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.

7. Ioane Lashford, alias Ioane Warne, Martyr.

IN a certaine place of these Actes and Monumentes heretofore, mētion was made of one Elizabeth Warne,* 1.1 pag. 1608. col. 2. who with her husband Iohn Warne (as is aforesayd) in the begynnyng of Queene Maries Reigne was apprehended in Bowe Churchyard for be∣yng there at a Cōmunion: and both suffered for the same, first the man in the moneth of May, then the wife in Iu∣ly after: and now the daughter in the moneth of Ianuary

followed her parents in the same martyrdome. Further∣more in the same place and page mention was made also of D. Storie: who there (we sayde) was somewhat neare vnto the sayd parties, eyther in kindred or alliance, albeit as I vnderstande since of some, there was no kindred be∣tweene them, but only that she was his seruant. Yet not∣wythstanding the said D. Storie (as it is aboue specified) before he was Commissioner,* 1.2 made intercession for y^e par∣ties to D. Martine then Commissioner: but afterwarde being placed in Commission hymselfe, so farre forgat him sel••e and hys olde seruaunt, that hee became no small pro∣curer of theyr deathes. I will not heere expostulate wyth the hard heart of that man, nor with hys incōstancie: Who ••et notwythstanding, after he had brought them to death, was rested him selfe for lx. pounde, charged wyth dette in theyr behalfe: which if it be true, it may thereby appeare that he was in some peece of kindred ioyned or allied vn∣to them. But leauing that persone vnto the good pleasure of the Lord, let vs returne vnto that we haue in hand.

* 1.3Thys Ioane Lashforde, borne in the parishe of little Hallowes in Thames streete, was the daughter of one Robert Lashford Cutler, and of the foresayde Elizabeth, who afterward was married to Iohn Warne vpholster, who (as is sayde) was persecuted for the Gospell of God, to the burning fire: and after him his wife, and after her thys Ioane Lashford theyr daughter. Who about the age of xx. yeares, ministring to her father and mother in pri∣sone,* 1.4 suspected and knowen to bee of the same doctrine and religion, was sent vp to Boner bishop of London by D. Storie (as is aboue in her answeres to the articles de∣clared) and so committed to the Counter in the Poultrie, where shee remained the space of 5. wekes, and frō thence had to Newgate, where shee continued the space of cer∣taine moneths.

After that, remaining prisonner in the custodie of the sayd Boner, her confession was, being examined, that the whole xij. moneth before and more,* 1.5 she came vnto no po∣pish masse seruice in the church, neither would doe, eyther to receiue the Sacrament of the aultare, or to be confessed, because her conscience would not suffer her so to doe, con∣fessing and protesting, that in the sacrament of the aultar, there is not the reall presence of Christes body and bloud, nor that auricular cōfession or absolution after the popish sort, was necessary, nor the Masse to be good, or according vnto the scripture, but sayd that both the sayd sacrament,* 1.6 confession, absolution, and the Masse, with all other theyr superfluous sacramēts, ceremonies and diuine seruice as then vsed in thys Realme of Englande, were moste vile, and contrary to Christes woordes and institution, so that neyther they were at the beginning, nor shal be at the lat∣ter ende. Thys godly damosell, feeble and tender of age,* 1.7 yet strong by grace in this her Confession and faith, stoode so firme, that neyther the flattering promises, nor the vio∣lent threates of the Byshops could ••ourne her, but being mooued and exhorted by the Byshoppe to retourne to the catholicke vnitie of the church, sayth boldly to him againe:* 1.8 If yee wil leaue off your abhomination, so I wil returne, and otherwyse I will not.

Whereupon the Bishop yet againe promised her par∣don of all her errours (as he called them) if shee would be conformed. To thys shee answeared againe, saying vnto the Bishop: Doe as it pleaseth you, and I pray God that you may doe that whych may please God.

And thus shee constantly perseueryng in the Lordes holy truthe, was by the sentence definitiue cōdemned and committed vnto the Sheriffes,* 1.9 by whom the foresayd 27. day of Ianuarie shee with the rest being brought vnto the stake, there washed her clothes in the bloud of the lambe, dying most constantly for hys woord and truth, to whom most louingly shee espoused her selfe.

And thus muche concerning the life, storie, & condem∣nation of these vij. Martyrs afore specified.

[illustration]

❧ Seuen godly and constant Martyrs, suffering at one fire together in Smithfield.

* 1.10

Notes

• * 1.1

  Ioane Lashford alias, Ioane Warne, Martyr. Ianuary. 27.
• * 1.2

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.3

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.4

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.5

  The confession of Ioane Lash∣ford before the Bishop.
• * 1.6

  Superfluous and Popish Cere∣monyes.
• * 1.7

  The worthy constancye of a mayde.
• * 1.8

  The wordes of Ioane Lashford at her last exa∣mination.
• * 1.9

  The Sentence and condemna∣tion of Ioane Lashford. Ianuary. 27.
• * 1.10

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉