Knott

EDWARD KNOTT (1582 - 1656)

Knott, whose real name was Matthew Wilson, was born at Catchburn near Morpeth and studied at the Jesuit College in St Omer. In Rome, he assumed the name of Edward Knott and retained it all his life. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1606.

During 1625, Knott served as a missionary in Suffolk. Apprehended in 1629, he was committed to the Clink prison in London, where he composed his 'A Modest briefe discussion...' This work gave rise to heated controversy and led to Pope Urban VIII's brief 'Britannia', deploring the divisions of the English Catholics, and commanding them to cease. Another work of 1630 'Charity Mistaken, with the want thereof Catholics are unjustly charged, for affirming with grief, that Protestancy unrepented destroys Salvation' was also strongly debated. Knott, distinguished for both religious fervour and intellectual vigour, wrote many other theological works. He became Provincial of the English province in 1643 and thereafter resided for the most part in London.

Myers Literary Guide:	The North-East
EDWARD KNOTT (1582 - 1656) Knott, whose real name was Matthew Wilson, was born at Catchburn near Morpeth and studied at the Jesuit College in St Omer. In Rome, he assumed the name of Edward Knott and retained it all his life. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1606. During 1625, Knott served as a missionary in Suffolk. Apprehended in 1629, he was committed to the Clink prison in London, where he composed his 'A Modest briefe discussion...' This work gave rise to heated controversy and led to Pope Urban VIII's brief 'Britannia', deploring the divisions of the English Catholics, and commanding them to cease. Another work of 1630 'Charity Mistaken, with the want thereof Catholics are unjustly charged, for affirming with grief, that Protestancy unrepented destroys Salvation' was also strongly debated. Knott, distinguished for both religious fervour and intellectual vigour, wrote many other theological works. He became Provincial of the English province in 1643 and thereafter resided for the most part in London.
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