There was nothing to be done except to proceed with his attainder.  The bill passed three readings, and the various prisoners were summoned to the Star Chamber to be heard in arrest of judgment.  The Bishop of Rochester’s attendance was dispensed with on the ground of illness, and because he had made his defence in writing.[696] Nothing of consequence was urged by either of the accused.  The bill was most explicit in its details, going carefully through the history of the imposture, and dwelling on the separate acts of each offender.  They were able to disprove no one of its clauses, and on the 12th of March it was read a last time.  On the 21st it received the royal assent, and there remained only to execute the sentence.  The Nun herself, Richard Masters, and the five friars being found guilty of high treason, were to die; the Bishop of Rochester, Father Abel, Queen Catherine’s confessor, and four more, were sentenced for misprision of treason to forfeiture of goods and imprisonment.  All other persons implicated whose names did not appear, were declared pardoned at the intercession of Queen Anne.[697]

The chief offenders suffered at Tyburn on the 21st of April, meeting death calmly, as it appears; receiving a fate most necessary and most deserved,[698] yet claiming from us that partial respect which is due to all persons who will risk their lives in an unselfish cause.  For the Nun herself, we may feel even a less qualified regret.  Before her death she was permitted to speak a few words to the people, which at the distance of three centuries will not be read without emotion.

“Hither am I come to die,” she said, “and I have not been the only cause of mine own death, which most justly I have deserved; but also I am the cause of the death of all these persons which at this time here suffer.  And yet I am not so much to be blamed, considering that it was well known unto these learned men that I was a poor wench without learning; and therefore they might have easily perceived that the things which were done by me could not proceed in no such sort; but their capacities and learning could right well judge that they were altogether feigned.  But because the things which I feigned were profitable unto them, therefore they much praised me, and bare me in hand that it was the Holy Ghost and not I that did them.  And I being puffed up with their praises, fell into a pride and foolish fantasye with myself, and thought I might feign what I would, which thing hath brought me to this case, and for the which I now cry God and the King’s Highness most heartily mercy, and desire all you good people to pray to God to have mercy on me, and on all them that here suffer with me."[699]