GEORGE MARSH
GEORGE MARSH
George Marsh lived quietly for many years with his wife and children on a farm in the countryside. When his wife died, he attended the University of Cambridge to become a minister, serving for a while as Lawrence Sander’s curate. Marsh preached for some time before being arrested and imprisoned for four months by the bishop of Chester, who did not allow him any visitors and had the names of any who asked for Marsh reported to him.
He was brought before Dr. Cotes several times but maintained the theology he had been taught during Edward’s reign and would not be moved, although he did admit, “I want to live as much as you do. But I cannot deny my master, Christ, or He will deny me before His Father in heaven.” Marsh was condemned as a heretic and turned over to the sheriffs.
Since he wasn’t allowed any visitors in prison, Marsh’s friends would stand by a hole in the outer prison wall and call out, asking how he was. He always replied that he was fine, anxious to die as a witness of God’s truth and trusting Him to help him bear it bravely. On the day of his execution, Marsh was brought out in irons. Some people tried to hand him money, which criminals being executed would accept to bribe a priest to say Masses for them, but Marsh told them to give their money to prisoners or the poor, not him.
Outside the city near Spittle-Boughton, by the stake, the deputy chamberlain of Chester showed Marsh the pardon he would receive from the queen if he recanted. Marsh said he would love to accept it, that he even loved the queen, but he could not recant.
The fire was poorly made, so Marsh suffered terribly, bearing it with patience. He had been in the fire for a long time—his flesh broiled and puffed up so much that the chain around him couldn’t be seen—when he suddenly spread his arms and called, “Father of heaven, have mercy on me,” and died. Many people who witnessed Marsh’s death said he was a martyr who died with patience and godliness, which caused the bishop to preach a sermon saying that Marsh was a heretic, burned like a heretic, and was now a firebrand in hell.