1576 Edition | Book 11 | Page 1618 
Marginalia1555. Iuly.WE Maurice by the sufferaunce of GOD Byshop of Rochester proceedyng of our mere office in a cause of heresie, agaynst thee Margery Polley of the Parish of Pepingbery of our Diocesse and Iurisdiction of Rochester, do lay and obiecte agaynst thee all and singular these Articles insuyng. To the whiche, and to euery parcell of them, we require of thee a true, full, and playne aunswere, by vertue of thine othe thereupon to be giuen. &c.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe condemnation of Margery Polley.Thus the oth first beyng ministred, and the Articles cōmēced against her, which Articles were the same ministred to Nicolas Halle and Wayde before, she so framed her aunsweres agayn especially aūsweryng to the thyrd and fourth Article, that she neither allowed the deitie of their Sacrament, nor the absurditie of their Masse. For the which, sentence was read agaynst her about the begynnyng of Iune,
CloseShe was condemned on 7 June 1555 (PRO C/85/144, fo. 33r).
Close
CloseThe only information on this pair in the Rerum is a note stating that John Launder was burned at Steyning, Sussex, and 'Dirickius Harmonus' was burned at Lewes, both in July 1555 (p. 510). [Foxe's source apparently confused Dirick Carver with Richard Harmon, another Sussex protestant, who was committed to the King's Bench in May 1554; see APC V, p. 128]. In the 1563 edition, Foxe had written his complete account of Carver and Launder. It was largely based on official records of the London diocese, now lost, but also, for its account of the despoiling of Carver's family, his learning to read English and of Carver's execution, on personal testimony or testimonies. The account was unchanged in subsequent editions.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaIuly. 22. and 23. MarginaliaDiricke Caruer, and Iohn Launder, Martyrs.THe xxij. day of this moneth of Iuly was burned at Lewes, within the County of Sussex, one Diricke Caruer, late of the Parishe of Brighthamsted in the same Countie. And þe next day (being þe. xxiij. day of þe same moneth) was also burned at Stenyng an other named Iohn Launder, late of Godstone, in the County of Surrey. Whiche two men were (with others) about the ende of the moneth of October. an. 1554. apprehended by MarginaliaEdward Gage gentleman, persecutor.Edward Gage Gentleman, as they were at prayer within the dwellyng house of the sayd Diricke: and by hym were sent vp vnto the Queenes Counsaile. Who, after examination, sent them as prisoners to Newgate, there to attend the leasure of Boner Byshop of London.
CloseCarver and Launder were the first protestants from the diocese of Chichester to be tried for heresy. Technically they should have been tried by the bishop of Chichester, but at that moment the office was vacant. As a substitute, they were sent to Bonner, who really had no jurisdiction in the matter.
[Back to Top]This done, after long perswasions and fayre exhortations, they were demaunded whether they would stand to their aunsweres. To whom Launder sayd: I will neuer
go from these aunsweres, so long as I liue. The other also confirmed the same, and therfore they were commaunded to appeare agayne before the Byshop in the Consistorye at Pauls, the. x. daye of the same moneth next followyng. Whiche articles and confessions, with the afore mentioned letter do here ensue.
[Back to Top]
CloseThis letter must have been copied at Bonner's orders into his diocesan records, probably into a court book which is now lost.
AFter my right harty commendations to your good Lordship, I shall not forget MarginaliaThese funerals were for the Kinges grandmother, the olde Queene of Spayne.your liuery of blacke agaynst thys time:
As Foxe explains in a marginal gloss, the court was wearing black due to the recent death of King Philip's grandmother Juana.
Close
And ye haue sent Bradford to newgate, as a man determined of heresy before you: but as I perceiue ye haue not sent me a Significauit,
I.e., a significavit of excommunication. This was the writ which a bishop was required to send to Chancery, notifying them that an individual had been sentenced to death for heresy and turned over to the secular authorities.
Close
There be diuers like prisoners that came frō Sussex, that bee not yet examined before you, lying nowe in Newgate,MarginaliaHe meaneth Diricke Caruer, and Iohn Launder. which must be examined by you, since they be come to London, and so I praye you they may be,MarginaliaLord Treasurer calleth vpon Boner for examination of these 2. persons. and I certified of your procedynges, that I may follow, which I shall do, thanking your lordship hartely for my Conies, trusting to recompēce your Lordshyp agayn shortly with twise as many. From my house this. vij. of Iune. 1555.
[Back to Top]Your louing friend, Winchester
CloseWilliam Paulet, the marquis of Winchester, not Stephen Gardiner, the bishop of Winchester.
CloseThis confession was copied by Foxe from an official record which is now lost. But by a stroke of luck, we know that Foxe did not reprint this document with complete fidelity. The catholic polemicist Miles Hogarde recorded that Carver stated that a person might be a Christian without baptism and that it was only an external sign (Miles Hogarde, The Displaying of the Protestants [London, 1556], STC 13557, fos. 10r-11r). Note that Foxe does not print an article on baptism by Carver or Launder, but he does print one by Thomas Iveson; this is further evidence that Foxe censored Carver's and Lander's radical opinions on baptism.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaDiricke Caruer his confession.DIricke Caruer Berebrewer of Brighthāstē, in þe coūty of Sussex, where he hath dwelled by þe space of eight or nyne yeares, borne in the village of Dilson by Stockome in the land of Luke,
CloseDilsom, near Stockem, in the region of Liége, Flanders.
MarginaliaThe vse and sacrifice of the Latin Masse denyed.Item beyng examined concernyng the Masse in Latin now vsed in the Church of England, he beleueth that there is no sacrifice in the sayd Masse, and that there is in it no saluation for a Christian man, except it should be sayd in the mother toung, that he might vnderstand it: and concernyng the ceremonies of the Churche, he sayth and beleueth, that they be not profitable to a Christian man.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaAuricular confession and absolution of the priest reiected.Item, being examined concerning Auricular confession, he aunswereth: that he hath and doth beleue, that it is necessary to go to a good Priest for good counsayle, but the absolution of the Priest, laying his hand vppon anye mans head as is nowe vsed, is nothing profitable to a Christian mans saluation. And further he sayth, þt he hath not bene confessed, nor receiued the Sacrament of the aulter, since the coronation of the Queene that now is.
[Back to Top]Item, concerning the faith and religion, now taught setforth and beleued in the church of England, he answereth, and beleueth, that the fayth and doctrine now taught, set foorth, and vsed in the sayd Church of England, is not agreable to Gods word.MarginaliaThe fayth of the church of England in Queene Maryes tyme reproued. And furthermore he sayth, that Byshop Hooper, Cardmaker, Rogers, and other of their opiniō, which were of late burned, were good Christian men, and dyd preach the true doctrine of Christ, as he beleueth: and sayth that they did shed their bloud in the same doctrine, which was by the power of God, as he sayth and beleueth.
[Back to Top]And further being examined sayth, that since þe Quenes Coronation, he hath had the Bible and Psalter in English red in his house at Bryghthāsted dyuers tymes, and lykewyse since his commyng into Newgate, but the keeper hearyng thereof, did take them away: and sayth also that about a tweluemoneth now past, he had the English procession said in his house, with other Englishe prayers. And further sayth, that Thomas Iueson, Iohn Launder, and
[Back to Top]