John Britton (martyr)

For other people of the same name, see John Britton (disambiguation).

The blessed John Britton (Bretton) (died 1 April 1598) was an English Catholic martyr from Barnsley, Yorkshire, who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I. beatified in 1987.[1]

Biography

A member of the old, established Breton family, Britton was a devout Catholic.[2] Known as a zealous Catholic, he was subjected to continual vexations and persecutions, which caused him to absent himself from his wife and family for safety.[3] As an old man, he was accused of making traitorous speeches against the queen and condemned to death. He refused to renounce his faith, and was executed at York on 1 April 1598. He was probably the father of Dr. Matthew Britton, prefect and professor at Douai in 1599.

References

  1. ↑ http://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/cult-martyrum/martiri/001.html
  2. ↑ Camm, Bede. "Ven. John Britton." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 23 Mar. 2013
  3. ↑ Stanton, Richard, A Menology of England and Wales, Burns & Oates, Ltd., London, 1892


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