11. The cruel burning of George Marsh, Martyr
George Marsh
Now when he came to the place of execution without the city, near unto the Spittle-Boughton, one Vawdrey, being then deputy chamberlain of Chester, showed Marsh a writing under a great seal, saying, that it was a pardon for him if he would recant. Whereat Marsh answered, that he would gladly accept the same (and said further, that he loved the queen) but forasmuch as it tended to pluck him from God, he would not receive it upon that condition.
George Marsh refuseth the queen's pardon.
After that, he began to speak to the people showing the cause of his death, and would have exhorted them to stick unto
Christ. Whereupon one of the sheriffs said: 'George Marsh, we must have no sermoning now.' To whom he said, 'Master,
I cry you mercy': and so kneeling down made his prayers, and then put off his clothes unto his shirt, and then was he chained unto the post, having a number of faggots under him, and a George Marsh not suffered to speak to the people.
11. The cruel burning of George Marsh, Martyr
Foxe's Book of Martyrs
thing made like a fi rkin, with pitch and tar in the same over his head: and by reason the fi re was unskilfully made, and that the wind did drive the fl ame to and fro, he suffered great extremity in his death, which notwithstanding he abode very patiently.
Wherein this in him is to be noted, that when as he had been a long time tormented in the fi re without moving having his fl esh so broiled and puffed up that they which stood before him unneath could see the chain wherewith he was fastened, and therefore supposed no less but he had been dead, notwithstanding suddenly he spread abroad his arms, saying: 'Father of heaven have mercy upon me,' and so yielded his spirit into the hands of the Lord.
Upon this, many of the people said that he was a martyr, and died marvellous patiently and godly. Which thing caused the bishop shortly after to make a sermon in the cathedral church, and therein affi rmed, that the said Marsh was an heretic, burnt like an heretic, and was a fi rebrand in hell.
The patience of George Marsh, the blessed martyr.