Following the death of King Henry VIII in 1547 England swung from extreme Protestantism promoted by Protectors Somerset and Northumberland to Catholicism favoured by Queen Mary and finally to the Anglican settlement of Queen Elizabeth. Or so it seemed. In reality many individuals were more constant in their beliefs. These were however harsh times, cruel or even barbarous by the standards of today and many chose to conceal their true beliefs sometimes revealing them only through their "last Will and Testament".
Queen Mary's five year reign was as bloody as any before or after and nearly 300 Protestants were burnt at the stake for their beliefs. Protestantism was strongest in the South of England and most of the executions took place there but the North was not without those prepared to pay the highest price for their religion. Richard Snell was one such.
Richard and his brother John were summoned before Dr Dakyn the Archdeacon of Richmond (commissary of the Bishop of Chester) whence they were threatened with "fire and faggot" if they would not return to the Catholic faith. Upon refusing both were imprisoned. The conditions must have been appalling for several of John's toes rotted off. Eventually he agreed to attend Mass and was subsequently freed but only to drown himself in the Swale.
Richard was even less fortunate on the 9 September 1558 he was burnt at the stake.Ironically ten weeks later Queen Mary died and her particular reign of terror ended. But not terror itself which simply swapped sides, religious persecutions persisted.
How did the populace react to these events? Probably some were triumphant, some must have felt fear, others possibly remorse. Some of whatever persuasion must have felt sympathy for there was a collection for John following his release from prison and Robert Atkinson at the burning of Richard called out "hold fast........we will all pray for thee".