Alexander Briant

received his first breath in Somersetshire, was admitted a Student of Hart hall about Lent-term in 1573-74 aged 17 or more, where being trained up under a tutor sufficiently addicted to Popery, left the University and went to Rheimes and afterwards to Doway: At the last of which places taking the Priesthood on him, he returned into his own Country, an. 1579. and settling for a time in Somersetshire, converted the Father of Rob. Persons the Jusuit, to the R. Cath. Religion. On the 28. Apr. 1581 he was taken in the night time in his Lodging by one Norton, who took away 3 l. in money from him, besides cloathes, and conducting him to a Magistrate, was after examination, committed close Prisoner to the Compter in London, where enduring great misery till the morrow after the Ascension, was removed to the Tower of London, and there (as (k)(k) Card. Will. Allen in his Modest defence of Engl. Cath. that suffer for their faith, &c. written against The execution of Justice. p. 11. ’tis reported) he was tormented with needles thrust under his nayles, racked also otherwise in cruel sort, and specially punished by two whole days and nights with famine, which they did attribute to obstinacy, but indeed (sustained in Christs quarrel) it was most honorable constancy. While he was in Prison he wrot (l)(l) Concertatio Eccles. Catholicae in Anglia adversus Calvino-papistas, &c. Aug. Trev. 1583. p. 229. Ibid iterum 1594 fol. 74. 75.,

Literae ad reverendos patres societatis Jesu in Anglia degentes. The beginning of which is, Quoties mecum cogito reverendi patres, &c. They were written purposely that they would be pleased to receive him into the Order of Jesus before he died, which accordingly they did to his great comfort.

Several Letters to his friends, and afflicted Catholicks—Whether extant I know not. At length being found guilty of high treason at a Sessions in London, he was hang’d, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn, on the first day of Dec. 1581 in Fifteen hundred eighty and one; whereupon his quarters were hanged up for a time in publick places. He had for his Tutor in Hart hall (after he had continued there for some time) one Rich. Holtbie born at Fraiton in Yorkshire, educated for a time in Cambridge, and afterwards going to Oxon, settled in the said hall, an. 1574 aged 21. and more; but departing without any Degree in this University, he went beyond the Seas to Doway, then to Rheimes and other places, became a noted Jesuit and spun out his time to a fair age. The reader is now to know, that during the principality of Philip Rondell of Hart hall, who had weathered out several changes of Religion (tho in his heart he was a Papist, but durst not shew it) many Persons who were afterwards noted in the Rom. Church, were educated under him, but they having not exercised their pens upon any subject that I can yet find, I can claim no pretence to set them down among such writers that that ancient house of learning hath sent into the learned world.