MarginaliaAnno. 1558. March. Aprill.and Iohn Deuenishe, addyng thereto, saied that the Sacramente of the altar, as it is now vsed, is no Sacramente at all.

Marginalia8.To the eight Article, they all confessed, and beleued all thynges aboue by them acknowledged and declared, to bee true, and that they bee of the Dioces of London, and iurisdiction of the same.

These three aboue named persones, and blessed witnesses of Iesus Christ, Cutbert, Foxe, and Deuenishe as they were altogether apprehended at Islyngton, as is aboue declared, so the same all three together suffe-

Commentary on the Woodcuts     Close

As the amount of illustration thickens through the concluding pages of the Book of Martyrs, new small cuts were still appearing alongside the repeating images. This example (Type 1) appears next a recycled print of the same family of cuts, though it seems rather a peculiar new arrival at this stage, since there were already two small blocks showing two men in the flames, and what was needed here was one showing three (which the producers did not have). Does this suggest some kind of bulk commissioning, as well as the cutting of designs specifically tailored to the text?

red in Smithfield about the. xxviij. daie of Marche, in whose perfect constancie the same lorde (in whose cause and quarrell they suffered) giuer of all grace, and gouernour of all thynges, be exalted for euer. Amen.

¶ The suffering & martirdome of VVilliam Nicole, put to death by the wicked handes of the Papistes at Herefordwest in Wales.  

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William Nichol

The entire account of William Nichol first appeared in the 1563 edition; an informant must have supplied Foxe with the sparse details he had on Nichols.

MarginaliaAprill. 9.
William Nicoll, Martyr.WE finde in all ages from the beginnyng that Sathan hath not ceassed at all tymes, to molest the church of Christ with one afflictiō or other, to the triall of their faithe, but yet neuer so apparauntely at any tyme to all the worlde, as when the lorde hath permitted him power ouer the bodies of his sainctes, to the shedyng of their bloud, and peruerting of Religion: for then slepeth he not, I warrant you, frō murderyng of the same, vnles they will fall doune with Achab and Iesabell to worship hym, and so kill and poyson their owne soules eternally: as in these miserable latter daies of Queene Mary we haue felt heard and seene practised vpon Gods people. Among whom we finde recorded an honest good simple pore man, one William Nicol, who was apprehended by the Champions of the Pope, for speakyng certaine woordes against the cruell kingdome of Antichrist, and the ninth day of Aprill. 1558. was butcherly burnt and tormented at Herefordwest in Wales, where hee ended his life in a most happy and blessed state, and gloriously gaue his soule into the handes of the Lorde, whose goodnes bee praised for euer and euer, Amen.

MarginaliaWil. Nicoll a simple soule.This William Nicoll (as we are informed) was so simple a good soule, that many estemed him halfe foolish. But what he was we know not, but this are wee sure he died a good man, & in a good cause, whatsoeuer they iudge of hym. And the more simplicitie or feblenes of wit appeared in him, the more beastly and wretched

Commentary on the Woodcuts     Close

Another repeat of the cut that had illustrated Thomas Tomkyns.

doth it declare their cruell and tirannicall act therein. The Lord geue them repentaunce therfore, if it be hys blessed will, Amen, Amen.

The Martyrdome of VVilliam Seaman, Thomas Carman, and Thomas Hudson, put to death by the persecuting papistes at Norwich in the county of Norfolke.  

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Seaman, Carman and Hudson

This account first appeared in the 1563 edition and was essentially unchanged in subsequent editions. It is based on detailed information supplied by a local informant or informants.

MarginaliaMay. 19.MarginaliaThe story and Martyrdom of W. Seaman, Tho. Carman, and Thomas Hudson.IMmediatly after William Nicole, succeded in that honorable and glorious vocation of Martyrdome three constant godly men at Norwich in Norfolk, who were cruelly and tyrānically put to death for the true testimonie of Iesus Christ, the 19. of May an. 1558. Whose names be these.

William Seaman.
Thomas Carman.  

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Foxe gives Carman's first name as Thomas, but his papers contain the sentence condemning William Carman to death (BL, Harley MS 421, fos. 157r-158r) and there is a copy of a writ sent to the lord chancellor stating that William Carman had been excommunicated (PRO C/185/141/27).

MarginaliaWilliam Seaman.The sayd William Seaman was an husbandman, of the age of xxvi. yeares, dwellyng in Mendlesham in the county of Suffolke, who was sought for sundry tymes by the commaundement of MarginaliaSir Iohn Tirrell Knight.Syr Iohn Tirrell knight, and at last he himselfe in the night searched his house and other places for hym: notwithstandyng, hee somwhat mist of his purpose, God be thanked. Then he gaue charge to his seruauntes, MarginaliaRobert Bauldyng,MarginaliaIames Clarke, persecutors.Robert Bauldyng, and Iames Clarke with others, to seke for hym. Who hauyng no officer, went in the euening to his house, where he beeyng at home, they tooke hym and caried hym to their Master Sir Iohn Tirrell. This Bauldyng beyng Seamans nigh neighbour, and whom the sayd Seaman greatly trusted as a speciall frend, notwithstādyng to do his Master a pleasure, now became enemy to his chief frend, was one of the busiest in the takyng of hym. Nowe as they were goyng to cary hym to their Master Sy Iohn Tyrrell in the night, MarginaliaA light out of the element.it is credibly reported that there fell a light betweene them out of the element and parted them. This Bauldyng beyng in company with the reste when the light fell, and albeit he was then in his beste age, yet after that time neuer enioyed good day, MarginaliaGods punishment vpon a persecutor.but pined away euen vnto the death.

Well, for all that straunge sight (as I said) they caried him to their Master. Who when he came, asked hym why he would not go to masse, and receaue the sacrament, and so to worship it? Vnto which William