wordes? Are ye not ashamed to lye before all this multitude here present, who heard you speake the same?

Then stood vp doctor Gascoyn, and sayde, she was deceiued. For there were three churches: the malignaunt churche, the churche militant, and the church triumphant. so he wold faine haue made matter, but he could not tell which waye.

Dry. Syr, is there made mencion of so many Churches in the scripture?

Gascoyn. Yea.

Dry. I praye you, where fynde you thys word (Church) written in the scripture?

Gascoyn. It is wrytten in the newe testamente.

Dry. I praye you syr, shewe the place where it is written.

Gascoyn. I cannot tell the place, but there it is. With that shee desired him to loke in his testamente. Then he fombled and sought about hym for one: but at that time hee hadde none, and that he knewe wel enough, though he semed to serch for it. At the last shee sayde: haue ye none here, syr?

Gascoyn. No.

Dry. I thought so much in dede, that yee were littel acquainted with al. Surely you be a good Doctor. You saye you sit here to iudge according to the lawe, and how can you giue true iudgment, and haue not the booke of the lawe with you? At which woordes Gascoine was out of countenaunce, and asked her if she had one.

Dry. No.

Gascoyn. Then sayd hee, I am as good a Doctor as you.

Dry. Well syr, I had one, but you toke it from me (as you would take me from Christ if you could) and since would ye not suffer me to haue any booke at all: so burning is your Charity. But you maye wel know (I thanke God) that I haue exercised the same. Els could I not haue answered you (to gods glory be it spoken) as I haue. MarginaliaThe papistes put to silēce by a simple womāThus she put them al to silence, that one loked on another, and had not a word to speake.

Dry. Haue you no more to saye? God be honored. You be not able to resist the spirit of God, in me a poore woman. MarginaliaA good image of simplicityI was an honest pore mannes daughter, neuer brought vp in the vniuersity as you haue bene, but I haue dryuen the plough before my father many a tyme (I thank God:) yet not withstanding in the defense of gods trueth, and in the cause of my maister Christ, by his grace I wyl sette my fote agaynst the foote of any of you all, in the maintenaunce and defense of the same. And for þ^t, if I had a thousand liues, it should go for paiment therof. So the Chaūcellor rose vp, and red the sentence in Latine of condem-

nacion, and committed her to the secular power, and so went shee to prison agayne, as ioyfull as the bird of daye, praysing and glorifieng the name of God.

AT that time also was examined one Gotch who was taken with her, as before is sayd, of whose examinacion here after followeth.

This Alexander Gotch was examyned chefely of the Sacrament, and other ceremonies of the popish church. And for that his beliefe was, that Christ was ascended into heauen, and there remayneth, and that the Sacrament was the remembraunce of his death and passion, refusing the masse, and the Pope to be the supreme head of Christes Church, for these causes was hee condempned, and died with Margaret Driuer at Ipswich, the. 4. day of Nouember, which was the monday after al Saintes. 1558. they both endinge their liues with earnest zeale, nothing fearing to speake theyr conscience, when they were commaunded to the contrary.  

Commentary     Close

In 1563 there are details on their being silenced at the stake which were lost in 1570, when a more detailed account of their execution was added.

ALthough our history hasteth a pase (the Lorde bee praysed) to the happy death of Quene Mary, yet shee dyed not so soone, but some there were burned before, & mo shoulde haue bene burnt sone after them, if gods prouision had not preuented her with death. In the nomber of them which suffered the same moneth, when Quene Mary dyed, were three that were burned at Bery, whose names be

MarginaliaMartires.Philip Vmfry.
Ihon Dauid.
Henry Dauid
his brother.  

Commentary     Close

Philip Humphrey and John and Henry David

This entire account first appeared in the 1563 edition. The processes against these martyrs and the sentences condemning them survive in Foxe's papers (BL, Harley MS 421, fos. 140r and 142r-143r).

Concerning the burning of these three, here is to be noted, that MarginaliaSir Clemen Higham persecutor.syr Clement Hygham, about a fortnight before the Quene dyed dyd sue oute a wryt for the burning of these iii. foresayd godly and blessyd Martyrs, not with standing the Quene was then knowen to be past remedy of her sicknes.

The passion and martirdom of v. constant Christians, which suffered the last of al other in the tyme of Quene Mary.  

Commentary     Close

Five Martyrs at Canterbury

A short version of this account, based on the trial documents from a now lost Canterbury court book, first appeared in the 1563 edition. An anecdote about the burning of Alice Snoth or Agnes Snoth was added to the 1563 edition as it was nearing completion and it was placed in an appendix at the rear of the volume (1563, p. 1735). In the 1570 edition, this anecdote was incorporated into the account of these martyrs. Another anecdote, about Katherine Tynley, was added to this account in the 1570 edition. There were no further changes to this account in subsequent editions.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaNouēber. 10.THe laste that suffered in Quene Maryes tyme, were fyue in Canterburye, burned aboute syxe dayes before the death of Queene Mary,