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.

Iames Austoo and Margerie his wife

TOuching the first apprehension of these ij. persones, I finde neither occasion whye, neither time,* 1.1 nor manner howe. Howbeit as the daies then serued, it was no harde or strange matter to fall into the hāds of such as with cru∣elty persecuted the true professors of Gods gospell, especi∣ally hauing so many promoters, and vnneighborly neigh¦bors to help them forwards. By which kinde of people, it is not vnlike these two godly yokefellowes were accused and taken: and being once deliuered into the pitiles hād∣ling of Boner: their examinations (ye may be sure) were not long deferred. For the 16. day of Iuly 1557. they were brought before him into hys palace at London. Wher first he demāded of the said Iames Austoo (amongst other que∣stions) where he had bene confessed in Lent, and whether he receiued the sacrament of the altare at Easter or not.

To whom he answered that in dede he had ben confes∣sed of the curate of A••halowes Barking, ••e to the tower of London, but y^t he had not receiued the sacrament of the altar, for he defied it from the bottome of his heart.

Why, quoth the Bishop, doest thou not beleeue that in the sacrament of the altare there is the true body & bloude of Christ.

No sayd Austoo, not in the Sacrament of the altar, but in the Supper of the Lorde, to the faithfull receiuer is the very body and bloud of Christ by faith.

Boner not well pleased with this talke, asked then the wife, how she did like the religion then vsed in this cour••h of England.

* 1.2Shee answered that shee beleeued, that the same was not according to Gods word, but false and corrupted, and that they which did goe thereunto, did it more for feare of the law, then otherwise.

Then hee againe asked her if shee woulde goe to the Churche and heare Masse, and pray for the prosperous e∣state of the king, being then abroad in his affaires.

Whereunto she said that she defied the Masse with all her heart, and that she would not come into any Churche wherein were Idols.

After this the Bish. obiected vnto them certaine arti∣cles, to the number of 18. The tenor whereof (because they touch only such common & trifling matters as are alrea∣dy mentioned in diuers & sondry places before) I do here for breuitie sake omit and passe ouer: geuing you yet this much to vnderstand, that in the maters of faith, they were as soūd, and answered as truly (God be therfore praised) as euer any did, especially the woman, to whom the Lord had geuen the greater knowledge and more feruentnes of spirit. Notwithstanding, according to y^e measure of grace that God gaue them, they both stood most firmly vnto the truthe. And therefore to conclude, the 10. day of Sept. they were (with Rafe Allerton, of whō ye haue heard) brought againe before the bishop within his chappell at Fulham, where he speaking vnto them, said first on this wise: Au∣stoo, doest thou knowe where thou art nowe, and in what place, and before whom, and what thou hast to doe?

Yea (quoth Austoo) I knowe where I am: For I am in an idols temple.

After which wordes their articles being againe red, & their constancie in faith perceiued, Boner pronounced a∣gainst either of them seuerally the sentence of cōdemnati∣on, and deliuering them vnto the sheriff there present, did rid his hands (as he thought) of them: but the Lorde in the ende will iudge that: to whome I referre his cause.

It so happened vpon a night, that as this Margerie Austoo was in y^e bishops prisone (which prison I suppose was his dogge kennel,* 1.3 for it was, as is reported, vnder a paire of staires) by y^e bishops procurement there was sent a stoute champion (as appeared) about 12. of the clocke at nighte, who suddenly opened the doore, and with a knife drawen or ready prepared, fell vppon her, to the intent to haue cut her throte. Which she by reason of the clearnes of the Moone perceiuing, and calling vnto God for helpe, he (but who it was she knewe not) geuing a grunt, and fea∣ring (belike) to commit so cruel a dede, departed his waies without any more hurt doing.

The next night following, they caused a great rumbe∣ling to be made ouer her head, which semed to her to haue bene some great thūder, which they did for to haue feared her out of her wittes, but yet thanks be to God, they mis∣sed of their purpose.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Examination of Iames Austoo & Margery his wyfe.
• * 1.2

  Anno 1556. September.
• * 1.3

  Margery Au∣stoo terrified in prison.