William Harrington (priest)
Encyclopedia
William Harrington was an English Jesuit priest. He is a Roman Catholic martyr, beatified in 1929.
at the ancestral home, Mount St. John, early in 1581. The family's Catholicism lapsed, but William, the youngest son, went abroad to train as a priest.
He was first at the seminary at Reims
, then went to the Jesuits at Tournai
(1582–1584). He would have joined the order, but his health broke down and forced him to keep at home for the next six or seven years.
In February, 1591, however, he was able to return once more to Reims, and, having been ordained, returned at midsummer 1592. Next May he fell into the hands of the English authorities, and nine months later was executed at Tyburn
.
William's fate probably had an important literary side-effect. One of those who had sheltered him was Henry Donne, the brother of the poet John Donne
. Henry was arrested, and died of the plague in Newgate Prison
. John was a Catholic too, but later embraced the Church of England, eventually took Anglican orders and became Dean of St Paul's. What happened to William Harrington, and to John's brother Henry, may well have served to keep John Donne alive.
A posthumous detractor, Friswood or Fid Williams, an apostate Catholic, claimed that she had had a child by him before he was a priest. Fid also made many other accusations, both against him, and also against the rest of the clergy and the whole Catholic body.
Life
His father had entertained Edmund CampionEdmund Campion
Saint Edmund Campion, S.J. was an English Roman Catholic martyr and Jesuit priest. While conducting an underground ministry in officially Protestant England, Campion was arrested by priest hunters. Convicted of high treason by a kangaroo court, he was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn...
at the ancestral home, Mount St. John, early in 1581. The family's Catholicism lapsed, but William, the youngest son, went abroad to train as a priest.
He was first at the seminary at Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, then went to the Jesuits at Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
(1582–1584). He would have joined the order, but his health broke down and forced him to keep at home for the next six or seven years.
In February, 1591, however, he was able to return once more to Reims, and, having been ordained, returned at midsummer 1592. Next May he fell into the hands of the English authorities, and nine months later was executed 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...
.
William's fate probably had an important literary side-effect. One of those who had sheltered him was Henry Donne, the brother of the poet John Donne
John Donne
John Donne 31 March 1631), English poet, satirist, lawyer, and priest, is now considered the preeminent representative of the metaphysical poets. His works are notable for their strong and sensual style and include sonnets, love poetry, religious poems, Latin translations, epigrams, elegies, songs,...
. Henry was arrested, and died of the plague in Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
. John was a Catholic too, but later embraced the Church of England, eventually took Anglican orders and became Dean of St Paul's. What happened to William Harrington, and to John's brother Henry, may well have served to keep John Donne alive.
A posthumous detractor, Friswood or Fid Williams, an apostate Catholic, claimed that she had had a child by him before he was a priest. Fid also made many other accusations, both against him, and also against the rest of the clergy and the whole Catholic body.