The Canterbury Martyrs were 16th-century English Protestant martyrs. They were executed for heresy in Canterbury, Kent and were the last Protestants burnt during the reign of Mary I. Their story is recorded in Foxe's Book of Martyrs.

1555

On 12 July 1555, John Bland (rector of Adesham), John Frankesh (vicar of Rolvindon), Nicholas Sheterden, and Humphrey Middleton were burnt together. According to Foxe, they "resigned themselves with Christian fortitude, fervently praying that God would receive them into his heavenly kingdom."[1]

On 23 August, William Coker, William Hopper, Henry Laurence, Richard Collier (or Colliar), Richard Wright, and William Stere were burnt.[2][3]

On 6 September, George Catmer (or Painter) of Hythe, Kent, Robert Streater (or Streter) of Hythe, Kent, Anthony Burward of Calete (possibly Calais),[4] George Brodbridge (or Bradbridge) of Bromfield, Kent, and James Tutty (or Tuttey) of Brenchley, Kent were burnt.[2][5][6][7]

On 30 November, John Webbe (or Web), George Roper, and Gregory Parke (or Paynter) were burnt.[2][8]

1556

On 31 January 1556, John Lomas (or Jhon Lowmas) of Tenterden, Kent, Agnes Snoth (or Annis Snod) of Smarden, Kent, Anne Wright (or Albright) alias Champnes, Joan Sole (or Jone Soale) of Horton, Kent and Joan Catmer of Hythe, Kent were burned alive at the stake in Wincheap, Canterbury. A monument marks the spot on the road now called 'Martyrs Field Road'.[2][9]

1557

On 15 January 1557, Stephen Kempe of Norgate/ Northgate, Canterbury, William Waterer of Biddenden, Kent, William Prowting of Thornham, Kent, William Lowick of Cranbrooke, Kent, Thomas Hudson of Selling, Kent, and William Hay of Hythe, Kent were burnt.[10]

On 19 June, John Fishcock/Jhon Fiscoke, Nicholas White, Nicholas Pardue/Perdue, Barbara Final, Bradbridge's Widow (Bradbridge's Wife), probably of Tenterden, Kent and probably the widow of Martin Bradbridge who was burnt on 16 January 1557, Mistress Wilson (also referred to as 'Wilson's Wife'), and Alice Benden, possibly also referred to as 'Benson's Wife', of Staplehurst (or possibly Cranbrook), Kent were burnt.[2][11]

1558

On 15 November 1558, John Corneford of Wrotham, Kent, Christopher Brown of Maidstone, Kent, John Herst of Ashford, Kent, Alice Snoth, and Katherine Knight/Tynley were burnt.[12]

See also

References

  1. ^ p.279, John Foxe, Foxe's Book of Martyrs, 2000, Ambassador Publications
  2. ^ a b c d e Thomas Bryce, "The Regester" in Edward Farr, ed., Select Poetry of the Reign of Queen Elizabeth. 1845.
  3. ^ Foxe's Book of Martyrs: 303. William Coker, William Hopper, Henry Laurence, Richard Colliar, Richard Wright, and William Stere. Exclassics.com. Retrieved on 2013-05-19.
  4. ^ Transactions of the Congregational Historical Society, Vol 2, P 366 (1969)
  5. ^ Foxe's Book of Martyrs - 311. GEORGE CATMER, ROBERT STREATER, .ANTHONY BURWARD, GEORGE BRODBRIDGE, AND JAMES TUTTY; THOMAS HAYWARD AND JOHN GOREWAY. Exclassics.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-16.
  6. ^ Image of FOXE: BOOK OF MARTYRS. – The Burning Of George Catmer, Robert Streater, Anthony Burward And George Broadbridge At Canterbury, England, 12 July 1555. Line Engraving, From A Late 18th Century English Edition Of John Foxe's 'The Book Of Martyrs,' First Published In 1563. From The Granger Collection. Granger.com. Retrieved on 2012-08-16.
  7. ^ The Martyrs Memorial, Canterbury. Machadoink.com (1907-10-16). Retrieved on 2012-08-16.
  8. ^ Foxe's Book of Martyrs: 325. John Webbe, George Roper, Gregory Parke, William Wiseman, and James Gore. Exclassics.com. Retrieved on 2013-05-19.
  9. ^ Foxe's Book of Martyrs: 330. John Lomas, Anne Albright, Joan Catmer, Agnes Snoth, and Joan Sole. Exclassics.com. Retrieved on 2013-05-22.
  10. ^ "Foxe's Book of Martyrs - 353. Persecution in Canterbury". Exclassics.com. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  11. ^ "Foxe's Book of Martyrs - 358. Edmund Allin and others, martyred in Kent". Exclassics.com. Retrieved 1 September 2012.
  12. ^ Foxe's Book of Martyrs - 389. The last martyrs. Exclassics.com. Retrieved on 2013-05-31.
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