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 history of Iohn Alcocke.

THis Iohn Alcocke or Aucock, of whome mention is made before pag. 1561. was a very faythfull and ho∣nest man, by his occupation a woad setter, singularly wel learned in y^e holy scriptures, and in all his conuersation a iust and righteous man, that feared God, and studyed to do in deed that thing that he had learned in the scriptures. Nowe after that sir Richard Yeaman was driuen away, and the people on sondayes and other dayes came to the Church, and had no man to teach them any thinge (for as yet person Newall was not come to Hadley to dwel, nor had gotten any Curate. Besides that, the lawes made by king Eward were in force, and the latin mumblinges not yet receaued euery where.) Iohn Alcocke therefore tooke the english booke vsed by king Edward, exhorting the people to pray with him, and so red certain prayers in english before them: and moreouer hee gaue them godly lessons and exhortations out of the chapters that he red vnto them. For this, the Bishoppe of Winchester Steuen Gardiner sent for him, cast him into Newgate at London where after many examinations and troubles, for that he woulde not submitte himselfe to aske forgeuenesse of the Pope, and to be reconciled to the romish religion, he was cast into the lower doungeon, where with euill keeping, and sicknesse of the house he dyed in prison. Thus dyed he a martyr of Christes veritie, whiche hee hartely loued and constantly confessed, and receaued the garland of a well foughten battell at the hand of the Lorde. His body was cast out and buryed in a dounghill, for the Papists would in all thinges be like themselues: therfore would they not so much as suffer the dead bodyes to haue honest and con∣uenient sepulture.

He wrote two Epistles to Hadley, whiche followe here.