Foxe - The Book of Martyrs
The mystery of history is not completely dark, since it is a veil which only partially conceals the creative activity and spiritual forces and the operation of spiritual laws. It is commonplace to say that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church yet what we are asserting is simply that individual acts of spiritual decision bear social fruit …For the great cultural changes and historic revolutions that decide the fate of nations or the character of an age is the cumulative result of a number of spiritual decisions … the faith and insight, or the refusal and blindness, of individuals. No one can put his finger on the ultimate spiritual act that tilts the balance, and makes the external order of society assume a new form… Persecution, powerless to destroy or even to shake this new community, made it only the more sensible of its own strength, and pressed it into a more compact body.
The mystery of history is not completely dark, since it is a veil which only partially conceals the creative activity and spiritual forces and the operation of spiritual laws. It is commonplace to say that the blood of the martyrs is the seed of the Church yet what we are asserting is simply that individual acts of spiritual decision bear social fruit …For the great cultural changes and historic revolutions that decide the fate of nations or the character of an age is the cumulative result of a number of spiritual decisions … the faith and insight, or the refusal and blindness, of individuals. No one can put his finger on the ultimate spiritual act that tilts the balance, and makes the external order of society assume a new form… Persecution, powerless to destroy or even to shake this new community, made it only the more sensible of its own strength, and pressed it into a more compact body.
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<strong>Foxe</strong>’s <strong>Book</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Martyrs</strong><br />
Staplehurst, Kent. She had been taken up in October, 1556, for non-attendance, and released<br />
upon a strong injunction to mind her conduct. Her husband was a bigoted Catholic, and<br />
publicly speaking <strong>of</strong> his wife's contumacy, she was conveyed to Canterbury Castle, where<br />
knowing, when she should be removed to the bishop's prison, she should be almost starved<br />
upon three farthings a day, she endeavored to prepare herself for this suffering by living upon<br />
twopence halfpenny per day.<br />
On January 22, 1557, her husband wrote to the bishop that if his wife's brother, Roger<br />
Hall, were to be kept from consoling and relieving her, she might turn; on this account, she<br />
was moved to a prison called Monday's Hole. Her brother sought diligently for her, and at the<br />
end <strong>of</strong> five weeks providentially heard her voice in the dungeon, but could not otherwise<br />
relieve her, than by putting soe money in a loaf, and sticking it on a long pole. Dreadful must<br />
have been the situation <strong>of</strong> this poor victim, lying on straw, between stone walls, without a<br />
change <strong>of</strong> apparel, or the meanest requisites <strong>of</strong> cleanliness, during a period <strong>of</strong> nine weeks!<br />
On March 25 she was summoned before the bishop, who, with rewards, <strong>of</strong>fered her liberty<br />
if she would go home and be comfortable; but Mrs. Benden had been inured to suffering, and,<br />
showing him her contracted limbs and emaciated appearance, refused to swerve from the<br />
truth. She was however removed from this black hole to the West Gate, whence, about the<br />
end <strong>of</strong> April, she was taken out to be condemned, and then committed to the castle prison<br />
until the nineteenth <strong>of</strong> June, the day <strong>of</strong> her burning. At the stake, she gave her handkerchief<br />
to one John Banks, as a memorial; and from her waist she drew a white lace, desiring him to<br />
give it to her brother, and tell him that it was the last band that had bound her, except the<br />
chain; and to her father she returned a shilling he had sent her.<br />
<strong>The</strong> whole <strong>of</strong> these seven martyrs undressed themselves with alacrity, and, being<br />
prepared, knelt down, and prayed with an earnestness and Christian spirit that even the<br />
enemies <strong>of</strong> the cross were affected. After invocation made together, they were secured to the<br />
stake, and, being encompassed with the unsparing flames, they yielded their souls into the<br />
hands <strong>of</strong> the living Lord.<br />
Matthew Plaise, weaver, a sincere and shrewd Christian, <strong>of</strong> Stone, Kent, was brought<br />
before Thomas, bishop <strong>of</strong> Dover, and other inquisitors, whom he ingeniously teased by his<br />
indirect answers, <strong>of</strong> which the following is a specimen.<br />
Dr. Harpsfield. Christ called the bread His body; what dost thou say it is? Plaise. I do<br />
believe it was that which He gave them.<br />
Dr. H. What as that?<br />
P. That which He brake.<br />
Dr. H. What did He brake?<br />
P. That which He took.<br />
Dr. H. What did He take?<br />
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