Chapter VIII: Introduction (6)

The fourth of August … was arraigned at Guild hal of London Iohn Felton, for hanging a bull at the gate of the bishop of Londons palace, and also two young men, for coyning and clipping of coine, who all were found guilty of high treason, and had iudgment to be drawne, hanged and quartered.

The eight of August, Iohn Felton was drawne from Newgate into Paules Churchyeard, and there hanged on a gallowes new set vp that morning before the Bishoppes palace gate, and being cut downe aliue, he was bowelled and quartered. After this time the same morning the sherifs returned to Newgate, and so to Tiborne with two young men which were executed for coyning and clipping as is aforesaid (Stow, pp. 666-7).

Here we have the quarrel between the Pope and Elizabeth come to a head, with dreadful results to English Catholics—results extending in an aggravated form over centuries.

In “Pilgrim’s Progress” Bunyan describes the Pope in his cave, alive, indeed, but “by reason of age, and also of the many shrewd brushes that he met with in his younger days, grown so crazy and stiff in his joints, that he can now do little more than sit in his cave’s mouth, grinning at pilgrims as they go by, and biting his nails because he cannot come at them.”

A sense of humour, or even a sense of proportion, might have counselled to laugh at this impotent railing. But there was the temptation, always present to governments, to appeal to the ignorance and fanaticism of the mass. And behind and above all there was the question of the abbey lands:—

“The thief doth fear each bush an officer.”

So for the next hundred years it became the most pressing duty of governments to tear out the bowels of men who acknowledged the Pope as spiritual father; and when governments became slack in the work, Parliament immediately set up a howl for blood.

=1571.= The execution of Dr. John Story is one of the horrors of Tyburn: it is further memorable from the fact that, as we have seen (p. 64), the triangular gallows, destined to become famous as the Triple Tree, first came into use on this occasion.

Dr. Story was a bitter persecutor under Mary.

There is no more difficult question than that of determining how far we must condemn, how far we may absolve those, on either side, who used their power to inflict punishments on men who differed from them in religion. In his “Prince” Machiavelli divides men of the ruling class into three categories. There is, in the first place, the man who understands of himself; next comes he who understands when a thing is shown to him; last comes he who can neither generate a new idea, nor comprehend it when put before him. The first, he says, is most excellent; the second excellent; the third useless. But incapacity to generate new ideas, inability to assimilate them, are things not criminal. The mass of men will always be found in the third category. Dr. Story was not one of those rare spirits who rise above the ideas current in their time.

In this matter of persecution it is impossible for us of to-day to place ourselves in the position of men in the sixteenth century. Nothing could be more false than to represent the reformers as advocates of religious liberty. They made no such claim for themselves: they would have regarded themselves as traitors to their trust if, when their opportunity came, they did not in their turn send to the stake the obstinate heretics who refused to yield to their arguments and rejected “the truth.” Latimer could jest in the sermon he preached on the occasion of the burning of Friar Forest.[174] Forest, it is true, was a Catholic. The reformers persecuted others than Catholics, and here it is even more difficult to acquit them. Claiming liberty to discard old beliefs, they persecuted those who went further than they in the same direction. In 1549 was appointed a Commission, and in 1551 another, with extended scope. Among the Commissioners we find Cranmer, Ridley, Latimer, Coverdale—more than thirty names of the brightest lights of the Reformation. They were appointed to try heretics—Anabaptists and those who rejected the Book of Common Prayer—to try, to condemn, and to hand over to the civil power.[175] Latimer was earnest to persuade the hearers of one of his great sermons that to go boldly to death did not prove that death was suffered in a righteous cause. He jeered at the constancy of the Anabaptists: “The Anabaptistes that were brente here in dyuers townes in England, as I heard of credible menne (I saw them not my selfe) went to their death euen _Intrepide_. As ye wyll saye, with out any feare in the world chearfully. Well, let them go.”[176]

Without reckoning too nicely the allowances to be made for the difficulty of achieving emancipation from the ideas of one’s age, posterity has perhaps done rough justice in allowing subsequent martyrdom to atone for the errors of those who persecuted. Catholics have beatified Story; Protestants venerate the memory of those who suffered after having enforced the new doctrines by the aid of the gallows and the stake.

After the accession of Elizabeth, Story had more than one narrow escape. In 1563 he was imprisoned in the Marshalsea, whence he escaped, and, with the aid of the chaplain of the Spanish Ambassador, fled to Flanders. The Spanish Ambassador disclaimed knowledge of the matter, but it may well be that the English Government was nettled, and readily lent itself to a plan for capturing Story. In his adopted country he received a place in the customs. On a certain day in August, 1570, he was invited to examine a ship at Bergen-op-Zoom. While he was busy in the hold the hatches were shut down on him, the sail was hoisted, and the ship sailed for Yarmouth with Story on board. The capture was a great event. “The locks and bolts of the Lollards’ Tower were broken off at the death of queen Mary, and never since repaired. Now they were repaired for the reception of Dr. Story.”[177] He was executed at Tyburn on June 1, 1571. He was the object of general execration: care was probably taken that he should suffer all the torments of the horrible sentence. He was let down from the gallows alive, and while the executioner was “rifling among his bowels,” Story rose and dealt him a blow.

=1572.= The 11. day of February Kenelme Barney, and Edmond Mather were drawne from the Tower of London: and Henry Rolfe from the Marshalsea in Southwarke, all three to Tyborne, and there hanged, bowelled and quartered for treason: Barney and Mather for conspiracie against some of her maiesties priuie counsell, and Rolfe for counterfeiting the Q. maiesties hand (Stow, p. 670).

=1572.= The 28. of Nouember, John Hall gentleman, and Oswald Wilkinson late of Yorke, and gailor of Yorke castle (being before arraigned and condemned of treason) were drawne from the Tower of London to Tiborne, and there hanged and quartered (Stow, p. 673).

=1573.= The 16. of June, Thomas Woodhouse, a priest of Lincolnshire, who had lien long prisoner in the Fleete, was arraigned in the Guild hall of London, and there condemned of high treason, who had iudgement to be hanged and quartered, and was executed at Tyborne the nine-teenth of June (Stow, p. 676).

=1576.= The 30. of May, Tho. Greene goldsmith was drawne from Newgate of Lond. to Tyborne, and there hanged, headed, and quartered, for clipping of coine both gold and siluer (Stow, p. 680).

=1578.= The third of Februarie, early in the morning, Iohn Nelson, for denying the Queenes supremacie, and such other traiterous words against her maiestie, was drawne from Newgate to Tiborne, and there hanged, bowelled and quartered (Stow, p. 684).

=1578.= The 7. of Februarie, one named Sherewood was drawne from the Tower of London to Tyborne, and there hanged, bowelled and quartered (Stow, p. 684).

Thomas Sherwood was a layman. In the Tower he was cruelly racked to make him tell where he had heard mass.

=1581.= The 18. of July, Euerard Haunce [Hanse] a seminary priest, was in the Sessions hall in the olde Baily arraigned, where he affirmed that himselfe was subiect to the Pope in ecclesiasticall causes, and that the Pope hath now the same authoritie here in England that hee had an hundred yeeres past, with other trayterous speeches, for the which hee was condemned to bee drawne, hanged, bowelled, and quartered, and was executed accordingly on the last of July (Stow, p. 694).

=1581.= On the 20. of November, Edm. Champion [Campion] Jesuit, Ralfe Sherwine, Lucas Kerbie, Edward Rishton, Thomas Coteham, Henrie Orton, Robert Iohnson, and Iames Bosgraue, were brought to the high bar at Westminster, where they were seuerally, and all together indicted vpon high treason, for that contrary both to loue and dutie, they forsooke their natiue countrey, to liue beyond the seas vnder the Popes obedience, as at Rome, Rheimes, and diuerse other places, where (the pope hauing with other princes practised the death and depriuation of our most gracious princesse and vtter subuersion of her state and kingdome, to aduance his most abhominable religion) these menne hauing vowed their alleagiance to the pope, to obey him in all causes whatsoeuer, being there, gaue their consent, to ayd him in this most trayterous determination. And for this intent and purpose they were sent ouer to seduce the harts of her maiesties louing subiects, and to conspire and practise her graces death, as much as in them lay, against a great daie, set & appoynted, when the generall hauocke should be made, those onely reserued that ioyned with them. This laid to their charge, they boldly denied, but by a iurie they were approoued guiltie, and had iudgement to bee hanged, bowelled, and quartered (Stow, p. 694).

The account of the executions of some of these will follow. According to Camden, Elizabeth did not at all believe them guilty of plotting the destruction of the country; they were tried and executed to take away the fear which had possessed many men’s minds that religion would be altered if she married a foreign prince.

=1581.= The first of December, Edmond Champion [Campion] Jesuit, Ralfe Sherwine, and Alexander Brian seminary priests, were drawne from the tower of London to Tyborne, & there hanged, bowelled and quartered (Stow, p. 694).

In writing of the illegal use of torture by Elizabeth’s Government, under Elizabeth’s sanction, reference was made to a pamphlet, ascribed to Lord Burghley, “A Declaration of the favourable Dealing,” &c., issued in 1583. Here are two passages from the “Declaration” relating to Campion and Brian (here called Briant): “That very Campion, I say … was never so racked, but that he was presently able to walke, and to write.”

“A horrible matter is also made of the starving of one Alexander Briant; how he should eat clay out of the walles, gathered water to drinke from the droppings of houses, with such other false ostentations of immanitie; where the trueth is this: that whatsoever Briant suffered, in want of foode, he suffered the same wilfully, and of extreme impudent obstinacie, against the minde and liking of those that dealt with him.” His gaolers wished to have a specimen of his handwriting, and as he refused to write, “then was it commaunded to his keeper to give unto him such meate, drinke, and other convenient necessaries, as he woulde write for; and to forbeare to give him anything for which he woulde not write. But Briant, being thereof advertised, and oft moved to write persisting so in his curst heart, by almost two dayes and two nightes, made choise rather to lacke foode, then to write for the sustenance, which he might readely have had for writing, and which he had, indede, readely and plentifully, so soone as he wrote.” Thus the Government, or the Government’s apologist. This was the best case to be made out.

=1582.= On the 28. day of May, Thomas Ford, Iohn Shert, & Robert Iohnson, priests, hauing bin before indicted, arraigned, and condemned for high treason intended, as yee haue heard of Champion and other, were drawne from the Tower to Tiborne, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered. And on the 30. Luke Kirby, William Filby, Thomas Cottam, and Laurence Richardson, were for the like treason in the same place likewise executed (Stow, p. 694).

=1584.= _January 11._ On the 10. of January at a sessions holden in the Justice hall in the Old baily of London, for goale deliuery of Newgate, Willi. Carter of the Cittie of London, was there indicted, arraigned and condemned of high treason, for printing a seditious and trayterous booke in English, entituled, A treatise of schisme: and was for the same (according to sentence pronounced against him) on the next morrowe drawne from Newgate to Tyborne, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered. And forthwith against slanderous reports spread abroad in seditious bookes, letters, and libels, therby to inflame our countrey-men, & her maiesties subiectes, a booke was published, entituled, A declaration of the fauourable dealing of her maiesties commissioners, &c. (Stow, p. 698).[178]

=1584.= _February 12._ The 7. of February, were arraygned at Westminster Iohn Fen [James Fenn], George Haddocke [Haydock], Iohn Munden, Iohn Nutter, and Thomas Hemerford, all fiue found guiltie of high treason, in being made priestes beyond the seas, and by the Popes authoritie, since a statute made in _Anno primo_ of her maiesties raygne, and hadde iudgement to be hanged, bowelled, & quartered: which were all executed at Tyborne on the 12. of February (Stow, p. 698).

=1584.= The 21. of May, Francis Throckmorton Esquire was arraygned in the Guild hall of the cittie of London, where being found guiltie of high Treason, hee was condemned, & had iudgement to be drawne, hanged, bowelled, & quartered. The 10. of July next following, the same Francis Throckmorton was conveyed by water from the Tower of London, to the Blacke fryers stayres, and from thence by land to the sessions hall in the Olde baily without Newgate, where hee was deliuered to the sheriffes of London, laid on a hurdle, drawne to Tyborne, & there executed according to his iudgement. A discouery of whose treasons, practised and attempted against the Queenes maiestie and the realme, were in the moneth of June published and printed in a booke intituled, A true and perfect Declaration of the treasons practised and attempted by Francis Throckmorton, &c.[179] (Stow, p. 628).

=1585.= _July 6._ The fift of July, Thomas Aufield [Alfield], a seminarie priest, and Thomas Welley [Webley] diar, were arraygned at the sessions hall in the Old baily, found guiltie, condemned and had iudgement, as felons to be hanged: for publishing of books containing false, seditious, and slaunderous matter, to the defamation of our Soueraygne lady the Queene, these were on the next morrow executed at Tyborne accordingly[180] (Stow, p. 708).

=1586.= The 19. of January, Nicholas Deuorox [Nicholas Wheeler, Woodfen, or Devereux] was condemned for treason, in being made a Seminarie priest at Rhemes in Fraunce, since the feast of Saynt Iohn Baptist in Anno primo of her Maiesties raygne, and in remaining here after the term of fortie dayes after the session of the last parliament. Also Edmond Barbar [Edward Strancham] being made a priest as aforesayd, and comming into this realme after the sayd terme of fortie dayes, was likewise condemned of treason, and both drawne to Tyborne, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered on the 21. of January (Stow, p. 718).

=1586.= The 18. of Aprill, in the assises holden at London in the Justice hall, Willi. Thomson _alias_ Blackborne made priest at Rhemes, and Richard Lea _alias_ Long [his real name was Sergeant] made priest at Lyons in France, and remainging here contrarie to the statute, were both condemned, and on the twentith day of Aprill drawne to Tiborne, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered (Stow, p. 719).

=1586.= The 18. of June, Henry Elks clearke and batchelor of art, for counterfeiting the queens signe manuel to the presentation of the parsonage of Alsaints in Hastings, directed to the Archbishop of Canterburie, or to his commissarie generall (the dioces of Chichester being voyd) that he might be instituted parson there, was drawne to Tyborne, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered (Stow, p. 719).

The 8. of October … I. Low [John Lowe], I. Adams [John Adams], and Richard Dibdale, being before condemned for treason, in being made Priests by authority of the Bishop of Rome, were drawne to Tyborne, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered (Stow, p. 740).

=1588.= _August._ The 26. of August, at the sessions hal without Newgate of London, were condemned 6. persons, for being made priests beyond the seas, & remaining in this realme contrary to a statute thereof made, 4. temporall men for being reconciled to the Romane Church; & 4. other for releeuing & abetting the others. And on the 28. W. Deane, & H. Webley, were hanged at yᵉ Miles end. W. Gunter at the Theater, R. Moorton & Hugh Moore at Lincolnes Inne fields, Tho. Acton [Thomas Holford] at Clarkenwell, Tho. Felton & Iames Clarkson [Claxton] betweene Brainford & Hounslow. And on the 30. of August, R. Flower, Ed. Shelley, R. Leigh, R. Martine, I. Roch, & Margaret Ward gentlewoman (which Margaret hadde conueyed a cord to a priest in Bridewell, whereby he let himself downe & escaped) were hanged at Tiborne (Stow, p. 749-50).

=1590.= The 11. of July, 16. fellons hanged at Tyborn (Stow, “Summary,” p. 427).

=1591.= The 10. of December 3. Seminary priests for being in this realm contrary to the statute and 4. other, for relieuing them, were executed, two of them, to wit, a Seminary named Ironmonger [Edmund Genings], and Swithen Wels, gentleman, in Grayes Inne field, Blaston [Polydore Plasden] and White, Seminaries, and three other their abbettors at Tyborne (Stow, p. 764). [The names of these three others were, Bryan Lacy, Sydney Hodson, and John Mason]. In “The Life and Death of Mr. Edmund Geninges Priest, Crowned with Martyrdome at London the 10. day of November (_sic_) in the yeare MDXCI. S. Omers, 1614,” is an account of the trial and execution. Wells on returning to London found his house shut up, and was told that his wife was in Newgate. He went to Justice Yonge to ask for restitution of wife and keys, when he was at once sent to Newgate. He pleaded that he was not aware of the doings in his house. “Then the Justice … told him in playne termes, he came time inough to taste of the sauce, although he were ignorant how the meate sauoured.” The manner of the execution of Edmund Genings is thus told:—

He being ripped vp, & his bowelles cast into the fire, if credit may be giuen to hundreds of People standing by, and to the Hangman himselfe, the blessed Martyr vttered (his hart being in the Executioners hand) these words, _Sancte Gregori ora pro me_, which the Hangman hearing, with open mouth swore this damnable oath; Gods woundes, See his hart is in my hand, and yet _Gregory_ in his mouth; ô egregious Papist!

=1592.= _January 22._ William Patenson, condemned as a priest, drawn, hanged, and quartered at Tyburn. (Challoner’s Memoirs pt. i. p. 147).

_June 23._ Roger Ashton executed at Tyburn for procuring from Rome a dispensation to enable him to marry his cousin (Challoner’s Memoirs, pt. i. p. 148).

=1593.= The 21. of March, Henry Barrow, gentleman, Iohn Greenewood clarke, Daniel Studley girdler, Saxio Billot, gentleman, Robert Bowley, Fishmonger, were indicted of Felony at the sessions hall without Newgate beefore the Maior, the two lord Chiefe Justices of both benches, and sundry of the Judges & other commissioners of Oyer and determiner; the sayd Barrow and Greenwood for writing sundry seditious bookes, tending to the slaunder of the Queene and state; Studley, Billot, and Bowley, for publishing and setting foorth the same Bookes, and on the 23. they were all arraygned at Newgate, found guiltie, and had iudgement. On the last of March Henry Barrow and Iohn Greenwood were brought to Tyborne in a carre, and there fastened to the Gallowes, but being stayde and returned for the time, they were there hanged on the sixt of Aprill (Stow, p. 764-5).

=1594.= The 18. of February, [William] Harington, a seminarie priest, was drawne from Newgate to Tyborne, & there hanged, cut downe aliue, struggled with the hang-man, but was bowelled & quartered (Stow, p. 766).

=1594.= The last of February, Rodericke Loppez, a Portingale (as it was said) professing physicke, was arraygned in the Guild hall of London, found guiltie, and had iudgement as of high treason, for conspiring her Maiesties destruction by poyson.

The 7. of June, Rodericke Loppez, with the other two Portingales … were conuayd by water from Westminster to the Bishoppe of Winchesters staires in Southwarke, from thence to the K. bench, there laid on hurdles, and conuayd by the Sheriffes of London ouer the bridge, vp to Leaden hall, and so to Tyborne, & there hanged, cut downe aliue, holden downe by strength of men, dismembred, bowelled, headed & quartered, their quarters set on the gates of the cittie (Stow, p. 766, 768).

Camden’s account of this affair (greatly abbreviated) is that certain Spaniards prevailed on Roderigo Lopez, a Portuguese Jew, the Queen’s physician, Stephen Ferreira Gama, and Emanuel Loisie, both Portuguese, to poison the Queen. The convictions were obtained on the strength of confessions. “How far,” says Lingard, “these confessions made in the Tower, and probably on the rack, are deserving of credit, may be doubted” (ed. 1849, vol. vi. p. 554).

It is a strange feature in the case that while Camden, like Stow, speaks of the execution of all three, Lingard shows that Ferreira was saved.

The probability seems to be that Lopez fell a victim to the rivalry between Essex and the Cecils, each eager to prove greater zeal in the Queen’s service.[181]

Arising out of similar plots, real or pretended, were at this time other executions:—

On March 2, 1594, an Irish fencing master was hanged and quartered at Tyburn for a design to kill the Queen (Camden: Stow, “Summary,” p. 439), and “in less than two months from the beginning” of 1595, Edmund Yorke and Richard Williams were for the same reason executed at Tyburn (Camden, in Kennett’s “Complete History,” ii. p. 532).

=1595.= The 20. of February, Robert Southwell, a Jesuit, was arraygned at the Kinges Bench barre, and the next day executed at Tyborne (Stow, p. 768).

Southwell was not only a Jesuit and martyr, but a poet of whom Ben Jonson said that he would willingly have destroyed many of his own poems could he have claimed the authorship of Southwell’s “Burning Babe.”

Southwell was ordained priest in 1584. With a full knowledge of the danger he incurred, he desired to go to England as a missionary priest. He landed in England in 1588. After many narrow escapes he was at last arrested by Topcliffe, the English Torquemada, in 1592, kept in prison for more than two years, and so brutally tortured and ill-used that his father petitioned Elizabeth that he might at once suffer death if guilty, or be better treated. Southwell had inspired sympathy, for at his execution the bystanders prevailed on the executioner to let him hang till dead.

=1598.= The 25. of January, one named Ainger was hanged at Tyborne, for wilfully and secretly murthering of his owne father a Gentleman and Counsellor of the Law at Graies Inne, in his chamber there (Stow, p. 786).

About the middle of November, 1597, a body was found floating on the Thames, and was identified as that of Richard Ainger, Anger, or Aunger, “a double reader” of Gray’s Inn, who had been missing for some time. On view of the body the surgeons gave it as their opinion that Ainger had met his death, not by drowning, but by suffocation, and that the body had been thrown into the river after death. Suspicion attached to one of his sons, Richard, and to Edward Ingram, a porter of the Inn.

The Privy Council addressed a letter to Mr. Recorder of London, Mr. Topcliffe, Nicholas Fuller, William Gerrard, and Mr. Altham, requiring them to examine strictly the two suspected persons, “and yf by those persuasions and other meanes you shall use you shall not be able to bring them to confesse the truthe of this horrible facte, then we require you to put them both or either of them to the manacles in Bridewell, that by compulsory meanes the truthe of this wicked murther may be discovered, and who were complices and privy to this confederacy and fact” (“Acts of the Privy Council,” New Series, xxviii. 187). The case is interesting as showing that torture was at this time used in ordinary criminal cases. All the dictionaries speak of manacles as instruments of restraint merely. In the present case they were evidently an instrument of torture. Its nature must have been well known to Shakespeare’s audiences, for in “The Tempest,” referred to the year 1610, Prospero says:—

“I’ll manacle thy neck and feet together”

(Act I., sc. 2).

From the Middlesex Sessions Rolls we learn that the murder was done on the night of November 12th. Richard Ainger the younger, Agnes, his wife, and Edward Ingram were tried for the crime. Richard and his wife pleaded Guilty, and were sentenced to be hanged. From Stow’s account it would appear that Richard alone was hanged. Ingram was found Not Guilty (Middlesex County Records, i. 241).

=1598.= On the tenth of July, 19. persons for fellony were hanged at Tyborne, & one pressed to death at Newgate of London (Stow, p. 787).

=1598.= The ninth of November, Edward Squire, of Greenewich was arraigned at Westminster condemned of high Treason, and on the 13. drawne from the Tower to Tyborne, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered (Stow, p. 787).

=1601.= After the capture of Essex—

On the 12th of February, Thomas Lea (a kinsman of Sir Henry Lea’s, who had wore the Honour of the Garter) told Sir Robert Crofts, Captain of a Man of War, that ’twould be a glorious Enterprize for six brave mettl’d Fellows to go to the Queen, and compel her to discharge Essex, Southampton, and the rest that were in Prison. He was a Man himself of great Assurance and Resolution, had Commanded a Company in Ireland, was very intimate with Tir-Oen, and an absolute Creature of the Earl of Essex’s. This did Crofts immediately discover to the Council; insomuch that Lea was sought for, and found in the dusk of the Evening about the door of the Q.’s Privy-Chamber. He seem’d very Thoughtful, was extreamly Pale, and in a great Sweat, and frequently ask’d, Whether her Majesty was ready to go to Supper? And, Whether the Council would be there? In this Posture he was seiz’d and Examin’d, the next day had his Trial, and by Crofts’s Evidence and his own Confession, condemn’d and carried away to Tyburn, where he own’d that he had been indeed a great Offender; but as to this Design, was very Innocent; and having moreover protested, that he had never entertain’d the least ill Thought against the Queen, he was there executed. And this, as the Times were, appear’d a very seasonable piece of Rigour.[182]

=1601.= The xxvii. of February, Marke Bakworth [Barkworth], and Thomas Filcoks [Roger Filcock], were drawne to Tyborne, and there hanged, & quartered, for comming into the Realme contrary to the statute. Also the same day, and in the same place, was hanged a Gentlewoman, called Mistris Anne Line, a widow, for relieuing a priest contrary to the same statute (Stow, p. 794).

The crime for which Mistress Line suffered was that, Mass having been said in her house, she assisted the priest in his escape.

An account of these executions is given in Hist. MSS. Commission, MSS. of the Duke of Rutland, 1888, i. 369, 370.

Mr. Barkwey cominge to the hurdle prayed and with a chearfull voyce and smylinge countenance sunge all the waye he went to execution.

The 27th daye of Februarie 1600 [1601], beinge the first Friday in Lent, the said Mr. Barkwey was brought to Tyborne there to be executed. Cominge up into the carte in his blacke habite, his hoode being taken of, his heade beinge all shaven but for a rounde circle on the nether parte of his heade, and his other garment taken of also, beinge turned into his sherte, having a pare of hose of haere, most joyfully and smylingly looked up directly to the heavens and blessed him with the signe of the crosse, sayinge, “_In nomine Patris, Filii et Spiritus Sancti, Amen_.” Then he turned himselfe towardes the gallowe tree wheron he was to suffer, made the signe of the crosse theron and kissed it and the rope also, the which beinge put about his necke, he turned himselfe and with a chearfull smylinge countenance and pleasant voyce sunge in manner and forme followinge, viz.: “_Haec est dies Domini gaudeamus, gaudeamus, gaudeamus in ea_”—usinge the same very often with these wordes, viz.: “_In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum_.” Also he used these speaches to the people—“I doe confesse that I am one of the Blessed Societie after the holy order of St. Benedicte.” The minister called on him to be penitent for his sinnes, and he said, “Hold thy peace, thou arte a simple fellowe.” Then the minister wild him to remember that Christ Jesus dyed for him. And he, elevatinge his eyes to heaven and holdinge the rope in his handes—being festned together—so highe as he could reache, aunswered “And so doe I for him, and I would I had a thousand, thousand lyves to bestowe upon him in this cause,” sayinge “_et majorem charitatem nemo habet_.” And then turninge himselfe againe, sunge as before, and desired all Catholiques to praye for him, and he would praye for them. And beinge asked if he would praye for the Queene he saied, “God blesse her, and send her and me to meete joyfully in heaven,” and prayed also for Mr. Recorder who pronounced judgment against him, and for Mr. Wade, Ingleby, Parrat, and Singleton, who were the prosecutors of his death. And the carte beinge drawne awaye, in his goinge of from the carte saied the same wordes as before, “_Haec est dies Domini; gaudeamus in ea_,” and beinge presently cut downe, he stoode uprighte on his feete and strugled with the Executioners, cryinge, “Lord, Lord, Lord,” and beinge holden by the strengthe of the executioners on the hurdle in dismembringe of him he cryed, “O God,” and so he was quartered.

[I omit the account of the execution of Roger Filcock.]

There was executed also one Mistriss Lynde [Anne Line], condempned at the Sessions house the 26th day of February for the escape of a supposed preist. Her weakness was suche that she was carryed to the said Sessions betwixt two in a chaire.

There was also condempned with her one Ralphe Slyvell for rescuinge the said supposed preist, but repryved.

The said Mistriss Lynde, carryed the next daye to her execution, many tymes in the waye was stayed and urged by the minister who urged what meanes he could to perswade her to convert from her professed faithe and opinion, most constantlie persevered therin and so was brought to the place of execution and there shewed the cause of her cominge thither, and beinge further urged amongest other thinges by the minister that she had bene a common receavor of many preistes she aunswered, “Where I have receaved one I would to God I had bene able to have receaved a thousand.” She behaved herself most meekely, patiently, and vertuously to her last breath. She kissed the gallowes and before and after her private prayers blessinge herself, the carte was drawne awaye, and she then made the signe of the crosse uppon her, and after that never moved.

=1601.= The 13. of March, sir Gilley Merike Knight, and Henry Cuffe Gentleman, were drawne to Tyborne, the one from the Tower, the other from Newgate, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered, as being actors with the late Earle of Essex. They both dyed very resolutely (Stow, p. 794).

Merrick was the steward and Cuff the secretary of the Earl.

=1601.= _August 24._ Thomas Hackshot, and Nicholas Tichburne, laymen, rescued a priest, Thomas Tichburne, from the custody of a constable. The two were arrested, condemned and executed at Tyburn (Challoner’s Memoirs, pt. i., p. 206).

=1602.= The xviii. of Aprill Peter Bullocke, stationer, and one named Ducket, for printing of Bookes offensiue were Hanged at Tyborne (Stow, p. 803).

This is a very bald account of an interesting case. James Duckett was a convert from Protestantism. As an apprentice he more than once got into trouble for his opinions; and his master, thinking that he himself might be involved, at last gave back the indenture to Duckett. Duckett now maintained himself by dealing in Catholic books, a commerce which frequently got him into prison, where it is said that he spent nine years out of twelve. A bookbinder, the Peter Bullocke mentioned above, lay in prison under sentence of death, and hoping to receive a pardon, informed against Duckett, a former customer. Duckett’s house was searched, popish books were discovered, and Duckett was condemned to death. The informer did not receive the reward of his betrayal; the informer and his victim rode to Tyburn in the same cart (Challoner’s Memoirs, pt. i., pp. 207-9).

The xx. of Aprill, Stichborne [Thomas Tichburn], W. Kenson [Robert Watkinson], and Iames Page [Francis Page], Semenarie Priestes, were drawne to Tyborne, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered, for comming into this Realme, contrary to the Statute of Anno. 27, &c. (Stow, p. 803).

Thomas Tichburn is the priest for the rescue of whom his cousin Nicholas Tichburn, and Thomas Hackshot suffered in 1601. Page was the priest who was celebrating Mass in Mistress Line’s house in 1601, but contrived to escape.

=1603.= The xvii. of Februarie, W. Anderson [or Richardson] a Seminary Priest was drawne to Tyborne and there hanged, bowelled and quartered, for being found in England contrary to the statute of Anno. 27. (Stow, p. 812).

Anderson was the last of Elizabeth’s victims; she died a few weeks later.

=1604.= Master Robert Dow of London Merchant Taylor, in his most Christian charitie, pitying the miserable or rather desperate Estate of the poore condemned prisoners in Newgate, where very often and very many of them after Judgement of Death, and at their very Execution remaine most carelesse of their Soules health, Jesting and deriding their imminent danger and to the Judgement of the world die reprobate.

Upon tender Consideration whereof, and good hope of after reformation of such poore prisoners there, as through temptation of Sathan are, and will be too apt to fall into like danger the sayd Master Dow hath giuen competent Maintainance for ever, vnto Saint Sepulchers parish for the towling of the great Bell and for some especiall man, by them to bee appointed to come to the sayd Prison, the midnight before execution, and then distinctly and solemnly to ring a hand bell: then to pronounce with a lowd voice at the prison grate, a Godly and Christian remembrance on exhortation, appoynted by the Lord Bishoppe, beginning thus.

O ye prisoners within condemned, this day to dye, remember your sinnes, call to God for Grace, whilst yet you have time.

And in the Morning when they are in the Cart, iust against the Church, the partie aforesayd to put them in minde againe of their former liues, and present death, saying the great bell of this Church, which I told you last night should Toll for you from sixe of the clocke vntil ten, now tolleth to the end to moue good people to pray to God for you whilest your selues with them may pray for remission of your sinnes, &c. And at ten a clocke or at such time as knowledge may be truely had of the Prisoners execution the sayd great Bell shall bee rung out for the space of a quarter of an houre, (to the end all people may understand the execution is past) and then cease (Stow, pp. 862).

We are now in the reign of James I. In 1605 was the Gunpowder Plot, the memory of which is still kept alive by bonfires, and by the farcical search of the cellars of the Houses of Parliament. Gunpowder Plot does not come into the Annals of Tyburn, as none of the conspirators suffered here.

=1607.= _February 26._ Robert Drury, priest, for being in England, executed at Tyburn (Challoner’s Memoirs, pt. ii., pp. 13-5).

=1608.= The 11. of Aprill, George Ieruis [Gervase or Jarvis] a Seminary priest, according to his iudgement was executed at Tyborne (Stow, p. 893).

The 23. of June, Thomas Garnet, a Jesuite was executed at Tyborne, hauing fauor offred him, if he would haue taken the oath of alleageance aforesayd, but he refused it (Stow, p. 893).

Thomas Garnet was related to Father Henry Garnet, executed for the Gunpowder Plot in 1606. Thomas Garnet was convicted on evidence that while a prisoner in the Tower he had written in several places “Thomas Garnet priest.” The Earl of Exeter, one of the Privy Council, present at the execution, would not suffer the rope to be cut till the victim was quite dead (Challoner’s Memoirs, pt. ii., pp. 17-9).

=1610.= _December 10._ John Roberts, and Thomas Somers, or Watson, or Wilson. These were priests. Roberts was apprehended for the fifth time at Mass and hurried away in his vestments. Somers had been deported, together with about a score of priests, earlier in the year, but returned to England. With Roberts and Somers were executed sixteen persons condemned for various offences. The priests were suffered to hang till they were dead and then bowelled, beheaded, and quartered, and buried with the sixteen in a pit (Challoner’s Memoirs, pt. ii., p. 37).

=1612.= William Scot and Richard Newport, or Smith. These were missionary priests who had been banished but returned to England (Challoner’s Memoirs, pt. ii., pp. 39-44).

The burning of Protestant heretics went on through the reigns of Elizabeth and James—“the fires of Smithfield” were not extinguished by the death of “bloody Mary.” Anabaptists and Arians were burnt, the printers, the distributors, even in one case the binder, of books “seditiously penned against the Book of Common Prayer” were hanged.

It is painful to find the genial Howell writing thus in 1635:—

I rather pity than hate Turk or Infidel, for they are of the same metal and bear the same stamp as I do, tho’ the Inscriptions differ. If I hate any, ’tis those Schismaticks that puzzle the sweet peace of our Church, so that I could be content to see an Anabaptist go to Hell on a Brownist’s back (“Familiar Letters,” ed. Jacob, p. 337).

_December 5._ John Almond, condemned for having taken orders beyond the seas and for remaining in the kingdom, drawn, hanged and quartered (Challoner’s Memoirs, pt. ii., pp. 44-51).

=1615.= The murder of Sir Thomas Overbury is, with the possible exception of the supposed murder of Sir Edmund Berry Godfrey, a little more than sixty years later, the greatest of all English _causes célèbres_. The story involves many persons of high rank, including one in the highest, King James himself; its events are extremely complicated, and some details are of a nature requiring delicate handling in the telling. It has been told, after the fullest study of the facts, by Mr. Andrew Amos, in “The Great Oyer of Poisoning,” 1846, a volume of over five hundred pages, of which indeed many are filled with digressions seriously interfering with the narrative. It is not possible to give here more than the barest outline of the case.

Sir Thomas Overbury has a place in English literature as a prose writer and poet whose works have not been wholly forgotten. He was also a courtier in the Court of James, compared with which that of Charles II. was almost pure. James’s correct attitude towards “the Bishop of Rome” has, however, saved him from the severe criticisms passed on Charles, of more than doubtful orthodoxy. Some of the details in Harington’s “Nugæ Antiquæ” might be held to suggest that Milton had in view the Court of James when he wrote of the rabble of Comus, who forgot everything but

“To roll with pleasure in a sensual sty.”

Overbury, after leaving Oxford, made a tour on the Continent, returning from his travels a finished gentleman. In 1601, on a visit to Scotland, he met Robert Carr, then a page in a noble family. Hence arose a close intimacy destined to be fatal to Overbury. On the accession of James to the English throne, Carr, James’s “favourite,” rose rapidly; he became Viscount Rochester. Carr and Overbury played into one another’s hands: Carr procured a knighthood for Overbury, Overbury became the mentor of Carr, who had neither learning nor the graces of a Court. The fatal woman now comes on the scene. At the age of thirteen, Frances Howard, daughter of the Earl of Suffolk, was married to the Earl of Essex, a year older. Their friends agreed that it was yet too early for the pair to live together; the boy went on his travels, the girl to her mother. On his return, Essex found his wife acknowledged as the greatest beauty in the Court, the object of general adoration. Among her admirers was Carr, for whom she had conceived a passion which knew no bounds. Overbury had been instrumental in bringing together Carr and the lady; it was he who wrote the love-letters to which Carr owed the conquest of the countess’s heart. The lady naturally hated her husband, whose return interfered with her way of life: it was only in obedience to the King’s command that she consented to live with Essex. The lady and her lover formed the design of procuring a divorce from Essex, preparatory to their marriage. Overbury strongly objected; he spoke of the countess to Carr in terms which, repeated to the lady, fixed his doom. It was contrived that the King should offer to Overbury a foreign appointment. This Carr advised him to refuse, and then represented the refusal to James in such a light that on April 21st Overbury was thrown into the Tower. The lieutenant and the under-keeper of the Tower were displaced in favour of officers on whom Carr and his mistress could rely, and the work of despatching Overbury began. Poisons were procured from Franklin, a physician, by Mrs. Turner, and sent in tarts and jellies to the Tower, where Weston, the under-keeper, took charge of them. Overbury was drenched with rosealgar, sublimate of mercury, arsenic, diamond powder. It was averred that he had swallowed poison enough to kill twenty men. He died on September 15, 1613.

The business of the divorce now went on without hindrance. To be rid of his wife, Essex was ready enough to allow a slur to be cast on his manhood; with the aid of the lawyers, the churchmen, a complaisant jury of matrons, and a young lady who, with muffled head, personated the countess for the occasion, the divorce was carried through. In view of the approaching marriage, Carr was created Earl of Somerset, and on December 26 the marriage took place. With magnificent effrontery, the lady was married “in her hair,” the mark of a virgin-bride.

But some time afterwards an apothecary’s boy, who had been got out of the way, and was now at Flushing, began to talk of what he knew; inquiry was made, and in the end the criminals were put upon their trial. On October 23, 1615, Richard Weston, the under-keeper of the Tower, was hanged at Tyburn. He was followed by Mrs. Turner, hanged on November 9th, at the same place; on the 20th Sir Gervase Elwes, the lieutenant of the Tower, was executed on Tower Hill, and on December 9th, James Franklin, the physician, was executed at St. Thomas a Waterings.

In the following year the countess was tried in Westminster hall, pleaded guilty, and was condemned. The next day the earl was brought to trial by his peers in the same place, and also found guilty. Neither was executed; each received a pardon. They lived together afterwards in the same house, hating one another with a perfect hatred; the countess died of a loathsome disease.

There are mysteries in the case remaining mysteries after the most careful study of the facts. In spite of all attempts made to persuade Somerset to plead guilty, and throw himself on the King’s mercy, he steadfastly refused. Mr. Amos inclines to believe him innocent of complicity in the murder. There are serious difficulties in the way of this theory, but it is certain that Somerset had the means of terrifying the King. Secret messages passed between the Tower and the palace, informing the king that the prisoner had threatened to refuse to go to the Court of his own will. Bacon consulted the judges as to what could be done to silence Somerset if he “should break forth into any speech of taxing the King.” At the trial two servants were placed, one on either side of the prisoner, with a cloak on his arm. Their orders were that if Somerset “flew out” on the King, they should instantly throw the cloaks over his head, and carry him by force from the bar.

Was James an accomplice in the murder of Overbury? Mayerne, the King’s physician, attended Overbury in the Tower and prescribed for him. Mayerne was not produced as a witness, nor were his prescriptions put in evidence.

Or is the mystery connected with the death of Prince Henry, James’s son? The Prince was seized with sudden illness almost immediately after dining with his father. “In Mayerne’s collection of cases for which he wrote prescriptions,” says Mr. Amos, “everything that relates to Prince Henry’s last illness is torn out of the book.”

We can but fall back on the certainty that Somerset had it in his power to make some revelation of which James was terribly afraid.[183]

=1616.= _July 1._ Thomas Maxfield, a missionary priest, drawn, hanged, and quartered at Tyburn. It is said that on the occasion of Maxfield’s execution, the gallows was adorned with garlands and wreaths of flowers. Thirteen criminals were executed at the same time. The Sheriff called on the hangman to cut down Maxfield while still alive, as indeed the law required, but this was opposed by the people, and the victim was suffered to hang till dead (Challoner, pt. ii. pp. 62-3).

We now come to the reign of Charles I.

=1626.= The visit of the queen, Henrietta Maria, to Tyburn has been mentioned (p. 65).

=1628.= This Summer there was a great Army prepared for forraigne seruice, whereof the Duke of Buckingham was Generall, who went to Portsmouth, to set all things in readinesse for present dispatch: And vpon Saturday the 23. of August, as hee was going thorow his Hall, which was filled with Commaunders, and strangers, suddainly and vnexpectedly Iohn Felton a Lieutenant, stabd the Duke into the breast, with a knife, and slily withdrew himselfe, vndiscerned of any to doe the fact, the Duke stepping to lay hold on him, drew out the knife and began to stagger, the bloud gashing out at his mouth, at which dreadfull sight, certaine Commanders with their strength held him vp, the Duke being depriued of speech and life. And then all the doores and passages being stopped, and many with their weapons drawne to kill the Murtherer, the offender himselfe seeing the vproare, boldly confessed, saying, I am the man that did it, and being examined by the Lords, was committed. The King at that time was but sixe miles from Portsmouth: The Corpes was brought to London, on Saturday the 30. of August, the Nobility, Friends, and Officers brought the Corpes by night with Torches lighted to Wallingford house neere Charing-Crosse: the Murtherer was brought to the Tower the 5. of September.

Thursday the 27. of Nouember, the aforenamed Iohn Felton, was brought from the Tower, and Arraigned at the Kings Bench, where he very penitently confessed the fact, saying, I haue slaine a most Noble loyall Subiect, and wish that this my right hand might be here cut off, as a true testimony of my hearty sorrow, and had his Judgement to be hanged: from thence he was sent to the Gate-house, where he remained till Saturday, and then sent to Tibourne, and there executed, where hee humbly and heartily repented his offence, and asked forgiuenesse of God, the King, and the Dutchesse, and of all the Land, saying, he had slaine a most Noble loyall Subiect, and desired all men do pray for him. The next day being Sunday, his Body was sent by Coach towards Portsmouth, and was there hanged in Chaines (Stow, ed. 1631, p. 1044).

A paper was found in Felton’s hat, containing the following:—

“Let no man commend for doing it, but rather discommend themselves; for if God had not taken away their hearts for their sins he had not gone so long unpunished.

“That man in my opinion is cowardly and base, and deserveth neither the name of a gentleman nor a soldier, that is unwilling to sacrifice his life for the honour of God and the good of his King and country.—JOHN FELTON.” (“Autobiography of Sir Simonds D’Ewes,” i. 385.)

Only one or two priests were executed in England during the first fifteen years of Charles’s reign.

Between 1641 and 1651 the following priests were drawn, hanged, and quartered at Tyburn merely for being priests. No other charge was made against them, but this sufficed:—

=1641.= _July 26._ William Ward.

=1642.= _January 21._ Thomas Reynolds and Bartholomew Roe.
_April 26._ Edward Morgan.
_October 12._ Thomas Bullaker.
_December 12._ Thomas Holland.

=1643.= _April 17._ Henry Heath.
_December 11._ Arthur Bell.

=1644.= _September 7._ John Duckett and Ralph Corby.

=1645.= _February 1._ Henry Morse.

=1646.= _June 30._ Philip Powel.

=1651.= _May 19._ Peter Wright. Thirteen malefactors hanged at the
same time.

These were victims of the Parliament. Charles had more than one contest with the Parliament on the subject of the execution of priests. In January, 1641, Thomas Goodman, a priest and Jesuit, had been condemned. The king reprieved him; the two Houses remonstrated and urged that the law might be executed. Charles reminded Parliament of the inconvenience which might ensue to Protestant Englishmen and others abroad, but having said this he left the final decision to the Houses. Goodman petitioned the king: “He would esteem his blood well shed to cement the breach between your majesty and your subjects.” He was suffered to die in Newgate.

Much the same happened later in the year. Seven priests were condemned on December 8th. The French ambassador exerted himself in their behalf. Charles consulted the two Houses as to a reprieve, to be followed by banishment. He did in fact reprieve them. The Houses petitioned for execution. Charles replied that he desired to banish the priests, “but if you think the execution of these persons so very necessary to the great and pious work of reformation, we refer it wholly to you, declaring hereby that upon such your resolution signified to the ministers of justice, our warrant for their reprieve is determined, and the law to have its course.”[184] These also were suffered to linger out their lives in Newgate.

=1654.= To get a respite for a while from this massacre of priests, we may deal here with the last case that occurred for some years.

John Southworth was sent on the English mission in 1619. He escaped imprisonment till 1627, when he was tried at Lancaster, condemned, reprieved in 1630, and given over to the French ambassador for transportation beyond seas. If he was sent abroad, which seems uncertain, he was soon back, and after a long interval was again arrested, and once more released. He was finally apprehended in 1654. On his arraignment he pleaded that he was not guilty of treason, but in spite of persuasion acknowledged that he was a priest. The court, with, it is said, great reluctance, passed the inevitable sentence. On June 28th five coiners were drawn, hanged, and quartered with Father Southworth.

Father Southworth was an old man of 72; nothing was alleged against him but that he was a priest, that he was “a dangerous seducer.”

The guilt of this judicial murder rests wholly with Cromwell. The life of Southworth was in his hands; he was deaf to the suit of the French and Spanish ambassadors for Southworth’s life (Challoner’s Memoirs, pt. ii. pp. 196-200).

No more Catholics were executed in England till the Popish Plot broke out in 1678.