Originally raised as a Protestant, he was received into the Catholic Church at Douai in 1593, by Father George, a Flemish Jesuit, and entered the College there with a view to the priesthood.
On his way he stayed at the Benedictine Monastery of Hyrache in Navarre, where his wish to join the order was granted by his being made an Oblate with the privilege of making profession at the hour of death.
Having been condemned with a formal jury verdict, he was thrown into "Limbo", the horrible underground dungeon at Newgate, where he is said to have remained "very cheerful" till his death.
[4] He sang, on the way to Tyburn, the Paschal Anthem: "Hæc dies, quam fecit Dominus, exultemus et lætemur in ea" ("This is the day, the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it").
[5] On his arrival he kissed the robe of Line, who was already dead, saying: "Ah, sister, thou hast got the start of us, but we will follow thee as quickly as we may"; and told the people that Pope St. Gregory had sent the Benedictine monks to evenglelize England, saying "I am come here to die, being a Catholic, a priest, and a religious man, belonging to the Order of St Benedict; it was by this same order that England was converted."