During the few days he remained in prison, between his condemnation and execution, his soul seemed always full of joy at the prospect of his approaching happiness. Great numbers came to visit him, and not one of them who did not depart highly edified with his comportment and conversation. On the day that he was to be executed, he found means to celebrate mass in prison early in the morning, which he did with singular devotion; and after mass made a short, but pathetic exhortation to the catholics that were present, giving them his last bene diction, and desiring of them, that as often as in passing through the, city, they should see that hand of his fixed on one of the gates, or in crossing the water should see his head on London bridge, they would remember those lessons which he had preached to them, of the necessity of holding fast the catholic faith, and of leading a christian and holy life. When he was admonished that the officers of justice waited for him below, he readily obeyed the summons, and walked down the steps with an edifying composure, and a modest chearfulness in his looks, saluting the sheriff and all the people with great civility. Then coming up to the hurdle, and taking Mr. Reynolds by the hand, who was already placed on it, and with his usual facetiousness, feeling his pulse, asked him, how he found himself now? In very good heart, said Mr. Reynolds, blessed be God for it, and glad that I am to have for my companion in death a person of your undaunted courage. Then after mutual salutations, Mr. Roe being also fastened on the hurdle, they were drawn to Tyburn, as we have already seen in the acts of Mr. Reynolds. When they were arrived at Tyburn, they made their last confessions to each other, and after mutual embraces and congratulations, getting up into the cart, they kissed the ropes, and put them on, as their last stoles, in which they were to offer their last sacrifice; and heartily recommended themselves to the prayers of all catholics. We have already taken notice of the last speech of Mr. Reynolds, (during which Mr. Roe was busy in preparing for death one of the malefactors whom he had reconciled in prison) and how Mr. Roe was hindered by the sheriff from proceeding in his discourse to the people; upon which occasion, he begged leave to speak a word or two to the sheriff himself, who told him, he might pray sir, said Mr. Roe, if I will conform to your religion, and go to church, will you. secure me my life? That I will, said the sheriff, upon my word; my life for yours if you will but do that. See then, said Mr. Roe, turning to the people, what the crime is for which I am to die, and whether my religion be not my only treason. Other particulars relating to Mr. Roe's death have been recorded above. He recommended his soul to God when the cart was about to be drawn away; and he was observed, whilst he was hanging, to hold for some time his hands joined before his breast, and twice separating them a little, to join them again, as one employed in prayer. When he was cut down and stripped, in order to be quartered, a certain writing was found about him, perhaps the speech which he de signed to have spoke, which the sheriff immediately laid hold of, and is said to have laid before the parliament; but what in particular wete the contents of it, we have not been informed. 168. *John Lockwood, alias Lassels, Priest. JOHN Lockwood was eldest son of Christopher Lockwood, esq. of Soresby in the county of York, by N. Lassels his wife, daughter of sir Robert Lassels of Brackenbrough, in the same county. He was born in 1555, according to the Douay diary, which gives him no more than 87 years of age, when he suffered; (though I have before me some relations, which affirm that he was at that time 96 years old.) He had exercised his priestly functions, according to the same diary, for the space of 44 years before his martyrdom so it is likely he did not retire out of England till late. Whenever it was, we are assured that he voluntarily quitted an estate of four hundred a year, to devote himself to the service of God and his neighhours, in the quality of a priest and of a missioner; and that at a time, and in a kingdom, where he could look for nothing else in that quality but labours and dangers, prisons, and death. He performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Douay or Rhemes, and partly in that of Rome: but at Rome he was made priest, as appears from his answer in court, when being charged with being a Roman priest, he answered, that it was right enough expressed in his regard, for indeed, said he, I was ordained priest at Rome. He was twice at least a prisoner for his faith, before his last apprehension: for I find in Molanus, that he was sent from prison into banishment in 1610; and after his return upon the mission was retaken again, and then brought upon his trial, and condemned to die; but was reprieved, and kept in prison. How long he was confined at this time I have not found, nor how he escaped out of prison: probably he was discharged, as many others were, either upon occasion of the marriage-treaty with Spain, or by the interest of queen Henrietta Maria. He was apprehended for the last time at a place called the Wood-end, the house of Mrs. Catenby, a catholic widow, where the old gentleman had lived for some years. He was cultivating his little garden, when the blood-hounds rushed in upon him, and easily secured their prey.--The pursuivants were inhabitants of a neighbouring market town called Thirsk; their leader was one Cuthbert Langdale; and he and another wretch, to fill up the measure of their iniquities, appeared witnesses against him at the York assizes, and took away the life of the good old man. Some odd circumstances, bordering upon cruelty, which accompanied the commitment and condemnation of Mr. Lockwood, especially considering his great age, and the peaceable and inoffensive disposition of the man, gave much offence, not only to catholics, but to many of the more moderate protestants; insomuch, that even to this day, says Mr. Kn. his execution is mentioned in Yorkshire with pity and compassion. Though as for his own part, it appears by the sequel of the story, that he was well satisfied with the orders of providence, and did even joyfully take up his cross to follow his dying Saviour. He took leave of his friends with a wonderful evenness of mind, and manifestly shewed From the Douay diary, by Mr. Ireland, and from the manuscript collections of Mr. Knaresborough." by his behaviour, that he was hot under the least concern at his commitment, or the consequences of it. 6 : The great difficulty was, how to convey the prisoner to York. They set him on horseback, but through weakness and age he was not able to ride: Upon this, Cuthbert gets on behind, and supports his feeble charge; but neither would this contrivance long succeed; the poor “old man after a short trial fainted away, and had like to have disappointed the priest-catcher of his reward. When he was a little recovered, they jogged on again, but again the old gentleman grew very sick, and plainly told his governor, that he could no longer sit on horseback then you shall lie on horseback, quoth Cuthbert; for to • York castle you are sent, and to York castle you shall go, with leave of 'the Lord. Accordingly they laid the prisoner on the horse, Cuth ́bert still riding behind, with one hand managing the beast, and his prisoner with the other. And thus moving on by easy marches, after many a halt, and many a sick fit, and fainting away, he brought his charge alive to York, where they made an odd appearance in the streets, ' and had many lookers on. A passage well remembered, says Mt. "Kn., " from whom we have transcribed it," spoke of to this day and ' by the antient inhabitants of that city, with indignation and horror,” 6 Cuthbert having now performed his task, and delivered up his prisoner to the gaoler, was making haste homeward, when Mr. Lockwood very friendly called to him, and at the same time pulling out his purse, hark you Cuthbert,' says the old gentleman, I have even given you a great deal of trouble in bringing me to this happy place, •here take that angel for your pains, and the Lord be with you.' And five shillings more he gave to the under priest-catcher for his share in the trouble, so they took leave of each other, and parted very good friends. At the next assizes Mr. Lockwood, with his fellow prisoner Mr. Catherick, was tried and condemned; and though they were for a short time reprieved by the king, the clamours of the parliament against reprieving priests were such at that time, that his majesty, though, as it is thought, very much against his inclinations, signed the dead warrant for their execution. And accordingly, on the 13th of April, 1642, the king and the prince of Wales, with many lords and persons of distinc tion, being then at the manor in York, Mr. Lockwood and Mr. Cathe rick were laid on a hurdle, and drawn through the streets of York to the place of execution, to suffer according to sentence. After some time employed in private devotions, the sheriff appointed Mr. Catherick to walk up the ladder: he moved towards it in obedience to orders, but shewed by his countenance, that the fears of death had encompassed and oppressed his soul; which Mr. Lockwood observing stepped forward, and planting himself at the foot of the ladder, Mr. Sheriff,' says he, under favour the place is mine, I am his senior by many years, and therefore with leave I challenge it as my right to mount the ladder first. Then applying himself to Mr. Catherick, my dear brother in Jesus Christ, and fellowsufferer,' says he, take courage; we have almost run our race, shall we faint and be tired when in sight of the prize? O let us rug in spirit to our Saviour in the garden, and call upon him in his agony and bloody sweat. O blessed Lord Jesus! who submittedst thyself to death, for the example and comfort of thy servants at the hour of their deaths, be near us we beseech thee at this moment, moderate our fears, strengthen our faith, and confirm our hopes, that in obedience to thy call we may go forth to meet thee readily and chearfully; and thankfully drink of thy chalice, how bitter soever to nature. O Jesus! sweeten it by thy grace; help thy poor servants that call upon thee, that we may here lay down our lives in obedience to thy holy will, and in defence of thy holy religion, with constancy and perseverance. Lord Jesus, once more we recommend ourselves in this dreadful hour to thee! help us by thy powerful grace, that thou O Lord mayest be glorified in our deaths, and thy church and people edified.' . This done, the holy man began to climb up the ladder as well as he could; but finding himself out of breath, he made a halt, and turning to the sheriff with a smiling countenance, good Mr. sheriff,' says he, ⚫ have a litte patience with me; indeed this same climbing a ladder is ⚫ a piece of hard service for an old man of fourscore and seven: howe ver, I will do my best; for who would not take thus much pains, Mr. Sheriff, to get heaven at the journey's end.' Then he began again to ascend, and with the help of two men, whom he rewarded with a shilling each, he arrived at the top of the ladder. Here pausing a while to recover his breath, he enquired of Mr. Catherick, how he did? good heart,' replies he, blessed be God! and ready to suffer with constancy the death his providence has allotted me. Yes, my dear Father, I am willing and ready to follow you, thanks be to my Lord and Saviour Jesus, who by his grace has strengthened me, and by 'your good example has encouraged me.' In Mr. Lockwood, overjoyed to see his companion thus disposed, prepared himself immediately for his end; and after a few words of edification to the people, and earnestly desiring the prayers of the catholics, and exhorting them to constancy and patience in their sufferings, he employed a few minutes in silent prayer, and then delivered himself up to the executioner; and whilst with hands and eyes lifted up towards heaven, he cried out, Jesus, my Saviour! Jesus my Redeemer, receive my soul! Jesus, be to me a Jesus! the executioner flung him off, and he soon expired. When he was cut down, in order to be bowelled and quartered, the hangman it seems scrupled at the butchery part, and for a time flatly re fused it; and even taking a rope threatened to hang himself, rather than embrue his hands in innocent blood. But being at last prevailed upon by a wicked woman to undergo the drudgery, he fell to work like a fury, cutting, slashing, and tearing the bodies and bowels as well of Mr. Lockwood, as of Mr. Catherick, hashing their entrails into small parts, and flinging them like a madman amongst the crowd. The heads and quarters of the two priests were disposed on the several gates or bars, as they term them, of the city; and Mr. Lockwood's head was fixed on the north gate, called Bootham-bar, close by the king's palace, at the manor, where his majesty then resided, insomuch that it was not possible for him to come out of the palace gate, or even look out from the east, but old Eleazar's bloody head was before his eyes, which must have affected his mind with some troublesome remembrances. HE E was descended from the Cathericks of Carlton, an ancient family in the north riding of Yorkshire, not far from Richmond. He perform ed his studies in the English college of Douay, and being there made priest, was sent upon the English mission about the year 1635, being then 30 years old. He stands with a fair character in the college diary, and is particularly commended for his extraordinary meekness, and for his zeal and labours in the mission. "R. D. Lockwood, eadem hora secutus est R.D. Edmundus Catherick, alias Huddlestone Eboracensis, in passione socius, eo quod Sacerdos esset. Vir mitissimus, & hujus colegii alumnus, annos habens 37, quorum 7 in vinea Anglicana operarius strenuus impenderat, Diar. MSS. R. D. Ireland, ad annum 1642.” After seven years labouring in the vineyard of his Lord, he was apprehended on the road, not far from Watlass, and was carried by the pursuivants before justice Dodsworth, who had married a near kinswoman of Mr. Catherick; to whom, it seems, the good man some time before (having been invited as a kinsman to his house) had in private candidly owned that he was a priest; so that Mr. Catherick being now brought before him, the justice without more ado committed him to York castle, and afterwards appeared as evidence against him, making oath that the prisoner had owned himself a priest in his hearing. And it is the opinion of the people of that neighbourhood even to this day. says Mr. Knaresborough in his manuscript collections, that Mr. Dodsworth and his family for some years after felt the guilt of Mr. Catherick's blood very heavy upon them, in a long series of surprising and dire disasters. He was condemned merely for being a priest. His behaviour at the place of execution, was very religious and devout. He employed the whole time in prayer, while Mr. Lockwood was upon the ladder, and by his looks and reverend posture plainly shewed, that his applications to God were full of affection and fervour. When Mr. Lockwood was turned off, Mr. Catherick was ordered up the ladder, and he chearfully obeyed his former fears were now quite dissipated, and a great calm and tranquillity had succeeded in his soul. When he was upon the ladder, he again betook himself to prayer, earnestly desiring all catholics there present to pray with him, and for him. He spoke little, saying, there was no need of it, for that his trial being lately past, whereat many of the company were present, they could all bear him witness that he I was tried and condemned for his priesthood; and that for this only, and for no other treason, he was brought thither to suffer death. He prayed for the king, his royal consort and their issue, that God in his 'mercy would shower down his blessings upon them, and send a right ⚫ understanding betwixt his majesty and his parliament Then he prayed for his persecutors, especially the person who was chiefly concerned |