Richardson, William, Bl.
RICHARDSON, WILLIAM, BL.
Priest, last martyr under Elizabeth I; alias Anderson; b. Wales (Vales), near Sheffield, West Riding, Yorkshire (per Challoner) or in Lancashire (per Valladolid diary), England; hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn (London), Feb. 17, 1603. He studied for the priesthood (1692–94) at Valladolid, Spain, and was ordained at Seville in 1594. He was betrayed by a trusted friend, arrested at Clement's Inn, imprisoned at Newgate, and prosecuted hastily. At his execution about a week after his apprehension, he prayed for the queen, then died cheerfully. He 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]