Nichols (or NICOLLS) GEORGE, VENERABLE, English martyr, b. at Oxford about 1550; executed at Oxford, October 19, 1589. He entered Brasenose College in 1564 or 1565, and was readmitted August 20, 1567, and supplicated for his B.A. degree in 1570-1. He subsequently became an usher at St. Paul’s School, London. He arrived at Reims with Venerable Thomas Pilchard (q.v.), November 20, 1581; but went on to Rome, whence he returned July 21, 1582. Ordained subdeacon and deacon at Laon (probably by Bishop Valentine Douglas, O.S.B.) in April, 1583, and priest at Reims (by Cardinal Archbishop Louis de Guise) September 24, he was sent on the mission the same year. Having converted many, notably a convicted highwayman in Oxford Castle, he was arrested at the Catherine Wheel Inn, opposite the east end of St. Mary Magdalen‘s Church, Oxford, together with Humphrey Prichard, a Welsh servant at the inn, Thomas Belson (q.v.), and Richard Yaxley. This last was a son (probably the third, certainly not the sixth) of William Yaxley of Boston, Lincolnshire, by Rose, daughter of John Langton of Northolme. Arriving at Reims August 29, 1582, he received the tonsure and minor orders September 23, 1583, and the subdiaconate 5 or April 6, 1585, from the cardinal archbishop. Probably the same hand conferred the diaconate on April 20. The priesthood was conferred at Reims by Louis de Breze, Bishop of Meaux, September 21, 1585. Yaxley left Reims for England January 28, 1585-6. All four prisoners were sent from Oxford to the Bridewell prison in London, where the two priests were hanged up for five hours to make them betray their hosts, but without avail. Yaxley was sent to the Tower as a close prisoner May 25, 1589, and appears to have been racked frequently. Belson was sent to the Gatehouse. The other two remained in Bridewell, Nichols being put into “a deep dungeon full of venomous vermin”. On June 30 all four were ordered back to Oxford to take their trial. All were condemned, the priests for treason, the laymen for felony. Nichols suffered first, then Yaxley, then Belson, and last Prichard. The priests’ heads were set up on the castle, and their quarters on the four city gates.
JOHN B. WAINEWRIGHT