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.

¶Agnes Bongeor, and Margaret Thur∣ston, two godly Christian women, burnt at Col∣chester for the sincere professing of Chri∣stes Gospell.

A Little before (gentle Reader) was mention made often that suffred Martyrdome at Colchester, pag. 2007. at wh••ch tyme there were two other women also, one called Margaret Thurston, and the other Agnes Bongeor, that should haue suffered with them, and were likewyse condemned at the same tyme and place that the other aboue named ten were, for the like cause, and aun∣swered also in their examinations the like in effect as the other did. But the one, namely Margaret Thurston, that 〈◊〉〈◊〉 she should suffer with those that went from the Castle, was for that tyme deferred. What the cause was, the testimonie of Io••e Cooke shal declare vnto vs. Which Io••e Cooke, the wife now of Iohn Sparke, beyng then in the castle of Colchester for religion, did demaund of this widow Thurston, whose husband died in the prison being imprisoned for religion, wherefore the sayd Margaret be∣yng a condemned woman, should be reserued, when the other suffred in the Castle Baily. She aunswered, that it was not for any feare of death, but beyng prepared as the rest were that suffered the same day, she felte in her selfe a great shiuering and trembling of the flesh. Whereuppon forsaking the company, she went aside to pray. And whi∣lest she was a praying, she thought that she was lifted vp with a mighty wynd that came round about her. Euen at that instant came in the Gaoler and company with hym, & whilest she turned her selfe to fetch her Psalter, they tooke the other prisoners and left her alone. Shortly after shee was remooued out of the Castle and put into the Towne prison, where she continued vntill Friday seuennight af∣ter her company were burnt. That day, not two howers before her death, she was brought to the Castell agayne, where shee declared thus much to the aforesayde Ioane Cooke.

The other named Agnes Bongeor, who should haue suffred in like maner with the 6. that went out of Motchal was also kept backe at that tyme, but not in lyke sort, be∣cause her name was wrong written within the writte, as in the Bailiffes letters of Colchester, sent to Boner about the same, more plainely doth appeare in the booke of our first edition, pag. 1632.

The same morning, the 2. of August, that the sayd sixe in Motehall were called out to goe to their Martyrdome, was Agnes Bongeor also called with them, by the name of Agnes Bowyer. Wherefore the Bailiffes vnderstāding her (as I sayd) to be wrong named within the writ, com∣manded the sayd Agnes Bongeor to prison agayne, as ye haue heard in the letter before named, and so from Mote∣hall that day, sent her to the Castle, where shee remayned vntill her death.

But when she saw her selfe so separated from her sayd prison fellowes in that sort, Oh good Lord what piteous mone that good woman made, how bitterly shee wepte, what strange thoughts came into her mynde, how naked and desolate she esteemed her selfe, and into what plunge of dispayre and care her poore soule was brought, it was piteous and wonderful to see: which all came because she went not with them to geue her lyfe in the defence of her Christ: for of all thyngs in the world, lyfe was least looked for at her hands. For that morning in which she was kept backe from burnyng, had she put on a smocke that she had prepared onely for that purpose. And also hauyng a child, a little yong Infant suckyng on her, whom she kept with her tenderly all the tyme she was in prison, agaynst y^e day likewyse did she send it away to another Nurse, and pre∣pared her selfe presently to geue her selfe for the testimonie of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ. So little did shee looke for lyfe, and so greatly did Gods gifts worke in her aboue nature, that death seemed a great deale better wel∣come then lyfe. But this tooke not effect at that time as she thought it would, and therfore (as I sayd) was she not a little troubled.

Beyng in this great perplexitie of mynde, a friend of hers came to her and required to knowe whether Abra∣hams obedience was accepted before God for that hee did sacrifice his sonne Isaac, or in that he would haue offered hym. Unto which she answered thus.

I know (quoth she) that Abrahams will before God was allowed for the deede, in that he would haue done it, if the Aungell of the Lorde had not stayed him: but I (said she) am vnhappy, the Lorde thinketh me not worthye of this dignitie, and therfore Abrahams case and mine is not alyke.

Why (quoth her friend) would ye not willingly haue gone with your company, if God should so haue suffe∣red it?

Yes (said she) with all my hart, and because I did not, it is now my chiefe and greatest griefe.

Then said her friend: My deare sister, I pray thee con∣sider Abraham and thy self well, & thou shalt see thou doest nothing differ with him in will at all.

Alas (quoth she) there is a farre greater matter in A∣braham then in me: for Abraham was tried with the of∣fering of his owne childe, but so am not I, and therefore our cases are not lyke.

Good sister (quoth her friend) way the matter but in∣differently. Abraham I graunt (sayd he) would haue offe∣red his sonne: and haue not you done the lyke in your lit∣tle suckyng babe? But consider further then this, my good sister (sayd he) where Abraham was commanded but to offer his sonne, you are heuy and grieued because you of∣fer not your selfe, which goeth somewhat more neere you then Abrahams obedience did, & therefore before God as∣suredly, is no lesse accepted & allowed in his holy presence: which further the preparing of your shroud also doth ar∣gue full well, &c. After which talke betweene them, she be∣gan a little to stay her selfe, and gaue her whole exercise to readyng and prayer, wherein she found no little comfort.

In the tyme that these foresayd ij. good women were prisoners, one in the Castle, & the other in Motehall, God by a secret meane called the sayd Margaret Thurston vn∣to his truth agayne, who hauyng her eyes opened by the workyng of his spirit, did greatly sorrow and lament her backsliding before, and promised faithfully to the Lord, in hope of his mercies, neuer more while she liued to doe the like agayne, but that she would constantly stand to the cō∣fession of the same, against all the aduersaries of the crosse of Christ. After which promise made, came in short tyme a writ from London for the burning of them, which accor∣dyng to the effect thereof, was executed the 17. day of Sep∣tember, in the yeare aforesayd.

[illustration]

*The burning of Margaret Thurston, and Agnes Bongeor, at Colchester.

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to Laxfield to bee burned, and on the next day mornyng was brought to the stake where was ready agaynst hys commyng, the foresayd Iustice M. Thurstō, one M. Wal∣ler then beyng vnder shiriffe, and M. Tho. Louell beyng high Constable, as is before expressed, the which comman∣ded men to make redy all things meete for that sinful pur∣pose. Nowe the fire in most places of the streete was put out, sauyng a smoke was espied by the said Tho. Louell proceeding out from the top of a chimney, to which house the shiriffe and Grannow his man went, and brake open the dore and thereby got fire and brought the same to the place of execution. When Iohn Noyes came to the place of execution. When Iohn Noyes came to the place where he should be burned, he kneeled downe and sayde the 50. Psalme, with other prayers, and then they making haste bound hym to the stake, and beyng bounde, the sayd Iohn Noyes sayd: Feare not them that can kill the body, but feare hym that can kill both bodye and soule, and cast it into euerla∣styng fire.

When he saw his sister weeping and making mone for him, he bade her that she should not weepe for hym, but weepe for her sinnes.

Then one Nich. Cadman beyng Hastler, a valiaunt champion in the Popes affaires, brought a fagotte and set agaynst him: and the said Ioh. Noyes tooke vp the fagot and kissed it, and sayd: Blessed bee the tyme that euer I was borne to come to this.

Then he deliuered his Psalter to the vndershirife, de∣siring him to be good to his wyfe and children, & to deliuer to her that same booke: and the shiriffe promised hym that he would, notwithstāding, he neuer as yet performed his promise. Then the sayd Iohn Noyes sayd to the people: They say they can make God of a piece of bread, beleeue them not.

Then sayd he, good people beare witnes that I do be∣leeue to be saued by the merites & passion of Iesus Christ, and not by myne owne deedes: and so the fire was kind∣led, and burned about him, and thē he sayd: Lord haue mer∣cy vpon me, Christ haue mercy vppon me, Sonne of Dauid haue mercy vpon me.

[illustration]

¶The burnyng of Iohn Noyes, Martyr.

And so he yelded vp his lyfe, and when his body was burned, they made a pit to bury the coales and ashes, and amongst the same they found one of his feet that was vn∣burned, whole vp to the anckle, with the hose on, and that they buried with the rest.

Now while he was a burnyng, there stoode one Iohn Iaruis by, a mans seruant of the same towne, a plaine fel∣low,which sayd: Good Lorde, how the sinewes of hys armes shrinke vp. And there stood behynd hym one Gran now and Benet beyng the shiriffes men, and they sayd to their maister, that Iohn Iaruis said, what villeine wret∣ches are these. And their maister bade lay hand on hym, & then they tooke hym and piniond hym, and caried hym be∣fore the Iustice that same day, and the Iustice did examine hym of the words aforesayd, but he denied them, and aun∣swered, that he sayd nothing but this: Good Lorde howe the sinews of his armes shrinke vp. But for all this y^e Iu∣stice did bynd his father and his maister in v. poundes a piece that he should be forth commyng at all tymes. And on the Wednesday next hee was broughte agayne before these Iustices, M. Thurston, and M. Kene, they sittyng at Fresingfield in Hoxton hundred, and there they did ap∣point and commaund that the sayd Iohn Iaruis shoulde be set in the stockes the next market day, and whipt about the market naked. But his Maister one William Iaruis did after craue friendship of the Constables, and they dyd not set him in the stockes till Sonday morning, and in the after noone they did whip hym about the market wyth a dog whip hauyng three cords, and so they let hym go.

Some doe geue that Iohn Iaruis was whipped for saying that Nich. Cadman was Noyes Hastler, that is, such one as maketh and hasteth the fire.

Notes

• September.
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• Agnes Bongeor receiueth com∣fort.
• A writte for the burning of Margaret Thur∣ston, and Agnes Bongeor.
• The Martyr∣dome of Marga∣ret Thurston, Agnes Bongeor, at Colchester. Anno. 1557. September. 17.
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