John Rastell

John Rastell (1532–1577) was an English Jesuit. Life Rastell was born at Gloucester in 1532, was admitted into Winchester School in 1543; and went on to New College, Oxford, of which he became a perpetual fellow in 1549. He graduated M.A. 29 July 1555, and about that time was ordained priest. Being unable to comply with the religious changes in Elizabeth's reign, Rastell left his college, and went to Louvain. He removed to Antwerp in 1564, and subsequently went to Rome, where he entered the jesuit novitiate of St Andrew 6 April 1568, being, for a short time, fellow-novice with St. Stanislas Kostka. After completing his noviceship, he was English penitentiary for a time at St Peter's, Rome. He was then sent as confessor and consultor to the house of the jesuits at Hall.