List of Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation

Canonised by Pope Pius XI on 19 May 1935

1. John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester, 22 June 1535
2. Thomas More, layman, 6 July 1535

Canonised by Pope Paul VI on 25 October 1970

1. John Almond, priest, 1612
2. Edmund Arrowsmith, Jesuit priest, 1628
3. Ambrose Edward Barlow, Benedictine priest, 10 September 1641
4. John Boste, priest, 24 July 1594
5. Alexander Briant, Jesuit priest, 1 December 1581
6. Edmund Campion, Jesuit priest, 1 December 1581
7. Margaret Clitherow, laywoman, 25 March 1586
8. Philip Evans, Jesuit priest, 1679
9. Thomas Garnet, Jesuit priest, 1608
10. Edmund Gennings, priest, 1591
11. John Griffith (alias Jones), Franciscan friar, 1598
12. Richard Gwyn, layman, 1584
13. John Houghton, Prior of the London Charterhouse, 4 May 1535
14. Philip Howard, Earl of Arundel, layman, 1595
15. John Kemble, priest, 1679
16. Luke Kirby, priest, 30 May 1582
17. Robert Lawrence, Prior of the Beauvale Charterhouse, 4 May 1535
18. David Lewis, Jesuit priest, 1679
19. Anne Line, laywoman, 1601
20. John Lloyd, priest, 1679
21. Cuthbert Mayne, priest, 1577
22. Henry Morse, Jesuit priest, 1645
23. Nicholas Owen, Jesuit lay-brother, 1606
24. John Payne, priest, 1582
25. Polydore Plasden, priest, 1591
26. John Plessington, priest, 1679
27. Richard Reynolds, Brigittine monk of Syon Abbey, 4 May 1535
28. John Rigby, layman, 1600
29. John Roberts, Benedictine priest, 1610
30. Alban Bartholomew Roe, Benedictine priest, 1642
31. Ralph Sherwin, priest, 1 December 1581
32. John Southworth, priest, 1654
33. Robert Southwell, Jesuit priest, 1595
34. John Stone, Augustinian friar
35. John Wall, Franciscan priest, 1679
36. Henry Walpole, Jesuit priest, 1595
37. Margaret Ward, laywoman, 1588
38. Augustine Webster, Prior of the Axholme Charterhouse, 4 May 1535
39. Swithin Wells, layman, 1591
40. Eustace White, priest, 1591

Beatified 29 December 1886 by Pope Leo XIII

As well as those listed below, John Fisher and Thomas More were beatified on this date, as were the following 11 members of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales - Alexander Briant, Edmund Campion, John Houghton, Luke Kirby, Robert Lawrence, Cuthbert Mayne, John Payne, Richard Reynolds, Ralph Sherwin, John Stone, Augustine Webster - making a total of 54.

1. Thomas Abell, priest, 30 July 1540
2. Richard Bere, Carthusian monk, 9 August 1537
3. Thomas Cottam, Jesuit priest, 30 May 1582
4. John Davy, Carthusian, 8 June 1537
5. William Exmew, Carthusian monk, 19 June 1535
6. Richard Featherstone, Archdeacon, 30 July 1540
7. John Felton, layman, 8 August 1570
8. William Filby, 30 May 1582
9. Thomas Ford, 28 May 1582
10. John Forest, Franciscan friar, 22 May 1538
11. German Gardiner, layman, 7 March 1544
12. Thomas Green, Carthusian, 10 June 1537
13. William Greenwood, Carthusian brother, 6 June 1537
14. John Haile (or Hale), priest, 4 May 1535
15. Everard Hanse, priest, 1581
16. William Hart, priest, 1583
17. William Horne, Carthusian lay brother, 4 August 1540
18. Robert Johnson, priest, 1582
19. Thomas Johnson, Carthusian, 20 September 1537
20. Richard Kirkman, priest, 1582
21. William Lacy (or Lacey), priest, 22 August 1582
22. John Larke, priest, 7 March 1544
23. Humphrey Middlemore, Carthusian monk, 19 June 1535
24. John Nelson, priest, 1577
25. Sebastian Newdigate, Carthusian monk, 19 June 1535
26. Walter Pierson, Carthusian brother, 10 June 1537
27. Thomas Plumtree, priest, 1570 - Chaplain to the Rising of the North
28. Margaret Pole, laywoman, 27 May 1541
29. Edward Powell, 30 July 1540
30. Thomas Redyng, Carthusian, 16 June 1537
31. Laurence Richardson (also known as Laurence Johnson), 30 May 1582
32. John Rochester, Carthusian monk, 11 May 1537
33. Robert Salt, Carthusian brother, 9 June 1537
34. Thomas Scryven, Carthusian, 15 June 1537
35. John Shert, priest, 1582
36. Thomas Sherwood, layman, 1579
37. John Storey, Chancellor to Bishop Bonner, 1571 - for high treason (for having supported the Northern Rebellion of 1569 and encouraging the Duke of Alba to invade)
38. Richard Thirkeld, priest, 1583
39. James Tompson, priest, York, 1582
40. James Walworth, Carthusian monk, 11 May 1537
41. Thomas Woodhouse, priest, 1573

Beatified 13 May 1895 by Pope Leo XIII

1. John Beche, Abbot of Colchester, 1 December 1539
2. John Eynon, priest, 14 November 1539
3. Hugh Faringdon, Abbot of Reading, 14 November 1539
4. Adrian Fortescue, Knight of St. John of Jerusalem, 9 July 1539
5. Roger James, Benedictine, 15 November 1539
6. Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland, layman, 1572 - Leader of the Rising of the North
7. John Rugg (or Rugge), Benedictine monk, 15 November 1539
8. John Thorne, Benedictine monk, 15 November 1539
9. Richard Whiting, Abbot of Glastonbury, 15 November 1539

Beatified 15 December 1929 by Pope Pius XI

As well as those listed below, 29 members of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales were also beatified on that date, making a total of 137.

1. Henry Abbot, layman, 4 July 1597
2. Thomas Alfield, priest, 6 July 1585
3. John Amias, priest, 16 March 1589
4. Robert Anderton, priest, 25 April 1586.
5. William Andleby, priest, 4 July 1597
6. Ralph Ashley, Jesuit priest, 7 April 1607
7. Christopher Bales, priest, 4 March 1590
8. Mark Barkworth, Benedictine, 27 February 1601
9. William Barrow (Jesuit), alias William Harcourt, 20 June 1679
10. James Bell, priest, 1584
11. James Bird (or Byrd or Beard), layman, 25 March 1592
12. John Bodey, priest, 2 November 1583
13. Thomas Bosgrave, layman, 4 July 1594
14. William Browne, layman, 1605
15. Christopher Buxton, priest, died Canterbury, 1 October 1588
16. John Carey, Dublin born lay helper of John Cornelius S.J., 4 July 1594
17. Edmund Catheriok, priest, 1642
18. James Claxton (Clarkson), priest, 1588
19. Edward Colman (or Coleman), layman, 1678
20. Ralph Corby, Jesuit, 7 September 1644
21. John Cornelius, Jesuit priest, 4 July 1594
22. Ralph Crockett, priest, 1 October 1588
23. Robert Dalby, priest, York, 16 March 1589
24. William Dean, priest, 28 August 1588
25. Francis Dicconson, priest, 1590
26. Roger Dicconson, priest, 7 July 1591
27. James Duckett, layman, 1601
28. John Duckett, priest, 1644
29. Gerard Edwards (also known as Edward Campion), 1 October 1588
30. Thomas Felton, Franciscan, 1588
31. James Fenn, priest, 1584
32. John Fenwick, Jesuit priest, 1679
33. John Finch, 1584
34. William Freeman, priest, 1595
35. Edward Fulthrop, layman, 1597
36. John Gavan, Jesuit priest, 1679
37. Miles Gerard, priest, 1590
38. George Gervase, Benedictine, 1608
39. David Gonson (or Gunston), layman, 12 July 1541
40. Hugh Green, priest, 1642
41. John Grove, layman, 1679
42. William Gunter, priest, 1588
43. William Harrington, priest, 1594
44. William Hartley, priest, 1588
45. Thomas Hemerford, priest, 1584
46. Richard Herst (Hurst), layman, 29 August 1628
47. John Hewitt, priest, 1588
48. Sydney Hodgson, layman, 10 December 1591
49. Thomas Holford, priest, 1588
50. Thomas Holland, priest, 12 December 1642
51. William Howard, 1st Viscount Stafford, layman, 29 December 1680
52. Laurence Humphreys (or Humphrey), layman, 1591
53. John Ingram, priest, 1594
54. John Ireland, priest, 7 March 1544
55. William Ireland, Jesuit priest, 1679
56. Edward James, priest, 1588
57. Edward Jones, priest, 1590
58. Brian Lacey, layman, 1591
59. Richard Langhorne, layman, 1679
60. Richard Langley, layman, 1586
61. Richard Leigh, priest, 1588
62. John Lockwood, priest, 1642
63. William Marsden, priest, 25 April 1586
64. Richard Martin, layman, 30 August 1588
65. John Mason, layman, 1591
66. Thomas Maxfield, priest, 1616
67. Anthony Middleton, priest, 1590
68. Ralph Milner, layman, 7 July 1591
69. Hugh More, layman, 28 August 1588
70. Robert Morton, priest, 1588
71. John Munden, priest, 1584
72. George Napper, priest, Oxford, 1610
73. John Nutter, priest, 1584
74. Edward Oldcorne, Jesuit priest, 1606
75. Francis Page, Jesuit, 1602
76. William Patenson, priest, 1592
77. John Pibush, priest, 1601
78. Thomas Pickering, Benedictine, 1679
79. Philip Powel, Benedictine, 1646
80. Alexander Rawlins, priest, 1595
81. Richard (Thomas) Reynolds (alias Green), priest, 1 January 1642
82. William Richardson, priest, 1603
83. John Robinson, priest, 1588
84. John Roche, layman, 1588
85. Patrick Salmon, layman, 4 July 1594
86. William Scot (Maurus Scott) 1612
87. Edward Shelley, 30 August 1588,
88. John Slade, layman, 1583
89. Richard Smith, (also known as Richard Newport), priest, 1612
90. Thomas Somers, priest, 1610
91. John Speed, layman, 4 February 1594
92. Edward Stransham, priest, 1586
93. Robert Sutton, layman, 5 October 1588
94. George Swallowell, layman, 26 July 1594
95. Thomas Thwing, priest, 1679
96. Thomas Tunstall, priest, 1616
97. Anthony Turner, Jesuit, 1679
98. Thomas Warcop, layman, 4 July 1597
99. William Ward, priest, 1641
100. Edward Waterson, priest, 1593
101. Robert Watkinson, priest, 1602
102. William Way (alias May or Flower), priest, 1588
103. Thomas Welbourne, layman, 1 August 1605
104. Thomas Whitbread, Jesuit, 1679
105. Robert Widmerpool, layman, 1 October 1588
106. Robert Wilcox, priest, 1 October 1588
107. John Woodcock, Franciscan, 1646
108. Peter Wright, Jesuit, 1651

Beatified 22 November 1987 by Pope John Paul II

1. John Adams, priest, 8 October 1586
2. Thomas Atkinson, priest, 1616
3. Edward Bamber, priest, 1646
4. George Beesley, priest, 5 July 1591
5. Arthur Bell, Franciscan priest, 1643
6. Thomas Belson, layman, 5 July 1589
7. Robert Bickerdike, layman, 23 July 1586
8. Alexander Blake, layman, 4 March 1590;
9. Marmaduke Bowes, layman, 26 November 1585
10. John Bretton, layman, 1 April 1598
11. Thomas Bullaker, Franciscan priest, 1642
12. Edward Burden, priest, 1588
13. Roger Cadwallador, priest, 1610
14. William Carter, layman, 11 January 1584
15. Alexander Crow, priest, 30 November 1587
16. William Davies, priest, 27 July 1593
17. Robert Dibdale, priest, 8 October 1586
18. George Douglas, priest, 1587
19. Robert Drury, priest, 1607
20. Edmund Duke, priest, 27 27 May 1590
21. George Errington, layman, 1596
22. Roger Filcock, priest, 1601
23. John Finglow (Fingley), priest, 8 August 1586
24. Matthew Flathers, priest, 1608
25. Richard Flower, layman, 1588
26. Nicholas Garlick, priest, 1588
27. William Gibson, layman, 1596
28. Ralph Grimston, layman, 1598
29. Robert Grissold, layman, 1604
30. John Hambley, priest, 1587
31. Robert Hardesty, layman, 1589
32. George Haydock, priest, 12 February 1584
33. Henry Heath, Franciscan priest, 1643
34. Richard Hill, priest, 27 May 1590
35. John Hogg, priest, 27 May 1590
36. Richard Holiday, priest, 27 May 1590
37. Nicholas Horner, layman, 4 March 1590
38. Thomas Hunt, priest, 1600
39. Thurstan Hunt, priest, 1601
40. Francis Ingleby, priest, 3 June 1586
41. William Knight, layman, 1596
42. Joseph Lambton, priest, 24 July 1592
43. William Lampley, layman, 1588
44. John Lowe, priest, 8 October 1586
45. Robert Ludlam, priest, 1588
46. Charles Mahoney (alias Meehan), Franciscan priest, 1679
47. Robert Middleton, priest, March 1601
48. George Nichols, priest, 1589
49. John Norton, layman, 1600
50. Robert Nutter, priest, 1600
51. Edward Osbaldeston, priest, 1594
52. Antony Page, priest, 1593
53. Thomas Palasor, priest, 1600; beatified 1987
54. William Pike, layman, 1591
55. Thomas Pilchard, priest, 21 March 1587
56. Thomas Pormort, priest, 20 February 1592
57. Nicholas Postgate, priest, 1679
58. Humphrey Pritchard, layman, 1589
59. Christopher Robinson, priest, 1597
60. Stephen Rowsham, priest, 1587
61. John Sandys, priest, 11 August 1586
62. Montford Scott, priest, 1591
63. Richard Sergeant, priest, 2 April 1586
64. Richard Simpson, priest, 1588
65. Peter Snow, priest, 1598
66. William Southerne, priest, 1618
67. William Spenser, priest, 1589
68. Thomas Sprott, priest, 1600
69. John Sugar, priest, 1604
70. Robert Sutton, priest, 1587
71. Edmund Sykes, priest, 23 March 1587
72. John Talbot, layman, 1600
73. Hugh Taylor, priest, 25 November 1585
74. William Thomson, priest, 20 April 1586
75. Robert Thorpe, priest, 1591
76. John Thulis, priest, 18 Mar 1616
77. Edward Thwing, priest, 26 July 1600
78. Thomas Watkinson, layman, 31 May 1591
79. Henry Webley, 28 August 1588
80. Christopher Wharton, priest, 1600
81. Thomas Whitaker, priest, 1646
82. John Woodcock, Franciscan priest, 7 August 1646
83. Nicholas Woodfen, priest, 21 January 1586
84. Roger Wrenno, layman, 1616
85. Richard Yaxley, priest, 1589

The Nun of Kent and her companions

20 April 1534: Elizabeth Barton, Benedictine nun;

Edward Bocking, Benedictine;

John Dering, Benedictine monk;

Henry Gold, priest;

Hugh Rich, Franciscan friar;

Richard Risby, Franciscan friar.

After the pilgrimage of grace and the rising of Lincolnshire

1537: George ab Alba Rose, Augustinian

George Ashby (Asleby), monk;

Ralph Barnes, monk;

Laurence Blonham, monk;

William Burraby, priest;

James Cockerell, Prior of Gisborough Priory;

William Coe, monk;

William Cowper, monk;

The Lord Darcy de Darcy;

John Eastgate, monk;

Richard Eastgate, monk;

John Francis, monk;

William Gylham, monk;

Richard Harrison, Abbot of Jervaulx;

William Haydock, monk;

Nicholas Heath, Prior of Lenton;

John Henmarsh, priest;

Robert Hobbes, Abbot of Woburn;

Henry Jenkinson, monk;

Thomas Kendal, priest;

Richard Laynton, monk;

Robert Leeche, layman;

Hugh Londale, monk;

Matthew Mackerel, Premonstratensian abbot, titular bishop of Chalcedon;

James Mallet, priest;

Thomas Moyne

John Paslew, Abbot of Whatley;

John Pickering, Benedictine, prior of York;

25 May 1537: John Pickering, priest

Thomas Redforth, priest;

26 May 1537: Adam Sedbar, Abbot of Jervaulx;

William Swale, monk;

John Tenant, monk;

William Thyrsk, Cistercian;

William Trafford, Abbot of Sawley;

Richard Wade, monk

Other martyrs

Anthony Brookby, Franciscan (Venerable) 7 July 1537:

Thomas Cort, Franciscan (Venerable) 27 July 1538:

Thomas Belchiam, Franciscan friar (Venerable) 3 August 1538:

John Allen, priest;1538:

John Collins, priest 1538:

George Croft, priest 1538:

Martin Condres, Augustinian monk December 1538:

Paul of Saint William, Augustinian monk December 1538:

John Griffith (or Clark), priest, 8 July 1539 (Venerable)

Friar Waire, Franciscan, 8 July 1539 (Venerable)

Sir Thomas Dingley, layman, 9 July 1539 (Venerable)

Edmund Brindholme, priest, 4 August 1540 (Venerable);

Clement Philpott (or Philpot), layman, 4 August 1540 (Venerable)

Robert Bird, layman; 4 August 1540:

William Bird, priest; 4 August 1540:

Thomas Empson, Benedictine; 4 August 1540:

William Peterson, priest 1540:

Thomas Ashby, layman, 19 March 1544 (Venerable)

Decrees of Elizabeth I

During the reign of Mary I, the Papal authority was officially reinstated and many Protestants were martyred. After Elizabeth I's accession to the throne, the Act of Supremacy 1558 was enacted denying Papal authority but it was not until more than a decade later in February 1570 that Pope Pius V excommunicated Elizabeth and any who obeyed her and called on all Catholics to rebel.

In the words of the New Catholic Encyclopedia, 'Without question it was Elizabeth I's intention to supplant the old religion with the new in a bloodless manner. It is significant that there were no martyrs in the first 12 years of her reign, and only five in the years 1570 to 1577.' Of those five, Thomas Plumtree had been chaplain to the insurgents in the Rising of the North, John Felton had published Pope Pius V's Bull Regnans in Excelsis ("reigning on high"), excommunicating Queen Elizabeth, John Story was tried for high treason, for having supported the Rising of the North and encouraging the Duke of Alba to invade, Thomas Percy, Earl of Northumberland had led the Rising of the North and Thomas Woodhouse had declared in a letter to William Cecil that Elizabeth 'for her own great disobedience is most justly deposed'.

The threat of invasion by a Catholic country assisted by English subjects led the Crown to try to stamp out Catholicism with repressive measures. Elizabeth I's government passed anti-Catholic decrees in 1571: forbidding anyone from maintaining the jurisdiction of the pope by word, deed or act; requiring use of the Book of Common Prayer in all cathedrals, churches and chapels, and forbidding criticism of it; forbidding the publication of any bull, writing or instrument of the Holy See (the death penalty was assigned to this); and, prohibiting the importing of Agnus Dei images, crosses, pictures, beads or other things from the Bishop of Rome.

Later laws made the following activities illegal: to draw anyone away from the state religion; non-attendance at a Church of England church; raising children with teachers that were not licensed by an Anglican diocesan bishop; and, attending or celebrating the Catholic Mass.

In 1585 a new decree was issued that made it a crime punishable by death to go overseas to receive the sacrament of Ordination to the Catholic priesthood. Nicholas Devereux (who went by the alias of Nicholas Woodfen) and Edward Barber (see below Edward Stransham) were both put to death in 1586 under this law. William Thompson and Richard Lea (see below Richard Sergeant) were hanged, disembowelled and quartered under the same law. In 1588, eight priests and six laymen at Newgate were condemned and executed under this law.

1570–1603

William Hambledon, priest, 1585

James Harrison, priest, 1602 (Venerable)

Richard Horner, priest, 1598 (Venerable)

John Nutter, priest, 1584 (Venerable)

Edward Shelley, 30 August 1588, (Venerable)

Thomas Tichborne, priest, 1602, (Venerable)

Thomas Webley, layman, 6 July 1585 (Venerable)

Richard Williams, priest, 1592 (Venerable)

John MacMahon, Jesuit priest, 1594

1606–1680

James Brown, Benedictine, 1645

Henry Garnet, Jesuit, 1606 'was he killed ex odio fidei, or was he believed to be guilty of the Powder Plot, by merely human misjudgment, not through religious prejudice?'

Edward Morgan, priest, 1642 (Venerable)

Brian Tansfield, 1643, (Venerable)

Died in prison

Thomas Cotesmore, priest, 1584 (Dilati)

Roger Wakeman, priest, 1584 (Dilati)

James Lomax, priest, 1584 (Dilati)

Thomas Crowther, priest, 1585 (Dilati)

Edward Pole, priest, 1585 (Dilati)

John Jetter, priest, 1585 (Dilati)

John Harrison, priest, 1586 (Dilati)

Gabriel Thimelby, priest, 1587 (Dilati)

Thomas Wood, priest, before 1588

Thomas Dyer, Benedictine, c.1618-1630 - his identity 'has not been fully proved'

Edward Wilkes, priest, 1642 (Dilati)

Ildephonse Hesketh (alias William Hanson), Benedictine, 1642 (Dilati)

Thomas Vaughan, priest, probably 1644 (Dilati)

Richard Bradley, Jesuit, 1645 (Dilati)

Thomas Blount, priest, probably 1646 (Dilati)

Robert Cox, Benedictine, 1650 (Dilati)

Edward Mico, Jesuit, 1678, (Venerable)

Thomas Bedingfeld (also known as Thomas Downes

Francis Nevil, Jesuit, 1679 (Venerable)

Thomas Jennison, Jesuit, 1679 (Dilati)

William Lloyd, priest, 1679 (Dilati)

Francis Levison, Franciscan, 1680 (Venerable)

Richard Birkett, priest, 1680 (Dilati)

Richard Lacey, Jesuit, 1680 (Dilati)

William Allison, priest, 1681 (Dilati)

Edward Turner, Jesuit, 1681 (Dilati)

Benedict Constable, Benedictine, 1683 (Dilati)