BL. WILLIAM FREEMAN, PRIEST AND MARTYR - 13 AUGUST

 

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 committed to prison; and afterwards prosecuted and condemned, on account of his priesthood, at the instance chiefly of the archbishop of Canterbury, Whitgift. 

When he heard the sentence pronounced against him, he sung Te Deum, &c. When he was drawn to the place of execution, he carried a crucifix on his breast, protesting aloud, that if he had many lives, he would most willingly lay them down for the sake of him who had been pleased to die upon a cross for his redemption. When he came to the place of execution, where some others, for divers crimes, were also appointed to die that day, he petitioned that he might be the first to go up the ladder: but this was refused, the sheriff being in hopes that the sight of their death might terrify him, and bring him to a compliance, in which case his life was to be saved: but this sight, as he declared, had a contrary effect upon him, and only served to give him a more ardent desire of dying for Christ. So that with the royal prophet he cried out, As the hart desires after the fountains of water, so does my soul after thee my God. O! when shall I come and appear before thy face! and so great was the joy of his heart, that it manifestly discovered itself in the serenity and cheerfulness of his countenance, to the admiration and edification of the beholders. He was hanged, drawn and quartered at Warwick the 13th of August, 1595. Bishop Yepez says in September, 1595.

Molanus, in his catalogue, signifies, that he suffered most cruel torments at, or before, his death p. 31. Gulielmus Freemannus Collegii Duaceni Presbyter, post varios cruciatus, et belluinam immanitatem heroice superatam, &c. William Freeman, priest of the college of Douay, died, after having heroically overcome divers torments, and the brutal cruelty of the persecutors.

From the Catalogue of the Bishop of Chalcedon; from Dr Champney's Manuscript History, and from Bishop Yepez, l. 5. c. 9.

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 martyr William  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.