Mathew Flathers

Who they were

Matthew Flathers of Yorkshire was ordained at Arras in 1606 and caught almost at once on the English mission. Condemned, his sentence was commuted to banishment.

He came back undaunted to minister in Yorkshire, was taken again, and refused his life at the price of the new Oath of Allegiance. He was executed with great brutality outside Micklegate Bar, York, on 21 March 1607, moving even the Protestant crowd to pity.

The miracles

As a martyr he was raised to the altars without a miracle.

Why that counted as sanctity

A young priest who returned from exile to die for his people.