William Knight (martyr) facts for kids

William Knight (born 1572 – died 29 November 1596) was an English man who was put to death because of his Catholic faith. This happened in York, England. Three other men also suffered with him: George Errington, William Gibson, and Henry Abbot.

William Knight: A Story of Faith

William Knight was born in 1572 in a small village called South Duffield, in Yorkshire, England. His father was an Anglican, which means he followed the Church of England. However, William secretly became a Catholic.

Early Life and Beliefs

When William grew up, he wanted to claim some property his father had left him. This property was being held by his uncle. But instead of helping him, his uncle told the authorities that William was a Roman Catholic. At that time in England, being a Catholic was against the law.

Because of this, William was quickly arrested. He was taken into custody by an officer named Roger Colyer, who treated him very badly.

Facing Trouble

In October 1593, William was sent to York Castle, a prison. Two other Catholics, William Gibson and George Errington, were already held there. George Errington had been arrested years before for being part of a rebellion in the North of England.

While they were in prison, a Church of England clergyman was also there. This clergyman wanted to get out of prison. So, he pretended he wanted to become a Catholic. He tricked William Knight and his friends into trusting him. They started to teach him about their Catholic faith.

A Difficult Trial

With the help of the authorities, the clergyman was directed to Henry Abbot, who was not yet in prison. Henry Abbot tried to find a priest to help the clergyman officially join the Catholic Church.

Once the clergyman had enough information, Henry Abbot was arrested. William Knight and his two friends were also accused. Their crime was trying to convince the clergyman to become Catholic. Under the laws of that time, this was seen as an act of treason, which meant going against the Queen and the country.

The men were found guilty. William Knight, William Gibson, and George Errington were put to death in York on 29 November 1596. Henry Abbot was executed later. William Knight was only about 24 years old when he died.

Remembering William Knight

William Knight is remembered as one of the eighty-five martyrs of England and Wales. A martyr is someone who dies for their beliefs. He was declared "blessed" (a step towards sainthood) by Pope John Paul II on 22 November 1987. This special event happened in London, England.