MarginaliaW. Nicoll a simple soule.Thys William Nicoll (as we are informed) was so simple a good soule, that many estemed him halfe foolish. But what he was we know not: but thys are we sure he dyed a good mā, and in a good cause, whatsoeuer they iudge of him. And the more simplicity or feblenes of wit appeared in him, the more beastly and wretched doth it declare theyr cruell & tirannicall act therin. The Lord geue them repentaunce therfore, if it be hys blessed will, Amen, Amen.
[Back to Top]This account first appeared in the 1563 edition and was essentially unchanged in subsequent editions. It is based on detailed information supplied by a local informant or informants.
MarginaliaMay. 19.MarginaliaThe story and Martyrdome of W. Seaman, Tho. Carman, and Thomas Hudson.IMmediatly after William Nicole, succeded in that honorable and glorious vocation of Martyrdome three constant godly mē at Norwich in Norfolke, who were cruelly and tyrannically put to death for þe true testimony of Iesus Christ, the 19. of May an. 1558. Whose names be these.
[Back to Top]Foxe gives Carman's first name as Thomas, but his papers contain the sentence condemning William Carman to death (BL, Harley MS 421, fos. 157r-158r) and there is a copy of a writ sent to the lord chancellor stating that William Carman had been excommunicated (PRO C/185/141/27).
MarginaliaWilliam Seaman.The sayd William Seaman was an husbandman, of the age of xxvj. yeares, dwelling in Mendlesham in the county of Suffolke, who was sought for sundry tymes by the commaundement of MarginaliaSyr Iohn Tyrrell Knight.Syr Iohn Tirrell Knight, and at last hee hym selfe in the night searched hys house and other places for hym: notwithstanding, hee somewhat mist of his purpose, God be thanked. Then he gaue charge to his seruantes, MarginaliaRobert Baulding, MarginaliaIames Clarke, persecutors.Robert Baulding, and Iames Clarke with others, to seeke for hym. Who hauing no officer, went in the euening to hys house, where he beyng at home, they tooke hym and caryed hym to their master Syr Iohn Tirrell. This Baulding beyng Seamans nigh neighbour, and whom the sayd Seaman greatly trusted as a speciall frend, notwithstandyng to do his Master a pleasure, now became enemy to his chief frend, and was one of the busiest in the takyng of him. Now as they were goyng to cary him to their Master Syr Iohn Tyrrel in the night, MarginaliaA light out of the element.it is credibly reported that there fell a light betwene them out of the element and parted them. This Bauldyng beyng in company with the rest whē the light fell, albeit he was then in hys best age, yet af-
[Back to Top]ter that tyme neuer enioyed good day, MarginaliaGods punishment vpon a persecutor.but pined away euen vnto the death.
Well, for all that straunge sight (as I sayd) they caried hym to their master. Who when he came, asked hym why he would not go to masse, and receaue the sacrament, and so to worship it? Vnto which William Seaman aunswered, denying it to be a sacrament, but sayde it was an Idoll, and therefore would not receaue it. After which wordes spoken, Syr Iohn Tirrell shortly sent hym to Norwich to Hopton then Byshop, MarginaliaSeaman brought to Byshop Hopton, & by hym condēned.and there, after conference and examination had with him, the Byshop red hys bloudy sentence of condemnation against hym, and afterward deliuered hym to the secular power, who kept hym vnto the day of Martyrdome.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaSeamans wife & hys 3. younge children, were persecuted also by Syr Iohn Tyrrell.Thys sayd William Seaman left behind him when he dyed, a wife and three children very yonge: and with the sayd younge children, hys wife was persecuted out of the sayd towne also of Mendlesham, because that she would not go to heare Masse, and all her corne & goods seased and taken away by master Christopher Coles officers, he beyng Lord of the sayd towne.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThomas Carman, Martyr.Thomas Carman (who, as is said, pledged Richard Crashfield at hys burning, and thereupon was apprehended)
See 1563, p. 1617; 1570, p. 2206; 1576, p. 1904 and 1583, p. 2012.
MarginaliaThomas Hudson, Martyr.Thomas Hudson was of Ailesham in Norfolke, by his occupatiō a Glouer, a very honest poore mā, hauing a wyfe and three children, and laboured alwayes truely and diligently in his vocation, being of thirty yeares of age, and bearing so good a will to the Gospell, that he in the dayes of king Edward þe sixt, two yeares before Queene Maryes raigne, MarginaliaHudson learneth to read Englishe.learned to read Englishe of Anthony and Thomas Norgate of the same Towne, wherein he greatly profited about the tyme of alteration of religion. For when Queene Mary came to raigne, and had chaunged the seruice in the church, putting in for wheate, draffe and darnyll, and for good preaching, blasphemous crying out agaynst truth and godlines, MarginaliaHudson flyeth from Papistry.he then auoyding all their beggerly Ceremonies of superstition, absented him selfe from his house, and went into Suffolke a long tyme, and there remayned, traueling from one place to an other, as occasion was offered. At the last, he returned backe agayne to Norfolke, to his house at Ailesham, to comfort his wife & hys childrē, being heauy & troubled with his absence.
[Back to Top]Now when he came home, and perceaued his continuaunce there would be daungerous, he and his wife deuised to make hym a place among hys fagots to hyde himselfe in, where he remained all the day (in stede of hys chamber) reading and praying continually, for the space of halfe a yeare, and hys wife like an honest woman being carefull for hym, vsed her self faythfully and diligently towardes him.
[Back to Top]In the meane tyme came the Vicar of the towne, named BerryMarginaliaBerry the Commissary, a persecutor. (who was one of the Byshops Commissaryes, a very euill man) and inquired of thys sayd Thomas Hudsons wife for her husband. Vnto whom she aunswered, as not knowing were he was. Then the sayd Berry rated her, & threatned to burne her, for that she would not bewray her husband where he was. MarginaliaHudson waxeth bolde in the truth.After that, when Hudson vnderstoode it, he waxed euery day more zealous then other, and continually red and sang Psalmes, to the wonder of many, the people openly resorting to hym to heare his exhortations and vehement prayers.
[Back to Top]At the last he walked abroad for certayne dayes openly in the Towne, crying out continually agaynst the Masse and all their trompery, and in the end, com-