Crockett, Ralph, Bl.
CROCKETT, RALPH, BL.
Priest, martyr; b. Barton-on-the-Hill, near Farndon, Cheshire, England; hanged, drawn, and quartered at Broyle Heath, Chichester, Oct. 1, 1588. Having completed his education at Cambridge, Crockett was a schoolmaster in East Anglia until he discerned a call to the priesthood. He studied and was ordained at Rheims (1585). En route to his assignment in the English mission, he was captured on board ship at Littlehampton, Sussex, April 19, 1586, together with Frs. Thomas Bramston, George Potter, and Bl. Edward James. The following week they were transferred to a London prison. On Sept. 30, 1588, he was tried and condemned under 27 Eliz. c. 2 at Chichester with Frs. Edward James, John Oven, and Francis Edwardes. Oven took the Oath of Supremacy after the trial and Edwardes recanted at the gallows. Both were reprieved. James and Crockett absolved one another before execution. He was beatified by Pius XI on Dec. 15, 1929.
Feast of the English Martyrs: May 4 (England).
See Also: england, scotland and wales, martyrs of.
Bibliography: r. challoner, Memoirs of Missionary Priests, ed. j. h. pollen (rev. ed. London 1924; repr. Farnborough 1969). j. h. pollen, Acts of English Martyrs (London 1891).
[k. i. rabenstein]