William Clark (priest)
Encyclopedia
William Clark was an English Roman Catholic priest and conspirator.. He is remembered for his involvement in a plan to kidnap King James I of England
, made together with another Catholic priest William Watson
in the Bye Plot
. He was executed at Winchester
on 29 November 1603.
, where he arrived on 6 August 1587. Two years later he went to the English College, Rome, and was one of a group of eight priests sent from there on the English mission in April 1592.
Clark took an active part in the Archpriest Controversy: he was one of the "appellants", the 33 priests who signed the appeal against George Blackwell
dated from Wisbech Castle
, 17 November 1600. An attempt was made to give to the first clause of the breve of Pope Clement VIII
, in favour of the appellants (5 October 1602), the appearance of restoring to them the canonical faculties
which had been recently withdrawn. At this point Clark, with Watson and Thomas Bluet, were to be excluded. As it turned out, this solution to the dispute failed.
In 1602 Clark was an inmate of The Clink
prison in Southwark
. He and Watson joined with others in what became called the Bye Plot against James I. On being apprehended Clark was committed to the Gatehouse Prison
at Westminster
, and then moved to the Tower of London
. He and most of the other prisoners were then conveyed to Winchester under a strong guard, where they were tried and condemned on 15 November 1603. Other conspirators in the Bye Plot and Main Plot
were pardoned; but Sir George Brooks
, Clark, and Watson suffered the punishment of traitors at Winchester on 29 November. Sir Dudley Carleton, who was present, wrote: ‘The two priests that led the way to the execution were very bloodily handled.’ He added that Clark ‘stood somewhat upon his justification, and thought he had hard measure; but imputed it to his function, and therefore thought his death meritorious, as a kind of martyrdom’.
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
, made together with another Catholic priest William Watson
William Watson (priest)
William Watson , English Roman Catholic priest and conspirator, executed for treason.-Life:In 1586 he became a Roman Catholic priest in France, and during the concluding years of Elizabeth's reign he paid several visits to England; he was imprisoned and tortured more than once...
in the Bye Plot
Bye Plot
The Bye Plot was a conspiracy by a Roman Catholic priest, William Watson, to kidnap James I of England and to force him to repeal anti-Catholic legislation.-Background:...
. He was executed at Winchester
Winchester
Winchester is a historic cathedral city and former capital city of England. It is the county town of Hampshire, in South East England. The city lies at the heart of the wider City of Winchester, a local government district, and is located at the western end of the South Downs, along the course of...
on 29 November 1603.
Life
He received his education 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...
, where he arrived on 6 August 1587. Two years later he went to the English College, Rome, and was one of a group of eight priests sent from there on the English mission in April 1592.
Clark took an active part in the Archpriest Controversy: he was one of the "appellants", the 33 priests who signed the appeal against George Blackwell
George Blackwell
Father George Blackwell was Roman Catholic Archpriest of England from 1597 to 1608.-Biography:Blackwell was born in Middlesex, England about 1545, perhaps the son of the pewterer Thomas Blackwell. He was admitted as a scholar to Trinity College, Oxford on 27 May 1562...
dated from Wisbech Castle
Wisbech Castle
Wisbech castle was a motte-and-bailey castle built to fortify Wisbech, in the Fenland area of Cambridgeshire, England by William I in 1072. The Norman castle, reputedly was destroyed during a devastating flood of 1236, the original design and layout is still unknown.In the 15th century repairs were...
, 17 November 1600. An attempt was made to give to the first clause of the breve of Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII
Pope Clement VIII , born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was Pope from 30 January 1592 to 3 March 1605.-Cardinal:...
, in favour of the appellants (5 October 1602), the appearance of restoring to them the canonical faculties
Canonical faculties
Canonical faculties, in the canon law of the Roman Catholic Church, are ecclesiastical rights conferred on a subordinate, by a superior who enjoys jurisdiction in the external forum...
which had been recently withdrawn. At this point Clark, with Watson and Thomas Bluet, were to be excluded. As it turned out, this solution to the dispute failed.
In 1602 Clark was an inmate of The Clink
The Clink
The Clink was a notorious prison in Southwark, England which functioned from the 12th century until 1780 either deriving its name from, or bestowing it on, the local manor, the Clink Liberty . The manor and prison were owned by the Bishop of Winchester and situated next to his residence at...
prison in Southwark
Southwark
Southwark is a district of south London, England, and the administrative headquarters of the London Borough of Southwark. Situated east of Charing Cross, it forms one of the oldest parts of London and fronts the River Thames to the north...
. He and Watson joined with others in what became called the Bye Plot against James I. On being apprehended Clark was committed to the Gatehouse Prison
Gatehouse Prison
Gatehouse Prison was a prison in Westminster, built in 1370 as the gatehouse of Westminster Abbey and first used as a prison by the Abbot, a powerful churchman who held considerable power over the precincts and sanctuary...
at Westminster
Westminster
Westminster is an area of central London, within the City of Westminster, England. It lies on the north bank of the River Thames, southwest of the City of London and southwest of Charing Cross...
, and then moved to the Tower of London
Tower of London
Her Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress, more commonly known as the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London, England. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, separated from the eastern edge of the City of London by the open space...
. He and most of the other prisoners were then conveyed to Winchester under a strong guard, where they were tried and condemned on 15 November 1603. Other conspirators in the Bye Plot and Main Plot
Main Plot
The Main Plot was an alleged conspiracy of July 1603 by English courtiers, to remove King James I from the English throne, replacing him with his cousin Arabella Stuart. The plot was supposedly led by Henry Brooke, Lord Cobham, and funded by Spain...
were pardoned; but Sir George Brooks
George Brooke (conspirator)
The Rev. Sir George Brooke was an English aristocrat, executed for his part in two plots against the government of King James I.-Origins and education:...
, Clark, and Watson suffered the punishment of traitors at Winchester on 29 November. Sir Dudley Carleton, who was present, wrote: ‘The two priests that led the way to the execution were very bloodily handled.’ He added that Clark ‘stood somewhat upon his justification, and thought he had hard measure; but imputed it to his function, and therefore thought his death meritorious, as a kind of martyrdom’.