The Catholic martyrs of the English Reformation are men and women executed under treason legislation in the English Reformation, between 1534 and 1680, and recognised as martyrs by the Catholic Church. Though consequences of the English Reformation were felt in Ireland and Scotland as well, this article only covers those who died in the Kingdom of England.
On 25 February 1570, Pope Pius V's "Regnans in Excelsis" bull excommunicated the English Queen Elizabeth I, and any who obeyed her. This papal bull also required all Catholics to rebel against the English Crown as a matter of faith. In response, in 1571 legislation was enacted making it treasonable to be under the authority of the pope, including being a Jesuit, being Catholic or harbouring a Catholic priest. The standard penalty for all those convicted of treason at the time was execution by being hanged, drawn and quartered.
In the reign of Pope Gregory XIII (1572–85), authorisation was given for 63 recognised martyrs to have their relics honoured and pictures painted for Catholic devotions. These martyrs were formally beatified by Pope Leo XIII, 54 in 1886 and the remaining nine in 1895. Further groups of martyrs were subsequently documented and proposed by the Catholic bishops of England and Wales and formally recognised by Rome.
Numbers in various categories
In 1874 a process was begun, containing 353 names, to which six were added in Rome, making 359. Of those: 54 were beatified in 1886, of whom two were canonized in 1935, and 11 in 1970. 9 were beatified in 1895. One (Oliver Plunkett) was beatified in 1920, and canonized in 1975. 136 were beatified in 1929, of whom 29 were canonized in 1970 85 were beatified in 1987. (So 285 were beatified at various times, of whom 43 were subsequently canonised). 30 were declared venerable, of whom one, John Travers, was executed in Dublin and appears in Irish Catholic Martyrs. (So 315 were declared venerable, of whom 285 were subsequently beatified). 44 were postponed ("dilati") – 36 died in prison and 8 were postponed for other reasons.
Saints
Canonised on 19 May 1935
John Fisher (1469–1535), Bishop of Rochester; Cardinal (Yorkshire – London, England) Thomas More, (1478–1535), married layman of the Archdiocese of Westminster (London, England)