BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY

Saints celebrated on the 30th of May

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BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR

16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer

He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam, and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th of the same month, suffered the torture called, the Scavenger's Daughter, of which I find frequent mention in the memoirs of the sufferings of the catholics in those days. Raissius and the Douay diary tells us, that Mr. Kirby was thrust into a hoop, or circle of iron, in which his whole body was, as it were, folded up, and his hands, feet, and head bound fast together. Perhaps this cruel engine is the same as that which the other diary calls the Scavenger's Daughter.

On the 20th of November following, Mr Kirby received sentence of death, at the same time, and for the same cause, with Father Campion and others; but suffered not till May, 1582. When, after Mr Filbie had finished his course, he was brought from the hurdle to see him hang; and being lifted up into the cart, he began thus, O my friends, O my friends, I am come hither for supposed treason, although indeed it be for my conscience. Then he prayed, O my Saviour Jesus Christ, by whose death and passion I hope to be saved, forgive me, sinful sinner, my manifold sins and offences, &c. And being commanded to turn towards the place of execution, his companion, Mr Filbie, being beheaded, and, as the manner is, the executioner lifting up his head between his hands, and crying, God save the queen, Mr Kirby said, Amen: and being asked what queen? he answered, queen Elizabeth, to whom he prayed God to send a long and prosperous reign, and to preserve her from her enemies. Mr Charke, the minister, bid him say, from the pope's curse and power. Mr Kirby replied, if the pope levy war against her, or curse her unjustly, God preserve her from him also; and so direct her in this life, as that she may further and maintain Christ's catholic religion, and at last inherit the kingdom of heaven.

After this, he made a solemn protestation of his innocency in that whereof he was condemned; adding, that if there were any man living that could justly accuse him in any one point of that whereof he was condemned, he was ready to submit himself to her majesty's clemency: and seeing Munday present, he desired he might be brought in to say what he could. 

Who being brought in, said, that being at Rome, Mr Kirby persuaded him and another young man, named Robinson, to stay there, and not to come to England; for that shortly some stir or trouble was like to come and seeing that could not stay him, he said, that he willed him to persuade those that were his friends to the catholic religion against the great day. 

Mr Kirby answered, that it was unlike that he who knew before his departure from Rome how he was affected in religion, would utter any such words to him to persuade the people. 

Munday replied, that it was like, because he delivered him some hallowed pictures to carry with him. 

Mr Kirby answered, that because he mistrusted him, he would not deliver, nor did not deliver, any to him; but he said, he gave him two Julios to buy pictures; and that now he was very ungratefully dealt withal, being by him falsely accused; he having been such a benefactor to all his countrymen, although he knew them to be otherwise affected in religion than himself was for, he said, he spoke to some of the pope's chiefest officers, and was like through them to come to trouble. To others, he said, he gave the shirt off his own back; and travelled with others forty miles for their safe conduct, and only for good will. And as for Munday, he had written a letter to a friend in Rheims, to deliver him fifteen shillings, which he never received, because he never went to receive it and he urged Munday again, in the fear and love of God, to say but the truth; alleging farther, how one Nichols, who in his book, uttered much more of him than Munday did, yet his conscience accusing him, he came to his chamber in the Tower, and in the presence of four, whereof he named his keeper to be one, recanted and denied that which before he had affirmed in his book. See Mr Kirby's letter below.

Then the sheriff interrupted him, and said, even as he hath recanted his error, and is sorry for it, so do you. Mr Kirby, not regarding his words, passed on, and shewed likewise, that this Munday, in presence of Sir Owen Hopton, and others, did say, that he could charge him with nothing, which Munday denied; but he affirmed it again, and said, that thereupon one that was present said, that upon that confession he might take advantage. The sheriff asked who that was? He answered, it was one Coudridge. 

After this, his answer to the six articles was read. Where, to the first, being examined, he said, that the excommunication of Pius V. was a matter of fact, wherein the pope might err; the which I do leave to himself to answer for. And as to the power of deposing princes for certain causes, he now explained himself, that it was a question disputable in schools, and he did only yield his opinion. Notwithstanding, said he, I do acknowledge to my queen as much duty and authority as ever I did to queen Mary, or as any subject in France, Spain, or Italy, doth acknowledge to his king or prince. And as for Dr Saunders and Bristow, they might err in their private opinions; the which I will defend no farther than they do agree with the judgment of Christ's catholic church.

Being demanded whether he thought the queen to be supreme governess of the church of England? he answered, he was ready to yield her as much authority as any other subject ought to yield his prince, or as he would yield to queen Mary, and more with safety of conscience he could not do. Then sheriff Martin told him, that the queen was merciful, and would take him to her mercy, so he would confess his duty towards her, and forsake that man of Rome; and that he had authority himself to stay the execution, and carry him back again. Who answered, that to deny the pope's authority was denying a point of faith, which he would not do for saving his life, being sure that this would be to damn his soul. Then was it tendered him, that if he would but confess his fault, and ask the queen forgiveness, she would yet be merciful to him. He answered again, that his conscience did give him a clear testimony that he never offended; and therefore he would neither confess that whereof he was innocent; neither ask forgiveness, where no offence was committed against her majesty. Well, then, said sheriff Martin, do but acknowledge those things which your fellow Bosgrave hath done, such as appeareth by his examination, and I will yet save your life. Who denied likewise to do this.

By these numbers of proffers, says my author, it is plain they judged them innocent in their conscience of those pretended treasons.

Then the people cried, away with him; and he began to pray in Latin; the ministers and others desired him to pray in English, and they would pray with him who answered, that in praying with them he should dishonour God; but if you were of one faith with me, then, said he, I would pray with you. Withal he desired all those that were catholics to pray with him, and he would pray with them and so, after he had ended his Pater noster, and began his Ave, the cart was drawn away, and there he hanged till he was dead; and till his two companions, Richardson and Cottam, were brought to take a view of him. His speeches were intricate, because many did speak unto him, and of several matters: but here are the principal things by him uttered to my remembrance.

Quill, inkwell and candle

A true Copy of a Letter sent by Mr Kirby to some of his Friends.

My most hearty commendations to you, and the rest of my dearest friends. If you send anything to me, you must make haste, because we look to suffer death very shortly, as already it is signified to us. Yet I much fear least our unworthiness of that excellent perfection and crown of martyrdom should procure us a longer life.

Within these few days, John Nicholl's came to my chamber window, with humble submission, to crave mercy and pardon for all his wickedness and treacheries, committed against us, and to acknowledge his books, sermons, and infamous speeches, to our infamy and discredit, to be wicked, false, and most execrable, before God and man. Which, for preferment, promotion, hope of living, and favour of the nobility, he committed to writing, and to the view of the world: whereof, being very penitent and sorrowful from his heart, rather than he would commit the like offence again, he wished to suffer a thousand deaths. For, being pricked in conscience, with our unjust condemnation, which hath happened, contrary to his expectation, albeit, he offered matter sufficient, in his first book of recantation, for our adversaries to make a bill of indictment against us, yet he expected then nothing less, than he now protesteth. He knoweth in conscience our accusations, and the evidence brought against us, to be false, and to have no colour of truth, but only of malice, forged by our enemies; and for Sledd, and Munday, he is himself, to accuse them of this wicked treachery and falsehood; and of their naughty and abominable life, of which he was made privy, and which, for shame, I cannot commit to writing. In detestation of his own doings, and of their wickedness, he is minded never hereafter to ascend into pulpit, nor to deal again in any matter of religion; for which cause, he hath forsaken the ministry, and is minded to teach a school, as I understand by him, in Norfolk. In proof whereof, he shewed me his new disguised apparel, as yet, covered with his minister's weeds. I wished him to make amends for all his sins, and to go to a place of penance and he answered me, he was not yet conformable to us, in every point of religion, nor ever was, but lived at Rome in hypocrisy, as he hath done ever since, in his own profession. Again, he thought, that if ever he should depart the realm, he could not escape burning.

He offered to go to Mr Lieutenant, and to Mr Secretary Walsingham, and declare how injuriously I and the rest were condemned, that he himself, might be free from shedding innocent blood: albeit, he was somewhat afraid to show himself in London, where already he had declared our innocent behaviour, and his own malicious dealings towards us, in his book and sermons.

To give my censure and judgment of him, certain, I think that he will, within a short time, fall into infidelity, except God of his goodness, in the meantime, be merciful unto him, and reclaim him by some good means, to the catholic faith; yet, it should seem, he hath not lost all good gifts of nature, whereas, in conscience he was pricked to open the truth in our defence, and to detect his own wickedness and treacheries of others practised against us, to our confusion. Now I see, as all the world hereafter, shall easily perceive, that the doings of this man do confirm the old saying, that rather than God will have wilful murder concealed, he procureth the birds of the air to reveal it.

I am minded to signify to Sir Francis Walsingham, this his submission unto us, except, in the meantime, I shall learn that he hath (as he promised faithfully to me) already opened the same. Mr Richardson and Mr Filbie have now obtained some bedding, who ever since their condemnation have laid upon the boards. Mr Hart hath had many and great conflicts with his adversaries. This morning, the 10th of January, he was committed to the dungeon, where he now remaineth: God comfort him he taketh it very quietly and patiently; the cause was, for that he would not yield to Mr Reynolds, of Oxford, in any one point, but still remained constant, the same man he was before and ever. Mr Reynolds, albeit, he be the best learned of that sort, that hath from time to time come hither to preach and confer, yet the more he is tried and dealt withal, the less learning he hath shewed. Thus, beseeching you to assist us with your good prayers, whereof, now, especially, we stand in need, as we, by God's grace, shall not be unmindful of you. I bid you farewell, this 10th day of January, 1582.

Yours, to death, and after death,

Luke Kirby

From the same eye-witness, and from Raissius's catalogue.

N. B. Mr Hart, here mentioned, was Mr John Hart, a native of Oxfordshire, who, for conscience sake, leaving the university of Oxford, passed over into Flanders, was admitted into the English college of Douay, in 1571, made bachelor of divinity in that university, in 1577, and the year following, ordained priest. Returning into England, he was apprehended in June, 1580, and on the 29th of December, of the same year, was, from the Marshalsea, translated to the Tower: he was cruelly tortured in prison, and in the November following, condemned to die; but on the day assigned for execution, he was, by a reprieve, taken off the sledge, and returned to prison; he was, afterwards, sent into banishment, in 1584, and entered into the Society of Jesus. Mr Reynolds published in print his conference with Mr Hart, though, as it is supposed, very partially. It is allowed, at all hands, that Mr Hart acquitted himself with honour in this controversy; whom, therefore, Mr Cambden is pleased to compliment with the title of Vir precæteris doctissimus. He died at Jareslaw, in Poland, 1594.

Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 1

⬅️ The Holy Martyrs of England and Wales

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that we who know how courageously your holy martyr Luke

 confessed the faith, may experience his goodness as he intercedes for us with you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.