The Year 1599

In this year most of our catalogues of martyrs place the death of Matthias Harrisonj, priest, who by some is confounded with Mr. Harrison, who suffered at York in 1602, but the lists of the priests ordained and sent from Doway College distinguished them, and call the latter James Harrison, of the Diocese of Lichfield, ordained in 1583, and set from Rhemes upon the mission in 1584, whereas the former is there called Matthias Harrison of the Diocese of York, and was ordained after the return of the College to Doway in 1597, and from thence sent the same year upon the mission. Dr. Champney in his manuscript also distinguishes them, and tells us that Mr. Matthias was this year hanged, bowelled, and quartered at York, barely on account of his priestly character.

This year also I find two of the laity executed for religious matters, viz., Mr. John Lion, who was hanged, bowelled, and quartered at Oakham in Rutland, July 16, for denying the Queen’s spiritual supremacy, [Catalog. Chalced. citans acta martirii ejiis, et relationes fide dignorum ex certa scientia.'] And Mr. James Doudal, an Irish merchant, native of Wexford, who for the same cause was hanged, bowelled, and quartered at Exeter, August 13; whose burying-place, says his countryman, Jo/zw Mullan of Cork, is said to be illustrated with divine miracles to this day, p. 93. (Appendix to his Idea togatce constantice.)¹²

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CHRISTOPHER WHARTON

Footnotes

1. Yen. Richard Horner. — From the same Manuscript and Catalogue; see also Lives of E. M. ↩

2. The Matthias Harrison mentioned above, as Challoner says both here and below at p. 260, is difficult to distinguish clearly from the Harrison of 1602. For this reason the Holy See prudently differs, recognising him as a Venerable. ↩