Saints celebrated on the 28th of May
BLESSED JOHN SHERT, PRIEST AND MARTYR
[Martyred May 28, 1582] Father John Shert was born in Cheshire, and brought up in Brazen-nose college, in Oxford, where he took the degree of bachelor of arts, in 1566. But soon after, quitting the university, he became a noted schoolmaster in London.
Then crossing the seas to the college lately erected at Douay, he was admitted in 1578, there studied divinity, and was made sub-deacon: from whence he was sent to Rome, where he finished his studies and was made priest, and so returned to the college now translated to Rheims and from thence was sent to England, in 1579, the year before the pretended conspiracy of Rheims and Rome; for which he was afterwards arraigned and condemned.
After he had laboured for some time in his mission, he was apprehended and brought to the Tower on the same day with Mr Paine, viz., July 14, 1581. And in the November following, he was condemned, as we have seen, for the pretended conspiracy, though the witnesses had never seen him in their lives, before his apprehension.
Being brought from the hurdle, on which he had been drawn from the Tower to Tyburn, and seeing his companion, Mr Forde, hanged before him, with a confident courage, smiling countenance. and with his hands lifted up, he spoke as followeth:
O happy Thomas! happy art thou that hast run that happy race! O benedicta anima! O blessed soul! thou art in a good cause! thou blessed soul pray for me.
And being lifted into the cart, he desired all catholics to pray for him: and turning to the place of execution, by commandment of the sheriff, and seeing his companion bowelled and beheaded, he kneeled down and cried out:
Thomas! O happy Thomas! O blessed soul! happy art thou: thy blessed soul pray for me. And being found fault withal, because he prayed to those that were dead; he said; O blessed Lady, mother of God. pray for me and all the Saints of heaven pray for me.
The sheriff finding fault with this as erroneous doctrine; Fr Shert answered that it was both sound and true doctrine, which he would now seal with his blood. After which, he began as follows:
O blessed Lord, to thee be all honour and praise: I give thee most hearty thanks, for that thou didst create me of nothing to thy likeness and similitude. Secondly, for my redemption by the death of thy sweet Son, Jesus Christ, my Saviour and Redeemer. And lastly, that thou wilt bring me, the poor servant, to so glorious and happy a death for thy sake; although in the eyes of worldlings contumelious and reproachful; yet to me most joyful and glorious and for the which, I yield thee most hearty thanks.
Here he was stopped from proceeding further by the sheriff, who said to him, Ask the queen's forgiveness for these treasons whereof thou art condemned; who answered, The asking of forgiveness doth imply an offence done; and for me to charge myself, being innocent, would be contrary to my duty. We have been racked and tormented for these things, and nothing hath been found: we have also been twice examined since our condemnation, which hath had not been seen heretofore in any malefactor. Those supposed treasons for which I am condemned, I leave between God and myself; and, upon my death, I am altogether innocent and faultless; and I utterly refuse to ask her forgiveness for this fact whereof I am condemned, for that I am not guilty: but if in any other private matter I have offended, I ask her and all the world, forgiveness: for it is impossible for me to be guilty of the conspiracy at Rheims or Rome, being in England long time before the said supposed treasons were committed, and continuing here ever since: which Munday, his accuser, did not much deny: for he said, he never knew him beyond the seas, neither at Rome nor at Rheims.
Then sheriff Martin requested a minister that stood by, to read his examination. Who answered, that as the man is obstinate now, so upon his examination was he as obstinate, for he uttered nothing that is to be read. The sheriff desired Mr Shert, again, to acknowledge his offence; affirming, that the queen would deal very mercifully with him, and that he had authority himself, if he did acknowledge his fault, to stay his execution, and to return him back without more ado. Who answered,
Should I, for saving this carcass, condemn my soul! God forbid.
Being asked what he thought of the queen's majesty! he answered: I acknowledge her for my sovereign lady and queen, for whose prosperous estate and well doing I did always pray. And being demanded whether he thought her to be supreme governor, under Christ, of the church of England! he said: I will give to Caesar that which is his, and to God that which belongeth to God. She is not, nor cannot be, nor any other but only the supreme pastor.
- What! do you mean that whore of Babylon, the pope! said the sheriff.
- Take heed, Mr Sheriff, said Fr Shert, for the day will come, when that shall be a sore word for your soul! and then it shall repent you, that ever you called Christ's vicar upon earth, the whore: when you and I shall stand at one bar, before that equal Judge who judgeth all things aright then, I say, will you repent your saying; and then must I give testimony against you.
And the hangman making ready at the importunate clamour of the people, who cried to despatch, saying, that he had lived too long. Fr Shert delivered his handkerchief to the hangman with two shillings therein, saying, take this for thy hire, and I pray God forgive thee. Then with a loud voice, that all might hear him, he denounced as follows: Whosoever dieth out of the Catholic Church, dieth in the state of damnation. Therewith turning almost round about, he held up his hands, wagging them to the people; and then began to pray as followeth: Domine Jesu Christe fili dei vivi pone passionem, crucem and mortem tuam, &c., with his pater, ave, and other prayers. And when the cart was trailed away, his hands being before on high, he lit upon the rope and so held it, and the officers pulled them down. The sheriff then said, notwithstanding his obstinacy, see how willing he is to live. And so he hanged till he was dead; but it seemed to me, that his hands, by chance, as he was putting them down, fell upon the rope, which he held fast in his hands, as, in that case, he would have done any other thing if he had chanced upon it.
(from an eyewitness account)
[Fr John was beatified on December 29, 1886 by
Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 1
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