11. George Marsh

11. GEORGE MARSH

A declaration of the life, examination, and burning of George Marsh, who suffered most constant martyrdom for the profession of the gospel of Christ, at Winchester, the twenty-fourth day of April, anno 1555.

The said George Marsh was born in the parish of Dean, in the county of Lancaster, and was well brought up in learning and honest trade of living by his parents, who afterwards about the twenty-ﬁ fth year of his age, took to wife an honest maiden of the country, with whom he continued, earning their living upon a farm, having children between them lawfully begotten: and then God taking his wife out of this world, he being most desirous of godly studies, (leaving his household and children in good order) went unto the University of Cambridge, where he studied, and much increased in learning and godly virtues, and was a minister of God's holy word and sacraments, and for a while was curate to Lawrence Saunders, as he himself reporteth. In which condition of life, he continued for a space, earnestly setting forth God's true religion, to the defacing of Antichrist's false doctrine, by his godly readings and sermons, as well there and in the parish of Dean, or elsewhere in Lancashire.

April 24.

George Marsh, martyr.

George Marsh ﬁ rst a farmer.

George Marsh made minister.

Whereupon at length, by detection of certain adversaries he was apprehended, and kept in close prison by George Cotes then Bishop of Chester, in straight prison in Chester, within the precinct of the bishop's house, about the space of four months, being not permitted to have relief and comfort of his friends: but charge being given unto the porter, to mark who they were that asked for him, and to signify their names unto the bishop, as by the particular description of his story, testiﬁ ed and recorded with his own pen, more evidently may appear in the process hereunder following.

Doctor Cotes Bishop of Chester, a persecutor.

George Marsh detected.

George Marsh

The handling, entreating, and examination of George Marsh, being sent ﬁ rst by the Earl of Derby to Doctor

Cotes Bishop of Chester On the Monday before Palm Sunday, which was the twelfth day of March, it was told me at my mother's house that Roger

Wrinstone, with other of Master Barton's servants did make diligent search for me in Bolton, and when they perceived that I was not there, they gave straight charge to Roger Ward and Robert Marsh, to ﬁ nd and bring me to Master Barton the day next following, with others, to be brought before the honourable

Earl of Derby, to be examined in matters of religion, et cetera.

The examination of George Marsh, written with his own hand.

Master Barton Gentleman, and persecutor.

I knowing by this relation of diverse of my friends, was diversely affected, my mother, and other my friends advertising me to ﬂ ee and to avoid the peril, which thing I had intended afore after a week then next ensuing, if this in the mean while had not chanced, seeing, that if I were taken, and would not recant in matters of religion (as they thought I would not, and as God strengthening and assisting me with his holy spirit

I never will) it would not only have put them to great sorrow, heaviness, and losses, with costs and charges, to their shame and rebuke in this world, but also mine own self after troubles and painful imprisonment, unto shameful death.

George Marsh advertised by his friends to ﬂ y.

This considered, they advised me and counselled me to depart and ﬂ y the country, as I had intended to have done, if this had not happened. To whose counsel my weak ﬂ esh would gladly have consented, but my spirit did not fully agree: thinking and saying thus to myself, that if I ﬂ ed so away, it would be thought, reported, and said, that I did not only ﬂ y the country and my nearest and dearest friends: but much rather from Christ's holy word, according as these years past I had with my heart, or at least with mine outward living professed, and with my mouth and word taught, according to the small talent given me of the Lord. I being thus with their advice and counsel, and the cogitations and counsels of my own mind drawn, as it were diverse ways, went from my mother's house, saying,

I would come again at evening.

George Marsh in a perplexity whether to ﬂ y or to tarry.

George Marsh consulteth with God.

In the mean time I ceased not by earnest prayer to ask and seek counsel of God (who is the giver of all good gifts) and of

Foxe's Book of Martyrs

other my friends, whose godly judgements and knowledge I much trusted unto. After this, I met with one of my said friends on Dean Moor, about sun going down: and after we had consulted together of my business, not without hearty prayer kneeling on our knees, we departed, I not fully determining what to do, but taking my leave with my friend said I doubted not but God

(according as our prayer and trust was) would give me such wisdom and counsel, as should be most to his honour and glory, the proﬁ t of my neighbours and brethren in the world, and obtaining of mine eternal salvation by Christ in heaven.

This done, I returned to my mother's house again, where had been diverse of Master Barton's servants seeking after me: who when they could not ﬁ nd me, straightly charged my brother and William Marsh to seek me that night, and to bring me to Smethehilles the next day: who being so charged were gone to seek me in Adderton, or elsewhere I know not. Thus intending afore to have been all night with my mother, but then considering that my tarrying there would disquiet her with her household, I departed from thence, and went beyond Dean Church, and there tarried all night with an old friend of mine, taking ill rest, and consulting much with myself of my trouble.

Marsh's brethren charged to seek him.

So at my ﬁ rst awaking, one came to me from a faithful friend of mine with letters, which I never read, nor yet looked on, who said this: my friend's advice was that I should in no wise ﬂ y, but abide and boldly confess the faith of Jesus Christ. At whose words I was so conﬁ rmed and established in my conscience, that from thenceforth I consulted no more, whether was better to ﬂ y or to tarry, but was at a point with myself, that I would not ﬂ y, but go to Master Barton, who did seek for me, and there present myself, and patiently bear such cross, as it should please God to lay upon my shoulders. Whereupon my mind and conscience afore being much unquieted* and troubled, was now merry and in quiet estate.

The marvellous providence of So betimes in the morning I arose, and after I had said the English litany (as my custom was) with other prayers kneeling on my knees by my friend's bedside, I prepared myself to go toward Smethehilles: and as I was going thitherward, I went into the houses of Harry Widdows, of my mother-in-law, of Rafe Yeton, and of the wife of Thomas Richardson, desiring

God in resolving George Marsh not to ﬂ y, but to tarry.

George Marsh

them to pray for me, and have me commended to all my friends, and to comfort my mother, and be good to my little children, for (as I supposed) they should not see my face any more, before the last day: and so took my leave of them not without tears shed on both parties, and came to Smethehilles about nine of the clock, and presented myself afore Master Barton: who showed me a letter from the Earl of Derby, wherein he was commanded to send me with others to Latham.

George Marsh took his leave of his friends.

George Marsh of his own voluntary mind offereth himself to his enemies.

Whereupon he charged my brother and William Marsh, to bring and deliver me the next day, by ten of the clock before the said Earl or his council. I made earnest suit with other special friends, which I had there at the same time, to Master

Barton, that he would take some one of them or them all bound by recognizance or otherwise for mine appearing before the said Earl or his said council, that my brother and William

Marsh might be at home, because it was the chiefest time of seeding, and their ploughs could not go if they were not at home: but nothing could be obtained.

So we went to my mother's, and there I dined and shifted part of my clothes, and so praying, took my leave of my mother, the wife of Richard Marsh, and both their households, they and I both weeping, and so departed from them and went toward

Latham, and were all night a mile and a half on this side [of] Latham. So the next day which was Wednesday, we arose, prayed, and came to Latham betimes, and tarried there till four of the clock at afternoon.

George Marsh taketh his leave of his mother.

Then was I called by Roger Mekinson, to come to my Lord and his council, and so I was brought into the chamber of presence, where was present Sir William Norris, Sir Pierce

Alee, Master Sherburn the parson of Grappenhall, Master More, with others. Where when I had tarried a little while, my Lord turned him toward me, and asked what was my name. I answered,

'Marsh.'

George Marsh brought before the Earl of Derby.

Then he asked whether I was one of those that sowed evil seed and dissension amongst the people. Which thing I denied, desiring to know mine accusers, and what could be laid against me: but that I could not know.

George Marsh examined before the Earl of Derby.

Then said he, he would with his council examine me themselves, and asked me whether I was a priest. I said, 'No.' Then he

Foxe's Book of Martyrs

asked me, what had been my living? I answered, 'I was a minister, served a cure, and taught a school.' Then said my Lord to his council, 'This is a wonderful thing. Afore he said he was no priest, and now he confesseth himself to be one.' I answered, 'By the laws now used in this realm (as far as I do know) I am none.'

Then they asked me who gave me orders, or whether I had taken any at all? I answered, 'I received orders of the Bishops of London and Lincoln.'* Then said they one to another, 'Those be of these new heretics,' and asked me what acquaintance I had with them? I answered,

'I never saw them, but at the time when I received orders.'

They asked me how long I had been curate, and whether I had ministered with a good conscience? I answered [that]

I had been curate but one year, and had ministered with a good conscience, I thanked God, and if the laws of the realm, would have suffered me, I would have ministered still: and if the laws at any time hereafter would suffer me to minister after that sort, I would minister again.

Whereat they murmured: and the parson of Grappenhall said: 'This last communion was the most devilish thing that ever was devised.' Then they asked me what my belief was.

This blasphemous mouth of the parson of Grappenhall.

I answered, [that] I believed in God the Father, the Son and the holy Ghost, according as the scriptures of the Old and New

Testament do teach and according as the four symbols, or creeds,* that is to wit, the creed commonly called Apostolorum,* the creed of Nice Council, of Athanasius and of Austen,* and Ambrose do teach.

And after a few words, the parson of Grappenhall said: 'But what is thy belief in the sacrament of the altar?'

I answered, [that] I believed that whosoever, according to Christ's institution, did receive the holy sacrament of Christ's body and blood, did eat and drink Christ's body and blood with all the beneﬁ ts of his death and resurrection to their eternal salvation. 'For Christ,' (said I), 'is ever present with his sacrament.'

George Marsh's belief Then asked they me, whether the bread and wine, by the virtue of the words pronounced of the priest, were changed into the ﬂ esh and blood of Christ, and that the sacrament, whether it were received or reserved, was the very body of Christ? in the sacrament.

George Marsh

Whereunto I made answer, [that] I knew no further than I had showed already. 'For my knowledge is unperfect,' (said I), desiring them not to ask me, such hard and unproﬁ table questions, whereby to bring my body into danger of death, and to suck my blood. Whereat they were not a little offended, saying they were no bloodsuckers, and intended nothing to me but to make me a good Christian man.

George Marsh loath to answer to the question of transubstantiation.

So after many other questions, which I avoided as well as I could, remembering the saying of Paul: 'Foolish and unlearned questions avoid, knowing they do but engender strife':* my

Lord commanded me to come to the board, and gave me pen and ink in my hand and commanded me to write mine answers to the questions of the sacrament above named: and I wrote as I had answered before. Whereat he being much offended, commanded me to write a more direct answer, saying, I should not choose but do it.

George Marsh commanded by the Earl of Derby to write his answers.

Then I took the pen and wrote, that further I knew not.

Whereat he being sore grieved, after many threatenings, said I should be put to shameful death like a traitor, with such other like words, and sometimes giving me fair words, if I would turn and be conformable as other were, how glad he would be.

In conclusion, after much ado, he commanded me to ward in a cold windy stone house, where was little room where I lay two nights without any bed, saving a few great canvas tent cloths, and that done, I had a pair of sheets, but no woollen clothes, and so continued till Palm Sunday, occupying myself as well as I could in meditation, prayer, and study, for no man could be suffered to come to me but my keeper twice a day when he brought me meat and drink. . . .

The Earl of Derby commandeth George Marsh into prison.

George Marsh exhorted to recant but could not be turned. The bishop readeth out the sentence.

A dogged saying of the bishop.

[After a sequence of additional examinations, Bishop Cotes condemned George Marsh to death as an unregenerate heretic.]

So the bishop read out his sentence unto the end and straight after said unto him, 'Now will I no more pray for thee, than I will for a dog.' And Marsh answered, that notwithstanding, he would pray for his Lordship: and after this the bishop delivered him unto the sheriffs of the city. Then his late keeper bade him, 'Farewell good George,' with weeping tears, which caused the ofﬁ cers to carry him to a prison at the Northgate,

George Marsh delivered to the sheriffs.

Foxe's Book of Martyrs

where he was very straitly kept unto the time he went to his death, during which time he had small comfort or relief of any worldly creature.

For being in the dungeon or dark prison, none that would him good, could speak with him, or at least durst enterprise* so to do for fear of accusation: and some of the citizens which loved him in God for the gospel sake (whereof they were but a few) although they were never acquainted with him, would sometime in the evening at a hole upon the wall of the city (that went into the said dark prison) call to him, and ask him how he did.

He would answer them most cheerfully, that he did well, and thanked God most highly that he would vouchsafe of his mercy to appoint him to be a witness of his truth, and to suffer for the same, wherein he did most rejoice, beseeching him that he would give him grace not to faint under the cross, but patiently bear the same to his glory and comfort of his church: with many other like godly sayings at sundry times, as one that most desired to be with Christ. Once or twice he had money cast him in at the same hole, about ten pence at one time, and two shillings at another time: for which he gave God thanks, and used the same to his necessity.

The strait keeping of Marsh in prison.

The brotherly zeal of good men in comforting George Marsh.

When the time and day appointed came that he should suffer: the sheriffs of the city (whose names were Amry and Cooper) with their ofﬁ cers and a great number of poor simple barbers, with rusty bills and pole-axes, went to the Northgate, and there took out the said George Marsh, who came with them most humbly and meekly, with a lock upon his feet.* And as he came upon the way towards the place of execution, some folks proffered him money, and looked that he should have gone with a little purse in his hand (as the manner of felons was, accustomed in that city in times past, at their going to execution) to the end to gather money to give unto a priest to say trentals or Masses for them after their death, whereby they might (as they thought) be saved: but Marsh said he would not as then be troubled with meddling with money, but willed some good man to take the money, if the people were disposed to give any, and to give it unto the prisoners or poor people. So he went all the way unto his death, with his book* in his hand, looking upon the same, and many of the people said: 'This man goeth not unto his death as a thief, or as one that deserveth to die.'

Amry and Cooper sheriffs of Chester.

Marsh led to his martyrdom.

The old use in Lancashire to give money to buy trentals.

George Marsh refuseth to receive money going to his death.

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