Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 51 – Account 52
¶Fiue famished in Caunterbury Castell, by the vnmercifull tyrannie of the Papistes about the beginning of Nouember.
AS among all the Bishops, Boner bishop of London, principally excelled in persecuting the poore members and Saintes of Christe:… Dūning, … persecutors. so of all Archdeacons Nicholas Harpesfield Archdeacon of Cāterburie (as may by mans sight appeare) was the forest, and of least compassion) only Dunning of Norwich excepted) by whose vnmercifull nature, and agrest disposition, verye many were putte to death in that dioces of Canterbury, not onelyonly in the bloudy time of that Queene, but some also in the blessed beginning of this our moste renowmed Queene that nowe is, as by the grace of Christ heereafter shall appeare.
Persecution in Kent.Of those that suffered in Queene Maries time within the foresayd diocesse of Canterburie, some be recited already, with the order and fourme set downe of suche Articles as then were most commōly ministred to the examinates by Thorneton, Suffragane of Douer, and the sayde Nicholas Harpsefielde and other, as before in the volume of this hystorie may appeare, pag. 1683. Now to proceede in the order and course of time where we left, next followeth the monethmonth of Nouember.
In the beginning whereof were together in the Castell of Caunterburie 15. godly and innocent Martyrs, of which number, not one escaped with theyr life, but either were burned,… Martyrs … confess… together … Canterbury. or els were famished in prisone. Of yt which two sortes, which is the easier death: God knoweth it is hard to iudge. Notwithstāding, the truth is, that of these 15.10. were burned and suffered in the fire, of whom in the next booke more shall follow hereafter, the Lord willing. The other 5. were pined and famished most vnmercifully in the straite prisone, of whome we hauehave heere presently to entreate. Whose names were these.
Whiche two were yet vncondemned.
…1. Iohn Clearke.
2. Dunston Chittenden.
These were condemned to bee burnt.
3. W. Foster of Stone.
4. Alice Potkins wife, of Stapleherst.
5. Iohn Archer of Cranbroke, weauer.
Of these 5. prisonners, the firste two were vncondemned, the other thre last were condemned, and should hauehave bene burned, but suffered no lesse tormentes then if they had abidde the fire, being macerate and pined to death by famine. What theyr articles and answers were, it needeth not heere to recite,… seeing all they, in that time of Queene Mary, commonly suffered for one maner & sort of cause, yt is, for holding against the 7. Sacraments, against the realtie of Christes being in his supper, for speaking against the churche of Rome, and determinations of the same, against Images set vp and woorshipped in the churche, for not comming to the church, and such other like. &c.
First, William Foster answearing to these and like articles, sayde, that he beleeued well in all the Articles of the Creede:… but to beleeue to be m0e Sacraments then two, and to pray to Saintes, either to profite vsus, or to praye for soules in purgatorie to profit them, that faith and works doe iustifie, or to alow the popish ceremonies in ye church, that he denied. Moreouer hee sayde, to carie Candels vponupon Candelmasse daye, were as good for him as to carye a dungforke, and that it is as necessary to cary the galowes about, if his father were hanged, as the crosse. To come to the church he cannot, sayd he, with a safe conscience.Carying about the Crosse. Necessitye alwayes excused in matters indifferent. W. Foster apprehended by Syr Thomas Moyle. Mother Potkins Martyr, troubled by W. Robertes. Alice Potkins in Christ but one yeare olde. Concerning fish daies and flesh daies, hee graunted it good to put difference therein, except where necessity required the contrary.
This William Foster was a labouring man, of ye age of xl. yeares. He was apprehended and imprisoned by Sir Thomas Moyle Knight.
Alice Potkins for the like confession, was condemned to be burned, for that she was not, neyther would be confessed to the Priest, for that shee receiued not the sacrament of the aultare, because shee would not pray to saincts, nor creepe to the Crosse. &c. Being demaunded of her age, she sayde that shee was xlix. yeares olde according to her olde age, & according to her yong age, since she learned Christ, shee was of one yeares age, and was committed by maister Roberts to prisone.
The answer and confession of Iohn Archer of Crambroke, was muche in like sorte.The aunswere of Iohn Archer Martyr. And although certayne of these vponupon ignorant simplicitie swarued a litle in ye number of Sacraments, some graunting one sacrament, that is, the body of Christ hanging vponupon the crosse, some moe, some lesse. &c. yet in the principal matter touching the doctrins of saluation for faith to stay vponupon, and in disagreing from the dreaming determinations of the Popish church, they moste agreed. Concerning the not praying to saints, and for the deade in Purgatorie, for not creepynge to the crosse, for faith onelyonly to iustifie, for taking of an oth & such other like, he graunted as the other had done. This father Archer, by his occupation a Weauer of the towne of Crā broke, of the age of 50. yeres, was attached and imprisonned by syr Iohn Gilforde knighte. And thus hauehave yee the cause and imprisonment of these 5. godly prisoners.Syr Iohn Gilford committed Father Archer to prison. Now as touching the cruelty of theyr death, for that yee shal not surmise the suspicion or relation thereof to proceede of my selfe, ye shall heare theyr own testimonie and certification by their owne letter thrown out of the prison concerning the vnmercifull dealing of the Catholicke tyrantes in famishing them, as is aforesayde. The woordes and copye of theyr letter is this.
The copie of a Letter wrytten and cast out of the Castle of Cant. by the prisoners there in bands for Gods word▪ declaring how the Papistes went aboute to famishe them to death: of the which companie fiue were famished amongest them all ready.
BE it knowen to all men that shall read,The prisoners letter, declaring how they were handled and famished in prison. or heare redde these our letters, that we the pore prisoners of ye Castle of Canterburie for Gods truth, are kept and lie in cold yrons, & our keepers wil not suffer any meat to be brought to vsus to comfort vsus. And if any man do bring any thyng, as bread, butter, cheese, or any other foode, the saide keeper wil charge them that so bring vsus any thing, except mony or raiment, to carie it with them againe, or els if he do receiue any foode of any for vsus, he doeth keepe it for himself, and he and his seruaunts do spend it, so that we hauehave nothing thereof: and thus the keeper keepeth away our victuals from vsus. In so muche that there are 4. of vsus prisonners there for Gods truthe, famished already, and thus is it his minde to famish vsus all: and we thinke he is apoynted thereunto of the Bishops and priestes, and also of the iustices, so to famish vsus, and not onelyonly vsus of the saide Castel, but also all other prisoners in other prisons for ye lyke cause to be also famished: notwithstanding we wryte not these our letters, to that entent we moughte not aforde to be famished for the Lord Iesus sake, but for this cause and entent, that they hauing no law so to famish vsus in prison, should not doe it priuely, but that the murtherers heartes should be openly knowen to all the world, that all menne may know of what church they are, & who is their father.
Out of the Castel of Canterburie.
The trouble and vexation of good people in the Diocesse of Lichfield.
THese foresayde monethes of September, Nouember, and December as they were troublesome to diuers other places, and especially to the Dioces of Canterburie,Doctour Bane, Doctor Draycot his Chauncellor in Lichfield cruell persecutours. by reason of the Archdeacon aboue named: so likewyse they brought no little busines in the countrey of Lichfield and Couentrie by a cruel bishop there called Rafe Bane, and a more cruell Chauncellor named Doctour Draycot, through the fierce inquisition of whome, great stirre was there amonge the people, being called to examination for theyr Faith, and many caused to beare fagottes. Who altho…h they were not put to ye torment of death, yet because it may appeare what a number there is in the countrys of England abroade,Anno 1556. Ianuary. which in theyr hearts hauehave a misliking of the Popes Romish lawes and religion, if for fear they durst vtter theyr mindes, I thought to make a rehearsall of theyr names which in the foresayde Diocesse of Couentrie and Lichfielde, were taken in suspicion and examined for theyr Religion.
And first amongst them that were detected and inioyned to the popish penance, that is, to beare a fagot, candel, and beades about in procession,The names of them that bare fagottes in the Dioces of Lichfield and Couentrye. were Agnes Forman, detected, examined, and by witnesse conuicted and bare a fagot the 12. of Septemb. Likewise Margery Kirry, Thomas Norreis, Thomas Stiffe, William Kayme, Robert Katrenes, Thomas Smith, Iohn Borsley the younger. Ite… Iohn Waterhouse, against whom came in witnesse and accusers, Richarde Caterbanke, I. Edge, William Smith, Robert Cooke, laying against him for seldome cō ming to the Churche, for geuing no reuerence at the leuation of the Sacrament, but looking vponupon his booke, for not kissing ye paxe. &c. Robert Bissel, Leonard West, Richard Baily of the parish of Whiteacre.
These were depriued.
Nicholas Cartwright, Doctor.
Richard Iurdian, Priest.
Edmund Crokel, Priest.
Thomas Whitehead, Priest.
William Taylour, Priest.
Anselme Sele, Priest.
Richard Slauie, Priest maryed.
Edward Hawes, Priest maried.
Robert Aston, Priest depriued.
Henry Tecka, Priest depriued.
Rob. Mossey, priest maried & depriued.
Beside these were diuers other, which in like sort were detected,The names of them which were troubled there, and bare no fagottes. accused, and examined, although they bare no fagot, but were dimissed, as Richard Kempe, Iohn Frankling, William Marler, Ielius Dudley, Eustache Bysacre, William Shene, Antonie Afterwittel, Tho. Steilbe, Henry Birdlim, William Mosley, Iohn Leeche, Iohn Richardson, Anthony Iones, alias Pulton, Thom. Wilson, Thomas Lynacres, and Hugh Lynacres hys sonne, Isabel Parker, Martine Newman, William Enderby, Cicely Preston, Thomas Saulter, Ihon Stamford shomaker, Richard Woodburne, Thomas Arnall Shoomaker, Iohn Robinson, Hugh More Shoomaker, Iohn Adale, Thomas Arche, Fraunces Warde, Iohn Auines, Richard Foxal, Thomas Underdoune, Rich. Weauer.
The next monethmonth following, being October, came vnderunder examination Ioyce Lewes gentlewoman,Ioice Lewes Martyr, read hereafter. of whome we deferre to speake vntil the next yeare, at what time she was burned?
These forenamed persones with many moe folowing in the next yeare after, although they did subscribe and relent through feare of death: yet for thys cause I doe heere recite them, that by them it myght appeare, what a number there were, not onelyonly in the countrey of Lichfield, but also in other parties in heart set against the Popes procedings, if that feare rather then conscience had not compelled them to the contrary.