List of Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation

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The Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation are men and women who died for the Roman Catholic faith in the years of persecution between 1534 and 1680. Certain of them have officially been recognised as martyrs by the Catholic Church.

Catholics in England and Wales were executed under treason laws. In 25 February 1570 the "Regnans in Excelsis" papal bull excommunicated both the English Queen Elizabeth I and any who obeyed her. This papal bull also required all Roman Catholics to rebel against the Crown. In response in 1571 legislation was enacted making it treasonable to be under the authority of the Pope, including being Jesuit, being Roman Catholic or harbouring a Catholic priest. The standard penalty for all those convicted of treason at the time was execution by being hanged, drawn and quartered.

As early as the reign of Pope Gregory XIII (1572–85), authorisation was given for 63 recognised martyrs to have their relics honoured and pictures painted for devotion. These martyrs were formally beatified by Pope Leo XIII, 54 in 1886 and the remaining nine in 1895. Further groups of martyrs were subsequently documented and proposed by the bishops of England and Wales, and formally recognised by Rome:[1]

Contents

The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales canonised by Paul VI on 25 October 1970 [edit]

John Houghton
Main article: Forty Martyrs of England and Wales

Beatified 29 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII [edit]

Sir Thomas More and Bishop John Fisher

Beatified 13 May 1895 by Pope Leo XIII [edit]

Hugh Faringdon

Beatified 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI [edit]

Beatified 22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II [edit]

Thomas Bullaker
Main article: Eighty-five martyrs of England and Wales

List of Catholics executed for their faith in England 1534–1680 [edit]

1534–1547 [edit]

  • April 20, 1534: Elizabeth Barton, Benedictine nun;
  • Edward Bocking, Benedictine;
  • John Dering, Benedictine monk;[27]
  • Henry Gold, priest;[28]
  • Richard Masters, priest;[27]
  • Hugh Rich, Franciscan friar;[28]
  • Richard Risby, Franciscan friar.[28]
  • July 19, 1534: Anthony Brookby, Franciscan[29]
  • July 27, 1534: Thomas Cort, Franciscan[29]
  • August 3, 1534: Thomas Belchiam, Franciscan friar,[29] Venerable [30]
  • May 25, 1537: John Pickering, priest[31]
  • May 26, 1537: Adam Sedbar, Abbot of Jervaulx;
  • 1537: George ab Alba Rose, Augustinian 'After the pilgrimage of grace and the rising of Lincolnshire'
  • George Ashby (Asleby), monk;[32]
  • Ralph Barnes, monk;
  • Laurence Blonham, monk;
  • William Burraby, priest;
  • James Cockerell, Prior of Gisborough Priory;
  • William Coe, monk;
  • William Cowper, monk;
  • The Lord Darcy de Darcy;
  • John Eastgate, monk;
  • Richard Eastgate, monk;
  • John Francis, monk;
  • William Gylham, monk;
  • Richard Harrison, Abbot of Jervaulx;
  • William Haydock, monk;
  • Nicholas Heath, Prior of Lenton;
  • John Henmarsh, priest;
  • Robert Hobbes, Abbot of Woburn;
  • Henry Jenkinson, monk;
  • Thomas Kendal, priest;
  • Richard Laynton, monk;
  • Robert Leeche, layman;
  • Hugh Londale, monk;
  • Matthew Mackerel, Premonstratensian abbot, titular bishop of Chalcedon;
  • James Mallet, priest;
  • Thomas Moyne 'After the pilgrimage of grace and the rising of Lincolnshire'
  • John Paslew, Abbot of Whatley;
  • John Pickering, Benedictine, prior of York;
  • Thomas Redforth, priest;
  • William Swale, monk;
  • John Tenant, monk;
  • William Thyrsk, Cistercian;[31]
  • William Trafford, Abbot of Sawley;
  • Richard Wade, monk
  • 1538: John Allen, priest;[33]
  • John Collins, priest
  • George Croft, priest
  • July 8, 1539: Friar Waire, Franciscan[31]
  • 1539: John Travers, monk
  • August 4, 1540: Robert Bird, layman;
  • William Bird, priest;
  • Edmund Brindholme, priest;[34]
  • Thomas Epson, Benedictine;
  • Giles Heron, layman;
  • 1540: Lawrence Cook, Carmelite. Prior of Doncaster Friary;[35]
  • William Peterson, priest
  • March 7, 1544: John Ireland, priest;[36]
  • Robert Singleton, priest[37]
  • 1544: Martin Coudres, Augustinian monk;
  • Paul of Saint William, Augustinian monk

Decrees of Elizabeth I [edit]

During the reign of Mary I, the Papal authority was officially reinstated and many Protestants were martyred.[38] After Elizabeth I's accession to the throne, the Act of Supremacy 1558 was enacted denying Papal authority but it was not until more than a decade later in February 1570 that Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth and any who obeyed her and called on all Roman Catholics to rebel. The additional threat of invasion by a Catholic country assisted by English subjects led the Crown to try to stamp out Catholicism with repressive measures.[39] Elizabeth I's government passed anti-Catholic decrees in 1571: forbidding anyone from maintaining the jurisdiction of the pope by word, deed or act; requiring use of the Book of Common Prayer in all cathedrals, churches and chapels, and forbidding criticism of it; forbidding the publication of any bull, writing or instrument of the Holy See (the death penalty was assigned to this); and, prohibiting the importing of Agnus Dei images, crosses, pictures, beads or other things from the Bishop of Rome.

Later laws made the following activities illegal: to draw anyone away from the state religion; non-attendance at a Church of England church; raising children with teachers that were not licensed by an Anglican diocesan bishop; and, attending or celebrating the Catholic Mass.

In 1585 a new decree was issued that made it a crime punishable by death to go overseas to receive the sacrament of Ordination to the Catholic priesthood. Nicholas Devereux (who went by the alias of Nicholas Woodfen) and Edward Barber (see below Edward Stransham) were both put to death in 1586 under this law. William Thompson and Richard Lea (see below Richard Sergeant) were hanged, disembowelled and quartered under the same law. In 1588, eight priests and six laymen at Newgate were condemned and executed under this law.[39]

1570–1603 [edit]

1606–1680 [edit]

No precise date of martyrdom available [edit]

Notes and references [edit]

Notes [edit]

  1. ^ Pullan, Malcolm (2008). The Lives and Times of Forty Martyrs of England and Wales 1535–1680. Athena Press. pp. xvii–xxii. ISBN 978-1-84748-258-7. Retrieved 10 November 2012. 
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae "The College Martyrs", The Venerable English College, Rome
  3. ^ a b c d e f g "College Saints and Martyrs" Royal English College Valladolid
  4. ^ Camm, Bede. "St. John Boste." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 23 Mar. 2013
  5. ^ Camm, Bede. "St. Margaret Clitherow." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 23 Mar. 2013
  6. ^ Caldwell, Simon, "Catholic, Anglican bishops honor first English martyr of Reformation", Catholic News Service, May 5, 2005.
  7. ^ "About St. Richard Reynolds", St. Richard Reynolds Catholic College
  8. ^ Morris, John et al, "Decree of the Congregation of Sacred Rites, 29 December, 1886", Lives of the English Martyrs: declared blessed by Pope Leo XIII, Longmans, Green and Co., London, 1914
  9. ^ Morris, John et al, "Decree of the Congregation of Sacred Rites, 13 May, 1895", Lives of the English Martyrs: declared blessed by Pope Leo XIII, Longmans, Green and Co., London, 1914
  10. ^ a b Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. Thomas Alfield." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 13 Mar. 2013
  11. ^ a b Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. John Amias." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 2 Feb. 2013
  12. ^ a b Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. Robert Anderton." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 13 Mar. 2013
  13. ^ Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. William Andleby." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 13 Mar. 2013
  14. ^ a b Camm, Bede. "Ven. Christopher Bales." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 22 Mar. 2013
  15. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m T.E. Muir, Stonyhurst, (St Omers Press, Gloucestershire. Second edition, 2006) ISBN 0-9553592-0-1 p.188
  16. ^ Camm, Bede. "Ven. John Bodey." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 22 Mar. 2013
  17. ^ a b c d The Oaten Hill Martyrs at RC.net
  18. ^ a b c d Mershman, Francis. "Venerables John Cornelius and Companions." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 23 Mar. 2013
  19. ^ Camm, Bede. "Ven. William Dean." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 4. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 23 Mar. 2013
  20. ^ Bl. William Freeman at Catholic Online
  21. ^ a b c Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. John Adams." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 13 Mar. 2013
  22. ^ Camm, Bede. "Ven. George Beesley." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 22 Mar. 2013
  23. ^ Camm, Bede. "Ven. Thomas Belson." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 22 Mar. 2013
  24. ^ a b Wainewright, John. "Ven. Hugh Taylor." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 23 Mar. 2013
  25. ^ Camm, Bede. "Ven. John Britton." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 23 Mar. 2013
  26. ^ Wainewright, John. "Ven. William Carter." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 23 Mar. 2013
  27. ^ a b "Elizabeth Barton" The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. Accessed 12 Jan. 2013.
  28. ^ a b c Wainewright, John. "Richard Risby." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 11 Mar. 2013
  29. ^ a b c The Observant Friars of Greenwich at British History Online places certain executions in 1534, citing Bourchier, Hist. Eccl. de Martyrio Fratrum
  30. ^ http://www.seattlecatholic.com/a050727.html
  31. ^ a b c "The Blood of the Martyrs: Seed of the Church" Tyburn Convent
  32. ^ Pollen, John Hungerford. "George Ashby" The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. Accessed 12 Jan. 2013.
  33. ^ A'Becket, John Joseph. "John Allen." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 11 Mar. 2013
  34. ^ Camm, Bede. "Ven. Edmund Brindholm" The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. Accessed 12 Jan. 2013.
  35. ^ The House of White Friars, Doncaster at British History Online
  36. ^ Pollen, John Hungerford. "Bl. German Gardiner." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 11 Mar. 2013
  37. ^ Wainewright, John. "Bl. John Larke." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 11 Mar. 2013
  38. ^ The Book of Martyrs (Foxe), Chapter XVI, Wikisource, accessed 1 February 2013
  39. ^ a b Chapman, John H. "The Persecution under Elizabeth" Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, Old Series Vol. 9 (1881), pp. 21-43. Retrieved 2012-02-19.

References [edit]

See also [edit]

External links [edit]

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