WELLS, SWITHUN, ST.

Married lay martyr, one of the London martyrs of 1591; b. Bambridge, near Winchester, England, c. 1536;d. London, Dec. 10, 1591. As the son of a country gentleman, Thomas Wells, Swithun was well educated and traveled abroad in his early life. He was a linguist, musician, poet, and keen sportsman. Before his marriage he served as tutor in the household of the Earl of Southampton, and later set up his own school at Monkton Farleigh near Bath. It was probably to obtain the necessary license to teach that he conformed to the public observances of the Anglican Communion. Until 1582 he apparently led a quiet and peaceful life as one of the English gentry. However, he came under suspicion for popish tendencies, and he abandoned teaching and actively supported the Roman Church. Though he was subsequently impoverished, he devoted himself to the service of seminary priests, organizing their progress, and ensuring their safety and entertainment; frequently, he acted as their guide.

Early in 1586 Wells and his wife took a house at Grays Inn Fields, London, the better to serve in the missionary endeavor. He was twice arrested and interrogated, but each time released for lack of evidence. In November 1591, when he was absent, Mrs. Wells offered hospitality to two priests, Edmund gennings and Polydore plasden. They were apprehended in the house while Mass was being said, and Mrs. Wells, the priests, and six worshippers were taken to prison. Shortly after, Swithun was arrested, and the group was brought to trial at Westminster. The priests were charged with high treason and sentenced accordingly. Mr. and Mrs. Wells and two servants were found guilty of harboring the priests and were condemned to death. Alice Wells, who was later reprieved, spent the rest of her life, 10 years, in prison. Wells approached his death with tranquility and fortitude; his last words were forgiveness and a prayer for his executioners. He was beatified by Pius XI on Dec. 15, 1929 and canonized by Paul VI on Oct. 25, 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.

Feast: Oct. 25 (Feast of the 40 Martyrs of England and Wales); May 4 (Feast of the English Martyrs in 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), 169–85. j. gennings, Life and Death of Ven. Edmund Gennings (London 1887). Publications of the Catholic Record Society 5:131–133, 204–208. a. butler, The Lives of the Saints, ed. h. thurston and d. attwater 4:532–534.

[a. m. forster]