Anthony Brookby
Anthony Brookby (Brorbey) (executed 19 July 1537) was an English Franciscan theologian. He offended Henry VIII, and became a Catholic martyr.
Brookby was a lecturer in theology at Magdalen College, Oxford. He was versed in Greek and Hebrew, and enjoyed a reputation as an eloquent preacher. In one sermon, Brookby attacked the king's actions and mode of living.[1]
He was arrested, put to the rack, and tortured in order to make him retract what he had said. Disabled as a result of his tortures, Brookby was cared for by a pious woman for a fortnight. By the command of the king, an executioner strangled him to death, with the Franciscan cord which he wore around his waist.[1]
The year of his death has been questioned, with the Victoria County History for Kent placing the event in 1534.[2]
Friar Anthony Brookby was declared venerable by Pope Leo XIII in 1886
From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia
Anthony Brookby — (Or Brorbey).
Friar Minor and English martyr, died 19 July 1537. Brookby was lecturer in divinity in Magdalen College, Oxford was well versed in Greek and Hebrew, and enjoyed the reputation of being an eloquent preacher. At the command of King Henry VIII who took offense at a sermon of Brookby's in which he attacked the king's actions and mode of living, he was apprehended, put to the rack, and tortured in the most cruel manner in order to make him retract what he had said but all to no purpose. Having been rendered wellnigh helpless as a result of his tortures, Brookby was charitably cared for by a pious woman for a fortnight until, by the command of the king, an executioner strangled him to death with the Franciscan cord which he wore around his waist.
STONE, Faithful unto Death (London, 1892), iv, 76; PARKINSON, Coll. Anglo-Minor. (London, 1726), 239; THADDEUS, The Franciscans in England (London, 1898), III, 17; DANIELLE, Martirio e Morte d'alcuni Frati di San Francesco, III, 16.
References
- Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Anthony Brookby". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
- Back to citation Friaries: The observant friars of Greenwich. Vol. 2. London: Victoria County History. 1926. pp. 194–198.
Bibliography
- Mary Jean Stone, Faithful unto Death (London, 1892), iv, 76;
- Anthony Parkinson, Coll. Anglo-Minor. (London, 1726), 239;
- Thaddeus, The Franciscans in England (London, 1898), III, 17;
- Danielle, Martirio e Morte d'alcuni Frati di San Francesco, III, 16.
- Attribution