A Reformation martyr, a convert and a family man, James Duckett was betrayed to his death by a colleague in the publishing business. It was an appropriate end, since Duckett’s life was a testament to the importance of reading books.
Duckett, an apprentice printer, was converted some time in the 1580s after being lent a book called The Foundation of the Catholic Religion. Duckett’s friends began to wonder why this formerly devout Anglican was now never at church; the answer, he eventually admitted, was that he wasn’t sure Protestantism was the true faith.
He was sent to prison twice, and eventually his employer let him go. These were dangerous times to have a Catholic on your staff.
Risky business
But this moment of crisis was the beginning of Duckett’s new life. He was received into the Church (by an imprisoned priest) and set up his own bookselling business.
Since the books were mainly for Catholics – spiritual reading to help them grow, works of apologists to help non-Catholics – this was always a risky line of work. Duckett later married a Catholic widow, but is estimated to have spent nine of his 12 years of marriage in various prisons. His son became a Carthusian.
Royal appointment
The end came courtesy of a bookbinder called Peter Bullock, himself facing the death penalty. Bullock tried to escape by informing on Duckett.
Duckett was acquitted by a jury, but the judge made them change their minds. Duckett was notably calm and cheerful throughout.
He was executed at Tyburn (left). When his wife came to visit him, too tearful to speak, he told her: “If I were made the Queen’s secretary or treasurer, you would not weep. Do but keep yourself God’s servant and in the unity of God’s Church, and I shall be able to do you more good, being now to go to the King of Kings.”
As for Bullock, his incrimination of Duckett didn’t help his cause and he too was taken to Tyburn. As they came to Tyburn Tree, Duckett forgave Bullock and urged him to die as a Catholic.
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