A Knife And A Bladder Of Ink

A Knife And A Bladder Of Ink

Queen Mary perceived him as a serious threat to her reign.

IN 1553 England’s newly enthroned Queen Mary I, a committed Roman Catholic, wanted to impress her new subjects with her fair-mindedness. She called a convocation of the highest religious leaders in the Church of England to discuss its merits versus those of the Catholic Church. One of the Protestant leaders in attendance was John Philpot.

John Philpot was only a boy when King Henry VIII, eager to break his marriage vows, broke with the Catholic Church and made himself head of the Church of England. Many continued to practice Catholicism, but the Reformation also took hold, and Philpot grew up a Protestant. At Oxford he studied law and languages. Later he was appointed archdeacon of Winchester and became a leading apologist for the Protestants.

At Queen Mary’s convocation in 1553, Philpot and a few others boldly spoke in defense of the gospel. They were tolerated but ignored. Several months later Philpot published a book that reported vast portions of the closed-door discussions, making it clear that the convocation had simply been a political stratagem of the crown.

Shortly thereafter Philpot was arrested as Queen Mary perceived him as a serious threat to her reign. He was examined by bishops who Mary hoped would trap him into heresy or even convince him to turn his heart and pen to the Catholic faith. Philpot admitted that he wrote the book. But that admission was not enough to condemn him; even the Catholics had to agree that he had faithfully reported the proceedings. At his thirteenth and final examination the lord mayor brought a knife and a pig’s bladder full of powder to try to seal their case. He said, “My lord, this man had a roasted pig brought unto him, and this knife was put secretly between the skin and the flesh thereof, and so it was sent to him in prison. Also this powder was sent to him . . . which when I did see, I thought it had been gunpowder and put fire to it, but it would not burn. Then I took it for poison and gave it to a dog. But it was not so. Then I took a little water, and it made as fair ink as I would ever write withal. Therefore, my lord, you see what a naughty fellow this is.”

The incident had been fabricated by Queen Mary’s supporters to condemn Philpot. It succeeded, and he was convicted of heresy and sentenced to burn at the stake. “Well, I must be content,” he said, “for it is God’s appointment. . . . I will never recant that which I have spoken, for it is most certain truth. And I will seal it with my blood.”

At suppertime on December 17, 1555, the message was sent informing Philpot that he would be burned the following day. He said simply, “I am ready; God grant me strength and a joyful resurrection.”

The next morning Philpot kissed the stake marked for his burning. “Shall I disdain to suffer at this stake,” he asked the crowd, “seeing my Redeemer did not refuse to suffer vile death upon the cross for me?” Philpot recited Psalms 106, 107, and 108, the fire was lit, and he was with his Redeemer.

Reflection

Queen Mary’s convocation was an effort to convert the Protestant leaders to Catholicism. When that was unsuccessful, she had them burned at the stake. It was similar to the experience of Jesus: When his opponents realized they could never win an argument with him, they determined to kill him. Why do you think people react in this way?

Some of you are trying to kill me because my message does not find a place in your hearts.

John 8:37