Thomas Maxfield facts for kids
Quick facts for kids BlessedThomas Maxfield |
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Spanish print commemorating the martyrdom of Thomas Maxfield, c. 1621: London, Archives of the Archdiocese of Westminster
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| Martyr | |
| Born | c.1590 Stafford gaol, Staffordshire, England |
| Died | 1 July 1616 (aged 25 - 26) Tyburn, London, England |
| Honored in | Roman Catholic Church |
| Beatified | 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI |
| Feast | 1 July |
Thomas Maxfield (also known as Macclesfield) was an English Roman Catholic priest who lived around the 1600s. He is remembered as a Catholic martyr, which means he died for his religious beliefs. In 1929, he was declared "Blessed" by Pope Pius XI, a step towards sainthood in the Catholic Church.
Contents
Thomas Maxfield's Story
Thomas Maxfield was born around 1590 in Stafford gaol (a jail). His father, William Macclesfield, was a Catholic who faced legal trouble for helping priests. His mother was Ursula Roos.
Becoming a Priest
When Thomas was about 12 years old, he went to the English College at Douai. This was a special school in France where English Catholics could train to become priests. At that time, it was difficult to be a Catholic priest in England.
Thomas had to return to England in 1610 because he was not well. But in 1614, he went back to Douai. There, he became a priest. The next year, in 1615, he returned to London, England.
Arrest and Imprisonment
Within three months of arriving back in England, Thomas Maxfield was arrested. He was sent to a prison called the Gatehouse, Westminster. He was held there for about eight months.
One night, he tried to escape from his cell. He used a rope to climb down from his window. But he was caught as soon as he reached the ground. This happened just after midnight on June 14-15, 1616.
After his escape attempt, Thomas was punished. For 70 hours, he was kept in the stocks in a dark dungeon. Then, on June 17, he was moved to Newgate Jail. Here, he was held with other prisoners.
His Trial and Final Days
On June 26, Thomas Maxfield was brought to court at the Old Bailey. The very next day, he was found guilty. His only "crime" was being a Catholic priest, which was against the law in England at that time under a rule called the Jesuits, etc. Act 1584.
The Spanish ambassador, a diplomat from Spain, tried to help him. He asked for Thomas to be pardoned or at least given more time. But his efforts did not work. The ambassador even held a special prayer service in his chapel on Thomas's last night.
Thomas Maxfield was sentenced to be executed at Tyburn, a place in London known for executions. Early the next morning, many Spanish people joined the procession to Tyburn. They wanted to show their respect and support for Thomas. They even formed a guard of honor, despite people making fun of them. The execution spot itself was decorated with flowers.
Today, some of Thomas Maxfield's remains are kept at Downside Abbey, a monastery near Bath, England.
See also
