Christopher Hodgson (priest)
Encyclopedia
Christopher Hodgson was a Catholic priest who played a minor role in the Babington Plot
(Pollen 1922, Smith 1936, Thomas 1996). The plot was a failure and eighteen of the main conspirators were hung, drawn, and quartered in London in 1586. Hodgson was a committed Roman Catholic, in defiance of the Elizabethan authorities. But he clashed with the Jesuits and like several other English Catholics he opposed a Spanish invasion. He was a close friend of Gilbert Gifford
and an acquaintance of Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland
in exile.
where he died on 23 September 1590. His will survives in Lancashire Record Office
in Preston.
Parish records show the baptism of a Christopher Hodgson, son of Christopher Hodgson, in Kendal in Westmorland on 12 December 1561. If this record applies to the future priest, then Christopher would have moved from Kendal to Altham when he was a young boy. Another Christopher Hodgson was baptised in Whalley in Lancashire on 21 January 1561. But no father is named.
In any case, the future priest attended Blackburn Grammar School in the 1570s (Anstruther 1968, p. 168). He was taught by Lawrence Yates "who ran a very popish school" (Anstruther, 1968, p. 168). A surviving letter in the English State Papers shows a very close relationship with Laurence Johnson, a Catholic martyr who was executed at Tyburn in 1582 and later beatified.
. He was sent to Rome in 1579 where he ordained as a priest in 1583. For reasons of illness his mission back to England was aborted. Instead he journeyed to Rheims in France to teach philosophy at the English College there. His anti-Jesuit views led to antagonism with Richard Barret, the Jesuit president of the college (Anstruther, 1968, p. 168).
Hodgson became friendly with Gilbert Gifford
, who as a double agent played a crucial role in the Babington Plot
. One of the captured plotters (John Savage) later testified under interrogation that Hodgson had, with Gifford and others at Rheims in 1585, encouraged the assassination of Queen Elizabeth I of England (Smith 1936, p. 216). Savage confessed "that through the persuasion of Doctor Gifford, and by the solicitation of Gilbert Gifford and one Hodgson he undertook to kill the Queen’s majesty and for that purpose was sent from Rheims hither."
When in England, Gilbert Gifford set up a means of communication between the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots, and her allies, knowing that her letters would be intercepted by Elizabethan spies. The evidence of these letters – forged or otherwise – led to her execution in 1587 (Smith 1936).
wrote a letter to his brother Gerard dated 6 December 1588, which fell into the hands of the English authorities. This expresses Gilbert’s ‘affection’ for Christopher Hodgson and reports that Hodgson had been lent £2000 by Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland
. This Earl was exiled for his role in the pro-Catholic Rising of the North
in 1569 (Sharp 1840). Dispossessed of all his estates, the Earl died in Flanders
in 1601.
Hodgson stayed at Rheims until 1589 when he left to teach philosophy and theology in a monastery in Dieulouard
in Lorraine, aiming to become the Abbot. The last definite reference to him, in a letter by Jesuit Priest Robert Parsons (or Persons), gives the following account of his wanderings:
Hodgson’s impoverished arrival in Calais
, and his request to pillage with the Spanish soldiers, seems to indicate that he might be trying to return to England. Whether he did or not we do not know. Nothing is known of Hodgson’s life after 1596.
Babington Plot
The Babington Plot was a Catholic plot in 1586 to assassinate Queen Elizabeth, a Protestant, and put Mary, Queen of Scots, a Catholic, on the English throne. It led to the execution of Mary. The long-term goal was an invasion by the Spanish forces of King Philip II and the Catholic league in...
(Pollen 1922, Smith 1936, Thomas 1996). The plot was a failure and eighteen of the main conspirators were hung, drawn, and quartered in London in 1586. Hodgson was a committed Roman Catholic, in defiance of the Elizabethan authorities. But he clashed with the Jesuits and like several other English Catholics he opposed a Spanish invasion. He was a close friend of Gilbert Gifford
Gilbert Gifford
Gilbert Gifford was a double agent who worked for Sir Francis Walsingham and played a role in the uncovering of the Babington Plot. Shortly before his death in Paris, he was ordained as a Catholic priest in Rheims...
and an acquaintance of Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland
Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland
Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland was an English nobleman and one of the leaders of the Rising of the North in 1569....
in exile.
Early life
The records concerning his ordination suggest that Christopher Hodgson was born in 1561 (Anstruther 1968, p. 168). Surviving letters in the English State Papers confirm that his father was also called Christopher. Christopher the elder was a tenant farmer in Altham, LancashireAltham, Lancashire
Altham is a village and civil parish in the Borough of Hyndburn, in Lancashire, England. It is the only parish in the borough – the remainder is an unparished area. The village is west of Burnley, north of Accrington, and north-east of Clayton-le-Moors, and is on the A678 Blackburn to Burnley...
where he died on 23 September 1590. His will survives in Lancashire Record Office
Lancashire Record Office
Lancashire Record Office, established in 1940, is the County Record Office for Lancashire, England. It is located in Preston.Lancashire County Council appointed Reginald Sharpe France as the first County Archivist; from 1947 he also taught on the Diploma in Archive Administration at the University...
in Preston.
Parish records show the baptism of a Christopher Hodgson, son of Christopher Hodgson, in Kendal in Westmorland on 12 December 1561. If this record applies to the future priest, then Christopher would have moved from Kendal to Altham when he was a young boy. Another Christopher Hodgson was baptised in Whalley in Lancashire on 21 January 1561. But no father is named.
In any case, the future priest attended Blackburn Grammar School in the 1570s (Anstruther 1968, p. 168). He was taught by Lawrence Yates "who ran a very popish school" (Anstruther, 1968, p. 168). A surviving letter in the English State Papers shows a very close relationship with Laurence Johnson, a Catholic martyr who was executed at Tyburn in 1582 and later beatified.
Priesthood and the Babington Plot
Christopher left England with Laurence Johnson in 1578 to study at the English College, DouaiEnglish College, Douai
The English College, Douai was a Catholic seminary associated with the University of Douai . It was established in about 1561, and was suppressed in 1793...
. He was sent to Rome in 1579 where he ordained as a priest in 1583. For reasons of illness his mission back to England was aborted. Instead he journeyed to Rheims in France to teach philosophy at the English College there. His anti-Jesuit views led to antagonism with Richard Barret, the Jesuit president of the college (Anstruther, 1968, p. 168).
Hodgson became friendly with Gilbert Gifford
Gilbert Gifford
Gilbert Gifford was a double agent who worked for Sir Francis Walsingham and played a role in the uncovering of the Babington Plot. Shortly before his death in Paris, he was ordained as a Catholic priest in Rheims...
, who as a double agent played a crucial role in the Babington Plot
Babington Plot
The Babington Plot was a Catholic plot in 1586 to assassinate Queen Elizabeth, a Protestant, and put Mary, Queen of Scots, a Catholic, on the English throne. It led to the execution of Mary. The long-term goal was an invasion by the Spanish forces of King Philip II and the Catholic league in...
. One of the captured plotters (John Savage) later testified under interrogation that Hodgson had, with Gifford and others at Rheims in 1585, encouraged the assassination of Queen Elizabeth I of England (Smith 1936, p. 216). Savage confessed "that through the persuasion of Doctor Gifford, and by the solicitation of Gilbert Gifford and one Hodgson he undertook to kill the Queen’s majesty and for that purpose was sent from Rheims hither."
When in England, Gilbert Gifford set up a means of communication between the imprisoned Mary, Queen of Scots, and her allies, knowing that her letters would be intercepted by Elizabethan spies. The evidence of these letters – forged or otherwise – led to her execution in 1587 (Smith 1936).
'Afterwards, Failing in His Purpose'
Before his death in prison in Paris in 1590, Gilbert GiffordGilbert Gifford
Gilbert Gifford was a double agent who worked for Sir Francis Walsingham and played a role in the uncovering of the Babington Plot. Shortly before his death in Paris, he was ordained as a Catholic priest in Rheims...
wrote a letter to his brother Gerard dated 6 December 1588, which fell into the hands of the English authorities. This expresses Gilbert’s ‘affection’ for Christopher Hodgson and reports that Hodgson had been lent £2000 by Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland
Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland
Charles Neville, 6th Earl of Westmorland was an English nobleman and one of the leaders of the Rising of the North in 1569....
. This Earl was exiled for his role in the pro-Catholic Rising of the North
Rising of the North
The Rising of the North of 1569, also called the Revolt of the Northern Earls or Northern Rebellion, was an unsuccessful attempt by Catholic nobles from Northern England to depose Queen Elizabeth I of England and replace her with Mary, Queen of Scots.-Background:When Elizabeth I succeeded her...
in 1569 (Sharp 1840). Dispossessed of all his estates, the Earl died in Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
in 1601.
Hodgson stayed at Rheims until 1589 when he left to teach philosophy and theology in a monastery in Dieulouard
Dieulouard
Dieulouard is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France. Dieulouard is located between Pont-à-Mousson and Nancy, on the left bank of the Moselle River. It is the location of the Gallo-Roman city of Scarpone.-See also:...
in Lorraine, aiming to become the Abbot. The last definite reference to him, in a letter by Jesuit Priest Robert Parsons (or Persons), gives the following account of his wanderings:
"afterwards, failing in his purpose, and having no true spirit indeed, came out again, and after much wanderings up and down entangled with many ecclesiastical censures, came at length to such misery, and desperate resolution, as that when the assault should be given by the Spaniards to CalaisCalaisCalais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
in the year 1596, this man being there both ragged and torn, and in vagrant sort, told a certain grave man a little before the assault given, that he must be forced to enter also with the soldiers to snatch and catch as others did for his necessary relief, and what is become of him since I know not, nor whether he be dead or alive." (Catholic Record Society 1906, p. 205)
Hodgson’s impoverished arrival in Calais
Calais
Calais is a town in Northern France in the department of Pas-de-Calais, of which it is a sub-prefecture. Although Calais is by far the largest city in Pas-de-Calais, the department's capital is its third-largest city of Arras....
, and his request to pillage with the Spanish soldiers, seems to indicate that he might be trying to return to England. Whether he did or not we do not know. Nothing is known of Hodgson’s life after 1596.