rest, that having been kept watching for six whole days and nights (a new kind of torment!) he had lost his senses: but this and other calumnies were dissipated by his public appearance and comportment at his trial. The attorney-general held forth for several hours in his accusation, bringing in all the odious topics he could against the jesuits in general, to prejudice the jury against the prisoner, and laying to their charge all the plots and conspiracies of queen Elizabeth's reign, but in particular charging home upon father Garnet the guilt of the late conspiracy. The father made a regular and excellent defence, both of his own innocence and of his society, with that presence of mind, and that graceful modesty, that many of the auditors who came thither violently prepossessed against him, were now convinced of his innocence, his very countenance, which was particularly venerable, pleading strongly in his behalf: however, the protestant jury, either not believing his plea that he had no knowledge of the plot, but by confession, or rather not regarding that inviolable secrecy which the catholic church enjoins to confessors, brought in their verdict guilty; and he received sentence of death in the usual form as in cases of high treason.

He remained prisoner in the Tower after sentence for about five weeks, and then was ordered for execution on the 3d of May, 1606. He was drawn on a sledge from the Tower to St. Paul's church-yard, where a scaffold and gibbet were erected for the purpose, and an innumerable multitude of people was assembled. As he was drawn through the streets, his hands and eyes were lifted up towards heaven, where his heart was fixed. After he was taken off the sledge, and had recovered himself of the dizziness caused by the jogging of that incommodious vehicle, he ascended the scaffold, and saluted the crowd with a smiling countenance. It was observed that the mob, which had uttered many reviling speeches against him, calling him by a thousand opprobrious names before he came to the place, was now struck dumb at his venerable aspect, which both spoke his innocence, and commanded reverence. Some of the ministers that were there, offered to persuade him to conform in matters of religion, (as, amongst other calumnies, it had been given out that he would) but he declared he would die in the catholic faith, out of which there was no salvation.

It being the day of the invention, or finding of the cross, father Garnet took occasion, from thence, to speak to the people concerning this cross which he was to take up that day; declaring withal his innocence as to the conspiracy, and his having no knowledge of it but by confession; that as to his part, he had always detested such treasonable practices, and that he knew them to be contrary to the sentiments of the bishop of Rome; and he begged of all catholics never to think of any such attempts, which were entirely inconsistent with their religion, to fly the conversation of uneasy and turbulent spirits, and to possess their souls in patience. Here, Sir Henry Montague, the recorder of London, told him he was certainly privy to the design, out of confession. Mr. Catesby,' said he, told you of it in private, we have it under your hand.' 'Whatever is under my hand, said father Garnet, I will not deny; but, indeed, you have not this under my hand. Mr. Catesby only acquainted me in general terms that something might be done, or was adoing for the benefit of the catholic cause, without specifying

what it was; and this is all I had from him, as I hope for salvation. Then, said the recorder, do you ask the king's pardon for concealing the treason? I do, said father Garnet, thus far, and no more, in that I did not reveal the suspicions I had of Mr. Catesby's behaviour; though at the same time, I dissuaded him from all treasonable attempts. And I do solemnly assure you, had that wicked stratagem succeeded, I should always have detested both the fact, and the persons engaged in it.'

After this, he was brought to the foot of the ladder, where the recorder attacked him again upon the score of Mr. Catesby, pretending that they had it under his hand, that he had discoursed with him in particular concerning the gunpowder design; which father Garnet denying, a gentleman there pretended to call for the paper, but it could not be found; at which the father smiling said, I believe it never will be found. Then being stripped to his shirt, he kneeled down and prayed a while in silence at the foot of the ladder; then going up some steps, he prayed aloud for the king, the queen, the prince, and all the council, and begged the blessing of God for all the spectators, that God might make them all Roman catholics, as the only way to secure their eternal welfare; declaring that, for his own part, he died a catholic, and desired all such to pray for him, and with him. Ther making the sign of the cross, he said, Adoramus te Christe, &c. We adore thee, O Christ, and we bless thee, because by thy cross, thou hast redeemed the world. This sign of the cross shall be seen in heaven, when the Lord shall come to judgment. Allelujah. Then saluting the blessed virgin with a short hymn, crossing his hands before his breast and recommending his departing soul into the hands of his Creator, he was flung off the ladder. The executioner, three several times, attempted to cut the rope before he was dead, that he might be butchered alive according to sentence. But the people as often cried out, Hold, hold, hold: so much were they moved by his behaviour, to judge more favourably of him than they had done, and to compassionate his case. And when his head was shown by the executioner, instead of huzzas, usual on the like occasions, the people went off in silence.

Father Garnet suffered in the 51st year of his age, and the 30th after his entering into the society. His head was fixed on London bridge, and it was much remarked, that his countenance, which was always venerable, retained, for above twenty days, the same lively colour which it had during life, which drew all London to the spectacle, and was interpreted as a testimony of his innocence; as was also an image of him wonderfully formed on the ear of a straw, on which a drop of his blood had fallen. His servant Owen, a lay-brother of the society (commonly called Little John) was so cruelly racked in prison, that he died soon after he was taken off the torture.

EDWARD OLDCORNE, PRIEST, S. J.*

EDWARD OLDCORNE, known upon the mission by the name of Hall, was born in Yorkshire; he performed his studies abroad, partly in the

* From father More's history, l. vii. num. 36, &c., father Bartoli, 1. vi. c. s, &c.

college then residing at Rhemes, and partly in that of Rome, where he remained above six years, and then was made priest, and sent upon the mission. Before he left Rome he obtained of father Claudius Aquaviva, general of the jesuits, to be admitted into their society; who being fully satisfied with the testimonials of his virtuous life and conversation in the college, was willing to dispense with the usual probation, and instead of a regular noviceship, to appoint him this laborious and dangerous mission. He came over into England in the company of father John Gerard, lately admitted in like manner into the society, in the year 1588, and was sent by father Garnet, his superior, into Worcestershire, where he laboured for about seventeen years with admirable zeal and success in the conversion of souls. The place of his residence was Henlip, the seat of Mr. Abington. This gentleman's sister, Mrs. Dorothy Abington, having been brought up in queen Elizabeth's court, was an earnest protestant, and violently prejudiced against catholics, and especially against priests. Father Oldcorne endeavoured to reclaim her from her errors, and reconcile her to the catholic religion, but in vain, his arguments from scripture and tradition, however strong in themselves, did not remove her prejudices, and she seemed obstinately resolved not to give ear to his remonstrances. He was determined therefore to try another expedient to cast out this deaf and dumb devil, which was fasting and prayer, and this quickly succeeded; the protestant lady flung herself at his feet, bathed in her tears, and desired to be received into the catholic church, which was done accordingly, to her great satisfaction.

Great were the labours of this zealous missioner in Worcestershire, and the neighbouring counties, and many the dangers he was exposed to, from which sometimes he was delivered by a very extraordinary, not to say miraculous providence. His labours, added to his other mortifications and austerities, impaired his health so far, that a vein breaking in his breast, he had like to have died through loss of blood; and though he escaped death, such a weakness was left with him, especially at the return of the season of the year, that he was scarce able to stand; he was also afflicted with a cancerous ulcer in his mouth, for which he could find no cure. Upon this he resolved on a pilgrimage to St. Winefride's Well, to obtain of God the recovery of his health and strength, by the intercession of that holy virgin and martyr; when behold, in his way thither, lodging at a catholic house, he was told by the priest of the family, of a stone which had been taken out of the aforesaid well, and kept in that house. Father Oldcorne, after mass, applied this stone to his mouth, devoutly recommending himself to the prayers of St. Winefride, and in half an hour was perfectly cured of his canker, and proceeding on his journey, and bathing himself in the well, recovered also his health and strength. These particulars father John Gerard declared he had both from father Oldcorne himself, and from the priest of the family where he was cured of the canker.

After the discovery of the powder plot, father Garnet, as we have seen already, being sought after, and found at Henlip, in the same hole with father Oldcorne, the latter was also apprehended and carried first to Worcester, and then to London, where he was five several times VOL. 11.

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racked in the Tower, and once with the utmost severity for five or six hours together, and yet, neither by his own confession, nor by any other sufficient testimony, could it appear, that he had any manner of knowledge of the conspiracy. He was sent down again to Worcester, to be there tried in the Lenten assizes. The things alledged against him, besides his being a priest and a jesuit, were, first, that he had invited to Henlip, and there harboured and concealed his superior, father Garnet, who had been proclaimed a traitor. Secondly, that he had approved of the gunpowder-treason, at least after its discovery, and had defended the contrivers of that villainy. To the first he answered, That he had indeed invited father Garnet to Henlip, but it was a month or six weeks before the proclamation was issued out against him, and if he did not afterwards discover and betray him, he did not conceive any crime in that. To the second he replied, That he had no manner of knowledge of the plot, till it was made public to all the world, and that he had neither approved nor defended it. However, he was brought in guilty by the jury, and received sentence of death as in cases of high treason, and was accordingly executed at Worcester, April 7, 1606, being Monday in Passion-week. He had the comfort of reconciling to God and his church, one of the felons that were executed with him, who died with great marks of faith and repentance. Littleton also was executed at the same time, and in the hearing of thousands of people, publicly asked pardon of God, and father Oldcorne, for having wrongfully accused him of the conspiracy.

Father Oldcorne at his death recommended himself in his private devotions to Almighty God, begging the intercession of the holy virgin, and the saints, his patrons; prayed aloud for the king and all the royal family; for his accuser, (whom he said he heartily pardoned,) for the judge, jury, and all any way concerned in his death; protesting to the last his innocence as to the plot, and so was turned off the ladder, but quickly cut down and butchered alive, anno ætatis, 45, societatis, 18. His head and quarters were set up on poles in different parts of that city, his heart and bowels were cast into the fire, which continued sending forth a lively flame for sixteen days, notwithstanding the rains that fell during that time, which was looked upon as a prodigy, and a testimony of his innocence.

Ralph Ashley was executed at the same time for no other crime but being servant to father Oldcorne, and therefore, as it was supposed, an abettor of his pretended treasons.

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SUPPLEMENT.

An Extract of the Reverend Mr. Christopher Robinson's Relation of the Trial and Death of Mr. John Boast, or Bost, M. A., who suffered at Durham, July 24, 1594, Mr. Robinson being an eye-wit

ness.

WHEN I came to the bar, the jury was giving in their verdict; four were found guilty for felony, and three for treason, (as they spoke) but indeed for religion. Judge Beamont stood up and made a speech, &c. The cruel judgment was no sooner pronounced, than Mr. Boast sung with a joyful heart and cheerful countenance te Deum laudamus, &c. and Mr. Ingram answered, te æternum Patrem, &c. Then Mr. Boast said, qui odit animam suam in hoc mundo, in vitam æternam custodit eam, &c.

'Besides these two, there was a layman condemned who had some time been a minister. This man laying aside his ministry became a catholic, and persuaded divers, as it is reported, to become catholics, whereof one caused him to be apprehended, &c. Mr. Boast and Mr. Ingram seeing him to fail, spoke unto him; their words did so work in the good man's heart, that not long after, in the presence of the president, of the judges, and of the whole consistory, he cried out, I am resolved, I am resolved. The judge said, wherein art thou resolved? In matters of faith, said he. And by whom? said the judge. Even by these two, said he (pointing to Mr. Boast and Mr. Ingram) martyrs before God; martyrs, I say, before God; for though you make as if they died for treason, yet in very truth they die for religion; and if it were a thousand deaths, I am very well content with them to suffer. You would have laughed (continues my author) to hear the mutterings of our enemies at the poor condemned prisoners. Mr. Boast, Mr. Ingram, and Swallowel were commanded presently to be carried away, and truly they went away rejoicing that they were to receive such a severe judgment for God's cause, as might very well be gathered by their cheerful countenances, which did joy my heart not a little, in seeing them take such joy in bearing up their irons.

At four of the clock (Wednesday the 24th of July) the under-sheriff fetched the prisoners forth, and laid Mr. Boast in a cart, and a little new-pulled line being laid under him, he laid along upon his back, holding his hands up towards the heavens, and so he was carried toward the tree, speaking nothing, but having his mind occupied in meditation; except only that he gave his blessing to two or three women, which fell down upon their knees in the street, as I heard, whom the sheriff commanded to be apprehended. I heard this, I say, for I left my guide to