Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
On December 4, Mr. Philpot had his next hearing, and this was followed by two more,
making in all, fourteen conferences, previous to the final examination in which he was
condemned; such were the perseverance and anxiety of the Catholics, aided by rthe
argumentative abilities of the most distinguished of the papal bishops, to bring him into the
pale of their Church. Those examinations, which were very long and learned, were all written
down by Mr. Philpot, and a stronger proof of the imbecility of the Catholic doctors, cannot,
to an unbiased mind, be exhibited.
On December 16, in the consistory of St. Paul's Bishop Bonner, after laying some trifling
accusations to his charge, such as secreting powder to make ink, writing some private letters,
etc., proceeded to pass the awful sentence upon him, after he and the other bishops had urged
him by every inducement to recant. He was afterward conducted to Newgate, where the
avaricious Catholic keeper loaded him with heavy irons, which by the humanity of Mr.
Macham were ordered to be taken off. On December 17, Mr. Philpot received intimation that
he was to die next day, and the next morning about eight o'clock, he joyfully met the sheriffs,
who were to attend him to the place of execution.
Upon entering Smithfield, the ground was so muddy that two officers offered to carry
him to the stake, but he replied:
"Would you make me a pope? I am content to finish my journey on foot." Arriving at the
stake, he said, "Shall I disdain to suffer at the stake, when my Redeemer did not refuse to
suffer the most vile death upon the cross for me?" He then meekly recited the One hundred
and seventh and One hundred and eighth Psalms, and when he had finished his prayers, was
bound to the post, and fire applied to the pile. On December 18, 1555, perished this illustrious
martyr, reverenced by man, and glorified in heaven!
John Lomas, Agnes Snoth, Anne Wright, Joan Sole, and Joan Catmer
These five martyrs suffered together, January 31, 1556. John Lomas was a young man of
Tenterden. He was cited to appear at Catnerbury, and was examined January 17. His answers
being adverse to the idolatrous doctrine of the papacy, he was condemned on the following
day, and suffered January 31.
Agnes Snoth, widow, of Smarden Parish, was several times summoned before the
Catholic Pharisees, and rejecting absolution, indulgences, transubstantiation, and auricular
confession, she was adjudged worthy to suffer death, and endured martyrdom, January 31,
with Anne Wright and Joan Sole, who were placed in similar circumstances, and perished at
the same time, with equal resignation. Joan Catmer, the last of this heavenly company, of the
parish Hithe, was the wife of the martyr George Catmer.
Seldom in any country, for political controversy, have four women been led to execution,
whose lives were irreproachable, and whom the pity of savages would have spared. We cannot
but remark here that, when the Protestant power first gained the ascendency over the Catholic
superstition, and some degree of force in the laws was necessary to enforce uniformity,
whence some bigoted people suffered privation in their person or goods, we read of few
burnings, savage cruelties, or poor women brought to the stake, but it is the nature of error to
resort to force instead of argument, and to silence truth by taking away existence, of which
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