most humble reuerence holding vp his hands and bowed him self deuoutly, saying: Praised be almighty God, and so stode still without mo woordes.
Then did the Lord Wentworth talke secretly putting his head behinde another Iustice, that sat betwene them that perceiuinge the said Roger, saide with loud voice. speake out my lorde, and if ye haue don any thinge contrary to your conscience: axe God mercy, and we for our parts do forgiue you, & speake not in secret, for ye shall come before a iudge and then make aunswer openly, euen he that shal iudge all men, with such like words. The lord Wentworth somewhat blushinge his countenance into remorse (as it was thought)
Commentary
Thomas Wentworth, first baron Wentworth, had been a prominent and enthusiastic Sufflok evangelical; John bale credited Wentworth with having converted him. (See the biography of Wentworth in the ODNB). Clearly, from Foxe's account, Wentworth was acting with considerable reluctance in prosecuting Kerby and Rogers.
[Back to Top] saide I did speake nothinge of you, nor I haue done nothinge vnto you, but as the lawe is. Then was Kerby and Roger sēt forth. Kerby to prison, and Roger to seint Edmondes bury to prison, there the next day Saterday, about x. of the clock, Kerby was brought to the market place. Whereas a stake was redy, wood, brome, and straw, and did of his clothes vnto his shirt, and a night cap vpon his head and so was fastend to the stake with irons, there being in the galerye the lord Wentworth with þ
e most parte of all the iustices of that quarters. Where they might see his execution, how euery thing should be don, And also might here what Kerby did say. & a great nōber of people aboute. M M. by estimation, there was also standinge on the galery by the Lorde Wentworth Doctor Rugham which was before a monk of bury and sexten of the house, hauing on a sirplis & a stole about his necke,
Commentary
Edward Rougham had formerly been an evangelical sympathiser and a friend of Richard Bayfield and Robert Barnes (In 1545, now apparently more theologically conservative, Edmund Rougham would preach at the burning of John Kirby in Bury St. Edmunds).
then silence was proclamed, and the said Doctor began to disalow him selfe, not mete to declare the holy scriptures (by reasō of so short time he was vnprouided) but that he did hope in gods assistāce it shuld come wel to pas. Al this while was Kerby trimming with irōs and faggots brome and straw, as one that should be maried with new garments, nothing changing chere nor countenance, but with moste meke spirit glorified God, which was wounderfull to behold. Then maister Doctor at last entred into the. 6. chapiter of Saint Iohn, and so handled þ
e matter þ
t diuers times Kirby said vnto him, you say not true, beleue him not good people. and as the voice of the people was they iudged Docter Rugham a false prophet. So when M. Docter had ended his collation he said vnto Kerby. Thou good mā, dost not thou beleue þ
t the blessed sacrament of aultar is the very flesh and bloode of Christ and no breade, euen as he was borne of the virgin Mary? Kerby aunswering boldly, I do not so beleue. how doest thou beleue saide maister Doctor? Kerby saide I do beleue that in the sacrament that Iesus Christ instituted at his last supper on maun-dy thursdaye to his disciples, which ought of vs the like to be don, is the death and passion and his bloode sheding to be remembrede in þ
e same for the redempcion of the world. and as I saide before, yet brede and more then brede for that it is consecrated to a holy vse. Then was Maister Doctor in his domps, and spake not one word more to Kerby after. Then said the vnder shrife to kerby, hast thou any thing more to say? Ye sir saide he if you will giue me leue, say on said the shrife. Then Kerby taking his night cap from his head and was puttinge it vnder his arme as thoughe it shoulde haue don him seruice again, Yet remembringe him selfe did cast it from him, liftinge vp his hands and said the
Te Deum, the beleue, with other praiers in the english toūge. The Lorde Wētworth in this time of Kerbies doing, did shrowd him self behinde one of the posts of the gallery, and wept, and so did many other. Then said Kerby I haue don. Ye may execute your office good master shrife: then was fier set to þ
e wood, and with loud voice he called vnto God knockinge on his breste and holdinge vp his handes so long as remembrance would serue and so ended his life the people geuinge showets, and praysing god with great admiraciō of his cōstancy beinge so simple & vnletterd.
[Back to Top]On the gang monday.
Commentary
This is the Monday of the Minor Rogations, i.e., the Monday before Ascension Day.
An. 1546, about, x. of a clock Roger clark of Mēdelsam was brought out of prison, and went on foote to the gate called south gate in bury, and by the way the processiō met with them but he went on, and would not bow cap nor knee, But wyth most stronge and vehement words, rebuked that idolatrye and supersticion, the officers beinge much offended, and without the gate wheras was þ
e place of execution the stake redy vp, þ
e wode liyng by, he came and kneled down and saide magnificat in the Englishe tongue, and with loud voice cried vnto the people while he was in fastning to the stake, and then the fier set to him, where as he suffred paines vnmercifully for the woode was grene and woulde not burne, but was choked with smoke
Commentary
The following details were added in the second edition, the first edition merely states that Clarke died in torment after a prolonged period in the fire (1563, 655).
and were constrained to beat him down vnder the woode, whereas he liued longe in greate and cruell torments, most woful to behold and so ended his life.
[Back to Top]¶ The bill or letter whiche was set on the toune hall dore the night before Kerby and Roger were condemned at Ipswich.
IVste iudicate filii hominū.
Commentary
Yet when ye shall iudge, minister your Iustice with mercye.
A fearfull thinge to fall into the hands of the liuinge God,
Commentary
be ye lerned therfore in true knowledge, ye that iudge þ
e earth, lest the lord be angry with you.
The blood of the rightuous shal be required
at
NN iiii