Christs Victory over Satans Tyranny, Book 12 · Part 39 – Part 40
Alexander Gouch, and Allice Driuer.
GOuch was a Weauer of Shreaden Co…erlits at Woodbridge in Suffolk, and burned at Uxford: The Woman was Driuers Wife of Grosborough: One Maister Moone a Iustice searching for them, they were compelled to hide them in a Hay-ricke, but by gaging thereof with Pickforks, at the last they found them, and sent them to Mel…on Iayle: from thence they were carryed to Bury vntounto the Assizes, and being examined of their Faith, they did boldly confesse Christ crucified, defying the Pope and all his Papisticall trash. And Driuers Wife likened Quéene Mary vntounto Iezabell: Whereupon Sir Clement Higham Chiefe Iudge, adiudged her eares to be immediatly cut off, which was done, and shee ioyfully yéelded her selfe vntounto the punishment, and thought her selfe happy that shee was counted worthy to suffer for Christ: then they were sent again vntounto Melton Iayle, where they were examined, as followeth:
When Driuers Wife came before Doctor Spencer to be examined, shee smiled: then he said; Why Woman dost thou laugh vsus to scorne: shee said; Shee might well enough to sée what fooles you be. Then he said, Woman, what saist thou to the Sacrament of the Altar? Dost thou not beleeue that it is very flesh and bloud after the consecration.
Dri.
I neuer heard nor read of any such Sacrament in all the Scripture: I will grant you a Sacrament called the Lords Supper. I pray you tell me what a Sacraments is?
Spens.
It is a Signe: and Doctor Gascoyne confirmed the same, that it was a signe of an holy thing.
Dri.
It is a Signe indéede, and therefore it cannot be the thing signified also.
Gascoyne.
Doe you not beleeue the omnipotence of GOD? Shee answered▪ Yes, Then said he; Christ said to his Disciples, Take, eate, this is my body, ergo it was his body, for he was able to performe that which hee spake, and God vseth not to lye.
Dry.
Was it not Bread which he gaue them? he said, no, it was his body; then (quoth she) it was his body they did eate ouer night, what body was it then that was crucified the next day, when his Disciples had eate him vp ouer night, except he had two bodies, as by your Argument he had. Such a Doctor, such Doctrine, be you not ashamed to teach the people that Christ had two bodies. In the 12. of Luke he tooke bread and brake it, and gaue it to his disciples, saying; Take, &c. do this in remembrance of me. 1 Cor. 11. Doe this in remembrance of me, and as oft as you shall do it, you shall shew the Lords death vntill he come. Then Gascoyne held his peace, and the Chancellor commanded the Iayler to take her away.
Dri.
Now you be not able to resist the truth, you command me to prison, the Lord shall iudge our cause, vntounto him I leaue it. I wis this geare will go for no paiment: the next day she came before them again, and their Arguments were vntounto the same effect, wherefore she was condemned, so went she to prison againe, as ioyfull as the Bird of day, praysing and glorifying the name of God.
Alexander Gouch was condemned, for that his beléefe was, that Christ is ascended into heauen, and there remaineth, and that the Sacrament was the remembrance of his death; and for refusing the Masse, and the Pope to be supreame head of the Church, they were both burned at Ipswich: They ended their liues with earnest zeale, nothing fearing to speake their consciences, when they were commaunded the contrary.
Sir Henry Dowell Sheriffe would not suffer them to make an end of their praiers: then Gouch said, take héede M. Sheriffe, if ye forbid prayers, the vegeance of God hangeth ouer your heads: when the Iron chaine was put about Allice Driuers necke, O (said she) here is a goodly Neckercher, blessed be God for it. Diuers shooke them by the hands, the Sheriffe bad lay hands on them, with that a great number ranne vntounto the stake, he seeing that, let them all alone.
One Bate a Barber was a busie deer against them, who being in a fréeze gown sold it, saying; it stunk of Hereticks, with other foule words, within thrée or foure weeks after, he died miserably in Ipswich.
Phillip Humphrey, Iohn Dauid, and Henry Dauid his Brother.
THese were burned at Bury, in the same monethmonth that Quéene Mary died, Sir Clement Highama, bout a fortnight before the Quéene died, did sue out a writ for the burning of these three godly and blessed Martyrs, though the Queene was then knowne to be past remedy of her sicknesse.