Saints celebrated on the 20th July
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BLESSED JOHN HAMBLEY, PRIEST AND MARTYR
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| 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 Father Wilson and Molanus, in their printed catalogues, tell us, that he suffered at Chard, which is a town of Somersetshire, in the confines of Dorsetshire and Devonshire. Molanus says it was on the 20th of July.
Those who affirm that Mr Hambley suffered at York, September the 9th, give him for companion in death, Mr George Douglas, a secular priest of the Scottish nation, who was certainly executed at York that day; not precisely for being a priest, but for persuading the queen's subjects to the catholic religion. For which supposed treason Fr Douglas
was condemned to die, and was drawn, hanged and quartered at York, suffering all with admirable constancy. Molanus calls him a priest of Douay College: but this circumstance is not found in any other catalogue, nor have I met with his name in the journals of the college.
From the Douay Journals, and the Catalogue of the Martyrs.
Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 1
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