MarginaliaAnno. 1557. September.these two godly yokefellowes were accused and taken: and beyng once deliuered into the pitilesse handlyng of Boner: their examinations (ye may be sure) were not long differred. For the xvi day of Iuly. 1557. they were brought before him into his palace at Londō. Where first he demaunded of the said Iames Austoo (amōgst other questions) where he had bene confessed in Lent, and whether he receaued the Sacrament of the altare at Easter or not.

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To whom he aunswered that in deede he had bene confessed of the Curate of Alhallowes Barkyng, nigh vnto the Tower of London, but that he had not receaued the Sacrament of the altar, for he defied it from the bottom of his harte.

Why, quod the Byshop, doost thou not beleue that in the Sacrament of the altare there is the true body and bloud of Christ?

No said Austoo, not in the Sacramēt of the altar: but in the Supper of the Lord, to the faythfull receauer is the very body and bloud of Christ by faith.

Boner not well pleased with this talke, asked then the wife, how she did like the Religion then vsed in this Church of England.

She aunswered that she beleued, that the same was not accordyng to Gods word, but false and corrupted, and that they which did goe therunto, did it more for feare of the law, then otherwise.

Then he agayne asked her if she would goe to the Church and heare Masse, and pray for the prosperous estate of the kyng, beyng then abroad in his affaires.

Wherunto she said that she defied the Masse with all her hart, & that she would not come into any church wherin where Idols.

After this the Byshop obiected vnto them certaine Articles, to the number of xviij. The tenure whereof (because they touch onely such common and triflyng matters as are already mēcioned in diuers and sondry places before) I do here for breuity sake omit & passe ouer: geuyng you yet this much to vnderstand, that in matters of fayth, they were as sound, and aunswered as truly (God be therfore praysed) as euer did any, especially the woman, to whom the Lord had geuen the greater knowledge & more feruentnes of spirite. Notwithstandyng, accordyng to the measure of grace that God gaue them, they both stode most firmely vnto the truth. And therfore to conclude, the. x. day of September, they were (with Rafe Allerton, of whom ye haue heard) brought agayne before the Byshop within hys Chappell at Fulham, where he speakyng vnto them, sayd first on this wise: Austoo, doost thou know where thou art now, and in what place, and before whom, and what thou hast to doe?

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Yea (quod Austoo) I know where I am: For I am in an idols temple.

After whiche wordes theyr Articles being agayne read, and their constancy in fayth perceaued, Boner pronounced agaynst either of them seuerally the sentence of condemnation, and deliuering them vnto the Shrieffe there present, did rid his hāds (as he thought) of them: but the Lord in the ende will iudge that: to whom I referre his cause.

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MarginaliaMargerie Austoo terrified in prison.It so happened vpon a night  

that as this Margery Austoo was in the Byshops prison (which prison I suppose was his dogge kennell, for it was, as is reported, vnder a payre of stayres) by the Bystops procurement there was sent a stout champion (as appeared) about twelue of the clocke at night, who suddenly opened the doore, & with a knife drawen or ready prepared, fel vpon her, to the intent to haue cut her throte. Whiche she by reason of þ^e clearnes of the Moone perceauyng, and callyng vnto God for helpe, he (but who it was she knew not) giuyng a grunt, and fearyng (belike) to commit so cruell a deede, departed hys wayes without any more hurt doyng.

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The next night followyng, they caused a great rūbelyng to be made ouer her head, which seemed to her to haue bene some great thunder, which they did for to haue feared her out of her wittes, but yet thankes be to God, they missed of their purpose.

MarginaliaExaminatiō of Richard Roth.IN the Godly fellowship of the forenamed. iij. Martyrs, was also this Richard Roth, as is already before specified. Who being apprehended and brought vp vnto the Bishop of London, was by him examined the fourth day of Iuly: at what time þ^e Bishop did ear-

nestly trauell to induce him to beleue that there were seuen sacramētes in Christes Church, and that in the sacrament of the altar (after the wordes of consecration duely spoken) there remayned the very substance of Christes body and bloud and none other. Wherunto, (at that present) he made only this aunswere: that if the scriptures did so teach him, and that he might be by the same so perswaded, he would so beleue, otherwise not. But at an other examination (which was the ix. day of September) he declared playnly, that in the said sacrament of the altar (as it was then vsed) there was not the very body and bloud of Christ, but that it was a dead God, and that the masse was detestable and cōtrary to Gods holy worde and will, from the whiche fayth and opinion he would not goe or decline.

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The next day being the x. day of the same moneth of Septēber, the bishop at his house at Fulham (by way of an article) laid & obiected against him: that he was a comforter and boldener of heretickes, and therfore had writtē a letter to that effect vnto certain that were burned at Colchester: the copy wherof ensueth.

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MarginaliaA letter of Richard Roth.O Deare brethren and sisters, how much haue you to reioyce in God, that he hath geuen you such faith to ouercome this bloud thirsty tirauntes thus farre: and no doubt he that hath begon that good worke in you, will fulfill it vnto thend. O deare hartes in Christe, what a crowne of glory shall ye receaue with Christ in the kingdome of God? Oh that it had bene the good wil of God, that I had bene ready to haue gone with you. For I lye in my lordes little ease in the daye, and in the night I lye in the Colehouse, from Rafe Allerton, or any other: and we looke euery day when we shall bee condemned. For he sayd that I should be burned within x. dayes before Easter: but I lye still at the pooles brinke, and euery man goeth in before me: but we abide paciently the Lordes laysure, with many bandes, in fetters and stockes by the which wee haue receaued great ioye in God. And now fare you well deare brethren and sisters, in this worlde: but I trust to see you in the heauen face to face.

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Oh brother Munt, with your wife and my deare sister Rose, how blessed are you in the Lorde, that God hath found you worthy to suffer for hys sake: with all the rest of my deare brethren and sisters knowen & vnknowen. O be ioyfull euen vnto death. Feare it not, sayth Christ: for I haue ouercome death, sayth he. Oh deare hartes, seing that Iesus Christ will be our helpe, oh tary you the Lordes laysure. Be strong, let your hartes bee of good comfort, and wayte you still for the Lord. He is at hand. Yea the angel of the Lord pitcheth his tent round about them that feare him, and deliuereth them which way he seeth best. For our liues are in the Lordes handes: and they can doe nothing vnto vs before God suffer them. Therfore geue all thankes to God.

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Oh deare hartes, you shall be clothed with long white garmentes vppon the mount Sion, with the multitude of Saintes, and with Iesus Christ our Sauior, which will neuer forsake vs. Oh blessed Virgins, ye haue played the wise virgines part, in that you haue taken oyle in your lampes, that ye may goe in with the brydegrome when he cōmeth, into the euerlasting ioy with him. But as for the foolish they shall be shut out, because they made not themselues ready to suffer with Christ, neither goe about to take vp his crosse. O deare hartes, how precious shall your death be in the sight of the Lord? for deare is the death of his saintes. O fare you well, and pray. The grace of our Lord Iesus Christ be with you all, Amen, Amen. Pray, pray, pray.

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By me Rich. Roth, written with
mine owne bloud.

This letter he confessed in dede (vpon the said examination) to haue written with his bloud, and that he ment to haue sent the same vnto such as were condemned at Colchester for the Gospel of Iesus Christ, and were afterwardes burned there, as ye haue already heard.

The Byshop then farther asked hym, what hee thought his prison fellow Rafe Allerton to bee?

MarginaliaThe testimonie of Ric. Roth of Rafe Allerton.He aunswered that he thought him to be one of the elect children of God: and that if at any tyme hereafter he happened to be put to death for his faith and re-