Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 11 · Account 2 – Letter
The burning of Steuen Harwood, and Thomas Fust, martyred for the testimonie of the Gospel.
ABout this time died also (by cruell fire) these two martyrs of God,Steuen Harwood Thomas Fust Martyrs. yt is to saye, Steuen Harwoode, at Stratford, and Thomas Fust, at Ware. Which both two, as they were about one time burned with the fore mētioned Robert Smith and George Tankerfield, although in sundry places: so were they also examined and openly cōdemned togethers wyth them. Their processe because it was ioyned all in one with the processe of Robert Smith & other of the said company aboue mentioned, I thought it superfluous againe to repeate the same: saue that of Thomas Fust this is to be added, that where as he in his last appering the 12. of Iuly, was mooued by the Byshop to reuoke his opinion,The auns…ere of Thomas Fust to Byshop Boner. thus he answered: No (said he) my Lorde, for there is no truth commeth out of your mouth, but all lyes. Yee condemne men, and will not heare the truthe. Where can ye finde any annoynting or greasing in Gods booke? I speake nothing but the truthe, and I am certaine that it is the truthe that I speake. This answere of hym onelyonly I finde noted by the Register: although howe slenderly these Registrers hauehave dealt in vttering such matters, that is, in omitting those thinges which moste woorthy were to be knowen,The condē nation and Martyrdome of Steuen Harwood and Tho. Fust. Anno. 1555. August. by their doings it is easie to be seene. But to be short, after their answeres made, both he & Thomas Fust were for their faithfull perseuerance condemned together by the Bishop in his accustomed pitie, as heretikes to be burned, and so (as before ye hauehave heard) finished they their martyrdom, the one at Stratford, and the other at Ware, in the monethmonth of August and yere abouesayd.
The constant Martyrdome of William Haile, burned at Barnet.
William Haile Martyr.OF the same companie of these x. aboue recorded, whych were sent vp to Byshop Boner, by sir Nicholas Hare and other Commissioners, in the companie of George Tankerfielde and Roberte Smith, was also Willyam Hayle of Thorpe in the Countie of Essex, who lykewise being examined with the rest, the 12. day of Iuly, receiued with them also the sentence of cōdemnation. Geuing thys exhortation with al to the lookers on: Ah good people, sayd he, beware of this Idolatrer, and thys Antichriste, poynting
The martyrdome of VVilliam Haile▪
Th… Martyrdome of Williā Haile at Barnet about the ende of August. Anno. 1555.vntounto the Bishop of London,Hailes wordes to the people. Ex Regist. and so was he deliuered to the Sheriffes as an heretique to be burned, who sente him to Barnet, where, about the latter ende of August, hee moste constantly sealed vp his faith with the consuming of his bodye by cruell fire, yeelding hys soule vntounto the Lorde Iesus his onelyonly and most sure redeemer.
George King, Thomas Leyes, Iohn VVade, sickened in prisone, and were buried in the fieldes.
YEe hearde before of ten sundry personnes sent oute of Newgate by Maister Hare and other Commissioners, to be examined of Boner Bishoppe of London.3. Martyrs sickened in prison & buryed in the fieldes. Of whome sixe already hauehave bene executed in seuerall places, as hathe beene shewed: whose names were Elizabeth Warne, George Tankerfielde, Robert Smith, Steuen Harwoode, Thomas Fust, and William Haile.George King, Thomas Leyes▪ Iohn Wade, Martyrs. Other three, to witte, George King, Thomas Leyes, and Iohn Wade sickening in Lollardes Tower, were so weake that they were remooued into sundry houses wythin the Citie of London, and there departed, and cast out into ye fieldes, and there buryed by nighte of the faithfull brethren,The story of Ioane Layshford hereafter followeth among the Martyrs of the next yeare. when none in the day durste doe it, propter metum Iudaeorum. The last that remained of thys foresayde company, was Ioane Layshe or Layshforde, the Daughter in lawe to Iohn Warne and Elizabeth Warne Martyrs, but because shee was reprieued to a longer day, her storie and Martyrdom we will deferre till the monethmonth of Ianuarie the next yeare following.
William Andrewe.
THe like catholike charitie was also shewed vponupon William Andrew of Horsley in the Countie of Essex Carpenter,William Andrew buryed in the fieldes. who was brought to Newgate the firste day of Aprill 1555. by Iohn Motham Constable of Mauldon in Essex. The first and principall promoter of hym was the Lorde Riche, who sent him first to prisone.The L. Rich the first sender vp of W. Andrew. An other great doer against him also seemeth to be sir Richard Southwel Knighte, by a letter wrytten by him to Boner, as by the copie heereof appeareth.
A letter sent to Boner Bishop of London, from sir Richard Southwel knight.
PLeaseth it your Lordship to vnderstand, that the Lord Rich did about seuen or eight weekes past,A letter of Syr Richard Southwell to Bishop Boner. send vppe vntounto the Counsaile, one Wil. Andrew of Thorpe within the Countie of Essex, an arrogant heretike. Their pleasure was to commaund me to commit him vntounto Newgate where he remaineth, and as I am infourmed, hathe infected a noumber in the prisone wyth hys heresie. Your Lordshippe shall doe verye well (if it please you) to conuent him before you, and to take order with him, as his case doth require. I knowe the Counsaile meant to hauehave wrytte heerein
❧The picture describing the straight handling of the cloase prisonners in Lollardes Tower.
vntounto your Lordship, but by occasion of other businesse the thing hath bene omitted. Wherfore knowing their good pleasure, I did aduise the keeper of Newgate to waite vponupon you with these fewe lines. And so referring the rest to your vertuous consideration, I remaine your good Lordships to cōmaund, this 12. of Iune. 1555.
Richard Southwel.
W. Andrew twise before B. Boner. W. Andrew through strayte handling dyed in Newgate. W. Andrew buryed in the fieldes.Thys William Andrewe being twise broughte before Boner to examination, there manfully stode in the defence of hys Religion. At length through straite handlynge in the Prison of Newgate, there he lost his life, which els hys aduersaries woulde hauehave taken away by fire: and so after the popish manner he was cast out into the fielde, and by night was priuily buried by the handes of good men and faithfull brethren.