BLESSED EDWARD JONES AND BLESSED ANTHONY MIDDLETON, PRIESTS AND MARTYRS
The former was born in North Wales, in the diocese of St Asaph; the latter in Yorkshire. They both were priests of Douay College, during its residence at Rheims; from which Mr Middleton was sent upon the English mission, in 1586, Mr Jones in 1588.
Their missionary labours were employed in and about London, and with great fruit; the more, because Mr Middleton being low of stature, and of a young look, for a long time was not suspected to be a priest: and Mr Jones, though his time upon the mission had not been long, being a zealous preacher, had justly acquired to himself a great esteem amongst the catholics.
They were both apprehended by the means of certain priest-catchers, who, to bring about their villainy more effectually, had feigned themselves catholics.
Ribadaneira, who is followed by Dr Champney and Mr Raissius, affirms, that they were hanged up without any formal trial, before the doors of the houses where they were taken, Mr Jones in Fleet Street, near the conduit, Mr Middleton at Clerkenwell.
And, that upon the gallows on which they were hanged, the executioners had caused to be written in great letters, For treason and foreign invasion, to make their cause more odious to the people: but that this artifice did not take, and the spectators, instead of applauding their proceedings, departed highly displeased with these tyrannical measures.
Mr Middleton desired to have leave to speak to the people, which not being allowed him, he contented himself with this short speech, I call Almighty God to witness, that I here die barely for the catholic faith, and for being a priest, and a preacher of the true religion; and I beseech the divine Majesty to vouchsafe to accept of this my death for the forgiveness of my sins, and the advancement of the catholic faith, and the conversion of heretics. A gentleman there present, cried out, Sir, you have spoken very well, and what is sufficient. With this Mr Middleton was flung off the ladder, and, as the bishop of Chalcedon's catalogue affirms, from the testimony of eyewitnesses, was cut down and bowelled whilst he was yet alive. They suffered on the 6th of May, 1590.
From the bishop of Chalcedon's catalogue and Dr. Champney's MS and from the Douay diary, the bishop of Chalcedon's catalogue, Dr Champney's MS. and Father Ribadaneira, chap. 4.
Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 1
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