SCOTT, MONTFORD, BL.

Priest, martyr; sometimes spelled Monford Scot; b. c. 1550 at Hawkestead, diocese of Norwich, England; hanged, drawn, and quartered July 1, 1591 in Fleet Street, London. He was one of the earliest theology students at the English College of Douai, having arrived there in 1574. In 1575, while still a subdeacon, he accompanied Dominic Vaughan to England, where they fell into the hands of the authorities in December 1576. Vaughan betrayed the names of Catholics in London and Essex. Released, Scott returned to Douai for presbyteral ordination at Brussels in 1577 then set out for the English Mission in a ship that was attacked by pirates. He worked primarily in East Anglia and is mentioned as having labored in Kent (1580), Norfolk, Suffolk (1583), Lincolnshire, and Yorkshire (1584). In 1584, he was arrested at York with his cousin, Bl. Brian Lacey (beatified 1929), who served as his assistant and whose brother had betrayed them. He was taken to London and imprisoned for seven years until his release was secured by a monetary payment on the condition that he leave the country. Before going into exile, Fr. Scott paid a visit to the prisoners at Wisbeach Castle, where he was again apprehended. Scott was brought to trial (June 30, 1591) at Newgate in the company of Bl. George beesley, condemned for being in the country illegally, and executed the following day. He was 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: r. challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, ed. j. h. pollen (rev. ed. London 1924). j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891).

[k. i. rabenstein]