Eustace White

Who was Eustace White?

St Eustace White, one of the Catholic Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. Born in Louth, Lincolnshire in 1559, he converted to Catholicism and was disowned by his father. He travelled to Europe to study for the priesthood and was ordained, probably at the Venerable English College, Rome in 1588. He returned to England for his ministry later that year - the year of the Spanish Armada. He thus began his ministry just as anti-Catholic feeling was reaching fever pitch.

A friendly conversation with a fellow traveller led to his arrest in Dorset three years later. Eustace put up a very articulate defence in the West Country but had no chance to defend himself in the London court where he was tortured. He was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn later that year.