This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "List of Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (January 2012) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

The Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation are men and women who died for the Roman Catholic faith in the years of persecution between 1534 and 1680. Certain of them have officially been recognised as martyrs by the Catholic Church.

Catholics in England and Wales were executed under treason laws. Legislation of the 16th century made treasonable refusing to assent to the royal supremacy over the Church that had been established by Henry VIII, or being or harbouring a Catholic priest. The standard penalty for all those convicted of treason at the time was execution by being hanged, drawn and quartered.

As early as the reign of Pope Gregory XIII (1572–85), authorisation was given for 63 recognised martyrs to have their relics honoured and pictures painted for devotion. These martyrs were formally beatified by Pope Leo XIII, 54 in 1886 and the remaining nine in 1895. Further groups of martyrs were subsequently documented and proposed by the bishops of England and Wales, and formally recognised by Rome:[1]

List of Catholics executed for their faith in England 1534–1680

1534–1559


Decrees of Elizabeth I

During the 4½-year reign of Mary I, Catholicism was officially favoured and Protestants were persecuted.[24] After Elizabeth I's accession to the throne, the religion of the country was changed again to make it Protestant. Many people continued to remain loyal to the old Catholic faith. The threat of invasion by a Catholic country assisted by English subjects led the Crown to try to stamp out Catholicism with repressive measures.[25]

Elizabeth I's government passed anti-Catholic decrees in 1571: forbidding anyone from maintaining the jurisdiction of the pope by word, deed or act; requiring use of the Book of Common Prayer in all cathedrals, churches and chapels, and forbidding criticism of it; forbidding the publication of any bull, writing or instrument of the Holy See (the death penalty was assigned to this); and, prohibiting the importing of Agnus Dei images, crosses, pictures, beads or other things from the Bishop of Rome.

Later laws made the following activities illegal: to draw anyone away from the state religion; non-attendance at a Church of England church; raising children with teachers that were not licensed by an Anglican diocesan bishop; and, attending or celebrating the Catholic Mass.

In 1585 a new decree was issued that made it a crime punishable by death to go overseas to receive the sacrament of Ordination to the Catholic priesthood. Nicholas Devereux (who went by the alias of Nicholas Woodfen) and Edward Barber (see below Edward Stransham) were both put to death in 1586 under this law. William Thompson and Richard Lea (see below Richard Sergeant) were hanged, disembowelled and quartered under the same law. In 1588, eight priests and six laymen at Newgate were condemned and executed under this law.[25]

1560–1600


1601–1680

No precise date of martyrdom available

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ Pullan, Malcolm (2008). The Lives and Times of Forty Martyrs of England and Wales 1535–1680. Athena Press. pp. xvii–xxii. ISBN 978-1-84748-258-7. Retrieved 10 November 2012.
  2. ^ a b "Elizabeth Barton" The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. Accessed 12 Jan. 2013.
  3. ^ a b c Wainewright, John. "Richard Risby." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 11 Mar. 2013
  4. ^ a b c d "The Blood of the Martyrs: Seed of the Church" Tyburn Convent
  5. ^ a b c The Observant Friars of Greenwich at British History Online places certain executions in 1534, citing Bourchier, Hist. Eccl. de Martyrio Fratrum
  6. ^ Caldwell, Simon, "Catholic, Anglican bishops honor first English martyr of Reformation", Catholic News Service, May 5, 2005.
  7. ^ a b "About St. Richard Reynolds", St. Richard Reynolds Catholic College
  8. ^ Gurdon, Edmund. "Bl. William Exmew" The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. Accessed 12 Jan. 2013.
  9. ^ a b Huddleston, Gilbert, "St. John Fisher", The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. Accessed 18 Feb. 2013.
  10. ^ Brown, C.F. Wemyss. "Bl. John Rochester." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 12 Jan. 2013
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Wainewright, John. "Blessed Thomas Johnson." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 11 Mar. 2013
  12. ^ Pollen, John Hungerford. "George Ashby" The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. Accessed 12 Jan. 2013.
  13. ^ Thaddeus, Fr. "Blessed John Forest." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 11 Mar. 2013
  14. ^ A'Becket, John Joseph. "John Allen." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 11 Mar. 2013
  15. ^ Wainewright, John. "Bl. John Stone." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 11 Mar. 2013
  16. ^ Pollen, John Hungerford. "Bl. Adrian Fortescue." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 11 Mar. 2013
  17. ^ a b c Wainewright, John. "Blessed Hugh Faringdon" The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 7. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. Accessed 12 Jan. 2013.
  18. ^ Macpherson, Ewan. "Blessed John Beche" The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. Accessed 12 Jan. 2013.
  19. ^ a b c Huddleston, Gilbert. "Bl. Richard Fetherston" The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 13. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. Accessed 12 Jan. 2013.
  20. ^ a b Camm, Bede. "Ven. Edmund Brindholm" The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. Accessed 12 Jan. 2013.
  21. ^ The House of White Friars, Doncaster at British History Online
  22. ^ a b Pollen, John Hungerford. "Bl. German Gardiner." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 11 Mar. 2013
  23. ^ a b Wainewright, John. "Bl. John Larke." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 11 Mar. 2013
  24. ^ The Book of Martyrs (Foxe), Chapter XVI, Wikisource, accessed 1 February 2013
  25. ^ a b Chapman, John H. "The Persecution under Elizabeth" Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, Old Series Vol. 9 (1881), pp. 21-43. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  26. ^ Saxton, Eugene. "Blessed Alexander Briant." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 23 Mar. 2013
  27. ^ Camm, Bede. "Ven. John Bodey." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 22 Mar. 2013
  28. ^ Pollen, John Hungerford. "John Almond." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 13 Mar. 2013
  29. ^ a b Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. Thomas Alfield." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 13 Mar. 2013
  30. ^ a b Wainewright, John. "Ven. Hugh Taylor." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 14. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. 23 Mar. 2013
  31. ^ a b Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. Robert Anderton." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 13 Mar. 2013
  32. ^ a b c Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. John Adams." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 13 Mar. 2013
  33. ^ a b c d The Oaten Hill Martyrs at RC.net
  34. ^ a b Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. John Amias." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 2 Feb. 2013
  35. ^ Camm, Bede. "Ven. Thomas Belson." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 22 Mar. 2013
  36. ^ a b Camm, Bede. "Ven. Christopher Bales." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 22 Mar. 2013
  37. ^ Camm, Bede. "Ven. George Beesley." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 22 Mar. 2013
  38. ^ Mershman, Francis. "Venerables John Cornelius and Companions." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1910. 23 Mar. 2013
  39. ^ Camm, Bede. "St. John Boste." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 23 Mar. 2013
  40. ^ Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. William Andleby." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 13 Mar. 2013
  41. ^ Camm, Bede. "Ven. John Britton." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 23 Mar. 2013
  42. ^ Bl. William Freeman at Catholic Online

References

External links

"English Confessors and Martyrs (1534–1729)". article by Pollen, J.H. in The Catholic Encyclopedia (1909)


Categories