William Filby, BLESSED, b. in Oxfordshire between 1557 and 1560; suffered at Tyburn, May 30, 1582. Educated at Lincoln College, Oxford, he was admitted to the seminary at Reims, October 12, 1579. He was ordained priest at Reims, March 25, 1581, and shortly after left for the mission. He was arrested in July, committed to the Tower, removed August 14 to the Marshalsea, and thence back to the Tower again. He was sentenced November 17, and from that date till he died was loaded with manacles. He was also deprived of his bedding for two months. With him suffered three other Beati, Thomas Cottam, Luke Kirby, and Laurence Richardson (vere Johnson).
Blessed Luke Kirby was born in the north of England about 1549, and is said to have graduated M.A., probably at Cambridge. Having been reconciled at Louvain, he entered Douai College in 1576, and was ordained priest at Cambrai in September, 1577. He left Reims for England, May 3, 1578, but returned July 15 and proceeded to Rome, where he took the college oath at the English College, April 23, 1579. In June, 1580, he was arrested on landing at Dover, and committed to the Gatehouse, Westminster. Transferred to the Tower, December 4, he was subjected to the “Scavenger’s Daughter” for more than an hour, December 9. He was condemned, November 17, 1581, and from April 2 till the day of his death was in irons.
Blessed Laurence Richardson, a son of Richard Johnson, of Great Crosby, Lancashire, was a Fellow of Brasenose College, Oxford, in or before 1569, and supplicated B.A. 25, November, 1572. In 1573 he was at Douai, and on March 23, 1577, was ordained priest at Cateau-Cambresis. He was sent on the mission July 27 following, and labored in Lancashire. He was arrested in London on his way to France and imprisoned in Newgate, where he remained until the day of his indictment, November 16, 1581, when he was committed to the Queen’s Bench Prison, and on the day of his condemnation, November 17, to the Tower, where he had no bedding for two months.
JOHN B. WAINEWRIGHT