14 Facts About Henry Walpole

Henry Walpole, SJ was an English Jesuit martyr, executed at York for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy.

Henry Walpole attended the discussions that Edmund Campion held with Anglican divines, and was present at the execution of Edmund Campion in 1581: his clothes were sprinkled with Campion's blood.

Henry Walpole wrote a small book of poetry honouring Campion which was secretly printed and circulated in London.

The printer, a friend of Henry Walpole named Valenger, was fined and suffered the loss of his ears, but did not betray Henry Walpole, who was nonetheless under suspicion.

Henry Walpole fled London for his father's home in Norfolk, and from there escaped to France.

Henry Walpole was fluent in Italian, French, Latin, English, and Spanish.

Henry Walpole was captured and taken to the English fort at Flushing, where he was tortured before being ransomed by his brother Michael and his Jesuit superiors.

Henry Walpole then went to Tournai for his third year of probation, after which he was sent to help with the founding of the new English seminaries at Seville and Valladolid.

Henry Walpole was arrested at an inn in Bridlington, having been betrayed by a fellow passenger who was earning money to buy his way out of prison.

Henry Walpole's father was in failing health, and, as Henry was his heir, the estate would escheat to the crown if Henry were condemned for treason.

Henry Walpole himself had been arrested less than a day after landing in England, so he had not violated that law.

Henry Walpole refused to do so and was convicted of high treason.

Rawlins died first; Henry Walpole was allowed to hang until he was dead.

Henry Walpole was beatified in 1929 and canonized in 1970 as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.