howe likely to truth that is, let the discrete wisedome of the reader indifferently iudge by the whole sequele of this proces.MarginaliaArgumentes & reasons prouing this answer not to be of Richard Hunne. And further, if it were his owne act: what occasion then had they so cruellie to murther him as they dyd? seing he had already so willingly confessed his fault, and submitted him selfe vnto the charitable and fauorable correction of the Bishop (for the which euen by their owne law, in cases of most heynous heresie he ought to be againe receyued and pardoned, (except perhaps they wyll account horrible murther, to be but the Bishops fauorable correction. Againe it seemeth they had very fewe credible witnesses to proue certainly that this was his answeare and handwriting: for the Register, or some other for hym (appoynted to record the same) hath certified it, as of hearsay from others, and not of his own proper sight & knowledge: as the words noted in the margent of the booke, adioynyng to the foresaid answeare, plainely do declare, which are these: Hoc fuit scriptum manu propria Richardi Hune, vt dicitur  

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Foxe's arguments against the authority of the note in the register - which unfortunately is no longer extant - do not stand up to scrutiny. The first argumentassumes that Hunne's death was deliberately planned by the clergy; if Hunne's deathwas a suicide, an accident or even murder carried out by overzealous underlings, Foxe's point is invalid. The phrase 'ut dicitur' was not sinister, it merely meant thatthe scribe who was recording Hunne's remark was writing down, not what he hadwitnessed, but what others related to him.

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MarginaliaRicharde Hunne sent back againe to lolards tower. This examination ended, the Bishop sent hym backe againe the same day, vnto the Lolardes tower: and then by the appoyntment of Doctour Horsey his Chauncelour, he was coulerably cōmitted from the custody of Charles Ioseph the Sumner, vnto Iohn Saldyng the Belringer, a man, by whose simplenes in wyt (though otherwise wicked) the subttl Chauncelour thought to bring his deuilish pretended homicide the easier to passe:MarginaliaRicharde Hunne priuely murdred in the Lolardes tower. Which most cruelly he dyd by his ministers suborned, within two nightes then next folowing accomplishe: as is plainely proued hereafter by the diligent inquirie and final verdict of the Crowner of Londō, and his inquest, made by order of the lawes in that behalfe limited. But when this vsuall practise of the Papistes was once accomplished, there wanted then no secrete shiftes, nor wordly wyles for the crafty colouring of this mischiefe: and therfore the next mornyng after they had in the night committed this murther,MarginaliaCrafty packing of the murdering Papistes. Iohn Spaldyng (I doubt not but by the coūsaile of his maister Chauncelour) gat him selfe out of the way, into the citie, and leauyng the keyes of the prison with one of his felowes, willed hym to deliuer them vnto the Sumners boy, which accustomably dyd vse to cary Hunne his meate, and other necessaries that he needed: thinking that the boy, first finding the prisoner dead, and hanged in such sort as they leaft hym, they might (by hys relation) be thought free from any suspition of this MarginaliaThe secret conueyance of the murdering of Richarde Hunne.

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This woodcut shows the body of Hunne hanging to the left of the cell, while his killers exit: one of them is depicted blowing out a candle, placed on the stocks, as he leaves. This scene illustrates the belief of many (including Foxe) that Hunne was murdered. The coroner's inquest into Hunne's death (reprinted by Foxe) reported that 'an ende of a wax candel ... we found sticking upon the stockes fayre put out, about seven or eight foote from the place where Hunne was hanged, which candle after our opinion was never put out by him.' (1563, p.391.) CUL copy: this image contains some detail added in ink. The man blowing out the candle wears a blue tunic with yellowy-orange hose. The next man is in black with pink sleeves; the other is in purple. Note that there is considerable bleed through on the right of this image. WREN copy: the outfits are more muted in this copy: Hunne is in blue, with purple hose, but the perpetrators are in dark, charcoal colours, almost blending into the background, making the image appear altogether much more sinister.

matter. Which thing happened in the beginnyng almost as they wished. For the boy the same mornyng (being the iiij. day of December) hauyng the keyes deliuered hym, accompanied with two other of the Bishops Sumners, went about x. of the clocke into the prison, to serue the prisoner, as he was woont to do, and when they came vp, they founde hym hanged with his face towardes the walle. Whereupon they (astonished at this sight) gaue knowledge thereof immediately vnto the Chauncelour, being then in the church, and watching, I suppose, of purpose, for such newes:MarginaliaHorsey the Chaunceler, craftely practiseth. who forthwith gat vnto him certaine of his collegues, and went with them into the prison, to see that whiche his owne wicked conscience knewe ful wel before: as was afterwardes plainly proued: although then he made a fayre face to þ^e cōtrary, blasing abroad among the people, by their officers and seruauntes, that Hunne had desperately hanged hymselfe.MarginaliaThe death of Hunne suspected of the Londiners. Howbeit, the people hauyng good experience as well of the honest life and godly conuersation of the man, as also of the deuilishe malice of his aduersaries the Priestes, iudged rather that by their procurement he was secretly murthered. Whereof arose great contention: for the Bishop of London on the one side, takyng his clergies part, affirmed stoutly that Hunne had hanged hym selfe.MarginaliaThe Crouner sitteth vpon the death of Hunne. The citizens againe on the other side, vehemently suspecting some secrete murther, caused the Crowner of London (accordyng to law) to chuse an inquest, and to take good viewe of the dead body, and so to trie out the truth of the matter. Wherby the Bishop and his chapleynes were thē driuen to þ^e extremitie of shiftes: & therfore mynding by some subtyl shewe of iustice, to stop the mouthes of the people, they determined that in the meane