William Hartley (martyr) facts for kids

William Hartley was an English Catholic priest born around 1557 in a place called Wyn, in Derbyshire. He is remembered as a Catholic martyr, which means he died because of his religious beliefs. He was recognized as a blessed person in 1929.

William Hartley's Story

Early Life and Becoming a Priest

When William Hartley was eighteen, he started studying at St John's College, Oxford. He later became a chaplain there, which is a priest who works in a special place like a college. However, in 1579, he was removed from his position because people suspected he had Catholic beliefs. During this time in England, it was difficult to be a Catholic.

After leaving Oxford, William went to Reims in France in August 1579. He became a priest on February 24, 1580, and then returned to England in June of the same year.

Facing Challenges

William Hartley helped other important Catholic figures, like Robert Parsons and Edmund Campion, to print and share their books in England. These books were often about Catholic teachings.

In August 1581, a printing press was found at Stonor Park in Oxfordshire. This was the press used to print one of Campion's famous books. William Hartley was arrested there along with some members of the Stonor family and others. He was sent to Marshalsea Prison in London.

While in prison, he was caught saying Mass, which is a Catholic church service. Because of this, he was put in chains in December 1583. He was also accused of being part of a plot, even though he was already in prison when the plot was supposed to have happened.

His Final Years

In January 1585, William Hartley was sent away from England. He sailed to Normandy in France. He spent some time in Reims to get better after his time in prison. He also made a special trip to Rome in April 1586 before returning to England to continue his work as a priest.

In September 1588, he was arrested again in London. Sadly, William Hartley was executed in Shoreditch on October 5, 1588. This happened after the failure of the Spanish Armada, a big event that made things even harder for Catholics in England.

Other Brave People

William Hartley was not the only one who faced difficulties for his beliefs. Here are some of his companions who also suffered.

John Hewitt

John Hewitt was from York and studied at Caius College, Cambridge. He had been in prison before. He was arrested in London in March 1587, using the name Weldon. Because he used a different name, some early writers mistakenly thought there were two different martyrs.

Robert Sutton

Robert Sutton was a teacher from Leicestershire. He worked in London and became a Catholic after meeting an old priest named Mr. Blythe. He was soon arrested and put in prison. He was executed in Clerkenwell on October 5, 1588, the same day as William Hartley.

John Harrison

John Harrison, also known as Symons, helped by carrying letters between priests. Some people wrongly thought he was a spy, which made his story a bit unclear. His name might also have been confused with other priests named Harrison who died later.

John Robinson

John Robinson was born in Yorkshire. He was married and had a son named Francis. After his wife died, he went to the English College at Rheims to become a priest. He briefly returned to England in 1584 to visit his fifteen-year-old son.

In April of the next year, John Robinson became a priest and went on a mission to England in June. He took a ship north, likely heading for Newcastle. However, his ship stopped at Yarmouth Roads, where he was arrested. He was sent to The Clink prison and stayed there for three years.

The difficult times for Catholics after the Spanish Armada led to his execution. He was executed in Ipswich on October 1, 1588. His son also became a priest five years later.