NICHOLS, GEORGE, BL.

Priest, martyr; b. c. 1550 at Oxford, England; hanged, drawn, and quartered there, July 5, 1589. George Nichols (also given as Nicolls or Nicholas) studied at Brasenose College, Oxford, then was assistant master at St. Paul's School, London. He arrived at Rheims with Bl. Thomas pilchard, Nov. 20, 1581, but went on to Rome. He was ordained priest (1583) at Rheims by Cardinal Louis de Guise. During his six-year ministry in and around Oxford, he was responsible for many conversions, including that of a celebrated highwayman during his confinement at Oxford Castle. After his arrest at Catherine Wheel Inn by the university officers, he proved to be a stout controversialist. Nichols was sent to Bridewell Prison, London, together with BB. Richard yaxley, Thomas belson, and Humphrey pritchard. On June 30, all four were sent to Oxford for trial and were condemned. The heads of the priests were set up on the castle, and their quarters on the four city gates. They were beatified by Pope John Paul II on Nov. 22, 1987 with George Haydock and Companions.

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

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

Bibliography: Harleian Society Publications, I, II (London, 1904), 1124. Oxford Historical Society Publications, XXXIX (Oxford, 1899), 109, 110; LV (Oxford, 1910), 33. r. challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, ed. j. h. pollen (rev. ed. London 1924), I, nos, 73–75. j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891).

[k. i. rabenstein]