priest in 1582, and sent upon the mission. He took shipping at Newhaven," Havre de Grace," in France, with a design to land at Scarborough; but the ship foundering upon the coast of Suffolk, and Mr. Nutter being taken ill of a violent fever, he was put on shore at Dunwich. The ship was soon after lost, but the mariners and passengers were all saved. In the wreck, a neighbouring minister laying hold of a bag, in hopes of meeting with some booty, was disappointed to find nothing but catholic books, from which, both he and the magistrates, to whom he gave an account of what he had found, suspected the sick man and his companions were priests. And, upon further inquiry, Mr. Nutter not denying his character, they took him into custody, together with Mr. Conyers, another priest, and Mr. Lawson, a layman. And, notwithstanding his illness, they fastened a great chain of iron to his leg, with a clog of wood at the end of it; and, having served his two companions in like manner, sent up to town to give an account to the council of the capture they had made.

In the mean time, while they are waiting for an answer, the neighbouring ministers and others, crowd in upon Mr. Nutter; and, notwithstanding his sickness, will needs dispute with him about religion, all attacking him with joint forces, some upon one article, some upon another to whom he gave, sick as he was, so satisfactory answers, that though they would not open their eyes to behold the truth which he set before them, yet they could not help admiring his learning; and concluded, that he was a more than ordinary man, perhaps a bishop, or, at least, a cunning jesuit, sent upon some plot into the nation. But none of them all, though they saw him in such a plight with his fever and chain, that he could neither rise out of bed, nor turn himself in bed, had the christianity to propose the easing him, at least for a time, of his chain and clog such was the barbarity of the people in those days with regard to catholics. Within ten days, orders came from the council, that the prisoners should be removed to London: so Mr. Nutter and his companions, were put in a wagon, and conveyed to town, with a stong guard to attend them from whose inhumanity, Mr. Nutter suffered much in this journey, he being still viciently ill, and loaded with irons, and his guards contriving, on purpose, to carry him through the most rugged ways they could for which they gave no other reason, but that they did it to exercise his patience. After their arrival at London, Mr. Nutter and his companions were sent down to Richmond, to be examined by secretary Walsingham. Mr. Nutter was so ill that he could scarce either stand or speak; so that, after he had acknowledged that he was a catholic priest, no more questions were asked him, but he was sent back to London, and committed to the Marshalsea.

Here, by the blessing of God, and the charitable help of some good catholics, he quickly recovered; and he remained in this prison a whole year, where he did much good, reconciling many to the catholic church, and taking great pains in instructing them therein. And so zealous and indefatigable was he in this charitable work of his neighbours' conversion and salvation, that though sometimes he seemed to spend a great deal of time in vain, and to lose his labour, with regard to certain persons whom he had to deal with, he would never despond or

leave off, but still persevered in praying earnestly to God, and using the best exhortations he could, till these stubborn hearts yielded at last to the divine grace. Amongst those whom the man of God took the most pains with, there was one, whom he could not, during life, bring to any thing but the same being one of the spectators of his death, was so moved thereby, as to be quite changed into another man; and from that day to resolve to live in that church, for which he saw this holy priest die with so much constancy.

Mr. Nutter was also remarkably charitable to his enemies; and so far from seeking or desiring any revenge, as to be glad to do them kindness; which he showed in the case of those very men who had so lately grossly injured him, at the time of his apprehension and bringing up to town for they being prosecuted by the officers of the Marshaslea, for unjustly detaining some clothes belonging to Mr. Conyers, his fellowprisoner; and justly fearing the consequence, applied to the catholic prisoners whom they had before treated with so much inhumanity, to beg of them to stop the prosecution: which, when Mr. Conyers seemed unwilling to consent to, unless they would be at the charges of the suit which was commenced, Mr. Nutter undertook to be an intercessor for his enemies, and, by his charitable remonstrances, prevailed with his fellow-prisoner to desist from his claim.

He was also a great rebuker of vice, wheresoever he discovered it; which charity he exercised with that unaffected candour, simplicity and sincerity, joined with a profound self-knowledge and humility, as to procure from his fellow-prisoners the name of John, of Plain Dealing. In the mean time, he was very severe to himself, treating his body roughly, not only by fastings and watchings, but also by frequent disciplines, which, though he industriously sought to conceal, it was discovered by one of his most intimate friends, a little before his death. His lodging was very incommodious, in a poor hole in the garret, or highest part of the prison; but he was well pleased with it, as being more remote from the noise, and therefore, more proper for prayer and contemplation.

One day, when a certain priest was to be put in irons, and the jailors were fitting them to his legs and hands, Mr. Nutter, hearing of it, thrust himself into the company, and laying hold of the fetters, kissed them with great veneration; and when, in the way of ridiculing him, they asked him if he would not kiss the manacles too? Yes, said he, very willingly; and so he did, with great respect, affirming, that these irons were sanctified by the touch of the bodies of God's servants, who had been bound by them.

After Mr. Nutter had been about a year in the Marshalsea, he was called to another examination, and had the usual question put to him; to which, he answered with great courage and resolution. At length, they proceeded to that question which they usually proposed in the last place, to those whom they designed to make away, viz. what he would do, in case the pope should invade the kingdom? To which, he answered, that he would do as a good catholic priest ought to do; and, as he would not further satisfy them what that was, they would needs infer from thence, that he was a traitor, at least, in his heart.

The next day, Mr. Nutter promised Mr. Popham, the attorney general, to give him, in writing, a full and satisfactory answer to all things, if he, on his part, would engage his word to deliver this writing into the queen's own hands. Mr. Popham promising so to do, Mr. Nutter wrote a full account, as it is thought, of the true reasons that brought him and his fellow priests over into England: which were not to disturb the peace of the kingdom, or to plot against the queen; but to invite their fellow subjects to peace with God; and to promote the true and only solid interest of their queen and country. This writing had no other effect, than to hasten, perhaps, his trial and execution; for, immediately upon it, he was summoned to appear in Westminsterhall, and was there tried and condemned, with four other priests, on the 7th of February: and, after lying in irons five days in the Tower, was drawn, together with the same four confessors, to Tyburn, and there hanged, cut down alive, bowelled and quartered, February, 12, 1583--4.

He was the fourth, in that happy number, to fight that last battle of his Lord, and his ghostly children, who were present upon this occasion, were not a little edified with that cheerfulness and serenity which appeared in his countenance, as well upon the hurdle, as at the gallows; and that courage and constancy which he showed in his sufferings.

He suffered, says Mr. Wood, in his Athens Oxon, for being a Roman catholic priest, and denying the queen's supremacy.

JOHN MUNDEN, OR MUNDYN, PRIEST. *

MR. MUNDEN was born at Maperton, in Dorsetshire, and educated in the university of Oxford; where he was admitted fellow of New College, in 1562, and had the character of being a very good civilian. Being discovered to be a catholic, he was deprived of his fellowship, in 1566; and after many years, going abroad, he applied himself to the study of divinity, at Rhemes, where he arrived, in 1580; where, also, according to some authors, he was made priest: but in the account in Dr. Bridgewater, of his examination before secretary Walsingham, he answers, that he was made priest at Rome, though he was not of the college or seminary there; and I find him in the Douay diary, returning priest from Rome, in 1582.

About the end of February, 1582--3, as he was going up from Winchester to London, he met upon Hounslow-heath with one Mr. Hammond, a lawyer, who, knowing him to be a priest, stopped him on the way, and obliged him to go back with him to Stains, where he delivered him up to the justices or magistrates of the place. These sent him to London, to Wolsey, the Latin secretary; who, the following day, sent him to Sir Francis Walsingham, principal secretary of state.

* From Athenæ Oxon., Douay Memoirs, and Dr. Bridgewater's Collection, fol. 139. 2.

The secretary asked him, where he was made priest? whether he were of any seminary? who had sent him back into England? who had furnished him with money for his journey? &c. To all which, Mr. Munden returned a sincere answer. Then, the secretary inveghed most bitterly against the seminarists, and against the translation of the New Testament, lately published at Rhemes: and, as if he were resolved that Mr. Munden should pay for all these misdemeanors of the seminaries, he began to propose to him the questions, which were the common forerunners of death.

1st. What he thought of Dr. Saunder's going into Ireland. Mr. Munden answered, he knew not what Dr. Saunders went about, and, therefore, could not say whether he did right or wrong in going thither, let him answer for himself.

2dly. The secretary asked him, what he would do, or wkat any good subject ought to do, in case of an invasion of the kingdom upon account of religion? and what he thought of the deposing power? Mr. Munden begged to be excused from answering questions that were above his capacity; for that, as his chief study had been the civil law, he was not divine enough to resolve such queries.

3dly. He asked, whether he esteemed queen Elizabeth, to be the true queen of England? he answered, Yes. But, said Walsingham, do you allow her to be queen, as well de jure, as de facto? I do not rightly understand, said Mr. Munden, the meaning of those terms. How now, traitor, said Walsingham, do you boggle at answering this? And wherewithal, gave him such a blow on one side of the head, as perfectly stunned him, and made him reel; so that for some days after, he complained of a difficulty of hearing on that side. After this injury, and many other reproaches and affronts, the secretary sent for a pursuivant, and ordered him to conduct Mr. Munden to the Tower, and to take his horse and furniture for his pains.

In the tower, he was at first very ill-lodged, being put into irons for twenty days, and obliged, for some time, to lie upon the bare floor. However, he was not without comfort, as well interior from God, who forsakes not his servants on these occasions, as exterior from a good priest, a fellow-prisoner, his ghostly father; who also helped very much to support him and encourage him, under another kind of trial, which he here met withal; when being called forth, to be examined by Popham, the attorney-general, this gentleman, not contented with other injuries, charged him with having led a lewd life, in his own country: for although this was no more than a groundless calumny, Mr. Munden was, nevertheless, very much concerned at the accusation, not for his own sake, but for fear of the scandal, that would by this means be cast upon religion but the good man, his director, comforted him, putting him in mind of that beatitude, St. Matth. V., Blessed are you, when men shall revile you, and shall persecute you, and shall speak all kinds of evil against you, falsely, for my sake, be glad and rejoice, for your reward is exceeding great in heaven. Adding withal, that the prophets and apostles, and even Christ, our Lord himself, had been calumniated and slandered; and that it was always the way, both of ancient and modern heretics, as he showed, by examples, to seek to asperse in this manner,

:

the reputation of the ministers of God, and of his true church: but, that truth and innocence would, in these cases, sooner or later, prevail, to the confusion of their enemies.

Mr. Munden was about a twelvemonth, prisoner in the Tower, before he was called to the bar, to take his trial. But on the 6th and 7th of February, 1583-4, he was tried and condemned in Westminster-hall, at the same time, and for the same cause, with the other four, whom we have last treated of. When sentence was pronounced upon him, he, with the rest of those holy men, joined in reciting the hymn, Te Deum laudamus, with a serene and cheerful countenance; and so great was the inward joy he conceived in his soul upon this occasion, that he could not help discovering it in his voice, in his face, and in the whole outward man. Some, who had not been in the court that day, perceiving in him, when he returned to the Tower, that extraordinary alacrity, supposing he had been acquitted, congratulated with him; but he soon gave them to understand, that his joy proceeded from other sort of principles, than those of flesh and blood. This joy continued with him, till his happy death: and when his confessor came to him, the night before he was to suffer, he found him in the same disposition, enjoying so great a sweetness of internal consolation, as to stand in no need of his comfort; but rather, he who came to comfort him, went away himself, exceedingly comforted by him.

He was drawn with the rest, to Tyburn, on the 12th of February, according to Mr. Stow, or the 13th, according to Dr. Bridgewater: and after having been the spectator of the combat of the other four, assisting them, by his prayers, he, in his turn, had them, in heaven, spectators of his combat, and assisting him by their prayers; whilst, with equal constancy, he overcame gibbets, ropes, knives, and fire, and all the other instruments of cruelty; and so passed from short pains to everlasting

rest.

This same year, 1584, several other catholics, suffered for religious matters of whom, Dr. Bridgewater treats at large, in his Concertatio Ecclesia Catholicæ. These were,

1. William Carter, a printer, for printing a Treatise of Schism, against catholics going to the protestant churches: In which, a paragragh touching Judith and Holofernes, by a forced construction, was interpreted to be an exhortation to murder the queen.

He was hanged, drawn and quartered, at Tyburn, January the 11th, 1583-4.

2. James Bell, born at Warrington, in Lancashire, brought up in Oxford, and made priest in queen Mary's days; who, when the religion of the nation was changed, upon queen Elizabeth's accession to the crown, suffered himself to be carried away with the stream, against his conscience; and for many years officiated as a minister, in divers parts of the kingdom. He was, at length, reclaimed in 1581, by the remonstrances of a catholic matron, joined to a severe fit of sickness, with which God was pleased to visit him; in which, he was reconciled to God and his church. He had no sooner recovered the health of his soul, by confession, but he recovered also the health of his body; and, after having applied himself for some months to penitential exercises, and