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 Martyrdome and sufferyng of Cicelie Ormes, burnt at Norwich for the testimonie and witnesse of Christes Gospell.

* 1.1ABout the 23. day of the sayd moneth of September, next after the other aboue mentioned, suffered at Nor∣wich Cicelie Ormes, wyfe of Edmund Ormes Worsted∣weauer, dwelling in S. Laurence parish in Norwich, she beying of the age of xxxij. yeares or more, was taken at y^e death of Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper aboue mē∣cioned, in a place called Lolardes pit without Bishoppes gate, at the sayd Norwich, for that shee sayde shee would pledge them of the same cup that they dranke on.* 1.2 For so saying, one Maister Corbet of Sprowson by Norwich, tooke her and sent her to the Chauncellor. When shee came before him, he asked her what she sayd to the Sacra∣ment of Christes body.* 1.3 And she sayd, she did beleue, that it was the Sacramente of the bodye of Christ. Yea saide the Chauncellor, but what is that that the priest holdeth ouer his head? Shee aunswered him and sayd, it is bread: and if you make it any better it is worse. At which words the Chauncellor sent her to the bishops Prison to the kee∣per called Fellow, with many threatning, & ho••e words as a man being in a great cha••e.

The xxiij. day of Iuly shee was called before y^e Chaū∣cellor againe, who sat in iudgemēt with Master Bridges and others. The Chauncellor offred her if she would goe to the Church and keepe her tongue, shee should be at ly∣bertie, and beleue as shee would. But she tolde him shee would not consent to his wicked desire therein, doe wyth her what he would: for if she should, she sayde GOD woulde surelye plague her. Then the Chauncellour tolde her, he had shewed more fauour to her, then euer he did to any, and that he was loth to condeme her, conside∣ring that shee was an ignoraunt, vnlearned, and foolysh woman. But she not weying his words, tolde him if he did, he should not be so desirous of her sinfull flesh, as she would (by Gods grace) be content to geue it in so good a quarell. Then rose he and red the bloudy sentence of con∣demnation against her, and so deliuered her to the secular power of the shiriffes of the Citie, M. Thomas Suther∣ton, and M. Leonard Sutherton brethren, who immedi∣ately caried her to the Guildhall in Norwich, where shee remayned vntill her death.

This Cicelie Ormes was a very simple woman, but yet zelous in the Lordes cause, beyng borne in East De∣ram, and was there the daughter of one Thomas Haund Tailor. She was taken the v. day of Iuly, and dyd for a twelue month before she was taken, recant, but neuer af∣ter was she quiet in conscience, vntill she was vtterly dri∣uen from all their Poperie. Betweene the tyme she recan∣ted and that she was taken,* 1.4 she had gotten a letter made, to geue to the Chancellor, to let hym know that she repē∣ted her recantation from the bottome of her hart, & would neuer do the like again while she liued.* 1.5 But before she ex∣hibited her bil, she was taken & sent to prison, as is before sayd. She was burnt the 23. day of September, betweene 7. and 8. of the clocke in the morning,* 1.6 the sayd two shirifes being there, and of people to the number of 200. When she came to the stake, she kneeled downe and made her pray∣ers to God. That beyng done, she rose vp and sayde: good people, I beleeue in God the father, God the sonne, and God the holy ghost, three persons and one God.

This do I not, nor will I recant, but I recant vtter∣ly from the bottome of my hart, the doynges of the Pope of Rome, and all his popish priestes and shauelynges. I vtterly refuse and neuer will haue to do with them again by Gods grace. And good people, I would you shoulde not thinke of me that I beleeue to be saued in that I offer my selfe here vnto the death for the Lordes cause, but I beleeue to be saued by the death of Christes passion: and this my death is and shall be a witnesse of my fayth vnto you all here present. Good people, as many of you as be∣leeue as I beleue, pray for me. Then she came to the stake and layd her hand on it, and sayd: welcome the Crosse of Christ. Which beyng done, she lookyng on her hand,* 1.7 and seeyng it blacked with the stake, she wiped it vppon her smocke, for she was burnt at the same stake that Symon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper was burned at. Then after she had touched it with her hand, shee came and kissed it, and sayd welcome the sweete crosse of Christ, and so gaue her selfe to be bound thereto. After the tormentours had kindled the fire to her, she sayd:* 1.8 My soule doth magnify the Lord, and my spirite reioyceth in God my Sauiour, and in so

[illustration]

¶The burnyng of Cicelie Ormes at Norwich.

* 1.9 saying she set her hands together right against her brest, rasting her eyes and head vpward, and so stood, heauyng vp her hands by little and little, till the very sinewes of her armes brast asunder, and then they fell: but she yel∣ded her lyfe vnto the Lord, as quietly as she had bene in a slumber, or as one feelyng no payne: So wonderfully did the Lord worke with her: his name therfore be prai∣sed for euermore, Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  September. 23. Ci••elye Ormes Martyr.
• * 1.2

  M. Corbet of Sprowson, persecutour.
• * 1.3

  The Chauncel∣lours name was Dunning.
• * 1.4

  Brigges a Po∣pish persecutor.
• * 1.5

  Cicelye Ormes first recanted.
• * 1.6

  Cicelye Ormes repenteth her recantation.
• * 1.7

  Note well this saying of Cicelye Ormes.
• * 1.8

  The last wordes of Cicelye Ormes at the stake.
• * 1.9

  The Mar∣tyrdome of Cicelye Ormes at Norwich. Anno. 1557. September. 23.