John Britton (martyr)

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The Venerable John Britton (d. April 1, 1598) was an English Catholic martyr from Barnsley, Yorkshire, who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I.

A member of the old, established Breton family, Britton was a devout Catholic. Because of the constant persecution he suffered for his faith, he was often separated from his wife and family. As an old man, he was falsely accused of making traitorous speeches against the queen and condemned to death. He refused to renounce his faith, and was executed at York on 1 April, 1598. He was probably the father of Dr. Matthew Britton, prefect and professor at Douai in 1599.

This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.