Marginalia1557. Iune.With this Alyce Benden were burned also the residue of the other blessed Martyrs aboue named, beyng vij. in number. Who being brought to the place where they should suffer for the Lordes cause at Canterbury, vndressed them selues ioyfully to the fire, and beyng ready therto: they all (like the communion of Saintes) kneled downe and made their humble prayers vnto the Lord, with such zeale and affectiō as euen the enemies of þ^e crosse of Christ could not but like it. Whē they had made inuocation together, they rose and went to the stake, where beyng compassed with horrible flames of fire, they yelded their soules & liues gloriously into the handes of the Lorde.

This Bradbreges wife, when she was condemned of the Byshop to be burned, had ij. children, named Pacience & Charitie. Who then sayd to the Bishop,  

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Presumably this bishop was Richard Thornden, suffragan bishop of Dover.

The troubles and examination of Matthew Plase.  

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Matthew Plaise

Plaise is not mentioned in the 1563 edition. The only information which Foxe ever had about him was a copy of his account of his examinations which Foxe first printed in the 1570 edition.

MarginaliaMatthew Plaise.VNto these holy Martyrs of Kent aboue specified, wherof vij. suffered af Maydstone, and vij. at Canterbury, I thought not vnmeete here also to be adioyned the examination of Mat. Plase, a Weauer, of the same Countie of Kent, and a faithfull Christian. Who beyng apprehended and imprisoned likewise for þ^e testimonie of a good conscience, in the Castle of Canterbury, was brought to examination before the B. of Douer, and Harpsfield the Archdeacon, as here is to be read and seene.

MarginaliaExamination of Mathew Plase before the Byshop of Douer, Harpesfield Archdeacō, & Collins Commissarie &c.FIrst when I came before the Byshop, he asked me whether I was not of that dioces, and where I dwelt, for that was my first article.

Aunsw. I aunswered, I was of the parish of Stone in Kent, and subiect vnto the king and Queene of England.

Bish. Then he sayd, I was indicted by twelue men, at Ashford at the sessions, for heresie.

Auns. I sayd, that was soner sayd then proued.

Bysh. Then he sayd, it was the truth that he had spoken to me, for he had whereby to proue it.

Auns. Then I desired him to let me heare it, and I would aunswere to it.

Bish. But he sayd he would not so do, but I shoulde answere to my article, yea or nay.

Auns. I sayd, he could not: for I was not at Ashforde, and therefore he had nothing to lay to my charge. But now I perceaue you goe about to lay a net to haue my bloud.

Arch. After many wordes betwixt the Byshop and me, the Archdeacon sayd: peace, peace, we do not desire thy bloud, but we are glad to heare that thou art no hereticke, with many flattering wordes, and sayd: yet I was suspected of heresy, and if I would be content to confesse how I did beleue as cōcerning these articles, they would gladly teach me.

Auns. But I sayd, I did not so thinke, for I talked with one of your Doctours, and after long talke, he would needes know how I did beleue in the Sacrament, and I recited vnto him the text, and because I would not make hym an exposition, he would teach me nothing: yet I prayed hym for my learning to write his mynde, and if it were the truth, I would beleue hym: and thys I did desire hym for the loue of God, but it

would not be.

Arch. Then sayd he, it was not so, he durst sweare vpon a booke.

Auns. I sayd, it would be so proued.

Arch. Then he stoode vp wyth a longe processe, and sayd: he would tell me the truth, and was sure that the same Doctour did beleue as he did.

Auns. I asked him how he knew that, seyng S. Paule doth say, that no man knoweth what is in man but the spirite which dwelleth in him: but if you wist what Christ ment by these wordes, MarginaliaOse. vj. Math. xij.I require mercy and not sacrifice, you would not kill innocentes.

Bish. The Byshop began with me agayne, and charged me in the king and Queenes name, and the Lorde Cardinals, to answere yea or nay, to the articles that followed.

Auns. Then I commaunded him in hys name that should come in flaming fire with his mighty Angels to render vengeance to the disobedient, & to all those that beleued not þ^e Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ, which should be punished with euerlasting dampnation, that he should speake nothing but the truth grounded vpon Christ and his Apostles, and then I would aunswere him, or els not.

Bish. Then he was very angry, and sayd: if I woulde not aunswere he would cōdemne me in deede: vnlesse I would aunswere euery article.

Auns. Well sayde I, if you do, you shalbe gilty of my bloud, and proue your selfe a murderer.

Arch. Then the Archdeacon tooke the articles in his hand and red the second article, which was, that I was a christian man, and did beleue in their mother the catholike church,MarginaliaThe Catholicke Church. and the determination thereof.

Ans. I said, I was a Christian man in deede, and therfore they had nothing agaynst me.

Arch. Then sayd he, what sayst thou to the catholicke church, which hath so long continued, except it were ix. or x. yeares, that this heresie hath spronge vp here in thys realme.

Auns. I sayd, no man can accuse me of any thing spoken agaynst the catholike church of Christ.

Bish. Then sayd the Byshop: doost thou not beleue the Creede?

Auns. Yes verely I beleue my Creede, and all that is written in the Testament of Christ, with the rest of the Scriptures.

Bish. Then sayth he: thou doost confesse that there is a catholicke church. I am glad of that: MarginaliaThys Article of þ^e King and Queene, is no article of hys Catholicke Crede.MarginaliaAnd yet he said before that he went not about to seeke hys bloud.but tell me, is the king and Queene of that church or not?

Auns. Well sayd I, now I perceaue, you go about to be both myne accuser, and also my iudge, contrary to all right. I confesse Christ hath a church vpon earth, which is built vpon the Apostels and Prophetes, Christ beyng the head thereof, and as touching the king and Queene, I answere, I haue nothing to do wyth no mās faith but w^t my owne: neither came I hether to iudge, for I iudge not my self, but the Lord must iudge me.

Bish. Thē said he: Is there no part of that church here in England?

Auns. Well I perceaue, you would fayne haue some thing to lay to my charge. I wyll tell you where. Christ sayth, whereas two or three be gathered together in his name, there is he in the middest among them.

Then the Archdeacon stoode vp with his mockes, to put me out of comfort, and sayd to the people: that I had no wit, but that I thought all they were deceaued so long time, and that halfe a dosen of vs should haue the truth in a corner, MarginaliaIudgement without truth.and that all they should be deceaued, with such like tauntes and mockes: but would not suffer me to speake one word.

Arch. Then he red the article of the Sacrament, and sayd, I did deny the reall presence to be in the sacramēt after it was once consecrated, and that I said, Christes body was in heauen and no where els, and that the bread was nothing but a signe, token, or remebrance.