Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 12 · Part 58
Thomas Forde, Iohn Shert, Robert Iohnson Priests.
THese were executed at Tyburne the 28. of May, because they were sent as instruments, for, and in the behalfe of the Pope, in the aforesaid disloyall & tray…erous cause: they were drawne vponupon hurdles from the Tower vntounto the place of execution: when they were come beyond Saint Giles in the field, there approched vntounto the hurdle one of their fect, a Priest as himselfe hath confessed, who said vntounto the prisoners, O Gentlemen, be ioyfull in the blond of Iesus Christ, for this is the …ay of your triumph and ioy: and further he said vntounto the prisoners, I pro…ounce a pardon vntounto you: yea I pronounce a full remission and pardon vntounto your soules: Wherevpon he was apprehen…d, and▪ th… Sheriffe asked him what he was, he answered, that he was the voice of a cryer in the wildernes, and that hee was sent to prepare the Lords way: wh…revpon h… was carried to Newgate: where he confessed himselfe a priest, and that he had long so dissembled, and that he would now doe so no more.
When they were brought vntounto the place of execution, Thomas Ford, was first brought vp into the Cart: He said, he did acknowledge the Queenes Maiesties supremacie in all things temporall▪ but as concerning Ecclesiasticall causes, I deny her, that onelyonly belongeth vntounto the Uicar of Christ the Pope: Hee granted to nothing, but shewed himselfe an impious and obstinate Traytor: he refused to pray in the English tongue, mumbling a few Latine prayers, and desired those that were ex domo Dei, to pray with him and so died.
Iohn Shert, was brought from the …urdle vntounto the gallowes, as Ford hanged there, he held vp his hands vntounto him, and said, O swéet Tom! O happy Tom! O blessed Tom! Then Ford was cut downe, and brought vntounto the place where hee should be quartered: Then looking downe from the Cart, vntounto the dead body, hee knéeled down, & held vp his hands vntounto it, saying againe: O blessed Tom: O happy Tom: thy swéet soule pray for me: O deere Tom, thy blessed soule pray for mee. Then the Sheriffe had him aske the Quéene forgiuenes, and he might receiue her princely mercy: He answered, what M. Sheriffe shall I saue this fraile & vile carkasse, and damne mine own soule: No, no, I am a Catholick, in that faith I was born, in that faith I will die & heare shal my bloud …eale it: Then said M. Sheriffe, is this the fruits of your religion, to knéele vntounto the dead body of thy fellow, & desire his soule to pray for thee: What can it profit or hinder thee, pray to God, & hee will help thee: he answered, this is the true Catholick religion, and whosoeuer is not of it is damned: I desire his so…le to pray for mee: The most glorious Uirgine Mary pray for me; and all the holy company in heauen to pray for mee: Then the people cryed away with the Traytor: Then the Sheriffe said: O Sherte, forsake the whoore of Rome, that wicked Antichrist, with all his abhominable blasphemies and tr…acheries, and put thy whole confidence in Iesus Christ: Then he said, O Master Sherife, you little remember the day when as I and you shall stand both at one Barre, and I shall witnesse against you that you call that holy and blessed Uicar of Christ, Whore of Rome: then he said his prayers in Latine▪ and the Cart was drawne away.
Robert Iohnson likewise would not aske the Quéen pardon, affirmed the Pope to be the head of the Catholike Church, and would not say his prayers in English; and when he had said them in Latine he died.