Marginalia1555. Iuly.owne wordes: so that if there were any grace with me, I would trust myne owne wit no more: and when I looked, it was Latin.

Winch. Why sayd he, can ye read no Latin?

Shet. No. Then was the English Bible brought. He bad me finde it: and so I read it alowd: and then hee sayd loe, here thou mayest see: this is no more to forbid the Image of GOD, then of any other beast, foule or fish (the place was Deut. iiij.MarginaliaDeut. 4.) I sayd it did playnely forbid to make any of these to the Image of God, because no man might know what shape he was of. Therfore might no mā say of any Image, this is an Image of God.

Winch. Well yet by your leaue, so much as was sene we may, that is of Christ, of the holy Ghost: and the father appeared to Daniell like an old *Marginalia* But the commaundement sayth: Deut. 4. Thou shalt make no image of God either man or woman, &c. mā. &c.

Shet. That is no proofe that we may make Images contrary to the commaundement: for though the holy Ghost appeared like a Doue, yet hee was not like in shape, but in certaine qualities,MarginaliaThe holy ghost like a doue in some qualities, but not in shape. The qualities of this semed here to want in Winchest. and therefore when I saw the doue whiche is Gods creature, in deede I might remember the spirite to be simple and louyng. &c. And with that hee was some what moued, and sayd I had learned my lesson, and asked who taught me: with many wordes: and he sayd, hee would proue how good and profitable Images were to teach the vnlearned. &c.

Shet. At þ^e last I sayd: my Lord, although I were able to make neuer so good a glose vppon the commaundementes, yet obedience is better then all our good intentes, and much ado we had: at last he saw, he sayd, what I was, and how he had sent for me for charitie sake to talke with me, but now hee would not medle, and sayd my wrong prisonment could not excuse mee, but I must cleare my selfe.

Shetter. I sayd that was easie for me to do. For I had not offended.

Winch. He said I could not scape so: there I was deceiued.

Shet. I sayd: well then I am vnder the law. &c.

Arch. The Archdeacon was there called in for me, and he layd to me, that with such arrogancie and stoutnes as neuer was heard, I behaued my selfe before him, whereas he was mynded with such mercy towarde me. &c. and many lyes he layd to me,MarginaliaHow the Catholickes falsely slaunder the faythfull innocent. that I was sent home till an other tyme: and I would not be contented but went out of the Church with such an outcry as was notable.

Shetterdē. I declared, that hee falsly herein reported me, and brought in the lawes then in the Realme, and the Queenes Proclamation, that none of her subiectes should be compelled till the law were to compell, & that I rehearsed the same in the Court for me, and I did vse him then (sayd I) as I vse your grace now, and no otherwise.

Winch. He sayd, that I did not vse my selfe very well now.

Shet. I sayd, I had offered my selfe to be bayled, and to cōferre with them, when and where they would.

Winch. He sayd I should not conferre, but be obedient. I sayd let me go and I will not desire to conferre neither: and when I offended, let them punish me, and so departed.

By your brother, Nicolas Shetterden
prisoner for the truth in Westgate.  

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A room above the western gate to the city of Canterbury was used as a prison.

¶ The last examinations with the condemnation of M. Bland, Iohn Frankesh, Nicolas Sheterden, Vmfrey Middleton.  

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Foxe's marginal gloss indicates that his account of this examination was derived from Canterbury records. The record is now lost but since Foxe added it to the 1570 edition he presumably consulted the record, or a copy of it, between 1563 and 1570.

MarginaliaThe final condemnation of these 4. godly Martyrs.ANd thus much touchyng the particular, and seuerall examinations of Nicolas Shetterden, and of M. Bland. Now to touch something also of the other Martyrs, which the same tyme were examined, and suffered with them together, to witte, Vmfrey Middleton of Ashford, and Iohn Frankesh Vicare of Roluynden in the Dioces of Kent aboue mentioned, here first would bee declared the Articles, whiche publickely in their last examinations were ioyntly and seuerally ministred vnto them by the foresayd Thornton Byshop of Douer. But for asmuch as these Articles beyng ordinary & of course, are already expressed in the story of M. Bland, as may appeare before, pag 1585.MarginaliaRead the Articles before, pag. 1585. It shall not therfore be needefull, to make any new rehearsall therof.

To these seuen Articles then beyng propounded to the fiue persons aboue named, to witte, Iohn Frankesh, Iohn Bland, Nicholas Shetterden, Vmfrey Middleton, and one Thacker, MarginaliaEx Regist. Cant.first aunswered Iohn Frankesh somewhat doubtfully, desiryng further respite to be giuen hym of xiiij. dayes to deliberate with him selfe. Whiche was graunted. Maister Bland aunswered flattely and roundly, as before ye heard. Nicolas Sheterden, and Vmfrey Middleton aūswered to the first, and second Articles affirmatiuely. To the third cōcerning the Catholicke Church after a sort they graunted. To the fourth and fift and sixt touchyng the reall presence, and the Sacrament to be ministred in the Latin toung, and in one kynde, they refused vtterly and to sweare. Sheterden sayd hee would not aunswere thereto before the

cause were determined why he was imprisoned, and so still remayned prisoners, before the lawes of Parlament receiued. &c. Middleton added moreouer and confessed, that he beleued in his owne God, saying, my liuyng God, & no dead God &c. MarginaliaThacker recanted.Thacker onely relented & was cōtent to take pennance. Thus the foresayd foure vpō these aunsweres were condemned by the Byshop of Douer, the 25. daye of Iune. an. 1555.  

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Why did Foxe print only some of the answers of the accused? Without the original document we cannot be sure, but there is a good chance that some of their answers were, from Foxe's point of view, unsatisfactorily unorthodox.

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The small woodcut of two men in flames (Type 2) was drafted in here to illustrate the burning of four men, for which the producers had no block. This woodcut saw repeated service and in 1583 appeared again on pages 1716, 1940 (representing three martyrs) and page 2052. Unusually the two men in the pyre are shown wearing loin cloths.

And so beyng geuē to þ^e secular power, they were burned at Cāterbury þ^e 12. day of Iuly at ij. seuerall stakes, but al in one fire together, where they in the sight of God and of his Aungels, and before men, lyke true soldiours of Iesus Christ, gaue a constant testimonye to the truth of hys holy Gospell.

MarginaliaA Christian prayer of Nicholas Sheterden before his death.O Lord my God and Sauiour, whiche art Lord in heauen and earth, maker of all thinges visible and inuisible, I am the creature and worke of thy handes: Lord God looke vpon me, and other thy people, which at this tyme are oppressed of the worldly minded for thy lawes sake: Ye Lorde thy law it selfe is now trodē vnder foote, & mens inuentiōs exalted aboue it: & for that cause do I, & many thy creatures refuse the glory, prayse, & commodity of this life, & do chuse to suffer aduersitie, and to be banished: yea to be burnt with the books of thy word, for the hopes sake that is laid vp in store. For lord thou knowest if we would but seme to please mē in things cōtrary to thy word, we might by thy permissiō enioy these commodities that other do, as wife children, goods, and frendes: which all I knowledge to be thy giftes, geuē to the end I should serue the. And now Lord that the world will not suffer me to enioy them, except I offend thy lawes, MarginaliaSacrifice of obedience to God.behold I geue vnto the my whole spirite, soule and body, and loe, I leaue here all the pleasures of this life, & do now leaue the vse of them for the hope sake of eternall life purchased in Christes bloud, and promised to all them that fight on his side, and are content to suffer with hym for hys truth, when soeuer the world & the deuill shall persecute the same.

O father I do not presume vnto the: in mine own righteousnes: no, but onely in the merites of thy deare sonne my Sauiour. For the which excellent gift of Saluation I cannot worthely prayse the, MarginaliaSacrifice of of thankes for redemption.neither is any sacrifice worthy, or to be accepted with thee, in comparison of our bodies mortified, and obedient vnto thy wyll: and nowe Lorde, what soeuer rebellion hath bene, or is founde in my members, agaynst thy will, MarginaliaSacrifice of the body.yet do I here geue vnto the my body to the death, rather then I will vse anye straunge worshipping, whiche I beseche thee accept at my hande for a pure sacrifice: let