Memoirs of Missionary Priests and Other Catholics of Both Sexes, That Have Suffered Death in England on Religious Accounts from the Year 1577 To 1684

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1803 edition. Excerpt: ...on the ensuing morning, for that king anfkingdom. ' ' Onthe next day, being the 12th of December, having celebrated early in the morning the sacred mysteries, he was called down to the sledge about ten, to be drawn to T yburn, It was observed that neither the sheriff of London, nor the sheriff of Middlesex, was present on this occasion, which some interpreted as a testimony of their being conscious that the prisoner was unjustly condemned. Great multitudes resorted to the place of execution, to he spectators of the last conflict of this servant of God; amongst the rest, the Spanish embassador with almost all his family. Vhen the sledge was arrived at T yburn, a Father of the society, who had assisted F. Holland in prison, taking Him by the hand, bid him be of good courage, and behave himself like a man. To whom the confessor of Christ replied, with the grace of God, you need not fear; I shall not want courage. Then arising from the sledge, and perceiving the people to be very silent and attentive in expectation of what he should say, he began to speak to them (making the sign of the cross) to this effect. ' ' That he was brought thither to die for being a Roman catholic ' priest; though this had not been made out by any legal proofs, for ' which he durst appeal to all andevery one present at his trial. How' ever, for the satisfaction of such as desired to know the truth, he ' there freely acknowledged that he was a catholic and a priest, and ' by God's great goodness, a religious man of the society of Jesus, and ' the first of that order that had been sentenced to death since the be' ginning of this parliament; for all which favours he returned hearty ' thanks to the divine...