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.
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
<strong>Foxe</strong>’s <strong>Book</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Martyrs</strong><br />
she was <strong>of</strong>fered money, she rejected it, "because (said she) I am going to a city where money<br />
bears no mastery, and while I am here God has promised to feed me."<br />
When sentence was read, condemning her to the flames, she lifted up her voice and<br />
praised God, adding, "This day have I found that which I have long sought." When they<br />
tempted her to recant, "That will I not, (said she) God forbid that I should lose the life eternal,<br />
for this carnal and short life. I will never turn from my heavenly husband to my earthly<br />
husband; from the fellowship <strong>of</strong> angels to mortal children; and if my husband and children be<br />
faithful, then am I theirs. God is my father, God is my mother, God is my sister, my brother,<br />
my kinsman; God is my friend, most faithful."<br />
Being delivered to the sheriff, she was led by the <strong>of</strong>ficer to the place <strong>of</strong> execution, without<br />
the walls <strong>of</strong> Exeter, called Sothenhey, where again the superstitious priests assaulted her.<br />
While they were tying her to the stake, she continued earnestly to exclaim "God be merciful<br />
to me, a sinner!" Patiently enduring the devouring conflagration, she was consumed to ashes,<br />
and thus ended a life which in unshaken fidelity to the cause <strong>of</strong> Christ, was not surpassed by<br />
that <strong>of</strong> any preceding martyr.<br />
Richard Sharpe, Thomas Banion, and Thomas Hale<br />
Mr. Sharpe, weaver, <strong>of</strong> Bristol, was brought the ninth day <strong>of</strong> March, 1556, before Dr.<br />
Dalby, chancellor <strong>of</strong> the city <strong>of</strong> Bristol, and after examination concerning the Sacrament <strong>of</strong><br />
the altar, was persuaded to recant; and on the twenty-ninth, he was enjoined to make his<br />
recantation in the parish church. But, scarcely had he publicly avowed his backsliding, before<br />
he felt in his conscience such a tormenting fiend, that he was unable to work at his occupation;<br />
hence, shortly after, one Sunday, he came into the parish church, called Temple, and after<br />
high Mass, stood up in the choir door, and said with a loud voice, "Neighbors, bear me record<br />
that yonder idol (pointing to the altar) is the greatest and most abominable that ever was; and<br />
I am sorry that ever I denied my Lord God!" Notwithstanding the constables were ordered to<br />
apprehend him, he was suffered to go out <strong>of</strong> the church; but at night he was apprehended and<br />
carried to Newgate. Shortly after, before the chancellor, denying the Sacrament <strong>of</strong> the altar to<br />
be the body and blood <strong>of</strong> Christ, he was condemned to be burned by Mr. Dalby. He was burnt<br />
the seventh <strong>of</strong> May, 1558, and died godly, patiently, and constantly, confessing the Protestant<br />
articles <strong>of</strong> faith.With him suffered Thomas Hale, shoemaker, <strong>of</strong> Bristol, who was condemned<br />
by Chcnallor Dalby. <strong>The</strong>se martyrs were bound back to back.<br />
Thomas Banion, a weaver, was burnt on August 27, <strong>of</strong> the same year, and died for the<br />
sake <strong>of</strong> the evangelical cause <strong>of</strong> his Savior.<br />
J. Corneford, <strong>of</strong> Wortham; C. Browne, <strong>of</strong> Maidstone; J. Herst, <strong>of</strong> Ashford; Alice<br />
Snoth, and Catharine Knight, an Aged Woman<br />
With pleasure we have to record that these five martyrs were the last who suffered in the<br />
reign <strong>of</strong> Mary for the sake <strong>of</strong> the Protestant cause; but the malice <strong>of</strong> the papists was<br />
conspicuous in hastening their martyrdom, which might have been delayed until the event <strong>of</strong><br />
the queen's illness was decided. It is reported that the archdeacon <strong>of</strong> Canterbury, judging that<br />
the sudden death <strong>of</strong> the queen would suspend the execution, travelled post from London, to<br />
254