James Harrison (priest)
Encyclopedia
James Harrison was an English Roman Catholic priest. He is a Catholic martyr.
, and was ordained there in September, 1583. In the following year he went on the English mission, where he worked unobtrusively.
In the early part of 1602 he was ministering to Catholics in Yorkshire
and was resident in the house of a gentleman of the name of Anthony Battie (or Bates). While there, he was arrested by the pursuivant
s, together with Battie was tried at York and sentenced to death for high treason
. The charge against Harrison was that he performed the functions of a Catholic priest, and that against Battie was that he had entertained Harrison.
The judge left York without fixing the date of execution, but Harrison was informed on the evening of 21 March that he was to die the next morning. With Battie, he was hanged, drawn, and quartered. The English Franciscans at Douai
had his head as a relic
for many years.
Life
He studied at the English College at ReimsReims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
, and was ordained there in September, 1583. In the following year he went on the English mission, where he worked unobtrusively.
In the early part of 1602 he was ministering to Catholics in Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
and was resident in the house of a gentleman of the name of Anthony Battie (or Bates). While there, he was arrested by the pursuivant
Pursuivant
A pursuivant or, more correctly, pursuivant of arms, is a junior officer of arms. Most pursuivants are attached to official heraldic authorities, such as the College of Arms in London or the Court of the Lord Lyon in Edinburgh. In the mediaeval era, many great nobles employed their own officers of...
s, together with Battie was tried at York and sentenced to death for high treason
High treason
High treason is criminal disloyalty to one's government. Participating in a war against one's native country, attempting to overthrow its government, spying on its military, its diplomats, or its secret services for a hostile and foreign power, or attempting to kill its head of state are perhaps...
. The charge against Harrison was that he performed the functions of a Catholic priest, and that against Battie was that he had entertained Harrison.
The judge left York without fixing the date of execution, but Harrison was informed on the evening of 21 March that he was to die the next morning. With Battie, he was hanged, drawn, and quartered. The English Franciscans at Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
had his head as a relic
Relic
In religion, a relic is a part of the body of a saint or a venerated person, or else another type of ancient religious object, carefully preserved for purposes of veneration or as a tangible memorial...
for many years.