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 burning and Martyrdome of Tho∣mas More in the Towne of Leice∣ster, Iune xxvi. the yeare .1556.

* 1.1AS the bloudy rage of this persecution, spared neyther manne, woman, nor childe, wife, nor mayde,* 1.2 lame▪ blynde nor creple, and so through all men and women, as there was no difference: either of age or sexe considered: so ney∣ther was there any condition or qualitie respected of anye person: but whosoeuer he were that helde not, as they did on the pope, and sacrament of the Aultar, were he learned or vnlearned, wise, or simple, innocent, all went to y^e fire. As may appeare by this simple poore creature, & innocent soule named Thomas More retayning as a seruaunt to a Mans house in the towne of Leicester, about the age of 24. and after in manner of an housbandman, for speakyng certayne wordes, that his Maker was in heauen, & not in the Pixe, was thereupon apprehended in the countrey,* 1.3 being with his frendes. Who comming before his Ordi∣nary, first was asked, whether he did not beleue his Ma∣ker there to be, poynting to the high Aultar. Whiche he denyed.

Then asked the Bishop, how then, sayd hee, doest thou beleue?

The young man aunswered agayn: as his Creede did teache him.

To whom the bishop sayde: and what is yonder that thou seest aboue the aultar? He aunswering, sayd: forsooth I cannot tell what you would haue me to see. I see there fine clothes, with golden tassels, and other gay ge••e han∣ging about the pixe. What is within I cannot see.

Why? Doest thou not beleue, sayth the bishoppe, Christ to be there, fleshe, bloud, and bone? No, that I doe not, sayd he.

Whereupon the Ordinary making short with him, red the sentence,* 1.4 and so condemned the true and faythfull ser∣uaunt of Christ to death, in sainct Margaretes Churche in Leicester: who was burnt and suffered a ioyfull & glo∣rious Martirdome, for the testimony of righteousnesse, in the same Towne of Leicester, the yeare of our Lord aboue mentioned .1556. about the 26. of Iune.

To this Thomas Moore, we haue also annexed the aunsweres, and examination of one Iohn Iackson, be∣fore Doctour Cooke one of the Commissioners, for that it belongeth much vnto the same time.

Notes

• * 1.1

  〈◊〉〈◊〉 26.
• * 1.2

  The bur∣ning of Thomas Moore a simple in••nocent, 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Leicester.
• * 1.3

  Thomas Moore ex∣amined be∣fore the Bi∣shop.
• * 1.4

  〈1 paragraph〉〈1 paragraph〉