On this day in 1584 Richard Gwyn became
the protomartyr of Wales.
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| ST RICHARD GWYN |
Richard Gwyn (White in English) was born
in Llanidloes in Montgomeryshire, Wales, about 1537. Richard studied at both Oxford and Cambridge
and eventually returned to Wales and became a schoolmaster in Wrexham and then
in Flintshire.
Richard and his wife Catherine had six
children. Richard was a church papist
i.e., outwardly conforming to the Protestant religion while secretly holding to
the Catholic Faith. His minimal
attendance at Protestant services was noted by the Bishop of Chester who urged
him to conform more wholeheartedly. The pressure grew and Richard eventually gave in.
One day as Richard emerged from a
Protestant service he was attacked by a murder of crows. He was so shaken by this event that he
returned to the Catholic faith and ceased all attendance at the Established
Church.
Of course it was soon noticed that
Richard was no longer attending the services which were demanded by law. In 1580, he was arrested and committed to
Ruthin Gaol by Justice Pilson. For three
months he was held there in chains. At
the next assizes he was brought to the bar and offered the chance to have his
crime forgiven if he would attend just one Protestant service. Richard refused and he was returned to
prison.
After being tried and remanded several
times, Richard was brought to trial in Wrexham on 9th October 1584. Witnesses testified falsely against him and
Judge Bromley ordered the jury to find him guilty. He was found guilty and condemned to
death.
Two days before his execution, Richard
was offered his freedom if he would conform to the State Religion. He refused!
Thus, on 15th October 1584, Richard Gwyn was hanged, cut down
while still alive, disemboweled, beheaded and quartered. His head and one of
his quarters were displayed atop of Denbigh Castle. The other quarters were displayed in Wrexham,
Howlet and Ruthin.
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| THE MARTYRS' BANNER |
Pope Paul VI, on 25th October
1970, canonised Richard Gwyn and thirty-nine other martyrs. They are known collectively as the Forty
Martyrs of England and Wales.
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