Jane Wiseman (recusant) facts for kids

Jane Wiseman (born Jane Vaughan; died 1610) was an English woman who bravely stuck to her Catholic faith. During a time when being Catholic was against the law in England, she helped hide Catholic priests. She almost became a Catholic martyr, which means someone who dies for their beliefs. This was because she was sentenced to a very harsh punishment called Peine forte et dure. Her daughter, Mary Wiseman, later became the leader of a convent in Leuven.

Jane Wiseman's Story

Early Life and Family

Jane's parents were Cuthbert Vaughan, a soldier, and Elizabeth Raydon or Roydon. Her mother was even said to be related to the royal family of the Tudors. Jane's father passed away in the 1560s, and her mother died in 1595.

Jane had many people who wanted to marry her. She chose Thomas Wiseman. Their home, called Braddocks, was well-known for being a place where the Catholic faith was practiced.

Standing Up for Her Beliefs

After her husband died, Jane's oldest son, William, took over the family property. Jane then started a new home called Bullocks. She invited John Gerard, a Catholic priest, to be the family's chaplain in 1591. A chaplain is like a personal priest or spiritual guide.

Jane became famous for strongly refusing to follow the Protestant religion. This refusal was called "recusancy." Because of this, she had to pay fines and lost some of her properties.

Facing Challenges and Imprisonment

In 1592, Jane attended a Catholic mass at Braddocks. This was against the law at the time. The authorities knew that she was not only hiding priests but had also sent four of her daughters abroad to become nuns. Nuns are women who dedicate their lives to God and live in a religious community.

Jane was arrested sometime before 1595 and spent a long time in prison. She was accused of helping and supporting priests. She refused to have a trial by jury. This meant she was prepared to become a Catholic martyr. She was ordered to be pressed with heavy stones until she either agreed to a trial or died. This terrible punishment was called Peine forte et dure. However, this sentence was changed to indefinite imprisonment, meaning she would stay in prison for an unknown amount of time.

In 1603, King James I became the new king of England. He pardoned many Catholic prisoners, and Jane Wiseman was finally released from prison.

Later Life and Legacy

Jane Wiseman passed away in 1610. She knew that her daughter, Jane, had become the prioress (the head nun) of a new convent called St Monica's in Leuven in 1609. Her daughter took the new religious name Mary Wiseman.

Her Children

Jane and Thomas Wiseman had eight children. Their names were William, John, Thomas, Jane, Robert, Anne, Barbara, and Bridget. We don't know their exact birth dates, but William was born in the 1550s, John in 1571, Thomas in 1572, and Jane around 1570.