ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN SEPTEMBER
Saints celebrated on the 7th of September
WELCOME!
BLESSED JOHN DUCKETT, PRIEST AND MARTYR
John Duckett was the third son of James Duckett, (by his wife Mrs Frances Girlington) a gentleman of an ancient family, but small estate. He was born at Underwinder, in the parish of Sedbergh in Yorkshire, anno 1613. He performed his studies in the English college of Douay and received all his orders there, being made priest in September, 1639.
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| Colleges at the University of Douai, 16th century |
After he was ordained, he went to Paris, in company of Mr Francis Gage (afterwards Doctor of Sorbon, and president of Douay college) and there remained three years in the college of Arras. The Douay Diary takes notice, that he was much addicted to mental prayer so that whilst he was yet a student in the college, he was known to have employed whole nights in those heavenly communications: however, as he was very humble and discreet, when he was going upon the English mission, not content with having before conferred at Paris with some very spiritual persons, who approved of his way of prayer, (though what passed therein betwixt his soul and God, was so sublime, that they owned it was above their comprehension) for farther security he called at Newport, on purpose to consult his kinsman, the Reverend Father Duckett, son of James Duckett the martyr, and prior of the English Carthusians there, and to put himself under his direction to the end that he might proceed more safely in the internal way, and avoid the delusions of the enemy, to which contemplatives are often exposed. Here he spent about two months in preparing himself, by spiritual exercises, for the great work of the conversion of souls.
His mission was in the bishopric of Durham, where he had been about a year, when he was taken in the following manner: he was called from Crusame, the place of his residence, to baptize two children, upon the feast of the Visitation of our blessed Lady, and as he was going on his way, in the company of two catholic laymen, some parliament soldiers, who had intelligence of it, way-layed him, and apprehended him and his companions between Whissingham and Lenchester, and carried them to Sunderland, where there was sitting at that time a committee of the sequestrators. These examined him, whether he was a priest, or no? He declined giving them a positive answer, and told them, if he were brought thither as a delinquent, he expected to see what proofs could be alleged against him and if none were produced, he conceived, that by the course of the law he was quit,
But as they had strong suspicions of his being what he was, from the books and holy oils which were found about him, they committed him to prison; and a little while after sending for him, again, still pressed him to give a direct answer, and threatened to put lighted matches betwixt his fingers, and to burn him therewith, till he would confess what he was. But let us hear Mr Duckett's own relation of this part of his history, and of the motives upon which he at length confessed himself a priest:
They committed me to prison, says he, making no doubt of my being a priest, by reason of my holy oils, and such like things they found about me afterwards I was called again, and being I would not answer directly, that I was no priest, they threatened to put fired natches betwixt my fingers, till I would confess what I was. But when their threats would not prevail, they sent me to gaol again and put irons on me. About an hour after they called me again; in the meantime they were examining the other two that were taken with me; who, when I heard they would be shipped and sent away, seeing it was because I would not confess what I was, and also fearing lest some of the country should come, who knew me, whereby the most part there (i. e. the catholics of that neighbourhood) might have suffered, but especially those with whom I lived, I confessed myself to be a priest, to free them and the country.
It seems, says another manuscript, this was an inspiration from heaven for immediately no more enquiry was made after his friends, but he was sent up to London, with Father Ralph Carlington (Corby) a Jesuit, who was taken in those parts in his vestments, as he was going to the altar to say Mass. So Mr Duckett imitated our Saviour; If you seek me, let these go their way.
What follows is taken from a letter, dated September 19, 1644: The two confessors being brought up to London, were examined by a committee of parliament, where they both stoutly confessed themselves to be priests, as they had done before in the country, so were committed to Newgate, and brought to their trial the next sessions; where Mr Duckett being asked by Mr Glyn, (the recorder) if he were a priest? replied, Yes, I am. Upon this Mr Recorder said to the jury, you know what follows, he confesseth himself a traitor. No, said Mr Duckett, I do not confess myself a traitor, though I confess myself a priest. But this sufficed to the forward jurymen and judge; for upon this alone he was cast by the jury, and condemned by the judge, says another manuscript relation.
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| Newgate Prison, London, c. 1810. Newgate Prison was a prison at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey Street, London, originally at the site of Newgate, a gate in the Roman London Wall. It was built in 1188 and demolished in 1904. |
Mr Duckett adds, in his written account of himself, that when he was condemned, he told the judge, that he rejoiced more to hear the sentence pronounced against him, than he did to pronounce it. And both the other manuscripts, and the College Diary, all agree, that whereas Mr Duckett's natural complexion was pale, immediately upon his arraignment his countenance became in a manner angelical, and his cheeks beautifully red, and continued so till his death. Insomuch, that some who knew him before, and appointed his picture to be drawn, condemned the painter for not making it like him; but all that had seen the man in the three last days of his life, confessed the picture exactly represented him as he then appeared. See what a transformation grace can work in human creatures. It was also much noted, (says the letter of Sept. 19, 1644) that his cheerful countenance proceeded from a heart overjoyed that he was to die in such a cause and himself hath testified in many letters under his own hand, that ever since he was a priest he did much fear to live but nothing fear to die. Insomuch that he wrote a letter to one of those who were taken in company with him, (if he were importuned) to confess, that he knew him to be a priest; for, said the blessed man, if other witnesses fail, I shall supply all defects in that point myself, God willing: knowing what it will avail me to die for such a cause; much like St Ignatius, the martyr, casting himself on the lion's jaws, saying, Scio quid mihi prodest, ignoscite mihi filioli.
He was a true humble man (continues my author) and contemned riches and the vanities of this world the first appeared in his refusing many accomodations of money and apparel, offered him, not only by myself, but by others, even when he had never a cloak to his back; but rather chose to borrow one when he went to the sessions, &c. The other, in refusing to hear the confession of the dutchess of Guise, who came back from Dover on purpose to spend the last night of the martyr's life with him in watching and prayer, in the prison. For although he pretended scruple of not having French enough, yet it is probable, he having been so long abroad, and especially coming lately from Paris, might easily have understood the lady, had not his humility made him refer her to others.
He was much importuned to accept of a pardon of his life, by way of exchange for a Scotch lieutenant-colonel, in prison under the emperor of Germany and when he saw the matter of grace (as the world termed it) far advanced, and offered unto him by the Father of the Society, that was condemned with him, he returned the favour back to the Father, saying, it is a thing procured and prosecuted by your friends, be you therefore pleased to accept thereof. But being persuaded by them, (Father Corby and his friends,) that there was another way to save that father's life, by his being an Irishman born, and therefore not subject to the penalty of the laws; then Mr Duckett (however willing to die) thought he was bound not to refuse the offer of life, upon such fair terms. And this I insert here, to shew how little he esteemed life; for he was nothing altered, upon notice that the parliament (which had by their committee given hopes formerly of such a thing) was now resolved not to save a priest's life by any such exchange. Had this happened to a soul less resigned than blessed Mr Duckett's, it would have made some alteration, whereas here it made none at all in this constantly cheerful martyr.
"It was noted by all sorts of spectators that he had a continual smile in his looks all the way he went to execution; which smile it seemed was from the heart. For when the blessed man came to the hurdle, he was not content to be helped up, but of himself leaped into the straw, and composed himself upon it, as if he had been riding in triumph. Before he went out of prison to the hurdle, seeing many weeping about him, he smiling said, Why weep for me, who am glad at heart of this happy day? And added, Hæc dies, quam fieit dominus, exultemus, & lætemur in ea.
Mr Corby, when it was proposed to him, referred it to me, and I again to him thus to and fro it went, till, &c. (see Mr Corby's MS). And some of the jailors, observing his smiling farewell from the prison, said, Assuredly this man dies for a good cause, since he and all of his profession go cheerfully to the gallows, whereas those of our religion go weeping and wringing their hands.
He gave his benediction to all that asked it on the way, with his head raised from the hurdle, and a smiling look. This was testified unto me by many, but especially by Don Antonio de Sousa, resident for the king of Portugal, who attended the martyrs unto the place of execution, and twice upon the way spoke to them, and asked their benedictions, and affirmed with what alacrity Mr Duckett gave it him.
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| London Oratory, The Martyrs of Tyburn Tree (detail) |
At the gallows he said little, only he told the minister that went about to pervert him, Sir, I come not hither to be taught my faith, but to die for the profession of it. It seems there was a fear lest Mr Duckett would have spoken much, out of the abundant joy that appeared in him; so to prevent that, he was in a manner throttled alive, (by an ill-favoured hampering of the rope about his neck, which the hangman used to none but to him) and he was observed to stand a long time in prayer upon the cart, before it was drawn away, half hanged indeed. When the hangman came to cast the rope about his neck, Mr Duckett took it into his own hands, and smiling, kissed it for joy that he was thereby so near the end of his time and the beginning of eternity; for he did many times express the sense he had of eternity, and his longing after it, which made him glad at the shortness of his time upon so happy an occasion.
"One thing was singular in these blessed martyrs, more than in all that went before them in England of latter days, that they both appeared in their own weeds in this last scene of their lives; going with hair cut, shaved crowns, and in their cassocks, from the prison to the place of execution, which if they had asked leave to do, perhaps had been denied them, as it was to some who had asked leave before, and were denied. As to this whole relation I can assure you, I have many of these particulars under Mr Duckett's own hand writing, and all the rest from persons of good credit, both ear and eye-witnesses thereof."
So far the letter. Whilst he was in Newgate he reconciled one of the felons, who afterwards died with him. Mr Duckett suffered at Tyburn, Sept. 7, 1644, in the 31st year of his age, the fifth of his priesthood, and the second of his mission.
From three manuscript relations sent me from Douay, and from the College Diary.
Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 2
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