Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 12 · Account 70 – Account 71
¶Thomas Benbrige Gentleman and Martyr, wrongfully condemned and put to death by the cruell Papists, for the defence of the Gospell of Christ Iesu.
THoms Benbrige a Gentleman, single and vnmaried,Iuly. 29. The story of Thomas Benbridge, Martyr. in the Dioces of Winchester, although hee might hauehave liued a pleasaunt and a Gentlemans lyfe in the wealthy possessions of this world, yet to follow Christ, had rather enter into the straite gate of persecution, to the heauenlye possession of lyfe in the Lordes kingdome, then here to enioy pleasures present with vnquietnes of consciēce. Wherfore manfully standing against the Papists for the defence of the sincere doctrine of Christes Gospell, hee spared not hymselfe to confirme the doctrine of the Gospell. For the which cause he beyng apprehended for an aduersary of the Romish religion, was forthwith had to examination before D. White Bish. of Winchester,W. Benbridge examined before the B. of Winchester. where he susteined sundry conflictes for the truth agaynst the sayd Bishop & hys Colleagues. The Articles of the Bishoppe ministred to hym, with his aunswers to the same annexed, be here followyng.
¶Articles ministred to M. Benbrige, with his answers followyng the same.
FIrst, we articulate against you, that the Church of God ministreth rightly,Articles opposed agaynst W. Benbridge. Aunswere. according to the rite Apostolicall
To this he aunswereth, that Baptisme is not administred at this present, so as it was in the Apostles tyme, for that it is not ministred in the English tongue.
2. Item,The reall presence. we articulate that the church of God doth beleue and hold, that in the sacrament of thankesgeuyng, after the words of consecration pronounced of the priest, the true and naturall body of Christ is present really.
He answereth,Aunswere. that he beleueth not that in the sacrament is conteined the body and bloud of our sauiour Iesu Christ, saying: this is the marke that ye shoote at.
3. Item, we articulate, that the church holdeth and beleeueth, that confirmation is a sacrament in the church,Confirmation. and that by imposition of hands of a Bishop, commeth grace.
He aunswered,Aunswere. that he knoweth not whether that confirmation be a Sacrament or not, and whether the Bishop geueth grace or not: hee knoweth not the order and fashion of ministration.
4. Item, we articulate, that penaunce is a Sacrament in the Church, and that by auricular confession and absolution pronounced by the priest, sinnes be forgeuen.
He answered negatiuely, denying sinnes to be forgeuen,Aunswere. Penaunce no Sacrament. by absolution pronounced of a priest, and that it is not necessarye for a man to recite all his sinnes to a priest.
5. Item, we articulate agaynst thee, that the Church doth beleeue and hold, the same authoritie to bee now in the Churche which Christ gaue to his Apostles.
He answered negatiuely,Aunswere. for that the Churche hath not the same power and strength to worke.
6. Item, we articulate, that the Church beleueth and holdeth that the order of ministers now beyng in the church of Christ, is instituted of Christ himselfe.
He answered that he beleueth not the bishops to be the successors of the Apostles, for that they be not called as they were,Aunswere. nor hauehave that grace.
7. Item, we articulate that the churche beleeueth and holdeth,Head of the Church. the Pope to be supreme head in the Church, and the Vicare of Christ in earth.
He answered, that it is not the Pope,Aunswere. but it is the deuill that is supreme hed of the church which you speake of.
8. Item, we articulate, that the church doth hold and beleeue that it is necessary to be baptised.
He denied not the same.
9. Item, we articulate, that the church doth hold and beleeue,Aunswere. Purgatory. that there is purgatory, and that the soules of the dead bee relieued with the almes and prayers of the liuyng.
He answereth and sayth, as touching purgatory, hee will not beleeue as their church doth beleeue.Aunswere.
10. Item, we articulate, that the church holdeth and beleueth, that Matrimony is a sacrament of the Church.
He aunswered, that he will not say that Matrimony is a Sacrament, but to bee a sacrate order and signe of an holy thyng.Aunswere. Matrimony no Sacrament. &c.
Moreouer, hapning into the mention of Martine Luther, he sayd: M. Luther.that the sayd Martine Luther dyed a good christen man, whose doctrine and lyfe he did approoue and allowe.
Thus hauehave ye the articles ministred by the Bishop, & also the answers of the sayd M. Benbrige vntounto the same for the which he was then condemned, W. Benbridge condemned.and after brought to the place of Martyrdome, by the shiriffe called sir Rich. Pecksall, where as he stāding at the stake, began to vntie hsi pointes, W. Benbridge brought to the stake.and to prepare himselfe. Then hee gaue hys gowne to the keeper, beyng belyke his fee. His Ierkin was laid on with gold lace faire and braue, which he gaue to Sir Richard Pecksall the high shiriffe. His cap of veluet he tooke of from his hed, and threw it away. Then lifting his mynd to the Lord, he made his prayers.
D Seaton forbiddeth to pray for him.That done, beyng now fastened to the stake, D. Seaton willed him to recant, and he should hauehave his pardon: but when he saw it preuailed not to speake, the said dreamyng and doltish Doct. willed the people not to pray for him vnlesse he would recant, no more then they woulde pray for a dog.
M. Benbrige standyng at the stake with his handes together in such maner, as the Priest holdeth hys handes in his memento, the sayd D. Seaton came to hym agayne, and exhorted hym to recant: vntounto whome he sayde, away Babilonian, away.
Then sayd one that stoode by: Sir, cut out his tongue, & an other beyng a temporall man, rayled on hym worse, then Doct. Seaton did a great deale, who (as is thought) was set on by some other.
Then when they saw he would not yeld, they bade the tormenters to set to fire, and yet he was nothing like couered with fagottes. First the fire tooke away a piece of hys beard, Maister Benbridge recanted at the stake.whereat hee nothing shranke at all. Then it came on the other side and tooke his legges, and the nether stockings of his hose being leather, made the fire to pierce the sharper, so that the intollerable heate thereof made him to cry: I recant, and sodenly therwith he thrust the fire from hym. And hauyng two or three of hys friends by, that wished his lyfe, Syr Richard Pecksall.they stept to the fire and holpe to take it from him also: who for their labour were sent to prison. The shirife also of his own authoritie tooke hym from the stake and sent him to prison againe: for the which he was sente vntounto the Fleete, and there lay a certaine tyme. But before he was taken from the stake, the sayd Seaton wrote articles to hauehave hym to subscribe vntounto them as touchyng the Pope, the Sacrament, and such other trash. But the sayde M. Benbrige made much ado ere he would subscribe thē, in so much that D. Seaton willed thē to set to fire againe. Then with much paine and great griefe of heart, M. Benbridge repenteth his recantation.hee subscribed to them vponupon a mans backe. That beyng done, he had his gowne geuen hym agayne, and so was led to prison. Beyng in prison he wrote a letter to D. Seaton, and recanted those words he spake at the stake, vntounto which he had subscribed: for he was grieued that euer hee dyd subscribe vntounto them. Whereuppon expressyng his conscience, he was the same day seuēnight after burnt in deed, where
The burning of Thomas Benbrige, Gentleman.
The Martyrdome of Thomas Benbridge. Anno. 1558. Iuly 19.the vile tormenters did rather broyle hym, then burne him. The Lord geue his enemies repentance.
The vniust execution and Martyrdome of foure burned at S. Edmunds Bury.
IN this yeare aforesaide, which was the last of Queene Maries raigne, D. Hopton beyng B. of Norwich,The story of 4. Martyrs in Suffolke. and D. Spenser bearing the roume of his Chauncellor, about S. Iames tyde, at S. Edmunds bury, were wrongfully put to death foure christian martyrs, to wit:
Iohn Cooke a Sawyer.
Rob. Myles aliâs Plummer, a Shereman.Martyrs.
Alexander Lane a Wheelewright.
Iames Ashley, a Bacheler.
The examination of these forenamed persones, beyng seuerally called before the B. of Norwich, & Sir Edward Walgraue with others, was partly vppon these articles followyng.
First,Syr Edward Walgraue persecutour. sir Edward Walgraue called Ioh. Cooke to him and said: How fortuneth it, that you go not to church?
Iohn Cooke sayd: I hauehave bene there.
Sir Edward said:Examinatiō of Iohn Cooke. what is the cause that you goe not thither now in these dayes?
Iohn Cooke said, because the sacrament of the aultare is an abhominable Idol, and (saith he) the vengeaunce of God will come vponupon all them that do maintaine it.
Sir Edward said: O thou ranke traitor, if I had as good commission to cut out thy tong, as I hauehave to sit here this day, thou shouldst be sure to hauehave it cut out. Then cō manded he the Constable to hauehave him away, saying: hee was both a traitor and a rebell.
Then he called Rob. Myles, and said:Examinatiō of Robert Milles. How fortuneth it that you go not to the church?
Rob. Myles answered, because I will follow no false Gods.
Then said the B. who told thee that it is a God?
Then said Myles: Euen you and such as you are.
Then the B. commaunded him aside, & to appeare before hym the next day.
Then he called Alexan. Lane before him,Examinatiō of Alexander Lane. & asked him how it chanced that he would not go to the church?
He sayd that his conscience would not serue him so to doe.
Then sir Edward said: How doest thou beleeue.
Then said Lane, euen as it is written in Gods booke.
Then sir Edward commanded him to say his beliefe.
Then the said Lane being somewhat abashed, said his beliefe to these words, which he missed vnwares: Borne of the virgin Mary.
Then sir Edward said: What, was he not born of the virgin Mary?
Yes, sayd Lane, I would hauehave said so.
Foure burned at S. Edmondsbury.
Nay, said sir Edward, you are one of Cookes scholers and so commanded him away,Anno 1558. Nouem. and to come before him the next day.
Examinati… I…mes ….After the lyke maner they passed also with Iames Ashley, whom they warned the next day likewyse to appeare before them againe. So in fine they appearing againe, had their condemnatiō. And thus these foure blessed Martyrs & seruants of Christ, innocently suffred together at s. Edmundsbury, as is aforesayd, about the beginnyng of August, not long before the sicknes of Queene Mary.