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<v Speaker 1>Chapter thirteen of Unknown London, written by Walter George Bell.

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<v Speaker 1>This LibriVox recording is in the public domain recording by

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<v Speaker 1>Janet Chapter thirteen, The Fires of Smithfield, the Noble Army

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<v Speaker 1>of Martyrs praise thee. The buildings of a great work

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<v Speaker 1>of mercy, Saint Bartholomewle's Hospital enclose Smithfield on one side,

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<v Speaker 1>fronting the dread place, whereon the fires were lighted, and

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<v Speaker 1>upon a wall you may read a tablet which tells

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<v Speaker 1>simply that within a few feet of this spot, John Rogers,

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<v Speaker 1>John Bradford, John Philpott and other servants of God suffered

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<v Speaker 1>death by fire for the faith of Christ in the

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<v Speaker 1>years fifteen fifty five, fifteen fifty six, fifteen fifty seven.

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<v Speaker 1>Three martyrs only are thus commemorated, with with others unnamed.

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<v Speaker 1>It is curious that there is no list accessible of

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<v Speaker 1>those who suffered for faith at Smithfield. No one has

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<v Speaker 1>been at the trouble of collecting the names. Most, but

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<v Speaker 1>not all, may be recovered by research. In Foxes huge

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<v Speaker 1>acts and monuments, known to the living generation by its

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<v Speaker 1>many abridgements, but unfamiliar in its awesome mass. Smithfield has

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<v Speaker 1>much changed. The blue garb of honor of the wounded

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<v Speaker 1>soldier from the wars mixes with the civilian drab seen

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<v Speaker 1>in the hospital squares, the men sitting out to greet

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<v Speaker 1>the sunshine. The open space before was London's cattle market,

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<v Speaker 1>lasting into Victorian times. The pens and buyers covering the ground,

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<v Speaker 1>the horse dealers and drovers, and figures of Bucolic life

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<v Speaker 1>which the market brought together, all have gone today. The drey,

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<v Speaker 1>occasionally lumbering by to the underground stores and ice chambers,

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<v Speaker 1>bring only carcasses. The whole picture of animation dissolved when

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<v Speaker 1>a live stock came no more into the city. There

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<v Speaker 1>is one thing surviving which was there when the faggots

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<v Speaker 1>crackled and burnt, and human life went out in agony

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<v Speaker 1>looking down upon the altered scene, the archway of Great

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<v Speaker 1>Saint Bartholomeules, which is all that the despoilers of the

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<v Speaker 1>Reformation have spared. Of the immense nave and western front

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<v Speaker 1>of that majestic church. An old timber framed house has

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<v Speaker 1>been built around and above it, now, after many years,

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<v Speaker 1>restored to its original picturesqueness. That is a sad little archway,

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<v Speaker 1>for through it have passed many victims to the stake

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<v Speaker 1>and the flame. Seventy years ago there was a square

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<v Speaker 1>space of dark colored cobbled paving, now obliterated, which had

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<v Speaker 1>a tradition set before this gateway, but edged a little

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<v Speaker 1>out into the open Smithfield, which once was London's smooth field.

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<v Speaker 1>In the month of March eighteen forty nine, excavations necessary

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<v Speaker 1>for a new sewer were made at this spot. Three

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<v Speaker 1>feet below the surface. The workmen laid open a mass

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<v Speaker 1>of unhewn stones, blackened as if by fire. Ashes covered them.

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<v Speaker 1>There were two human bones, charred and partially consumed. That

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<v Speaker 1>was proof sufficient that this was the sight of the

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<v Speaker 1>Smithfield burnings. The unhewn stones were the supports of the steak.

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<v Speaker 1>Some of these bones of martyrs people carried away as relics.

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<v Speaker 1>Forty three martyrs men and women suffered death by fire

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<v Speaker 1>here in the Marian persecutions. Let us not forget that

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<v Speaker 1>there were others, Protestant and Catholic. Before the horror of

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<v Speaker 1>Queen Mary's reign has seered deeply the national conscience, and

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<v Speaker 1>with thought of it rousing one's blood to passionate protest

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<v Speaker 1>at such atrocity, these others, one is apt to overlook

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<v Speaker 1>the times were cruel, and men were cruel, not knowing

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<v Speaker 1>tolerance one faith or the other, and with judgment so

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<v Speaker 1>strangely warped with belief, each man in his creed so

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<v Speaker 1>immutably fixed that Christian sent Christian to torment and death,

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<v Speaker 1>believing that thereby a godly work was done, worshiping one

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<v Speaker 1>and the same God. It is a strange and terrible

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<v Speaker 1>chapter in human error. That was the hand that wrote it.

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<v Speaker 1>Therefore it shall suffer first punishment. Said Cranmer in the

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<v Speaker 1>fire at Oxford of his recantation, extending his right arm

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<v Speaker 1>into the flame, and never stirred nor cried. The pathos

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<v Speaker 1>of that scene will always make its appeal. Note one,

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<v Speaker 1>I cannot forbear the pleasure of recalling the fine lines

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<v Speaker 1>of Jeremy Collier on Cranmer's death. He burned to appearance

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<v Speaker 1>without motion or pain. He seemed to repel the force

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<v Speaker 1>of the fire and to overlook the torture by strength

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<v Speaker 1>of thought and Footnote and who remembers that Cranmer had

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<v Speaker 1>himself sent Friar Forrest and Joan Boucher to the flames

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<v Speaker 1>in Smithfield. The goodly Latimer preached the sermon at Forest's

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<v Speaker 1>burning desiring, he wrote to Cromwell that my stage stood

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<v Speaker 1>near unto Forrest, For I would endeavor myself so to

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<v Speaker 1>content the people, that therewith I might also convert forest

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<v Speaker 1>God so helping, or rather altogether working. Pity for an

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<v Speaker 1>erring man one may perhaps find in the letter, but

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<v Speaker 1>of horror at the contemplated act, nothing I will die,

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<v Speaker 1>Forrest gallantly answered, when Latimer turned to ask him if

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<v Speaker 1>he would live or die, do your worst upon me.

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<v Speaker 1>Seven years ago, you durst not for your life have

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<v Speaker 1>preached such words as these. And now if an angel

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<v Speaker 1>from heaven should come down and teach me any other

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<v Speaker 1>doctrine than that which I learned as a child, I

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<v Speaker 1>would not believe him. Take me, cut me to pieces,

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<v Speaker 1>joint from joint, burn, hang, do what you will. I

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<v Speaker 1>will be true henceforth to my faith, and therewith in chains,

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<v Speaker 1>he was swung into the fire. King Henry the Eighth

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<v Speaker 1>martyred Protestants and Catholics, and once late in his persecuting career,

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<v Speaker 1>Smithfield witnessed the dreadful spectacle of three Protestants, Robert Barnes,

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<v Speaker 1>Thomas Garrett and William Jerome burnt at the stake as

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<v Speaker 1>abominable and detestable heretics, and suffering beside them. Three Romanish priests, Featherstone,

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<v Speaker 1>Able and Powell, hanged and quartered as traitors. The last

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<v Speaker 1>were said to have spoken in favor of the Pope.

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<v Speaker 1>These men's fate should teach this terrible lesson. The execution

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<v Speaker 1>of traitors was to imply no indulgence of heresy. The

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<v Speaker 1>punishment of heretics should give no hope to men disloyal

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<v Speaker 1>to their king and country. Fox could allow but grudging

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<v Speaker 1>admission of the Catholic priests to his martyrology, being neither

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<v Speaker 1>good martyrs to God nor good subjects to the King,

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<v Speaker 1>he says of them in a marginal note. The Marian

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<v Speaker 1>persecutions struck at their outset. A noble victim, John Rogers,

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<v Speaker 1>had preached at Paul's Cross three days after Queen Mary's

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<v Speaker 1>arrival in London. There he boldly set forth the reformed doctrine.

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<v Speaker 1>He never preached again. Stripped of his beneficies, he was

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<v Speaker 1>cast into Newgate and in the prison chapel on his

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<v Speaker 1>last day, the fourth February fifteen fifty five. He was

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<v Speaker 1>degraded from the priesthood by having his canonical dress torn

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<v Speaker 1>piecemeal from him, and was immediately after sent out to

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<v Speaker 1>the stake at Smithfield. Rogers had been converted by personal

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<v Speaker 1>intimacy with William Tyndale, and he it was who had

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<v Speaker 1>prepared Tyndale's unfinished Old Testament in English for the press,

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<v Speaker 1>though he did not actually translate himself. He was prebendary

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<v Speaker 1>of Saint Paul's and vicar of Saint Sepulchers outside Newgate.

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<v Speaker 1>On his way he passed by his own church, met

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<v Speaker 1>there by his wife and eleven children, the youngest in arms.

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<v Speaker 1>The sorrowful sight did not shake his resolution. They joined

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<v Speaker 1>the psion. The people in Smithfield were not afraid to

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<v Speaker 1>make him many exclamations to strengthen his courage. Even his

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<v Speaker 1>children assisted at it, comforting him in such manner that

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<v Speaker 1>it seemed as if he had been led to a wedding,

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<v Speaker 1>wrote Count Olly's, the French ambassador. So to his master

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<v Speaker 1>went the first of the Marian martyrs again on the

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<v Speaker 1>thirtieth May. The fires were prepared. There came through sympathisers,

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<v Speaker 1>crowding about them, John Cardmaker, Chancellor of Wells and also

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<v Speaker 1>a preacher at Saint Paul's, and with him John Warn

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<v Speaker 1>an unlettered clothworker. Warren was offered the Queen's pardon if

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<v Speaker 1>he would recant straight he went to the stake. Cardmaker

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<v Speaker 1>dallied in conversation with the sheriffs. The people assembled in Smithfield,

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<v Speaker 1>says Fox, were in a marvelous dump and sadness, thinking

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<v Speaker 1>that card Maker would recant at the burning of Warn.

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<v Speaker 1>At length. Coming towards the stake, he kneeled down in prayer,

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<v Speaker 1>then rose up, put off his clothes onto his shirt,

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<v Speaker 1>and went with bold courage to the stake and kissed

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<v Speaker 1>it sweetly. He took Warn by the hand and comforted

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<v Speaker 1>him heartily, and so gave himself to be also bound,

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<v Speaker 1>most gladly. The people, seeing this so suddenly done, contrary

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<v Speaker 1>to their fearful expectation, as men delivered out of a

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<v Speaker 1>great doubt, cried for joy with so great a shout

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<v Speaker 1>as hath not lightly been heard a greater saying, God

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<v Speaker 1>be praised, the Lord strengthened thee card Maker, the Lord

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<v Speaker 1>Jesus received thy spirit. This continued till the executioner put

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<v Speaker 1>fire to them, and they both passed. Adds Fox in

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<v Speaker 1>trumpet phrases through the fire to the blessed rest and

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<v Speaker 1>peace among God's holy saints and martyrs, to enjoy the

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<v Speaker 1>crown of triumph and victory prepared for the elect soldiers

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<v Speaker 1>and warriors of Jesus Christ in his blest Kingdom, to

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<v Speaker 1>whom be glory and majesty forever Amen. The year had

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<v Speaker 1>other victims, and none of gentler grace than John Bradford.

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<v Speaker 1>Divine rumour had spread that he was to be burnt.

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<v Speaker 1>At dawn of a July morning. In darkness, a vasked

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<v Speaker 1>concourse of people assembled. It was not until nine that

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<v Speaker 1>he was brought to the stake, a great company of

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<v Speaker 1>weaponed men to conduct him thither, as the like was

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<v Speaker 1>seen at no man's burning, For in every corner of

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<v Speaker 1>Smithfield there were some besides those who stood about the stake.

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<v Speaker 1>Mary's counselors had fears that the populace would be stung

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<v Speaker 1>to resistance, spoke to the people. The sheriff brusquely ordered

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<v Speaker 1>that his hands be tied if you would not keep silence,

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<v Speaker 1>John Leif, a young man was his fellow martyr, Bradford

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<v Speaker 1>turned to him, saying, be of good comfort, brother, for

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<v Speaker 1>we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night.

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<v Speaker 1>So with eyes upcast, he passed. A new year opened

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<v Speaker 1>with the bitter spectacle in Smithfield of seven persons burning

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<v Speaker 1>together the twenty seventh January fifteen fifty six, Thomas Whittell,

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<v Speaker 1>an expelled priest, had gone abroad, preaching to whoever would hear.

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<v Speaker 1>Bartley Greene was a young man of family who had

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<v Speaker 1>been converted to the Reformed Church when at Oxford by

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<v Speaker 1>the lectures of Peter Martyr, and studied law in the temple.

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<v Speaker 1>A man meek, humble, discreet, and of most gentle behavior.

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<v Speaker 1>It is Fox's description. Thomas Brown, when at Bonnard's palace

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<v Speaker 1>at Fulham, required to attend Mass and chapel, went into

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<v Speaker 1>the warren, and there knelt among the trees. John Tudson

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<v Speaker 1>and John Wart were simple artificers. Isabel Foster, the wife

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<v Speaker 1>of a mechanic, Joan Warne, a young maid attending in

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<v Speaker 1>prison her parents, both of whom had gloried at their

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<v Speaker 1>death in the flame, had herself come under suspicion for

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<v Speaker 1>her faith. Together the seven went to the fire in April.

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<v Speaker 1>Six others in one fire in May. Three women their

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<v Speaker 1>name's Catherine Hutt, a widow, Elizabeth Thackfell, and Johan horns

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<v Speaker 1>a maid. All three defiant john horns would yield nothing,

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<v Speaker 1>either to fair promises or to terror. And so says

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<v Speaker 1>Fox indignantly, the Holy Virgin and Martyr, committed to the

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<v Speaker 1>shambles of the secular sword, were offered up with her

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<v Speaker 1>fellows a burnt sacrifice to the Lord in Odorum bones

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<v Speaker 1>for grante in the savior of a sweet and pleasant smell.

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<v Speaker 1>A fourth Margaret Ellis, intended for a like fate, found

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<v Speaker 1>escape by death in Newgate. They were people of small

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<v Speaker 1>standing with them some divines. But the persecution hesitated to

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<v Speaker 1>strike down powerful victims, doing its work in public, yet

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<v Speaker 1>always fearful of consequences, shrinking from rousing. In England, that fierce,

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<v Speaker 1>ungovernable resentment deep in our character, which would have overwhelmed

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<v Speaker 1>in bloodshed ten times, aggravated the whole cursed error. This

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<v Speaker 1>thing was foreign to our soil, in which it could

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<v Speaker 1>never root. The pageantry with which the Holy Inquisition had

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<v Speaker 1>familiarized the continent, the exultant triumph, the banners, the public holiday,

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<v Speaker 1>the horse shout, the fate of death. Smithfield saw none

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<v Speaker 1>of these. Its fires lacked the awful splendors of the

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<v Speaker 1>Spanish otto de fat, the devilment and concomminant horrors of

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<v Speaker 1>the procession of tortured and broken victims to the stake.

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<v Speaker 1>Dark deeds were done darkly, not with the insolence of pride.

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<v Speaker 1>The third year the persecution increased, like rolling thunder, gathering

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<v Speaker 1>volume terrible ominous. Smithfield, on twelfth April fifteen fifty seven

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<v Speaker 1>witnessed three other men and two women burnt. Thereafter, three men,

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<v Speaker 1>then John Ruff, a minister, with Margaret Dearing, a woman

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<v Speaker 1>of his congregation. Again three men. Why continue in pity?

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<v Speaker 1>Let us cut out the awful story. It has been

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<v Speaker 1>written in sorrow and in shame, and the remembrance can

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<v Speaker 1>never be forgotten. Full fed as were the fires of Smithfield,

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<v Speaker 1>they did not suffice. They had their like all over

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<v Speaker 1>the country. On one occasion, at Stratford by Bow, on

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<v Speaker 1>London's Outskirts, thirteen martyrs perished in one fire, eleven men

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<v Speaker 1>in groups of three chained to separate stakes, and the

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<v Speaker 1>remaining two men together at a fourth stake, and two

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<v Speaker 1>women left loose in the ring of flame formed by

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<v Speaker 1>lighted fagots piled high. I hasten to the closing scene.

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<v Speaker 1>Seven martyrs die together. The twenty seventh June fifteen fifty eight.

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<v Speaker 1>They were part of a congregation taken while assembled for

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<v Speaker 1>prayer in the fields at Islington, a company of forty

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<v Speaker 1>men and women, Roger Holland, John Holliday, Henry pond Reinold Eastland,

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<v Speaker 1>Robert Southam, Matthew Ricarby, John Floyd. These were chosen for

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<v Speaker 1>Smithfield others elsewhere. The temper of the populace was evident.

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<v Speaker 1>Mary's officers, an armed guard being with them, read a

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<v Speaker 1>proclamation forbidding any spectator, under pain of imprisonment, to speak

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<v Speaker 1>a word to the approaching martyrs. They replied to the

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<v Speaker 1>Queen's menaces by crowding about them, affectionately, embraced them, and

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<v Speaker 1>brought them in their arms to the place of suffering

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<v Speaker 1>Master Bentham. Afterwards, Elizabeth's Bishop of Lickfield, nothing daunted, spoke

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<v Speaker 1>out with a loud voice. We know that they are

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<v Speaker 1>the people of God, and therefore we cannot choose but

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<v Speaker 1>wish well to them, and say God strengthened them. Almighty God,

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<v Speaker 1>for Christ's sake, strengthen them. The multitude shouted in reply, Amen, Amen, Lord,

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<v Speaker 1>bless thy people, said Holland. As fire was set to

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<v Speaker 1>the faggots, and the flames rose. They were the last

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<v Speaker 1>words recorded spoken from the stake at Smithfield. For soon

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<v Speaker 1>afterwards Mary was released by death. The most hideous reign

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<v Speaker 1>in England had ended. Elizabeth burnt two heretics and made

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<v Speaker 1>many martyrs besides, and the Protestant bigot James first sent

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<v Speaker 1>a man, bartholomewle Legate, to burn for heresy in Smithfield.

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<v Speaker 1>But with the passing of Mary, the dread chapter of

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<v Speaker 1>persecution by fire for faith may be considered closed. That

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<v Speaker 1>was three and a half centuries ago. The tablet on

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<v Speaker 1>the hospital wall, so inconsequential and seen by few, in

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<v Speaker 1>fact almost concealed by its own railing, I suppose must

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<v Speaker 1>be accepted as characteristically English. We are indeed a great

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<v Speaker 1>nation in our neglect. The city does not honor its

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<v Speaker 1>own great debt or outstanding events in its long history,

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<v Speaker 1>and the two or three monumental bronzes in its streets

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<v Speaker 1>are raised to statesmen and kings of small importance. But

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<v Speaker 1>Smithfield still has wide spaces, and I should like to

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<v Speaker 1>see on this sanctified spot a little shrine raised, a

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<v Speaker 1>stone screen with a foulstool or two, to which any

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<v Speaker 1>who have been deeply moved by the glorious spirit tried

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<v Speaker 1>here in death, might if they wish to enter and

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<v Speaker 1>there pray. I cannot but think that to our many

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<v Speaker 1>visitors from the distant dominions, the continued neglect of Smithfield

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<v Speaker 1>must bring a shock of surprise. A monumental brass in

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<v Speaker 1>the Church of Rain in Essex, to the memory of

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<v Speaker 1>Elizabeth Blanco of Theoby Priory, records that she was the

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<v Speaker 1>sixth in lineal descent from William Barber, who narrowly escaped

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<v Speaker 1>the flames of persecution under Queen Mary, having been brought

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<v Speaker 1>to the stake at Smithfield, and his life saved by

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<v Speaker 1>a rival of intelligence of the Queen's death. A belief

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<v Speaker 1>commonly held that fire was the chosen instrument of religious

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<v Speaker 1>persecution because of its extreme torment. As no basis, the

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<v Speaker 1>choice had a deeper significance ecclesia non novit sanguinum, of course,

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<v Speaker 1>but the idea underlying all was that of annihilation soul

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<v Speaker 1>and body. The end, the utter annihilation of the heretic's

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<v Speaker 1>soul was accepted on the teaching of the Church Uppermost

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<v Speaker 1>at the time that of the body should be visible

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<v Speaker 1>to the assembled spectators as the corporeal man was reduced

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<v Speaker 1>before their eyes, and finally, in ashes, was blown into

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<v Speaker 1>nothingness at the sport of the winds. It is a

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<v Speaker 1>befitting act to record the names of the Smithfield Martyrs

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<v Speaker 1>in this place, and some people there will be. I

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<v Speaker 1>feel sure who will value this list. Those who family

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<v Speaker 1>names are the same, cannot but feel honored by this

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<v Speaker 1>association Martyrs by fire at Smithfield, where names are bracketed.

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<v Speaker 1>The victims perished together in one fire, James the First,

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<v Speaker 1>Bartholomew Legate, the Arian Queen, Mary, John Rogers, Thomas Tompkins

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<v Speaker 1>bracketed together, John card Maker, John Warne bracketed together, John Bradford,

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<v Speaker 1>John Leif, John Philpott bracketed together, Robert Drakes, William Timms,

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<v Speaker 1>Robert Spurge, Thomas Spurge, John Cannell, George Ambrose bracketed together,

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<v Speaker 1>John Hollandale, William Sparrow, Richard Gibson bracketed together, John Ruff,

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<v Speaker 1>Margaret Deering bracketed together, Cuthbert Simpson, Hugh Fox, John Devinish

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<v Speaker 1>bracketed together, Thomas Whittle, Bartlett Greene, John Tudson, John Wart,

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<v Speaker 1>Thomas Brown, Isabelle Foster, Joan Warne bracketed together, Katherine Hutt,

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<v Speaker 1>Joan Horns, Elizabeth Thackvelle bracketed together, Thomas Loosely, Henry Ramsay,

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<v Speaker 1>Thomas Thurtle, Margaret Hyde, Agnes Stanley bracketed together, Henry pond

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<v Speaker 1>Reinold Eastland, Robert Southam, Matthew Rickerby, John Floyd, John Holliday,

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<v Speaker 1>Roger Holland, Edward the sixth, Joan Bocher and a Baptist,

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<v Speaker 1>Henry the eighth, John Tewksbury Collins, James Bainham bracketed together,

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<v Speaker 1>John Frith, Andrew Hewitt, Friar Forrest, John Nicholson Alias Lambert

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<v Speaker 1>bracketed together, Robert Barnes, William Jerome, Thomas Garrett bracketed together,

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<v Speaker 1>Annie Askew, John Lesselle's, John Adams, Nicholas Bellinian rogers of

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<v Speaker 1>Norfolk style, Henry the seventh, Johan Boughten, Henry the sixth,

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<v Speaker 1>four Priests, Henry the Fourth, William Sawtrey, Thomas Badbee. End

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<v Speaker 1>of Chapter thirteen