Lenten 40 Martyr Reflections: St Cuthbert Mayne

St Cuthbert Mayne was the first secular missionary priest to be martyred and was also the protomartyr of Douai college in France. A fellow at St John’s College, Oxford, Cuthbert was one of the first to begin a long tradition of graduates or students who were drawn to the Catholic priesthood from that institution. His conversion was a gradual one - he took instruction from Edmund Campion. But after being ordained and joining the English mission, Cuthbert was caught very early on in his ministry and became a scapegoat for the vehemently anti-Catholic priest authorities in the late 16th century.

Unlike many of the martyrs, what was referred to as the “old faith” was not Cuthbert’s old faith. He was born at Youlston in Devon in 1544, the son of John. Mayne was brought up a Protestant by his uncle, a minister in the “new” religion. He was educated at Barnstaple Grammar and, at the age of 19, was made a Church of England deacon. It almost seems as though the young man was pushed into this by his uncle. He wasn’t really in tune with the Reformation and didn’t realise there were different religions.

When studying for his Bachelor of Arts at Oxford, Mayne came in contact with Campion, Gregory Martin and Henry Shaw among others. He held the position of St John’s College chaplain for several years but one wonders if he was adequately spiritually formed to carry this out. The college was becoming a real stronghold of Catholicity and Cuthbert was pitied by Papist students who chipped away at his conscience and advising him of his sin. Realising Cuthbert’s “Romeward tendencies”, Campion and Martin continued to write to the fellow urging them to join them at Douai.

One of Campion’s letters got into the hands of the Bishop of London. He immediately sent guards straight to Oxford to arrest Mayne and others. But Cuthbert had gone home to Devon. Hearing from friend Thomas Ford that the authorities were out to get him, Mayne jumped on a ship for Europe and reached Douai College in 1573.

The College had only been opened for five years. It was not too far from England and was a constituent college of the newly formed University of Douai. The institution was already filled with students, most of them from Oxford. Mayne therefore fitted in nicely. He took his Bachelor of Theology degree in early 1576 and in April returned to Cornwall as a newly ordained priest.

He was sent with John Paine and Henry Shaw by Dr William Allen, first President of the College. On arrival, Cuthbert went to live with Francis Tregian in St Probus’s parish, near Truro, Cornwall. Francis was the maternal uncle of Thomas Sherwood who was martyred on February 7 1578. Mr Tregian is also thought to have quit Queen Elizabeth’s Court.

Though Mayne passed as Tregian’s steward, rumours as to his real character spread. In June 1577, the Bishop of Exeter was visiting the area and the county’s sheriff asked for his assistance in searching Francis’ house. Tregian initially resisted the raid, telling the guards they should have a commission from the Queen to search his home. But when the Sheriff held a dagger to Francis’ chest, the householder relented. The officers “bounced and beat” Mayne’s door. In yet another remarkable (and somewhat amusing) act by of one of the 40 Martyrs, Cuthbert heard the noise and popped up from where he was in the garden to open the door for them!

Seizing Cuthbert, the Sheriff found an Agnus Dei case around his neck. These are small disks made from wax from the Easter candle and pressed with an image of the paschal Lamb and blessed by the Pope. They had been outlawed by parliament in 1571. They also found a papal bull that had also been outlawed and carrying one was now considered treason. Shouting abuse at him, the Sheriff arrested Cuthbert. The martyrdom of another faithful and brave priest was to be secured.

He was taken to the Bishop of Exeter with his belongings. He was then incarcerated at various people's houses before ending up in Launceston jail, an underground castle prison. Here, Mayne was cruelly imprisoned. He was chained to his bedposts and his legs were shackled. No-one had permission to talk to him.

The authorities sought a death sentence but had difficulty in framing a treason indictment to that end. At the opening of the trial on September 23 1587, there were five counts against him.

First, that he had obtained a "faculty" (or bulla) from the Roman See, containing absolution of the Queen's subjects; second, he had published the same at Golden; third, he had taught the authority of the Pope and denied the queen's ecclesiastical supremacy while in prison; fourth, he had brought an Agnus Dei into England and delivered it to Francis Tregian; fifth, for celebrating Mass. The judge was Sir Roger Manwood/Manhood/Marwood (three different sources have different spellings), the Chief Baron of the Exchequer, who was assisted by Mr Justice Jeffrey.

Mayne answered all counts. On the first and second, the supposed "faculty" was a copy printed at Douai of a Jubilee announcement in 1575. Its application had expired at the end of the jubilee and he had not published it either at Golden or elsewhere. On the third, Cuthbert denied saying anything definite on the Pope to three illiterate witnesses. With the Agnus Dei charge, the fact he was found with it on arrest did not confirm he had brought it to the country or delivered it to Tregian. Lastly, the presence of a Missal, a chalice, and vestments in his room did not prove he had said Mass.

Despite the excellent defence arguments, Manwood directed the jury to return a guilty verdict. The Privy Council was very concerned about reports that more than 30 graduates from Douai had been seen entering the country by spies. The judge said: "Where plain proofs were wanting, strong presumptions ought to take place." Imagine how a modern day judge would react to one of their colleagues saying that in open court these days.

After being harangued and threatened by Sheriff Grenville, the jury found the priest guilty. Mayne raised his eyes and said: "Deo gratias."

Cuthbert's execution is thought to have been delayed because Judge Jeffery had considered the proceedings unfair and informed the Privy Council, who met to discuss the case. But although some judges saying they were concerned, the Council said Mayne should be executed as a warning to other Catholics. They also instructed the killing to be done in the market place in full view as "a terror to the papists".

Mayne was told of his execution three days in advance. He devoted every remaining night of his life to prayer and contemplation. On November 27, his cell was filled with a bright light between midnight and 1am, an indication that this was a saintly man. This prompted other prisoners to call out - the light was so bright and they knew Cuthbert didn't even have a candle.

Like quite a few of the priestly martyrs, Cuthbert was challenged in debate on the day of his execution (November 29) by judges and ministers. Reports say Cuthbert outwitted them on every point.

Mayne was then offered life in return for a renunciation of his religion and an acknowledgment of the supremacy of the queen as head of the church. Declining both offers, he kissed the Bible and said: "The queen neither ever was, nor is, nor ever shall be, the head of the Church of England." He went on to say England would soon be converted back to Catholicism by the 'secret instructors' from Douai. Well and truly sealing his fate, Cuthbert made a political comment. "Any Catholic prince... invade any realm to reform the same to the authority to the See of Rome, that then the Catholics in that realm... should be ready to assist and help them." The group was infuriated and left the priest to prepare for his horrible death.

Mayne was drawn a quarter of a mile to the market place in Launceston, where an unusually high gibbet had been put up. Some wanted his head to be positioned so it scraped all the way along the floor. But the sheriff refused the requests.

On arrival, the 29-year-old was refused the right to address the crowd and instead knelt to say his prayers. Asked about the role of Mr Tregian and Sir John Arundel, Mayne said they knew nothing of the things he was condemned for. He was then pushed off the ladder and prayed: "In manus tuas." Some reports say the hangman let Cuthbert die before the disembowelment and quartering. One source says he was cut down alive, but in falling struck his head against the butcher's scaffold.

The executioner seems to have had much pleasure in ripping his body to pieces, holding up his heart to the crowd. His quarters were distributed to four different places and his head was put on a pole near a busy street. The hangman went mad a month after the martyrdom and died soon after.

The first Douai seminary priest to be martyred, St Cuthbert Mayne had a beautiful journey to Catholicism. Unlike many of the martyrs, he was born and brought up a Protestant and genuinely didn’t understand the split in Christianity until he got to university. It was his friends at university who saw his potential, gently chipping away and encouraging him to join them at Douai. The story of his conversion is an inspiration to all those young Catholics in the spiritually hostile environment of university in modern day Britain who want to express their faith gently but fully to their peers. Just as Edmund Campion felt the need to present and answer questions on his faith to someone who knocked at the door of Catholicism, so young Catholics should pray for the strength and courage to do this if they feel friends have “Romeward tendencies”. For people going through their conversion and maybe struggling with certain aspects of it, St Cuthbert can offer help in abundance.

The saint showed remarkable resilience, even if he was a tad clumsy strolling into the hands of his capturers when he heard a commotion and being in possession of a papal bull. He was clearly a cleaver academic and an effective debater. The outrageous trial he endured makes him a saint for those being wrongfully convicted to pray to.

A rough portrait of the priest still exists and portions of his skull are in various places, the largest being in the Carmelite Convent in Lanherne, Cornwall.

Saint Cuthbert Mayne, Ora Pro Nobis.