ALLEN, William

First edition of the first Italian translation of this important account of the martyrdom of sixteen English Catholics, originally published as ‘Brief History of the Glorious Martyrdom’ in 1582, now known in only 2 copies. William Allen (1532-94) was an English Catholic priest, and one of the overseers of the Counter-Reformation efforts of English Catholics through colleges set up in Europe to train future missionaries. He also oversaw the printing of the Douai-Rheims bible and the establishment of the English College at Rome, and was a close acquaintance of the other English Catholic mastermind, Robert Parsons. ‘Historia’ narrates the martyrdom of Catholics in England in 1577-83. ‘It comprises, in fact, 19 martyr relations (of which the first 15 had appeared in the English original although the title had called for only 12, and the last 4 are added)’ (Allison & Rogers). The introduction examines the reasons for the death sentence – e.g., whilst all religious groups in England did not consider proper to execute anyone on religious ground alone, in this case, the martyrs were seen as traitors – whilst justifying their deeds and exculpating them – e.g., they were accused of committing crimes in places where they had never been. There follow narratives of the martyrdoms, including those of Edmund Campion, Rudolf Sherwin, Alexander Bryant, Thomas Ford, John Johnson, Luke Kirby, Thomas Cottam, John Payne, and William Hart. The accounts encompass their imprisonment, questioning by the English authorities, trial, the piety and bravery of the martyrs’ demeanour in prison and on the scaffold. ‘They had to face a hard and precarious life, often persecution, the rack, or even death. When found out they could be convicted of high treason, for which the punishment was to be hanged, drawn and quartered. More than one hundred and sixty Douay priests are known to have been put to death, the great majority belonging to the secular clergy. Many more suffered in prison as Confessors for the Faith’ (Cath. Encyc.).