MarginaliaIf it were lawfull, why doe ye so at mans commaundement?heresie, but partly your owne demerites, and partly the sayd commaundemēt enforced me to call and send for you, to make aunswere herein, and hereof to shew you the sayd letters.
MarginaliaQ. Mary. An. 1555. Iuly.MarginaliaTheir aunsweres.VPon Monday, beyng the sayd tenth day of Iune,
The account of Carver's final examination is probably derived from personal testimony and not official records.
MarginaliaThe words of Diricke Caruer to Boner.You say, that you can make a God: ye can make a puddyng as well. Your Ceremonies in the Churche be beggary and poyson. And farther I say, that auricular confession is contrary to Gods word, and very poyson: with diuers other such wordes.
The Byshop seyng this constancie, and that neither his accustomed flatteries, nor yet his cruell threatnynges could once moue this good man to encline to their Idolatry, pronounced his vsuall and generall blessyng, as well towardes this Diricke, as also vppon the sayd Iohn Launder (although seuerally). Who (after the lyke maner of processe vsed with him) remained in the same constancy, as did the other, and therfore were both deliuered vnto the Shiriffes, who were there present, MarginaliaDiricke Caruer and Iohn Launder, sent downe into the countrey to be burned.but afterwardes were conueyed to the places aboue named, and there most ioyfully gaue their bodyes to be burned in the fire, and their soules into the handes of Almighty God, by Iesus Christ, who hath assured them to a better hope of lyfe.
[Back to Top]This Diricke was a man, whom the Lorde had blessed as well with temporall riches, as with his spirituall treasures: whiche riches yet were no clogge or let vnto his true professyng of Christ, (the Lord by his grace so workyng in him:) MarginaliaThe cruell spoyle of Dirickes goodes.of the whiche, there was such hauocke made, by the gready raueners of that tyme, that his poore wife and children had little or none therof.
This account of the ordeals Carver's family faced, his learning to read and his execution are certainly derived from personal testimony or testimonies.
Note Foxe's wording - he states that Carver did not know how to read English. Remember that he was Flemish, and he may well have been literate in that language.
good not to let it passe ouer in silēce, for the good encouragement and example of others.
Moreouer, at his commyng into the Towne of Lewes to be burned,MarginaliaDiricke burned at Lewes. the people called vppon hym, beseechyng God to strengthen him in the fayth of Iesus Christ. He thanked them, and prayed vnto GOD, that of his mercy he would strengthen them in the lyke fayth. And when he came to the signe of the Starre, the people drew neare vnto him, where the Sheriffe sayd that hee had founde him a faythfull man in all his aūsweres. And as he came to the stake, he kneeled downe and made his prayers, and the Shiriffe made hast.
[Back to Top]Then his booke was throwen into the barrell, and when hee had stript him selfe (as a ioyfull member of God) he went into the barrell hym selfe. And as soone as euer hee came in, he tooke vp the booke and threw it among the people, MarginaliaDirickes booke commaunded in the Queenes name to be throwne in agayne to the fier,and then the Shiriffe commaunded in the Kyng and Queenes name, in payne of death, to throw in the booke agayne. And immediately, that faythfull member spake with a ioyfull voyce, saying:
[Back to Top]MarginaliaThe testimonie of Diricke at the stake.Deare brethren and sisterne, witnes to you all, that I am come to seale with my bloud Christes Gospell, for because I know that it is true: it is not vnknowen vnto all you, but that it hath bene truly preached here in Lewes, and in all places of England, and now it is not. And for because that I wyll not denye here Gods Gospell, and be obedient to mans lawes, I am condemned to dye. MarginaliaThe exhortation of Diricke to the people.Deare brethren and sistern, as many of you as do beleue vpon the father, the sonne, and the holye ghost, vnto euerlastyng lyfe, see you do the workes appertainyng to the same. And as many of you as do beleue vppon the Pope of Rome, or any of his lawes, which he sets forth in these dayes, you do beleue to your vtter cōdemnation, and except the great mercy of God, you shall burne in hell perpetually.
[Back to Top]Immediatly the Sheriffe spake vnto him, and sayd: MarginaliaWhere finde you that in the Crede, to beleue on the Pope.if thou doest not beleue on the Pope thou art damned body and soule. And further the Shiriffe sayd vnto hym: speake to thy God, that he may deliuer thee now, or els to strike me downe to the example of this people:MarginaliaHorrible prouoking of Gods iudgement. but this faythfull mēber sayd, the Lorde forgeue you your sayinges.
[Back to Top]And then spake hee agayne to all the people there present, with a loude voyce, saying: deare brethren, and all you whō I haue offended in wordes or in deede, I aske you for the Lordes sake to forgeue me, and I hartly forgeue al you, whiche haue offended me in thought, word, or deede. And he sayd further in his prayer, MarginaliaDirickes prayer at his death.Oh Lord my God, thou hast written: He that will not forsake wife, childrē, house, and all that euer he hath, and take vp thy crosse and folow thee, is not worthy of thee. But thou Lorde knowest that I haue forsaken all, to come vnto thee: Lord haue mercy vpon me, for vnto thee I commend my spirit: and my soule doth reioyce in thee. These were the last woordes of that faythfull member of Christ, before the fire was put to him. And afterward that the fire came to him, he cried: Oh Lord haue mercy vpon me, and sprong vp in the fire, callyng vpon the name of Iesus, and so ended.
[Back to Top]The only thing that the Rerum related about Iveson was a note stating that 'Thomas Everson' was burned in July 1555 (p. 510). Foxe's entire account of Iveson, based entirely on official records which are now lost, was first printed in the 1563 edition. It was reprinted without change in subsequent editions.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaTho. Iueson or Euerson, apprehended with Diricke and other, and suffered at Chichester.AT Chichester, about the same moneth was burned one Thomas Iueson of Godstone in the Countie of Surrey, Carpenter, whose apprehension, examination, and condemnation, (for as much as it was at one tyme, and in one forme with Diricke Caruer, and Iohn Launder) I do here omit, referryng the reader to their hystory and processe before mentioned, sauyng onely this his seuerall confession, and priuate aunsweres made before Byshop Boner at his last examination in the Consistory, I thought not to pretermit: who beyng examined vppon the foresayd Articles, aunswered as followeth.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaAunsweres of Thomas Iueson.1. FIrst, that he beleued, that there is but one Catholicke, vniuersall and whole Churche of Christ through the whole world, whiche hath and holdeth the true fayth, and all the necessary Articles of Christen belief, and all the Sacramentes of Christ, with the true vse and administration of the same.
[Back to Top]2. Item, that he is necessarily bounden to beleue and geue credite, in all the sayd fayth, Articles of the belief, Religion, and the Sacramentes of Christ, and the administration of the same.
3. Item, that that fayth, Religion, and administration of Sacramentes, whiche is now beleued, vsed, taught, and set forth in this our Church of England, is not agreeyng with the truth and fayth of Christ, nor with the fayth of the sayd