MarginaliaEpitaphium in Palmerū.
Palmerus flammas Christi pro dogmate passus,
Impositum pondus, ceu bona palma tulit.
Non retrocessit, sed contra audentior iuit,
Illæsam retinens, fortis in igne fidem.
Propterea in cœlum nunc Palmifer iste receptus,
Iustitiæ Palmam non pereuntis habet.
Iustus vt Palma florebit.
This entire account was first introduced in the 1570 edition and was unchanged in subsequent editions. As Foxe reveals in a marginal note, at the end of this story, Foxe reveals that the source for this account was Peter Moon, whose account of his own ordeals follows this one.
MarginaliaIuly. A notable storye of Agnes Wardall of Ipswich.ABout the sayd moneth of Iuly, in this present yeare. 1556. there was one Richard Argentine, Doct. of Physicke, otherwise called Richard Sextē, with certaine other dwelling then in the Towne of Ipswiche, not many in number, but in hart and purpose mightily bent to impugne and impeach the growyng of CHRISTES Gospell, and the fauourers of the same. MarginaliaD. Argentine scholemaster, Mat. Butler Constable, Phil. Vlmet, Edm. Leach, Ioh. Steward, persecutors.In the number of whō were Philip Vlmes, Edmond Leache, Iohn Steward, and Mathew Butler Apothycarie,
Phillip Ulmes is almost certainly Phillip Williams. In 1556, Williams, Steward and Butler sent a petition to the royal commissioners, denouncing protestants in Ipswich and urging that they be prosecuted (1576, p. 1981; 1583, pp. 2089-90).
This Agnes Wardall was a woman that lyued in Gods feare,
Agnes Wardall was a member of the parish of St Clement's in Ipswich which contained a striking number of protestants (see 1576, p. 1981; 1583, p. 2090). Richard Agentine was the rector of St Clement's, so he would certainly have known the Wardalls and his persecution of them may well have been personal.
[Back to Top]For Agnes's husband, Robert Wardall, see 1576, p. 1981 and 1583, p. 2090).
constrained to auoyde his house, MarginaliaRobert Wardall driuen by persecution to serue in a ship.and got into a Crare
A small trading vessel.
The sayd Agnes Wardall chaūced on a day to come home to see her poore house and childrē, which was vnder the guidyng of a young mayd, and beyng espyed, newes was borne to Doct. Argentine, MarginaliaAgnes Wardall persecuted by Doct. Argentine and hys mates.who hauyng knowledge therof, as is afore said, went spedily vnto þe Apothecary
I.e., Matthew Butler.
This knowen to the Constable the watch was charged spedely, and eche company sent to his place. And Argentine and Butler tooke vnto them a good nomber, and forth they go vnto the house of this poore woman to lay handes vpon her, and beset the house on the foreside and backeside, lying open in the fieldes, and other some were set to the house of his mother, which was not farre from his house. MarginaliaVnmercifull seekers of a poore womans bloud.This done, one knockt at the streete doore, where Argentine and Butler was, with one of their weapons, and no aunswere was made: the second tyme somwhat harder, but had no aunswere. In the meane tyme they fearyng that some conueyance was made, knocked the thyrd tyme more harder then before.
[Back to Top]There was not far from the doore where they knocked, a certein bay wyndow where one might looke out, and speake: And so at the third knockyng, a woman, who at that time was tenant to Robert Wardalls mother, & had but two nightes before lien in þe house, speakyng out hard by their eares, asked who was there?
[Back to Top]Ah syrrha, quoth Argentine, are ye so nie & will not speake? How fortuned it that ye spake not at he first, beyng so nie? How fortuned it, quoth the woman? Mary I shall tell you: I am but a straunger here, and I haue heard say, that there be spirites walkyng hereabout,MarginaliaThe Lord blesse euery good man and woman from such wicked spirites. which if a man do aunswere at the first call, or second, he standes in great daunger: and I was neuer so afrayd of my lyfe. At this her answere, they laughed, and commaunded her to open the doore in the Queenes name: for they were the Queenes watch.
[Back to Top]Agnes Wardall beyng at that tyme in bed in an inner chamber, hauing her mayd with her, and her two children, she beyng at that time very heauy a sleepe, hard not the knockyng. MarginaliaHe slepeth ne slumbreth not that keepeth Israel. Psa. 120.Her mayd hearyng at the secōd knocke, called & shogged her dame, and with much ado, awaked her, and sayd: the watch is at the doore. What thou lyest, said she. Yes truly, said the mayd, and hath knockt twise. With that she arose with all speede, and put on her clothes very sleyghtly, and tooke with her a bocarom apron,which afterward she cast on her head when she was fayne to creepe in a ditch with nettels, and so passed down into a parlour, wherein stode a cupbord with a fayre presse, MarginaliaAgnes Wardell hydeth her selfe in a presse from the handes of her persecutors.into the which the mayd did locke her.
[Back to Top]And immediatly went vp to a chamber, which was hard by the streete, where she might see and speake to the watch, and sayd: who is there. Then they bad her open the doore. And she sayd, we haue no candle. And they sayd, open the doore or we will lay it in the flore: With that she came down & opened the doore. Then asked they the mayde: who is within? And she said, none but a woman that dwelleth within vs, & two children. Thē said they, where is thy dame? Truly, said she, MarginaliaExample of a faythfull maide to her mistres.I cā not tell, she is not within. She was here in þe euenyng, sayd they. Yea, said þe mayd, but she went forth I know not whether. Notwithstandyng they charged her that she knew where she was, which she denyed. Then got
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