George Gilbert (Jesuit)
Encyclopedia
George Gilbert was an English Roman Catholic convert and activist, a founder of the Catholic Association in England, and on his deathbed admitted to the Society of Jesus
about 1559, and at an early age succeeded on his father's death to extensive landed estates. While travelling on the continent he was converted to Catholicism by Robert Parsons at Rome in 1579. On his return to London he, in conjunction with Thomas Pound of Belmont
, formed a Catholic Association, consisting of unmarried young men of birth and property. They promised to live on bare necessities of their state, and to give the rest of their incomes for the good of the Catholic cause. The association was blessed by Pope Gregory XIII
on 14 April 1580.
Members lodged together in the house of Norris, the chief pursuivant, in Fetter Lane
or Chancery Lane
, London. Norris had influence with John Aylmer
, bishop of London, and was liberally paid by Gilbert. At Fulham the bishop's son-in-law, Dr. Adam Squire, was in Gilbert's pay. Through the connivance of these men the members of the association were able to receive priests and to have masses celebrated daily in their house until, after the arrival of the Jesuits Parsons and Edmund Campion
in England, persecution of Catholics grew more severe.
In 1581 Gilbert deemed it prudent to withdraw to the English College at Reims
, where he was welcomed by William Allen; he then entered the English College, Rome as a pensioner. While preparing to go to France on a papal mission, Gilbert contracted a fever, and died on 6 October 1583. Gilbert had seen to the covering the walls of the English College at Rome with fresco
es of the English martyrs. He left the superintendence of this work to William Good
, who had the pictures engraved and published, under the title of Ecclesiae Anglicanae Trophaea, Rome, 1584.
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
Life
He was born in SuffolkSuffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
about 1559, and at an early age succeeded on his father's death to extensive landed estates. While travelling on the continent he was converted to Catholicism by Robert Parsons at Rome in 1579. On his return to London he, in conjunction with Thomas Pound of Belmont
Belmont
-Sport:* Belmont Stakes, a horse race* Belmont Bombers, a junior ice hockey team in Belmont, Ontario* Belmont Shore RFC, a rugby union team in Long Beach, California-Automobiles:* Belmont , an American electric car sold in 1916...
, formed a Catholic Association, consisting of unmarried young men of birth and property. They promised to live on bare necessities of their state, and to give the rest of their incomes for the good of the Catholic cause. The association was blessed by Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII
Pope Gregory XIII , born Ugo Boncompagni, was Pope from 1572 to 1585. He is best known for commissioning and being the namesake for the Gregorian calendar, which remains the internationally-accepted civil calendar to this date.-Youth:He was born the son of Cristoforo Boncompagni and wife Angela...
on 14 April 1580.
Members lodged together in the house of Norris, the chief pursuivant, in Fetter Lane
Fetter Lane
Fetter Lane is a street in the ward of Farringdon Without in London England. It runs from Fleet Street in the south to Holborn in the north.The earliest mention of the street is "faitereslane" in 1312. The name occurs with several spellings until it settles down about 1612. There is no agreement...
or Chancery Lane
Chancery Lane
Chancery Lane is the street which has been the western boundary of the City of London since 1994 having previously been divided between Westminster and Camden...
, London. Norris had influence with John Aylmer
John Aylmer
John Aylmer may refer to:*John Aylmer *John Aylmer , Greek and Latin poet...
, bishop of London, and was liberally paid by Gilbert. At Fulham the bishop's son-in-law, Dr. Adam Squire, was in Gilbert's pay. Through the connivance of these men the members of the association were able to receive priests and to have masses celebrated daily in their house until, after the arrival of the Jesuits Parsons and Edmund Campion
Edmund Campion
Saint Edmund Campion, S.J. was an English Roman Catholic martyr and Jesuit priest. While conducting an underground ministry in officially Protestant England, Campion was arrested by priest hunters. Convicted of high treason by a kangaroo court, he was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn...
in England, persecution of Catholics grew more severe.
In 1581 Gilbert deemed it prudent to withdraw to the English College at Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, where he was welcomed by William Allen; he then entered the English College, Rome as a pensioner. While preparing to go to France on a papal mission, Gilbert contracted a fever, and died on 6 October 1583. Gilbert had seen to the covering the walls of the English College at Rome with fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es of the English martyrs. He left the superintendence of this work to William Good
William Good (Jesuit)
-Life:Born at Glastonbury, Somerset, he was educated there, and admitted to Corpus Christi College, Oxford, 26 February 1546. He was elected a fellow there on 15 June 1548, and commenced M.A. 18 July 1552, being around then humanity reader in the college...
, who had the pictures engraved and published, under the title of Ecclesiae Anglicanae Trophaea, Rome, 1584.