Mathew Flathers was an English Roman Catholic priest born around 1580 in the West Riding of Yorkshire. After completing his education at Douai and being ordained in Arras in 1606, he joined the Benedictine order. He returned to England to serve the Catholic mission, but his activities quickly drew the attention of government agents. Following a period of exile and a subsequent return to his ministry in Yorkshire, he was captured again and faced trial for his priesthood.
Life and death
During his second arrest, Flathers was offered his life if he would swear the Oath of Allegiance. He refused to comply with this demand, leading to a death sentence. In March 1607, he was executed at Micklegate Bar in York. The execution was carried out by hanging, drawing, and quartering, a process that resulted in his death following several violent blows to his head and face.
Veneration
Recognized as a martyr for his faith, Flathers was beatified by the Catholic Church in 1987. He is remembered for his refusal to renounce his clerical status or his religious convictions despite the legal pressures of the English state during that era.