sal.

Mary. cry, "I recant." And suddenly therewith he thrust the fire from A.D. him; and having two or three of his friends by, that wished his life, 1558. they stept to the fire, and helped to take it from him also; who for Sir Rich- their labour were sent to prison. The sheriff also of his own authoard Peck-rity took him from the stake, and sent him to prison again, for the which he was sent unto the Fleet, and there lay a certain time. But before he was taken from the stake, the said Seaton wrote articles to have him to subscribe unto them, as touching the pope, the sacrament, and such other trash. But the said master Benbridge made much ado ere he would subscribe them, insomuch that Dr. Seaton willed them to set to fire again. Then with much pain and grief of heart he subscribed to them upon a man's back. That being done, he had his gown given him again, and so was led to prison. Being in prison he wrote a letter to Dr. Seaton, and recanted those words his recan- he spake at the stake, unto which he had subscribed; for he was grieved that ever he did subscribe unto them. Whereupon expressing his conscience, he was, the same day seven-night after, burnt indeed, where the vile tormentors did rather broil him than burn him. The Lord give his enemies repentance!

Ben

bridge repenteth

tation.

The unjust Execution and Martyrdom of Four, burnt at
St. Edmund's Burp.

In this year aforesaid, which was the last of queen Mary's reign, Dr. Hopton being bishop of Norwich, and Dr. Spenser bearing the room of his chancellor, about St. James's tide, at St. Edmund's Bury, Martyrs. were wrongfully put to death four christian martyrs, to wit, John Cooke, a sawyer; Robert Miles, alias Plummer, a shearman; Alexander Lane, a wheelwright; and James Ashley, bachelor.

Sir Edward

Wal

grave,

persecutor. Examination

of John Cooke.

Exami-
nation of
Robert
Miles.

Exami

The examination of these forenamed persons, being severally called before the bishop of Norwich, and sir Edward Walgrave, with others, was partly upon these articles following.

First, sir Edward Walgrave called John Cooke to him, and said, "How fortuneth it, that you go not to church?"

John Cooke said, "I have been there."

Sir Edward said, "What is the cause that you go not thither now, in these days?"

John Cooke said, "Because the sacrament of the altar is an abominable idol, and," saith he, "the vengeance of God will come upon all them that do maintain it."

Sir Edward said, “O thou rank traitor! if I had as good commission to cut out thy tongue, as I have to sit here this day, thou shouldst be sure to have it cut out."

Then commanded he the constable to have him away, saying, he was both a traitor and a rebel.

Then he called Robert Miles, and said, "How fortuneth it, that you go not to the church?"

Robert Miles answered, "Because I will follow no false gods."

Then said the bishop, "Who told thee that it is a god?"

Then said Miles, "Even you, and such as you are."

Then the bishop commanded him aside, and to appear before him the next day.

Then he called Alexander Lane before him, and asked him, how it chanced,

nation of that he would not go to the church?

Alexan

der Lane.

He said, that his conscience would not serve him so to do.

Then sir Edward said, "How dost thou believe?"

Then said Lane, "Even as it is written in God's book."

Then sir Edward commanded him to say his belief.

Then the said Lane being somewhat abashed, said his belief to these words, which he missed unawares, "Born of the virgin Mary."

Then sir Edward said, "What! was he not born of the virgin Mary?" "Yes," said Lane, "I would have said so."

Nay," said sir Edward, "you are one of Cooke's scholars!" And so commanded him away, and to come before him the next day.

Mary.

A. D.

1558.

ation of

After the like manner they passed also with James Ashley, whom they Examinwarned the next day likewise to appear before them again. So in fine they, James appearing again, had their condemnation. And thus these four blessed martyrs Ashley. and servants of Christ innocently suffered together at St. Edmund's Bury, as is aforesaid, about the beginning of August, not long before the sickness of queen Mary.

The Martyrdom of Alexander Gouch and Alice Driver,

TWO GODLY PERSONS SUFFERING AT IPSWICH FOR THE GOSPEL
OF CHRIST, AND HIS EVERLASTING TESTAMENT.

Master

cutor.

and Alice

Grundis

carried to

Alice Dri

Master Noone, a justice in Suffolk, dwelling in Martlesham, hunt- Nov. 4. ing after good men to apprehend them (as he was a bloody tyrant in Noone a the days of trial), at the length had understanding of one Gouch of perse Woodbridge, and Driver's wife of Grundisburgh, to be at Grundisburgh together, a little from his house; and immediately took his men with him, and went thither, and made diligent search for them, where the poor man and woman were compelled to step into an haygolph, to hide themselves from their cruelty. At the last they came Gouch to search the hay for them, and by gauging thereof with pitchforks, at Driver the last found them: so they took them and led them to Melton taken at gaol, where they, remaining a time, at the length were carried to burgh and Bury, against the assize at St. James's tide; and being there exa- Melton mined of matters of faith, did boldly stand to confess Christ crucified, gaol. defying the pope with all his papistical trash. And among other things Driver's wife likened queen Mary in her persecution to Jezebel; and so in that sense calling her Jezebel, for that sir Clement ver's ears Higham, being chief judge there, adjudged her ears immediately to for likenbe cut off, which was accomplished accordingly, and she joyfully yielded herself to the punishment, and thought herself happy that Jezebel. she was counted worthy to suffer any thing for the name of Christ. After the assize at Bury, they were carried to Melton gaol again, where they remained a time. This Alexander Gouch was a man of Alex. the age of thirty-six years, or thereabouts, and by his occupation was and Alice a weaver of shredding-coverlets, dwelling at Woodbridge in Suffolk, Drived to and born at Ufford in the same county. Driver's wife was a woman Ipswich. about the age of thirty years, and dwelt at Grundisburgh, where they were taken, in Suffolk: her husband did use husbandry. These two were carried from Melton gaol to Ipswich, where they remained and were examined; the which their examination, as it came to our hands, hereafter followeth.

The Examination of Alice Driver, before Dr. Spenser1 the Chancellor of Norwich.

First, she coming into the place where she should be examined with a smiling countenance, Dr. Spenser said, " Why, woman, dost thou laugh us to

scorn?"

(1) Dr. Spenser after the death of Dr. Dunning, who died suddenly in Lincolnshire, was chancellor under Bishop Hopton.

cut off,

ing queen

Mary to

Gouch

Mary.

A. D. 1558.

Sacra

ment of the altar.

Alice" Whether I do or no, I might well enough, to see what fools ye be."

Then the chancellor asked her wherefore she was brought before him, and why she was laid in prison.1

Alice :-"Wherefore? I think I need not tell you; for ye know it better than I."

Spenser:

:-"No, by my troth, woman, I know not why."

Then have ye done me much wrong," quoth she, "thus to imprison me, and know no cause why: for I know no evil that I have done, I thank God; and I hope there is no man that can accuse me of any notorious fact that I have done, justly."

Spenser:-"Woman, woman, what sayest thou to the blessed sacrament of the altar? dost thou not believe that it is very flesh and blood, after the words be spoken of consecration?"

Driver's wife at those words held her peace, and made no answer. Then a great chuff-headed priest that stood by spake, and asked her, why she made not the chancellor an answer. With that, the said Driver's wife looked upon him austerely, and said, "Why, priest, I come not to talk with thee, but I come to talk with thy master: but, if thou wilt I shall talk with thee, command thy priest put master to hold his peace." And with that the priest put his nose in his cap, and spake never a word more. Then the chancellor bid her make answer to

A fat

to silence.

No sacra

ment of

to be

that he demanded of her.

'Sir," said she, "pardon me though I make no answer, for I cannot tell what you mean thereby for in all my life I never heard nor read of any such sacrament in all the Scripture."

Spenser:-"Why, what Scriptures have you read, I pray you?"
Alice" I have (I thank God) read God's book."

Spenser:-"Why, what manner of book is that you call God's book?"

Alice" It is the Old and New Testament. What call you it?"

Spenser :-"That is God's book indeed, I cannot deny."

Alice :-"That same book have I read throughout, but yet never could find the altar any such sacrament there; and for that cause I cannot make you answer to that thing I know not. Notwithstanding, for all that, I will grant you a sacrament, called the Lord's supper; and therefore, seeing I have granted you a sacrament, I pray you show me what a sacrament is."

found in

God's book. What a sacrament is.

Dr. Gas

coine persecutor.

Dr. Gascoine's oration

little to

Spenser:-" It is a sign." And one Dr. Gascoine, being by, confirmed the same, that it was the sign of a holy thing.

Alice :-"You have said the truth, sir," said she: "it is a sign indeed, I must needs grant it; and therefore seeing it is a sign, it cannot be the thing signified also. Thus far we do agree; for I have granted your own saying."

Then stood up the said Gascoine, and made an oration with many fair words, but little to purpose, both offensive and odious to the minds of the godly. In the end of which long tale, he asked her if she did not believe the omnipotency purpose. of God, and that he was almighty, and able to perform that he spake. She answered, "Yes," and said, "I do believe that God is almighty, and able to perform that he spake and promised."

Talk

between Alice Driver

and Dr. Gascoine.

Gascoine:-"Very well. Then he said to his disciples, Take, eat, this is my body:' ergo, it was his body. For he was able to perform that he spake, and God useth not to lie."

Alice :-"I pray you did he ever make any such promise to his disciples, that he would make the bread his body?"

Gascoine:-" Those be the words. Can you deny it?"

Alice" No, they be the very words indeed, I cannot deny it: but I pray you, was it not bread that he gave unto them?"

Gascoine :-"No, it was his body."

Alice :-"Then was it his body, that they did eat over night?"

Gascoine:-"Yea, it was his body.'

Alice :-"What body was it, then, that was crucified the next day?"
Gascoine:-" It was Christ's body."

Alice :-"How could that be, when the disciples had eaten him over night,

(1) This course of examination reminds us of the stratagems adopted in the Spanish Inquisition, the system of which was being introduced into this country in these times. Consult Eymeric "Directorium Inquisitorum" (Romæ 1587), pp. 433-436; or Puigblanch's “ Inquisition unmasked" (Lond. 1816), vol. i. p. 237; and Pegna "Praxis Inquis." lib. ii. c. 14.-ED.

Mary.

except he had two bodies, as by your argument he had?' one they did eat over 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 Luke A.D. xxii., 'He took bread and brake it to his disciples, saying, Take, etc.; and do 1558. this in remembrance of me.' St. Paul saith: 1 Cor. xi. 'Do this in remem- Gasbrance of me; for as often as ye shall eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye coine's shall show the Lord's death till he come:' and therefore I marvel you blush not before all this people, to lie so manifestly as ye do." With that Gascoine held his peace, and made her no answer; for, as it seemed, he was ashamed of his doings. Then the chancellor lift up his head off from his cushion, and commanded the gaoler to take her away.

Now," said she, "ye be not able to resist the truth, ye command me to prison again. Well, the Lord in the end shall judge our cause, and to him I leave it. I wis, I wis, this gear will go for no payment then." So went she with the gaoler away.

Another Examination before Drs. Spenser and Gascoine.

mouth

stopped.

The next day she came before them again, and the chancellor then asked Spenser her, What she said to the blessed sacrament of the altar.

up with

his sacra

again.

Alice" I will say nothing to it; for you will neither believe me nor your- ment of selves. For yesterday I asked you what a sacrament was, and you said it was a the altar sign, and I agreed thereto, and said it was the truth, confirming it by the Scriptures; so that I went not from your own words: and now ye come and ask me again of such a sacrament as I told you I never read of in the Scriptures."

Spenser:-"Thou liest, naughty woman! we did not say that it was a sign." Alice :- "Why masters, be ye not the men that you were yesterday? Will ye eat your own words? Are ye not ashamed to lie before all this multitude here present, who heard you speak the same?"

taketh

Then stood up Dr. Gascoine, and said, she was deceived; for there are three Gascoine churches the malignant church, the church militant, and the church trium- again phant. So he would fain have made matter, but he could not tell which way. the matAlice" Sir, is there mention made of so many churches in the Scripture?" ter in Gascoine ·- "Yea."

hand.

Three

Alice :-"I pray you where find you this word 'church' written in the churches. Scripture ?"

Gascoine:-" It is written in the New Testament."

Alice :-"I pray you, sir, show the place where it is written." Gascoine:-"I cannot tell the place, but there it is." With that she desired him to look in his Testament. Then he fumbled and sought about him for one: but, at that time, he had none; and that he knew well enough, though he seemed to search for it. At the last she said, "Have ye none here, sir?"

Gascoine :-"No."

quainted

Alice ::-"I thought so much indeed, that ye were little acquainted withal. Gascoine Surely, you be a good doctor. You say you sit here to judge according to the little aclaw, and how can you give judgment, and have not the book of the law with with the you?" At which words Gascoine was out of countenance, and asked her if she New Teshad one.

Alice :-"No," said she.

tament.

pists put

Then said he, "I am as good a doctor as you." Alice" Well, sir, I had one, but you took it from me (as you would take The pafrom me Christ, if you could); and since, would ye not suffer me to have any to silence book at all, so burning is your charity. But you may well know (I thank God) by a simthat I have exercised the same; else could I not have answered you (to God's ple woglory be it spoken) as I have." Thus she put them all to silence, that one looked on another, and had not a word to speak.

man.

Driver

brought

Alice" Have you no more to say? God be honoured! You be not able Alice to resist the Spirit of God in me, a poor woman. I was an honest poor man's daughter, never brought up in the university, as you have been, but I have up at her driven the plough before my father many a time (I thank God): yet notwith- father's plough. standing, in the defence of God's truth, and in the cause of my Master Christ, by his grace I will set my foot against the foot of any of you all, in the (1) If Christ had but one body, and that body was eaten up overnight, what body then was crucified the next day?

(2) The chancellor, when he could not answer her with reason, sendeth her to prison.

Mary. maintenance and defence of the same, and if I had a thousand lives, they should go for payment thereof."

A.D. 1558.

Spenser readeth

sentence

against Alice Driver.

The articles whereupon Gouch

demned.

So the chancellor rose up, and read the sentence in Latin of condemnation, and committed her to the secular power; and so went she to prison again as joyful as the bird of day, praising and glorifying the name of God.

Alexander Gouch, Martyr.

At which time Alexander Gouch also was examined, who was taken with her, as before is said, whose examination hereafter followeth.

This Alexander Gouch was examined chiefly of the sacrament and other ceremonies of the popish church; and for that his belief was, that Christ was ascended into heaven, and there remaineth, and that was con- the sacrament was the remembrance of his death and passion, and for refusing the mass, and the pope to be the supreme head of Christ's church. For these causes was he condemned, and died with Alice Driver at Ipswich, the 4th of November, which was the Monday1 after All Saints, 1558, Dr. Miles Spenser being chancellor; they both ending their lives with earnest zeal, nothing fearing to speak their conscience, when they were commanded to the contrary.

Gouch

and Alice Driver brought to the stake.

The martyrs not

These two godly persons being come to the place where the stake was set, by seven of the clock in the morning (notwithstanding they came the selfsame morning from Melton gaol, which is six miles from Ipswich), being in their prayers, and singing of psalms both of them together, sir Henry Dowell, then being sheriff, was very much offended with them, and willed the bailiffs of Ipswich to bid them make an end of their prayers (they kneeling upon a broom-faggot): one of the bailiffs, whose name was Richard Smart, commanded them to make an end, saying, "On, on, have done; make an end; nail them to the stake;" yet they continued in prayer.

Then sir Henry sent one of his men, whose name was Richard Cove, that they should make an end.

Then Gouch stood up and said unto the sheriff, "I pray you, master sheriff, let us pray a little while, for we have but a little time to live here."

Then said the bailiff, "Come off, have them to the fire." Then the said Gouch and Alice Driver said, "Why, master sheriff and master bailiff, will you not suffer us to pray ?"

"Away," said sir Henry, "to the stake with them!"

Gouch answered, "Take heed, master sheriff. If you forbid suffered prayer, the vengeance of God hangeth over your heads." Then they, to pray. being tied to the stake, and the iron chain being put about Alice Driver's neck," Oh !" said she, "here is a goodly neckerchief; blessed be God for it."

Then divers came, and took them by the hands, as they were bound, standing at the stake. The sheriff cried, "Lay hands on them, lay hands on them!" With that a great number ran to the stake. The sheriff seeing that, let them all alone, so that there was not one taken.

There was one Bate, a barber, a busy doer about them, who,

(1) "Monday," rather Saturday; for Strype gives the death of queen Mary on November the 17th, "being Friday." Memor. Chap. LX.-ED.