ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MARCH
Saints celebrated on the 18th of March
WELCOME!
BLESSED JOHN THULIS AND BLESSED ROGER WRENNO, MARTYRS
John Thulis, priest, was born in Lancashire, at a place called Up-Holland; and performed the greatest part of his studies abroad in Douay college, during its residence at Rheims from whence, being now a student in divinity and in holy orders he was sent to Rome, where he was made priest. After his return to England he fell into the hands of the adversaries of his faith, and was for many years a close prisoner in Wisbech castle: when or how he escaped, or was released from thence, I have not found: but for the latter part of his time he seems to have exercised his missionary functions in his own country at least - there he was apprehended by order of William Earl of Derby, and committed prisoner to the county jail at Lancaster.
His Latin Life, printed at Douay the year after his execution, informs us that God almighty had prepared this his servant for the crown of martyrdom by many trials and crosses, which he underwent with a wonderful courage and tranquillity of mind, and that once, when he was brought to death's door by extremity of sickness, and had received all the rites of the church, he was divinely admonished that he was not to die that time, but to look for a more glorious death by martyrdom: that he was a man exceedingly mortified in his life; and who had acquired so great a command of his passions, that though by nature he was of a choleric disposition, he had so far overcome himself, that even in the midst of calumnies and lies, which were unjustly cast upon him, he behaved with that temper and meekness, and so moderated all his words, as if nothing had come out of his mouth, but what had been well studied and meditated beforehand; insomuch that one of the judges, who sat upon him at his trial, was heard to say in the company of many gentlemen that he had scarce met in all the north of England with a man of so much modesty, prudence, and temper.
In the same prison of Lancaster castle, where Mr Thulis was confined, among other catholics, there was one Roger Wrenno or Worren, a weaver by trade, but a zealous and devout soul.
These two, not long before the lent assizes, 1616, found means to make their escape out of prison about five in the evening and making the best of their way, as they imagined, from that time till the next day, walking all that while a good round pace; when they thought they were now about thirty miles from Lancaster, they found themselves to be very near that town, God's holy will designing for them there the crown of martyrdom.
So being discovered at sun rising in that neighbourhood, they were apprehended, and brought back again to their lodgings in the castle, where they were sure to be better locked up in future.
Soon after this the assizes came on, when they were both brought to their trial, and both condemned. Mr Thulis was sentenced to die as in cases of high treason, for being a priest, and exercising his priestly functions in this realm; and the weaver as in cases of felony, for relieving and assisting priests. Yet they both of them had their lives offered them, if they would take the new oath of allegiance and as to Mr Thulis, a gentleman of that country (Mr Ashton, of Leaver) who was his godson, proffered him £20 a year for his life if he would comply but they both constantly refused the oath, as inconsistent with truth and their conscience.
The day appointed for their execution was the 18th of March, when Mr Thulis was brought out of the castle, and laid upon a hurdle, in order to be drawn to the gallows. As he took his last leave of his fellow-priests, who remained there in prison, he recommended to them mutual love and charity, the proper characteristics of the true disciples of Christ. Wrenno was conducted at the same time to execution in the company of divers malefactors, who were to suffer the same day; four of whom had been lately reconciled in prison by Mr Thulis to God and his church, and constantly professed to the last the catholic faith, as the true and only saving religion.
At the gallows, when Mr Thulis was going up the ladder, he was again called upon to save his life by taking the oath and why, said they, should you boggle at it? It requires nothing more of you than a civil allegiance to the king. Write me then, said he, a form of an oath which contains nothing but civil allegiance, and I will take it. They told him, they could tender him no other form of oath than that which was ordered by the parliamentary statute; and that, said he, I cannot in conscience take; for it contains many things contrary to catholic faith. So he was turned off the ladder, and afterwards cut down and quartered. His four quarters were hung up at four of the chief towns of the county, viz. Lancaster, Preston, Wigan, and Warrington; that at Preston was fixed to the church steeple and his head was set up on the castle walls.
As for Wrenno, the weaver, after he was turned off the ladder, the rope broke with the weight of his body, and he fell down to the ground; and after a short space he came perfectly to himself, and going upon his knees, began to pray very devoutly, with his eyes and hands lifted up to heaven. Upon this the ministers come up to him, and extol the providence and mercies of God in his regard, and likewise the king's clemency, who would give him his life, if he would but condescend after all to take the oath. The good man at this presently arose, saying, I am the same man I was, and in the same mind, use your pleasure with me, and with that he run to the ladder, and went up it as fast as he could. How now, says the sheriff, what does the man mean, that he is in such haste? Oh! says the good man, if you had seen that which I have just now seen, you would be as much in haste to die as I now am. And so the executioner putting a stronger rope about his neck, turned the ladder, and quickly sent him to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living, of which before he ha had a glimpse. They suffered at Lancaster, March 18, 1615-16.
From a printed account of their martyrdom, published at Douay in 1617. And from a manuscript in my hands.
Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 2
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