Francis Ingleby

Who was Francis Ingleby?

Blessed Francis Ingleby was a Roman Catholic martyr executed in York, England during the reign of Elizabeth I.

He has been described as short but well-made, fair-complexioned, with a chestnut beard, and a slight cast in his eyes. He was the fourth son of Sir William Ingleby and Anne Malory of Ripley Castle, North Yorkshire. He was likely a scholar of Brasenose College, Oxford, and was a student of the Inner Temple by 1576. On 18 August 1582 he arrived at the English College, Reims, where he lived at his own expense. He was ordained a year later as a subdeacon on 28 May, a deacon on 24 September, and a priest on 24 December.

He left for England 5 April 1584 and he preached with great enthusiasm in York, where he was arrested in spring 1586. He was one of the priests whom Saint Margaret Clitherow was arraigned for harbouring. He was condemned for being a priest and sentenced to be hanged, drawn and quartered on the Knavesmire at York. When sentence was pronounced he exclaimed, "Credo videre bona Domini in terra viventium". At the prison door, while shackles were being fastened on his legs he smilingly said, "I fear me I shall be overproud of my boots."