Richard Lush was a 16th-century English Protestant reformer and presumed martyr. He was from

Chew Stoke Chew Stoke is a small village and civil parishes in England, civil parish in the affluent Chew Valley, in Somerset, England, about south of Bristol and 10 miles north of Wells, Somerset, Wells. It is at the northern edge of the Mendip Hills, ...

, and was condemned to death for heresy by

Gilbert Bourne Gilbert Bourne (date of birth unknown; d. 10 September 1569 at Silverton, Devon) was the last Roman Catholic Bishop of Bath and Wells, England. Life to the death of Mary I Bourne was son of Philip Bourne, of Worcestershire. Entering the Univer ...

bishop of Bath and Wells The Bishop of Bath and Wells heads the Church of England Diocese of Bath and Wells in the Province of Canterbury in England. The present diocese covers the overwhelmingly greater part of the (ceremonial) county of Somerset and a small area of D ...

John Foxe John Foxe (1516/1517 – 18 April 1587) was an English clergyman, theologian, and historian, notable for his martyrology '' Foxe's Book of Martyrs'', telling of Christian martyrs throughout Western history, but particularly the sufferings of En ...

, in his '' Actes and Monumentes'', lists the nine items in the charge against Lush: #Denying the "verity of the body & blood of Christ in the Sacrament of the Altar" #Denying

auricular confession Confession, in many religions, is the acknowledgment of sinful thoughts and actions. This is performed directly to a deity or to fellow people. It is often seen as a required action of repentance and a necessary precursor to penance and aton ...

#Affirming only three

sacraments A sacrament is a Christian rite which is recognized as being particularly important and significant. There are various views on the existence, number and meaning of such rites. Many Christians consider the sacraments to be a visible symbol of ...

(baptism, the Lord's Supper, and marriage) #"Refusing to call the Lord's Supper by the name of the Sacrament of the altar" #Denying

Purgatory In Christianity, Purgatory (, borrowed into English language, English via Anglo-Norman language, Anglo-Norman and Old French) is a passing Intermediate state (Christianity), intermediate state after physical death for purifying or purging a soul ...

#Believing that kneeling to images is

idolatry Idolatry is the worship of an idol as though it were a deity. In Abrahamic religions (namely Judaism, Samaritanism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baháʼí Faith) idolatry connotes the worship of something or someone other than the Abrahamic ...

#Believing that "that they which were burnt of late for religion, died Gods servants and good Martyrs" #Rejecting

clerical celibacy Clerical celibacy is the requirement in certain religions that some or all members of the clergy be unmarried. Clerical celibacy also requires abstention from deliberately indulging in sexual thoughts and behavior outside of marriage, because thes ...

#"Denying the universal and catholic church" (Foxe adds, "meaning belike the

Church of Rome Holy Roman Church, Roman Church, Church of Rome or Church in Rome may refer to: * The Diocese of Rome or the Holy See * The Latin Church * Churches of Rome (buildings) In historical contexts ''Roman Church'' may also refer to: * The Catholic Churc ...

") Foxe could not find a record of his death, and notes that he was "burnt and executed, vnlesse peraduenture in þe mean season he dyed or was made away in the prison: wherof I haue no certeinty to expresse."

William Hunt William, Bill, or Billy Hunt may refer to: Arts and entertainment * William Henry Hunt (painter) (1790–1864), English water-colour painter * William Morris Hunt (1824–1879), American painter * William Holman Hunt (1827–1910), British painter ...

says that "it may be taken for granted that he was not put to death," while

Thomas Fuller Thomas Fuller (baptised 19 June 1608 – 16 August 1661) was an English churchman and historian. He is now remembered for his writings, particularly his ''Worthies of England'', published in 1662, after his death. He was a prolific author, and ...

suggested that, "it is probable that this poor

Isaac Isaac ( ; ; ; ; ; ) is one of the three patriarchs (Bible), patriarchs of the Israelites and an important figure in the Abrahamic religions, including Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and the Baháʼí Faith. Isaac first appears in the Torah, in wh ...

, thus bound to the altar, was afterward sacrificed, except some intervening angel stayed the stroke of the sword."

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lush, Richard English Protestants 16th-century Protestants People from Bath and North East Somerset English prisoners sentenced to death Prisoners sentenced to death by England and Wales People convicted of heresy