Anthony Pearson (martyr)

Anthony Pierson was a 16th century English Protestant martyr during the reign of Henry VIII, one of the Windsor Martyrs.

He was a regular and popular Protestant preacher in Windsor, Berkshire and at the country homes of the local Protestant gentry, including Thomas Weldon of Cannon Court, Cookham and Sir Philip Hoby of Bisham Abbey.[1] Pearson fell foul of William Simonds, a zealous Catholic in Windsor, who had a powerful friend in Bishop Gardiner's agent, Dr John London.[1] He arrested Pearson and four others and three of them were burnt to death on 4 August 1543.[1] When he reached the place of execution, he embraced the post in his arms, and kissing it, said, "Now welcome, mine own sweet wife; for this day shalt thou and I be married together in the love and peace of God. He was executed alongside Robert Testwood and Henry Filmer.[2]

References

  1. ^ a b c Ford, David Nash (2009). Berkshire in the Reign of Henry VIII. Wokingham: Nash Ford Publishing. http://www.nashfordpublishing.co.uk. 
  2. ^ p.172-176, Testwood and his companions, John Foxe, Foxe's Book of Martyrs, 2000, Ambassador Publications

External links