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

I am well contented (saith he) to loose my life, & so become a martyr, that I may utterly destroy this tyrant: with that the Abbot did weep for gladness, & much commended his fervent zeal. The Monk then being absolved of his Abbot for doing this fact, went secretly into the garden on the backside, & finding there a most venomous toad, did so prick him, and press him with his penknife, that he made him vomit all the poison that was within him: this done he conveyed it into a cup of wine, & with a flattering & smiling countenance, he said to the K. If it shall please your princely majesty, here is such a cup of wine, as you never drank better in your life time: I trust this wassail shall make all England glad, & with that he drank a great draught thereof: the King pledged him. The monk anon went to the privy, and there died:¹ (his guts gushing out of his belly) and had continually from thenceforth 3 monks to sing mass for him, confirmed by their general chapter. The K. within a short space after, feeling great grief in his body, asked for Simon the monk: answer was made, he was dead: then God have mercy on me said the K. so went he to Newark upon Trent, & there died: & was buried in the cathedral church at Worcester, betwixt S. Oswald & S. Wolstane, ²an. 1216. the 19. of October, after that he had been much vexed with the clergy 18. years, six months, and odd days.

I am well contented (saith he) to loose my life, & so become a martyr, that I may vtterly destroy this tyrant: with that ye Abbot did wéepe for gladnes, & much cōmended his feruent zeale. The Monke then being absolued of his Abbot for doing this fact, went secretly into the garden on the backside, & finding there a most venemous toad, did so pricke him, and presse him with his pēknife, that he made him vomit all the poison yt was within him: this doone he conueyed it into a cup of wine, & with a flattering & smiling countenance, he said to the K. If it shall please your princely maiestie, here is such a cup of wine, as you neuer dranke better in your life time: I trust this wassall shall make all Englād glad, & with that he dranke a great draught thereof: the King pledged him. The monk anon went to the priuie, and there died:¹ (his guts gushing out of his belly) and had cōtinually from thenceforth 3 monks to sing masse for him, cōfirmed by their general chapter. The K. within a short space after, feeling great griefe in his body, asked for Simon the monk: answere was made, he was dead: thē God haue mercy on me said ye K. so went he to Newark vpō Trēt, & there died: & was buried in ye cathedral church at Worcester, betwixt S. Oswald & S. Wolstane,