ཟ

being then 20 years old. After having finished his noviceship and his higher studies, with great satisfaction to his superiors, he was made priest, and sent upon the English mission in 1675. South Wales was the province assigned him, which he diligently cultivated for near four years, having the character of an unwearied labourer in the vineyard, zealous in gaining souls to Christ, and fearing no dangers, where the glory of his Lord, and his neighbour's salvation called him forth. When the persecution broke out, on account of Oates's plot, he was advised by some friends to withdraw himself, his zeal having made him so well known in that country, and withal so obnoxious to the persecutors; but he would not hear of any such counsel, but chose rather to risk his life, like a good shepherd, with and for his sheep, than run away like the hireling, and leave them to the mercy of the wolves. He was apprehended not long after by justice Logher; and upon his refusing the oaths, was committed to Cardiff goal; where for above three weeks he was kept alone in a dungeon or cellar under ground, no one being suffered to come near him, or speak to him : till at length Mr. John Lloyd, a virtuous priest of the secular clergy, was committed to the same prison, and from that time till death was his constant companion. Five months passed before any could be induced to appear as witnesses against these confessors of Christ, till at length two poor wretches, a mother and her daughter, appeared against father Evans, and some others against Mr. Lloyd; and they were both found guilty by their jury of the high treason of priesthood.

When the sentence was pronounced, F. Evans with a chearful countenance bowing himself down, returned thanks to the judge, and so with great joy went back with his companion to his lodging in the goal. However their execution was deferred for some time; yea so long, that it was thought they would not suffer; and they had even liberty sometimes to go out of prison, and to recreate themselves; when behold on a sudden orders came for their being executed the next day. My author "Florus Anglo-Bavaricus, p. 179." tells us, that when these orders came, M. Evans was actually abroad, engaged in an innocent recreation; and that when the jailor called upon him to acquaint him with the news, and to bring him back to prison; he unconcernedly replied, What haste is there? let me first play out my game; and so he did, and then returned to the prison. Here he could scarce contain himself for joy; which he expressed as well by taking up his harp, (for he was a musician) and playing upon it, as by seve ral other tokens of a soul perfectly transported with the thoughts of the happiness now so near at hand, of dying for his faith and character. And now the irons were put upon his feet, which he joyfully kissed; and many catholics flocking to the prison, he took that opportunity of making them a short exhortation to constancy in their faith and patience in their sufferings.

'On the next day being the 22d of July 1679, about nine of the 'clock in the morning, the under sheriff Mr. Charles Evans came to the cellar in the goal, where the confessors were kept, and immediately a smith was sent for to take off their irons, which were so hard set on, that the smith was above an hour in taking off Mr. Evans's

alone, which was not done without great pain to him; notwithstanding which he never gave the least sign of impatience or trouble, but encouraged the man to go on with his work, without fear of hurting him. When they were brought out of the cellar, they desired to walk on foot to the place of execution, but were refused, and put both upon one cart; their arms pinioned; all the way reading 'their books. When they arrived at the place of execution, they followed St. Andrew's example, saying, welcome good cross, and falling upon their knees, kissed the post of the gallows, and remained praying there a good while: when they had done, they asked which was to die first? the sheriff answered, Mr. Evans; he bowing, spake these 'few words:

'I need not tell you why we are brought here to suffer ; our sentence of condemnation is a sufficient witness, that it was not for a plot, or any other crime, but for being priests; consequently I do die for religion and conscience sake: I shall not speak much of the goodness of my cause, because I think it will be needless; but it is so good, that I would not give the happiness of dying for it, for all the crowns of the world. Sure if a man ever speaks truth, it must be at the hour of death, therefore I hope nobody will doubt of what I say. If I have or had any enemies in the world, which I do not ⚫ know that ever I had any in my life, I do heartily forgive them, for any thing done or said against me; and if I have offended any body, I am heartily sorry for it, and ask them forgiveness. I pray God bless and prosper the king. I beg the prayers of all, and in parti'culat of the catholics here present. That done, he kneeled down again with some friends about him, and having said some prayers, ⚫ he took his leave of them, and went up the ladder; upon which he ▪ spoke again these words: sure this is the best pulpit a man can have to preach in, therefore I cannot forbear to tell you again, that I die for God and religion sake; and I think myself so happy, that if I • had never so many lives, I would willingly give them all for so good If I could live, it would be but for a little time, though I am but young; happy am I that can purchase with a short pain an everlasting life. I do forgive all those that have had any hand in my death, accusation or condemnation: I ask again forgiveness of every body; I give thanks to all those that have been kind to me, and to you Mr. Sheriff. Adieu Mr. Lloyd, though for a little time, for we shall shortly meet again. Pray for me all; and I shall return it, when it pleaseth God that I shall enjoy the beatifical vision. If any of you that see me die thus willingly for my religion, have any good thought upon it, I shall think myself happy. Then he made a stop, and after a little while, said with a clear and chearful voice, * in manus tuas, Domine commendo spiritum meum; and so giving the sign, the executioner turned him over, and the ladder being very short, it stirred with him; then Mr. Richard Jones, one of the sheriff's bailiffs, took his legs from it, and turned them after his body. All that were present can justify, that he never looked better, nor more chearful than he did then: all this will be testified (if need be) by credible persons as well protestants as catholics,' says the printed

.

a cause.

account of his death.

During the time of Mr. Evans's execution, Mr. Lloyd stood by with as much constancy and chearfulness as any man could have; and before he went up the ladder, he said these words following more distinctly and heartily than ever he did in his life, by the report of those that have known him these many years.

'My fellow sufferer has declared the cause of our death, therefore · I need not repeat it; and besides I never was a good speaker in my life. I shall only say, that I die in the true catholic and apostolic faith, according to these words in the creed, I believe the holy catholic church; and with those three virtues, faith, hope and charity. I forgive all those that have offended me; and if I have offended any body, I am heartily sorry for it, and ask them forgiveness. I beg the prayers of all, and in particular of the catholics here present, desiring them to bear their crosses patiently, and to remember that passage of holy scripture, Happy are they that suffer persecution for 'justice, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Then he went up the ladder, and there gave thanks to all those that had been kind to him, and in particular to the sheriff; then he made a little stop; after "which he said, Mr. Carne, you have been always my benefactor, for me now; then he knocked his breast three times, and said in Latin, Lord have mercy upon me, a sinner, and, into thy hands, Lord, I recommend my spirit; so gave the sign and was turned over.' They suffered at Cardiff in Glamorganshire, July 22. Father Evans was 34 years old when he suffered, of which he had spent 14 in the society.

'pray

204. * Nicholas Postgate, vulgò Posket, Priest. NICHOLAS Postgate was born at Kirkdale house, in the parish of

Eyton, in Yorkshire, about the end of the sixteenth century. His parents were catholics, and great sufferers for their religion. He performed all his studies in the English college of Douay, where he was admitted convictor (being already grown up to man's estate) in 1621; took the college oath the 12th of March, 1623; was promoted to minor orders December 28, 1624: to the order of sub-deacon December 18, 1627; to the order of deacon, March 18, 1628, and made priest the 20th of March the same year. He has a very fair character in the diary, or journal of the college; from whence he was sent, with proper faculties, upon the English mission, the 29th of June, 1630. His missionary labours were employed in his native country of Yorkshire, for about 50 years, with great benefit to innumerable souls; many, hundreds, some say a thousand, having been reclaimed from their errors or vices by his ministry. His-residence, at least for the latter part of his life, was, as we learn from Mr. Ward, (Canto IV. of the reformation) who says, he knew him well, upon a lingy moor, called Blackamoor, about two miles from Mulgrave castle, and five miles from Whitby. This author writes of him as follows:

Vol. II.

* From the Douay diary, and other monuments.
Ff

The holy man was apprehended by one Reeves an exciseman, an implacable enemy of catholics, at the house of Matthew Lythis at Little-Beck, near Whitby, and was with his harbourer committed to York goal. When his trial came on, he was indicted for high treason, not as a plotter, but as a priest. The witnesses that appeared against him were Elizabeth Wood, Elizabeth Baxter, and Richard Morrice. These deposed, that they had seen him baptize, and exercise other priestly functions; and upon their evidence he was found guilty by his jury, and condemned to die, which sentence was no ways unwelcome to him, who had been learning to die all his life-time.

The day allotted for his triumphant exit, was the 7th of August, 1679; on which day in the morning, amongst other visitors, went to see him, Mrs. Fairfax, wife to Mr. Charles Fairfax of York, and Mrs. Meynel of Kilvington. These ladies having done their devotions, went together to his room, to take their last leave of him, and to crave his blessing. The confessor seeing them in great concern, whereas he was chearful, came up to them, and laying his right hand upon the one, and his left upon the other, they being both at that time big with child, he spoke these words to them: Be of good heart, children, you shall both be delivered of sons, and they will be both saved. Immediately after he was laid upon a sledge, and drawn through the streets to the place of execution, where he suffered with great constancy. The two ladies were soon after brought to bed of sons, who were both baptized, and both died in their infancy. This, says the reverend Mr. Knaresborough, in a paper which I have now before me, was told me by Mrs. Fairfax, one of the parties, the 5th of October, 1705.

At the gallows he spoke little; the substance of his words was, I die in the catholic religion, out of which there is no salvation; Mr. Sheriff, you know I die not for the plot, but for my religion. I pray God bless the king and the royal family. Be pleased, Mr. Sheriff, to acquaint his majesty, that I never offended him in any € manner of way. I pray God give him his grace, and the light of

truth. I forgive all that have wronged me, and brought me to this death, and I desire forgiveness of all people.' He was executed according to sentence; his quartered body was given to his friends, and interred. One of his hands is preserved in Douay college. The following inscription was put upon a copper plate, and thrown into his coffin.

'Here lies that reverend and pious divine, Dr. Nicholas Postgate, who was educated in the English college at Douay. And after he had laboured fifty years, (to the admirable benefit and conversion of hundreds of souls) was at last advanced to a glorious crown of martyrdom at the city of York, on the 7th of August, 1679, having been priest 51 years, aged 82.'

The unhappy Reeves, who apprehended him, never had the £20 reward which he looked for; but after having suffered for some time an extreme torture in body and mind, was found drowned in a small brook.

205. * Charles Mahony, Priest, O. S. F.

He was born in Ireland, and entering amongst the religious of the holy

order of St. Francis, made his solemn profession, and was advanced to the sacred dignity of priesthood. Other particulars relating to his life and conversation, I have not found; only, that as he was returning from abroad to his native country, he was drove upon the coast of England; and travelling through Wales in the heat of the persecution, and being found out to be a priest, was committed to prison, and brought upon his trial at Denbigh, upon an indictment of high treason, for taking orders in the church of Rome, and being found in this kingdom. At his trial he confessed himself to be a priest, and was thereupon condemned, and sent to Ruthin to suffer. On the 12th of August, 1679, he was drawn in his habit to the place of execution, where he spoke as follows;

Now God Almighty is pleased I should suffer martyrdom, his holy name be praised, since I die for my religion. But you have no right to put me to death in this country, though I confessed myself to be a priest, for you seized me as I was going to my native country, Ireland, being driven at sea on this coast; for I never used my function in England before I was taken: however, God forgive you, ' for I do, and shall always pray for you, especially for those that were so good to me in my distress, I pray God bless our king, and 'defend him from his enemies, and convert him to the holy catholic faith. Amen.'

He suffered with great constancy, being cut down alive and butchered, according to sentence, as I remember to have read in a manuscript, which I could not since recover. His age was under forty.

* From a short manuscript printed after his death.