MarginaliaAnno. 1558. Maie.him. For some thought he would haue recanted: other iudged rather that hee went to aske a further daie, and to desire conference: and some thought hee came forth to aske some of his parētes blessing So some thought one thing and some an other: but his two companions at the stake cryed out to hym to comforte him what they could, exhorting him in the bowels of Christ to bee of good chere. &c. But this sweete Hudson, felt more in his hart & conscience, then they could conceaue in him. For (alas good soule) he was compassed (God knoweth) with great dolour and grief of minde, not for his death, MarginaliaHudson carefull to haue the feelyng of Christe.but for lacke of feeling of his Christ, and therefore being very carefull he humbly fell downe vpō his knees, and prayed vehemently and earnestly vnto the Lord, who at the last, according to his olde mercyes, MarginaliaHudson satisfied of his desire.sent him comfort, and then rose he with great ioy, as a man new chaunged euen from death to life, and sayd:

[Back to Top]

Now I thanke God I am strōg, and passe not what man can doe vnto me. So going to the stake to his fellowes agayn, in the end they all suffered most ioyfully, constantly, and manfully the death together, and were consumed in fire, to the terror of the wicked, the comforte of Gods Childrē, & the magnifiyng of the Lords name, who be praysed therfore for euer, Amen.

[Back to Top]

After this, the fore named Commissary Berry, made great stirre about other which were suspected within the sayd towne of Aylesham, and caused twoo hundred to creepe to the Crosse at Penticost, besides other punishmentes which they susteyned.

MarginaliaBerry striketh a poore manne, whereupon he died.On a time this Berry gaue a poore mā of his parish of Marsham, a blow with the swingell of a flayle, for a word speaking, that presently theron hee dyed, and the sayd Berry (as is sayd) held vp his hand at the barre therefore.

MarginaliaBerry striketh a poore woman, whereupon she died.Then, after that in his parish of Aylesham also, an. 1557 there was one Alice Oxes came to his house, and going into the Hall, hee meting her (being before moued) smote her with his fist, whereby she was fayne to bee caryed home, and the next day was found dead in her chamber.  

[Back to Top]

To write how many cōcubines and whores he had, none would beleue it, but such as knewe him in the countrey he dwelt in. He was rich and of great authoritie, a great swearer, altogether geuen to women, and persecuting of the Gospel, & compelling men to idolatrie.

MarginaliaIohn Norgate a Confessour.One Iohn Norgate a man learned, godly, and zealous, who would not goe to their trash, but rather dye, being sore hunted by the sayd Berry, prayed hartely to God, and the Lord shortly after in a consumption deliuered him. MarginaliaThe rage of Berrie.Notwithstanding, the rage of this wicked man waxed more fiercer and fiercer. He troubled sundry men, burnt all good bookes that he could get, and diuorsed many men and women for religion.

[Back to Top]

When he heard say that Queene Mary was dead, and the glory of theyr triumph quailed, the sonday after, being the xx. of Nouember,  

an. 1558. MarginaliaBerrie maketh a feast, whereat is one of his Concubines.he made a great feast, and had one of his concubines there, with whom he was in his chamber after diner vntill Euensong. Then went he to church, where he had ministred Baptisme, and in going from church homeward, after Euensong, betwene the churchyarde and hys house, being but a litle space (as it were a churchyard bredeth asunder) MarginaliaGods punishemente, and terrible ende of Berrie.hee fell downe sodeinly to the ground with a heauy grone, & neuer stirred after, neither shewed any one token of repentance. This hapned his neyghbors being by to the example of all other. The Lord graunt we may obserue his iudgementes. MarginaliaBerries goodes consumeth as waxe against the fire.And those that had his great riches, since his death haue so cōsumed with them, that they bee poorer now then they were before they had his goodes, suche iudgement hath the Lorde executed to the eyes of all men.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaGods punishemente vppon Dunnyng Chauncellour of Norwiche.At that time one Dunning, Chauncellor of Lincoln (which is some part of Queene Maryes dayes was Chauncellor of Norwich, and a very mercyles tyrant as liued) dyed in Lincolneshyre of as soddeine a warnyng, as the sayd Berry dyed.

Thus haue I shewed the (good reader) the constancie, boldnes, and glorious victory of these happy Martyrs, as also the tyrannicall cruelty of that vnfortunate Commissarie, and his terrible end. The Lord graunt we may all effectually honor the iudgementes of God, and feare to displease his holy maiestie, Amen.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaIane Seman also persecuted by sir Iohn Tirrell.ABout thys tyme, or somewhat before, was one Ioane Seman,  

mother to the foresayd William

Semā, being of the age of 66. yeares, persecuted of the said Sir Iohn Tyrrell also out of þ^e town of Mendlesham aforesaid, because she would not goe to Masse, & receiue agaynst her conscience. Whiche good old woman beyng from her house, was glad sometyme to lye in bushes, groues, and fieldes, and sometyme in her neighbours house, when she could. And her husband beyng at home, about the age of. lxxx. yeares, fell sicke: MarginaliaThe duetie of a good wife.and she hearyng thereof, with spede returned home to her house agayne, not regardyng her life but consideryng her duety, and shewed her diligence to her husbād most faythfully, vntill God tooke hym away by death. Then by Gods prouidēce she fel sicke also, and departed this life within her owne house shortly after. MarginaliaSimondes the Commissarie would not let mother Seamā bee buried in the churchyard.And when one M. Simondes the Commissary heard of it, dwellyng therby at a towne called Thorndon, he commaunded straitly, that she should be buried in no Christian buriall (as they call it:) wherethrough her frēdes were compelled to lay her in a pit vnder a motes side. Her husbād and she kept a good house, and had a good report amongest their neighbours, willing alwayes to receiue straūgers, and to comfort the poore and sicke, and liued together in the holy estate of Matrimony verie honestly aboue forty yeares, and she departed this life willingly and ioyfully, with a stedfast fayth and a good remembraūce of Gods promise in Christ Iesus.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaMother Benet a Confessour.IN the saied time of Quene Mary, there dwelt in þ^e towne of Wetherset by Mendlesham aforesayd, a very honest woman called mother Benet, a widow, which was persecuted out of the same town because she would not go to Masse & other their beggerly ceremonies: but at the last she returned home agayne secretly to her house, & there departed this life ioyfully. MarginaliaSir Ihō Tyrrell and master Simondes would not suffer mother Benet, to bee buried in the Churcheyarde.But Syr Iohn Tyrrell & M. Simondes the Cōmissary, would not let her be buryed in the Churchyard. So was she layd in a graue by the hygh way side.

[Back to Top]

The same good old woman mother Benet, in the time of persecution, met one of þ^e said mother Semans neighbours, & asked her how the sayd mother Seman did, and she aunswered that she did very well, God be thānked. Oh (said she) mother Seman hath slept a great slepe before me: for she was neuer couetous that I could perceiue. Her husbād in his mirth would say vnto her: O woman, if thou were sparyng, thou mightest haue saued me an. C. Markes more thē thou hast. To the which she would aunswere agayne gently and say. O man be content, and let vs be thankefull, for God hath geuen vs inough if we can see it. MarginaliaThe charitable almoses of mother Seaman, to bee noted.Alas good husbād would she say, I tell you truth, I can not firkin vp my butter, and keepe my cheese in the chamber, & wait a great price, and let the poore want, and so displease God. But husband, let vs be rich in good workes: so shall we please the Lord, & haue all good thinges geuē vs. &c. Thys good woman of that vice of couetousnes (of al that knew her) was iudged least to be spotted, of any infirmyty she had. The lord roote it out of the hartes of them that be infected therwith, Amen.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaMaie. xxvi.MarginaliaTwoo menne and one womā, Martyrs.THou hast heard (good Reader) of the forenamed three that were burnt at Norwich, whose bloud quenched not the persecuting thurst of the Papistes. For immediately after, euen the same moneth, vpon the xxvi. daie, was seene the like murther also at Colchester in Essex, of two mē and a woman, lying there in prison, appointed ready to the slaughter: who were brought forth the sayd daie vnto a place prepared for them to suffer, & accordingly gaue their liues for the testimony of the truth, whose names likewise hereafter followeth.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaMartyrs.William Harries.
Richard daie.
Christian George.

MarginaliaThe Martyrdome of Williā Harries, Richard Day, and Christian George, at Colchester.These three good soules were brought vnto þ^e stake, and there ioyfully and feruētly had made their prayers vnto the Lord. At the last being setled in their places, and chayned vnto their postes, with their fire flaming fiercely rounde about them, they like constante Christians triumphantly praysed God within the same, and offered vp their bodyes a liuely sacrifice vnto his holy

[Back to Top]