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Secondly, an abstract of the lives of three laymen who suffered for religious matters, in 1591, written in Latin by father Thomas Stanney, S. J., sometime ghostly father to all the three. From a manuscript sent me from St. Omer's.

SWITHIN WELLS, GENTLEMAN.

We shall omit such things as have been already marked down in our memoirs concerning Mr. Wells: and shall only take notice of such things which we find added in father Stanney's manuscript, who, in his preface, gives him this character: that he was a witty man, skilled in divers languages, a most agreeable companion, and very amiable, in his younger days something given to honest and innocent diversions; yet always devout in prayer, zealous in the true faith, and most constant in maintaining the catholic religion. He adds, that as he was a gentleman, he gave a good example to the gentry, not to give themselves up so much, even to the most innocent worldly pleasures, as to neglect their prayers and devotions, and so to come to be tepid and fearful in the profession of their faith, but rather to despise all transitory things, and, like him, to be continually advancing towards heaven.

Mr. Wells, after he had been instructed at home in the liberal sciences, travelled abroad to Rome, partly to learn the language, and partly to visit the holy places. After some years, returning into England, he was employed in the service of several persons of quality, and, after some time, for his skill in languages, and for his eloquence, was desired, by the most noble earl of Southampton, a most constant professor of the catholic faith, to live in his house, as he did, much to his own commendation, for several years. At length he married a gentlewoman of good family, with whom he lived, in an edifying manner, for the remainder of his days. By her he had one only daughter, Margaret, a worthy heiress of her father's and mother's virtues; who, leaving the world, became a nun. After his marriage, Mr. Wells, for some years, employed himself in teaching the Belles Lettres, and music, having for his servant and assistant therein, Mr. Woodfen, afterwards priest and martyr; and he had the comfort of training up many of them in the true faith, and, amongst others, several who were afterwards priests, and religious, and some martyrs; till, at length, he was obliged, by the malice of his enemies, and of the ministers, to quit this employment.

He had a particular talent in bringing over heretics and schismatics to the catholic faith, and was very zealous and courageous in the cause of religion. Hence, for the latter part of his life, not only his house was daily open to priests, where there were often two or three masses celebrated in a day, but he would also often accompany them in their journies, and in the charitable expeditions in which they were engaged for the assistance of the catholics, in those perilous times; of which father Stanney gives an instance of his own experience, declaring, how he himself, soon after his coming over into England, was conducted by Mr. Wells down into the west of England, and settled there, in the house

of a certain gentleman, who was equally zealous and prudent, in promoting the catholic cause; where he, (father Stanney,) by catechistical instructions and sermons, in three or four years' space, brought over some hundreds, to the catholic faith. This method, Mr. Wells followed, till he became so well known to the justices and pursuivants, that it was not safe for any priest to ride in his company; he having been more than once committed to prison upon these occasions.

In the last stage of his life, he took a house in Holborn, near Gray'sinn-fields, where he received and entertained God's ministers, till the arch-persecutor, Topliffe, being informed of his proceedings, took his opportunity, and broke into his house, when Mr. Genings was actually there at mass, as we have seen above; where also, we have set down all that relates to the apprehension, trial, and death of Mr. Wells: only father Stanney adds, that when he was under the gallows, Topliffe said to him, You see now Mr. Wells, what your priests have brought you to to whom, he replied, Mr. Topliffe; I am very glad, and give great thanks to God, and look upon myself exceedingly happy, that I have been so far favoured, as to have received so many, and such saint-like priests, under my roof.

LAWRENCE HUMPHREYS, LAYMAN.

He was born in Hampshire, of protestant parents, and was brought up from his infancy, in the protestant schools, being very zealous in his way, and continually reading, and getting by heart, the scriptures, and perusing books of religion. About the age of eighteen, he thought himself so perfect a master of controversies, as to seek for every opportunity of conferring with catholics, and disputing against their tenets; but he particularly desired to meet with some priest or jesuit, to hear what they could say for their doctrine, as he sometimes signified to the catholics of his acquaintance. One of them, addressed himself to father Stanney, and told him the young man's desires; and, withal, that he was a very moral man, but full of a false zeal, and obstinate in his religion; yet so, that he had declared, He would rather suffer the worst of deaths, than break his promise of secrecy, or betray a priest into the hands of his enemies. Father Stanney appointed a proper time and place to confer with him; which was in a house, where he was to preach one day within the Octave of Corpus Christi. And first, he delivered his sermon, (at which, Lawrence and another protestant were present,) upon the subject of the real presence; then he discoursed in private with both one and the other; and, in a short time, brought them both over to the catholic religion.

Lawrence's conversion was such as gave great comfort and edification to his ghostly father. He thought he could never do too much to punish his past sins; he confessed them, with great humility, and with abundance of tears; and though his life before, had been blameless in

the eyes of the world, it was now, in all respects, visibly changed for the better. Father Stanney, particularly extols his profound humility, his exact obedience, his virginal purity, and his perfect charity. This queen of virtues, had taken deep root in his heart; insomuch, that he was never better pleased, than when he was promoting the honour and glory of God, and the good of his neighbours, by instructing and catechising the ignorant, visiting prisoners confined for their religion, and exercising as occasion offered, all kinds of corporal, and spiritual works of mercy. Amongst which, my author particularly takes notice of a custom he had, when his companions were met together in the evenings, of reading some good book to them, such as the life of some saint, or some catechistical instruction; by which means, he both confirmed the catholics in their religion, and disposed schismatics to their conversion.

After some time, he fell into a great sickness, and, in the height of his fever, amongst other things, he said, that the queen was a wh-e and a heretic. Some zealots that heard him, would have killed him upon the spot, but were hindered. However, before he was well recovered, he was, for these words, committed to Winchester jail, to be kept there till the next assizes. In the mean time, he begged of the keeper, that he might be employed in all the meanest offices, and do the drudgery of the prison, which was granted him.

At his trial, the judge asked him, what religion he was of? he answered, By the grace of God, I am a catholic, and am very willing to die for the catholic faith and religion. The judge asked him, what he meant by a catholic? he answered, I mean by a catholic, one, who being baptized, professeth in word and work, the catholic faith and religion, delivered by the apostles to the universal church, and maintained by their successors. The judge pulled out a pair of beads with a little crucifix, and told him, See, here is the God you worship. But Lawrence, presently replied, Not so, my lord, but that crucifix brings to my remembrance, how much my Lord and Saviour suffered upon the cross for me, a most miserable sinner.

Then the judge asked him, how he came to say that the queen was a heretic? Lawrence answered, with a most solemn asseveration, Before God and his angels, that he could not possibly remember that he had, ever in his life, spoke any such words; But, said he, since divers witnesses affirm it, I shall not stand obstinately to deny it, but shall willingly suffer what punishment you shall inflict upon me. In fine, he was, for those words, condemned to die; and so was sent back to prison. He received the sentence with joy, and spent the short remainder of his life, in meditations and prayers, which he performed, prostrate, upon the ground. When he was carried out to suffer, he made, at the gallows, a public profession of the catholic faith; and, as he was going up the ladder, made the sign of the cross upon the rounds; which the hangman, taking notice of, scoffed at him, saying, thou hast served the pope; but he has brought thee to the rope; and the hangman shall have thy coat. Lawrence, smiled at his rhymes, which the other took in such ill part, as to give him a great box on the ear, in a great fury. The good

young man meekly replied, Why do you do so to me? I never in my life gave you any cause to treat me in this manner.

He was executed at Winchester, in the 21st year of his age, 1591.

RALPH MILLER, OR, MILNER.

THIS good old man passed the greatest part of his life in a village near Winchester, maintaining his wife, and a large family of children, by the labour of his hands. He was entirely illiterate, but led a very moral life, following the religion then in fashion, till, comparing the lives of the catholics, with whom he was acquainted, with the lives of the protestants, and even of their very ministers, he found that the one sort followed a broad and easy way, neglecting fasting and prayer, and putting little or no restraint upon their appetites and sensual inclinations; whilst the other sort was much addicted to fasting, prayer, and mortification; and lay under most severe persecutions on account of their consciences, which they willingly suffered for God and their religion. These considerations had such effect upon him, as to determine him to quit the new way, and to return to the old religion; as he did, not long after; and being instructed and reconciled by a catholic priest, on the very day that he had received the blessed sacrament, after having finished his general confession, he was apprehended and committed to jail, for his religion.

He was a prisoner, for his conscience, many years: but, as his behaviour had made the keeper his friend, he was not so close confined, but he had often liberty to go out upon his parole, and sometimes was sent out by the keeper about his own affairs, who also often trusted him with the keys of the prison. By these means, he had opportunity of doing great services to the poor catholic prisoners in those evil days; sometimes by procuring them alms; other times, by bringing priests to them to administer the holy sacraments to them. Neither was this his charity confined to the prison, but it also prompted him to procure spiritual assistances to the faithful dispersed about the country; to whom his zeal had, by this time, made him generally known. As an instance of this his charity, father Stanney, the writer of his life, takes notice, that he used to come once a month to the house where the father resided, to conduct him about the villages, there to preach and administer the sacraments to the poor: who also declares in his preface, that he can testify, that, ignorant as he was, he had, by the bright light of his virtues, and by his fervent prayers, been, under God, the cause of the conversion of many to the catholic faith.

'Once, says father Stanney, he came to me, desiring that I would take a journey with him, to preach and administer the sacraments, according to custom; when I was obliged, through necessity, to answer him, that I had been, not long since, in those parts, where I was very much fatigued with preaching, hearing confessions, and administering the sacraments: the more because I was obliged to watch whole nights, and to celebrate mass twice in the day; so that I had not, as yet, been able to recover myself. Well, but master, said he, for so he used to call me, we have still a great many hungry souls that want bread, and there is no one to give it them: we have many also, that would be glad

to shake off the yoke of bondage "heresy" and embrace the catholic faith; and I can find none to help them, and receive them into the church; what then must I say to them? I tell you, Ralph, the very truth, said I, I want not good will, but strength; wherefore, I beg they would have a little patience, and in a short time, by the grace of God, I purpose entirely to satisfy their good desires. But what shall I do, said Ralph, if your reverence's health will not permit you to come amongst us? I replied, that I had been desirous, of a long time, to have another priest, who might be able to serve those parts; and that if he could find a proper place for him, I would endeavour to procure them a proper priest. That I will do, said Ralph, with all my heart; and I hope to be able, in a short time, to provide him all necessaries. Our superior, with another priest, happened to come to me soon after this, and I consulted him what I was to do. He bid me ask Ralph, if he would be willing to have for their priest, Mr. Roger Diconson, whom he was very well acquainted with? He presently answered, with all my heart; for, above all others, I would be glad to live and die with that good man; which afterwards happened.'

Ralph returned to carry the good news to his fellow prisoners, and the other catholics, and within a few weeks Mr. Diconson came to Winchester; where he laboured for some years, with great fruit, and great edification: his mission lying chiefly amongst the poor, and the prisoners. He was once taken in a gentleman's house in the country, and carried to Winchester, where he was put under the guard of six soldiers, in order to be removed to Lon: but his guards having overdrank themselves, he escaped from them in the night. But being taken a second time, in the company of Ralph Miller, he was committed to Winchester jail: from whence he was sent up to London; and, after he had there been put to divers torments, was sent back to Winchester to take his trial; where, as we have seen elsewhere, he suffered death with the same Ralph Miller, on account of his priestly character.

This good old man, whilst Mr. Diconson was in prison, lost no time, but employed himself in the best manner he could, in preparing for death. No endeavours were omitted by his worldly friends, and by the ministers, to bring him over to consent to save his life, by renouncing his religion; but all in vain. Even when he was at the very gallows, they ceased not to tempt him; and sent his seven children to him, to move him to relent, by the sight of them: but his heart was too strongly fixed on God, to be overcome by flesh and blood. He gave them, therefore, his last blessing, declaring aloud,-That he could wish them no greater happiness, than to die for the like cause for which he was going to die. He suffered, July 7, 1591.

Thirdly, an account of the behaviour of the catholic prisoners in York castle, when, by order of Lord Burleigh, at that time lord president of the north, the said catholic recusants, in number fifty-three, were dragged into the hall of the castle, and there forcibly detained to hear protestant sermons once a week, for the space of one year, or thereabouts. Collected from a manuscript written by W. Richmont, priest.

CHAP. I.-The prisoners, their speeches and behaviour at the first sermon. UPON Sunday, being the 9th of December, in the year 1599, the keeper came and called all the catholic prisoners down from their cham

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