Saints celebrated on the 30th of May
BLESSED WILLIAM FILBIE, PRIEST AND MARTYR
William Filbie [Filby] was born in Oxford, and there educated in Lincoln college; but not liking the established religion, he forsook that university and went over to Douay or Rheims; where, continuing his studies in the English college, he was made priest in 1581: and returning soon after to England upon the mission, and happening to go to the house of Mr Yates, of Lyford, at the same time as Father Campion and his companions were there apprehended, he was also made a prisoner and conducted to London with them.
My author relates, that in their way to London, lodging at Henley, Mr Filbie had in his sleep a significant dream or vision of the ripping up of his body, and taking out of his bowels: the terror whereof caused him to cry so loud. that the whole house was raised thereby: which afterwards was accomplished in his own, Father Campion's, and others his companions', martyrdom.
He was committed to the Tower with the rest on the 22nd of July: arraigned and condemned the following November, upon the testimony of witnesses that had never seen him in their lives before his imprisonment: and whereas he shewed a more than ordinary cheerfulness and constancy upon this occasion, he was ordered to be pinned with iron manacles, which he endured from the time that he received sentence, November 20 till the 30th of May, when he was executed. On which day, being Wednesday, he was drawn with his three companions from the Tower of London along the streets to Tyburn, about seven of the clock in the morning.
When they were come to the place of execution, Mr Filbie being the youngest (not above twenty-seven years of age), was first taken from the hurdle; and being lifted into the cart, he blessed himself with the sign of the cross, saying, in nomine Patris, &c. and then said, Let me see my brethren, looking to the others who lay on the hurdle; and therewithal holding forth his hands to them, he said, Pray for me. Then speaking to the company he said, I am a catholic, and I protest before Almighty God that I am innocent of all these matters whereof I am condemned; and I hope to be saved by the merits and death of our Saviour Jesus Christ, beseeching him to have mercy on me, and forgive me mine offences: and therewithal a proclamation was read for keeping the peace; and at the end thereof was said, God save the queen; to which he said, Amen.
The people asking him for what queen he prayed? he answered, For queen Elizabeth, beseeching God to send her a long and quiet reign, to his good-will, and make her his servant, and preserve her from her enemies. With that Mr Topcliff and others willed him to say, God save her from the pope. To whom he answered, He is not her enemy. After that, one of the sheriff's men standing in the cart with Mr Filbie, said to him, What hast thou there in thy handkerchief? and therewithal taking the handkerchief from him, found a little cross of wood within it, which he holding up in his hands, said, O! what a villainous traitor is this that hath a cross, divers times repeating it; and some of the people saying the same. Whereunto Mr Filbie answered nothing, only smiling at them. He was no more ashamed, says my author in the margin, of this his Saviour's banner, than of his crown, which he made swift to have.
Then the articles, with the preface of the book printed by authority, were read, and his answers to them. To the sixth article he answered, that if he had been in Ireland, he would have done as a priest should have done; that is, to pray that the right might take place. Some upon this asked him, did Saunders do well in that business of Ireland? I know not, said he, I was not privy to his doings: I never saw or spoke with him: let him answer for himself.
Then sheriff Martin called upon the hangman to dispatch; and the rope being about his neck, the sheriff said, Filbie, the queen is merciful unto you, and we have authority from her to carry you back, if you will ask her mercy, and confess your fault: don't refuse mercy offered; ask the queen forgiveness.
To whom Mr Filbie answered, I never offended her; well, then, said the sheriff, make an end, and thus desiring all catholics to pray for him, he prayed, saying his Pater, and Ave, and In manus tuas, &c. and when the cart was drawing away, he said, Lord receive my soul; and so hanged, knocking his breast several times, till some pulled down his hands; and so he finished his mortal life.
He was also charged by Mr Chark, a Protestant clergyman, with disobedience to his natural sovereign by receiving orders from the See of Rome; to which he answered, that the Sacraments and Articles of Religion were out of the case of Civil Allegiance, and that obedience to the church could not be esteemed disobedience to the prince. (Dodd's Ch. His.)-Ed.
From the Douay diary, and from a printed account of his death, by an eye-witness, in 1582.
Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 1
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