MarginaliaAnno, 1556. Septemb.to some of his vnkinde and vncharitable neighbours, but they incensed with the spirite of Papistrie, MarginaliaNo charitie in in popery to be noted.eftsones beset the house about, and there tooke the said William Dangerfield,MarginaliaW. Dangerfield apprehended in his owne house. and caried him to prison, and so at length he was brought to the Bishoppe, beyng then Doctour Brookes: in whose cruell handlyng he remained a certeine space, so long till his legges almoste were freated of with yrons.

After the apprehension of the Husbande, the wife likewise was taken, with her yong borne childe, beyng but 14. dayes olde (as is saide) out of her child bed, and caried into the common Iayle, and there placed amongest Theues and murderers, where bothe shee and her poore innocentMarginaliaIoane the wife of W. Dangerfield taken with her yoūg infant out of childbed, and had to prison.found so small charitie amongst the catholike men, that she neuer could come to any fire, but was driuen to warme the clothes that she should put about the child, in her bosome.

In the meane season while they lay thus inclosed in seuerall prisons, the husband and the wife, the Bishop beginneth to practise not with the woman firste, as the Serpent did with Eue, but with the man, craftely deceiuyng his simplicitie, with fayre glosing wordes, MarginaliaDangerfield made to beleue falsely, that his wife had recanted.falsely persuading him that his wife had recanted, and asking him, wherefore he should more stande in his owne conceate, then she, beyng as well learned as he, and so subtilly drew out a forme of recantation, wherewith he deceiued the simple soule. MarginaliaDangerfield vppon hope of his wiues recantation, consented to the Bishop.Whereunto after that hee had once graunted that he would consent, although he had not yet recanted, they suffered hym to goe to his wife, where she lay in the common Iayle.

Then they with melting hartes opening their minds one to an other, whē he saw his wife not released, and perceauyng that he had not done well, he declared vnto her the whole matter, how falsely he was circumuēted by the subtile flatteringes of the Bishop, bearyng hym in hand that certeinely she had recanted: and thus deceauyng me (said he) brought this vnto me, and so plucked out of his bosome the copy of the recãtation, wherunto he had graunted his promise. At the sight wherof the wife hearyng what her housebãd had done, her hart claue asunder, saiyng: MarginaliaThe wife lamented the fall of her husband.Alacke, thus long haue we continued one, and hath Satan so preuailed, to cause you to breake your first vow made to Christ in Baptisme? And so departed the said Williã and Ioane his wife, with what hartes the Lorde knoweth. MarginaliaDangerfield lamenteth his promise made to the Bishop.Then began he not a little to bewaile his promise made to the Bishop, MarginaliaThe praier of Dangerfield to God.and to make his praier to almighty God, desiring him, that he might not liue so long as to call euill good, and good euill: or light darkenes, or darkenes light, and so departed he home toward his house: MarginaliaThe death of the husband.where by the way homewarde (as it is affirmed) he tooke his death, and shortly after departed, accordyng to his prayer, after he had endured in prison xij. weekes.

After this, Ioane his wife continued still in prison with her tender infant, till at last she was brought before the Bishop to be examined. Whereunto what her aunswers were, it is not certainlie knowne. Howbeit most like it is, whatsoeuer they were, they pleased not the Bishoppe, as appeared by his ire increased against the poore woman and her long continuance in the prison, together with her tender babe, which also remained with her in the Iayle, partaker of her Martyrdome, so long as her Milke would serue to giue it sucke, MarginaliaThe young infant famished in prison.till at length the childe beeyng starued for colde and famine, was sent awaye when it was paste all remedye, and so shortly after died. And not long after the Mother also followed,MarginaliaThe Martyrdome of the mother. besides the old woman which was mother of the housbande, of the age of 80. yeares and vpwarde. MarginaliaThe death of the old womã.Who beyng left in the house after their apprehension, for lacke of comfort there perished also.

And thus haue ye in one story the death of foure together: first of the old woman, then of the husband, after that of the innocent child, and lastly of the mother. What became of the other nine children, I am not perfectly sure, but that I partly vnderstand, that they were all vndone by the same.

This story is reported and testified as well by other as namely by MarginaliaM. Bridges persecuted the same time for Gods word, and witnes of this story.Mistres Bridges, dwellyng in the same towne, and partaker then of the like afflictions, and hardly escaped with her life.

¶ A Shomaker fuffering in Northampton.  

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Northampton Shoemaker and Chichester Martyrs

Two confused accounts here. This shoemaker was John Kurde (see 1563,p. 1618; 1570, pp. 2216-17; 1576, p. ; 1583, p. 2021); Foxe's date of his execution here is inaccurate. As for Hook, Foxe had earlier stated that Richard Hook had died in prison in Chichester at an unspecified date. If Richard Hook did die in prison, it was shortly before he was scheduled to die; a writ authorizing the execution of Richard Hook of Alfreton, Sussex, was issued on 14 October 1555 (PRO C/85/48/19).

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MarginaliaOctober 12.JN the moneth of October followyng, was burned at the towne of Northampton, a Shomaker, a true

MarginaliaThe Martyrdome of a Shomaker of Northampton.witnes and disciple of the Lord, who, accordyng to the grace of GOD geuen vnto hym, cleauyng faste to the sound doctrine and preachyng of Gods worde, renounced the vntrue and false coloured Religion of the Romish sea, wherin many a good man hath bene drowned.

MarginaliaOctober. 18.MarginaliaThree died in the Castell of Chicister, Confessors.After whom, not long after in the same moneth of October died also in the Castle of Chicister three godly confessors, beyng there in bondes for the like cause of Christes Gospel, who also should haue suffred the like Martyrdome, had not their naturall death, or rather (as it is to be suspected) the cruell handlyng of the papistes made them awaie before, and afterward buried them in the field.

MarginaliaIohn Hooke, Martyr.I reade moreouer that in this present yeare, to wit an. 1556. was burnt one called Hooke a true witnes of the Lordes truth, at Chester.  

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I.e., Chichester. Foxe and other contemporary writers call the recently created diocese of Chester, West Chester.

¶ Fiue famished in Canterbury Castell by the vnmercifull tiranny of the Papistes about the beginnyng of Nouember.  

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Five Prisoners in Canterbury Castle

This account first appeared in the 1563 edition and remained unchanged in subsequent editions. It is based partly on the letter of these prisoners, which seems to have circulated in manuscript and apparently on official transcripts of the examinations of some of these prisoners.

MarginaliaB. Boner, Nicholas Harpsfield, D. Dunnyng, three sore persecutores.AS among all the Bishops, Boner Byshop of London principallie excelled in perscutyng the poore Members and Saints of Christ: so of al Archdeacons Nicholas Harpesfield Archedeacon of Canterbury (as may by mans sight appeare) was the sorest, and of least compassion (onely Dunnyng of Norwich excepted) by whose vnmercifull nature and agrest disposition verie manie were put to death in that Dioces of Canterbury, not onely in the bloudy time of that Queene, but some also in the blessed beginnyng of this our moste renowmed Queene that now is, as by the grace of Christe, hereafter shall appeare.

MarginaliaPersecution in Kent.Of those that suffered in Queene Maries time with in the foresaid dioces of Canterbury, some be recited al ready, with the order and forme set doune of suche Articles as then were moste commonly ministred to the Examinates by Thornton, suffragne of Douer, and the said Nicholas Harpsefield and other, as before in the volume of this history may appeare pag. 1585.MarginaliaRead before gag. 1585.Now to proceede in the order and course of tyme where wee lefte, next followeth the moneth of Nouember.

MarginaliaXv. Martyrs and Confessors together prisoned in Caternbury.In the beginnyng wherof wer together in the Castell of Canterburie. xv. godly and innocent Martyrs, of which number, not one escaped with their life, but either were burned, or els were famished in prison. Of the which two sortes, which is the easier death GOD knoweth: it is hard to iudge. Notwithstandyng, the truth is, that of these. xv. x. were burned and suffered in the fire, of whom in the next booke more shall followe hereafter, the Lorde willing. The other v. were pined and famished most vnmercifully in the straite prisõ, of whom wee haue here presently to entreate. Whose names wery these.MarginaliaFiue Cõfessors and Martyrs famished in prison.

1 2 3 4   5

Iohn Clerke. Dunston Chittenden.   Commentary     Close This probably is the 'Chidderton' of Ashford who attended the conventicle of radical protestants held at Bocking, Essex, in December 1550 (APC III, p. 199). Foxe relates that a 'goodwife Chittendon' was driven out of her home in Kent during Mary's reign (1563, p. 1679). W. Foster of Stone. Alice Potkins wife, of Stapleherst.   Commentary     Close Later Foxe would print a letter describing how Alice Potkin and a fellow prisoner, Alice Benden, subsisted in prison on a diet which cost two and a half pence for both of them (1570, p. 2168; 1576, p. ; 1583, p. 1981). Iohn Archer of Cran- broke, Weuer.

Which twoo were yet vncondemned. These were con- demned to bee burnt.

Of these fiue prisoners, the firste two were vncondemned, MarginaliaW. Foster, Alice Potkins, Iohn Archer, died after their condemnation.the other three last were cõdemned and should haue bene burned, but suffered no lesse tormentes then if they had abid the fire, beeyng macerat and pined to death by famine. What their articles and aunswers were, it nedeth not here to recite, seeing all they, in that tyme of Queene Mary, commonly suffered for one maner and sorte of cause, that is, for holding againste the vij. Sacramentes,  

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Phrases like this often indicate that Foxe was trying to conceal unorthodox (at least by his standards) opinions uttered by the Marian martyrs. Because the records of these trials have not survived, it is impossible to be sure, but it is suspicious that Foxe says nothing about the opinions of Clark and Chittenden.

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MarginaliaW. Foster, Martyr. His aunswere to the articles.Firste, William Foster aunsweryng to these and like Articles, said, that he beleued well in all the Articles of the Crede: but to beleue to be mo sacramentes then two, and to pray to saintes either to profite vs, or to pray for soules in purgatory to profit them, that faith and workes do iustifie, or to allow the popish ceremonies in the Churche, that he denied. Moreouer he saide, to cary Candels vpon Candelmas daie were as