William Pygot was a sixteenth-century English butcher and Protestant martyr. His story was recorded in Foxe's Book of Martyrs. For denying transubstantiation, he was burned to death at Braintree, Essex, on 28 March 1555.[1]
According to John Foxe, Pygot was examined and condemned to death alongside Thomas Tomkins, William Hunter, Stephen Knight, and John Lawrence by the Bishop of London, Edmund Bonner on 9 February 1555. Unlike his contemporaries, there is no mention of the extent of Pygot's suffering in prison or torture, if indeed he was tortured at all. Pygot was martyred on the same day as Knight, who was burned alive in nearby Maldon.[2]
Upon the opening of Braintree Town Hall in 1928, the upper walls of the council chamber were painted by Maurice Greiffenhagen. Murals representing the history of the town from the Roman era to the twentieth century include a representation of Pygot moments before his pyre was lit. Due to its close proximity to the ancient market place, it is believed that the Town Hall stands on the site of execution.
In 2012, the Braintree & Bocking Civic Society funded a blue plaque to commemorate his martyrdom. It is located on the courtyard wall of the library.[3]
^p.257, John Foxe, Foxe's Book of Martyrs, 2000, Ambassador Publications
^Foxe's Book of Martyrs, https://www.exclassics.com/foxe/foxe277.htm
WilliamPygot was a sixteenth-century English butcher and Protestant martyr. His story was recorded in Foxe's Book of Martyrs. For denying transubstantiation...
Pygot is a surname. Notable people with the surname include: Margaret Pygot, 15th century English prioress WilliamPygot, Protestant martyr Francis Pygot...
Foxe's Book of Martyrs: 273. William Hunter. Exclassics.com. Retrieved 17 May 2013. Foxe's Book of Martyrs: 275. WilliamPygot, Stephen Knight, and John...
December 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2014. Foxe's Book of Martyrs: 275. WilliamPygot, Stephen Knight, and John Laurence. Exclassics.com; retrieved 17 May...
Bishop of London, Richard FitzNeal, in 1190, the burning at the stake of WilliamPygot in 1555, the introduction of new weaving techniques by Flemish immigrants...
the priory until a new prioress Margaret Pygot was again entrusted to manage without an overseer in 1445. Pygot would put the priory again a firm financial...
responsible for the church, and remained in the cell until 1478 when Margaret Pygot was prioress. The cell continued to be used by anchorites until the Dissolution...
appointed by the bishop to manage the priory until a new prioress Margaret Pygot was again entrusted to manage without an overseer in 1445. "Wilton, Edith...
abroad to Louvain. In 1555, he was one of the accusers of William Wolsey and Richard Pygot, and he was involved in the trial of the Protestant martyr...
Luton, Beds 7 November 1526: Sir Edward Grevile 16 November 1527: Francis Pygot, of Stratton and Biggleswade, Beds 7 November 1528: Sir John Hampden, of...
Edward Chamberlayn, William Stafford, John Ernley( who became Lord Chief Justice of the Court of Common Pleas in 1519), Thomas Pygot,(King's Serjeant in...
burning of John Hullier for heresy in 1556, but only two others, William Wolsey and Robert Pygot of Wisbech, suffered death in his diocese on account of their...
bishop's chancellor, he passed sentence on two Protestant martyrs, Wolsey and Pygot. Next year (1556) he was the chief of a body of divines and lawyers at Great...
year 1529 was £7 6s. 8d. to Sheen. In 1516 licence was obtained by Thomas Pygot and Richard Broke, serjeants-at-law, and others to add to it possessions...
January 1526: Robert Peyton, of Isleham, Cambs. 7 November 1526: Thomas Pygot, of Abington Pigotts, Cambs. 16 November 1527: Robert Apreece, of Washingley...
Woodbridge 2000), p. 210 (Google). 'The Martyrdom and Burning of William Wolsey and Roberte Pygot, paynter', in John Foxe, The Acts and Monuments (1583 edition)...
resigned 1470 Margaret Pycard, elected 1470 Helen Crabbe, died 1501 Eleanor Pygot, elected 1501, died 1509 Agnes Gascoigne, elected 1509 Elinor Warren, surrendered...
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