Marginalia1557. Iune.rant, and one King in S. Georges field, about the latter end of May.

MarginaliaIune. 18.I Shewed a litle before, how after þ^e vnmercifull proclamation was sent and set foorth by the King and Queene, in the moneth of February last, the storme of persecution began in all places to rise (whereof some part also is declared before): but yet in no place more then in þ^e countrey and dioces of Canterbury, by reason of certaine the aforesayd Inquisitours, being now armed with authority, but especially by reason of Richard Thornton suffragan of Douer,MarginaliaRichard Thornton, Nicholas Harpsfield, persecutors. and þ^e Archdeacon of Canterbury, who of theyr own nature were so furious and fiery agaynst the harmeles flocke of Christ, that there was no neede of any proclamation to styrre vp þ^e coales of theyr burning crueltie: by reason whereof many a Godly sainct lyeth slayne vnder the altar: as in diuers places of thys booke well may appeare. And now to returne to the sayd dioces of Canterbury agayne, in the next moneth following,  

being þ^e moneth of Iune, the xviij. day of the same were vij. christian and true faythfull Martyrs of Christ burned at Maidstone, whose names here folow.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaThe names of the Martyrs.Ioane Bradbridge  

of Stapleherst.
Walter Apelbye of Maydstone.
Petronill hys wife.
Fdmund Alen of Frytenden.
Katherine his wife.
Ioane Mannynges wife, of Maydstone.
Elizabeth a blynd mayden.

As concerning the generall articles commonly obiected to them in the public consistory, and the order of theyr condemnation, it differeth not much frō the vsuall maner expressed before, Pag. 1852. neyther did theyr aunsweres in effect much differ from the other that suffred vnder the same Ordinary in the foresayd dioces of Canterbury.

[Back to Top]

Now as touching theyr accusers, and maner of apprehension, and theyr priuate conflictes with the aduersaries, I finde no great matter comming to my hands, saue onely of Edmund Alen some intimation is geuen me, how hys troubles came, what was his cause and aunsweres before the Iustices, as here consequently ye shall vnderstand.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaThe story of Edmund Alen, with hys trouble & examination before Syr Iohn Baker.THis Allen was a Milner of the parish of Frytenden in Kent, and in a deare yeare, when as many poore people were like to starue, he fed them, and solde his corne better chepe by halfe then others did: and did not that onely, but also fed them wyth the foode of life, reading to them the scriptures and interpreting them.

[Back to Top]

This beyng knowne to the popishe priestes there aboutes dwelling, by the procurement of them, namely of Iohn Taylour Parson of Fritenden, and Tho. Henden Parson of Stapleherst, he was eftsones complayned of to the Iustices, and brought before Syr Ioh. Baker knight, who first sending for them, committed both him & his wife to ward: but not lōg after they were let out, I know not how, and so went ouer vnto Calyce.MarginaliaEdmund Alen went to Calice. Where after þ^t he had cōtinued a certaine space, he began to be troubled in consciēce, and there metyng with one Iohn Webbe of the same Parishe of Fritenden, (who was likewise fled from the tyranny of Syr Iohn Baker, and Parson Taylour) sayd vnto hym, that hee could not be quyet there, what soeuer the cause was: for God (said he) had some thing to do for hym in England, & thus shortly he returned home again to the Pa-

[Back to Top]

rish of Fritenden.MarginaliaEdm. Alen returneth agayne from Calice, and is apprehend. Where was a cruell Priest, there Parson, called Iohn Taylour.

MarginaliaParson Taylor & his brother Sextan, two bloudy persecutors.This Parson Taylour beyng informed by his brother Sextan, that Edmund Alen the Milner and hys wife, were returned, and were not at Masse time in the Church: as he was the same tyme in the myddest of his Masse, vpon a Sonday, a litle before the eleuation (as they terme it) euen almost at the liftyng vp of his Romish God, he turned him to the people in the Church in great rage, and commaunded them, with all speede, to go vnto their house, and apprehende them, and he would come to thē with as much hast as might be possible. Which promise he well performed. For he had not so soone made an end of Ite missa est  

,MarginaliaMarke what a holy Masse saying was here, and what a charitable religion is thys. and the vestimentes of his backe, but by and by he was at the house, and there laying hand of the sayd Alen, caused hym agayne to be brought to Syr Iohn Baker, with a greuous complaint of his exhortyng and readyng the Scriptures to the people, and so was he and his wyfe sent to Maydstone prisō. MarginaliaWitnesses to the story.Witnessed by Rich. Fletcher Vicare of Crambroke,   and Ioh. Webbe of Fritenden.

[Back to Top]

They were not so soone in prison, but M. Baker immediatly sent vnto their house, certayne of hys men, MarginaliaIohn. Doue, Tho. Best, Tho. Linsey, Perciuall Barbell, persecutors.Iohn Doue, Thomas Best, Thomas Linley, Perciuall Barbell, with þ^e foresayd Iohn Taylour Parson of Fritenden, & Thomas Henden Parson of Stapleherst, to take an inuentory of all þ^e goods that were in the house. Where they found in þ^e bedstraw a casket locked with a padlocke, and so cutting the wiste thereof, opened it, and found therein a sackcloth bagge of money conteynyng the summe of xiij. or xiiij. pound, partly in golde, and partly in siluer. Which money after they had tolde and put in the bagge agayne, like good caruers for themselues, they caryed away wyth them. Besides also they found there certayne bookes, as Psalters, Bibles, and other writings. Al which bookes, wyth the money, were deliuered to þ^e foresayd priest MarginaliaTho. Henden priest, persecutor.Tho. Henden, parson of Stapleherst, & after in þ^e raigne of this Queene, an. 5. Reg. Elisab. was by right law recouered frō hym agayne, as in records remayneth to be seene.

[Back to Top]

Thus good Edmund Allen and his wife, beyng maliciously accused, wrongfully imprisoned, and cruelly spoyled and robbed of all their goodes, were brought (as is aforesayd) before Syr Iohn Baker the iustice, to be examined: who taunting and reuiling him without al mercy and pity, asked him if those were the fruits uf his Gospell, to haue conuenticles to gather people together, to make conspiracies, to sow sedition and rebellion: and thus he began with him to reason.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaThe examination of Edm. Alen before Syr Ioh. Baker.BAker. Who gaue thee authority to preach and interpret? Art thou a priest? art thou admitted thereunto? Let me see thy licence.

Martin Collins, Syr Ioh. Bakers scholemaister said, surely he is an arrant hereticke & worthy to be burned.

Allen. And it may please your honour to geue me leaue to aunswere in the cause of my fayth, MarginaliaPriuate reading or expoūding of the Scriptures forbidden to no man.I am perswaded that God hath geuen me thys authority as he hath geuen to all other Christians. Why are we called Christians if we do not folow Christ, if we do not read hys law, if we do not interprete it to others that haue not so much vnderstandyng? Is not Christ our father? shall not the sonne follow the fathers steppes? is not Christ our maister? and shall the scholer be inhibited to learne and preach his preceptes? Is not Christ our redemer? and shal not we prayse his name, and serue him that hath redemed vs from sinne and damnation? MarginaliaLuke. 4.Did not Christ beyng but 12 yeares of age dispute with the Doctours and interprete the Prophet Esay, and notwithstāding he was neyther of the tribe of Leuy which were priestes, but of the ryall tribe of Iuda, neyther had taked any outward priesthode? wherefore if we be Christians, we must do the same.

[Back to Top]