Richard Bayfield
Encyclopedia
Richard Bayfield was an English Protestant martyr
. A graduate of the University of Cambridge
, he became a Benedictine
monk. Whilst acting as Chamberlain of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds, he was approached by the Protestant reformer Robert Barnes and given a copy of the New Testament
translated into English. He became influenced by Protestant ideas as a result.
This led to Bayfield being imprisoned and interrogated by Bishop Tunstall. He recanted, but escaped to the Low Countries
where he joined the English exiles and proved to be of great help to William Tyndale
. He then returned to England and was active in circulating the New Testament and other prohibited books, including the works of Luther
, Zwingli and Melancthon. He was discovered, imprisoned and tortured, before being burnt at the stake
at Smithfield
on 4 December 1531.
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
. A graduate of the University of Cambridge
University of Cambridge
The University of Cambridge is a public research university located in Cambridge, United Kingdom. It is the second-oldest university in both the United Kingdom and the English-speaking world , and the seventh-oldest globally...
, he became a Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monk. Whilst acting as Chamberlain of the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds, he was approached by the Protestant reformer Robert Barnes and given a copy of the New Testament
New Testament
The New Testament is the second major division of the Christian biblical canon, the first such division being the much longer Old Testament....
translated into English. He became influenced by Protestant ideas as a result.
This led to Bayfield being imprisoned and interrogated by Bishop Tunstall. He recanted, but escaped to the Low Countries
Low Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
where he joined the English exiles and proved to be of great help to William Tyndale
William Tyndale
William Tyndale was an English scholar and translator who became a leading figure in Protestant reformism towards the end of his life. He was influenced by the work of Desiderius Erasmus, who made the Greek New Testament available in Europe, and by Martin Luther...
. He then returned to England and was active in circulating the New Testament and other prohibited books, including the works of Luther
Martin Luther
Martin Luther was a German priest, professor of theology and iconic figure of the Protestant Reformation. He strongly disputed the claim that freedom from God's punishment for sin could be purchased with money. He confronted indulgence salesman Johann Tetzel with his Ninety-Five Theses in 1517...
, Zwingli and Melancthon. He was discovered, imprisoned and tortured, before being burnt at the stake
Execution by burning
Death by burning is death brought about by combustion. As a form of capital punishment, burning has a long history as a method in crimes such as treason, heresy, and witchcraft....
at Smithfield
Smithfield, London
Smithfield is an area of the City of London, in the ward of Farringdon Without. It is located in the north-west part of the City, and is mostly known for its centuries-old meat market, today the last surviving historical wholesale market in Central London...
on 4 December 1531.