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.

¶The story of Iohn Maundrell, William Coberley, and Iohn Spicer, Martyrs.

FIrst, Iohn Maundrell which was the sonne of Robert Maūdrell of Rowd in the Coūty of Wiltshyre Fermer was from his childhood brought vp in husbandry,* 1.1 & after he came to mans state, did abide & dwell in a Uillage cal∣led Buchamton in the Parish of Keuel within the Coūty of Wiltshyre aforesaid, where he had wife and children, be∣ing of good name and fame. Which Iohn Maundrell, after that the scripture was translated into English by the faith¦full Apostle of Englande,* 1.2 W. Tindall, became a diligent hearer and a feruent embracer of Gods true Religion, so that he delighted in nothing so much, as to heare and speak of Gods word, neuer being without the new Testamēt a∣bout him, although he could not read him selfe. But when he came into any cōpany that could read, his book was al∣waies ready, hauing a very good memory: so that he could recite by hart most places of the new testamēt, his conuer∣sation and liuing being very honest and charitable as his neighbors are able to testify.

So it was, that in the dayes of King Henry the eight at what time Doctour Trigonion, and Doctour Lee dyd visite Abbayes,* 1.3 the sayd Iohn Maundrell, was brought before Doctour Trigonion at an Abbey called Edyngton within in the Countye of Wiltshyre aforesayde: where he was accused that he had spoken agaynst the holy water & holy bread and such like ceremonyes, and for the same dyd weare a white sheete bearing a candle in his hand aboute the market in the Towne of the Deuises, which is in the sayd coūty. Neuertheles his feruēcy did not abate, but by Gods mercifull assistaunce he tooke better hold, as the se∣quele hereof will declare.

For in the dayes of Queene Mary, when popery was restored agayne and Gods true religion put to silence, the sayd Iohn Maūdrell left his owne house and departed in∣to the County of Glocestershyre and into the North part of Wiltshyre, wandring from one to an other to such men as he knew feared GOD, with whome as a seruaunt to keepe their cattell, he there did remayne, with Iohn Brid∣ges or some other at Kingeswoode: but after a time he re∣turned to his country, and there comming to the Ueys to a frend of his named Anthony Clee, had talk & conference with him in a Garden of returning home to his house.* 1.4

And when the other exhorted hym by the woordes of Scripture, to flye from one Citty to an other, he replying agayne by the wordes of the Apocalips. 21. of them that be fearefull. &c. sayd that he needes must go home, and so did. Where he with Spicer and Coberley vsed at times to re∣sort and conferre together.

At length vpon the Sonday folowing they agreed to∣gether to go to the parish Church called Keuell, where the sayd Iohn Maundrell & the other two, seing the parishio∣ners in the procession to folow & worship the Idoll there caried,* 1.5 aduertised thē to leaue the same & to return to the li∣uing god, namely speaking to one Rob. Barkesdale head man of the Parish, but he tooke no regard to these wordes.

After this the Uicare came into the Pulpit, who there being about to read his beadroll and to pray for the soules in Purgatory,* 1.6 the sayde Iohn Maundrell speaking wyth an audible voyce sayd: that that was the Popes pinfolde: the other two affirming the same. After which wordes, by commaūdement of the Priest, they were had to the stocks, where they remained till theyr seruice was done, and then were brought before a Iustice of peace, and so the next day caried to Salisbury all three, and presented before Bishop Capon, and W. Geffrey being Chauncellor of the Dioces.* 1.7 By whom they were imprisoned and oftētimes examined of theyr fayth in theyr houses, but seldome openly. And at theyr last examination these were the Articles, whiche the Chauncellour alledged agaynst them, being accompanied with the Sheriffe of the shyre, one M. Saint Iohns, & o∣ther Popishe Priestes in the Parish Church of Fisherton Anger, demaunding how they did beleue.

They aunswered: as christen men should and ought to beleue: and first they sayd they beleued in God the Father,* 1.8 and in the Sonne, and in the holy ghost, the xij. articles of the Creed, the holy Scripture from the first of Genesis to the last of the Apocalips.

But that fayth the Chauncellour woulde not allowe. Wherefore he apposed them in particular Articles:* 1.9 Firste whether that they did not beleue that in the Sacrament of the aulter (as he termed it) after the wordes of consecratiō spoke by the priest at masse, there remayned no substaunce of bread nor wine, but Christes body flesh and bloud as he was borne of the virgine Mary. Whereunto they aunswe∣red negatiuely, saying that the popish masse was abhomi∣nable Idolatry and iniurious to the bloud of Christ: but confessing that in a faythfull Congregation, receiuing the Sacrament of Christs body and bloud, being duely mini∣stred acccording to Christes institution, Christes body and bloud is spiritually receiued of the faythfull beleuer.

Also, being asked whether the Pope was supreame head of the Churche, and Christes Uicar on earth: they aunswered negatiuely,* 1.10 saying that the Byshop of Rome doth vsurpe ouer Emperours and Kinges beyng Anti∣christ and Gods enemy.

The Chauncellour sayde: will you haue the Churche without a head?

They aunswered: Christ was head of his Church,* 1.11 and vnder Christ the Queenes maiesty. What, sayd the Chaū∣cellour? a woman head of the church? yea sayd they, within her graces dominions.

Also that the soules in purgatory were deliuered by y^e Popes pardons and the suffrages of the Church?

They said they beleued faithfully that y^e bloud of Christ had purged theyr sinnes and the sinnes of al thē that were saued, vnto the end of y^e world, so that they feared nothing the Popes Purgatory or estemed his pardons.* 1.12

Also, whether Images were necessary to be in the chur∣ches, as lay mens bookes,* 1.13 and Sayntes to be prayed vnto and worshipped.

They answered negatiuely: Iohn Maundrell adding that wooden Images were good to rost a shoulder of mut∣ton, but euill in the Church: whereby Idolatry was com∣mitted. Those Articles thus aunswered (for theyr Articles were one, and theyr aunsweres in maner like) the Chaun∣cellor read theyr condemnation,* 1.14 & so deliuered them to the Shiriffe. Then spake Iohn Spycer, saying: Oh M. She∣riffe, now must you be theyr butcher, that you may be guil∣ty also with them of innocent bloud before the Lord. This was the 23. day of March.* 1.15 an. 1556. & the 24. day of the same Moneth they were caryed out of the common Gayle to a place betwixt Salisbury & Wiltom,* 1.16 where were ij. postes set for them to be burnt at. Whiche men commyng to the place kneled downe and made theyr prayers secretly toge∣ther, & then being disclothed to theyr shyrtes, Iohn Maū∣drell spake with a loud voyce: not for all Salisbury. Which wordes mē iudged to be an answere to the Shiriffe, which offred him the queenes pardō if he would recant. And after that in like maner spake Iohn Spicer saying: this is the ioyfullest day that euer I sawe. Thus were they 3. burnt at two stakes: where most constauntly they gaue theyr bo∣dyes to the fire and theyr soules to the Lord for testimony of his trueth.

As touching William Coberley, this moreourr is to be noted, that his wife also, called Alice, beyng apprehended,* 1.17 was in the kepers house the same time deteined while her husbande was in prison. Where the keepers wife named Agnes Penycote, had secretlye heated a key fire hoate, and laid it in grasse on the backeside. So speaking to Alice Co∣berley to set her the key in all haste, y^e said Alice went with speed to bring the key, and so taking vp the key in hast did pitiously burne her hand. Wherupon she crying out at the sodein burning of her hand: Ah thou drabbe, quoth y^e other thou that canst not abide the burning of the key, howe wi••e thou be able to burne the whole body, and so she afterward reuoked. But to returne agayne to the story of Coberley, who being somewhat learned, and being at the stake was somewhat long a burning as the wynde stoode. After his bodye was skorched with the fire, and hys leafte Arme drawne and taken from hym by the violence of the fyre the fleshe beinge burnt to the whyte boare, at length he stouped ouer the cheyne, and wyth the ryghte hande

being somewhat starckned knocked vpon his brest softly, the bloud and matter issuing out of his mouth. Afterward when all they thought he had bene deade, sodenly he rose right vp with his body agayne. And thus muche concer∣ning these three Salisbury Martyrs.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••he story 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Iohn Maundrell.
• * 1.2

  M••••ndrell ••••••rted 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Tin∣••••••l Testa∣ment.

  M••••ndrell 〈…〉〈…〉 and ••••arer of Gods word.
• * 1.3

  Ma••ndrell 〈◊〉〈◊〉 for speaking a∣gaynst holy bread and holy water. Maundrell 〈◊〉〈◊〉 to open 〈◊〉〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Henryes ••••yes.
• * 1.4

  Maundrell 〈◊〉〈◊〉, and Coberley 〈…〉〈…〉.
• * 1.5

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.6

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉
• * 1.7

  Maundrell, Spi∣cer, Coberly, sēt to Salisbury. D. Capon B. of Salisbury.
• * 1.8

  Confession of their beliefe.
• * 1.9

  Sacrament of the Aultar.
• * 1.10

  Agaynst the Popes supre∣macye.
• * 1.11

  Christ onely Supreame head of his Church: vnder him euery Prince in his own dominion.
• * 1.12

  Purgatory.
• * 1.13

  Images.
• * 1.14

  Sentence read agaynst these 3. Martyrs.
• * 1.15

  March: 23.
• * 1.16

  Maundrell, Spi∣cer, Coberly, brought to the place of Mar∣tyrdome. The wordes of Maundrell.
• * 1.17

  Alice Coberley being indurance, how she was brought by the keepers to re∣uoke.