Southwell, Robert (c. 1561–1595)

English Jesuit martyr and poet. He joined the Society of Jesus in 1578. He returned to England from France, where he had been educated, in 1587, and became chaplain to the countess of Arundel in 1589. During his missionary activities in England he spent most of his time in hiding in London or in Roman Catholic country houses where he wrote many prose pamphlets. In 1592 he was betrayed and arrested by the authorities. After suffering torture and being imprisoned for three years he was hanged at Tyburn, England, for treason.

Southwell was born in Horsham St Faith, Norfolk, England. He was educated at Douai and Paris. His writings include Marie Magdalen's Funerall Teares, The Triumphs over Death, An Epistle of Comfort, and A Humble Supplication to Her Majesty, all written in 1591. Several pieces, including the long poem, Saint Peter's Complaynt (1595), and Burning Babe (1595), were written to encourage Catholics under persecution.