Education
He received his education at Broadgates Hall, Oxford, where he graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1544, Bachelor of Civil Law in 1553, and Doctorate.C.L. on 20 July 1556.
He received his education at Broadgates Hall, Oxford, where he graduated Bachelor of Arts in 1544, Bachelor of Civil Law in 1553, and Doctorate.C.L. on 20 July 1556.
He was a nephew of Edmund Bonner by a sister. On the accession of Elizabeth I, he was a conspicuous Catholic, and was deprived of all his preferments. He remained in England, however, for some time, and was deputed to attend the Council of Trent.
He brought back an answer to the effect that attendance at the heretical worship would be a great sin.
lieutenant was at his prompting that the fathers of the Council passed the decree De non adeundis Haereticorum ecclesiis. He afterwards suffered imprisonment in London, and eventually left England.
He was sent first to Monaco and then to the University of Dillingen. Then the pope gave him a mission to Scotland, along with Father Edmund Hay, to the apostolic nuncio Vincentius Laurens whom had been consecrated bishop, and appointed his successor in the see of Monte Regale.
The object of this mission is unclear but probably connected with affairs of Mary, Queen of Scots.
Subsequently he was ordered to France, having been appointed master of novices at Billom. This was probably at Paris, where he was residing in 1575-1576, and again in 1579 and in 1583. While in Paris, he was an important early influence on Robert Southwell.
Among his converts were Henry Fitzsimon and George Gilbert.
He visited William Allen in the English college at Rheims, who thought highly of him. He retired to Pont-à-Mousson in Lorraine, where he died on 6 April 1604.
Some of his letters, intercepted by the English government, were printed by Henry Foley.
Foreign some years he lectured in Latin to the members of the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin.