Marginalia1558. March. Aprill.God, trusting in hys mercy, and he wil surely helpe vs, as shalbe most vnto his glory and our euerlasting comfort, being sure of this, that he wil suffer nothing to come vnto vs, but that which shalbe most profitable for vs. For it is eyther a correction for our sinnes, or a tryall of our fayth, or to set forth hys glory, or for altogether, and therefore must nedes be well done. For there is nothyng that commeth vnto vs by fortune or chaunce, but by our heauenly fathers prouidence. And therefore pray vnto our heauenly father that he wyll euer geue vs his grace so to consider it. Let vs geue hym most harty thankes for those hys fatherly corrections: For as many as he loueth, he correcteth. And I besech you now be of good chere, and count the crosse of Christ greater riches, then all the vayne pleasures of England. I do not doubt (I prayse God for it) but that you haue supped with Christ at hys Maundie, I meane beleue in hym, for that is the effect, and then must you drinke of hys cup, I meane hys crosse (for that doth the cup signifie vnto vs). Take the cup wyth a good stomacke, in the name of God: and then shall you be sure to haue the good wine Christes bloud to thy poore thirsty soule. And when you haue the wyne, you must drinke it out of this cup. Learne thys when you come to the Lordes supper, pray continually. In all thinges geue thankes.

In the name of Iesus shall euery knee bow.
Cutbert Simson.

Hugh Foxe.Iohn Deuenish.  

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Hugh Foxe and John Devenish

This account first appeared in the 1563 edition and remained basically unchanged in subsequent editions. It was based on their answers to the articles alleged against them and these were taken from the records of their trial.

MarginaliaHugh Foxe, Iohn Deuenish, Martyrs.WIth Cutbert lykewise were apprehended and also suffred (as is before mencioned) Hugh Foxe, and Iohn Deuenish.  

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A letter from Foxe and Devenish to other protestant prisoners is BL, Additional Ms 19400, fos. 84r-86v.

MarginaliaGenerall articles obiected to them all three together.AFter these Articles thus ministred & layd to Cutbert Simson, with his aunsweres likewise vnto the same, the Bishop calling them all together, obiected to them other positions and Articles, the same which before are mentioned in the story of Bartlet Grene. pag. 2015. only the viij. Article out of the same omitted and excepted, which Articles because they are already expressed in the page aboue mentioned, we nede not here to make any new report therof, but onely referre the reader to the place assigned.

Marginalia1.MarginaliaTheir answeres generall to the articles.TO the first article they al answered affirmatiuely: but Iohn Deuenish added, that the Church is grounded vpon the Prophets and Apostles, Christ being the head corner stone, and how in that Church there is the true fayth and religion of Christ.

Marginalia2.To the second article, they all confessed and beleued, that in Christes catholicke church, there are but ij. sacramentes, that is to witte, baptisme and the supper of the Lord: otherwise they do not beleue the contentes of this Article to be true in any part therof.

Marginalia3.To the iij. Article, they all aunswered affirmatiuely.

Marginalia4.To the iiij. Article, they all aunswered affirmatiuely.

Marginalia5.To the fift Article they all aunswered affirmatiuely, that they doe beleue, and haue and will speake agaynst the sacrifice of the Masse, the Sacrament of the altar, and likewise agaynst the authoritie of the Sea of Rome, and are nothyng sory for the same, but will do it still while they lyue.

Marginalia6.To the sixt Article, they all aunswered and denyed to acknowledge the authoritie of the Sea of Rome, to be

lawfull and good, either yet his Religion.

Marginalia7.To the seuenth Article, they all aunswered affirmatiuely, that they haue and will do so still while they lyue: and Iohn Deuenish addyng therto, sayd that the Sacrament of the altar, as it is now vsed, is no Sacrament at all.

Marginalia8.To the eight Article, they all confessed and beleued all thinges aboue by them acknowledged and declared, to be true, and that they be of the Dioces of London, and Iurisdiction of the same.

These iij. aboue named persons & blessed witnesses of Iesus Christ, Cutbert, Foxe, and Deuenish, as they were altogether apprehended at Islington, as is aboue declared, so the same all three together suffered in

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As the amount of illustration thickens through the concluding pages of the Book of Martyrs, new small cuts were still appearing alongside the repeating images. This example (Type 1) appears next a recycled print of the same family of cuts, though it seems rather a peculiar new arrival at this stage, since there were already two small blocks showing two men in the flames, and what was needed here was one showing three (which the producers did not have). Does this suggest some kind of bulk commissioning, as well as the cutting of designs specifically tailored to the text?

Smithfield about the xxviij. day of March, in whose perfect constancy the same Lord (in whose cause and quarell they suffered) geuer of all grace and gouernour of all thinges, be exalted for euer, Amen.

The suffering and Martyrdome of William Nicole, put to death by the wicked handes of the Papistes at Herefordwest in Wales.  

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William Nichol

The entire account of William Nichol first appeared in the 1563 edition; an informant must have supplied Foxe with the sparse details he had on Nichols.

MarginaliaAprill. 9.
William Nicoll, Martyr.WE finde in all ages from the beginning that Sathā hath not ceassed at all times, to molest the church of Christ with one afflictiō or other, to þ^e trial of their faith, but yet neuer so apparantly at any time to all the world, as when the Lord hath permitted him power ouer the bodyes of his saintes, to the sheding of theyr bloud, and peruerting of relygion: for then slepeth he not, I warrant you, from murdering of the same, vnlesse they will fall downe with Achab and Iesabell to worship hym, and so kyll and poyson theyr owne soules eternally: as in these miserable latter dayes of Queene Mary we haue felt heard and seene practised vppon Gods people. Among whom we finde recorded an honest good simple poore man, on William Nicoll, who was apprehended by the Champions of the Pope, for speaking certayne wordes agaynst the cruell kingdome of Antichrist, and the ix. day of Aprill. 1558. was butcherly burnt and tormented at Herefordwest in Wales, where he ended his life in a most happy and blessed state, and gloriously gaue his soule into the handes of the Lord: whose goodnes be praysed for euer and euer, Amen.