Saint EDMUND GENINGS, priest, 1591

INVOCATION OF THE SAINTS

He was executed with St Swithin Wells opposite the latter’s house in Gray’s Inn, where he had said Mass.

On the scaffold, in answer to Topclifife’s gibes, he professed his loyalty to his dear anointed Queen, and declared that being a priest and saying Mass in noways made him a traitor. Of these things he acknowledged him­self guilty, and rejoiced in having done such good deeds, and with God’s help would do them again at the risk of a thousand lives. Topcliffe, angered at this speech, bade them turn the ladder and cut the rope, so that the holy priest stood scarcely stunned on his feet, till the hang­man tripped him up, and quartered him while living. After he was dismembered he cried out in agony, “ It smarts ! ” To which Mr. Wells replied, “ Alas, sweet soul, thy pain is great, but almost past; pray for me now, most holy Saint, that mine may come.” After Father Genings was ripped up and his bowels cast into the fjre, the blessed martyr, his heart being in the executioner’s hands, uttered these words, “ Sancte Gregori, ora pro me,” at which the hangman swore a most wicked oath : “Zounds, his heart is in my hand, and yet Gregory is in his mouth. O egregious Papist.”

“ And the smoke of the incense of the prayers of the Saints ascended up before God by the hand of an angel.”—Apoc. viii. 4.