die for the defence of his faith; a happiness which he said he had always aspired after, though he acknowledged himself unworthy of it. He received absolution from one of his brethren, upon giving the sign agreed upon before: and then he employed a short time in silent prayer, standing as it were in contemplation till the cart was drawn away. He was cut down before he was fully dead, dismem bered, bowelled, and quartered. His heart was saved from the flames by a priest of the same order, whom we just now mentioned: his head was set up on London bridge, and his quarters upon the gates of the city. He suffered in the 38th year of his age, the 19th of his religious profession, the 14th of his priesthood, and the 12th of his

mission.

174.

*Thomas Holland, Priest, S. J. THOMAS HOLLAND was born in Lancashire in the year 1600, and was sent over very young to the English college of St. Omer's, where he employed six years in his studies, giving so great edification to his fellow students, that he was more than once chosen by their votes prefect of the sodality of our blessed lady; and was remarkable for his talent in exhorting and encouraging his companions to piety and devotion. When he had finished his rhetorick, he was sent into Spain to the English seminary of Valladolid, in Aug. 1621, where he went through the course of his philosophy. Whilst he was here, Charles Prince of Wales arrived at Madrid, on occasion of the match then proposed with the Infanta Maria; and it was thought proper that the English seminaries in that kingdom should make their compliments to their prince upon his safe arrival: Mr. Holland was made choice of for this office by the seminary of Valladolid, and performed his part by a Latin oration, pronounced before the prince, which is said to have given great satisfaction to his royal highness and his attendants.

After three years Mr. Holland returned to Flanders, and entering into the society of Jesus, made his noviceship at Watten; and studied his divinity at Liege, where also he was made priest. From Liege he was sent to St. Ömer's, where he was confessor to the scholars, and deservedly gained the esteem and love of all, by his prudence, sweetness, and dexterity in the management of youth, and imprinting in their tender minds the fear and love of God. From St. Omer's he passed to Ghent, where he was for some time minister of the house. He made his last vows, May 28, 1634; and in the following year was sent upon the English mission, in hopes of recovering his health, which at that time was in a very bad state.

The change of air brought no advantage to his health; for the pursuivants being very busy in those days in making strict search after priests; he was forced to lie concealed in the day (London being the seat of his mission) under so close a confinement, that he scarce durst for months together walk out so much as into the garden

*From his life published in Latin at Antwerp, anno 1645; from the testimony of eye-witnesses, and persons most worthy of credit.

of the house where he was harboured; by which means, after some time, he in a manner quite lost all appetite, and had even a loathing for his food. Yet notwithstanding these disadvantages, F. Holland found means, especially for the two last years of his mission, when the times were the worst, to be very serviceable to the souls of many, by making frequent excursions amongst the poor, under the favour of the darkness of the night, or early in the morning, and under various disguises, necessary in those evil days, in which he succeeded so well, that sometimes his most intimate friends could not know him in his borrowed dress,

At length he was apprehended on suspicion, October 4, 1642, and committed to the new prison, where he was detained for about two months, till his trial coming on, he was removed to Newgate, His behaviour in prison was such as very much edified all that came near him; and it was in particular noted, that he seldom went into bed, but spent a great part of the night in prayer. Yet he was very cau tious to give his adversaries no advantage or opportunity of gathering from his carriage or behaviour that he was a priest; so that when he was brought to the bar, December the 7th, to take his trial at the Old Bailey, though four witnesses appeared against him, they could alledge no substantial proofs of his priesthood, but only bare suspicions and presumptions. However, upon these presumptions, and his refusing to swear that he was not a priest, the jury, to the surprise of the lord mayor, and others in the court, brought him in guilty; and on the tenth of the same month, the recorder pronounced sentence of death against him in the usual form. At the hearing of which F. Holland calmly said, Deo gratias, thanks be to God; and being sent back to prison, invited some other catholics there to join with him in reciting the hymn of thanksgiving, Te Deum laudamus.

He had now but a short time to live, being to suffer on Monday the 12th of December; and for this short time the prison was thronged with people of all conditions, as well English as foreigners, that came to visit him. He received them all with a religious modesty, joined with a remarkable chearfulness and courage; spoke handsomely to them, with a smiling countenance, in their respective languages (for he was a perfect master of the French, Spanish, and Dutch) and his words made a strong impression upon them. The duke of Vendosme, who was then at London, offered him his service, to endea vour to put a stop to the execution: but F. Holland humbly thanked his grace, and desired he would put himself to no trouble about him; as he had some time before, when he was first apprehended, earnestly entreated his superiors by letter, that they would put themselves to no charges on his account, nor make any interest to save his life.

After F. Holland had allowed a great part of the Saturday to receiving of these visits, he then desired to be alone for the remainder of the evening; and on the Sunday morning, having heard the confessions of many, he celebrated mass, & administered the blessed sacrament to his penitents; after which he spent some time by himself in recollection, and the rest of the day in offices of charity to the souls of his neighbours. On this day the Spanish embassador sent a gentleman to

him, recommending the king and kingdom of Spain to his prayers; and letting him know that he had ordered prayers in his chapel for his happy conflict. The father returned thanks for all favours conferred on him and his, by his excellence and the king his master, and promised that he would pray to God to be their rewarder; and would for that end offer up his last mass on the ensuing morning, for that king and kingdom.

On the 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 Tyburn, 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 be spectators of the last conflict of this servant of God; amongst the rest, the Spanish embassador with almost all his family. When the sledge was arrived at Tyburn, 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 and every one present at his trial. However, 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 beginning of this parliament; for all which favours he returned hearty thanks to the divine goodness.' Then he proceeded to tell the people, that there could be but one true faith, one true church, and no salvation out of it; when the ordinary of Newgate interrupted him, and bid him say his prayers to himself, whilst he talked with the two malefactors that were to die that day, and sung psalms with them. The father did so, and when the minister had finished, he began to pray with a loud voice that all might hear him, and made fervent acts of faith, hope, charity and contrition, offering his life and his whole being to his Maker, and begging that his sufferings and death might be accepted of through Jesus Christ's passion, &c. declaring withal, that he forgave from his heart, the judge, jury, witnesses, and all that had any ways concurred to his death and praying for the king, queen, and all the royal family, for the parliament, and the whole nation; for whose prosperity and conversion to the catholic faith, if I had, said he, as many lives as there are hairs on my head, drops of water in the ocean, or stars in the firmament, I would most willingly sacrifice them all.' Which last words were received with a shout of the people, in testimony of their approbation.

After this the father turning himself to Gregory the executioner, told

him he forgave him also, and presented him with two crowns of money,. which was all he had left. Then shutting his eyes for a while in silent prayer, and a little after opening them, and looking towards his confessor, who was there in the crowd, at this signal given, received his last absolution; after which the cart was drawn away, and he was left hanging till he quietly expired; his eyes being observed to remain fixt on heaven, and his hands all the while joined before his breast. The minister would have had the hangman cut the rope before he was dead, but Jack catch was more humane than the parson, and delayed till his pious soul was let loose from the body; and then he performed the usual butchery. Many of the catholics found means to carry off something of his blood, &c. as relicks. And even there were not wanting some amongst the protestants themselves, who highly admired and praised his virtues.

Father Holland suffered December 12, 1642, ætatis 42, societatis 19. His true character was, 'That he had extraordinary talents for promoting the greater glory of God, and that he made an extraordinary use of them. His knowledge in spirituals was such, that he was ' termed the Library of Piety, Bibliotheca Pietatis: and wherever he was in company, whatever the subject of the conversation happened to be, he would by a dexterous turn bring it to some moral or gospel instruction for the advantage of the company; imitating the great 'saint Xaverius, of whom it used to be said, that in his conversation with the people of the world, he would go in at their door, and come out at his own."

1643. This year, two venerable priests were put to death at Tyburn, both of the order of St. Francis; the first was

*

175. Henry Heath, Priest, O. S. F.

HENRY Heath was born at Peterborough about the year 1600. His parents were protestants, who brought him up to learning, and sent him to St. Bennet's college in Cambridge, where he remained about five years. The life he led here, whilst yet a protestant, was far more religious than that of his companions; and his ardour for learning was so great, that he rose at two in the morning winter and summer to his studies being now made batchelor of arts, and chosen librarian of the college, and having before observed, as he thought, some defects in the principles of his religion, he was resolved, having gotten books and opportunity, to examine the matter more thoroughly. Wherefore being willing to hear both sides speak in their own cause, he first reads Bellarmin, and then Whitaker against him. But behold, instead of satisfying his doubts by this inquiry, he discovers another defect, viz. the unfair dealing of Whitaker in citing his authors, whereas he found Bellarmin always faithful in his quotations. This made him think better of the catholic religion, and eager to look far

* From Certamen Seraphicum, p. 63, and from his life printed in English at Douay, anno 1674.

ther into it. Upon this he reads the ancient fathers, and finding them to deliver the catholic faith, he is inflamed with the love of the old religion, and seeks to communicate the same sentiments to his fellow colle→ gians: four of whom by his means not only left the college, but soon after the world too, and all became religious men, three in the holy order of St. Francis, and the fourth in the society of Jesus. Mr. Heath upon those pro→ ceedings perceived that Cambridge would quickly be too warm for him, and therefore quitted the university, and came up to London in order to be reconciled to the catholic church. With this view he applies to the Spanish embassador, but meets with no countenance. Then he addresses him→ self to a catholic gentleman "Mr. George Jarnagan" who also rejects him, suspecting his sincerity. In these streights not knowing how to meet with a priest, or which way to turn himself, he remembers what he had read of the devotions of catholics to the saints, and especially to the blessed virgin, and what helps they received by applying to her for her intercession, and is resolved to make a trial of this devotion; when behold, on a sudden the same Mr. Jarnagan, who had a little while before rejected him with reproach, meets with him, treats him most courteously, and conducts him to Mr. George Muscot, a strenuous labourer in the Lord's vineyard, afterwards president of Douay college, who heard his confession, reconciled him to God and his church, and sent him over to Douay recommended to Dr. Kellison, then president of the college; who received him kindly, and admitted him amongst the convictors of that community.

Mr. Heath had not been long at Douay, when seeing at the college some of the English friars who had been lately established in that city, and being informed of their rule and manner of life, he found a strong call to embrace that penitential institute. He communicated his desires to his confessor, and by him to the president and seniors: who approved of his vocation, and recommended him to the superiors of the English franciscans; who willingly received him, first to the habit, and then after a year's noviceship (in which he gave great proofs of a most solid virtue) to his religious profession. In religion he took the name of brother Paul of St. Magdalen, and for about nineteen years that he lived in the convent, he led a life of extraordinary perfection.

He fasted four or five of the seven days of the week for many years together, upon bread and small-beer; he constantly wore a rough haircloth, and an iron chain or girdle under his habit; he used frequent disciplines besides those of the order; when he slept, he seldom indulged himself even the poor convenience of the straw-bed allowed by the rule, but spreading a blanket upon the floor, laid himself down in his habit upon it; and after rising at midnight with the rest of the community to matins, he frequently prolonged his prayer till prime in the morning. As to his interior, it appears by certain regulations which he made for himself, and which were found, written in his own hand, after his death, that he obliged himself constantly to make a meditation after matins, to practice aspirations of the love of Jesus a hundred times in the day; to mortify upon every occasion his eyes, his tongue, his passions and affections; to support the defects of all, without murmur; to suffer incommodities, and want of necessaries, with a pure resignation; to reVOL. II.