BL. GEORGE ERRINGTON AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS - 29 NOVEMBER

 

ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN NOVEMBER 

Saints celebrated on the 29th of November

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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 case was as follows: a certain protestant minister, for some misdemeanor, was put into York Castle, where the three former of the persons above named and several other catholics, were prisoners for their recusancy; as, during a great part of this reign, most of the prisons of this kingdom were plentifully stocked with such kind of offenders. This unhappy man, to reinstate himself in the favour of his superiors, took a method that will be justly detested by all honest men of what persuasion soever: which was to insinuate himself into the good opinion of the catholic prisoners, by pretending a deep sense of repentance for his former life, and a great desire of embracing the catholic truth: so that they believing him to be sincere, directed him, after he was enlarged, to Mr Abbot, the zealous gentleman mentioned above, in order to procure a priest to reconcile him. Mr Abbot used his endeavours, and carried him to Carlton, to the house of esquire Stapyltor but did not succeed. Soon after, the traitor having got enough to put them all in danger of the law, accused them to the magistrates, to shew his zeal for the protestant religion. So they were all arraigned for persuading the parson to be reconciled to the church of Rome, which is high treason by the sanguinary laws of this reign. Being brought to the bar, they confessed, that they had, according to their capacity, explained to the traitor the catholic faith, and its necessity to salvation; and, withal, had exhorted him to a serious amendment of his life; but had used no other persuasions. Upon this, they were all found guilty by the jury, and had sentence to die, and were executed at York. They suffered with fortitude and joy, November 29, 1596.

Two catholic gentlewoman were, for the same cause, condemned at the same time to be burnt alive, viz. Mrs Ann Tesse and Mrs Bridget Maskew; but they were reprieved, and continued in prison till the queen's death; and then, by the means of friends, were pardoned by king James I. Mr Stapylton also, and his lady, underwent great trouble upon this occasion

The manuscript, from which I have the greatest part of these particulars, adds a very remarkable history with relation to Wm. Knight, uncle to the Wm. Knight who suffered, and a great enemy of his nephew and of all catholics, which I shall here set down in the writer's own words: "There happened in Hemmingbrough parish a thing worth memory, which was this; there was a catholic man who had been long confined in York castle, for his conscience; and having procured liberty to return home, after many years' imprisonment, he went one time to visit an old man of his acquaintance, and perceiving him not likely to live long, entered into some good talk with him concerning his soul, and used some persuasions to move him to provide for death, and the salvation of his soul, by making himself a catholic. This came to the knowledge of one Wm. Knight, (who was uncle to the other of that name, whom I have mentioned before, that was a martyr, and was the first cause of his nephew's imprisonment, and that upon this occasion: the good youth coming to man's estate, went to his uncle about some land that was due to him whether his uncle had the land in his possession, or the writings, I remember not. But knowing his nephew to be a catholic, he took him and sent him to prison, where he remained till he got the crown of martyrdom. If he would have gone to [government enforced protestant] church his uncle would have given him his land.) This bad William Knight hearing of the good counsel this prisoner had given his neighbour, determined to bring him within the danger of the statute of persuasion, which is treason; and, for that end, took the minister of the parish with him, whose name was Knighton, and some others to be witnesses, determining to take the old man's oath, that the other had persuaded him. As they were going. Knight was forced to stay to untruss, and was in such manner handled, that he was obliged to turn back; so the minister and the rest entertaining no much malice, returned without proceeding any farther. Knight's disease left him not till he died, which was within a short time; how few days I am not certain. I had this from the minister himself, whe acknowledged it to be God's just judgment upon him." So far the manuscript.

Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 2

⬅️ The Holy Martyrs of England and Wales

PRAYER:

Grant, we beseech you, almighty God, that we who know how courageously your holy martyrs confessed the faith, may experience their goodness as they intercede 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.