IT is the peculiar Happiness of the Saints and Martyrs of the Romish-Church , that though many of them live and dye Villains , Traytors , and Murtherers ; yet several strange and miraculous Things have been effected by their Relicts , and dead Bodies : And this their ignorant Layety are bound to believe as firmly , as the Articles of their Faith . And such stuff has been imposed upon them , not only in the utter Darkness of Popery , when the Mathematical Arts were counted Conjuring , and a Bishop was burnt for affirming , There must needs be some such Countrey as America . But even to this day , they are made to believe the same Fooleries : For Mr. Dugdale in the Tryal of the late Jesuits , tells us , That Mr. Gaven having used many Arguments , by abusing Scripture , to demonstrate the Lawfulness of Killing Kings , or any others , who should be a hindrance to the Advancing their Cause : He added this ; That the Relicts of F. Garnet , one of the Gun-Powder Traytors , who was Executed for the same , at the West-End of St. Pauls , had wrought many Wonders and Miracles beyond Sea ; which we may somewhat wonder at , since he was so Inge●uous , as to acknowledge himself Guilty of that Horrid Design , which those of the same Faction have now the Impudence to deny .

Among the rest , we have met with the Life of a special Saint , who was Miraculous both Living and Dying ; Printed by the Brethren at St. Omers , that Seminary of Treason and Robellion , of which we shall give you a brief Account in their own Words .

Edmund Gennings , alias Ironmonger , was born some where in England ; and it is Mopable , had a father as well as a Mother : But hear what out Author says of it .

I had thought to have declared at large the Birth and Education of this our thrice happy Martyr , leaving the World to judge of his Miraculous Alteration ; but for divers respicts , Perswasion forceth me to Silence at this time : And behold , in ●●●●ne , at the very first I will not say a Miracle , yet at least a Wonder ; For scarce had Natore cleansed his silly Corps from such Uncleanness as is brought ( a Mateynis Viscibus ) from his Mothers Bowels , but presently within an Hour or two , appeared a sign of his Magnanimity , and great Courage , which he was afterward to set forth to the Ve●w of the whole Word ; and this it was : The Mid wife , and other Women , having accomplished every thing belonging to their Office in the Birth of the Infant , the Nurse sate her down by the Fire ; to give the Child his first Food ; and directing her Dugg into its Mouth , he presently bit the same ; at which unexpected pain , the simple Woman sent forth loud Shreiks and Cryes ; which she no sooner had done , but the Child bit her again : which unwonted Accident so beref● the Nurse of all Patience , that she was ready to have done the Child some Mischief , had not the Women , then accompanying her Mother , ran to succour him ; who enquiring the Cause , they perceived the Lamb to have played the Lyon : and searching his Mouth , they found him to have a very fair Tooth in the Fore part thereof : which strange Spectacle , worthily put them all into Admiration : And after a day or two , when the weak Mother had somewhat recovered Strength , they related to her the whole Matter which had hapned ; who , what with Grief and Wonder , was so perplexed , as being not able to contain herself w●thin the Limits of Temperate Motherhood , she brake forth into deep Passions .

At which time it chanced , that a Venerable old Man ( a Doctor of Divinity ) lodged in the House , a Catholick ( as I my self have heard her say ) who hearing and seeing what had hapned , and grieving for her Impatience , came in to Visit her , or rather , to Comfort and Content her . The Doctor was no sooner entred her Chamber , but she began to relate the whole Discourse , as if he had known nothing thereof : which done , the grave Doctor began to use many Spiritual and Comfortable Words ; and in the end , uttered ( if I may so term it ) these Prophetical Speeches : Be of good Chear ( said he ) your Son is and shall be very well : And concerning his Tooth , assure your self , it doth fore-tell , that he shall Travel further than the Queen hath any Land ; and at the length , return again to the unspeakable Joy and Comfort of all that love him .

These words of the Doctor were often Rehearsed in the hearing of many ( long before his going over the Sea ) by his Mother ; the Effect of which saying , I leave the Indifferent Reader to consider , whether it be not altogether accomplished , and whether his Glorious Martyrdome , and great Courage in the same , ( foreshewed by his Tooth , ) was not a comfort to all that loved or favoured the Catholick cause ; but let us return to our Infant , who until he was two years old , had the same Tooth in his Head ; but then he lost it , and it vanished away without pain , trouble , or any advertisement .

And here , endeth the most wonderful , and remarkable History of the Miracle of the Fair Tooth , which doth certainly tend very much to the Comfort and Edification of the Ideots of the Infallible Church . But let us proceed , still in the Authors own words .

With no less Admiration may I report unto you his Admirable ripeness and Gravity even in his Infancy , who was never delighted with Childish plays , or any thing that might seem Toyish ; No , he would never be inticed to play at any time with like Aged Children , but loved greatly to behold the Heavens ; and therefore he usually went in the Evening , to delight himself with the sight of the Skies , bedecked with Stars ; And on a time in these his tender years , going forth at night , according to his Custome , this strange Spectacle appeared to him in the Air ; he saw , as it were , Armed men with Weapons , Killing and Murthering others that were Disarmed , and altogether destitute of like Furniture ; and great store of blood , running every where about them : This strange sight , put the Child into a great fear , which caused him to run in hastily to tell his Mother , ( being then a Widdow ) what he had seen ; and she presently went forth with three or four of her Neighbours , who that night had supped with her ; and they were all Eye-witnesses of the same Spectacle . Thus much I my self have heard them Report , who also affirmed , that my self was then present ; but being very young , I cannot remember it . This happened in the beginning of our Chiefest persecution , not long before the glorious death of Blessed Father Campian , and the rest .

Our Young Saint growing further in years , he became Page to a Catholick Gentleman , one Mr Richard Sherwood ; This Gentleman at first , had a watchfull eye over his new Servant in all his Actions , because he knew all his Friends to be earnest Protestants : but in short time he found him so faithfull , that he began to deal with him touching Religion , and the Salvation of his Soul ; and perceiving him Tractable , capable and willing to hear , he so far instructed him , that at length the youth earnestly desired to be Reconciled , and made a Member of the Catholick Church , from which he promised he would never serve . After a while , his Master being Resolved to forsake the Realm , and Turn Monk , he determined to place his man ( now about Seventeen years of age ) with some one of his Acquaintance , lest perhaps he should return , not without some danger of his Soul , to his own Friends , who were Protestants .

This his purpose he disclosed to his man Edmund , with good Counsel and perswasion , to remain firm in his Faith , and Religion : But when our Youth understood his Masters Resolution , he was much disturb'd at it , and desir'd his Master he might go with him ; the good Gentleman , to try his Ability , told him , It was impossible ; to which , Edmund replyed , Alas ! and is it impossible ! shall my Native Soyl restrain free-wil , or home-made Laws alter devout Resolutions ? am I not young ? cannot I study ? May I not in time get what you have gotten ? Learning for a Schollar , yea Virtue for a Priest perhaps , and so obtain that for which you are now ready . His master unwilling to discourage him any longer , took him with him ; and setled him at Rheims under Cardinal Allen .

Afterwards coming to twenty three years of Age , he was made Priest ; where he imprinted in the Hearts of his Collegian Fellows , an everlasting memory of him , for his extraordinary pious and comely behaviour in Celebrating Mass at the Altar ; and though he was by Nature affable and merry ; yet before and after Mass , he was seldom or never seen , for the space of one whole hour to laugh , play , or spend any time in talk .

Long had not our Vertuous Priest been Invested with Holy Orders , but that Appostolical faculties were given him ; and so with some others he was sent for England , and Landed at Whitby in Yorkshire , and from thence came to London ; and the same night on which he came to the City , he repaired to a Catholicks House in Holbourn , where he found a very Virtuous and godly Priest : after some common Discourse , they began to Confer touching the Offering of the dreadful , Sacrifice , where they might serve God together the next day , and say Mass ; at length , they concluded to say their Mattins together , and Celebrate the next morning at Mr. Swithen Wells House in upper Holbourn ; and being come together accordingly , behold , when he was even at the Consecration of the holy Body and Blood of our Saviour , one Mr. Topclift , with other Officers knockt at the Dore ; which sudden noise struck fear and Terrour into the Hearts of all that were present ; but the good Priests , with the rest , arose from their Devotions , and drawing out their Weapons ( as St. Peter did to defend our Saviour ) were ready at the Chamber dore when their Enemies had burst it open , bidding them stand , not suffering any one of them to enter till the Priest had finished his Mass ; at which time , two that were at Mass , seeing the Officers would not stay , one of them threw Mr. Topclift down Stairs , while Mr. Plasden having appointed the rest to keep the Dore , went to the Altar and bad the good Priest go forward without fear , and finish his Mass , to the greater glory of God and honour of all his Saints : and after returnning to the door , he espied Mr. Topclift hastning up stairs with a broken head , and fearing he would have raised the whole street for help , the more to pacify him , seeing no means to escape , he told him that he should come in presently , and they would all yeild , which they did accordingly ; for no sooner was the Mass ended , but he with the rest rushed in , and took Mr. Gennings and all the rest , Men and Women , with Church-stuff , Books , and Beads , and all they could find ; They carried them all to Newgate , and were not ashamed to lead Mr. Gennings through the streets in his Priestly Vestments , to make him a laughing-stock to the beholders ; and he , with about ten more were Commited close Prisoners to Newgate ; and a while after were Indicted and Arraigned at the Old Bayly for High Treason ; and here the Judges laughing at Mr. Gennings told him , he was more fit in his Priestly Attire to be presented to the Queen , for a jester , than to a Nun for a Confessor ; moreover , they most slanderously affirmed , that it was Impossible for him ( being a young man fair and fine , and as they termed him , frolick ) not to break the Bands of Vowed Chastity , by being naught with those Beautiful young Women , with whom he had daily Converse ; but he took all things patiently , knowing he Merited very highly thereby . To be brief , the Verdict was given up , and the Priests were all found guilty of High Trason , for returning into the Realm , contrary to the Law provided in that behalf ; and Sentence of Death was pronounced against them , that they should all die at Tyburn , except Mr. Gennings and Mr. Wells , who were both to be Executed before Mr. Wells his own dore in Grays-Inn-fields . Then the Judges began to perswade them being Condemned ) by all means possible they could , to conform themselves to the present Protestant Religion , by going to their Churches and Service ; but they affirmed stoutly , they would live and die in the Roman and Catholick Doctrine .

When the happy hour of his passion was come , the rest of the Prisoners Executed at Tyburn , and he was brought in a sled to the place appointed and being put upon the Ladder , many questions were asked him , he was a while after turned of the Ladder , and in a little time cut down ; he was so sensible ( if it be not a lie ) when he was dismembred , that he cryed , Oh it smarts . Which Mr Wells hearing , replyed thus , Alas sweet Soul , thy pain is great indeed , but almost past : pray for me now most Holy Saint , that mine may come . He being ript up , and his bowels cast into the Fire , if we may believe the Hangman himself , and Hundreds of People standing by ) , the blessed Martyr uttered ( his heart being in the Executioners hand ) these words , Sancte Gregori ora pro me , that is , Holy Gregory pray for me ; which the Hangman hearing , with open mouth swore this damnable Oath , Gods , Wounds , see his heart is in my hand , and Gregory in his mouth . Oh Egregious Papist : Thus the afflicted Martyr , even to the last of his Torments , cryed for the Ayd and succour of Saints ; and especially of Saint Gregory , his devoted Patron , and our Countreys Apostle ; that by his Intercession , he might pass the sharpness of his Torment : but now behold a Miracle ; among many Protestants that came to view the body when it was quartered , there were many Catholicks also ; and among the rest , a Virgin who had wholly Dedicated her self to the service of God ; she being desirous to be partaker of so great a merit , and to get ( if possible ) some little part or parcel of his sacred Flesh , or Guiltless Blood poured on the Ground , to keep as a perpetual Relique , for her private Devotion , used all diligence to draw near to the Gibbet , that she might obtain her desire ; but seeing her self frustrated of all in that kind , through the Press of People , and also through the danger of being discovered ; Devotion being her Guide , she followed his Quarters , as they were drawn back again to be boyled at New-gate , hoping there at last to touch them , before they were dispersed to Hang on the Gates of the City , being as it were in despair of any greater benefit , and coming to the Prison , the people Flocked together to behold t●e fresh bleeding Quarters according to their wonted Custome , when any such thing is to be seen , before they were carryed up to boy●●●g , desiring the Executioner to shew them peice by peice , that so their Curiosity might give Censure as they said , whether he was fat or lean , black or fair to satisfy their request : by Chance , Bull the Hangman took up one of his fore quarters by the Arm , which when he had shewed the people , he Contemptuously flung it down into the basket again where it lay , and took up the Head that they might see his face ; an ●as God would have it , both Arm & Hand of the foresaid Quarter hung out over the sid●s of the basket , which the said Virgin espying drew near to touch it ; and approaching w●●ily with fear lest any should take notice of her so doing , having a determination and vehem●nt ●esire to touch his Holy and Anointed Thumb , which then appeared next her , if it were possi●le , and because it was a part of his hand which so often had Elevated the Immaculate body of our Blessed Saviour Jesus Christ , she purposed not to leave it unhandled for her ●●●l farewell : this her determination and purpose she presently performed , and taking the Thumb in her han● , by the instinct of Almighty God , she gave it a little pull only , to shew her love & desire of having it : the Sequel was Miraculous , for behold , she not imagining any such matter would have followed , by the Divine power , the Thumb was Instantly loosed from his hand ; and being separated , she carried it away safely , both flesh , skin , and bone , without sight of any , to her great Joy and Admiration . O the strange and miraculous separation ! O Benefit , past all requital ! the Thumb of a man newly Dead and Quartered , to depart from the hand , as it were Sua sponte of its own accord , to pleasure a friend that loved him so entirely , and that in the midst of so many hundreds of People of a different Religion , yet not espied by any ; No not by Squire Bull the Hangman , who never mist the Thumb from that day to this . But the strangeness thereof I leave to your pious considerations , confessing my self altogether unworthy , and not any way able to explicate the worthiness of the same . This young Gentlewoman , presently upon this miraculous Purchase , having fully resolved to forsake the Vanities of this World , and especially this our troublesome Country , went not long after beyond the Seas , carrying with her this precious Relique , which she much esteemed ; There she Devoted her self to St. Augustine , and is since become a Venerable Nun , of the same Order . Afterward she hearing of this Martyrs own Brother to live in the Seminary at Doway . sent him for a token a little piece of the same Thumb , inclosed in a Letter written with hee own hand , protesting the Verity of all the aforesaid Narration .