[28] Pope Tract, p. 28.
[29] Corporation Archives.
[30] It appears that during the latter part of the reign of Queen Elizabeth, many of the Roman Catholics of York and the neighbourhood chose the city of Venice for their place of refuge. In the year 1581, a person named Richard Collinge or Cowling, and his brother Thomas, the sons of Ralph Cowling, a York tradesman, who was a Popish recusant, were sent over sea, and ultimately Richard Collinge found his way into Italy. Several years afterwards he returned to this country, and, apparently whilst he was visiting his friends and relatives in Yorkshire, corresponded with a person abroad, whom he addresses thus:—Al Molto Magnifico Signori il Signore Giulio Piccioli, a Venezia. One of his letters to this person, supposed to have been written in the year 1599, which was intercepted by the Government of Elizabeth, and is now preserved in the State-Paper Office, contains the names of several persons connected with York and Yorkshire. The most remarkable passage relates to the arch-conspirator Guye Fawkes, who must have been sojourning at Venice at that time. “I entreat your favour and friendship for my cousin-germane Mr. Guydo Fawkes, who serveth Sir William, as I understand he is in great want, and your worde in his behalfe may stande him in greate steede. — — he hath lefte a prettie livinge here in this countrie, which his mother, being married to an unthrifty husband, since his departure I think hath wasted awaye, yet she and the rest of our friendes are in good health.”
The writer’s relationship to Fawkes was most probably through the Harringtons, of whom he also speaks:—“Let him tell my cousin Martin Harrington that I was at his brother Henry’s house at the Mounte, but he was not then at home; he and his wife were all well, and have many pretty children.” By “the Mounte” is meant Mount St. John, near Thirsk, where a branch of the family of Harrington was then resident, one of whom, William Harrington, a seminary priest, was executed at Tyburn, Feb. 18, 1594. Chaloner, part i. p. 304. Mrs. Ellin Fawkes, the grandmother of Guye, was a Harrington. By her will in 1570, she bequeaths a gold ring to William Harrington, her brother Martin’s son. Collinge names several other persons then at Venice to whom he is commissioned by their relatives in England to send messages; some of whom, one cannot doubt, had emigrated from that part of the kingdom to which he himself belonged. He makes special mention of D. Worthington, “whose brother hath sent a letter unto him;” and of D. Kellison, who he wishes to know that “his brother Valentine is in good health.” Dr. Worthington, one of the translators of the Douay Bible, and Dr. Kellison, were successively presidents of the English College at Douay. The letter, which is without date, is subscribed “Yours in Christe, Richarde Collinge.” I am indebted to my friend Mr. John Bruce, V.P.S.A., for acquainting me with the existence of this document, which Mr. Lemon, of the State-Paper Office, very obligingly allowed me to peruse.
Guye Fawkes was not the only native of York who was implicated in the Gunpowder Plot. Edward Oldcorne the Jesuit, who assumed the name of Hall, and was the companion of Father Garnett at Hendlip and in the Tower, was the son of John Oldcorne, a bricklayer at York. He was sent abroad about the year 1584, and was first placed at the College of Douay whilst it was stationed at Rheims. He was afterwards at Rome, where the General of the Jesuits admitted him into their society. Chaloner, part ii. p. 485. He was executed at Worcester, April 7, 1606, as a partaker in the Gunpowder Plot conspiracy. Jardine, p. 210. A name in Collinge’s letter, partly obliterated, seems meant for Oldcorne, and renders it probable that he was then one of the English residents at Venice.
We may be sure that when Lancelot Turner despatched his youthful brother to Venice, he knew that he was not consigning him wholly into the hands of strangers.
In the list of the Romish Priests and Jesuits resident in and about London in 1624, the name of Turner occurs once.—Morgan’s Phœnix Britannicus, p. 437.
[31] “On Monday next after Twelfth Day, 1620, he revoked nuncupatively the gift of the clock to Sir William Alford, saying, ‘he forgets his old friends,’ and gives it to his nephew, William Turner. To this were witnesses, Thomasine Newton, Henry Dent, and Alice Atkinson, who depose that William Turner reminded him that there had been much kindness between him and Sir William. This was a few days before his death.”—Pope Tract, p. 30.
[32] Collectanea Top. et Gen., vol. iv. p. 178.
[33] Emanuel Lord Scrope, afterwards Earl of Sunderland.