(From Challoner’s Memoirs,3 3.168)

J CORNELIUS, born at Bodmin,4 in Cornwall of Irish parents; was sent to Oxford by John Arundel. 

Cornelius left Oxford, went to Rheims (the English college), and was received by Dr. Allen,5 first president of the seminary. 

He was sent to finish his studies in the English college of Rome. 

Here he was made priest, and sent on the English mission, where he worked for 10 years. 

He was captured in the house6 of John Arundel's widow April, 1594, by Trenchard,7 Sheriff of Dorset, and with him Thomas Bosgrave, who was taken, because, seeing Mr. Cornelius hurried away without any hat, he put his own hat on the priest’s head, saying: 

‘The honour I owe to your function may not suffer me to see you go bareheaded.’ 

The Sheriff told him for this offence he suffered with him. 

John, or as others call him Terence Carey, and Patrick Salmon,8 natives of Dublin, and servants in the family were also committed, as aiding Mr. Cornelius.

He was first carried to the Sheriff’s house, where Protestant ministers attacked him on the subject of religion; but Mr Cornelius maintained the Catholic cause with such strong arguments that the Sheriff, fearing the influence his words would make upon those that were present, put a stop to the dispute. 

He was sent to London; where he was examined by the Lord Treasurer,9 the Archbishop of Canterbury,10 and others of the Privy Council, who strove to extort out of him, first by words, and the rack, the names of such as had harboured or relieved him; but he refused to the last to make any discovery, which might redound to the prejudice of his benefactors.11

Upon this he was sent back into the country, there to take his trial, and die. 

The 3 last days before assizes he spent wholly in prayer and in pious exhortations to his fellow prisoners, without eating, in a manner, or sleeping, and so prepared himself for his conflict.

He with his three companions, were all found guilty; Mr. Cornelius of high treason, for being a priest, and coming into the kingdom, and remaining here; Mr. Bosgrave and the others, of felony, for aiding Mr. Cornelius, knowing him to be a priest.

After the verdict, the 3 laymen cast themselves at the feet of Mr. Cornelius to crave his blessing; and they were all sent back to prison, sentence not being to be pronounced till the next day. 

Judge Walmsley pronounced the sentence with tears in his eyes. 

The judges assured them that their lives would be saved if they would conform and go to the Protestant church; which they all refusing, were sent back to prison.

They were condemned on the 2nd July, 1594, and on the 4th were carried out to their martyrdom.12

Mr Cornelius was drawn on a hurdle; the others walked on foot.

It appeared that they went to the gallows as if they had been going to a feast. 

Mr Cornelius made the best use he could of his time in favour of a malefactor, who was to suffer with them whom he so effectually exhorted to faith and repentance, that the man declared aloud he looked

Please pray for final perseverance for all of us!
May the martyrs of old inspire us all.