cleansed, he hoped, from all the rust which had troubled him long before. And as I thought he rejoiced much, and asked me if he might not serve God," say mass," that day? I said, the day was far spent, but if it pleased him I would go and make all things ready; and he prayed me to do so, for he was ready and surely methought he did celebrate that day, as reverently in all his actions, and with as much sweet behaviour, as ever I saw him in all my life; for I did take special notice of him; he showed no fear in any respect; and when he had made an end, and all things were laid aside, he fell to his devotions; and by the end of our service many scholars were come into the castleyard, and into the court. And after he had prayed some hours, I came unto him, and asked him if I should send for some comfortable thing for him to drink? and he answered me, no; saying, he would neither eat nor drink, hoping in his Saviour, that he should have a sumptuous banquet shortly. And after a little stay, I considered that his time drew somewhat near, I came unto him again, and put him in mind of shifting him with a fair shirt, and he said, he would willingly do so and then I made him a fire, and warmed his shirt, and coming down to put on his shirt, he made a step down amongst the poor prisoners, and did distribute some money amongst them; and coming up again, he brought a piece of silver of half a crown, and some money besides, and laid it in my chamber window and I asked him what he would do with that piece of silver, having the picture of St. George? and he told me, that he would give it to the executioner for his pains; and the rest he would give to some poor people; and so he did. And when he had put on his clean shirt, he fell to his prayers again. He had prayed but a short time when a couple of scholars, masters of arts, and I think one of them was a minister, came in; and they began to offer some speeches to him concerning the oath of allegiance; he prayed them to give him leave, and to let him prepare himself, for he had not long to stay and it stood upon him to call to mind all his reckonings, which he was to make to his Lord and Master; and therefore with most mild and sweet words he entreated them not to trouble him; and they, like honest-minded men, stayed their speeches, seeming to be sorry for him. And then the pro-proctor cometh to the castle to speak with him, and he sent the keeper to bring Mr. Nappier to him: he staying in the chamber with divers other scholars, and some others besides and the blessed man being come unto him, he began to use some speeches to him, to persuade him to take the oath. But the good man prayed him to give him leave to spend that little time, which was lent him in prayer. And so kneeled down at a round table, and prayed a little. But the undersheriff willed him to make him ready, for all things were almost ready for the execution. And then he rose up and went into a little chamber hard by, and put on a white waistcoat, &c., and being apparelled to the end that the law appointed, he came again into the keeper's chamber, and I meeting my keeper, he asked me, if I had taken my leave of him? I answered, I would willingly see him again. And he willed me to go up with him, and I should see him; and so I went with him into his chamber; and as I was coming in, the blessed man was about to kneel down, and seeing me, he staid; and I pressed VOL. II.

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through the scholars and came unto him, and kneeling down he blessed me, and rising up again, he embraced me and kissed me. And I heard the pro-proctor ask, who I was? and one answered him, that I was a gentleman, and a prisoner for my conscience. And then the blessed man began to kneel down, and the proctor said to him, Mr. Nappier, shall I pray with you? and he answered him in these words, oh, no, good Mr. Proctor, you and I are not of one religion, and therefore may not pray together. Then the proctor asked him again, saying, shall I pray for you? The blessed man said unto him, I would to God you were in a state of grace to pray for me. And then he kneeled down, and I kneeled by him, and I think he said but one pater-noster, for I could say but one, and presently the under-sheriff called very earnestly to come away and so prostrating himself on the ground he kissed it, and rose up, and made the sign of the cross, and went forward to the dungeon door, where the hurdle staid for him. And coming by the proctor, the proctor said unto him, Mr. Nappier, if you will yet take the oath of allegiance, I make no doubt of your life. He spoke unto him, and said, good Mr. Proctor, do not wrong me when I am gone, for I know many speeches will go of me; and now I say again unto you, that I have prayed most heartily for the king, the prince, and all his children, as any subject he hath in the world; and will yield him as much power and authority, as ever any prince had or ought to have. And then the hangman came unto him and asked him forgiveness, and the blessed man said and embraced him, I most lovingly forgive thee, and for a pledge, I have willed one of the sheriff's men to give thee some silver; and the hangman said he had received it, and thanked him for it. And so he being called for again, he went forward, and coming down to the stairs foot, the door was open, and I followed him; and he seeing the hurdle, most willingly went himself and laid him down with a lively courage, having blessed himself: he had not so much as a thread to bind him, which I think never none but was bound, saving himself. And then they offered to draw forward, and one of the pins of the trace broke, so they staid till it was fastened: and the people were so unreasonable in pressing themselves to see him, that they pressed me down twice upon the hurdle and then I called to the proctor to command them to give back; and then I took both his hands in my hands, and prayed God to comfort him, and looking upon me he prayed God to bless me; and with much ado, I got from the throng of the people. And more than this, I cannot set down of my own knowledge. What follows is the report of Mr. Charles's own hearing at the place where he suffered his martyrdom.'

The 9th of November, being Friday, 1610, it pleased God to appoint the time in which the faith of Mr. George Nappier, priest, was to be tried in the furnace. Being brought, therefore, out of prison, and laid on the hurdle, with hands joined, and his eyes fixed towards heaven, without moving any way, he was drawn to the place of execution. Where being taken off, and set on his feet, beholding the place where he was to suffer, he signed himself with the sign of the cross; and ascending the steps of the ladder with a cheerful mind, to receive his martyrdom, turning his face toward the people, having again signed himself

with the sign of the cross, he began to speak as follows: Gentlemen, you must expect no great speech at my hands, for indeed, I intend none; only, I acknowledge myself to be a miserable and wretched sinner. And therewithal joining his hands with intention to pray, he was interrupted by a minister, who called to him, saying, Nappier, Nappier, confess your treason. Wherewith, bending himself, and looking down towards him, he answered him, saying, Treason, sir! I thank God, I never knew what treason meant. To which the minister replied, Be advised what you say, do not you remember how the judge told you, it was treason to be a priest? he answered the minister again, For that, I die, sir, and that judge, as well as I, shall appear before the just Judge of heaven, to whom I appeal, who will determine whether it be treason or no to be a priest. And withal, he protested, that none but catholics can be saved. After these words, he desired that he might have leave to pray; whereunto, the minister replied, pray for the king, to which, he answered, so I do daily. But, said the minister, pray for the king now. With that he lifted up his hands, and said, I pray God preserve his majesty, and make him a blessed saint in heaven. Then he desired the company, that he might pray to himself. The minister interrupting him the third time, said, Go to pray, and we will pray with you. To which he answered, Sir, I will none of your prayers, neither is it my desire you should pray with me, but I desire all good catholics to join with me in prayer. So addressing himself to pray, he said, In te Domine speravi, &c. In thee, O Lord, I have put my trust, let me not be confounded forever: then lifting up his hands and heart, he said the psalm, De profundis, &c., after that, Beati quorum remissæ sunt iniquitatis, &c.; lastly, the psalm, Miserere. These being ended, he pulled down his night-cap over his eyes, and most part of his face, and often repeating these words: In manus tuas, &c. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit: he yielded himself to one side of the ladder, having his hands still joined. So being turned off, he struck himself three times on the breast, and yielded his blessed soul into the hands that gave it. Thus beseeching God to defend you from your enemies, I most humbly desire you to remember me in your prayers. From my cell, this 19th day of December, 1610.

P. S. His charity was great; for if any poor prisoner wanted either meat to fill him, or clothes to cover him, he would rather be cold himself than they should; if any of them would pray him to give his word to the keeper for them, he would do it, if he paid it himself, as sometimes he did and he would wait for the poorest prisoners in the castle. There was one wretch went away with 20 shillings and 9 pence of his, promising him he would send it honestly, but he never heard of him. One other he lent his cloak to wear a few days, to keep him warm; and hath willed that as long as he stays in the jail, he must wear it, which, I fear will be so long, that he will wear that out, and such another. And thus beseeching you once more of your prayers, I, in all duty commend me.

Mr. Nappier suffered at Oxford, November 9, 1610. His head was set up on Christ Church steeple, and his quarters, upon the four gates of the city.

JOHN ROBERTS, PRIEST, O. S. B.*

JOHN ROBERTS was born in Merionethshire of Wales, from whence, he was called in religion, Father John de Mervinia. In what school or college he had his first education, I have not found; though I find one of that name in the Douay diary, sent from Rhemes to Rome in 1583. If this be the gentleman we are treating of, he must afterwards have gone from Rome to Spain: for certain it is, that this Mr. Roberts was some time an alumnus of the English seminary of Valladolid; and from thence, betook himself to the Spanish congregation of Valladolid of the venerable order of St. Bennet: amongst whom he entered in the year, 1595. He was professed in the abbey of St. Martin of Compostella; and having not long after received the holy order of priesthood, in 1600, he was, that same year, sent upon the English mission: being the first, says father B. W. who out of a monastery, (since the suppression of monasteries in England,) came to attack the gates of hell, and encounter the prince of darkness in his usurped kingdom; whom he overcame like his master, the great patron of martyrs, by losing his life in the conflict.

He was, says my author, a man of admirable zeal, courage and constancy, who, during his ten years' labours in the mission, was four times apprehended and committed to prison; and as often sent into banishment; but still returned again to the work of his master, upon the first favourable opportunity. His extraordinary charity, evidently showed itself during the time of a great plague in London: where he assisted great numbers of the infected; and was instrumental in the conversion of many souls from their former errors and vices. He was apprehended, for the fifth time, at mass, on the first Sunday of Advent, 1610, and hurried away in his vestments, and thrust into a dark dungeon. From whence he was quickly after brought out to his trial; and condemned to die barely for his priestly character. His life, however was offered him if he would have taken the new oath; which he constantly refused.

My manuscript from St. Omers, gives the following account of the execution of Mr. Roberts, and of Mr. Thomas Somers, alias, Wilson, a secular priest of Douay college, who suffered at the same time and place.

''I'hese two blessed men being drawn within 16 or 18 yards of the place of execution, (Tyburn,) the multitude of the gentry and of the common people was such and so great, that they could not draw them to their intended place; but were forced to take them from the hurdle and to send them to the carts: in which stood sixteen condemned persons, with their ropes about their necks, and tied to the gallows. Father Roberts was first taken from the hurdle, who, with a cheerful and smiling countenance, walked in his gown to the cart, into which he

*From B. W's. manuscript concerning the English Benedictine congregation, extracted from the archives of their monasteries; from Raissius's catalogue of the Douay martyrs; and from a manuscript sent me from the English college of St. Omers.

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offered to leap, but could not, being very weak, in regard of his sickness, until by the serjeants and other officers, he was assisted. "He took notice, upon this occasion, that he was to be hanged amongst thieves; upon which, one of the officers put him in mind that his master was so served." As soon as his feet were seated in the cart, he turned himself towards the poor condemned prisoners, and displaying his hands, and blessing them, he said, We are all come hither to die, from which there is no hope of escape, and if you die in the religion now professed in England, you shall undoubtedly perish everlastingly; let me, therefore, for the love of our blessed Saviour, entreat you that we may all die in one faith in testimony whereof, let me beseech you to pronounce with me those words,-I believe the holy catholic church. Protesting your desires to die members of the same; as also your sorrowfulness for having led so naughty and wicked lives, whereby you have offended our sweet and merciful Saviour: which, if you will truly and constantly profess, I will pronounce absolution, and then my soul for yours. And being purposed to have given them farther ghostly counsel, he was interrupted by a churlish officer, who would no longer permit him to speak to those poor people. Whereupon, falling down upon his knees, he privately poured forth some few prayers which, having finished, he suddenly rising up from his knees, with a smiling and most cheerful countenance, turned himself to the people, and blessed

them all.

The executioner being very busy in pulling off his gown, he said, Mr. Sheriff, shall I not speak? To which the sheriff, being a man of much humanity, replied, yes, Mr. Roberts, you shall speak; and withal delivered to one of the officers a little glass of aqua vitæ to keep him from fainting in regard to his great weakness, whereof he drank a little quantity. During which time, Mr. Somers, his associate, was likewise brought to the cart, to whom Mr. Roberts gave his hand to help him up, saying, welcome good brother; and then having embraced and blessed each other, Mr. Roberts turned himself to the people, blessing them with a cheerful countenance, and with an audible voice, said audite cæli quæ loquor, audiat terra verba oris mei. Which having Englished, saying, Honourable, worshipful, and my well beloved friends, and beginning to proceed, he was again interrupted by the said churlish officer; whose insolence was such, that he was publicly taunted and rebuked by many gentlemen of great condition, they all protesting against his barbarous churlishness.

Being thus hindered from dilating upon that scripture text formerly uttered; having again blessed the people, he said.-—I am condemned to die, for that being a priest, I came into England, contrary to a statute made in the 27th year of the late queen's reign. Other matter was not objected against me at my arraignment. And to the objection that he came into England without due authority, he replied, that he was sent into England by the same authority, by which St. Augustin the apostle of England was sent, whose disciple he was; being of the same order, and living under the same rule in which he lived; and that, for the profession and teaching of that religion, which St. Augustin planted in England, he was now condemned to die.