<P> On 31 January 1555, Bradford was tried and condemned to death . Bradford was taken to Newgate Prison to be burned at the stake on 1 July . Bradford was give a special "Shirt of Flame" by a Mrs. Marlet, for whom he had written a devotional work . This was a clean shirt that was sewn specifically for the burning, made in the style of a wedding shirt . "This clothing with a new shirt to wear at the stake became a common feature at the burnings, a way of signaling support for and honouring the victim, as though he were being dressed as a bridegroom for a wedding ." Also, the ceremonial donning of the shirt of flame could be seen as similar to the priest donning his vestments, thus subverting Catholic ritual . "...and so the martyr might pray over and kiss the shirt before putting it on...underlining their oneness with Christ and the fact they were willing to die ..." </P> <P> A large crowd delayed the execution, which had been scheduled for 4 o'clock in the morning, as many who admired Bradford came to witness his death . He was chained to the stake at Smithfield with a young man, John Leaf . Before the fire was lit, he begged forgiveness of any he had wronged, and offered forgiveness to those who had wronged him . He then turned to Leaf and said, "Be of good comfort brother; for we shall have a merry supper with the Lord this night!" A century later, in his Worthies of England, Thomas Fuller wrote that he endured the flame "as a fresh gale of wind in a hot summer's day, confirming by his death the truth of that doctrine he had so diligently and powerfully preached during his life ." Bradford is commemorated at the Marian Martyrs' Monument in Smithfield, London . He is also commemorated with one of the six statues on the exterior of Manchester Town Hall marking people important in the early history of the city . </P> <P> There is a 19th - century tradition tracing to Bradford the idiomatic "There but for the grace of God go I" as an expression of humility and reliance on God's grace rather than his own morality . The editor of The Writings of John Bradford, Aubrey Townsend, notes this in his preface: </P> <P> The familiar story, that, on seeing evil - doers taken to the place of execution, he was wont to exclaim, "But for the grace of God there goes John Bradford", is a universal tradition which has overcome the lapse of time . </P>

Who said except for the grace of god there go i