Ralph Ashley (died 7 April 1606) was an English Jesuit lay-brother who became involved with the aftermath of the

Gunpowder Plot The Gunpowder Plot of 1605, in earlier centuries often called the Gunpowder Treason Plot or the Jesuit Treason, was a failed assassination attempt against King James I by a group of provincial English Catholics led by Robert Catesby who sought ...

. He is a Catholic martyr,

beatified Beatification (from Latin ''beatus'', "blessed" and ''facere'', "to make”) is a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a deceased person's entrance into Heaven and capacity to Intercession of saints, intercede on behalf of individua ...

in 1929.

Life

Ashley is first heard of as cook at

Douay College The English College (''College des Grands Anglais'') was a Catholic seminary in Douai, France (also previously spelled Douay, and in English Doway), associated with the University of Douai. It was established in 1568, and was suppressed in 1793. ...

, which he left on 28 April 1590 for the

English College, Valladolid The Royal English College of Valladolid is a residence and training centre located in Valladolid, Spain, for the training of Catholic priests for the English and Welsh Mission. It is under the patronage of St Alban. It was founded with the permissi ...

. Here he entered the

Society of Jesus , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

, but after a time returned to England because of ill-health.Ryan, Patrick W.F. "Ven. Ralph Ashley." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1907. 3 February 2019 He fell in with Father Tesimond (Greenway), who eulogizes the courage he had displayed among the Dutch, by whom he had been captured during his journey. He landed in England on 9 March 1598 and was sent to serve

Edward Oldcorne Edward Oldcorne alias ''Hall'' (1561 – 7 April 1606) was an English Jesuit priest. He was known to people who knew of the Gunpowder Plot to destroy the Parliament of England and kill King James I; and although his involvement is unclear, ...

. Eight years later, he and Oldcorne were arrested at

Hindlip Hall Hindlip Hall is a stately home in Hindlip, Worcestershire, England. The first major hall was built before 1575, and it played a significant role in both the Babington and the Gunpowder plots, where it hid four people in priest holes. It was Hum ...

,Lives of the Saints
By Alban Butler, Peter Doyle, near

Worcester Worcester may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Worcester, England, a city and the county town of Worcestershire in England ** Worcester (UK Parliament constituency), an area represented by a Member of Parliament * Worcester Park, London, Englan ...

, and were committed to the

Tower of London The Tower of London, officially His Majesty's Royal Palace and Fortress of the Tower of London, is a historic castle on the north bank of the River Thames in central London. It lies within the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which is sepa ...

, together with

Henry Garnet Henry Garnet (July 1555 – 3 May 1606), sometimes Henry Garnett, was an English Jesuit priest executed for his complicity in the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Born in Heanor, Derbyshire, he was educated in Nottingham and later at Winchester Coll ...

, and Nicholas Owen, another lay-brother, servant to Garnet. The two servants were tortured, Owen dying. Ashley's confessions are still available. He was ultimately remanded with Oldcorne to

, where they were tried, condemned and executed together at Red Hill. He accompanied his master to their execution. It is said that as Oldcorne waited on the ladder to die, Ashley kissed his feet and said, "“What a happy man am I to follow the steps of my Father unto death.""Ralph Ashley SJ", Jesuits in Britain
/ref> Oldcorne died with the name of

St Winifred Saint Winifred (or Winefride; cy, Gwenffrewi; la, Wenefreda, Winifreda) was a Welsh virgin martyr of the 7th century. Her story was celebrated as early as the 8th century, but became popular in England in the 12th, when her hagiography was fi ...

on his lips. When Ashley came to die he prayed and asked for forgiveness and said that like Oldcorne he was dying for his religion and not for being a traitor. Edward Oldcorne and Ashley were

in 1929.

References

Attribution * {{DEFAULTSORT:Ashley, Ralph 1606 deaths 16th-century English Jesuits 17th-century English Jesuits 16th-century births English beatified people Executed Gunpowder Plotters People executed by Stuart England by hanging, drawing and quartering 17th-century venerated Christians Year of birth unknown Executed English people One Hundred and Seven Martyrs of England and Wales