John Sandys, Venerable

Sandys, JOHN, VENERABLE, English martyr, b. in the Diocese of Chester; executed at Gloucester, August 11, 1586. He arrived at Reims June 4, 1583, was ordained priest in the Holy Cross Chapel of Reims Cathedral by the Cardinal Archbishop, Louis de Guise, and was sent on the mission October 2, 1584, He was cut down while fully conscious and had a terrible struggle with the executioner, who had blackened his face to avoid recognition and used a rusty and ragged knife; but his last words were a prayer for his persecutors.

JOHN B. WAINEWRIGHT