Agnes Prest
Agnes Prest (died 15 August 1557) was an English Protestant martyr from the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary. She was burned at the stake at Southernhay in Exeter in 1557. According to Foxe's Book of Martyrs, she lived near Launceston, Cornwall, and was married to a Catholic husband. She left her husband over his Catholicism, but, when forcibly returned to him, was accused by her neighbours and brought before the Bishop of Exeter. When questioned, she denied the Catholic doctrine of Transubstantiation, and for this and her continued attacks on Catholicism, she was sentenced to death.
While temporarily at liberty after the questioning, she is said to have met a Dutch stonemason in Exeter Cathedral who was repairing the statues of the saints beloved of the Catholics. According to Foxe, she said to him "What a madman art thou, to make them new noses, which within a few days shall all lose their heads", at which point she was forcefully returned to custody, and, when she continued unrepentant, was eventually burned to death.[1]
Denmark Road Protestant Martyrs' Memorial
In 1909 a monument in the form of an obelisk of Dartmoor granite was erected in Denmark Road, Exeter, to the memories of the Protestant Martyrs Agnes Prest (d.1557) and Thomas Benet (d.1531). This monument was designed by Harry Hems and was erected with money raised through public subscription. Two bronze sculpted relief panels by Harry Hems on the base of the obelisk depict Prest burning at the stake and Benet nailing his protest to the door of the Cathedral.[2] The following inscriptions are contained on two bronze plaques affixed on opposite sides of the base:[3]
"To the glory of God & in honour of his faithful witnesses who near this spot yielded their bodies to be burned for love to Christ and in vindication of the principles of the Protestant Reformation this monument was erected by public subscription AD 1909. They being dead yet speak".
And:
"In grateful remembrance of Thomas Benet, M.A. who suffered at Livery Dole A.D. 1531 for denying the supremacy of the Pope and of Agnes Prest who suffered on Southernhay A.D. 1557 for refusing to accept the doctrine of Transubstantiation. Faithful unto death".
