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{{Short description|Irish Roman Catholic martyrs, executed in 1581}}
{{Refimprove|date=October 2013}}
{{Refimprove|date=October 2013}}
{{redirect|Patrick Cavanagh|others with similar names|Patrick Kavanagh (disambiguation)}}
{{redirect|Patrick Cavanagh|others with similar names|Patrick Kavanagh (disambiguation)}}{{Infobox saint|name=Robert Meyler|image=|imagesize=|alt=|caption=|titles=Layman, Martyr|birth_date=|birth_place=|home_town=|residence=|death_date=5 July 1581|death_place=[[Wexford]], [[Ireland]]|feast_day=5 July, 20 June|venerated_in=[[Roman Catholic Church]]|beatified_date=27 September 1992 by [[Pope John Paul II]]|beatified_place=|beatified_by=|canonized_date=|canonized_place=|canonized_by=|major_shrine=|attributes=|patronage=|issues=|suppressed_date=|suppressed_by=|influences=|tradition=|influenced=|major_works=|module=|honorific_prefix=Blessed|honorific_suffix=|birth_name=}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Irish English|date=February 2020}}
{{Use Irish English|date=February 2020}}
{{Infobox saint
⚫
The '''''Wexford Martyrs''''' were '''Matthew Lambert, Robert Myler, Edward Cheevers, Patrick Cavanagh''' (''[[Irish language|Irish]]'': Pádraigh Caomhánach), '''John O'Lahy''', and one other unknown individual. In 1581, they were found guilty of treason for aiding in the escape of [[James Eustace, 3rd Viscount Baltinglass]]; for refusing to take the [[Oath of Supremacy]] which declared [[Elizabeth I of England]] to be the head of the Church; and for conveying Catholic priests, laymen, and a Jesuit out of Ireland. On 5 July 1581, they were [[hanged, drawn and quartered]] in [[Wexford]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. They were subsequently [[Beatified]] by [[Pope John Paul II]].<ref name="McNeill" />
| name = The 4 Blessed Wexford Martyrs
| image =
| caption = Icon of Blessed Robert Meyler, one of the Wexford Martyrs
| imagesize =
| birth_date = unknown
| birth_place =
| home_town =
| residence =
| death_date = 5 July 1581 AD
| death_place = Wexford town
| death_cause = martyrdom (hanged, drawn and quartered)
| venerated_in =
| beatified_date = 1992
| beatified_place =
| beatified_by = Saint Pope John Paul II
| major_shrine =
| feast_day = 20 June
| attributes =
| patronage = Wexford town, sailors
}}
⚫
The '''Wexford Martyrs''' were '''Matthew Lambert''', '''Robert Meyler''', '''Edward Cheevers''' and '''Patrick Cavanagh'''. In 1581, they were found guilty of [[high treason in the United Kingdom|high treason]] for aiding in the escape of [[James Eustace, 3rd Viscount Baltinglass]]; for similarly conveying a [[Jesuit order|Jesuit]] and other Catholic priests and laymen out of Ireland; and for refusing to take the [[Oath of Supremacy]] which declared [[Elizabeth I of England]] to be the [[Supreme Head of the Church of England|Supreme Head of the Church]] within her dominions. On 5 July 1581, they were [[hanged, drawn and quartered]] in [[Wexford]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]]. They were [[Beatification|beatified]] in 1992 by [[Pope John Paul II]].<ref name="McNeill" />


==Background==
==Background==
In the [[The Pale|Pale]] the predominant religion was Catholic, and the Catholics saw a growing threat from the Protestant-dominated government, a perception supported by their marked decline in participation within the kingdom's government. English-born Protestants increasingly occupied positions of authority. The people of the Pale resented taxes on their property for the government's military policy against the [[Gaelic nobility of Ireland]] and rebellious [[Hiberno-Normans]]. Troops were also billeted upon their lands. James Eustace's father, Viscount Roland, had been imprisoned by the Elizabethan administration for his opposition.<ref name=webb>{{cite book |author-last=Webb |author-first=Alfred |title=A Compendium of Irish Biography |publisher=M. H. Gill & Son |location=Dublin |date=1878 |url=http://www.libraryireland.com/biography/JamesEustace3rdViscountBaltinglass.php}}</ref>
In the [[The Pale|Pale]] the predominant religion was Catholic, and the Catholics saw a growing threat from the Protestant-dominated government, a perception supported by their marked decline in participation within the kingdom's government. English-born Protestants increasingly occupied positions of authority. The people of the Pale resented taxes on their property for the government's military policy against the [[Gaelic nobility of Ireland]] and rebellious [[Hiberno-Normans]]. Troops were also billeted upon their lands. James Eustace's father, [[Rowland Eustace, 2nd Viscount Baltinglass]], had been imprisoned in [[Dublin Castle]] by the Elizabethan administration for his opposition.<ref name=webb>{{cite book |author-last=Webb |author-first=Alfred |title=A Compendium of Irish Biography |publisher=M. H. Gill & Son |location=Dublin |date=1878 |url=http://www.libraryireland.com/biography/JamesEustace3rdViscountBaltinglass.php}}</ref>


During the summer of 1580, James Eustace, Viscount Baltinglass, apparently prompted almost entirely by religious motives, raised an army in [[County Wicklow]], in support of the Earl of Desmond's separate uprising in Munster. The Viscount's allies included the coalition of [[Irish clan]]s led by [[Fiach McHugh O'Byrne]]. At first the uprising was successful, but Baltinglass did not coordinate his efforts with those of Desmond and could not sustain the conflict. He and his followers were outlawed. Forty-five were hanged in Dublin. James Eustace escaped to Munster, where Desmond was still in revolt. After Desmond was killed he left for Spain.<ref name=webb/>
During the summer of 1580, [[James Eustace, 3rd Viscount Baltinglass]], apparently prompted almost entirely by religious motives, raised an army in [[County Wicklow]], in support of [[Second Desmond Rebellion]] in [[Munster]]. The Viscount's allies included the coalition of [[Irish clan]]s led by [[Fiach McHugh O'Byrne]], [[Chief of the Name]] of [[O'Byrne family|Clann Uí Bhroin]] (Clan O'Byrne) and [[Tigerna|Lord]] of [[Ranelagh]]. At first the uprising was successful, but Baltinglass did not coordinate his efforts with those of Desmond and could not sustain the conflict. He and his followers were outlawed. Forty-five were hanged in Dublin. James Eustace escaped to Munster, where Desmond was still in revolt. After the Rebel Earl of Desmond was killed, Baltinglass sought to flee for Spain.<ref name=webb/>


==Escape of Viscount Baltinglass==
==Escape of Viscount Baltinglass==
Pursued by Crown forces after the defeat of the Second Desmond Rebellion, James Eustace and his [[Jesuit]] [[military chaplain]], Father Robert Rochford, eventually found refuge with Matthew Lambert, a Wexford baker.
{{Infobox saint|name=Edward Cheevers|image=|imagesize=|alt=|caption=|titles=Layman, Martyr|birth_date=|birth_place=|home_town=|residence=|death_date=5 July 1581|death_place=[[Wexford]], [[Ireland]]|feast_day=5 July, 20 June|venerated_in=[[Roman Catholic Church]]|beatified_date=27 September 1992 by [[Pope John Paul II]]|beatified_place=|beatified_by=|canonized_date=|canonized_place=|canonized_by=|major_shrine=|attributes=|patronage=|issues=|suppressed_date=|suppressed_by=|influences=|tradition=|influenced=|major_works=|module=|honorific_prefix=Blessed|honorific_suffix=|birth_name=}}
⚫
Pursued by English troops after the collapse of the Second Desmond Rebellion, James Eustace and his chaplain, Father Robert Rochford, eventually found refuge with Matthew Lambert, a Wexford baker. Lambert fed them and arranged with five sailor acquaintances for safe passage by ship for them. Lambert was betrayed, along with sailors Patrick Cavanagh, Edward Cheevers, Robert Myler, John O'Lahy, and one other. They were arrested, imprisoned, and tortured, before being executed in Wexford on 5 July 1581.<ref name="McNeill">{{cite encyclopedia |author=McNeill, Charles |title=Irish Confessors and Martyrs |encyclopedia=The Catholic Encyclopedia |volume=8 |location=New York |publisher=Robert Appleton |year=2012 |orig-year=1910 |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08163a.htm}}</ref><ref name="Canonization">{{cite journal |title=Canonization of the Irish Martyrs |journal=The Irish Ecclesiastical Record |volume=21 |series=4th ser. |date=Jan–Jun 1907 |pages=175–90 |url=https://archive.org/details/s04irishecclesia21dubluoft}}</ref>{{rp|181}}


⚫
Lambert fed them and arranged with five sailor acquaintances for safe passage by ship for them to [[Catholic Europe]]. Lambert was betrayed, along with sailors Patrick Cavanagh, Edward Cheevers, Robert Myler,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Robert Meyler {{!}} |url=https://kevinmicheal.com/saint/robert-meyler/ |access-date=2023-03-15 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Robert Meyler |url=https://www.holyirishmartyrs.com/robert-meyler |access-date=2023-03-15 |website=Holy Irish Martyrs |language=en}}</ref> John O'Lahy, and one other. They were arrested, imprisoned, and tortured, before being executed in Wexford on 5 July 1581.<ref name="McNeill">{{cite encyclopedia |author=McNeill, Charles |title=Irish Confessors and Martyrs |encyclopedia=The Catholic Encyclopedia |volume=8 |location=New York |publisher=Robert Appleton |year=2012 |orig-year=1910 |url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08163a.htm}}</ref><ref name="Canonization">{{cite journal |title=Canonization of the Irish Martyrs |journal=The Irish Ecclesiastical Record |volume=21 |series=4th ser. |date=Jan–Jun 1907 |pages=175–90 |url=https://archive.org/details/s04irishecclesia21dubluoft}}</ref>{{rp|181}}
⚫
The authorities heard of the plan beforehand and Matthew was arrested together with his five sailor friends. Thrown into prison, they were questioned about politics and religion. Lambert's reply was: "I am not a learned man. I am unable to debate with you, but I can tell you this, I am a Catholic and I believe whatever our Holy Mother the Catholic Church believes." They were found guilty of treason and hanged, drawn, and quartered in Wexford on 5 July 1581.{{fact|date=February 2020}}


⚫
The authorities heard of the plan beforehand and Matthew was arrested together with his five sailor friends. Thrown into prison, they were questioned about politics and religion. Lambert's reply was: "I am not a learned man. I am unable to debate with you, but I can tell you this, I am a Catholic and I believe whatever our Holy Mother the Catholic Church believes." They were found guilty of treason and hanged, drawn, and quartered in Wexford on 5 July 1581.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stairnaheireann.net/2016/07/05/1581-the-wexford-martyrs-were-hanged-drawn-and-quartered-on-this-day-in-1581/|title=1581 – The Wexford Martyrs were hanged, drawn and quartered.|first=Stair na|last=hÉireann|date=5 July 2016|website=Stair na hÉireann &#124; History of Ireland}}</ref>
{{Infobox saint|name=Patrick Cavanagh|image=Blessed-patrick-cavanagh.png|imagesize=|alt=|caption=|titles=Layman, Martyr|birth_date=|birth_place=|home_town=|residence=|death_date=5 July 1581|death_place=[[Wexford]], [[Ireland]]|feast_day=5 July, 20 June|venerated_in=[[Roman Catholic Church]]|beatified_date=27 September 1992 [[by Pope John Paul II]]|beatified_place=|beatified_by=|canonized_date=|canonized_place=|canonized_by=|major_shrine=|attributes=|patronage=|issues=|suppressed_date=|suppressed_by=|influences=|tradition=|influenced=|major_works=|module=|honorific_prefix=Blessed|honorific_suffix=|birth_name=}}

== Other two martyrs ==
There were apparently six martyrs but only four of them were beatified in 1992, perhaps due to a lack of sufficient evidence for the existence of the other two martyrs. One of them was believed to have been called ''John O' Lahy'' and the other was an anonymous individual. Nothing is known about these two men. Their names are usually excluded from the group of 17 [[Irish Catholic Martyrs|Irish martyrs]] whom [[Pope John Paul II|John Paul II]] named among the blessed.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ireland |url=http://newsaints.faithweb.com/martyrs/Ireland01.htm |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=newsaints.faithweb.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Jun 20 - The Irish Martyrs of the (16th & 17th centuries) |url=https://www.catholicireland.net/saintoftheday/the-irish-martyrs-16th-17th-centuries/ |access-date=2023-07-07 |website=Catholicireland.net |language=en-US}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
Line 36: Line 60:
[[Category:People executed by Ireland by hanging, drawing and quartering]]
[[Category:People executed by Ireland by hanging, drawing and quartering]]
[[Category:People executed under Elizabeth I as Queen of Ireland]]
[[Category:People executed under Elizabeth I as Queen of Ireland]]
[[Category:Executed Irish people]]
[[Category:Executed people from County Wexford]]
[[Category:Beatifications by Pope John Paul II]]
[[Category:Beatifications by Pope John Paul II]]
[[Category:24 Irish Catholic Martyrs]]

Latest revision as of 05:11, 11 May 2024

"Patrick Cavanagh" redirects here. For others with similar names, see Patrick Kavanagh (disambiguation).

The 4 Blessed Wexford Martyrs
Bornunknown
Died5 July 1581 AD
Wexford town
Cause of deathmartyrdom (hanged, drawn and quartered)
Beatified1992 by Saint Pope John Paul II
Feast20 June
PatronageWexford town, sailors

The Wexford Martyrs were Matthew Lambert, Robert Meyler, Edward Cheevers and Patrick Cavanagh. In 1581, they were found guilty of high treason for aiding in the escape of James Eustace, 3rd Viscount Baltinglass; for similarly conveying a Jesuit and other Catholic priests and laymen out of Ireland; and for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy which declared Elizabeth I of England to be the Supreme Head of the Church within her dominions. On 5 July 1581, they were hanged, drawn and quartered in Wexford, Ireland. They were beatified in 1992 by Pope John Paul II.[1]

Background[edit]

In the Pale the predominant religion was Catholic, and the Catholics saw a growing threat from the Protestant-dominated government, a perception supported by their marked decline in participation within the kingdom's government. English-born Protestants increasingly occupied positions of authority. The people of the Pale resented taxes on their property for the government's military policy against the Gaelic nobility of Ireland and rebellious Hiberno-Normans. Troops were also billeted upon their lands. James Eustace's father, Rowland Eustace, 2nd Viscount Baltinglass, had been imprisoned in Dublin Castle by the Elizabethan administration for his opposition.[2]

During the summer of 1580, James Eustace, 3rd Viscount Baltinglass, apparently prompted almost entirely by religious motives, raised an army in County Wicklow, in support of Second Desmond Rebellion in Munster. The Viscount's allies included the coalition of Irish clans led by Fiach McHugh O'Byrne, Chief of the Name of Clann Uí Bhroin (Clan O'Byrne) and Lord of Ranelagh. At first the uprising was successful, but Baltinglass did not coordinate his efforts with those of Desmond and could not sustain the conflict. He and his followers were outlawed. Forty-five were hanged in Dublin. James Eustace escaped to Munster, where Desmond was still in revolt. After the Rebel Earl of Desmond was killed, Baltinglass sought to flee for Spain.[2]

Escape of Viscount Baltinglass[edit]

Pursued by Crown forces after the defeat of the Second Desmond Rebellion, James Eustace and his Jesuit military chaplain, Father Robert Rochford, eventually found refuge with Matthew Lambert, a Wexford baker.

Lambert fed them and arranged with five sailor acquaintances for safe passage by ship for them to Catholic Europe. Lambert was betrayed, along with sailors Patrick Cavanagh, Edward Cheevers, Robert Myler,[3][4] John O'Lahy, and one other. They were arrested, imprisoned, and tortured, before being executed in Wexford on 5 July 1581.[1][5]: 181 

The authorities heard of the plan beforehand and Matthew was arrested together with his five sailor friends. Thrown into prison, they were questioned about politics and religion. Lambert's reply was: "I am not a learned man. I am unable to debate with you, but I can tell you this, I am a Catholic and I believe whatever our Holy Mother the Catholic Church believes." They were found guilty of treason and hanged, drawn, and quartered in Wexford on 5 July 1581.[6]

Other two martyrs[edit]

There were apparently six martyrs but only four of them were beatified in 1992, perhaps due to a lack of sufficient evidence for the existence of the other two martyrs. One of them was believed to have been called John O' Lahy and the other was an anonymous individual. Nothing is known about these two men. Their names are usually excluded from the group of 17 Irish martyrs whom John Paul II named among the blessed.[7][8]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b McNeill, Charles (2012) [1910]. "Irish Confessors and Martyrs". The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 8. New York: Robert Appleton.
  2. ^ a b Webb, Alfred (1878). A Compendium of Irish Biography. Dublin: M. H. Gill & Son.
  3. ^ "Robert Meyler |". Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  4. ^ "Robert Meyler". Holy Irish Martyrs. Retrieved 15 March 2023.
  5. ^ "Canonization of the Irish Martyrs". The Irish Ecclesiastical Record. 4th ser. 21: 175–90. January–June 1907.
  6. ^ hÉireann, Stair na (5 July 2016). "1581 – The Wexford Martyrs were hanged, drawn and quartered". Stair na hÉireann | History of Ireland.
  7. ^ "Ireland". newsaints.faithweb.com. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
  8. ^ "Jun 20 - The Irish Martyrs of the (16th & 17th centuries)". Catholicireland.net. Retrieved 7 July 2023.
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