with teares too lament the same yea if it were as harde as the stony Caucasus or as sauage is the Tigres of Hircania And whereof sprange this miserie Doubtles by the similitudes of godlines which then was pretended to the kynges maiestie by certen yonge whelpes newely crept oute of the stable who too bryng the same to passe inuented a similitude of godlynes too banyshe the popes authoritie which with all meanes possible withstode the same But here I know certen good fellowes wil obiecte sayinge Sir you begyn to rage to far vpoÌ„ vs poore protestantes lay al this geare to our charge as though none but we and oure skolemaisters were the doers hereof But sir I pray you did you neuer reade a booke made by the bishop of Winchester deceased entituled of true obedience whiche boke inueyeth against the authoritie of the Pope Yes in deede goodman protestaÌ„t I haue read the sayde booke in latyn and of late I reade the same also in englyshe but howe faithfully translated I leaue that to the iudgement of him which wyl compare them bothe together before the whiche is annexed a dronken prologue made by some hote spreted brother no doubt of as fine matter as the maker coulde deuyse But forasmuche as it is obiected that the author of that boke and others also inueyed against the sayd Popes authoritie that they were not only protestantes which sought the abandoning of the same Wel then I wold wyshe that the protestaÌ„tes which were then the originalles of the same would do as the sayde byshop of Wynchester and other good byshoppes haue done synce seke all meanes possible to restore the same agayne and to reduce that to the olde state whiche the protestantes for ambicion and the other for feare did then seke meanes to displace And as it is well knowen that it hath pleased god to call thautor of that boke to his mercy since who with a repentant harte with sainte Peter lamented the denial of gods truth so I wold it were as wel knoweÌ„ that the other I meane Cranmere had repented in semblable maner and would haue acknowledged goddes truthe to th ende For the one hath ended his lyfe after natures direction thother hath shortened his lyfe contrarie to nature The one in his bedde the other in the fier the one in the vnitie of the churche the other in the discord of heretikes the one honorably the other miserably the one as a catholyke the other as an heretike the one a true maÌ„ to God and the crowne the other a false man to God the realme Therfore I appeale to al mennes iudgementes herein to consider whether partie sought y â— destructioÌ„ of this realme or whether partie more worthy to be blamed The one worthy of blame but y â— other worthy condemnacioÌ„ And therefore pretented accordyng to their dispositions similitudes of godlines but denied the poower therof TheÌ„ folowed subuersioÌ„s of abbaies being another similitude of godlines perswaded by the sayd protestantes by whose pytifull spoyle procedeth the decaye of our common wealth For it was thought before their subuersion that all thynges woulde be better cheape but they became as good cheape as thinges did in Rome after the makyng of the lawe called Agraria For whyles the Senatours and other rulers of the citie were striuing for thassignementes of their porcions the hoale publike state was brought to ruyne by dissension and ciuile warres The landes and possessions belonging to the sayde abbaies beyng let slyp at liberttie from the sure bandes wherewith thei were before duely kept to the coÌ„modite of the realme and relief of the poore are nowe neyther so profitable to the owners al thinges considered nor yet comodious to the common welth It is to be thought that some whiche wer appointed doers about these possessions played the parte of a Romaine called Quintus Fabius Labeo who beynge appointed a daiesman betwene the Nolanes Neapolitanes about the boundes of their laÌ„des did debate the matter with either of them a parte wheÌ„ thei were come to the place and to thintent they shoulde not encâ—oche vpoÌ„ eche other the same was staked oute indifferentlye Nowe in the middes there remained a parcel of grouÌ„d vntouched which parcel of ryght also ought to haue bene staked out to thuse of either partes but he adiudged the same to the people of Rome In lyke maner whyle some were in debating the abbaie possessioÌ„s and stakinge the same oute to the kinges vse some remained in the middes mete for their owne vses Thus these similitudes of goodlines in reprouyng the abbaiemen of their ill lyues haue brought both the abbaies and all to vtter ruyne And whiles they were tickling the kynges maiest in the eare with the abuses vsed in the same they theÌ„selfes sought meanes to aspire vnto honoure not caring for the miserie whiche myght ensue nor yet seking reformatioÌ„s of the sayd abuses What a shewe of godlines was it trowye to induce so many straunge alteracions of Religion after the death of kyng Henry the eyghte but only to deny the power therof Did not men crye alwayes vpon goddes booke the worde of the lorde the heauenly fode the spirite of truthe and suche lyke But howe contrarye their dedes were too these their outcries let theÌ„selfes be iudges Many other similitudes of godlines haue thei brought forth to the shew of the worlde but the power of al godlines they vtterly denye with the effecets And to come to some particuler pointes haue they not denied the power of goddes word to worke any thyng too the iustifying of manne by the water of baptisme Haue they not also denied the moste manifest woordes of god spoken touching the consecration of his reall body in the sacrameÌ„t of thaltar and say that those wordes be spokeÌ„ tropically and figuratiuely and that they can woorke no suche effecte as bread to be transsubstanciated in to his body although Christe by his Euangelistes Apostles Prophetes Doctors Martyrs doth moste playnely affirme the same Haue they not also denyed the power of God in the wordes spokeÌ„ by the priest at the tyme of confession beyng so playnly commaunded by Christe saying Whose synnes you forgiue the same shal be forgeuen Haue they not also denied the power of gods worde in the rest of the seuen sacramentes abolishyng fyue quite out of their coÌ„pany as vnworthy therof yea and the other twayne remaining as they handled theÌ„ skarce worthy the name of a sacrameÌ„t And as they haue denyed the power of godlynes in these Sacramentes so haue they also denyed the same in the workes of GOD wrought by his grace in all godly men to be any meanes too attayne to iustification contrary to the wordes of S. Iohn saying To as manye as receyued hym meanyng Christe he gaue them power to bee made the sonnes of God euen them that beleued in his holy name some peradueÌ„ture wyll saye here that fayth onely includeth so this
that rather then they would forsake their drossie diuinitie whiche they haue gathered by their curiositie they thoughte with fagotes to ende their lyues miserably And in this kynde of death they so arrogātly reioyce that they be so bolde to compare themselfes with the Martyrs of christes church But forasmuche as this is a cause whiche of some men is thought marueilous that men should die in the quarel of religion and therefore the quarell good It shall be worth the traueill to say somwhat therein rather for the ignorance of the vnskilful then for the matter itself As in the bodye of a common welth politike if anye malefactor these or murderer be founde giltie in the cryme or offēce wherin he is accused forthwith the lawe doth prosecute by the verdicte of the .xii. men and sentence of death is pronoūced for his deserte as a man not worthye too lyue being an enemie to y ◠weale publike Euen so in the church of Christe whiche is the spirituall kingdome suche malefactours and miscreantes as do trāsgresse the faith other holsome constitucions enacted first by the prouidence of the holye Ghoste and afterwarde diligently put in execution by the holy Patriarches Bysshops and other gouernors of the same are iustly by the censure of the same cōmitted to the politike magistrates to be punished either by death or els by some other meanes laufull for the same as enemies to God haters of his true religion and cōtemners of all good ordres The Heathen being noseled in their supersticions vaine veneration of their fained goddes yet bare suche reuerence to their religion that in no wyse thei could abide the despisers therof The Atheniens for that Alcibiades a stoute capteine in their warres was supposed to haue neglected the sacrifices of Ceres was in his absence by death cōdempned The iust Socrates lykewyse was condēpned for the like insomuch that Xenophon writing of him marueiled muche therof considering he bare himselfe so vpright If the Heathen had suche a regarde to their fayned religions what woulde they haue doone if they had knowen the true and liuing god our creator And what oughte we christians to doe touching the contemners of our true religion Christe himselfe commaundeth that if any man doth not geue attendance to the churches admonition he willeth him to be taken for an Heathen and publicane Therfore if that man be worthy to be taken for a Publicane or Heathē persone which wyll not here the churche Then the heretike whiche not onely is incorrigible but also a contemptuous persone against God and his churche is worthye the name of an Heathen man according to Christes owne sentence and not worthy to lyue or be conuersant amonges christians If not worthy too lyue then he is worthye death In the olde lawe we reade in Deuteronomie this sentence That man which is proude and will not obey the priestes cōmandement which that time doth minister to thy lorde thy God the iudgement of the iudge let hym die wherin thou shalt take away an euell out of Israell Also in another place it is wrytten The Prophete whiche beyng inflate with arrogance wyll speake those thinges in my name which I haue not commaūded him let him be put to death Forasmuche then as al proude mē cōtemning the churches anthoritie and the priest are by the manifest scriptures worthy to be slayne then it is not contrary to Gods woorde as the brethren affirme to punishe anye man for his opinions S. Paule admonisheth vs yea entreateth vs too take heede of thē which sowe sedicion amōges the people to eschewe their cōpanie for such as they be do not serue their lord Christ but their owne belly seducing the mindes of the innocent with swete talke and faire perswasiōs Suche are our martyrs in these dayes who in their lyfe tyme go aboute nothinge els but to sowe sedicion either conspiracie againste their prince and magistrates or els to peruerte the innocent with their vaine perswasiōs folishe talke I would to God saieth Paule that thei which trouble you wer cutte of from the congregacion The whiche wordes of s Paule semeth to bee an infallible rule touching the punishment of heretikes But our men not regarding the discommodities whiche myght ensue by meanes of their false perswasions crye out with one voyce saying VVhat crueltie is this to put to death the brethren in christ where do we reade in scriptures that christ or his Apostles sought the death of any man Therefore saie they it is mere tyrannie thus to persecute the litle flocke the chosen and elect vessels of God crying by the waie as they passe to deaah Be cōstant dere brethren be constante in the faith sticke to it it is not this temporall paine which you ought to regarde your brekefast is sharpe your supper shal be merye Therefore the lorde strengthen you With these suche like vayne woordes they brynge the poore men in suche foles paradise that thei with suche vaine arrogance and small Charitee sticke not to aduenture themselfes into the fiery flambes O ye folishe and blynde Galathiens who hath so bewytched you too thynke that that man whiche sticketh to hys opinion to death and sealeth the same with his bloude as you terme it therefore his opinion is good But to answere your fōde obiection touching Christe his Apostles whether they soughte the death of anye man or not ye shal be answered by s Augustine For the Donatistes in his tyme iustlye condempned for their heresies alleged the very lyke obiection whom he answered thus What Emperour thē did beleue in Christe The cause why the Apostles required not the death of heretikes was for that the sworde of Heathen Prynces dyd not serue the Gospel But assoue as Constantine the fyrst christian Emperour was baptized the catholykes then cried out agaynste heretikes For if Emperours do punishe theft murder rape adulterie and periurie why shuld thei not as well punyshe heresie and sacrilege Thus saint Augustine allegeth the cause whye heresye was not punyshed in the primatiue churche For if the Princes then had yelded to the Gospell not followed their supersticious Idolatrye doubtles the quarell of Goddes enemies had been reuenged aswell as nowe And yet wee reade that one thynge was obserued then aswell as nowe whiche was that all vayne and curious bokes wherof we want no stoore at thys presente were burned openlye before al menne and the summe which the bokes die amount vnto was fyue hundreth thousande pence as appereth in the Actes of thapostles But here to note whether it be the cause or els the death that maketh a martyr we will alledge the saying of the late Prophete ofte by the protestantes cōpared to the old Prophetes called Latymer in his booke of sermons made before the late kynges maiestie Edwarde the sixte where shamefully raylyng vpon a dead man syr Thomas Seamer lorde Admyrall
better lordes worde then y â— wherin england first did instruct you bring you vppe from youre swadlyng cloutes Are you wiser theÌ„ your fathers or more skilful then your mothers Thynke you to be saued more then your parentes or doe you iudge them already condempned For either of you are in harde cases Well well consider your cases and repente in tyme. Get some of that precious roote called Baaras described by Iosephus whiche for euell spirites is very medicinable and dispatche the sprites out of your stomakes Midsomer mone is past you se al your deuises will take no place The nest is founde and the burdes are taken and in cage You re triformed bookes can beare no swynge Men regarde not Turnors boke of the wolfe nor yet the cropeared foxe Hornes Apologie Bales vocation Poynetes folysh coÌ„futacion against the lerned treatyse of doctor Martin strande in no steade Noxes doctrinall of the Masseboke and your newe reuiued lordes worde and haue you not herein an outward face of godlines and in very dede denye theffect thereof The partie which played boo pipe in the wal called the Byrde in the wall of Aldersgate streate at such a tyme as she was examined wherfore she had so deluded the world she answered the lordes worde caused her so to doe And the poore wenche afterwardes making an open coÌ„fession of her practise and desyryng the people at Paules crosse to forgiue her to praye for her made this exclamacion vpon theÌ„ and the like which had procured her to do that feat saying Wo be vnto you heretikes phy vpoÌ„ you all that thus haue the Lorde in your mouthes and the deuell in your hartes This present daye haue I a good cause to crie oute vpon you that in this sorte haue brought me to offende God and the Quenes maiestie in this my late practyse and to be a gasyng stocke to the hoale worlde to my gret shame And therfore beware good people beware of these heretikes for as thei haue vndone me in counsailing me to atteÌ„pte this wicked enterpryse soo they wyll vndo you all vnles ye take hede by times of their noughty opinions With many other woordes spokeÌ„ by her with weping teares against those mischeuous persoÌ„s And there by y â— preacher that day maister Wymsley the hole circuÌ„staunce of that practyse was vttered and was of the audieÌ„ce very much abhorred So I dare saie y â— partie which did haÌ„ge vp the Catte in Cheape syde in mockerie of priestes and delusion of the blessed sacrament of thaltar thought that feate to be a worthy enterpryse And I dare say thought himself a stout champion of the faithe especially escapyng scotfree But lette hym take hede it is an olde said sawe â–ª Qui mockat mock abitur he may peraduenture mocke so longe till he be mocked himselfe And he also thought himselfe a ioly fellowe that did mangle the poore picture of saint Thomas placed ouer the porche of Saint Thomas of Actes by y â— worshypfull companye of the Mercers Who could not tell â–ª what other despight to worke to the Saint but to disfigure the picture But Syr dyd you neuer heare tell of this prouerbe Non-est bonum ludere cuÌ„ sanctis it is not good to mocke with saintes well I feare me you wil mocke so longe til you wil mocke at the gallowse And I dare saie if this man had bene demaunded why he did so his answere wold haue bene the lordes worde prouoked me Thus of the Lordes woorde in all their doynges they make a shypmans hoose to vse it as they liste to do good or il The deuell in his attemptes aswell against man the excellent creature of God as also againste Christe himselfe vsed the titles and places of Goddes worde And is it any marueile though his vnfained ministers practise their maisters lessons Trowe ye that father Browne the Broker of Bedlem could seme so pleasant a maÌ„ to the protestantes and it were not for his cloake of gods worde that hydeth his shepehardes apparell Could his peuishe prophecies be hadde in suche estimacion amonges the warme brethren without his dissimulate vesture and his staffe lyke a shepehooke would the marchant men of LoÌ„don with Pet peny ale Sympering Sysse and other fleeryng flurtes their wiues vse their accustomed peregrinacions and pilgrimages to visite the blissed Rode called poore father Browne that hath the lordes giftes at Islyngton Barnet and other places aboute London were they not moued with the sprite In lent was .xii. moneth at suche tyme as goodman Browne was newely crept out of Bedlem and then lying at Islington to rest his sory bones I harde saie of many prodigious wonders wherof then he enformed the congregacion And I being glad to here y â— prophet speake â–ª resorted thether with two gentlemen of myne acquaintaunce who were desierous to se the maner of the symple soule When we came thether we vnderstoode he laye in a typlyng house next the signe of the Mermayde But our inquisicion too knowe where hee lodged was by a secrete meanes At our eâ—trie into the house there was neuer a worde but gossep all was whist For priuely in a corner certen gosseps were in a marueilous secret talke with father Browne I trowe he was tellyng their sortunes or such lyke At lenght theâ— brake of â–ª Then one gaue him spices to comforte his weake stomake another gaue hym salues to grease his bones whiche before were anoynted with a blisse begger another suger And after their oblacions thus made they departed TheÌ„ weÌ„t he into a parlor wher was assembled another route who very sore longed for his comming partely accusynge him of his loÌ„ge tarriance Being setled to talke the two gentlemeÌ„ and I with diuerse other stepped to the dore partely to heare what he sayde partely to marke the countenaunces of thassemblye For no man except he was of speciall acquaintaunce could be admitted to go in Where secretly he was demaunded questions But for the moste parte we could here no worde but the Lorde be praysed and sawe sondry eleuacions of their eyes towardes the top of the house and suche lyke In fyne before he had done commeth in a poast a prentise of LoÌ„don to tell him his maistres was coÌ„me Forth with Browne brake of from that company and went to the preÌ„tyce maistres who had bespokeÌ„ a parlor hard by Whome we with diuers other folowed And at the first salutacion he called her mother and very ioyfully greted her And after the mother the sonne the sisters had with sondry blissinges and congratulacions wel clawed one another Iacke prentise was called in for his testament who reaching the same from his girdle deliuered it to his maistres and turning the boke she turned to a place of S. Mathewes ghospel where christ saieth to his Apostles Reioyse your rewarde is great in heaueÌ„ for so haue they persecuted the prophetes whiche
The displaying of the Protestantes sondry their practises with a description of diuers their abuses of late frequented Newly imprinted agayne and augmented with a table in the ende of all suche matter as is specially contained within this volume Made by Myles Huggarde seruant to the Quenes maiestie Anno. 1556. Cum priuilegio ad imprimendum solum GO on good booke God graunt that thâ—â— Suche frutefull fauour fynde From readers eies and hearers hartes To banyshe errors blynde And as thy trothe by trade and time Is tried endles trewe So trust thy playn apparant profe Shall endles troth renewe Though wresting wittes or taunting tonges Wyll seke the to deface To fawting foles or spitefull sprites Gyue neither eare nor place For as offence to none is ment So if offence do groo The faute is theirs the fruite is thyne Sythe troth doth force it so The maker myndes to mende eche mys That talke and tyme hath bred Of heresies and errors great That fansies late hath fed Whiche so with witte and wyll haue wrought As wronge hath wrested right From frutefull faieth to fruteles wordes And quenched vertue quyght Belefe is brought to talke of tongue Religion rackt amis Open praier lyplabour cald Fasting folyshe fondnes Prelacy is popishe pompe Vertuous vowes are vaine Ceremonies curious toyes Priesthod popery plaine Thus vice of vertue beareth brute True faieth is fled awey Presuming pryde possesseth place And fansy conscience key No man beleued in his skill Eche wight so wise doth seame As bothe vnskild and eake vnlearnde All learning yet will deame O endles error of selfloue Of ignoraunce the roote Confounder of all faieth and grace And bale in stede of boote O wilfull wretched wyll That workest endles woo O arrogance and heresy That wrestest scripture soo O hedles heapes of feruent sprites Why heat you so in hart By ending flamme to endles fyer Both soules and bodies part What ouerwening spirite Doth puffe you in suche pryde To thinke your selues more godly wyse Then all the worlde besyde What titles and what termes you vse It maketh moste men smyle Howe droncken in the lorde you are How closely you begyle You systers and you brethren both â–ª Thus eche to others saieth The lorde be praysde when fylthy lust Ye vse with feling faieth â–ª And what is founde in all your deades But fruites of lyberty Wynde and wordes wilfull workes A mase of mysery Though in this booke sharpe sense and wordes May seme to some appeare Remember that longe festred sores Sharpe corses doo requere â–ª And you that reade nowe reade to learne Come not with myndes prepard To fynde out fautes or fansy fede â–ª Let all delites be bard Thus wyshing well for whiche I wryte This booke then written thus For good mens gayne for ill mens grief Anâ— truth for to dysâ—us â–ª FINIS ¶ To the moste excellent and moste vertuous ladye and our woste gracious soueraigne Mary by the grace of God Quene of England Spaigne both Sicilies FrauÌ„ce Hierusalem and Irelande Defendour of the faithe Archeduchesse of Austria Duchesse of Millaine Burgundie and Braband Countesse of Haspurge Flaunders and Tyrole Your Maiesties moste faiethfull louinge and obedient seruauÌ„t Myles Huggarde wissheth all grace long peace quiet raygne from God the father the sonne and the holy Ghoste HAuing called too my remembrance my most drede soueraign the manyfolde miseries which by the iuste plague of God dothe nowe raigne amonge vs thoccasâ—ons whereof thoughe euerye man may trulye thinke his owne sinnes to deserue as they doo in dede yet other special causes there be which prouoketh Goddes vengeaunce to light vpon vs as cheifly infidelitie wherby God is most hainously dishonored for the whiche wee are most iustlye punished and also our rebellious murmuring against our regalerulers appointed of God to raigne ouer vs to whome we owe our due allegiauÌ„ce The punishmeÌ„tes of which offeÌ„ces beside al other vices whiche dothe abondauntlye flowe amonge vs at this daye God hathe most greuouslye executed in the olde time to the terroure of all traitours and riotous rebelles As namely for rebellion and mâ—rmuring against the magistrates Chorâ— Dathan and Abyron with manye hundrethes mo may be examples Whose terrible punishemntes the worlde dothe nowe litle regarde nether fearing God nor man And also where Christ cursed two great and notable cities for infidelitee whiche was Chorazin and Bethsaida giuinge them ouer to their own vanities for their faiethles behauoure This curse alsoo is cleane forgot amoÌ„ge vs which appeareth by the infidelitee nowe raininge But god hath not forgot to plague vs for it yet mercifullye and not to our desertes â–ª This I saie most noble Queene hath moued me with the assistence of my freÌ„de to make this litle worke moore profitable in matter then pleasaunte in stile for lacke of eloquence this moued me I saie as I can to displaie and opeÌ„ the horrible inormities of the protestantes Whose murmuringe against their magistrates may well match the rebelious Israelites in their infidelitee the cursed cities of Iurye condemned by the mouth of Christ Whiche ennormities to remoue so much as lieth in me by the helpe of Goddes grace though not in those whiche are peruerse in opinion yet I trust those that be wauering shal heare iuste cause to discredit them and to abhorre their detestable factions and also constant catholikes better confirmed in faieth and good liuinge Whiche thing to that ende being finished my dutie being considered in this behalfe I am thus bold to trouble your highnesse with this liâ—le volume which beyng before this tyme imprinted althouh not in suche perfection as the same is at this present hauyng called sith the first edicion the ayde of my frende and therfore thought it more mete the dedication vnto your maiestie moste humbly besechyng the same to pardon this my rude enterprise praying our LORDE GOD in whose handes are the heartes of all kynges longe to preserue the kinges maiestie And graunt vnto his highnes a safe retourne to bothe your noble heartes desires and comforte of both your maiesties realmes and also preserue your grace in long prosperitie to the discomfiture of all youre highnes enemies Amen Your hyghnes faiethfull and obedient seruaunt Myles Huggarde ¶ The prologue to the reader IT is commoÌ„ly seen that they which with preceptes and rules doo directe others and seme therein to excell because thei suppose thei can not be corrected do eyther much good ouer whome they haue the gouernement or els to y e same thei coÌ„ferre great damage they themselues not escapinge without infamy In lyke maner our late elders and ministers for so they termed themselues if with the holsome erudition of Goddes vndouted truthe and with the admouicioÌ„s and perswasions of the gospel they had applied the same to the correction of lyfe and amendement of the conuersation of them ouer whome they toke vpon theÌ„ the charge no doubte they had doone muche good too the common welthe and to the reformacion of mans
to the like endes arriued all heretikes traitours in all ages Many notable histories might here also be rehersed to set furth the due rewarde incident to treason but for as muche as mayster Iohn Christoferson deane of Norwith hath moste abundantly treated vpoÌ„ the same in a godly lerned worke whiche he made intitled An exhortacion against rebellion THEY haue also a similitude of godlines but deny the power therof This vice rehesed by saint Paul was to heretiks in al ages a large cloake for euery shower though the storme were neuer so great For a similitude of godlynes is a plaine dissimulation or hypocritical meanes to seme to the worlde to be godly although in dede quite coÌ„trary to the thing pretended This similitude of godlines printed so in the brestes of the protestantes doth merueilously in meruailous waies brust out to the face of the worlde Oh howe they reioyce in these their similitudes Was it not a pretie similitude at the fyrst chop in the begynnyng of the miserable alteration of religion to banishe the Popes authoritie whiche from the beginnyng was the cheife of the Churche here vpon yerth as is sufficiently recorded aswell in the volumes of auncieÌ„t doctours as in al cronicles written from the begynning And for what purpose was this practise begonne Doubtles to introduce heresie the guyde of all mischeif Was it not a pretie similitude of godlines to cause the kyng by the vngracious counsel of Cranmer and others to forsake his lawful and moste vertuous wyfe quene Katherine who for her huÌ„blenes and godly demeanor towardes the Kyng her husbande in â—ye worthely be compared to Sara Abrahams wyfe and the rest of the godly matrones in the olde testament And here beganne fyrst the occasion of all our misery and sorowe the calamitie wherof oure fathers haue partly felte and we their posteritie do feele the rest besechyng God to spare the residue of his plagues whiche this realme hath iustly merited for y â— diuorcement of this noble womaÌ„ from her true and lawfull husbande oure late soueraigne lorde Kyng Henry the eight Who can attribute sufficient prayse to this noble Quene or whoo can poure out sufficient teares to lament her sorowfull fate What duetie whiche ought to be in mariage wanted in her brest What obedience or humblenes of harte towardes her husbande lacked in the good education of â–ª this heuenly woman O what feruent loue towardes the poore commons remayned in her O what earnest affection towardes the poore members of Christe dayly dyd she expresse â—â— Her deuocion towardes God was inspeakeable her zeale towardes â—hâ— virgin â–ª Mary was wonderfull â–ª her continuall meditacions in the bloude and passion of Christe moste apparantly is knowen to the worlde Who to thintent she might geue occasion too others to meditate the like erected a â—uely monument called the Mounte which liuely worke afterwardes pitefully was rased O moste happie woman to happie too raigne amonges vs O moste vertuous quene more worthy to be crowned in heauen then to raigne vpoÌ„ earth Who moste paciently as a woman who had giuen ouer the brunttes of this world and had armed her selfe with pacience coÌ„tinued to th ende in the feare of God in pietie of lyfe in her accustomed deuocion and in her wonted constancie so that no aduersitie of fortune could leade her out of that path wherin she had bene treaded from her infancie And as her life was godly so was her death the circumstance where of Polydorus â–ª Virgilius in the laste booke of his cronicle â–ª describetâ— And to the intent it shall not bee thought y â— these her worthy praises are spokeÌ„ here for flattery or that theâ—be writteÌ„ without hoke the wordes of Polidorus Virgilius hereafter ensue After the deuorcement sayth he this noble woman was appoynted to remayne in a place in Bedfordshiere called Kymbalton a place for the situacion of no salubrite or holsomnes of ayer Where she beyng wonderfully armed with pacience lyued a holy and moste godly life After wardes for very sorrowe pensifnes of harte she began to waxe sicke Which when the king herd he entreated Eustace Cappucius the Emperours Embassadour to go and visite her whose commaundement accordinge too his duetie moste diligently with all expedicion he accomplyshed But this noble Queene within syxe daies after was affected with a great sickenes feling the panges of death begin to drawe nere she caused one of her gentlewomen that was learned to wryte two letters the one to the kyng and thother to the said ambassadour And theffect of this letter sent to the Kinges Ma. ensueth My deare and welbeloued soueraigne and husbande humble commendacioÌ„s togethers with my duetie remembred Nowe approacheth the houre of my death in the which extremitie very loue whiche I owe too youre maiestie enforceth me with these fewe wordes to put you in remembraunce of the helthe of your soule whiche you oughte to preferre before al traÌ„sitorie thinges and in respecte therof to neglecte al other cares of the bodye For the whiche both me your poore wyfe and also your selfe you haue protruded into many cares and miseries But I with harte do forgeue you and as hartely I do wishe God to forgeue thesame as presently with my good and deuout praiers I earnestly make peticion for thesame Moreouer I commende vnto you our dere doughter Marie the comforte of vs both to whome I beseche you too extende your fatherly pitie according to sondry my peticions here to fore made to your maiestie And furthermore mooste instantly I desire your grace to haue a respecte vnto my poore maydens and as time shal serue to see them well bestowed in mariage which request is not great being but .iii. in numbre And that it woulde please you too cause my poore officers and seruauntes to bee paide their wages due and that by the space of one hoale yere after my departure thei maie be founde of your graces liberalitie to thintente thei maie not wander like maisterles men Finally my last request is that mine eies onely wyshe to see your grace And thus I betake you to God In this sorte departed this godly womaÌ„ from the cares of her bodye to the ioyes of her soule the .viii. of Ianuarie 1535. in the .xxvii. yeare of his Maiesties reigne But when the kyng read her letters he moste louingly bedewed the same with the teares of his eyes Thus farre wryteth Polydore of the lamentable state of this noble Quene Katherine who for her vertue exercised in this worlde her loue shewed too all sortes of people was worthely named of theÌ„ the good quene Katherine And so named to this present day Whose name not onely in heauen for her vertuous behauiour deedes of of charitie is enrolled in the voke of lyfe but in earth is registred in the maine liedger of immortalitie So that to remembre the calamites whiche ensued this diuorcement it woulde make an yron harte
were before you c. O good father Browne qv his mother howe haue you been persecuted for the wordes sake what persecution haue you suffered froÌ„ time to tyme But the Lorde be praysed for your deliuerie and coÌ„stancie in quiet suffering thereof The prophetes christ saith hath been so handled Therefore be of good chere maÌ„ take no thought â–ª For one daie I truste we shall all be mery in the lord and shal haue the dewe of the worde once more be sprinckled vpon our faces at what tyme I trust we shal be eueÌ„ with these shauelyng priestes shaue their crownes a litle deper Yes mother qv Browne I am of good chere for I haue good cause so to be for I am cheryshed of suche good women as yeare that I lacke nothyng And howe then can I be sorrowfull hauing such cause to be mery in the lorde In the meane tyme certen other Sisterwiues I thinke thei wer for their apparayle were freese roabes and certen marchantmen tarried in the courte withoute one asking another wheÌ„ the preaching time was And we hearing of some sermon towardes leauing Brownes communication with â—is mother walked vp and doune in the courte Not long after Browne coÌ„meth forth with his mother and sister and Iacke prentise also with his testament â–ª Browne wente into the Stable where tarrying a while belyke in doing his busynes anone he called in the coÌ„gregacion amoÌ„ges them thrust we Where Browne leanynge vpon hys horsebacke whiche was a iade scarse worth syxe pence sitting vpoÌ„ the maunger he beganne to alledge certen places of Ecclesiastes withoute booke one vpon another in heapes Then beganne he to talke of thre Religions The one he termed my lorde Chauncelors religion the other Cranmers Latymers and Ridleys religion And the thirde he called goddes Religion My lorde Chauncelors he sayde was nought Cranmers the others religion not good but Goddes religion was best With suche other vayne woordes not worthy the tyme in rehersal And hearing this beastly talke we departed lamenting the great folly of the people whiche in this sorte dyd dayly spende their tyme too heare suche lying spirites And goyng homewardes we met dyuers companies both of meÌ„ and women of purpose going to Islyngton to heare the sermon of this peltig prophet But within a whyle after I heard saye thys father Browne his brood with the congregacion were remoued from that place and were dispersed into corners Truly pitie it is he is suffred in this sort to range the countreis without restrainte not only for corrupting the people with ill opinions but also for disseminating his vaine Prophecies to excite rumors But this opinion I haue of Browne that he had rather liue a proude confessor then burne a stinking martyr With many such similitudes of Godlines manye of the protestantes in our tyme be inspired Here myght also be rehersed the zeale that the lame maÌ„ that was burnt of late at Stratford had when he called for his croche too haue the same likewise to be burned with him thinking without the same he could not meritie the crown of martirdome And thus they haue certen resemblances of godlines and deny the power thereof And in vsing these their counterfait zeales they doo not onely mocke with God but they deceyue his poore people with inceÌ„sing their frayle natures with a thousand mo of these their practises whiche here I omytte And these their folyshe deuyses are so folyshe if they be duely marked that nothing can be more folishe And if it be well consydered any IndiffereÌ„t man may sone discerne to what ende their purpose is to directe the same for th ende is either to bringe their conceyued opinioÌ„s in credite with the world or els to sturre vp wicked brutes and lies vpon the magistrates suche as please not their fancies to make vproares and comocions within the realme Therby to reedefie their coÌ„fused churche or els to seke the destructioÌ„ of this said noble realme and vs all the people thereof And coÌ„cerning the other vices whiche are of these sortes of meÌ„ wherof saint Paule prophecied because they be partly described before I purpose nowe to conclude exhorting all men that entende to aspire to saluacion to waye diligently the premisses Firste to consider the vnitie of Christes churche whiche in all thinges touching our faith vniformely doth agree and to consider the sundrie factions of y â— protestantes vpon the fayth wherin they do not agree Waye their falshode in alleging the places of the scriptures onely to say euil of the churche and to misreport the same Ponder the wordes whiche S. Paule prophesieth vpon sondrye heretikes whiche should come denying marriage and eatyng of meates to bee vtterly nought and howe maliciously they applye the same vpon the Churche whiche with honourable wordes doth commend them bothe Perceiue aduisedly with your selues what cause the Protestantes haue to shorten their lyues by fyer and what cause they haue to call their iuste punishementes persecutions And consider with youre selues the state of Christes Churche in the beginnyng and the state thereof at this present which in one vnitie of doctrine is all one thoughe not then so firme as it is nowe Waye also the folly of the vngodly whiche presumptuously chalenge to them selues the tytle of Martyrs and more fondly offer themselues to y e fier not coÌ„pelled thervnto as the true Martyrs were but obstinately as who would saye in the despite of the Churche Examine with your selues also what faith the church of Christ teacheth whether it denieth God refuseth the sonne or contempneth the holy ghost as Infideles and other miscreantes do Emonges whiche infideles if these menne suffered then more truely they might name themselues Martyrs But the churche professeth with more sinceritie that God whiche they do that Christe that holy ghost that they do The Churche dothe teache the sacramentes to be in numbre vii as the scripture leadeth and as the Apostles tradicions and holy doctours do prescribe The Churche in nothing concernyng the substaÌ„ce of religioÌ„ doth varie or altar The churche teacheth that the inuisible bodye of Christ sytting at the right hand of God the father is here in the visible formes of breade wyne inuisibly contained in the sacrament of the Altare the dearest iewel whiche Christe lefte vpon earth and offered of the Preist in a lyuely and pure sacrifice at Masse to God the father for the comfort of the whole churche accordyng to the prophecie of Malachie the prophete speaking in the name of God the father these wordes I haue no wyll and pleasure in you and I wyll receiue no offering or rewarde at your hande From the rising of the sunne to the setting my name is great emonges the GeÌ„tiles and in euery place there shal be sacrifice done and a pure and cleane oblatioÌ„ shal be offered to my name The churche also teacheth the adoration of this moste pure sacrifice
an orator Emperor fo 39 Example of a Mason fol. 82 F. FAble of the Crabbe fol. 94 False accusers fol. 99 Fast fol. 33 Feruencie of She Apostles fol. 77 Freer Peyto hurt with a stone fo 100 Freer Bale reuenged vpon a worshypfull man of Hampshere fol. 101 Iohn Fissher bishop of Rochester fo 68 G. GEneua fol. 116 Gestures of an assembly that repayred to Browne the shepehearde at Islyngton fol. 122 Glorious wordes of y â— protestaÌ„tes fo 114 Gosseps and parrotes of the newefound worlde fol. 74 Gosseps promoters of heresie fol. 75 Graues of dead men ouerthrowen fo 85 Gyges tale out of Plato applied to the protestantes fol. 6 Gyges kinge and the straunge nature thereof ibidem H. HEresie the definicion therof fo 1â— Heresy a common womaÌ„ fo 32. 103 Heretikes in the primatiue churche 16 Heretikes why thei wer not punished in the primatiue churche 60 The heauens disposed to wonderful inclinacions in the beginning of Luthers doctrine fol. 15 Hilâ—ne Simon Magus winche fol. 75 The Heathen punished the despisers of their religion fol. 41 A notable historie of a true martyr fo 52 The historie of certen assemblies which repayred to father Browne lying at Islyngton fol. 12â— S. Hierome for y e punishing of heretikes 62 Hoper fol. 17 Hornes apologie fol. 118 Hospitalitie of our late Apostles fo 85 Hâ—ssiâ—es a secte in Germany fol. 17 Hydra the serpent fol. 14 I. IAcke prentice with his testament fol. 123. 124 Ignatius a true martyr fol. 53 Ingratitude fol. 96 Infidelitie fol. â—â— Ioane Butcher of kent and her opinion fol. 19. 75 Ioane Bucher and her stoutnes when she was burnt fol. 47. 17 Iohn Cawode the Quenes prynter whose name the brethren in Germany put to some of their libelles as Imprinter therof fol. 118 Iulianus apostata fol. 82 Iustification not by fayth only fu 112 Iustinus martyr fo 53 Ixion fol. 14 K. QUene Katheryne deuorced fo 104 Quene Katherins letters written to her husbande kyng Henry theyght vpon her death bedde fol. 106 The kynges maiestie that nowe is kyng Phylip. fol. 89 L. LAmentacion made by the people for y e death of s Thomas of CaÌ„torbury â—8 Latymers combate with sir Thomas Seamer his spirite fol. 44 Latymers wordes to proue that it is the cause and not the death that maketh the quarell good fol. 45 London ladies fol. 77 Lucilla fol. 75 Lucius king of this Realme fol. 91 Lucretia of Rome fol. 79 Luther and his opinion fol. 16 Libertie of life fol. 116 M. MArcion the heretike fol. 75 Marcionites people of his secte fo 66 Makebraies boke fol. 118 Maâ—solus king of Carsa fol. 63 Menippus wordes Embassadour to Antiochus fol. 115 Michol kyng Dauides wyfe fol. 78 CouÌ„terfayte martirs and their deathes with their toyes vsed in the tyme of the same fol. 47 Monasteries Abbaies subuerted 110 Montanus an heretike in the primatiue churche fol. 66. 75 Monkes of the charterhouse with the causes of their death fol. 68 Sir Thomas More ibidem A Monster brought forth in Germany in the beginning of Luthers doctrine with the discription thereof fol. 15 Musculus fol. 17 Mutius Scaeuola and his stoutnes fol. 54 N. NAsturtium an herbe fol. 29 Nature coÌ„tented with a litle fo 28 Nicolaus the heretike fol. 75 Noxes doctrinal of the Masseboke fo 118 O. OBiectioÌ„s of y â— heretikes 13. 22. 65. 108 Obstinacie the cause of error fol. 10 Oblacions or offringes to Browne the shepeharde fol. 122 Oecolampadius and his opinion fol. 17 Iohn Oldecastel and the cause of his death fol. Oldecastell a traitor fol. 102 Ordre fol. 30 P. PAulus an auncient father fol. 28 The Persians abstinencie fol. 29 Peter Martyr fol. 17 Pet penyale fol. 121 Phaeton and of his climming vp to his fathers chariot fol. 7 A Pilgrym of Goddes churche fol. 117 Philomena fol. 75 Philip Sannio fol. 86 Pompeius apohthegma to Marcellinus fol. 97 The parable of the Cockle obiected by the protestantes and the meanyng thereof fol. 57 The Popes authoritie banyshed fo 104 Polycarpus a true martyr â–ª fol. 53 Poynetes doctrine with his two wiâ—es 24 Poynetes falshode fol. 25 Poynetes boke against the learned treatise of doctor Martyn fo 118 Mointes specially to be required in a martyr fol. 50 Power of godlynes denyed fol. 111 Practices of the protestauntes fol. 22 Practise of prelates newe reuiued fo 118 Presumption and the rewarde therof 8 A Priest and of his straunge opinion about twenty yeares past fol. 18 Priestes married what womeÌ„ they vsed to marrye fol. 74 Prisca and Maximilla fol. 75 Procedynges fol. 80. 81. 82 Proude protestantes fol. 88 The Protestantes how thei plaied their partes after thei had corrupted the no bilâ—tie fol. 6. 7 The worde Protestant what it is fol. 8 The protestantes without vnitie of doctrine fol. 14 The protestaÌ„tes how thei peruert a text of S. Paule 21. et deinceps The protestantes in shepes appâ—râ—tâ—e 35 The protestantes faâ—â— fol. 36 The protestantes with one truthe sâ—me to confounde another fol. 3â— The protestantes consciences fo 36 The protestantes are bastardes fol. 96 Prayer fol. 34 Pâ—tto a Tanner his opinion fol. 18 Q. Quene katheryn deuorced fol. 104 Quintus Fabius Labeo fol. 110 R. REmedies to auoyde synne fol. 32 A rynge of a straunge nature fol. 6 Rogers burnt in Smythfielde and of the fonde Imaginations of many in the tyme of his death fol. 64 S. THe SacrameÌ„t of the Altar fo 83. 112 Semiramis poesie in reproche of couetousnes fol. 86 Sectes that did forbidde meates to be eaten fol. 26 Sermons pleasaunt fol. 30 Scipio Aphricanus and his contineÌ„cie fo 73 Selfloue and yelding to the fleshe fo 71 Scriptures to proue the burnynge of heretikes fol. 41. 42 Similitudes of Godliuâ—s fol. â—03 Simon Magus fol. 75 Sinâ—n that begiled the Troianes fol. 65 Shoting of a gonne at the preacher at Paules crosse fol. 100 Sir Thomas Seymer rayled vpon by Latymer before the late kynges Maiestie fol. 44 Scorye the preacher fol. 47 Sister wiues fol. 124 Socrates fol. 41 A spiritual hoape loÌ„ged for by Brownes mother the Shepehearde fol. 123 Strasâ—orouâ—h a cytie in Germany 116 Striking of y e priest at westminster 100 Foure Sussex men of late burnt their opinions fol. 19 Syrenes wherof Homere maketh mencioÌ„ 22 Sympering Sysse fol. 1â—1 T. TAunies whiche procede out of the mouthes of our martyrs fol. 50 Thâ—â—s the harlot fol. 76 Thalestris quene of the Amazones fol. 76 Saint Thomas of Cantorbury and his martyrdome fol. 69 S. Thomas picture disfigured fol. 1â—0 Thaborites â— lâ—te seâ—â—â— in Germany fo 1â— A sort of saynt Paule peruerted by the protestauntes fo 2â— Toyes of our false martyrs in the tyme of their deathes fol. 47 Themistocles Apothegma to the Atheniens fol. 97 Traitors fol. 10â— Throwyng of a dagger at the preacher at Paules crosse fol. 100 Trucebreakers fol. 98 Turia a Romaine maâ—roue fol. 79 Turnors solempne boke of the wolfe
disgracyng him with all vile wordes and histories of his lyfe paste that possiblye hee could deuise he semed euen openly before the kyng to make a coÌ„batte with his spirit For as Plinye sayeth they that speake euel of dead menne seme to contende and fyghte with their spirites So this Prophete then to proue that his stoute diyng made not his quarell good had the wordes ensuing O say thei the maÌ„ died very boldly he would not haue done so had he not been in a iuste quarell This is no good argumente my frendes a man semeth not to feare death therfore his cause is good This is a deceiuable argument he wente to death boldely ergo he standeth in a iuste quarel The Anabaptistes that were burnt here in Englande in diuerâ— townes as I haue hearde of credible men I sawe theÌ„ not my selfe weÌ„t to their death euen intrepride as ye will saye without any feare in the world cherefully wel let them go There were in the olde doctors tymes another kynde of poysoned heretikes that were called Donatistes And these heretikes went to their executioÌ„ as though they shold haue gone to some â—oly recreation or banquet to some belly chere or to a plaie And will you argue then he goeth to his death boldly or cherefully ergo he dieth in a iust cause Nay that sequele foloweth no more theÌ„ this A maÌ„ semes to be afrayd of death ergo he dieth euill And yet our sauiour Christe was afrayde of death himself TheÌ„ he afterwards warneth his audience not to iudge those which are in authorite but to praie for them It becommeth not saith he to iudge great magistrates nor condempne their doynges Vnles their dedes be openly and apparantly wicked Charitie requireth the same for charitie iudgeth no maÌ„ but well of euery body c. Thus Latymer proueth that stoute diyng is no sure token of a good quarell and proueth it a false surmyse if anye doo beleue the cause of death to be true because of sturdines in the tyme of the same Also to proue that it is not the death that maketh a martir but the cause The cronicles make mencion of one Iohn Oldecastell a knyght a valiaunt man although he were wicked who with one Roger Acton togethers with him fauouriug Wickleffes opinioÌ„s coÌ„spired against the kynges maiestie then Henry the fyft onely to sette forwardes their conceiued opinions with a desperate company assembled thynkyng to obtayne the cytie of London from the kyng But beyng preuented he was takeÌ„ and put into the towre of London The sayd Acton also who within a whyle after was worthely put to death but Olde castell escaped pryson not withstandyng within a shorte space he was taken agayne then hanged drawen and quartered But he weÌ„t to his death so stoutly as though he had nothyng deserued to dye But if heresie and treason be no iust causes then he dyed wrongfully as in the cronycles more at large appereth If the stoutnes of death be a iust cause to proue a martyr then many whiche haue denyed Christe to be equall with the father which was the Arrians opynion were martyrs Then Ioane Butcher is a martir TheÌ„ the Flemyng whiche was burnt in Smythfielde in the tyme of kyng Edward is a martyr who lyued in such continencie and holynes of lyfe that before his goyng to meate he woulde fall prostrate vpon the grounde geue thankes to God the father hys dyete was so moderate that in two dayes space he vsed but one meale at the tyme of his death he was so frollicke that he fared muche lyke our martyrs in embracyng the redes kyssyng the poaste syngyng and suche other toyes In lyke sorte the grosse martyr Ioane Butcher handled the matter And where as one Skorie then preached before the people in tyme of her death she reuyled and spytted at hym makyng the sygne of the gallowes towardes him boldly affirming that all they that were not of her opinion shuld be dampned Yea she was so bold to say that a. M. in LondoÌ„ were of her sect Such the like was y â— charitie of Anne Askewe so ofte by Bale lykened to Blandina that true martyr of Christes churche in his furious boke which he wrote of her death a noble pece of worke mete for such a champion to be thauthor The sayde Anne Askewe was of suche charitie that when pardon was offered she defied them all reuyling the offerers therof with suche opprobrious names that are not worthy rehersall makyng the lyke sygnes too the preacher at her death as her pue fellowe systcr in Christ Ioane Butcher dyd at Skorie aforesayde These arrogant and presumptuous martirs in the time of their deathes doo lytle esteme the woordes of sayncte Paule sayinge If I had the spirite of prophecie and knew al misteries and all maner of cunnyng Also if I had all fayth in so muche as I could traÌ„slate and cary awaye mouÌ„taynes yet were I nothyng if I lacked charitie Moreouer if I dyd distribute all my goodes in fedyng the poore people and although I gaue my body to bee burned hauing no charitie it nothynge auayleth me Thus yf they estemed the Godly exhortacioÌ„s of holy scriptures they wold not so vncharitably vse theÌ„selfes especiallye at the extremitie of death But the deuel whose martyrs they bee dothe alwayes instructe his darlinges to followe hys ragyng steppes True are the wordes of the wyseman saying A sturdy harte shall susteine damage and he that loueth peril therin shal perish Therfore sturdynes and selfe loue is the onely cause of the martirdomes of our martyrs wherof do spryng innumerable faultes as Cicero saith When men puffed vp with stoutenes of opinion be shamefully inuolued in folish error Doutles a great faulte it is and coÌ„trary to ciuile life so to be addicted to self loue and arrogaÌ„cie as to thinke our selues to bee so learned that no perswasioÌ„ or terror can beate the mynde from that folly A pitifull case it is to see not only the learned which for waÌ„te of grace do fall but also blynde bayarde who although he be vtterly blind and dull yet his corage is suche that he careth not to leape ouer hedge and dytche I meane the symple ignoraunt whiche only for wante of knowledge do erre and yet haue such audacitie that they care not to spend their liues in their folly And for that these blynde bayardes doo so stycke in their opinions to death it is woÌ„dered at of many not of learned or godly men but of braynesicke foles which like fethers wyll be caried about with euery blast of newe doctrine At the deathes of whiche you shall see more people in Smythfeilde flockyng together on heapes in one daye then you shall see at a good sermon or exhortacion made by some learned man in a whole weke Their glorie is suche vpon these glorious martyrs And why is this because their myndes are geuen wholy to