The history of the worthies of England who for parts and learning have been eminent in the several counties : together with an historical narrative of the native commodities and rarities in each county / endeavoured by Thomas Fuller.

Martyrs.

WILLIAM WHITE was born in this * 1.1 County, and entering into Orders, became a great maintainer of the Opinions of Wicliffe. He was the first married Priest in England, since the Popes solemn prohibition thereof. I find Johan his wife, commen∣ded for her modesty and patience, and that she was * 1.2 conjux talidigna marito. Indeed she shared very deep in her husbands sufferings, hardly coming off with her life at the last. For he, though leaving his living (as unsafe to hold) still kept his calling, and preached about all the Eastern parts of the Land. The same mouth which commanded the Dis∣ciples in time of Peace, * 1.3 Goe not from house to house, so to avoid the censure of Levity, advised them also, when * 1.4 ye are persecuted in one City fly to another, so to provide for their own security. Such the constant practice of this W. VVhite, who was as a Partridge dayly on the wing, removing from place to place. At last he was seised on at Norwich, by VVilliam Alnwick the cruel Bishop thereof, and charged with 30 Articles, for which he

was condemned and burnt at Norwich in September * 1.5 1428. He was the Protomartyr of all born in this County, and had not five before him in all England, who suffered merely for Religion, without any mixture of matter of State charged upon them.

As for MARIAN Martyrs, we meet with many in this County though not to be charged on Cardinal Pool Arch-bishop of Canterbury further then his bare permission thereof.

It is observed of Bears, that they love to kill their own Prey, and (except forced by Famine) will not feed on what was dead before. Such a Bear was bloody Bonner, who was all for the quick and not for the dead, whilest clean contrary Cardinal Pool let the living alone, and vented his spleen onely on the dead (whom he could wrong, but not hurt) burning the bones of Martin Bucer and Paulus Phagius at Cambridge. Such Mar∣tyrs therefore, as suffered in this Shire, were either by the cruelty of Griffin Bishop of Rochester, or of Thornton Suffragan of Dover.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Bale de script. Brit. pag. 564.
• * 1.2

  Idem Ibi∣dem.
• * 1.3

  Luk. 10. 7.
• * 1.4

  Matt. 10. 23.
• * 1.5

  Fox Acts and Monuments.