Thomas Fitzherbert
Encyclopedia
Thomas Fitzherbert was an English
Jesuit.
, where his descendants have since flourished and still remain Catholics. He was trained to piety and firmness in his religion by his mother, and when sent to Oxford
in his sixteenth year he confessed his faith with a courage that grew with the various trials, of which he has left us an interesting memoir (Foley, Records of English Province S.J., II, 210). At last he was forced to keep in hiding, and in 1572 he was imprisoned.
and Robert Persons commenced their well-known mission, Fitzherbert put himself at their service, and helped Campion in the preparation of his Decem Rationes by verifying quotations and copying passages from the fathers in various libraries, to which it would have been impossible for the Jesuit to obtain admission. Unable at last to maintain his position in face of the ever-growing persecution, he left England in 1582, and took up his residence in the north of France
. Here, as a lay Catholic of birth, means, and unexceptionable character, he was much trusted by the Catholic leaders, and closely watched by Walsingham
's emissaries, whose letters contain frequent insinuations against his ulterior intentions (see Foley, Records of English Province S.J., II, 220-228). His wife died in 1588, and he soon afterwards took a vow of celibacy
.
He is next found in the household of the young Duke of Feria
, whose mother was Lady Anne Dormer. With him or in his service he lived in Flanders
, Spain
, Milan
, Naples
, and Rome for some twenty years, until the Duke died in 1607, on the point of setting out for a diplomatic mission to Germany
, on which Fitzherbert was to have accompanied him. It was during this period that he was charged in 1598 by Squire with having tempted him to murder Queen Elizabeth
; in 1595 a charge of contradictory implication had been preferred against him to the Spanish Government, viz. that he was an agent of Elizabeth. Both charges led to the enhancement of his reputation. A series of 200 letters from the Duke to him is preserved in the archives of the Archdiocese of Westminster.
In 1601, while in Spain, he felt moved to take a vow to offer himself for the priesthood, and he was ordained in Rome 24 March 1602. After this he acted as Roman agent for the archpriest
Harrison until he was succeeded, in 1609, by the future bishop, Father Richard Smith
. But in 1606 he had made a third vow, namely, to enter the Society of Jesus
, which he did about the year 1613. He was soon given the important post of superior in Flanders, 1616 to 1618, afterwards recalled and made rector of the English College, Rome, from 1618 to 1639. He died there, closing, at the age of eighty-eight years, a life that had been filled with an unusual variety of duties.
He also wrote books in the controversy that grew out of King James's Oath of Allegiance:
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
Jesuit.
Early life
His father having died whilst he was an infant, he was, even as a child, the head of an important family and the first heir born at SwynnertonSwynnerton
Swynnerton is a village in Staffordshire, England.St Mary's Church dates back to at least the 13th Century. Swynnerton received its charter from Edward I in 1306. During the 14th Century a market used to be held every Wednesday and an annual fair was held on August 15 each year...
, where his descendants have since flourished and still remain Catholics. He was trained to piety and firmness in his religion by his mother, and when sent to Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in his sixteenth year he confessed his faith with a courage that grew with the various trials, of which he has left us an interesting memoir (Foley, Records of English Province S.J., II, 210). At last he was forced to keep in hiding, and in 1572 he was imprisoned.
Marriage & move to France
In 1580 he married and had children, but he did not give up his religious works. When Edmund CampionEdmund Campion
Saint Edmund Campion, S.J. was an English Roman Catholic martyr and Jesuit priest. While conducting an underground ministry in officially Protestant England, Campion was arrested by priest hunters. Convicted of high treason by a kangaroo court, he was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn...
and Robert Persons commenced their well-known mission, Fitzherbert put himself at their service, and helped Campion in the preparation of his Decem Rationes by verifying quotations and copying passages from the fathers in various libraries, to which it would have been impossible for the Jesuit to obtain admission. Unable at last to maintain his position in face of the ever-growing persecution, he left England in 1582, and took up his residence in the north of France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. Here, as a lay Catholic of birth, means, and unexceptionable character, he was much trusted by the Catholic leaders, and closely watched by Walsingham
Francis Walsingham
Sir Francis Walsingham was Principal Secretary to Elizabeth I of England from 1573 until 1590, and is popularly remembered as her "spymaster". Walsingham is frequently cited as one of the earliest practitioners of modern intelligence methods both for espionage and for domestic security...
's emissaries, whose letters contain frequent insinuations against his ulterior intentions (see Foley, Records of English Province S.J., II, 220-228). His wife died in 1588, and he soon afterwards took a vow of celibacy
Celibacy
Celibacy is a personal commitment to avoiding sexual relations, in particular a vow from marriage. Typically celibacy involves avoiding all romantic relationships of any kind. An individual may choose celibacy for religious reasons, such as is the case for priests in some religions, for reasons of...
.
He is next found in the household of the young Duke of Feria
Duke of Feria
The Duke of Feria is a Spanish title.It has been held by:*Don Gomez Suarez de Figueroa of Cordova, Duke of Feria*Lorenzo Suárez de Figueroa y Córdoba, Duke of Feria*Gómez Suárez de Figueroa, 3rd Duke of Feria...
, whose mother was Lady Anne Dormer. With him or in his service he lived in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
, Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
, and Rome for some twenty years, until the Duke died in 1607, on the point of setting out for a diplomatic mission to Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, on which Fitzherbert was to have accompanied him. It was during this period that he was charged in 1598 by Squire with having tempted him to murder Queen Elizabeth
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...
; in 1595 a charge of contradictory implication had been preferred against him to the Spanish Government, viz. that he was an agent of Elizabeth. Both charges led to the enhancement of his reputation. A series of 200 letters from the Duke to him is preserved in the archives of the Archdiocese of Westminster.
In 1601, while in Spain, he felt moved to take a vow to offer himself for the priesthood, and he was ordained in Rome 24 March 1602. After this he acted as Roman agent for the 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...
Harrison until he was succeeded, in 1609, by the future bishop, Father Richard Smith
Father Richard Smith
Richard Smith , , was the second Bishop over England, Wales and Scotland after Catholicism was banned in England in 1559. He followed Father William Bishop who died in 1624.-Early life:Richard Smith was born in Lincolnshire, England...
. But in 1606 he had made a third vow, namely, to enter the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, which he did about the year 1613. He was soon given the important post of superior in Flanders, 1616 to 1618, afterwards recalled and made rector of the English College, Rome, from 1618 to 1639. He died there, closing, at the age of eighty-eight years, a life that had been filled with an unusual variety of duties.
Principal works
- A Defence of the Catholycke Cause, By T.F., with an Apology of his innocence in a fayned conspiracy of Edward Squire (St-Omer, 1602), on the case of Edward SquireEdward SquireEdward Squire was an English scrivener and sailor, and an alleged conspirator against the life of Elizabeth I of England. He was executed, after an investigation of a series of obscure circumstances led to conviction for his apparent attempts to poison Queen Elizabeth and Robert Devereux, 2nd Earl...
. - A Treatise concerning Policy and Religion (Douai, 1606-10, 1615), translated into Latin in 1630. This work was highly valued for its sound and broad-minded criticism of the lax political principles professed in those days.
He also wrote books in the controversy that grew out of King James's Oath of Allegiance:
- A Supplement to [Father Persons's] the Discussion of M. D. Barlow (St-Omer, 1613)
- A Confutation of certaine Absurdities uttered by M. D. Andrews (St-Omer, 1613)
- Of the Oath of Fidelity (St-Omer, 1614)
- The Obmutesce of F. F. to the Epphata of D. Collins (St-Omer, 1621).
- Life of St. Francis Xavier (Paris, 1632), a translation from Turcellini's