The Condition of Catholics Under James I. Part 18

"Item, he confesseth that he is a Lay Jesuit, and took that degree at Rome fourteen years since, and was sometime Campion's boy, and sayeth when he took that Order he did vow chast.i.ty, poverty, and obedience to the Superior of their House, and if he sent him to the Turk he must go.

"Item, being urged to take the oath of allegiance to Her Majesty, refuseth the same, and saith he may not take any oath.

"Item, he saith he hath neither lands, goods, nor other living, but will not set down by whom he is maintained and now relieved.

"Item, he refuseth to be reformed, and to come to Church, affirming that he will live and die in his faith.

"Item, being demanded whether if the Pope should send an army into this realm, to establish that which he calleth the Catholic Romish religion, he would in the like case fight for the Queen's Majesty on her side against the said army, or on the army's side, saith that he will never fight against Her Majesty, nor against the religion which he professeth.

"Concordat c.u.m originali.-H. Fermor."

P. xlvi.-Father Tesimond, in the Italian narrative already mentioned (p.

ccxlviii) as forming part of Father Grene's volume _C_ (fol. 185), says that, when he came to England in 1597, Father Garnett was living in a house called Morecroftes, at Uxbridge, twelve or thirteen miles from London. There may have been a friendly house at Brentford, for this was their place of meeting on one occasion when they had suddenly to leave Uxbridge on account of a search.

P. liii.-Dominam ipsam domus in suo cubiculo c.u.m puellis suis clauserunt (MS.) More probably "with her daughters" than "with her maids." William and Jane Wiseman had three children, Jane, Dorothea, and Winifred. John who married Mary, daughter of Sir Rowland Rydgeley, had two daughters, Lucy and Elizabeth, and an only son, Aurelius Piercy Wiseman, who was killed in a duel in London in 1680. The following inscription on his grave, in Wimbish Church, is given by Wright (_History of Ess.e.x_, vol.

ii., p. 134): "Here rest the sad remains of Aurelius Piercy Wiseman, of Broad Oak, in this parish, Esq., the last of the name of that place, and head and chief of that right wors.h.i.+pful and ancient family, who was unfortunately killed in the flower of his age, December 11, 1680."

P. lvii.-From the _Life of Anne Countess of Arundel_, published in 1857 by the Duke of Norfolk (p. 308), we learn that, during the Earl's imprisonment, "she hired a little house at Acton, Middles.e.x, six miles distant from London."

P. cxl.-Father Tesimond relates a search some two years earlier than this, in which Father Joseph Pollen escaped capture (Stonyhurst MSS., C, fol.

184).

Pp. clxvi. and cciii.-Sir Oliver Manners wrote the following letter in Italian to Father Aquaviva, General of the Society, from Turin, April 17, 1612, shortly before his eldest brother's death (Stonyhurst MSS., _Angl.

A._, vol. vi.). "I cannot tell you what comfort I received from the letters of your Paternity. The troubles I then had will tell it better than I can, for, when I was seriously ill, my brother the Earl sent to say that I was to expect no more help from England, as the King has entrusted my houses and estates to him, and would not permit him to send me a penny.

Precisely at that moment the letters of your Paternity reached me, and seemed to me sent by the Lord to make me touch with my hand how His Divine Majesty never abandons those who hope in Him and suffer for His love; and as at that time I had a great desire of suffering more and more, if so it should please our Lord, so my strength returned to me far more rapidly than I could have expected, and thus I a.s.sured myself that it was the Divine will that I should reach my intended goal, there to do something for His service, _sive per vitam sive per mortem_. And so I undertook my journey, and have already reached Turin. To-morrow I start for Lyons. In England I cannot expect anything better than that which has befallen the Baron" [Vaux], "my companion, who is in prison by the King's express orders, and expects to lose all he has; for his mother is already condemned to the punishment called _praemunire_, that is, the loss of all temporalities and perpetual imprisonment, for refusing the oath of allegiance, as they call it. The grace I ask from G.o.d is so to bear myself that I may always show myself grateful for the many favours of your Paternity, as becomes a disciple of the Society, and for this intention with all humility I asked to be armed with your blessing, and I beg to be partaker of the Holy Sacrifices and prayers of your Paternity and of all the Society. In conclusion with all reverence I kiss your hand."

P. clx.x.xiv.-The following is the confidential report made to the General respecting Father Gerard, previous to his profession. By a singular chance the paper in which it is contained is the only one of similar reports that has come to our hands. It is amongst the Stonyhurst MSS. (_Angl. A._, vol.

vi.). Father Gerard's name is the ninth on the paper. We translate from the Latin: "Father John Gerard, English, forty-five years old, nineteen in the Society, twenty-one on the English mission." [The writer was not aware of the true date of his admission into the Society.] "He studied at Rome in the English College controversy and cases of conscience for four years." [These four years must include his three years residence at Rhemes.] "He was admitted in England, where he made his novices.h.i.+p. He is a very spiritual man; he is endowed with an admirable power of gaining souls; he has also more than middling talent for preaching; and he is held to be not unfit for government. If these talents can supply the defect of learning, taking also into account all that he has suffered for the Catholic faith, then he is proposed for the four vows. It would be a consolation both to himself and to the many Catholics of note, by whom he is held in high esteem. But if not, then he is proposed for profession of the three vows."

P. cxc.-Among the papers of Sir Edward Phelips, preserved at Montacute House, Somersets.h.i.+re, of which a copy has been deposited in the Public Record Office by the Historical MSS. Commission, we have the examinations of two of Mrs. Vaux' servants, one of whom is the "Ric. the butler" of whom Lady Markham speaks.

"The examination of Francis Swetnam, servant to Mrs. Elizabeth Vaux, and served her in the bakehouse, taken the third of December, 1605. Saith that he hath been a recusant these two years, but will now come to the Church, for that he had rather adventure his own soul than loosen his five children, but cannot give any reason why he should adventure his soul by coming to Church. Saith that he was taken in his mistress' house and brought up with her to London, but denieth that he was ever at any Ma.s.s, or that he knoweth any Priest, and cannot deliver any other material thing to be set down. The mark of Francis Swetnam, Jul. Caesar, Rog.r Wilbraham, E. Phelipps, Jo. Croke, George More, Walter Cope, Fr. Bacon, John Doddridge" (f. 25).

"The examination of Richard Richardson, butler to Mrs. Vaux. He saith he hath served his mistress about six years, and hath not come to Church since he was eleven year old. Saith that since Midsummer last Catesby was at Harwardds [Harrowden] only one time, which was about St. Luke's Day; and Sir Everard Digby was there only twice, the former time about the 6th of August and the later time about St. Luke's Day; and that Francis Tresham was not there this twelvemonth; Mr. Rookwood these three years; and that Winter, Grant, Percy, Morgan, were never there during his service. And for matter of faith or revealing of Priests or Ma.s.ses, he desireth to be spared, because it concerneth his soul. Richard Richardson, Jul. Caesar, Rog.r Wilbraham, Jo. Croke, John Doddridge, Walter Cope, George More, Fr. Bacon." _Endorsed_-"6 December, 1605" (f. 32).

These papers (f. 58 et seq.) likewise contain Serjeant Phelips' Brief for the prosecution of Sir John Yorke for complicity with the Powder Plot, about 1612. The first three of "five general heads" of accusation are: "1.

That Gerard was received by Sir John Yorke both before and after the Powder Treason. 2. That secret pa.s.sages and places were made for Gerard at Golthwaite. 3. That a private diet was provided for him." A few specimens of the evidence will show that, whoever it was who frequented Sir John Yorke's house, at all events it was not Father Gerard, who never set foot in England after May, 1606. Francis Brown: "He hath seen Gerard the Jesuit at Sir John Yorke's house called Golthwaite both before and after the Powder Treason. He hath seen Gerard the Jesuit within this seven years at least twenty times. The last time was at Audebroughe in Christmas last [1610], when Gerard lay secret in the house all the Christmas. And once he went up into the chamber where Gerard was sitting by the fire. And resteth a.s.sured that Sir John Yorke knows where Gerard is. That there was no half year pa.s.sed since the Powder Treason but he saw him at one of Sir John Yorke's houses, and mentioneth four particular times." The marginal note is, "The servants to Sir John Yorke all deny the conveying of Gerard or the knowledge of him, whereof Johnson was put to torture and denied it."

William Browne the elder "names the place where he met him in North Wales, soon after the Powder Treason and before the Proclamation." William Browne the younger: "On Martinmas Day was two years, in a Close called Burnings, near Sir John Yorke's house, near a ford, he met Johnson on foot, and a man like to the person described by the Proclamation to be Gerard on a mare of Sir John Yorke's called White Friar." Robert Joye: "As he was working in the hall at Golthwaite in the summer before the Powder Treason, about the later Lady Day in harvest, Marmaduke Lupton, the steward to Sir John Yorke, came to him and told him it was my lady's pleasure he should remove out of the hall and work in the b.u.t.tery. Whereupon he removed into the b.u.t.tery, and Lupton put the door to. Whereat he marvelling pulled open the door a little, and saw Lupton bring in a reasonable broad man. And the Lady Yorke came out of the parlour and met him in the entry that goeth to the kitchen, and up the stairs to the garret she said, 'Welcome, Mr.

Gerard,' which this examinate perfectly heard, for there was but an inch board between. Mr. Gerard was carried up to the garret chamber, and remained there a month, not coming openly down. Heard Lupton, Grange, and Almond many times severally ask the cook secretly whether Mr. Gerard's meat were ready." Sampson Baines: "The Lady Yorke did use to appoint what meat he should dress for dinner, and what for the chamber, which was commonly two dishes and no more." The margin here has, Margaret Almond: "She carried no meat at any time to any strangers, saving such as were her master's and lady's friends. She made s.h.i.+ft to carry up meat, though she go with a crutch and have but one leg."

P. cxciii.-From the following letter it appears plain that the names of the Amba.s.sadors are wrongly given. And a witness named Parsons, examined Dec. 12, 1605, says that a "Priest named Tempest went over with the Spanish Amba.s.sador about Bartholomew-tide last" (Montacute Papers, f. 46).

So the Conde de Villa Mediana left England in the latter part of August, 1605.

Father Baldwin from Brussels to Father Persons at Rome, May 20, 1606. "Since my last, five days ago, arrived at -5 (St. Omers), 469 (Father Gerard), where also is one" [Richard Fulwood] "whom 456 (H. Garnett) was wont to use in all his chief business of pa.s.sage, receiving and retaining of all things. I take it he be 229 (Jesuit) also. They are yet 627 (secret), and so it is requisite for a time, especially in that the 194 225 (Marquis Amba.s.sador) brought them, and by his dexterous and courteous manner had great care of them. The Marquis of St. Germain came hither two days ago, and both he and D. Blasco de Arragon came as well informed of our English matters as I could wish. They have made relation accordingly to the Nuncio, and this morning to me, who have been with them a long while. They praise the courage and constancy of Catholics marvellously, and have an apprehension of the daily increase of them, as also that the better sort in England are inclined Catholicly and such in profession. They speak much of the zeal of the Lady of Shrewsbury and of the indignation of the King, who, hearing of the manner of Father Ouldcorne's death and requesting all Catholics to pray for him and say _De profundis_, there were found so many to say that aloud, as they were esteemed a great part of the number, and so many by signs and voices to have given show of Catholic profession, as all were amazed. Thus they report; and also that Father Garnett was to be executed the day which they came away, in Paul's Churchyard, although another writing from St. Omers says that it was deferred the day following, for that the day first appointed was May Day, and Father Garnett, being advertised of his death, should answer, 'What then, will you make a May-game of me?' Howsoever, it is held for certain that he is dead, and that Marquis told the Nuncio that therefore he departed the sooner, as unwilling to be present at such a tragedy.... I think Father Gerard may live in these countries after that Mr. Owen is delivered (of whom the Archduke mindeth to have great care), yet he who is said to have had correspondence with him, one Philips the decipherer, is now committed to the Tower. And it were very necessary one of ours remain in Paris, for which place Father Keynes might serve for a time, at least in that he is not a man noted, and hath the French tongue, as having lived there. Father Schondonch is of my opinion, and Father Gerard will do well in his place after some month or two, if things alter not much, for he can hardly be in any other place in regard of his indisposition, if it be as I have heard. I shall soon know more thereof. Father Lee were good in England in my opinion, for the consolation of many of ours, and Father Gerard's friends, all which I remit to your consideration."

The same to the same, July 3, 1606. "I have not as yet received from England from any of our Fathers; only John Powell, the interpreter of the Spanish Amba.s.sador, relateth what pa.s.sed at the execution of Father Garnett, upon the 13th May Stylo Novo and the 3rd Stylo Vetere. He hath given exceeding satisfaction to all sorts, and much confounded our enemies of the one sort and other.

He was drawn according to the usual manner to Paul's Churchyard upon a hurdle and straw; his arms were not bound neither when he was executed. Such concourse of people as hath not been seen....

The Spanish Amba.s.sador would not remain in London that day; he hath got his s.h.i.+rt, and some of his blood is sent to Spain, which I have seen here, also his apparel is gotten, as I hear. Here now is Richard Fulwood, who telleth me that Father Gerard is very sick at St. Omers; that said you would have him come to Rome. I fear me that journey will kill him."

Father Gerard quickly rallied from his sickness, for in less than a fortnight after this he wrote from Brussels to Father Persons, under the pseudonym of Fr. Harrison. The letter is so characteristic of the man that, though long, we give it in full, from the original at Stonyhurst (_Angl. A._, vol. vi).

"July 15, 1606.

"Jesus. Maria.

"Pax C.ti.

"Most dear and respected Father,

"I have received your letters of the -- last, wherein you show your fatherly care and undeserved love unto me, as were sufficient to bind unto you any grateful heart, although he were not tied with former obligations. But I am so much and so many ways bound unto you before by favours of the highest kind, that these do only tie me unto you with new knots, though I was before so wholly yours and so firmly tied that sincerely I had rather not to be than be untied. I beseech you, sir, that you will be pleased to present my humble duty unto Father General, in whose favour though your good word do procure me that place which I can no ways deserve, yet this I hope you may promise for me, that I will now begin to do my best endeavours, that I may be framed in all things as is fit for a child of that most holy family whereof he hath the care, that both by my voice and hands he may acknowledge me for his child, the better to deserve the blessing of so great and good a father. I would now acknowledge my duty by letters, but that I am ashamed of my Latin, and loath to trouble with so rude lines, unless there were further occasion or that you thought it needful.

But I hope to come and do my duty in person so soon that it will not be necessary to signify it by letters. I will stay as you appoint until I have your letters for my coming forward, and in the meantime will not be solicitous one whit, having no desire in the world whereof I would not most willingly leave the whole care unto you, and indeed desiring to have no other desires but yours so far as I may be able to discern them, after that I have expressed my reasons as I know you would have me to do, and after that you know me better and my many great wants, which, that they may be more exactly known unto you, makes me so desirous to be with you for some time, howsoever it may please you to dispose of me afterwards. And if the chief cause why you think it best for me to stay awhile in these parts be for that you would have me secret as yet, and especially not to be seen with you there whilst the appellants are negotiating their uncharitable accusations of their brethren, then I suppose you will think I may be fully as secret there as here, if I be first wary in my coming into the town and then be your prisoner for some time (which I most desire), and then go to St. Andrew's, without visiting any holy places and being seen in the town until you think it convenient. And because, in my second and third letters, I expressed my earnest desire of this private course at my first coming, I suppose I shall hear from you in your next letter or the next but one, that you think best I come forward, unless you wish my stay for some other reasons than the desire of my being secret. I grant I might perform my desire of some time of recollection either in Louvain or in the new House if it go forwards, under Father Talbot; but I have many reasons why I desire first to be with you for some time, which I think you would allow of if you knew them. And I would be glad also if it might be to begin in St. Andrew's, to draw there some lively water out of the chiefest fountain, and this rather in the winter than to come the next spring, because I much fear my health if I be there in the heats. But after I have been there for some time, for so long time as you shall think it convenient that I stay in that school, I shall be glad to be Father Talbot's Minister here, or to have some office of action under him, if my health do require any exercise of body. I hear there is one prepared for Minister that is very fit, but I could have care of the Church, and then perhaps should get some stuff to furnish it from some friends of mine in England; or I could have care of the garden, for I am excellent at that (if you will permit me to praise myself), for that was much of my recreation in England, and I hope my brother will witness with me that he hath seen a good many plants of my setting and tasted the fruit of some of them.

But indeed, dear Father, if it may stand with your liking, I would be very glad to see you and be with you for some days before I settle anywhere, how private soever my abode there be, either at the first or for the whole time of my stay, as yourself shall see it best. As for the settling of any with my friends, I have done it before my departure, leaving my old companion and dear friend, Father Percy, in the place where I was, who is so much esteemed and desired by them as none can be likely to be more profitable.

Most of my other special friends I commended partly to Father Antony [Hoskins], and partly to him, both which are most grateful to all my friends and acquaintance, and indeed I know not any two there that, in my simple opinion, better deserve it. As concerning Father Roger Lee's going into England, if you please that I write justly that I think, there be divers reasons for which I think it, at this time, very inconvenient. First, in that he is so profitable where he is, that it will not be easy to find another will do so much good in that place; and, in one word to express my opinion, for ought I see, the most good of the House, both for external discipline and for progress in spirit, dependeth upon his care and effectual industry, wherein I should think it more needful to provide him more helpers of like desires and practical endeavours (who would conspire with him and have talents to effect both with the good Rector and with the scholars, that which they should together find to be most expedient). The Fathers which be there do very well, but all are not of like apprehensions and proceedings, and I suppose if yourself did see all particulars, you would think Father Roger to be a strong helper to the good of that House, and that it would nourish much if it had some others of his like. I know not where to name one upon the sudden, unless it be Father Henry Flud [Floyd], whose zeal and practical proceedings I think would be very profitable for that House, if he may be spared, and truly in my opinion upon the good of that House dependeth much the good and quiet of the other Colleges, besides much edification to many, both friends and enemies, unto whom this is a continual spectacle.

"But besides this reason (which alone I take to be sufficient) I wish Father Roger's stay for the good he may hereafter do in England, which I do hope will be great, and therefore great pity it should now be lost before the fruit of so likely a tree can come to ripeness. For, sir, yourself can better judge that none can be much profitable in England until he have gotten acquaintance there, and until his acquaintance by their trial of him have gotten a great opinion and estimation of him, which then they will spread from one to another, and every one will bring his friend, who upon hearing will be desirous to try, but after trial will say unto the friend that brought him, '_Jam non propter sermonem tuum credimus sed ipsi_,' &c. By this means one shall have, after some continuance, more acquaintances and devoted friends than he can satisfy, and more business in that kind than he can turn his hands unto; but this is supposing he may at the first go up and down to get this acquaintance, and to be so known unto many; and until he have means so to do, if he have never so good talents, yet he shall not do so much good as a meaner person that is better acquainted. Now in this time I do verily think, if the laws be put in execution, there will be no means at all to get acquaintance, but the best acquainted shall have difficulty to help his known friends, and to be helped by them with safe places of abode as [I have declared at] large in my last letters, and they must lie much still and private and do [good part of] their [work by means of le]tters. Therefore, although I know Father Roger would be as much esteemed of my special friends as any that could be sent (unless my brother [probably Sir Oliver Manners]

"had served his apprentices.h.i.+p and were made a journeyman, for of his skill and workmans.h.i.+p in framing the best wedding garment there is great and general hope conceived) yet, things staying as they do in England, and Father Roger so well acquainted now with the place where he is, and thereby also more profitable there than a stranger could be, although as fit for the place as himself (which truly I think will be hard to find) my friends also being already furnished in England: these reasons move me to think it neither needful nor best that Father Roger go thither as yet: which yet in a more quiet time I shall be bold to beg for, if I see the College where he is so furnished that without great loss it might want him. I find Father Roger desirous of England if it were thought best, but wholly desirous to do that which yourself do think most convenient, but when I urge him to speak his very thoughts whether he do not think the College would be at want, he cannot deny but that the College hath need rather of more than less help, and surely I think if it were another's case of whom he might with humility acknowledge how profitable he is, I do think he would absolutely do his best to hinder it as I do."

"For the answer to your questions, though in my last long letters I did in part answer to most of them before I received yours, yet now I will briefly again set down my opinion to the several points, Father Baldwin having written of them in his last, I being at St. Omers; but now I am come to him, being advised by the physician there to go to the Spa for the drying up of my rheum, which here I shall take further counsel of, how far it is needful, and whether the great rains have not made the waters of less force. I am here private, and more private than I could be at St.

Omers whilst the banished Priests are pa.s.sing by. I think I shall hear within two or three posts your further pleasure; if not, I will return and then begin to talk with the youths there, or do any service I can as you appointed in your last. In the meantime, with many humble thanks for your many undeserved favours, I rest this 15th of July.

"Your Rev. son and servant wholly to command,

"FR. HARRISON."

Address-"Al molto Rev. in Christo Padre, il Padre Roberto Parsonio, Rettore del Collegio delli Inglesi, Roma."

To these we must add an extract from a letter of Father Persons dated December 29, 1606, and evidently written while Father Gerard was at Tivoli (Stonyhurst MSS., _P._, vol. ii., f. 447). "The man you name, to wit, Ger[ard] pa.s.sed this way some months gone, but made little or no abode, lest offence might be taken thereat, only I can say that during the few days which he remained he gave great edification for his behaviour and sundry great testimonies of his rare virtue, but most of all of his innocency concerning that crime whereof he was imputed in the proclamation, about which himself procured that his General should judicially examine in presence of divers witnesses, commanding him _in virtute sanctae obedientiae_ to utter the truth therein to his Superior, whereupon he swore and protested that he was wholly innocent therein, which the rest of his behaviour doth easily make probable. I shall cause him to be advertised by the first commodity of the note you write about his friends."

P. ccviii.-As Father Gerard certainly left Belgium in 1622, and therefore could not have been in the Tertians.h.i.+p at Ghent in 1624, there must be a mistake in the name of the Father who reconciled to the Church James, Lord Maltravers, in the July of that year, as related in the _Life of Anne Countess of Arundel_ (p. 232). It is there said that "before his death he was so fortunate as to be visited by Father John Gerard, a Priest of the Society, who, together with others, lived there" [at Ghent] "in the house which his grandmother a little before had erected.... By that Father he was in fine reconciled to the Holy Church."

P. 240.-James Garney, servant to Sir Everard Digby, "confesseth the journey to St. Winifred's Well and the particular places where they lay, and that Darcy [Father Garnett] and Fisher [Father Percy] were with them, and the whole company thirty horse" (Montacute Papers, f. 52).

Pp. 240 and 254.-Father Ouldcorne in his letter to the Privy Council (P.

R. O., _Gunpowder Plot Book_, n. 214) says respecting the verse of the hymn of All Saints: "Also he [Father Garnett] told me they charged him with a prayer that he should pen or make against the beginning of this Parliament: but he said that he denied that ever he penned or made any such. 'Perhaps' (said he), 'they have heard that sometimes this summer I have wished Catholics to pray, for that we had cause to fear there would be more severe laws made against us this Parliament than had been as yet.

Or else they have heard how sometimes upon occasions I have told how Cardinal Allen had got an indulgence of Gregory XIII. for all those that did devoutly for the conversion of England say that verse which is in the hymn of All-Hallow Day, _Gentem auferte perfidam_, &c., and the Psalm lxxviii., _Deus venerunt gentes_.' "

P. 306.-Father Garnett to Anne Vaux from the Tower (P. R. O., _Gunpowder Plot Book_, n. 245). "Mr. Hall [Father Ouldcorne] dreamed that Father General would have him and me professed. He said that I was professed already. 'Yea,' quoth he, 'but I will have him professed of ten or eleven vows more.' And there were provided two fair tabernacles or seats for us.

And so he awaked, and falling asleep again, had the same dream." Anne Vaux to Father Garnett (_ibid._, n. 246). "Mr. Hall his dream had been a great comfort, if at the foot of the throne there had been a place for me. G.o.d and you know my unworthiness. I beseech you help me with your prayers."

A NARRATIVE OF THE GUNPOWDER PLOT.