The degradation of B. Ridley Martyr.

D. Ridley was euer talkyng things, not pleasant to their
eares, although one or other had hym hold his peace, least
he should be caused against his wyll.
When as they came to that place where as D. Ridley
should hold the chalice and the wafer cake (called the singyng
bread) they bade hym holde the same in hys hande,
And Doct. Ridley sayd: they shal not come in my hands,
for if they do, they shall fall to the ground for all me. Then
there was one appoynted to hold them in his hand, while
Bishop Brookes red a certaine thyng in Latine; touching
the degradation of spirituall persones, accordyng to the
Popes law.
Afterward they put a booke in hys hand, and withall
red (as is before sayd) a certayne thing in Latin, the effect
therof was: We do take from you the office of preachyng
the Gospel, &c. At which wordes, D. Ridley gaue a great
sigh, lookyng vp toward heauen, saying: Oh Lorde God
forgeue them this their wickednes.
And as they put vppon hym the Masse geare, so they
began with the vppermost garment, in taking it away agayne,
reading a thyng in Latine, accordyng to the order
contayned in the sayd booke of the Popes law. Now whe~
all was taken from him sauing onely the surples left on
his backe, as they were readyng and takyng it away, D.
Ridley sayd vnto them: Lord God, what power be you
of, that you can take from a man that which he neuer had?
I was neuer singer in all my lyfe, and yet you will take
from me that which I neuer had.
So when all this their abhominable and ridiculous
degradation was ended very solemnely, D. Ridley sayde
vnto D. Brookes, haue you done? If you haue done, then
geue me leaue to talke with you a little, concernyng these
matters. Brookes answered and said: M. Ridley, we may
not talke with you, you be out of the Church, and our law
is that we may not talke with any that be out of ye church.
Then M. Ridley sayd: seeyng that you will not suffer me
to talke, neyther will vouchsafe to heare me, what remedy
but patience? I referre my cause to my heauenly Father,
who will resonne thynges that be amisse, when it shall
please hym.
At which words they would haue bene gone, but that
M. Ridley sayd: My L. I would wish that your Lordship
would vouchsafe to read ouer and peruse a litle booke
of Bertrams doyngs concernyng the Sacrament, I promise
you, you shall finde much good learnyng therein, if
you will read the same with an indifferent iudgement. D.
Brookes made no aunswer to this, but would haue bene
gone away. Then M. Ridley sayd: Oh, I perceyue that
you cannot away with this maner of talke. Well, it bootes
not, I will say no more, I wil speake of wordly affaires.
I pray you therfore (my Lord) heare me, and be a meane
to the Queenes maiestie, in the behalfe of a great many of
poore men, and especially for my poore sister and her husband,
which standeth there. They had a poore liuing gra~ted
vnto them by me, whiles I was in the Sea of London,
and the same is taken away from them, by hym that
now occupieth the same roume, without all law or conscience.
Here I haue a Supplication to the Queenes maiestie
in their behalfes. You shal heare the same red: so shal you
perceyue the matter the better. Then he red the same, and
when he came to the place in the Supplication, that touched
hys Sister by name, then he wept, so that for a little
space he could not speake for weepyng. After that hee had
left of weepyng, he sayde: This is nature that mooueth
mee. But I haue now done, and with that read out the
rest, and deliuered the same to hys Brother, commaundyng
hym to put it vp to the Queenes Maiestie, and to
sue, not onely for hymselfe, but also for suche as had any
Leases or Grauntes by hym, and were put from the same
by Doctour Boner then Byshop of London, whereunto
Brookes sayd: In deede Maister Ridley your request in
this Supplication is very lawfull and honest: therfore I
must needes in conscience speake to the Queenes Maiestie
for them.
Ridley: I pray you for Gods sake do so.
Brookes: I thinke your request will be granted, except one
thyng let it, and that is (I feare) because you do not allow
the Queenes proceedyngs; but [illegible] obstinately withstand the
same, that it will hardly be graunted.
Ridley: What remedy, I can doe no more but speake and
write, I trust I haue discharged my conscience therein,
and Gods will be done.
Brokes: I will doe what lyeth in me.

The copy of this Supplication written to the Queene,
here followeth.

M. Ridley to the Queenes Maiestie:

IT may please your Maiestie for Christ our Saviours sake, in a
matter of conscience (and now not for my selfe, but for other
poore men) to vouchsafe to heare and vnderstande this mine
humble supplication. It is so (honourable princesse) that in the
tyme whyles I was in the Ministerie of the Sea of London diuers
poore men Tenants thereof, haue taken new Leases of their Tenantries
and holdyngs, and some haue renewed and chaunged
their old, and therefore haue payed fines and summes of money,
both to me, and also to the Chapter of Paules, for the confirmation
of the same.
Now I heare say that the Bishop which occupieth the same
roume now, will not allow the foresayd Leases, which must redound
to many poore mens vtter ruine and decay. Wherefore
this is myne humble supplication vnto your honourable grace,
that it may please the same for Christes sake to be vnto the foresayd
poore men their gratious patronesse and defender, eyther
that they may enioy their foresayd Leases and yeares renewed,
as (I suppose) when their matter shall be heard with conscie~ce,
both iustice, conscience, and equitie shall require, for that theyr
Leases shall be found (I trust) made without fraude or couen, eyther
of theyr part, or of myne, and always also the olde rents reserued
to the Sea without any kynd of damage thereof: or if this
will not be graunted, then that it may please your gracious highnesse
to commaund that the poore men may be restored to their
former Leases and yeares and to haue rendered to them agayne
such su~mes of mony as they payd to me, & to that chapterhouse
for their Leases & yeares, so now taken from them. Which thing
concerning the fines payed to me, may bee easily done, if it shall
please your Maiestie to commaund some portion of those goods
which I left in my house when I fledde in hope of pardon for my
trespasse towards your grace, which goodes (as I haue heard)
be yet reserued in the same house. I suppose that halfe of the value
of my plate which I left in myne offices, and specially in an
iron chest in my bed chamber, will goe nigh to restore all suche
fines receyued, the true summes and parcels whereof, are not set
in their Leases: and therefore if that way shall please your highnesse,
they must be knowen by such wayes and meanes, as your
Maiestie by the aduise of men of wisedome and conscience shall
appoynt: but yet for Christes sake I craue and most humbly beseech
your Maiestie of your most gracious pity and mercy, that
the former way may take place.
I haue also a poore Sister that came to me out of the North,
with three fatherlesse children, for her reliefe, whome I maried
after to a seruaunt of myne owne house: she is put out of that I
did prouide for them. I beseech your honourable grace that her
case may be mercifully considered, and that the rather, in contemplation
that I neuer had of hym, which suffered indurance at
my entrance to the Sea of London, not one peny of his moueable
goodes, for it was almost halfe a yeare after hys deposition,
afore I did enter into that place: yea, and also if any were lefte,
knowen to be hys, hee had lycence to cary it away, or there for
his vse it did lye safe, as hys officers do know. I payd for the lead
which I found there, when I occupied any of it to the behoofe of
the Church or of the house. And moreouer, I had not onelye no
part of hys moueable goods, but also (as hys olde receyuer and
then myne, called M. Stanton, can testifie) I paid for him towards
hys seruaunts common liueries and wages, after hys deposition,
53 or 55. poundes, I cannot tell whether. In all these matters I
beseech your honourable Maiestie to heare the aduise of men of
conscience, and in especially the Archbishop of Yorke, which for
that hee was continually in my house a yeare and more, before
myne imprisonment, I suppose he is not altogether ignorant of
some part of these thyngs, and also hys grace doth knowe my Sister,
for whose succour and some reliefe, now vnto your highnes
I make most humble sute.
The 16. day of Octob. An. 1555. N.R.

This degradation beyng past, and all thynges finished,
D. Brookes called the Bailiffes, deliueryng to them
M. Ridley with this charge, to keepe him safely from any
man speaking with hym, and that he should be brought to
the place of execution when they were commanded. Then
M. Ridley in praysing God, brast out with these words &
sayd: God I thanke thee, and to thy prayse be it spoken,
there is none of you all able to lay to my charge any open
or notorious crime: for if you could, it should surely bee
layd in my lappe, I see very well. Whereunto Brookes
sayd, he played the part of a proud Pharisey, exalting and
praysing hymselfe.
But M. Ridley sayd: No, no, no, as I haue sayd before,
to Gods glory be it spoken. I confesse my selfe to bee
a miserable wretched sinner, and haue great need of Gods
helpe and mercy, and doe daily call and cry for the same:
therefore I pray you haue no such opinion in me. Then
they departed, and in goyng away, a certaine warden of
a Colledge, of whose name I am not very sure, bad Doct.

SSSS.iiii.

Ridley repent hym, and forsake that erroneous opinion.
Whereunto M. Ridley sayd: Sir, repent you, for you are
out of the truth: and I pray God (if it be his blessed will)
haue mercy vpon you, and graunt you the vnderstanding
of his worde. Then the warden being in a chafe thereat,
sayd: I trust that I shall neuer be of your erroneous and
diuelish opinion, neyther yet to bee in that place whether
you shal go. He is (saith he) the most obstinatest and wilfullest
man that euer I heard talke since I was borne.

The behauiour of D. Ridley at his supper, the
night before his suffering.

THe night before he suffred, his beard was washed, and
his legs, and as he sate at supper the same night at M.
Irishes (who was his keeper) he bad his hostesse, and the
rest at the boord, to his mariage: for (saith he) to morrowe
I must be maried, and so shewed hymselfe to bee as mery
as euer he was at any time before. And wishing his sister
at his mariage, he asked hys brother sittyng at the Table,
whether she could find in her heart to be there or no, and
he answered, yea, I dare say, with all her heart: at which
word he sayd, he was glad to heare of her so much therein.
So at this talke maistres Irish wept.
But M. Ridley comforted her, and sayd: Oh maistres
Irishe, you loue me not now, I see well enough. For in
that you weepe, it doth appeare you will not be at my mariage,
neither are content therewith. In deede you be not
so much my friend, as I thought you had bene. But quiet
your selfe: though my breakefast shall be somwhat sharpe
and paynfull, yet I am sure, my supper shalbe more pleasant
and sweete, &c.
When they arose from the Table, hys brother offered
hym to watch all night with hym. But he said, no, no, that
you shall not. For I mynd (God willyng) to goe to bed,
and to sleepe as quietly to night, as euer I did in my lyfe.
So hys brother departed, exhortyng hym to bee of good
cheere, and to take hys Crosse quietly, for the reward was
great, &c.

The behauiour of D. Ridley and M. Latymer, at
the tyme of their death, which was the 16. of October
An. 1555.

VPon the Northside of the towne, in the ditch ouer against
Baily Colledge, the place of execution was appoynted:
and for feare of any tumult that might aryse, to
let the burnyng of them, the L. Williams was commaunded
by the Queenes letters, and the householders of the
Citie to be there assistant, sufficiently appoynted, & when
euery thyng was in a readines, the prisoners were broght
forth by the Maior and Bailiffes.
M. Ridley had a faire blacke goune furred, and faced
with foines, such as he was woont to weare beying Bish.
and a tippet of veluet furred likewyse about his necke, a
veluet night cap vpon his hed, & a corner cappe vpon the
same, goyng in a paire of slippers to the stake, & going betweene
the Maior and an Alderman, &c.
After hym came M. Latimer in a poore Bristow freeze
frocke all worne, with hys buttened cap, and a kerchiefe
on his hed, all redy to the fire, a new long shroud hanging
over his hose downe to the feete, which at the first sight,
stirred mens hearts to rue vpon them, beholdyng on the
one side, the honour they sometyme had, on the other, the
calamitie whereunto they were fallen.
M. Doctor Ridley, as hee passed towards Bocardo,
lookyng vp where M. Cranmer did lye, hopyng belike to
haue seene hym at the glasse window, and to haue spoken
vnto hym. But then M. Cranmer was busie with Frier
Soto & his fellowes disputyng together, so that he could
not see hym through that occasion. Then M. Ridley lookyng
backe, espied M. Latymer commyng after. Unto
whome he sayd: Oh be ye there. Yea sayd M. Latymer,
haue after as fast as I can follow. So he following a prety
way of, at lenth they came both to the stake, one after the
other, where first D. Ridley entring the place, maruelous
earnestly holding vp both his hands, loked towards heauen:
then shortly after espying M. Latimer, with a wonderous
cheerefull looke, ranne to hym, embraced, and kissed
hym, and as they that stoode neare reported, comforted
hym, saying: be of good heart brother, for GOD will either
asswage the fury of the flame, or els strengthen vs to
abyde it.
With that went he to the stake, kneeled downe by it,
kissed it, most effectuously prayed, and behynd him M. Latymer
kneled, as earnestly callyng vpon God as he. After
they arose, the one talked with the other a little whyle, tyll
they which were appoynted to see the execution remooued
themselues out of the sunne. What they sayd, I can learne
of no man.
Then Doctor Smith, of whose recantation in K. Edwards
tyme, ye heard before, began his Sermon to them,
vpon this text of Saint Paule, in the xiij. chapiter of the
first Epistle to the Corrinthians:
Si corpus meum tradam
igni, charitatem autem non habeo, nihil inde vtilitatis capio:
That is, If I yeld my body to the fire to be burnt, & haue
not Charitie, I shall gayne nothyng thereby. Where in
he alledged, that the goodnesse of the cause, and not the order
of death: maketh the holynes of the person: Which he
confirmed by the examples of Iudas, and of a woman in
Oxford that of late hanged her selfe, for that they and suche
lyke as he recited, might the~ be adiudged righteous, which
desperately sundered their lyues from their bodies, as he
feared that those men that stood before hym would do. But
he cryed stil to the people to beware of them, for they were
heretikes, and dyed out of the Church. And on the other
side, he declared their diuersities in opinions, as Lutherians,
Oecolampadians, Zuinglians, of which secte they
were, (he sayd) and that was the worst: but the old church
of Christ, and the Catholike fayth beleeued far otherwyse,
At which place they lifted vp both their handes and eyes
to heauen, as it were callyng God to witnes of the truth.
The which countenaunce they made in many other places
of his Sermon, where as they thought hee spake amisse.
He ended with a very short exhortation to them, to
recant and come home agayne to the church, and saue their
lyues and soules, which els were condemned. His sermo~
was scant in all a quarter of an houre.
Doctor Ridley sayd to Maister Latymer, will you beginne
to aunswer the Sermon, or shall I? Maister Latimer
sayd, begin you first I pray you. I will sayd Maister
Ridley.
Then the wicked Sermon beyng ended, Doctor Ridley
and Maister Latymer kneled down vpon their knees
towardes my Lord Williams of Tame, the Uicechancellor
of Oxford, and dyuers other Commissioners appointed
for that purpose, which sate vpon a forme therby. Unto
whome Maister Ridley sayd: I beseech you my Lord
euen for Christes sake, that I may speake but two or three
wordes: and whylest my Lord bent hys head to the Maior
and Uicechauncellour, to know (as it appeared) whether
he myght geue hym leaue to speake, the Bailiffes and
Doctour Marshall Uicechancellour ranne hastily vnto
hym, and with theyr handes stopped hys mouthe and
sayd: Maister Ridley, if you will reuoke your erroneous
opinions, and recant the same, you shall not onely haue
libertie so to doe, but also the benefite of a subiect, that is,
haue your lyfe. Not otherwyse sayd Maister Ridley? No
quoth Doctor Marshall: therefore if you will not doe so,
then there is no remedy but you must suffer for your desertes.
Well (quoth M. Ridley) so long as the breath is
in my body, I will neuer deny my Lord Christ, and hys
knowen truth: Gods will be done in me. And with that
he rose vp, and sayd with a lowde voyce: Well, then I
commit our cause to almighty God, which shall indifferently
iudge all.
To whose saying, Maister Latymer added hys olde
Posie. Well, there is nothyng hidde but it shall bee opened:
and he sayd he could aunswere Smith well enough
if he myght bee suffered. Incontinently they were commaunded
to make them ready, which they with all mekenesse
obeyed. Maister Ridley tooke his gown and his tippet,
and gaue it to his brother in law M. Shepside, who
all his tyme of imprisonment, although he might not bee
suffred to come to hym, laye there at his owne charges to
prouide him necessaries, which from tyme to tyme, he sent
him by the Sergeant that kept hym. Some other of hys
apparell that was little woorth, he gaue away, other the
Bailifs tooke.
He gaue away besides, diuers other small thynges to
Gentlemen standyng by, and diuers of them pitifully wepyng,
as to sir Henry Lea, he gaue a new grote, and to diuers
of my L. Williams gentlemen, some napkins, some
nutmegs, and races of ginger, his Diall, and such other
thyngs as he had about hym, to euery one that stoode next
hym. Some plucked the pointes of his hose. Happy was
he that might get any rag of hym.
M. Latymer gaue nothyng, but very quietly suffered
his keper to pull of his hose, and his other aray, which to
looke vnto was very simple: and beyng stripped into hys
shroud, he seemed as comely a person to them that were
there present, as one should lightly see: and where as in
his clothes, he appeared a withered and crooked sillie olde
man, he now stood bolt vpright, as comely a father as one
might lightly behold.
Then M. Ridley standyng as yet in hys trusse, sayde

to his brother: it were best for me to goe in my trusse still.
No (quoth hys brother) it will put you to more payne:
and the trusse will do a poore man good. Whereunto Maister
Ridley sayd: be it, in the name of God, and so vnlaced
hymselfe. Then beyng in his shirt, he stoode vpon the foresayd
stone, and held vp hys handes and sayd: Oh heauenly
Father, I geue vnto thee most harty thankes, for that
thou hast called me to bee a professour of thee, euen vnto
death. I beseech thee Lord GOD take mercy vpon this
Realme of England, and deliuer the same from all her
enemies.
Then the Smith tooke a chaine of iron, and brought
the same about both D. Ridleis, and M. Latimers middles:
and as he was knockyng in a staple, D. Ridley took
the chayne in his hand, and shaked the same, for it did gird
in his belly, and lookyng aside to the Smith, sayd: good fellow
knocke it in hard, for the flesh will haue hys course.
Then his brother did bring hym gunpouder in a bag, and
would haue tied the same about hys necke. M. Ridley asked
what it was. His brother said gunpouder. Then sayd
he, I take it to be sent of God, therefore I will receyue it
as sent of hym. And haue you any sayd he, for my brother,
meanyng M. Latymer? Yea sir, that I haue (quoth hys
brother.) Then geue it vnto hym sayd he, betyme, least ye
come to late. So hys brother went, and caried of the same
gunpouder vnto M. Latymer.
In the meane tyme D. Ridley spake vnto my L. Williams,
and sayd: My L. I must be a suter vnto your lordship,
in the behalfe of diuers poore men, and especially in
the cause of my poore Sister: I haue made a supplication
to the Queenes Maiestie in their behalfes. I beseech your
Lordship for Christes sake, to bee a meane to her grace for
them. My brother here hath the Supplication, and wyll
resort to your lordship to certifie you hereof. There is nothing
in all the world yt troubleth my conscience (I praise
God) this onely excepted. Whiles I was in the Sea of
London, diuers poore men tooke Leases of me, and agreed
with me for the same. Now I heare say, the B. that nowe
occupieth the same roume, wil not allow my graunts vnto
them made, but contrary vnto all law and conscience
hath taken from them their liuynges, and will not suffer
them to enioy the same. I beseech you my Lord, be a mean
for them: you shall doe a good deed, and God wil reward
you.
Then brought they a fagot kindled with fire, and layd
the same downe at D. Ridleys feete. To whome Maister
Latymer spake in this maner: Be of good comfort maister
Ridley, and play the man: wee shall this day light such a
candle by Gods grace in England, as (I trust) shall neuer
be put out.
And so the fire beyng geuen vnto them, when D. Ridley
saw the fire flamyng vp toward hym, he cryed wyth a
wonderfull lowd voyce:
In manus tuas Domine, commendo
spiritum meum
,
Domine recipe spiritum meum
, and after repeated
this latter part often in English: Lord, Lord, receyue
my spirit : M. Latymer crying as vehemently on
the other side: Oh Father of Heauen, receyue my soule:
who receyued the flame as it were embrasing of it. After,
as he had stroked hys face with hys hands, & (as it were)
bathed them a little in the fire, he soone died (as it appered)
with very litle payne or none. And thus much concerning
the end of this old and blessed seruaunt of God, M. Latymer,
for whose laborious trauails, fruitfull lyfe, & consta~t
death, the whole Realme hath cause to geue great thankes
to almighty God.
But M. Ridley by reason of the euill makyng of the
fire vnto hym, because the wooden fagots were laid about
the gosse, and ouer high built, the fire burned first beneath,
beyng kept downe by the woode. Which when he felt, hee
desired them for Christs sake to let the fire come vnto him.
Which when hys brother in law heard, but not well vnderstood,
entendyng to ridde hym out of his payne (for the
which cause he gaue attendance) as one in such sorow, not
well aduised what he did, heaped fagots vpon hym, so that
he cleane couered hym, which made the fire more vehement
beneath, that it burned cleane all hys neather parts
before it once touched the vpper, and that made him leape
vp and downe vnder the fagots, and often desire them to
let the fire come vnto him, saying: I cannot burne. Which
in deed appeared well: for after hys legs were consumed
by reason of his struglyng through the payne (whereof he
had no release, but only his contentation in God) he shewed
that side toward vs clean, shirt and all vntouched with
flame. Yet in all this torment he forgate not to call vnto
God still, hauyng in his mouth: Lord haue mercy vppon
me, intermedling this cry, let the fire come vnto me, I can
not burne. In which paynes he laboured, till one of the
standers by with his bill, pulled of the fagots aboue, and
where he saw the fire flame vp, hee wrested himselfe vnto
that side. And when the flame touched the gunpouder, hee
was seene stirre no more, but burned on the other side, fallyng
downe at M. Latymers feete. Which some said hapned,
by reason that the chaine loosed: other sayd that he fell
ouer the chaine by reason of the poise of his body, and the
weakenes of the neather limmes.
Some say that before he was like to fall from the stake
he desired them to holde him to it with their billes. Howsoeuer
it was, surely it moued hundredes to teares, in beholding
the horrible sight. For I thinke there was none
that had not cleane exiled all humanitie and mercy, which
would not haue lamented to behold the fury of the fire so
to rage vpon their bodies. Signes there were of sorrowe
on euery side. Some tooke it greuously to see their deaths,
whose lyues they held full deare. Some pitied their persons
that thought theyr soules had no neede thereof. His
brother mooued many men, seyng his miserable case: seeyng
(I say) hym compelled to such infelicitie, yt he thought
then to doe hym best seruice, when he hastened hys ende.
Some cryed out of the lucke, to see his endeuor, who most
dearely loued hym, and sought his release, turne to hys
greater vexation, and encrease of payne. But who so considered
their preferments in tyme past, the places of honor
that they sometyme occupied in this common wealth, the
fauour they were in with their princes, and the opinion of
learnyng they had, could not chuse but sorow with teares,
to see so great dignitie, honour, and estimation, so necessary
members sometime accounted, so many godly vertues,
the study of so many yeares, such excellent learnyng, to be
put into the fire, and consumed in one moment. Wel, dead
they are, and the reward of this world they haue already.
What reward remayneth for them in heauen, the day of
the Lordes glory when he commeth with his saints, shall
shortly I trust declare.

Albeit I haue differred and put ouer many treatises,
letters, & exhortations belongyng to the story of the Martyrs,
vnto the latter appendix in the ende of this volume:
thinkyng also to haue done the lyke with these farewels, &
exhortations followyng of D. Ridley, yet for certain purposes
moouing me thereunto, and especially consideryng
the fruitfull admonitions, wholesome doctrine, and necessary
exhortations conteyned in the same, I thought best
here to bestow, and consequently to adioyne the sayd tractations
of that learned pastour, with the lyfe and story of
the authour. Whereof the two first be in a manner of hys
farewels, the one to his kinsfolks, and generally to all the
faithfull of the number of Christes congregation: the other
more speciall to the prisoners, and banished Christia~s
in the gospels cause: the third containeth a fruitfull and a
generall admonition to the citie of London, and to all other,
with necessary precepts of christian office, as by the
tenour of them here followeth in order to be seene.

A tragicall, lamentable, and pitifull
Hystory, full of most cruell and tyranicall
Murther, done by the pretensed Catholiques, vpon
three woman and an Infant: to wit, the mother, her
two daughters, and the childe, in the Isle of
Garnesey, for Christes true Religion,
the yeare of our Lord. 1556.
Iuly. 18.

AMong all and singular Historyes touched in
this Booke before, as there be many pitifull,
diuers lamentable, some Horrible and Tragicall:
so is there none almost either in cruelty
to be compared or so farre of from all compassion
and sense of humanity, as this merciles fact of the
Papistes, done in the Isle of Garnsey, vpon three women
and an infant, whose names be these as folow.

Katherine Cawches. the Mother.
Guillemine Gilbert. the daughter.
Perotine Massey. the other daughter.
An Infant. the sonne of Perotine.

But before I come to the purpose of this story, it shall
be necessary, for the better explayning of the matter, to begin
first with the circumstances, whereupon the first Originall
and occasion did rise of this tragicall cruelty. The
case was this.
The xxvij. day of May. an. 1556. in the Isle of Garnsey,
which is a member of England, in a towne there called
S. Peters port, was a noughty woman named Uincent
Gosset, who being euill disposed, went (the day aforesaid)
to the house of one Nicholas le Conronney, dwelling
in the towne of the sayd S. Peters Porte, about ten of the
clocke at night, and there taking the key of the house (lying
vnder the doore) entred into a Chamber towarde the
streete, where she espying a Cup of Siluer within a Cupbord,
tooke it away, and so conueied her selfe out of yt house
agayne. Who immediately after this fact done (whether by
counsell or by what occasio~ els, I haue not to say) brought
the sayd Cup to one Perotine Massey, an honest woman,
dwelling in the sayd towne, desiring her to lend her vi. d.
vpon the same.
Perotine seing the cup or goblet, & suspecting (as truth
was) the same to be stollen, answered that she woulde not
take it: yet neuerthelesse hauing knowledge of the owner
theerof, tooke it, to restore it agayne to whom it did apperteyn,
and to the end she should not cary it to another, gaue
her the~ presently vi. d. Where moreouer is to be noted, that
Thomas Effart sayth and testifieth, that knowledge was
geuen by the sayde Perotine to Conronney touching the
stealing of his piece, who eftsoones vpo~ the misliking therof
attached the sayd Uincent Gosset, of the trespasse. Who
being apprehended and examined vpon the same, immediatly
confessed the fact, desiring to haue one sent wyth her
(which was Collas de Loutre) with vi. d. to fetch agayne
the goblet, where it was: And so did.
The next day folowing, the kinges officers being informed
of the premises by one Nicolas Cary of the sayde
towne Constable, assembled the Iustices there to inquire
and examine further, as well vpon that facte of Uincent
Gosset, as vpon other griefes and things there amisse. So
that after declaration made by the officers and Constable
before the Iustice, for that the sayd Constable did report to
haue founde certayne vessell of Pewter in the house of the
foresayd Perotine Massey (who then dwelt with her mother
Katherine Cauches, & her Sister Guillemine Guilbert)
the which vessell did beare no marke, and especially
for that there was a Peuter dishe, whereof the name was
scraped out, theyr bodyes vpon the same were attached,
& put in prison, & theyr moueable goodes taken by inue~tory.
Within a few daies after these things this done & past,
these 3. sely women abiding thus in durance in the castle,
made theyr supplication to the Iustices to haue iustice ministred
vnto them, videlicet: If they had offended the law,
then to let them haue the law: if not, beseeching to graunt
them the benefite of Subiects . &c. Which supplication put
vp, thereupon were they appoynted to come to theyr answere
the fift day of Iune, in the yeare aforesayd. Uppon
which day, after straight examining of the matter, and the
honest aunswering of the cause by the sayde good woman,
at the last they submitted them to the report of their neighbours,
that they were no theeues, nor euill disposed persons,
but liued truely and honestly, as became Christian
women to do, the false and vntrue report of theyr accusers
notwithstanding.
So the cause being thus debated, after the inquirye
made by the kinges Officers, they were founde by theyr
said neighbors not guilty of that they were charged wyth,
but had liued alwayes as honest women among them: sauing
onely that to the commaundementes of holy church,
they had not bene obedient .&c. Upon this triall, & verdit
of the neighbours, it was in fine adiudged, firste that the
sayd Uincent Gosset, being atteinted of fellonye and condemned
for the same should be whipped, and after her eare
being nailed to the pillory, should so be banished out of the
Isle without further punishment. And as touching the other
three women, the Mother with her two daughters,
for theyr not comming to the Church, they were returned
prisoners agayn into the Castle the first of Iuly. And thus
farre concerning the true discourse of this matter, with all
the circumstaunces and appurtenaunce of the same in euery
poynt as the case stoode, according to the faythfull tenour
and testimony of the Garnesey menne written with
theyr owne handes both in Frenche and English tongue.
Wherein you see what false surmised matter was pretented
agaynst these women, and nothing proued, and howe
by the attestation of theyr neighbours they were fully clered
of that facte, and should by the temporall Courte haue
bene dismissed, had not the spirituall Clergy men picking
matter of religion agaynst them, exercised such extremitye
in persecuting these miserable prisoners, that in no case
they could escape theyr bloudye handes, till at length they
had brought them (as you shall heare) to theyr finall ende.
For after the time of this declaration aboue mentioned
made by the neighbours, whereby they were purged of al
other thinges, & being then known of theyr not comming
to the Church, the Bailiefes Lieutenaunt and the Iustice,
thinking the matter not to perteyne to them, but to the
Clergy, forthwith wrote theyr letters or Mandate vnder
theyr signes to the deane, whose name was Iaques Amy,
and Curates of the sayd Isle: The contentes wherof here
foloweth.

A Letter sent from the Bailieffes Lieutenaunt, and
Iurates of Saynt Peters Port, to the Deane and
Curates of the Isle of Garnesey.

MAyster Deane and Iustices in your Court and iurisdiction,
after all amiable recommendations, pleaseth you to know
that we are informed by the deposition of certayn honest men,
past before vs in maner of an inquiry: in the which inquiry Katherine
Cawches and her two daughters haue submitted themselues
in a certayne matter criminall. Wherein we be informed
that they haue bene disobedient to the commaundementes, and
ordinances of the Church, in conte~ning and forsaking the masse
and the ordinances of the same, agaynst the will and commaundement
of our souereigne Lord the king and the Queene. Wherof
we send you the sayd matter, for as much as the matter is spirituall,
to the end you may proceed therein after your good discretions,
and as brieflye as you can possible, and also that it perteined
to your office, recomme~ding you to God, the which geue
you grace to do that perteineth to right and iustice. Written the
first day of the moneth of Iuly, the yeare of our Lord. 1556.

After these letters, and information thus addressed to
Iaques Amy Deane, and to other of the Clergy, the sayde
women were agayne commensed before the Iustice aforesaid
with his assistances. In the presence of whom they being
examined of theyr fayth, concerning the ordinances of
the Romish church, made their aunswere that they would
obey and keepe the ordinaunces of the king & Queene, &
the co~maundementes of the church, notwithstanding that
they had sayd and done the contrary in the time of K. Edward
the 6. in shewing obedience to his ordinaunces and
commaundementes before. After which aunswere taken,
they were returned againe to prison, vntill the other had
an answere of their letter fro~ the deane & his co~plices. During
which time, the Deane & curates gaue their information
touching the sayd women, and deliuered the same to
the Bailiefe and Iurates, co~demning and reputing them
for hereticks, the women neither hearing of any information,
neither yet being euer examined at any time before of
theyr fayth and religion. Wherupon when the said Bailife
& Iurates vnderstood that the sayd Deane & Curates had
not examined the women of theyr fayth, would not sitte in

iudgement on that day, but ordeined the women to come
first before the Deane and Curates to be examined of their
fayth. And so the Officers at the commaundement of the
Iustices, did fetch and present them before the sayd Deane
and Curates. The which being accomplished and done,
they were examined a parte seuerally one from an other:
After which examination they incontinently were returned
agayne into prison.
Then the xiiij. day of the sayd moneth of Iuly, in the
yeare aforesayd, after the examination aboue specified before
Elyer Gosselin Bailiffe, in the presence of Thomas
Deuicke, Pierres Martine, Nicolas Cary, Iohn Blondel,
Nicolas de Lisle, Iohn Lauerchaunt, Iohn le Feuer,
Pierres Bonnamy, Nicolas Martin, Iohn de la March
Iurates, Syr Iaques Amy Deane, and the Curates, dyd
deliuer before the Iustice vnder the seale of the Deane, &
vnder the signes of the Curates, a certayne Act and Sentence,
the summe whereof was that Katherine Cawches
and her two daughters were found heretickes, and suche
they reputed them, and haue deliuered them to Iustice, to
do execution, according to the Sentence, of the which the
tenour foloweth.

The Sentence

.

NoValue

When this was done, commaundement was geuen
to the kinges officers, to go to the Castle to fetche the sayde
women, to heare the sentence agaynst them in the presence
aforesayd. And they appearing before the~, sayd in the eares
of all the auditory, that they woulde see theyr accusers, and
know them that haue deposed agaynst them, because they
might make aunsweres to theyr sayinges and personages
and to haue theyr libell accordingly: for they knew not to
haue offended the maiesties of the King and Queene, nor
of the Church, but intyrely would obey, obserue and keepe
the ordinances of the King and Queene, and of ye Church,
as all good and true Subiectes are bound to do. And for any
breach of the Kyng and Queenes lawes that they had
done, they required iustice. All whiche theyr reasons and
allegations notwithstanding, the sayd poore women were
condemned, and adiudged to be burnt, vntill they were
consumed into Ashes, according to a sentence geuen by Elyer
Gosseline Bailife: of the which sentence the tenour hereafter
foloweth.

The effect of the sentence in English.

THe xvij.(or as some other thinke the xxvij. day) of the Moneth
of Iuly, 1556. Elier Gosselin Bailiffe in the presence of
Thomas Deuicke, Pierres Martine, Nicholas Cary, Iohn Bloundell,
Nicholas Deuise, Iohn le Marchaunt, Iohn le Feauer, Pierres
Bonamy, Nicholas Martine and Iohn de la March Iurates: Katherine
Cowches, Perotine Massey, and Guillemyne Guilbert, the
sayd Perotine and Guillemyne daughters to the sayd Katherine,
are all condemned & iudged this day to be burned, vntil they be
consumed to ashes in the place accustomed, with the confiscation
of all theyr goodes, moueables, and heritages, to be in the handes
of the king and Queenes maiesties, according and after the effect
of a sentence deliuered in iustice, by Mayster Deane and the Curates
the xiij. day of the moneth of Iuly, in the yeare aforesayd, in
the which they haue bene approued heretickes.

LLLLl.ij.

After which sentence pronounced, the sayd women did
appeale vnto the Kyng and the Queene, and theyr honorable
Counsell, saying that agaynst reason and right they
were condemned, & for that cause they made their appeale:
notwithstanding they coulde not be heard, but were deliuered
by the sayd Bayliffe, to the King and Quenes Officers,
to see the execution done on them, according to the
sayd sentence.
The time then being come, when these three good seruauntes
and holy Sayntes of GOD, the Innocent mother
with her two daughters shoulde suffer, in the place
where they should consummate theyr Martyrdome, were
three stakes set up. At the middle post was the mother, the
eldest daughter on the right hande, the youngest on the other.
They were first strangled, but the Rope brake before
they were dead, and so the poore women fell in the fire. Perrotine,
who was then great with childe, did fall on her side,
where happened a ruefull sight, not onely to the eyes of all
that there stood, but also to the eares of all true harted christians,
that shall read this historye: For as the belly of the
woman brast a sonder by vehemency of the flame, the Infant
being a fayre man childe, fel into the fire, and eftsoones
being taken out of the fire by one W. House, was layd vpon
the grasse.
Then was the child had to the Prouost, and from him
to the Bayliffe, who gaue censure, that it should be caryed
backe agayne and cast into the fire. And so the infant Baptised
in his own bloud, to fill vp the number of Gods innocent
Sayntes, was both borne, and dyed a Martyr, leauing
behinde to the world, which it neuer saw, a spectacle
wherein the whole world may see the Herodian cruelty of
this gracelesse generation of catholicke Tormentors, Ad
perpetuam rei infamiam.
Now forsomuch as this story percase, for the horrible
straungenes of the fact, will be hardly beleued of some, but
rather thought to be forged, or els more amplified of me,
then truth will beare me out, therefore to discharge my credite
herein, I haue not onely foretolde thee a little before,
how I reciued this story, by the faythfull relation, both of
french and English, of them which were there prese~t witnesses,
and lookers vpon: but also haue hereto annexed the
true supplication of the sayd inhabitauntes of Garnesey, &
of the brother of the sayde two sisters, complayning to the
Queene and her Commissioners, concerning the horriblenes
of the acte: which Supplication, for the more euidence
here under foloweth to be sene.

To the right honorable, and the Queenes highnesse
most gracious Commissioners, for the hearing and
determining of matters of Religion and
causes Ecclesiasticall.

MOst lamentably and woefully complayning, sheweth vnto
your gracious and honorable Lordships, your poore & hu~ble
Orator Mathew Cawches, of the Isle of Garnesey, that where
Iaques Amy Clerke, Deane of the Isle aforesayd, assisted by the
Curates there, agaynst all order, lawe and reason, by colour of a
sentence of heresie, pronounced agaynst Katherine Cawches, the
Sister of your honours sayd suppliant, and Perrotine and Guillemine,
her two daughters, did cause the same Katherine, beyng a
poore widowe, and her sayd two daughters, moste cruelly to bee
burned, although the said persons, ne any of them did hold, mainteine,
or defend any thing directly agaynst the Ecclesiasticall lawes
then in place, vnder the raigne of the late Queene Mary, but
in all thinges submitted themselues obediently to the lawes the~
in force, and yet the cruelty of the said Deane and his accomplices
in perpetrating such murther as aforesayd, raged so farre, that
whereas, whilest the sayd persons did consume with violent fire,
the wombe of the sayd Perrotine being burned, there did issue fro~
her a goodly man childe, which by the Officers was taken vp &
handled, and after in a most despightful maner, throwne into the
fire, and there also with the sely mother most cruelly burnt. In te~der
consideration whereof, and for so much as this bloudy murther
was not in due order of any law, or in any maner according
to iustice, but of meere malicious hatred, as the true copy of the
whole procedinges in this matter, by the sayd Deane and his accomplices,
here ready to be shewed to your honours, will make
very playne and manifest: It may therefore please your good and
gracious Lordships, of the zeale that you beare to iustice, and for
our Lord Iesu Christes sake, to haue due consideration in iustice
of such horrible murther, so cruelly committed as aforesayd, according
to the right demerite therof. And that it may please your
honourable Lordships to order & decree also, that all the goods
of all the sayd parties by pretence aforesayd wrongfully taken as
confiscate, may be deliuered to your sayd poore beseecher, to
whom of right they do belong. And your honors sayd Suppliant
will dayly pray to God for your long preseruation, to his glory,
and your euerlasting health.

This supplication being presented in maner aforesaid,
to the Queenes honourable Commissioners in the yeare
1562. such order therein was taken, that the matter beyng
returned agayne downe, to the sayd country, further to be
examined, the Deane therupon was committed to prison,
and dispossessed of all his liuinges. So that in conclusion,
both he, and all other partakers of that bloudy murther,
whether of conscience, or feare of the law, were driuen not
long after, to acknowledge theyr trespasse, and to submitte
themselues to the Queenes Pardon. The tenour of whose
seuerall submissio~s, as they are left in ye Rolles, I thought
here to publish to the world, for a memoriall of more truth
of this story.

The seuerall submission of certayne Garnesey
men, confessing theyr trespasse in the wrongfull
condemnation of the three
women aboue specified.

HElyer Gosseline, of the Parish of Saynt Peter le porte
in Garnesey Marchaunt, Nicholas Carie, the elder,
Iohn Marchant, Peter Bonamie, of the Parish of Saint
Martin, and Nicholas Martin, Sonne of Iohn, hauyng
humbly submitted themselues to the Queenes most excellent
Maiestye, acknowledging theyr erroneous Iudgementes,
aswell agaynst Katherine Cawches, and Guillemine,
and Perotine, her two Daughters, and the Infant
of the sayd Perotine, executed by fire, for supposed heresy,
as also for the acquiting of Nicholas Normam, a wilfull
murtherer, and other matters conteined in theyr seuerall
Submissions, praye the Queenes Maiestyes Pardon for
the sayd crimes and others co~mitted in theyr seuerall submissions.
Iohn Blondell the elder, of the Parish of Saynt Sauiour,
within the Isle of Garnesey, vppon lyke Submission,
and acknowledging of his offence, prayth like grace
and Pardon for his consent geuen, to the execution of the
sayd three women.
Richard de Uike, of the Parish of saynt Peter le port,
Marchant, prayeth like grace and pardon for his consent
and Iudgement geuen for the acquitting of the sayd Norman,
according to his Supplication, and Submission
late presented by Peter Bonamie, the same De Uike, and
Peter Pelley, of the Parish of Saynt Peter le port, Marchauntes.
The sayd Peter Pelley, prayeth the benefite of the said
Pardon, to be extended vnto him, according to his submission
in the sayd supplication.
Iaques Amy Clerke, prayeth the benefite of the sayde
pardon for his sentence with the Clergies against the said
women, according to his Submission.
Thomas Effart, of the Parish of Saynt Peter le port,
humbly prayeth, as procurour lawfully constituted by the
Chapiter, Bailiffe, and Iurates, that the same pardo~ may
extend to acquite all the inhabitantes of the sayd Isle, of
the arrerages. &c.

The Copy of the Queenes pardon, folowing
vpon ther Submission, as in forme here
vnder ensueth.

NoValue

Defence of this Garnesey story agaynst
M. Harding.

ANd thus haue you the true narration of this Hystory,
discoursed without corrupting or falsifying anye parte
or sentence thereof, no lesse faythfully of my part reported,
then I receyued them, who dwelling in the same Isle,
and beynge present the same time, were best acquaynted
with the matter, and haue geuen sufficient euidence, not
onely to me, but also to the Queenes highnesse Commissioners,
concerning the same, as both by the letter of the
Bailiffe, by the sentence of the Deane, by the suplication of
the playnetife, and submission of the partyes, and likewise
by the Queenes Pardon graunted vnto them, may well
appeare.
By all which proofes and circumstances thus debated,
it remayneth manifest for all men to perceiue, what cruelty,
and wrong was wroughte agaynst these poore women
aboue specified, and no lesse matter offered, in a case so vniust,
iustly to expostulate, or rather to wonder at the harde
hartes of these men, but especially of the catholicke Clergy
of Garnesey, who professing the Gospell of peace & charity,
should after the example of Christ, walke in the steppes
of meekenesse, and mercy, and yet contrary, not onely to al
Christian charity and mansuetude, but also agaynst all order
of equity, or humanity, were so extreme and rigorous,
to condemne them to the burning fire, vnder the pretensed
colour of heresy. Who if they had bene heretickes in deede,
yet mercy would haue corrected the errour, and saue life,
equity would haue co~sidered mans weak fragility at least
true iustice would haue heard both the parties aduisedly, &
also substancially haue surueyed the cause, and not to rash
out the sentence of death so hastely, as they did: yea, and
though they had bene heretickes in deed, yet true christian
charity woulde haue stretched farther, and at least to haue
geuen them leisure, and respite of time, to reclayme themselues.
But now what is here to be said, they being no heretickes
at all, as neither it could then, nor yet can be proued?
For if king Edwardes Religion (which was obiected
to them) were heresy, yet were they then no hereticks,
when they reuoked the same: and if Queene Maries Religion
were heresy, then were they much more heretickes
themselues, which condemned them of heresy.
But most of all we haue herein to wonder at Mayster
Harding, who in his late reioynder, written agaynst the
Bishop of Salisbury, notwithstanding all these euide~ces,
and demonstrations so certayne, & manifestly appearing,
yet goeth about, first to denye the storye, terming it to be a
fable, and afterward being forced to flye a statu inficiali, and
to admit the story, he remoueth ad translationem criminis, &
there seeking, by all meanes, to cleare the Cleargy fro~ the
spot of cruelty, trasferreth the whole blame onely, vpo~ the
wome~ that suffered, but principally vpon poore Perotine:
whome he specially charged with two capitall crimes, to
wit, whoredome, and murder.
And first, touching his accusatio~ of whoredome, let vs
heare, how he proueth this matter. Because (sayth he) by story
it is graunted, that she was with childe: and yet the Historiographer
doth not declare (neither durst for shame) who was her
husband, or father to the childe. &c. As though that Historiographers
being occupyed in setting forth the persecutio~ of
Gods people, suffering death for religion, and doctrine of
Christ, were bound, or had nothing els to do, but to playe
the sumner, and to bring forth, who were husbands to the
wiues, and fathers to theyr children: which newfou~d law
of history being neuer required before, nor obserued of any
Storye writers, if M. H. nowe shall exact of me, first let
him begin with himselfe, and shew vs (as wise as he is)
who was his owne father, if he can. And yet I thinke not
contrary, but his mother was an honest woman. And no
lesse do I thinke also of this Perotine aforesayde, whereof
more shal be sayd (God willing) hereafter.
But in the meane time here commeth in the cauilling
obiection of M. H. and beareth the Reader in hande, as
though for shame I durst not, or of purpose would not expresse
it. &c. My answere wherunto is this. First to expresse euery
minute of matter in euery story occurrent, what Story
writer in al the world is able to performe it? Secondly although
it might be done, what resonable reader would require
it? Thirdly, & albeit some curious readers would so
require, yet I suppose it neither requisite, nor conuenient
to be obserued. And fourthly, what if it were not remembred
of the authour? What if it were to him not knowne?
what if it were of purpose omitted as a matter not materiall
to the purpose? Many other causes besides might incurre,
which the reader knoweth not of. And shall it the~ by
and by bee imputed to shame and blame, whatsoeuer in
euery narration is not expressed? or doth M. H. himself in
all his sermons neuer pretermit any thing, that conueniently
might be inferred? Who was the husba~d of this Perotine,
the Historiographer hath not expressed: I grau~t, &
what thereof? Ergo therupon concludeth he, that for shame I
durst not. Nay I may maruell rather yt he durste for shame

LLLLl.iij.

vtter such vntydy Argumentes, or so asseuerantly to pronounce
of an other mans minde and purpose, which is as
priuy to him, as then it was to me vnknowne what was
her husbands name. And though it had bene known, what
was that material in the story to be vttered? or what had it
relieued the cruell partes of them, which burned both the
mother & infant together, though the infantes father had
bene expressed? And howe then did I for shame conceale
that, which was not in my knowledge at that time (if I
would) to expresse, nor in my suspition to misdeeme?
Neuertheles if he be so greatly desirous (as he pretendeth)
to know of me, who was this infantes father, I will
not sticke with M. H. although I can not sweare for the
matter, yet to take so much payne for his pleasure, to go as
neare it as I may. For precisely & determinately to poynt
out the right father either of this, or of any childe: I trow,
neither will M. H. require it of me, neither is he able peraduenture
himselfe being asked, to demonstrate his owne.
And yet as much as I may, to satisfy his dainty desire here
in, and partly to helpe the innocency of the woman, touching
this demaund, who should be the infantes father, who,
say I, but his owne mothers husband? the name of which
husband was Dauid Iores, a minister, and maryed to the
sayd Perotine in king Edwardes time, in the Churche of
our Ladyes Castle Parishe at Garnesey: the party which
maryed them being called M. Noel Regnet a French ma~,
and yet aliue, witnes hereunto, and now dwelling in london
in S. Martins Le grande.
Thus then, after my knowledge, I haue shewed forth,
for M. H. pleasure the right husband of this Perotine, and
what was his name, who was also aliue, his wife beyng
great with child , & partaker of the persecution of the same
time, & a scholemayster, afterward in Normandy. &c Now
if M. H. can take any such aduauntage hereof to disprooue
that I haue sayde: or be so priuy to the begetting of this
childe, that he can proue the said Dauid Iores, which was
the right husband to this wife, not to be the right father to
this infant, let him shew herein his cu~ning, by what mighty
demonstrations he can induce vs to deeme the contrary,
& as I shall see his reasons, I shall shape him an aunswere,
in such sort (I trust) that he shall well perceiue, that
whoredome, wheresoeuer I may knowe it, shall finde no
bolstering by me, I wish it might finde as little amongest
the chaste Catholickes of M. H. Church.
From this I proceed now to the second part of his infamous
accusation, wherin he chargeth her of murther. A
strau~ge case, that she which was murthered her selfe, with
her childe, and dyed before him, shoulde yet bee accused to
murther the childe. Murther doubtles is an horrible iniquity
in any person. But the mother to be the murderer of
her owne infant, it is a double abhomination, and more
then a monster, so farre disagreeing from all nature, that it
is not lightly to be surmised of any, without veheme~t causes
of manifest probation.
Wherefore, to try out this matter more thorowly touching
this murthering mother, let vs see. First, what hand
did she lay vpon the child? None. What weapon vsed she?
None. Did she then drowne it, or cast it in some pond, as
we read of the strompets at Rome, whose childre~s heads
were taken vp in Pope Gregories mote, by hundrethes,
what time Priestes began first to be restrayned of lawfull
wedlocke: witnes the epistle of Volusianus. pag. 1129. or els
did she throw it by the walles into some priuy corner, as I
am credibly certified, that in the 8. yeare of Q. Elizabeth,
certayne scalpes & other young infantes bones were fou~d
and taken out with a sticke in the hole of a stone wall in
Lenton Abbay, by certayne Gentlemen within the Cou~try
of Nottingham, Iames Barusse, Richard Loueyt, &
W. Louelace walking in the Prior chamber: witnesse the
sayd W. Louelace, with other which saw the bones aforesayd?
Or otherwise did she take any hurtfull drinke to impotionate
the child within her, as commonly it is reported,
fewe Nunneries to haue bene in Englande, wherein
such a tree hath not bene growing within theyr grounde,
meete for practising of suche a purpose? Neither so, nor so.
What then? did she purposely and wittingly thrust her self
in ieopardy, to the destruction of her child, whe~ she needed
not, as Pope Ioane, when she might haue kept her bedde,
woulde needes aduenture forth in procession, where both
she her selfe, and her infant perished in the open street?
Well the~, thus much by this hetherto alledged & grau~ted,
we haue gotte~ this woman here to be accused of murdering
her child, which neither laid hand vpon it, nor vsed
weapo~ agaynst it: neither vsed any other practise in drowning,
hanging, breaking, burying, poisoning, or any other
wilfull meanes, whereby to destroy it. And how then? by
what maner of way was this woman a murtherer of her
young babe? Forsooth: (sayth M. H.) when she was accused
and condemned to be burned, she did not claime the benefite
of her belly, whereby the life both of her selfe for the
time might haue bene delayed, and the child preserued.
Whether she did or no, I haue not perfectly to saye: no
more, I weene, hath M. H. Howbeit this is certayne, and
by witnes knowne, that she vttered no lesse to her ghostly
father in confession. And what if she had opened the same
vnto the Iudges? They would (sayth he) haue spared her
life for the time, and so the innoce~t had bene preserued. And
how is M. H. sure of this, more then was the life spared of
the young Lady, & mistres sometime of M. H. who suffered,
notwithstanding she was reported of some to be with
childe? Because the law (sayth he) is beneficiall to women
in her case, clayming the benefite thereof.
The law so geueth, I grau~t. But it foloweth not therfore,
whatsoeuer the law geueth or prescribeth, the same to
be put by and by in execution. But many times the law goeth
as it pleseth them which haue the handling of the law.
As for example, the law willeth none to be condemned by
sentence of death, for heresye, whiche the first time reuoke
theyr opinion, and yet contrary to this law they conde~ned
her vnlawfully. Agayne, the like law prescribeth, none to
be executed for heresy, before the writ be sent downe de co~burendo,
and yet contrary to this lawe, without any suche
writ (as farre as I yet vnderstand) they burned her moste
cruelly . And what lawe then was here to be looked for of
these men, who in theyr doinges herein seemed, neither to
obserue law, nor to regarde honesty, nor much to passe for
charity? And albeit she had claymed neuer so much the priuiledge
of the law, what had that auayled with those men,
whose hunting altogether (as by theyr proceedinges maye
appeare) semeth to be for the houshold goodes of these women,
which after theyr death immediatly they incroched in
to theyr owne handes.
But bee it admitted, that neither she demaunded this
benefite of the law, nor that the Iudges would euer haue
denyed her, if she had so done: yet had it bene the parte of a
graue accuser, before he had bene descended into such a railing
action of murder agaynst a poore woman now dead &
gone, first to haue aduised wisely with himselfe, whether
it might be, that she had no such intelligence what benefite
the law would haue geue~, in case it had bene required.
For not vnlike it is, and well may be thought rather yea,
then no, that the simple woman, brought vppe all her lyfe
long in her mothers house in an obscure Ileland, & in such
an outcorner of the realme, farre of from the Courte, and
practise of English lawes, neuer heard before of any such
benefite of the law: and therefore vpon mere simplicity, &
for lacke of skil required it not, because she knew not what
to require. Peraduenture also her senses might be so astonied
with the greatnesse and sodennesse of the feare, that it
was out of her remembraunce. Certes, it had bene the duty
of the Iudges, which knew the lawe, & hauing the woman
before them could not be ignorant of her case, to haue
questioned with her thereof, and to haue holpen her simplicity
in that behalfe. Or at least, if they had disdained, yet
it had bene the Priestes parte, who was her Ghostly Father,
and made priuy thereunto, either to haue instructed
her, or to haue stayd the executio~ of her death, for sauegard
of the childe.
But all this denyeth M. H. and to aggrauate the matter,
inferreth, that shee, not of any simple vnskilfulnesse of
the law, but onely of mere wilfulnesse, for auoyding of worldlye
shame, concealed her owne turpitude, and so became a murderer
of her babe. &c. These be the wordes of M. H. written by
him not of any sure ground, but onely vpon his catholicke
coniecture: for other demonstration certeinely to proue
this true, he bringeth none. Wherefore to aunswere coniecture
by coniecture, thus I replye to him agayne, that in
case she had bene asked the questio~ of the Iudges and Inquisitours,
whether shee had bene with childe, and then
had denyed the same: or els if she, by any other colourable
meanes, had cloaked her being with child, whereby it
should not appeare, this accuser might haue some probable
aduauntage agaynst the woman. Nowe, as she was
neuer demaunded of theyr partes any such question, nor
did euer deny any such matter: so to aunswere this man wt
as good probability, I holde, that in case they had inquired
that matter of her, she woulde neuer haue denyed it. And
therfore where as she is accused for her not vttering of her
child: why may she not, by as good reason agayne be defe~ded
for not denying the same.