John Shert was an English Catholic priest who was executed in 1582 during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Born at Shert Hall in Cheshire, he studied at Brasenose College, Oxford, before serving as a schoolmaster in London. After working in Douai, he entered the seminary and was eventually ordained at the English College in Rheims. He returned to England in 1579 to perform his ministry, which led to his arrest and subsequent trial for treason during a period of intense religious persecution.
Life and death
Following his arrest in 1581, Shert was tried at Westminster Hall for his alleged involvement in the Rome and Rheims Plot. Although he provided evidence that he was not present when the conspiracy was planned, he was convicted alongside other priests. He was executed at Tyburn on 28 May 1582. Before his death, he refused to ask the Queen for mercy, maintaining that he had committed no crime.
Veneration
The Catholic Church recognizes Shert as a martyr. He was beatified in 1886 along with two other priests, Thomas Ford and Robert Johnson, who were executed alongside him. He is remembered for his steadfastness during his trial and his final moments at the scaffold.