Persecutions In The Diocess Of Canterbury

In the year 1557, fifteen were imprisoned in the castle of Canterbury,

five of whom perished of hunger. We now proceed to the account of the

other ten; whose names were--J. Philpot, M. Bradbridge, N. Final, all of

Tenterden; W. Waterer and T. Stephens, of Beddington; J. Kempe, of

Norgate; W. Hay, of Hithe; T. Hudson, of Salenge; W. Lowick, of

Cranbrooke; and W. Prowting, of Thornham. Of these Kempe, Waterer,

Prowting, owick, Hudson, and Hay, were burnt at Canterbury, January 15,

1557: Stephens and Philpot at Wye, about the same time; and Final and

Bradbridge at Ashford, on the 16th. They were steadfast and immoveable

in the faith.



In the month of February, the following persons were committed to

prison:--R. Coleman, of Waldon, labourer; Joan Winseley, of Horsley

Magna, spinster; S. Glover of Rayley; R. Clerk, of Much Holland,

mariner; W. Munt, of Much Bentley, sawyer; Marg. Field, of Ramsey,

spinster; R. Bongeor, currier; R. Jolley, mariner; Allen Simpson; Helen

Ewing; C. Pepper, widow; Alice Walley, (who recanted;) W. Bongeor,

glazier; all of Colchester; R. Atkin, of Halstead, weaver; R. Barcock,

of Wilton, carpenter; R. George, of Westbarhoalt, labourer; R. Debnam,

of Debenham, weaver; C. Warren, of Cocksall, spinster; Agnes Whitlock,

of Dover-court, spinster; Rose Allen, spinster; and T. Feresannes,

minor; both of Colchester.



These persons were brought before Bonner, who would have immediately

sent them to execution, but Cardinal Pole was for more merciful

measures, and Bonner, in a letter of his to the cardinal, seems to be

sensible that he had displeased him, for he has this expression,--"I

thought to have them all hither to Fulham, and to have given sentence

against them; nevertheless, perceiving by my last doing that your grace

was offended, I thought it my duty, before I proceeded farther, to

inform your grace." This circumstance verifies the account that the

cardinal was a humane man; and though a zealous catholic, we, as

protestants, are willing to render him that honour which his merciful

character deserves. Some of the bitter persecutors denounced him to the

pope as a favourer of heretics, and he was summoned to Rome, but queen

Mary, by particular entreaty, procured his stay. However, before his

latter end, and a little before his last journey from Rome to England,

he was strongly suspected of favouring the doctrine of Luther.