Extraordinary Story of Edmund Arrowsmith

Edmund Arrowsmith, having been received into the college at Douay in 1605, was eventually ordained priest at Arras on December 9th, 1612. A year afterwards, he was sent to England to care for the flock there. One of his flock, being exasperated against him because he refused to marry him to his first cousin and had rebuke him for evil-living, reported Fr Arrowsmith to the authorities for having not taking the oaths, and that he was a priest and a Jesuit. Being apprehended, he was immediately sent to Lancaster Castle. When asked if he was a priest by the Judge, Sir Henry Yelverton; Arrowsmith signed himself with the cross and responded that he was. He gave the same answer when the question was repeated. When Arrowsmith made an appeal that he may be allowed to defend his faith; such plea was rejected. To this, Arrowsmith responded, “I am ready, my lord, not only in words but in deeds and to seal it with my blood.” The Judge, in a savage and insulting manner, condemned him to death ; and his bowels, after being disemboweled, burnt before his very face. Arrowsmith simply responded, “And should I die unjustly and undeservedly, my lord, in that cave; you shall soon die too, and follow me within a year.”

Two indictments where held against him: one for being a Priest and a Jesuit, and the other for disparaging Protestantism; on these he was found guilty of high treason, and ordered to die according to the law. The Judge expressly commanded that the heaviest irons should be loaded upon him and also to be lodged in a small cell where he could not lie down. This occurred on 26th August, 1628 and by 28th August he died. His devotion and piety was remarkable and same was his constancy and fortitude. Those who witnessed his sad end were edified. Thrice he kissed the ladder and when the halter was fastened round his neck, he fervently prayed; “O sweet Jesus, I freely offer Thee my death, in satisfaction for my sins.” The Judge took great pleasure in seeing him cut down, disemboweled, and quartered; his head being placed on a pole against the pinnacles of the castle.

On January 23, 1629, the Judge sitting at supper in an inn felt a heavy blow as if someone had struck him on the back of his head. In great rage, he severely rated the servant who was waiting upon him; the poor servant insisted that he had not struck him, nor did he see anyone strike him. A little while later, he felt another blow and a third , just as the meal ended. Realizing that this had come from the hand of Divine Justice exclaimed in fear and trepidation: “That dog Arrowsmith hath killed me.”

In great terror he was carried to bed, and died the next morning. The prophecy of this holy priest regarding his death was exactly fulfilled. The hand of Fr. Edmund Arrowsmith otherwise known as “the holy hand”, preserved by Sir William Gerard, 1813, cured Joseph Lamb’s violent injury which was pronounced incurable by physicians.

Blessed Edmund Arrowsmith, Pray for us.