Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
sermon, which took place August 1, 1556, the day of her martyrdom. His fulminating
discourse being finished, the poor, sightless object was taken to a place called Windmill Pit,
near the town, where she for a time held her brother by the hand, and then prepared herself
for the fire, calling upon the pitying multitude to pray with her, and upon Christ to have mercy
upon her, until the glorious light of the everlasting Sun of righteousness beamed upon her
departed spirit.
In November, fifteen martyrs were imprisoned in Canterbury castle, of whom all were
either burnt or famished. Among the latter were J. Clark, D. Chittenden, W. Foster of Stonc,
Alice Potkins, and J. Archer, of Cranbrooke, weaver. The two first of these had not received
condemnation, but the others were sentenced to the fire. Foster, at his examination, observed
upon the utility of carrying lighted candles about on Candlemas-day, that he might as well
carry a pitchfork; and that a gibbet would have as good an effect as the cross.
We have now brought to a close the sanguinary proscriptions of the merciless Mary, in
the year 1556, the number of which amounted to above EIGHTY-FOUR!
The beginning of the year 1557, was remarkable for the visit of Cardinal Pole to the
University of Cambridge, which seemed to stand in need of much cleansing from heretical
preachers and reformed doctrines. One object was also to play the popish farce of trying
Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius, who had been buried about three or four years; for which
purpose the churches of St. Mary and St. Michael, where they lay, were interdicted as vile
and unholy places, unfit to worship God in, until they were perfumed and washed with the
pope's holy water, etc., etc. The trumpery act of citing these dead reformers to appear, not
having had the least effect upon them, on January 26, sentence of condemnation was passed,
part of which ran in this manner, and may serve as a specimen of proceedings of this nature:
"We therefore pronounce the said Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius excommunicated and
anathematised, as well by the common law, as by letters of process; and that their memory be
condemned, we also condemn their bodies and bones (which in that wicked time of schism,
and other heresies flourishing in this kingdom, were rashly buried in holy ground) to be dug
up, and cast far from the bodies and bones of the faithful, according to the holy canons, and
we command that they and their writings, if any be there found, be publicly burnt; and we
interdict all persons whatsoever of this university, town, or places adjacent, who shall read or
conceal their heretical book, as well by the common law, as by our letters of process!"
After the sentence thus read, the bishop commanded their bodies to be dug out of their
graves, and being degraded from holy orders, delivered them into the hands of the secular
power; for it was not lawful for such innocent persons as they were, abhorring all bloodshed,
and detesting all desire of murder, to put any man to death.
February 6, the bodies, enclosed as they were in chests, were carried into the midst of the
market place at Cambrdige, accompanied by a vast concourse of people. A great post was set
fast in the ground, to which the chests were affixed with a large iron chain, and bound round
their centers, in the same manner as if the dead bodies had been alive. When the fire began to
ascend, and caught the coffins, a number of condemned books were also launched into the
flames, and burnt. Justice, however, was done to the memories of these pious and learned men
in Queen Elizabeth's reign, when Mr. Ackworth, orator of the university, and Mr. J.
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