The Rev Robert Samuel
This gentleman was minister of Bradford, Suffolk, where he industriously
taught the flock committed to his charge, while he was openly permitted
to discharge his duty. He was first persecuted by Mr. Foster, of
Copdock, near Ipswich, a severe and bigoted persecutor of the followers
of Christ, according to the truth in the Gospel. Notwithstanding Mr.
Samuel was ejected from his living, he continued to exhort and instruct
privately; nor would he obey the order for putting away his wife, whom
he had married in king Edward's reign; but kept her at Ipswich, where
Foster, by warrant, surprised him by night with her. After being
imprisoned in Ipswich jail, he was taken before Dr. Hopton, bishop of
Norwich, and Dr. Dunnings, his chancellor, two of the most sanguinary
among the bigots of those days. To intimidate the worthy pastor, he was
in prison chained to a post in such a manner that the weight of his body
was supported by the points of his toes: added to this his allowance of
provision was reduced to a quantity so insufficient to sustain nature,
that he was almost ready to devour his own flesh. From this dreadful
extremity there was even a degree of mercy in ordering him to the fire.
Mr. Samuel suffered August 31, 1555.
William Allen, a labouring servant to Mr. Houghton of Somerton suffered
not long after Mr. Samuel, at Walsingham.
Roger Coo, was an aged man, and brought before the bishop of Norwich for
contumacy, by whom he was condemned Aug. 12, 1555, and suffered in the
following month at Yoxford, in Suffolk.
Thomas Cobb, was a butcher at Haverhill, and condemned by Dunnings, the
furious chancellor of Norwich. Mr. Cobb suffered at Thetford, Sept.
1555.