therein, saying, take this for thy hire, and I pray God forgive thee. Then with a loud voice, that all might hear him, he denounced as follows:-Whosoever dieth out of the catholic church, dieth in the state of damnation. Therewith turning almost round about, he held up his hands, wagging them to the people; and then began to pray as followeth: Domine Jesu Christe fili dei vivi pone passionem, crucem and mortem tuam, &c., with his pater, ave, and other prayers. And when the cart was trailed away, his hands being before on high, he lit upon the rope and so held it, and the officers pulled them down. The sheriff then said, notwithstanding his obstinacy, see how willing he is to live. And so he hanged till he was dead; but it seemed to me, that his hands, by chance, as he was putting them down, fell upon the rope, which he held fast in his hands, as, in that case, he would have done any other thing if he had chanced upon it.

ROBERT JOHNSON, PRIEST.*

He was born in Shropshire, though he is called Vigorniensis, in the Douay dairy, from his being of the diocese of Worcester. In his youth, he was for some time a servant in a gentleman's family but quitting this service he went abroad, and was received in the English college of Douay, where, after he had sufficiently qualified himself by virtue and learning, he was made priest and sent upon the mission, in 1576, long before the pretended conspiracy of Rhemes and Rome. In what part

of England he exercised his functions, or where, and in what manner he Was first apprehended, I have not found: but this I have found, that, on the 5th of December, 1580, he was from some other prison, translated to the Tower, where he was at three different times, most cruelly racked: and in the November following, he was brought to the bar and condemned with father Campion and others; though his execution was put off, ull the 9th of May, 1582.

• Being brought from the hurdle, he was commanded to look upon Mr. Phort, who was hanging, and then immediately cut down: and so being helped into the cart, he was commanded again, to look back Howarda Mc. zihert, who was then in quartering. And after he had Imened, and signed himself with the sign of the cross, saying, in nomine Patris, &c. Despatch, quoth the sheriff, and speak quietly. I would be antry, shewered Mr. Johnson, to trouble or offend your worship. You shall not offend me, saith the sheriff, so that you offend not God. Johnson I am a catholic, and am condemned for conspiring the queen's death at themes, with the other company who were condemned with ms I protest, that as for some of them, with whom I was condemned Hehavs Camepted withal, I did never see them before we met at the bar, re close did I ever write unto them, or receive letters from them: and as Pre arcy Hemans, I am not guilty in deed, nor thought." "Here his petroalim was read, and his answers to the six articles. Then the

• From the same authors.

6

sheriff said," you shall hear also, what your own companion, named Munday, can say against you: whereupon, Munday was called, and came nigh to the cart.

'Johnson. Munday, didst thou ever know me beyond the seas, or was I ever in thy company?

Munday. I was never in your company, neither did I ever know you beyond the seas: but I was privy to your most horrible treasons, whereof you were most clearly convicted. I pray God, you may repent, and that you may die a good subject.

Johnson. Munday, God give thee grace to repent thee of thy deeds; truly, thou art a shrewd fellow but there is no time now, to reason these matters with thee; only, I protest before God, I am not guilty of any treason.

Sheriff. Dost thou acknowledge the queen, for lawful queen? Repent thee, and notwithstanding thy traitorous practices, we have authority from the queen, to carry thee back.

'Johnson. I do acknowledge her as lawful as queen Mary was. I can say no more; but pray to God, to give her grace, and that she may now stay her hand from shedding of innocent blood.

Sheriff. Dost thou acknowledge her as supreme head of the church in ecclesiastical matters?

Johnson. I acknowledge her to have as full and great authority, as ever queen Mary had; and more with safety and conscience, I cannot give her.

'Sheriff. Thou art a traitor, most obstinate.

Johnson. If I be a traitor for maintaining this faith, then all the kings and queens of this realm heretofore, and all our ancestors were traitors, for they maintained the same.

Sheriff. What? you will preach treason also, if we suffer you. 'Johnson. I teach but the catholic religion.

'Hereupon the rope was put about his neck, and he was willed to pray, which he did in Latin. They willed him to pray in English, that they might witness with him; he said, I pray that prayer, which Christ taught, in a tongue 1 well understand. A minister cried out, pray as Christ taught to whom, Mr. Johnson replied, What! do you think Christ taught in English? He went on, saying, in Latin, his Pater, Ave and Creed, and in manus tuas, &c. And so the cart was drawn away, and he finished this life, as the rest did. They all hanged until they were dead, and so were cut down and quartered.

Two days after, viz: on the 30th of May, 1582, four more reverend priests, Mr. William Filbie, Mr. Luke Kirby, Mr. Laurence Richardson, whose right name was Johnson, and Mr. Thomas Cottam, suffered for the same cause, at the same place. All these are mentioned by Mr. Stow in his annals.

WILLIAM FILBIE, PRIEST.*

Oxford, and there educated in Lincoln college; but ablished religion, he forsook that university, and went yor Rhemes; where, continuing his studies in the English he was made priest in 1581; and returning soon after to Enga the mission, and happening to go to the house of Mr. Yates, Ayod, at the same time as father Campion and his companions were apprehended, he was also made a prisoner and conducted to Lonwith them. My author relates, that in their way to London, lodgat Henley, Mr. Filbie, had in his sleep a significant dream, or vision, of the ripping up of his body, and taking out of his bowels; the terror whereof caused him to cry so loud, that the whole house was Laised thereby; which afterwards was accomplished in his own, father Campion's and others, his companions, martyrdom.'

He was committed to the Tower with the rest, on the 22d of July; arraigned and condemned the following November, upon the testimony of witnesses that had never seen him in their lives before his imprisonment; and whereas he showed a more than ordinary cheerfulness and constancy upon this occasion, he was ordered to be pinioned with iron manacles, which he endured from the time that he received sentence, November 20, till the 30th of May, when he was executed. On which day, being Wednesday, he was drawn with his three companions from the Tower of London along the streets to Tyburn, about seven of the clock in the morning.

When they were come to the place of execution, Mr. Filbie being the youngest, (not above twenty-seven years of age, was first taken from the hurdle; and being lifted into the cart, he blessed himself with the sign of the cross, saying, in nomine Patris, Sc., and then said, let me see my brethren, looking to the others that lay on the hurdle; and therewithal holding forth his hands to them, he said, Pray for me. Then, speaking to the company, he said, I am a catholic, and I protest before almighty God, that I am innocent of all these matters whereof I am condemned; and I hope to be saved by the merits and death of our Saviour Jesus Christ, beseeching him to have mercy on me, and forgive me mine offences; and therewithal a proclamation was read for keeping the peace, and at the end thereof was said, God save the queen, to which he said, amen.

The people asking him for what queen he prayed, he answered, for queen Elizabeth, beseeching God to send her a long and quiet reign, to his good-will, and make her his servant, and preserve her from her enemies. With that Mr. Topelitf' and others willed him to say, God save her from the pope. To whom he answered. He is not her enemy. After that, one of the sherifl's men, standing in the cart with Mr. Filbie, said to him, what hast thou there in thy handkerchief! and therewithal taking the handkerchief from him, found a little cross of wood within 14, which he, holding up in his hands, said, O! what a villainous traitor

* From the Douay diary, and from a printed account of has death, by an eye-witness, In 1583

is this that hath a cross, divers times repeating it; and some of the people saying the same. Whereunto Mr. Filbie answered nothing, only smiling at them. He was no more ashamed, says my author in the margin, of this his Saviour's banner, than of his crown, which he made shift to shave.

Then the articles, with the preface of the book printed by authority, were read, and his answers to them. To the sixth article, he answered, that if he had been in Ireland, he would have done as a priest should have done; that is, to pray that the right might take place. Some, upon this, asked him, did Saunders do well in that business of Ireland? I know not, said he, I was not privy to his doings; I never saw or spoke with him; let him answer for himself.

Then sheriff Martin called upon the hangman to despatch; and the rope being about his neck, the sheriff said, Filbie, the queen is merciful unto you, and we have authority from her to carry you back, if you will ask her mercy, and confess your fault; don't refuse mercy offered; ask the queen forgiveness. To whom Mr. Filbie answered, I never offended her. Well, then, said the sheriff, make an end; and thus, desiring all catholics to pray for him, he prayed, saying his pater, and ave, and in manus tuas, &c., and when the cart was drawing away, he said, Lord, receive my soul; and so hanged, knocking his breast several times, till some pulled down his hands, and so he finished his mortal life.

LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST.*

He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following, sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended; for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London, from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam, and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th of the same month, suffered the torture, called the Scavenger's Daughter, of which I find frequent mention in the memoirs of the sufferings of the catholics in those days. Raissius and the Douay diary tell us, that Mr. Kirby was thrust into a hoop, or circle of iron, in which his whole body was as it were folded up, and his hands, feet, and head bound fast together. Perhaps this cruel engine is the same as that which the other diary calls the Scavenger's Daughter.

On the 20th of November following, Mr. Kirby received sentence

* From the same eye-witness, and from Raissius's catalogue.

of death, at the same time, and for the same cause, with father Campion and others; but suffered not till the 28th of May, 1582. When, after Mr. Filbie had finished his course, he was brought from the hurdle to see him hang; and being lifted up into the cart, he began thus ; O my friends, O my friends, I am come hither for supposed treason, although indeed it be for my conscience. Then he prayed, O my Saviour Jesus Christ, by whose death and passion I hope to be saved, forgive me, sinful sinner, my manifold sins and offences, &c. And being commanded to turn towards the place of execution, his companion, Mr. Filbie, being beheaded, and, as the manner is, the executioner lifting up his head between his hands, and crying, God save the queen, Mr. Kirby said,-Amen: and he being asked what queen? he answered, Queen Elizabeth, to whom he prayed God to send a long and prosperous reign, and to preserve her from her enemies. Mr. Charke, the minister, bid him say, from the pope's curse and power. Mr. Kirby replied-If the pope levy war against her, or curse her unjustly, God preserve her from him also; and so direct her in this life, as that she may further and maintain Christ's catholic religion, and at last inherit the kingdom of heaven.

After this, he made a solemn protestation of his innocency in that whereof he was condemned; adding,-That if there were any man living that could justly accuse him, in any one point, of that whereof he was condemned, he was ready to submit himself to her majesty's clemency and seeing Munday present, he desired he might be brought in, to say what he could. Who being brought in, said, that being at Rome, Mr. Kirby persuaded him and another young man, named Robinson, to stay there, and not to come to England; for that shortly, some stir or trouble was like to come and seeing that could not stay him, he said, that he willed him to persuade those that were his friends to the catholic religion against the great day. Mr. Kirby answered, that it was unlike, that he who knew before his departure from Rome, how he was affected in religion, would utter any such words to him, to persuade the people. Munday replied,-That it was like, because he delivered him some hallowed pictures to carry with him. Mr. Kirby answered,-That because he mistrusted him, he would not deliver, nor did not deliver, any to him; but he said, he gave him two Julios to buy pictures; and that now he was very ungratefully dealt withal, being by him falsely accused; he having been such a benefactor to all his countrymen, although he knew them to be otherwise affected in religion than himself was: for, he said, he spoke to some of the pope's chiefest officers, and was like, through them, to come to trouble. To others, he said, he gave the shirt off his own back; and travelled with others forty miles, for their safe conduct, and only for good will. And as for Munday, he had written a letter to a friend in Rhemes, to deliver him fifteen shillings, which he never received, because he never went to receive it: and he urged Munday again, in the fear and love of God, to say but the truth; alledging farther, how one Nichols, who, in his book, uttered much more of him than Munday did, yet his conscience accusing him, he came to his chamber in the Tower, and in the presence of four, whereof he named his keeper to be one, recanted