William Greenwood

Who they were

William Greenwood was a lay brother of the London Charterhouse. On 18 May 1537 the monks and lay brothers left in the London Charterhouse were ordered to take the Oath of Supremacy, acknowledging the king as head of the Church. Ten refused. On 29 May they were sent to Newgate prison, chained standing to posts with their hands tied behind them, and left to starve. Margaret Clement, who had grown up in St. Thomas More's household, bribed the gaoler and, dressed as a milkmaid, brought them food, until the gaoler grew afraid and stopped her.

Greenwood was the first to die, on 6 June 1537. All ten Carthusians were beatified by Leo XIII in December 1886.

The miracles

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

Why that counted as sanctity

A Carthusian lay brother starved to death in Newgate for refusing the Oath of Supremacy.

Connected on this site

• Thomas More Saint
  “Thomas More's household, bribed the gaoler and, dressed as a milkmaid, brought them food, until the gaoler grew afraid and stopped her.” — this site's research