1585. July 6. The fift of July, Thomas Aufield [Alfield], a seminarie priest, and Thomas Welley [Webley] diar, were arraygned at the sessions hall in the Old baily, found guiltie, condemned and had iudgement, as felons to be hanged: for publishing of books containing false, seditious, and slaunderous matter, to the defamation of our Soueraygne lady the Queene, these were on the next morrow executed at Tyborne accordingly[180] (Stow, p. 708).
1586. The 19. of January, Nicholas Deuorox [Nicholas Wheeler, Woodfen, or Devereux] was condemned for treason, in being made a Seminarie priest at Rhemes in Fraunce, since the feast of Saynt Iohn Baptist in Anno primo of her Maiesties raygne, and in remaining here after the term of fortie dayes after the session of the last parliament. Also Edmond Barbar [Edward Strancham] being made a priest as aforesayd, and comming into this realme after the sayd terme of fortie dayes, was likewise condemned of treason, and both drawne to Tyborne, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered on the 21. of January (Stow, p. 718).
1586. The 18. of Aprill, in the assises holden at London in the Justice hall, Willi. Thomson alias Blackborne made priest at Rhemes, and Richard Lea alias Long [his real name was Sergeant] made priest at Lyons in France, and remainging here contrarie to the statute, were both condemned, and on the twentith day of Aprill drawne to Tiborne, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered (Stow, p. 719).
1586. The 18. of June, Henry Elks clearke and batchelor of art, for counterfeiting the queens signe manuel to the presentation of the parsonage of Alsaints in Hastings, directed to the Archbishop of Canterburie, or to his commissarie generall (the dioces of Chichester being voyd) that he might be instituted parson there, was drawne to Tyborne, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered (Stow, p. 719).
The 8. of October … I. Low [John Lowe], I. Adams [John Adams], and Richard Dibdale, being before condemned for treason, in being made Priests by authority of the Bishop of Rome, were drawne to Tyborne, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered (Stow, p. 740).
1588. August. The 26. of August, at the sessions hal without Newgate of London, were condemned 6. persons, for being made priests beyond the seas, & remaining in this realme contrary to a statute thereof made, 4. temporall men for being reconciled to the Romane Church; & 4. other for releeuing & abetting the others. And on the 28. W. Deane, & H. Webley, were hanged at yᵉ Miles end. W. Gunter at the Theater, R. Moorton & Hugh Moore at Lincolnes Inne fields, Tho. Acton [Thomas Holford] at Clarkenwell, Tho. Felton & Iames Clarkson [Claxton] betweene Brainford & Hounslow. And on the 30. of August, R. Flower, Ed. Shelley, R. Leigh, R. Martine, I. Roch, & Margaret Ward gentlewoman (which Margaret hadde conueyed a cord to a priest in Bridewell, whereby he let himself downe & escaped) were hanged at Tiborne (Stow, p. 749-50).
1590. The 11. of July, 16. fellons hanged at Tyborn (Stow, “Summary,” p. 427).
1591. The 10. of December 3. Seminary priests for being in this realm contrary to the statute and 4. other, for relieuing them, were executed, two of them, to wit, a Seminary named Ironmonger [Edmund Genings], and Swithen Wels, gentleman, in Grayes Inne field, Blaston [Polydore Plasden] and White, Seminaries, and three other their abbettors at Tyborne (Stow, p. 764). [The names of these three others were, Bryan Lacy, Sydney Hodson, and John Mason]. In “The Life and Death of Mr. Edmund Geninges Priest, Crowned with Martyrdome at London the 10. day of November (sic) in the yeare MDXCI. S. Omers, 1614,” is an account of the trial and execution. Wells on returning to London found his house shut up, and was told that his wife was in Newgate. He went to Justice Yonge to ask for restitution of wife and keys, when he was at once sent to Newgate. He pleaded that he was not aware of the doings in his house. “Then the Justice … told him in playne termes, he came time inough to taste of the sauce, although he were ignorant how the meate sauoured.” The manner of the execution of Edmund Genings is thus told:—
He being ripped vp, & his bowelles cast into the fire, if credit may be giuen to hundreds of People standing by, and to the Hangman himselfe, the blessed Martyr vttered (his hart being in the Executioners hand) these words, Sancte Gregori ora pro me, which the Hangman hearing, with open mouth swore this damnable oath; Gods woundes, See his hart is in my hand, and yet Gregory in his mouth; ô egregious Papist!
