HEMERFORD, THOMAS, BL.

Priest, martyr; b. Dorsetshire, England; hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn (London), Feb. 12, 1584. Having completed his studies at St. John's and Hart Hall, Oxford, Hemerford traveled to the English College in Rome for his seminary education. He was ordained in 1583 by Bp. Goldwell at Rheims prior to beginning his work in the English mission. Hemerford was arrested the following year, and indicted on Feb. 5, 1584. Although he pled not guilty, he was sentenced to death two days later and committed to the Tower's "pit" to await execution with BB. James fenn, John Munden, and John Nutter. (The sick George haydock was returned to his cell.) All five were drawn on hurdles to Tyburn. Hemerford, the second of the group to suffer, was hanged, but cut down and disemboweled while still alive. An eyewitness related of Hemerford, "when the tormentor did cutt off his members, he did cry, 'Oh! A!'; I heard myself standing under the gibbet." 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). h. foley, Records of the English Province of the Society of Jesus, 7 v. (London 1877–82) 74, 103. gillow, Biblical Dictionary of English Catholicism (London and New York 1885–1902) III, 202; cf. III, 265; V, 142, 201. j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891) 252, 253, 304.

[k. i. rabenstein]