The Heresy Examinations of John Philpot: Defiance, Bold Speaking and the Making of a Martyr. Issue 1 (3rd July 2014)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Covington, Sarah
• Is Part Of: Reformation. Volume 7:Issue 1(2002)
• Page Start: 79
• Page End: 133
• Publication Date: 2014-07-03
• Subjects: Reformation -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; Reformation -- Periodicals; Church history -- 16th century -- Periodicals; Europe -- Civilization -- 16th century -- Periodicals; Europe -- History -- 1492-1648 -- Periodicals; Periodicals; 940.23
• DOI: 10.1179/ref_2002_7_1_005
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1357-4175

Abstract

Abstract : John Philpot was one of the most notable Protestants to be martyred under Mary Tudor, with his examinations constituting perhaps the most dramatic (and lengthy) presentations in all of John Foxe's Acts and Monuments . This article will attempt to bring historical context to those examinations by considering Philpot's life, his fraught and familiar relations with those who interrogated him, and his ability to resist his persecutors through a number of bold strategies and angry encounters. Since the Philpot who appears in the examinations is a frequently difficult character, however, it will also be argued that supplemental documents such as prison letters, woodcuts and marginalia needed to be added and edited by John Foxe, in order that Philpot could be transformed into a more universal, generic and scriptural figure-a martyr appropriate for Foxe's audience, and for the ages.