Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 2, part 1] 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.

¶William Stere.

WIlliam Stere of the foresayd parish of Ashford,* 1.1 like∣wise detected and accused, was brought to appeare the sayd 16. day of August, where he in the sayd Chapter∣house of Canterbury, beyng required to make aunswer to the positions layd vnto hym by the Iudge, made aunswer agayne, that he should commaund hys dogs and not him: and further declared,* 1.2 that Dicke of Douer had no autho∣ritie to sit agaynst hym in iudgement, and asked where his authoritie was. Who then shewed him certaine Buls and writyngs from Rome, as he said. William Stere denying that to be of sufficient force, the sayd Dicke sayd also he had authoritie from the Queene. Then the Martyr alledgyng that the B. of Canterbury (who then was in pryson) was hys Diocessan,* 1.3 vrged hym to shew hys authoritie from the Archbishop, or els he denied his authoritie to be suffi∣cient. And as touchyng the Sacrament of the aultare, he found it not (he sayd) in the scripture, & therfore he would not answer thereunto.

And moreouer, the Iudge speaking of the Sacrament of the aultare, with reuerence thereof, and putting of his cappe, he sayd,* 1.4 that he needed not to reuerence that matter so highly. And thus saying to the Iudge, that hee was a bloudy man, &c. the sentence was pronounced agaynst hym: after which sentence beyng read, he sayd, that the sa∣crament of the aultar, was the most blasphemous Idoll that euer was, &c.

[illustration]

¶The burnyng of sixe godly Martyrs in one fire.

* 1.5

And thus these vj. heauenly Martyrs and witnes bea∣rers to the truth, beyng condemned by the bloudy Suf∣fragan and Archdeacon of Canterbury, M. Collins, and M. Faucet, were burned altogether in the same towne of Canterb. at three stakes and one fire, about the latter ende of August.

The copy of their sentence condemnatorie, you maye find aboue in the story of Iohn Rogers, for the papists in all their condemnations follow one maner of sentence of course commonly against all that be condemned through their vnmercifull tiranny.

Notes

• * 1.1

  William Stere Martyr.
• * 1.2

  Dicke of Douer, so they termed then Richard Thornton B. of Douer.
• * 1.3

  He meaneth D. Cranmer im∣prisoned at Oxford.
• * 1.4

  Sentence a∣gaynst William Stere.
• * 1.5

  The Martyr∣dome of 6. Martyrs, W. Coker. W. Hoopper, Henry Laurēce, Rich. Colliar, R. Wright, W. Stere, at Cant. Anno. 1555. August.