Those That Suffered With Him, And Of The Occurrences There, With A Brief
Relation Of His Life.
Whilst Father Garnett was kept as yet in the Tower and the expectation
great(450) what would become of him, not only of all the people, but of
many principal persons also (the resolution of the Council concerning him
being known to very few), and whilst, in the meantime, the whole afflicted
company of his friends and spiritual children did join in earnest prayers
unto God for him; whilst this was the thought and the business of the poor
distressed Catholics, it was determined by the State that Father Ouldcorne
should be sent into the country, where Father Garnett and he were taken,
there to be arraigned, condemned, and executed. Wherein assuredly the
providence of God, and His sweet disposition was plainly to be seen both
towards the good Father himself and all the Catholics of that shire. For
doubtless a more grateful thing could not have happened to that Father
than to suffer in that place where he had laboured so long, and now to
water those plants with his innocent blood which he had, with the help of
God’s grace, so carefully planted, and so many years watered before with
Catholic doctrine and instructions of good life. Neither could anything
have been provided more profitable or pleasing to that country than to
have him die amongst them, whom in his life they did so highly and so
worthily esteem, and to see his constancy at the end of his course, whose
virtues they had seen and admired in so many years’ conversation. Briefly,
they might well and did esteem it a great happiness to see him go to a
crown of glory who had assisted so many of them to the obtaining of grace,
“ut coronati essent in misericordiâ et miserationibus.”(451) And so to
have him a patron to their country for time to come who had been a pattern
to them in the way of virtue whilst he walked amongst them.
This good Father, therefore, about the midst of Lent was sent from the
Tower towards the county of Worcester, and with him Mr. Thomas Abington,
in whose house both Father Garnett and Father Ouldcorne were taken; with
them also Mr. John Winter, the youngest of the three brothers, who was
before condemned when his brothers and the rest of the conspirators were
condemned, but was not executed with them, because the Council would have
some of them executed in the country for the greater terror; and rather
this than the rest, because he was no actor about the Powder, but only a
party in the rebellion, which, therefore, was thought fittest to be
punished where it was performed: and withal it was the rather deferred
until this time of Father Ouldcorne his execution, to make a show unto the
people that Father Ouldcorne was to be touched with the same conspiracy or
rebellion for which it was known the other suffered. With him also was
sent down Ralph ———(452) of whom I spake before, who had for some years
faithfully served Father Ouldcorne in his spiritual business and
negotiation for souls, and was taken with him, and brought up to London
with him, and had suffered torture in the Tower with him, and now was
carried down with him, and was to go to Heaven with him.
As they went through Holborn, going out of London, Mrs. Abington(453) did
meet her husband, Mr. Thomas Abington, and, with many tears, took her
leave of him, but yet promised to labour earnestly with the King for his
pardon, which she hoped to obtain the rather by her brother’s means, who
was the Lord Mounteagle, now in special favour, as you may guess, being
the man that had discovered the Plot of Powder.(454) Mr. Abington wished
her to be of good comfort, for himself was not troubled; and withal,
willed her to put His Majesty in mind how he had suffered four years’
imprisonment for his good mother, for whom also his elder brother was
executed, and that himself had never undutifully thought against him or
his in his life. They were all carried down to Worcester like prisoners,
and prisoners supposed to be guilty of most heinous treason, and their
usage by the way and at their coming to Worcester answerable thereunto.
They were arraigned at the Lent Assizes, which is a Court of public
justice holden twice a year in every county for the trial, as well of
country causes in law, as for life and death, touching all such
malefactors as are taken and do belong to those shires in which the
Assizes are holden. Therefore, at the Lent Assizes at Worcester were
brought to the bar Father Edward Ouldcorne and Ralph ——, also Mr. Thomas
Abington and Mr. Humphrey Littleton, of whom I have declared before that
he was the man in whose chamber Mr. Robert Winter and Mr. Stephen
Littleton were taken. In which respect this Humphrey Littleton, hoping to
deliver himself from danger of the law (upon the large promises that were
contained in the proclamation to any that would be the means of taking
Father Garnett), discovered Mr. Abington his house, where both Father
Garnett and Father Ouldcorne were taken. And yet it was not God’s will he
should for so evil a deed have his expected pardon, for his greater good,
as it is to be hoped, for, seeing worldly hopes and promises to fail him,
he sought for mercy(455) at God’s hand, and became very penitent for his
fault and frailty showed in that discovery. Mr. Abington was indicted and
condemned upon the statute of relieving Priests, although he did allege
for himself that which had been sufficient to clear him, _vdlt._, that he
was absent from his own house, and who might come in his absence he knew
not, nor could hinder; and, before he came, they were so shut up and
besieged in secret places, that they could not be gone; therefore he,
neither being cause of their coming nor staying, could not justly be found
guilty of that penal statute. But they knew so well his constant love to
Catholic religion (which had been so often times and so well tried
before), and his devotion also and respect unto Priests was so well known
unto them, that they made no scruple at all to presume that those two
Fathers were there with his approbation and good liking; in which respect
they doubted not to condemn him as guilty, although, before the time of
execution, there came a reprieve from London, obtained by his wife and the
Lord Mounteagle of His Majesty; and so his life remaineth still at the
King’s pleasure, and his lands and goods forfeited: which lands of his,
because they should have returned to his heirs in case he had been put to
death (this statute being but of felony and not of treason), they might be
a motive to save his life, that so the gain might be greater by his life
than by his death it could be.(456) The gentleman showed great constancy,
courage, and devotion at the receiving his judgment, as he had often done
before in his examinations and conventions before many several
commissioners for the cause of religion, where at all times he did answer
with such learning, judgment, and sufficiency (being a man of great
reading and of a very good understanding), that his adversaries were
generally unwilling to deal with him in that kind. And several Bishops of
Worcester (to whom he had been prisoner)(457) had received diverse foils
at his hand both in private and public conferences.
Mr. Humphrey Littleton was indicted and condemned of high treason, for
receiving and harbouring the two gentlemen before named, Mr. Robert Winter
and Stephen Littleton, who were proclaimed traitors. He acknowledged that
fact, which he could not deny, but yielded he had much more deserved death
for his treason to God in betraying his servants those two good Fathers,
than in any ill intention he had unto the State, in not delivering up
those two for whom he was condemned.
Father Ouldcorne his indictment was so framed that one might see they much
desired to have drawn him within the compass of some participation of this
late treason; to which effect they first did seem to suppose it as likely
that he should send letters up and down to prepare men’s minds for the
insurrection. But for this they had no other ground but that he was a man
so much esteemed by the best Catholics in those parts, and those countries
were the place which it seemed the conspirators did most trust upon for
assistance. They also did seem to think that he had written some letters
for the relief and conveying away of Mr. Robert Winter and Mr. Stephen
Littleton after their rebellion, and before they came to Humphrey
Littleton’s, where they were apprehended. Also, they accused him of a
sermon made in Christmas, wherein he should seem to excuse the
conspirators, or to extenuate their fact, and, withal, that speaking with
Humphrey Littleton in private about the same matter, he should advise him
not to judge of the cause, or to condemn the gentlemen by the event,
alleging some examples and authorities to prove that God doth not always
give present success to such causes as yet He doth approve and will
afterwards prosper. “Sed nullam istarum causarum poterant probare, Patre
rationem reddente, quoniam neque in Legem, neque in Regem quicquam
peccavit.”(458)
And for the first, being a mere supposition, without any proof or instance
to be alleged, it could not have any force against him, whereas his
protestation was of great force in denial thereof, affirming seriously,
upon his death and salvation, that he never knew anything at all of that
treason, and that he was as innocent thereof as the child new-born. And
for the second, as they without proof did suppose that he had holpen to
convey away Mr. Robert Winter and Mr. Stephen Littleton, being his ghostly
children and dear friends, he cleared himself very sufficiently from so
unjust an accusation. But, withal, did prove very learnedly there at the
bar, that if he had so done, yet he could not be justly condemned for that
by any law, all circumstances considered of his estate and theirs, they
having been reputed for so virtuous men before this error, and might
justly be presumed to be very penitent now for this enterprise so
unadvisedly undertaken.(459) For the last, he utterly denied he had spoken
anything, either in public or private exhortations, to justify the attempt
of the conspirators, and declared there what he had said and with what
intention. And Mr. Humphrey Littleton, who had been his accuser in those
points, did there publicly ask him forgiveness in the Shire Hall, and said
he had much wronged him.
But when none of these things could be proved against him, yet, being a
Priest and a Jesuit well known to have gained many souls to the Catholic
faith, he was found guilty by the jury and condemned by the judge to be
hanged, drawn, and quartered, as in case of treason, and as blessed Father
Campian and Father Southwell and others of his predecessors had been
before him. He received the sentence with joy, and told them there in
public that he had been tortured in the Tower five hours five several days
together, one after another, which, if it were five hours at a time even
one of the days (as his words were understood), then was it a most great
extremity that he sustained. For one hour’s torture will make the hands so
swollen and so sore (besides the pain in the other parts of the body),
that it is a very cruel thing to put a man to the like the next day after.
“Sed Deus non deserit sperantes in se, in quo omnia possumus.”(460)
Ralph —— was also indicted and condemned, upon supposition that he had
carried letters to and fro about this conspiracy. But they neither did nor
could allege any instance or proof against him, and he solemnly protested,
upon the salvation of his soul, that he had never known of the treason in
the least degree. So that he could not be condemned nor suffer for any
other cause but for the helping and assisting the good Father there
condemned with him, in his spiritual functions. Which cause, as it was
glorious in itself, so for it the good and virtuous man did very gladly
accept both sentence of death and death itself, as he showed most
apparently after, when he came to his execution.
Thus they received all four sentence of death, but Mr. Abington was
reprieved, and they three were kept in the jail together, with Mr. John
Winter, until the next Monday after, which was the day of execution. In
the mean time Father Ouldcorne added one gem more unto his crown by the
conversion of an obstinate sinner, who was condemned to die for his
notorious wickedness. This man “cum in eâdem damnatione esset, necdum
tamen timebat Deum,”(461) but the very day before he was to die went
singing and whistling up and down the prison, and jesting now with this
man and then with another, which thing being observed by Mr. John Winter,
the young man, pitying much the lamentable state of soul of that poor
heretic, began to admonish him that such neglect of his future account
could not proceed but from a great blindness of soul and obduration of
heart, affirming, withal, that in the Catholic religion he had been taught
a much different manner of proceeding, especially at such a time. The
careless heretic answered him he saw no cause to be sad, for he should be
with the Lord before the next day at that time. Mr. Winter replied that he
could not be sure of that, and that it depended much upon his care and
penance and preparation in the mean time. The heretic replied he need not
to take care for that which Christ had taken care for sufficiently. By
which answer and manner of proceeding of this poor man,(462) one may
plainly see the spiritual blindness(463) and desperate danger which heresy
hath brought souls unto in this country, this being not only an opinion
which some of them do hold, but an absolute point of their faith to
believe, that they(464) shall certainly be saved, and that so soon as they
are dead (because they believe no Purgatory). Yea, this is with them not
only a point of faith, but their very justifying faith, by which, they
say, they must be saved without necessity of good works. Wherefore no
marvel, though this poor fellow did out of that ground build his secure
and careless proceedings, laying all upon Christ His back, wherein they
pretend that they attribute much to the Passion of Christ, and that we
dishonour the same by requiring the necessary concurrence of our own
cooperation.
Mr. Winter, finding the heretic obstinate, and yet seeing and pitying his
lamentable estate, told him he was far wide, “but,” saith he, “if you will
talk with the Father that must die with you to-morrow, he will make it
plain unto you that you are in error, and will show you the right way how
to save your soul.” The man answered he cared not with whom he talked, for
he knew no man could prove him to be in error. Mr. Winter called the
Father, who was retired to his prayers, and hearing of this opportunity of
doing good, came gladly, took the man aside, and began to catechise the
man with such judgment, learning, and spirit, that he first led him out of
the labyrinth of his errors, then taught him what was necessary for him to
believe and know expressly, and in all the rest to(465) submit his
judgment to the Catholic Church, which he proved unto him invincibly could
not err nor lead into error. Then taught him how to prepare himself to
become a member of that Church, and having instructed him how to examine
his conscience carefully, sent him away to do it by himself, and promised
that night to hear his confession. The man returned from the Father
greatly satisfied and contented, and forthwith applied himself to his
business, left all his companions, and got himself into a corner, there to
recount his years so carelessly spent, and so little thought of before
that time. His companions, wondering at this sudden alteration, came to
invite him to be merry and drink with them, as he had before, but he sent
them away with this answer, that he had serious business to think of. That
night the good Father kept his promise, and reduced this stray sheep into
the flock of Christ, supplying with his prudence and skill that which, in
so short a time and so raw a scholar, was likely to be(466) imperfect in
the preparation of his penitent. Yea, he made good proof in this one
patient how great dexterity and skill he had in the curing of diseased
souls. For, with the effectual assistance of God’s grace, he wrought this
man’s mind, not only to a constant belief of the Catholic faith, but to a
fervent profession also of the same, and a public demonstration of a
perfect conversion. For the next morning, when the Father was laid upon
the hurdle and drawn to the place of execution, according to the use and
the form of sentence which was pronounced, this neophyte, being led in
company of other prisoners in a foot-path hard by the horse-way, when he
saw his Father come by lying upon the hurdle, he suddenly slipped from the
rest of the company and stepped into the horse-way and followed the hurdle
directly, though the way were foul and no footman went in it but himself.
The keepers and the rest of the prisoners called upon him, and asked him
why he did so. He answered, he would follow his Father to his death, whom
he hoped to follow after death to a better place. “Why,” said they, “art
thou become a Papist?” “I am a Catholic,” said he, “I thank God and this
good Father, and so I mean to die.” They replied that he was a notorious
thief, and known to have committed many mischiefs. “It is true,” said he,
“I was so indeed when I was of your religion. I was then a Protestant and
a thief, now I am a Catholic and penitent; and as heresy was the cause of
my disorders then, so now the Catholic religion is the cause and means of
my repentance.” And in this mind and manner of proceeding he continued
till his death, to the admiration of all who had known his former courses,
which gave occasion to divers to see and acknowledge the great difference
between those trees which brought forth such different fruits.
Father Ouldcorne, being come to the place appointed for their death, first
with great fervour commended himself to Almighty God, to the Blessed
Virgin, and to his patron, St. Jerome, to whom he was ever very much
devoted. He then declared unto the people that he came thither to die for
the Catholic faith and for the practice of his function, seeing that they
neither had nor could prove anything against him which, even by their own
laws, was sufficient to condemn him, but that he was a Priest of the
Society of Jesus, wherein he much rejoiced, and was ready and desirous to
give his life for the profession of that faith which he had taught many
years in that very country, and which it was necessary for every one to
embrace that would save their souls. Then, being asked again about the
treason and taking part with the conspirators, he protested there again
that he never had the least knowledge of the treason, and took it upon his
death that he was as clear as the new-born child from the whole Plot or
any part thereof. Then, commending his soul with great devotion, humility,
and confidence into the hands of God and to the Blessed Virgin, St.
Jerome, St. Winifred, and his good Angel, he was turned off the ladder,
and hanging awhile, was cut down and quartered, and so his innocent and
thrice happy soul went to receive the reward of his many and great
labours.
After him followed Ralph, his faithful follower and companion of his
labours, who showed at his death great devotion and fervour, as may be
guessed by this one action of his; for whilst Father Ouldcorne stood upon
the ladder and was preparing himself to die, Ralph, standing by the
ladder, suddenly stepped forward and takes hold of his good Father’s feet,
embracing and kissing them with great devotion, and said, “What a happy
man am I, to follow here the steps of my sweet Father!” And when his own
turn came, he also first commended himself by earnest prayers unto God,
then told the people that he died for religion and not for treason,
whereof he had not had the least knowledge; and as he had heard this good
Father before him freely forgive his persecutors and pray for the King and
country, so did he also. Then, before he was stripped of his clothes
(which is usual to all such as are afterwards to be quartered, that their
bodies may be the sooner cut up after they are laid upon the block), he,
perceiving a Catholic maid of his acquaintance stand weeping by the
gallows, he ungartereth himself, and, with dexterity, casteth them so unto
her that others could not perceive that he did it of purpose. But the maid
doth still keep the garters as great jewels, and thereby it may appear
what opinion he had of his own innocency and the cause of his death. He
showed at his death great resolution joined with great devotion, and so
resigning his soul into the hands of God, was turned off the ladder, and
changed this life for a better.
At this time also suffered Mr. John Winter, who, as I have said, was
condemned at London with his two brothers and the rest of the
conspirators, but reserved to die at this time for reasons before declared
in the beginning of this chapter. He died with great show of devotion and
good state of mind, as might appear also by his fervent endeavours the
night before to help towards the conversion of that soul before mentioned.
He acknowledged the fact for which he died, to wit, that he had risen in
arms and joined himself to the other conspirators; but affirmed that he
did it only to restore the Catholic religion: and so took his death
patiently and with show of a contented, willing mind in respect of that
intention.
Then suffered also Mr. Humphrey Littleton, who, before his death, and
before the Father was put to death, did there again ask him forgiveness,
and said he had wronged him much: also he asked forgiveness of Mr.
Abington in particular, and of all Catholics in general, in respect that
he was the cause of the apprehension of the two Fathers at Mr. Abington’s
house, for which he acknowledged he deserved death much more than for the
relieving of Mr. Robert Winter and his cousin, Mr. Stephen Littleton, for
which he was to suffer. He died with show of great repentance, and so with
sorrow and humility and patient acceptance of his death made amends for
his former frailty and too unworthy desire of life.
There had also suffered the like death(467) for the same occasion,
_vdlt._, for relieving of Mr. Robert Winter and Mr. Stephen Littleton
before they were apprehended, one Perkises and his man in the same city of
Worcester, the 27th of January before(468): and about the same time, for
the same cause, two others in Wolverhampton: all which I suppose to have
been Catholics, in that it was not likely those gentlemen would commit
themselves to the fidelity of any others; but as yet I cannot learn the
certainty. That same Mr. Stephen Littleton was sent down into
Staffordshire, to be tried and executed in Stafford, in respect that his
house was in that shire where all the conspirators were last received, and
where some of them were slain and the rest taken. For which assistance
given unto the conspirators, and for joining with them in open rebellion,
Mr. Stephen Littleton was condemned and executed. At his death he
acknowledged the fact, and said he did it only for religion, for which he
was ready and willing to die. He showed great resolution and devotion, to
the satisfaction of all the country.
With him were sent down twelve or thirteen others, some gentlemen, some
serving-men, who were arraigned and executed in the same place, who,
although they were taken with their masters being in rebellion, yet they
stood unto it they did it only for religion; and divers of them were
offered their lives if they would go but once to heretical service, which
they refused to do, and, consequently, died most happily, “eligentes
potius absque opere incidere in manus hominum, quam peccare in conspectu
Domini, et morientes propter justitiam regnum cœlorum adepti sunt.”(469)
But as for Father Ouldcorne and Ralph, their case was so clear that no
Catholics in all the country doubted to call them, and to call upon them
presently as Martyrs, and did strive exceedingly for some part of their
holy relics. Besides, Almighty God did testify by special signs the great
merits of blessed Father Ouldcorne, which I think fit here to set down,
after some brief rehearsal of the course of his life, so far as it hath
come unto my knowledge.
Father Ouldcorne was born in the county of York of honest and faithful
parents, who brought him up in the Catholic religion, and in his young
years kept him to school; so that he was a good grammar scholar when he
first went over beyond the seas, which was about the twenty-second year of
his age, and some twenty-seven or twenty-eight years ago.(470) He first
studied in France in the English Seminary at Rheims some two or three
years, and from thence was sent to the English College at Rome, where he
remained ——(471) years. He heard his course of Logic, Philosophy, and ——
years of Divinity, in all which he profited very well, being of a very
good capacity. But his chief care and desire was to profit in spirit,
which he did in such sort as was greatly to the satisfaction of all his
Superiors, and the edification of the whole College. No man more careful
to observe the rules, no man more forward to the practice of any
mortification, often begging leave of his Superiors to go to hospitals and
to serve in the kitchen, with other such like practices of humiliation,
which he knew to be usual in the Society, unto which he had a vocation a
long time before he could obtain his desire; though he was not deferred
for any want of liking which his Superiors had, either of his spirit or
other talents; but rather in their desire to further as many good spirits
and sufficient men as they could to the end of the College, and to furnish
the Clergy of England with able men against the time that God should
please to have mercy upon our country. For the opinion his Superiors had
of him was well declared in the particular choice they made of him, to
send him into the kingdom of Naples and Sicily to negotiate for the
College and to procure some alms, in a time of great want, when the
College was far in debt, being overcharged with the number of scholars,
more than their receipts were able to maintain; and yet the charity of the
governors thereof such, and the want of fit workmen in the English harvest
so great, that they would not lose good spirits when they offered
themselves to that vocation. Father Ouldcorne, therefore, was sent about
this business; and did perform it with such discretion and fidelity, that
he brought a good round sum of money unto the College at his return.
In the year 1588, he and Father Gerard were received together into the
Society by the Rev. Father Claudius Aquaviva, General of the same, upon
the Assumption of our Blessed Lady; and within five or six weeks after
were sent together into England, in company with two other Priests who
were not of the Society. By the way Father Ouldcorne gave very great
edification unto all his company with his religious behaviour, showing in
all his actions great humility and readiness to help and assist any of
them in their needs. When they came to the sea-side, they understood of
the extraordinary difficulty to pass into England, and of such persecution
in England at that time, as had not been of long time before, the Earl of
Leicester (who then ruled and overruled all under Queen Elizabeth) having
made a solemn vow, that within a twelvemonth he would not leave one Papist
in England; but God with His mercy prevented the malice of that
persecutor, and called him out of this life within half the time that he
had limited for the life of others. But in the meantime he caused divers
to be put to death, both Priests and others, and set watch and ward in
every town, so that none could pass the country that were not known, and
could not satisfy the officers of their dwelling and manner of life. In
which regard those Fathers of the College where Father Ouldcorne and
Father Gerard stayed whilst a passage was preparing, would not by any
means let them pass, thinking it impossible they should land safely and
get safely to London.
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 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 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
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, 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.
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, 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.