Richard Blount (priest)

to smuggle himself back into England in 1591 posing as returning sailor prisoners-of-war from the failed expedition against Spain by the Earl of Essex.

Catholicism was then illegal in England, and during a second raid by authorities, Blount to fled over a wall into the moat and escaped.

Richard Blount and another priest ran a successful mission to Berkshire, Oxfordshire and Northamptonshire from the house.

Blount's task as Vice-Provincial was to organise the province for further validation at the next meeting of the Society of Jesus leadership.

His work was recognised by the Order leadership and England was made a full Province of the Society with Blount as the first Provincial superior.

Blount was the Provincial of the English Province of the Society of Jesus until 11 August 1635, when he was succeeded by Henry More, S.J.

He was given a requiem in the private chapel of Henrietta Maria, Queen consort of England, Scotland and Ireland, and a devout Catholic from France.