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1616 [1547]

fore in the volume of this history may appere pag. 1229. col. 1. Now to procede in the order and course of time where we lefte, next followeth the moneth of Nouember. In the beginning of which moneth were together in the Castell of Caunterbury. xv. godly and innocent Martires, of which nomber not one eschaped with theyr lyfe, but eyther wer burned or els were famyshed in the pryson: of the which two sortes, which is the easyer death God knoweth, it is hard to iudge. Not withstanding, the truth is, these. x. were burned & suffered in the fyre, and. v. were pined and famyshed most vnmercifully in the streight prison, the names of whom were. MarginaliaConfessors and Martyrs.

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Iohn Clarke.
Dunston Chittendē 
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This probably is the 'Chidderton' of Ashford who attended the conventicle of radical protestants held at Bocking, Essex, in December 1550 (APC III, p. 199). Foxe relates that a 'goodwife Chittendon' was driven out of her home in Kent during Mary's reign (1563, p. 1679).

Whyche. 2.
wer yet vn-


VV. Foster of Stone.
Alice Potkins Wyfe
of Stapleherst. 
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Later Foxe would print a letter describing how Alice Potkin and a fellow prisoner, Alice Benden, subsisted in prison on a diet which cost two and a half pence for both of them (1570, p. 2168; 1576, p. ; 1583, p. 1981).

Iohn Archer of Cran
brok weuer.

These wer
to be brent

OF these fiue, the first two were vncondemned, the other three laste were cōndemned, and should haue beene burned but suffered no lesse tormentes, then if they had so suffered, being macerat and pined to death by famine. What their articles and answers wer, it nedeth not here to recite, seing all they, in that time of Quene Mary commenly suffered for one maner and sorte of cause, that is, for holding against the. vii. sacraments, 

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Phrases like this often indicate that Foxe was trying to conceal unorthodox (at least by his standards) opinions uttered by the Marian martyrs. Because the records of these trials have not survived, it is impossible to be sure, but it is suspicious that Foxe says nothing about the opinions of Clark and Chittenden.

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against the reality of Christes being in his supper, for speaking against the church of Rome, and determinacions of the same, agaynst Images set vp and worshipped in the church, for not comming to the church, and such other like. &c.

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Fyrst, William Foster answering to these and like articles, sayd, MarginaliaWilliam Fosters answer to the articles.that he beleaueth well in all tharticles of the crede: but to beleaue to be mo sacramentes then two, and to praye to sainctes, eyther to profyte vs, or to praye for soules in purgatory to profyt them, that faith and workes doo iustify, or to allow the popish ceremonies in the Church, that hee denieth. Moreouer sayth, to cary candelles vpon Candelmas day were as good for hym as to cary a dungforke, MarginaliaCarying a boute the Crosse.and that is as necessary to cary the gallowes aboute, if his father be hanged, as the crosse. To come to the church hee cannot, sayth he, with a safe conscience. MarginaliaNecessiti alwayes excused in maters indifferente.Concerning fysh dayes and flesh dayes he graunteth it good to put difference therin, excepte it bee for necessity.

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Thys William Foster was a laboring man of thage of. xl. yeares. He was apprehended & imprisoned by syr Thomas Moyle knight.

MarginaliaMother Potkyns.Alice Potkins also for the lyke confession,

was condemned to bee burned, for that shee was not, neither would be confessed to the Prieste, for that she receyued not the sacrament of thaultar, because she would not praye to saintes, nor crepe to the crosse. &c. Being demaunded of her age, she sayd that shee was xlix. yeares old according to her old age, and according to her yong age, since shee lerned Christ, she was of one yeares age, and was committed by MarginaliaMaister Robertes troubler of Alyce Potkins.mayster Robertes to pryson.

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The answer and confession of MarginaliaIohn Archer.Ihon Archer of Crambrocke, was much in lyke sorte: And although certeyn of these vpon ignorant simplicity swarued a lytle in the number of sacramentes, some grauntinge one sacrament that is, the body of Christ hanging vpon the crosse, some mo, some lesse. &c. Yet in the principall matters touching the Doctrin of saluacion for fayth to staye vpon, and in disagreing from the dreming determinations of the popish Church, they most agreed. Concerninge the not prayeng to Sainctes, & for the dead in purgatory, for not creping to þe crosse, for faith onely to iustify, for taking of an othe and such other lyke, he graunted as thother had done. This father Archer by his occupatiō a weuer of þe town of Crābrok of þe age of. l. yeres was attached and imprisoned by MarginaliaSyr Ihon Gylford.syr Ihon Gilford Knight. And this haue ye the cause and imprisonment of these fyue godly prisoners. Nowe as touching the cruelty of their death, for þt ye shal not surmise the suspicion or relation ther of to procede of my selfe, ye shall here their owne testimony and certification by theyr letter, throwen out of the prison concerning the vnmercyfull dealing of the popish tirauntes in famishing then, as is afore said. The words and coppy of their letter is this.

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The coppy of a letter 
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This letter was reprinted in Letters of the Martyrs, pp. 681-82.

written and caste out of the castel of Caunterbury by the prisoners, ther in bands for Gods word declaring how the Papistes went about to famish them to death, of the which company. v. were famished emongest them alredy.

MarginaliaThe Prisoners letter.BE it knowen to all men that shall rede or here red these our letters, that we the pore prisoners of the Castell of Caunterburye for Gods truthe, are kepte and lye in colde irons and our keper wyll not suffer any meate to be brought to vs to comforte vs. And if any man do bring any thing, as bread, butter, chese, or any other fode, the sayd Keper wyl charge them that so bring vs any thing, except mony or rayment, to cary it with them agayne, or elles yf he do receaue any foode of any for vs, hee doth kepe it for hym selfe, and he and his seruantes doo spend it, so that we haue nothing thereof: and thus the Keper kepeth away our vittails from vs. In somuch that there are foure of vs prisoners there for gods truth, famished alredy and thus is it his mind to famish vs al: and we thinke he is appointed therunto of the bishops and priestes, and also of the Iustices, so to famysh vs, and not only vs of the sayd Castell

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