IT happenēd that after the receipt of our com­mission aforesaide, we consulted betweene our selues, what way were best to take first, for we were vtterly ignorāt, where or in what place certainely to find out y^e said Campion, or his compéeres. And our con­sultation was shortly determined, for the greatest part of our trauell and dea­lings in this seruice, did lie chiefly vpon mine owne determination, by reason of mine acquaintance and knowledge of diuers of like sect. It then presently came to my remembrance of certains acquaintan [...]e whiche I once had with one Thomas Cowper a Cooke, who in Nouember was [...]wo yéeres, serued M. Thomas Roope [...] of Kent, where at that time I in like maner serued, and both of vs aboute the same moneth departed [Page] the saide▪ Maister Rooper his seruice, I into Essex, and the saide Cowper to Ly­forde in Barkeshire, to one maister Yates, from whence within one halfe yéere after, I was aduertised in Essex that the saide Cooke was placed in ser­uice, and that the saide maister Yates was a very earnest Papist, & one that gaue great entertainement to any of that sect: which tale being tolde mee in Essex two yéeres before wée entred this iourney, by Gods great goodnesse came to my memory, but euen the day before wée set foorth. Héereof I enformed the saide Dauid Jenckins being my fellow in Commission, & tolde him it would bée our best way to go thythee first, for that it was not meant that wée shoulde goe to any place, but where in déede I either had▪ acquaintance, or by some meanes possible in our iourney, coulde get ac­quaintance, and tolde him wée woulde dispose of our iourney in such sort as wée might come to the saide maister-Yates vpon the Sunday about eight of the clocke in the morning, where, saide I, if wée finde the saide Cooke, and that there [Page] bée any Masse to bée saide there that day or any massing Priest in the house, the Cooke for olde acquaintance, & for that hée supposeth mée to bée a Papiste will bring mée to the sight thereof. And vp­on this determination, wée set front London the xiiii. day of July last, and came to the saide Maister Yates house the xvi. of the same moneth being Sun­day, aboutes the houre aforesaid, where without the gates of the same house we espied one of the seruants of the house, who most likely séemed by reason of his lying aloofe, to bée as it were a scout watcher, that they within might ac­complishe their secrete matters more safely. I called the saide seruant, and inquired of him for the saide Thomas Cowper the Cooke, who answered that hée could not well tell, whether he were within or not. I prayed him that hée woulde friende mée so muche as to sée, and tolde him my name, the saide ser­uant did so (it séemed) for the Cooke came foorth presently vnto vs, wher we sate still vpon Horsebacke, and after a fewe suche spéeches as betwixt friende [Page] and friende when they haue béene long as under were passed, still sitting vppon our Horses, I tolde him that I had lon­ged to sée him, and that I was then tra­uelling into Darbiesheire to see my friendes, and came so farre out of my way to sée him, and said I, Now I haue séene you, my mind is well satisfied, and so fare, you well, No, saith he, y^t shal you not doe before dinner. I made y^e matter very earnest to bée gone, & he more ear­nest & importune to stay mée. (But in truth I was as willing to stay as hée to haue me.) And so perforce there was no remedie but stay wée must, and hauing lighted from Horsebacke, and being by him brought▪ into the house, and so into the Buttery, and there caused to drink: presently after, the said Cooke came and whispered with mée, and asked whether my friende (meaning the said Jenckins) were within the Church or not, therein meaning whether he were a papist or no, to which I answered, he was not, but yet (saide I) hée is a verie honest man and one that wisheth well that way. Then saide the Cooke to mée will you goe vp, by which speeche, I knewe hée woulde [Page] bring mée to a Masse, and I answered him, and saide, yea for Gods sake, that let mée doe, for séeing I must néedes tar­ry,Some men blame me for dissembling the matter as I did but to doe my Prince & coun­trie seruice, I hold it lawfull to vse any rea­sonable pollicie. For the field is not alwayes woone by strength. let mée take some thing with mée, that is good. And so wée left Jenckins in the Buttery, and I was brought by the Cooke through the hall, the dinening Parlour, and two or thrée other odde roomes, and then into a faire large chamber, where there was at y^e same instant one Priest called▪ Satwell saying Masse; two other Priestes knéeling by, where­of one was Campion, and the other cal­led Peters alias Collington, thrée Nunnes, and xxxvii. other people. When Sat­well had finished his Masse, then Campi­on hée inuested himselfe to say Masse, and so hée did, and at the ende thereof, made holy breade and deliuered it to the people there, to euery one some, togea­ther with holy water, whereof hée gaue to mée parte also. And then was there a chayre set in the chamber some thing beneath the Aulter, wherein the saide Campion did sit downe, and there made a Sermon very nigh an houre long, the effect of his text being as I remember, [Page] That Christe wept ouer Ierusalem, &c. And so applied the same to this ourI had once my commission in my hād to haue delt with them my self alone in the chamber. If I had, I pray you iudge what had happened vnto mee. Countrie of England, for that the Pope his authoritie and doctrine did not so floorishe héere as the saide Campion desi­red. At the ende of which Sermon I gat downe vnto the saide Jenckins so soone as I coulde. (For during the time that the masses & Sermon was made, Jenckins remained still beneath in the Butterie or Hall, not knowing of any such matter, vntill I gaue him some in­telligence▪ what I had séene) and so wée departed with as conuenient expedition as we might, and came to one Maister Fettiplace a Justice of peace in the saide Countrie, whome we made priuie of our doings therein, and required him, that according to the tenour of our com­mission, hée woulde take sufficient po­wer, and goe with vs thither. Where­vpon the saide Justice of peace, within one quarter of an houre put himselfe in a readinesse with fortie or fiftie men ve­ry well weaponed, who went in great hast together, with the saide Maister Fettyplace and vs to the saide M. Yates [Page] his house. Where at our comming vpon the sodeine, being aboutes one of the clocke in the afternoone of the same day, before wée knocked at the gates (which was then) as before it was continually accustomed to bée fast shut, the house being moted rounde about, within which Mete was great store of fruite-trées and other trées, with thicke hedge rowes, so that the danger for feare of loosing of the saide Campion and his associates was the more doubted). Wée beset the house with our men rounde a­bout without the Mote in the best sorte wée coulde deuise, and then knocked at the gates, and were presently heard and espied, but kept out by the space of halfe an houre (In which time as it seemeth, they had hidden Campion▪ and the other two priests in a very secrete place with: in the saide house, and had made reaso­nable purueiance for him as héereafter is mentioned) and then they let vs into the house, where came presently to our sightes mystrys Yates▪ the goodwife of the house, fiue Gentlemen, one Gentle­woman, & thrée Nunnes, (the Nunnes [Page] being then disguised in GentlewomansOne Nunne got away in country maides apparrell. apparrell not like vnto that they hearde Masse in) All which I well remembred to haue séene the same morning at the Masses and Sermō aforesaid, yet euery one of thē a great while denied it, & espe­cially the said Mystrys Yates, who couldMystris Yates proffered vs a good some of money to haue giuen ouer our search. not be content only to make a plaine de­niall of the said Masses, and the priests, but with great and horrible othes for­sware the same, betaking herselfe to the Diuell if any such were there, in suche sorte, as if I had not séene them with mine owne eyes, I shoulde haue beléeuedMaister Yates was then as he is still in prison in Reading for papistrie. her. But knowing certenly that these were but bare excuses, and that we shoulde finde the saide Campion and his compéeres if wée made narrowe search, I estsoones put Maister Fettyplace in re­membrance of our Commission, and so hée, my selfe, and the saide Jenckins her Maiesties messenger, went to searching the house where wée founde many se­crete corners, continuing the search (al­though with no small toyle) in the Or­chardes, hedges, and ditches, within the Mote and diuers other places, & at the [Page] last founde out Maister Edward Yates, brother to the goodman of the house, and two Countriemen called Weblin and Maunsfielde, fast locked togeather in a pidgeon house, but wée coulde not finde at that time Campion and the other two Priestes, whome wée specially soughte for. It drewe then something towards euening, and doubting least wée were not strong enough, wee sent our Com­mission to one maister Foster high shei­riffe of Barkeshiere, and to one maister Wisemen a Justice of peace within the same Countie, for some further ayde at their handes. The saide maister Wise­man came with very good spéed vnto vs the same euening with ten or twelue of his owne men, very able men and well appointed. But the saide maister Fo­ster coulde not bée founde as the messen­ger that went for him returned vs an­swere. And so the saide house was be­set the same night with (at the leaste) threescore men well weaponed, who watched the same very diligently. And the next day being Munday, in the mor­ning very early, came one Maister [Page] Christopher Lydcot & Justice of Peace of the same sheire, with a great [...]? his owne men all very well appointed, whō togeather with his m [...]n, shewed suche earnest, loyall, and forwarde seruice in those affaires, as was no small comfort and encouragement to all those, which were present, and did beare true hearts and good willes to her Maiestie. The same morning began a freshe search for the saide Priests which continues with very great labour, vntill aboutes ten of the clocke in the forenoone of the same day, but the saide Priestes could not bee founde, and euery man almost persua­ded that they were not there. Yet still searching (although in [...] void of any hope for finding of them) the said Dauid Jenckins by Gods great good­nesse, espied a certaine secrete place, which hée quickly founde to bée hollow, and with a p [...]e of yron which hée had in his hande, much like vnto an harro [...] tine, hée foorthwith did breake a hole in­toMaister Lydcot was then hard by. the saide place, where then presently hée perceiued the saide Priests, lying all close togeather vpon a bed, of purpose [Page] there▪ laide for them, where they had breade, meate, and drinke, sufficient to haue relieued them, thrée or foure dayes togeather. The saide Jenckins then called very lowdly, and saide, I haue founde the Traitours, and presently companie enough was with him, who there sawe the saide Priestes, (when there was no remedie for them, but no: lens volens) courteously yéelde them­selues. Shortly after came one mai­sterFirst my selfe rode post to the court. And after me the said messen­ger. Reade an other Justice of peace of the saide sheire to bée assistaunt in these affayres. Of all which matters newes was immediately carried in great haste to the Lordes of the Priuie Councell, who gaue further Commission, that the saide Priestes and certaine other their associates, shoulde bée brought to the Court vnder the conduction of my selfe and the saide Jenckins, with comman­dement to the sheirife to deliuer vs suf­ficient ayde foorth of his sheire, for the safe bringing vp of the saide people. Af­ter that the rumor and noyse for the fin­ding out of the saide Campion, Satwell & Peters alias Collington, was in the saide [Page] house some thing assuaged, and that the sight of them was to the people ther no great noueltie. Then was the said high sheirife sent for once again, who all that while had not been séene in this seruice, and but then came and receiued into his charge the saide Priestes & certaineAnthonie Man­day saith, the sherife and his men gaue him instructions for the setting out of the said vn­true booke. others from that day vntill Thursday following. The fourth Prieste whiche was by vs brought vp to the Tower, whose name is William Fylbye was not taken with the saide Campion & the rest in the saide house, but was appre­hended & taken in our watch by chaunce in comming to the saide house to speake with the saide Peters as hée saide, and thereupon deliuered likewise in charge to the sheirife with the rest. Uppon Thursday the xx. day of July last, wée set forwardes from the saide Maister Yates his house towards the court, with our saide charge, being assisted by the saide Maister Lydcot and Maister Wise­man, and a great sort of their men, who neuer left vs vntill wée came to the Tower of London. There were besides that guarded vs thither fiftie or thrée­score [Page] [...]orsemen, very able men and wel appointed, which wée receiued by the saide sheirife his appointment. Wée went that day to Henly vpon Thames, where wée lodged y^t night, & about mid­night wée were put into great feare by reason of a very great crie and noyse that the saide Fylbye made in his sleepe, which wakenēd the moste that were that night in the house, and that in such sorte that euery man almost, thought y^t some of the prisoners had béene broken from vs and escaped, although there was in and abouts the same house a ve­ry strong watch appointed and charged for y^e same. The foresaid Maister Lydcot was the first that came vnto them, and whē the matter was examined, it was founde no more, but that the saide Fylbye was in a dreame, and as hée saide, he ve­rity thought one to be a ripping downe his bodie, and taking out his bowels.

The next day being Friday, wée set forwarde from Henly, and by the way receiued commaundement by a purse­ [...]unt from the Lordes of the priuie Councell, that wée shoulde stay that [Page] night at Colbrooke, and the next day af­ter being▪ Saterday to bring them through the Citie of London vnto the Towre, and there to deliuer them vnto the charge of sir▪ O win Hopton, Knight, her Maiesties Leyuetenant of the same, which accordingly wée did. And this in effect is the true discourse▪ that was vsed in the apprehension of the sayde Campion▪ and his associates.

Some men may maruaile that I woulde bee silent so long for the setting out of the manner of their takinges, considering I finde my selfe agréeued with the same vntrue reporte set out be­fore by the saide A. M. In good faith I meante nothing lesse, then to take any suche matter in hande, if so great an vutruth had not béen published against vs, that were doers in those af­fayres, and besides hytherto diuers o­ther waightier busines haue partly hin­dered mée therein.

But now at the last, although very late, I haue rudely set downe the veri­tie [Page] in this matter, thinking it, bet­ter to tell a true tale by leasure, then a lye in hashe, as the sayde A. M. by his former booke hath doone to his owne discredite, the deluding of her Maiesties liege people, and the slan­der of some which haue intermedled in the saide cause.

• [Page]1 Edmond Campion Iesuite and Prieste.
• Priestes.
  • 2 Thomas Satwell.
  • 3 Iohn Peters alias Collingtō
  • 4 William Fylbye.
• Gentlemen.
  • 5 Edwarde Yates.
  • 6 Edward Keynes.
  • 7 Humfrey Keynes.
  • 8 Iohn Co [...]o [...].
  • 9 William Ilsley.
  • 10 Iohn Iacob.
• Husbandmen and neighbors therby.
  • 11 Iohn Manusfielde.
  • 12 William Weblyn.

[Page]Since the committing of the persons before named to the Tower as afore­saide, there hath béene for my seruice doone in those and such like affayres, no small nor fewe bragges, threatninges,Campion when he first saw mee after his appre­hension, said vn to me, that my seruice done in the taking of him would bee vnfortunate to me. And in our iourney to­wardes the Tower, hee ad­uised me to get me out of Eng­land for the fafetie of my body. curses & euill wishes giuen out against mée by such as (if they were knowne) deserue both little libertie and small fa­uour. Some of my friendes haue doubted least that sorte of lewde people woulde doe their good willes to hurte mée, by some secrete deuise, as coniura­tion▪ witchcraft, or such like, the whiche I rather thinke to bée true, for that shor­ly after the foresaide businesse ended, it pleased GOD to visite mée with some sicknes after I was gone to bed at night which in déede for two or thrée houres handeled mée something hardly. But God I take to witnesse I neuer was of that opinion, that it came to mée by any other meanes, but onely by ryding post two or thrée iournies about the busines aforesaide, yet within one day or two after my sicknes, there came to a neigh­bours house where I lodged in South­warke one Mystrys Beysaunt a widow, [Page] whose abode is most about Saint Ma­ry Oueries, and at the least by reporte smelleth of Papistrie, & asked the good wife of the house for mée, and what shée had lately hearde of mée, shée answered shée knew mée not, nor nothing shée had hearde of mée. Then saide mystris Beysaunt, the very truth is, it is hée that tooke Campion and the rest of the compa­ny that are in the Tower, and was the cause that maister Roper and diuers o­ther good men are troubled, and the laste day (saith shée) hée did fall madde in theIt seemeth she was priuie to some secrete practise against mee. stréete, and was carried so into his lod­ging, and is not like to escape with life. I pray you inquire further of him, and let mée haue knowledge thereof. So that héereby I may plainely sée, that the Papistes take greate care for mee, but whether it be for my weale or woe, and what her meaning was let the worlde iudge. But let the Diuell, the Pope, and them doe what they can, my faith standeth so sure on Christ Jesu my sauiour, that through him I defie them all.

There hath béene great murmuring [Page] and grudging against mée, about the committing of the foresaid maister Tho­mas Roper, and many faults haue been found for the same. What I did ther­in I meane not héere to recite, but my dealinges in those causes are knowne to such as before whome I thinke the fault finders dare not shew their faces. But whatsoeuer I did against him I would haue doone against mine owne Father, the case standing as it did, yet such finde faultes to make the matter séeme more odious to the world against mée, doe not sticke to report and say that the saide maister Roper hath brought mée vp from my childehood, to this day, at his onely charges, which is is so false as God is true. For although I was his seruaunt, I continued with him in all, not past one yéere.

But to conclude, a great number of suche like vntruthes haue béene publy­shed against mée, and no fewe bolde bragges as reporte goeth. I coulde name some if I woulde, but I let them passe, vnlesse I bée commaunded to the [Page] contrary by suche as haue authoritie to deale with mée therein. God graunte them amendmēt (I meane not towards my selfe) or els make their doinges knowne in suche sort as they may haue their deseruings, or at leaste bée put to the mercie of her Maiestie, to whose highnesse Jesus sende long life, a pro­sperous raigne, with all ioy and felici­tie.

Amen.