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.

*Kerby and Roger Clarke of Suffolke Martyrs.

COmming now to the yeare of our Lord.* 1.1 1546. first pas∣sing ouer the Priest, whose name was Saxye, which was hanged in the Porters lodge of Stephen Gardiner Bishoppe of Winchester, and that (as it is supposed) not without the consent of the sayd Bishop,* 1.2 and the secret con∣spiracy of that bloudy generation: to passe ouer also one Henry, with his seruaunt burned at Colchester: I will now proceede to the story of Kerby and Roger Clarke of Mendessham, who were apprehended at Ipswiche. ann. 1546. the saterday before Gang monday, and brought be∣fore the Lord Wentworth, with other Commissioners ap∣pointed there to sit vpon theyr examinations, iudgemēts,

and causes. The night before they were areyned, a bil was set vp vpon the townehouse doore (by whom,* 1.3 it was vn∣knowne) and brought the next day vnto the Lord Went∣worth: who aunswered, that it was good counsell. Whiche bill in the latter end shall appeare.

In the meane time Kerby & Roger beyng in the Gai∣lers house, named I. Bird, an honest and a good man (who had checkes diuers times at the barre, that he was more meet to be kept, then to be a keeper) came in Mayster Ro∣bert Wingfielde, sonne and heyre of Humfrey Wingfielde knight) with M. Bruesse of Wennenham: who then ha∣uing conference with Kerby (being then in a seuerall chā∣ber separate frō the other) mayster Wingfeld sayd to Ker∣by:* 1.4 Remember the fire is hot, take heed of thine enterprise that y^u take no more vpō thee thē thou shalt be able to per∣forme. The terror is great, the payne will be extreme, and life is sweet. Better it were be time to stick to mercy, while there is hope of life, then rashly to begin, & then to shrink: with such like words of perswasion. To whom he answe∣red agayne: Ah M. Wingfield, be at my burning, and you shall say,* 1.5 there standeth a christen souldier in the fire. For I know that fire and water, sword, and all other thinges, are in the handes of God, and he will suffer no more to be layd vpon vs, then he will geue vs strength to beare. Ah Kerby, sayd mayster Wingfield, if thou be at that poynt, I will b••••de thee farewell? For I promise thee I am not so strong, that I am able to burne. And so both the Gentle∣men saying that they woulde pray for them, tooke handes with them, and so departed.

Now (first touching the behauiour of Kerby & Roger) when they came to the iudgement seate,* 1.6 the Lorde Went∣worth, with all the rest of the Iustices there readye, the Commissary also by vertue ex officio. sitting next to the L. Wentworth, but one betwene Kerby and Roger lifted vp theyr eyes and handes to heauen, with great deuotion in all mens eyes, making theyr prayers secretly to God for a space of time, whilest they might say the Lordes praier fiue or sixe times.

That done, theyr articles were declared vnto thē, with all circumstances of the law:* 1.7 and then it was demaunded and enquired of them, whether they beleued, that after the wordes spoken by a priest (as Christ spake them to his A∣postles) there were not the very body and bloud of Christ, flesh, bloud, and bone, as he was borne of the virgin Ma∣ry, and no bread after.

Unto the which wordes they answered and sayd, No, they did not so beleue: but that they did beleue the Sacra∣ment which Christ Iesus did institute at his last supper,* 1.8 on Maundy thursday at night to his disciples was onely to put all men in remembraunce of the precious death and bloud shedding for the remission of sinnes, and that there was neither flesh nor bloud to be eaten with the teeth, but bread and wine:* 1.9 and yet more then bread and wine, for that it is consecrated to an holy vse. Then with much perswa∣sions, both with fayre meanes and threates besides (if it would haue serued) were these two poore men hardly layd to: but most at the handes of Foster an inferior Iustice, not being learned in such knowledge. But these two continu∣ed both saythful and content, chusing rather to dye then to liue, and so continued vnto the end.

Then sentence was geuen vpon them both, Kerby to be burned in the sayd towne the next Saterday,* 1.10 and Ro∣ger to be burned at Bury the Gang Monday after. Ker∣by when his iudgement was geuen by the Lord Went∣worth, with most humble reuerēce holding vp his hands, and bowing himselfe deuoutly, sayd: Praysed be almighty God, and so stood still without any moe wordes.

Then did the Lord Wentworth talke secretly, putting his head behinde an other iustice that sate betweene them. The sayd Roger perceiuing that,* 1.11 sayd with a loud voyce: Speake out my Lord, and if you haue done any thing con∣trary to your conscience, aske God mercy, and we for our partes do forgeue you: and speake not in secret, for ye shall come before a Iudge, and then make answere openly, euē he that shall iudge all men: with other like wordes.

The Lord Wentworth somewhat blushing, and chaū∣ginge his countenaunce through remorse (as it was thought) sayd, I did speake nothing of you, nor I haue done nothing vnto you,* 1.12 but as the Lawe is. Then was Kerby and Roger sent forth: Kerby to prison there, & Ro∣ger to saynt Edmundes Bury. The one of the two bru∣sting out with a loud voyce (Roger as it is supposed) thus spake with a vehemency:* 1.13 Fight (sayd he) for your God For he hath not long to continue.

The next day, which was Saterday, about ten of the clocke, Kerby was brought to the market place, wheras a stake was ready,* 1.14 wood, broome, and straw, and did of hys clothes vnto his shyrt, hauing a night cap vpon his dead, and so was fastened to the stake with yrons, there beyng in the galery, the Lord Wentworth, with the most part of all the Iustices of those quarters, where they might see his execution, how euery thing should be done, and also might heare what Kerby did say: and a great number of people, about two thousand by estimation.* 1.15 There was also stan∣ding in the galery by the Lord Wentworth, D. Rugham, whiche was before a Monke of Burye and sexten of the house, hauing on a Surplis and a stoole about his necke. Then silence was proclaymed, and the sayd Doctour be∣ganne to disable himselfe, as not meet to declare the holye Scriptures (being vnprouided because the time was so short) but that he hoped in Gods assistance it should come well to passe.

All this while Kerby was trimming with yrons and fagottes, broome, and straw,* 1.16 as one that should be maryed with new garmentes, nothing chaunging cheare nor coū∣tenaunce, but with most meeke spirite gloryfied GOD: which was wonderfull to behold. Then Mayster Doctor at last entred into y^e sixt Chapter of S. Ioh. Who in hand∣ling that matter so oft as he alledged the Scriptures, and applyed them rightly. Kerby tolde the people, that he sayd true, and bade the people beleue him. But when he did o∣therwise, he tolde him agayne: You say not true: beleue him not good people.

Whereupon, as the voyce of the people was, they iud∣ged Doctour Rugham a false Prophet. So when mayster Doctour had ended his collation, he sayde vnto Kerby: Thou good man, doest not thou beleue that the blessed sa∣crament of the aultar is the very flesh and bloud of Christ, and no bread euen as he was borne of the virgine Mary?* 1.17 Kerby aunswering boldly, sayd: I do not so beleue. How doest thou beleue, sayd the Doctour? Kerby sayd, I do be∣leue that in the Sacrament that Iesus Christ instituted at his last supper on Maundye Thursdaye to his Disciples (which ought of vs likewise to be done) is the death and passion, and his bloud shedding for the redemption of the world, to be remembred: and (as I sayde before) yet bread, and more then bread, for that it is cōsecrated to a holy vse.

Then was mayster Doctor in his dumpes, and spake not one word more to Kerby after.

Then sayd the vnder Shiriffe to Kerby, hast thou any thing more to say? Yea syr sayde he, if you wyll geue me leaue. Say on, sayd the Shiriffe.

Then Kerby taking his night cappe from hys head, put it vnder his arme, as though it should haue done him seruice agayne: but remembring him selfe,* 1.18 he cast it from him, and lifting vp his handes, he sayd the Hymne, Te De∣um, and the beliefe, with other prayers in the English ton∣gue. The Lord Wentworth, whilest Kerby was thus do∣ing, did shroude him selfe behinde one of the postes of the Gallery, and wept, and so did many other. Then said Ker∣by, I haue done: you may execute your office good Maister Shiriffe.

Then fire was set to the wood, and with loud voyce he called vnto God, knocking on his brest, and holding vppe

[illustration]

¶The burning and Martyrdome of Kerby.

* 1.19

his handes so long as remembraunce would serue, and so ended his life, the people geuing shoutes, & praysing God, with great admiration of his constancy, being so simple & vnlettered.

On the Gang Monday, an. 1546. about tenne of the clocke,* 1.20 Roger Clarke of Mendelsham was brought out of prison and went on foote to the gate, called Southgate in Bury, and by the way the Procession mette with them, but he went on, and would not bow cap nor kne, but with most vehement words rebuked that idolatry and supersti∣tion,* 1.21 the Officers being much offended. And without the gate, where as was the place of execution, the stake beyng ready, and the wood lying-by, he came and kneeled down, and sayd Magnificat in the English tongue, making as it were a Paraphrase vppon the same: Wherein he declared how that the blessed virgine Mary, who might as well re∣ioyce in purenes, as any other, yet humbled her selfe to her Sauiour.* 1.22 And what sayst thou Iohn Baptist, sayd he, the greatest of all mens children? Behold the Lambe of God whi∣che taketh away the sinnes of the world. And thus with loude voyce he cried vnto the people while he was in fastning to the stake, & then the fire was set to him, wheras he suffered paines vnmercifully,* 1.23 for the wood was greene and would not burne, so that he was choked with smoke: and moreo∣uer being set in a pitch barrel, with some pitch sticking stil by the sides, was therwith sore payned, till he had got hys feet out of the barrell. And at length one standing by tooke a fagotte sticke, and striking at the ring of yron about hys necke, so pashed him, and stroke him belike vpon the head, that he shronk downe on the one side into the fire, & so was dissolued.

In the beginning of this story of Kerby and Roger, mention was made of a certayne Bill put vpon the towne house doore, and brought the nexte day to the Lord Went∣worth: the wordes of which Bill were these.

¶The Byll set vpon the Townehouse dore in Ipswich.

IVstè iudicate filij hominum: yet when ye shall iudge, mini∣ster your iustice with mercy.* 2.1

A fearfull thing it is to fall into the hands of the liuing God: be ye learned therfore in true knowledge, ye y^t iudge the earth, least the Lord be agry with you.

The bloud of the righteous shall be required at your handes. What though the veile hanged before Moses face? yet at Christes death it fell downe.

The stones will speak, if these should hold theyr peace: therfore harden not your hartes agaynst the verity.

For fearefully shall the Lord appeare in the day of vē∣geance to the troubled in conscience. No excuse shall there be of ignorance, but euery fat shall stand on his owne bot∣tome. Therfore haue remorse to your conscience: feare him that may kill both body and soule.

Beware of innocent bloud shedding: take heed of iu∣stice ignorantly ministred: worke discreetly as the Scrip∣ture doth commaund: looke to it, that ye make not y^e trueth to be forsaken.

We beseech God to saue our king, king Henry the 8. that he be not lead into temptation. So be it.

This yeare also it was ordeined & decreed & solemnly geuen out in Proclamation by the kings name & authori∣ty and his Counsell, that the english Procession should be vsed throughout al England, according as it was set forth by his sayd counsell, and none other to be vsed throughout the whole Realme.

About the latter end of this yeare .1545. in the Moneth of Nouember, after that the king had subdued the Scots, and afterward ioyning together with the Emperour,* 2.2 had inuaded France, and had got from them the town of Bol∣layn, he summoned his high Court of Parliament. In the which was graunted vnto him besides other subsidies of mony,* 2.3 all Colledges, Chaūtries, free chappels, hospitals, fraternities, brotherhoodes, guildes, & perpetuities of sti∣pēdary priestes, to be disposed at his wil & pleasure. Wher¦vpon in the moneth of Decem. folowing,* 2.4 the king after the wonted maner, came into the parliamēt house, to geue his roiall assent to such actes as were there passed: where after an eloquent Oration made to him by the Speaker,* 2.5 he an∣swering agayne vnto the same, not by the L. Chancellour (as the maner was) but by himselfe, vttred forth this ora∣tion word for word, as it is reported, and left in story.

* 2.6In the contentes of whiche Oration, first eloquently and louingly he declared his gratefull hart to his louyng subiectes, for theyr grauntes and subuentions offered vn∣to him. In the second part, with no lesse vehemency he ex∣horteth them to concord, peace, and vnity. Whereunto if he had also ioyned the third part, that is, as in wordes he ex∣horted to vnity, so had begon in deed first himselfe to take away the occasion of deuision, disobedience, & disturbance frō his subiectes, that is, had remoued the stūbling blocke of the 6. articles out of the peoples way,* 2.7 which set brother agaynst brother, neighbour agaynst neighbor, the superior agaynst subiect, & the wolues to deuour the poore flocke of Christ: then had he not onely spoken, but also done like a worthy prince. But of this more shalbe sayd in the sequele hereof, God willing.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ann. 1546.
• * 1.2

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.3

  A 〈…〉〈…〉 the L. Went∣worth 〈…〉〈…〉 Kerby and ••oger.
• * 1.4

  The wordes of W. Wing∣field to 〈◊〉〈◊〉 and Ro∣ger, in p••••sō.
• * 1.5

  The aun∣swere of Kerby▪ to M. Wingfield.
• * 1.6

  The behaui∣our of Kerby and Roger, when they wer brought before the Iudges.
• * 1.7

  Questions propounded to Kerby & Roger.
• * 1.8

  Their aun∣sweres.
• * 1.9

  The Sacra∣ment more then bare bread and wine. Foster a sore enemye to Gods peo∣ple.
• * 1.10

  Sentence geuē against Kerby and Roger.
• * 1.11

  Rogers wordes to the Lord Wētworth.
• * 1.12

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.13

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.14

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.15

  D. Rugham Monke of Bury preached at the burning of Ke••∣by.
• * 1.16

  The chearfull countenance & courage of Ker∣by.
• * 1.17

  Kerbyes confes∣siō of the Sacra∣ment.
• * 1.18

  The Lord Wēt∣worth wept at Kerbyes burning
• * 1.19

  The constant Martyrdome of Kerby.
• * 1.20

  Roger Clarke of Mendelsham brought to the stake at Burye.
• * 1.21

  Roger Clarke geueth no reue∣rence to the pro∣cession.
• * 1.22

  Iohn. 1.
• * 1.23

  The painfull burning and Martyrdome of Roger Clarke of Mendelsham.
• * 2.1

  The wordes of the bill set vp on the Townhouse doore.
• * 2.2

  The Scottes sub∣dued
• * 2.3

  Bollayne wonne.
• * 2.4

  Stat. an. 37. Reg. Hen. 8.
• * 2.5

  Colledges and Chauntreis ge∣uen to the king.
• * 2.6

  A Parliament.
• * 2.7

  The Third part•• 〈…〉〈…〉 Oration 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉〈◊〉▪