John Betham
Encyclopedia
John Betham was an English Catholic priest, the tutor to the Chevalier de Saint George, son of James II of England
and later called the Old Pretender.
, where his elder brother owned an estate. He completed his studies in the English college at Douai, and was ordained priest there. Afterwards he went to Paris (1667), where he resumed his studies, and after ten years was created a doctor of the Sorbonne
. Then he came to England on the English mission, but the excitement caused by Titus Oates
's narrative of the Popish Plot
meant he returned to the France.
Betham then revived an old project for erecting a seminary for the benefit of such of the English clergy taking degrees in the university of Paris. Arras College
at Paris had been founded as early as 1611 for the maintenance of learned writers in defence of the catholic religion. In 1667 this institution was expanded by Thomas Carre; but the scheme was not completed till many years later, when Betham was appointed to preside over the seminary.
He was appointed one of the chaplains and preachers in ordinary to King James II. This office he held till the Glorious Revolution
, and soon afterwards he followed James to St. Germain. He was appointed preceptor to the Chevalier de Saint George, and after King James's death that office was confirmed to him by commission, dated 30 October 1701. Betham was a sympathizer with Jansenism
, and Mary of Modena
objected to his views. Broad as Betham may have been in theology, his curriculum for the young Chevalier has been seen as narrow.
Betham was able to purchase a house and garden in the Rue des Postes, Faubourg Saint Marceau, and open St. Gregory's seminary by letters patent from the king of France in 1701. Some years before he died he retired there, where he ended his days in 1709.
James II of England
James II & VII was King of England and King of Ireland as James II and King of Scotland as James VII, from 6 February 1685. He was the last Catholic monarch to reign over the Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland...
and later called the Old Pretender.
Life
He was a native of WarwickshireWarwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, where his elder brother owned an estate. He completed his studies in the English college at Douai, and was ordained priest there. Afterwards he went to Paris (1667), where he resumed his studies, and after ten years was created a doctor of the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
. Then he came to England on the English mission, but the excitement caused by Titus Oates
Titus Oates
Titus Oates was an English perjurer who fabricated the "Popish Plot", a supposed Catholic conspiracy to kill King Charles II.-Early life:...
's narrative of the Popish Plot
Popish Plot
The Popish Plot was a fictitious conspiracy concocted by Titus Oates that gripped England, Wales and Scotland in Anti-Catholic hysteria between 1678 and 1681. Oates alleged that there existed an extensive Catholic conspiracy to assassinate Charles II, accusations that led to the execution of at...
meant he returned to the France.
Betham then revived an old project for erecting a seminary for the benefit of such of the English clergy taking degrees in the university of Paris. Arras College
Arras College
Arras College was a Catholic foundation in Paris, a house of higher studies associated with the University of Paris, set up in 1611. It was intended for English priests, and had a function as a House of Writers, or apologetical college...
at Paris had been founded as early as 1611 for the maintenance of learned writers in defence of the catholic religion. In 1667 this institution was expanded by Thomas Carre; but the scheme was not completed till many years later, when Betham was appointed to preside over the seminary.
He was appointed one of the chaplains and preachers in ordinary to King James II. This office he held till the Glorious Revolution
Glorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
, and soon afterwards he followed James to St. Germain. He was appointed preceptor to the Chevalier de Saint George, and after King James's death that office was confirmed to him by commission, dated 30 October 1701. Betham was a sympathizer with Jansenism
Jansenism
Jansenism was a Christian theological movement, primarily in France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. The movement originated from the posthumously published work of the Dutch theologian Cornelius Otto Jansen, who died in 1638...
, and Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena
Mary of Modena was Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland as the second wife of King James II and VII. A devout Catholic, Mary became, in 1673, the second wife of James, Duke of York, who later succeeded his older brother Charles II as King James II...
objected to his views. Broad as Betham may have been in theology, his curriculum for the young Chevalier has been seen as narrow.
Betham was able to purchase a house and garden in the Rue des Postes, Faubourg Saint Marceau, and open St. Gregory's seminary by letters patent from the king of France in 1701. Some years before he died he retired there, where he ended his days in 1709.