MarginaliaAn. 1557. September.This information was geuen by Thomas Tye, Curate of Bentley (of whome ye haue already heard) and certeine other of þ^e same parish and affinitie: as namely MarginaliaPersecutors.Iohn Painter, William Harris, Iohn Barker, Iohn Carter, Thomas Candeler, Ieffrey Bestwod, Iohn Richard, Richard Meere.  

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Foxe was clearly consulting the document denouncing Allerton.

MarginaliaInformation geuen agaynst Rafe Allerton, by Syr Thomas Tye priest, a wicked promotor.The effect wherof was, that one Laurēce Edwardes of Bentley aforesayd, had a child that was vnchristened, and being demaunded by the sayd Tye, why hys child was not baptised, he made aunswere it should be when he could find one of his religion (meaning a true professor of Christes Gospel). Whereat the Curate sayd: ah, ye haue had some instructor that hath schooled you of late. Yea (quoth the sayd Edwardes) that I haue: and if your doctrine be better then his, then I will beleue you: and ther withall fondly offered to fetch him. Wherupon the Constable going with him, they brought before the sayd Curate the said Rafe Allertō: of whom in this information they make this reporte that he was a sedicious person, who sithens his comming downe from the bishop had set vppon the Constables dore certayne sedicious letters, mouing and perswading thereby the people to follow his malicious disobedience: and that these his perswasions had taken effect in many: And father that the sayd Rafe Allerton (the Curate asking him whether he had instructed this Laurence Edwardes that it was agaynst Gods commaundement to enter into the Church) casting abroad his handes, should say: Oh good people, now is fulfilled the saying of the godly priest and prophet Esdras, who sayth: Marginaliaiiij. Esd. xvj.The fire of a multitude is kindled agaynst a few: they haue taken away their houses, and spoyled their goods. &c. Which of you all haue not seene this day? who is he here amongest you, that seeth not all these thinges done vpō vs this day? The church which they call vs vnto, is the church of Antichrist, a persecuting church, and the church malignant. With these and many mo words (sayd they) most maliciously and falsely alleged out of the scriptures, he thus perswaded a great multitude there present (as much as in him lay) vnto disobedience. For the which cause the Constables did then apprehend him.

Marginalia3.Item, thou Rafe Allerton canst not deny, but that the letter sent vnto me by my Lord Darcy, begynnyng with these wordes (pleaseth it your Lordshyp. &c.) was thine owne letter, and was subscribed by thyne owne hand.

The contentes of the letter mentioned in this Article, and written by Allerton, vnto the Lord Darcy, was a confession of his demeanour before his first apprehension: the effect and purporte wherof because it appeareth in the begynnyng of this his hystory, I do here omit.

Marginalia4.Item, thou Rafe Allerton canst not deny, but that the other letter, sent also to me frō my said L. Darcy, beginning thus (pleaseth it your Lordshyp &c.) and endyng with these wordes (when soeuer it be) in thyne owne very letter, and subscribed with thyne owne hand.

This was also an other letter written by him vnto the Lord Darcy, the contētes wherof were, that where the sayd Lord had commaunded hym to declare where he had bene euer sithens Whitsontyde last before hys first apprehension, this was to certifie his Lordshyp, that he was not able so to do, other wise then as he had already shewed hym by his former letters. And moreouer, where as he charged hym to haue read vnto the people abroad in the woodes, he certified hym that he did neuer read any thyng abroad, sauing once when he was in the cōpany of George Eagles and others, Richard Roth tooke a writyng out of his bosome and desired the sayd Rafe to read it, which request he then accomplished: and demaundyng of hym whose doyng the same was, the sayd Roth told that it was M. Cranmers, late Archbyshop of Canterbury: and father he could not shew hym. Neuertheles he was ready and willyng to suffer such punishment as his Lordshyp

should thinke mete, desiryng yet that the same might be with fauour and mercy, although he feared neither punishment nor death, praying the Lord, that it might be in his feare, when soeuer it should be.

Marginalia8.Item, thou Rafe Allerton canst not deny,but that the letters written with bloud, begynnyng with these wordes (Grace, mercy and peace. &c.) and endyng thus (Farewell in God) remayning now registred in the actes of this Court, were writtē voluntaryly with thine owne hand.

He wrote this letter in the prison with bloud for lacke of other inke, and did meane to send þ^e same vnto Agnes Smith, aliâs Siluerside,  

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On Agnes Smith (or Silverside), see 1563, pp. 1607-08.

MarginaliaA letter of Rafe Allerton.GRace, mercy, and peace from God the father, and frō our Lord Iesus Christ, with the assistance of Gods holy spirite, and the aboundant health both of soule and body, I wish vnto you, as to myne owne soule, as God knoweth, who is the searcher of all secretes.

Forasmuch as it hath pleased almighty God of his infinite mercy, to call me to the state of grace, to suffer Martyrdome for Iesus Christes sake, although heretofore I haue most negligently dalyed therwith, and therfore farre vnworthy I am of such an hygh benefite, to be crowned with the most ioyfull crowne of Martyrdome: neuerthelesse it hath pleased God not so to leaue me, but hath raised me vp agayn according to his promise, which sayth: MarginaliaPsal. 37.Although he fall, yet shall he not be hurt: For the Lord vpholdeth hym with his hand. Wherby we perceiue Gods election to be most sure: for vndoubtedly he will preserue all those that are appointed to dye. And as hee hath begon this worke in me: euen so I do beleue that he will finish the same, to his great glory, & to my wealth, through Iesus Christ. So be it.

Dearely beloued sister (I am constrained so to cal you because of your constant fayth and loue vnfained) consider, that if we be the true seruauntes of Christ, then may not we in any wise make agreemēt with his enemy Antichrist. For there is no concord nor agreement betwene them sayth the Scriptures: and a man can not serue two masters, sayth Christ. And also it is prefigured vnto vs in the old law, whereas the people of God were most straightly commaunded that they should not myngle them selues with the vngodly heathen, & were also forbidden to eate, drinke, or to marye with them. For as often as they did either marry vnto their sonnes, or take their daughters vnto them, or to their sonnes,. euen so oft came the great and heauy wrath of God vppon hys owne people, to ouerthrow both them and all their Cities, with the holy sanctuary of God: and brought in straunge Princes to reigne ouer them, and wicked Rulers to gouerne them, so that they were sure of hunger, sword, pestilence, & wilde beastes to deuour them. Which plages neuer ceased, vntill the good people of God were cleane separated from the wicked idolatrous people.

Oh dearely beloued, thys was written for our learning, that we through patiēce and comfort of the scriptures might haue hope. And is it not in like case happened now in this realme of England? For now are the people of God had in derision, and troden vnder foote, and the Cities, Townes, and houses where they dwelt, are inhabited with them that haue no right thereunto, and the true owners are spoyled of their labours: yea, and the holy sanctuary of Gods most blessed word, is layd desolate and wast, so that the very Foxes run ouer it. &c. yet is it þ^e foode of our soules, þ^e lāterne of our feete, & the light vnto our pathes: & where it is not preached, there the people perish. But as the Prophet saith: MarginaliaEsay. lix.he that refrayneth himselfe from euil, must be spoyled. Why should we thē be abashed to be spoyled, seing that it is tolde vs before, that it must so happen vnto them that refrayne from euill? And thus I bid you farewel in God.

R. A.

Marginalia9.Item thou Rafe Allerton canst not deny, but that the letters written with bloud, beginning with these wordes in the ouer part thereof. (The angell of God. &c.) and ending thus (be with you, Amen) and hauing also this postscript (do ye suppose that our brethren &c.) remayning now registred in the actes of this court, are thyne owne hand writing.