Selected quad for the lemma: book_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
book_n	know_v	name_n	write_v	5,306	5	5.6704	4	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A45326	The life & death of that renowned John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester comprising the highest and hidden transactions of church and state, in the reign of King Henry the 8th, with divers morall, historicall and political animadversions upon Cardinall Wolsey, Sir Thomas Moor, Martin Luther : with a full relation of Qu. Katharines divorce / carefully selected from severall ancient records by Tho. Baily ...	Hall, Richard, 1535 or 6-1604.; Henry VIII, King of England, 1491-1547. Testamentum.; Bayly, Thomas, d. 1657?	1655 (1655)	Wing H424; ESTC R230	97,933	254

my Dominion than such a man And in like manner King Francis the French King though in some respects a man to be wished otherwise than he was yet talking on a time with Sir Iohn Wallop the Kings Embassadour of those two blessed men told him plainly that either the King his master had a very hard heart that could put to death two such worthy men as the like 〈…〉 within his Realm whereof K. 〈…〉 advertised took it very ill at the 〈…〉 King Francis for 〈…〉 of him saying that he had don● nothing but that himself was first made privy to it In statute of his body he was tall and comely exceeding the common and middle sort of men for he was to the quantity of fix foot in height and being therewith very slender and lean was neverthelesse upright and well formed straight back'd big joyn●ed and strongly sinewed his haire by 〈◊〉 black though in his later time throug● age and imprisonment turned to hoarinesse or rather to whitenesse his eye large and round neither full black nor full gray but of a mixt colour between both his forehead smooth and large his nose of a good and even proportion somewhat wide mouth'd and big jaw'd as one ordained to utt●r much speech wherein was notwithstanding a certaine com●linesse his skin somewhat tawny mixed with many blew vein● his face hands all his body so bare of flesh as is almost ineredible which came rather as may be thought by the great abstinence and penance he used upon himself many yeares together even from his youth In his countenance he bare such a rev●rend gravity and therewith in his doings exercised such discre●t severity that not onely of his equalls but even of his Superiours he was honoured and feared in speech he was very mild temperate and modest saving in matters of God and his Charge which then began to trouble the world and therein he would be earnest above his accustomed order but vainly or without cause he would never speak neither was his ordinary talk of common worldly matters but rather of Divinity and high power of God of the Joyes of Heaven and the Paines of Hell of the glorious death of Martyrs and strait I fe of Confessors with such like vertuous and pro●itable talk which he alwaies uttered with such a heavenly grace that his words were alwaies a great edifying to his hearers he had such a continuall impression of death in his heart that his mouth never ceased to utter the inward thoughts of his minde not onely in all times of his exercise but also at his meales for he would alwayes say that the remembrance of Death came never out of season and of his own end he would now and then as occasion of speech was given cast out such words as though he had some fore-knowledge of the manner of his death for divers of his Chaplaines and houshold servants have reported that long before his death they have heard him say that he should not die in his bed but alwaies in speaking thereof he would utter his words with such a cheerefull countenance as they might easily perceive him rather to conceive joy than sorrow thereat in study he was very laborious and painfull in preaching assiduous ever beating down heresies and vice in prayer most fervent and devout in fasting abstinence and pun●shing of his lean body rigorous without measure And generally in all things belonging to the care and charge of a true Bishop he was to all the B●shops of England living in his daies the very mirrour and lantherne of light One that was Dean of Rochester many years together named Mr. Philips in the daies of King Edward the sixth when certaine Commissioners w●re coming towards him to search his house for books he for ●eare burned a large volume which this holy Bishop had compiled containing in it the whole story and matter of D●vorce which volume he gave him with his owne hand a little before his trouble for the losse whereof the Deane would many times after lament and wish the book whole againe upon condition he had not one groat to live on Pope Paul the third writing as before is said to the Princes of Christendome of the dealings of K●ng Henry against this goodly man wrote among others one Letter to Ferdinando King of Romans which I my self have seen and read In this Letter after great complaint made of King Henry for killing of such a man whom be before for his great sanctity and vertue had inrolled in the number and society of the Cardinall hoping thereby that all should have turned to his better safety and deliverance because that dignity in all places hath ever been acounted sacred yet now falling ou otherwise he taketh occasion to compare the doing● of King Henry the eight to the doing of his Progenitors K. Hen. 2. and this holy Father he compareth or rather preferreth to the holy Martyr St. Thomas of Canterbury saying that his K●ng Henry did not onely 〈◊〉 the imp●ety of that K●ng but also went farre beyond him for where he slew one this sl●w many St. Thomas defended the right of one particular Church this of the Universall that King killed an Archbishop but this King hath put to death a Cardinall of the holy Church of Rom● that King exiled St. Thomas by long banishment but this King tormented this holy man by long hard imprisonment he sent unto S. Thomas certain hired men to kill him to this was ●ssig●ed onely a hungman he caused St. Thomas to be sl●in by a forcible death but this by a shameful torment hath killed the holy man of God he in conc●usion sought to purge himself before Alexander the third and laying the fault upon others did with humility take upon him such 〈◊〉 as was to him enjoyned by the B●shop of Rome but this with a most obstinate ●inde defended his own horrible fact shewing hims●lf not onely unwilling to do penance but also b●cometh a stubborne and rebellious enemy against the Church of Rome Then consider what that man of happy memory Cardinall Poole wr●teth of him in sundry places of his works who in his life● time both knew him and was familiarly acquainted with him but specially in that book which he wrote to King Henry the eight intituled Pro Ecclesiasticae Vnitatis def●●sione wherein he extolleth the name of this blessed Prelate with words according to his great worthinesse saying to the King that if an Abassadour had bee● to be sent from earth to heaven there could not among all the Bishops and Clergy so sit a man be chosen as he for what other man saith he have ye presently or of many yeares past had comparably with him in sanctity learning wisdome and carefull diligence in the office and duty of a Bishop of whom ye may justly above all other N●tions glory and rejoice that if all the corners of Christendome were narrowly sought there could not be found out any one man that in

to her service he might have been where he was twice together perpetuall dictator who afterwards mounted the high capitoll of Chancellourship of that University a dignity which is able to adorne the brightest Purple But now Vicechancellour-ship Mastership and all must be laid downe as at her feet who with her knees requites the courtesie whiles she kneels unto him as her Ghostly Father Remaining in which office he behaved himselfe so temperately and discre●tly that both the Countesse and her whole Family were altogether governed and directed by his high wisdome and discretion Having by these opportunities lodg'd much Divinity within his Mistris Soule and the Divine himselfe within her heart he makes it soon known unto the world what love it was wherewith he p●osecuted so faire an opportunity viz. to make his Mistresse a most glorious Queen in Heaven and himselfe acceptable in doing good improving all that opportunity not to the advantaging of himselfe in worldly honour but to the inclination of his Mistresse minde to workes of Mercy and finding in her owne naturall disposition a liberality and bountifulnesse to all sorts of people his worke was onely to advise her that that bounty should not ru●ne a course where it might be sure to lose its due reward but that it might b●stow it selfe in deeds of Almes as to the poor in redemption of Captives in marrying poor and distressed Virgins reparation of Bridges and High-wayes in many such deeds of Charity he implored her who easily was won thereto to imploy so large a Talent as God had given her that she might reap plentifully by sowing much Nor did he suffer her to rest thus satisfied with the distribution of such doles of bread and worldly food but at his perswasion also she erected two noble and goodly Colledges in Cambridge to the glory of God and benefie of his Church The one whereof she dedicated to Christ our Saviour and called it Christs Colledge largely endowing the same with store of maintenance for all manner of Learning whatsoever this Colledge she in her life time beheld built and finished of Stone and Brick as it now standeth The other she dedicated to Saint Iohn the Evangelist endowing it with like proportion of maintenance to the same intent and purpose but she lived not to see this Colledge finished but it was compleated after her death by this good Man at his owne cost and charges as hereafter shall bee declared Also upon his motion she ordained a Divinity Lecture in Cambridge and another in Oxford to be openly read in the Schools for the benefit of such as should be Preachers to the intent that the darke and hard places of Scripture might be opened and expounded in maintenance whereof she gave good store of Land to be disposed as stipends to the Readers and that for ever What good cannot such a Man doe who held such keyes within his hand such a Lady at his feet CHAP. II. 1. His preferment to the Bishoprick of Rochester 2. His contentednesse with that small Diocesse 3. His promotion to the high Chancellorship of Cambridge 4. His care and vigilance in that office 5. His opposing of Martin Luther 6. His excommunicating of Peter de Valence and his tender-heartednesse therein 7. His election to the Master-ship of Queens Colledge THese proceedings of his together with many other performances of deeds of Charity procured from others whereof not any one was ever performed whereunto according to his ability he did not set his helping hand together with his daily Preaching to the people with most carefull diligence gained him so much love and reverence from all sorts of people especially from the Bishops and all the Clergy in generall that that most worthy and grave Prelate Bishop Fox Bishop of Winchester a man in no small authority and estimation with King Henry the 7. of whose Councell he was never left so commending of him to the King upon all occasions as he saw his time convenient for his virtuous life and perfect sanctity untill such time as by the death of William Barous Bishop of London Richard Fitz Iames Bishop of Rochester being translated unto that See the B●shoprick of Rochester became void he found his opportunity to present this Doctor Fisher as a fit and worthy Pastor for that Cure nor was it otherwise possible but that so great a glory about the Moon should borrow though but by reflection some small lustre from the Sun whereupon the King directed his Letters to the Chapiter of the Church of Rochester to the intent they should elect the nominate within his letter for their Bishop whereunto without any the least contradiction or negative voice they all most willingly assented which act of theirs was shortly afterwards confirmed by the See Apostolick by Iulius the second Pope at that time in the Month of October in the year of our redemption 1504. and of his age 45. This sodain● and unexpected promotion of this holy Man in regard he never had been formerly advanced to any other dignity of the Church caused some to suspect and deem it as a thing that was purchased either by his Mistresse purse or favour from the King her Sonne which when it was told unto the King his Majesty replyed Indeed the modesty of the Man together with my Mothers silence spake in his behalfe Solemnly protesting that his Mother never so much as opened her mouth for him in that particular And openly affirming that the pure Devotion perfect Sanctity and great Learning which he had observed and often heard to be in the Man were the onely advocates that pleaded for him the truth whereof may be gathered out of the very Statutes of S. Iohn's Colledge in Cambridge where he took occasion to praise much to the honour of the King at whose hands so frankly and so freely he received this Donation The like mention he makes of the Kings bounty and liberality towards him in his Epistle Dedicatory to Richard Fox Bishop of Winchester before the book which he wrote against O●colampadius where he makes mention of the King as his chiefest and best friend and patron So farre was this good man from making any meanes by friends to be a ●ishop that all the friends he had could scarce perswade him to accept the Office after that it was granted to him Which modesty of his was very much confirmed by the sequell of his deeds for at one time after another being offered the two great Bishopricks of Lincolne and Ely he refused both and from the hands of Hen. 8. but we may behold him in the foresaid Epistle Dedicatory not only satisfying but enjoying himselfe with his little shock where his words have this beginning Habeant al●● proventus pinguiores c. Others have larger Pa●tures but I have lesser charge of Soules so that when I shall be called to an account for both I shall be the better able to give an account of either Not making so high and heavenly an office a

sort of people to be so like the Nature of Islanders changeable and desirous of Novelties and how Luthers Doctrine was now come from private whisperings to open proclamations whereby all authority either of Pope or Emperour King or Bishop or any superiority whatsoever was much vilified and debased a new way of Salvation found out a neerer readier and cheaper way to Heaven propounded and liberty of conscience promised to all that were Believers in his Gospell all thinking him a brave fellow and who but Luther that cared neither for Pope nor Emperour this holy Prelate began to looke about and bestir himselfe and questionlesse had out-rid the storme had not his hand been taken from the steerage and the head Pilot when the poor fishers head w●● off wilfully cast away the Ship For Hereupon this good Bishop first acts the part of a good Chancellour and set all right in that University in generall especially in those Colledges whereof he had peculiar jurisdiction where he took an occasion to provide in the Statutes that the Fellows of those Houses should so order their Studies as that the fourth part of them might be Preachers so that as soon as one was gone abroad another should be ready to succeed in his place that if it were possible the young Cubbe might be catch'd at his first arrivall Then he returned to his pastorall charge at Rochester and there setting his owne Diocesse in good order he fell to Writing and diligent Preaching procuring others whose abilities were best known unto him to doe the like but perceiving the disease to grew desp●rate as it had done in Saxony and other parts of Germany and the rest of the Physitians not so ready to set thereto their helping hands as the necessity of the cause required he not onely called for help from the King but by his perswasions and at his instance the King himselfe set upon the head of all those mischiefs and wrote a book against Luther intituled An asser●on of the seaven Sacraments against Martin Luther So learned and so worthy a piece as that thereby he worthily deserved the title of D●f●nder of the Faith Which upon that occasion was given unto him by Leo the tenth then Pope of Rome which book was supposed by divers to be written by my Lord of Rochester whereupon he obtained leave from the King that he might goe to Rome as it is conceived to take farther order concerning the settlement of those affaires and having obtained leave likewise of his Metropolitan and disposed his houshold and ready to set forward in that expedition all was dashed by reason of a Synod of Bishop● together with a Synod of the whole Cleargy which was then called by Cardinall Wolsey by reason of his power Legantine lately conferred on him by the Pope which stop to his designe he bare with lesse reluctancy because he hoped that much good to the Church might happily be wrought thereby but in the end perceiving the Synod rather to be made a concourse whereby to 〈◊〉 unto the world the great authority wherein the Cardinall was invested and that he might be seen sitting in his Pontificality than for any great good that was intended he spake as followeth Bishop Fisher his Speech in the Synod MAY it not seem displeasing to your Eminence and the rest of these Grave and Reverend Fashers of the Church that I speak a few words which I hope may not be ou● of season I had thought that when so many learned men as substitute for the Cleargy had been drawn into this body that some good matters should have been propounded for the benefit and good of the Church that the s●andals that lye so heavy upon her men and the disease which takes such hold on those advantages might have been h●reby at once removed and also remedied who hath made any the least proposition against the ambition of those men whose pride is so offensive whiles their profession is bunnility or against the incontinency of such as have vowed Chastity how are the goods of the Church wasted the Lands the Tithes and other Oblations of the devo●● an●●stors of the people to the great scandall of their posterity wasted in super sluos ri●tous expences kew can we exbort our Flo●ks to fly the pomps and vanities of this wicked world when we that are Bishops set our mindes on nothing more than that which we forbid if we should teach according to our doing how absurdly would our doctrines sound in the eares of those that should hear● 〈◊〉 and if we teach 〈◊〉 thing and doe another who believeth our report which would seem to them no otherwise than as if we should throw downe with one hand what we built with the other we prtach Humility Sobriety contempt of the world c. and the people perceive in the same m●n that preach this D●ct●ine Pride and Haughtinesse of wind● excesse in Apparrell and a resignation of our selves to all worldly pomps and vanities and what is this otherwise than to set the people in a stand whether they shall follow the sight of their owne eyes or the beli●fe of what they 〈◊〉 Excuse me reverend Fathers seeing herein I blame no man more than I doe my self for sundry times when I have setled my selfe to the care of my Flock● to visite my Diocesse to governe my Church to answer the enemies of Christ suddenly there hath come a message to me from the Court that I mu●● attend such a triumph receive 〈◊〉 an Embassadour what have we to doe with Princes Courts if we are in love with Majesty is there a greater excellence than whom we serve if we are in love with stately buildings are there higher roofes than our Cathedrals if with Apparell is there a greater ●rnament than that of Pristhood or is there better co●pany than a Communion with the Saints Truly most reverend Fathers what this vanity in temporall things may worke in ●ou I know not but sure I am that in my selfe I finde it to be a great impediment to Devotion wherefore I think it necessury and high time it is that we that are the heads should begin to give example to the inferiour Cl●argy as to these particulars whereby we may all the better be conformable to the Image of God for in this trade of life which we now leade neither can there be likelihood of perpetuity in the same state and condition wherein we now stand or safety to the Cleargy A●te● that he had uttered these and many other such like words to this effect with such a gravity as well became him they all seem'd to be astonished by their silence and the Cardinalls state to become him not so well seeingm CHAP. V. 1. Luther's rayling against the King 2. Fisher writ●th in the Kings behalfe 3. The effect of a Sermon which he preached at S. Pauls crosse 4. Occolampadius his Doctrine and beginning Fisher opposeth him 5. The King leaveth off all care of Kingly government gives

himselfe wholly to sensuality 6. Laies his whole trust in the C●rdinall Wolsey's character 7. His solicitation for the Bishoprick of Toledo afterwards for the Papacy is r●fused both ABout this time it was that Luther an● wered the Kings Book wherein he used such scur●ilou● railing against the King as is not to be m●ntioned far beneath the appro●ement of a sanctified spirit and the dignity of a sacred person Whereupon This Bishop in vindication of the Kings honour and defence of the truth w●it an Apologie whereby he rebuked the Authors vilany and abuse of a P●ince of so great dignity the title of which Book was A defence of the King of England 's assertion of the Catholique Faith against Martin Luther's Book of the Captivity of Babylon which Book he dedicated to his deare friend and old acqu●intance Dr. West Bishop of Ely Shortly afterwards he writ another book intituled A defence of the holy order of Priesthood against Martin Luther Upon the Quinquagesima Sunday which was in the yeare of our redemption 1525. this holy and most learned Bishop preached a most excellent Sermon at S. Paul's Crosse where Cardinall Wolsey Legate a latere with eleven Bishops great resort of the Nobility and G●ntry were present which was performed with such fe●veney of faith zeal● to the Catholique Church and force of arguments grounded upon Scripture that one Robert Barnes an Augustin Friar and five more infected with Lutheranism were thereby converted and abjured their Errors and for their Penance stood openly at St. Paul's Crosse. Upon the Octaves of the Ascension he preached also another most admirable Sermon in the presence of the Cardinall and all the Bishops c. wherein he shewed himself a most stout and zealous Champion and Defender of his Faith ta●ing no l●sse the severall curers of soules with n●glig●nce than the people with levity About this time ●rose out of Lather's Schoole one O●colampadius like a mighty and fierce Giant who as his Master had gone beyond the Church went beyond his Master or else it had been impossible he could have been reputed the better Scholler who denied the reall preseuce him this worthy Champion sets upon and with five bookes like so many smooth stones taken out of the River that doth always run with living water slays the Philistine which five books were written in the year of our Lord 1526. at which time he had governed the See of Rochester twenty years which books of his nor any other of his books that he ever writ were ever answered About this time it was that the King left off the Kingly Occupation as they called it wherein he had governed this Realme with great wisdome and moderation whereby he became as all wise Kings doe aim at beloved at home and feared abroad and addicted himself wholy to sensuall pleasure and delight leaving the Ministry of his state wholy to the disposition of the Cardinall who was a man though but meanly and obs●urely borne yet of an excellent wit voluble speech quicknesse of memory haugh●inesse of courage well bred sufficiently learned and one that knew how to behave himself among persons of the greatest rank and quality and that in businesses of greatest weight and importance who besides that he was Arch bishop of York and Bishop of Winchester at the same time and Abbot of S. Alb●ns and had the B●shopricks of Bath Woroester and Hereford in Farm at small rents the Incumbents being Strangers and continually living in their owne countries whereby he might dispose of all presentations and promotions of those Bishopricks as freely as if they had been his own and was Legat● à latere whereby he might convocate the Clergy at his pleasure besides what he received from Italy by reason of his dignity of Cardinall he was also Lord Chancelour of England whereby in a manner he formerly ruled all under the King also in matters temporall and to g●ve him his due he so beh●ved himselfe in Government that he won from all wise men great praise for his indifferency to all sorts of people whether they were rich or poore onely his fault was that he governed himself the worst of all for all this was not sufficient except he was more and more was nothing except he was most of all For The Arch-bishoprick of Toledo in Spaine being void he made meanes unto the Emperour Charles the fifth and to that purpose procured the Kings Letters whereby that great dignity might be conferred upon him but the Emperour noting his ambition would in no wise condescend thereto That failing it happened that Pope Leo the tenth died whereby the Papacy became void then he bestirred himself exceedingly together with all his friends and besides his own Master the King of England he made means unto the King of France who upon certain grounds moving him thereto took great paines in his behalfe but all was disappointed by the Emperor who had so wrought with the Conclave of Cardinalls that they elected Cardinall Hadrian one who formerly had been Tutor to the Emperour for their Pope a man of singular and rare Vertue and Learning CHAP. VI. 1. The Revenge which the Cardinall took again●● the Empero●● for withstanding his ambition● 2. The Scruple which he put into the Kings head concerning Queen Katherine This Scruple the ruine of the Clergie 3 The King is fallen in love with Anne Bullein 4. Her Character 5. The King resolved to go thorough-stitch with the Div●rce 6. The Kings dealing with Fisher in that behalfe Fisher's answer to the King THis lay boyling in the Cardinals stomach so hot that he never rested till he had set variance between the King his Master and the Emperour which he performed by causing the King to enter into a strict league and amity with the King of Fr●nce whereby the Emperours occasions were much hindred and to aff●ont him the more together with the feare of a blind Prophesie which was told him viz. that a woman should be the confusion of him and fearing it might be the Queen Katherine in regard she was Aunt unto the Emperour whom he thus purposed to ma●gne he began to set the straw on fire that was under her bed by putting a new Scruple into the Kings head of marrying his Brothers Wife wherefore taking his opportunity when he saw the King best disposed he fell into discourse with him of the great unhappinesse that was befalne the nation and how great a pity it was he had not issue M●l● to succeed him in the Crown of England whereat the King began to stare upon him but answered him not a word while the Cardinall proceeds to tell him that there might be a way found out how with Gods blessing he might have plenty whereat the King began to thrust his thumbs under his girdle and to cry Hob man hoh lawfully begotten Cardinall lawfully begotten Yet lawfully begotten replied the Card. I speak no more than what I am able to make good and justly whereupon he

nor any man else shall have occasion to m●st●ke of my words With which answer the Lieutenant departed from him and so the Prisoner falling againe to rest sl●p● soundly two houres and more And after h● was waked he called to his man to help him up but first of all he commanded him to take away the shirt of haire which accustomably he wore on his back and to convey it privlly out of the house and instead thereof to lay him forth a clean white sh●●● and all the best apa●rel he had as cleanly brushed as may be and as he was in arraying 〈…〉 Abou● nine of the Clock the Lieutenant came againe to his prisoner and finding him almost 〈◊〉 said that he was come now for him I will wait upon you straight said he as fast as this thin body of mine will give me leave Then said he to his man reach me my 〈◊〉 ●ppet to put about my neck O my Lord said the Lieutenant what need you be so careful for your health for this little t●me being as your self knoweth not much above an houre I think no otherwise said this bless●d Father but yet in the mean time I will keep my selfe as well as I can till the very time of my execution for I tell you truth though I have I thank our Lord a very good desire and a w●lling minde to die at this present an● so trust of his infinite mercy and goodnesse he will continue it yet will I not willingly hinder my health in the mean●t me one minute of an houre but still prolong the same as long as I can by such reasonable waies and meanes as Almighty God hath provid●d f●r me With that taking a little book in his hand which was a N. Test. lying by h●m he made a Crosse on his forehead and went out of 〈…〉 doore with the 〈◊〉 being to weak that he was scarce able to go downe staires wherefore at the 〈◊〉 foo● he was taken up in a chaire between two of the 〈…〉 and carried to the Tower gate with a great number of weapons about him to be delivered to the Sher●ffs of London for execution And as they were come to the uttermost pr●cinct of the liberty of the Tower they rested there with him a space till such time as one was sent before to know in what readinesse the Sheriffs were to receive him during which space he rose out of his chaire and standing on his feet leaded his shoulder to the wall and lifting his eyes towards 〈◊〉 opened his little book in his hand and said O Lord this is the last time that ●ver I shall open this book let some comfortable place now chance unto me whereby I thy poore servant may glorisie thee in this my last house and with that looking into the book the first thing that came to his sight were these words Haec est ●utem vita aeterna ut cognoscant 〈◊〉 solum verum Deum quem 〈◊〉 Iesum Christum Ego te glorificavi sup●r terram opi●us consummavi quod dedists mihi ut faciam Et nunc clarific●tu me 〈◊〉 apud 〈◊〉 〈…〉 c. and with that he shut the book together and said Here is even learning enough for me to my lives end And so the S●eriff being ready for him he was taken up again among certain of the Sheriffs men with a new and much greater company of weapons than was before and carried to the Scaffold on the Tower-hill otherwise called East-●smith●●●lt himselfe praying all the way and recording upon the words which he before had read and when he was come to the foot of the Scaffold they that carried him offered to help him up the staires But then said he nay Masters seeing I am come so farre lee me alone and ye shall see me shift for my self well enough and so went up the staires without any help so lively that it was mervail● to them th●● knew before of his debility and weaknesse but as he was mounting up the staires the South-east Sun shined very bright in his face whereupon he said to himselfe these words lifting up his hands Accedite ad eum illuminamini facies vestrae non consundentur By that time he was upon the Scaffold it was about ten of the clock where the Executioner being ready to doe his office kneeled downe to him as the fashion is and asked him forgivenesse I forgive thee said he with all my heart and I trust thou shalt see me overcome thi● storme lustily Then was his Gown and Tippet taken from him and he stood in his Doublet and Hose in sight of all the people whereof was no small number assembled to see this Execution there was to be seen a long lean and slender body having on it little other substance b●sides skin and bones insomuch as most part of the beholders mervailed much to see a living man so farre consumed for he seemed a very Image of Death and as it were Death in a mans shape using a mans voice and therefore it was thought the King was something cruell to put such a man to death being so neere his end and to kill that which was dying already except it were for pity sake to rid him of his pain When the innocent and holy Man was come upon the Scaffold he spake to the people in effect as followeth Christian people I am come hither to die for the faith of Christs holy Catholique Church and I thank God hitherto my stomack hath served me very well thereunto so that yet I have not feared death wherefore I desire you all to help and assist with your prayers that at the very point and instant of deaths stroke I may in that very moment stand stedfast without fainting in any one point of the Cathol Faith●free from any fear And I beseech Almighty God of his infinite goodnesse to save the King and this Realme and that it may please him to bold his hand over it and s●nd the King good Councel These or the like words he spake with such a cheerefull countenance such a stou● and constant courage and such a reverend gravity that he appeared to all men not onely void of Feare but also glad of Death B●sides this he uttered his words so distinctly and with so loud and cleare a voice that the people were astonished thereat and noted it for a miraculous thing to heare so plain and audible a voice come from so weak and sickly an old body for the youngest man in that presence being in good and perfect health could not have spoken to be better heard and perceived than he was Then after these few words by him uttered he kneeled down on both his knees and said certain Prayers among which one was the Hymn of Te Deum Laudamus to the end and the Psalm In te Domine Speravi Then came the Executioner and bound a handkercheif about his eyes and so this holy Father lifting up his hands and heart towards heaven