Robert Benet was a 16th century Mayor of Windsor

Windsor, Berkshire

Windsor is an affluent suburban town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is widely known as the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British Royal Family....

 in the English

England

England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...

 county of Berkshire

Berkshire

Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...

.

Benet was a zealous Protestant who fell foul of William Simonds, an equally zealous Catholic in Windsor, who had a powerful friend in Bishop Gardiner

Stephen Gardiner

Stephen Gardiner was an English Roman Catholic bishop and politician during the English Reformation period who served as Lord Chancellor during the reign of Queen Mary I of England.-Early life:...

's agent, Dr John London. Benet was arrested in 1543, along with four others. He was condemned to death but, unlike the three Windsor Martyrs

Windsor Martyrs

The Windsor Martyrs were 16th century English Protestants martyred at Windsor in Berkshire. Their names were Robert Testwood, Anthony Pearson and Henry Filmer....

, escaped being burnt because he was unwell! He was later released.

External links

• Royal Berkshire History: The Windsor Martyrs