John Speed (alias Spence) (executed at Durham, 4 February 1594) was an English Roman Catholic layman, condemned for aiding and abetting Catholic priests in their ministry.
[2] He was hanged at Durham 4 February 1594 for aiding and abetting priests, specifically for escorting John Boste from one safe house to another,[3] which was a capital offense under the Jesuits, etc.
With Speed's help, Boste was able to avoid arrest for over ten years but was eventually betrayed in 1593 to the authorities near Durham by an apostate informer.
Just as he had finished saying Mass at a private house on the Neville estate, he and those with him were arrested.
According to Richard Challoner, Speed turned down the inducements offered to bring him to conformity with the Church of England.