neuer teach soche fylthye lernynge More of this shall I wryte God willing in the answere of their bokes Anne Askewe Then the Byshoppes chaunceller rebuked me and sayde that I was moche to blame for vtterynge the scryptures For S. Paule he sayde forbode women to speake or to talke of the worde of God I answered hym that I knewe Paules meanynge so well as he whyche is i. Corintheorum xiiii that a woman oughte not to speake in the congregacyon by the waye of teachynge And then I asked hym how manye women he hadde seane go into the pulpette preache He sayde he neuer sawe none TheÌ„ I said he oughte to fynd no faute in poore women excepte they had offended the lawe Iohan Bale PleÌ„teouse ynough is her answer here vnto this quarellinge and as apereth vnlerned chancelloure Manye godlye women both in the olde lawe the newe were lerned in the scriptures and made vtterauÌ„ce of theÌ„ to the glorie of god As we reade of Helisabeth Mary and Anna the wydowe Lu. i. ii yet were they not rebuked for it yea Marye Christes mother retained all that was afterwarde wrytten of hym Luc. ii yet was it not imputed vnto her an offence Christ blamed not the woman that cryed whyls he was in preachynge happye is the wombe that beat the Luce. xi The women which gaue knowlege to his discyples that he was rysen from death to lyfe discomfited not he but solaced them with hys most gloriouse aperauÌ„ce Mat. xxviii Io. xx In the primatyue churche specially in Saint Hieromes time was it a great praise vnto womeÌ„ to be lerned in the scriptures Great commendacioÌ„s geueth our Englysh Cronicles to Helena Vrsula and Hilda womeÌ„ of our nacyon for beynge lerned also in the scriptures Soch a woman was the seid Hilda as openlye disputed in them against the superstycyons of certen byshoppes But thys chancellour by like chaunced vpon that blynde popysh worke whych Walter Hunte a whyte fryre wrot iiii score yeares ago Contra doctrices mulieres against scole women or els some other lyke blynde Romysh beggeryes Anne askewe Then my Lorde Mayre commaunded me to warde I asked him if suertees woulde not serue me And he made me short answer that he wold take non Then was I had to the Counter and there remayned xii dayes no frynde admytted to speake with me Iohan Bale Here is Christ yet troden on the hele by that wycked serpent whych tempted Eua. Gene. iii. His faithful membre for beleuyng in him is here throwne in preson And no maruel for it was his owne ê“mes ye shall be brought before rulers debitees saith he for my truthes sake Mat. x. ye shal be betraied of your owne nacyon and kindred so throwne in presoÌ„ Luc. xxi If they haue persecuted methinke not but they wyll also persecute yow Io. v. This serpent is agayne becomeÌ„ the prince of this world holdeth the gouerners therof captyue Io. xiiii Suertees wold haue ben takeÌ„ for a thefe or a mourtherer but not for Chrystes meÌ„ber the bishoppes chauÌ„cellour being at hande nor yet her fryndes permitted to confort her Anne Askewe But in the meane tyme there was a prest sent to me whiche sayd that he was comaunded of the byshopp to examyne me and to geue me good counsell which he dyd not But fyrst he asked me for what cause I was put in the CouÌ„ter And I tolde hym I coulde not tell Then he sayde it was great pitie that I shulde be there with out cause and concluded that he was verye sorye for me Iohan Bale O temptacion of Sathan Christ beinge in the solitarie wildernesse alone was after thys flattering sort assaulted first of his enemye Matt. iiii This Iudas was sente afore to geue a frindelie kisse the more depelie to trappe the innoceÌ„t in snare But Gods wisdom made her to perceiue what he was A false prophete is sone knowne by hys frutes amonge theÌ„ that are godlye wyse Mat. vii She coÌ„sidered with Salomon that more to profyght are the strypes of a frinde thaÌ„ the fraudâ—lent kysses of a deceitful enemye Prouerb xxxvii Anne Askewe Secondly he sayd it was tolde hym that I shuld denye the sacrament of the aultre And I answered hym agayne that that I had sayd I had sayd Iohan Bale In this brefe answere she remeÌ„bred SalomoÌ„s couÌ„sell Answer not a fole all after his folishnesse Beware of theÌ„ saith Christ which come in shepes clothinge for inwardlye they are most rauenynge wolues Mat. vii God destroieth the craftes of the wicked sayth Iob so that they are not hable to perfourme that they take in hande Iob. v. Anne Askewe Thirdly he asked me yf I were shryuen I tolde hym no. Then he sayde he wolde brynge one to me for to shryue me And I tolde hym so that I myghte haue one of these iii. that is to saye doctor Crome syr Gyllam or Huntyngton I was contented bycause I knewe them to be men of wysedome As for yow or anye other I wyll not dysprayse bycause I knowe ye not Then he sayde I woulde not haue yow thynke but that I or an other that shall be broughte yow shall be as honest as they For yf we were not ye may be sure the king wolde not suffer vs to preache Then I answered by the saynge of Salomon By commonynge with the wise I maye lerne wysedome but by talkynge with a fole I shall take skath Prou. i. Iohan Bale Se how thys aduersary coÌ„paseth lyke a rauenyng lyon to deuoure this lambe i. Pet. v. Now temptethhe her with CoÌ„fession which hath bene such a bayte of theirs as hath broughte into theyr nettes and snares the myghtiest prynces of the worlde both kynges and emprours Se here yf they leaue anye subtylte vnsought to obtaine theyr praie He reckened by this to winne his purpose which waye so euer he had taken Yf she hadde bene confessed to hym he had knowen whyche waye she had bene bente If she had vtterlye refused confessyon he had more matter to accuse her of O subtyle sede of the serpeÌ„t This part plaied your olde generacion the Pharisees and prestes with Christ to bring him in dauÌ„ger of the lawe Mat. xxii Ioha viii No ChristeÌ„ erudicioÌ„ bringeth this prest nor yet good counsels of scripture But as Esay sayth The hypocryte ymagyneth abhomynacion agaynst God to famysh the hungry and witholde drinke from the thirstye Yet shall not the eyes of the seynge be dymme nor the eares of the hearyng be deffe Esa. xxxii Yf the king admit soch preachers as I can not thinke it a sore plage remaineth both to him and to his people Anne Askewe Forthly he asked me yf the hoste shulde fall and a beaste dyd eate it whether the beaste dyd receyue God or no I answered Seynge ye haue taken the paynes to aske thys questyon I desyre yow also to take so moche payne
stones Acto vii Lete beastlie blinde babbyllers and bawdes with their charmynge chaplaynes than prate at large out of theyr malycyouse sprete and ydle braynes We haue in habundaunce the veryte of Gods worde and promes to proue them both saued and gloryfyed in Christe For God euer preserueth them which trust in him Psal. xvi All that call vpon hys holye name are saued Iobel ii What reasonable man will thynke that they can be loste whyche haue their lorde God more dere than their owne lyues No man shall be hable sayth Christ to plucke my shepe out of my handes but I wyll geue theÌ„ eternall lyfe Ioan. x. Beleue sayth Paule to the iayler at Philippos on the lorde Iesus Christ and thou shall be saued thy whole howsholde Acto xvi They that seme in the sight of the vnwyse to go into destruccyon do rest in the peace of God and are replenished with immortalite Sapien. iii. With other in numerable scriptures to the praise of God whose name be glorified worlde without ende Amen FINIS God saue the kynge Thus endeth the lattre conflict of Anne Askewe latelye done to deathe by the Romysh popes malycyouse remnaunt and now canonysed in the preciouse bloude of the lorde Iesus Chryste Imprynted at Marpurg in the lande of Hessen 16 die Ianuary anno 1.5.4.7 Bedes prophecy 2. sortes 2. sygnes Israelytes preachers Tyndale Barnes The fathers Martyrs Christen martyrs Breade myracles rochettes Steuen Legendes Forest. Fysher More Writers Christen martirs Anne Askewe Goddes power Bokes coÌ„dempned Latyne God wyll be knowne Iohan Wlcleues bokes Canonise Gamaliel Anne Askewe True nobylyte Lydia Cecilia Blandina Anne Askewe Companions RecaÌ„ters Tryed Golde The chauncell Corage Rakced Burned Beastes ShaxtoÌ„ Graces Sprete Hygh stomacke Mother Asshes Autors Not all deed Weakenesse Martyrs Example Sprites Christofer dare Reallye The boxe Temples Accusers Masses Goddes worde The prest Iudas Sacryfyces Thevi of Iohan. ConfessioÌ„ Prestes The kynges boke Pharysees The spyrite A prest mockers A serpent ryseth Masses pryuate Druydes For sowles The prestes receyuynge Mayre Bonner IgnorauÌ„ce Wynchester Peryn Diuisio Guimundus Waldenus Algerus Christus Fayth Nota. Women Scripture women Women Englyshe women Walter hunte Preson Christ troden on the hele A prest Iudas The sacramente Shrifte Prechers ConfessyoÌ„ Practise hypocryte preachers The hostâ— A fallynge God Wynchestre Peryn An Idolle Lyke olde Gossyppes Dronckennesse hypocrite Howsell Spirituallye A whore Dogges Baylynge antichryst The beast Examples A custome The chauÌ„celler Fayth in Christe Tyrannye Wylye Wylye Subtyle A wolfe Foxes A prest A thefe Iudas Herode A false lyar O traiter A tyraunt Murtherers Egles More laÌ„bes to deuoure Lyke the deuyll Archedeacon A lyar Iudas Iohan. Frith Bokes coÌ„dempned Bokes brent Her fryndes Cayphas Practise Sathan Tempter Cayphas Enemyes Surgerye Counsell A murtherer Botches Gathered store Sinon cast Bowgittes Antichrist a sore heresye Prestes Breade Steuen Beastes The boxe Honorius Eua reclusa Bostius Iudases Temples A teÌ„pter scripture practyses Christ. In Gods stede Temples Arystotle Dons Fewe wordes Sylence Bonner Priuate Masses Henrye Spenser Frires Masses Iohan Wycleue Pardons Druydes Perin Chaunceler StaÌ„dyshe Watchemen Vypers I tempter StaÌ„dyshe Doctor Swyne Accuser Dogges rhetoryck Quarellers Thre score prestes Prestes Lordshyp Hypocresi Wonders I prest Occupyenge Scripture Folowers Lordships possessioÌ„s Marryage He wryteth Worshyp thâ— beaste Holye lecherye papystyck Canonysed lecheri Priapystes Scripture Vnsuffycient The pope Fauer Falshede Flatterye catholyck â— woman Catholick FroÌ„ oyle Weston Layte Sodomytes Manye delayes Pharao Practyse Knauery spirituall With prestes TyrauÌ„tes Practyse Subtylte Byshoppes KyngedoÌ„ of God Popes kyngedom A change Polycye No felde â–ª Counsel Sylence Perryn take hede Germanes Peryns sermons Wynchestre modestie Oke groue CoÌ„scyeÌ„ce Hate them ExaÌ„ples Wycleue and huse Sprete Waues Pray and obeye Abhorre Wryters notaireye Martyrs Sufferers Bernardus Barnes other RecaÌ„ters Brytayne churche Christ. Byshoppes Englysh churche Martyrs Other martyrs No dyrge Augustine Wycleue Suffre Difference of martyrs Martyrs Compare Becket Miracles Ryght matyrs Bonifacius Anglê° Clarus Clitancus Edwinê° Edwardus Cadocus Lanfrancus Indractus Iuthwara Newaldy duo Anne Askewe Ositha Wenefrida MaxeÌ„tia Guilhelmus Thomas Yonge Sayntes Foillanê° Iustinanus Kilianus Vrsula Proue the ipretes EdmuÌ„dê° FremuÌ„dê° and other Tokens the autor Brytannyshe Englyshe Tokens Answers TyrauÌ„tes Winchostre Peryn Epycures pygges Lyght S. IohaÌ„ Sathan Christes heares Christes fete Fyre Coppye Christ. Breade RemeÌ„bre Edere Bibere Beleue Euangelystes Doctryne Faythe Christ. Communyon Loue. Letter Christe Foreheades Hartes A membre CoÌ„panyons Kyme Salomon Kyme An vse Marryed Exyled Dyuorcement A beast Sacrament Wynchestre Answere Tyraunt Daunger Parables Rebukes v. houres Parables Wynchestre Mockers Hypocrytes SacrameÌ„t Wynchester Godlye Prynces â–ª Micheas Hieremye Pylate Lisias Cesares Wynchester Treason Christes Sacrament Halte Englande Tepidi Brenne Antichrist To breÌ„ne Prestes God laugheth Christes meanyng Sygnyfye Remembraunce Idolatrye Not in breade The eater Remembraunce Tyll he come Frute of the vyne Partakynge Coxe and RobynsoÌ„ newgate In breade A waffer antychrist Inpaned newgate Breade Temple Moses vayle Blessed Temple warnynge The masse Idolles Tyberius Caligula Masses Antichrist Shurns them The vails Darkenesse Syght Daniel Strength Promes Faythe A martyre TyrauÌ„tes Stedefast Valcaunt Faythe Helchesytes In constaunt Prayer Ephraim Oseas Ydolatrie Ephraimytes ii sortes S. SteueÌ„ Temple Worshyp Meate 3. bulwerkes â—omystes Lo here Se there Heretyke Sacrament Moulde in the boxe Christ coÌ„dempned Membre Sacrament no sygnes the wyne Confesse Teachers Belles Prestes Tyranny Wycked lawes Remembraunce Apostles â–ª Eatynge The suÌ„mâ— of belefe O beastlye ydolaters O constaunt martyre Olde ydolaters Newe ydolaters A waffer The supper Answere An ydoll Death Promises To the Chauncellour The kyng To God Stronge ObedyeÌ„t Her matter Theyr offyce To God Trouble Heresyes Faythe Dyscharge Heresye What it is Who is the heretyke The kyng Ryche Shaxton Sathan 3. ghostlye enemyes Wynchestre spirytuall MammoÌ„ Shaxton Double Vnworthy Hypocrytes IudgemeÌ„t Ryche Christen ladyes Babylon Obedyence A secte Ladyes Helthe The kyng Mardocheus Haman Papystes Craftye Pyghius Bucer Obseruauntes Letters to accuse Ioseph Paule Onesymus Iudges Prelates Gentyllwomen Ladyes Christ. Noble women Lydia Noble women TyrauÌ„tes Prelates Faythe Masses hearynge The racke Nicodemus Fryndes Hygh treason Frenesye A tourmentour Chaunceller Riche MaÌ„mon wretches TyrauÌ„tes Tyrauntes A lambe TyrauÌ„tes Christe Periures A mylstoÌ„ Vnlosed Perseuer Practyse TeÌ„ptacioÌ„ â— sortes Prayse Wrisleye Ynne kepers Profyght My ladye Honour cardynall A tyraunt Swete woman A martyr Gods creature Christes seruaunt A verye Saynt Deathe Chronycles Deathe No feare Haruest Racked No noyse Wrisleye Ryche Iulianus In excuse TyrauÌ„tes No noise Of Cayphas Christes martyr Bonnee Wolues SaluacyoÌ„ Hande wrytynge Gods stede Buylded A lambe Eucharystys Pryson Pryson Chryst Smyrna Antichrist With fire Trouble Condempned Proue her â—â—ntâ—s of faythe ObedyeÌ„t to God No hereâ—yke Breade Proue yet Frutes of faythe Consecracyon Waffer Breade Shall come Antichrist Myracle No God Doctors Moulde in the boxes Godmakers The supper Scriptures Without Masse Idolatryes Mannes wysdome Scriptures Hope proue styll Frutes of faythe Her god A sure part Eucharystye masse an ydoll obidyeÌ„ce The Masse Ydolaters An ydoll Popes Monkes Vniuersytees The masse Profytable Necessaryes myracles of the masse Dead letter Sathan Wytches An ydoll Enemyes Hate theÌ„ Aduersaryes Haters Fryndes Fauorers Northfolke Prayer Swete woman Goddes true seruaunt Christes membre Charyte A Saynt Antichrist compassioÌ„ Pylate Wrisleye Pylate Wrysleye Pylate Wrisleye Pylate Wrisleye Ladyes Pylate Wrisleye Riche Pylate Prestes Pylate Wrysleye Pilate Wrisleye Brent Martyrs A sygne Gods haÌ„de Centurio Christianes Take hede Ceremonyes Tendrelynges Hypocresye Papystes Prestes Bawdes ThoÌ„ders Thonder Apocal. ThoÌ„ders Eucheryê° For tyrauntes North folke Markewele S. SteueÌ„ gods wordes Not lost
And appoynted me to apere afore hym the next daye after at .iii. of the clocke at after noone More ouer he sayde vnto hym that he wolde there shulde be at that examynacyon soche lerned men as I was affeccyoned to That they myghte se and also make report that I was handeled with no rygoure He answered hym that he knewe no man that I hadde more affeccyon to than othere Than sayd the byshoppe Yes as I vnderstande she is affeccioned to Doctor Crome Sir Gyllam Whyteheade and Huntyngton that they might heare the matter For she dyd knowe them to be lerned and of a godlye iudgement Iohan Bale A foxysh fauer was thys both of the chauncellour byshopp and soch a benyuolent gētilnesse as not onli sought her bloude but also the bloude of all them whych are here named yf thei had than come to thys examynacyon For the euenynge afore as I am credybly infourmed the Bishopp made boast amonge hys owne sort that if they came thydre he wolde tye them a great deie shorter A voyce was thys full lyke to hym that vttered it For therby he apereth not one that wyll saue and fede but rather soche a one as seketh to kyll destroye Iohannis x. The foxes runne ouer the hyll of Syon sayth Hyeremye because she is fallen from God Threnorum v. O Israel sayth the Lorde thy prophetes are lyke the wylye foxes vpon the drye feldes Ezechiel xiii The Poete hath a by worde that happy is he which can take hede by another mannes hurte I adde thys here that ye shulde be ware yf ye come in lyke daunger of any soch foxish byshopp By one of hys day deuyls whom thys Cayphas sent to cammen with the woman in preson he knewe part of her meanynge and what they were also which fauered her opynyons Yea he craftelye vndermyned this gentilman which intreated for her if ye marke it wele Trust not to moche in the flatterouse faunynge of soche wylye foxes Anne Askewe Also he requyred my cosyne Bryttayne that he shuld ernestlie persuade me to vtter euen the verie bottom of my harte And he sware by hys fydelyte that no man shuld take any aduauntage of my wordes Neyther yet wolde he laye ought to my charge for anye thynge that I shulde there speake But if I saide any maner of thynge amys He with othere more wolde be glade to reforme me therin wyth mooste godlye counsell Iohan Bale O vengeable tyraunt and deuill How subtillie sekist thou the bloud of this innocent woman vndre a coloure of fryndelye handelyng God ones commaunded the ernestlye in no case to compasse thy neyber with deceyt to the effusiō of his bloud Leu. xix But hys commaundement thou rekenest but a Caunterburye tale By swearynge by thy fydelete thou arte not all vnlyke vnto Herode whō Christe for lyke practyses fyrst to put Iohan than hym to death called also a most craftie cruell foxe Luc. xiii Thou laborest here to haue this womā in snare with certē of her frindes But God put in her mynde at this tyme to recken that a dogge a swyne Matth. vii and therupon to haue fewe wordes Anne Askewe On the morowe after my lorde of London sent for me at one of the clocke hys houre beynge appoynted at thre And as I came before hym he sayde he was verye sorye of my trouble and desyred to knowe my opynyon in soche matters as were layed agaynste me He requyred me also in any wyse boldelye to vtter the secretes of my harte byddynge me not to feare in anye poynte For what so euer I dyd saye with in hys house no man shulde hurte me for it I answered For so moche as your Lordeshyppe appoynted iii. of the clocke and my fryndes shall not come till that houre I desyre yow to pardon me of geuinge answere tyll they come Iohan Bale In thys preuentynge of the houre maye the dylygent reader perceyue the gredynesse of thys Babylon Byshopp or bloud thurstie wolfe cōcernynge this praye Swyft are their fete sayth Dauid in the effusion of innocent bloude whiche haue fraude in their tunges venym in their lippes and most cruell vengeaūce in their mouthes Psal. xiii Dauid in that Psalme moch marueleth in the sprete that takinge vpon thē the spirytuall gouernaunce of the people they can fall in soche frenesye or forgetfulnesse of themselues as to beleue it lauful thus to oppresse the faythfull and to deuoure them with as lytle compassyon as he that gredylye deuoureth a pece of breade If soche haue redde anye thynge of God they haue lyttle mynded their true dewtye therin More swyft sayth Hieremye are our cruell persecuters than the egles of the ayre They folowe vpon vs ouer the mountaynes and laye preuye waite for vs in the wildernesse Trenorū iiii He that will knowe the craftye haukynge of Bishoppes to brynge in their praye lete him serue it here Iudas I thynke hade neuer ther parte of their connynge warkemanshippe Marke it here and in that which foloweth Anne Askewe Then sayd he that he thought it mete to sende for those iiii men which were a fore named and appoynted Then I desyred hym not to put thē to the payne For it shuld not nede bycause the. ii gentylmen whyche were my fryndes were able ynough to testyfye that I shulde saye Anon after he wēt into his gallerye with mastre Spylman and willed him in any wyse that he shulde exhort me to vtter all that I thoughte Iohan Bale Christ sheweth vs in the vii chaptre of Mathew in other places more of the Gospell how we shall know a false prophete or an hypocrite and willeth vs to be ware of them Their maner is as the deuyls is flatteringly to tempt deceitfullye to trappe that they maye at the lattre most cruellye slee Soche a won sayth Dauid hath nothinge in his tunge but playne deceyt He layeth wayte for the innocent with no lesse cruelte than the lion for a shepe He lurketh to rauysh vp the poore And whan he hath gottē hym into his nette thā throweth he him down by his autorite Psalm ix This is the thirde temptacion of thys byshopp that the womā shulde vtter to her owne confusyon Anne Askewe In the meane whyle he commaunded hys Archedeacon to commē with me who sayde vnto me Maystres wherfore are ye accused I answered Axe my accusers for I knowe not as yet Then toke he my boke out of my hande and sayde Soche bokes as thys is hath brought yow to the trouble ye are in Beware sayth he be ware for he that made it was brente in Smythfelde Then I asked hym yf he were sure that it was true that he had spokē And he said he knewe wele the boke was of Iohan Frithes makynge Then I asked hym yf he were not ashamed for to iudge of the boke before he sawe it within or yet knewe the truthe
malyce The other woman whom they wolde here mooste craftely haue delyuered wyth this as I am credyblye infourmed was a certē popysh queane whych they had afore prouyded both to betray her and accuse her In more depe daunger of the lawe at that tyme was thys for her false accusement wythout recorde than was the other which was so falselye accused Faine wolde the prelates therfore haue hadde her at lyberte but they feared moche to be noted parcyall Marke thys craftye poynt for youre lernynge and tell me yf they be not a subtyle generacyon More of their spirytuall packynges and conueyaūces for the deathe of thys faythfull woman and most dere membre of Christe Anne Askewe shal ye well perceyue in the latter part here folowynge by her owne confession and hande wrytynge also to the honoure of God and theyr great dishonour So be it Vayne is the conuersacyon whiche ye receyued by the tradycions of youre fathers i. Pet. i. The veryte of the lorde endureth for euer Psalm cxvi The Conclusion HEre haste thou gentyll reader the fyrste examynacyon of the faythfull martyr of Chryste Anne Askewe wyth my symple elucidacion vpon the same Wherin thou maiste clereli beholde our Byshoppes and prestes so spirituallye to be occupyed nowe a dayes as is the gredy wolfe that rauenouslye ronneth vpon hys praye For the tyrannouse behauer in their cruell predecessours haue they no maner of shame Neyther yet repēt they their own blasphemouse treason againste God and his veryte what though their most wretched consciences do daylye accuse them therof The kingdome of God which is a true faythe in his worde or a perfighte knowlege of the gospell do not they seke to vpholde But violentlie thei speake yll of it trouble it persecute it chace it and bannish it by cause it is of him and from within Luce vii The kyngdome of the pope which cōmeth with outwarde obseruacion of dayes persones places tymes meates garmentes and ceremonyes they magnifie aboue the moue bicause it is from without and to their peculiar aduauntage in the loyterynge reigne of ydelnesse They haue thought and yet thynke by their terryble turmoilinges to turne ouer all to chāge the most noble enter pryse of our kinge yet ones again laiserlie to their popes behoue But the godlye wyse mā Salomō saith There is no polycie there is no practise noo there is no counsell that can anye thynge preuayle againste the lorde Prouerbiotū xxi They recken that with fire water and swerde thei are able to answere all bokes made agaynst their abuses so to discharge their inuyncyble argumentes for otherwyse they haue not assoyled them as yet but truly they are sore deceiued therin as shall wele apere They suppose by consumynge of a score or ii in the fyre they haue gotten the felde of the lambe and hys host Apoca. xvii No they rather by that meanes adde strength therunto and so deminishe their owne I dare boldlie saye vnto them that by burnynge Anne Askewe and her iii. cōpanyons they haue one thousande lesse of their popishe beleue than they hade afore They thinke also by condempninge and burninge our bokes to put vs to silence But that wyll sureli bringe double vpon them if they be not ware Apoc. xviii For if we shulde be still the verie stones wolde speake in these dayes Luc. xvi And detect their horryble treason against God and the kynge Yf they mynde to holde theyr ydell offices styll and here after to haue profyghte of theyr olde sale wares as Diriges Masses soche other My counsel were that they dyd by them as they nowe do by their pope the greate mastre and first founder of them A subtyle sylence is amonge them cōcernynge hym and hath bene euer syns his fyrste puttynge downe Ye shall not nowe heare a worde spoken agaynste him at Paules crosse nor yet agaynst his olde iuglynge feates And in dede it is a good wyse waye to set hym vp againe Wynchester and Sampson made a lyttle bragge at the begynnynge to seme yet to do sumwhat but sens they haue repented and made a large amēdes for it other wayes Fryre Peryn begāne to wryte in defence of theyr monstruouse Masse but now of late dayes and he can not fynde ther in one blasphemouse abuse iustlye to be reprehended Men saye there be craftye knaues abroade in the world in al ages Wel this polytyk sylēce wolde do well also parauētur ī other matters For the more ruffelynges they make the more murther they do for that ydell kyngdome of theyrs the more clere the veryte apereth and the more vyle their sorcerouse wares For the more dyrt be shaken they saye the more it stynketh So outragyously to rayle in theyr preachynges of the noble and lerned Germanes which of al nacions loueth our kynge mooste intyerlye for secludynge their pope and chaunginge theyr masses they do not most wysely for themselues They are not so yl beloued of theyr coūtreie marchaūtes which customabli trauayle thyder but they knowe what is ther both sayd done agaynst thē By that meanes came Peryns boke of hys iii. most ydolatrouse foxysh sermōs fyrst of al to my hādes Wherin he rhetoricallye calleth them in the hote zele of hys Romysh father the erronyouse Germanes subtyle witted heretykes obstynate aduersaryes newe fangled expositours peruerse sacramētaryes blasphemouse apostataes wycked wretches deuylysh lyars lewde lyuers abhomynable beleuers with soch other lyke But certaynelye I knowe that they wyll one daye be euē with him with other lyke apes of Antichrist for it Whā the popes great dāsynge beare a proude prākynge prelate of thers was the last year with the emprour Charles at his fourth goynge agaynst the sayd Germanes hys bragginge begles were not ashamed to boast it in the open stretes of Vtrecht in Hollande that the pope shulde agayne haue hys full swaye in Englāde Of a lykely hode they knowe there some secrete mysteries in workynge I saye yet be ware of that subtyle generaciō which seketh not els but to worke all myschefe Gentyl and soft wyttes are oft tymes offended that we are nowe a dayes so vehement in rebukes But thys wolde I fayne knowe of them what modestye they wolde vse as they call it yf they were compelled to fyght wyth dragons hyders and other odyble mōsters How paycyēt they wolde be and howe gentil if a rauenous wolfe came vpō thē they hauynge able weapon to put him a syde Surelye I knowe no kynde of Christen charyte to be shewed to the deuyll Of non other nature is Moses serpent but to eate vp the serpentes of Pharaoes sorcerers Exo. vii Yf we dyd suffre any longar the oke groue of Baal to stande about the aultre of the lorde we shulde muche offende his commaundemente Iudi. vi Yf I shuld hold my peace and not speake in this age the verite so blasphemed my
multitude to dyffame hym fayned false matter agaynste hym compelled the lawe and terrifyed the iudge to haue their full myschefe accomplished as our Bishoppes haue done in thys cruell acte and soche other Whan the prestes wolde haue blemished hys name by the ignomyniouse deathe whiche he suffred amonge theues on the crosse Pilate proclamed it gloriouse vnto all the worlde writinge his title in Hebrue Greke and Latine Iesus of Nazareth kinge of the Iewes and wolde not at their instaūt callinge on chāge it Ioā xvi Wrisleie Riche with their vngracyouse affynyte haue in euerye poynt folowed here the execrable affectes of the prestes Fauorablye Pilate licensed Ioseph of Arymathye to take downe Christes bodie and to burie it Math. xxvii Wrisleye cōmaunded thys martyr of God with her faythfull companyons to be brent to ashes Pylate was ignoraunt of Gods lawes and a pagane Wrisleye and Ryche know both the lawe and the Gospell and are christyanes the more is it to their dampnacyon to execute soch turkish tyrannye Now to conclude with Anne Askewe as the argument of thys boke requireth In the yeare of our lord a M.D.XLVI And in the moneth of Iulye at the prodygyouse procuremente of Antichristes furyouse remnaunt Gardyner Bonner and soch lyke she sufferd most cruell deathe ī Smythfelde with her iii. faithfull companyons Iohā Lassels a gentylmā whych had bene her instructour Iohan Adlam a tayler and a prest so constaunt in the veryte agaynst the sayd Antichristes supersticyons as they whose name at this tyme I had not Credybyle am I infourmed by dyuerse duche marchauntes whych were there present that in the time of their sufferinges the skie abhorringe so wycked an acte sodenly altered coloure and the cloudes frō aboue gaue a thōder clappe not al vnlyke to that is writtē Psa. lxxvi The elemētes both declared therin the hygh dyspleasure of God for so tyrānouse a murther of innocentes and also expreslye sygnyfyed his mightye hande present to the comfort of them whych trusted in hym besydes the most wonderfull mutacyon which wyll within short space therupon folowe And lyke as the Centuryon with those that were with hym for the tokens shewed at Christes deathe confessed hym to be the sonne of God Math. xxvii So dyd a greate nombre at the burnynge of these martyrs vpon the syght of thys open experymēt afferme them to be his faythfull members Full manye Christen hart haue rysen and wyll ryse from the pope to Chryste through the occasyon of their consumynge in the fyre As the saynge is of their ashes wyll more of the same opynyon aryse Manye a wone sayth yet both in Englande and Duchelande also O that woman that woman O those men those men If the popes generacyon and wycked remnaunt make manye more soch martyrs they are lyke to marre all their whole market in Englande It were best for thē now a dayes to lete men be at lyberte for their holye fathers gaudish ceremonies as they are for beare baytynges cocke fyghtynges tennys playe tables tombelinge daunsynge or hūtynge who list who maye for as little haue those tradiciōs of his of the worde of God in their prowdest out shewe as they haue Here wyll some tender stomakes be greued and report that in our headye hastinesse we refuse to suffre with our weake bretherne accordynge to the doctryne of Paule But I saye vnto them what so euer they be whyche are so scrupulouse wanderers that they most execrablye erre in so bestowynge the scryptures For abhomynable is that tolleraunce of our brethernes weakenesse where God is by ydolatrouse superstycyons dysobeyed dyshonoured and blasphemed A playne practyse were thys of Sathan in hypocresye to vpholde all deuylyshnesse On the other side was there an other sort at the deathe of these blessyd martyrs and they iudged of this alteracion of the ayre and thonder clappe as dyd the Iewysh Byshoppes with their peruerted multitude Whyche waggynge their heades rayled reuyled iangled iested scorned cursed mocked and mowed at Christes precyouse sufferynges on the crosse Mat xxvii and Luce xxiii These were the ydle wytted prestes at London and their beastlye ygnoraunt broodes with olde superstycyouse bawdes and brethels the popes blynde cattell These cryed there like madde me dye bedlemes as they hearde the thonder They are dampned they are dampned their wyse preachers outasynge the same at Paules crosse In dede full no billie are they ouerseane in the Bible that iudge the thonders to signifie dāpnacion Thonder saith the scripture is the voice of god Eccle. xliii Thonder is the helpinge power of the lorde Iob. xxvii and no dampnacion Christe called Iohan and Iames the sonnes of thonder Marci iii. Whiche betokened that they shuld be ernest preachers and no chyldren of dampnacion The lorde by thonder sheweth hys inscrutable workinge Iob. xxxviii Moses receiued the lawe Helias the sprete of prophecie the Apostles the holye Ghost all in thonder What wicked sole will saye they receiued so dampnacion As the lambe had opened the first seale of the boke the voice that went forth was as it had bene thonder Apoca. vi whiche is no dampnacion but a sharpe callinge of people to Godwarde The thonderynges that apered whan the Angell filled his censer Apoc viii were no dampnacions but Gods crueste wordes rebukinge the worlde for sinne The best interpretours do cal those thōderinges which came from the trone of God Apocal. iiii soch verites of the scripture as terrifieth synners and no dampnacions Neyther were the vii thonderynges whyche gaue their voices Apoc. x. anye other than mysteryes at their times to be opened Eucherius Lugdunensis other moralisers call thonders in the scripture the voyces of the Gospell and their lighteninges the clere openinges of the same If thōder be a thretteninge or a fearfull iudgement of God as in Psal. ciii it is to them that abyde here and not to them that depart frō hens A token is it also that the horrible tirauntes shall be as the meledust that the winde taketh awaye sodenlie Esaie xxix If Plage do folow of thōder as it dyd in Egypt whan Moses stretched forth his rodde Exodi ix It shal light vpon them which hath shewed the tirānouse vyolence on the people of God as it dyd vpon pharao and his cruell minysters At the mightye voyce which was both sensyble hearde and understandyd of the Apostles from heauen that the father was wolde be glorified by Christ the people said nothinge but It thondereth Ioan. xii For nothinge els they vnderstode therof What Anne Askewe and her companyons both hearde and se in thys thonder to their sowles cōsolacyon in their paynefull sufferinges no mortall vnderstandinge can discerne Onlye was it Steuen and paraduenture a fewe dysciples that se the heauens open whan he suffered and not the cruell multitude which ranne vpon him with