There was perhaps something simply ludicrous in the form of Mrs. Prest,
as she was of a very short stature, thick set, and about fifty-four
years of age; but her countenance was cheerful and lively, as if
prepared for the day of her marriage with the Lamb. To mock at her form
was an indirect accusation of her Creator, who framed her after the
fashion he liked best, and gave her a mind that far excelled the
transient endowments of perishable flesh. When she was offered money,
she rejected it, "because (said she) I am going to a city where money
bears no mastery, and while I am here God has promised to feed me."

When sentence was read, condemning her to the flames, she lifted up her
voice and praised God, adding, "This day have I found that which I have
long sought." When they tempted her to recant,--"That will I not, (said
she) God forbid that I should lose the life eternal, for this carnal and
short life. I will never turn from my heavenly husband to my earthly
husband; from the fellowship of angels to mortal children; and if my
husband and children be faithful, then am I theirs. God is my father,
God is my mother, God is my sister, my brother, my kinsman; God is my
friend, most faithful."

Being delivered to the sheriff, she was led by the officer to the place
of execution, without the walls of Exeter, called Sothenhey, where again
the superstitious priests assaulted her. While they were tying her to
the stake, she continued earnestly to exclaim "God be merciful to me, a
sinner!" Patiently enduring the devouring conflagration, she was
consumed to ashes, and thus ended a life which in unshaken fidelity to
the cause of Christ, was not surpassed by that of any preceding martyr.

_Richard Sharpe, Thomas Banion, and Thomas Hale._

Mr. Sharpe, weaver, of Bristol, was brought the 9th day of March, 1556,
before Mr. Dalby, chancellor of the city of Bristol, and after
examination concerning the sacrament of the altar, was persuaded to
recant; and on the 29th, he was enjoined to make his recantation in the
parish church. But, scarcely had he publicly avowed his backsliding,
before he felt in his conscience such a tormenting fiend, that he was
unable to work at his occupation; hence, shortly after, one Sunday, he
came into the parish church, called Temple, and after high mass, stood
up in the choir door, and said with a loud voice, "Neighbours, bear me
record that yonder idol (pointing to the altar) is the greatest and mos