Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.

¶Articles ministred to M. Benbrige, with his an∣swers followyng the same.

FIrst, we articulate against you, that the Church of God mini∣streth rightly,* 1.1 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,* 1.2 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 bo∣dy of Christ is present really.

He answereth,* 1.3 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,* 1.4 and that by im∣position of hands of a Bishop, commeth grace.

He aunswered,* 1.5 that he knoweth not whether that confir∣mation be a Sacrament or not, and whether the Bishop geueth grace or not: hee knoweth not the order and fashion of mini∣stration.

4. Item, we articulate, that penaunce is a Sacrament in the Church, and that by auricular confession and absolution pro∣nounced by the priest, sinnes be forgeuen.

He answered negatiuely, denying sinnes to be forgeuen,* 1.6 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 be∣leeue and hold, the same authoritie to bee now in the Churche which Christ gaue to his Apostles.

He answered negatiuely,* 1.7 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 suc∣cessors of the Apostles, for that they be not called as they were,* 1.8 nor haue that grace.

7. Item, we articulate that the churche beleeueth and holdeth,* 1.9 the Pope to be supreme head in the Church, and the Vicare of Christ in earth.

He answered, that it is not the Pope,* 1.10 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,* 1.11 that there is purgatory, and that the soules of the dead bee relie∣ued with the almes and prayers of the liuyng.

He answereth and sayth, as touching purgatory, hee will not beleeue as their church doth beleeue.* 1.12

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 Sa∣crament, but to bee a sacrate order and signe of an holy thyng.* 1.13 &c.

Moreouer, hapning into the mention of Martine Lu∣ther, he sayd:* 1.14 that the sayd Martine Luther dyed a good

christen man, whose doctrine and lyfe he did approoue and allowe.

Thus haue ye the articles ministred by the Bishop, & also the answers of the sayd M. Benbrige vnto the same for the which he was then condemned,* 1.15 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,* 1.16 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 vel∣uet he tooke of from his hed, and threw it away. Then lif∣ting his mynd to the Lord, he made his prayers.

* 1.17That done, beyng now fastened to the stake, D. Sea∣ton willed him to recant, and he should haue his pardon: but when he saw it preuailed not to speake, the said drea∣myng 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: vnto 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 coue¦red with fagottes. First the fire tooke away a piece of hys beard,* 1.18 whereat hee nothing shranke at all. Then it came on the other side and tooke his legges, and the nether stoc∣kings 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 wi∣shed his lyfe,* 1.19 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 vnto the Fleete, and there lay a certaine tyme. But before he was taken from the stake, the sayd Seaton wrote arti∣cles to haue hym to subscribe vnto 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,* 1.20 hee sub∣scribed to them vpon a mans backe. That beyng done, he had his gowne geuen hym agayne, and so was led to pri∣son. Beyng in prison he wrote a letter to D. Seaton, and recanted those words he spake at the stake, vnto which he had subscribed: for he was grieued that euer hee dyd sub∣scribe vnto them. Whereuppon expressyng his conscience, he was the same day seuēnight after burnt in deed, where

[illustration]

The burning of Thomas Benbrige, Gentleman.

* 1.21 the vile tormenters did rather broyle hym, then burne him. The Lord geue his enemies repentance.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Articles oppo∣sed agaynst W. Benbridge. Aunswere.
• * 1.2

  The reall pre∣sence.
• * 1.3

  Aunswere.
• * 1.4

  Confirmation.
• * 1.5

  Aunswere.
• * 1.6

  Aunswere. Penaunce no Sacrament.
• * 1.7

  Aunswere.
• * 1.8

  Aunswere.
• * 1.9

  Head of the Church.
• * 1.10

  Aunswere.
• * 1.11

  Aunswere. Purgatory.
• * 1.12

  Aunswere.
• * 1.13

  Aunswere. Matrimony no Sacrament.
• * 1.14

  M. Luther.
• * 1.15

  W. Benbridge condemned.
• * 1.16

  W. Benbridge brought to the stake.
• * 1.17

  D Seaton for∣biddeth to pray for him.
• * 1.18

  Maister Ben∣bridge recanted at the stake.
• * 1.19

  Syr Richard Pecksall.
• * 1.20

  M. Benbridge repenteth his recantation.
• * 1.21

  The Martyr∣dome of Tho∣mas Benbridge. Anno. 1558. Iuly 19.