Broadsides; Chapbooks; Street literature -- Great Britain
Robert Barnwell, Gent, confessed that he was made acquainted with their
Drifts, but denied that ever he consented, or could be in conscience
persuaded that it was a deed lawful. I crave forgiveness; if the
sacrifice of my body might establish her Majesty in the true religion,
I would most willingly offer it up. Then he prayed to himself in Latin.
Chidiock Titchbone, Esq., began to speak as followeth, _viz._,
Countrymen and my dear Friends, you expect I should speak something; I
am a bad Orator, and my text is worse: It were in vain to enter into
the discourse of the whole matter for which I am brought hither, for
that it hath been revealed heretofore, and is well known to the most
of this company; let me be a warning to all young gentlemen, especially
_generosis adolescentulis_. I had a friend, and a dear friend, of whom
I made no small account, whose friendship hath brought me to this; he
told me the whole matter, I cannot deny, as they had laid it down to
be done; but I always thought it impious, and denied to be a dealer
in it; but the regard of my friend caused me to be a man in whom the
old proverb was verified; I was silent, and so consented. Before this
thing chanced, we lived together in most flourishing estate; of whom
went report in the Strand, Fleet street, and elsewhere about London,
but of Babington and Titchbone? No threshold was of force to brave
our entry. Thus we lived, and wanted nothing we could wish for; and
God knows, what less in my head than matters of State? Now give me
leave to declare the miseries I sustained after I was acquainted
with the action, wherein I may justly compare my estate to that of
Adam’s, who could not abstain one thing forbidden, to enjoy all other
things the world could afford; the terror of conscience awaited me.
After I consider’d the dangers whereinto I was fallen, I went to
Sir John Peters, in Essex, and appointed my horses should meet me
at London, intending to go down into the country. I came to London,
and there heard that all was bewrayed; whereupon, like Adam, we fled
into the woods to hide ourselves, and there were apprehended. My dear
countrymen, my sorrows may be your joy, yet mix your smiles with tears,
and pity my case. This done, he prayed first in Latin, and then in
English, asking Her Majesty, and all the world, heartily, forgiveness,
and that he hoped, stedfastly, now at this his last hour, his faith
would not fail.
Charles Tilney said, I am a Catholick, and believe in Jesus Christ,
and by his Passion I hope to be saved; and I confess I can do nothing
without him, which opinion all Catholicks firmly hold. He prayed in
Latin for himself, and after he prayed for Queen Elizabeth, that she
might live long; and warned all young gentlemen, of what degree or
calling soever, to take warning by him.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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