Marginalia1558. Nouemb.with earnest zeale, nothyng fearing to speake theyr cōscience when they were commaunded to the contrary.
In 1563 there are details on their being silenced at the stake which were lost in 1570, when a more detailed account of their execution was added.
MarginaliaGouch and Alice Driuer brought to the stake.These two godly persons beyng come to the place where the stake was set, by vij. of the clocke in the mornyng, notwithstandyng they came the selfe same mornyng from Melton Gaile, which is vj. myles from Ipswiche, being in their Prayers, and singing of Psalmes both of them together, Syr Harry Dowell then beyng Sheriffe, was very much offended with them, and willed the Bailiffes of Ipswich to bid them make an ende of their Prayers.
Contrast this account of Sir Henry Doyle's behaviour at an execution with that described at the execution of Richard Yeoman.
Earlier Foxe had printed an account of Richard Smart's repentence of his persecution of the godly in Mary's reign.
Then Syr Harry sent one of his men whose name is Richard Coue that they should make an ende.
Then Gouch stode vp and sayd vnto the Sheriffe: I pray you M. Shriffe, let vs pray a litle while, for we haue but a litle tyme to liue here.
Then sayd the Baliffe: Come of, haue thē to the fire.
Thē the sayd Gouch and Alyce Driuer said: MarginaliaTh Martyrs not suffered to pray.Why M. Shriffe & M. Baliffe, will you not suffer vs to pray?
Away sayd Syr Harry: to the stake with them.
Gouch answered: Take heede M. Sheriffe. If you forbid prayer, the vengeance of God hāgeth ouer your heades. Then they beyng tyed to the stake and the yron chayne beyng put about Alice Driuers necke. O (said she) here is a goodly neckercher: blessed be God for it.
Then diuers came and tooke them by the handes as they were bound standyng at the stake. The Sheriffe cryed lay handes on them, lay handes on thē. With that a great number ranne to the stake. The Shriffe seyng that, let them all alone: so that there was not one taken.
There was one BateMarginaliaBate a rayling persecutor. a Barber, a busie doer about them. Who hauing then a freese gowne vpon him, sold it immediatly, saying: it stunke of heretickes, with other foule wordes moe. MarginaliaExample of Gods iudgement vpon persecutors.After this within iij. or foure Weekes Gods hand was vppon him, and so he dyed very miserably in Ipswich.
[Back to Top]This entire account first appeared in the 1563 edition. The processes against these martyrs and the sentences condemning them survive in Foxe's papers (BL, Harley MS 421, fos. 140r and 142r-143r).
MarginaliaThe Martyrdome of 3. good men at Bury.ALthough our history hasteth a pase (the Lord be praysed) to the happy death of Queene Mary, yet she dyed not so soone, but some there were burned before, and mo should haue ben burnt soone after thē if Gods prouision had not preuented her with death. In the number of them which suffered the same moneth whē Queene Mary dyed, were three that were burned at Bury, whose names were these:
[Back to Top]Philip Vmfry.
Iohn Dauid.
Henry Dauid his brother.
Concerning the burnyng of these three, here is to be noted, that MarginaliaSir Clem. Higham persecutor.Syr Clement Higham, about a fortnight before the Queene dyed, did sue out a writ for the burning of these three foresayd godly and blessed Martyrs, notwithstandyng that the Queene was then knowen to be past remedy of her sicknes.
[Back to Top]An initial account of Mrs Prest's martyrdom reached Foxe while the 1563 edition was nearing completion and it was placed in the appendix to the first edition (1563, p. 1737). That account was clearly contributed by an individual informant, and in the 1570 edition it was replaced by a more detailed account, based on the testimony of eyewitnesses to at least some of the events. This account was unchanged in subsequent editions.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe story of a poore woman burned at Excestor in Queene Maryes tyme.ALthough in such an innumerable companie of godly Martyrs, which in sundry quarters of this realme were put to tormentes of fire in Queene Maryes tyme, it be hard so exactely to recite euery particular persō that suffered, but that some escape vs either vnknowen, or omitted: yet I can not
[Back to Top]passe ouer a certeine poore woman, and a selie creature, burned vnder the sayd Queenes reigne, in the Citie of Excetor (whose name I haue not yet learned): who dwellyng sometime about Cornewaile, hauing a husband and children there, much addicted to the superstitious sect of Popery: MarginaliaHusband agaynst þe wife.was many tymes rebuked of them, and driuen to go to Church, to their Idols, and ceremonies, to shrifte, to folow the crosse in procession, to giue thankes to God for restoryng Antichrist agayne into this realme. &c. Which when her spirite could not abyde to do, she made her prayer vnto God, callyng for helpe & mercy, & so at length lying in her bed, about midnight, she thought there came to her a certeine motion and a feelyng of singular comfort. Wherupon in short space, she began to grow in contempt of her husband & childrē, & so taking nothing frō them, but euen as she went, departed from them,MarginaliaHer departing frō her husband and returnyng agayne. seekyng her liuyng by labour and spinnyng, as well as she could, here and there, for a time. In which tyme notwithstandyng she neuer ceased to vtter her mynd, as well as she durst: howbeit she at that tyme was brought home to her husband agayne. Where at last she was accused by her neighbours, MarginaliaThe poore woman sent vp to Excetor.and so brought vp to Excetor, to be presented to the Byshop and his Clergie. The name of the Bishop, which had her in examination, was Doct. Troubleuile.MarginaliaD. Trobleuile B. of Excetor, Blackstone persecutors. His Chauncellour (as I gather) was Blakstone. The chiefest matter wherupon she was charged and condemned, was for the Sacrament (which they call of the altar) and for speakyng agaynst Idols, as by þe declaration of those which were present, I vnderstand, which report the talke betwene her and the Byshop, on this wise.
This would seem to indicate that this account was drawn from eyewitnesses to this exchange.
MarginaliaTalke betwene the womā and the Byshop.Byshop. Thou foolish woman (quoth the Byshop) I heare say thou hast spoken certein wordes of the most blessed Sacrament of the altar, the body of Christ. Fie for shame. Thou an vnlearned person and a woman: wilt thou medle with such high matters, which all the Doctours of the world can not define? wilt thou talke of so hye misteries? Keepe they worke, and medle with that thou hast to do. It is no womens matter, at cardes and towe to be spoken of. And if it be as I am informed, thou art worthy to be burned.
[Back to Top]Woman. My Lord (sayd she) I trust your Lordshyp will heare me speake.
Bish. Yea Mary (quoth he) therfore I send for thee.
Wom. I am a poore womā and do liue by my hands, gettyng a peny truly, and of that I get I geue part to the poore.
Bish. That is well done. Art thou not a mans wife?
And here the Bishop entred into talke of her husbād. To whom she aunswered agayne, declaring that she had a husband and children: and had them not. So long as she was at libertie, she refused not neither husband, nor children. MarginaliaThe wife renouncing her husband for Christes sake.But now standing here as I do (sayd she) in the cause of Christ and his truth, where I must either forsake Christ, or my husband, I am contented to sticke onely to Christ my heauenly spouse, and renounce the other.
[Back to Top]And here she making mention of the wordes of Christ: He that leaueth not father or mother, sister or brother, husband. &c. the Bishop inferred that Christ spake that of þe holy Martyrs, which died because they would not do sacrifice to the false Gods.
Wom. Sikerly Syr, and I wil dye rather then I wil do any worship to that foule Idoll, which with your Masse you make a God.
Bish. Yea, you callet, will you say that the Sacramēt of the altar is a foule Idoll?
Wom. Yea truly (quoth she:) MarginaliaThe Sacrament of the altar made an Idoll.there was neuer such an Idol as your Sacrament is made of your priestes, and commaunded to be worshipped of all men, with many fonde phansies, where Christ did commaunde it to be eaten and dronken in remembraunce of his most blessed Passion our redemption.
[Back to Top]Bish. See this pratlyng womā. Doest thou not heare,