At the hearing whereof they drew out their faith, and set to their Mary. hands as hereafter followeth, and directed the same to their friends and the faithful congregation, as followeth.

A Letter or Apology of the Martyrs, purging themselves of the false Slander of Master Fecknam.

Unto all our dearly beloved friends, and the holy congregation of Jesus Christ, even so many as love God, grace be with you, and peace from God our Father, and from our Lord Jesus Christ. So be it.

Be it manifest to all by whom this our certificate shall be seen, that whereas upon Sunday, being the 13th day of June, at Fulham, before the bishop of London, sixteen of us (whose names hereunder are subscribed) were condemned to die for the most pure and sincere truth of Christ's verity; which most godly truth hath been from the beginning with the wicked adversaries thereof continually defaced, and is by the devil and his imps even at this present likewise daily slandered: upon this occasion, dearly beloved brethren, we are moved, yea constrained, in the ears of all men to manifest our belief, and also briefly the articles whereof we are condemned, for the avoiding of false reports and slanderous tongues, which might happen by the most ungodly and uncharitable sermon lately preached at Paul's Cross, the 14th of the said month, being Sunday, by master Fecknam, now dean of the same church; where he in that most worthy audience defamed us to be in sixteen sundry opinions, which were a thing prejudicial to all christian verity; and for a testimonial thereof, this hereunder written shall answer our cause: and therefore we pray you that are of God to judge.

A. D. 1556.

ment in

The first: We believe we were baptized in the faith of Christ's church, and Uniform incorporate unto him, and made members of his church, in the which faith we agree-, continue. And although we have erred for a certain time, yet the root of faith their was preserved in us by the Holy Ghost, which hath reduced us into a full faith. certainty of the same; and we do persist, and will, by God's assistance, to the

end.

their

Now mark, that although the minister were of the church malignant, yet his The prowickedness did not hurt us, for that he baptized us in the name of the Father, fession of the Son, and the Holy Ghost. There was both the word and the element, and baptism. our godfathers and godmothers renouncing for us the devil and all his works, and confessing the articles of the christian faith for us, and also witnesses that we are baptized, not in the faith of the church of Rome, but in the faith of Christ's church.

the

1. Item, There are but two sacraments in Christ's church, that is, the sacra- Sacrament of baptism, and the Lord's Supper. For in these are contained the faith ment of of Christ's church; that is, the two testaments, the law and the gospel. The church. effect of the law is repentance, and the effect of the gospel remission of sins.

visible

2. Item, We believe that there is a visible church, wherein the word of God The is preached, and the holy sacraments truly ministered, visible to the wicked church.

aliisque sententiis, censuris, et pœnis, quavis hæreticæ pravitatis occasione, à jure vel ab homine, etiam per sententiam definitivam (legitimis desuper prius formatis processibus), specialiter et expressè latis vel promulgatis, etsi per plures annos in eis insordueritis, in utroque conscientiæ suæ et contentioso foro, plenariè (ita ut super hujusmodi criminibus, peccatis, et excessibus etiam, de quibus ut præfertur inquisiti, convicti, et condemnati estis, nullo modo puniri, inquietari, seu molestari possitis) absolvimus et liberamus, ac ecclesiæ unitati ac aliorum Christi fidelium consortio aggregamus, ac omnem inhabilitatis et infamiæ maculam, ex præmissis circa vos quomodolibet insurgentem, penitus et omnino tollimus et abolemus, vosque in pristinum, et eum in quo ante præmissa quomodolibet eratis, statum restituimus, reponimus, et redintegramus; præmissis, ac regulâ de insordescentibus editâ, ac quibusvis aliis constitutionibus et ordinationibus apostolicis, cæterisque non obstantibus quibuscunque. Volumus autem ut omnem eam pœnitentiam et alia pro præmissis, per nos, seu alium vel alios à nobis ad hoc diligendos, vobis et cuilibet vestrum injungenda, quæ vos subituros expressè professi estis et promisistis, cum effectu adimplere omnino teneamini, aliique præsentes vobis nullatenus suffragentur. Datum in palatio regio, apud sanctum Jacobum prope Westmonasterium, anno à nativitate Domini millesimo, quingentesimo, quinquagesimo sexto, quinto nonas Julii, pontificatûs sanctissimi in Christo patris et domini nostri, domini Pauli, divinâ providentiâ papæ iv., anno 2.

Re. Cardinalis Polus,
Legatus.

M. Antonius Faita, secretarius
D. Lampsonus. a

(a) See Edition 1563, page 1525.-ED.

Mary.

A.D.

1556.

The see

world, although it be not credited, and by the death of saints confirmed, as it was in the time of Elias the prophet, as well as now.

3. The see of Rome is the see of Antichrist, the congregation of the wicked, etc., whereof the pope is head, under the devil.

4. Item, The mass is not only a profanation of the Lord's Supper, but also a of Rome. blasphemous idol.

Themass.

Transubstantiation denied.

Marrying

punished.

5. Item, God is neither spiritually nor corporally in the sacrament of the altar, and there remaineth no substance in the same, but only the substance of bread and wine.

For these the articles of our belief, we being condemned to die, do willingly offer our corruptible bodies to be dissolved in the fire, all with one voice assenting and consenting thereunto, and in no one point dissenting or disagreeing from any of our former articles.

Apparent also let it be and known, that being of the former articles before the bloody bishop examined the said day and time, we affirmed to believe all that he or they would approve by the Scriptures. But he said that he would not stand to prove it with heretics, but said they themselves were the holy church, and that we ought to believe them, or else to be cut off like withered branches.

Their names subscribed to the same.

Trouble and Business in the Diocese of Lichfield.

In the diocese of Lichfield, about the 14th of June, in the same year, John Colstock, who was lately come from London before, and now dwelling at Wellington, though he suffered no martyrdom, yet sustained some trouble, being attached and examined by the bishop, named Ralph Banes, for his religion, especially for two points; in holding against the reality of Christ in the sacrament, and against auricular confession to be made to the priest. For the which cause being compelled to recant, he was enjoined in the church of St. Cedde to bear a faggot before the cross, bare-headed, having in the one hand a taper, and in the other a pair of beads, etc.

Amongst divers others which in the same diocese, and the same time were suspected and troubled for the like, was Thomas Flier of Uttoxeter, shoemaker, Nicholas Ball of Uttoxeter, capper, Thomas Pyot of Cheadle.

Item, Henry Crimes for marrying his wife on Palm-Sunday even, in Lent etc. Some others also there were which had the like penance enjoined Johnson them, as Thomas Johnson about the 26th day of this month of June, for swear- because he sware by the holy mass before the bishop sitting in judgholy inass ment; who for the same was driven to go before the cross with his taper and beads, etc.

ing by the

did pen

ance.

Concerning the which Thomas Flier above named, being a godly and a zealous man, this furthermore is to be noted, and not unworthy of grateful memory, that whereas in the town of Uttoxeter, commandment was directed unto him amongst others from the ordinary, for pulling down monuments of superstition, and namely the roodloft; he, being one of the churchwardens or sidemen, on a time had talk upon the same with certain of his neighbours, where one wished

(1) Thirteen of these were martyrs, as is before said.

slain in

them ill to chieve, that should go about such an act. What words Mary. passed else amongst them, ministering matter of further provocation, A. D. it is not perfectly known. In fine, the said Flier being offended, and 1556. afterward meeting with him that had used such words before, began Thomas to commune with him of the matter; but in the end the man so little Flier repented him of those sayings, that he added yet more fierce words, God's and at length strokes also, in such wise, that at that conflict the said quarrel. Thomas Flier was slain; and yet so was the matter handled, and such amends were made with money by the murderer and his friends, to the said Flier's wife, that he suffered little or nothing for the same, save only that he was banished the town, and sworn and bound never to come in it so long as the said Flier's wife should live.

THREE MEN DEAD IN THE PRISON OF THE KING'S BENCH.

After the burning of these in Stratford, the same month died in the prison of the King's Bench in Southwark, one Thomas Parret, and was buried in the postern, the 27th day of the month abovesaid. Also Martin Hunt (as is reported) in the same prison was famished the 29th day: at which time likewise died in the same prison, as I find recorded, one John Norice; and after the same sort as the other, was buried on the back-side of the said prison, the day above mentioned.

The Story of Roger Bernard, Adam Foster, and Robert Lawson,
three Martyrs, suffering at St. Edmund's Bury,

WITH TWO EXAMINATIONS OF BERNARD BEFORE DR. HOPTON,
BISHOP OF NORWICH.

After the death of the aforesaid Thomas Parret, Martin Hunt, and John Norice, were three martyred at St. Edmund's Bury, in Suffolk, in one fire, whose names are above specified.

ROGER BERNARD.

first exa

When Roger Bernard came before the bishop, first he was asked Bernard's whether he had been with the priest at Easter to be shriven, and mination. whether he had received the blessed sacrament of the altar, or no? Unto whom Roger Bernard answered, "No, I have not been with He refuthe priest, nor confessed myself unto him; but I have confessed my cular consins to Almighty God, and I trust he hath forgiven me wherefore fession. I shall not need to go to the priest for such matters, who cannot help himself."

Bishop::-"Surely, Bernard, thou must needs go, and confess thyself unto him."

Roger:-"That shall I not do (by God's grace) while I live."

Bishop:- "What a stout boyly heretic is this! How malapertly he an

swereth!"

Roger:-" My lord, it grieveth me no whit (I thank God) to be called heretic at your hands: for so your forefathers called the prophets and confessors of Christ, long before this time."

At these words the bishop rose up in a great heat, and bade Bernard follow him. Then the bishop went and kneeled before that they call the sacrament of the altar; and as he was in his prayers

seth auri

A. D.

Mary. kneeling, he looked back, and asked Bernard why he came not, and did not as he did. Unto whom Bernard answered, "I cannot tell 1556. why I should so do." "Why," quoth the bishop, "thou lewd fellow, whom seest thou yonder ?" pointing to the pix over the altar.

Another

Roger:-" I see no body there. Do you, my lord?"

Bishop:-"Why, naughty man, dost thou not see thy Maker?"

Roger:-"My Maker! No, I see nothing but a few clouts hanging together on a heap."

With that the bishop rose up sore displeased, and commanded the jailer to take him away, and to lay irons enough on him: "for," quoth he, "I will tame him ere he go from me, I trow so:" and so he was carried away.

The next day Bernard was brought again before the bishop, who examina asked him if he did not remember himself since the day before, that he was before him.

tion.

One of

taketh

Roger:-"Yes, my lord, I have_remembered myself very well; for the same man I was yesterday, I am this day, and I hope shall be all the days of my life, concerning the matter you talked with me of."

Then one of the guard standing by, said, " My lord, I pray you the guard trouble not yourself any more with him, but let me have the examiBernard ning of him: I shall handle him after another sort, I trow, and make to school. him a fair child ere he go, you shall see."

A wholesome

company

pillars.

So he was committed to him, and brought by him to an inn, where were a great many of priests assembled together, and there they fell of cater all in flattering him, and persuading him with gay enticing words what they could. But when therein they might not prevail, for that the Lord assisted the good poor man, then began they to threaten him with whipping, stocking, burning, and such like, that it was wonderful the do they made with him. Unto whom Bernard said, "Friends, I am not better than my Master Christ and the prophets, which your fathers served after such sort; and I for his name's sake am content to suffer the like at your hands, if God shall so permit, trusting that he will strengthen me in the same according to his proBernard mise, in spite of the devil and all his ministers." So when they could ed by the not make him to relent or yield, they said, "Behold a right scholar bishop of of John Fortune;" whom they had then in prison. Then carried they him to the bishop, who immediately condemned him as a heretic, and delivered him to the secular power.

condemn

Norwich.

June 30.

This Roger Bernard was a single man; and by his vocation a labourer, dwelling in Framsden in Suffolk, who was taken in the night by master Tamage's men, because he would not go to church to hear their unsavoury service, and so by them carried to prison.

ADAM FOSTER.

Adam Foster, of the age six-and-twenty years, husbandman, being married, dwelling in Mendlesham in the county of Suffolk, was taken at home in his house a little before the sun going down by the conPersecu- stables of the said town, George Revet and Thomas Mouse, at the commandment of sir John Tyrrel of Gipping-hall in Suffolk, knight,

tors.

(1) Note the catholic charity of this prelate.