John Percy
Encyclopedia
John Percy (born at Holmeside, Durham
, 27 September 1569; died at London, 3 December 1641) was an English Jesuit priest and controversialist.
, in 1586, then to the English College, Rome, 1589-94. Returning to Belgium, he entered the Jesuit novitiate
, 2 May 1594, and then set out for England in 1596. He was, however, arrested by the Dutch, tortured, and sent prisoner to London.
He managed to escape, and became the companion of Father Gerard in several adventures. He was seized at Great Harrowden
(November, 1605) at the time of the Gunpowder Plot
, but was eventually banished at the request of the Spanish ambassador (1606). Retiring to Belgium he was for a time head of the English Jesuits, then professor of Scripture at the Catholic University of Leuven
, after which he returned again to England.
He was again imprisoned and condemned to death (1610). He had already begun to write on current controversies, and when James I of England
desired a series of disputations in 1622, Percy, who was then in a prison in London, was required to defend the Catholic side. In these disputations King James himself and William Laud
took a leading part. These controversies were afterwards printed and discussed by Percy and John Floyd
on the Catholic side, and by Laud, Francis White, John White, Daniel Featley
, and Anthony Wotton
on the Protestant.
Percy was eventually released in 1625 and ordered to banishment in 1635; but he was allowed to remain in London until his death. As a result of Percy's efforts, Mary, Countess of Buckingham and William Chillingworth
became converts to the Catholic Church.
Durham
Durham is a city in north east England. It is within the County Durham local government district, and is the county town of the larger ceremonial county...
, 27 September 1569; died at London, 3 December 1641) was an English Jesuit priest and controversialist.
Life
A Catholic convert aged 14, he went first to 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....
, in 1586, then to the English College, Rome, 1589-94. Returning to Belgium, he entered the Jesuit novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
, 2 May 1594, and then set out for England in 1596. He was, however, arrested by the Dutch, tortured, and sent prisoner to London.
He managed to escape, and became the companion of Father Gerard in several adventures. He was seized at Great Harrowden
Great Harrowden
Great Harrowden is a village in Northamptonshire, near the town of Wellingborough - the population is approximately 70. The village sits astride the busy A509 running between Kettering and Wellingborough - although a bypass is due to be built shortly...
(November, 1605) at the time of the Gunpowder Plot
Gunpowder Plot
The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I of England and VI of Scotland by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby.The plan was to blow up the House of...
, but was eventually banished at the request of the Spanish ambassador (1606). Retiring to Belgium he was for a time head of the English Jesuits, then professor of Scripture at the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
, after which he returned again to England.
He was again imprisoned and condemned to death (1610). He had already begun to write on current controversies, and when James I of England
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
desired a series of disputations in 1622, Percy, who was then in a prison in London, was required to defend the Catholic side. In these disputations King James himself and William Laud
William Laud
William Laud was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1633 to 1645. One of the High Church Caroline divines, he opposed radical forms of Puritanism...
took a leading part. These controversies were afterwards printed and discussed by Percy and John Floyd
John Floyd (Jesuit)
John Floyd was an English Jesuit, known as a controversialist. He is known under the pseudonyms Daniel à Jesu, Hermannus Loemelius, and George White John Floyd (1572 – September 15, 1649) was an English Jesuit, known as a controversialist. He is known under the pseudonyms Daniel à Jesu, Hermannus...
on the Catholic side, and by Laud, Francis White, John White, Daniel Featley
Daniel Featley
Daniel Featley, also called Fairclough and sometimes called Richard Fairclough/Featley , was an English theologian and controversialist...
, and Anthony Wotton
Anthony Wotton
Anthony Wotton was an English clergyman and controversialist, of Puritan views. He was the first Gresham Professor of Divinity. Christopher Hill describes him as a Modernist and Ramist.-Life:...
on the Protestant.
Percy was eventually released in 1625 and ordered to banishment in 1635; but he was allowed to remain in London until his death. As a result of Percy's efforts, Mary, Countess of Buckingham and William Chillingworth
William Chillingworth
William Chillingworth was a controversial English churchman.-Early life:He was born in Oxford, where his father served as mayor; William Laud was his godfather. In June 1618 he became a scholar of Trinity College, Oxford, of which he was made a fellow in June 1628...
became converts to the Catholic Church.