Anthony Pearson (or Pierson) was a 16th-century English Protestant who was executed for heresy during the reign of King

Henry VIII of England Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is best known for his six marriages, and for his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. His disa ...

. He is known as one of the Windsor Martyrs. He was a regular and popular Protestant preacher in

Windsor, Berkshire Windsor is a historic market town and unparished area in the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead in Berkshire, England. It is the site of Windsor Castle, one of the official residences of the British monarch. The town is situated west ...

and at the country homes of the local Protestant gentry, including Thomas Weldon of Cannon Court,

Cookham Cookham is a historic River Thames, Thames-side village and civil parishes in England, civil parish on the north-eastern edge of Berkshire, England, north-north-east of Maidenhead and opposite the village of Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, Bourne ...

and Sir

Philip Hoby Sir Philip Hoby (also Hobby or Hobbye) PC (1505 – 31 May 1558) was a 16th-century English Ambassador to the Holy Roman Empire and Flanders. Early life He was born probably at Leominster, England, the son of William Hoby of Leominster by hi ...

Bisham Abbey Bisham Abbey is a Grade I listed manor house at Bisham in the English county of Berkshire. The name is taken from the now lost monastery which once stood alongside. This original Bisham Abbey was previously named Bisham Priory, and was the trad ...

. He was convicted on the evidence of the former Mayor of Windsor, William Simonds, who was a Catholic. Simonds had a powerful friend in Bishop Gardiner's agent, Dr John London. Pearson and four others were arrested. Three of them, Pearson,

Robert Testwood Robert Testwood of London was an English Protestant martyr during the reign of Henry VIII, one of the Windsor Martyrs. Testwood was a moderately well-known musician and gained a place as a chorister at Windsor College. He became embroiled in a ...

and Henry Filmer, received the death sentence and were burned to death on 4 August 1543 in Windsor.p.172-176, ''Testwood and his companions'', John Foxe, ''

Foxe's Book of Martyrs The ''Actes and Monuments'' (full title: ''Actes and Monuments of these Latter and Perillous Days, Touching Matters of the Church''), popularly known as Foxe's Book of Martyrs, is a work of Protestant history and martyrology by Protestant Engli ...

'', 2000, Ambassador Publications When he reached the place of execution, Pearson embraced the post in his arms and kissed it, saying, "Now welcome, mine own sweet wife; for this day shalt thou and I be married together in the love and peace of God.".

References

External links

Royal Berkshire History: The Windsor Martyrs
16th-century Protestant martyrs People executed under Henry VIII English Protestants People executed for heresy Executed British people 1543 deaths People from Windsor, Berkshire Year of birth missing People executed by the Kingdom of England by burning Executed English people Protestant martyrs of England {{England-reli-bio-stub