tles, which doth still last, and will last for ever; for our Saviour promised to be with his church to the world's end, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And this is the reason why I made choice to embrace it, and all others ought to make choice of and embrace the same, to live and die in, to the intent we may be saved souls for ever: detesting (as I said before) all mistakes and errors contrary to the said one holy catholic apostolic christian faith, and Roman religion. Nothing can be held to be a true article of faith, but what is firmly grounded upon the holy word of God, taken in the right sense, by the guidance of the Holy Ghost; the rest of controversies may be disputed, but not believed, by divine faith.

Now do I further declare, that I being of this holy faith and religion, living peaceably in the commonwealth all the days of my life, have been taken suspected to be a popish priest, and have been committed to prison, and sentenced to die upon that account, for serving God, and administering the holy sacraments according to the rites and ceremonies of the Roman church, and for nothing else proved against me; and submitting myself to God's holy will, and all the penalties of the present laws of the kingdom relating thereto, I am heartily willing, by God's holy grace, to suffer death upon that account, hoping to be a saved soul by the goodness and mercy of God, and the merits and passion of our Saviour Jesus Christ. And to the intent that I may depart out of this world in love and charity, I do heartily forgive all that have in any wise offended me, and beg pardon and forgiveness of all those that I have any wise offended; and especially, I beg pardon of God Almighty, for all my heinous offences committed against his Divine Majesty in thought, word, and deed, for which I am heartily sorry, and with the help of his grace, if they were yet undone, I would do my best never to do them; and this not only for fear of being punished for my sins, but out of the hearty love I bear to my dear God, who hath created me, and redeemed me with his most bitter passion, in the person of our Saviour true God and man (and hath sanctified me with the grace of the Holy Ghost in soul and body.) As for the subversion of government, or conspiring against his majesty's life, I do sincerely protest, in the presence of Almighty God, as I hope to be a saved soul, that I had not the least knowledge of it till it was noised abroad amongst the common people, nor did I at any time after know any thing of it, otherwise than by common report after discovery, but was daily wont to pray for his majesty, and his loyal consort; and so (God willing) intend to continue as long as I have breath, begging of God Almighty to send his majesty a prosperous reign whilst he lives in this world, and after this miserable life, to grant them both eternal crowns in everlasting bliss: and the same everlasting happiness I wish to my own soul, I wish also to my enemies, to all that are here present, and the rest of the world. Amen. He was aged about 70 years.

There were many other priests, who, in the heat of this persecution, especially during the years 1679 and 1680, were arraigned and condemned, merely for their priestly character. Those whose names I have been able to recover, were,

1. Placidus Adelham, or Adland, who from a protestant minister

became a monk of the venerable order of St. Bennet, and was professed in the monastery of Paris. He was a great reader and admirer of the works of St. Augustin; was tried and condemned at the Old Baily merely as a priest, Jan. 17, 1678-9, but was reprieved and died in prison.

2. Andrew Brommich, priest, of the college of Lisbon. He was tried and condemned at Stafford, August 13, 1679, but was reprieved

and survived the storm.

3. William Atkins was tried and condemned at the same time and place. His printed trial calls him a seminary priest, but he was indeed of the Society of Jesus. He died in prison, March 7, 1680-1, being 80 years of age, only regretting, that he was not so happy as to shed his blood in his Master's cause, which he very much desired.

4. Richard Birket, priest, of the secular clergy, but of what college I have not found. He was tried and condemned at Lancaster, and died in prison a confessor of Christ.

5. Richard Fletcher, alias Barton, a priest of Douay college. He was also tried and condemned at the same time at Lancaster, but outlived the persecution.

6. John Penketh, priest, S. J. was also tried and condemned at the same time and place, but lived to see better times. He was some time alumnus of the college of Rome.

7. George Busby, priest, S. J. He was tried and condemned at Derby, but pardoned by the king.

8. James Corker, priest, and monk of the abbey of Lambspring.He was first tried for the plot, of which he was accused by Oates and Bedloe, but acquitted by the jury; then was tried as a priest, and condemned January 17, 1679-80. He was reprieved, and continued prisoner till king James's accession to the throne, and in prison reconciled great numbers to the catholic church. He was afterwards made abbot, first of Cismer, then of Lambspring, which dignity he resigned, and ended his days at Paddington, near London, much esteemed by all that knew him, for his virtue and sanctity.

9. William Nappier, alias Russel, called in religion father Marianus, a native of Oxford, and a father of the holy order of St. Francis. He was tried and condemned at the Old Bailey, at the same time with Mr. Corker, but reprieved, and after a long imprisonment sent abroad; where he died in the franciscan convent at Douay, in 1693, aged seventy-eight.

10. Charles Parry, priest, as I take it, of the secular clergy. He was tried and condemned at the same time and place. When he heard the sentence, he cried out, Te Deum Laudamus, &c. Whether he died in prison, or survived the storm, I have not learnt.

11. Henry Starkey. He was younger brother to John Starkey, of Darley in Cheshire, esq. was one of the first that appeared in arms for the king in the civil wars, in whose service he lost 40001. and one of his legs, which was taken off by a cannon ball. Being sent into banishment, he resumed his studies, and by dispensation was made priest. He was tried and condemned for his character, at the same time and place with Mr. Corker, &c. but was reprieved.

12. Lionel Anderson, alias Munson. He was a gentleman's son of Lincolnshire, of a good estate, but becoming a catholic, relinquished all his worldly pretensions, and entered into the holy order of St. Dominick, and was ordained priest. He was tried and condemned at the same time and place with Mr. Corker, &c. but was pardoned by the king.

13. William Wall, alias Marsh and Marshall. He was brother to father John Wall, who suffered at Worcester; was born in Lancashire, studied his humanity at St. Omer's, his philosophy at Rome, his divinity partly at Rome, and partly at Douay. From Douay he went upon the mission in 1652; but afterwards going over again, he became a monk of the venerable order of St. Bennet, in the abbey of Lambspring. He was arraigned upon the testimony of Oates and Bedloe for the plot with father Corker, made a brave defence, and was found not guilty; but afterwards was tried and condemned for a priest, in the company of the same father Corker, but was reprieved, and survived the persecution.

With these six last named, was arraigned also Mr. David Joseph Kemish, priest, but his trial was put off by reason of his sickness. Whether he died in prison, or survived, I cannot learn. Also Mr. Alexander Lumsden was tried on the same day with the six above-mentioned. He was a native of Aberdeen in Scotland, and a Dominican friar; was found to be a priest, but being a Scotchman, the jury brought in their verdict special, and he was not sentenced to die. Besides these, I have met with the names of some others, that felt in like manner the fury of this persecution: as James Baker, alias Hesketh, priest, condemned at the Old Bailey, February 27, 1679-80. Richard Lacy, priest, of the society of Jesus, who died also in prison at Londom, March 11, the same year. Edward Turner, priest, of the same society, who died also in prison at London, in 1681. William Allison, priest, who died prisoner in York castle. William Bennet, priest, S. J. who was also condemned in this persecution, but lived to be condemned a second time, under king William, and died a prisoner at Leicester in 1691. Bennet Constable, priest, O. S. B. who died in Durham gaol, 1683. Not to speak of divers of the catholic laity, who expired in like manner in prison, confined for their conscience.

210. *Thomas Thwing, Priest.-1680.

THOMAS Thwing, son of George Thwing, esq. of an ancient Yorkhire family, was born at Heworth near York, in the year 1635. He performed his studies abroad in the English college of Douay, where also he received all his orders, and from thence was sent priest upon the English mission in 1665, where he laboured in the vineyard of his Lord for 15 years. He was apprehended in the time of Oates's plot, and was accused by two knights of the post, Bolron and Mowbray, or May, bury, of having been at several meetings or consults at Barnboroughhall, the seat of his uncle sir Thomas Gascoigne; and there conspiring with the said sir Thomas, sir Miles Stapylton, the lady Tempest, and

* From his printed trial and speech.

others, to kill the king, and extirpate the protestant religion. Bolron had formerly been in the service of sir Thomas, as steward of his coalpits, and having cheated him of great sums of money was thereupon discharged; and being also sued by him, vowed revenge, left his religion, and accused his master, and all his relations of the plot. Maybury had also been a servant to sir Thomas, and had been guilty of divers villanies. But now, as Mr. Salmon takes notice, in his examination of bishop Burnet's history, p. 880, the great encouragement and caresses Oates and Bedloe met with, occasioned others of the like stamp to spring up in all parts of the kingdom, pretending to make discoveries of plots, many of whom, says he, were so plainly detected, that they could obtain no credit even in those believing times, which was indeed the case of these two wretches; for their story was altogether incredible; and sir Thomas Gascoigne, and the others by them accused, were acquitted. Only Mr. Thwing, being a priest, did not meet with the same justice. He was brought to his trial at York, July 29, 1680, and upon the testimony of the miscreants above mentioned, was found guilty by the jury; and on the 2d of August following received sentence of death. To which he calmly replied, innocens ego sum, I am innocent. He was reprieved for a while, viz. till the 23d of October; and then, by an order of the council, was executed according to sentence. He was drawn, hanged, and quartered at York, having first protested his innocency of all that was sworn against him, and spoke as follows:

This sudden news of my execution (after my reprieve) coming so unexpectedly, made me fear I should have more severity shewed me than has been to others; and, consequently, that I should not have full liberty to declare my mind at the place of my execution; therefore I have briefly expressed myself in writing, as follows:-First, as I hope for salvation of my soul by the benefit of the blood and passion of my blessed Saviour, I most sincerely protest, that what Robert Bolron and Laurence Mowbray swore against me, was absolutely false; for here, in the presence of the eternal God, I declare I never knew of any consult at Barnbow, the least prejudicial to the king or kingdom; nor was I ever at any such consult or meeting with sir Thomas Gascoigne, Mr. Gascoigne his son, sir Miles Stapylton, the lady Tempest, Mr. Ingleby, or any other, where any thing was ever treated, spoken, or written, about killing the king, or alteration of the government; nor did I ever see or know of any list of such names of persons mentioned and sworn by them against me.

Secondly, upon my salvation I declare, I never have been in my whole life-time guilty, even so much as in thought, of any treason against his majesty or the kingdom, it being directly contrary to the principles of our faith. Thirdly, that though I have, and do declare against the oath of allegiance, as it is worded, yet it is only by reason of some clauses therein contained, not pertaining to allegiance; and therefore, if an oath, containing nothing but allegiance, had been legally tendered me, I should have thought it a sin to have refused it. Lastly, I acknowledge myself a priest, and to have about 15 years performed a priest's function; which I am so far from denying, that I think it the greatest honour imaginable.

And now, dear countrymen, having made this protestation in the most plain terms I could, without any equivocation or mental reservation whatsoever, I appeal to the eternal Judge, whether good christians ought not to believe what is here in this manner sworn by me in my present circumstance, rather than what was sworn by my accusers: whom, notwithstanding, I beg of Almighty God to forgive: as also the jury, and all others who have been in any kind concurring to my death.

Having full time allowed him, he spoke much more to the same effect, with a clear voice, and a countenance remarkably chearful; declaring his innocence as to any plot, his loyalty to the king, his charity to his neighbours; and expressing his love and piety to God in fervent prayers and ejaculations. He concluded with these prophetic words : though I know the affairs of the kingdom are in a bad posture, yet I hope they will be cleared ere long, and then the actors thereof will be more fully known.' Just as he went off the ladder, he was distinctly heard to say these words, sweet Jesus receive my soul.

He suffered at York October 23, 1680, in the 46th year of his age. His quartered body was interred by his friends, and a copper plate buried with him, with the following Latin inscription. R. D. Thomas Thwing de Heworth, coll. Anglo-Duaceni sacerdos, post annos 15 in missione Anglicanâ transactos, eboraci condemnatus & martyrio affectus est Octob. 23, 1680.-A duobus falsis testibus, ob crimen conspirationis tunc temporis catholicis malitiosè impositum.

WILLE

211. *William Viscount Stafford.

ILLIAM Howard Viscount Stafford, was second son to Thomas earl of Arundel, and uncle to Thomas and Henry Dukes of Norfolk. In his youth he was educated with all care and industry imaginable, to improve in him the endowments of nature and grace. He was ever held to be of a generous disposition, very charitable, devout, sober, inoffensive in words, and a lover of justice. When he arrived to years of maturity, he married Mary, descended from the ancient dukes of Buckingham, grand-daughter to Edward, sister and sole heiress to Henry lord Stafford, to whose title he succeeded, being created baron by king Charles I. anno 1640, and soon after viscount Stafford, During the time of the civil wars he suffered much for his loyalty to 'the king, always behaving himself with that courage and constancy, as became a nobleman, a good christian, and a faithful subject. After king Charles IId's. restoration he lived in peace, plenty, and happiness; being blessed with a most virtuous lady to his wife, and many 'pious and dutiful children; in which state he remained till the 66th year of his age, when about Michaelmas, anno 1678, he was accused by Titus Oates of the plot, together with the lords Powis, Petre, Arundel, and Bellasis.

My lord Stafford, though he immediately heard of the accusation, relying on his own innocence, never left his family, nor withdrew * himself from his ordinary known acquaintance and affairs, till on the

* From Stafford's Memoirs, published 1681; his printed trial and speech, &c.