An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church

Anno 1531. §1531The fifteenth of January, Thomas Benet a Schoolmaster of fifty years of age, borne in Cambridge, was delivered unto Sir Thomas Dennis knight, to be burned in Exeter. He hid himself six years in Devonshire: but kindled with zeal, he resolved to adventure his life for the testimony of Jesus: and in the month of October, he did set upon the Cathedral church door of Exeter scrolls, in which were written: The Pope is Antichrist, and we ought to worship God only and no Saints: the Author of which bills could not be found. At the last, the priests fell to curse with book, bell and candle, the Author of the same, Bennet being by: who fell into a laughter within himself for a great space, and could not forbear: Whereby some say he was bewrayed and taken: other, that his enemies being uncertain whether it were he or not, suffered him to depart home. And, not being able to digest the lies which were preached, sent his boy with other scrolls, as before he had done, who being examined, confessed whose boy he was, and so Bennet was known, and taken, and committed to ward, and being called to examination before the heads and cannons of the City, confessed the fact, and after much ⟨p. 26⟩disputing with the Friars, especially, one Gregory Basset, who had lien in prison at Bristow for the trueth, and revolted (being threatened, he should have his hands burned off with a pan of coals, which was brought ready at his examination,¹) he was condemned to death, and burned. At whose burning, John Barnehouse Esquire being present, took a fir bush upon a pike being set on fire, and thrust it unto his face, because he would not say: Sancta Maria, ora pro nobis. But he answered, Pater ignosce eis: and so fire being put to him, patiently he ended his life.

Anno 1531. §1531The fiftéenth of Ianuarie, Thomas Benet a Schoolemaister of fiftie yéeres of age, borne in Cambridge, was deliuered vnto Sir Thomas Dennis knight, to be burned in Exceter. He hid himselfe sixe yeres in Deuonshire: but kindeled with zeale, he resolued to aduenture his life for the testimonie of Iesus: and in the moneth of October, he did set vppon the Cathedrall church doore of Exceter scrolles, in which were written: The Pope is Antichrist, and wée ought to worshippe God onelie and no Sayntes: the Authour of which billes coulde not bée founde. At the last, the priestes fell to curse with booke, bell and candle, the Authour of the same, Bennet béeing by: who fell into a laughter within himselfe for a great space, and coulde not forbeare: Whereby some saie hee was bewrayed and taken: other, that his enemies beeing vncertaine whether it were he or not, suffered him to depart home. And, not beeing able to digest the lyes which were preached, sent his boye with other scrolles, as before hee had done, who béeyng examined, confessed whose boye hee was, and so Bennet was knowen, and taken, and committed to warde, and béeing called to examination before the heads and cannons of the Citie, confessed the fact, and after muche