1173 [114]
Actes and Monumentes of the church.
Yet among all the rest there is none in my iudgement, that hath bene more frutefull of godly martyrs, then hath Essex,
Commentary
Praise of Essex as the county most fruitful in producing martyrs follows in the 1563 edition. This was dropped in subsequent editions, probably because Foxe became more aware of the contributions of the counties of Kent and Sussex. (Kent has the dubious distinction of being the countywith the most martyrs executed).
[Back to Top] from whence (as there were many other, of whom in theyr tyme mencion shalbe made) so there came two amonges the rest, that were notable, being descended of worshipfull stocke: the one called Thomas Higbe of the parish of Hornden hill the other Thomas Cawson of the parish of Thunderst, who was the elder man, both being welthy and in florishing estate of riches, but much more flourishynge in godlynes. Wherfore when they shone so bright in vertue and godlynes, they coulde not long be vnseen, or hydden in so greate obscuryty & darknes of these tymes, and at last being betrayd (I knowe not by what occasyon) and taken, they were both committed to the officers of Colchester to be saufly kept. And with thē was a seruaunte of Thomas Cawson,
Commentary
This was Henry Wye, who would later be martyred himself.
who in thys prayse of christian godlynes, was nothing inferyour to hys Maister. This shier of Essex was in the Dioces of Bonner, the Byshop of London, which at that tyme (by reason of their worshipfull estate, and fauour of the people, and bycause they were of greate estymacyon amonges theyr countrymen, lest any tumulte shoud therby arise) came thither hym selfe, not without a mete company of his seruauntes to ayde yf neede were. Thither al so amonge the rest came Fecknam, (which a litell while after was chosen Abbot of Westmynster) to this entent: that either by his craftynes of perswasion, or els through the famyliarity that some time he had with Maister Cawson, he mighte preuaile somwhat with him.
Commentary
A description of Feckenham trying to convert Higbed and Causton was printed in the 1563 edition and subsequently dropped. It does appear that Foxe was trying to shorten this narrative in the 1570 edition; perhaps this concern was related to a shortage of paper for this edition (see Evenden and Freeman, pp.37-39).
[Back to Top] In which matter neither of them did fail in his parte: thone in perswading, thother in resisting. But the honesty of the one exceded the importunity of the other, the one beinge stronger in reteyning his old faith, then the other in perswading a new fayth. The rest also assayed, by what soeuer might be done by any man, by fayre meanes, by threateninges, by large promyses, and flatteringe wordes. At the length when they preuayled nothing, they cam to this point: that they desyred some tyme to consult with them selues, what were best to be done. Which thing put the godly in no smal feare, doubting least any thing would happen in the meane tyme, whereby either their constancy fayling thē, or through weaknes being deceaued (as we are all men) they would haue geuen ouer. But so farre of was it that this tyme of truce should dimynyshe any parte of theyr noble constancy, that rather they seemed to haue gathered muche moore strength therby. When the tyme appoynted, for them to delyberate was expired, being demaunded whether they stode still in the same mynde and opinion: they mayntayned their
[Back to Top]fayth and doctrine with such testimonies (setting also theire confession in writinge) that their aduersaries, being beaten of with their great shame, their frendes conceaued no smal confidence of them: in so much that the Byshop would not suffer thē to tary any lengar there, but he departing thense, caryed them both to London with him, and with them certayne others which that time also were there prisoners. Thus the Byshop came home to London, leading with hym these godly men, as in a solemne triumphe,
Commentary
A description of Bonner riding in triumph through London, which was here in 1563, was subsequently dropped. It has been hypothesized that Foxe toned down his rhetoric in the the 1570 edition (see Alaister Fox) and this would appear to supply confirmation of this theory.
and after he had cōmytted them to most straight prisonne, he tēpted them by dyuers chapleynes of hys owne sorte, that they would chaunge their opinion, and come to the vnyty of the popish fayth, examyning them also dyuers tymes of dyuers articles, to the which howe they answered ye shal hereafter se. At length after much and sūdry assailings, whē nothing could be brought to passe as they would, and after so many mōthes labour n vaine, they wer both broughte before the Byshop and other his colleages in the consistory at Pawles, the. xvii. day of February, Anno. 1555.
Commentary
The accounts of the sessions in Consistory Court, together with the articles charged againt Causton and Higbed, and their answers, are taken from Bishop Bonner's official records, probably a court book which has now been lost.
Where they wer demaunded aswel by the sayd Byshop, as also by the B. of Bath and others, whether they woulde recant theyr errors, and peruerse doctrine (as they termed it) and so come to the vnity of the popish Church. Which when they refused to do, the Byshop red vnto them, seuerally certeyne articles, and gaue them respyt vntill the next day, to answer vnto the same, and so committed them agayne to prison.
[Back to Top]The nexte daye followynge, beinge the xxviii. daye of February at after none, the said Thomas Cawston, and Thomas Higbedde were brought before the Byshop in the consistory, and there were seuerally required, by Doctor Harpesfield and Doctor Smyth, Glasier, and White, Bachelers of Diuinity, to recant theyr forsayd doctrine, and specyally to acknowledge the veryty of Christes presence in the sacrament of the altar. To whome they answered, that Christes body is not in the sacrament of the alter: and as touching transubstantiation, they knew that the scripture did not allowe it. Then dyd the Byshop openly obiecte, and read vnto them certayne articles to the which they answered seuerally, eche in his course. And after many faire & flattreing perswasions to them, cōmaunded them to appeare agayne the next daye in the same place and there to heare the sentence of the lawe to procede farther agaynste them, if they woulde not then recant.
[Back to Top]
Commentary
The accounts of the sessions in Consistory Court, together with the articles charged againt Causton and Higbed, and their answers, are taken from Bishop Bonner's official records, probably a court book which has now been lost.
The next daye, being fryday, and the first day of March were the sayd Thomas Cawstone, and Thomas Higbed called to theyr sondry appearances before the Byshop, and others, in hys consistory, where he sayd vnto
them
1563 Edition | Book 5 | Page 1173 