The following are sad narratives of executions of Roman Catholic priests or Jesuits under the new treason laws passed under Queen Elizabeth. The first describes the execution in 1581 of Edmund Campion, a Jesuit, and his two companions, Ralph Sherwin and Alexander Brian, seminary priests; the second, that of Robert Johnson, also a graduate of the seminary at Douai, who, with two others, Fathers Ford and Shert, was executed May 28, 1582; the third, that of William Hart, a seminary priest, educated at Douai, Rheims, and Rome, returning to England for missionary work and executed at York in 1583; the last, that of James Fenn, an Oxford graduate and a married man, who, holding Roman Catholic opinions, went to Rheims to be ordained a priest, returned to England afterwards, and was executed in 1584. These accounts were gathered from the reports of eyewitnesses. The terrible punishment then inflicted for treason consisted of "hanging, drawing, and quartering." In hanging, a man was either placed on a cart and driven under the gallows till the noose was adjusted, when the cart was driven away, or required to climb a ladder for the same purpose, the ladder being then turned over so that the man should fall. "Drawing" was removing the body from the gallows before life was extinct, opening it, and throwing the entrails into a fire. "Quartering was severing the limbs from the trunk and sending them to be placed in various conspicuous places connected with the life of the traitor, as an additional humiliation to him and a warning to others.

At his first racking, they went no further with him; but afterwards, when they saw he could not be won to condescend somewhat at least in religion, which was the thing they most

Edmund

desired, they thought good to forge matter of treason against 224. Exehim, and framed their demands accordingly; about which he cution of was so cruelly torn and rent upon the torture, the two last Campion and times, that he told a friend of his, that found means to speak two comwith him, that he thought they meant to make him away in panions that manner. Before he went to the rack, he used to fall down at the rack-house door upon both knees, to commend himself to God's mercy; and upon the rack he called continually upon God, repeating often the holy name of Jesus. . .

They were drawn from the Tower to Tyburn, there to be martyr'd for the Catholic faith and religion. Father Campion was alone on one hurdle, and the other two together on another, all molested by ministers and others, calling upon them by the way for their subversion; and by some also, as opportunity serv'd, comforted; and Father Campion especially consulted by one in some cases of conscience and religion; and the mire, wherewith he was all spatter'd, most courteously wiped off his face.

When they were come to the place of execution, where divers of her Majesty's honorable council, with many other persons of honor, besides an infinite multitude of people, attended their coming, Father Campion was first brought up into the cart; where, after some small pause, he began to speak upon that text of St. Paul, 1. Cor. iv. 9: We are made a spectacle to the world, etc.; but was interrupted by Sir Francis Knowles and the sheriffs, urging him to confess his treason against her Majesty and to acknowledge himself guilty to whom he answer'd, "For the treasons which have been layd to my charge, and I am come here to suffer for, I desire you all to bear witness with me, that thereof I am altogether innocent." Whereupon answer was made to him by one of the council, that he should not seem to deny the objections against him, having been proved by sufficient evidence. "Well, my lord," said he, "I am a Catholic man, and a priest; in that faith have I lived, and in that faith do I intend to die; and if you esteem my religion treason, then am I guilty; as for any other treason, I never committed it, God is my judge. But you have now what you desire; I beseech you to have patience,

(1581)

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cution of

Robert Johnson (1582)

and suffer me to speak a word or two for discharge of my conscience." But not being suffer'd to go forward, he was forced to speak only to that point which they most urged, protesting that he was innocent of all treason and conspiracy; desiring credit to be given to his answers, as to the last answer made upon his death and soul.

They pressed him to declare his opinion of Pius the Fifth his bull concerning the excommunication of the queen. To which demand he gave no answer. Then they ask'd, whether he renounced the pope. He answered, he was a Catholic: whereupon one inferr'd, saying, "In your Catholicism all treason is contain'd." In fine, preparing himself to drink his last draught of Christ's cup, he was interrupted in his prayer by a minister, willing him to say some prayer with him; unto whom, looking back with a mild countenance, he meekly reply'd : "You and I are not one in religion, wherefore I pray you content yourself. I barr none of prayer, only I desire them of the household of faith to pray with me, and in my agony to say one creed."

Some also called to him to pray in English; to whom he answer'd, that he would pray in a language he well understood. At the upshot of this conflict he was willed to ask the queen forgiveness, and to pray for her; he meekly answered: "Wherein have I offended her? In this I am innocent; this is my last speech; in this give me credit: I have and do pray for her." Then the lord Charles Howard ask'd of him, for which queen he prayed, whether for Elizabeth the queen? To whom he answered, "Yea, for Elizabeth your queen and my queen." And the cart being drawn away, he meekly and sweetly yielded his soul unto his Saviour, protesting that he died a perfect Catholic.

Being brought from the hurdle, he was commanded to look upon Mr. Shert, who was hanging, and then immediately cut down and so being help'd into the cart, he was commanded again to look back towards Mr. Shert, who was then in quartering. And after he had turned and sign'd himself with the sign of the cross, saying, In nomine patris, etc. "Dispatch," quoth

the sheriff, "and speak quietly." "I would be sorry," answered Mr. Johnson, "to trouble or offend your worship." "You shall not offend me," saith the sheriff, 66 so that you offend not God." Johnson. “I am a Catholic, and am condemn'd for conspiring the queen's death at Rheims, with the other company who were condemn'd with me. I protest, that as for some of them with whom I was condemn'd to have conspired withal, I did never see them before we met at the barr, neither did I ever write unto them, or receive letters from them and as for any treasons, i am not guilty in deed nor thought." . . .

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Sheriff. "Dost thou acknowledge the queen for lawful queen? Repent thee, and notwithstanding thy traitorous practices, we have authority from the queen to carry thee back."

Johnson. "I do acknowledge her as lawful as Queen Mary was. I can say no more; but pray to God to give her grace, and that she may now stay her hand from shedding of innocent blood."

Sheriff. "Dost thou acknowledge her supreme head of the church in ecclesiastical matters?"

Johnson. "I acknowledge her to have as full and great authority as ever Queen Mary had; and more with safety and conscience I cannot give her."

Sheriff. "Thou art a traitor most obstinate."

Johnson. "If I be a traitor for maintaining this faith, then all the kings and queens of this realm heretofore, and all our ancestors, were traitors, for they maintain'd the same."

Sheriff. "What! You will preach treason also, if we suffer you!"

Johnson. "I teach but the Catholic religion."

Hereupon the rope was put about his neck, and he was willed to pray, which he did in Latin. They willed him to pray in English, that they might witness with him; he said, "I pray that prayer which Christ taught, in a tongue I well understand." A minister cried out, "Pray as Christ taught": to whom Mr. Johnson replied, "What! do you think Christ taught in English?" He went on, saying in Latin his Pater, Ave, and Creed, and In manus tuas, etc. And so the

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cution of William Hart (1583)

cart was drawn away, and he finish'd this life as the rest did. They all hang'd until they were dead, and so were cut down and quarter'd.

The six last days before execution, he prepared himself for his exit by a rigorous fast, spending withal whole nights in prayer and contemplation, and ardently wishing for that happy hour that should eternally unite him to the sovereign object of his love. When he was brought out of his dungeon on the day he was to suffer he took his leave of the Catholic prisoners, earnestly recommending his last conflict to their prayers: then addressing himself to the chief jailer, he bid him farewell, thanking him for his kindnesses, though indeed he had met with little or no kindness or favor from him. Being fastened down upon the hurdle, he was drawn thro' the streets to the place of execution, having his eyes fix'd upon heaven, and his soul in silence attentive to God. Before he came to the gallows, he was met by two ministers, Mr. Bunny and Mr. Pace, who made it their business to affront him, and to persuade the people that he did not die for his religion, but for treason. As soon as he arrived at the place, he cheerfully went up the ladder, and began to pray in silence. They ask'd him if he prayed for the queen. He answered, that he had always prayed for her to that day, and as long as he lived would not cease to pray for her; that he willingly acknowledged her for his sovereign, and professed a ready obedience to her, in all things which were not inconsistent with the Catholic religion.

Then Mr. Bunny step'd out and read aloud to the people the bull of Pius V; by which he had excommunicated the queen, etc., pretending thereby to prove that Mr. Hart must needs be a traitor; and that the business of his coming over was to withdraw her Majesty's subjects from their allegiance. Mr. Hart answered, in short, that far from having any such thoughts, he had ever prayed for the queen's safety, and the happy state of the kingdom. But Mr. Pace was particularly troublesome to the holy confessor, continually loading him. with reproaches and injuries. To which Mr. Hart made no other reply than this, "Good Mr. Pace, be so kind as to