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Yarleton Wood to discourse on religious subjects, at length became a proselyte, 

 and refused to go to Mass ; for which he was taken before the Bishop [Brooks] in 

 his Consistory Court at Gloucester, and committed to some prison within the 

 verge of the College. But escaping from it in the night, he returned home, and 

 lay concealed in various manners. At last, his wife being with child was 

 delivered, and entertainment made at the baptizing of the child ; when the 

 mother desired a cutting of some meat (probably what she knew her husband 

 loved), which having received she laid it by. This being observed by the 

 midwife, created a suspicion, whereupon she procured an officer to search for 

 poor Home, whom they found concealed under a vessel with the head out. He 

 was immediately carried to his trial, condemned, and led to the place of 

 e.xecution singing the 146th Psalm, where he suffered with great Christian 

 fortitude. Home was so well beloved by his neighbours, and his execution so 

 much execrated, that when the news was but whispered of Queen Mary's death, 

 the women (men not daring to appear) took the priest that supplied the Church 

 upon a horse, with his face towards the tail, and leading him through the town, 

 sent him away." Rudder's History, p. 563. Rudder's statement that Foxe does 

 not mention this case must be qualified. Foxe's account is as follows : — 



" John Home and a woman martyrs. September 25th, 1556. Nowe, not 

 long after the death of the said young woman at Bristow, in the same manner 

 wer ij mo godly Martirs consumed by fire at Wutton-under-Hedge, in Gloucester- 

 shire, whose names are above specified, which died very gloriously in a constant 

 fayth, to the terror of the wicked, and comforte of the godly. So graciously dyd 

 the Lorde worke in them, that death unto them was lyfe, and lyfe with a blotted 

 conscience was death." Foxe's first Ed. 1563 pa. 1546. Foxe's account would 

 appear to have been wrong in two particulars ; in the christian name of Home, 

 and in the year of his death, which would appear to have been 1558 and not 1556 ; 

 the 25th September, 1558, would have been less than " eight weeks " before Queen 

 Mary's death, on the 17th November in that year. The correction is in these 

 words — "Whereas In the last Edition of mr. Fox his famous works called the 

 hooke of martyrs, as likewise in all the former editions, there is mention made of 

 one John Home and a woman that suffered martyrdome for the testimony of their 

 faith at Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire, let it be knowne that the matter is 

 mistaken through the default of those that made the certificate for Mr. Fox out of 

 the registers of Gloucester or Worcester ; for it cannot be proved that any such 

 person or woman suffered at Wotton aforesaid But it is true that one Edward 

 Home suffered martyrdome at Newente in the said diocesse, and was burnt there 

 in a place called the Court Orchard nere the churchyard ; and his wife was con- 

 demned with him. but she recanted and refused to suffer with him. I have bine at 

 the place and spake with one or ij of the same parish that did see him there burnt, 

 and do testifie that at his death he sunge the 146th Psalme, untill that his lipps 

 were burnt away, and then they saw his tonge move untill he fell downe in the 

 fier. They of the parish do say they knowe the ij persons that mdde the fier to 

 burne him, and they weare ij glovers or fell-mongers, whose names I have iu my 

 note-booke. He was executed about viij weekes befor Queene Mary died." 



