John Hambley (martyr) facts for kids
John Hambley was an English Catholic who lived a long time ago, during the reign of Elizabeth I (Queen Elizabeth the First). He died in 1587 because of his beliefs, making him known as a martyr.
John Hambley's Life Story
John Hambley grew up in a place called St. Mabyn, near Bodmin in Cornwall, England. In 1582, he became a Catholic after reading a book by Robert Persons. Around Christmas that year, he stopped attending the official church services.
Because of this, he was worried about getting in trouble. So, he decided to leave his home county where people knew him. He traveled to London and stayed at an inn called the "Sun and Seven Stars" until May 1583. While there, he fully committed to the Catholic faith. This happened in a room at the "Red Lion" inn, with the help of Mr. Fortescue, a seminary priest (a priest trained in a special school).
Becoming a Priest
In May 1583, John Hambley sailed from Rye in Sussex to Dieppe, France. He then traveled to Rheims, arriving by the end of the month. He studied there and became a priest on September 22, 1584.
To return to England, he disguised himself as a servant. He left with Maurice Williams on April 6, 1585, heading for the English Mission. This mission was a secret effort to support Catholics in England. They landed near Ipswich and made their way to London, staying at the "Blue Boar" inn.
A couple of weeks later, Hambley moved to the "Red Lion." There, he worked under the guidance of another Catholic priest, John Cornelius. During this time, he secretly helped Catholics who lived near the Inns of Court (places where lawyers studied and worked). After about five weeks, he went to Dorsetshire. He worked in the Western Counties of England for about a year.
Facing Danger
Around Easter in 1586, a servant who had once shared a room with him told authorities about John Hambley. He was caught, put on trial, and found guilty in Taunton. At first, he denied his faith to get a chance to escape, and he managed to break out of prison.
He fled to Salisbury and continued his secret work there until August. Then, just before a special Catholic holiday (the Assumption), the Protestant Bishop of Salisbury decided to search the homes of local Catholics. He hoped to catch a priest saying Mass. During these searches, Hambley was captured again.
This time, he was even more scared than before. He gave away the names of many of his Catholic friends and again denied his faith. However, the judges did not trust what he said. They decided to hold him until the next court session.
His Final Stand
At Easter the following year, he was tried a third time. This time, John Hambley did not give up his faith. He was executed near Salisbury. Reports say he was very brave and spoke strongly against his earlier mistakes.
No one is completely sure why he was so strong during his final arrest. One person from that time, Father Warford, thought it was because of his guardian angel. Another, Father Gerard, believed it was because of a fellow prisoner, Thomas Pilchard. Thomas Pilchard later became a martyr himself, just like John Hambley.
See also
- Catholic Church in the United Kingdom
- Douai Martyrs
