Marginalia1554.Arow, Zurich, Geneua, and other places: where by the prouidence of God they were all susteyned, and there entertayned with greater fauour among straungers abroad, thē they coulde bee in their owne country at home, MarginaliaEnglishmen fled out of the realme for religion. The number of Englishe exiles well neare 800. persons. well neare to the number of 800. persons, Studentes, & other together.  

Commentary     Close

Foxe's description of the diaspora of religious exiles from England was copied in the 1563 edition from Crowley's chronicle (cf. Crowley, Epitome, sig. Ffff3v with 1563, p. 927) (This was the last borrowing Foxe made from Crowley's chronicle in Book 10). Foxe added details to it in subsequent editions (see textual variant 30).

[Back to Top]

In the sayd moneth of March, MarginaliaMarch. 15. Lady Elyzabeth & L. Courtney vpon suspition of Syr Tho. Wyats rising cōmitted to the Tower.þ^e Lord Courtney Earle of Deuonshyre, whom the Queene at her fyrst entryng deliuered out of the tower, & Lady Glizabeth also the Quenes Sister, were both in suspection to haue cōsented to Wiates conspiracie, and for the same this March were apprehended and committed to the Tower.

Touching the imprisonment of which Lady Elizabeth and the Lord Courtney, thou shalt note here for thy learning (good Reader) a politicke point of practise in Steuen Gardiner Bishop of Wint. not vnworthy to be considered. This Gardiner beyng alwaies a capitall enemy to þ^e Lady Elisabeth, and thinking now by the occasion of master Wyat to pick out some matter agaynst the Lord Courtney, & so in the ende, to entangle the Lady Elisabeth, deuysed a pestilent practise of conueyance, as in the story here following may appeare.  

Commentary     Close

Two anecdotes follow, both centring around Sir Thomas White the Lord Mayor in 1554, and both concerning the alleged involvement of Elizabeth and of Edward Courtenay in Wyatt's rebellion. Although not named by Foxe as his source, White passes several acid tests that identify Foxe's informants: he is a witness to all the events recounted, he is a prominent figure in both anecdotes and he is consistently reported in a favourable light in both anecdotes. Both anecdotes first appear in the 1570 edition (see textual variant 31). White died in 1567.

[Back to Top]

Is the material Foxe obtained from White accurate? Wyatt had visited Courtenay before his execution, although what was said cannot be verified. Several sources reported that Wyatt had cleared Elizabeth and Courtenay on the scaffold, over the objections of Hugh Weston (J. G. Nichols, [ed.], The Chronicle of Queen Jane and of two years of Queen Mary, Camden Society Original Series 48, [London, 1850] pp. 72-74).

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaA poynt of practise of Ste. Gariner agaynst the Lady Elizabeth.The story is this. The same day that Syr Tho. Wyat dyed he desired the Lieftenaunt to bring hym to the presēce of the Lord Courtney. Who there before the Lieftenaunte and the Shiriffes, kneling down vpon his knees, besought the L. Courtney to forgeue hym, for that he had falslye accused both the Lady Elisabeth and him, & so being brought from thence vnto the scaffold to suffer, there openly in the hearing of all the people cleared the Lady Elysabeth, and the Lord Courtney to be free and innocent from all suspition of that commotion. At which confession MarginaliaD. Weston agaynst the Lady Elizabeth. Doctor Weston there standing by cryed to the people saying: Beleeue hym not good people, for hee confessed otherwise before vnto the Counsell.

After the execution done of Syr Thomas Wyat, which was the 11. day of Aprill, word was brought immediatlye to the Lord Mayor Sir Thomas White, a little before dinner, how master Wyat had cleered the Lady Elisabeth and Lord Courtney, and the wordes also which Doctor Westō spake vnto the people. MarginaliaThe Lord Mayors iudgemēt of D. Weston.Wherunto the Lord Mayor aunswering: Is this true, quoth he? sayd Westō so? In sooth I neuer tooke him otherwise but for a Knaue. Vpon thys the Lord Mayor sitting down to dinner (who dyned the same day at þ^e Bridge house) commeth in Syr Martin Bowes wyth the Recorder, newly come from the Parliamēt house who hearing of the Mayor and Shiriffes this report of Wiates confession, both vpon the Scaffold and also in the Tower, marueyled therat, declaringe how there was an other tale contrary to this, tolde the same day in the Parlyament house, which was, that Syr Thomas Wyat should desire the Lord Courtney to confesse the truth, so as he had done before.

Vpon this it followed not long after that a certain prentice dwelling in s. Laurence Lane named Cut, as hee was drinkyng with one Denhā a Plasterer being one of Queen Maryes seruantes, amongest other talke made mentiō how Syr Thomas Wyat had cleered the Lady Elysabeth, and the Lord Courtney to be no consenters to his rising. MarginaliaCut Prētice in London brought before Ste. Gardiner.Which wordes beinge brought to Gardyner, (by what meanes I know not) incontinent vpon the same, sir Andrew Iudde was sent by the sayd Bishop to the Lord Maior, commaūding hym to bring the sayd Prentice to the Star Chamber which was accused of these wordes, that he should say that Wyat was constrayned by the Counsell to accuse the Lady Elysabeth and the Lord Courtney. Which fellow when he was come to the starre Chamber the aforesayd Gardyner letting passe other matters that were in hand, began to declare to the wholl multytude, how miraculously almightye God had brought the Queenes Maiesty to the Crown, the wholl Realme in a maner being agaynst her, & that he had brought this to passe for this singular intent and purpose, þ^t this Realme being ouerwhelmed with heresies, she might reduce agayn the same vnto the true Catholick fayth. MarginaliaSte. Gardiners tale in the starre chamber agaynst the Lady Elizabeth.And where she tooke the Lady Elizabeth into her fauour, and loued her so tenderly, and also the Lord Courtney, who of long time had been deteyned in prison, and by her was set at libertie, and receiued great benefites at her handes, and notwithstanding all this they had conspired most vnnaturallye and trayterously against her with that haynous Traytour Wiat, as by the confession of Wiat (sayd he) and the letters sent to and fro may plainly appeare. Yet there were some in the Citie of London, which reported that Wiat was constrayned by the Counsell to accuse the Lady Elizabeth and the L. Courtney, and yet you my L. Maior (quoth he) haue not seen the same punished.

The party is here, sayde the Lorde Maior. Take him with you (said Gardinar) and punish him accordyng to his desert, & sayd further: My Lord, take heede to your charge the Citie of London is a whirlepole and sincke of all euill

rumors. there they bee bred, and from thence spreade into all partes of this Realme.  

Commentary     Close

As for the story of the trial of 'one Cut' in Star Chamber, Richard Cutt, a grocer's apprentice, was placed in the pillory on 20 April 1554 for declaring that Wyatt had exonerated Elizabeth (City of London Record Office, Repertory 13, fol. 153r).

MarginaliaThe Lord Shandoys false report in the starre chamber agaynst Lady Elizabeth and L. CourtneyThere stood by the same tyme the Lord Shandoys, who beyng then Lieftenaunt of the Tower, and nowe hearyng the Byshop thus speake, to sooth his tale, came in w^t these wordes as followeth.

My Lordes (quoth hee) this is a truth that I shall tell you, I beyng Lieftenant of the Tower when Wiat suffred he desired me to bryng him to the Lord Courtney. Whiche when I had done, he fell downe vpon his knees before hym in my presence, and desired him to confesse the truth of hym selfe, as he had done before, and to submit himselfe vnto the Queenes Maiesties mercy.

And thus much I thought of this matter to declare, to the entent that the Reader perceiuyng the procedynges of the bishop in the premisses, and comparyng the same with the true testimony of Wiat himselfe, and with the testimony of the Shiriffes which were present the same tyme when Syr Tho. Wiat asked the Lorde Courtney forgiuenes, maye the better iudge of the whole case and matter for the which the Lady Elizabeth and the Lorde Courtney were so long in trouble. Of whiche her Graces trouble, hereafter (God willyng) more shall be sayd in the story of her life. In the meane tyme, to let this matter staye, let vs nowe passe further in our history.

NNot long after this, Queene Mary MarginaliaQ. Mary not fauouring the Lōdoners.partly fearyng the Londoners by occasion of Wiates conspiracy, partly perceiuyng most part of the Citie for religions sake not greatly to fauour her procedynges, to their displeasure and hinderaunce MarginaliaA Parlament holden pretended to be kept at Oxford.sommoned a Parlament to be holden at Oxford: as it were to gratifie that Citie, where both the vniuersitie, Towne, and Countrey had shewed them selues very obedient and forward, especially in restoryng popish religion.  

Commentary     Close

In the first edition, Foxe declared that Oxford had been forward in restoring the 'olde religion'. (1563, p. 927). In later editions, this was changed to 'popish religion' (1570, p. 1588; 1576, p. 1355; 1583, p. 1426), probably in an effort to avoid conceding the superior antiquity of catholicism.

But the Queenes mynde in shorte space chaunged, MarginaliaA Parlament holden at Westminster.and the same Parlament was holden at Westminster in Aprill following. Then the Queene, beside other thinges, MarginaliaMention of the Queenes maryage in the Parlament.proposed conernyng her maryage to the kyng Philip, and restoryng of the Popes supremacie. As touchyng her mariage it was agreed vpon: but the other request could not as then be obteyned.

The same tyme when this Parliamēt was sommoned, she also sommoned a conuocation of bishops and of the Clergie, writing vnto Boner (  

Commentary on the Glosses     Close

From 'The Stile' to 'The Communication'

There are two aspects to be noted: the change in Mary's style (all editions) and Bonner's praise of priests. The softening of the sarcasm against Bonner after 1563 can be seen by comparing the glosses 'Hyghe reasons of Bōner why the order of priestes is to be honored aboue Angels and kinges' (1563) and 'The profound exhortation of B. Boner in the Conuocation' (later editions); perhaps this was linked in with the sharpening of the criticism against him because of his ill temper and base appetites which appear in later passages: this case does not provide the opportunity for that type of criticism.

[Back to Top]

MAria dei gratia Angliæ, Franciæ, Hiberniæ Regina, fidei defensor. MarginaliaSupremum caput in the Queenes stile takē away. Reuerendo in Christo patri Edmundo London. Episc. Salutem. Licet nuper quibusdam arduis & vrgentibus negotijs nos, securitatem, & defensionem ecclesiæ Anglicanæ, ac pacem & tranquilitatem, &c.

Where note (good Reader) concernyng the alteryng & chaungyng the Queenes stile, the latter part therof to bee left out of her title, which is Ecclesiæ Anglicanæ Hiberniæ supremum caput, because in this present Parlament the supremacie beyng giuen awaye from the crowne of England to the Pope, therupō this parcell of the title was also taken away. Likewise the sayd Boner geuyng his Certificat vp on the same, MarginaliaLegitimè suffultus in the Byshops title taken away.leaueth out autoritate illustrissimæ &c. legitime suffulcitus: which parcell also in the sayd Parliament was repriued and taken away the same tyme.  

Commentary     Close

Block 15: Mary's title altered and Bonner's praise of priesthood

Foxe added a passage in the 1570 edition that emphasised that the title of Supreme Head of the English Church had been used by Henry VIII and Edward VI (textual variant 32). The order summoning Convocation, of which Foxe prints a few lines in order to demonstrate Mary's abandoning the title of Supreme Head, is in Bonner's register (Guildhall MS 9531/12, fol. 337v; cf. 1563, p. 927; 1570, p. 1588; 1576, p. 1355; 1583, p. 1426).

[Back to Top]

IN this foresayd conuocation Boner B. of London being Vicegerent and President as is sayd, amde a certain exhortatiō or oration to the Cleargie (whether it was in this conuocation or much about the said tyme) MarginaliaBoner speaketh for the honour of Priesthoode.wherin he semeth to shew a great peece of hys profound and deepe learning in setting forth the most incomparable & superangelicall order of Priesthoode, as may appeare by this parcell or fragment of hys foresayd Oration. Beinge collected and gathered by some that stoode by. Which as it came to our handes so I thought to imparte it to the Reader, both for that the Author of so worthy a worke should not passe vnknowen, and partly also, for that the estimation of this blessed order should lose nothing of his preeminence, but might be knowē in most ample perfection, so as it standeth aboue Angels & Kinges, if it be true that Boner sayth.

¶ A peece or fragment of the exhortation made by Boner bishop of London, to them of the Conuocation house, copied out by them that stoode by and heard him.  

Commentary     Close

Foxe states that his extract from Bonner's oration to the Convocation of 1554, was based on the notes of those who heard it (1563, p. 927; 1570, p. 1588; 1576, p. 1355; 1583, p. 1426). A number of speeches and sermons which Foxe prints in Book 10 are based on the notes taken by those in attendance and later given to Foxe.

[Back to Top]