Marginalia1558. Nouemb.Richard Sharpe and Thomas Hale were burned both together in one fire, and bound backe to backe.

MarginaliaThomas Benion, Martyr.THomas Benion a Weauer, at the commaundement of the Commissioners, was brought by a Cōstable, the xiij. day of August. 1557. before M. Dalby, Chauncellour of Bristow, who committed him to prison for saying there was nothing but bread in the Sacrament, as they vsed it. Wherfore, the. xx. day of the sayd August, he was condemned to be burnt by the said Dalby, for denying fiue of their Sacramentes and affirming two, that is: the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ, and the Sacrament of Baptisme. He

was burnt the xxvij. of the sayd moneth and yeare, and dyed godly, constantly and patiently, with confessing the Articles of our Christen fayth.

The Martyrdome of v. constant Christians, which suffered the last of all other in the tyme of Queene Mary.  

Commentary     Close

Five Martyrs at Canterbury

A short version of this account, based on the trial documents from a now lost Canterbury court book, first appeared in the 1563 edition. An anecdote about the burning of Alice Snoth or Agnes Snoth was added to the 1563 edition as it was nearing completion and it was placed in an appendix at the rear of the volume (1563, p. 1735). In the 1570 edition, this anecdote was incorporated into the account of these martyrs. Another anecdote, about Katherine Tynley, was added to this account in the 1570 edition. There were no further changes to this account in subsequent editions.

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MarginaliaNouēb. 10.THe last that suffered in Queene Maryes tyme, were fiue at Canterbury, burned about sixe dayes before the death of Queene Mary, whose names follow here vnderwritten.

MarginaliaMartyrs.Iohn Corneford, of Wrotham.
Christopher Browne, of Maydstone.
Iohn Herst, of Ashford.
Alyce Snoth.
Katherine Knight, otherwise called
Katherine Tynley, an aged woman.

MarginaliaV. last Martyrs that were burned in Q. Maries time.These fiue to close vp the finall rage of Queene Maryes persecution, for the testimony of that word, for which so many had died before, gaue vp their liues, meekely and paciently sufferyng the violent malice of þ^e Papistes. Which Papistes although they then might haue either well spared them, or els differred their death, knowyng of the sickenes of Queene Mary: yet such was the implacable despite of that generatiō, that some there be that say, the Archdeacon of Canterbury the same tyme beyng at London, and vnderstandyng the daunger of the Queene, incontinently made all post hast home to dispatch these, whom before he had then in his cruell custody.

MarginaliaTheir Articles why they were condemned.The matter why they were iudged to the fire, was for beleuyng the body not to be in the Sacramēt of the altar vnlesse it be receaued, saying moreouer that we receaue an other thyng also beside Christes body, which we see and is a temporall thyng, accordyng to S. Paule: The thinges that be sene, be temporall. &c.  

Latin/Greek Translations     Close

Foxe text narrative, citing St. Paul

Translated into English - no Latin text.

Item, for confessing that an euill man doth not receaue Christes body: Because no man hath the sonne except it be geuen him of the father.  

Latin/Greek Translations     Close

Foxe text narrative, possibly alluding to I John, 2. 23.

Translated into English - no Latin text.

Item, that it is Idolatrie to creepe to the crosse, and S. Iohn forbiddeth it, saying: Beware of Images.

Item, for confessing that we shoulde not pray to our Lady and other Saintes, because they bee not omnipotent.

For these and such other Articles of Christian doctrine, were these fiue committed to the fire. Agaynst whom when the sentence should be read, and they excommunicate, after the maner of the Papistes, MarginaliaAn example of Gods worke to be noted.one of them, Iohn Corneford by name, stirred with a vehement spirite of the zeale of God, proceedyng in a more true excommunication agaynst the Papistes, in the name of them all, pronounced sentence agaynst them in these wordes as folow.

MarginaliaSentence of condemnation pronoūced by Ioh. Cornford agaynst the Papistes.In the name of our Lord Iesus Christ the sonne of the most mighty God, and by the power of his holy spirite, and the authoritie of his holy Catholicke and Apostolicke Church, we do geue here into the handes of Sathan, to be destroyed, the bodies of all those blasphemers and heretickes, that doe maintaine any errour agaynst his most holy word, or do condemne his most holy truth for heresie, to the maintenaunce of any false Church or fained Religiō, so that by this thy iust iudgement, O most mightie God, agaynst thy aduersaries, thy true Religion may be knowen, to thy great glory, and our comfort, and to the edifying of all our nation. Good Lord, so be it, Amen.

This sentence of excommunication beyng the same time openly pronounced and registred, procedyng so, as it semeth from an inward faith and an harty zeale to Gods truth and Religion, tooke such effect agaynst the enemies, that with in sixe dayes after Queene Mary died, and the tyranny of all English Papistes with her. Albeit, notwithstandyng the sickenes and death of that Queene, wherof they were not ignoraunt, yet the Archdeacon,MarginaliaThe cruell dealing of M. Harpsfield the Archdeacon of Cant. with other of Canterbury thought to dispatch the Martyrdome of these men before.

Commentary on the Woodcuts     Close

Another instance in which the picture did not fit the sexes of the group of martyrs.

In the which fact, the tyranny of this Archdeacon