Thomas Pormort facts for kids
Thomas Pormort was an English priest who lived a long time ago, in the 1500s. He was born around 1559 in Hull. He became a Roman Catholic priest during a time when it was difficult to be Catholic in England. He was later honored by the Catholic Church as "beatified" in 1987. This means he was recognized for his strong faith.
Who Was Thomas Pormort?
Thomas Pormort was likely connected to families from Great Grimsby and Saltfletby in Lincolnshire. He studied at Cambridge University for a while. After that, he traveled to Reims in France in 1581. From Reims, he went to Rome, where he became a priest in 1587. He then worked for Owen Lewis, who was a bishop.
His Journeys and New Name
In 1590, Pormort took on a new role in a college in Milan, Italy. He was in charge of studies there. Later that year, he left Milan and traveled towards England. He crossed the St. Gotthard Pass and arrived in Brussels. In Brussels, he started working for a woman named Mrs. Geoffrey Pole. To hide his identity, he used the name Whitgift. He chose this name because it was the same as his godfather, John Whitgift, who was an important church leader in England. He traveled with Mrs. Pole to Antwerp, planning to go to England from there.
Arrest and Trial
Thomas Pormort was arrested in London in July 1591. He managed to escape, but he was caught again in August or September of the same year. He was first held in Bridewell Prison. Then, he was moved to the house of a man named Richard Topcliffe, where he was questioned very harshly.
On February 8, 1592, Pormort was found guilty of a very serious crime called high treason. This was because he was a Catholic priest who had trained abroad. He was also accused of helping a man named John Barwys become Catholic. Pormort said he did not have the official permission to do what he was accused of. However, he was still found guilty.
His Final Days
During his time in prison, Pormort made an accusation against Richard Topcliffe. Topcliffe then got a court order to carry out Pormort's execution. Even though his godfather, John Whitgift, tried to delay the execution and get Pormort to change his beliefs, it did not work. A gallows was set up near a shop. Pormort was made to stand on the ladder for two hours. During this time, Topcliffe tried to make him take back his accusation, but Pormort refused. He was executed on February 29, 1592, at St. Paul's Churchyard.
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