Draft:William Browne (Catholic martyr)

Blessed William Browne (executed at Ripon, N Yorkshire, 5 September 1605), a Catholic layman and martyr of the English Reformation.

Life
William Browne was born in Northampton. He was a servant in the house of Thomas Darcy. He developed a reputation as a faithful Catholic, encouraging others to join the Catholic Church, and refusing to acknowledge the king as Head of the Church in England, as well as not attending Protestant services. For this he was imprisoned, tortured and following a trial for treason, sentenced to death. He was executed in Ripon on 5th September, 1605.

He was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1929 as one of the One Hundred and Seven Martyrs of England and Wales.