dyed for vs. But for Adams breaking of Gods precept, we had bene all lost if Christ had not redemed vs againe. And like as Adam broke the preceptes, and was driuen out of Paradise: so we, if we breake Gods commaundementes, shall haue damnation if we do not repent and aske mercye. Nowe therefore let all Christians put no trust nor confidence in their workes, but in the bloud of Christ, to whom I commit my soule to guide, beseeching you all to praye to God for me and for my brethren here present with me, that our soules leauyng these wretched carcases, may constantly depart in the true fayth of Christ.

In much like sort Garret also protesting and exhorting the people, after his confession made, ended his protestation in maner as foloweth.

MarginaliaTho. Garret cleareth hym selfe I also detest, abhorre, and refuse all heresies & errours, and if either by negligence or ignoraunce I haue taught or maynteyned any, I am sory for it, and aske God mercy. Or if I haue bene to vehement or rashe in preaching, whereby any person hath taken any offence, errour, or euyll opinion, I desire hym, and all other persons which I haue any way offended, of forgeuenes. Notwithstanding to my remem braūce I neuer preached wittyngly or willingly any thing against Gods holy worde or contrary to the true fayth, to the maintenaunce of errours, heresies, or vicious liuyng, but haue alway for my litle learnyng and wit, set foorth the honour of God, and the right obedience to his lawes, and also to the kinges accordingly. And if I could haue done better, I would. Wherefore Lord if I haue taken in hand to doo that thing which I coulde not perfectly perfourme, I desire thee pardon for my bold presumption.MarginaliaGarret prayeth for the kyng. And I pray God send the kinges grace good and godly counsaile, to his glorye, to the kinges honour, and to the encrease of vertue in this his Realme. And thus now I yeeld vp my soule vnto almighty God, trusting and beleuyng that he of his infinite mercye for his promise made in the bloud of his sonne our most mercyfull saueour Iesu Christ, wyll take it, and pardon me of all my sinnes, whereby I haue most greeuously from my youth offended his maiestie: wherefore I aske hym mercy, desiring you all to praye with me and for me that I may paciently suffer this paine, and die stedfastly in true faith, perfect hope and charitie.

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In the first edition these martyrs merited a full-sized woodcut, spreading across the whole page, that showed the three men tied to their stakes above the faggots, with a mounted horseman on one side and a crowd of onlookers, including some watching from windows. The replacement of this narrative woodcut by one of the standardised sequence of small iconic burnings, may seem suggestive of how the change in illustrative technique introduced in 1570 reflected as well as bore on the standing of the martyrs. Given the problematical questions surrounding the deaths of these men and the possible charges against them (hard to substantiate in view of their summary condemnation by attainder), and Foxe's acknowledged concern to reply fully to the charges of 'Alan Cope' (Nicholas Harpsfield), such diminished pictorial emphasis might well have seemed advisable in 1570. The small cut used from 1570 on showed two, not all three of those burned in Smithfield, a mismatch that was far from unique and may not have bothered contemporary readers and users of Foxe's work. CUL copy: note that the features of the people in this illustration are painted with a richer white.

1541  

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1540.

MarginaliaThe pacient suffering of these three Martyrs. And so after their prayer made, wherin most effectually they desired the Lord Iesus to be their comfort and consolation in this their affliction, and to stablish them with perfect faith, constancy and pacience thorough the holy Ghost, they taking themselues by the handes, and kissing one an other quietly and humbly offered themselues to the handes of the tormentors, and so tooke their death both Christianly & constantly with such patience as might well testifie the goodnes of their cause and quiet of their conscience.

Wherin is to be noted how mightily the Lorde worketh with his grace and fortitude in the hartes of his seruants, especially in such, which causelesse suffer with a giltles conscience for his religions sake aboue other which suffer otherwise for their desertes.Marginalia[illegible text] For whereas they which suffer as malefactors, commonly are wont to go heauy and pensiue to their death, so the other with heauenly alacritie and chearefulnes do abide whatsoeuer it pleaseth the Lord to lay vpon them? Example wherof we haue right well to note, not onely in these 3. godly Martyrs, aboue mentioned, but also in the L. Cromwell, who sufferedMarginaliaThe chearefull patience in the Lorde Cromwell at his death. but ij. dayes before, the same no lesse may appeare. Who although he was brought to his death, atteinted and condemned by the parliament, yet what a giltles conscience he bare to his death, his Christian pacience well declared. Who first calling for his breakfast: and cherefully eatyng the same, and after that passing out of his prison downe the hill within the Tower, and meeting there by the way the Lord Hungerford going likewise to his execution (who for other matter  

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Lord Hungerford was attainted for, amongst other things, conjuring and sodomy, both of which Foxe would regard as unspeakable offences.