THOMAS COTTAM. THOMAS COTTAM was born in Lancashire, studied some time at Brazen-Nose College, Oxford, and afterwards at Rheims, where he was ordained priest. In 1580 he was sent on a mission into England, but was apprehended soon after his landing. Dr. Ely, a professor of the civil and canon law at Douay, happened to be at Dover when he was taken, and with great address contrived and effected his escape; but as this benevolent act was like to be attended with the ruin of him and his family, Cottom very generously surrendered himself to save his benefactor. He was several times put to the torture in prison, but could not be prevailed on to make any confession, or renounce his religion. He and Briant are said to have been admitted into into the Society of Jesus, a little before their death. He was executed at Tyburn, May 30, 1582. EDMUND EDMUND JENNINGS. EDMUND JENNINGS was admitted into the English College at Rheims, under doctor, afterwards cardinal, Allen, and when he was twenty years of age, ordained priest. He was soon apprehended in the act of celebrating mass; and was executed, by hanging and quartering, in Gray's InnFields, the 10th of December, 1591. In a very rare book of his life, printed at St. Omers, 1614, are several historical prints, representing the principal circumstances of his life and death. This work was published, at a considerable expence, by the Papists, in order to perpetuate the remembrance of two " Miracles," which are there said to have happened at his death. The first is, that after his heart was taken out, he said, "Sancte Gregori, ora pro me." Which the hangman hearing, swore, "God's wounds! see his heart is in my hand, yet Gregory is in his mouth!" The other is, that an holy virgin being desirous of procuring some relick * E relick of him, contrived to approach the basket into which his quarters were thrown, and touched his right hand, which she esteemed most holy, from its having been employed in acts of consecration and elevating the host, and immediately his thumb came off, without force or discovery, and she carried it home, and preserved it with the greatest care. ROGER |