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.

¶Another escape of William Wats.

THis foresayd William Wats, dwelling in Queen Ma∣ries dayes at Seale in Kent, the last yere of her raigne saue one, was apprehended by his enemies,* 1.1 and brought by the Constables before the Bish. and Iustices at Tun∣bridge, where the B. and Iustices would haue perswaded hym all they coulde, to turne from the truth: howbeit in vayne, for they could not remooue him, although they spēt all the forenoone therabouts, with many flattring words: so mercifull was the Lord vnto hym.

Now, when dinner tyme was come, as they shoulde rise, they committed the prisoner to the constables againe, and so rose vp to go to diner. The Constables tooke Wats and led him to a vitailing house, where after they had wel filled themselues, they fel a sleepe, supposing their prisoner to be sure enough vnder their handes. Wats wife beyng then in the house with her husband, and very carefull for his well doyng, seyng the Constables thus fast a sleep, de∣sired her husband to depart and go thence, for so much as the Lord had made such away for hym. Unto which her words he would not consent, althogh she perswaded him all that she could.

At the last,* 1.2 (they replieng one against an other) a strā∣ger heard them, and asked her what the matter was, that shee was so earnest with her husbande. The wyfe tolde hym. Then sayde the straunger vnto Wats these words: Father, goe thy wayes in Gods name, and tary no lon∣ger: the Lorde hath opened the way vnto thee. Where∣vpon the sayde Wattes went hys way, and his wyfe de∣parted from hym, and went home to her house at Seale, thinkyng her husband had gone another way. Nowe as she was goyng in at her dore tellyng her friendes of hys deliueraunce, immediately came the sayd Wattes in also, and they all beyng amased thereat, willed hym in all haste to get hym away, for they thought there would bee search for hym immediately.

Then Wats sayd, he would eate meate first, and also pray: which he did, and afterward departed thence.* 1.3 So soone as he was out of the dores, and had hid hymselfe in an holly bush, immediately came the said constables with thirtie persons into the sayd house to search for him, where they pierced the Fetherbeds, broke vp hys Chestes, and made such hauocke, that it was wonderfull:* 1.4 and euer a∣mong as they were searchyng, the Constables cryed: I will haue Wats, I will haue Wats I tel thee, I wil haue Wattes: but (God be thanked) Wats could not be found. And when they saw it booted not to search for hym, in the ende they tooke his wyfe, and set her in a payre of stockes where she remayned two dayes,* 1.5 and she was very bolde in the truth, and at the last deliuered thorough the proui∣dence of God: whose name be glorified in all his workes, Amen.

Notes

• * 1.1

  W. Wattes apprehen∣ded and brought before the Byshop.
• * 1.2

  An other notable ex∣ample of the Lordes prouidence.
• * 1.3

  W. Wattes deliuered out of his enemyes handes.
• * 1.4

  W. Wattes sought for agayne.
• * 1.5

  W. Wattes wyfe set in the stockes.