The Confession, Obstinacie, and and Ignorance of Father BELL a Romish Priest.
Executed at Tyburne Decemb. 11. 1643.

THe Priests and Jesuits under the supremacy of the Pope and Church of Rome, as they have been the fomenters, contrivers, and nourishers of almost all the debates, con­spiracies, and massacres committed in di­vers forraigne Nations (which have affor­ded them entertainment) in all ages since their first ori­ginall and institution; as is apparent by the parricide of Henry the third King of France, and other Princes (who professed even the same Religion) inhumanely massacred by them, which would be too tedious particularly in this place to mention: So to come neerer both to our owne times and Nation (for we shall also omit their maine plots, and contrivances of the death of our late most illustrious and religious Queene Elizabeth) they were the prime In­struments of raising the late unparallelled and bloody Re­bellion in Ireland, and the causes of the murthering of above an hundred thousand innocent Protestants there, and finding that all their plots and machinations would prove unsuccessefull to advance their owne Religion in [Page 2] these three Kingdoms, unlesse they kindled the like flames and combustions in England also, finding much favour from persons in authority in this Kingdome, who suffered them to goe unpunished (although contrary to the Lawes and Statutes of this Kingdome, they have so brought about their stratagems, as to cause a civill and unnaturall warre also in this Kingdome, notwithstanding which designes of their so apparent to the whole world; it is beyond admi­ration to thinke that any of that viperous brood should be so audacious and still to continue in this Kingdom. And this may serve to satisfie the world what just cause there is to proceed against them in Justice for their Delinquency therein. But that which I intend more particularly to in­forme you of at this time, is, concerning the Triall, Con­demnation, and Execution of one Father Bell, who being taken by those who were inabled by the State for that pur­pose, and laid in Newgate, and from thence was brought to the Sessions House the last weeke, where being indicted upon the Statute, and putting himselfe upon God and his Countrey, the Witnesses proving him to have beene a Priest beyond the Seas, and that they had knowne him (being an English man borne) say Masse in England, and to seduce divers of His Majesties subjects: Upon which Indictment the Jury sound him guilty, and the Court pro­ceeded to sentence, which was to this effect: That he should goe from thence to the place from whence he came ( viz. New­gate) and from thence on a Hurdle to the place of Execu­tion, and there to be hanged by the necke, cut downe alive and quartered, and his Quarters to be set upon the severall gates of the City. According to which sentence he was drawne on a Hurdle on Munday Decemb. 11. to Tyburne the place of Execution, where being come, he spake as followeth:

[Page 3] ‘I Stand here to die, and declare unto you all the cause of my comming hither, nothing being brought or proved against me, but was onely condemned for being a Briest of the Catho­like Church; had I been a Heathen Priest, or a Priest after the Leviticall Order, then I should not so much have wondred at it to h [...]ve been put to death in a Christian Land: but that a Catholique Priest should be put to death by those t [...]t, pretend to be Christi­ans, and to follow Christ [...] [...]is Gospell, this is that, sensible men will wonder at. But those that have their judgements blin­ded, that see nothing, they may proceed to the like they have done before; and so they doe now to me. They pretend Lawes, but those Lawes as they were ill made, so they hav [...] be [...]ne worse kept. Now I professe before you all, and testifie here with m [...] life, and blood, before God and Iesus Christ his Sonne that is to judge, that I die a true number of the Catholique Church.’ Being in­terrupted by one, who said, [...] the Roman Chuch▪ [...]ies the. ‘If you [...], with all my heart I distinguish it from any Protestant Church her [...]tickes, or Conventicles, and I call it the Roman Church. My parents lived and died in that Religion, and I for my part have beene brought up in the same faith; and were I to live [...]y longer here▪ I would professe it to my dying day. though I were to die a thousand deaths or to suffer never so great Torments. And this I testifie before God and Jesus Christ.’

The Sheriffe hearing him continue thus obstinate, and speaking against our Lawes and Religion, spake to him in this manner, viz. ‘Mr. Bell, To goe on to traduce our Lawes, and seduce the people, we will not heare you any longer: mee thinkes you should thinke upon death, and desire God to open your eyes that you may see your blindnesse. You were not onely condemned for being a Priest, but it was proved against you, and you confessed it, that you were an Englishman borne, and that you [Page 4] went over to take Orders, and you returned backe hither againe; now the Letter of the Law is thus, That an Eng­lish man borne, going over to take Orders, and returning backe againe, the Law interprets that he comes to seduce the Kings subjects:’

There was not one word spoke of seducing.

Mr. Bridges spake, ‘This is not a time to dispute, Mr. Bell; pray apply your selfe to God, and humble your selfe be­fore him.’

Mr. Bell spake, ‘Here are many people, but I suppose that they are as the Kingdome is seduced; and if a man labour to re­duce them, I thinke it is good service. The people are deluded, because they have a piece of the Catholique Religion; they be­lieve the Incarnation of Christ, and the Resurrection and Passion of Christ; but what is this? therefore I declare the truth to the people, that I may further their soules.’

Then the people in detestation of his speeches, and of his waies, cryed out, ‘helpe your selfe.’

Then he spake againe, ‘They that speake false doctrine, doe not desire to heare others; but I tell you, that the Protestant Re­ligion hath no divine faith.’

Then the Sheriffe spake, ‘Doe not scandalize our Pro­testant faith.’

‘Well, I doe heartily forgive all men that had a hand in my death, and I desire to be forgiven; for I most willingly die in the Catholique faith.’

Mr. Bridges spake, ‘Mr. Bell pray apply your selfe to God.’

‘I have declared my mind already.’

‘The greater is your infatuation, God hath not beene pleased to open your eyes; and as your punishment here­after is secret, so your judgement here is just; you know what your owne Authour Cajetan speakes, Interpaenas Dei mirabilis.’

[Page 5] Then he sake againe, ‘If I cannot reduce, I doe not desire to be seduced.’

‘I am sorry for it: the Lord gives mercy to whom he will, and whom he will, he hardens.’

Then the Minister of Newgate spake to him, and urged him to repent.

He still obstinately answered, ‘Repent; what should I repent for? I have a good cause.’

Then the Sheriffe spake, ‘Mr. Bell, unlesse you will speak to the glory of God, and edification of your soule, speake no more.’ And so, as in blindnesse he lived, obstinately in blindnesse he ended his daies.

Also there was one Captaine Towers, that pretended a Warrant for the scarching of malignants houses, and un­der that pretence plundered the Countesse of Notting­hams house, and many other houses: and for this (and very justly) was condemned to die; and being brought to the place of execution, unexpectedly declared himselfe to be a Roman Catholique; for being asked by the Mini­ster of Newgate, whether he died a Roman Catholique? answered:

‘Yes, I die a Roman Catholique, doe what you will with me, I will stand to it.’

‘I,’ but sayes the Minister, ‘minde some thing else, you are now come to suffer death.’

Then he peremptorily answered, ‘Well, he and I shall be in blisse ere long. I come to declare nothing to the world but the faith that I die in, namely the Catholike Faith: Pray God forgive them that accused me, and I desire to be forgiven.’

And so as Father Bell died, he died very obstinately, li­ving and dying in blindnesse and darknesse; what was in their minds, whither they should goe, and where they are, [Page 6] God knower; we are not to judge, but to leave this their Confession, Obstinacy, and Ignorance for all judicious Readers to ponder on it.

Also Tillet and Freeman were hanged for robbing of the Lord Ambassadour of his plate, to the value of 6000. li.

And one Butler for Burglary, breaking open a house in Chick-lane.

Another for robbing of Grayes Inne.

And Man [...] [...]ch for murdering of her childe.

The true Pourtraiture of the Worthy, Religious, and truely Wise, JOHN PYM Esquire, Burgesse for Tavistocke, now deceased, Decemb. 8. 1643.