JOHN LEAF
JOHN LEAF
John Leaf, who was burned with Bradford, was born in Kirby Moreside, York, and became a candlemaker’s apprentice, living in the parish of Christ’s Church, London.
Brought before Bishop Bonner, Leaf admitted he did not believe the bread and wine were Christ’s actual body and blood but were a remembrance of them. He also stated that Catholic confession wasn’t necessary and that a priest had no power to absolve sins.
Leaf was returned to prison until June 10, when Bonner saw him again and tried—by persuasion, threats, and promises—to convince the young man to change his mind. Getting nowhere, the bishop asked Leaf if he was one of Rogers’s scholars. Leaf replied he was, that he believed the doctrine of Rogers, Hooper, Cardmaker, and others who had recently been killed for their testimony, and he would die for the same doctrine. “My lord,” he said, “you call my opinion heresy. It is the true light of the Word of God.” Unable to move the boy, Bonner condemned him and sent him back to prison.
It’s said that shortly after this, two letters were brought to Leaf: one containing a recantation, the other a confession. When the recantation was read to him, he refused to sign it. When the confession was read, he took a pin, pricked his hand, and sprinkled his blood on the paper to show the bishop he was ready to seal his beliefs with his blood.
Bradford and Leaf went to the stake together, Bradford lying on one side of it to pray and Leaf on the other. After they had prayed silently for an hour, one of the sheriffs said to Bradford, “Get up and end this. The press of the crowd is great.” They both got up. Bradford kissed a piece of firewood then the stake itself before addressing the crowd.
“England,” he cried, “repent of your sins! Beware of idolatry. Beware of false antichrists. See they don’t deceive you!” Then he forgave his persecutors and asked the crowd to pray for him. Turning his head to Leaf, Bradford told him, “Be at peace, brother. We will have a happy supper with the Lord tonight.” Both men ended their lives without fear, hoping to obtain the prize for which they had long run.