John Percy

John Percy (or Piercey; alias John Fisher; born 27 September 1569, Durham – died 3 December 1641, London) was an English Jesuit priest and controversialist. Life A Catholic convert aged 14, he went first to Reims, in 1586, then to the English College, Rome, 1589–94. Returning to Belgium, he entered the Jesuit novitiate, 2 May 1594, and then set out for England in 1596. He was, however, arrested by the Dutch, tortured, and sent prisoner to London. He managed to escape, and became the companion of Father Gerard in several adventures. He was seized at Great Harrowden (November, 1605) at the time of the Gunpowder Plot, but was eventually banished at the request of the Spanish ambassador (1606). Retiring to Belgium he was for a time head of the English Jesuits, then professor of Scripture at the Jesuit house of studies in Leuven, after which he returned again to England.