Thematic Divisions in Book 12
1. Exhumations of Bucer and Phagius along with Peter Martyr's Wife2. Pole's Visitation Articles for Kent3. Ten Martyrs Burnt at Canterbury4. The 'Bloody Commission'5. Twenty-two Prisoners from Colchester6. Five Burnt at Smithfield7. Stephen Gratwick and others8. Edmund Allen and other martyrs9. Alice Benden and other martyrs10. Examinations of Matthew Plaise11. Richard Woodman and nine other martyrs12. Ambrose13. Richard Lush14. Edmund Allen15. The Martyrdom of Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper16. Rose Allin and nine other Colchester Martyrs17. John Thurston18. George Eagles19. Richard Crashfield20. Fryer and George Eagles' sister21. Joyce Lewes22. Rafe Allerton and others23. Agnes Bongeor and Margaret Thurston24. John Kurde25. John Noyes26. Cicelye Ormes27. Persecution at Lichfield28. Persecution at Chichester29. Thomas Spurdance30. Hallingdale, Sparrow and Gibson31. John Rough and Margaret Mearing32. Cuthbert Simson33. William Nicholl34. Seaman, Carman and Hudson35. Three at Colchester36. A Royal Proclamation37. Roger Holland and other Islington martyrs38. Stephen Cotton and other martyrs39. Scourging of Thomas Hinshaw40. Scourging of John Milles41. Richard Yeoman42. John Alcocke43. Thomas Benbridge44. Four at St Edmondsbury45. Alexander Gouch and Alice Driver46. Three at Bury47. A Poor Woman of Exeter48. Priest's Wife of Exeter49. The Final Five Martyrs50. John Hunt and Richard White51. John Fetty52. Nicholas Burton53. John Fronton54. Another Martyrdom in Spain55. Baker and Burgate56. Burges and Hoker57. The Scourged: Introduction58. Richard Wilmot and Thomas Fairfax59. Thomas Greene60. Bartlett Greene and Cotton61. Steven Cotton's Letter62. James Harris63. Robert Williams64. Bonner's Beating of Boys65. A Beggar of Salisbury66. Providences: Introduction67. The Miraculously Preserved68. William Living69. Edward Grew70. William Browne71. Elizabeth Young72. Elizabeth Lawson73. Christenmas and Wattes74. John Glover75. Dabney76. Alexander Wimshurst77. Bosom's wife78. Lady Knevet79. Mistress Roberts80. Anne Lacy81. Crosman's wife82. Congregation at Stoke in Suffolk83. Congregation of London84. Edward Benet85. Jeffrey Hurst86. William Wood87. Simon Grinaeus88. The Duchess of Suffolk89. Thomas Horton 90. Thomas Sprat91. John Cornet92. Thomas Bryce93. Gertrude Crockhey94. William Mauldon95. Robert Horneby96. Mistress Sandes97. John Kempe98. Thomas Rose99. Complaint against the Ipswich Gospellers100. Tome 6 Life and Preservation of the Lady Elizabeth101. The Unprosperous Queen Mary102. Punishments of Persecutors103. Foreign Examples104. A Letter to Henry II of France105. The Death of Henry II and others106. Justice Nine-Holes107. John Whiteman108. Admonition to the Reader109. Hales' Oration110. Cautions to the Reader111. Snel112. Laremouth113. William Hunter's Letter
Critical Apparatus for this Page
Commentary on the TextCommentary on the Woodcuts
Names and Places on this Page
Unavailable for this Edition
1966 [1939]

Quene Mary. The Martyrdome of Richard, Yeoman. Iohn Alcock, M. Benbrige.

MarginaliaAnno. 1558. Iuly.earnestly vpon sir Henry Doyle to sende them both to prison. MarginaliaSyr Henry Doyle entreated for Gods Sainctes, but could not be heard.Syr Henry Doyle earnestly laboured and entreated the parson, to consider the age of the men, and their poore estate: they were persons of no reputation nor Preachers: wherefore hee would desire hym to let them be punished a day or two, and so to let them go, at the least Iohn Dale who was no Priest, and therefore seyng he had so long sitten in the cage, he thought it punishment inough for his tyme. When the parson heard this, he was exceding mad, and in a greate rage called them Pestilent Heretikes, vnfit to liue in the common wealth of Christians. Wherefore I beseech you Syr, (quoth he) accordyng to your office defend holy church, and helpe to suppresse these sectes of heresies. &c. which are false to God, and thus boldly set themselues, to the euill example of other, against the Queenes gracious proceedynges. Sir Henry Doyle seeing he could do no good in the matter, & fearing also his peril if he should to much medle in this matter, made out the writte, and caused the Cōstables to cary them forth to Bury gaile.  

Commentary   *   Close

A rare portrayal in Foxe of Sir Henry Doyle as a reluctant persecutor; usually Doyle was described as a zealous persecutor of the godly.

For nowe were all the Iustices, were they neuer so mightie, afraid of euery shauen crowne, and stoode in as much awe of them, as Pilate did stande in feare of Annas and Cayphas, MarginaliaThe kingdome of Locustes.and of the Pharisaicall broode, which cried: Crucifie hym, Crucifie hym. If thou let hym go, thou art not Keysars frend.

[Back to Top]

Wherefore, whatsoeuer their consciences were yet (if they would escape daunger) they must needes be the popish Bishoppes slaues, and vassales. MarginaliaYeoman and Iohn Dale sent to Bury gaile.So they tooke Rich. Yeoman and Iohn Dale, pinioned and bound them like theeues, set them on horsebacke, and bound their legs vnder the horses bellies, and so caried them to the Gaile at Bury. Where they were tyed in irons, and for that they continuallye rebuked Popery, they were throwne into the lowest Dongeon, Where Iohn Dale through sicknes of the prison and euill keepyng, dyed in Prison, whose bodye when hee was dead, was throwen out and buried in the fieldes. Hee was a man of xlvi. yeares of age, a Weauer by his occupation, MarginaliaCommendatiō of Iohn Dale.wel learned in the holy Scriptures, faithful and honest in all his conuersation, stedfast in Confession of the true doctrine of Christ set forth in K. Edwards time: For the whiche he ioyfully suffered prison and chaines, and frō this worldly dungeon he departed in Christ to eternall glory, & the blessed paradise of euerlasting felicitie.

[Back to Top]

After that Iohn Dale was dead, MarginaliaYeoman remoued to Norwich.Rich. Yeomā was remoued to Norwiche prison, where after straite and

MarginaliaThe Martyrdome of Rich. Yeoman, Minister, at Norwich. An. 1558. Iuly 10.¶ The burnyng of Richard Yeoman.
woodcut [View a larger version]
Commentary on the Woodcuts   *   Close
This was the fifth time this image was used in Books 11 and 12 in 1583.

euill keeping, he was examined of his faith and religion. Then he boldly and constantly confessed himself to be of the faith & confession that was set forth by the late

king, of blessed memory, holy K. Edward the vi. & from þt he would in no wise vary. Beyng required to submit himselfe to þe holy father the Pope, I defy him (quod he) & all his detestable abominations: I will in no wise haue to do with him, nor any thing that appertaineth to him. MarginaliaThe chiefe matters obiected to Rich. Yeoman.The chief articles obiected to him were his mariage, & the Masse sacrifice. Wherfore when he continued stedfast in confession of the truth, he was condemned, disgraded, and not onely burnt, but most cruelly tormented in the fire. So ended hee his poore and miserable life, and entred into the blessed bosom of Abraham, enioiyng with Lazarus the comfortable quietnes that God hath prepared for his elect saintes.

[Back to Top]
¶ The story of Iohn Alcocke.  
Commentary   *   Close
: John Alcock

In the 1563 edition Foxe printed a confused account of John Alcock's life, which clearly came from different sources which Foxe, probably due to haste, imperfectly reconciled. The account included Alcock's letters (1563, pp. 1663-67). In the 1570 edition, Foxe removed the inconcistencies in this account, but he also removed the letters. This account remained unchanged in subsequent editions, but the letters were added in an appendix to the 1583 edition (pp. 2146-49). This entire account rests on the testimony of individual informants; interestingly, Foxe had access to official documents on Alcock (a copy of Alcock's examination by the privy council is among Foxe's papers -see BL, Lansdowne 389, fo. 212v), but Foxe did not use them.

[Back to Top]

MarginaliaThe story of Iohn Alcocke.THere was also in Hadley, a yong man named Iohn Alcocke, whiche came to Hadley seekyng worke, for he was a shereman by his occupatiō. This yong man after the Martyrdom of Doct. Tailour, and taking of Rich. Yeoman, vsed first in the church of Hadley to read þe seruice in English, as partly is aboue touched, pa. 1447. At lēght after the cōmyng of Parson Newall, he being in Hadley church vpon a Sonday when the Parson came by with Procession, would not once moue his cap, nor shew any signe of reuerence, but stode behind the font. MarginaliaParson Newal in a rage against Iohn Alcocke, for not goyng on Procession.Parson Newal perceauing this, whē he was almost out of þe church dore, ran back again, & caught him, & called for the cōstable.

[Back to Top]

Then came Robert Rolfe, with whom this young man wrought, and asked: Master Person, what hath he done, that ye are in such a rage with hym?

He is an hereticke and a traytor (quoth the Parson) and despiseth the Queenes procedinges. Wherfore I commaund you in the Quenes name, haue hym to the stockes, and see he be forth commyng.

Well (quoth RolfeMarginaliaRobert Rolfe an honest Constable of Hadley.) he shall be forth comming: proceede you in your busines and bee quiet. Haue hym to the stockes (quoth the Parson.)

I am Constable quoth Rolfe, and maye bayle him, and will bayle him: he shall not come in the stockes, but he shall be forth comming. So went the good Parson foorth with his holy Procession, and so to Masse.

At after noone Rolfe said to this young man: I am sory for thee, for truly the person wil seke thy destruction, if þu take not good heede what thou answerest hym.

The young man answered: Syr, I am sory that it is my luck to be a trouble to you. As for my selfe I am not sory, but I doe commit my selfe into Gods hands, and I truste hee will geue me mouth and wisedome to aunswere accordyng to right.

Well (quoth Rolfe) yet beware of hym. For hee is malicious, and a bloudsucker, and beareth an old hatred against me, and he will handle you the more cruelly, because of displeasure against me.

I feare him not (quod the young man) He shall doe no more to me then God will geue him leaue: and happy shal I be if God wil cal me to dye for his truthes sake.

After this talke, they then went to the parson,MarginaliaAlcock brought to Parson Newall. who at the first asked hym: Fellow, what saiest thou to the Sacrament of the altar?

I say (quod he) as ye vse the matter, ye make a shameful idoll of it, and ye are false idolatrous Priestes all the sort of you.

I told you (quod the parson) he was a stout hereticke.

So, after long talke the Person committed hym to ward: and the next day rode he vp to London, MarginaliaParson Newal carieth vp Iohn Alcocke to London.and caried the young man with hym, and so came the young man no more again to Hadley, but after long imprisonment in Newgate,  

Commentary   *   Close

In the 1563 edition, Foxe correctly identified John Alcock with the 'John Awcock' whom he had mentioned earlier as dying in Newgate (1563, p. 1117; 1570, p. 1731; 1576, p. 1478 and 1583, p. 1651). But on this same page, he also states that Alcock was burned at Smithfield. Foxe corrected this error in subsequent editions.

[Back to Top]
where after many examinatiōs and troubles, for that he would not submit himselfe to aske fogeuenes of the Pope, and to be recōciled to the Romish religion, he was cast into þe lower doungeon, wher with euil keping, & sickenes of the house he died in prisonMarginaliaIohn Alcocke dyed in Newgate. Thus died he a Martyr of Christes veritie, which he hartely loued and constantly confessed, and receaued the garland of a well foughten battell at the hande of the Lord. MarginaliaIohn Alcocke buried of the Papistes in a dounghill.His body was cast out & buried in a donghil. For the Papistes would in all thinges bee like them selues: Therfore would they not so much as suffer the dead bodies to haue honest and conuenient sepulture.

[Back to Top]
¶ Thomas Benbrige, Gentleman and Martyr, wrongfully condemned and put to death by the cruell Papistes, for the defence of the Gospel of Christ Iesu.  
Commentary   *   Close
Thomas Benbridge

This account first appeared in the 1563 edition and it was unchanged in subsequent editions. This account was based on the articles alleged against Benbridge and his answers to them, which were probably copied from the Winchester diocesan records, and also on the testimony of individual informants.

MarginaliaIuly 29.MarginaliaThe story of Thomas Benbrige, Martyr.THomas Benbrige a gentleman, single & vnmaried,  

Commentary   *   Close

Note that a passage here, which only appears in the 1563 edition, states that Benbridge was 'half sure' (i.e., betrothed). On the gentry status of Benbridge and his family, see R. H. Fritze, '"A Rare Example of Godlyness Amongst Gentleman": The Role of the Kingsmill and Gifford Families in Promoting the Reformation in Hampshire' in Protestantism and the National Church, ed. Peter Lake and Maria Dowling (London, 1987), pp. 154-55.

[Back to Top]
in the Dioces of Winchester, although he might

haue