Marginalia1555. February.And Iohn Hull lifted the childe vp, and set him on the horse before his father. And D. Tailour put of his hat and sayd to the people that stoode there looking on hym: Good people, this is mine own sonne, begotten of my body in lawfull matrimony: and God bee blessed for lawfull matrimony. MarginaliaDoctour Taylour taketh hys leaue of his sonne Thomas, and Iohn Hull.Then lift hee his eyes towardes heauen, and prayed for his sonne, laid his hat vpon the childes head, and blessed him, and so deliuered the child to Iohn Hull, whō he tooke by the hand, and sayd: farewell Iohn Hull, the faithfullest seruant that euer man had.  

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It seems as though Taylor separated from Hull here. Who was then the source for Taylor's final journey? Whoever it was was with Taylor throughout the trip. Did Hull rejoin Taylor or did Foxe find another informant?

When they were come almost at Burntwood, one MarginaliaArthur Faysie.Arthur Faysie, a man of Hadley, who before tyme had ben D. Taylours seruaunt, met with them, and he supposing him to haue bene at liberty, said: M. Doctour I am glad to see you againe at libertie, and came to hym, and tooke him by the hand. Soft Syr (quoth the Sheriffe) he is a prysoner: what hast thou to do with him? I cry you mercy (sayd Arthur) I knew not so much, and I thought it none offence to talke to a true man. The Shrieffe was very angry with this, & threatned to cary Arthur with him to prison: notwithstanding, he bad him get him quickly away, and so they rode forth to Burntwood: where they caused to be made for D. Taylour MarginaliaA close hoode made for Doctor Taylour that no man should know him.a close hoode, with two holes for his eyes to loke out at, and a slit for his mouth to breath at. Thys they did, that no man should know him, nor he speake to any man. Which practyse they vsed also with others. Their owne consciences tolde them, that they lead innocent lambes to the slaughter. MarginaliaChristes aduersaries worke all by darknes.Wherfore they feared, lest if the people should haue heard them speake, or haue seene them, they might haue beene much more strengthened by their godly exhortations, to stand stedfast in Gods word, and to flie the superstitions and idolatries of the Papacie.

MarginaliaDoctour Taylour is ioyfull in his way.All the way D. Taylour was ioyfull and mery, as one that accompted him selfe goyng to a most pleasūt banquet or bridall. He spake many notable thynges to the Shrieffe and yeomen of the Gard that conducted him, and oftē moued them to weepe through his much earnest callyng vpon them to repent, & to amend theyr euill and wicked liuyng. Oftentymes also he caused them to wonder and reioyce, to see him so constant and stedfast, voyd of al feare, ioyful in hart, & glad to die. Of these yeomē of the Gard, three vsed D. Taylour frendly, but the fourth (whose name was MarginaliaHomes a notorious aduersary to Doctor Taylour.Homes) vsed him very homely, vnkyndly, and churlishly.

At Chelmesford mette thē the Shrieffe of Suffolke, there to receiue hym, and to cary hym forth into Suffolke. And beyng at supper, MarginaliaThe Sheriffes of Essex laboureth Doctour Taylour to returne to papisme.the Shrieffe of Essex very earnestly laboured him to returne to the Popish Religion, thinkyng with faire wordes to persuade him, and sayd: MarginaliaThe Shrieffes wordes to Doctour Taylour.good Maister Doctor, we are right sory for you, cōsideryng what losse is of such one as ye might be if ye would: God hath geuen you great learnyng and wisedome, wherfore ye haue bene in great fauour and reputation in tymes past with the Counsell and hyghest of this Realme. Besides this, ye are a mā of goodly personage, in your best strength, and by nature like to liue many yeares, and without doubt, ye should in tyme to come be in as good reputation as euer ye were, or rather better. For ye are well beloued of all men, as well for your vertues as for your learnyng: and me thinke it were great pitie you should cast away your selfe willingly, and so come to such a paynfull & shamefull death. Ye should do much better to reuoke your opiniōs, and returne to the Catholicke Church of Rome, acknowledge the Popes holynes to be the supreme head of the vniuersal Church, and reconcile your selfe to him. You may do well yet, if ye will: doubt ye not, but ye shall find fauour at the Queenes hādes. I and all these your frēdes will be suters for your pardon: which no doubt, ye shall obtaine. This counsell I geue to you, good Mai-

ster Doctour, of a good hart, and good will toward you: and therupon I drinke to you. In lyke maner sayd all the yeomen of the Gard: vpon that condition Maister Doctour we will all drinke to you.

When they had all dronke to him, and the cup was come to him: he stayed a litle, as one studying what aūswere he might geue. At the last, thus he aūswered and sayd: MarginaliaD. Taylour maketh a iest of death, with a meete aunswere for such doctors and counsellers.Maister Shrieffe, and my maisters all, I hartely thanke you of your good will. I haue herkened to your wordes and marked well your counselles. And to be playne with you, I do perceaue that I haue bene deceaued my selfe, and am like to deceiue a great many of Hadley, of their expectation. With that word they all reioyced. Yea good Maister Doctour (quoth þ^e Shrieffe) Gods blessyng on your hart: hold you there still. It is the comfortablest word, that we heard you speake yet. What? should ye cast away your selfe in vayne? Play a wise mans part: and I dare warrant it, ye shall find fauour. Thus they reioyced very much at that word, and were very mery.

At the last: good M. Doctor (quoth þ^e Shrieffe) what ment ye by this, that ye said ye thinke ye haue ben deceiued your selfe, and thinke ye shall deceiue many one in Hadley? Would you know my meaning plainly, quoth he? Yea (quoth the Shrieffe) good M. Doctour, tell it vs plainly. Then sayd Doct. Taylour, I will tell you how I haue ben deceiued, and as I thinke, I shall deceiue a great many. MarginaliaApophthegma of Doctour Taylour.I am as you see, a man that hath a very great carkas, which I thought should haue ben buried in Hadley Churchyard if I had dyed in my bed, as I well hoped I should haue done: but herein I see I was deceiued: and there are a great number of wormes in Hadley Churchyard, which shoulde haue had ioly feedyng vppon this carion, which they haue looked for many a day. But now I know wee bee deceiued, both I and they: for this carkas must be burnt to ashes and so shall they lose their baite and feedyng, that they looked to haue had of it.

When the Shrieffe and his company heard hym say so, they were amased, and looked one on an other, marueilyng at the mans constaunt mynd, that thus without all feare, made but a iest at the cruell torment, and death now at hand prepared for him. Thus was their expectation cleane disapointed. And in this appeareth what was his MarginaliaA good meditation.meditation in his chiefest wealth and prosperitie: namely, that he should shortly dye & feede wormes in his graue: which meditation if all our Byshops, and spirituall men had vsed, they had not for a litle worldly glory forsakē the word of God, and truth, which they in king Edwardes dayes had preached and set forth, nor yet to mainteine the B. of Romes authoritie, haue committed so many to the fire as they did.

But let vs returne to D. Taylour, who at Chelmesford was deliuered to the Shrieffe of Suffolke, and by him conducted to Hadley, where he suffered. When they were come to MarginaliaLanham is a towne in Suffolke.Lanhā, þ^e Shrieffe stayed there two dayes: & thether came to him a great number of Gētlemen and Iustices vpon great horses, which all were appointed to aide the Shrieffe. These Gentlemē laboured D. Taylour very sore, to reduce him to the Romish Religion, promising him his pardon (which sayd they) we haue here for you. They promised him great promotions, yea a Byshoprike if he would take it: but all their labour and flattering wordes were in vayne. For he had not built his house vpon the sand in perill of fallyng at euery puffe of wynd, but vpon the sure and vnmoueable rocke Christ.  

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See Matthew 7: 24-27.

After two dayes, the Shrieffe and his company led D. Taylour towardes Hadley, and commyng within a two myle of Hadley, he desired to light of his horse to make water: which done, MarginaliaD. Taylour reioyceth that he is so nigh home.hee lept, and fet a friske or twayne, as men commonly do in daunsing. Why Maister Doctour (quoth the Shrife) how do you now? He aunswerered: Well God be praysed, good Maister