Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 12 · Account 72 – Account 73
¶The Martyrdome of two godly persons sufferyng at Ipswich for the Gospell of Christ and his euerlastyng testament, named Alexander Gouche, and Alice Driuer.
MAister Noone a iustice in Suffolk, dwelling in Martlesham,Nouemb. 4. M. Noone a persecu…r. Gouch and Alice Dry… taken at Grousborough. G…uch and Alice Dry… caryed to Melton Ga…le. Q Mary called Iesabell. Alice Dry… …ares …, for … Q. Mary to Ie…ell. huntyng after good men to apprehend them (as he was a bloudy tyraunt in the dayes of triall) at the length had vnderstanding of one Gouche of Woodbridge, & Driuers wyfe of Grosborough, to bee at Grosborough together, a little from his house, immediately tooke his mē with hym and went thether, and made diligent search for them, where the poore man and woman were compelled to step into an hay golph to hide themselues frō their cruelty. At the last they came to search the hay for them, and by gaging thereof with pitchforkes, at the last found them: so they tooke them & led them to Melton Gaole, where, they remainyng a tyme, at the length were caried to Bury, against the Assise at S. Iames tide, and beyng there examined of matters of fayth, did boldly stand to confesse Christ crucified, defiyng the Pope with all his papisticall trashe. And among other thyngs Driuers wife likened Queene Mary in her persecution, to Iezabell, and so in that sense callyng her Iezabel, for that sir Clement Higham beyng chiefe Iudge there, adiudged her eares immediately to be cut off, which was accomplished accordingly, and she ioyfully yelded her selfe to the punishment, and thought her selfe happy that she was coūted worthy to suffer any thing for the name of Christ.
After the Assise at Bury, they were caried to Melton Gaole agayne, where they remained a tyme. This Alexā der Gouch was a man of the age of 36. yeares or thereabouts,Alexander Gouch. and by his occupation was a Weauer of shredding Couerlets, dwellyng at Woodbridge in Suffolke, & borne at Ufford in the same Countie. Driuers wife was a woman about the age of 30. yeares, & dwelt at Grosborough where they were taken, in Suffolke. Her husband did vse husbandry.Gouch and Alice Dryuer caryed … …pswich. These two were caried from Melton Gaole to Ipswich, where they remayned & were examined. The which their examination, as it came to our hands, hereafter followeth.
The examination of Driuers wyfe, before Doct. Spenser the Chauncellor of Norwich.
FIrst, she comming into the place where she should bee examined,D. Spenser after the death of D. D…nning who dyed sodenly in Lincolne…ire, was Chauncell…r vnderunder B…hop Hopton. with a smiling countenance. Doct. Spenser said: Why woman, doest thou laugh vsus to scorne?
Driuers wyfe.
Whether I do, or no, I might well enough, to see what fooles ye be.
Doct. Spenser.
Then the Chauncellour asked her wherfore she was brought before hym, and why she was layed in prison.
Dry.
Wherefore? I thinke I neede not to tell you: for ye know it better then I.
Spens.
No by my troth woman, I know not why.
Dry.
Then hauehave ye done me muche wrong (quoth shee) thus to imprison me, and know no cause why: for I know no euill that I hauehave done, I thank God, and I hope there is no man that can accuse me of any notorious fact that I hauehave done, iustly.
Spenser.
Woman, woman, what sayest thou to the blessed Sacrament of the aultar?Sacrament of the Aultar. Doest thou not beleeue that it is very flesh and bloud, after the words be spoken of consecration?
Driuers wife at those words helde her peace, & made no answer. Then a great chuffeheaded priest that stood by, spake, and asked her why shee made not the Chauncellour an aunswere. With that, the sayd Driuers wyfe looked vponupon hym austerely, and sayde: Why Priest, I come not to talke with thee, but I come to talke with thy Maister:A farre Pr…est put to …. but if thou wilt I shall talke with thee, commaunde thy Maister to holde his peace. And with that the Priest put his nose in hys cappe, and spake neuer a worde more. Then the Chauncellor bade her make aunswere to that he demaunded of her.
Dry.
Sir (sayd she) pardon me though I make no aunswer, for I cannot tell what you meane thereby: for in all my lyfe I neuer heard nor read of any such Sacrament in all the Scripture.
Spens.
Why, what scriptures hauehave you read, I pray you.
Dry.
I hauehave (I thanke God) read Gods booke.
Spens.
Why, what maner of Booke is that you call Gods booke?
Dry.
It is the old and new Testament. What call you it?
Spens.
That is Gods booke in deed, I cannot deny.
Dry.
That same booke hauehave I read thoroughout,No Sacrament of the Aultar to be found in Gods booke. but yet neuer could find any such sacrament there: & for that cause I cannot make you aunswer to that thing I knowe not. Notwithstanding, for all that, I will grant you a Sacrament, called the Lords supper: and therfore seyng I hauehave graunted you a Sacrament, I pray you shew me what a sacrament is.
Spens.
It is a signe. And one D. Gascoine beyng by, confirmed the same, that it was the signe of an holy thing.D. Gascoyne persecutour. What a Sacrament is.
Dry.
You hauehave sayd the truth sir, sayd she. It is a signe in deede, I must needes graunt it: and therefore seyng it is a signe, it cannot be the thyng signified also. Thus farre we do agree: for I hauehave graunted your owne saying. Then stoode vp the sayd Gascoine, and made an Oration wyth many fayre wordes, but little to purpose, both offensiue & odious to the myndes of the godly. In the ende of which long tale,D. Gascoynes Oration little to purpose. he asked her if shee did not beleeue the omnipotencie of God, and that he was almighty, and able to performe that he spake. She answered, yes, and said: I do beleeue that God is almighty, and able to performe that hee spake and promised.
Gasc.
Uery well. Then he sayd to his disciples: Take, eate, this is my body: Ergo, it was his body.Talke betweene Alyce Dryuer & D. Gascoyne. For he was able to performe that he spake, and God vseth not to lye.
Dry.
I pray you did he euer make any such promise to his disciples, that he would make the bread his body?
Gasc.
Those be the wordes. Can you deny it?
Dry.
No, they be the very wordes in deed, I cannot deny it: but I pray you, was it not breade that hee gaue vntounto them?
Gasc.
No, it was his body.
Dry.
Then was it his body that they did eat ouer night.
Gasc.
Yea, it was his body.
Dry.
What body was it then that was crucified the nexte day?
Gasc.
It was Christes body.
Dry.
How could that be,If Christ had but one body, & that body was eaten vp ouer night, what body then was crucified the next day? Luce. 22. 1. Cor. 11. when his disciples had eaten him vp ouer night? except he had two bodies, as by your argument he had: one they did eate ouer night, and another was crucified the next day. Such a Doctor, such doctrine. Be you not ashamed to teach the people, that Christ had two bodies? In the 22. of Luke, He tooke bread, and brake it, and gaue it to his disciples, saying: Take, &c. and do this in the remembraunce of me. Saint Paule also sayeth, 1. Cor. 11. Do this in the remembraunce of me: for as often as ye shall eate this bread, and drinke this cup, ye shall shewe the Lordes death till he come: and therefore I meruaile ye blushe not before all this people, to lye so manifestly as ye doe. With that Gascoine held his peace, & made her no answer: for,Gascoynes mouth stopped. as it seemed, he was ashamed of his doyngs. Then the Chancellor lift vp his hed of from his cushion, and commanded the Gaoler to take her away.
Dry.
Now, sayd she, ye be not able to resist the truth, ye cō maund me to prison agayne. Well,The Chauncellour when he could not aunswere her with reason, sendeth her to prison. the Lord in the end shal iudge our cause, and to hym I leaue it. Iwisse, iwisse, this geare will go for no payment then. So went she with the Gaoler away.
The second examination of Alice Dryuer.
THe next day she came before them agayne, & the Chancellor then asked her,An other examination of Alice Dryuer before D. Spenser, and Gascoyne. what she said to the blessed sacrament of the aulter.
Dry.
I will say nothing to it: for you will neither beleeue me nor your selues. For yesterday I asked you what a sacrament was, and you sayde, it was a signe, and I agreed therto, & sayd, it was the truth, confirming it by the scriptures, so that I went not from your owne words:Spenser vp with his Sacrament of the Aultar agayne. & now ye come and aske me agayne of such a sacrament as I told you I neuer red of in the scriptures.
Spens.
Thou lyest naughty woman, we did not say that it was a signe.
Dry.
Why maisters be ye not the mē that you were yesterday? will ye eat your owne wordes? Are ye not ashamed to lie before all this multitude here present, who heard you speake the same?
Then stoode vp D. Gascoine & said, she was deceyued: for there were three churches: the malignant church, the church militant, and the church triumphāt. So he would …ame hauehave made matter, but he could not tell which way.
Dry.
Sir, is there mention made of so many Churches in the scripture?
Gasc.
Gascoyne agayn t…keth …he m…tter in hand. Thr…e Churches.Yea.
Dry.
I pray you where find you this word (Church) written in the scripture?
Gasc.
It is written in the new Testament.
Dry
I pray you sir shew the place where it is written.
Gasc.
I cannot tell the place, but there it is. With that she desired him to looke in his Testament. Then he fombled & sought about him for one: but at that tyme he had none & that he knew well enough, though he seemed to search for it. At the last she said: HaueHave ye none here sir?
Gasc.
No.
D…y.
I thought so much in deede, that ye were little acquainted withall. Surely, you be a good Doctor. You say you sit here to iudge accordyng to the law,Gascoyne little acquainted with th… new Testamens. and howe can you geue iudgement, & hauehave not the booke of the law with you? At which words Gascoine was out of countenance, and asked her if she had one.
Dry.
No, sayd she.
Gasc.
Then sayd he, I am as good a doctor as you.
Dry.
Well sir, I had one, but you tooke it from me (as you would take me from Christ, if you could) and since would ye not suffer me to hauehave any booke at all: so burnyng is your charitie.The Papistes put to silence by a simple woman. But you may well know (I thanke God) that I hauehave exercised the same: Els could I not hauehave answered you (to Gods glory be it spokē) as I hauehave. Thus she put them all to silence, that one looked on another, and had not a word to speake.
Dry.
HaueHave you no more to say? God be honoured. You bee not able to resist the spirit of God in me a poore woman, I was an honest poore mans daughter, neuer brought vp in the vniuersitie as you hauehave bene,Alice Driuer brought vp at her fathers plough. but I hauehave driuen the plough before my father many a tyme (I thanke God:) yet notwithstandyng in the defence of Gods truth, and in the cause of my maister Christ, by his grace I will set my foote against the foote of any of you all, in the maintenance and defence of the same, and if I had a thousand lyues, it would go for payment thereof.Spencer readeth sentence agaynst Alice Driuer. So the Chancellour rose vp, and red the sentence in Latine of condemnation, and committed her to the secular power, & so went she to prison agayne, as ioyful as the bird of day, praysing and glorifiyng the name of God.
¶Alexander Gouche, Martyr.
AT which tyme Alexander Gouch also was examined, who was taken with her, as before is said, whose examination here after followeth.
This Alexander Gouch was examined chiefly of the Sacrament & other ceremonies of the popish church.The articles whereupon Gouch was condemned. The Martyrdome of Gouch and …lice Dryuer at Ipswich. A…no. 15…8▪ Nouember. 4. And as for that his beliefe was, that Christ was ascended into heauen, and there remayneth, & that the Sacrament was the remembraunce of his death and passion, and for refusing the Masse, and the Pope to be supreme hed of Christs Church, for these causes was he condemned, & died with Alice Dryuer at Ipswich, the 4. of Nouember which was the Monday after All Saintes, 1558. D. Myles, Spenser beyng Chancellor, they both endyng their lyues with earnest zeale, nothing fearyng to speake their conscience whē they were commaunded to the contrary.
These two godly personnes beyng come to the place where the stake was set by 7. of the clocke in the morning,Gouch & Alice Dryuer brought to the stake. notwithstandyng they came the selfe same mornyng from Melton Gaole, which is vj. myles from Ipswich, beyng in their prayers, and singyng of Psalmes both of them together, Sir Henry Dowell then beyng Shiriffe, was very much offended with them, and wylled the Bailiffes of Ipswich to bidde them make an ende of their Prayers, they kneelyng vponupon a broome fagot, one of the Bailiffes, whose name was Richard Smart, commaunded them to make an ende, saying: On, on, hauehave done, hauehave done: make an ende, nayle them to the stake, yet they continued in prayer.
Then sir Henry sent one of his men, whose name is Rich. Coue, that they should make an end.
The Martyrs not suffered to pray.Then Gouch stood vp, and sayd vntounto the Shiriffe: I pray you M. Shirife let vsus pray a litle while, for we hauehave but a little tyme to lyue here.
Then said the Bailife: Come of, hauehave them to the fire.
Then the sayd Gouch and Alice Driuer sayde: Why M. Shiriffe, and M. Bayliffe, wyll you not suffer vsus to pray?
Away, said sir Henry, to the stake with them.
Gouch answered: Take heed M. shiriffe. If you forbid praier, the vengeance of God hangeth ouer your heds.
The Martyrdome of Alexander Gouch, and Driuers wyfe.
Then they beyng tied to the stake, and the iron chaine b… yng put about Alice Driuers necke: O (said she) here is a goodly neckerchiefe, blessed be God for it.
Then diuers came & tooke them by the handes as they were bound standing at the stake. The shiriffe cryed, laye hands on them, lay hands on them. With that a great nū ber ran to the stake. The shirife seyng that, let them all alone, so that there was not one taken.
There was one Bate a Barbour, a busie doer about thē, who hauing thē a freese gowne vponupon hym, sold it immediately: saying, it stunke of heretikes,Bate a rayling persesecut…u…. Example of God… iu…gment vponupon persecutors. with other foule wordes moe. After this, within three or foure weekes, Gods hand was vponupon hym, and so he dyed very miserably in Ipswich.
The Martyrdome of three which were burned at Bury, for the true testimony of Iesus Christ.
ALthough our history hasteth apace (the Lord be praysed) to the happy death of Queene Mary,The Martyrdome of 3. good men at Bury. yet she died not so soone, but some there were burned before, and moe should hauehave bene burnt soone after them, if Gods prouision had not preuented her with death. In the number of them which suffred the same month when Queene Mary died, were three that were burned at Bury, whose names were these:
Phillip Humfrey.
Iohn Dauid.
Henry Dauid, his brother.
Concernyng the burnyng of these three,Syr Clemēt Higham persecutor. here is to bee noted, that sir Clement Higham about a fortnight before the Queen died, did sue out a writ for the burning of these three aforesayd godly and blessed Martyrs, notwithstandyng that the Queene was then known to be past remedie of her sicknesse.