George Leyburn
Encyclopedia
George Leyburn was an English Catholic priest, who became President of the English College, Douai
.
, and was admitted a student in the English College at Douai on 13 March 1617, under the name of George Bradley. He studied philosophy under Thomas White
, and was ordained priest on 5 August 1625. Subsequently he lived in Arras College
, Paris, and in 1630 went on the English mission. On landing at Dover
he was arrested and committed to Dover Castle
; but he obtained his liberty through the intercession of Queen Henrietta Maria, who made him one of her chaplains. She consulted him on matters relating to Catholics, until she was obliged by an Order in Council to dismiss all the ecclesiastics in her household.
Leyburn was then imprisoned, and after being again released at the queen's request, he went back to Douai College, where he was employed in teaching philosophy and divinity. At this period he was created D.D. by the University of Reims. Shortly before the English Civil War
broke out, he returned to England, and in 1644 he was a prisoner in the Tower of London
; there he met George Monck, and foretold that he would be a general in the north, and would eventually command the three kingdoms. On his release Leyburn returned to France, where he supported the royalist party. In 1647 he was sent to Ireland, with credentials from the court in exile, in order to bring about a better understanding between the two Catholic armies and James Butler, Duke of Ormonde.
In 1648 Richard Smith, bishop of Chalcedon, then residing at Paris, appointed Leyburn his vicar-general in England, in conjunction with Mark Harrington, B.D., of the Sorbonne
. Later Leyburn was chosen president of the English College at Douai, on the death of William Hyde
, and was installed by patent dated 24 June 1652. He governed the college for about eighteen years, resigning the presidency in favour of his nephew, John Leyburn
, in 1670. Subsequently he resided at Rome for a year and a half. He died at Chalon-sur-Saône
on 29 December 1677. Throughout his life he was hostile to the jurisdiction of the Old Chapter
in England.
English College, Douai
The English College, Douai was a Catholic seminary associated with the University of Douai . It was established in about 1561, and was suppressed in 1793...
.
Life
He was born in WestmorelandWestmoreland
Westmoreland is a historic county in England. It may also refer to:-Places:Australia*Westmoreland County, New South WalesCanada*Westmorland County, New BrunswickJamaica*Westmoreland, Jamaica, a parishNew Zealand...
, and was admitted a student in the English College at Douai on 13 March 1617, under the name of George Bradley. He studied philosophy under Thomas White
Thomas White (scholar)
Thomas White was an English Roman Catholic priest and scholar, known as a theologian, censured by the Inquisition, and also as a philosopher contributing to scientific and political debates.-Life:...
, and was ordained priest on 5 August 1625. Subsequently he lived in Arras College
Arras College
Arras College was a Catholic foundation in Paris, a house of higher studies associated with the University of Paris, set up in 1611. It was intended for English priests, and had a function as a House of Writers, or apologetical college...
, Paris, and in 1630 went on the English mission. On landing at Dover
Dover
Dover is a town and major ferry port in the home county of Kent, in South East England. It faces France across the narrowest part of the English Channel, and lies south-east of Canterbury; east of Kent's administrative capital Maidstone; and north-east along the coastline from Dungeness and Hastings...
he was arrested and committed to Dover Castle
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in the town of the same name in the English county of Kent. It was founded in the 12th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history...
; but he obtained his liberty through the intercession of Queen Henrietta Maria, who made him one of her chaplains. She consulted him on matters relating to Catholics, until she was obliged by an Order in Council to dismiss all the ecclesiastics in her household.
Leyburn was then imprisoned, and after being again released at the queen's request, he went back to Douai College, where he was employed in teaching philosophy and divinity. At this period he was created D.D. by the University of Reims. Shortly before the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
broke out, he returned to England, and in 1644 he was a prisoner in the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
; there he met George Monck, and foretold that he would be a general in the north, and would eventually command the three kingdoms. On his release Leyburn returned to France, where he supported the royalist party. In 1647 he was sent to Ireland, with credentials from the court in exile, in order to bring about a better understanding between the two Catholic armies and James Butler, Duke of Ormonde.
In 1648 Richard Smith, bishop of Chalcedon, then residing at Paris, appointed Leyburn his vicar-general in England, in conjunction with Mark Harrington, B.D., of the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. Later Leyburn was chosen president of the English College at Douai, on the death of William Hyde
William Hyde (Douai)
William Hyde was an English Roman Catholic convert and priest, presumed to be of Dutch or Flemish background, who became President of the English College, Douai.-Life:...
, and was installed by patent dated 24 June 1652. He governed the college for about eighteen years, resigning the presidency in favour of his nephew, John Leyburn
John Leyburn
John Leyburn was an English Roman Catholic priest, who became Vicar Apostolic of the London District, and thus the senior Roman Catholic prelate in England, from 1685 to 1702. He was not only a theologian, but also a mathematician, and an intimate friend of Descartes and Hobbes.-Life:He was the...
, in 1670. Subsequently he resided at Rome for a year and a half. He died at Chalon-sur-Saône
Chalon-sur-Saône
Chalon-sur-Saône is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is the largest city in the department; however, the department capital is the smaller city of Mâcon....
on 29 December 1677. Throughout his life he was hostile to the jurisdiction of the Old Chapter
Old Chapter
The Old Chapter was the body in effective control of the Roman Catholic Church in England, from 1623 to 1850 .-Origin:...
in England.
Works
‘The Memoirs of George Leyburn … Being a Journal of his Agency for Prince Charles in Ireland in the year 1647,’ appeared at London in 1722. His other works are:- ‘An Epistle Declaratorie, or Manifest, written by G. L. [i.e. George Leyburn] to his Brethren residing in England’ [Douay], 1657, pp. 51.
- ‘The Summe of Doctor Leyburnes Answere to a Letter printed against him by Mr. Blacloe’ [Thomas White], Douay, 1657, pp. 42.
- ‘A Letter written by G. L. to Mr. And. Kingh. and Mr. Tho. Med.’ [Douay, 1657].
- ‘To Her Most Excellent Maiestie Henrietta Maria, Queen of Great Britaign, Dr. Leyburn's Apologie’ [Douay? 1660?].
- ‘Dr. Leyburns Encyclicall Answer to an Encyclicall Epistle sent to our Brethren of England,’ Douay, 1661, 4to, pp. 96. This was in reply to ‘An Encyclical Epistle sent to their Brethren by the Venerable Dean and Chapter of the Catholick Clergy in England upon occasion of Dr. Leyburn’ [1660]. There also appeared ‘A Manifest Publisht to their Brethren by the General Chapter of the Catholick English Clergy. In Vindication of their Innocency from the false calumnies laid upon them in a seditious libel publisht by Dr. Leyburn’ [1661].
- ‘Vindiciæ censuræ Duacenæ; seu confutatio scripti cujusdam Thomæ Albii [White] contra latam à S. facultate theologica Duacena in 22 propositiones ejus censuram,’ Douay, 1661. Dodd says that some attribute the authorship of this book to John Warner.
- ‘Holy Characters,’ 2 parts, Douay, 1662.