Blessed William Dean

William Dean or Deane (died 28 August 1588) was an English Roman Catholic priest. He is one of the Catholic martyrs, beatified in 1929. Son of Thomas B. of Grassington West Riding of Yorkshire William Dean attended schools in Leeds and Clitheroe. Dean was matriculated sizar from Magdalene College, Cambridge in 1575 and was admitted pensioner at Caius College, Cambridge in November 1577, aged 20. He then became a minister. In 1581, he was reconciled to the Catholic faith by the seminary priest Thomas Alfield. That same year he studied at the English College, Reims and was ordained priest at Soissons, 21 December 1581, together with the martyrs George Haydock and Robert Nutter. Their ordination coincided with the news of Edmund Campion's death reaching the college. Dean said his first Mass on 9 January 1582 and left for England 25 January. He was arrested 21 February and sent to Newgate prison and subjected to torture. In April 1584 he was moved to The Clink. He was banished with a number of other priests in early 1585, put ashore on the coast of Normandy, and threatened with death if he returned to England. Nevertheless, in November he returned to his mission work and was again arrested and confined to Gatehouse Prison. He was tried and condemned for his priesthood on 22 August 1588. Dean, who had been condemned with five other priests and four laymen, was the first to suffer on the gallows recently erected at Mile End. With him died a layman, Henry Webley, for relieving and assisting him. At his execution Dean tried to speak to the people, but he was struck on the head and gagged. Henry Webley was born in Gloucester around 1558. From there he went to London, where he assisted William Dean during the priest's brief mission in the city. By 1586, the ports were being closely watched by both government officials and government spies.