[2] His mother was a daughter of the old Lancashire family of Gerard of
Bryn.

[3] These dates and facts will be found in the _Missionary Priests_ of
Bishop Challoner, who wrote about 1740 (2 vols. 8vo., Manchester,
1741-2), naming as his authority a manuscript history of the trial, and
a printed account of it published in 1629. His statements are confirmed
by independent testimony. See Henry More's _Historia-Provinciæ Anglicaæ
Societatis Jesu_, book x. (sm. fol. St Omer's, 1660). Also Tanner's
_Societas Jesu_, &c., p. 99 (sm. fol. Prague, 1675). Neither Challoner
nor the MS. account, nor either of the authors just quoted, says one
word of Father Arrowsmith's alleged speech about the hand.

[4] See Mr Wm. Dobson's _Rambles by the Ribble_, 1st Series, p. 137.




MEMOIR OF THE AUTHOR.[5]


The late John Roby was born at Wigan on the 5th January 1793. From his
father, Nehemiah Roby, who was for many years Master of the
Grammar-School at Haigh, near Wigan, he inherited a good constitution
and unbended principles of honour and integrity. From the family of his
mother, Mary Aspall, he derived the quick, impressible temperament of
genius, and the love of humour which so conspicuously marks the
Lancashire character. He was the youngest child. His thirst for
knowledge was early and strongly manifested. Being once told in
childhood not to be so inquisitive, his appeal ever after was,