Bl. Thomas Cottam

Thomas Cottam was born on a farm between Longridge and Chipping in 1549. He was brought up a protestant and remained so whilst he was reading for his degree at Oxford. He then went to London, where he became a Catholic. In 1575 he gave up a lucrative post and went to Douai to become a priest. From thee he went to the Jesuit novitiate in Rome. There his health broke down and he was sent to Lyons to recover before completing his studies.

Whilst he was abroad, Thomas met a man called Sledd, who pretended to be a Catholic. He was in fact a spy and sent accurate descriptions of the English Catholic clergy to the authorities in England.

John Cottam was ordained in Rheims Cathedral in 1580 and on June 5th set sail for Dover. On his arrival in England, he was immediately recognised and put under the care of a Dr Humphrey Ely, who was dressed like a soldier, but who was in fact a double agent.

Dr Ely’s commission was to take Thomas Cottam to London and hand him over to the authorities; but on arriving at the capital, Fr Cottam was allowed to escape. This placed Ely in a very difficult position and it gave Fr Cottam much cause for concern. After seeking the advice of his Jesuit superiors, he decided to give himself up. After being arrested, he spent two years in prison. On being informed by the Lieutenant of the Tower of London that he would be executed the following day, he joyfully exclaimed, “Give thanks to God, for tomorrow is my day”.

Fr Cottam was hanged, drawn and quartered at Tyburn on May 30th 1582. After his death many of his kinsfolk became Catholics and their names appear in the lists of recusants.

Source: Edward Popham, The Martyrs of the Salford Diocese