Richard Langley (martyr)
Encyclopedia
Richard Langley was an English Roman Catholic layman, condemned for sheltering Catholic priests. He is a Catholic martyr, beatified in 1929.
, in the East Riding of Yorkshire
. His mother was Joan Beaumont of Mirfield
. He married Agnes, daughter of Richard Hansby, New Malton, by whom he had one son, Christopher (b. 1565), and four daughters.
During the Elizabethan period Langley assisted the Catholic clergy; his house was offered as an asylum to priests. He constructed a subterranean retreat, perhaps beneath the Grimthorpe dwelling, which afforded them sanctuary. This refuge was betrayed to the President of the North, and on 28 October 1586, a strong band of military was despatched, several justices and Anglican ministers ojoining them, to make a domiciliary visitation of the Grimthorpe and Ousethorpe houses. Two priests were found in hiding at the former; at the latter Langley himself was seized. All three were carried to York, committed to prison, and subsequently arraigned before the President of the North, the priests because of their office and Langley for harboring them.
During the investigation Langley would not take the oath of the queen's ecclesiastical supremacy
, nor ingratiate himself with the lord president or Privy Council
. The first jury which had first been empaneled to decide upon the case was discharged and replaced by another. Langley was condemned to death, without any evidence being adduced to establish the fact that he had knowingly sheltered seminary priests; and he was hanged, drawn, and quartered at York. His remains were refused an honorable burial.
Life
From his father, Richard Langley, of Rathorpe Hall, Walton, he probably inherited Rathorpe, but for the greater part of his life continued to reside on his estate at OusethorpeOusethorpe
Ousethorpe is a small hamlet in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It is situated approximately north of Pocklington.It forms part of the civil parish of Millington....
, in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
. His mother was Joan Beaumont of Mirfield
Mirfield
Mirfield is a small town and civil parish within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England. It is located on the A644 road between Brighouse and Dewsbury...
. He married Agnes, daughter of Richard Hansby, New Malton, by whom he had one son, Christopher (b. 1565), and four daughters.
During the Elizabethan period Langley assisted the Catholic clergy; his house was offered as an asylum to priests. He constructed a subterranean retreat, perhaps beneath the Grimthorpe dwelling, which afforded them sanctuary. This refuge was betrayed to the President of the North, and on 28 October 1586, a strong band of military was despatched, several justices and Anglican ministers ojoining them, to make a domiciliary visitation of the Grimthorpe and Ousethorpe houses. Two priests were found in hiding at the former; at the latter Langley himself was seized. All three were carried to York, committed to prison, and subsequently arraigned before the President of the North, the priests because of their office and Langley for harboring them.
During the investigation Langley would not take the oath of the queen's ecclesiastical supremacy
Oath of Supremacy
The Oath of Supremacy, originally imposed by King Henry VIII of England through the Act of Supremacy 1534, but repealed by his daughter, Queen Mary I of England and reinstated under Mary's sister, Queen Elizabeth I of England under the Act of Supremacy 1559, provided for any person taking public or...
, nor ingratiate himself with the lord president or Privy Council
Privy council
A privy council is a body that advises the head of state of a nation, typically, but not always, in the context of a monarchic government. The word "privy" means "private" or "secret"; thus, a privy council was originally a committee of the monarch's closest advisors to give confidential advice on...
. The first jury which had first been empaneled to decide upon the case was discharged and replaced by another. Langley was condemned to death, without any evidence being adduced to establish the fact that he had knowingly sheltered seminary priests; and he was hanged, drawn, and quartered at York. His remains were refused an honorable burial.