was admitted into the English college of Douay, in 1575, ordained priest the following year, and sent upon the English mission at the same time with Mr. Cuthbert Maine, and there laboured with great fruit. His residence was chiefly in Essex, at the house of the lady Petre. He was apprehended and committed in 1581, and carried to the Tower of London, where he was most cruelly racked. But his trial and execution was at Chelmsford, in Essex; of which take the following extract, from an unexceptionable witness.

66

The 20th of March, 1582, Sir Owen Hopton, lieutenant of the Tower, came to Mr. Paine's chamber door, and by knocking, raised him out of hed, who had much watched before, and hastened him to come forth half dressed, not telling him to what end; but being afterwards advertised how the matter stood, and perceiving that he was to be removed, from the Tower to Chelmsford jail, 'he desired leave to return into his chamber to make himself ready, and to fetch his purse, which he had left behind him; but this was not granted; but he was delivered to certain officers there attending, to be conducted into Essex, according to the appointment of the council. Mr. Paine, in his cassock only, went forward with them, being the more gently dealt with that he was not bound at all. In the mean time, the lady Hopton took care to secure his purse for her own use.

On the Friday following, he was arraigned after this manner. first, his indictment was read, viz., that Mr. Paine should utter to one Eliot at a certain Christmas, lying with him, in his chamber, that many devices have been heretofore concerning the change of religion, and yet none have prosperously succeeded; but, of all others, this seemeth the best, which I have heard, said he, sometime mentioned, by the Earl of Westmoreland, Dr. Allen, and Dr. Bristow, that fifty men, well appointed, with privy coats and daggers, should espy some opportunity when the queen was in her progress, and kill the queen's majesty, the Earl of Leicester, and Mr. Walsingham, and then to proclaim the queen of Scots. Also that he should say, it was no greater sin to kill the queen, than to despatch a brute beast.

This being read, Mr. Paine denied the indictment, and defied all treasons; protesting that he always, in mind or word, honoured the. queen's majesty above any woman in the world; that he would gladly always have spent his life for her pleasure in any lawful service, that he prayed for her as for his own soul: that he never invented or compassed any treason against her majesty, or any of the nobility of England.

However, Eliot swore that the indictment was true," and to this positive deposition" Mr. Morrice, the queen's counsellor, joined several presumptions from Mr. Paine's having gone beyond the seas, and having been made priest by the bishop of Cambray, and consequently, as he falsely supposed, having taken an oath to the pope from his having spoken with traitors in Flanders, viz: with the earl of Westmoreland, Dr. Allen and Dr. Bristow; and travelled with a traitor's son, Mr. William Tempest.

To these presumptions Mr. Paine answered, that to go beyond the seas was not sufficient token of a traitor, nor yet to be made priest by

the bishop of Cambray; for so were many others, nothing at all thinking of treason; that for his part he was not the pope's scholar, neither had any maintenance of him; for when he was at the college, it had as yet no pension from the pope. That he had never talked with the Earl of Westmorland, and that Dr. Allen and Dr. Bristow had never talked, to his knowledge, of any such things: that Mr. Tempest was an honest gentleman, and never talked to him about treason; neither was it unlawful for him to keep him company, seeing that he was a servant to a right honourable councellor, Sir Christopher Hatton.

He refelled Eliot's deposition. First, taking God to witness on his soul, that he never had such speech with him. Secondly, he brought two places of scripture, and a statute to prove, that without two sufficient witnesses, no man should be condemned. Thirdly, he proved Eliot insufficient to be a witness, for having been guilty, 1st, Of oppression of poor men, even unto death. 2dly, of a rape and other notorious lewdnesses. 3dly, of a breach of contract, and cozening the lady Petre,' "widow of Sir William Petre," of money. 4thly, of changing often his religion. 5thly, of malice against himself; adding, that he was also attached of murder and such like acts; and was a notorious dissembler, &c.

Hereupon, a jury was impanelled, who, on Friday after dinner, brought in their verdict, guilty. Upon Saturday, a little before dinner, coming again to the bar, judge Gaudy asked Mr. Paine what he could say for himself; who answered, That he had said sufficiently; alledging, that it was against the law of God and man that he should be condemned for one man's witness, notoriously infamous. Then the judge said, if he were not guilty the jury would have found it. Mr. Paine answered, That those men of the jury are poor ignorant men, not at all understanding what treason is. But, says he, if it please the queen and her council that I shall die, I refer my cause to God. Then the judge said, that his own words made most against him; and if Eliot had sworn falsely, his death should be required at his hands, the which no man knew but God and himself. Mr. Paine said, that all was but treachery in seeking of his blood. In fine, judge Gaudy pronounced the sentence of condemnation; and, afterwards, exhorted him to repent himself, although, said he, you may better instruct me herein. Mr. Paine demanded the time when he should suffer: It was answered, on Monday following, about eight of the clock.

After he was returned to prison, the high sheriff and others came to him, and demanded whether he made Jesus Christ the only cause of his salvation? He answered affirmatively, professing unto them the catholic truth. All Sunday, till five of the clock, one Dr. Withers and Dr. Sone were with him, persuading him earnestly to change his religion; the which, said they, if you will alter, we doubt not to procure mercy for you. This, Mr. Paine told me himself, saying, that the ministers, by their foolish babbling, did much vex and trouble him. I, amongst many, coming unto him about ten of the clock, with the officers, he most comfortably and meekly uttered words of constancy to me, and with a loving kiss, took his leave of me.

The next morning, the 2d of April, about eight of the clock, he was

laid on the hurdle, and drawn to the place of execution; where, kneeling almost half an hour, he earnestly prayed; then arising and viewing the gallows, he kissed it with a smiling countenance, and ascended the ladder; and the halter being fitted to his neck, he lifted up his eyes and hands towards heaven a pretty while, then began to speak to the people. And,

First. He made to them a declaration of his faith, confessing one God in essence or substance, and trinity in persons; and that the word was incarnate for man's redemption, &c., because I had informed him that the common people thought him to be a jesuit, and that they said the jesuit's opinion' was, that Christ is not God.

Secondly. He desired God to forgive him all the sins of his life past, and to have mercy on all sinners.

Thirdly. He forgave all who ever had offended him, and, by name, Eliot, for whom he earnestly prayed that God would make him his companion in heavenly bliss,

Fourthly. He declared that his feet did never tread, his hands did never write, nor his wit ever invent, any treason against her majesty ; but that he always wished unto her as to his own soul, desiring Almighty God to give her, in earth, a prosperous reign, and afterwards, . eternal felicity.

The Lord Rich willed him to confess that he there died a traitor, and to be sorry for his treason. To whom, very patiently, he answered, that he defied all treason, and to confess an untruth, was to condemn his own soul. I confess truly, said he, that I die a Christian Catholic Priest. And addressing himself to my Lord Rich, sweet, my lord, said he, certify her majesty thereof, that she suffer not hereafter, innocent blood to be cast away, seeing it is no small matter. Some affirmed that he had confessed his treason to the Lady Pool. He said that he knew no such person. Then a minister said, that Mr. Paine's brother confessed to him, in his chamber, seven years ago, that he talked of such an intention. To this he answered, being somewhat moved, bone Deus! My brother is, and always hath been, a very earnest protestant; yet I know he will not say so falsely of me and then he desired his brother should be sent for; they called for him, but then he was in town, (and when some of us came from the execution, we found his brother in our inn, of whom we asked if this was true, uttering to him all the matter. He swore unto us, with great admiration, that it was most false, and told us that he would so certify my Lord Rich; immediately he was sent for to my lord, and I took horse to ride away, and as yet hear no more of it.)

To conclude, they would not tarry so long till his brother should be sent for Mr. Paine often confessed that he died a Christian Catholic Priest. They desired him to pray with them in English, but he was, attentive to his end, in contemplation, and being often called upon by the ministers to join with them in the Lord's prayer, he said, that he had prayed in a tongue which he well understood. A minister asked him, whether he repented not that he had said mass? but Mr. Paine did not hear him, being in contemplation.

• After all, very meekly, when the ladder was about to be turned, he

said, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, and so did hang, not moving hand or foot. They very courteously caused men to hang on his feet, and set the knot to his ear, and suffered him to hang to death, commanding Bull, the hangman of Newgate, to despatch "in the quartering of him," lest, as they said, he should revive, and rebuked him that he did not despatch speedily. All the town loved him exceedingly, so did the keepers, and most of the magistrates of the shire. No man seemed in countenance, to mislike him, but much sorrowed and lamented his death. Who most constantly, catholicly, patiently, and meekly ended this mortal life, to rise triumphantly, his innocency known to all the world,

He had been long in prison, very ill used, cruelly handled, and extremely racked. He was once or twice demanded, Whether he would go to their church? (for that would have made amends for all these treasons.) Why, said he, you say I am in for treason, discharge me of that, and then you shall know farther of my mind for the other. All fair means, all foul means, all extremity, all policy were used to find that which was not. After his racking, the lieutenant of the Tower sent to him his servant, with this letter.

I have herewith sent you pen, ink, and paper; and I pray you write what you have said to Eliot, and to your host in London, concerning the queen and the state; and thereof fail not, as you will answer at your uttermost peril.

Right Worshipful,

MR. PAINE'S ANSWER.

My duty remembered, being not able to write without better hands, I have, by your appointment, used the help of your servant. For answer to your interrogations, I have already said sufficient for a man that regardeth his own salvation, and that with such advised asseverations attered as amongst Christian men, ought to be believed, yet once again, briefly, for obedience sake,

First, touching her majesty, I pray God long to preserve her highness to his honour, and her heart's desire; unto whom I always have, and during life will wish no worse than to my own soul. If her pleasure be not that I shall live and serve her as my sovereign prince, then will I willingly die her faithful subject, and, I trust, God's true servant.

Touching the state, I protest, that I am, and ever have been, free from the knowledge of any practice whatsoever, either within or without the realm, intended against the same; for the verity whereof, as I have often before you and the rest of her grace's commissioners, called God to witness, so do I now again, and one day before His Majesty, the truth now not credited will be then revealed.

For Eliot, I forgive his monstrous wickedness, and defy his malicious inventions; wishing that his former behaviour towards others, being well known, as hereafter it will, were not a sufficient disproof of these devised slanders.

For host, or other person living, in London or elsewhere, (unless they be by subornation of my bloody enemy corrupted,) I know they can neither for word, deed, or any disloyalty, justly touch me and so

before the seat of God, as also before the sight of men, will I answer at my utmost peril.

Her majesty's faithful subject, and

Your worship's humble prisoner,

JOHN PAINE, Priest.

Mr. Paine's execution is recorded by Mr. Stow, in his annals, 1582, 'John Paine, priest, being indicted for high treason, for words by him spoken to one Eliot, was arraigned, condemned, and executed at Chelmsford.'

He suffered April 2d, 1582.

THOMAS FORDE, PRIEST.*

THOMAS FORDE was born in Devonshire, brought up in Trinity college, Oxford; where he took the degree of master of arts, in 1567, and was soon after admitted fellow of that college: but not liking the protestant religion, he quitted his fellowship, and all other temporal hopes, and went over to the college or seminary lately instituted at Douay, where he arrived in 1571; and, after having for some time there seriously applied himself to the study of divinity, he was made priest in 1573, at the same time with those two eminent divines, Richard Bristow and Gregory Martin; these being the three first that were presented to holy orders from Douay college. He took his degree of bachelor of divinity, in 1576; and soon after, returned into England upon the mission, where he laboured for some years with great fruit in the conversion of many souls. He was apprehended on the 17th of July, 1581, with father Campion, in the house of Mr. Yates, of Lyford, in Berkshire; and with him, was carried up to London, and cast into the Tower, and condemned the November following, for the pretended conspiracy of Rhemes and Rome; whereas, he had never been in his life, either at Rhemes or Rome; nor had the witnesses that appeared against him, "Sledd and Munday, the Oates and Bedlow of those days, so much as seen Mr. Forde before his imprisonment.

ever

He received sentence of death, the 21st of November, 1581; but was not executed till May, 28, 1582. In the mean time, to make his execution, and that of his companions, more plausible, and that it might appear to the world, if they were not guilty of the pretended conspiracy, (which even the queen herself, did not believe,) that they were at least disaffected persons to her majesty, and as such, deserved to die, they sent to them, the queen's attorney and solicitor, Popham and Egerton, with two civilians, Hammond and Lewes, to propose six articles to them concerning the bull of pius V., and what obedience was to be paid to that decree; and what they thought of the pope's deposing power; and of certain passages of the writings of Dr. Saunders and Dr. Bristow; in fine, what they would do in case of an invasion on account of religion?

* From the records of Douay college; and from a printed account of the execution of him and his companions, by an eye-witness.