BRADFORD, John, an eminent English martyr, born at Manchester in the early part of the reign of Henry VIII. Being a good penman and accountant, he became secretary to Sir John Harrington, who was paymaster of the English forces in France. Bradford at this time was gay and thoughtless, and to support his extravagance he appropriated some of the king's money; but being unable to endure the reflection of his guilt, he made restitution of the money, and relinquished his employment. About 1547, he took chambers in the Inner Temple, and began to study the law; but finding divinity more congenial to his taste, he removed the following year to Catherine-hall, Cambridge, where he applied to study with such assiduity, that in little more than a year he was admitted to the degree of master of
arts, and soon after made fellow of Pembroke-hall. Bishop Ridley, who in 1550 was translated to the see of London, now sent for him to the metropolis, and appointed him his chaplain. In 1553 he was also made chaplain to Edward VI., and became one of the most popular preachers in the kingdom. Such a reformer, however, was too dangerous to be tolerated in the succeeding reign. Accordingly he was among the earliest victims of Mary's intolerant reign. On a charge of sedition he was confined in the Tower, where he continued a year and a half. During this time he wrote several epistles, which were dispersed in various parts of the kingdom. He was afterwards removed to Southwark, and at last brought to trial before that court of inquisition in which Gardiner sat as chief, where he defended his principles to the last, in defiance of their attempts to effect his conversion. They condemned him to the flames, and he suffered accordingly in Smithfield, July 1, 1555. His writings, which consist chiefly of sermons, meditations, tracts, letters, and prayers, have recently been published in 12mo by the Religious Tract Society.