¶The Martyrdome of two godly persons sufferyng at Ipswich for the Gospell of Christ and his euerlastyng te∣stament, named Alexander Gouche, and Alice Driuer.
MAister Noone a iustice in Suffolk, dwelling in Mar∣tlesham,* 1.1 huntyng after good men to apprehend them (as he was a bloudy tyraunt in the dayes of triall) at the length had vnderstanding of one Gouche of Woodbridge, & Driuers wyfe of Grosborough, to bee at Grosborough together, a little from his house, immediately tooke his mē with hym and went thether, and made diligent search for them, where the poore man and woman were compelled to step into an hay golph to hide themselues frō their cru∣elty. At the last they came to search the hay for them, and by gaging thereof with pitchforkes, at the last found them: so they tooke them & led them to Melton Gaole, where, they remainyng a tyme, at the length were caried to Bury, a∣gainst the Assise at S. Iames tide, and beyng there exami∣ned of matters of fayth, did boldly stand to confesse Christ crucified, defiyng the Pope with all his papisticall trashe. And among other thyngs Driuers wife likened Queene Mary in her persecution, to Iezabell, and so in that sense callyng her Iezabel, for that sir Clement Higham beyng chiefe Iudge there, adiudged her eares immediately to be cut off, which was accomplished accordingly, and she ioy∣fully yelded her selfe to the punishment, and thought her selfe happy that she was coūted worthy to suffer any thing for the name of Christ.
After the Assise at Bury, they were caried to Melton Gaole agayne, where they remained a tyme. This Alexā∣der Gouch was a man of the age of 36. yeares or therea∣bouts,* 1.2 and by his occupation was a Weauer of shredding Couerlets, dwellyng at Woodbridge in Suffolke, & borne at Ufford in the same Countie. Driuers wife was a wo∣man about the age of 30. yeares, & dwelt at Grosborough where they were taken, in Suffolke. Her husband did vse husbandry.* 1.3 These two were caried from Melton Gaole to Ipswich, where they remayned & were examined. The which their examination, as it came to our hands, hereaf∣ter followeth.
The examination of Driuers wyfe, before Doct. Spenser the Chauncellor of Norwich.
FIrst, she comming into the place where she should bee examined,* 1.4 with a smiling countenance. Doct. Spenser said: Why woman, doest thou laugh vs to scorne?
Whether I do, or no, I might well enough, to see what fooles ye be.
Then the Chauncellour asked her wherfore she was brought before hym, and why she was layed in prison.
Wherefore? I thinke I neede not to tell you: for ye know it better then I.
No by my troth woman, I know not why.
Then haue ye done me muche wrong (quoth shee) thus to imprison me, and know no cause why: for I know no euill that I haue done, I thank God, and I hope there is no man that can accuse me of any notorious fact that I haue done, iustly.
Woman, woman, what sayest thou to the blessed Sacrament of the aultar?* 1.5 Doest thou not beleeue that it is very flesh and bloud, after the words be spoken of con∣secration?
Driuers wife at those words helde her peace, & made no answer. Then a great chuffeheaded priest that stood by, spake, and asked her why shee made not the Chauncel∣lour an aunswere. With that, the sayd Driuers wyfe loo∣ked vpon hym austerely, and sayde: Why Priest, I come not to talke with thee, but I come to talke with thy Mai∣ster:* 1.6 but if thou wilt I shall talke with thee, commaunde thy Maister to holde his peace. And with that the Priest put his nose in hys cappe, and spake neuer a worde more. Then the Chauncellor bade her make aunswere to that he demaunded of her.
Sir (sayd she) pardon me though I make no aun∣swer, for I cannot tell what you meane thereby: for in all my lyfe I neuer heard nor read of any such Sacrament in all the Scripture.
Why, what scriptures haue you read, I pray you.
I haue (I thanke God) read Gods booke.
Why, what maner of Booke is that you call Gods booke?
It is the old and new Testament. What call you it?
That is Gods booke in deed, I cannot deny.
That same booke haue I read thoroughout,* 1.7 but yet neuer could find any such sacrament there: & for that cause I cannot make you aunswer to that thing I knowe not. Notwithstanding, for all that, I will grant you a Sacra∣ment, called the Lords supper: and therfore seyng I haue graunted you a Sacrament, I pray you shew me what a sacrament is.
It is a signe. And one D. Gascoine beyng by, con∣firmed the same, that it was the signe of an holy thing.* 1.8
You haue sayd the truth sir, sayd she. It is a signe in deede, I must needes graunt it: and therefore seyng it is a signe, it cannot be the thyng signified also. Thus farre we do agree: for I haue graunted your owne saying. Then stoode vp the sayd Gascoine, and made an Oration wyth many fayre wordes, but little to purpose, both offensiue & odious to the myndes of the godly. In the ende of which long tale,* 1.9 he asked her if shee did not beleeue the omnipo∣tencie of God, and that he was almighty, and able to per∣forme that he spake. She answered, yes, and said: I do be∣leeue that God is almighty, and able to performe that hee spake and promised.
Uery well. Then he sayd to his disciples: Take, eate, this is my body: Ergo, it was his body.* 1.10 For he was able to performe that he spake, and God vseth not to lye.
I pray you did he euer make any such promise to his disciples, that he would make the bread his body?
Those be the wordes. Can you deny it?
No, they be the very wordes in deed, I cannot deny it: but I pray you, was it not breade that hee gaue vnto them?
No, it was his body.
Then was it his body that they did eat ouer night.
Yea, it was his body.
What body was it then that was crucified the nexte day?
It was Christes body.
How could that be,* 1.11 when his disciples had eaten him vp ouer night? except he had two bodies, as by your ar∣gument he had: one they did eate ouer night, and another was crucified the next day. Such a Doctor, such doctrine. Be you not ashamed to teach the people, that Christ had two bodies? In the 22. of Luke, He tooke bread, and brake it, and gaue it to his disciples, saying: Take, &c. and do this in the remembraunce of me. Saint Paule also sayeth, 1. Cor. 11. Do this in the remembraunce of me: for as often as ye shall eate this bread, and drinke this cup, ye shall shewe the Lordes death till he come: and therefore I meruaile ye blushe not before all this people, to lye so manifestly as ye doe. With that Gascoine held his peace, & made her no answer: for,* 1.12 as it seemed, he was ashamed of his doyngs. Then the Chan∣cellor lift vp his hed of from his cushion, and commanded the Gaoler to take her away.
Now, sayd she, ye be not able to resist the truth, ye cō∣maund me to prison agayne. Well,* 1.13 the Lord in the end shal iudge our cause, and to hym I leaue it. Iwisse, iwisse, this geare will go for no payment then. So went she with the Gaoler away.
The second examination of Alice Dryuer.
THe next day she came before them agayne, & the Chan∣cellor then asked her,* 1.14 what she said to the blessed sacra∣ment of the aulter.
I will say nothing to it: for you will neither beleeue me nor your selues. For yesterday I asked you what a sa∣crament was, and you sayde, it was a signe, and I agreed therto, & sayd, it was the truth, confirming it by the scrip∣tures, so that I went not from your owne words:* 1.15 & now ye come and aske me agayne of such a sacrament as I told you I neuer red of in the scriptures.
Thou lyest naughty woman, we did not say that it was a signe.
Why maisters be ye not the mē that you were yester∣day? will ye eat your owne wordes? Are ye not ashamed to lie before all this multitude here present, who heard you speake the same?
Then stoode vp D. Gascoine & said, she was deceyued: for there were three churches: the malignant church, the