Sacrament of penaunce, are naught, and that you will none of thē: And likewise that the colledge of Cardinals bee lymmes of the said Antichrist: and that all other inferiour Prelates and Priestes are the Sinagoge of Sathan. And moreouer you said that the doctours of the Churche haue subuerted the truth of holy Scripture, expoūding it after their owne mindes, and therfore their workes be naught, and they in hell: but that Wickleffe is a saint in heauen, MarginaliaWickliffes Wicket.and that the booke called his wicket, is good, for therin he sheweth the truth. Also you, did wish that there were xx. thousand of your opinion agaynst vs Scribes & Pharisies, to see what you would do for the defēce of your faith. All which heresies you did afterwardes erroneouslie affirme before the Archbishop of Canterbury, and then said that you would abide by them to dye for it: notwithstanding his earnest persuasions to the contrarie: and therefore for these premisses you be euidently relapsed, and ought to be committed vnto the secular power.
[Back to Top]After these Articles thus propounded, and his constāt perseueryng in the truth perceaued, D. Hed vicare
MarginaliaTho. Man, Martyr.NExt to Iohn Stilman aboue mencioned, followeth in this blessed order of Martyrs, the persecution and condemnation of Thomas Man. Who the xxix. daye of Marche in the yeare of our Lord. 1518. was burned in Smithfield.
This detailed account of Thomas Man appears to be based on two sources that are now lost: a court book of the diocese of London recording heresy trials under Bishops Fitzjames and Tunstall, and a court book of the diocese of Lincoln, recording heresy trials under Bishops Smith and Longland. (The Lincoln courtbook probably also contained the now lost records of Longland's persecution in the Chilterns in 1521). Foxe may also have had an unnamed informant for Thomas Man's execution. Foxe's account of Man is very convincing in its circumstantial detail. There is also one piece of corroboration for it: the signification of Man's excommunication and transfer to secular authority for execution and it is dated 1 March 1518 (TNA C 85/126/28).
[Back to Top]This would have placed Man's first arrest in 1512; Man was actually been arrested and tried in 1511.
These articles are almost certainly taken from a lost court book from the diocese of Lincoln. C 189/12 Foxe is reconstructing the details of More's abjuration and escape from the charges made against Man in London in 1518.
Marginalia1.
The articles of Thomas Man.First, that he had spoken against auricular confeßion, and denied the corporall presence of Christes body in the Sacramēt of the altare.
Marginalia2.Item, that hee beleued that all holie men of his secte were onely Priestes.
Marginalia3.Item, that he had affirmed, that the father of heauen was the altare, and the second person the Sacrament, and that vpon the Ascension day the Sacrament ascended vnto the altar, and there abideth still.
Marginalia4.Item, that hee beleued not a right in the Sacrament of extreme vnction.
Marginalia5.Item, that he had called certeine Priestes meanely arayed, pilde knaues.
Marginalia6.Item, that hee had said that pulpettes were Priestes lying stooles.
Marginalia7.Item, that he beleued that Jmages ought not to be worshipped: and that he neither beleued in the Crucifix, nor yet would worship it.
Marginalia8.Item, that he had affirmed, that he heard say, the worde of God and God to be all one, and hee that worthely receaueth the worde of God, receaueth God.
Marginalia9.Item, that he had said, that the Popishe Churche was not the Churche of God, but a Synagoge: and that holy men of his secte were the true Churche of God.
For these and such like matters was hee a long tyme emprisoned, and at last, through frailtie & feare of death, was contented to abiure & yeld hym selfe vnto the iudgement of the Romishe Churche, MarginaliaTho. Man sent to the monastery of Osney.and therupon was enioyned, not onely to make his open recantation, but also frō thenceforth to remayne as prisoner within the monasterie of Oseney besides Oxford, and so to beare a fagot before the first crosse, at the next generall procession within the Vniuersitie.
Foxe is reconstructing the details of More’s abjuration and escape from the charges made against Man in London in 1518.
Man clearly possesed some useful skill; he may have been an artisan, or perhaps even a bailiff or steward.
This was a badge that some people convicted of heresy were compelled to wear identifying them as penitents convicted of heresy; removing it was an offence in itself.
Marginalia1.
Articles agayne obiected agaynst Thomas Man.First that he was of the dioces of London.
Marginalia2.Item, that hee was a Christen man, and professed Christes fayth, and the determinations of holy church concerning the vij. sacramentes, and other articles of the catholique fayth.
Marginalia3.Item, that it was not lawfull for any man (especially a lay man) erroniouslye and obstinatelye to holde, teach, or defend any opinion cōtrary vnto the determinatiōs of the said church