John Foxe (1516–1587) ACTS AND MONUMENTS DEATH OF CRANMER the solemn custom of the schools), intending to speak, first, of the mercy of God: secondly, of his justice to be showed: and last of all, how the prince's secrets are not to be 5 opened. And proceeding a little from the beginning, he took occasion by and by to turn his tale to Cranmer, and with many hot words reproved him, that once he, being indued with the favour and feeling of whole Cranmer at length cometh from the prison of Bocardo unto St. Mary's church (the chief church in the university), because it was a foul and rainy day, in this order: the mayor 10 some and catholic doctrine, fell into the went before; next him the aldermen in their place and degree; after them was Cranmer brought between two friars, who, mumbling to and fro certain psalms in the streets, contrary opinion of pernicious error; which he had not only defended by writings, and all his power, but also allured other men to do the like, with great liberality of gifts, as answered one another until they came to the 15 it were appointing rewards for error; and church door, and there they began the song of Simeon, 'Nunc dimittis,' and entering into the church, the psalm-saying friars brought him to his standing, and there left him. after he had allured them, by all means did cherish them. Here the standers-by were all astonied, marvelled, were amazed, did look one upon There was a stage set over against the pulpit, 20 another, whose expectation he had so notably deceived. Some began to admonish him of his recantation, and to accuse him of falsehood. Briefly, it was a world to see the doctors beguiled of so great a hope. I think there was never cruelty more notably or better in time deluded and deceived; for it is not to be doubted but they looked for a glorious victory and a perpetual triumph by this man's retraction; who, as soon as they ears, to rage, fret, and fume; and so much the more, because they could not revenge their grief for they could now no longer threaten or hurt him. For the most miser The lamentable case and sight of that man gave a sorrowful spectacle to all chris- 25 tian eyes that beheld him. He that late was archbishop, metropolitan, and primate of England, and the king's privy councillor, being now in a bare and ragged gown, and ill favouredly clothed, with an old square cap, 30 heard these things, began to let down their exposed to the contempt of all men, did admonish men not only of his own calamity, but also of their state and fortune. For who would not pity his case, and bewail his fortune, and might not fear his own chance, to 35 able man in the world can die but once; see such a prelate, so grave a councillor, and of so long continued honour, after so many dignities, in his old years to be deprived of his estate, adjudged to die, and in so painful a death to end his life, and now presently from 40 such fresh ornaments, to descend to such vile and ragged apparel? and whereas of necessity he must needs die that day, though the papists had been never so well pleased, now, being never so much offended with him, yet could he not be twice killed of them. And so, when they could do nothing else unto him, yet, lest they should say nothing, they ceased not to object unto him his falsehood and dissimulation. In this habit, when he stood a good space upon the stage, turning to a pillar near adjoining thereunto, he lifted up his hands to 45 heaven, and prayed unto God once or twice, till at the length Dr. Cole coming into the pulpit, and beginning his sermon, entered first into mention of Tobias and Zachary. Whom after he had praised in the beginning 50 in his body appeared in his eyes. And when of his sermon for their perseverance in the true worshiping of God, he then divided his whole sermon into three parts (according to Unto which accusation he answered, 'Ah! my masters,' quoth he, 'do not you take it so. Always since I lived hitherto, I have been a hater of falsehood, and a lover of simplicity, and never before this time have I dissembled': and in saying this, all the tears that remained he began to speak more of the sacrament and of the papacy, some of them began to cry out, yelp, and bawl, and specially Cole cried out upon him, 'Stop the heretic's mouth, Ely was a priest lately made, and student and take him away.' And then Cranmer being pulled down from the stage, was led to the fire, accompanied with those friars, vexing, troubling, and threatening him most cruelly, 'What madness,' say they, 'hath brought thee again into this error, by which thou wilt draw innumerable souls with thee into hell?' To whom he answered nothing, but directed 10 all his talk to the people, saving that to one troubling him in the way, he spake, and exhorted him to get him home to his study, and apply his book diligently; saying, if he in divinity, being then one of the fellows of Brazennose. Then was an iron chain tied about Cran5 mer, whom when they perceived to be more steadfast than that he could be moved from his sentence, they commanded the fire to be set unto him. And when the wood was kindled, and the fire began to burn near him, stretching out his arm, he put his right hand into the flame, which he held so steadfast and immovable (saving that once with the same hand he wiped his face), that all men might see his did diligently call upon God, by reading more 15 hand burned before his body was touched. he should get knowledge. But the other Spanish barker, raging and foaming, was almost out of his wits, always having this in his mouth, 'Non fecisti?' 'Didst thou it not?' His body did so abide the burning of the flame with such constancy and steadfastness, that standing always in one place without moving his body, he seemed to move no more 20 than the stake to which he was bound; his eyes were lifted up into heaven, and oftentimes he repeated 'his unworthy right hand,' so long as his voice would suffer him; and using often the words of Stephen, 'Lord the flame he gave up the ghost. But when he came to the place where the holy bishops and martyrs of God, Hugh Latimer and Nicholas Ridley, were burnt before him for the confession of the truth, kneeling down, he prayed to God; and not 25 Jesus, receive my spirit,' in the greatness of long tarrying in his prayers, putting off his garments to his shirt, he prepared himself to death. His shirt was made long, down to his feet. His feet were bare; likewise his head, when both his caps were off, was so 30 bare, that one hair could not be seen upon it. His beard was long and thick, covering his face with marvellous gravity. Such a countenance of gravity moved the hearts both of his friends and of his enemies. CICELY ORMES OF NORWICH About the 23d day of the said month of September, next after the other above mentioned, suffered at Norwich, Cicely Ormes, wife of Edmund Ormes, worsted-weaver, dwelling in St. Laurence's parish in Norwich. 35 She, being of the age of thirty-two years or more, was taken at the death of Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper above mentioned, in a place called Lollards'-pit without Bishop'sgate, at the said Norwich, for that she said Then the Spanish friars, John and Richard, of whom mention was made before, began to exhort him, and play their parts with him afresh, but with vain and lost labour. Cranmer with steadfast purpose abiding in the 40 she would pledge them of the same cup that profession of his doctrine, gave his hand to certain old men, and others that stood by, bidding them farewell. And when he had thought to have done so likewise to Ely, the said Ely drew back his 45 hand, and refused, saying, it was not lawful to salute heretics, and specially such a one as falsely returned unto the opinions that he had foresworn. And if he had known before, that he would have done so, he would never 50 have used his company so familiarly: and chid those sergeants and citizens which had not refused to give him their hands. This they drank on. For so saying, one master Corbet of Sprouston by Norwich, took her and sent her to the chancellor. When she came before him, he asked her what she said unto the sacrament of Christ's body; and she said, she did believe that it was the sacrament of the body of Christ. 'Yea,' said the chancellor, 'but what is that that the priest holdeth over his head?' She answered him and said, 'It is bread: and if you make it any better, it is worse.' At which words the chancellor sent her to the bishop's prison, to the keeper called Fellow, with many threat ening and hot words, as a man being in a great chafe. I recant: but I recant utterly from the bottom of my heart the doings of the pope of Rome, and all his popish priests and shavelings. I utterly refuse and never will have to do with them again, by God's grace. And, good people! 5I would you should not think of me that I believe to be saved in that I offer myself here unto the death for the Lord's cause, but I believe to be saved by the death and passion of Christ; and this my death is and shall be a witness of my faith unto you all here present. Good people! as many of you as believe as I believe, pray for me.' Then she came to the stake, and laid her hand on it, and said, 'Welcome the cross of Christ.' Which being done, she, looking on The 23d day of July she was called before the chancellor again, who sat in judgment with master Bridges and others. The chancellor offered her, if she would go to the church and keep her tongue, she should be at liberty, and believe as she would. But she told him she would not consent to his wicked desire therein, do with her what he 10 would; for if she should, she said, God would surely plague her. Then, the chancellor told her, he had showed more favour to her, than ever he did to any, and that he was loth to condemn her, considering that she was an 15 her hand, and seeing it blacked with the ignorant, unlearned, and foolish woman. But she, not weighing his words, told him, if he did, he should not be so desirous of her sinful flesh, as she would (God's grace) be content to give it in so good a quarrel. Then 20 rose he and read the bloody sentence of condemnation against her; and so delivered her to the secular power of the sheriffs of the city, master Thomas Sutherton, and master Leonard Sutherton, brethren, who immedi- 25 joiceth in God my Saviour.' And in so say ately carried her to the Guildhall in Norwich, where she remained until her death. This Cicely Ormes was a very simple woman, but yet zealous in the Lord's cause, stake, wiped it upon her smock; for she was burnt at the same stake that Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper was burnt at. Then, after she had touched it with her hand, she came and kissed it, and said, 'Welcome the sweet cross of Christ'; and so gave herself to be bound thereto. After the tormentors had kindled the fire to her, she said, 'My soul doth magnify the Lord, and my spirit re ing, she set her hands together right against her breast, casting her eyes and head upward; and so stood, heaving up her hands by little and little, till the very sinews of her arms did being born in East Dereham, and was there 30 break asunder, and then they fell. But she yielded her life unto the Lord as quietly as if she had been in a slumber, or as one feeling no pain; so wonderfully did the Lord work with her: his name therefore be praised for ever the daughter of one Thomas Haund, tailor. DEATH OF MARY Now, then, after these so great afflictions from the bottom of her heart, and would 40 falling upon this realm, from the first be never do the like again while she lived: but before she exhibited her bill, she was taken and sent to prison, as is before said. She was burnt the 23d day of September, between seven and eight of the clock in the morning, 45 the said two sheriffs being there, and of people to the number of two hundred. When she came to the stake, she kneeled down, and made her prayers to God: that being done, she rose up and said, 'Good people! I believe in God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, three persons and one God. This do I not, nor will ginning of queen Mary's reign, wherein so many men, women, and children were burnt, many imprisoned, and in prison starved, divers exiled, some spoiled of goods and possessions, a great number driven from house and home, so many weeping eyes, so many sobbing hearts, so many children made fatherless, so many fathers bereft of their wives and children, so many vexed in con50 science, and divers against conscience constrained to recant; and, in conclusion, never a good man almost in all the realm but suffered something during all the time of this bloody persecution: after all this (I say) now we are come at length (the Lord be praised!) to the 17th day of November, which day as it brought to the persecuted members of Christ rest from their careful mourning, so it easeth me somewhat likewise of my laborious writing, by the death I mean of queen Mary; who, being long sick before, upon the said 17th day of November, in the year above said, about three or four o'clock 10 opened, you shall find Calais lying in my express to them. Albeit, afterward, she opened the matter more plainly to master Rise and mistress Clarencius (if it be true that they told me, which heard it of master 5 Rise himself); who then, being most familiar with her, and most bold about her, told her, that they feared she took thought for king Philip's department from her. 'Not that only,' said she, 'but when I am dead and heart.' And here an end of queen Mary, and of her persecution. Of queen Mary this truly may be affirmed, and left in story for a perpetual memorial or in the morning, yielded life to nature, and her kingdom to queen Elizabeth her sister. As touching the manner of whose death, some say that she died of a tympany, some (by her much sighing before her death) sup- 15 epitaph for all kings and queens that shall posed she died of thought and sorrow. Whereupon her council, seeing her sighing, and desirous to know the cause, to the end they might minister the more ready consolation unto her, feared, as they said, that she took 20 that thought for the king's majesty her husband, which was gone from her. To whom she answering again, 'Indeed,' said she, 'that may be one cause, but that is not the greatest wound that pierceth my oppressed 25 may be seen hereafter. mind': but what that was, she would not succeed her, to be noted that before her, never was read in story of any king or queen of England, since the time of king Lucius, under whom, in time of peace, by hanging, beheading, burning, and prisoning, so much christian blood, so many Englishmen's lives, were spilled within this realm, as under the said queen Mary for the space of four years was to be seen, and I beseech the Lord never 1563 ELIZABETHAN AGE POETRY NON-DRAMATIC Edmund Spenser (1552?-1599) THE FAERIE QUEENE, BOOK I CANTO I The patrone of true Holinesse A GENTLE knight was pricking on the plaine, The cruell markes of many a bloody fielde; But on his brest a bloodie crosse he bore, 10 And dead as living ever him adored: 15 |