Foxe - The Book of Martyrs

Foxe’s Book of Martyrs
she was offered money, she rejected it, "because (said she) I am going to a city where money
bears no mastery, and while I am here God has promised to feed me."
When sentence was read, condemning her to the flames, she lifted up her voice and
praised God, adding, "This day have I found that which I have long sought." When they
tempted her to recant, "That will I not, (said she) God forbid that I should lose the life eternal,
for this carnal and short life. I will never turn from my heavenly husband to my earthly
husband; from the fellowship of angels to mortal children; and if my husband and children be
faithful, then am I theirs. God is my father, God is my mother, God is my sister, my brother,
my kinsman; God is my friend, most faithful."
Being delivered to the sheriff, she was led by the officer to the place of execution, without
the walls of Exeter, called Sothenhey, where again the superstitious priests assaulted her.
While they were tying her to the stake, she continued earnestly to exclaim "God be merciful
to me, a sinner!" Patiently enduring the devouring conflagration, she was consumed to ashes,
and thus ended a life which in unshaken fidelity to the cause of Christ, was not surpassed by
that of any preceding martyr.
Richard Sharpe, Thomas Banion, and Thomas Hale
Mr. Sharpe, weaver, of Bristol, was brought the ninth day of March, 1556, before Dr.
Dalby, chancellor of the city of Bristol, and after examination concerning the Sacrament of
the altar, was persuaded to recant; and on the twenty-ninth, he was enjoined to make his
recantation in the parish church. But, scarcely had he publicly avowed his backsliding, before
he felt in his conscience such a tormenting fiend, that he was unable to work at his occupation;
hence, shortly after, one Sunday, he came into the parish church, called Temple, and after
high Mass, stood up in the choir door, and said with a loud voice, "Neighbors, bear me record
that yonder idol (pointing to the altar) is the greatest and most abominable that ever was; and
I am sorry that ever I denied my Lord God!" Notwithstanding the constables were ordered to
apprehend him, he was suffered to go out of the church; but at night he was apprehended and
carried to Newgate. Shortly after, before the chancellor, denying the Sacrament of the altar to
be the body and blood of Christ, he was condemned to be burned by Mr. Dalby. He was burnt
the seventh of May, 1558, and died godly, patiently, and constantly, confessing the Protestant
articles of faith.With him suffered Thomas Hale, shoemaker, of Bristol, who was condemned
by Chcnallor Dalby. These martyrs were bound back to back.
Thomas Banion, a weaver, was burnt on August 27, of the same year, and died for the
sake of the evangelical cause of his Savior.
J. Corneford, of Wortham; C. Browne, of Maidstone; J. Herst, of Ashford; Alice
Snoth, and Catharine Knight, an Aged Woman
With pleasure we have to record that these five martyrs were the last who suffered in the
reign of Mary for the sake of the Protestant cause; but the malice of the papists was
conspicuous in hastening their martyrdom, which might have been delayed until the event of
the queen's illness was decided. It is reported that the archdeacon of Canterbury, judging that
the sudden death of the queen would suspend the execution, travelled post from London, to
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