WHITBREAD, THOMAS, BL.

Jesuit provincial and martyr; alias Harcourt and Harcott; b. Essex, 1618; d. hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn (London), June 20, 1679. In order to maintain his Catholic identity, Whitbread's parents educated him at home until he attended the Jesuit college at St-Omer, Flanders (c. 1630–35). Upon completion of his studies there, he joined the English Jesuits at their novitiate in Watten, (now in Belgium). He was ordained abroad (1645), contrary to the law of England, but returned to his homeland two years later to begin a three-decade apostolate in the eastern counties of the English mission. During this time he was Jesuit superior in Suffolk, then Lincolnshire, and finally English provincial (1678).

In the course of his visitation of Continental seminaries, Whitbread met the infamous Titus Oates, a former Anglican minister who had allegedly converted to Catholicism and was studying for the priesthood. As provincial, Whitbread refused to admit Oates to the Order because of his irregular history and odd behavior. Rebuffed and seeking revenge, Oates joined forces with the paranoid Israel Tonge to convince King Charles II that Jesuits were planning his assassination.

Fr. Whitbread was placed under house arrest in London on Michaelmas Day, Sept. 29, 1678. He was so ill from the plague contracted in Antwerp that the Spanish ambassador intervened to prevent his transfer to Newgate Prison for three months. Whitbread was first indicted at the Old Bailey, Dec. 17, 1678, but the evidence against him and his companions was contradictory. Unwilling to allow the release of the Jesuit provincial, the trial was suspended and Whitbread returned to prison.

On June 13, 1679, Stephen Dugdale, a convicted embezzler, Oates, and William Bedloe provided false testimony leading to Whitbread's conviction despite evidence proving perjury. Whitbread was condemned to execution together with BB. John fenwick, John gavan, William harcourt, and Anthony turner.

Just before his execution, Whitbread pronounced his innocence of the charges and forgave those who falsely accused him. A pardon was granted by the king as they stood on the gallows on the condition that they admit the conspiracy. Refusing to lie, they thanked the king and again protested their innocence. All five were permitted to hang until dead before the completion of the sentence of disembowelment and quartering. Their remains were buried in the churchyard of St. Giles's in the Fields. All five Jesuits were beatified by Pius XI on Dec. 15, 1929.

Feast of the English Martyrs: May 4 (England); Dec. 1 (Jesuits).

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

Bibliography: t. whitbread, The Remonstrance of Piety and Innocence (London 1683). The Tryals and Condemnation of Thomas White, alias Whitebread … for High Treason in Conspiring the Death of the King … (London 1679). 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 (London 1879–83) V, VII. j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891). j. n. tylenda, Jesuit Saints & Martyrs (Chicago 1998) 175–78.

[k. i. rabenstein]