William Weston (prior)

William Weston, a Catholic priest, was an English Jesuit missionary to England during the Elizabethan era. He entered the Society of Jesus in 1584 and served secretly in England from 1586 to 1599, a period of intense persecution of Catholics. He is significant for his leadership role among the underground Catholic community and for his detailed memoirs, which provide valuable insight into the lives and struggles of Catholics in Elizabethan England. Weston's account details the strategies used by Jesuits to minister to the faithful in secret, the risks they faced, and the internal conflicts and challenges within the Catholic community during this time. He was eventually arrested and imprisoned before being exiled. He died in Spain in 1615. His writings are considered an important primary source for historians studying the English Reformation and the history of the Catholic Church in England.