St Margaret Clitherow 1556-1586
Margaret Clitherow was born to Thomas and Jane Middleton in 1556, during the reign of Mary Tudor. She had two brothers, Thomas and Robert, and one sister Jane. Her father Thomas Middleton was appointed Sheriff of York when Margaret was eleven. He was so ill with gout that he could not fulfil the Sheriff's duties and died three years later. Margaret's mother Jane remarried four months after Thomas' death to Henry Maye. Henry went on to become an Alderman and later Lord Mayor of York.
Margaret married John Clitherow in 1571. John was a successful butcher and was the one Protestant out of three brothers. He was a well known public figure in York, becoming a "bridge master" (responsible for the upkeep of one of the bridges over the Ouse), and later a chamberlain. After their marriage they lived in the Shambles in York. They had three children Henry, Anne and William.
Margaret became a Catholic just before her daughter Anne was born. Her husband did nothing to prevent her and she grew increasingly enthusiastic for her religion. She would regularly welcome priests into her home to say mass for her and her children and for neighbouring Catholic families. She was imprisoned on a number of occasions for her faith and during one period of imprisonment she learnt to read and this made her determined to have her children educated.
Eventually her husband was summoned to the Council to explain the absence of their eldest son Henry (he had been sent abroad for a Catholic education). While he was being questioned Sheriffs searched the house and discovered the vestments, altar breads and the priest hole. Margaret was immediately arrested and imprisoned.
The Council of the North had great difficulty getting evidence against Margaret as she was greatly loved and respected. She herself was courageous and smiling during her trial. When she appeared in court she refused to plead saying "I know of no offence whereof I should confess myself guilty".
When asked how she wished to be tried she replied "Having made no offence, I need no trial ... If you say I have offended and must be tried, I will be tried by none but God and your consciences".
She was sentenced to death by "peine forte et dure" - which is to be laid out on the stone floor of an underground cell, a door placed over her and weights piled on top of the door. When it came to the execution four sergeants who should have carried out the execution could not bring themselves to do it and so four beggars were hired for the task. Her last words were "Jesu! Jesu! Jesu! Have mercy on me".
The Sheriffs arranged for the body to be buried secretly, but six weeks later a group of Catholics found the grave. they removed the body, embalmed it and buried it again at a secret place. The location of her grave is not known, but a hand which was detached before her final burial is kept in the Bar Convent in York
This account of the life of St Margaret is extracted from a longer chapter in the book:-
The Struggle of a Minority - A short history of Catholicism in Craven. Compiled and Edited by Paul Kennedy. Published by St Stephen's Church, Castleview Terrace, Skipton, North Yorkshire. BD23 1NT
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