Marginalia1557. Ianuary.MarginaliaThe names of the Martyrs.Iohn Philpot of Tenter- den. W. Waterer of Beding- den. Stephē Kempe of Nor- gate. W. Haye of Hythe. Thomas Hudson of Sa- llenge.

Mat. Bradbrige of Ten- terden.Thom. Stephens of Be- dingden. Nich. Finall   Commentary     Close Was Nicholas Final a relative of Barbara Final of Tenterden who was burned at Canterbury on 19 June 1557? (See 1563, p. 1571; 1570, p. 2154; 1576, p. 1861 and 1583, p. 1970). Or was he a relative of Adriana Vynall of Tenterden whose confession of heretical beliefs survives among Foxe's papers as BL, Harley MS 421, fo. 100r? Were Barbara Final and Adriana Vynall the same person? [Back to Top] of Tenter- W. Lowick of Crābroke W. Prowtyng of Thorn- ham.

What the ordinarye articles were commonly obiected to them of Canterbury Dioces, is before rehearsed, Pag. 1585.MarginaliaConcerning their articles read before pag. 1585. saue onely that to some of these, as to them that folowed after, as the tyme of their persecution dyd grow, so their articles withall dyd increase to the number of two & twenty conteinyng such like matter as serued to the maintenaunce of the Romish See.

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To these articles what their aunsweares were, likewise, needeth here no great rehearsall, seeyng they all agreed together, though not in the same forme of woords, yet in much like effect of purposes:  

MarginaliaThe cause of their Martyrdome.first graunting the Churche of Christe, and denying the Churche of Rome, denying the seuen Sacramentes, refusing the Masse, and the hearyng of Latine Seruice, praying to Saincs, iustification of woorkes &c. And though they dyd not all aunsweare vniformely in some smaller thinges, as their learnyng serued them, yet in the most principal and chiefest matters they dyd not greatly discorde. &c.

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Of these tenne godly Martyrs of Christe, sixe were burned at Canterbury, about the fifteene of Ianuary, that is, Kempe, Waterer, Prowting, Lowike, Hudson, and Haye. Other two, that is, Stephens and Philpot at Wye, about the same moneth. Other two, which were Final and Bradbrige were burned both together at Ashford, the. xvi. of the same.

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The nexte moneth folowing, whiche was Februarye, came out an other bloudy Commission from the kyng and Queene,  

to kindle vp the fire of persecution, as though it were not hoate enough alreadye: the contentes of whiche Commission I thought here not to pretermit: not for lacke of matter, whereof I haue to much: MarginaliaExamples how kinges and Princes and the power of the world, bend them selues agaynst Christ and his worde, and yet could neuer preuayle.but that the Reader may vnderstand how kinges and princes of this world like as in the first persecutions of the Primitiue Church vnder Valerianus, Decius, Maximian, Dioclesian, Licinius. &c. so nowe also in these latter perilous dayes, haue set all their maine force and power, with lawes, policie, and authoritie, to the vttermost they coulde deuise against Christe and his blessed Gospel. And yet notwithstādyng al these lawes, constitutions, Iniunctions, and terrible proclamatiōs

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prouied against Christe and his Gospell, Christe yet styll continueth, his gospel florisheth, and truth preuaileth: kings and Emperours in their owne purposes ouerthrowen, their deuises dissolued, their counsailes confounded: as examples both of this, and of al tymes & ages do make manifest. But nowe let vs heare the intent of this Commission, in tenour as foloweth.

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MarginaliaA terrible proclamation of K. Philip and Q. Mary, against the poore seruauntes and members of Christ.PHilip and Mary by the grace of God kyng and Queene of England. &c. To the right reuerende Father in God our right trusty & welbeloued Counsailour Thomas B. of Elye, and to our right trusty and welbeloued Williā Windsore knight, L. Windsore, Edw. North knight, L. North, and to our trusty & welbeloued Counsailours, Io. Bourn knyght, one of our chiefe Secretaryes, Iohn Mordaunt knight, Frances Englefield knight, maister of our Wards & Liueries, Edward Walgraue knight, Maister of our great Wardrobe, Nicholas Hare knight, master of the Rolles, and our high Court of Chauncery, MarginaliaPersecutors.& to our trusty and welbeloued Tho. Pope knight, Roger Cholmley knight, Richard Rede knight, Rowland Hyl knight, William Rastal Sergeant at law, Henry Cole Clerke, Deane of Paules, William Roper, and Rafe Cholmley, Esquiers, Williā Cooke, Thomas Martin, Iohn Story, & Iohn Vaughan, Doctours of Law, greeting.

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For as muche as diuers deuilishe and sclaunderous persons, hauyng not onely inuented, bruted and set foorth diuers false rumors, tales, and seditious sclaunders against vs, but also haue sowen diuers heresies, and hereticall opinions, and set forth diuers seditious bookes within this our Realme of England, MarginaliaThe meaning of the Gospellers falsely reported, and sclaundered.meanyng thereby to styrre vp diuision, strife, contētion, and sedition, not only amongest our louyng subiectes, but also betwixt vs and our said subiects, with diuers others outragious misdemeanors, enormities, contemptes, and offences, dayly committed and done, to the disquieting of vs and our people, we myndyng the due punishment of such offendours, & the repressing of such like offences, enormities, and misbehaueours from henceforth, hauyng speciall truste and confidence in your fidelities, wisedomes, and discretions, haue authorised, appoynted, and assigned you to be our Commissioners, and by these presentes doo geue ful power and authoritie vnto you, and three of you, to enquire as well by the othes of twelue good and lawfull men, as by witnesses and all other meanes and politike wayes you cā deuise, of al and singular heretical opinions Lollardies, heretical and seditious bookes, concelemēts contemptes, conspiracies, and all false rumours, tales, seditious and sclaunderous wordes or sayinges, raysed, published, bruted, inuented, or set forth against vs, or eyther of vs, or against the quiet gouernance and rule of our peoples, & subiectes, by bookes, lyes, tales, or otherwise, in any Coūtie, Key, bowing or other places or places, MarginaliaWhat watch is here to keepe downe Christ, but yet he will ryse.within this our Realme of England or els where, in any place or places beyond the Seas, and of the bringyng in, vtterers, byers, sellers, readers, keepers, or conueyers of any such letter, bookes, rumor, and tale, and of all and euery their coadiutors, counsellers, comforters, procurers, abettors, and mainteyners, geuyng vnto you and three of you, full power and authoritie by vertue hereof, to search out and take into your handes & possessions, all maner of hereticall and seditious bookes, letters, and writyngs, whersoeuer they or any of them shalbe found, as wel in Printers houses and shops, as elswhere, willyng you and euery of you to searche for the same in all places, according to your discretions.

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MarginaliaEnormities or misbehauiours.And also to enquire, heare, and determine all and singular enormities, disturbaunces, misbehaueours, and negligences commytted in any Churche, Chappell, or other halowed place within this Realme, and also for and concernyng the takyng awaye or withholdyng any landes, tenementes, goodes, ornamentes, stockes of money, or other thynges belongyng to euerye of the same Churches and Chappelles, and all accountes and reckenynges concernyng the same.

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And also to enquire and searche out all such persons as obstinately doo refuse to receyue the blessed sacrament of the altar, to heare Masse, MarginaliaNot comming to the Church seruice.or come to their parishe Churches, or other conuenient places appoynted for diuine seruice, and all suche as refuse to goe on Procession, to take holy bread, or holy water, or otherwise doo misuse them selues in anye church or other halowed place, wheresoeuer any of the same offences haue bene, or hereafter shalbe committed within this our said Realme.

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MarginaliaHeretickes to be committed to their Ordinary.Neuertheles our wyll and pleasure is, that when, and as often as any person or persons, hereafter being called or