THOMAS COTTAM, PRIEST.*

THOMAS COTTAM, was born in Lancashire, brought up, in Brazen-nose college, in Oxford, where he took the degree of bachelor of arts, March 23, 1568. From whence, he went to London, and was there for some time, a school-master; but embracing the catholic religion, he left the kingdom, and went over to Douay, to the English college, lately founded there. From Douay, after some time, he was sent to Rome, where he entered into the Society of Jesus: But there, falling into a consuming and fingering sickness, he was, by his superiors, sent to Lyons, in France to try, if by change of air, he might be recovered: but the sickness so grew and increased upon him, that he was made an unfit man for them, and thereupon they dismissed him. Whilst Mr. Cottam was at Lyons, Sledd, that infamous Judas, intending to work some mischief, came from Rome in the company of divers Englishmen, whose names and marks he took very diligently and being come to Lyons, found Mr. Cottam there, and travelling in his company from thence for some days, understood of him, that he meant very shortly to return home to his native country. Whereupon Sledd took his marks more exactly and precisely; and being arrived at Paris, he there presented to the English ambassador the names and marks he had taken, who sent them over to the queen's counsel, and from them they were sent to the searchers of the ports.

In the mean time, Mr. Cottam went to Rhemes, where the college had lately been translated from Douay; and there, being a deacon and a good preacher long before, he was made priest; and hearing of company that were ready to go into England, he made great haste to go with them, and earnest suit to have leave, partly for his health, and especially for the great zeal he had to gain and save souls.

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He arrived at Dover in June, 1580, in the company of Mr. John Hart, and Mr. Edward Rishton, two learned priests, (who are also both condemned) and another, a layman. After these four had been searched to their skins, and nothing found about them, Mr. Hart was stopped and taken for Mr. Orton, (to whom he nothing at all resembled) Mr. Cottam was likewise stopped, because the marks which Sledd had given of him were indeed, very clear and apparent in him. And, for the avoiding of charges, Mr. Allen, then major of Dover, and Stevens, the searcher, requested the layman, Mr. Cottam's companion,' " Dr. Ely, professor of the canon and civil law in the university of Douay," who called himself Havard, to carry him as a prisoner to my Lord Cobham, who agreed very easily thereunto: but as soon as they were out of the town, I cannot, said Havard, in conscience, nor will not, being myself a catholic, deliver you, a catholic priest, prisoner to my Lord Cobham; but we will go strait to London, and when you come there, shift for yourself, as I will do for myself. Coming to London, Mr. Cottam went immediately to one of the prisons, and there conferred with a catholic, a friend of his, recounting to him the order and manner of his apprehension and escape. His friend told him, that in conscience, he

* From the same eye-witness, and from Raissius, his catalogue, p. 37.

could not make that escape, and persuaded him to go and yield himself prisoner whereupon he went to his friend Havard,'" Dr. Ely," and requested him to deliver him the major of Dover's letter to my Lord Cobham. Why? what will you do with it? said Havard: I will go, said Mr. Cottam, and carry it to him, and yield myself prisoner; for I am fully persuaded that I cannot make this escape in conscience: Why, said Havard, this counsel that hath been given you, proceedeth, I confess, from a zealous mind, but I doubt whether it carrieth with it the weight of knowledge; you shall not have the letter, nor you may not, in conscience, yield yourself to the persecutor and adversary, having so good means offered to escape their cruelty. But Mr. Cottam still persisting in his demands, Well, said Mr. Havard, seeing you will not be turned from this opinion, let us go first and consult with such a man, (naming one but newly come over) whom Mr. Cottam greatly honoured and reverenced for his singular wit and learning, and for his rare virtues, and if he be of your opinion, you shall have the letter, and go in God's name. When they came to this man, he utterly disliked of his intention, and dissuaded him from so fond a cogitation. Mr. Cottam being assuaged, but not altogether satisfied, went quietly about his business, and never left London for the matter. The major of Dover's letter being sent back to him again, within two or three days after, cometh up the host of the inn where Mr. Cottam was taken.

"This host, as Providence would have it, met with Havard, and, taking him by the shoulder, said, Gentleman, you had like to have undone me, because the prisoner you promised to deliver is escaped. Wherefore, you must come with me to one Mr. Andrews, my Lord Cobham's deputy, and give him satisfaction in the matter. Havard was somewhat amazed at this sudden summoning; but after awhile, coming to himself, he said, Why, my host, if I deliver you the prisoner again, you will be contented? Yes, said the other, deliver me the prisoner, and I have nothing to say to you. Upon this they went to Mr. Cottam's lodging, but he was removed, the people of the house knew not whither. The host would fain have had this Havard, so called for the time, to go with him to the said Andrews; but Havard sought all means to avoid his company, being sure, if he had once come within the persecutor's paws, he should not escape them so easily; and being, as then, loth to fall into further trouble, he said to the other, My host, there is no such necessity why I should go to Mr. Andrews; for if I did, perhaps he would pick some quarrel with me, by reason of the prisoner's escape, and I might come to trouble, and you would reap no gain or profit thereby. But this I will do for your discharge, I will bring you to a merchant, who, I think, will give you his hand that I shall bring the prisoner by four of the clock, or else that I shall deliver you my body again. I am content, saith he, so that I have the one of you two. To the merchant, therefore, they went, who, at the request of Havard, his brother-in-law, gave his hand and promise for the performance of the condition before specified. (Which promise, though punctually performed, cost the merchant eight months' imprisonment afterwards; but how justly, will be one day examined before the just Judge.) Thus, Havard, leaving his host in the merchant's house, went forth into

the city, with another in his company, to see if he could meet with Ms. Cottam.

And coming into Cheapside, there, by chance, he met him; and after ordinary salutations, he said, Mr. Cottam, such a man is come to town, and hath so seized upon me for your escape, that either you or I must needs go to prison: you know my state and condition, and may guess how I shall be treated, if once I appear under my right name before them; you know also your own state. Now, it is in your choice whether of us shall go, for one must go, there is no remedy, and to force you, I will not, for I had rather sustain any punishment whatsoever. Mr. Cottam, lifting up his eyes and hands to heaven, said these words: Now God be blessed. I should never while I lived have been without scruple, if I had escaped from them. Nothing grieveth me, but that I have not despatched some business that I have to do. Why, said Havard, it is but ten of the clock yet; and you may despatch your business by four of the clock, and then, you may go to them. Whither is it, said he, That I must go? To the sign of the Star, quoth Havard, in New Fish-street; and there, you must enquire for one Mr. Andrews, my lord Cobham's deputy; to him, you must surrender yourself. I will, said he; and so they parted, and never saw one the other, after.

'Mr. Cottam, after he had despatched all his business, went at four of the clock, all alone, to the place appointed, and there, yielded himself prisoner, (an invincible proof of his being innocent of any treason,) and was carried to the court, lying then, at Nonesuch, or Otlands. From whence, after five days conference with divers ministers, that laboured, but in vain, to pervert him, he was sent to the Marshalsea, for religion, and not for treason; from thence, to the Tower, there, to be racked; not for to reveal any secret treason, as the adversaries most falsely pretend; but tormented, because he would not confess his private sins unto them, as he both confidently and truly affirmed, to their faces, at his arraignment. After a long confinement, he was led to Westminster, and there, unjustly condemned," "with father Campion and others; and on the 30th of May, following, drawn to Tyburn, where we have seen his behaviour in the cart, and how he was set down again, before Mr. Richardson's execution.

When the cart was drawn away from Mr. Richardson, Mr. Cottam said, O good Laurence, pray for me: Lord Jesus received thy soul; which he repeated several times. All this time, Mr. Cottam was with the sheriff and the ministers, upon the ground, having the rope still about his neck. I could not well hear what persuasions the sheriff and ministers had with him; but, I do conjecture, that what they said was, that if he would renounce his faith, he should have his pardon; for I heard him well, utter these words, I will not swerve a jot from my faith, for any thing: yea, if I had ten thousand lives, I would rather lose them all, than forsake the catholic faith, in any point.-And, with that, he was lifted up into the cart again; and the sheriff said, withal, Despatch him, since he is so stubborn.

Then, he was turned backwards to look upon Mr. Richardson, who was then in quartering, which he did, saying, Lord Jesus have mercy

upon them! O Lord, give me grace to endure to the end; Lord, give me constancy to the end. Which saying, he uttered almost for all the time that Mr. Richardson was in quartering, saving once that he said, thy soul pray for me; and, at the last, he said, O Lord, what a spectacle hast thou made unto me! which he repeated twice or thrice. And then the head of Mr. Richardson was held up by the executioner, who said, as the custom is, God save the queen. To which, Mr. Cottam said, I beseech God to save her, and bless her; and with all my heart, I wish her prosperity as my liege and sovereign queen, and chief governess. They willed him to say, and supreme head in matters ecclesiastical. To whom, he answered, if I would have put in those words, I had been discharged almost two years since. Then, the sheriff said, you are a traitor if you deny that. Mr. Cottam said, no, that is a matter of faith, and unless it be for my conscience and faith, I never offended her majesty. And with that, he looked up to heaven, and prayed secretly; then uttered these words, in te Domine speravi, non confundar in æternum; in thee, O Lord, have I hoped, let me not be confounded for ever. And, O Domine tu plura, pro me passus es, Sc., O Lord, thou hast suffered more for me, three times repeating, plura, more. Then, the sheriff said to him, yet Cottam, call for mercy and confess, and no doubt the queen will be merciful unto you. Who answered, My conscience giveth me a clear testimony that I never offended her. Adding, that he wished her as much good as to his own soul; and for all the gold under the cope of heaven, he would not wish that any one hair of her head should perish to do her harm: and that all that he did here suffer, was for saving his soul; desiring Almighty God, for his sweet Son's sake, that he would vouchsafe to take him to his mercy saying, that him only he had offended; and desiring God, that if there were any thing more unspoken, which were convenient to be spoken, he would now put it into his mind.

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And then, he prayed, desiring forgiveness of all the world; and saying, that he did, from the bottom of his heart, forgive all. Adding, that the sins of this realm have deserved infinite punishment, and God's just indignation; and desiring him, of his mercy, that he would turn his wrath from this people, and call them to repentance, to see and acknowledge their sins. Then he begged all catholics to pray with him; and having said his pater, and being in the middle of his ave, the cart was driven away. He hanged, till he was dead; and, being stripped, he was found to wear within his shirt, a shirt of very coarse canvass, without sleeves, which reached down beneath his middle; which was likely in the nature of a hair shirt, for the punishment of his body; with which kinds of things England is not now acquainted. '

He suffered May 30, 1582.

Father Lewis, of Grenada, in his abridgement of his catechism, chap. 22, gives an account of the death of Mr. Cottam, and the other six, his companions, from an eye-witness, and looks upon them as illustrious martyrs.

WILLIAM LACY, PRIEST. *

WILLIAM LACY, was a Yorkshire gentleman, "born at Hauton," who for some time, enjoyed a place of trust in that country, under queen Elizabeth; and had a fair prospect of being advanced higher, had not his religion stood in his way. He was one of the chief gentlemen of those days, whose house was open to the priests that came over from the colleges abroad, where they always met with a kind welcome; and were sure to want no service or assistance that he could afford or procure them. But as he was taught by these gentlemen, that neither he, nor his, could in conscience frequent the protestant churches, his absenting himself, was soon taken notice of, and he was obliged to give up his charge. Neither was this all, but so many means were found to distress him, and such heavy fines imposed upon him every month, for his, and his family's racusancy, that he was obliged to leave his house and home, and to travel about, sheltering himself sometimes with one friend, sometimes with another; and being never able to stay long in a place, without danger of being apprehended and imprisoned, by the adversaries of his faith. At length, his wife dying, he took a resolution, though he was now pretty well advanced in years, to go abroad, in order to dedicate the remainder of his days to the service of God, and his neighbours, in the ecclesiastical state.

He had no sooner taken this resolution, but he took the first opportunity to pass over into France, to the college lately translated from Douay to Rhemes, where he was received according to his merits, and diligently applied himself to the study of divinity, frequenting the schools with the young divines, and giving great edification to all by his humility and other virtues. After having for some time exercised himself in this manner, in the English college at Rhemes, he went from thence to Ponta-musson, in Lorrain, to follow his studies there. From whence his devotion carried him to Rome, to visit the holy places, consecrated by the sufferings of the apostles and martyrs. Here he procured a dispensation, that he might be made priest, for having been married to a widow, he could not be ordained without a dispensation; which was the easier granted him, in consideration of his personal merit and great virtues. So having made the spiritual exercises in the English college of Rome, he received all his orders, and shortly after returned home, to labour in the mission, which he did with great fruit, for the space of about two years, bringing over many souls to Christ and his church.

He frequently visited the catholics, that were prisoners for their conscience, in York Castle; where, on the 22d of July, 1582, having been with others, present at mass, celebrated before day, by Mr. Bell; and making the best of his way out of the castle, upon the keeper's and turnkey's taking an alarm, he was seized under the castle walls, and carried in the morning, before the lord mayor of York, and counsellor Check; who having strictly examined him, committed him prisoner, to the castle, with orders, that he should be loaded with irons; which he kissed, when

*From the collection of Dr. Bridgewater, in his Concertatio Ecclesiæ Catholicæ― Edition of 1588. fol. 96, 2.