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made answer, his name was Genings. By which, he knew he certainly was his brother, so long sought after. Then casting an eye towards heaven, by way of love and thanks, smiling upon the party, he told him, he was his kinsman, and was called Ironmonger; and asked him, what was become of his brother Edmund? The youth, not suspecting him to be the man, told him, he had heard he was gone to Rome, to the pope, and had become a notable papist, and a traitor both to God and his country; and that if he did return, he would be hanged infallibly. Mr. Edmund hearing this, and smiling at the boy's folly, told him, that he had heard his brother was a very honest man, and loved both the queen and his country, but God above all. But tell me, said he, good cousin John, do you not know him, if you see him? To which John answered, No: but beginning to suspect that he was his brother, and a priest, told him, he could not tell him what he was, but that he greatly feared he had a brother a papist priest, and that he was the man; swearing withal, that if it was so, he would discredit himself and all his friends; and protesting, that in this he would never follow him, although in other matters, he would greatly respect him.'

In a word, Mr. Edmund, upon this occasion, discovered himself to his brother, though not telling him that he was a priest, but did not find in him any present dispositions towards his conversion; neither was it a proper time, or place, to treat upon that subject. Therefore, taking his leave of him, he promised to see him again, after his return out of the country, and then to impart to him some affairs of great consequence. But the conversion of his brother, was to be the fruit of his martyrdom; which, after labouring for some short time in preaching, catechising, and performing other his priestly functions, in the country, he came to meet with in London, as we shall now see.

It was on the 7th of November, 1591, Mr. Genings returned to London, and met that evening, in a catholic house in Holborn, Mr. Polidore Plasden, a very virtuous and godly priest, and a fellow collegian of his, at Rhemes; and treating with him where they should say mass the next day, it being the Octave of All Saints, they concluded to say their mattins together, and to celebrate the next morning, at the house of Mr. Swithin Wells; and acquainted some friends with this design. Here, on the next day, Mr. Genings being at the consecration, and Mr. Plasden, "and Mr. White," priests, Mr. Brian Lacy, gent., John Mason, and Sydney Hodgson, laymen, Mrs. Wells and others being present, Topliffe, the arch priest-catcher, with other officers, came in, and broke open the chamber door, where he was celebrating. Upon this occasion, the gentlemen before named arising from their devotions, thought proper to oppose force to force, so to prevent the profanation of the sacred mysteries; and one of the laymen seeing Mr. Topliffe obstinately bent upon coming in, run upon him to thrust him down stairs, and, in the struggle fell with him. In the mean time, Mr. Plasden, having appointed the rest to keep the broken door, went to the altar and bid Mr. Genings go forward and finish the mass. Then returning to the door, and seeing Mr. Topliffe hastening up with a broken head, and fearing he would raise the whole street, to pacify him, told him, he should come in presently, and they would all yield them

selves up his prisoners; which they did, as soon as the mass was ended when Topliffe, and the rest, rushing in, took Mr. Genings as he was, in his vestments, and all the rest, men and women, to the number of about ten, with their church stuff, books, &c., and carried them to Newgate; who were, shortly after, all examined, by justice Yonge, and returned to prison, to take their trials the next sessions. Mr. Wells, who was absent when this happened, at his return, finding his house ransacked, and his wife carried away to prison, went forthwith to justice Yonge, to expostulate with him about the matter, and to demand his wife, and the keys of his lodging. But the justice, without more ado, sent him to bear the rest company, with a pair of iron bolts on his legs; and examining him the next day in Newgate, upon his answering, that he was not, indeed, privy to the mass being said in his house but wished he had been present, thinking his house highly honoured, by having so divine a sacrifice offered therein, the justice told him, that though he was not at the feast, he should taste of the

sauce.

On the 4th of December, Mr. Genings, and all the rest, were brought upon their trial, and a jury was impanelled to find them all guilty; and yet, all they could prove against them, was no more, than that one of them had said mass in Mr. Well's house, and the rest had heard the said mass. Many bitter words and scoffs were used by the judges, and others upon the bench, particularly to Mr. Genings, because he was very young, and had angered them with disputes. And the more to make him a scoff to the people, they vested him, not now in his priestly garments (in which they had before carried him through the streets) but in a ridiculous fool's coat, which they found in Mr. Well's house. In conclusion, the next day the jury brought in their verdict ; by which the three priests were all found guilty of high treason, for returning into the realm, contrary to the statute of 27 Elizabeth; and all the rest of felony, for being aiding and assisting to the priests. And it was appointed that they should all die at Tyburn, except Mr. Genings and Mr. Wells, who were to be executed before Mr. Well's own door, in Gray's-inn-fields. The judges, after pronouncing sentence, began to persuade them to conform to the protestant religion, assuring them, that by so doing, they should obtain mercy; but otherwise they must certainly expect to die. But they all bravely answered,-That they would live and die in the true Roman and catholic faith, which they and all antiquity had ever professed; and that they would, by no means go to the protestant churches, or once think that the queen could be the head of the church in spirituals.

At their return to Newgate, the three priests were cast into the dungeon and, whilst they were there, justice Yonge, Mr. Topliffe, and others, twice or thrice came to the prison, and calling for Mr. Genings, promised him both life and liberty, if he would go to their church, and renounce his religion; giving him also hopes of a living and promotion, in that case; but they found him still constant and resolute. With which they being highly offended, put him into a dark hole within the prison, where he could not so much as see his own hands, nor get up or down without hazard of breaking his neck. Here he remained in

prayer and contemplation, without any food or sustenance, till the hour

of his death.

6

On the 10th of December, at eight in the morning, Mr. Plasden, Mr. White, &c., were carried to Tyburn, and there executed; Mrs. Wells, to her great grief, was reprieved, and died in prison. Mr. Genings and Mr. Wells, were brought, according to sentence, to Gray's-innfields, over-against Mr. Well's door, to suffer there. Where, after a few speeches of some ministers that were there present, Mr. Genings was taken off the sled, and, like St. Andrew, joyfully saluted the gibbet prepared for him. Being put upon the ladder (p. 84), many questions were asked him by some standers by, whereto he still answered directly. At length Mr. Topliffe cried out, with a loud voice, Genings, Genings, confess thy fault, thy popish treason, and the queen, by submission, no doubt, will grant thee pardon. To which he mildly answered, I know not, Mr. Topliffe, in what I have offended my dear anointed princess; for if I have offended her, or any other, in any thing, I would willingly ask her and all the world forgiveness. If she be offended with me, without a cause, for professing my faith and religion, because I am a priest, or because I will not turn minister against my conscience, I shall be, I trust, excused and innocent, before God. I must obey God, saith St. Peter, rather than men, Acts, v. And I must not, in this case, acknowledge a fault where there is none. If to return into England priest, or to say mass, be popish treason, I here confess I am a traitor; but I think not so: and, therefore, I acknowledge myself guilty of these things, not with repentance, or sorrow of heart, but with an open protestation of inward joy, that I have done so good deeds; which, if they were to do again, I would, by the permission and assistance of God, accomplish the same, although with the hazard of a thousand lives.'

Mr. Topliffe being very angry at this speech, scarce giving him liberty to say a pater noster, bid the hangman turn the ladder; which being done, he presently caused the rope to be cut; the holy priest being little or nothing stunned, stood on his feet, casting his eyes towards heaven, till the hangman tripped up his heels, to make him fall on the block, on which he was to be quartered. After he was dismembered, the violence of the pain, caused him to utter these words, with a loud voice, Oh it smarts! which Mr. Wells hearing, replied, 'Alas! sweet soul, thy pain is great, indeed, but almost past; pray for me now, most holy saint, that mine may come.' After he was ripped up, and his bowels cast into the fire, if credit may be given, says his brother, "p. 86," to hundreds of people standing by, and to the hangman himself, the blessed martyr, (his heart being in the executioner's hand,) uttered these words, sancte Gregori ora pro me: which the hangman hearing, swore a most wicked oath, Zds! see, his heart is in my hand, and yet Gregory is in his mouth. O egregious papist.'

Among many catholics that were present at his execution, there was a devout virgin, who had wholly dedicated herself to the service of God; who had a great desire to get, if possible, some little part of his flesh, or of his blood, to keep as a relic; but not being able to come near the gibbet for the crowd, she followed his quarters, as they were

carried back again to Newgate to be boiled; when many running to see them before they were carried up to boiling; to satisfy their curiosity, Bull, the hangman, took up one of the fore-quarters by the arm; which, when he had showed to the people, he flung down carelessly into the basket again, so that both the hand and arm hung out over the sides of the basket; which, the said virgin seeing, drew near to touch it, and laying hold of his anointed thumb, by a secret instinct, gave it a little pull, only to show her love, and desire of having it; when, behold! to her great surprise, the thumb was instantly separated from the rest of the hand, and remained in her hand, which she carried off without being taken notice of by any one.

This young gentlewoman, presently after this miraculous acquisition, took a resolution to renounce entirely the world, and all its vanities; and going beyond the seas with this, her relic, became a nun of the order of St. Augustin; and hearing of this martyr's own brother, says my author, speaking of himself, p. 94, living in the seminary of Douay, sent him, for a token, a little piece of the same thumb, enclosed in a letter, written with her own hand, protesting the verity of all the aforesaid narration.

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But the most wonderful event that followed Mr. Genings's death, was the sudden conversion of this same brother; which he, speaking of himself in the third person, thus relates, p. 98, &c. This martyr's brother, called John Genings, being in London at the very time of his brother's apprehension, condemnation, and execution, hearing of the same, rather rejoiced, than any way bewailed the untimely and bloody end of his nearest kinsman, hoping, thereby, to be rid of all persuasions, which he mistrusted he should receive from him, touching the catholic religion,'" having been brought up, as he tells his reader, a little above, in great prejudices to catholics, and rather inclined to puritanism." But, about ten days after his execution, towards night, having spent all that day in sport and jollity, being weary with play, he resorted home; where, to repose himself, he went into a secret chamber. He was no sooner there set down, but forthwith his heart began to be heavy, and he began to weigh how idly he had spent that day. Amidst these thoughts, there presently was represented to his mind, a strange imagination and apprehension of the death of his brother: and, amongst other things, how he had, not long before, forsaken all worldly pleasures, and, for his religon only, endured intolerable torments. Then, within himself, he made long discourses concerning his religion, and his brother's, comparing the catholic manner of living with his, and finding the one to embrace pain and mortification, and the other to seek pleasure; the one to live strictly, and the other licentiously; the one to fear sin, the other to run into all kind of sin. Upon this, being struck with exceeding terror and remorse, he wept bitterly, desiring God, after his fashion, to illuminate his understanding, that he might see and perceive the truth. O! what great joy and consolation did he feel at that instant! what reverence, on the sudden, did he begin to bear to the blessed virgin, and to the saints of God, which before, he had scarce heard talk of! what strange motions, as it were inspirations, with exceeding readiness of will to change his religion, took possession

of his soul! and what a heavenly conceit had he of his dear brother's felicity! He imagined he saw him; he thought he heard him. In this ecstasy of mind, he made a vow upon the spot, as he lay prostrate on the ground, to forsake kindred and country, to find out the true knowledge of his brother's faith. Which vow, he soon after performed, and departed England without advertising any one of his friends, and went beyond the seas to execute his promise.'

This Mr. John Genings became afterwards an alumnus of Douay college, where he was made priest in 1607, and was from thence sent upon the mission, in 1608. After some time he entered into the holy order of St. Francis, and was the happy instrument of procuring a convent for his Order at Douay, in 1617, and of restoring the English Franciscan province, of which he was the first provincial; which has since furnished the mission with many zealous apostolical labourers and holy martyrs.

SWITHIN WELLS, GENTLEMAN.*

He was the sixth son of Thomas Wells, Esq., of Brambridge, near Winchester, and brother to that worthy confessor, Gilbert Wells, Esq., renowned for his immoveable constancy amongst many, and great persecutions which he suffered under queen Elizabeth for the catholic religion. Mr. Swithin was virtuously educated from his infancy, and carefully instructed in all manner of learning fitting his age and condition. He was good natured, pleasant in conversation, courteous, generous, courageous, and every way a gentleman in his comportment. He took to wife a virtuous gentlewoman, who, as we have seen, was condemned with him, but did not die with him, being reserved to suffer a longer and more lingering martyrdom in prison.

As Mr. Wells grew more mature in age, so he did in virtues. And although he was much delighted in hawking, hunting, and other such like gentleman's diversions, yet he so soberly governed his affections therein, as to be content to deprive himself of a good part of those pleasures, and retire to a more profitable employment of training up young gentlemen in virtue and learning, with such success, says my author, that his school hath been, as it were, a fruitful seminary to many worthy members of the catholic church, whereof one hath already gained the crown of martyrdom; others yet remain, some industrious and painful workmen in the happy harvest of souls, and some strong and immoveable pillars to support the catholic cause against so many grievous storms and tempests as are daily raised against it.'

We have already seen in what manner Mr. Wells was apprehended, imprisoned, and condemned to die; and how he refused to save his life

*From Mr. John Genings's relation of the life and death of Mr. Wells, and from Dr. Champney's manuscript history.

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