MarginaliaAn. 1558. Iuly.sayd Bishop & his Colleagues. The articles of the Bishop ministred to him, with hys aunswers to the same annexed, be here following.
Marginalia1.MarginaliaArticles opposed agaynst M. Benbrige.FIrst, we articulate agaynst you, that the church of God ministreth rightly according to the rite Apostolicall.
MarginaliaAunswere.To this he answereth, that baptisme is not administred at this present, so as it was in the Apostles time, for that it is not ministred in the English tounge.
Marginalia2. The reall presence.Item, we articulate that the church of God doth beleue and hold, that in the sacrament of thankesgeuing, after the words of consecration pronounced of the priest, the true and naturall body of Christ is present really.
MarginaliaAunswere.He aunswereth, that he beleueth not, that in the sacrament is contayned the body and bloud of our sauiour Iesu Christ, saying: this is the marke that ye shote at.
Marginalia3. Confirmation.Item, we articulate, that the church holdeth and beleueth that confirmation is a sacrament in the church, and that by imposition of handes of a bishop, cometh grace.
MarginaliaAunswere.He answered, that he knoweth not whether that confirmation be a sacrament or not, and whether the Bishop geueth grace or not: he knoweth not the order and fashion of ministration.
Marginalia4.Item, we articulate, that penance is a sacrament in the church, and that by auricular confession and absolution pronounced by the priest, sinnes be forgeuen.
MarginaliaAunswere. Penance no Sacrament.He aunswered negatiuely, denying sinnes to be forgeuen by absolution pronounced of a priest, and that it is not necessary for a mā to recite al his sinnes to a priest.
Marginalia5.Item, we articulate agaynst thee, that the church doth beleue and hold, the same autority to be now in þe church, which Christ gaue to his Apostles.
MarginaliaAunswere.He aunswered negatiuely, for that the church hath not the same power and strength to worke.
Marginalia6.Item, we articulate, that the church beleueth and holdeth that the order of ministers, now being in the church of Christ, is instituted of Christ him selfe.
MarginaliaAunswere.He aunswered that he beleueth not the bishops to be the successors of the Apostles, for that they be not called as they were, nor haue that grace.
Marginalia7. Head of the Church.Item, we articulate, that the church beleueth and holdeth, the Pope to be supreame head in the church and the Vicar of Christ in earth.
MarginaliaAunswere.He aunswered, that it is not the Pope, but it is the deuill that is supreame head of the church which you speake of.
Marginalia8.Item, we articulate, that the church doth holde and beleue that it is necessary to be baptised.
MarginaliaAunswere.He denyed not the same.
Marginalia9. Purgatory.Item, we articulate, that the church doth hold and beleue, that there is a purgatory, and that the soules of the dead be relieued with the almes and prayers of the liuing.
MarginaliaAunswere.He aunswereth and sayth, as touching purgatory he will not beleue as theyr church doth beleue.
Marginalia10.Item, we articulate, that the church holdeth, and beleueth, that Matrimony is a sacrament of the church.
MarginaliaAunswere. Matrimony no Sacramēt.He answered, that he will not say that Matrimony is a sacramēt, but to be a sacrate order and signe of an holy thing. &c.
In the 1563 edition, Foxe records that Benbridge was asked at this point why he did not marry one Mary Newton and Benbridge said that there was good reason why, but he would not declare it. It is obvious that Mary Newton was Benbridge's betrothed and it is also obvious why this passage was never reprinted.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaM. Luther.Moreouer, happening into the mention of Martine Luther, he sayd: that the sayd Martine Luther dyed a good christen man, whose doctrine and lyfe he dyd approue and allow.
MarginaliaM. Benbrige condemned.Thus haue ye the articles ministred by the Bishop, and also the aunswers of the sayd Master Benbrige vnto the same, for the which he was then condemned, MarginaliaM. Benbrige brought to the stake.and after brought to the place of Martyrdome, by the sheriffe called Syr Richard Pecksall, where as he standing at the stake, began to vnty his pointes, and to prepare him selfe. Then he gaue his gowne to the keeper, being belike his fee. His Ierkin was layde on wt gold lace fayre and braue, which he gaue to Syr Richard Pecksall, the high sheriffe. His cappe of veluet he tooke of from his head, and threw it away. Then lifting hys minde to the Lord, he made hys prayers.
[Back to Top]That doone, being now fastened to the stake, Doct.
Seaton willed him to recant & he should haue his pardon: but when he saw it preuayled not to speake, the sayd dreaming & doltishe DoctorMarginaliaD. Seaton forbiddeth to pray for hym. willed þe people not to pray for him vnlesse he would recant, no more then they would pray for a dog.
Master Benbrige standing at the stake with hys handes together, in such maner as the priest holdeth his handes in his memento, the sayd Doctor Seaton came to him agayne and exhorted him to recant: vnto whom he sayd: away Babylonian, away.
Then sayd one that stoode by: Syr, cut out his toung: and an other being a temporall man, rayled on hym worse then Doctor Seaton did a great deale, who (as is thought) was set on by some other.
Then, when they saw he would not yeld, they bad the tormentors to set to fire, and yet he was nothing like couered with faggottes. First the fire tooke away a peece of his bearde, wherat he nothing shrancke at all. Then it came on the other side and tooke hys legs, and the nether stockinges of his hose being lether, made the fire to perce the sharper, so that the intolerable heate thereof made him to cry: MarginaliaMaster Benbrige recanted at the stake.I recant, and sodenly therewith he thrust the fire from him. And hauing ij. or iij. of hys frendes by that wished hys life, they stept to the fire and holpe to take it from him also: who for theyr labour were sent to prison. The sheriffeMarginaliaSyr Rich. Pecksall. also of hys own authoritie tooke him from the stake, and sent hym to prison agayne: for the which he was sent vnto the Fleete & there lay a certayne time.
Sir Richard Pexall, the sheriff of Hampshire, was also summoned before the privy council to answer for his failure to carry out the execution (see APC VI, pp. 371-72).
Whatever the sincerity of Benbridge's recantation, it was not enough in any case to save his life. A letter from the privy council to Sir Richard Pexall ordered that Benbridge be executed even if his recantation was sincere (APC VI, p. 361).
after burnt in deede, where the vile tormentours did rather broyle him then burne him. The Lord geue his enemies repentaunce.