 Council's call, home to his own house in the north) were 
 in fine compelled to leave off all other means, and wholly 
 to seek favour at the President's hands ; many of them 
 obtaining that way more grace, through the suit and 
 request of some catchpoll or bribing factor for the President, 
 and other factious companions, whose voice and friendship 
 it is supposed they bou^^ht for money, than could be 
 obtained, either by suit of most honourable personages, 
 or warrant from a great sort of the Privy Council. Where- 
 fore, now at last their liberty was granted, but yet with 
 such bonds, cautions, and conditions, that, if they had been 
 men of either conscience or good religion, they would 
 rather have lost all and taken part with their wives in 
 the like restraint of liberty by imprisonment, than any way 
 to have accepted the same, seeing that, by our Saviour's 
 own sentence, the gain of a world is worth nothing, if it 
 bring but the loss of one soul. And such were the con- 
 ditions of their recognizance accepted, that no priest, or 
 Jesuit, or known Catholic should come in their wives' 
 company, or at their house ; that they should have 
 heretical ministers to come and confer with them ; that 
 they should have heretical service or common prayers 
 thrice a week in their house ; that they should receive 
 the communion of Calvin's institution at times appointed. 
 These and such like conditions, either all or most of them, 
 were they all bound unto, under pain of forfeit of such 
 ample sums of money, that worldly-affected minds, whose 
 wealth is their chief felicity, would easily hazard soul 
 and all by committing what sin soever to avoid so great 
 a penalty. 
 
 All Catholics, being apprehended and brought before 
 the President and others of the Commission, are first 
 urged to take their oath to answer truly unto all that 
 shall be demanded upon them ; but Catholics being 
 instructed by experience that they shall be questioned 
 of many matters, not only prejudicial unto themselves 
 
on Persectitioit in the North. 173 
 
 and others, but also prejudicial in such points as no law 
 or equity can exact at their hands, and fearing that 
 either through scruple of breaking their oath, or peril 
 of supposed perjury if by other means their answers 
 could be disproved, to be drawn to confess more against 
 themselves than were expedient to be uttered (for the 
 persecutors would bear them in hand, that not only by 
 justice they may exact such an oath upon them, but 
 also that, by virtue of that oath, they are bound to 
 answer directly unto all demands indifferently, without 
 regard to prejudice, equity, or other bond of duty), 
 they use now ordinarily to refuse such oaths, as the 
 best way to avoid both scruple in conscience and other 
 danger. And that you may know in what points they 
 be examined, I will here set down the examination of 
 one in particular, that so you may conjecture of the 
 rest. 
 
 In the year 1590, three young gentlemen being to 
 pass into France, and expecting the commodity of 
 wind, were apprehended at Shields, in the Bishopric, 
 by D. Pilkington, the 27th of February. One of them 
 (Oliver Cottam) at two several examinations, first by 
 Toby Matthews, Dean of Durham, and after at York 
 by Topcliffe and others, was urged first to a general 
 oath, to answer to all whatsoever should be demanded ; 
 but that being denied, they asked him, 1° If he were 
 a priest, or within Orders : 2° What priests he knew : 
 3° In whose houses he had seen or heard Mass : 4° If 
 he would take the oath of the Queen's supremacy : 
 50 If he took the Queen for lawful prince, all excom- 
 munication notwithstanding : 6^ If he knew any priests 
 that were dispensed withal to deny their function 
 (demanded upon their oath or before authority), for 
 the working of private practices : 7° If he knew any 
 that did make priests in England : 8° If he ever did 
 see any catalogue or calendar of the Catholics in 
 
174 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 England, wnth the persecutors of the said Cathoh'cs, 
 and what they were by name : 9° If he would go to 
 the church with them. And at York, the 20th of May 
 following, I® If he knew George Beesley,^ a priest, 
 urging him to swear he knew him not : 2° But, seeing 
 he would not swear, they demanded him, as he was 
 a Catholic, to say truly whether he would take the 
 Queen's part or the Pope's, if he should invade to 
 establish religion : 3*^ What places he had been at in 
 Lancashire with Robert Ashton :^ 4° Where he was 
 acquainted with Robert Musgrave, — which [last] two 
 were taken with him, and examined in the like articles. 
 Which points of examination are, for the most part, 
 set down by instructions given unto the Commissioners, 
 for proceeding orderly according unto the proclamation, 
 and ordinarily ever since are proposed unto all recusants 
 at their several examinations. And here I cannot omit 
 in what sort the Dean of Durham did proceed with a 
 single Catholic brought before him at a Commission : 
 for he, being chief Commissioner in place, offered the 
 poor Catholic man to take his oath, to answer directly 
 and truly unto all questions that should be proposed 
 unto him. The Catholic refused, saying, he would swear 
 unto nothing : wherefore the Dean, thinking to circum- 
 vent the simplicity of the man by a subtlety, asked 
 him if he knew the coat upon his back to be his own. 
 Whercunto he answered he knew it to be his own ; 
 whereupon the Dean offered him the book and bade 
 him swear. The poor man, fearing that if he should 
 not swear he might be thought to have stolen the coat, 
 took his oath that the coat was his own. "Well," said 
 the Dean, "Now, by the oath that thou hast taken, 
 
 ^ George Beesley was martyred for his priesthood in Fleet Street with 
 Monford Scott, July 2, 1591. 
 
 ' Robert Ashton, gentleman, bom at Crcston in I^incashire, was executed 
 at Tyburn, June 23, 1592, for procuring a dispensation from Rome to marry 
 his second cousin. 
 
071 Persecution in the North, 175 
 
 when didst thou hear a Mass ? What priest dost thou 
 know?" &c., essaying by this sleight to draw him to 
 confess some matter thereby to bring himself and others 
 into danger, as though he had sworn to that effect. 
 
 In their examinations, as they see the nature and 
 disposition of those that are brought before them, they 
 use sometimes to terrify them with threats and opprobrious 
 words, as by threatening to hang them, and by calling 
 them notorious traitors, rebels, and enemies unto the 
 Queen ; sometimes to flatter them with fair words and 
 promises to undermine them ; sometimes by false accu- 
 sations and slanders laid to their charge, to discredit 
 them before others ; sometimes by mocks and flouting 
 taunts to discountenance them and disgrace their cause; 
 and sometimes, by framing some objections or reasons 
 against their faith, either to seduce them, or to make 
 the hearers contemn them, if they find their answers 
 insufficient. But the end of all their examinations 
 is this ; to bring them or others within the danger 
 of some statute, that so, for fear and terror of the law, 
 if they chance to entrap them, they may induce them 
 to yield and relent in their faith, or else to despatch 
 them. To which purpose, one examination sufficeth 
 them not ; but they examine them often, and by 
 several Commissioners, that they may find at least some 
 contradiction in their answers, and if this will not 
 yet serve, then they charge them with the confession 
 of some false brother, as with the confession of Major, 
 Hardesty, Clark, and others ; and that, accompanied 
 with certain tokens and certainties, and with such speciali- 
 ties, to make the matter more probable and evident, 
 that, in the end, they force them to acknowledge the 
 matters they are charged withal, which otherways they 
 cannot avouch sufficiently, but by their own confession. 
 And if they yet refuse to confess the matter, then they 
 draw them on, by promise of liberty or other favour, 
 
1"]^ Father Richard Holt by 
 
 awarranting them withal that they shall sustain no 
 harm, but the more favour, for confessing the same. 
 If this will not yet serve, then they cause them to be 
 the straiter kept, and to press them into it by extremity; 
 in the meantime suborning some by flattery to persuade 
 them to yield unto his lordship. Then they tire them 
 with continual access of preachers, or else send and remit 
 them to the custody of some notorious heretics, who by 
 continual arguments and other assaults, labour seriously, 
 and watch all occasions most vigilantly, to overthrow 
 them. By this means, was Mr. Blenkinsopp, Mr. Warde, 
 Mr. TroUope, Mrs. Cholmondeley, and others more, after 
 long imprisonment, overthrown. When they have gotten 
 any to confess against himself, then they use him at 
 their pleasure ; for, if he stand fast in his faith, then 
 will they use all extremity against him ; and, all promised 
 favour quite forgotten, they will proceed to his arraign- 
 ment and execution. But if he fall (which is more 
 frequent), then they deal with him in such sort that 
 first, his scandal shall be made notorious (although 
 they promise great secrecy); for they urge him to make 
 his public submission and abjuration; then they make 
 him lay in bond, or other assurance, or at the least 
 his promise, not only to continue and go forward in his 
 damnable renunciation, yea, to hurt his neighbours also, 
 wherein he can ; as to take priests, &c. Of all which 
 points I could give particular instances, if it were 
 needful. 
 
 And in this manner and by these degrees they do not 
 only bring many into the pit of their perdition, but they 
 also stop all the ways and means possible of their recovery 
 and deprive them of all hope ever to return to God again ; 
 and that which is the greatest misery of all, although they 
 have done them the greatest di.spleasure in the world, as 
 bereaved them of God's grace and heaven's interest, yet 
 must they, and do they, many of them deceived, account 
 
071 Persecution in the North, 177 
 
 them as principal friends and loving benefactors, that with 
 the loss of their souls they have saved their lives and 
 livings, the which were no otherwise brought in danger 
 of law, than by their own confession at their' foes subtle 
 and malicious procurement, and yield them withal most 
 hearty thanks, with promise of all dutiful service, that 
 having broken their heads and wounded them so deeply,, 
 yet have vouchsafed them a plaster in effect to kill them ; 
 of which kind of proceeding and friendship showed unto 
 those that fall, those whom I last named, with many 
 others, may be a sufficient witness ; but for rigour showed 
 unto those that either stand fast or refuse to confess such 
 matters as they are charged withal, the examples that 
 follow will easily declare ; together with the unjust manner 
 of all their proceedings. 
 
 Mr. Joseph Constable, a Catholic man, had a man that 
 served him called Scarcroft, who, after that he had lived 
 with his master, as it seemed in Catholic manner, and long 
 trusted in his affairs, fell from faith, and that so far that he 
 became a traitor to his master and others, where he had 
 been trusted. This fellow having told unto the President 
 divers matters of peril concerning his master, was [the] 
 occasion that his master was sent for unto the President, 
 and examined of sundry articles, and being urged there- 
 with, and standing upon his trial, and denying that [which] 
 he was charged withal, the President to make him confess 
 the same, had placed this honest man Scarcroft behind a 
 hanging, who at every denial of his master spake with 
 an audible voice from behind the cloth, and said, "I will 
 avouch it." The gentleman, amazed at the voice, could 
 not tell what to think : but upon commandment not to 
 depart the town, was dismissed until afternoon on the 
 next day ; but in the meantime, fearing the President's 
 displeasure, conveyed himself away without licence. But 
 the President being grieved at his escape, pursued the 
 matter against him to the uttermost ; and upon this bad 
 
178 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 fellow's information, indicted him of felony for harbouring 
 of Seminaries. 
 
 In the like manner did he proceed against John Carr 
 the postmaster of Newcastle, who being sent for by 
 the President, and committed to ward in York, before 
 any matter was laid unto his charge, and after he had 
 continued in prison a good space without examination 
 to his cost, was in the end accused of aiding and relieving 
 of Mr. Boast^ the Seminary, but he standing upon his trial 
 (although he were otherways conformable to the laws) 
 was indicted, convicted, arraigned, and condemned at this 
 Lammas Assize last past, having no other witness brought 
 forth against him but this same Scarcroft for one, and the 
 confession of one Snawdon who had been condemned and 
 executed at Lent Assize before for committing of a most 
 cruel and notorious murder upon a special friend and 
 benefactor of his own, dwelling in Berwick, and the con- 
 fession of Francis Eglesfield, who then also was not in 
 place to give evidence against him ; which proof and 
 evidence seemed not sufficient unto the jury to find him 
 guilty withal, for the first did not avouch that John Carr 
 did know him to [be] a priest, but he said only that there 
 was one John Constable about three years ago that being 
 in Newcastle with Joseph Constable, did continue all the 
 day with my La[dy] Gray, and at night was lodged at 
 John Carr's house. Which John Constable was indeed 
 John Boast, though he could not depose that he was 
 known by another name unto John Carr, than by the 
 name of Constable. And as for the other evidence, it 
 was no other ways given than by a writing from the 
 said Eglesfield, who was not there to show his face, the 
 which writing was accepted of the jury for good evidence 
 upon the President's word, who affirmed it to be his, and 
 withal that he thought in his conscience that it was 
 a true [testimony], the judge affirming the same to be 
 
 ^ John liost suffered at Durliam, July 24, 1594. 
 
on Persecution in the North. 179 
 
 sufficient : whereby it may appear that this evidence was 
 rather to be attributed unto the judge than unto any other 
 witness ; whereas neither law nor reason will admit him to 
 be a judge of a man's action, especially in a matter of life 
 and death, who, as a witness, avoucheth the crime for 
 which the guilty is condemned. The condemned therefore, 
 perceiving that upon this insufficient proof he was in 
 danger of condemnation, as it fell out indeed, did protest 
 by oath that it was a false indictment, thinking thereby 
 to save himself, and perhaps persuading himself he might 
 swear truly to his own intent, where he saw the judges 
 did not observe the order of law in proceeding towards 
 his condemnation, but the President on the one side to 
 discredit the man's oath, and on the other to excuse and 
 justify his indirect dealing by the man's own confession, 
 willed him being already condemned, to acknowledge and 
 confess the fact, and he would do him what pleasure he 
 could to save his life. Wherefore, seeing no other means 
 to avoid his death, [he] was content to confess the matter, 
 and so was reprieved for the time in expectation of his 
 pardon. 
 
 Two examples I remember happened in the year of 
 our Lord 1591, which two, although they are something 
 without my compass of two or three years, and I have in 
 some former letters signified something concerning the 
 same ; yet because to my remembrance I have not written 
 any specialties before, and the matter is necessary to the 
 publishing and recording of a thing of such importance, 
 I thought good at this present to advertise you of the 
 same. 
 
 In the year above-named it happened that one Robert 
 Thorpe,^ a Seminary priest, went to visit an old man's 
 house, called Thomas Watkinson, there to administer 
 
 ^ Robert Thorpe suffered for his priesthood, and Thomas Watkinson for 
 harbouring priests, May 31, 1591, at York. For Lady Babthorpe's account of 
 them, see Troubles^ First Scries, p. 240. 
 
i8o Father Richard Holtby 
 
 sacraments unto him and his CathoHc family, and being 
 espied and suspected to be the man he was indeed, was 
 dogged unto his lodging, and straightway intelligence was 
 given unto a justice of peace called Mr. Gates, who, with 
 all speed (as he was forward enough for such a prey) came 
 with men appointed towards the place, and entering the 
 house unawares, took the foresaid priest with the old 
 man, and carried them as traitors unto York to be further 
 examined ; at which time the Lord Darcie being Vice- 
 President, Topcliffe also was there present, who, together 
 with Meares, Purfrey, and Rokeby, of the Council at York, 
 examined them. They examined Father Thorpe first of 
 his going beyond the seas, by whom he was sent, to whom 
 he was directed, where he arrived, and how long he con- 
 tinued at Rheims, by whom he was made priest, and what 
 viaticum he had from thence } To all which demands he 
 answered directly as the things were. Then they asked 
 him. What if the Pope should set on the realm for estab- 
 lishing the Papistical religion, the which you call (say 
 they) the Catholic, whose part would you take ? He 
 answered, the Pope's, though not by way of fight, but by 
 his beads, for whose good success in such affairs he said 
 that he daily prayed. Then they demanded whether he 
 had not in charge to withdraw the Queen's subjects from 
 their allegiance towards their sovereign. And he answered, 
 No. They asked where he had exercised his priestly 
 function in ministering sacraments, &c. He answered 
 flatly he would not tell them. They asked whether if 
 he had authority from the Pope to kill the Queen, 
 whether he would exercise it or no. And he answered 
 that he would not. Afterwards at his arraignment in 
 what sort they proceeded with him, his own letter, 
 directed unto a friend of his, shall declare, which was in 
 this form as folio weth : 
 
 "With my hearty commendations, &c. These are to 
 certify you that I have divina gratia overcome all the 
 
on Persecution in the No7^tk. 18 1 
 
 temptations against those great bulls of Basan. When I 
 was examined before Meares, Purfrey, Rokeby, and Top- 
 clifife, upon certain questions, I answered both with the 
 Holy Scriptures and holy Doctors unto my simple know- 
 ledge. But they replied again, 'Thy coming from beyond 
 the seas is treason ; we trouble thee not for religion but 
 for treason : ' insomuch that Meares in flattering manner 
 said, * Thou art a simple man, be a good subject and go 
 to the Church and hear a sermon and use what religion 
 thou wilt, and thou shalt be free from all calamities, 
 troubles, and torment.' * Lo,' said I, 'then, this is great 
 treason, if I would do as you do, and condemn my silly 
 soul, all should be well.' After my arraignment, being 
 found guilty, they asked me what I would say for myself 
 that I should not be condemned for treason.? I answered, 
 ' I am a Catholic priest, and sent by authority of the 
 Catholic Church to persuade the people from their sins 
 and wickedness, and to serve God, and to do the office 
 of a priest,' alleging the words of our Saviour, Sicut me 
 viisit Pater, Ego mitto vos i^ and withal, I said I came 
 not to be judged of you for a traitor, but to judge over 
 you, as you are bound ; alleging again, Mementote prce- 
 positorum vestrorum, &c., and iterum, Obedite prcepositis 
 vestrisj Scc.^ 'Treason,' say they. 'Thou must obey the 
 Queen.' I said, Quce sunt Ccesaris Ccesari ; qucB sunt 
 Dei Deo? 'For we must obey God and the Church first, 
 and then the Queen in all temporal causes, but not in 
 ecclesiastical causes.' They then interrupted me, saying, 
 'That is treason.' I then answering again, said, 'You 
 promised me, if I would go to the church and hear a 
 sermon, &c., that I should be free.' But they denied it. 
 I said, ' Mr. Meares did persuade me. Lo, good people,' 
 
 ^ *• As the Father hath sent Me, I also send you." St. John xx. 21. 
 
 2 " Remember your prelates who have spoken the word of God to you." 
 ** Obey your prelates and be subject to them." Heb. xiii. 7, 17. 
 
 ^ "To Coesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are 
 God's." St. Matt. xxii. 21. 
 
1 82 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 said I, ' this is great treason,' 7it sitpra, with a loud voice, 
 for by means of their great clamour I could not be 
 heard. And thus with many opprobrious speeches (as 
 afore) they railed upon me. Thus taking my leave, I 
 cease to trouble you any longer. I give you adieu, and 
 my last farewell in this life, until we shall meet all 
 (dante Deo) in the celestial and joyful place, where ever- 
 lasting joy and comfort be." 
 
 Being therefore condemned and to be executed (the 
 31st of May being Monday next after Trinity Sunday), 
 Topcliffe at the execution was so moved with rage at the 
 good man's words, whereby he exhorted men to become 
 Catholic, and to beware of such tyrants as he was, that 
 he bid the executioner despatch his office, or else he him- 
 self would come and do it. So was his body martyred, 
 as the custom is, among his foes on earth, and his soul 
 being accepted of God, crowned with glory amongst his 
 friends in heaven for his good confession. 
 
 The good old man in whose house he was taken after 
 his examination and imprisonment, was arraigned at the 
 same gaol delivery ; wherefore they proceeded against him 
 for entertaining a Seminary, the which he knew to be such 
 an one ; but the man said he never confessed so much, 
 neither did the Bench and counsel urge him now whether 
 he knew him to be such a person or not, but proceeded 
 against him as though he had confessed the matter plainly 
 at his first examination, and he said to them openly that 
 he was never examined of that point. Then was the clerk 
 sent for to the Bench that wrote his examination, and 
 sworn whether that were a true examination or no ; in 
 which was set down that Father Watkinson had confessed 
 that he knew Father Thorpe to be a Seminary priest, and 
 the ungracious clerk swore that it was true, though the old 
 man denied it ; but according unto this examination they 
 condemned him. After verdict given, Meares sent his man 
 unto him to wish him to] demand at the Bench's hands 
 
on Persecution in the North. 183 
 
 some time to consider of his state, and to have his Hfe 
 prolonged, at the least, until Lammas ; but the good man 
 thought it not good for him to seem doubtful of his estate, 
 fearing they would have made the world believe he had 
 given some signs of revolting from his faith (which was 
 indeed the thing they earnestly and only sought, as mani- 
 festly appeared), but he was content simply to ask his life ; 
 but that would not serve his turn, without some show of 
 doubt in his religion, wherefore he quietly suffered them 
 to proceed as they would and as they had determined, 
 choosing rather to die gloriously than to live in ignominy. 
 A subtle and malicious minister was sent unto him a little 
 before he was to go towards the place of execution, to 
 persuade him to some conformity, and to acknowledge 
 that he was condemned for treason, and ask the Queen's 
 forgiveness, &c., and crying upon him to do something. 
 But the poor old man cried out aloud, "Away from me f 
 get you hence ; I will not pray with you ; I will have 
 nothing to do with you ; " with such-like pitiful outcries : 
 for he could not otherwise be rid of the minister but by 
 crying; the keeper had clapt them so together that he 
 could not depart from him. In the end, when they see 
 they could have no advantage of him, nor colour of re- 
 lenting in religion to the show of the saving or prolonging 
 his life, they sent him forward with the rest to be executed ; 
 but at the very place of execution TopcHfife offered him 
 his life and lands if he would become a good subject and 
 go to the church, but he cheerfully refused, choosing rather 
 to be a king in heaven than to live a miserable subject and 
 bond-slave to sin in the world, and so embraced his crown 
 prepared. 
 
 This present year, being the year of our Lord 1594,^ 
 
 ^ Father Holtby here uses New Style. Bishop Challoner says, "In the 
 beginning of this year 1594, or according to the English account \i.e. reckoning], 
 in the latter end of 1593, viz., on the 4th of February, John Speed, layman, 
 was executed at Durham." 
 
184 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 and the last day of January, there was a gaol delivery 
 holden at Durham, where the Lord President, Tobie 
 Matthew, Dean of Durham, Mr. Purfrey, one of the Council 
 at York, Calverley, Chancellor of that Court, Hilliard, 
 Buskall, as assistants, with other Justices of Peace, being 
 assembled together. First, a sermon was made by the 
 Dean in the abbey church before them, wherein small other 
 matter of doctrine was declared, besides a long amplifica- 
 tion of the commandments of the President, in respect of 
 his rare labour and diligence to establish their new gospel 
 and supplant those of a contrary religion, which being 
 ended they departed, and being placed in their sessions 
 house, their commission read, the justices, coroners, and 
 bailiffs called, and the grand inquest impanelled, as the 
 manner is, Mr. Purfrey prepared to give the charge, 
 wherein, after some other speeches, he fell into a bitter 
 invective against the Pope and challenge of jurisdiction 
 spiritual in this realm ; and, like a preacher alleging 
 divers frivolous arguments and authorities to prove the 
 sovereign authority of their Church to rest in the Prince 
 and temporal magistrate, excluding all Popes as impious 
 usurpers of the same, of which number notwithstanding, 
 he said, it could not be denied but that thirty-two or 
 thirty-three were holy men, sound in religion, and died 
 very good martyrs. He much commended the merciful 
 clemency of her Majesty's reign, comparing it with Queen 
 Mary's days, affirming without shame that now there is 
 no cruelty showed to any for religion, which, how true it 
 is, we Catholics in all parts of the realm are able to declare. 
 After which speeches, to show how little truth there was 
 in his tale, presently he gave charge to the inquest to 
 inquire, and present all Jesuits, Seminary priests, and such 
 other (as he termed them) runagates from Rome, and of 
 their messages, tokens, and badges from Rome (meaning, 
 as it should seem, their faculties, Agnus Deis, grains, &c.), 
 amplifying much of them and their wickedness he falsely 
 
071 Persecutio7i hi the Noi^th, 185 
 
 imputed to them, to bring them in disgrace and hatred of 
 the hearers. 
 
 The first day they sat upon felons and burglars, 
 amongst whom was arraigned and found guilty one 
 Thomas Wilkinson, a minister, for stealing of horses, and 
 after condemned and executed for the same. But the next 
 day, being Candlemas eve, being set again about nine 
 of the clock, the Lady Margaret Neville was brought to 
 the bar to be arraigned, not on the outside amongst the 
 other prisoners, but within the bar, where, making a low 
 curtsey unto the President, he and the rest of the Bench 
 vailed their bonnets again, and, as some say, the President 
 let fall a few tears when he saw her. Being there placed, 
 she was commanded to lay off her hat, to put off her 
 gloves, and to hold up her hand, which done, the Clerk 
 of the Assizes reading the indictment, said unto her : 
 " Margaret Neville, hold up thy hand. Thou standest here 
 indicted by the name of Margaret Neville, late of Brance- 
 pithe, in the county of Durham, spinster, daughter of 
 Charles, late Earl of Westmoreland, of high treason 
 attainted : That whereas one John Boast, late of Duffeton, 
 in the county of [Westmoreland], clerk, an Englishman born, 
 had about thirteen years ago departed from the University 
 of Oxford unto Rheims, beyond the seas, and there was by 
 the authority of the Bishop of Rome made a Seminary 
 priest, and after that, contrary to the laws of this realm 
 (Eliz. 270), came into England and arrived at Hartlepool, 
 in the said county of Durham, and from thence (not 
 making himself known to her Majesty's justices and other 
 officers, as by statute in that case is provided) travelled 
 into the south parts of England, and then after some while 
 returned into the north, viz., unto Waterhouse in the said 
 county of Durham, where thou, the said Margaret Neville, 
 him did[st] feloniously receive, aid, and relieve, contrary to 
 her Majesty's laws, crown, and dignity. How sayest thou, 
 Margaret Neville: art thou of this felony, whereof thou 
 
1 86 Father Richard Holiby 
 
 hast been indicted and art now arraigned, guilty, or not 
 guilty ? " Here the lady paused, as neither experienced 
 nor instructed what to answer in such a case ; whereupon 
 the Court called upon her to plead guilty, or not guilty ; 
 and after another pause, and the Court urging her to say 
 guilty, or not guilty, she said : *' I am ignorant of the law, 
 and would be loth by mine answer to prejudice myself." 
 Then said Tobie Matthew, "Madam, in my opinion you 
 were best to submit yourself to the Queen's mercy ; con- 
 fess your offence, crave pardon, and be sorry for your 
 defaults ; for if you plead guilty you lay hold of her 
 Majesty's mercy, but if you plead not guilty you oppose 
 yourself to the rigour of the laws." " Madam," quoth the 
 President, "if you were my sister I would advise you to 
 take this course." The Lady Margaret moved herewith, 
 and much urged thereunto by certain gentlemen that stood 
 next unto her, she kneeled down and pleaded guilty. 
 "Then," quoth the clerk, "the Lord have mercy upon 
 thee." Then she craved her Majesty's mercy, desiring his 
 lo[rdship], whom she had always found to be her honour- 
 able good lord, to be a means for her in that distress, 
 saying that she never knew of that priest before he came, 
 nor sent for him at any time. Then were read certain her 
 own and others' confessions, wherein appeared she had 
 twice heard Mass of him ; in which confessions it also 
 appeared that the La[dy] Gray,^ her sister, was bewrayed 
 a fautor in that behalf ; but so much of those confessions 
 as touched the Lady Ca[thcrine] Gray, the President made 
 show that he was unwilling it should be read openly, but 
 caused Mr. Purfrey (who was come from the Bench amongst 
 the clerks to be the Queen's Attorney to urge and give 
 
 ^ Charles Neville, sixth Earl of Westmoreland, left four children by his 
 wife, Lady Jane Howard, daughter of Henry, Earl of Surrey : Catherine 
 married Sir Thomas Gray of Chillingham ; Elizabeth died unmarried ; Margaret 
 married Sir Nicholas Pudsey; and Anne married to David Ingleby of Ripley, 
 Esquire. Supra^ p. 164. 
 
on Persecution ifi the North, 187 
 
 evidence) to omit the same, his lo[rdship] turning to him the 
 papers and directing him where to read and not to read ; 
 all which confessions the Lady Margaret could not deny, 
 but called for her Majesty's mercy, &c. ; though much 
 more happy and assured had her estate been if, not 
 regarding the breach of most unjust and impious laws, 
 she had confidently submitted herself unto God's mercy, 
 who could and would have delivered her from that present 
 danger if His eternal wisdom had thought it expedient, 
 or else have granted her grace and fortitude to have 
 endured a short affliction and temporal contempt in so 
 glorious a cause, for the gain of most honourable crown 
 and everlasting triumph. After this she was withdrawn 
 from the bar into a corner of the Court, where there was 
 a green chair prepared for her to sit upon. 
 
 Then was Grace Clapton^ of Waterhouse, the wife unto 
 Grace Clapton. William Clapton, who of long time had been 
 holden in prison for his faith, called to the bar, arraigned 
 and found guilty for harbouring, and hearing Mass of the 
 said John Boast, in the presence of Francis Eglesfield, 
 a traitor and dissembled Catholic, who had bewrayed them 
 all. To whom the President said : " Mrs. Clapton, I could 
 tell you of two priests more, that have both said Mass 
 at your house, who I dare assure you" (quoth he) "do 
 now as much detest the Mass as ever they embraced it 
 before, and will preach as much against it. Such " (quoth 
 he) "is the mercy of the Lord, when it pleaseth Him 
 to open the eyes and hearts of His elect ; although they 
 are yet very blunt preachers, but they will say and speak 
 as earnestly as ever I heard." This commendation did 
 he give upon those castaway and apostate priests, William 
 Hardesty and Anthony Major, or Thomas Bell, which 
 
 ^ Dr. Challoner writes the name "Claxton," and in this spelling he is 
 followed by Canon Tierney. Father Holtby has plainly written " Clapton." 
 "William Clapton probably belonged to the same family as his namesake of 
 Sledeswick, co. Durham, and the Claptons or Cloptons of Clopton, co. Warwick, 
 See Troubles^ First Series, pp. 259, 320. 
 
i88 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 three had bewrayed all they knew of Catholic people 
 where they had been received. 
 
 After her was John Spede, a young man of twenty-two 
 years old or thereabouts, indicted and arraigned for con- 
 veying of one called Metcalfe, a priest, from place to place, 
 against whom there was not much to be proved, until at 
 the last a letter was avouched which he caused William 
 Ogle, his fellow-prisoner in York, to write in his name 
 to one Miles White of Durham, therein requesting him 
 to deal presently with one Brass and his wife, in any 
 case not to confess the bringing of any such person unto 
 his house, for if that could be concealed he thought himself 
 sure of all other matter they could lay unto his charge. 
 The said letter was intercepted, as they said, by one 
 Snawdon, a prisoner condemned and executed for a most 
 detestable murder, and by him, then prisoner in York, 
 bewrayed unto the President ; which notwithstanding, the 
 said Spede pleaded not guilty, there was brought in the 
 confession of Brass, and one Taylor, who afifirmed that 
 he brought one Metcalfe unto their houses, but they did 
 not know him to be a priest. Which confession, and 
 presumption conceived by the letter aforesaid, together 
 with an ample explanation of the word " aiding," made by 
 Hilliard the lawyer, secured unto the jury good evidence 
 against the prisoner Spede ; wherefore they pronounced 
 him guilty. 
 
 After him was then called unto the bar, Thomas 
 Mr.Troiiope. Trollopc, and arraigned for conveying a priest 
 called Bernard Pattyson ; which Trollopc for the same 
 matter had been before, four or five years past, arraigned, 
 and the benefit of a pardon granted in the Parliament, 
 anno 29°, allowed him, soon after the supposed oflfence 
 was committed. A strange case for a man to be arraigned 
 twice for one offence, and that being pardoned before, at 
 which time he had been also set at liberty ; but that being 
 a Catholic he refused to go to the church with heretics, 
 
on Persecution in the North, 189 
 
 for which cause he was again committed to prison, and 
 there remained until now. Wherefore, being desirous that 
 he should put himself unto the second trial, they told 
 him that the pardon would do him no pleasure unless 
 he would go unto the church. He answered that if that 
 were the matter he would willingly spend his blood in 
 the cause, rather than he would come there. Wherefore, 
 seeing they could not justly deprive him the benefit of 
 the pardon, they urged him no further. All things, there- 
 fore, having proceeded unto the giving of judgment, 
 Mr. Purfrey, who before had accused as the Queen's 
 Attorney, now sitting upon the Bench, and holding in 
 his hands a paper delivered unto him by the clerk of 
 the court, containing the names of nine prisoners con- 
 victed by verdict and their own confessions, willed them 
 to hearken unto their judgments, and after a few words 
 pronounced the sentence in this manner: "You nine 
 prisoners last named shall all (my lord respiting my Lady 
 Margaret and Trollope,) go from hence to the place from 
 whence you came, and from thence to the place of execu- 
 tion, where you shall be hanged by the necks until you 
 be dead, and so God have mercy of your souls." The 
 judgment to this effect given, the prisoners were conveyed 
 again unto the gaol, and amongst them the Lady Margaret, 
 who before that time since her apprehension had been 
 prisoner in Brancepithe Castle, a house of her father's, 
 and where herself was born, and after that some short 
 while with one Swift, a minister, in safe custody, but 
 since her arraignment was committed unto Robert Robson, 
 the under-sheriff, where she was used very basely, not 
 allowed so much as a maid to wait upon her, and her 
 diet and other entertainment, as they say, very slender ; 
 where she remained until Lammas Assize, after which 
 time she was committed unto the custody of Matthew 
 Hutton, supposed Bishop of Durham, who, by flattering 
 words, fair promises, and deceitful persuasions, hath 
 
190 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 seduced her in the end from God's Church into the 
 participation of heresies, she yet remaining at Auckland 
 with him under safe custody.^ Upon that sentence given, 
 there grew a question amongst the hearers, whether the 
 Lady Margaret amongst the rest had her judgment of 
 death or no, for some thought that the word " respiting " 
 did only exempt her from execution, but not from the 
 sentence of death ; others thought that she was excepted 
 from both, and especially because Trollope was excepted 
 with her, who could not be judged, seeing he challenged 
 a former pardon ; but it is credibly reported that 
 Mr. Purfrey, hearing of it, did afterwards expound his 
 meaning, and took it in evil part that any should so 
 mistake his words as to except any of the named prisoners 
 from judgment. 
 
 These matters being ended, the grand jury presented 
 many recusants (or Catholics refusing to participate with 
 heretics), as indicted, to the number of eighty and upwards, 
 who all by name were called, and proclamation was made 
 that they should enter their bodies to the sheriff before 
 the next assizes, or else to forfeit all their lands and goods. 
 The court being adjourned and the juries discharged, 
 execution was expected, from the which the Lady Mar- 
 
 ^ Burke, in his Vicissitudes of Families, gives a letter from Hutton, Bishop 
 of Durham, to Lord Burghley, dated 1594, suing for the Lady Margaret's 
 pardon, wherein he says : *' I sent up in the beginning of the term to sue for 
 the pardon of the Lady Margaret Neville, taken in company with Boast, the 
 Seminary priest. She lamented with tears that she had offended God and 
 her Sovereign. She is wholly reclaimed from popery. Dr. Aubrey hath had 
 her pardon since the beginning of term. If it come not quickly, I fear she 
 will die with sorrow. It were very honourable for your good lordship to 
 take the case of a most distressed maiden descended, as your lordship knoweth, 
 of great nobility, the house of Norfolk, the house of Westmoreland, and the 
 house of Rutland, in memory of man, and was but a child of five years old 
 when her unfortunate father did enter the rebellion ; and now she is a 
 condemned person, having not one penny a year to live upon since the death 
 of her mother, who gave her 33/. 6j. 8^/. a year, part of that 300/. which her 
 Majesty did allow her. It were well that her Majesty were informed of her 
 miserable state : she is virtuously given, humble, modest, and of very good 
 behaviour." ' 
 
071 Persecutio7i in the NortJu 191 
 
 garet was respited, with Thomas Trollope and Grace 
 Clapton, upon great suit and much difficulties ; the Presi- 
 dent answering that he might not do it, for he was directed 
 to do execution ; she craving the benefit of her venter, 
 and viewed by six matrons, who thought she was with 
 child, her reprieve was granted, according unto the law, 
 for twenty weeks. Amongst other that made suit for 
 her unto the President, Francis Eglesfield, who had 
 betrayed her and brought her into that extremity, thrust 
 in himself for one, being supposed a man of sufficient 
 credit with his lord to obtain such a matter for his good 
 service done, but he prevailed not ; yet he thought by 
 that means to win the gentlewoman's and her friends' 
 favour again in offering by word to entreat for her, whom 
 by deed he had brought to her perdition ; for the gentle- 
 woman being now reprieved, her carnal friends set upon 
 her, being a carnal woman, and over excessively affected 
 to her life and children, in hope of getting her prince's 
 pardon, persuaded her to fall from God, whose eternal 
 sentence of judgment she incurred for the same. But 
 amongst others, Sankey the gaoler did tempt her most 
 perniciously, who perceiving her violent and most pas- 
 sionate desire towards her children, whereof two had 
 continued with her by her own procurement in prison, 
 neither could be drawn from her, her eye and heart 
 always set upon them, to increase her temptation did 
 always thrust them in to her when she was kept close 
 prisoner, and would not suffer them to depart, but objected 
 their tender estate unto her, lamenting their case before 
 her, and accusing her of a cruel heart to forsake them. 
 With these and such like persuasions, he and other earthly 
 friends of her own made her renounce her Heavenly 
 Father and everlasting crown, the which within a few hours 
 she might have obtained, if she had remained constant. 
 
 And only John Spede was executed for the cause, 
 amongst the other felons, being otherways a very simple 
 
192 Father Richard Holt by 
 
 and ignorant man, and who for safety of his life, and 
 danger of others, as he supposed, had been before content 
 to yield and go to the heretics' church ; yet in the end, 
 to satisfy for his former offence, was executed for the same 
 cause. How he behaved himself towards his execution,^ 
 the ministers setting upon him to bereave his soul as they 
 pursued his life, divers men do report the same in divers 
 sorts ; for some affirm that he prayed sometimes with his 
 ministers, and other times, not regarding them, said his 
 own private prayers to himself; others affirm that he 
 refused to pray with them ; but this is certain, that at 
 his coming forth of the prison towards execution, he went 
 with a glad and cheerful countenance and behaviour, and 
 gave money unto the Catholics that were in the Low 
 prison, requesting them to pray for him, whereby it 
 appeared that he rejoiced in the cause he was condemned 
 for, and was desirous to die in the unity of that fellow- 
 ship unto whose devout prayers he commended himself 
 so freely, although his simplicity were such that he knew 
 not in more evident and express manner how to make 
 a public profession of the same at his execution ; which 
 ignorance might also be some excuse unto him if simply 
 in some private prayer he seemed unadvisedly to pray 
 with them whose profession or heresy he abhorred, and 
 then either regarded or discerned not. 
 
 This was the manner of their proceeding at that gaol 
 delivery, the which I have here set down in particular, 
 because I have heard that the President, since being at 
 the court, seemed to deny his proceeding against the Lady 
 Margaret ; whereby also you may see what simple proof 
 is holdcn for good against a Catholic, what witnesses 
 admitted, what law objected, what rigour used, and what 
 hope of lenity or justice is to be looked for in that court 
 
 * Challoner says, without mentioning his authority : ** He died with con- 
 stancy, despising the proffers that were made him to bring him to conform." 
 Vol. i. p. 308. 
 
on Persecution i7t the North, 193 
 
 and before those magistrates, where the will of the judge 
 is the warrant of the jury, where the accuser of the crime 
 must give sentence of judgment upon the so accused, and 
 the opinion of one absent witness, or reported testimony, is 
 sufficient evidence to convict and indict a man of felony. In 
 like manner at the Lent assizes following, holden at York, 
 did the President indict Peter Knareborrow, Peter Wal- 
 worth, John Hodgson, and Ralph Grimstone, for harbour- 
 ing and receiving of Seminaries. The jury having no 
 other evidence to give any verdict upon save only the 
 President's own testimony, who, to satisfy the jury's con- 
 science withal, said that Hardesty the apostate had con- 
 fessed he had been at some of their houses, and he would 
 take it upon his honour that it was true, and as some 
 say, brought him unto them to avouch the same before 
 them. 
 
 This same year, 1594, in the month of July, at the 
 assizes holden at Durham, being the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th 
 day of the said month, were arraigned, condemned, and 
 after executed, for matters of religion, Mr. John Boast, 
 Mr. John Ingram, priests, and George Swallowell, a 
 minister, who at his arraignment made profession of the 
 Catholic faith, and died in the confession of the same. 
 But first, before I set down the manner of their arraign- 
 ment, I think it not amiss to signify something of their 
 apprehension, and other proceedings with them during 
 their imprisonment. 
 
 The Lord President had of long time suborned and 
 hired one Francis Eglesfield to find some opportunity to 
 betray Mr. Boast. This fellow, being otherwise of infamous 
 life, made no doubt to take the matter in hand, and the 
 better to bring his purpose about, dissembled himself a 
 Catholic, thereby more easily to intrude himself into the 
 company of him whom he meant to betray ; and under- 
 standing that Mr. Boast used sometimes to visit the house 
 of William Clapton, who of long time had been in durance 
 N 
 
194 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 for his conscience, and his wife and children Cathoh'c, 
 remaining at his house called Waterhouse, where also 
 sojourned for the time the Lady Margaret Neville, though 
 a mean place for a woman of her calling, being a straw- 
 thatched house, and containing scarce an honest lodging 
 for one of mean estate : yet such was her good hap, if 
 she had had the grace to have continued to endure con- 
 tempt and a kind of banishment for Christ, now being 
 forsaken of her honourable friends. Eglesfield perceiving 
 this to be a fit place for compassing of his enterprise, 
 did insinuate himself into the friendship of the poor gentle- 
 man and his wife, and making a commodity of their 
 poverty, did by loan of money and other courtesies so 
 bind and blind their well meaning, that he deserved 
 thereby both their trust and good report ; and although 
 he might at several times have betrayed divers others, 
 both priests and lay folks, in the same place as it is 
 reported ; yet because he could not have the man he looked 
 for, others escaped the mischief meanwhile, lest, being 
 descried, he should have missed the mark he shot at 
 principally. Wherefore the loth of September, mino 1593, 
 having intelligence that Mr. Boast was at the place desired, 
 the President at that time also being in the Bishopric of 
 Durham, and expecting such a matter, a commission was 
 given to certain men appointed, among whom was one 
 Mr. Ralph Bowes, Ewbanck a minister, Outlaw a pur- 
 suivant, with others picked for the purpose, who beset 
 the house first afar off. In the meantime cometh Egles- 
 field unto the door ; and Mr. Boast, being ready to ride 
 away, and coming unto the door, was saluted by the 
 traitor, by kneeling down and asking him a priest's bless- 
 ing, and so returned back to his company, who now was 
 come nearer the house, and placed in such sort that none 
 could pass away unapprehended. Wherefore the blessed 
 man, perceiving himself to be betrayed (as he feared before, 
 upon some mislike, the fellow's treachery), entered into 
 
on Persecutio7i in the North. 195 
 
 a secret conveyance to save himself. Wherefore they 
 entered and searched the house, and rifled all ; broke up 
 the boarded floor of the parlour where the Lady Margaret 
 lay, and found a conveyance below ; found their church 
 stuff" in the bottom of a cupboard in the chamber above, 
 but could not find the man they sought for. Eglesfield, 
 who would not come into the house with the rest, lest 
 he were descried a traitor, cometh to the outside of the 
 house, demandeth if they found him, assuring them he 
 was within, and assigned them to break about the chimney 
 and they should have him ; for, not mistrusting any 
 treachery, they had made him privy to their secrets. So 
 was he found and apprehended, and carried away to 
 Durham with the Lady Margaret and her maid, the gentle- 
 woman of the house with others. This news being brought 
 unto the President, he was so glad and pleasant that day 
 as might be, affirming that he had gotten one of the 
 greatest stags in the forest ; and the next day came in 
 all haste to Durham (for he was at Darlington) to examine 
 the martyr and the rest that were with him. Wherein 
 Mr. Boast declared himself both resolute, bold, joyful, 
 and pleasant ; and afterwards was assaulted with divers 
 ministers, the particulars of which conferences I could 
 not as yet obtain. One pleasant thing I heard reported 
 generally, that a minister entering with him into some 
 argument about images, and alleging out of Deuteronomy 
 xxvii., Malcdictits homo qui facit scidptile, as he interpreted, 
 " Cursed is the man that maketh any image," Mr. Boast 
 answered merrily, "Then," saith he, "cursed is he that 
 maketh the knave of clubs" (for by that term was the 
 minister termed, when he was student in Oxford, for his 
 deserts), and so was he dashed. 
 
 From Durham was he carried to York, and from 
 thence to London, and from London back again to 
 the place where he gained his crown and victory : in 
 the which space of time, as appeareth by his own letters. 
 
ig6 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 he was examined fifteen several times, four times laid 
 upon the rack, and once hung up in the manacles, 
 the which he affirmed to be the most painful torment 
 of all the rest; during which torment the apostate 
 Major was brought in unto him, and avouched that he 
 had been with him in several places in the north, and 
 by force of that torment they pressed out of him the 
 confession of the same, for which he asked God forgive- 
 ness ; but being out of the torment, he renounced that 
 he had said before, and protested that for avoiding of 
 that extreme pain he had said otherways than became 
 him. 
 
 Mr. John Ingram having employed his travel, since 
 his mission from the Seminary, in the country of Scotland, 
 for the restoring of souls out of heresy unto the unity of 
 the Catholic Church, upon some urgent occasion had been 
 in England, and returning back again and entered into 
 a boat to pass over the river of Tweed into Scotland 
 (November 25, 1593), was stayed by the keepers of 
 Norham Castle, apprehended, and carried to Berwick, 
 there being kept under the safe custody of Mr. John 
 Carew, governor of the town, and used very courteously, 
 until such time as the Lord President caused him to be 
 brought from thence to York, where he was kept very 
 close in the Manor, and very hardly used, and in the end, 
 a little before Easter, was sent also to London, there being 
 also very straitly examined, hardly used, and put also to 
 torture, wherein (as appcareth by his own writing) he con- 
 fessed nothing to the hurt of either man, woman, or child, 
 or any place he had frequented ; insomuch that Topcliffe 
 said he was a monster of all other for his exceeding taci- 
 turnity. During the time he was in the north he went by 
 the name of a Scotsman, but by means of false brethren he 
 was betrayed unto the President. Divers times he was 
 assaulted by ministers, but he put them to the foil. He 
 was taken upon St. Catherine's day, upon which day he 
 
on Persecution in the North. 197 
 
 had taken the holy order of priesthood. These and divers 
 other extremities he endured, as may appear by his letters 
 and certain epigrams he made during his restraint. 
 
 These two blessed men, having overcome all other 
 trials, and vanquished their adversaries in these lesser 
 skirmishes, were soon thought fit to be assailed with the 
 last and most dangerous conflict. Wherefore, being 
 appointed to die, [they] were both together sent back 
 again into the north country, having their feet tied under 
 the horse's belly, for fear of flying, and the one severed 
 a certain distance from the other, by the way, lest they 
 might confer or comfort the one the other. So they 
 arrived at York about the 13th day of July, and from 
 thence to Durham, to be arraigned at the next assizes 
 holden the 22nd of the same month following. Mr. Ingram 
 in the meantime, before the day of the assizes, was first 
 carried unto Newcastle, and put in a prison called the New 
 Gate. Being there, there came a gentlewoman to visit him 
 that had been before acquainted with him when he was 
 prisoner in Berwick, that had shown herself favourable 
 towards him there. She asking how he did, he answered 
 her, " Well," and thanked her for his courteous entertain- 
 ment at Berwick ; saying that he had been harder used 
 since he departed from there, as that he had long time 
 wanted a bed to lie in, &c., affirming withal that it did 
 better content him the more hardlier he was used, although 
 he had cause to thank her and others that had better 
 entertained him. The gentlewoman, perceiving him very 
 joyful, said unto him that she marvelled to see him so 
 merry, considering what he looked for ; and he answered 
 that he had great cause to be merry, because his wedding- 
 day being at hand, the bridegroom must needs be glad, for 
 within ten days he hoped to enjoy his Spouse. She said 
 that it was true his hope was good, but his banquet was 
 deadly ; but he answered that the reward was sweet. 
 When the gentlewoman came to him she found him at 
 
198 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 dinner, having no other dainties for the present than bread 
 and water, for it was Friday. So she took her leave, and 
 he was carried the next day to Durham, towards the assizes. 
 The same gentlewoman reported that when he was 
 taken and brought to Berwick the governor caused him 
 to be searched, and finding certain relics about him of 
 some martyrs before executed, would have cast them into 
 the fire and burnt them, but the good man grieved thereat 
 to lose such a treasure, requested him very earnestly and 
 importunately not to do so, but rather take from him all 
 that he had and put him to what torment he would, so he 
 might have them again; so, in the end, they were delivered 
 unto him, and he kissed them, showing himself most joyful 
 that he had recovered his treasure again. Here follow his 
 epigram and letters. [Father Holtby then gives two close 
 pages of Latin verse, of which we give a single epigram as 
 a specimen, not so much of the holy martyr's verses, as of 
 his undaunted spirit. It was cut in the walls of the Tower 
 of London by him when in expectation of martyrdom. 
 ^'E'xiypaiMiMa jocosum in tumulum. 
 
 Pro tumulo lapides fodiuntur viscera terree, 
 
 Ut vivos dives possit habere suo : 
 Ast ego non qua^ro tumbam ; sed vivida tumba 
 
 Pro nostro exangui corpore corvus erit.p 
 
 In the year 1594, the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th of July, 
 were the assizes holden at Durham, at which were 
 the Lord Henry Hastings, Earl of Huntingdon, Lord- 
 Lieutenant and President in the north, together with 
 Matthew Hutton, supposed Bishop of Durham, Justice 
 Beaumont, Baron Ewingcs, justices of the assizes, and 
 many others. The first day, being the 22nd, Hutton 
 made a seditious and bloody sermon before the judges, 
 
 ^ Father Grene's copy of these epigrams are in his CoUectan. N. i. p. 41. 
 The following lines are a translation of the one above given. 
 
 Men to the living rock resort 
 
 For their sepulchral stones : 
 A living tomb is mine, unsought — 
 
 The crow that picks my bones. 
 
on PersectUion in the North. 199 
 
 to prepare their minds towards their future proceedings^ 
 with certain invectives against the Pope, Seminaries,, 
 priests, &c., incensing the judges to prosecute with all 
 rigour the justice, or rather cruelty, of the law against 
 such persons and their fautors, as by occasions should 
 be produced before them. The 23rd day, the President,, 
 with the justices and the rest, being set, the Bishop also 
 being in place by the commandment of the President 
 (for these men regard no irregularities), the jury was 
 impanelled for trial of life and death ; which done, the 
 clerk of the assizes said, " Gaoler, bring forth thy prisoner, 
 John Boast, unto the bar." Who appearing, the clerk 
 said, "John Boast, hold up thy hand," which being done^ 
 the clerk read his indictment, containing that John Boast, 
 being a natural Englishman, born at Dufton, in the 
 county of Westmoreland, had, without licence, departed 
 the realm into foreign countries, where, by authority of 
 the Bishop of Rome, since the first year of her Majesty's 
 reign, he was made a Seminary priest, and so had again 
 returned into England ; and at Waterhouse, in the 
 county of Durham, such a day (naming the time of his 
 taking or thereabouts), had said Mass, contrary to her 
 Majesty's laws, her crown and dignity, &c., and asked 
 him if he were guilty or no } " Not guilty," quoth he. 
 Clerk: "How wilt thou be tried.?" Boast: "By the 
 clergy, viz., by an inquest of priests." Beaumont: "There is 
 no such trial in use, nor allowed in England, at this day.'* 
 Boast: "Then I will be tried by your own consciences.'^ 
 Beaumont : " You must say whether you will be tried by 
 God, and the country, or no : which if you refuse, there 
 is a shorter course for you." Boast: "I am a priest of 
 the Holy Catholic Church ; and I came though unworthy, 
 according unto St. Paul, to preach the Gospel of Jesus 
 Christ, whereof I am not ashamed, and to minister 
 the sacraments unto my dearly beloved countrymen.'* 
 Ewinges : " Sirrah, you came not hither to preach : you 
 
200 Father Richard Ho It by 
 
 shall be dealt withal well enough : if you will not submit 
 yourself to the ordinary trial, we will have another way 
 for you. Thou art an obstinate villain." Boast : " Woe 
 be to them that have taught that true obedience to the 
 Queen and true religion cannot stand together well. I 
 do not mean that any of this inquest shall stand charged 
 or be guilty of my blood. I had rather confess the 
 whole indictment." Bcaiunont : " Then you do confess 
 that you are an Englishman, and have travelled beyond 
 the seas, was there made priest, by authority from the 
 Bishop of Rome, since the first year of her Majesty's 
 reign, and have returned and said Mass in England, 
 according to the indictment ? " Boast : " All that I 
 must needs confess, and am not ashamed of it, but do 
 greatly rejoice that I have done so." Beaiimojit : "Then 
 enter his confession upon record : the jury shall not be 
 troubled with him : the court may proceed against him 
 upon his own confession." Here Mr. Boast offered to 
 speak, but he was not suffered. Eivingcs : " Carry him 
 away from the bar, for he is so impudent and will 
 seduce the people." And so he was carried again into 
 prison, the people flocking about him in going, and 
 he sundry times wishing to God to send them good 
 instructors. 
 
 Clerk : " John Ingram, priest, hold up thy hand." 
 Ingram : " Here, my Lords ; " and so held up his hand. 
 Clerk : " Thou art indicted by the name of John Ingram, 
 the son of Ingram, of Stoke, in the county of Here- 
 ford, Esq., for that thou, being a natural Englishmen," &c., 
 as in the other, omitting the point of Mass-saying. 
 Ingrain : " Not guilty." Clerk : " How wilt thou be 
 tried } " Ingram : " Though I ought not to be tried 
 by your temporal laws, before I be dealt withal by a 
 lawful clergy, yet will I not stand thereupon : — by God 
 and the country." Clerk: "God send ye a good deliver- 
 ance" (a speech ordinary). Ingram here confessed tliat 
 
on PerseciUion in the North. 201 
 
 he had been out of England fifteen years, whereof a 
 certain space at Douay, where he was instructed by one 
 Columbus, a Jesuit. The residue of his time he spent 
 at other Universities, and for four of the last years at 
 Rome, where he took the order of priesthood. And 
 [he said] that he came from Rome to Scotland, where 
 he lived, minding not at all to come into England, 
 because of the persecution there ; and he was, even 
 upon his coming into England, pursued in Scotland, 
 and constrained to avoid the same, for fear of his life. 
 He came into England, and stayed but ten hours, and 
 returning to Scotland was taken upon the water of Tweed 
 before he had performed any priestly function in England, 
 and therefore, as he thought, not guilty by the force of 
 any law or statute of force in England ; '^ considering 
 that I was forced for safety of my life to come in, and 
 made no stay." The President charged him, that he 
 had been longer in England, and had travelled further, 
 as, namely, through Newcastle into the Bishopric, in the 
 company of one that would avow the same : but the 
 avower was not present to be seen. Ingram then, in 
 the Latin tongue, recited an ancient Roman law, con- 
 taining that every witness for life and death should be 
 produced face to face ; and took God to record he never 
 was in Newcastle, nor in the Bishopric, but when he was 
 brought that way as a prisoner. The President said that, 
 when he was at York, he called Mr. Ingram unto him 
 into his garden ; and, at that time, he had placed the 
 other party (not present, and who he said before would 
 avow it) in a window, where he might behold Ingram's 
 face, for the space of his going all the length of the 
 garden, and so dismissed Ingram to his keeper and came 
 to the party in the window, who told him that Ingram 
 was the same man that he before had told him to have 
 been in a gentleman's house in Northumberland, and with 
 whom also that party had travelled through Newcastle 
 
202 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 into the Bishopric withal, and had left him at Gateside- 
 head, &c. Ingram denied ever to have been in any house 
 in Northumberland saving during the said ten hours that 
 he was in an ale-house, where he ate and drank ; and that 
 he came forth of Scotland at Wark, and was to go back 
 at Norham, where he was taken. The President named 
 one unto him that had informed him, but Mr. Ingram 
 protested that it was not so, and prayed God to forgive 
 him. President: ''Ingram, you know that I brought unto 
 you at York another Seminary priest, Mr. Hardesty, who, 
 as soon as he saw you saluted you by the name of 
 Monsieur Messingamus ; where, before, you had told me 
 you were a Scot, and that your name was Ogleby ; but, 
 in truth, you were deceived of your purpose. Your 
 meaning was to have met with Walpole and your uncle, 
 one Lyngam, in Scotland, and so to have travelled into 
 England, but God prevented that by forcing them to land 
 in Yorkshire and so were taken." Ingrain: "The changing 
 of my name is no such offence. Many examples" [of 
 good men might be brought.] Beanmont: " My lord, the 
 jury hath heard the evidence. He hath confessed himself 
 to be a priest, made by the authority of the Bishop of 
 Rome since the first of this Queen : his coming into 
 England, though he but set his foot within the land, is 
 treason ; whereof let the jury consider." Then Mr. Pepper, 
 as the Queen's Attorney, did enforce against him divers his 
 examinations, tending to the effect aforesaid; adding withal 
 but with no small impudency, that where he and others 
 of his coat pretended, to the slander of the present State, 
 that they died for religion, it was nothing so ; but they 
 died for treason against the ancient laws of this land, and 
 namely, a law made the 25th of Edward III., which he 
 declared was directly against him and all other Jesuits and 
 priests ; and, therefore, that it was injurious to say they 
 were condemned by any new law, &c. : as though the world 
 knew not that these priests, now arraigned, were arraigned 
 
on PersecMtion in the North. 203 
 
 upon a new statute made in the 27th of Elizabeth, and 
 that the law of Edward III. was made before either 
 Jesuit or Seminary priest was spoken of; for to be a 
 priest was never against any statute in England. Then 
 Mr. Ingram showed that the statute alleged was not 
 against him, nor any of his coat ; and that it was never 
 so taken, that any Englishman going to Rome and taking 
 orders and returning, was adjudged therefore a traitor ; 
 " for, indeed, that statute is for matters of benefices ; but 
 your statute is for being a priest. He is, ipso facto ^ a 
 traitor : whatever he do or say, his every action is treason." 
 After his speech Pepper prepared to reply, but was pre- 
 vented by the judge, who said — Ewinges : " It is enough ; 
 the jury hath heard him confess that he was made a priest, 
 by the authority of the Bishop of Rome, and that he came 
 into England contrary to the law. It is evidence enough 
 for the jury," &c. And so was Mr. Ingram carried from 
 the bar to prison. 
 
 Clerk : " Bring George Swallowell to the bar. George 
 Swallowell, hold up your hand." Which done, there was 
 read against him an indictment for persuading one John 
 Willie from the religion established unto the Romish 
 religion, telling him he could never be saved by any 
 religion but by the Catholic faith, for which the four priests^ 
 were lately, as he said, executed at Durham ; that the 
 Queen, being a woman, could not be head of the Church ; 
 with divers other words tending to treason, and withdrawing 
 the said Willie from his due obedience to her Majesty's 
 laws. To this whole indictment the said Swallowell pleaded 
 " Not guilty," saying that it was the malice of Dr. Bellamy 
 that had procured all this against him. Then were read 
 the examinations of one Willie and of one Finch, taken 
 before the Bishop of Durham, which contained the effect 
 of the indictment. But the prisoner called for WiUie to 
 
 ^ Edmund Duke, Richard Hill, John Hog, and Richard Holiday, were 
 martyred at Durham, May 27, 1590. 
 
204 Father Richai'd Holtby 
 
 appear, but he was not there. Then Finch came into the 
 court, and gave evidence that Willie had told him that 
 Swallowell had spoken the words in manner and form 
 aforesaid : and further, that he, the said Finch, having 
 been at the execution of the four priests, came to Sher- 
 bourne House, where he then served, and made report of 
 the manner of their deaths. Upon all which Swallowell 
 said that, no doubt, these priests were martyrs before God. 
 Upon which relation the jury were to consider of their 
 verdict. 
 
 In the afternoon, the same 23rd day, John Ingram and 
 George Swallowell were brought to the bar, when the jury 
 was to give in their verdict, who pronounced that they 
 were both guilty of high treason. Whereat Mr. Ingram 
 protested earnestly, and took God and His holy angels to 
 witness that he was condemned for religion only. Presi- 
 dent: "Thou liest most falsely: thou art condemned for 
 most vile treason against the Queen's Majesty." higram : 
 " My lord, I die only for religion, and for the same religion 
 by the which and no other your lordship and this whole 
 bench must be saved, if ever you will be saved." Beaumont : 
 " Thou art impudent, and knowest not what thou sayest : 
 the law telleth thee that thou diest for high treason. Take 
 him away from the bar." Ingrain : " There is no Christian 
 law in the world that can make the saying and sacrifice of 
 the Mass treason ; and as well might the celebrating of 
 the Maundy of Christ's disciples be made treason, as the 
 saying and hearing of Mass be made treason." Beaumont: 
 " Away with him ! he will seduce the ignorant people." 
 Here Swallowell would have prostrated himself for mercy, 
 but was remitted from the bar with Mr. Ingram for that 
 day. 
 
 The next morning all those that were found guilty 
 were brought unto the bar to hear their judgment. And 
 first of all Mr. Boast, who, holding up his hand, was asked 
 what he could say, that he should not receive judgment 
 
071 Persecution in the North. 205 
 
 to die. Mr. Boast answered that he was glad that God 
 had called him unto that trial of his priesthood and pro- 
 fession, and very sorry that the laws of his beloved country 
 were such as could not concur with the holy Catholic faith. 
 Here the President told him of his being at Ardington, at 
 a marriage, where also was one Ballard,^ a priest, who told 
 him of an invasion towards, by the King of Spain, which 
 he said Boast traitorously concealed. Mr. Boast confessed 
 that then and there he spoke with Ballard, and that Ballard 
 told him of an invasion, and that he reproved Ballard for 
 the same, saying, " Thou and I are priests : it is our 
 function to invade souls, and not to meddle with these 
 temporal invasions ; they belong not to us," And he 
 added further, that "whosoever doth further charge me 
 in that, or in any other thing that is contained in my con- 
 fession under mine own hand, he doth charge me untruly, 
 be he a lord or whosoever, and I thought I had deserved 
 no blame in that ; for, to tell every tale one heareth, and 
 that which one may tell, could not be warrant, or, if any 
 such thing were, had been folly." "Nay, more," quoth 
 the President, "you did then rejoice to hear of it, and was 
 very desirous to be made acquainted with the secrets 
 thereof ; but if your treasons had come to pass, where then 
 had been Queen Elizabeth, whom I beseech God preserve 
 ever and ever.?" and the rest said "Amen." Mr. Boast was 
 further urged that he had taken the oath of supremacy in 
 Oxford, in Queen's College, and was a minister, and by 
 this revolt was an apostate and stained with perjury, and 
 had been a lewd fellow. He answered, " Infinite peccavi^ 
 miserere inei Detis ;'"^ and, ^^ Nnnquam sera est ad bonos 
 mores via? Because I once persecuted, therefore, by your 
 reason, I must persevere therein. St. Austin, if he was a 
 
 ^ John Ballard died at Tyburn for his share in the Babington conspiracy, 
 Sept. 20, 1586. 
 
 * "I have sinned infinitely, have mercy on me, O God." 
 ^ " The way to a good life is never too late." 
 
2o6 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 Manichee, yet died a good Christian and a saint ; " and 
 offering to speak a little more, was commanded by 
 Beaumont to be silent, who said he had had too much 
 liberty of speech ; yet was urged again by Stanhope that 
 he was perjured, in that he had sworn to take orders after 
 a time being in the College in Oxford. He said, " Your 
 orders of clergy were not known nor heard of when the 
 statutes of the House were made;" and so was Stanhope 
 put to silence and ashamed of his speech. 
 
 Then the clerk said, "John Ingram, hold up thy hand. 
 What canst thou say that thou shouldst not receive 
 judgment t " " I say that I am a priest, and that my 
 exercise and practice of priesthood cannot be called or 
 made treason by any Christian law ; and I beseech God 
 to forgive both you and them that make it otherways. 
 And I do with all my heart forgive you, and all my 
 accusers and persecutors ; and so I beseech God to have 
 mercy upon me, and to strengthen me with patience and 
 constancy in mine agony." 
 
 Clerk: Swallowell, hold up thy hand. What canst 
 thou say that thou shouldst not," &c. Sivallowell : "Good 
 my lords, be good unto me ; I am falsely and maliciously 
 accused. Dr. Bellamy seeketh my blood for some advan- 
 tage to himself, by making profit of my place in Sherbourne 
 House when I am gone. I was brought up there, under 
 Mr. Thomas and Mr. Ralph Lever, and by them preferred. 
 I beseech God to bless the Queen's Majesty and confound 
 all her enemies." President: "Wilt thou defy the Pope, 
 and his laws, and all Seminary priests and Jesuits } " 
 Swallozvell : "Yea, my lord, I defy them all." Beaumont: 
 " Will you fight in her Majesty's behalf, against the Pope, 
 the King of Spain, and all Papists, her enemies ? " 
 Swallowell: "I will fight against them while I am able 
 to stand." President: "Will you take the oath of her 
 Majesty's supremacy ? " Sivalloivell : " Yea, my lord, 
 whensoever you will.*' 
 
on Persecutid>t^<iiLjke_J^ortk. 207 
 
 Here the President and the judges privately con- 
 sulted, and it was expected that Swallowell should 
 be reprieved. Beaumont : "Well, then, you three, Boast, 
 Ingram, and Swallowell, for you are all condemned 
 for treason, attend your judgments." First he made a 
 short exhortation, wherein he told them it was a marvel 
 they would so much advance the Pope above princes in 
 spiritual matters. " I will," quoth he, " tell you of an 
 ancient record, proving the authority of the Kings of 
 England in matters spiritual ; " and then declared how 
 Eleutherius, an ancient godly Bishop of Rome, "but no 
 Pope, I warrant you" — he receiving letters from King 
 Lucius of England, wherein he prayed him to send him 
 some good laws, whereby he might govern his kingdom, 
 Eleutherius answered, ^' Habes titramque paginam'^^ &c. 
 i.e. "Thou hast both the Old and the New Testament. 
 Counsel with the wise men of the kingdom, and gather 
 laws thereout for thyself; for thou art the vicar of God 
 in thy own kingdom." Here Mr. Boast smiled, and would 
 have spoken, but was interrupted ; yet he brake out with 
 these words, viz., " It is doubtful whether that epistle of 
 Pope Eleutherius be counterfeit or current. For my own 
 part, I have sought much for it and could never find it, 
 but [only] a report of it, out of Mr. Jewell and such like 
 authors." This said, Beaumont proceeded to judgment, 
 pronouncing sentence as in case of high treason is used, 
 concluding with, " God have mercy upon you." Mr. Boast, 
 kneeling down and stretching forth his hands, thanked 
 God that had given him grace to confess His Name before 
 them all, and said he did glory in it. Mr. Ingram said, 
 "7> Deiim landaimis,'' &c., a verse or two thereof; and 
 then Mr. Ingram and he kissed their hands and embraced 
 each other. Swallowell then said, " My lords, my lords, I 
 pray you hear me. Let me die with these two blessed 
 martyrs. I will be a Catholic, and die as they do ; and 
 here I do renounce and am sorry for that which last I said 
 
2o8 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 against the Catholics, and am now by these two blessed 
 martyrs' examples resolved to be a Catholic ; " and thereof 
 made many vehement protestations, disturbing the court 
 for the present, who all fell into a laughter against him 
 upon his sudden change. Hereat Mr. Boast, standing next 
 him, clapped him on the head with his hand, and said, 
 " Hold thee there, and I warrant thee." Then the President 
 said, "We do laugh at him, but there is more cause to 
 weep for him," and seemed to lament his sudden revolt 
 very much. But Swallowell so persisted in his last revolt 
 that the court being disturbed therewith, the President 
 and the judges commanded the two priests from the bar, 
 who as they retired to their prison there came a minister 
 to Mr. Boast, and offered conference. The under-sheriff 
 commanded him away, saying, " My lord had commanded 
 that none should speak with them." But Mr. Boast said 
 to the sheriff, " Let him come ; I will talk with him ; 
 but I would have heard my Lord of Durham say some- 
 thing." 
 
 Whilst Mr. Boast and Ingram were at the bar, the 
 prisoners convicted of felony for sundry crimes, some of 
 them were to have the benefit of the clergy, and to such 
 the Ordinary held the book ; ^ but Mr. Beaumont said to 
 him, "Let nobody prompt them. Look well to the priests, 
 for they are so pitiful they will prompt them." And indeed 
 Mr. Boast did his endeavour to them all that were near 
 him, covering his face with a hat that he might not be 
 espied. All which done the whole gaol were dismissed. 
 
 It seemed good to the President and judges that the 
 two priests and Swallowell should die for public example's 
 sake at three sundry places ; viz. Mr Boast at Durham, 
 Mr. Ingram at Gateside-head, and Swallowell at Dar- 
 lington. Upon Wednesday, the 24th of July, 1594, 
 
 ^ From early times in England all who could read might claim benefit 
 of clergy in capital felonies ; but by an Act in the reign of Henry VII. laymen 
 could claim their clergy but once, and then were burned in the hand. Benefit 
 of clergy was finally abolished in 1827. 
 
071 Persecution m the North. 209 
 
 Mr. Boast was brought in a cart to the place of hrs 
 execution. In the way great guard was used that none 
 should come near the cart save only the officers and sundry 
 ministers ; and the justices were appointed to note the 
 manner of execution and observe the people's behaviours, 
 and to take heed that none should speak unto him. Being 
 come unto the place, he came forth of the cart, and at the 
 ladder foot kneeled down on both his knees, and privately 
 prayed unto himself, and after made the sign of the Cross 
 on the side of the ladder, and so ascended up, and turning 
 him unto the people began to speak ; but was interrupted 
 and willed not to speak but to pray for the Queen and to 
 confess his offences and to crave pardon. He said that if 
 ever in his life or temporal conversation he had offended 
 her Majesty or her laws he was sorry and did ask her 
 forgiveness ; but for his exercise of priest's function, being 
 the service of God, it could not be offensive to her High- 
 ness, nor to any estate in the world, and therefore it 
 neither needed repentance from him, nor forgiveness by 
 her. Then was he willed to hold his tongue, or to make 
 an end of his prayers. All this while the rope was about 
 his neck, and one at the foot of the ladder ready to turn the 
 same if he should offer to speak offensively. Then he began 
 a prayer in Latin, which was one of the Psalms of David 
 Whether it were Levavi oailos, or Ad te levavi, I am not 
 yet assured, for the words my information gave me are not 
 right recited ; but he offered to have made certain exposi- 
 tions of the words, and upon some of them he gave this 
 note, that he gave God thanks that had called him from 
 the detestable estate of heresy, wherein once he was 
 plunged, to be a professor of His most holy Catholic 
 religion. And here he was interrupted again. Then one 
 in the press among the horsemen spoke something unto 
 him, and he craved earnestly at the sheriff's hands that he 
 might answer him, but was denied. " Well then," quoth 
 he, " seeing that neither living nor dying I can be suffered 
 O 
 
2IO Father Richard Holtby 
 
 to speak, then I beseech God that my death and blood 
 may speak for all ; " and so, with a few prayers being said 
 by him, he was turned off the ladder, where he hung till 
 he was scarce half dead, and so was cut down and hauled 
 to the pit where the fire was. Where, as he felt the 
 butcher his knife, he spoke to him and said, " God forgive 
 thee, go on, go on." And again, Asperges me, Doinine; 
 Dominc, Domine, miserere^ and so died. His quarters were 
 set on the Castle, and his head upon Framegate [Framwell 
 Gate] Bridge in the town, the which was taken away that 
 night by some of his friends. 
 
 Upon Friday, being the 26th of July, Mr. John Ingram 
 was by the under-sheriff conveyed to Gateside. The cart, 
 therefore, coming to the prison, he was brought forth and 
 laid therein, and entering into the cart he used these words, 
 Tanqiiayn agnus innocens ad occisionem ductus stun^ and 
 being so carried out of the town, there was a horse pre- 
 pared for him, and so he rid the rest of the way on 
 horseback, without boots or cloak, having upon his head 
 a white coif only, with a JeSUS wrought in the forehead 
 with red silk (as also Mr. Boast had, towards his execution, 
 a night cap with a coif under it turned up, and thereupon 
 a Jesus wrought in black silk, and as it were a holy lamb 
 above it), holding the bridle in the left hand, and his right 
 hand up, praying ; but it seemed that he had no perfect 
 use of his right hand, by reason of racking, for he could 
 not hold it very upright. His horse was changed at 
 Chester, and another delivered unto him ; . . . and 
 between the under-sheriff and the aldermen of Durham 
 was conveyed unto the Tollbooth in Gateside. Upon his 
 alighting by Captain Ellis, the President's man, and others, 
 a speech was raised that Mr. Ingram attempted to have 
 escaped and drowned himself in Tyne, which was neither 
 true, or could be true, nor any attempt to any such purpose 
 
 * Thou shall sprinkle me, O Lord ; O Lord, Jiave mercy. 
 ' I am led as an innocent lamb to the slaughter. 
 
on Persecution in the North. 211 
 
 made by him ; and one hearing Ellis report the tale who had 
 come in company with him did openly reproy^ him for it to 
 
 his face in Mr. 's house. The same day, about three 
 
 of the clock at afternoon, or a little before, all things at 
 the place of execution being ready, Mr. Ingram was then 
 laid in another cart, and from the ToUbooth was drawn to 
 the place of execution. And being come thither he prayed 
 upon his knees in the cart, and after prostrated himself 
 upon his face and belly. After a while he descended 
 from the cart, and sat down on both his knees and 
 prayed again; and making a Cross upon the ladder and 
 kissing it, he ascended up, and turning his face to the 
 people he said, **I take God and His holy angels to the 
 record, that I die only for the holy Catholic faith and 
 religion, and do rejoice and thank God with all my 
 heart that hath made me worthy to testify my faith 
 therein, by the spending of my blood in this manner." 
 And then the sheriff interrupted him and willed him to 
 make an end of his prayers. Then he required the 
 people to consider in what a damnable estate they 
 stood in, through erroneous religion, as he termed it 
 Then one Banister, a follower of the judges, said, 
 " Mr. Sheriff, he is preaching unto the people." Then 
 the sheriff again interrupted him. Then he was willed 
 to pray for the Queen, and he prayed God that she might 
 long reign to His glory, and that it might please Him to 
 procure her to live and die a good Catholic Christian 
 prince. "Marry, God defend," quoth Hutton, parson of 
 Gateside ; and they were offended he had prayed in that 
 manner; and he answered that they bade him pray 
 for her. The rope being put about his neck, the which he 
 kissed twice before it was put on, he said his Pater noster^ 
 Ave Maria, with Ora pro 7iobis, Saiicta Dei Ge}ietrix, 8ic., 
 Credo, and the Psalm Miserere viei Dens, desiring the 
 baylie that stood at the foot of the ladder that he would 
 spare him until he had made an end of that Psalm, which 
 
212 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 done, making the sign of the Cross upon himself, and 
 saying, /;/ maims tuas, &c., the ladder was turned ; and 
 being dead, he was cut down, bowelled, and quartered, as 
 the manner is. His quarters were sent to Newcastle, his 
 head set up upon the bridge, with Mr. Lampton's and 
 Mr. Waterson's, and his blessed soul received triumphantly 
 among the celestial spirits in the kingdom of his heavenly 
 Father. 
 
 Upon Monday following, George Swallowell, sometime 
 a minister or reader in the hospital of Sherbourne House,^ 
 so-called, was carried to Darlington to be executed. It 
 was God's providence that he was reserved to see the 
 examples of these two priests, and so to have this 
 occasion to win his crown ; for he had been at a gaol- 
 delivery, at Candlemas before, brought unto the bar, but 
 was reprieved by the Lord President and remitted unto 
 the general assizes before the judges, and if this occasion 
 had not been it is very probable that he should have been 
 quit [acquitted] and continued in his former estate. Being 
 brought unto the place of execution, and a room made for 
 him, there came in four or five ministers, but he said, 
 "Mr. Sheriff, you promised me that I should not be 
 troubled ; I pray you take them away." They urged 
 him that he was a minister, and of another profession ; 
 and he answered that he was sorry for it that he had 
 been so. Then the under-sheriff commanded him to go 
 up the ladder, which done, he said unto him, "Now hear 
 me a little ; thou art condemned for a traitor against the 
 Queen's Majesty, and art to receive thy punishment 
 according to thy deserts. Confess thy fault and ask the 
 Queen forgiveness." Then he answered that he had 
 offended God and asked Him forgiveness, for he had 
 given to Caesar more than was Caesar's due ; and so, 
 desiring all Catholics to pray for him, he said his own 
 prayers in Latin, and being turned off the ladder and 
 
 ^ Challoner says, at Houghton le Spring in the Bishopric 
 
on Persecution in the North, 213 
 
 dead, was cut down, bo welled, and quartered.^ His 
 quarters were buried together at the foot of a stack or 
 heap of furze, and his head was appointed to be set up 
 on the ToUbooth ; his soul receiving a whole hire, though 
 he came not to the vineyard before the eleventh hour. 
 
 Note. — In the Will Office attached to York Minster, amongst 
 other inestimable treasures, are preserved in seventeen volumes 
 the original Acts of the Ecclesiastical Commission of the North. 
 We content ourselves with a very few extracts to illustrate Father 
 Holtby's narrative. 
 
 On Saturday, March 25, 1592, in the manor house of the 
 dissolved Abbey of St. Mary's, York, Henry Earl of Huntingdon 
 Lord President of the North presiding over the Ecclesiastical 
 Commission, Ralph Babthorpe of Osgodby, and William Hungate 
 of Septon, Esquires, appeared in person, and were each of them 
 bound "in five hundred marks to procure that morning and 
 evening prayers appointed in the Book of Common Prayer be 
 hereafter daily held in their houses, and their children and house- 
 hold servants ordinarily to hear the same ; also not to keep or 
 hereafter retain in their houses or service any of their children or 
 servants, being of lawful age, not dutifully and usually resorting 
 to the church, there to hear Divine Service and receive the Holy 
 Communion at least so often yearly as is appointed in the said 
 Book of Common Prayer; neither to admit nor suffer any that 
 shall be known to be disobedient in religion to remain or usually 
 to repair to their house." 
 
 The day before this proceeding the wives of these and other 
 gentlemen were thus disposed of "And because she [Margaret, 
 wife of Sir Henry Constable] refused to hear Divine Service or to 
 conform herself towards religion established, the said Commis- 
 sioners committed her to the custody of Mr. William Watkinson, 
 by a warrant in writing to keep her close prisoner in his house 
 
 ^ The account of Swallowell's martyrdom given by Bishop Ch^llon?r does 
 not altogether agree with this, and is fuller in detail. 
 
214 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 without access of any person to her, saving of a maid to attend 
 her, being such one as will repair to the Church to hear Divine 
 Service." So Mistress Babthorpe was committed to "Mr. Thomas 
 Buskell, Esq.," and Mistress Hungate to *'Mr. William Paler, 
 Esq." — gentlemen of whose names we should probably be in 
 ignorance but for this circumstance. The delicate attention of 
 the Commissioners, that the ladies' maids should go to the 
 Protestant church, shows how carefully they studied the work 
 given them to do. 
 
 However, the gentlemen who consented to act as these ladies' 
 gaolers were soon relieved of their charge. On Friday, the 13th 
 of April, 1592, "in the prebendaP house of Ulleskelf, within the 
 cloister of the cathedral church of York, and before the most 
 Rev. Father in Christ, John Lord Archbishop of York, the most 
 noble Henry Earl of Huntingdon, and the venerable Sir 
 Christopher Hildyard, Knight, John Benet, doctor of laws, 
 William Hildyard, Esq., and William Palmer, Chancellor of the 
 Church of York, in the presence of me, Henry Proctor, public 
 notary : which day, hour and place the said Commissioners 
 for divers causes them moving, and especially because the favour 
 showed to the persons hereafter named, by committing them to 
 divers gentlemen's houses where they have been well entreated, 
 and conference of godly preachers to move them to forsake the 
 errors, if it would so have fallen out, could take no place with 
 them \sic\, committed them, viz., the Lady Margaret Constable, 
 wife of Sir Henry Constable, Knight; Mrs. Catherine Ingleby, 
 wife of W. Ingleby, Esq. ; Mrs. Catherine Metham, wife of 
 Thomas Metham, Esq. ; Mrs. Grace Babthorpe, wife of Ralph 
 Babthorpe, Esq. ; Mrs. Margaret Hungate, wife of W. Hungate, 
 Esq. ; and Mrs. Elizabeth Lawson, wife of Ralph Lawson, Esq., 
 to the keeper of the Castle of Sheriff Hutton by warrants made 
 for that purpose to Richard Pollard, gent., keeper of the same 
 castle, and signed other warrants to be delivered to the gentlemen 
 where they now remain, commanding them and any of them 
 thereby upon receipt of their warrants to deliver the said gentle- 
 women and any of them to Roger Collier, her Majesty's pur- 
 suivant, who by like warrants was commanded to receive them 
 1 These legal Latin phrases are translated in these extracts. 
 
on Persecution i7i the North. 215 
 
 and to convey them to the said Castle of Sheriff Hutton. And 
 then and there the said Mr. Richard Pollard entered into recog- 
 nizance of one thousand marks well, truly, and safely to keep 
 them according to orders to him given for that purpose." 
 
 Before the end of the year Sir Henry Constable obtained 
 leave from the Privy Council for his wife to go to London, pro- 
 vided that he should first enter into recognizance before the 
 Ecclesiastical Commissioners. He accordingly appeared before 
 three of them on the 5th of December, 1592, and the following 
 were the conditions they required. He was bound in a thousand 
 marks " that the Lady Constable his wife shall, within seven days. 
 after her enlargement forth of Sheriff Hutton Castle, where she 
 now remaineth, take her journey into the south parts ; and that 
 after her said enlargement and before her departure into the south 
 parts she shall not repair to any of her husband's houses, neither 
 make any longer abode within the county of York after her 
 coming from Sheriff Hutton, but only five or six days at the house 
 of Mr. John More of the city of York (if she will), to prepare 
 herself for the said journey into the south parts. And also not to 
 repair to any house during her absence where either the man or 
 the wife thereof are known to her to be recusants, neither ta 
 confer or talk with any seminary, Jesuit, or Popish priests during 
 her said absence, nor yet to confer or talk with any person or 
 persons known to her to be disobedient in religion now estab- 
 lished within this realm in matters of religion during her saiid 
 absence. And also within twelve days after her said enlargement 
 to confer twice in every week during her said absence with some 
 learned [preacher €rased'\ divine for her conformity in religion now 
 established. And also that she shall personally appear before the 
 Queen's Majesty's said Commissioners or three of them in the 
 common place within the metropolitical church of York, upon the 
 6th day of March now next coming, unless in the meantime she 
 conform herself to the godly religion now established within this 
 realm, and thereof send true and sufficient certificate to the said 
 Commissioners or three of them, upon the 6th day of March next, 
 to the same place. And hereunto the Most Reverend Father in God,. 
 John, by God's providence. Lord Archbishop of York, Mr. Edward 
 Stanhope, John Gibson, Ralph Rokeby, William Palmer, and 
 
-^i6 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 Robert Waterhouse, esquires, gave their consents, as appeareth 
 I from certain articles whereto they subscribed their names remain- 
 •. ing of record, by means of letters written by the lords and others 
 •of her Majesty's most honourable Privy Council in her behalf; 
 
 • and that done a warrant was delivered unto Sir Henry Constable, 
 Knight, for his wife's enlargement." 
 
 On Tuesday, May 30, 1592, the Archbishop presiding, the 
 
 ' Commissioners " did commit Peter Knaresburgh for his obstinate 
 
 refusing to go to church, to the custody of Richard Qucaly 
 
 .quousque^ and Bridget Maskew, wife of Thomas Maskew, 
 
 ^merchant, to the sheriffs of York, to be kept prisoner in Ouse- 
 
 i bridge donec^ &c. And did also set down and decree that 
 
 Mrs. Katherine Ratcliff and Mrs. Margaret Cholmeley should 
 
 be sent to the keeper of Rotherham College to be kept prisoners 
 
 there for their recusancy in case the keeper come >vithin seven 
 
 • days now next coming to enter bond for their safe keeping, &c,, 
 .but if he do not come, that the said Mrs. Ratcliff should be 
 presently after the expiration of those seven days sent to Hull, 
 ;and the said Mrs. Cholmeley to Knaresburgh Castle, to be kept 
 
 prisoners there according to orders delivered for that purpose." 
 
 One more specimen from the same date. "Tuesday after 
 Trinity Sunday, May 23, 1592. The Office of the Lords [Judges 
 •or Commissioners] against John Constable, gent., Richard Sta- 
 pleton, gent, Cyril Ardington, Laurence Lister, James Thwaites, 
 Thomas Lassells, and Robert Wright, esquires. Several precepts 
 are directed to every of them personally to appear this day and 
 to bring in with them their wives. On which day James Thwaites 
 personally appeared and brought in a certificate signed by the 
 hands of Thomas Lassells and Christopher Wandesford, esquires, 
 whereby it appeareth that his wife had heard Service once in 
 Mr. Lassells' house in presence of the said gentlemen, and 
 Mr, Thwaites confessed that he hitherto never received the 
 Holy Communion." The rest of the entry respecting him is 
 written on the margin, and we can almost imagine that we see 
 the poor man hesitating and delaying to the last moment, and at 
 length authorizing the notary to record the words that follow. 
 "And the said Mr. Thwaites, to satisfy the Commissioners, offered 
 himself to receive the Communion before the 4th of July next, 
 
on Persectitioji in the North. 217 
 
 and that his wife should repair to the church and there hear 
 Service and certify ; whereupon he was licensed to depart. 
 
 "Then Laurence Lister, Esq., personally appeared and brought 
 in his wife before the Lords Commissioners ; and his said wife, 
 being asked when she was last at church, answered, ' Seven ot 
 eight years ago ; ' and then interrogated what the cause was she 
 hath absented herself since from the church, she answered that 
 her conscience Avould not suffer her ; and refused to say the 
 Lord's Prayer or to join with the congregation in prayer within 
 the church; and also refused conference with learned preachers: 
 whereupon she was committed to prison, and sent to Hull Castle 
 by warrant. 
 
 " Then personally appeared Anthony Scarcroft, servant, as he 
 saith, of Mr. Joseph Constable, who brought in the recognizance 
 signed by the hand of the same Mr. Constable, whereby it 
 appeared that he was, since the precept delivered him, ridden 
 to London by virtue of a bond of 300/. there to appear: where- 
 upon the said Commissioners decreed an attachment against him 
 for the next sessions." 
 
 We must now content ourselves with one or two further 
 extracts from another period to show something more of the 
 character of these records. The first shall be a specimen of 
 the way in which a poor Catholic could be kept dancing 
 attendance. In 1580 the Commission went on circuit, and on 
 Monday, the 8th of August, it held its Court at Old Malton. 
 One of the best blood of the county was called before them, 
 John Constable of Hatfield, esquire. "He appeared and con- 
 fessed that he neither resorted to the church nor doth communi- 
 cate, nor hath done this five year last past. And being persuaded 
 to conform himself to religion now established by the Com- 
 missioners, they pitying his case, being blinded with deep error, 
 enjoined and commanded him to attend upon them all their 
 progress and circuit, and to confer with the Lord Archbishop his 
 Grace and his chaplain, and hear sermons preached by them 
 during the same time and space until their return homewards." 
 Another hand-writing records the result. " Notwithstanding, the 
 said John Constable utterly refused the same, and obstinately 
 refused to go to the church and to communicate, holding the 
 
2i8 Father Richard Holtby 
 
 opinion of transubstantiation ; and was thereupon committed to 
 close prison in the Castle of York, quousque^ &c., and appointed 
 to be conveyed thither by Edward Fawcett, one of the Sheriffs of 
 the city of York." 
 
 The next relates to a faltering member of the family that gave 
 us exactly a century later our last martyred priest. John Thwing 
 of Huton Craunceswick appeared before the Commissioners at 
 Beverley on the 22nd of August, 1580, "and being charged with 
 obstinate disobedience in religion, by way of answer said that he 
 hath been and yet is and intendeth to continue conformable in 
 the godly religion now allowed and established in this realm . and 
 constantly avouched his sincerity in that behalf and entered 
 recognizance to that end. After which the Bench, receiving 
 credible information and advertisement that he is household 
 servant to Mr. Henry Constable, Esq., a favourer of religion, and 
 conceiving by reason of the premisses good hope of the said 
 John Thwing touching religion, released the said recognizance, 
 and only enjoined him to continue his conformity in that behalf, 
 and so for this time dismissed him till further matter appear." 
 
 On the same day, before others of the Commissioners sitting 
 at Ripon, "Thomas Brygges, clerk, of Pateley Brygges, did 
 personally appear, and being thought and. reported to be himself 
 backward in matters of religion and to seduce others by his 
 sinister whispering in their ears, and being willed before the 
 assembly then and there present to yield his opinion upon those 
 two texts of Scripture, viz., Tu es Petrus and Hoc est corpus 
 meu??tf for their satisfaction who stood in doubt of his zeal in 
 God's truth, he presently refused to do it publicly and showed 
 himself very unwilling to do it; and at last spoke something 
 thereof very absurdly ; wherefore and for other causes the Com- 
 missioners moving, the said Brigges was committed to the Castle 
 of York, there to remain prisoner donee" &c. Terrible words are 
 the donee and quousque with which the orders for imprisonment 
 conclude. It makes the term indefinite. The convicts are to 
 remain in prison //*// they yield, or as long as they persist in their 
 recusancy. This Thomas Brygges is called in the margin of the 
 book cleriais juratits, a Queen Mary priest, in all probability, who 
 had taken the oath of supremacy on Elizabeth's accession. 
 
on Persecution in the North, 219 
 
 And so it continues, day after day, year after year. A brick 
 would give as good an idea of a house as a page from these 
 registers of the proceedings of this tribunal. Extracts cannot 
 show the pertinacity with which each individual was pursued, or 
 give a true impression of the steady persistence of the persecu- 
 tion. The wonder is not that many fell away; it is that any 
 Catholics were left — a still greater wonder that the scene should 
 be laid in Yorkshire and Lancashire, where at least the Catholic 
 religion has not been as completely crushed out as it was in the 
 south of England. 
 
 If any one is curious to know how the mass of English people 
 became Protestants, these volumes will supply the information. 
 Yet they record but a part of the vast machinery employed to 
 carry out Elizabeth's skilful legislation. For the north of England, 
 even the Acts of the Ecclesiastical Commission contain but a 
 portion of the exercise of the power of such Archbishops as Edwin 
 Sandys or John Piers, or of such Lords President as Henry Earl 
 of Huntingdon. This last insatiable persecutor would pass from 
 the Ecclesiastical Commission, where the Archbishop took pre- 
 cedence of him, to his own council chamber, where he was 
 supreme; and there, not content with his own staff of officers 
 and pursuivants, he would pen despatch after despatch to the 
 Lord Mayor and Aldermen of York, that the Acts of Parliament 
 against Catholics might be carried out by the help of the muni- 
 cipal organization. And these despatches the Lord Mayor and 
 his brethren, though they seem at first not to have been 
 anxious to do more than enough in the matter to escape blame, 
 at all events carefully transcribed into the record of their pro- 
 ceedings, the House Books of the City of York. These House 
 Books remain, and in addition to the Acts of the Ecclesiastical 
 Commission furnish us with valuable evidence of the perse- 
 cution; but as the Acts of the Council of the North do not 
 exist, as the Sessions Books for York are very imperfect, and 
 the Assize Rolls and Depositions of the period are lost, we are 
 deprived of the official records of the chiefest and heaviest part 
 of the sufferings of the Catholics in the north of England. 
 
FATHER HOLTBY'S ACCOUNT OF 
 THREE MARTYRS. 
 
 In his longer narrative Father Holtby says to Father Garnet, 
 to whom he addressed it, that a friend had told him that his 
 former letters had been intercepted, and had therefore not 
 reached Father Garnet's hands. Happily one of these letters 
 has escaped, and we proceed to print it from the autograph, 
 which is preserved at Stonyhurst. The reference to it among 
 the manuscripts is Angl. A. vol. i. n. 74. The portion of the 
 paper that relates to Anthony Page does not contain anything 
 more than Father Holtby has given in the narrative already 
 printed ; but the accounts of Joseph Lampton and Edward 
 Waterson are not to be found elsewhere. They constitute an 
 important addition to the scanty knowledge respecting them 
 that reached Bishop Challoner. 
 
FATHER HOLTBY'S ACCOUNT OF 
 THREE MARTYRS. 
 
 From the original manuscript at Stonyhurst College.^ 
 
 Jesu, have mercy upon me. 
 
 This year, being the year of our Lord 1593, upon the 
 1st of February at night, until the next day at nine of the 
 clock, being Candlemas day, there was a general search 
 made for Catholics all over Yorkshire, Richmondshire, 
 Cleveland, the Bishopric of Durham, and Northumberland, 
 wherein all the Justices of Peace and others of authority, 
 with such as favoured the heretics' faction, together with 
 the ministers themselves, did flock together, entering the 
 houses of the Catholics and all such as were suspected 
 to favour their cause, in [so] great numbers that it is 
 hard to say how many were abroad that night in searching. 
 For there came to some houses above an hundred or seven 
 score persons to search. Yet I could not perceive that 
 it had any great effect, save that a few laymen were taken 
 in sundry places, and one only priest called Anthony Page 
 was apprehended in a conveyance [i.e. hiding-place] made 
 in the bottom of a haystack ; and myself with my brother 
 John escaped very narrowly. They got beads and books 
 in divers places, and many [were] forced to forsake their 
 houses to escape the danger ; yet did they also seek 
 [i.e. search] the grounds and woods in many places. 
 
 The like search was made again, all over the Bishopric, 
 beginning upon Thursday before St. Matthias' day, con- 
 
 ^ Endorsed — "The apprehension of Mr. Page, priest, 1593, and the 
 martyrdom of Mr. Lampton and Waterson, priests, 1592." Scripsisse videtiir 
 P. Rkhardus Holtby, Soc.Jesu. Note by Father Christopher Grene. 
 
222 Father. Richard Holtby's 
 
 tinuing all Friday, Saturday, until Sunday, which was 
 Shrove Sunday.^ And the search was principally for 
 Catholics' armour ; but under pretence of armour they 
 searched for other matters, for in this search were some 
 Catholic laymen taken. 
 
 At the Assizes in Lent was Mr. Page arraigned and 
 condemned, but not as yet executed.^ 
 
 The gentleman of the house where he was taken, called 
 William Thwing, a schismatic, who was taken in York as 
 being privy unto the priest's being in his house, though 
 he were not at home at the same time, was called unto 
 the bar and acquit by the jury ; for his sister came in, 
 and of her own accord did acknowledge that she alone 
 had brought him into the house, her brother knowing 
 nothing of the matter. So she also was condemned and 
 put then in prison, but none executed as yet. 
 
 Great speeches of this Parliament with us and all put 
 in fear what shall be enacted for the greater oppression 
 of Catholics. God hold His holy Hand over us. 
 
 About Midsummer in the year 1592 Mr. Joseph 
 Lampton and Mr. Edward Waterson, priests, coming from 
 beyond the seas into England, and being arraigned in 
 Northumberland, were taken in Newcastle upon Tyne. 
 The one by one Christopher Lewin, the town clerk of the 
 town, who meeting Mr. Lampton in the town, and sus- 
 pecting him to be a stranger, took occasion to examine 
 him. The other going unto the Mayor to seek for a 
 passport to pass by water unto London, but there being 
 examined what he was — both of them by their examina- 
 tions being suspected and taken for priests, were committed 
 first unto Mr. Anderson's house, during which Mr. Waterson 
 was carried unto Toby Matthew [then Dean of Durham] to 
 be examined again, and afterwards both were committed 
 
 * Shrove Sunday, that is Quinquagesima, in 159^- Old Style fell on 
 the 25th of February. 
 
 " As we have already seen, supra^ pp. 139 — 143, he suffered April 20, 1593. 
 
Accotmt of Three Martyrs. 223 
 
 to prison in the Newgate, the prison of felons of the town, 
 and there remained close prisoners in several places until 
 the next assizes, which were a little before Lammas 
 [August i]. 
 
 In the assizes there were present the Lord President 
 [the Earl of Huntingdon] with the Dean of Durham, the 
 Mayor and his brethren; and Clinch and Snagg were judges, 
 sitting in the town chamber, where all matters concerning 
 the town were wont to be heard. The priests, therefore 
 being brought out of the prison, were brought unto the 
 bar. There the Clerk of the Court read their indictment 
 in this form and to this effect, that they, being native 
 Englishmen born and subjects of her Majesty, departed 
 the realm, and in the parts beyond the seas or in the 
 Seminaries of Rome or Rheims, were there made priests 
 by the authority of the Bishop of Rome ; and so being 
 returned and made residents here, not reforming them- 
 selves, and contrary to a statute made anno 27° Regince 
 ElizabethcE. Whereupon they concluded that they were 
 guilty of high treason. The effect of which statute is that 
 within the space of three days of their arrival they should 
 repair unto the next Justice of Peace, and there conform 
 themselves, and take the oath of supremacy. The statute 
 being explicated more at large by the Queen's Attorney, 
 who also urged their own confession or further evidence 
 that they were priests, as before. And hereupon a jury 
 was impanelled to try whether they were guilty or not, 
 according unto the form of the law ; where it was to be 
 noted that some of the jury required the statute book, 
 that they might proceed the more assuredly, and it was 
 answered by Snagg that the law was clear enough, and 
 therefore they needed not the statute book. So the jury 
 found them guilty. In the meantime the Dean used some 
 speeches unto the priests : as that he demanded first of 
 Waterson of the cause of his going over ; when he answered 
 that he was pressed to go forth a-roaming in one of the 
 
2 24 Fathei' Richard Holt by 's 
 
 Queen's ships. To whom they demanded if the Queen 
 did send any abroad to steal. And he said that he could 
 not tell what they called stealing, but that they were sent 
 to take what they could get of the King of Spain's 
 subjects. Whereupon they said that he was a naughty 
 fellow, and deserved no favour. Moreover he said that 
 upon remorse of conscience he departed from his company 
 and went unto the Seminary. 
 
 And then the Dean asked Mr. Lampton of his bringing 
 up and profession. He answered that he was a Catholic, 
 and held the Roman religion. Then he was asked what 
 was Catholic ; and he pausing something, the Dean pre- 
 vented his answer, saying that CatJiolicum was that [which] 
 was nbiqiiCy seinpe}' et ab omnibus, and that they had the 
 Catholic religion. " Or else tell me," saith he, " any part 
 of our faith that is not Catholic." Whereunto he answered 
 that their doctrine of justification and free will was not 
 Catholic, the which doctrine the Dean went about to prove 
 that it was taught by the Apostles and afterwards con- 
 tinued, and after went to other questions. 
 
 The jury, having given their verdict, pronounced them 
 guilty, whereupon the Judge gave sentence and condemned 
 them to death. And then they offered them conference, 
 saying that in conference they might see more than you 
 could see in Bellarmine ; but they answered that they did 
 not doubt of any point in their religion. So they were 
 sent back unto the prison again, the Judge giving charge 
 unto the Sheriff to look surely unto them, " for," saith he, 
 " they be great traitors." 
 
 This was the Thursday. Upon Saturday was the execu- 
 tion expected, but it was deferred until Monday after,^ that 
 
 ^ Bishop Challoner gives for the date of Joseph Lanipton's martyrdom 
 July 27, 1593- The year is plainly erroneous, for this account was written by 
 Father Iloltby before the martyrdom of Anthony Page, which was in the April 
 of that year. Challoner places the death of Joseph Lampton after, instead of 
 before, those of Edward Waterson and Anthony Tngc. The day assigned by 
 him is also doubtful, for July 27 in 1592 was a I'hursday, and in 1593 a Friday. 
 
Account of Three Martyrs, 225 
 
 the assembly of people might be avoided. In the meantime 
 they say that Mr. Lampton's uncle lost his service because 
 he spake unto him. 
 
 The President's man, and many others, came to see 
 him in prison, and were very desirous to speak to him 
 at the window of the prison, and to have some token of 
 him, insomuch that he said they were some trouble unto 
 him, because he was now to prepare himself towards his 
 end. Wherefore in the end he shut the window, that he 
 might with more quietness give himself to prayer. 
 
 The Sunday at night he spake unto Mr. Waterson, 
 saying, " Brother, let us be merry, for the morning I hope 
 we shall have a heavenly breakfast ; " which words a maid 
 that heard him spoke openly with an exclamation the next 
 morning before the people, when he was upon the ladder 
 ready to be executed. 
 
 Early in the morning the Sheriff came unto the prison 
 and called for Mr. Lampton alone, to carry him to his 
 execution ; who, being not yet risen, got up quickly and 
 desired a little time to bestow in prayer, wherein he spent 
 about the space of an hour. Then coming forth he was 
 laid upon the hurdle, and so carried to the place of execu- 
 tion before sunrise. Then, taken off the hurdle, he came 
 to the foot of the ladder, and kneeling upon the lowest 
 step he made the sign of the Cross upon it and kissed 
 it, and after, made his prayer more than a quarter of an 
 hour. Then, going up the ladder, he turned his face toward 
 the people and made the sign of the Cross upon him, 
 and holding his hands joined before his breast offered to 
 speak. But one bade him hold his peace until the Sheriff 
 did bid him. Wherefore he stood still, in the same manner, 
 for a quarter of an hour, his eyes shut, as though he were 
 in meditation. And in the end, lifting up his eyes and 
 looking aside, he first cast his eyes upon the kettle of water 
 that was in heating, and after upon the butcher's board 
 whereupon he was to be cut, and with a smiling 
 P 
 
226 Fat Iter Richard Holtbys 
 
 countenance turned his eyes from them again and closed 
 his eyes as before. 
 
 Then the Sheriff coming towards the gallows, the hang- 
 man began to ask " all the world forgiveness, and you that 
 I must hang." Then Mr. Lampton began to speak, saying 
 that he asked all the world forgiveness, and especially 
 Almighty God, whom he had most offended. "Good 
 people," saith he, ''they persuade you that we are sent 
 in for invasion or rebellion against our Prince, but I have 
 protested, and now at my death I do protest, that I was 
 not sent in for any other cause but only for the safety 
 of souls." To whom one asked if he had not persuaded 
 any, and he answered that he had not. And he added, 
 moreover, that if he were beyond the sea again, and knew 
 as much as he knew now, that he would willingly come in 
 and offer his life for the least iota of the Catholic Roman 
 faith. As touching his religion, he said he was a Catholic, 
 and for his profession he was a priest, and he thanked God 
 that he was called to that estate to die for it. Then one 
 bade him ask the Queen forgiveness, and he said he had 
 not offended her. "Yes," saith he, "you have offended 
 her, in denying before Mr. Dean that she was supreme 
 head of the Church." To whom he said that the question 
 was never asked him, and now he was not to make answer 
 unto it Then desiring all Catholics, our Blessed Lady, 
 and all the saints of heaven to pray for him that his soul 
 might be saved, the rope being put about his neck he was 
 turned off the ladder, and being dead, as they thought, was 
 cut down. Yet the hangman was so long in doing after 
 he was cut down, that he began to revive and to move 
 both his hands and legs. 
 
 When he came to be quartered, there was not a butcher 
 in the town to be gotten that would take the matter in 
 hand, until an old fellow, a Frenchman and surgeon, was 
 gotten, who, under pretence to see his anatomy, cut him 
 and embowelled him, and instructed the hangman to 
 quarter him. This hangman, being in prison with Mr. 
 
Account of Three Martyrs. 227 
 
 Waterson, and condemned for felony at the same assizes, 
 reported unto Mr. Waterson and divers others, that a 
 night or two before Mr. Lampton's execution, sitting late 
 at night in the prison window to watch the Sheriff's 
 coming, who used to come every night to search the prison 
 and to see if all were right about the condemned persons ; 
 yet coming down from the window, and turning himself 
 towards the chamber where he was, he saw all the chamber 
 full of lights, and at one side of the chamber he saw a 
 table covered with white, and two links or torches standing 
 thereupon, and one whom he thought he had seen standing 
 before the table all clad in white, which vision as the 
 Sheriff came near unto the chamber withdrew itself towards 
 one corner of the chamber, and so at the entrance of the 
 Sheriff vanished away. After the execution of Mr. Lampton, 
 the Sheriff brought one of his quarters into the prison to 
 Mr. Waterson, with intent as it seemed to terrify him, that 
 [by] fear of the like execution he might be moved to 
 relent from his confession ; but Mr. Waterson kneeling 
 down, reverently kissed his fellow's quarter, which being 
 contrary to the Sheriff's expectation, he took the quarter 
 and departed away. 
 
 Now Mr. Waterson's execution was deferred until the 
 Monday next after the Epiphany the year following, 
 during which delay there happened divers accidents. For 
 he being perceived to be a more simple man was reprieved 
 for a time in hope to overcome his constancy : whereupon 
 they sent divers ministers and preachers unto him in 
 prison, and carried him to hear sermons at three several 
 times, where he used himself in such sort that all did 
 perceive that he did not seem to consent unto anything 
 prejudicial to his faith or profession. And one time the 
 minister Boulseworthe brought him an heretical book to 
 read, openly affirming that it would abide all touches 
 [tests], and leaving the book with him, he committed it 
 unto Vulcan, to try if it might abide the touch of fire, but 
 it was quickly consumed therewith. 
 
228 Father Richard Ho It by s 
 
 At his coming in they were both meanly apparelled, 
 and their friends supposing it not decent for their vocation 
 to be arraigned in such apparel, caused some apparel to 
 be made more convenient for them, wherein they were 
 arraigned. But Mr. Lampton being executed, soon after 
 they took Mr. Waterson's apparel from him and clad him 
 again with his old torn clothes he brought with him, 
 neither would they suffer him to have any other. 
 
 After this, finding on a night through negligence the 
 door left open, he made his escape out of prison. But 
 being within two or three days after taken again, he was 
 committed unto the same prison again, into a lower place, 
 under a new but more cruel gaoler ; for the former was 
 displaced and imprisoned as consenting unto his escape, 
 though he were altogether ignorant of the same. 
 
 After which time he was used most cruelly, being not 
 only laden with irons but also deprived of all other com- 
 forts, so that from St. Luke's day [October i8] until his 
 execution [January 8] he never came in bed, enduring 
 the cold of winter without fire and very slenderly apparelled, 
 as it appeared at his execution^ and almost consumed with 
 'continual famine, insomuch that he that had seen him 
 before would scarcely have known him ; his colour was so 
 far changed and his substance wasted during this his 
 second imprisonment. He was continually solicited with 
 the access of preachers and ministers, who always vexed 
 him until his death. Wherefore perceiving his constancy 
 to be invincible, a writ came from the President or Council 
 that he should be executed the Wednesday after New 
 Year's day, but it was deferred until Monday after.^ Then 
 early, about four of the clock, the Sheriff came and 
 called him to prepare himself towards execution, and he 
 demanded some time because he said he was not yet 
 ready, so the Sheriff departed until it was almost six 
 o'clock, and then returned again to carry him to the place 
 
 1 This Monday after the Epiphany in i5(| was the 8th of January. Bishop 
 Challoncr says Jan. 7. 
 
Account of Three Martyrs, 229 
 
 of execution. And being laid upon the hurdle, the horse 
 was set forward, but having passed forth about half a 
 dozen paces the horse stood still and would not for any- 
 thing they could do go any further, though they struck 
 and pulled him almost for the space of a quarter of an 
 hour. Wherefore they were forced to take another horse 
 of a collier that carried coals, who casting off his sack 
 of coals put his horse to the hurdle, saying that he would 
 warrant them that his horse would carry him, if it were 
 as far as Bernacastle.^ Then setting one upon the horse 
 they drew forward the hurdle until they came within the 
 space of forty foot of the place of execution, where the 
 other horse also stayed and could go no further, though 
 he were plunged until the ropes burst in sunder. The 
 which seemed a wonder unto those that were present, 
 insomuch that an heretic being present, considering that 
 he was twice stayed in this sort, said that this would be 
 noted of some for a monument. 
 
 So they took him off the hurdle and he went on foot 
 the rest of his journey towards the gallows. There the 
 minister Bamforthe began to persuade him to change his 
 religion, and, as he said, "to come out of Babylon." To 
 whom he answered that he came not now to dispute, but 
 to offer his life for the Catholic faith, and protested unto 
 the people that he came not into England for any treason, 
 neither by compulsion of any, as it was objected, but only 
 for the saving of souls. "A wise guide !" saith the minister. 
 
 Then the minister began to accuse him before the 
 people of unreverent speeches used against his parents, 
 avouching that he said he would kill his father. But he 
 answered that he said only that if his father or brother 
 or dearest friend should persuade him from the Catholic 
 faith, that he would rather stretch out his hand to execute 
 them than he would yield unto their persuasion : where 
 also he cleared his first keeper for being anything privy 
 to his escape. 
 
 ^ Barnard Castle or Castle Barnard, twenty-six miles south-west of Durham. 
 
230 Account of Three Martyrs, 
 
 He said also that if he were again beyond the seas, 
 that he would most willingly come into the country to 
 yield his life for the same cause he now suffered for. 
 Then Bamforthe willed him to desire the people to pray 
 for him, and he answered that they and he were not 
 of one religion, but he desired all Catholics to pray for 
 him, and our Blessed Lady and all the company of 
 heaven to make intercession for him. " If thou wilt not 
 pray with us," saith Bamforthe, " at the least pray that 
 if we be not in the right, we may be converted ; and 
 that if thou be wrong, we may correct thee." Whereunto 
 he said that he doubted nothing of his faith. 
 
 At last he willed him to ask the Queen forgiveness, 
 and he said he had not offended her. "Yes," saith the 
 minister, "thou hast, contrary unto her law, reconciled 
 some since thy coming in." And he said that they were 
 but few, and he wished that he had done more good, for 
 that was his function. 
 
 Then going up the ladder, and the rope being put 
 about his neck, Bamforthe willed him to repent his faith, 
 and to cast off good works and all intercession whatsoever, 
 and believe only to be saved by the merits of Christ His 
 Passion. Whereunto he answered that good works were 
 necessary to salvation, but as for his own, he cast them 
 down at Christ His feet, hoping to be saved wholly by 
 His Passion, and desired our Blessed Lady and all the 
 blessed saints in heaven to pray for him. So having 
 made the sign of the Cross upon him, they turned the 
 ladder, and he so yielded his soul to God. After being 
 dead he was cut down, and his body bowelled and 
 quartered. 
 
 When he was to have the halter to be put about his 
 neck, he loosed his shirtband and cast it down lest it 
 should hinder him. Whereupon the minister said, " Look 
 who takcth up that ; " being afraid lest some should keep 
 it for a relic : and so one of the sergeants took it up and 
 tied it about his staff or halbcrt. 
 
IV. 
 
 NOTES BY A PRISONER IN 
 OUSEBRIDGE KIDCOTE. 
 
NOTES BY A PRISONER IN 
 OUSEBRIDGE KIDCOTE. 
 
 Bound up in the sixth volume of the Stonyhurst collection of 
 manuscripts known as Angl. A. are four leaves, which are paged 
 in Father Grene's hand from 41 to 48. They once formed part 
 of one of his volumes of Collectanea, and judging by the references 
 in his M to the persons named in this paper, and marked 
 in red chalk, as Father Grene was accustomed to mark what 
 he copied, we may assume that they formerly belonged to his 
 volume F. The first page bears the endorsement, " By William 
 Hutton, an ancient Catholic prisoner upon Ousebridge." No 
 paper could better deserve to follow the Narratives of Father 
 Holtby, for not merely does it treat of persecutions in the same 
 part of England that they have described, but the date prefixed 
 to it is the same as theirs. 
 
 This William Hutton was a draper, whose house was in 
 Christ's parish, in the city of York. His name occurs frequently 
 in the city " Housebooks," which are the records of the pro- 
 ceedings of the Lord Mayor's Court. By way of introduction to 
 Hutton's notes we will give copious extracts from these " House- 
 books." It must not be forgotten that the Lord President and 
 the members of his Council were the chief agents in the more 
 severe measures ; and that besides there was the Ecclesiastical 
 Commission, and of course the Courts of Assize and the Sessions. 
 Lengthy, therefore, though these extracts from the York House- 
 books are, they represent but a very small portion, and that the 
 less severe part, of the persecution to which these poor Catholics 
 were subjected. 
 
 We begin with a sharp letter, written in the Queen's name 
 by the Council of the North, showing that the Lord Mayor and 
 
234 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 his brethren of the Corporation were not eager to persecute, and 
 that they only acted under pressure. 
 
 " To our trusty and well-beloved the Mayor, Aldermen, and 
 Justices of our Peace within our city of York and county of the 
 same, and to every of them. 
 
 " By the Queen. 
 
 " Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And whereas 
 by sundry and former commissions heretofore to you addressed, 
 we willed and commanded you to certify unto our right trusty 
 and right well-beloved cousin the Earl of Huntingdon, President 
 of our Council in these parts, what persons within your several 
 limits and divisions, misliking the doctrine now taught and the 
 religion now established, did absent themselves from the church, 
 common prayer, and services; in the execution of which our 
 commissions, although some of you have showed yourselves very 
 careful and diligent, yet others have been remiss, careless, and 
 negligent, for either some of you have made no certificate at all, 
 or else some of you have certified the names of such of the 
 poorest and simplest sorts of our subjects to their trouble, as 
 indeed upon their appearance before us we found to be most 
 tractable, humble, obedient, and willing to conform themselves. 
 But of some other notorious, known, and disaffected persons of 
 greater wealth, estimation, and calling, you have certified nothing 
 at all, but either winked at them or otherwise omitted and with 
 silence passed them over, or else for favour, friendship, kindred, 
 or some other respect, forborne to present their names ; and for 
 that we be credibly informed the number of such as do forbear 
 to come to the church do daily increase, and that some of 
 you yourselves and your families give not that example in 
 coming to the church that you ought to do, contrary to some 
 of your earnest promises made to our President in that behalf. 
 We therefore require you from henceforth that you and your 
 families do better and more often resort and frequent the 
 church, common prayer, and communion than you have 
 done, so as by your good example going before, others may 
 be moved to follow. And for that we be also given to under- 
 stand that of late some of no mean calling have withdrawn them- 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 235 
 
 selves, and will not come to the chiirch, and others of like estate 
 have longer absented themselves, and will by no gentle means 
 be moved, entreated, or persuaded thereunto, whereby they do 
 not only give great suspicion of their disloyalty, but also give great 
 occasion of offence to others, and as we be informed is one great 
 cause v/hereby the number of such disloyal persons do daily 
 increase, we therefore straitly [charge] and command you by 
 virtue hereof, that on this side and before the fifteenth day of 
 December next, you do endeavour yourselves by all such ways 
 and means as to your wisdoms and discretions shall seem good, 
 to understand the names, qualities, and degrees of every such 
 person and persons within your several limits and divisions, as 
 do absent themselves from the church, common prayer, and 
 sacraments, whether he be knight, justice of peace, squire, 
 gentleman, freeholder, or other, and the cause of his or their 
 abstaining themselves, and how long they or any of them have 
 so done. And the same to certify to our said cousin, viz., the 
 names, qualities, and degrees of every such person ; and that you 
 then certify also whom you know of your own knowledge to be 
 either culpable in deed or vehemently suspected herein. Fail 
 ye not in the diligent execution hereof, as you tender your duties, 
 and will answer the contrary at your peril. Given under our 
 signet, at our city of York, the 27th day of October, the i6th 
 year of our reign [1573]." 
 
 Still the municipal authorities were in no hurry to assail their 
 fellow-citizens. The letter of the Council is duly entered in their 
 records from which we have extracted it. Nearly three years 
 elapsed before a move was made in the Lord Mayor's Court, and 
 that was in consequence of a communication from the Ecclesias- 
 tical Commission. After this, letters in the Queen's name follow 
 in quick succession, and, as will be seen, no choice was left to 
 the Lord Mayor and his brethren. At last they made their 
 returns; and more touching returns than some of these here 
 made, it is safe to say, have never taken legal form. The poor 
 people were bound to tell their reasons for not coming to church, 
 and they tell them with a very moving simplicity. " It is not the 
 Catholic Church." "There is neither priest, altar, nor sacra- 
 
236 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 ments." " There is not the Sacrament hung up, and other things 
 as hath been aforetime." " There is not a priest as there ought 
 to be." " There is not the Sacrament of the Altar." " There is 
 neither priest nor sacrament." " Her conscience will not serve 
 her so to do." " It would damn her soul." " She will come 
 to the Church of God, but her conscience will not suffer her 
 to come to this Church." 
 
 William Hutton, whom they called "a subtle sophista," was 
 sharp enough to say that he did not go to church because he 
 was excommunicate, but that when he was absolved he would go. 
 His absolution in the Anglican Church Courts was an impos- 
 sibility while he continued to be a good Catholic, and that he 
 knew perfectly well. 
 
 However, the returns must tell their own tale — and a heavy 
 tale they tell of individual suffering — as we produce them in their 
 chronological order from the city records, where till this present 
 time they have lain hidden. It will be perceived that the first 
 weapon used was the fine for being absent from Church, and 
 this is exacted by distraint; in the next place special pressure 
 is brought to bear on the men to force their wives to conformity ; 
 then the education of the children of Catholics occupies the 
 attention of those in authority; and lastly, the edicts affect all 
 lodgers and servants. We have contented ourselves with the 
 reign of Elizabeth only, but after her time, though there was less 
 bloodshed, the efforts were not less systematic and persistent 
 utterly to stamp out the Catholic religion from the land. 
 
 ^^6°/unu, 18° Elizabeth y [1576] Edviundus Richardsofiy Maior^ 
 
 •* Forasmuch as divers disobedient persons within this city, 
 neglecting their duties to God and the Queen's Majesty, will in 
 nowise come to their parish churches to hear the divine service of 
 Almighty God according to His laws and the laws of this realm : 
 Therefore it is now agreed by these presents, that according to 
 the form of the statute in that case provided, warrants shall be 
 made to the churchwardens of every parish wherein any the said 
 disobedient persons do dwell, commanding them to levy \2d. 
 of the goods and chattels of every such person by way of distress 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 
 
 ^Z7 
 
 for every time that he or she, having no sufficient excuse, shall 
 be absent from their parish church every Sunday or holiday in 
 the time of common prayer, preaching, or other service of God. 
 The copy of the names of which said disobedient persons sent 
 from Mr. Dean and other the Commissioners are underwritten 
 as followeth. 
 
 "The names of such persons as were detected in the last 
 Inquisition after the receipt of the letters from the lords of the 
 Privy Council — 
 
 The City of York. 
 
 Pyke parish. 
 
 Uxor Thom?e Wilson 
 
 Belfry. 
 
 Uxor WiUi. Tesymond and his family n 
 
 
 Uxor Rici. Durham 
 
 
 Elena Boothe 
 
 
 Mrs. Dunwiche 
 
 
 Tr}'stram Staynburne 
 
 St. Martin's in 
 Coney Street. 
 
 Anna Cooke uxor Ambrosii Cooke 
 
 St. John's at 
 Ousebridge-end. 
 
 Thomas Atkinson 
 
 Bishophill 
 
 Mr. Teshe, gent. 
 
 Younger. 
 
 His wife 
 
 
 Cuthbert Lynton 
 
 
 Uxor Ed. Beesley 
 
 St. Cuthbert's. 
 
 Uxor Johis. Williamson 
 
 St. Mary's in 
 
 Gregorie Wilkinson 
 
 Castlegate. 
 
 Uxor Petri Porter 
 
 Trinity in 
 
 John Edwyn et his wife 
 
 Micklegate. 
 
 Francis Walker nor Anne Dicconson do not 
 
 
 receive. 
 
 St. Sampson's. 
 
 Thomas Wrayte 
 
 
 Ux. Tho. Oldcome 
 
 Christ's parish. 
 
 Ux. Doctor Vavasor 
 
 
 Ux. Rici. Hallidayes 
 
 
 Ux. Geo. Hall 
 
 
 Ux. Percivalli Geldert 
 
 
 Ux. Johis. Collyn 
 
 
 Ux. Johis. Weddell 
 
 
 Ux. Johis. Clithero 
 
 AUh allows upon 
 
 Uxor}o\ivs,. Wildon 
 
 the Pavement. 
 
 Wills. Wilkinson 
 
 
 et tix'.ejiis. 
 
 St. Olave's. 
 
 Ux. Willi. Wood 
 
 
 Willus. Branton 
 
 
 et iix.ejus. 
 
 Trinity. 
 
 Ffarnesseach Streket, widow. 
 
 Comes 
 
 not to 
 
 the 
 church. 
 
238 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 " Edmond Richardson, Lord Mayor of the city of York. 
 
 "To the Churchwardens of St. Michael of the Belfry and 
 St. Wilfrid's, within the said city, greeting. Of the behalf of our 
 sovereign lady the Queen's Majesty, I do will and command 
 you and every of you jointly and severally that according to the 
 late Act of Parliament, made in the first year of the reign of her 
 Majesty, you or some of you forthwith do levy of the lands, 
 goods, and tenements of Richard Durham, barber, William 
 Tesymond, Heleyn Booth, [blank] Dunwiche, widow, Tristram 
 Stanbume, and William Branton of parishes aforesaid, for every 
 Sunday and other days ordained and used to be kept as holidays, 
 that the wives of the said Richard Durham and William 
 Tesymond, Heleyn Booth, [blank] Dunwiche, Tristram Stan- 
 bume, William Branton and his wife have not come to the 
 church, who are lately presented for the same, for every such 
 offence 12^?'. by way of distress. And also of the behalf 
 of our said sovereign lady the Queen, I will and command you, 
 and every of you jointly and severally, that according to the said 
 late Act you or some do levy as well of the lands, goods, and 
 tenements of the said Richard Durham, William Tesymond, 
 Heleyn Booth, [blank] Dunwiche, Tristram Stanburne, and 
 William Branton as of the lands, goods, and tenements of all 
 and every other person and persons within the said parishes 
 inhabiting which do not diligently and faithfully, having no 
 lawful or reasonable excuse to be absent, endeavour themselves 
 to come to the said parish church upon every Sunday and other 
 days used and ordained to be kept as holy days, and then and 
 there do not abide orderly and soberly during the time of the 
 common prayer, preachings, and other service of God, there to be 
 used and ministered, but obstinately refuseth the same contrary 
 to the true meaning, form, and effect of the said statute, for every 
 such offence 12^., by way of distress. And that the said money 
 so by you levied may be bestowed according to the said statute. 
 Fail ye not hereof, as well ye will answer to the contrary 
 hereof at your perils. Given at the same city," &c. (n. 26, fol. 68^). 
 
 "3° Augusti, 18° Elizabeth [1576]. 
 
 " Edmundus Richardson^ Mator^ &c. The Queen's Majest/s 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 239 
 
 Commission, to my Lord Mayor and his brethren directed, was 
 now read, the tenour whereof ensueth. 
 
 " * To our trusty and well-beloved the Mayor and Aldermen of 
 our city of York and to every of them. 
 
 " ' By the Queen. 
 
 " ' Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And whereas 
 we understand that divers and sundry persons, as well men as 
 women, do absent themselves from their parish churches, and 
 will not come to the service of Almighty God, or sermons, or 
 administration of sacraments, to the evil and perilous example of 
 others our good loving subjects, and to the great contempt of our 
 laws and statutes of this our realm ; We, therefore, minding the 
 speedy redress of the same, will and command you, and by 
 virtue of this our letters authorize you, that you and every of you 
 forthwith upon the receipt and sight hereof do take order with the 
 curates and churchwardens of every parish within our city of York 
 and county of the same, and do certify the names, surnames, and 
 dwellings both of the men and women which are in that behalf 
 offenders and how long they have so offended, before the 9th of 
 August instant, to our right trusty and right well-beloved cousin, 
 the Earl of Huntingdon, President of our Council in the north 
 parts, and the rest of the same our Council there. Fail ye not 
 hereof as you tender our pleasure, the good accomplishment of 
 your duties, and as you will answer for the contrary at your perils. 
 Given under our signet, at our said city, the ist day of August, 
 the eighteenth year of our reign. 
 
 " ' And by her Council.' 
 
 " Upon the reading whereof, it was ordered that all the 
 curates and churchwardens within this city shall be presently 
 commanded to be in this place [the Council Chamber upon Ouse- 
 bridge] to-morrow, at nine of the clock, and the curates and 
 churchwardens of the Ainsty to be in like manner at the Common 
 Hall on Monday next, at nine of the clock, for the better execu- 
 tion of the said commission, to present the names of the offenders 
 in this behalf, &c." 
 
 " 6° Au^usti, 18° Elizabeth. 
 
 ^^ Ediis.Richardsoji, Maior^ &c. Assembled in the Common Hall, 
 
240 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 the day and year aforesaid, when and where the bills delivered in 
 by the curates and churchwardens as well for the city as Ainsty 
 were now perused. In the meanwhile, another the Queen's 
 Majesty's commission was with certain articles there inclosed, 
 presented to the hands of my Lord Mayor, the tenour whereof 
 ensueth, viz. : 
 
 " *■ To our trusty and well-beloved the Mayor, Aldermen, and 
 Justices of our Peace within our city of York and county of the 
 same and to every of them. 
 
 " ' By the Queen. 
 
 " Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And whereas 
 we be certainly informed that certain disorders contrary to the 
 good laws and ordinances of this realm do daily arise and increase 
 within our city and county of York to the great trouble and 
 disquieting of our good subjects ; We have thought good for the 
 special trust we have in you to give you warning thereof, to the 
 intent you may repress and avoid the same according to our laws 
 and statutes and to our commission for the peace to you directed. 
 And further, we have especially appointed you and every number 
 of you, two at the least, to divide yourselves in several places 
 within our city of York and the county of the same city and the 
 liberties thereof This, therefore, is to will and command you 
 and by these presents to authorize you and any number of you, 
 being so divided to two at the least, diligently to employ your- 
 selves to and for the due executions of the articles herewith sent 
 unto you. And that you in [your own] proper persons bring and 
 certify your proceeding, and that [which] you shall understand 
 therein in writing to our right trusty and right well-beloved cousin, 
 the Earl of Huntingdon, Lord President of our Council in the 
 north parts, and the rest of our said Council to York, the 22nd of 
 September next. Fail ye not hereof, as we specially trust you, 
 and as ye will answer for the contrary. Given under our signet, 
 at our city of York, the 5th day of August, the eighteenth year of 
 our reign. 
 
 " * And by her Council.' 
 
 " * Articles to be executed by the Justices of the Peace in the 
 city of York and of the county of the same city and the liberties 
 thereof. 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 241 
 
 " * First to call before them the curates and churchwardens 
 of every parish 'in the city of York and the county of the same 
 city and liberties thereof, and to take their oaths to make true 
 presentment and certificate unto you at such day and place as- 
 ye shall appoint of the names and surnames and dwelling places- 
 of every man and woman which do absent themselves or not 
 resort upon the Sabbath days or other holy or festival days to 
 divine service or to sermons or administration of sacraments^ 
 and how long they have absented them or any of them, from the 
 same or any of them. 
 
 " ' Also to inquire, by four men to be sworn of every parish, by- 
 all the means you can of all confederacies, conspiracies, assem- 
 blies, and meetings of such as be suspected persons, and of the 
 occasions and causes of their meetings and assemblies. And of 
 such as wander from place to place to teach or instruct any in any 
 point of religion contrary to the laws and ordinances of this, 
 realm. And of all those that receive, harbour, cherish, or 
 relieve them, or any of them, and to present the same as is. 
 aforesaid. 
 
 *' ' Also to inquire of all spreaders of false news and rumours 
 touching the Queen's Majesty, the nobles or bishops of this- 
 realm, or other matter touching the state of the realm or any 
 part thereof. 
 
 " ' Also to take order as much as you conveniently may for 
 the due executions of the statute for the relief of the poor and 
 punishment of rogues and vagabonds, and for the furtherance of 
 the having of stocks in convenient places, for to set such poor on. 
 labour as may conveniently work. And touching the erecting of 
 houses of coiTection for such as refuse to work or to do their work 
 as they ought to do. 
 
 " ' Also to take order for repairing or making of highways and 
 bridges according to the laws of this realm. And if any sum be 
 appointed for these purposes, to see the same procured and the 
 same bestowed as that was appointed. 
 
 " * Also to inquire of them that either refuse to pay their sums 
 
 assessed for the relief of the poor, for the maintenance of stocks 
 
 to set them on work, or for the repairs or making of highways and 
 
 bridges, and either use them sharply for the same as the same 
 
 Q 
 
242 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 shall require, or to certify to the Lord President and others of 
 the Queen's Majesty's Council in the north parts, their names 
 with the places of their dwellings, with also all the certainty of 
 every of their offences. 
 
 " ' Also to take away all needless alehouses and specially 
 such as be placed outside of towns or upon moors or wastes, 
 and to see punishment for unlawful games, and that artillery 
 be used. 
 
 " ' Also to see the watches kept and hue and cry to be made 
 as appertaineth. 
 
 " * Item that you do take order that from henceforth no man 
 carry about with him or use any long staves above the length 
 of eight feet, nor any pikes in any staves above two inches 
 long. 
 
 " * Also that ye shall name and appoint four sufficient men 
 for the county of our city of York meet to be high constables, and 
 to present their names and dwelling-places to the Lord President 
 and said Council, the 21st of September next, to the intent the 
 Lord President and Council may appoint two of them to serve 
 as high constables in our said county of our city of York.' " 
 
 " 8° Atigusti, 18° Elizabeth. 
 
 " Edus. Richardson^ Maior, &c. Assembled in the Council 
 Chamber upon Ousebridge, the day and year aforesaid, when 
 and where the Queen's Majesty's late commission, dated the 
 5th of August instant, with certain articles there inclosed, was now 
 read to these presents ;^ which commission and articles are entered 
 word by word on the leaf next before. 
 
 " And as touching the due execution of the said commission 
 and articles it was agreed by the said Lord Mayor and aldermen 
 as foUoweth. First, the said Lord Mayor and aldermen to divide 
 themselves for the city, viz., into their several wards, at their 
 places accustomed, and to call before them there as well the 
 curates and churchwardens, as four men of every parish, to be duly 
 sworn and charged with due execution thereof. And Monkeward 
 and Walmegateward to be on Monday next, at eight of the clock 
 before noon, and Bothomeward and Myklithward at one of the 
 clock at afternoon of the same day. And they to bring in with 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 243 
 
 them the names of all brewers and tipplers withm their several 
 parishes, and precepts to be made accordingly. 
 
 "And the like order for the Ainsty to be executed on 
 Wednesday next, at eight of the clock before noon, at the 
 Common Hall, and precepts to be made forth accordingly" 
 (fol. 77). 
 
 " The names of the curates, churchwardens, four men, &c., 
 of the city of York and county of the same, sworn and charged 
 with the execution of the said commission and articles, dated the 
 5 th of August instant, as folio we th : 
 
 " Walmegateward. 
 
 " St. Margarefs and Peter in the Wall. 
 
 Thomas Dawson, Curate. 
 
 George Jackson, | ^ ^^ ^^ 
 
 Ambrose Gray, J 
 
 " Me7n. that Henry Lee, a churchwarden of St. Mary's in 
 
 Castlegate, refuseth to be sworn " (fol. 80). 
 
 « 
 
 " * To our trusty and well-beloved the Mayor and Aldermen 
 of our city of York and to every of them. 
 " ' By the Queen. 
 
 " ' Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And whereas 
 at the Parliament, holden at Westminster in the first year of our 
 reign, it was amongst other things enacted that all persons within 
 this our realm, or in any other our dominions, should diligently 
 and faithfully (having no lawful let or reasonable excuse to be 
 absent) endeavour themselves to resort to the parish church or 
 chapel accustomed upon every Sunday or other days ordained or 
 used to be kept as holy days, there to abide orderly and soberly 
 during the time of the common prayers, preachings, or other 
 service of God ministered within the same, upon pain of punish- 
 ment by the censures of the Church ; and also upon pain that 
 every person so offending shall forfeit for every such offence \2d.^ 
 to be levied by the churchwardens of the parish where such 
 offence shall be committed to the use of the poor of the same 
 
244 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 parish, as by the same Act amongst other things more at large 
 appeareth : Forasmuch as we understand that you, the Mayor and 
 aldermen, have since the making of the said Act been remiss and 
 negligent in the execution thereof, so as by your slackness therein 
 many our subjects, litde regarding their duties to Almighty God 
 and their obedience, have, to the evil and perilous example of 
 many others, absented themselves from their parish church, and 
 do obstinately refuse to come to hear the divine service or 
 sermons, or to the receiving of the sacraments as they ought to 
 do ; We minding, therefore, the speedy reformation thereof, 
 have thought good to put you in remembrance of your office and 
 duties therein, and to be from henceforth more careful and 
 diligent in the better execution of the said statute and law than 
 heretofore you have been. And, therefore, we will and by virtue 
 of these our letters do charge and command you that ye without 
 delay, upon the receipt and sight hereof, do take order with the 
 churchwardens of every parish to see that the said Act and statute 
 be severely and sharply executed according to the tenour and 
 true meaning thereof, without any partiality, favour, and affection 
 to be showed or used in that behalf to any of the wilful offenders 
 or to their aiders or favourers in that their evil doings. Fail ye 
 not hereof, as we specially trust you, and as you will answer for 
 the contrary at your utmost peril. Given under our signet at our 
 city of York, the 14th day of August, the eighteenth year of 
 our reign. 
 
 " ' And by her Council.' 
 
 " 22° Attgusii, iS** Elizabeth. 
 
 " Edits. JRichardsoii^ Maior^ &c. Assembled in the Council 
 Chamber upon Ousebridge, the day and year above said, when 
 and where for due execution of the Queen's Majesty's late com- 
 mission against certain persons absenting themselves from the 
 parish church service and sermons, &c. : It is now agreed by 
 these presents that precepts shall be forthwith made and directed 
 to the churchwardens of every parish of the city and Ainsty 
 against all the ofienders in the premises lately presented, &c., 
 to levy 1 2d. by way of distress of every such offender of everj- 
 offence, commanding them also thereby to make certificate ot 
 
in Otisebridge Kidcote, 245 
 
 their doings therein to my Lord Mayor and aldermen forthwith. 
 And the said precepts to be made in this form following, viz. : 
 
 " Edmond Richardson, Lord Mayor [&c., to the Churchwardens 
 of St. Olave's, against William Wood and George Gillot]." 
 
 "27° Augusti^ 18° Elizabeth. 
 
 " Edus. Richardson, Maior, Willus. Birnand} Recordator, &c. 
 Assembled in the Council Chamber upon Ousebridge, the day 
 and year above said, when and where William Bowman, who 
 was lately presented for not coming to his parish church, &c., 
 personally appeared before these presents. And for so much 
 as he being now moved to come to his parish church, will not 
 be thereunto persuaded, but obstinately refuseth so to do : There- 
 fore it is now agreed by these presents that the churchwardens 
 of his parish, with aid of the constables there, shall forthwith 
 go to his house and take his distress. And if the said Bowman 
 shall chance to make any rescue or resistance, then he to be 
 apprehended immediately and committed to ward during my 
 Lord Mayor's pleasure. 
 
 "And further, it is agreed by these presents that William 
 Hutton of Christ's parish, Thomas Wood of St. Cuthbert's parish, 
 John Wood of St. Maurice's parish, Richard Braferton of St. Dionys* 
 parish, Gregory Wilkinson of the parish of St. Mary in Castlegate, 
 Thomas Pearson of St. Margaret's parish, John Edwyn of Trinity 
 parish in Micklegate, and all other men being like offenders, 
 shall be called in and persuaded to come to their several parish 
 churches, and upon their refusal to be used in like order" (fol. 
 
 83)- 
 
 "12° Ociobrisy 18° Elizabeth. 
 
 ""Edits. Richardson, Maior, &c. Assembled in the Council 
 Chamber upon Ousebridge, the day and year above said, when 
 and where there was a commission from the Queen's Majesty 
 and her Council established in the north parts, directed to the 
 Mayor and aldermen of this city of York, bearing date the 6th 
 day of October, in this present eighteenth year of the reign of 
 
 ^ This William Bimand, Recorder of York, was the father of Grace Lady 
 Babthorpe, of whom we have such frequent mention. 
 
246 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 our said sovereign lady Queen Elizabeth, the tenour whereof 
 foUoweth word by word : 
 
 " ' To our trusty and well-beloved the Mayor and Aldermen 
 of our city of York, and to every of them. 
 " ' By the Queen. 
 
 " *■ Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. Where[as] of 
 late our President and Council in the north parts received from 
 you certain certificates of persons that refuse to come to service 
 and sermons in their parish churches or usual chapels within 
 our city of York and the county and liberties of the same, yet 
 for that some imperfections were in your said certificates, in that 
 we are desirous to know the certain estates, degrees, livings, arts, 
 or wealth of the same persons, which is omitted in your said 
 certificates ; and for that some have presented generally " all is 
 well," and no default amongst them or in their parishes; and 
 also it should seem that many known to be offenders in this 
 first article be omitted and not presented at all : Therefore we 
 have thought good eft-soon to will and require you and every 
 of you in your several divisions, without making any stir or 
 assembly in the country, that you call before you only such few 
 persons of such sundry parishes as you think convenient, and 
 to learn by such convenient means as you can the names, 
 qualities, wealth, and degrees of all such persons as do utterly 
 refuse coming to the church, and also the cause of their absence 
 from the same ; and likewise to certify your own knowledge of 
 any person or persons offending therein, and of your doings in 
 the premises, to send the certificates perfectly in writing to 
 our right trusty and right well-beloved cousin, the Earl of 
 Huntingdon, President of our said Council in the north parts, 
 and in his absence to the Vice-President and the rest of our 
 said Council in the north parts, so shortly as you conveniently 
 may, and at the furthest the 23rd day of November next. Fail 
 ye not hereof, as you tender our pleasure, and as we especially 
 trust you. Given under our signet at our city of York, the 6th 
 day of October, the eighteenth year of our reign. 
 
 " ' And by her Council ' " (fol. 87 b). 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 247 
 
 " f Novembris, 18° Elizabeth [1576]. 
 
 " Radics. Hall, Maior, &c. My Lord President and others 
 are behind with their benevolences to the poor. . . . 
 
 **And now it was agreed by these presents that the Lord 
 Mayor and aldermen shall upon Monday next sit upon the last 
 commission concerning persons absenting themselves from the 
 church, and that the persons lately offending therein shall be 
 called before the Lord Mayor and wardens in their several wards 
 at their places accustomed. And to begin first with Walmegate- 
 ward the said Monday by nine of the clock before noon, and sa 
 forth every ward at appointment of my Lord Mayor " (fol. 95). 
 
 " 20° JVovembris, 19° Elizabeth [1576]. 
 
 ''^ Radus. Hall, Maior^ &c. Assembled in the Council 
 Chamber upon Ousebridge, the day and year above said, when 
 and where the fines of the Wardmote Court of Miklythward were 
 assessed by the said Lord Mayor and aldermen. 
 
 " And now the examinations of certain persons utterly refusing 
 to come to the church, lately taken before the Lord Mayor 
 and aldermen in their several wards by virtue of the Queen's 
 Majesty's late commission, were now read before them and 
 perused. 
 
 "And further, it was agreed by the said Lord Mayor and 
 aldermen that certificate shall be forthwith thereof made to the 
 Lord President, according to the said commission, the which 
 certificate hereafter followeth word by word : 
 
 " '■ To the right honourable the Earl of Huntingdon, Lord 
 President of the Queen's Majesty's honourable Council in the 
 north parts. 
 
 " * Pleaseth it your honour to be advertised that by virtue 
 of the Queen's Majesty's commission, given under her Grace's 
 signet at her Highness' city of York, the 6th day of October, in 
 the eighteenth year of her Highness' most noble reign, to us the 
 Mayor and aldermen of her Grace's said city of York addressed, 
 we the said Mayor and aldermen, and every of us in our several 
 divisions, without making any stir or assembly in the country,, 
 have called before us only such few persons of such sundry- 
 parishes as we thought convenient, and have learned by such 
 
^8 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 convenient means as we could the names, qualities, wealth, and 
 degrees of all such persons as do utterly refuse coming to the 
 church, and also the cause of their absence from the same. And 
 likewise we do certify your honour our own knowledge of the 
 person and persons offending therein as foUoweth. 
 
 " * Walmegate Ward. 
 AUhallcnvs " * Elizabeth Wilkinson, wife of William Wilkin- 
 
 on the son, milner \i.e. miller], sayeth she cometh not to 
 Tavement. the church because there is neither priest, altar, nor 
 Sacrifice. 
 
 " ' The said William Wilkinson is worth in clear 
 goods AfOs. as we think. 
 
 " ' Catherine Wildon, wife of John Wildon, 
 tailor, sayeth she cometh not to the church because 
 there is neither altar nor Sacrifice. 
 
 " ' The same John Wildon is worth in clear 
 
 goods 66^. 8^/. as we think. 
 
 jPeter-lane " * Lucy Plowman, wife of William Plowman, 
 
 Little. milner, sayeth she cometh not to the church 
 
 because she liketh not of the priest nor of the 
 
 sacrament. 
 
 " * The same William Plowman is worth in 
 clear goods 40^. as we think. 
 Crux parish. " ' William Bowman, locksmith, sayeth he 
 refuseth to come to the church because he 
 thinketh it is not the Catholic Church, for there 
 is neither priest, altar, nor sacraments, and sayeth 
 that he is worth in clear goods not above 4oj-., 
 and so we think. 
 
 " * Isabel Bowman, wife of the said William 
 Bowman, sayeth she cometh not to the church, 
 for her conscience will not serve her, because there 
 is not the Sacrament hung up and other things 
 as hath been aforetime. And further, she sayeth 
 that she doth not believe that such words as the 
 priest readeth are true. 
 
 " * Margaret Taylor [in Castro, in tnar^'n in a 
 
m OtLsebridge Kidcote. 249 
 
 later hand\ wife of Thomas Taylor, tailor, sayeth 
 she cometh not to the church, because there is 
 not a priest as there ought to be, and also that 
 there is not the Sacrament of the Altar. 
 
 " ' The same Thomas Taylor sayeth his sub- 
 stance is very small and liveth on his credit, and 
 so we think. He is a very poor man, and little 
 worth of his own goods. 
 
 " ' Elizabeth Portar [recessit, in marg\ widow, 
 sayeth she cometh not to the church because that 
 the service there is not as it ought to be, nor as 
 it hath been heretofore. And she sayeth she is 
 a poor woman and of no substance, but we think 
 her worth in clear goods 403-. 
 
 " ' Isabel Addewell [recessit, in marg\ widow, 
 sayeth she cometh not to the church because her 
 conscience will not serve her, and that she hath 
 little or nothing to live upon, and so we think. 
 St. Diouys' " ' Agnes Wiggan, widow, sayeth she cometh 
 
 parish. not to the church, because there is neither priest 
 nor Sacrament. She is nothing worth, as we 
 think. 
 
 "'Richard Brafferton, baker, who was lately pre- 
 sented for not coming to the church, is gone forth 
 of this city, to what place we know not. 
 St. Mary's in " ' Isabel Portar [in prisona, in marg.\ wife of 
 Castlegate. Peter Portar, tailor, sayeth that she cometh not to 
 the church because her conscience will not serve 
 her, for things are not in the church as it hath 
 been aforetime in her forefathers' days. 
 
 " ' The same Peter Portar sayeth he hath lands 
 of the yearly value of 20^"., and he is worth in clear 
 goods 66i-. Zd. as we think. 
 
 " * Gregory Wilkinson, felt - maker, sayeth he 
 cometh not to the church because his conscience 
 will not serve him so to do, for he will remain in 
 the faith that he was baptized in. And as for his 
 wealth, he sayeth he is not worth 2d. if every man 
 
250 Notes by a Priso7ier 
 
 had his own. And we think his saying therein to 
 be true. 
 
 " ' Agnes Wilkinson, wife of the said Gregory, 
 sayeth she cometh not to the church because her 
 conscience will not serve her so to do, for she will 
 remain in the faith that she was baptized in. 
 
 "'Susan Allanson [recessit, i?i marg.\ single 
 woman, servant to the said Gregory Wilkinson, 
 sayeth she hath not come to the church nor 
 received at Easter last, for she was sick ; but she 
 sayeth she must go this day, being the 19th of 
 November instant, to the service of one Mr. 
 St. Quintin, dwelling in the country, who married 
 Mrs. Hussey, but she sayeth she is willing to go 
 to the church. 
 St. Margaret's " ' Thomas Pearson, weaver, sayeth he cometh 
 parish. not to the church for his conscience will not serve 
 him, because there lacketh the Sacrament, the 
 priest, and the altar ; and sayeth he is worth in 
 clear goods 20s. ^ and so we think : which Thomas 
 is now in ward. 
 
 " * MONKEWARDE. 
 
 Christ's " ' Dorothy Vavasour, wife of Thomas Vavasour, 
 
 parish. doctor of physic, sayeth she cometh not to the 
 church because her conscience will not serve her 
 so to do, for she sayeth she will remain in the 
 faith that she was baptized in. And as for the 
 substance of the same Thomas, we think it little 
 or nothing worth, and he hath no lands to our 
 knowledge. 
 
 " ' Frances Hall, wife of George Hall, draper, 
 sayeth she cometh not to the church because she 
 is persuaded otherwise to do, and believeth in the 
 faith she was baptized in. 
 
 " ' The same George sayeth he hath lands to 
 the yearly value of 20J., and in clear goods to our 
 estimation (i(>s. Sd. 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote, 251 
 
 "* William Hutton, draper, sayeth he cometh 
 not to the church because he hath been excom- 
 municate and is not yet absolved, but when he is 
 absolved he will come. And sayeth he hath small 
 substance, but useth buying of barley and maketh 
 it into malt, and borroweth money for the same; 
 yet we think he is in clear goods 40X., and lands 
 he hath not as we suppose. 
 
 "'Mary Hutton, wife to the said William 
 Hutton, sayeth she cometh not to the church 
 because her conscience will not serve her so to do. 
 
 " * Janet Geldart [in prisona, in marg\ wife of 
 Percival Geldart, butcher, sayeth she cometh not 
 to the church because her conscience will not 
 serve her so to do, and sayeth there can be no 
 greater cause for the same than her conscience. 
 
 " ' The same Percival sayeth he oweth as much 
 as he hath, yet he is in clear goods 40^". as we 
 think. 
 
 " ' Janet Geldart, wife of Lancelot Geldart, 
 butcher, sayeth she cometh not to the church, for 
 her conscience will not serve her so to do. And 
 the same Lancelot hath small substance or none 
 to our knowledge. 
 
 " ' Emma Halliday, wife of Richard Halliday, 
 girdler, cometh not to the church, for what cause 
 we cannot learn, because she is a rover abroad 
 in the country, and cannot be had. And as for 
 the substance of the same Richard, we think him 
 worth little or nothing. 
 
 " 'Agnes Weddell [in prisona, in war^.], wife of 
 John Weddell, younger, butcher, sayeth she cometh 
 not to the church, for her conscience will not serve 
 her, because there is neither altar, priest, nor 
 Sacrifice. 
 
 " ' The same John sayeth that he is worth in 
 clear goods 3/., and so we think. 
 
 " ' AUce Cowling, wife of John Cowling, peny- 
 
252 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 man, sayeth she cometh not to the church because 
 her conscience will not serve her. 
 
 " * The same John Cowling sayeth he is a poor 
 man and hath no substance, and so we think. 
 
 " * Jane West [recessit, in marg\ single woman, 
 servant to George Hall, draper, sayeth she cometh 
 not to the church, for she thinketh it is not the 
 right church ; and that if she should come there 
 it would damn her soul. 
 
 " ' Anne Boyes, single woman, servant to the 
 said George Hall, sayeth she cometh not to the 
 church, for her conscience will not serve her, 
 because there is neither altar. Sacrifice, nor true 
 priest. 
 
 " ' Anne Kitchenman, wife to Christopher 
 Kitchenman, carpenter, cometh not to the church, 
 for what cause we cannot learn, for she is now 
 great with child, and could not come before us. 
 And as for his substance, we think him worth in 
 clear goods 20s. 
 
 " ' Margaret Clitherow [in prisona, in niarg,]^ 
 wife of John Clitherow, butcher, cometh not to 
 the church, for what cause we cannot learn, for 
 she is now great with child, and could not come 
 before us. 
 
 " ' The same John sayeth he is worth in clear 
 goods 6/., and so we think. 
 
 "'Janet Bachelar, wife of William Bachelar, 
 butcher, cometh not to the church, for what cause 
 we know not, but she is now sick, and came not 
 before us. And as for his substance, we think 
 him worth in clear goods 6/. 
 
 " * Agnes Chambers [recessit, in niarg.], wife of 
 John Chambers, inn-holder, cometh not to the 
 church, for what cause we know not, because she 
 could not be had, for she and her husband are 
 aboutwards to go to Newcastle. And as for his 
 substance, we think him worth little or nothing. 
 
in Oiisebridge Kidcote, 253 
 
 "'Janet Smythes [mortua, in marg\ wife of 
 George Smythes, butcher, who hath been hereto- 
 fore presented for not coming to the church, sayeth 
 that she now cometh to the church, and so she is 
 wining to do still. 
 
 " ' Alice Rock, wife of Thomas Rock, butcher, 
 who hath been heretofore presented for not coming 
 to the church, sayeth that she now cometh to the 
 church, and so she is willing to do still. 
 St. Maurice " * John Wood, tailor, cometh not to the church, 
 parish. for what cause we know not, for he cannot be had, 
 and as for his substance, he is worth little or 
 nothing. 
 St. Sampso7i " ' Elizabeth Langton, wife of Thomas Langton, 
 parish. currier, sayeth she cometh not to the church, for 
 her heart and conscience will not serve her so 
 to do. 
 
 " ' The same Thomas sayeth he hath small 
 substance, yet we think him worth in clear goods 
 20s. 
 
 " * Elizabeth Awdecorne [Oldcorne], wife of 
 John Awdecorne, tiler, cometh not to the church, 
 because she sayeth she is certified in her conscience 
 otherwise, and that she should displease God if she 
 should do otherwise. 
 
 " * The same John sayeth he is worth in clear 
 goods 3/., and so we think. 
 
 " * Alice Awdecorne [her husband in prison, 
 in inarg\ wife of Thomas Awdecorne, tiler, sayeth 
 she cometh not to the church because she is other- 
 wise persuaded in her conscience. 
 
 '' ' The same Thomas is in the castle for the 
 like offence, and as for his substance, we think it 
 little or nothing. 
 
 " ' Alice Masherother, wife of John Masher- 
 other, brazier, sayeth she cometh not to the church, 
 for her conscience will not serve her, and yet 
 obstinately refuseth so to do. 
 
254 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 "*The same John sayeth he is a poor man 
 and nothing worth, and so we think. 
 
 " ' Anne Godfrey, single woman, servant to 
 Thomas Awdecorne, tiler, sayeth she cometh not 
 to the church, for she is persuaded in her con- 
 science not to come there. 
 St. Cuthhert's " ' Helen Williamson, wife of John Williamson, 
 parish. tailor, sayeth she cometh not to the church because 
 her heart and conscience will not serve her. And 
 as for the substance of the same John, it is very 
 little or nothing worth as we think. 
 
 " ' Thomas Wood, labourer, sayeth he cometh 
 not to the church, for his conscience will not serve 
 him so to do. And as for his substance, it is very 
 little or nothing as we think. 
 
 " * Agnes Wood, wife of the said Thomas, 
 sayeth she cometh not to the church, for her con- 
 science will not serve her. 
 
 " * MiKLYTHWARDE. 
 
 Trinity's in " * John Edwyn, yeoman, sayeth he cometh not 
 Micklegate. to his parish church because his conscience will 
 not serve him to come there where James Frost, 
 curate, there is, but he sayeth he hath been before 
 Mr. Dean, and he hath appointed him and his 
 wife to receive at the parish church of St. Michael 
 of the Belfry, and they are contented so to do, or 
 in any other church where the said Frost is not 
 And as for his substance, he is worth in clear 
 goods 20S. as we think. 
 
 " ' Margaret Edwyn, wife of the said John 
 Edwyn, cometh not to her parish church, for 
 what cause we know not, for she is sick and 
 came not before us. 
 
 Janet Stryckett, widow, sayeth she cometh not 
 to the church because her conscience will not serve 
 her, for the bread and wine is not consecrated as 
 it hath been in time past. And as for her sub- 
 
171 Ousch^idge Kidcote. 255 
 
 stance, she sayeth she hath lands for term of her 
 life of the yearly value of 40i"., and so we think. 
 And as for her goods, she sayeth she hath given 
 them to her children by deed of gift. 
 Bishophill, " ' Anne Teshe [in Castro, in marg.], wife of 
 
 Newer. Edward Teshe, gentleman, sayeth she cometh not 
 to the church because her conscience will not 
 serve her, for there is neither priest, altar, nor 
 sacrament. 
 
 " ' The said Edward Teshe [in Castro, in maro.], 
 who hath been heretofore presented to your honour 
 for not coming to the church, is now at London, 
 and so we cannot learn the cause of his absence 
 from the church. And as for his substance, we 
 think him worth in clear goods 5/. 
 
 " ' Bridget Beseley, wife of Edward Beseley, 
 gentleman, cometh not to the church, for what 
 cause we know not, for she cannot be had. And 
 as for the same Edward, he is presently in ward for 
 the like offence. And he hath lands of the yearly 
 value of 6/. i^s. 4//. And he is worth in goods 
 little or nothing, as we think. 
 Allhallows hi " 'Alice Lobley, wife of Richard Lobley, tanner, 
 North Street, sayeth she cometh not to the church because her 
 conscience will not serve her, for she sayeth she 
 thinketh the Baptism is not as it hath been, and 
 sayeth she will not receive so long as she liveth. 
 
 " ' The same Richard sayeth he oweth as much 
 
 as he hath, and liveth upon his credit, and so we 
 
 think. 
 
 St. John's " ' Anne Hewett, single woman, daughter and 
 
 parish at servant to Thomas Hewett, wax chandler, sayeth 
 
 Ousehridge- she cometh not to the church because there is no 
 
 end. priest there nor right sacrament. 
 
 "*Anne Brymeley [recessit, in marg.], seamster 
 [i.e. spinster], examined, if she had a master and 
 were forth of prison, whether she would come to 
 church or not, sayeth her conscience would not 
 
256 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 sen-e her to come there, for if she should, then 
 she should damn her own soul. 
 
 " ' Margaret Hewett [recessit, /;/ marg\ seam- 
 ster, daughter to the above-named Thomas Hewett, 
 which Margaret was lately presented for not coming 
 to the church, is gone forth of this city, to what 
 place we know not. 
 
 " * BOTHOMEWARDE. 
 
 St. MichaePs " ' Margaret Tesimond, wife of William Tesi- 
 
 of the Belfry, mond, saddler, sayeth she cometh not to the 
 
 church, for if she should she thinketh she should 
 
 offend God, and therefore her conscience will not 
 
 suffer her to come there. 
 
 '' * The same William is in the Castle for the 
 like offence. And he hath lands of the yearly 
 value of 26J. 8^/., and he is worth in goods little 
 or nothing. 
 
 " ' Alice Durham, wife of Richard Durham, 
 barber, sayeth she cometh not to the church for 
 her conscience will not serve her so to do, and her 
 heart also goeth against it because there lacketh the 
 altar and the true priest ; and further, she sayeth 
 that she thinketh that those that be now married 
 are not right married. 
 
 " ' The same Richard sayeth he hath no lands 
 nor goods, and so we think. 
 St. Martin's in *'*Jane Lawnder [recessit, /// w«/^.], wife of 
 Coney Street. John Lawnder, gentleman, sayeth she cometh not 
 to the church for her conscience will not serve her, 
 and sayeth she doth not like of anything that there 
 is read. And as for the substance of the same 
 John, we think him worth in clear goods 6/., and 
 as for lands he hath no more but only the house 
 that he dwelieth in, so far as we know. 
 
 "'Anne Cooke, wife of Ambrose Cooke, 
 saddler, sayeth she cometh not to the church for 
 her conscience will not serve her so to do. 
 
tn Ousebridge Kidcote. 
 
 257 
 
 " ' The same Ambrose sayeth he hath neither 
 lands nor yet any goods if his debts were paid, and 
 so we think. 
 St. Wilfreifs " ' Helen Boothe [mortua, in marg\ widow, 
 
 parish. sayeth she cometh not to the church for her con- 
 science will not serve her. And further sayeth, if 
 she should come to the church she should rather 
 offend God than otherwise. And as for her sub- 
 stance, we think her worth in clear goods \os. 
 
 "•Janet Fothergill [recessit, iii w^r^.], widow, 
 who hath been heretofore presented for not coming 
 to the church, is forth of the city and cannot be 
 had, and so we could not learn the cause of her 
 absence from the church. And as for her sub- 
 stance, we think her worth in clear goods 20s. 
 St Olave's " ' Catherine Gillott, wife of George Gillott, inn- 
 
 parish. holder, sayeth she cometh not to the church 
 because she is excommunicated and cannot be ab- 
 solved without money which she sayeth she lacketh. 
 And she being examined if she would come to 
 the church if she were absolved, she sayeth seeing 
 she was put forth of the church she would not 
 come there. And as for the substance of the said 
 George, we think him worth nothing. 
 
 " ' Grace Wood [extra libertates, in marg\ wife 
 of William Wood, yeoman, cometh not to the 
 church and is excommunicated and she would not 
 appear before us, but answered the officer when he 
 went to warn and command her and her husband 
 to appear before us, that her husband was as well 
 occupied and did serve the Queen as well as any 
 in York. And as for herself she said she had 
 other business to do than to come before me the 
 said Mayor. 
 
 "'The said William Wood is worth in clear 
 goods 3/., as we think, and he is servant to John 
 Genkyns, Esquire, the Queen's Majesty's Receiver 
 within Yorkshire. 
 
58 
 
 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 Marston. 
 
 "'The Ainsty. 
 Margaret Thwaites, wife of John Thwaites, 
 
 Aconrie. 
 
 Esquire, sayeth she cometh not to the church for 
 her conscience will not serve her so to do, because 
 there is nothing in the church that she liketh of. 
 
 " * The said John Thwaites sayeth that he hath 
 lands of the yearly value of lo/., and as for his 
 goods, he sayeth he oweth more than he is worth, 
 and so we think. 
 
 " ' Richard Gibson, who hath been heretofore 
 
 presented for not coming to the church, is now in 
 
 York Castle for suspect of felony. 
 
 " * In witness whereof to this our present certificate we have 
 
 subscribed with our own hands the 23rd day of November in 
 
 the nineteenth year of the reign of our most gracious Sovereign 
 
 Lady Elizabeth by the grace of God Queen of England, France, 
 
 and Ireland, defender of the faith, &c. 
 
 "'Ralph Hall, Mayor. Thomas Harryson. 
 
 William Beckwith. John Dyneley. 
 
 Richard Calome. Hugh Graves. 
 
 Christopher Harbert. Robert Cripling.' 
 
 Robert Maskewe. 
 
 " And further it is agreed by these presents that Mr. Calome, 
 Mr. Harbert, Mr. Maskewe, Mr. Harryson, and Mr. Dyneley, 
 aldermen, shall this day at two of the clock in the afternoon, go 
 and accompany my Lord Mayor to my Lord President, and 
 welcome his honour home, and deliver to him the certificate 
 of persons absenting themselves from the church" (fol. 96, loi). 
 
 " 10° Aj>rilis, 19° Elizabeth [1577]. 
 
 ^^Johes. Dyneley, Maior, &c. Assembled in the Council 
 Chamber upon Ousebridge, the day and year aforesaid, when 
 and where Percival Geldart, Christopher Kitchenman, and George 
 Hall of Christ's parish, John Masherothcr and Thomas Lington 
 of St. Sampson's parish, whose wife cometh not to the church 
 on Sundays and holidays, and also William Hutton of Christ's 
 parish aforesaid, who neither he nor yet his wife cometh to the 
 
m Ottsebridge Kidcote. 259 
 
 church on Sundays, personally appeared before these presents. 
 And for so much as the said Percival, Christopher, George, John, 
 Thomas, and William would not nor yet will suffer distresses 
 to be taken by the churchwardens of their several parishes for 
 the several offences aforesaid, nor yet will pay any money for 
 the same, according to the order thereof lately made, therefore 
 it is now agreed by these presents that they and every of them 
 shall be forthwith committed to ward, and further order to be 
 taken for their offences. 
 
 " And now also John Oldcorne of St. Sampson's parish, who 
 cometh not to the church on Sundays and holidays, personally 
 appeared before these presents, and sayeth he is content to suffer 
 the churchwardens of the same parish to take his distresses for 
 his offence. 
 
 "Also Margaret Hewett, daughter of Thomas Hewett, of 
 John's parish at Ousebridge-end, personally appeared before 
 these presents, who wilfully and obstinately refuseth to come 
 to the church, and will not pay any money for her offence. 
 Therefore it is agreed by these presents that she shall be forth- 
 with committed to ward" (n. 27, fol. 19). 
 
 "19° Api'ilis, 19° Elizabeth. 
 
 " It was agreed by these presents that the chamberlains shall 
 forthwith pay to James Beckwith, late churchwarden of the parish 
 of Allhallows upon the Pavement, 2s. ^d. in full satisfaction of all 
 such costs as he hath sustained about a suit commenced against 
 him by one John Wildon in the Sheriff's Court, for a distress 
 which the same James did during his said office take of the 
 goods of the said John, viz., eight pair of nether stocks or hose, 
 because his wife did wilfully absent herself from her parish church 
 on the Sundays and holidays, contrary to the statutes. And 
 that the said James shall forthwith deliver to the said chamber- 
 lains the said distress, and they to keep the same until such 
 time as the said John do pay to them again the said 2s. 5^." 
 
 roi. 25). 
 
 "25° Odobris, 19° Elizabeth. 
 . " Also it is agreed by these presents that the churchwardens 
 
26o Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 of all such parishes within this city, and suburbs of the same, 
 where any persons have been presented for not coming to church, 
 shall be called before my Lord Mayor this present day at after- 
 noon, to the intent to know of them what money or distresses 
 they have received or taken of the offenders. And further, to 
 learn of every the said churchwardens the names of all persons 
 which wilfully absent themselves from the church on Sundays 
 and holidays, and how long every of them have so absented 
 themselves, and those that be imprisoned for that offence, to 
 learn how long they have been imprisoned. And further, that 
 the said churchwardens sliall bring in the distresses to-morrow 
 to Ousebridge to the intent all the same may be [apjpraised 
 and sold according to the custom of this city " (fol. 6 1 b). 
 
 " id^ Januarli, 20° Elizabeth [1575]. 
 
 " Also it is agreed by these presents that John Wildon, and 
 all others of Allhallows parish and Peterlane Little, being now 
 in the Kidcote, and also Mr. Lee being forth of this city, all 
 which persons are assessed to pay to the poor, and the same 
 money hath been behind a good space, and as yet cannot be 
 had, that the same money shall be paid by the chamberlains. 
 Quousque, &c." (fol. 7 1 b). 
 
 " 19° Februai'it\ 20° Elizabeth. 
 
 " And now Ambrose Cooke hath submitted himself to abide 
 the order of this Court for the arrearages due by him for his 
 wife's offence for not coming to the church, contrary to the ordi- 
 nance thereof made by this Court " (fol. 83). 
 
 *' 21° Februarii, 20° Elizabeth. 
 
 " And now John Wildon, William Wilkinson, William Plow- 
 man, Richard Durham, Thomas Langton, have submitted them- 
 selves to bide the order of this Court for arrearages due by every 
 of them for their wives' offence for not coming to the church, 
 contrary to the ordinance of this city therefore lately established 
 by this Court " (fol. 83 b). 
 
 " Ult\ Aprilis, 20° Elizabeth [1578]. 
 
 *' It was agreed by these presents that John Wildon and 
 
in Ousebride'e Kidcote. 261 
 
 •e> 
 
 all other persons who were lately in ward for that they made 
 rescue and would not suffer their goods to be restrained for their 
 wives' absence from the church, shall be commanded to appear 
 before my Lord Mayor and his brethren at this place this day 
 sennight, and by Mr. Recorder's advice further order to be taken 
 against them " (fol. 89 b). 
 
 " 28° Mali, 20° Elizabeth. 
 
 " Also it is agreed that the fines of such persons that made 
 rescues when their distresses were taken, shall be assessed on 
 Friday next " (fol. 93). 
 
 ^' A^ Jimiiy 20° Elizabeth. 
 
 " Hugh Graves, Lord Mayor of the city of York, to the church- 
 wardens of Christ's parish who now are, and to the late church- 
 wardens there, and to every of them greeting. Whereas I am 
 informed that Mr. John Dyneley, late Lord Mayor of the said 
 city, about the 26th of November last past [1577], directed his 
 precepts to you the said late churchwardens, commanding you 
 by the same in the Queen's Majesty's behalf forthwith to levy 
 of the goods of Thomas Vavasour, doctor of physic, William 
 Hutton, Percival Geldart, Lancelot Geldart, Richard Halliday, 
 John Cowling, Agnes Kitcherman, widow, for every Sunday and 
 other holiday that Dorothy Vavasour, wife of the said Thomas 
 Vavasour ; Mary Hutton, wife of the said William Hutton ; Janet 
 Geldart, wife of the said Percival Geldart; Janet Geldart, wife 
 of the said Lancelot Geldart ; Emma Halliday, wife of the said 
 Richard Halliday; Alice Cowling, wife of the said John Cowling; 
 and Agnes Kitchyman, widow, had wilfully absented themselves 
 from their parish church from the 25 th of January then last past 
 unto the day of the date of the said precept 12^., by way of 
 distress. And where also you the said late churchwardens were 
 commanded by the said precept to levy of the goods of the said 
 Thomas Vavasour, William Hutton, Percival Geldart, Lancelot 
 Geldart, Richard Halliday, John Cowling, and Agnes Kitchyman, 
 and of the goods of Christopher Rayne, William Bachelar, John 
 Weddell, John Clitherowe, and George Hall, and of all other 
 persons within the said parish for every Sunday and other 
 holiday that the wives of the said Thomas Vavasour, William 
 
262 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 Hiitton, Percival Geldart, Lancelot Geldart, Richard Halliday, 
 John Cowling, Christopher Rayne, William Bachelar, John 
 Weddell, John Cowling [Clitherowe], George Hall, Agnes 
 Kitchyman, widow, and other persons should from thenceforth 
 be absent from their parish church, and would not come to the 
 same, and there remain orderly and soberly during the time of 
 common prayer, preaching, or other service of God, then to be 
 used and ministered, but obstinately and wilfully should refuse 
 the same contrary to the true meaning of the statutes made in 
 the first year of the Queen's Majesty's reign, for every such 
 offence 12^., by way of distress, &:c. And that all the said 
 money so to be raised might be bestowed according to the 
 said statute, and according to the order set down by the Lord 
 Mayor and his brethren the said 15 th of January. And further, 
 whereas now the said late churchwardens were commanded by 
 the said precept to certify the said late Mayor and his brethren 
 every fortnight as well of all such money by you to be levied, 
 and of the bestowing thereof in form aforesaid, as also all other 
 your doings in the execution of the premises as by the same 
 precept more plainly appeareth, and for so much as neither 
 you nor any of you have as yet made any certificate to me of 
 the premises since my entry into my office and so have neglected 
 your duties in this behalf, these are now, therefore, of the Queen's 
 Majesty's behalf, to will and command you the churchwardens 
 that now are, and every of you immediately upon the sight hereof, 
 to call to you the said late churchwardens and to learn of them 
 how many Sundays or other holidays during their office they 
 made not levy according to the effects of the said former precept. 
 And that done, you, the churchwardens that now are, forthwith 
 to levy of the goods of every of the said persons which have 
 offended in form aforesaid for every Sunday and other holiday 
 that every of them have offended from the said 15 th of November 
 last hitherto, for every such offence i2d., by way of distress, unless 
 the said offenders can show some lawful and reasonable cause 
 of their absence. And also I do will and command you, the 
 churchwardens that now are, and every of you in the Queen's 
 Majesty's name, that you do levy of the goods of the said 
 Thomas Vavasour, William Hutton, Percival Geldart, Lancelot 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 263 
 
 Geldart, Richard Halliday, John Cowling, Christopher Rayne, 
 William Bachelar, John Weddell, John Clitherowe, George Hall, 
 and Agnes Kitchyman, widow, and of all other persons within 
 the said parish for every Sunday and other holiday that the 
 wives of the said Thomas Vavasour, William Hutton, Percival 
 Geldart, Lancelot Geldart, Richard Halliday, John Cowling, 
 Christopher Rayne, William Bachelar, John Weddell, John 
 Clitherowe, George Hall, and Agnes Kitchyman, widow, and 
 other persons of the said parish shall from henceforth be absent 
 from their said parish church, and will not come to the same, 
 and there remain orderly and soberly during the time of 
 common prayer, preaching, or other service of God, then to be 
 used and ministered, but obstinately and wilfully shall refuse the 
 same contrary to the true meaning of the said statute, for every 
 such offence 12^., by way of distress, unless the said offenders 
 can show some lawful and reasonable cause of their absence, 
 to be allowed from time to time by me the said Mayor, Mr. 
 Recorder, and four of my brethren aldermen, which Dorothy, 
 Mary, Janet, &c., have been lately presented offenders in this 
 behalf against the form of the said statute, so that all the money 
 so by you to be levied may be bestowed according to the said 
 statute, and according to the said order set down by the said 
 Lord- Mayor and his brethren. And further, I, the said Mayor 
 in the Queen's Majesty's name, do will and command you, the 
 churchwardens that now [are], to certify me in writing under 
 your hands as well of all such money by you to be levied, as 
 of all other your doings in execution of the premises, on 
 Wednesday being the nth of June next coming, at nine of 
 the clock before noon, in the Council Chamber upon Ousebridge. 
 And so from thenceforth every fortnight. And also that you, 
 the said late churchwardens, do then and there certify me and 
 my brethren in writing, &c., as well of all such money by 
 you levied, and of the bestowing thereof, as of all other your 
 doings in execution of the premises, by force of the said former 
 precept. And that neither you, the churchwardens that now are, 
 nor yet the said late churchwardens, fail herein, as you and 
 every of you will answer to the contrary at your extreme perils. 
 Given at the said city under my seal," &c. (fol 95). 
 
264 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 *' i8°yw///V, 20° Elizabeth. 
 
 " And now it is agreed by these presents that the constables 
 and two or moo \i.e. more] of the discreet, honest, and substantial 
 persons of every parish within every ward of this city shall be 
 called before the Lord Mayor and aldermen, within their several 
 wards, on Monday next, at the place accustomed, that is to say, 
 Walmegateward and Micklethward, at nine of the clock before 
 noon, and Bothomeward and Monkward at one of the clock at 
 afternoon. And also that the constables and two or more of the 
 discreet, honest, and substantial persons of every township and 
 hamlet of the north side of the Ainsty to be before Mr. Appleyard, 
 Mr. Maskewe, Mr. Harryson, and Mr. Dyneley, aldermen, on 
 Monday come a sennight at Marston Church. And likewise that 
 the constables and two or more of the discreet, honest, and 
 substantial persons of every township of the south side of the 
 Ainsty shall be called before Mr. Harbert, Mr. Cripling, 
 Mr. Askwith, and Mr. Robinson, aldermen, the same day and 
 hour at Copmanthorpe Chapel, for and concerning the due execu- 
 tion of the commission and articles following and warrants to be 
 directed accordingly. 
 
 " * To our trusty and well-beloved the Mayor, Aldermen, and 
 Justices of our Peace within our city of York and the county and 
 liberties of the same and to every of them. 
 " ' By the Queen. 
 
 " * Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. Whereas we 
 and our Council in the north parts be credibly informed of 
 sundry griefs and disorders continually increasing in our city of 
 York and county of the same, and that the same groweth chiefly 
 by the idleness of many of our common subjects in these parts, 
 and partly through the careless negligence of divers and sundry of 
 our Justices of Peace in the same county, for want of good 
 example in themselves and the due execution of divers the good 
 and necessary laws and statutes of this our realm : We have, 
 therefore, thought good to will and require you, and by virtue 
 hereof to charge and command you that with such convenient 
 speed as you may after the receipt hereof to assemble yourselves 
 in your several limits and divisions, and at such day and days, 
 place and places, as you think good, to meet and consult for the 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote, 265 
 
 execution of these articles herewith annexed, so as the same be 
 done with such deUberate advice and discretion as may least 
 trouble or molest the great number of our subjects and inhabitants 
 within your said several divisions. And of your doings and pro- 
 ceedings herein our pleasure is that you certify our right trusty 
 and right well-beloved cousin, the Earl of Huntingdon, our 
 President in these parts, or in his absence the Vice-President and 
 Council there monthly, or every six weeks at the least, till the 
 6th of November next coming, and that you make your first 
 certificate in the assize week next. Whereof we require you not 
 to fail, as you tender our good pleasure, your own duties, the 
 care of your country, and will answer the contrary at your peril. 
 Given under our signet, at our city of York, the i6th of June, 
 the twentieth year of our reign. 
 
 *' * And by her Council' 
 
 " * Articles and certain special matters to be considered 
 of and put in execution by the good directions and discretions 
 of the Justices of Peace within the city of York and county of 
 the same. 
 
 " 'And first to give order and strait charge that the people on 
 Sabbath days and other holidays, having no lawful or reasonable 
 let, do resort to their parish church or chapel to hear divine 
 service and sermons, and to receive the holy communion monthly 
 or four times in the year at the least, and the Justices themselves 
 to be zealous and forward in this behalf, and so to give good 
 example to their neighbours and parishioners, and to certify the 
 names of those persons that of obstinacy or wilfulness do dislike 
 of the service now used, or contemn the same, and do not come 
 to the church, and to give strait order to the churchwardens to 
 levy the pains and sums of money of such persons as shall offend 
 contrary to the laws and statutes in this behalf, which is \2d. for 
 every default, so as the said sums of money may be distributed in 
 the parishes, and where the offences shall be so committed, for the 
 relief of the poor of the same parish according to the late statute 
 in that behalf provided, and that the churchwardens do make their 
 weekly account to you, thcjustices, or such as you shall appoint, 
 of the levying and distribution of the said sums of money. 
 
 " * Also that the said statute for the punishment of idle persons, 
 
266 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 rogues, vagrant people, may be by your good discretions more 
 duly put in execution than hitherto it hath been, so as the idle 
 people may be set to work and labour, and those that will [not] 
 work and labour and be able to [do] so be severely corrected and 
 punished according to the statute, and the aged, impotent, and sick 
 persons, and such as be not able to work and labour, to be more 
 carefully and charitably provided for than hitherto they have been, 
 so as none be suffered to wander and go abroad. 
 
 " ' Also that the several statutes for spreading of false rumours 
 and tales of the Queen's Majesty, or spreading of rumours and 
 tales to make dissension or discord between her and her noblemen, 
 peers of this realm, or if any person or persons shall tell or speak 
 any false news, rumours, messages, or tales of any prelate, Justices 
 of the one Bench or of the other, or other great officers within 
 this realm, whereby discord or slander may arise within the realm, 
 that you cause such persons to be apprehended and committed 
 to the gaol, there to remain until they shall be delivered by 
 justice and order of law. 
 
 " * Also to avoid many inconveniences that may and do happen 
 by night-walkers, that you give very strait order that the 
 statutes for watches and the statutes for hemandaye be duly 
 executed and better observed in all villages and towns and other 
 places than heretofore they have been, whereby many robberies, 
 thefts, murders, and other offences shall and may be cut off and 
 prevented, or at the least the offenders shall by the diligent 
 execution of these laws be met withal and apprehended. 
 
 " * Also that none be suffered to keep alehouses without special 
 licence of the Justices of Peace, and bonds with sureties, according 
 to the statute, for good order and rule to be kept within such ale- 
 houses as by licence are tolerated, and all others to be secluded 
 and restrained from keeping of any alehouses ; and those that by 
 licences and bonds are suffered to keep alehouses that if they 
 offend contrary to the laws and statutes that their licences may 
 be taken from them, and their bonds, with the penalties, be 
 certified and estreated into the Exchequer, or else information 
 and relation be made thereof to the Queen's Attorney in the north 
 parts, that he may, by bill or information, in her Majesty's name 
 proceed against such offenders by order of law, and that you do 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 267 
 
 always foresee that the excessive number of alehouses be avoided 
 and none suffered to be kept in corners and outside of towns. 
 
 " '■ Also that very good order be taken and strait charge given 
 to all mayors, sheriffs, bailiffs, constables, and especially in all 
 market towns and thoroughfare towns to have good regard to the 
 houses and inns that do use to lodge and receive strangers and 
 guests, and that the houses and owners of those houses be warned 
 to keep such account and reckoning of their guests which' they do 
 lodge, as they may be able upon demand to yield account of the 
 names of the persons lodged in their houses, the time of their 
 being there, and of the intention of their journey, from what place 
 they came, and whither they say they mind to travel or go. 
 
 " * Also that the laudable exercise of shooting in the long-bow, 
 according to the laws and statutes of this realm, may be again 
 revived, used, and maintained more ordinarily and commonly 
 used than of late it hath been, whereby many idle, unprofitable, 
 ungodly, and unlawful games may be the less set by and avoided, 
 and so the people and subjects better trained and more able to 
 serve for the defence of their country, and that the Justices them- 
 selves, their household servants and tenants, would be forward 
 and give good example for the good and due execution of this 
 so necessary wholesome and good a law. 
 
 " ' Also to have vigilant eye and regard to such as be 
 harbourers and maintainers of any priests, schoolmasters, or 
 other persons, not yet confirmed or reformed, or such as have 
 been of late beyond the seas and are returned, and be no 
 favourers of the godly and Christian religion now established 
 and professed, and that you do certify their names, qualities, and 
 dwelling-places, or to whose houses and places they do resort or 
 have access. 
 
 " ' And that albeit these articles, or the most part of them, 
 amongst others, are commonly given in charge at the quarter 
 sessions, yet because they be then slightly regarded and slightly 
 passed over, either by the simplicity of the jury or that you the 
 Justices have so little time there to remain together, be taken as 
 matters of course and things ordinary, it is thought convenient 
 that you and every of you, in your several divisions, should, 
 by your wisdoms and good discretions, now by the authority of 
 
268 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 these commissions and these articles, seek the redress and 
 reformation of such disorders and inconveniences as daily grow 
 and happen for lack of expression of these former articles. 
 
 " * And that if you know of any other inconvenience, grief, or 
 public disorder, forcible entries, riots, or other oppressions, 
 amending of highways, bridges, and causeways, and for retainers 
 and giving of liveries and badges or cognizances, or any other 
 thing whatsoever, appertaining to your offices, duties, and callings 
 as Justices of Peace, you shall do well to give order for the amend- 
 ment and repair thereof, and that you yourselves cannot do, to 
 certify the said Lord President and Council thereof, and so shall 
 you show yourselves profitable members of the Commonwealth 
 and careful of the public weal of your country ' " (fol. 98 b). 
 
 '' 1° Jidil, 20° Elizabeth. 
 
 " Also it is agreed that John Wildon and others, whose fines 
 are assessed for and concerning their wives' offence, shall either 
 upon demand pay the same forthwith, or else they to be forthwith 
 upon refusing to pay the same committed to ward, there to remain 
 till they shall have fully discharged the same with the arrearages 
 thereof" (fol. 103). 
 
 "4° Martii, 21'' Elizabeth [157!]. 
 
 ''^ Roberttts C?'ij>litig, Maior. Assembled in the Council 
 Chamber upon Ousebridge, the day and year above said, when 
 and where certain persons who wilfully do absent themselves 
 from the church were now called before these presents and 
 earnestly moved to come to the church, the names of which 
 persons, with their sayings or answers touching the same, here- 
 after followeth. 
 
 " Richard Halliday, of this city, girdler, hath promised unto 
 my Lord Mayor and his worshipful brethren that he will lay his 
 commandment unfeignedly upon his wife, and move and counsel 
 her to come to the church and hear divine service and sermons, 
 according to the laws of God and the Queen's Majesty's laws of 
 this realm. 
 
 "Emott Halliday, wife of the said Richard Halliday, hath 
 here likewise promised that she will come to the church, but she 
 will not tell when she will come to the church. 
 
in Otisebridge Kidcote, 269 
 
 " Mary Hutton, wife of William Hutton, of this city, draper, 
 sayeth she will come to God's church, but she will not tell when 
 as she will come thither. 
 
 " Anne Cooke, wife of Ambrose Cooke, of this city, saddler, 
 sayeth she cannot appoint any time when as she will come to the 
 church, but as shall please God. 
 
 " Agnes Johnson, of the said city, widow, sayeth that she will 
 go to the Church of God and not to this church. 
 
 "William Bowman, of this city, locksmith, sayeth that his 
 conscience will not serve him to go to the church as yet. 
 
 "Alice Simpson, of Huntingdon, in the county of York, 
 widow, sayeth that she will come to the Church of God, but her 
 conscience will not serve her to come to this church" (fol. 144 b). 
 
 " 15° Aprilis, 22° Elizabeth [1580]. 
 
 " It was agreed by these presents that Thomas Lister, sailor, 
 shall be forthwith committed to ward, there to remain by the 
 space of twenty days next coming, for making of an assault and 
 affray on Robert Harrison, butcher, one of the churchwardens 
 of St. John's parish of Ousebridge-end, coming to take a distress 
 
 of the goods of Todd for not coming to the church according 
 
 to a former order made in the time of the mayoralty of Mr. Ralph 
 Hall, and contrary to the Queen's Majesty's laws" (fol. 232). 
 
 "26°^/////, 22° Elizabeth. 
 
 " It was agreed by these presents that so soon as it is known 
 by presentment of the jury now charged what persons have or 
 do wilfully absent themselves from their parish churches on 
 Sundays or holidays in time of divine service, that then forthwith 
 commandment shall be given or left at the dwelling-houses of all 
 persons where any such offenders shall be, that they themselves 
 do resort, and also do bring their wife, children, and servants so 
 offending to their several parish churches within ten days then 
 next coming, there to remain orderly and soberly during the time 
 of divine service, and so continually every Sunday and holiday 
 from thenceforth. And also to pay all their fines for the time 
 bypast. Or else that upon their refusal as well the persons 
 offenders being men, as the husbands of all the said wives, fathers 
 
270 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 of the said children, and masters of the said servants so offending, 
 to be utterly disfranchised, unless every person so offending can 
 show a lawful excuse of their said absence to be allowed by my 
 Lord Mayor and aldermen " (fol. 246 b). 
 
 "25° Aiigusti, 23° Elizabeth [1581]. 
 
 " William Robijisoii^ Mayor. Assembled in the Council 
 Chamber upon Ousebridge the day and year above said, when 
 and where it was agreed by these presents that Agnes Fuyster, 
 widow, being now in the Castle for religion, shall be clearly dis- 
 charged of all such money as she is behind for assessed for the 
 poor" (n. 28 fol. 25). 
 
 " 19° Martii, 25° Elizabeth [158^]. 
 
 " And Henry Lakin, one of the sergeants to the sheriffs of 
 this city, for his lewd demeanour, viz., in suffering certain 
 prisoners being in his ward when as he was gaoler to go forth of 
 John Trewe's house and to confer with Papists, viz., with 
 Thirkeld, a Seminary priest, and others, therefore it is this day 
 ordered and agreed that the said Henry shall be discharged and 
 displaced from the office of a sergeant-at-mace, and never here- 
 after to be sergeant to any sheriff again within this city. And 
 also that the said Lakin shall be committed to Monkbar, there to 
 remain till to-morrow at night for his said offence. 
 
 . " And it is also agreed that James Hutchinson, sergeant, shall 
 be also committed to ward to Monkbar, to remain there till 
 to-morrow at night, because he would not confess the truth 
 touching Henry Lakin's offence " (n. 28, fol. 95). 
 
 " 14° Eehrtiarii, 26° Elizabeth [158J]. 
 
 '* And whereas lately the sheriffs of this city taking occasion 
 to view their prisoners in the Kidcotes upon Ousebridge they 
 found amongst those that are committed for not com.ing to 
 church certain Mass books, pictures, holy water with strenclcs,^ 
 beads, pairs of vestments, wax candles, and girdle, and a great 
 canvas bag belonging to some man having in it some unlawful 
 books, wherefore it is supposed that some Seminary priest did 
 ^ Strcnkle or strhtkle, an as/^crson'um to cast holy water. Ilallrivcll, 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 271 
 
 resort and frequent the company of the said prisoners in the said 
 gaols and there did say Mass, persuading the said prisoners to 
 remain in their disobedience. And whereas also the children of 
 William Hutton, draper, one of the prisoners in the said gaols, 
 have course and liberty to go from place to place in the said 
 gaols and to carry letters and messages to and from the said 
 prisoners, to the discredit and slander of the said sheriffs to whose 
 charge the government of the said gaols is committed. Therefore 
 for the straiter custody of the said prisoners and better order in 
 the said gaols, it is by us here assembled agreed as followeth : 
 
 " First, that the sheriffs shall remove forth of their Kidcotes 
 into the Mayor's Kidcotes all such prisoners as there are for 
 religion, and likewise that they shall remove all such as are in the 
 Mayor's Kidcotes. And also that the said sheriffs cause the said 
 children of William Hutton to be kept with their mother, in the 
 prison where she is, unless the said William Hutton can otherwise 
 provide for them so that they be not suffered to go abroad, 
 neither to repair to their father in the Mayor's Kidcote. 
 
 "And it is further agreed that the said sheriffs shall from 
 henceforth cause the doors of the said gaols and Kidcotes, the 
 sheriffs' Kidcotes, where the said prisoners for debt shall be 
 remaining only excepted, to be close and surely locked, so that 
 no manner of person or persons whatsoever be suffered to resort 
 with necessaries convenient, as meat, drink, water, fuel, and 
 clothes, to any of the said prisoners (except before excepted) 
 at any time either day or night, but only between the hours of 
 seven and eight of the clock in the mornings, and between 
 four and five of the clock in the afternoons, and that the said 
 necessaries shall be conveyed and delivered as is aforesaid in 
 the presence of such officers as the said sheriffs shall appoint 
 for the keeping of the said Kidcotes and gaols. 
 
 " And it is also agreed that the said sheriffs shall not suffer 
 any of the prisoners which shall be in the Mayor's Kidcotes to 
 come up to the grate or gates of the said Kidcotes, but to be 
 kept below in the said prisons, and that such necessaries as is 
 aforesaid, which shall happen to be brought, shall be conveyed 
 to the said prisoners between the said hours, by such officers 
 as the said sheriffs shall appoint for the keeping of the said 
 
272 Notes by a Priso7ter 
 
 gaols, as the said sheriffs will answer the contrary at their 
 peril. 
 
 " And for better expedition in the premises, it is agreed that 
 the chamberlains shall forthwith alter and amend all such things 
 in and about the said gaols as the said sheriffs at their discre- 
 tions shall think convenient, at the charge of the Common 
 Chamber" (fol. 129). 
 
 " Mem. That I, John Beysbeye, keeper of the recognizances 
 in the Castle of Kingston upon Hull, have received the 23rd 
 of August, 1585, of Robert Peacock, merchant, William Shillyto, 
 Thomas Benson, and Thomas Waddye, by order from her 
 Majesty's most honourable Council established in the north 
 parts, these persons following, viz.^ William Bickbecke, William 
 Hudson, Thomas Smarthewaite, Thomas Shillito, Edward Hart- 
 borne, alias Benett Lyncolne, Michael Bolton, William Robinson, 
 Anthony Wilkinson, Edmund Sikes, and John Marche, being 
 Popish priests, and John Hevvett,^ a Popish subdeacon. In 
 witness whereof I the said John Beysbeye have set to my hand 
 the day and year above written. 
 
 "John Beysbeye" (n. 29, fol. 86). 
 
 " 10° Novembris, 1592. 
 
 " Thomas Harrison^ Mayor. Assembled in the Council 
 Chamber upon Ousebridge, the day and year within written, when 
 and where the accounts and orders of the last court were read. 
 
 " And now my Lord Mayor delivered into this Court a letter 
 sent from Mr. Stanhope and Mr. Rokeby, two of her Majesty's 
 Council in the north, directed to my Lord Mayor and aldermen, 
 the tenour whereof hereafter ensueth : 
 
 " * To their very good friends the Lord Mayor of the city 
 of York, and to the Aldermen of the same, give these. 
 
 " * My Lord Mayor, it pleased my Lord President upon his 
 
 ^ In the Second Douay Diary in the month of November, 1585, this entry 
 occurs: '* 7*^ die venenint ad nos D. David Kempe, presbyter, et D.Joannes 
 Huitt, diaconus, paulo ante de carcere El.oracensi emissus ct in exilium 
 missus." John Hewitt's name is the last in the list of those ordained priest 
 in 1585. lie was martyred at York, October 5, 1588. 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 273 
 
 departure to let us know that Anthony Major,i a Seminary priest, 
 whom in respect of his lordship's knowledge (soon after his 
 apprehension) that he was a man that hath been of great practice 
 amongst her Majesty's ill-affected subjects, he thought meet to 
 commit into very safe custody until his lordship's self might 
 confer with the lords of her Majesty's most honourable Privy 
 Council concerning him, in regard whereof in the latter end of 
 this summer his lordship required the sheriffs of this city to take 
 charge of him, who committed him to an inner place at Ouse- 
 bridge, where he can neither be seen at any grate to be relieved, 
 nor yet to be conferred with by any of his seekers; and now at this 
 his lordship's going up, he hoping ere long to have some further 
 directions for himself, nevertheless, thinking it inconvenient to 
 leave the burden of his sole finding to the two sheriffs, wished 
 us in his lordship's behalf to move your lordship to confer with 
 the aldermen of the city that you would every man one day 
 in a row relieve him with a morsel of some hot meat and broth, 
 or such like, dinner and supper time ; and his lordship accounting 
 that the sheriffs joining with you in their turn it would not come 
 passing once in a fortnight about, which he hopeth you will all 
 vouchsafe doing for her Majesty's better service till you hear from 
 his lordship again, which we think will not be long. His lordship 
 made a like motion at Newcastle in the like case, which was 
 wilHngly yielded unto, and wherefore we doubt not but you will 
 either do this his lordship's requiring, or let us know whereby we 
 may advertise his lordship further answer. And even so we bid 
 you heartily farewell. 
 
 " 'York, this 3rd of November, 1592.' 
 
 " Which being read and heard, it is affirmed by Mr. Harbert 
 that the Seminary did offer to find himself the last year, if the 
 sheriffs that then were would have taken him up, and also it is 
 now confessed by the sergeants that he hath been up at Fordam's 
 a fortnight and more before this letter was written, by consent 
 of the Council, and they the said sergeants have further confessed 
 that he hath given them 20j'. for ease of his irons since his taking 
 up, and Fordam hath given him meat these three days. It 
 ^ Anthony Major ultimately apostatized, stipra, p. 187. 
 S 
 
274 Notes by a Prisoiier 
 
 is therefore thought by these presents that he, being above, is able 
 to relieve himself. See an order for relieving him, 15 th November. 
 
 "15° NorembriSf 1592. 
 
 *' Thomas Harrison^ Lord Mayor. Whereas Mr. Stanhope 
 and Mr, Rokeby, two of her Majesty's Council in these north 
 parts, have by their letters requested my Lord Mayor and alder- 
 men that they, together with the sheriffs, will help to relieve 
 the Seminary, which by commandment of my Lord President 
 is kept in close prison, so as he cannot beg relief at the grate, 
 now my Lord Mayor and aldermen are content, in respect of 
 the said letter and motion, so that the same be not as a precedent 
 hereafter, notwithstanding that they ought not to be charged with 
 relieving of him, but the sheriffs only, that they the said Lord 
 Mayor and aldermen will every of them a day one after another 
 upon their charity give him such charitable relief, or in 
 money or in meat, as they shall think meet, being sufficient to 
 relieve him, beginning first with my Lord Mayor, next with the 
 ancientest alderman, and so every alderman and sheriff in their 
 antiquities, until he shall be either removed or at liberty to come 
 to the grate to beg " (n. 30, fol. 360). 
 
 " The copies of certain letters from my Lord Lieutenant to my 
 Lord Mayor and others : 
 
 " ' To my loving friends the Lord Mayor of the city of York, 
 the Recorder, and any three of the aldermen, his l[ordship's] 
 assistants, give these. 
 
 " * After my hearty commendations, these are to let you 
 understand that I have this day received letters from my lords for 
 such matters to he executed by her Majesty's commandment, as by 
 the copies thereof which I have herewith sent unto you will appear, 
 and because the service in them required to be both speedily and 
 faithfully performed is of great moment, I require you in the city 
 of York and the Ainsty to take especial care that the same may 
 be despatched in such sort as may be to the good contentment of 
 her Majesty and the expectation of the lords, and what you shall 
 do herein I desire to be advertised with what convenient speed 
 you may. And so hoping you will have that due regard as is fit 
 
in Otisebridge Kidcote. 275 
 
 in a matter so necessaiy, I commit you to the protection of the 
 Almighty. From York this 8th of January, i593[4]. 
 
 " * Your loving friend, 
 
 " ' H. Huntingdon.' 
 
 " * After our right hearty commendations to your lordship. 
 By the enclosed you shall understand the course presently 
 taken to discover within the realm what sons of gentlemen are at 
 this present beyond the seas, sent over by their parents, tutors, or 
 patrons, under colour of languages to be learned, for that it is 
 daily by dangerous experience found that the education of such in 
 foreign parts doth- breed much corruption in religion and manners 
 amongst the better sort of her Majesty's subjects. For redress 
 wherein these directions are now given, and her Majesty's pleasure 
 is that your lordship within the counties and parts of your charge 
 do among your deputy lieutenants and other the Justices of the 
 Peace well affected in every of them, make choice of some meet 
 and sufficient persons to execute the effect of her Majesty's com- 
 mandment by the inclosed signified ; and that by your lordship's 
 special care certificates be speedily returned to us, that her 
 Majesty may be truly advertised of the answers and doings of 
 the commissioners ; whereof not doubting your lordship will have 
 due regard, we bid you right heartily farewell. From Hampton 
 Court, the last of December, 1593. 
 
 " ' Your good lordships very loving friends, 
 
 " ' Jo. Puckering, C.S., Ro. Cecyll, 
 
 W. BURGHLEY, F. BUCKEHURST, 
 
 Essex, J. Wolley, 
 
 C. Howard, J. Fortescue.' 
 
 " ' After our very hearty commendations. The Queen's 
 Majesty finding no small inconveniences to grow unto the realm 
 by sending out of the same the children of many gentlemen, under 
 colour of learning the languages, whereby they are for the most 
 part bred and brought up in the Popish religion and corruptness 
 of manners to the manifest prejudice of the State here, which her 
 Majesty, desirous to reform as a disorder of no small importance, 
 hath given order that inquisition be made throughout the realm 
 
276 Notes by a Prisojur 
 
 what sons of gentlemen are at this present beyond the seas, con- 
 veyed over at any time within seven years last passed, and by what 
 licence they are gone ; and for such as are departed out of the 
 realm, if they be sons of any recusants, or of such as do conform 
 themselves in show only to avoid the dangers and penalties of the 
 laws, it is not to be doubted but the intention of their parents hath 
 been to have them brought up and instructed in Popery, and of 
 those many do become Seminary priests, Jesuits, and unsound 
 subjects, and sent hither to pervert such as are dutiful and well 
 inclined, and to practise thereby to disturb the quiet and happy 
 government of her Majesty : We, therefore, for the better execu- 
 tion of her Majesty's direction in this behalf, have made special 
 choice of you as of persons in our opinions meet for your loyalties 
 and affection to her Majesty and the good of your country, to be 
 employed in this service, and do hereby require and authorize you 
 and every of you, jointly and severally, by all good means to 
 inquire and examine what gentlemen within that country have at 
 this present any sons, kinsmen, or other persons whose education 
 hath been committed to their charge, or whom they do relieve or 
 any way maintain out of the realm, being sent over under colour 
 to learn languages, or for any other respects, not being notoriously 
 employed in her Majesty's martial services or trade merchandises 
 as apprentices or factors to known merchants, and to send unto 
 us a catalogue of the names, as well of the father and parents, or 
 of their tutors and patrons, as of the sons and other parties so 
 sent over or maintained, in what parts they are and how long they 
 have been absent, and of those fathers, parents, or other friends 
 by whom any such have been sent out of the realm, if any of them 
 be found to be recusants, or have been evil affected, and to your 
 knowledge are but feignedly reformed, you shall cause bonds to 
 be taken in good sums of money to her Majesty's use for their 
 personal appearance before us by a certain day, to be by you 
 l)refixed ; and before the bonds so taken, you shall by authority 
 hereof enter and make search within their houses for Seminary 
 priests, Jesuits, and other suspected persons, and to apprehend 
 and commit them to prison if any such shall be found ; as also to 
 open and make search in their closets, chests, desks, and coffers, 
 only for books, letters, and writings that may any way concern 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 277 
 
 matter against the State or the religion here established, which you 
 shall seize and send hither unto us forthwith, signifying the 
 manner of your proceeding and your opinions of the men and 
 the matters appearing by your search against them, that we upon 
 their appearance may take order with them as well for the revoca- 
 tion of their sons or kinsmen, as for any matter that by your 
 endeavours may be discovered against them. And if the residence 
 of any of these shall happen to be far distant from you, or any one 
 of you, then may you by virtue of these our letters make choice of 
 some one or two honest and discreet gentlemen, being Justices of 
 the Peace and not partially affected towards them, inhabiting 
 near unto them, to whom you may give direction for the perform- 
 ance of the search, &c. And for particular warrant therein, you 
 may send unto them a copy of this our letter under your hands, 
 which shall be to them as sufficient as the original to you. 
 Wherein we require you to use your best and uttermost endeavours, 
 and with as much convenient diligence as you may, to return us 
 your orderly certificate, answering the several points of these our 
 letters and directions. So fare you heartily well. From Hampton 
 Court the last of December, 1593. 
 
 " ' Your very loving friends, 
 " ' Jo. Puckering, C.S., W. Cobham, 
 w. burghley, f. buckhurst, 
 
 Essex, Ro. Cecyll, 
 
 C. Howard, J. Fortescue.' 
 
 "Certificate from the Lord Mayor, Recorder, and Aldermen of 
 the city of York, whose names are here underwritten, unto the right 
 honourable the Earl of Huntingdon, Lord Lieutenant and Lord 
 President in the north parts, the last day of January, 1593, 
 touching the sons or kinsmen of gentlemen and others under 
 their charge, or whom they relieve or maintain out of the realm, 
 sent or departed over the seas forth of the said city, or the county 
 of the same city. 
 
 " ' Our humble duties unto your honourable lordship remem- 
 bered. May it please to be certified that according to the contents 
 of your honour's letters and the copies of the letters of the lords 
 of her Majesty's most honourable Privy Council, which we have 
 
278 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 received, we have made diligent inquisition and examination what 
 gentlemen within this city, or the county of the same city, have 
 at this present any sons, kinsmen, or other persons whose educa- 
 tion hath been committed to their charge, or whom they do relieve 
 or any way maintain out of the realm, being sent over under 
 colour to learn languages or for any other respects, not being 
 notoriously employed in her Majesty's martial services or trade of 
 merchandise as apprentices or factors to known merchants ; and 
 we have learned and found, by information and otherwise, that 
 the persons hereafter named are at this present beyond the 
 seas remaining employed, relieved, or being as hereafter is 
 specified. 
 
 " ' Francis Thwaites, son to John Thwaites, late of Marston 
 in the county of the city of York, esquire, deceased, and brother 
 to James Thwaites, of Marston aforesaid, esquire, went over the 
 seas about six years since, to what place we know not, neither 
 do we know by whom or how he is relieved or employed. 
 
 " * Martin Turner, son to Edward Turner, late of the city of 
 York, gentleman, deceased, went over the seas about three years 
 since, and is at this present, as we be informed, at Venice at the 
 universities, and learning of languages there. He is relieved and 
 maintained by one Lancelot Turner, of this city, gentleman, his 
 brother. 
 
 " ' Also there be some others at this present remaining beyond 
 the seas, whose parents are but poor and mean persons, and no 
 gentlemen, and some of their said parents are long since dead, and 
 others of them are living and dwelling as hereafter is mentioned, 
 viz. : 
 
 " * Thomas Wright and William Wright,^ sons to John Wright 
 
 ^ Thomas Wright, in 1579, was a fellow student with John Pitts, entered 
 the Society in Rome, February 3, 1580; was Professor of Hebrew at Milan; 
 in 1590 went to the German College in Rome, but soon after was sent to teach 
 theology at Louvain. In June, 1595, he was in England under the protection 
 of the Earl of Essex ; about whch time he was dismissed from the Society. 
 He spent much time in prison during Elizabeth's reign, and was banished in 
 1603. In 161 1 he was a preacher at Antwerp. A letter from him to Father 
 Garnet, written in 1596, is in Stonyhurst MSS. Angl. A. vol. ii. n. 20. See 
 Dr. Jessopp's Letters of Father Henry WalpoJe, p. 55. 
 
 William Wright entered the Society in Rome, December 8, 1581 ; professed 
 July 23, 1602; died in i:nglan(l, January 18, 1639, wt. 77. He spent twenty 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 279 
 
 of this city, apothecary, which said John Wright is a recusant^ 
 went over the seas about fourteen or fifteen years since, who, as 
 we are informed, are both Jesuits; how or by whom they are 
 relieved, or where they remain, we cannot learn. 
 
 " ' Peter Hutton, son of William Hutton of this city, draper, 
 which said William Hutton is a recusant, went over the seas about 
 six years since ; where he is remaining at this present, or how or 
 by whom he is relieved we cannot learn. 
 
 " * Edward Oldcorne,^ son to John Oldcorne, late of this city, 
 bricklayer, deceased, went over the seas about ten years since, 
 but where he is remaining at this present we cannot learn, saving 
 we hear by report that he was at Rheims. How or by whom he 
 is relieved we cannot learn. 
 
 " ' Henry Clitherowe,^ son to John Clitherowe of this city, 
 butcher, went over the seas about nine years since, and as we 
 are informed was at Douay. How he is relieved there or by 
 whom we cannot learn. 
 
 " * Also the said Henry Clitherowe hath an uncle beyond the 
 seas, called William Clitherowe,^ a priest. Where he remaineth 
 we cannot learn. 
 
 years in Austria, where he was Socius to the Provincial, and taught philosophy 
 and theology. Coming to England in 1606, he was arrested at Hengrave Hall, 
 and committed to the White Lion, which prison was nearly depopulated by a 
 gaol fever. He made his escape, after which his mission for thirty years was 
 in Leicestershire. 
 
 ^ Edward Oldcorne, the Jesuit martyr, respecting whom see The Conditiojt 
 of Catholics tinder James I. ^ p. 278. John his father was not a Catholic, but 
 the name of his mother Elizabeth is in the returns as "old and lame, a 
 recusant." 
 
 ^ The name of Henry Clitherow is in the list of the English College at 
 Rome for 1590, and William Clitherow, who was no doubt another son of the 
 martyr, was ordained at Douay in 1608 and M'as imprisoned at York in April, 
 1618. In 1620 he was included in a decree of banishment. 
 
 ^ William Clitherow was ordained subdeacon at Rheims, by the Bishop of 
 Chalons, on the 19th March, 1580, and deacon at Chalons on the last day of 
 the month. The Second Douay Diaiy has this entry respecting this ordina- 
 tion : " D. Guil. Clitherous, vir annis et moribus gravis, et apud multos in 
 Anglia nobiles gratia et authoritate suo optimo merito plurimum valens, qui ad 
 sacrum Diaconatus Ordinem admissus est." He left the College for Paris 
 April 8, and was ordained priest at Soissons, June 9, 1582, at which date the 
 College diary says that fifteen went to be ordained, "una cum venerabili viro 
 Guilielmo Clithero." 
 
28o Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 "* Richard Cowlinge^ and Thomas Cowlinge, sons to Ralph 
 Cowlinge, late of the said city, shoemaker, deceased, who at his 
 death was a recusant, went over the seas about fourteen years 
 since, to what place there we know not, nor by whom they are 
 relieved. We hear by report that Richard is since dead and that 
 William is a priest. 
 
 " * John Hewet,- son to William Hewet, sometime of this city, 
 draper, deceased, went over the seas about eight years since, to 
 what place we know not, neither where he is remaining nor how 
 or by whom he is relieved. 
 
 *' * Your honours humbly to command, 
 
 " * RoBT. Ask WITH, Mayor, Ro. Broke, 
 Wm, Robvnson, Andrew Trewe. 
 
 Wm. Hildyard' (n. 31, fol. 54). 
 
 "13 Decembris^ i594j 37° Elizabeth. 
 
 "Also Dorothy Browne, widow, who by reason she is an 
 obstinate recusant, was heretofore discharged in open sessions 
 from brewing and tippling,^ for that she doth not give over the 
 
 ^ Richard Cowling is first mentioned in the Pilgrim book of the English 
 College, Rome. ** Richardus Coulinus Eboracensis, Gulielmus Wrightus 
 Eboracensis, Joannes Sherwodus Londinensis dioecesis, Angli, recepti fuenmt 
 hospitio 5 Octobris 1581, et mansenmt per dies octo." He was received at 
 the age of eighteen as a student in the College on the i8th of October, and 
 he left the College a priest in 1588. Me entered the novitiate of the Society 
 at Tournay, April 17, 1588. After taking his vows he was Minister for a 
 time at Lille. In 1593, recalled to Rome, he was made Penitentiary at 
 St. Peter's, which office he left for the English mission in April, 1596. He 
 became a spiritual coadjutor October 22, 1603, and died August 26, 1617. 
 Apparently he was in England before his last stay at Rome, for in Febniary, 
 1583, Thomas DodwcU reported, "One Mr. Tngrome lying right over against 
 Gray's Inn at a tailor's house, gave one Cowling his first entertainment when 
 he came from Rome priest, and directed him to places where he should 
 go" (P.R.O., Domestic^ Elizabeth^ vol. clxviii. n. 34). Anthony Tyrrell, 
 September 4, 1586, mentioned to liurghley, "Coolinge a Romanist, whose 
 father in York [resorts to] Waterton of Waterton " {ibid. vol. cxciii. n. 13). 
 Towards the close of the reign of Elizabeth, in Lord Salisbury's "Note of 
 Jesuits that lurk in Englaml," is "Mr. Coolinge with Mr. Bcntlcy in 
 Northamptonshire" {Dom. James /., vol. vii. n. 50). In a letter to the Pope, 
 dated October 30, 1598 (Father Grene's P. fol. 560), Father Garnet calls him 
 Richardus CoUinus. lie is called Collins by Dr. Oliver. 
 
 ' Respecting this martyr, 7fi(fe supra, p. 272, note. 
 
 '* This use of the word ti/>/>h; for the sale of beer retail, is not mentioned 
 by Ilalliwell. It occurs fic(iucnily in the York llousebooks. 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote, 281 
 
 same, but continually since hath brewed and tippled, is now 
 commit to ward to the custody of Mr. Sheriffs, there to remain 
 until she shall be bound with sureties neither to brew nor tipple 
 from thenceforth" (n. 31, fol. 97). 
 
 " I Odobris, 1596, 38° Elizabeth. 
 
 " And now it is agreed tliat Miles Dawson,^ lately taken as 
 a Seminary, who was born in this city, and hath recanted, as my 
 Lord Mayor is informed, and whose pardon my lord his Grace 
 intendeth to procure, in regard that he was a citizen born, and 
 that my Lord Archbishop his Grace hath made request to my 
 Lord Mayor that something may be given to the said Dawson 
 towards the charges of procuring and passing of his said pardon, 
 shall have 3/. ds. Sd. given him of the arrearages of the soldier 
 money which is remaining in the hands of the treasurers towards 
 that charge, towards which charge my Lord Mayor saith that 
 my lord his Grace, as he hath told my Lord Mayor, will give the 
 said Dawson of his Grace's benevolence 10/. Nbfe: the treasurers 
 had not in their hands to pay this as they allege, and therefore 
 the common clerk paid the same J^er mandatum dojuini inaiorls '» 
 (fol. 216^). 
 
 "Recusants and non-communicants within the city of York 
 and the county of the same city, January, 1598. 
 
 Belfry " Margaret Killingbecke, wife of Thomas Kil. 
 
 parish. lingbecke, draper, a recusant. 
 
 "John Standeven, the elder, did not receive at 
 Easter last, and comes very seldom to the church. 
 
 " John Standeven, the younger, did not receive 
 at Easter last, and comes very seldom to the church. 
 " Jane Ennwiche, widow, a recusant. 
 "Elizabeth Whalley, alias Dineley, widow, a 
 recusant. 
 St. Ellen's in " Edith Sharpe, wife of Richard Sharpe, tailor, 
 Sianiegate. a recusant. 
 
 " Isabel Parkinson, single woman, a recusant. 
 
 * This name does not appear in the Douay or Roman lists. 
 
282 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 " MiCKLETHWARDE. 
 
 Bishophill " Dorothy Browne, widow, a recusant. 
 
 newer. " Thomas Taylor, goldsmith, a recusant. 
 
 " Margaret Taylor, wife to the said Thomas, a 
 
 recusant. 
 
 " John Taylor, tiler, a recusant. 
 
 Sf. Martin's in ^^_ _ 
 
 _ _, , , . "Jane Browne, widow, a recusant. 
 
 Micklegate. 
 
 Trinity's in " Thomas Archer, a recusant, in prison upon 
 
 Micklegate. Ousebridge. 
 
 " Walmegatewarde. 
 
 St. Dionys' " Isabel Lee, wife of Roger Lee, doctor in 
 parish, physic, a recusant. 
 
 "Alice Carlell, a single woman, lame and im- 
 potent, a recusant. 
 
 St.MichacVsin , ^, . . ^^ • 
 
 - - . , , " Christian Harrison, spinster, a recusant 
 Ousebridge-e7ia. 
 
 Allhallows on " John Wright, apothecary, a recusant. 
 
 the Pavement " William Plewman, miller, a recusant, in prison 
 
 and upon Ousebridge. 
 
 Peter the Little. " Lucy Plewman, his wife, a recusant. 
 
 " Thomas Plewman, his son, a recusant. 
 
 St. Margaret "Thomas Barker, cook, a recusant. 
 
 parish. " Thomasine, his wife. 
 
 " MONCKEWARDE. 
 
 St. Maurice " Thomas Wood, labourer, a recusant. 
 
 parish. " Dorothy Ewins, widow, a recusant. 
 
 St. Sampson's " Elizabeth Awdcorne, alias Oldcome, old and 
 
 lame, a recusant. 
 St. Saviour's " Elizabeth Smythborne, wife to William Smyth- 
 
 and borne, currier, a recusant. 
 St. Andreio's. " Uxor Dawson, widow, a recusant. 
 
 Christ's "Elizabeth Foxgill, wife to George Foxgill, a 
 
 parish. recusant. 
 St. Ellen's on " Margaret Criplinge, widow, a recusant. 
 the JVallSj "John Pearson, labourer, a recusant. 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 283 
 
 St Cuthberfs, " Cicely Lenge, wife of Francis Lenge, labourer, 
 St Marfs in a recusant, in prison upon Ousebridge. 
 Lathrope, " Uxor Pender, widow, a recusant. 
 
 St John's in " Uxor Pole, wife of George Pole, labourer, a 
 Hungate^ recusant. 
 
 and " Note her husband is in prison for recusancy 
 
 Allhalloivs in upon Ousebridge. 
 
 Pezeholme. "John Fletcher, sometime a schoolmaster, a 
 
 recusant. 
 
 " Recusants and non-communicants in the Ainsty : 
 
 Mar stone, " James Thwaites, Esq., a non-communicant. 
 
 "Mary Thwaites, wife to the said James, a 
 recusant. 
 
 " Ellen Thwaites, sister to the said James, non- 
 communicant. 
 
 " George Reynold and one Geffrey, whose sur- 
 name is unknown, serving-men to the said James, 
 non-communicants. 
 Healey. *' Robert Shawe, gentleman, and Jane his wife, 
 
 non-communicants. 
 
 "Myles Wilkinson and Anne his wife, non- 
 communicants. 
 
 "Susan Browne, wife to William Browne, non- 
 communicant. 
 
 " Prisoners in prison in the Kidcotes upon Ousebridge, within 
 the said city, under the custody of the sheriffs of the said city. 
 
 " Michael Tizzie, Jennet Clarke, 
 
 William Bowman, Cicily Lenge, 
 
 Thomas Pearson, Ellen Rawson, 
 
 William Hutton, Isabel Bowman, 
 
 Thomas Smythe, Alice Bowman, 
 
 George Pole, Margaret Alleine, 
 
 John Browne, Margaret Lutie, 
 
 William Plewman, Ann Nicholson, - 
 
 John Goulthwate, Elizabeth Alleley, 
 
 John Woode, the elder, Thomas Awdcorne, 
 
284 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 John Woode, the younger, Thomas Porter, 
 Alice Simpson, Thomas Archer." 
 
 Jennet Richardson, (n. 31, fol. 400). 
 
 "Convicted recusants to be abjured, /;/ Co mi f at u Civitatis 
 Ebor., 1599. 
 
 "Convicted recusants some part in the twenty-third year of her 
 Majesty's reign, and since that they continued wilful recusants, 
 and several times sithence, and such not having lands and goods 
 wherewith to satisfy but do shiffle [sic] the law, and therefore, and 
 for their obstinacy and wilful recusancy, are by the laws to be 
 abjured this realm,i according to the establishment in that behalf 
 provided, viz. — 
 
 " Thomas Audcorne, alias Audcork, labourer, twice convicted. 
 
 " William Brenton, a locksmith. 
 
 " William Bagler, butcher, de parochia Stce. Trinitatis. 
 
 "John Browne, a labourer, in afitio 34^ v 
 Elizabeth convicted. / Both holden 
 
 "John Browne, a labourer, in Lent last C for one man. 
 convicted. ^ 
 
 " William Browne, de parochia St. John's at Ousebridge-end, 
 labourer. 
 
 " Nicholas Browne, de Bishop hill newer, a tailor, and uxor ejus. 
 
 "Roger Allen, de Hembrough, labourer, convicted in 
 
 Elizabeth ; Lent last. 
 
 " Thomas Archer, de eadejn, convicted at the same time and 
 place. 
 
 " Richard Dorham, convicted in 23rd Elizabeth, and at several 
 times since. 
 
 " Thomas Newell, alias Newett, like to him in all points. 
 
 " John Gowlethwaite, stationer, and now of St. John's, several 
 times convicted. 
 
 " William Hutton, draper, and now of St. John's, like to him. 
 
 " Thomas Jackson, labourer, de St. Margaret's parish. 
 
 * To abjure the realm was to swear to leave the kingdom by the port that 
 should be assigned, and not to return without leave of the King. Tliose 
 abjured were attainted in blood, and forfeited their goo<ls and chattels. 
 Stephen's Blackstonc^ vol. iv. p. 429 note. 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote, 285 
 
 *' Thomas Pearson, linen-weaver, 34^ Elizabeth convicted. 
 
 " George Powell, miller, the same time. '\ Convicted, holden 
 
 " George Powell, labourer, in Lent last. ) for one party. 
 
 "William Plewman, a miller, de ^arochia All Saints, three 
 several times convicted. 
 
 "Thomas Smythe, of Dringhouses, another of St. John's 
 parish now, and holden both for one party. 
 
 " Martin Tailor, of Bishop hill. 
 
 "John Fletcher, of St. Cuthbert's in Audmark, schoolmaster 
 and old recusant. 
 
 "Thomas Pearson, of St. John's parish, at Ousebridge-end, 
 labourer. 
 
 " Thomas Pott, de mdem, labourer. 
 
 " Thomas Plewman, de eadem, labourer. 
 
 " John Wood, younger, labourer, de eadem" 
 
 "Convicted t?t aimo regni Regi7ice Elizabeth 27° et 34° for 
 recusants. Women spinsters convicted in Coin. Civitatis Ebor. 
 
 " Margaret Agnes Hargraves de St. Ellen's. 
 
 Alice Mason. Margaret Lewtie, again of St. John's. 
 
 Anne Nicholson. Anne Nicholson, de eadem, spinster. 
 
 Anne Page. Isabel Parkinson, de St. Ellen's. 
 
 Alice Simpson. Ellen Rawson, de St. John's. 
 
 Dorothy Thompson. Agnes Weddell, de Christ's parish." 
 Elizabeth AUeley, de 
 Hemborough. 
 " Convicted all in Lent last, and some long before, and stand 
 several times convicted" (n. 32, fol. 52). 
 
 "3^ Novembris, 41*^ Elizabeth [1599]. 
 
 "Assembled in the Council Chamber upon Ousebridge, at 
 one of the clock in the afternoon, where all the ministers, curates, 
 and churchwardens in the city and Ainsty did appear and were 
 sworn and had articles delivered unto them, saving some few 
 churchwardens which, for their absence, were fined. The tenour 
 of which oaths and articles do hereafter follow. 
 
 " ' The oath of the curates and churchwardens. 
 
 "'You shall swear that with all expedition you shall give 
 
286 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 notice and strait charge unto all such masters, mistresses, and 
 dames within your parish as have in their liouses or service any 
 sojourners, servants, or other persons that do not orderly repair 
 unto the church, according to her Majesty's laws and statutes in 
 that behalf, and that they do discharge and put them out of 
 their houses and service before the 26th day of November inst., 
 upon pain of forfeiting of 10/. for every month for every person 
 they or any of them do keep contrary to the said laws and 
 statutes. And that neither the same masters, mistresses, nor 
 dames, nor any other do receive them again into their house or 
 service until they have made open manifestation of their con- 
 formity in religion. So God Almighty you and by the contents of 
 this Book \sic\. 
 
 "*To the minister, curate, and churchwardens of 
 
 " * You are to give strait charge to all such masters, mistresses, 
 and dames in your parish as have in their houses or service any 
 sojourners, servants, or other persons that do not orderly repair 
 to the church, to discharge and put them out of their houses 
 and service before the 26th day of November inst., upon pain 
 of forfeiting of 10/. for every person for every month. And 
 that neither they nor any other do receive them again until they 
 have made open manifestation of their conformity in religion. 
 
 "*And you are to make and keep a special note what day 
 and to whom you give such warning, and of the names of such 
 sojourners, servants, and other persons as you shall so charge 
 them to avoid ; and whether the same shall be so put away 
 before the said 26 th of November accordingly or not. 
 
 " * And whether such person so put away before the said 
 26th of November shall be again received by those who put 
 them away, or by any other, reformed or unreformed, and who so 
 receiveth them and who shall be so received. 
 
 " ' And you are to make certificate of the premises unto us 
 under your hands in writing, fair written, upon the last day of 
 November inst. 
 
 " * At York, this 3rd day of November, 1599' " (no. 32. fol. 55). 
 
 ** \^th March, 1599 [1600]. 
 
 " Also a letter sent from my Lord President and the Council 
 
in OiLsebridge Kidcote. 287 
 
 with certain articles in the same enclosed was read, the tenour 
 whereof hereafter foUoweth. 
 
 " '■ To our very loving friends the Lord Mayor of the city of 
 York, the Recorder, and the Aldermen of the same city, or to any 
 eight, seven, six, five, four, or three of them. 
 
 " ' After our hearty commendations unto your lordship and 
 the rest. Whereas we have heretofore received from you certain 
 presentments upon articles directed unto you in August last, for 
 such recusants and mendicants as were then discovered to be 
 remaining or commorant within the city of York and the county 
 thereof, and forasmuch as it is the duty of all Christian magis- 
 trates to have a care of the good education of all youths and 
 children within their charge, that they may be instructed and 
 seasoned at the first with the true knowledge of God and His 
 religion, whereby they are liable to become good members of 
 the Church and common weal, and dutiful subjects to her 
 Majesty and the State, and therefore to prevent the danger of 
 such youths and children, whose parents are recusants or non- 
 communicants, by Popish schoolmasters, in such superstitious 
 and false religion, we have thought good and do hereby authorize 
 your lordship and the rest that you do with all convenient expe- 
 dition convent before you at such place as you think convenient 
 within that city and the county thereof, all ministers, curates, 
 churchwardens, constables, sidemen, and other sworn overseers 
 in the several parishes, chapelries, and hamlets within the said 
 city and the county thereof, and to take them sworn upon the 
 holy Evangelists, truly to inquire upon the articles herein inclosed, 
 and to make their presentment of the same unto you within such 
 time as you shall appoint, you giving unto the said ministers and 
 sworn officers a true copy of the said articles, and also of the 
 names of such recusants and non-communicants as are expressed 
 in the minute herein stated to be dwelling or commorant within 
 their several parishes or chapelries, to the end that they may 
 prosecute such of the said recusants and non-communicants or of 
 any other, being recusants, as have any children to be inquired 
 of and prosecuted by power of the said articles. We earnestly 
 require your lordship and the rest to use such expedition in the 
 
288 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 inquiry upon these articles and the receipt of the presentment 
 thereof, that you may certify the same unto us, under your hand 
 and seal safely sealed up, before the 24th day of April next, 
 and for the doubling of your lordship's especial care herein, we 
 bid you heartily farewell. At York, this 14th day of March, 1599. 
 " * Your very loving friends, 
 
 " ' Thomas Burghlev, 
 Thomas Hesketh, 
 
 J. FEARNE'"(fol. 80). 
 
 " * To our tmsty and well-beloved the Lord Mayor of the city 
 of York, and the Aldermen his brethren, or to any eight, seven, 
 six, five, four, or three of them. 
 
 " * By the Queen. 
 
 " * Trusty and well-beloved, We greet you well, and for diverse 
 good causes and considerations our President and Council in the 
 north especially moving, We will and require you, and by virtue 
 hereof, authorize, straitly charge, and command you that you 
 immediately upon the sight hereof do as well call before you 
 all such persons as are named in a schedule here inclosed, to be 
 bound for their appearance. And them and every of them to 
 take severally bound by recognizance, with sufficient sureties in 
 good sums of money to our use to appear before our President 
 or Vice-President and Council, at our city of York, the 9th day 
 of March next coming, there to answer unto such matters as 
 shall be objected against them on our behalf, and upon their 
 appearance do not depart without licence of us and our said 
 Council first obtained, and also all such other persons as are 
 named in another schedule here inclosed for educating of 
 children, and them to take severally bound by recognizance in 
 good sums of money to our use for educating and bringing up 
 of their children, according to the form of a recognizance here 
 inclosed. And all the same recognizances so by you taken and 
 put in writing, to certify unto our said President or Vice-President 
 and Council, at our said city of York, at or before the said 9th 
 day of March next coming. And if any of them do resist to 
 enter bond as aforesaid, them to send in sure and safe custody 
 unto our said President or Vice-President and Council, there to 
 
in Ousedridg-e Kidcote. 289 
 
 answer their said contempt. Fail ye not hereof, as you will 
 answer at your peril. Given under our signet, at our said city, 
 the 1 6th day of December, the forty-third year of our reign. 
 " ' And by her Council.' 
 
 " * A note of such persons as are to be taken bound for educa- 
 tion of their children. 
 
 ^^ St. Maurlcis parish. 
 
 " Catherine Parkine, widow. 
 
 ^^St.Jofuis at Ousebridge-end. 
 "George Powle. 
 "Thomas Porter. 
 "Thomas Powle. 
 
 " Bishophill newer. 
 " Thomas Taylor. 
 " Dorothy Browne, widow. 
 
 " AUhallows 071 the Pavement. 
 " John Wright. 
 
 " St. Denis' . 
 " Roger Lee, doctor in physic. 
 
 " Ainsty. 
 "James Thwaites, Esquire.' 
 
 " 'A note of such as are to be taken bound to appear before 
 the Lord President or Vice-President at Council. 
 
 ''St. Margaret's. 
 " Thomas Barker. 
 
 " Thorparch. 
 " Reynold Conset. 
 "John Dunwich.' 
 
 " ' Apud [ ] die [ ] 1600, de [ ] in 
 
 Com. Ebor. 
 
 " * The condition of this recognizance is such, that if the above 
 bounden [ ] do from henceforth educate and bring up 
 
 T 
 
290 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 his children in the knowledge and profession of the religion 
 established in this realm, and not in Popish religion or in recu- 
 sancy, and also if the said [ ] shall not permit and suffer 
 [ ] said children to be put into any ser\-ice where their 
 master, mistress, or dame is, or there shall be, a recusant or 
 non-communicant, or to be taught by any schoolmaster but such 
 as are or shall be allowed to teach by the Lord President, or 
 Vice-President and Council, or by the Lord Archbishop of York, 
 or the Ordinary of the place. And lastly, that the said [ ] 
 shall not send [ ] child or children, or permit them to 
 go beyond the seas or out of the realm without sufficient licencCj 
 according to the law in that behalf. That then these recog- 
 nizances to be void. Or else the same to be in force.' 
 
 '' Catherine Parkine, non est itivent. 
 
 " Thomas Barker, mortuus. 
 
 " George Powle, Thomas Porter, Thomas Powle, in prison 
 for recusancy, called, refused to be bound, sent back with the 
 gaoler. Thomas Taylor, Dorothy Browme, refused to be bound, 
 sent to the Council. John Wright, Roger Lee, and James Thwaite, 
 bound for their children. Reynold Conset and John Dunwich 
 bound to appear. 
 
 " These five bonds certified " (fol. 138 b). 
 
 " ' To our trusty and well-beloved the Lord Mayor of our 
 city of York, and the Aldermen his brethren, or any two of 
 them, whereof the Lord Mayor to be one. 
 " ' By the Queen. 
 
 " * Trusty and well-beloved, we greet you well. And whereas 
 we, our President and Council in the north, did heretofore award 
 several commissions unto you to take all such recusants and 
 non-communicants within your several divisions, as then had 
 children, bound by recognizance in good sums of money to our 
 use for the educating and bringing up their said children in the 
 religion now established according to the form of certain recog- 
 nizance then therewith sent, and that thereupon certain persons 
 were taken bound accordingly and their recognizance certified 
 unto us and our said Council, and for that we and our said 
 Council are desirous to have the said children educated and 
 
in Otise bridge Kidcote. 291 
 
 brought up in true knowledge of God and their dutiful obedience 
 to us and our laws, and for that also we and our said Council 
 do earnestly desire to know what good effect the same hath 
 wrought since they entered the same recognizance, we therefore 
 will and require you, and by virtue hereof authorize, straitly 
 charge, and command you that you, within your several divisions, 
 with all convenient speed, diligently and carefully, by all the 
 best ways and means you can devise, as well by the others of 
 ministers, curates, and churchwardens, as by examination of other 
 witnesses or otherwise, do make inquiry, search, and try out how 
 the said recusants and other persons so bound as aforesaid, whose 
 names are expressed in a schedule here inclosed, have made 
 performance of the conditions of the said recognizance, a tran- 
 script whereof for your better [guidance] we have also herewith 
 sent unto you, and that done we will that you do make true, 
 evident, and plain certificate unto us and our said Council upon 
 the 14th day of March next coming, how the said persons and any 
 of them have particularly performed the conditions of the said 
 recognizance, and wherein they or any of them have infringed 
 the same. And hereof we command you not to fail, as you 
 will answer the same at your peril. Given under our signet at 
 our city of York, the i6th day of December, in the forty-fifth 
 year of our reign. 
 
 "'And by her Council.'" 
 
 ^^^ December, 1602. 
 
 " * The Justices of Peace are to inquire whether these persons, 
 being bound for education of their children, have made a per- 
 fonnance of the conditions of their recognizances, according to 
 the transcript of the condition of a recognizance herewith sent. 
 
 " ' John Wright, of the city of York, hath three sons and 
 seven daughters. 
 
 " ' Roger Lee, doctor in physic, one daughter. 
 
 " * Thomas Killingbeck, of the city of York, hath divers 
 children, not named. 
 
 " '■ Christopher Hutton hath divers children, not named. 
 
 " ' Reynold Conset, of Thorparch, hath one son named 
 Reynold, but what other children not named. 
 
292 Notes by a Prisofier 
 
 " * James Thwaites, of Marston, esquire, hath six children, viz. : 
 William, Francis, Jane, Elizabeth, Mary, and Ursula. 
 
 "'The condition of this recognizance is such,'" [&c., as 
 above] (fol. 241 ^). 
 
 "18 DecembriSy 1601. 
 
 " And now a letter and certain articles from my Lord President 
 and the Council to my Lord Mayor, Mr. Recorder, and Aldermen 
 were read, the tenour whereof hereafter ensueth. 
 
 " ' To the right honourable our very loving friend the Lord 
 Mayor of the city of York, and our very loving friends the 
 Recorder and Aldermen, justices of peace within the said city 
 and Ainsty, or any two of them. 
 
 " ' After our hearty commendations to your lordship and the 
 rest. Whereas of late years there hath been great declining by 
 many of her Majesty's subjects in this north part from the religion 
 established, in not repairing to the church to hear divine service, 
 and many of them drawn from their allegiance by the seditious 
 practices of Jesuits and Seminary priests, sent in secret manner 
 from beyond the seas, to the dishonour of Almighty God, the 
 discontentment of her Majesty and danger of the State, for the 
 suppressing of which enormity we did about six years since 
 commit to your good care and diligence certain articles to be 
 inquired of concerning the number of recusants, receiving of 
 priests, entertaining of Popish schoolmasters and servants, secret 
 or clandestine marriages, or secret baptisms of children, upon 
 which presentments we do prove that such reformation hath not 
 ensued as was expected, and therefore we, being desirous to 
 understand the true state of these things, and how the number 
 of recusants or the offenders aforesaid is increased or diminished 
 with you, that we may take such further order as shall be most 
 convenient to remove those enormities, have thought good to 
 commit again to your care (wherein we require you to be very 
 diligent) the articles here inclosed to be inquired of, and herein 
 authorize you to convent before you, at such places as you shall 
 think meet within the city and Ainsty of the city of York, all 
 and singular ministers, curates, churchwardens, constables, sides- 
 
in Ouse bridge Kidcote, 293 
 
 men, and other sworn officers of the several parishes, chapelries, 
 and hamlets in the said city and Ainsty ; and because the same 
 is evidence for her Majesty, we do require you to take the said 
 ministers, curates, and officers aforesaid, sworn by their oaths 
 upon the holy Evangelists, truly to inquire and present within 
 such time as you shall appoint all such offenders and offences 
 contained in the said articles, giving unto the said ministers and 
 sworn officers true copies of the said articles, and that they do 
 plainly and exactly set down the names, surnames, additions., 
 quahties, and degrees of the said offenders and their families. 
 And we further require you and every of you that if you shall 
 perceive convenient to be made in the presentment by any of 
 the said ministers, curates, or any of the other officers, of any 
 offenders or offences mentioned in the said articles, whereas it 
 is presumed that some of you, being very near inhabiting, cannot 
 be ignorant to examine and interrogate them, particularly of such 
 persons so known or suspected to have been concealed. And 
 we do further request you, after the receipt thereof, that the same 
 may be by you, or any three of you, certified unto us under your 
 hands and seals secretly, and safely delivered up before Monday 
 in the second week of Lent next, to the end we may take further 
 order therein as shall be meet and convenient in that behalf. 
 And so nothing doubting of your good care herein, we commit 
 you to the protection of Almighty God. 
 " * At York, this 20th of November, 1601. 
 
 " * Your very loving friends, 
 
 " * Thomas Burghley. 
 
 J. Hales. 
 
 J. Fearne.'" 
 
 " * Articles given in charge by the Lord President and others 
 of her Majesty's Council in the north parts to all Justices of 
 Peace in the county of York, mayors, and other good officers of 
 towns incorporate, to cause inquisition and presentments to be 
 made unto them by the ministers, curates, constables, church- 
 wardens, and sworn men within every parish, chapelry, town, and 
 hamlet within the limits of their several divisions and liberties 
 upon their oaths : 
 
294 • Notes by a Prt softer 
 
 " ' Ifipritnis^ to inquire what recusants, either men, women, 
 wives, or servants remain or are dwelling within the precincts of 
 your parish or chapelry that come not to the church according to 
 the law, and for what time have they so forborne ; and also what 
 persons above the age of twenty years, remaining or dwelling 
 within your parish, have not received the holy communion 
 within the space of one year last past within your parish 
 church or chapel, and of what date, degree, or condition are 
 they of. 
 
 " * Itein^ what Jesuits, Seminaries, or other strange persons do 
 resort to the houses of any person or persons within your parish, 
 and to whose house or houses do they resort, and what are their 
 names, and for what times have they so resorted, and whether do 
 such strange persons during the time of their abode within your 
 parish or chapelry forbear to come to the church. 
 
 " ^ liem^ what masters, mistresses, or dames do retain or keep 
 in their houses or service any schoolmasters, or servants, or other 
 persons that forbear to come to the parish church or chapel 
 according to the law ; what are the names of such schoolmasters 
 or servants, and how long have they forborne, and how many 
 months hath any such master, mistress, or dame retained or kept 
 in their house or service any such schoolmasters or servants, and 
 how many schoolmasters are in your parish or chapelry, and what 
 are their names. 
 
 " ' Ite7n, what persons do you know to have been married by 
 Popish priests, and otherwise secretly married, and not according 
 to the form of the Book of Common Prayer ; and what are the 
 names of the parents or other persons that have been present, or 
 privy, or anywise attending at or unto such secret or unlawful 
 marriages solemnized to your knowledge, or as you have heard, 
 and of whom have you or they heard the same. 
 
 " '■ Item J what persons have caused their children to be baptized 
 after the Popish manner, or otherwise secretly, and not at the 
 parish church or chapel ; who were present at such baptisms and 
 did baptize, and what children were so baptized, and where and 
 when was such baptism ministered. 
 
 " *//<?w, what persons within the precincts of your parish or 
 chapelry, which smce the month of August, which was in the 
 
in Ouse bridge Kidcote, 295 
 
 forty-first year of her Majesty's reign, have repaired to your parish 
 church or chapel, and have heard divine service, are now become 
 recusants, or do forbear to come to your church or chapel upon 
 Sabbath days and other holidays, and what are their names and 
 dwelling-places, and how long have they forborne to come to your 
 church or chapel. 
 
 " * Concordat cum originaii, 
 
 "7. FEARNE.'"(fol. 181^). 
 
 To these letters, for which we are indebted to the city records 
 of York, we are tempted to add another, taken from the Book of 
 Entries (1538 — 1631, fol. 122), preserved in the Record Room at 
 the Town Hall, Great Yarmouth. It is a specimen of the 
 commissions issued by the Privy Council for the banishment of 
 priests. 
 
 " A commission to banish Jesuits and Seminary priests, or any 
 other religious person having received orders at Rome, &c. 
 
 *' Whereas his Majesty, by his letters patents of commission 
 under the great seal of England, dated the 23rd of June, 1618, 
 did give full power, warrant, and authority unto us, and the rest 
 of his Majesty's Privy Council, or to any six or more of them 
 (whereof the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Chancellor, 
 Lord Treasurer, Lord Privy Seal, or one of his Majesty's principal 
 Secretaries to be two) from, time to time, and at all times hereafter, 
 by writing under the hands of us, or of any such six or more of us 
 as aforesaid, to exile and banish out of and from his Majesty's 
 realms of England and Ireland, and all other his Majesty's 
 dominions belonging to the same, so many Jesuits, Seminary 
 priests, and other religious ecclesiastical persons whatsoever made 
 and ordained according to the order and rites of the Romish 
 Church, as then were in any sort indicted, convicted, or attainted of 
 or for any high treason or other offence whatsoever ; and also all 
 other Jesuits, Seminary priests, and persons ecclesiastical or 
 religious above said, then being in prison; and also all Jesuits, 
 Seminary priests, and other persons ecclesiastical or religious above 
 said, that then were, or thereafter should come, or be within the 
 realm of England, whether they should happen to be in prison or 
 
296 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 out of prison, as to us or any such six or more of us as aforesaid, 
 should be thought convenient or fit to be so dealt withal. And 
 that to be done either particularly or generally, and in such order, 
 manner, and form, and under such conditions, prescriptions, and 
 limitations, as we, or any such six or more of us, should set do^\^l 
 in writing, signed with our hands, as by the said commission more 
 at large appeareth. Now know ye that we whose names are under- 
 written, according to the power and authority given unto us, in and 
 by the said letters patents of commission and by authority of the 
 same, have banished and exiled, and by these presents do banish 
 and exile, from and out of his Majesty's realms of England and 
 Ireland, and all other his Majesty's dominions belonging to the 
 same, these persons particularly and expressly named (that is to 
 say) John Turner, George Palmer, James Hargrave, N. Clitheroe, 
 prisoners at York, and John Wright, prisoner at Yarmouth, and 
 N. Smyth, prisoner at Duresme, being all of them Jesuits, 
 Seminary priests, or other ecclesiastical persons, made or ordained 
 according to the order or rites of the Romish Church, and being 
 all of them imprisoned for treasons, felonies, or other offences 
 by them committed contrary to the laws and statutes of the 
 realm. 
 
 " And we do, by the authority aforesaid, straitly charge and 
 command all and singular sheriffs, bailiffs, gaolers, and keepers of 
 gaols and prisons above named, and all other persons that stand 
 charged or chargeable with the custody or keeping of any the 
 person or persons aforesaid, that they deliver, or cause to be 
 delivered, unto Leonard Joyner and John Poulter, messengers of 
 his Majesty's chamber, all and every the persons above named 
 
 " And we do also, by virtue of the aforesaid commission, 
 charge and command by these presents the said Leonard Joyner 
 and John Poulter to convey the said prisoners to the next 
 adjoining port and to see them shipped, to be transported out 
 of his Majesty's dominions, and to bring back a certificate unto 
 us of the place and time of their embarking, subscribed by the 
 officers of the ports. 
 
 "And we do also straitly charge and command all mayors, 
 sheriffs, justices of peace, vice-admirals, customers, comptrollers, 
 searchers, bailiffs, constables, and all other his Majesty's officers 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 297 
 
 and ministers whatsoever, that they do quietly permit and suffer 
 all and every the said persons to ship themselves and depart out 
 of the realm into the parts beyond the seas, according to the 
 tenour, effect, and true meaning of these presents. And these 
 presents, or the enrolment or duplicate thereof, shall be as well 
 unto the said mayors, sheriffs, justices of peace, vice-admirals, 
 customers, comptrollers, searchers, bailiffs, constables, and all 
 other officers and ministers, and to the said Leonard Joyner and 
 John Poulter, and to all and every of them, as also to all masters 
 and owners of ships, merchants, factors, mariners, and other 
 persons, for the conveying and transporting of them out of his 
 Majesty's realms and dominions, and also to the gaolers and 
 keepers of prisons, &c., for delivering them out of their charge 
 and keeping, as aforesaid, a sufficient warrant and discharge in 
 that behalf Dated at the Court of Whitehall, this 19th of 
 February, 1620. 
 
 " Fr. Verulam, Ca\ncellarius\ Henr. Mandeville. 
 
 J. Arundell, Pembroke. 
 
 Lenox. Kellie. 
 
 H. Southampton. Doncaster. 
 
 T. Edmonds. Geo. Calvert. 
 
 Leonard Cranffeilde. J. Digbye." 
 H. Falkland. 
 
 To this we add an entry in the York Housebooks, which 
 shows in an amusing way that the number of indictments against 
 Catholics there must have been considerable. 
 
 " 22° Martii, 25° Elizabeth, 1583. 
 
 "And now a bill of costs concerning tolls of Ripon and 
 executions of certain statutes merchant against Constable and 
 Laiton, and for parchment for making indictments against Papists 
 was now exhibited to these presents by Mr. Belt, amounting to 
 the sum of 46^. id., whereupon it is now agreed by these presents 
 that the said sum shall be forthwith paid by the chamberlains to 
 the said Mr. Belt" (n. 28, fol. 94^). 
 
 Before we turn to the ancient prisoner in Ousebridge Kid- 
 cote, we may insert here two passages from the Housebooks, 
 
298 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 which relate to bolts, manacles, and collars, and a pair of great 
 stocks : and we end with a significant permission to the prisoners 
 to elect some one who might with a basket angle for them for the 
 alms of the passers-by. 
 
 " 15° Decembris, 21^ Elizabeth [1578]. 
 
 " And now also it is agreed by these presents that six pairs of 
 bolts, two pairs of manacles, and two collars shall be made forth- 
 with of certain old iron now lying upon the bridge, and the same 
 to be made and provided for the due correction of persons in the 
 sheriffs' Kidcotes, and to remain in the custody of the same 
 sheriffs, and to be delivered over from sheriffs to sheriffs by 
 indenture for ever. And the same to be at the sheriffs* charges, 
 saving only \os. of the Chamber charges" (n. 27, fol. 125). 
 
 ** 12° Junit^ 1596. 
 
 ^^ lames Burkbie^ Lord Mayor the second time. Also it is 
 agreed that the Kidcote and the various locks, fetters, and bolts for 
 the same, lately broken in pieces by the prisoners, as this court is 
 now informed by Mr. Sheriff, shall be forthwith repaired of the 
 Chamber's charge, and that a pair of great stocks shall be made or 
 bought at the bishop's prison, if any there be to be sold, for the 
 Kidcote, and Mr. Chamberlain Hawkeswirthe and Mr. Chamber- 
 Iain Aunshall are appointed to attend to that business, and so to 
 the discharging of the money in that behalf" (n. 31, fol. 189^). 
 
 "12^ Januarii, 41° Elizabeth ^ 1598. 
 
 " Agreed that good strong double inner doors should be made 
 of the Chamber charges in the women's Kidcote" (n. 31, foL 
 393 h 
 
 "27° Novembrisy 32® Elizabeth [1579]. 
 
 "Agreed that the prisoners in the Kidcote shall have one 
 who they will appoint to gather with a basket together such 
 rewards as every well disposed person will bestow upon 
 them" (fol. 196). 
 
NOTES BY A PRISONER IN 
 OUSEBRIDGE KIDCOTE. 
 
 From the Original Manuscript at Stonyhurst College. 
 
 loth of December, 1594. 
 
 About twenty years since, Doctor Vavasour, being as a 
 banished man from his own house, coming home in secret, 
 was bewrayed by a schoolmaster, who detected him to the 
 Council, upon which present search being made by the 
 Lord President's gentlemen and others, very fearfully 
 raging about every place of the house with naked swords 
 and daggers, thrusting and porring^ in at every hole and 
 crevice, breaking down walls, rending down cloths, pulling 
 up boards from the floors, and making such spoil of their 
 goods in such cruel manner, that the gentlewoman his 
 wife, and his children, being so frighted with fear lest they 
 should have slain her husband, that thereupon she lost her 
 wit, being extremely possessed, lay bound for the space of 
 a quarter of a year, and in her raging detected \i. e. dis- 
 closed] many secrets. The search lasted a whole day, yet 
 the secret place being so politicly devised, they could not 
 find him, and being made certain that he was in the house, 
 they did not depart until the Lord Mayor was willed to 
 command watchmen with halberts to be set about the 
 house, thereby to make him yield by famine, which so 
 remaining that night and the next day, he yielded himself 
 to the watch the sooner for saving a priest which was with 
 him. The watchmen, sending word to the Council, was 
 
 ^ Forr, to push or thrust. Cormvall. — Halliwell. 
 
300 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 willed to carry him to Doctor Hutton, the Dean, who 
 entertained him very courteously, and there [he] remained 
 two or three days in conference with him. From thence 
 being sent to Alderman Brooke's, where remaining about a 
 quarter of a year, and then sent to Hull Castle, where 
 being close prisoner for the space of eight years, [he] there 
 ended his life. Yet they let him come home from the 
 Dean's to his wife to such time as she was mended, and 
 then committed him as aforesaid. 
 
 Sir John Bowlton, priest, committed the first year of 
 her Majesty's reign, first to York Castle, from thence to 
 Ousebridge, where he remained ten or twelve years close 
 prisoner, and from thence removed to Hull Blockhouse, 
 there remained about eight years, and then banished be- 
 yond the seas. 
 
 Sir Nicholas Grene, priest, being committed twenty- 
 eight years since to Ousebridge, where he remained five 
 years, and then died. 
 
 Sir Henry Comberforth committed prisoner to Ouse- 
 bridge twenty-six years since, where he remained six years ; 
 from thence removed to Hull Blockhouse, remaining there 
 close prisoner about ten years, and there died. 
 
 Sir Thomas Bedall committed to Ousebridge the same 
 time, and in like manner removed, and died in Hull 
 Blockhouse. 
 
 Thomas Bell,^ committed twenty-four years since to 
 Ousebridge, where he lay all one cold winter, as hath been 
 seen of continuance of frost and snow in the stocks, divers 
 preachers coming the same time to confer with him ; then 
 afterwards removed to the Castle. 
 
 William Tcsimond, saddler, sitting the same time in 
 
 * At the top of the paper there is written in another hand, " All that is 
 crossed deservcth no record, because the parties proved not well unto the 
 (v) end." Crosses are put to the names of Thomas IJell, William Tcsimond, 
 and apparently to that of Thomas Harwood. Thomas Bell, an apostate 
 priest, became a notorious spy. It is instructive to learn the treatment to 
 which he was subjected before he fell. 
 
in Ouseb7ndge Kidcote. 301 
 
 the stocks with him so long, being removed with him to 
 the Castle, and from thence to Hull. 
 
 Stephen Branton, Jeffrey Stephenson, William Brinsley, 
 and Oliver Walker, committed twenty-four years since to 
 Ousebridge, where they remained close prisoners about 
 three years ; then removed to the Castle, and from thence 
 to Hull. Stephen Branton removed from Hull to York 
 Castle again, and there died, after twenty years' imprison- 
 ment. The said Jeffrey Stephenson being thrust down into 
 a low vault at Hull, by reason of cold and noisome vapours 
 and damps, lost the use of all his senses, and so shortly 
 after died. 
 
 Thomas Harwood, committed about eighteen years 
 since to Ousebridge, where he remained about ten years ; 
 then being accused by one Pennyngton, who was in the 
 same prison for debt, for writing of Mrs. Clitherow's book of 
 her life, and arraignment at the bar before the judges, was 
 sent for to the Council, and thret \i.e. threatened] to lose his 
 life unless he would go to church, at which he yielded to 
 go to a sermon, hoping thereby to have free liberty ; which 
 when he had so done, they kept him, notwithstanding, at 
 the pursuivant's, and would have him to receive with them 
 too, but that he would not consent to, and repented that he 
 had done so much, who then committed him to the Castle, 
 and putting him in the low prison, [he] shortly after died 
 there. 
 
 About sixteen years since, there was divers men of the 
 city who had their wives Catholics, to the number of six- 
 teen, which was committed to prison for that they would 
 not pay, according to the statute, \2d. for every week for 
 their wives not coming to church. So they were forced to 
 pay or [ere] they could be released, some 40^-., some more, 
 some less ; neither was their wives free from prison. 
 
 Mr. Dobson, alias Wright, and Sir Thomas Mudd, 
 priests, being apprehended at Mr. Tankard's at Borough- 
 bridge, was brought to York with a vestment upon him, 
 
302 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 and were committed prisoners to Ousebridge, which, after 
 two years there remaining, was removed to Hull Block- 
 house, where they were close prisoners the space of seven 
 years — Mr. Mudd until he died, and Mr. Dobson until he 
 was banished. 
 
 Alice Sim son, committed seventeen years since, yet re- 
 maineth in prison upon Ousebridge. 
 
 Alice Williamson and Annes [Agnes] Johnson, com- 
 mitted about the same time, after two years' imprisonment 
 died there. 
 
 Mrs. Foster,'committed the same time, within a year's 
 imprisonment died in prison. 
 
 Agnes Fuister, committed fifteen years since to Ouse- 
 bridge within two years' imprisonment died. 
 
 Thomas Layne committed fifteen years since, within a 
 year's imprisonment died. 
 
 James Wethereld, gentleman, and Etheldred, his wife, 
 and Elizabeth Reade, their maid, were committed fourteen 
 years since, and within four years after were released upon 
 bonds. 
 
 Mrs. Vavasour, Mary Hutton, and Alice Ouldcorne, 
 committed the same time, and after seven years' imprison- 
 ment, being shut down on a cold winter night without 
 their bedding into a low, filthy prison, where they took 
 their death with cold, and coming up sick, they all died 
 within three days. 
 
 There hath been within this fourteen years about thirty 
 women committed to Ousebridge, whereof there is eleven 
 of them dead, besides those above named, some gotten 
 liberty, and some remaining in prison yet. They being all 
 put together by themselves, the martyrs' heads standing 
 on stakes upon the leads of the house where they were, 
 it chanced that they were taken away, for which they 
 were all examined, and charged that they [were] accessory 
 of the fact, and [they] would have sworn them, but they 
 all refused. Then they put them down into the low, 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote, 303 
 
 filthy prison, and they remained there twenty weeks, 
 where they could not see at noon time of the day to 
 eat their meat without a candle, their beds being loath- 
 some with filth by reason of drouge,^ and very evil noyed 
 with thieves and naughty packs. 
 
 Within three years after, being mo[re] martyrs' heads 
 set up in their places, it chanced they were gone in like 
 manner, whereupon, as before, they were examined, and 
 offered the oath, who, refusing, was thrust down into the 
 low prison again. Mary Hutton, having the highest 
 chamber nigh unto the heads, they did charge her most, 
 and said she could not, should not, excuse herself any 
 way to be unguilty of that fact : " therefore you had best 
 confess, or else you shall hang by the neck." She said 
 again she would not accuse herself: if they could prove 
 anything, [let them] do what they could. Then they put 
 her in prison with the rest, she having, at that time, 
 three of her youngest children with her, the eldest of 
 them not above nine year old. The magistrates caused 
 them to be sought forthwith, and brought before them, 
 and had caused the four bedells to be ready there against 
 they came, every one of them having a great birch rod 
 in his hand to terrify the children, and make them confess 
 whatsoever they would demand 
 
 And first they began with fair speeches, and promised 
 them new coats and other things ; but the children, having 
 their eyes of the rods, doubted more to be bett [2. e. beaten] 
 than receive any gifts. Demanding of the eldest boy 
 when he helped a priest to say Mass, the boy answered 
 he knew not what it was. One of them said again : '* Yes, 
 my boy, let me hear, as thou can[st] say ' Confiteor.' " 
 *' I cannot say it," said he. " Then thou liest," said he. 
 "Hast thou not seen the priest have on a silk gown, 
 
 ^ Drouze is not in Bosworth's Anglo-Saxon Dictionary ; but in Somner's 
 Dictionarhim Saxonico'Latinum Anglicum there is ^^Droze, forlasse latrina, 
 nostratibus hodieque a draught.''^ The word is allied to dross^ filth. 
 
304 Notes by a Pt'isoner 
 
 wrought with gold, and holding a little round white cake 
 over his head, and a silver cup?" "No," said the boy, 
 and brast \i.c. burst] out and wept. " Weep not, boy," said 
 he ; "I warrant thee thou shalt not be bett, if thou wilt tell 
 me truly one thing that I will ask thee. Did not thy 
 mother make thee take the heads down off the stakes V 
 "Yea," said the boy. "And who did help thee?" 
 " Margaret Luetic and Alice Bowman." 
 
 Upon which words, they charged the maids earnestly, 
 and Alice Bowman, which was not then above eighteen 
 years old, they did twitch her fingers with a cord to make 
 her confess. And when they could not make them confess, 
 they reviled them most shamefully, and called them .... 
 and such like, and sent Margaret Luetic to a prison 
 called Beanhills, a good space distant from the city or 
 any company — a little tower in a stone wall, low upon 
 the moist ground, where .venomous vermin doth breed, 
 very dark, having no light but a little loop-hole in the 
 wall — where she remained eleven weeks. And they made 
 her lie four nights without any bed, one of the bedells 
 being her keeper, who came to see her sometimes once 
 of a day, sometimes once in two days, and very straitly 
 used her for her diet. Alice Bowman [was] sent to a 
 place called Little Ease, which is in Monk Bar, where she 
 was little better used, but that she was near company, 
 and the place not so noisome. The Lord Mayor took 
 the boy home with him, and kept him as long, and had 
 one always to keep him. And one time they brought 
 in a box with breads that they had gotten in [some] 
 search, and he called the boy to see them, and said : 
 " Lo, Jack, thou knowest what these are well ; what dost 
 thou call them ?" and gave him one in his hand. " I 
 know not what they are," said the boy ; " it is like paper." 
 And thus would they have made the poor boy their 
 instrument to know things. 
 
 The next day after Mr. Purfray, one of the Council, 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote, 305 
 
 came to Ousebridge to the gaolhouse, accompanied with 
 Sergeant Moore and Mr. Cottrell, examiner, with divers 
 others, inquiring for WilHam Hutton's chamber. [They] 
 found him sitting with an old psalter^ in his hand. [They] 
 demanded if his name were William Hutton, who answered, 
 "Yea, forsooth." "What is that book," said he, "you 
 have in your hand .'*" " It is an old psalter," I said. 
 " It is a good book," said he ; " but methinks St. Jerome's 
 psalter were more necessary for you to use." Then he 
 began to tell of the clemency and mercy that the Queen's- 
 Majesty had showed towards us, and said if we did per- 
 severe still in obstinacy, she would execute her laws more 
 severely, and many other circumstances. Then he said : 
 "I have a further matter to say to you touching the 
 heads which is gone. I understand your wife's chamber 
 is next adjoining to the place where they stood, and it is 
 known, by evident proof, that she was of concert of taking 
 them away, which she doth deny ; and it is a contempt 
 of law ; therefore I would wish you [to] cause her to 
 confess the truth ; else it will be worse, both for you 
 and her." " Sir," quoth I, " I will not urge her to confess 
 anything against truth, for I think you have no evident 
 proof, but of a boy's words of nine years old, which spoke 
 them of fear, and the magistrates might have blushed to 
 set them down in writing, who would have confessed 
 anything they would have demanded ; and if it please 
 your worship to take the pains to go and view the place, 
 you will say it is a thing impossible, and I hope you 
 will never deal further in the matter." At which saying 
 he went, and when he had viewed it, he confessed as much 
 as I said. 
 
 Shortly after, I wrote a letter to the Castle, to Francis 
 Hemsworth,^ touching the affairs of our house, in which 
 
 ^ In all probability it was a Jesus Psalter, a favourite book among the 
 Catholics in the time of persecution, and looked upon by Topcliffe and his class 
 as an unfailing sign of Popery. 
 
 * Supra^ p. 92. 
 U 
 
3o6 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 I craved their prayers for my wife and my boy, and 
 told them the Lord Mayor had taken him home, and 
 I doubted [not] would bring him up with lying, for he 
 had put it in practice already ; which letter was inter- 
 cepted in the way by Stock, who was then an officer 
 at the Castle, and carried it straight to the Council ; 
 whereupon, I, being sent for, came before Mr. Meares 
 and Mr. Purfray. Mr. Purfray said : " Hutton, I offered 
 you favour when I was in your chamber, but I perceive 
 you will not accept it." I said : " Sir, I thank you ; 
 I would willingly do anything that is lawful for me to 
 do, not offending my conscience." Then said Mr. Meares : 
 " Hutton, what letters have you written of late ?" I 
 paused a little, and then I said : " I wrote one yesternight 
 for Mrs. Vavasour, touching one of her children that is 
 going to service." "And what did it signify.-*" said he. 
 " Nothing but for buying a doublet and other necessaries." 
 " Yea," said he ; " and under pretence of that doublet 
 you had to convey other matters." " No, truly, sir," 
 quoth I ; " I had no such meaning." " And what other 
 letters wrote you beside.?" "None, sir, that I can re- 
 member." "Advise yourself well, and speak a truth." 
 " I cannot remember any." " Do you know your own 
 handwriting if you see it.?" "Yea; I think so." Then 
 Mr. Purfray showed me the letter, and I confessed it 
 *'Why, then, did you deny it.?" "Because I could not 
 remember it." " You do slander the magistrates in saying 
 they learn your boy to lie." " I do not slander them in 
 saying a truth ; and I trust they will lose no credit by 
 it at your hands." "Go to," saith Mr. Meares; "you 
 are a subtle sophista." " Truly, sir," quoth I, " I never 
 professed diat art." Then he began to make a song, 
 and said : " I will not be of Hutton's religion, for he is 
 a liar." Then they called in my keeper, and commanded 
 him to put me in the low prison, and gave him charge, 
 as he would answer them, that I should have neither 
 pen, ink, nor paper. 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 307 
 
 Sir Richard Thirkeld, priest, [a Remist in marg?^ 
 twelve years since being apprehended in a house upon 
 Ousebridge, by one of the sheriff's sergeants, upon our 
 Lady's day in Lent, [1583] being searched, they found 
 two keys about him ; then carried to the Council, 
 where he was kept all night. The next day, being 
 examined, and after brought to prison to Ousebridge, 
 the sheriffs and aldermen searching divers places for his 
 chamber and chest having his keys, having found them, 
 they opened his chest, and got two or three suits of Church 
 stuff, his books, his bedding, and all his other furniture 
 of household stuff. In searching, they searched William 
 Hutton's house for his chamber, where they found a 
 secret place with a trunk full of books, which they brought 
 presently to the market place and burned them. He 
 remained in prison until the gaol delivery, the week after 
 Whitsun week, and then being removed to the Castle, 
 was condemned and executed. A great stir there was 
 about giving him a priest's cap into prison, because he 
 came before them priest-like. 
 
 Sir Michael Bowton, priest [an old man in marg\ 
 about thirteen years since being apprehended and com- 
 mitted to prison to Ousebridge, was called before the 
 judges the next assizes after, and because he would 
 not tell them his place of abode, they burned him through 
 the ear for a rogue ; afterward being sent to Hull 
 Blockhouse, and there remained until he was banished. 
 
 Ten years since, there were eleven men in the low 
 prison — John Hewit, Edmund Jackson, William Jackson, 
 Thomas Harwood, William Branton, John Golthwaite, 
 William Bowman, John Wood and John Wood \sic\ 
 Thomas Pearson, and William Hutton, which was agreed 
 by the Lord Mayor and his brethren, and certain articles 
 
 * Father Grene says that this paper by William Hutton was sent to Rome 
 by Father Holtby, and he adds that these marginal notes are in Father 
 Holtby's hand. 
 
3o8 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 set down by indenture. First, that we should be locked 
 down from the grate, that we should receive no common 
 charity of well-disposed people. Secondly, that we should 
 have the low door open at six o'clock a morning and 
 six at night, to take in water and other necessaries, and 
 to search it for letters or notes, and to know from whence 
 It came. Thirdly, that none should come to speak with 
 them, but he should be searched, and carried to a justice to 
 be examined. Fourthly, that William Hutton his children 
 should have no access to him nor his wife, nor that 
 they should not be brought up with them. Fifthly, that 
 they should have neither pen, ink, nor paper among 
 them. This continued in force for the space of one year 
 and thirty weeks, until they were ashamed at the voice of 
 the people. 
 
 Margaret Clitherow, apprehended in her own house 
 eight years since, the first week in Lent, [March lo, I58f] 
 the secret place of her house bewrayed by a boy, 
 and great spoil made of Church stufif and books, was 
 committed to the pursuivants until the assizes ; who then 
 was brought to the Common Hall before the Judges, 
 and there was arraigned and condemned for harbouring 
 Mr. Mush and Mr. Ingleby, priests. Her judgment was 
 given to be pressed to death because she would not be 
 tried by God and the country ; but she was not terri- 
 fied with it, but very joyful. From thence committed 
 to Ousebridge, being pinioned her arms with a cord ; 
 dealt money liberally all the way to the poor, and there 
 she was locked in a parlour, with one Yoward and his 
 wife to accompany her, who was for debt. She remained 
 there twelve days after she was condemned, having 
 Bunny, Wiggington, Pease, and other preachers daily 
 resorting to her, using what means they could to dissuade 
 her, that she might save her life ; but she willed them 
 not to trouble her, for she would not hear them. Yet 
 they ceased not to trouble her day by day; and when 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote, 309 
 
 they saw she made no account of their prating, and 
 would not hear them, they would kneel down before her, 
 shedding out tears, crying out, "The Lord illuminate your 
 heart," reiterating it oftentimes over. And when they saw 
 they could by no means prevail, they used slanderous 
 speeches against her, and said she was reported to be of 
 evil demeanour with priests, using more familiarity with 
 them than with her husband, providing dainty cheer for 
 them and simple cheer for her husband, and willed her 
 to ask her husband forgiveness. She answered : " I do not 
 depend upon the judgment of men, but of God. If I 
 have ofifended my husband, touching disobedience in 
 [anyjthing that is lawful, I will willingly ask him 
 forgiveness ; but for defiling his bed, and your other 
 slanderous reports, I need not, and God forgive both 
 you and those which make any such report." 
 
 Then they willed her to claim the benefit of her condi- 
 tion to save her life, but she said, " I will neither say that 
 I am with child, nor I am not, for it is to me uncertain." 
 Her diet was all that time but once on the day a mess 
 of gruel pottage. She sewed her winding-sheet that time 
 [with] her own hands. When the day came of her execu- 
 tion, being the Annunciation of our Blessed Lady [1586], 
 the sheriffs came early in the morning to bid her prepare 
 herself to die about nine o'clock. She said she was ready 
 when [it] pleased them. Then the sheriffs came again 
 at the hour appointed, and led her over to the Tollbooth, 
 to the place of her execution. [There] was there present 
 the sheriffs and their officers, and two of Mr. Cheek's 
 men, who was sent of purpose to see her executed, 
 and one Frost, a minister, who they sent to instruct her, 
 but she refused him utterly. After her prayers said, she 
 requested the sheriffs that they would for womanhood 
 suffer her to have some women ^ there at putting off her 
 
 ^ Hutton is not quite in accordance with Mr. Mush's narrative in some of ^ 
 these particulars. 
 
3IO Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 clothes, and that the men should not be present there ; 
 but [they] would admit her but one woman, neither 
 would they be absent themselves. When she saw it 
 would no otherwise be, she made her ready. Then they 
 laid her down on her back. They said she must be 
 naked. She desired [them] to let her die in her smock. 
 They would not, but [would] have her naked to the 
 waist. Then, lying down on the ground, they bound 
 both her arms, one to one post and the other to another, 
 with cords. Then they laid a sharp stone, which they 
 had made of purpose, at her back against her heart, and a 
 door above her body. Then the officer brought great 
 stones to the value of five or six hundredweight ; and at 
 the very pang of her death she cried, " Jesu, Jesu, Jesu, help 
 me! blessed Jesu, I suffer this for Thy sake," and so 
 yielded her spirit to God. 
 
 Robert Bickerdike,^ apprehended about eight years 
 since, and accused for being in company with Mr. Boast, 
 priest, committed to the Counter of Ousebridge, where 
 he remained a year; then called at the assizes to the 
 Common Hall before the judges— for there they sit upon 
 Monday for the city gaol — to answer his indictment, was 
 cleared by a jury, having no evident proof, and discharged. 
 [They] sent him again to the gaol to Ousebridge, but 
 having another adversary which sought his death upon 
 occasion of a word speaking against his daughter, a 
 minister's wife, framed a new indictment against him upon 
 certain words he should speak in a figurative manner to 
 a merchant man in the city, which he applied to the 
 Spaniards coming in. I have forgotten what the words 
 were, but in this manner I remember. It was about 
 Michaelmas, and he said, "Well, now the sap is in the 
 root, but in the spring of the year it will begin to spring 
 up again ; " and upon these words he framed his indict- 
 ment, and caused him on Thursday after to be sent for 
 
 » Su^ra, p. 90. 
 
in Ottsebridge Kidcote. 311 
 
 to the Castle, and there to answer this matter before the 
 judges. The sheriffs of the city, hearing of this, came to 
 his chamber searching what he had, taking a gold ring off 
 his finger, his money, and his apparel, and then sent him 
 to the Castle. There brought before the judges, his indict- 
 ment upon these words read, being demanded if the Pope 
 and the Spaniard should come to the field to make wars 
 against the Queen's Majesty of England, whether part he 
 would take, he answered, even whether as God would put 
 him in mind. And then they said he was a traitor, and 
 deserved to be hanged. Then the jury going to consider 
 upon his indictment and these words, the judges giving 
 them a watchword, came to give their verdict and found 
 him guilty. Upon which he being arraigned and con- 
 demned, and judgment given to be drawn upon a hurdle 
 to the place of execution, and there to be hanged, drawn, 
 and quartered. The words which he spoke to the minister's 
 wife was these. At that time, when Sir Francis Ingleby, 
 priest, was to come over Ousebridge on a hurdle to execu- 
 tion, Robert Bickerdike going over the way to the Toll- 
 booth, the minister's wife in the street in his way said to 
 her sister who was with her, " Let us go into the Tollbooth, 
 and we shall see the traitorly thief come over on the 
 hurdle." " No, no thief," quoth he, " as true as thou art," 
 and no mo [re] words but these, which was supposed was 
 the cause of his death, her husband and father being in 
 such credit with the ministry. 
 
 Sir William Wilkinson^ [an old man in marg.], four- 
 teen years since was taken on the Assumption day of our 
 Blessed Lady at Dr. Vavasour's house at Mass, and eleven 
 more, vi^., James Wethereld, gentleman, and his wife, 
 Mrs. Vavasour and two of her daughters, Mrs. Brogden, 
 William Hutton and his wife, John Wood, Elizabeth 
 
 i "3°i^^^. 21" Eliz. [1582.] Also it is agreed that William Wilkinson, 
 clerk, lying now at John Trewe's house in ward, shall be removed to the 
 Sheriff 's Kidcote." York Housebooks, n. 28, fol. 90. 
 
312 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 Reade, and Jane Ellerthorpe, by the sheriffs, Alderman 
 Birkby, Alderman Maltby, and Alderman May, with many 
 others, who searched the house, took the vestment, the 
 chalice, and all the church stuff, brought the priest through 
 the streets with the vestment upon him, and two wax 
 tapers carried before him, being mocked and spitted upon 
 with vagabonds ; the rest of his company following next 
 after, with a great troop following them. Coming to the 
 Lord Mayor, there being appointed to sundry places until 
 they were examined ; then committed to Ousebridge, some 
 to the Counter, some to the Kidcote. At Michaelmas 
 next following brought to the sessions before the Lord 
 Mayor and Justices, there indicted for hearing Mass, sent 
 again to prison, demanded every Sunday if they would go 
 to church. At Lent assizes next after brought before the 
 judges at the Common Hall, there arraigned of the indict- 
 ments, a jury impanelled, verdict given " Guilty of hearing 
 Mass," ICX) marks^ fine for every one, and 80/. for four 
 months not coming to church, sent again to prison, and 
 there remaining. 
 
 Sir Anthony Wilkinson [an old man /;/ inarg\ Sir 
 John Marshe [a Remist], and Sir Edmund Sykes^ [a 
 Remlst], priests, being apprehended about nine years since 
 at sundry times, committed to Ousebridge close prisoners, 
 was within half a year after called to the Common Hall 
 before the Lord President and the Council, who sat in 
 commission, and told them they were to be banished 
 within such a time, and willed them to prepare themselves. 
 Then they were sent back again to prison, and within five 
 or six days next after were banished beyond the seas. 
 
 Thomas Bowes, a young man, apprehended three years 
 since, committed to Ousebridge close prisoner, within half 
 a year after was called to the assizes before the judges. 
 
 * As the mark was 13J. 4^., the fine of loo marks was 66/. 13^. 4 /. 
 ' Edmund Sykes was banished in 1585, and returning to the English 
 mission soon after, suffered martyrdom at Yori:, March 23, 1587. 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote, 313 
 
 Being demanded of his state and dwelling-place, and 
 because he could not show any place of abode, they 
 charged him with carriage of letters and conveying 
 Seminary priests from place to place, and found him in 
 the degree of a rogue, and burned him through the ear 
 and let him go at liberty. Shortly being apprehended 
 again and committed to the castle, where in like manner 
 [they] called him before the judges, and found him in the 
 second degree of a rogue, and burned him in the hand, 
 and set him again at liberty, and told him if he were 
 brought before them the third time he were by the statute 
 in case of felony, and to be hanged. 
 
 Dorothy Browne, a widow, dwelling in the city, having 
 five small children, is bound from assizes to assizes to 
 appear before the judges, and committed every time to 
 Ousebridge, prisoner for her conscience. Her friends 
 making suit for her liberty, she is exacted every time to 
 pay to officers for fees, contrary to equity or ancient 
 custom, to the value of \6s. or iSj. ; and having nothing 
 to relieve herself and poor children but only brewing, the 
 Lord Mayor will not suffer her to brew any longer, but 
 hath discharged her, and saith she shall not have any 
 benefit of any occupying or traffic within the city, because 
 she will not obey the Queen's laws and come to the church. 
 
 The said Dorothy Browne being committed to prison, 
 except she would either go to the church or else put in 
 sureties that she should not brew any more, a poor man 
 being alliance[d] to her, carrying her five children before 
 the Lord Mayor to crave pity in their behalf for their 
 mother, the Lord Mayor looking upon them was stricken 
 in a great fury against the poor man, and said : " Thou 
 varlet rascal knave, why dost thou bring these children to 
 me ? Dost thou not think that I have more pity on them 
 than thou hast t Their mother doth deserve no favour, 
 nor none shall have. All these men," pointing to the low 
 prison with his hand, " where there is condemned felons and / 
 
314 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 other malefactors . . . hath not committed so great offence 
 as she doth. Take the knave," saith he, " and carry him 
 to ward, and have the children home whence they came." 
 This he spoke yesternight in the audience of forty persons.^ 
 
 Father John Ingram, priest, being apprehended in the 
 north country, brought to York to the Lord President, 
 where he was kept in his porter['s] lodge about two months 
 close prisoner, having secret conference with Dr. Favor 
 and others, and dealt withal both with lenity and extremity, 
 when they had used all the means they could, and could 
 not prevail against him, they sent him to London to the 
 torturers, where he hung by the joints of his fingers and 
 arms in extreme pain so long that the feeling of his senses 
 were clean taken from him. After that they sent him 
 again to York, where he was committed to Ousebridge, 
 kept there close prisoner in low stinking vault, locked in 
 a jakeshouse the space of four days, without either bed 
 to lie on or stool to sit on ; from thence carried into the 
 north pinioned with a cord, where he was apprehended, 
 committed to Durham gaol, brought at the assizes there 
 before the judges, condemned, and executed. 
 
 Until this last Parliament the prisoners of Ousebridge 
 was so hardly dealt withal that they could not look out 
 at a window to call for any necessaries, or to contradict 
 the sergeants in anything although it were false, but they 
 would thrust them down into the low vaults. And also 
 every one that were committed by the Council or Com- 
 missioners or any other Justice, they would have put them 
 down into the low prison, and laid fetters on both their 
 legs if it had been in the coldest time of winter, and not 
 suffer any to speak with them ; and when entreaty was 
 made for their easement, they would make it very difficult, 
 and say they had so strait commandment given by the 
 Council or Commissioners to do it that they durst not case 
 
 * This paragraph is written on a separate paper, and at its end there is 
 written, " I pray you annex this to the other." 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote. 315 
 
 them, which was nothing true but to make their more gain. 
 So every one paid for their easement of their irons, some 
 205"., some a mark, some \os. 
 
 These are the most that I can remember to set down, 
 and where they are not set in good order, I trust you will 
 make better congruetitia of them when you peruse them 
 over. 
 
 Note. — Father Grene has given in his volume M some 
 information respecting many of the persons who died in the 
 York and Hull prisons, taken from his volume F. 
 
 "John Pearson, a venerable old priest, was imprisoned for 
 many years at Durham, for refusing to attend heretical services. 
 After enduring with great patience the close confinement of an 
 underground dungeon, he was removed to another far worse, and 
 thrust among a set of thieves. This was done at a time when he 
 was suffering from a burning fever. Here, as if the very filthiness 
 of the place with its accompaniments were not torture enough to 
 a refined man of advanced age, the thieves, out of mere malice, 
 became his tormentors. For while he was taking his meals, they, 
 like so many dogs utterly devoid of all sense of shame, did not 
 hesitate, before his face, to yield to the necessities of nature^ and 
 thus by their open filthiness, caused him such nausea that he 
 could not retain the poor nourishment he had taken. By this 
 more than savage treatment received at the hands of these pitiless 
 wretches, he was, before many days were passed, worn out, and so 
 passed to a better life. 
 
 " Thomas Ackrick, a religious priest, renouncing liberty and 
 living, and constantly professing the Catholic faith, was committed 
 to York Castle, and being of the Order of barefooted friars, he 
 observed that rule always in prison, going to bed at seven o'clock, 
 and rising at midnight, giving himself devoutly to continual prayer 
 till four o'clock in the morning. Then taking a little rest till six, 
 he passed all the day in virtuous exercises of prayer and divine 
 studies, and comforting his fellow-prisoners. He was never seen 
 to be unoccupied but in time of meat. He was removed from 
 
3i6 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 York Castle to the North Blockhouse of Hull, where after a 
 certain time, continuing in his godly life and rejoicing to suffer 
 for his Master's sake, he fell sick, and, suffering all the pangs of 
 sickness patiently, departed this life [1585]. 
 
 " John Akrige, priest, was born and brought up at Richmond, 
 and falling into schism lived many years curate under several 
 parsons, unto the rising of the Earls, at which time he was recon- 
 ciled to the Catholic Church, and for that cause was taken prisoner 
 and carried to York Castle, to be put in irons, being of very weak 
 health, where, and afterwards at the North Blockhouse and 
 Castle of Hull, he remained in prison till his death, which was in 
 the year of our Lord 1585, the 2nd day of March, at six o'clock 
 after dinner. He gave all that he had unto Catholics, and wished 
 to die rather in prison than in any other place. 
 
 " Mrs. Dorothy Vavasour, wife unto Thomas Vavasour, doctor 
 of physic, encouraged much her good and virtuous husband to be 
 constant in the Catholic faith. Being fallen very sick, and, as 
 some thought, distracted by great sufferings in divers kinds for her 
 religion, after some time saying our Blessed Lady's Office upon 
 one of our Lady's days, she was suddenly restored to perfect 
 health, both of body and mind. After which time she did give 
 herself wholly unto the service of God. Living in York, her house 
 was the refuge for all afflicted Catholics, and specially priests, who 
 were always most charitably entertained. In the year 1578, on the 
 feast of our Blessed Lady's Assumption, many Catholics being 
 met in her house to hear Mass, before this was begun, the sheriff 
 of the town came and took the priest and several others, whom 
 they carried to prison, appointing the gentlewoman to appear, 
 when she should be called, before Sands, Lord Bishop of York. 
 She did so, and behaved herself with great courage and constant 
 profession of her faith and of her devotion to our Blessed I^dy. 
 By favour and intercession of friends, she was dismissed at that 
 time, and continued or rather increased her accustomed devotion 
 for three years, until she was again upon one of our Lady's feasts 
 apprehended, together with her two daughters and many others, 
 and carried to prison to the New Counter at Ousebridge. Her 
 husband being prisoner for his religion at Hull and York, she sued 
 for leave to go and see him, but could not obtain it. After his 
 
in Otisebridge Kidcote. 317 
 
 death, she lived very virtuously for some years in the same prison, 
 from whence in the year of our Lord 1587, she with divers of her 
 fellow-prisoners was removed into the low Kidcote, in which strait 
 and pestilent place she and many others fell sick, and contracted 
 such diseases as never left them until their dying day. At length 
 she was removed again to the same prison of the New Counter, 
 where she yielded up her soul unto God the 26th day of October 
 of the said year 1587. 
 
 " What has been said is explained by the following : 
 ** This year John Wedall and Leonard Beckwith were chosen 
 sheriffs at Michaelmas, who at their entrance did cruelly thrust 
 down into the low place of Kidcote all or the most of the Catholic 
 prisoners, especially women, whereupon they fell into sickness, 
 most of them, for the place was infected with a prisoner who died 
 there. Whereupon Mary Hutton, wife to William Hutton, a 
 virtuous and constant young woman, died the 2[5] October, 1587. 
 The next day died the reverend and devout matron, Mrs. Dorothy 
 Vavasour. Also the day following died Alice Aldcome, wife of 
 Thomas Aldcorne, now prisoner at Hull. These were buried on 
 Toftgreen, an obscure place near Micklegate-bar. Thus through 
 hard usage and extreme dealing, these had their days shortened 
 for professing the Catholic faith. 
 
 " Mr. Doctor Thomas Vavasour, a man both grave, learned, 
 and godly, for his zeal and Christian fortitude in professing the 
 Catholic faith, was forced to fly, and was banished in King 
 Edward's days through the malice of heretics. Some of his 
 greatest enemies craved him mercy afterwards, at his return in 
 Queen Mary's time ; after whose death, he openly professing and 
 defending the Catholic faith, was much hated by heretics, who 
 first framed against him a deadly excommunication, which was 
 read openly in York Minster by one Moulton, sometime a religious 
 man, but then a pestiferous apostata. After this the Sheriff of 
 York, one Mr. Askwith, breaking into his house and not finding him 
 there, spoiled the house so unmercifully that he left neither chair, 
 stool, pillow, nor so much as the worst cushion to lay under the 
 poor child when his loving wife should swathe it. About three 
 years [after] this, my Lord President his men did invade his 
 house, and beset it round about night and day with armed men. 
 
31 8 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 insomuch that the good gentlewoman, his wife, for this fearful 
 spectacle, and having three days and [nights] wanting sleep, 
 went beside herself, the which her husband perceiving, came 
 forth of his secret-place, and so was taken and committed 
 to prison. Aftenvards, by the intercession of my Lady 
 Huntingdon, he was permitted to go home to his wife, and she 
 came to herself again. Then he was committed the second time 
 to Mr. Brook, in whose house he had been prisoner before. 
 Here he so learnedly defended his religion against all who did 
 impugn it, that it was reported he would turn the whole city if he 
 were suffered to talk. And thereupon he was sent to Hull with a 
 most strait warrant to be kept alone, excluded from all company 
 (except his own boy), in Hull Castle one whole year, under a cruel 
 and unmerciful keeper called Hawcock, who locked him up con- 
 tinually, but when his meat was brought unto him. At the suit of his 
 brother and other friends, by reason of his infirmity and sickness, 
 he was removed from Hull to be prisoner at his brother's house, 
 under sureties to appear before my Lord President, when his day 
 was expired, to get a new day. Hereupon, after some time rumour 
 was spread that he had conformed himself, at which he was so 
 troubled, that being come to my Lord President to get a new day, 
 and hearing of this rumour, fearing scandal, be plainly refused to 
 take any more days ; and so was sent again to Hull, and was for 
 some years kept prisoner in the North Blockhouse, where he 
 passed all his time in virtuous studies, in contemplation and 
 prayer, and in ministering physic unto his fellow-prisoners. He 
 and all his company in that house remaining alive were removed 
 to the Castle, where they were so close and pestered with so 
 many beds in one chamber that it was impossible for old and 
 diseased men to continue long. Here this constant confessor, 
 being diligent in dressing the sore legs of some good aged priests, 
 took a grievous sickness, wherein he, lying long with lingering 
 pain most patiently, suffered both the absence of liis dear wife, 
 who could not be permitted to come to him, and all the pangs of 
 sickness, until it pleased God to call him to His mercy, ending 
 his life in this noble cause with a noble and valiant heart, worthy 
 of the noble line from whence he descended, his father being a 
 knight and his mother my Lord Windsor's daughter, a very good 
 
m Otisebridge Kidcote. 319 
 
 and virtuous lady. He departed, the year of our Lord 1585, the 
 12th of May, and was buried in the churchyard of Drypoole, 
 within the garrison walls of Hull. 
 
 " Mr. Thomas Mudd, priest, was a monk of the Abbey of 
 Gervase, who hardly escaping death in King Henry's time, fled 
 into Scotland, where he lived until Queen Mary's time, and was 
 at length after her death entertained by the Lord Thomas Percy, 
 Earl of Northumberland, for his priest. After whose death he 
 was apprehended saying holy Mass, and brought prisoner to 
 York in his priestly and sacred vestments for derision, anno 1579, 
 together with Mr. John Dobson, priest. This last was sent soon 
 after prisoner to Hull. Mr. Mudd, being called before the Lord 
 President, and Sands, Protestant Bishop of York, who hoped 
 to baffle him in a disputation of controversy, did answer with 
 great courage and prudence, and confounded the Protestant 
 ministers, in so much that the said Bishop threatened to take 
 other means to crush him. And so he did, getting him soon 
 after to be sent to Hull Castle, together with five other priests, 
 these four of them, to wit, "Mr. Stephen Hemsworth, Thomas 
 Ackridge, Thomas Mudd, and John Ackridge, under endurance, 
 serving God the best manner they could, ended their lives. The 
 other two were banished in August, 1585. Mr. Mudd, after a 
 month's sickness, in great want of good attendance (although 
 Mr. John Fletcher and Michael Tyrye, his fellow-prisoners, did 
 serve him, and many other prisoners sick at the same time, 
 with great charity as well as they could), Mr. Mudd, I say, 
 died there September 7, 1583, about midnight, having given all 
 the money he had to be distributed unto Catholics. 
 
 " Mr. Michael Tyrye, was born at Ripcarth, in Wensley-dale. 
 He was brought up from his childhood in learning, although 
 his parents were very poor, and studied at Oxford in Trinity 
 College for four years, there made Bachelor of Arts. He was 
 inwardly a Catholic from his childhood, but he did not profess 
 it publicly until the year of Christ 1573, and near forty of his 
 age. In the same year, being fully converted, he was sent for to 
 Mr. Bell, then prisoner at the Castle of York, the 23rd of July, 
 with whom he remained all that night. The next morning the 
 gaoler perceiving it, and suspecting [him to be a Catholic], 
 
320 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 apprehended him and carried him before the Lord President, 
 who without any examen at all committed him to prison, from 
 whence on the St. James his day, 25th of July, he was carried 
 unto Bishopsthorpe, where, as before, he was committed unto 
 the porter's lodge, and soon after examined. He confessed 
 openly his faith, and especially the primacy of the Bishop of 
 Rome, and refusing to go evermore to their church or assemblies, 
 because they had neither lawful priests nor altars nor sacrifices. 
 His confession being written and his hand being set unto the 
 same, Mr. John Walton, secretary unto Mr. Grindell, the 
 Protestant Bishop, said unto him that he was in the highest 
 degree a Papist, and that he would therefore, before it were 
 long, sing Miserere. He replied that they had given him 
 occasion to do that which was past, and if that God should 
 permit extremities to fall upon him in that cause, he hoped by 
 His grace to play the last part in the tragedy as well as he had 
 done the first. After this and other such like discourse he was 
 sent back to the porter's lodge, where he remained until warrant 
 was made unto Robert Brook, then the chief sheriff of York, to 
 set him in the stocks in the worst place of the low Kidcote. He 
 was brought thither about six of the clock in the afternoon on 
 St. James his day. The house, beside the vile odour in it, and 
 too great a number for so little room, was full of vermin. The 
 people were there all against him at his entrance, but after a day 
 or two they loved him so well that they would do anything for 
 him. Here he thought that he had quite lost his smelling by 
 the excessive bad odour, but if it were so God of His infinite 
 goodness restored it again. He remained in this place for the space 
 of sixteen weeks. Then, by compassion of the sergeant, without 
 any warrant, he was removed from thence unto the higher Kidcote. 
 Here he was sent for once or twice unto Mr. Matthew Hutton, 
 who used all means to pervert him, but all in vain. The 9th day 
 of November, 1576, he was shifted from the Kidcote unto York 
 Castle, where he was treated a little more humanely, but in great 
 restraint watched and warded. Antw 1577, the 29th of January, he 
 and nine others were sent unto Hull unto the North Blockhouse, 
 where, not being able to pay the keeper what he demanded, they 
 were kept in a moist low house without fire, light, beds, or meat. 
 
i7i Ousebridge Kidcote, 321 
 
 John Fletcher and Michael Tyrye were separated from all other 
 company for the space of four years. After, the said Michael^ 
 by strange oppressions and false slanders removed to the Castle, 
 was cut off from all charity of benefactors, and lived for two or 
 three years without the buying of any other food but breads 
 penny ale, and milk. He is at this present time^ [^594] almost 
 twenty years prisoner, and besides all the aforesaid sufferings 
 he has suffered great impugnation of invisible enemies, yet 
 hopeth by God's grace for perseverance. 
 
 " Mr. John Almond, priest, religious of the Order of Cis- 
 tercians, grave, wise, godly, and zealous in the Catholic cause, 
 though not so learned, he could by no imprisonments, no 
 threatenings, or fear of death, no fair promises of liberty, be 
 ever moved to shrink in so noble a cause. When he did hear 
 of any cruelty, of persecution, searches, or imprisonment of 
 Catholics, he used to lift up his head and hands to heaven, 
 rejoicing himself and desiring to suffer for Christ His sake, and 
 with bold and cheerful speeches animating his fellow-prisoners 
 to stand constant under the banner of Christ ; for he had a 
 singular mother-wit, his talk was wise, grave, and sententious, 
 and seasoned with pleasant and merry conceits, always referred 
 to a good scope and godly end. He was tried first in York 
 Castle, tossed from thence to the Castle of Hull, thence removed 
 to the Blockhouse, and finally brought back again to the Castle 
 of Hull, where, though blind and crooked with old age, he was 
 kept more strait than ever he was before, yet he suffered all 
 most patiently. When by extreme old age, infirmity, and want 
 of good tending, he was grown childish, and could no longer 
 render himself the least service, it was not possible to obtain 
 of the hard-hearted keeper to allow him a chamber apart, although 
 Mr. Fletcher and Mr. Michael Tyrye, his fellow-prisoners, offered 
 themselves to serve and tend him night and day, although the 
 keeper was not able to abide the bad odour when he passed 
 through the chamber where the old man lay, in which there 
 were five and sometimes six beds, and some so old and sickly 
 men that were not able to put off and on their own clothes. 
 He departed out of this vale of misery when he was about 
 ^ Michael Tyrye forte scripsit hsec. Fr, Grene's marginal note, 
 V 
 
32 2 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 four score years old, April i8, 1585, and was buried at Dry- 
 poole. 
 
 " Mr. Stephen Hemsworth, another very good and religious 
 man, fellow-prisoner with Mr. Thomas Mudd, John Almond, John 
 and Thomas Ackridge, and other venerable priests and confessors 
 of Christ, died in the same North Blockhouse of Hull, after he 
 had suffered many years imprisonment for his religion, having 
 passed his time with great zeal, fervent devotion, sweet silence, 
 pleasant quietness, and great charity towards God and all men. 
 He died before August, 1585, when all the priests then living 
 in Hull were banished, and not long before that year. 
 
 "John Gibson, a tailor, ignorant of all learning, suffering 
 for the space of seven years imprisonment, divers times arraigned, 
 most constantly stood to the Catholic faith. In time of his 
 imprisonment wearing secretly a shirt of hair, at the end of 
 seven years died in prison at Ousebridge in York [or rather, 
 in Durham gaol], constantly professing his faith. 
 
 " Mr. William Bandersby, an old man and priest, was taken 
 at Mrs. Watson's house by Sir Richard Malliver and Mr. Slingsby, 
 brought to the Council at York and committed to the Castle. 
 He was a man of sound and grave judgment, well read, and 
 Master of Arts, devout and zealous in the Catholic faith, much 
 given to prayer and contemplation. Falling sick he gave all he 
 had to the Catholic prisoners, died in the Castle, April 21, 1587, 
 and was buried behind the wall. 
 
 " Mr. Richard Bowes, an old priest, died in the Castle of York, 
 August 31, 1590, and was buried under the wall. He was one 
 of the vicars at Ripon Minster when the Earls rose in December, 
 1569, and never after would do any Protestant service or come 
 to church with them, and therefore many years was driven from 
 place to placQ, and lastly committed to York Castle. 
 
 "Stephen Branton died July 19, 15 91, in York Castle, and 
 was buried under the Castle wall, as others were. He liad 
 suffered about eighteen years in prison, at the Kidcote first, 
 then removed to Hull Castle, then by the keeper, John Bisby, 
 carried to the North Blockhouse, for that he could not give so 
 much rent as the keeper asked, and there kept a long space 
 in a low house by himself. After, he was removed from Bisby 
 
 i 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote, 323 
 
 to the South Blockhouse, under Hawcock, the tyrant, where he 
 remained divers years. Lastly he was removed with many others 
 to York Castle, where he died. 
 
 " Mrs. Anne Landers, in one of the cruel searches which the 
 Lord President did continually cause to be made in and about 
 York, was apprehended for her religion, together with many 
 other gentlewomen, and committed prisoner to Ousebridge. 
 Her husband, an attorney, was apprehended for going about to 
 defend his wife by law, and sent prisoner to London, and con- 
 demned to the pillory ; from whence, fearing the infamy of that 
 punishment, he wrote to his wife to yield somewhat to the times 
 in matter of religion, which was a cause to her of unspeakable 
 grief and abundant tears for many days. At length she wrote 
 back to her husband her resolute mind to suffer all manner of 
 crosses rather than to offend Him who had died upon a Cross 
 for her, and desiring him to do the like ; and so he did, suffering 
 patiently the punishment of the pillory for the cause above men- 
 tioned. After this she had liberty for a while, but being taken 
 the second time she was committed to York Castle about the 
 year 1579, where she did much good by example of her godly 
 life and charitable works. From thence she was removed to 
 the Castle of Hull. The terror and fearful report of the hard 
 and cruel usage there of Catholics did not dismay her, being 
 suddenly separated from her husband and children, and com- 
 mitted to a cruel and unmerciful keeper. There she lived five 
 or six years, suffering with great constancy, patience, and Christian 
 fortitude, and comforting all other afflicted Catholics, her fellow- 
 prisoners, and relieving them with great alms. At the length she 
 was called for by warrant to London to the same prison where 
 her husband was, where she lived as godly as she had done 
 before ; and lastly they both departed this life in the Counter 
 [or the Clink]. 
 
 " Mr. Ralph Cowling, of the city of York, cordwainer, and 
 one that had borne office in the city, flying from home was 
 taken, brought to York, and much abused; some cast filth on 
 him, others would have drawn him, and another taken with him, 
 through the fires which then were made in the streets for triumph 
 concerning the Queen of Scots [who died February 8, 158^]. The 
 
324 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 officers had much ado to get them safe to the Council, who com- 
 mitted Mr. Cowling to Dearman's house, the pursuivant ; the 
 other, Nicholas Brown, to the Castle. Mr. Cowling was finally 
 removed to the said Castle, where he died, August i, 1587, and 
 was buried under the wall. 
 
 " William Chalner [? Challoner], and his sister Bridget, being 
 both weak and sickly persons, here remained prisoners eight 
 years at least, their father and mother both dying prisoners in 
 the same Castle of York, and for the same cause of religion. 
 [In a catalogue of Catholics who died in York prisons, I find 
 John Chalmare, gentleman, died June 7, 1582, and Isabel Chal- 
 mare, the 23rd of July following. In another catalogue I find 
 John Chalner and Isabel Chalner died in York prisons betwixt 
 the years 1580 and 1590. I doubt not but these were father 
 and mother to Mr. William and Bridget aforesaid. Father Gren^s 
 note.'] 
 
 "One writeth from Douay, anno 1591, as foUoweth : * Mr, 
 Jackson, Mr. El wish, Mrs. Bickerdick, Mrs. Bridget Matthew, 
 William Walker, and William Gibson, all prisoners at this instant 
 in York, and some of them have been for a long time. Also 
 Margaret Stable, born a prisoner, whose father died prisoner in 
 the same place, York Castle, and for the same cause, and as far 
 as I can remember, her mother also died a prisoner. These 
 prisoners above said are of the Castle only. Of other prisons I say 
 nothing ; neither of the Kidcote, being full of Catholic prisoners, 
 nor of the Sheriffs' prison, nor of St. Peter's prison, nor of the 
 pursuivant's house, which is the most full of all the rest, nor of the 
 place called Little Ease, nor of the Bean Hill, all which places 
 now and then want not Catholic prisoners.' [In a catalogue of 
 prisoners for religion dead at York, I find John Stable and 
 Margaret his wife dead, the 26th and 27th of July, 1584. FatJur 
 Grene's fiote.] 
 
 " One Arthur Webster, out of spite unto an adversary who was 
 like to cast him in a suit of law, left the Catholic religion and 
 became an infamous apostata and a pursuivant, and apprehended 
 his own mother, Mrs. Margaret Webster, with her daughter 
 Frances, his own sister, and brought them both to the Council, 
 who committed them to several prisons in York, where both 
 
 i 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote, 325 
 
 behaved themselves as most worthy confessors of Christ. Frances 
 having understood that Mr. Fingley.^ a virtuous priest, was put 
 into a dark dungeon under her, found means to open a grate, and 
 to let in some little light unto him, and besides her comforting 
 speeches, she obtained a gown to defend him from the cold, and 
 to serve him also for a bed to sleep on ; and being examined for 
 this fact, she confessed and gloried in it. She was removed hence 
 to the Castle of York, where her mother was prisoner, to the 
 exceeding comfort of them both. Here they with continual prayer 
 and other diligencies reduced the old man, husband to Margaret 
 Webster, unto the Catholic faith, which notwithstanding he 
 did most miserably forsake again. Here these two happy women 
 and glory of their sex were unto all their fellow-prisoners an 
 example of good life and constancy in their sufferings for Christ, 
 spending their time in continual prayer and in works of mercy to 
 the poor, according to their ability, as they had done in all their 
 lifetime. And this blessed maiden Frances, being come to a 
 marvellous perfection, did most humbly abase herself to do any 
 drudgery, wash dishes, sweep the house, or such other servile 
 work in so glorious a cause. When God had called her happy 
 mother on the 27th of May, 1585, this devout virgin seeing 
 herself bereft of the comfortable company of so good a mother, 
 and considering the lamentable fall of her father and the treachery 
 of her brother, made continual prayer to leave this wretched 
 world and to go to her Spouse Jesus, and she obtained her desire, 
 dying in the said prison of York Castle on the 29th of June 
 following, after a short sickness, endured with exemplary patience, 
 and having received the holy sacraments which she had most 
 earnestly desired. At her death she gave her whole portion to 
 poor prisoners. Her ghostly father, a godly man, Mr. Birbeck, 
 coming from her when she departed, said that he had seen such 
 signs of heavenly grace in her, even till death, that if her soul 
 were not in heaven, woe be to his soul. 
 
 " Mrs. Isabella Foster, wife to Mr. William Foster, of Hunting- 
 don near York, and daughter to the holy martyr Mr. Richard 
 Langley: her husband and she, being Catholics, fled from their 
 house upon the apprehension of her father, atmo 1586, and after 
 
 ^ John Finglow, or Fingley, was martyred at York, August 8th, 1586. 
 
32 6 Notes by a Prisoner 
 
 returning to see her house, was moved upon charity to see the 
 Catholic prisoners and to relieve their wants with her alms ; 
 and being with child was desirous to crave their prayers. 
 She was apprehended as she was coming forth of the prison, 
 and carried before the dean, Mr. Hutton, who, for that she 
 denied to go to their church, committed her to the Castle 
 close prisoner, where virtuously and patiently she bore this 
 with joy and comfort, desiring God to forgive those who sought 
 her trouble and gave herself to prayer. Before her accompt, 
 she fell into an ague through close keeping and the corrupt air of 
 the house, yet she continued her zeal and devotion, and desired 
 to frequent the sacraments. Before her death, she was heard to 
 call upon her father, desiring him either to stay with her or to let 
 her go with him : at which one of the standers-by said, * I am here, 
 what would you have me to do ? ' She said, ' I speak not to you ; 
 it is my own father ; do you not see him there by you ? ' The 
 next day she died, to the great comfort of the beholders, 
 December 3rd, 1587, and was buried among the rest under the 
 Castle wall. 
 
 " Mr. Thomas Rudall, an old priest, taken in Richmondshire, 
 and committed to York Castle, where quietly he conversed, and 
 falling sick, gave all he had to Catholic prisoners. He died 
 April nth, 1587, and was buried under the Castle wall. 
 
 " Mr. John Fletcher [wrote a relation of his long imprisonment. 
 I think the original was sent to Rome by Father Garnet (or else a 
 copy) which now is bound up in a book above cited of ColUctanea 
 Ff p. 60. Father Gre?i^s note\. Being brought before the Bishop 
 of York, Mr. Grindall, about the 26th of April, 1574, and ex- 
 amined about several matters of religion, and answering un- 
 dauntedly and smartly, he was committed a prisoner in York to 
 the sheriffs house. After other encounters for eight days or more, 
 he was sent to Peter's prison in the said town of York. Soon 
 after removed to Ripon, there to be close prisoner in a close 
 prison but seven foot long. There one of the bailiffs or keeper's 
 men thought to stab him in his sleep with an awl, but the blow 
 fell on a book which being in a pocket of his breeches lay upon 
 him. After this he fell sick and seemed to be certainly poisoned. 
 Being despaired of, and understanding they intended to give out 
 
in Ottsebridge Kidcotc. 327 
 
 that he died Protestant, he wept most bitterly, praying God to 
 spare his Hfe in those circumstances. He was then suddenly and 
 almost miraculously restored to his health. The bailiff, named 
 Edmund Kersay, had promised the Bishop Grindall either to turn 
 him or to kill him. The bailiff's house was so plagued with 
 sickness and other troubles all this time that he exclaimed against 
 Mr. Fletcher, cursing the day that he ever saw him. Being 
 recovered he was removed to the Bishop's prison in York, where 
 he was kept close in darkness for one quarter of a year and his 
 wife kept violently from him. Thence he was removed to Hull 
 Castle and shortly after to the North Blockhouse there, where he 
 remained close prisoner for three years in so moist a house that 
 in some parts the grass did grow green. Here his wife was 
 falsely accused for a naughty woman to his incredible grief, the 
 accusers fearing punishment ran away. Thence he was removed 
 back to the Castle again where he remained quietly for a year. 
 Then he was carried again to the North Blockhouse, where he and 
 his chamber-fellow Mr. Tyrye were kept four years close prisoners 
 in a moist and dampish house. All that time his wife remained 
 prisoner in the Castle, but at last weary of so much suffering got 
 her liberty by going to church, which was the greatest cross that 
 her poor husband ever received. And moreover she was so 
 incensed against him that she came not to him three days in nine 
 years. Thus by the grace of God he remained prisoner twenty 
 years, which he saith will be ended next Easter, for he wrote out 
 of prison, continually suffering one cross or persecution on the 
 neck of another. They also most frequently enticed him by fair 
 promises and great offers if he would but yield, never so little, at 
 least appear to yield, but he never would. In frequent encounters 
 he used to baffle the ministers, and he was sure to be used the 
 worse afterwards in prison. [Many other particulars he specified,. 
 which here I omit. He was bom in York, brought up a Catholic 
 by his parents, but perverted at Cambridge ; brought back again 
 by reading good books, one especially written de schismate; lastly^ 
 by a great sickness, Mr. Henry Cumberforth, a grave and wise 
 priest, reconciled him. The whole relation is very judicious, but 
 here is much abridged. Father Grene's noteJ] 
 
 "At the same Michaelmas to my remembrance the Lord 
 
328 Notes by a Pruoner 
 
 President went one night to Ardington Hall, and spoiling and 
 breaking down the house, took place where one dame Isabelle 
 Whitehead, a nun, lay sick in her bed. They stood over her 
 with naked swords, and threatening to kill her unless she revealed 
 where David Ingleby and Mr. Windsor was. Mrs. Ardington 
 with the rest there taken were brought to York, and committed 
 close prisoners to the Castle and other places. Dame Isabelle 
 died there the i8th of March, 1587, leaving all she had unto the 
 poor Catholic prisoners. She had been professed in the nunnery 
 of Ardington, and after that was suppressed retained her state as 
 well as she could. She was buried under the Castle wall. 
 
 "William Renold, a webster, dwelling at North Stanley, for 
 not bringing his child to be christened in the Protestant church, 
 was committed to York Castle, and thence to Hull Castle, and 
 then thence to the South Blockhouse, under one AUcock most 
 cruel to Catholic prisoners, lastly removed back to York Castle 
 among the Catholic prisoners, where, after a virtuous life, he died 
 February 4, 1587, and was buried under the wall. Another 
 \uxor LuccB, judge of the city, si rede lego. Father Grenis note\ 
 •died prisoner at Kidcote, March 19, 1587, and was buried on 
 Toftgreen. 
 
 "Names of some committed to York Castle for refusing to 
 go to church: Richard Barker, a tailor, August 5, 1587; Peter 
 Knaesborough, yeoman, January 25, 1590; Mr. Thomas Barnbye, 
 Esquire, and Mrs. Margaret Harpan, about March 11, 1590; 
 Mrs. Frances Thorp, March 16. Mr. Thomas Bowes, about 
 Lammas, 1590, was apprehended in York and committed to the 
 Kidcote, and in October following was arraigned for not going 
 to church, and burned through the ear as a rogue the 9th of 
 October, and the 16th delivered out of prison. The 2nd of 
 March following he was taken again, carrying over two scholars 
 to Rheims. Refusing to go to church, he was cruelly dragged 
 thither, then committed to the Castle of York, and loaded with 
 irons in the low house among the felons for a long time. Being 
 called to the Bar, he pleaded the statute to have his book, since 
 they found him guilty to be hanged as a rogue. After much 
 dispute and imprisonment, about the loth of March, 1592, he 
 had the favour to be burnt in the hand and then delivered. 
 
in Ousebridge Kidcote, 329 
 
 " Mr. Thomas Blenkinsop, of Helbeck, Esquire, being prisoner 
 for the CathoHc faith in York Castle, I know not how long, 
 became grievously diseased through the infectious air, and he 
 obtained the favour to be prisoner in the city and help of 
 physicians, but all in vain, for he died shortly after. 
 
 "Hercules Wellboume, served his apprenticeship in York 
 with Alderman Maltby. After[wards] setting up, the world did 
 fawn upon him being a draper and freeman. After he became 
 a Catholic he was soon apprehended and put in prison, when he 
 passed away his stock and shop to his master for a sum of money ; 
 thence he was sent to Hull, and lived there many years under 
 Hawcock, the cruel keeper. He procured by friends to be 
 removed to York Castle, where he fell into a great infirmity of 
 dropsy or gout, so that he was lame of both hands and feet, yet 
 wonderfully patient he was never heard to grudge or murmur at 
 his pain, which notwithstanding was very excessive great. At 
 the going away of Francis Hemsworth and the rest, the gaoler 
 put him in the low house with double irons, which merrily he 
 suffered. By will he left [his money] to Catholic prisoners, and 
 having received his last Viaticum, died October 22, 1588, very 
 meekly. He was buried under the Castle wall with the rest. 
 
 " Fifty-eight were put in prison at York in the time of Arch- 
 bishop Matthews, for refusing the oath of allegiance, and forty 
 of them died in prison. Thirteen priests, who in the time of 
 Queen Elizabeth subscribed an oath of like tenour to this oath 
 of allegiance, having seen afterwards the Pope's briefs, refused 
 the oath, and two of them, viz., Robert Drury and Roger 
 Cadwallador, were put to death upon that account. Some were 
 pressed by extreme hunger, others were forced to lie on the 
 ground in the prison until their putrid flesh adhered to their 
 clothes, and by the miseries of the place the infirm members 
 of the sufferers became corrupted." 
 
 " Christopher Watson was born and bred at Ripon, He was 
 a very rich merchant and very fortunate. He was very liberal 
 and merciful with poor, which likely moved God to give him the 
 grace to become a Catholic, as it happened to Cornelius : 
 reconciled by Mr. Henry Comberford, a virtuous priest, who 
 lived seventeen years prisoner for his religion and died so. After 
 
330 Notes by a Prisoner in Ousebridge Kidcote, 
 
 his conversion, all his delight was to treat with poor, especially 
 Catholics, and spend all he had in alms, leaving all vain company 
 and vain expenses used before. God soon permitted him to be 
 committed prisoner to the house of one Dearman, a pursuivant, 
 anno 1580, a cruel fellow. Soon after he was set free, which lasted 
 not long; and he was on St. Bartlemy's day in the same year 
 carried prisoner to York Castle, a place which heretofore he so 
 much abhorred that he used often to go out of his way not to come 
 near it. But now he did receive wonderful comfort and joy in 
 being with and relieving the poor Catholic prisoners and suffering 
 for God, insomuch that the prison did seem unto him a paradise. 
 He used daily, besides frequent other prayers, to say these psalms, 
 expressing thereby the great joy of his heart. Jubilate Deo omnis 
 terra. Dens misereattir nostri. Landate Dotnmum o?mies gentes. He 
 never heard the bell toll but he said Angelus Dotnini^ for the 
 great devotion he bore to our Blessed Lady, and for the joy he 
 conceived for the Incarnation of Christ. He had care also that 
 God should be served in his house, and kept there a learned and 
 godly priest called Mr. Hartburne. It was meat and drink to him 
 to go from chamber to chamber to visit the sick, and to comfort 
 and relieve those who were in any affliction. 
 
 " God gave Mr. Watson in this place the comfort of having 
 such a companion and chamber-fellow as his heart could desire. 
 This was Mr. John Constable, a worshipful gentleman by birth, 
 and a noble Christian by profession; in all Christian fortitude, 
 almsgiving, and other virtues most like to Mr. Watson. Mr. 
 Constable died there anno 1581. Mr. Watson departed there also 
 in the same year, the 3rd of September. Being often abused and 
 injured, he was never heard to speak an ill word, but to say * God 
 forgive them,' or the like. 
 
 " Mr. Anthony Aske, gentleman, was taken in Holden parish 
 about Michaelmas, in the year 1586, and carried to prison in 
 York Castle, together with Mr. William Sprott, and kept close 
 prisoners, separate from the rest for a good space, until for money 
 the keeper put them away among the rest, where Mr. Aske sickened 
 and died the 5th of February, 1587, with so much devotion as 
 was a great comfort to them all, and was buried behind the Castle 
 wall. Mr. Sprott soon after was delivered upon bond. 
 
V. 
 
 MR. JOHN MUSH'S LIFE OF 
 MARGARET CLITHEROW. 
 
MR. JOHN MUSH'S LIFE OF MARGARET 
 CLITHEROW. 
 
 The river Ouse divides the city of York into two parts, and until 
 lately there was but one bridge over it, which taking its name 
 from the river was called Ousebridge. While England was 
 Catholic this bridge had an interest for the faithful from a grace 
 that was attributed to the prayers of St. William. The whole city 
 had gone out to meet the Archbishop on his return from Rome 
 on the feast of the Ascension, May 8, 1154. The Saint preceding 
 the crowd had crossed over the old wooden bridge, and as the 
 people were following in multitudes, the bridge gave way under 
 the pressure, and the mass of the people, including many women 
 and children, fell into the stream. St. William made the sign of 
 the Cross over them and prayed, and not a single life was lost. 
 A chapel in honour of the Saint was built upon the bridge,^ and 
 the building was not taken down till very recent times. It had 
 a beautiful Norman doorway and an early English window of 
 three lancets, but its beauty and associations did not save it from 
 desecration at the Reformation, at- which time it became an 
 
 ^ *' Stone bridges coming soon after into use, ours seems to take its date 
 from about the year 1235, for I find that Walter Gray, then Archbishop, 
 granted a brief for the rebuilding of Ousebridge, most probably of stone, by 
 charitable contributions. Anno 1268 I read an account of the origin of a 
 chapel on Ousebridge in the Collectanea, when there was a peace and agree- 
 ment made with John Comyn, a Scotch nobleman, and the citizens of York 
 {mediantibiis regibus Anglict et Scotia) for a fray which had happened upon the 
 bridge and wherein several of John Comyn's servants had been slain. The 
 said lord was to receive 300/., and the citizens were obliged to build a chapel 
 on the place where the slaughter was made, and to find two priests to celebrate 
 for the souls of the slain for ever. How long they continued to pray for the 
 souls of these Scots, or whether this is not the chapel which was dedicated to 
 St. William, I know not." Drake's Eboracum, p. 280. 
 
334 Mr. John Musk's 
 
 Exchange for merchants. It was utterly destroyed when the 
 bridge was pulled down in 1809. 
 
 The old bridge was overturned in 1564, "when by a sharp 
 frost, great snow, and a sudden thaw the water rose to a great 
 height, and the prodigious weight of the ice and flood drove down 
 two arches of the bridge by which twelve houses were overthrown 
 and twelve persons drowned."^ The small arches at the two sides 
 remained firm, sustaining the chapel and other buildings ; but a 
 centre arch had to be built in the place of two that had fallen. It 
 was handsomely done, and old York prided itself on possessing 
 one of the finest arches in England, " eighty-one feet or twenty- 
 seven yards from the first spring of the arch, and seventeen high."* 
 This bridge was to the full as dear to Catholics as the old bridge 
 that preceded it, for thirty-three priests were drawn over it on 
 hurdles, and sixteen laymen in carts, on their way to the Tybum 
 at Knavesmire, and it was itself the place of the imprisonment 
 of numberless confessors, and of the martyrdom of Margaret 
 Clitherow. We proceed, in a pardonable spirit of antiquarianism, 
 to draw from the City Housebooks the record of the rebuilding 
 of the dear old bridge. 
 
 " i^^/unii, 7" Elizabeth [1565]. 
 
 "Assembled in the Council of Ousebridge day and year 
 above said, when and where Leonard Craven, carpenter, was 
 called before the said presents if he will undertake to work and 
 finish his work at the jetty under Ousebridge, as it ought to be 
 for voiding of the water, and he answered and said he had no 
 doubt to finish the same, that the masons shall work dry there to 
 set their foundation of the pillar of the bridge, so that he shall 
 have such stuff as [he] shall need to the same, and thereupon the 
 said presents were contented and agreed that he shall continue 
 upon his work of the said jetty'' (n. 24, fol. 12). 
 
 " 10° Aprilis, 8<> Elizabeth [1566]. 
 
 " Williis. Watson^ Maior, &*c. Assembled in the Common 
 Hall of this city, the day and year above said, with the most part 
 of the Common Council of the same city the day and year above 
 * Drake's Eboracum, p. 280. ' Drake, ibid. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 335 
 
 said, for order of reparation to be made this year upon Ouse- 
 bridge, when and where it was thought best and fully agreed, as 
 well by all of the said Common Council as by the said Lord 
 Mayor and worshipful presents with one assent, that with all 
 godly speed the said work shall be set upon with masons and 
 carpenters tapders [?], with provision of lime and stone ; and by 
 their best advice made up in one bow, according as by counsel 
 of the most expert and politic men it is thought most expedient, 
 ready, surest, and cheapest. Provided always that if by further 
 occasion and foresight of the' said Lord Mayor and worshipful it 
 shall be perceived better [in] any other way or form, it is to be 
 wholly referred to their discretion, with [out] further consent to be 
 had of the said Common Council. 
 
 " Item^ it is agreed that freestone ready sculpted and squared 
 by advice of the mason, and lime shall be bought towards the 
 said works of William Oldred ; that is to say, the said stone after 
 3J-. the ton, and lime after 5^-. the chaldron, and so to be unde- 
 layedly delivered by the said Oldred at York Staith within this 
 city of his proper costs and charges, by further discretion and 
 order of my Lord Mayor and Chamberlains. And the said 
 Oldred now present did willingly for his part agree unto the 
 same. 
 
 "And that a cunning and expert carpenter for making a 
 centrell towards the said reparation and bow shall be taken by 
 advice of the mason that shall take the charge of the said work. 
 
 "And that immediately all manner of necessary stuff and 
 provision shall be made for the better furtherance of the said 
 work, and all other things required, by discretion of my said Lord 
 Mayor and Aldermen " (n. 24, fol. 44). 
 
 " 24^ Aprilis, 8° Elizabeth. 
 
 "Agreed that John Todd, carpenter, who hath taken upon 
 him to make the centrell of timber for the masons to set the arch 
 upon for the stone bridge upon Ouse, shall have paid by the 
 Chamberlains towards his pains taken therein 40i-., over and 
 besides his day-tale wages, if it do appear that he desireth the 
 same, or else it to be allowed in his wages ; and when his work 
 is well finished, then he to be rewarded accordingly. 
 
336 Mr.Jo/m Mush's 
 
 "It is also agreed by these presents that Christopher 
 Wahnesley, free mason, shall be bound with good sureties, that 
 is to say, three besides himself for the sure making of the said 
 arch over Ousebridge according to his promise. And the said 
 Walmesley shall have every week for his wages 6^. 8^., and one 
 other mason also that he shall name to have ds. %d. a week, and 
 the rest of the masons to have weekly ^s. Zd. " (fol. 44 h). 
 
 " 13^ Mail, 8° Elizabeth. 
 
 "It was thought meet and fully agreed that the mansion 
 house called St George's Chapel, nigh the Castle Mills, shall be 
 taken down, and all the freestone of the same to serve towards 
 present reparation of Ousebridge. And all the residue of tile, 
 timber, and stuff to be husbanded by the Chamberlains to the 
 most profit of the city. 
 
 " And now also was read the draft of an obligation with condi- 
 tion whereby [Christopher] Walmesley, with two collateral sureties, 
 is to be bound for the sure and perfect making and finishing of 
 Ousebridge, as by the said condition may more at large appear ; 
 whereunto the said Walmesley now present did frankly agree. 
 
 " And it is now further agreed by all these said presents that 
 the said Walmesley shall have, after the centrell taken from his 
 work, if the arch shall stand sure and substantial according to 
 his promise under bond, in reward of the Chamber 20/." 
 (fol. 45^). 
 
 " I'j'^ Junii, 8^ Elizabeth. 
 
 "Assembled in the Council Chamber upon Ousebridge, 
 agreed that the Council Chamber newly made^ shall be speedily 
 painted with white and green panes ^ oiled, ^vith the Queen's 
 Majesty's arms, the Prince's arms, and the city arms at the higher 
 end. And the painter doing the same cunningly and sufficiently, 
 as it ought to be, to have therefore of the Chamber 30J. so soon 
 as he hath finished the same" (fol. 47). 
 
 * In some place of the Housebooks, the reference to which has been lost, 
 it is said that, while the Council Chamber vras under repair, the toUbooth was 
 used in its stead. 
 
 * "A pane^ piece or pannell of a wall, of wainscot, of a glass window." 
 Cotgrave, Ilalliwtll. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 337 
 
 '' lo"* JuUi, Z"" Elizabeth. 
 
 " Itevi, whereas in the old bayle ^ there is a part of an inner 
 tower called the bichedoughter tower, already shrunken from the 
 city wall, and may be well taken away without enfeebling or 
 greatly defacing of the said wall : it is therefore thought needful 
 to take down the said broken tower and the stones therefrom 
 coming to be carried and converted towards repairing of Ouse- 
 bridge, which doth presently want stone meet for the first band. 
 
 "And for so much as the said Aldermen, Sheriffs, and 
 Council in absence of the said Lord Mayor, did consider that 
 through the taking down and carriage away of the said tower and 
 stones, the grass of the said old [bayle] should be much defrayed, 
 and for the time lie open therefore, for some recompense thereof, 
 and to have the said Lord Mayor more willing to let the said 
 tower to be rased, and to let the work-folk to have free passage 
 and easement of the said old bayle whereof he is tenant by lease of 
 the seal of office, he shall have the same lease renewed for twenty- 
 five years under the common seal, when and where he shall sea 
 convenient after his mayoralty to require the same " (fol. 48 b). 
 
 Such were the arrangements made for building the bridge^ 
 and the mason intrusted with the work gave such satisfaction to- 
 the city that his name reappears six years later. 
 
 "28^ Martii, 14° Elizabeth [1572]. 
 
 " It is agreed by these presents that [Christopher] Walmesley^ 
 the mason, shall be paid his year's fee now due, and also 13,$'. ^d^ 
 as loan money" (n. 25, fol. 4). 
 
 ^^ S^ Junii, 14" Elizabeth. 
 
 " Forasmuch as [Christopher] Walmesley, free mason, is come 
 to this city to see what reparations is there to be made, and 
 because it is uncertain when he can be gotten hither again, it is 
 therefore agreed by these presents that he shall now with all 
 convenient speed repair Ousebridge where need is ; and he to be 
 paid for the same reparation from time to time by the Chamber- 
 lains "(fol. 15^). 
 
 ^ Bai/ey, the spaces between the circuits of walls which surrounded the 
 keep. HalliwelL It is evidently derived from ballium. 
 
 W 
 
33^ Mr. John Mush's 
 
 One of the chief contributors towards the expense of rebuilding 
 the bridge was the widow of Alderman Hall, once Lord Mayor, 
 who was called Lady Hall, in virtue of the York adage respecting 
 their chief magistrates and their wives — 
 
 He is a lord for a year and a day, 
 But she is a lady for ever and aye. 
 
 A stone was put up on the bridge with an inscription in her 
 honour; and in 1592, 14? Junii, 34^ Elizabeth^ it was "agreed 
 that the Chamberlains shall cause the stone upon the top of the 
 battlement of Ousebridge being loose, which was set up there in 
 memory of my Lady Hall's gift towards the re-edifying of the 
 same bridge, to be taken down and better graven, and to be well 
 and orderly set up again forthwith of the Chamber's charges'* 
 {n. 30, fol. 330). The inscription was quaint enough : 
 
 William Watson, Lord Mayor, anno Dom. 1566. 
 
 Lady Jane Hall, lo ! here the works of faith does shew. 
 By giving a hundred pound this bridge for to renew. 
 
 The shell of the old chapel of St. William stood through all, 
 and in spite of its utter change of purpose and its new 
 dedication to the uses of buying and selling, it retained its 
 name of the chapel. It had its little steeple, and in 1598, 
 17^ Januaru\ 41^ Elizabeth, it was "agreed that the vane upon 
 the top of this chapel steeple shall be set straight, or taken down 
 and a new made and set up, if the old will not serve again" 
 (n. 31, fol. 395 b). The steeple had held three bells, and in 1583 
 the city exchanged them for two from St. Saviour's parish, only 
 one of which found its way to St. William's litttle steeple. The 
 transaction is thus recorded. 
 
 " f Junii, 25° Elizabeth [1583]. 
 
 "It is agreed by these presents that for so much as there is 
 received to the city's use two bells from St. Saviour's parish, it is 
 agreed that the one of the same bells being riven shall be sold for 
 the city's most advantage, the weight of which bells and also of 
 three bells which were in chapel now delivered to the parish of 
 St. Saviour's hereafter followeth : 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 339 
 
 " The weight of three bells which came from the bridge : 
 ^^Itenty the first bell weighing ic. 3 ^. 16 /. 
 ^^Iteniy the second bell weighing 2}^c. 16I. 
 ^^Item, the great bell weighing 3 f. i q. 10 1. 
 
 " Sum in weight 2,c. 14 /. 
 " The weight of two bells received from St. Saviour's Church, 
 " Ife?nj the first bell weighing 2 c. \ q. 
 " Item, the second bell weighing 3 ^. 3 ^. 12/. 
 
 "Sum in weight dc. oq. 12 /." (n. 28, fol. loi). 
 
 Besides the bell, there was a clock in the steeple and there 
 are various entries respecting it. 
 
 " 27° Aprih's, 35° Elizabeth [1593]. 
 
 " And whereas the inhabitants about Ousebridge have made 
 their humble request and suit to this Court that the clock upon 
 Ousebridge may be repaired, it is agreed that my Lord Mayor 
 shall call John Newsome, the clockmaker, before him and speak 
 with him touching the same and take such order therein as at his 
 lordship's discretion shall seem meet, both touching the amending 
 and repairing thereof, and also for keeping of the same to go in 
 good order" (n. 31, fol. 10). 
 
 "23'^ Mail, 1593. 
 
 "And now it is agreed that John Newsome and his man 
 Wilson shall amend the clock upon Ousebridge so as the same 
 may go in good order, and shall have 3/. 6s. Sd. forth of the 
 chamber for their labours and pain therein. And from such time 
 as the same shall be repaired they shall have ^s. a year forth of 
 the said chamber to keep the same to go in good order (setting 
 and daily keeping the same excepted)" (fol. 13). 
 
 " 13^//////, 35^ Elizabeth, 1593. 
 
 " And now it is agreed that William Greneup the elder and 
 William Greneup the younger, his son, shall keep the clock and 
 dial upon Ousebridge, and ring the bell at four of the clock in 
 summer and five of the clock in winter in the morning and eight 
 at night, and that they shall have 26s. Zd. yearly fee for the same 
 at Christmas and Midsummer by even portions" (fol. 17). 
 
340 Mr, John Mush's 
 
 Besides St. William's chapel, the bridge held a considerable 
 number of buildings both public and private. The most note- 
 worthy of the former was the Council Chamber of the city, where 
 all the proceedings were held which the Housebooks record, 
 and where the Housebooks themselves and all the city archives 
 were kept. This was the Lord Mayor's Court, and besides this 
 there was the Exchequer Court, which adjoined the chapel, and 
 there was also, as it would seem on a lower level, the Sheriffs' 
 Court. Then there were the various prisons. On one side of 
 the bridge was the debtors' prison, and on the other the Lord 
 Mayor's Kidcote and the Sheriffs' Kidcote : and these two 
 last were sub-divided into men's and women's^ Kidcotes, and 
 into upper and lower prisons. The upper prisons had a grate 
 opening on the street at which prisoners might beg of the passers- 
 by, and the lower were dark vaults close to the level of the river. 
 
 In addition to these abodes of misery the old bridge found 
 room for a women's hospital called the Maison Dieu, the spelling 
 of which name exercised the town clerk not a little (n. 28, fol. 48, 
 238/^, 245^/ n. 31, fol. 251). The form "Measondewe" doubt- 
 less represents the pronunciation of the time. A room over it 
 was let, which may not have been altogether fair to the charity. 
 
 " !*'/«///, 26^ Elizabeth [1584]. 
 
 " Agreed that Christopher Jackson, mercer, shall have a little 
 chamber over the Maison Dim as tenant at will, paying therefore 
 yearly 5J-. to the Common Chamber. And the poor women of 
 the Maison Dim to bring in their evidence" (n. 28, fol. 245 b). 
 
 Speaking of prisons, "John Trewe's house" on the bridge is 
 frequently mentioned. In fact, John Trewe farmed a private 
 gaol, and a singular portion of the arrangement was that prisoners 
 who wished to be transferred to better quarters than the miserable 
 Kidcote, paid the cost of fitting up this private prison. 
 
 " Also it is agreed by these presents that John Trewe, cord- 
 wainer, shall be farmer of the new house builded on Ousebridge, 
 
 * "12" /«//., 41° Elizabdh [1598]. It is agreed that a good strong 
 double inner door shall be made of the Chamber charges in the women's Kid- 
 cote " (n.31, fol. 393^). 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 341 
 
 and the chambers over the Exchequer of the same bridge within 
 this city of York, and the same house and chambers to be gaol 
 houses for the Mayor and Sheriffs of the city for the time being. 
 And the said John Trewe to enter to the said house and chambers 
 at Martinmas next, and to have and hold the same of the Mayor 
 and the Corporation of this city, paying yearly for the same to the 
 use of them and their successors 6/. at Pentecost and St. Martin's 
 in winter by even portions ; provided always that the prisoners 
 now remaining in the same chambers over the place and 
 Exchequer, who made cost of repairing the chambers, shall 
 have the same during their natural lives, if they be not delivered 
 or discharged of their said imprisonment, they paying therefore 
 yearly 3^-. 4^. at the days due and accustomed for the same. 
 And upon condition that the said John Trewe shall become 
 bounden with good sureties yearly to the Mayor and Sheriffs 
 of this city that shall be, in the sum of 200/. or more at their 
 discretion, for all the prisoners that shall be at their charges" 
 (n. 25, fol. 148^). 
 
 John Trewe was succeeded in his amateur gaolership by 
 Christopher Fordam. 
 
 " Iteniy it is agreed that Christopher Fordam shall be tenant 
 at will, during the pleasure of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs, 
 and Privy Council of this city, of the house and all the chambers 
 over the chapel and Chequer Chamber, which were late in the 
 occupation of John Trewe. And he to pay to the use of this 
 corporation four marks of lawful English money in hand, and 
 13/. ds. Zd. yearly for the same. 
 
 "Also it is agreed that Peter Smithe shall have the same 
 four marks and 13^. Zd, or more to make up five marks for his 
 good will of the same tenement, and for and towards his charges 
 which he spent in and about suing to be tenant of the same, and 
 in respect that he was promised some favour therein" (n. 29, 
 fol. 134). 
 
 "3^ Martii, 1597. 
 
 "And whereas John Jackson, merchant, and Edward Birletson 
 have made suit to this Court to have a lease of the gaol house 
 
342 Mr, John Mus/is 
 
 tenement upon Ousebridge wherein Elizabeth Fordam now 
 dwelleth, it is thought by the most voices of these presents 
 that the said John Jackson is a meet man to have the same 
 place and not the said Birletson ; notwithstanding no full agree- 
 ment is as yet concluded by these presents in that behalf" 
 (n. 3J, fol. 330). 
 
 "6^ Martii^ i597- 
 
 *' Also it is agreed that the tenement upon Ousebridge late 
 in the tenour \i.e. holding] of Christopher Fordam, deceased, 
 and now in the tenour of uxor Fordam, and the stone pillar 
 under the south side of the same, shall be viewed by 
 Mr. Wardens of that ward and Mr. Sheriffs and Mr. Christopher 
 Turner and they to certify in what decay the same is, and in 
 what sort they shall think meet the same to be repaired" 
 (n. 31, fol. 333). 
 
 Here is a specimen of the way in which John Trewe's house 
 was treated as a prison. 
 
 "31° Atigiisti, 22° Elizabeth [1580]. 
 
 " Forasmuch as George Goodyeare of St. Sampson's parish, 
 being called before these presents for refusing to pay to the 
 poor, hath this morning called together divers of the parishioners 
 of St. Sampson's by tolling of the bell, and also hath now spoken 
 and given divers evil and unseemly words to these presents, and 
 also hath discouraged others to pay to the poor, therefore it 
 is now agreed by these presents that the said Goodyeare for 
 his said offences shall be forthwith committed to ward to John 
 Trewe's house, there to remain as close prisoner, saving his wife 
 to come to him, and before his releasement he to be bound 
 with sufficient sureties for good abearing against the Queen's 
 Majesty and all the citizens of this city" (n. 27, fol. 249). 
 
 But the prisons seem to have been used for the confinement 
 of poor lunatics also, which must have been as bad for the 
 lunatics as it was for the prisoners. 
 
 " It was agreed by these presents that Agnes Egleston of 
 St. Margaret's parish, who had weekly 2</., shall be paid weekly 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 343 
 
 from henceforth dd. to be hers weekly, at Trinity hospital, and 
 to begin the next week, and the other reUef to cease. Also it 
 is agreed that John Trewe shall have 4^". paid him for keeping 
 of the. said Agnes in her madness since Monday was a sennight, 
 to be paid forthwith by the chamberlains " (fol. 217). 
 
 " And it is agreed that a coat of grey of 2s. a yard shall be 
 provided of the Chamber's cost for the madwoman in the Kidcote" 
 (n. 30, fol. 128^). 
 
 The intermediate space on the bridge was occupied with 
 shops, and here is a list .of those who took them when the bridge 
 was rebuilt, together with the rent they paid for them. The date 
 is 2>^ Jan., 9° Elizabeth [i56f] (n. 24, fol. 60 b). 
 
 " South side, west end, ist shop, 13^-. 4^. a year, Mr. Willcock. 
 
 *' 2nd shop, same side, loi*. a year, James Wilkinson, girdler. 
 
 " 3rd shop, same side, next the height of the bridge, Sx., Guy 
 Marshall, glover. 
 
 "North side, west end, ist shop next the chapel, 135". 4^., 
 Robert Beckwith, goldsmith. 
 
 " 2nd shop, same side, los., William Greenhope, glover. 
 
 " 3rd shop, next to the height of the bridge, Ss., Thomas 
 Boothe, pinner. 
 
 " North side, east end, shop with a chamber next to Andrew 
 Trewe's, 20i'., — Robinson, glass seller. 
 
 " 2nd shop, same side, 20i"., William Wood, capper. 
 
 " 3rd shop, with chamber next to it, 20^-., Reignold Holme's 
 wife. 
 
 " Next shop to it without a chamber, loj-., vacant. 
 
 " 5th shop, same side, los., James Hodgson, glover. 
 
 '* 6th shop, next to the height of the bridge, 8j"., James Fawcet. 
 
 " South side, east end, shop with chamber, 20s., Mr. Greisdale. 
 
 " 2nd shop, with chamber, 20^., Robert Fawdyn. 
 
 "3rd shop, without a chamber, loj-., Thomas Atkinson^ 
 merchant. 
 
 " 4th shop, without a chamber, 10^., Robert Cowper, fletchen, 
 
 " 5th shop, next to the height of the bridge, 8x., Ralph 
 Elmeden, glover." .. 
 
344 Mr, John Mush's 
 
 There was one other building on Ousebridge, more interesting 
 to us than all the rest, as it was in it that Margaret Clitherow was 
 pressed to death. That place was the tollbooth. For this word 
 Dr. Johnson assigns no other meaning but that of a prison, but it 
 is clear that the word originally meant the place where toll or 
 -custom was taken. Hutton's narrative shows us that the toll- 
 l)ooth on Ousebridge was open to the street, for the minister's 
 -wife said to her sister, when Francis Ingleby was going by to his 
 martyrdom, " Let us go into the tollbooth and we shall see the 
 traitorly thief come over on the hurdle." 
 
 From Mr. Mush's narrative we learn that the tollbooth where 
 Margaret suffered was but six or seven yards distant from the 
 prison. This means probably little more than across the street ; 
 and this agrees well with the mention of the place of the chain, 
 where toll was taken. 
 
 " w^ Junii^ 33^ Elizabeth [1591]. 
 
 " Agreed that Martin Leeds shall have a lease of the chain 
 at the far end of Ousebridge for one year from Christmas last 
 past, paying 2 ox, at Christmas next, and so from year to year, 
 at the will and pleasure of my Lord Mayor and Aldermen, he 
 taking for every cart coming over the same bridge laden with 
 coals 2d.y and for every wain 4//. and no more " (n. 30, fol. 242). 
 
 We may now conclude with all probability that, coming to 
 the bridge from Micklegate, on the left hand — that is, at the 
 west end of the bridge on the north side — were the Council 
 Chamber, the Kidcotes, and John Trewe's house, the upper 
 part of which ^ encroached on St. William's Chapel ; while on 
 the south side of the bridge, next to Micklegate, came the 
 tollbooth, the Maison Dieu, and the debtors' prison. After 
 these on both sides of the bridge three shops, and on the crown 
 of the arch an open space. The eastern end of the bridge had 
 six shops on the north side, the same side with the chapel, 
 and five shops on the south side, the space of the sixth shop on 
 that side being probably devoted to the steps leading down to 
 the Staith or quay. 
 
 * This is shown in old prints of the bridge as having two gablets facing the 
 river, under each of which was a low window with four muUions. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 345 
 
 Having now done our best to construct our compositio loci, we 
 may turn to the dramatis personce and their kinsfolk. 
 
 Mrs. CHtherow's father was Thomas Middleton, citizen of York, 
 and wax-chandler. He was admitted a freeman in 1530; he 
 filled the office of chamberlain in 1552, and that of sheriff in 
 1564-5, and he was buried at St. Martin's, Coney Street, May 16, 
 1567. His will was dated December 14, 1560, and was proved 
 June 10, 1567. 
 
 Gent, in his list of the sheriffs,^ has put Oliver Middleton 
 as sheriff in 1570, instead of Thomas, evidently because he had 
 found in St. Michael's, Spurriergate, the inscription of an Oliver 
 Middleton, sheriff of York, the date of which inscription he could 
 not decipher. Oliver, however, was sheriff in 1504, and died 
 in the year of his shrievalty; and in 1570 the sheriff was Thomas 
 Middleton, tanner, whose son, Peter Middleton, also a tanner, 
 was sheriff in 16 18. Whether these were relations of Margaret 
 Clitherow's father we do not know. The name of Middleton 
 was not uncommon in York. Thus in January, i57f, there were 
 several of the name assessed for the poor — ^John in the parish 
 of St. Michael's at Ousebridge-end, Thomas in that of the Trinity 
 in Micklegate, Thomas in St. John's at Ousebridge-end, and two 
 Roberts in AUhallows in North Street, the one a tanner and the 
 other a mariner. Then we come across a George Middleton,^ 
 draper, in 1585; Thomas, who was searcher of the coverlet 
 weavers in 1584, and Agnes, a widow, who received ^s. com- 
 pensation on being turned out of her house in 1592 by Ralph 
 Dikes, who had bought it. It has been said by Mr. Nicholson, 
 who edited Mush's Life of Margaret Clitherow in 1849, ^^^^ 
 " Mrs. Clitherow's representative in the paternal line is Peter 
 Middelton, Esq., of Stockeld Park, Yorkshire." It is possible 
 that Thomas Middleton, the Sheriff of York, was a younger son 
 of this gentle and knightly family. The third son of Thomas 
 Middelton of Stockeld, and his wife Margaret, daughter of Sir 
 William Gascoigne of Gawthorpe, was called Thomas, and 
 judging from the fact that his nephew William was squire of 
 
 ^ Ancient and Modern History of York, 1730, p. 220. 
 * This was probably Margaret Clitherow's brother. The parish register of 
 St. Martin's has a large number of entries respecting his children. 
 
34^ Mr, John Micsh's 
 
 Stockeld and Myddelton in 1585, when Glover, Somerset Herald, 
 held his visitation of Yorkshire, there would seem to be nothing 
 in the dates to prevent this Thomas from having taken up his 
 freedom as citizen of York in 1530. It must be added that there 
 would be nothing surprising, especially in those times, in a 
 younger son being sent adrift to make his fortune in trade ; still 
 there is really no more reason, beyond the interest excited by 
 Margaret Clitherow's martyrdom, for attributing relationship with 
 the Middeltons of Stockeld to Thomas the wax-chandler, rather 
 than to Thomas the tanner, or any other of the numerous 
 Middletons who inhabited York before him and with him. 
 
 The election of Margaret Clitherow's father to the office of 
 sheriff is thus recorded in the Housebooks of the city. 
 
 " In festo Sajicti Matt heel Apostoli^ sciL 21° die Septembris^ 
 anno 6*0- regni Elizabeth Regiim [1564]. 
 
 ^^ Jacobus Symson, Maior, &*c. Assembled in the Council 
 Chamber in the Common Hall of this city, the day and year 
 above said, for the election of two sheriffs of the city, to be 
 chosen upon four lyts [elects], put in to them by the Common 
 Council and the eldest searchers of the thirteen and fifteen crafts 
 assembled in the said hall for that purpose, according to the 
 charter of election, who did by their most voices, according to 
 the King's Charter or Decree, choose for their four elects Edward 
 Richardson, pewterer, William Thomson, victualler, Thomas 
 Myddelton, wax-chandler, and Gregory Paycoke, merchant. Of 
 which four elects, this worshipful presents, by their most voices, 
 have elect and chosen the said Thomas Myddelton and William 
 Thomson to be sheriffs of this city for this year next to come. 
 Which said William Thomson was sent for, and came before 
 the said presents, and took the oath of sheriffship. 
 
 "And for that the said Thomas Myddelton lay upon his 
 bed, sick in the gout, and could not come; therefore these 
 worshipful presents agreed that Mr. Appleyard, Mr. Bean, and 
 Mr. Watson, aldermen, Mr. Maskewc, sheriff, George Goodyere, 
 Richard Aynlay, John Johnson, and divers others of the Common 
 Council should go to Thomas Myddelton's house, to hear him 
 take his oath accustomed, before whom the said Mr. Myddelton 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 347 
 
 took his said oath, to him given by the mouth of Thomas Faill, 
 common clerk; and that done, the said aldermen and others 
 above named returned again to the said Common Hall to the 
 presents there assembled, and then and there declared all their 
 doings in the premises accordingly" (n. 23, fol. 156). 
 
 "23° Novembris, 7° Elizabeth [1564]. 
 
 " William Thomson, one of the sheriffs of this city, did 
 now take his oath of the Privy Council of this city accustomed, 
 and thereupon gave the wine. Mr. Thomas Middleton, the 
 other sheriff, is respited of his said oath, for that he presently 
 lieth sick" (fol. 162^). 
 
 Thomas was a member of the Common Council of the city — 
 " Commoners," the city called them — which body consisted of 
 two representatives of each of the thirteeen principal crafts, and 
 one of each of the fifteen lower crafts of the city. By his election 
 as sheriff, he had become a member of the Privy Council, and 
 his place in the Common Council was vacated. It was thus 
 filled :— 
 
 " 20^ Januarii^ 7** Elizabeth [156^. 
 
 " Of two elects, put in by the occupation of wax-chandlers, 
 viz., James Best and John Hall, to the intent that one of them, 
 according to the usage of this city, may by these presents be 
 chosen to be one of the Common Council, of the said occupation 
 of wax-chandlers, in room of Thomas Myddleton, now sheriff, 
 the said James Best is by most voices elect to be in the said 
 room of Common Council, and was here presently sworn after 
 the order accustomed" (fol. 169^). 
 
 The following is Thomas Middleton's will, extracted from the 
 Registry of the Exchequer Court of York. 
 
 *'/« Dei nomine. Amen. The 14th day of December, in the 
 year of our Lord God 1560, I, Thomas Myddleton of the city of 
 York, chandler, of whole mind and good memory, being sick ia 
 body, do ordain and make this my last will and testament, in 
 manner and form following: First, I bequeath my soul to God 
 
348 Mr, John MusJis 
 
 Almighty and my body to be buried within the church of 
 St. Martin, in Conyg^ \i,e. Coney] Street, in the middle aisle before 
 the high choir. Item^ I give to my curate for forgotten tithes 5^. 
 lietn, I give to Thomas Myddleton, my son, one close lying in the 
 horse-fair at Ripon of 14J'. by year, in the holding and occupation 
 of William Svvayn, to him and his heirs lawfully begotten for ever, 
 and he to enter to it at the day of my death. Hctn^ I give to 
 Jane, my wife, the residue of all my lands and leases during her 
 natural life. Item^ I give to George, my son, one house and two 
 shops lying in the Market Place in Ripon, with five roods of 
 meadow lying in the Upper Ings in Ripon fields, after decease of 
 my wife, to him and his heirs for ever ; and if the said George die 
 before that he come to lawful age, that then I will and give the 
 said lands to Thomas Myddleton the one moiety, and to Margaret 
 Myddleton the other moiety, my daughter, and to their heirs for 
 ever, provided always that if Margaret Myddleton, my daughter, 
 die without any issue, then I will that it shall go to Thomas 
 Myddleton, and his heirs for ever. Ite7n, I give to Margaret, my 
 daughter, one house lying in Davygate within the city of York, 
 after decease of my wife, to her and to her heirs of her body law- 
 fully begotten, and for default of such issue, then I will that it 
 shall go to the right heirs of me, the said Thomas, for ever. Also 
 I give to the said Margaret one silver goblet and half a dozen of 
 silver spoons, provided always I will that my daughter Alice and 
 Thomas Hutchonson, my son-in-law, be content with those goods 
 that I gave him with her the day of their marriage for her full 
 child's portion ; and if that he be so contented, then I will that they 
 shall have, over and besides that five marks that I put in his 
 hands, with my son, Thomas Myddleton, and all the rents and 
 fermes of his house, which he does owe unto me ; and if that they 
 be not so content, then I will that he shall recount and so to pay 
 the aforesaid five marks, with the [arjrearages of all the said rents 
 unto mine executors; also I give to Alice, my daughter, as a 
 legacy, four marks in money. Item^ I give to William Hutchonson 
 one silver spoon. Item^ I give to Agnes Hutchonson one silver 
 spoon. Itetfty I give to the four wards of poor folks within this 
 city to every ward y. A^d. to pray for me. Also I give to Myles 
 * This shows that King Street is the etymology of the name. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 349 
 
 and to Matthew and to Ellis, my servants, to enrich one of them 
 one yow [? ewe] to pray for me. Also I do give to the residue of 
 all my servants, to every one of them, to pray for me 1 2d. Also 
 I will and do ordain and make supervisors of this my last will and 
 testament Edward Turner and Thomas Jackson, and either of 
 them to have for their pains ^s. The residue of all my goods 
 and chattels, my debts paid and my funerals made, I do give to 
 Jane Myddleton, my wife, whom I do ordain and make my sole 
 executrix by herself. 
 
 " Witnesses of this my last will and testament : 
 
 " Sir Thomas Graison, my Curate, 
 George Cooke, 
 Richard Aynley, and 
 John Parker, 
 and every one of them to have for their pains 1 2^." 
 
 " This will was proved in the Exchequer Court of York on the 
 loth day of June, 1567, by Jane Myddleton, widow, the relict of 
 the deceased, the sole executrix in the said will named. 
 
 Joseph Buckle, ") ^ ^ . 
 
 H. A. Hudson, \ ^^P"'^ ^^^='^^'^' 
 
 The house in Davygate, here left to his daughter Margaret, 
 was probably where he lived and where she was born, in the 
 parish of St. Martin's, Coney Street. In accordance with this, 
 we find the name of Thomas Middleton in Bothome Ward, to 
 which this parish belongs, in a list of citizens who were bound, 
 July I, 3° Elizabeth, 1561, to furnish "thirty horse for my Lord 
 President and his family riding towards Newcastle." 
 
 Of the mother of Margaret Clitherow, we know but little. 
 Mr. Mush says that Henry May, who was Lord Mayor when 
 Margaret was mart)a-ed, " had been raised to this preferment of 
 worldly wealth by marrying the martyr's mother, a rich widow, 
 who died before this tragedy in summer last." It does not 
 look well that, as we learn from the register of St. Martin's 
 Church, she should have married again within four months of 
 her first husband's death. 
 
 "1567. Thomas Myddleton was buried the i6th day of 
 May, anno supradicto." 
 
350 Mr. John MusJis 
 
 "1567. Henry Maye and Jane Mydleton were married the 
 8th day of September, an7io supradicto." 
 
 The entry of her burial is in the same register. 
 
 ** 1585- J^^i^s Maye was buried the 12th day of June, anno 
 supradtctoJ^ 
 
 There was another Jane Maye, who was buried November i, 
 1586, which was after Margaret's martyrdom. Her mother 
 died about nine months before that event. Her stepfather 
 died in 1596. Gent^ gives his epitaph. 
 
 " Henry Maye, Lord Mayor of this Cittye in the xxviij year 
 of the rayne of our most graciouse Queen Elizabethe, who 
 departed this lyfe the fyrste of July, 1596." 
 
 He was buried the day after his death, as St. Martin's register 
 shows. 
 
 " 1596. Henry Maye, alderman of this city, was buried the 
 second day of July, anno stipradicto" 
 
 Of this man Mr. Mush says, " The Lord Mayor, Mr. May, 
 to show his gentle mind to the martyr's mother, which had 
 taken him from the beggar's staff, made this his honourable table 
 talk among his heretical brethren, that she died desperately, &c." 
 
 His wife's wealth does not seem to have done him much 
 good, for we find that — 
 
 "21^ A prills, 23^ Elizabeth, [1591]. 
 
 " Mr. Alderman Maye, being present in this Court, moved 
 or requested by these presents to pay his arrearages, being 4/., 
 viz., for the poor for half a year in anno 1588, 26s. Sd, and 
 for a whole year in anno 1589, 53^". 4//.; and for Hull [asjsess- 
 ment 3/., and for the preacher for two years, ended at [ ] 
 
 last past, 20^., hath agreed willingly to pay the same, but allegeth 
 that he is not able to make present payment thereof, and so 
 hath requested the favour of these presents to give him reason- 
 able days for payment thereof. Whereupon it is agreed by these 
 presents that he shall have day to pay the same, by 40J. in 
 the year, till it be paid, and that a bond shall be taken of him 
 for payment thereof, to be paid at Martinmas and Pentecost 
 equally '' (n. 30, fol. 230 b). 
 
 * History of York, p. 172. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 351 
 
 We now turn to our martyr's husband, John Clitherow. The 
 name of his father, Richard Chtherow, appears, with that of 
 Thomas Myddleton, in a hst of " the most honest of Commoners " 
 (n. 22, fol. no). On the 4th of February, 4^ et ^"^ Philip 
 and Mary, 155^, when Richard Clitherow was a younger man, 
 he appeared in the Lord Mayor's Court, and his name is then 
 recorded in less honourable fashion. 
 
 "12^ Mali, 5? Edwardi F7. [1551]. 
 
 "//<?w, that for as much as appeareth plainly to these 
 presents that Richard Clithero hath behaved himself disobediently 
 and unfittingly to Mr. John Lewes, one of the aldermen of this 
 city, for that he would not ' waile ' his bonnet to him going 
 by him in the street, but said he would not cap to such 
 *chorles and pollers;'^ and here now examined, confesseth in 
 manner the same self words and gesture, saying openly 
 he called him *chorle,' and if he had called him 'poller,' he 
 had said but truth, and asked this audience whether he should 
 cap to him whom he had rather fight with than otherwise, 
 or whom he cannot love ; wherefore it is agreed by the said 
 presents that he shall be bound to good abearing, and for his 
 offence to be committed to ward, and further to be ordered 
 as my Lord Mayor shall think good, according to his further 
 behaviour" (n. 20, fol. 54 <^). 
 
 In 1564 Richard Clitherow died, and September 21, in that 
 year, Thomas Gibson was elected one of the Common Council 
 in his room (n. 23, fol. 155 ^). 
 
 John Clitherow, his son, in 15 71, made Margaret Middleton 
 his wife. She was living with her stepfather, to whom her mother 
 had been married nearly four years, and naturally the wedding 
 took place in his parish church, St. Martin's in Coney Street. The 
 registers of that parish begin with the year 1557, and are pre- 
 served in duplicate, so that we have the register of the marriage — 
 
 *'i57i. John Chtherow, butcher, and Margaret Middleton 
 were married the ist day of July, anno sup-adicto" 
 
 ^ Poller^ a barber, one who shears, clips, or shaves ; a pillager, a robber, 
 /ohnson. 
 
352 Mr, John MusJis 
 
 John Clitherow was evidently a well-to-do man. January 
 29> i57t> ^^ ^v^s sworn in bridgemaster (n. 24, fol. 222). In 
 1572, John Oldcorne is one of the four sworn men against 
 "the late rebels and other evil-disposed people suspected of 
 Papistry " for St. Sampson's parish, and John Clitherow an assis- 
 tant for Christ's parish (n. 25, fol. 38). In the year following he 
 was chosen a chamberlain of the city. 
 
 '' iZ"" Januarii, 16° Elizabeth [157I]. 
 
 *' Christophorus Harbert, maior. Robertus MaskeiuCy maior 
 electuSy &>€. Assembled in the Council Chamber upon Ouse- 
 bridge the day and year above said, when and where Richard 
 Hewton, Ralph Richardson, merchant, James Stock, notary, 
 John Clitherow, butcher, and Richard Yowdale, cook, five of the 
 new chamberlains of this city, were presently sworn, and laying 
 down their exoneration silver, did pay the same one to another, 
 and so also did undertake every of them for the other" (n. 25, 
 fol. 105). 
 
 By this election plain John Clitherow, butcher, became 
 Mr. Clitherow. The office of chamberlain, says Drake,^ " entitles 
 its bearer to the appellation of gentleman, and the title * Master' 
 or * Mr.' is always prefixed to their name in writing or speaking 
 to them ever after, a title which the vulgar take so much notice 
 of, that when they hear it, as they think, misapplied, they repeat, 
 * Mr. quotha ! pray who was Lord Mayor when he was chamber- 
 lain?'" 
 
 In 1572 John Clitherow was assessed to the poor at the rate 
 of 2d. a week, which was the highest rate of assessment, excepting 
 that of the aldermen who were assessed at 6^/., and Sir Valentine 
 Browne, whose assessment was i2d. Another token of his com- 
 parative wealth is to be found in the return^ made in 1576, when 
 his wife is first mentioned as in trouble for her religion. He then 
 declared himself to be worth 61. in clear goods, and there was 
 only one other mentioned in the return who was worth as 
 much. 
 
 ^ History of Vork, Abridged Edition, 1 785, vol. ii. p. 30. 
 ' Supra f p. 252. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 353:. 
 
 John Clitherow and his wife lived, no doubt, in the Shambles,^ 
 and in all probability the house is standing yet where the devout 
 woman entertained priests and "served God" — that is, heard 
 Mass. The street so called runs from Christ Church to Crux,, 
 and, with its overhanging wooden houses and primitive butchers' 
 shops, has been less changed than any street in York. Besides^- 
 his house in Christ's parish, John Clitherow had a close at Monk- 
 bridge end, and there was a constant question whether he was- 
 bound to keep the highway in repair which lay under his close- 
 side leading to the abbey mills (n. 30, fol. 336; n. 31, fol. 202). 
 
 After his wife's death, John Clitherow's name occasionally 
 appears in the City Housebooks. In 1597 "John Clitherow and 
 Christopher Cowling, butchers, free citizens of this city," passing 
 through Barnard Castle, resisted a claim for toll, on which John 
 Allanson took distress of them for the toll. Citizens of York 
 were by Charter toll free all over the kingdom, and the Corpora- 
 tion went to law with any one that disregarded the privilege. 
 The threat that "suit should be commenced at the next term- 
 at the common law for the same" was sufficient, and John 
 Allanson "confessed that he had wrongfully troubled" the 
 butchers of York (n. 31, fol. 284, 301 ^, 360). 
 
 At the very end of Elizabeth's reign, February 2, i6ofy 
 amongst the commoners called in for the election of a Common 
 Clerk, which "were of the best sort of the citizens and welJ 
 liked of by this Court" was John Clitherow (n. 32, fol. 238). 
 And his name is the second in the Monk- Ward list, Christ parisb^ 
 " of the best citizens and inhabitants in this city," who were 
 "to have decent and comely gowns made after the citizens' 
 fashion of a sad colour" to receive King James as he passed 
 through York on his way from Scotland on his accession. 
 
 Though John Clitherow was not a Catholic, his brother 
 William was a priest, as we have already seen: 2 and it is 
 probable that the "Thomas Clitherow, of York, draper," who 
 was in the Castle for his religion in 1600, was another brother. 
 
 1 "February 7, iSSf, John Clitherow and George Toppin chosen ffeoffers 
 for 40/, given to the butchers in the Shambles of this city for ever, yearly to be 
 lent, by Mr. William Drew " (n. 30, fol. 87). 
 
 2 Supra^ p. 279. 
 
 X 
 
354 Mr. John Mush's 
 
 Of his sons, Henry and William went abroad to study for the 
 priesthood, the one to Rome and the other to Rheims. The 
 latter, as we have seen,^ was imprisoned in York Castle in 1618, 
 and shortly after was banished. 
 
 Anne, the daughter of twelve years of age, to whom Margaret 
 Clitherow sent her hose and shoes, to signify that she was to 
 follow in her mother's steps, became a religious in St. Ursula's 
 Convent, Louvain, in 1596, and was one of the four English 
 sisters who remained there when the others established St. 
 Monica's Convent.^ Anne had been imprisoned in Lancashire 
 gaol, and her father induced the Lord Mayor of York to write 
 for him the following letter to the Earl of Derby to obtain her 
 liberation. 
 
 "My humble duty unto your honourable lordship remembered. 
 Whereas I have been earnestly entreated by this bearer, John 
 Clitherow of this city, butcher, to certify unto your honour of what 
 demeanour and behaviour this bearer is, and whether he hereto- 
 fore had or hath a daughter named Anne Clitherow or no. May 
 it therefore please the same to be certified for truth, that he is a 
 free citizen and inhabiting within this city, and was bom within 
 the same and hath here inhabited by a long time, and is a man 
 of good behaviour and a dutiful subject, obedient to her Majesty's 
 laws, of good ability, and dutifully and orderly hitherto hath 
 repaired to the church to hear divine service and sermons. 
 And that in the time of his so dwelling here he hath had three 
 wives, by the second of which he had a daughter bom within 
 this city named Anne Clitherow, which at this present, if she be 
 living, is of the age of eighteen years or thereabouts. The which 
 daughter, as he informeth me, did about four years ago depart 
 from him without his consent or knowledge, and at this present 
 is in Lancaster gaol by your honour's commandment for causes 
 ecclesiastical. His humble suit unto your honourable lordship is, 
 that it would please the same to grant that he may have his said 
 daughter delivered unto him upon his bond to bring her to this 
 city with him to remain here to be conferred withal by some 
 learned and godly preachers for such reasonable time as to your 
 Supra^ p. 279. * Troubles^ First Series, p. 7. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 355 
 
 honour shall seem convenient, and if within the same time she 
 cannot be conformed, then to make her appearance before her 
 Majesty's Commissioners for causes ecclesiastical in these parts to 
 receive and do as by them shall be thought convenient in that 
 behalf. And thus ceasing to trouble your good lordship any 
 further at this time, I humbly commit the same to the merciful 
 protection of Almighty God. From York, this 12th day of July, 
 
 1593. 
 
 " Yours honour's humbly to command, 
 
 "Robert Askwith, Mayor" (n. 31, fol. 20). 
 
 Addressed— ^^ To the Right Honourable the Earl of Derby, 
 one of the Lords of her Majesty's Privy Council." 
 
 The interesting Housebooks of the city of York shall do us 
 one last service before we take our leave of them. Bishop 
 Challoner^ raises a doubt of the year of Margaret Clitherow's 
 martyrdom. He says that it happened " on the 26th of March 
 (some say the 25th) of this or the foregoing year," that is 1585 
 or 1586, " for authors are divided about the time." When the 
 martyrdom took place Henry May was Lord Mayor, and Fawcet 
 and Gibson sheriffs of York. The Housebooks show us that 
 " Roland Fawcet and William Gibson were by the most voices of 
 the Lord Mayor, aldermen, and sheriffs, chosen to be sheriffs of 
 the said city of York for this year next following, according to 
 the ancient charter and custom of this city," on the feast of 
 St. Matthew, Sept. 21, in the 27th year of the reign of Elizabeth, 
 that is, 1585 (n. 29, fol. 38^). On the next day, "some 
 questions did arise between them, whether of them should be first 
 
 ^ One of the few inaccuracies in Bishop Challoner's Missionary Priests is to 
 be found in his notice of Margaret Clitherow, and into it he has been led by 
 another book, ordinarily most accurate, the Concertatio. The Bishop says 
 that "her husband was forced into banishment." This report evidently came 
 from the command imposed on John Clitherow to absent himself from York 
 six days before his wife's execution. It may be doubted whether the threat to 
 whip one of the boys — apparently not her son, but the Flemish boy who was 
 witness against her — is not the origin of the further statement that "her little 
 children were taken up, and being questioned concerning the articles of their 
 rehgion and answering as they had been taught by her, were severely whipped. " 
 If this were the fact, Mr. Mush would certainly have recorded it. He says 
 that the children and servants were all sent to divers prisons, and that the 
 eldest girl, Anne, was induced to go to church to save her mother's life. 
 
356 Mr, John Muslis 
 
 named and set down sheriffs," and " upon voices secretly taken, 
 the said Roland Fawcet is by most voices elected and chosen to 
 be in the first place" (fol. 39 b). November 29, in the 28th year 
 of Elizabeth, that is to say still 1585 (her regnal year beginning 
 Nov. 17), "Mr Roland Fawcet and Mr William Gibson, sheriffs 
 of this city, took their oaths of the Privy Council of this city, and 
 so gave the wine " (fol. 54 b). 
 
 *^Dedmo quinto die Januarii, a?ino regni Elizabeth Regince, &*c. 
 vices imo octavo [i58f]. 
 
 " Andreas Trewe, Maior, dr^c. Assembled in the Common 
 Hall of this city, the day and year above said for election of a 
 Mayor according to the charter of election, and upon three elects 
 put in by the Common Council and head searchers of the thirteen 
 and fifteen crafts, that is to say, Mr. Henry Maye, Mr. Ralph 
 Richardson and Mr. James Birkbie, aldermen, the said Mr. Henry 
 Maye is by most voices of the Lord Mayor, aldermen and sheriffs 
 chosen to be Mayor of this city from the feast-day of Saint Blase 
 next coming [Feb. 3] for the year then next ensuing [1586]." 
 
 " Tertio die Februariiy anno regni DomincR nostrcR Elizabeihce 
 RegincBy ds^c. 28? 
 
 *^ Andreas Trewe^ Maior. Henriais May^ electus, &^c. Assembled 
 in the Council Chamber upon Ousebridge, the day and year 
 above said, when and where my Lord Mayor delivered to our new 
 master the seals of office of Mayoralty and Statute merchant with 
 six keys thereunto annexed, and one little seal for sealing of pass- 
 ports, and also 40 j. called Girdlington money, and the basin and 
 ewer of silver parcel gilt of Sir Martin Bowes' gift, and one other 
 basin and one ewer of silver parcel gilt of Mr. Thomas Metcalfe's 
 bequest, and two livery pots of silver gilt, one pot of silver gilt, 
 with a cover, of Mr. Tankard late Recorder's bequest, and 
 one other pot of silver gilt of Mr. Christopher Maltby, late 
 alderman deceased, and one nest of goblets double gilt, 
 and two great salts of silver with a cover double gilt of the gift 
 of Mr. John Dyneley, late alderman deceased, and also one silver 
 bowl parcel gilt late brought from St. Thomas' house, and also 
 three scarlet cloaks " (fol. 83). 
 
Life of Margaret Clitkerow. 357 
 
 "3° Octobris, 28° Elizabeth [1586]. 
 
 " And for as much as Roland Fawcet and William Gibson, late 
 sheriffs of this city, did divers times during their said office, go 
 without any officer or waiter against the worship of this city, 
 and the said Roland and William being now present here, did 
 submit themselves to the order of my Lord Mayor and aldermen 
 and this house for their said offence, whereupon it is agreed now 
 by these presents, that either of them shall pay 40^-. for their said 
 offence and other offences by them committed during their said 
 office, to the Common Chamber of this city." 
 
 New Year's Day in England up to the year 1754 was Lady Day, 
 March 25, and Margaret Clitherow's martyrdom was on that day, 
 the first of the year 1586 according to the Old Style. The year is 
 plain enough. As to the day Mr. Mush says plainly that it was 
 the Feast of the Annunciation, and also that it was "Friday, 
 wherein all Christendom celebrated the memory of Christ's death 
 and piteously lamenteth His pains." In 1586 Lady Day fell on 
 a Friday, and as Easter O.S. was April 3, that day was Friday in 
 Passion Week. But Mr. Mush perhaps means to say that it was 
 Lady Day in England, and Good Friday wherever the Gregorian 
 or New Style prevailed ; and this was true, for the day which in 
 England was March 25 by New Style was April 4, and Easter 
 that year falling a week earlier in the New Style than in the Old, 
 that day was Good Friday, N.S. 
 
 The following narrative is printed by the kind permission of 
 William Middelton, Esq., of Myddelton Lodge and Stockeld, from 
 a contemporary manuscript in his possession. St. Mary's Convent, 
 York,^ possesses a manuscript copy of the same narrative, not 
 differing much from the other in the meaning of the phrases, but 
 containing a very large number of verbal differences. On its 
 title page it is said to be " now newly transcribed out of an old 
 manuscript by Rbt. Setg""-, 1654." This copy was edited in 1849 
 
 ^ St. Mary's Convent has also the happiness of possessing the only relic of 
 this holy martyr which is known to exist. It is her hand, which Mr. Charles 
 Weld of Chideock has worthily encased. It is not known how the relic came 
 there, but the Convent, having existed in York since 1 680, was naturally the 
 most fitting receptacle for this treasure. 
 
35^ Mr, John Musk's 
 
 by William Nicholson, Esq., to whom consequently the credit is 
 due of having first published Mr. Mush's history of this martyr. 
 Another manuscript copy is the property of St. Mary's College, 
 Oscott. 
 
 Not only is Mr. Middelton's manuscript of much earlier 
 date than that belonging to the Convent, as the hand- 
 writing shows, but the manuscript from which it was copied 
 was written before that from which the Convent copy was 
 taken. Its original was written so soon after Margaret's martyr- 
 dom that it was out of the author's hands before Francis 
 Ingleby suffered, yet his death followed Mrs. Clithero\v's in less 
 than three months. The writer's words are, "They have 
 martyred of late divers good Catholic priests and lay persons, 
 among whom suffered the last day at York [i.e. at the last execu- 
 tion, November 26, 1585] one priest and one layman [Hugh 
 Taylor and Marmaduke Bowes], and a little after [March 25, 
 1586] one woman [Margaret Clitherow]." This passage in the 
 Convent copy runs thus : " They have murdered divers good 
 Catholic priests and some lay persons, four priests at London 
 [Edward Stransham and Nicholas Woodfen died before Mar- 
 garet Clitherow, January 21, 158I, and Richard Sergeant with 
 William Thomson, April 20, 1586], and at York three priests 
 [Hugh Taylor, Francis Ingleby, June 3, and John Finglow, 
 August 8, 1586], and three laymen [Marmaduke Bowes, 
 Robert Bickerdike, and Richard Langley], and one woman 
 [Margaret Clitherow]." This cannot have been written before 
 December i, 1586, on which day Richard Langley was martyred; 
 and it is singular that having been written then, the writer should 
 not have heard of the martyrdoms of John Lowe, John Adams, 
 and Richard Dibdale at Tyburn, of Robert Anderton and 
 William Marsden in the Isle of Wight, and John Sandys at 
 Gloucester, who all suffered in the course of the year 1586. 
 
 John Mush, the writer of this life was a distinguished secular 
 
 priest, who has already appeared in our pages ^ in the admirable 
 
 part of a pacificator on the occasion of the divisions amongst the 
 
 prisoners for the faitli at Wisbech. He was a Yorkshireman by 
 
 > Troubles^ Second Scries, p. 265. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 359 
 
 birth, and having commenced his studies at the English College, 
 Douay, he was sent to Rome to finish his philosophy and to study 
 his theology in the newly- founded English College there. He 
 was one of the first set of students who entered the College in 
 1579, his name being twenty-second in the list. He was sent on 
 the English mission after his ordination, and John Pitts, writing 
 in 16 1 2, while he was yet alive, says that he made a large harvest 
 of souls, during twenty years, both in and out of prison. He was 
 sent to Rome by his brethren of the secular clergy, and after his 
 return he was for fourteen years one of the assistants of the arch- 
 priest. Bishop Challoner adds that " after having suffered prisons 
 and chains, and received even the sentence of death for his faith, 
 he died at length in his bed, in a good old age, in the year 161 7." 
 Both Pitts and Dodd record that, besides other books, he wrote 
 An Account of the Sufferings of Catholics in the Noi'thern Parts of 
 England. It is but a conjecture certainly, but it does not seem 
 improbable that this is the very paper which is given above, under 
 the title *'A Yorkshire Recusant's Relations." If so, he has 
 spoken of himself, when mentioning the author of Mrs. Clithe- 
 row's life, as ''a friend of ours."^ 
 
 ^ Supra, p. 86. 
 
A TRUE REPORT OF THE LIFE AND 
 
 MARTYRDOM OF MRS. MARGARET 
 
 CLITHEROW. 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 INTRODUCTION. 
 
 It hath been a laudable custom in all ages, from the 
 beginning of Christ His Church, to publish and truly- 
 set forth the singular virtues of such her children as 
 -either in their lives by rare godliness did shine above 
 .the rest, or by their patient deaths most stoutly over- 
 •came all barbarous cruelty, and both by their lives and 
 'deaths glorified God, encouraged to like victories their 
 faithful brethren, and with invincible fortitude confounded 
 the persecuting tyrants. For who can sufficiently imagine 
 how God is glorified in the constancy of His infirm 
 servants, who in this life would not for anything either 
 in heaven or in earth be drawn from their faith and 
 charity of Him, and in death, with exceeding joy, would 
 forsake all the world, contemn all kind of tortures and 
 their own life for His sake ? Who can think how the 
 victory, gotten in flesh and blood by God's grace, doth 
 strengthen and encourage weaklings ? How to love God 
 and contemn life for the same discomforteth, and with 
 shame confoundeth the persecutors ; who, notwithstanding 
 their cruelty in killing the body, are yet overcome in 
 all such conflicts in their own both bodies and souls ? 
 Laudate Domiiium in Sanctis ejuSy saith the holy prophet, 
 •" Laud and praise our Lord in all His saints ; " the which 
 
Life of Margaret Clttkerow. 361 
 
 thing we do then dutifully perform when we thank Him 
 for His gracious sanctifying of them, and rejoicing in 
 the memory of their virtues, diligently endeavour by our 
 works reverently to imitate them in their holiness. For 
 like as all goodness in them first proceeded from the 
 gracious and most bountiful hand of God opened upon 
 them with abundant blessing, to the end they might 
 glorify Him by their good works ; so both all that which 
 is truly and sincerely uttered to their praise, and also 
 well done by imitating of their virtues, must needs re- 
 dound principally to the same laud and praise of God, 
 the Author and Giver of all good and perfect gifts. 
 
 In this thing, therefore, we may be bold in verity to 
 declare and set forth their virtues to the glory of them 
 without derogation of God's honour, because He hath 
 both willed us to laud Him in His saints, and the honour 
 given to them cannot possibly be but most to God's 
 honour, by whose mercy and grace all His saints are 
 made honourable. And if we may do this to God His 
 saints and justified children, and with great gladness of 
 spirit rejoice in the beauty of Christ our Saviour His 
 members, either militant here in earth, or triumphant 
 with Him their Head in the glory of His heavenly 
 kingdom ; much more surely we may perform the same 
 to those which hath constantly run the race of this in- 
 constant life, with their invincible charity hath entered 
 combat with death itself, hath mightily vanquished the 
 malice of their deadly foes, and now perfectly possessing 
 the security of all heavenly felicity, are far removed from 
 any access of their slanderous adversaries, and other 
 envious caitiffs. 
 
 In the infancy, and also in some riper ages of Christ 
 His Church (when the devil, by infidels and heretics his 
 limbs, sought to devour the gracious children of this holy 
 Mother), God was often glorified by the patience and 
 double martyrdom of these virtuous lives and honourable 
 
362 Mr, John Mush's 
 
 deaths amongst His servants ; thereby tyrants were con- 
 founded, the whole world conquered, innumerable people 
 became Christians, the blood of martyrs (which is the 
 plenteous seed of Christ His Church) brought forth the 
 happy fruits of Christianity and peace everywhere, most 
 mighty princes yielding their swords and sceptres into 
 the obedience and defence of Christ's faith and Church, 
 until these unfortunate times, wherein this most fruitful 
 Mother is now in her old age no less persecuted by the 
 cruelty of those which once she had brought forth as her 
 own children, than she was in her infancy by infidels 
 persecuted, ever her professed enemies. But as in those 
 days perfect virtue in the most Christians, and the bloody 
 victories by many subdued her persecutors to her obe- 
 dience, and thereby a calm peace ensued everywhere ; so 
 now the abuse of peace bringing to man security, and again 
 security too much negligence and slackness in virtuous 
 life (without which true peace cannot come or endure 
 stable any long time), it turneth again to open perse- 
 cution and cruel shedding of blood. Virtue is lost, peace 
 abandoned, the adversaries rage more and more, and 
 striving to get victory, with all tyranny [and] discomfort 
 put to flight and murther the children of this their aged 
 Mother, and hope they shall as easily, by violence, drive 
 her Christian children from her, either by forsaking or 
 dissembling their faith, as by the fraudulent allurements 
 of pleasure and worldly vanities they enticed and divided 
 them from her virtues. In the primitive Church they 
 persecuted her that she should remain barren and bring 
 forth no increase ; now they labour also to the same 
 effect, but principally to subvert and destroy her already 
 born children ; and as she then cast her seed of blood 
 to the generation of many, so now she fighteth with 
 blood to save those that she hath borne, that the lily 
 roots being watered with the fruitful liquor of blood, may 
 keep still and yield new branches hereafter with so much 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 363 
 
 more plentiful increase by how much more abundantly- 
 such sacred streams flow among them. 
 
 Of this kind of gracious moisture, there hath been no 
 scarcity in divers provinces of Christendom these late 
 years, since Luther's apostacy from the known Catholic 
 Church and universal faith of all Christian nations ; but 
 in those places especially where the heretical canker of 
 Luther, Calvin, and their contentious fellows and fautors 
 most prevailed, as in this country of England, accursed 
 no doubt in God's heavy indignation for the punishment 
 of the dissoluteness and iniquity as well in the Catholic 
 clergy as laity, the fury of all sorts of heretics and 
 atheists hath so vehemently raged over the whole realm 
 with such exceeding cruelty and barbarousness that, within 
 this threescore years, it hath shed more just blood, mur- 
 thered more innocent Catholic people, made greater havoc 
 and destruction of all godliness than it or any other 
 hath done either in England or all Christian nations beside, 
 either in the same time or in many hundred years before. 
 Insomuch as now not one Religious house standeth, not 
 one altar unrased and undefiled, not one church free from 
 heretics and heresy, not one sacrament rightly adminis- 
 tered, nor one Religious person to be found, not one 
 Catholic priest but judged as a traitor or able to escape 
 unmurthered, not one known Catholic man or woman 
 suffered to live without intolerable vexation and continual 
 danger of liberty to be lost, of lands and goods, yea, of 
 life and blood. Whereby, it appeareth that this our un- 
 gracious country is the outcast of all others, is rather 
 by God's wrath appointed and given over to these mis- 
 chiefs for the example of all nations, than to be equally 
 scourged with any of them ; rather to be showed as a 
 wonder and derision to all the world than to sustain with 
 any some part of common calamity. What numbers of 
 Catholic men of all sorts, in the beginning of these 
 miseries, witnessed by suffering exquisite torments and 
 
364 Mr, John Mush's 
 
 by shedding their blood, that the supreme ecclesiastical 
 authority of God's Church was not due to any temporal 
 prince, nor could lawfully be usurped by any civil magis- 
 trate. How many in these late years also hath confessed 
 to death the same truth, and, for their fidelity to God, 
 hath been unjustly condemned, and with all cruelty 
 executed as traitors and disloyal to their temporal prince, 
 although in very deed they were not inferior to any of 
 their persecutors in all kind of serviceable duty to the 
 present State, which might possibly stand with the sin- 
 cerity of a Christian's conscience, and their principal 
 honour to God. This one thing I am assured of, that 
 this rebellious and most barbarous heresy in sixty years* 
 space has violently destroyed more virtuous priests. Reli- 
 gious persons, and good lay people, only to establish the 
 high spiritual jurisdiction upon the temporal magistrates* 
 head (yet under the pretence of treasons), than all ages 
 before hath done, either by first placing it by Christ 
 upon the person of Peter, or by keeping it upon his 
 successors ever since, which thing argueth plainly such 
 ecclesiastical authority to be both unnatural, ungracious, 
 and uncomely in profane usurpers thereof. 
 
 Hitherto their madness hath raged against the best 
 Catholics, either for their constancy in this point of faith, 
 or else for their Catholic refusal to participate with them 
 in some either their heretical or schismatical conspiracy 
 and irreligious acts, as for not going to their service, 
 sermons, &c. ; but now storming at every good they see 
 in the Catholics, or rather at those that be not already 
 oppressed with all sorts of unjust tyranny, they have 
 most impiously enacted by their disordered authority of 
 their profane and servile Court of Parliament all lawful 
 Catholic priests, their own spiritual fathers, to be in case 
 of high treason, unless they yield to their heretical pro- 
 ceedings. And to show the deadly malice to be no less 
 towards the sheep than it appeared to be towards the 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 365 
 
 shepherds, minding indeed to cut the throats and suck 
 the blood of both with Hke iniquity, they have decreed 
 all maintainers, receivers, aiders, and comforters of such 
 Catholic priests to stand in case of felons ; all which 
 barbarous cruelty as themselves are rather ashamed to 
 hear of, how impudently they execute it, so we both 
 hearing and beholding the bloody effects of their prac- 
 tices, cannot but be ashamed of them, our countrymen, 
 which have far exceeded all other nations in this thirst 
 of blood, and daily lament our country's miseries. 
 
 But to affirm and establish this foresaid horrible act 
 and decree, they have martyred of late divers good 
 Catholic priests and lay persons, among whom suffered 
 the last day at York one priest and one layman, and 
 a little after one woman, whose godly lives and fortitude 
 in the last conflict of death I doubt not but some will 
 publish, to the honour of God and His saints, and for 
 the profitable example of other Christians not free as 
 yet from the like terror, when God shall permit. And 
 I, for my small portion of ability, being most willing to 
 set forth so good a work, have attempted to manifest 
 the virtuous life and glorious martyrdom of one of them, 
 that is of the woman, with whose state and virtue in 
 her life, I, although unworthy, have been no less acquainted 
 than all her bloody tormentors, to their perpetual reproach 
 and shame, were privy to her most joyful constancy at 
 her death. 
 
 As for the man, that was made away tv/elve or thirteen 
 weeks before this woman, yet both for the like cause, 
 that is, for the harbouring, maintaining, and aiding of 
 priests, I can give no special report with 'certainty, but 
 so much only as after his arraignment and execution 
 was hidden from none. He was named Marmaduke Bowes, 
 an honest substantial gentleman or yeoman, I know not 
 certainly whether, wonderfully beloved, and well spoken of 
 among his neighbours, one that liked well of the Catholic 
 
366 Mr. John Mtis/ts 
 
 religion, as in heart believing it to be the infallible and 
 only true religion of God, and all other new and uncertain 
 faiths (whereof this miserable country hath well near as 
 many and as diverse as it hath ministers or heretics) to 
 be false faiths and heresies, as they are indeed, yet fearing, 
 as infinite do, the extremity of those late monstrous laws 
 and statutes, which oppress and violate the natural liberty 
 of man's conscience, by forcing them by excessive penalties 
 to do and yield to that which is both against all truth 
 and their own infallible knowledge ; he chose rather some- 
 times to accompany the tlninisters and to go in to their 
 church than he would fall to the unmerciful handling of 
 heretics, and lose both goods and liberty. Thus lie con- 
 tinued a long time, divided miserably within himself, 
 detesting all their heresies in his heart, and yet fearing 
 in his bodily actions to show himself a Catholic, believing 
 inwardly the Catholic faith in every point, and yet fearing 
 not to seem outwardly an heretic. Nevertheless, in all 
 this time of his schismatical dissembling, he thought it 
 a desperate point of impiety to shut up his hospitality 
 from priests, whom he knew well to be the messengers 
 of God, sent, not to commit treasons (as the heretics 
 slanderously pretend, and would falsely persuade the world 
 to believe), but to bring God's grace and salvation to all 
 men : to these men, I say, he opened his doors bountifully, 
 whom he received and as gladly entertained as any men 
 could be, trusting no doubt one day thereby to participate 
 of the good gifts they brought (neither hath his hope 
 failed him), and by such works of mercy in these un- 
 merciful days to find the sooner and more certainly grace 
 and mercy at God's hands. About Michaelmas last, before 
 his execution, the which was in the year of our Lord, 
 I59S> a young man chanced to be apprehended, who was 
 then Catholic, but soon after, through their torments, 
 fell and became most graceless ; and after he had undone 
 himself he left no cruelty untried that he might by some 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 367 
 
 occasion work the destruction of many more. Among 
 others, he accused this Mr. Bowes, to whose children he 
 had been schoolmaster, and told the magistrates that he 
 received some priests since the promulgation of the statute 
 against the receiving of them ; whereupon both he and 
 his wife were sent for to York, and after a little imprison- 
 ment licensed to depart home again under bond until the 
 next gaol delivery. To the which he returned at the time 
 appointed, being on a Wednesday, where he found a priest 
 to be arraigned, who had been apprehended in another man's 
 house, and whom the schoolmaster had accused Mr. Bowes 
 to have harboured. The priest at his gaol delivery was 
 condemned, and as a traitor executed the Friday following. 
 And also the same Wednesday, Mr. Bowes was indicted 
 and condemned upon the only evidence of the school- 
 master, who had broken his faith and promise to God 
 and man a little before, carrying still a conscience saleable 
 for sixpence, of known and notable infamy, as it was 
 openly reported before the Bench, and proved against 
 him ; yet notwithstanding upon the evidence of such a 
 companion, the gentleman was judged and condemned 
 as a felon, and upon Saturday following hanged. Before 
 his death he was made a member of the Catholic Church, 
 the which he boldly confessed with great alacrity of mind, 
 lamenting that he had lived in schism so long, and without 
 fear of death desired not to live any longer, but that his 
 death might be some part of satisfaction for his schis- 
 matical dissembling bypast. And in the mercy of Christ, 
 who made full satisfaction for us all, he offered up his 
 own life, wishing that he had many more to spend in 
 so good a cause. Some others knowing more particularly 
 the state of this first martyr [in this kind], and remem- 
 bering St. Alban's time, who was also martyred for the 
 harbouring and maintaining a Catholic priest by the 
 infidels, may set forth more amply both the heretics' 
 most unjust proceeding against him, and his patient 
 
368 Mr, John MtisJis 
 
 virtuous behaviour in suffering their cruelty. For my 
 part I will pass it over and come to this double martyrdom 
 of the woman, who was the second martyr for receiving 
 God's priests. In whose life I will not, by God's grace 
 and assistance, make relation of anything more than that 
 which I saw and well knew in her myself by some years 
 of our conversation together, for which season I was privy 
 to her whole heart as much as any. And as for those 
 things which happened at her apprehension, imprisonment, 
 arraignment, judgment, and death, I will report no more 
 than that which I have received from the mouths of divers 
 honest and credible persons, which were present witnesses 
 and beholders of every action. 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 OF THE VIRTUOUS EDUCATION OF MRS. MARGARET 
 CLITHEROW. 
 
 This martyr's name was Margaret Clitherow, wife of 
 Mr. John Clitherow, citizen of York. She was born in 
 York, the daughter of Mr. Middleton, a man of good 
 wealth, who had been sheriff in the same city. As 
 touching her worldly state and condition, she was about 
 thirty years of age, and to her beautiful and gracious soul 
 God gave her a body with comely face and beauty 
 correspondent. She was of sharp and ready wit, with 
 rare discretion in all her actions, a plentiful mother in 
 children, and her husband of competent wealth and ability. 
 About twelve or thirteen years past, two or three years 
 at the most after her marriage, when she heard first of the 
 Catholic Faith and Church (for before she frequented the 
 heretical service, not suspecting there had been any other 
 true way to serve God), she became as desirous to learn 
 the Christian duty in truth and sincerity, as she had learned 
 before to serve only the world vainly ; and, after a little 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 369 
 
 consideration, finding no substance, truth, nor Christiare 
 comfort in the ministers of the new gospel, nor in their 
 doctrine itself, and hearing also many priests and lay- 
 people to suffer for the defence of the ancient Catholic 
 Faith, (which is known to have been the Faith of all 
 England, common with all the Christian world many 
 hundred years since the world was first delivered from 
 idolatry and paganism), she carefully employed herself 
 to know plainly the same, and to become a lively 
 member of the Church, wherein this faith had been taught 
 and preached. Even, at the first, fully resolving rather 
 to forsake husband, life, and all, than to return agaia 
 to her damnable state, which gracious desire she then 
 more speedily accomplished, not without contradiction, 
 of her worldly friends, than at any time after she could 
 peaceably enjoy the same. 
 
 For that in those days neither heretical fury was sa 
 outrageous as it hath shamefully increased ever since, and 
 more then were known Catholics in one town (Catholic- 
 times being fresh in memory of all, which the tempest 
 of violent heretics hath destroyed and taken away) thaa 
 are now to be found almost in a whole country. 
 
 In the passage of these twelve years, she hath bee» 
 often tossed in the waves of tribulation ; for her former 
 zeal and constancy in the Catholic faith, divers times 
 separated from her husband and children, cast into prison,, 
 sometimes by the space of two years together, and some« 
 times by more, that it might be plainly verified in her 
 which the Apostle speaketh of God's elect, Oinnes qui 
 pie vohmt vivere in CJiristo perseciLtioneni patiuntur ; that 
 is "All that will live virtuous in our Lord Jesus suffer 
 persecution ; " for she had no sooner escaped the devil's 
 throat, and resolved with herself to serve God sincerely, 
 who had so mercifully delivered her from the danger of 
 that damnation which had been the certain reward of 
 her former erroneous faith, which, in her youth, she had 
 Y 
 
370 Mr. John Mtcs/is 
 
 learned of new apostatas ; but the devil and his ministers 
 raged fiercely against her by the terrors of the persecutions 
 to separate her from God and His Catholic Church, and 
 drive her again into the damnable snares of heresy and 
 •schism. But the matter fell out quite contrary to their 
 unalicious intent and expectation ; for the spirit of God 
 wrought so graciously in her, that all troubles, persecutions, 
 and cruelty practised against her for Catholic religion 
 and conscience' sake daily increased more and more the 
 constancy of her faith, and most mightily increased 
 p. e. strengthened] her former weakness with all patience 
 and fortitude to resist and sustain what cruelty soever the 
 heretics could devise and attempt against her. The prison 
 she accounted a most happy and profitable school, where 
 the servants of God (as delivered from all worldly cares 
 and business) might learn most commodiously every 
 Christian virtue. And surely this fruit she reaped of it 
 at all times, that there she made her provision, and heaped 
 together such good store of virtues as might serve her 
 need whensoever she should be set at liberty, and drawn 
 again into the malignant world. In this her imprisonment, 
 therefore, she greatly deceived her enemies, which intended 
 by such terror and violence to weaken her strength, to 
 abate her courage, and to infringe her constancy; for 
 every day she, growing stronger than herself, marvellously 
 increased in fervour and charity to God and man, planted 
 in her heart a perfect contempt of the world, and 
 laboured principally to overcome herself in all disordered 
 passions and inclinations of nature, that her actions and 
 service might be acceptable in the sight of God, as she 
 preferred His honour and will before all things. And, 
 therefore, when she understood at any time, either by the 
 false or slanderous reports of heretics, or by some true 
 and certain fame, that any Catholic prisoners behaved 
 themselves disorderly, in idleness, impatience, covetousness, 
 murmuration, dissension, or frowardness, self-love, or 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 371 
 
 greedy desire of liberty, inordinate worldly pleasure, or 
 any other thing inconvenient to their calling, which should 
 be mortified to the world and all concupiscence thereof — 
 although the devil labour with all his heretical routs more 
 vehemently to overthrow, by divers continual assaults 
 and temptations, such spiritual professed soldiers of 
 Christ, than a thousand living abroad at random in the 
 delights and vanities of the world, as having caught them 
 already with the sugared hook of deceitful allurements, 
 and not much fearing their escape — when she heard, I say, 
 of any like things, she would greatly lament their case, 
 and say : " Fie on it, that this thing should be heard of, 
 or be at all among Catholics imprisoned for their con- 
 science. Methinks, by this time they should have learned 
 to overcome themselves. Would to God, if it might stand 
 with the duty to my husband and my house, that I were 
 in prison again, where I might (being delivered from the 
 disquietness and cares of this world) attend wholly to the 
 service of my God, and to the getting of such virtues 
 as I perceive to be wanting in me. Oh, how happy are 
 they that have such good opportunity and occasion to do 
 well. I fear God saw something in me for which I was 
 unworthy to continue among them ; but God's blessed 
 will be done," which was a usual phrase with her. By 
 which speech, and such like, uttered so often with a 
 gracious humility of voice and countenance, besides the 
 perfect knowledge which I had of her whole mind and 
 actions, made me ever to admire her virtue, and did 
 perceive her endeavours during the time of her imprison- 
 ment to have been most commodious unto her, and there 
 to have found the true riches of many virtues ; amongst 
 which this was not the least, that she had a most instant 
 desire to suffer anything for God's sake and the Catholic 
 Faith. 
 
 Thus she turned all things to her good, and sucked 
 honey out of the cruelty of her enemies. They persecuted, 
 
2i'J2 Mr. John Musk's 
 
 and she thereby learned patience ; they shut her up into 
 close prison, and she learned thereby to forget and despise 
 the world ; they separated her from house, children, and 
 husband, and she thereby became familiar with God ; 
 they sought to terrify her, and she thereby increased in 
 most glorious constancy and fortitude, insomuch that 
 her greatest joy was to be assaulted by them, whereby 
 we see evidently this saying of the Apostle verified in her : 
 Scinms quod diligeniibtis Dctim omnia coopcrantur in boimm 
 iis qui secnndum propositnni vocati sunt sancti; that is, 
 ** We know that to them that love God all things do work 
 together unto good to such as according unto His purpose 
 are called to be saints." 
 
 But that her diligence in labouring to plant virtues 
 and to root out vice in her may the better appear and 
 be seen to the honour of God, and the glory of her, His 
 saint, and comfort and imitation of good people, I will 
 briefly touch some particular virtues wherein I saw her 
 most to excel. 
 
 CHAPTER HI. 
 
 OF HER HUMILITY, THE FOUNDATION OF ALL IIER 
 VIRTUES. 
 
 First, therefore, after she became a member of the Catholic 
 Church, and had resolved constantly to serve God, she 
 laboured to lay a sure foundation of true and unfeigned 
 humility, wherein she made such progress as was meet for 
 the building of a virtuous and holy life, and for the receiv- 
 ing of a glorious crown of martyrdom by her death. For, 
 notwithstanding all her other virtues, whereof a little after 
 I shall speak, notwithstanding all the good she did to 
 many, yet both in her own eyes she thought herself nobody 
 but an unprofitable servant to God and man, laden with 
 imperfections, and unworthy of any good, and also (as 
 
Life of Margaret C lit he row. 373 
 
 much as she could without sin and offence to God) desired 
 heartily so to be thought of and accounted in this world : 
 never pleasing herself in the goodness she had already, 
 but continually striving to get that which she perceived 
 in herself to be wanting. I have marvelled many times 
 to see her joy and great desire she had, that either her 
 spiritual father or any other could advertise her of her 
 faults and imperfections, suspecting always her own actions 
 not only to be impure in the sight of God, but also 
 imperfect and not worthy of the sight of men. And 
 therefore, being suspicious that those which were most 
 conversant with her might perhaps oversee or not note 
 them, she was very desirous of the company of any such 
 as she understood to judge hardly of her, or far otherwise 
 than indeed she did deserve, as virtue will never want an 
 envious neighbour, that by contradiction it may be exercised 
 to great perfection and glory. She was accustomed to 
 say : " For God's sake let such an one come and abide 
 with me awhile, for if they mislike of me, not knowing 
 me, surely they heard something of me, and would espy 
 it in me if they were present, which neither you (unless 
 you conceal it from me) nor I can find in myself, and 
 yet would very gladly amend if I could know it." 
 
 If at any times she had not gotten her good desires, 
 which was principally in the sacraments and service in 
 God's Catholic Church, she would not impute the want 
 of it to the fault of any other, but forthwith have called 
 to mind her own evil deserts, and humbly think her own 
 unworthiness to be the hindrance of so good grace. By 
 which humility and earnest desire she gained more abundance 
 of grace sometimes in foregoing the thing that she wished, 
 than she might have done in enjoying the same. When 
 any spoke well of her, then with heavy cheer she used 
 to sigh, and never so much feared or misliked her own 
 estate as when she knew that any did praise her. Com- 
 mend or praise her and her doings, and you oppressed 
 
374 Mr. John Mtish's 
 
 her with sorrow ; condemn and rebuke her, and seem to 
 despise her, then you filled her heart with joy and inward 
 gladness. Sometimes her friends of purpose would try 
 her both ways, as well for the exercising of her as for 
 their own comfort and imitation : now to dispraise that 
 which, indeed, deserved praise, now to commend that 
 which was unworthy, now to praise that [which] she did 
 well, and again now to find fault with that which might 
 perhaps have been amended — that in all her well-doings 
 she might keep humility of heart, and in her actions not 
 to respect the opinion of men or her own commendation, 
 but yield all honour to God, and walk in His sight in 
 sincerity and lowliness of spirit. When she had been 
 reproved of anything, she would mildly have answered 
 to have satisfied them ; and if it would not serve, then, 
 without all contention, keep silence, and return to the 
 comfort of her inward mind and conscience, referring all 
 to God, rather more willing to acknowledge a fault, 
 although she were innocent, than to defend or excuse 
 herself when she was any way reprehended. 
 
 And in this virtue she profited so greatly, that in all 
 prosperity and good that befell either herself or others, 
 she, acknowledging her own unworthiness, returned all 
 glory and hearty thanks to God, and usually would say, 
 " God be thanked ;" and, in all adversities, think herself 
 unworthy of better, saying also, "God's will be fulfilled.** 
 In this tranquillity of a humble spirit she lived in 
 exceeding joy. Her external actions discovered the true 
 humility of her heart, for there was nothing to be done in 
 the house so base that she would not be most ready to 
 do or take in hand herself, and the baser the office should 
 be, the more unwilling would she be the maidens should 
 do it, but rather keep it as a necessary exercise in 
 store for herself of her own humility. Yea, although she 
 were inferior to none of her neighbours in any honest, 
 comely, womanly, or decent quality, and worthy to be 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 375 
 
 preferred before them in every point wherein the com- 
 mendation of a good housewife standeth, yet she would 
 not disdain, as many do, more outwardly nice than 
 inwardly virtuous, or think much to make the fire, to 
 sweep the house, to wash the dishes, and more gross 
 matters also, choosing rather to do them herself, and to 
 set her maids about sweeter business. Although some- 
 times, to muzzle them to such acts of humility, she would 
 acquaint also her servants and children with doing the 
 same. In talking of this matter, I have heard her say- 
 many times : " God forbid that I should will any to do 
 that in my house which I would not willingly do myself 
 first. They that think much, and are not willing to do 
 such base things, have little regard of well-doing or know- 
 ledge of themselves." Thus she walked in the safe way 
 of humility, ever fearing her own deeds, and preferring all 
 others before herself 
 
 I have greatly marvelled oftentimes how she, being 
 an unlearned woman, tossed up and down in worldly 
 business, except only in the times of her imprisonment^ 
 wherein she learned to read English and written hand, 
 could attain to that humility, to which I know few faithful 
 clerks to have reached nigh, but Digitus Dei hie, Jicbc 
 mntatio dexterce Exeelsi : "It is the finger of God, this 
 change is of the right hand of the Highest ;" and surely, 
 as I persuade myself, she is a pattern of virtues given to 
 me and others to follow, who are so slack in imitating the 
 virtues of our Saviour and of His other saints, which we 
 have heard of and never seen, that we might be quickened 
 and stirred up to more fervour by the example of this 
 glorious Martyr, whom we have both seen and known,, 
 and [with whom] we have been a long time familiarly 
 conversant, the which good benefit, I trust, she will, during 
 this my mortal life procure for me of God by her gracious. 
 help and prayers, having also daily before my eyes the 
 fresh memory of her excellent virtues. 
 
21^ Mi\Jokn Mush's 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 OF HER PERFECT CHARITY AND LOVE TO GOD. 
 
 With this virtue of perfect humility did shine in her a 
 rare charity and love to God. This appeared in her most 
 ^fervent zeal in setting forth and making provision for the 
 serving of God. In all her virtuous life, in the great 
 troubles she sustained for His sake, and especially, last 
 •of all, in the voluntary and ready offering of herself to 
 a cruel death in the testimony of her true love to Him 
 and the truth of His Catholic faith : for so He saith. 
 Nemo habet majorem charitatem qttam ttt aniviam suam 
 ponat quis pro amicis suis — "None hath greater charity 
 than to give his life for his friends' sake." No time verily 
 seemed to her long enough for the service of God, no 
 pains grievous, nothing too dear for the setting forward 
 of His honour. By three things specially I noted in her 
 the true love of God. 
 
 First, that she had every day a hearty sorrow and 
 liumble repentance for her youth spent out of the Catholic 
 Church of Christ, in vain follies and schism, which daily 
 exercise wrought in her a continual savour to repentance 
 [for] those years, with her whole strength, by God's grace, 
 to honour Him as she had dishonoured Him before. 
 
 Secondly, that she had a vehement desire that all 
 others, both heretics, schismatics, and lukewarm Catholics, 
 might know God and His truth, be made children of His 
 Catholic Church, serve and love Him above all things, 
 and obtain no less grace than she wished for herself; that 
 God might be glorified in all His people. And in this 
 her perfect charity toward God she let no occasion slip, 
 no opportunity escape, to draw all with whom she might 
 safely deal, to their dutiful and sincere obedience toward 
 God. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 377 
 
 Thirdly, that she kept always a most firm and constant 
 purpose not to do willingly and advisedly anything, how 
 small soever it were, which she thought was offensive to 
 God ; but, as much as her state and ability would permit, 
 to do that the rather of two good things which she 
 imagined or could learn to be most acceptable to Him, 
 and to the more glory of His holy Name. 
 
 How often have I heard her speak these words, when 
 we have talked together of the perfect obedience and 
 love some saints have had, and we all should have towards 
 God. " God knoweth," said she, " I am far off from that 
 [which] I should be, and I am clogged with many imper- 
 fections, but by God's grace I never mind to commit any 
 sin willingly, which I know to be a sin or against God's 
 will, though it were to gain the whole world or save my 
 temporal life." Some little imperfections reigned in her, 
 without the which this mortal life is not possible. But in 
 truth I never found her void of this constant purpose 
 willingly not to offend God, and as much as her condition 
 suffered her, most desirous and ready to do in all things 
 that which most did redound to God's honour. 
 
 And this charity so enkindled, and rather inflamed 
 her in such marvellous sort, that it overruled all worldly 
 fears and natural inclination in her; that to serve God 
 she neither feared the world, neither the flesh, nor the 
 devil, neither yet all the cruelty that hell gates, heretics, 
 or other creatures could work against her, and therefore 
 in all her actions it evidently appeared that she loved 
 Him whom continually she served, and joyfully served 
 Him whom she loved above all things, and that her 
 industry to keep earnestly in her heart this true and 
 chaste love of God, far surpassed the diligence of any 
 other foolish lovers in seeking to give and accomplish 
 inordinate desires. 
 
37^ Mr, John Mush's 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 
 OF HER OBEDIENCE TO HER GHOSTLY FATHER. 
 From the deep foundation of her perfect humility, and 
 the fruitful root of her burning charity to God, did rise 
 up and spring great plenty of all virtues : for being 
 timorous to offend God, and only desirous to obey His 
 will in every thing, and withal suspicious of her own 
 doings that they we're not so perfect in God's sight, as 
 both He required, and of duty they should be, she found 
 out the only sure and safe way to do well, which she 
 might ever follow without offence, and exercise with 
 greatest gain. This golden woman did utterly forsake 
 her own judgment and will in all her actions, to submit 
 herself to the judgment, will, and direction of her ghostly 
 father; and in this she fully believed and persuaded herself, 
 that as she was in the secrecy of her own conscience most 
 desirous and willing to do only the will of God, and yet 
 unworthy in any particular action to have it from Him 
 immediately revealed to her, (for that He worketh all 
 things orderly, and disposeth His works most sweetly, 
 governing inferior creatures by the means of superiors in 
 every degree,) so if she, for His sake, did renounce the 
 peril of her own will, most subject to error and offence, 
 He would of His infinite goodness provide her such 
 ghostly guides that should safely conduct her through all 
 dangers : to the which persuasion she was much induced (as 
 I remember she had said) by this motive, that since God of 
 His infinite mercy had sent His priests already to call her to 
 His grace, by delivering her from error in faith and ungracious 
 affections of the will, He would also with like goodness 
 that by their helps she should continue in the same : and 
 as she might offend God in every of her actions, so it 
 seemed to her the only safe way to please God, humbly 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 379 
 
 to submit herself in all things to follow the advice and 
 direction of His priests. 
 
 And sur6ly in this obedience she attained to such 
 perfection, that although some ghostly fathers might have 
 been thought, worthily, not of that sufficiency which was 
 requisite for her direction in every point in her affairs (for 
 she could not have present with her at all times those 
 which she had chosen and chiefly desired to be guided by 
 in all things, by reason of the scarcity of priests, and the 
 plentiful harvest in sundry places abroad,) yet her con- 
 fidence was so strong in God that she never doubted but 
 He would endue and furnish every His priest, for the time 
 of her need, with sufficient wisdom and discretion to direct 
 her actions as should be most to His honour and her 
 own spiritual good. And hereupon she bare a singular 
 reverence to priesthood in every person, giving only respect 
 to God, whose person and authority they represent and 
 carry, and not to any man's person or other natural 
 qualities in them. For many [times] when some, [with 
 whom] she could have been well content, were called from 
 her by occasion of more urgent business, she would say : 
 " For God's sake let me not be without one or other, for 
 whosoever beareth the name or authority of a Catholic 
 priest shall be most welcome unto me, and find me willing 
 by God's grace to follow his direction." 
 
 And truly she performed it in every respect ; for the 
 word of any priest, but especially of her ghostly father — 
 nay, any little notification of his will to her, or if she could 
 have gathered it by word, countenance, or sign, was 
 [in]stead of his commandment to do his will ; which ever 
 she did with that marvellous alacrity, that her inward joy 
 appeared outwardly in her mild and smiling countenance, 
 no less cheerful and pleasant, than comfortable to all that 
 saw her. 
 
 One thing I will set down, which may abundantly 
 witness her singular love to God, and confident obedience 
 
380 Mr, John MusJis 
 
 to her spiritual father. One day they two talking together 
 (as at all times with reverence she was bold to disclose 
 her whole mind unto him, and willing to be as 
 thoroughly known to him as to herself), she requested 
 him to satisfy her in a matter of no small importance 
 touching her own estate. After she had opened the whole 
 case to him, and he had examined every point and 
 circumstance thereof, and finding her without fault or 
 blame at all (which she more scrupulously suspected than 
 she had cause), he sent her away in good contentation and 
 quietness of spirit. 
 
 After that, three or four months at the least, the same 
 father being desirous to make some especial proof of her 
 charity to God, and obedience to her ghostly father, moved 
 talk again with her as concerning the same matter, and 
 feigning himself to have more advisedly considered of it, 
 and also have read more of such cases, told her that she 
 had offended God in the first doing of it, and should daily 
 sin if she continued to do the same ; at which speeches 
 she fetched a deep sigh, and said nothing. He, expecting 
 her answer, asked her : " What she would do in it } " 
 " In truth," quoth she, " I am heartily sorry that I offended 
 God in doing it at the beginning, yet by His grace 
 (though it be the great cross that ever could have 
 happened to me in this life, and the malicious world will 
 be ready to condemn me of worse than the thing is indeed) 
 I will with all my heart make here an end. Rather than 
 I offend God herein any more, I will sustain any teniporal 
 rebuke or reproach. Therefore, if you speak the word, I 
 am ready to obey it with perfect love and obedience to 
 God and His priest." Her ghostly father marvelled not 
 a little, and assuring [her] that the matter was in good 
 case as he had told her before, he willed her never after 
 to trouble herself or any other with the same. Thus she 
 was to God most charitable, and for His sake (that she 
 might more certainly work His will) of rare obedience to 
 her ghostly father. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 381 
 
 One thing more, among many, it will not be incon- 
 venient to report of her love to God, and fear to displease 
 Him. It chanced that a little after the impious and 
 bloody statute stood in force against all Catholic priests 
 and aiders, a Catholic man (which sometime before had 
 served God in her house) came to her, and in the way and 
 manner of friendly advice v/illed her to be more careful 
 of herself, and since that virtue and the Catholic cause 
 was now made treason and felony, that either she would 
 not with such danger receive any priests at all, or else 
 very seldom ; and this he added also, that it was no 
 wisdom to admit her children and others to God's service, 
 and that she ought not to adventure upon these things 
 without licence of her husband. After such other like 
 speech he departed, leaving her in some discontentment 
 by reason of his uncharitable talk. She not having leisure 
 or opportunity in three days after to impart this unto 
 her ghostly father, and he then being ready to depart 
 from her, she took him aside, and desired that she might 
 ask him one question, " which," quoth she, " I never 
 doubted of, yet by some speech from a Catholic, it hath 
 troubled my mind these two or three days together. May 
 I not," said she, " receive priests and serve God as I 
 have done, notwithstanding these new laws, without my 
 husband's consent t " " What think you," quoth he, " in 
 this matter t " " Truly," quoth she, " hitherto I have 
 been desirous to serve God, and both to know and do 
 my duty in receiving His servants, and have put my whole 
 confidence in you, that I might safely walk by your 
 direction without sin : and I know not how the rigour of 
 these new statutes may alter my duty in this thing : but 
 [if] you will tell me that I offend God in any point, I 
 will not do it for all the world." " Then," quoth he, " it 
 is your husband's most safety not 'to know these things 
 unless he were resolved to serve God notwithstanding any 
 danger; again, by his consent and licence you should 
 
382 Mr, John Mus/is 
 
 not serve God at all, and in this, your necessary 
 duty to God, you are not any whit inferior to him. 
 Neither doth the cruelties of wicked laws anything change 
 or frustrate your duty to God : and therefore, an it were 
 lawful and a good deed before these statutes to receive 
 God's priests, and continually to serve Him in Catholic 
 manner, the same is still lawful and well done ; yea, and 
 more meritorious in God's sight than ever it was. Besides 
 this," quoth he, " no man can now refuse to receive them 
 for fear of these laws, but he must be partaker in some 
 part and guilty of the wickedness in the law and law- 
 makers, as by his own deed giving them their intent, 
 scope, and effect, which is to banish God's priests from 
 their sheep, and abandon \i.e. banish] the Catholic religion 
 and faith out of the whole realm." At which words she, 
 stricken with great joy, said : " I thank you, Father. By 
 God's grace all priests shall be more welcome to me than 
 ever they were, and I will do what I can to set forward 
 God's Catholic service." "Then," quoth he, merrily, but 
 yet always he thought it would happen to her reward, 
 "you must prepare your neck for the rope." "God's will 
 be done," said she ; " but I am far unworthy of that 
 honour." Thus they departed : he with no less comfort 
 to see her virtue, she to have her former liberty to serve 
 God. Yet the same Father, and others also, hath heard 
 her often in remembrance of that person, and his dissua- 
 sions of her duty to God, show great disliking towards 
 him and said she made less account of him than she had 
 done, and would not care how little she had to deal with 
 such timorous Catholics, which would not only, through 
 worldly fear, slack their own Christian duty, but would 
 also be an instrument of the devil and of the heretics to 
 discomfort and terrify such as would gladly do well. 
 
 Hereby you may perceive her singular love to God, 
 from whom to be separated a short time in this life she 
 accounted death. And yet, for the same love and 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 383 
 
 obedience to Him and His priests, ready for a season 
 as it were to forego God, lest she should any way offend 
 God. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 OF HER CHARITY TO HER NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 As she was in her own heart most lowly to God, most 
 loving for His sake, to His priests singularly obedient, 
 receiving and hearing them with reverence due to the 
 messengers of God, so was she inflamed with marvellous 
 love towards her neighbours, in setting down of which 
 virtue, as I saw it in her, the iniquity of the time doth 
 rather cause me to speak in general, [than] to descend to 
 many of her particular good works, lest by touching either 
 the proper name or the state of any, which are not in body 
 delivered from the heretics' tyranny, I should give light 
 and intelligence when to vomit out their spite and fury 
 upon the secret servants of God. 
 
 Over these, therefore, she had a special care, which 
 were her neighbours and citizens, or (as she used much 
 to call them) her brethren or sisters in the Catholic Church, 
 if they were in prison, or other furnace of trial, by all 
 comforts and means she could devise, to make their burden 
 light, and Christ's yoke to savour sweet to them ; if they 
 were Catholics abroad, and yet not void of tribulation (for 
 that the heretics, as the natural whelps of the devouring 
 lion that seeketh everywhere whom he may destroy, per- 
 mitteth none peaceably to enjoy either spiritual consolation 
 or bodily quietness) to procure them help and comfort 
 both of soul and body ; if they were schismatics, to reduce 
 them again to the Catholic unity ; if they were heretics, 
 and she had any hope of their conversion, or through some 
 familiar acquaintance with them doubted not of their 
 secrecy, to have them instructed in the true faith ; and, 
 finally, if they were malefactors or persecutors of God's 
 
384 Mr. John Mush's 
 
 people, to pray most earnestly for their amendment and 
 pardon of their malice. How have I wondered, good Lord, 
 to see the charitable care, large providence, continual dili- 
 gence, and toil of Thy servant, to bring all to Thee ! To 
 make Thee, her God, sweeter to them than their own lives, 
 or all Thy created pleasures ; to let all know the Catholic 
 truth, without which there was no truth at all ; to allure 
 all men to love Thee, as she, by Thy grace, loved Thee ; 
 above all, to turn Thy wrath from the persecutors, and to 
 have Thy holy Name glorified in every degree. How 
 often hast Thou seen my secret heart rejoice and leap 
 within me, when I saw and considered then an unworthy 
 father to her, and I confess, O Lord, the abundant charity 
 and good work of Thy daughter, which [Thy] hearty good- 
 ness enriched with plentiful graces to my comfort and 
 instruction, and now in Thy most happy kingdom hast 
 crowned with the just resplendent dignity of supreme 
 honour, that with great hope I may cry to Thee by her, 
 my blessed mother, whom I joyed so often here to have 
 my virtuous daughter, Thou knowest, my God, and for the 
 glory of Thy saint whom Thou so mightily hast glorified : 
 I also will ever witness the same, how carefully she cast 
 her charitable eye into every corner, where Thy secret 
 servants lay desolate and afflicted, to get them fed with 
 Thy heavenly food in due season, lest, for want of Thy 
 banquet, they might happen to fall from Thee. How also 
 she hath looked to their bodily needs, and procured to 
 every one relief with discretion ; with how much gladness 
 hath she gathered together by ten or twelve Thy poor 
 Catholic people at once, and brought to pass, — first to 
 have them purified and fed with Thy gracious Sacraments ; 
 then their bodies refreshed with sufficient meat and drink ; 
 herself, with a marvellous gift from Thee of joy and 
 humility, ministering and waiting on them diligently, and 
 after refection providing money for every one according to 
 their need. These now lament the unjust spoil and loss 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 385 
 
 of Thy handmaid, their common mother, and accuse, no 
 doubt, with sorrowful hearts all the heretical cruelty, that 
 hath injuriously bereft them of so provident a mother. 
 
 This one thing I mused many times to behold, her 
 great gladness in the company of such as were fervent in 
 the service of God and of virtuous life. Good Lord ! how 
 familiar and pleasant would she have been with them, very 
 prompt and ready, with continual smiling countenance, to 
 provide and help them forward in their good desire ! The 
 young children and novices of Christ's Church she liked 
 greatly, and would embolden and encourage them in the 
 way of virtue, not only by her own example, but also by 
 some familiar or sweet counsel after her best fashion. 
 And, contrariwise, how she lamentably misHked and 
 loathed the state and company of worldling and luke- 
 warm Catholics, which would not give themselves to virtue, 
 neither for the example of good Catholics, nor the often 
 calls and admonitions of God's messengers. 
 
 By this, her hearty gladness of all folks' well-doing, 
 though by all her other actions any man might have 
 known her true virtues, yet I most infallibly gathered a 
 rare perfection of grace in her. For many in external 
 show doth right well, and seem to want nothing necessary 
 to a virtuous life, yet their imperfection is bewrayed in 
 some spice of envious emulation to such as are no less 
 virtuous than themselves, or are preferred before them. 
 Others also have indeed ascended to some degree of good- 
 ness, and are not envious for grudging in the same way ; 
 yet they show their imperfections, are void of all joy and 
 alacrity when some others (especially if they be of their 
 own state and calling) is said to be equal with them, or 
 preferred before them : insomuch that every word spoken 
 in the commendations of others afflict their heart with 
 noisome grief, which kind of grief and imperfection were 
 far from the virtue of this glorious martyr : for her joy and 
 comfort was no less of the well-doing of others than of her 
 z 
 
386 Mr. John Muslis 
 
 own, because that she knew that God was equally honoured 
 in them both. 
 
 Finally, her enemies (which for many years together, 
 
 as they persecuted the Church of God, so left they no 
 
 cruelty untried to destroy the Catholic faith and God's 
 
 grace in her) were never excluded from her most ample 
 
 charity ; for they never so often practised wickedly against 
 
 the Church herself, or any member of it, but she had this 
 
 in her mouth : " I pray God amend them, forgive them, 
 
 and give them grace to know their error and to amend it." 
 
 What shall I say of the many hard griefs and deep 
 
 sighs I have heard and seen in her, when any loose Catholic 
 
 lived in folly or fell from the unity of Christ's Church, or 
 
 when any Catholic or schismatic departed this world to 
 
 the terrible and just judgment of God } Upon all which 
 
 events (though she were cast thereby into some anguish 
 
 of mind) yet she gathered no small profit, for of the evil 
 
 behaviour of others she received a reverent and a necessary 
 
 fear of her own weakness, that might easily slide to the 
 
 like follies, unless it were daily strengthened with God's 
 
 grace, and served Him sincerely. By the woeful death 
 
 of the rest she remembered in what danger she had been 
 
 in, and how mercifully God had delivered her. By which 
 
 consideration she greatly increased in her thankful love to 
 
 Him again, and thought she could not honour Him 
 
 worthily for such His goodness by all that she was able 
 
 to devise. 
 
 But to end this her rare charity to her neighbours of 
 every degree with their general reports, for this dark time 
 may abide no more light, let those with woeful hearts 
 witness more particularly the abundance of this virtue, 
 which hath been relieved greatly by her means, and now 
 with good cause bewail the want of such a friend, for I 
 will pass briefly to other matter. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 387 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 OF HER ZEAL AND FERVOUR IN THE CATHOLIC 
 RELIGION. 
 
 When I would speak anything of her fervent zeal in the 
 furthering of the true religion of God, I cannot tell where 
 to begin, nor what to say equal with her doings. This I 
 always manifestly saw in her, that her most care, thought, 
 and study was to have God catholicly served, and by all 
 means His truth known, and Him honoured. For after 
 her deliverance out of prison she straightway provided 
 place, and all things convenient, that God might be served 
 in her house. The heretics themselves, though they [be] 
 full of malice and wickedness, can witness her great pro- 
 vision for this purpose, all which they sacrilegiously spoiled 
 and carried away to their own profane use, but with as 
 much right and honesty as thieves deal with true men's 
 purses. In all her affairs this was the chief that she cared 
 for, to the which as to the end of Christian life, all her 
 other actions were referred. Fervour overcame all fear, 
 and her inflamed zeal to God's service consumed all 
 worldly terrors. She would ever say : *' I will not be 
 afraid to serve God, and do well. This is a war and trial 
 in God's Church, and therefore if I cannot [do] my duty 
 without peril and dangers, yet by God's grace I will not 
 be slacker for them. If God's priests dare venture them- 
 selves to my house, I will never refuse them." These and 
 such like words I have heard from her mouth many times, 
 when talk hath been moved of the dangers wherein all 
 Catholics do live under the ravenous heretics. 
 
 And of that courage she was for the setting forth of 
 God's service, that she would not fear or cease to attempt 
 anything (wherein manifest danger appeared not) whereby 
 God might be honoured, and herself and other receive 
 
388 Mr, John MtisJis 
 
 spiritual commodity. For this end she prepared two 
 chambers, the one adjoining to her own house, whereunto 
 she might resort at any time, without sight or knowledge 
 of any neighbours. In this she served God every day in 
 quiet and calm times, with her children and others. The 
 other was distant a little from her own house, secret and 
 unknown to any but such as she knew to be faithful and 
 discreet, whereunto she could not daily resort without sus- 
 picion, nor at any time without the sight of her neighbours. 
 This place she prepared for more troublesome and 
 dangerous times, that God might be served there when 
 her own was not thought to be safe, although she could 
 not have access to it every day as she desired. Upon a 
 time I asked her, why she would make that provision from 
 her house, since she herself could not resort thither to 
 serve God, not past once or twice in the week. "Well," 
 said she, " my heart is with you, and I trust you remember 
 me when I am toiling in the world. And though I cannot 
 come as I desire, yet it doth me good and much comforteth 
 me that I know I have you here, and that God is any way 
 served by my means." 
 
 The ravening heretics can report to their shame and 
 damnation how she had spared no cost to maintain her 
 religion, and that they thought so much Church stuff had 
 not been in a whole county as they found with her. And 
 truly her fervent zeal was so vehement, that all she did 
 seemed to her little or nothing, whereas others knew well, 
 that with her it was more necessary to use the bridle than 
 the spur, 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 OF HER ALACRITY AND JOY IN MIND AND BODY. 
 Neither was this fervour without its happy effect and 
 true reward in this life, which is peace, joy, and gladness 
 of mind and body at all times, for all her actions were 
 
Life of Margaret Clitkerow, 389 
 
 tempered with all inward tranquillity and comfort, with 
 discreet and honest mirth, with mild and smiling coun- 
 tenance ; ready of tongue, but yet her words modest, and 
 courteous, and lowly ; quick in the despatch of business, 
 and then most pleasant when she could the most serve 
 God, or procure the same to others. 
 
 Good Lord ! how joyful have I seen her when she had 
 two or three Fathers at once. How would she laugh for 
 inward joy to have God served in her house divers times 
 in one day, and how she deceived the heretics. Her out- 
 ward behaviour, so mild, so lowly and pleasant, that as it 
 proceeded from her inward joy and comfort, so was it 
 most grateful and comfortable to all that were conversant 
 with her. So long as she had with her a ghostly Father 
 to serve God, no time seemed wearisome; for after her 
 household business were despatched, she would once or 
 twice a day serve [him], and no trouble nor sorrow could 
 make her heavy during this time. 
 
 In one thing she could never overcome herself, that 
 was, in the absence of a priest, to be merry or without 
 heaviness, for that time she thought herself desolate, and 
 ever suspected that for some fault which God saw in her, 
 she was unworthy of them. What secret sighing have I 
 heard suddenly burst from her, and what sorrowful cheer 
 have I spied in her unawares for the departing of her 
 ghostly Father, and especially when he was to pass some 
 danger, or to abide long from her ; for she ever feared that 
 if anything should happen to him, others afterward would 
 be more unwilling to come to her, and so she should 
 remain without the service of God, in the which she had 
 her greatest comfort. And surely I remember not that 
 ever I have seen her cast into any sorrow or heaviness (the 
 gracious penance and grief for sin, and the trouble of 
 God's Church, and loss of souls excepted), but only for the 
 want of a priest and God's service. If any priest had 
 passed that town and had not seen her, she wouldjnot have 
 
390 Mr, John Mush's 
 
 been a little troubled, and have thought herself to have lost 
 no small benefit. 
 
 Thus in all her actions she served God with joy and 
 gladness, without fretting or lumpish mind, beginning here 
 [that] blessed peace, which God in this vale of misery- 
 granted in some imperfect sort to His servants, which He 
 now hath perfected in her by the abundance of her exceeding 
 joy in heaven. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 OF HER DEVOTION AND SPIRITUAL EXERCISE. 
 
 Her devotion and spiritual exercise were no less excellent 
 than her other virtues, and all most worthy to be imitated. 
 I will not speak as she used them during the time of her 
 imprisonment, for she thought that God sent her thither, 
 as to a school, principally to learn how to serve Him in 
 this world. Judge, therefore, by her exercise at home 
 (where she was laden with necessary household business) 
 what she did in prison, where she had no such cares, but 
 good time and opportunity to attend only to serve God, 
 and the gathering of spiritual riches. In these things she 
 utterly forsook herself, and would not in anywise follow 
 her own fantasy, but committed all wholly to the guiding 
 and direction of her ghostly Father. No prayer seemed 
 sweet unto her, no time convenient, no order straight, 
 unless he had first perused them, and judged them meet 
 for her. Every morning ordinarily, before she took in 
 hand any worldly matter, she continued secret in her 
 chamber one hour and a half, or most often two hours, 
 praying upon her knees, and meditating upon the Passion 
 of Christ, the benefits of God bestowed upon her, her own 
 sins and present estate of her soul, &c. Immediately after 
 which time (if her husband or some importunate business 
 letted her not) she came to her spiritual Father's chamber 
 to hear the divine mysteries, and with him to offer to God 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 39 1 
 
 the Father His dear Son, sacrificed upon the holy altar by 
 His priests for the quick and dead. If there had been two 
 Fathers to celebrate, she would have been present at both, 
 unless on some occasion her ghostly Father had willed her 
 to depart, or some extreme necessity had called her away. 
 Her most delight was to kneel where she might continually 
 behold the Blessed Sacrament, and usually she chose • her 
 place next the door, behind all the rest, in the worst and 
 the base seats, and most unseemly corner in all the 
 chamber. After service, when she had committed her 
 and all her works that day to the protection of God, she 
 occupied herself in necessary worldly affairs, endeavouring 
 all the day long to have her mind fixed on God. And to 
 this end she strove marvellously with herself not to begin 
 anything in her house before she had lifted up her mind 
 to God first, desiring Him that she might do His pleasure 
 to His honour, and to do her duty in it rather to fulfil 
 His blessed will thereby, than for any worldly respect. 
 
 Divers times, for want of this good actual intention (as 
 it was impossible in so many and divers affairs to have it 
 in every particular action), she would reprove herself 
 greatly, and say to her ghostly Father, "Now, for God's 
 sake, pray for me ; methinks I do nothing well because 
 I overslipped this right intention, v/hich God's servants 
 should always have actually, to refer all my doing to His 
 glory." 
 
 Her devotions all the rest of the day were as she could 
 get leisure ; which almost she never had until four of the 
 clock in the afternoon, about which time she would shake 
 off the world and come to evening-song, where she, praying 
 one hour with her children about her, afterward returned 
 again about her care of the household until eight or nine 
 of the clock, at which time she used to resort to her ghostly 
 Father's chamber to pray a little and ask his blessing, 
 which of her own humihty she did, and would not slip 
 and forget at morning and night. From thence, going 
 
392 Mr. John Mush's 
 
 to her chamber, she ordinarily spent an hour at the least 
 in prayer and examining of her conscience, how she had 
 offended God that day. 
 
 Twice a week she frequented the Holy Sacraments 
 of Confession and Eucharist, if her Father had thought 
 expedient, and although she received sometimes not twice 
 a week, she would be very importunate with him every 
 Wednesday and Sunday to be shriven, that in God's sight 
 her conscience might be clear and pure from sin. 
 
 Truly, if I should endeavour to tell her humility, her 
 hearty contrition, and sorrow for her small imperfections, 
 the loathsomeness she conceived of her sinful and unprofit- 
 able life in the world, as unworthy of any benefits from 
 God and His creatures, with tears shed for her offences, 
 the sighs and lamentations that she could not serve God 
 with as much liberty at all times as she desired, by reason 
 of her worldly cares : if I should set down the love and 
 wonderful affection she bare to His sacraments : with what 
 care, simplicity, lowliness, and sincerity she revealed to 
 her ghostly Father the bottom of her heart, conscience, 
 and every corner and secret inclination, I should, I confess, 
 want words, and for all that could not come near to that 
 which the thing required. I will therefore speak no more 
 thereof: SecreUini meum mihi — "The secret shall be to 
 myself." 
 
 As then I admired her, so now I do more and more, 
 hoping by her blessed intercession to emulate some little 
 part of that virtue and purity which I know to be in her; 
 for if her graces were in her frailty of such efficacy and 
 force, that she never came to confession to me but before 
 her departure I was cast into some extraordinary joy of 
 mind, and a most comfortable remorse of my own sins, 
 verily I doubt not but in her secular \ix. eternal] glory she 
 will be mindful of me, and procure me those graces which 
 she knoweth me to want. 
 
 And Thou, O my God ! the searcher of all secrets, hast 
 
Life of MargtM^ CUthero'm: 393 
 
 seen how often Thy plentiful graces, wherewith Thou hadst 
 beautified her, did stir up my soul to Thee in hearty 
 remembrance of my own miseries, whereby I saw myself 
 far off from Thee, and wished but to be so gracious in Thy 
 favour as she Thy servant was, whom here Thy goodness 
 did adorn with so rare gifts, and prepared as Thy loving 
 spouse to so gracious a marriage day, that she might so 
 victoriously enter Thy triumphant city in her bloody 
 scarlet robe. 
 
 In the time of her receiving the Blessed Sacrament of 
 Christ His Body, she ever coveted to have the lowest 
 place, so far as she could do it without trouble and 
 noisomeness to others, for she would [not] seem to any 
 to desire it. Whilst she received, her lowly and gracious 
 countenance was washed with sweet tears trickling from 
 her eyes. Afterward she would depart for half an hour 
 into some close corner, where she might familiarly enjoy 
 the delights of her God, whom she had brought into the 
 secret parlour of her heart, and all the day after she would 
 be merry and smiling, yet most wary to keep her senses 
 shut, lest she should by negligence or false security be 
 robbed of her treasure. 
 
 A marvellous desire she had once a week at least to 
 hear a virtuous exhortation by her ghostly Father, and 
 would sometimes make secret motions and signs to him of 
 this secret desire ; sometimes also reverently request him 
 to speak something for such audience as she would provide, 
 which thing she did commonly at those times when 
 strangers, or such as could get opportunity to serve God 
 and be present at exhortations, were assembled, so careful 
 she was of every man's well-doing. 
 
 When she had leisure, she most delighted to read the New 
 Testament of Rheims Translation, Kempis of the Following 
 of Christ, Perin's Exercise, and such like spiritual books. 
 I have heard her say, " if that it pleased God so to dispose, 
 and set her at liberty from the world, she would with all 
 
394 Mr, John Mushes 
 
 her heart take upon her some religious habit, whereby 
 she might ever serve God under obedience." And to this 
 end (not knowing what God would do with her) she learned 
 our Lady's Matins in Latin. 
 
 CHAPTER X. 
 
 OF HER ABSTINENCE. 
 
 So long as she was in prison she fasted four days every 
 week, (for so did all there, partly for lack of necessary 
 victual, partly to satisfy for their former sins, partly for 
 the greater merit, and the sooner to procure God's grace 
 again to His afflicted Church). The same abstinence she 
 slacked not any time after she was delivered, but kept it 
 still as no less necessary for her spiritual good in the 
 world, than it was in prison. Every Monday, Wednesday, 
 and Saturday she abstained from flesh, and [had] but one 
 meal a day. Every Friday she fasted [on] bread and drink, 
 afflicting her body with some sharp discipline, when she 
 could have licence of her ghostly Father. 
 
 And, notwithstanding this, she was of very good liking, 
 as though she had fared most daintily every day. Her 
 most desire was to eat rye bread, milk, or pottage and 
 butter. This cheer she preferred before all others. 
 Nothing did more grieve her than to be invited to 
 banquets abroad, where, (she said) she "could never but 
 exceed her ordinary measure, and by reason of company 
 and by diversities of meats eat more plentifully than she 
 wished." Wherefore, to avoid this inconvenience, she 
 would devise many excuses and shift off her husband's 
 importunity (who, loving company himself, desired to take 
 her with him), by feigning some urgent business, where 
 indeed that time she would have spared from superfluous 
 feeding her body, and employed it to feed the soul by 
 prayer and meditations. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 395 
 
 In her diet she had so mortified and overcome herself, 
 that neither she desired delicate fare, nor at the table if 
 one piece had been better than another, would she have 
 taken it, but carved it to others, and have pleased herself 
 with the worst. She used also, after she was set at meat, 
 to say an Ave Maria, or to elevate her mind a little to 
 God by some short meditation before she would move her 
 hand to anything upon the table. 
 
 CHAPTER XL 
 
 OF HER PILGRIMAGE. 
 
 After the priests had first suffered martyrdom at Knaves- 
 mire, (all which at most had been her ghostly Fathers,) 
 and by their holy blood and death had sanctified their 
 reproachful gallows, she greatly desired often to visit that 
 place, for she called it her pilgrimage ; and thither she 
 would go, accompanied with two or three virtuous women. 
 This being the common place for execution for all sorts of 
 malefactors, distant half a mile from the city of York, made 
 the passage sometime more difficult to her, because she 
 might not adventure thither but by night because of spies, 
 and only at such time as her husband was from home. 
 Her desire was greatly often to go thither, where so many 
 her ghostly Fathers had shed their blood in witness of the 
 Catholic faith, where they had triumphed over the world, 
 the flesh, and the devil, from whence they had ascended 
 into heaven, where she earnestly wished (if it were God*s 
 will) for the same Catholic cause to end her life, and where 
 she hoped one day God should be glorified in the memory 
 of His martyrs. But by reason of this wicked time, her 
 ghostly Father thought not good to permit her so often to 
 go as she desired. 
 
 As I remember she went barefoot to the place, and 
 kneeling on her bare knees ever under the gallows, medi- 
 
39^ Mr, John Mus/i6 
 
 tated and prayed so long as her company would suffer her. 
 As I understand, her desire and request was, after she was 
 condemned, that she might be carried to this place to suffer 
 what cruelty they pleased, but they would not grant it ; 
 no doubt but by God's Providence that her glorious death 
 might sanctify some other profane place, and that thou 
 most wicked and ungrateful city, mightest in time to come 
 behold in the midst of thine own heart, for a perpetual 
 shame to thine own cruelty, in murthering so rare a 
 Margaret, as thou wast not worthy of, and for extinguishing 
 such a light as was not to be found in many realms the 
 like. One day a most corrupt and loathsome sink of 
 iniquity, thou shalt be honoured and excel many nations, 
 not for the cruelty that is in thee but for the famous victory 
 and abundant merits of this martyr. Thy children surely 
 shall lament in time to come, and be ashamed of this thy 
 barbarous fact, and humbly crave her to be their patron 
 and mother of life and prosperity whom thou hast denied 
 life unto, and which the height of thy heretical fury hath 
 pressed to death. Oh, if thou couldst see and consider the 
 time of thy visitation, how the blood of many saints, yea, 
 the blood of thine own daughter, hastened God's vengeance 
 upon thee ; and yet thou hardened more thy obstinate 
 heart, that thou in this thy wicked and faithless generation 
 mayest be speedily rooted up, and the next humbly 
 acknowledge their most glorious citizen, and abhor their 
 fathers' cruelty. 
 
 Sometimes also she used to go on pilgrimage, but not 
 in any prohibited manner ; as, when she was invited with 
 her neighbours to some marriage or banquet in the country, 
 she would devise twenty means to serve God that day more 
 than any other at home ; for she would take horse with 
 the rest, and after that she had ridden a mile out of the 
 city, one should be there ready provided to go in her stead, 
 and all that day she would remain in some place nigh hand, 
 where she might quietly serve God, and learn of her ghostly 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 397 
 
 Father some part of her Christian duty as her heart most 
 desired, and at night return home again with the rest as 
 though she had been a feasting all the day long. 
 
 This she used even from the beginning of her conversion, 
 at which time also she procured some neighbours to feign 
 the travail of some woman, that she might under that 
 colour have access and abide with her ghostly Father the 
 longer to be instructed in the necessary points of Catholic 
 religion. 
 
 CHAPTER XII. 
 
 OF HER MARVELLOUS DESIRE TO SUFFER FOR CHRIST 
 AND HIS TRUTH. 
 
 After her first conversion, but especially after her first 
 public conflict with heretics, she never feared nor once 
 shrunk at any worldly affliction or pain sustained for the 
 Catholic faith and her conscience ; but was most desirous 
 and as willing to suffer as the enemy was to afflict her. 
 In this desire she obtained such perfection, that when 
 she was quiet from the assaults of the heretics, she would 
 not let escape almost one day, if she might have had 
 her own will, without something voluntarily taken whereby 
 she might suffer pain either of body or of mind. It 
 was her daily prayer that she might be worthy to suffer 
 anything for God's sake. And when the cross came indeed, 
 as she was not often without one or other, she rejoiced 
 so much in it that she would say that she feared to offend 
 God with too much gladness. When we had been talking 
 of these dangerous times, wherein as appeareth heretics 
 are sorry to spare any cruelty, and it hath been told 
 her that it could not be but the devil would storm at 
 the daily serving of God, which was brought to pass by 
 her means, and stir up his ministers to hinder so great 
 a good, and that certainly their malice would be deadly 
 against her ; that if she escaped their bloody hands, yet 
 
398 Mr, John Mush's 
 
 she should be cast into perpetual prison, she would with 
 smiling countenance wag her head and say, " I pray 
 God His will may be done, and I [may] have that which 
 He seeth most fit for me. But I see not in myself any 
 worthiness of martyrdom ; yet, if it be His will, I pray 
 Him that T may be constant and persevere to the end. 
 As for all that the heretics can do, I fear it not a whit" 
 
 She thought herself not in good case that she was 
 so often delivered out of prison, and would say that she 
 was unworthy so high a calling. 
 
 As for her desire to suffer for God's cause, it may 
 appear by her last apprehension and martyrdom, which 
 I will set down a little after. But she knowing how 
 precious a gift and benefit of God it was to suffer for 
 His cause any cross, she was also willing it should be 
 imparted to others, and would no less be joyful of their 
 patience than of her own, ever praying for their perse- 
 verance to the end. When she had heard any Catholic 
 to be persecuted, or shut in more close prison, or debarred 
 from things necessary, or otherwise cruelly dealt with, 
 she would say, "They are most happy. I pray God 
 give them patience and joy." And again, if she had 
 heard of any to shrink or fear persecution, she would 
 lament and sorrow, and marvel what Catholics meant to 
 receive such infinite good so unwillingly. Although she 
 were most careful and charitable to relieve the hungry, 
 and ease the affliction of all Catholics, either in prison 
 or elsewhere, yet could she not abide to hear that in 
 their distresses any should murmur, impatiently repine, 
 or be careful to escape such accidents, and [would] say, 
 "Jesu, methinks if they considered thoroughly these things, 
 they should be so mortified that no such trouble nor 
 affliction could grieve them, but rather be glad of every 
 cross for Christ's sake." 
 
 I have heard her many times wish heartily that, if 
 it were God's will, she might be in prison all her life, 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 399 
 
 to ease the griefs of such as were there discontented, to 
 suffer by any painstaking for them. Finally, although 
 she exceeded in compassion, yet never saw I her heavy 
 or sorrowful for the poverty, tribulation, or persecution 
 which fell to any so long as they showed their patience 
 and gladness to suffer for God's sake ; whereas, if she 
 had seen any contrary disposition or behaviour in them, 
 she would have sighed and lamented, and earnestly have 
 prayed for them. 
 
 CHAPTER XIII. 
 
 OF HER CONTEMPT OF THE WORLD, AND ALL 
 PLEASURES THEREOF. 
 
 With this great desire to suffer for God's cause all sorts 
 of crosses, was joined as rare a contempt and hatred 
 of the world and of all the vanities and pleasures therein, 
 she accounting them all temptations and baits to deceive 
 Christian souls, and therefore to be taken heed of and 
 eschewed as mortal enemies. In selling and buying her 
 wares she was very wary to have the worth of them, as 
 both her neighbours uttered the like, as also to satisfy 
 her duty to her husband, which committed all to her 
 trust and discretion ; yet she would say that she suffered 
 greater and oftener conflicts in dealing in this worldly 
 trade of buying and selling, as it is the occasion of many 
 waste words, loss of time, and distraction of the mind 
 from God, than in all her other affairs besides. And 
 therefore she was in hand often with her husband to 
 give up his shop, and to sell his wares in gross with as 
 much gain and with less unprofitable toil. For riches 
 she desired none, but prayed God that her children might 
 have virtuous and Catholic education, which only she 
 wished to be their portion, and would say that, generally, 
 the more folks grew in wealth the further they were from 
 God, and less disposed to do well. And therefore in all 
 
400 M7\John Mush's 
 
 her husband's losses she would be exceeding merry and 
 say, " Yet he hath too much, he cannot lift up his head 
 to God for weight of his goods ; I pray God he may by 
 these casualties know God and serve Him." 
 
 Her ghostly Father hath said to her sometimes, " I 
 marvel your losses enter no further into your mind to 
 abate some part of your accustomed gladness." " Nay, 
 God defend," would she say, " God giveth, and He hath 
 taken them away again ; farewell., they, for I will not be 
 sorry for the loss of any temporal matters. I pray God 
 we may well use to God's honour the rest we have.*' 
 This was all the care that ever I saw her take for worldly 
 chances and damages. As for all other worldly pleasures, 
 she had ever from the beginning of her conversion so 
 abandoned them, that they molested her not once in the 
 whole year. This contempt of the world she wished also 
 greatly in others, and would marvellously lament to see 
 such as knew well their Catholic duty to God, for the 
 love of riches or pleasures of the world, to neglect the 
 same. 
 
 CHAPTER XIV. 
 
 OF HER DISCRETION AND PRUDENCE IN ALL HER 
 BUSINESSES. 
 
 It would cause any man to admire the gifts of God in 
 her if he should thoroughly have known her ready wit, 
 discretion, and prudence in contriving and despatching 
 all her business, but those especially wherein she had to 
 deal with heretics about the Catholic cause for God's 
 honour and help of herself and others. If the difficulty 
 had appeared never so great, and the thing almost 
 desperate, by her advice it would have been lessened, 
 and continually brought to pass without much danger. 
 Her vehement fervour to serve [God] herself, and to teach 
 others their duty therein, caused her now and then to 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 401 
 
 adventure more than in these ungracious times might be 
 thought convenient to timorous and worldly wise men ; as 
 to admit every one that desired to her house for spiritual 
 comfort, rather than they should have remained com- 
 fortless, by which great resort, they all being not sa 
 staunch of tongue as was necessary, her house became 
 more notorious than the whole town besides. Her zeal 
 bewrayed her, for none knew her but they were assured 
 she would not be without a priest, if any could be gotten 
 in the whole country. Moreover, the confidence she had 
 in so just and godly a cause, and the exceeding commodity^ 
 she should gain thereby whatsoever befell, consumed all 
 fears in her, and caused her the less to prevent common 
 dangers, except they had been apparent. 
 
 One thing only in all her doings may perhaps seem^ 
 and be judged void of discretion, which was to let the 
 children in her house be acquainted with the privy con- 
 veyance for safety, as they were once in the absence of 
 her ghostly Father ; I know not whether by her own means 
 or knowledge, or if it were done by her consent (though it 
 ever disliked me, and I wished it had been otherwise),, 
 yet I, for my part, dare not condemn her for indiscretion 
 for so doing : first, because her intention was sincere and 
 good, and the danger not much, the place being without 
 her own house, where the raveners were not likely to have 
 come again. She might do it to ease some priests labour,, 
 for the entry was painful to him that was not acquainted 
 with the door, by reason of the straitness thereof, and 
 yet large enough for a boy. And lastly, because by that 
 means, God had appointed (as it fell out indeed) she should 
 begin her martyrdom to His glory and her own felicity, 
 and the just punishment of many. Let the worldly wise 
 heads scan of this one fact as they think good. If it 
 were not by her own consent (as in good faith I know not 
 certain), their rash and foolish surmises are deceived. 
 And I rather think it was done in the beginning by some 
 AA 
 
402 Mr, Joh7t MtisJis 
 
 other without her knowledge, she oftentimes being absent 
 when things in that place should have been occupied of 
 necessity. But howsoever it chanceth, God knoweth ; 
 some[times] the wisest alive may in some one particular 
 action want such discretion as was requisite, and yet, 
 nevertheless, remain wise and discreet still. 
 
 Her discretion was marvellous to them that perfectly 
 knew her dealings, and as I not seldom admired it myself, 
 so have I heard others of no small judgment do the same, 
 and say, " they never saw the like prudency in any woman, 
 and that they learned more wisdom by her behaviour than 
 ever they had done by the conversation and example of 
 men in any degree." 
 
 CHAPTER XV. 
 
 OF THE LOVE SHE HAD AMONGST HER NEIGHBOURS. 
 
 As God had enriched her with His gifts of rare discretion 
 and prudency in all her doings, so disposed sweetly to her 
 hand all external helps to set forth and bring to effect 
 her good purposes. For He gave her a singular grace to 
 have great good will and favour in the sight of her husband 
 and neighbours ; insomuch, that not only Catholics, but 
 also schismatics, yea, and well-natured heretics would both 
 be glad of her company, and also be most ready to do what 
 she desired them. Some heretics, suspecting the truth 
 indeed [that] she used daily to have God's service Catholicly 
 in her house, would be so careful to conceal her doings 
 and give intelligence when they learned of any danger 
 likely to befal, as though it had been their own affairs. 
 Other some, also, fearing that themselves or theirs should 
 be brought by her example and means to do well, and 
 (as men choked with worldly desires and their own 
 sensualities), would now and then burst forth into incon- 
 venient and dangerous speeches, if they had been uttered 
 in the audience of malicious people, which, when she had 
 
Life of Margaret Clitkerow. 403 
 
 understanded, she would have gone unto them, and with 
 one word have stopped their mouths, won their favour, 
 and made them sure to her. 
 
 Truly, in this grace, she passed all other which ever 
 I saw. Every one loved her, and would have ventured 
 for her more than for themselves, thinking to have a jewel 
 (as indeed they had a most precious Margaret), so long 
 as she dwelt among them. How would they run to her 
 for help, comfort, and counsel, in their distresses, and how 
 familiarly would she use them, and with all courtesy and 
 friendship relieve them. 
 
 I have known some myself to whom she hath used 
 some matters of weight, as this heretical times goeth, who, 
 after a few words, would yield to her, and say, "For 
 God's sake do what you will, and I am content." Such 
 grace she found in the sight almost of every person, 
 except they were furious and hot blasphemous heretics, 
 void of all good nature, or desperately malicious. Her 
 servants also carried that reverent love to her, that, not- 
 withstanding they knew when priests frequented her house, 
 and she would reasonably sharply correct them for their 
 faults and negligences, yet they had as great a care to 
 conceal her secrets as if they had been her natural children. 
 
 Sometimes I asked her "how she durst be so sharp 
 with her servants when they offended by slacking their 
 duties, since they might procure to her much danger if 
 they revealed, upon any displeasure or grief, the priest's 
 being there." She would answer, " God defend that for 
 ttiy Christian liberty in serving Him in my house I should 
 neglect my duty to my servants, or not to correct them 
 as they deserve. God shall dispose all as it pleaseth 
 Him : but I will not be blamed for their faults, nor fear any 
 danger for this good cause." Whereby plainly appeareth 
 that she had a marvellous liberty of heart to serve God. 
 
404 Mr. John Musk's 
 
 CHAFER XVI. 
 
 OF THE PERSECUTION SHE SUFFERED AMONG THE GOOD. 
 In this her happy course I noted much one thing, which 
 methought was an infallible sign both of her own rare 
 virtue, aud also that she was most dear to God ; this was 
 that, almost continually after her first conversion, she 
 suffered persecution, not only for her invincible constancy 
 in the Catholic faith by heretics, but also for her true 
 virtue by some one or other emulous Catholic. If the 
 heretics had perhaps ceased their rage, as they did seldom, 
 and given her a short calm, forthwith some Catholic raised 
 a storm against her, and often, at the same time, she did 
 bear the assaults of them both together. I can well call 
 to mind, for that I both heard and saw it myself, and 
 yet never without a great admiration of God's merciful 
 and unsearchable Providence therein, how she hath been 
 in this kind of trial tossed and every way afflicted ; how, 
 without all cause and probable show of cause, she hath 
 been assaulted, not indifferently by every Catholic (for 
 with the most and best, she was rightly esteemed of an 
 especial virtue and good life), but by such as were boui^d 
 to her by many and singular benefits, themselves of no 
 good desert for the same, and also nothing comparable 
 to her in any degree of virtuous life, although externally 
 they might be thought of no small perfection. What 
 ungracious surmises and false judgments have some in 
 their secret hearts conceived against her, who could worse 
 brook her well-doings than some such as of her own good 
 will and rare courtesy she laboured to please, and with no 
 small benefits and her own pains to pleasure, and was 
 she not then most misliked by them, when she did her 
 best ? Imperfect virtue, and yet perfect self-love, in this 
 kind of adversary ungratefully imagined her chiefest virtues 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 405 
 
 to be their most hindrance ; her praise to be their discredit ; 
 her joy and continual gladness to be their sorrow and 
 discomforts ; peevishly gathered to themselves most bitter 
 and hurtful poison out of her sweet and gracious flowers. 
 
 I can witness the very secrets of her heart, that she was 
 both as willing to help and pleasure every one, but Catholics 
 principally, and as heartily rejoiced in their comforts and 
 well-doing as she did in her own, and that all her inward 
 contentions and outward behaviours proceeded from singular 
 charity, and might well have been a perfect example for 
 the most I knew ; in every respect innocent and blameless; 
 and yet all this would not stay the rancour of the enemies' 
 slanderous tongues in some foolish Catholics [more] than 
 her constant faith stayed the furious cruelties of heretics. 
 So that she passed not in any company without her 
 crosses, which truly she bare so meekly, and with that 
 quietness and tranquillity of mind, that her virtue appeared 
 more in them than in any other thing. For in this unde- 
 served trouble she rejoiced exceedingly, and withal would 
 heavily lament her persecutors' hurt. And, indeed, she 
 thought this the heaviest cross of all, to see them, upon 
 some false conceit against her, so uncharitably offend God ; 
 although, also, she simply thought herself worthy of np 
 other, but to be on every hand molested and persecuted, 
 and with exceeding desire and joy suffered all that heretics 
 could devise against her, accounting them as the enemies 
 of God, and of all goodness, yet could she never but 
 sorrow and think much with herself when Catholics, which 
 professed virtue, would move themselves without cause 
 against her. When this chanced, she would sit down with 
 great humility, and bewail her own state, fearing that she 
 were the cause of their offence, and that something lay 
 secret in her which might be the cause of their unquietness; 
 yet she would not by all means cease to pacify them, 
 and humbly to let them see wherein they were deceived ; 
 and still she kept a most pure and hearty love to them, 
 
4o6 Mr. John MusJis 
 
 imputing all the fault either to herself or to the illusions 
 of the enemy, seeing it is but the enemy that seeketh 
 to weaken charity amongst us, and to hinder us of well- 
 doing. 
 
 The innocency of her own conscience, the example of 
 Abel and Joseph, which were not persecuted by strangers, 
 but by their own brethren ; the example of Christ Himself, 
 which was betrayed, not by His open enemies, but by 
 his own apostle, Judas ; the example of Christ's Church, 
 vexed not so much by infidels as by heretics, once 
 her own children, did much comfort her in all this 
 kind of temptation ; and to them that saw all, and 
 more deeply considered the marvellous judgment of God 
 over His elect in this miserable life, clearly appeared her 
 true happiness by these dealings. Virtue never wanted 
 two adversaries : the one an open enemy, the other an 
 envious brother, as David saith : Pro eo iit me diligerenU 
 detrahebant mihi — " Instead that they should love me, they 
 did backbite me." And, again, of the other side he saith : 
 Si inimicus mens maledixisset mihi sustinuissem titiquey et si 
 is qui oderat me super me magna locntics fuisset^ ahscondissem 
 vie forsitan ab eo : tic vero^ homo tmajiimisy dux meus^ et 
 notus meusy qui simul mecum dukes capiebas cibos^ in domo 
 Dei ambulavimus cum consensu: "If mine enemy had 
 spoken evil of me, truly I had sustained it ; or if he which 
 hated me had boasted over me, perhaps I had hid myself 
 from him : but thou, a man of mine own mind, my guide, 
 and mine acquaintance, which hast eaten sweet meats 
 together with me : and, with consent, walked together 
 in the house of God." 
 
 So I doubt not but her victorious end confoundeth the 
 one, and, I trust, calleth the other to repentance, procuring 
 grace and amendment to them both from the triumphant 
 glory where she reigneth with God, unless they hinder it 
 themselves by their unworthiness. 
 
 It chanced upon a time that she accompanied her 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 407 
 
 husband to a neighbour's house to banquet, and after 
 meat (I know not upon what occasion) talk was ministered 
 of Catholic religion and Catholics ; and her husband, liberal 
 of tongue among the pots, spoke such like words as these, 
 with an oath or two : " I cannot tell," quoth he, " what 
 Catholics are. They will fast, pray, give alms, and punish 
 themselves more than we all, but they are of as evil dis- 
 position in other things as we ;" and uttered, moreover, 
 some slanderous words against them, the which she 
 hearing, and knowing none to be Catholic but herself 
 in that company, could not abstain from vehement 
 weeping. Her husband called her "fool," and said he 
 meant not those words by her, for, indeed, he would ever 
 report that he could wish no better wife than she was, 
 except only for two great faults, as he thought, and those 
 were, because she fasted too much, and would not go with 
 him to the church. But all her neighbours, knowing her 
 virtue, comforted her, saying that her husband spake but 
 merrily, and meant no such matter as he said. She answered : 
 " I pray God forgive him," and no more. This matter 
 troubled her all night ; and the day following she came 
 in heaviness to her ghostly father, and opened all to him, 
 complaining much of her own imperfection, that she could 
 not contemn all such slanders. He asked her what was 
 the cause of her vehement weeping at that time, and that, 
 in recounting the matter to him, she still remained sorrowful. 
 " Truly, Father," said she, " I was not then, nor am I now, 
 anything at all sorry in respect of myself, for, I thank God, 
 I have ever been a true and a chaste wife to my husband, 
 both in thought and deed ; God and mine own conscience 
 doth witness it ; but it grieveth mine heart that he should 
 so heinously offend God by slandering Catholics and the 
 Catholic Church, whereby I fear me he shall more hardly 
 come to God's grace, and be a member of His Church. 
 This thing only caused me to weep, and maketh me sorry 
 still when I think on it." Such crosses as these now and 
 
4o8 Mr. John Mush's 
 
 then she suffered by her husband and others, yet always 
 much grieved for the offence to God, and their harm, and 
 nothing at all for her own injury. 
 
 CHAPTER XVII. 
 
 OF HER DILIGENCE IN OBSERVING OTHER FOLK'S VIRTUES. 
 
 In all her conversation with priests and Catholics, one 
 thing she most diligently observed, and that was to mark 
 in what virtue every one did most excel, which she gathered 
 together for the beautifying of her own soul and conversa- 
 tion. Sometimes she would with great joy remember 
 what Father Hart, Father Thirkeld, Father Kirkman, with 
 other martyrs and priests, used to say or do virtuously ; 
 and if she had not seen the same in some other, for that 
 she earnestly desired to see every one decked with spiritual 
 beauty, she would recite for their instruction what good 
 she heard or saw in such a Father. So that, in truth, she 
 had collected, as a honey bee, of every flower some honey, 
 both for her own store and her neighbour's, that it might 
 be aptly verified in her, which the wise man saith, Multce 
 JilicB congregaverunt divitias^ tu siipergressa es tiniversas : 
 ^*Many daughters have heaped together riches, but thou 
 hast gone above them all." And every one might have 
 learned true wisdom, unfeigned humility, patient fortitude, 
 perfect charity, fervent mildness, or any other virtue by 
 her example, for she had drawn plenty of them out of 
 many fountains. 
 
 Let this, therefore, which I have reported truly thus 
 far of her life, be enough for others to conjecture what a 
 Margaret she was, that God hath now so gloriously exalted 
 by martyrdom, the devil so deeply maliced, heretics so 
 unjustly murthered, and all Catholics so heartily lamented 
 to be taken from them. And when they shall see her last 
 fconflict with hell, the world, and the flesh, let them remem- 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 409 
 
 ber always that so rare a victory could not have been 
 gotten without the foundation of a more gracious life 
 than I could have written in so brief a treatise, and rather 
 with great diligence endeavour to imitate this her first 
 martyrdom of a virtuous life, wherein the chiefest glory 
 in this life consisteth, than curiously to know in what sort 
 she obtained the second of a virtuous death. 
 
 CHAPTER XVIII. 
 
 OF HER APPREHENSION. 
 
 In the year of our Saviour's Incarnation, 1586, the 28th 
 of Queen Elizabeth's reign, and the loth day of March, 
 when the blessed martyr had remained about one year 
 and a half in her own house at liberty under bands, the 
 Lord Ewers [Eure], Vice-President, Mr. Meares, Mr. Hurle- 
 ston, and Mr. Cheeke, Counsellors at York, sent for 
 Mr. Clitherow to appear before them in the morning. 
 They rebuked him that he had not waited upon them 
 the day before as they had commanded. He answered 
 that he gave attendance according to their commandment, 
 and departed seeing them greatly so busied in other 
 matters, having long expected their opportunity. After 
 some few words, they commanded him to return to them 
 again immediately after dinner, which he did. The martyr, 
 hearing of this, and having good experience of their 
 subtleties, feared the worst ; and when her husband was 
 departed, she came to the Father, which came to her but 
 that morning, and said : " The Council hath commanded 
 my husband to be with them again. I pray God they 
 intend no falsehood, and now, whilst they have him, make 
 my house to be searched. They pick quarrels at me," 
 quoth she, "and they will never cease until they have 
 me again, but God's will be done." She had sent without 
 the knowledge of her husband, more than one year before. 
 
4IO Mr, John Mush's 
 
 her eldest son into France for virtuous education and 
 learning, hoping one day to see him a priest, the which 
 she most desired. The Council at York, after a while, 
 had intelligence of it, and greatly stormed thereat, yet 
 h'ngered to deal in the matter, which caused her husband, 
 as one timorous of their unreasonable cruelty, to be more 
 unwilling to go unto them when they first sent for him, 
 thinking that it was to answer that matter, which, being 
 done without his consent or knowledge, he might well 
 have answered, if they had been reasonable, and not rather 
 furious to destroy all before them, whom they might have 
 gotten without any show of cause. 
 
 As the martyr suspected, so they deceitfully practised 
 indeed, and sent forthwith the sheriffs of York, with divers 
 other heretics, to search her house. They found the 
 martyr occupied in her household business. The priest 
 was in his chamber, which was in the next neighbour's 
 house, and some other persons with him, and being forth- 
 with certified of the searchers, they were all safely shifted 
 away into a lower chamber of her house. There was a 
 schoolmaster named Mr. Stapleton, who had escaped a 
 little before out of the Castle, where he had lain almost 
 seven years for the Catholic faith, teaching her own 
 children, with other two or three boys besides. Whiles 
 he was quietly teaching his scholars, not knowing what 
 was done in the house below, a ruffian bearing a sword 
 and buckler on his arm, opened the chamber door, 
 and suspecting the schoolmaster to be a priest, he shut 
 again the door, and called his fellows. The schoolmaster, 
 thinking him to be a friend, opened the door to call him 
 in ; but when he perceived the matter, he shut the door 
 again, and by that way, which was from the martyr's 
 house to the priest's chamber, escaped their paws. The 
 searchers, greedy of a prey, came in great haste to the 
 chamber, and not finding him, they raged like madmen, 
 and as though he had been a priest indeed, took all the 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 411 
 
 children, the servants, and the martyr away with them. 
 At this time they searched chests, coffers, and every 
 corner of her house ; but, as I learned, they found nothing 
 of any importance. Then they stripped a boy, about ten 
 or twelve years old, and with rods threatened him, 
 standing naked amongst them, unless he would tell them 
 all they asked. The child, fearing that cruelty, yielded, 
 and brought them to the priest his chamber, wherein was 
 a conveyance for books and church stuff, which he revealed. 
 They took the spoil, and conveyed two or three beds away 
 as their own. The children and the servants were all 
 sent to divers prisons. The martyr was brought before 
 the Council, and being merry and stout for the Catholic 
 cause, thereby moved their fury vehemently against her, 
 especially by her smiling cheerful countenance, and the 
 small esteem she made of their cruel threats and railing. 
 They kept both her husband and herself in several places 
 until night, when about seven of the clock they committed 
 the martyr unto close prison to the Castle, and her husband 
 also in like case an hour after. 
 
 What more was said or done that day before the 
 Council I could not learn as yet. The martyr came to 
 prison in so wet a bath, that she was glad to borrow all 
 kind of apparel to shift her that night. The boy accused 
 more that he had seen in the martyr's house at Divine 
 Service ; among whom was Mistress Anne Tesh, who was 
 also committed to the Castle the 12th of March, being 
 Saturday, and continued in a chamber with the martyr 
 until Monday following, which was the first day of the 
 Assizes in York. 
 
 All this time the martyr kept great abstinence and 
 prayer, and was so merry and joyful of her trouble, that 
 she would say, she feared to offend God thereby. 
 
 A rumour was spread in the town, that the boy had 
 accused her for harbouring and maintaining divers priests, 
 but especially two by name, that was, Mr. Francis Ingleby 
 
412 Mr. Joh7t Mush's 
 
 of Rheims, and Mr. John Mush of Rome. It was reported 
 withal that she should suffer for it according to the new law 
 and statute. When word was brought to her of this, she 
 laughed, and said to the messenger : " I would I had some 
 good thing to give you for these good news. Hold, take 
 this fig, for I have nothing better." The boy that accused 
 her, was born in Flanders of an Englishman and a Dutch 
 woman, and had been brought from thence almost two 
 years before. 
 
 Once the martyr was permitted to speak with her 
 husband in the audience of the gaoler and other more, 
 but she never saw him after, notwithstanding all which 
 both their friends could labour for it, unless she would 
 yield to do something against her conscience. 
 
 Upon Monday she looked to be arraigned before the 
 judges, and made herself ready against she should be 
 called. Sometimes she would say unto her sister Tesh : 
 " Sister, we are so merry together that, unless we be 
 parted, I fear me we shall come to lose [the merit] 
 of our imprisonment." A little before she was called to 
 the judges, she said: "Yet, before I go, I will make all 
 my brethren and sisters on the other side of the hall 
 merry ; " and looking forth of a window toward them — 
 they were five-and-thirty, and might easily behold her 
 from thence — she made a pair of gallows on her fingers, 
 and pleasantly laughed at them. After dinner the gaoler 
 told her how she must go even then before the judges. 
 "Well," quoth she, "God be thanked, I am ready when 
 you please." 
 
 CHAPTER XIX. 
 
 OF HER ARRAIGNMENT. 
 
 The 14th day of March, being Monday, after dinner, the 
 martyr was brought from the Castle to the Common Hall 
 in York, before the two judges, Mr. Clinch and Mr. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 413 
 
 Rhodes, and divers of the Council sitting with them on 
 the bench. 
 
 Her indictment was read, that she had harboured and 
 maintained Jesuit and Seminary priests, traitors to the 
 Queen's Majesty and her laws, and that she had [heard] 
 Mass, and such like. Then Judge Clinch stood up, and 
 said : " Margaret Clitherow, how say you } [Are you] 
 guilty of this indictment, or no ? " Then she [being] about 
 to answer, they commanded her to put off her hat, and 
 then she said mildly with a bold and smiling countenance : 
 " I know no offence whereof I should confess myself 
 guilty." The judge said : " Yes, you have harboured and 
 maintained Jesuits and priests, enemies to her Majesty." 
 The martyr answered : " I never knew nor have harboured 
 any such persons, or maintained those which are not the 
 Queen's friends. God defend I should." The judge said : 
 "How will you be tried V The martyr answered, "Having 
 made no offence, I need no trial." They said : " You 
 have offended the statutes, and therefore you must be 
 tried ; " and often asked her how she would be tried. The 
 martyr answered : " If you say I have offended, and that 
 I must be tried, I will be tried by none but by God and 
 your own consciences." The judge said, " No, you cannot 
 so do, for we sit here," quoth he, "to see justice and 
 law, and therefore you must be tried [by the country]." 
 The martyr still appealed to God, and their consciences. 
 Then they brought forth two chalices, divers pictures, and 
 in mockery put two vestments and other church gear upon 
 two lewd fellows' backs, and in derision the one began 
 to pull and dally with the other, scoffing on the bench 
 before the judges, and holding up singing breads, said 
 to the martyr : " Behold thy gods in whom thou believest." 
 They asked her how she liked those vestments. The 
 martyr said : " I like them well, if they were on their 
 backs that know to use them to God's honour, as they 
 were made." Then Judge Clinch stood up and asked her : 
 
414 Mr. John MusJis 
 
 " In whom believe you ? " " I believe," quoth the martyr, 
 "in God." "In what God?" quoth the judge. "I 
 believe," quoth the martyr, "in God the Father, in God 
 the Son, and God the Holy Ghost ; in these Three Persons 
 and One God I fully believe, and that by the passion, 
 death, and merits of Christ Jesu I must be saved." The 
 judge said: "You say well;" and said no more. After 
 a while the judges said to her again: "Margaret Clitherow, 
 how say you yet .'* Are you content to be tried by God 
 and the country } " The martyr said, " No." The judge 
 said : " Good woman, consider well what you do ; if you 
 refuse to be tried by the country, you make yourself 
 guilty and accessory to your own death, for we cannot 
 try you," said he, "but by order of law. You need not 
 fear this kind of trial, for I think the country cannot find 
 you guilty upon this slender evidence of a child." The 
 martyr still refused. They asked if her husband were 
 not privy to her doings in keeping priests. The martyr 
 said : " God knoweth I could never yet get my husband 
 in that good case that he were worthy to know or come 
 in place where they were to serve God." The judge said : 
 "We must proceed by law against you, which will condemn 
 you to a sharp death for want of trial." The martyr said 
 cheerfully : "God's will be done : I think I may suffer any 
 death for this good cause." Some of them said, seeing her 
 joy, that she was mad, and possessed with a smiling spirit 
 Mr. Rhodes also railed against her on the Catholic faith 
 and priests ; so did also the other Councillors, and 
 Mr. Hurleston openly before them all said : " It is not 
 for religion that thou harbourest priests, but for harlotry ; " 
 and furiously uttered such like slanders, sitting on the 
 bench. 
 
 The Bench rose that night without pronouncing any 
 sentence against her, and she was brought from the hall 
 with a great troop of men and halberts, with a smiling and 
 most cheerful countenance, dealing money on both sides 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 415 
 
 the streets, to John Trewe's house on the bridge, where 
 she was shut up in a close parlour. 
 
 The same night came to the martyr, as she was praying 
 upon her knees, Parson Wiggington, a Puritan preacher 
 of notorious qualities, and ministered talk unto her, as 
 their fashion is. The martyr regarded him very little, and 
 desired him not to trouble her, "for your fruits," quoth 
 she, "are correspondent to your doctrine." And so he 
 departed. All that night she remained in that parlour, 
 with one Yoward and his wife, two evil-disposed persons 
 of their own sect. 
 
 The next day following, about eight of the clock, the 
 martyr was carried again to the Common Hall ; and she 
 standing at the Bar, the judge said to her : " Margaret 
 Clitherow, how say you yet } Yesternight we passed you 
 over without judgment, which we might have then pro- 
 nounced against you if we would : we did it not, hoping 
 you would be something more conformable, and put your- 
 self to the country, for otherwise you must needs have the 
 law. We see nothing why you should refuse ; here be but 
 small witness against you, and the country will consider 
 your case." " Indeed," said the martyr, " I think you have 
 no witnesses against me but children, which with an apple 
 and a rod you may make to say what you will." They 
 said, " It is plain that you had priests in your house by 
 these things which were found." The martyr said, "As 
 for good Catholic priests, I know no cause why I should 
 refuse them as long as I live ; they come only to do me 
 good and others." Rhodes, Hurleston, and others said, 
 " They are all traitors, rascals, and deceivers of the Queen's 
 subjects." The martyr said, "God forgive you. You 
 would not say so of them if you knew them." They said, 
 "You would detest them yourself [if] you knew their 
 treason and wickedness as we do." The martyr said, "I 
 know them for virtuous men, sent by God only to save 
 our souls." These speeches and the like she uttered very 
 
41 6 Mr, John MusJis 
 
 boldly and with great modesty. Then Judge Clinch said, 
 " What say you ? Will you put yourself to the country, 
 yea or no ? " The martyr said, " I see no cause why I 
 should do so in this matter : I refer my cause only to God 
 and your own consciences. Do what you think good." 
 All the people about her condemned her of great obstinacy 
 and folly, that she would not yield ; and on every hand 
 persuaded her to refer her trial to the country, which could 
 not find her guilty, as they said, upon such slender 
 evidence; but she would not. "Well," said Judge Clinch, 
 " we must pronounce a sentence against you. Mercy lieth 
 in our hands, in the country's also, if you put your trial 
 to them ; otherwise you must have the law." The Puritan 
 preacher, called Wiggington, stood up and called to the 
 judge on the bench, saying, "My lord, give me leave to 
 speak ; " but the murmuring and noise in the Hall would 
 not suffer him to be heard : yet he continued still calling 
 that he might speak, and the judge commanded silence to 
 hear him. Then he said, " My lord, take heed what you 
 do. You sit here to do justice; this woman's case is 
 touching life and death, — you ought not, either by God's 
 laws or man's, to judge her to die upon the slender witness 
 of a boy ; nor unless you have two or three sufficient men 
 of very good credit to give evidence against her. There- 
 fore, look to it, my lord, this gear goeth sore." The judge 
 answered, " I may do it by law." " By what law t " quoth 
 Wiggington. "By the Queen's law," said the judge. 
 " That may well be," quoth Wiggington, " but you cannot 
 do it by God's law ; " and he said no more. The judge, 
 yet desirous to shift the thorn out of his own conscience 
 into the whole country, and falsely thinking that if the 
 jury found her guilty his hand should be clear from her 
 blood, said again, " Good woman, I pray you put yourself 
 to the country. There is no evidence but a boy against 
 you, and whatsoever they do, yet we may show mercy 
 afterward." The martyr still refused. Then Rhodes said, 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 417 
 
 "Why stand we all the day about this naughty, wilful 
 woman. Let us despatch her." Then the judge said, 
 " If you will not put yourself to the country, this must be 
 your judgment : 
 
 " You must return from whence you came, and there, 
 in the lowest part of the prison, be stripped naked, laid 
 down, your back upon the ground, and as much weight 
 laid upon you as you are able to bear, and so to continue 
 three days without meat or drink, except a little barley 
 bread and puddle water, and the third day to be pressed 
 to death, your hands and feet tied to posts, and a sharp 
 stone under your back." 
 
 The martyr, standing without any fear or change of 
 countenance, mildly said, " If this judgment be according 
 to your own conscience, I pray God send you better 
 judgment before Him. I thank God heartily for this." 
 " Nay," said the judge, " I do it according to law, and tell 
 you this must be your judgment, unless you put yourself 
 to be tried by the country. Consider of it, you have 
 husband and children to care for ; cast not yourself away." 
 The martyr answered, " I would to God my husband and 
 children might suffer with me for so good a cause." Upon 
 which words the heretics reported after, that she would 
 have hanged her husband and children if she could. 
 
 After this sentence pronounced, the judge asked her 
 once again, " How say you, Margaret Clitherow 1 Are 
 you content to put yourself to the trial of the country > 
 Although we have given sentence against you according 
 to the law, yet will we show mercy, if you will do any- 
 thing yourself." The martyr, lifting up her eyes towards 
 heaven, said with a cheerful countenance, " God be thanked, 
 all that He shall send me shall be welcome ; I am not 
 worthy of so good a death as this is : I have deserved 
 death for mine offences to God, but not for anything that 
 I am accused of." 
 
 Then the judge bade the sheriff look to her, who 
 BB 
 
41 8 Mr. John MusJis 
 
 pinioned her arms with a cord. The martyr first beholding 
 the one arm and then the other, smiled to herself and was 
 joyful to be bound for Christ's sake ; at which they all 
 raged against her. So the sheriff brought her with halberts 
 to the bridge again, where she was before. Some of the 
 Bench were sent to mark her countenance as she was 
 carried forth of the Hall, but she departed from thence 
 through the streets with joyful countenance, whereat some 
 said, " It must needs be that she received comfort from the 
 Holy Ghost," for all were astonished to see her of so good 
 cheer. Some said it was not so, but that she was possessed 
 with a merry devil, and that she sought her own death. 
 
 The two sheriffs brought her betwixt them, she dealing 
 money on both sides as she could, being pinioned. 
 
 After this none was permitted to speak with her but 
 ministers, and such as were appointed by the Council. 
 When her husband heard that they had condemned her, 
 he fared like a man out of his wits, and wept so vehe- 
 mently that the blood gushed out of his nose in great 
 quantity, and said, " Alas ! will they kill my wife } Let 
 them take all I have and save her, for she is the best wife 
 in all England, and the best Catholic also." 
 
 Two days after, as I remember, came to her Mr. Meares, 
 Sir Thomas Fairfax, and others of the Council, and secretly 
 asked her many things, the certainty whereof I cannot 
 as yet learn in particular. I cannot learn more than that 
 they asked her if she would go to the church with them, 
 if it were but to one sermon, and she should have favour. 
 She answered that she would, if it pleased them to let 
 her choose the preacher, and grant him safe conduct to 
 come and go. They asked her also if she thought in 
 her conscience that she were with child. She said she 
 knew not certainly, and would not for all the world take 
 it on her conscience that she was or she was not, but 
 as she thought rather she was than otherwise. They asked 
 her why she would not so much as desire to be reprieved 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 419 
 
 for some time. She said, ** I require no favour in this 
 matter ; you may do your pleasures." They asked her 
 an she knew not Ingleby and Mush, the two traitor priests. 
 She answered, " I know none such." They replied, " Will 
 you say so .-* Beware of lying." She said, " I have not 
 to accuse any man ; you have me now, do your wills." 
 Thus much have I heard, and no more, that the Council 
 should say unto her. After this they went to the judge, 
 and told him what she had said. 
 
 Her kinsfolks and friends laboured much all that week 
 to cause her to say directly that she was with child, but 
 she would never affirm it of any certainty, but said she 
 would not dissemble with God and the world, for that 
 she could not tell certainly whether she was or no. Upon 
 Wednesday the sheriff of York came to the judge, Clinch, 
 and demanded what he should do with her. The judge 
 answered, " She may not be executed, for they say she 
 is with child." Rhodes, Meares, Hurleston, Cheeke, and 
 the rest urged sore that she might be executed according 
 to judgment and law. And Mr. Rhodes said, " Brother 
 Clinch, you are too merciful in these cases ; if she had 
 not law she would undo a great many." Then Judge Clinch 
 said, " If she be with child, I will not consent that she shall 
 die." " Then," quoth the sheriff, " my lord, I shall make 
 a quest of women to go upon her." " It needeth not," 
 quoth the judge ; " call four honest women, which know 
 her well, and let them try it." The four women upon 
 the Thursday came to the martyr, and returned answer 
 to the judge, that she was with child as far as they could 
 perceive or gather by her own words. That night, or the 
 next day, Hurleston, the Councillors, and ministers, who 
 most greedily thirsted after her blood, came to Clinch in 
 his chamber and said, " My lord, this woman is not to have 
 the benefit of her condition, for that she hath refused trial 
 by the country, and the sentence of death is passed against 
 her." The judge answered, " Mr. Hurleston, God defend 
 
420 Mr, John Mush's 
 
 she should die, if she be with child ; although she hath 
 offended, yet hath not the infant in her womb. I will 
 not for a thousand pounds, therefore, give my consent until 
 she be further tried." Hurleston urged still and said, 
 "She is the only woman in the north parts, and if she 
 be suffered to live, there will be more of her order without 
 any fear of law. And therefore, my lord, consider with 
 yourself," quoth he, " and let her have law according to 
 judgment passed, for I will take it upon my conscience 
 that she is not with child." The judge would by no means 
 consent ; but, thinking to wash his hands with Pilate, 
 referred all to the Council, and willed them to do their 
 own discretions ; and at his departure he commanded to 
 stay the execution till Friday after, which was the twenty- 
 fifth of March and the feast of our Lady, and then to 
 do as they should think good, if in the meantime they 
 heard not from him to the contrary. 
 
 The martyr, after her judgment, with much prayer and 
 fasting prepared herself to die, fearing still that she was 
 not worthy to suffer such a death for God His sake. In 
 this time she sent word to her ghostly Father, desiring 
 him to pray earnestly for her, for it was the heaviest cross 
 that ever came to her, that she feared she should escape 
 death. 
 
 The second day after her condemnation came Bunney, 
 a notorious minister. Pease and Cotterill, arrogant heretics, 
 with others, and said, " Mrs. Clitherow, we are sent by the 
 Council to confer with you touching three points, and to 
 see if you will be any whit tractable or no. First, we 
 must know why you refuse to be tried by the country, 
 according to the order of law, wherein you show yourself 
 wilful in seeking your own death contrary to God's law, 
 and damnable to your own soul, as making yourself guilty 
 of your own death without trial, forcing the law to proceed 
 by order, which could not be abridged in such a case ; 
 where otherwise, upon trial, you might have been saved 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 421 
 
 upon so simple evidence, yet notwithstanding,'* said they, 
 " it was well known and proved that you maintained and 
 harboured traitors, contrary to the Queen's Majesty's laws." 
 To this the martyr answered, " I am a woman, and not 
 skilful in the temporal laws. If I have offended, I ask 
 God mercy, and I know not Avhether I have offended 
 against them or no ; but in my conscience I have not. 
 As for traitors, I never kept nor harboured any in my 
 house." Secondly, they asked, " Do you know yourself to 
 be with child or no .'* Although," quoth the minister, " you 
 cannot have the benefit of your condition." The martyr 
 said, " I can neither say that I am nor that I am not, 
 having been deceived heretofore in this, and therefore I 
 cannot directly answer you, but of the two I rather think 
 that I am than otherwise." Thirdly, they asked, "Why 
 refuse you to come to our church, we having so plain 
 and sure testimonies to show on our side for the truth } '* 
 And to this end they brought forth many texts of Scrip- , 
 tures. The martyr answered, " I am not aminded to your 
 Church, God defend I should, for I have been within the 
 Catholic faith twelve years, I thank God ; and if I should 
 now fear or faint, all that I have done heretofore were 
 in vain, and I wish rather to die." Pease said, " Then 
 what is the Church t You know it not : you have been 
 led away by blind guides, making you believe in stocks 
 and stones, and tradition of men contrary to the word 
 of the Lord. Answer me," quoth he, " what is the Church } " 
 The martyr said, " It is that wherein the true Word of God 
 is preached, which Christ left to His Apostles, and to their 
 successors ministering the Seven Sacraments, which the 
 same Church hath always observed, the Doctors preached, 
 and Martyrs and Confessors witnessed. This is the Church 
 I believe to be true." And when she alleged anything 
 for the Church of Rome (which in all her talk with them 
 she stood unto), they said, " Now ye go from us." Then 
 Bunney began to make, as it were, an oration, and allege 
 
42 2 Mr, John Mush's 
 
 places of Scripture, God knoweth to what end. The 
 martyr said, " I beseech you trouble me not ; I am no 
 divine, neither can answer you to these hard questions. 
 I am according to the Queen's Majesty's laws to die, 
 and my spirit is very willing, although my flesh may 
 repine. I say, as I have said heretofore, my desire is to 
 die a member of the Catholic Church. My cause is God's, 
 and it is a great comfort for me to die in His quarrel : 
 flesh is frail, but I trust in my Lord Jesu, that He will 
 give me strength to bear all troubles and torments which 
 shall be laid upon me for His sake." After that Pease 
 had railed and blasphemed a while, they departed for that 
 day. The third day came Wiggington, the Puritan, and, 
 as they say, he began in this manner : " Mrs. Clitherow, 
 I pity your case. I am sent to see if you will be any 
 whit conformable. Cast not yourself away ; lose not both 
 body and soul. Possibly you think you shall have martyr- 
 dom, but you are foully deceived, for it cometh but one 
 way. Not death, but the cause maketh a martyr. In the 
 time of Queen Mary were many put to death, and now 
 also in this Queen's time, for two several opinions ; both 
 these cannot be martyrs. Therefore, good Mistress 
 Clitherow, take pity on yourself. Christ Himself fled 
 His persecutors, so did His Apostles ; and why should 
 not you then favour your own life 1 " The martyr 
 answered, ** God defend I should favour my life in this 
 point. As for my martyrdom, I am not yet assured of 
 it, for that I am yet living ; but if I persevere to the 
 end, I verily believe I shall be saved." "Are not you 
 assured t " quoth he. " No, I wis," quoth the martyr, " so 
 long as I am living, because I know not what I may do." 
 " How think you," quoth Wiggington, " Mrs. Clitherow, to 
 be saved } " The martyr answered and said, " Through 
 Christ Jesus His bitter passion and death." "You say 
 well," quoth he, " but you believe far otherwise, as in images, 
 ceremonies, sacramentals, sacraments, and such like, and 
 
Life oj Margaret Clitherow, 423 
 
 not only in Christ." " I believe," said the martyr, " as the 
 Catholic Church teacheth me, that there be Seven Sacra- 
 ments, and in this faith will I both live and die. As for 
 all the ceremonies, I believe they be ordained to God's 
 honour and glory, and the setting forth of His glory and 
 service ; as for images, they be but to represent unto us 
 that there were both good and godly men upon earth,, 
 which now are glorious in heaven, and also to stir up 
 our dull minds to more devotion when we behold them ; 
 otherwise than thus I believe not." Wiggington said, 
 "There be not Seven Sacraments, but two only, that is. 
 Baptism and the Supper of our Lord ; as for all the other, 
 they be but ceremonies, good, holy things, but yet not 
 sacraments." " They be all sacraments," said the martyr, 
 " ordained by Christ and His Apostles, and all the whole 
 Church hath confirmed them ever since." " Well, Mrs. 
 Clitherow," said Wiggington, " I am sorry that I cannot 
 persuade you," and so departed for that day. Every day 
 after there came to her either minister or some of her 
 kinsfolks, both men and women, to desire her to consider 
 of her husband and children ; but the martyr answered 
 them with great courage and constancy. Amongst whom 
 also came the Lord Mayor, and by all means persuaded 
 her to yield in something, and he would not doubt yet 
 to get her pardon. He had been raised to this preferment 
 of worldly wealth by the marrying of the martyr's mother, 
 a rich widow, which died before this tragedy the summer 
 last. He kneeling down on his knees, as they say, with 
 great show of sorrow and affection, by all flattery allured 
 her to do something against her conscience, but she valiantly 
 resisted. And when he perceived that nothing would serve, 
 he desired her to give him her eldest daughter. She 
 thanked him, and refused his courtesy, because that she 
 was loth her child should be infected with his heresy. 
 
 Upon Saturday next came Bunney again, and began to 
 persuade her in fair and courteous manner, at the beginning 
 
424 Mr,Jo/m Mms/is 
 
 saying thus : " Good Lord, Mrs. Clitherow, consider your 
 own case, you are judged to die, and surely, surely die you 
 must, unless you will do something. Do therefore some- 
 thing, and you shall have mercy ; " and made as it were an 
 oration, and alleged texts of Scriptures. The martyr 
 desired him to be contented : " For I am," said she, " fully 
 resolved in all things touching my faith, which I ground 
 upon Jesu Christ, and by Him I stedfastly believe to be 
 saved, which faith I acknowledge to be the same that He 
 left to His Apostles, and they to their successors from time 
 to time, and is taught in the Catholic Church through all 
 Christendom, and promised to remain with her unto the 
 world's end, and hell-gates shall not prevail against it : 
 and by God's assistance I mean to live and die in the same 
 faith ; for if an angel come from heaven, and preach any 
 other doctrine than we have received, the Apostle biddeth 
 us not believe him. Therefore, if I should follow your 
 ■doctrine, I should disobey the Apostle's commandment. 
 Wherefore, I pray you take this for an answer, and trouble 
 me no more for my conscience." Bunney said : " Alas ! 
 Mrs. Clitherow, I am sorry you are so wilful : I would to 
 God you would see the danger for your soul. The Lord 
 illuminate the eyes of your heart, that you may see how 
 blindly you have been seduced by these Romish Jesuits 
 and priests," with like speeches. After, seeing he could 
 not any way prevail against her, he began to grow some- 
 thing angry, and charged her that she shifted from point to 
 point, and that she was not the same woman she was 
 before, nor so conformable as she had been. " Belike," 
 said he, "some have given you counsel to the contrary." 
 The martyr answered : " I marvel why you charge me 
 thus : have you found me since the first time I came to 
 prison in any other mind than I am now } Have I not 
 always answered you, that whatsoever the Catholic Church 
 teacheth and believeth, the same I firmly believe ^ Neither 
 do I shrink any jot from any article thereof, and I trust 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 425 
 
 in my Lord God never to do." About Monday came 
 Wiggington again, and said : " Mrs. Clitherow, I am once 
 come again to you. I am sent by the Council to see if you 
 be any more conformable than you were before. Will 
 you," said he, " come and hear a godly sermon } Other- 
 wise, I know not how you will escape the danger of the 
 law." The martyr said, " I will with all my heart hear a 
 sermon." " That is very well said, good Mrs. Clitherow," 
 quoth he. "I pray you understand me," quoth the martyr; 
 " I mind to do it, if I may have a Catholic priest or 
 preacher, but to come to your sermons I will never." He 
 said, " If you will come to a sermon, I shall procure you a 
 good and godly man both of life and doctrine, though I 
 seek him to the furthermost part of England." Mrs. Yoward, 
 standing by, said, " Here is the Dean of Durham, Toby 
 Matthew, a godly and learned man ; I am sure he will take 
 as much pains as any to do you good." The martyr 
 mildly answered, " I will never have the Dean of Durham, 
 nor any other of that sect. My faith is stayed already, and 
 I purpose not to seek for new doctrine." " I myself," 
 quoth Wiggington, " have seen Christ once in a vision, and 
 am assured of my salvation." The martyr at that word 
 began to smile, and made but small answer. Then 
 Wiggington brought forth some places of the Doctors to 
 prove that his doctrine was true. The martyr said : " If 
 you would believe the Doctors and follow them, then were 
 both you and I of one faith, but you slide from them. I 
 have no learning to read them, but I believe that which 
 they preached and taught to be the truth." "Well, 
 Mrs. Clitherow," said he, " I perceive you will cast yourself 
 willingly away, without regard of husband or children ; you 
 follow blind guides. Is there any of them that hath any 
 learning, I would fain know } " The martyr said, " Peruse 
 their works, and you shall see." After that he had pitied 
 her case a while, he departed and came no more. 
 
 Another preacher also, called Harwood, came and 
 
426 Mr, John MttsJis 
 
 began to persuade her to yield herself to be tried by the 
 country, and to make her submission to the Council, and 
 to confess she had offended God and the Queen's Majesty, 
 and so she might possibly find mercy. The martyr 
 answered : " I pray God I may make my submission unto 
 Him, and do my humble duty to my prince in all matters 
 temporal ; but in this which I am charged withal, I trust I 
 have neither offended God nor my prince." The minister 
 began after his manner to rail and blaspheme against 
 Jesuits and priests, calling them traitors to her Majesty, 
 and that she was an harbourer and maintainer of them. 
 The martyr answered, " I never harboured nor maintained 
 any traitors to her Majesty, but such as wished no worse to 
 her than to their own souls." Others also came to her at 
 divers times, and said she died desperately, and had no 
 care on her husband and children, but would spoil them, 
 and make all people to exclaim against her; and how 
 mercifully the Queen's laws were, and how the Council 
 were willing to deal with her, and show favour upon her 
 submission ; as it might appear by deferring the time of 
 her death, and by sending them to confer with her about 
 the same. The martyr said : " You charge me wrongfully. 
 I die not desperately nor willingly procure mine own 
 death : for not being found guilty of such crimes as were 
 laid against me, and yet condemned to die, I could but 
 rejoice ; my cause also being God's quarrel. Neither did 
 I fear the terror [of the] sentence of death, but was 
 ashamed on their behalfs to have such shameful words 
 uttered in the audience as to strip me naked, and press me 
 to death among men, which mcthought for womanhood 
 they might have concealed. As for my husband, know 
 you that I love him next unto God in this world, and 
 I have care over my children as a mother ought to have ; 
 I trust I have done my duty to them to bring them up in 
 the fear of God, and so I trust now I am discharged of 
 them. And for this cause I am willing to offer them freely 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 427 
 
 to God that sent them me, rather than I will yield one jot 
 from my faith. I confess death is fearful, and flesh is frail ; 
 yet I mind by God's assistance to spend my blood in this 
 faith, as willingly as ever I put my paps to my children's 
 mouths, neither desire I to have my death deferred." They 
 said : " You can allege no cause that you die for religion, 
 but for disobedience and maintaining traitors in your house 
 against the laws of the realm." The martyr said, " I deny 
 it, I kept no traitors ; make of it what you will, I pass not. 
 I take witness I die for the Catholic faith, the same that I 
 was christened in." They said, " You are not of Mr. Hart's 
 opinion, for he said it was lawful for women that had no 
 learning to defend their cause, to go to the Church." The 
 martyr said, " Father Hart was not of your opinion, neither 
 would he say any such thing, and, if he had said, I would 
 not have believed him. But he answered all your objec- 
 tions by learning, as it was manifest." " Know," they said 
 also, "that Mr. Comberford renounced the Pope, and con- 
 fessed he had been blindly led many years." The martyr 
 answered : " This is not the first lie that hath been made 
 of dead men, which are not here to answer, but such talk 
 as this will get you small credit." When they saw that they 
 could not persuade her, nor make her yield in anything, 
 they brought in ridiculous slanders against her, and told 
 her how the boy had confessed that she had sinned with 
 priests, and that the priests and she would have delicate 
 cheer, when she would set her husband with bread and 
 butter and a red herring. When she heard these words, 
 she smiled and said : " God forgive you for these forged 
 tales ; and if the boy said so, I warrant you he will say as 
 much more for a pound of figs." But principally they urged 
 her to confess she had offended her husband. The martyr 
 said, " If I have offended my husband in anything but for 
 my conscience, I ask God and him forgiveness." Still they 
 urged her to confess some fault against him, thereby to 
 slander herself The martyr said, "I trust my husband 
 
428 Mr, John MusJis 
 
 will not accuse me that I have offended him at any time, 
 unless in such small matters as are commonly incident to 
 man and wife ; and I beseech you," said she, " let me speak 
 with him before I die." They said she should not, unless 
 she would yield unto something. The martyr said, " God's 
 will be done, for I will not offend God and my conscience 
 to speak with him." When they could no way prevail 
 against her, they contradicted her in all speeches and 
 doings : but they could never move her to impatience, 
 change of talk or countenance. 
 
 Two days before her martyrdom, the sheriffs of York 
 came to her and told her what day was appointed for 
 her death. The martyr thanked God, and requested them 
 that she might go to the place where she should suffer 
 half a day or half a night before, and to remain there 
 all that time until she should die; but they would not 
 grant it. 
 
 After the sheriffs were departed, the martyr said to 
 a friend of hers, " The sheriffs have told me that I shall 
 die on Friday next ; and now I feel the frailty of mine 
 own flesh, which trembleth at these news, although my 
 spirit greatly rejoiceth. Therefore for God's sake pray 
 for me, and desire all good folks to do the same." And 
 she kneeling down praying a little, the fear and horror 
 of death presently departed, as she said herself. 
 
 Truly in all her speeches, countenance, and behaviour, 
 she never showed herself sad, or sorrowful, or fearful, 
 unless this one time; never expecting or hoping for pardon 
 notwithstanding the time was so deferred, and many 
 speeches given forth that she should not die. But her 
 mind was always on her end, craving all good prayers 
 for perseverance and for ghostly strength to overcome 
 all combats, and joyfully to depart from this world to 
 the glory of God and advancement of the Catholic 
 Church. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitkerow, 429 
 
 CHAPTER XX. 
 
 OF HER MARTYRDOM. 
 
 Six days before her death her husband was set at liberty, 
 and commanded by the Council to depart the city for 
 five days, whereby the martyr and all others first gathered 
 that they intended indeed to suck her blood. From 
 her first coming to the bridge she put off her smock, 
 and never wore any after during her life. Her diet was a 
 water pottage, rye bread, and small ale, which she took 
 but once a day, and that in little quantity. And from 
 the day that the sheriffs gave her certain intelligence of 
 her death (which was Tuesday at night), she took no food 
 at all. 
 
 Being in a parlour with Yoward and his wife the night 
 before she suffered, she said to Yo ward's wife, '^ I would 
 gladly have one of the maids to bear me company this 
 night, not for any fear of death, for it is my comfort, but 
 the flesh is frail." The woman said, " Alas ! Mrs. Clitherow, 
 the gaoler is gone, the door is locked, and none can 
 be had. Then the said Yoward's wife, being ready to 
 go to bed, clasped again her clothes, and sitting beside 
 the martyr almost till midnight, after went to bed. At 
 twelve of the clock she saw the martyr rise from her 
 knees, and put off all her apparel, putting on a linen habit 
 like to an alb, which she had made with her own hands 
 three days before to suffer martyrdom in. Then she 
 kneeled down again, without anything upon her saving 
 that linen cloth, from twelve of the clock until three, at 
 which time she arose and came to the fireside. There 
 she laid her down flat upon the stones one quarter of 
 an hour. After that she arose and went to her bed, 
 covering herself with clothes, and so continued until six in 
 
430 Mr. John Mtish's 
 
 the morning. Then she arose and put on her apparel, 
 and made her ready against the sheriffs' coming. 
 
 She desired Yoward's wife to see her die, and wished 
 her that some good Catholics were by, in her last agony 
 and pangs of death, to put her in remembrance of God. 
 Yoward's wife said she would not see her die so cruel 
 a death for all York; "but," quoth she, "I will procure 
 some friends to lay weight on you that you may be quickly 
 despatched from your pain." The martyr said, " No, good 
 Mrs. Yoward, not so. God defend that I should procure 
 any to be guilty of my death and blood." 
 
 About eight of the clock the sheriffs came to her, 
 and she being ready expecting them, having trimmed up 
 her head with new inkle,^ and carrying on her arm the new 
 habit of linen with inkle strings, which she had prepared 
 to bind her hands, went cheerfully to her marriage, as she 
 called it ; dealing her alms in the street, which was so full 
 of people that she could scarce pass by them. She went 
 barefoot and barelegged, her gown loose about her. Fawcet, 
 the sheriff, made haste and said, " Come away, Mrs. Clithe- 
 row." The martyr answered merrily, "Good Master Sheriff, 
 let me deal my poor alms before I now go, for my time is but 
 short." They marvelled all to see her joyful countenance. 
 
 The place of execution was the tollbooth, six or seven 
 yards distant from the prison. There were present at her 
 martyrdom the two sheriffs of York, Fawcet and Gibson, 
 Frost, a minister. Fox, Mr. Cheeke's kinsman, with another 
 of his men, the four sergeants, which had hired certain 
 beggars to do the murther, three or four men, and four 
 women. 
 
 The martyr coming to the place, kneeled her down, 
 and prayed to herself The tormentors bade her pray 
 with them, and they would pray with her. The martyr 
 denied, and said, "I will not pray with you, and you 
 shall not pray with me ; neither will I say Amen to your 
 * InkUf inferior tape. Hallvwell. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow, 431 
 
 prayers, nor shall you to mine." Then they willed her 
 to pray for the Queen's majesty. The martyr began in 
 this order. First, in the hearing of them all, she prayed 
 for the Catholic Church, then for the Pope's Holiness, 
 Cardinals, and other Fathers which have charge of souls, 
 and then for all Christian princes. At which words the 
 tormentors interrupted her, and willed her not to put her 
 majesty among that company ; yet the martyr proceeded 
 in this order, "and especially for Elizabeth, Queen of 
 England, that God turn her to the Catholic faith, and 
 that after this mortal life she may receive the blessed 
 joys of heaven. For I wish as much good," quoth she, 
 " to her majesty's soul as to mine own." Sheriff Gibson, 
 abhorring the cruel fact, stood weeping at the door. Then 
 said Fawcet, "Mrs. Clitherow, you must remember and 
 confess that you die for treason." The martyr answered, 
 " No, no, Mr. Sheriff, I die for the love of my Lord Jesu ; * 
 which last words she spake with a loud voice. 
 
 Then Fawcet commanded her to put off her apparel ; 
 "For you must die," said he, "naked, as judgment was 
 given and pronounced against you." 
 
 The martyr with the other women requested him on 
 their knees that she might die in her smock, and that for 
 the honour of womanhood they would not see her naked ; 
 but that would not be granted. Then she requested that 
 women might unapparel her, and that they would turn 
 their faces from her for that time. 
 
 The women took off her clothes, and put upon her 
 the long habit of linen. Then very quietly she laid her 
 down upon the ground, her face covered with a hand- 
 kerchief, the linen habit being placed over her as far as it 
 would reach, all the rest of her body being naked. The 
 door was laid upon her, her hands she joined towards 
 her face. Then the sheriff said, "Nay, you must have 
 your hands bound." The martyr put forth her hands over 
 the door still joined. Then two sergeants parted them, 
 
432 Mr.JoJm MusJis 
 
 and with the inkle strings, which she had prepared for 
 that purpose bound them to two posts, so that her body 
 and her arms made a perfect cross. They willed her again 
 to ask the Queen's Majesty's forgiveness, and to pray for 
 her. The martyr said she had prayed for her. They 
 also willed her to ask her husband's forgiveness. The 
 martyr said, " If ever I have offended him, but for my 
 conscience, I ask him forgiveness." 
 
 After this they laid weight upon her, which when she 
 first felt, she said, "Jesu! Jesu ! Jesu ! have mercy upon 
 me ! " which were the last words she was heard to speak. 
 
 She was in dying one quarter of an hour. A sharp 
 stone, as much as a man's fist, put under her back ; upon 
 her was laid to the quantity of seven or eight hundred- 
 weight at the least, which, breaking her ribs, caused them 
 to burst forth of the skin. 
 
 Thus most victoriously this gracious martyr overcame 
 all her enemies, passing [from] this mortal life with 
 marvellous triumph into the peaceable city of God, there 
 to receive a worthy crown of endless immortality and joy. 
 
 This was at nine of the clock, and she continued in the 
 press until three at afternoon. Her hat before she died 
 she sent to her husband, in sign of her loving duty to him 
 as to her head. Her hose and shoes to her eldest daughter, 
 Anne, about twelve years old, signifying that she should 
 serve God and follow her steps of virtue. 
 
 The little girl was at the first committed to ward 
 because she would not betray her mother, and there 
 extremely used for that she would not go to the church; 
 but when her mother was martyred, the heretics came up 
 to her and said, that unless she would go to the church 
 and hear a sermon, her mother should be put to death. 
 The child, thereby thinking to save her mother's life, went 
 to a sermon, and thus they deceived her. 
 
Life of Margaret Clithsrow. 43, 
 
 CHAPTER XXL 
 
 THE CONCLUSION, WHEREIN IS PARTLY SHOWED THE 
 
 UNJUST DEALINGS OF THE HERETICS WITH THIS 
 
 MARTYR. 
 
 Now the next day the heretics railed against her out 
 of their pulpits with most shameful lies and slanders^ 
 The Lord Mayor, called Mr. May, to show his gentle- 
 mind to the martyr's mother, which had taken him from^ 
 the beggar's staff, made this his honourable table talk 
 among his heretical brethren, that she died desperately,, 
 and that she had been an unhonest woman, with many^ 
 such like and false heretical slanders. As for my Lord 
 Mayor, I will have more regard to his honour thait 
 he hath to his honesty. Let him remember whether he- 
 himself had not good proofs of this martyr's constant 
 honesty at all times when she was in his mother's house. 
 
 But what shall I need to speak against the vicious^ 
 murtherers in defence of this chaste martyr, whose honesty 
 and other virtues are well known to her neighbours, as 
 well heretics as others, who can witness that as she was^ 
 not once suspected of any dishonest behaviour in all her 
 life, so it will be impossible after so glorious a death for 
 heretics to persuade any but such as wallow in the same^ 
 abominable puddle of uncleanness with them that their 
 slanders be true. For who seeth not this, that these are 
 the ordinary fruits of their heretical humour, then chiefly 
 to heap up most untrue and detestable slanders, without 
 all proof or likelihood, when they would contrive or have 
 committed some shameful fact, thinking thereby to cover 
 their horrible practices and barbarous cruelty. . . } Your 
 own fellows in heresy, but yet of more modest nature 
 and not so far from all honesty and truth as you are^ 
 
 ^ Six pages of declamation to the same effect are here omitted. 
 CO 
 
434 Mr.Jokft MusJis 
 
 after this martyr's death, they seeing her behaviour witness 
 freely what constant virtue was in her, and say she was 
 a rare woman in mortification to the world and the 
 •delights thereof, and that nothing wanted to make her 
 a true martyr but only a true faith. Your slanders 
 therefore will redound to your own reproach and discredit, 
 and to this martyr's great glory. For the priest's chamber, 
 what dainty cheer found you there.? You report what- 
 soever a shameless spirit biddeth you, with all untruth 
 and railing. Was not common bread, with two or three 
 apple tarts, made in Lent time without any oil or butter, 
 all the cheer you found } Is this delicate cheer with 
 priests and worthy of an infamous outcry for delicacy in 
 them ; and in Lent time any flesh or other dainties is 
 not dainty or to be spoken of, [though it be] against 
 your heretical laws t And perhaps it is so indeed, for 
 that you live always in pleasures and delicate lusts, as 
 your sensuality desireth. Hear this, which is truth, as 
 willingly as you cast abroad untruths. This I say to the 
 glory of God and His Catholic Church, whose children 
 your malicious tongues would defile with your own 
 ignominy, this most happy martyr and those priests were 
 delicate and dainty in this manner. During that whole 
 time of Lent, they ate but one meal a day, as the custom 
 of Christendom hath ever been and is still. In that also 
 they forbare all flesh, they tasted not any white meats, 
 as eggs, butter, milk, and cheese, if fish might be gotten, 
 as it is not plentiful this season, God punishing your 
 intemperate and fleshly minds, which rebel against His 
 Church's ordinance in this choice of meats. For such 
 holy times they received it with thanksgiving, and in 
 such scarcity as continually remembering to afflict their 
 bodies by denying their appetite its lawful and necessary 
 fill (as by human imperfection sometimes before they 
 might have exceeded in superfluities), knowing to be 
 acceptable to God and some little part of satisfaction 
 
Life of Marga7^et Clitherow, 435 
 
 by the virtue of Christ's merits for excesses past to turn 
 to God again in prayer, weeping and fasting, mourning, 
 as by His prophets He willeth us ; whereas on this 
 contrary part, all this holy time you devour flesh twice 
 or thrice a day. . . . Then in your ridiculous gluttony, 
 your beef must be named Spanish ling, your pigs pikes, 
 your conies cods, your partridges perches. Judge now, 
 therefore, who be delicate, who be fleshly crows, Catholics 
 or heretics, fasters or lawlers. But what if we suppose 
 your lies were truth, v/hat gain you thereby } Suppose, 
 I say, the martyr and the priests had fared as delicately 
 as yourselves, will you in this condemn them .-*... 
 
 Behold how God hath wrought by His servant all 
 things to her immortal honour, and your endless confusion 
 and shame. She, a woman, with invincible courage, 
 entered combat against you all, to defend that most 
 ancient faith, wherein she and you were baptized, and 
 gave your promise to God to keep the same to death ; 
 where you, men, cowardish in the quarrel, and faithless 
 in your promise, laboured all at once against her, to 
 make her partaker of your turpitude and dishonesty. 
 She in everything simple and innocent, you in everything 
 deceitful and mischievous ; she patient and joyful, you 
 furious and fretting ; she victorious, you conquered ; she 
 exalted, and you confounded. Where is now the force 
 of your tyranny and impious law } Hath not the fortitude 
 of one woman showed the injustice of it 1 Hath she not 
 weakened both them and your statute } You know well 
 that these new statutes, which violently you endeavour to 
 establish by shedding of much innocent blood, and which 
 are quite contrary to the ancient justice and laws of the 
 realm, which in this point is not justly abrogable by any 
 modern temporal authority or new decree. Is it so indeed ? 
 Then have you proceeded against justice to call her in 
 question of life and death, only for harbouring of priests 
 (which thing was ever till now, in England and all 
 
436 Mr. John Musk 's 
 
 Christendom, thought to be a work of singular justice), 
 and consequently she might justly refuse trial by your 
 order of law, you proceeding with her against all ancient 
 law and justice. But well you know for what reason the 
 martyr, of her own discretion, after her apprehension (not 
 having any counsel in this or any other point), refused 
 to be tried by the country, as they willed her. Not thereby 
 she meaning to favour or save her life, but only pitying 
 to cast her blood into the hands of many ; whereas, by her 
 refusal, it should in that case principally rest in the judge's 
 bosom, although also many more were guilty of it. 
 
 These were her own words to a very friend of hers 
 after she was condemned: "Alas!" quoth she, "if I 
 should have put myself to the country, evidence must 
 needs have come against me, which I know none could 
 give but only my children and servants. And it would 
 have been more grievous to me than a thousand deaths, 
 if I should have seen any of them brought forth before 
 me to give evidence against me. Secondly," said she, 
 " I knew well the country must needs have found me 
 guilty to please the Council, which earnestly seek my 
 blood ; and then all they had been accessory to my 
 death, and damnably offended God. I thought it there- 
 fore in the way of charity on [my] part to hinder the 
 country from such a sin ; and since it must needs be 
 done, to cause as few to do it as might be ; and that 
 was the judge himself" These were her own reasons, 
 which sufficiently defend and clear her from all her slan- 
 derers of obstinacy, desperation, or other crime at all ; nay, 
 they convince a rare and marvellous charity in her at that 
 time. And though in all her other speeches and doings 
 she showed great wisdom, yet surely in none it appeared 
 more than in this refusal to be tried by the country. 
 
 But what may we think of Mr. Clinch, the judge that 
 pronounced sentence against her } Ask Wiggington, the 
 puritan gospeller, out of whose mouth yourselves say the 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherozv, 437 
 
 Word of the Lord proceeded. He cried openly in the 
 Common Hall that it was against the laws both of God 
 and man to condemn her to die upon any evidence brought 
 against her at her arraignment, and that the testimony of a 
 boy about ten or twelve years old could not justly be 
 sufficient to condemn her to death, but that further three 
 or four honest and grave men must in case of death bear 
 evidence against her. Did not perhaps God open the 
 mouth of Balaam's ass to detect the injustice contrived 
 against His servant, standing in the thickest of her bloody 
 enemies and desolate of all human comfort } . . . This was 
 the general rumour of the hall. If you say they all were 
 ignorant of the law in this usual case of justice, what say 
 you to Mr. Clinch himself.? Is he not sufficient to witness 
 the justice of his own fact t How often uttered he these 
 and such like words in open audience } " Good woman, 
 refer yourself to the trial of the country. I see no cause 
 why you should fear or refuse, there being no evidence or 
 witness against you but a boy." . . . } 
 
 Were it law at all .-* No, surely, unless you heretics 
 say that the law might be without reason and justice and 
 yet be a law. Still if you say thus, we grant it were your 
 law, but in the same predicament with all your other laws 
 that be against God's Catholic Church, that is not only no 
 law, but your unjust and tyrannous law, and so in truth no 
 law nor to be obeyed. 
 
 But what do I speak of the law which might be, 
 whereas your dealings with this saint are convinced to 
 be unjust by your own law which is in force already. By 
 your law therefore I say you have none such refuge that 
 any innocent or guilty prisoner, against whom sufficient 
 proof and evidence faileth, can for his refusing trial only 
 be pressed to death. What say we then to the Judges, the 
 Council, and grave Bench, which tell us they judge accord- 
 ing to law and justice ? Let us go to the statute itself, 
 wherein this pain of pressing, called peine forte et dure, was 
 
 ^ Five pages are here omitted. 
 
43^ -^^" fohn Mush's 
 
 instituted for mute malefactors. In the statute i Westin. 
 cap 12° anno. 3° Edwardi I, this pain of pressing and the 
 order to be kept in it is prescribed as followeth.^ Thus in 
 plain words by this statute it appeareth that none shall be 
 judged to this pei7ie forte et dure, unless there be evidence 
 of proveable matter to convince them of the crime or 
 otherwise they be notorious felons and of evil fame. . . . 
 Perhaps the Judge's manifest iniquity may be lessened 
 by the Council's secret malice and circumvention, which 
 as it is reported is this. Meares, Cheeke, Hurleston and 
 the rest had condemned and executed Mr. Bowes at 
 Christmas last, as I said in the beginning, which they did 
 according to their accustomable dealing with Catholics by 
 the only evidence of one silly schoolmaster, whom they 
 had forced to forsake God and His faith a little before in 
 so perfect a degree of infamy that he was well known to 
 bear a conscience saleable for sixpence. The fame of this 
 gross injustice was spread far and near, and all men 
 abhorred to hear the barbarous cruelty of such malicious 
 bloodsuckers, whose tyranny was not remediable, as the 
 world goeth in these days, when chiefest credit is gotten 
 by contriving injuries against Catholics. Judge Rhodes, 
 as report flieth, at his coming to York this Lent Assizes, 
 whether it was to show his authority above this Council, in 
 his controlling humour, sorry that himself should not be 
 a principal party in so foul murther, or that he loathed to 
 
 ^ Mr. Mush intended to quote the statute, but did not do so. Blackstone 
 says that "the statute directs such persons as will not put themselves upon 
 inquests of felonies before the judges at the suit of the King, to be put into 
 hard and strong prison {soieni mys en la prisone forte et dure), as those which 
 refuse to be at the Common Law of the land. It appears by a record of 
 31 Edw. III. that the prisoner might then possibly subsist for forty days under 
 this lingering punishment. The practice of loading him with weights >va$ 
 gradually introduced between 31 Edw. III. and 8 Hen. IV., at which last 
 period it appears in our books." 
 
 It would be difficult to defend our author's view of the illegality of the 
 proceeding. Before Margaret Clitherow could have been arraigned and been 
 called upon to plead, the grand jury must have found a true bill on the indict- 
 ment ; and it did not rest with the judge but with the grand jury to say 
 whether there was sufficient evidence of the indictment, not for the conviction 
 but for the trial of the person accused. 
 
Life of Margaret Clitherow. 439 
 
 hear the general outcry that a man's life should be taken 
 from him so unjustly and against the course of common 
 law, God knoweth, and others may gather of his pro- 
 ceedings in this like case, at his coming to York, I say^ 
 he greatly reprehended the Council for that unjust 
 part against Mr. Bowes, saying that by law they did great 
 wrong, and ought not to have condemned him upon the 
 evidence of an infamous person. They storming at this 
 rough check imagined by what means they might give the 
 judges a more shameful mate, and by this opportunity they 
 easily circumvented them. They had taken Mrs. Clitherow 
 a little before, and, not having any evidence against her 
 that she harboured priests, except a little boy, they turned 
 the matter upon the judges, earnestly labouring them to 
 execute more shameful judgment against her by the 
 evidence of this boy than they themselves had done before 
 against Mr. Bowes, by the testimony of one infamous man. 
 Thus was this circumvention diligently contrived by the 
 Council, intending by greater wickedness in the judges tO' 
 justify their own also shameful enough ; and after they had 
 brought this to pass in the judges, then said Meares, "Well, 
 now, the judges' hands are as far in as ours ; I think now 
 they will reprove us no more." Thus they played with 
 Catholics, not regarding what mischief they did, so they 
 might thereby win credit and cover their foul dealings. . . . 
 Hath not God turned everything in this your horrible 
 murther, to the most honour of His saint } Behold the 
 very time of her martyrdom witnessed your impious fact. 
 You chose the 25 th of March, wherein all true Christians 
 celebrate with great solemnity the most gracious Annun- 
 ciation of our Blessed Lady, the Mother of God. Was not 
 this the first day of the creation of the world, as most of 
 yourselves hold opinion t Was not this day man formed 
 and endued with life, as many think } Was not this day^ 
 the heavenly message of grace sent to ungracious mankind^ 
 and the Son of God Incarnate in the Sacred Virgin's 
 womb, as the whole Church of Christ confesseth.? Was 
 
440 Life of Margaret Clitherow, 
 
 .not man's redemption finished by Christ upon the Cross 
 4:his same day, as many judge ? Was not this day, as it 
 were, the midst of the time called in Christ's Church 
 Tempiis Passionis ? Nay, was it not Friday also wherein 
 all Christendom celebrateth the memory of Christ's death 
 :and piteously lamenteth His pains suffered this day, for 
 our offences ? . . . 
 
 But now, O sacred martyr, letting go thy enemies, I 
 turn to thee. Remember me, I beseech thy perfect 
 •charity, whom thou hast left miserable behind thee, in 
 times past thine unworthy Father, and now thy most 
 unworthy servant, made ever joyful by thy virtuous life, 
 and comfortable by lamenting thy death, lamenting thy 
 absence, and yet rejoicing in thy glory. Behold me 
 wrestling in the multitude of mine imperfections, and 
 bestow, for God's sake, that alms on me, in the exceeding 
 fervour of thy charity, which in this toilsome life so many 
 times, for God's sake, thou humbly didst require of me 
 at the holy altar. I was not so able to help thee as 
 thou art now to procure mercy and grace for me ; for 
 thou art now all washed in thy sacred blood from all 
 spots of frailty, securely possessing God Himself; whereas 
 I am yet a woeful wretch, and clothed with impiety, as 
 now thou seest, and not so able to break the loathsome 
 bonds of my own sensuality as I shall be when, by thy 
 gracious intercession, I receive more help. Be not wanting, 
 therefore, my glorious mother, in the perfection of thy 
 charity, which was not little towards me in thy mortality, 
 to obtain mercy and procure the plenties of such graces 
 for me, thy miserable son, as thou knowest to be most 
 needful for me, and acceptable in the sight of our Lord, 
 which hath thus glorified thee ; that I may honour Him 
 by imitation of thy happy life, and by any death, which 
 He will give me, to be partaker with thee and all holy 
 saints of His kingdom, to whom be all glory and honour, 
 cow and for ever. Amen. 
 
VI. 
 
 FATHER POLLARD'S 
 
 RECOLLECTIONS OF THE 
 
 YORKSHIRE MISSION. 
 
FATHER POLLARD'S RECOLLECTIONS 
 OF THE YORKSHIRE MISSION. 
 
 Pollard is the name by which Father James Sharpe was known 
 on the mission. He was a priest in Yorkshire for three years 
 before he crossed over into Belgium to enter the Society, and the 
 following recollections were written by him, during his stay as a 
 novice at St. John's, Louvain. He was sent back to England 
 after he had taken his scholastic vows, returning to Yorkshire, his 
 native county. His anxiety for his parents' conversion led him 
 to fall into a trap that they laid for him. He remained for some 
 time a prisoner in their house, and in a letter^ to the General, 
 Father Aquaviva, he recounts the efforts made by them to shake 
 his constancy and his own attempts to escape. At last, hearing 
 that a new proclamation had been issued for the banishment 
 of priests, when challenged to a disputation he asked to see the 
 proclamation, and acknowledging himself to be a priest, he was 
 sent to York to the Council of the North. The President kept 
 him seven weeks, during which time at his parents' request he 
 was committed to private custody, lest he should be confirmed in 
 the faith by meeting other priests in prison. A Catholic who 
 tried to get access to him in his father's house in the disguise of a 
 beggar was caught and sent to gaol at York, where he still was 
 when Father Sharpe wrote his letter. Another Catholic, when he 
 was in custody in York, in order to escape suspicion, visited him in 
 company with a Protestant minister. His mother who never left 
 his room from morning till night, invited the minister to dispute 
 with her son : so he began by expressing his surprise how Father 
 Sharpe could leave the religion of his country for a religion of 
 which neither he nor others knew anything. " Not know anything 
 ^ More, Historia Prov. Angl. p. 359. 
 
444 Father Pollard's Recollections. 
 
 of the Catholic religion, when it is your business to refute it ! 
 Away with you !" said his keeper to the minister. 
 
 His parents, hoped that the decree of banishment might not 
 be carried out in his case, but they could not obtain this 
 exemption unless he would go to church. This he refused to do 
 unless he might be allowed to speak from the pulpit. He was 
 accordingly banished. By that time an English house of theo- 
 logical studies was added to the novitiate of Lou vain. It was 
 opened in 1612; and when the novices were removed to Lidge, in 
 1 6 14, the College remained at St. John's, Louvain, for four years. 
 During some part of this time Father James Sharpe was Professor 
 of Scripture and of Hebrew. He made his solemn profession of 
 the four vows May 12, 1622, probably after his return to the 
 English mission ; and in the year he died he published a book in 
 quarto called, The Exammatio?t of the Private Spirit in Protestatits. 
 His death took place November 11, 1630, in the Residence of 
 St. Dominic, as Lincolnshire was called in the Society. He was 
 then 54 years of age, and the Swn?naria Defunctorum says that he 
 had been 23 years in Religion, which must be an over-estimate, as 
 he says himself that he was in England in 1609. 
 
 The manuscript with which we bring to a close our series 
 of narratives of persecution in the North, is at Stonyhurst College, 
 — n. 100 in vol. iii. of the collection A^igl. A. Considerable 
 portions of it have been published by Canon Tiemey, in his 
 edition of Dodd's Church History vol. iv. p. 1 60. 
 
FATHER POLLARD'S RECOLLECTIONS 
 OF THE YORKSHIRE MISSION. 
 
 From the original manuscript^ at Stonyhurst College. 
 
 Very Reverend and good Father, 
 
 Pax Christi. 
 
 Being enjoined partly by your Reverence's 
 letter of the 25th September, and partly by my Superior's 
 command at the same time, either of which was sufficient 
 to oblige me to performance, to make relation of such 
 particular vexations and persecutions as to my knowledge 
 had happened to the Catholics in those parts where I 
 lived and conversed in England, to wit, in Yorkshire 
 about York, though before I had at large performed the 
 same out of England a year ago, and that at large, with 
 all circumstances of place, time, and persons, yet seeing 
 that letter, as I afterwards learned, never passed England, 
 I will to my power, though not in such exact manner 
 as then I did, relate such as yet occur to my memory, 
 being ready, if so it be thought good, to procure out of 
 England the same and many more in more exact manner, 
 which not only in that time in other parts adjoining, 
 but also since, I doubt not, have, and at this present do, 
 in most lamentable manner happen among the Catholics 
 of those parts. 
 
 ^ Endorsed "Annals of F. Polla[rd]. Divers examples of cruelty and 
 persecution in England, especially about York, and of the constancy of 
 Catholics in time of King James, 1610, 14 Octob." 
 
44^ Father Pollard's Recollections 
 
 First I will begin with a gentlewoman known to myself, 
 by name Mrs. Thorpe,^ a woman of good birth and place 
 both by herself and her husband, allied to the best 
 gentlemen of the country, and in her husband's days 
 one of the best housekeepers in those parts. She, after 
 her husband's death, lost her jointure, house, and all she 
 had, and at the length came to that misery and want, 
 being now of good years, that she, not having a house 
 to dwell in, nor money to release her, was forced to come 
 to the manor house of which she had been before mistress, 
 but was nov/ by her son, who was fled into Ireland, let to 
 a stranger, and there to lie in an outhouse, where she 
 had neither bed, meat, nor drink, but such as those who 
 had been before her poor tenants brought, some bringing 
 her bread, some drink, some pottage, and others lending her 
 bed-clothes, and other necessaries ; and among the rest 
 a Protestant gentleman in compassion gave her a cow, 
 which she herself milked, and so for a good time remained, 
 till at length she was provided of a better house, to wit, 
 York Castle, to which she was sent, and there for certain 
 years remained. 
 
 About a year ago, in Lent, this happened unto a 
 tanner and his wife, by name Rawson,^ who though they 
 had compounded with the King, and agreed for the two 
 parts of their lands and goods, yet had they by officers 
 designed and sent from those of the High Commission of 
 York their goods driven and taken away three several 
 times in one Lent, every time taking all they find about 
 the house, were it his own goods or his neighbour's they 
 cared not. The last time of all, which was in the Holy 
 Week, finding nothing about the house, they entered the 
 house by force, took first the wife, and did so beat her 
 
 * Frances, second wife of Robert Thorpe of Welwick Thorpe, who was a 
 widow April 20, 1608. Peacock's Yorkshire Papists^ p. 124. 
 
 * William Rawson was a tanner at Sheffield in the reign of Edward VI. 
 His great grandson William is probably the person mentioned here. In later 
 life he was of Walkley. Peacock, p. 9. 
 
of the Yorkshire Mission. 447 
 
 about the face that one side of her face was (as myself 
 can witness, for three days after I did see her, talk with 
 her, and from her own mouth write the relation of all 
 that happened) as black as any coal, so that at the first 
 one would have thought it to be some natural deformity of 
 the one side of her face. Besides this they threw her 
 down on the ground, set their foot upon her, in which 
 manner one kept her all the while the rest ransacked 
 the house. In the meantime, others took her husband, 
 bound his hands behind him, drew out his own dagger, 
 and with it did so beat him about the head, that all 
 his face and body was covered with blood ; and in this 
 sort left him lying on the ground while they ransacked 
 the house, insomuch that the minister of the town coming 
 and finding both the man and his wife lying in that pitiful 
 manner, began to reprehend and cry out upon the fellows 
 for that barbarous and cruel usage of them. But they 
 replied all was too little for such traitors against God 
 and their Prince, and did not forbear the minister, but 
 accused him for taking their part, and threatened to 
 complain of him to the High Commission at York. The 
 man himself, being unbound by the minister, went to the 
 next justice of peace, to make complaint of his hard and 
 cruel usage, but before he came to the house, which was 
 not far off, for faintness and want of blood, which he had 
 shed in great abundance, he fell down, and was carried 
 to the justice his house. The matter seemed in the eyes of 
 the justices of the country so odious that they took 
 information of the whole matter, and gave public testimony 
 of all that had proceeded, and counselled the wife that 
 she (for her husband was not able) should go to London, 
 and there make complaint and seek redress, which she 
 did, preferring a petition to the Lord Chief Baron and the 
 rest of the Barons of the Exchequer ; but all in vain, 
 for she had neither restitution of their goods nor a satis- 
 faction for the wrongs, but having spent her money, 
 returned more sorrowful than she went. 
 
448 Father Pollard's Recollectio7is 
 
 Another there happened the last year no less 
 memorable than the former, not far from Thirsk, to an 
 old gentlewoman,^ great aunt as they said to the Lord 
 Scrope, and of no mean parentage or descent, of which, 
 though many circumstances I do not remember, yet what I 
 can call to mind I will relate. There came unto her two 
 pursuivants, one by name Marr, who was a notable villain, 
 and presently after hanged for killing most basely a 
 gentleman as he was alighting from his horse, and had 
 at that present a commission to apprehend any recusant 
 gentlewoman of what seat or place soever she were, and to 
 send her to prison. This Marr, with his companion, came 
 to the gentlewoman's house. Her name I take to be, 
 though I am not certain of it, Mrs. Pudsey. They drew 
 her out of her house, and the one taking her by the one 
 arm, the other by the other arm, they hauled her along, 
 for she was so weak and old that she could not go, in 
 that manner betwixt them to the next village. Then 
 they took a barrow, such a one as they carry dung upon, 
 and set her upon it, and caused the people of the town, 
 charging them in the Kings name, as the custom is, to 
 carry her in that manner to the next market town, Thirsk, as 
 I take it, where they set up[on] her in an inn, used not only 
 such indecent speeches as with decency cannot be repeated, 
 calling her old drab, old quean, old witch, with many 
 far worse, but also such uncivil and inhuman actions about 
 her that a gentleman, though a stranger in the inn, seeing 
 them, could not with patience behold them, but would 
 needs have beaten the pursuivants if by others he had 
 not been holden. There were in the usage many more 
 circumstances which did so aggravate the matter, that 
 particular relation of it was taken by her friends, and 
 complaint made to the Council at London. Which when 
 my Lord Treasurer that now is heard and read, he could 
 
 * Thomas Pudsey of Barforth, co. York, married Elizabeth, daughter of 
 Lord Scrope of Bolton. 
 
of the Yorkshire Mission, 449 
 
 not with patience read it out, but caused the pursuivants 
 presently to be sent for up to London, where he would 
 have exemplarily punished them for their indecent usage 
 of the gentlewoman, if in the meantime they had not 
 killed the gentleman I spoke of, for which they were both 
 laid in prison at York, and the next assize hanged. 
 
 Not far from York, in Bubwith parish, dwelt one 
 John Barker,^ a yeoman of good estate of a pretty land. 
 This man had compounded with the King, and paid unto 
 him two parts of his living, having only the third part 
 left to maintain himself, his wife and children, together 
 with his old father and mother who lived with him, yet 
 notwithstanding the officers of the sheriff and other 
 pursuivants did in one year drive away all his goods 
 and cattle which he had three several times, and the 
 last time came and took all the goods and cattle which 
 were in his grounds, were they his own or others they 
 respect not, so they find them on his ground. Next, all 
 the hay and corn in his barns, with wood and other goods 
 about the house, they prize and set a sale to whosoever 
 will buy them, and that at almost the half of the worth 
 of them, thereby to allure the neighbours to buy them, 
 and in like manner all the goods in the house, seeking 
 likewise for the man himself, whom they would have had 
 in person and committed to prison. The good man, seeing 
 no redress, got out to one of his neighbours and friends 
 and entreated him to buy in his own name all the goods 
 and cattle about the house, for to the man himself, or 
 to any other for him, they would in no case sell them. 
 The neighbour did so, and bought all the goods as for 
 himself, and paying the money, took them as his own, 
 and afterwards, in private, let the owner have them again 
 
 ^ In the Recusants' returns for 1604 Richard Barker, Anne his wife, Jane 
 Barker, John Barker the elder, John Barker the younger, and Elizabeth his 
 wife, are returned as recusants for divers years. John Barker is also returned 
 for a secret marriage and a secret baptism. Peacock, p. 134. 
 
 DD 
 
450 Father Pollard^ s Recollections 
 
 at the same price under the worth as he bought. This 
 good man, thus used, presently after came to the place 
 where I was, related unto me all the manner of proceeding 
 against him, and lamenting his case, told us that he 
 did not know what to do with his ground and land, for to 
 till it or stock it himself, beside that his goods and corn 
 would be taken from him, he was not able, as having been 
 so charged with buying again his own goods ; and to let it 
 to others he could not, for no man would take it of him, 
 though they might have it for nothing, because they were 
 sure to lose the goods and cattle they put upon it, or the 
 corn they did sow in it. The same man had not long after 
 his goods taken out of his house by the churchwardens, his 
 own neighbours, by the direction and command of a 
 neighbour Justice of the Peace, one Sir William Hillyarde,^ 
 who upon his own malice, contrary to all order of law 
 (for which an order was granted afterwards by the Lord 
 Chief Baron out of the Exchequer to the said John 
 Barker, and in him to all the rest of the north against 
 the said proceedings) caused all churchwardens to exact of 
 every recusant \2d. for every week's absence from the 
 church, and if they would not pay it he gave them 
 warning, and charged them to enter the house and take 
 any goods they could find, and carry them into the church, 
 and keep them in the vestry or sacristy, which for fear 
 the poor men did so exactly perform that they had almost 
 filled the vestry with pots, pans, and pewter, and such 
 household stuff. Among the rest this John Barker had 
 his taken, and there amongst the rest laid up until the 
 next assize. He preferred a petition to the judges for 
 redress, the one of which was Baron Altham,* who was 
 the Chief Judge, affirmed that he was wronged, for that 
 the statute of 12^. a Sunday was made against vagabonds 
 
 * Sir William Hildyard was son of William Hildyard, Recorder of York, 
 fourth son of Martin Hildyard of Winestcad. 
 
 • Sir James Altham, Baron of the Exchequer in 1607, died in 1616. 
 
of the Yorkshire Mission. 451 
 
 and rogues, who upon the Sunday live in the alehouse, 
 and that before any laws were made against recusants, and 
 therefore could not in reason be extended against recu- 
 sants, who were by other laws punished made directly 
 against them. But the other judge, Sir Edward Phillips,^ a 
 man malicious against recusants, and audacious in any 
 matter, as being the Speaker of the Parliament, not only 
 contradicted the other judge, though the chiefer in place, 
 but also commended the justice for doing that he had 
 done, and besides that, gave in charge to all other justices 
 in the shire to do the like, which for a time was severely 
 executed, until by the means of the other judge a plain 
 order against it was procured from the Barons of the 
 Exchequer. In which time many poor people thereabout 
 by the foresaid justice and knight, Sir William Hillyarde, 
 were most pitifully used. Some in whose houses they 
 could find nothing were sent to prison, and of them two or 
 three for no more but 4$-. Others had their clothes taken 
 from their beds, and the pots and pans out of their house. 
 One poor woman had spun and wrought a little cloth 
 to clothe her poor children against the winter, and had 
 it taken away. Another had the coverlets and blankets 
 taken from her bed ; and another her pots and pans and 
 pewter from her house. Another was forced to remove 
 all her goods; and to save herself, both she and her 
 daughter, having a little child in her arms, were forced to 
 put themselves in beggar's attire, and so to go up and 
 down begging. All these in particular I knew, and among 
 them one poor man, who had nothing but what he got 
 by alms by going from door to door among his neighbours, 
 was in his poor cottage assaulted, and having a little 
 milk in a pan on the fire, was forced to leave it and hide 
 himself. They, finding little else in the house worth 
 
 ^ Sir Edward Phelips opened the indictment against Guy Fawkes ; elected 
 Speaker of the House of Commons in 1604 ; Master of the Rolls in 1611 ; died 
 in 1614. 
 
452 Father Pollard's Recollections 
 
 taking, poured the milk into the fire, and took away the 
 poor man's pan. The poor man, having little or nothing 
 in the house, and not daring to go abroad as he was wont 
 to do, for fear of being taken to prison, was almost 
 famished in his house. All these happened hard by the 
 place where I lived. 
 
 Another poor woman there was upon York wolds 
 whom I knew well, but her name I have forgot, though 
 I have rid [den] thirty miles only to help her and her 
 daughter, besides whom there were no more Catholics 
 in those parts. This poor woman, being known to be 
 a Catholic, was by the ministers, together with some 
 other justices, sent for to a market town ; and when she 
 was thrice brought before them, and found to be old and 
 simple, and to have no goods, was not thought fit or 
 worthy to be sent to prison, for they said she should be 
 maintained, but was sent to market place, there to be 
 shown as a monster, or an owl in the daytime, and of all 
 to be derided and scorned, the people and boys hissing 
 and crying out, " A Papist ! a Papist ! " after which 
 (escaping whipping, because she was old) she was set in 
 the stocks, and there remained the most part of the day, 
 and so was dismissed because of her poverty and sim- 
 plicity. 
 
 There dwelled in Lincolnshire two women, the one 
 married and the other unmarried, the one having her 
 kinsman, the other her father, prisoners in York for their 
 religion, went to visit them. As soon as they were entered 
 the prison, search came to know what and who they were, 
 and being found both of them to be Catholics, were carried 
 before the mayor, who with his wise company offered them 
 presently the oath of allegiance as they call it, which when 
 they refused, as not knowing what it meant, they were 
 committed to the prison to which they came. The one 
 escaped, to wit the married woman, but the maid remained, 
 and at the assize was brought before Sir Edward Phillips; 
 
of the Yorkshire Mission, 453 
 
 the judge, who coming to the hall for the City [trials] 
 after dinner well tippled, as it was observed, called the 
 poor maid before him, and in most shameless manner 
 reviled her, calling her all the lewd names of drab, quean, 
 &c., which he could devise, asked the aldermen if he 
 should not hang her, and at length condemned her in the 
 premimire, and committed her to perpetual imprisonment, 
 where as yet she remains, and so is like to continue. Other 
 poor women there were taken only coming to the Castle, 
 and found to be Catholics, were sent in among them, 
 and there kept. In this prison of York, which of all prisons 
 in England hath been and is most renowned for number of 
 famous confessors and glorious martyrs, there were at one 
 time a twelvemonth ago no fewer than fifty prisoners, of 
 which almost thirty were condemned of the premunire for 
 the oath or also to death. Of these prisoners there were 
 some who when they were condemned for denying the 
 oath, though before they did lie in prison and all their 
 goods taken presently from them, and among them one 
 having nothing in prison of his own but his bed, they took 
 that away from him and left him to lie on the ground. The 
 necessities of these prisoners and their wants in prison 
 hath often been so great, and no longer ago than the last 
 Lent, that they living all in common at a common table 
 of that which in charity is sent unto them, they had no 
 more but every man according to the rate of a penny a 
 day, "jd. a week, of which allowance a good time together, 
 as they writ to London, they were forced to live. Their 
 ordinary allowance when they were at the best is but \/\d. 
 a week for every person, and yet at this rate, together with 
 fees and bribes to the gaolers, they spent 5/. every week 
 among them. We who lived nigh to them have been 
 much troubled to get them relief, and our own shire 
 having not been able to relieve them since it hath been 
 more oppressed than almost all the shires in England ; 
 besides, as after I will more declare, we laboured often 
 
454 Father Pollard's Recollections 
 
 and very earnestly for some relief from London and from 
 the south, but it hath been so little and we so wearied 
 with asking it, that it hath scarce been worth the labour ; 
 but if there be no better order taken for their relief, now 
 especially when upon these new laws and executions the 
 number of them is like daily to increase, I do assure 
 myself that shortly you shall hear they will be ready 
 to famish for want of meat. It would be well if some 
 order could be taken for their relief in time.^ 
 
 One thing there is which here, by the way, I cannot 
 but give notice of, to wit, as concerning Mr. Mole 
 who is in the inquisition at Rome, there is great 
 expectation at York, because he was a York man, one 
 well esteemed of among them, what shall become of 
 him. It is thought that if at Rome they proceed 
 against him to put him to death, it will much not 
 only alienate the commiseration which many and most 
 gentlemen have there of Catholics' endurance for their 
 religion, but will also cause a very stormy tempest 
 among all the Catholics, especially in those countries, 
 seeing they will allege that it is no marvel nor yet 
 cruelty in them to punish Papists their own subjects 
 with loss of goods and liberty, since at Rome they 
 punish Protestants, though but strangers and passengers 
 among them, and that with fire and fagot. This will be a 
 swetstone to set those who are evil disposed on, and seem 
 to many a specious pretence to colour their rigour and 
 cruelty. When I was prisoner at York it was objected 
 to me before the Council how that of late they had 
 
 ^ An unsigned fragment of a letter at Stonyhurst {Angl. A, vol. iv. n. 51), 
 dated April 14, 161 8, says — ** We are all here in very great persecution. All 
 the poor prisoners are in the low gaol in irons and barred of their friends* 
 relief, to force them to pay 2d. the night for bedrooms, and to take their diet 
 of the gaoler ; and they are so many that the alms will not relieve them. 
 I stand for them all I can, and got an order the last Assizes for their relief of 
 the Judges, but the gaoler will not obey it ; and for this and other things done 
 for them I must be committed again to the Castle with them the next week." 
 
of the Yorkshire Mission, 455 
 
 burned at Rome one not a Roman, and we could not 
 complain if here they did prison us who were subject 
 to the King's laws. One spectacle of cruelty committed 
 at York at the death of the last priest that died there 
 two years ago, to wit, Mr. Flathers,^ did move many to 
 commiseration of us and our cause. The manner was 
 thus. They cut him down before he was half dead, in 
 so much that although he was on the ground he rose upon 
 his hands and feet, and offering to stand up straight was 
 by officers with halberds struck upon the head and so beat 
 down to the ground in such a cruel manner that all who 
 beheld it were much moved at it. All acts of cruelty are 
 much among the common people and gentlemen detested, 
 insomuch that one of the Council of York told me that 
 if it lay in his power there should be no more blood shed 
 for religion. 
 
 But to return again to the practice against Catholics 
 in Yorkshire, that the better may be perceived what and 
 how much the Catholics of those parts have hitherto 
 suffered, and as yet do suffer, and how impossible it is 
 to escape them and their violence against us, it may be 
 noted how many means they have to discover and punish 
 all Catholics, and how diligently every one of them is 
 put in execution and practice. First, therefore, they have 
 the President and the Council resident at York, of which 
 although divers gentlemen of the country be Councillors, 
 yet they who are the chief agents in all matters are five 
 lawyers, all of them strangers and men of base condition, 
 gaping only after gain and lucre. These every one of 
 them have it in their power to call at their pleasure any 
 Catholic, and to punish him with imprisonment, or other 
 way as they please. They have their pursuivant, with 
 three men, daily to range abroad about such employments, 
 and to send for whom they please, and to punish them 
 at their pleasure. 
 
 ^ Matthew Flathers, alias Major, suffered at York, March 21, i6aZ. 
 
45 6 Father Pollard* s Recollections 
 
 The second is the Bishop and the High Com- 
 mission, of which, though there be some gentlemen, 
 yet the chief doers of all are a company of hungry and 
 malicious ministers. These keep every three weeks or 
 month their Courts, and have authority, any three of 
 them, to send for any recusant, to offer him the oath, 
 to lay him in prison, and to use him as they will. They 
 have their pursuivant also, who, together with an under 
 agent, do never rest, but against every court-day do 
 summon Catholics to their appearance. Their manner of 
 proceeding is in this manner. They send out process to 
 serve upon any Catholic whom they will have to appear. 
 The messenger, if he cannot find the party, doth either 
 fix the process upon the gentleman's door, or give it to 
 the curate, to be read against the party publicly upon 
 the Sunday in the church. If the party do appear, it is 
 rare if he escape the tendering of the oath ; if he do not 
 appear, they set a fine upon his head, to some 50/., to 
 some 100/., for every time they do not appear. These 
 fines are presently certified up to the Exchequer, from 
 which a writ is granted to seize upon the party's lands 
 or goods to the value of the sum which he is fined. 
 Upon this are sent out officers to the gentleman's land, 
 to take what goods soever they find upon it, not respecting 
 whose goods they be, whether the gentleman's own or his 
 tenant's, or some other person's in whose immediate hand 
 and use the land is ; whether in the lord's or in the tenant's, 
 it suffices them that it is the gentleman's land. There 
 they will take, for a fine of 100/., goods worth 200/., and 
 cause it to be [apjprized and sold at the next town, at 
 the half worth ; neither dare the gentleman appear, cither 
 to rescue his goods, or to make his complaint where he 
 is wronged ; yea, often all is done before any notice of 
 it can come unto him. Thus they continued for the last 
 four or five years past, monthly fining for not appearance, 
 and so consequently driving goods for fines. By this 
 
of the Yorkshire Mission. 457 
 
 many have been brought to that case, that they neither 
 durst keep stock upon their own grounds, nor yet could 
 let it out to others. Some have been forced to flee the 
 country and live in another shire without the limits of 
 the commission ; some have had their goods driven again 
 and again, and that without all order of law or show of 
 right, only by the mere villany of the officers ; for which, 
 if they sued to have them again they might, but with 
 such charge that they had as good lost the goods them- 
 selves. 
 
 Of these, among the rest, I knew five or six yeomen 
 who were forced to fly the country and to live in 
 Lincolnshire, having almost nothing left before they 
 went ; and among divers gentlemen two knights, the 
 father and the son, Sir Ralph and William Babthorpe, 
 at length were forced to fly, both themselves and 
 their families. First the son. Sir William Babthorpe, was 
 fined some 400/. or 500/. for not appearing and because 
 they could get none of his goods, because all went under 
 his father's name, they so pursued his person that he 
 was glad to live in Lincolnshire, and there remained for 
 two or three years. The father. Sir Ralph, being a 
 gentleman not only so well beloved in his country for 
 bountiful and good disposition that he had not so much 
 as one enemy to oppose against him, but being also a 
 gentleman of a very ancient house nigh allied in consan- 
 guinity to the Earls of Shrewsbur>'' and Rutland, and 
 whose father had been the only potent man for credit 
 and authority in those countries, was so sore pursued by the 
 base ministers of this High Commission, who every month 
 sent out process in most disgraceful and odious terms 
 against him, to be publicly read in his own parish church, 
 and after reading to be fixed upon the church doors, 
 that after he had for the space of a twelvemonth escaped 
 the fines by this art, \o wit, by flying out of the country 
 from the day of the writ read in the church (of which 
 
45 S Father Pollard's Recollections 
 
 by friends he got notice before) until the court day was 
 past, at which court day he had one ready to take his 
 oath that he was not in the country (as, indeed, he was 
 not) from the day of the writ read until that present court 
 day, and so could not be fined. After I say that by this art 
 he had escaped a year and more, being at the length 
 wearied with it, was forced to remove his whole family into 
 Lincolnshire, and there to live. And all this he suffered 
 after that he had paid two parts of his living to the King 
 and compounded for it. His son-in-law also. Sir George 
 Palmes,^ one of as ancient an house and as well allied in 
 affinity as any gentleman in the country, did at the first 
 lie in prison and afterwards upon bond released, and 
 afterwards urged to return again to prison, was forced 
 to forfeit and pay his bond and to keep himself from 
 them to live privately, so that for the space of three 
 years he durst not be seen in his father's house, or be 
 known to be there ; for because he had no goods, his 
 father alive, and no Catholic, they sought only for his 
 person to imprison him. These be, among many, some 
 examples of the practice of this High Commission, which 
 is but the second means they have to punish poor Catholics 
 withal. 
 
 The third is the Sheriff and his officers who, upon 
 the least occasion, if they find the least thing against 
 any Catholic, are ready to arrest their persons, to drive 
 away their goods, and to use all disgrace they can against 
 them. Of these, among many, we had an example of 
 an old gentleman who, for his ancient family, was counted 
 the chief in the country, his ancestors, together with the 
 Percys, having been the builders of York Minster, and 
 
 * Sir George Palmes married Catherine, daughter of Sir Ralph Babthorpe. 
 They were presented in 1604 in these terms. "The said Gcoi^e Palmes, 
 knight, and Lady Catherine his wife, have been called by way of citations into 
 the Consistory Court at York to prove their marriage, vehemently suspected to 
 have been married by some Popish priest, but how it is it is not known, and 
 they are presented to have been secretly married." Peacock, p. 141. 
 
of the Yorkshire Mission. 459 
 
 himself the only great and bountiful housekeeper of the 
 North, Mr. Vavasour,^ the chief of that name, who is now 
 of late dead, — God rest his soul. This gentleman being 
 sent for at the assizes, to appear before the judge, and 
 by reason of his age and weakness alleging not ability, 
 was sent for by the Sheriff, with command to take him 
 hy force, and to bring him to the judge. The under- 
 sheriff came with a multitude of men, partly of his own, 
 partly of the gentleman's tenants, and by violence, with all 
 disgrace, brought the venerable old gentleman to the bar 
 before the judges, where, after many disgraceful terms, 
 they offered him the oath before all the gentlemen his 
 friends and kinsmen of the country. And these three, to 
 wit, the Council, the High Commission, and the Sheriff, 
 are always ready in any service against the Catholics, 
 their countrymen and neighbours. 
 
 Besides these three, which are ordinary and continual, 
 there were at one time many other extraordinary pursui- 
 vants ranging up and down the country, and every one 
 making a prey of Catholics and their goods. One was, 
 and is yet, one Searle, who hath authority from the Council 
 at London to levy up all fines set upon any recusant's 
 head, by the same manner of taking of goods as before 
 I related. Another was that Marr, of whom I spoke 
 before, who had a particular commission for all recusant 
 gentlewomen, to apprehend and carry them to prison, 
 and did execute it upon all where he could not make 
 otherwise a commodity for himself, as by the example 
 of the gentlewoman before may appear. By him were 
 many and most rude and barbarous actions committed, 
 of which I have heard many, but because partly I have 
 
 * ■William Vavasour, as he is called by Betham, Walter according to 
 Dugdale, succeeded his uncle John in the Hazlewood estate. He married 
 Anne, grand-daughter of Thomas, Earl of Rutland. His son, Sir Thomas, 
 was created a baronet in 1628. He had thirteen children, of whom Henry 
 became a priest, John a Jesuit lay-brother, Francis a Franciscan, Mary a nun 
 at Brussels, and Margaret and Catherine nuns at Cambray. 
 
460 Father Pollard's Recollections 
 
 forgotten the particulars of them, and partly for that I 
 have no certainty of them, I omit them at this present 
 until I hear further and more certain relation of them. 
 
 The third was one who came with an outlawry against 
 all the Catholics of the country, whose name I have 
 forgotten. This villain had counterfeited a licence and 
 warrant from the Council at London, under pretence of 
 gathering I know not how many thousand pounds for 
 my Lord of Mungummorie [Montgomery],^ and showing 
 an outlawry against all recusants, proceeded so far before 
 he was discovered, that he had agreed with many for 
 sums of money and got it, had laid others in prison, and 
 seized upon all their goods, as by name one Mr. Persic 
 [Percy], and molested the country and got a good sum 
 of money, and at last ran away, but took all he had 
 got with him ; but the gentlemen recovered nothing again. 
 
 Besides these three was one Heaton, who, for the two 
 parts of lands and all recusants' goods who had not 
 compounded with the King, made such havoc in the 
 country that for a year or two he almost left no Catholic 
 any goods, till at the length, for his disorder and cozening 
 the King of that which he got, was put out of office, 
 and now, for his pains, lies in prison, 
 
 Besides all these were granted to the Lord Sheffield 
 1,000/., to be levied out of the recusants' goods, but 
 he did deal honourably, and though he be President, 
 would rather lose it than with such violence gather 
 it. Another sum of 6,000/. was granted to one Loris- 
 tone, a great Scot, to be levied out of the same 
 recusants' goods. This was a-doing when I came out 
 of England. Another sum of I know not how much 
 was granted to the King's pages, which the Bishop 
 of Bristow,^ who is Dean of York, gathering for the 
 
 ^ Philip Herbert, second son of Henry, Earl of Pembroke, created Earl of 
 Montgomery in 1605 ; died in 1652. 
 
 "^ John Thomborough, translated July 12, 1603, from Limerick to Bristol, 
 and thence to Worcester, Feb. 17, 1616. 
 
of the Yorkshire Mission, 4.6 1 
 
 pages with whom he agreed, used such violence and 
 cruelty that his officers exceeded all the rest, for it was 
 they who used the tanner and his wife in that sort as 
 before I spoke. 
 
 All these means and practices were used, and with 
 all rigour and severity executed against Catholics in 
 the time of three years which I lived in England, all 
 of them in the country where I lived, and many of 
 them upon the Catholics whom I knew and had for my 
 ghostly children, until at the end, they being ashamed 
 of so many barbarous usages as were committed in those 
 proceedings, and many of the chiefest Catholics having 
 even with sums of money wrought a little ease, they 
 began at the length to be more moderate, especially 
 since that of the chief instruments and agents of these 
 rapines, one of them lies in prison, two of them were 
 hanged, and the fourth, as the greatest in authority, so 
 the most malicious in practice, Sir Stephen Proctour, a 
 knight, but a man basely descended, and by frauds, 
 cozenage, and violence become so great and potent that 
 he was made Justice of Peace in all shires of England, 
 and had licence from the King to take the forfeiture of 
 all penal statutes throughout England. These his villanies 
 against Catholics were inflicted also against all other sorts 
 of people in the commonwealth, for which he is by the 
 general voice of the Parliament degraded of his knight- 
 hood, deprived of the name of a gentleman, deposed 
 from all place and office in the commonwealth and 
 from all testimony or witness in any cause whatso- 
 ever, his lands and goods made subject to all who 
 could challenge him of any wrong done to them, 
 and his body committed to prison during the King's 
 pleasure. 
 
 This hath been the practice of Yorkshire since my 
 coming amongst them, for of the things which happened 
 before my coming, which were many and notable, I omit 
 
462 Father Pollard's Recollections 
 
 them, as the carrying by violence all the Catholic prisoners^ 
 at York to hear sermons, and holding their hands that 
 they should not stop their ears, at which some cried, 
 some shouted, others stood up and told the preacher 
 where he erred or lied. I omit all the rigour and severity 
 which the President Huntingdon used among Catholics, 
 how he ransacked their houses and drove them to lie in 
 woods and caves, and how many and for what and how 
 small cause he executed and hanged. I shall, if it be 
 thought good, get a relation of some of them in particular, 
 especially how he imprisoned all the gentlewomen and 
 ladies in the countries, some in one castle, some in 
 another, and especially how in Sheriff Hutton Castle 
 were enclosed my Lady Constable, my Lady Babthorpe, 
 
 * The names of those "hauled to sermons" in York Castle in i6oo are 
 thus given by W. Richnwnt, the priest who wrote the account preserved 
 among the Stonyhurst manuscripts — 
 
 "Sir Christopher Wharton, priest; condemned for being made priest 
 beyond seas ; hanged, drawn, and quartered, the 28th March, i6oo. 
 
 "Sir George Raynes, an old Queen Mary priest. 
 
 " Mistress Ann Tesh, condemned of high treason, with six others, for 
 persuading a minister to be a Catholic. 
 
 " Mrs. Bridget Maskew, condemned of treason for the same. 
 
 " Eleanor Hunt, widow, condemned of felony for harbouring the forenamed 
 Mr. "Wharton. 
 
 " William Midleton, of Stockeld, Esquire. 
 
 " William Stillington, of Kellfeild, Esquire. 
 
 "Richard Danbie, of Cave, Esquire. 
 
 " Richard Fenton, of Burwallice, Esquire. 
 
 " Thomas Gelstroppe, of Barrowbie, gent. 
 
 "Michael Gennyson, of gent. 
 
 "James Rosse, late of Igmanthorpe, gent. 
 
 ** William Gascoigne, of Thorpe, gent. 
 
 " Robert Halliley, of Biggin, yeoman. 
 
 "Thomas Clitheroe, of York, draper. 
 
 "John Thackwrey, of Ripon, yeoman. 
 
 "John Freeman, of Menthorpe, yeoman. 
 
 " Simon Ridley, of Ugthorpe, yeoman. 
 
 " Richard Durham, of Cliffe, weaver. 
 
 "Thomas Hewitt, of Cliffe, tailor. 
 
 " Thomas Whelehouse, of Lincroft, tailor. 
 
 "Cuthbert Bailes, of yeoman. 
 
 "Ralph Slinger, of yeoman. 
 
 " Launcelot Bayles, of yeoman. 
 
 " Richard Taileforth, of yeoman. 
 
of the Yorkshire Mission, 463 
 
 my Lady Ingleby, my Lady Lawson, Mrs. Metham and 
 Mrs. Hungate, how they were locked up every one in a 
 several vast great chamber, not one permitted to see or 
 speak with another, nor to have a maid of their own, 
 but such as was put unto them ; how their husbands 
 were not permitted to come to them, but with what suit 
 and difficulty ; how that one of them travailing with child 
 was not permitted to have the company of the rest either 
 before or after her travail, but only for the time present 
 when she called ; what shifts the poor gentlewomen 
 used to get one to another, what devices they had to 
 get to open locks, to break windows, and to make pas- 
 sages, not only one to another, but for a priest also to 
 come to them, are very memorable and worth the collect- 
 
 " Richard White, of yeoman. 
 
 "John Kaye, of Ugthorpe, yeoman. 
 ** Robert Harbottle, Ugthorpe, yeoman. 
 "Bennett Crathorne, of Hovingham, yeoman. 
 
 "Jerome Bohon, of glover. 
 
 " Peter Tmistede, of tailor. 
 
 " Edward Morecroft, of yeoman, 
 
 "John Tailor, of labourer. 
 
 " Edward Sawkeld, of yeoman. 
 
 " Barnard Stafford, ofMillforth, painter. 
 
 " Richard Jackson, of Millforth. 
 
 " George Sawkeld, an intelligencer set in to deceive. 
 
 "Women. 
 " Mistress Catharine RadclifFe, of Ugthorpe. 
 " Mistress Catharine Button, of Dawbye. 
 "Mrs. Anne Warcoppe, of Gatenby. 
 " Mistress Anne Waite, widow. 
 " Mistress Margaret Allotte. 
 " Margaret Silvester. 
 " Elizabeth Hall. 
 " Margaret Tailor. 
 "Jane Bradeshawe. 
 " Isabel Tailor. 
 "Margaret Storie. 
 " Mary Hemsworth. 
 " Margaret Spenley. 
 "Anne Watson. 
 " Elizabeth Bailes. 
 " Anne Hardestey. 
 "Jane Storie." 
 
464 Father Pollard's Recollections 
 
 ing ; all which, if it be thought good, I can in particular, 
 by some of the parties themselves, have related.^ 
 
 I omit likewise as ordinary the taking of priests by 
 searches in gentlemen's houses, and to what troubles they 
 have been brought with whom they have been taken, as 
 namely, Mr. Chumley [Cholmeley],^ who, being betrayed 
 by his own servants, had two priests taken in his house, 
 and being begged by a nobleman, the Lord of Montgomery, 
 
 ^ Probably Father Pollard induced Lady Babthorpe to write her Recol- 
 lections. See Troubles, First Series, p. 240. 
 
 ^ "Richard Cholmeley, of Brandesby, Esq., married Mary, daughter of 
 William Hungate of Saxton. It was his marriage by a priest that his servants 
 betrayed. In 1604 presentment was made of his "secret marriage" in these 
 terms. ** Richard Cholmeley, Esquire, married with Mary Hungate in the 
 presence of John Wilson [? Nelson], William Martin, Hugh Hope, and 
 Christopher Danyell, in a fell with a Popish priest, as they hear." Peacock, 
 p. 121. 
 
 We are indebted to Canon Raine for the following deposition of one of 
 the servants, taken from the records of the Dean and Chapter of York. The 
 date is March i, 160^. "John Nelson, of Stevesby parish, Brandesby, 
 at. circ. 23, saith that in January last past was twelvemonths, Richard 
 Cholmeley, Esq., and Mary Cholmeley, alias Hungate, now his wife, were 
 married together in a close in Saxton parish, about ten of the clock in the 
 night, by the ministry of one Francis Smith, clerk (for so he affirmed himself 
 to be), which Francis has a book like to a Communion book, and there, by 
 light of a candle in a lantern, read the words of marriage therein contained 
 and used at other marriages, as thus, * Here I Richard take thee Mary to my 
 wedded wife ' (and so forth), and he the said Richard saying after him, the 
 hands ol the said Richard and Mary being joined together, and then again 
 saying out of the same book, 'Here I Mary,* etc. At which marriage the 
 ring was used as at other marriages. And after the marriage thus finished, the 
 said Richard and Mary went to Saxton to Mr. Hungate his house, where they 
 lay together that night, and where for the most part ever since, and sometimes 
 at Brandesby, they have lived, and live together as man and wife, and so are 
 commonly accounted. This examinate was present at the marriage and heard 
 and saw the same so solemnized, and then was, and yet is, servant in house to 
 the said Mr. Richard Cholmeley, which marriage, he saith, was solemnized by 
 consent of the parents of the said Mary as he thinketh, for that her parents did 
 presently after (from that night) entertain them. And the said Richard 
 Cholmeley, Est]., at the time of his said marriage, was about thirty years old 
 or rather more, and the said Mary about twenty. It is commonly reported 
 that the said Francis Smith was and is a clerk lawfully ordered, and that he 
 was once parson of Crowle, in Lincolnshire." 
 
 There were in all four men examined as witnesses, who were all servants of 
 Mr. Cholmeley. Another witness repeats the statement that Francis Smith 
 had been parson of Crowle, and adds that he affirmed himself to be a ** priest 
 made in Archbishop's Heath's time." 
 
of the Yorkshire Mission. 465 
 
 was forced with the charges of 1,000/. and a half [1,500/.] to 
 redeem himself Only I cannot omit some part of the 
 troubles which those Catholics and gentlemen whom before 
 I showed to have fled into Lincolnshire suffered there ; for 
 that Council of York and the High Commission seeing 
 that they were got out of their jurisdiction, and that 
 they lived in those parts more quietly than they would 
 have had them to do, made complaint to the justices of 
 those parts, how that their country was a refuge for those 
 who fled away from them, and thereby caused the Justices 
 of Lincolnshire to use all rigour against them ; whereupon 
 every year they send a jury of twelve men to all Catholic 
 houses, caused them diligently to search what goods they 
 had in or without their houses, and to set a price upon 
 them and seize upon them, except with money they 
 did presently redeem them. This was diligently executed 
 once every year inso[much] that some had all their cattle, 
 corn and household stuff taken and seized for the King. 
 Others were forced, when they heard of the juries coming, 
 to remove all their goods from about their house and 
 their very household stuff also out of their houses, and 
 hide it in the fields, that when they came they might 
 find nothing of any value in or about their houses. Others 
 had all taken away, and among the rest one poor man, 
 by name Yonge, who was infirm of a palsy and was not 
 able to go but as one did help him to move his legs 
 forward, nor yet to feed himself but as one did help 
 him, was so ransacked by them that they took away 
 the very pot in which his and his poor children's dinner 
 was a providing, throwing the pottage into the fire, and 
 uncording the bed on which he lay, took from him the 
 bed and bed-stocks. 
 
 Many other such like examples there be in those 
 
 parts which happened in my being among them, for 
 
 I did much converse in those parts, which because 
 
 that in particular I cannot relate the circumstances 
 
 EE 
 
466 Father Pollard's Recollections 
 
 nor the things precisely I omit ; howsoever, by these 
 it may be perceived what is the troubles of our 
 north, what the malice of our magistrates and officers, 
 especially in Yorkshire, who could not be content that 
 those who fled away from them and their jurisdiction 
 should enjoy any quietness or rest in any other place 
 nigh unto them. And if these so great and so many 
 vexations happened only in so short a time as I was 
 among them, to wit, three years, and that in so little a 
 compass as one part of Yorkshire, to wit, the East Riding, 
 in the which the most of them was done, and in the time of 
 a President, to wit, the Lord Sheffield,^ who was in all things 
 rather favourable than grievous to them, what may be 
 thought to have fallen out then in so many years' perse- 
 cution and in the time of those presidents who did bend 
 all their wit and forces to vex and molest them, yea, 
 and to root out the very name of Catholic from among 
 them, especially the Earl of Huntington, whose only 
 subtle devices and bloody cruelty used among them for, 
 as I take it, almost twenty years would make a vast 
 volume, if they were or could be wrote ? 
 
 Notwithstanding all which it is worth the observance 
 to consider how many in number and great in substance 
 and nobility there be in those countries, who either 
 exteriorly profess or at the least interiorly believe the 
 Catholic faith, insomuch as I observed in the East Riding 
 there be scarce three or four Justices of Peace or men of 
 authority in the commonwealth who are men of ancient 
 families and great estate ; for all such who are suspected 
 to be backward in religion are barred from all such offices 
 and dignities, and they who are the men of authority, and 
 rule and command, all are new upstarts either of husband- 
 men or lawyers become justices and chief commonwealth 
 
 * Edmund, third Lord Sheffield ; created Earl of Mulgrave in 1626, died 
 in 1646. His first wife was Ursula, daughter of Sir Robert Tyrwhitt of 
 Kettleby, many of whicli family were Catholics. 
 
of the Yorkshire Mission. 467 
 
 men, who are indeed those who cause the grievousness of 
 the persecution, especially against ancient gentlemen by 
 whose antiquity and nobility they [think] themselves and 
 their baseness to be much disgraced, and therefore intend, 
 if they can, to root out the memory of them, or at the 
 least to keep them in subjection and disgrace among them. 
 The number also of Catholics in these parts is so great, 
 as may appear also by the many and great sums of money 
 granted by the King to divers Scots and pages to be levied 
 out of their goods, that among my friends and acquaint- 
 ance the most of them, if not all, being gentlemen of good 
 account, I can travel from this side Lincoln to York, and 
 so thirty miles further, which is above eighty miles, and 
 within every six miles come to a Catholic house, and for 
 the most within three miles, all or the most of them 
 gentlemen or gentlewomen's houses of good account, and 
 for all this I will not in all the way go six miles out of 
 the ready and nighest way, — such is the resolution and 
 constancy of the Catholics in those parts, that notwith- 
 standing all these troubles and vexations they have rather 
 increased than decayed. God be praised for it. The 
 number of those who are condemned to perpetual prison 
 and losses of all goods and lands for refusing the late oath, 
 I think is greater in York prison than in all the prisons 
 of England beside. The devotion of those who are out 
 of prison in making their houses common for all priests 
 who come, even with the danger of themselves and their 
 whole estate ; the relieving and helping, both corporally 
 and spiritually, the poor Catholics who live among them ; 
 the maintaining of priests in their houses, some one, some 
 two, is memorable among them. 
 
 In the house where I lived we were continually 
 two priests, one to serve and order the house at home, 
 the other to help those who are abroad, who especially 
 in any sickness or fear of death would continually send 
 to us for help, that they might die in the estate of 
 
468 Father Pollard's Recollections 
 
 God's Church. Our house I might rather count is a 
 religious house than otherwise, for though there lived 
 together in it three knights and their ladies with their 
 families,^ yet we had all our servants Catholic- On the 
 Sundays we locked up the doors, and all came to Mass, 
 had our sermons, catechisms, and spiritual lessons every 
 Sunday and holy day. On the work days we had for the 
 most part two Masses, and of them the one for the servants 
 at six of the clock in the morning, at which the gentlemen 
 every one of them without fail, and the ladies if they were 
 not sick, would even in the midst of winter of their own 
 accord be present ; and the other we had at eight of the 
 clock for those who were absent from the first. In the 
 afternoon at four o'clock we had evensong, and after that 
 matins, at which all the knights and their ladies, except 
 extraordinary occasions did hinder them, would be present 
 and stay at their prayers all the time the priests were at 
 evensong and matins. The most of them used daily some 
 meditation and mental prayer, and all at the least every 
 fourteen days and great feast did confess and commu- 
 nicate ; and after supper every night at nine of the clock 
 we had all together Litanies, and so immediately to bed. 
 This was the ordinary practice of the house where I 
 remained, the chief lady of which house hath ever been 
 a woman of that courage and resolution in religion, and 
 of that holiness of life ;^ and that though in Queen 
 Elizabeth's days, and in the time of the President 
 Huntingdon, both she and her husband (who yet as then 
 was not Catholic) were both laid in prison, she among 
 the rest of the gentlewomen above named, and he with 
 
 ^ There can be no doubt that the house here described was Osgodby in the 
 East Riding, the seat of the Babthorpes, and that the knights \yere Sir Ralph 
 and his son, Sir William, with probably his son-in-law, Sir George Palmes. 
 
 ' The Annual Letters of 1618 say that Sir Ralph had about thirty servants, 
 when speaking of the perfect contentment he showed in his exile and poverty. 
 
 ' Grace, Lady Babthorpe, died a professed nun at St. Monica's, Louvain, 
 Nov. 10, 1623. 
 
of the Yorkshire Mission, 469 
 
 other gentlemen for the Queen of Scots ; and though he 
 himself upon his release was bound in 4,000/. bond to 
 bring all his family, both children and servants, to the 
 church, except only his wife, whom they knew would not 
 come (for to these conditions both he and divers more in 
 those dangerous times were compelled), yet she not only 
 kept her children, every one of them, of which she had 
 eight, from going to the church, but all of them except 
 one she caused to be christened at home by a priest,^ and 
 not at the church, in which her zeal and piety she so 
 continued that at the length she won her husband to be 
 Catholic, who always ever since hath so most zealously 
 from the end of the Queen's reign continued ; and that 
 in such manner that never at any time when in the 
 beginning many gentlemen did take the last oath against 
 the Pope's authority temporal, yet he never was consenting 
 to it, nor was ever charged in his conscience with it:^ and 
 that not only her husband she thus won to God's Church 
 to the great encouragement and comfort of many, but all 
 her children she so instructed in piety and devotion, being 
 never without two or three priests in house even in the 
 most cruel times, when both she and her husband lay in 
 prison, that all of them, seven being as yet living, remain 
 constant and religious Catholics, whereof three are Catho- 
 licly and well married,^ and four either in religion or in the 
 way at St. Omers for it:* of which lady for that she hath 
 
 ^ It is said in the Annual Letters for i6i8 that the Archbishop of York 
 caused these children to be conditionally rebaptized. 
 
 2 Sir Ralph died of apoplexy while making the Spiritual Exercises at 
 Louvain. 
 
 * William married Ursula, daughter of William Tyrwhitt of Kettelby, 
 Catherine married Sir George Palmes of Naburne, and Elizabeth married John 
 Constable of Carethorpe. 
 
 * **One [probably Robert] was a Priest and Benedictine, who suffered 
 imprisonment and other troubles, and two younger [Ralph and Thomas] priests 
 of the Society of Jesus, and her daughter Barbara had been at St. Benedict's 
 at Brussels, but could not go forward for a defect in her throat, so she lived 
 afterwards among the Jesuitrices." St. Monica's Chronicle. Barbara became 
 Superioress-General of the Institute of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and died at 
 Rome in 1654. 
 
470 Father Pollard's Recollections, 
 
 been the chief pillar of religion in that country, and as 
 yet so remains, and deserveth as well not only of all priests 
 in general who have at all times been welcome to her and 
 her house in any peril and necessity, but of our Society 
 in particular, to which she hath always been and yet is 
 most devoted as any that I know in England. I could not 
 omit these few among many of her best deserts and 
 duest commendations. 
 
 These, Reverend Father, few instances among many 
 which for the shortness of time I could remember and 
 call to mind of that which passed in and about those 
 places where I moved in England, for that small time 
 of three years which I laboured there, I have according 
 to power, as briefly as I could, related unto you, being 
 ready at any time when it shall be thought good to get a 
 more particular relation both of these and many others 
 which happened in or before my time in those and other 
 adjoining places of the north ; all which because they are 
 most memorable and worthy of register, for both our 
 English and foreign posterity, that both one and the other 
 may see and glorify God in the noble and heroical com- 
 bats of their parents and brethren. It is great pity that 
 as hitherto they have done, so hereafter they should 
 remain in the memory only of those who suffered them 
 and for want of some who in particular should be charged 
 with the collecting and relation of them, not be recounted 
 unto foreign and future generations and times, nor registered 
 to God's honour and glory among the memorable acts 
 of the servants of God in His most holy Church. 
 
 Louvain, Oct. 14 [1610]. 
 
INDEX. 
 
 Abbot, Archbishop 117. 
 
 Henry (martyr) 89. 
 Ackridge or Akrige, John (priest) 
 
 3*6, 319, 322. 
 Ackrick or Ackridge, Thomas 
 
 (priest) 315, 319, 322. 
 Adams, John (martyr) 38, 358. 
 Addewell, Isabel 249. 
 Aldcorne, see Oldcome. 
 Alfrey, John 26. 
 AUanson, Susan 250. 
 Alleine, Margaret 283. 
 Alleley, EHzabeth 283, 285. 
 Allen, Cardinal 106 — no. 
 
 Roger 284. 
 AUotte, Margaret 463. 
 Almond, John (priest) 321. 
 Altham, Sir James 450, 
 Amy as, John (priest and martyr) 
 
 40, 51. 
 Anderson, Mr. 222. 
 Anderton, Robert (martyr) 34, 46, 
 
 358. 
 Anjou, Duke of 100. 
 Aparraye, Griffith 19. 
 Appleyard, Mr. 264. 
 Aquaviva, Claude (General S.J.) 
 
 113,443- 
 Archer, Thomas 282, 284. 
 Ardington, Cyril 216. 
 
 Mrs. 164, 328. 
 Arundel, Earl of 10. 
 Arundell, J. 297. 
 Ashton, Robert (martyr) 174. 
 Aske, Anthony 330. 
 Askwith, Rob. 264, 280, 317, 355. 
 Aston, Robert 57. 
 
 Sir Walter 57. 
 Atherton, Mrs. loi. 
 Atkinson, Leonard 166. 
 
 Thomas 237, 343. 
 Audcork, see Oldcorne. 
 Aunshall, Mr. 298. 
 Aynlay, Richard 346, 349. 
 
 Babthorpe, Agnes 12. 
 
 Grace Lady 84, 89, 214, 245, 
 462, 468. 
 
 Leonard 12, 82. 
 
 Ralph, S.J. 469. 
 
 Robert, O.S.B. 469. 
 
 Sir Ralph 168, 213, 457, 
 468, 469. 
 
 Sir WiUiam 12, 457, 468, 
 469. 
 
 Sister Barbara 469. 
 
 Thomas, S.J. 469. 
 
 Ursula Lady 469. 
 Bachelar, Janet 252. 
 
 William 252, 261 — 263. 
 Badam 14. 
 Bagler, William 284. 
 Baines, Roger 114. 
 Bailes, Cuthbert 462. 
 
 Elizabeth 463. 
 Baker, Mr. (priest) 27. 
 Baldwin, Mr. (priest) 34. 
 Bales, Christopher (martyr) 39, 46. 
 Ballard, John (priest) 205. 
 Bamforthe 229, 230. 
 Bandersby, William (priest) 322. 
 Bannister 151, 211. 
 Barker, Anne 449. 
 
 Elizabeth 449. 
 
 Jane 449. 
 
 John 449. 
 
 John, jun. 449. 
 
 Richard 328, 449. 
 
 Thomas 282, 289. 
 
 Thomasine 282. 
 Bambye, Thomas 328. 
 Barnes, John 84. 
 
 John (priest) 106. 
 
 Richard (Bishop of Dur- 
 ham) II, 58, 84. 
 Bartoli, Father, SJ. 114. 
 Barton, Thomas 168. 
 Bayles, Launcelot 462. 
 Beaumont, Justice 198. 
 
472 
 
 Alphabetical Index. 
 
 Beckwith loi. 
 
 James 259. 
 
 Leonard 317. 
 
 Robert 343. 
 
 William 258. 
 Bedall, Sir Thomas (priest) 300. 
 Beesley, Bridget 237, 255. 
 
 Edward 255. 
 
 George (priest and martyr) 
 
 4, 174. 
 Bell, Mr. 319. 
 
 Thomas (spy) 122, 300. 
 Bellamy, Dr. 203. 
 
 of Uxendon 139. 
 Belson (martyr) 38. 
 •Belt, Mr. 297. 
 Bennet, Dr. John 53, 64, 214. 
 
 Father John, S.J. 52, 107. 
 Benson, Thomas 272. 
 Bentley, Mr. 280. 
 Benton or Bentham Thomas 
 
 (Bishop of Coventry) 11. 
 Berrington 15. 
 Best, James 347. 
 Beysbeye or Bisby, John 164, 272. 
 
 322. 
 Bickbecke, William (priest) 272. 
 Bickerdick, Mrs. 324. 
 Bickerdike, Robert (martyr) 9, 40, 
 
 90,92,310,311,358. 
 Bikerton, Mr. (priest) 27. 
 Birkby, James 312, 356. 
 Birkhead 83, 91, 92. 
 Birletson, Edward 341. 
 Birnand, William 245. 
 Blackfan, Father, S.J. 117. 
 Blackwell, George (archpriest) 1 16. 
 Blake, Alexander (martyr) 39, 
 
 46. 
 Blenkinsop, Thomas 176, 329. 
 Blewitt, Thomas (priest) 106. 
 Blount, Richard, S.J. 113, 116. 
 Blundell, Richard, S.J. 5. 
 Blunt 59. 
 Blyth, George 64. 
 Boast, John (martyr) 145, 178, 185, 
 
 193—195. 199—210, 310. 
 Body, Mr. (martyr) 46. 
 Bolbett, Richard 35. 
 Bolton, Jerome 463. 
 
 Michael (priest) 272. 
 Boothe, Ellen 237, 238, 257. 
 
 Thomas 343. 
 Bowemer, Mr. 48. 
 Boy es, Marmaduke (martyr) 40,84, 
 
 358, 365, 367, 438, 439- 
 Kalph 194. 
 
 Boyes, Richard (priest) 19, 322. 
 
 Sir George 64. 
 
 Sir Martin 356. 
 
 Sir Robert ']']. 
 
 Thomas 312, 328. 
 Bowlton, Sir John (priest) 300. 
 Bowman, Alice 283, 304. 
 
 Isabel 248, 283. 
 
 William 245, 248, 269, 283, 
 
 307. 
 Bowton, Sir Michael (priest) 307. 
 Boyes, Anne 252. 
 Bradeshawe, Jane 463. 
 Braferton, Richard 245, 249. 
 Bramley 51. 
 Bramston, Laurence 64. 
 Branton, Stephen 301, 322. 
 
 William 237, 238, 284, 307. 
 Brass 188. 
 
 Bredstock, William 31, 36. 
 Briant, Alexander (martyr) 105, 
 
 106, III. 
 Bridges, Br. 64. 
 Bridgwater, Fr. S.J. 7. 
 Brinsley, William 301. 
 Bristow, Dr. Richard no. 
 Jane (widow) no. 
 Brogden, Mrs. 3n. 
 Brooke, Robert 90, 280, 300, 318, 
 
 320. 
 Browne 57. 
 
 Dorothy 280, 282, 289, 290, 
 
 313- 
 
 Jane 282. 
 
 John 283, 284. 
 
 Nicholas 284. 
 
 Sir Valentine 352. 
 
 Susan 283. 
 
 Timothy 16, 23. 
 
 William 283, 284. 
 Brygges, Thomas (priest) 218. 
 Brymeley, Anne 255. 
 Buckhurst, Lord 158, 275, 277. 
 Buckle, Joseph 349. 
 Bulkelye, Roland 24, 25. 
 Bunney 308, 420, 423, 424. 
 Burdon, Edward (priest, martyr) 
 
 40. 
 Burghley, Thomas Lord 63, 285, 
 
 293. 
 William Lord n3, 133, 190, 
 
 275, 277, 280. 
 Burkbie, James 298. 
 Burley TJ, 
 
 Buskall, Thomas 184, 214. 
 Bustard, John, S.J. 107, 108. 
 Butler of Bucey 13. 
 
Alphabetical Index. 
 
 473 
 
 Buxton, Christopher (priest, 
 martyr) 39. 
 
 Cadwallador, Roger (priest, 
 
 martyr) 329. 
 Calome, Richard 258. 
 Calverley 184. 
 Calvert, Sir George 297. 
 Campion, Edmund, S.J. (martyr) 
 107, III. 
 
 Edward (martyr) 39. 
 Cardinal, William 64. 
 Care w, John 196. 
 Carey, Henry 23. 
 Carlell, Alice 282. 
 Carleton 25. 
 Carr, John 178. 
 Cawdwell 16. 
 Chaderton, WilHam (Bishop of 
 
 Chester) 10. 
 Chalmare or Chalner, Isabel 324. 
 
 John 324. 
 Chalner (Challoner) Bridget 324. 
 
 William 324. 
 Chambers, Agnes 252. 
 
 John 252. 
 Cheeke, Henry 64, 83, 85, 309, 
 
 409, 438. 
 Cherington 57. 
 Cheyne, James (priest) 112. 
 Cholmeley, Margaret 216. 
 
 Mary 464. 
 
 Richard 464. 
 Cholmondeley, Henry 168. 
 
 Marmaduke 168. 
 
 Mrs. 176. 
 Clapton, Grace 187, 191. 
 
 William 187, 193. 
 Clarence, George, Duke of 66. 
 Clark, Thomas (spy) 113, 122, 
 
 175- 
 Clarke, Jennet 283. 
 Clayton, Francis (priest) 113. 
 Clinch (judge) 83, 85, 91, 223, 413, 
 
 414, 419, 436, 437. 
 Clitherow, Anne 354, 432. 
 Henry 279, 354. 
 John 237, 252, 261 — 263, 
 
 279,351—354,409. 
 Margaret (martyr) 40, 52, 
 85, 89, 96, 98, 99, 237, 
 252, 308, 331—440. 
 N. 296. 
 Richard 351. 
 Thomas 353, 462. 
 William (priest) 279, 353. 
 William 279, 354. 
 
 Cobham 135. 
 
 Lord 158, 277. 
 Coher, John 16, 23. 
 Collier, L. (priest) 8. 
 
 Roger 151, 214. 
 Colling wood, Thomas 155. 
 Collyn, Mrs. see Cowling, Alice. 
 Columb, John, S.J. 108, 201. 
 Comberforth, see Cumberforth. 
 Comyn, John 333. 
 Conset, Reynold 289 — 291. 
 Constable, Elizabeth 469. 
 
 John 178, 216, 469. 
 
 Joseph 177, 178. 
 
 Margaret Lady 213 — 216, 
 462. 
 
 Philip 168. 
 
 Sir Henry 168, 171, 214 — 
 216. 
 Conyers, Christopher 19. 
 
 John Lord loi. 
 
 Mrs. loi. 
 Cooke, Ambrose 256, 260. 
 
 Anne 237, 256, 269. 
 
 George 16, 23, 349. 
 Cooling or Collins, see Cowling. 
 Cornelius, Fr. S.J. 113. 
 Cosen, Thomas 35. 
 Cottam, Oliver 173. 
 Cotterill or Cottrell 305, 420. 
 Cotton, Sir George 26. 
 Cowling, Ahce 237, 251, 261. 
 
 Christopher 353. 
 
 John 251, 261, 262, 263. 
 
 Ralph 280, 323, 324. 
 
 Richard 280. 
 
 Thomas 280. 
 Cowper, Robert 343. 
 Cranffeilde, Leonard 297. 
 Crathorne, Bennett 463. 
 Craven, Leonard 334. 
 Cresswell, Joseph, S.J. 4. 
 Criplinge, Margaret 282. 
 
 Robert 258, 264, 268. 
 Crockett, Ralph (priest, martyr) 
 
 38, 39- 
 Crowe, Alexander (priest, martyr) 
 
 40, 92—94. 
 Cuffe 15, 18. 
 
 Cumberford, Humphrey 24. 
 Cumberforth or Comberford, 
 Henry (priest) 35, 300, 327, 329. 
 Curry, Fr. S.J. 113. 
 
 Dalby, Robert (priest, martyr) 
 
 40,51. 
 Danbie, Richard 462. 
 
474 
 
 Alphabetical Index, 
 
 Danyell, Christopher 464. 
 Darby, Earl of 1 58. 
 Darbyshire, Thomas, SJ. H2. 
 Darcie, Lord 180. 
 Dawson (widow) 282. 
 
 Miles 281. 
 
 Thomas 243. 
 Dearman 75, -]-], 324, 330. 
 Derby, Edward, Earl of 26. 
 
 Mary, Countess of 26. 
 Dibdale, Richard (martyr) 358. 
 Dickenson or Dicconson, Anne 
 
 237. 
 
 Francis (martyr) 33, 34, 39. 
 Digbye Sir J. 297. 
 Dingley, Henry 14, 
 Dobson, John, alias Wright 
 
 (priest) 301, 319. 
 Dodwell, Thomas 280. 
 Doncaster, Earl of 297. 
 Dorham, Richard 284. 
 Douglas, George (priest, martyr) 
 
 40. 
 Douthwhat, of Tussege 23. 
 Drake 51. 
 Draycott, Dr. 35. 
 Drury, Robert (priest, martyr) 329. 
 Dryland, Christopher (priest) 32. 
 Dubberly 13. 
 Dudley, Mr. 25. 
 Duke, Edmund (priest, martyr) 
 
 34, 40, 203. 
 Dunwich, John 289, 290. 
 
 (widow) 237, 238. 
 Durham, Alice 237, 238, 256. 
 
 Richard 238, 256, 260, 462. 
 Dutton, Catharine 463. 
 
 Hugh 36. 
 Dyneley, John 258, 264, 356. 
 
 Edmonds, T. 297. 
 Edwyn, John 237, 245, 254. 
 
 Margaret 237, 254. 
 Eglesfield, Francis 145, 164, 165, 
 
 178, 191, 193, 194. 
 Egleston, Agnes 342. 
 Eldersha, John, of Andelen 16. 
 EUis, Captain 210, 211. 
 
 Edward 37. 
 Ellerthorpe, Jane 312. 
 Ehneden, Ralph 343. 
 Elmer, John (Bp. of London) 24. 
 Elwish, Mr. 324. 
 Ely, Dr. 109. 
 Empringham, Gabriel 36. 
 Englefield, Lady 26. 
 
 Sir Francis 26. 
 
 Ennwiche, Jane 281. 
 
 Ennys, Thomas 64. 
 
 Erdeswicke, Hugh 17. 
 
 Errington, George (martyr) 89. 
 
 Essex, Earl of 275, 277. 
 
 Eure, Ralph Lord 18, 83, 84,409. 
 
 Ewbanck 194. 
 
 Ewinges, Baron 198 — 203. 
 
 Ewins, Dorothy 282. 
 
 Fairfax, Sir Thomas 64, 83, Zt^ 
 418. 
 
 Sir William 64. 
 Falkland, H. 297. 
 
 Lady 7. 
 Faux, Robert 34. 
 Favor, Dr. 314. 
 Fawcet, Edward 218. 
 
 James 343. 
 
 Roland355— 357,430, 431. 
 Fawdyn, Robert 343. 
 Fearne, John 64, 288, 293, 295. 
 Fenton, Richard 462. 
 Fenwicke, William 1 54. 
 Fetherston, see Holtby. 
 Filby, John (priest) 106, no. 
 Finch 203, 204. 
 Fingley or Finglow, John (priest, 
 
 martyr) 40, 325, 358. 
 Fisher, John 160, 161. 
 Fitzherbert, John 25. 
 
 Richard 15, 16, 23. 
 
 Sir Anthony 15, 25. 
 
 Sir Thomas 25. 
 
 Thomas 25. 
 Fitzsimon, Leonard (priest) 106. 
 Flathers, Matthew, alias Major 
 
 (martyr) 455. 
 Fletcher, John 283, 285, 319,321, 
 326, 327. 
 
 John, M.A. 26. 
 
 Mr. (keeper of York Castle) 
 160. 
 Floed, Thomas 28. 
 Flower or Floyd, Richard (martyr) 
 
 34. 
 Floyd, Owen (priest) 106. 
 Fordam, Christopher 273,341,342. 
 Forrest (priest) 34. 
 Forster, Mrs. Ursula 36. 
 Fortescue, Sir J. 275, 277. 
 Foster, Isabella 302, 325. 
 
 William 325. 
 Fothergill, Janet 257. 
 Fotherlay2i. 
 
 Foulthroppe, Mrs. 138, 169. 
 Fowler 105. 
 
Alphabetical Index. 
 
 475 
 
 Fox 430. 
 
 Foxgill, Elizabeth 282. 
 
 Foxwell, Henry 34. 
 
 Freeman, John 462. 
 
 Freer, Robert 81. 
 
 Frost 430. 
 
 Fuyster, Agnes 270, 302. 
 
 Fulthrope 169. 
 
 Gargrave, Sir Thomas 64. 
 Garnet, Henry, SJ. 113, 114, 116, 
 
 220. 
 Gascoigne, Sir WilHam 345. 
 
 William 462. 
 Gates, Mr. 93, 180. 
 
 Sir Henry 64. 
 Geffrey 283. 
 Geldart, Janet 251, 261. 
 
 Janet 237, 251, 261. 
 
 Lancelot 251, 261 — 263. 
 
 Percival 251, 258, 261. 
 Gelson 10. 
 
 Gelstroppe^ Thomas 462. 
 Genkyns, John 257. 
 Gennyson, Michael 462. 
 Gent 345, 350. 
 Gerard, Alexander (priest) 32. 
 
 Miles (martyr) 32, 34, 39. 
 
 Fr. John, S.J. 5, 113. 
 Gibson (widow) 21. 
 
 George, LL.D. 64, 92. 
 
 John 215. 
 
 John 322. 
 
 Richard 258. 
 
 Thomas 351. 
 
 William (martyr) 89, 324. 
 
 WiUiam (sheriff) 355, 357, 
 
 430- 
 Gillott, Catherine 257. 
 
 George 245, 257. 
 Godfrey, Anne 254. 
 Gold well (Bishop of St. Asaph) 37. 
 Goloeke, Dr. 20. 
 Goodyeare, George 342, 346. 
 Goulthwaite, John 283, 284, 307. 
 Gradwell, Bishop 5. 
 Graison, Sir Thomas (parson) 349. 
 Gravenor, Richard 24. 
 Graves, Hugh 258, 261. 
 Gray, Ambrose 243. 
 
 Lady 178, 186. 
 
 Ralph 154. 
 
 Walter, Archbishop of York 
 333. 
 Green, Mr. 36. 
 Greenhope, William 339, 343. 
 
 Grene, Christopher, S.J. 3 — 7, 
 118,315. 
 Sir Nicholas (priest) 300. 
 Greneup see Greenhope. 
 Griffin, Alan (priest j 106. 
 Griffith, William 36. 
 Grimstone, Ralph 193. 
 Grindall (Archbishop of York) 
 
 320, 326. 
 Gunter, William (priest, martyr) 
 
 37, 43. 
 Gwynne, David 37. 
 
 Hales, Charles 64. 
 
 J. 293- 
 Hall, Alderman 338 
 
 Elizabeth 463. 
 
 Frances 237, 250. 
 
 George 250, 252, 258, 261, 
 263. 
 
 John 347. 
 
 Lady 338. 
 
 Ralph 247, 258. 
 Halliday, Richard 251, 261 — 263, 
 268. 
 
 Emma 237, 251, 261, 268. 
 Halliley, Robert 462. 
 Hanckrick, John 21. 
 Hansby, Richard 93. 
 Harbert, Christopher 258, 264, 
 
 273, 352. 
 Harbottle, Robert 463. 
 Hardesty, Anne 463. 
 
 (spy) 122, 175, 193. 
 
 Robert (martyr) 40, 46, 47. 
 Hargrave, James (priest) 296. 
 Hargraves, Agnes 285. 
 Harpan, Margaret 328. 
 Harrington, WilHam (martyr) iii. 
 Harris, John no. 
 Harrison (priest) 16. 
 
 Christian 282. 
 
 Robert 269. 
 
 Thomas 258, 264, 272,274. 
 Hart, John, S.J. 107, 1 10. 
 
 William (martyr) 40, 408, 
 427. 
 Hartborne or Hartburne, Edward 
 (priest), alias Benett Lyncolne 
 272, 330. 
 Harwood 425. 
 
 Thomas 301, 307. 
 Hawcock or Allcock, 318, 323, 
 
 328, 329. 
 Hawkeswirthe, Mr. 298. 
 Haywood, Jaspar, S.J. 1 1 1. 
 
476 
 
 Alphabetical Index, 
 
 Heath, Dr. (Archbishop of York) 
 36, 464. 
 William 4, 16. 36. 
 Heaton 460. 
 Hed worth, Charles 169. 
 Heigham, William 25. 
 Hemsworth, Francis 90, 92, 305, 
 
 329- 
 
 Jane 92. 
 
 Mary 463. 
 
 Stephen (priest) 319. 
 Henfield, Margaret 150. 
 Hesketh, Thomas 288. 
 Heveringham, Dorothy 18. 
 Hewett, Anne 255. 
 
 John (martyr) 272,280, 307. 
 
 Margaret 256, 259. 
 
 Thomas 255, 259, 462. 
 
 William 280. 
 Hildyard, Martin 450. 
 
 Sir Christopher 64, 214, 
 
 Sir William 450, 451. 
 
 William 184, 188,214, 280, 
 450. 
 Hill, Richard (priest, martyr) 34, 
 
 40, 203. 
 Hilton, Ralph 58. 
 Hinde 144. 
 Hocknell, Mr. 28. 
 Hodgkinson 18. 
 Hodgson, John 117, 193. 
 
 James 343. 
 
 Sidney fmartyr) 49. 
 Hodson, Lancelot 155. 
 Hogg, John (priest, martyr) 34, 40, 
 
 203. 
 Holford, Thomas, alias Acton 
 
 (priest, martyr) 41, 42, 52. 
 Holgate (Bishop of Landaff) 63. 
 Holiday, Richard (priest, martyr) 
 
 34, 40, 203. 
 Holland, Robert 36. 
 Holme, Reignold 343. 
 Holtby, Mr. 168. 
 
 Richard, S.J. ^//^jDuckett, 
 North 105 — 230, 307. 
 Hope, Hugh 464. 
 Horner, alias Forest (priest) 34. 
 
 Nicholas ('martyr) 39, 46. 
 Houtbee or Holtby, Richard, S.J. 
 
 113. 
 Howard, C. 275, 277. 
 Hubbart, Henry 164. 
 Huddlestone, see Hurlestone. 
 Hudson, H. A. 349. 
 
 William (priest) 272. 
 Hughes, Edward (priest) 106. 
 
 Hughes, John 28. 
 Hummerstone 25. 
 Humphreys,Lawrence (martyr) 44. 
 H ungate, Margaret 214, 463. 
 
 William 168, 213, 464. 
 Hunsdon, Lord 11. 
 Hunt, Eleanor 462. 
 Huntingdon, Henry Earl of 12, 
 63, 65—102, 113, 132, 
 198—213, 214, 239, 240, 
 275, 277, 462, 466, 468. 
 
 Lady 318. 
 Hurlestone ^r Huddlestone, Ralph 
 59, 64, 66, 83, 409,414, 419,438. 
 Hussey 93. 
 
 Mrs. 250. 
 Hutchinson, Agnes 348. 
 
 James 270. 
 
 Thomas 348. 
 
 William 348. 
 Hutton, Christopher 291. 
 
 Dean 66, 100, 300, 326. 
 
 Luke 147. 
 
 Mary 251, 261, 269, 302, 
 
 303,317- 
 
 Matthew (Bishop of Dur- 
 ham) 154, 189, 198, 320. 
 
 Peter 279. 
 
 WilHam 233, 236, 245, 251, 
 258, 261, 271, 279, 283, 
 284,305,307,308,311. 
 
 ILSLEY, George 8. 
 Ingleby, Catherine 214. 
 David 164, 328. 
 Francis (priest, martyr) 40, 
 87, 308, 311, 344, 358, 
 411,419. 
 Lady 463. 
 Sir William ^-j. 
 William 168. 
 Ingram, John (priest, martyr) 108, 
 
 193, 196—212,314. 
 Ingrome 280. 
 
 Jackson, Christopher 340. 
 
 Edmund 307, 324. 
 
 George 243. 
 
 John 341. 
 
 Richard 463. 
 
 Thomas 284. 
 
 Thomas 349. 
 
 William 307. 
 James, Edward (priest, martyr) 
 
 37, 38. 
 Jebbe, Robert 18. 
 Jenison 25. 
 
Alphabetical Index. 
 
 477 
 
 Jennings, Edmund (martyr) 48,49. 
 
 Jessop, John 36. 
 
 Jessopp, Augustus DD. 278. 
 
 Jetter, Mr. 28. 
 
 Johnson, Agnes 269, 302. 
 
 John 346. 
 Jones, David 28. 
 
 Edward (priest, martyr) 32, 
 
 39, 45, 46. 
 Robert, S.J. 116, 117. 
 Joyner, Leonard 296, 297. 
 
 Kaye, John 463. 
 Kellie, Earl of 297. 
 Kempe, David (priest) 272. 
 Kent, Henry, Earl of 26. 
 Kersay, Edmund 327. 
 Killingbecke, Margaret 281. 
 
 Thomas 281, 291. 
 Killingale, Henry 11. 169. 
 
 Anne 11, 147. 
 Kirby, Luke (martyr) no. 
 Kirk, Dr. 6. 
 Kirkman, John or Richard (priest, 
 
 martyr) 39, 69, 408. 
 Kitchenman, Agnes 261 — 263. 
 
 Anne 252. 
 
 Christopher 252, 258, 
 Knaresborough, Peter 193, 216, 
 
 328. 
 Knight, William (martyr) 89. 
 Knolles 23. 
 
 Lacy, Bryan (martyr) 49. 
 
 William (priest, martyr) 39. 
 Lakin, Henry 270. 
 Lampley, William (martyr) 43. 
 Lampton, Joseph (martyr) 212, 
 
 220, 222 — 227. 
 Lander, Anne 35, 323. 
 
 Jane 256. 
 
 John 12, 82, 256. 
 Langley or Longley, Richard 
 (martyr) 40, 83, 93, 94, 99, 325, 
 358. 
 Langton, Elizabeth 253. 
 
 Thomas 253, 258, 260. 
 Lassells, Thomas 216. 
 Lawson, Henry 149. 
 
 Lady 463. 
 
 Elizabeth 214. 
 
 Peter 36. 
 
 Ralph 168, 214. 
 Layne, Thomas 302. 
 Ledam 19. 
 Lee, Henry 243, 260. 
 
 Isabel 282. 
 
 Lee, Roger, M.D. 2S2, 289 — 291. 
 Leeds, Martin 344. 
 Lenge, Cicely 283. 
 
 Francis 283. 
 Lenox 297. 
 Lever, Ralph 206. 
 
 Thomas 206. 
 Lewes, John 351. 
 Lewin, Christopher 222. 
 Lingard, Dr. 5. 
 Lister, Laurence 168, 216. 
 
 Thomas 269. 
 Lobley, AHce 255. 
 
 Richard 255. 
 Longley, see Langley. 
 Loristone 460. 
 Lowe, John (martyr) 38, 358. 
 
 Mrs. Philip 36. 
 Ludstone 66. 
 
 Lutie, Margaret 283, 285, 304. 
 Lynch, Thomas 36. 
 Lynton, Cuthbert 237. 
 Lyons, John 1 10. 
 
 Macclesfield, Ralph 17. 
 
 Major, see Flathers. 
 
 Major, Anthony (spy) 122, 175, 
 
 187, 196, 273. 
 Mallory, Sir William 46, 69, 83, 
 
 92. 
 Malliver, Sir Richard 322. 
 Maltby, Christopher 312, 356. 
 Mandeville, Henry 297. 
 Mansfield 161. 
 Manwood, Judge 30, 43. 
 Marche, John see Marshe. 
 Marr (pursuivant) 448. 
 Marsden, William (martyr) 34, 
 
 358. 
 Marshall, Guy 343. 
 
 Thomas, S.J. 107, 108. 
 Marshe, Sir John (priest) 272, 312. 
 Martin, Richard 34. 
 
 William 464. 
 Masherother, Alice 253. 
 
 John 253, 258. 
 Maskew, Bridget 216, 324, 462. 
 
 Thomas 216. 
 Maskewe, Robert 258, 264, 346, 
 
 352. 
 Mason, Alice 285. 
 
 John (martyr) 48. 
 Matthews, Toby (Archbishop of 
 York) 58, 154, 173, 184, 329,425. 
 Matthieu, Claude S.J. 112. 
 Maxfield, Mr. 8. 
 
 Thomas (priest, martyr) 8. 
 
478 
 
 Alphabetical Index, 
 
 May, Henry (mayor) 312, 349, 
 
 350,355,356,423,433. 
 Mayfield 160. 
 Meares, Laurence 47, 54, 64,66, 77, 
 
 81, 180, 306, 409, 418, 438. 
 Metcalfe, Thomas 356. 
 
 (priest) 188. 
 Metham, Catharine 214, 463. 
 
 Thomas 168, 214. 
 Meverell tt. 
 Middelton, Thomas 345. 
 
 William 357. 
 Middleton, Agnes 345. 
 
 Alice 348. 
 
 Anthony (priest, martyr) 
 32, 46. 
 
 George 169, 345. 
 
 Jane 348—350- 
 
 Oliver 345. 
 
 Peter 345. 
 
 Thomas 345 — 349. 
 
 "William 462. 
 Minors, William 27. 
 Mole, Mr. 454. 
 Mompesson, Mr. 49. 
 Montague, Henry Pole, Lord 66. 
 Montgomery, Earl of 460. 
 Moore, Hugh (martyr) 25, 39. 
 
 Sergeant 305. 
 More, Henry S.J. 105, 107, 112. 
 
 John 215. 
 
 Sir Thomas no. 
 Morecroft, Edward 463. 
 Moulton (spy) 317. 
 Mudd, Sir Thomas (priest) 301, 
 
 319, 322. 
 Munday 25. 
 Musgrave, Robert 174. 
 Mush, John (priest) 308, 331—440, 
 
 412, 419. 
 Mutton, Sheriff 59. 
 
 Nelson, John 464. 
 Neville, Lady Anne 164. 
 
 Lady Margaret 185,189,190. 
 Newell, Thomas alias Newett 284. 
 Newnham, William alias Claxton 
 
 19. 
 Newsome, John 339. 
 Newton, Sir John 26. 
 Nichols (priest, martyr) 38. 
 Nicholson, Anne 283, 285. 
 
 William 345, 358. 
 Norfolk, Thomas, Duke of 63. 
 Northcote, Canon 5. 
 Northumberland, Earl of 44, 319. 
 Norton 15. 
 
 Ogle, William 188. 
 
 Oldcorne, Alice 237, 253, 302, 317. 
 
 Edward, S.J. (martyr) 113, 
 279. 
 
 EHzabeth 253, 282. 
 
 John 253, 259, 279, 352. 
 
 Thomas 253, 283, 284, 317. 
 Oldred, William 335, 
 Oliver, Francis 21. 
 Onslow 56. 
 
 Outlaw, Richard 151, 164, 194. 
 Owen, Mr. 48. 
 
 Page, Anne 285. 
 
 Anthony (priest, martyr) 
 114, 139—143,221, 222, 
 224. 
 Pag^s, Otho, S.J. 112. 
 Paget, Lady 26. 
 
 Lord 26. 
 Paler, William 214. 
 Palmer, George 296. 
 
 William 214, 215. 
 Palmes, Catharine Lady 458, 468, 
 469. 
 
 Sir George 168, 458, 468, 
 469. 
 Parker, John 349. 
 Parkine, Catharine 289, 290. 
 Parkinson, Isabel 281, 285. 
 Pattenson or Pattison, William 
 
 (priest, martyr) 7, 49. 
 Pattyson, Bernard (priest) 188. 
 Paul v., Pope 116. 
 Paycoke, Gregory 346. 
 Peacock, Robert 272. 
 Pearse, William (priest) 106. 
 Pearson, John 282. 
 
 John (priest) 315. 
 
 Thomas 245, 250, 283, 285, 
 
 307. 
 Pease 308, 420, 422. 
 Pembroke, Earl of 297. 
 Pender 283. 
 Pennyngton 301. 
 Pepper 24, 202. 
 Percy, Mr. (Persie) 460. 
 Persons, Robert S.J. 6, iii, 116. 
 Phelips, Sir Edward 451, 452. 
 Piers, John, Archbishop of York 
 
 214, 219. 
 Pilchard, Thomas (martyr) 43. 
 Pilkington, D. 173. 
 Pinkston 135. 
 
 Pitts, John (priest) 278, 359. 
 Plasden, Polidore (martyr) 48. 
 
Alphabetical Index, 
 
 479 
 
 Plewman or Plowman, Lucy 248, 
 282. 
 
 Thomas 282, 285. 
 
 William 248, 260, 282, 283, 
 285. 
 Poker, William 16, 23. 
 Pole or Powle, Mrs. 283. 
 
 George 283, 285, 289, 290. 
 
 Thomas 289, 290. 
 Pollard, Richard 164, 170, 214. 
 
 (James Sharpe, S.J.) 441 — 
 470. 
 Pollen, Joseph or John alias Old 
 
 Master SJ. 106, 113. 
 Porter, Elizabeth 249. 
 
 Isabel 237, 249. 
 
 Peter 249. 
 
 Thomas 284, 289, 290. 
 Pott, Thomas 285. 
 Poulter, John 296, 297. 
 Powell, George 285. 
 Price, William 19, 20, 27. 
 
 Roger 27. 
 Prichard, Humphrey 38. 
 Proctor, Henry 214. 
 Proctour, Sir Stephen 461. 
 Puckering, Sir John (Lord Keeper) 
 
 49, 275, 277. 
 Pudsey, Elizabeth 448. 
 
 Thomas 448. 
 Purbrick, Edward, SJ. 117. 
 Purefoy or Purfer, see Purfrey. 
 Purfrey, Humphrey 64, 66, 180, 
 181, 184, 189, 304, 305. 
 
 QUCALY, Richard 216. 
 
 Radcliffe or Ratcliffe, Catharine 
 216,463. 
 
 Francis 154. 
 
 WilHam 12, 15, 21, 22. 
 Raine, Canon 464. 
 Ramsdayne, Archdeacon 78, 93. 
 Rawson, Agnes 92. 
 
 Ellen 283, 285. 
 
 William 446. 
 Rayne, Christopher 261 — 263. 
 Raynes, Sir George (priest) 462. 
 Reade, Elizabeth 302, 312. 
 Redman, William 12. 
 Renold, William 328. 
 Requesens 108. 
 Reynold 19. 
 
 George 283. 
 Reynolds, William no. 
 Rhodes (Judge) 83, 85, 89, 91, 413, 
 414,415,419,438. 
 
 Richardson, Edmund 236. 
 
 Edward 346. 
 
 Jennet 284. 
 Richmont, W. (priest) 462. 
 Ridley, Simon 462. 
 Riston, Henry 36. 
 Robinson, John (martyr) 34, 37,52. 
 
 Thomas, S.J. 107. 
 
 WilHam 264, 270, 280. 
 
 WiUiam (priest) 272. 
 Robson, Robert 151, 189. 
 Rock, Alice 253. 
 
 Thomas 253. 
 Rogers 30. 
 Rokeby, John 64, 160, 180,272,274, 
 
 Ralph 48, 64, 215. 
 Rollinson 151. 
 Rolson, Francis 25. 
 Rondell, Phihp 105. 
 Rookeby, John, LL.D. 64. 
 Roper, Margaret 1 10. 
 Rosse, James 462. 
 Rowsome or Rousham, Stephen 
 
 (priest, martyr) 41. 
 Rudall, Thomas (priest) 326. 
 Rudsdon, Martin 53. 
 Rudstone, Ursula 93. 
 Rutland, Henry, Earl of 63. 
 
 Salisbury, Earl of 1 17, 275, 277, 
 280. 
 Margaret, Countess of 66. 
 Salvin, Mr. 168. 
 Sands or Sandys, Edwin (Abp. oif 
 
 York)75, 99, 219, 316, 319. 
 Sandys, John (priest, martyr) 358. 
 Sankey 191. 
 Saunders, Mr. 57. 
 
 John 9. 
 Saunderson, Henry 134, 151, 154, 
 
 170. 
 Savile, Francis 10 1. 
 
 Thomas Viscount 64. 
 Sawkeld, Edward 463. 
 
 George (spy) 463. 
 Scarcroft, Anthony (spy) 151, 177, 
 
 178, 217. 
 Scory, John (Bishop of Hereford) 
 
 14. 
 Scott, Monford (martyr) 4, 174. 
 
 William, O.S.B. (martyr) 49. 
 Scrope, Emanuel, Lord 64. 
 Searle 459. 
 Sergeant, Richard (priest, martyr) 
 
 358. 
 Sexten, Edmund 36. 
 Sharpe, Edith 281. . 
 
48o 
 
 Alphabetical Index, 
 
 Sharpe, Richard 281. 
 
 alias Pollard, James S.J. 
 441—470. 
 Shawe, Jane 283. 
 
 Robert 283. 
 Sheffield, Edmund Lord 64, 460, 
 466. 
 
 Lady 466. 
 Shelley, Mrs. 26. 
 
 Edmund (martyr) 39. 
 Sherson, Martin (priest) 36. 
 Shert, John (martyr) no. 
 Shervvin, Ralph (martyr) 107, in. 
 Sherwood, John 280. 
 Shillito, Thomas (priest) 272. 
 Shillyto, William 272. 
 Shrewsbury, Countess of 26. 
 
 Francis, Earl of 63. 
 Silvester, Margaret 463. 
 Simpson, Alice 269, 284, 285, 302. 
 
 Richard 7. 
 Slade, William (martyr) 46. 
 
 William (priest) 106. 
 Slinger, Ralph 462. 
 Shngsby, Francis S.J. 7. 
 
 Mr. 322. 
 Smarthewaite,Thomas (priest)272. 
 Smith, Francis (priest) 464. 
 Smithe, Peter 341. 
 Smyth, N. (priest) 296. 
 Smythborne, Elizabeth 282. 
 
 William 282. 
 Smythe, Thomas 283, 285. 
 Smythes, George 253. 
 
 Janet 253. 
 Snagg, Judge 223. 
 Snawdon 178, 188. 
 Southampton, Earl of 297. 
 Southwark, Bishop of 5. 
 Southwell, Robert, S.J. 113. 
 
 Sir Thomas 26. 
 Spede, John (martyr) 188, 191. 
 Spence, John 145. 
 Spencer, William (priest, martyr) 
 
 40, 46—48, 54. 
 Spenley, Margaret 463. 
 Sprott, William 330. 
 Stable, John 324. 
 
 Margaret 324. 
 Stafford, Barnard 463. 
 Stampe (priest) 1 10. 
 Standeven, John 281. 
 
 John, jun. 281. 
 Stanhope, Edward 64, 154, 215, 
 
 272, 274. 
 Stanney, Thomas, alias Pinke, 
 S.J. 44, 113. 
 
 Stapleton, Mr. 410. 
 Stapleton, Richard 216. 
 
 William 18. 
 Stapper, Sir Henry (priest) 145. 
 Staynburne, Tristram 237, 238. 
 Stephenson, Jeffrey 301. 
 Stevenson, Joseph 6. 
 Stillington, William 462. 
 Stock 306. 
 Stoker, George 4. 
 Storie, Jane 463. 
 
 Margaret 463. 
 St. Quintin, Mr. 250. 
 Strange, Thomas S.J. 5. 
 Stransham^rTransham, Edmund, 
 alias Edmund Barber 
 (priest, martyr) 38, 358. 
 
 Thomas (priest) 106. 
 Streket, Ffarnesseach (widow) 237. 
 Strychett, Janet 254. 
 Sutton, Abraham (priest) 26, 106. 
 
 Robert (priest, martyr) 8, 
 39, 57, 106. 
 
 Robert (schoolmaster, 
 
 martyr) 34, 35, 38. 
 Swallowell, George (martyr) 193, 
 
 203 — 213. 
 Swayn, William 348. 
 Swift 189. 
 Sykes, Sir Edmund (priest, martyr) 
 
 40,272,312. 
 Symson, James 346. 
 
 Taileforth, Richard 462. 
 Tailor, Isabel 463. 
 
 Martin 285. 
 Tankard, Mr. 301, 356. 
 Taylefathes, Mother 30. 
 Taylor 188. 
 
 Hugh (priest, martyr) 40, 
 84,96,358. 
 
 John 282, 463. 
 
 Margaret 248, 463. 
 
 Margaret 282. 
 
 Thomas 249. 
 
 Thomas 282, 289, 290. 
 Teshe,Anne9, 89,237,255,41 1,462. 
 
 Edward 237, 255. 
 Tesimond, Margaret 237, 238, 256. 
 
 Oswald S.J. 5. 
 
 William 238, 256, 300. 
 Thackwrey, John 462. 
 Thirkeld, Sir Richard (priest, 
 
 martyr) 40, 270, 307, 408. 
 Thomas, John 27, 37. 
 Thompson, Dorothy 285. 
 
 James (priest, martyr) 39. 
 
Alphabetical Index. 
 
 481 
 
 Thomson, William 145, 346. 
 
 William (priest, martyr) 
 358. 
 Thornbeiy, Mr. 8. 
 Thornborough, John (Bishop of 
 
 Bristol) 460. 
 Thornes 15, 16. 
 Thorp, Frances 328,446. 
 Thorpe, John S.J. 5. 
 
 Robert 446. 
 
 Robert (priest, martyr) 179 
 —182. 
 Throgmorton 24. 
 Thwaites, Ellen 283. 
 
 Francis 278. 
 
 James 216, 278, 283, 289, 
 290, 292. 
 
 John 258, 278. 
 
 Margaret 258. 
 
 Mary 283. 
 Thwing, Anne 139. 
 
 Edward (priest, martyr) 
 
 139- 
 Thomas (priest, martyr) 
 
 139- 
 
 ^\illiam 139, 222. 
 Tiemey, Canon 5, 117, 144. 
 Tizzie, Michael 283. 
 Todd, John 335. 
 Toovey, Mr. 6. 
 Topcliffe 15, 32,46, 146, 173, 180, 
 
 181. 
 Transham, see Stransham. 
 Tremaine, Mrs. 36. 
 Trewe, Andrew 90, 280, 343. 
 
 John 270,340—344,415. 
 TroUope, Francis 113, 169, 176. 
 
 John 114, 117, 167. 
 
 Thomas 188, 189 — 191. 
 Trym, Thomas 27. 
 Tunstall (Bishop of Durham) 6'^. 
 Tunstede, Peter 463. 
 Turner, Christopher 342. 
 
 Edward 278, 349. 
 
 John 296. 
 
 Lancelot 278. 
 
 Martin 278. 
 Tymperly, Mrs. 55. 
 Typlady, William 21. 
 Tyrrell, Anthony (spy) 280, 
 Tyrwhitt, Sir Robert 466. 
 
 William 469. 
 Tyrye, Michael 3i9> 3-21, 327. 
 
 Vaughan 19, 20. 
 Vaux 168. 
 Vavasour, Anne 459. 
 
 Vavasour, Dorothy 237, 250, 261, 
 302,306,311,316,317. 
 Dr. Thomas 250, 261, 263, 
 
 299>3ii, 317. 
 
 Francis, O.S.F. 459. 
 
 Henry (priest) 459. 
 
 John S.J. 459. 
 
 Sir Thomas 459. 
 
 Sister Catherine 459. 
 
 Sister Margaret 459. 
 
 Sister Mary 459. 
 
 William {or Walter) 459. 
 Vernon, Mrs. 25. 
 Verstegan, Richard 114. 
 Verulam, Fr. Bacon, Earl of 297. 
 Vitelleschi, Mutius (General S.J.) 
 116. 
 
 Waad, Sir William 26. 
 Waddye, Thomas 272. 
 Wade, Widow 23. 
 Waite, Anne 463. 
 Walker, Francis 237. 
 
 Oliver 301. 
 
 William 324. 
 Walles, Dr. 59. 
 
 Walmesley, Christopher 336, 337. 
 Walpole, Henry S.J. 4, 118, 278. 
 
 Michael S.J. 116. 
 V/alton, John 320. 
 Walworth, Peter 193. 
 Wandesford, Christopher 216. 
 Warcoppe, Anne 463. 
 W^arde, Mr. 176. 
 Warnford, Fr. S.J. 113. 
 Waterhouse, Robert 216. 
 Vv^aterson, Edward (priest, martyr) 
 
 212, 220, 222 — 230. 
 Waterton, of Waterton 280. 
 Watkinson, Thomas 179, 182. 
 
 Wilham 213. 
 Watson, Anne 463. 
 
 Christopher 329. 
 
 Mrs. 322. 
 
 Wilham 334, 338, 346. 
 Watts, William (priest) 106, no. 
 Way, William (priest, miartyr) 
 
 37, 38. 
 Webb, Dr. no. 
 Webly, Henry (martyr) 39. 
 Webster, Arthur (spy) 324. 
 
 Frances 324. 
 
 Margaret 324. 
 Wedall, John 317. 
 Weddell, Agnes 237, 251, 285. 
 
 John 251, 261, 263. 
 Welbery, Mr. 169. 
 
482 
 
 Alphabetical Index, 
 
 Wellbourne, Hercules 329. 
 Wells, Swithin (martyr) 48, 49. 
 Wendon, D. (priest) 106. 
 Wentvvorth, Thomas (Viscount) 
 
 64. 
 West, Jane 252. 
 Westmoreland, Earl of 108, 134, 
 
 144. 
 Weston, Richard 36. 
 Wethereld, Etheldred 302. 
 
 James 302, 311. 
 Whalley, Elizabeth, alias Dineley 
 
 281. 
 Wharton, Sir Christopher (priest, 
 
 martyr) 462. 
 Whelehouse, Thomas 462. 
 White. Eustace (priest, martyr) 48. 
 Miles 188. 
 
 Richard, ^/mj Wynne (mar- 
 tyr) 38, 44- 
 Richard 463, 
 Whitehead, Dame Isabelle 328. 
 Whitfield 169. 
 Wiggan, Agnes 249. 
 Wiggington, Parson 308, 415, 
 
 416,422,423,425,436. 
 Wilcocks, Robert (priest, martyr) 
 
 39. 
 Wildon, Catharine 237, 248. 
 
 John 248, 259, 260, 268. 
 Wilkinson, Agnes 250. 
 
 Anne 283. 
 
 Elizabeth 237, 248. 
 
 Gregory 237, 245, 249. 
 
 James 343. 
 
 Myles 283. 
 
 Sir Anthony (priest) 272, 
 312. 
 
 Sir William (priest) 311. 
 
 Thomas 185. 
 
 William 237, 248, 260. 
 Willcock, Mr. 343. 
 Williamson, AHce 302. 
 Williamson, Helen 237, 254. 
 
 Williamson, John 254. 
 Willie, John 203. 
 Wilson 108. 
 
 (Nelson ?) John 464. 
 
 Mrs. 237. 
 Windsor, Mr. 328. 
 Witham, Robert Maxwell 112. 
 Wolley, Sir J. 275. 
 Wolsley, Mr. 8. 
 Wood, Agnes 254. 
 
 Anthony h 105. 
 
 Francis 93. 
 
 Grace 237, 257. 
 
 John 245, 253, 283, 307, 31 1. 
 
 John, jun. 284, 285, 307. 
 
 Thomas 245, 254, 282. 
 
 William 245, 257. 
 
 William 343. 
 Woodfen, Nicholas (priest, martyr) 
 
 358. 
 Woodrofe 69. 
 Wootton, Robert (priest) 106, 107, 
 
 no. 
 Worcester, Earl of 28, 
 Worsley 69. 
 Wortley, Francis 64. 
 Wrayte, Thomas 237. 
 Wright 93. 
 
 John 278, 282, 289, 290, 
 291. 
 
 John (priest) 296. 
 
 Michael 17. 
 
 Robert 216. 
 
 Thomas 278. 
 
 William S.J. 278, 280. 
 Wynne, see White. 
 
 Yaxley, Richard (priest, martyr) 
 
 38. 
 Yonge 465. 
 Young, Richard 15, 26, 34. 
 
 (Archbishop of York) 63. 
 Yoward 308, 429. 
 
 Mrs. 425, 429, 430. 
 
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