commaunded the doore to bee kept fast and charged none of his men to come at him saying let him alone it were a good riddance of him Untill he was depriued he paid him twenty shillings a wéeke for his table and since as the best Gentleman and yet vsed worse then the veriest Slaue he imprisoned and stripped his man to finde Letters but could finde none but a remembrance of their names that gaue him Almes and to vndoe them he deliuered the Bill vnto STEPHEN GARDINER there hee continued almost eightéenâ— monthes The twentith of Ianuary he was brought to Gardiners house at Saint Mary-Oueries where the Bishop of Winchester with other Bishops moued M Hooper earnestly to forsake his euill and corrupt doctrine preached in King Edwards daies and to returne to the vnity of the Catholike Church and to acknowledge the Popes Holines the supreame head thereof according to the determination of the whole Parliament promising that as he himselfe and other his Brethren had receiued the Popes blessing and Queene Maries mercy euen so mercy was ready to be shewed to him and others if hee would arise with them and condiscend to the Popes Hoâ—â—nes Maister Hooper answered for so much as the Pope taught doctrine contrary to Christs doctrine he is no member of Christs Church much lesse the head thereof therefore he could not condiscend to any such vsurped Iurisdiction neither doth he esteeme that Church to bee the Catholike Church of Christ for the true Church heareth onely the voyce of Christ her Spouse and flyeth the voyce of Strangers I desire the Queenes mercy if mercy may bee had with safety of conscience and without displeasure of GOD answere was made that the Queene would shew no mercy to the Popes Enemies then hee was sent to the Fleet againe for sixe dayes then he was brought againe before the Bishop of Winchester and other Commissioners in Saint-mary-Oueries Church and the next day condemned together with Master Rogers and then they were carried to New-gate where he remained sixe dayes Bonner and others resorted thither to him diuers times to perswade him to be a member of Antichrist and when they could not Bonner disgraded him then he was carried to Gloster to suffer death whereof he did greatly reioyce that he should there confirme his doctrine that hee had instructed so many in with his bloud Sir Anthony Kingston which was one of the Commissioners to see him executed came to him and lamented his case and desired him to consider that life is sweet and death is bitter therefore seeing life may be had desire to liue hereafter you may doe good who answered though death be bitter and life sweet yet death to come is more bitter and life to come more sweete therefore for the desire and loue I haue to the one and the terror of the other I doe not so much regard this death or esteeme this life but haue setled my selfe by the strength of Gods spirit rather to suffer any torments then to denie the truth of Gods word desiring you and others to pray for me He answered Well my Lord I perceiue there is no remedie I thanke God that euer I knâ—w you for whereas I was an adulterer and a fornicâ—tor God by your good instructions hath brought me to the forsaking and detesting of the same The same day a blinde boy got leaue to speake with Master Hooper the boy a little before had beene imprisoned at Gloster for confessing the truth After Master Hooper had examined him of his faith he said vnto him Ah poore boy GOD hath taken from thee thy outward sight but hee hath giuen thee another sight much more precious for he hath endued thy soule with the eye of knowledge and faith When he was burned he was not suffered to speake to the people Hee wrote many godly letters to diuers whilest he was in prison which thou mayest see in the booke at large Doctor Rowland Taylor THe Towne of Hadley was instructed by Thomas Bilney so well that you might haue found there many as well men as women that had often read ouer the Bible and could say a great part of Saint Paules Epistles by heart and giue a godly learned sentence in any matter of controuersie and there Children and Seruants were trained vp in the knowledge of Gods Word that the towne seemed rather to bee an Uniuersitie then a towne of clothing In this towne the said Rowland Taylor was Parson Hee most faithfully indeuoured himselfe to fulfill his charge No Sunday nor Holiday passed nor other time that hee could get the people together but hee preached to them the Word of GOD there was none so rich but hee would tell him his fault with such earnest and graue rebukes as best became a good Pastor Hee was ready to doe good to all men readily forgiuing his enemies Hâ—e was a Father to the poore Thus this good Shepheard continued all the time of King Edward In the beginning of Q. Maries raigne he retained in his Church the Seruice which was vsed in King Edwards time and faithfully preached against Popish corruptions which had infected the whole Countrey round about One Foster and one Clerke hyred one Iohn Auâ—rth Parson of Aldam a Popish Idolator and a whoremonger to set vp Masse againe at Hadly and builded him an Altar in the night their Altar was beaten downe and they builded it againe and watched it then the Priest came thither with all his implements and garments to play his Popish Pageant and was guarded with weapons lest he should be disturbed from this 〈◊〉 sacrifice Doctor Taylor seeing him said Thou Diuell who made thee so bolde to profane this Church of Christ with abominable Idolatrie To whom Foster said Thou Traytor why dost thou disturbe the Queenes proceedings He answered I am no Traytor but the Sheepheard that Christ hath appointed to feede this Flocke I commaund thee thou Popish Wolfe in the name of the GOD of heauen that thâ—u auoyde hence and presume not to poyson Christs Flocke with thy Popish Idolatrie Then Foster with his armed men tooke Taylor and violently carried him whether he would or no out of the Church and thrust his wife out after him because shee kneeâ—led downe and made humble supplication vnto God to bee reuenged of one of them and then they shut the doore least the people should â—aue rent their sacrificer in peâ—ces some that were without threw in stones anâ— missâ—d him but little Upon complaint to Gardiner hee sent for Taylor and though his friends and acquaintance perswaded him by all meanes possible they could to the contrarie yet hee was resolued to goe to the Bishop and to his Beard to tell him hee doth naught I am old though I suffer GOD will raise vp Teachers for his people I shall nâ—uer doe GOD so good seruice as now I may what Christian would not gladly die against the Pope and his adherents for I know the papacy is the Kingdome of Antichrist
CHRISTS VICTORIE OVER SATHANS TYRANNIE WHERIN JS CONTAINED A CATALOGVE OF ALL CHRISTS FAITHFVLL SOVLDIERS THAT THE DIVELL either by his grand Captaines the EMPEROVRS or by his most deerly beloued sonnes and heyres the POPES haue most cruelly Martyred for the TRVTH WITH ALL THE POYSONED DOCTRINS WHEREWITH THAT GREAT REDDE DRAGON hath made drunken the Kings and Inhabitants of the Earth with the confutations of them TOGETHER WITH ALL HIS TRAYTEROVS PRACTISES AND DESIGNES AGAINST ALL CHRISTIAN Princes to this day especially against our late Queen ELIZABETH of famous memorie and our most religious Soueraigne Lord King IAMES Faithfully abstracted out of the Book of Martyrs and diuers other Books By Thomas Mason Preacher of Gods Word LONDON Printed by George Eld and Ralph Blower 1615. To the most Reuerend Father in GOD the Lord Archbishop of Canterbury his GRACE PRIMATE and METROPOLITAN of all England and one of his MAIESTIES most Honourable Priuie Councell And to the Right Honourable SIR EDVVARD COKE Lord Cheefe Iustice of England and one of his Maiesties most Honorable Priuie Councell THOMAS MASON wisheth all Happinesse in this Life and eternall Felicitie in the world to come MOST Reuerend and Right Honorable zealous Lords your daily and faithfull Orator being a professed Soldiour vnder Christs Banner in the behalfe of his spouse against Antichrist I could busie my selfe in no office so profitable for the Church and hurtfull vnto Antichrist as to gather together the bullets which haue been shot at him by Christs Souldiours in times past that now his children may shoote them at him againe with great facilitie And whereas venerable M r Fox of worthy memory hath gathered into one Booke the Acts and Monuments of the Church vnto his time one of the most profitablest Bookes that is for Gods Children except the Bible a Club able to beate downe the Popish Tower of Babell Yet what with the labour of reading so large a volume together with the deareness of the price thereof few that haue the Booke reade it ouer and the most part of men are not able to buy it whereby very little profit ariseth thereof vnto the Church I haue according to my power pared off the barke of this Club and made it tractable for all sorts of people they may buy it with little charge and peruse it with small paines and I dare promise them that they shall reape as much profit by reading this abridgement as by reading of the Booke at large I haue willingly omitted no matter of substance Here the Reader may see the cruelty of the Emperors vnto the Primitiue Church and whom they put to death and the manner of their deathes during the first ten Persecutions and how and when Christianitie began in this Realme And what successe it hath had at all times and when by what occasion and by whom most of the Monasteries and Cathedrall Churches of this Realme were builded and how when and by whom all points of Popery came into the Church and how the Pope hath exalted himself against Emperors Kings what iniuries he hath done to them With the Treasons Conspiracies that Papists haue practised against those that the Lord hath annointed vnto this day The Reader may also heere see the innumerable multitude of the Saints of God that the Papists haue from time to time murdered in all Countries for the testimonie of the Truth With all the points of Religion that the Martyrs did defend vnto death and all the reasons that the Papists vsed against their Arguments and how cruelly they handled them with many other most profitable things After I had done this Booke I was discouraged from putting of it to Print by reason I found another had abridged the Booke of Martyrs before me but when I perceiued it was done but superficially for all the points of Religion that the Martyrs defended or Papists obiected were omitted which disputations I chiefly labour to set forth therevpon I was resolued to goe forward When I had begun to quote all the Authors from whence M r Fox had his proofes for them that the Emperors put to death the Quotations were almost as large as the Story and made it very vnpleasant wherefore in most places for breuitie I haue omitted them leauing them that would see the proofes to the Book at large I haue herein abridged many bookes but especially the Booke of Martyrs as the Papists cannot abide the booke of Martyrs of all bookes so much more will they hate my booke which hath so truely and briefely discouered all their shame not onely out of that booke but out of diuers other bookes Wherefore most Reuerend and Right Honorable Lords your manifest dislike that you beare against the wickednes and falshood of Antichrist hath imboldned me to be an humble sutor vnto your Lordships to bee the Patrons of this my Booke and that you would vouchsafe to defend and further it by your Spirituall and Temporall Powers to the honour of Christ the great dishonour of Antichrist and the vnspeakeable benefit of Gods Children So with my hartie prayers I commit both your Honors your soules bodies and all that you haue vnto the safe preseruation of Christ Iesus and his holy Angels Your Lordships daily Oratour THOMAS MASON Preacher of Gods word in Odiham in the County of Southampton whose Father was Heire vnto S r IOHN MASON sometime a Priuy Councelor vnto Queene ELIZABETH THE EPISTLE VNTO THE RBADER EVen as the Reuelation and other places of Scriptures good Reader doâ— foretell Antichrist to come so this Historie declareth the fulfilling of those prophecies in all points all the Martyrs died in this faith that the Pope is Antichrist I could bethink my selfe of no instruction so profitable for the reading of this Booke as to giue thee a few rules to manifest vnto thee that the Popedome is that Antichrist which I will endeuor to declare vnto thee by these rules following first by his outward place of abode secondly by his inward and spirituall throne thirdly by his doctrine fourthly by his conditions fiftly by the height breadth length and ruine of his Kingdome I will but open the way vnto thee this Booke shall proue by experience my sayings to be true Touching his outward seate Reuel 17. 18. it is the Citie that then did raigne ouer the Kings of the earth which was Rome the place is also described in the ninth verse to be compassed about with seuen mountaines This Booke shall proue that Rome hath seuen mountaines about it In the same verse this Citie hath had fiue kings that were then falne another King did raign which was the Emperour when the Reuelation was made and another was to come afterward This book shall teach thee that the seuen Kings signifie seuen maner of Gouernments in Rome of which fiue was falne the Emperour then raigned and after the Pope should raigne there so the Holy Ghost hath pointed out Rome as plainly as can be the place of Antichrists Kingdome
was compelled by the Bishop to depose First that she bad her take héede of swearing else a Bee would sting her tongue and venime her soule and that she rebuked her for saying Pater nosters to the Cruciâ—ixe and Aue Maries to our Lady saying you will doe ill in 〈◊〉 or praying to such Images and that God will giue no more reward for such prayers then a â—endle put vnder the foote will giue light in the night saying that lewde wrights of stockes hewe such Crosses and Images and lewde Painters gleere them with coloures and opened her armes and tolde her this is the true Crosse of Christ And that she said if euery Sacrament were God and the very bodie of Christ then 1000. Priests and more doe euery day make a 1000. such Gods and eate them and voide them out of their hinder parts filthily stinking vnder euery hedge where you may finde many such Gods It shall neuer be my God it was falsly and deceitfully ordained by the Priests to induce simple people to Idolatry for it is onely materiall bread And that Thomas of Canterbury whom the people calâ— Saint Thomas was a false Traytor and damned in Hell And that the Pope Cardinals Archbishops Bishops and especially the Bishop of Norwich and others that support Heresies and Idolatries shall shortly haue the same or worse mischiefe so fall vpon them then that cursed man Thomas of Canterbury had for they cursedly decâ—iae the people with false mâ—mmetries to extort money to maintaine their pride riot and idlenesse and haue slaine the true Preachers or Goâ—â— Lawe And that she said that none was bound to fast in Lent or other daies appointed and that it was lawfull to eate flesh and other meates vpon the said dayes that Pope Sâ—luester made the Lent And that William White was a good man and falsly condemned and at his execution when he would haue exhorted the people a Deuill one of Bishop Caiphas his seruants strocâ—e him on the lips that he could not declare the will of God And that shee taught her not to goe to Pilgrimage to the Lady of Walsingham or any other Saint or place And that she desired this deponent and her maid to come in the night to her chamber to heare her husband reade the Lawe of Christ vnto them And that she saide that the people did worship Deuils which fell from Heauen with Lucifer and entred into the Image which stand in the Churches so that the people which worship Images â—ommit Idolatry And that holy bread and water are but trifles And they are excommunicated that first ordained bels And that the Saturday after Aswednesday shee had a pot séething ouer the fire with a piece of Baken and Otmeale seething in it Others also were sworne which confirmed the former depositions but wee finds no mention in Regester what became of her Diuerse good men this yeare were accused by the deposition of one William Wright their names appeare in the booke at large And the said William Wright deposed that it is read in the Prophecies amongst the Lollards that their sect shall bee in manner destroyed yet at the length it shall preuaile and haue the victory against all her enemies Iohn Burrell seruant to Thomas Moone of Ludney in the Dioces of Norwich was apprehended and it was obiected against him besides the Articles before mentioned that hee held that the Catholicke Church is the Seules of euery good Christian. That Lent and other Fasting-dayes were ordained of the Priests and not of God and that men may eate flesh or fish indifferently vpon those dayes That Pilgrimage ought not to be made but to the poore That it is not lawfull to sweare but in câ—se of of life and death That Masses and prayers for the Soules of the dead are vaine and that the deade are either in Heauen or Hell for there is no Purgâ—tory but this world He was forced to 〈◊〉 and suffer like punishment as before Thomas Moone of Ludâ—ey was apprehended and the Articles aforesaid laid against him especially that he had receiued comforted and supported diuerse vpon which hee being conâ—â—ct was forced to abiure and receiue like penance Robert Grigges of Martham was brought before the Bishop for the Articles aforesaid especialâ—y for affirming that the Sacrament of confirmation by the Bishop did auaile nothing to saluation that it was no sinne to withstand the ordinances of the Church of Rome that holy bread and water were but trifles and that they were the worse for the conâ—urations and characters made ouer them he was forced to abiure and suffer penance as aforesaid Iohn Finch of Colchester was taken in Ipswich and brought before the Bishop and being conuicted of the aforesaid Articles was inioyned penance three whippings three seuerall Sundaies in solemne Procession about the Cathedrall Church of Norwich and thrée whippings about the Market place thrée principall market daies his head necke and â—eete bare his bodie couered onely with a short shirt with a taper of waxe of a pound waight in his hands which the next Sunday after his penance heâ— should offer vnto the Triuitie and euery Ashwednesday and Munday and Thursday three yeare after hée should appeare before the Ordinary in the Cathedral Church to doe open penance amongst other penitontiarâ—es About the same time shortly after the Coronation of King Henry the sixt one Richard Houeden a wool winder and Citizen of London was crowned with Martyrdome whenby no perswasions he could be drawne from the opinions of Wickliffe as Fabian writeth he burned hard by the Tower of London Nicholas Canon of Eye was brought before the Bishop of Norwich and many witnesses being sworne against him they appointed one to speake for them all First that on Easter day all the Parish going of Procession he went the contrary way deciding them and méeting them Hée confessed it and â—hougâ—t he did well therein And that he should say If the Sacrament of the Alter be very God and very man then God may be put in a small roome as when it is in the Priâ—sts mouth And why may not wee 〈…〉 as well vpon Fâ—â—daies and other prohibited dayes as the Priests eate the flesh and bloud of our Lord euery day To which he answered hee thought hee had spoken well therein Item that on Corpus Christi day at the eleuation of high Masse when all kneeled downe and held vp their hands and did reuerence to the Sacrament he went behind a piller turned his face from the Altar and mocked them He affirmed he thought he did well in so doing Item when his mothâ—r would lift vp his right hand to crosse himselfe from the 〈◊〉 and assaults of the Deuill hee mocked her This hee thought it was well done Item vpon All-ballend day at the eleuation of the Masse when many lighted torches 〈◊〉 them vp to the Altar and knéeled downe there in honour of the Sacrament hee standing behinde the Priest with a fozeh turned his backe to
said that the Sacrament of the Altar as it is now vsed is no Sacrament at all These thrée blessed witnesses of Iesus Christ Simpson Fox and Deuenish as they were all together apprehended at Islington so they suffered together in Smithfield WILLIAM NICOLE HEe was an honest simple poore man apprehended the ninth of Aprill by the Popes Champions for speaking certaine words against the cruell kingdome of Antichrist he was butcherly burned and tormented at Hereford west in Wales where he ended his life in a blessed estate and gloriously gaue his soule into the handes of the Lord. Willam Seaman Thomas Carman and Thomas Hudson WIlliam Seaman was a husbandman dwelling in Mendlesam in the County of Suffolk he was taken the ninteenth of May by one Robert Balden his neighbour whom he greatly trusted as they were leading him by night to Sir Iohn Tyrill there fell a light out of the Element betwixt them and parted them albeit this Balden was then in his best age yet after that time â—e neuer enioyed good day but pined away euen vnto death Sir Iohn Tyril asâ—ed him why hee would not goe vnto Masse and receiue and worship the Sacrament He said it was an Idol and therefore would not receiue it Whervpon he was sent to the Bishop of Norwich who condemned him He had a wife and three children who because shee would not goe vnto Masse all her corne and goods were taken away from her by Christopher Cole being Lord of the towne of Mendlesham Thomas Carman was apprehended for pledging Richard Crashford at his burning he was brought before the Bishop of Norwich and answered no lesse in his maisters quarrell thâ—n th' other and he had the like reward Thomas Hudson was of Aylesham in Norffolke a Glouer hee bore so good will vnto the Gospell that in the daies of King Edward the sixt that when hée was thirty yeareo old he learned to reade wherein he so greatly profited that in Queene Maries raigne auoiding all their beggerly ceremonies of superstition he absented himselfe and trauelled from place vnto place and returning home vnto his owne house to comfort his Wife and Children When hee perceiued that his continuance there would be very dangerous hee and his wife deuised to make him a place in his Faggots to hide himselfe in where hee remained all the day reading and praying for halfe a yeare In the meane time came thither one Berry Uicar of the Towne and inquired of his Wife for him Shee said shee â—new not where hee was Then hee threatned to burne her because shee would not bewray her husband After this Hudson waxed euery day more zealous then other and the people often resorted vnto him to heare his Sermons at last hee walked abroad for certaine daies into the towne crying out against the Masse and all their trumpery at the length one Iohn Crouch his next neighbour went with speed to the Constables to certifie them that hee was at home who went about to catch him in the breake of the day Whâ—n Hudson saw them hee said now mine houre is come welcome friends you bee they that shall leade mee vnto life euerlasting I thanke GOD therefore and the Lord inable mee for his mercy sake Then they ledde him vnto Berry their Uicar being Commissarâ—e as before who asked him where hee kept his Church foure yeares before Hee answered wheresoeuer hee was there was the Church Then hee asked him whether hee beleeued in the Sacrament of the Altar He answered that was but wormes meate my beliefe is in Christ crucified Then he asked him whether hee did not beléeue that the Masse taketh away sinnes Hudson It is a patched monster and a disguised puppit more longer a peecing then euer was Salomons Temple Then Berry seemed as a mad man and said wel I will write vnto my Lord and thou shalt be handled according vnto thy deserts Oh Sir said Hudson there is no Lord but God though there bee many Lords and Gods With that Berry thrust him back with his hand and bound Richard Clifford to the good behauiour for saying I pray bee good vnto the poore man Then the said Berry writ vnto the Bishop and sent Hudson bound like a Theefe vnto him who went thither with ioy and singing as merry as euer hee was where he was condemned These thrée were burned without the Bishops gaâ—e in Norwich in a place called Lolords pit aftor they had made their prayers they went vnto the stake and standing with their chaines about them Iohn Hudson being troubled in minde went from them and prayed his fellowes exhorted him in the bowels of Christ to be of good chéere At last the Lord according vnto his old mercies sent him comfort and then rose â—e with great ioy as a man new changed from death vnto life and said now I thanke God I am strong and passe not what man can doe vnto mee at the length they all suffered most ioyfully together to the terrour of the wicked the comfort of Gods children and the magnifying of the Lords Name After this Berry caused two hundred of the towne of Cylesham to creepe to the crosse at Penticost besides other punishments which they suffered This Betry vpon a time strooke a poore man of his parish with the swingell of a â—laile for speaking words that hee presently dyed And after hee méeting one Alice Oxes going into his Hall hee as before moued he smote her with his fist and the next day shee was found dead in his Chamber to write how many Concubines and whoores hee had none would beleeue but such as knew him where be dwelt He was rich of great authoritie a great swearer altogether giuen vnto women and persecuting the Gospell and compelling men vnto Idolatry he troubled sundry good men burned all good books that he could get and deuorced many men and women for religion When hee heard Queene Mary was dead and the glory of his triumph quailed On a Sunday hee made a great Feast and had one of his Concubines there with whom he was in his Chamber from dinner vntill euening song then hee went to the Church and after euening song in going from Church homeward hee fell downe dead made an heauy grone and neuer stirred and those that had his riches so consumed with them that they be poorer now then when they had his goods which iudgement the Lord executed in the eyes of all men At that time Dâ—nning the cruell Chancellor of Norwich died in Lincolneshire as sodainely as the said Berry died Ioane Seaman Mother of the said William Seaman SHe was threescore and six yeares old She was persecuted from her house by the said Sir Iohn Tyrill because she would not goe vnto the Masse nor receiue against her conscience sometimes shee was glad to lye in the bushes Groues and Fields but her husband beeing fourescore yeares old and falling sick she returned vnto her house to shew her duety vnto her husband vntill hee dyed then she fell
haue it because the high Bishop Christ had triumphed there Antioch would needs haue it alledging that Peter the Apostle there had kept his Sea and was neuer at Rome as it may appeare by the booke called quod Petrus nunquam Romae fuit Hee of Rome not regarding the saying of Saint Gregory that he should be Antichrist that would be vniuersall ouer Bishops by deceits gifts and force obtained to bee called the chiefe Bishop the greatest the highest vniuersall most blessed most holy and lawfull successor of Peter and Christ. The Fryers of Dominick and Francis d ee chiefely apply themselues to sorcery and witchcraft and thereby learne euill diuellish Arts A man may reade that Siluester the second one of them got to be Pope by the help of the Diuell vpon condition that after his death he should be his and in our dayes Paul the third called Pope Farnese hath not left his like in Astrology and diuination it is certainly said that he beleeued that the soule was mortall so did Pope Lewes and Cardinall Chitty A Gentleman of Uenice and his wife were in doubt vpon a case of conscience The woman confessed her selfe in the Church of the Chittines and opened the matter praying to bee resolued The Frier did it as well as hee could and then hee opened the whole matter to Cardinall Chitty as it is their old vse to doe hee commanding him to bee secret and finding the resolution of the case in the Cannon Law the morrow the Gentleman came vnto Chitty and opening the matter hee commanded him to hold his peace and tooke him by the hand and put it into the booke in the place which hee before had marked for that purpose Then he bad him tell his tale when he had ended he said look there where your hand is The Gentleman read there and found that which he sought then forthwith hee fell downe and worshipped him as it had been another Christ which knew all secrets Pasquine saith hee knoweth ten thousand such trickes by them Saint Ioyce is patron of fruitfulnes of Children she hath a Church in France the Flemings goe vnto her to haue Children and speede of their purpose for whilst they be on their voyage she vseth the Priests and Friers as instruments with their wiues The Pope in policie sends flattering Courtiers to Francis King of 〈◊〉 to flatter him in all his actions to remember him of that Title of Most Chrâ—â—â—ian King which his Progenitors receiued of the Pope and that therefore hee shâ—uld defend the Dignitie of them that gaue him so goodly a Title and to exhort him that he should not faâ—le to persecute the Lutherans and that he should fail to Dancing and Banquetting and to serue Venus and to Hunting rather then to sauour Learning as it seemed he would doe In the Popes Policie it was decreed That of all the chiefe Houses in Italie or elsewhere there should one euer be a Cardinall to keepe them in deuotion of the Church of Rome which they began to forsake for the Gospell but aboue all things there should be six or foure at the least of the Uenetians Cardinals because a â—umber of those Senators be wittie and of profound iudgement least they should slip their heads from the Pope It was decreed by the Pope concerning Spaine That the Inquisitors should not be seuere with the Marraines who denyed the Diuinitie of Christ but that they should be most cruell against the Lutherans who denie the Diuinitie of the Pope They haue made Peace with the Turke that they may the better maintaine Warre against the Gospell and to keepe the Christian Princes in Warres and Businesse that they may not seeke for a Generall Councell for Reformation There is not one man condemned by the Uenetians but he is adiudged by fortie Iudges and the offendor may alledge for himselfe the best he can yet they suffer a Legate onely to condemne whom he list for the Gospell and the person accused cannot come vnto his Purgation Cardinall Fernese made the liuely Picture of his Sister ouer his Chamber dore shee was Pope Alexander Borgias his Concubine and by her honourable meanes shee made her said brother Cardinall and after to be made Pope Her Image goeth currant for the Picture of our Ladie and the Pictures of our Ladie be made thereby By the Papists Tradition the Soule for euerie deadly sinne is to abide seuen yeares in Purgatorie Moses ordained many Sacrifices for the sinnes of the liuing but none for them in Purgatorie he chideth for weeping for the dead It is deuised onely to deceiue the people with Trentals and Quarentals and other foolish Inuentions full of Couetousnesse The Scripture biddeth vs remember the poore that be aliue the Papists bidde vs bring hither for the Soules of your dead Friends and Parents with crie Miseremini These Priests and Religious are the Prophets Saâ—ke neuer full and Solomons Horse-leaches and the fire that neuer saith hoa if thou shouldst giue them the world they will not be satisfied The places of Scripture that they ground Purgatorie vpon are the fift of Mathew Agree with thine Aduersarie by the way least thou be cast into Prison c. And in the 18. of Mathew Hee that owed thee tenne thousand Talents was deliuered vnto Prison c. And in the 12. of Mathew The sinne against the Holy Ghost shall not be forgiuen in this World nor in the World to come And in the 1. Cor. 13. Stubble and trash builded vpon Christ shall be tryed by Fire And 2. Machab. 12. Macabeus offered two thousand drammes of Siluer for the dead which bought Beasts which were sacrificed And Reuelation 14. 21. Those that follow the Lambe are without spot and no vncleane thing shall enter into heauen Therefore we must be purged with Purgatorie before we can come there Thomas Aquine confessed hee could not finde Purgatorie in the Scriptures yet hee would haue it beleeued The Doctrine of Purgatorie is the greatest Blasphemie that is vnto Christ. Boniface the â— eight made a Decree That euery worldly creature should be subiect vnto the Pope vpon paine of Damnation Pope Alexander Borgias lay with his naturall Daughter Lucrece with whom also Duke Valentine his brother lay The Friers lay with the Nunnes and with Lay-sisters and taught them to murder yong Babes least they should be discouered or teacheth them how they shall not conceiue with child or to destroy it in her body Some of them make Women to poyson their Husbands some of them haue giuen meate to a whole household to make them to sleepe that he might not be seene to goe to the good wife and thereby hath killed them all One faineth our Ladie doth Miracles to get Offerings another persecuteth the Truth because he would be a Bishop Another false knaue in Confession caused a woman to giuen him her money in keeping and then denyed it They sit toting in the bosome of simple yong maids which come vnto them to shrieue
were like to perish a Legion of the Christian Soldiers withdrew themselues and prayed whereby they obtained raine for them selues lightenings and haâ—le to discomfort and put to flight their enemies wherevppon the Emperour wrote to the Gouernours to giue thankes to the Christians and giue them peace of whom came the victory Anthonius Comodus sonne to Verus succeeded and raigned 13. yeares some thinke the persecution slaked in his time by the fauour of Martia the Emperors Concubine who fauored the Christians by reason whereof many Nobles in Rome receiued the Gospell amongst whem one Apollonius being accused by Seuerus his seruant but this accuser was sound false and therefore had his legges broken yet hee was driuen to confesse his faith and for the same beheaded by an ancient law that no Christian should be released without recantation The Emperour and the cittizens of Rome on his birth day assembled to offer sacrifices to Hercules and Iupiter proclaiming that Hercules was Patron oâ— the Citty but Vincentius Eusebius Perigrinus Potentianus instructers of the people hearing thereof preached against the same and conuerted Iulius a Senator with others to the faith whereof the Emperor hearing caused them to be tormented and then prest to death sauing that Iulius was beaten to death with Cudgels at the commandement of Vitellus maister of the soldiers Perigrinus was sent of Xistus Bishop of Rome to teach in France where the persecution had made wast who established the Churches and returned to Rome was Martired this Xistus was the 6. Bishop of Rome after Peter and gouerned the ministry there 10. yeares Telesphorus succeeded him and was Bishop 11. yeares and was martired after him succeeded Hyginus and died a martyr after him succeeded Pius after them Anicetus Soter Elutherius about the yeare 180. In the time of Comodus amongst others were martired Serapion Bishop of Antioch Egesippus a writer of Ecclesiasticall histories from Christ to his time also Miltiades who wrote his Apology for Christian Religion About this time wrote Hiraclitus who first writ Anotations vppon the new Testament also Theophilus Bishop of Cesaria Dionisius Bishop of Corinth a famous learned man who wrote diuers Epistles to diuers Churches and exhorteth Penitus a Bishop that he would lay no yoke of chastity vpon any necessity vpon his Brethren also Clemens Alexandrinus a famous learned man liued in that time and Gautenus who was the first that read in open schoole in Alexandria of whom is thought first to rise the order of Uniuersities in Christendome he was sent to preach to the Indians by Demetrius Bishop of Alexandria In this tranquility of the Church grew contention for Easter day which had beene stirred before of Policarpus and Anicetus forthey of the west Church pretending the tradition of Paul and Peter but indeed it was of Hermes and Pius kept Easter the 14. day of the first month the Church of Asia followed the example of Iohn the Apostle and obserued another day The fifth Persecution AFter Comodus raigned Pertinax after whom succeeded Seuerus vnder whom was raised the fift Persecution hee raigned 18. yeares in the first ten hee was very fauorable after through false accusations hee proclaimed that no Christian should be suffered wherevppon an infinite number were slaine in the yeare 205. The crimes obiected was rebellion to the Emperour Sacriledge and murdering of Infants incestuous pollutions eating raw flesh libidinous commixture worshipping the head of an asse which waâ— raised by the Iewes also for worshipping of the Sunne in rising because they vsed daily to sing vnto the Lord or because they vsed to pray towards the East but the speciall matter was because they would not worship Idols these Persecutions raged in Affrica Alexandria Cappadocia and Carthage the number that were slaine was infinite The first that suffered was Leonides father of Origen who but 17. yeares old desired to haue suffred with his father but that his mother in the night stole away his garments and his shirt yet he wrote to his father take heed you alter not your purpose for our sakes hee was so toward in knowledge of Scripture and vertue that his father would often in his sleepe kisse his breast thanking God that he had made him so happy a father of so happy a sonne his father being dead and his goods confiscate to the Emperour hee sustained himselfe his mother and sixe brethren by keeping schoole at length hee applied himselfe wholly to Scripture and profited in the Hebrew and Greeke tongues which hee conferred with other translations as that of the 70. and found out other translations of Aquila of Symachus and Theodocian with which he also ioyned 4. others he wrote 7000. Bookes the Copies whereof hee vsed to sell for three-pence a peece to sustaine his liuing hee had diuers Schollers as Plutarchus Serenus his brother who was burned and Heraclitus and Heron which were beheaded another Serenus which was beheaded and Rahis and Potamiena shee was tormented with pitch poured on her and martired with her mother Marcella she was executed by one Basilides who shewed her some kindnes in repressing the rage of the multitude shee thanked him and promised to pray for him hee being required after to giue an oth touching the Idols and Emperour as the manner was refused it confessing himselfe to be a Christian and therefore was beheaded There was one Alexander who after great torments escaped and was Bishop of Ierusalem Narcissus who was 61. yeares old he was vnwildy to gouerne alone he was 40. yeares Bishop of Ierusalem vntill the Persecution of Decius he erected a famous Library where Eusebius had his cheefe helpe in directing his Ecclesiasticall History hee wrote many Epistles he licensed Origen to teach openly in his Church after vnder Decius in Cesaria for his constant confession dyed in prison Policarpus sent Andoclus into France Seuerus apprehending him and first being beaten with bats he was after beheaded in that time Asclepiades suffred much for his confession and was made Bishop of Antioch and continued there seauen yeares About this time Ireneus with a great multitude beside were martired hee was Scholler to Policarpus and Bishop of Lyons 23. yeares in his time the question of keeping Easter was renewed betwixt Victor Bishop of Rome and the Churches of Asia and when Victor would haue excommunicated them Ireneus with others wrote to him to stay his purpose and not to excommunicate them for such a matter Not long after followed Tertullian who writ learned Apologies for the Christians and confuted all that the slanderours obiected hee wrote many bookes whereof part yet remaine Victor Bishop of Rome died a Martyr after he had sitten there 10. or 12. yeares he was earnest in the matter of Easter and would haue excommunicated them that were contrary but for Ireneus and others who agreed to haue Easter vppon the Sunday because they would differ from the 〈◊〉 and because Christ rose on that day On the other
of Images was condemned there he aduanced the veneration of Images commanding them most Ethnically to be incenced In this time Charles the great raigned by whom the Pope caused Dâ—siderius the Lumbard King to be deposed Pope Adrianus the 1. succéeded him he added more then all the other to the veneration of Images writing a Booke for the adoration and vtilitie of them commanding them to be taken for Lay-mens Calenders As Pope Paul before him made much of Petronel Peters daughter so this Adrian clothed the body of Peter all in siluer and couered the Altar of S. Paul with a pall of golde He confirmed by reuelation the Order of S. Gregories Masse before the order of S. Ambrose his Masse in this manner both the Masse bookes were said vpon the Altar of S. Peter and the Church doore shut and sealed by many Bishops who continued in praiers all night that the Lord would shew by some euident signe which of these Seruices he would haue vsed and in the morning they found Gregories Masse booke plucked in pieces and scattered about the Church and Ambrose his booke lay open in the same place where it was layde Popâ— Adrian expounded it that as the leaues of Gregories booke were sattered all ouer the Church so should Gregories booke be vsed throughout the world and that Ambrose his Seruice should onely be vsed in his owne Church where he was Bishop so Gregories Masse had onely the place and hath to this day Charles the sonne of the aforesaid Pipinus confirmed the gift of his Father vnto the Pope and added thereunto the citie and Dominion of Uenice Histria the Dukedomes of Foroinliense Spoletanum Beâ—eâ—entanum and other more possessions to the patrimony of Peter making him the Prince of Rome and Italy wherefore the Pope intituled him most Christian King and ordained him onely to be taken for Emperour and made him Patricium Romanum and Caroloman Carolus his eldest brother being â—ead Bertha his wife with her two children came to Pope Adrian to haue them confirmed into his fathers Kingdome the Pope to shew a pleasure to Carolus would not agrée but gaue her and her two children and Desiderius the Lumbard king with his whole Kingdome wife and Children into the hands of Carolus who led them into France and kept them in seruitude during their liues By this Adrian and Pope Leo his successor was Carolus Magnus proclamed Emperour and the Empire translated from the Grecians to the Frenchmen in the year 801. where it continued about 102. yeares vntil the comming of Conradus and his Nephew Otho which were Germaines and so hath continued amongst the Almains vntill this time This Charles builded as many Monasteries as there be letters in the A. B. C. he was beneficiall to the poore but cheefly to Churchmen he held a Councell at Frankford where was coÌ„demned the Councel of Niceâ—e Irene for setting vp worshiping Images Egbert succeeded Ceolulphus and when he had raigned 20. years in Northumberland was likewise shorne Monk about the time of the death of Ceolulphus in his monastery In the year 754. the cities of Weire London York Doncaster with others were burnt In the yeare 780. it rained blood it the citie of Yorke it fell from the top of S. Peters Church the Element being cléere out of the North part of the Temple some expounded it to be a token of the comming of the Danes which entred thiâ— land about 7. years after In the yeare 784. Irene Empresse of the Greekes by the meanes of Pope Adrian tooke vp the body of Constantinus Emperour of Constantinople her husbands father and burned it and caused the ashes to be cast into the sea because he disanulled Images as afore is said afterwards raigning with her son Constantine the sixt being at disscenâ—ion with him she caused him to be cast into prison and his eyes to be put out so cruelly that within short time he dyed after she held a Councell at Niceâ— where it was decréed that Images should againe be restored to the Church which Councell also was repealed by another Councell holden at Frankeford by Charles the great wherin he did greatly lament that noâ— so few as 300. Bishops of the East did decree that Images should be worshipped which the Church of God hath alwaies abhorred at length she was deposed by Nicephorus who raigned after her and after according to the iust Iudgement of God ended her life in much penury and misery The first Crosse and Altar that was set vp in this Realme was in Heuenfield in the North vpon the occasion of Oswald king of Northumberland fighting against Cadwalla where he in the same place set vp the signe of the Erosse kneeling and praying there for victory The Church of Winchester was founded by Kingilsus king of the Mercians and finished by his sonne Anno 636. The Church of Lincolne founded by Paulinus Bishop 629. The Abbey of Westminster begun by a citizen of London by the instigation of Ethelbert King of â—ent 614. The Schooles of Cambridge erected by Sigebert king of East Angles 636. The Monastery of Malmesbury by Meldulphus a Scot 640. after inlarged by Agilbet Bishop of Winchester The Monastery of Gloster builded by Opricus king of Mercia 679. The Monastery of Maybrose by Aydanus the Scottish Bishop The Nunnery of Heâ—renton by Heâ—y which was the first Nun in Northumberland The Monastery of Hetesey by Osway king of Northumberland who with his Daughter Elfred gaue possessions for twelue Monasteries 657. The Monastery of S. Martine in Douer builded by Whitred king of Kent The Abbey of Lestingie by Cedda whom we call Saint Ced 651. The Monastery of Whithy by Hilda daughter to the Nephew of king Edwine 657. she builded also another Monastery called Hacanus not farre â—hence The Abbey of Abbington builded by Sissa king of Southsaxons 666. Saint Botulph builded an Abbey on the East side of Lincolne called Ioannâ— 654. The monastery in Ely fouÌ„ded by Etheldred daughter of Anna K. of east Angles 674. The Monastery of Chertsey in Southery founded by Erkinwald Bishoy of London 674. he founded also the Nunnery of Barkin The Abbey of Peterborough founded by King Ethelwald 675. Bardnere Abbey by King Etheldredus 700. Glastenbury by Iue King of West Saxons 701. Ramsey by one Aylewinus a Nobleman 973. King Edgar builded in his time forty Monasteries he raigned Anno 678. The Monastery of Wincombe builded by king Kenulphus 737. Saint Albons builded by Offa king of Mercians 755. The Abbey of Eusham by Egwinus Bishop 691. The Abbey of Ripon in the North by Wilfridus Bishop 709. The Abby of Echlingheie by king Aluredus 891. The Nunnery of Shaftsbury by the said Aluredus the same yeare so you see that Monasteries began to be founded by the Saxon kings within 200. yeares after they were conuerted these had a zeale but they lacked the true Doctrine of Christ especially that Article of free Iustification by Faith of Iesus Christ for lacke whereof as
because he was repentant hee was content to assoile him for the same and the rather because he had suffered so great troubles for the liberties of the Church The next day the Pope and his Cardinals beeing assembled in his secret chamber Becket made an Oration to them to this effect he confessed with griefe the cause of these perturbations was because hee entred into the sould of Christ not by the doore of Christ because the King made him Bishop not the Pope and if I had resigned it to the King againe at his commandement I had left a dangegerous example vnto the Catholique Church therfore now recognising my ingresse not to be Canonicall and my abilitie not sufficient for such a charge therfore I render into your fatherly hands the Archbishoprick heere of Canturbury and putting his Ring from his finger offered it to the Pope and desired a Bishop to be prouided for the Church of Canturbury and so with teares ended This done hee was bid stand a part after consultation they concluded being he had ventred his goods dignity and authoritie and his life for the liberties of the Church if he should now be depriued at the Kings pleasure it would be an examplâ— to others hereafter none to resist his Prince in like case and so weaken the Catholick Church and derogate the Popes authoritie and his cause being maintained it would bee a president to others to doe the like so hee receiued his Pastoraâ—l Office at the Popes hand againe with commendation and much fauour and â—he Pope sent him vnto the Abbey of Pontiuiacke in France with a Monkes habit where he was two yeares thence he remoued to Senon where he was fiue yeares so he was in exile seuen yeares The King beeing certified by his Ambassadors that the Pope inclined more to Becket then vnto him was wrathfull and sayling into Normandie sent ouer certaine iniunctions against the Pope and the Arch-bishop to this effect 1 Whosoeuer brought any interdict or curse from the Pope or Becket so bee apprehended and executed as a Traytor 2 That no Clarke Monke or conuert of any other countrey without the Iustice and Kings Letters to passe ouer or returne into the Realme otherwise to be imprisoned 3 None to appeale to the Arch-bishop or bring any transcript from them 4 No Decrée from them to stand in force or be receiued in England vpon paine of imprisonment 5 If any person shall keep the sentence of their interdict they shall bee exiled with all their kindred and take none of their goods with them and be bound without speciall licence not to resort where the Arch-bishop was 6 All the possessions and goods of such as fauoured the Pope or Arch bishop to be confiscate for the King 7 All such of the Clergy as were out of the Realme to bee warned in euery Sheere within three monethes to repayre home or else their rents and goods to â—eturne to the King 8 That the Peter pence shall be no more paid vnto the Apostolick Sea but to be reserued vnto the Kings Coffers The Arch-bishop writ to a friend of his to write to him with speed what was done touching the Kings Decrees heere set out which are these that all Hauens be diligently kept that no interdict or curse be brought in if the bringer bee a religious man his feet to be cut off if a Priest to loose his prâ—uy members if a lay-man to bee hanged if a Leper to be burned if a Bishop will depart for feare of the Popes Interdict let him haue nothing with him but his Staffe and that aâ—l Schollers and Students beyond the Seas shaâ—l repaire home or loose their Benefices and if they remaine still to loose the libertie of all returning if any Priest for the Popes interdict wil refuse to sing to loose his priuy members In summe al such Priests as shew themselues Rebels to the King to bee depriued of their Benefices Further it was proclaimed that all of the kindred of Thomas Becket should bee exiled with their goods with them and sent to him which was no little vexation to him to behold Moreouer the King writ to the Abbot of Pontiuiack where he lay not to retaine him in his house or else he would driue out of his Realme all the Monkes of his Order wherevpon hee remoued by the French Kings appointment to Senon as aforesaid and found of him fiue yeares In the meane time messengers went daily from the King to the Pope and from the Pope to the King and betwixt the Archbishop and others where I finde onely rehearsals of matters which are declared sufficiently in the History whereof if the Reader be desirous to see let him resort to the booke at large After these Letters sent too and fro in the 15. yéere of Henry the second the King misdoubting that the Archbishop would procéed in excommunication against his own person made his appeale to the presence of the Pope requiring to haue certaine Legates sent from Rome from the Popes side to take vp the matter betwixt the Archbishop and him requiring also that they might be absolued that were interdicted wherevpon two Cardinals sent from the Pope with Letters from the Pope came into Normandie where they appointed the Bishop to meete before the King but the Arch-bishop delayed his comming vntill eight daies after neither would come any further then Grisorsium where the two Cardinals and the Archbishop with other Bishops conuenting together had a treatie of reconciliation which came to no conclusion The two Cardinals writ to the Pope to this effect comming to England we found the controuersie more vehement then we would for the King and the greater part about him said the Arch-bishop stirred vp the French King against him and made the Earle of Flanders his open aduersarie and after the King had receiued your Letters and brought forth other Letters diuers and altering from them receiued of vs be was moued with no little indignation saying that since wee came from you the Archbishop receiued of you other coâ—trarie Letters wherby he was exempted from our Iudgement Moreouer the King and the Bishops there did affirme that the complaint that was made vnto you of the ancient customes of his progenitors for the most paâ—t was false affirming farther to vs that if there were any customes and lawes in his time that seemed prâ—iudiciall to the Statutes of the Church he would willingly reuoke and disanull the same therefore we other Bishops and Abbots of the land hearing the King so reasonable laboured by al meanes that the King should not breake from vs but incline to vs and to haue the matter brought before vs betwixt him and the Archbishop Wherevpon we sent our owne Chaplains with Letters to him appointing him the time and place where safely hee might meete with vs yet he made his dilatories till eight dayes after which â—tirred the Kings heart more then is to be thought thus when hee refused to
by entring into any priuate Religion 10 That those that haue instituted priuate Religions or haue indâ—wed them with possessions or the begging Fryers that haue no possessions haue grieuously offended 11 That those of Priuate Religions are not of the Christian Religion 12 That Fryers are bound to get their liuings by labour and not by begging 13 That he is accursed that giueth Almes to begging Fryers When these Articles were condemned it was commanded that the condemnation should bee published through the whole vniuersitie the Chancellor hindred as much as hee could and when there must needs be Sermons made he committed the preaching to the fauourers of Wickliffe of which Repington was one who said in his Sermon hee that commends the Pope or Bishops aboue Temporall Lords doe against the Scripture and that Maister Wickliffe was a true Catholick Doctor that hee taught no otherwise of the Sacrament of the Altar then according to the intent of the Uniuersall Church his opinion therof most true and concluded he would kéep silence touching the Sacrament vntill God had better â—nlightned the Clergy The Archbishop hearing hereof sent for the Commissary and the Proctors of the Uniuersitie and one Maister Brightwell and accused them as fauourers of Wickliffe and forced them to confesse his Articles hereticall and erroneous the Commissarie fell on his knees and desired pardon which was granted vpon condition he should make inquirie and put to silence all that he found fauouring Wickliffe Harford Repington Ashton and Bedman and that hee should publish in the head Church of the Uniuersitie the condemnation of Wickliffes conclusâ—ons and that hee should put all his adherents he found to purgation or cause them to abiure he answered he durst not doe it for death what said the Bishop is Oxford a nestler of heresies that the Catholick truth cannot be published Oxford was the first Uniuersitie that maintained the truth that is now spread farrâ— and néere the next day the Bishop shewed the matter to the Kings Councell who sent commandement with all diligence to execute the Arch-bishops iniunction One Henry Crompe a Cistertian Monke which after was accused of Heresie now was suspended by the said Commissarie for calling the Heretickes Lolards he complained to the Archbishop who sent for the Commissarie and Proctors in the Kings and Councels name where he receiued a new commandement to punish the Wickliffes then Philip Repington and Nickolas Harford beeing priuily warned by the Uice-chancellor they fled to the Duke of Lancaster but they were apprehended and sent by him to the Archbishop Wickliffe was exiled and after returned againe to his parish of Lutterworth where he died the prouidence of God is to be noted in this man and many other whom the Lord prâ—serued in such rages of enemies from all their hands vntilll his old age whom the Lord will keepe nothing can hurt All his bookes were condemned and forbidden to be read by the Councell of Constance and by the Dâ—crée thereof forty yéeres after his death by the commandement of the Bishop his bones were digged vp and burned the ashes powred into the Riuer he had written diuers works which in the yéere 1410. were burned at Oxford the Abbot of Shrewsbury being Commissary sent to ouersée the matter his bookes were likewise burned in Boheme by the Archb of Prage he burned 200. of his books richly adorned with bosses of Gold and rich couerings In the yeare 1384. he wrot an Epistle to Pope Vrban the sixt that the Gospell of Christ was the whole body of the Law and that Christ was very God and very man and that the Pope Christs Uicar was bound most of all other vnto the Gospel for the greatnes of Christs Disciples consisteth not in worldly honour but in néere â—ollowing the life and manners of Christ Christ was a most poore man casting off all worldly rule and honour therefore none ought to follow the Pope nor other holy man but as they follow Christ for Peter and the sonnes of Zebedy in desiring worldly honours offended and therein they are not to be followed therefore the pope ought to leaue his temporall dominion to the seculer power and therevnto exhort his whole Clergy There was none so great enemies to him as the Clergy yet he had many good frends both of the meaner sort the Nobility amongst whom these men are numbred Iohn Clenton Lewis Clifford Richard Sturius Thomas Latimer William Neuil Iohn Mountegew who plucked downe all the Images in his Church the Earle of Salesbury when hee died refused the Sacrament of the Altar and confession and one Iohn of Northampton Mayor of London who vsed such seuere punishment against the fornicators and adulterers that they were ashamed of their offences others afeard to offend the Lord Cobham who confessed he neuer hated sinne with his heart before he was instructed by Wickliffe all these were Noble men and there was no want of the meaner sort of such as did with all their diligence defend his Doctrine especially Oxford men who were most shamefully forced to recantation and most cruelly iudged to the fire One Iohn Ashton Maister of Arte beeing examined confessed that the bread by the sacramentall words was the very same body of Christ in number which was borne of the Uâ—rgin Mary yet because hee did not answere simply according to the tradition of Rome as touching the subiect and accident of transmuting the substance of the bread he was committed to the secular powers and cast into prison where he died many other notable Clarkes some were burned some died in prison but all were afflicted as William Swinderby Iohn Puruey Henry Crompe Richard White William Thorpe Raynold Peacock Bishop of Saint Asaph and after of Chichester Lawrence Redman Dauid Sawtry Iohn Ashwarbie Uicar of S. Maries in Oxford William Iames Thomas Brightwell VVilliam Hawlam Raffe Greâ—hurst Iohn Scut Philip Noris which being excommunicated by the Pope appealed to a generall councell Peter Paine who flying from Oxford into Bohemia stoutly contended against the Sophisters about both â—indes of the Sacrament and was one of the fourteene that was sent to the Councell of Basil and disputed three daies touching the Ciuill Dominion of the Clergy Also the Lord Cobham thus much touching the adherents of Wickliffe The Uice-chancellor of Oxford with the whole congregation of the Maisters made a publike testimonie of the learning and good life of Iohn Wickliffe that his conditions throughout his whole life were sincere and commendable whose honest manners and conditions profoundnes of learning and most redolâ—nt renowne and fame we desire the more earnestly to be notified to all the faithfull for that wee vnderstand his maturitie and ripenes of conuersation his diligent labours to tend to the praise of God the help and safegard of others and the profit of the Church there was neuer note or spot of suspition raised of him in answering reading preaching and determining he behaued himselfe laudably and as a stout
and valiant Champion of the Faith vanquishing by the force of Scripture all such who by wilfuâ—l beggery blasphemed Christs Religion neither was he conâ—ict of heresie or burned by our prelates after his buriall God forbid our Prelates should condemne a man of such honesty for an heretick who amongst all the rest of our Uniuersitie had written in Logick Philosophy Diuinity Morality and the Speculatiue arte without pâ—are In witnes whereof we seale this testimonial with our common Seale 5. October 1406. Iohn Hus hauing read ouer Wickliffes Bookes concludeth by many infallible presumptions and reasons that hee was no Heretick but in the number of the saued and that it was a foolish consequent because the number of Prelates and Clergy in England France and Boheme doe count him for an Heretick that therefore he is one like is the reason for burning of his bookes for in the first Chapter of the Booke of Machabees they burned the Bookes of the Lord and tore them and whosoeuer was found to haue or vse them was put to death by the Kings commandement if this argued the wickednes of the bookes then the Law of God was wicked so likewise of the burning of S. Gregories bookes and of diuers other good men it followeth not because the Scribes and Pharisies condemned Christ as an Heretick that therefore he was one so Iohn Chrysostome was twice condemned an Hereticke by the Bishops and Clergy Besides the Articles afore there were other Articles gathered out of his Bookes which his malicious aduersaries peruersly collecting and maliciously expounding did exhibit to the Councell of Constance They sinne in Simony that be hired by temporal liuings to pray for others The prayer of the Reprobate preuaileth for no man Hallowing of Churches confirmation of children the Sacrament of orders bee reserued to the Pope and Bishops onely for temporall lucre Graduation and Doctor-ships in Uniuersities and Colledges as they bee vsed conduce nothing to the Church The excommunication of the Pope and his Prelates is not to be feared because it is the censure of Antichrist Such as founded Monasteries offend and all such as enter into them be members of the Diuell A Deacon or Priest may teach Gods word without the authority of the apostolike Sea They that enter into Monasticall Order or Religion are vnable to keep Gods commandements or to come to heauen except they returne The Church of Rome is the Synagogue of Satan neither is the Pope the immediate vicar of Christ nor of the Apostles The decretals of the popes be Apocripha and seduce from the faith of Christ and the Clergy that study them be fooles It is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue the Church of Rome to be supreme â—ead ouer all Churches It is but folly to beleeue the Popes pardons All othes made for any contract or ciuill bargaine betwixt man and man bée vnlawfull Benedick Francis Dominick Bernard and al other that haue béen patrons of priuat religions except they haue repented with such as entred into the same be in damnable state and from the pope vnto the lowest nouis they are all hereticks Thus you haue the whole summe of Wickliffes Articles albeit not as hee vttered them but as his froward aduersaries collected them out of his writings if some of them séeme hard or strange thinke it rather to be imputed to their euill will then to his good meaning as it might appeare if his bookes had now been extant but this is certaine howsoeuer his Articles were taken of the euill disposed with all good men he was highly fauoured and had in such estimation for his profound knowledge and great learning that all forren Nations were moued with his authoritie especially the Bohemians had him insuch reuerence that Iohn Hus the greatest doer in the Uniuersitie of Prage tooke profit of his Doctrine and openly defended his Articles Wickliffes Doctrine came into Bohemia by reason of a Student of Bohemia that was at Oxford being of Noble stock who returning to Prage carried certaine bookes of Wickliffes with him De realibus vniuersalibus De ciuili iure et Diuino De Ecclesia De questionibus varâ—â—s contra clerum c. a Noble man of Prage builded a Church called Bethelem giuing lands to it and finding two preachers euery day to preach to the people of the which Iohn Hus was one hee beeing familiar with the yong man reading and perusing these bookes tooke such pleasure and fruit thereby that he defended and commended them in schooles and sermons commending him for a good man wishing when he died to be there placed where his soule was We think it worth labour to shew certaine prophesies whereby so many persâ—cutions were figured and first the aforesaid Abbot Ioachim told King Richard as hée went to Ierusalem that the last of the seuen Kings spoken of in the Reuelation was Antichrist and that at that present hee should be bred at Rome and be exalted into the apostolick Sea according to the Apostle hee is exalted aboue all that is called God hee was in the yeare 1290. And in the Prophesie of Hildegardis afore mentioned she saith in the yeare 1200. the Doctrine of the Apostles and Iustice which God appointed to spirituall Christians beganne to war flack and doubtfull but this womanly time shall not so long continue as it hath done Bishop Fluensius doubted not openly to preach that Antichrist was borne in his daies Biâ—h Gerardus in the yeare of our Lord 1239. in his Book of the preseruation of Gods seruants doth coniecture Antichrist to be at hand by the rarity of prophesie and the gift of curing Hierome Sauanorol 69. yeares before prophesied that Italy shall be plagued by the scourge of God for the manifold sinnes thereof amongst the Princes as well Ecclesiasticall as secular and when the Cities of Rome and Florence are ouerthrowne then shall the Church bee renewed which shall happen very shortly and the Turkes and the Mauritanians shall bee conuerted vnto the knowledge of Christ and that one should passe the Alpes like vnto Cyrus and hee shall subuert all Italy I thinke it lacketh not his prophesie which happened in the yeare of our Lord 1501. that throughout all Germany there was scene vpon mens garments Crosses crownes of thornes similitude of Nailes and drops of bloud fâ—ll from heauen and oftentimes they fell within the houses insomuch that many women wore the same long time vpon their railes One Iohn a Franciscane Fryer in the yeare of our Lord 1346. fore-shewed that the Ecclesiasticall order should suffer much through the Ambitious auarice and pride of the Pope wherevpon Pope Clement the sixt cast him in the prison One Manfredus a Dominick Frier fore-shewed that Antichrist should rise vp in his time after the yeare of our Lord 1300. and should fully rage ouer the godly and that there should be persecution in the Church and hee said that the Cloyster Monkes did falsifie the Doctrine of Christ that the sacrifice of the Altar
proposition is mine and confirmed by the saying of Saint Augustine vpon S. Iohn 2 Saint Paul was neuer a member of the Diuell though he did many things like the malignant Church nor Saint Peter though he horribly sinned in periury and denying his Master Answere It was by Gods permission that they might more stedfastly rise againe and be confirmed I answere according to S. Augustine that it is expedient that the Elect should offend there be two separations from the Church the Elect are diuided from the Church but not to perdition the second is to perdition by the which certaine Heretieks are through there deadly sinne diuided from the Church 3 No member of the Church doth at any time fall away from the body because the Charitie of Predestination which is the bond of the same doth neuer fall Answere this is proued by 1. Cor. 13. Rom. 8. All things turne to good to them that loue God Also I am certaine that neither death nor life can seperate vs from the loue of God c. 4 The Prâ—destinate although he be not in the state of Grace according to present Iustice yet he is alwaies a member of the Church Answere I declared in my booke that there be diuers manners of being in the Church there be some in the Church according to a mishapen Faith and some according to Predestination which are now in sinne but shall returne to grace 5 No degree of dignitie nor election of man nor any sensible signe can make a man a member of the Church Answere I say Predestination maketh vs members of the Church and prepareth for vs grace heere and glory in the world to come and not degree of dignitie nor the election of a man nor sensible signe for Iudas though Christ elected him an Apostle and gaue him Temporall Graces and that he was so reputed of men yet was he a Woolfe in a sheeps-skin as Saint Augustine saith 6 A Reprobate man is neuer no member of the Church Answere It is in my Booke with sufficient long probation of the Psalme 26. and the 5. Ephes. and by Saint Bernards saying the Church of Christ is more plainely his body then the body that was crucified the Church is the flower of the Lord in which is corne and chaffe the Elect and Reprobate 7 Iudas was no true Disciple of Christ Answere This I confesse S. Augustine in his Booke of penance where he expounds 1. Iohn 2. They came out from vs but were not of vs Christ knew from the beginning who should beleeue and him that should betray him and said none commeth to mee except it be giuen him of my Father from that time many departed from him though they were called by the Gospell they were no true Disciples because they did not continue in the word of Christ as it is said if you remaine in my word you bee my Disciples it is euident that Iudas could not be the Disciple of Christ by meanes of his couetousnes For Christ saith except a man forsake that hee hath he cannot be my Disciple therefore because Iudas was a Theefe Iohn 12. and a Diuell Iohn 6. It is euident that Iudas was no true but a fained Disciple Saint Augustine vpon Saint Iohn that Christs sheepe heare his voice saith what manner of hearers were his sheepe Iudas heard him but was a Woolfe yet he followed the shepheard but being clothed in a sheep-skin he laid waite for the shepheard 8 The predestinate whether they bee in the state of grace or no according to there present Iustice is the same Church which hath neither wrinkle nor spot but is holy and vndefiled which Christ calleth his owne Answer In the fift to the Ephesians Christ so loued his Church that he offered himselfe for it I pray you then is there any faithfull man that doubteth that the Church doth not signifie all the Elect the glorious spouse of Christ holy and without spot This is an Article of faith which we ought firmely to beleeue 9 Peter neuer was nor is the vniuersall head of the Church Answere All men agree that Peter receiued of Christ which is the Rock of the Church humility stedfastnesse and blessednes When Christ said vpon this Rock I will build my church he did not meane that he would build euery Militant Church vpon Peter but vpon Christ which is the Rock from whom Peter receiued his Faith for he is the head and foundation of euery Church and not Peter 10 If he that is called the Uicar of Christ follow Christ in his life then he is his true Uicar otherwise he is the messenger of Antichrist the enemy of Peter and Christ and the Uicar of Iudas Answere For this cause Saint Bernard in his fourth Booke did write vnto Pope Eâ—genius thou delightest to walke in great pride being gorgeously arrayed what fruit doth the flooke receiue by thee If I durst say it these be rather the pastures of the Diuels then of sheepe Saint Peter and Saint Paul did not so thou séemest to succéede Constantine and not Peter It followeth in my Booke if thy life be contrary to Peters or giuen to auarice then he is the Uicar of Iudas which loued the reward of iniquity and sold the Lord As soone as they reade the same the Rulers of the Councell looked one vpon another and making mockes and moes nodded their heads at him 11 Priests that vse Symony and liue desolutely haue an vntrue opinion of seuen Sacraments as Bastards and not Children not knowing the Oâ—â—ice of the Keyes of Censures neither of the rights of Cerimonies and seruice of the Church nor of worship of Relikes nor of Orders of the Church nor of indulgences and pardons Answere It is in this manner in my Booke the authoritie is abused by such as sell Orders and get riches by Symony making markets of holy Sacraments liuing voluptuously desolutely a filthy villanous kind of life They pollute the Ecclesiasticall estate and though they professe they know God they deny him indéede and beléeue not in him but as vnbeléeuing Bastards hold a contrary opinion as aforesaid to whom Malachy in his first Chapter saith Vnto you Priests be it spoken which despise my name 12 The papall dignity hath his originall from the Emperors of Rome Answer This is proued by the 96. distinction for Constantine granted this priuiledge to the Byshop of Rome and others after confirmed the same that as Augustus is counted the most high King aboue all others so the Bishop of Rome shall be called the principall Father aboue other Bishops then a Cardinall said in Constantines time there was a generall councell at Nice in which the highest place in the Church was giuen to the Byshop of Rome why did you not then say it tooke his dignity rather from the Councell 13 No Man with reason without reuelation can affirme that hee or any other is head of any particular Church Answere I confesse it but it followeth that he ought to hope
and Ludney within the space of three or foure yeares 120. men and women which sustained great vexation for the profession of Christs Faith whose names are recited in the booke at large the Articles that were generally obiected against them were That auriculer confession is not to bee made vnto a Priest but vnto God because no Priest hath no power to absolue a sinner That no Priest can make the body of Christ in the Sacrament and that material bread remaineth after consecation That euery true Christian man is a Priest to God That none is bound vnder paine of damnation to Lent or other dayes prohibited That the Pope is Antichrist and his Prelates Antichrists disciples and that the Pope hath no power to binde and lose on earth and that it is lawfull to doe any worke except sinne vpon the holy daies That Priests may haue wiues lawfully That the Communications of the Prelates are not to be regarded That it is not lawfull to sweare in priuate causes That men ought no goe on Pilgrimage nor giue honour vnto Images of the Crosse of our Lady or other Saints That holy water hath no more vertue then other water That the death of Thomas Becket was neither holy nor meritorious That relickes as dead mens bones ought not to be worshipped or digged out of graues or set vp in Shrines That prayers made in all places are acceptable to God That men ought not to pray to any Saints but onely to God That bels and ringing in the Church were ordained to fill the Priests purses That it is no sinne to withstand the Ecclesiasticall precepts That the Catholicke Church is only the Congregation of the elect they did so agree in vniforme faith that whatsoeuer one did hold all did maintaine William White being a follower of Iohn Wickliffe yet laboured continually vnto the glory of his spoute Christ by reading writing and preaching The principall points of his Doctrine were these which he was forced to recant at Canterbury That men should seeke for forgiuenesse of sins only at Gods hands that the wicked liuing of the Pope and his holinesse is nothing else but a diuelish estate and heauie yoke of Antichrist therfore an enemy to Christs truth that men ought not to worship Images or other Idolatrous paintings nor the holy men which are deade That the Romish Church is the figtree that Christ cursed because it brought forth no fruit of the true belief That such as weare Coules or are annointed and shorne are the Lance-knights and soldiers of Lucifer and that all of them because their lamps are not burning shal be shut out when the Lord Christ shall come after his said recantation he was much more stronger in Christ and confessed his errour and offence and busying himselfe in preaching and conuerting the people to the doctrine of Christ in Norfolke he was apprehended by vertue of the Kings letters aforesaid and brought before the Bishop of Norwich by whom hee was contemned of 30. Articles and burned the said yeare in Norwich who was of so deuout and holy life that all the people had him in great reuerence One Margery wright confessed if any Saints were to be prayd vnto she would rather pray vnto him then any other when he was come to the stake thinking to open his mouth to exhort the people one of the Bishops seruants strooke him in the mouth Thus he receiued the Crowne of Marterdome to the grife of all good men in Norfolke his wife following his steps by â—er teaching confirmed many in the trueth Wherefore shee suffered much trouble and punishment that yeare By the saide Bishoppe the same yeare also was burned father Abraham of â—olchester and Iohn Waddon Priest for the like Article Amongst them that were arrested and caused to abiure in this yeare as aforesaid was Thomas Pie and Iohn Mendham of Aldborâ—ough who being conuicted vpon diuerse Articles before mentioned were ioyned penance sixe whippings about the 〈◊〉 Church of Alborrough before a solemne Procession sixe seuerall Sundaies and three whippings three seueral Market daies about the Market Place of 〈…〉 heads necks legs and feete bare their bodies onely couered with their 〈◊〉 and breeches either of them carying a taper in his hand of a pound waighâ— which tâ—pe the last Sunday after the Penance 〈◊〉 they should deuoutly offeâ— vnto the high Altar of the Church of Alborrough at the time of the â—ffeâ—tory of the high Masse and that going about the Market plâ—ce aforesaid they shal make foure stays euery one to receiue deuoutly thrée whips and if they would not obey this monition they were to be cited to appeare before the Bishop to shew cause why they should not bee excommunicated and to receiue such punishment as Iustice shall prouide in that behalfe this was their 〈…〉 of penance howbeit some were often more cruelly handled and after banished out of the Dioces and others were more straâ—ly vsed by lâ—ng imprisonment whereof we will briefly rehearse one or two for example Iohn Beuerley alias Batâ—ile a labourer hauing lyeâ— long in Irons and hauing nothing proued against him the Commissary made him sweare that euery yeare after he would confesse is slune once a yeare vnto his Curate and receiue the Sacrament at Easter and for his penance the Friday and Saturday next following hee should fast brâ—ad and water and vpon the Saturday be whipped from the Bishops Palace 〈◊〉 Norwich about all the streets and the Market place hauing in his hand a waxe candle of two pence to offer to the Image of the Trinitie after he had done his penance and because he had eaten flesh on Easter day and was not shriuen in Lent nor receiued on Easter day the Iudge inioyned him he should fast Tuesday Wednesday and Friday in Whitsun weeke hauing but one meale a day of Fish and other white meates and depart out of the Dioces and neuer come there againe Iohn Skilley of Flixton Miller was forced to abiure for holding the Articles aforesaid and for receiuing certaine godly men into his house had a most sharpe penance seauen yeares imprisonment in the Monastery of Langly and to fast with bread water euery Friday and to appeare euery Wednesday in the beginning of Lent and euery Munday and Thursday for two yeares after the seauen yeares before the Bishop his successor and Commissary in the Cathedrall Church of Norwich together with other penitâ—ntiaries to doe open penance for his offence diuerse others the same yeare were forced to abiuration and penance In this next yeare in the same Register were sixteene or seauenteene that were examined and did penance likewise amongst whom was Iohn Baker otherwise called Vsher Tunstall who for hauing a booke with the Pater noster Aue and Creede in English and for other Articles of Fasting Confession and inuocation was constrained to abiure and doe such penance as others did before him Another was Margerie Baâ—kster wife of Willam Backster against whom one Ioane Cliffe and
the Priest and would 〈◊〉 no â—euerence He said he did well therein Item that he said he doubted whether in the Sacrament of the Altar were the very body of Christ or no. This Article he confessed to be true Item that he beleeued that a man ought not to confesse his sinnes to a Priest This Article he also confessed After he was conuicted and enioyned for penance three whippings about the Cloyster of the Cathedrall Church of Norwich before a solemne Procession barefooted and bare headed as the aforesaid ponitentiaries and to be kept in prison vntill the Bishop came into the Dioces least he should enuenoms the flocke Thus you haue the troubles which in the aforesaid foure yeares hapned in Norfolke and Suffolke hauing shewed certaine notable examples sufficient to declare the rest for their opinions neither their penance did differ otherwise then by these examples may bee seene Thomas Bagley Priest Uicar of Malden being a valiant Disciple and adherent of Wickliffe was condemned by the Bishops of Heresie at London about the middest of Lent and was disgeaded and burned in Smithfâ—eld The same years was Paul Craws a Bohemian taken at Saint Andrewes by the Bishop and deliuered to the Seculer power to be burned for holding contrary opinions touching the Sacrament of the Altar the worshipping of Saints auriculer confession with other of Wickliffes opinions Thomas Rhedon a Frenchman a Carmelits Frier which take their name of Mount Carmelus came with the Uenitian Embassadors into Italy trusting that hee should finde there some by whose good life hee might bée edified but the successe of the matter did frustrate his hope for hee found nothing but hypocritie and golde and siluer in stead of heauenly gifts pompe and pride raigned in place of godlinesse in stéed of learning and studie floâ—hâ—ulnesse and superstition and for Apostlolike simplicity tyranny and hautinesse they did so passe all measure and patiencs that hee could by no meanes refraine his tongue in so great corruption of the Church and by continual preaching got great enuie and hatred The Rulers began to consult together by what meanes they might circumuent this mans life for it is a continuall custome amongst the Prelates that if any man displease them and speake any thing which is hurtfull so their lucre by and by they frame Articles of some heresie against him ouerwhelme him with suspition seeke to intangle him with questions and so condemne him and destroy him This is their godlâ—nesse and peaceable order they gathered these Articles against him That the Church lacketh reformation That it shall be punished and reformed That 〈◊〉 Iewes Turkes and Moores shall be conuerted vnto Christ in the latter daies And that abhominations are vsed at Rome That the vniust excommunication of the Pope is not to be feared and those which doe not obserue the same doe not sinne Eugenius was Pope then this good man Thomas Rheden was taken and brought before him and from thence to prison and after sundry greeuous torments was brought before the Iudges and was condemned to be burned foure yeares after he came to Rome In this yeare the maruellous inuention of Printing was first found out by one Iohn Guttenbergh in Strawsborrow and afterwards by him made perfect in Ments our dayes declare how profitable this hath beene vnto all the world if wee consider that thereby ignorance is vtterly banished the truth declared and the Pope and Antichrist vtterly subuerted which could neuer haue been if this most worthy Science had not been found out for before Bookes were so scarce and at such excesse price that few could thereby attaine to knowledge heerein the prophesie of the Sybils is fulfilled that Flaxe and Lime should ouerthrow Antichrist Reynold Peacock Bishop of Chichester was for his godlinesse and profession of the Gospell afflicted and tormented and made to recant and after put to death in prison he was brought before Thomas Archbishop of Canterbury at Lambeth in which Conuocation the Duke of Buckingham was present whereas besides many other Articles the presence of bread in the Sacrament was laid vnto Pecock insomuch that the Sacrament the knot of amitie ordained by Christ to the great comfort of the Church through the enuy of Sathan it turned into a matter of most greeuous discord that no matter hath continued so many yeares more pernitious to mans saluation Hee declared many things worthy of a good Diuine they laboured for their dignitie and gaine and so much the more earnestly because they had gotten an Aduersarie whose authoritie the higher it was in the Church iâ— would bring the greater ruine of their tyranny and estimation among the people First the matter was attempted by priuate Coloquies after by a terrible Iudgement threatning present death with threatning exhortations mingled with flattering promises granting him further time to consult that the delay of death might make his life the sweeter They gaue him hope of his life and Dignitie if hee would recant till at length his minde began to quaile by and by a recantation was made by the Bishoppes the effect whereof followeth Which when he declared vnto the people hee did so pronounce that hee was carried againe to prison from whence hee could not bee deliuered but by death The Articles that were mentioned in the Recantation to bee recanted were that first it is not necessarie to beleeue that CHRIST after his death descended into Hell that it is not necessarie to Saluation to beleeue in the Catholicke Church nor to beleeue the Communion of Saints neither the body materiall in the Sacrament and that the vniuersall Church may eâ—re in matters pertaining vnto Faith and that it is not necessarie to saluation to beleeue the generall Councell Wee shewed before in the latter end of the Councell of Basil how Eugenius was deposed and Foelix Duke of Sauoy elected Pope Wherevpon arose great discords Eugenius sent his Orators into Germany to perswade them to infringe the Councell of Basil and the Dolphin of France set on by the said Eugenius led an armie of fiue and twenty thousand men into Alsatia and laide siege vnto Basil to disturbe the Councell hauing there a great conflict with the Germaines with great slaughter whereby the Councell could not bee kept any longer in Germany but in France through the pragmaticall sanction of the French King After Eugenius brought to passe by the Emperour and his Orators of which Aeneas Siluius was one that they were content to giue ouer the Councell of Basil. Frederick of Austridge not beeing yet Emperour but labouring for the Empire brought to passe that Foelix which was chosen Pope in the Councell of Basil was content to resigne his papacie vnto Nicholas the eight successor to Eugenius of the which Nicholas the said Frederick was confirmed Emperour at Rome and there crowned in the yeere one thousand foure hundred fifty and one This Pope to gather great summes of Mony appointed a Iubile in the yeare of our Lord 1450. there
the houses in Wormes The fourth or fift day after he came to Wormes he was enioyned at foure of the clock in the afternoone to appeare before the Emperor Dukes and other estates of the Empire to vnderstand the cause he was sent for And standing before them he was commanded silence vntill he was interrogated Then was asked him whether those books were his which were written in his name a great company of them lying before them and if they were thine whether thou wilt recant and reuoke them and all that is contained in them or rather meanest to stand to that which is written in them Then Luthers Aduocate desired that the titles of the books might be read which was done Luther answered Hée could not but acknowledge those bookes to be his and that he would neuer recant any clause thereof and for the iustifying of them he desired some time to consider because there be questions of faith and the saluation of the soule wherein it were dangerous and a rash thing to pronounce any thing without good aduisement After they had consulted the Officiall said Though thou doest not deserue to haue opportunity giuen thée to determine yet the Emperour of his méere clemencie gâ—anteth thée one day to morrow at this time thou shalt render before him conditionally thou do not exhibit thine opinion in writing but pronounce the same with liuely voyce At which time when he was appointed to answer he answered to this effect All my books are not of one sort there be some in which I haue so simplie and Euangelically intreated of the religion of faith and honest conuersation that my very enemies are compelled to confesse they be profitable and worthy to be read of all Christians and the Popes Bull iudgeth certaine of my books inculpable if I should reuoke these I should condemne that truth which friends and foes confesse There is another sort of my books which containe inuectiues against the Pope and doctrine of the Papists as against those which haue corrupted all Christendom bodily and spiritually with their pestiferous doctrine and pernicious examples for I cannot dissemble this when the vniuersall experience and common complaint of all beare witnesse that the consciences of all faithfull men haue béen most miserably intrapped vexed and most cruelly tormented by the Popes lawes and doctrine of men and further their substance deuoured specially in this famous Countrey of Germanie If then I should reuoke these I can doe none other but augment force to their tyrannie and not only open windowes but wide gates to such an infernall impietie the which will extend more wide and with more libertie then yet she durst and by the testimonie of this my retractation their insolent and malitious Kingdome shall be made most licentious and lesse subiect to punishment If I Luther should do this by the authoritie of your most excellent maiestie The third sort of my books I haue written against priuat persons such as with tooth and nayle labor to protect the Romish tyrannie and deface true religion which I haue taught and professed I confesse against these I haue been more violent then my profession required if I should recant these it would come to passe that tyranny and impietie shall raigne sâ—pported by my meanes â— Neuerthelesse as Christ when he was examined of his doctrine before Annas and hauing receiued a buffet of the Minister said If I haue spoken ill beare witnesse of the euill If Christ which was assured he could not erre refused not to haue testimony giuen against his doctrine how much more I that cannot but erre ought earnestly to intreat if any will beare witnesse against my doctrine and if any can by Scripture conuince me of error I will reuoke any manner of error and be the first that shall consume my books with fire I conceiue no greater delectation in any thing then when I behold dissentions stirred vp for the word of God for such is the course of the Gospell as Christ saith I came not to send peace vpon the earth but a sword I came to set a man at variance against his father And we must thinke our god is terrible in his Councels against his aduersaries lest the condemning of the word of God turne to a huge Sea of euils lest the Empire of this yong and bounteous Prince Charles bee lamentably and miserably begun I could amplifie this with authorities of Scripture and Pharo the King of Babylon and the Kings of Israell who then most obscured the bright Sunne of their glorie and procured their owne ruine when they attempted to pacifie their Realmes in this manner Then the Emperours Ambassador checked Luther saying he had not answered to any purpose and that he ought not to call in question things long time agoe defined by generall Councels therefore they required whether he would reuoke or no. Then he answered If I be not conuicted by testimonies of Scriptures and probable reasons for I beléeue not the Pope nor his generall Councels I will not nor may not reuoke any thing for it is vngodly to doe against my conscience Then the Embassador replied if all such as impugne that which was decréed by the Church and Councels may once get this aduantage to be conuinced by the Scriptures we shall haue nothing established in Christâ—ndom Luther answered the Councells oft gainsaid themselues and that he was able to proue that Councels haue erred and night approaching the Lords arose and after Luther had taken his leaue of the Emperor diuers Spaniards scorned and scoffed at him hollowing and whopping after him a long time After there were bills set vp against Luther and others with him but this was subtilly done of his enemies as it was thought that there might be occasion offered to infringe the safe conduct giuen him the which the Romane Embassador with all diligence indeuoured to bring to passe When he was sent for to the Archbishop of Triers they protested vnto him they sent not for him for disputation but beningly and brotherly to exhort him and they said though the Councels had erred yet their authoritie was not thereby abased neither was it lawfull for euery man to impugne their opinions and that Decrées Traditions of men and Ceremonies were established to represse vices according to the qualities of times and that the Church could not be destitute of them the trée is knowne by his fruits These lawes haue much profited And they alleadged that Luthers books would breed great tumult and incredible troubles and that he abused the common sort with his booke of Christian liberty incouraging them to shake off their yoake and to confirme in them a disobedience and that now the world was at another stay then when the beleeuers were all of one minde And albeit he had written many good things and doubtlesse with a good spirit yet now the Diuell hath attempted by wily meanes that all his works for euermore should be condemned and by these last workes
the Lords put a book of articles against the Cardinall that he procured the Legat without the Kings consent whereby he took away the right of all Bishops that in all writings to Rome and other Princes he wrote Ego Rex meus that he standered the Church of England to be brought into a reprobate sense sending to Rome to be Legat to reforme the Church and carried the great Seale with him to Flanders and that without the kings consent he sent commission to conclude a league betwéen the King and the Duke of Florence and that hauing the French pocks he presumed to come and to breathe on the King and that hee had caused the Cardinalls Hat to be put on the Kings coyne that he had sent innumerable substance to Rome to obtaine his Dignities to the great impouerishment of the Realme with many other things The princely possessions and great pride of the Clergie in those dayes did not only farre excéede the measure of subiects but surmounted the estates of Kings and Princes In Henry the fourth his dayes the Temporalties in the possessions of the Clergie of England amounted to three hundred twentie two thousand marks by the yeare And it appeareth by a Libell giuen to Henry the eight compiled by one Master Fish that the Cleargie had gotten into their hands more then the third part of the lande of the Realme and the goodliest Lordships Mannors and Territories are theirs besides the tenth part of corne and all things else and seruants wages and they looke so narrowly to their tythes that they will haue the tenth egge or else the good wife getteth no rights at Easter and shall be taken as an herâ—ticke beside what they get by their foure offering dayes prouing of wills priuie tythes offerings to pilgrimages and at their first Masses euery one that is buried must pay somewhat for Masses and Dirges to be sung for them else they will accuse their frinds and executors for hereticks What money get they for mortuaries by hearing confessions and yet will keepe no Councell by hallowing of Churches Altars Superaltars Chappels and Bels by cursing men and absoluing them againe for money What a multitude of money gather the Pardoners in a yeare by cyting men to the Court and releasing them for money and what abundance the begging Friers get yearly There be two and fifty thousand parish Churches in England and euery house in the Realme payeth a pennie a quarter to euery of the fiue sâ—rts of begging Friers which is twenty pence yearely for euery house in England And the number of the Clergie reckoned with men women and children of the Laieâ—ie are but one of foure hundred and their substance draweth nigh to the halfe of the whole substance of the Realme and they doe nothing therewith but exempt themselues from the obedience of your grace and translate all power to themselues and that your subiects may rebell against yon and be vnder them as they did vnto your noble predecessor King Iohn they then interdicted the Realme wherefore your Realme hath stood tributarie not to any temporall Prince but to a cruell diuellish bloud-sucker drunken in the bloud of the Saints and Martyrs euer since and what doe they more nothing but apply themselues to haue to doe with euery mans wife daughter or mayde that Cuckoldrie and baudry should raigne amongst your subiects that no man should know his child and that their bastards should inherite euery mans possessions they haue made an hundred thousand idle whoores in your Realme which would haue gotten their liuing honestly had not their superfluous riches inticed them to vncleanenesse and idlenesse they catch the pâ—cks or be burnt or the leprosie and beare it vnto another yea some one of them shall boast amongst his fellowes that he hath had to do with an hundred women When they haue intised mens wiues vnto them they spend away their husbands goods and make the women runne away from their husbands and runne away themselues with the wife and goods bringing man and wife and children to idlenesse theft and beggerie Who is able to number the broad bottomlesse Ocean full of euils that this sinfull generation may lawfully and vnpunished bring vpon vs Who is shee that will worke for three pence a day when she may haue at least twentie pence a day to fleepe an houre with a Frier Monke or Priest and who will labour for foure pence a day that may haue at least twelue pence a day to be bawde to one of these What a sort are there that marrie Priests Lemans but to cloake the Priests incontinencie and that they may liue of Priests for their labour and who is he though he be grieued neuer so sore for the death of his Ancestor rauishment of his wife or his daughter robberie trespasse maime debt or any other offence dare lay it to their charge by any way of action if he do then by and by he is accused of heresie and except he beare a faggot they will excommunicate him and then all his Actions be dashed Notwithstanding the statute to Mortmayne they doe daily get into their hands more lands the Kingdome of the bloud-suckers is like to preuaile aboue your Kingdome for to them is giuen daily out of you Kingdome and that which is once giuen them neuer commeth from them againe What Kingdome can indure that â—uer giueth and receiueth nothing again All their colour for their gathering these things into their hands is that they pray for vs to deliuer our soules out of Purgatorie without whose prayers and especially the Popes pardon we could neuer be deliuered thence but the truth is there is no Purgatorie but it is a thing inuented by the couetousnesse of the spiritualtie And if there were a Purgatorie if the Pope can deliuer them there with money he can deliuer them without and if hee can deliuer one he can deliuer all and so destroy Purgatorie and then is he a cruell tyrant without all charitie if he keepe them in prison and paine vntill men will giue him money They will not let the New Testament goe abroad in the mother tongue lest their cloaked hypocrisie and that their cruelty vncleanenesse and vnmercifulnesse be seeue and that they seeke not Christs honour but their own that remission of sins are not giuen for the Popes pardon but for Christ by true faith in him And except your Maiestie suffer their hypocrisie to be disclosed the people will think you take away their liberty from them to buy their soules out of Purgatorie by giuing to the spiritualtie as their predecessors haue done therefore let their hypocrisie be vttered and that shall be more speedfull in this matter then all the lawes that possibly can be made The Author of this Booke was fled to Tindall where he wrote this Booke for feare of the Cardinall when the King had read this he caused his Wife to send for him home he was brought to the King and after he had
flée from him as Cain and that wée are damned by Nature as a Toade and a Serpent are so by Nature Item Loue in Christ putteth no difference betwixt one man and another Item The sects of Saints Francis Saint Dominick others be damnable Then the Bishop asked him whether he would renounce these heresies and he prayed the Bishop to reforme himselfe Then the Bishop gaue him respite and when hee came before him againe First he affirmed that Christ all his merits were his and that he was knit to him so inseperably that he could not be damned except Christ were damned He that séeketh by his almes more then to be mercifull and to succor his brotherâ— and neighbours need he is blind and seeth not Christs bloud so God is honoured on all sides in that we count him righteous in all his lawes and to worship him otherwise is Idolatry he concluded to them all he found no fault throughout all the booke but it is all good and hath giuen him great light of conscience The next Sessions he was intised to recant but shortly after he was moued by the example of one that was burned in Smithfield and after did constantly abide in the testimonie of the truth and suffered in Smithfield Lastly for these Articles he was condemned 1 THat Faith onely iustifieth which lacketh not Charitie 2 That Christ is a sufficient Mediator for vs therefore no prayer to beâ— made to Saints 3 That Christ is our sufficient purgatory and that there is no purgatory after this life 4 That the soules of the faithfull departing this life rest with Christ. 5 That a Priest receiuing orders receiueth more grace if his Faith be increased or else not Lastly hee beléeueth that the bloud and flesh of Christ is not in the Sacrament wherevpon he was condemned and burnt as aforesaid IOHN RANDALL THis IOHN RANDALL was of Christs Colledge in Cambridge and for the loue that he had to the Scriptures and sincere Religion hee was suspected and hated the yong man being studious and about one twenty yéeres old was long lacking of his companions and through the stench of his corps his study doorâ— being broken vp he was found hanged with his owne girdle within the study in such maner that he had his face looking vpon the Bible and his finger pointing to a place of Scripture whereas predestination was intreated of surely this matter lacked no singular policie of some old naughty man that it should seeme for feare of predâ—stination he was driuen to despaire that it might keep their yong men from the study of the Scriptures as a thing most perilous In this yeare an old man in the County of Buckingham for eating of Bacon in Lent was condemned to the fire and burned EDWARD FRESE EDward Frese a Painter was hired to paint certaine cloaths for the new Inne in Colchester and in the vpper boarder of the cloaths he wrote certaine sentences of the Scripture then some of the Towne which had seene his worke apprehended him and brought him to London to the Bishop where he was cruelly imprisoned with others of Essex One Iohnson and his wife and one Willy his wife and his son and one Father Bate of Rowshedge they were fed with fine Manchet made of saw-dust or the most part therof the said Frese being at the Bishops at Fullam his wife being desirous to see him came to the gate being big with Childe the Porter kicked her on the belly that on the same she died and the childe died immediatly after for writing against the wall his hands were manacled that the flesh of his armes were higher then the Irons and they kept him thrée daies without meat when he should come to his answer he could say nothing but looked on the people like a wilde man and if they asked him any question he could say nothing but my Lord is a good man anâ— when they had spent his body and wits they sent him to Bearsie-Abby but hee would not tarry there but he neuer came to his wits againe vntill his death And his brother Valentine Frese was burned for the testimony of Christ in Yorke Also the wife of the aforesaid Father Bate made a Supplication to the King and deliuered it vnto him who appointed her to go to one M. Seliard of him she gat a letter to the Bishop she hoped some good should come to her Husband but some of her friends would néeds sée the contents of her letter which was to this effect look what you can gather against Father Bate send me word that I may certifie the Kinges Maiesty but shortly after he gat out of prison in a darke night and was caught no more In this yeare Fryer Roy was burned in Portugale what his doctrine was may easily be gathered by his testimony that he left here in England The History of Maister IAMES BAYNHAM a Lawyer THis Maister Baynham was accused to Sir Thomas Moore Chancelor arested with a Sergeant at Armes and carried out of the middle Temple to his house at Chelsey when he saw he could not preuaile with him he whipped him at a trée in his garden then racked him at the tower before himselfe vntill they had almost lamed him because he would not accuse Gentlemen of the Temple nor tel where his bookes lay and because his wife denied they were at his house she was sent to the fléet and his goods confiscate When they had often vsed him vpon the tortures then he sent him to the Bishop of London who cast him into Lolards tower vntill he had bin diuers times before him examined and they were not able to resist him He was both mighty in Scriptures and Arguments that he was able to confound them with their owne Arguments so he condemned him and the Bishop sent one Doctor Symons to peruert him and waite vpon him to the stake after much communication betweene the Doctor him he prayed the Sheriffes to deliuer him from Satan for he was content to confirme his faith with his blood At the stake he lay down flat and prayed then rising vp he imbraced the stake then he said Good people I am come hither accused and condemned for an hereticke these be the Articles I dye for I say it is lawfull for euery man or woman to haue Gods booke in their Mother tongue That the Pope is Antichrist that he knoweth no other Keyes of heauâ—n gate but the preaching of the word and that theâ—e is no other purgatory then the purgatory of Christs blood and that the soules of the faithfull imediatly go to heauen râ—st with Christ for euermore That Thomas Becket was no Saint but a Traytor and a shedder of innocent blood thâ—n one M. Pauey answered Thou liest thou heretick thou deniest the blessed Sacrament of the altar He answered I do not deny the Sacrament as it was instituted of Christ and vsed of his Apostles but I deny transubstantiation and your
her touching the said Articles deuised against her and gaue her warning of that mischiefe which hanged ouer her head beséeching her to be secret and to conforme her selfe to the Kings minde and no doubt she should finde him gracious After the King came to her himselfe vnto whom after she had vttered her griefe how it was for feare his Maiestie had forsaken her hee so refreshed her with comfortable words that she began to recouer Then shee commanded her Ladies to conuay away her Bookes which were against the Law and then she went to the King he courteously welcomed her and entred into talke of Religion séeming desirous to be resolued of the Queene of certaine doubts The Queene perceiuing to what purpose this his talke tended your Maiestie doth well know quoth shee and I am not ignorant of what great weaknesse by our first Creation is allotted to vs women to bee subiect vnto man as our head from which head all our direction must proceed and as God made man after his own Image that being indued with more speciall gifts of perfection might bee stirred to meditate heauenly things and obay his commandements so he made woman of man of whom and by whom she is to bee commanded and gouerned whose womanly weaknesse ought to bee tolerated and ayded that by his wisedome such things as be lacking in her might be supplied Therefore your Maiestie being so excellent in ornaments of wisedome and I so much inferiour in all respects of Nature Why doth your Maiestie in such defuse causes of Religion require my Iudgement which when I haue vttered said what I can yet I must and will referre my Iudgement in this and all causes to your Maiesties wisedome as my onely Anker supreme head and the gouernor heere in earth next vnto God Not so by Saint Mary said the King you are become a Doctor late to instruct vs. Shee answered your Maiestie hath much mistaken mee who haue euer thought it preposterous for the woman to instruct her husband but rather to learn of him and where I haue beene bold to hold talke with your Maiestie wherein there hath seemed some difference in opinion I haue not done it to maintaine opinion but to minister talke that your Maiestie might with lesse griefe passe the paine of your infirmitie being attentiue to your talke and that I might receiue some profit by your Maiesties learned Discourse wherein I haue not missed any part of my desire alwaies referring my selfe in such matters to your Maiestie â—hen said the King tendeth your Argument to no worse end then wee are now as perfect friends as euere we were and he imbraced her and kissed her saying it did him more good to heare these words then if he had heard newes of a hundred thousand pound fallen to him On the day that was appointed for the aforesaid Tragedy the King went into his Garden whether the Queene being sent for came onely the three Ladies aboue named waiting on her with whom the King was as pleasant as euer hee was in his life In the middest of his mirth the houre appointed being come the Lord Chancelor commeth into the Garden with forty of the Kings guard at his heâ—les with purpose to take the Queene with the three Ladies to the the Tower whom the King sternely beholding called him to him who on his knees whispered to the King the King cal'd him knaue arrant knaue and beastly foole and commanded him to auant out of his presence which words the Quéene heard though they were low spoken then he departed with his traine the whole mould of his deuice broken The Queene seeing the King so chaâ—ed spoke for the Lord Chancellor Ah poore soule quoth hee thou little knowest how euill hee deserueth this grace at thy hands he hath been towards thee sweet heart an arrant knaue and so let him goe If King Henry had liued hee and the French King had been at this point within halfe a yeere after to haue changed the Masse in both their Realmes into a Communion as wee now vse it and also vtterly to haue extirped the Popes vsurped power out of both their Realmes and they ment to exhort the Emperour to doe the like in Flanders and his other countreyes or else to breake off from him and herein quoth the Archbishop Cranmer the King willed mee to pen a forme thereof to be sent to the French King but that it was letten by the death of King Henry When the Bishops had brought ANNE ASKEVV and her fellow Martyrs to death being now in their triumph as the Pharisies were when they had killed Christ they deuised how to euer read the truth for euer wherevpon they made a strait Procâ—amation authorised by the Kings 〈◊〉 for abolishing of the Scripture and all other English Bookes which miâ—ht gâ—â—e light to the setting forth of Gods Word and the grace of the Gospell which thou maist see in the Booke at large which no doubt had done much hurt in the Church amongst the godly in bringing them to danger or keeping 〈◊〉 in blindnes had not the shortnes of the Kings daies stopped the malignant purposes of the Prâ—latâ—s causing the King to leaue that to the people by his death which by his life he would not grant for within foure monethes after the proclamation he deceased the eight and thirty yeare of his raigne The History touching the Persecutions in Scotland Deane Thomas Forret THis Deane Thomas Forret preached euery Sunday in his parish vpon the Epistle and Gospell which was nouelâ—y in Scotland to see any preach but the Black Friâ—r or the Gray Wherefore the Friers enuied him and accused him to the Bishop of Donkelden as an heretick which shewed the mysteries of the Scripture vnto the vulgar people to make the Clergy detestable The Bishop sending for him said my Ioy Deane Thomas I leue you well â— am informed you preach the Epistle and Gospel euery Sunday and that you take not the Cow for mortuarie nor the vpper Cloth for Crisome of your parishioners which is very preiudiciall to the Church men My ioy Deane Thomas take your Cow and your vpper Cloth and preach not euery Sunday for in so doing you will make the people thinke we should preach likewise But when you finde a good Epistle or a good Gospell that setteth forth the lâ—bertie of the Church preach that and let the rest be Thomas answered my parishioners pay me my duetiâ—s willingly and wâ—e agree well and where your Lordship saith it is too much â—o preach euery Sonday I thinke it too little and also would wish that your Lordship would doe the like nay nay we are not ordained to preach M. Forret and where your Lordship speaketh of a good and an euill Epistle I could neuer finde none but good Then spake my Lord I thanke God I neuer knew what the Old New Testament ment Wherevpon grew a prouerb you are like the Bishop of Dunkelden that knâ—w neither new
his head and said I am right sorry to heare your Grace to speake those words which you haue done Hee appeared seauen times before the said Commissioners and euer vsed verie vnreuerent vncomely and frowarâ— words and behauiours towards the Commissioners and others and hee still shifted off the matter by subtile dilatories and friuolous cauiling about the Law and with facing and rayling vpon the Denouncers that hee thought to countenance out the matter before the people But to conclude for all his subtile craftie cautels and tergiuersations hée was iustlie imprisoned and in the end most lawfullie depriued The first trouble of the Lord Protector was presentlie after the depriuation of Bishop Bonner but shortly after hee was deliuered out of the same by the mighty working of GOD the tractation whereof shall bee delayed vntill the time of his second trouble which was two yeares after The vulgar people hearing of the apprehension of the Lord Protector they began to brute abroad that now they should haue their Latine Seruice the holy Bread and holy Water and their other Ceremonies againe Wherefore straite commaundement was sent to the Bishops of the Dioces to warne the Parsons Uicars Curats and Church-wardens of euerie Parish to deliuer vp all Antiphoners Missalls Grayles Processionals Manualls Legends Pyes Portuasies Iournals and Ordinals and all other Bookes of Seruice the hauing whereof might be any let vnto the Seruice that now is set forth in English commaunding all such persons as should be found disobedient in this matter to be committed to ward And because many refused to pay towardes the finding of Bread and Wine for the Communion whereby the Communion in many places was omitted the Byshops had charge for the redresse héereof and to punish such as refused so to doe In this yeare Letters were sent for the taking downe of Altars in Churches and setting vp a Table in the steed thereof vnto Nicholas Ridley who being Byshop of Rochester before was made Bishop of London in Bonners place The Storie of STEPHEN GARDNER Bishop of Winchester VVHereas the Kinges Maiestie made a generall visitation as before is said and appointed certaine iniunctions to be generally obserued they were obediently receiued and reuerently executed of all men of all sorts sauing onely of the Bishop of Winchester who by conference with others by open protestations and Letters also shewed such a wilfull disobedience therein as might haue bred much trouble Wherefore he was sent for before the Councell before whom he denied to receiue the said Articles and so misused himselfe before them that he was sent to the Fléete but vpon promise of conformity hee was set at liberty againe then he set forth such matters as bred more contention in that Shire then in all the Realme againe and he caused all his Seruants to bée secretly armed and harnised to withstand such as he thought to haue béene sent by the Councell into those parts and when Preachers were sent into that Countrey by the Councell to preach the Word of GOD the Bishop to disappoint and disgrace them and to hinder his Maiesties procéedings did occupy the Pulpit himselfe and in his Sermons would warne the people of such new Preachers and to imbrace no other Doctrine then that which he had taught them Wherefore being sent for againe before the Councell yet in the end vpon his second promise of conformity they left him at libertie willing him to remaine at his house at London yet he began afresh to ruffle and meddle in matters that touched the Kings Maiesty Whereupon being once againe admonished be promised againe conformity and that he would declare his conscience to be well satisfied with the Kings procéedings to the satisfaction and good quiet of others but at the day appointed he did speake of certaine matters contrary to expresse commaundement of the King and in the Articles whereuâ—to he had agreed before hee vsed such a manner of vtterance as was vâ—ry like there presently to haue stirred a great tumult and in great matters touching the pollicy of the Realme hee so handled them that he shewed himselfe a very seditious man and that in the presence of his Maiestie the Lords of the Councelâ— and of such an audience as the like thereof hath not béene séene whereupon he was committed to the Tower and after iustly depriued for his obstinaey therein Hee wrote a Letter vnto Maister Vaghan in defence and prayse of Images which the Lord Protector answered very learnedly as thou mayst sée in the Booke at large He wrote another Epistle wherein hee first rayled and findeth fault with the Paraphrase of Erasmus which he calleth a Booke of abhomination secondlie hée sheweth that he can in no case away with the Homily of saluation set out by the Archbishop of Canterbury which Article marueâ—lously vexeth his Spirit His third purpose whereunto his Letters cheefely draw is to insinuate the Lord Protector that no alteration should bee made of Religion during the time of the Kings minority but to let all thinges stand as King Henrie had left them The iudgement of Doctor REDMAN on his death-bed touching certaine points of Religion 1 THE Sea of Rome in this last daies is a sinke of all euill 2 Purgatory as the Schoolemen vsed it was vngodly and there was no such kind kind of Purgatory as they phantasied 3 That the offering vp of the Sacrament in Masses and treutals for the sins of the dead is vngodly 4 That the wicked are not partakers of the body of Christ but receiue the outward sacrament only 5 That the sacrament ought not to be carried about in procession for it is taught what is the vse of it by these words Take eate and drink doe this in remembrance of mee 6 That nothing which is séen in the sacrament or perceiued with any outward sense is to be worshipped 7 That we receiue not Christs body corporally that is to say grossely like other meats and like as the Capernayts did vnderstand it 8 That we receiue Christs body so spiritually that neuerthelesse truly 9 Touching transubstantiation there is not in any of the olde Doctors any good ground and sure proofe thereof or any mention of it as farre as euer he could perceiue neither that he doth sée what could be answered to the obiections made against it 10 Being asked of Master Wilkes what that was which was lifted vp betwixt the Priests hands he answered that he thought that Christ could be neither lifted vp nor downe 11 That Priests may by the law of God marrie wiues 12 That as only faith doth iustifie so that doth signifie a true a liuely and a faith resting in Christ and imbracing Christ and this is true godly sweet and comfortable doctrine so that it be so taught that the people take nonâ— occasion of carnall libertie 13 That workes had their reward and crown but they did not deserue eternall life and the kingdome of God no not the workes of grace for euerlasting
beloued friends I am brought hether to suffer death albeit I neuer offended against the King in word nor deed and haue alwaies béene as faithfull as any man vnto this Realme but because I am by Law condemned to die to testifie my obedience which I owe vnto the Lawes I am come hither to suffer death Wherefore I thanke God that he hath giuen me this time of repentance who might so suddenly haue béen taken with death that I could not haue acknowledged God nor my selfe I would something put you in minde of the Christian Religion which so long as I was in authoritie I did alwaies diligently set forth and I reioice therein sith now the state of Christian Religion commeth most neere to the order of the Primatiue Church which I esteeme as a great benefit of God to me and vnto you most heartily exhorting you all that you will most thankefully imbrace it set out the same in your liuing which if you do not no doubt great calamitie will follow Upon these words there was heard a terrible noise as it had beene of some great tempest from aboue as if a great deale of Gun-powder being inclosed in an armory hauing caught fire had violently broke out or as if a great company of horsemen had been running together vpon them whereby the people were so amazed that they ranne away sâ—me into Ditches and Puddles and some into the houses others with their Halberts fell vnto the ground Crying out Iesus saue vs Iesus saue vs and those which tarried in their places knew not where they were It happened heere euen as when the officers of the High Priests came to take Christ They runne back and fell to the ground in so great slaughter of Dukes within this few yeares there were neuer so many weeping eyes at one time and the people seeing Sir Anthony Browne ride to the Scaffold they coniectured that the King had sent his Unkle pardon therefore with great reioycing they cast vp their caps and cryed out pardon pardon is come God saue the king Thus the good Duke although he was destitute of mans help yet hee saw before his departure in what great loue and fauour he was with all men Then said the Duke dearely beloued friends there is no such matter as you vainely beleeue Therefore I pray you be contented with my death which I most willingly suffer let vs ioine in prayer for the King vnto whom I haue alwaies shewed my selfe a faithfull Subiect and haue béen most diligent to seeke the commoditie of the whole Realme at which words all the people cryed out and said it was most true And praying for the King and Councell and exhorting the people to obedience forgiuing all his enemies and desiring forgiuenes of them which heâ— had offended and praying them to beare witnes he died in the faith of Christ. Then he knéeled downe and prayed and rising againe without any trouble of minde he tooke them all on the Scaffold by the hand and bid them all farewell when he lay vpon the block he called thrice on the name of Iesus saying Lord Iesus saue me And as the name of Iesu was repeating the third time in a moment he was bereft both of head and life The Lady MARY THe King his Councell had much trauell by Letters and messengers to reduce the Lady Mary to obedient conâ—ormitie of Religion yet she would not be reclaimed from her owne singuler opinion fixed vpon custome to giue any indifferent hearing vnto the word and voice of verity the which set will of the said Lady Mary the yong King and also his Father King Henry right well perceiuing they were both much displeased against her insomuch that not only her brother did sequester her in his Will but also her owne father considering her inclination did conceiue such a hate against her that for a great space he did seclude her from the title of Princesse yea and seemed so greatly incensed against her that he was fully purposed to haue procéeded further with her as it is reported had not the intercession of Thomas Cranmer the Archbishop reconciled the King againe to fauour and pardon his owne daughter And about the eighth of September 1552. Doctor Ridley Bishop of London went to visit the Lady Mary and was gently entertained of Sir Thomas Wharton and other her officers About eleuen of the clocke the Lady Mary came forth of her chamber of presence then the Bishop saluted her Grace and said he was come to doe his dutie vnto her Grace she thanked him and for a quarter of an houre talked with him pleasantly and said she knew him when he was Chaplain to her father and remembred a Sermon that he made before her father at the Lady Clintons marriage and so dismissed him to dine with her officers After dinner the Bishop being called resorted againe vnto her Grace then said the Bishop Madam I come not only to doe my duety to sée your Grace but also to offer my selfe to preach before you on Sonday next if it please you to heare me she said I pray make the answere your selfe for you know the answere well enough but if I must make answere this shall be your answere The doore of the Church shall be open for you if you come but neither I nor none of mine shall heare you The Bishop said Madam I trust you will not refuse GODS word She answered I cannot tell what you call GODS word that is not GODS word now that was GODS word in my fathers dayes The Bishop said GODS word is one in all times but it hath beene better vnderstood and practised in some ages then in others She said you durst not for your eares haue auouched that for GODS word in my fathers dayes that now you doe as for your new books I thanke GOD for it I neuer read none of them nor neuer will doe After many bitter words against the forme of Religion then established and against the gouernment of the Realme and the lawes made in the young yeares of her brother which she said she was not bound to obey vntill her brother came to perfect age and then affirmed she would obey them Then she asked him whether he were one of the Priuie Councell he answered no you might well enough quoth she as the Councell goeth now-a-dayes so she concluded that she thanked him for his gentlenesse to come and see her but for your offering to preach before me I thank you neuer a whit Then was the Bishop brought by Sir Thomas Wharton vnto the place where he dined who desired him to drinke after he had drunke he looked very sadly and brake out in these words Surely I haue done amisse in that I haue drunke in that place where GODS word hath beene offered and refused whereas indeed if I had beene mindfull of my duety I ought not to haue stayed but to haue departed immediatly and to haue shaken off the dust of my feete for a
bring life or death if Christs body be not there Rid. When you heare Gods word truely preached if you doe beléeue you receiue life and if you beléeue not it bringeth vnto you death yet Christs body is not carnall in euery preachers mouth Pope How answere you this which shall be giuen for you was the figure of Christs body giuen for you Rid. No Sir but the very body it selfe whereof the Sacrament is a figure Tertullians exposition maketh it plaine For hee saith the body is a figure of the bodie now put too which shall be giuen for you and it agreeth excéeding well Maister Secretary You know well that Origen and Tertullian were not Catholick but erred Rid. There is none of the Doctors but are thought to haue erred in some things but I neuer heard that Tertullian or Origen were thought to haue erred in the Sacrament Feck Forty yeares agone all were of one opinion of this matter Rid. Forty yeares agoe all held that the Pope was supreme head of the vniuersall Church Maister Secretarie That was but a positiue Law Rid. It is in the Decrees that the Pope challengeth his supremacie not by any Councell nor any way else but by Christs own words saying to Peter thou art Peter And in another place thou art Cephas that is the head and his Decree is that we must be obedient to the Bishop of Rome vpon necessity of saluation Thomas Cranmer Archb. of Canterbury Ridley Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer Bishop of VVorster were sent to Oxford to dispute with the Diuines of Oxford and Cambridge THere was thrée questions First whether the naturall body of Christ be really in the sacrament after consecration secondly whether any other substancâ— doth remaine after consecration then the substance of the body and bloud of Christ thirdly whâ—ther in the masse there be a sacrifice propitiatorie for the sinnes of the quick the dead Thirty thrée Commissioners being set in the Quire of S. Maries Church in Oxford before the Altar Cranmer Archb. was brought to them with a number of Bill-men When he had read ouer the Articles he said they were all false and against Gods holy word Then was Doctor Ridley brought in who hearing the Articles read answered they were all false and that they sprang out of a bitter root Then came in Latimer when he had denied the Articles he said he had read ouer the new Testament seuen times and yet could not find the maisâ— in it nor the mary-bones nor sinewes of the same All their arguments were of nothing but the reall presence in the Sacrament which point is already sufficiently argued in many places of this book and will 〈◊〉 more hereafter If thou desire to sée the disputations resort to the book at large for the Commissioners were so clamorous that they could not be suffered to speak as it appeareth by the report of Bishop Ridley Bishop RIDLEY his report NEuer did I see a thing done more vainly and contumeliously then the disputations with me in the Schooles in Oxford I thought it had not been possible to haue béen found amongst men of learning and knowledge any so brazen faced and shamelesse so disorderly and vainely to behaue themselues more like to Stage-players then Diuines The Sorbonicall clamours which in times past I haue séene in Paris when Poperie most raigned might be thought modestie in respect of them yea and the chiefest did as it were blow the Trumpe vnto the rest to rayle rore rage and crie out whereby it appeareth they neuer sought for the veritie but for their owne glorie and bragging victorie Much time appointed for Disputations was vainly consumed in opprobrious checks taunts hissings and clapping of hands Whensoeuer I would make an end of my probations they would euer crie out Blasphemies blasphemies I neuer heard or read the like but by Demetrius the Siluer-smith and them of his occupation crying but against Paule Great is Diana of the Ephesians and except it be a disputation of the Arrians against the Orthodoxes where it is said that such as the Presidents of the disputations were such were the rest all were in a hurly-burly and the Arrians cast out such great slanders that nothing could quietly be heard and he concludes thus ended this glorious disputation of the Sacrificers Doctors and Masters which fought manfully for their God and goods their faith and felicitie countrey and Kitchin and for their beautie and bellie with triumphant applauses and fauour of the whole Uniuersitie After seuerall disputations with euery one of them the Commissioners sate in Saint Maries Church and Doctor Weston vsed particular perswasions with euery one of them and would not suffer them to answere but peâ—emptorily to say whether they would subscribe or no Hee told the Bishop of Canterbury hee was ouercome in Arguments which he said was false for hee was not suffered to oppose as he would nor answere as he would vnlesse hee would haue brauled with them all denying to subscribe then sentence was read ouer them that they were no members of the Church and therefore condemned for hereticks Then the Archbishop Cranmer answered from this your sentence I appeale to the iust iudgement of God trusting to be present with him in heauen for whose presence in the Altar I am thus condemned Bishop Ridley answered though I be not of your company yet my name is written in another place whither this sentence will send mee sooner then wee should by nature haue come Bishop Latimer I thanke God most heartily that hee hath prolonged my life to this end that I may in this case glorifie GOD by that kinde of death After they were all three called to behold a solemne procession wherein Doctor Weston carried the Sacrament and foure Doctors carried the Canapie ouer him In the last yeere one thousand fiue hundred forty and three it is shewed how the Duke of Northumberland was apprehended by the Guard and brought to London by the Earle of Arundell and others these were committed to the Tower with the Duke the Earle of VVarwick the Earle of Huntington Lord Ambrose and Lord Henry Dudley Lord Hastings who was deliuered the same night Sir Iohn Gates Sir Henry Gates Sir Andrew Dudley Sir Thomas Palmer and Doctor Sands Chancelor of Cambridge many were committed to diuers prisons about the same time About this time Maister Bradford Maister Beacon and Maister Veron were committed vnto the Tower and Maister Sampson was sought for and because he could not be found the Bishop of Winchester fumed About this time Doctor Weston preached at Paules Crosse he willed the people to pray for the soules departed that be neither in heauen nor hell but in a place not yet sufficiently purged to come to heauen that they may be releeued by your deuout prayers he named the Lords Table an Oyster boord hee said the Catechisme lately set forth was abominable heresie and likeneth the setters forth of the same to Iulianus Apostata and the booke to
euill to bring England thither againe Yorke He read a Paper of Common places how many things held Saint Augustine in the Church consent of people and Nations authority confirmed with Miracles nourished with hope increased with Charity established with antiquity the succession of Priests from Peters Seat to this present Bishop lastlie the verie Name of a Catholique doth hold me in Paint me but your Church thus Brad. This maketh as much for me as for you but all this if they had béene so firme as you would make them might haue béene alledged against Christ and his â—postles for there was the Law and the Ceremonies consented on by the whole people confirmed with Miracles Antiquity and continuall succession of Bishops from Aaron Cich You make to much of the State of the Church before Chrsâ—s comming Brad. Therein I do but as Peter teacheth and Paul very often you would gladly haue your Church héere very glorious and as a most pleasant Lady but as Christ saith so may the Church say Blessed are they that are not offended at me Yorke You thinke none is of the Church but such as suffer persecution Brad. Paul saith All that will liue godly in Christ must suffer persecution sometime Christs Church hath rest heere but commonly it is not so especially towards the end her forme will be more vnséemly York Where is your Church that hath consent of people and Nations as S. Augustine saith Brad. Euen all people and Nations that bee Gods people haue consented with me and them in the Doctrine of Faith Yorke Saint Augustine speaketh of succession from Peters Seat Brad. That seat then was nothing so much corrupt as it is now York Well you alwaies iudge the Church Brad. No my Lord Christs shéepe discerne Christs voyce but they iudge it not so they discerne the Church but not Iudge her yet full well may wee iudge the Romish Church for she obeyeth not Christs voyce and Christs true Church doth He asked me wherein I said in Latine Seruice and robbing the Laity of Christs Cup in the Sacrament and many other things in which it committeth most horrible sacriledge Yorke Latine Seruice was appointed to be sung and had in the Quire where onely were those that vnderstood Latine The people sitting in the body of the Church praying their owne priuate prapers and this may well be yet séene by making of the Chancell and the Quire so that the people could not come in or heare them Brad. In Chrysostomes time and S. Ieromes time all the Church did answere with a loud voyce Amen Whereby we may sée that the prayers were made so that the people both heard and vnderstood them York We léese our labour you seeke to put away all things that are told you for your good your Church no man can know I said yes that you may He said I pray whereby Brad. Chrysostome saith onely by the Scriptures and this he speaketh very oftentimes as you know York That is or Chrysostome In opere imperfecto which may bee doubted of the thing which the Church may be best knowne by is succession of Bishops Brad. Lira well writeth vpon Mathew that Ecclesia non consistit in homiâ—â—bus ratione potestatis secularis aut ecclesiasticae sed in hominibus in quibus est notitia vera confessio fidei veritatis And Hilarius writeth to Auxentius that the church is rather hid in Caues then eminent in chiefe seats then after they had been there thrée houres they were called away Iohn Leafe burned with Maister Bradford THis Iohn was an Apprentice with a Chandler in Christ-Church in London eighteene yeares old borne in Kirkley Mâ—â—eside in the County of Yorke hee was examined before Bonner he said that after the words of consecration in the Sacrament of the Altar ouer the Bread and Wine there was not the true and naturall body and blood of Christ in substance and as it is now vsed and beleeued in the Realm of England it is abhominable Idolatry And he beleeued that after consecration it remaineth Bread and Wine as it was before and it is receiued in the remembrance of the death and passion of Christ and so spiritually in Faith they receiue Christs body and blood And he affirmeth that Auriculer confession is not necessary to be made vnto a Priest and it is no point of soules health to beléeue that the Priest hath any authority by the Scriptures to remit sins And being asked if he had béene Maister Rogers his Scholler he graunted it so to be and he did beléeue the Doctrine of the said Rogers and the Doctrine of Byshop Hooper Cardmaker and others of their opinion which of late were burned for Christ and that he will die in that Doctrine and the Bishoppe moouing of him to vnitie of the Church He said My Lord you call mine opinion Heresie it is the true light of the Word of GOD and hee would neuer forsake his well grounded opinion whilst breath was in his bodie Whereupon he was condemned When these two came to the stake in Smithfield to be burned Maister Bradford lay prostrate on the one side of the stake and the young man on the other praying a space vntill the Sheriffes man bad Maister Bradford arise then they both rose Maister Bradford desired the Sheriffe that his man might haue his apparell which he granted him When he was vnready he said O England England repent thee of thy sinnes beware of Idolatry beware of false Antichrists that they deceiue thée not Then the Sheriffe bad tye his hands if he would not be quiet He said I am quiet God forgiue you this One of the Officers that made the Fire said If you haue no more learning then that you are but a foole and were best to hold your peace Then Maister Bradford answered no more but asked the world forgiuenesse and forgaue all the world and prayed the people to pray for him and â—id the young man be of good comfort for we shall haue a merry Supper with the Lord this night then he imbraced the Réeds and said Straight is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth to eternall saluation and few there be that finde it In the Booke at large thou maist sée many godly Letters of his This Maister Woodroffe Sheriffe as he would not suffer Maister Bradford to speake but bad his hands to be tyed so or worse he serued Maister Rogers and all that were burned where the other Sheriffe would weepe at their burning he would laugh at it and would restraine and beat the people who were desirous to take them by the hand In fine the foresaid Maister Woodroffe after the burning of Maister Bradford as soone as he came home was taken lame both arme and legge so that after hee could neuer stirre out of his house nor scarse mooue himselfe WILLIAM MINGE THe next day after Bradfords death William Minge Priest died in Maidstone Iayle being in bonds for Religion and had suffered martyrdome
and not the flesh and bloud of Christ naturally and that there is no sacrifice nor saluation to a Christian in the Masse except it were said and vsed in the mother tongue and likewise also that the ceremonies of the Church are not profitable for a Christian. And as touching Auricular confession he said it was necessary to goe to a good Priest for counsaile but the absolution and laying handes on a mans head by the Priest as it is now vsed is not profitable and that the faith and doctrine now taught is not agreeable to GODS word and that Hooper Cardmaker and others of their opinion which were late burned were good Christians and did preach the doctrine of Christ. Iohn Launder was coudemned by the said Bonner for affirming that whosoeuer doth teach or vse any other Sacraments then the Lords Supper and Baptisme or any other ceremonies he beleeueth that they were not of the Catholique Church but abhorreth them and that he himselfe is a member of the true Catholique Church he denied the reall presence in the Sacrament but he beleeueth that when he receiueth the materiall Bread and Wine it is in remembrance of Christs death and that he eates Christs body and bloud by faith and no otherwise and that the Masse is naught and abominable and directeth against Gods word and that the gloria in excelsis the Creed Sanctum Pater noster Agnus and other parts of the masse be of themselues good yet being vsed amongst other things are naught also and that auricular confession is not necessary to be made to a Priest but to God and that none but Christ hath authoritie to absolue sinnes Derick being asked whether he would recant your doctrine quoth he is poyson and sorcerie if Christ were here you would put him to a worse death then he was put to before You say you can make a God you can make a Pudding as well your ceremonies in the Church are beggerie and poyson and auricular confession is poyson and against Gods word so they were condemned and burned Derick was rich but the raâ—eners made such hauocke thereof that his poore wife and children had little or none thereof he was olde and past learning yet when he was put into prison being ignorant of any letter in his booke he could before his death reade perfectly When he was burned they threw his booke into a barrell that he was burned in to be burned with him but he threw it amongst the people and the Sherife commanded vpon paine of death in the King and Quéenes name to throw it into the fire againe then he said Deare brethren and sisters as many as beleeue in the Father the Sonne and holy Ghost vnto euerlasting life see you doe thereafter and you that beleeue in the Pope or any of his lawes you beleeue to your vtter destruction for except the great mercy of God you shall burne in hell continually The Sherife said if thou dost not beleeue in the Pope thou art damned therefore speake to thy God that he may deliuer thee now or else to strike me downe to the example of this people but he said vnto him The Lord forgiue you that which you haue said THOMAS IVESON THis Iueson was condemned by the said Bonner for saying the Sacrament of the Altar is a very Idoll and detestable before GOD as it is now-a-dayes ministred and that the Masse is naught and that auricular confession is not necessary for that a Priest cannot forgiue sinnes that baptisme is a token of Christ as circumcision he beléeueth his sinnes are not washed away therby but only his body washed and his sinnes washed only in Christs bloud and that there is but two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper which now are not rightly vsed in England that all the ceremonies now vsed in the Church are superfluous and superstitioâ—s and being earnestly labored withall to recant said he would not forsake his beléefe for all the goods in London I doe appeale to Gods mercie and will be none of your Church and if there came an Angell from heauen to teach me other doctrine then that which I haue now I would not beleeue him whereupon he was burned IOHN ALEWORTH HEe died in prison at Reading for the testimonie of the truth whom the Catholike Prelats as their vse is did exclude out of Catholike buriall IAMES ABBES THis Abbes beâ—ng examined by the Bishop of Norwich he relented at their naughty perswasions now when he was dismissed and should go from the Bishop he gaue him some money but after he was pittiously vexed in conscience he went againe to the Bishop and threw him his said money which he had receiued and said it repented him that euer he had consented to their wicked perswasions then the Bishop and his Chaplains laboured a fresh to win him againe but in vaine and so he was burned at Berry Iohn Denley Gentleman Iohn Newman Patricke Pachington AS Edmund Tyrell a Iustice of Peace in Essex came from the burning of certaine godly Martyrs he meâ— with Iohn Denley and Iohn Newman both of Maidstone in Kent and vpon the sight of them as he bragged he suspected and searched them and finding the confessions of their faith written about them hee sent them to the Quéens Commissioners who sent them to Bonner the effect of the writing followeth In the Sacrament Christs bodie is figuratiuely in the Bread and Wine spiritually he is in them that worthily eate and drinke the Bread and Wine but really carnally and corporally he is in heauen from whence he shall come to iudge the quicke and the dead Then Bonner ministred articles vnto them and vnto Patrick Pachington who all answered alike to this effect following The Catholike Church is built vpon the foundation of the Prophets and Apostles Christ being the head corner stone it is the Congregation of the faithfull dispersed through the whole world and two or three gathered together in Christs name are the members thereof This Church doeth preach GODS holy word and minister the blessed Sacraments truely the Church of England vsing the Faith and Religion which now is vsed is no member thereof but is the Church of Aâ—tichrist the Bishop of Rome being the head thereof for they haue altered the Testament of GOD and set vp a Testament of their own deuising ful of blasphemy and lies Christs Testament being that we should haue all things done for the edifying of the Church The Masse now vsed is most abominable idolatrie and intollerable blasphemie Christ ordained his Sacraments to be eaten together in remembrance of his death vntill heâ— come and not to bee worshipped and to make an Idoll of them for GOD will not be worshipped in his creatures but we must remember to praise him for his creatures what is kneeling holding vp your handes knocking of the breast putting off the cap and making curtsie with other superstition to the bread but Idolatrie You obiect you worship not the Bread and Wine
he affirmed that he had beene twice at Rome and there hee had seene that which he had many times heard of before that the Pope was the verie Antichrist for he saw him carried vpon mens shoulders and the false named Sacrament borne before him yet was there more reuerence giuen vnto him then vnto it which they accounted their God Then Bonner rose vp making as though â—e would haâ—e torne his garments saying Hast thou seene our holy father and doest thou blaspheme him thus and flying vpon him hee plucked off a piece of his beard and after made speedy hast to his death He wrote this Letter to confirme the brethren the same day that hee was condemned The comfort of the holy Ghost make you able to giue consolation to others in these dangerous dayes when Sathan is let loose to the triall of the chosen to sift the wheate from the Chaffe whosoeuer denyeth Christ before men hee will deny him before his Father and the Angels and to saue the life corporall is to lose the life eternall and he that will not suffer with Christ shall not raigne with Christ Therefore I haue giuen ouer the flesh with the fight of my Soule and the Spirit hath the victory The flesh ere it bee long shall leaue off to sinne the spirit shall raigne eternally I haue chosen death to confirme the truth which I haue taught What can I doe more pray that I may continue vnto the end I haue in all my assaults felt the present ayde of my GOD bee not ashamed of Christs Gospell nor of the bonds that I haue suffered for the same The holy ones haue beene scaled with the same marke It is no time for the losse of one man for the campe to turne back vp with mens harts and blow downe the dawbed walles of heresies let one take the banner and another the Trumpet and I meane not to make corporall resistance but pray and you shal haue Elias his defence and Helizeus his company to fight for you the cause is the Lords Pray for me and salute one an other with an holy kisse the peace of God râ—st with you all Amen Margery Mearing said that the Masse was abhominable in the sight of GOD and all Christian people and that it is the plaine câ—p of fornication and the whore oâ— Babylon and shee beleeued that there was no such Sacrament as the Sacramâ—nt of the Altar in the Catholike Church and she said she vtterly abhorred the authoritie of the Pope with all the Religion obserued in the same Antichrists Church and that â—he neuer meant to come vnto the Church during these Idolatrous dayes And being demaunded whether shee would stand to these answers I will quoth shee stand to them vnto the death for the very Angells in heauen doe laugh you to scorne to seâ— your abomination that you vse in the Church wherupon shee was condemned They were burned both together in Smithfield where they most ioyfully and willingly gaue their liâ—es for the profession of the Gospell of Christ. Master Rowgh had excommunicated this Margerie Mearing but the Sonday before he was taken yet hee being in prison in the Gate-house at Westminster where none of his friends could come vnto him to visit him she gother a Basket and put a cleane Shirt in it and fayning her selfe to be his sister got into the prison vnto him and did him no small comfort then shee went to one Sergeants house who betrayed Master Rowgh and asked whet her Iudas that betrayed Christ dwelt not there and she seeing Cluny come vnto her house she went home and asked him whom he sought he said for you you must go with me she said she would go with him the Bishop cast her into prison and the wednesday after she was burned with Master Rowgh Cutbert Simpson Hugh Foxe and Iohn Deuenish SImpson was Deacon of the said godly Congregation in London he was faithfull and zealous vnto Christ and his true flocke the Friday at night before M. Rough the Minister of the Congregation was taken he dreamed that he saw two of the Gard leading Cutbert Simpson that he had a book about him wherin was the names of all them which were of the Congregation so he told his Wife and made her light a Candle and fell to reading and falling asleepe again he dreamed the like dreame Then he said to his Wife that his brother Cutbert was gone and as Maister Rough was ready to go to see Maister Cutbert he came in with the Booke containing the names and accounts of the Congregation then M. Rough told him his dreame and bade him carrie the booke no more about him so he left the booke with M. Rowghs wife the next night M. Rowgh dreamed that be himselfe was carried vnto the Bishop and that the Bishop plucked off his beard and cast it into the fire saying Now I may say I haue had a piece of an hereticke burned in my house and so accordingly it came to passe for shortly after they were both taken at the Saracens head in Islington as before Here followeth the storie of his sufferings vpon the racke and otherwise for the Congregations sake as he wrote it with his own hand I was called before the Constable of the Tower and the Recorder of London they commanded me to tell them whom I willed to come to the English seruice I answered I would declare nothing whereupon I was set in a racke of Iron three houres then they asked if I would tell them I answered as before the Sonday after they examined me againe and I answered them as before then they bound my two fore-fingers together and put a small arrow betwixt them and drew it thorow so fast that the bloud followed and the arrow brake then they racked mee twice and so I was carried vnto my lodging againe Ten dayes after the Lieutenant asked me if I would not confesse I answered I had said as much as I wold fiue wéeks after he sent me vnto the high Priest where I was greatly assaulted at whose handes I receiued the Popes curse for bearing witnesse of the resurrection Bonner in his Consistorie gaue this testimony of Cutbert Sampson ye sée said he what a personable man he is and concerning his patience I say vnto you that if he were not an hereticke he is a man of the greatest patience that euer came before me he hath béene thrice racked in one day in the Tower and in my house hee hath felt some sorrow yet did I neuer see his patience broken They all thrée answered Bonner that the Church is grounded vpon the Apostles and Prophets Christ being the head corner stone and in that Church there is the true faith and religion of Christ that there is but two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper they said that they haue and will speake against the sacrifice of the Masse the Sacrament of the Altar and the authoritie of the Sea of Rome and Iohn Deuenish
and thus he did vntill hee came vnto the stake but as soone as the fire was put vnto Abbes this blasphemer was striken with madnes wherewith he had charged the good martyr he cast off his shooes the rest of his clothes cried out thus did Abbes that true seruant of God who is saued but I am damned Thus hee ranne about the towne of Berry still crying Iames Abbes was a good man and saued but I am damned The Sheriffe tyed him vp in a darke house but he continued his old note and being brought to his Masters house in a Cart within halfe a yeere he died And beeing ready to die the parish Priest came to him with the Crucifix and the Host of the Altar but he cryed out of the Priest and defied all that baggage saying that the Priest aâ—d such other as he was were the cause of his damnation And that Iames Abbes was a good man and saued Clarke an open enemie of the Gospell and all good preâ—chers in King Edwards dayes hanged himselfe in the Tower of London The great and notable Papist called Troling Smith of late fell downe suddenly in the street and died Dalâ— the Promoter was eaten in his body with Lice and so died Cox a Protestant in King Edwards daies and in Quéene Maries daies a Papist and a Promoter being well when he went to bed he was dead before morning Alexander the keeper of Newgate who to hasten the poore lambes vnto the slaughter hee would goe to Boner Story and Colmley and others crying out rid my prison I am too much pestered with hereticks and he dyed very miserably being swollen and so rotten within that no man could abide the smell of him and Iames his son being left very rich in three yeares brought it to nâ—ght and shortly after as he went in Newgate market he fell downe suddenly and died Iohn Pether sonne in law to this Alexander ad horrible blasphemer of God and no lesse cruell vnto the prisoners rotted away and so died who commonly when he affirmed any thing he would say if it be not true I pray God I rot ere I die Iustice Lelon persecutor of Ieffrey Hurst died suddenly Robert Baulding aâ— the taking of William Seaman was striken with lightning wherevpon he pined away and died Beard the Promoter died wretchedly Robert Blomfield persecutor of VVilliam Browne consumed away miserably In K. Henries time Iohn Rockwood who in his horrible end cried All to late which were the words that he vsed in persecuting Gods children at Callice The Lady Honer a persecutor and George Bradway a false accuser were both bereft of their wits Richard Long a persecutor drowned himselfe Sir Rafe Ellerker as he was desirous to see the heart taken out of Adam Damlip he being slaine of the Frenchmen after they had mangled him and cut off his priuy members would not leaue him vntill they saw his heart cut out Doctor Foxford Chancelor to Bishop Stokely a cruell persecutor died suddenly Pauier or Pauie towne Clarke of London a bitter enemy vnto the Gospel hanged himselfe Doctor Pendleton died miserably and at his death he repented that euer he had yeelded to the Doctrine of the Papists Iohn Fisher Bishop of Rochestâ—â— and Sir Thomas Moore after they had broâ—ght Iohn Frith Bayfield and Bainham and diuers others to death shortly after they themselues were made a publike spectacle of bloudy death at tower hil These persecuting Bishops died a little before Quéene Mary Coates Parfew Glune Brookes King Peto Day Holiman After Quéene Mary immediately followed Cardinall Poole and these persecuting Bishops Iohn Christopherson Hopton Morgan Iohn VVhite Rafe Bayne Owen Oglethorpe Cutbert Tonstall Thomas Raynolds And about the same timâ— died Doctor VVeston Maister Slethurst Seth Holland VVilliam Copinger and Doctor Steward great persecutors The residue that remained of the persecuting Clergy and escaped the stroke of death were depriued and committed vnto prisons these Bishops were committed vnto the Tower Nicholas Heath Archbishop of Yorke Thomas Thurlby Thomas Watson Dauid Poole Gilbert Burne Richard Pates Troublefield and Iohn Fecknam Abbot of Wesâ—minster and Iohn Boxell Dean of Windsor and Peterborough were committed with the said Bishops vnto the Tower Gouldwell Bishop of Saint Asse aâ—d Maurice Elect of Bangor ranne away Boner Thomas Wood Bishops were committed to the Marshalsey Cutbert Scot Bishop of Chester was in the Fleete from whence he escaped to Loâ—ane and there dyed These were committed vnto the Fleete Henry Cole Deane of Paules Iohn Harpsfield Arch-deacon of London Nicholas Harpsfield Arch-deacon of Canterbury Anthony Draycot Archdeacon of Huntington William Chadsey Archdeacon of Middlesex One Iohn Apowell mockeâ— one William Maulden as he was reading an English Seruice Booke in a Winters Euening mocking him at euery word with contrariâ— gaudes and flouting words Wherefore the said William checked him saying hee mocked not him but God As the said William was reading these words Lord haue mercy vpon vs Christ haue mercy vpon vs The other with a start suddenly said Lord haue mercy vpon me The said William asked him wherfore he was afrayd He answered when you reade Lord haue mercy vpon vs me thought the hayre of my head stood vpright with a great feare that came vpon me The next day in the morning he fell mad and after that hee lay day and night and his tongue neuer ceased crying out of the Diuell of hell I would see the Diuell of hell there he is there he goeth and such like words Thus he lay six daies that his Maister and all the rest of the house was weary of the noise and sent him to Bedlam At Waltamstow six miles from London certaine children were talking what God was and one said he was a good Old Father and a Maide of twelue yéeres old named Denys Benifield said what he is an old doting Foole The next day she was suddenly striken by the hand of God that all one side of her was black and she speechlesse and so she died the same night Some beeing in communication about Cranmer Ridley and Latimer in an house of Abingdon in Barkeshire One Leâ—ar â— plowman dwelling at Brightwell said that he saw that euill fauoured knaue Latimer when hee was burned and that he had téeth like a horse at which time and houre the son of the said Leauer most wickedly hanged himselfe in Shepton a mile from Abbington Thomas Arundell Archbishop of Canterbury gaue sentence against the Lord Cobham and died himselfe before him being sâ— striken in his tongue that he could neither swallow nor speake a good while before his death When Patrick Hamelton was burned for the truth in Scotland in the fire hee cited and appealed Frier Campbell that accused him to appeare before the High God to answere whether his accusation was iust or not betwixt that and a day of the next moneth which he named The said Frier dyed immediatly before the day came Haruy a Commissary which condemned a
after the burning of M George Wisard he was wretchedly slaine in hiâ— owne Castle as you may sée in the discourse of this Story Crescentius the Popes Legate and Uicegerent in the Councell of Trent he was sitting from morning vntill night writing Letters vnto the Pope at his rising there appeared vnto him a mighty blacke Dog his eyes flaming liâ—e fire and his eares hanging almost downe to the ground the Cardinall being amazed called his Seruants to bring in a Candle and seeke for the Dog and when the Dog could not be found the Cardinall was strucken with a concâ—it and fell into such a sicknesse as all his Phisitians could not cure and so he dyed By Iohannes Sleidaâ—â—s in his twelfth Booke he saith his purpose was to recouer againe the whole authority and doctrine of the Romish Sea and to set it vp for euer The Councell of Trident was dissolued by the death of this Cardinall Two adulterous Bishops belonging vnto the said Councell of Trident one haunting vnto an honest mans Wife was slaine with a Boare-speare the other Bishop whose haunt was to créepe through a window was hanged in a Ginne laid for him of purpose and so couayed that in the morning he was séene openly in the stréete hanging out of the window to the wondermâ—nt of all that passed by Ex protestatione conceonatorum Germa Iohn Eckius the most vehement impugner of Martine Luther as his life was full of all vngodlinesse vncleannes and blasphemy so was his end miserable hard and pittifull his last words were these In case the foure thousand Guilders were ready the matter were dispatched dreaming belike of some Cardinalship that he should haue bought Ex Iohn Carion fol 250. Iohn Vaueler Warfe the next in office to Magraue he was of Antwarpe hee was a sore persecutor of Christs flocke he had drowned diuers good Men and women for the which he was much commended of the bloody Generation being very rich he gaue vp his office intending to passe the rest of his life in pleasure and comming vnto a banquet at Antwarpe to be merry being well laden with Wine he rode home in his Wagon with his Wife a Gentlewoman and his Foole the Horses stood still vpon a bridge and would by no meanes goe foreward then he in a drunken rage cryed out Ride on in a thousand Diuels name by and by râ—se a mighty whirlewind and tossed the Wagon ouer the bridge into the Towne ditch where he was drowned and when he was taken vp his necke was broken his wife was taken vp aliue but died within thrée daies the Gentlewoman and the Foole were saued Bartholomeus Chassaneus a great Persecutor died suddenly Minerius the Bloudy Tormentor of Christes Saints dyed with bleeding in his lower parts the Iudge that accompanied him in his persecution as hee returned homeward was drowned and thrée more of the said company killed one another Iohannes de Roma that cruell Monke that deuised such hellish torments for the poore Christians at Augrowne the Lord paid him home againe with the like torments who rotted to death and could finde no euemie to kill him nor friend to bury him he could not abide his own stinking carrion nor any man else that came neere him could abide his stench The like persecutor was the Lord of Reuest and after his furious persecution he was striken with the like horrible sicknes and with such a fury and madnesse that none durst come neere him and so most wretchedly diâ—â— The like greeuous punishment happened vpon one Iohn Martine a persecutor as appeareth in the History before In the yeare 1565. in the towne of Gaunt in Flanders one VVilliam de VVeuer was imprisoned for religion by the Prouost of S. Peters In Gaunt the Prouost sent for one Giles Brackelman the principall Aduocate of the Councel of Flanders and Borough-master and Iudge of Saint Peters with others of the Rulers of the Towne to sit in Iudgement vpon him as the said Borough-master reasoned with the said VVilliam de VVeauer vpon diuers Articles of his Faith And being about to pronounce his condemnation the Borough-Master was suddenly striken with a Palsey that his mouth was drawne almost vnto his eare and so hee fell downe and died The Lords that stood by shadowed him that the people should not see him and commaunded the people to depart yet they burned the said William de Weauer within thrée houres after the same day The fift of March 1566. Sir Garret Trieste Knight hee had promised the Regent to bring downe the preaching wherefore the Regent promised him to make him a Graue which is an Earle when he had brought with him to Gaunt tidings of the death of the Preachers he receiued from the Regent a Commission to swear the Lords and Commons vnto the Romish Religion and being at supper he bad his Wife call him an houre the sooner in the morning for that he should haue much businesse to doe to sweare the Lords and people vnto the Romish Religion but going to bed in good health in the morning when he should be called he was found dead and as the Lords of Gaunt procéeded to giue the Oath the next day Master Martine de Pester the Secretary being appointed and about to giue the Oath as the first man should haue sworne the said Martin de Pester was stricken of GOD with present death and â—â—uer spake againe These Examples were contained in a Letter written vnto HENRY the second French King which is in the Booke more at large THE Lord Poucher Archbishoppe of Toâ—res who sued for the Court called Chambre Ardente there to condemne the Protestants to the fire who after was stricken with a disease called the fire of God which began at his lower parts and so ascended vpward that one member after another was cut off and so he died miserably Castellanus hauing inriched himselfe by the Gospell and returning from pure Doctrine vnto his old vomit againe became a Persecutor at Orliance but God strucke him with a sicknesse vnknowne vnto the Phisitians one halfe of his body burned as hot as fire and the other halfe was as could as Ice and so most miserably crying he dyed Du Prat was the first that opened vnto the Parliament the knowledge of Herisies and gaue out Commission to put the faithful vnto death he died swearing and horribly blaspheming God and his stomacke was found pierced and gnaune asunder with Wormes Iohn Ruse Councellor in the Parliament comming from the Court hauing made report of the Processe against the poore innocents was taken with a burning in the lower part of his belly before hee could be brought home the fire inuaded all his secret parts and so he died miserably Claude des Asses a Councellor in the said Court the same day that he gaue his consent to burne the faithfull After dinner he committed whoredome with one of his Seruants and in doing the act he was stricken with a disease that he died out of hand Peter
which the Lord hath appointed him supreme head next vnder his Sonne Iesus Christ ouer all causes spirituall and temporall being that he maintaineth and defendeth the very same Doctrines and no other which Christ the Apostles and the Priâ—â—itiue Church taught as the Lord hath most wonderfully blessed and pâ—ospered them by the hands of Queen Elizabeth and his Maiestie this many yéeres so vndoubtedly his wings of most safe preseruation shall be still ouer this realme so long as no Idolatry is in Israel I meane maintained by the Lawes of the Realme For though there bee many Idolatrous Papists yet the Law is against them and though there bee many sinnes and wickednesses in England yet the Lawes of the Realme are most strict against them therefore the Realme is holy and righteous because the lawes bee holy and righteous and although there bee aboundance of wicked and abhominable people in this Realme yet there bee as many both holy and righteous men and women as euer were in them Therefore certainely the LORD will not destroy or plague this Realme for their sakes that bee wicked and prophane iâ— them but most surely still blesse and preserue them for their sakes that be righteous and holy therein as hetherto hee hath done wherefore vnto him bee all honour praise glory power and Dominion of all the inhabitants of this Realme and of all his Church world without end The last but not the least vse of these precedent Stories is therein diligently to mark the vnspeakeable cruelty tyranny and most subtill and wicked practises of Papists in many ages before Queen Mary but then it was at the heigth and then papists shewed their hearts truely without dissimulation and from them haue come all the treacherous practises against Queene Elizabeth and all the treacherous practises against our dread Soueraigne K. Iames onely Gowries treason excepted but they neuer deuised a more vngodly and inhumane tragedy most abhominable to God and odious in the iudgment of all men as their most diuellish practise to blow vp the Parliament house with Gunpowder to the destruction of his Maiestie his Queene and all his Royal issue with all the Nobilitie Bishops Iudges and chiefe of the Commons of this Realm with many thousands besides to the vtter vndoing of this most noble Kingdome Their cruelty in Spaine LIkewise of this their cruelty which no tongue is able to expresse sufficient testimony would appeare by the most cruell murders vpon Gods Saints committed from time to time in innumerable abundance both vpon our country men there own and others by the most diuelish and cruell inquisitoâ—s of the Spaniards but these serpents are become so wise and subtill that there is no certaine record to bée found in any writer of their doings therein since the booke of Martyrs but for all their subtilty they cannot hide it from Christ Iesus at the day of Iudgement The cruell practises of the Papists in France LIkewise there helâ—ish cruelty hath been declared in no place in the world so plainely as it hath been in France by the innumerable massacres and murders of Gods Saints that they haue there committed I will onely recite one massacre and the death of their two last Kings of France for by these and other such like crueltyes alreadie declared out of the Booke of Martyrs it is easily séene that they are the Brothers of Caine and Children of the Deuill In the yeare one thousand fiue hundred seauenty two the Duke of Guise by the aduice of the French King Charles the ninth came with a great company of Souldiours at midnight into the stréetes of Paris to massacre the Protestants the marke of the Executioners should be a hankerchéefe tyed about their Armes with a white Crosse in their Hats and the Pallace Bell ringing at the breake of the day should giue the Signall they beganne by knocking at the Admirals Gate who was a Protestant they stabbed him that came to open the Gate then they entred the Admirals Chamber one thrust him through the body and striketh him on the head another shot him thorough with a Pistoll another wounded him in the legs and euery one of them giue him a blow then the Duke of Guise commanded them to cast him to him out of the Widdow then the Duke spurned him with his foote and going into the stréete said Courage Companions we haue begunne happily let vs procéede to the rest the King commaunds it One carried the Admiralls head vnto the King and Queen his Mother who sent it imbalmed vnto the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorraine for assurance of the death of their Capitall enemy one cut off his head another his priuy members and three daies they dragged his carkase with all indignity thorough the streetes then they hanged it vppe by the feete They murdered all his Seruants and Gentlemen in his quarter with like fury they murdred all the other Protestants throughout the Citty and Subburbs of all ages conditions and Sexes Men Women and Children rich and poore There was heard in Paris a lamentable cry of people going vnto death a pittifull complaint of such as cryed for mercy the streete were strewed with carkases the pauements market place and riuer was died with blood they destroyed that day aboue ten thousand of innocent Protestants Henry the Third HENRIE the third King of France of the house of Valois a milde and tractable Prince courteous wittie eloquent and graue but of easie accesse deuout louing learning aduancing good wits a bountifull rewarder of men of merit a friend to peace and a Prince who deserued to be placed amongst the worthiest of that Monarchy was trayterously murdered by a deuillish Monke on this manner When as the Suisses and Lansquenets of Sansie and Pontoise were by force reduced to the Kings obedience The Duke of Longuevill gathered an Army of twenty thousand men and ioyned with them Whereupon the Kings forces being about fortie thousand men lodged about Paris and tooke Saint Cloud and made the Parisians ready to yeelde Whereat the Popish Monkes and Priests of that Citty were so much displeased that they vowed reuenge thereof And one Iames Clement a Monke an excrament of hell a Iacobine by profession of the age of twenty two or twenty thrée years old vowes to kill the Tyrant and to deliuer the Citty besiedged This damnable proiect he imparts to Doctour Bourgâ—ing Prior of his Couent to Father Commolet and other Iesuits and to the heads of the League to the cheefe of the sixeteene and to the forty Councellors at Paris All encourage him to doe this happy designe they promise him Abbaies and Byshopprickes and if hee chance to be made a Martyr no lesse then a place in heauen aboue the Apostles They caused the Preachers to perswade the people to patience seauen or eight daies for before the end of the weeke they should see a notable accident which should set all the people at libertie The Priests of Orleance Rouan and Amiens
necessarie reformation of the Church and Christian Religion and effectually labour fâ—r the rooting out of all publike eâ—ils as well in the head as in the members as you haue often promised in our Kingdome in the Compositioâ—s and as our fourth Article touching the auoiding all publicke euils doth exact and require In this Councell was ordained the feast of the Conceâ—tion of our Lady and the feast of the Uisitation of our Lady In this Councell there was diligent caâ—e about reformation of the Church that through euery Church apt and méete Ministers might bee appâ—inted which may shine in vertue and knowledge to the glory of Christ and the healthfull edifying of the Christian people whereunto the multitude of expectatiue gifts haue béene a great impediment hereby often times vnméete Ministers are appointed for the Churches and they giue occasion to desire anothers death and many contentions are moâ—ed aâ—ongst the seruants of God and the ambition and gréedie desire of pluralities maintained and the substance of Kingdomes consumed poore men suffer vexations by running to Rome they are often by the way robbed murdered afflicted with diuerse plagues and hauing spent their paâ—rimony left them by their parents are constrained â—o liue in extreame pouertie Many craue benefices which haue no iust title and get the same and such as haue most craft and subtiltie to deceiue and greatest substaâ—â—â— to contend in the Lawe doo great wrongs the Eccleâ—â—asticall order is confounded whiles euery mans Iudgement is not preserued and the Pope by chalenging and taking vpon him too much the Office of Superiours is drowned from more waightie and fruitfull matters and intends not to the guiding and correction of the inferiours as publicke vtilitie requireth all which things bring a great confusion vnto the Clergie to the great preiudice of Gods true worship and the publike saluation THE SIXT SECTION OF this Ecclesiasticall Historie THIS Storie following and that before confuteth the vaine opinion of some that this Religion now vsed hath risen but twentie or thirtie yeares since and manifesteth that it hath béene spred in England this 220. yeares and often sparkled before that time although it flamed not so as it hath done within this 100. yeares and more wâ—o although they were not so strongly armed in their cause as of late yeares yet were they warriours in Christs Church and although they gaue back for tyranny yet Iudge the best and referre the cause to God who euealeth all things according to his determinate will and time there hath bin no realme more fertile for Marters then England Oxford was as a continuall sprâ—ng of Christian knowledge whence as out of the Troiane horse hath come so many inuincible witâ—esses of the truth amongst whom William Taylor Master of 〈◊〉 hath not deserued the least praise being a fauorer of Wickliffe who because he had written cerâ—ain things against the inuocation of saints and many other matters after he had recanted nine articles returned vnto thâ— right way and with a maruellous constancie 〈◊〉 buâ—â—t in Smithfield the 7 of March. Iohn Florence a Turner of Shelton in the Diâ—cesse of Norwich was attached because he held and taught that the Pope and Cardinals haue no power to constâ—tute Lawes that nor day is to be kept holiday but Sunday That there ought to be no fast but of the Quaâ—uor temporum That Images are not to be worshipped not lights to be set before them Not 〈◊〉 goe on Pilgrimage nor offeâ— for the dead or with women that are purified That Curates should not claime Tithes by any exaction and that they should be diuided amongst the poore That such as sweare by their life or power except they repent shall be damâ—â—d He was brought before the Chauncellour and forced to abiure and was sworne not to hold or teach any thing contrary to the determination of the Church of Rome nor to helpe or ayde any that should so doe He was inioyned for penanâ—â— thrâ—â— Sundâ—ies Solemne Procession in the Cathedral Church of Norwich to be whipped before all the people and three other Sundaies about his Parish Church of Shelton bare fâ—â—ted bare necked his bodie being couered with a canuâ—s shirt and canuâ—s briches carying in his hand a Taper of a pound waight so was dismissed Richard Belward of Erisam in the Diocesse of Norwich was accused for holding and teaching that Ecclesiasticall Ministâ—re and Ordinaries haue no power to excommunicate and though the Bishop excommunicate any God doth absolâ—e them And that he held the opinion of Sir Iohn Oldcastle And that such as goe on Pilgrimage offering to Images are excommunicated because they ought to giue to the poore which are aliue and not to the dead And that the Curates sell God on Easter day when they receiue Offerings before they minister the Sacraments And that hee councelled â—â—uerse women that they should not offer for the dead nor with women that were puriâ—â—â—â— and for that he called his neighbours fooles for not learning his sect and that they of 〈◊〉 sect were able to confute all others and that we ought not to pray vnto the Saints 〈◊〉 heauen but onely to God and that he kéept schooles of Lolardie in Dichingham 〈◊〉 that a Parchment maker bringeth him bookes from London containing 〈◊〉 Doctrine The Bishop of Norwich siâ—ting in Iudgement vpon him he denied his articles and was purged by 〈◊〉 of his neighbours swearing that he would not teach or defend any thinâ— contrary to the Church of Rome and the aforesaid parchment-maker was likewise accused vpon the aforesaid Articâ—es who dâ—nyed them and was likewise purged by his neighbâ—urs and sword in like manner Also sir Hugh Pie Chaplen of Lâ—dney was likewiâ—e accused before the said Bishop of Norwich for holding that the people ought not to goe on pilgrimage and that people ought not to giue almes to Images but to the poore That the Image of the Crosse other Images are not to be worshiped and that he had cast the Crosse of Brome hold into the fire to be burnt which he tooke from one of Ludney which he denied purged himselfe by three Laymen and three Priests was sworne as before In this yeare Henry the fift sent a most cruell Commission vnto Iohn Exeter and Iacolet Germaine kéeper of the Castle of Colchester for the apprehending of sir William White Priest and Thomas Chaplin of Setling in Northfolke and William Northamton Priest and all other suspected of Lolardy and to commit them to prison by vertue of which Commiâ—â—ion sixe persons were attached in Buâ—gay of Norwich whose names were so defaced through antiquitie that there remained but three names in the worne booke to be red to wit Iohn Teaderton in Kent Bartholomew Monke of Ensham in Norfolke Corneleader a maâ—ieâ— man these three were in the custodie of the Duke of Norfolke in the Castle of Fremingham We finde also in the Diocesse of Norfolke and Suffolke specially in the townes of Bechels Ersham