Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
Cuthbert Symson
Few professors of Christ possessed more activity and zeal than this excellent person. He
not only laboured to preserve his friends from the contagion of popery, but he laboured to
guard them against the terrors of persecution. He was deacon of the little congregation over
which Mr. Rough presided as minister.
Mr. Symson has written an account of his own sufferings, which he cannot detail better
than in his own words:
"On the thirteenth of December, 1557, I was committed by the Council to the Tower of
London. On the following Thursday, I was called into the ward-room, before the constable of
the Tower, and the recorder of London, Mr. Cholmly, who commanded me to inform them of
the names of those who came to the English service. I answered that I would declare nothing;
in consequence of my refusal, I was set upon a rack of iron, as I judge for the space of three
hours!
"They then asked me if I would confess: I answered as before.
After being unbound, I was carried back to my lodging. The Sunday after I was brought
to the same place again, before the lieutenant and recorder of London, and they examined
me. As I had answered before, so I answered now. Then the lieutenant swore by God I should
tell; after which my two forefingers were bound together, and a small arrow placed between
them, they drew it through so fast that the blood followed, and the arrow brake.
"After enduring the rack twice again, I was retaken to my lodging, and ten days after the
lieutenant asked me if I would not now confess that which they had before asked of me. I
answered, that I had already said as much as I would. Three weeks after I was sent to the
priest, where I was greatly assaulted, and at whose hand I received the pope's curse, for
bearing witness of the resurrection of Christ. And thus I commend you to God, and to the
Word of His grace, with all those who unfeignedly call upon the name of Jesus; desiring God
of His endless mercy, through the merits of His dear Son Jesus Christ, to bring us all to His
everlasting Kingdom, Amen. I praise God for His great mercy shown upon us. Sing Hosanna
to the Highest with me, Cuthbert Symson. God forgive my sins! I ask forgiveness of all the
world, and I forgive all the world, and thus I leave the world, in the hope of a joyful
resurrection!"
If this account be duly considered, what a picture of repeated tortures does it present! But
even the cruelty of the narration is exceeded by the patient meekness with which it was
endured. Here are no expressions of malice, no invocations even of God's retributive justice,
not a complaint of suffering wrongfully! On the contrary, praise to God, forgiveness of sin,
and a forgiving all the world, concludes this unaffected interesting narrative.
Bonner's admiration was excited by the steadfast coolness of this martyr. Speaking of Mr.
Symson in the consistory, he said, "You see what a personable man he is, and then of his
patience, I affirm, that, if he were not a heretic, he is a man of the greatest patience that ever
came before me. Thrice in one day has he been racked in the Tower; in my house also he has
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