On this date in 1679, the Jesuit David Lewis was hanged, drawn and quartered.
Lewis suffered just days after a fellow priest and fellow victim of Titus Oates’ “Popish Plot” concoctions, John Kemble.
Lewis was arrested at the Wales town of Llantarnam where he was Tad y Tlodion, “father of the poor”; hauled to London’s Newgate Prison, he was returned to Usk, also in Wales, for execution.
As with Kemble, Lewis “discover the plot I could not, as I knew of none; and conform I would not, for it was against my conscience.” Where terroristic plotting could not be established, taking Holy Orders in the church would do just as well.
Lewis is not actually the last Catholic martyr in Britain* — Oliver Plunkett earned that distinction in 1681 — but at this late date he goes down as the last Welsh martyr, which is also the title of an energetic Catholic blog all about the man and his milieu.
Seems that site has a virtual pilgrimage to go along with the annual meatspace tradition that takes place this year on Sunday, August 29. The faithful might also enjoy friendsofsaintdavidlewis.co.uk.
* An inventory of martyrs for the faith in the Isles is here.
On this day..
- 1909: Joe Gauvitte, wife-slayer - 2020
- 1861: Martin Doyle, the last hanged for attempted murder - 2019
- 1858: Peter Williams and Abraham Cox, to the air of Old Ironsides - 2018
- 1830: Ebenezer Cox, gone postal gunsmith - 2017
- 1870: Charles Harth, Prussian spy - 2016
- 1824: Johann Christian Woyzeck, non compos mentis? - 2015
- 1610: Roger Cadwallador, English priest - 2014
- 1853: John Hurley, medicalized - 2013
- 1628: Milady de Winter, Three Musketeers villainess - 2012
- 1500: 18 thieves in Rome - 2011
- 30 B.C.E: Caesarion, "Little Caesar" - 2009
- 1979: Eleven by a Firing Squad in Iran - 2008