William Bentney
Encyclopedia
William Bentney, alias Bennet, (1609 – 30 October 1692) was an English Jesuit priest during the 17th century when English Roman Catholics were under severe penalties.
Bentney was born in Cheshire
. He entered the Society of Jesus
on 7 September 1630 and was sent to the English missions in 1640. He laboured there with great zeal and success for forty-two years. A victim of the Oates Plot, he was betrayed and arrested at the instigation of a nobleman to whose sisters he was administering the sacraments, and was taken to the Leicester
jail. No one in those parts being willing to bear witness against him, being so universally esteemed, Bentney was at once transferred to Derby
, where he was tried and sentenced to death at the Spring Assizes
of 1682. His execution was delayed for unknown reasons and on the accession of James II
he was released. After the Glorious Revolution
in 1688, however, he was rearrested, tried and condemned, but the sentence remained suspended, and in 1692 he died in Leicester jail at the age of 83 or 84.
Bentney was born in 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...
. He entered 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...
on 7 September 1630 and was sent to the English missions in 1640. He laboured there with great zeal and success for forty-two years. A victim of the Oates Plot, he was betrayed and arrested at the instigation of a nobleman to whose sisters he was administering the sacraments, and was taken to the Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
jail. No one in those parts being willing to bear witness against him, being so universally esteemed, Bentney was at once transferred to Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, where he was tried and sentenced to death at the Spring Assizes
Assizes
Assize or Assizes may refer to:Assize or Assizes may refer to:Assize or Assizes may refer to::;in common law countries :::*assizes , an obsolete judicial inquest...
of 1682. His execution was delayed for unknown reasons and on the accession of James II
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
he was released. After the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
in 1688, however, he was rearrested, tried and condemned, but the sentence remained suspended, and in 1692 he died in Leicester jail at the age of 83 or 84.