Protestant memorial

Back in the day, religious fervour and persecution was frequently responsible for many a life lost. This memorial plaque touches on the story of three Wiltshire men. They were resolute and passionate enough to publicly denounce the Catholic establishment in the 1550s; all three were punished but remained unrepentant. On 24th March, 1556, they were brought before two posts between Salisbury and Wilton to be burned at the stake. Accounts of the time tell how how the men faced their end: Maundrell shouted loudly that he had been offered the Queen's pardon if he would recant, but had replied "Not for all Salisbury." John Spicer said: 'This is the joyfullest day that ever I saw.' Coberley was perhaps the most eloquent of them, but endured more of the flames. Accounts tell: After his body was scorched with the fire, and his left arm drawn and taken from him by the violence of the fire, the flesh being burnt to the white bone, at length he stooped over the chain, and with the right hand being somewhat starkened, knocked upon his breast softly, the blood and matter issuing out of his mouth. Afterward when all they thought he had been dead, suddenly he rose right up with his body again. And thus much concerning these three Salisbury Martyrs.'

  © Copyright Neil Owen and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence .

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