Sylvester Norris facts for kids

Sylvester Norris (also known as Smith and Newton) was an English Roman Catholic writer and priest. He lived from 1570 or 1572 until March 16, 1630. He was known for writing about religious topics and for his work as a missionary.

Life of Sylvester Norris

Early Life and Studies

Sylvester Norris was born in Somerset, a county in England. He began his religious studies in Reims, France, around 1590. After that, he moved to the Venerable English College in Rome, Italy. There, he finished his training and became a priest.

In May 1596, Norris was sent back to England. His job was to serve as a missionary priest. He was also part of a group of priests known as the appellant clergy in 1600. This group had disagreements with some church leaders at the time.

Challenges and Exile

After a major event known as the Gunpowder Plot in 1605, Sylvester Norris was arrested. He was held in a prison called the Bridewell. From prison, he wrote a letter to the Earl of Salisbury on December 1, 1605. In his letter, Norris said he was innocent. He also promised to go to Rome and work to make sure all English Catholics were loyal to the king. He even suggested sending people as proof of their loyalty.

Because of his promise, Norris was set free in 1606. He was then sent away from England, a process called exile. He left with 46 other priests and went to Rome. There, he joined a religious group called the Society of Jesus, often known as the Jesuits.

Later Years and Work

For some time, Sylvester Norris worked in Jesuit colleges in other countries. But in 1611, he returned to England to continue his missionary work. By 1621, he became the leader of the Jesuit mission in the Hampshire area. He continued his work there until he passed away on March 16, 1630.