Katharine Brettargh
Encyclopedia
Katharine Brettargh was an English Puritan
woman from a well-known evangelical Cheshire
family, whose early death was made the subject of "godly" biographical commentary.
of Bruen Stapleford
, father of John Bruen. She was baptised on 13 February 1579, and from an early age she was distinguished by earnest religious feeling. When she was about twenty she was married to William Brettargh or Brettergh, of 'Brellerghoult' - Brettargh Holt - near Liverpool
, who shared her puritan sentiments. The couple were said to have had some persecution
at the hands of their Roman Catholic neighbours. 'It is not unknowne to Lancashire
what horses and cattell of her husband's were killed upon his grounds in the night most barbarously at two seuerall times by seminarie priests (no question) and recusants that lurked thereabouts.' Her piety, however, was such as to impress them in spite of her dislike of their creed. 'Once a tenant of her husband's being behinde with his rent, she desired him to beare yet with him a quarter of a yeare, which he did ; and when the man brought his money, with teares she said to her husband, "I feare you doe not well to take it of him, though it be your right, for I doubt he is not well able to pay it, and then you oppresse the poore."' It is perhaps characteristic of the times that her biographer insists upon the circumstance that 'she never used to swear an oath great or small.' After a little more than two years of married life she was attacked by 'a hot burning ague
,' of which she died on Whit Sunday, 31 May 1601.
She was encouraged by a visit from her brother, John Bruen, and by the consolations of William Harrison and other puritans. She was buried at Childwall Church on Wednesday, 3 June.
and William Leigh
. Her biographers are indignant at the imputation that she died despairing. There is a portrait of her in Samuel Clarke's second part of the 'Marrow of Ecclesiastical History,' book ii., London, 1675, p. 52, in an elaborate ruff
, the hair closely confined by a sort of skull-cap, over which towers a sugarloaf hat.
Puritan
The Puritans were a significant grouping of English Protestants in the 16th and 17th centuries. Puritanism in this sense was founded by some Marian exiles from the clergy shortly after the accession of Elizabeth I of England in 1558, as an activist movement within the Church of England...
woman from a well-known evangelical Cheshire
Cheshire
Cheshire is a ceremonial county in North West England. Cheshire's county town is the city of Chester, although its largest town is Warrington. Other major towns include Widnes, Congleton, Crewe, Ellesmere Port, Runcorn, Macclesfield, Winsford, Northwich, and Wilmslow...
family, whose early death was made the subject of "godly" biographical commentary.
Life
Brettargh was daughter of a Cheshire squire, John BruenJohn Bruen
John Bruen , was a puritan layman.Bruen was the son of a Cheshire squire whose family had long been settled at Bruen Stapleford, and is believed to have given its name to the township. There had been a succession from the middle of the thirteenth century. The elder John Bruen of Bruen Stapleford...
of Bruen Stapleford
Bruen Stapleford
Bruen Stapleford is a civil parish in the unitary authority of Cheshire West and Chester and the ceremonial county of Cheshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 66.-External links:...
, father of John Bruen. She was baptised on 13 February 1579, and from an early age she was distinguished by earnest religious feeling. When she was about twenty she was married to William Brettargh or Brettergh, of 'Brellerghoult' - Brettargh Holt - near Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, who shared her puritan sentiments. The couple were said to have had some persecution
Persecution
Persecution is the systematic mistreatment of an individual or group by another group. The most common forms are religious persecution, ethnic persecution, and political persecution, though there is naturally some overlap between these terms. The inflicting of suffering, harassment, isolation,...
at the hands of their Roman Catholic neighbours. 'It is not unknowne to Lancashire
Lancashire
Lancashire is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in the North West of England. It takes its name from the city of Lancaster, and is sometimes known as the County of Lancaster. Although Lancaster is still considered to be the county town, Lancashire County Council is based in Preston...
what horses and cattell of her husband's were killed upon his grounds in the night most barbarously at two seuerall times by seminarie priests (no question) and recusants that lurked thereabouts.' Her piety, however, was such as to impress them in spite of her dislike of their creed. 'Once a tenant of her husband's being behinde with his rent, she desired him to beare yet with him a quarter of a yeare, which he did ; and when the man brought his money, with teares she said to her husband, "I feare you doe not well to take it of him, though it be your right, for I doubt he is not well able to pay it, and then you oppresse the poore."' It is perhaps characteristic of the times that her biographer insists upon the circumstance that 'she never used to swear an oath great or small.' After a little more than two years of married life she was attacked by 'a hot burning ague
Ague
Ague may refer to:* Fever* MalariaSee also:* Kan Ague, a residential area of Patikul, Sulu, Philippines...
,' of which she died on Whit Sunday, 31 May 1601.
She was encouraged by a visit from her brother, John Bruen, and by the consolations of William Harrison and other puritans. She was buried at Childwall Church on Wednesday, 3 June.
Biographical coverage
The short book that forms the chief authority as to her life is Death's Advantage little Regarded, by William Harrison of HuytonHuyton
Huyton is a suburb of Liverpool within the Metropolitan Borough of Knowsley, with some parts belonging to the borough of Liverpool in Merseyside, England. It is part of the Liverpool Urban Area and has close associations with its neighbour, Roby, having both formerly been part of the Huyton with...
and William Leigh
William Leigh
William Leigh was an English clergyman and royal tutor. He is now remembered for his sermon series Queene Elizabeth paraleld from 1612, which includes the first published text record for the queen's speech to the troops at Tilbury from 1588....
. Her biographers are indignant at the imputation that she died despairing. There is a portrait of her in Samuel Clarke's second part of the 'Marrow of Ecclesiastical History,' book ii., London, 1675, p. 52, in an elaborate ruff
Ruff
The Ruff is a medium-sized wading bird that breeds in marshes and wet meadows across northern Eurasia. This highly gregarious sandpiper is migratory and sometimes forms huge flocks in its winter grounds, which include southern and western Europe, Africa, southern Asia and Australia...
, the hair closely confined by a sort of skull-cap, over which towers a sugarloaf hat.