ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN DECEMBER
Saints celebrated on the 10th of December
SAINT EDMUND GENNINGS, PRIEST AND MARTYR
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| Colleges at the University of Douai, 16th century |
Edmund Genings [Gennings] (whom Stow, in his chronicle, calls "Ironmonger", from the name under which he concealed himself upon the mission.) was born at Lichfield, in Staffordshire, in the year 1567, and was brought up in the protestant religion. From his very infancy he was wonderfully grave, and took no delight in the childish plays of those of his age, but greatly loved, says his brother, to behold the heavens, and therefore, he usually went forth in the evening to delight himself with the sight of the skies bedecked with stars. And, on a time, in these his tender years, going forth at night, according to his custom, this strange spectacle appeared to him in the air: he saw, as it were, armed men with weapons, killing and murdering others that were disarmed, and great stores of blood running everywhere about them.
This strange sight put him into a great fear, which caused him to run in hastily to tell his mother - who was then a widow - what he had seen, and she presently went forth with three or four of her neighbours, and they were all eye-witnesses of the same spectacle. Thus much I myself have heard them report, who also affirmed that myself was then present; but being very young. I cannot remember it. This happened in the beginning of our chiefest persecution, not long before the glorious death of Father Campion and the rest.
When he was about the age of sixteen, he was recommended by his schoolmaster (wonderfully taken with his docility and modesty,) to Мг Richard Sherwood, a catholic gentleman, to serve him in quality of his page. In this service he learned from his master, who was a gentleman much persecuted for his conscience, the catholic religion; and not long after, when he was little more than seventeen years of age, Mr Sherwood having determined to cross the seas and consecrate himself to God in an ecclesiastical state, (as he afterwards did, being made priest at Rheims, as appears by the College Diary, in 1584, and sent upon the mission the 2nd of August, that same year, with Mr Robert Dibdale.)
Mr Genings, finding in himself a strong call to the same kind of life, with earnest and repeated entreaties, obtained to be sent over to Rheims, where the college then resided, with recommendations to Dr Allen, then president there, afterwards cardinal. No sooner was he received into the college, but, with all diligence and alacrity, he applied himself to his studies; but, above all, to the study of the science of the saints, the fear and love of God, in which he made great progress, to the satisfaction of his superiors, one of whom has given him in writing a character to this effect: "Edmund Genings was provident and wise in counsel, humble in obedience, devout in Christ, strong in faith, prompt in good works, moet true and sincere in his words, remarkable in his goodness, excellent in charity. He was often afflicted and sick; he suffered all patiently, there was ever in him a discretion in all his actions, and a love towards all, worthy of imitation."
He was of a very weak constitution of body, and by the extraordinary pains he took, partly in his studies, and partly in his spiritual exercises, he fell into a great sickness, which was followed by a continual ague, and other infirmities, which at length brought him into a most dangerous consumption, insomuch that the physicians despaired of his recovery. This determined the president to send him into England, to try if the change of air might do him any service. He left Rheims not without great regret, and went on his journey as far as Havre de Grace, in Normandy, being recommended to two or three banished English priests who were there; who, after one fortnight of his stay in that place, procured him a passage in a ship bound for London, and provided him all things necessary for his journey.
When, behold! on a sudden, Mr Genings, who was very unwilling to risk himself amongst his protestant relations - not having yet finished his studies and attained to the order of priesthood, which he was so desirous of - and therefore had heartily prayed to God for the recovery of his health, desired aof these good gentlemen, (who had been witnesses, during his abode with them, of the divers grievous assaults of his illness which he had suffered,) to have a little longer patience with him, and not to insist, as they did, upon his going on board, for that he felt himself very much better, and almost as well as ever he was in his life.
They condescended to his desires, and found him, in effect, so suddenly and so wonderfully changed, that, on the very next day, he was not only able to eat his meat with a good appetite, but also to go a good long walk, and give such other tokens of health, as appeared not a little extraordinary.
This sudden recovery of his was esteemed miraculous. Upon which he returned to Rheims, and there took up again, though with a greater fervour than ever, the course of life which his sickness had obliged him to interrupt, ever aspiring is the sacred order of priesthood, by which he might be qualified to assist the souls of his neighbours, and return to his own country to meet there with the crown of martyrdom. His common expression (as his brother relates from the testimony of his fellow collegians, as often as occasion was offered of talking of England. and martyrdom there, being this, vivamus in spe, vivamus in spe, let us live in hope, let us live in hope.
The superiors of the college considering his fervour, procured a dispensation from Rome, that he might be made priest before his time, being but twenty-three years of age.
The preparation he made for worthily receiving this holy order was very great, and the impression which his meditations on the dignity of the priesthood, and the great men of the charge, made upon his mind, was so strong, that it produced a wonderful effect, in his very body, of a shaking, as it were s palsy, which continued with him to his dying day.
At this time, for his greater exercise of humility, patience, and charity, he was made prefect of the infirmary, in which office he so laboured about the sick students, even in the meanest services, that he was called the very pattern of piety and humility.
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| St Edmund Gennings |
He was ordained priest, extra tempora (by an indult granted to the college by Gregory XIII,) at Soissons, March 18, 1590, together with Alexander Rawlins, who suffered at York in 1595; and he was sent upon the English mission by Dr Barret - then president of the college - on the 9th of April following, in the company of the same Mr Rawlins, and Mr Hugo Sewel.
In their way they met with a party of Huguenots, belonging to the garrison of Crippy, who robbed them, and stripped them, and carried them into that town, the governor of which, as Mr Genings writes to Dr Barret, April 17th from Abbeville, treated them very ill, threatened them with death, and thrust them into a dark dungeon, where they remained from Tuesday till Thursday night.
But we, says he, despised their threats, rejoicing that we suffered these cruelties from them, for the self-same cases, for which we shall suffer death in England, if God gives us strength: so that neither the prison, nor the want of meat, clothes, or beds, in no way terrified us. On Thursday, in the evening, after we had eaten nothing that day but a little black bread, we had our papers restored to us, amd we were put out of the town, and about ten o'clock at night, we arrived at the suburbs of La Fere, God Almighty showing us the wav, which we knew not. When we had here rested our we wearied bodies, the next day, the Governor of La Fere gave us a crown, and sent us away in peace, and now we are at Abbeville. So far Mr Genings, in his letter to Dr Barret, recorded in the Douay Diary.
He and his companions embarked at Treport, on the coast of Normandy, in a French vessel, the master of which promised to set them ashore in the night, on the English coast. They landed near Whitby, in Yorkshire, on the side of a high cliff, with great danger of their lives: and when they came into the town to refresh themselves, they found in the inn one Ratcliffe, a pursuivant, who suspected them, and put them many questions concerning their arrival thither; but their time was not yet come; and God delivered them out of his hands, and conducted them safe to a catholic gentleman's house, within two or three miles of Whitby: and here they parted from one another; and Mr Genings, after half a year's stay in the northern parts of the kingdom, going to Lichfield, his native city, in order to gain there the souls of his nearest relations, found that most of his friends and kindred were dead, except one brother, whom he heard to be in London, but in what part of the town, he could not learn. But as he understood the state of his soul to be, at that time, very bad, his charity determined him to go up to London to seek after this strayed sheep. Here, for a whole month, he left no place untried where he could suspect his brother might be, hut still not finding him, and having now no hopes of meeting with him, he resolved to leave the town for a time. When, behold! God Almighty brought him to the sight of his brother, though, at first, without knowing him, and that in a strange manner.
And thus it was, says this brother in his life (p. 54), as I have heard from his own mouth.
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| Old St Paul's Cathedral seen from the East (Wenceslaus Hollar, 16th century) |
Having, as I have said, a determination to leave London for a while, he walked forth of his inn one morning (certain days before he purposed to travel,) to visit a friend of his, on the other side of the city; and passing by St Paul's church, when he was on the east side thereof, he suddenly felt a great alteration in his body, insomuch as his face glowed, and, as he thought, his hair stood an end, and all his joints trembling for fear; his whole body seemed to be bathed in a cold sweat. This strange accident, causing him to fear some evil to be imminent towards him, or danger of taking, he looked back to see if he could perceive anybody pursuing him, but seeing nobody near, but only a youth in a brown coloured cloak, making no reflection who it should be, he went forward to his intended place to say Mass that day.
Not long after, on the very morning before he purposed to depart out of the town, the blessed man, recollecting himself in his devotions, seriously prayed, that his departure without finding his desired brother, might increase his patience and although it afflicted him very much, yet he cried out, fiat voluntas tua: my will is thy will, sweet Lord, thy will be done.
His devotions being finished, he went abroad to another place, where he had promised to celebrate Mass that day before his departure. Which done, he was returning homewards towards his inn, upon Ludgate Hill, suddenly, as he was going, he felt the same motions as he had done the time before and as the lamb naturally feareth the ravening wolf, so his innocency fearing the worst, looked back to see who followed him; and behold no man of mark, but a youth in a brown cloak, at the same instant reflecting on the time past when he suffered the like agitation, and steadfastly viewing the young man (whom he had left a little boy in the country, and had not seen of eight or nine years,) he was struck with this thought, this may be my brother.
Upon this, he approached the youth, and courteously saluting him, inquired what countryman he was! and hearing that he was a Staffordshire man, civilly demanded his name; who made answer, his name was Genings. By which, he knew he certainly was his brother, so long sought after. Then casting an eye towards heaven, by way of love and thanks, smiling upon the party, he told him, he was his kinsman, and was called Ironmonger; and asked him, what was become of his brother Edmund The youth, not suspecting him to be the man, told him, he had heard he was gone to Rome, to the pope, and had become a notable papist, and a traitor both to God and his country; and that if he did return, he would be hanged infallibly.
Mr Edmund hearing this, and smiling at the boy's folly, told him, that he had heard his brother was a very honest man, and loved both the queen and his country, but God above all. But tell me, said he, good cousin John, do you not know him, if you see him!
To which John answered, No: but beginning to suspect that he was his brother, and a priest, told him that he greatly feared he had a papist priest as a brother, and that he was the man; swearing withal, that if it was so, he would discredit himself and all his friends; and protesting, that in this he would never follow him, although in other matters, he would greatly respect him.
In a word, Mr Edmund, upon this occasion, discovered himself to his brother, though not telling him that he was a priest, but did not find in him any present dispositions towards his conversion, neither was it a proper time, or place, to treat upon that subject.
Therefore, taking his leave of him, he promised to see him again, after his return out of the country, and then to impart to him some affairs of great consequences.
But the conversion of his brother was to be the fruit of his martyrdom which, after labouring for some short time in preaching, catechising, and performing other his priestly functions, in the country, he came to meet with in London, as we shall now see.
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| Fr. John Genings |
It was on the 7th of November, 1501 Mr Genings returned to London, and met that evening, in a catholic house in Holborn, Mr Polydore Plasden, a very virtuous and godly priest, and a fellow collegian of his at Rheims; and treating with him where they should say Mass the next day, in being the Octave of All Saints, they concluded to say their matins together, and to celebrate the next morning, at the house of Mr Swithin Wells; and acquainted some friends with this design.
Here, on the next day, Mr Genings being at the consecration, and Mr Plasden, and Mr White, priests, Mr Brian Lacy, gent., John Mason, and Sydney Hodgson, laymen, Mrs Wells and others being present, Topcliffe, the arch priest-catcher, with other officers, came in, and broke open the chamber door, where he was celebrating. Upon this occasion, the gentlemen before named arising from their devotions. thought proper to oppose force to force, so to prevent the profanation of the sacred mysteries, and one of the laymen seeing Mr Topcliffe obstinately bent upon coming in, run upon him to thrust him down stairs, and, in the struggle fell with him.
In the meantime, Mr Plasden, having appointed the rest to keep the broken door, went to the altar and bid Mr Genings go forward and finish the Mass. Then returning to the door, and seeing Mr Topcliffe hastening up with a broken head, and fearing he would raise the whole street, to pacify him, told him, he should come in presently, and they would all yield themselves up his prisoners; which they did, as soon as the Mass was ended: when Topcliffe, and the rest, rushing in, took Mr Genings as he was, in his vestments, and all the rest, men and women, to the number of about ten, with their church stuff, books, &c. and carried them to Newgate, who were, shortly after, all examined, by justice Yonge, and returned to prison, to take their trials the next sessions.
Mr Wells, who was absent when this happened, at his return, finding his house ransacked, and his wife carried away to prison, went forthwith to justice Yonge, to expostulate with him about the matter, and to demand his wife, and the keys of his lodging. But the justice, without more ado, sent him to bear the rest company, with a pair of iron bolts on his legs, and examining him the next day in Newgate, upon his answering, that he was not, indeed, privy to the Mass being said in his house: but wished he had been present, thinking his house highly honoured, by having so divine a sacrifice offered therein, the justice told him, that though he was not at the feast, he should taste of the sauce.
On the 4th of December, Mr Genings, and all the rest, were brought upon their trial, and a jury was impanelled to find them all guilty; and yet, all they could prove against them, was no more than that one of them had said Mass in Mr Well's house, and the rest had heard the said Mass. Many bitter words and scoffs were used by the judges, and others upon the bench, particularly to Mr Genings, because he was very young, and had angered them with disputes. And the more to make him a scoff to the people, they vested him, not now in his priestly garments (in which they had before carried him through the streets) but in a ridiculous fool's coat, which they found in Mr Well's house. In conclusion, the next day the jury brought in their verdict; by which the three priests were all found guilty of high treason, for returning into the realm, contrary to the statute of 27 Elizabeth; and all the rest of felony, for being aiding and assisting to the priests. And it was appointed that they should all die at Tyburn, except Mr Genings and Mr Wells, who were to be executed before Mr Well's own door, in Gray's Inn Fields.
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| Gray's Inn Place (James McNeill Whistler) |
The judges, after pronouncing sentence, began to persuade them to conform to the protestant [government enforced] religion, assuring them, that by so doing, they should obtain mercy; but otherwise they must certainly expect to die. But they all bravely answered, That they would live and die in the true Roman and catholic faith, which they and all antiquity had ever professed, and that they would by no means go to the protestant churches, or once think that the queen could be the head of the church in spirituals.
At their return to Newgate, the three priests were cast into the dungeon: and, whilst they were there, justice Yonge, Mr Topcliffe, and others, twice or thrice came to the prison, and calling for Mr Genings, promised him both life and liberty, if he would go to their church, and renounce his religion; giving him also hopes of a living and promotion, in that case; but they found him still constant and resolute. With which they being highly offended, put him into a dark hole within the prison, where he could not so much as see his own hands, nor get up or down without hazard of breaking his neck. Here he remained in prayer and contemplation, without any food or sustenance, till the hour of his death.
On the 10th of December, at eight in the morning. Mr Plasden, Mr White, &c., were carried to Tyburn, and there executed; Mrs Wells, to her great grief, was reprieved, and died in prison. Mr Genings and Mr Wells, were brought, according to sentence, to Gray's Inn Fields, over-against Mr Well's door, to suffer there. Where, after a few speeches of some ministers that were there present, Mr Genings was taken off the sled, and, like St Andrew, joyfully saluted the gibbet prepared for him.
Being put upon the ladder (p. 84). many questions were asked him by some standers by, whereto he still answered directly. As length Mr Topcliffe cried out, with a loud voice, Genings, Genings, confess thy fault, thy popish treason, and the queen, by submission, no doubt, will grant thee pardon. To which he mildly answered, I know not, Mr Topcliffe, in what I have offended my dear anointed princess; for if I have offended her, or any other, in any thing. I would willingly ask her and all the world forgive. If she be offended with me, without a cause, for professing my faith and religion, because I am a priest, or because I will not turn minister against my conscience, I shall be, I trust, excused and innocent, before God. I must obey God, saith St Peter, rather than men. Acts, v. And I must not, in this case, acknowledge a fault where there is none. If to return into England priest, or to say Mass, be popish treason, I here confess I am a traitor, but I think not so and, therefore, I acknowledge myself guilty of these things, not with repentance, or sorrow of heart, but with an open protestation of inward joy, that I have done so good deeds; which, if I were to do again, I would, by the permission and assistance of God, accomplish the same, although with the hazard of a thousand lives.
Mr Topcliffe being very angry at this speech, scarce giving him liberty to say a Pater noster, bid the hangman turn the ladder; which being done, he presently caused the rope to be cut; the holy priest being little or nothing stunned, stood on his feet, casting his eyes towards heaven, till the hangman tripped up his heels, to make him fall on the block, on which he was to be quartered. After he was dismembered, the violence of the pain, caused him to utter these words, with a loud voice, Ok it smarts! which Mr Wells hearing, replied, Alas! sweet soul, thy pain is great, indeed, but almost past; pray for me now. most holy saint, that mine may come. After he was ripped up, and his bowels cast into the fire, if credit may be given, says his brother, (p. 86,) to hundreds of people standing by, and in the hangman himself, the blessed martyr, (his heart being in the executioner's hand,) uttered these words, Sancte Gregori ora pro me, which the hangman hearing, swore a most wicked oath, "Z*****ds! here, his heart is in my hand, and yet Gregory is in his mouth. O egregious papist."
Among many catholics that were present at his execution, there was a devout virgin, who had wholly dedicated herself to the service of God, who had a great desire to get, if possible, some little part of his flesh, or of his blood, to keep as a relic; but not being able to come near the gibbet for the crowd, she followed his quarters, as they were carried back again to Newgate to be boiled; when many running to see them before they were carried up to boiling; to satisfy their curiosity. Bull, the hangman, took up one of the fore-quarters by the arm; which, when he had showed to the people, he flung down carelessly into the basket again, so that both the hand and arm hung out over the sides of the basket, which, the said virgin seeing, drew near to touch it, and laying hold of his anointed thumb, by a secret instinct, gave it a little pull, only to show her love, and desire of having it; when, behold! to her great surprise, the thumb was instantly separated from the rest of the hand, and remained in her hand, which she carried off without being taken notice of by any one.
This young gentlewoman, presently after this miraculous acquisition, took a resolution to renounce entirely the world, and all is vanities: and going beyond the seas with this her relic, became a nun of the order of St Augustine and hearing of this martyr's own brother, says my author, speaking of himself, (p. 94,) living in the seminary of Douay, sent him, for a token, a little piece of the same thumb, enclosed in a letter, written with her own hand, protesting the verity of all the aforesaid narration.
Bat the most wonderful event that followed Mr Genings's death, was the sudden conversion of this same brother, which he, speaking of himself in the third person, thus relates: This martyr's brother, called John Genings, being in London at the very time of his brother's apprehension, condemnation, and execution, hearing of the same, rather rejoiced, than in any way bewailed the untimely and bloody end of his nearest kinsman, hoping, thereby, to be rid of all persuasions, which he mistrusted he should receive from him, touching the catholic religion, having been brought up, as he tells his reader, a little above, in great prejudices to catholics, and rather inclined to puritanism.
But, after ten days after his execution, towards night, having spent the day in all that sport and jollity, being weary with play, he returned home: where, to repose himself, he went into a secret chamber. He was no sooner there set down, but forthwith his heart began to be heavy, and he began to weigh how idly he had spent that day. Amidst these thoughts, there presently was represented to his mind, a strange imagination and apprehension of the death of his brother: and, amongst other things, how he had, not long before, forsaken all worldly pleasures, and, for his religion only, endured intolerable torments. Then, within himself, be made long discourses concerning his religion, and his brother's, comparing the catholic manner of living with his, and finding the one to embrace pain and mortification, and the other to seek pleasure, the one to live strictly, and the other licentiously; the one to fear sin, the other to run into all kind of sin.
Upon this, being struck with exceeding terror and remorse, he wept bitterly, desiring God, after his fashion, to illuminate his understanding, that he might see and perceive the truth. Of what great joy and consolation did he feel at that instant what reverence, on the sudden, did he begin to bear to the blessed virgin, and to the saints of God, which before, he had scarce heard talk of! what strange motions, as it were inspirations, with exceeding readiness of will to change his religion, took possession of his soul! and what a heavenly conceit had he of his dear brother's felicity! He imagined be saw him, he thought he heard him. In this ecstasy of mind, he made a vow upon the spot, as he lay prostrate on the ground, to forsake kindred and country, to find out the true knowledge of his brother's faith. Which vow, he soon after performed, and departed England without advertising any one of his friends, and went beyond the seas to execute his promise.
This Mr John Genings became afterwards an alumnus of Donay college, where he was made priest in 1607, and was from thence sent upon the mission, in 1608. After some time be entered into the holy order of Saint Francis, and was the happy instrument of procuring a convent for his Order at Douay, in 1617, and of restoring the English Franciscan province, of which he was the first provincial, which has since furnished the mission with many zealous apostolical labourers and holy martyrs.
From the Douay Diary; but principally from his life, written by his brother, John Genings.
Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 1
Edmund Genings was canonised as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales by Pope Paul VI on October 25, 1970.
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