Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Waring, William
WARING, WILLIAM (1610–1679), jesuit, who was best known in England by the assumed name of Harcourt, although he was at times known as Barrow, was born in Lancashire in 1610, and educated in the English College at St. Omer. He entered the Society of Jesus at Watten in 1632, and after completing his studies at Liège he was sent to the English mission in 1644. On 11 Nov. 1646 he was professed of the four vows. He served as a missioner in London for thirty-five years. In 1671 he was procurator for the province in London, and in 1678 he was declared rector of the ‘College of St. Ignatius,’ comprising the metropolis and the home counties. This rendered him conspicuous, and from the commencement of Oates's plot he was singled out as one of its victims. By constant change of dress and lodgings he eluded the pursuivants till 7 May 1679, when he was betrayed by a servant and committed by the privy council to Newgate. He was tried at the Old Bailey sessions (13 June) with Father Whitbread (the provincial), and Fathers Caldwell, Gavan, and Turner. Being condemned to death, he suffered with them at Tyburn on 20 June 1679.
His portrait has been engraved by Martin Bouche, and there is another portrait in the Dutch print of Titus Oates in the pillory.
[Challoner's Missionary Priests (1803), ii. 200; Florus Anglo-Bavaricus, p. 166; Foley's Records, v. 240, vii. 36; Granger's Biogr. Hist. of England, 5th ed. v. 94; Howell's State Trials, vii. 586; Oliver's Jesuit Collections, p. 217; Brit. Mus. Cat. s.v. ‘Harcourt.’]