ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST
Saints celebrated on the 7th of August
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BLESSED NICHOLAS POSTGATE, PRIEST AND MARTYR
Nicholas Postgate (vulgo Posket) was born at Kirkdale-House, in the parish of Eyton, in Yorkshire, about the end of the sixteenth century. His parents were catholics, and great sufferers for their religion. He performed all his studies in the English college of Douay, where he was admitted convictor (being already grown up to man's estate) in 1621; took the college oath the 12th of March, 1623; was promoted to minor orders December 28, 1624. to the order of sub-deacon, December 18, 1627; to the order of deacon, March 18, 1628, and made priest the 20th of March the same year. He has a very fair character in the diary, or journal of the college; from whence he was sent, with proper faculties, upon the English mission, the 29th of June, 1630.
His missionary labours were employed in his native country of Yorkshire, for about 50 years, with great benefit to innumerable souls, many hundreds, some say a thousand, having been reclaimed from their errors or vices by his ministry. His residence, at least for the latter part of his life, was, as we learn from Mr Ward, (Canto IV. of the Reformation) who says, he knew him well, upon a lingy moor, called Blackamoor, about two miles from Mulgrave castle, and five miles from Whitby. This author writes of him as follows:
"Nor spar'd they father Posket's blood,
A rev'rend priest, devout and good,
Whose spotless life in length was spun
To eighty years, and three times one.
Sweet his behaviour, grave his speech,
He did by good example teach.
His love right bent, his will resign'd,
Serene his look, and calm his mind.
His sanctity to that degree
As angels live, so lived he.
A thatched cottage was the cell
Where this contemplative did dwell;
Two miles from Mulgrave castle 't stood,
Shelter'd by snow-drifts, not by wood.
Though there he liv'd to that great age,
It was a dismal hermitage.
But God plac'd there the saint's abode,
For Blackamoor's greater good."
The holy man was apprehended by one Reeves, an exciseman, an implacable enemy of catholics, at the house of Matthew Lythis, at Little-Beck, near Whitby, and was with his harbourer committed to York gaol. When his trial came on, he was indicted for high treason, not as a plotter, but as a priest. The witnesses that appeared against him were Elizabeth Wood, Elizabeth Baxter, and Richard Morrice. These deposed, that they had seen him baptize, and exercise other priestly functions; and upon their evidence he was found guilty by his jury, and condemned to die, which sentence was no ways unwelcome to him, who had been learning to die all his life-time.
The day allotted for his triumphant exit was the 7th of August, 1679; on which day in the morning, amongst other visitors, went to see him, Mrs Fairfax, wife to Mr Charles Fairfax, of York, and Mrs Meynel, of Kilvington. These ladies having done their devotions, went together to his room, to take their last leave of him, and to crave his blessing. The confessor seeing them in great concern, whereas he was cheerful, came up to them, and laying his right hand upon the one, and his left upon the other, they being both at that time big with child, he spoke these words to them: "Be of good heart, children, you shall both be delivered of sons, and they will be both saved."
Immediately after he was laid upon a sledge, and drawn through the streets to the place of execution, where he suffered with great constancy. The two ladies were soon after brought to bed of sons, who were both baptized, and both died in their infancy. This, says the reverend Mr Knaresborough, in a paper which I have now before me, was told me by Mrs Fairfax, one of the parties, the 5th of October, 1705.
At the gallows he spoke little; the substance of his words was. "I die in the catholic religion, out of which there is no salvation; Mr Sheriff, you know I die not for the plot, but for my religion. I pray God bless the king and the royal family. Be pleased, Mr Sheriff, to acquaint his majesty, that I never offended him in any manner of way. I pray God give him his grace, and the light of truth. I forgive all that have wronged me, and brought me to this death, and I desire forgiveness of all people."
He was executed according to sentence; his quartered body was given to his friends, and interred. One of his hands is preserved in Douay college. The following inscription was put upon a copper plate, and thrown into his coffin:
"Here lies that reverend and pious divine, Dr Nicholas Postgate, who was educated in the English college at Douay. And after he had laboured fifty years, (to the admirable benefit and conversion of hundreds of souls) was at last advanced to a glorious crown of martyrdom at the city of York, on the 7th of August, 1679, having been priest 51 years, aged 82."
The unhappy Reeves, who apprehended him, never had the 20 l. reward which he looked for; but after having suffered for some time an extreme torture in body and mind, was found drowned in a small brook.
From the Douay Diary, and other monuments.
Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 2
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