John Hambley (martyr)
Encyclopedia
The Venerable John Hambley (died 1587) was an English Catholic and martyr, who died during the reign of Elizabeth I.
Born and educated in Cornwall
, Hambley was converted to Catholicism
by reading one of Robert Persons' books in 1582. He studied at Rheims from 1583 to 1585 and then returned and worked in the Western Counties for around a year. Around Easter 1586, he was betrayed and captured, then tried and condemned at Taunton
; however, he denied his faith to save his life and then broke prison. Having fled to Salisbury
, he continued his labors there until the next August. Then, on the eve of the Assumption
, the Protestant Bishop of Salisbury
decided to search the houses of local Catholics, suspecting that he might catch a priest saying mass. During the raids Hambley was recaptured. Now worse off than ever, he became even more afraid than before and gave up the names of most of his Catholic friends, as well as denied his faith. Once again, he was free. Then, on the next Easter
, he was tried again. This third time though, he did not break, and was executed near Salisbury, "standing to it manfully, and inveighing much against his former fault".
No one is sure what caused him to stand firm during his final arrest. One contemporary, Father Warford, believed it was due to his guardian angel, but another, Father Gerard, with great probability, states that his strength came from a fellow prisoner, Thomas Pilchard
, who later became a martyr himself.
Born and educated in Cornwall
Cornwall
Cornwall is a unitary authority and ceremonial county of England, within the United Kingdom. It is bordered to the north and west by the Celtic Sea, to the south by the English Channel, and to the east by the county of Devon, over the River Tamar. Cornwall has a population of , and covers an area of...
, Hambley was converted to Catholicism
Catholicism
Catholicism is a broad term for the body of the Catholic faith, its theologies and doctrines, its liturgical, ethical, spiritual, and behavioral characteristics, as well as a religious people as a whole....
by reading one of Robert Persons' books in 1582. He studied at Rheims from 1583 to 1585 and then returned and worked in the Western Counties for around a year. Around Easter 1586, he was betrayed and captured, then tried and condemned at Taunton
Taunton
Taunton is the county town of Somerset, England. The town, including its suburbs, had an estimated population of 61,400 in 2001. It is the largest town in the shire county of Somerset....
; however, he denied his faith to save his life and then broke prison. Having fled to Salisbury
Salisbury
Salisbury is a cathedral city in Wiltshire, England and the only city in the county. It is the second largest settlement in the county...
, he continued his labors there until the next August. Then, on the eve of the Assumption
Assumption of Mary
According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...
, the Protestant Bishop of Salisbury
Bishop of Salisbury
The Bishop of Salisbury is the ordinary of the Church of England's Diocese of Salisbury in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers much of the counties of Wiltshire and Dorset...
decided to search the houses of local Catholics, suspecting that he might catch a priest saying mass. During the raids Hambley was recaptured. Now worse off than ever, he became even more afraid than before and gave up the names of most of his Catholic friends, as well as denied his faith. Once again, he was free. Then, on the next Easter
Easter
Easter is the central feast in the Christian liturgical year. According to the Canonical gospels, Jesus rose from the dead on the third day after his crucifixion. His resurrection is celebrated on Easter Day or Easter Sunday...
, he was tried again. This third time though, he did not break, and was executed near Salisbury, "standing to it manfully, and inveighing much against his former fault".
No one is sure what caused him to stand firm during his final arrest. One contemporary, Father Warford, believed it was due to his guardian angel, but another, Father Gerard, with great probability, states that his strength came from a fellow prisoner, Thomas Pilchard
Thomas Pilchard
Thomas Pilchard was an English Roman Catholic priest. He is a Catholic martyr, beatified in 1987.-Life:...
, who later became a martyr himself.