Marginalia1558. Iune.is heresy: for thys he was condemned wyth the same butcherly sentence, and so by the secular power was sent away.
Then Robert Southam, after hym Mathew Ricarby, and last of all Roger Holland were seuerally produced.
MarginaliaThe condēnation of Robert Southam, Mathew Ricarby, and Roger Holland.Thus Roger Holland with hys fellowes (as ye heard) standing to their aunsweres, and refusing to acknowledge the doctrine of the Romish church, who were altogether condemned, the sentence beyng red against them, and so all the 7. by secular magistrates being sent away to Newgate the 17. of Iune, not long af-
[Back to Top]ter about the 27. of þe sayd moneth were had to Smithfield, and there ended their liues in the glorious cause of Christes Gospell. Whose particular examinations came not to our handes: sauing only the examinations of Roger Holland, which here followe in order and maner, as we receaued them by the information of certayne who were present at the same.
[Back to Top]This short biography of Holland first appeared in the 1570 edition and it is based on Holland's account of his examinations and the testimony of someone who knew him. Elizabeth Holland, Roger's wife, is likely to have had a copy of Holland's examinations and she certainly knew him. But the uncertainty as to the identity of the kinsman who left her an important legacy rules her out as Foxe'ssource. But the source was clearly close to Elizabeth as well as Roger Holland.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe first examination of Roger Holland.THis Roger Holland a marchant Taylor of London, was first prentise with one master Kempton at the blacke boy in Watling streete, where he serued his prentiship with much trouble vnto hys master in breaking hym from his licencious liberty which he had before bene trayned and brought vp in, geuing hymselfe to riot, as dauncing, fence, gaming, banquetting, and wanton company: and besides all thys, being a stubborne & an obstinate Papist, farre vnlike to come to any such ende as God called hym vnto: the which was as followeth.
[Back to Top]Hys master, notwithstanding thys his leudnes, putting him in trust wt hys accomptes, he had receaued for hym certayne money, to the summe of xxx. pounds, and falling into ill cōpany, lost the sayd money euery grote at dice, beyng past all hope which way to aunswere it, and therefore he purposed to conuey hym selfe away beyond þe seas, eyther into Fraunce or into Flaunders.
[Back to Top]Now hauing determined with hym selfe thus to do, he called betymes in the morning to a seruaunt in the house, an auncient and discrete mayde, whose name was Elizabeth, which professed the Gospell, with a life agreeing vnto the same, & at all tymes much rebuking the wilfull and obstinate papistry, as also the licencious liuing of this Roger Holland. To whom he
[Back to Top]said: Elizabeth I would I had followed thy gentle perswasions and frendly rebukes: which if I had done, I had neuer come to this shame and misery which I am now fallen into: for this night haue I lost xxx. pounde of my masters money, which to pay hym and to make vp myne accomptes, I am not able. But thus much I pray you desire my mistres, that she would intreat my master to take this bil of my hand, that I am thus much indebted vnto hym, and if I be euer hable, I wyll see him payed, desiring him that the matter may passe with silence, and that none of my kinred nor frendes neuer vnderstand this my leude part. For if it should come vnto my fathers eares, it would bring his gray heares ouer soone vnto hys graue: and so was he departing.
[Back to Top]The mayde cōsidering that it might be his vtter vndoing: stay, sayd she, and hauing a peece of money lying by her, geuen vnto her by the death of a kinsman of hers, who (as it is thought, was Doct. Redman) she brought vnto hym xxx. pounde, saying: Roger, here is thus much money: I will let thee haue it, and I wyll keepe this bill. MarginaliaA godly example of a maide, setting more by the soule of a Christen brother, thē by her money.But since I do thus much for thee, to helpe thee and to saue thy honesty, thou shalt promise me to refuse al leude and wylde company, all swearing and ribaldry talke: and if I euer know thee to play one xij. d. at eyther dice or cardes, then I will shew thys thy bill vnto my master. And furthermore thou shalt promise me to resort euery day to þe lecture at Alhollowes, and the sermon at Paules euery Sonday, and to cast away all thy bookes of papistry and vayne ballets, and get thee the testamēt and the booke of seruice, and reade the scriptures with reuerence and feare, calling vnto God still for hys grace to direct thee in his truth. And pray vnto God feruently desiring hym to pardon thy former offences, and not to remember the sinnes of thy youth: and euer be afrayd to breake his lawes or offend his maiesty. Then shall God keepe thee and send thee thy hartes desire.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaRog. Holland brought to the loue of the Gospell.After this tyme, within one halfe yeare God had wrought such a chaunge in this man, that he was become an earnest professor of the truth, and detested all papistry and euill company: so that he was in admirration to all them that had knowen hym and seene hys former life and wickednes.
[Back to Top]Then he repayred into Lankisshiere vnto his father, and brought diuers good bookes with hym, and bestowed them vpon his frendes, MarginaliaRog. Holland conuerteth hys parentes to the Gospell.so that hys father and others began to tast of the Gospell and detest the Masse, idolatry, and superstition: and in the ende hys father gaue hym a stocke of money to begin the world withall, to the summe of fiftie pound.
[Back to Top]Thē he repayred to Lōdon againe, & came to þe maide that lent him the money to pay hys master withall, and sayd vnto her: Elizabeth, here is thy money I borrowed of thee, MarginaliaRog. Holland repayeth the maide her money againe, and maryeth her.and for the frendship, good wil, and the good counsell I haue receaued at thy handes, to recompence thee I am not hable, otherwise then to make thee my wife: and soone after they were marryed, which was in the first yeare of Queene Mary: And hauing a childe by her, he caused Master Rose
Thomas Rose; see 1576, pp. 1977-79 and 1583, pp. 2083-85.
After this he remayned closely in the City and in the countrey in the congregations of the faythfull, vntill the last yeare of Queene Mary. Then he with the vj. other aforesayd, were taken in or not farre from S. Iohns wood, MarginaliaRog. Holland brought to Newgate.and so brought to Newgate vppon May day in the morning. an. 1558.
[Back to Top]Then beyng called before the Byshop, D. Chedsey, both the Harpsfieldes, and certaine other, after many other fayre and craftie persuasions of Doct. Chedsey to allure hym to their Babilonicall Church: thus the