Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

all the saints, especially St. John Baptist, it being the day of his decollation. And looking up at the executioner, who was busy in fastening the rope, but knew not readily how to do it right, he merrily called him by his name, and said, Tom, I think I must come and help thee. Such was his courage and serenity of mind upon the very brink of death. Then ascending the ladder, after divers short speeches of devotion, and repeating three or four times the holy names of Jesus and Mary, he was turned off, and so passed from this mortal life to a happy immortality, August 29, 1628.

The following declaration of his case was written by himself not long before he died.

• Whereas I have been an humble petitioner to his excellent majesty for a pardon for the death of one Henry Dewhurst, and his gracious pleasure was, that I should have a legal trial before that my pardon could pass; and trusting in the innocency of my cause, yielded my body, and put myself in trial before judge Yelverton; who did inform the jury that I was a recusant, and had resisted the bishop's authority, and that it must be found murder for an example. And, whereas, the jury, after learning the matter, was not willing to find the murder in me: three of them, whereof the foreman of the jury was one, went to the judge to his chamber after dinner, who took the foreman by the hand, and told him they must find it murder for an example. This did one of the jury testify unto me when I came from the bar, and did report to divers of my friends; and he was one of the three that went to the judge. And now, whereas the judge hath certified my lord keeper, that it was so foul a murder as he did never hear of, upon which certificate my pardon is stayed, and my life I am certain to lose for the fact; wherefore, for the satisfaction of the world, and the clearing of my friends who have sued for my pardon, and especially for the queen's excellent majesty, who hath been an earnest suitor for my life; the man had no hurt but only on his leg, which was found to be the cause of his death, and he confessed on his death bed, that he broke it himself, and this was given in evidence before the coroner, as may appear by the coroner's verdict, and the examination of witnesses taken before Sir Ralph Ashton and the coroner, which verdict and examination will appear contrary to the judge's certificate. And that the man had no mortal wound but only in his leg, and that I never gave him stroke, nor was within five or six yards of him when he received his hurt; all this will appear to be true by examinations and depositions taken before Sir Ralph Ashton and the coroner, which was all the evidence that came against me at the assizes; All this 1 declare only for the satisfaction of the world, &c. All this I take on my death, as I hope to be saved, and for no hope of life.' So far the declaration. The like is found in a letter written by him about the same time, to a person of honour.

He wrote also three letters to his ghostly father a little before his death, in the first he delivers himself in the following words:

DEAR AND REVEREND SIR,-I received your letter with news of death, at which I am not much dismayed, I thank my Lord and Saviour; the more malicious my enemies are, the greater is my comfort, for I do

constantly believe that my religion is the cause of their malice; and my greatest desire is to offer my blood in so good a cause. And although my flesh be timorous and fearful, I yet find great comfort in spirit, in casting myself upon my sweet Saviour with a most fervent love, when I consider what he hath done and suffered for me, and my greatest desire is to suffer with him; and I had rather choose to die a thousand deaths, than to possess a kingdom, and live in mortal sin; for there is nothing so hateful to me as sin, and that only for the love of my Saviour. I do most constantly believe that he hath afflicted me to save me; and I trust I shall die truly humbled, for the which I desire your good prayers, that I may persevere to the end; for of myself I can do nothing without his grace.'

In the second he writes thus: Now I am preparing for my soul, for the which I most humbly desire your good prayers, and likewise I desire you to commend my case to the prayers of some good priests and catholics; and I do freely offer myself into the hands of my sweet Saviour, neither desiring life nor death, but according to his blessed will, hoping that he will dispose all things for the good of my soul.'

[ocr errors]

In the third, written upon the very day of his execution, he speaks thus: Dear and reverend Sir, now I take my last leave; I am now dying, and am as willing to die as ever I was to live, I thank my Lord and Saviour, who, I trust, will never fail me. I have comfort in Christ Jesus, and his blessed mother, my good angel, and all the blessed saints; and I am much comforted in the valiant and triumphant martyr that is gone before me, and I do much trust in his good prayers. How I have been used, you will hear, and likewise, what I had offered to me, if I would have taken the oath. I hope my friends will truly understand, that my greatest desire is to suffer; and I would I had as many lives to offer as I have committed sins. Now, dear sir, prepare yourself also to suffer, and animate your ghostly children in suffering. Once again, I desire you to say, and to procure some masses for my sinful soul; and if it please God to receive me into his kingdom, I shall not be unmindful of you, and of all my good friends. I pray you, remember my poor children, and encourage my friends about my debts; and let it appear, that my greatest worldly care is to satisfy them as far as my means will extend. Once again, adieu: I desire to be dissolved, and to be with Christ Jesus. I trust we shall once meet in heaven, to our eternal comfort: now I take my last leave, this execution day, about eight o'clock, and commit you to Christ Jesus.'

These letters were published, with the relation of his death, in 1630. He left behind him, six young children, and his wife big with child. From this year, till 1641, I find no more blood shed for religious matters, though as to other penalties, they were frequently inflicted upon priests and other catholics; severe proclamations were issued out against them, heavy fines laid upon them, and the prisons filled with them; insomuch, that in the compass of one year alone, there were at least twenty-six priests of divers orders, seized and committed to that one prison alone, called the Clink; to speak nothing of those that were elsewhere confined.

In the year 1640, John Goodman, priest, was tried and condemned,

on account of exercising his priestly functions; his case has something so peculiar in it, that though he was not executed, he deserves a place in these memoirs.

JOHN GOODMAN, PRIEST, CONFESSOR.-1640.

JOHN GOODMAN was born in the diocese of Bangor, in North Wales, from whence he is called Bangoriensis, in the diary of Douay college. He was the son of William Goodman; was brought up in the protestant religion, and sent to the university of Oxford, where he spent a long time in his studies, and was at length, made a minister, after the protestant manner. But growing dissatisfied with his religion, by the remonstrances of some friends, he left both his gown and his country; and going beyond the seas, was, at Paris, received into the church by the Reverend Mr. Richard Ireland, then residing there; and by him, recommended to Dr. Kellison, the president of Douay college, where he arrived, February 12th, 1621, and was admitted amongst the alumni of the college. In the year 1622, September the 24th, I find him, presented to the four lesser orders; which he received at Cambray, from the arch-bishop of that see. After which time, he continued studying divinity in the college, till May the 6th, 1624; when he went from Douay, to St. Omer's, in order to be received into the Society of Jesus, and to make his noviceship at Watten. But whether his health would not suffer him to go on, or what other reason it might be, the sequel of his history ever presents him as a secular priest. I have not found where he finished his studies, or where he was ordained priest; for I meet with his name no more in the Douay diary or catalogues.

In England, after his coming over upon the mission, he behaved himself in such manner, as to be remarkable for his zeal; so that William Prynne, in his Royal Popish Favourite, p. 23, calls him a noted priest. He was apprehended in 1635, but discharged, upon giving bond for his appearance; of which, the same author loudly complains, in a small tract, entitled, Hidden works of darkness brought to public light. He was taken up again, in 1639, and committed to the Gatehouse, from whence he was again released by a warrant from secretary Windebank, September the 17th, 1639. But was retaken not long after, and brought to his trial, and condemned in the beginning of 1640.

The following account is taken from Mr. Nelson's Impartial Collections, vol. 1, p. 738.

Monday, January the 25th.-Mr. Hide reports from the conference with the lords, the king's message about Goodman the priest, and the expulsion of the priests and jesuits as follows:

His majesty having informed himself by the recorder, of the names and nature of the crimes of the persons convicted at the last sessions; and there finding that John Goodman was condemned for being in orders of a priest merely, and was acquitted of the charge of perverting

* From the Douay diary, and Mr. Nelson, (a protestant historian,) in his Impartial Collections, vol. 1, p. 738, &c.

the king's people in their belief, and had never been condemned or banished before his majesty is tender in matters of blood in cases of this nature, in which queen Elizabeth and king James have been often merciful; but to secure his people, that this man should do no more hurt, he is willing that he be imprisoned or banished, as their lordships shall advise; and if he return into the kingdom, to be put to execution without delay. And he will take such fit course for the expulsion of other priests and jesuits, as he shall be counselled unto by your lordships, &c.

The effect of the aforesaid conference of the lords and commons, was, that the lords at their petition, resolved to concur with the commons in a joint remonstrance to his majesty, both that Goodman might be executed, and the laws put in execution against all other priests and jesuits.

Friday, January the 29th.-This day the two houses waited upon his majesty with their remonstrance, which the lord keeper, Littleton, delivered to the king, and was in the following words :

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors][merged small]

Your loyal subjects, the lords and commons, humbly represent to your gracious consideration, that jesuits and priests ordained by authority from the see of Rome, remaining in this realm, by a statute made in the 27th of queen Elizabeth, are declared traitors, and to suffer as traitors.

''That it is enacted in the first year of king James, that all statutes made in the time of queen Elizabeth, against priests and jesuits, be put in execution; and for a farther assurance of the due execution of these laws, the statute of the third year of king James, invites men to the discovery of the offenders, by rewarding them with a considerable part of the forfeiture of the recusant's estate; so that the statute of queen Elizabeth is not only approved, but by the judgments of several parliaments in the time of king James, of happy memory, adjudged fit and necessary to be put in execution. That the putting these laws in execution, tendeth not only to the preservation and advancement of the true religion established in this kingdom, but also the safety of your majesty's person, and the security of the government, which were the principal causes of the making of the laws against priests and jesuits, &c.

Then they proceeded to inform his majesty, that some priests and jesuits had been executed in the time of queen Elizabeth, and king James. That the reprieve of John Goodman the priest, had given great disgust to the city of London. That it was found that the said Goodman had been twice formerly committed and discharged; that his residence afterwards in or about London, was in absolute contempt of his majesty's proclamation: that he hath been sometime a minister of the church of England, and consequently he is an apostate; and they humbly desire that a speedy course may be taken for the due execution of the laws against priests and jesuits. And lastly, that Goodman the priest be left to the justice of the laws.

'Wednesday, February the 3d.-This day the two houses were or

dered to attend his majesty in the banqueting-house, at Whitehall, where he delivered himself in these words.

[ocr errors]

Having taken into my serious consideration, the late remonstrance of the houses of parliament, I give you this answer.

I take in good part your care of the true religion, established in this kingdom, from which I will never depart. It is against my mind that popery or superstition should any way increase; and I will restrain the same by causing the laws to be put in execution. I am resolved to provide against the jesuits and priests, by setting forth a proclamation with all speed, commanding them to depart the kingdom within one month, &c.

Lastly, concerning John Goodman the priest; I will let you know the reason why I reprieved him. That, as I am informed, neither Queen Elizabeth, nor my father, did ever avow, that any priest in their time was executed merely for religion, which to me seems to be this particular case. Yet seeing that I am pressed by both houses to give way to his execution; because I will avoid the inconveniency of giving so great a discontent to my people, as I conceive this mercy may produce; therefore, I remit this particular cause to both houses. But I desire them to take into their consideration the inconveniency which, as I conceive, may fall upon my subjects, and other protestants abroad: especially since it may seem to other states to be severity; which having thus represented, I think myself discharged from all ill consequences that may ensue upon the execution of this person.' So far the king.

The next day his majesty communicated to the house of lords a petition sent to him by Mr. Goodman, of the following tenor.

[ocr errors]

To the king's most excellent majesty.

The humble petition of John Goodman condemned, humbly showeth, That whereas your majesty's petitioner hath been informed of a great discontent in many of your majesty's subjects, at the gracious mercy your majesty was freely pleased to show unto your petitioner, by suspending the execution of the sentence of death pronounced against your petitioner, for being a Roman priest; these are humbly to beseech your majesty, rather to remit your petitioner to their mercy, than to let him live the subject of so great discontent in your people against your majesty for it hath pleased God to give me the grace to desire with the prophet, that if this storm be raised for my sake, I may be cast into the sea, that others may avoid the tempest.

This is, most sacred sovereign, the petition of him that should esteem his blood well shed, to cement the breach between your majesty and your subjects upon this occasion.'

Ita testor. JOHN GOODMAN.

This uncommon greatness of mind, as it very much moved the king, so it seems to have softened the parliament into some sentiments of humanity towards the prisoner. For certain it is, that we hear no more of this affair; only we find, that Mr. Goodman, instead of a more quick despatch at Tyburn, was permitted to linger

« AnteriorContinua »