In the wake of the failure of the Spanish Armada, the English government decided to proceed against the Catholics in the realm as a counter-move.
From 14 to 20 August 1588 a general examination of all prisoners then in custody because of religion was conducted by order of the Privy Council, with the reports delivered to Crown Advocate John Puckering to prepare indictments.
[1]: 368 Richard Martin was born in Shropshire, and attended Broadgates Hall, Oxford,[2] where he was granted a Master of Arts degree on 12 December 1583.
At the age of twenty-six, he entered the English College, Douai, but his theological studies were interrupted with the death of his father.
He was soon arrested, and refusing to attend a Protestant church was tried and condemned at the Old Bailey for having been "reconciled to the See of Rome by one Thomas Stephenson".