John Mush
Encyclopedia
John Mush (b. in Yorkshire
, 1551 or 1552; d. at Wenge
, Buckinghamshire
, 1612 or 1613) was an English Roman Catholic priest, the confessor to Margaret Clitherow
.
, being confessor, to Margaret Clitherow who was executed for harbouring him, and Francis Ingleby
. Arrested 28 October 1586, and condemned to die, he escaped with two other priests.
For many years he worked on mission in the North, becoming a recognized leader among his brother priests. When the dissensions among the imprisoned priests at Wisbech Castle
broke out in 1595 (the so-called "Wisbech Stirs
"), he with Dr. Dudley went there to arbitrate. Failing in this, together with John Colleton
he set himself to devise some organization of a voluntary character among the clergy which might supply the want of episcopal government much felt after the death of Cardinal William Allen in 1594. Opposed by Robert Persons, it was rendered superfluous by the appointment of an archpriest
(1599).
In the ensuing archpriest controversy Mush was one of the appellant clergy who appealed to Rome against the archpriest. Against the Adversus factiosos in ecclesia circulated by Thomas Lister
, Mush wrote Declaratio Motuum (1601) collecting documentation, and in 1602, with Anthony Champney
, Bluet and Cecil, went as a deputation to Rome where for eight months they fought for their petition. Their petition, first for six bishops and then for six archpriests, was refused; but though the archpriest succeeded in maintaining his position, the appellants were acquitted of the charges of rebellion and schism.
On his return to England, Mush was one of the thirteen priests who signed the protestation of allegiance to Elizabeth I of England
(1603). In his later years he acted as assistant to two successive archpriests, George Blackwell
and George Birkhead
, in Yorkshire, but he seems to have been acting as chaplain to Lady Dormer in Buckinghamshire at the time of his death.
His diary of the deputation to Rome in 1602 was preserved in manuscript, in the Inner Temple
, London. Dodd also says he wrote against the apostate priest Thomas Bell
, and John Pitts quotes his English translation of Lectiones Panagorali Turini, but these works are not now known to exist.
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...
, 1551 or 1552; d. at Wenge
Wenge
Wenge is a tropical timber, very dark in color with a distinctive figure and a strong partridge pattern. The wood is heavy and hard, suitable for flooring and staircases. It also gives its name to the colour wenge.-Uses:...
, Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
, 1612 or 1613) was an English Roman Catholic priest, the confessor to Margaret Clitherow
Margaret Clitherow
Saint Margaret Clitherow is an English saint and martyr of the Roman Catholic Church. She is sometimes called "the Pearl of York".-Life:...
.
Life
Having spent six months in the English College at Douai, he went to Rome (1576) where he studied for seven years. Ordained priest, he returned to England (1583) and laboured at YorkYork
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
, being confessor, to Margaret Clitherow who was executed for harbouring him, and Francis Ingleby
Francis Ingleby
Blessed Francis Ingleby was a Roman Catholic martyr executed in York, England during the reign of Elizabeth I.He has been described as short but well-made, fair-complexioned, with a chestnut beard, and a slight cast in his eyes. He was the fourth son of Sir William Ingleby and Anne Malory...
. Arrested 28 October 1586, and condemned to die, he escaped with two other priests.
For many years he worked on mission in the North, becoming a recognized leader among his brother priests. When the dissensions among the imprisoned priests at Wisbech Castle
Wisbech Castle
Wisbech castle was a motte-and-bailey castle built to fortify Wisbech, in the Fenland area of Cambridgeshire, England by William I in 1072. The Norman castle, reputedly was destroyed during a devastating flood of 1236, the original design and layout is still unknown.In the 15th century repairs were...
broke out in 1595 (the so-called "Wisbech Stirs
Wisbech Stirs
The Wisbech Stirs was a divisive quarrel between English Roman Catholic clergy held prisoner in Wisbech Castle in Cambridgeshire, towards the end of the reign of Elizabeth I of England...
"), he with Dr. Dudley went there to arbitrate. Failing in this, together with John Colleton
John Colleton (priest)
-Life:He was son of Edmund Colleton of Milverton, Somerset, where he was born. He was sent to the University of Oxford in 1565, and studied at Lincoln College. A convert to Catholicism when about twenty years of age, he went to Leuven with the intention of becoming a Carthusian monk, and entered...
he set himself to devise some organization of a voluntary character among the clergy which might supply the want of episcopal government much felt after the death of Cardinal William Allen in 1594. Opposed by Robert Persons, it was rendered superfluous by the appointment of an archpriest
Archpriest
An archpriest is a priest with supervisory duties over a number of parishes. The term is most often used in Eastern Orthodoxy and Eastern Catholic Churches, although it may be used in the Latin rite of the Roman Catholic Church instead of dean or vicar forane.In the 16th and 17th centuries, during...
(1599).
In the ensuing archpriest controversy Mush was one of the appellant clergy who appealed to Rome against the archpriest. Against the Adversus factiosos in ecclesia circulated by Thomas Lister
Thomas Lister (Jesuit)
Thomas Lister was anEnglish Jesuit writer.-Life:He was the son of Christopher Lister, of Midhope, Yorkshire. He entered Douai College, in 1576. Having occasion to return to England, he was seized and imprisoned...
, Mush wrote Declaratio Motuum (1601) collecting documentation, and in 1602, with Anthony Champney
Anthony Champney
Anthony Champney was an English Roman Catholic priest and controversialist.-Life:He studied at Reims and Rome...
, Bluet and Cecil, went as a deputation to Rome where for eight months they fought for their petition. Their petition, first for six bishops and then for six archpriests, was refused; but though the archpriest succeeded in maintaining his position, the appellants were acquitted of the charges of rebellion and schism.
On his return to England, Mush was one of the thirteen priests who signed the protestation of allegiance to Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I of England
Elizabeth I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from 17 November 1558 until her death. Sometimes called The Virgin Queen, Gloriana, or Good Queen Bess, Elizabeth was the fifth and last monarch of the Tudor dynasty...
(1603). In his later years he acted as assistant to two successive archpriests, George Blackwell
George Blackwell
Father George Blackwell was Roman Catholic Archpriest of England from 1597 to 1608.-Biography:Blackwell was born in Middlesex, England about 1545, perhaps the son of the pewterer Thomas Blackwell. He was admitted as a scholar to Trinity College, Oxford on 27 May 1562...
and George Birkhead
George Birkhead
George Birkhead or Birket, alias Hall, Lambton, and Salvin was an English Roman Catholic priest, archpriest in England from 1608.-Life:...
, in Yorkshire, but he seems to have been acting as chaplain to Lady Dormer in Buckinghamshire at the time of his death.
Works
His works are:- The Life and Death of Mistress Margaret Clitherow (written 1586, first printed 1849);
- An account of the sufferings of Catholics in the Northern Parts or England (probably the same as the MS. account printed by John MorrisJohn Morris (Jesuit)John Morris was an English Jesuit and historical writer.-Life:He was educated partly in India, partly at Harrow School, partly in reading for Cambridge with Dean Alford, the New Testament scholar. Under him a great change passed over Morris's ideas...
in Troubles of our Catholic Forefathers, series iii); - Declaratio Motuum (Rouen, 1601).
His diary of the deputation to Rome in 1602 was preserved in manuscript, in the Inner Temple
Inner Temple
The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple, commonly known as Inner Temple, is one of the four Inns of Court in London. To be called to the Bar and practise as a barrister in England and Wales, an individual must belong to one of these Inns...
, London. Dodd also says he wrote against the apostate priest Thomas Bell
Thomas Bell (priest)
Thomas Bell was an English Roman Catholic priest, and later an anti-Catholic writer.-Life:He was born at Raskelf, near Thirsk, Yorkshire, in 1551, and is said to have been beneficed as a clergyman in Lancashire. Subsequently he became a Roman Catholic, and was imprisoned at York, around 1573...
, and John Pitts quotes his English translation of Lectiones Panagorali Turini, but these works are not now known to exist.