Whereupon they wrote back to Rome, to know their Superiors' mind, yet with earnest suit that it might please them to permit their going forward. They received answer from Father Persons, that the times were much more periculous than was expected when they went from Rome, yet sith the cause was God's, and their will so good to prefer the safety of others' souls before the safety of their own bodies, they might in the name of God proceed, if their desire still continued; but that it was left unto their own election. These letters were received with great joy, and the two Fathers, within few days after, got a ship wherein they embarked, thinking to have landed in the north parts of England; but sailing along the coast of England one evening, and seeing a shore where they might be set on land, and no town nor house near them to see where they landed, they resolved to commit themselves to the providence of God, and caused the sailors[472] to cast anchor until it was dark, and then in a cock-boat to set them on land. When they were landed, having first commended themselves to God, they purposed to have gone forward in the first way they could find, to get as far from the sea-side before morning as they could; but they found that every path did lead them to some house or other, where the dogs making a noise,[473] they durst proceed no further in that course; but got them into a wood, and [pg 281] there stayed all night, whilst it rained a good pace. But yet they were as merry as might be, and well contented with their wet lodging, as I have heard one of them affirm from whom I have these particulars. Towards day they commended their business earnestly to God, and, after their prayers, resolved not to adventure both to go one way to London, but to take several courses, that so if one were taken in the time of danger, the other might scape. They therefore looked into their provision of money, and he that had more gave it unto the other to make it equal, and then they embraced and gave one the other their benediction; and one went out on the one side of the wood, the other went out of the other hand. They never had been in that country before, nor knew any one person in the country, nor the way to London, where they promised to meet. But God provided for them both.
Father Ouldcorne joined himself to some company that he found travelling that way, and being himself of an excellent wit and very sociable in company, he did so join those companions that they desired his company to London, and so they, being known in the way, did pass freely through watch and ward, and he also as one of their company was permitted to go without any further questions. Father Gerard was stayed by the watch in the first town he went through, and was carried by the watchmen to the chief officers of the town, who were then at their heretical service (it being Sunday morning). These officers willed the watchmen to bring him into service, and afterwards they would examine him. But Father Gerard refusing to go into their church, the officers were the more displeased, and sent twice or thrice commanding him to come in. But in the end, when they saw he would not, they were glad to come out to him, and examined him of many particulars, unto which he answered readily; yet they threatened to send him to the Commissioners of the shire. And when he expected no other but to have been [pg 282] sent first to them and then to prison, these officers said, “He looks like an honest man. Let him go; we will not trouble him.” That first danger being past, he came safely unto the city that was the chief of that shire; and there, by special providence of God, did light into the company of some Catholics, and at last came acquainted with one gentleman of good worth, who provided him a horse and fit apparel for travel in that country, and carried him out of the city in his own company and to his own house; from thence let him have horses and a man with him to London, so that he passed very safely. And this gentleman sent earnest request unto his Superior that he might return into that country, which he granted; and so Father Gerard stayed a long time in that gentleman's house, who was his first host, and by his means got acquaintance in all that country and the countries thereabouts.
Father Ouldcorne and he met at London according to their first appointment, and by good hap found the Superior then at London, though his ordinary abode were then in Warwickshire, almost a hundred miles from London. There were then no more of the Society in England but Father Henry Garnett, the Superior, and Father Robert Southwell, who was since martyred about eleven years ago,[474] and Father Weston, who was then in prison,[475] where he remained until this King's time, for the space of seventeen or eighteen years, and then was banished with divers other Priests. So that at liberty there was no more but Father Garnett and Father Southwell, and these two Fathers last come, of which Father Gerard was sent back to the country where they landed, and Father Garnett took Father Ouldcorne with him into the country where he remained. And there he [pg 283] employed him in divers missions round about,[476] and found him so practical and industrious that he doubted not to send him to the most difficult enterprises. Amongst the rest there was one gentlewoman,[477] sister unto a very honest Catholic gentleman, their great friend. But this gentlewoman was an heretic, and could not by any reasons or persuasion be reduced from her errors, though divers Priests had talked with her and much labour had been spent in vain about her. But no doubt she was reserved for Father Ouldcorne, for he being sent unto her, within a few days brought her to be a perfect Catholic; and afterwards she continued ever so devout that she did more good than any Catholic in all the country, and with her Father Ouldcorne did chiefly remain for sixteen or seventeen years together. In which time of his abode in those parts it is not easy to be believed how many obstinate heretics he converted, how many weak Catholics he confirmed, how many scholars he sent over to the Seminaries and religious women to monasteries, how many houses he brought to that degree of devotion that he might and did settle Priests in them. Indeed, I may safely say of him, without amplification, that “in illis partibus totas fere fundavit rexitque ecclesias domesticas.”[478] Yea, in my knowledge, he assisted Father Garnett also with yearly provision of money, procured from his own acquaintance, towards his charges and maintenance of others, when the Society grew to be there of greater number. All the chiefest gentlemen and best Catholics of the country where he remained, and the countries adjoining, depended upon his advice and counsel, and he was infatigable in his journeys. I neither do nor have known any one Priest in England that did go so many journeys as he did, especially towards the latter end of his time, [pg 284] when he grew to be acquainted in so many places, and so much esteemed in all places, that he could never almost stay three days at home but he should be sent for.
Yet was he for many years together of very weak health, proceeding partly of his pains-taking and partly of study, unto which he was very much addicted, and spent in it almost all the time that he had free from needful business. By which means about some eight or nine years ago he did spit blood in great abundance, but being very carefully tended and provided of all helps needful in such a case, he recovered; yet afterwards, with his like labours and earnest manner of preaching (in which he had a very good talent, though his voice were somewhat hoarse and painful unto himself, yet audible unto his hearers), he fell again to spit blood three or four times, which brought him to that weakness that no man thought he could recover. And being much consumed, he grew to have a cancer in his mouth, which afterwards was miraculously cured, as himself did tell me the story in this very manner.
When the physicians did give their judgment that the cancer could not be cured, but that he must have some parts of the roof of his mouth cut out, and some bones also, he resolved first to try what help he could have from St. Winifred, a notable Virgin and Martyr, who hath in those parts a well famous for many miracles, where she was beheaded. Thither did Father Ouldcorne resolve to go on pilgrimage before he tried any further physic. And in his journey coming to a Catholic house, where he meant to celebrate, he found upon the altar divers relics, and amongst the rest a little stone of St. Winifred's Well with drops of blood upon it (as many of the stones have that are taken up in that well and in the current that runs from it). This stone Father Ouldcorne took and went aside into a place by himself, and fell earnestly to his prayers, desiring St. [pg 285] Winifred's help for his health, if so it were best for the service of God. Then he put the stone into his mouth and held it there some time, and behold within half an hour his mouth was perfectly well. He went forward to St. Winifred's Well, and there also recovered the strength of his whole body, and returned home so strong and in such sort that all wondered exceedingly. And after this time[479] he was more able to endure pains than he was before; and whereas once a year, commonly about the same time, he did usually grow weak and enter as it were into his consumption together, he used then no other physic but to go to St. Winifred's Well, whence he ever returned with perfect strength and health, which lasted him until that time twelvemonth again. All which particulars I set down as himself did recount them unto me.
Thus he continued his labours until it pleased Almighty God to call him to receive a full reward for his so faithful service and fruitful endeavours: at which time he was near fifty years old.[480] The manner of his apprehension with Father Garnett, also of his strict examinations and cruel tortures received in the Tower, I have set down in the former chapters, and in this chapter I have declared how he was carried down to Worcester and there condemned and executed in the place which of all others he would have chosen, if he might have had his wishes, “Domino voluntatem faciente timentium se.”[481]
After his death it pleased Almighty God to testify his fervent charity and received crown of glory by these two notable signs. For, first, the place where his bowels were cast into the fire (as the custom is), being in the open field and subject to rain and all injury of weather, yet did the fire continue burning there, and could not be extinguished for sixteen or seventeen days together, [pg 286] until at last the town of Worcester, fearing a miracle, did send to put it out with violence. But they could not hinder the people from seeing the wonder to be great, and more than natural, giving unto Catholics just cause to remember with what zeal of burning charity he had for the like number of years sought to enkindle their hearts with heavenly fire, like the true disciple of Him that said, “Ignem veni mittere in terram et quid volo nisi ut ardeat.”[482]
In like manner there was seen to grow within the court of Henlip (which is Mr. Abington his house, where Father Garnett and Father Ouldcorne were taken, and where Father Ouldcorne had for many years together deserved a crown of glory), a formal crown of grass, both higher and of different colour from the rest of the grass round about it. And the wonder was the more in respect that the gates of the house being broken down at the time of the search, and so continually standing open, and both swine and other kind of cattle coming in, yet none of them would either eat of that grass or did tread upon it to deface it; yea, when neighbours did cut it down, in like manner as they had extinguished the fire, yet did it grow up again in like height and form as it was before, and so continued to the great admiration of all the country thereabouts. But it is to me much greater marvel that they will not open their eyes and see “quam mirabilis Deus in sanctis suis.”[483] I hope in God the time will come when the city of Worcester will see and acknowledge both the burning charity with which blessed Father Ouldcorne lived and died amongst them, and the crown of glory which he hath received at the hand of God for his faith so truly kept and his course so happily consummate. His life was holy; his death saintly. God send us part of his blessed merits and intercession.