ACTS AND MONUMENTS VOL. 7 by John Foxe

JOHN LEAF BURNT WITH BRADFORD.

With John Bradford was burnt one John Leaf, an apprentice to Humfrey Gawdy, tallow-chandler,
of the parish of Christ-Church in London, of the age of nineteen years and above, born at
Kirby-Moorside, in the county of York: who, upon the Friday next before Palm Sunday, was
committed to the Compter in Bread-street, by an alderman of London, who had rule and charge
of that ward, or part of the city, where the said Leaf did dwell. After, he, coming to examination
before Bonner, gave a firm and christian testimony of his doctrine and profession, answering to such articles as were objected to him by the said bishop.

First, as touching his belief and faith in the said sacrament of the altar, he answered, that after the words of consecration, spoken by the priest over the bread and wine, there was not the very true and natural body and blood of Christ in substance; and further did hold. and believe, that the said sacrament of the altar, as it is now called, used, and believed in this realm of England, is idolatrous and abominable; and also said further, that he believed, that after the words of consecration spoken by the priest over the material bread and wine, there is not the selfsame substance of Christ’s body and blood there contained; but bread and wine, as it was before: and further said, that he believed, that when the priest delivereth the said material bread and wine to the communicants, he delivereth but only material bread and wine; and the communicants do receive the same in remembrance of Christ’s death and passion, and spiritually, in faith, they receive Christ’s body and blood, but not under the forms of bread and wine: and also affirmed, that he believed auricular confession not to be necessary to be made unto a priest; for it is no point of soul-health — neither that the priest hath any authority given him by the Scripture to absolve and remit any sin.

Upon these his answers, and testimony of his faith, he, at that time being dismissed, was bid the Monday next, being the 10th of June, to appear again in the said place, there and then to hear the sentence of his condemnation; who so did: at what time the foresaid bishop, propounding the said articles again to him, as before, essaying by all manner of ways to revoke him to his own trade, that is, from truth to error, notwithstanding all his persuasions, threats, and promises, found him the same man still, so planted upon the sure rock of truth, that no words nor deeds of men could remove him.

Then the bishop, after many words to and fro, at last asked him, if he had been master Rogers’s
scholar? To whom the foresaid John Leaf answered again, granting him so to be, and that he the same John did believe in the doctrine of the said Rogers, and in the doctrine of bishop Hooper, Cardmaker, and others of their opinion, who of late were burned for the testimony of Christ, and that he would die in that doctrine that they died for: and after other replications again of the bishop, moving him to return to the unity of the church, he, with a great courage of spirit, answered again in these words: “My lord,” quoth he, “you call mine opinion heresy: it is the true light of the word of God.” And again, repeating the same, he professed that he would never forsake his staid and well grounded opinion, while the breath should be in his body. Whereupon the bishop, being too weak either to refute his sentence or to remove his constancy, proceeded consequently to read the popish sentence of cruel condemnation: whereby this godly and constant young man, being committed to the secular power of the sheriffs there present, was then adjudged, and not long after suffered the same day with master Bradford, confirming with his death, that which he had spoken and professed in his life.

It is reported of the said John Leaf, by one that was in the Compter the same time, and saw the thing, that after his examinations before the bishop, when two bills were sent unto him in the Compter in Bread-street, the one containing a recantation, the other his confessions, to know to which of them he would put his hand, first hearing the bill of recantation read unto him (because he could not read nor write himself), that he refused. And when the other was read unto him, which he well liked of, instead of a pen he took a pin and so pricking his hand, sprinkled the blood upon the said bill, willing the reader thereof to show the bishop, that he had sealed the
same bill with his blood already.

THE BEHAVIOUR OF MASTER BRADFORD, PREACHER, AND OF THE YOUNG MAN THAT SUFFERED WITH HIM IN SMITHFIELD, NAMED JOHN LEAF, APRENTICE, WHO BOTH SUFFERED FOR THE TESTIMONY OF CHRIST.

First, when they came to the stake in Smithfield to be burned, master Bradford, lying prostrate on the one side of the stake, and the young man John Leaf on the other side, they lay flat on their faces, praying to themselves the space of a minute of an hour. Then one of the sheriffs said to master Bradford, “Arise, and make an end; for the press of the people is great.”

At that word they both stood up upon their feet, and then master Bradford took a faggot in his hand, and kissed it, and so likewise the stake. And when he had so done, he desired of the sheriffs that his servant might have his raiment; “for,” said he, “I have nothing else to give him: and besides that, he is a poor man.” And the sheriff said he should have it. And so forthwith master Bradford did put off his raiment, and went to the stake: and, holding up his hands, and casting his countenance up to heaven, he said thus, “O England, England, repent thee of thy sins, repent thee of thy sins. Beware of idolatry, beware of false antichrists; take heed they do not deceive you.” And as he was speaking these words, the sheriff bade tie his hands, if he would not be quiet. “O master sheriff,” said master Bradford, “I am quiet: God forgive you this, master sheriff.” And one of the officers which made the fire, hearing master Bradford so speaking to the sheriff, said, “If you have no better learning than that, you are but a fool, and were best hold your peace.” To the which words master Bradford gave no answer; but asked all the world forgiveness, and forgave all the world, and prayed the people to pray for him; and turned his head unto the young man that suffered with him, and said, “Be of good comfort, brother; for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night:” and so spoke no more words that any man did hear, but, embracing the reeds, said thus; “Strait is the way, and narrow is the gate, that leadeth to eternal salvation, and few there be that find it.”

And thus they both ended their mortal lives, most like two lambs, without any alteration of their countenance, being void of all fear, hoping to obtain the price of the game that they had long run at; to the which I beseech Almighty God happpily to conduct us, through the merits of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.