A67927:1361
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 2] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
No title page in the transcription: set from the catalogue record.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
1The night before he suffered, his beard was washed, and his legs, and as he sate at supper the same night at M. Irishes (who was his keeper) he had his hostess, and the rest at the board, to his marriage: for (saith he) to morrow I must be married, and so showed himself to be as merry as ever he was at any time before. And wishing his sister at his marriage, he asked his brother sitting at the Table, whether she could find in her heart to be there or no, and he answered,2 yea, I dare say, with all her heart: at which word he said, he was glad to hear of her so much therein. So at this talk mistress Irish wept.
1THe night before he suffred, his beard was washed, and his legs, and as he sate at supper the same night at M. Irishes (who was his keeper) he had his hostesse, and the rest at the boord, to his mariage: for (saith he) to morrowe I must be maried, and so shewed hymselfe to bee as mery as euer he was at any time before. And wishing his sister at his mariage, he asked hys brother sittyng at the Table, whether she could find in her heart to be there or no, and he answered,2 yea, I dare say, with all her heart: at which word he sayd, he was glad to heare of her so much therein. So at this talke maistres Irish wept.
But M. Ridley comforted her, and said: Oh mistress Irish, you love me not now, I see well enough. For in that you weep, it doth appear you will not be at my marriage, neither are content therewith. In deed you be not so much my friend, as I thought you had been. But quiet your self: though my breakfast shall be somewhat sharp and painful, yet I am sure, my supper shall be more pleasant and sweet, &c.
But M. Ridley comforted her, and sayd: Oh maistres Irishe, you loue me not now, I see well enough. For in that you weepe, it doth appeare you will not be at my mariage, neither are content therewith. In deede you be not so much my friend, as I thought you had bene. But quiet your selfe: though my breakefast shall be somwhat sharpe and paynfull, yet I am sure, my supper shalbe more pleasant and sweete, &c.
When they arose from the Table, his brother offered him to watch all night with him.1 But he said, no, no, that you shall not. For I mind (God willing) to go to bed, and to sleep as quietly to night, as ever I did in my life. So his brother departed, exhorting him to be of good cheer, and to take his Cross quietly, for the reward was great, &c.
When they arose from the Table, hys brother offered hym to watch all night with hym.1 But he said, no, no, that you shall not. For I mynd (God willyng) to goe to bed, and to sleepe as quietly to night, as euer I did in my lyfe. So hys brother departed, exhortyng hym to bee of good cheere, and to take hys Crosse quietly, for the reward was great, &c.
1Upon the Northside of the town, in the ditch over against Baily College, the place of execution was appointed: and for fear of any tumult that might arise, to let the burning of them, the L. Williams was commanded by the Queens letters, and the householders of the City to be there assistant, sufficiently appointed, & when every thing was in a readiness, the prisoners were brought forth by the Major and Bailiffs.
1VPon the Northside of the towne, in the ditch ouer against Baily Colledge, the place of execution was appoynted: and for feare of any tumult that might aryse, to let the burnyng of them, the L. Williams was commaunded by the Queenes letters, and the householders of the Citie to be there assistant, sufficiently appoynted, & when euery thyng was in a readines, the prisoners were broght forth by the Maior and Bailiffes.
M. Ridley had a fair black gown furred, and faced with foins, such as he was wont to wear being Bish. and a tippet of velvet furred likewise about his neck, a velvet night cap upon his head, & a corner cap upon the same, going in a pair of slippers to the stake, & going between the Major and an Alderman, &c.
M. Ridley had a faire blacke goune furred, and faced with foines, such as he was woont to weare beyng Bish. and a tippet of veluet furred likewyse about his necke, a veluet night cap vpon his hed, & a corner cappe vpon the same, goyng in a paire of slippers to the stake, & going betweene the Maior and an Alderman, &c.
After him came M. Latimer in a poor Bristow freeze frock all worn, with his buttoned cap, and a kerchief on his head, all ready to the fire, a new long shroud hanging over his hose down to the feet, which at the first sight, stirred mens hearts to rue upon them, beholding on the one side, the honour they sometime had, on the other, the calamity whereunto they were fallen.
After hym came M. Latimer in a poore Bristow freeze frocke all worne, with hys buttened cap, and a kerchiefe on his hed, all redy to the fire, a new long shroud hanging ouer his hose downe to the feete, which at the first sight, stirred mens hearts to rue vpon them, beholdyng on the one side, the honour they sometyme had, on the other, the calamitie whereunto they were fallen.
M. Doctor Ridley, as he passed towards Bocardo, looking up where M. Cranmer did lye, hoping belike to have seen him at the glass window, and to have spoken unto him. But then M. Cranmer was busy with Friar Soto & his fellows disputing together, so that he could not see him through that occasion.1 Then M. Ridley looking back, espied M. Latimer coming after. Unto whom he said: Oh be ye there. Yea said M. Latimer, have after as fast as I can follow. So he following a pretty way of, at length they came both to the stake, one after the other, where first D. Ridley entering the place, marvellous earnestly holding up both his hands, looked towards heaven: then shortly after espying M. Latimer, with a wondrous cheerful look, ran to him, embraced, and kissed him, and as they that stood near reported, comforted him,2 saying: be of good heart brother, for GOD will either assuage the fury of the flame, or else strengthen us to abide it.
M. Doctor Ridley, as hee passed towards Bocardo, lookyng vp where M. Cranmer did lye, hopyng belike to haue seene hym at the glasse window, and to haue spoken vnto hym. But then M. Cranmer was busie with Frier Soto & his fellowes disputyng together, so that he could not see hym through that occasion.1 Then M. Ridley lookyng backe, espied M. Latymer commyng after. Unto whome he sayd: Oh be ye there. Yea sayd M. Latymer, haue after as fast as I can follow. So he following a prety way of, at lenth they came both to the stake, one after the other, where first D. Ridley entring the place, maruelous earnestly holding vp both his hands, loked towards heauen: then shortly after espying M. Latimer, with a wonderous cheerefull looke, ranne to hym, embraced, and kissed hym, and as they that stoode neare reported, comforted hym,2 saying: be of good heart brother, for GOD will either asswage the fury of the flame, or els strengthen vs to abyde it.
With that went he to the stake, kneeled down by it, kissed it, most effectually prayed, and behind him M. Latimer knelled, as earnestly calling upon God as he. After they arose, the one talked with the other a little while, till they which were appointed to see the execution removed themselves out of the sun. What they said, I can learn of no man.
With that went he to the stake, kneeled downe by it, kissed it, most effectuously prayed, and behynd him M. Latymer kneled, as earnestly callyng vpon God as he. After they arose, the one talked with the other a little whyle, tyll they which were appoynted to see the execution remooued themselues out of the sunne. What they sayd, I can learne of no man.
Then Doctor Smith,1 of whose recantation in K. Edwards time, ye heard before, began his Sermon to them, upon this text of Saint Paul, in the xiij. chapter of the first Epistle to the Corinthians: Si corpus meum trad•m igni, charitatem autem non habeo, nihil inde utilitatis capio: That is, If I yield my body to the fire to be burnt, & have not Charity, I shall gain nothing thereby. Where in he alleged, that the goodness of the cause, and not the order of death: maketh the holiness of the person: Which he confirmed by the examples of Judas, and of a woman in Oxford that of late hanged her self, for that they and such like as he recited, might them be adjudged righteous, which desperately sundered their lives from their bodies,2 as he feared that those men that stood before him would do. But he cried still to the people to beware of them, for they were heretics, and dyed out of the Church. And on the other side, he declared their diversities in opinions, as Lutherians, Oecolampadians, Zwinglians,3 of which sect they were, (he said) and that was the worst: but the old church of Christ, and the Catholic faith believed far otherwise, At which place they lifted up both their hands and eyes to heaven, as it were calling God to witness of the truth. The which countenance they made in many other places of his Sermon, where as they thought he spake amiss. He ended with a very short exhortation to them, to recant and come home again to the church, and save their lives and souls, which else were condemned. His sermon was scant in all a quarter of an hour.
Then Doctor Smith,1 of whose recantation in K. Edwards tyme, ye heard before, began his Sermon to them, vpon this text of Saint Paule, in the xiij. chapiter of the first Epistle to the Corrinthians: Si corpus meum trad•m igni, charitatem autem non habeo, nihil inde vtilitatis capio: That is, If I yeld my body to the fire to be burnt, & haue not Charitie, I shall gayne nothyng thereby. Where in he alledged, that the goodnesse of the cause, and not the order of death: maketh the holynes of the person: Which he confirmed by the examples of Iudas, and of a woman in Oxford that of late hanged her selfe, for that they and suche lyke as he recited, might thē be adiudged righteous, which desperately sundered their lyues from their bodies,
Doctor Ridley said to Master Latimer, will you begin to answer the Sermon, or shall I? Master Latimer said, begin you first I pray you. I will said Master Ridley.
Doctor Ridley sayd to Maister Latymer, will you beginne to aunswer the Sermon, or shall I? Maister Latimer sayd, begin you first I pray you. I will sayd Maister Ridley.
Then the wicked Sermon being ended,1 Doctor Ridley and Master Latimer knelled down upon their knees towards my Lord Williams of Tame, the Uicechancellor of Oxford, and divers other Commissioners appointed for that purpose, which sate upon a form thereby. Unto whom Master Ridley said: I beseech you my Lord even for Christs sake, that I may speak but two or three words: and whilst my Lord bent his head to the Major and Uicechauncellour, to know (as it appeared) whether he might give him leave to speak, the Bailiffs and Doctor Marshall Uicechancellour ran hastily unto him,2 and with their hands stopped his mouth and said: Master Ridley, if you will revoke your erroneous opinions, and recant the same, you shall not only have liberty so to do, but also the benefit of a subject, that is, have your life. Not otherwise said Master Ridley? No quoth Doctor Marshall: therefore if you will not do so, then there is no remedy but you must suffer for your deserts. Well (quoth M. Ridley) so long as the breath is in my body, I will never deny my Lord Christ, and his known truth: Gods will be done in me.3 And with that he rose up, and said with a loud voice: Well, then I commit our cause to almighty God, which shall indifferently judge all.
Then the wicked Sermon beyng ended,1 Doctor Ridley and Maister Latymer kneled down vpon their knees towardes my Lord Williams of Tame, the Uicechancellor of Oxford, and dyuers other Commissioners appointed for that purpose, which sate vpon a forme therby. Unto whome Maister Ridley sayd: I beseech you my Lord euen for Christes sake, that I may speake but two or three wordes: and whylest my Lord bent hys head to the Maior and Uicechauncellour, to know (as it appeared) whether he myght geue hym leaue to speake, the Bailiffes and Doctour Marshall Uicechancellour ranne hastily vnto hym,2 and with theyr handes stopped hys mouthe and sayd: Maister Ridley, if you will reuoke your erroneous opinions, and recant the same, you shall not onely haue libertie so to doe, but also the benefite of a subiect, that is, haue your lyfe. Not otherwyse sayd Maister Ridley? No quoth Doctor Marshall: therefore if you will not doe so, then there is no remedy but you must suffer for your desertes. Well (quoth M. Ridley) so long as the breath is in my body, I will neuer deny my Lord Christ, and hys knowen truth: Gods will be done in me.
To whose saying, Master Latimer added his old Posy. Well,1 there is nothing hid but it shall be opened: and he said he could answer Smith well enough if he might be suffered. Incontinently they were commanded to make them ready, which they with all meekness obeyed. Master Ridley took his gown and his tippet, and gave it to his brother in law M. Shepside, who all his time of imprisonment,* although he might not be suffered to come to him, lay there at his own charges to provide him necessaries, which from time to time, he sent him by the Sergeant that kept him. Some other of his apparel that was little worth, he gave away, other the Bailiffs took.
To whose saying, Maister Latymer added hys olde Posie. Well,1 there is nothyng hidde but it shall bee opened: and he sayd he could aunswere Smith well enough if he myght bee suffered. Incontinently they were commaunded to make them ready, which they with all mekenesse obeyed. Maister Ridley tooke his gown and his tippet, and gaue it to his brother in law M. Shepside, who all his tyme of imprisonment,* although he might not bee suffred to come to hym, laye there at his owne charges to prouide him necessaries, which from tyme to tyme, he sent him by the Sergeant that kept hym. Some other of hys apparell that was little woorth, he gaue away, other the Bailifs tooke.
He gave away besides, divers other small things to Gentlemen standing by,1 and divers of them pitifully weeping, as to sir Henry Lea, he gave a new groat, and to divers of my L. Williams gentlemen, some napkins, some nutmegs, and races of ginger, his Dial, and such other things as he had about him, to every one that stood next him. Some plucked the points of his hose. Happy was he that might get any rag of him.
He gaue away besides, diuers other small thynges to Gentlemen standyng by,1 and diuers of them pitifully wepyng, as to sir Henry Lea, he gaue a new grote, and to diuers of my L. Williams gentlemen, some napkins, some nutmegs, and races of ginger, his Diall, and such other thyngs as he had about hym, to euery one that stoode next hym. Some plucked the pointes of his hose. Happy was he that might get any rag of hym.
M. Latimer gave nothing, but very quietly suffered his keeper to pull of his hose, and his other array,1 which to look unto was very simple: and being stripped into his shroud, he seemed as comely a person to them that were there present, as one should lightly see: and where as in his clothes, he appeared a withered and crooked silk old man, he now stood bolt upright, as comely a father as one might lightly behold.
M. Latymer gaue nothyng, but very quietly suffered his keper to pull of his hose, and his other aray,1 which to looke vnto was very simple: and beyng stripped into hys shroud, he seemed as comely a person to them that were there present, as one should lightly see: and where as in his clothes, he appeared a withered and crooked silke olde man, he now stood bolt vpright, as comely a father as one might lightly behold.
