and raigne of these 4. king of Northumberland king Iua raigned in West saxe who succéeding Cadwallader the last king of the Britains begā his raign ann 689. and raigned with great valiantnes ouer the West Saxons the terme of 37. yéeres About the 16. yere of the raign of this Iua or Iue Etheldred king of Mercia after he had raigned there 30. yéeres was made a monke after an abbot of Bardney About the 18. yéere of the raigne of Iua King Iua made a monke and after an abbot died the learned worthy bish Aldelmus Aldelmus first abbot of Malmesburie afterward B of Schirburne He was next vnto Bede in learning and vertue he wrote diuers Epistles and Poems The sea of Schirburn was afterward vnited to the sea of Winton Moreouer about the 25. yéere of Iua died S. Iohn of Beuerley then Bishop of Yorke Iohn of Beuerley and was buried at the porche of the minster of Beuerley In the time of this foresaide Iua The right obseruing of Easter now first receiued of Picts and Brittaines beganne the right obseruing of Easter day to be kept of the Picts and Brittains in the obseruing of which day thrée things are chiefly necessarie 1. The full moone of the moneth of March 2. The Dominicall letter 3. The equinoctial daies It tooke place through the busie trauel of Theodorus Cuthlacus but namely of Egbert whom they termed the holie monke and of Colefride abbot of Serwin in Northumberland who wrote to Narranus or Naivnus the king of the Pictes about the same who also wrote amōg other things of the shauē crowns Shauen crownes of priests saying it was as necessarie for their vowe for restraint of their lustes as it is for anye Christian man to blesse him against spirites when they come vppon him The letter is very ridiculous notwithstanding being read before king Naiton he rose from among his noble men and gaue thanks to God for the aduise of shauing knéeling on the ground The K. thanketh God for the priests shauen crownes and caused it to bee obserued among his people defacing the errors that had bin vsed the space of 404. yéeres Now when king Iua had ruled the West Saxōs 37. yéers he was perswaded by Ethelburga his wife to go to Rome there to be made a mōk Which hauing lōg time before persuaded not preuailing she caused the faire palace of the king where they had bin the day before The deuise of Ethelburga the Queene to be filled full of dung hogges vile beasts to be laid in the chiefe chambers in their own chamber a sow to be laid with her yong pigges and bringing the king thither againe within a while therevpon declared vnto him the vanity of this life and perswaded him to be a monke Wherevpon shortly after he resigned his kingdome to Ethelardus his nephewe and in great deuotion went to Rome after he had raigned seuen thirty yeres after whose departing Ethelburga his wife went vnto Barking The Q becommeth an Abbesse seuen miles from London where in the Nunry of Barking before founded of Erkenwald she continued ended the rest of her life when shee had continued Abbas of the place a certaine time This Iua was the first king that graunted a penny for euery fire house through his dominion to be paid vnto the Court of Rome which after was called Rome scotte or Peter pence and long after was paid in manie places of England Peter-pence Iua was the first of Saxon kings that set foorth lawes to his countrie to the number of 80. and odde Next vnto Osoricus king of Northumberland followed Celulfus Celulfus a learned king Diuers learned men flourish Bedaes Anglorum historia whō he had adopted brother to Kenred This Celulfus as hée was learned so in his time diuers learned men flourished in England among whom was Beda who vnto the same king Celulfus offered his historie intituled Anglorum historia not onely to be ratified but also to bee amended by his learning and knowledge Beda Beda was an Englishman a Priest and of the Monasterie of Peter and Paul at Wire and was borne in the same Territorie About the xix yere of his age he was made a Deacon and the xxx a Priest From which time til the age of lix he occupied himselfe in wryting Treatises and interpreting of Scriptures which rose to the number of xxxvij Volumes which he digested into xxviij Bookes This Beda for the same of his learning was sent for by Pope Sergius who wrote vnto Chelfride the Abbot of Wire to send him vnto him He liued in trauel of studie till the age of lxij yeres At length drawing to his ende being sick vij wéekes together besides other occupyinges of his minde and studies which he did not intermitte Beda translated the gospel of Iohn into English he translated the Gospel of Saint Iohn into English So he died pronouncing very many comfortable wordes to those that stoode round about him vpon Ascension day in the same yere that Nothelinus was restored to the Archbishoprick of Canterburie This Celulfus king of Northumberlande before mentioned after he had reigned viij yeres was made a Monke in the Abbey of Farne otherwise called Lincolne or holy Iland Where by his meanes licence was geuen vnto the monks of that house only to drink wine or ale which before The K. made a Monke by the institution of Aidanus before mētioned drank nothing but milke and water After whom succeeded Egbert his cosin brother to Egbert the same time Bishop of York which brought againe thether the Pall that his Predecessors had forgone since the time of Paulinus who left that Sea and fled to Rochester The said Egbert also erected a noble Librarie in Yorke whose example I would other Bishops now would follow A noble Librarie in Yorke by a Bishop About the beginning of Egberts reigne was Cutbert Archb. of Canterburie who conuented a great Synode of Bishops and Prelates in the yere of our Lorde 747. in the moneth of September néere to the place called Clonesho in the which Synode assembled these articles were enacted First that Bishops should be more diligent in looking to their office admonishing the people of their faults 2. That they should liue in a peaceable mind one with another 3. That euerie Bishop once in a yere should goe about all the Parishes of his Dioces 4. That the Bishops should admonish their Abbots and Monkes to liue regularly and that Prelates should not oppresse their inferiors but loue them 5. That they should teach the Monasteries which the Secular men had inuaded and could not be taken from them to liue regularlie 6. That none should be admitted to orders before his life were examined 7. That in Monasteries the reading of holy Scriptures should be more frequented 8. That Priestes should be no disposers of secular busines 9. That they should take
Towneshippe was condemned in sixe score thousand pound The Towne of Bury fined at 120000. poūd to be paide for damages of the house Iohn Berton Alderman with two and thirtie Priestes thirtéene women and one hundreth thirtie and eight others of the same Towne were outlawed of whom certaine confederated priuilie in the night burst to the Abbot of Chemington The Abbat of Cheuington and tooke him and secretelie conueyed him ouer Sea to Dist in Brabant where they kept him in great penurie and miserie till at length being knowen where he was hee was brought home with procession and restored to his house againe Nich. Trimet Flor. hist After Edward the 2. succéeded his sonne Edward 3. K. Edward 3. about the age of 15. and raigned 50. yéeres An. 1344. The clergy of England graunted to the king a tenth for thrée yéeres for the which the king againe in recompence graunted vnto them his charter A charter from the king to the clergy contayning these priuiledges That no Archbishop or Bishop should be arraigned before his iustices Siue ad sectam suam siue partis If the said clarke doo submit and claime his clergie professing himselfe to be a member of the holy Church who so doing shall not bée bound to come to his answere before the Iustices and if it shall be layd vnto them to haue married two wiues or to haue married a widow the Iustices shall haue no power to procéede against them to inquire for the matter so that the cause shall bée reserued to the spirituall court c. About this age as before God raysed vp learned men who layd open the abuses of the Church as Gregorius Arminensis Gregorius Arminensis according to Trithemius who dissented from the Papistes and Sophisters as wée doo in doctrine of Fréewill counting the Papistes and Sophisters in that point worse then the Pelagians Taulerus Taulerus a preacher of Germany in Argentine taught anno 1350. against mens merites and inuocation of Saints and was an enemy to all superstition to whom may be added Franciscus Petrarcha Franciscus Petrarcha of the same age who calleth Rome the whore of Babilon the mother of errour the Temple of Heresie c. and higher in the yéere one thousand thrée hundred and fortie Iohannes de rupe Scissa Iohannes de rupe Scissa was cast in pryson for rebuking the Spiritualtie of their great enormities hée called the Church of Rome the whore of Babylon Rome the whore of Babilon and the Pope the minister of Antichrist and the Cardinals false Prophetes beyng in pryson hée wrote a booke of prophestes touching the affliction that honge ouer the heades of the Spiritualtie calling his Booke Vade mecum in tribulatione Vade mecum in tribulatione About the yéere 1340. in the citie of Herbipone was one named Maister Conradus Hager M. Conradus Hager who is recorded to haue maintained and taught the space of foure and twentie yéeres the Masse to be no manner of Sacrifice for which his doctrine hée was taken and inclosed in pryson Not long after this about the yéere 1350. Gerhardus Rhiddor Gerhardus Rhiddor wrot against the Monkes and Friers a booke intituled Lachrima Ecclesiae Lachryma Ecclesiae About the yéere 1322. liued Michaell Cesenas Michael Cefenas principall of the Grayfriers and Petrus de Corbana of whom writeth Antonius in quarta parte summae and saith they were condemned in the extrauagant of Pope Iohn with one Iohannes de Poliaco Iohannes de Poliaco Their opinions were that Peter was no more the head of the Church then the other Apostles that the Pope hath no authoritie to depose Emperours that Priests are equall in authoritie Michaell wrote against the pryde tyrannie and primacie of the Pope accusing him to be Antichrist and the Church of Rome the whore of Babylon drunken with the bloud of Saints Rome Babylon drunken with the blood of the Saints c. For this cause hée was depriued of his dignitie and condemned of the Pope hée left behind him many followers of whom a great parte were slayne by the pope some were burned as Iohannes de Castilion Iohannes de Castilion and Franciscus de Alcatara Franciscus de Alcatara In extrauag Iohannis 23. With the foresaid Michaell was also condemned Iohannes de Poliaco whose assertions were that euery Pastor in his owne Church ought to suffice to heare confession that pastors and bishops had their authoritie immediatly from Christ and his Apostles and not from the Pope c. After Simon Mepham Archbishop of Canterburie who liued not long succéeded Iohn Stretford after whome came Iohn Offord and liued but ten moneths in whose roome succéeded Thomas and raigned but one yéere Anno 1350. and after him succéeded Simō Iselip Simon Iselip which was made by Pope Clement 6. who sat seuentéene yéeres and builded Canterbury Colledge in Oxforde Canterbury Colledge in Oxford which Simon Iselip succéeded the Bishoppe of Ely named Simon Langham who within two yéeres was made Cardinall In whose steade Pope Vrban the 5. ordeyned William Witlesey Bishop of Worcester to be archbishop of Canterbury ann 1366. In which yéere William Bishoppe of Winchester The new Colledge in Oxford founded the new Colledge in Oxford In the order of Popes next vnto Clement the sixt ann 1353. succéeded pope Innocent the sixt In the first yéere of which Pope two Friers Minors or Franciscans P. Innocent 6. were put to death at Auinion for certaine opinions that séemed to the Pope and his Cardinals erroneous whose names were one Iohannes Rochetailada or Hayabalus who béeyng a Frier minorite beganne first in time of Pope Clement the sixt Anno 1345. to preach that the Church of Rome was the whore of Babylon Rome the whore of Babylon and the Pope with his Cardinalles to be very Antichrist c. In the meane time of his accusation it happened that a certaine priest comming before the Pope cast the Popes bull downe before his féete saying Loe heere take the Bull vnto you for it doeth me no good at all I haue laboured nowe these thrée yéeres with it and yet cannot get my right The pope hearing this caused the poore Priest to bée scourged and imprisoned with the Frier Of Fryer Rachetailada Froyssard maketh mention in his first volume chap. 211. and sayth that Pope Innocent the sixt helde him in prison in the Castle of Baignour for shewing that manie thinges shoulde fall on the Prelates of the Churche for greate superfluitie and pride then vsed amongest them About the same time happened a contention betwéene the Frenche Prelates and the Friers of Paris Contention betwixt the French prelates and the Friers because they preached and hearde Confessions and after much adoo in fine the matter comming vnto open disputation it was concluded by maister Giles one of the Augustine Friers that after his iudgement the Prelates were more on the
truthes side c. Ex Godfrido de Fontanis About this time anno 1354. the Townes men of Oxford spoyled the schollers The townes men of Oxford spoile the schollers and brake vp twentie of the doores of their halles and wounded many of them and slew and threw into priuies and cutte their bookes and billes into pieces and carried away much of their goodes this was done the twelfth of February wherefore the whole Towne was interdicted by the Bishoppe of Lincolne At which time also was graunted to the Vicechauncelour or Commissarie to haue the assise of Bread Ale Wine and all other victualles the Mayor of the towne béeing excluded Also it was decréed that the Commons of the towne shoulde giue vnto the Studentes 251. poundes starling in part of satisfaction reseruing notwithstanding to euerie one of the Students his seuerall action against any seuerall person of the Towne c. The cause of the broyle was for that a Student powred the wine on his hostes head and broke his head with the pot in a certayne brawle Simon Islip archbishop of Canterbury mentioned before with his letters patent directed to all parsons and Vicars within his prouince straightly charged them and their parishioners vpon payne of excommunication not to abstaine from bodily labour vppon certaine Saintes dayes Idle holidaies which were woont before to bée hallowed and consecrated to vnthriftie idlenesse A priests wager Item that no Priest should haue giuen vnto him more than three 3. pounds sixe shillings eight pence for his yéerly stipend which made diuers of them to robbe and steale Anno 1362. After Simon Islip succéeded in the sea of Canterbury Simon Langham then William Wittlesey after whom succéeded Simon Sudbury About the yéere 1360. the Nunnes of Saint Brigets order beganne S. Bridgets Nunnes Queenes colledge in Oxford about which time also was buylded the Quéenes Colledge in Oxford by Quéen Philip of England wife to K. Edward the the third Also in the time of this Pope Innocent Frier Iohn Bishop of Elie moued with certain iniuries as he thought done vnto him by the Ladie Blanche made his complaint to the Pope who sending downe his curse to the Bishop of Lincolne and other Prelates to be executed vpon the aduersaries of the Bishop of Elie commaunded them that if they did know any of the said aduersaries dead and buried yet they shoulde cause the same to be taken vp which also they perfourmed accordingly Of whom some had béene of the kings Councell Wherewithall the king being sore displeased did molest againe the said Prelates which comming to the popes hearing certaine were directed downe from the court of Rome in the behalfe of the Bishop of Elie who méeting with the Bishop of Rochester the Kings Treasourer deliuered vnto him Letters from the Pope the tenure whereof was not knowen Which done they incontinently auoyded away But certaine of the kinges Seruantes pursued after and did ouertake them of whom some they imprisoned and other some they brought to Iustices and so were condemned to be burned This Pope Innocent ordeyned the feast of holy speare Holy speare and holy nayles Holy nayles The names of the Bishops of Canterburie from Lanfrancus and their continuance was this The order of the Bishops of Cant. 34 Lanfrancus ninetéene yeares 35 Anselmus twentie 36 Radulphus eight 37 Guilielmus Curboyle thirtéen 38 Theobaldus twenty foure 39 Becket nine 40 Richardus tenne 41 Baldwinus seuen 42 Hubertus fourteene 43 Stephanus Lancthon two and twentie 44 Richardus foure 45 Edmond of Abenden seuen 46 Bonifacius fiue and twentie 47 Kilwarbie Frier sixe 48 Pecham Frier thirtéene 49 Winchelsey ninetéen 50 Reinold The order of the bishops of Cant. fiftéene 51 Stratforde twentie nine 52 Offord tenne moneths 53 Bradwarden one 54 Islep fourtie seuen About this time beginneth the losing of Sathan who had béene shutte vp now 1000. yeares The ende of the fift Booke The fifth Booke THe first persecution of the primitiue Church beginning at the 30. yéeres of Christ was prophecied to continew two and fortie moneths that is 294. yéeres The ceasing of the last persecution of the primitiue Church by the death of Licinius the last persecutor began Anno 324. begun from the Natiuitie of Christ which was from the 30. yéere of his age 299. The binding vp of Sathan after peace giuen to the Church counting from the thirtie yéere of Christ began anno 294. And lasted a 1000. yéeres that is counting from the 30. yéeres of Christ to the yéere 1294. About which yéere pope Boniface sat in the sea of Rome and made the sixt booke of the Decretals confirmed the order of Friers and priuiledged them with great fréedomes Anno 1294. Vnto the which count of yéeres doth not much disagrée that which Maister Fox saith A prophecie hée found in a certaine old Chronicle prophecied and written in the latter end of a booke which booke was written as it séemeth by a Monke of Douer and remayneth yet in the custody of William Cary citizen of London alledging the Prophecie of one Haynchardus Haynchardus a Grayfrier grounded vpon the authoritie of Ioachim the Abbot prophecying that Antichrist should bée borne the yéere from the Natiuitie of Christ 1260. which is coūting after the Lords passion the very same yéere when the orders of Friers both Dominickes and Franciscans began first to be set vp by Honorius the third and Gregorius the 9. which was the yéere of our Lord counting from his passion one thousand two hundred and twentie six and counting after the Natiuitie of the Lord one thousand two hundred and thrée score whereof the verses in the author are written anno 1283. A prophecie of Antichrist Cum fuerint anni completi mille ducenti Et Decies seni post partum virginis almae Tunc Antichristus nascetur Daemone plenus As diuerse other before times opposed themselues against the Pope so now about the yéere one thousand thrée hundred thrée score agaynst the Pope and his Clergie was set out a Prayer A complaint of the Ploughmā against the clergy complaint of the Ploughman faithfully set foorth by William Tindall against auricular confession shrift penaunce long praier masse singlenesse of priests Images c. Not much before this Iohannes de Rupe Scissa vttered a propheticall parable against the clergie of Rome complaining it to be a byrde decked with the feathers of other foules The church Rome a bird decked with other birds fethers whereof because she was prowd and did not acknowledge the benefit nor from whom she had it the foules pulled euery one their fethers and left her naked and so said he it will befall to the church of Rome About the same time also God raysed vp Armachanus agaynst Antichrist which Armachanus was Primate and Archbishop of Ireland Armachanus Archb. of Ireland who in the time that hée liued had no man that excéeded him eyther in life
afterward was cited and condemned by Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury but what became afterward of him it is not certaine It is plaine by the Chronicle of S. Albons that the Londoners did hinder the Archb. himselfe sitting in the citie of London when he would haue made processe against Iohn Aishton The Londoners fauorers of trueth anno 1382. Nicholas Herford during the time of this Conuocation did not appeare and therefore had the sentence of excommunication against him against which he put in his appeale to the King and his Councell the Archbishoppe woulde not admitte it but caused him to bee apprehended and inclosed in prison yet hee escaped and returned to his former preaching in secrete manner Wherevpon the Archbishop thundered out excommunication against him and wrote letters to the king requiring his sword to chop of his necke In this meane time it is not certainly knowne what became of Wickliffe but as it may bee gathered out of Walden Wickliffe banished it appeareth that he was banished but whersoeuer he were at that time hée wrote a letter to Pope Vrban the sixt purging himselfe therein and also in the same declareth a briefe confession of his faith But this Pope Vrban otherwise called Turban was so hotte in his warres against Clement the French Pope his aduersarie that he had neither leysure nor list to attend vppon Wickliffes matters By reason of the schisme Wickliffe is more quiet by reason of which schisme Wickliffe was in more quiet Anno 1383. Pope Vrban employed Henry Spencer B. of Norwich who was hardly intreated at Lennam for striuing for the mayors mace in suppressing of the Antipope at Auinion in Fraunce and sent Bulles to the same Henry about this time to Croysser whosoeuer would go with him into France to destroy the Antipope that named himself Clement to make wars with al those the tooke his part which was takē in hād accordingly to the end was giuē to the Bishop the fiftinth which was graunted to the king the Parlement before and about the moneth of Maie being come to Canterbury there tarying for a wind in the Monastery of S. Augustine receiued a writ from the king that he should returne to him and know further his pleasure The B. fearing he should be staied notwithstāding the writ entred the seas and arriued at Calis and afterward besieged Grauendie that held with the Antipope and tooke it and there slue man woman and child A cruell Bishop Ex Chron. Mon. D. Albons And after that he had slaine at Dunkirke in the chase twelue thousand of the Frēch of his men only seuen missing and had in vaine besieged Ipres and could not kéepe Graueling returned againe into England In this meane time Iohn Wickliffe eyther béeyng banished or kept in some secrete place Lutterworth VVickliffes parish Church returned agayne within short space and repayred to his parishe Churche at Lutterworth whereof hée was parson and there dyed in the beginning of the yeere one thousand thrée hundred eightie and foure vpon Siluesters day and died olde of whom Thomas Walden his aduersary testifieth VVickliffes constancie that the same pleased him in his olde age which pleased him beyng young This Wickliffe had written diuers and sundry workes which anno 1410. were burnt at Oxforde the Abbot of Shrewesburie being the Commissarie and sent to ouersée that matter and not onely in England but in Boheme also the bookes of Wickliffe were set on fire by one Subincus Archbishop of Prage The number of the volumes which he is said to haue burned being most excellently written W. bookes burned richlie adorned with bosses of gold and rich couerings as Aeneas Siluius writeth were aboue 200. Iohannes Cocleus in his Hist Hus recordeth that there was a certaine Bishop in England which wrote vnto him that he had yet remaining in his custody two mighty volumes of Wickliffes workes which for the quantitie might séeme to be equall to the workes of S. Augustine He wrote also certaine answers to king Richard the second touching the Title of the King and the Pope and whether the king may for his defence in time of necessitie withhold his treasure from the Pope In which he declareth the Popes vsurpation and that Lordly dignitie which by the institution of the Apostles is forbidden him c. Wickliffe had many fauourers euen of the Nobilitie as well as of the lower sort His speciall fauourers were these Iohn Clenbone Wickliffes fauourers Lewes Clifford Richard Sturmes Thomas Latimer William Neuell Iohn Mountague which plucked downe all the Images in his Church Beside all these was the Earle of Salisbury who for contempt in him noted toward the Sacrament in carrying it home to his house was enioyned by Badulph Ergon Bishop of Salisbury Penance to make in Salisbury a crosse of stone in the which all the story of the matter should be written and hee eue Fridaye during his life to come to the Crosse barefoote and bareheaded in his shirt and there knéeling on his knées to doe penance for his fact Ex Chro. Mon. de albon In vita Rich. 2 The Londoners at this time trusting in the mayors authoritie the cleargy spirituall men being choked with bribes The Londoners take vpon them c. and winking at vice tooke vppon them the office of the B. in punishing vices belonging to the ciuil law as fornication adulterie c. Ex eod Wickliffe had diuers testimonies of his great learning and godlinesse as of the Vniuersitie of Oxford sealed with the Vniuersitie Seale But so farre did his doctrine take place that the Councell of Constance to destroy it did decrée that fourty fiue of his articles were hereticall and 41. yeres after his death VVic bones burned after his death Persecution commanded his bones to be taken vp and burned Thomas Walden in his booke de sacramentis sacramentalibus saith that after Wickliffe many suffered most cruell death and many also did forsake the Realme In the number of whom was William Swinderbie Walter Brut Iohn Puruey Richard White VVilliam Thorpe Raynolde Peacock Bishop of Asaph and afterwardes of Chichester Iohn Scotte and Philip Norris which being excommunicate by Pope Eugenius the fourth anno 1446. appealed to a general or oecumenical Councel Peter Paine who flying from Oxford into Boheme did stoutly withstande the Sophisters as touching both kindes in the Sacrament of the supper and afterward among the rest of the Orators was one of the fourtéene that were sent to the Councell at Basil where by the space of thrée dayes he disputed vpon the article touching the ciuill dominion of the Cleargie in the yere 1438. Also the Lord Cobham fauoured and followed VVickliffes doctrine as did the Bohemians who by the meanes of a Bohemian Student in Oxford of a noble stocke that carried with him into Bohemia certaine of VVickliffs booke De realibus vniuersalibus de ciuili iure diuino de Ecclesia
comming to Rome booted and spurred set vp 90. Picus Mirand to dispute in the same with any in Christendome whosoeuer would come against him Of the which diuers were touching the matter of the Sacrament against whom none in all Europe was found to dispute But the Prelates appointed by the Pope consulted to enquire vpon his Conclusions 90. Conclusiōs to be disputed on by Picus Whereupon they did articulate against him for suspition of heresie He died being of the age of 32. of great learning In his sicknes Charles the eight French king moued with the fame of his learning came to visit him The furniture of Mirandulas Studie The furniture of his bokes cost him 7000 Florens A little before his death he was minded to geue al away and to take a Coule to goe about and preach With two Popes that is with Pope Innocent and Alexander 6. he had much vexation The names of the Archbishops of Canterbury in this sixt booke continuing 62 Iohn Stratford eight yeres 63 Iohn Kemp thrée 64 Thomas Burchier thirty thrée 65 Iohn Morton fourtéene 66 Thomas Langton ws elected Archbishop and died before he was confirmed 67 Henrie Dene two 68. William Warrham twenty eight A briefe note of Ecclesiastical Lawes ordeyned by certaine auncient kings of this land for gouernment of the church before the Conquest Lawes of K. Iuas or Iua That Ministers should frame their conuersation according to the forme in lawes prescribed That Infants should be baptised within thirtie dayes That no man should labour on the Sunday Also hée established immunitie of Churches and Sancturarie and tooke order for the true payment of Church duties and of the first fruites of all that was sowen to be paid at the day of S. Martin Anno 712. Lawes of king Alured or Alfred He enlarged the priuilege of Sanctuarie hée laid double paine vppon such as committed offences in the solemnities of certaine feastes also against them that committed Sacriledge hée made a law against Priestes committing murder also he made a law against whoredome adultery and fornication he appointed daies of fasting and ceasing from labour Item he set order for making and kéeping of vowes Ecclesiasticall lawes of king Edward the Elder and Githine the Dane king They agréed vpon the sanctuary they forbad paganisme they laid punishment vpon the Clergie committing theft periurie or murder fornication or any capitall crimee they made a law against all buying selling and labour vpon the Saboth Item that no execution be doone on the Sunday also against witches and sorcerers Lawes of king Ethelstane Anno 924. He commaunded that euery village of his owne should giue a mōthly Corrody to a poore person That 50. psalmes should be soong daily for the king c. He also ordained punishment for witches and sorcerers c. Lawes of king Edmund Anno 94. He prouided lawes against the vnchast liuing of churchmē He made lawes cōcerning tithes first fruites of euery mans crop and almesse mony duely to be paid that Bishops of their owne charges should repayre churches and admonish kings for furnishing of the same For periurie also and fighting within the Church Lawes of King Edgar Anno 959. He ordained that Sunday should be kept holy from Saterday at noone till Munday morning also concerning fréedome and liberties of the Church tithes first fruits of corne and paying of Peter pence For holydaies and fastingdaies That Synodes should be kept twise euery yéere whereat as well the Bishop of the Dioces as the ciuill magistrate should be present King Canutus 1016. That ecclesiasticall persons beyng accused of fighting murder or any other offence should answere to their purgation therein That Priestes should be disgraded for periurie and put in sureties of good behauiour hée limited the degrées of marriage he commaunded touching the Sabbath day that which Edgar did before he commaunded euery christian to come to the housell thrise euery yéere at least That they inquire and search after Gods lawe and commaundementes That euerie Christian vnderstand the points of his faith at least that he learne perfectly the Lords prayer and Créede els to be excluded from the Eucharist and vndertaking for others at Baptisme That Bishops and Priestes should doo their duties That at the court of euery shire the Bishop of the Dioces shall be present with the Sheriffe and that the one shall teach them Gods lawe and the other mans King Henry 7. finished his course of life 1509. after whō succéeded his sonne Henry 8. Henry 8. and shortly after married Lady Katherine the daughter of Ferdinandus K. Henrie 7. dieth his late brother Prince Arthurs wife by the dispensation of pope Iulius and the requests of Ferdinandus her father At this time was renewed the old strife betwixt the Dominicke fryers the Franciscans Old strife betwixt the Dominicks and Franciscans about the conception of the the virgin Mary the Franciscans held that the virgin was without original sinne the Dominicks were of the contrary mind Ann. 1476. Pope Sixtus 4. ioyned with the Franchiscans The feast of the virgin Maries conception ordayned a solemnization of the feast of the virgins conception offering all men women which would heare masse seruice from the first euensong of the same feast to the Octaues of the same as many daies pardon as Pope Vrban 4 and Martin 5 did graunt for hearing seruice of Corpus Christi day He made also an addition to the Aue Marie An addition to the Aue Mary graunting pardon of sins to all that would with the same addition pray vnto the Virgin The addition is and blessed is Anna thy mother of whom thy virgins flesh hath procéeded without blotte of original sinne This did pope Sixtus afterward that the Dominicks might conforme themselues thereto confirme with a bull dated 1483. whereby the Dominicks were compelled to giue to the virgin euery night an Antheme in praise of her conceptiō and to subscribe to the Franciscane doctrine The virgin Mary conceiued without sinne Although the greatest number of the schoole Doctors were of the contrary faction Petrus Lombard Thomas Aquinas Bernardus Bonauenture c. After the renewing of this dissention ann 1509. certaine of the Dominicks deuised a certain image of the virgin that they might make to stirre to make gestures to complain Sleight of Friers to wéep to grone by their deuises to make answere to them that asked for which déede the false friers were taken burned at Bernes the same yéere Peucer Munster Carion c. Their names were Iohannes Vetter Franciscus Vliscus Stephanus Balisthorst and Henricus Steinegger Pope Iulius was condemned an 1510. in the councel of Turon in France an 1512. being vanquished of Lewes the French K. about Rauenna on Easter day the next yere died Pope Leo. after whom succéeded Leo the 10. It appeareth by the registers of Richard Fitziames in the dioces of London that betwixt the yéere 1509.
their Councel béeing asked by the Duke did confirme and councelled the Duke to put downe the vse of the masse in his dominions About the same time king Henrie the 8. bare the name of a certaine booke written against Luther Booke against Luther Defender of the Christian faith in which he defendeth the Popes pardons his authoritie and the matter of the sacrament For which the pope added to his stile and title Defender of the Christian faith Within the compasse of the same yere P. Leo died reioysing of 3. blessings that God had bestowed vpon him First that hee being banished out of his Countrey was restored againe with glorie 2 That he deserued to be called Apostolike 3 That he had driuen the Frenchmen out of Italy After that he had spoken these words he was striken with a sodaine feuer and shortly after died being of the age of 47 yeres albeit some suspected he died of poyson After him succéeded Hadrian 6. In whose time the Turkes wanne Rhodes Pope Hadrian 6. A meeting at Noremberge He liued not much aboue one yere and a half in his Papacie In the time of this Hadr. the councell of Wormes brake vp and another meting appointed by the Emp. and States at Noremberge an 1522. To which méeting the Pope sent his letters and beside gaue his Legate Cheregalius instructions against Luther To whom the princes answered again geuing reason why as yet the Emperors Edict was not executed against Luther and requiring also that his holinesse with the consent of the Emperor would summon a generall Councell with as much spéed as might be wherein matters might be fréelie debated for the benefite of the Church and reformation of the same and that the assembling of that Councel might not be deferred longer then one yere In the meane time they promised to take reasonable order c. At the same time also at Noremberg 100. greeuances of Germanie against the pope the states propoūded an hundred gréeuances of the Germans which they did sustaine from the Sea of Rome as forbidding of marriage in degrées not forbidden by the law of God forbidding of meates not forbidden by God restraint of marriage at certaine times selling remission of sinnes for money innumities of clergy men excommunication abused number of holie dayes ouer burthenous suspending halowing of churchyardes against Officials and ecclesiasticall Iudges that ecclesiasticall Iudges annex lay matters vnto their iurisdiction c. These greeuances they deliuered to the popes legat an 1523. 1523 P. Hadrian dieth P. Clement 7. and so the assemblie of Noremberge brake vp and was proroged to the next yere following In the mean time Hadrian died after whom succéeded Clement 7. who the next yere after sent his Legat Cardinal Campeius vnto the assemblie at Noremberg with many faire petitions sharpe complaints against Luther c. but not a word of the gréeuāces or of any reformation While Luther was absent from Wittemberg Carolostadius And. Carolostadius stirred vp the people to throw downe images in the temples besides other thinges mo which Luther returning to Wittemberg misliked because it was not done orderly by the magistrate to whom it did belong Ex Ioh. Sleid. lib. 3. 1546 L. dieth Luthers praier at his death An 1546. in the 63. yere of his age L died after he had continued writing and preaching 29. yeares Before his death he prayed thus My heauenly Father eternall mercifull God thou hast manifested vnto me thy deare Sonne our Lord Iesus Christ I haue taught him I haue loued him as my health my life and my redemption whom the wicked haue persecuted maligned and with iniurie afflicted Draw my soule vnto thee After he had thus prayed he said as insueth thrise I cōmend my spirit into thy hands thou hast redemed me O god of truth God so loued the world that he gaue his only sonne that all that beleeued in him might haue life euerlasting Frederike prince Elector died before Luther an 1525. 1525 L. fulfilled Ierome of prages prophecie Thus Luther fulfilled the prophecie of Ierom of Prage I cite you al to answere before the most high and iust Iudge after 100. yeres Ierom was burnt 1416. and Luther began to write anno 1516. An. 1524. At the diet of Noremb was much reasoning cōcerning the mariage of priests which cardinall Cāpeius impugned and concerning the liberties of the citie of Strausburgh which the B. would haue infringed taking into his hands the cause of maried priests from the magistrate of the towne against ancient custome agréement betwixt them After the councell of Noremberg immediatly followed another sitting at Ratisbone A councell at Ratesbone where were present Ferdinandus Campeius Cardinall of Salisburgh the two dukes of Bauarie the Bishops of Trent and Ratisbone c. and made many popish Decrées and actes against Luther Actes against Luther which Campeius laboured to haue enacted in a full councell and with the consents of all the Empyre but the mindes of diuerse were gone from the Pope and he was faine to get the same ratified in this particular conuenticle An. 1519. Vldricus Zuinglius 1519 Zuinglius first abiding at Glocrona in a place called our Lords hermitage remoued to Zuricke and there began to teach dwelling in the Minster among the Canons or Monks of that close vsing the same rites with them the space of two or thrée yéeres because Leo the same yéere had renewed his pardons againe he cōtinued by the space of two yéeres more detecting of the abuses of the same till Hugo B. of Constance to whose iurisdiction Zurick did then belong wrote letters to the senat of Zuricke cōplaining greatly of Zuinglius to whom certain of the citie made answere desiring the B. that he would do nothing preiudiciall to the libertie of the gospell Zuinglius hauing referred his cause to the Senate This was An. 1522. Zuinglius also wrote a letter to the whole natiō of the Heluetians monishing them not to hinder the course of the gospell and not to molest priestes that were married and exhorted them to withdraw the libertie of concubines Thus Zuinglius continued certaine yéeres Dominicks against Zuinglius at the last the Dominicke friers opposed themselues wherevpon the Senate of Zuricke sent forth their commaundement to all Priests Ministers to repaire to Zurick against the 29. of Ianuarie next ensuing Anno 1523. That matters touching religion might be fréely disputed of directing of their letters to the B. of Constance that hée would either repaire thether himself or send his deputie At the day came Iohānes Faber Iohannes Faber against Zuinglius the Bishops Vicegerent Zuinglius had before contriued his doctrine into thrée score and seuen Articles and published thē abroad that they that minded to dispute might be better prepared Faber he denieth to dispute the matter and said it was méeter for a generall Councell which said he was néere
Now this Basilides being required a while after to giue an oath in a matter by the Idols and the Emperour as the manner of the oath was refused so to doe confessing himselfe to bée a Christian and was beheaded for the faith At that time there was one Alexander Alexand. who after great tormentes escaped aliue and was afterwarde Bishoppe of Hierusalem together with Narcissus Narcissus who being thréescore and thrée yéeres olde was vnweldy to gouerne alone He continued Bishop in Hierusalem 40. yéeres till the persecution of Decius and there erected a famous library where Eusebius had his chiefest helpe in writing his ecclesiastical history He wrote also diuers Epistles and licensed Origen to teach openly in his Church At length being very aged was brought to Cesarea vnder Decius where after his constant confession the second time he died in prison Vnder Seuerus suffered also Andoclus Andoclus whome Polycarpus had sent before into Fraunce who was apprehended of Seuerus and first being beaten with bats was afterward beheaded In that time Asclepiades Asclepiad confessed also and suffred much and was after ordeined Bishop of Antioch and continued there 7. yéeres About the fourth or fift yéere Ireneus Ireneus with a great multitude beside were martired Hée was the scholler of Polycarpus He was appointed Bishop of Lyons and there continued 23. yéeres In his time the question of keeping of Easter was renued betwéene Victor Victor Bishoppe of Rome and the churches of Asia and when Victor would haue excommunicated them as Schismatikes Ireneus with other brethren of the French Church wrote vnto Victor to staye his purpose therein and not to procéede thereto for such a matter Not long after Ireneus followed Tertullian Tertullian about the time of this Seuerus and Antoninus Caracalla who writte very learned Apologies for the Christians and confuted all the slaunders obiected against them He writte also diuers bookes whereof part remaine at this day Victor succéeded Eleutherius in the bishoprick of Rome and died a Martir as some say after he had sitten ten or xij yeres This Victor was earnest in the matter of Easter the yere of our Lord 260. and would haue excommunicated all of the contrarie minde had not Ireneus disswaded him With Victor stoode Theophilus Theophil c Bishop of Cesarea Narcissus of Ierusalem Ireneus of Lyons Palmas of Pontus Panthillus of Corinth the Bishop of Ostrena and other more who agréed to haue Easter vpon the sunday because they would differ from the Iewes in all things and partly because the resurrection of the Lorde fell on that day On the other side were diuers Bishops of Asia Among whom the chiefe was Policrates Policrat c. Bishop of Ephesus alledging the example of Philippe the Apostle with his iij. daughters at Hierapolis of Iohn the Apostle and Euangelist at Ephesus Polycarpus at Smirna Thraseas at Eumenia Bishop and Martir Likewise the example of Sagaris at Laodicea Bishop and Martir holy Papirius Melito at Sardis beside diuers others Notwithstanding Victor procéeded to excommunication yet by the wise handling of Ireneus other the matter was staied who shewed that variāce and difference of Ceremonies was no strange thing in the Church of God not only in the day of Easter but also of fasting and diuers other vsages among the Christians and yet kept the vnitie of faith and concord among themselues and brought forth examples of Telesphorus Pius Anicetus Soter Eleutherius and such other After Victor succéeded in the Sea of Rome zephyrinus Zephyrinus in the dayes of Seuerus about the yere 203. Eusebius saith he died in the raign of Caracalla and sate xvij yeres Platina saith that he died vnder Seuerus and sate viij yeres And so Nauclerus Damasus saith that he sate xvi yeres and ij Moneths Vnder this Seuerus suffered also Perpetua Perp. c. Felicitas and Rouocatus her brother Also Saturninus and Satyrus brethren Secundulus which were throwen to wild beastes and of them deuoured in Carthage and in Africa sauing that Saturninus being brought againe from the beasts was beheaded and Secundulus died in prison about the yere 202 Seuerus raigned xviij yeres and was slaine at Yorke by the Northerne men and Scots the yere 214. Leauing behinde him two sonnes Bassianus and Geta. Which Bassianus Bassianus surnamed Carocalla after he had slain his brother here in Britain gouerned the Empire alone the space of sixe yeres After whose death he also being slaine of his seruantes succéeded Marianus with his sonne Diadumenus who after they had raigned one yere were both slain by their own people After them succéeded Varius Heliogab Varius Heliogabalus who after he had raigned very vitiously ij yeres viij moneths was slain by the souldiers drawne through the citie throwne into Tyber He hauing no issue adopted his heire Aurelius Alexander Seuerus the sonne of Mammea He entered his raigne the yere 224. and continued xiij yeres wel commended for vertue and fauoured the Christians Mammea Mammea the mother of this Emperor whō Ierom calleth a deuout religious womā hearing of the fame of Origē sēt for him to Antioch to whō Origē resorted and staying a while with the Emperor and his mother returned again to Alexandria Thus hauing raigned xiij yeres at a cōmotion in Germany with his mother Mammea he was slaine After him succéeded Maximinus Maximinus although the church in the time of Alexander had no open persecution yet vnder Iudges there were many martyred because there was no edict to the contrary As vnder Almachus Calixtus Calixtus B. of Rome who succéeded Zephyrus aboue mentioned and after him Vrbanus who suffered vnder Alexander Seuerus Vincentius saith Calixtus was tied to a great stone and so out of a window was throwne into a ditch Eusebius saith he sat 5. yéeres Platina 6. Sabellicus 7. and so Damasus After Calixtus followed Vrbanus Vrbanus about the yéere 227. he died a martyr as Marianus Scotus Sabellicus Nauclerus doo hold in the dayes of Seuerus after he had gouerned there as Damasus Platina say foure yéeres as Marianus eight yéeres Damasus and Platina witnesse of him that hée conuerted diuerse Ethnicks among whome were Tiburtius Tiburtius and Valerianus Valerianus the husband of Cecilia which being both noble men of Rome remayned constant vnto martyrdome Vnder the same Alexander suffered also one Agapitus Agapitus of the age of fiftéene yéeres who beyng condemned at Preneste in Italie because he would not doo sacrifice after other torments was beheaded The executor of these punishmēts was one Antiochus who while the torments were executing fell suddenly from his Iudiciall seat crying out that all his inward bowels burned within him died Vnder him also suffered Calepodius Calepodius a minister of Rome who was drawen through the citie cast into Tiber after him suffered Pammachus Pammachus a Senator of Rome with
his wife children and other men and women to the number of 42. and with them also another noble Senator named Simplicius Simplicius all which together in one day had their heads smitten of their hands hanged vp in diuerse gates of the citie Vnder him also suffered Quiritius Quiritius a noble man of Rome with his mother Iulia Iulia. with a great number besides also Tiberius Tiberius and Valerianus Valerianus citizens of Rome and brethren suffered the same time being first beaten with bats and after beheaded Also one Martina Martina a virgin suffered at the same time but these martyrs are rather to be thought to suffer vnder Maximinus or Decius The sixt Persecution Maximinus MAximinus succéeded Alexander as is aforesaid the yéere of our Lord 237. Who for the hatred he had to Alexander raised the sixth persecution especially against the teachers of the Church he raigned but thrée yéeres In the time of this persecution Origen wrote his booke De Martyrio After him succéeded Gordian Gordian who was milde towards the Christians raigned six yéeres and was slaine of Phillip Phillip who succéeded him In the dayes of these Emperours aboue recited was Pontianus Pontianus bishop of Rome who succéeded next after Vrbanus about the yéere 236. in the twelfth yéere of Alexander according to Eusebius declaring him to sit six yéeres Damasus and Platius write that hée was Bishop nine yéeres and a halfe and with Phillip his priest was banished into Sardinia and there died But it séemeth he was rather banished vnder Maximinus and died in the beginning of the raigne of Gordianus In these times notable men were raised vp to the church as Philetus Philetus Bishop of Antioch who succéeded Asclepiades aboue mentioned anno 220. and after him Zebenus Zebenus bishop of the same place anno 231. To these may be added Ammonius Ammonius the Scholemaster of Origen and kinsman of Porphiry the enemy of Christ In the same times was also Iulius Aphricanus Iulius Aphricanus the scholer of Origen To these may be ioined Natalius Natalius who had suffered for the truth and was seduced by Asclepiodotus and Theodotus who were the disciples of Theodorus to take vpon him to be the Bishop of their sect promising him euery moneth 150. pieces of siluer wherto he yéelded But the Lord in a vision admonished him whereto he taking no héed was in a night scourged with Angels and so confessed his fault and declared that which had happened vnto him to Zephirinus the Bishop who with the rest of the congregation admitted him againe After Pontianus succéeded Anterius Anterius Cōcerning his time writers doe greatly vary Eusebius and Marianus Scotus affirm that he was Bishop but a moneth Damasus twelue yeeres and one moneth Volateranus Bergomensis Henricus Erford thrée yéeres one moneth Nauclerus one yere and one moneth Next to this Bishop was Fabianus Hippolitus Hippolitus was a martyr and as Gelasius saith was bishop of an head Citie in Arabia Nicephorus that he was Bishop of Ostia a port towne néere to Rome He was a great writer and was about the yéere 230. Prudentius in his Peristephanon maketh mention of great heapes of martyrs buried by thréescore together and saith that Hippolitus was drawne with wild horses through fields dales and bushes After Gordianus succéeded Philippus who with Philip his sonne gouerned about the space of sixe yéeres ann 246. These Emperours with their families were christened and conuerted by Fabianus and Origen He with his sonne was slaine of Decius one of the Captaines by hatred as it is thought because the Emperours had committed their treasures vnto Fabianus then Bishop of Rome The seuenth Persecution DEcius hauing slayn the former Emperours inuaded the crowne the yéere 250. by whom through enuie hatred as is aboue said was moued a terrible persecution against the Christians Fabian Fabian aboue mentioned was made Bishoppe of Rome after Anterius by the flying and lighting of a Doue vpon his head in the congregation which was minded to elect some noble personage of Rome He sate 13. yeres or as other say 14. was put to death by Decius who also caused to bée proclaimed in al quarters the destruction of Christians To this Decius Origen wrote of the rightnesse of his faith he continued two and fifty yéeres in great labours of teaching and writing and sustained diuers gieuous persecutions but especially vnder Decius vnder whom hauing suffred bands torments rackings with bars of yron dungeons besides terrible threats of death and burning at length was brought to an altar where a foule filthy Ethiope was appointed to be and there this choise was offered him whether he would sacrifice to the Idoll or haue his body polluted with that foule and ougly Ethyope Origen made choyse rather to doe sacrifice Origen sacrificeth for the which impietie hée was after excommunicated by the Church Epiphanius writeth that he being vrged to sacrifice to Idols and taking the bones in his hand wherewith the heathen were wont to honour their goddes called vpon the Christians to carrie them in honour of Christ which fact the Churche of Alexandria misliking remooued him from their communion Origen excommunicated Wherevpon Origen driuen away with shame went into Iurie where being in Hierusalem among the congregation and there requested of the ministers to make some exhortation in the Church refused a great while so to doe but at length through importunitie he turned the booke as though hée woulde haue expounded some place of Scripture and read the verse of the 49. Psalme But God saide to the sinner why doest thou preach my iustifications and why doest thou take my testament in thy mouth c. Which verse hauing read hée shut the booke and sate downe wéeping and wayling the whole congregation also wéeping and lamenting with him Origen repenteth Suidas saith Origen was buried at Tirus Eusebius saith he died vnder the Emperor Gallus about the yéere two hundred fiftie and fiue and the thrée score and ten yeares of his age in great miserie and pouertie In the time of Antoninus Carocalla Origen had a notable man Heracleas Heracleas his vsher in the schoole of Alexandria who after in the tenth yeare of Alexander Origen departing vnto Cesaria succéeded him in the gouernment of the schoole of Alexandria This Heracleas also succéeded after the death of Demetrius to be Bishop of Alexandria in the tyme of the Emperour Gordianus in which function he continued sixtéene yéeres After Heracleas succéeded Dyonisius Alexandrinus Heracleas was no martyr but died thrée yéeres before Decius anno 250. vnder whom Dionysius Alexandrinus Dionysius Alexandrinus suffered much The persecutions vnder Decius were so cruel that Niceph. faith it were as possible to number the sand of the sea as to recite their names that suffred Cruel persecution Of the which persecution vnder the Emperor
him martyred in the way of Appius first beyng beaten with plumbats Eusebius saith he sat two yéeres in another place he saith thrée yéeres Damasus giueth him onely two yéeres Vnder this tyrant suffered as Cyprian reporteth two yoong men the one Aurelius Aurelius who was twise tormented the other Mappalicus Mappalicus who in the middest of his torments sayd to the Proconsull to morrow you shall sée the running for a wager meaning his martyrdome which he constantly did suffer Decius death This Decius raigned but two yéeres and with his sonne was slaine of the Barbarians Pomponius affirming that he warring against the Gothians to auoid their hands ran into an whyrlepit where hée was drowned and his body neuer found Immediatly after the death of Decius God sent a plague tenne yéeres together A plague of ten yeeres which made diuerse places of the world desolate especially where the persecution most raged Where might appeare great difference betwéene the Christians and Gentils one comforting and ministring to the necessities of their brethren the other forsaking their neighbours and friends left them destitute Cyprian de mortalitate and voyd of succour Vpon this plague Cypr. wrote his book de mortalitate After the death of Decius succeded Vibias Vibias Gallus Gallus Volusian Volusianus his son both by treasō about the yéere 255. cōtinued 2. yéers Gallus at the first was quiet The teachers of Christianity banished but anon after published edicts against the Christians which was chiefly of banishmēt of the guides of the church In whose time Cyprian B. of Carthage was banished Other were condemned to the mynes as Nemesianus Nemesianus Felix Felix Lucius Lucius with their bish priests deacons to whom Cyprian wrote cōsolatory epistles He wrote also consolatory Epistles to Seagrius Seagrius Rogatianus Rogatianus being then in bonds for the trueth In the time of this Gallus was Lucius B. of Rome sent into banishment who next succéeded Cornelius in the yéere 256. wherin he continued but a while and returned to his Church Lucius sate but 8. moneths as saith Eusebius Damasus Marianus Scotus and Nauclerus say he sate 3. yéeres and was beheaded the second yéere of Valerian and Galienus After Lucius came Stephanus Stephanus sate 7. yéers 5. months died a martir as saith Damasus Platina Sabellicus Eusebius Volateranus giue him which is more likely but 2. yeres Betwixt this Stephanus and Cyprian fell a contention Contention about rebaptising of heretikes Next to the former Emperors succéeded Emilianus Emilianus who slue the former and succéeded himself After that he had reigned but thrée moneths he also was slaine Next Valerianus and Galienus Valerianus Galienus his sonne were aduaunced to the Empire and succéeded Emilianus Valerianus thrée or foure yéeres was so curteous and gentle to the Christians as no Emperour before him no not such as professed Christ so that his Court was full of Christians But being seduced by an Egyptian magician Valerianus seduced who was hindred by the Christians from practising his charms he fell to idols and sacrificed young infantes and raised the eight persecution The eight Persecution THe chief ministers of this persecution were Emilianus President of Egypt Paternus and Galerius maximus Proconsuls in Africa Paternus Vicegerent in Rome Perennius Nicetus and Claudius Presidents Disordered life of Christians The cause of this persecution besides the Egyptian aboue mentioned was the dissention and disordered life of Christians euen of those that had béen confessors as Cyprian in his fourth booke and fourth Epistle doeth declare to whom it was shewed in a vision of the Lord before it came There was a certaine aged man sitting A Vision at whose right hande sate a young man very sadde and pensiue as one with an indignation sorowfull holding his hande vppon his breast his countenance heauie and vnchéerefull On the left hand sate another person hauing in his hand a nette which hee threatned to lay to catche the people that stoode about and saide vnto him the young man whom thou séest sad sorowful is for that his precepts bee not obserued but he on the left hand daunceth and is merrie for that occasion is giuen him to haue power of the aged father to afflict men Cyprians Apologie for Christians Cyprian doth defend the Christians and confute the false accusations laid against them as among the rest to be the causes of all calamities that happened of warre or plague whatsoeuer writing contra Demetrium as Tertullian had before writing contra Capulam Cyprian was an African borne in Carthage and first was an idolater Cyprian once a Magician altogether giuen to the practise of magical artes and a worthie Rhetorician He was conuerted to the saith by Cecil a priest whose name after hee bare through occasion of hearing the history of the Prophet Ionas Cecilius conuerteth Cypr. And immediatly vpon his conuersion he distributed all his substance to the poore and being ordayned a Priest was not long after made Bishop of Carthage But whether hée succéeded Agrippinus Agrippinus which was the first author of rebaptization it is vncertaine Such were his giftes and vertues that he had the gouernment of the whole East Church and Church of Spaine and was called the Bishop of Christian men He was much geuen to reade Tertullian and called him his master In the time of Decius and Gallus he was first banished Cyprian banished and after returning againe out of exile in the time of Valerianus he was also the second time banished by Paternus the Proconsull of Africke into the Citie of Thurbin or into a Citie called Furabilitana or Curabilitana But when Paternus the Proconsul was dead Galienus Maximus succéeded him who finding Cyprian in a Garden caused him to be apprehended and after many raging words his head to be stricken of Xistus being then Bishop of Rome Cyprian beheaded in the yere 259. It is to be noted that there were more Cyprians Diuers Cyprians one of whom Nazianzen writeth to be a Citizen of Antioch and afterward Bishop of that Citie and martired vnder Dioclesian There was also a third Cyprian in the time of Iulianus Apostata long after both the former About this time vnder the same Valerianus suffered Xistus or Sixtus the second of that name Bishop of Rome who with vi of his Deacons Sixtus with six of his deacons Nemesius being one was beheaded At which time also one Laurence a Deacon séeing the Bishop led to execution cried out vnto him saying O deare father whither goest thou without the companie of thy deare sonne meaning himselfe To whom he answered with a fatherly discourse that within thrée dayes hee should suffer after a more painfull manner which in déede followed according as he had said for Laurence hauing distributed of the goods of the poore by the
charge of the Bishop it came to the Emperors eare who gréedie of praye commanded him to render the treasure vnto him But he insteade thereof presented vnto him after thrée dayes respite a sort of poore Christians as the treasure of the Church Wherewith taking himselfe deluded he commanded Laurence to be broyled on an Iron Gridiron L. broyled on a gridiron Whereon after he had suffered a great space he pronoūced these words vnto the Tyrant This side is now rosted inough turne vp O Tyrant assay whether rosted or raw thou think to be better meate By the constant confession of this Laurence a certayne Souldier of Rome being pricked and therewith conuerted to the faith desired forthwith to be baptized of him for which being called for by the Iudge he was scourged and after beheaded Vnder the same suffered also Dionisius B. of Alexādria Dionisius B. of Alexandria much affliction and banishment who with Faustus Maximus and Cheremon were banished into a town of Libia called Cephrobie Emilianus the President at the Emperors commandement not geuing Dionisius then sick one daies respit in the place he was once scourged afterwarde remoued frō thence to another place called Mariota a more straight sharpe place of Libia Who after he came thither was assigned thence to go to Colluthion There were also afflicted with him at that time Caius Petrus and Paulus But notwithstanding all their crueltie certaine visited the brethren The brethren visited as Maximus Dioscorus Demetrius and Lucius At that time also Eusebius Eusebius suffred afflictiō for the truth who was afterward made B. of Laodicea in Siria Maximus had the ministerie of the church of Alexandria after Dionisius Faustus Faustus long after being a very olde man was in the later persecution beheaded Dionisius himselfe suruiued all these troubles and continued vnto the xij yere of the reigne of Galienus about the yere 268. and so in great age departed in peace after he had gouerned the church of Alexandria xvij yeres and taught Schoole in the same xvi yeres After whom succéeded Maximus In Cesaria Palestine suffered the same time Priscus Priscus Marcus Marcus and Alexander Alexander who stepping to the iudge and declaring thēselues to be Christians were giuen to wild beasts with a woman that had béene before of the sect of Marcion Also in Carthage were 300. martyred 300. martyred in a lime kill for refusing to doo sacrifice to Iupiter Also in the citie of Tuburba Maxima Donatilla and Secunda thrée virgins Three virgins were after diuerse cruell torments giuen to beasts which refusing to touch thē they were beheaded with the sword In Symela a citie vnder the Alpes one Pontius Pontius beyng apprehended by Claudius the president after diuerse torments was giuen to beastes who refusing to touch him was committed to the fire of which also beyng not touched he was beheaded by a riuers side and his body cast into the same Gods iudgements At which instant Claudius with Anabius his assistant were taken with wicked spirits and bit of their owne tongues and so died In the same time also Zeno Zeno. Bishop of Verona was martyred The later Histories write of one Philippus who beyng promoted to the Presidentship of Alexandria came downe with his wife Claudia and his two sonnes Auitus and Sergius and his daughter named Eugenia Among whom this Eugenia Eugenia was brought to Christianitie with two other her companions Eunuches Prothus and Hyacinthus with whome shée councelling tooke the apparell of a man partly to auoid trouble and to heare more boldly the readings of Helenus Helenus an aged Bishop and called her name Eugenius Now a matrone named Melancia of Alexandria fell in loue with this Eugenius which she refusing and Melācia seing by no means she could obtaine her suit she made an outcry against Eugenius declaring that he went about to defloure her presented her accusatiō to Philippus Whervpon Eugenius was constrained to manifest her selfe vnto Philippus her father who had now long time missed her whom with other of her parents she did afterward win to the faith for the same was after martyred Eugenia after the martyrdome of her Father is sayd to haue returned to Rome with Prothus and Hyacinthus and conuerted Basilla to the faith who should haue béene married to a Pagan husband and was then beheaded after sundry and diuerse torments In the sixt yéere of Valerianus Victor Victor and Victorinus Victorinus with Claudianus Claudianus and Bossa Bossa his wife after thrée yéeres imprisonment and diuerse torments were put to death Vnder these tyraunts suffered Fructuosus Fructuosus Bishop of Taraconia in Spaine with his two Deacons Augurius and Eulogius condēnsd by Emilianus There hands bound behind them presently were vnloosed and the fire flew from them till they had praied that it might accomplish the worke and so they died constantly At which time a certaine souldier of the house of Emilianus A vision did sée the heauen open and the martyrs enter in which sight he did shew vnto the daughter of Emilianus the president This Valerian after he had raigned with his sonne Galienus six or seuen yéeres and about two yéeres had afflicted the Christians fell into the handes of Sapores Sapores king of Persians beyng of thrée score and ten yéeres of age who made him alwaies his footestoole to get vppon his horse to which purpose he serued till his death albeit Eusebius saith hée was slayne at the commaundement of Sapores and powdered with salt Claudius his president was possessed of a Diuell Gods iudgements and biting of his owne tounge by many small péeces ended his life At the same time in the Romane Monarchie there happened thirtie earthquakes together Earthquakes by the meanes whereof Galienus could not succour his Father whome it is thought they did so terrifie that hée caused therevpon the persecution to bée moderated Persecution moderated notwithstanding there were some that suffered among whom was one Marinus Marinus who being a noble man and a warriour of Cesarea and standing for a dignitie that belonged vnto him was accused of him that should succéed him to be a Christian wherevpon being called before Achaius then iudge had giuen him foure houres to deliberat who standing in deliberation Theotechnus otherwise called Theodistus Theodistus Bishop of Cesarea brought him into the Church of Christians layde before him a booke of the new testament and a sword willing him to choose who forthwith chose the booke and so encouraged by the Bishop presented himselfe to the iudge by whose sentence hée was beheaded After the martirdom of Xistus the gouernment of the church of Rome was committed to one Dionysius Dionysius about the yéere 266. who continued therein the space of 9. yéeres according to Eusebius but as Damasus saith 6. yéeres and 2. moneths After him
his father Ethelgora was made a Nunne the other two were maried the one in Merceland the other to the Earle of Flaunders He raigned 29. yéeres six moneths he departed this life v. Kal. Nouemb. lieth buried at Winchester an 901. Wheresoeuer he was or whether soeuer he went he bare in his bosome or pocket a litle booke cōtaining the Psalmes of Dauid Dauids psalms alwaies with the king and certaine other prayers of his owne collecting wherevpon he was continually either reading or praying whensoeuer he had leasure therevnto Pleymundus schoolemaister to Alfred succéeded Etheredus in the Bishopricke of Canterburie and gouerned that sea 34. yéeres After him succéeded Athelmus and sat 12. yéeres after him came Vlfelmus and sat 13. yéeres him followed Odo a Dane borne and gouerned 20. yéeres After the death of Pope Stephen the fifth was much broyle in the election of the Bishops of Rome one contending against another in so much that in the space of nine yéeres there were nine Popes of the which first was Formosus who succéeded Stephen being made pope against the minde of certaine in Rome that would rather Sergius then Deacon of the Church of Rome should bée Pope not withstanding Mars and mony preuayled on Formosus part by the aid of king Arnulphus who came to Rome and beheaded Formosus aduersaries whom the Pope in recompence blessed crowned Emp. This Formosus had once sworne neuer to reiterate or take to him againe ecclesiasticall order but was absolued againe of Pope Martin who sat foure or fiue yéeres after whom in 9. yéeres there were nine Popes In nine yeeres nine Popes After him succeded Boniface the 6 who continued 25. daies then came Stephen the 6. who abrogated all the decrées of Formosus and taking vp his body after it was buried Pope Stephen rageth against the dead bodie of Formosus cut two fingers of his right hand and commaunded them to bée cast into Tiber and then buried the bodie in a Laye mans sepulchre He raigned one yéere and him succéeded Rhemanus sate 3. months repealing the decrées of his predecessor against Formosus next whom came Theodorus the 2. who like wise taking part with Formosus raigned but 20. daies then sate Pope Iohn who fought against the Romans and to confirme the cause of Formosus more surely did hold a synode at Rauenna of 72. Bishops with the French king Endo and his Archbishops present at the same where all the decrées of Formosus were confirmed and those of Stephen the 6. burned This Pope liued not Pope full twoo yéeres after whom succéeded Benedictus the fourth who kept the chaire thrée yéeres after whom Leo the fift was Pope who within 40. daies of his papacie was with strong hand taken and cast in prison by one Christopher his owne housholde Chaplaine whom he had long time nourished in his house which Christopher being Pope about the space of seuen moneths was also horsed from his seate by Sergius as hée had done to the other before who after hée had thrown downe Christopher shore him monke into a monasterie and occupied the sea seuen yéeres This Sergius a rude man Sergius baebarous cruelty against Formosus now dead and buried and vnlearned very proude and cruell had before time beene put backe from the Popedome by Formosus aboue mentioned by reason whereof to reuenge himselfe of Formosus againe béeing nowe in his papacie caused his bodie to bée taken vp and afterward setting it in the Papall sea as in his Pontificalibus first disgraded him then commaunded his head to bée smitten off with the other thrée fingers which were left which done he caused his body to be throwne into Tiber deposing also all such as had béene inuested by Formosus By this Pope Sergius first came vp the bearing of candles on Candlemas day Candles on Candlemas day for the purifying of the blessed virgin After Sergius entred Pope Anastasius who after he had sate 2. yéers folowed pope Lando the father as some think of pope Iohn which Iohn is said to haue beene Paramour of Theodora a famous harlot of Rome A pope set vp of Theodora a famous harlot set vp by the same harlot either against Lando or after Lando his father to succéede in his roome There is a story writer called Liuthprandus who writing de imperatoribus lib. 2. cap. 13. maketh mention of this Theodora and Iohn the eleuenth and saith that this Theodora had a daughter named Marozia which had by Pope Sergius aboue mentioned a sonne who afterwarde was pope Iohn the 12. The same Marozia afterward married with the marques Guido of Tuscia through whose means and his friends at Rome she brought to passe that this pope Iohn the eleuenth was smothered with a pillow laid to his mouth Pope smothered after he had raigned 13. yéeres and so Iohn the 12. her sonne raigned in his stéed but because the cleargie and people of Rome did not agree to the election therefore was Pope Leo the 6. set vp in his roome Thus pope Iohn the sonne of Sergius and Marozia being reiected raigned pope Leo 7. moneths after him pope Stephen 2. yéeres who being poisoned Pope poisoned then was pope Iohn the 12. aboue rehearsed set vp againe where hee raigned néere the space of 5. yeeres After Iohn the twelfth followed pope Stephen thrée yeeres Leo thrée yéeres and foure moneths Stephen the eight thrée yéeres foure moneths Martine 3. yéers 6. moneths After him Agapetus eight yéeres and sixe moneths about whose time or a little before beganne the order of monks called Ordo Cluniacensis The Monkes Cluniacenses It may appeare in those times that the authoritye of bestowing bishoprikes in England and also in prescribing lawes to Churchmen was in the hands of the kings of the land and not onely in the handes of the Pope as it is manifest by King Alfredus lawes If any one lie with an other mans wife c. If any that hath taken orders steale c. After Alfred succéeded his sonne Edward called the elder giuing also testimonie of the same Who with Pleymundus archbishop of Canterbury and with other Bishops in a Synod assembled elected seuen Bishops in seuen Metropolitane churches whose names were 1. Freidstane 2. Adelstane 3. Werstane 4. Addlelin 5. Edulphus 6. Dernegus 7. Kenulphus In which election the kings authority alone séemed then sufficient The kings authority in electing of bishops sufficient This Edward raigned 24. yéers his daughters he set to spinning The K. daughters set to spinning and to the néedle his sonnes he set to the studie of learning to the end that they being Philosophers first might bee made more expert to gouerne the common wealth The king maketh his sonnes first Philosophers and then Gouernours Ethelstane succéeded his father in the kingdome and being base born of Egwin before the king was married to her and fearing his next brother Edwine being rightly borne caused
custody and stinted at xx d. a day The P. stinted at xx pence a day Hildebrand in the meane time encroching to himselfe the treasure of the Church Hildebrand encrocheth the Church treasure The names and order of the Archbishops of Canterburie from the time of king Egbert to William the Conquerour 18 ETheredus 18. 19. Pleimundus 29.20 Athelmus 12. 21. Vlfelmus 13.22 Odo 20. 23. Elfius or Elfinus 1. 24. Dunstane 20. Polydorus maketh Dunstane the 23.25 Ethelgarus 1.26 Elfricus 11.27 Siricius 5.28 Elphegus 6. 29. Liuingus 7. 30. Egelnodus 17.31 Edsius 11. 32. Robertus 2.33 Stigandus 17.34 Lanfrancus 19. The Printer to the Reader NOte gentle Reade that whereas by means our written copie had not obserued the same we vnawares haue omitted certaine distinctions that wee purposed to haue made betweene each of the 3. parts or bookes of this former volume abridged according as in the first volume of acts monuments at large is distinguished thou shalt vnderstand that the first of those former bookes conteyneth the 300. yeres next after Christ vntil Lucius his daies The 2. booke beginneth pag. 68. and conteineth the next 300. yeeres viz. from Lucius to king Egbert The 3. must be reckoned from pag. 85. containing the next 300. yeeres viz. to the time of William the Conqueror which here followeth The fourth booke ANno 1067. William Conqueror was crowned king W. Conqueror by the handes of Aldredus Bishop of Yorke for so much as Stigandus Archbishop of Canterburie was thē absent on Christmas day William exercised great crueltie Crueltie of the Conqueror vpon the English Nation and abrogated Edwards lawes and established his own for his profite He placed his people in all offices Spirituall and Tēporall And such was the reproch of English men An Englishmā a name of reproch that it was a name of shame And thus now the fift time the land was by diuers Nations afflicted First by the Romans in the time of Iulius Cesar Then by Scots and Pictes After England fiue times ouerrun by Saxons and then by Danes which continued from the reign of Ethelwolfe 230. yeres till K. Edward And fiftly by the Normans In the fourth yere of K. William betwéene Easter and Whitsontide was helde a Councell at Winchester of the Cleargie of England In which were present two Cardinals sent from pope Alexander the second Peter and Iohn In that Councell the king being present were deposed many Prelates of the English Nation without any euidēt cause that the kings Normans might be placed Normans placed Srigandus Archbishop deposed Among whom Stigandus the Archbishop was put downe for thrée causes The first for that he had wrongfullie holden the bishoprick while Robert the Archbishop was liuing The second for that he receiued the Pall of Benedict who was deposed The third for that he occupied the Pall without lawfull authoritie of the Court of Rome So Stigandus was deposed and kept in Winchester as a prisoner during his life At the same time was preferred to the Archbishoprick of York Thomas a Norman and Chanon of Bayon at which time also Lanfrancus Abbot of Cadomonencie a Lombard and Italian borne was sent for and made Archbishoppe of Canterburie Lanfrāk archbishop of Canterburie Contention of primacie Betwixt him and the Archb. of Yorke there grew great contention for the oath of obedience But in the end through the king Thomas was contented to subscribe obedience to the other After the Archb. went to Rome for their Palles with Remigius B. of Dorcester wtout which no Archb. nor B. could be confirmed And to Lanf Alexāder for the estimatiō of his learning gaue ij palles 2. palles geuen to Lanfrank one of honor the other of loue he obteined also for the other ij their cōfirmation Now againe began the controuersie of Primacie to be renued before the P. who sent thē home to end the matter to haue it determined So returned they to Englād an 1070 and the 6. yere of this W. the matter was brought befor the K. clergie at Windsor where after much debating on both sides Th. gaue ouer condiscending that the first of his prouince should beginne at Humber Whereupon it was decréed that Yorke for that time should be subiect to Cant. York subiect to Cant. in matters appertaining to the Church So that wheresoeuer within England Canterburie would hold his Councel the Bishops of Yorke should resort thether with their bishops and be obedient to his decrées Canonicall Prouided moreouer that when the Archb. of Canterburie should decease Yorke should depart to Douer there to consecrate with other the B. that should be elect and if Yorke should decease his successor should resort to Canterburie or els where the Bishop of Cant. should appoint there to receiue his cōsecratiō making his profession there with an oath of canonical obedience In the daies of this Lanfrancus Archb. of Canterburie anno 1076. diuers bishops seates were altered from townships to great cities Bishops seates altered from from townes to great cities as of Sealesey to Chichester out of Cornwall to Exceter from Welles to Bath from Shireburne to Salisburie from Dorcester to Lincolne frō Lichfield to Chester Which bishoprike of Chester Robert then B. reduced from Chester to Couentrie Likely it is also that the sea of the archbishop was translated from Douer to Canterbury or that Canterbury in old time had the name of Dorobernia as doth by diuerse testimonies appéere In the 9. yéere of this kings raigne by the procurement of Lanfrancus was a councel holden at London where among other things it was first enacted Ecclesiasticall decrees that the Archb. of Yorke shold sit on the right hand the B. of Lōdon on the left or in the absence of Yorke London on the right hand Winchester on the left hand of the archbishop in councell 2. That bishops should translate their seas from villages to cities 3. That monkes should haue nothing in proper and if they had died vncōfessed they should not be buried in churchyard 4. That no Clarke or Monke of another Dioces should be admitted to orders or retained without letters cōmendatorie 5. That none should speake in the Councell except Bishops Abbots without the leaue of the Archmetropolitane 6. That none should marie within the seuenth degree with anie of his owne kindred or of his wiues departed 8. That no sorcerie should be vsed in the Church 9. That none of the clergy should be present at the iudgement of anie mans death or dismembring neither should be anie fautor of the said iudicants In the daies of this Lanfrancus Waltelmus B. of Wintō had placed about fortie Canons in sted of Monks so that the part of Priests was taken againe against Monkes Priests yet against Monks But it held not Lanfrancus opposing himselfe against the same He wrote a booke against Berengarius called Opus scintillarū His owne church of
decrée against marriage remained still Pope Paschalis Pope Paschalis entered his papacie the same yéere that king Henry began his reigne an 1100. and being brought into Laterane vpon a white palfray a scepter was brought him The Popes ornaments and a girdle put about him hauing seuen keies with seuen seales hanging therevpon in token of his seuenfold power Popes seuenfold power according to the seuenfold grace of the holy Ghost of binding loosing shutting opening sealing resigning and iudging c. This Pope did depose all those Prelates that the Emperour set vp also banished Albertus Theodoricus Maginulphus they striued the same time for the papacie and made an army against Guybert whom the Emperour had made Pope who being put to flight not long after died About the same time Anno 1101. the Bishop of Florence began to preach to teach Antichrist then to be borne and to be manifest That Antichrist was borne Married priests condēned for Nicolaitans as Sabellicus testifieth wherevpon Paschalis assembling a councel put to silence the said bishop and condemned his bookes In this Councell at Trecas married priests were condemned for Nicolaitans This Paschalis renewed the excommunication of Hildebrand against the Emperour and set vp his sonne Emperour against him caused the archbishop of Mentz of Collen and of Wormes at Hilgeshen to depriue the Emperour The Emp. deposed by the Pope and to take from him all the ornaments of his Empyre wherevpon the Emperour beyng left desolate he pronounced Let God see and iudge Let God see and iudge Thus they left him and went and confirmed his sonne and caused him to driue out his Father who then beyng chased of his owne sonne hauing but nine persons about him did flie by the Dukedome of Lymbrough Where the Duke beyng then a hunting and hearing of him followed after him The Emperour looking for nothing but present death for he had displaced the same Duke before out of his dukedome submitted himselfe and craued pardon the Duke pitying his case receiued him to fauour and into his castle And gathering together his men of war brought him to Collen where he was well receiued His sonne hearing of this besieged the citie but the father by night escaping fled to Leodium where he assembled a power and pitched a field desiring his friends The pope setteth the Emperors sonne against him that if he got the victory they would spare his sonne In fine the Father had the victory and the sonne was put to flight but shortly after they renewed battel againe and the sonne got the field and the father taken who being vtterly dispossessed of his kingdom was brought to that state that comming to Spire he was faine to craue of the Bishop there to whom he had done much good before to haue a prebend in the Church The Emperor craueth to be aprehend of a Church but could not obtaine it and for that he had some skil of his book he desired to serue in our Ladies quire yet hée could not obtain so much at his hands who sware by our lady he should haue none there Thus he came to Leodiū there for sorow died after that he had raigned 50. yéeres whose body Paschalis after his funerall caused to be taken vp again and to be brought to Shires The Emp dieth for sorow where it remained fiue yéeres vnburied After the decease of Henricus the 4 his sonne Henricus the 5. raigned 20. yéeres who comming to Rome to be crowned of the Pope could not obtaine it No Emperour to haue to doe with the elect of the Pope The Emp. had been slaine at Rome before it were by him fully ratified that no Emperor should haue any thing to doe with the election of the B of Rome or with other bishopricks and such a stirre there was at Rome that the Emperor if he had not defended himselfe with his owne handes he had béene slayne yet gotte hée the victorie and tooke the Pope and leadeth him out of the Citie where he indenteth with him vppon diuers conditions The pope faine to agree to the Emperour both of his coronation and recouering againe his title in election of the Pope and other Bishops Wherevnto the Pope assented and agréed to all so the Emperour being crowned of Paschalis returned againe to Rome The pope breaketh couenant But so soone as the Emperour was returned into Germany the Pope forthwith calling a synod reuoked al that hée had granted to before excomunicated Henricus the Emperour whereof he hearing being in France and there hauing married Mathild daughter to K. Henry returned with a power and putteth the pope to flight and placeth another in his stéede The Germans rebell In the which time the States of Germany rebelled in so much that it grew to a foughten field ann 1115. Wherfore the Emp. séeing no end of troubles was faine in the end to giue ouer all his right in Churchmatters The Emp. giueth ouer to the Pope In the time of this Paschalis liued Bernardus called Abbas Clarauallensis ann 1118. of whom sprang the Bernardine monkes Bernardine monkes After the death of Paschalis succéeded Gelasius Gelasius chosen by the Cardinall without the consent of the Emperour whervpon grew great great variance in Rome and at length another pope was set vp by the Emperor called Gregorie the 8 Gregorie 8. and Gelasius driuen away into Fraunce and there died After whom came Calixtus Calixtus the 2 chosen by a fewe Cardinals without the consent of the Emperour who comming vp to Rome to inioy his seat first did excommunicat the Emperour Hee then hauing diuers conflicts with his fellow pope Gregorius at length draue him out of Rome At which time by this occasion great cōtrouersie was betwixt the emperors the popes court for the preeminence but in cōclusion The Emp. fain to yeeld the Emp. was faine to condiscend to the vnreasonable conditions of the pope first to ratifie his election notwithstanding the other pope was aliue whom the Emperour set vp and that in matters of the popes election and inuesture of the Bishops hee should resigne his right Which being graunted A shamefull vsage of a pope the Pope maketh out after his fellow pope and taketh him at Sutrium and set him vppon a Camell his face towardes the Camels tayle and the tayle held in his hand in stéede of a bridle and so brought him to Rome thorough the stréetes and afterward hauing shorne him thrust him into a monastery This Pope did first establish the papall decrées against the Emperour he brought in the foure quarter fastes cal-called Imber daies Imber daies and brought in the order of monks called Premonstratensis Premonstratensis also was hot against priests wiues After the death of Anselme who deceased An. 1109. After he had béene in the sea 16. yéeres the church of Canterburie stood void 5. yéeres Canterbury 5.
the vttermost and wasteth all the countrie about Rome The pope dieth for anger wherewith the Pope was so dismaide that beyng in dispaire to obtaine his purpose hée died for very anger and thought This Gregory brought into the Church much horrible impietie blasphemy wickednes among others brought in that most detestable Canticle Salue Regina brought into the Church Salue Regina in which hée attributeth the honour and worshippe onely due to Iesus Christ vnto the virgin his mother This is hée in whose name the booke of the Decretals The decretals was set out a sinke of folly and impietie Pope Celestine Pope dieth After this Gregory was placed Celestine borne in Mediolanum among the Castellians who as Blondus declared by fained promises offered a league with Fredericke and the 18. day after he was created he died Now Fredericke thinking himselfe void of feare lenieth an army against the Tartarians An army against the Tartarians for the reliefe of the Christians who hearing of the comming of the Emperour returned another way by the riuer Danubius to Tanricia and so through the fennes of Meotida and by the riuer Tanaum into Sarmatia Asiatica After Celestine the cardinals made choyse of Simbaldus a Genouais for pope whom they called Innocentius the 4. Innocentius 4. which election Fredericke was well pleased with as hée signified by letters and Legates gratulatorie to the pope The legats of Frederick with the furtherance of Baldronius Emperour of Constantinople laboured very diligently for conclusion of promised peace but all in vaine for while the Emperours legats attended for answer of peace Ramerus the Cardinall went secretly and tooke Viterbium which was on the Emperours part The Emperour notwithstanding there séemed no hope of peace doubted not but if he might himselfe speake with the Pope he vpon reasonable conditions should well inough accord with him wherefore he desired him by his legats to appoint a place where the Emperour might speake with him The Emperour seeketh peace The Pope will none The Pope séemed to be content therewith but on a sudden went to Lyons and called a councell and with a lowd voice sommoneth Frederick and appointing him a day commaunded him there personally to appeare to pleade his cause The Emperour agréed but required conuenient time to trauaile thether The pope would not so much as graunt 3. dayes but being both iudge and accuser Pope iudge accuser condemneth him before he could come thether without proofe of any crime or his cause suffered to be pleaded But Gods iudgement failed him not for the writers of the annals accord that when Frederick the Emperour and Conradus his sonne were dead and the pope gaping for the inheritance of Naples and Sicil and thinking by force to subdue the same coming to Naples with a great armie of men there was heard manifestly in the Popes court a voice pronouncing these wordes Thou wretch come to receiue thy iudgemēt A voice heard Thou wretch come and receiue thy iudgement And the next day the pope was found dead all blacke and blew as though he had bin beaten with battes When the Emperour had vnderstanding of this cruell sentence he signified the iniurie to all Christian Princes by his letters and prouided euery way to withstand the P. and his confederats and after diuers aduenturs variablenes of thinges The Emp. dieth hee came into a certaine castle of his in Apulia called Florentinum where hee fell sicke of an ague and died Hauing had purpose as Pandolphus Colonuthius writeth of some maruellous exploite great attempt Frederike died willingly and gladly in the yéere 1240. the 13. day of December the 57. yéere of his age and 37. of his raigne and was buried at Panorium The pope counted him an enemie of the Church and so both Innocentius the fourth pronounced him and the same sentence haue other Popes registred in their 6. Booke of decretals and established the same for a law that he ought to bee taken for no lesse In the Countrey of Sueuia about the time of Frederike the second anno 1240. or néere about the same were manie preachers Preachers bold against Pope which preached fréely against the Pope preached that he was an heretike and that his bishops Prelats were Simoniakes and heretikes and that the inferiour priestes had no authoritie to binde and loose but were seducers and that such cities and countries as were then vnder the popes curse might notwithstanding lawfully resort to the receiuing of the sacrament as wel as before Item that Friers Dominick Franciscan did subuert the church with their preaching c. And not long after these rose vp Arnoldus de noua villa Arnoldus de noua villa was condemned a Spaniard a man famously learned a great writer ann 1250. whom the pope condemned amōg heretikes for holding and writing against the corrupt errors of the popish church His teaching was that christiā people are led by the pope into hel Item that cloisterers are voyd of charitie and denyed that masses are not to be celebrated that they ought not to do sacrifice for the dead c. And as this Arnoldus was condemned so likewise the same time Iohannes Seneca Iohannes Seneca appealeth from the pope to a Councell the glosewriter of the popes decrées and prouost of Halberster was excommunicated and depriued of of his prouostship for resisting Pope Clement the fourth gathering certaine exactions in Germanie and therefore hée appealed from the Pope to a generall Councell and had manie great fauourers on his side till at last both the Pope and he died After this folowed Guilielmus de sancto amore G. de sancto amore against the Pope a Master of Paris and a chiefe Ruler then of that Vniuersitie Al testimonies of Scripture that make against Antichrist he applyeth them against the cleargie of Prelates and against the popes spiritualtie The same Guilielmus is thought to be the author of the Booke which is attributed to the Schoole of Paris and intituled De periculis ecclesiae De periculis Ecclesiae where he proueth by thirtie and nine arguments that friers be false Apostles 39. arguments that Friers be false Apostles Hee was by Antichrist and his rablement condemned for an heretike exiled and his bookes burned In the dayes of this Guilielmus there was a most detestable and blasphemous booke set foorth by the Friers mētioned also in Matthias Parisiensis which they called Euangelium aeternum Spiritus sancti Euangelium aeternum spiritus sancti the euerlasting Gospell or the Gospell of the holie Ghost In which booke many abhominable errors of the Papistes were conteyned so that the Gospel of Iesus Christ was vtterly defaced Which sayde booke was not to be compared to this euerlasting Gospel no more then the shell was to be compared to the kernel The shell to the kernell or the darkenesse to light c.
or learning his name was Richard Fitzrafe Richard Fitzrafe he was brought vp in the vniuersitie of Oxford vnder Iohn Badenthorp Iohn Badenthorp who was a great enemy to begging Friers whose steps also the scholer following began to doo the like and being called vp to London made seuen or eight Sermons wherein hée propounded nine Conclusions against the Friers 9. Conclusions against the Friers for the which hée was by the Friers cited vp before Pope Innocent the sixt before whom he valiantly defended himselfe and continued constant therein vntill his dying day his sufferings and deliuerances were maruellous great The controuersie for the Friers helde very long in the church they had of popes some mainteiners A long controuersie of the Friers Their fauourers some aduersaries Mainteiners Honorius 3. Gregory 9 Alexander 4. Clemens 4. Boniface 8. Clemens 5. Against them Innocētius 3. Innocentius 4. Martinus 4 Benedictus 11. The learned men that disputed against the Friers Their assistants were these which either were condemned by the Popes or caused to recant Guilielmus de sancto amore Bernardus super capitulum Omnis vtriusque sexus Godfridus de fontibus Henricus de Gandauo Guilielmus de Landuno Iohannes Monachus Cardini Iohannes de Poliaco who was caused by the Pope to recant at Paris Armachanus who wrote a Booke Defensorium Curatotorum Defensorium Curatorum and for his defense of Curates against the Fryers hée was banished besides other vexations seuen or eight yéeres and died in the same banished at Auinion of whose death a certaine Cardinall hearing openly protested that the same day a mighty piller of Christes Church was fallen Against this Armachanus Armachanus a mighty pillar of Gods church wrote diuers Friers After the death of Pope Innocent was Pope Vrban 5. who by the fathers side was an Englishman he mainteyned and kindled greate warres in Italie sending Egidius his Cardinall and Legate and after him Ardiminus a Burgundian his Legate and Abbot with a great puisance and much money against sundry cities in Italie by whose meanes Cities and townes which before had broken from the pope were oppressed Also Bernabes Galeaceus princes of Millaine vanquished by whose example others béeing feared submitted themselues to the church of Rome How Rome commeth by her patrimony and thus came that wicked Church by her great possessions which her patrones would néedes father vpon Constantine the godly Emperour In the time of this Pope and in the second yéere of his raigne about the beginning of the yéere 1364. vppon the euen of the natiuitie of the Lord the fourth Sunday of Aduent one Nicholaus Orem Nicholaus Orem preached a Sermon before the Pope and his Cardinalles in which he rebuked the Prelats priestes of his time and threatneth their destruction not to be far off by certain signes taken from their corrupt life c. His Text was out of the sixe and fifty of Esaie My sauing health is neere at hand to come and my righteousnes to be reuealed Iesuits begin In the fift yéere of Pope Vrban began first the order of Iesuites Vnto this time which was about the yeare 1367. the offices here in England as the L. Chancelour L. Treasurer and of the priuy seale were wont to be in the handes of the Cleargy Offices remoued from the Cleargie to the Laity but about this yéere through the motion of the Lordes in the Parlement and partly for hatred of the Cleargie all those offices were remooued to the Lords temporall The P. remoueth from France to Rome againe After the death of Vrban succéeded Gregorie the eleuēth who among his other actes first reduced agayne the papacie out of Fraunce vnto Rome which had nowe beene from thence the space of seuentie yeres being therto mooued as Sabellicus recordeth by a Bishoppe who being blamed by the Pope for long absence from his charge answered and why are you so long absent from the place where your Church doth lye Wherevpon the pope sought all meanes after that to remoue his Court out of Fraunce into Rome This Pope Gregorie 9 in a certaine Bull of his sent to the Archb. of Prage maketh mention of one named Melitzing a Bohemian Melitzing a Bohemian and saith in the same that he should teach Anno 1366. that Antichrist was alreadie come and that the same Melitzing had certayne congregations following him and in the same congregations certaine harlots who being conuerted frō their wickednes were brought to a godly life which harlots hee vsed to prefer before al the holie religious virgins wherefore he commaunded the Archb. to excommunicate and persecute the said Melitzing which hée did and also imprisoned him King Edward the third holding a Parlement in the third yéere of this Pope sent his Embassadours to him desiring him that hée from thencefoorth would abstaine from his reseruations of benefices vsed in the court of England and that spirituall men within this Realme promoted vnto Bishoprickes might fréely enioy their elections within the Realme and be confirmed by their Metropolitane according to the auncient custome of the land whereto the Pope sent an answere but when it is not recorded sauing that the yeare following Anno 1374. there was a tractation at Bruges vppon certaine of the said articles betwixt the King and the Pope which did hang two yéeres in suspence so at the length it was thus agréed betwixt them that the Pope should no more vse these reseruations of Benefices in Englande The P. should no more vse reseruations of benefices in England and likewise the King shoulde no more giue Benefices vppon the Writte Quare impedit c. But nothing was touched concerning the fréedomes of elections confirmed by the Metropolitanes As touching these reseruations prouisions and collations with the elections of Archbishops Bishops beneficed men c. wherewith the Pope vexed the lande the king in the fiue and twentie yere of his reigne enacted according to the Statute made in the thirtie yeare of the reigne of his Grandfather king Edward the first against the like pillage and rauening but not put in practise reuiued it and inlarged the same adding moreouer thereunto other straight and sharpe penalties against such as offended in any parte of the same And in the Parlements holden the 27. and 28. yeares of his reigne it was decreed that whosoeuer for any cause of controuersie in law either Spirituall or Temporall whether they were personall or reall Premunire to make appeale to Rome for any cause should appeale or consent to any appeale to be made to the sea of Rome should incur the daunger of a Premunire About this time beyng the yéere of our Lord 1370. liued holy Brigit whom the Church of Rome hath not onely canonized for a Saint Holy Brigit a great rebuker of the popish clergy but also for a prophetesse yet in her bookes of Reuelations she was a great rebuker
contrary wil mainteyn defend the law of our Lord Iesu Christ and the deuout hūble and constant preachers thereof euen to the shedding of our blood dated at Sternberg ann 1415. c. Round about the same letters were 54 seales hāging and the names of them whose seales they were 54. seales to the letter subscribed An. 1414. by Henry Chichley Archb. of Cāterbury much was the affliction and trouble of good men here in England which cruelty Iohn Claydon Iohn Claydon currier of London Richard Turming Rich. Turming first tasted of The 17. day of August an 1415. Iohn Claydon did personally appeare arrested by the mayor of London for suspition of heresie before Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury in Paules Church who being demaunded Constancy denied it not but frankly confessed that for 20. yéeres space he had bin suspected therof for which also he had suffered 2. yéeres imprisonment at Conuey thrée yéeres in the Fléete out of which prison he in the raigne of king Henrie the fourth was brought before L. Iohn Scarle then Chancelour to the king and there did abiure all heresie and errour And being demanded of the Archbishop confessed that since his abiuration he had in his house written English bookes of religion and had frequented the company of diuers godly mē Which confession being made the Archb. did command the bookes to be deliuered to maister Robert Gilbert Doctor of diuinity William Lindwood Doct. of both lawes and other Clearkes to bee examined And in the meane time Dauid Beare Alexander Phillip and Balthasar Mero were taken for witnesses against him and were committed to bee examined to maister Iohn Escourt general examiner of Cāterbury This done the Archb. continued his session til munday next in the same place which was the 20. day of the same moneth and maister Escourt publikely exhibited the witnesses which being read there were after that read diuers tractations found in his house out of which especially out of a booke called the Lantern of light The Lanterne of light that Claidon at his owne costs caused to be written by one called Ioh. Grime being examined diuers points were gathered and noted for heresie Articles First that the Pope was Antichrist and the enimy that sowed tares among the lawes of Christ That the Archbishops and Bishops speaking indifferently are the seats of the Beast Antichrist That the Bishoppes license for a man to preach the worde of God is the Character of the Beast That the Court of Rome is the head of Antichrist and the Bishoppes the bodie That no reprobate is a member of the Church That Christ did neuer plant priuate religions That the materiall Churche shoulde not bée decked with golde The causes of persecution That Priestes vnlawfully kéeping temporall goodes and vnsatiable begging of Friers were the twoo chiefe causes of the persecution of Christians That almes were to be giuen to the honour of GOD onely of goodes iustly gotten to bée giuen to one that is in charitie and to those that haue néede That often singing in the Church is not founded on the scripture That bread and wine remaine in the Sacrament That all Ecclesiasticall suffrages doe profite all godly persons indifferently That the Popes Indulgences bee vnprofitable That the Laytie is not bound to obey the prelates in what so euer they command except the prelates doe watch to geue God a iust accompt of their soules That Images are not to bée sought to by pilgrimages For these articles the archb with the rest did condemne and burne I. Claydons bookes and procéeded to a definitiue sentence of condemnation against him and shortly after hée was had to Smithfield where méekly he was made a burnt offering vnto the Lord an 1415. R. Fabian addeth that Richard Turning Baker was the same time also burned in Smithfield The next yere 1416. the archb of Canterburie in his Conuocation holden at London maketh sharper constitutitions then were before Sharper constitutions then before against the Lollards During the time of which Conuocation two priestes noted for Heretikes were brought before the Bishops the one Iohn Barton and the other Robert Chappel Iohn Barton Robert Chappell Barton because he had béene excommunicated and so stoode 6. or 7. yeres before vpon articles of religion yet sought no reconciliation which being proued against him he was committed to Philip B. of Lincoln to be kept in prison til otherwise it were determined R. Chappel otherwise Holbech sometime chaplen to the L. Cobham because he being vnder excōmunication 3. or 4. yeres did yet in contēpt of the keyes continue saying masse preaching sought no reconciliation So the session brake vp for the time which was about the end of May 1416. The 12. of Iulie next following Chappel submitteth Chappel appeared againe and submitting himselfe with much a doe receiued pardon and was in stead of penance enioyned certayne articles to publish at Paules Crosse As Articles enioyned Chappel that Prelates might lawfullie holde Temporall Lawes That it were vniust and vnlawfull for temporall men vpon any occasion to take away the Prelates temporalties notwithstanding the abuses of them That peregrinations are auaileable to the remission of sinnes That to worship Images doth profite Christians That auricular confession is necessarie That though a priest be in mortall sinne yet may he make the body of Christ That Priestes ought not to preach without the Bishoppes licence That priuate religions are profitable to the vniuersall Church That hee woulde promise and sweare neuer to holde any thing against the premisses Diuers caused to abiure After the setting out of the constitutions of H. Chichesly Archb. of Canterburie diuers godly men were sore vexed and caused outwardly to abiure as Iohn Tayler of the parish of S. Maries at Querne William Iames Master of art and Phisitian who had long time remayned in prison also Iohn Duerfer Iohn Gourdeley of Lincolnshire wel commended for his learning Katherin Dertford a Spinster the Parson of Hyggley in Lincolnshire named M. Robert William Henrie of Tenderden Iohn Gall a Priest of London Richard Monke Vicar of Chesham in Lincolnshire with other mo Collection for the P. to war against the Bohemians During the time of the Conuocation prouinciall Pope Martin had sent down to the cleargie of England for a subsidie to be gathered of the Church to mainteine the Popes warre against the Lollards of Bohemia Also another subsidie was demanded to persecute William Clarke master of arte in Oxford who sayling out of England was at the councell of Basill disputing on the Bohemians side and thirdly another subsidie was also required W. Clarke W. Russel to persecute William Russel which was Wardē of the Gray Friers in London who the same time was fledde and there escaped out of prison Among the rest which were at this time troubled for their faith was Radulph Mungin R Mungin priest against whom it was articulated at
in so much that Sigismund the Emperor sent for the Nobles of Bohemia vnto Posonium a towne of Hungarie in the borders of Austria but they would not enter into the town but remained in their tents without the towne whether the Emperor going to them and promising them kindenesse they obiected againe the falsifying of his safeconduct to Iohn Husse c. So nothing being finally concluded the Emperor returned home Pope Martin perceiuing the Gospell to increase more and more sent the Cardinall of Winchester an Englishman borne of a noble house into Germanie to moue them to warre against the Bohemians whereunto the Emperor also did assist him 3. Armies There were iij. armies prouided in the first were the Dukes of Saxonie and the lower cities The second armie was gathered of the Francomans and was vnder the conduct of the Marques of Brandenburgh The thirde was led by Otho the archbishop of Treuerse whom the Rhenenses the Bauarians and the Emperiall Cities of Sweuia followed The 3. armies flee before they see their enemies These armies ioyned together and pitched before Misna vnderstanding that the Protestants drewe néere they fled before they saw their enemies Then all lettes set aside they vanquished Thraconia and hauing obteined great store of warlike Engines they destroyed Misna and when they would haue returned home by Franconia they had great summes of money sent them that they would not destroye the Countreyes of Bramberge and Noremberge whereby the Hoste of the Bohemians was greatlie enriched Sigismund the Emperor hauing newes of these thinges went straight vnto Noremberge and there gathered newe aide Also Pope Martin sent Iulian the Cardinall of Saint Angell into Germanie with ambassage to make warre vpon the Bohemians who went straightway to Noremberge to the Emperour where many nobles of Germanie were assembled and a decrée made of a new expedition against the Bohemians against the 8. of the Calends of Iuly It is said the company of the aid of Sweuians which they called the company of S. George and the Magistrates of the Imperiall cities the Bishops of Mentz Treuers and Colen and the Chieftaines of their Prouinces were aboue fortie thousand horse 40000. horse against the Protestants but their footemen not fully so many After this the Cardinall entered into Bohemia with a large army and on the borders of Boheme destroied many of the Protestāts townes and spared neither man woman nor child But the Bohemians making toward them there fell such a feare among the popish armie The popish army fleeth before they see their enimies that they fled before any enemie appeared whom the protestants pursuing had a great pray and spoyle of them notwithstāding Albertus prince of Austrich who was appointed to bring his army through Morania hearing tell that the Cardinall was entred into Bohemia with all spéede came out of Austrich with his army and besieged the towne of Prezorabia but when he vnderstood how the cardinal was fled he left of his purpose and returned through Morania which was not yet subiect vnto him and destroied aboue 50. 50. townes destroyed townes with fire and sword and so afflicted them that they promised him subiection on condition that he would be bound to doe that which the Councel of Basil should determine Then was there an Ambassage sent out of Boheme vnto Basil where Sigismund held the Councell who during the time of the wars held himself at Noremberge wrote vnto the Bohemians what law he had of them and exhorted them to repaire vnto the Councel of Basil Councell at Basil where their gréefes should be heard and remedie prouided The Councell of Basil also wrote their letters to the Bohemians that they should send their Ambassadors which should shew a reason of their faith promising them safeconduct to go and come and frée libertie to speake what they would The Bohemians stood in doubt considering how Iohn Husse and Hierome of Prage had béen handled by them at Constance But the Nobilitie followed the mind of Maynardus prince of the New house who perswaded them to go And after his councell an Ambassade of 300. An Embassage of the Bohemians to Basill horse was sent to Basill the chiefe whereof was William Cosca a valiant knight and Procopius surnamed Magnus a man of worthy fame for his manifold victories Iohn Rochezana preacher of Prage Nicholas Galerus minister of the Thaborites and one Peter an Englishman Peter an Englishman of excellent prompt and pregnant wit These Bohemian Embassadors were gently receiued The next day after the Cardinall Iulianus sending for them vnto the Councell house made a gentle long and eloquent Oration vnto them exhorting them to peace and vnitye saying that the Church was the spouse of Christ c. This Oration the Bohemians answered clearing themselues of crimes laid to their charges and required open audience wheras the laity might also be present to manifest their innocencie which request was granted vnto them and so they propounded foure points 4. points wherin the Bohemians dissent from the church of Rome wherin they dissented from the Church of Rome First that all that would bee saued ought of necessity to receiue the Communion vnder both kindes Secondly all ciuill rule and dominion to be forbidden vnto the Clergie by the law of God Thirdly that the preaching of the word of God is frée for all men and in all places The fourth was as touching open offences which are in no wise to be suffered for the auoiding of greater euill These were the pointes obiected in the name of the whole Realme The Bohemians chose out foure Diuines that should declare their Articles to be taken out of the worde of God Likewise on the contrarie parte there were foure appointed by the Councell This disputation continued fiftie dayes The disputation continued fiftie daies In the time while the Bohemians were thus in long conflicts with Sigismund the Emperour K. Henry the 5. the Prince of priests King Henry the fifth likewise fighting in France died who was so deuout to the Pope and Prelates that hée was called the Prince of Priestes ¶ The names of the Archbishops of Canterbury 54. Symon Iselip seuentéene yéeres 56. The names of the archb of Canterbury Symon Langham two 57. William Witlesey fiue Symon Sudbury six 59. William Courtney fiftéene 60. Thomas Arundell eightéene 61. Henry Chichesly nine and twentie The ende of the fift Booke The sixt Booke HEnry the sixt succéeded his Father Anno 1422. In the first yéere of his raigne The sixt part of the Section W. Taylor was burned a constant witnesse of Christes truth William Taylor a Priest vnder Henry Chichesly Archbishop of Canterburie Hée was first apprehended in the dayes of Thomas Arundell and abiured afterward in the daies of Henry Chichesly Anno 1421. which was the yéere before his burning The said William Taylor appéered againe in the conuocation before the Archbishop being brought by the Bishop
condemned and burned for the trueth at Tower hil so that since the time of Richard the 2. Iohn Goose martyr there was no king hitherto in whose raigne some godly man or other had not suffered the paines of fire for the testimonie of Christ This godlie man being entertained in the Sherifes house before he wēt to execution desired some meate and eating he said to those about him I eat now a good and competent dinner for I shall passe a little sharpe shower before I go to supper And hauing dined he gaue thanks and requested that he might shortly be led to the place where he should yelde his spirit to God Ex Polychro Anno 1437. died Sigismund the Emperor in Morania after whom succéeded Albert D. of Austrich who in the second yere of his reigne died After whom succéeded Fredericus 3. Duke of Austria an 1440. After Fred. vnto whome the Germanes complayned in vain of the oppressions of the P. succéeded his sonne Maximiliā An. 1476. the B of Herbipolis condemned and burned for an heretike one Iohn a neat-heard I. a neat-heard because he held that the life of the clergie was abhominable before God Ex Munst An. 1479. one Ioh. de Wesalia was forced to reuoke these articles being greatly hated by the Thomistes I. de Wesalia recanteth That men he saued fréelie thorough méere grace by faith in Christ That frée will is nothing That only the word of God is to be beléeued and not the glosse of any man or fathers That the word of God is to be expounded by comparing weying one place with another That Prelates haue no power geuen them to expound Scriptures by any peculiar right more than another That mens traditions as fastings pardons feasts c. are to be reiected That extreme vnctiō cōfirmatiō are to be reiected That confessiō with satisfaction is to be reprehended That the primacie of the P. is vaine c. He was complained of by the Thomistes who were reals and greatly hated the nominals vnto Diethrus Nominais Reals archb of Mentz His articles being examined by the Diuines of Heydelberge and Colen were condemned and he compelled to recant Ex Ost Grat. An. 1484. died P. Sixtus the fourth a very monster of nature of whom writeth Platina that vniustlie he vexed all Italie with warre and dissention Agrippa wryting of him saith that among all the Baudes of these other later dayes which were buylders of Brothelhouses this Sixtus 4. surmounted all other who at Rome erected Stewes of double abhomination not only of women but also c. Whereupon no small gaine redounded to his cofers for euery such common harlotte in Rome paid to him a Iulie péece Reuenes of the Pope from the stewes of Rome the sum wherof grew in the yere somewhile to 20000 at length to 40000. duckets He was a man rather borne to war then to religion as saith Carion for he warred against Vitelius Tiphernates against the Florentines Venetiās whom he excommunicated and absolued not till he died Also against Colonienses against Ferdinandus K. of Apulia and Duke of Calabria also against other nations and princes Ex Ioh. Laziardo This Sixtus was a speciall Patrone of begging Friers Begging friers granting them to enioy reuenewes in this world and in the world to come euerlasting life Among which Friers there was one named Alanus de Rupe Alanus de Rupe a black frier which made the Rosarie of our Ladies Psalter The Rosarie of our Ladies Psalter and erected a new fraternitie vpon the same called Fraternitas Coronariorum Fraternitas coronariorum pertayning to the order of the Dominikes of which order Iacobus Sprenger one of the condemners of Iohannes de Wesalia was a great aduauncer and especially this Sixtus the fourth who gaue vnto the saide Fraternitie large Priuiledges Concerning the institution of this Rosarie there was a booke set forth about the yere 1480. In the beginning whereof it is declared The institution of the Rosarie that the blessed virgin entered into the Cell of Alanus and was so familiar with him that she did there espouse him for her husbande and kissed him with her heauenly mouth opened vnto him her Pappes and poured great plentie of her owne milke into his mouth For the confirmation whereof the saide Alanus did sweare déepelie cursing himselfe if it were not thus as he had made relation This booke being in Latine printed beareth this title Rosareae Augustissimae Christiferae Mariae Corona And in the front it sheweth the name of Iodocus Bisselenis a noble man of Aquine After that this pope Sixtus had vnderstanding that Hercules Estensis duke of Ferraria had ioined peace with Venetians against his will he was so gréeued thereat Sixtus dieth for anger Platina a shamefull flatterer of the Popes that for rancor of mind within fiue daies after he died About which time also died Platina a shameful flatterer and bearer with the wicked liues of the Popes Anno 1483. Edward 4. died after he had raigned two and twentie yéeres whom succéeded Edward 5. who with his brother Richard was slaine by one Iames Tyrell Iohn Dighton and Miles Forest Richard 3. the vsurper by the suborning of Richard the third vsurper who proclaimed himselfe King Anno 1483. in the moneth of Iune the sixt of Iuly was crowned Richard raigned but two yéeres and two moneths being ouerthrowne of Henry 7. who succéeded him an 1485. Henry 7. king and raigned 23. yéeres and eight moneths Anno 1494. died Frederike who had raigned 53. yéeres after whom succéeded Maximilian his sonne who raigned seuen yéeres wit his father Frederike This Maximilian set vp the vniuersitie of Wittemberg Maximilian the founder of the vniuersitie of Wittēberg and was excellently well learned himselfe was the cause why diuerse gaue themselues to learning namely to searching out of Histories whereto the Emperor was giuen himselfe wrote diligently in the Latine toonge his owne acts as did Iulius Caesar The men who florished by his meanes were Cuspinianus Nauclerus Cōradus Pentingerus Learned men flourished in Maximilianus time Mātius others In that age also excelled Baptista mantuanus Angel Politianus Hermolaus Barbarus Picus Mirandula and Franciscus his cosin Rodulphus Agricola Pontanus Philippus Beroaldus Marsilius Ficinus Volaterranus Georgius Valla with infinite other Amongst whom also is to be numbred Veselus Groningensis otherwise named Basilius who was not long after Iohn de Wesalia both much about one time and both great fréends together This Veselus died anno 1490. he was so notable and so worthy a man that of the people he was called Lux mundi Veselus a learned man called Lux Mundi the light of the world he did disallow the popish doctrine of confession and satisfaction in the matter of repentance likewise he did disproue both at Rome and at Paris purgatorie supererogation of workes and pardons and Popes Indulgences hée disalowed
1527. deuers persons were compeleld to abiure for denying to worship the Crucifix for transubstantiation holy daies pilgrimages Abiuration adoration of images speaking against the immoderate riches of Churchmen the reading of English bookes for denying a priest to haue two benefices c. Ann. 1511. the 18. of October William Sweeting Iohn Banister who before had recanted receiuing farther strēgth from God William Sweeting and Iohn Banister martyrs were burned in Smithfield for the testimony of the trueth which was concerning the reall presence Ann. 1517. one Ioh. Brown who had born a fagot before in the daies of K. Henry 7. was burned at Ashford for the profession of the truth Iohn Browne martyr condemned by Archb. Warrham first hauing had his féet burned to the bones by Warrham Fisher bishops to compell him to deny the trueth Ann. 1514. one Richard Hunn merchant tailor in the city of London was priuily made away and hanged in the Lollards tower Rich. Hunn for the trueth and after his death to make him more odious they picked certaine articles against him out of the preface of his English Bible This was done by one Doct. Hedd The 20. of Decemb. the dead corps of Richard Hunn was burned in Smithfield first hauing condēned it of heresy after they had hanged him in prison secretly is bodie was burned 16. daies after his murdering But the matter hauing bin fully examined by the councel iudges and iustices of the realme it was found by good proofe and sufficient euidence that D. Horsey the Chancelor D. Horsey the Chancelor Charles Ioseph the Summer and Iohn Spalding the hel-ringer had committed the murther But by the suited of the Bishop of London vnto the Carinall Woolsey at the gaole deliuery the next Sessions the kings attourney pronoūced the iudgement against Horsey to be fales and him not to be guilty of the murther An. 1518. the 24. of September Iohn Stilman who had before recanted 11. yéeres past was apprehended brought before Richard Fitz-Iames B. of London and the 25. Iohn Stilman burned of October was condemned for a relapse and burned in Smithfield Doctor Hedd vicar generall reading the sentence It was obiected that he spake against pilgrimages that he vsed to read bookes of Wickliffe at his wicket c. That he called the Pope Antichrist c. and that the inferiour were the synagogue of Sathan c. The same yéere the 29. of March Thomas Man martyr Tho. Man was burned in Smithfield who had before abiured ann 1511. the 14. of August against auricular confessiō the sacramē of extreme vnction against worshipping of images that the popish church was not the church of God c. Doct. Hedd pronoūced likewise sentence against him deliuered him to the sheriffe of London to be presently burned Pilate washeth his hands with this protestatiō made before that he might not consent to the death of any therfore he desired the sheriffe not to punish him with rigour This yere was the great abiuration at Amersham The great abiuration at Amecsham 700. conuerted by T. Man Knowne men Iustfast men Tho-Man confessed of himself as it appeareth by the register that he had conuerted 700. from popery to the trueth In those dayes those that were professors of the trueth were called knowne men and Iustfast men After T. Man was Robert Cosin also condemned and burned at Buckingham for holding against pilgrimages confession to priests and worshipping of Images c. Anno 1511. William Sweeting alias Clerke was condemned and burned for a relapse He was taken at Chelsith where he kept the Towne beasts and was their Netheard His articles were against Pilgrimages reall presence worshipping of Images He had dwelt 16. yeres and more with the prior of Saint Osich named George Lawne where hée so turned the Prior that hée was afterward compelled abiure which also William himselfe through frialtie had doone before Hée beyng asked what cause hée had why he should not be iudged as relapse said he had nothing else but onely that hée committed himselfe to the mercie of God With William Sweeting was also condemned the same time Iames Brewster of the parish of Saint Nicholas in Colchester Anno 1505. He had béene abiured by William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury They were burned togither in Smithfield at one fire the 18. of October his Articles were against images pilgrimages worshipping of Images the sacrament of the altar c. Anno 1518. Christopher Shoomaker Christopher Shoomaker was burned at Newbery for like articles afore For then the Churche of Rome was chiefely withstoode for Pilgrimages adoration of Saintes the Scripture in English and real presence William Smith Bishop of Lincolne died an 1515. who builded the Colledge of Brasen-nose in Oxford Colledge of Brasen-nose in Oxford after whō succéeded Iohn Longland a Frier and cruell vexer of poore Christians who propounded such captions interrogatories that he forced one brother to detect another One brother detecteth another the husband the wife c. the husband the wife the brother the sister the son the father Yet notwithstanding all crueltie the number did so encrease that the B. séeing the matter almost paste his power was faine to require ayde of the king for the suppressing of them Whereto the king graunted and sent downe his letters to the Sheriffes Baylifes Officers c. to ayde the Bishop in that behalfe Whereupon a great number abiured anno 1521. in the Dioces of Lincolne and did sharpe panaunce Among which there were certain A great number abiure who because they had abiured vnder Bishop Smith were now condemned for relapse and were burned T. Bernard burned whose names are these Thomas Bernarde Iames Morden Robert Raw Iohn Scriuener Ione Norman and Thomas Holmes which had detected many of the brethren yet escaped hee not the relapese Iohn Scriueners owne children were compelled to set fire to their Father Vnnaturall crueltie as Ione Clarke was before compelled to doe to her Father William Tilsworth About this time D. Collet D. Collet was troubled of B. Fitziames Bricot and Standish but found fauor with the king Paules schole builded He erected the Schoole of Paules The firste Schoolemaster of his Schoole was W. Lilius This Collet was very lerned He died anno 1519. After Pope Iulius 2. succéeded Leo 10. who vnder pretēce of warring against the Turkes sent a Iubile with his pardons through all Christian Regions Dominions whereby he gathered innumerable riches and treasures The gatherers whereof perswaded the people that whosoeuer would geue x. s̄ should at his pleasure deliuer one soule out of purgatorie but if it were one iotte then then shillings Pardonous sold they preached that it would profit them nothing Ex Christ Mess li. 20. Chro. This filthie marchandise was brought into Germanie by a Dominike Frier called Tecellius whereupon Tecellius Frier Luther a Frier Augustine then
seruaunt Piety christian charity beyng more carefull of him then of himselfe and when he saw him dead he bowed himselfe downe into the fire into the flame and so died Crispin alij The same yéere Hugonius Grauier Hugonius Grauier minister of Cortillon was taken at Mascon where he went to visit his wiues friends and was burned at Burg. Crisp Anno 1533. 1533 Fiue students burned Martial Alba Petrus Scriba Bernard Segonie Charles Faber Peter Nauihew comming from Geneua and going to Lions where they sitting at the table of one that met them by the way and bad them home to his house were apprehēded and led to pryson where after they had continued a yéere and disputed with the Friers had exhibited a learned confession of their faith afterward were burned at Lions They were examined sunderly of the sacrament of the Lords body of purgatory of confession inuocation free will and of the supremacie c. Beyng set on the cart they began to sing Psalmes at the place of execution Martial Alba beyng the eldest Christian charitie was the last that went to the stake who desired he might go about his fellowes tied at the stake and kisse them which beyng graunted he went and kissed euery one of them saying farewell my brother likewise each one bad farewell my brother The hangman thought first to haue strangled them but their faces being smeared with fat and brimstone the rope was burnt before they were strangled so the blessed martyrs in the middest of the fire spake one to another to be of good chéere and so departed Crisp Pantal. Shortly after the fiue students before mentioned Petrus Bergerius Petrus Bergerius made the like confession and was burned at Lions he conuerted in the dungeon a certaine theefe who for payne and torment in the pryson cried out of God and cursed his parents that begat him beyng almost eaten with life miserably handled and fedde with such bread as dogges and horses had refused he by the prayers and teaching of this Bergerius was conuerted his name was Iohn Chanbone Iohn Chanbone Touching his conuersion he wrote a swéet letter to those fiue students wherein he praysed God for them Crisp Pantal. Anno 1553. Dionisius Pelloquine 1553 Dionisius Pelloquine a moonke sometime was burned at Ville Franch sir miles from Lions after long imprisonment his articles were the Masse the Sacrament auricular confession Purgatorie the virgin Marie the Popes supremacie He died the 11. of September Stephanus Peloquinus his brother was taken with Anne Andebert aboue mentioned and martyred at the same time at a small fire Crisp The same yéere Ludouicus Marsacus who had bin of the order of the Dimilaunces that had serued the king Michael Gerard his cousin Stephen Granot carpenter were burned at Lyons by sentence of the kings Lieutenant As they should be brought out to to the stake by the hangman he titied the rope about the necke of the other two Marsacke seeing himselfe to be spared for his order and degrees sake called by the way to the Lieutenant A worthy chāpion of Christ that hee might haue also one of the precious chaines tied about his necke in honour of his Lord the which being graunted vnto they were so led to the fire Crisp Pantal. The same yéere Mathaeus Dymonetus a marchaunt Matheus Dymonetus who before his conuersion had led a vitious life was burned at Lions by the Lieutenant Primacius and Bnatherius officiall and Orus inquisitour Hee suffered the 15. of Iuly Crisp The same yéere William Neele Williā Neele an Augustine Frier was burned at Eureux in France for rebuking the vitious life of Priestes and the Deane named Legoux Pantal lib. 6. The same yéere also Simon Laloe Simon Laloe comming from Geneua was taken and after much racking and torments was burned at Dyion the 21. of Nouember The executioner named Iames Siluester Iames Siluest séeing the constancy of the martyr was so touched in conscience that he fell into such a dispaire that hée could hardly receiue anie comfort of all the promises of the Gospel at length he was strengthned and conuerted and so with all his familie remooued to Geneua Crisp Also the same yéere at Paris Nicholas Nayle Nichol. Nayle shoe-maker comming thither with certaine fardels of bookes was apprehended and after diuers torments so that his bodie was almost dissolued one ioynt from another to vtter his fellowes was last of all burned Crisp The same yéere also Peter Serre Peter Serre about Tholouse who first was a priest and then went to Geneua where hée learned the shoomakers craft and so liued was burned being bewraied by his brothers wife to whom he came of kindnes from Geneua to do his brother good The iudge asking him what trade he was said of late he had béen a shoomaker The name of a priest a name of shame to a Christian the Iudge asking what trade hee had before vsed said he was ashamed to rehearse or to remember it béeyng the vilest and wickedest estate in the world The Iudge and the people hearing him say so thought he had béen some théefe or cutpurse and were desirous to heare the same of him but he very loth and with shame refused to vtter the same neuerthelesse at length through importunity was constrained to declare the trueth and saide he was a priest His tongue béeing cutte out and so put to the fire hée stoode so quiet looking vp to heauen all the time of his burning as though hee had felt nothing bringing such admiration to the people that one of the Parlement sayde that way was not the safest and best which they vsed in bringing the Lutherans to the fire for it would doe more hurt than good Crisp The same yéere Stephen King Steph King c and Petrus Denocheus one King a Notary and Petrus his Clearke were after long imprisonment burned at Chartris Anno 1554. Anthonius Magneus 1554 Antonius Magneus being taken at Burges by certaine priestes was sent to Paris where after great rebukes and tormentes he was iudged to haue his tongue cut out to be burned at the place of Maulbert in Paris He was sent from the 5. students at Lyons other in captiuitie at Paris vnto Geneua to commend thē to their praiers vnto God from whence hauing returned within 3. houres after he was taken at Bruges Crisp The same yéere William Alencon William Alencon book-binder was burned at Mount-pelliers the 7. of Ianuary There was the same time at Mount pelliers a certain clothworker who for fear reuolted to whom it was inioyned by the iudges to make recantation publikely and to bee present at the burning of Alencon at the beholding of whose constancie he gathered such boldnesse that he desired the iudges either that he might burne with Alencon or else to be caried backe again to prison saying that he would make no other
ledge of the stake certaine Friers Doctors Priors being present at his examination degradation praied him to cleare them to the people least they should withdraw their almes from them which he did according to their request Then by reason of the great wind the fire thrise departed and had recourse before it coulde be sharpe enough to consume him In the which til he gaue vp the Ghost he knocked his brest sometime crying Iesus sometime Credo and so gaue witnes to the truth and slept in the Lord. About Anno 1527. Simon Fish who fled ouer the seas as Tindall for feare of the Cardinal whom he had offended in playing a parte against the Cardinal in a plaie made the booke of the Supplication of the beggers The Supplication of beggers and the next yéere sent it to the Lady Anne Bulleine which booke her brother séeing in her hand tooke and read it and gaue it her againe willing her to giue it to the King which thing she so did About Anno 1528. The king vnderstanding who made it and how for feare of the Cardinall he had fled ouer seas kept it in his bosome iij. or iiij daies which Fishes wife vnderstanding and hauing encouragement of certaine about the King that signified tokens of the kings good liking shée made suite to the king for the safe returne of her husbande whereto he most gratiously graunted Whervpon after two yéeres and an halfe of absence he returned and was of his wife brought vnto the king about the yéere 1530. who embraced him with most louing countenaunce and after iij. or iiij howers talke as they were riding on hunting dismissed him and gaue him his protection The king giueth Fish his protection About the same time also M. Moddis the kings footman being in talke with the king of religion and of new bookes that were come frō beyond seas said if his grace would pardon him such as he would bring to his grace he should sée such a book as was maruelous to heare of The king demanded who they were he said ij of your merchaunts George Eliot George Robinson The king appointed a time to speake with them so did caused one of them G Eliot to read the book vnto him Which being read the king made along pawse and then said if a man should pull downe an old stone wall begin at the lower part the vpper part therof might chance to fal on his head And then he tooke the booke and put it into his deske and commanded them vpon their allegiance not to tell to any that he had séene the booke Against the supplication of the beggers sir Thomas Moore wrote vnder the title of poore séely soules pewling out of purgatorie Poore seely soules pewling out of Purgatory to whiche Iohn Fryth made a pithie and effectuall replie When the Cardinall and Prelates vnderstood of the supplication of beggers and other English bookes they gaue out a commission against reading of English bookes A Commission against English bookes and namely the booke of Beggers and the new Testament of Tindals translation which was done out of hand by Cutbert Tunstall bishop of London and a short time after they had procured an inhibition by the kinges proclamation Anno 1529. both against English other in the Latine tongue which contained ought against their superstition whervpon ensued great persecution and trouble whereof first tasted Thomas Bilney aforesaid Anno 1529. came foorth the New testament of Tindals translation The testament of Tindals translation which Tunstall and Moore deuised to suppresse through the counsell of Augustine Packington Augustine Packington a Mercer and Tindals fréend by buying all the copies for which he gaue verie largely and so furnished Tindall with monie that he corrected them and set them foorth againe in greater plenty then before being reléeued with the Bishops mony wherewith the bishop being gréeued declared vnto Packington how they swarmed more then before to whom said he my Lord you were best to buie the stampes too and so shall you be sure at which answere the bishop smiled and so the matter ended The same yéere that Bilney suffered Anno 1531. the moneth of Nouember Richard Bayfield Richard Bayfield suffered for the testimonie of the truth and was burned in Smithfield he was sometime a moonke of Surrie and conuerted by Doctor Barnes and two godly men of London brickmakers Maister Maxwell and Maister Stacie Wardens of their companie He so profited in the doctrine of Christe in twoo yéeres that by the Moonkes of this house he was caste into prison and there endured sore whipping with a gagge in his mouth and then stocked and so continued in the same torments thrée quarters of a yéere before Doctor Barnes could get him out which at length he did by the meanes of one doctor Ruffani of the same house From thence Doctor Barnes carried him to Cambridge where he greatly profited in good letters and neuer returned to his Abbie but went to London to Maxwell and Stacie who kept him secréetly a while and after caried him beyond the seas Doctor Barnes being then in the Fléete for Gods woorde where he was beneficiall vnto Tindall and Fryth and at the last returning to London to Maisters Smiths house in Bucklers burie there was he bewrayed dogged to his bookebinders in Marke-lane where he was taken and caried to Lollards tower and from thence to the Colehouse by reason that one parson Patmore parson of much Haddaine in Essex that lying in Lollards tower was confirmed by him in the doctrine of Christ who after abiured and was condemned to perpetual prison but deliuered againe by the kinges pardon But Richard Bayfield continued constant in the Colehouse was worse handled then before in Lollardes tower for there he was tied bothe by necke middle and legges and standing vpright by the walles diuerse times manicled to accuse others that had bought his bookes He was thrise in the Consistorie at Paules put to his triall whether he would abiure or no but he standing to his triall by disputation to the confounding of his aduersaries Bayfield condemned by Stokesly then his iudge with the assistaunce of Winchester and other Bishops he continuing constant in the cause of Christ was condemned the twentie daie of Nouember Anno 1531 in the quéere of Paules and disgraded After which the Bishop tooke his Crosier staffe Cruelty and smoote him on the brest that he threw him downe backwardes and brake his head that he souned When he came to himselfe againe he thanked God that he was deliuered from the malignant church of Antechrist Anon after he was ledde through the quire to Newgate and there rested aboute an hower in prayer and so went to the fire in his apparell ioyfullie and there for lacke of a spéedy fire was half an hower aliue and when the left arme was in the fire and burned he rubbed it with his right
hand and it fell from his bodie but he continuyng in prayer without moouing On Wednesday the xxj of Aprill the yéere 1529. Iohn Tewksburie who was conuerted by reading of Tindals testament the wicked Mammon he had also the bible written was brought into the cōsistorie at London before Cutbert bishop of London and his assistants Henry bishop of S. Asse Iohn abbot of Westminster was examined of diuerse errors as they called them in the booke of the wicked Mammon The booke of the wicked Mammon Which Iohn Teuksbury iustified for truth thrée sessions he appéered manfully stood to the truth being examined of articles touching Antechrist iustificatiō by works saints almes other mens praiers for vs c. The examination of which articles being doone the B. of London did exhort him againe to recant and appointed him to determine with himselfe against the next session in whiche session he submitted himselfe and abiured Iohn Teuksbury recanteth and was appointed penāce the eight of Maie Anno 1529. Two yéeres after hauing receiued more grace and strength at Gods hands moued by the example of Bayfield that had before done the like he returned to the cōstant professiō of the truth Iohn Teuksbury repenteth being apprehended was brought before sir T. Moore and the B. of London where certaine articles were obiected against him touching faith kéeping of forbidden bookes purgatorie sacraments of the altar c. confessing his articles the bishop pronounced sentence and deliuered him to the Shiriffes of London Richard Gresham and Edward Altam Teuksbury burnt who burned him in Smithfield vpon S. Thomas euen the xx of December This yéere Edward Frese Edward Frese first apprentice to a painter in the city of York who for his pregnancie of wit his yers were redéemed by the Abbot of Bersie Abbey and became a nouice but after long space not liking that trade he ran away and came to Colchester in Essex where he followed his vocation married a wife and liued honestly After he had béen there a good time he was hyred to paint certaine clothes for the new Inne which is in the middle of the market place in the border of which cloathes he wrote certaine sentences of scripture for which he was apprehēded in the same Inne and brought to Fulham to the B. house where he was cruelly imprisoned with one Iohnson and his wife of Colchester Wyly with his wife and sonne Bread made of sawdust and father Bate of Rowshedge they were fed with manchet made with the greater part of sawdust and were so straightly kept that their wiues and friends might not come at them After the painter had béen there a long space by much suit he was remoued to Lollards towre his wife in the meane time of his suit whiles he was yet at Fulham béeing desirous to sée her husband pressing to come in at the gate then big with child the porter lift vp his foote Crueltie and stroke her on the belly that at length she died of the same but the childe was destroyed immediatly After that they were al stocked for a long time afterward they were let loose in their prisons agayn This paynter because he wold alwaies be writing on the walles with chalk to their discontentment was manacled by the wrists til the flesh of his armes was grown higher thē his yrons wherby he could not keame his head that his haire was folded together After the death of his wife by suit of his brethrē to the king he was brought out into the consistorie of Paules and as his brethren reported they kept him iij. daies without meate before he came to his answere so that with imprisonment and hunger the man grew out of his wittes which when they had procured by crueltie they sent him againe to Bersie Abbie but he would not tarrie among them and so continued out of his wits till his dying day His brother Valentine Freese and his wife Valentine Freese and his wife gaue their liues at one stake in Yorke for the testimonie of the truth Father Bate gate out of the pryson in a darke night and was caught no more but died shortly after In this yéere Frier Roice Frier Roice was burned in Portingall for the truth In the beginning of this yéere the Bishops who had burned Tindals testaments The Bishops commaunded to make a trāslation of the Bible were inioyned by the King to cause a new Translation to be made notwithstanding which commaundement they did nothing at all But contrary in the moneth of Maie the Bishoppe of London caused all the translations of Tindall and many other Bookes whiche hée had bought to bée burned in Paules Churchyarde Iames Baynam Iames Baynā who married the wife of Simon Fish a Gentleman of the middle Temple was accused to sir Thomas Moore lord Chancellour and arested of a sergeant at armes and carried to the Chancellours house at Chelsey where he continued in frée prison vntill sir Thomas Moore perceyued he could doo no good of him Then he put him in prison in his owne house and whipped him at a trée in his garden called the trée of Truth and after sent him to the Tower to bée racked and so he was Sir Thomas beyng present himselfe till in a manner he had lamed him because he would not accuse the Gentlemen of the Temple of his acquaintaunce nor shew where his bookes laie And because his wife denied them to be in his house she was sent to the Fléete their goods confiscate After they had thus practised against him by torments then was be brought before I. Stokesley B. of London the xv of December An. 1531. in the towne of Chelsey there examined touching purgatorie Intercession of Saints Confession vowes concerning Luthers marriage the Sacrament of anneyling of Baptisme whether matrimonie were a Sacrament for his bookes of Scripture and what he iudged of Tindall c. to which articles he subscribed according to the truth The next day following he appeared in the same place as before Iames Baynam submitteth after much persuasion he submitted himself the B. notwithstanding committed him to one of the Counters for further triall And the yéere 1532. In the moneth of Februarie he was called for againe and although he was yet abiured not yet séemed he to satisfie the Chancellor so he was for that present returned to his prison againe and the viij day of February appeared as before and made a full abiuration and subscribed it Which doone the Chancellour put him to his fine to pay twentie pound to the king and inioyned him penance to go before the Crosse in Procession at Paules and to stand before the Preacher at Paules crosse during the Sermon with a fagot on his shoulder and so to returne with the Summer againe to prison there to abide the Bishops determination Iames Baynā repenteth And so the 17. of Februarie he was dismissed
Christes sake and Iohn Chapman in whose house they were who al were carried to the Bishops house but Hewet they sent to Lollardes Towre and kepte Chapman and Tibauld asunder watched with two priestes seruauntes The next day Bishoppe Stokesley came from Fulham and committed Chapman to the stockes and shutte vp Tibauld in a close chamber but by Gods prouidence hee was deliuered out of prison albeit hée coulde not enioy house nor lande because of the Bishoppes iniunction but was fayne to sell all that hee had in Essex Chapman after fiue wéekes imprisonment whereof three hée sate in the stockes by much suite made to the L. Audley who was then Chancellour was deliuered but Andrew Hewet after long and cruell imprisonment was condemned to the fire with Frith after that he had giuen testimony to the trueth Anno 1531. The fiftéenth of Ianuarie Thomas Benet a Schoolemaister of fiftie yéeres of age borne in Cambridge was deliuered vnto Sir Thomas Dennis knight to be burned in Exceter He hid himselfe sixe yeres in Deuonshire but kindeled with zeale he resolued to aduenture his life for the testimonie of Iesus and in the moneth of October he did set vppon the Cathedrall church doore of Exceter scrolles in which were written The Pope is Antichrist and wée ought to worshippe God onelie and no Sayntes the Authour of which billes coulde not bée founde At the last the priestes fell to curse with booke bell and candle the Authour of the same Bennet béeing by who fell into a laughter within himselfe for a great space and coulde not forbeare Whereby some saie hee was bewrayed and taken other that his enemies beeing vncertaine whether it were he or not suffered him to depart home And not beeing able to digest the lyes which were preached sent his boye with other scrolles as before hee had done who béeyng examined confessed whose boye hee was and so Bennet was knowen and taken and committed to warde and béeing called to examination before the heads and cannons of the Citie confessed the fact and after muche disputing with the Friers especially one Gregorie Basset who had lien in prison at Bristow for the trueth and reuolted béeyng threatened hée shoulde haue his handes burned off with a panne of coales which was brought readie at his examination Thomas Bennet martyr hée was condemned to death and burned At whose burning Iohn Barnehouse Esquier béeing present tooke a fyrre bush vpon a pyke beyng sette on fire and thrust it vnto his face because hée woulde not saie Sancta Maria ora pro nobis But he answered Pater ignosce eis and so fire being put to him patiently he ended his life By reason of the rigorous proclamation aboue specified procured by the Bishops great persecution ensued so that a great number were troubled and either burned or constrained to abiure Thomas Cornwell or Austy Anno 1530. for not kéeping his fagot vpon his shoulder after his abiuration was condemned to perpetual prison in the house of S. Bartholomew from whence he afterward fled and escaped Anno 1530. Thomas Philips made his appeale from the B. to the king and would no otherwise abiure then generally all heresies for which the B. did excommunicate him and denounced him contumax and what after became of him it is vncertaine A litle before this time William Tracie William Tracie a woorshipfull Gentleman of Glocestershyre and then dwelling at Toddington made in his will that hée would haue no funerall pompe at his buriall neyther passed hée vppon Masse and saide hée trusted in GOD onelie and hoped by him to bée saued and not by anie Saynt This Gentleman dyed and his sonne his executour brought the Will to the Bishoppe of Canterburie to prooue which hée shewed to the Conuocation and then most cruelly they iudged that he shoulde bée taken out of the ground and bée burnt as an heretike Anno 1532. Wherof the King hearing the Chancelour was fayne to fine thrée hundreth pounds to haue his pardon of the king Anno 1531. Henry Tomson taylor notwithstanding he submitted himselfe to the Bishop yet therewith sentence condemned him to perpetuall prison His cause was the denying of the host to be God The same yéere was Thomas Patmore parson of Hadham in Hartfordshire a godly man and painefull teacher persecuted by Richard FitzIames bishop of London who was desirous to preferre another to the good mans benefice and so hardly was he dealt withall that in the end he submitted himselfe and abiured and was notwithstanding committed to perpetuall prison Howbeit one of his brethren made such suite vnto the king by the meanes of the Quéene that after thrée yéeres imprisonment hée was both released out of prison and also of the King obteyned a Commission vnto the Lord Audley then Lord Chancellour and to Cranmer Archbishoppe of Canterbury and to Cromwel then Secretarie with others to enquire of the vniust dealinges of the Bishoppe and his Chauncellour agaynst Patmore but what was the ende thereof it is vncertaine Anno 1531. Christopher a Dutch man of Antwerp was put in prison at Westminster for selling new Testaments in English and there died The same yer a boy of Colchester or of Norfolk for deliuering a buget of bookes to Richard Bayfield was layed in the prison of Master Moore Chauncellour and there dyed From the yere 1533. during the time of Quéene Anne During the time of Queen Anne no great persecution no great persecution nor abiuration was in the Church of England sauing that x. Anabaptistes were put to death in sundrie places of the Realme And anno 1535. tenne other repented and were saued whereof two were pardoned after sentence geuen which was contrary to the popes law After the Cleargie had with great crueltie vexed Christs flock anno 1534. 1534. Commons against the Cleargie a parlament was called by the king about the 15. daye of Ianuarie in which the Commons renued their old gréefes complaining against the Prelates and Ordinaries for calling men before them ex officio Answere to which requestes the king at that present did delay After the Cardinal had béene cast into a premunire anno 1530 about the yéere 1532 the king made a restraint that nothing should be purchased from Rome Nothing to be purchased from Rome and procéeded further against all the Prelates for supporting the Cardinall by reason whereof they also were entangled with premunire For the releasement whereof they offered the king 118840. poundes which was accepted with much adoe In this submission the king was called of the Cleargie Supreame head Supreme head The motion of the Commons to the king touching their gréeuances from the Cleargy in the prorogation of the parlament tooke good successe Wherein the king prouided remedies and enacted in the same Parlament that no man should be troubled for speaking any thing against the vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome or his lawes not grounded on the law of God The vsurped power of the Pope
incontinent after the suffering of Quéene Anne the king within iij. daies after married Ladie Iane Seimer About this time Paule iij. Bishop of Rome appoynted a generall counsell at Mantua in Italie requiring all kinges and princes to be there present in person or to sende their Ambassadours pretending to suppresse heresies to reforme the Church and to warre against the Turke To this Councell the king refused either to come The king refuseth the general counsel at Mantua or to send Ambassadour and made his protestation against the sea of Rome A litle before the death of Quéen Anne there was a parlament at Westminster wherein was giuen to the king by generall consent of the Abbots all such houses of religion as were vnder iij. hundred marks Certaine houses of religion giuen to the king which did prognosticate what would befall the rest Shortly after the marriage of the king with the Ladie Iane Seimer in the moneth of Iune during the continuance of the Parlament by the consent of the Cleargie in the Conuocation house in Paules Church a booke was set out containing certain Articles of religion necessarie to be taught to the people Articles of religion to be taught the people wherein they treated specially but of thrée sacraments baptisme penance and the Lordes supper where also diuers things were published concerning alteration of certaine points of religion and certaine holie daies forbidden many Abbeies agréed on to be suppressed For the which cause a Monke named Doct. Mackrell naming himself Captain Cobler stirred vp to rebell the number of xxvi thousand in Lincolne shire Rebellion suppressed which was quietly suppressed Also he raysed an other of xl thousand Yorkshire men by stirring vp of Monkes and priestes They called their rebellion an holy pilgrimage which was also by the great prouidence of God quieted without bloodshed At that time diuers priests which were stirrers vp of the people were executed Anno 1537. 1537 Prince Edward borne Queene Iane dieth The moneth of October was borne Prince Edward shortly after whose birth Quéene Iane his mother the second day after died in childbed and left the king a widower who so continued the space of two yéeres together By reason of the kings departure from the pope the Emperour the French king and Scottes beganne to ruffle against him but hearing of the byrth of Prince Edwarde and vnderstanding of the death of Quéene Iane whereby the king was a widower Ruffelings against the K. easily calmed and the bruite béeing that hée would matche with the Germanes they began to be calme againe Anno 1536 The king began with a little booke of articles The K. articles for the instruction of the people bearing this title Articles deuised by the kings highnes to stablish christian quietnesse vnitie among the people It contained the Créede iij. sacraments how images might safely be worshipped and how saints departed ought to be reuerēced that the parsons should teach their people that Christ is their only mediator how the ceremonies of holy water holy bread candles c. shoulde without superstition bée vsed It tooke away also the abuses which rose vpon the imagination of Purgatory as Masses for soules departed pardons c. Not long after these Articles certaine other Iniunctions were also geuen out about the same yere Whereby a number of holidayes were abrogated A number of Holidaies abrogated and especially such as fel in haruest time After these Iniunctions other mo followed afterward geuen out by the king concerning Images Reliques and blinde miracles For abrogating of Pilgrimages deuised by superstition and mainteined for lucres sake Scripture in English Also for the Lords prayer beléefe and tenne commaundements and the Bible to be had in English Anno 1538. yet againe other Articles were set out whereby both the Parsons of Churches and the Parishes together were bound to prouide in euery Church to buye a Bible in English Also for euery Parishioner to be taught by the Minister to vnderstand say the Lordes prayer and Créede in their owne vulgar tongue with other necessarie and most fruitfull Iniunctions As for the frée preaching of the word of God against Images pilgrimages for a Register booke in euery Church A Register booke in euerie Church against Beckets day knelling Auies Suffrages of Saints c. This yere was Frier Forrest burned quicke hanging in chaines in Smithfield He denied the kinges supremacie and was conuict of diuers other damnable articles He was an obseruant Frier With this Forrest was Daruell Gatheren an abhominable Idoll of wales burned and it fulfilled a blinde prophesie that it should set a Forrest on fire He tooke his death very vnpatiently In the moneths of October Nouember the same yere the religious houses by the speciall motion of the L. Cromwell were from the very foundations rooted vp Religious houses from the foundation rooted vp Immediatly after the ruine and destruction of Monasteries the same yere in the moneth of Nouember followed the condemnation of Iohn Lambert the faithfull seruant of Iesus Christ This Lambert Ioh. Lambert being borne and brought vp in Norfolke was first conuerted by Bilney and studied in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge from whence through the violence of the time he departed to the partes beyonde the Seas to Tindall and Frith and there remayned the space of a yere and more being Preacher to the English house at Antwerpe till he was disturbed by Sir Thomas Moore and through the examination of one Barlowe was carried from Antwerpe to London where he was brought to bee examined First at Lambeth then at the Bishops house at Oxforde before Warham Archbishop of Caunterbury and other aduersaries hauing 45. Articles layde against him 45. Articles against Lābert concerning the Sacraments of orders of penance of confession cōcerning vnwritten verities purgatorie prayer to Saintes pilgrimage lent fast Images praying for soules departed preaching without licence of Bishops the Popes excommunication Scripture in the mother tongue iustification by faith onely concerning the Councell of Constance the number of Sacraments the power of Peter the power of the pope c. Whereto Iohn Lambert made a large and learned answere and constantly testified the trueth of the same points agréeable to the Scriptures He was moreouer required to bewray his fellowes which hee refused to doe with great boldnesse These answeres of Lambert were deliuered to Doctor Warham Archbishop of Canterburie about the yere 1532. at what time he was in custodie in the Bishops house at Oxford from whence the next yere through the death of the Archbishoppe he was deliuered After Warhā succéeded D. Crāmer Lambert in the meane time being deliuered returned to Lond. taught childrē about the Stocks Anno. 1538. It happened that Lambert was present at a Sermon in Saint Peters Church in London preached by Doctor Taylor who after was a Cōfessour of Iesus Christ with whom after the Sermon Lambert went and talked
prelates in which the sixe articles were concluded touching matters of religion which were commonly called the whippe with sixe strings The first article was concerning transubstantiation 2 Against the communicating in both kindes 3. That priestes might not marry after the order of priesthood receiued 4. that the vowes of chastity made aboue 21. yéeres of age of widowhood aduisedly made should be obserued 5. The establishing of priuate masses 6. Auricular confession to be expedient The punishment for breach of the first article was burning without any abiuration with losse of all goods lands as in case of treason Treason Felonie the default against the other fiue articles was fellony without any benefit of cleargy c. Against these articles only D. Cranmer Cranmer disputeth against the vi articles Archbishop of Canterbury stood vp and thrée daies disputed against them with such strength of reason that the king who euer bare especall fauour vnto him well liking his zelous defence onlie willed him to depart out of the parlament house vnto the Counsell chamber for a time for safegarde of his conscience till the Act shoulde passe and bée graunted which hée notwithstanding with humble protestation refused to doe After the parlament was finished the king sent the Lord Cromwell who in few dayes after was apprehended the twoo Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke and all the Lordes of the parlament house to dyne with the Archbishoppe at Lambith and to comfort him and within few daies also vpon the same required that hee woulde giue a note of all his doings and reasons in the said parliament which Cranmer eftsoones accomplished accordingly and sent the copie thereof to the king Besides these sixe Articles in the same parliament was ordained that if Priestes were taken in Adultery or Fornication and duely conuict for their not Caste nor Caute at first tyme they shoulde forfaite their goods Against adultery and fornication of priests and for the second faulte be taken and executed as fellons this was brought in by the Lord Cromwels aduise Who if he might haue had his will the firste crime of these concubinarie Priestes aswell as the second no doubt had béene punished with death but so Gardiner did barre that article with his shifts that the first was losse of goodes and the second death and the next yéere he so prouided that the paine of death by Act of parlament was cleane repealed So that by this statute it was prouided Death for adulterie repeated for all such votaries as liued in whordome and adultery For the first offence to lose his goodes and all his spiritual promotions except one For the second to forfeite all that he had to the king For the third conuiction to sustaine continual imprisonment Anno 1541. The eight and twentith day of Iuly the noble lord Cromwell the maule of the Pope and Papists in this land and the great fauourer of the gospell was put to death at Tower hill 1541. Cromwell the maule of the P. put to death The crimes obiected against him were first heresie and that he was a supporter of Barnes Clarke and many other whom by his authoritie and letters written to Sheriffes and Iustices in diuers Shires he had discharged out of prison Also that hee did disperse bookes of heresies among the kinges Subiects Item that he caused to be translated into English diuers bookes that conteined matter against the Sacrament c. Besides all this there were brought in certaine witnesses which charged him with wordes that he should speake against the king in the Church of S. Peter the poore in the xxx yere of the kings reigne In the moneth of Iuly during the Parliament being in the Counsell chamber he was sodainly attainted and carried to the Tower the xix of the moneth of Iulie the xxviij day put to death He was borne of a simple parentage at Putney or there abouts being a Smiths sonne his mother married after to a Sherman Cromwell The life of L. Cromwell being ripe of yéeres was at Antwerp retained to be secretarie to the merchants there From whence being procured by Geffery Chambers with another companion whom the men of Boston sent to Rome for the renewing of their priuiledges to go to Rome and aid them in their suite he departed and accompanied the Boston mens Ambassadours to Rome where he aduised with himselfe how he might haue best accesse vnto the pope and best dispatch of his busines and hauing knowledge how that the popes holy tooth greatly delighted in new fangled strange delicates it came into his mind to prepare certaine fine dishes of gelly made after our countrey maner here in England which to them of Rome was not knowen nor séene before This done Cromwell obseruing his time as the pope was newly come from hunting into his pauiliō hée with his companions approched with his English presents brought in with a thréemans song as we call it in the English tongue and all after the English fashion The pope sodainly marueiling at the strangenes of the song and vnderstanding that they were Englishmen and that they came not emptie handed willed them to be called in Cromwel there shewing his obedience and offring this iolie Iunkets such as kings Princes onely vsed said he in the Realm of Englande to féede on desired that to be accepted in good part which he his companions as poore Suters vnto his Holinesse had there brought and presented as Nouelties méete for his recreation Pope Iulius so liked their Iunkets that he desired to know the making of their daynties And vnderstanding their suites without any more adoe stamped both their pardons both the greater and the England the king also wrote in like manner to Boner his Ambassadour to assist the doers thereof in all their reasonable suites whereto the king of Fraunce gaue licence Boner shewed himselfe very diligent about the worke The Bible in English printed at Paris So the booke was printed euen to the last part then was quarrels picked to the printer who was sent for to the inquisitors of the faith there charged with certaine articles of heresie Then were sent for the Englishmen that were at the cost charge therof Richard Grafton and Whitchurch the corrector Miles Couerdale but hauing warning what would follow the Englishmen posted away leauing behind them their Bibles to the number of 2500. called the Bibles of the great volume and neuer recouered any of them sauing the Lieuetenant criminal sold foure great dryfats of them to an Haberdasher to lap in caps and those were brought again but the rest were burnt at the place called Maulbert in Paris But notwithstanding the losse after they had recouered some part of the foresaid books and were comforted and incouraged by the L. Cromwell the same men went agayne to Paris and there got the presses letters and seruants of the foresaid printer and brought them to London and there they became
of those bookes and condemned them Within foure moneths after this proclamation comming out in August the king deceassed in the beginning of Ianuarie in the 38. yéere of his reigne Anno 1547. 1547 The king dieth leauing behinde him king Edwarde Queene Marie and Quéene Elizabeth Persecution in Scotland Not onely in England but also in Scotland there was great persecution for the trueth And anno 1540. was Sir Iohn Brothwicke knight called captaine Brothwicke cited for heresie not appearing but escaping out of their hands was condemned for the same though hée were absent by the sentence of Dauid Beaton Archbishop of S. Andrewes and other prelates of Scotland Ten articles against Sir Iohn Brothwicke They obiected against him x. Articles 1. That the Pope hath no more authoritie then another Bishop 2. That the Popes indulgences and pardons are of no force 3. That the Pope is an open vser of Symonie sellyng the giftes of spiritualtie 4. That he perswaded many to imbrace heresies in England 5. That hee saide that the Cleargy of Scotland was blinde 6. Hée condemned the counsell of Constance 7. Hée perswaded the king to appropriate vnto himselfe the goodes of the Church 8. Hée desired that the Churche of Scotland were in the same estate that the Churche of England 9. That the canons were of no force 10. He perswaded against the religion of Scotland c. To all which articles he made a learned and large answere the Papistes condemned him being absent and openly burned his picture in token of his condemnation without all hope of pardon Not long after the burning of Dauid Stratton and maister Gurley in the dayes of Dauid Beaton B. and Cardinal of Saint Andrewes and George Treighton Bishoppe of Dunkelden a Chanon of Saint Colines and Vicar of Dolone called Deane Thomas Ferret Tho. Ferret was condemned to death without any place of recantation for preaching euery Sundaye to his Parishioners and with him two blacke Friers one called Iohn Relowe the other called Beuerage a priest of Striueling called Duncan Simons and one Gentleman called Robert Foster in Striueling with other thrée or foure of the same Towne of Striueling because they were chiefe Heretickes and especiallye bycause many of them were at the Bridall and mariage of a priest who was vicar of Twilodie beside Striueling and did eate flesh in the Lent at the same brydall And so they were altogether burnt vpon the Castle hill of Edenburgh where constantly they endured to the end one comforting another Anno 1543. Robert Lamb William Anderson Iames Hunter Iames Raueleson Iames Founteson and Helen Stirke his wife were put to death for the testimonie of the truth against the romish church William Anderson Robert with Iames Raueleson were accused for hanging vp the Image of S. Frauncis in a corde S. Francis homely vsed nayling of rammes hornes to his head and a Cowes rumpe to his taile and for eating of a goose on alhallow eue Iames Hunter because he vsed the suspect company of the rest the woman for that in her childebed shée was not accustomed to call on the Virgin Marie and that shée saide no merite of the Virgin but Gods frée mercie procured her the honour to be made the mother of Christ Iames Raueleson for building an house and setting vppon the rounde of his fourth staire the thrée crowned diademe of Peter with the Cardinalles booke as done in mockage of his Cardinals hat These persons on the morow after Saint Paules day were condemned vpon the Act against conferring and reasoning of the Scriptures The woman aforesaid Helen Stirke Helen Stirke a notable martir desired to die with her husbād and greatly encouraged him parting with him at the stake with a kisse saide this was the ioyfullest day that euer she had and said she would not bid him good night for said she we shall sodeinly méet with ioy in the kingdom of heauen and so she was taken away drowned although she had a childe sucking on her Dauid Beaton Bishop and Cardinal of S. Andrewes was the chiefe doer in this persecution In this yeare 1543. Iohn Chartnons being Prouost of S. Iohnston alias Pereth was deposed for fauouring of the trueth Anno 1546. The first of March master George Wiseheart 1533. George Wiseheart suffered martirdome for the faith of Iesus Christ at Saint Andrewes in Scotland anno 1543. He was a Student in Cambridge in Bennet Colledge where he was a speciall patterne of godlines and learning Afterwarde in Scotland he was apprehended and charged to haue preached notwithstanding he were forbidden and to haue spokē against the masse and the fiue odde Sacraments against auricular confession against the sacrament of the altar against vnction holiwater against the power of the Pope frée will distinction of meates against prayer to Saintes purgatory against vowes and the vse of popish superstitions to which as they would for furie geue him leaue George Wisehart The meeke death of George Wiseheart made a sufficient and Christian answere When he came to the place of execution and the Executioner prayed him of pardon he said come hether and kissed him and saide lo here a token that I forgeue thée My heart do thine office and so méekely he ended and constantly gaue testimony to the trueth of Iesus the people piteously mourning for his death It was not long after but the Cardinall was slaine by the handes of one Lech and other Gentlemen who sodeinly brake in vpon him and slewe him Gods iudgement after which he lay seuen moneths vnburied at the least and at last like carrion was buried in a dunghill After Beaton succéeded Iohn Hambleton Archbishop of saint Andrewes 1549. who the next yere folowing burned Adam Wallace for the matter of the Sacrament He was burned on the Castle hil of Edenburgh Before his execution they had taken frō him all his bookes which might serue for his comfort but that he had learned by heart all Dauids Psalter Adam Wallace had learned all Dauids psalter by heart and supplyed comfort that way When the fire was prepared he himself asked one of the Officers that stoode by if the fire were making redy who told him it was He answered as it pleaseth God I am ready soone or late as it pleaseth him so brought to the stake he ended with constancie and patience and gaue testimonie to the trueth first exhorting the people not to be offended at his suffering for the trueths sake Anno 1551. After that Richard Marshall doctor of Diuinitie and prior of the black Friers at Newcastle in England had declared in his preachings at Saint Andrewes in Scotland that the Lords prayer commonly called the Pater noster should be said onely to God and not to Saints neither to any other creature The Doctors of diuinitie of S. Andrewes together with the black Friers who had long ago taught the people to say the Pater noster to Saints had great
indignation that their olde doctrine should be impugned and stirred vp a Gray fryer called Frier Toyttes to teach the people to pray yet to Saints A controuersie in Scotland whether the Lords prayer should be said to Saints or not Whereupon fel such a schisme that not only the Cleargie but also the people were deuided among themselues for the matter in so much that there rose a prouerbe to whom say you your Pater noster And the cleargie for to decide the same controuersie to put the people out of doubt assembled thēselues yet notwithstanding it so depended that it was thought good to call a principal coūsel to decide the matter which being assēbled at Edēburgh the papists wāting reason brast out into vnséemly spéech as frier Toyt being asked to whom he should say his pater noster The Fryer biddeth say the pater noster to the deuil answered say it to the deuil knaue In the end they that were called churchmē were deuided for some of the bishops and diuines consented that it should be said to saints but the B. of S. Andrewes Caitenes and Athenies refused vtterly to subscribe to the same Finally it was declared vnto the people that it should be said vnto God with certeine restrictions and so by little and little the bruite ceassed Anno 1558. W Mill 1539. Walter Mill. was the last that was burned in Scotland for the doctrine of the gospel the xx day of April before the B. of S. Andrewes Murray Brechin a number of other prelates He was brought to the metropolitane church where he was put in a pulpet before the bishops to be accused his weakenes partly of age ill vsage being such as it was thought he should not be able to be heard speake But when he began to speake he made the church ring sound againe to the confusion of the aduersaries and comfort of the godly And being long in his praiers sir Andrew Oliphant one of the Bishops priests called him sir Walter Mill arise and answeare to the Articles for you hold my Lord here ouer long In déede said he I haue béene ouer long one of the Popes knights for he had béene before a Papist but I am called Walter and not Sir When neither threates nor allurements could preuaile they condemned him for the article of Priestes marriages the seuen Sacraments the sacrament of the Altar pilgrimage Before sentence was pronounced Oliphant asked him wilt thou not recant thine erroneous opinions and if thou wilt not I will pronounce sentence against thée I am accused of my life saide hée againe I knowe I must die once friend therfore as Christ said to Iudas doe it quickly yée shall knowe that I will not recant the truth for I am corne I am no chaffe I wil not be blown away with the wind nor burst with the flaile but I wil abide both A notable speech of the martyr Such was his maruellous boldnesse constancie which did so moue the hearts of many that the B. steward of his regaltie prouost of the towne called Patrike Learmend refused to be his temporal Iudge to whom it appertained Also the Bishoppes Chamberlaine being therewith charged would in no wise take vpon him so vngodly an office Yea the whole town was so offended with his vniust condemnation that the bishops seruāts could not get for their money so much as one corde to tie him to the stake or Tarre barrell to burne him but were constrayned to cut the cords of their masters owne Pauilion to serue their turne So being tied to the stake hauing exhorted the people and praied fire being put vnto him he ended in the Lord with such chéerfulnes and constancie enduring his martyrdome that he was the last martyr in Scotland this was in the time of Mary Longawale Quéene regent of Scotland and Iohn Hamelton bishop of Saint Andrewes and primate of Scotland Anno 1511. Vnder William Warrham Archb. of Canturburie certaine martyrs that were omitted whiche suffered at that time with him because they are not to be forgotten are to be referred to that yéere They suffered for deniyng the Sacrament of the Altar c for auricular confession the extréeme vnction images pilgrimages prayer to saints holy bread holy water c. They denie all that they had vttered any thing against those popishe pointes yet witnesses who had partly abiured before and others against nature as the husband against the wife and children against the mother being brought forth they were condemned and put to death Their names were William Carder of Tenderden Weauer Agnes Grebill of the same towne of thréescore yéere old Robert Lawson of Halden of the age 60. Iohn Browne of Ashford Edward Walker of Maidston Cutler who all notwithstanding they promised to submitte themselues yet were they condemned The cause why the good woman so stood as she did to the deniall of those articles obiected against her was for that she neuer thought that her husband and her owne children who only were priuie of her religion would haue testified against her which when she perceiued she repented the time that euer she bare those children of her bodie So notwithstanding that she offered conformitie she was condemned and put to death Her husbandes name was Iohn Grebill her sonnes Christopher and Iohn Besides these which were put to death a number vnder Warren were forced to abiure the trueth against the reall presence confession sacrament of matrimony vnction pilgrimages Images Saintes holie water holie bread c. Also omitted before anno 1539. Iohn a Painter and Giles Germaine who were accused and condemned for heresie at London before the Bishop and other Iudges where by chaunce comming in one of the kings seruaunts named Lancelot a very tall man and séeming by his countenance and gesture to fauour the cause of the poore men was also examined and condemned with them and the next day at fiue a clocke in the morning was carried with them into Saint Giles fieldes and there burned Also about the latter end of Tonstals time bishop of London one Stile was burned in Smithfield with the Apocalips whereon he vsed to read about his necke Stile burned with the Apocalips about his necke Which booke when he saw fastened to the stake with him hée lifted vp his voice and said O blessed Apocalips how happie am I that I shall be burned with thée and so with the booke was he consumed with fire Also ouerpassed before about the second yéere of the raigne of king Henry the eight Iohn Browne of Ashford after xl daies imprisonment when the Archbishop and Doctor Fisher had burned his féete with hote coles to the stumps to make him recant On Friday before Whitsunday he was sent to Ashford where he dwelt the next day to be burned and a yoong maide of his house espying him in the stockes told hir mistresse who ranne and sat by him also all night to whome hée gaue exhortation and declared
how hée had béene tossed to make him denie his Master which he would not doo for all their tormentes The cause of his death was because he said to a Priest bragging hée was a soule Priest where finde you the soule when you go to Masse and where doo you leaue it when you go from Masse when the Priest said he could not tell how can you then saue the soule said he For this hée was complayned of to William Warham Archbishop of Canturburie and suddainely was taken in his owne house the same day when his wife was churched as he was bringing in a messe of pottage to the borde seruing in his guestes and his féete bound vnder his owne horses belly was caried away to Canterbury neither hée nor any of his friends knowing whether he went where after he had continued in prison fortie daies from Low-sunday till Friday before Whitsontide he was sent to Ashford and there put to death as hath béene declared comfortably and chéerefully giuing testimonie to the truth The end of the eight Booke The ninth Booke AFter the death of king Henry succéeded king Edward King Edward reigneth his sonne being of the age of 9. yeres He began his reigne the 28. day of Ianuary a most happy patrone of the Gospel In his daies Carolus the Emperor made request to the king his counsel to permit Lady Mary to haue masse in her house without preiudice of the law Wherto the king being required by his counsel to giue his consent woulde in no case yéelde to it The K. refused the Emperors suite to permit Lady Mary to haue masse notwithstanding they laide before him what danger might insue to him by breach of amity with the Emperour they being more vrgent vpon him the King séeing their importunate sute in the ende his tender heart bursting out into bitter wéeping and sobbing desired them to be content and so refused to yéelde vnto the Emperours request in that behalfe Because he was young and of tender age he was committed to xvi Gouernours amongst whom especially the L. Edward Seimer the Duke of Somerset his vncle was assigned vnto him protector by whose endeuour the vi articles were abolished Sixe articles abolished whereby the practises of Winchester began to decay This king restored the holy Scriptures in the mother tongue masses he abolished Religion restored and such as were banished were receiued home he chaunged the most part of Bishops of dioces and Churches and compelled the dumbe dogges to giue place to those that would preach Besides other also out of forrein countries were sent for entertained Peter Martyr at Oxford Bucer Paulus Phagius at Cambridge as Peter Martyr who taught at Oxford Martin Bucer Paulus Phagius at Cambridge The old Bishops who were obstinate were committed toward Boner to the Marshalsea Gardiner Tonstal to the tower where they remained thrée yéeres together In this kings time all persecution ceassed and the professors of the Gospel were in all places relieued Only one Thomas Dobbe Tho. Dobbe a student master of artes of Cambridge of S. Iohns Colledge in the beginning of this kings reign was cast in prison for speaking against the masse died in the Counter in Londō being thither committed by the Archbishop of Canterburie whose pardon notwithstanding was obtained by the Lord protector and should haue béene brought him if he had continued The king vntill such time as by consent of the whole estate of parlament hee might establish a more perfect order of religion purposed by the aduise of his counsel of his owne authority somewhat to prosecute his godly purpose Whervpon he chose out certaine wise and learned men to bée his commissioners Commissioners in that behalfe and so diuiding them into seuerall dioces to bée visited appointing likewise vnto euery companie one or two godly learned preachers who all euery session should instruct the people in the true doctrine of the Gospell To those Commissioners were deliuered certaine Iniunctions and Ecclesiastical lawes the which they should both inquire of and also command in his maiesties name or behalfe all tending to the abolishing of popish superstition and establishing of the trueth of the Gospel besides which generall Iniunctions for the estate of the whole Realme there were also certaine others particularly appointed for the Bishops only whereby they were inioyned to sée the other put in due execution besides others which did more particularly confirme them During the time that those Commissioners were occupied abroad the king desiring a farther reformation appointed a parlament the 4. of Nouember in the first yéere of his reigne Ann. 1547. 1547. A Parlament which continued vnto the 24. day of December next following wherein al Acts made before that tended against the Professors of the Gospel were abrogated In the same parlament also it was decréed that the Sacrament should be ministred to all vnder both kindes then also were candles on Candlemas day forbidden ashes on Ashwednesday About the same time also al Images were vtterly taken away and anno 1548. one vniforme order of prayer was instituted in the second yere of his reigne at a Parlament holden the fourth of Nouember that lasted till the fourtéenth of March next ensuing At the same parlamēt was it lawfull also for priests to haue wiues To all these at the first Bonner séemed to yelde but at length bewraied himselfe by suffering dayly to be song the Apostles masse and our Ladies masse c. in diuers of his chappels in Pauls cloking them with the names of the apostles and our ladies communions whereof the Counsell being enfourmed caused him to reforme the abuse To al these good orders diuers priests and popish Iustices shewed themselues vntoward so that the cōmon praier booke was long after the publishing of it either not knowen at all or els very vnreuerently vsed throughout the realm for which the king with his Counsel prouided redresse Bonner yet séeming not to dislike openly of these godly procéedings yet his minde appeared by his negligent putting in execution of those Iniunctions in his owne Dioces Wherupon the xj day of August anno 1549. he was called for before the Counsel and rebuked according to his offence and enioyned to preach at Paules Crosse on the Sunday thrée wéekes ensuing There were deliuered also vnto him Articles whereon he should entreate as they thought most méete with priuate Iniunctions for himselfe to obserue as to preach once a quarter at the Crosse and to be present himselfe at all the Sermons made there to celebrate himselfe the Cōmunion and to administer the same c. About this time through the setting on of the popish Priestes diuers quarters of the Land rebelled as in Cornwall and Deuonshire Rebellion and Yorkshire for their popish religion which were all suppressed The Scots also and French king attempted against the land and were also ouerthrowen The Scots at Muskelborough field and the
Bishop sent Robert Iohnson his register to the Commissioners sitting at Lambith and attending his appearaunce to signifie to them hee was sicke and so could not come The twentieth of September hée appeared nowe the fift time and hauing made a slender and doubtfull answere refused Syr Thomas Smithes iudgement because hée sawe him sharper bent agaynst him then the rest and made also his appeale to the King and withall verye vnreuerently behaued himselfe towardes the Commissioners For which cause Maister Secretarie Smith commaunded the Marshalles deputie to take Boner Prisoner and to keepe him that no man might come vnto him and assigned him to be brought before them againe on Mundaye nexte before noone betwéene seuen and nine of the clocke At which time hée appeareth and maketh a generall refusall of all the commissioners and sticketh to his former prouocations and protestations Then the Commissioners séeyng his pertinacie pronounced him Contumax and declared him pro confesso vpon all the articles which hée had not answered Boner pronoūced contumax pro confesso and determined to continue this case in state as it was vntill Friday then next following betwéen eight and nine before noone assigning Boner to be there before them at Lambith to heare a finall decrée of that matter Vpon which Friday for diuers vrgent causes the Commissioners coulde not sitte but deferred it till Tuesday the first of October next ensuing Vpon which day they offered yet fauour to Boner if hée woulde make more direct answere but hée persisting in his contumacie with euill spéeches the Archbishoppe with the consent of the rest of the Commissioners read the sentence of depriuation Boner depriued and committed him againe to his kéeper where he remained prisoner till the death of the King Nowe béeing prisoner in the Marshallsea he writeth vnto the Lorde Chauncellour and to the rest of the Counsell that through the enmity that the Duke of Somerset and Sir Thomas Smith bare him hée coulde not haue hearing of his suites to the King and Counsel He directeth also a supplication to the kings maiestie and desired his Graces letters of supersideas against the Commissioners and that the matter might be heard before the Counsell Whervpon the the K. committeth the examination of the whole processe vnto certaine noble personages and skilfull in the lawe as the Lorde Riche Lord Chauncellour the Lorde Treasurer the Lord Marques Dorset the Bishop of Eli the Lorde Wentworth c. which founde Boner in great fault of contumacy the procéedings being al iust and the sentence rightly giuen With the depriuation of Boner fell out the trouble of the Lord Protector L. protector wherevpon the people thinking the abrogating of poperie was his onely dooing bruted abroad that now they should haue their old Latine seruice againe with other superstitious trumperie Which caused the king his Counsell to direct letters to all Bishops to take away all Massals Grailes Processionals Manuals Legendes Portuases Iournals c. which might be any let to the English prayer Booke Also the Bishops were enioyned to punish all those that refused to giue to the charge of Bread and Wine for the Communion This was ahout the latter end of December 1549. In the next yéere following Altars were taken downe Altars taken downe by the kings commaundement and the Communion table placed in stéed thereof in forme of a table not of an altar as most agréeable to the institution of Christ About this time certaine of Ladie Maries Chaplaines had saide masse contrary to the lawes for which she being admonished of the Counsell tooke the matter very hardly and writeth to the Counsell sharpe letters tending to blame them as taking too much vpon them in the kings authoritie and iustifying her owne popish causes Lady Maries popish practises restrained Diuers letters passed to and fro from her and the Counsel as also from and to the king And in fine such order was taken that shée was restrained of her practises of popish religion and the offenders punished As Bonner behaued himselfe stubbornly againg the K. procéedings so Steeuen Gardiner B. of Winchester was not behinde in all disobedience and practises against the same for which he was imprisoned before the depriuation of Boner but was not deposed till anno 1551. He was first for his misdemeanour cast into the Fléete where after hée had remayned a time in much ease vpon promise of his cōformitie he was set at libertie and licensed to repaire to his owne Diocesse at his pleasure Where breaking hys promise he againe practised against the kings procéedings whereupon being sent for before the Counsell he promised againe the second time a conformation was left at libertie in his owne house in London where he yet againe began to ruffle against the kings godly procéedinges and to meddle in matters wherein he neither had commission nor authoritie part whereof touched the kings maiestie Wherof being yet once againe admonished by the king and of the counsell not onely promised to conforme himselfe with like of the kings procéedings but also offered to declare vnto the world his conformation in an open sermon on such articles as should be thought good to that end in which sermon cleane contrary to his promisse he did not onely neglect that that was enioyned him but also very seditiously behaued himselfe Gardiner behaueth himselfe seditiously Wherefore he was committed to the Tower and carried thither by sir Anthony Wingfield Gardiner sent to the Tower certaine doores of his house as was thought méete being also sealed vp At the tower certain of the Counsel by the kings appointment had accesse vnto him to perswade with him as the Duke of Somerset the L. Treasurer the Lord priuie seale the L. great Chamberlaine and Secretary Peter Who repairing to him the tenth day of Iune Anno 1550. he desired to sée the kings booke of procéedings vpon the sight whereof he would make a full answere whereas indéede before his answers were but delaies and cauilles séeming to be willing in al things to conforme himselfe therevnto and promising if any thing offended his conscience he would open it to none but to the Counsell But Winchester hauing perused the book saide he could make no direct answere vnlesse he were at liberty In the end the Lords seing his answeres always doubtful it was determined that he should be directly examined whether he would conforme himselfe to the kings procéedinges or not and articles drawen to that end To the which Winchester in a manner subscribed sauing the Article of submission which he said because he had neuer offended the K. he would not subscribe vnto To the kinges Supremacie his authoritie of appointing holy dayes and fasting daies to his booke of procéedings his authoritie in his tender yeres the abrogating of the sixe articles to his iurisdiction and authoritie in correcting of Ecclesiastical persons he subscribed only he would make no submission to the king And in
be put in practise beyng not directly against the Statutes and Lawes of the Realme 2. That no Bishop or Prelate doo vse the clause Regia authoritate fulcitus 3. That no sacramentarie be admitted to benefice 4. That all Bishoppes do labour especially in the Clergie to suppresse heresies 5. Against bookes writings 6. Against priests mariages and that such as would depart from their wiues should be vsed more fauourably and admitted to the same function But in another place and for want of priests that one priest should serue two places That processions be vsed that holy daies and fasting daies be frequented that the ceremonies be vsed confirmation of children be put in practise and the like prescript also with articles was sent from the Quéene to the Lord Maior of London About the same yéere and time when Doctour Boner set foorth this prescript there came from the Quéene a Proclamation against straungers such as professed the Gospel Vpon this Proclamation not onely the strangers in King Edwardes time receiued into the Realme for religion among whom Peter Martir Iohn Alasco vncle to the king of Poleland but many Englishmen fled some into Frizeland some to Cleueland some to high Germanie wel neare to the number of 800. persons Neare 800. persons flie beyond the seas In the same moneth of March the Lord Courtney whō the Quéene at her first entrie deliuered out of the Tower and Ladie Elizabeth also the Quéenes sister were both in suspition to haue béene of Wiats conspiracie Lady Elizabeth and Lord Courtney sent to the Tower and for the same this March were apprehended and committed to the Tower And although Wiat at his death cleared them both as vnacquainted with the matter yet Gardiner practised to bring them both within the compasse of the same and the Lord Shandoys ioyned therein with him Not long after this a parliament was holden at Westminster in Aprill where the Quéene propounded concerning her marriage to king Phillip and restoring the Popes supremacie Her marriage was agréed vppon but the supremacie would not be obtained as then The Popes supremacie wold not be obteyned The same time when this parliament was summoned the Quéene summoned a conuocation of Bishops writing vnto Boner whom she made Vicegerent in stead of Cranmer being in the Tower after the manner of a new stile leauing out supreme head Likewise Boner giuing her certificate vpon the same leaueth out Authoritate illustriss legitime suffultus which parcels both at the length were taken away at that Parlement In this Conuocation Boner extolling the office of priesthood breaketh out into such an hyperbolicall prayer Boners commendation of Priesthood that they were to be honoured before all kinges of the earth Princes and nobles for said he a Priest is higher then a king happier then an Angell maker of his creatour c. and in some sort like to the virgin Marie for as by speaking sixe wordes fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum shee did conceiue Christ so the Priest by the wordes of Consecration doeth chaunge the bread into the body of Christ Anno. 1554. The x. of March a letter was sent to the Léeftenant of the Tower to deliuer the bodies of Master Doctor Cranmer the Archbishop of Caunterburie Master Ridley and M. Latimer to Sir I. Williams to be conueied by them both to Oxford The xxvj of March there was a letter sent to sir Henrie Doel and one Foster to attach the bodies of D. Taylor parson of Hadley and of Henrie Askew and to sende them vp to the Counsell About the tenth of Aprill Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie Ridley Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer sometime B. of Worcester Cranmer Ridley and Latimer sent prisoners to Oxford were cōueied as prisoners from the Tower to Windsor and from thence to the Vniuersitie of Oxford there to dispute with the Diuines and learned men of both Vniuersities about the presence substance and sacrifice of the Sacrament Their names were these Disputers at Oxford Of Oxford D Weston Prolocutor D. Tresham Doctor Cole D. Oglethorpe D. Pie D. Harpsfielde M. Fecknam Of Cambridge Doctor Yong. Vicechauncellour D. Glinne D. Seaton D. Watson D. Sedgewick D. Atkinson The questions whereon they should dispute Questions to be disputed of were these 1. Whether the naturall bodie of Christ be really in the sacrament after the wordes of consecration be spoken by the Priest 2. Whether any substance doe remaine after the words sauing the bodie and bloud 3 Whether the Masse be a sacrifice propiciatorie On Saterday being the xiiij of April after dinner the Commissioners and Disputers went all to Saynt Maries church in Oxford and there after a short consultation in a Chappel they came all into the quire and sate all on seats before the Altar to the number of 33. persons 33. Commissioners Cranmer brought before the Commissioners Vnitie with Veritie And first they sent to the Mayor that he should bring in D. Cranmer whō he brought with a great number of rustie Bilmen And being come the Prolocutor exhorted him to vnitie To whom the Archb. modestly answered he would embrace it gladly so it were ioyned with veritie And after a discourse of the same in fewe words the Prolocutor caused the questions to be propounded vnto him and required him to subscribe thereunto Which the Archb. refusing the Prolocutor first willed him to write his minde of them that night and saide moreouer he should dispute on them and caused a copie of the Articles to be deliuered vnto him assigning him to answere thereunto on munday next and so charged the Maior with him againe to be had to Bocardo where he was kept before Then was D. Ridley Ridley appeareth brought who hearing the articles read vnto him answered without any delay and said they were all false and being asked whether he would dispute he answered that as long as God gaue him life they should not onely haue his heart but also his mouth and Penne to defende his trueth But hée required to haue time and bookes They sayde he coulde not And that he should dispute on Thursdaye and till that time he shoulde haue Bookes Then gaue they him the Articles and bad him write his minde of them that night and so he did Then they commanded the maior to haue him from whence he came M. Latimer appeareth Last of all came in Master Latimer who after his deniall of the Articles had Wednesday appoynted for disputation He alleadged age sicknesse disease and lack of bookes wherefore he refused to dispute but he sayd he would declare his minde in wryting or by woordes and woulde stande to all that they coulde laye vpon his back complayning that hee was permitted neither to haue penne nor Inke Neither the Masse nor maribones nor sinowes therof in the scripture nor any Booke sauing the new Testament in his hand which he said he had read ouer seuen times deliberatelie and yet
Wats went and praied priuatly to himselfe Tho. Wats martyr and afterward came to his wife and sixe children being there two of which company offered to burne with him and comforted him and when he had kissed them all was carried to the fire Where he hauing kissed the stake said vnto my Lord Rich beware my Lord beware for you do against your cōscience c. And so patiently he ended in the Lords quarrell In the beginning of this moneto of Iune the time was thought to be nigh of Quéene Maries Queen Mary proued not with child trauaile but their expectation was deceiued and the Prelates and their fauourers confounded so that they dealt with one Isabell Mault dwelling in Aldersgate stréete in Horne Alley to helpe the matter Who before witnesses made this declaration that she being deliuered of a man childe vpon Whitsunday in the morning the xj of Iune there came to her the L. North and another Lord to her vnknowen dwelling about Olde Fishstréete Who demaunded of her if she would part from her childe and would sweare that she neuer had nor knew any such childe Which if she would her sonne should they said be wel prouided for and she should take no care for it With many faire offers if she would parte with her child After that came other women also of whom one she said should haue béene the Rocker T. Mault should haue bin Queene Maries childe but she would not part with her Sonne who was at the writing of this History aliue of the age of xiij yeres and vpward and called Timothie Mault About this time came out a Booke called a Caueat for England A Caueat for England giuing warning to Englishmen of the practises of the Spaniardes and restoring of Abbey lands Wherupon came foorth a straite Proclamation against any booke or writing that should empaire the Popes dignitie whereby great peril grew vnto diuers people With Thomas Haukes were sent downe thrée other to be burned for the testimonie of the trueth Nicholas Chamberlaine Nicholas Chāberlaine at Colchester the xiiij of Iune Thomas Sommer Th. Sommer at Maningtrée the xv of Iune William Bamforde W. Bamford alias Butler at Norwich the same xv of the Moneth of Iune All which men patiently and constantly endured the torment for his names sake Within iij. dayes after that Master Bradforde had saued M. Bourne who preached a seditious Sermon at Paules Crosse he was sent for to the Tower where the Quéene was then to appeare there before the Counsell Where he was charged with the acte of sauing Bourne which act they called seditious and also obiected against him for preaching and so by them he was committed first to the Tower and afterwardes to the Kinges Bench and after his condemnation to the Counter He was a man of singular pietie and great learning and a speciall patterne of all vertue where he became Bishoppe Farrar being in the kinges Bench after much labouring with had promised the Papistes to receiue the Sacrament of the Altar with them at Easter in one kinde Then it happened by Gods prouidence on Easter euen the day before he should do it that M. Bradforde was brought to the kings Bench prisoner Where he reclaimed M. Farrar that he did not satisfie the Papistes in receiuing as hée had purposed When the Kéepers wife had brought him worde he should on the morow be had to newgate and so to be burned he put off his cap and lifted vp his eyes to heauen and sayde Bradford reioyceth at the newes of his Martirdome I thanke God for it for I haue looked for the same a long time and therefore it commeth now vnto me not sodainely but as a thing wayted for euery day and euery hower and the Lorde make me woorthie thereof And so thanking her he departed vp into his Chamber and went secretelie him selfe and prayed a long time aboue and spent the euening in prayer and other good exercises with his friendes The time they carried him to Newgate was about xi or xij of the clocke in the night for feare of the people And the next morning at nine of the clock he was brought into Smithfield whither as he went there came to him a brother in law of his called R. Beswicke and tooke M. Bradford by the hand Which when Woodrooffe being Sheriffe did behold he came and brake M. Beswickes head that the bloud ranne about his shoulders Being come to the place of execution hee fell flatte to the grounde secretely making his prayers to almightie God Then rising vp againe and putting off his clothes vnto his shirte he went to the stake and holding vp his handes and casting his countenance to heauen said thus O Englande Englande repent thée of thy sinnes beware of Idolatrie beware of false Christes take héede they doe not deceiue you With which words the sheriffe was greatly offended So hauing comforted I. Leafe that suffered at the same Stake with him embracing the Réedes he sayd thus Straight is the way and narrowe is the Gate that leadeth to eternall saluation and fewe there be that finde it M. Bradfords words at the stake And so constantly he ended this mortall life Hee remayned in the Tower of London before his remoouing to other Prisons from the Moneth of August in the yere of our Lorde one thousand fiue hundred fiftie thrée to the 22. of Ianuary Anno 1555. vpon which day he was called out to examination before Stephen Gardiner and other commissioners before whom he appeared thrée times and had great reasoning touching the reall presence with him with Boner Worcester and at the last was condemned by Winchester the last of Ianuarie Which sentence beyng pronounced he fell downe on his knées and hartily thanked God that he counted him worthie to suffer for his sake After condemnation diuerse conferred with him as Boner Willerton Creswell Harding Harpsfielde and other mo as Doctor Heath archbishop of Yorke Day Bishoppe of Chichester Alphonso the Kinges confessor and another Spanish Frier Doctor Weston Doctor Pendleton c. With maister Bradford was burned one Iohn Lease Iohn Leafe 19. yeere old burned with Bradford an apprentice of the age of ninetéen yéeres Who when two billes were sent vnto him into the Counter the one contayning a recantation and the other his confession to know to which of them he woulde put his hand to First hearing the byll of recantation read vnto him because hée coulde not reade nor write himselfe that hée refused and when the other was read vnto him which he well liked of instéede of a penne he tooke a pinne and so pricking his hand sprinkled the bloud vpon the same bill willing the Reader thereof to shew the B. that he had sealed the same with his bloud already And so being condemned Iohn Leafe a notable young man a martir he suffered patiently with M. Bradford Within halfe a yere after God did so strike the forenamed
trueth he feruently embraced the same and suffered with patiēce many conflictes therefore He had especiall enemies in Cambridge a black Frier one Doctor Buckeman Prouost of the house and another Frier an outlandish man called Doctor Venetus besides all the rabble of the Heades and Doctors as Doctor Watson Master of Christes Colledge whose Scholer Latimer had béene before D. Notaries Master of Clare Hall Doctor Phili Master of Michael house D. Medcalfe Master of S. Iohns D. Blithe of the kings hal D. Bullock Master of the Quéenes Colledge Doctor Cliffe of Clement house Doctor Downes of Iesus Colledge D. Palmes master of S Nicholas Hostel c. At the last came D. West Bishop of Ely who preaching against Latimer at Barnewel Abbey forbad him to preach any more within the churches of the Vniuersitie Notwithstanding D. Barnes Prior of the Augustine Friers did licence Master Latimer to preach in his Church of the Augustine Friers and he himselfe preached at the Church by called Saint Edwardes which was the first Sermon of the Gospel that D. Barnes preached being vpon Christmasse euen vpon a Sunday Whereupon Articles were gathered out against him by M. Tirrel Felow of the Kings Hall and presented to the Cardinall Notwithstanding the enemies that Latimer had in Cambridge hee continued preaching there thrée yeres and kept conference with Master Bilney So that the place where they vsed most to walke in the fields was commonly called the Heretikes hill After he had trauelled in preaching thrée yeres in Cambridge at length he was called vp to the Cardinall for heresie being contented to subscribe to such Articles as they propounded vnto him was dismissed After this by the meanes of Doctor Buttes a great fauourer of good men D. Buttes a fauourer of good men he was among the number of those that laboured in the Kinges Supremacie and went to the Court where after a space hee obteined a Benefice in Wiltshire in a towne called Westkington So he left the Court there kept residence There he also found enemies as in the Vniuersitie that drew articles against him As that he should preach against our Ladie Saintes Auemaries c. His chéefe enemies besides the Priestes of the Countrey were Doctor Powel of Salesburie Doctor Wilson sometime of Cambridge Master Hubberden and Doctor Sherewood By whose meanes he was cited vp to W. Warham Archb. of Canterburie and Iohn Stokeseley B of London an 1531. the xxix of Ianuarie euery wéeke for a space thrise Being called before them in the end he was dismissed on what condition it is vncertain At length through the procurement of D. Buttes Cromwell he was aduaunced by the king to be B. of Worcester Who whē holy bread and holy water should be ministred caused these verses to be pronounced to the people in his dioces Verses of Latimer at the giuing of holy bread and holie water Remember your promise in baptising Christ his mercie and bloudsheading By whose most holy sprinkling Of all your sinnes you haue full pardoning At the geuing of holy bread these verses following Of Christes body this is a token which on the crosse for our sinnes was broken Wherefore of your sinnes you must be forsakers If of Christes death you wil be partakers In his Bishoprick also he suffered much trouble for wel doing but the king greatly fauoured him He continued in his bishoprick til the time of the vi articles At which time of his own accord he resigned it At which time also Shaxtō B. of Salisburie resigned his bishoprick So they kept silēce til the time of K. Edward And comming vp to London for cure of a bruise which he receiued by a fall from a Trée hée was molested and cast into the Tower til the time of king Ed. In whose dayes he was set frée and preached againe with great fruite and edification of the people He being 67. yeres of age preached euery sunday twise for the most part and both winter and summer about ij of the clock in the morning he would be at his booke most diligently He euer affirmed that the preaching of the Gospel would coste him his life and perswaded himselfe that Winchester was kept in the Tower for the same purpose as the Euent did truly prooue For after the death of K. Edward he was sent for by a purseuant of whose comming he had intelligence by Iohn Careles prepared himself before to go with him The purseuant when he had deliuered his letters to him departed affirming that he had commandement not to tarrie for him whereby it should appeare they would haue had him fledde the realme but he cōmeth vp to London passing through Smithfield where merely hée said that Smithfield had long groaned for him Smithfield had long groaned for M. Latimer was brought before the Counsel Of whom he was againe cast into the Tower where he was hardly vsed yet bare it cherefully for when the Lieftenāts man vpon a time came to him the aged father kept without fire in frosty weather welnigh sterued for cold he merily had the man tel his master that if he did not looke the better to him perchance he would deceiue him Which when the Lieftenant heard fearing he should make escape M. Latimer almost sterued for cold in the tower chargeth him with his words Yea M. Lieftenant saith he so I saide for you look I think that I should burne but I am like here to sterue for cold Thus passing a long time in the tower from thence hée was transported to Oxford with Ridley and Cranmer to dispute as hath béene aforesaid He wrote diuers and sundrie letters Among other enemies to Latimer Latimers sundry letters at Oxford there was one Hubberden who riding by a Church side where the youth of the Parishe were daunsing came into the Church and caused the bell to be tolled and there made to the people a Sermon of daunsing A Sermon of piping and daunsing In which Sermon hée made the Doctors of the Church to answere to his call and to sing after his time for the probation of the Sacrament of the Altar against Latimer Frith c and all Heretikes At the last as he had made them sing so after he maketh them daunce also And first he calleth out Christ and his twelue Apostles then the auncient Doctors of the church as in a round ring all to daunce together with pipe vp Hubberdē Now daunce Christ now daunce Peter now Paule c. And in conclusiō such a dauncing kept Hubberdin that the pulpet fell and downe falleth Hubberdine and brake his leg and died not long after The people refused to repaire the pulpet saying it was not for dauncers M. Latimer to the king for restoring of the Scriptures M. Latimer also wrote to king Henry the viij for the restoring of the frée reading of holy Scriptures which was inhibited Anno 1531. and Anno 1546. For the which Letter hée receiued
Carewe to Bruxels with king Philips safe conduct to passe and repasse by the meanes of the Lorde Paget and Sir Iohn Mason who pledged for his safe conduct king Philippes fidelitie But in his returne when hee had brought the Lorde Paget on his way from Bruxels towarde England he with Sir Peter Carewe was taken by the prouost-marshall spoyled of their horses and clapped into a Carte their legges armes and bodies tied with halters to the bodie of the Carte And so shipped being blindfolded vnder the hatches and brought to the Tower of London Where at the length Sir Iohn Cheeke Sir I. Cheeke was brought to recant and was drawen vnwares to sitte in place where the poore Martirs were brought before Boner and other Bishops to be condemned The remorse whereof wrought such effect in him that not long after he left this mortall life repenting him greatly of his fall before his death The ende of the eleuenth Booke The twelfth and last Booke CArdinall Poole thrée yéeres after his returne into England aduised himselfe of the reforming of the Vniuersitie of Cābridge The vniuersitie of Cambridge to be reformed To performe which charge were chosen Cutbert Scot not long before cōsecrated B of Chester Nicholas Ormanet an Italian archpriest of the people of Bodalon in the dioces of Veron professed in both lawes bearing the name of Lord Pope his Datary T. Watson elected B. of Lincoln Iohn Christophorson elected B. of Chichester and Henrie Cole prouost of the Colledge of Eaton The 9. of Ianuary Anno 1556. Inquisitors came to Cambridge The inquisitors aforesaid came to Cambridge took vp their lodgings all of them in Trinity colledge with M. Christophorson maister of the Colledge The next day after their comming they interdicted two Churches namely S. Maries Q. Maries and S. Michaels Churches were interdicted where Martin Bucer and S. Michaels where Paulus Phagius was buried now thrée or foure yéeres past During which time vnto that day the Priests neuer ceassed to celebrate masses and other ceremonies in these Churches and that without scruple till the comming of these Commissioners Who commaunded hereafter that the assemblies which should be made for executing of holy ceremonies should be remoued to the kings Chappell On the xj day the Vicechancellor of the Vniuersitie with the Masters of houses and the rest of the Graduates were commanded to appeare before the Commissioners in their habites so did in the gatehouse of Trinitie colledge which was adorned for the Commissioners Where the vicechācellor aforesaid hauing on a tissue cope sprinkeled the Commissioners with holy water and purposed to cense thē but they refused it there Which notwithstanding afterward in the Quéenes Colledge and elswhere they refused not There M. Iohn Stokes oratour of the Vniuersitie welcomed them with an oration whereto the B. of Chichester answered with thankefull acceptation of the curtesie of the vniuersitie and so declared the cause of their commission From thence they were brought to the kinges Colledge where was songe a masse of the holy Ghost From thence they went to the interdicted Church of saint Maries wher Pecocke preached against heresie and heretickes naming Bylney Cranmer Latimer Rydley c. That being ended they procéeded to their visitation which Robert Brassey maister of kings Colledge a worthy aged man woulde not admit in his colledge Kings colledge refuseth the inquisitors because the visitation of his house was wholly reserued to the B. of Lincolne Which exception they tooke all in great displeasure The 12. of Ianuary they resorted to kings colledge for that Colledge time out of mind had béen counted neuer to be without an heretike or twaine The M. of that Colledge maister Brassey K. colledge neuer without an heretike Robert Brassey a good old man maister of K. Colledge maketh his exception againe to their visitaon but it would not serue In that Colledge some there were that refused to take their oath because they had giuen it to their Colledge before and also would not be brought thereby to accuse themselues yet at the length with much a doe they were contented to be sworne Thrée daies long lasted the Inquisition There after this it was aduised that the Vniuersitie should themselues first decrée against Bucer and Phagius and after make Supplication to the Commissioners for the confirming of this decrée So the Vniuersitie authorised their Vicechancellour to be the common factor for the Vniuersitie Which Supplication being put vp to the Commissioners the xiij day was of them graunted and afterwarde confirmed by the whole consent of the Vniuersitie and signed with the common seale the fourtéenth day by the Vice-Chaunceller by Doctor Yong Doctor Haruey Swineborne Marpetide c. After they had all dyned together at master Bacons maister of Gonwell hall by and by they carried it to the Commissioners to their Lodging Their condemnation being openly read then was it desired to send out processe to cite Bucer and Phagius to appeare or any other that would take vpon thē to plead their cause against the next mūday So the next day processe went out to cite the offenders But when neither of the parties accused would appeare at the time appointed although they might at the first haue condemned them yet a second processe was published and sentence deferred till the 26. of the same moneth On which day the Maior was also warned with his bretheren to bée present to behold what should bée determined When they had taken their places there was exhibited to the commissioners the processe that was lastly published to cite them This being done the B. of Chester maketh a spéech reciteth the sentence out of a scroll and condemned Bucer Phagius Bucer and Phagius digged out of their graues of heresie After sentence thus read he commaunded their bodies to be digged out of their graues first to be disgraded from holy orders he deliuered them to the secular power All this being ended they dispatch a purseuante to aduertise the Cardinall what they had done and required the writ de comburendo And while he went on his message they willed all suspected bookes to be brought for to be burned with the corps of Bucer and Phagius The purseuante being returned with the writ vpon the receipte thereof they appointed the 6 day of Februarie for the accomplishment of the matter So the Vicechanceller on that day taking with him Marshall the common notarie went first to saint Michaels church where Phagius was buried there he calleth foorth Andrew Smith Henry Sawyer and Henry Adams men of the same parrish and bound them with an oth to digge vp Phagius bones and to bring them to the place of execution Marshall tooke their othes receyuing the like of Roger Smith and William Hasell the towne Sergeants and of Iohn Capper warden of the same Church for doing the like with Bucer Their cofins being taken vp they were lincked with a chaine to a post on the market
eadem Emilianus eadem The martir comforted ead Arethusians 65 Marcus Arethusus ead The tēple of Venus destroyed eadem The persecution of the primitiue Church endeth eadem A moneth for a Saboth of yeres ead Sathan bounde vp til Wickliffe 66 Constantine borne in England eadem Helena daughter of K. Coilus eadem Constantines mother ead Constantine a father of the Church eadem Nicene councell eadem Constātine teacheth his soldiers a praier eadem Appeale graunted by Constantine 67 Prouision for learning ead The scriptures writtē for the vse of the church eadem Constantine baptised a little before his death eadem The rest of this history concerneth chiefly England Scotland 68 Englād receiued the gospell in Tyberius time eadem Easter kept in England after the maner of the East church eadem The gospell came into England from the East not from Rome eadem K. Lucius the first Christian K. of England eadem Fugatius Damianus ead Eleutherius 69 Almost all Christianitie destroied in England ead Guetelinus Archbishop of London eadem 271. of the nobilitie of Engl. slaine by the Saxons ead The first persecutiō in England by Dioclesian 70 The second by Gnauius and Melga eadem Vrsula eadem 11000. virgins eadem The third by Hengist ead Aurelius Ambrosius restoreth the churches eadem Gurmundus eadem Ethelbert eadem Gospel receiued of the Englishmen eadem Austen sent into Englād by Gregory B. of Rome ead I le of Tenet eadem Berda Lebardus 71 Godly conuersation miracles eadem None compelled to beleeue the abbey of S. Peter S. Paule in Canterbury ead Questions resolued from Rome 72 Bishops liuings how to bee bestowed eadem Clarkes may marry ead Diuerse ceremonies ead Degrees for marriage ead A pall from Rome 73 Mellitus eadem Austens oake eadem Brittaines Scots refuse the Easter of Rome 74 Abbey of Bangor eadem Austens pride offendeth the Britains eadem 1100. Monkes of Bangor slaine eadem Dinoe eadem Laurentius eadem Gregory dieth eadem Austen dieth eadem Strife about Primacy 75 Patriarke of Alexādria wold be vniuersall eadem The title of Seruus seruorum Dei ead Sabinianus first vniuersal bishop eadem Phocas giueth first title of vniuersall bishop eadem Ethelbert dieth eadem A vision 76 Edwine baptized eadem Paulinus the first archbishop of Yorke 77 Oswald a notable K. ead Kinigilsus conuerted Bernius 78 The sea of Winchester ead Weda conuerted ead Wolferus conuerted ead Sigbert baptized 79 Finanus eadem The questiōs of Easter ead Hilda eadem Cedda eadem A rude reason of the K. 80 The bones of Aidanus ead Southsex conuerted ead Great famine 81 The art of fishing taught eadem Wilfride restored eadem Wilfride expulsed again ead Mahomet beginneth ead Turkes conquered the Saracens 82 Theodorus eadem Latine seruice and Masse first brought into Engl. ead The archbishop plaieth Rex eadem A prouincial Synod at Thetford eadem The sixt generall councell at Constance eadem Marriage forbidden ead The first Latine masse at Cōstantinople eadem King Iua made a monke after an abbot 83 Aldelmus eadem Iohn of Beuerley eadem The right obseruing of Easter now first receiued of Picts Brittaines ead Shauen crownes eadem The K. thāketh God for the priests shauen crownes 84 The deuise of Ethelburga the Queen eadem The Queene becommeth an Abbesse eadem Peter-pence eadem Celulfus a learned king eadem Diuers learned men flourish eadem Bedaes Anglorum historia eadem Beda 85 Beda translated the Gospell of Iohn into English ead The king made a monke eadem A noble library in Yorke by a bishop eadem The lords prayer and Creed in the English tongue 86 Cuthbert 87 Pope Boniface an Englishman ead Boniface a great mainteyner of Nunnes eadem Religious fathers permitted to carry Nunnes about with them a preaching ea Libda and Tecla eadem Childerike deposed by the pope eadem Detestable doctrine of Boniface 88 Great maisteries wrought against the Emperours by popes eadem Philippicus the Emperour lost both his eyes and the empyre eadem The clause for reliques memoriall offerings and offeringes for the dead eadem The priests vesture eadem Constantinus the first gaue his feete to bee kissed of the Emperour eadem Lambrith to Lichfield 89 The king giueth the tenth of his goodes to the church eadem Romescot or peter-pēce ea The donation of Pipine the traytour and murtherer 90 Inuention of Organes eadē Pope deposed and his eyes put out ead Pope striueth for images eadem Images Lay mens kalender eadem Cost vpon images eadem Strife for Gregories masse 91 A miracle falsely interpreted eadem The empire translated to the French eadem A. B. C. Monasteries ead Irene the Greeke Empresse a mainteiner of Images 92 The cruelty of Irene ead The Emperours eyes pulled out by his mother ead Monasteries erected and founded in England eadem Common schooles at Cambridge 93 The first Nunne in North ūberland ead King Edgar builded 40. abbeyes 94 The church freed from tributes 95 Diuers faxon kings become monks ead Queenes became Nuns ead Vnder the Britains the Metropolitan sea at London 96 Cuthbert forbiddeth funenerals to be made for him ead 34. popes in the time of 17. archbishops ead The lande brought into one monarchy and called Anglia ead A Bishop made king of England ead Lands giuē to the church ea Peterpence throughout all England 97 Generall councels called by Emperour ead Against excesse of apparell in the cleargy 98 Against the dicing and whoring of the popes cleargy eadem Siluer and golde not to bee worne in shooes ead Feast of al saints first erected ead Alteration of popes names ead Swines snoute ead Gilberta a woman pope ead The pope trauaileth with childe ead Dirge for the dead 99 Popes decrees equall with the apostles writings ead A prelate called God eadem Polonians Sclauonians exempt from latine seruice eadem Against priestes marriages eadem Huldrich of Auspurgh ead The Emperour beginneth to decay the pope to swell eadem King Edmund slaine by the Danes 100 Alfred first taketh vnction from the pope ead K. of danes christened 101 Alfrede a notable king ead Time notablie spent by the king eadem Grantchester founded by Beda 102 Paris began frō Grātchester eadem Alfred very learned eadem The psalter trāslated by Alfred 103 The K. carefull to furnish the land with knowledge ead Neotus ead Iohannes Scotus ead Scotus booke de Corpore condemned eadem Sco. slain by his scholers 104 Dauids psalms alwaies with the king eadem 9. popes in 9. yeres ead P. Steuen rageth against the body of Formosus 105 Barbarous crueltie against Formosus eadem Cādles on cādlemas day 106 A pope set vp by Theodora a famous harlot ea Pope smothered ead Pope poisoned ead Mōks called Cluniacēses ea The K. authoritie sufficient in electing of bishops 107 The kinges daughter set to spinning ead The K. sonnes first Philosophers then gouernors ea Empire translated frō Frāce to Germanie ead Attaching of theeues 108
Canterburie he pulled down builded a new He sate ninetéene yéeres and being not so fauoured of William Rufus he died for sorrow Lanfranke dieth for sorow After Pope Alexander followed Pope Hildebrand surnamed Gregorie the 7. an 1074. He was a sorcerer Pope Hildebrand a sorcerer first began to spurne against the Emperours who before time confirmed the Popes and called Councels but this Pope trusting vpon the Normans that then ruffled in Apulia Calabria and Campania trusting also vpon the power of Machtilda a stout woman there about Rome and partly bearing himselfe bold for the discord that then was among the Germanes Hildebrand contemneth the Emperour Both the swordes Pope can not erre first contemned the authoritie of the Emp. vanted he had both swords committed vnto him of Christ Wherevpon he chalenged the dominion both of the East West churches boasted he could not erre and that he had receiued of Christ Peter power to bind loose he decréed against married priestes whose wiues in these daies were called Presbiteresse Presbiteresse forbidding men to salute them to talke with them or to kéepe cōpany with them and to this end among others he wrote letters to Otho B. of Constance cōcerning this matter who resisted the pope herein The coūcell of Hildebrand against maried priests was holdē at Rome Councell against marriage of priests The clergy of Fraunce also withstood it alledging that decrée to be against Gods lawes The decree against marriage resisted and the law of nature The Germain ministers did also mightily withstand the same so that the archb of Mentz in a councell vrging the matter with the popes legate called Curiensis hardly escaped with their liues so the councell brake vp By this schisme A schisme it folowed that the churches after that in choosing their priests would not send them to the bishops to be confirmed but did elect thē within themselues so put them in their office without all knowledge of the bishops who were determined to admit no priests but such as were to take an oth of perpetuall singlenes and so first came vp the profession of single priesthood Hildebrand a villanous pope This Hildebrand was a most wicked reprobate monster a sorcerer a necromancer an old cōpanion of Siluester Theophilactus Laurentius coniurers Benno cardinall of Rome setteth out many of his villanous acts Assoone as pope Alexāder was dead who died somewhat before night the same day contrary to the canons he was chosen pope of the Laymen but the Cardinals subscribed not to his electiō For by the Canons vnder paine of cursing none should bée chosen vnder 3. daies after the burial of his predecess None chosen Pope vnder 3. daies after his predecessors buriall He also put the Cardinals from his councel and society so that none could beare witnes of his life faith and doctrine wheras the Canons command that in euery place where the Pope is should be with him 3. Cardinals being priests and 2. deacons because of his ecclesiastical testimony He excommunicated the Emperor The Pope excōmunicateth the Emperour being in no synode solemnly accused before whereto none of the cardinals would subscribe Assoon as he had rose out of his papal seate to excommunicate the Emperor it being made a little before with bigge timber sodainly rent and shiuered in pieces He appointed one to lay great stones ouer the Church roofe of S. Maries in the mount Auentine whether the Emperor was wont to go to prayer to the end by throwing thē downe the vault he might slay the Emperour at his praiers The pope practiseth to kill the Emperour while he prayeth Which while the hireling was doing by remouing a stone it broke the plank wheron it lay and the hireling standing thereon both fell downe together and so he was with the same stone dashed in pieces Also enquiring of the Sacrament of the altar an answere as an oracle against the Emperor because it wold giue no answer Hildebrand asketh counsell of the host and casteth it in the fire because it would not answere he threw it into the fire and burned it contrarie to the perswasion of the Cardinals His villanies were infinite in so much that diuers of the colledges of the Church of Rome refused to communicate with him He perswaded the Emperour to depose those Bishoppes that came in by Simony which he did without delay after Hildebrand restored the same againe to procure their friendships vnto himselfe and to make the Emperour odious vnto them and after much vexing of him caused him by force and violence to accuse himselfe at Canusium in his presence who had excommunicated him The Emperour comming on his bare féete The Emperor barefoot to the Pope clothed in thinne garments in the sharpe Winter was there thrée daies made a spectacle to the world and a iest to Hildebrand Too long it were to declare all the detestable acts of this Hildebrand About what time Hildebrand was made Pope Henricus 4. the Emperor was encombred with warres in Germany by Otho duke of Saxons Now vpon the point hereof Hildebr cursed al those that being lay mē gaue any spiritual promotiōs or receiued any at their hands her by thinking to wring al authority frō temporal men and to take it to the spiritualty and sent for the Emperor now busie in warres to appeare at the Councel of Laterane in Rome Where the emperor could not being busie in his warres appeare The Pope threatneth he would excommunicate him A popish interpretation of symony except he would abiure simonie as they called it do penance he called symonie giuing taking spiritual liuings at lay mens hāds he would also depose him from his regal dignity The Emp. being moued with the arrogancy of the Pope called a councel at Wormes in which al the Bish of the whole empire of Germany cōcluded vpon the deposing of Hildebrād A terrible pope and sent Roulandus a priest of Parmen with the sentence who there denounced the same Hildebrand tickled with the sentence first condemneth it in his Councell of Laterane with excommunication Secondly depriueth Sigfridus archbishop of Mentz of all his dignities with all the prelates priests that tooke the Emperours part Thirdly he accuseth Henricus the Emperor himselfe depriuing him of his kingdome and regall possession and releaseth his subiectes of their oath made vnto him The Emp. fain to yeeld to the Pope The Princes of Germany tooke this occasion to rebell againe and concluded to elect another Emperour and to fall from Henrie vnlesse the Pope would come into Germany he there content to submit himselfe so obtain his pardon Wherto the Emp. seing no other way with an oath agréed whervpon the Bishop of Triers was sent Ambassadour to intreate the Pope to come into Germany whereto he yéelded and in his way when he came to Vercellos the bishop of that
Moreouer that the Gospell of Christ should be preached no more but fiftie yeares and then this euerlasting Gospell should rule the Church c. Item that whatsoeuer was in the whole Bible A blasphemous gospel of the Friers was in the same Gospell conteyned At the length this Friers gospell was accused to the Pope and so sixe persons chosen of the whole Vniuersitie to peruse and iudge of this booke as Christianus Canonicus Beluacensis Ododoaco Nicholaus de Baro Iohannes de sicca vella Anglus Iohannes Belim Gallus Among whom this Guilielmus also was one who mightely impugned this pestiferous deuillish booke These sixe after the perusing of this booke were sent to Rome The friers also sent their messengers withal where they were refuted and the errors of the booke condemned but so that the pope with the Cardinals commanded the said booke to be abolished and condemned not publikely tendering the estimatioÌ„ of the religious orders but the they should be burned secretly and the bookes of the foresaid Guilielmê° to be burned withall Among other besides of the age-which withstood the B. of Rome and his antichristian errors was one Laurence Laurence an Englishman and master of Paris another was Petrus Ioannes P. Iohannes P antichrist Rome Babylon Dead bones burned a Minorite Laurence was about the yere 1290. who proued the Pope to be Antichrist the Sinagogue of Rome great Babylon The Pope after his death caused his bones to be taken vp and burned To these is to be added Robertus Gallus an 1290. who being born of right noble Parentage for deuotion sake was made a dominike Frier R. Gallus He had diuers visions against the Pope Visions against the pope and Sea of Rome Hee called the Pope an Idoll He forewarned as is in a certaine Chronicle declared how God would punish the simonie and auarice of the Cleargie with such a plague that riuers should run with bloud It is saide there is remayning a great volume of his visions To these fathers is to be ioyned Rob. Grosted B. of Lincolne R. Grosted B. of Lincolne a man famouslie learned in the iij. tongues in philosophie He wrote diuers bookes and one speciall Sermon he exhibited in foure sundrie scrowles to the Pope and other foure Cardinals beginning Dominus noster Iesus Christê° c. He wrote diuers Inuectiues against the Pope Inuectiues against the Pope The Pope amongst his other intollerable exactions had a certain neuew so the popes are wont to cal their sonnes named Frederike being yet vnder age whome Innocent would néedes preferre to be a Chanon or Prebende in the Church of Lincolne and directed downe his letters to certaine his factors here in England for execution of the same Wherewith Grosted was greatly offended and maketh a quick and sharpe answere to the Pope whereat he fretting and fuming answered with a proud looke and fierce mind what old doting franticke wretch is this so boldly and rashly to iudge of my doings By swéete S. Peter and S. Paule were it not but vpon our owne clemencie and good nature we are constrained we would hurle him downe to such confusion that we would make him a fable a gasing stocke an example and wonderment to all the world K. of England the popes manciple vassall page for is not the king of England our vassall and to say more our manciple and page which may at our pleasure and becke imprison him and put him to vtter shame This when the Pope had in rage vttered scarse were his Cardinals able to appease him with gentle and milde wordes declaring vnto him the inconuenience if he should so procéede besides giuing great commeÌ„dation of Grosteds learning and godlinesse These wordes spake Lord Giles a Spanish Cardinall to the pope and this Councell gaue the rest vnto him that hée should winke at these things Manifest and knowne that once should come a defection from Rome least some tumult might arise thereof especially seing this is manifest and knowne to all men that once must come a defection and parting from the church of Rome Not long after this Robert Grosted died at Budgen In time of his sicknesse he called vnto him a Preaching frier one Iohn Giles and did greatly complaine of the disorders of the Friers and of the Romane clergie prouing the Pope to be an Hereticke The pope an hereticke declaring and reprouing manifold abuses of the church of Rome and said that this old verse may truly be verified vpon it Eius auaritiae totus vix sufficit orbis Eius luxuriae meretrix non sufficit vna Romane vertues that is The whole world doth scarse satisfie his couetousnesse neither doth one harlot suffise for his leacherie and in the end prophesied R. Grosted prophesieth against Rome and dieth Neither saith hée shall the Church be deliuered from the seruitude of Egypt but by violence and force and by the blouddy sword So scarse able to vtter his words with sighing sobbing wéeping his tongue breath failed and so finished his daies He departed An. 1253. Of his decease thus writeth Math. Paris pag. 278. Out of the prison and banishment of this world which he neuer loued was taken the holy bishop of Lincolne Robert at his Mannor of Buckdune on the éeuen of S. Dionise The vertues of R. Grosted who was an open reproouer of the pope and of the king a rebuker of the Prelates instructer of the clarks fauourer of scholers preacher to the people persecutor to the incontinent a diligent searcher of the Scriptures a maule to the Romans A maule of the Romans and a contemner to their dooings c. This Robert Grosted caused to be viewed and considered diligently of his clerkes what the reuenew of forrenners and straungers set in by the pope came to by the yéere and it was found Pope InnoceÌ„t the 4. a great impouerisher of christendome and euidently tried that pope Innocent the fourth did impouerish the vniuersall Church of Christendome more then all his predecessors from the time the pope first began so that the reuenewes of forreners clerks placed by him here in England 70000. markes reuenewes of forreners placed in the land by the Pope mounted to the summe of 70. thousand markes and aboue whereas the méere reuenewes of the crowne came not to 30. thousand Mathias Parisiensis reporteth that pope Innocentius an 1254. being maruellous angry with Grosted contrary to the mind of his Cardinals would haue his bones to be cast out of the church and purposed to bring him into such spite that he should be counted an Ethnicke a rebell disobedient person throughout the world and therevpon caused his letters to be sent to the king of England knowing that the king would gladly serue his turne therein to haue the spoile of the bishop and his Church But the night following Grosted appéered vnto him comming in his Pontificalibus Grosted appeereth in a
the racking of Anne Askew was greatly displeased therewith The day of her executiō being appointed she was brought into Smithfield in a chaire because she could not go on her féete by reason of her racking and was girded by the middle with a chaine that might hold vp her bodie and so was shée with her fellowes a witnesse of the truth and sealer of the same with her bloud Anne Askew hauing letters of pardon offered her at the stake by Wrisley lord Chancellour if shée would recant she refused so much as to looke on them They were there also offered to the rest The martyrs had pardon at the stake but they by her example were confirmed and likewise refused the same About the same time and yéere Doctor Ripse bishop of Norwich did incite the old duke of Northfolke against Rogers in the countie of Northfolke who was condemned and suffered for the cause of the sixe Articles An. 1546. Winchester practized against Q. Catherine Parre the last wife to king Henry who was very zealous towardes the Gospell Winchester practiseth against the life of the Queene and had perswaded with the king to make a perfect reformation and so farre he preuailed with the king persuading him of the factious disposition of the gospellers and of the daungerous example of the Quéene his wife that before that he and the L. Chancellor and others who conspired together against her departed the king had giuen out cōmandement with warrant to certaine of them made for that purpose to consult together about drawing of certaine articles against the Quéene wherein her life might be touched which the king by their persuasions pretended not to spare hauing any rigor or colour of law to coūtenance the matter With which cōmission they departed that time from the king resolued to put their pernitious practise in executiō first determined to deale with those whō they knew were great about her as the Lady Harbert afterward the Countesse of Penbrooke and sister to the Quéene and chiefe of her priuie chamber the lady Lane being of her priuie chamber and also her cosin Germane the lady Terwit beyng of her priuie chamber It was deuised that these thrée should first of all haue béene accused brought to answere to the six articles and vpon their apprehension in the court their closets and coffers should haue béen searched that somewhat might haue béene found whereby the Quéene might be charged which being found she her selfe presently should haue béene taken likewise caried by barge in the night to the Tower To all this the king séemed to giue his assent and afterward opened all the matter to D. Wendy his Physicion charging him withall vpon perill of his life not to vtter it to any person Now the time drawing nigh when they minded to put their mischéefes in practise the bill of articles drawne out against the Quéene and subscribed with the Kinges owne hand falling from the bosome of one of those wicked counsellours was found and taken vp of some godly person and brought immediatly to the Quéene who séeing the same fell into a marueilous perplexitie almost to the perill and daunger of her life whereof the king hearing he sent his Phisition Wendie and came also himselfe to comfort her to whom she delared her griefe but the king gaue her most comfortable wordes and so when he had tarried an houre with her he departed Shée afterwardes being recouered came to the King and founde suche fauour with him and had so satisfied him in those thinges The king much altered concerning their practises against the Queene for which the Prelates conspired against her that his minde was fully altered and detested in his heart the bloudie conspiracie of those Traytours who yet notwithstanding the next day determined to haue carried the Quéene to the Tower and at the houre appointed the Lord Chauncellour with fourtie of the garde at his héeles commeth into the garden where the Quéene was with the King and those thrée Ladies in pleasaunt communication fully determining from thence to haue taken the Quéene and those thrée Ladies and to haue carried them to the Tower whom the King stearnely beholding and breaking of his myrth with the Quéene stepped aside and called him knaue arrant knaue beast and foole The Queene deliuered from her daunger and commaunded him presently to auoide out of his presence So departed the Chauncellour with his train and all his deuises brought to naught and the subtletie of Gardiner discouered who was alwayes a cruell enimie against the Gospell and professors of the same Gardiner not onely practised in England against reformation but also when the King was minded to reforme in England he being Ambassadour beyond the seas for the agréement of a league betwéene England Fraunce and the Emperour he wrote vnto the king and perswaded him that if he procéeded to alter any whit in England in matters of religion the league would not go forwarde whereby the Kinges determinate purpose for that time was altered although before he had commanded the Archb. Cranmer to cause two letters in his name to be drawne for the abolishing of Roodlofts and ringing on allhallow night After this Anno 1546. The matter of reformation beganne to be reuiued and the French king and the king of England did agrée to make a perfect reformation The kings of England and France agree to make a perfect reformatiō of religion and were so fully resolued therein that they meant also to exhort the Emperour to doe the same in Flaunders and other his countries or else to breake off from him And herein the king commaunded the Archbishop Cranmer to penne a forme thereof to bée sent to the French king to consider of but by the death of these Princes that purpose was cut off About this time Sir Hugh Cauerley knight maister Litleton falsly accused Sir George Blage one of the kings priuie chamber the sunday before Anne Askew suffered before Wriseley Lord Chauncellour Sir George Blage condemned to be burned the next day he was carried to Newgate from thence to the guild hall where he was condemned the same day and appointed to be burned the wednesday after They laid to him that he shold say that if a mouse did eate the bread they should by his consent hang vp the mouse with other such light matters When the King vnderstood hereof hée was sore offended with their doinges and sent him his pardon and so was he set at liberberty Who comming after to the kings presence ah my pig said the king to him for so he was wont to call him Yea said he if your maiestie had not béene befter vnto me then your Bishoppes were your pigge had béene rosted ere this time After the death of Anne Askew the Prelates made out straight proclamation against English bookes of scripture and whatsoeuer might giue any light to the word and drew out a number of heresies as they call them out