William Gibson (martyr) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids William Gibson |
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|---|---|
| Born | 1548, Fife, Scotland |
| Died | 29 November 1596, York, England |
| Martyred by | Queen Elizabeth I of England |
| Means of martyrdom | Hanging, drawing and quartering |
| Venerated in | Great Britain |
| Beatified | 22 November 1987, London, England, by Pope John Paul II |
| Feast | 4 May |
William Gibson (born 1548 – died November 29, 1596) was a regular person, not a priest, from Ripon in England. He came from a noble Scottish family. He was executed in York because he openly followed the Roman Catholic faith. The Catholic Church honors him as a martyr, which means someone who dies for their beliefs.
Other people who were executed with him included George Errington from Northumberland, William Knight from South Duffield, and later, Henry Abbot from Howden.
Contents
William Gibson's Early Life
William Gibson was born in 1548. His father was Lord George Gibson II, a respected judge in Scotland. His family was quite important and had strong ties to the Catholic faith.
William's great-uncle, also named William Gibson, was a leading Catholic church leader in Scotland. He was known for defending the Catholic faith before the Scottish Reformation, a time when many changes happened in the church in Scotland.
Why William Gibson Was Arrested
William Gibson was accused of treason because he was a Catholic. In England at that time, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I of England, it was against the law to be a Catholic. Being Catholic was seen as going against the Queen and the country.
He was quickly arrested and taken into custody by an officer named Roger Colyer. Colyer treated him very harshly.
In August 1593, Gibson was sent to York Castle, a prison. Soon after, two other men, William Knight and George Errington, joined him there. They had also been arrested for being involved in a Catholic uprising.
The Treachery and Trial
While in prison, an Anglican clergyman (a Church of England minister) was also held there. To get himself freed, this clergyman pretended he wanted to become a Catholic. He gained the trust of Gibson, Knight, and Errington. They believed him and taught him about their Catholic faith.
With the help of the authorities, the clergyman was told to meet Henry Abbot, who was not yet in prison. Abbot tried to find a priest to help the clergyman officially join the Catholic Church.
Once the clergyman had enough information, Gibson and his friends were arrested again. They were accused of trying to convince the clergyman to become Catholic. This was considered treason under the English Penal Laws, which were strict laws against Catholics.
All of them were found guilty. William Gibson, William Knight, and George Errington were executed by hanging, drawing and quartering in York on November 29, 1596. Henry Abbot was executed later.
Honoring William Gibson
William Gibson is remembered as one of the Eighty-five martyrs of England and Wales. These are people who died for their Catholic faith in England and Wales. Pope John Paul II officially recognized him as "blessed" (a step towards sainthood) on November 22, 1987, during a visit to the United Kingdom.
See also
