THOMAS FORDE, ROBERT JOHNSON, JOHN SHERT, PRIESTS MARTYRED 28th MAY 1582.

THOMAS FORDE, ROBERT JOHNSON, JOHN SHERT, PRIESTS

MARTYRED 28th MAY 1582.

Bishop Challoner’s report of these martyrs is as follows:

THOMAS FORDE was born in Devonshire and educated at Trinity College, Oxford, where he took the degree of Master of Arts in 1567 and was soon after admitted fellow of that college: but, not liking the protestant religion, he quitted his fellowship, and all other temporal hopes and went over to the college or seminary lately instituted at Douay, where he arrived in 1571; and after having for some time there seriously applied himself to the study of divinity, he was made priest in 1573 at the same time with those two eminent divines, Richard Bristow and Gregory Martin; these being the three first that were presented to holy orders from Douay college. He took his degree in bachelor of divinity in 1576; and soon after returned to England upon the mission where he laboured for some years with great fruit in the conversion of many souls. He was apprehended on the 17th of July 1581 with Father Campion, in the house of Mr Yates of Lyford, I Berkshire; and with him was carried up to London and cast into the Tower, and condemned the November following for the pretended conspiracy of Remes and Rome; whereas he had never been in his life, either at Remes or Rome; nor had the witnesses that had appeared against him, “Sledd and Munday. The Oates and Bedlow of those days” ever so much as seen Mr Forde before his imprisonment. [Munday was a spy in Walsingham’s intelligence operation, masquerading as a Catholic to inform on priests in England].

He received sentence of death on 21st November 1581 but was not executed until May 28 1582, In the meantime, to make his execution and that of his companions, more plausible, that it might appear to the world, if they were not guilty of the pretended conspiracy (which even the queen herself did not believe) that they were at least disaffected persons to her majesty, and, as such, deserved to die, they sent to them…to propose six articles.., concerning the bull of Pius V and what obedience was to be paid to that decree; and what they thought o the pope’s disposing power…

To these interrogatories, Mr John Shert, Mr Laurence Richardson, and Mr Thomas Cottam [brother of Shakespeare’s schoolmaster] would make no other answer but that they were Catholics and believed in all points as the Catholic Roman Church had taught them. Mr Richardson added that in all matters not repugnant to the Catholic religion, he professed obedience to her majesty…

On the 28th of May, after a long series of cruel treatments, and much art used either to make them confess the feigned treason, or deny their faith, the reverend priests, Mr Thomas Forde, Mr John Shert and Mr Robert Johnson were all trailed upon hurdles from the Tower of London, through the streets, to Tyburn, betwixt six and seven of the clock in the morning. At first, Mr Forde, being set up in the cart, blessed himself with the sign of the cross; being so weak that he fell down in the cart, and after he was up, he said, “I am a Catholic and I do die in the Catholic religion.” And thencewith he was interrupted by sheriff Martin, saying, you come not hither to confess your religion, but as a traitor and malefactor to the queen’s majesty, and the whole realm, moving and stirring of sedition…

JOHN SHERT, priest, being brought from the hurdle on which he had been drawn from the Tower to Tyburn and seeing his companion, Mr Forde, hanged before him, with a confident courage, smiling countenance, and with his hands lifted up, he spoke as followeth-O happy Thomas! happy art thou that thou hast run a happy race! O benedicta anima!”…..

Then sheriff Martin requested a minister that stood by, to read his examination. Who answered that, as the man is obstinate now, so upon his examination was he as obstinate, for he uttered nothing that is to be read. The sheriff desired Mr Shert again to acknowledge his offence; affirming that the queen would deal very mercifully with him; and that he had authority himself, if he did acknowledge his fault, to stay his execution, and to return him back without more adu. Who answered – Should I, for saving this carcass, condemn my soul? God forbid.

Being asked what he thought of the queen’s majesty? He answered,-I acknowledge her for my sovereign lady and queen, for whose prosperous estate and well doing I did always pray. And being demanded whether he thought her to be the supreme governor, under Christ, of the church of England? He said,-I will give to Caesar that which is his, and to God that which belongeth to God. She is not, nor cannot be, nor any other but only the supreme pastor. What! Do you mean that whore of Babylon the Pope? Said the sheriff. Take heed Mr Sheriff, said Mr Shert, for the day will come when that shall be a sore word for your soul! And then it shall repent you that ever you called Christ’s vicar in earth, the whore: when you and I shall stand at one bar, before that equal Judge who judgeth things a-right, then, I say, will you repent your saying; and then must I give testimony against you.”

ROBERT JOHNSON, priest, “being brought from the hurdle, he was commanded to look upon Mr Shert, who was hanging and then immediately cut down: and so being helped into the cart he was commanded again, to look back towards Mr Shert, who was then in quartering. And after he had turned and signed himself with the sign of the cross, saying in nomine patris etc…”

The examination:

Sheriff: Dost thou acknowledge the queen as lawful queen? Repent thee and notwithstanding thy traitorous practices, we have authority from the queen to carry thee back.

Johnson. I do acknowledge her as lawful queen as Mary was. I can say no more; but pray to God to give her grace, and that she may now stay her hand from shedding of innocent blood.

Sheriff. Dost thou acknowledge her as supreme head of the church in ecclesiastical matters?

Johnson. I acknowledge her to have as full and great authority as ever queen Mary had; and more with safety and conscience I cannot give you.

Sheriff. Thou art a traitor, most obstinate.

Johnson. If I be a traitor for maintaining this faith, then all the kings and queens of this realm heretofore, and all our ancestors were traitors, for they maintained the same.

Sheriff. What? You will preach treason also if we suffer you.

Johnson. I teach but the Catholic religion.

Hereupon the rope was put about his neck and he was willed to pray, which he did in Latin. They willed him to pray in English, that they might witness with him; he said, I pray that prayer which Christ taught, in a tongue I well understand. A minister cried out Pray as Christ taught; to whom Mr Johnson replied, What! Do you think Christ taught in English? He went on saying in Latin, his Pater, Ave and Creed and in manus tuas etc. And so the cart was drawn away and he finished his life, as the rest did. They all hanged until they were dead, and so were cut down and quartered.

Two days after, on the 30th May, four more reverend priests, Mr William Filbie, Mr Luke Kirby Mr Laurence Richardson and Mr Thomas Cottam suffered for the same cause, at the same place.”

They were declared blessed by Pope Leo XIII.

“Memoirs of Missionary Priests, and other Catholics of both Sexes, That have suffered Death in England on Religious Accounts, from the Year 1577 to 1684” by Bishop Challoner, Volume 1, John T Green, Philadelphia, 1839, at pp. 58 et seq.