BL. ROBERT NUTTER, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 26 JULY

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY

Saints celebrated on the 26th of July

WELCOME!

BLESSED ROBERT NUTTER, PRIEST AND MARTYR

Robert Nutter, brother of Mr John Nutter, who suffered in 1584, was born in Lancashire, and performed his higher studies in Douay college, during its residence at Rheims, where he was ordained priest, December 21, 1581, with Mr George Haydock, and divers others; and, in the beginning of the following year, was sent upon the English mission. 

Here I find him prisoner, in the Tower, in February, 1583-4, where he was put down in a dungeon, for seven-and-forty days, loaded with chains for the greater part of the time, and twice tortured: and in the November following, was lodged again in the same hole, and remained there for two months and fourteen days. (See the journal of things transacted in the Tower, from 1580 to 1585, published with Dr Saunders, and Mr Rishton's history of the schism.) 

He was loaded with chains and tortured

In 1585, he was sent into banishment, with many other priests, who being brought by their keepers from their several prisons to the Tower wharf, says Dr Worthington, who was himself one of the number (p. 91), and there commanded to enter into a ship ready provided to carry them into banishment, declared publicly to the commissioners, that they did not accept of that banishment, as of any grace or mercy at all; for they had not committed any fault, neither against their queen nor country, as this pretended mercy falsely supposed and therefore, in express terms, required rather to be tried, and to answer their accusers at Westminster, and at Tyburn, than to be thus carried against their wills out of their native country, from their friends and neighbours, whom they were to serve according to their priestly functions; affirming, moreover, that though per force they were carried away, yet they would assuredly return to the same work, as soon as God and their spiritual superiors, would permit them so to do.

Mr Nutter, for his part, was as good as his word; and, after having visited his old mother college, at Rheims, and made some short stay there, he returned upon the mission. He fell again, not long after, into the hands of the persecutors, and was committed to Wisbech castle, where I find him prisoner, in 1587. Here he continued till about the beginning of 1600; when, with Mr Hunt and four others, he found means to escape. 

Then going into Lancashire, he was a third time apprehended, and, in the summer assizes, 1600, brought upon his trial, condemned, (barely upon account of his priestly character,) and executed at Lancaster, July 26.

Dr Champney gives him this short eulogium, that he was a man of a strong body, but of a stronger soul; who rather despised than conquered death; and went before his companion, Mr Thwing, to the gallows, with as much cheerfulness and joy, as if he had been going to a feast, to the astonishment of the spectators.

From Dr Worthington's relation of sixteen martyrs, printed in 1601, and Dr Champney's manuscript, and the Douay Diary.

Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 1

⬅️ The Holy Martyrs of England and Wales

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that we who know how courageously your holy martyr Robert 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.