Laurence Saunders
Encyclopedia
Laurence Saunders England was an English Protestant martyr, whose story is recorded in Foxe's Book of Martyrs
. He was the son of Thomas Saunders and Margaret Cave of (Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire)[Agutter, Doreen M.K., Midland Ancestor quarterly, Dec.2004] England.
He was educated at Eton
and at King's College, Cambridge
. After his graduation he engaged in trade, but when the Reformation
began in the reign of King Edward VI
, he resigned his mercantile pursuits, obtained a licence and began to preach. Being a man of much ability he was very popular, and was appointed by the authorities as lecturer in the college at Fotheringhay
and later to a position in Lichfield Cathedral
. After that he went to All Hallows Church in London
where George Marsh
was his curate.
On Sunday, October 15, 1553, he preached at Northampton
against "the errors of the popish religion", warning that they were to be restored to the church by the rise of Mary to the throne. He told the congregation that England was threatened with the visitation of God, for her "lukewarm indifference in the cause of Christ, and the privileges of his glorious gospel".
He was arrested on the afternoon of the same day, by the order of the Bishop of London
.
He was led barefoot to his execution and burned at the stake
on February 8, 1555. Before being executed he was known to have said, "Welcome the cross of Christ, welcome everlasting life!".
Foxe's Book of Martyrs
The Book of Martyrs, by John Foxe, more accurately Acts and Monuments, is an account from a Protestant point of view of Christian church history and martyrology...
. He was the son of Thomas Saunders and Margaret Cave of (Sibbertoft, Northamptonshire)[Agutter, Doreen M.K., Midland Ancestor quarterly, Dec.2004] England.
He was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and at King's College, Cambridge
King's College, Cambridge
King's College is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college's full name is "The King's College of our Lady and Saint Nicholas in Cambridge", but it is usually referred to simply as "King's" within the University....
. After his graduation he engaged in trade, but when the Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
began in the reign of King Edward VI
Edward VI of England
Edward VI was the King of England and Ireland from 28 January 1547 until his death. He was crowned on 20 February at the age of nine. The son of Henry VIII and Jane Seymour, Edward was the third monarch of the Tudor dynasty and England's first monarch who was raised as a Protestant...
, he resigned his mercantile pursuits, obtained a licence and began to preach. Being a man of much ability he was very popular, and was appointed by the authorities as lecturer in the college at Fotheringhay
Fotheringhay
Fotheringhay is a village and civil parish in Northamptonshire, England, six kilometres north east of Oundle and around west of Peterborough. It is most noted for being the site of Fotheringhay Castle which was razed in 1627...
and later to a position in Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
. After that he went to All Hallows Church in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
where George Marsh
George Marsh (martyr)
George Marsh was a Protestant Martyr who was born in the parish of Deane, near Bolton in 1515. He died in Boughton, Chester on 24 April 1555 as a result of the Marian Persecutions which were carried out against religious reformers, Protestants, and other dissenters for their beliefs during the...
was his curate.
On Sunday, October 15, 1553, he preached at Northampton
Northampton
Northampton is a large market town and local government district in the East Midlands region of England. Situated about north-west of London and around south-east of Birmingham, Northampton lies on the River Nene and is the county town of Northamptonshire. The demonym of Northampton is...
against "the errors of the popish religion", warning that they were to be restored to the church by the rise of Mary to the throne. He told the congregation that England was threatened with the visitation of God, for her "lukewarm indifference in the cause of Christ, and the privileges of his glorious gospel".
He was arrested on the afternoon of the same day, by the order of the Bishop of London
Bishop of London
The Bishop of London is the ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of London in the Province of Canterbury.The diocese covers 458 km² of 17 boroughs of Greater London north of the River Thames and a small part of the County of Surrey...
.
He was led barefoot to his execution and burned 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....
on February 8, 1555. Before being executed he was known to have said, "Welcome the cross of Christ, welcome everlasting life!".