And thus much concerning the life, story, and condemnation of these vij. Martyrs aboue specified.
The deaths of these martyrs were merely listed in the Rerum. These accounts first appeared in the 1563 edition and were substantially unchanged in subsequent editions. (Although one detail, that of Sir John Norton weeping at Joan Catmer's execution, was added in the 1570 edition. These accounts were almost entirely based on diocesan records of Canterbury, now lost.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaIanuary. 31.AFter these seuen aboue rehearsed, martyred together in Smithfield, shortly after in the same moneth the. xxxj. day of Ianuary, followed an other like fellowship of godly Martyrs at Canterbury, foure women and one man, whose names be these.
Marginalia4. Women and one mā Martyrs.
Iohn Lomas, a yong man.
Anne Albright.
Ioane Catmer.
Annes Snoth, wydow.
Ioane Sole, wyfe.
MarginaliaIohn Lomas. Martyr.JOhn Lomas of the parishe of Tenterden, detected and presented of that religion which the Papistes call heresie, and cited vpon the same to appeare at Canterbury, examined there of the fyrst article, whether he beleued the catholicke church or no, aunswered thus: that he beleued so much as is cōtayned in Gods booke and no more.
[Back to Top]Then beyng assigned to appeare agayne vnder the payne of law the next Wedensday seuennyght after, which was the. xvij. day of Ianuary, the sayd Lomas examined whether he would bee confessed of a Priest or no, aunswered & sayd, MarginaliaThe answere of Iohn Lomas at his examination.that he found it not wrytten that he should be confessed to any priest, in Gods boke, neither would bee confessed, vnlesse hee were accused by some mā of sinne. Agayn examined whether he beleued the body of CHRIST to be in the sacrament of the aultar really vnder the formes of bread and wyne after the consecration or no: MarginaliaThe sacrament of the aultar denyed.he aunswered that he beleued no realty of CHRISTES body to be in the sacrament, neither found he writtē that he is there vnder forme or trestell,MarginaliaRealtie of Christ neyther vnder forme nor trestell. but he beleued so much as is writtē.
Notice how complicated and sophisticated the articles used in Canterbury were compared to those used in London.
church nor no, and whether he would be content to be a mēber of þe same, he aunswered therunto that hee beleued so much as was written in Gods booke, and other aunswer then this he refused to geue. &c. MarginaliaSentence agaynst Iohn Lomas.Whereupon the sentence was geuen and red against him the. xviij. day of Ianuary, and so cōmitted to the secular power, he constantly suffered for the conscience of a true faith, with the other foure women here following.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaIanuary. 31.AGnes Snoth wydow, of the parish of Smarden, likewyse accused and cited for the true profession of CHRISTES religion, was diuers tymes examined before þe Pharisaicall fathers. Who there cōpelled to answer to such articles and interrogatories as should bee ministred vnto her, MarginaliaConfession auricular refused.first denyed to bee confessed to a Priest: notwithstanding she denyed not to confesse her offences as one to an other, but not auricularly to any Priest. And as touching the Sacrament of the aultar, MarginaliaThe sacramēt how to be receaued.she protested that if she or any other dyd receiue the sacrament so as CHRIST and as hys Apostles after him dyd delyuer it, then shee and they dyd receiue it to theyr comfort: but as it is now vsed in the Church, she sayd that no man could otherwise receiue it then to hys damnation, as she thought. Afterward being examined agayne concerning penaunce, MarginaliaPennance is denied to be a sacrament.whether it were a sacrament or no, shee plainly denyed the same, & that the popish maner of their absolution was not consonāt to the word, nor necessary to be taken: with such other like, agreing with the aunswers and cōfession of Iohn Lomas before mencioned. Whereupon the sentence lykewise being red, MarginaliaAgnes Snoth condemned & committed to the secular power.she was cōmitted to the Sheriffes of Canterbury, and so suffering Martyrdome with the rest, declared her selfe a perfect and constant wytnes of CHRIST and of his truth, the. xxxj. day of Ianuary.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaAnne Albright, Martyr.AGaynst Anne Albright likewyse appearing before þe Iudge and hys Colleagues, it was also obiected cōcerning the same matter of confession. MarginaliaAuricular confession.Wherunto she aunswered in these wordes saying: that shee