Thematic Divisions in Book 12
1. Exhumations of Bucer and Phagius along with Peter Martyr's Wife2. Pole's Visitation Articles for Kent3. Ten Martyrs Burnt at Canterbury4. The 'Bloody Commission'5. Twenty-two Prisoners from Colchester6. Five Burnt at Smithfield7. Stephen Gratwick and others8. Edmund Allen and other martyrs9. Alice Benden and other martyrs10. Examinations of Matthew Plaise11. Richard Woodman and nine other martyrs12. Ambrose13. Richard Lush14. Edmund Allen15. The Martyrdom of Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper16. Rose Allin and nine other Colchester Martyrs17. John Thurston18. George Eagles19. Richard Crashfield20. Fryer and George Eagles' sister21. Joyce Lewes22. Rafe Allerton and others23. Agnes Bongeor and Margaret Thurston24. John Kurde25. John Noyes26. Cicelye Ormes27. Persecution at Lichfield28. Persecution at Chichester29. Thomas Spurdance30. Hallingdale, Sparrow and Gibson31. John Rough and Margaret Mearing32. Cuthbert Simson33. William Nicholl34. Seaman, Carman and Hudson35. Three at Colchester36. A Royal Proclamation37. Roger Holland and other Islington martyrs38. Stephen Cotton and other martyrs39. Scourging of Thomas Hinshaw40. Scourging of John Milles41. Richard Yeoman42. John Alcocke43. Thomas Benbridge44. Four at St Edmondsbury45. Alexander Gouch and Alice Driver46. Three at Bury47. A Poor Woman of Exeter48. Priest's Wife of Exeter49. The Final Five Martyrs50. John Hunt and Richard White51. John Fetty52. Nicholas Burton53. John Fronton54. Another Martyrdom in Spain55. Baker and Burgate56. Burges and Hoker57. The Scourged: Introduction58. Richard Wilmot and Thomas Fairfax59. Thomas Greene60. Bartlett Greene and Cotton61. Steven Cotton's Letter62. James Harris63. Robert Williams64. Bonner's Beating of Boys65. A Beggar of Salisbury66. Providences: Introduction67. William Living68. The Miraculously Preserved69. Edward Grew70. William Browne71. Elizabeth Young72. Elizabeth Lawson73. Christenmas and Wattes74. John Glover75. Dabney76. Alexander Wimshurst77. Bosom's wife78. Lady Knevet79. John Davis80. Anne Lacy81. Crosman's wife82. Congregation at Stoke in Suffolk83. Congregation of London84. Englishmen at Calais85. Edward Benet86. Jeffrey Hurst87. William Wood88. Simon Grinaeus89. The Duchess of Suffolk90. Thomas Horton 91. Thomas Sprat92. John Cornet93. Thomas Bryce94. Gertrude Crockhey95. William Mauldon96. Robert Horneby97. Mistress Sandes98. Tome 6 Life and Preservation of the Lady Elizabeth99. The Unprosperous Queen Mary100. Punishments of Persecutors101. Foreign Examples102. A Letter to Henry II of France103. The Death of Henry II and others104. Admonition to the Reader
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Quene Mary. Persecution in Salisbury. M. Benbrige, Martyr.

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.

¶ Articles ministred to Master Benbrige, with his aunswers following the same.

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.  

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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.

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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.

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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.  

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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).

But before he was taken frō þe stake, þe sayd Seaton wrote articles to haue him to subscribe vnto them, as touching the Pope, the sacrament, and such other trash. But the sayd Master Benbrige made much ado ere he would subscribe thē, in so much that Doct. Seaton willed them to set to fire againe. Thē with much paine and great griefe of hart he subscribed to them vpon a mans backe. That being done, he had his gowne geuē him agayne, and so was led to prison. Being in prison, he wrote a letter to D. Seaton, MarginaliaMaster Benbrige repenteth hys recantation.and recanted those wordes he spake at the stake, vnto which he had subscribed: for he was greued that euer he did subscribe vnto them.  
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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).

Whereupon expressing his conscience, he was the same day seuenight

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MarginaliaThe Martyrdome of Thomas Benbrige. An. 1558. Iuly. 29.The burnyng of Thomas Benbrige Gentleman.
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A cut which already had a chipped top edge in 1570, at its earlier use to illustrate the martyrdom of William Halle.

after burnt in deede, where the vile tormentours did rather broyle him then burne him. The Lord geue his enemies repentaunce.

¶ The