17 Facts About Edward Oldcorne

Edward Oldcorne alias Hall was an English Jesuit priest.

Edward Oldcorne was known to people who knew of the Gunpowder Plot to destroy the Parliament of England and kill King James I; and although his involvement is unclear, he was caught up in the subsequent investigation.

Edward Oldcorne is a Roman Catholic martyr and was beatified in 1929.

Edward Oldcorne's father was a Protestant, and his mother a Catholic who had spent some time in prison due to her faith.

Edward Oldcorne was educated at St Peter's School in York; school friends were John and Christopher Wright and Guy Fawkes.

Edward Oldcorne was educated as a doctor, but later decided to enter the priesthood.

Edward Oldcorne went to the English College at Reims, then to Rome where after ordination in 1587, he became a Jesuit in 1588.

In late 1588 Edward Oldcorne returned to England, in the company of Father John Gerard.

Edward Oldcorne then worked chiefly in Worcestershire for 17 years.

Edward Oldcorne sometimes stayed with Thomas Abington, whose house at Hindlip Hall was near Worcester.

Garnet and Edward Oldcorne were in one hiding place while the two lay brothers, Owen and Ashley, were in another.

Edward Oldcorne was tortured, but no evidence was found to connect him to the Gunpowder Plot.

Some allege that Edward Oldcorne was executed just for his priesthood.

Edward Oldcorne was executed at Red Hill, Worcester, together with John Wintour, Humphrey Littleton and Ralph Ashley, his Jesuit brother colleague.

Edward Oldcorne was hanged, drawn, and quartered; it is said that, as Oldcorne waited on the ladder to die, Ashley kissed his feet and said, "What a happy man am I to follow in the steps of my sweet father".

Edward Oldcorne died with the name of St Winifred on his lips.

Edward Oldcorne's portrait was painted after his death for the Church of the Gesu.