Throughout the religious upheavals following theEnglish Reformation, the vast majority of English Catholics, many of whom lived in Lancashire, remained staunchly loyal to the throne.[1]
Returning to England, he was committed to theTower of London, along with his brother, also a priest, on 2 February 1584. He remained in the pit forty-seven days, wearing irons for forty-three days, and twice was subjected to the tortures of "thescavenger's daughter". On 10 November 1584, he was again consigned to the pit. Robert witnessed his older brother's execution before being released. The authorities believed he may unintentionally direct them to Catholic hiding places.[3] He was again arrested and transported to France on 21 January 1585, with twenty other priests and one layman, aboard theMary Martin of Colchester, fromTower Wharf.[2]
Landing atBoulogne, 2 February, he revisited Rome in July, but, returned then to England as escort to newly ordained priests. When the party was brought ashore at Gravesend, Nutter gave his name as Rowley, but was recognised and on 30 November 1585 again committed to prison in London, this time toNewgate Prison. In 1587 he was removed to theMarshalsea Prison, and thence, in 1590, was sent toWisbech Castle, Cambridgeshire.[2] While in prison he joined theDominican Order.[3]
There, in 1597, he signed a petition toHenry Garnet in favour of having aJesuit superior, but, on 8 November 1598, he and his fellow martyr, Edward Thwing, with others, besought the Pope to institute anarchpriest. On 10 March 1600, the keeper having left the gate unlocked, Nutter and his companions made their escape. Some were never recaptured, but those who headed south were taken, and Nutter was sent to Lancaster, where he was executed on 26 July 1600.[1]
Robert Nutter was beatified by PopeJohn Paul II in 1987.[1] It was said of Robert Nutter that, "[H]e was a man of a strong body but of a stronger soul, who rather despised and conquered death."[4]
John Nutter attendedSt John's College, Cambridge. In 1578 theEnglish College at Douai relocated temporarily to Rheims. John and his brother Robert arrived there in August the following year. John was ordained at Laon in September 1582 and left for Yorkshire in November. However, gale winds blew toward the Suffolk coast. John Nutter had contracted an illness before sailing and as it grew worse, he ferried ashore atDunwich. The ship was subsequently driven on a sandbank and men of the town searched it for anything salvageable. A bundle of Catholic books were found. The ill Nutter was questioned at the inn where he had been taken and acknowledged that he was a priest. He was arrested and taken to theMarshalsea. He remained there a year before being tried and condemned, and shortly thereafter executed at Tyburn, along withJames Fenn,George Haydock, Thomas Hemerford, and John Munden.[5]
