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.
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
<strong>Foxe</strong>’s <strong>Book</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Martyrs</strong><br />
prison, where he remained until the thirteenth <strong>of</strong> July, the day <strong>of</strong> his burning.<br />
Elizabeth Coope, wife <strong>of</strong> a pewterer, <strong>of</strong> St. Andrews, Norwich, had recanted; but tortured<br />
for what she had done by the worm which dieth not, she shortly after voluntarily entered her<br />
parish church during the time <strong>of</strong> the popish service, and standing up, audibly proclaimed that<br />
she revoked her former recantation, and cautioned the people to avoid her unworthy example.<br />
She was taken from her own house by Mr. Sutton the sheriff, who very reluctantly complied<br />
with the letter <strong>of</strong> the law, as they had been servants and in friendship together. At the stake,<br />
the poor sufferer, feeling the fire, uttered the cry <strong>of</strong> "Oh!" upon which Mr. Miller, putting his<br />
hand behind him towards her, desired her to be <strong>of</strong> a good courage, "for (said he) good sister,<br />
we shall have a joyful and a sweet supper." Encouraged by this example and exhortation, she<br />
stood the fiery ordeal without flinching, and, with him, proved the power <strong>of</strong> faith over the<br />
flesh.<br />
Executions at Colchester<br />
It was before mentioned that twenty-two persons had been sent up from Colchester, who<br />
upon a slight submission, were afterward released. Of these, William Munt, <strong>of</strong> Much Bentley,<br />
husbandman, with Alice, his wife, and Rose Allin, her daughter, upon their return home,<br />
abstained from church, which induced the bigoted priest secretly to write to Bonner. For a<br />
short time they absconded, but returniong again, March 7, one Edmund Tyrrel, (a relation <strong>of</strong><br />
the Tyrrel who murdered King Edward V and his brother) with the <strong>of</strong>ficers, entered the house<br />
while Munt and his wife were in bed, and informed them that they must go to Colchester<br />
Castle. Mrs. Munt at that time being very ill, requested her daughter to get her some drink;<br />
leave being permitted, Rose took a candle and a mug; and in returning through the house was<br />
met by Tyrrel, who cautioned her to advise her parents to become good Catholics. Rose briefly<br />
informed him that they had the Holy Ghost for their adviser; and that she was ready to lay<br />
down her own life for the same cause. Turning to his company, he remarked that she was<br />
willing to burn; and one <strong>of</strong> them told him to prove her, and see what she would do by and by.<br />
<strong>The</strong> unfeeling wretch immediately executed this project; and, seizing the young woman by<br />
the wrist, he held the lighted candle under her hand, burning it crosswise on the back, until<br />
the tendons divided from the flesh, during which he loaded her with many opprobrious<br />
epithets. She endured his rage unmoved, and then, when he had ceased the torture, she asked<br />
him to begin at her feet or head, for he need not fear that his employer would one day repay<br />
him. After this she took the drink to her mother.<br />
This cruel act <strong>of</strong> torture does not stand alone on record. Bonner had served a poor blind<br />
harper in nearly the same manner, who had steadily maintained a hope that if every joint <strong>of</strong><br />
him were to be burnt, he should not fly from the faith. Bonner, upon this, privately made a<br />
signal to his men, to bring a burning coal, which they placed in the poor man's hand, and then<br />
by force held it closed, until it burnt into the flesh deeply.<br />
George Eagles, tailor, was indicted for having prayed that 'God would turn Queen Mary's<br />
heart, or take her away'; the ostensible cause <strong>of</strong> his death was his religion, for treason could<br />
hardly be imagined in praying for the reformation <strong>of</strong> such an execrable soul as that <strong>of</strong> Mary.<br />
Being condemned for this crime, he was drawn to the place <strong>of</strong> execution upon a sledge, with<br />
two robbers, who were executed with him. After Eagles had mounted the ladder, and been<br />
238