Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Duckett, James
DUCKETT, JAMES (d. 1601), bookseller, was a younger son of Duckett of Gilthwaiterigg, in the parish of Skelsmergh in Westmoreland, and was brought up as a protestant. He had, however, for godfather James Leybourne of Skelsmergh, who was executed at Lancaster, 22 March 1583, for denial of the queen's supremacy. Duckett was apprenticed to a bookseller in London, became converted, and was imprisoned for not attending church. He bought out the remainder of his time, set up as a bookseller, was received into the Roman catholic church, and about 1589 married a widow. Nine out of the next twelve years of his life were passed in prison. His last apprehension was caused by Peter Bullock, a bookbinder, who gave information that Duckett had in stock a number of copies of Southwell's ‘Supplication to Queen Elizabeth.’ These were not found, but a quantity of other Roman catholic books were seized on the premises. Duckett was imprisoned in Newgate 4 March 1601, and brought to trial during the following sessions. Sentence of death was then pronounced against him and three priests, and he was hanged at Tyburn with Peter Bullock (the witness against him) 19 April 1601. Duckett's son was prior of the English Carthusians at Nieuport in Flanders.
[Challoner's Memoirs of Missionary Priests, 1741, i. 401–5; Gillow's Bibl. Dict. ii. 133–5.]