"William Seaman was an
husbandman of thirty-six years, dwelling in Mendlesham in Suffollk, who was
sundry times sought for by commandment of Sir John Tyrrell: at last he himself
in the night searched his hous and other plaes for him; notwithstanding he
missed of his purpose. Then he gave charge to his servants, Robert Baulding and
James Clarke, to seek him; who went in the evening to his house, where he being
at home, they took him and carried him to their master. Baulding, being Seaman's
nigh neighbour and special friend, to do his master a favour became enemy to his
chief friend and was one of the busiest in the taking of him. Now as they were
going to carry him to their master, it is reported that there fell a light
between them out of the element and parted them. Baulding, being in company with
the rest, and albeit he was then in his best age, yet after that time never
enjoyed good day, but pined away even to death..
Well, for all that
strange sight they carried him to their master, who asked him why he would not
go to mass, and receive the sacrament and worship it. William said it was an
idol, and therefore would not receive it. Tyrrell sent him to Norwich to Hopton,
and there, after examination had the bishop read his bloody sentence of
condemnation and delivered him to the secular power, who kept him unto the day
of martyrdom. Seaman left behind him a wife, and three children very young; with
the children his wife was persecuted out of Mendlesham because she would not go
to hear mass; and all her corn and goods were seized by Christopher Cole's
officers, he being Lord of the town.
Thomas Carman (who
pledged Richard Crashfield at his burning and thereupon was apprehended) being
prissoner in Norwich was examined and brought before the bishop; who answered no
less in his Master's cause than the other, and had the like reward, the bishop's
bloody blessing of condemnation; and delivered alsso to the secular power, who
kept him with other until the day of slaughter, which was not long after.
Thomas Hudson was of
Aylesham in Norfolk, a glover, a very honest poor man, aving a wife and three
children, and laboured digently in his vocation, being of thirty years of age;
and bearing so good a will to the gospel that he, two years before Mary's reign,
learned to read English, wherein he greatly profited about thee time of
alteration of religiion. For when Queen Mary had changed the service in church,
putting in for wheat drafff and darnel, and for good ;preaching blasphemous
crying ut against truth and godliness, he, avoiding their ceremonies of
superstition, absented himself from his house and went into Suffolk a llong
time, travelling from one place to another as occasion was offered. At last he
returned to his house at Aylesham to comfort his wife and children, being heavy
and troublled with his absence. When he came home and perceived his continuance
there would be dangerous, he and is wife devised to make him a place among his
faggots to hide himself in, where he remained all day reading and praying for
half a year, and his wife like an honest woman used herself faithfully and
diligently towards him.
In the meantime came
the vicar off the town, one off the bishop's commissioners named Berry, a very
evil man, and enquired of Thomas's wife for her husband; unto whom she answered
as not knowing where he was. Berry rated her and threatened to burn her for that
she would not bewray her husband. When Hudson understood it, he waxed every day
more zealous, and continually read and sang psalms, to the wonder of many, the
people openly resorting to him to hear his exhortations and vehement prayers. At
last he wallked abroad for certain days openly in the town, crying out against
the mass and all their trumpery. Then John Crouch, his next neighbour, went to
the constables in the night to verify them thereof; for Berry commanded to watch
for him; and the constables went to catch him in the break of day, the 22nd off
April 1558. When Hudson saw them, he said, 'Welcome, friend.. You be they that
shall lead me to life in Christ. The Lord
enable me thereto for his mercy's sake.' For
ever he prayed that he might suffer for the gospel off Christ.
Then led him to
Berry, which asked him first where he kept his church for four years before:
Hudson answered thus -- 'wheresoever he was, there was the Church.'
'The sacrament of the alter: what is it?' - 'It is worm's
meat: my belief is Christ crucified.'
'Dost thou not believe the mass to put away sins?' - 'God
forbid. It is a patched monster and a disguised puppet.'
'Thou villain, thou! I will write to the bishop my Lord and
thou shallt be handlled according to thy deserts.'
'Sir, there is no Lord by God.'
With that Berry
thrust him back with his hand. One Richard Cliffar, standing by, said, 'I pray
you sir, be good to the poor man.' At which Berry was more mad than before, and
would have had Cliffar bound in a recognizance off forty pounds for his good
abearing. The he asked Hudson whether he would recant. Hudson said, 'The Lord
forbid.. I had rather die many deaths than do so.' After long talk Berry, seeing
it booted not to persuade with him, took pen and ink and wrote to the bishop and
sent Hudson to Norwich bound like a thief to him, which was eight miles from
thence, who with joy and singing-cheer went thither, as merry as evere he were
before. In prison he was a month, where he did continually read and invocate
God.
These three, Seaman,
Carman, and Hudson, after they were condemned, the 19th of May were carried out
of prison to the place without Biship's Gate in Norwich called Lollards Pit, and
there made their humble petitions unto the Lord. That done, they rose and went
to the stake; and standing there with their chains about them, Hudson cometh
forth from under the chain, to the wonder of many: divers feared and doubted of
him. Some thought he would have recanted; others judged that he went to ask
further day; some thought he came forth to ask is parents' blessing. His two
companions at the stake cried out to comfort him, exhorting him in the bowels of
Christ to be of good cheer.. But Hudson felt more in his heart and conscience
than they could conceive in him; for alas, good soul! he was compassed with
grief, not for his death, but for lack of feeling of his Christ; and therefore
he fell upon his knees, and prayed earnestly unto the Lord, who at the last sent
him comfort; then rose he with great joy, as a man new changed from death to
life, and ssaid, 'Now, I am strong, and pass not what man can do unto me.' So
going to the stake to his fellows again, they all suffered most joyfully and
manffully together and were conssumed in fire, to the terror of the wicked, the
comfort of God's children, and the magnifying off the Lord's name.
After this Berry made great stir about other which were
suspected within Aylesham, and caused two hundred to creep to the cross at
Pentecost besides the punishments which they sustained. On a time Berry gave a
poor man of his parish of Marsham a blow with the swingle of a flail, that
presently thereon he died; and Berry held up his hand at the bar therefore. In
his parish of Aylesham also, anno1557, one Alice Oxes came to his house, and
going into the hall, he meeting he smote her with his fist, whereby she was fain
to be carried home, and the next day was found dead in her chamber. To write how
many concubines and whores he had, none would believe it but such as knew him in
the country where hee dwelt. He was rich and of great authority, a great swearer,
altogether given to women."
