List of Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation

The Catholic martyrs of England are men and women who died for the Roman Catholic faith in the years between 1534 and 1680. Certain of them have officially been recognized 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 asserted 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.

Groups with official recognition by the Catholic Church include:

Contents

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

1534 - 1560

Decrees of Elizabeth I

After Elizabeth I's accession to the throne, the religion of the country was changed again to make it Protestant. Within England, however, there were still many people who did not agree with this and continued to remain loyal to the old faith. The threat of a foreign invasion from a Catholic country that could be assisted by a rebellion of English subjects led the Crown to try to stamp out Catholicism with repressive measures.[3]

Elizabeth I's government had passed a number of anti-Catholic decrees in 1571, including the following:

Later laws:

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 or permanent diaconate. Nicholas Devereux (who went by the alias of Woodson) 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, bowelled and quartered under the same law. In 1588, eight priests and six laymen at Newgate were condemned and executed under this law.[3]

1561 - 1600 List

1601 - 1680

No precise date of martyrdom available

See also

Notes and references

Notes

  1. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=36285
  2. ^ http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.aspx?compid=38219, though placing the event in 1534.
  3. ^ a b c d e Chapman, John H. "The Persecution under Elizabeth" Transactions of the Royal Historical Society, Old Series Vol. 9 (1881), pp. 21-43. Retrieved 2011-10-17.
  4. ^ Bl. William Freeman at Catholic Online

References