1583 Edition | Book 12 | Page 2055 
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(d. 1558)
Martyr. Deacon of the protestant congregation in Marian London.
Foxe describes Cuthbert Symson's character. 1563, p. 1650, 1570, p. 2228, 1576, p. 1924, 1583, p. 2031.
Rough went to Symson and they agreed to give a book containing the names of the congregation to Kate Rough. 1563, p. 1650, 1570, p. 2228, 1576, p. 1924, 1583, p. 2032.
Kate Rough dreamed she saw James Mearing's wife with a bloody banner in her hand and a fire-pan on her head. 1570, p. 2228, 1583, p. 2032.
Rough was arrested by the vice-chamberlain of the queen's house at the Saracen's Head in Islington with Cuthbert Symson and Hugh Foxe on 12 December 1557. They had pretended to be there to hear a play but were actually reading their communion books. 1563, p. 1653, 1570, p. 2231, 1576, p. 1926, 1583, p. 2034.
[Back to Top]Cuthbert Symson was racked and condemned. 1563, p. 1651, 1570, p. 2229, 1576, p. 1924, 1583, p. 2032.
He was put in stocks prior to his condemnation. 1563, p. 1651, 1570, p. 2229, 1576, p. 1926, 1583, p. 2032.
He had a vision in the stocks which he reported to master Austen, to his wife, and to Thomas Symson. 1563, p. 1651, 1570, p. 2229, 1576, p. 1926, 1583, p. 2032.
Cluney checked on Symson in prison prior to his condemnation. Someone else also entered his cell. 1563, p. 1651, 1570, p. 2229, 1576, p. 1926, 1583, p. 2032.
Articles were brought against him and he answered. 1563, pp. 1653-64, 1570, p. 2230, 1576, pp. 1926, 1583, p. 2032.
Roger Sergeant gave information against Cuthbert Symson. 1563, p. 1652 [incorrectly numbered as 1632], 1570, p. 2229, 1576, p. 1926, 1583, p. 2032.
Symson wrote a letter to his wife. 1563, p. 1653 [incorrectly numbered 1633], 1570, pp. 2230-31, 1576, p. 1927, 1583, pp. 2033-34.
He was burned on 28 March 1558. 1563, p. 1650, 1570, p. 2228, 1576, p. 1927, 1583, p. 2034.
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(d. 1557)
Minister. Martyr. Born in Scotland. Of Stirling. (DNB)
John Rough was originally a Black Friar in Stirling for sixteen years until the time when Lord Hamilton (earl of Arran) sued the archbishop of St Andrews. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2225, 1576, p. 1921, 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
Rough was in the service of Hamilton for just one year. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2225, 1576, p. 1921, 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
Rough was sent to preach in Ayr for four years. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2225, 1576, p. 1921, 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
After the death of the David Beaton, he went to St Andrews. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2225, 1576, p. 1921, 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
He was assigned a pension of £20 by Henry VIII. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2225, 1576, p. 1921, 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
After the battle of Musselborough he went to Carlisle, then on to the duke of Somerset. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2225, 1576, p. 1921, 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
He was sent as preacher to Carlisle, Berwick and Newcastle. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2225, 1576, p. 1921, 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
He married in Newcastle. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2225, 1576, p. 1921, 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
Rough was called by the archbishop of York to the benefice of Hull, where he remained until the death of Edward VI. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2225, 1576, p. 1921, 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
He fled to Norden in Friesland upon the accession of Mary. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2225, 1576, p. 1921, 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
He came to London on 10 November 1557. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2225, 1576, p. 1921, 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
Foxe relates John Rough's sermon about and conversation with Dr Watson in which Rough berated Watson for his doctrinal beliefs. 1563, p. 1734.
Rough was betrayed by Roger Sergeant, a tailor. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2226, 1576, p. 1921, 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
Rough was arrested by the vice-chamberlain of the queen's house at the Saracen's Head in Islington with Cuthbert Symson and Hugh Foxe on 12 December 1557. They had pretended to be there to hear a play but were actually reading their communion books. 1563, p. 1653, 1570, p. 2231, 1576, p. 1926, 1583, p. 2034.
[Back to Top]On 15 December 1557 a letter was sent by the archbishop of York, the earl of Shrewsbury, Edward Hastings, Anthony Montague, John Bourne and Henry Jerningham (members of the privy council) to Bishop Bonner along with the examinations of John Rough. They sent Rough to Newgate. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2226, 1576, pp. 1921-22., 1583, p. 2028 [incorrectly numbered as 2034].
[Back to Top]Articles were brought against him and he answered. 1563, pp. 1647-48, 1570, pp. 2226-27, 1576, pp. 1922-23, 1583, pp. 2029-30.
Rough attended the burning of Austoo at Smithfield. On his way home he met with Master Farrar, a merchant of Halifax, who asked him where he had been. 1563, p. 1648, 1570, p. 2227, 1576, p. 1923, 1583, p. 2034.
Rough was burned at London on 22 December 1557. 1563, p. 1735, 1570, p. 2227, 1576, p. 1923, 1583, p. 2030.
He wrote a letter to his godly friends. 1570, p. 2227, 1576, p. 1923, 1583, p. 2030.
He wrote a letter to the congregation two days before he burned. 1583, pp. 2030-31.
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Bonner's summoner. Keeper of Lollards Tower.
Cluney witnessed the degradation of John Hooper and John Rogers on 4 February 1555. 1563, p. 1058; 1570, p. 1681; 1576, p. 1435; 1583, p. 1508. [NB: Described as a bell ringer in 1563, p. 1058, but this was changed to summoner in later editions.]
Bonner's writ for the excommunication of John Tooley was sent to Cluney. 1563, p. 1143; 1570, p. 1757; 1576, p. 1501; 1583, p. 1582.
Robert Johnson wrote a letter to Bonner about Whittle, confirming Cluney's and Harpsfield's reports. He mentioned that Sir Thomas More's submission was read to him twice to no good effect. 1563, p. 1456, 1570, p. 2018, 1576, p. 1738, 1583, pp. 1846-47.
John Harpsfield wrote a letter to Bonner about Whittle's subscription, in which he mentioned Cluney's report. 1563, pp. 1455-56, 1570, pp. 2017-18, 1576, p. 1738, 1583, pp. 1846-47.
Margery Mearing was talking with a friend when she saw Cluney, Bonner's summoner, making his way to her house. Cluney took her away to be examined. 1563, p. 1646, 1570, p. 2228, 1576, p. 1924, 1583, p. 2031.
Cluney took William Living to his own house, robbed him, and then took him to Bonner's coalhouse and put him in the stocks. Cluney eventually brought him meat and then took him to Darbyshire who presented him with a list of names. Cluney took Julian Living to Lollards Tower. 1563, p. 1673, 1570, p. 2265, 1576, p. 1956, 1583, p. 2063.
[Back to Top]John Fetty was taken by Richard Tanner and his fellow constables to Sir John Mordaunt who then sent him to Cluney, Bonner's summoner, who sent him to Lollards Tower and put him in the stocks. 1563, p. 1693, 1570, p. 2257, 1576, p. 1949, 1583, p. 2056.
The chaplains had Cluney take William Fetty to his father in Lollards Tower. 1563, p. 1693, 1570, p. 2256, 1576, p. 1948, 1583, p. 2055.
The child told his father what had happened, at which point Cluney seized the child and returned him to Bonner's house. 1563, p. 1693, 1570, p. 2256, 1576, p. 1948, 1583, p. 2055.
Thomas Green was transferred quickly from Lollards Tower to the coalhouse by Cluney and then put in the stocks. 1563, p. 1685, 1570, p. 2263, 1576, p. 1953, 1583, p. 2060.
After examination, Cluney removed Green to prison again, first to the coalhouse and then the salthouse. 1563, p. 1688, 1570, p. 2263, 1576, p. 1954, 1583, p. 2061.
Cluney delivered Green to Trinian, the porter of Christ's hospital, where he was thrown into the dungeon. 1563, p. 1688, 1570, p. 2263, 1576, p. 1954, 1583, p. 2061.
After Elizabeth Young's sixth examination, Darbyshire called on Cluney to take her away. Cluney took her to the stockhouse, where she was kept in irons, and then to Lollards Tower, where she was kept in stocks and irons. 1570, p. 2273, 1576, p. 1962, 1583, p. 2069.
Alexander Wimshurst was sent to Cluney's house in Paternoster Row, where he was to be carried forward to Lollard's Tower, but Cluney, his wife and maid had no time to lock up Wimshurst as they were extremely busy. When Wimshurst was left alone in Cluney's hall, a woman came to him and told him this was his chance to escape, which he took. 1570, p. 2276, 1576, p. 1965, 1583, p. 2072.
[Back to Top]Edward Benet asked Story to help him out of prison, which he did, only to deliver him to Cluney who put him in stocks in the coalhouse for a week. 1570, p. 2279, 1576, p. 1968 [incorrectly numbered 1632], 1583, p. 2075.
[Foxe occasionally refers to him as 'Richard Cloney'.]
MarginaliaAnno 1557. March.the Gospell of the Crosse, by me preached, nor yet of my suffering: for with my bloud I affirme the same. I go before, I suffer first the bayting of the Butchers Dogges: yet I haue not done, what I should haue done: but my weaknes, I doubt not, is supplied in the strēgth of Iesus christ: and your wisedomes & learning will accept that small talent, which I haue distributed vnto you (as I trust) as a faythfull stewarde, and if what was vndone, impute that to my frayltye and ignoraunce, and with your loue couer that which is and was naked in me. God knoweth ye all are tender vnto me, my hart bursteth for the loue of you. Ye are not without your great pastor of your soule: who, so loueth you, that if men were not to bee sought out (as God be praysed, there is no want of men) he would cause stones to minister vnto you. Cast your care on that Rock, the wind of temptation shall not preuayle, fast and praye for the dayes are euill. Looke vp with your eyes of hope, for the redemption is not farre off, (but my wickednesse hath deserued that I shall not see it.) And also that which is behind of the bloud of our brethren, which shall also be layd vnder the aulter, shall crye for your reliefe. Time wil not now suffer me to write longer Letters. The spirite of God guid you in and out, rising & sitting, couer you with the shadow of his winges, defend you agaynst the tyrannye of the wicked, and bring you happely vnto the Porte of eternall felicitye, where all teares shall be wyped from your eyes, and you shall alwayes abyde wyth the Lambe.
[Back to Top]Iohn Rough.
MarginaliaThe story and examination of Margaret Mearing, Martyr.IT is declared, that in the companye of Iohn Roughe, was burned one Margaret Mearyng, who, as the Register maketh mention, was at one time and day brought wyth the sayde Rough foorth to examination: where the Byshop hauynge no priuate matters to charge her withall, did the eightenth daye of December obiecte agaynste her those common and accustomable Articles mentioned before pag, 1585. To which she aunswered as followeth.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaHer aunsweres to the articles.FIrst, that there is here in earth a catholicke Churche and that there is the true fayth of Christ obserued, and kept in the same Church.
2 Item, that there were onely two sacramentes in the Church, namely the sacrament of the bodye and bloud of Christ, and the sacrament of Baptisme.
3 Item, that she was baptised in the fayth, & beliefe of the sayd Church, renouncing there, by her Godfathers and Godmothers, the Deuill and all his workes. &c.
4 Item, that when she came to the age of fouretene yeares, shee did not knowe what her true beliefe was, because shee was not then of discretion to vnderstande the same, neyther yet was taught it.
5 Item, that she had not gone from the catholicke fayth at any time: but she sayde that the Masse was abhominable before the sight of God, and before the sight of all true Christian people, and that it is the playne Cup of fornication, and the whore of Babilon. And as concerning the Sacrament of the aultar, she sayd she beleued there was no such sacrament in the catholicke Church. Also she sayd, that she vtterly abhorred the authoritye of the Byshop of Rome, with all the Religion obserued in the same Antichristes Church.
[Back to Top]6 Item, she aunswered to the sixt Article, as to the first, before specified.
7 Item, that she hath refused to come to her Parish Church, because the true Religion of Christ was not then vsed in the same: and farther sayd that she had not come vnto the Churche by the space of one yeare, and three quarters, then last paste, neither yet did meane any more to come vnto the same in these Idolatrous dayes.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaMargaret Mearing apprehended by Cluney.8 Item, as touching the maner of her apprehension she said that Cluney the Bishops Somner, did fetch her to the Bishop.
These aunsweres being then registered, they were agayne (with the sayd Articles). propounded agaynste her the xx. day of December, and there being demaunded if she would stand vnto those her aunsweres, she sayde: I wyll stand to them vnto the death: for the very Aungels of heauen do laugh you to scorne, to see your abhomination that you vse in the Churche. MarginaliaSentence against Margaret Mearing.After the whiche wordes the Byshop pronounced the sentence of condemnation: and then deliuering her vnto the Sheriffes, she was wyth the forenamed Iohn Roughe caryed vnto Newgate. From whence they were both together led vnto Smithfield, the xxij. day of the same Moneth of December, and there most ioyfullye gaue theyr liues for the profession of Christes
[Back to Top]Gospell.
MarginaliaThe Martyrdome of Iohn Rough and Margaret Mearing in Smithfield. Anno. 1557. December.When the latter end of this history of Mayster Rough, and Margarete Mearing was in finishing, there came to our hands one necessary thing of the said Margaret Mearyng, which wee thought not good to omit.
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In other words, Foxe obtained this story as the 1563 edition was nearing completion. This is a reminder of the steady influx of new information into Foxe's hands as his first two editions were being printed.
Then comming abroade agayne, shee vnderstandinge that the Congregation suspected the said Sergeaunt to be his Promoter, went to his house, and asked whether Iudas dwelt not there. Vnto whom aunswere was made, there dwelt no such. No, sayd she? Dwelleth not Iudas here that betrayed Christ? His name is Sergeaunt. Whē she saw she could not speake with him, she went her way. So the Friday after, she standing at Marke lane ende in London, with an other woman, a frende of hers, sawe Cluney Boners Somner, commyng in the Streete towardes her house. Whome when she sawe, she sayed to the other woman standyng with her: whether goeth yonder fine felowe sayde she? I thinke surely he goeth to my house: and in viewing him still, at the last she saw him enter in at her doore. So immediately she went home, and asked him whome hee sought. MarginaliaThe taking of Margaret Mearing Martyr.Whereunto Cluney made answere and sayd, for you: you must go with me. Mary, quoth she, here I am: I will go with you, and comming to the Bishoppe, she was layde in prison, and the Wednesday after burnt with Mayster Rough in Smithfielde, as ye haue heard.
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"In the beginning of this year, in the month of April, by virtue of a commission from Bonner, and some warrants also from the council, Dr. Chedsey and Thomas Mourton, the bishop's chaplains, and John Boswell, his secretary, went down to Colchester and Harwich, to examine the heretics in those parts of Essex, and to condemn them to be burnt; for though they burnt so many - so many, that one Dale, a promoter, told Mr. Living, a minister (and in bonds for religion), 'You care not for burning; by God's blood' (as he swore) 'there must be some other means found for you,' - yet many more remained there." Strype's "Memorials under Mary," chap. lxii., where the proceedings of this commission are, in some measure, detailed. - ED.
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The entire account of Simpson first appeared in the 1563 edition but it was very disorganised. Foxe's sources for this account were the official records of Simpson's trial (for the articles against him as well as the depositions of witnesses against the underground London congregation). Foxe also printed two letters by Simpson and drew heavily on the testimony of individual informants. (This is probably one reason for the disorder of this account in the first edition). In the 1570 edition, this material was re-arranged and the depositions dropped. Also dropped was an anecdote about a dream which John Rough had. There were no further changes to this account in subsequent editions.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaAnno. 1558. MarginaliaThe story & cruell handling of Cutbert Simson. Deacon and Martyr. March. 28.NExt after the Martyrdome of M. Rough Minister of the Congregation, aboue mentioned, succeded in like Martyrdome the Deacon also of that sayde Godly company or Congregation in London, named Cutbert Symson, being committed to the fire, the yeare of our Lord. 1558. the 28. day of March.
[Back to Top]This Cutbert Symson was a manne of a faythfull, and zealous hart to Christ and his true flocke, in so much that he neuer ceased labouryng, and Studying most earnestly, not onely how to preserue them without corruption of the Popish religion, but also hys care was euer vigilant, how to keepe them together wythout peryll, or daunger of persecution. The paynes, trauayle, zeale, pacience, and fidelity of this man, in caryng, and prouiding for thys Congregation, as it is not lightly to be expressed: MarginaliaThe visions sent to Gods Saintes concerning their afflictions.so is it wonderfull to beholde the prouidence of the Lord by vision, concerning the troubles of this faythfull minister, aud godly Deacon, as in this here folowyng may appeare.
[Back to Top]The Fridaye at nighte before Maister Rough Minister of the congregation (of whom mētion is made before) was takē, being in his bed he dreamed, that he saw 2. of the