SHERWOOD, THOMAS, BL.

Lay martyr; b. London, England, 1551; d. hanged, drawn, and quartered at Tyburn (London), Feb. 7, 1578. After leaving school (1566), Thomas assisted his father, a London wool draper who himself had been imprisoned for the faith. Discerning a vocation to the priesthood, Thomas was arranging to attend the English College at Douai when he was recognized in Chancery Lane and betrayed by George Marten, son of Lady Tregonwell. When questioned about his opinion of the excommunication of the queen, he acknowledged his ignorance of Pius V's bull, but stated that if she were indeed excommunicated, her rule could not be lawful. Thus, he was detained at Westminster for further examination and committed to the Tower of London by the Privy Council (Nov. 17, 1577). He was repeatedly examined, threatened with the horrors of the dungeon, and twice racked to betray other Catholics, but he remained steadfast. Eventually he was cast naked into the fetid dungeon without food and without permission for visitors to supply his needs. He was tried on Feb. 3, 1578, and condemned for denying the Act of Supremacy. He died at the age of 27. He was beatified by Pope Leo XIII on May 13, 1895.

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]