A true report of the death & martyrdom of M. Campion jesuite and priest, & M. Sherwin, & M. Bryan priests, at Tyburn the first of December 1581. Observid and written by a Catholic priest, which was present thereat Whereunto is annexed certain verses made by sundry persons Apoca. 7. These are they that came out of great tribulation, and have washed their stoles and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. TO THE READER. AMongst the divers reports of the behaviour of M Campion, M. Sherwin, & M Bryan at their death (passing among friends from hand to hand) I happened upon one given out as it seemeth by a Catholic priest, who as it appeareth pressed to observe & mark those dealings: which report I have here published, considering the diverse & many slanders raised since by some maliciously blinded to satisfy & content all such as do desire to understand the manner of the same: I hope that consideration which hath movid me hereto, will also persuade that priest to the well liking of this my doing? & I doubt not but that the relation itself will content the reader thoroughly touching their words, and behaviour at the time of execution, Notwithstanding those slanders which were since spread to diminish the honour of their refolute departure & martyrdom, as that M Campion was timorous and fearful, & that M Sherwin died a protestant, with other such false reports, as thou shalt see in perusing this short relation here exhibitid for thy satisfaction: wherein is a lively Image of resolute martyrs, constantly professing their faith & belief, resolutely disclaiming from all treasons and treacheries falsely intented against them: and loyaly behaving them selves towards our queen & country. Who as they were in their lives lanterns of piety & virtue, so in their deaths made themselves patterns and examples for all good christian subjects to follow. And here by the way I might point out M. Elmers' folly, as not one of the least, who notwithstanding the known learning of M. Campion (he himself a man of known wisdom, & judgement,) was not ashamed, at a Sessions at Newgate, upon the appearance of the Cutler of Holborn, to say openly, that M Campion was vnlern●d, and that a Note book or two of his fellows being taken from him, he had nothing in him, as it was manifest in his disputations in the Tower. Further that all the Papists in the world could not answer Whitakers book against the said M Campion. Which his censure, I refer unto the judgement of the learned discreet and wise, who I know do condemn the babbling of that barren declaymer, as void of wit, discretion, learning, modesty, & truth. But how frivolous and vain these slanders are, although the whole world (filled now with the fame of his learning) doth know, yet it shall be made more manifest and apparent even unto himself by those Disputations had in the Tower, to the honour of M Campion and furthering of his cause, at such time as by the grace of God they shall be published. This rehearsal (good Reader) I confess is impertinent to the purpose of that Priest who gave out the report following, and yet I thought it not altogether amiss to touch those slanders so false and malicious, as many good Gentlemen can not but confess. Much more M Elmer spoke that day, as he thought, to the discredit of M. Campion, but I pray God give him better consideration both of this and of further justice, and so shall the poor Poulter at his next complaint be heard, even of himself, being as he himself said, a Bishop, a Lord, and of some credit Farewell. ¶ A true report of the death of M. Campion jesuite and Priest, M. Sherwin, and M. Bryan priests. THE divers and contrary reports falsely and maliciously bruited and published of M. Euerard Haunse, directly executed for cause of Religion, after his late martyrdom, gave just fear of the like practice towards those three glorious Martyrs, learned, meek, stout, and constant Priests, M. Edmund Campion jesuite, M. Rodulph Sherwin, and M. Alexander Bryan priests, who upon the first day of December last passed were under pretence of high treason most injuriously to the great lamentation generally of all good men, martyred for the Catholic faith and religion. Upon which occasion many good catholic gentlemen desirous to be eye witnesses of that which might happen in the speech, demeinor, & passage of those three rare patterns of piety, virtue, and innocency, presented themselves at the place of execution, and myself a Catholic priest pressed to that bloody spectacle, no doubt a lively sacrifice unto God, and a sweet savour unto his Angels, with mind upon occasion to refer uncerely and truly to my power this tragedy, with such accidents as did happen in the manner, course, and end thereof. Since which time, upon request of some of my fellows and brothers, I wrote those dealings, to answer and satisfy our adversaries generally, to content & comfort our persecuted brethren specially, and in part to diminish those sinister rumours which are raised against these good men by a notable and most infamous libel, entitled, An Advertisement and defence for truth against her backbiters, and specially against the whispering favourers and colorers of Campions, and the rest of his confederates treasons: published there, and openly read, printed abroad without authority of seen and allowed, a pamphlet, false, impudent, and farssed with lies and untruths, only to colour and shadow with some face of equity those strange procedings, my meaning is not to refute in spetial falsities, that shameful advertisement already generally confutid in all men's consciences, and with private mutteringes even of the adverse part themselves flatly condemned, for I know, and all men are persuaded that those inocentes suffered only for religion for our father's faith, and spiritual inheritance, for serving god in priestly function and duties. And not for treason, not for conspiring her highness death and ruin as it shall more clearly apere by their own defence at the time of their arraignment, which will shortly be published as a testimony, and expressed signification of their innocency, together with their dispntations privately had in the tower, arguments of their learning and seal towards this our native country, so divided daily with numbers of new faiths and religions, to the ruin and damnation of many our parents, children, kinssolkes & friends, for whose instruction & salvation only these good men with infinite more have offered, and as i● were, consecrated themselves to these dangers, and perils of our times. But if I should upon that defeuce of their doings stand long to the contrary, yet could I not, when all were done, say more than other men have already alleged, by whom is declared how our doings and labours in these spiritual affairs, are misconstred, how truth is made treason, religion rebellion. To whose books I do refer my dear country men either inwardly affected, or outwardly afflicted by the sweet departure of these so lern●d● so m●ke, so virtuous Priests, of whose innocency, dutiful purposes, demeinors, and attempts towards our native country, our parents and friends, notwithstanding that general testimony of many learned m●n, are further and most sure witness their disputation publicly challenged, and by the adverse part privately performed, their answers wise, and even to the admiration of all men discrete at their arraignment, their resolute denial and plain disclaiming from all such practices surmised, and violently intended at their last speech, and that assured upon the peril of their souls, and lastly the disloyal and traitorous practice of the adverse part, against 24. her highness, her crown, and state, against her friends, against some of her grave and wise, true and faithful Counsellors, practised secretly, as by private speech of her majesties subjects generally is constant and manifest, by some hollow hearted friends and flatterers utered now, and no doubt if all were known, for some purpose broached by M. Norton now prisoner, who for the better face of his own disloyalty and treason, procured these her majesties true and most loyal subjects to be accused, condemned and executed for treason. But O alta iuditia dei. I say no more, but half those words he used, would have been made plain & express treason in poor Catholics, howsoever some will seem to excuse them as rash words. Well here as I will answer for mine own sonle before God I mind to write sincerely and simply a truth concerning the behaviour of these men at their departure, wherein of mine own faith and fidelity in reporting I call witness of those gentlemen who before the beginning of this tragedy at Tyburn disputed of the motion of the Sun from east to west which was violent & which was natural, at whose backs I sta●ed the end of this pageant: I minded this end, and they I know atended the same. this I do imply to remember those gentlemen of the manner, of the behaviour, meek, humble, constant and resolute of those honourable martyrs, now no doubt daily intercessors for ●his our miserable country, not doubting but that, as they were then charitably moved and affected with compassion, so now they will truly give testimony of their innocency and my faith in relation. Let therefore malice report treason, and here●ie sound conspiracy, a practice even from the infancy of religion and faith, to breed hatred to religious & faithful men, yet in all these inventions of quarreling Lawyers in our doing in such wise made treasonable, we for them and ourselves by S. Paul's example (who being charged before the civil magistrate, Act. 24. of conspiracy, and ill demeinour towards his country, protested that he was judged concerning the resurrection, a question in religion, and not for sedition or concourse in tumults) do cry to God and all Christian people which beheld their sufferance, and do still see our afflictions, that the cause of their death and our extreme misery, is merely and only religion, no treason, no undutifulness to our Prince, no disobedience to her temporal laws, howsoever they who malign our faith and Priesthood, have by these Machevilian practices drawn all our doings, intents, and endeavours to disloyalty and treason: by which means were lately condemned thirteen priests, and one lay man, against law, equity, conscience, without special evidence, upon general presumption, by testimony of three or four lewd Apostates, unlawful persons, and notoriously infamed. This is vox populi, and was at the time of their arraignment expressly proved, howsoever this nameless Aduertiser doth without shame most falsely affirm the contrary. But to my purpose, which is to intimat and publish the behaviour, speeches, and protestation of these so learned & rare men. It is not unknown that M. Edmund Campion jesuite & Priest, a man reputed and taken, and by divers his coequals plainly confessed the flower of Oxford for that time he studied there, and since abroad in foreign countries one in whom our country hath had great honour, the fruit of his learning, virtue, and rar● gifts, which as they were in his childhood here among us wonderful, so they were abroad, as in Italy, Germany, and Bohemia an honour to our country, a glass and mirror, a light and lantern, a pattern and example to youth, to age, to learned, to unlearned, to religious, and to the laity of all sort, state, & condition, of modesty, gravity, eloquence, knowledge, virtue, and piety, of which just and due commendation, some of our adversaries can give true and ●erteyn testimony, who after diligent sifting and inquiring of his life, manners, and demeinor, found nothing faulty, nothing worthy of blame. This man (M. Campion I say) first meekly yielded himself and his carcase to this butchery, with such humility & courage, as moved most beholders to compassion and pity. Those speeches he used in the way to divers calling and crying unto him, I leave (my self not able to make relation thereof) to common report, or to that man's testimony, who either for pity or affection wiped his face defiled with dirt, as he was drawn most miserably through thick and thin, as the saying is, to the place of execution: for which charity, and happily some sudden moved affection, God reward him, and bless him. What he spoke openly, that my meaning is to set down truly, myself being present and very near, as hard by Sir Frances Knoles, the Lord Howard, Sir Henry Lee and other Gentlemen then gathered there to see and hear him. And here I will omit, although it be very much material, his usage in time of imprisonment, his constant patience in his rackings, and after his condemnation by report of some very near to him, his five days fast from temporal & bodily sustenance, his abstinence from sleep and ordinary rest, which was before his death by credible report of some, continued two nights, bestowed in meditation & prayer. Who after many conflicts and agonies, joyfully coming to receive his reward and crown, the kingdom of heaven, an inheritance certain to such, who in this life refuse the world, things worldly, & themselves for Christ's sake, after some small pause in the cart, with grave countenance and sweet voice stoutly spoke as followeth. Spectaculum facti sumus Deo, Angeli, & hominibus saying, 1. Cor. 4. These are the words of S. Paul, Englished thus: We are made a spectacle, or a sight unto God, unto his Angels, and unto men: verified this day in me, who am here a spectacle unto my lord god, a spectacle unto his angels, & unto you men. And here going forward in this text, was interuptid & cut of by Sir Francis Knowles and the sh●ryfs, earnestly urging him to confess his treason against her majesty, and to acknowledge himself guilty. To whom he answered sayings You have now what you do desire, I beseech you to have patience & suffer me to speak a word or too for discharge of my conscience. But beiug not suffered to go forward, gave answer to that point they always urged, that he was guiltless & innocent of all treason and conspiracy, craving credit to be given to this answer, as to his last answer made upon his death & soul: adding that touching this point both the jury might be deceived, and more also put in the evidence than was true: notwithstanding he forgave, as he would be forgiven, desiring all them to forgive him whom he had confessed upon the rack. Further he declared the meaning of a le●ter sent by himself in time of his imprisonment out of the Tower, in which he wrote, he would not disclose the secrets of some houses where he had been entertained, affirming on his soul, that the secrets he m●nt in that letter, were no● as some miscon●tred them, treason, or conspiracy, or any matter else any way intended against her Majesty or the state, but saying of Mass, hearing of confession, preaching, and such like duties and functions of Priests: this he protested to be true, as he would answer before God. Then he desired Sir Francis Knowles, and some other of nobility, to hear him touching one Richardson condemned about a book of his, and earnestly besought them to have consideration of that man, saying, he was not that Richard son which brought his book, & this he affirmed with vehement protestation upon his death. Then one Hearne a seolemaster, as I learned after, red the new Advertisement openly with loud voice unto the people, published only to colour so manifest and ●xpresse injury: M. Campion all the time of his reading devoutly praying Notwithstanding which advertisement or defence of theirs, aswell because they dis●r●s●ed their own polycie in publication thereof, as that they did also ●●si●e ●me better colour or faster unsaid for their proceedings, pressed him to declare his opinion of Pius quintus Bull concerning thexcommunication of our Sovereign and queen. To which demand he gave no answer. But being asked whether he renounced the Pope, said he was a Catholic: whereupon one inferred, saying: In your Catholisisme (I noted the word) all treason is contained. In fine, preparing himself to drink his last draght of Christ his cup, was interrupted in his prayer by a minister, willing him to say, Christ have mercy upon me, or such like prayer with him: unto whom he looking back with mild countenance, humbly said. You and I are not one in religion, wherefore I pray you content yourself, I bar none of prayer, only I desire them of the household of faith to pray with me● & in mine agony to say one Crede. Some also called upon him to pray in English: to whom he answered, that he would pray in a language that he well understood. At the upshot of this conflict he was willed to ask the queen forgiveness, and to pray for her. He meekly answered: wherein have I offended her? In this I am innocent, this is my last speech, in this give me credit, I have and do pray for her. Then did the Lord Charles Howard ask of him: For which queen he prayed, whether for Elizabeth queen. To whom he answered, Yea for Elizabeth your queen, and my queen, unto whom I wish a long quiet reign, with all prosperity. And so he meekly and sweetly yielded his soul unto his Saviour, protesting that he died a perfect Catholic. M. Campion having thus triumfed on the world, the flesh, the devil, and received his long desired crown, M. Rodulph Sherwine, a stout, wise discreet, and learned Priest, was brought unto the cart, a man so mortified, so feebled with fasting, watching, and such like spiritual exercise, as was wonderful unto such, who had conversed with him before his imprisonment. He standing upon the cart, with closed eyes, with hands lifted up to heaven in contemplation and prayer, all men marking his demeinor, with mild voice first made this demand: Doth the people expect that I should speak? Being answered of many, and some of nobility, yea, yea, with stout courage and strong voice said: Then first I thank the omnipotent and most merciful God the father for my creation, my sweet and loving saviour Christ jesus for my redemption, and the holy Ghost for my sanctification, three persons and one God. After this thanks giving unto the holy and blessed trinity, entering in discourse of his faith, his condemnation and death, was interrupted and stayed by Sir Francis Knowles and the sheriffs, saying You have declared your faith, & we know it, come to the point, and confess your treason & disloyalty towards your Prince. Whereupon he constantly said: I am innocent & guiltless. And being still urged, answered, I will not belie myself, for so should I condemn mine own soul. And although I have confusion in this world yet I doubt not of my salvation in Christ jesus, in whom only I look to be saved, and in whose death, passion, and blood I only trust: and so made a sweet prayer to jesus, acknowledging the imperfection, misery and sinful wretchedness of his own nature, still protesting his innocency from all treason and traitorous practices, and that his going out of this Realm beyond the seas, was only for his soul's health, to learn to save his soul And being again interrupted by Sir Francis Knowles, said in this wise: Tush, tush, you and I shall answer this before an other judge, where my innocency shall be known, & you see that I am guiltless of this. Whereupon Sir Francis said, We know you are no contriver or doer of this treason, for you are no man of arms, but you are a traitor by consequence. O miserable consequence, that hath deprived us of so worthy members, and is like to imbrue our country & nation with much innocent blood, do not our Sovereign and queen deny the same so strangely inferred upon no premises, and turn her highness hand of indignation from many our afflicted brethren, her heart to wont mercy and clemency towards her true, loyal, and natural Catholic subjects. But to M Sherwine, who boldly answered, If to be a Catholic only, if to be a perfect Catholic, be to be a traitor, than (said he) am I a traitor. After which words being by authority debarred of further speech, he said, I forgive all, who either by general presumption, or particular error have procured my death, and so devoutly prayed unto jesus: after which prayer Be was urged to speak his opinion touching the said bull of Pope Pius: to which point he gave no answer. Then being willed to pray for the queen's Majesty, answered, I have and do. At which words the Lords Howard again asked, which queen he meant, whether Elizabeth queen? to whom somewhat smiling he said, yea for Elizabeth queen, I now at this instant pray my Lord God to make her his servant in this life, and after this life coheir with Christ jesus. When he had prayed to God to make her his servant, there were, which said openly, that he meant, to make her a Papist, to whom he boldly replied, Else God forbidden. And so collecting himself to prayer, died patiently, stoutly, and mildly, crying, jesus, jesus, jesus, esto mihi jesus. Here I can not omit a practice of some of our young masters, slanderously given on't against M. Sherwin, dreamt ou● by them of his words here, as that he died a protestant, because he disclaiming from the wretchedness of his own mortality, and nature, reposed himself wholly upon Christ and his passion. These minions would, no doubt, make catholics monsters in points of religion and faith, and do labour to persuade the people, that the Catholic religion doth evacuate the comfort of our frailties and price of our souls, the shedding of Christ's most precious blood, in which we do acknowledge all our suffitiency, and in which only as the sole foundation spring and cause of all merit, the merit of all our well doing, so injuriously to Christ his passion abolished by protestants, is, hath, and shall be by us maintained, not against these naked solifidians only, but even against the gates of hell. What web soever some sottish weaver or such like shall weave in the mean time of a suposid subtlety touching justification in M. Sherwins' words here uttered, his fine suppose is coming out with great labour and much ado and all not worth a rush. Truly it is a world to see the ragged rabble of these petty pratres who since M. Campions' imprisonment and death, have cast up their charged gorge against priesthood, priests and the society of jesus, who if it would please her Highness and her honourable Counsel to lay open either pulpit, or print, would shortly plums these daw●s in such short, that their nakedness apparently discovered, would show them in their kind then should neither Ch●rke, Ha●●er, Whitakers, Filled, Keltrigh, Eliot, kogging Monday rhyming Elderton, and john Nichols the disciple of Bawdy Bale, all worshipful writers at this time against priests and jesuits, so dance in their nets, as now by sway of time they do, to the great hurt of ins●●ute innocent souls than should not William Wiborns Magg Owlet (a false and malicious practice of som● few melancholic heretics first broached, and now renewed by himself to diminish the credit and authority of Counsels) fly free in the day from pursuit and wonder of other birds: at whom now with the rest I think the learned and wise Catholic will look and laugh, as not worthy of refutation & answer, howsoever some younger scholar may shortly exercise himself in reply upon him whom all English Catholics (as they say) can not answer. After these two glorious Martyrs, was brought unto his martyrdom M. Alexander Brian, a man although in learning & knowledge inferior to them, yet equal in patience, constancy and humility, whose pressures in prison and tortures, strange I dare say, among heathens, more monstrous among Christians, may be thought uncredible, and are signified unto his brethren abroad by himself. To omit his rackings, what practice was it of uncharitable Protestants to put pings under his nails? What heart could see his famine so extreme, that for his corporal sustenanse he was driven to lick the moisture of walls? His usage is abroad in men's hands, written by himself, a testimony● of their cruel and hard hearts, who in such wise abused a sacred priest of God. Being in the cart prepared to death, began first to declare his bringing up in the Catholic faith & religion, his being in Oxford, upon which word he was stayed by one, saying: What have we to do with Oxford? come to the purpose, and confess thy treason. Whereupon he answered, I am not guyltye of any such death, I was never at Rome, nor then at Rheims, when D. Sanders came into Ireland, To this end he spoke and protested, as he would answer before God. He spoke not much, but where as he was urged more than the other to speak what he thought of the said Bull of Pius quintus, he said he did believe of it as all catholics and the Catholic faith doth, and thereupon protesting himself to die a true catholic, saying Miserere mei Deus, was delivered of the carts with more pain by negligence of the hangman than either of the other, who after his beheading, himself dismembered, his heart bowels and entrails burned, to the great admiration of some, being laid upon the block his belly downward, lifted up his wholly body then remaining from the ground: and this I add upon report of others, not mine own sight. Here you have the speech and demeinor of these three glorious martyrs at their last hour, and in their last breath, of the true report whereof I do refer myself unto divers of nobility and worship, unto those gallant and brave courtiers who beheld and hard the same, who pitti●d their innocency so punished, who commended their death so patiently sustained, who through mere pity procured them favour, and prevented the bloody purposes of some cruel torments: for which favour God reward that Gentleman, who after M. Sherwin was put from the cart, turned back and said, This man was a wise man. God, I say, reward him, God increase his honour, God make him a sheep of his fold, a child of his Church, God board him in that ark which hath, doth, and shall preserve all Christ's followers from the flood and deluge, in which only is grace, security, and salvation, out of which is nought but desperate misery, & perdition. To conclude, upon this occasion I have not thought impertinent to remember all Catholics, and specially us priests, of some words of a learned and famous Doctor, which to this end I have, as it followeth, gathered out of his exhortation to martyrdom, largely and sweetly delivered us in an apology of the English Seminaries: That as the cause, not the pain, or persecution, (whereof our Heretics only vaunt themselves) justifieth all men: so Christ, and these good men's, consciences form in all piety, meekness, and modesty, so their last protestation, washed, sealed, & confirmed with their blood, so their resolute death for religion, for our faith, for the church, no doubt by God's grace shall animat and strengthen us, who remain either in the furnace of God's probation, or in the burden or broil of this hot harvest of our Lord, or by sure treading, threshing, and winewing, are laid up for well tried wheat in the barn floor of Christ's Church. And further may move her majesties heart to have compassion, may open her grave Counsellors eyes to see our innocency, may alter our enemies and ill informers minds to love and charity, may stir up the minds of all men inwardly & in conscience to consider the cause of our sufferance, affliction, & imprisonments, and give them such sense, reason, and religion, that they may acknowledge our undeserved calamities: I say, this may the deaths of so good and holy martyrs work, as they did sufficiently testify, that they were not acquainted with any conspiracy against our Prince and country, but did suffer for the honour, peace, and unity of the Church, for saving of their souls, and the souls of our beloved parents, children, & friends, for the defence of Christ's priesthood and sovereignty in earth, for his eternal sacrifice and sacraments, who move the heart of our noble Prince to tender her true and trustiest subjects afflicted Catholics. Amen. God save the Queen. A caveat to the reader touching A, M his discovery Anthony Monday, or as it is [not without some consideration] thought, that some machevillian in mnndayes name hath shuffled out of late a Discovery of M Campions & his confederates treasons, the same in effect & substance with the advertisement before rehearesed. Myself considering this neiwe hatched discovery to peep out by seen & allowed: have thought good in the conclusion of this report for the more credit of this his discourse to advertise the reader, of the qualities and conditions of this davus, so railing and raving at virtuous and good men deseassed, that there by he may the better judge and value the truth of that neiwe pamphlet which hath been perused by no wurs man then by M, Norton a supposed traitor in the tower, and now delivered on't by monday, North bronkes book against players who first was a stage player [no donbt a calling of some credit] after an aprentise which time he well seemed with deceiving of his master then wandering towards Italy, by his own report became a cozener in his journey. Coming to Rome, in his short abode there; was charitably relieved, but never admitted in the seminary as he pleaseth to lie in the title of his book, and being weary of well doing, returned home to his first vomit again. I omit to declare how this scholar new come out of Italy did play extempore, those gentlemen and others which were present, can best give witness of his dexterity, who being weary of his folly, hissed him from his stage. Then being thereby discouraged, he set forth a balet against plays, but yet (O constant youth) he now begins again to ruffle upon the stage. I omit among other places his behaviour in Barbican with his good mistress, and mother, from whence our superintendant might fetch him to his conrt, were it not for love (I would say slannder) to their gospel. Yet I think it not amiss to remember thee of this boy's infelicity two several ways of late notorious. First he writing upon the death of Euerard Haunse, was immediately controlled and disproved by one of his own hatch. and shortly after setting forth the apprehension of M. Campion, was disproved by George (I was about to say) judas Eliot, who writing against him, proved that those things he did were for very lucers sake only, and not for the truth, although he himself be a person of the same predicament, of whom I must say, that if felony be honesti, than he may for his behaviore be taken for a lawful witness against so good men. all which considered, I wish the ●eder to think that the credit of this discourser (at the time of their arraignment an accuser) should be such as in every indifferent man's judgement we know and see by experience the accusers report against the accused doth deserve. Therefore good reader examine this man's honesti so reported, & snspend thy judgement against these good priests, until by gods grace the whole manner course, and order, arraignment, accnsation, condemnation, and answers, shall come forth, which is shortly intended for thy benefit and satisfaction. Upon the death of M. Edmund Campion, one of the society of the holy name of jesus. WHy do I use my paper ink, and pen, and call my wits to connsel what to say, such memories were made for mortal men, I speak of Saints whose names can not decay: an Angel's trump were fit for to found their glorious death, if such on earth were found. Pardon my want, I offer nought but will, their register remaineth safe above, Campion exceeds the compass of my skill, yet let me use the measure of my love, and give me leave in low and homeli verse, his high attempts in England to rehearse. He came by vow, the cause to conquer sin, his armour prayer, the word his targe & shield, his comfort heaven, his spoil our souls to win, the devil his foe, the wicked world the field, his triumph joy, his wage eternal bliss, his captain Christ, which ever blessed is. From ease to pain, from honour to disgrace, from love to hate, to danger being well, from safe abode to fears in every place, contemning death to save our souls from hell, our new Apostle coming to restore the faith which Austin planted here before. His nature's flowers were mirt with herbs of grace, his mild behaviour tempered well with skill, a lowly mind possessed a learned place, a sugared speech a rare and virtuous will, asaintlike man was set on earth below, the seed of truth in e●ring hearts to sow. With tongue & pen the truth he taught & wrote, byforce whereof they came to Christ apace, but when it pleased God, it was his lote he should be thralled, he lent him so much grace, his patience then did work as much or more, as had his heavenly speeches done before. His fare was hard, yet mild & sweet his cheer, his prison close, yet free and lose his mind, his torture great, yet small or none his fear, his offers la●ge, but nothing could him blind. O constant man, O mind, O virtue strange, whom want, nor woe, nor fear, nor hope could change. From rack in Tower they brought him to dispute, bookeles, alone, to answer all that came, yet Christ gave grace, he did them all confute so sweetly there in glory of his name, that even the adverse part are forced to say, that Campions' cause did bear the bell away. This foil enraged the minds of some so far, they thought it best to take his life away, because they saw he would their matter mar, and leave them shortly nought at all to say: traitor he was with many a silly slight, yet pact a jury that cried guylti strait. Religion there was treason to the queen, preaching of penance war against the land, priests were such dangerous men as have not been prayers & beads were fight and force of hand, cases of conscience bane unto the state, so blind is error, so false a witness hate. And yet behold these lambs be drawn to die, treason proclaimed, the queen is put in fear, out upon satan, fie malice, fie, speak'st thou to them that did the guildles hear? can humble souls departing now to Christ, protest untrue? avant foul fend thou list. My sovereign Liege behold your subjects end, your secret foes do misenforme your grace: who in your cause their holy lives would spend as traitors die, a rare and monstrous case, the bloody wolf condemns the harmless sheep before the dog, that whiles the sherherds sleep. England look up, thy soil is stained with blood, thou hast made martyrs many of thine own, if thou hast grace their deaths will do thee good, the seed will take which in such blood is sown, and Campions learning fertile so before, thus watered too, must needs of force be more. Repent thee Eliot of thy judas kiss, I wish thy penance, not thy desperate end, let Norton think which now in prison is, to whom was said he was not Caesar's friend, and let the judge consider well in fear, that Pilate washed his hands, and was not clear The witness false, Sledd, Monday, and the rest, which had your slanders noted in your book, congress your fault beforehand it were best, lest God do find it written when he doth look in dreadful doom upon the souls of men, it will be late (alas) to mend it then. You bloody jury Lea and all the leaven, take ●eede your verdict which was given in haste do not e●clude you from the joys of heaven, and cause you rue it when the time is past: and every one whose malice caused him say Crucifige, let him dread the terror of that day. Fond Elderton call in thy foolish rhyme, thy scurile balates are to bad to sell, let good men rest, and mend thyself in time, confess in prose thou hast not meetred well, or if thy folly can not choose but feign, writ alehouse ●oys, blaspheme not in thy vain. Remember you that would oppress the cause, the Church is Christ's, his honour can not die, though hell herself revest her gresly jaws, and join in league with schism and heresy, though craft devise, and cruel rage oppress, yet skill will write and martyrdom confess. You thought perhaps when learned Campion dies, his pen must cease, his sugared tongue be still, but you forgot how loud his death it cries, how far beyond the sound of tongue and ●uil, you did not know how rare and great a good it was to write his precious gifts in blood. Living he s●ake to th●m that present were, his writings took their censure of the view, Now fame reports his learning far and near, and now his death controms his doctrine true, his virtues now are written in the skies, and often read with holy inward eyes. All Europe wonders at so rare a man, England is filled with rumour of his end, London must needs, for it was present than, when constantly three saints their lives did spend the streets, the stones, the steps you ●ald them be, proclaim the cause for which these martyrs die. The Tower saith the truth he did defend. the bar bears witness of his guiltless mind, Tyburn doth tell he made a pa●●ent end, on every gate his martyrdom we find, in vain you wrought that would obscure his name for heaven and earth will still record the same. Your sentence wrong pronounced of him here, exemptes him from the judgements for to come, O happy he that is not judged there, God grant me too to have an earthly doom, your witness false and lewdly taken in, doth cause he is not now accused of sin. His prison now the city of the king, his rack and torture joys and heavenly bliss, for men's reproach with angels he doth sing a sacred song which everlasting is for shame but short and loss of small renown, he purchase hath an ever during crown. His quartered limbs shall join with joy again, and rise a body brighter than the sun, your blinded malice tortured him in vain, For every wrinch sow glory hath him won, and every drop of blood which he did spend, hath reaped a joy which never shall have end. Can dreary death then daunt our faith, or pain? is't lingering life we fear to lose, or ease? no, no, such death procureth life again, 'tis only God we tremble to displease, who kills but once, and ever still we die, whose hot revenge torments eternally. We can not fear a mortal torment, we, this martyrs blood hath moistened all our hearts, whose partid quarties when we chance to see, we learn to play the constant christians parts, his head doth speak, & heavenly precepts give, how we that look should frame ourselves to live. His youth instructs us how to spend our days, his flying bids us how to vanish sin, his strait profession shows the narrow ways which they must walk that look to enter in. his home return by danger and distress, emboldens us our conscience to profess. His hardle draws us with him to the cross, his speeches there provoke us for to die, his death doth say this life is but a loss, his martyred blood from heaven to us doth cry, his first and last, and all conspire in this, to show the way that leadeth unto bliss. Blessed be God which lent him so much grace, thanked be Christ which blessed his martyr so, happy is he which sees his master's face, Cursed are they that thought to work him woe, b●unden be we to give eternal praise, to jesus name which such a man did raise. Amen. An o●h●r upon the same. WHat iron heart that would not melt in grief? what steel or stone could keep him dry from tears, to see a Campion haled like a thief to end his life, with both his glorious fears, in whose three deaths unto the standers by even all the world almost might seem to die. England must lose a sovereign salve for sin, a sweet receipt for subtle heresy, India a saint her silly souls to win, Turkey a bane for her idolatry, the Church a soldier against Babylon, to batter hell and her confusien. The scowling skies did storm and puff apace, they could not bear the wrongs that malice wrought, the sun drew in his shining purple face, the moistened clouds she brimsh tears for thought the river Thames a while astonished stood, to count the drops of Campions sacred blood. Nature with tears bewailed her heavy less. honesty feared herself should shortly die, religion saw her Champion on the cross, Angels and sainis desired leave to cry, even heresy the eldest child of hell began to blush, and thought she did not well. And yet behold when Campion made his end, his humble heart was so bedewde with grace, that no reproach could once his mind offend, mildness possessed his sweet and cheerful face, a patient spectacle was presented then, in sight of God, of angels, saints, and men. The heavens did clear, the sun like gold did shine, the clouds were dry, the fearful river ran, nature and virtue wypt their watered eyen, religion joyed to see so mild a man, men, angels, saints, and all that saw him die, forgot their grief, his joys appeared so nigh They saw his patience did expect a crown, his scornful cart a glorious heavenly place. his lowly mind a happy high renown, his humble cheer a ●hining angels face, his fear, his grief, his death & agony, a joy, a peace, a life in majesty. From thence he prays and sings in melody for our recure, and calleth us to him, he stands before the throne with harmony, and is a glorious suitor for our sin: with wings of love he jumped up so high, to help the cause for which he sought to die. Rejoice, be glad, triumph, sing hymns of joy, Campion, Sherwine, Brian, live in bliss, they sue, they seek the ●ase of our annoy, they pray, they speak, and all effectual is, not like to men on earth as heretofore, But like to sain●s in heaven, and that is ●●ore. FINIS. A Dialogue between a Catholic, and Consolation. Catholic first speaketh. Is righteous Lot from sinful Sodom gone? is old Elias left alone again? and hath the earth no just man, no not one, the cause of Christ and Christians to sustain? if holy life with true religion fail, then farewell faith, for falsehood will prevail. Consolation. No, Lot thou hast some fellows in this land, Elias there are left seven thousand yet, rejoice thou earth thou hast a warlike ba●de, for our good Lord in martial order set, by life and death this quarrel to begin, to vanquish falsehood, satan, hell, and sin. Although a worthy Champion of your train, were slain of late, and yet not vanquished, into his place another stepped again, whom Christ's spouse our common nurse hath bred, lament not then, for there are in his room as good as he, expecting martyrdom. Catholic. Such men no doubt are very hard to find, for dainty things are seldom sifted out, the Pheni● hath no partner of her kind, a man perhaps may seek the world about, ere he may find one Campion again, wherefore his less makes me the more complain. Where shall you find so many gifts in one, a wit so sharp, joined with such memory, a great divine, hating promotion, a lusty man professing chastity, a worthy imp sprung up of basest kind, a learned man to bear a lowly mind. Solon for pith, for wisdom Solomon, Peter for style, and Paul for eloquence, David for truth, for beauty Absalon, for parsonage Saul, a Jobe for patience: all that for which the fame of these began, (a thing most strange) were joined in this one man Not rack nor rope cooled daunt his dreadless mind, no hope nor hap could move him where he s●ood, he wrote the truth as in his books we find, which to confirm he sealed with his blood, which makes me doubt there are no more such men, send workmen Lord into thy vinyeard then. Consolation. Despair thou not thou silly mournful wight, for there are more have took this match in hand, we needs must win, our lord himself doth fight, the Canaanites shall be expulsed the land, for Edmund lives and helpeth godly men by prayers, more than erst with tongue or pen. His quarters hung on every gate do show, his doctrine sound through countries far & near, his head set up so high doth call for more to fight the fight which he endured here, the faith thus planted thus restored must be, take up thy cross saith Christ and follow me. As well as priests the lay men too shall frame, their skilless heads to take so good a ●●we, God can of stones raise seed to Abraham, doubt not therefore for there will be enough. Catholic. Fiat voluntas Dei then say I, we own a death, and once we needs must die. FINIS. The complaint of a Catholic for the death of M. Edmund Campion. O God from sacred throne behold our secret sorrows here, Regard with grace our helpless grief, amend our mournful cheer. The bodies of thy Saints abroad are set for fowls to feed, And brutish birds devour the flesh of faithful folk in deed. Alas I rue to think upon the sentence truly scanned, No prophet any honour hath within his native land. Thy doleful death O Campion is bewayed in every c●ste, But we live here & little know what creatures we have l●ste. Bohemia land laments the same, Rodulphus court is sad, With deep regard they now record what virtues Campion had Germania mourns, all Spain doth muse, and so doth Italy, And France our friend hath put in print his passing tragedy They that would make these men to séem● to be her highness foes, O Lord it is a world to see the feigned fraud of those. For when they had in dastard wise devised to dispute, And could not find in all their craft the cause for to confute, And that their winnings was so well they needed not to boast, And that in consciens they did know new found is lightly lost, They suttly seek a further fetch contrary to all reason, To say he is not Caesar's friend, accusing him of treason. But shall we much lament the same, or shall we more rejoice, Such was the case with Christ our lord, such was the jewish voice. so were their wrathful words pronounced, so was their sentence wrong, For Christ did give to Caesar that which did to him belong. So Christ his true disciples here no treason do pretend, But they by Christ and Christ his lore their faith till death defend. Though error have devised now a vizard so unfit To cloak her craft to change the case to blear each simple wit, Because she taught us long before that none ●or points of faith According unto Christ's lore ought to be done to d●ath. Her wil●nes were soon bewrayed, had they but once recanted No doubt thereof they had not then not life nor living wanted Thus who so ways her works & words, with fraud shall find them fraught, And how they now perform the same that heretofore they taught. God knows it is not force nor might, not war nor warlike band, Not sh●●ld & spear, not dint of sword, that must convert the land, It is the blood by martyrs shed, it is that noble train, That fight with word & not with sword, and Christ their captain. For sooner shall you want the hands to shed such guiltless blood, Then wise and virtuous still to come ●o do their country good. God save Elizabeth our queen, God send her happy reign, And after earthly honours here, the heavenly joys to gain. And all such men as heretofore have misinformed her Grace God grant they may amend the same while here they have the space. FINIS. Good reader pardon all faults escaped in the printing and bear with the workmanship of a stranger.