Biography
James Lacops
About James Lacops
James Lacops was a Norbertine canon of Middelburg who served as an assistant parish priest at Monster. The Order of Prémontré places his birth at Oudenaarde in 1542.
The Norway account instead gives 1541; his birth year is therefore approximate.
The order’s account describes a serious break in his religious life. During the upheaval of 1566, he left the abbey, preached Calvinist teaching and wrote against the Catholic Church. He returned, sought forgiveness and undertook a period of penance at Mariëweerd. He later assisted his brother, a parish priest, and continued serving when Adrian Jansen succeeded him.
Estius, writing from accounts gathered after the deaths, says that James publicly retracted his earlier position and destroyed his pamphlet. The sketch presents his later ministry beside his brother as part of that return.
James and Adrian were captured in July 1572. They were imprisoned with the other clergy now known as the Gorkum martyrs. James defended Catholic teaching concerning the Eucharist and papal authority during questioning.
The nineteen were hanged at Brielle on July 9, 1572. Their shared commemoration is July 9.
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