Robert Southwell

Robert Southwell: Poet, Priest, and Martyr

Robert Southwell (c. 1561 – 21 February 1595), also known as Saint Robert Southwell, was an English Catholic priest of the Jesuit Order and a significant poet of the Elizabethan era. He is remembered for his clandestine missionary work in England, his Christian poetry, and his ultimate martyrdom for his faith.

Early Life and Entry into the Society of Jesus

Born in Horsham St Faith, Norfolk, into a family of the gentry, Robert Southwell was the youngest of eight children. Despite his family's Catholic sympathies, they had benefited from King Henry VIII's Suppression of the Monasteries. At the age of fifteen, he was sent to the English college at Douai and later studied at the Jesuit College of Anchin. His education was interrupted by political unrest, leading him to Paris and then Rome. In 1578, he was admitted to the Jesuit probation house of Sant' Andrea and officially became a member of the Society of Jesus in 1580. He pursued studies in philosophy and theology in Rome, was granted a BA in 1584, and was ordained in the same year. He also served as a tutor at the Venerable English College in Rome.

Missionary Work in England and Imprisonment

In 1586, Southwell requested to be sent to England as a Jesuit missionary alongside Henry Garnet. They arrived in England and began their work, with Southwell often residing in London and making occasional excursions. He assumed the name Cotton and mixed discreetly in Protestant society. In 1589, he became the domestic chaplain to Anne Howard, Countess of Arundel, whose husband was imprisoned for treason. Southwell dedicated much of 1591 to writing, though his literary activities were suspected by the government.

After six years of missionary labor, Southwell was arrested in 1592 at Uxendon Hall. He was betrayed by Anne Bellamy, who had been interrogated and raped by Sir Richard Topcliffe, the queen's chief priest-hunter. Southwell was taken to Topcliffe's house and subjected to torture, enduring forty hours in his custody. He was subsequently moved to the Gatehouse Prison and later to the Tower of London, where he remained for three years under Topcliffe's supervision. Despite his suffering, his friends and superiors managed to provide him with necessities and spiritual texts.

Trial and Execution

In 1595, the Privy Council ordered Southwell's prosecution for treason. He was transferred to Newgate Prison and then appeared before the Lord Chief Justice, John Popham. Southwell was indicted for being a priest ordained by Rome present in England, a violation of statutes carrying the death penalty. He admitted to his presence and ministry but denied any treasonous plots, stating his sole purpose was to administer sacraments to Catholics. He pleaded not guilty to treason.

During his trial, Southwell was accused of comparing himself to Christ, to which he responded humbly. The jury returned a guilty verdict, and he was sentenced to be hanged, drawn, and quartered. On February 21, 1595, he was taken to Tyburn for his execution. He addressed the crowd, confessed his Jesuit identity, and prayed for the Queen and country before commending his soul to God. His execution was carried out, and his body was disemboweled and quartered.

Works and Legacy

Robert Southwell's literary works include "Epistle of Comfort," "A Short Rule of Good Life," "Triumphs over Death," and "Mary Magdalen's Funeral Tears." The latter was publicly published in 1591 and proved very popular. His poetry collection, "St. Peter's Complaint," also gained significant acclaim, going through numerous editions. His works were recognized beyond Catholic circles, with Thomas Nashe creating an imitation of "Mary Magdalen's Funeral Tears." Southwell's influence is evident in the works of later writers, including William Shakespeare, John Donne, George Herbert, and Gerard Manley Hopkins. He is considered a pioneer Baroque writer, noted for his use of passion in religious writing. In 1970, he was canonized by Pope Paul VI as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales.