An abridgement of the book of acts and monuments of the ChurchAn abridgement of the booke of acts and monumentes of the Church

Which these companions having found, did threaten him that except he would give up his school to a friend of theirs, (Thomas Thackam, ¹a false dissembling knave, and a chief worker of his death) they would deliver those his writings to the Council. Whereupon, for safeguard of his life, he was forced to depart upon the sudden, and took his journey towards Evesham, where his mother dwelt, Hoping to receive of her certain Legacies, by his Fathers will due unto him certain years before. Who so soon as he came to his mother, and asked her blessing, she cursed him, upbraiding him with his forsaking of Oxford, and his coming from Reading. She threatening him fire and faggot,² in stead of his Legacies. So being destitute of all worldly help, he advised himself to go closely to Reading, there to receive his quarters stipend, which he left unreceived at his departure, and to convey from thence his stuff. Which he did not so secretly, but that he was espied, and there by means of one Master Hampton, a false hypocrite, under pretence of friendship, he was betrayed, and within short space was taken at the sign of the Cardinals hat in Reading, and was put into a vile, stinking, and blind Dungeon. Where ten days he hanged by the hands and feet, so high, that wellnigh no part of his body touched the ground.

Which these companions hauing found, did threaten him that except he would geue vp his schoole to a friend of theirs, (Thomas Thackam, ¹a false dissembling knaue, and a chéefe woorker of his death) they woulde deliuer those his writings to the Counsell. Whereupon, for sauegarde of his life, he was forced to depart vpon the sodaine, and tooke his iorney towardes Euesham, where his mother dwelt, Hoping to receiue of her certaine Legacies, by his Fathers will due vnto him certaine yeares before. Who so soone as he came to his mother, and asked her blessing, she cursed him, vpbrayding him with his forsaking of Oxforde, and his comming from Reding. She threatning him fire and fagagotte,² in steade of his Legacies. So being destitute of all worldly helpe, he aduised himselfe to goe closely to Reading, there to receiue his quarters stipende, which he lefte vnreceiued at his departure, and to conuey from thence his stuffe. Which he did not so secretly, but that he was espied, and there by meanes of one Master Hampton, a false hypocrite, vnder pretence of friendshippe, he was betrayed, and within short space was taken at the signe of the Cardinals hatte in Reading, and was put into a vile, stinking, and blinde Dungeon. Where tenne dayes he hanged by the handes and féete, so high, that welnéere no part of his bodie touched the ground.