upon her knees to Mr. Pallasor, and asked him forgiveness; and desired, for Jesus Christ's sake, that he would make her one of his faith, and instruct her what she had to do to be saved; which he did, resolving her in all points, and reconciling her to the catholic church. The aforesaid maid, whose name was Mary Day, at that time servant to the jailor, afterwards served a catholic gentlewoman, called Eleanor Forcer, who informed me of this.' So far Mr. Trollop.

In the beginning of this same year, 1600, viz. upon the 19th of January, says Howes, in his chronicle, p. 789, sixteen priests, and four laymen, were removed out of divers prisons in and about London, and sent to the castle of Wisbich; whereof one was a bishop of Ireland, and another a Franciscan of the order of capuchins, who wore his friar's weed all the way he went, &c.'

This capuchin, was father Bennet Canfield, whose name in the world was William Fitch, a gentleman, born at Canfield, in Essex, and brought up to the law in Gray's-Inn; whose wonderful conversion to the catholic faith, and call to that religious order, of which, in his time, he was esteemed one of the brighest lights, together with his other virtues, may be seen in his life, translated from the French, and published in our language, anno 1623. After three years' imprisonment, he was banished, with divers other priests, and at length died in the odour of sanctity at Roan, anno 1611.

This year also, the catholic prisoners for their conscience in York castle, upwards of fifty in number, were, by orders of the lord Burleigh, then president of the north, once a week, dragged by force into the hall of the castle, and there forcibly detained to hear protestant sermons, preached by the archbishop, and the most eminent of the clergy of that city. This was continued for near twelve months. The behaviour and speeches of the prisoners, upon these occasions, and other remarkable passages that then happened, are set down at large, in a manuscript of about forty chapters, written by the Rev. Mr. W. Richmont. The issue was, that the preachers finding their eloquence nothing availed, and that the prisoners either stopped their ears, or contradicted their discourses, and could not be silenced, either by their chains or dungeons, at last concluded, after fifty sermons, to let them alone, and give them no further molestation of this kind.

The chief of these prisoners were, Mr. George Raines, priest, William Middleton, of Stockeld, William Stillington, of Kelfield, Richard Danby, of Cave, Richard Fenton, of Burnwallis, Thomas Gelstrop, of Burrowby, Esqrs.

Michael Jenison, of, James Rosse, of Igmanthorp, William Gascoign, of Thorp, gentlemen.

JOHN PIBUSH, PRIEST.-1601.*

JOHN PIBUSH was born at Thrisk, in Yorkshire, and performed his studies abroad, in the English college then residing at Rhemes. Here he was made priest in 1587, and from hence was sent upon the English mission in 1589. After some time he was apprehended, and committed to Gloucester jail, where he remained till some of the felons, having found means to break through the walls, and so make their escape, left a free passage open, through which Mr. Pibush also, and the other prisoners, thought proper to walk out. But, as he was very indifferent upon the matter, he took no care to hide himself, but, travelling on foot on the high road, was the next day again apprehended, and then was carried up to London. Here he was brought upon his trial, and condemned merely on account of his priesthood; but suffered not till seven years after. During which time, he was kept prisoner in the King's-bench, and endured very much from the incommodity and unwholesomeness of the place, and the multitude of the prisoners penned up together, so that his constitution, which was naturally very robust, was so far altered, as to contract a most grievous infirmity, in which he would lie sometimes for many hours without sense or motion; insomuch, that when he was afterwards executed, his lungs were found so consumed, that he could not have lived much longer. But one of his chief sufferings in prison was, the continued ill usage he met with, for a long time, from the brutality of his fellow prisoners, who, not contented with loading him with abuses, reproaches, and injuries, sometimes threatened his life; more particularly when he would be admonishing and rebuking them for their blasphemies and other wickednesses. However, at length, his virtue and patience so far prevailed upon them, as well as upon the jailor, that they began to reverence and love him, and to compassionate his sufferings; insomuch that he was permitted to make himself a sort of separate cell in the common jail, where, by the help of some catholics who came to visit him, he sometimes said mass, to the unspeakable comfort of his soul. His name was put in the list of those, who in the beginning of the last year, were to be sent from London to Wisbich castle; but it seems God was determined to honour him with a more glorious crown, for the lord chief justice Popham, when the list was brought to him, struck out Mr. Pibush's name, no one knew why, nor wherefore.

The same lord chief justice, on the 17th of February, of this year, 1601, ordered Mr. Pibush, who had been condemned about seven years before, to be brought to the bar, when nothing less was expected, and asked him what he had to say for himself, why he should not suffer death according to sentence? the confessor answered with great constancy and meekness, That he had never in his life committed any thing for which he could be justly put to death: that he had been condemned barely for being a catholic priest, and that he was willing to lay down

From Dr. Worthington's relation of sixteen martyrs, Chalcedon's Catalogue, and Dr. Champney's manuscript history.

many lives, if he had them, for such a cause. Upon this he was ordered back to prison, and commanded to prepare for death. On the next day, being the 18th of February, he was drawn to St. Thomas's Watering, and there was hanged, bowelled, and quartered. He suffered with a constancy worthy of a martyr. His execution is mentioned by Howes upon Stow, in his chronicle.

MARK BARK WORTH, ALIAS, LAMBERT, PRIEST, O. P. B.*

MARK BARKWORTH was born in Lincolnshire. He was brought up in the protestant religion till he was twenty-two years of age, when, going abroad he was converted to the catholic faith, and grounded in solid spirituality, at Douay, in Flanders, by one father George, a Flemish jesuit. He had been, as he writes, a little before his martyrdom, now eight years in the school of Christ; and, for the two first, was under the instruction and discipline of Dr. Barret, (president of the English college then residing at Rhemes,) where also he enjoyed the company of those famous confessors, Dr. Arrowsmith, Mr. Lancaster, and Mr. Bradshaw, men, as he says, of excellent lives, now helping him in heaven by their prayers. From hence he went into Spain, where he finished his studies, and was made priest in the English college of Valadolid. After he was sent upon the English mission, he quickly fell into the hands of the persecutors; and, after many different examinations, and letting slip several opportunities of making his escape, he was brought upon his trial at the Old Baily. The clerk bid him hold up his hand : for what crime? said he; for the crime of priesthood and treason, said the lord chief justice: Why, said Mr. Barkworth, can any one maintain that to be a priest is treason? Was not our Saviour a priest according to the order of Melchisedech? and will any one say that he was a traitor? Though I am of opinion, were he to be judged at this tribunal, he would meet with the like treatment as I look for. They went on, Barkworth, hold up thy hand; by whom wilt thou be tried? By God, said he, and by the apostles and evangelists, and all the blessed martyrs and saints in heaven. Not so, said the judge, you must say by God and my country. What, said he, you mean, my lord, these poor men, pointing to the jury; I will never let my blood lie at their door: for you will oblige them to bring in their verdict against me, right or wrong, or lay so heavy a fine upon them in the Star-chamber, that they will scarce be able to pay it in their whole lives. The judge then put the question to him, art thou a priest, yea or no? I will neither say, said he, that I am a priest, or that I am not. Well then, said the judge, I see thou art a priest. If you can prove that, said Mr. Bark

From Arnoldus Raissius, in his catalogue martyr. Anglo-Duac, and from father Moor's history of the English province of the society of Jesus.

worth, I am a dead man; your laws stand against me, and I expect no favour at your hands; neither do I fear death, trusting in the grace of God. Nay, if I had ten lives, I would most willingly lay them all down for him who suffered so many torments, and so cruel a death, for my sins. Tell me then, said the judge, if thou wilt not confess thyself to be a priest, what art thou? a catholic, said he, making the sign of the cross; and, were I worthy to be a priest, I should look upon myself placed in a dignity not inferior to that of angels: for priests having a power given them of remitting and retaining sins, in God's name, which was never given to angels: with that all the company laughed; and the question was again put to him, as before, by whom he would be tried? and he answered as before, by God and the holy apostles, &c., and not, said he, by these unlearned men: I was brought up to learning from a boy; and, after taking degrees among the learned, have spent in studies full seven years: let learned men judge in my cause, and not such as are unlearned. Will you then be tried, said they, by a jury of ministers? Hell-fire, said he, will try them; my cause is not to be trusted to them. You would then, said the judge, be tried by priests? That is right, said Mr. Barkworth. Call in then, said the judge, a jury of them. Your lordship, said he, knows that a complete jury of them may be found in Wisbich castle. With this, the lord chief justice withdrew; and the recorder, without any more ceremony, neither taking the deposition of witnesses, nor having the confession of the accused, nor waiting for the verdict of the jury, pronounced sentence upon the prisoner, as in cases of high treason; which as soon as Mr. Barkworth heard, he fell upon his knees and lifting up his eyes to heaven, said, thanks be to God.

He recived the sentence of death, says father Moor, with a joyful and smiling countenance, and making the sign of the cross, began a hymn of joy, and then gave thanks to the judge. After which, addressing his discourse to the standers by, he exhorted them, as they' professed themselves Christians, to show forth by their works, what they professed in their words, not fearing what the world can do against them; since, in effect, to die for the cause of justice and truth is a Christian's greatest gain; and he cannot even wish for a greater happiness than to shed his blood for him who so liberally shed his blood for us all. He was sent back to Newgate, and walked through the streets, fettered as he was, with that air of magnanimity, that the crowd inquired, whether he was not one of the ringleaders of the Earl of Essex's riot? No, said Mr. Barkworth, but I am a soldier of Christ, who am to die for his faith.

Mr. Barkworth, is commonly challenged by the Benedictine monks, for one of theirs, and father B. W. a monk of that venerable order, in his manuscript account of the English congregation, which I have now before me, writes of him as follows:

As to those who entered the Spanish congregation, (though he neither lived, nor was clothed, in any monastery, as the Reverend Father Baker, affirms,) Mr. Mark Barkworth, alias Lambert, challenges the first place.

1st. Because he was a great furtherer and concurrer, with those who engaged amongst the Spanish monks.

2dly, Because, in 1601, after frequent occasions, and even provocations to make an escape; after nine several examines, before several tribunals, &c., being condemned for his faith, to make the nation remember, how it received the said holy faith, and to manifest the secrets of his heart and intentions, in regard to the order of St. Bennet, he chose to be drawn to Tyburn, in the Benedictine habit; which, by some means he had procured and gotten; and had his tonsure accordingly made, &c.,' by which, it appears, that Mr. Barkworth was a Benedictine, at least, in desire, if not in effect.

As to the circumstances of his death, they are thus related by the historians of the Society of Jesus, upon occasion of father Roger Filcock, who died at the same time and place. Mr. Barkworth and Mr. Filcock, were both drawn together upon the same hurdle, from Newgate to Tyburn. When they were put up into the cart, Mr. Barkworth, with a joyful accent, sung those words of the royal prophet, hæc dies quam fecit Dominus, exultemus; and Mr. Filcock went on in the same tone, et lætemur in ea. Then Mr. Barkworth declared how ready he was, to lay down, even a thousand lives, if he had them, for his faith; and protested that he forgave, with all his heart, the queen, and all that were any ways accessory to his death, and wished to have them with him in eternal glory. Then he recommended himself to the prayers of the catholics, and the cart was drawn from under him. Here some cruel wretch, fearing lest the weight of his body, should put the martyr too soon out of his pain, for he was tall and bulky, set his shoulders under him, to bear up at least, some part of that weight; so that he was cut down, whilst he was yet alive; and even, when the butcher was seeking for his heart, he pronounced these words, O God be merciful to me.

He suffered, February the 27th, 1601. His head is kept by the English Benedictines at their convent at Douay.

Father Moor relates of Mr. Barkworth, that when Mr. Fleming, one of the counsel for the queen, told him at the bar, that he was a priest, and wore upon his forehead the mark of the beast; he replied, 'I am a Christian, and wear on my forehead the sign of the cross; by this sign, I am confirmed against the devil and heretics, God's enemies. I fear not your words nor your threats: I confess and adore one God; he created me to serve him; and serve him, I cannot, in any other but in the catholic faith. This faith, I profess; with the heart, men believe unto justice; but with the mouth, confession is made unto salvation. For this faith, I now desire to die, more than I ever desired to live. death can be more precious than that which is undergone for this faith; which faith, Christ taught; and a hundred thousand martyrs have sealed with their blood.'

No