He was an associate of John Boste, a priest who ran a clandestine operation out of South Shields, assisting candidates for the priesthood to get to the continent for training.
Two years before his own death, Errington had ridden with Boste on his last journey from York to Durham.
[1] Errington was first arrested on Tyneside in 1585 accused of attempting to help smuggle a candidate for the priesthood to the continent.
Released on bail in February, 1586, he was arrested again in May, 1591 but escaped from York Castle the following December.
Convicted of treason for this under the Penal Laws enacted under Queen Elizabeth I, he was condemned to death.