19. The Guernsey Martyrs
19. THE GUERNSEY MARTYRS
A tragical, lamentable, and pitiful history, full of most cruel and tyrannical murder, done by the pretenced Catholics, upon three women and an infant: to wit, the mother, her two daughters, and the child, in the Isle of Guernsey, for Christ's true religion, the year of our Lord 1556. July 18.
Among all and singular histories touched in this book before, as there be many pitiful, diverse lamentable, some horrible and tragical: so is there none almost either in cruelty to be compared or so far off from all compassion and sense of humanity, as this merciless fact* of the papists, done in the Isle of Guernsey, upon three women and an infant, whose names be these as follow.
The martyrdom of Katherine Cawches, the mother.
Guillemine Gilbert, the daughter.
Perotine Massey, the other daughter. three women with a young infant, burned { } in the Isle of Guernsey.
An infant, the son of Perotine.
July 18.
But before I come to the purpose of this story, it shall be necessary, for the better explaining of the matter, to begin fi rst with the circumstances, whereupon the fi rst original and occasion did rise of this tragical cruelty. The case was this.
The twenty-seventh day of May, anno 1556, in the Isle of Guernsey, which is a member* of England, in a town there called
Saint Peter's Port, was a naughty woman named Vincent Gosset, who being evil disposed, went (the day aforesaid) to the house of one Nicholas le Conronney, dwelling in the town of the said Saint
Peter's Port, about ten of the clock at night, and there taking the key of the house (lying under the door) entered into a chamber toward the street, where she espying a cup of silver within a cupboard, took it away, and so conveyed herself out of the house again. Who immediately after this fact done (whether by counsel or by what occasion else, I have not to say) brought the said cup to one Perotine Massey, an honest woman, dwelling in the said town, desiring her to lend her sixpence upon the same.
The fi rst occasion of the trouble of these women.
The Guernsey Martyrs
Perotine seeing the cup or goblet, and suspecting (as truth was) the same to be stolen, answered that she would not take it: yet nevertheless having knowledge of the owner thereof, took it, to restore it again to whom it did appertain, and to the end she should not carry it to another, gave her then presently sixpence.
Where moreover is to be noted, that Thomas Effart saith and testifi eth, that knowledge as given by the said Perotine to Conronney touching the stealing of his piece, who eftsoons upon the misliking thereof attached* the said Vincent Gosset, of the trespass. Who being apprehended and examined upon the same, immediately confessed the fact, desiring to have one sent with her (which was Collas de Loutre) with sixpence to fetch again the goblet, where it was: and so did.
The next day following, the king's offi cers being informed of the premises by one Nicholas Cary of the said town constable, assembled the justices there to inquire and examine further, as well upon that fact of Vincent Gosset, as upon other griefs and things there amiss. So that after declaration made by the offi cers and constable before the justice, for that the said constable did report to have found certain vessel of pewter in the house of the foresaid Perotine Massey (who then dwelt with her mother
Katherine Cawches, and her sister Guillemine Gilbert) the which vessel did bear no mark, and especially for that there was a pewter dish, whereof the name was scraped out, their bodies upon the same were attached, and put in prison, and their moveable goods taken by inventory.* Within a few days after these things this done and past, these three silly women abiding thus in durance* in the castle, made their supplication to the justices to have justice ministered unto them, videlicet: If they had offended the law, then to let them have the law: if not, beseeching to grant them the benefi t of subjects, et cetera.
Which supplication put up, thereupon were they appointed to come to their answer the fi rst day of June, in the year aforesaid.
Upon which day, after straight examining of the matter, and the honest answering of the cause by the said good woman, at the last they submitted them to the report of their neighbours, that they were no thieves, nor evil disposed persons, but lived truly and honestly, as became Christian women to do, the false and untrue report of their accusers notwithstanding.
Nicholas Cary constable, accuser.
Katherine with her two daughters, imprisoned in the castle.
Katherine with her two daughters, stand to the judgement of their neighbours.
Foxe's Book of Martyrs
So the cause being thus debated, after the inquiry made by the king's offi cers, they were found by their said neighbours not guilty of that they were charged with, but had lived always as honest women among them: saving only that to the commandments of holy church, they had not been obedient, et cetera.
Upon this trial, and verdict of the neighbours, it was in fi ne adjudged, fi rst that the said Vincent Gosset, being attained of felony and condemned for the same should be whipped, and after her ear being nailed to the pillory, should so be banished out of the isle without further punishment. And as touching the other three women, the mother with her two daughters, for their not coming to the church, they were returned prisoners again into the castle the fi rst of July. And thus far concerning the true discourse of this matter, with all the circumstances and appurtenance of the same in every point as the case stood, according to the faithful tenor and testimony of the Guernsey men written with their own hands both in French and English tongue. Wherein you see what false surmised matter was pretended against these women, and nothing proved, and how by the attestation of their neighbours they were fully cleared of that fact, and should by the temporal court have been dismissed, had not the spiritual clergymen picking matter of religion against them, exercised such extremity in persecuting these miserable prisoners, that in no case they could escape their bloody hands, till at length they had brought them
(as you shall hear) to their fi nal end. For after the time of this declaration above mentioned made by the neighbours, whereby they were purged of all other things, and being then known of their not coming to the church, the bailiff's lieutenant and the justice, thinking the matter not to pertain to them, but to the clergy, forthwith wrote their letters or mandate under their signs to the dean,* whose name was Jacques Amy, and curates of the said isle: the contents whereof here followeth.
The three women quit of theft and dishonesty.
New trouble against the three women, for not coming to the church.
Jacques Amy Dean of Guernsey persecutor.
A letter sent from the bailiff's lieutenant, and jurats of Saint Peter's Port, to the dean and curates of the Isle of Guernsey.
Master Dean and justices in your court and jurisdiction, after all amiable recommendations, pleaseth you to know that we are informed by the deposition of certain honest men, past before A letter of the bailiffs to the Dean of Guernsey.
The Guernsey Martyrs
us in manner of an inquiry: in the which inquiry Katherine Cawches and her two daughters have submitted themselves in a certain matter criminal. Wherein we be informed that they have been disobedient to the commandments, and ordinances of the church, in containing and forsaking the Mass and the ordinances of the same, against the will and commandment of our sovereign lord the king and the queen. Whereof we send you the said matter, for as much as the matter is spiritual, to the end you may proceed therein after your good discretions, and as briefl y as you can possible, and also that it pertained to your offi ce, recommending you to God, the which give you grace to do that pertaineth to right and justice. Written the fi rst day of the month of July, the year of our Lord 1556.
After these letters, and information thus addressed to Jacques Amy dean, and to other of the clergy, the said women were again commenced before the justice aforesaid with his assistances. In the presence of whom they being examined of their faith, concerning the ordinances of the Romish church, made their answer that they would obey and keep the ordinances of the king and queen, and the commandments of the church, notwithstanding that they had said and done the contrary in the time of King
Edward the sixth in showing obedience to his ordinances and commandments before. After which answer taken, they were returned again to prison, until the other had an answer of their letter from the dean and his complices.* During which time, the dean and curates gave their information touching the said women, and delivered the same to the bailiff and jurats,* condemning and reputing them for heretics, the women neither hearing of any information, neither yet being ever examined at any time before of their faith and religion. Whereupon when the said bailiff and jurats understood that the said dean and curates had not examined the women of their faith, would not sit in judgement on that day, but ordained the women to come fi rst before the dean and curates to be examined of their faith. And so the offi cers at the commandment of the justices, did fetch and present them before the said dean and curates. The which being accomplished and done, they were examined apart severally one from another: after which examination they incontinently were returned again into prison.
Rash information given, before the cause was heard.
Katherine Cawches, Perotine Massey, Guillemine Gilbert, examined before the dean and his fellows.