Mayne, Cuthbert

views updated

Mayne, Cuthbert (c.1543–77). Catholic martyr. Mayne was born near Barnstaple and became an Anglican minister early in life, being admitted BA at St John's College, Oxford, in 1566. Through the influence of Campion he converted to catholicism, attended the seminary at Douai, and was ordained priest in 1575. In April 1576 he was sent to Cornwall but was captured within three months. It suggests considerable unawareness of his danger that, when taken, he was wearing an Agnus Dei and in possession of a papal bull. His case went to the council, which was greatly alarmed at reports of the spread of catholicism, and determined on severity. Mayne was executed as a traitor at Launceston in November 1577, being the first seminary priest to suffer martyrdom. His skull is preserved in the Carmelite monastery at Lanherne (Corn.) and he was canonized in 1970.

J. A. Cannon

More From encyclopedia.com