Acts and Monuments Volume 2 Part 2, Book 12 · Account 24
The examination of Edmund Alen.
THis Allen was a milner of the parish of Frytenden in Kent, and in a deare yere, when as many poore people were like to starue, he fed them, and solde his corne better cheape by halfe then others did:The story of Edmund Alen, with his trouble and examination before Syr Iohn Baker. and did not that only, but also fedde them with the foode of life, reading to them the scriptures, and interpreting them. This being known to the popish priests there abouts dwelling, by the procurement of them, namely of Iohn Tailor parson of Fritenden, and Thomas Henden parson of Stapleherst, he was eftsones cōplained off to the Iustices, and brought before syr Iohn Baker Knight, who first sending for them, committed both him and his wife to Ward: but not long after they were let out, I know not how, & so went ouer vntounto Calice. Whereafter that he had continued a certaine space, he began to be troubled in conscience, & there meeting wt one Iohn Web of the same parish of Fritēden,Edmund Allen went to Calice. (who was likewise fled from the tirāny of sir Iohn Baker, and parson Tailor) said vntounto him, yt he could not be in quiet there, what soeuer the cause was: for God (saide he) hadde some thing to do for him in Englād: & thus shortly he returned home again to the parish of Fritenden. Where was a cruel Priest,Edmund Allen returneth againe from Calice, and is apprehended. there Parson, called Iohn Tailor.
This parson Tailor being infourmed by his brother Sertan, that Edmund Allen the Miluer & his wife, were returned, and were not at masse time in the churche: as he was the same time in the midst of his masse, vponupon a Sonday, a little before the eleuation (as they terme it) euen almost at ye lifting vp of his Romish God, he turned him to the people in a great rage, and commanded them with all spede,Marke what a holy Masse saying was here & what a charitable religion is this. to go vntounto their house, and apprehend them, and he wold come to them wt as much hast as might be possible. Which promise he well performed. For he had not so soone made an end of Ite missa est, and the vestments of his back, but by and by he was at the house, and there laying hande of the said Alen, caused him againe to be brought to sir Ih. Baker, with a greuous complaint of his exhorting & reading the scriptures to the people, and so was he & his wife sent to Maidstone prison. Witnessed by Richard Fletcher Uicare of Crambroke, and Iohn Webbe of Fritenden.
Witnesses to the story.They were not so soone in prisone, but maister Baker immediately sent vntounto their house, certaine of his mē, Ih. Doue, Thomas Best, Thomas Linley, Perciuall Barbel, with the foresaide Iohn Tailor parson of Fritenden, and Thomas Henden Parson of Stapleherst,Iohn Doue, Tho. Best, Tho. Linsey, Perciual Barbel, persecutors. to take an inuentorie of all the goodes that were in the house. Where they found in ye bedstraw a casket locked with a padlocke, & so cutting the wist therof, opened it, and founde therein a sackecloth bagge of money, containing the summe of 13. or 14. pound, partly in gold, & partly in siluer. Which money after they had told and putte in the bagge againe, like good caruers for themselues, they caried away with them.
Besides also they found there certaine bookes, as Psalters, Bibles, and other wrytings. All which bookes, with the money, were deliuered to the foresaid Priest Thomas Henden, parson of Stapleherst, and after in the raigne of this Queene,Tho. Henden Priest persecutor. an. 5. Reg. Elisab. was by right law recouered from him againe, as in Recordes remaineth to be seene.
Thus good Edmund Allen and his wife, being maliciously accused, wrōgfully imprisoned, & cruelly spoiled and robbed of al their goods, were brought (as is aforesaid) before sir Iohn Baker the iustice, to be examined: who taū ting and reuiling him wtout all mercy and pity, asked him if those were ye fruits of his gospell, to hauehave cōuenticles to gather people together, to make conspiracies, to sow sedition and rebellion: and thus he began wt him to reason.