George Musket
Encyclopedia
George Musket, alias Fisher (1583–1645) was an English Roman Catholic priest and controversialist. On the English mission he was under sentence of death for around 20 years, but survived.
, and subsequently for about half a year in Wisbech Castle
, where he was a volunteer attendant on the incarcerated Catholic priests. In 1597 he became a Catholic convert.Two of his brothers were also converted about the same time: Richard, who ultimately joined the Society of Jesus
, and Thomas, who became a secular priest.
George proceeded to the English College of Douay and was formally reconciled to the Roman Catholic Church. He continued his studies there for four years, and was then sent to the English College at Rome, where he was admitted 21 October 1601. He took the college oath 3 November 1602, was ordained priest 11 March 1606, and was sent to England in May 1607, but he was detained at Douay, where he was engaged for upwards of a year in teaching theology.
On 9 September 1608 he left Douay for the English mission. He resided for the most part in London. He was dexterous in managing conferences between representatives of his own co-religionists and Protestants. On 21 and 22 April 1621, he and John Percy
the Jesuit held a disputation with Daniel Featley
and Thomas Goad
. In the reign of Charles I he was in confinement for many years. On 6 January 1627 the secretaries of state Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Conway
and John Coke
issued a warrant for the apprehension of him and of Richard Smith, bishop of Chalcedon. A memorandum of the period states that Musket had several years before broken out of Wisbech Castle, had since been banished, and, having returned, had again been taken prisoner.
On 6 October 1628 he was in confinement at the Gatehouse Prison
. Subsequently he was brought to trial, and, as one of the witnesses swore positively to his saying mass, he was condemned to death. He remained for twenty years under sentence, but operated as before. On the intercession of Queen Henrietta Maria he was reprieved and afterwards pardoned, but only on the condition of his remaining in confinement during the king's pleasure.
When a proposal was made in 1635 for the appointment of a catholic bishop for England, Musket's name was in the list of persons proposed to the Holy See
. He was still a prisoner when he was chosen president of the English College of Douay in succession to Matthew Kellison
, who died on 21 January 1641; but through the queen's intercession he was released and banished. He arrived at Douay on 14 November 1641. Though he governed the college in hard times, he brought down its debt. He died on 24 December 1645, and was succeeded in the presidency by William Hyde
.
.
Life
The son of Thomas Fisher and Magdalene Ashton, he was born in 1583 at Barton, Northamptonshire. He was educated for three years partly at Barton and partly at StiltonStilton
Stilton is a village in Cambridgeshire, England, and within the historic county boundary of Huntingdonshire.-Geography:Stilton lies south of the city of Peterborough. It lies on the old Great North Road, from London and was an important coaching stop in the days before motorised transport. It...
, and subsequently for about half a year in Wisbech Castle
Wisbech Castle
Wisbech castle was a motte-and-bailey castle built to fortify Wisbech, in the Fenland area of Cambridgeshire, England by William I in 1072. The Norman castle, reputedly was destroyed during a devastating flood of 1236, the original design and layout is still unknown.In the 15th century repairs were...
, where he was a volunteer attendant on the incarcerated Catholic priests. In 1597 he became a Catholic convert.Two of his brothers were also converted about the same time: Richard, who ultimately joined the Society of Jesus
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...
, and Thomas, who became a secular priest.
George proceeded to the English College of Douay and was formally reconciled to the Roman Catholic Church. He continued his studies there for four years, and was then sent to the English College at Rome, where he was admitted 21 October 1601. He took the college oath 3 November 1602, was ordained priest 11 March 1606, and was sent to England in May 1607, but he was detained at Douay, where he was engaged for upwards of a year in teaching theology.
On 9 September 1608 he left Douay for the English mission. He resided for the most part in London. He was dexterous in managing conferences between representatives of his own co-religionists and Protestants. On 21 and 22 April 1621, he and John Percy
John Percy
John Percy was an English Jesuit priest and controversialist.-Life:...
the Jesuit held a disputation with Daniel Featley
Daniel Featley
Daniel Featley, also called Fairclough and sometimes called Richard Fairclough/Featley , was an English theologian and controversialist...
and Thomas Goad
Thomas Goad
Thomas Goad was an English clergyman, controversial writer, and rector of Hadleigh, Suffolk. A participant at the Synod of Dort, he changed his views there from Calvinist to Arminian, against the sense of the meeting.-Life:...
. In the reign of Charles I he was in confinement for many years. On 6 January 1627 the secretaries of state Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Conway
Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Conway
Edward Conway, 1st Viscount Conway PC was an English soldier and statesman.-Life:He was the son and heir of Sir John Conway of Arrow, and his wife Ellen or Eleanor, daughter of Sir Fulke Greville of Beauchamp's Court, Warwickshire....
and John Coke
John Coke
Sir John Coke was an English politician.Coke, the son of Richard and Mary Coke of Trusley, Derbyshire, was educated at Trinity College, Cambridge...
issued a warrant for the apprehension of him and of Richard Smith, bishop of Chalcedon. A memorandum of the period states that Musket had several years before broken out of Wisbech Castle, had since been banished, and, having returned, had again been taken prisoner.
On 6 October 1628 he was in confinement at the Gatehouse Prison
Gatehouse Prison
Gatehouse Prison was a prison in Westminster, built in 1370 as the gatehouse of Westminster Abbey and first used as a prison by the Abbot, a powerful churchman who held considerable power over the precincts and sanctuary...
. Subsequently he was brought to trial, and, as one of the witnesses swore positively to his saying mass, he was condemned to death. He remained for twenty years under sentence, but operated as before. On the intercession of Queen Henrietta Maria he was reprieved and afterwards pardoned, but only on the condition of his remaining in confinement during the king's pleasure.
When a proposal was made in 1635 for the appointment of a catholic bishop for England, Musket's name was in the list of persons proposed to the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. He was still a prisoner when he was chosen president of the English College of Douay in succession to Matthew Kellison
Matthew Kellison
Matthew Kellison was an English Roman Catholic theologian and controversialist, and a reforming president of the English College, Douai.-Life:...
, who died on 21 January 1641; but through the queen's intercession he was released and banished. He arrived at Douay on 14 November 1641. Though he governed the college in hard times, he brought down its debt. He died on 24 December 1645, and was succeeded in the presidency by 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:...
.
Works
He is believed to be the author of an anonymous polemical book and impersonation on the death of John KingJohn King (bishop of London)
John King was a Church of England clergyman and bishop of London from 1611 to 1621.John King was educated at Westminster School and Christ Church, Oxford. A chaplain to bishop John Piers, King became preacher to the city of York before becoming domestic chaplain to Thomas Egerton in London...
.