Chapter II. [I.] The State Of Persecuted Catholics At The Queen's Death And The King's Entry, With Their Hopes Of Relaxation By Him, Whereof They Failed.
I was desirous by the former chapter to make known unto you the state of things how they passed in England until the end of Queen Elizabeth's reign; wherein though I was more long than I had thought to be, yet little methinks is said in comparison of that feeling which we must needs have that live here, and see daily before our eyes “abominationem desolationis stantem in loco sancto;”[269] that have so many causes to put us often in mind of the glory and splendour of the Church robbed and spoiled by the first schism under King Henry, overthrown and defaced by heresy, beginning to prevail under King Edward; and wholly trodden upon and cruelly persecuted during all the long reign of Queen Elizabeth, in which all means were used that policy could invent, or power perform, to root out all Catholics and Catholic religion out of England.
To which effect they continually devised and imposed all kinds of penalties upon such as would profess the Roman Faith. They made sundry and most severe statutes (as may appear in the end of this book) against all practice of Catholic religion. They made it death to receive the absolution of a Priest; yea, death to harbour a Priest in house, or to give him a cup of drink, or any assistance in his need; death to persuade any to the [pg 016] Catholic religion. They laid the premunire, which is a punishment worse than death, for keeping an Agnus Dei, or hallowed grains, or such like comforts of soul, that come from Rome. Finally, whatsoever the wit or malice of the least pitiful hearts could find out, all that was inflicted and laid upon our backs. For commonly they were such that were put in authority, either in searches, or examinations, or executions—such were authorized, such were countenanced, and borne out whatsoever insolencies they committed against us, of which infinite examples might be alleged. As for death itself, though it was the ordinary pain of the law against Catholics for practice of their Faith (acts of religion being now made acts of treason), and so came often in practice; yet was it not so heavy a load as we felt by the other laws, and the outrageous execution of them, in far worse sort than yet the laws permitted or had devised against us. True it is they put to cruel death many and worthy persons. One famous and religious Queen, mother to this King who now reigneth—an act not oft recorded in other persecutions, though never so severe. One also of the ancient Earls they put to death in like manner by the sword; two or three others of the chiefest whilst they were in prison. Other noblemen died in banishment; and many persons of great families and estimation were at several times put to death under pretence of treason, which also was their cloak to cover their cruelties against such Priests and Religious as were sent into England by authority from His Holiness to teach and preach the Faith of Christ and to minister the Sacraments. But he that would endeavour those things in this time was not “amicus Cæsaris,”[270] and as such, both the Priest himself must be condemned and he that would show him any favour.
Of this kind the number was great that suffered (our [pg 017] difficulty considered in preparing them, and penury of so fit workmen), but their worth was much greater than this short treatise can or may contain: it is worthily reserved for a more full discourse, and indeed it will require a just volume by itself. It shall suffice us here to know, that as all were holy and full of spirit, fit for men that are sent in such an Apostolical mission, so many of them excelled in rare gifts, and for such were known and esteemed highly by Catholics before their apprehension. There was of them a Campian, so eloquent, and so much overmatching the heretics in public disputation (although they came fully armed and provided against a prisoner after tortures, preparing himself to die), that a courtier went from the disputation presently to the Queen, and said if that man were suffered to live he were enough to pervert the whole realm. Convert, they would have said, but that heresy would not permit their tongue to tell the truth. There died with him a most valiant Sherwin, full of St. Laurence his fervent spirit, and ten other Priests, redoubted servants of Christ, each one singular in their kind. Amongst whom one other was of the Society, called Brian; a man of such devotion to the Passion of Christ, that when he was extremely racked before his martyrdom, his mind being fixed in the meditation of Christ His Passion, he felt not their torments, nor any pain but only a little in one hand, upon a lively impression he then had of the pain our Lord suffered when His holy hands were pierced. What should I reckon up a Cornelius, so famous in preaching that all Catholics followed him as children do their nurse when they long for milk, and the man so full of the Apostle's charity, that with one fervent speech in imitation of the offer which St. Paul made to be “anathema pro fratribus,”[271] he expelled a devil out of a person whom he [pg 018] was exorcising. I know the time and place where it was performed; and where another wicked spirit confessed in a possessed person that his fellow was cast out by Cornelius his charity. This good Father was the third of the Society which suffered death by public justice for profession of the Catholic Roman Faith.
What a famous man, and how much beloved was Father Southwell! whose excellent parts England cannot forget; and if it would be so ungrateful, yet his works there extant, so full of spirit and eloquence both in prose and verse, would suffice abundantly to make the cruelty of his persecutors much accused, and his life so shortened much lamented, who living would have been so profitable and pleasing to all sorts. His value and high merit before God was much to be seen, in that he was delivered over by God's ordinance to encounter hand to hand the cruelest tyrant of all England, Topliffe, a man most infamous and hateful to all the realm for his bloody and butcherly mind; and this man had Father Southwell many weeks together in his house alone to use him at his pleasure, where he kept him in his boots as he was taken, with bolts of iron upon his arms, and in a chamber without any bed or straw to lie upon, where he was to turn himself upon his side, and lie upon the floor like a dog when he list to sleep, as full of lice as he might hold. There also he put him nine times most cruelly upon the torture, which Father Southwell at his arraignment professed was more grievous to him than nine deaths could or would have been. About that time also suffered at York another famous Priest of the Society called Father Henry Walpole, whom first they had tortured fourteen times in the Tower, and that in very extreme manner. This gentleman was known to be of excellent parts before his going over to take that happy course of Religious life, in so much that with his sweet conversation and devout carriage he won divers to be Catholics even then before [pg 019] he was Priest, and it was expected he would have proved an excellent workman in that harvest, if the cruelty of heresy had not cut him off. But his merits were such as God would defer his crown no longer, and so at his first landing he was apprehended in the north, and therefore carried thither again to be executed, after they had in vain made trial at London to make him confess by torments something against the state of Catholics and their profession or practice. When he came to die all men admired his patience, and religious humility, and mortification, wherein he very much excelled.
It were too long, and not for this place to reckon up the great number of rare men both Religious and Secular Priests that suffered in Queen Elizabeth's times, “quibus dignus non erat mundus.”[272] But yet this persecution by death, though it were cruel to them that suffered, and most injurious to the Catholics that were by that means bereaved of their most beloved Fathers, yet were the persecutions in other respects more grievous to be borne and much more intolerable. Their torturing of men when they were taken to make them confess their acquaintance and relievers, was more terrible than death by much, as Bl. Father Southwell professed at the bar; and this the rather both because the pain continued longer and was often iterated, and chiefly for that it was not an end of their probation in this world, but many after such torments are forced to walk on their voyage towards Heaven for many years, being uncertain of their perseverance in that estate of fervent love to God with which they offered themselves for Him to torments, and would more gladly have done it unto death, if such had been His pleasure at that time.
Besides the spoiling and robbing laymen of their livings and goods, with which they should maintain their families, is to many more grievous than death would be, [pg 020] when those that have lived in good estate and countenance in their country shall see before them their whole life to be led in misery, and not only themselves, but their wives and children to go a-begging. And some, in like manner, that lose not all at once, but have somewhat left, are worse than the rest, for they have not so much as is proportionable to their charge, and yet being known to have something, can have no colour to live on alms, as others do (even some of very worshipful families), and live much better than diverse of these that have this little left them.
And to these the continual and cruel searches, which I have found to be more terrible than taking itself. The insolencies and abuses offered in them, and in the seizures of goods, the continual awe and fear that men are kept in by the daily expectance of these things, sith every malicious man (of which heresy can want no plenty) is made an officer in these affairs, and every officer a King, as it were, to command and insult upon Catholics at their pleasure. These, and the like aggrievances, Catholics having now sustained during the whole reign of Queen Elizabeth, was it not now time for them to hope that God would say unto them, “Levate capita vestra quia ecce appropinquat redemptio vestra?”[273] We had now suffered more than the full number of years, not days, of this deluge of persecution pouring down upon us. Was it not now time for us to look out and to long that the earth would begin to dry and afford us some quiet habitation upon it? Were we not now to expect that some gracious bird would bring us an olive branch in sign of peace, which we had looked for so long and desired so much? True it is that most Catholics had great hope and expectation of this King James, then King of Scotland only. And this hope, as a human help of no small force, [pg 021] did join with God's grace and bring some comfort with it, amidst the many discomforts sustained under the long-continued reign of Queen Elizabeth.
First, they did, and might, expect that the son of such a mother (who not only lived a Catholic in her kingdom and in prison, but died also because she was a Catholic) would himself also be a friend to Catholics at least, if he would not be a follower of Catholic religion. St. Monica, by her tears and prayers, did win her son, St. Augustin; the hope was also in England that “filius tantorum meritorum perire non poterat.”[274] And who could think that the son would join in friendship and confidence with them, and with only them that had betrayed and slain both his father and mother, and who had kept himself so long like a ward in his own kingdom. Besides they could see no cause why King James should follow the course that Queen Elizabeth had done. For she in the beginning of her reign was persuaded by her Council that for reason of State it was needful she should break with the See Apostolic and maintain the new religion, that might depend upon her supremacy and supreme authority expressed by the laws of Parliament. This they pretended to be needful, first, in respect of her nativity, which they knew was not esteemed legitimate by the See of Rome. Again, in regard of the particular favour which it was known the same See did bear unto Queen Mary, then Dowager of France and Queen of Scotland, living and reigning there in all prosperity; who therefore was much envied and feared by Queen Elizabeth and her Council at that time. Unto which also was added the well-known affection of all Catholics in England unto the said Queen Mary, in respect of her true descent from King Henry VII. and her constant love and profession of the Catholic faith: these seemed great motives to Queen Elizabeth, and sufficient to lead her into the [pg 022] labyrinth of an heretical course. But these could not be objected unto our King James, who was the true and hopeful issue of his so worthy mother and the same so glorious a martyr. Neither could he fear the favour or furtherance of the See Apostolic, which favoured him much and assisted him many ways whilst yet he was but King of Scotland and professed a contrary faith. What might he then have expected if he had offered himself and his realm of England unto the obedience of the Church, if he had trodden that path which all his ancestors had walked, and wherein both they and the kingdom of England did so much flourish. Yea, what applause, what congratulation, what assurance of friendship and assistance against all his enemies might he have expected as most certain, both from His Holiness, and the like from all Christian Princes? Yea, truly, this seemed so strong a reason to induce His Majesty to that happy course, that many Catholics, knowing his wisdom and learning, could not persuade themselves how it could be possible that he would be drawn to any other manner of proceeding, especially seeing that as on the one side all peace with the Christian world was sure to be knit in firmest league of friendship; on the other side, they could not see how he could expect any long or assured peace with the pillars of God's Church, if he should begin to persecute the same afresh, as the late Queen had done before him. For it were in vain to begin that war against the Church, if he meant not to do his best endeavours to root out the same out of the world, if he could; because he might be sure the more he proceeded therein the more he would exasperate both God and all good men against him. This mind Catholics could not expect in a Prince of so great judgment and so many good parts, as they had cause to think him to be of. These hopes also were much strengthened by his own words, published unto the world in that fatherly and [pg 023] princely gift of his unto his son, wherein amongst many other grave and wise documents unto the young Prince, one is, that he do cherish and make much of those servants whom he hath known to be faithful unto his parents, of which his counsel he first giveth divers true and judicial reasons, and afterwards confirmeth the same with his own experience, affirming in plain words he found those most true and trusty to himself who had been faithful followers of hers, and so on the contrary side in like manner. To this effect His Majesty delivered his mind unto his son, and therewith great and comfortable hopes unto all Catholics, that they who had been true lovers and followers of his mother should find favour, and that such as had either done or suffered greatly in her service should find an answerable requital and advancement.
These hopeful signs of future favour were yet much in particular confirmed by the constant report and asseveration of divers, who in the said Queen Elizabeth's reign had lived under His Majesty in Scotland, as well English as of the Scottish nation, who did everywhere affirm and divulge both at home and abroad, and in all Princes' Courts of the world (as it is well known to the said Princes), the great and singular hope and expectation that was to be conceived of this King for his good nature and rare parts, as mansuetude, compassion, equanimity, high esteem of his said mother and of all those that had faithfully loved and served her. And albeit that for his religion he could be no other than as he had been brought up and instructed, yet was he averse from all severity of persecution against such as were of different religion, especially the Catholic; granting it to be the ancient mother religion of all the rest, though in some things now amiss in his opinion. And that out of his own reading he had observed that all his ancestors, Kings and Queens both of England and Scotland, without exception had been of the Catholic Roman faith and religion, and that [pg 024] himself was the first among them all that ever professed a different religion from them. These reports were spread by many and in many places. But some others more particular and assured are said to have been sent by particular embassagies and letters from His Majesty unto other Princes, giving hope at least of toleration to Catholics in England, of which letters divers were translated this year into French and came so into England, as divers affirmed that had seen them. Yea, and further than this, I am well assured that immediately upon Queen Elizabeth's sickness and death, divers Catholics of note and fame, Priests also, did ride post into Scotland, as well to carry the assurance of dutiful affection from all Catholics unto His Majesty as also to obtain his gracious favour for them and his royal word for confirmation of the same. At that time, and to those persons, it is certain he did promise that Catholics should not only be quiet from any molestations, but should also enjoy such liberty in their houses privately as themselves would desire, and have both Priests and Sacraments with full toleration and desired quiet. Both the Priests that did kneel before him when he gave this promise (binding it with the word of a Prince, which he said was never yet broken), did protest so much unto divers from whom I have it. And divers others, persons of great worth, have assured me the same upon the like promise received from His Majesty, both for the common state of Catholics and their own particular.
Now, more than this I think could not be, to give assured hope unto Catholics of some present relaxation by his gracious help from the many miseries and afflictions they had so long endured, being as much as they could expect or he perform until his settling. How ready Catholics were in all countries to receive him for their King, how forward to proclaim him, yea, how joyful to entertain and welcome him with all care and cost that might be, all the realm is witness. Insomuch that some [pg 025] set vessels of wine in the streets for all comers to drink, in show of their gladness; other Catholic noblemen at London cast store of money about the streets in sign of their universal joy. What cost all sorts of Catholics bestowed upon such furniture as was fit to welcome and meet both King and Queen, with the Prince who came at several times! All was done with such applause and jubilee as did well witness the joy and hopes they had conceived.
But now what shall we think to have been the state of all Catholic minds when all these hopes did vanish away; and as a flash of lightning, giving for the time a pale light unto those that sit in darkness, doth afterwards leave them in more desolation? What grief may we imagine they felt generally, when not only no one of these hopes did bring forth the hoped fruit, nor any promise was performed, but when, on the contrary side, His Majesty did suffer himself to be guided and as it were governed by those that had so long time inured their hands and hardened their hearts with so violent a persecution; yea, when he did not only confirm the former laws with which we were afflicted, but permitted new and more grievous vexations to fall upon us than before we had felt, and prepared yet more and more heavy whips wherewith to scourge us? Truly the event proved contrary to all our hopes. For, first, it was observed that some weeks after his being in England, he began to use far different speech of and against Catholics than was expected from the son of such a mother. And when soon afterward there ensued his first Parliament, he made a bitter speech (now extant in print) against them all; but especially, to our greater increase of grief and despair of comfort, against the See Apostolic, much different from that was expected, where so great favours and tokens of love had been received.
Now, whereas Catholics expected his published and [pg 026] promised honour to his mother and rewards unto her servants, it grieved them much when they saw no memory at all made of so memorable a mother either in word or work; she lying until this day obscurely in that place where her enemies cast her after cutting off her head: nor any man gratefully looked on or respected that belonged unto her or that made mention of her. As for those that did or suffered anything in her cause and quarrel, there is not any advanced nor yet recompensed for the great losses which some of them sustained in her behalf. Not long after the said Queen's imprisonment in England, there were three, two knights and one gentleman, that intended her deliverance and assistance to her settling again in her kingdom of Scotland [one of the three was Sir Thomas Stanley, next brother to the Earl of Derby, who had much land and many friends in that country where she was prisoner; the second was Sir Thomas Gerard, whose dwelling-house was within two miles of the castle where she was kept, and at that time had means sufficient to do good service in that behalf; the third was one Mr. Roulston, an esquire of good worth in the same country, and a very devout Catholic man and a stout gentleman].[275] The meanest of which three had a son, being then a pensioner in the Court, who betrayed the whole matter and caused them all to be clapt in the Tower, where they were kept a long time in strait prison, and Mr. Roulston was condemned to die, against whom they were able it is likely to prove more particulars of the secret (by his son's means), than against the others. But it cost the others large sums of money and sale of land before they could be freed.
After this, about twenty years ago, there was another matter intended by fourteen gentlemen, Mr. Babington, Mr. Salesberie, and others of the choice of England, for the said Queen's deliverance and restoring to her right; [pg 027] wherein, though they were ensnared and entrapped by some politic heads that sought both their overthrow and thereby a seeming justifiable pretence to cut off the said Queen also, yet it was apparent by their examinations and executions, taking their death in so devout and resolute manner, that they intended sincerely the Queen's delivery for the advancement of the Catholic cause. At the same time, also, one of the foresaid knights[276] was again committed to the Tower for the same cause, and kept there at least two years, though he had been so wary of his trust that they could not prove anything against him to put him to death with the rest; but it cost him much this time again, as that prison is ever wont to do to those that live in it, but especially to those that get out. Nor these nor any others of like deserts in other kind have been rewarded. True it is that the elder son of the knight,[277] going to meet the King at his coming into England, His Majesty told him before divers (from whom I had it), “That he must love his blood, for that he and his had suffered persecution for him.” These were his words, showing indeed in His Majesty a good consideration of his servants and inclination to do for them; but it is likely that others overrule the matter, for,[278] though he made that gentleman knight at that time, yet that was to him no advancement whose ancestors had been so for sixteen or seventeen descents together; but since he hath had no preferment at all, but rather kept back, as being known that his house hath ever been Catholic, though himself having long time followed the Court do not profess it as he should.
Another[279] worthy gentleman also, one Mr. Abington, was in the Tower for the same cause when the fourteen gentlemen [pg 028] were there prisoners. And this gentleman, having lately some Priests taken in his house, was condemned to die; and though his life be spared for a time (they say, in respect of his former suffering; but, indeed, obtained by the Lord Mounteagle, whose sister he hath married), yet is his house taken from him, one of the fairest in all the country, and all his lands and goods forfeited: which is much more grievous than death to a man of his devotion and resolution. These and many such examples are seen and noted in the realm, and not any seen to be advanced nor regarded that truly served or suffered for his mother: yea, rather the contrary; that His Majesty was so prevented and preoccupated with divers that pursued and both sought and wrought the ruin of his mother, that he seemed to give himself wholly into their hands, and not only himself but Catholics also, to be afflicted by them at their pleasure.
All this, we say, moved great exasperation and exulceration of minds, mixed with grief and despair, foreseeing that all would pass worse for Catholics under his reign than in Queen Elizabeth's time; when those that did persecute under her were doubtful what side might prevail or bear sway after her death, and therefore would be more sparing, and divers would seek to make the principal Catholics their friends against those times of uncertain event, which could not be far off in respect of the great age of Queen Elizabeth and her want of issue; whereas now no such fear is thought needful nor any such caution in policy requisite, the King being young and his issue like to continue and to uphold their proceedings: so that they may more freely and without fear persecute at their pleasure. Besides unto this general fear, which all Catholics had in seeing these former hopes of theirs to fail them, was added a full experience that neither hopes were to be by them expected nor promises by others to be performed. For whereas His Majesty, [pg 029] out of his gracious disposition, had promised much favour towards Catholics, both to other Princes and to divers particular Catholics that went unto him before his coming in, now the contrary was so much practised and all these promised favours so plainly denied, that they might not be so much as once spoken of or remembered that ever any such had been.
For, first, when at the end of the first Parliament the Puritans packed together therein, as well against His Majesty and his desires in the matter of union of the two kingdoms as also against the Catholics, and urged many new laws to their prejudice and for their greater affliction, His Majesty, that with one word might have staid their fury by saying (as it is accustomed in such cases when a Prince will show favour) that he would deliberate and consider of the matter, he confirmed first all the most sharp and rigorous laws and statutes which the late Queen or her father or brother had made against Catholics for afflicting them or shedding their blood. And, secondly, he adjoined new statutes of his own that augmented greatly the grievances of the former (which afterwards shall be set down), so as every sort of men, but especially the Puritans (that by all means desired to make the King odious unto Catholics), applied unto them presently those words of the young King Roboam to his aggrieved people—“My father pressed you with a grievous yoke; but I will aggravate the same yet more. My father beat you with whips; but I will scourge you with scorpions.” So that it is easy to guess with what terror and affliction the Catholics remained at that time. By all which we may plainly see, that not only all hopes were failed whereupon Catholics did build their comforts, but that it was also seriously endeavoured by some to give now all assurance of the contrary opinion, and so to drive men to despair, presuming perhaps that some amongst so many thousands [pg 030] would not be so patient as to bear it long, but that despair would urge them to some desperate attempt, whereby the chief causers of this persecution might give the better pretence of the cruelty they intended against them for the satisfaction of foreign Princes, that they might suppose these laws to be afterwards devised and not before determined or practised. And it is no marvel though divers Princes have been long in this error, knowing not the state of things with us; yea, rather being possessed of a contrary opinion to the truth of our sufferings by instruments employed of purpose, as also their whole estates were in like manner by the ordinary news, which were written in the gazettes to the end to be divulged. But Catholics that felt the smart before, had cause to believe the contrary, and that they received[280] one blow upon the face with the fist, to make them fetch another against the wall. Yea, it is verily thought by many of the wiser sort, that these very things, with others that followed, were the spurs that set those gentlemen upon that furious and fiery course which they afterwards fell into; and being otherwise too forward of themselves, and not apt in those things to be retained with the bridle, did urge them to take the bit in their teeth and run headlong (being thus filled with despair of any good from this King's government) to that desperate course of cutting off the same to set up one of his younger children—a thing very much lamented by all the body of Catholics in England, whose thoughts were only bent how to possess their souls in patience, notwithstanding all the causes of grief and despair of remedy which I have alleged, and more that I must allege in the chapter following.