ABSTRACT
Edmund Campion talks as if he is a soldier facing, with fear and defiance, the prospect of imminent death. Campion had as companion the faithful Emerson, Robert Persons the indefatigable George Gilbert. Campion's route would have taken him up the long incline through the woods towards the high escarpment that marks the edge of the Chiltern hills. Francis Willis, Vicar of nearby Cumnor and Rector of Kingston Bagpuise during Campion's mission, a close friend of Henry Russell, and a contemporary fellow of St John's with Campion, is described as being 'always a privy succourer of seminary priests', and 'traitor Campion's companion'. George Elyot was the man appointed to betray Campion. All charges against him would be dropped, Walsingham replied, if he could find either Persons or Campion. George Elyot's account of Campion's arrest at Lyford Grange gives us a vivid picture of life among the servants in a Catholic household, of kitchen dialogue and backstairs intrigue.
