ALL SAINTS CELEBRATED IN AUGUST
Saints celebrated on the 28th of August
BLESSED THOMAS FELTON, MARTYR
Thomas Felton [the Franciscan] was born, says my manuscript, about the year of our Lord 1567, at Bermondsey Abbey, in the parish of St Mary Magdalene, within a mile of Southwark, London, in Surrey. He was son to John Felton, gentleman, who suffered at London in the year 1570 for setting up the bull of Pius V. concerning the excommunication of queen Elizabeth.
Being yet a young youth, he was taken by the old Lady Lovett to be her page; but not staying there long, he was sent over to the English college at Rheims to be brought up in piety and learning. In both which he profited so much, that shortly after he became a clergyman, receiving tonsure by the hands of the cardinal de Guise, then archbishop of Rheims; which was in the year 1583.
After that he had continued a while longer in the college of Rheims, he had a desire to enter into the order of the Minims; and was admitted thereinto by the commendations of Dr Allen, then president of the English college. But his body not serving well for the strictness of that life, he was enforced, within a while, to return into his native country, for the recovery of his health.
Being there sufficiently recovered, and resolving to return again beyond the seas, it happened that he was stayed at the seaside by the officers; and after examination, sent up to London, and committed to the Compter, in the Poultry. In which place he remained prisoner some two years. In this time an aunt of his, one Mrs Blount, out of love to Thomas, laboured much, by the means of some friends she had at court, to procure his liberty, which was at length effected.
After his releasement, thinking to pass over into France, as formerly he intended, he was the second time intercepted, and committed to Bridewell; from whence, after some time of durance, he was released by the procurement of the Lady Lovett (his mistress in time past), then prisoner in the Fleet for her religion.
Being a second time released he again adventured to get beyond the seas to the College of Rheims; but was again the third time stayed and apprehended at the port; and, therewithal, committed again to Bridewell, from whence he had been delivered but a little before.
In this his imprisonment he was very cruelly treated: for, first he was put into Little Ease, where he remained three days and three nights, not being able to stand, or lie, or sit, and fed only with bread and water, as both the keeper's wife, and Thomas himself afterwards told Frances Felton (then a maid, but afterwards married to one Mr Salisbury), his own sister. After this he was put into the mill to grind, and was fed no otherwise all the while he laboured in it, than he had been before in Little Ease, viz. with bread and water only. Then he was hung up by the hands, to the end to draw from him, by way of confession, what priests he knew beyond the seas, or in England: which punishment was so grievous, that therewith the blood sprung forth at his fingers' ends. At another time, upon a Sunday, he was violently taken by certain officers, and carried betwixt two, fast bound in a chair, into the chapel at Bridewell, to their service. He having his hands at first at liberty, stopped his ears with his fingers, that he might not hear what the minister said then they bound down his hands also to the chair; but being set down to the ground, bound in the manner aforesaid, he stamped with his feet, and made that noise with his mouth, shouting and hollowing, and crying oftentimes, Jesus Jesus! that nothing which the minister said could be heard by any then present at the service.
His sister, Frances Felton, afore-mentioned, who at that time came to the prison where he lay, to visit him, was present at the church at this passage, not being then a catholic.
After this he was called to the bar, at the sessions of Newgate; the Spanish fleet making towards England, having then newly been defeated, he was questioned, whether he would have taken the queen's part, or the pope's and Spaniards', if those forces had landed? He answered, he would have taken part with God and his country. Then the judge asked him, whether he did acknowledge the queen to be the supreme head of the church of England? Whereunto he made answer that he had read divers chronicles, but never read that God ordained a woman should be supreme head of the church. For this speech of his the judge condemned him.
The next day, being Wednesday the 28th of August, he was hanged near Branford, in Middlesex, with a priest at the same time condemned with him, whose name was Mr James Claxton or Clarkson. They were carried together from Bridewell, on horseback, about four of the clock in the afternoon, and presently hanged after their arrival at the place of execution. He suffered about the age of twenty or twenty-one His friends had got a pardon for him after his condemnation, which was brought to him immediately before he was to go to the place of execution; which, notwithstanding, he refused to accept of, choosing rather to die for God, than to live any longer in this world.
So far the manuscript relation of Mrs Salisbury. Others say, that he was condemned for being reconciled to the catholic church. What his sister mentions of his not accepting the pardon, I suppose must be understood by reason of some condition with which this pardon was clogged, which he could not, in conscience accept of.
Source: Bishop Richard Challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, Volume 1
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