¶ The Araignement of an obstinate Traitour, named Euerald Ducket, alias Hauns, at the Sessions house, on Fryday, the xxviii. of Iuly. 1581.
VPon Friday, being the eight and twentie day of Iuly, there was brought to the Sessions house, to be araigned before the Queenes Maiesties Iustices, one Euerald Ducket, alias Hauns, Englishman, beeing a Preest, and not long since, come from beyond the Seas. This wicked fellow, contrary bothe to the feare of God, and dutie, which he should by right beare, to our moste gratious Queene Elizabeth: erred from the true & perfect doctrine of the word of God, and liued in [Page]obscure and Sathanicall determination of life, as his owne protestations hath sufficientlye made apparant, and the obstinate liues of the rest of like sect, giueth daily example. He hauing receiued the orders of Preesthood at Rheimes in Fraunce, a place, where (the more is the pittie) diuers and many younge youthes of England, are somewhat fed vpon the Popes pention, who maintaineth there a Seminarie, to allure and entise the hartes of sundry her Maiesties obedient Subiects Children, to come vnto that place, where in steede of learning, they are instructed to dishonor God, to disobey their Prince, and to sell their soules wilfully, into the detestable slauery, of that blasphemous Antechristian Prelate [Page]From this aforesayd place came this obstinate fellow, and beeing brought before the Iustices to his aunswer, of certaine absurd and diuelish Articles by himselfe mainetayned, which are these ensuing.
1. That no Prince in all Europe, ought to haue any supremacie, but the Pope onely.
2. That the Pope was indued with the holy Spirit, and therfore he could not sinne.
Albeit a terror to any Christian hart to heare it, and a diuelish obstinacie in himselfe to pronoūce it, yet he traiterously said.
3. That our moste gratious Soueraigne Lady, Queene Elizabeth, was an Heretique, and therefore not woorthy of any gouernment.
[Page] 4. And that the Pope hath as great sway and authoritie in this Realme of England, at this day, as he had a hundred yeeres agoe.
With other such like wicked and abhominable arguments that he maintayned, and beeing there examined of them: he began with this protestation. The Popes holynesse. At which, not onely the Honorable Bench, but also all that stood by, entred into a great laughter: which caused him to breake of the graue discourse, that els they should haue heard. Then was he demaūded of the former Articles, to which he aunswered. What I haue sayd, I haue sayd, and will stand to, vsing himselfe very fond and full of derision, euen [Page]like all of that sort, whom God hath giuen ouer into a reprobate sence.
After diuers questions by the Benche, and aunswers of himselfe, not heere to be spoken of: The Quest of twelue men was panneled vpon him, whom he was willed to see, if he would challenge any of thē. No (quoth he) there is some indifferent men among them, or els it goes hard. So he still troubling the Benche with ouer many words, as concerning how many soules he had saued synce his comming ouer, and what good hee had doone in his commaunded labour: That the Benche commaunded him to silence, vntill the Quest were come to giue vp theyr verdict. Who beeing come, and finding him guiltie, for that [Page]before he had put himselfe to God and the Countrey: he was demaunded what he could say for himselfe, that iudgement should not proceede vpon him? He frumpingly aunswered, you haue put me to silence, and now I will say nothing. Then the Benche commaunded him to holde vp his hand, and he held vp his left hand. Why quoth the Iustices, is this your Roomish order? then he held vp the other, and scoffingly sayd. Now Sir, I pray you, is not one hand as good as y e other for you? At lēgth ere iudgement was pronounced, the Benche rehearsed vnto him, how B. Stephan Gardener recāted. He aunswered, the greater was his sinne. Then they sayd, how Cardinall Poole recanted, the greater was his sinne (quoth he [Page]againe) Iohn Nichols (quoth the Bench) the other day recanted from his great impietie of life: he aunswered, the more his synne, and greater his paines in the world to come. At last they told him, how the Papists great God Bishop Bonner, recanted at his death. That is not so (quoth he) for he neuer recanted. After many horrible speeches by him passed, and by the Honorable Benche aunswered: Iudgement of high Treason proceeded vpon him, to be drawne, hanged and quartered. He aunswered them againe, though you haue condemned me of Treason, yet doo I know that I am voyde of sinne in this. So was he caryed from thence to Newgate, where Maister Crowley a godly Father, remained all the afternoone [Page] [...] [Page] [...] [Page]with him in conference of the Scriptures, and found him altogether vnlearned, not able to answer any thing directly, but meruaylous obstinate and very impious.
ON Monday being the 31. of Iuly, he was brought to Tiborne the appointed place of Execution, being drawen from the prison of Newgate, vpon a hurdle, and godly Preachers all the way exhorting him, but no signe or motion of repentaunce might be perceiued in him. Beeing come to Tiborne, there was a Prisoner executed before him, who had otherwise trespassed, and he very mildely and penitently tooke his death, praying zealously that God would turne the hart of this peruerse wretch, and so with sundry godly prayers, [Page]ended his life. Then was this Ducket brought vp into the Cart, where were with him, Maister Shakelton, Maister Fidens, & other godly Preachers, still exhorting him: who after y e noyse of people was some what appeased (which was no small company) he began in this manner. I am brought hether this day to confesse my fault, beleeuing and assuring my selfe in the death of Christe, who shed his blood for the Catholique church, whereof I am a member, and hope therein to be saued: for the Catholique Church, is and hath beene, from the beginning of the worlde vnto this day, the true prefiguration of Christe: And whereas these Ministers (speaking in derision) haue protested that I sayd, Treason is no sinne: [Page]I beseech you all y t are heere, be witnesses with me (for these are the last woords, y t I shall speake) that I sayd not so. These were my woords, that this which you call treason, & that for which I here die to day, is no sin before God, though you please to terme it so. And I beseech all Catholiques that are present heere to pray for me. The godly Preacher aunswered, if there be any heere, I trust the number is very small, or none at all, quoth he, in time I trust the number will be increased. For through y e Catholique Church is the way to saluation, and the Popes holines is the head of that Church. Then he keeping close his eyes, as though he were in his prayers, the Preachers rehearsed vnto him the Lords praier, quoth he, [Page]vayne woords, away with the rauening wolues. Maister Sherife Woodcoke, then bad him aske the Queene forgiuenes, whom he had offended, and all the present company. Quoth he, it is needles, I am a Subiect, and I graunt my selfe to be a Subiect. Why (quoth Maister Sherife) she is supreme head of y e Church, therfore y u oughtest to submit thy selfe to her. Not so ( (que) he) she is a woman, and she may not, neither can not speake in the Church, and therfore ought not to bear any authority in it. With that, their godly eares not abiding to hear these blasphemous wordes: drew away the Cart, & let him hang scāt two turnes, but cut him downe, to abide the farder paynes, appointed for him,