A HISTORY OF DORSET 



period are said to have officiated as chaplains at Chideock , Castle,"*^ and a 

 sketch of the fortunes of this family under Elizabeth gives probably the 

 best picture of the trials and risks of a Catholic household at that time. 

 In 1 58 1 Sir John Arundel was summoned to London and for a time 

 committed to close custody by the queen ; following her husband's arrest 

 Lady Arundel, daughter of Edward earl of Derby and relict of Charles, Lord 

 Stourton, also suffered a term of imprisonment. On 9 April, 1584, she was 

 examined as to her speeches against the present government, reception of 

 Jesuits and seminary priests, hearing mass and receiving letters from Charles 

 Paget, &c.-" On 9 June she begged Walsingham to use his interest with 

 the queen to procure her release, protesting that ' her own heart could not 

 accuse her of any undutiful thought towards Her Majesty ' ; '" fortunately the 

 lady's plea received favourable consideration, and she was soon after released."** 

 On the death of Sir John at Isleworth his widow returned to Chideock where 

 she took up her residence and, save for the fines imposed on the household for 

 recusancy, appears for a short time to have been left in peace. But the castle 

 remained a centre of Catholic influence in Dorset, and the resort of semin- 

 arists, among whom was Father Cornelius, a native of Cornwall, who having 

 been educated by Sir John Arundel at Oxford and the English college at Rheims, 

 returned later to England in the capacity of chaplain to his patron and by him 

 was recommended to the care of his wife on his deathbed. The priest was 

 a marked man to the government who only required opportunity to lay hands 

 on him. It came in the usual fashion by treachery ; a member of the house- 

 hold, William Holmes, enraged at some reproof for his conduct went to the 

 high sheriff, Sir George Morton, with information whereby a plan was con- 

 certed for the apprehension of the priest. For this purpose Easter Sunday, 

 31 March, 1594, was chosen, when there was every prospect of a mass being 

 celebrated, and for five miles watch and ward was set round the castle. 

 The trap failed owing to the precautions taken, but a second attempt 

 a fortnight later resulted in success, and after a prolonged search Father 

 Cornelius was dragged from his hiding place in one of the priest's holes."' 

 On 2 1 April the prisoner was examined before the justices. Sir George 

 Trenchard, Sir Ralph Horsey, and John Williams, and the evidence taken 

 of the informer, William Holmes, who testified to the presence of Catholic 

 priests attached to the household of the late Sir John Arundel during the 

 period he had been in his service ; that the said Cornelius dwelt with Sir John 

 and his widow for a year ; that another priest, John Sherwood, now deceased, 



'" One of these, Thomas Pilchard, was executed at Dorchester on 21 March, 1587, with all the barbarous 

 rites that attended such executions ; another Catholic recusant, a Mr. Jessop, dying soon after in Dorchester 

 gaol, was by his own desire buried next to Mr. Pilchard. (Foley, op. cit. iii, 428-9.) Other names given 

 are Cornelius 1594, Green 1642. Arthur Browne, another seminary priest, purchased his life at the price of 

 recantation (Oliver, Hist, of CathoFic Re/igiort in Conitc. and Dors. etc. 1857, pp. 35-9). John Mundyn, priest 

 at Mapperton, was executed at Tyburn 12 Feb. 1589 (Ibid. 39). 



"* Cal S.P. Dom. 1581-90, p. 171. "' Ibid. 180. "^ Ibid. 201-260. 



"' The account of this famous semin.iry priest (Foley, Rec. of the Engl. Province of S.J. iii, 43 5 , 474) is largely 

 based on the j^cts of Father Cornelius written by Miss Doroth}- Arundel, the daughter of Sir John, who after 

 the priest's execution went abroad and entered the convent of the English Benedictine nuns at Brussels, where 

 she was professed 1600 and died in 1613. She gives a graphic account of Cornelius' apprehension and pre- 

 liminary examination before the justices. On being summoned together with the rest of the household and 

 questioned as to her share in harbouring and concealing a public traitor and enemy to Her Majesty the Queen, 

 this spirited lady broke out '/ gather together traitors and enemies of the Queen, I sustain them, / conceal 

 them I If you would have men of that kind I know them not. I well know that I know none such.' Ibid. 

 '". 455- 



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