Miraris Ianam Graio sermone valere?
Quo primum nata est tempore, Graia fuit.
Tu, quibus ista legas, incertum est lector, ocellis:
Ipse equidem siccis scibere vix potui.
Iana iacet sæuo non æquæ vulnere mortis,
Nobilis ingenio, sanguine, martyrio.
Ingenium latijs ornauit fœmina musis,
Fœmina virgineo tota dicata choro.
Sanguine clara fuit, regali stirpe creata,
Ipsa reginæ nobilitata throno.
Bis Graia est, pulchre Graijs nutrita camænis,
Et prisco Graiûm sanguine creta ducum.
Bis Martyr, sacræ fidei verißima testis:
Atque vacans regni crimine, Iana iacet.
The brief accounts of the executions of Jane Grey and her husband, Guildford Dudley (with the memorable phrase that they were innocents by comparison with their judges) are reprinted from Crowley's chronicle (cf. Crowley, Epitome, sig. Ffff3v with 1563, p. 923; 1570, p. 1585; 1576, p. 1352; 1583, p. 1423).
[Back to Top]MarginaliaFebruary 21.And not longe after, the xxi. of the same moneth was Henry Duke of Suffolke behedded at the Tower hill, the iiii. day after his condempnation, about whiche tyme also were cōdemned for this conspiracie many Gentlemen and Yeomen, whereof some were executed at London, and some in the countrey: In the nūber of whome was also Lord Thomas Gray, brother to the sayd Duke, being apprehended not long after in North Wales, and executed for the same.
The brief account of the executions of Suffolk and his brother, Thomas Grey, are reprinted from Crowley's chronicle (cf. Crowley, Epitome, sig. Ffff3v with 1563, p. 923; 1570, p. 1585; 1576, p. 1352; 1583, p. 1423). A much fuller account of Suffolk's execution, from a different source, will be given much later in Book 10.
[Back to Top]MarginaliaFebruary. 24.The xxiiii. of the same moneth the yeare of our Lord. 1554. Boner Byshop of London sent downe a commission, directed to all the curates and pastours of hys dioces, for the taking of the names of such as would not come the lente folowinge to auricular confession, and to the receyuing at Easter, the copie of whiche monition here foloweth.
[Back to Top]Bonner's order to his curates to report the names of all those who did not confess during Lent or receive the eucharist at Easter is printed from Bonner's register (cf. Guildhall MS 9531/12, fol. 341r with 1563, p. 923; 1570, p. 1585; 1576, pp. 1352-53; 1583, p. 1423). It is yet another example of Foxe's quarrying of the London episcopal registers before the publication of the 1563 edition. There is a curious discrepancy; Foxe gives the date of the document as 23 February in all his editions, but it is 24 February on the original document.
[Back to Top]EDmond by the permission of God, byshop of London, to all parsons, Vicars, Curates and Ministers of the church, within the citie and dioces of Londō, sendeth grace, peace, and mercie, in our Lorde euerlasting. For as much as by the order of the ecclesiastical lawes and constitutions of this Realme, and the laudable vsage and custome of the whole catholike
[Back to Top]churche, by many hundreth yeares agone, duely and deuoutly obserued and kept, all faythfull people being of lawfull age and discretion, are bounde once in the yeare at the least (except reasonable cause excuse thē) to be confessed to their owne proper Curate, and to receaue the Sacrament of the altar, with due preparation and deuotion. And for as muche also as we be crediblie informed, that sondrie euill disposed, and vndeuout persones, geuen to sensual pleasures and carnall appetites, followyng the lustes of their body, and neglecting vtterly the health of their soules, doo forbeare to come to confession according to the sayde vsage, and to receaue the Sacrament of the altar accordingly, geuynge thereby pernicious and euill example to the yonger sort, to neglecte & contempne the same: we minding the reformatiō hereof for our own discharge, & desirous of good order to be kept, and good example to be geuen: doo will, and commaunde you by vertue hereof, that immediatly vpon the receipt of this our commaundement, ye and euery eche of you within your cure and charge, doo vse all your diligence and dexteritie, to declare the same, straightly charging and commaunding al your parishioners, being of lawful age and discretion, to come before Easter next comming, to confession, according to the sayde ordinaunce and vsage, & with due preparation and deuotion, to receaue the sayd sacrament of the altar, and that ye do note the names of all suche as be not confessed vnto you, and do receaue of you the said Sacrament, certifiyng vs or our Chauncelor, or Commissarie thereof, before the sixt day of Aprill next ensuing the date hereof: so that we knowing therby who did not come to confession, and receauing the Sacrament accordingly, may proceade against them, as being persones culpable, and transgressors of the said ecclesiasticall lawe and vsage. Further also certifiyng vs, or our sayde Chauncelor or Cōmissarie, before the day afore sayde: whether ye haue your altars set vp, chalice, booke, vestimentes, and all thinges necessarie for masse and the administration of Sacramentes, and sacramentalles, with procession & all other diuine seruice prepared and in readines, according to the order of the catholyque churche, and the vertues and godly example of the Quenes maiestie. And if ye so haue not, ye then with the churche wardens, cause the same to be prouided for, signifiyng by whose faulte and negligence, the same wante or faulte hath proceaded, and generally of the not commyng of your parishioners to churche, vndewe walkyng, talking, or vsing of them selues there vnreuerently the tyme of diuine Seruice, and of all other open faultes and misdemeanors, not omitting thus to do, and certify as before, as you wyll answer vpon your perill for the contrary. Geuen at Londō the xxiii. of Februarye in the yeare of our Lord. 1554.
[Back to Top]THe next moneth folowing, which was the moneth of March, and the iiii. daye of the sayd moneth, there was a letter sent from the Quene to Bonner Byshoppe of London, with certayne articles also annexed, to bee put in spedy execution, containing, as here foloweth.