1584
One of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. Also called Richard White, he was born in Montgomeryshire, Wales, in 1547, and studied at Cambridge University, England. Converted from Protestantism, he returned to Wales in 1562, married, had six children, and opened a school. Arrested in 1579, he spent four years in prison before his execution by being hanged, drawn, and quartered at Wrexham on October 15, for being a Catholic. While jailed, he composed many religious poems in Welsh. He is considered the protomartyr of Wales and was included among the canonized martyrs of England and Wales by Pope Paul VI in 1970.
Webmaster's note: I read a booklet about St Richard Gwyn in which it stated that he was particularly good at humorous poetry that poked fun at the idea of married priests and other novelties of the "new religion," and that at his trial he and his two co-defendants gave their final address to the court in Welsh, English and Latin.
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