George Blackwell
George Blackwell
(c.1545 -1613 ) Archpriest , born Middlesex, England ; died London. Ordained at Douai, 1575 , he served in England for nearly 20 years. When Cardinal Allen died , 1594 , he was named archpriest by Clement VIII, 1597 -1598 . On the promulgation of the Oath of Allegiance of James I, 1606 , he was confused by its ingenious wording into thinking it acceptable to conscientious Catholics, and in spite of its condemnation by Paul V, 1606 and 1607 , he signed it and urged the clergy to do so. On defending his conduct, he was deposed from the office of archpriest by the pope and replaced by George Birkhead, or Birket, 1608 .