Hewett, John, Bl.
HEWETT, JOHN, BL.
Priest, martyr; sometimes spelled, Hewitt; alias Weldon and Sayell; b. York, England; d. hanged at Mile End Green, London, Oct. 5, 1588. From Caius College, Cambridge, Hewett passed to the English College, Rheims. During the course of his seminary studies, he returned to England, where he was captured and banished in 1585. After his ordination the following year, he returned to England and again was captured and exiled (1587) to the Netherlands. He was unsafe even abroad. In the Netherlands he was arrested by the earl of Leicester on a false accusation and sent back to England for trial. In October 1588, he was formally arraigned on the charge of being illegally ordained abroad and entering England to exercise the ministry. The following day he was taken through the streets of London to Mile End Green, where before his execution he held disputes with two preachers. Hewett 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). j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891).
[k. i. rabenstein]