performe the condemnation of this Lambert by no other ministers, then Gospellers thēselues, Taylor, Barnes, Cranmer and Crōwell, who afterwardes in a maner all, suffred the lyke for the Gospels sake: of whom (God willyng) we will speake more hereafter.

MarginaliaThe crafty fetch of Steph. Wint.This vndoubtedly was the malicious and crafty subtilty of the Byshop of Winchester, whiche desired rather, that the sentence might be read by Cromwell, then by any other, so that if he refused to do it, he should likewise haue incurred the lyke daunger. But to be short, Cromwell at the Kynges commaundement takyng the scedule of condemnation in hand, read the same:MarginaliaThe sentence agaynst Iohn Lambert. Wherein was conteyned the burnyng of heretickes, which either spake or wrote any thyng, or had any bookes by them, repugnaunt or disagreeyng from the Papisticall Churche and their tradition, touchyng the Sacrament of the aultar: also, a Decree that the same should be set vppe vppon the Churche porches, and bee read foure tymes euery yeare, in euery Churche throughout the Realme, whereby the worshyppyng of the bread should be the more firmely fixed in the hartes of the people. And in this maner was the condemnation of Iohn Lambert. Wherein great pitie it was, and much to be lamented, to see the Kynges hyghnesse that day so to oppose and set his power and strength so fiercely and vehemently in assistyng so many proud and furious aduersaries, agaynst that one poore seely soule, to be deuoured. Whom his Maiestie with more honour might rather haue ayded and supported beyng so on euery side oppressed and compassed about without helpe or refuge, among so many woulues and vultures, especially in such a cause tendyng to no derogation to hym nor to his Realme, but rather to the necessary reformation of syncere truth and doctrine decayed.MarginaliaThe part of a good Prince, what to doe. For therein especially consisteth the honour of Princes, to pitie the miserable, to releue the oppressed, to rescue the wronges of the poore, and to tender and respect the weaker part, especially where right and truth standeth with hym: whiche if the Kyng had done that day, it had bene, in my mynde, not so much for the comfort of that poore persecuted creature, as it would haue redounded to the immortall renoume of hys Princely estate to all posteritie.

But thus was Iohn Lambert, in thys bloudy Session, by the kyng iudged and condemned to death, whose iudgemēt now remayneth with the Lord against that day, when as before the tribunall seate of that great iudge, both Princes and subiectes shal stand and appeare, not to iudge, but to be iudged, according as they haue done and deserued  

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Foxe notes here that he had obtained this account of Lambert's trial from a certain 'A.G.'. This note only appeared in 1570, although Foxe had already printed this account in the Rerum and in the 1563 edition. 'A. G.' is very probably Anthony Gilby, the celebrated Protestant preacher, with whom Foxe shared a house in Frankfurt in 1554-55.

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The trial and death of John Lambert alias Nicholson was extraordinary in many respects, and filled many pages of Foxe's book. Coming as it did at a critical phase of Henry VIII's remoulding of the English church, when eucharisitic doctrine threatened to upset applecarts in England itself, as well as its continental relations, and when the king's leading aides (both Cranmer and Cromwell) were covertly heading in directions quite other than those congenial to the king, Lambert's case was threatening. He was initially examined by Archbishop Warham on 45 articles, but it was his sacramentarian heresy that proved critical, and accounts for the space allotted to him in the 'Book of Martyrs' as well as the royal presence presiding at his final trial. He was burned at Smithfield on 22 November 1538. Another unusual feature of Lambert's case is the close relationship between Foxe's text and image. Author and designer here worked together, integrating word and image. Foxe described the peculiar horror of this burning, and the block-maker faithfully portrayed his words, that described how after Lambert's legs had been consumed 'up to the stumps', his 'tormentors' pulled back the fire and attacked him with their pikes 'after the manner and form that is described in the picture adjoined'. After which Lambert, 'lifting up such hands as he had, and his fingers' ends flaming with fire', cried out 'none but Christ, none but Christ', before he collapsed and fell into the fire. As it happened, the illustrator responsible for this block was peculiarly fitted to the task. For we can reasonably assign to him a group of woodcuts that share recognizable characteristics: a pyre with gatherings of straight logs; writhing flames that have partings (like those in hair); flames that lick around the martyr's arms (and sometimes dart from the hair); outstetched armsand splayed fingers (specially suiting this case). (He almost specialised in 'fingers flaming with fire'). Blocks that shared these features included several used in the first edition that proved awkward in size, and were abandoned or (unsatisfactorily) trimmed. (Examples are the burnings of William Sawtry, Alexander Gouch and Driver's wife, and Bishop Ferrar. If the maker of these cuts was also given assigments in the larger woodcuts, we might assign this one to him). CUL copy: the tips of the flames in this copy are depicted in red. Additional detail is provided in ink in this copy.

MarginaliaLambert going to his death. Vpon the day that was appointed for this holy martyr of God to suffer, he was brought out of the prison at 8. of þ^e clocke in the morning, vnto the house of the L. Cromwell, and so caryed into his inwarde chamber, where as it is reported of many,MarginaliaL. Cromwell desired of Lambert forgeuenes. that Crōwel desired hym of forgeuenes, for that he had done  

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It is highly unlikely that Cromwell would have had someone condemned by the king brought to his and that he would have sought the condemned man's forgiveness. This anecdote has to regarded as another attempt by Foxe to alleviate the embarrassment caused by Lambert's having been denounced by other evangelicals.

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See Ephesians 5:2; this is a common martyrological trope.

As touching the terrible maner and fashion of the burnyng of this blessed Martyr  

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This account of Lambert's execution was only added in the 1570 edition. It was probably sent to Foxe by an eyewitness to the event.

Thus ye haue heard by what crafte and subtiltie this good man was intrapped, and with what crueltie he was oppressed, so that now remayneth nothing, but only his punishment and death, which the drunken rage of the Byshops thought not to be long protracted.