Escape the Tower: Father John Gerard

Today we’re looking at Father John Gerard and the events leading up to his daring escape from the Tower of London!

I hope you enjoy this video and find it interesting!

Please subscribe and click the bell icon to be updated about new videos.

Also, if you want to get in touch, please comment down below or find me on social media:

Images (from Wikimedia Commons, unless otherwise stated):

Portrait of Queen Elizabeth I in her coronation robes by an unknown English artist (c.1600). Held by the National Portrait Gallery.

Portrait of Pope Pius V by Scipione Pulzone (16th century). Held by the Palazzo Colonna.

Miniature of Mary Stuart, Queen of Scots by Nicholas Hilliard (between 1578 and 1579). Held by the Victoria and Albert Museum.

"Babington with his Complices in St. Giles fields," etching with engraving, showing Anthony Babington meeting with his co-conspirators on the eve of his plot (17th century). Courtesy of the British Museum, London.

A "priest hole" (hiding) in the staircase in 16th century manor house, Harvington Hall, Worcestershire, UK. It was made by St Nicholas Owen ("Little John"). Photograph taken by Quodvultdeus (2013).

The Salt Tower photographed by Richard Nevell (2014)

Engraving of John Gerard in manacles, held by the British Library.

The title of the plan reads "A True and Exact Draught of the TOWER LIBERTIES, survey'd in the Year 1597 by GULIELMUS HAIWARD and J. GASCOYNE". (1597) Plan can be found on page 56 in Parnell, Geoffrey (1993), The Tower of London, Batsford, ISBN 978-0713468649.

The Cradle Tower at the Tower of London, photographed by Richard Nevell (2014)

[raygay]

This man had to have had an inner passion to his spiritual work. 🗝️🍊🍊🍊🪶📝💂🏾‍♀️👼

[lisakilmer]

I always assumed he just found an ambivalent/ sympathetic jailer to bride. But, what if there were multiple staff at different gates? The fact that Fr. Gerard was so principled as to resist torture makes one wonder if he would have told a big porkie pie in his memoirs. I would guess the priest couldn't have climbed down a rope, but he might have been sat in a loop or bosun's chair, might he not?

[rachelhayes]

“Orange Juice Letters” sounds like a great book title. I like your idea. He had the means to bribe his jailer, after all, oranges were a luxury item, not something everyone bought as is today.

[AngelaDavis-gnxf]

He was an ancestor of mine, he was born in Kingsley weaverham Cheshire. My Great great grandmother was Mary Gerrard

[Missboo]

Hello Dr. Kat from Maine! I think it was more plausible that the guard was either converted, a secret Catholic or became sympathetic to the priest's plight and decided to free him. If that was the case, I think it was brilliant of the priest to come up with the orange story as a means to protect the guard who helped him. It makes much more sense. Oranges would have been expensive in that time period and I doubt a Jesuit priest, who took a vow of poverty, would be able to afford them.
To me, if the orange story is true, then it would be my assumption that the oranges and other items were sent to the priest by a friend on the outside. But it still doesn't explain how the priest would have been able to write, let alone go down a rope using his hands. The damage that must be caused by hanging a person by their wrists alone would have most likely caused permanent damage to the nerves and tendons of the hands. Thank you once again for bringing the past alive!

[joannaerhardt]

Definitely seems more plausible that he paid the jailer to open the gate. 😄

[KatTheScribe]

You got a sponsor woohoo!!! I'm so happy for you 🍾🥂

[HilaryElizabeth]

Tower of London... There's nothing you can say about that topic that doesn't have me riveted.

[Saezimmerman]

I've been intrigued by skill share in the past and this sponsorship will tip me over into subscribing to it

[janicegaypowers]

I’m so trusting of this Father, I think he told the truth about his escape. I also like the tenacity and heroism involved in the story.I forgot that his wrists could be a problem!🧐

[tammievawter]

I had heard the whole orange pen letter during a visit to the Tower in either '82 or 2006-cant remember which. Honestly, never thought about the simpler bribe option! Guess we love drama?!

[patpear]

When I was 7yo I toured the dungeon of Heidelberg Castle in Germany; the docent/guide talked about the OJ invisible ink. My older brother and I would write secret notes right under my parent’s’ noses, never once considering they were on the tour with us. Anyway, it seems a lot of folks (both past & present) were onto the citrus ink trick.🍊🖋

[mrh]

His escape story sounds fantastic but why didn't so many of the wealthy individuals who ended up in the Tower of London not bribe their way out?

[maryrusso]

Occam's Razor - the simplest explanation is usually the best one. He had an accomplice in a fellow secret Catholic jailor.

[theguest]

That priest had guts, but his injuries prevents his escape as he says. I think he protected his benefactor of escape. As would I after all that!!! Another interesting snippet of history. Thank You!!! 😷😎😷

[flannerypedley]

I am glad to hear you have had a sponsor. Good on Skillshare!

[kimberlyperrotis]

Congratulations on your first sponsorship! The first of many to come, I’m sure. They will help offset the costs of making your excellent videos!

[coralgonzalez]

Hi, very interesting. You may be right, but what matters is that he was able to escape from the Tower of London and any of the ways he used to do it were difficult and ingenious. Thank you for sharing. Take care.

[sambolino]

The story of the Catholic Church vs. the Church of England is fascinating. Part of that story is how people were forced to hide their true beliefs to avoid persecution. Is there any mention from those days of atheists? I find it hard to imagine that there were absolutely zero people back then who were atheists. But at the same time, it would not surprise me if there was no historical record of them.

[KatherineHugs]

I loved this video! You are a wonderful story teller!! I was riveted the whole time 😊😊