Marginalia1557. September.and other things that at that tyme were vrged as necessary to saluation.

Now he perceiuyng both her vnquiet mynd, & also the desire shee had to know the truth, did most diligētly instruct her in the wayes of the Lorde, approuyng vnto her out of Gods holy word, that the Masse, with all other papisticall inuentions, was odious in Gods sight: and besides this, reproued her for that shee delighted in the vanities of this world so much. By the which godly counsel geuen by hym, it happened that shee beganne to waxe weery of the world, throughly sorowfull for her sinnes, being inflamed with the loue of God, desirous to serue hym according to his worde, purposing also to flee from those things the which dyd displease the Lord her God. And because shee had learned the masse to be euyl and abominable, shee began to hate it. And when at a tyme shee was compelled by the furiousnes of her husband, to come to the Church, at the same tyme when the holy water was cast, she turned her backe towards it, & shewed her self to be displeased with their blasphemous holy water, iniurious to the bloud of Christ: Wherupon shee was accused before the bishop, for the despising of their sacramentals.

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MarginaliaMisteris Lewes cited by the Byshop.Immediatly a Citatiō was sent for her to her husbands house, to appeare before the bishop incōtinently. The Sumner that brought the Citation deliuered it to her husband: who looking vpon it, & perceiuyng what it was, was moued with anger, willing the Sumner to take the Citation with hym againe, or els he would make hym to eate it. The Sumner refused to take it againe, for he thought no man durst haue bene so bold to trouble hym. But in the end Lewes cōpelled the said Sumner to eate the Citation in deed, by setting a daggar to his hart: and when he had eaten it, he caused hym to drinke to it, & so sent hym away. But immediatly after, the said Lewes with his wife were cōmaūded to appeare before the bishop, where the said Lewes by & by submitted him self, & desired the bishop to be good to him, excusing hym selfe after the best fashion he could. Wherupon the bishop was content to receiue his submission, with condition that his wife shoulde submit her selfe also. But shee stoutly told the Bishop, that by refusing of the holy water, shee had neither offended God nor any part of his lawes. At the which words the bishop being greeuously offended, and because shee was a Gentlewomā he would not take her at the worst (as he said) he gaue her one monethes respit, binding her husband in a hūdred poūd to bring her again vnto hym at the monethes end, and so they were both let go.

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When they came to their owne house, the said Maystresse Ioyce Lewes gaue her selfe to most diligent prayer and inuocating of the name of GOD, resortyng continually to the aboue named man of God, Maister Iohn Glouer,MarginaliaMisteres Lewes instructed by M. Iohn Glouer.who dyd moste diligently instructe her with Gods woorde, willyng her in any wise not to meddle with that matter in respect of vayne glory, or to get her selfe a name, shewyng her þ^e great daūgers shee was like to cast her selfe in, if shee shoulde meddle in Gods matters otherwise then Christ doth teach.

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When the Moneth was nowe almoste expired, and the tyme at hande that shee shoulde be brought before the Bishop, her husbande being aduertised by the saide Maister Iohn Glouer and others, not to carrye her to the Bishop, but to seeke some wayes to saue her, of if the worst shoulde come, to be content to forfeit so much money, rather then to cast his owne wyfe into the fire: He aunsweared, he would not loose or forfeyt any thing for her sake: and so like a murtherer of his owne wyfe, caryed her to the bloudy Bishop, where shee was examined, and found more stoute then shee was before death was threatned. MarginaliaMisteres Lewes imprisoned.And to begin withal, shee was sent to such a stinkyng Prison, that a certaine mayde which was appoynted to keepe her company, dyd swounde  

in the same prison.

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Beyng thus kept in prison, and oftentymes examined, and euer founde stoute, at the length shee was brought in iudgement, and pronounced an heretike, worthy to be burned. When the Bishop reasoned with her, why shee would not come to the Masse, and receyue the Sacramentes and sacramentals of holy church, sheee answeared: Because I finde not these thynges in Gods worde, which you so vrge and magnifie, as thynges most needefull for mens saluation. If these thynges were in the same worde of God commended. I would with all my hart receyue, esteeme, and beleue them. The Bishop answered: If thou wylt beleue no more then is in the Scripture, concernyng matters of Religion, thou art in a damnable case. At the which words shee was wonderfully amased, and beyng moued by the spirite of God, told the Bishop, that his words were vngodly and wicked.

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After her condemnation,  

shee continued a whole twelue moneth in prison, because shee was committed to the She-

MarginaliaMisteres Lewes a yeare in prison after her condemnation.riffe that was of late chosen, who could not be compelled to put her to death in his time, as he affirmed: for þ^e which thing after her death, he was sore troubled and in daunger of hys life. All that time shee was in prison, her behauyour was such both in wordes and deedes, that all they that had anye sparke of godlines or ciuile honesty, did greatly lamente her case, that shee should be put to death.

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Now when the tyme dyd drawe neare the which God had appoynted for her deliueraunce, the wrytte De comburendo,  

(as they terme it) beyng brought downe from London, shee desired certaine of her frendes to come to her, with whom, when they came, shee consulted how shee might behaue her selfe, that her death might be more glorious to the name of God, comfortable to his people, and also most discomfortable vnto the enemies of God. As for death, sayde shee, I doo not greatly passe: when I beholde the amiable countenance of Christ my deare Saueour, þ^e vglesome face of death doth not greatly trouble me. In the which tyme also shee reasoned moste comfortably out of Gods worde, of Gods election and reprobation.

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In the euenyng, before the day of her suffering, two of the priestes of the close of Lichfield, came to the vnder Sheriffes house where shee laye, and sent worde to her by the Sheriffe, that they were come to heare her confession: for they would be sorye shee should dye without it. MarginaliaMistres Lewes refuseth to be confessed of the Priestes.Shee sente them word againe, shee had made her confession to Christe her saueour, at whose hands shee was sure to haue forgeuenes of her sinnes: As concernyng the cause for the whiche shee should dye, shee had no cause to confesse that, but rather geue vnto God moste humble prayse that he dyd make her worthy to suffer death for his worde: And as concernyng that absolution that they were able to geue vnto her, being authorised by the Pope, shee dyd defie the same, euen frō the bottome of her hart. The which thing when the Priestes heard, they said to the Sheriffe: Wel, to morow her stoutnes wyll be proued and tryed. For although perhaps she hath now some frendes that whisper her in her eares, to morowe wyl we see who dare be so hardy as to come neare her: and so they went their wayes with anger, that their confession and absolution was nought set by.

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All that night shee was wonderfully chearful & meery, with a certaine grauitie, in so much that the maiestie of the spirit of God dyd manifestly appeare in her, who dyd expell the feare of death out of her hart, spending the time in prayer, readyng, & talking with them that were purposely come vnto her for to comfort her with the word of God.

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MarginaliaTemptations of Mistres Lewes before her death and Martyrdome.About three of the clocke in the mornyng, Satan (who neuer sleepeth, especially when death is at hand) beganne to styrre hym selfe busily, shootyng at her that fiery darte the which he is woont to doo agaynst all that are at defiaunce with hym, questionyng with her, howe shee could tell that shee was chosen to eternall lyfe, and that Christe dyed for her. I graunt that he dyed, but that he dyed for thee, howe canst thou tel? with this suggestion when shee was troubled, they that were about her, dyd counsel her to folowe the example of Paul, Galathians. 2. where he saith: Whiche hath loued me, and geuen hym selfe for me.  

Also that her vocation and callyng to the knowledge of Gods word, was a manifest token of Gods loue towardes her, especially that same holy spirite of God working in her hart that loue and desire towardes God to please hym, and to be iustified by him through Christ. &c. MarginaliaIoyce Lewes comforted in her temptations.By these and like perswasions, and especially by the comfortable promises of Christe, brought out of the Scripture, Satan was put to flight, and shee cōforted in Christ.

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About eight of the clocke, maister Sheriffe came to her into her chamber, saying these words: Maistresse Lewes, I am come to bring you tidyngs of the Queenes pleasure, the which is, that you shal liue no longer but one houre in this world: therfore prepare your self therunto: it standeth you in hand. At which words being so grossely vttered and so sodenly by such an officer as he was, shee was somewhat abashed. Wherefore one of her frendes and acquaintaunce standing by, said these words: Maistresse Lewes, you haue great cause to prayse God, who wyll vouchsafe so speedily to take you out of this world, and make you worthy to be a witnes to his truth, and to beare record vnto Christ that he is the onely Saueour.

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After the which wordes spoken thus, shee said: maister Sheriffe, your message is welcome to me, and I thanke my God that he wyl make me worthy to aduenture my life in his quarrell. And thus maister Sheriffe departed: and within the space of one houre, he came againe, cum gladijs & fustibus  

: and when he came vp into the chamber, one of her frendes desired hym to geue hym leaue to goe with her to the stake, & to comfort her, the which the Sheriffe graūted at that tyme, but afterwardes he was sore troubled for the same when shee was dead.

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