John Bradford
JOHN BRADFORD
John Bradford was born in Manchester and educated until he was able to earn a living in the secular world, which he did successfully for several years before giving up his business affairs to study the Gospel. Bradford left his study of secular law in London to enroll as a divinity student at Cambridge, working so diligently that he was awarded his Master of Arts degree within a year.
Immediately after, he was given a fellowship at Pembroke Hall, where Martin Bucer encouraged him to become a preacher. Bradford believed he wasn’t educated enough to preach, to which Bucer replied, “If you don’t have fine white bread, give the poor people barley bread or whatever else the Lord has given you.”
Finally convinced to preach during King Edward’s reign, Bradford accepted the degree of Deacon from Bishop Ridley, was licensed to preach, and given a position at St. Paul’s.
For the next three years, Bradford preached the Gospel faithfully. He sharply reproved sin, sweetly preached Christ crucified, pithily spoke against heresies and errors, and earnestly persuaded his people to live godly lives. When Queen Mary took the throne, Bradford continued his work.
On August 13, 1553, Mr. Bourne, the bishop of Bath, gave a sermon at St. Paul’s Cross in London supporting the return of Catholicism under Mary. His words so angered the congregation that they threatened to pull him out of the pulpit. The more Bishop Bonner and the mayor of London tried to calm the crowd, the angrier everyone became, until Bourne actually began to fear for his life and asked Bradford to speak to the people.
As soon as Bradford moved to the pulpit, the crowd shouted, “Bradford! Bradford! God save your life, Bradford!” Bradford calmed the crowd, and soon they all left peacefully for their homes.
Even though the mayor and sheriffs were there to see Bourne safely home, he refused to leave the church until Bradford agreed to accompany him, so Bradford walked closely behind Bourne, protecting him from harm with his own body.
Three days later, Bradford was summoned by the council and charged with sedition—for saving Bourne’s life!—and with illegal preaching—although he had been asked to speak. He was imprisoned for nearly a year and a half, un til his hearing before the lord chancellor in January 1555. There he was offered a pardon if he would recant his Protestant beliefs and rejoin the Catholic Church, as many preachers had already done. On July 29, the offer was repeated. Bradford urged the council not to condemn the innocent. If they believed he was guilty, they should pass sentence on him; if not, they should set him free.
In reply, the chancellor told Bradford that his actions at St. Paul’s Cross had been presumptuous and arrogant in that he took it upon himself to lead the people. He was also charged with writing seditious letters.
The following day Thomas Hussey and Dr. Seton visited Bradford in prison. Both men urged him to request time to discuss his religious beliefs with learned men, saying this would remove him from immediate danger and look good to the council. Bradford refused. “That would make the people think I doubt the doctrine I confess. I don’t doubt it at all.”
Brought back before the council, which asked him to rejoin the Catholic Church, Bradford replied, “Yesterday I said I would never consent to work for the pope. I say the same today.” He was condemned and returned to prison.
All the time Bradford spent in prison, he continued his work, preaching twice a day to the many people allowed to visit him and administering the sacrament. Preaching, reading, and praying occupied his whole life; he only ate one small meal a day, and even then he meditated as he ate. Bradford’s keepers thought so highly of him that he was often allowed to leave the prison unescorted to visit sick parishioners on his word that he would return by a certain hour. He was so precise in obeying the terms that he usually arrived back well before his curfew.
Bradford was a tall, slender man with an auburn beard. He rarely slept more than four hours a night, preferring to spend his time in writing, preaching, or reading. Once or twice a week he would visit the common criminals in the prison and give them money to buy food or other comforts.
One of his friends once asked Bradford what he would do if he were freed. Bradford said he would marry and hide in England while he continued to preach and teach the people.
One day in July 1555, the keeper’s wife warned Bradford that he was to be burned the following day.
“Thank God,” he replied. “I’ve looked forward to this for a long time. The Lord make me worthy.”
Bradford was transferred to Newgate Prison about eleven or twelve that night, the authorities hoping no one would be up to see him then; but a crowd of people watched him as he passed, prayed for him, and told him good-bye.
His execution was announced for four o’clock the next morning. No one was sure why such an unusual hour was chosen, but if the authorities hoped the hour would discourage a crowd, they were disappointed. The people waited faithfully at Smithfield until Bradford was brought there at nine in the morning, led by an unusually large number of armed guards. Bradford fell to the ground to say his prayers then went cheerfully to the stake with John Leaf, a young man of twenty.