Marginalia1557. Iune.MarginaliaAlice Benden condemned and sent to the Castle in Cant. Where she cōtinued tel the slaughter day, which was the xix. day of Iune, whē by terrible fire they tooke away her life.

When she was at the stake, she cast her handkerchife vnto one Iohn Bankes, requiryng him to keepe the same in the memory of her, and from about her middle she tooke a white lace whiche she gaue to the Keeper, desiryng him to geue the same to her brother Roger Hall, and to tell him that it was the last band that she was bounde with except the chayne. A shyllyng also of Phillip and Mary she tooke forth, which her father had bowed and sent her whē she was first sent to prison, desiryng that her sayd brother should with obedient salutations render the same to her father agayn, and shew him that it was the first peece of money that he sent her after her troubles begon, whiche (as she protested) she had kept and now sent him to do him to vnderstand that she neuer lacked money while she was in prison.

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An example of a small cut (Type 1) which was a self-evident misfit, given the marginal note 'The Martyrdome of 3. men, and 4. women'. It was, however, accurate for the Colchester burning two months later, for which it was reused (1583, p. 2008).

With this Alyce Benden were burned also the residue of the other blessed Martyrs aboue named, beyng seuen in number. Who beyng brought to the place where they should suffer for the Lordes cause at Canterbury, vndressed them selues ioyfully to the fire, and beyng ready thereto: they all (like the communion of Saintes) kneeled downe and made their humble Prayers vnto the Lord, with such zeale and affection, as euen the enemyes of the Crosse of Christ could not but lyke it. When they had made inuocation together, they rose and went to the stake, where beyng compassed with horrible flames of fire, they yelded their soules and liues gloriously into the handes of the Lord.

This Bradbreges wife, when she was condemned of the Bishop to be burned, had two children, named Pacience and Charitie. Who thē sayd to the Byshop  

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Presumably this bishop was Richard Thornden, suffragan bishop of Dover.

¶ The troubles and examinations of Matthew Plase.  

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Matthew Plaise

Plaise is not mentioned in the 1563 edition. The only information which Foxe ever had about him was a copy of his account of his examinations which Foxe first printed in the 1570 edition.

MarginaliaMatthew Plase.VNto these holy Martyrs of Kent aboue specified, whereof seuen suffered af Maydestone, and seuen at Canterbury, I thought not vnmeete here also to be adioyned the examination of Mathew Plase, a Weauer, of the same Countie of Kent, and a faythfull Christian. Who beyng apprehended and imprisoned lykewise for the testimonie of a good conscience, in the Castell of Caunterbury, was brought to examination before the Byshoppe of Douer, and Harpsfield the Archdeacon, as here is to bee read and seene.

MarginaliaExamination of Mathew Plase before the Byshop of Douer, Harpesfield Archdeacon, and Collins Commissary. &c.FIrst when I came before the Byshop, he asked me whether I were not of that Dioces, and where I dwelt, for that was my first Article.

Aunswe. I aunswered, I was of the Parish of Stone in Kent, and subiect vnto the Kyng and Queene of England.

Bysh. Then he sayd, I was indicted by twelue mē, at Ashford at the Sessions, for heresie.

Auns. I sayd, that was sooner sayd then proued.

Bysh. Then he sayd, it was the truth that he had spoken to me, for he had whereby to proue it.

Auns. Then I desired him to let me heare it, and I would aunswere to it.

Bysh. But he sayd he would not so do, but I should aunswere to my Article, yea or nay.

Auns. I sayd, he could not: for I was not at Ashford, and therfore he had nothyng to lay to my charge. But now I perceaue you goe about to lay a net to haue my bloud.

Arch. After many wordes betwixt the Byshop and me, the Archdeacō sayd: peace, peace, we do not desire thy bloud, but we are glad to heare that thou art no hereticke, with many flatteryng wordes, and sayd: yet I was suspected of heresie, and if I would be content to confesse how I did beleue as concernyng those Articles, they would gladly teach me.

Auns. But I sayd, I did not so thinke, for I talked wyth one of your Doctours, and after long talke, he would needes know how I did beleue in the Sacrament, and I recited vnto him the text, and because I would not make him an exposition, he would teach me nothyng: yet I prayed him for my learnyng to write his mynde, and if it were the truth, I would beleue him: and this I did desire him for the loue of God, but it would not be.

arch. Thē said he, it was not so, he durst sweare vpō a booke.

Auns. I sayd, it would be so proued.

Archd. Then he stode vp with a long processe, and sayd: he would tell me the truth, and was sure that the same Doctour did beleue as he did.

Auns. I asked him how he knew that, seyng S. Paul doth say, that no man knoweth what is in man but the spirite whiche dwelleth in him: but if you wist what Christ ment by these words, MarginaliaOse. vj. Math. xij.I require mercy & not sacrifice, you would not kill innocentes.

Byshop. The Byshop began with me agayne, and charged me in the Kyng and Queenes name, and the Lord Cardinals, to aunswere yea or nay, to the Articles that followed.

Auns. Then I commaunded him in his name that should come in flamyng fire with his mighty Aungels to render vengeaunce to the disobedient, and to all those þ^t beleued not the Gospell of our Lord Iesus Christ, which should be punished with euerlastyng damnation, that he should speake nothyng but the truth grounded vpon Christ and his Apostles, and then I would aunswere him, or els not.

Bysh. Then he was very angry, and sayd: if I would not aunswere he would condemne me in deede: vnlesse I would aunswere euery Article.

Auns. Well sayd I, if you do, you shalbe gilty of my bloud, and proue your selfe a murtherer.

Arch. Then the Archdeacon tooke the Articles in his hand & read the second Article, which was, that I was a Christian man, and did beleue in their mother the Catholicke Church,MarginaliaThe Catholicke Church. and the determination therof.

Auns. I sayd, I was a Christian man in deede, and thereore they had nothyng agaynst me.

Arch. Thē sayd he, what sayest thou to þ^e catholicke church, which hath so long continued except it were ix. or x. yeares, that this heresie hath sprong vp here in this Realme.

Auns. I sayd, no man can accuse me of any thyng spoken agaynst the Catholicke Church of Christ.

Byshop. Then sayd the Byshop: doest thou not beleue the Creede?

Auns. Yes verely I beleue my Creede, & all that is written in the Testamēt of Christ, with the rest of the Scriptures.

Bysh. Then sayth he: thou doest confesse that there is a Catholicke Church. I am glad of that: MarginaliaThis Article of the K. & Queene, is no article of his Catholicke Creede.MarginaliaAnd yet he sayd before that he went not about to seeke his bloud.but tell me, is the Kyng and Queene of that Church or not?

Aunswe. Well sayd I, now I perceaue, you goe aboute to bee both myne accuser, and also my Iudge, contrary to all right. I confesse Christ hath a Churche vppon earth, whiche is built vppon the Apostles and Prophetes, Christ beyng the head thereof, and as touchyng the Kyng and Queene, I aunswere, I haue nothyng to do with no mans faith but with my owne: neither came I hether to iudge, for