John Cardmaker And John Warne
JOHN CARDMAKER AND JOHN WARNE
John Cardmaker was an observant friar before the dissolution of abbeys. After that, he served as a married minister then was appointed a reader at St. Paul’s under Edward’s reign. The papists in that church were so upset by Cardmaker’s doctrine that they cut and mangled his gown with their knives.
At the beginning of Queen Mary’s reign, Cardmaker was brought to London and jailed with Barlow, the bishop of Bath. After the chancellor examined both men, he declared them faithful Catholics—probably so he could use them as an example to encourage others to recant, although they might have weakened, too. It is known that in every examination that followed, the chancellor held Barlow and Cardmaker up as examples of discreet, educated men. Whatever really happened, Barlow was freed and continued to bear witness to the truth of Christ’s Gospel during the rest of his life. Cardmaker was returned to jail while the bishop of London announced to the public that he would shortly be freed after accepting transubstantiation and some other articles of faith. However, he was never set free.
John Warne, an upholsterer, was charged with not believing in transubstantiation and refusing to accept Communion, charges he willingly pled guilty to. No matter what the bishop said or threatened, Warne refused to budge from his beliefs.
On May 30, John Cardmaker and John Warne were led to the stake together. Warne said his prayers and was bound to the stake, and the wood and reeds were piled around him; all that was needed was the torch. Meanwhile, the sheriffs had taken Cardmaker aside and were talking to him privately, until the crowd became convinced that he was about to recant. Cardmaker left the sheriffs, approached the stake, and knelt down to pray, still in his clothes. By now the people were sure he would be freed. When he finished his prayers, Cardmaker took off his clothing and kissed the stake, comforting Warne as they bound Cardmaker, too.
Realizing that Cardmaker had refused to save himself, the crowd called out blessings to him as the fire was lit under both men.