Edward Coffin facts for kids

Edward Coffin (also known as Hatton) (1570 – 17 April 1626) was an English Jesuit. Jesuits are members of a Catholic religious order called the Society of Jesus. They are known for their work in education and missionary activities.

Early Life and Education

Edward Coffin was born in Exeter, England, in 1571. When he was about 14 years old, he began his studies at the English college in Rheims on July 19, 1585. He later moved to Ingoldstadt on November 7, 1586, with Dr. Robert Turner, who helped pay for his schooling.

On July 26, 1588, Edward Coffin joined the English college in Rome. He became a priest on March 13, 1593. After his ordination, he was sent back to England on May 10, 1594. He officially joined the Society of Jesus in England on January 13, 1598.

Challenges and Imprisonment

In the spring of 1598, Edward Coffin was traveling to Flanders to begin his novitiate (a period of training for new members of a religious order). He was with Thomas Lister when Dutch authorities captured them near Antwerp. They were sent to England, where Edward Coffin was put in prison.

He spent five years in prison, mostly in the Tower of London. This time in prison also served as his novitiate. When James I became king, Edward Coffin and many other religious figures were sent out of England forever.

Later Life and Works

After being banished, Edward Coffin went to Rome. For nearly 20 years, he worked there as a confessor at the English college. A confessor is a priest who listens to people's confessions.

Later, he decided to return to England. He left Rome for Flanders, but he became ill in Saint-Omer. He passed away at Saint-Omer's College on April 17, 1626.

Edward Coffin also helped publish a book by Father Parsons. It was called 'A Discussion of Mr. Barlowes Answer to the Book entitled the Judgment of a Catholic Englishman concerning the Oath of Allegiance.' This book was published in Saint-Omer in 1612. Edward Coffin wrote a very long introduction for it, which was 120 pages long.

Writings

Edward Coffin wrote or translated several books and prefaces:

• He wrote the introduction for Robert Persons's "Discussion of Mr. Barlowe's Answer" (Saint-Omer, 1612).
• He wrote a "Refutation of Hall, Dean of Worcester's 'Discourse for the Marriage of Ecclesiastical Persons'" (1619).
• He translated "Art of Dying Well" from the Latin of Robert Bellarmine (1621).
• He wrote "True Relation of Sickness and Death of Cardinal Bellarmine" (1622), which was also translated into Latin as "De Morte" (Saint-Omer, 1623).
• He wrote "Marci Antonii de Dominis Palinodia" (Saint-Omer, 1623), which was later translated into English as "My Motives for Renouncing the Protestant Religion."
• He also wrote "De Martyrio PP. Roberts, Wilson et Napper" (Stonyhurst Manuscripts, Anglia, III, n. 103).

Sources

•  This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:  "Edward Coffin". Catholic Encyclopedia. (1913). New York: Robert Appleton.