Historic Book

Extract from:

“History and Description of the Ancient Town and Borough of Colchester in Essex“, Volume 1, by Thomas Cromwell

Published 1825

Pages 80 – 84

“In the short contest for the sovereignty between the
Princess Mary and the estimable Lady Jane Grey ,
Colchester warmly espoused the cause of the former .
Messengers , with assurances of loyalty , and a quantity
of provisions , were dispatched by the corporation to
the Princess at Framlingham ; and the town was put in
a posture of defence against her opposers . In approba
tion of the magistrates ‘ zeal , Mary paid a visit to the
ancient borough , July 26 , 1553. On which occasion ,
she was very liberally entertained ; and 20 £ . in gold ,
with a silver cup and cover , partly gilt , were presented

to her . March 7th following , came an Order of
Council in her Majesty’s name , to put in readiness 18
armed men , of whom 10 should be archers and 8 bill
men , well harnessed and weaponed , to be ready at one
hour’s warning to embark at Brightlingsey , for the
service of her Majesty beyond the seas , at Calais or
elsewhere , as should be appointed .
But not all the instances the town had given of
devotion to this queen , could preserve its inhabitants ,
more than others , from the flames which her most de
testable bigotry kindled for the martyrs to Protestantism .
Throughout the horrible season of her persecutions for
religion’s sake ” the auncient and famous towne of
Colchester , ” to use the quaint language of an author
lately quoted , ” was a sweete and comfortable mother
of the bodyes , and a tender nourse of the soules , of
God’s children : which towne was rather at that tyme
frequented , because it afforded many godly and zealous
martyrs , whiche continually with their bloud watered
those seedes , which by the preachyng of the worde had
been sowne most plentifully in the hartes of Christians
in the dayes of good Kyng Edward . This towne , for
the earnest profession of the Gospell , became like unto
a citie upon an hill ; and , as a candle upon a candle
sticke , gave great light to all those , who for the comfort
of their conscience came to conferre there from divers
places of the Realme , and repairying to common Innes ,
had by night their Christian exercises , whiche in other

places could not be gotten . For proofe whereof , I
referre the reader unto that which is truely reported by
M. Foxe in his booke of Actes and Monumentes : that
at the Kynges – head in Colchester , and at other Innes in
the sayd Towne , the afflicted Christians had set places
appointed for themselves to meete at . ” *
Had Colchester been the only theatre of the martyr
doms dictated by the relentless zeal of Mary , their
number would have sufficed to procure for her the
execrations of all posterity . The following detail will
give ample evidence of the truth of this assertion . – Suf
fered death by burning in this town , in the year 1555 :
March 29th , John Lawrence ; June 14th , Nicolas
Chamberlayne . 1556 : April 28th , John Mace , apo
thecary ; John Spence , weaver ; Simon Joyne , sawyer ;
Richard Nichols , weaver ; and John Hammond , tanner :
and in June of the same year , Elizabeth , the wife of
Thomas Pepper , and Edmund Hurst , both of St. James’s ,
Colchester , were burnt at Stratford – bow . 1557 : Wil
liam Bongeor , of St. Nicholas , glazier ; William Purcas ,
of Bocking ; Thomas Benold , tallow – chandler ; Agnes
Silverside , alias Smith ; Helen Ewring ; and Elizabeth
Folks ; were burnt without the town – wall , on the morn
ing of August 2nd : as were in the Castle – yard , in the
afternoon of the same day , William Munt , Alice Munt ,
John Johnson , and Rose Allin . In the same year died
within the Castle , John Thurston , a prisoner on account
of his religion . About the same time , fourteen men ,
and eight women , were here apprehended , and , being
fastened together in a string , driven , like a flock of
sheep , to London ; but they were shortly afterwards
released upon their own easy submission . ” 1558

William Harris , Richard Day , and Christiana George ,
were burnt at Colchester , May 26th : being the last
dreadful spectacle of this kind that took place in the
town . Eight others , who were prisoners in the Castle
for their religious profession , were released the follow .
ing year , on the accession of Elizabeth .
The arrival of the persecuted Dutch and Flemings ,
in 1571 , and their establishment here of the Bay and
Say Trade , are the first remarkable incidents bearing
reference to Colchester , in the reign of this sagacious
and potent queen . The next occurrence worthy notice ,
is the visitation of a Plague , which commenced its
ravages in the town and neighbourhood in December ,
1578 ; and continued with the unfortunate inhabitants
until the ensuing August , notwithstanding every effort
to prevent its spreading .
Elizabeth took one of her celebrated progresses ,
through part of this county and that of Suffolk , in
1579 , and was at Colchester on the 1st and 2nd of
September in that year . The record gives the following
orders , as made for her reception . ” That the Bayliffs
and Aldermen , in the receipt of her Majestie , shall
ride upon comely geldings , with foot – clothes , in damask
or sattin cassocks or coats , or else jackets of the same ,
with sattin sleeves in their scarlet gowns , with caps and
black velvet tippets . The Councell to attend upon the
Bayliffs and Aldermen at the same time , upon comely
geldings , with foot – clothes , in grogram or silk cassock
coats or jackets , with silk doublets , or sleeves at the least ,
in the livery morray – gowns , with caps : & c . – That her
Majesty shall be gratified from the Town with a Cup of
silver , double – gilt , of the value of 20 marks , or 10. at
the least , with 40 angels in the same , and the Officers

of her Majesty to be gratified as afore they have been .
The Recorder for the time being , to make the Oration
to her Majesty.”