(From Magennis ‘ De Incunabulis Collegil, B. U M., Pragensis. .)
IN the year 1631, when the Prince Elector of Saxony made an incursion into Bohemia and was marching on Prague to plunder it, the citizens, the nobles, and many of the religious too, went in crowds to a more secure and better fortified place.
At this time F. Patrick Fleming, Lector of sacred theology, and a most zealous promoter of religious discipline, was the first Guardian of the small community of the Franciscans of the Strict Observance
who had just settled in Prague, having obtained permission to do so from the Emperor Ferdinand, by the exertions of F.Malachy Fallon, O.S.F.
The community consisted of six.
As their house was very poor, they thought their Poverty would be their best protection. But they were warned that their lives were not safe, as many of those among the enemy were infected with heresy.
It was arranged that the Guardian and Matthew Hore, a deacon, F. Patrick Taaffe, and Francis Magennis who was not yet in holy orders, should accompany the Count De Thun to some safer place.
A message from the Secretary of the Chancellor of Bohemia made the Guardian and his companion delay their journey for one day; the others set off at the appointed time.
On the way they were received very kindly by the Burgravine von Steinberg and her son, devoted friends of the Order, and entertained for the night.
Early the next morning they set out. They were overtaken by two Servites who asked them to accompany them in their carriage. F. Fleming refused, preferring to go on foot. Br. Hore, who was quite exhausted, joined them. The Guardian walking close by, recited with them the Rosary in honour of the Mother of God.
As they were approaching the village of Benesave, in which F.Taaffe and Br. Magennis had passed the night, all of a sudden seven peasants rushed out of their house. Three of them fell on the Guardian, to rob him. One of them with a blow laid him low; the others rushed to the chariot and attacked Br. Hore.
The Servites fled to the house of the Count De Thun, and told what had befallen their fellow-travellers. The Burgraf von Steinberg arrived soon after, bringing in his chariot the Guardian’s dead body, which he had met on the road. There were five wounds on his head, from which blood was issuing. The body was taken to the Franciscan Convent of Voticum, seven miles from Prague, and buried there with great honour.
Two more of the monks who had left Prague at the nearer approach of the enemy, came to Benesave, where they hoped to find their beloved Father. There they learned he had been put to death. Soon after, a body of soldiers, commanded by Balthasar Barrady, came thither bringing the body of a Franciscan. He was soon recognised by the other monks. He had received a wound in the side; his heart had been pierced through by three bullets; his ears, too, were cut off.
Our Fathers, Gerald Fitzgerald and Francis Welferston, took care to have the body buried, lest it might fall in to the hands of the heretics.
After some weeks, Count Suorby had Br. Matthews’ body transferred to Votium, and buried in the Convent of the Franciscans which he had founded, in the same tomb with an iron railing.
Those who were present when the body was removed, declared that not only was it free from all corruption, but that the face was of a beautiful colour.
In the preface to the Acta SS., Colgan says of F. Fleming ‘He is united by the crown of martyrdom to the saints for whom he laboured ;‘ and again ‘he obtained the crown of martyrdom.’
See also Colgan and Bruodin
