William Weston (Jesuit)
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William Weston, SJ (c. 1551 – 9 June 1615) was an English
Life
Educated at
There was not then a single Jesuit at liberty in the country. He reached England, on 20 September 1584,
In 1588, the Government moved Weston and a number of other priests to Wisbech Castle, where for four years their confinement was strict. But in 1592 the prisoners were, for economy's sake, allowed to live on the alms supplied by Catholics, and freedom of conversation was permitted. The Catholic faithful came to visit the confessors, who on their part arranged to live a sort of college life. This was not accomplished without much friction, in what became called the "Wisbech Stirs". The majority with Weston (20 out of 33) desired regular routine with a recognized authority to judge delinquencies, e.g. quarrels and possible scandals. The minority dissented, and when the majority persisted, and even dined apart (February, 1595), a cry of schism was raised, and Weston was denounced as its originator, the pugnacious Christopher Bagshaw taking the lead against him. In response, Weston decided to keep to his room and cease taking meals with the rest of the prisoners stating that he was unwilling to participate in any common life unless rules were drawn up to regulate it.[1] In May, arbitrators (John Bavant and Alban Dolman) were called in, but without result, as one espoused one side, one the other. In October two more arbitrators, John Mush and Dudley, were summoned, and they arranged a compromise amid general rejoicings. The whole body agreed to live together by a definite rule (November, 1595).
In the spring of 1597, the troubles of the
In 1603, he was sent into exile[1] and spent the rest of his days in the English seminaries at Seville and Valladolid. He was rector of the latter college at the time of his death. His autobiography and letters show a man learned, scholarly, and intensely spiritual, if somewhat narrow. A zealous missionary, he strongly attracted many souls, while some found him unconciliatory. Portraits of him are preserved at Rome and Valladolid.
References
- Attribution
- This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "William Weston". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company. The entry cites:
- John Morris, Troubles of our Catholic Forefathers, II (1875), contains a translation of Weston, Autobiography. The conclusion, which is there missing, is in Catholic Record Society, I;
- Peralta, Puntos cerca la santa vida del P. Guillermo Weston (1615);
- MS. at Rome;
- Law, Jesuits and Seculars in the Reign of Elizabeth (1889);
- Bartoli, Inghilterra (1668);
- More, Historia provinciae anglicanae (1660);
- Pollen in The Month (July, 1912).