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.

¶A History of tenne Martyrs condemned and burned within the Dioces of Caunterbury, for the testimony of Iesus Christ, and trueth of his Gospell.

* 1.1MEntion was made a little before of the persecution in Kent, pag. 1860. Where we declared, that fiftene were in the Castle of Canterbury imprisoned and cōdemned for Gods word. Of the which fiftene moreouer we shewed & declared fiue to be famished vnto death within the said ca∣stle, and buryed by the high waye, about the beginning of Nouember. The other tenne, in the first month of the next yeare folowing, which was the yeare of our Lord. 1557. were committed vnto the fire, and there cōsumed to ashes, by Thornton, called Bishop or Suffragane of Douer, o∣therwise called Dicke of Douer, and by Nicholas Harps∣field the Archdeacon of the sayd Prouince.

The names of these tenne godly and Christian Mar∣tyrs be these:

• ...Iohn Philpot of Tēterden.
• ...* 1.2W. Waterer of Bedingden.
• ...Stephen Kempe of Nor∣gate.
• ...W. Haye Hythe.
• ...Thomas Hudsonne of Sa∣lenge.
• ...Mat. Bradbridge of Ten∣terden.
• ...Thomas Stephens of Be∣dingden.
• ...Nich. Finall of Tenterden.
• ...W. Lowicke of Crābroke.
• ...W. Prowting of Thornhā.

What the ordinarye articles were commonly obiected to them of Canterbury Dioces,* 1.3 is before rehearsed, Pag. 1672. saue onely that to some of these, as to them that folo∣wed after, as the time of theyr persecution did growe, so theyr articles withall did encrease to the number of two & twenty conteining such like matter as serued to the main∣teinaunce of the Romish See.

To these articles what theyr answeres were, likewise, needed here no great rehearsall, seeing they all agreed to∣gether,* 1.4 though not in the same fourme of woordes, yet in much like effecte of purposes: first graunting the Churche of Christ, and denying the Church of Rome, denying the seuen Sacramentes, refusing the Masse, and the hearing of Latine Seruice, praying to Saynctes, iustification of works. &c, And though they did not al answere vniforme∣ly in some smaller thinges, as theyr learning serued them, yet in the most principall and chiefest matters they did not greatly discord. &c.

[illustration]

¶The burning of sixe Martyrs at Caunterbury.

* 1.5

Of these tenne Godly Martyrs of Christe, sixe were burned at Canterbury, about the fiftene of Ianuary, that is. Kempe, Waterer, Prowting, Lowike, Hudson, and Haye. Other two, that is, Stephēs, and Philpot, at Wye, about the same moneth. Other two, which were Finall & Bradbrige, were burned both together at Ashford, the xvj. of the same.

The next moneth folowing, whiche was Februarye, came out an other bloudy Commission from the king and Queene, to kindle vp the fire of persecution,* 1.6 as though it were not hoate enough already: the contentes of whiche Commission I thought here not to pretermit: not for lack of matter, whereof I haue too much: but that the Reader may vnderstand how kinges & princes of this world, like as in the first persecutions of the primitiue Church vnder Ualerianus, Decius, Maximian, Dioclesian, Licinius. &c. so now also in these latter perillous dayes, haue set out all theyr maine force and power, with lawes, policy, & autho∣rit to the vttermost they coulde deuise agaynst Christe and his blessed gospel. And yet notwithstāding al these lawes, constitutions, Iniunctions, and terrible proclamations prouided agaynst Christ and his Gospell, Christ yet styll continueth, his gospel florisheth, & truth preuaileth: kings and Emperors in their owne purposes ouerthrown, their deuises dissolued, theyr counselles confounded: as exāples both of this & of all times & ages do make manifest. But now let vs heare the intent of this Commission, in tenor as foloweth.

Notes

• * 1.1

  ••••••uary. 15. 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Mar∣••••••dome of 〈…〉〈…〉 the Dio∣ces of Can∣terbury.
• * 1.2

  The names 〈◊〉〈◊〉 the Mar∣tyrs.
• * 1.3

  Concer∣ning their articles read before pag. 1••72.
• * 1.4

  The cause of 〈◊〉〈◊〉 Mar∣tyrdome.
• * 1.5

  The Mar∣tyrdome of 〈◊〉〈◊〉, ••empe, W. Hay, Hudson, Lowicke, W. Prow∣ting, at Cā∣terbury. Anno. 1557. Ianuary. 15. The other 4. were turned at 〈◊〉〈◊〉 same 〈◊〉〈◊〉. 2. at Wye and 2. •• Ashford.
• * 1.6

  Examples how kinges & Prin∣ces & the power of the world, bend themselues agaynst Christ and his worde, and yet could neuer preuayle.