Thomas Hardyng beyng one of this company, thus molested and troubled as is aforesayde, in the towne of Amersham, for the truth of the Gospell, after hys abiuration and penaunce done, was agayne sought for, and brought to the fire, in the dayes of kyng Henry viij. and vnder D. Langlond then bishop of Lyncolne, succeeding after Cardinall Wolsey. Of whose death and martyrdome, we shall lykewise recorde (Christ willyng and graunting) in order when we shall come to the tyme and yeare of hys sufferyng.

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MarginaliaTho. Noryce Martyr.
1507. After þ^e martyrdome of these ij. I read  

also of one Thomas Noryce, who lykewise for the same cause, that is, for, the profession of Christes Gospell, was condemned by the Byshop and burnt at Norwiche, the last daye of Marche. an. 1507.

MarginaliaElizabeth Sampson.
1508. In the next yeare folowing, whiche was. an. 1508. In the consistory of London was conuented Elizabeth Sampson, of the parishe of Aldermanberie vpon certain Articles,  

and specially for speaking agaynst pilgrImage and adoration of Images, as þ^e Image of our Lady at Wilsdone, at Staninges, at Crome, at Walsingham, and the Image of sainte Sauiour, of Barmonsey, and agaynst the Sacrament of the aultar, and for that she had spoken these or lyke wordes: that our Lady of Wilsdon was but a burnt ars elfe, and a burnt ars stocke, and if she might haue holpen men and womē which go to her on pilgrimage, she would not haue suffred her taile to haue bene burnt: & what should folke worship our Lady of Wilsdone, or our Lady of Crome, for the one is but a burnt ars stocke, and the other is but a puppit: and better it were for the people to geue their almes at home to poore people, then to go on pilgrimage. Also that she called the Image of saint Sauiour, Sun Sauiour with kitte lyppes, and that she sayd that she could make as good breade as that which the priest occupied, and that it was not the body of Christ but bread for that Christ could not be both in heauen and earth at one tyme. For these and certayne other Articles, she was compelled to abiure, before Maister William Horsey, Chauncellour the day and yeare aboue written. Ex Regist. Lond.

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MarginaliaLaurence Ghest, Martyr. LAmentable it is to remember, and a thing almost infinite to comprehende the names, tymes, and persons of all thē which haue bene slayne by the rigour of the Popes clergie, for the true maynteinyng of Christes cause and of hys Sacraments. Whose memory beyng registred in the booke of lyfe, albeit it nede not the commemoration of our storyes, yet for the more confirmation of the Churche, I thought it not vnprofitable, the suffering and martyrdome of them to be notified, whiche innocently haue geuen their bloud to be shed in Christes quarell.

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In the catalogue of whome next in order commeth the memoriall of Laurence Ghest, who was burned in Salisbury  

for matter of the Sacrament, in the dayes of K. Henry the 7. he was of a comly and tall personage, and otherwyse (as appeareth) not vnfrended, for the which the Bishop and the close were the more lothe to burne hym:MarginaliaLawrence Ghest two yeares in prison at Salisbury. but kept hym in prison the space of two yeares. This Laurence had a wyfe and 7. children. Wherfore they thinkyng to expugne and to perswade his mynde by the stirring his fatherly affectiō toward his children, whē tyme came which they appointed for his burning, as he was at the stake, they brought before him his wife and his foresayde 7. childrē. At the sight wherof, although nature commonly is wont to worke in other, yet in hym religion ouercommyng nature, made his cōstancy to remayne vnmoueable:MarginaliaLaurence would not be turned for wyfe and children. in such sorte as when hys wyfe began to exhort and desire hym to fauour himselfe, he agayne desired her to be content, and not to be a block in hys way, for he was in a good course, running toward þ^e marke of his saluation:MarginaliaLaurence dyed a martyr. and so fire beyng put to hym, he finished his lyfe, renouncing not onely wife and children, but also him selfe to follow Christ. As he was in burning, one of the Bishops men threw a firebrand at his face: Wherat the brother of Laurence standing by, ranne at him with his dagger, and would haue slayne him, had he not bene otherwise stayd.MarginaliaWytnes to the story. Testified and witnessed by the credible reporte of one William Russell an aged man dwellyng of late in Colmanstreate, who was there present   the same tyme at þ^e burning of Laurence, and was also himselfe burned in the cheke, and one of the persecuted flocke in those dayes, whose daughter is yet liuing: The same is confirmed also with the testimonye of one Richard Web seruaunt sometyme to M. Latymer, who   soiourning in the house of the said Williā Russel, heard hym many tymes declare the same.

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MarginaliaA notable story of a faythfull woman burned in Chyppyngsadbery. BVt amongest all the examples of them, whereof so many haue suffered from tyme to tyme for Christ and hys truth, I can not tell if euer were any martyrdome more notable and admirable, wherein the playne demonstration of Gods mighty power and iudgement hath at any tyme bene more euident agaynst the persecutors of his flocke, then at the burning of a certaine godly womā, put to death in Chepingsadbery, about the sametyme, vnder the reigne of kyng Henry the seuenth.

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The cōstancie of which blessed woman, as it is glorious for all true godly Christians to beholde: so agayne the example of the Byshops chauncelour, which cruelly condemned the innocent, may offer a terrible spectacle to the eyes of all papisticall persecutors to consider, and to take example: which the liuyng God graunt they may, Amen. The name of þ^e towne where she was martyred, was as is said, Chepyngsadbery. The name of the woman is not as yet come to my knowledge.MarginaliaD. Whyttyngtō Chauncellor a persecutour. The name of the Chauncelour, who condemned her, was called D. Whyttington. The time of her burning was in the reigne and tyme of K. Henry. 7. orderly therefore in thys place & tyme to be inserted.  

Wherin is to be noted moreouer the oportunity of this present history brought to my handes, and that in such cōuenient season, as I was drawing toward the ende of the foresayde kynges reigne: so that it may appeare to them, which behold the oportunitie of thinges, not to be without Gods holy will and prouidence, that this foresayd example shoulde not lye hyd and vnremembred, but should come to light and knowledge, and that in such order of placing, according as the due course of our story hetherto kept, requireth.

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After this godly woman and manly Martyr of Christ was condemned by the wretched Chauncelour aboue named D. Whittyngton, for the faithful profession of þ^e truth, which the Papistes then called heresie, and the tyme now come when she should be brought to the place and paines of her martyrdome,MarginaliaA faithfull christian woman & Martyr, burned at Chippingsadbery. a great concourse of all the multitude both in the towne and countrey about (as the maner is in such tymes) was gathered to behold her end. Among whō was also the foresayde Doct. Whittyngton the Chauncelour, there present to see execution done. Thus thys faythfull woman, and true seruaunt of God constantly persisting in the testimonye of the truth, committing her cause to the Lord, gaue ouer her life to the fire, refusing no paines nor tormentes to keepe her conscience cleare and vnreproueable in the day of the Lord. The sacrifice beyng ended, the people beganne to returne homeward, comming from the burning of thys blessed Martyr.MarginaliaA comparison betwene butchers, and the popes murthering ministers. It happened in the meane tyme that as the Catholicke executioners were busie in slaying this sely lambe at the townes side, a certayne butcher within the towne was as busie in slayng of a Bull, which Bull he had fast bounde in ropes, ready to knocke him on the head. But the butcher (belike not so skilfull in hys arte of kylling beastes, as the Papistes be in murdering Christians) as he was lifting hys axe, to stricke the Bull, fayled in his stroke, and smitte a litle to low, or els how he smitte, I know not. This was certaine, that the Bull although somewhat greued at the stroke, but yet not stroocken downe, put his strength to the ropes, and brake lose from the butcher into the streate, the very same tyme as the people were comming in great prease from the burnyng. Who seeyng the Bull commyng towardes them, and supposing him to be wylde (as was no other lyke) gaue way for the beast, euery man shifting for himselfe, as well as he might.MarginaliaA rare & speciall example of the iust punishment of God vpon a persecutour. Thus the people geuing backe and makyng a lane for the Bull, he passed through the throng of them, touching neither man nor childe, tyll he came where as the Chauncelor was.MarginaliaD. Whyttington slayne of a Bull. Agaynst whom the Bull, as pricked wyth a sodeine vehemencie, ranne fullbut with his hornes, and taking hym vpon the paunche, gored hym through and through, and so killed him immediatly, carying hys guttes and trayling them wyth hys hornes all the streate ouer, to the great admiration and wonder of all them, that sawe it.  

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Although the carnall sence of man be blynde in consideryng the workes of the Lord, imputyng many tymes to blynde chaunce the thynges which properly pertayne to Gods onely prayse and prouidence: yet in this so straunge & so euident example, what man can be so dull or ignoraunt, which seeth not herein a playne myracle of Gods myghtye power and iudgement both in the iust punishyng of thys wretched Chauncelour, and also in admonishing all other lyke persecutours, by his example, to feare the Lord, and to abstaine from the like crueltie?

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MarginaliaWytnes to the storye. Now for the credite of thys storye, least I be sayde vpon myne owne head to committe to storie, thinges rashely