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List of Protestant martyrs of the English Reformation

English Protestants executed during the English Reformation From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

List of Protestant martyrs of the English Reformation
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Protestants were executed in England under heresy laws during the reigns of Henry VIII (1509–1547) and Mary I (1553–1558), and in smaller numbers during the reigns of Edward VI (1547–1553), Elizabeth I (1558–1603), and James I (1603–1625). Most were executed in the short reign of Mary I in what is called the Marian persecutions. Protestant theologian and activist John Foxe described "the great persecutions & horrible troubles, the suffering of martyrs, and other such thinges" in his contemporaneously-published Book of Martyrs.

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Plaque in Maidstone, Kent, commemorating those burnt nearby

Protestants in England and Wales were executed under legislation that punished anyone judged guilty of heresy against Catholicism. Although the standard penalty for those convicted of treason in England at the time was execution by being hanged, drawn and quartered, this legislation adopted the punishment of burning the condemned. At least 280 people were recognised as burned over the five years of Mary I's reign by contemporary sources.

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Historical context

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English Reformation

The English Reformation had put a stop to Catholic ecclesiastical governance in England, asserted royal supremacy over the English Church and dissolved some church institutions, such as monasteries and chantries.

An important year in the English Reformation was 1547, when Protestantism became a new force under the child-king Edward VI, England's first Protestant ruler. Edward died at age 15 in 1553. His cousin and chosen Protestant successor Lady Jane Grey claimed the throne but was deposed by Edward's Catholic half-sister, Mary I.[1]:62

Persecution of Protestants under Mary I (1553–1558)

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Marian martyrs memorial: Cotham Church, Bristol

The relationship between the English church and Rome was restored at the accession of Queen Mary I to the English throne in 1553. With her repeal of all religious legislation passed under Edward VI, Protestants faced a choice: exile, reconciliation/conversion, or punishment.[2]:186 Many people were exiled, and hundreds of dissenters were burned at the stake, earning her the nickname of "Bloody Mary".[3] The number of people executed for their faith during the persecutions is thought to be at least 287, including 56 women.[4] Thirty others died in prison.[5]:79

Although the so-called "Marian Persecutions" began with four clergymen, relics of Edwardian England's Protestantism,[2]:196 Foxe's Book of Martyrs offers an account of the executions, which extended well beyond the anticipated targets – high-level clergy. Tradesmen were also burned, as well as married men and women, sometimes in unison, "youths" and at least one couple was burned alive with their daughter.[2]:196 The figure of 300 victims of the Marian Persecutions was given by Foxe[6] and later by Thomas Brice in his poem, "The Regester".[7]

English Inquisition and the judicial process

However bloody the end, the trials of Protestant heretics were judicial affairs, presided by bishops (most notably Bishop Bonner) adhering to a strict legal protocol under the privy council, with Parliament's blessing.[2]:p.195 Mary had difficulty forming an efficient Privy Council, which eventually numbered over 40 and never worked as a source of political advice, though it effectively pursued police work and enforcement of religious uniformity.[1]:62–65 During the session that restored the realm to papal obedience Parliament reinstated the heresy laws.[2]:196 From 20 January 1555, England could legally punish those judged guilty of heresy against the Roman Catholic faith.[5]:91

Thus it became a matter of establishing the guilt or innocence of an accused heretic in open court – a process which the lay authorities employed to reclaim "straying sheep" and to set a precedent for authentic Catholic teaching.[5]:102 If found guilty, the accused were first excommunicated, then handed over to the secular authorities for execution.[5]:102 The official records of the trials are limited to formal accusations, sentences, and so forth; the documents to which historians look for context and detail are those written by the accused or their supporters.[5]:102

John Rogers' execution

Before Mary's ascent to the throne, John Foxe, one of the few clerics of his day who was against the burning of even obstinate heretics, had approached the Royal Chaplain and Protestant preacher, John Rogers to intervene on behalf of Joan Bocher, a female Anabaptist who was sentenced to death by burning in 1550.[2]:193 Rogers refused to help, as he supported the burning of heretics. Rogers claimed that the method of execution was "sufficiently mild" for a crime as grave as heresy.[5]:87 Later, after Mary I came to power and restored England to Catholicism, John Rogers spoke quite vehemently against the new order and was himself burnt as a heretic.[5]:97

Legacy

Throughout the course of the persecutions, Foxe lists 312 individuals who were burnt or hanged for their faith, or died or sickened in prison. Three of these people are commemorated with a gothic memorial in Oxford, England, but there are many other memorials across England.[8] They are known locally as the "Marian Martyrs".

English saints and martyrs of the Reformation era are remembered in the Church of England with a Lesser Festival on 4 May.[9]

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Martyrs executed

More information Order of death., Name ...
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Also mentioned by Foxe

Posthumous proceedings

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Those who sickened or died in prison

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See also

Notes

  1. 'Foxe has a terse report in the Rerum of an old man of Buckingham- shire being executed in 1531 for eating pork during Lent (Rerum, p. 126). Foxe's source for this episode is unknown; Bale does not mention this old man in any of his works. Perhaps Laurence Humphrey, who was Foxe's friend, a native of Buckinghamshire, and who was with Foxe in Basel, was the source for this story. In any case, the Rerum account was translated word-for-word in the 1563 edition. The story was dropped from all subsequent editions, possibly because Foxe grew unsure of this individual's existence or at least of his ability to prove it.' Foxe's Book of Martyrs, Critical Apparatus
  2. Foxe describes him as being 'mad and beside his right senses ... and destitute of sense and reason'. The Critical Apparatus to Foxe's Book of Martyrs lists a number of unorthodox beliefs which he held.
  3. Foxe describes him as being 'mad ... ravished of his wits ... beside his wits'.
  4. Six months before the execution of Robert Harvey for treason in Spring 1541 Harvey#C241.56 Foxe's Book of Martyrs, Critical Apparatus
  5. 'within the space of a year, or thereabout, after' the previous man
  6. The 1563 edition of Foxe's Book of Martyrs records that William Dighel was burned at about the same time as Nicholas Sheterden. However, this information is not repeated in subsequent editions of Foxe's work. "Was his omission in subsequent editions due to an accident in the print shop or did Foxe come to doubt his information on Dighel?"
  7. husband of Elizabeth Warne, burnt in August 1555
  8. May be the same as ... Butter, burnt (day unknown) June 1555, Location unknown (the Regester)
  9. Buried in St. Michaels & All Angels Marble placed in 1748
  10. which calls him 'Sir Franke'
  11. The same as Jone Polley, burnt (day unknown) July 1555, Location unknown (the Regester)
  12. Foxe erred in stating that Polley came from Pepenbury; see PRO C/85/144/33r.
  13. widow of John Warne, burnt in May 1555
  14. which says that 'Joan Lashford ... was the daughter of one Robert Lashford ..., and of ... Elizabeth, who afterward was married to John Warne'
  15. may be the same as Jone Painter (the Regester)
  16. which refers to 'two women in Ippeswiche towne'
  17. which refers to 'two brethren more'
  18. which refers to 'two at Glocester'
  19. which refers to 'two men and a syster dere'
  20. 'The Regester' states that a person called 'Milwright' was burnt along with Harland, Oswald, Reed and Avington. However, this person is not mentioned in Foxe's Book of Martyrs, although he does appear in
  21. may be the same as John Milles
  22. the same as 'A merchant's servant burned at Leicester' and the same as 'the yong man at Leicester'
  23. which refers to "two women"
  24. her husband then married Christian George, mentioned below
  25. May be an error for Edward Horne, burnt at Newent, Gloucestershire in September 1558. Foxe states that a woman was burnt with Horne. However, the Critical Apparatus quotes a letter from Foxe's papers stating that 'Edward Horne's wife was condemned with him but she recanted and her life was spared'
  26. which refers to 'two at Wye'
  27. which refers to 'two at Asheforde'. A number of Kentish people of Ashford Area are recorded as having been burnt 16 January 1556 at Ashford, Kent in Ashford Borough Council – Parks and Open Spaces. However, at this time the civil or legal year in England began on 25 March, so the date now known as 16 January 1557 would then have been recorded as 16 January 1556.
  28. William Carman burnt unknown month 1557 and Thomas Carman burnt 19 May 1558 were brothers
  29. may be the same as Jhon Lothesby, burnt at Smithfield, April 1557 (the Regester)
  30. may be the same as Annis Hide, burnt at Smithfield, April 1557 (the Regester)
  31. which records an 'other' burnt with Morant and Grathwick
  32. May be the same as Christian Grover of the archdeaconry of Lewes
  33. 'The Regester' states that a person called 'Hayne' was burnt along with Cuthbert Symion. However, this person is not mentioned in Foxe's Book of Martyrs.
  34. 'The Regester' gives the name of the woman burnt with Alexander Gooch as Elizabeth Launson.
  35. An Anabaptist
  36. A Unitarian
  37. An Arian
  38. may be the same as William Ailewarde (the Regester)
  39. Richard Smith is said to have died in prison (day unknown) September, Lowlar's Tower/Lollard's Tower, Lambeth Palace, London in 'the Regester', but is described as 'non-existent' in
  40. may be the same as Thomas Leyes of Thorpe, Essex, sickened in Lollard's Tower, died (day unknown) September, Location unknown
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References

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