With Georgina Protheroe Beynon

Elizabeth I was 28 years of age, in the third year of her reign in 1561, when Robert Southwell was born in Norfolk. The Queen, by force of political sagacity was fast becoming the Protestant Champion of Europe. Pope Paul IV, by declaring her claim to the throne illegitimate, and England a fief of the Holy See, made patriotism and Protestantism effectively the same. Loyal Catholic hopes of equity under the law faded. Robert’s parents sent him to safety in Douai for his education.

Robert longed to return home to try to heal the damage done by political expedience. Two years after his ordination in 1584, aware of the risks, he returned to England with fellow Englishman and Jesuit Thomas Garnet.. Robert said Mass, administered the sacraments, visited prisons. He became a popular established member of the literary world, writing poetry, plays and letters. His message was always that of love, forgiveness and reconciliation. While chaplain to Anne, Countess of Arundel and Surrey, (wife of the imprisoned Philip Howard) he evaded capture for an amazing six years.

In 1590 the Senior Pursuivant was Robert Topcliffe. This infamous man had an experimental torture chamber in his own home. Imprisoned without trial for three years, Southwell’s condition at his eventual court appearance was such that the judge, in disgust, dismissed Topcliffe, ending his reign of terror despite his Eichmannesque appeals. The sentence sickened the public. They roared at the executioner to allow a quick death. When Robert’s head was elevated to the usual cry, "Here is the head of a Traitor" there were no answering howls from the crowd, but absolute silence.(This was witnessed and recorded by Thomas Garnet, martyred in 1608.) Robert Southwell was canonised in 1929, one of the 40 martyrs of England and Wales who died for their Faith between 1535 and 1679. The British Council of Churches declared in 1970, "The martyr tradition is one in which all have shared and from which one may draw strength, even across ecumenical boundaries."

THE RECIPE:
This month we celebrate love. Think of love both divine and human, as you share these little cakes. The Tudors loved ginger-breads which were very highly spiced and given at times of celebration, gilded with gold leaf. 500gr flour sifted with a teaspoonful of baking powder and a heaped teaspoonful of powdered ginger. 30 gr. crystallised ginger chopped small mixed with a teaspoonful of caraway seeds. 125gr. each of butter and soft brown sugar creamed together.
Mix all together or use a processor, reserving the caraways and ginger pieces till last.
Press into a well-buttered tin, pushing down firmly to level it.
Mark into triangles or squares, and bake in a moderate oven for 30 minutes. Cool, and serve to your friends, with mugs of scalding hot tea to warm your hearts and remind you of your loyalties.