BALES, CHRISTOPHER, BL.

Priest, martyr; alias Evers; b. ca. 1564, Coniscliffe near Darlington, Durham, England; hanged, drawn, and quartered in Fleet Street opposite Fetter Lane, London, March 4, 1590. Bales began his studies for the priesthood at the English College in Rome (1583), but he was sent to Rheims after contracting tuberculosis. He was ordained at Douay (March 28, 1587). Soon after his return to England (Nov. 2, 1588), he was arrested, racked, and tortured by Topcliffe (hung up by the hands for 24 hours at a time). He was condemned for high treason—for having been ordained abroad and coming to England to exercise his office. He asked Judge Anderson whether St. Augustine of Canterbury, apostle of the English, was also a traitor. The judge said no, but that the act had since been made treason by law. On the gibbet was set a placard: "For treason and favoring foreign invasion." He spoke to the people from the ladder, showing them that his only "treason" was his priesthood. Executed on the same day was Bl. Nicholas horner for having made Bales a jerkin, and Bl. Alexander blake for lodging him in his house. Bales was beatified by Pius XI on Dec. 15, 1929.

Feast of the English Martyrs: May 4 (England).

See Also: england, scotland, and wales, martyrs of.

Bibliography: r. challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, ed. j. h. pollen (rev. ed. London 1924; repr. Farnborough 1969). h. foley, Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus, 7 v. (London 1877–82). j. morris, The Catholics of York under Elizabeth (London 1891). j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891).

[k. i. rabenstein]