Records show that his absence abroad had been noted by the English government.
[3] By this time his father had died, and his mother Margaret was living on London Bridge.
Walking with her one evening nearby in May 1586, he talked too unguardedly about his aspirations to martyrdom and was overheard and denounced to the authorities.
He was executed along with two fellow priests, John Adams and Robert Dibdale.
[5] All three priests were beatified (the last stage prior to canonisation) by Pope John Paul II on 22 November 1987.