The Dead Yet Speaking, Biography 33
The Life and Death of John Philpot, who died Anno Christi 1555.
JOhn Philpot was a Knights son, and born in Hampshire, brought up at Schoole, and sent from thence to New Colledge in Oxford, where he stuied the Liberall Arts, and the Tongues, and afterwards the Civil-law. He was of a pregnat wit, and singular courage, z…alous in Religion, of nature apert, and far from flattery, hypocrisie, and dissimulation: from Oxford he travelled into Italie, where he was in some danger for his Religion: In King …dward the sixth dayes, he returned into England againe, and had many conflicts with Bishop Gardiner: He did much good in Hampshire, being Archdeacon of Winchester all King Edwards dayes; but in the beginning of Queene-Maries Reign he was cast into Prison, where he lay a yeer and a halfe before he was examined; then he was sent for by Doctor Story, and after some captious questions proposed to him, he was committed Prisoner to the Bishop of Londons Cole-house, unto which was adjoyned a little Blind house, with a great pair of Stocks, both for hand and foot, but thanks be to God, saith he, I have not played of those Organs yet: there h… found a godly Minister of Essex, who, desiring to speake with him, did greatly lament his infirmity, for through extremity of imprisonment he had yeelded to the Bishop of London, and was se… at liberty… whereupon he left such an hell in his conscience, that he could scarce refrain from destroying himselfe; and could have no peace, till going to the Bishops Register, and desiring to see his Recantation, he tore it in pieces: whereupon the Bishop sending for him, buffeted him, pluckt off a great part of his beard, and sent him to his Cole-house, where Master Philpot found him very joyfull under the Crosse. Philpot being afterward… sent for to the Bishop; he asked him, amongst other things, why they were so merry in Prison, to whom he answered, We are in a dark comfortlesse place, and therefore we solace our selves with singing of Psalmes: after other discourse (saith he) I was carryed to my Lords Cole-house againe, where I, with my six fellow-prisoners, doe rouse together in the straw, as chearfully, we thank God, as others doe in their beds of down. After sundry examinations he was by the Bishop set in th… stocks, in a house alone, of which he writes: God be praised that he thought me worthy to suffer any thing for his names sake: Better it is to sit in the stocks in this world, then to sit in the stocks of a damnaple conscience: at last he was condemned for an Heretick; whereupon he said, I thanke God I am an Hereticke out of your cursed Church, but I am no Hereticke before God. Being sent to Newgate he spake to the People as he went, saying, Ah good people, blessed be God for this day: having notice given over-night that the next day he should be burn'd, he said, I am ready, God grant me strength, and a joyfull resurrection; and so he went to his chamber, pouring out his spirit unto the Lord in Prayer, and giving him most hearty thanks for accounting him worthy to suffer for his Truth. Going into Smithfield, the way was very foul, whereupon two Officers took him up and bare him to the stake; then said he merrily, What? will you make me a Pope? coming into Smithfield, he kneeled downe, saying, I will pay my Vowes in thee O Smithfield: he kissed the stake, saying, Shall I disdain to suffer at thi… stake, when my Lord and Saviour refused not to suffer a most vile death for me? when the fire was hindled, with much meekness, and comfort he resigned up his spirit unto God, An. Christi 1555.
Couragious Philpot with a dauntlesse brow
March'd to his death, and would not once allow
The least Submittance to erronious powers,
But Scorn'd to smell on their impoysn'd flowers:
And when he labour'd in the most distresse
He was most chearfull, and would still addresse
Himselfe to Heaven, where he was sure to find
A healing Balsome to confirme his minde;
He prayed to God, and having done, he cry'd,
I thank, I thanke thée Father, and so dy'd: