they were put on him by the keepers. With this load of chains, he was hurried away to Thorp, the archbishop's seat, to be examined by him. What passed here, says my author, between him and the archbishop, we could, by no means, come to know; because, after this interview, Mr. Lacy was cast into a dungeon, by himself, so that we could not have any access to him.

Upon the 11th of August, he was brought to the bar, where he was arraigned for having been made priest at Rome; which he acknowledged, and which appeared from the letters of ordination he had about him at the time of his apprehension. But the judge, not content with this confession, pressed him further, with that murdering question, whether he acknowledged the queen, to be the supreme head of the church of England? He replied, That in this matter, as well as all other things, he believed, as the catholic church of God, and all good Christians believed. Upon this he was brought in guilty of high treason, and had sentence to die, as in cases of high treason. He heard the fatal sentence, with a serene countenance and an undaunted courage, saying, God be for ever blessed, I am now old, and by the course of nature, could not expect to live long. This will be no more to me, than to pay the common debt, a little before the time. I am rejoiced, therefore, at the things which have been said to me, we shall go into the house of the Lord; and so shall be with the Lord for ever.

The day appointed for his death, was the 22d of August, when Mr. Lacy and Mr. Kirkeman, another gentleman of the same character, were laid upon a hurdle, and drawn to the place of execution. In the way, they made their confessions to each other: and when they came to the gallows, Mr. Lacy first made his prayer, to prepare himself for his last conflict; and then, ascending the ladder, began to speak to the people, and to exhort them to provide for the salvation of their souls, by flying from heresy. But the Ministers, apprehending that the cause of their religion would suffer by such discourses, procured to have his mouth effectually stopped, by hastening the hangman, to fling him off the ladder, and so put an end to his mortal life.

He suffered at York, August 22d, 1582.

RICHARD KIRKEMAN, PRIEST.*

He was born at Adingham, in Yorkshire, of a gentleman's family, and being already advanced in learning, went over to the English college of Douay, where, following his studies, he was made priest, and set upon the mission, in 1578. His apostolic labours were in the northern provinces, where, being on a journey, he was stopped on the 8th of August, 1582, by justice Wortley, within two miles of Wakefield, who having examined him, who he was; what business brought

* From Dr. Bridgewater's Concertatio, fol. 100, and from the Douay records.

him into that part of the country? &c., and not being satisfied with his answers, was for sending him and his servant to prison, as vagrants and dangerous fellows. Mr. Kirkman, perceiving how matters were like to go, thought it best to acquaint the justice with what he was, and to leave the issue to providence; and accordingly calling for a pen, he wrote with his own hand, that he was a catholic priest. Upon this, the justice asked him no more questions, but ordered his baggage to be searched, (where they found a chalice, and other utensils, for saying mass,) and both him and his servant to be carried to York, where the assizes were forthwith to be held. Their first night's lodging was at Tadcaster, were they had the bare floor for their bed. The next day, they arrived at York, where Mr. Kirkman was, without more ado, immediately brought to the bar.

Here, many questions were put to him, as where he lived? whether he had ever been beyond the seas; and in what place; and for how long a time; whether he had not withdrawn her majesty's subjects from their allegiance? whether he had said mass in England, and where? &c. to these questions he candidly answered, that he had lived with Mr. Dimock, who died in prison for the catholic faith that he had been two years abroad: that he never withdrew any man from his allegiance to the queen; but persuaded as many as he could to embrace the true religion and administered the holy sacrament, as time and place would permit; that he had said mass in Northumberland; but as to particular places and persons he would not name them. Upon these answers, an indictment was drawn up against him, and a jury impanelled, who brought him in guilty of high treason: 1st, for being a priest of the seminary of Douay and Rhemes. 2dly, for persuading the queen's subjects to the catholic religion.

After the jury had brought in their verdict, Mr. Kirkeman was carried to the jail, where he was again examined by justice Wortley and justice Manwaring; who not being able to extort out of him what they wanted, Mr. Wortley in a passion called him papist and traitor, and loaded him with reproaches and injuries. To whom, Mr. Kirkeman calmly replied, You might, sir, with the same justice, charge the apostles also with being traitors; for they taught the same doctrines I now teach, and did the same things for which you condemn me.

After this, he was brought again to the bar to receive sentence; which was pronounced upon him in the usual form. Mr Kirkeman, with a wonderful calmness and modesty, addressing himself to the judge upon this occasion, begged of him, that he would consider well what he did; that he looked upon himself as a wretched sinner, and infinitely unworthy of so great an honour as that of martyrdom. The judge, who understood not this language, told him, that the sentence pronounced upon him was agreeable to what the law directed in those cases; and that he had now nothing else to do but prepare himself for death. The confessor again begged of him to consider his unworthiness of so great a favour. The judge warmly answered him, that his wickedness had well deserved that kind of death. It must then be so, said Mr. Kirkeman, and I must be honoured with so sublime a dignity, Good God! how unworthy am I of it! but since it is thy holy will, thy holy will

be done on earth as it is in heaven: and with that he began, with a loud voice, that hymn of joy and thanksgiving, te Deum laudamus.

Four days before his death, he was sent for by the high sheriff and two ministers: what passed between them was kept private; nor had the catholics any opportunity of learning it from himself, for, from that time he was kept in a dungeon by himself, waiting with patience, and preparing himself for his passage into eternity.

On the 22d of August he was pinioned down on the hurdle, and drawn with Mr. Lacy to the place of execution. Here he employed himself in silent prayer, till his companion had happily finished his course; then, being called upon by the officers, he cheerfully went up the ladder, and addressing himself to the multitude of spectators, which was very great, he began to make an exhortation to them, but was interrupted, and ordered to desist. Upon which, going up a little higher on the ladder, and lifting up his eyes towards his heavenly country, to which his soul aspired, he pronounced these words of the royal prophet, Heu mihi, quia incolatus meus prolongatus est: habitavi cum habitantibus Cedar, multum incola fuit anima mea! and so was flung off the ladder, and yielded up his soul to his creator.

JAMES THOMPSON, PRIEST.*

MR. JAMES THOMPSON was born and brought up in Yorkshire, in the west part thereof, and about the city of York. From thence he went over to the college lately translated from Douay to Rhemes, where he was made priest, and sent back to England in 1581. He was apprehended on the 11th of August, 1582, in the city of York, in the house of Mr. Branton, a catholic, then prisoner for his conscience in the Kitcote, and being examined by the counsel, what he was, he frankly owned himself to be a priest. At which, when some seemed to be surprised, because he had been for some years before well known in that city, and they could not imagine how he should be made a priest, he told them, he had been beyond the seas, and was ordained there; though his stay was but short, not above one year, because the state of his health obliged him to return home sooner than he had designed.

They bid him tell them sincerely, whether his returning to England was not in order to reconcile the queen's subjects to the church of Rome? He answered, That the cause of his returning into England was that which he had already told them; for he had laboured under a very ill state of health, from Candlemas till the beginning of May. But withal, says he, I will tell you, ingenuously, that I returned in order to do some service to my country. They asked him, if he had reconciled any? he answered, That where opportunity was offered, he had not been want

* From Dr. Bridgewater's collections, in his Concertatio Ecclesiæ Catholicæ, &c., fol. 101. And from a manuscript account sent over to Douay, by the Reverend Mr. Ralph Fisher.

+ Senatus.

ing to his duty. They asked how many, and what persons he had reconciled? he desired to be excused from answering a question by which he might bring others into danger. Then they asked, whether he acknowledged the queen's majesty for the supreme head of the church? He answered, That he did not acknowledge her for such. Very well, said they, you need say no more; you have said enough. He answered, Blessed be God.

Yet, not content with this, they further asked him, whether he would take arms against the pope, if he should invade the kingdom? he replied, When that time shall come, I will show myself a true patriot. But, said they, Will you fight against the pope now? He answered, No. Upon which, after many reproaches and injuries, they ordered him to prison, and commanded that he should be loaded with double irons, where he remained for seventeen days, and then, chained as he was, was led through the streets from his first prison to the castle. Here he was put to the common side, amongst the felons, where he remained some time; and then, through the interest of friends, was removed to a chamber, where he had the company of two other priests, prisoners for the same cause.

On the 25th of November he was brought to the bar, tried and condemned; and had sentence of death pronounced upon him in the usual form, as in cases of high treason: at the hearing of which, he was so transported with joy, that he seemed to have quite forgot the pains of his disease, under which he had so long laboured. After sentence, he spent his time, night and day, either in prayer and meditation, or in labouring to gain souls to God and his church: in which he had good success, by the divine blessing, and the opportunity of the place: for, being put again into the company of felons, after his condemnation, he prevailed on some of them, by his exhortations and good example, to renounce their errors and sins, and in spite of the devil and his ministers, to die good catholics and true penitents.

When the day of execution was come, and the hurdle, upon which he was to be drawn to the gallows, was before his eyes, being asked by one how he found himself affected, he answered,-That, in all his life, he had never been so joyful. A minister upon this occasion, offered to talk to him; but Mr. Thompson would not have any thing to say to him: and the rest that were to suffer with him, (though not for the same cause) followed his example, and plainly told the minister, that they would, by no means, give ear to his doctrine. When he was come to the place of execution, he there prayed for a long time, and with great fervour; and then going up the ladder, he spoke to the people, declaring, That he died in the catholic faith; and for the catholic faith; calling God to witness, that he had never been guilty of any treason against his queen or country: so, after he had again prayed for a while, commending his soul to his Creator, he was flung off the ladder, and was observed, whilst he was hanging, first, to lift up his hands towards heaven, then to strike his breast, with his right hand; and, lastly, to the great astonishment of the spectators, distinctly to form the sign of the cross, He suffered at York, the 28th of November, 1582.

WILLIAM HART, PRIEST.—1583.*

MR. HART was born in the city of Wells, in Somersetshire, and brought up in Lincoln college, Oxford, where his happy genius and great talents were much admired. From thence he passed over to Douay (disliking the religion and manners of Oxford) to pursue his studies in the English college in that university. From whence, in the year 1578, he removed, with the rest of the students, to Rhemes. In this journey, his courage and patience was admirable, when, labouring under a violent fit of the stone, he nevertheless went the whole way on foot, bearing the most acute pains, joined to the labour of the journey, with a wonderful calmness and evenness of mind, to the great edification of his companions. To whom, during his whole stay at Douay and Rhemes, he was a perfect pattern of modesty and piety. His disease still growing upon him, his superiors sent him to Spa, to try the waters there-but all in vain; the physicians declared that there was no remedy for him but cutting: he submitted, in hopes of thereby prolonging his life to labour in the Lord's vineyard, offered up what he was to suffer, as a penance for his sins, and underwent all with great courage; having his soul so fixed in God by prayer, that he scarce seemed to take any notice of so painful an operation, at which, both the surgeon and others that were present, were much astonished.

Some time after his return to Rhemes, he was sent by superiors to Rome, to the English college there: which at that time, and for many years before and after, was chiefly supplied with students from Douay and Rhemes. Here, continuing to apply himself with great ardour to his studies, and making daily progress in the science of the saints, having attained to great perfection, both in virtue and learning, he was made priest, and sent upon the mission. In England, he diligently employed his talents to the greater glory of God, and conversion of many souls, chiefly in and about York: for, besides, a singular piety towards God, a great love for his neighbours, and an extraordinary zeal for the catholic faith, which were from the beginning very eminent in him; his carriage and behaviour was so winning, as to make him agreeable to all and his eloquence (for which he was called another Campion) joined to an extraordinary gift he had in preaching, was such, as easily made its way into the hearts of his hearers. His devotion was great to the tremendous mysteries; which, whilst he celebrated, he was often observed to shed abundance of tears; and his charity was very remarkable towards numbers of poor catholics that were prisoners in those days, for their conscience. and who, in York, especially, were daily perishing through the many incommodities of their imprisonment, joined to the hardheartedness and barbarity of their keepers. These, he daily visited, refusing no labour nor danger for their comfort and assistance; encouraging them to suffer with patience; procuring them what assistance he was able; hearing their confessions, and administering the sacraments to them.

* From Dr. Bridgewater's collections, fol. 104. And from the Douay records.