One of these sufferers,-father Robert Southwell, of the society of Jesus,-will, I am sure, attract your attention; for, like yourself, he knew "Himself to sing and build the lofty rhyme."

MILTON.

His poems were printed in 1585; a selection from this edition has been lately published in a small octavo volume. Sir Egerton Bridges observes, in his Censura Literaria, that "a deep "moral pathos, illumined by fervent piety, marked every thing Southwell wrote, either in prose or "verse;" and that "there is something singularly simple, chaste, eloquent and fluent in his diction on all occasions."

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An eloquent and interesting account of his life, virtues, sufferings, trial and execution, is given by father Juvençi*. It appears by it, and by other accounts, that father Southwell was racked ten times; and sometimes, during seven hours, without intermission. He was executed on the 21st February 1595, The hangman tied the noose of the rope so unskilfully, that father Southwell, while he was hanging, made the sign of the cross several times. While he was yet alive, the hangman advanced to cut the rope, but the people withheld him three several times by their cries; for the meekness and constancy with which the good father

Historia Societatis Jesu, lib. xiii. n. 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8. See Strype's Ann. vol. 4, n. lxxix; Holt's Lett. ib. 147; and Memoirs of Miss. Priests, vol. 1, p. 324.

comported himself, in his last moments, were so great, that even the protestants, who were present at the execution, were greatly affected by the sight.

A letter, written by him, gives an account of the sufferings of the catholic priests in prison, which, I am sure, must shock the feelings of every humane reader. "A little while ago," says the reverend writer, "they apprehended two priests, who have "suffered such cruel usages in the prison of Bride"well, as can scarce be believed. What was given "them to eat was so little in quantity, and withal "so filthy and nauseous, that the very sight of it was enough to turn their stomachs. The labours, "to which they obliged them, were continual and "immoderate, and no less in sickness than in "health; for, with hard blows and stripes, they "urged them to accomplish their tasks, how weak soever they were. Some are there hung up "whole days by the hands, in such a manner that "they can but just touch the ground with the tips "of their toes. In fine, they that are kept in "prison truly live in lacu miseriæ, et in luto

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facis, psalm 39. This purgatory we are looking "for every hour, in which Topcliffe and Young, "the two executioners of the catholics, exercise all "kinds of torments. But come what please God,

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we hope we shall be able to bear all in him that "strengthens us."

This letter is dated the 16th January 1590, seventeen months after the memorable display of

catholic loyalty, while England was threatened by the invincible armada.

In 1592, a poor waterman, and a Mrs. Ward, a widow, then in the service of a catholic lady, were hanged, drawn and quartered, for assisting a catholic priest to escape from prison. Mrs. Ward had been hung up by her hands, and cruelly scourged. In 1601, Mrs. Lyne suffered the same punishment for harbouring a priest. In 1586, Mrs. Clitheroe, of the antient family of Middleton, in Yorkshire, was tried by the order of the earl of Huntingdon, the lord president of the north, for relieving a priest. She refused to plead; and, by the sentence of the court, was pressed to death. A note in doctor Lingard's history contains the following account of this severe sentence *.

"The place of execution was the tolbooth, six "or seven yards from the prison at York, on the "25th March 1586. An eye-witness gives the

following account of this cruel and unparalleled 66 scene. After she had prayed, Fawcet, one of "the sheriffs, commanded them to put off her apparel; when she, with the four women, requested "him on their knees, that, for the honour of woman

hood, this might be dispensed with; but they "would not grant it. Then she requested that "the women might unapparel her, and that they “would turn their faces from her during that time. "The women took off her cloaths, and put upon

* Vol. 5, n. (FF.), p. 667; Mem. of Miss. Priests, vol. 1, 189.

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"her the long linen habit. Then, very quietly, "she laid her down upon the ground, her face "covered with a handkerchief, and most part of "her body with the habit. The door was laid upon her; her hands she joined towards her "face. Then the sheriff said, 'Naie, ye must have your hands bound.' Then two sergeants parted "her hands, and bound them to two posts, in the "same manner as the feet had previously been fixed. "After this they laid weight upon her, which, "when she first felt, she said, Jesu! Jesu! "Jesu! have mercy upon mee!' which were the "last words she was heard to speake. She was dying about one quarter of a hower. hower. A sharp "stone, as big as a man's fist, had been put under "her back; upon her was laid to the quantity of

seven or eight hundred weight, which, breaking "her ribs, caused them to burst forth of the skin.'

Once more I take leave to ask you,—did not the duty of historic impartiality require of you to mention these sufferings, and this meritorious conduct of the roman-catholics?

LETTER XVI.

JAMES I.

273

SIR,

THE part of your chapter on the reign of James I. which relates to the roman-catholics, is extremely limited: it is confined to the Gunpowder Plot, and the Oath of Allegiance required by James from the roman-catholics; both are important, and I shall successively consider them.

XVI. 1.

The Gunpowder Plot.

JUSTICE to the roman-catholics evidently required of you, to mention their many loyal advances to king James, on his accession to the English throne; the dutiful addresses to him, both from the romancatholic clergy, and the roman-catholic laity; and the humble supplication presented to him from the priests in exile. You should also have mentioned the communications between him and the catholics, both in the life-time of Elizabeth, and subsequently to her decease; his fair words, and even promises to them, particularly during the negotiations for the marriage of Charles, his son and successor, with the infanta of Spain; his explicit avowals, after these negotiations ceased, of his resolution to persete the roman-catholics; and the declaration of

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