William Barrow (Jesuit)
Encyclopedia
Blessed William Barrow (1609 – 30 June 1679) was an English Jesuit, executed as a result of the Popish Plot
, a fabricated story. He is a Catholic martyr, beatified in 1929. By a papal decree of 4 December 1886, this martyr's cause was introduced, but under the name of "William Harcourt". This is the official name of beatification.
. He made his studies at the Jesuit College, St. Omer's, and entered the Society of Jesus at Watten
in 1632. He was sent to the English mission in 1644 and worked on the London district for thirty-five years, becoming, in the beginning of 1678, its superior.
In May of that year he was arrested and committed to Newgate
on the charge of complicity in the plot alleged by Titus Oates
. The trial, in which he had as fellow-prisons his colleagues, Father Thomas Whitebread, John Fenwick
, John Gavan
, and Anthony Turner
, commenced 13 June 1670.
Lord Chief Justice Scroggs presided, and Oates, William Bedloe
, and Stephen Dugdale
were the principal witnesses for the Crown. The prisoners were charged with having conspired to kill the king Charles II
and subvert the Protestant religion. They defended themselves by the testimony of their own witnesses and their cross-examinations of their accusers, who were wholesale perjurers.
Scroggs laid down principles that
He obstructed the defense by his interruptions.
Father Barrow and the others were found guilty, and condemned to undergo the punishment for high treason
. They were executed together at Tyburn
, 20 June 1679.
Popish Plot
The Popish Plot was a fictitious conspiracy concocted by Titus Oates that gripped England, Wales and Scotland in Anti-Catholic hysteria between 1678 and 1681. Oates alleged that there existed an extensive Catholic conspiracy to assassinate Charles II, accusations that led to the execution of at...
, a fabricated story. He is a Catholic martyr, beatified in 1929. By a papal decree of 4 December 1886, this martyr's cause was introduced, but under the name of "William Harcourt". This is the official name of beatification.
Life
He was born in LancashireLancashire
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...
. He made his studies at the Jesuit College, St. Omer's, and entered the Society of Jesus at Watten
Watten, Nord
-Sights:The village is famous for its old ruined abbey, and for its mill, which was restored in the 1990s. These two buildings are located on the "Mountain of Watten" . Its church dates from the thirteenth century.-References:* *...
in 1632. He was sent to the English mission in 1644 and worked on the London district for thirty-five years, becoming, in the beginning of 1678, its superior.
In May of that year he was arrested and committed to Newgate
Newgate
Newgate at the west end of Newgate Street was one of the historic seven gates of London Wall round the City of London and one of the six which date back to Roman times. From it a Roman road led west to Silchester...
on the charge of complicity in the plot alleged by Titus Oates
Titus Oates
Titus Oates was an English perjurer who fabricated the "Popish Plot", a supposed Catholic conspiracy to kill King Charles II.-Early life:...
. The trial, in which he had as fellow-prisons his colleagues, Father Thomas Whitebread, John Fenwick
John Fenwick (Jesuit)
Blessed John Fenwick, real surname Caldwell was an English Jesuit, executed at the time of the fabricated Popish Plot. He is a Catholic martyr, beatified in 1929 by Pope Pius XI.-Life:...
, John Gavan
John Gavan
Blessed John Gavan was an English Jesuit and victim of the Popish Plot, wrongfully executed for conspiracy to murder Charles II. He was beatified in 1929.- Life :...
, and Anthony Turner
Anthony Turner (martyr)
Blessed Anthony Turner was an English Jesuit and victim of the Popish Plot, executed for conspiracy to murder Charles II. He was beatified in 1929.- LIfe :...
, commenced 13 June 1670.
Lord Chief Justice Scroggs presided, and Oates, William Bedloe
William Bedloe
William Bedloe was an English fraudster and informer, born at Chepstow.He appears to have been well educated; he was certainly clever, and after moving to London in 1670 he became acquainted with some Jesuits and was occasionally employed by them...
, and Stephen Dugdale
Stephen Dugdale
Stephen Dugdale was an informer, and self-proclaimed discoverer of parts of the Popish Plot . He perjured himself on numerous occasions, giving false testimony.-Life:...
were the principal witnesses for the Crown. The prisoners were charged with having conspired to kill the king Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
and subvert the Protestant religion. They defended themselves by the testimony of their own witnesses and their cross-examinations of their accusers, who were wholesale perjurers.
Scroggs laid down principles that
- as the witnesses against them had recently received the royal pardon, none of the undeniable previous misdemeanors could be legally admitted as impairing the value of their testimony; and
- that no Catholic witness was to be believed, as it was presumable that he had received a dispensation to lie.
He obstructed the defense by his interruptions.
Father Barrow and the others were found guilty, and condemned to undergo the punishment for high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
. They were executed together at Tyburn
Tyburn
Tyburn is a former village just outside the then boundaries of London that was best known as a place of public execution.Tyburn may also refer to:* Tyburn , river and historical water source in London...
, 20 June 1679.