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 martirdome of one Snel, burned about Richmond in Queene Maryes tyme, o∣mitted in this history.

AT Bedaile a market towne in Yorkshyre, were two men in the latter dayes of Queene Mary,* 1.1 the one na∣med Iohn Snel, and the other Richard Snel. Who being suspected for Religion, were sent vnto Richmond, where Doctor Dakins had commission from the Bishop of Che∣ster to haue the examination of them.

This Doctor Dakins many times conferred wyth them, sometimes threatning fire and fagot if they woulde not recant, and sometimes flattering them with fayre fa∣bles if they would returne into the holy catholick church. But they stood constantly to the sure rocke Iesus Christ, in whome they put theyr whole trust and confidence, whiles at last being so sore imprisoned that theyr toes rot∣ted of, and the one of them could not go without crouches they brought thē to the church by compulsion, where the one of them heard their abhominable Masse, hauing a cer∣taine summe of mony geuen him by the beneuolence of the people, and so departed thence: but the first newes that was heard of hym within three or foure dayes was that he had drowned him self in a riuer running by Richmond called Swaile.

Immediately after D. Dakins geuing sentence that y^e other should be burnt,* 1.2 came home to hys house and neuer ioyed after, but dyed. The Commissary of Richmond na∣med Hillinges, preached at his burning, exhorting him to returne to the Churche, but hys labour was in vayne, the constant martyr standing strongly to the fayth which hee professed.

Then being brought to the stake, whereunto hee was tyed by a girdle of iron, there was geuen vnto him gun∣pouder and a little straw was layd vnder his feete, and set round about with smale woode and tarre barrels, the fire was put in the straw, which by and by flamyng about his head, he cryed thrise together: Christ helpe me: Insomuch that one Robert Atkinson being present, sayde: hold fast there & we wil all pray for thee. Thus this blessed martyr ended his life.

Notes

• * 1.1

  The Martyr∣dome of one Snel by Rich∣mond.
• * 1.2

  Gods punish∣ment vpon the Doctour that condemned Snel.