Margaret Ward is an English saint and martyr who was executed during the reign of Elizabeth I for her part in helping the Catholic priest William Watson escape prison. Margaret, referred to as “the pearl of Tyburn” refused to give up the names of her co-conspirators or renounce her faith even under torture. She was one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales to be canonised in 1970.
(Nave statue St Margaret Ward from – https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/1613381)
Margaret was born in Congleton, Cheshire, in Northwest England, sometime around 1550. Little is known about her early life, including the name of her parents, what little information we do have comes from the Catholic Encyclopedia which states; “…she was of a good family” and was “…a gentlewoman.” Margaret moved to London where she worked as a housekeeper or companion for “…a lady of distinction named Whitall.” The religious landscape of England at the time was one of turmoil. Under Queen Elizabeth I, the Church of England put “…significant pressure on Catholics.” Margaret was a devout Catholic and upon hearing of the arrest of Priest William Watson, obtained permission to visit him, thus setting off a chain of events that would lead to her execution.
William had been arrested for refusing to denounce his Catholic faith and was being held at Bridewell prison, Margaert having obtained permission to visit him, would take him food and offer him comfort. Sources vary on whose idea it was but during her visits a plan for him to escape. The plan, as all good plans do, had various steps; first she would use the “… disarmed vigilance of the gaoler,” to sneak in a rope which William would then use to climb down the wall where he would be met by two Catholic watermen who would row him to safety. Sounds simple, right? The first part of the plan went off without a hitch, Margaret smuggled the rope into the goal but then issues began to arise. During his escape William broke his arm and leg, but still made it to the ground where the second issue arose. The waterman Margaert had arranged to row the priest to safety, but backed out at the last minute. In her distress Margaret confided her plan to John Roche who stepped in not only providing the boat but swapping clothes with the priest to allow him to make his escape.
Their success was short lived, in his haste to escape William had left the rope behind which led authorities to Margaret and she, along with John Roche were arrested. During her imprisonment Margaret was questioned under torture for eight days! Robert Southwell, a Jesuit priest recounted that:
“…she was flogged and hung up by the wrists, the tips of her toes only touching the ground, for so long a time that she was crippled and paralyzed, but these sufferings greatly strengthened the glorious martyr for her last struggle”.
Despite the torture Margaret refused to name those who helped her free William. During her trial, she admitted her guilt stating that she was “…saving an innocent lamb from wolves.” Unsurprisingly Margaret was found guilty and sentenced to death by hanging. She was offered a pardon if she would convert to the Church of England, Margaret refused and her execution was scheduled for the 30th of August 1588. On the morning of her execution she spoke from the gallows: “I am well content to be condemned…I have followed the laws and ordinances of God, and no other.” At the time of her death, Margarets age was estimated to be between just 18 and 21 years old.Margaret was one of forty to be canonised on the 25th of October, 1970 known as the Forty Martyrs of England, amongst that number only three were women; Margaret, Anne Line and Margaret Clitherow.
Margaret was brave, clever and held true to her beliefs at the cost of her life, and whether we are religious or not her character and bravery should be remembered by us all.
Sources:
https://www.newadvent.org/cathen/15551b.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forty_Martyrs_of_England_and_Wales
Sagas of She 