Thomas Belson

Thomas Belson (b. at Brill in Oxfordshire, England, date uncertain; executed 5 July1589) was an English Roman Catholic layman. He is a Catholic martyr, beatified in 1987.

Life

He studied at St Mary's Hall, Oxford, part of Oriel College, but did not take the B. A.; and then at the Catholic seminary in Reims. In 1584 he returned to England, arrested, and imprisoned in the Tower of London. Eventually, in 1586, he was banished. [ [http://www.hadland.me.uk/tvp/tvp10.htm Thomas Belson ] ]

In 1589 he was again, arrested at the Catherine Wheel Inn, near Balliol College, Oxford. He was with his confessor George Nicols, Richard Yaxley, a priest, and Humphrey Prichard, a servant. They were sent to London, whence, after examination before Walsingham and repeated tortures in Bridewell and the Tower, they were sent back to Oxford to be tried.

Belson was found guilty of felony for assisting the priests, and was executed with his companions at Oxford.

References

*Diego de Yepes, "Historia Particular de la persecucion de Inglaterra" (Madrid, 1599);
*Richard Challoner, "Memoirs";
*Thomas Francis Knox, "Douay Diaries";
*Mrs Bryan Stapleton, "Post-Reformation Catholic Missions in Oxfordshire" (London, 1906)

Notes