An Epistle of Comfort: To the Reverend Priests, and to the Honourable, Worshipful, and Other of the Lay Sort, Restrained in Durance for the Catholic Faith

by Robert Southwell, Margaret Waugh (Editor), Philip Caraman (Foreward)

Southwell, a Jesuit priest, wrote the text in England in the late 16th century during a time when Catholics were both persecuted and executed.

Contents:

Forward by Philip Caraman, SJ
Introduction
Preface: To the Reader
An Epistle of Comfort: to the Revered Priests, and to the Honourable, Worshipful, and Other of the Lay Sort, restrained in durance for the Catholic Faith.

1. The first cause of Comfort in Tribulation is that it is a great presumption that we are out of the devil's power
2. The second cause of Comfort in Tribulation is that it sheweth us to be God's children, tenderly beloved by him
3. The third cause of Comfort in Tribulation is that we are moved to suffer Tribulation willingly, both by the precedent of Christ and the title of a Christian
4. The fourth cause of Comfort in Tribulation is that Tribulation best agreeth with the estate and condition of our life
5. The fifth cause of Comfort in Tribulation is that we suffer little of our deserts
6. The sixth cause of Comfort in Tribulation is that the cause we suffer for is the true Catholic Faith
7. The seventh cause of Comfort in Tribulation is that the state of the persecuted in a good cause is honourable
8. The eighth cause of Comfort in Tribulation is the honour of imprisonment for the Catholic Faith
9. The ninth cause of Comfort in Tribulation is that death itself is comfortable to the good
10. The tenth cause of Comfort in Tribulation is that the violent death and foregoing torments are tolerable in a good cause
11. The eleventh cause of Comfort in Tribulation is that Martyrdom is glorious in itself, most profitable to the Church, and honourable to the Martyrs
12. The unhappiness of the schismatics and lapsed, and comfort against their example
13. That heretics cannot be Martyrs
14. The glory due unto Martyrs in the next world
15. A warning to the persecutors
16. Conclusion

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1605

About the author

Saint Robert Southwell, SJ (1561? - 1595)

Roman Catholic priest of the Society of Jesus, missionary, poet, and martyr.

Thrown into the Tower of London for being a Catholic priest during the dark period when Catholicism was outlawed in England, he was tortured thirteen times and finally executed (hung, drawn, and quartered) at Tyburn by order of Queen Elizabeth I.

Most literary critics agree that his poetry and prose influenced many figures in English literature, including William Shakespeare and Ben Jonson.