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Henry Bull, Miles Coverdale, and the Making of Foxe’s Book of Martyrs

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 March 2016

Susan Wabuda
Susan Wabuda*
Affiliation:
Shelton, Connecticut
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Extract

In a preface to his Acts and Monuments, John Foxe explained why his ecclesiastical history was so deeply concerned with martyrs.

I see no cause why the Martyrs of our time deserue not as great commendation as the other in the primitiue church, which assuredly are inferiour vnto them in no point of praise, whether we looke vpon the nomber of them that suffered, or the greatnes of their tormentes, or their constancy in dieng [sic], or also consider the fruite that they brought to the amendement of mens liues, and the encrease of the gospel.

Type
Research Article
Information
Studies in Church History , Volume 30: Martyrs and Martyrologies , 1993 , pp. 245 - 258
Copyright
Copyright © Ecclesiastical History Society 1993

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References

1 I wish to express my thanks to Dr Frank Stubbings and the staff of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, for their generous assistance in allowing me to consult the manuscripts in their care, and also the staff of the British Library. Thanks are also due to Professor Parrick Collinson for reading this paper. Foxe, John, Actes and Monuments … (London: John Day, 1563 Google Scholar) [STC, 11222], sigs B6r-B6v [hereafter Foxe (1563)]. The second volume of the second English edition, Foxe, John, The First ([and] Second) Volume of the Ecclesiasticall history contaynyng the Actes and Monumentes (London: John Day, 1570 Google Scholar) [STC, 11223), will be cited hereafter as Foxe (1570). I have silently expanded most common sixteenth-century abbreviations in quotations, and have modernized punctuation.

2 Coverdale, Miles, comp., Certain most godly, fruitful, and comfortable letters of such true Saintes and holy Martyrs of God … (London: John Day, 1564 Google Scholar) [STC, 5886], sigs A2r-A4r.

3 Thomson, J. A. F., ‘John Foxe and some sources for Lollard history: notes for a critical appraisal’, SCH, 2 (1965), pp. 251–7 Google Scholar; Fines, John, ‘Heresy trials in the Diocese of Coventry and Lichfield, 1511–12’, JEH, 14(1963), pp. 160–74 Google Scholar.

4 Leslie P. Fairfield, John Bale: Mythmaker for the English Reformation (West Lafayette, Indiana, 1976), pp. 135–6, 152.

5 The Remains of Edmund Crindal, D.D., ed. Nicholson, William, PS (1843), PP. 219–38 Google Scholar; Collinson, Patrick, Archbishop Grindal 1519–1583: the Struggle for a Reformed Church (London, 1979), pp. 79–82 Google Scholar, and ‘Truth and Legend: the veracity of John Foxe’s Book of Martyrs’ in A. C. Duke and Tamse, C. A. eds., Clio’s mirror: Historiography in Britain and the Netherlands (Zutphen, 1985), pp. 31–54 Google Scholar. Also, London, BL, Additional MS 19400, fol. 97r.

6 BL, MSS Harley 416–426 and 590; and also MSS Lansdowne 335, 388, 389, 819, 1045.

7 The working notes of the Parker Society’s editors can be found in Cambridge, Emmanuel College Library [hereafter ECL], BOX LIB. 10.5. The contents of ECL, MSS 260, 261, and 262 were listed by James, Montague Rhodes in The Western Manuscripts in the Library of Emmanuel College (Cambridge, 1904), pp. 159–66 Google Scholar. Scholars who have been most aware of them recendy include Dr John Fines, who consulted them for his Biographical Register of Early English Protestants and Others Opposed to the Roman Catholic Church 1525–1558, A-C, temp, edn (Abingdon, 1981); D—Z, typescript. He has also brought the manuscripts to the attention of others, including Martin, J. W., in ‘Sidelights on Foxe’s account of the Marian martyrs’, in Religious Radicals in Tudor England (London, 1989), pp. 171–8 Google Scholar.

8 ECL, MS BUR 8. 1, pp. 14 (rebinding of the manuscripts for 16d. in October 1598), 191 (library inventory of 1597); Bush, Sargent Jr and Rasmussen, Carl J., The Library of Emmanuel College, Cambridge, 1584–1637 (Cambridge, 1986), pp. 15, 76 Google Scholar, and the same authors’, ‘Emmanuel College Library’s first inventory’, Transactions of the Cambridge Bibliographical Society, 8 (1985), pp. 514–56, esp. p. 554.

9 Two of the original bindings are kept in ECL.BOX LIB.10.5. They are marked ‘LETTERS OF HOLY MIRTYRS’ and ‘LETTERS. AND PRAYERS. WITH OTHER WORKES OF HOLYE MARTYRES’.

10 Sermons and sermon notes include: ECL, MS 261, fols 52r-53v, Wisdom on the creed and decalogue, fols 57r-6ov, Wisdom’s translation of a German sermon, 1559, fols 69r-87v; MS 262, fols 27r—39r, 54r-57v, Curtop’s 1552 Paul’s Cross sermon, fols 261r-267r. Wisdom’s ‘revocacyon’ of his recantation, which has never been published in its entirety, is the longest document in the collection. ECL, MS 261, fols 88r-130v.

11 The fragment is from p. 357 of Certain most godly letters. It, and a descriptive note from Townsend, can be found in ECL, BOX LIB.10.5.

12 BL, Additional MS 19400, including fols 25r-26v, 30V, 56r-56v, 71V.

13 ECL, MS 260, fols 44r-44v;BL, Additional MS 19400, fol. 102v.

14 ECL, MS 261, fol. 87V.

15 ECL, MS 261, fol. 14r. Also, BL, Additional MS 19400, fol. 30V. ‘Restore this agayne to Bull.’

16 Certain most godly letters, sig. A3V.

17 Foxe, 7, pp. 647–8, 680–1.

18 ECL, MS 260, fols 220r-230r; Certain most godly letters, pp. 565–8, Foxe, 8, pp. 179–80.

19 For background, see Dowling, Maria and Shakespeare, Joy, ‘Religion and politics in mid-Tudor England through the eyes of an English Protestant woman: the recollections of Rose Hickman’, BIHR, 55 (1982), pp. 94–102, esp. p. 100 Google Scholar; Collinson, Patrick, ‘The role of women in the English Reformation: illustrated by the life and friendships of Anne Locke’, SCH, 2 (1965), pp. 258–72 Google Scholar.

20 Certain most godly letters, sigs A2r—A4r.

21 Rom. 8.31; Matt. 8.25; ECL, MS 260, fols 34r-37r; Certain most godly letters, pp. 322–30, esp. p. 326; Foxe, 7, pp. 230–4; The Writings of John Bradford… containing letters, treatises, remains, ed. Aubrey Townsend, PS (1853), pp. 108–17.

22 Select works of John Bale, D.D., ed. Henry Christmas, PS (1849), esp. p. 190. Askew’s and Lascelles’s writings were reprinted in Foxe, 5, esp. pp. 545–9, 551–2.

23 ECL, MS 260, fols 91r—91v. This is a later copy of a letter which was supposed to have been sent to one imprisoned ‘for the testimonie of christ’ in ‘busshopp Stokleys tyme. About Anno Domini 1527’. John Stokesley became Bishop of London in 1530. For matters of style, see Collinson, , ‘Veracity’, pp. 49–50 Google Scholar.

24 Careless also sometimes used initials instead of names. BL, Additional MS 19400, fols 64r—65V, 69r-70r, and fol. 72r. Philpot: Foxe, 7, pp. 647–8, 680–2. In 1546 Anne Askew and William Playne were arrested due to intercepted letters. Ayscu, Edward, A Historie … (London: G. Eld, 1607) [STC, 1014], pp. 306–9 Google Scholar; Foxe, 8, p. 700.

25 Tudor, Philippa, ‘Protestant books in London in Mary Tudor’s reign’, London Journal, 15 (1900), pp. 19–28 Google Scholar.

26 For example, Ridley’s letter ‘ad fratres qui christum cum cruce amplecruntur’. BL, Additional MS 19400, fols 52r-53r (not in Ridley’s hand, but initialed by him); ECL, MS 260, fols 111r-111v (copy); Certain most godly letters, pp. 32–8 (with translation); Foxe, 7, pp. 430–1 (English).

27 Thomas Whittle offered to pay Careless for a copy of Philpot’s examinations, which he wanted for a friend. Foxe, 7, pp. 723–4. Philpot to Harrington, ECL, MS 260, fols 65r-65v. Also, Careless of Augustine Bernher, ECL, MS 260, fols 242r-243r (not printed in Certain most godly letters); ECL, MS 262, fols 115r-126v. Garrett, Christina Hallowell, The Marian Exiles (repr. Cambridge, 1966), pp. 177–8 Google Scholar.

28 BL, Additional MS 19400, fols 62r-63r, 73r-74r.

29 Careless to Bernher, BL, Additional MS 19400, fols 72r-72v.

30 For William Punt’s activities as an illicit book agent, see Tudor, , ‘Protestant books’, pp. 22–3 Google Scholar; ECL, MS 260, fols 276r-276v; The Works of Nicholas Ridley, D.D., ed. Henry Christmas, PS (1843), pp. 363–6, 376–7;Bradford, Letters, pp. 58–9, 179, 213; Foxe, 7, pp. 426–7, 8, p. 384; Garrett, Marian Exiles, pp. 263–4.

31 By May 1547 Askew’s printed works were distributed in England. The first examination of Anne Askewe… with the Elucydacyon of johan Bale ([Wesel: D. van der Straten], 1546) [STC, 848]; The lame examinacyon of Anne Askewe … ([Wesel: D. van der Straten], 1547) [STC, 850]; both reprinted in Bale’s Select Works. See esp. pp. 196, 243–4. Also, The Letters of Stephen Gardiner, ed. Muller, James Arthur (Cambridge, 1933), pp. 277–8, 293 Google Scholar.

32 The examinacion of the constaunt Martir of Christ, John Philpot, printed with An Apologie cfjohan Philpot written for spitting vpon an Arrian [Emden: E. van der Erve, 1556?] [STC, 19892]; The Examinations and writings of John Philpot, B.C.L., ed. Robert Eden, PS (1842), pp. 293–318.

33 John Foxe, Rervm in Ecclesia Gestarum … 2 vols (Basle: Nicolavm Brylingervm et Joannem Oporinum, [1SS9]—1563), pp. 543–631.

34 Other printed works which eventually made their way into the Acts and Monuments include Askew’s writings, and Lascelles’s letter. The first examinacyon of Anne Askewe, and The lattre examinacyon: Foxe, 5, pp. 538–49; Uvicklieffes Wicket… With the protestacion of Jhon Lassels late burned in Smythfelde, overseen by C[overdale, M[iles] (London: John Day? 1548?)] [STC, 25591]; Foxe, 5, pp. 551–2 Google Scholar.

35 Emden, A. B., ed., A Biographical Register of the University of Oxford A.D. 1501 to 1540 (Oxford, 1974). pp. 82, 212–14 Google Scholar; DNB, 3, p. 239, 7, pp. 581–90; Original Letters Relative to the English Reformation, tr. and ed. Hastings Robinson, PS (1846-7), 2, pp. 418–21; Strype, John, Ecclesiastical Memorials (Oxford, 1822), 3 (1), p. 82 Google Scholar.

36 Wyntropp to Foxe, BL, MS Harley 416, fol. 106r; Strype, John, Annals of the Reformation (Oxford, 1824), 1(1), pp. 309–10 Google Scholar. Also, ECL, MS 260, fol. 82v, MS 262, fol. 175r. Athenae Oxoniense (London, 1691), 1, col. 146, says that Bull was an exile, but he is not mentioned in Garrett’s Marian Exiles.

37 In addition to Wyntropp, William Playfere was a friend to Foxe and Bull. BL, MS Harley 416, fols io6r, 113r-113v, 118r-118v. Also, MS Harley 417, fols io8r-io8v(I owe many of these references to Mr Thomas Freeman).

38 Christian praiers and holy meditations, comp. B[ull], H[enry] (London: Henry Middleton, 1570) [STC, 4029], including pp. 28–44 Google Scholar, 171–201, 213–19, 324–32. It appeared in seven editions, 1568–90.

39 Hooper’s manuscripts: ECL, MS 261, fols 1r-14r. The texts are all in what is probably Hooper’s hand, including the letter addressed to him, which he copied over. Bull, in addition to his notation that he had ‘perused’ the documents (fol. 14r), also jotted on the manuscript: The copie of Mr Hopers answer to the former letter’ (fol. 12r), and a few other short comments. Fols 13r-14r are marked in a third, anonymous hand, with the signatures of the printed Apologye’s pagination. On fol. 14r we also find ‘approbatur Edm. London’. The printed version: An apologye made by the reuerendefather and constante Martyr of ChristeJohn Hooper late Bishop of Gloceter and Worceter againste the untrue and sclaunderous report that he should be a maintained and encorager of suche as cursed the Queues highnes that then was, Queue Marye, ed. Bull, Henry (London: John Tisdale and Thomas Hacket, 1562) [STC, 13742 Google Scholar], esp. sigs B3r, B4r-B4v, C1r, C5V, G5r-D3v. Foxe reprinted all three letters, but not Hooper’s tract, in his 1563 edition, pp. 1020–2. Hooper’s two letters only appeared in Certain most godly letters, pp. 120–3. The material was reprinted in Hooper’s Later Writings, ed. Charles Nevinson, PS (1852), pp. 549–67 (apology), 612–17 (letters).

40 Certain mostgodly letters, sig. A4r, margin.

41 BL, Additional MS 19400, fol. 71V, written upside down on the verso of Careless’s letter to Margery Cooke. Upcher gave Bull at least ten letters, and wanted them returned to him. Bull marked each of them: ‘Restore this to vpcher.’BL, Additional MS 19400, fols 66r, 71r, ECL, MS 260, fols 132r-132v, 213r, 236r, 238r, 240r, 241r-242v. See also ECL, MS 262, fols 127r-135r. Upcher was ordained by Grindal in 1560. Collinson, Grindal, pp. 114, 172; BL, MS Harley 416, fol. 106r. One Hopkins also shared a letter by Careless with Bull. ECL, MS 260, fol. 217r.

42 Collinson, ‘Veracity’, p. 36.

43 ECL, MS 260, fol. 33r, crossed out.

44 ECL, MS 260, fols 215r-216v, these lines crossed out, and deleted in Foxe (1570), pp. 2109—10. Crowley and Rose are not mentioned in Garrett, Marian Exiles. For Thomas Lever, see pp. 219–21.

45 ECL, MS 260, fols 65r-65v, Certain most godly letters, pp. 239–41.

46 BL, Additional MS 19400, fol. 71v. Bull and Foxe printed Careless’s two letters to Upcher as from T. V.’ Certain most godly letters, pp. 580–5, Foxe (1570), pp. 2109, 2112; Foxe, 8, pp. 183–5, 189–91. For Foxe, Collinson, ‘Veracity’, pp. 33–4. Compare Martin, ‘Foxe’s account’, p. 177.

47 See my forthcoming article, ‘Equivocation and recantation during the English Reformation: the “Subtle Shadows” of Dr Edward Crome’, 44 (1993).

48 ECL, MS 262, fol. 27r (written upside down). ‘Arronyous’ was printed as ‘arrogant’, perhaps because Bull’s scrawl was hard to read here. Certain most godly lellers, p. 245, margin.

49 Collinson, ‘Veracity’, pp. 44–5; Martin, ‘Foxe’s account’, pp. 171–8. My thanks to Dr Fines for sharing his information on Careless and the free will men.

50 Certain most godly letters, sig. A4r, margin, fol. 46 margin; Wabuda, ‘Crome’.

51 Foxe first mistook a letter by Careless to be one of Philpot’s. Philpot’s letters appear with one of Careless’s in the section Foxe devoted to Careless. Foxe (1563), pp. 1449–50, 1535–8. The same letter of reply to Careless, and the same letters by Philpot, in the same order as printed by Foxe (1563), were printed in the Certain most godly letters in Philpot’s section, pp. 216–50, esp. pp. 226–39. Also, Foxe (1570), pp. 2002–24, esp. p. 2006. The manuscript letter is a copy not in Philpot’s own handwriting, ECL, MS 260, fols 162r-163v. For Lady Vane, Foxe, 7, p. 234.

52 Certain most godly letters, pp. 247–9.

53 Bull’s will was made 13 March 1577 and proved on 4 July. London, PRO, PROB 11/59, fols 218v-22or.

54 Martin Luther, A Commentarie Vpon the Fiftene Psalmes, Called Psalmi Graduum, tr. Bull, Henry (London: Thomas Vautroullier, 1577) [STC, 16975 Google Scholar], Foxe to the reader. Foxe’s recommendation: BL, MS Harley 417, fol. 130V (I owe this reference to Mr Thomas Freeman).

55 Bull gathered together the papers for the last three of the four psalms printed. John Hooper, Certeine comfortable Exposition…vpon the XXIII. LXII, LXXIII, and LXXVII, Psalmes. ed. Bull, Henry and , A. F. (London: H. Middleton, 1580) [STC, 13743 Google Scholar], preface; reprinted in Hooper, , Later writings, pp. 177–373 Google Scholar. I am grateful to Professor David Loades for suggesting that ‘A. F.’ could have been Agnes Foxe. See BL, MS Harley 416, fols 106r-118v; DNB, 20, pp. 142–7.

56 Gilbert Burnet, The History of the Reformation of the Church of England, ed. Pocock, Nicholas (Oxford, 1865), 2, p. 457 Google Scholar. My thanks are due to Mr Thomas Freeman for this reference.

57 Hooper, Certeine comfortable Expositions, preface.