Richard Bayfield facts for kids
Richard Bayfield (died 27 November 1531) was an English Protestant who became a martyr. This means he was killed for his religious beliefs. He lived during a time when England was going through big changes in religion, known as the English Reformation.
Richard Bayfield studied at the University of Cambridge. After his studies, he became a Benedictine monk. Monks are men who dedicate their lives to religious service and often live in a monastery. Bayfield worked as a Chamberlain at the Abbey of Bury St Edmunds. A Chamberlain was an important person in the abbey, managing its money and property.
In 1522, a man named Robert Barnes visited Bayfield. Barnes was a teacher at Cambridge. He gave Bayfield a copy of the New Testament translated into Latin. Bayfield spent two years studying this book. His new ideas about religion caused problems with his superiors, who were the leaders at the abbey. He was put in prison within the abbey. Robert Barnes helped him get released and brought him back to Cambridge.
Facing Trouble for His Beliefs
Richard Bayfield later faced more trouble for his religious views. He was imprisoned and questioned by Bishop Tunstall. At first, he changed his mind about his beliefs to escape punishment. However, he soon escaped to the Low Countries (modern-day Netherlands and Belgium). There, he joined other English people who had left England because of their Protestant beliefs.
Bayfield became a great help to William Tyndale. Tyndale was famous for translating the Bible into English. This was a very dangerous thing to do at the time. Bayfield then secretly returned to England. He worked to spread copies of the New Testament and other books that were not allowed. These books included writings by important Protestant leaders like Luther, Zwingli, and Melancthon.
His Final Days
Richard Bayfield was eventually discovered by the authorities. He was arrested, put in prison, and tortured. Torture is when someone is hurt to make them give information or change their mind. Despite this, Bayfield held onto his beliefs.
On November 27, 1531, Richard Bayfield was burned at the stake in Smithfield, London. This terrible punishment was ordered by Thomas More, who was a very powerful official in England at the time. Bayfield died because he believed that people should be able to read the Bible in their own language and follow their own understanding of faith.
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