Christe, striuinge and vanquishinge in hys sainctes, which may sanctify vs together withthem, and directe vs to the glorye of his holye name. Amen.

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John Frith, a highly educated evangelical, had made a significant mark through his writings by the time of his death, aged thirty in 1533. He may already have known Tyndale before he went to the colloquy between Luther and Zwingli at Marburg in 1529 and (as a married man) he took up residence in Antwerp. It was there that he published in 1531 the work that reveals his powers of exegesis and that made him a marked man; his Disputacion of purgatorye. Frith was arrested in England that year, and Foxe tells the tale of how his knowledge of Homer gained his release from the stocks in Reading. But he was arrested and sent to the Tower before he could take ship back to Antwerp. Sentenced for heresies on the eucharist and purgatory, he recorded in prison the articles for which he died at Smithfield on 4 July 1533. It seems to have been a matter of accident, as recounted by Foxe, that Frith shared his fate with a still younger man, Andrew Hewet, a London apprentice of twenty-four who denied transubstantiation, saying he shared Frith's view of the sacrament of the altar. Foxe's illustrator represented a crowded scene in Smithfield, the people being reined back as the fire is prepared, while a friar is giving an admonitory address on the left. Others look on from the windows of shops or houses. This is the instructive moment before the pyre is lit, and the two martyrs pray inside the piled faggots. The woodcut has taken a hint from what Foxe says of Frith's suffering being prolonged by the wind 'which bare away the flame from him unto his fellow that was tied to his back', which prompted him to 'rejoice' for his co-sufferer, rather than think about himself. CUL copy: note that the hats and reins are in a very rich black.

The daye before the burninge of these worthye menne of God, the byshoppe of London certified kinge Henrye the eyghte of hys wor-thye (yea rather Woluishe) proceadynges againste these menne, the tenoure wherof here ensueth.

EXcellētissimo in christo principi et domino nostro, domino Henrico octauo dei gratia, Angliæ & Franciæ Regi fidei defensori, et domino Hiberniæ Ioannes permissione diuina Lōdon. Episcopus omnimodā reuerent. cum omni subiectionis honore. Cum nos alias in quodam inquisitionis hereticæ prauitatis negotio contra quosdam Iohannem Frithe et Andream Hewet hereticos et eorum vtriumque hereticū obstinatū impenitētem et incorrigibilem iudicauerimus ac spiritualiter et diffinitiue condempnauerimus, necnō eosdem Ioannem Frithe, et Andream honorando viro domino Stephano Pecocke maiori ciuitatis vestre London. et Ioanni Marten vni ex vicecomitibus eiusdem ciuitatis ad tunc nobiscū in iudicio personaliter presentibus iuxta iuris exigentiā relinquerim⁹ et tradiderimus. Idcirco omnia & singula premissa sic per nos gesta vestre regie celsitudini inotescimus & certificamus per presentes sigillo nostro sigillat. Dat. 3. die mensis Iulii Anno domin. Millesimc quingentesimo triges, motertio et nostre consecrationis. Anno tertio. 

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The Latin text is omitted in subsequent editions.

VNto the most noble Prince and Lorde in Christe, oure Lorde Henrye the eyghte by the grace of God, Kynge of Englande, and of Fraunce, and Lorde of Irelande, defendoure of the faythe. Ihon by the permissyon of God Byshop of London, w^t all manner of reuerence, honoure and subiection. Whereas we in a certaine businesse of inquisition of heresye agaynste certaine men,Ihon Frithe, and Andrew Hewet heritickes, we haue iudged and condempned eyther of them, as obstinate, impenitente, and incorrygible heretickes, by oure sentence definitiue, & haue deliuered the said Ihon and Androw, vn to the honorable mā sir Steuen Pecock maior of your city of London, and Ihon Martin one of your Shriues 

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John Martin was a scribe in mayor Peacock's office. The English translation of the bishop's certification is also omitted in subsequent editions.