Marginalia1557: Iune.Thus Steuen Gratwicke this Christian Martyr, beyng wrongfully condemned by the Byshop of Winchester (as ye haue heard) was burned with William Moraunt, & one King in S. Georges field, about the latter end of May.

¶ Seuen Godly Martyrs, fiue women and two men, burned at Maydstone for the word of truth, and professing of sincere Religion of Christ.  

Commentary     Close

Edmund Allin and Other Kentish Martyrs

In the 1563 edition, Foxe simply had the names of the martyrs, the date of their executions and he had apparently seen the records of their trial in the consistory court of Canterbury. (Their condemnation remains among Foxe's papers as BL, Harley MS 590, fos. 78v-79r). In 1570, Foxe added an account of Allin's return from exile in Calais, his execution and then, in a flashback, Foxe described Allin's earlier arrest. (As Foxe notes, his informants for this were Richard Fletcher and John Webbe). Foxe also had copy of Allin's informal examination by Sir John Baker, which he printed in this edition. And, in the same edition, he printed an account which he obtained from Roger Hall, the brother of the martyr Alice Benden, of Edmund Allin's escape from Baker and his flight overseas (see Thomas S. Freeman, 'Notes on a Source for John Foxe's Account of the Marian Persecution in Kent and Sussex' Historical Journal 67 (1994), pp. 203-11). This last account was deleted, probably accidentally, from the 1583 edition; otherwise the narrative of these martyrs remained unchanged.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaIune. 18.I Shewed a litle before, how after the vnmercyfull Proclamation was sent and set foorth by the Kyng and Queene, in the moneth of February last, the storme of persecution began in all places to rise (whereof some part also is declared before): but yet in no place more then in the countrey and Diocesse of Caunterbury, by reason of certaine the aforesayd Inquisitours, beyng now armed with authoritie, but especially by reason of Richard Thornton Suffragan of Douer,MarginaliaRichard Thornton Nicholas Harpsfield, persecutors. and the Archdeacon of Caunterbury, who of their owne nature were so furious and fiery agaynst the harmelesse flocke of Christ, that there was no neede of any Proclamation to styrre vp the coales of their burnyng crueltie: by reason whereof many a Godly Saint lyeth slayne vnder the aultar: as in diuers places of this booke well may appeare.

And now to returne to the sayd Diocesse of Canterbury agayne, in the next moneth followyng,  

Commentary     Close

I.e., the month following the execution of Gratwick - June, 1557.

MarginaliaThe names of the Martyrs.Ioane Bradbridge  

Commentary     Close

'Bradbridge's widow', also of Staplehurst, was burned at Canterbury the day after Joan Bradbridge was burned at Maidstone; presumably they were relatives. For an account of Bradbridge's death which Foxe did not print see Freeman, 'Notes on a Source', pp. 203-11).

As concernyng the generall Articles commonly obiected to them in the publicke Consistory, and the order of their condemnation, it differreth not much from the vsuall maner expressed before, pag. 1585. neither did their aunsweres in effect much differre from the other that suffered vnder the same Ordinary in the foresaid Dioces of Canterbury.

Now as touchyng their accusers, and maner of apprehension, and their priuate conflictes with the aduersaries, I finde no great matter commyng to my handes, saue onely of Edmund Alen some intimation is geuen me, how his troubles came, what was his cause and aunsweres before the Iustices, as here consequently ye shall vnderstand.

MarginaliaThe story of Edmund Alen, with his trouble and examination before Syr Iohn Baker.THis Allen was a Milner of the Parish of Frytenden in Kent, and in a deare yeare, when as many poore people were like to starue, he fed them, and sold his corne better chepe by halfe then others did: and did not that onely, but also fed them with the foode of life, readyng to thē the Scriptures and interpretyng them.

This beyng knowne to the Popishe Priestes there aboutes dwellyng, by the procurement of them, namely of Iohn Taylour Parson of Fritenden, and Thomas Henden Parson of Stapleherst, he was eftsoones complayned of to the Iustices, and brought before Syr Iohn Baker Knight, who first sendyng for them, committed both him and his wife to Warde: but not long after they were let out, I know not how, MarginaliaEdmudnd Allen went to Calice.and so went ouer vnto Calyce. Where after that he had continued a certaine space, he began to be troubled in conscience, & there meetyng with one Iohn Web of the same parish of Fritendē, (who was likewise fled from the tyranny of Syr Iohn Baker, and Parson Taylour) sayd vnto him, that he could not be quyet there, what soeuer the cause was: for God (sayd he) had some thyng to do for him in England, & thus shortly he returned home agayne to the Parishe of Fritenden.MarginaliaEdmund Allen returneth againe from Calice, and is apprehended. Where was a cruell Priest, there Parson, called Iohn Taylour.

This Parson Taylour beyng informed by his brother Sextan, that Edmund Allen the Milner and his wife, were returned, and were not at Masse tyme in the Churche: as he was the same tyme in the middest of his Masse, vpon a Sonday, a litle before the eleuation (as they terme it) euen almost at the liftyng vp of his Romish God, hee turned him to the people in the Churche in great rage, and commaunded them, with all speede, to goe vnto their house, and apprehend them, and he would come to them with as much hast as might be possible. Whiche promise he well performed. For he had not so soone made an ende of Ite missa est  

Latin/Greek Translations     Close

Foxe text narrative.

Foxe text Latin

Ite missa est.

Foxe text translation

Not translated.

Translation (Wade 2004)

Go, this is the dismissal

[This is sung by the priest celebrating the Mass.

at the house, and there laying hand of the sayd Alen, caused him agayne to be brought to Syr Iohn Baker, with a greuous complaynt of his exhortyng and readyng the Scriptures to the people, & so was he and his wife sent to Maydstone prison. MarginaliaWitnesses to the story.Witnessed by Richard Fletcher Vicare of Crambroke,  

Commentary     Close

For the background on Fletcher and a discussion of his reasons for providing Foxe with this account see Patrick Collinson, 'Cranbrook and the Fletchers: Popular and Unpopular Religion in the Kentish Weald' in Godly People: Essays on English Protestantism and Puritanism (London: 1983), pp. 399-428.

They were not so soone in prison, but Maister Baker immediately sent vnto their house, certaine of his mē, MarginaliaIohn Doue, Tho. Best, Tho. Linsey, Perciuall Barbell, persecutors.Iohn Doue, Thomas Best, Thomas Linley, Perciuall Barbell, with the foresayd Iohn Taylour Parson of Fritenden, and Thomas Henden Parson of Stapleherst, to take an inuentory of all the goodes that were in the house. Where they found in the bedstraw a casked locked with a padlocke, and so cuttyng the wist therof, opened it, and founde therein a sackecloth bagge of money conteynyng the summe of xiij. or xiiij. pound, partly in gold, and partly in siluer. Which money after they had told and put in the bagge agayne, like good caruers for themselues, they caried away with them.

Besides also they found there certaine bookes, as Psalters, Bibles, and other writynges. All which bookes, with the money, were deliuered to the foresayd Priest MarginaliaTho. Henden priest persecutor.Thomas Henden, Parson of Stapleherst, and after in the raigne of this Queene, an. 5. Reg. Elisab. was by right law recouered from him agayne, as in Recordes remaineth to be seene.

Thus good Edmund Allen and his wife, beyng maliciously accused, wrongfully imprisoned, and cruelly spoyled and robbed of all their goodes, were brought (as is aforesayd) before Syr Iohn Baker the Iustice, to be examined: who tauntyng and reuilyng him without all mercy and pitie, asked him if those were the fruites of his Gospell, to haue conuenticles to gather people together, to make conspiracies, to sow sedition and rebellion: and thus he began with him to reason.

MarginaliaThe examination of Edmund Allen before Syr Iohn Baker.BAker. Who gaue thee authoritie to preach and interpret? Art thou a Priest? art thou admitted thereunto? Let me see thy licence.

Martin Collins, Syr Iohn Bakers Scholemaister sayd, surely he is an arrant hereticke and worthy to be burned.

Allen. And it may please your honour to geue me leaue to aunswere in the cause of my fayth, MarginaliaPriuate reading or expounding of the Scriptures forbidden to no man.I am perswaded that GOD hath geuen me this authoritie as hee hath geuen to all other Christians. Why are we called Christians if we do not follow Christ, if we do not read his law, if we do not interprete it to others that haue not so much vnderstandyng? Is not Christ our Father? shall not the sonne follow the fathers steppes? is not Christ our Maister? and shall the Scholer be inhibited to learne and preach his preceptes? Is not Christ our redeemer? and shall not we prayse his name, and serue him that hath redeemed vs from sinne and damnation? MarginaliaLuke. 4.Did not Christ beyng but 12. yeares of age dispute with the Doctours and interprete the Prophet Esay, and notwithstanding he was neither of the tribe of Leuy which were Priestes, but of the ryall tribe of Iuda, neither had taked any outward Priesthode? wherfore if we be Christians, we must do the same.

Collins. And it shall like your honour, what a knaue is this, that compareth himselfe with Christ.

Baker. Let him alone, he will pumpe out anone an infinite heape of heresies. Hast thou any more to say for thy selfe?

Allen. Yea that I haue. Adam was licenced of GOD, and Abraham was commaunded to teach his children and posteritie, and so Dauid teacheth in diuers Psalmes: and Salomon also preached to the people, as the booke of the Preacher proueth very well, where hee teacheth that there is no immortall felicitie in this lyfe, but in the next. And Noe taught them that were disobedient in his dayes, and therefore is called the eight Preacher of righteousnesse in the second Epistle of Peter.

Also in the 11. of Numbers, where Moyses had chosen 52. elders to helpe him to teache and rule the rest, Eldad and Medad preached in the tentes, wherfore Iosua beyng offended, MarginaliaPreaching without licence in the olde Testament.complained to Moyses that Eldad and Medad dyd preache without licence. To whom Moyses aunswered and wished that all the people could do the lyke. What should I be long? most of the Priests were not of the tribe of Leuy and Aaron.

Collins. These are authorities of the old Testament and therefore abrogated, but thou art a foole and knowest no Schole pointes. Is not the law deuided into the law ceremoniall, morall, and iudiciall?

Allen. I graunt that the ceremonyes ceased when Christ came, as S. Paule proueth to the Hebrues, and to the Collossians, where he sayth: MarginaliaColoss 2.Let no man iudge you in any part of a Sabboth day, new Moone, or other ceremonies whiche