were arraigned, and judgment was to be given, I was first called, and justice Gaudy said, what canst thou say for thyself, wherefore thou shouldest not have judgment of death? I answered, if that, which before I have said, will not serve, I can say no more. Good Rigby, 'said he, think not I seek your death: will you yet go to church? no, my lord: why then, said he, judgment must pass; with a good will, my lord, said I. Then he pronounced sentence, as you know the manner is; which, when he had ended, I said, Deo gratias, all is but one death, and a fleabite, in comparison of that which it pleased my sweet Saviour Jesus to suffer for my salvation. I humbly thank your lordship for your great pains; and I freely forgive your lordship and the poor jury, and all other persecutors whatsoever. Well

⚫ said; saith he, indeed you shew your charity; and then gave judgment to the rest; and when he had done, he called us together, willing us to send for a minister, and provide for death. I desired his lordship, to spare my presence, and bestow that counsel elsewhere: for I hope 'I am as well provided as by his exhortation I should be. If you be, said he, it is the better for you; God speed you well, and so we parted. 'I pray God forgive them all, and amend them, if it be his holy will. 'Amen.'

Thus much he wrote himself in prison, and sent it to a dear friend, who keepeth safe the original, saith Dr. W. For judge Gaudy procured him a reprieve, and he continued in prison till the next assizes: when, on Thursday the 19th of June, justice Kingsmel now sitting upon criminal matters, and justice Gaudy upon civil only, Mr. Rigby was again brought to the bar, and asked by the judge whether he would yet go to church, or no? he answered, I thank God I am the same man that I was. It is not lawful to go to your church. I will not go to it. Then thou must

die, said the judge, for longer reprieve thou canst not have: he answered, my lord that is the thing which I desire and look for; but I think myself far unworthy to die for so good a cause. The judge perceiving he had no irons on his legs, sharply rebuked the keeper; who, thereupon, brought a strong pair of shackles, which Mr. Rigby taking into his hands, kneel ing down and making the sign of the cross, kissed them; and then the keeper's man rivetted them on very fast on both his legs, and so they continued all that day and the night following. The next day he was brought again to the sessions house, where, after he had stood awhile, the irons fell off his legs upon the ground; at which he smiled, and told his keeper, his shackles were fallen off, and bid him rivet them on faster, which he did, as he thought, very fast; but, within a little time, they fell off again; and then he called again upon his keeper, and desired him, to make them faster; for I esteem them, said he, jewels of too great price to be lost. The keeper's man that had put them on twice before being much amazed, refused to put them on any more: so that the keeper ordered another of his men to do it. Then Mr. Rigby remembering that a catholic maid, called Mercy, had that morning told him, that, in the night, she saw, in her dream, his irons fall off from his legs, said to his keeper, now the maid's dream is found to be true. What the judges thought on the matter we know not; but they spoke no more to the prisoner; but, after much arguing among themselves,

CC

judge Kingsmel concluded that he should die: upon which occasion, judge Gaudy was by some seen to weep. Mr. Rigby being asked what he thought of that falling off of his irons, which most men thought to be miraculous, answered, he hoped it was a token that the bands of his mortality should shortly be loosed, as indeed, it proved. He spent the remainder of his time in preparing himself, by religious exercises, for his last end and a friend asking him in what dispositions he found himself at the approach of death, he answered, I thank our Lord, in very great comfort and consolation of mind.

:

On Saturday, in the morning, being the 21st of June, word was brought him, that he was to die that day; he answered very cheerfully, Deo Gratias. It is the best tidings that ever was brought me since I was born. The minister of St. George's coming to him upon this occasion, and offering his help, Mr. Rigby courteously thanked him, but told him, we two, sir, are opposite in religion, and therefore I must not com'municate with you in matters of faith. I have long looked for death; I am prepared, fully resolved, and most ready, to offer up my life for so worthy a cause. Fare you well, sir; I pray God make you a good 'man.' Between five and six in the afternoon he was called for by one of the officers, and sweetly taking his leave of the catholics, his fellow prisoners, he desired they would help him with their prayers in this his journey towards his true country. Then going down into the yard, where the hurdle waited for him, he knelt down by it, making the sign of the cross, and was beginning to say some prayers, but was interrupted by Mr. More, the undersheriff's deputy. So rising up, and striking his hand upon the horse, he cheerfully said, go thy ways; this is the joyfullest day that ever I knew. Then signing himself again with the sign of the cross, he laid himself upon the hurdle, shewing so much alacrity in his smiling countenance, that the standers-by asked him, if he laughed from his heart? Yes verily, said he, from my heart: and bear witness with me, all good people, that I am now forthwith to give my life only for the catholic cause. Mr. More told him, you die for treason, for being reconciled by a seminary priest; Yes, said he, sir, but neither can that be treason, nor yet do I die for that only: for, as you know, the judge oftentimes offered to save my life if I would go to church. Then pulling his hat down over his eyes, he said, in the name of our Lord go on, and so settled himself to his devotions.

The place designed for execution was St. Thomas's Watering. In his way thither, he was met by the earl of Rutland and captain Whitlock on horseback, who, coming to the hurdle, asked him, what he was, of what age, and for what cause he was to die? he answered, my name is John Rigby, a poor gentleman of the house of Harrock in Lancashire: my age about thirty years; and my judgment and condemnation to this death, is only and merely for that I answered the judge that I was reconciled, and for that I refused to go to church. The captain wished him to do as the queen would have him, and conform; and turning to the sheriff's deputy, confered with him about the matter then riding again with the earl to the hurdle, and causing it to be stopped a little, he asked Mr. Rigby, are you a married man,

or a batchelor? Sir, said he, I am a batchelor; and, more than that, I am a maid: that is much, said the captain, for a man of your years; you must have strove much against your own flesh. I would be loath, said Mr. Rigby, to speak any thing contrary to the truth; I am indeed a maid, and that is more than I needed to say. The captain concluded; then I see thou hast worthily deserved a virgin's crown: I pray God send thee the kingdom of heaven: I desire thee pray for me. And so they rid to the place of execution, and staid there till the officers were about to drive away the cart, and then posted away, much admiring his courage and constancy. The captain often related these particulars, and declared, that he had never seen his fellow for modesty, patience and resolution in his religion.

When Mr. Rigby was taken off the hurdle and brought to the cart, he knelt down and said aloud his Pater, Ave, Credo and Confiteor, in the last of which he was interrupted by the ruder sort of people, crying out against him for praying to saints. When the executioner helped him up into the cart, he gave him an angel of gold, saying, here take this in token that I freely forgive thee and all others that have been accessary to my death. Then viewing the multitude, which was very great, and making the sign of the cross, with a chearful countenance, holding his hands before his breast, he spent a little tinie in silent prayer. When the rope was to be put about his neck, he first kissed it, and then began to speak to the people, but was interrupted by More, the sheriff's deputy, bidding him pray for the queen, which he did very affectionately. Then the deputy asked him, what traitors dost thou know in England? God is my witness, said he, I know none. What! saith the deputy again, if he will confess nothing, drive away the cart; which was done so suddenly, that he had no time to say any thing more, or recommend his soul again to God, as he was about to do.

The deputy shortly after commanded the hangman to cut him down, which was done so soon, that he stood upright on his feet, like, to a man a little amazed, till the butchers threw him down: then coming perfectly to himself, he said aloud and distinctly, God forgive you. Jesus receive my soul. And immediately another cruel fellow standing by, who was no officer, but a common porter, set his foot upon Mr. Rigby's throat, and so held him down, that he could speak no more. Others held his arms and legs whilst the executioner dismembered and bowelled him. And when he felt them pulling out his heart, he was yet so strong that he thrust the men from him who held his arms. last they cut off his head and quartered him, and disposed of his head and quarters in several places in and about Southwark. The people going away, complained very much of the barbarity of the execution; and generally all sorts bewailed his death.

At

His execution is mentioned by Howes upon Stow, in his chronicle,

118. *Thomas Sprott-And, 119, Thomas Hunt,

THOMAS

Priests.

HOMAS Sprott was born in the parish of Schelsmere, near Kendal, in Westmorland, and performed his higher studies in the English college of Douay; where he was ordained priest in 1596, and sent the same year upon the English mission.

Thomas Hunt was born in Norfolk, and was a secular priest of the English college of Seville; who being sent upon the English mission, and there falling into the hands of the persecutors, was committed prisoner to Wisbich castle; from whence he, with five more, made their escape some few months before his second apprehension and execution, The history of which is as follows:

In the month of July, 1600, search being made in and about Lincoln after certain malefactors who had committed a robbery, the searchers found, at the Saracen's Head, in Lincoln, Mr. Sprott and Mr. Hunt, strangers to the people of the house, and close up in their chambers; whom they vehemently suspecting to be the men they were seeking after, took up upon suspicion, and strictly examined what were their names? their places of abode? what business they followed? what had brought them thither? what acquaintance they had in that city or neighbourhood, &c. So that, to be rid of the importunity of these questions, and of the suspicion of being robbers, they confessed, that they were catholics, who had come thither in hopes of living there more quietly for a time, than they could do where they were more known. The officers searched their mails, and found there the holy oils, and two breviaries, which gave suspicion that they were priests. Whereupon they were brought before the mayor, and by him examined upon these four articles.

1st. Whether they had been at the church within these ten or twelve years?

2dly. If the pope should invade the realm, whether they would take part with him, or with the queen ?

3dly. Whether they did take the queen to be supreme governess of the church of England?

4thly. Whether they were priests or no?

To these questions they both returned the same answers in substance, viz. to the first, that they were brought up, from their infancy, in the catholic faith, and were never at the protestant church. To the second, that when such a cuse shall happen, which is not likely, they will answer it. To the third, that the pope is supreme head upon earth of the catholic church throughout the world. To the fourth they answered as before, that they were catholics, and further they thought themselves not bound to answer.

From Dr. Worthington's relation of sixteen martyrs, published at Douay in 1601; the bishop of Chalcedon's catalogue, and Raissius's catalogue of the martyrs of Douay college.

Nevertheless, upon this last article they were immediately arraigned, it being the time of the summer assizes, before judge Glandvil; and an indictment was drawn up against them, that they were seminary priests, and consequently traitors: and though their being priests was neither proved nor confessed, nor any witnesses produced to avouch it, the judge directed the jury to find them guilty; which they did: though, as it seems, with great repugnance of conscience, perfectly compelled to it by the sharp words of the judge, who was very positive in the matter, and told them, they must needs bring in their verdict so. Soon after, the judge gave sentence of death, according to the usual form as in cases of high treason; which the servants of God joyfully heard, giving God thanks for so great a favour, and pardoning their persecutors. But both before and after their condemnation, they were attacked by some protestant preachers upon the articles of their religion, whom they so confuted and confounded, that the magistrates commanded the ministers to hold their peace. These made use of their own far stronger arguments of hurdles, halters, knives, and fire, which these two servants of God courageously met, and gloriously conquered.

They were executed at Lincoln some time in July, 1600.

Not many days after,' says Dr. Worthington, in his relation printed and published in the beginning of the following year, p. 89, Mr. Glandvil, their judge, received also his own judgment: for, riding abroad for his pleasure, near to his own house, with one man, suddenly, in the plain field, he fell from his horse to the ground, the horse not stumbling at all, but running away a great pace. The servant stept quickly to his master, and assaying to help him up, found him dead; whereat being much astonished, he posted as fast as he could to the next village, crying, that his master was dead. The people, in haste, running to the place, found it so: and not knowing who else could * be charged with it, they presently apprehended the same servant, upon suspicion that he had murdered his master; but, upon viewing the corpse, they saw evidently, that no man had done this act; for they found part of his brains strangely coming forth, both at his nose and mouth, not having any other hurt in his head, but towards the * right side, behind, a great dimple or hole, wherein a child might have put his fist; yet neither his skin, nor his hat, broken at all, nor a hair of his head wanting, to any man's judgment. They found likewise his right shoulder sore scorched, like burned leather, as black as pitch; ⚫ and from thence along upon his arm, a great gash, as if it had been made with a knife, but not deep; and in the calf of his leg, on the same side, they found another hole, about an inch broad, and three inches deep; and (which is most strange) not so much as a thread of his hose, nor of his other apparel, could be found to be broken. The horse that run away, with much ado was taken, but could by no means be brought near to the place where his master fell down.' So far the printed relation.

The execution of Mr. Sprott and Mr. Hunt is mentioned by Howes apon Stow, in his chronicle.