Saint Robert Southwell: Poet, Priest and Martyr

It is the sweetest note that man can singe
When grace in Vertews keye tunes natures stringe

The two lines above come from the final couplet of ‘To the Reader’, the first poem in one of the major manuscripts of his work (the ‘Waldegrave’ Manuscript).  It seems to strike the right note for both the content and the tone of Robert Southwell's character, life and poetry. I have created a new page to commemorate Southwell's remarkable life and poetry: select the tab above or click here:  St Robert Southwell.

A short life

Fr Southwell. Engraving published 1608. Artist unknown.

Born in Horsham, Norfolk, England, in 1561; hanged at Tyburn, 21 February, 1595, aged 33 years.

His grandfather, Sir Richard Southwell, had been a wealthy and prominent courtier during the reign of Henry VIII. In 1547, Sir Richard played a part in bringing the Catholic poet Henry Howard, Earl of Surrey, to the executioner's block. Their respective grandsons, Father Southwell and Philip, Earl of Arundel, were to be close friends and both suffered for their shared Catholic Faith.

Robert Southwell was brought up a Catholic and was educated at Douai. He was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1584 and in 1586 he agreed to accompany Father Henry Garnett and returned to England, in the full knowledge of the risks priests faced of arrest, torture and execution.. Two years later, he became chaplain to the Countess of Arundel and established relations with her imprisoned husband, Philip, Earl of Arundel, the ancestor of the present Duke of Norfolk.

He spent six years in successful missionary work. During this time, he worked secretly in London, or travelled under various disguises from one Catholic house to another. He had a very gentle manner and was never accused of taking part either in political agitation or in religious controversial.

In 1592 Father Southwell was arrested at Uxendon Hall, Harrow. He was betrayed by a woman that who had been raped by Richard Topcliffe, Queen Elizabeth's psychopathic poursuivant. She had become pregnant and Topcliffe promised to find her a husband if she would only help to find Fr Southwell. He was tortured numerous times, starting with a visit to Topcliffe's private torture chamber.
He was moved to the Tower of London where Queen Elizabeth allowed Topcliffe to continue torturing him. He had readily admitted his priesthood but at no stage revealed any information that could put at risk other priests or secret Catholic supporters. He was condemned at his trial on February 20 1595 to be hanged, drawn and quartered. The government did not even try to implicate him in any plot against the Queen or government. He was executed just because he was a Catholic priest.

He was taken to Tyburn to be executed on February 21st.  His last words come from Psalm 30:

[6] In manus tuas commendo spiritum meum; redemisti me, Domine Deus veritatis.

[6] Into thy hands I commend my spirit: thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth

Some onlookers pulled down on his legs during his hanging to make sure he was dead before the next stage of the grisly process began, the ripping out of his bowels and heart. When his severed head was finally displayed to the crowd, there were no cheers..

Southwell was beatified in 1929 and canonised in 1970.

In addition to being a great saint and steadfast martyr, he is regarded as one of the great poets of the Elizabethan Age. Much of his poetry was written while he was held in solitary confinement in the Tower of London and was published posthumously.