SAINT FEAST DAY FOR EVERY DAY OF THE YEAR

  WELCOME! ANN KILLINGATE, RECUSANT  The Manner of Execution at Tyburn   As a specimen of the  sufferings of the lay Catholics during the reign of Elizabeth, it has been thought proper to add the following narrative, translated from a Latin Manuscript, written in the year 1590 . Henry Killingate, Esq. resided near Sadbery, in the county of Durham. Some years ago he was denounced as a recusant by his brother Thomas, because he had been married, and his child had been baptised by a catholic priest. To escape the penalties of recusancy, Mr Killingate had the weakness to conform - but his wife Anne resisted every solicitation. Doctor Barnes, the bishop of Durham, had bound Mr Killingate in a large sum not only to attend the protestant service himself, but to take his wife with him; and he, to procure her consent, unexpectedly introduced to her a protestant clergyman, who began to dispute with her on religion: but Anne's agitation was so great, that it brought on prematu...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY Saints celebrated on the 27th of July WELCOME! BLESSED ROBERT SUTTON, PRIEST AND MARTYR Robert Sutton was born at Burton upon Trent, and brought up in the university of Oxford, where he made a great progress in learning; but withal, was strongly entangled, to use the expression of the Douay journal, in the snares of the heretics and of the world; till, by an extraordinary mercy of God, being frequently called upon by the letters of his friends from Douay, he took a generous resolution, together with his brother Abraham, who was in the same case, to disengage himself from all these bands; and leaving his station in the protestant [government enforced] church, to go over to Douay, where he and his brother were admitted, March the 24th, 1576-7 Here they applied themselves to the study of divinity, and were both made priests, and sent together upon the English mission the 19th of March, 1577-8, before the college was removed to Rheims.  Mr Robert Su...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER   Saints celebrated on the 29th of November WELCOME! BLESSED GEORGE ERRINGTON AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS York Castle   1596 . This year is the first, since 1580, that passed without the execution of any priest in this kingdom: and yet even this year could not pass without seeing some catholic blood shed for religious matters: for I find no less than four catholic layman put to death, as in cases of high treason, at York, in the latter end of November of this year, barely on a religious account. These were George Errington, gentleman, born at Herst in Northumberland, William Knight , son to Leonard Knight, a wealthy yeoman of South Duffield, in the parish of Hemingbrough in Yorkshire, William Gibson, yeoman, born near Kippon in the same county, a most exemplary and religious man, who, for many years, had been prisoner for his conscience in York Castle, and Henry Abbot, a zealous convert, who lived in Holden in the same county. Now their cas...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST Saints celebrated on the 13th of August WELCOME! BLESSED WILLIAM FREEMAN, PRIEST AND MARTYR Mr Freeman , who was sometimes known by the name of Mason, was born in Yorkshire, and performed his studies in Douay college, during its residence at Rheims. Here he was ordained priest in 1587; and from hence he was sent upon the English mission in the beginning of 1589.  The particulars of his missionary labours I have not been able to learn, nor could I anywhere meet with the account of his life and martyrdom quoted by the bishop of Chalcedon in his catalogue.  Dr Champney, who, in all probability, had seen it, relates that Mr Freeman, having intelligence that a neighbouring justice of peace had a design to make a strict inquisition after priests in that neighbourhood, to withdraw himself further from the danger, went into another county. But as God would have it, he met the danger he sought to fly, and was there taken up upon suspicion, and com...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST Saints celebrated on the 11th of August WELCOME! BLESSED JOHN SANDYS, PRIEST AND MARTYR The Manner of Execution at Tyburn   John Sandys was born in the diocese of Chester, was educated in Douay college during its residence at Rheims, where he was made priest, and sent upon the English mission, anno 1584. After having, for some time, diligently applied himself to his missionary functions, he was apprehended, tried and condemned for being a priest; and was drawn, hanged, bowelled and quartered at Gloucester, August the 11th, (some say the 2nd) 1586. In October following, I find three priests executed together at Tyburn; of whom thus writes Mr Stow in his Chronicle . "The 8th of October:  Mr Lowe ,  J. Adams , and R. Dibdale , being before condemned for treason in being made priests by authority of the bishop of Rome, were drawn to Tyburn, and there hanged, bowelled and quartered." Source:  Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Miss...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER   Saints celebrated on the 8th of October WELCOME! BLESSED JOHN LOWE, PRIEST AND MARTYR John Lowe was born at London, and was for some time, a protestant minister; but being converted, he went abroad, and was first an alumnus of Douay College, and afterwards sent from Douay to Rome in 1576, where he was made priest; and from thence returned upon the English mission.  Here he was apprehended and cast into prison; and, at length, tried, condemned and executed, as in cases of high treason, barely for his priestly character and functions. He suffered at Tyburn October 8, 1586. From the Douay Memoirs. 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 John confessed the faith, may experience his goodness as he intercedes for us with you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, w...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER   Saints celebrated on the 8th of October WELCOME! BLESSED JOHN ADAMS, PRIEST AND MARTYR London Oratory, The Martyrs of Tyburn Tree (detail)  John Adams  was born at Martin's Town, in Dorsetshire, and performed his divinity studies in the English college, then residing at Rheims; from whence he was sent as priest upon the mission, anno 1581. He was one of those priests that were banished in 1585; and, upon that occasion, returned to the college; but, after a short stay, went again into the vineyard, where he was again apprehended. Other particulars relating to him I have not found, only Molanus signifies, that his constancy was proof against the artifices and promises, by which many sought to divert him from his generous resolution of laying down his life for his faith. Multorum elusis artibus, qui constantiam de more catholicorum varüs promissis mollire conantur. He was condemned barely for being a priest, and was executed at Tybu...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN OCTOBER   Saints celebrated on the 8th of October WELCOME! BLESSED ROBERT DIBDALE, PRIEST AND MARTYR London Oratory, The Martyrs of Tyburn Tree (detail)  Richard , or, as he is called in most catalogues, Robert Dibdale , was born in Worcestershire, was an alumnus and priest of the English College, then residing at Rheims, and from thence, anno 1584, was sent to labour in the English vineyard, which he diligently cultivated for some years, till, falling into the hands of the persecutors, he was tried and condemned to die for his priestly character and functions. And, in consequence of this sentence, was, together with  Mr Lowe and Mr Adams , drawn to Tyburn, and there hanged, bowelled and quartered, October 8, 1586. Of him thus writes Mr Davis, an ancient missioner, in a manuscript relation sent over to Douay, anno 1626: "Mr Richard Dibdale, priest, was executed with Mr John Lowe. I met him once at Sir George Peckham's, of Denham, besides U...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN SEPTEMBER Saints celebrated on the 9th of September WELCOME! BLESSED GEORGE DOUGLAS, PRIEST AND MARTYR Born in Edinburgh, his family were from Bonjedward near Jedburgh in the Scottish Borders. In his earlier years, George Douglas worked as a schoolmaster in the English county of Rutland. He subsequently journeyed overseas to Paris, where he studied for the priesthood and was ordained in 1574. He may have been a member of a religious congregation, perhaps the Franciscan Order. Father Douglas came to England about ten years after his ordination to serve the country’s Catholics persecuted under Queen Elizabeth I. It was while labouring thus that he was arrested a first time, but was thereafter released. He was arrested a second time at Ripon in the northern county of Yorkshire. Found guilty in York of 'persuading the Queen's subjects away' from Protestantism, Father Douglas was sentenced to death. He was executed on September 9, 1587 by drawing and q...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY Saints celebrated on the 20th July WELCOME! BLESSED JOHN HAMBLEY, PRIEST AND MARTYR Colleges at the University of Douai, 16th century   John Hambley was a native of the diocese of Exeter, was an alumnus and priest of Douay College, during its residence at Rheims; from whence he was sent upon the English mission, anno 1585.  I have not been able to find many particulars relating to his life or death; only that he was apprehended, tried and condemned, upon the statue of the 27th of Elizabeth , as a priest, and had sentence to die, as in cases of high treason. He had both his life and a good living proffered him, if he would conform to the protestant religion, as Molanus testifies, (p. 14). But he rather chose to die than to renounce his faith.  He suffered with a wonderful constancy, says Dr Champney's manuscript history of the reign of queen Elizabeth; who, with some others, affirms, that he was executed at York, September the 9th. But...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN APRIL Saints celebrated on the 3rd of April WELCOME! BLESSED STEPHEN ROUSHAM, PRIEST AND MARTYR The Manner of Execution at Tyburn   Stephen Rousham [Rouse, Rowsham] was born in Oxfordshire, and brought up in the university of Oxford, where he was, for some time, a minister in the church of St Mary's. Being converted to the catholic faith, he went abroad, and was made priest in the English College then residing at Rheims, and from thence was sent upon the mission, anno 1582.  He was but indifferently learned, says the manuscript history, and of a weak and sickly constitution of body but his soul was robust, vigorous and constant.  He fell into the hands of the persecutors the same year, and was sent a prisoner to the Tower by secretary Walsingham, on the 19th of May; and, not long after, thrust down into that dungeon, which is called Little Ease, and it very well deserves the name. In this  wretched hole this servant of God was kept ei...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN JULY Saints celebrated on the 24th of July WELCOME! BLESSED ROBERT LUDLAM, PRIEST AND MARTYR Robert Ludlam  was born of honest parentage near Sheffield, performed his studies abroad in the English College then residing at Rheims; where he was made priest, and from thence sent into England upon the mission, anno 1582. Mr Bagshaw gives him this character, "For his modesty and good life, and zeal to win souls to God he was beloved of all that love the catholic church. "  He was apprehended, tried and condemned, at the same time, and for the same cause, as Mr Garlick , viz. for being a catholic priest, and remaining in this realm contrary to the statute and he shewed the same courage and constancy, both at his trial, and at his death. Whilst  Mr Garlick  was under execution [July 24, 1588], Mr Ludlam stood by, discovering in his exterior the interior joy of his heart, that he was going to suffer death for such a cause.  When he was up...

  ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER Saints celebrated on the 30th of November WELCOME! BLESSED ALEXANDER CROW, PRIEST AND MARTYR Alexander Crow [Crowe] was born in Yorkshire, and, for some time, followed a trade in York. " But going beyond the seas, out of his zeal to God and his country, " says my manuscript, " he fell to his studies at Rheims, and became a priest; being both for his said zeal and virtue, well esteemed of by his superiors, and by them sent in an orderly mission into England, for the salvation of souls, anno 1584 .  " After he had laboured here some time, with much edification to all that knew him, he was taken at South Duffield, coming thither to christen a child of one Cecily Garnet; and at the assizes held at York, in November, was arraigned and condemned for being a priest and remaining in England, contrary to the laws of the realm. He was hanged, drawn and quartered at York, the 30th of November, 1586 ," according to this relation; but Yep...

  WELCOME! MARTIN SHERTON, PRIEST, AND GABRIEL THIMBLEBY, LAYMAN  London Oratory, The Martyrs of Tyburn Tree (detail)  This year, 1587, I find in the Douay memoirs mention of two others, the one a priest, the other a secular gentleman; both some time members of Douay College, who perished in prison for religious matters. The priest was Martin Sherton; the gentleman's name was Gabriel Thimbleby.  This year also about thirty priests were committed prisoners to Wisbech castle in Cambridgeshire. Several had been sent thither in the foregoing years; but most of these being dead, the whole number of prisoners there, at this time, were thirty-three priests, and one lay gentleman, viz. Thomas Pounds, esq. a zealous catholic, and great sufferer for his faith. 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 martyrs...