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 Letter of the Commissary, called Iohn Kingston, written to Bishop Boner.

AFter my duety done in receiuing and accōplishing your ho∣norable and most louing letters, dated the 7. of August:* 1.1 Be it knowne vnto your Lordship, that the 28. of August, the Lorde of Oxenford, Lord Darcy, H. Tyril, A. Brown, W. Bendlowes, E. Ty∣rill, Ric. Weston, Roger Apleton, published their cōmissiō to selfe landes and tenements & goodes of the fugitiues, so that the ow∣ners should haue neither vse nor commodity thereof, but by In∣uētory remaine in safe keeping, vntill the cause were determined.

And also there was likewise proclaimed the queenes graces warrant, for the restitution of the Church goods within Colche∣ster, & the hundredes thereabout, to the vse of Gods seruice. And then were called the parishes particularly, & the hereticks part∣ly cōmitted to my examination. And that diuers persons should certify me of theyr ornamentes of theyr Churches, betwixt this and the Iustices next appearaunce, which shalbe on Michaelmas euen nexte. And that parish which had presented at two seuerall times, to haue all ornamentes, with other thinges in good order, were exonerated for euer, til they were warned againe, & others to make theyr appearaunce from time to time. And those names blotted in the Indenture, were indited for treason, fugit••ues, or disobedients, and were put foorth by M. Brownes commaunde∣ment. And before the sealing, my Lord Da••cy said vnto me apart, and M. Bendlowes, that I should haue sufficient time to send vn∣to your Lordship, yea, if need were, the heretickes to remayne in¦durance till I had an answere from you: yea to the Lord Legates graces Commissioners come into the Country.

And mayster Browne came into my Lord Darcyes house & parlour belonging vnto M. Barnaby, before my sayd Lord and all the Iustices, and laid his hand of my shoulder, with a smiling coū∣tenaunce, and desired me to make his harty commēdations vnto your good Lordship, and asked me if I would, and I said. Yea, with a good will. Wherefore I was glad, and thought that I should not haue bene charged with so sodeine carriage. But after dinner, the Iustices councelled with the Bayliffes, and with the Gaolers, and then after tooke me vnto them, and made collation of the In∣dentures, and sealed; and then Mayster Browne commaunded me this after noone, being the 30. of August, to go and receyue my prisoners by and by. And then I sayd, it is an vnreasonable commaundemēt, for that I haue attended of you here these three dayes, and this Sonday early I haue sent home my men. Where∣fore I desire you to haue a conuenient time appoynted, wherein I may know whether it will please my Lord my maister to sende his Commissioners hither, or that I shall make carriage of them vnto his Lordship. Then M. Browne: We are certified, that the Councell hath written vnto your mayster, to make speed,* 1.2 and to rid these prisoners out of hand: therefore go receiue your priso∣ners in haste. Then I: Sir, I shall receiue them within these tenne dayes. Then M. Browne: The limitation lyeth in vs, and not in you, wherfore get you hence.

Syr, ye haue indited and deliuered me by this Indenture, whose fayth or opinions I know not, trusting that ye will graūt me a time to examine them, least I should punish the Catholicks. Well sayd Maister Browne, for that cause ye shall haue time be∣twixt this and Wednesday. And I say vnto you maister Bailiffes, if he do not receiue them at your handes on Wednesday, set o∣pen your doore, and let them go.

Then I: My Lord and maisters all, I promise to discharge the towne and countrey of these heretickes, within ten dayes. Then my Lord Darcy sayd: Cōmissary, we do and must all agree in one Wherfore do you receiue them on, or before Wednesday.

Then I: My Lord, the last I carryed, I was goyng betwixte the Castell and Sayncte Katherines Chappell, two howres and an halfe, and in great preasse and daunger: Wherefore th••s

may be to desire your Lordship,* 1.3 to geue in commaundement vn∣to my Mayster Sayer, Bayliffe, here present, for to ayd me tho∣rough his liberties, not onely with men and weapons, but that the Towne clarke may bee ready there with his booke to write the names of the most busie persons,* 1.4 and this vpon three houres warning, all whiche both my Lorde and M. Browne commaun∣ded.

And the 31. of August, William Goodwin of Muchbirch hus∣bandman, this brynger, and Thomas Alsey of Copforde youre Lordships Apparitour of your Consistory in Colchester, couenā∣ted with me, that they shoulde hyre two other men at the leaste, whereof one should be a Bowman, to come to me the next day a∣bout two of the clocke at after noone, so that I might recite this bargayne before M. Archdeacon, and pay the money, that is, 46. shillinges 8. pence. Wherefore they should then go foorth wyth me vnto Colchester, & on Wednesday before three of the clock in the morning receiue there at my hand within the Castell, and Motehall, fourteen men, and eight women, ready bound wyth giues and hempe, and driue, cary, or lead and feede with meat & drinke, as heretickes ought to be found continually, vnto suche time that the sayd William and Thomas, shall cause the sayde 22. persones for to be deliuered vnto my Lord of Londons Officers and within the safe keeping of my sayd Lorde, and then to bring vnto me againe the sayd Giues, with a perfect token, of, or from my sayd Lord, and then this couenant is voyde, or els. &c.

Maister Bendlowes sayde vnto mee in my Lorde of Oxen∣fordes Chamber at the kinges head, after I had sayd Masse before the Lordes, that on the morow after Holy Roode day, when wee shall meete at Chelmesford for the deuision of these landes, I thinke Mayster Archdeacon, you, and Mayster Smith shalbe fayn to ride with certaine of the Iury to those porcions and manours in your part of Essex, and in like case deuide our selues, to tread and view the ground with the Quest, or els I thinke the Quest will not labour their matter, and so doe you saye vnto Mayster Archdeacon.

Alice the wyfe of William Walleys of Colchester, hath sub∣mitted herselfe,* 1.5 abiured her erroneous opinions, asked absolu∣tion, promised to do her solemne penance in her Parish Church at Saint Peters on Sonday next, and to continue a Catholicke & a faythfull woman, as long as GOD shall send her lyfe. And for these couenauntes, her husband standeth bounde in fiue pounde. Which Alice is one of the nine women of this your Indenture: and that shee is bigge with childe. Wherefore she remayneth at home, and this done in the presence of the Bayliffes, Aldermen, & towneclarke. And for that Maister Browne was certyfied, there was no Curate at Lexdon, he inquired who was the Farmer. The aunswere was made, Syr Fraunces Iobson. Who is the Parson? They of the Questmen aunswered, Syr Roger Chostlow. When was he with you?* 1.6 Not this fourtene yeares. How is your Cure ser∣ued? Now and then. Who is the Patron? My Lord of Arundell. And within shorte tyme after Syr Fraunces Iobson came with great curtesy vnto my Lord Darcies place. And of all Gentlemē about vs, I saw no more come in Sir Robert Smith Priest, some∣time Chanon of Bridlington: now Curate of Appledote, in the wild of Kent, came to Colchester the 28. day of Aug. with his wife bigge with childe, of late diuorced, taken on suspition, examined of the Lordes, and M Browne tolde me that they haue receiued letters from the counsell, for the attachment of certayn persons, and e••peciallye of one Priest, whose name is Pullen (but hys right name is Smith) doubting this Priest to be he the sayd Pul∣len, although neither he nor his wife would confesse the same.

Wherfore he lyeth stil in prison, but surely this is not Pullē. If it please your Lordshippe to haue in remembraunce, that the housholders might be compelled to bring euerye man his owne wife to her owne seate in the Churche in time of Diuine seruice it would profite much. And also there be yet standing Hospitals and other of like foundation about Colchester, whiche I haue not knowne to appeare at any visitation, as the Maister and Lazars of Mary Magdalene in Colchester, the Proctour of saynct Katherines Chappell in Colchester, the hospitall or Beadhouse of the foundation of Lord H. Marney, in Laremarny, the Hospital and Beadman of little Horksley. Thus presuming of youre Lord∣ships goodnes, I more then bold euer to trouble you, with thys worldly busines, beseeching almightye God to send your hono∣rable Lordship a condigne reward.

From Eastthorp this present xxx. of August.

We found a letter touching the Maryage of Priestes in the handes of the foresayd Syr Robert Smith.* 1.7 Also I desired Mayster Browne the doer of all thinges, to require the audience to bring in theyr vnlawfull writinges and bookes. Who asked me if I had proclaymed the Proclamation. I sayd, yea. Then he sayd openly on the Benche, that they shoulde be proclaimed euerye quarter once And then take the Constables and Officers, and they a∣lone ••ake and punish the offenders, accordingly.

By your poore Beadman, Iohn Kingston, Priest.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Lorde of Oxford, L. Darcy, H. Tyrrell, Anthony. Browne, William Bende∣lowes, Ed∣mund Tyr∣rell, Ri∣chard We∣ston, Roger Appleton, Iohn King∣stone Com∣missarye, persecutors.
• * 1.2

  Maister Browne a hoate and hasty Iustice in persecu∣ting Gods people.
• * 1.3

  Anno 1557. March.
• * 1.4

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• * 1.5

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• * 1.6

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• * 1.7

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