BL. THOMAS COTTAM, PRIEST AND MARTYR

BL. THOMAS COTTAM, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

BLESSED THOMAS COTTAM, PRIEST AND MARTYR

Thomas Cottam, born 1549 in Lancashire, was executed at Tyburn, May 30, 1582. His parents, Laurence Cottam of Dilworth and Anne Brewer, were Protestants. Having completed his studies at Brasenose, Oxford (M.A., July 14, 1572) he became master of a grammar school in London.

Converted there to the faith by Thomas Pound he went over to Douai, and was ordained deacon at Cambrai, December, 1577. Desirous of the Indian mission, he went to Rome and was received (April 8, 1579) as a Jesuit novice at Sant' Andrea. Attacked by fever about October, he was sent to Lyon to recuperate, and went thence to the College at Reims, considering himself as accepted for India, if his health improved by a visit to England. In May (probably 28th), 1580, he was ordained priest at Soissons, and started (June 5) with four companions for England.

Through the treachery of an English spy by the name of Sledd he was immediately arrested at Dover, but by a ruse of Dr Ely, one of his fellow-travellers, reached London safely. Ely being imperiled through this friendly act, Cottam voluntarily surrendered himself and was committed "close prisoner" to the Marshalsea, where he perhaps said his first Mass.

Marshalsea Prison, 1773

After being tortured, he was removed, December 4 , 1580 to the Tower, where he endured the rack and the "Scavenger's Daughter". He was arraigned with Campion and others and (November 16, 1581) condemned to death. His execution was deferred till May 30, 1582 (Munday's 'Breefe Reporte"), when with Beati William Filby, Luke Kirby, and Laurence Richardson, secular priests (all beatified December 29, 1886), he was drawn to Tyburn and executed.

His portrait, with martyrdom misdated, is reproduced in Foley, "Records", VII (1) 174; his relics are the Mass corporal used by him and four other martyrs in the Tower, and perhaps his autograph in the registers of Sant' Andrea.

Source: Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913

➡️ More information about Bl. Thomas Cottam

⬅️ The Holy Martyrs of England and Wales

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that we who know how courageously your holy martyr Thomas confessed the faith, may experience his goodness as he intercedes for us with you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

WELCOME

Please pick your saints: January - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 February - Saints by date 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 ...

BL. LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED LUKE KIRBY, PRIEST AND MARTYR 16th century houses, painted by Auguste Mayer He was born in the bishopric of Durham, according to Raissius ; others say at Richmond, in Yorkshire. He was master of arts in one of our universities; but going abroad to Douay, in Flanders, was received into the English college there, 1576, and made priest in 1577; and the year following sent upon the mission. Where he had not been long before he again went abroad, and travelled to Rome, partly for devotion, and partly for further improvement in learning. Here he remained in the English college till 1580, when he returned into England, and was not long after apprehended: for I find by a printed diary of things transacted in the Tower of London from 1580 till 1585, that on the 5th of December, 1580, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam , and other priests, were brought to the Tower from other prisons; and that these two, on the 10th...

BL. RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 30 MAY

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN MAY Saints celebrated on the 30th of May WELCOME! BLESSED RICHARD NEWPORT, PRIEST AND MARTYR Richard Newport, alias Smith , was born in Northamptonshire and performed his studies abroad, partly in the college of Rheims (if he be the Richard Smith whom I find in the Douay diary sent to Rome in 1586) and partly in that of Rome, where he was made priest. From thence he was sent upon the English mission, and behaved himself in such a manner as justly to acquire the character of a laborious missionary; being withal remarkably successful in bringing home many strayed sheep to the fold of Christ, to which his apostolical way of living did not a little contribute. He was several times apprehended and cast into prison, and twice banished. His name occurs amongst those who were transported in 1606; at which time, we are told, he took that opportunity of making a pilgrimage to Rome, there to pour forth his prayers at the tombs of the apostles, in behalf of thi...

SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

Search This Blog