Imatges de pàgina
PDF
EPUB

children to commit any sin whatsoever, much less murder and treason; but on the contrary teaches them humility, patience, long-suffering and obedience. And yet the greatest sinner that ever was, even a kingkiller, than which he thought none could be worse; through true contrition, confessing himself with hearty repentence to his ghostly father, and ready to make satisfaction according to his power and the rules of the catholic church, might be forgiven through the merits of Christ's bitter passion, one drop of whose precious blood was sufficient to have saved ten thousand worlds, how much more one sinner, though never so vile. And that Christ himself had declared as much, St. John xx. 27, and given this power to his church, and the true ministers of the sacraments thereof, that whose sins soever they did remit should be remitted, &c. And that this was his doctrine and meaning; and there was his warrant. And then he pressed the minister to tell him, if this was not the protestant doctrine also? who could not deny but it was, if the sinner had faith but then he asked what satisfaction could be made for the death of a king. Mr. Almond replied, that faith was not sufficient, except it was applied right; for the devils believed and trembled, and yet could not be saved: and that Christ's death had made satisfaction. The minister pressing farther with an argument concerning faith and satisfaction, Mr. Almond denid the consequence: but withal desired that he might now be allowed to pray. When another minister interrupting him, asked if he had not equivocated in his former answers and protestations of loyalty. Mr. Almond protested upon his soul, no, as he should answer before God; nor had spoken with any mental reservation; and that the only reason why he had refused the oath of allegiance, as they called it, was out of tenderness of conscience, by reason of the ensnaring clauses contained therein protesting withal, that if the pope, or any foreign prince whatsoever, should by war and hostility invade this his native country, and thereby seek to overthrow the state, or make a conqust of the kingdom, or divest his majesty of any of his dominions, he ought to be resisted by every good subject, to the best of his power, and that by force and arms; and that this was the catholic doctrine and religion, which was to be brought in by preaching and miracles, after the example of Christ and his apostles, and not by blood and force of arms: that this he had ever professed and taught, and this he was ready to seal with his blood.

'Then being almost unstripped, having nothing on but his waistcoat and breeches, the halter having been long about his neck, he kneeled down and began to pray, by giving thanks to God, who had strengthened him by his grace, and brought him thither to shed his blood for the catholic religion, which he most firmly believed to every tittle without the least doubt or wavering. And here again he was interrupted by a minister that stood near, who told him he had forgot to ask forgiveness of his sins. Mr. Almond replied, he did not do well to interrupt him, that he could not do all at once, and yet he could do that without the minister's council. Then rising up he pulled several things out of his pockets, which he flung away, looking round about in the disposing of them as his affection guided him. He also

flung away some three or four pounds in silver, amongst the poor that crowded about the gallows: saying I have not much to bestow or give, for the keeper of Newgate hath been somewhat hard unto me and others that way, whom God forgive, for I do. For 1 having been prisoner there since March, we have been ill-treated continually, but now at last, without charity; for we were all put down into the hole or dungeon, or place of little ease, whence was removed since we came thither two or three cart loads of filth and dirt; we were kept twentyfour hours without bread, or meat, or drink, loaded with irons, lodging on the damp ground, and so continued for ten days or thereabouts." Here Mr. Sheriff told him, that the keeper had done nothing but by orders, and was commanded to do what he had done. I had thought, said Mr. Almond, it had been done of his own head; but since it was done by power, I will neither resist it, nor speak farther of it. Then turning to the executioner, he gave him a piece of gold, of eleven shillings; adding, I don't give thee this to spare me, for I am ready, as my duty doth bind me, to lose both life and blood, and therefore he might, if he would, rip him up alive, and cut off his hands, for that no torment was sufficient to satisfy his obedience to his Redeemer; wishing he had the heart of St. Vincent, or the body of St. Laurence, to be broiled upon a gridiron ; for he was ready to suffer all, even to be pulled in pieces, joint by joint, without any favour, so much he hoped God would strengthen him with his power; and that all that blood which he had to shed for his master, Christ, was too little, and not enough.' And then kneeling down again, he humbly acknowledged himself to be a sinner, and earnestly begged God's mercy and forgiveness; not doubting but that what sins soever he had committed, which he confessed were many, Christ, by his mercy, his death, and the shedding of his blood, would remit and pardon; and that he would now accept his willingness to shed his blood for his glory. Of which words a minister presently taking hold, asked Mr. Almond, What! do you match and compare then your blood-shedding with Christ's bloodshedding; as if Christ were not able to work your salvation, without your own means; You mistake me, quoth Mr. Almond; my sins, though venial, deserve Christ's wrath and punishment. It is his death alone, and the shedding of his blood alone, that is not only sufficient, but also efficient to save us all. I nave not much more to say, one hour overtaketh another, and though never so long, at last cometh death; and yet not death, for death is the gate of life unto us, whereby we enter into everlasting blessedness; and life is death to those that do not provide for death, for they are ever tossed and troubled with vexations, miseries, and wickedness; but to use well this life is the path-way, yet through death, to everlasting life.

Then, being in his shirt, he kneeled down, and often repeating, In manus tuas Domine, &c. Into thy hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit thou hast redeemed me, O Lord God of truth: he waited whilst the hangman prepared for the execution, at no time showing either any sign of fear or faint-heartedness through all the course of his martyrdom; but as he began smiling, so he continued constant with a cheerful countenance, instantly desiring all the true professors of the true catholic

religion to pray for him and with him and he often repeated upon his knees, looking up towards heaven, In manus tuas, &c., and so with a sure hope, having commended himself to God, he protested he died a chaste maid, which he did acknowledge was Christ's special grace, and not his own ability or worthiness, and that he ever hated all carnal acts, and such sins for which the catholic religion or profession had been slandered; for which grace he rendered thanks to God. Then, I have been, saith he, indicted and accused that I was a priest, but I will neither confess nor deny the same; but at the last day, when all secrets are revealed, and Christ shall come in glory to judge the world, to whom I hope I am now going, he will then reveal what I am.' Then being ready to die, having stood long in his shirt, the weather being cold, and the morning frosty, yet showed he no shivering, nor once to quake, but most readily yielded his hands to be tied by the executioner; and the cart being ready to be drawn away, he asked if it were not good, or the fashion to have a handkerchief over his eyes? The people cried, Yes; one offering a foul one, which was refused. Mr. Almond said it was no matter: then a stander-by gave him a clean one, and tied it over his face, which still looked cheerful. Then he desired the executioner to give him a sign when the cart was to be drawn away, that he might die with the name of his blessed Saviour Jesus, that sweet name of comfort, in his mouth.' He often repeated these words, In manus tuas Domine, &c., and the sign being given, he cried, Jesu, Jesu, Jesu; and then hanging for about the space of three Pater-nosters, some of the standers-by pulling him by the legs to despatch his life; he was cut down and quartered, his soul flying swiftly to Him that redeemed us all, for whose quarrel he protested he died. So far the MS,. written by an eye-witness.

6

As for Dr. King, bishop of London, who is supposed to have been the principal promoter of Mr. Almond's death; instead of reaping any joy from the execution of this good priest, he is said to have been ever after a man of sorrows. And if we may believe what is confidently as serted by the catholic writers of those times, he was, before his death, favoured by a grace, seldom granted to persecutors, to become, himself, a catholic, and to die in the communion of that church, which he had cruelly persecuted. In the preface of a book, published in his name, after his death, and called, "The Bishop of London's Legacy:" he is introduced thus, addressing himself to our martyr. O happy Almond, who here upon earth, didst mask thyself under the name of Molineux! in thy blood, even in thy blood did I wash my hands: it was I that did further thy death. Be thou, O blessed saint, who now seest and hearest me, (Quid non vidit, qui videntum omnia vidit? What does he not see, who sees Him that sees all things?) be thou, I say, out of thy seraphical charity, as propitious to pray for the remitting of that crying sin, as I am ready to acknowledge the sin: and let thy blood (guilty of no other treason than in not being a traitor to Christ and his church) not resemble the blood of Abel, which cried for revenge against his brother, but rather the blood of Christ, which prayed for pardon his crucifiers.' Epistle to the reader, p. 10, 11.-Mr. Almond suffered at Tyburn, December the 5th, 1612, in the 45th year of his age, the

eleventh of his mission.

of

JOHN MAWSON-THOMAS ATKINSON.

53

JOHN MAWSON, LAYMAN.

I FIND this name in the list of those that suffered this year for the catholic religion: but with little or no particulars. He was apprehended whilst he was actually hearing mass: but as this is not capital, by our laws, he must have suffered on some other charge. Whether it was for being reconciled to the Roman catholic church; or for assisting priests; or for being instrumental in the conversion of others, &c., my short memoirs do not inform me only that he suffered at Tyburn, upon the penal statutes then in force against the English catholics.

This year, 1612, according to B. W. in his manuscript concerning the English Benedictine congregation, Thomas Hill, D. D. who from a seminary priest, educated in the colleges of Rhemes and Rome, became a monk of the said congregation, was condemned to die for his priestly character; but was not executed. He died afterwards, at Douay in 1644, in the 84th year of his age, the 53d of his priesthood, and the 33d of his religious profession. He was the author of a little book of motives to the catholic religion, entitled, A Quartron of Reasons, &c., which archbishop Abbot undertook to answer.

During the three following years, 1613, 1614, and 1615, though the catholics were still great sufferers, on account of their recusancy, by heavy fines, close imprisonments, &c., yet I find none put to death for their religion. In the latter end of 1615, I find in the Douay diary, Mr. Smith, Mr. Blount, and Mr. Brown, priests, sent into banishment from Wisbich castle, and in the same year, father Robert Edmonds, O. S. B. died a prisoner for his faith, in the Gatehouse. But in the year 1616, the sword of persecution was again unsheathed, and no less than four priests, and one layman, were put to death upon the penal statutes.

THOMAS ATKINSON, PRIEST.-1616. *

THOMAS ATKINSON was born in the East-Riding of Yorkshire, and educated in Douay college, during its residence at Rhemes, where he was ordained priest, as appears by the college diary, in 1588, and sent the same year upon the English mission. His missionary labours were employed in his native country, where, for near 30 years, he faithfully and zealously discharged every part of the duty of an apostolic pastor. In recalling many, says my author, to the catholic faith; in diligently visiting his flock, which were numerous, and spread in many distant places, to confirm them with the sacraments, to encourage them, and push them forward to the practices of virtue, and to arm them against the deceits and fury of their adversaries; travelling always on foot; frequently passing whole nights without sleep, either employed in the

From a letter sent over to Douay by a missionary priest in 1616, giving an account of the death of Mr. Atkinson, and the others that suffered that year, published the following year at Douay, under the title of Exemplar Literarum, &c, page 43. Item from two manuscripts in my hands.

functions of his ministry, or in his journeys; for by serving the same parts of the country for so many years, he was become so well known to the heretics, that he could not safely travel by day. Till at length, it pleased the divine Majesty, to reward these labours of his servant, and his tears, which he continually shed in prayer, and his most holy life by a glorious and triumphant death. '

Of Mr. Atkinson and his labours, thus also writes the lady Babthorpe, his cotemporary, in a manuscript which I have before me. There was a good priest, one Mr. Atkinson, in our country, who lived long in doing great service to God: taking great pains in serving the poor, who, without such pains, could not have had those helps and comforts that they stood in need of in that time. For divers years, he travelled afoot, enduring all weathers; and many times, when he had a weary and wet day, the houses to which he went, could not receive him in; but he was obliged to stay in some out-house or corner, being both wet and cold, and even in the time of frost and snow, so long, till the owners of the houses could receive him in with safety. This he used so long, that in a great frost, he got a fall and broke his leg; in the cure of which he suffered much, lighting on a bad surgeon. Yet after his recovery, he used his former charity and pains; but not being able to travel much on foot, he had a horse to help him. In this man, God showed wonderful things at his taking and imprisonment.-One was, that his irons fell off his legs, when the keeper had fastened them on; which being reported to the lord Sheffield, who was the president of the North, he sent to the keeper to know if it were true, who confessed the truth. Another charity the good man used, was, when he came to poor folks houses, he would not let them be at any charge, but both found himself meat and them; and gave them money too: so what he received from those that were able, he bestowed on the poor.

His apprehension and death, is thus briefly related, in a manuscript sent me from St. Omer's, written the same year that he suffered, and agreeing perfectly with the printed account published at Douay.

A venerable priest called Mr. Atkinson, a man of 70 years of age, or more, who had laboured in this yineyard about 30, (rather 28) years, in the province of York, going always on foot, and for the most part, by night, from one catholic house to another, to help, confess, and administer the holy sacraments; in this present year of our Lord, 1616, coming to the house of a catholic gentleman, "Mr. Vavasour of Willitoft," was espied by a heretic, and suspected to be a priest; who maliciously advertised some officers of it: and they coming with all speed, met the said priest coming from the catholic house, and apprehended him; carrying him with the gentleman, his wife and children, guarded with armed men, to the city of York. Where it being the time of the assizes," he was brought before the president and the judges there present. They examined him, Whether he was a priest or no? Which the holy man would not acknowledge, for fear of endangering the goods and lives of the gentleman, and his wife and children, who had harboured him; " yet would not directly deny, because he would not say any thing that might have any colour or appearance of untruth. Yet the judges, having no other proof or witness, condemned him to death, and gave sentence on him as a traitor.

« AnteriorContinua »