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SEVEN PRIESTS AND CONFESSORS.

103 were condemned on the 8th of December, and were to have been executed on the 13th. At the desire of the French ambassador, the king being willing to have them reprieved and banished, sent a message to both houses of parliament, to know their thoughts upon the matter. This message being sent December the 11th, from the lords to the house of commons, and there read, it was singly voted upon these following priests: Resolved, that John Hammon, John Rivers, alias Abbot, Walter Coleman, and N. Turner, priests, shall be put to execution according to law.' See Nelson's Impartial Collections, vol. ii. p. 731, 732, &c. However, his majesty having been pleased to grant his reprieve to all the seven, on the Thursday following, December the 14th, both houses agreed to join in a petition, that his majesty would take off the reprieve, and order all the seven to be executed. To which his majesty, on December the 16th, returned his answer, that he would take the matter into consideration.

This reprieve of the condemned priests, who were shortly after reduced to the number of six, by the death of one of them, was perpetually objected to the king by the parliament; till his majesty, answering from York their petition concerning the magazine of Hull, &c., told them, concerning the six condemned priests, it is true they were reprieved by our warrant, being informed that they were (by some restraint,) disabled to take the benefit of our former proclamation, since that, we have issued out another, for the due execution of the laws against papists, and have most solemnly promised, upon the word of a king, never to pardon any priest without your consent, who shall be found guilty by law desiring to banish these, "the six," having herewith sent warrants to that purpose, if upon second thoughts you do not disapprove thereof. 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.' So far the king. And my lord Clarendon, in his history, vol. i, part 2, p. 490, tells us, that this unexpected answer did not a little disturb the parliament. because the king, by referring the matter to them, removed the scandal from himself, and laid it at their doors and certain it is, that we hear no more of this affair, and that these condemned priests were all suffered to linger away their lives in Newgate, though no less than eight of their brethren were executed in different parts of the kingdom, within the compass of that one year, 1642.

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It remains, that we should here put down the chief particulars we have been able to discover concerning these seven condemned priests; and first, as to their order; father Angelus Mason, in his preface to his Certamen Seraphicum, tells us, that excepting father Coleman, who was a Franciscan, all the rest were either of the secular clergy, or of the venerable order of St. Bennet. Then as to other particulars, to begin with those that were first by parliament voted to die.

1. John Hammon, or Hammond, was a priest of Douay college, ordained and sent upon the English mission in 1625. He was a gentleman of learning and merit, a leading man amongst his brethren; a

member of their chapter; and superior of the secular clergy in the west of England.

2. John Rivers, alias, Abbot, a Londoner, was also a priest of Douay college; he was ordained in 1612, at which time I find he left the college, in order to enter the society of Jesus. But this design proved ineffectual; for by the account of father Angelus, above quoted, when he was condemned to die, he was still a secular priest.

3. Walter Coleman was descended from a good family in Staffordshire, who, going abroad, studied his humanity in the English college of Douay, then returning home, after some years spent among his friends, being disgusted with the pleasures and vanities of the world, he determined to leave all, and to follow Christ, in a life of poverty, humility, and mortification. Upon this he entered among the English Franciscans in their convent at Douay, where he was called father Christopher, of St. Clair. He died in Newgate, anno, 1645. He was author of a small poem, called, The Duel of Death. See more of him in Certamen Seraphicum, p. 184, &c.

4. John Turner was a priest of the English college of Douay, ordained and sent upon the mission in 1625. He seems to have survived all the rest in prison, and consequently to have endured the longer martyrdom.

5. The other three, (whose names are not recorded in Mr. Nelson's collections,) were, as far as I can gather from other records, Mr. Henry Myners, who died prisoner of the common side of Newgate, anno, Father Lawrence Mabbs, O. S. B., who died prisoner in the same jail, anno, 1641. And father Peter Wilford, O. S. B., called in religion father Boniface, who died in the same prison, March 12, 1646, being fourscore years of age, or upwards. B. W., in his manuscript, says ninety.

Father Mason, in his Certamen Seraphicum, p. 192, speaking of father Coleman, gives this short eulogium of all his six companions; that they had all laboured for a long time upon the mission, with great fruit in gaining souls to God: that they had suffered all the incommodities of a prison for many years; that they were condemned merely on account of their priesthood; and that they received the sentence of death with great joy, giving God thanks that they were thought worthy to suffer in his cause.

THOMAS REYNOLDS, ALIAS, GREEN, PRIEST.*

THOMAS REYNOLDS, whose true name was Green, was born in the city of Oxford, towards the beginning of queen Elizabeth's reign; and as great numbers of the brightest and most hopeful young men in both universities in those days, disliking the new religion, went abroad to be

* From Mr. Ireland's Douay diary; a manuscript relation by father Floyd, S. J. another manuscript in the collections of Mr. Knaresborough; and Chifletius, in his Palma Cleri Anglicani, printed at Antwerp, in 1645, p. 22.

educated in the old, for which, afterwards, a great many of them laid down their lives; Mr. Reynolds followed their footsteps, and going over to Rhemes to the English seminary, then residing in that city, after some time spent in his studies there, was advanced to holy orders; and being now deacon, was, on the 17th of September, 1590, in the company of several others, sent from Rhemes into Spain, the seminaries in that kingdom, being then usually supplied from the college at Rhemes. Mr. Reynolds was made priest at Seville, and from thence was sent upon the English mission. He had been above fifty years in holy orders, when he was called forth to suffer, and in that space of time had weathered many a storm. I find his name amongst the forty-seven priests, sent from divers prisons into banishment, in 1606. But he quickly returned again to his post: he was therefore again apprehended, in or about the year 1628, about fourteen years before his death; and was then brought to his trial, and condemned; but, by the queen's interest was reprieved; yet so, as still to remain a prisoner. It is true, I find his name in Mr. Prynne's Hidden Works of Darkness, &c., amongst those priests, who, in 1635, upon giving bond for their appearance, were permitted to go out of prison: and in consequence of this permission, he was often abroad amongst his friends, till in June, 1641, (the factious in the parliament being now very clamorous against the reprieving of priests,) he was seized and committed; and in the January following, without any new trial or provocation, was brought down to his former sentence, and executed.

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He was a man says my author, "Chiflet, p. 37," of a most religious comportment in his whole life, who, for a long course of years, had preached virtue and godliness to his countrymen, no less by his example than by his words: and he was now far advanced in age, being about eighty." As to his body, he was fat and corpulent, yet very infirm through past labours and sufferings. As to his temper, he was remarkably mild and courteous; and in the many years he had laboured in the vineyard of his Lord, he had reaped much fruit, in gaining many souls to God. He was naturally timorous; and therefore, when he was so unexpectedly called upon to prepare himself to die, distrusting in his own strength, he earnestly importuned heaven for the grace of constancy and perseverance, by long and fervent prayer, in which he em, ployed a good part of the night before his martyrdom; and begged, to this same end, the prayers of other priests and servants of God; and the divine majesty was pleased to hear him, and in such manner to favour him with his grace, as to banish all his fears, and fill his soul with a wonderful fortitude and vigour; so that he was surprised to find this change in himself, and could not forbear extolling the mercies of God towards him, and the wondrous operations of his powerful grace in so poor, frail, and infirm an old man. On the morning before he was to die, he celebrated the sacred mysteries: and then cheerfully obeyed the summons of the officers, who called for him in order to execution.

"What follows, is mostly transcribed from two manuscript relations, of which I have copies in my hands."

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He," Mr. Reynolds," came forth of Newgate, and put off his VOL. II.

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hat to the sheriff, then went up the sledge, and lay down; but lifung himself up again, he saluted them that were about him, and gave his blessing to all catholics that were present. Mr. Roe, a Benedictine, presently followed, and did in the same manner, and they embraced each other on the hurdle. It was the 21st of January, 1641, being Friday, the feast of St. Agnes, that these two courageous soldiers of Jesus Christ were called out to fight. They were drawn on one hurdle by four car-horses; the way being very deep and plashy, so that their faces, bands and clothes were much spattered with dirt. In the mean time, it is almost incredible how much both protestants and catholics were moved to tears at the sight of them, and what show of zeal the catholics made towards these blessed martyrs; for in the streets they went up to the hurdle where they lay, some kissing their hands, some their garments, others craving their blessing publicly; others saying, courage, valiant soldiers of Christ: and the martyrs on the other side, bade them joyfully, farewell, saying, they more esteemed it to be drawn up Holborn on a sledge for his cause, than if they were riding in the best coach the king had, and that they were going to a marriage feast.

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They arrived about eleven o'clock, at the place of execution, where Mr. Reynolds having the sheriff's permission, spoke bravely for half an hour's space; and amongst other things said, that if he had as many lives as there are bright stars in the firmament, he would most willingly give them all for this cause. That he had conversed with all sorts of people, having been a priest in England, almost forty years, yet none could ever accuse him so much as of a word tending to treason or disloyalty; that he had only laboured to reduce strayed souls to the fold of the catholic church, to which as he had reduced some, so he wished that every one of them had been a thousand. He also told them, that God's vengeance hung over England for their seditious treacheries, &c. Here the sheriff asked him what he meant? I do not mean, said he, the parliament; I will not censure nor meddle with their actions, but beseech almighty God to bless them, and to send the holy Ghost to teach them to do what is best for the kingdom, and the catholic church; and withal he excused the king for having any hand in his blood, and prayed for him, for the queen, the royal issue, and the whole kingdom.

I pray God, said he, that they, "the king and parliament," may settle all things to his honour and glory, and that England may be a flourishing kingdom. I desire all whom I have offended, to forgive me, as I forgive all the world, from the bottom of my heart, and all those who have a hand in the effusion of my innocent blood: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge, and that it may not cry to heaven for vengeance, and lie heavy upon the kingdom. And God forgive them, to please whom, I was so suddenly called away.-And God bless you, Mr. Sheriff, and reward you for your goodness towards me, and for your patience in bearing with my tediousness, and grant you his grace to make you a glorious saint in heaven, &c. Here the sheriff answered in a low voice, and I commend myself to you.

All this he spoke with such an undaunted courage, a cheerful

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aspect, and at the same time with such an air of meekness and humility, as drew tears from the eyes of many; and though the crowd was extraordinary great, the attention and silence was such as might rather be expected in a church than upon this occasion.-The sheriff, who had all this time stood uncovered, and showing, by his own wet cheeks a deep concern for the prisoner, turned towards my lord Rich, and some other persons of distinction, and with a great feeling and concern protested, that he had never seen in his whole life a man die like him; and that, for his own part, he did truly pity his condition.

Mr. Reynolds having finished his discourse, kneeled down, disposing himself for prayer. When Mr. Roe (a man courageous and valiant, says F. Floyd,) rising up, and looking about him, said with some surprise, Here's a jolly company! I know you come to see me die: my fellow here hath in great measure spoke what I would have said. However, I shall repeat the words I used at the bar. I say, then, here again, for a man to be put to death for being a priest, this being the most sacred and highest order in the world, is an unjust and tyrannical law. I say, that law of the 27th of queen Elizabeth, which condemns a man to death for being a priest only, is a wicked, unjust, and tyrannical law, a law not to be found even amongst the Turks, or elsewhere, in the whole universe, England excepted. Here the sheriff said, Mr. Roe, I must not suffer you to vilify the laws; I am here to see justice done, and cannot hear you make these reflections upon the laws and judicial proceedings of the nation. Whereupon, Mr. Roe desisted, recommending himself to the prayers of all such as were of his religion, forgiving from his heart all persons whatsoever, and earnestly begging forgiveness of all. This done, he prepared himself for execution, showing in his behaviour, the whole time, an vaparalleled contempt of death.

Then the cart, wherein were three felons (one of which had been privately reconciled by Mr. Roe the day before, and gave great signs of penitence,) was placed under the gallows, and the two confessors were ordered to get into it, which they did with joy; and having there embraced each other for the last time, they betook themselves to their private devotions. While the executioner was fastering the ropes, Mr. Reynolds called to him, Friend, says he, pray le all be secure; and do thy duty neatly: I have been a neat man all my life.

After some time employed in mental payer, they rose up; and Mr. Roe espying one of the turnkeys of the Fleet, where he had formerly been a prisoner, Friend, says he, smiling, I find thou art a prophet: thou hast told me often that I should be hanged; and truly my unworthiness was such, I could not believe it, but I see thou art a prophet.

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While the ordinary of Newgate was praying with the felons, the two priests recited the Miserere psalm alternatim, Mr. Reynolds beginning, and Mr. Roe answering; and having recited the whole psalm, and paused a short time, they repeated it a second time, Mr. Roe giving out the first verse, Mr. Reynolds answering. The executioner coming to cover their faces, Mr. Roe told him, he had disposed of his handkerchief; but, says he, I dare look death in the face.

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