Robert Nutter
Encyclopedia
Robert Nutter was an English Catholic martyr. He was beatified in 1987.
He entered Brasenose College, Oxford
in 1564 or 1565, and, with his brother John Nutter, also a Catholic martyr, became a student of the English College, Reims. Having been ordained priest, 21 December, 1581, he returned to England.
On 2 February, 1583-4 he was committed to the Tower of London
, where he remained in the pit forty-seven days, wearing irons for forty-three days, and twice subjected to the tortures of "the scavenger's daughter
". On 10 November, 1584, he was again consigned to the pit, where he remained until, on 21 January, 1584-5, he, with twenty other priests and one layman, was shipped aboard the Mary Martin of Colchester, at Tower Wharf.
Landing at Boulogne
, 2 February, he revisited Rome in July, but, on 30 November, was again committed to prison in London, this time to Newgate Prison
, under the alias of Rowley. In 1587 he was removed to the Marshalsea Prison, and thence, in 1589-90, was sent to Wisbech Castle
, Cambridgeshire
. While in prison he joined the Dominican Order
.
There, in 1597, he signed a petition to Father Henry Garnet
in favour of having a Jesuit superior, but, on 8 November, 1598, he and his fellow martyr, Edward Thwing, with others, besought the Pope to institute an archpriest
. He escaped, but was recaptured and hanged.
He entered Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, Oxford
Brasenose College, originally Brazen Nose College , is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. As of 2006, it has an estimated financial endowment of £98m...
in 1564 or 1565, and, with his brother John Nutter, also a Catholic martyr, became a student of the English College, Reims. Having been ordained priest, 21 December, 1581, he returned to England.
On 2 February, 1583-4 he was committed to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
, where he remained in the pit forty-seven days, wearing irons for forty-three days, and twice subjected to the tortures of "the scavenger's daughter
Scavenger's daughter
The Scavenger's daughter was a type of torture device invented in the reign of King Henry VIII of England. Extant documents reveal, however, that the device was rarely used.-History:...
". On 10 November, 1584, he was again consigned to the pit, where he remained until, on 21 January, 1584-5, he, with twenty other priests and one layman, was shipped aboard the Mary Martin of Colchester, at Tower Wharf.
Landing at Boulogne
Boulogne-sur-Mer
-Road:* Metropolitan bus services are operated by the TCRB* Coach services to Calais and Dunkerque* A16 motorway-Rail:* The main railway station is Gare de Boulogne-Ville and located in the south of the city....
, 2 February, he revisited Rome in July, but, on 30 November, was again committed to prison in London, this time to Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison
Newgate Prison was a prison in London, at the corner of Newgate Street and Old Bailey just inside the City of London. It was originally located at the site of a gate in the Roman London Wall. The gate/prison was rebuilt in the 12th century, and demolished in 1777...
, under the alias of Rowley. In 1587 he was removed to the Marshalsea Prison, and thence, in 1589-90, was sent to 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...
, Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire
Cambridgeshire is a county in England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the northeast, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the west...
. While in prison he joined the Dominican Order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
.
There, in 1597, he signed a petition to Father Henry Garnet
Henry Garnet
Henry Garnet , sometimes Henry Garnett, was a Jesuit priest executed for his complicity in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Born in Derbyshire, he was educated in Nottingham and later at Winchester College, before moving to London in 1571 to work for a publisher...
in favour of having a Jesuit superior, but, on 8 November, 1598, he and his fellow martyr, Edward Thwing, with others, besought the Pope to institute 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...
. He escaped, but was recaptured and hanged.