ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER
Saints celebrated on the 16th of November
BLESSED EDWARD OSBALDESTON, PRIEST AND MARTYR
This gentleman was of the family of the Osbaldestons of Osbaldeston, in the parish of Blackburn, in the county palatine of Lancaster. He had his education in Douay college, during its residence at Rheims. Here he was made priest, in 1585; and from hence was sent upon the English mission, April 27, 1589.
After labouring here some years, he was apprehended by the means of one Clark, a fallen priest, at Towlerton in Yorkshire, on the 30th of September, 1594, and committed to York castle. His letter to his fellow prisoners gives an account of his apprehension, and the dispositions he was then in, and therefore deserves to be here inserted.
I was apprehended at Towlerton by Thomas Clark, the apostate priest, upon St Hierome's day, at night a thing much more to my comfort, than at any other time; for that I had such a special patron to
commend myself to, and such a stout champion under Christ; and, besides, it pleased God, much to my comfort, to let this sign of his love fall unto me that day above all others; for that it was God's great goodness to call me to the honour of priesthood; and that, upon St Hierome's day, I said my first Mass, and consecrated the blessed Body and Blood of my Saviour Jesus Christ, and received him with great reverence and devotion, and ever since, have honoured St Hierome. And the morning before I came forth, I made my prayer to blessed St Hierome; and, in his merits, I offered myself a sacrifice to God, and recommended myself to him, to direct me to his will and plea- sure, and that I might walk aright in my vocation, and follow St Hierome, as long as God should see it expedient for his church, and most for his honour and glory and if it pleased him still to preserve me, as he had done before, I never would refuse to labour, or murmur at any pain or travail; and if it should please His Majesty to suffer me to fall into the persecutors' hands, that then it would please his infinite goodness to protect me to the end; which I have no doubt but he will, after so many and so great goodnesses and gifts, as he hath bestowed on me over all my life, which are without number and inexplicable: wherefore my hope and trust is much helped, that now he will be most sure unto me, since this is the weightiest matter that I ever was about in my life and so considering this, and infinite others, such like, I find great comfort, and fully trust in God's goodness, and distrust only in myself; but in him that comforteth me, I can do all things. And this actual oblation of myself that morning, and this that ensueth, maketh me very comfortable, and bringeth me into many good and heavenly cogitations, feeling his strength so much as I have done in lesser matters, and further off from him than this is; therefore I nothing doubt, by his grace, but he will grant me to finish that which was for him, and by him, begun; which I pray God I may worthily do when his good will and pleasure is, and not before; and that I may not wish or desire anything in this life but what may best please him and honour him, and our blessed Lady his Mother, and all the court of heaven, the most, and edify the people, and strengthen them in the way to Jesus, the King of bliss.
The manner of my apprehension' was thus: Abraham Sayre and I came to the inn a little before Mr Clarke, and we all came before night; I knew him not fully, for I thought he had been in the south: but at supper I looked earnestly at him, and I thought it was he, and yet I still persuaded myself that he knew me not, and if he should know me, he would do me no harm, which fell out otherwise; God forgive him for it. For when we were going to bed, he went and called the curate and constable, and apprehended us, and watched us that night, and came with us to York, and stood by when I was examined before the council, but said nothing then that I feared; and he was present afterwards when I was called again, and since I have been nothing said unto; what will follow, God knoweth; but I will not be partial to myself, but prepare me for death, and what else may befall unto me. Now I pray you, for God's sake, what you hear or learn let me know; and what is the best course for me to take in all points, and how my brethren have behaved themselves in this case, that have gone before me; and, for myself, I yield me wholly to obedience to you in that blessed society and number in the castle; and desire, in all points, to live in discipline and order, and as the common live, and what I have, or shall have, it shall be in common. And therefore I pray you direct me in all things, both for my apparel and diet, and every thing; and as my brethren have gone before me, so would I follow in the humblest sort.
So far the letter.
As to other particulars relating to Mr Osbaldeston, I have found none; but only that being brought upon his trial he was condemned to die, as in cases of high treason, on account of his priestly character and functions; and suffered at York the 16th of November, 1594.
From the Douay manuscript, and the copy of a letter written by Mr Osbaldeston, which I have in my hand.
Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 1
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