Robert Thorpe (priest)
Encyclopedia
Robert Thorpe was an English Roman Catholic priest. He is a Catholic martyr, beatified in 1987.
1 March 1584, was ordained deacon
in December following, and priest by Cardinal Louis de Guise in April, 1585. He was sent on the English mission, 9 May 1585.
He was active in Yorkshire. He was arrested in bed very early on Palm Sunday
, 1595, at the house of Thomas Watkinson, at Menthorpe in the East Riding of Yorkshire
. Someone had seen palms being gathered the night before, and informed John Gates of Howden
, the nearest justice of the peace.
Watkinson, an old Catholic yeoman who lived a solitary life, is described by John Cecil as a clerk, so it is possible he was in minor orders
. Thorpe was condemned as a traitor for being a Catholic priest, and was hanged, drawn, and quartered. Watkinson, condemned as a felon
for harbouring priests, was hanged. He was offered his life if he would go to church.
Life
He reached the English College at 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....
1 March 1584, was ordained deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
in December following, and priest by Cardinal Louis de Guise in April, 1585. He was sent on the English mission, 9 May 1585.
He was active in Yorkshire. He was arrested in bed very early on Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday
Palm Sunday is a Christian moveable feast that falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem, an event mentioned in all four Canonical Gospels. ....
, 1595, at the house of Thomas Watkinson, at Menthorpe in the East Riding of Yorkshire
East Riding of Yorkshire
The East Riding of Yorkshire, or simply East Yorkshire, is a local government district with unitary authority status, and a ceremonial county of England. For ceremonial purposes the county also includes the city of Kingston upon Hull, which is a separate unitary authority...
. Someone had seen palms being gathered the night before, and informed John Gates of Howden
Howden
Howden is a small market town and civil parish in the East Riding of Yorkshire, England. It lies north of the M62, on the A614 road about north of Goole and south-west of York. William the Conqueror gave the town to the Bishops of Durham in 1080...
, the nearest justice of the peace.
Watkinson, an old Catholic yeoman who lived a solitary life, is described by John Cecil as a clerk, so it is possible he was in minor orders
Minor orders
The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte. In the Latin rite Catholic Church, the minor orders were in most cases replaced by "instituted" ministries of lector and acolyte, though communities that use...
. Thorpe was condemned as a traitor for being a Catholic priest, and was hanged, drawn, and quartered. Watkinson, condemned as a felon
Felony
A felony is a serious crime in the common law countries. The term originates from English common law where felonies were originally crimes which involved the confiscation of a convicted person's land and goods; other crimes were called misdemeanors...
for harbouring priests, was hanged. He was offered his life if he would go to church.