An account of these executions is given in Hist. MSS. Commission, MSS. of the Duke of Rutland, 1888, i. 369, 370.
Mr. Barkwey cominge to the hurdle prayed and with a chearfull voyce and smylinge countenance sunge all the waye he went to execution.
The 27th daye of Februarie 1600 [1601], beinge the first Friday in Lent, the said Mr. Barkwey was brought to Tyborne there to be executed. Cominge up into the carte in his blacke habite, his hoode being taken of, his heade beinge all shaven but for a rounde circle on the nether parte of his heade, and his other garment taken of also, beinge turned into his sherte, having a pare of hose of haere, most joyfully and smylingly looked up directly to the heavens and blessed him with the signe of the crosse, sayinge, “In nomine Patris, Filii et Spiritus Sancti, Amen.” Then he turned himselfe towardes the gallowe tree wheron he was to suffer, made the signe of the crosse theron and kissed it and the rope also, the which beinge put about his necke, he turned himselfe and with a chearfull smylinge countenance and pleasant voyce sunge in manner and forme followinge, viz.: “Haec est dies Domini gaudeamus, gaudeamus, gaudeamus in ea”—usinge the same very often with these wordes, viz.: “In manus tuas, Domine, commendo spiritum meum.” Also he used these speaches to the people—“I doe confesse that I am one of the Blessed Societie after the holy order of St. Benedicte.” The minister called on him to be penitent for his sinnes, and he said, “Hold thy peace, thou arte a simple fellowe.” Then the minister wild him to remember that Christ Jesus dyed for him. And he, elevatinge his eyes to heaven and holdinge the rope in his handes—being festned together—so highe as he could reache, aunswered “And so doe I for him, and I would I had a thousand, thousand lyves to bestowe upon him in this cause,” sayinge “et majorem charitatem nemo habet.” And then turninge himselfe againe, sunge as before, and desired all Catholiques to praye for him, and he would praye for them. And beinge asked if he would praye for the Queene he saied, “God blesse her, and send her and me to meete joyfully in heaven,” and prayed also for Mr. Recorder who pronounced judgment against him, and for Mr. Wade, Ingleby, Parrat, and Singleton, who were the prosecutors of his death. And the carte beinge drawne awaye, in his goinge of from the carte saied the same wordes as before, “Haec est dies Domini; gaudeamus in ea,” and beinge presently cut downe, he stoode uprighte on his feete and strugled with the Executioners, cryinge, “Lord, Lord, Lord,” and beinge holden by the strengthe of the executioners on the hurdle in dismembringe of him he cryed, “O God,” and so he was quartered.
[I omit the account of the execution of Roger Filcock.]
There was executed also one Mistriss Lynde [Anne Line], condempned at the Sessions house the 26th day of February for the escape of a supposed preist. Her weakness was suche that she was carryed to the said Sessions betwixt two in a chaire.
There was also condempned with her one Ralphe Slyvell for rescuinge the said supposed preist, but repryved.
The said Mistriss Lynde, carryed the next daye to her execution, many tymes in the waye was stayed and urged by the minister who urged what meanes he could to perswade her to convert from her professed faithe and opinion, most constantlie persevered therin and so was brought to the place of execution and there shewed the cause of her cominge thither, and beinge further urged amongest other thinges by the minister that she had bene a common receavor of many preistes she aunswered, “Where I have receaved one I would to God I had bene able to have receaved a thousand.” She behaved herself most meekely, patiently, and vertuously to her last breath. She kissed the gallowes and before and after her private prayers blessinge herself, the carte was drawne awaye, and she then made the signe of the crosse uppon her, and after that never moved.
1601. The 13. of March, sir Gilley Merike Knight, and Henry Cuffe Gentleman, were drawne to Tyborne, the one from the Tower, the other from Newgate, and there hanged, bowelled, and quartered, as being actors with the late Earle of Essex. They both dyed very resolutely (Stow, p. 794).
Merrick was the steward and Cuff the secretary of the Earl.
1601. August 24. Thomas Hackshot, and Nicholas Tichburne, laymen, rescued a priest, Thomas Tichburne, from the custody of a constable. The two were arrested, condemned and executed at Tyburn (Challoner’s Memoirs, pt. i., p. 206).