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 trouble and disturbance among good men and women at Lichfield.

* 1.1

AFter the death and Martyrdome of maistresse Ioyce Lewys, a little aboue specified, diuers good men and women in the same towne of Lichfield were vexed and in trouble before the Bishop and his Chauncellor, for kis∣sing the sayd Ioyce Lewys,* 1.2 and drinking with her about the tyme of her death, the names of which persones were these: Ioane Loue, Elizabeth Smith, Margaret Bid∣dell, Helene Bouring, Margaret Cootesfote, Nich. Bird Ioh. Hurlstone and his wyfe, Agnes Glyn, Agnes Glo∣uer, Agnes Penyfather. &c. These with other were pro∣duced to their examination before the Bishop & his Chā∣cellor for the cause aboue named, and therefore adiudged for heretikes, for that they did pray and drinke with the sayd maistresse Lewys, but especially Agnes Penyfather sustained the most trouble, for that she accompanied the sayde Ioyce Lewys goyng to her death. Whiche Agnes beyng examined further of the sayd Bishop, what words she had spoken to two priestes of the church of Lichfield, called Iohn Adye and Iames Foxe, concernyng the sayd Ioyce Lewys after her burnyng, sayd as followeth: that she beyng asked by y^e said two priests beyng at her fathers house in the Citie of Lichfield, at such tyme as she came frō the burning of the sayd Ioyce Lewys,* 1.3 wherefore shee the sayd Agnes did weep for such an heretike, meanyng Ioice Lewys, whose soule sayd they was in hell: the sayd Ag∣nes Penyfather to the demaund made this aunswer, that she thought the sayde blessed Martyr to bee in better case

then the sayde two Priestes were.

With the which wordes she beyng charged, and wil∣led to submit her selfe as the other had done aboue reher∣sed to such penaunce as they should inioyne vnto her, re∣fused so to do, and therfore was commaunded to close pri∣son, the shiriffes beyng charged with her vnder payne of one hundred poundes, that none should haue any accesse vnto her. At length at the perswasion of her friendes, shee was compelled to doe as the other had done before. And thus much concernyng thyngs done at Lichfield.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Octob. 27.
• * 1.2

  Good men and women troubled in Lichf••ed, for kissing Mi∣stres Ioyce Lewes be∣fore her death.
• * 1.3

  Agnes Pe∣nifather ac∣cused of two Priests for wordes.