1576 Edition | Book 11 | Page 1839 
Marginalia1556. Iuly.pressed accordyng as the vsuall maner of the Notary is so to declare in the end of þe sentence. Neuertheles this is most certaine, that he neuer abiured nor recanted, how soeuer it pleased the Lord by death to call him out of this world.
CloseAlthough Careless was one of the most important of the Marian martyrs, he died in prison without a trial, leaving Foxe only an account of his examinations and some of his many letters to memorialize him. The examination of Careless, in fact the entire account of Careless, was first printed in the 1563 edition. Nothing was added to it, but a considerable amount was deleted from this examination. The reason for this was that the deleted sections of the examination revealed far too much about the doctrinal squabbling among protestant prisoners, particularly over the issues of free will and the liturgy. The charge that there was no doctrinal unity among protestants was one that was frequently levied by catholic polemicists and was especially used by Foxe's great critic Nicholas Harpsfield in attacking the credibility of Foxe's 1563 edition (see Nicholas Harpsfield, Dialogi sex contra summi pontificatus, monasticae vitae, sanctorum sacrarum imaginum oppugnatores et pseudomartyres [Antwerp, 1566], pp. 802-17). Once this compromising material had been deleted, there were no further changes made to this account.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaIuly. 1. The death of Iohn Careles prisoner in the Kings Bench.ABout this tyme, the first day of Iuly, amongest diuers other prisoners whiche dyed the same yeare in the Kynges Bench, was also one Iohn Careles of Couentry, a Weauer. Who though hee were by the secrete Iudgement of almighty God preuented by death, so that he came not to the full Martyrdome of his body, yet is hee no lesse worthy to be counted in honour and place of Christes Martyrs, then other that suffered most cruell torments, aswell for that hee was for the same truthes sake a long tyme imprisoned, as also for his willyng mynd & zelous affectiō he had thereunto, if the Lord had so determined it, as well may appeare by his examination had before Doctour Martin.
CloseNote that abuse of Martin, 'a iolye stirer in these matters', was removed in the 1570 edition.
MarginaliaThe effect of Iohn Careles examination.FIrst, Doctour Martin callyng Iohn Careles to him in his Chamber, demaunded what was his name. To whom when the other had aunswered, that his name was Iohn Careles, then began Doctour Martin to descant at his pleasure vpon that name, saying: that it would appeare by his conditions, by that tyme he had done with him, that he would be a true careles man in deede. And so after other by talke there spent about much needelesse matter, then he asked him where he was borne.
CloseAt this point, the portion of the Careless examination reprinted in the 1570 edition, and all subsequent editions, begins.
Carel. Forsooth, sayth he, at Couentry.
Mart. At Couentry? what so farre, man? How camst thou hether? Who sent thee to the Kynges Bench to prison?
Carel. MarginaliaHow Iohn Careles was brought to the Kings Bench.I was brought thether by a write, I trow, what he was I can not tell. I thinke M. Marshall can tell you.
Marshall. In good fayth I can not tell what the matter is: but in deede my Lord chief Iustice sent him from the barre.
Mart. Well Careles, I would wishe, thou shouldest play the wise mans part. Thou art a handsome man: And it is pitie but thou shouldest do well, and saue that whiche God hath bought.
Careles. I thanke your good Maistershyp most hartely: And I put you out of doubt, that I am most sure and certaine of my saluation by Iesus Christ: so that my soule is safe already what soeuer paynes my body suffer here for a little tyme.
Mart. Yea Mary, you say truth. For thou art so predestinate to life, that thou canst not perish, in what soeuer opiniō thou doest dye.
Careles. MarginaliaIohn Careles examined vpon predestination.That GOD hath predestinate me to eternall life in Iesus Christ, I am most certaine, and euen so am I sure that his holy spirite (wherewith I am sealed) will so preserue me from all heresies and euill opinions, that I shall dye in none at all.
Mart. Go to, let me heare your fayth in predestination. For that shalbe written also.
Careles. Your Maistershyp shall pardon me herein. For you sayd your selfe erewhile, that you had no Commission to examine my conscience. I will trouble my selfe with aunsweryng of no moe matters then I needes must, vntill I come before them that shall haue more authoritie farther to examine me.
Mart. MarginaliaDoct. Martyn declareth his Commission.I tell thee then I haue Commission: yea, and commaundement from the Counsell to examine thee: for they deliuered me thy Articles.
Careles. Yea, I thinke in deede that your Maistershyp is appointed to examine me of my Articles whiche you haue there in writyng, and I haue told you the truth. I do confesse them to be myne owne fact and deede: but you do now examine me of predestination, wherof my Articles speaketh nothyng at all.
Martin. I tell thee yet agayne, that I must also examine thee of such thynges as be in controuersie betwene thee and thy felowes in the Kynges Bench, whereof predestination is a part, as thy fellow N. hath confessed and thy selfe doest not deny it.
Carel. I do not deny it. But he that first told you that matter, might haue found him selfe much better occupyed.
Martin. Why? what if he had not told me? thinkest thou I would not haue knowen it? yes, or elles thou shouldest haue withstand my Commission. MarginaliaWhy Doct. Martyn would not examine him of the Sacrament.For I tell thee truth, I may now examine thee of the blessed Sacrament, or any other thyng that I list, but that I would shewe thee fauour, and not be to hasty with thee at the first.
[Back to Top]Marshall. Yea in deede Careles, Maister Doctour hath Commission to examine you or any other of your felowes.
Mart. Yea mary haue I, I tell the truth of it.
Carel. Then let your Scribe set his pen to the paper, and you shal haue it roundly euen as the truth is. I beleue that almighty GOD our most deare louyng father of his great mercy and infinite goodnes, did elect in Christ.
Mart. Tush, what neede all that long circumstaūce? write, I beleue that God elected, and make no more ado.
Carel. No, not so M. Doctour. It is an hygh mistery, and ought reuerently to be spokē of. And if my wordes may not be written as I do vtter them, I will not speake at all.
Mart. Go to, go to, write what he will. Here is more busines then needeth.
Careles. MarginaliaCareles opinion of Gods election.I beleue that Almighty GOD our most deare louyng Father, of his great mercy and infinite goodnesse (thorough Iesus Christ) did elect and appoynt in him before the foundation of the earth was layd, a Church or congregation, which he doth continually guide and gouerne by his grace and holy spirite, so that not one of them shall euer finally perish. When this was written, Maister Doctour tooke it in his hand and read it, saying.
[Back to Top]Mart. MarginaliaD. Martyn alloweth Careles iudgement of Gods election.Why? who will deny this?
Carel. If your Maistershyp do allow it, and other learned men when they shall see it, I haue my hartes desire.
Mart. And do you hold none otherwise, thē is there writtē?
Carel. No verely, nor neuer did.
Mart. Write that he saith, otherwise he holdeth not. So that was written. It was told me also that thou doest affirme, that Christ did not dye effectually for all men.
Carel. What soeuer hath bene told you it is not much materiall vnto me. Let the tellers of such tales come before my face, and I trust to make them aunswere. For in deede I do beleue that Christ did effectually dye for all those that do effectually repent and beleue, and for none other: so that was written also.
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CloseJohn Trew was the leader of the freewillers in the King's Bench and Careless's determined opponent over the issue of predestination; see Thomas S. Freeman, 'Dissenters from a Dissenting Church: The Challenge of the Freewillers, 1550-1558' in The Beginnings of English Protestantism, eds. Peter Marshall and Alec Ryrie [Cambridge: 2002], pp. 137-39.
[Back to Top]Carel. No forsooth, that he doth not.
Mart. How then?
Carel. Truly I thinke he doth beleue as your Maistershyp and the rest of the Clergy do beleue of predestination, MarginaliaA wrong fayth of Predestination, beleuing to be elected in respect of good workes.that we be elected in respect of our good workes, and so long elected, as we do them, and no longer.
Martin. Write that he sayth, his fellow Trew beleueth of predestination as the Papistes do beleue.
Carel. Ah Maister Doctour, did I so terme you? Seyng that this my confession shall come before the Counsell, I pray you place my termes as reuerently as I spake them.
Mart. Well, well. Write that Trew is of the same fayth as the Catholickes be.
Carel. I did not so call you neither. I wonder what you meane.
Marshall. You sayd the Clergy, did you not Careles?
Carel. Yes forsooth did I. So then it was written, of the Clergy.
Mart. Now Syr, what say you more?
Carel. Forsooth I haue no farther to say in this matter.
Mart. Well, Careles I pray thee proue thy selfe a wise mā, and do not cast away thy life wilfully,
Carel. Now the Lord he knoweth, good Maister Doctour, I would full gladly lyue, so that I might do the same with a safe conscience. And your Maistershyp shall right well perceiue that I will be no wilfull mā, but in all thyngs that I stand vpon, I will haue a sure grounde.
Martin. MarginaliaD. Martyn pretendeth fauour to Careles.Now the Lord knoweth, good Careles, that I would gladly make some meanes to preserue thy lyfe: but thou speakest so much of the Lord, the Lord. Wilt thou be content to go with my Lord Fitzwater into Irelād? me thinkes thou art a goodly tal felow to do the Queene seruice there. How sayest thou?
[Back to Top]Carel. Verely Maister Doctor, whether I be in Ireland, Fraunce, or Spayne, or any place els, I am ready to do her grace the best seruice that I can, with body, goodes, and life, so long as it doth last.
Mart. That is honestly sayd. I promise thee euery man will not say so. How say you Maister Marshall, this man is meete for all manner of seruice. In deede thou art worthy Careles, to haue the more fauour.
Carel. In deede Syr, I hope to be meete and ready vnto all thynges that pertaineth vnto a true Christian subiect to