and therefore hath not God graunted your desire But I am a poore simple man as you sée and God hath heard my complaint and I trust he will strengthen me in his owne cause When their prayer would not preuaile they aduised to say a masse to sée what that would worke In the meane time Rawlins be tooke him to prayer in a secrete place till such time as the Priest came to the sacring When Rawlins heard the sacring bell ring he rose out of his place and came to the quire dore and standing a while turned himselfe to the people speaking these wordes Good people if there be at the least but one brother among you the same one shall beare witnesse at the day of iudgement that I howe not to this Idoll meaning the host that the Priest helde ouer his head Masse being ended and Rawlins persisting constant the Bishoppe procéedeth to sentence and hauing condemned him dismisseth him to be carried againe to Cardiffe there to be put into the prison of the towne called Clockemacell a very dark lothsome and most vile prison where Rawlins passed the time in singing of Psalmes About thrée or foure wéekes after he hauing intelligence that his tyme of death drewe néere sendeth foorthwith to his wife and willeth her by the messenger that in any wise she should make readie Rawlins wedding garmēts and send vnto him his wedding garments meanyng a shirte which afterwarde hée was burned in Whiche was accomplished accordyng to his mynde Now apparelled in his wedding garments when the houre was come and he passed to his death in the way his poore wife and children stood wéeping and making lamentation which so pearced his heart that hee let fall teares from his eyes but soone after as though he had misliked his infirmitie beganne to be angry with himselfe insomuch that striking his brest with his hande hée vsed these wordes Ah flesh stayest thou me so wouldest thou faine preuaile Rawlins a worthy martyr Well I tell thée do what thou canst thou shalt not by Gods grace haue the victorie By this time hée came to the stake and going towards it he fell down vpon his knées and kissed the ground and in rising againe the earth a little sticking on his face he saide these words Earth vnto earth and dust vnto dust thou art my mother and to thée shall I returne Then went he cherefully and very ioyfully to the stake and set his backe close thereunto and when hée had stoode there a while he cast his eye vpon the Reporter of this History calling him vnto him and sayde I féele a great fighting betwixt the Fleshe and the Spirit and the Fleshe woulde very fayne haue his swinge and therefore I pray you when you séeme any thing tempted holde your finger vp to me and I trust I shall remember my selfe After the Smith had made him fast to the Stake according as hée had required him being afrayde of his infirmitie and the Officers began to laie wood to him with strawe and réede hée himselfe as farre as hée could reach would catcht the same and very chéerefully disposed it about his bodie When all thinges were readie then stept vp a Priest addressing himselfe to speake and to peruert the people Which when Rawlins Rawlins perceiued hée beckened with his hand to the people and said come hither good people and heare not a false prophet preach And then said vnto the preacher oh thou naughtie hypocrite doost thou presume to prooue thy false doctrine by Scripture Looke in the text what followeth did not Christ say doo this in remembrance of mée after which wordes the Priest beyng amazed held his peace Then some that stood by cried put too fire put to fire which being put to he bathed his handes so long in the flame till the sinewes shrunke and the fatte dropped away and once he did as it were wipe his face with one of them All this while which was somewhat long he cried with a loud voice O Lord receiue my soule vntill he could not open his mouth He was at the same time of his death about 60. yéeres of age About this time Anno 1555. the 28. of March Quéene Marie was fully resolued and declared so much to foure of her Counsell to restore the Abbey landes againe to the Church And the moneth before the 19. of Februarie the Bishoppe of Ely with the Lord Montague and viij score horse were sent as Ambassadors from the king Quéene vnto Rome very likely for the cause of Abbey landes as it appeareth by the sequele For it was not long after but the Pope did set foorth in print a Bull of excommunication for all manner such persons without exception that kept any of the Church landes The P. excommunicateth those that hold Abbey lands Pope Iulius the monster dyeth And also all such as did not put the same Bull in execution About the latter end of this Moneth Pope Iulius dyed a monster of nature who missing on a time his Porke and answere being made that his Phisition forbad it because of his goute bursting out into a rage he vttered these wordes bring me my porke flesh in the despight of God An other time missing his cold Peacocke Popes Peacocke most horribly blasphemyng God he brake into a rage Wherevpon when one of his cardinals sitting by labored to pacifie him what said Iulius the Pope if God was so angry for one apple that hée cast our first parents out of Paradice therefore A blasphemous Pope why may not I being his vicar be angry then for my Peacocke sithence a Peacocke is a greater matter then an apple Hée confirmed the idoll of Lauretane Vpon Shrouesunday which was about the iij. of March the same yéere a préest in Kent named Nightingall parson of Crondall besides Canturbury reioycing at the alteration of religion and reading to the people the popes Bull of pardon that was sent into England hée sayd hée thanked God that euer hée had liued to sée that daie adding moreouer that hée beléeued that by the vertue of that Bull hee was as cléere of sinne as the night that he was borne and immediatly vpon the same fell suddenly downe out of the Pulpit Gods iudgement and neuer stirred hand nor foot but so died Testified by Robert Austen of Cartham who both heard and saw the same and it is witnessed also of the whole country round about In the moneth of Aprill and the second day Iohn Awcocke died in pryson and was buried in the fieldes The first of Aprill Anno 1555. a letter was sent to the Shiriffe of Kent to apprehend Thomas Woodgate and William Maynard for preachyng secréetly and to send them vp to the Counsell The vij day of the same moneth was sent another letter to the said Shiriffe for the apprehension of one Hardwich who went about with a boy with him preaching from place to place The fiftenth of Aprill a letter was directed
fayth in Christ shall ouercome them c. In fine Chadsey perswaded him to consider of himselfe and to be wel aduised To whom M. Philpot said he would his burning day were to morow for this delay said he is euery day to die yet not to be dead So for that time they dismissed him The 12. examination was on Wednesday the fourth of December before the Bishop of London Worcester Bangor After Masse the Byshop called him before him into his Chappell and recited the Articles which often tymes he had done before with depositions of witnesses of whom some were not examined Philpot againe refused him for Iudge So he was had away and anone after he was called for to come before him the Byshop of Bangor Who being before them they cauilled with him where his religion was an hundreth yeare ago accusing him of singularitie c. and so dismissed him til after noone At which time he appeared againe and after reasoning with him touching the reall presence they againe dismissed him till Thursday after which was the 13. examination On which day he appeared before the Archb. of Yorke and other Bishops as the bishop of Chichester Bathe London c they reasoned with him touching the true Church and the authority thereof and vniuersality But being not able to deale or preuayle with him in strength of argument nor verity of their cause they departed The same day at night againe Boner called for him and required him to say directly whether he would be conformable or not To whom he answered that he required a sure proofe of that Church whereto Boner called him which when Boner could not prooue they gaue him ouer vntil the xiij or xiiij daye of December On which dayes the Bishop sitting iudicially in his Consistorie at Paules caused him to be brought thither before him and others and obiected vnto him 3. articles 1. That he refused to be reconciled to the Church 2. That he had blasphemed the masse Articles against M. Philpot. and called it Idolatrie 3. That he denied the reall presence And exhorted him to recant and to returne to his Romish Church Whereto when M. Philpot had shewed that he was not out of the church that he had not spoken against the masse nor sacrament of the Altar He was once againe dismissed till the sixtéenth day of the same moneth on which day when neither threatninges nor faire allurementes could mooue him The B. after he had brought foorth a certaine instrument containing articles and questions agréed vppon both in Oxforde and Cambridge and had exhibited two bookes in print the one the Catechisme made in King Edwardes dayes anno 1552. The other concerning the true reporte of the disputation in the Conuocation house which Philpot acknowledged to bée his penning without any iust cause he could pretend against him by forme of lawe Boner condemneth Philpot procéeded to his tyrannical sentence of condemnation so commited him to the Sheriffe whose officers led him away And in Pater noster row his seruaunt méeting him lamented to whom Philpot said content thy selfe I shal do well ynough thou shalt sée me againe So the officers had maister Philpot to Newgate whom Alexander the kéeper vsed very rigorously and would not strike off his yrons vnder foure pound but put him in Limbo Whereof the Sheriffe vnderstanding caused Alexander to vse him more gently Vpon Tuesday at supper being the 17. of December he had worde from the Sheriffe to prepare himselfe for the next day he should be burned Maister Philpot answered and said I am readie God graunt me strength and a ioyfull resurrection In the morning the sherifes came about viij of the clocke and called for him and hee most ioyfully came down vnto them When he was entred into Smithfield because the way was foule two Officers tooke him vp to bear him to the stake To whom he said merily what will you make me a Pope I am content to goe vnto my Iourneyes ende on my feete But first comming to Smithfielde M. Philpot payeth his vowes in Smithfield hée there knéeled downe vpon his knées saying with a loude voice these wordes I wil pay my vowes in thée O Smithfield When he was come to the place where he should suffer he kissed the stake and said Shal I disdaine to suffer at this stake séeing my Redéemer did not refuse to suffer most vile death on the crosse for me Then méekely he said the 10. 107. and 108. Psalmes The fire being put vnto him hee yelded his soule vnto God whose trueth he had witnessed the eyghtéenth day of December He wrote many fruitfull Letters Anno. 1556. 1556 Seuen persons burned together in Smithfield To beginne the new yere withall about the xxvij of Ianuarie were burned in Smithfield these seuē persons following Thomas Whittle Priest Bartlet Green Gentleman Iohn Tudson Artificer Iohn Went Artificer Thomas Browne Elizabeth Foster wife Ioane Warren alias Lashford maide all together in one fire The Articles obiected against them were touching the seuen Sacramēts the Sacrifice of the Masse the Sea of Rome c. Thomas Whittle was apprehended by one Edmund Alabaster and caried to the Bishop of Winchester lying sick hoping to be preferred for his diligence but the Bishop repulsed him So he was had to Boner who did beate buffet him and cast him into prison D. Harpsfielde offered him a Bill to subscribe vnto consisting of generall tearmes the rather to deceiue Whittle So he subscribed but afterwarde felt such horror in his conscience that he could not be in quiet till he had gotten his bill againe T. Whittle repenteth and is condemned T. Whittles Letters and rent away his name from it So the Bishoppe condemned him after many perswasions to haue made him recant and committed him to the Secular power He wrote diuers Letters of comforte and exhortation The next day after was Bartlet Greene condemned He had béene Student in Oxford and there by hearing the lectures of Peter Martir hee came to haue knowledge of the trueth Afterward he was Student of the common lawes in the Temple The cause of his first trouble was an answere to a letter of Master Goodmans banished at that time beyonde the Seas Wherein hee wrote that Quéene Marie was not dead whereof Master Goodman desired to bee satisfied These Letters came into the Counsels handes and they would haue made treason thereof if the lawes would haue serued But after they had long deteyned him in the tower and elswhere they sent him to Bishop Boner to be ordered after their Ecclesiasticall manner Against whom Sir Iohn Bourne then Secretarie to the Quéene was a principall dooer The xvij of Nouember at two of the clock in the after noone he was presented before the Bishop of London and two other Bishops Master Deane M. Roper M. Welch Doctor Harpsfielde D. Dale Master George Mordant and Master Dee Before whom after he had shewed the cause
the time of Licinius till Iohn Wickliffe was bound vp Sathan bound vp til Wicliffe Constantine deferred baptisme till his old age because he determined a iourney into Persia and thought in Iordan to haue béene baptized He entered into the Empire Anno 311. and raigned 30. yéeres as Letus saith 32. lacking two moneths Constantine borne in England Helena daughter of king Coilus Constantines mother He was borne in Brytaine His mothers name was Helena daughter of king Coilus He greatly trauelled for the peace of Christians and before hée had conquered Licinius wrote to his subiects inhabiting the East in their fauour He set also peace among the Bishops in the Church who were at dissention and made prouision for ministers and teachers of the people and caused all to be restored vnto the Christians that had béene taken from them in the persecutions Constantine a father of the Church writing to Syluius his chiefe Captaine to that end and commaunded him that in Affrica where he had to doo and where Cecilianus was bishop that Clarkes and ministers should be freed from all manner publike duties burthens He was greatly studious in taking vp causes among the bishops and wrote to that end to diuers as to Miltiades bishop of Rome to Crescēs bishop of Siracusa to Cecilianus bishop of Carthage also to Eusebius for the edifying of new Churches And after he had gathered the Nicene Councell Nicene councell for the vnitie of the Church he writeth to Alexander and Arrius to the same entent He prescribed a certaine prayer for euery one of his souldiers in stead of a brief Catechisme caused them to learne the same Constantine teacheth his souldiers a prayer which is this Wée acknowledge thée onely to be our God we confesse thée onely to be our king we call vpon thée our onely helper by thée we obtaine our victories by thée we vanquish our enemies to thée we attribute whatsoeuer commodities we presently enioy and by thée we hope for good things to come vnto thée we direct all our suits and peticions most humbly beséeching thée to kéepe Constantine our Emperour and his noble children to continew in long life and to giue them victory ouer all their enimies through Christ our Lord. Amen He graunted great immunities to the ministers that they might appeale from the ciuil iudge to their bishop Appeale granted by Constantine whose sētence was of as great value in such cases as if the Emperour himselfe had pronounced it He prouided also maintenance for liberall artes and sciences for the professors Prouision for learning their wiues and children and gaue thē great immunities He wrote also to Eusebius the B. of Nicomedia to procure 50. volumes of parchment wel boūd and cause to be written out of the scripture therein in a legeable hand The scriptures written for the vse of the church such things as were profitable for the instruction of the Church and allowed him two ministers for the businesse Finally he was a father to the Church and enforced himselfe euery way to set forth the Gospel and euery good thing and endeuoured to suppresse the contrary Constantine baptised a little before his death He was baptised at Nicomedia of Eusebius Bishoppe of Nicomedia in the 31. yéere of his raigne a little before his death The end of the ten persecutions The rest of this history concerneth chiefly the affaires of the Church of England and Scotland The rest of this history concerneth chiefly England and Scotland England receiued the Gospel in Tyberius time GIldas affirmeth that Britain receiued the Gospel in the time of Tiberius the Emperor vnder whom Christ suffred and that Ioseph of Arimathea after the dispersiō of the Iews was sent of Philip the apostle out of France into Britain ann 63. And here remained al his time and laid the foundation of the Gospel Easter kept in England after the maner of the East church The Gospel came into Enland from the Cast and not from Rome In the time of Bede almost a thousand yeeres after Christ as he testifieth Easter was kept after the manner of the East Church in the full moone what day of the wéeke soeuer it fell and not on the sunday as we doe now Wherby it may appeare that the preaching of the Gospell came into this land from the East and not from Rome About the yéere 180. King Lucius sonne of Coilus king of Britains which now are called English men hearing of the miracles done by Christians in diuers places K. Lucius the first Christian K. of England Fugatius and Damianus at that time wrote to Eleutherius B. of Rome to receiue of him the Christian faith who sent him therevpon certain preachers Fugatius or by some Faganus and Damianus or Dimianus which conuerted first the king and the people of Britain and baptized them and subuerted the temples and monuments of idolatrie And the 28 Flamines they turned to bishops and thrée Achflamines to thrée Archbishops hauing their seates in thrée head cities London Yorke and Glamorgantia by Wales This king also sent to him for the Romane lawes to frame his people therafter who answered that the lawes of God was to be his direction for lawes and not the Romanes that might be reproued the other being without exception Thus was the Christian faith confirmed in this lande by the meanes of Eleutherius Eleutherius and therein it continued two hundred and sixtéene yeres till the comming of the Pagane Saxons King Lucius raigned 77. yeres and died without issue the yere of our Lord 201. the xiiij yere after his baptisme some say the iiij and some the tenth and was buried at Glocester By reason that the king died without issue the Lande was spoyled and the Romanes inuaded and became sometimes masters When they raigned Gentilisme was aduaunced and when the Britaines the Gospell Albeit no persecution touched the Britaines that is read of Almost all Christianitie destroyed in England before the last persecution of Dioclesian and Maximinianus Herculeus At which time all Christianitie was almost in the whole land destroyed Now the Britanes being greatly distressed and brought to miserie the Archbishop of London called Gnetelinus procured helpe out of lesse Britanie and brought ouer Constantinus the kings brother by whose meanes the state of Religion and Common-wealth was in some quiet all the time of Constantine and the Archbishop till Vortiger cruellie caused his Prince to be slaine and inuaded the Crown Gnetelinus Archb. of London And fearing the other two brethren of Constantine his Prince Aurelius and Vter in litle Britaine he caused aide to be sent for to the Saxons being then Infidels and married him selfe also with Rowen an Infidel the daughter of Hengist Which Hengist depriued him and his people and droue the Britaines out of their Countrey after that the Saxons had slaine of their Nobles two hundred thrée score and eleuen some say foure
or learning his name was Richard Fitzrafe Richard Fitzrafe he was brought vp in the vniuersitie of Oxford vnder Iohn Badenthorp Iohn Badenthorp who was a great enemy to begging Friers whose steps also the scholer following began to doo the like and being called vp to London made seuen or eight Sermons wherein hée propounded nine Conclusions against the Friers 9. Conclusions against the Friers for the which hée was by the Friers cited vp before Pope Innocent the sixt before whom he valiantly defended himselfe and continued constant therein vntill his dying day his sufferings and deliuerances were maruellous great The controuersie for the Friers helde very long in the church they had of popes some mainteiners A long controuersie of the Friers Their fauourers some aduersaries Mainteiners Honorius 3. Gregory 9 Alexander 4. Clemens 4. Boniface 8. Clemens 5. Against them Innocētius 3. Innocentius 4. Martinus 4 Benedictus 11. The learned men that disputed against the Friers Their assistants were these which either were condemned by the Popes or caused to recant Guilielmus de sancto amore Bernardus super capitulum Omnis vtriusque sexus Godfridus de fontibus Henricus de Gandauo Guilielmus de Landuno Iohannes Monachus Cardini Iohannes de Poliaco who was caused by the Pope to recant at Paris Armachanus who wrote a Booke Defensorium Curatotorum Defensorium Curatorum and for his defense of Curates against the Fryers hée was banished besides other vexations seuen or eight yéeres and died in the same banished at Auinion of whose death a certaine Cardinall hearing openly protested that the same day a mighty piller of Christes Church was fallen Against this Armachanus Armachanus a mighty pillar of Gods church wrote diuers Friers After the death of Pope Innocent was Pope Vrban 5. who by the fathers side was an Englishman he mainteyned and kindled greate warres in Italie sending Egidius his Cardinall and Legate and after him Ardiminus a Burgundian his Legate and Abbot with a great puisance and much money against sundry cities in Italie by whose meanes Cities and townes which before had broken from the pope were oppressed Also Bernabes Galeaceus princes of Millaine vanquished by whose example others béeing feared submitted themselues to the church of Rome How Rome commeth by her patrimony and thus came that wicked Church by her great possessions which her patrones would néedes father vpon Constantine the godly Emperour In the time of this Pope and in the second yéere of his raigne about the beginning of the yéere 1364. vppon the euen of the natiuitie of the Lord the fourth Sunday of Aduent one Nicholaus Orem Nicholaus Orem preached a Sermon before the Pope and his Cardinalles in which he rebuked the Prelats priestes of his time and threatneth their destruction not to be far off by certain signes taken from their corrupt life c. His Text was out of the sixe and fifty of Esaie My sauing health is neere at hand to come and my righteousnes to be reuealed Iesuits begin In the fift yéere of Pope Vrban began first the order of Iesuites Vnto this time which was about the yeare 1367. the offices here in England as the L. Chancelour L. Treasurer and of the priuy seale were wont to be in the handes of the Cleargy Offices remoued from the Cleargie to the Laity but about this yéere through the motion of the Lordes in the Parlement and partly for hatred of the Cleargie all those offices were remooued to the Lords temporall The P. remoueth from France to Rome againe After the death of Vrban succéeded Gregorie the eleuēth who among his other actes first reduced agayne the papacie out of Fraunce vnto Rome which had nowe beene from thence the space of seuentie yeres being therto mooued as Sabellicus recordeth by a Bishoppe who being blamed by the Pope for long absence from his charge answered and why are you so long absent from the place where your Church doth lye Wherevpon the pope sought all meanes after that to remoue his Court out of Fraunce into Rome This Pope Gregorie 9 in a certaine Bull of his sent to the Archb. of Prage maketh mention of one named Melitzing a Bohemian Melitzing a Bohemian and saith in the same that he should teach Anno 1366. that Antichrist was alreadie come and that the same Melitzing had certayne congregations following him and in the same congregations certaine harlots who being conuerted frō their wickednes were brought to a godly life which harlots hee vsed to prefer before al the holie religious virgins wherefore he commaunded the Archb. to excommunicate and persecute the said Melitzing which hée did and also imprisoned him King Edward the third holding a Parlement in the third yéere of this Pope sent his Embassadours to him desiring him that hée from thencefoorth would abstaine from his reseruations of benefices vsed in the court of England and that spirituall men within this Realme promoted vnto Bishoprickes might fréely enioy their elections within the Realme and be confirmed by their Metropolitane according to the auncient custome of the land whereto the Pope sent an answere but when it is not recorded sauing that the yeare following Anno 1374. there was a tractation at Bruges vppon certaine of the said articles betwixt the King and the Pope which did hang two yéeres in suspence so at the length it was thus agréed betwixt them that the Pope should no more vse these reseruations of Benefices in Englande The P. should no more vse reseruations of benefices in England and likewise the King shoulde no more giue Benefices vppon the Writte Quare impedit c. But nothing was touched concerning the fréedomes of elections confirmed by the Metropolitanes As touching these reseruations prouisions and collations with the elections of Archbishops Bishops beneficed men c. wherewith the Pope vexed the lande the king in the fiue and twentie yere of his reigne enacted according to the Statute made in the thirtie yeare of the reigne of his Grandfather king Edward the first against the like pillage and rauening but not put in practise reuiued it and inlarged the same adding moreouer thereunto other straight and sharpe penalties against such as offended in any parte of the same And in the Parlements holden the 27. and 28. yeares of his reigne it was decreed that whosoeuer for any cause of controuersie in law either Spirituall or Temporall whether they were personall or reall Premunire to make appeale to Rome for any cause should appeale or consent to any appeale to be made to the sea of Rome should incur the daunger of a Premunire About this time beyng the yéere of our Lord 1370. liued holy Brigit whom the Church of Rome hath not onely canonized for a Saint Holy Brigit a great rebuker of the popish clergy but also for a prophetesse yet in her bookes of Reuelations she was a great rebuker
ordeine the Masse 7. If the Pope be an euil man hee hath no power ouer faithfull Christians except it be giuen him from the Emperour 8 Since the time of Vrban 6. there is none to be receiued for Pope but to liue after the manner of the Greeks 9. That church goods may be taken from the Clergie if they so deserue The erronius opinions were these 10 That no prelate ought to excōmunicate any man except he knew him first to be excmōunicated of God 11 That he which doth so excommunicate is therby himself excommunicated or an heretick 12 That any person excōmunicating him that hath appealed to the king or counsel is thereby himselfe a traitor 13 That they that for feare leaue the hearing or preaching of the word of God are therefore already excommunicated and in the day of iudgement shall be counted as traitors to God 14 That it is lawfull for any Deacon or Prieste to Preache without licence of the Pope or Popishe Clergie 15. That so long as a man is in deadly sinne he is neither Bishop or prelate in the church of God which article séemeth to be hardly gathered of them 16. That all the temporall Lordes may take away temporall goods from the churchmen if they so deserue 17. That tenths are pure almesse Tenths are pure almesse 18. That all speciall prayers applied to any priuate or particular person by any religious man or Prelate doth no more profite the same person then generall or vniuersall prayers doo profite others which be in like state with them 19. That whosoeuer entereth into any priuate religion is thereby made the more vnapt to kéepe the commaundements of God 20. That holy men which haue instituted priuate religions haue grieuously offended 21. That religious men in their pryuate religions are not of the Christian religion 22. That Friers ought to liue by their labour 23. That whosoeuer giueth almesse fo Friers is in daunger of cursse Now when the Archbishop Suffraganes and Prelates c. were assembled at the Grayfriers in London vpon saint Dunstons day after dinner about two of the clocke and should go about their busines a terrible earthquake A terrible earthquake fell thorough all England The Archbishop endeuored by all means to abolish Wickliffe and his doctrine and to that effect wrote both to the Bishop of London to the commissary of Oxford and also sollicited the king against the same Vpon Wickliffes conclusions were examined Nicholas Herford Phillip Repington and Iohn Ashton bachelers of diuinitie who at length with somwhat adoo confessed Wickliffes articles to be heretical or erronious after a sort some of them being taken in some sense construed which kind of answere because it pleased not the prelats they were appointed to be examined againe of certaine speciall points where their answere was not direct and full before In the examination of Iohn Ashton the archb required that he would answere in the Latine tongue because of the Lay people that stood about him but Ashton refused so to do and answered in his mother tongue and so behaued himselfe that the Archbishop called him hereticke and erronious Persecution and at the same time the archbishop being desirous as he pretēded to be informed by Thomas Hilman bacheler of diuinitie there being present somewhat fauouring Iohn Ashton what his iudgement was touching the said conclusions assigned vnto him also a deliberation to appeare with Nicholas Herford Phillip Repingdon at which time Thomas appeared and pronounced the articles all hereticall or erronious Nicholas and Phillip for not appéering were excommunicated for contumacie Against which excommunication the parties excōmunicated exhibited an appeale vnto the B. of Rome which appeale the archb vtterly reiected sent a letter to M. Rigge cōmissary of Oxford to make diligent search for Nicholas Herford Phillip Repington to apprehend them to send them vp personally to appéere at a certaine day prescribed for the same and sollicited the King to ioyne his sword to assist him whereto he also yéelded and directeth his letters to that effect both to the Archb. and to the Vicechancellor of Oxford which was anno 1382. The vicechancellor the same time was Robert Rigges the proctors Iohn Huntman and Walter Dish who then as far as they durst fauoured the cause of Iohn Wickliffe that side in so much that the same time yéere 1382. when certaine sermons publike should be customably appointed at the feast of the Ascension and of Corpus Christi to be preached in the cloister of S. Frisewide now called Christ church before the people by the Vicechancellor the Proctors the doing thereof was committed to Phillip Repington The fauourers of Wickliffe appointed to preach Nicholas Herford so that Nicholas should preach on the Ascēsion day Repington on the Corpus Christi day In which sermon on Corpus Christi day Phillip preached among other matters that the Pope and Bishops ought not to be recommended aboue temporall Lords and that in all moral matters he would defende Wickliffe as a true Catholike Doctor And finally his sermon concluded hee dismissed the people with this sentence saying I will in the speculatiue doctrine as pertaining to the matter of the Sacrament of the altar kéepe silence till such time as GOD otherwise shall instruct and illuminate the heartes of the Cleargy Against this Philip Peter Stokes a Carmelite Stokes an enimy to Wickliff was a great aduersarie And a while after the Vicechauncelor and Brightwell went vp to London to purge themselues and their adherentes of the accusations of this Frier and béeing examined vppon the articles of Iohn Wickliffe they did consent that they were woorthely condemned and so were with somewhat adoe discharged and commaunded séeke out the fauourers of Iohn Wickliffe whereof Nicholas Herford and Philip Repington hauing priuy warning by the Vicechauncellour conueyed themselues away and fledde to the Duke of Lancaster Duke of Lancaster forsaked the scholers of Wickliffe who yet forsooke them for feare or somewhat else not expressed So soone as they were fledde the Archbishoppe directeth letters to the Vicechancellour and to the Bishop of London named Robert Braisbrocke to excommunicate them and to lay for them both in Oxford and in London that they might bée apprehended This was the fourtéenth of Iuly Anno 1382 after which Repington in the same yéere the thrée and twētieth of October was reconciled to the Archb. and so was Iohn Ashton About the 23. of September the same yéere Repington reconciled and so Aishton the king called a parlement for a subsidy and the Archbishops and Prelats a Conuocation in the monastery of Saint Friswide in Oxford where in the third day of the assembly in the presence of the prelates Philip Repington Repington abiureth otherwise called of the brethren afterward Rampington abiured his former conclusions and the doctrine of Wickliffe immediatly after was brought in Iohn Aishton who refused to answere and
but hée giueth full remission of all manner of sinnes whatsoeuer to all them that would bestow any thing to the Monastery of S. Bartholmew by Smithfield resorting to the said Church any of these daies following On maundy thursday goodfriday the feast of the Annunciation from the first ensuing to the latter But within the same yéere hée died and after him succéeded Iohn 23. Pope Iohn 23. In the time of Alexander great trouble grew in Bohemia by reason of the bookes of Iohn Wickliffe which were embraced of diuerse but specially of Iohn Husse Iohn Husse by whose means the people began to grow to great knowledge wherof complaint was made to Alexander 5. that caused by by Iohn Husse to be cited vp to Rome when he came not directed his letters to the archb Swinco charging him to forbid that way condemne such as he should apprehend for heretikes except they would recant Against which Bull Husse obiected many things shewed how it stood against the word of God An appeale to the same better aduised and therefore saith he from this mandate of pope Alexander I doo appeale to the said Alexander being better aduised And so as he was prosecuting his appeale immediatly Alexander died Then Swinco when he saw that Iohn Husse contemned the bull and had no hope in Vinceslaus the king of redresse he wēt to complaine to Sigismund king of Hungary and brother to Vinceslaus with whom after hée had spoken immediatly he died for sorrow By reason of whose death the Gospell tooke roote among the Bohemians Pope Iohn 23. bendeth all his power against the Bohemiās which held not long for Iohn the 23. bent all his might against the Bohemians About the yéere 1412. Thomas Arūdell brought into England the tolling of Auies in honor of our lady with certaine Auies to bee saide The tolling o Auies and daies of pardon to bee giuen for the same and for the ratifying hereof he directeth his mandate to the B. of London He graunted to euery one that shoulde say the Lords praier and salutation of the Angel fiue times at the morning peale with a deuout mind totiens quotiens 40. daies of pardon for saying Auies how oft soeuer 40. daies of pardon This Archb. was so proud that because the bels of London did not ring at his comming to the citie Bels steeple organs suspended by a proud Bishop he suspended both belles stéeple and organs til the ministers of such churches might attaine to the benefite of grace and mercie For this cause of ringing belles debate also fel betwéene the B. of Worcester and Pryor of the towne insomuch that the Archb. was saine to take vp the matter betwixt them such was the pompe and pride of Prelates in those daies Not vnlike was the dealing of William Courtney Predecessour to Arundell who because certaine poore men did not bring litter for his horse in cartes but in sackes did call and cite them before him sitting in his tribunal seate Pro littera A contention pro littera for litter that is for litter after his owne Latine and after their submission enioyned them penance that they going leisurely before procession Penance for bringing litter in sacks not in Carts euery one of them should carry openly his sacke or bagge stuffed with hay and straw so that the hay and straw might appeare hanging out of the mouths of the sacks being open the names of the poore men were Hugh Pennie Iohn Forestall Iohn Boy Iohn Wanderton William Hayward and Iohn White tenaunts to the Lorde of Wingham In this kings time diuers actes were established against the authoritie of the Pope and excesse of his Cleargy In the first yéere it was obiected against Richard 2. that he procured letters Apostolicall from the Pope to confirme certaine statutes of his which seemed to the Parlement to tend to the disgrace of the crowne and dignity and against the liberties of the land In the 2. yéere it was required in the Parlement that all such persons as should be arrested by force of the statute made against the Lollards in the 2. yeere of king Henry the the fourth may bée bayled and fréely make their purgation In the eight yéere it was propounded that none shoulde sue to the Church of Rome for anie Benefice collation or presentation of the same vnder paine of the statute of Prouisoes made in the 13. yéere of Richard the 2. whereunto the king graunted Item in the same parlement it was put vp in petition that the King might enioy halfe of the profites of anye Parsons benefice not resident thereon wherevnto the king answered that Ordinaries shoulde doe their dueties therein or els he woulde prouide further remedy or staye their pluralities The 9. yéere of the kings raigne the commons required the king that none presented be receiued by any ordinarie to haue any benefice of any incumbent for any cause of priuation or inhabitation wherof the processe is not foūded vpon Citation made within the realme and also that such incumbents may remaine in all their benefices vntil it be proued by due inquest in the court of the K that the citations whervpon such priuations inhabitations are granted were made within the realme if such ordinaries do or haue presented or others doe present to the contrary that thē they and their procurators c. incurre the pain conteined in the statute made against prouisoes ann 13. Richard 2. Also that no Popes collectour shoulde from thenceforth leuie any money within the realme for first fruits of any ecclesiastical dignitie vnder paine of incurring the statute of prouisoes A bill in Parlement to take the temporalties from the Cleargy Besides in the same parlement the commons of the land put vp a bill vnto the king to take the temporalties out of the spiritual mens hand The effect of the bill was that the temporalties disorderly wasted by men of the Church might suffice to finde the king fiftéene Earles fiftéene hundred knights sixe thousand two hundred Squires and an hundred houses of almes more then were in those dayes in the land And ouer all these charges the K. might put yerelie in his Cofers 20000. l. Prouided that euery Earle should haue of yerelie rent 3000. markes euery knight 100 markes and foure Plow land euery Squire 40. markes by the yere with two plow land and euery almes house with ouersight of two true Seculars to euerie house and also with prouision that euerie Township should kéepe al poore people Towne-dwellers which might not labor for their liuing with condition that if mo fell in a towne than it was able to mainteine the said almes houses to reléeue such townes And to beare these charges they alledged by their bill that the Temporalties being in the possession of Spiritual men amounted to thrée hundred and two and twentie thousande markes by the yere whereof they affirmed to be in the sea
contrary wil mainteyn defend the law of our Lord Iesu Christ and the deuout hūble and constant preachers thereof euen to the shedding of our blood dated at Sternberg ann 1415. c. Round about the same letters were 54 seales hāging and the names of them whose seales they were 54. seales to the letter subscribed An. 1414. by Henry Chichley Archb. of Cāterbury much was the affliction and trouble of good men here in England which cruelty Iohn Claydon Iohn Claydon currier of London Richard Turming Rich. Turming first tasted of The 17. day of August an 1415. Iohn Claydon did personally appeare arrested by the mayor of London for suspition of heresie before Henry Chichley Archbishop of Canterbury in Paules Church who being demaunded Constancy denied it not but frankly confessed that for 20. yéeres space he had bin suspected therof for which also he had suffered 2. yéeres imprisonment at Conuey thrée yéeres in the Fléete out of which prison he in the raigne of king Henrie the fourth was brought before L. Iohn Scarle then Chancelour to the king and there did abiure all heresie and errour And being demanded of the Archbishop confessed that since his abiuration he had in his house written English bookes of religion and had frequented the company of diuers godly mē Which confession being made the Archb. did command the bookes to be deliuered to maister Robert Gilbert Doctor of diuinity William Lindwood Doct. of both lawes and other Clearkes to bee examined And in the meane time Dauid Beare Alexander Phillip and Balthasar Mero were taken for witnesses against him and were committed to bee examined to maister Iohn Escourt general examiner of Cāterbury This done the Archb. continued his session til munday next in the same place which was the 20. day of the same moneth and maister Escourt publikely exhibited the witnesses which being read there were after that read diuers tractations found in his house out of which especially out of a booke called the Lantern of light The Lanterne of light that Claidon at his owne costs caused to be written by one called Ioh. Grime being examined diuers points were gathered and noted for heresie Articles First that the Pope was Antichrist and the enimy that sowed tares among the lawes of Christ That the Archbishops and Bishops speaking indifferently are the seats of the Beast Antichrist That the Bishoppes license for a man to preach the worde of God is the Character of the Beast That the Court of Rome is the head of Antichrist and the Bishoppes the bodie That no reprobate is a member of the Church That Christ did neuer plant priuate religions That the materiall Churche shoulde not bée decked with golde The causes of persecution That Priestes vnlawfully kéeping temporall goodes and vnsatiable begging of Friers were the twoo chiefe causes of the persecution of Christians That almes were to be giuen to the honour of GOD onely of goodes iustly gotten to bée giuen to one that is in charitie and to those that haue néede That often singing in the Church is not founded on the scripture That bread and wine remaine in the Sacrament That all Ecclesiasticall suffrages doe profite all godly persons indifferently That the Popes Indulgences bee vnprofitable That the Laytie is not bound to obey the prelates in what so euer they command except the prelates doe watch to geue God a iust accompt of their soules That Images are not to bée sought to by pilgrimages For these articles the archb with the rest did condemne and burne I. Claydons bookes and procéeded to a definitiue sentence of condemnation against him and shortly after hée was had to Smithfield where méekly he was made a burnt offering vnto the Lord an 1415. R. Fabian addeth that Richard Turning Baker was the same time also burned in Smithfield The next yere 1416. the archb of Canterburie in his Conuocation holden at London maketh sharper constitutitions then were before Sharper constitutions then before against the Lollards During the time of which Conuocation two priestes noted for Heretikes were brought before the Bishops the one Iohn Barton and the other Robert Chappel Iohn Barton Robert Chappell Barton because he had béene excommunicated and so stoode 6. or 7. yeres before vpon articles of religion yet sought no reconciliation which being proued against him he was committed to Philip B. of Lincoln to be kept in prison til otherwise it were determined R. Chappel otherwise Holbech sometime chaplen to the L. Cobham because he being vnder excōmunication 3. or 4. yeres did yet in contēpt of the keyes continue saying masse preaching sought no reconciliation So the session brake vp for the time which was about the end of May 1416. The 12. of Iulie next following Chappel submitteth Chappel appeared againe and submitting himselfe with much a doe receiued pardon and was in stead of penance enioyned certayne articles to publish at Paules Crosse As Articles enioyned Chappel that Prelates might lawfullie holde Temporall Lawes That it were vniust and vnlawfull for temporall men vpon any occasion to take away the Prelates temporalties notwithstanding the abuses of them That peregrinations are auaileable to the remission of sinnes That to worship Images doth profite Christians That auricular confession is necessarie That though a priest be in mortall sinne yet may he make the body of Christ That Priestes ought not to preach without the Bishoppes licence That priuate religions are profitable to the vniuersall Church That hee woulde promise and sweare neuer to holde any thing against the premisses Diuers caused to abiure After the setting out of the constitutions of H. Chichesly Archb. of Canterburie diuers godly men were sore vexed and caused outwardly to abiure as Iohn Tayler of the parish of S. Maries at Querne William Iames Master of art and Phisitian who had long time remayned in prison also Iohn Duerfer Iohn Gourdeley of Lincolnshire wel commended for his learning Katherin Dertford a Spinster the Parson of Hyggley in Lincolnshire named M. Robert William Henrie of Tenderden Iohn Gall a Priest of London Richard Monke Vicar of Chesham in Lincolnshire with other mo Collection for the P. to war against the Bohemians During the time of the Conuocation prouinciall Pope Martin had sent down to the cleargie of England for a subsidie to be gathered of the Church to mainteine the Popes warre against the Lollards of Bohemia Also another subsidie was demanded to persecute William Clarke master of arte in Oxford who sayling out of England was at the councell of Basill disputing on the Bohemians side and thirdly another subsidie was also required W. Clarke W. Russel to persecute William Russel which was Wardē of the Gray Friers in London who the same time was fledde and there escaped out of prison Among the rest which were at this time troubled for their faith was Radulph Mungin R Mungin priest against whom it was articulated at
abhorring this shamelesse practise anno 1517. vp openly the Temple ioyning to the castle of Wittemberge the morrow after the feast of all Saintes certaine propositions concerning Indulgenes Luther an augustine fier Whereupon the Frier Tecellius inueighed against Luther in his sermons calling him heretike and worthie to be persecuted with fire and burned Luthers Propositions opēlie and a Sermon which he wrote of Indulgences This rage of the Frier caused Luther to intreate more amplie of the matter Luther accused to the B. of Rome wherefore he was accused to the Bishop of Rome and minding as yet no further indeuoured to get the popes fauour writing vnto him for the same with all submission in these wordes Most holie Father Luther writeth to the P. I offer my selfe prostrate vnder the feete of your holinesse with all that I am and that I haue Saue me kill me call me recall me approue me reproue mee as you shall please your voice the voice of Christ in you speaking I will acknowledge If I haue deserued death I shall be contented to die c. This was in the yéere of our Lord one thousand fiue hundred and eightéene Dialogues against Luther Eckius against Luther Not long after the impudent dealing of Frier Tecellius steppeth out one Siluester de Priero a Dominike Frier which published rayling dialogues against Luther Vnto whom Luther made answere againe Next after this Siluester stepped vp Eckius and impugned the conclusions of Luther With whome encountred D. Andreas Bedensteme Archdeacon of Wittemberge making his apologie in the defence of Luther Afterwarde Martin Luther was cited vp the 7. day of August by one Hieronimus Bishop of Ascalon to appeare at Rome The Vniuersitie of Wittemberg hearing therof directed vp their letters with their publike seale to the P. in Luthers behalfe Duke Frederike also by his letters sued to Cardinall Caietanus who was then at Augusta that the cause of Luther might be fréed from Rome and remoued to Augusta to the hearing of the Cardinall The Cardinal at the Dukes suite wrote to the Pope and receiued answere that hee shoulde call Luther before him at Augusta and if he foūd him obstinate that he should interdict him with al his adherents and mainteiners whosoeuer the Emperors person only excepted The Pope also directeth other letters at the same time to Duke Fred. complayning with many gréeuous words against Luther P. cōplaineth against Lut. About the beginning of October M. Luther came to Augusta at the charges of the prince Elector and hauing obteined safeconduct from the Emperor Maximilian presented himself to the cardinal who propounded vnto him 3. things 1. That hée should reuoke his errours 2. That he should promise from that time forward to abstaine from the same 3. That hée should abstayne from any thing that might trouble the Church whereunto hée answered that he was perswaded it was sound and Catholike which hée had said and that he was ready to answere to that should be obiected against the same and that concerning the matters he would heare the iudgement of the vniuersities of the Empyre Basill Friburg and Louane After this Luther prepareth an answere by and by to Caietanus teaching that the merites of Christ are not committed to men that the Pope may erre that hée ought to bee reprehended that authoritie of Scriptures ought to leade in matters of faith that the extrauagant containeth vntrueths c. The Cardinall woulde heare no Scripture but commaunded Luther to come no more in his presence except hée woulde recant yet Luther abode there still and departed not The Cardinall sent for Iohannes Stupitius Vicar of the Augustines and mooued him earnestly to bring Luther to recant of his owne accord Luther tarried two daies after and nothing was saide vnto him Luther submitteth himselfe the third day hée deliuered his minde in writing submitting himselfe and promising that he would haue more moderation and that touching the matter of pardons hee would procéede no further Onely he saide he could not retract his sentence before defended for so much as he had said nothing but with a good conscience and that was agréeable to the testimony of the Scriptures This wryting the Cardinall lightly regarded Which when Luther sawe and tarrying yet two dayes longer vnderstanding that the Cardinall had saide that he had commaundement to imprison Iohn Stupitius and Luther after he had made and set vp his appeale he departed from the Cardinall After Luthers departure the Cardinall writeth a sharp letter vnto duke Fredericke declaring the dangerous doctrine of Luther and exhorteth the Duke to tender his owne honour and safetie and to expell Luther out of his dominions Whereto the Duke answereth both purging himselfe and Luther desiring the Cardinall to be a meanes to the Pope that innocencie and truth be not oppressed before the errour be lawfully conuicted This doone the Duke sendeth the letter of the Cardinall to Luther Luther writeth again to the duke and declareth how he was dealt with at Augusta what he offered and how he attended offering also him selfe to banishment to auoyde the malice of his enimies no doubt both the Duke and Luther were brought into a streight In which meane time the Vniuersity of Wittenberg wrote their letters in defence of Luther which caused the Duke now seriously to hearken to his cause This was ann 1518. about the beginning of December In the mean time in the moneth of Nouember the pope sendeth forth new indulgences into Germany New pardons and into all quarters with a new edict wherein he declareth that the bishop of Rome hath power to release dispense and to grant indulgences auaileable aswell for the liuing as the dead lying in the paynes of purgatorie Luther in the meane time hearing how they minded to procéede against him at Rome appealeth from the Pope to a generall Councell which the Pope vnderstanding practiseth with the Duke by flatterie and by secrete letters to Noblemen of the Dukes Councel that they might remoue the Dukes minde from Luther But before Melitus his ambassador approached Germanie Maximilian Maximilian died an 1519. in the moneth of Ianuarie and through the meanes of Frederike Prince Elector the Empire fel to Carolus v. surnamed Prudens about the end of August In the moneth of Iune before there was a publike disputation ordained at Lypsia a citie in Misma A disputation of Lipsia vnder the dominiō of George duke of Saxonie vncle to duke Frederick At that disputation Eckius and Carolostadius disputed of frée will and thether came Luther and Phillip Melancthon to heare what was doone Luther not minding nor purposing to dispute but there beyng prouoked he disputed with Eckius of the Popes supremacie of Purgatorie of Indulgences and of Penance This was in the moneth of Iuly an 1519. About the beginning of which yéere Zuinglius Zuinglius came first to Zurich and taught who at Zurick withstood Sampson a Frier that
at the suite of his friendes and by perswasions after thrée seuerall examinations and testimonies geuen to the trueth he relented Whereupon he fell into such gréefe of minde that he could not be quiet till he had occasion offered to recouer himselfe which afterward he did denying to the Iudges agayn that which before he had yelded vnto them This Galleazius was firste instructed in the truth by an Augustine Frier named Maniardus and afterwards more throughly confirmed by Celius Secundus Ex Celio Anno 1538. Did one Iohannes Mollins 1558 I. Mollins a Gray Frier secretely expound the Epistle of S. Paul to the Romans to a few Which being knowen his auditors increased so that he was compelled to read openly in the Temple At the same time was one Cornelius at Bononie a vaine babler him did Cardinall Campeius require to interprete the same Epistle also to disgrace Mollins But Mollins excelled him and drew to him his auditors Which when Cornelius perceiued hee perswaded the Cardinall to dispatch Mollins So a disputation was appointed betwixt them which indured till thrée of the clock after midnight From which disputation Iohannes departing was taken comming downe at the lowest steppes and caried to prison In the meane season Laurentius Spatha L. Spatha generall of his order in most spéedie wise posted vp to Rome and so preuayled in Mollins behalfe that the P. wrote downe his letters to Cāpeius that Iohannes should be deliuered out of prison so that within 3. monethes after he shoulde personally appeare at Rome Thus the 30. day of his imprisonment he was deliuered who but for the comming of the Popes letters had béene burned within 3. dayes after Whē he came to Rome he was not permitted as he desired to dispute openly but enioined to write his mind in articles to bring his proofes which he diligently performed intreating of original sinne iustification by faith frée will purgatorie c. Vpon this certaine Cardinals and Bishoppes were assigned to haue the cause in hearing who disputed with him 3. dayes and could not refell that which he had proued At the last answere was made him that it was trueth which he affirmed neuerthelesse the same was not méete for this present time for that it could not be taught nor published without the detriment of the Apostolike sea wherfore he should abstaine hereafter from the epistles of S. Paul and so again return safe to Bononie and there professe philosophie Thus being returned home he declareth all the matter in the pulpit wherewith Campeius more offended then before obteyned of the pope that the generall of the order shoulde remoue Molins from Bononia and place him elswhere So from thence he was sent to Naples and there was appointed preacher in the Monasterie of S. Laurence But Petrus the viceroy there could not abide his doctrine and so néerely sought his life that hee departed and went wandring into Italie from place to place preaching Christ Not long after this Campeius being dead he returned again to Bononia being called thether by a good Abbot named de Crassis an 1543. De Crassis 1543 where he renued againe the reading of Paules Epistles after a secrete forte but that could not long be vndiscouered Whereupon by meanes of Cardinal de Capo and by Bonauentora the Generall he was apprehended the second time and brought to Fauentia and there layd in a filthie stinking prison where he continued 4. yeres no man hauing leaue once to come to him During which time he wrote a Commentarie vpon the bookes of Moses which labor was suppressed by the aduersaries At length through the intercession of the Earle Petilianus and the good Abbot de Cassis he was againe deliuered and sent to Rauenna where he made his abode a while with the Abbot after at Vitalem and there againe taught the gospel of Christ as before And whensoeuer he spake of the name of Iesu his eyes dropt teares he was so fraught with a mightie feruentnes of Gods spirite In proces of time whē the abbot was dead The zeale of Molins his sureties begā to be weary of their bond and so was he againe the third time imprisoned by the Popes Legats There were then 4. men of great authority who bayled him out of prison againe of whom one took him home to instruct his childrē at whose fame such a concourse came to sée him that the aduersaries consulted with themselues to kill him wherevpon commaundement was sent to the Popes Legates to lay hands vpon him and to send him vp fast bound to Rome where againe the fourth time he was imprisoned in the castle of Nouie and there continued eightéene moneths and at last the 5. of September anno 1553. there sat vpon him 6. Cardinals beside the iudge and condemned him with a weauer of Perusium in the temple of S. Mary called De Minerua first to be hanged then burned which sentence beyng pronounced against him he cited them vp to the tribunall seat of Christ and so they were both had to the place of execution and suffered méekely for the testimony of the truth Pantal. lib. 19. Anno 1554 two monkes of S Austine in Rome were found in their selles with their tongues heads cut off only for rebuking the outragious excesse of the Cardinals Manlius in dictis P. Melanct. The same yéere Franciscus Ganiba Franciscus Ganiba was first strangled and then burned at the city of Canum in the dioces of Millain for the testimony of the trueth hauing his tongue first boared that he might not speake Pantal. lib. 10. Anno 1555. Pomponius Algerius 1555 Pomponius Algerius was burned aliue at Rome after he had bin long deteined in prison at Venice where being in prison he wrote a notable Epistle to the afflicted Saints full of consolation An. 1559. Iohannes Aloisius 1559 I. Aloisius suffered at Rome And the same yere Iacobus Bouellus I. Bouellus at Messina They were both sent downe from Geneua to the parties of Calabria there to minister Ex Epist Sim. Flo. After Pope Iulius 3. 1560 Iulius 3. came Marcellus 2. Marcellus 2. After him Paulus 4. Paulus 4. After whom Pius 4. Who raysed such sharpe persecution in the kingdome of Naples that many Noble men with their wiues others were reported there to be slaine Pantal. lib. 11. The same yere 1560. 88. 88. Martirs together persons put together into one house both young old one after another were taken out of the house and so being laid vpon the butchers stall with one blouddy knife were all killed in order in Calabria Pantal lib. 11. The Pope promiseth It is to be noted that the Pope did promise Marques Buccianus gouernour of the prouince of Calabria to make his sonne a Cardinall of Rome if all the Lutheranes of that prouince were rooted out which might be the cause of this butcherly crueltie The persecution of Merindole and Cabriers ABout 200.
sparing none Before he came to Merind he rāsakt burnt certaine townes namely La Roche S. Stephens ville Laure Lormarin la motte Cabrieretter S. Martin Pipu The cruelty of Antichrist and other places mo notwithstanding the arrest onely extended to Merindole where the most of the inhabitants were murthered and slayne without any resistance women and maidens rauished women with child and little infants most cruelly murdered the paps of many women which gaue sucke to their children cut of and the children staruing at the breasts of there dead mothers such crueltie as was neuer before séene The Merindolians séeing all on a flaming fire about them left their houses with women and children and other few and with them certaine ministers of their Churches Miniers in the meane time had deuided his army into two parts marching with the one partie himselfe towards Merindoll and hauing knowledge by espiall whether the Merindolians were fledde hée sent the other part of his armie to set vppon them on a sudden who came and found them assembled at prayers and spoyled them of all that they had pulling their garmentes from their backes Popish crueltie some they rauished some they whipped and scourged some they sold away like cattle c. The women were in number about fiue hundred In the meane time Miniers came to Merindoll where hée found none but a yoong man named Maurice Blanc Maurice Blanc who had yéelded himselfe to a Souldier promising him for his raunsome 2. French crownes Miniers would haue had him away by force but it was answered the souldier ought not to loose his prisoner Miniers therefore paying the two crownes himself tooke the yoong man caused him to be tied to an Oliue trée shot through with harquebushes and so cruelly martired the yoong man still calling on God so hée razed Merindoll and laid it euen with the ground Merindoll razed and layed euen with the ground When he had so done he laid siege to Cabriers which whē he could not ouercome by force he promised thē fairly if they would let him enter in swearing hée would harme none of them wherevpon the people let him in who when he was once entered Miniers breaketh his oth with Cabriers falsified his oth and first picked out about thirtie men caused them to be caried to a certaine medow bound and there to bée miserably cut and hewen in péeces of his Souldiers hée exercised also great cruelty ouer the women and caused fortie of them to be taken of whom many were with childe and put them into a barne full of hey and straw and caused it to be set on fire at foure corners kéeping them that would breake out with pikes and halberts there was a Souldier which being moued with pittie at the lamentation of the women opened a dore to let them out but as they were comming forth the cruell tyrant caused them to be slaine and cut in péeces opening their bellies Meruailous crueltie that their children might fall out whom they trode vnder their féete many were fledde into the wineseller of the Castle and many hidde themselues in caues whereof some were caried into the medow and there stripped naked were slaine other some were bound two and two together and caried into the hall of the Castle where they were slaine by the Captaines reioycing in their buchery That doone this tyrant commaunded captain Iohn de Guy with a band of ruffians to go into the church wher was a great number of women children and yoong infants to kill all that he found there he although at first refusing yet being threatned performed the same The number of them which were slaine 1000. slaine was a thousand persons men women and children the infants which escaped their furie were baptized againe of their enemies In token of this ioly victory the Popes officers caused a piller to be erected in the place of Cabriers in which was engrauen the yeare and daye of sackyng the towne by Iohn Miniers Lord of Oped and chéefe president of the Parlement of Prouence In this meane season they of Merindoll and Cabriers which had fled to the mountaines being in great necessitie of victuals procured certaine men which were in fauour with Miniers to intreate him they might depart safely onely with their liues although they had no more but their shirts to couer their nakednes Whervnto he answered not one of them shal escape my hands I will send them to dwell in hell among the diuels After this there was a power sent vnto Cossa Cossa destroyed which likewise they ouerran and committed there great slaughter Many of the inhabitants fled away and went into an Orchard where the souldiers rauished the women maidens and when they had kept them there a day and a night they handled them so beastly that they died shortly after They which escaped to the woods and went wandring by mountains were taken and set in gallies or els were slaine outright many which hid themselues in rocks and dark caues some were famished some smoothered with fire smoke put to thē And this was the destruction of Merindol Cabriers This cause was afterward in the time of Henry the second fiftie times pleaded to and fro by one called Aubrius Aubrius against Minerius and another named Robertus the defendant but it could not be determined and Minerius was let out of prison and restored to his possessions and libertie agayne vpon condition made to Charles Cardinall of Loraine that he should expell the true professors out of al prouinces which he after his restoring practised accordingly Gods iudgmēt vpon Minerius other persecutors till being stricken of God he died of a rotting in his guts his entrals being eaten with wormes yelding a horrible stēch Lewis de Vanie brother in law to the president the brother son in law to Peter Durand maister Butcher of the town of Aix flew one another vpon a strife that fel betwixt them and on them the same day the judge of Aix who accompanied Minerius in the same persecution as he returned home going ouer the riuer of Durance fell of his horse and was drowned Pantal. The histories of the persecutions and warres against the Waldenses in the valleies of Angroigne Lucern S. Martin Perouse and other in the countrie of Piedmount from the yeere 1555. till the yeere 1561. ALbeit these people had before this time certaine to preach the word of God minister the sacraments vnto them priuatly yet in the yere of our Lord 1555. in the moneth of August the Gospel was openly preached in Angroign for which cause they built thē a church in the mids of Angroign wherin assemblies were made sermons preached It happened at that time that one Ioh. Martin of Griqueras a myle from Angroign which vaunted euery where that he would slitte the ministers nose of Angroign was assaulted with a wolfe which bit of his nose that he
printers themselues which before they neuer intended and imprinted out the said Bible in London and after that printed sundry impressions of them but yet not without great trouble and losse through the hatred of Steeuen Gardiner and his fellowes Steeuen Gardiner alwaies an enemie to the Gospel In those dayes there were two sundrie Bibles in English printed and set foorth bearing diuers titles and printed in diuers places The first was called Thomas Mathewes Bible Th. Mathewes bible printed at Hamborough about the yere 1532. The Corrector of which Printe was Iohn Rogers the Printers were Richard Grafton and Whitchurch In the translation of this Bible the greatest doer was William Tindall who with the helpe of Miles Couerdale had translated all the bookes thereof except onely the Apocrypha and certaine notes in the Margent which were added after But because William Tindall in the meane time was apprehended before his booke was fullie perfected it was thought good to them that had the dooing thereof to chaunge the name of William Tindall because that name was then odious and to further it by a straunge name of Thomas Matthew Iohn Rogers being the same time corrector to the print who had then translated the residue of the Apocrypha and added also certaine notes thereto in the Margent and thereof came it to be called Thomas Matthewes bible Which bible of Thomas Matthewes after it was imprinted and presented to the Lord Cromwell and the Lord Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury who liked very well of it Cromwell presented it to the king The Bible in English presented to the king and obtained that it might fréely passe to be read of subiects with his graces licēce So that there was printed on the same booke one line in red letters with these wordes Set forth with the Kinges most gracious licence This book did greatly offend the Bishops both for the prologues and especially for a table called of the common places of the Bible and the scriptures for the approbation of the same and chiefly about the supper of the Lord and priests marriages and the masse which there was said not to bée found in the Scripture After the restraint of this bible of Mathew another came to be printed at Paris anno 1540. which was called the bible of the large volume The Bible of the large volume The Printed that printed it was the former the ouerseer was Miles Couerdale who conferred Tindalles Translation with the Hebrewe and mended diuers places there In this Bible although the former notes of Thomas Mathew were omitted yet sundrie marks and hands were annexed in the margent which meant that in those places should be made certaine notes wherewith also the Clergie was offfended and Cromwel being dead complaintes were made to the king of the translation of the Bible and of the Preface of the same and then was the sale of the Bible cōmanded to be staied the B. promising to amend and correct it but neuer performed it The Bishops promisse to amend the Bible but performed it not Then Grafton was called for and troubled cast in the Fléete where hée remained sixe wéekes and before he came out was bound in 300.l neither to print to sell nor cause to be printed any mo bookes till the king and the clergie should agrée on the translation and thus was the Bible staied from that time during the reigne of king Henry the eight Anno 1541. D. Cutbert Barnes Doctor Barnes Thomas Garret and William Hierome were burned in Smithfield for the testimonie of Iesus Christ after the death of the lord Cromwell who whiles he liued was a great defence vnto diuerse that professed the truth but he being taken away many godly christians in diuerse places went to wracke Doctor Barnes after that he came from the vniuersitie of Louaine went to Cambridge where hée was made Prior and Maister of the house of Augustines at which time the knowledge of good letters was very scant in the Vniuersitie which Barnes thinking to redresse read in his house Terence Plautus and Cicero so that what with his labour and helpe of Thomas Parnell his scholer whom he brought from Louaine with him reading Copia verborum rerum he caused the house shortly to florish with good letters and made a great part of his house learned as M. Cambridge M. Field M. Coleman M. Burley M. Couerdall c. After these foundations laid he did openly read in the house S. Paules Epistles and put by Duns Dorbell Duns Dorbell put out of Cambridge and yet though he were a questionarie himselfe in short space made he diuerse good diuines obseruing disputations of necessarie points of faith in his house Disputations of points of faith rare in Cābridge in those daies also in the schooles when he should dispute with any man The first man that answered Doctor Barnes in the Scriptures was M. Stafford for his forme to be batchellour of diuinitie Which disputation was marueilous in the sight of the great blind Doctors notwithstanding all this till he was conuerted by Bylney D. Barnes conuerted by Bylney he remained in his superstition still The first Sermon that euer he preached according to the truth of the Gospell was the Sunday before Christmas day at S. Edwards church belonging to Trinitrie hall in Cambridge by the pease market whose theame was the Epistle of the same Sunday Gaudete in Domino c. For which Sermon he was immediatly accused of heresie by two fellows of kings hall Then the godly mē flocked and conferred together the house that they most commonly resorted vnto was the white horse which for dispite of them to bring Gods word into contempt was called Germany The White-horse in Cambridge called Germany This house was especially chosen because they of S. Iohns Kings and Quéenes Colledges might come on the backeside thether Doctor Barnes was accused in the regent house and constantly continued with much preaching of diuerse parties one against another in trying out Gods truth till within sixe dayes before Shrouetide then was there sent downe a Sergeant at armes called maister Gibson dwelling in Saint Thomas Apostle in London who suddainly arrested Doctor Barnes D. Barnes arrested in the Regent house and priuely they had determined to make searche for Luthers bookes and all the Germanes workes suddainly but by Doctor Farmans warning of Quéenes Colledge the bookes were conueyed away thirtie persons they had in speciall suspition Doctor Barnes was carried to Cardinall Wolsey and after hée had a while stood constant by the perswasion of Doctor Gardiner his secretarie and Foxe he relented and submitted himselfe Barnes submitteth himselfe and with fiue Stylliard men he bare his faggot at Paules the bishop of Rochester there preaching against Luther Doctor Barnes Notwithstanding his submission the Bishop commaunded hée shoulde be had to the Fléete againe and bée permitted to haue such libertie as other prysoners
indignation that their olde doctrine should be impugned and stirred vp a Gray fryer called Frier Toyttes to teach the people to pray yet to Saints A controuersie in Scotland whether the Lords prayer should be said to Saints or not Whereupon fel such a schisme that not only the Cleargie but also the people were deuided among themselues for the matter in so much that there rose a prouerbe to whom say you your Pater noster And the cleargie for to decide the same controuersie to put the people out of doubt assembled thēselues yet notwithstanding it so depended that it was thought good to call a principal coūsel to decide the matter which being assēbled at Edēburgh the papists wāting reason brast out into vnséemly spéech as frier Toyt being asked to whom he should say his pater noster The Fryer biddeth say the pater noster to the deuil answered say it to the deuil knaue In the end they that were called churchmē were deuided for some of the bishops and diuines consented that it should be said to saints but the B. of S. Andrewes Caitenes and Athenies refused vtterly to subscribe to the same Finally it was declared vnto the people that it should be said vnto God with certeine restrictions and so by little and little the bruite ceassed Anno 1558. W Mill 1539. Walter Mill. was the last that was burned in Scotland for the doctrine of the gospel the xx day of April before the B. of S. Andrewes Murray Brechin a number of other prelates He was brought to the metropolitane church where he was put in a pulpet before the bishops to be accused his weakenes partly of age ill vsage being such as it was thought he should not be able to be heard speake But when he began to speake he made the church ring sound againe to the confusion of the aduersaries and comfort of the godly And being long in his praiers sir Andrew Oliphant one of the Bishops priests called him sir Walter Mill arise and answeare to the Articles for you hold my Lord here ouer long In déede said he I haue béene ouer long one of the Popes knights for he had béene before a Papist but I am called Walter and not Sir When neither threates nor allurements could preuaile they condemned him for the article of Priestes marriages the seuen Sacraments the sacrament of the Altar pilgrimage Before sentence was pronounced Oliphant asked him wilt thou not recant thine erroneous opinions and if thou wilt not I will pronounce sentence against thée I am accused of my life saide hée againe I knowe I must die once friend therfore as Christ said to Iudas doe it quickly yée shall knowe that I will not recant the truth for I am corne I am no chaffe I wil not be blown away with the wind nor burst with the flaile but I wil abide both A notable speech of the martyr Such was his maruellous boldnesse constancie which did so moue the hearts of many that the B. steward of his regaltie prouost of the towne called Patrike Learmend refused to be his temporal Iudge to whom it appertained Also the Bishoppes Chamberlaine being therewith charged would in no wise take vpon him so vngodly an office Yea the whole town was so offended with his vniust condemnation that the bishops seruāts could not get for their money so much as one corde to tie him to the stake or Tarre barrell to burne him but were constrayned to cut the cords of their masters owne Pauilion to serue their turne So being tied to the stake hauing exhorted the people and praied fire being put vnto him he ended in the Lord with such chéerfulnes and constancie enduring his martyrdome that he was the last martyr in Scotland this was in the time of Mary Longawale Quéene regent of Scotland and Iohn Hamelton bishop of Saint Andrewes and primate of Scotland Anno 1511. Vnder William Warrham Archb. of Canturburie certaine martyrs that were omitted whiche suffered at that time with him because they are not to be forgotten are to be referred to that yéere They suffered for deniyng the Sacrament of the Altar c for auricular confession the extréeme vnction images pilgrimages prayer to saints holy bread holy water c. They denie all that they had vttered any thing against those popishe pointes yet witnesses who had partly abiured before and others against nature as the husband against the wife and children against the mother being brought forth they were condemned and put to death Their names were William Carder of Tenderden Weauer Agnes Grebill of the same towne of thréescore yéere old Robert Lawson of Halden of the age 60. Iohn Browne of Ashford Edward Walker of Maidston Cutler who all notwithstanding they promised to submitte themselues yet were they condemned The cause why the good woman so stood as she did to the deniall of those articles obiected against her was for that she neuer thought that her husband and her owne children who only were priuie of her religion would haue testified against her which when she perceiued she repented the time that euer she bare those children of her bodie So notwithstanding that she offered conformitie she was condemned and put to death Her husbandes name was Iohn Grebill her sonnes Christopher and Iohn Besides these which were put to death a number vnder Warren were forced to abiure the trueth against the reall presence confession sacrament of matrimony vnction pilgrimages Images Saintes holie water holie bread c. Also omitted before anno 1539. Iohn a Painter and Giles Germaine who were accused and condemned for heresie at London before the Bishop and other Iudges where by chaunce comming in one of the kings seruaunts named Lancelot a very tall man and séeming by his countenance and gesture to fauour the cause of the poore men was also examined and condemned with them and the next day at fiue a clocke in the morning was carried with them into Saint Giles fieldes and there burned Also about the latter end of Tonstals time bishop of London one Stile was burned in Smithfield with the Apocalips whereon he vsed to read about his necke Stile burned with the Apocalips about his necke Which booke when he saw fastened to the stake with him hée lifted vp his voice and said O blessed Apocalips how happie am I that I shall be burned with thée and so with the booke was he consumed with fire Also ouerpassed before about the second yéere of the raigne of king Henry the eight Iohn Browne of Ashford after xl daies imprisonment when the Archbishop and Doctor Fisher had burned his féete with hote coles to the stumps to make him recant On Friday before Whitsunday he was sent to Ashford where he dwelt the next day to be burned and a yoong maide of his house espying him in the stockes told hir mistresse who ranne and sat by him also all night to whome hée gaue exhortation and declared
Frenchmen at the Iles of Iersey and Garnesey Bishop Boner who the first yere of the kings reigne anno 1547. had submitted himselfe hearing of the death of the Lord Admirall the L. Protectors brother and after that the rising of the kings Subiects began to draw backer and to neglect his duetie Whereupon as hath béene sayde he was called before the Counsell and enioyned to preach that such as rebell against their Prince resist Gods ordinance and to set foorth in his Sermon that the authoritie of the king was no lesse in his young age than was of any of his Predecessors c. Boenr at his time appointed preached at Paules crosse Muskleborow field Scots Frēch ouerthrowen and in steade of declaring such things as were enioyned him he spent his Sermon in the maintenance of the papisticall Transubstantiation and altogether left out the article touching the lawfull authoritie of the K. during his nonage For which so doing I. Hooper afterward B of Worcester and Glocester and M. W. Latimer Bachelour of Diuinitie did exhibite vnto the kings highnes vnder both their names a bill of complaint against him Whereupon the king did immediatly direct foorth his Commission vnder his broad Seale vnto the Archb. of Canterburie the B. of Rochester and other Counsellors geuing them authoritie to call Boner before them and to deale with him according as they should finde cause The tenth day of september Bishoppe Boner was summoned to appeare at Lambeth before the Commissioners before whom he behaued himselfe most vndiscréetely and vnreuerently defacing the authoritie of the Commissioners and shifting of the poynt hee was accused of and in the ende pulled out a Protestation out of his bosome readie written and exhibited it vnto the Commissioners Vnder which protestation he requested to haue a copie both of the Commission and accusation with time to answere therūto Which was granted him he assigned to appeare againe before thē vpō friday at 8. of the clocke before noone the next following and then to answere Vpon Friday the xiij of September Boner appeareth againe at Lambeth before the Commissioners and because Secretarie Smith sate there who was not there the former day Boner shifteth and caueleth Boner cauils thereat and makes delaies of answere and in the end tooke exceptions against his accusers because said he they were heretickes and iustly excommunicated and especially he inueighed against them for the matter of the Sacrament of the Altar and withall denied their accusations to be true and coloured glosed forth his maner of handling the points inioyned him and accompted the iniunctions of the booke forged because they were not sealed nor signed with the kings owne hand And when he had finished reading of his answeres Latimer deliuered vp a writing vnto the cōmissioners containing Articles agaynst him whereof certaine were touching his owne fact as whether he wrote his sermon or not to which he answered that onely he penned certaine notes then what aduise and whose he had to which he answered his owne onely with helpe of his bookes And this he answered an oth being ministred vnto him Ex officio mero These wordes ended the Commissioners assigned him Munday the xvj of September then next to appeare before them and to make his full answeres to all the Articles ministred vnto him by them that day On Mundaie the sixtenth of September hée appeareth againe before the Commissioners and exhibiteth vnto them answeres vnto the laste Articles but before the same were read the Archbishop declared vnto him that his answere made against his accusers denunciation contained matter of slander against them and so signified that they desired there to purge themselues which they both did first Latimer and next Hooper And after much vnséemely behauiour of Boner the Commissioners willed him to make aunswere to the articles obiected the last day against him which he did reading it and answering to euery poynt verie slenderly as to the point of the kings authoritie that he had gathered a note out of Histories and Scriptures of diuerse yoong Kinges who notwithstanding their minoritie were faithfully obeied and reputed for very lawfull kings all which with many other hée had purposed to declare if they had come vnto his memorie which they did not partly for lacke of vse of preachyng and partly by reason of a bill which was deliuered him from the Kinges counsell to declare the victorie hée had agaynst the rebels which confounded his memorie and partely for that his booke fell in his Sermon time from him wherein were diuerse of his notes which hée had collected for that purpose Which answere pleased not the Commissioners who required him to make it more direct whether he had doone as hée was enioyned or not whereto when he would no otherwise answere the cōmissioners did admit presently for witnesses vpon articles against him M. Iohn Cheeke Henry Markham Iohn Ioseph Iohn Douglas and Richard Chambers vpon whom they laid a corporall oth truely to answere Boner against this vnder his former protestation protested of the nullitie of the receiuing and admitting and swearing of those witnesses with protestation also to obiect against the persons and sayings of these witnesses demaunding a lawfull and competent time to minister interrogatories against them Wherewith the Commissioners were contented so that day he obiected against M. Cheeke and the next day before noone he obiected against the rest After this the Commissioners assigned to the Bishop to appeare againe before them vpon Wednesday the next ensuyng betwéene the houres of seuen and eight before noone at Lambeth there to shewe the cause why hee should not be declared Pro confesso vpon all the Articles wherevnto hée had not then fully aunswered but Boner still protesting the nullitie and inualiditie of al their procéedings they did for that time depart In the meane while the Commissioners certified the K. and his counsel of the B. behauiour and cauillations Whervpon the king the 17. of September did send vnto the Commissioners a full declaration of his owne will giuing them full authoritie to procéede at their owne discretions The 8. of September Boner appeareth againe and offereth matter vnto the Commissioners why he ought not to bée iudged pro confesso full of cauillations and vaine quiddities of their law and inordinat contempt In the end they ministred vnto him new articles and receiued witnesses against him but Boner still stoode vpon the nullitie of their Commission and the whole processe desiring a copie of the Articles which was graunted and time til the next day at viij of the clocke Also the same time hee exhibited a cauillation against William Latimer Boner exhibiteth a cauillation against William Latimer So the Commissioners appointed him a new time to appeare on munday next betwéene 6. 9. in the morning then to shew a finall cause why he shoulde not be iudged pro confesso And they deliuered him a copy of the Articles At the time appointed the
of September and was committed to the tower close prisoner hauing his seruant Austine to attend vpon him The same day the Archbishop of Canterbury appearing before the Counsell was commaunded to appeare againe the next day at after noone in the starre chamber where hauing charged him with treason and spreading abroade seditious libels Cranmer to the Tower he was committed from thence to the tower there to remaine till farther iustice at the Quéenes pleasure The 15. of September there was a letter sent to maister Horne Deane of Durham for his appearance and another the 7. of October for his spéedy appearance The 16. of Septem there were letters sent to the maiors of Douer and Rye to suffer all French protestants to passe out of this Realme French protestants suffered to passe hence except such whose names should be signified to them by the French Ambassadour The first day of October Quéene Marie Mary crowned was crowned at Westminster and the tenth day of the same moneth beganne the Parlament A parlement with a solemne masse of the holie Ghost in the pallace of Westminster To the which among other Lords should come the Bishops which yet remained vndeposed which were the Archbishoppe of Yorke Doctor Taylor of Lincolne Iohn Harley Bishop of Hereford of the Bishops Doctor Taylor and maister Harley presenting themselues according to their duetie and taking their place amongest the Lordes after they sawe the masse beginne not abiding the sight thereof withdrew themselues from the companie for the which cause the Bishop of Lincolne béeing examined and protesting his faith was vpon the same commanded to attend Who not long after at Anker wicke by sicknesse departed Maister Harley because he was married was excluded both from the Parlement and from his Bishopricke This statute repealed Statutes repealed all the statutes made in the time king Henrie the viij for Premunire and statutes made in king Edward the vj. time for the administration of common bread and the Sacraments in the English tongue In this meane while many men were forward in erecting of Altars and Masses in Churches and such as would sticke to the Lawes made in K. Edwards time till other were established some of them were marked and some presently apprehēded Among whom sir Iames Hales Sir I Hales of kent apprehended and imprisoned a knight in kent and Iustice in the common place was one Who notwithstanding he had ventured his life in Q. Maries cause yet for that he did at a Quarter Sessions geue charge vpon the statutes made in king Edwards time and Henrie the eight for the supremacie and religion he was imprisoned in the Marshalsea Counter and Fléet and so cruelly handled and put in feare by talke that he thought to ridde himselfe out of his life by wounding him selfe with a knife and afterward was contented to say what they willed him Whereupon he was discharged but after that he neuer rested The lamentable end of Sir Iames Hales till he had drowned him selfe in a Riuer halfe a mile from his house in Kent During the time of the parlament the Cleargie had also their Conuocation with a disputation appointed by the Q. commaundement at Paules about the 18. of October In which Conuocation Harpsfield preached and D. Weston Deane of Westminster was chosen Prolocutor The disputation continued vj. dayes Disputation of vi dayes about the matter of the Sacrament wherein D. Weston was chéefe on the popes part The first day D. Weston inueyeth against the Catechisme and booke of Common prayer of king Edward and signified that on Friday next the xx of October it should be lawful for all men fréely to speake their consciences in matters of Religion The Friday being come in steade of disputation the Prolocutor exhibited two seuerall Billes vnto the House the one of the naturall presence of Christ in the sacrament and the other that the Catechisme was not set out by the houses consent requiring all to subscribe to these Billes as he himselfe had done To which motion all did assent sauing the Deane of Rochester the Dean of Exceter the Archdeacon of Winchester the Archdeacon of Hertforde and the Archdeacon of Stow and one other And while the rest were subscribing Iohn Philpot stoode vp and declared that the Catechisme was set out by the assent of the house and as touching the poynt of naturall presence that it was against reason that men should subscribe before the matter were discussed and withall desired the Prolocutor that he would be a meane to the Counsell that some of those that were the setters out of the same catechisme might be brought into the house to shew their learning that moued them to set forth the same and that D. Ridley M. Rogers with two or thrée more might be licensed to be present at this disputation and to be associated with them The bishops made answere it was not for them to cal such persons vnto the house since some of them were prisoners but they would be Petitioners in this behalfe to the Counsell and in case that any were absent that ought to be of the house they willed them to be taken in vnto them if they listed After this they minding to haue entered into disputation worde was geuen that the Lorde great Master and the Earle of Deuonshire woulde be present at the Disputation and therefore the Prolocutor deferred the same till the next Mundaye at one of the Clocke at after Noone At which time many Nobles being assembled to heare the Disputation the Prolocutor sayde that they of the house had appointed this Disputation not to call the trueth in doubt the which they had all subscribed sauing fiue or sixe but that those gainesayers might be resolued Then hée demaunded of Master Haddon whether hée woulde reason against the questions proposed To whome he answered hée would seing the request for those learned men to assist would not bée graunted and so aunswered M. Elmer and said that little or nothing it might auaile for the trueth since now all they were determined to the contrarie After this he demaunded of Maister Cheney who allowed of the presence but denied the transubstantiation Master Cheney answered he would gladly haue his doubts resolued on that point and so propounding his doubts the Prolocutor assigned M. Mooreman to aunswere By this meanes Maister Elmer was driuen to stand vp and so M. Philpot who reasoned against M. Mooreman and grauelled him Then stood vp the deane of Rochester M. Philpot who disputed of the real presence whom Weston answered and Watson tooke his parte Vpon whome Philpot replieth againe and in the end the disputation grew to be confused The disputation confused by reason many would take vpon them to answere On Wednesday the xxv of October Iohn Philpot according to the appointment was ready to dispute about the reall presence and was ready to enter into a Latine oration made to interpret the question this the Prolocutor
singing and reioycing To whom M. Philpot answered that they sang Psalmes and that hée trusted he would not be offended therewith since S. Paul saith If a man be of an vpright minde Mē of vpright mindes let him sing and we therefore said he to testify that wee are of an vpright mynd to God though we be in miserie do sing So he was had againe to the Colehouse where he had other sixe companions of the same affliction He was examined in all 14. seuerall times the fourth time in the Archdeacons house of London in the moneth of October before the Byshops of London Bath Worcester and Glocester with whom after dispute of the church of Rome and authoritie therof he was againe dismissed The Byshops rose vp and consulted together and caused a writing to be made whertoo they put their handes So he was againe carried to his Colehouse M. Philpot thought then they conspired his death The 5. examination was before the Byshops of London Rochester Couentrie saint Asses with another Doctor Storie Curtop Doctor Sauerson Doctor Pendleton with other Chaplens and gentlemen of the Quéenes Chamber and others in the Gallerie of the B. of Londons pallace Where Boner because he said hee minded on the morrow to sit in iudgement on him exhorted him to play the wise mans part and to conforme himselfe To whom Philpot answered he was glad iudgement was so nigh but refused Boner as not being his ordinarie After much dispute of the Romish church and reuilings of Doctor Storie against Maister Philpot he was had againe to the Colehouse the Byshop of London promising him fauour and that he had in his hands to do him good To whō Philpot answered my Lord the pleasure that I will require of you is to hasten my iudgment and so to dispatch me out of this miserable world vnto my eternall rest To hasten iudgement a pleasure to the Martyr The B. for all his faire promises performed no kinde of curtesie vnto him for a whole fortnight after he had neither fire nor candell nor good lodging The sixt examination was before the Lord Chāberlaine the vicont Hereford the L. Ritch the L.S. Iohns the Lord Windsore the L. Shandoys sir Iohn Brydges lieftenant of the Tower with the B of London and Doctor Chadsey The sixt of Nouember Anno 1555. Before whom he was reasoned with touching the Romish Church and of the Sacrament of the Altar The Lordes temporall being halfe amazed at that which they heard and not giuing M. Philpot an euill word The vij examination was had the xix of Nouember before the B of London and Rochester the Chauncellor of Litchfield and Doctor Chadsey The next morning Boner sent for maister Philpot to come to Masse A sharpe answere to Boners message To whose messenger he answered his stomacke was too weake to digest such raw meates of flesh blood and bone The next day the B. sent againe for him and ministred false articles against him and could bring no witnesse but would haue had his prison fellows sworne against him Which because they refused they were put in the stockes and also M. Philpot with them where they sate from morning till night The Sunday after at night betwixt 8. and 9. the Byshop came to the Colehouse himselfe and caused maister Philpot to be had into another place of imprisonment and there caused him to be searched but the searcher missed of his last examination which he had written yet tooke two Letters from him whiche were of no greate importaunce The viij examination was before the B. of London of Saint Dauis maister Mordant and others in the B. chappel where the B. would haue had him answered onely yea or nay to certaine Articles Which Philpot would not but made his appeale which the Bishop said he would stay in his owne handes So was he had againe to the colehouse The 9. time he was examined of the B. alone with his Chaplains the next day after in the Wardrope Where maister Philpot woulde not heare so much as Articles read against him refusing Boner as béeing not his ordinary At the last they fell to reason of the Sacrament of the altar and the masse the Bishop and diuers of his Chaplaines setting vpon maister Philpot. To whom hée gaue no place nor cause of triumph but sufficiently mainteined the trueth therein So for that time he was dismissed to his prison againe And the next day the tenth time was examined of the B his register and others and charged with the booke of Catechisme made in king Edwards daies and certain conclusions agréed vpon both in Oxford and Cambridge c. But M. Philpot refused him for ordinary would not answere but appealed to him that was in place of the Archbishopricke of Canterbury because he knew not of his imprisonment who was then Archbishop The 11. examination was on S. Andrewes day before the Bish of Duresme of Chichester of Bath of London the Prolocutor maister Christophorson Doctor Chadsey maister Morgan of Oxford maister Hussey of the Arches Doctor Weston Doctor Harpesfield maister Coosins maister Iohnson register to the B. of London these disputed against maister Philpot touching the true Church and of the Sacrament of the Altar and of the antiquity of the religion which maister Philpot professed Of which companie maister Morgan behaued himselfe aboue all the rest most insolently against him who asked maister Philpot howe hée knew that hée had the spirite of GOD scoffingly To whome Philpot aunswered by the faith of Christ which is in mée Ah by faith doe you so sayth Morgan I weene it bee the spirite of the buttery which your fellowes haue had which haue beene burned before you who were drunken the night before they went to their death and I weene went drunke vnto it To whome Maister Philpot aunswered It appeareth by your communication that you are better acquaynted with the spirite of the the butterie M. Philpots zeale against Morgan then with the spirite of God Wherefore I must needes tell thee thou paynted wall and Hypocrite In the name of the liuing GOD whose trueth I haue tolde thee that God shall raigne fire and brimstone vppon suche scorners of his worde and Blasphemers of his trueth as thou art Morgan What you rage nowe Philpot. Thy foolishe blasphemies haue compelled the spirite of God which is in mée to speake that which I haue saide vnto thee thou enemie of all righteousnesse By thine owne wordes doe I iudge thée thou blinde and blasphemous Doctour for as it is written By thy words thou shalt be iustified by thy wordes thou shalt be condemned I haue spoken on Gods behalfe and nowe haue I done with thée Morgan Why then I tell thée Philpot thou art an heretike and shalt bée burned for thine heresie and afterwarde goe to hell fire Philpot I tell thee thou hypocrite I passe not this for thy fire and fagot neyther I thanke GOD my Lorde stande in feare of the same my
his bodie touched the ground After all this hee was brought before the Mayor of Reading and there those false Brethren which before had robbed his studie obiected against him Treason Sedition Murther and Adulterie c. Which when they coulde not proue they laide vnto his charge the writings that they had stolne out of his Studie Wherefore once againe he was called out of pryson and appeared before the Mayor and Byrd the officiall and two other Iustices to render an accompt of his faith And when they had gathered of his owne mouth sufficient matter to entrap him they deuised a byll of instructions against him to be directed to Doctor Geffery who had determined to hold his visitation the next tuesday at Newbery beyng the sixtéenth day of Iuly So he was sent to Newbery and came thether on the Munday at night and with him Thomas Askins his felow prisoner where they found Iohn Grome their faithfull brother in the Lord. So the xv of Iuly the prysoners appeared before Doctor Geffery and other Commissioners where after reasoning of the authoritie and vniuersalitie of the church of Rome and of the presence in the Sacrament c. when no allurements nor perswasions would preuayle they were all thrée condemned and burned together Being at the place of their martyrdome Palmer comforteth his fellowes with the promises of God and pronounced with an audible voice the xxxj Psalme But the other two made their prayers secretly to almightie God all thrée falling to the ground and as Palmer beganne to rise there came behind him a popish priest exhorting him to recant to whome Palmer Palmer at the stake answered Away away tempt me no longer away I said from mée all yée that worke iniquitie for the Lord hath heard the voyce of my teares And foorthwith they put of their rayment went to the stake and kissed it and when they were bound to the post Palmer said good people pray for vs that we may perseuere to the end and for Christes sake beware of popish teachers for they deceiue you Which as hée spake a seruaunt of one of the Bayliffes threwe a faggot at his face that the bloud gushed out in diuerse places Thus fire being put to them they all crying Lord Iesu strengthen vs Lord Iesu assist vs Lord Iesu receiue our soules they ended this mortall life Palmer was about 24. yeares old when he suffered The last time of his being at Oxford one Barwicke then fellow of Trinitie Colledge a rancke papist began to reason with him and perceiuing him to be earnest and zealous said vnto him in the hearing of Maister Thomas Perrey others there present Well Palmer well now thou art stoute and hardie in thyne opinion but if thou were once brought to the stake I beléeue thou wouldest tell me another tale I aduise thée beware of the fire it is a shrewd matter to burne Truly said Palmer Palmer diuers times in daunger of burning I haue bene in daunger of burning once or twise and hetherto I thanke God I haue escaped it but I iudge verily it wil be mine end at the last welcom be it by the grace of God In déed it is an hard matter for them to burne that haue the minde and soule linked to the bodie as a théefe is tyed in a paire of Fetters But if a man be once able through the helpe of Gods spirite to separate and deuide the soule from the bodie for him it is no more maisterie to burne then for me to eate a péece of bread For whom it is easy to burne About the same moneth of Iuly Agnes Wardal of the towne of Ipswich a vertuous woman and one that hated the Romish trash was persecuted by Richard Argentine a phisition in the towne Phillip Vlmes Edmond Leach Iohn Steward and Mathew Butler malicious enemies of Gods children But by Gods great prouidence they escaped their handes and was deliuered In the same moneth also Peter Mone a Tailer of the towne of Ipswich with his wife were called before the B. kéeping visitation at Ipswich and through frailtie yelded to the Byshop Whereof after they fsll into great griefe of conscience when they came home to their house and looking when they should be sent for againe to the B. the next day who had appointed them then to appeare The time appointed drawing nigh they heard the belles ring for the B. departure out of the towne So they escaped farther trial Against these was one Richard Smart a Portman of the towne an earnest member of the Popish Church but afterwardes he repented him thereof with teares In the Isle of Gernesey 3. women Katherine Couches Catherine Couches Guillemme Gilbert Perotine Massey The mother and 2. daughters at Gernsey the mother and one Guillemme Gilbert and Perotine Massey her daughters were burned for the cause of the Gospel refusing to come to Church Notwithstanding they protested to hold nothing against the Popish Church neither was there heard any information against them neither were they examined before of their religion at anye time yet were they condemned by Syr Iames Amy Dean and the Curates of the Isle to be burned for Heretikes Which when the Bayliefes and Iurates vnderstood howe they had not examined them of their faith yet condemned them for heretikes they would not sit in iudgement that day but ordeyned they should first bée examined of them Which being done an Act and sentence was deliuered against them to the former effect that they should be executed as heretikes no accuser hauing béene heard against them Cruelty against the mother and her 2. daughters and the innocent parties protesting they would entirely obey the ordinances of the Church So sentence being giuen against them by Elier Gosseline Bailieffe notwithstanding they had appealed from the same to the king Quéene and Councel yet were they the 18. of Iuly all burned together at 3. stakes the mother in the middest the eldest daughter on the right side and the youngest on the left They were first strangled but the rope brake before they were dead so the poore women fell into the fire Marueilous cruelty Perotine great with child brast asunder by the vehemencie of the fire and her infant being a faire manchild fell into the fire and eftsoones taken out of the fire by one W. Howse was laid vppon the grasse from thence it was had to the prouost and from him to the Baylife Whose censure was that it should be caried backe and cast into the fire so was the child baptized in his owne blood to fil vp the number of the saints Néere about the same time that these 3. women with the infant were burned there suffered for the doctrine of the Gospel at Gréenstéed in Sussex two men Thomas Dungate Tho. Dungate and Iohn Foreman Iohn Forman and one woman called mother Dree the 18. of Iuly About the 26. of Iune one Tho. Moore Tho. More of the age of
AN ABRIDGEMENT OF THE BOOKE OF ACTS AND MONVMENTES OF THE CHVRCH Written by that Reuerend Father Maister Iohn Fox and now abridged by Timothe Bright Doctour of Phisicke for such as either through want of leysure or abilitie haue not the vse of so necessary an history All day long are we counted as Sheepe for the slaughter Psal 44. How long Lord holy and true Apocal. Cap. 6. verse 10. Imprinted at London by I. Windet at the assignment of Master Tim Bright and are to be sold at Pauls wharf at the signe of the Crosse-keyes 1589. Cum gratia Privilegio Regia Maiestatis To the Christian Reader COnsidering the great vse and profite of that worthie worke of Actes and Monumentes written by Master Iohn Fox of blessed memorie and by reason of the largenes of the volume and great price how the most were bereaued of the benefite of so necessarie an Historie J often wished some man would take the paines to draw the same into an Abridgement that both those that are busied in affaires or not able to reach to the price of so great a booke might also haue vse of the historie with them that neither want leisure nor hability sufficient But seeing hetherto nothing done that way nor hearing of any that had it in purpose J vētured vpon the labor my self thus haue performed it for thy vse wherein J haue omitted nothing to my remembrance and as my iudgement serued me that is materiall to the historie so farre as the nature of an Abridgement would permitte As for Treatises Disputations Epistles and such like J leaue them to be read all together in the large Booke which I doe exhort thee gentle Reader the rather for my Abridgements sake to buy and vse For as the copiousnes of that notable worke hath hid the riche treasures of the same through charge of price and mens affaires So this my labour may geue thee an assay and appetite to know further whereof thou maist here take as it were the taste J assure thee in mine opinion there is not a booke vnder the Scriptures more necessarie for a Christian to be conuersant in There is no Burgesse of a Citie that hath care of his corporation but would be glad to know how in times past the world went with his Corporatiō that therby he may vnderstād the better how to be haue himselfe therein as occasion shall serue and not onely woulde desire to knowe the lawes of the same but also what examples haue any way beene geuen touching the same Euen so it becommeth much more Christians that are Citizens of the church of Christ and haue a communitie in that bodie to know not onely the lawes of this Citie which is the word of God but also what hath befallen either good or bad and euerye accident whereupon experience may arise by example and wisdome thereof to be put in vse accordingly We may read what hath befallen the worthiest Commonwealths in this world and what stormes they haue endured and all sunke vnder them This Common-wealth of the Church standeth for euer though the stormes that haue blowen vpon it haue beene more boysterous than any other state hath endured And by reason of cōtinuāce geueth great varietie of examples of Gods prouidence of his mercie of his fatherly chastizements and correction and of that holy faith which hath ministred inuincible strength of constancie patience to this heauenly state of Christes Church in the middest of all stormes of tryall And here mayst thou reade not onely what hath beene suffered of the olde Fathers of the church who haue with their bloud purchased vnto vs this freedome of the Gospell but of late times what thy father thy mother thy broher and thy friēd haue suffered for like testimonie wherby the sincerity of the Gospel standeth at this day When I say in this Abridgement thou maist reade these things J mean much more in the large volume where all such matters lie open at the full and whereto I pray thee let this my labour be as it were an introduction And if thy hability serue thee or any other disposition thereto J pray thee let not this booke withdraw thee For Abridgements in all kinde of learning haue byn vsed for such respects as J haue before mentioned besides the memorie embraceth them more readily and not to hinder great volumes Neither doo they of their own nature work such effect If slouth of some persons neglect them so are they punished therfore in wanting that belongeth vnto them to know yet through Abridgementes haue some furniture of that profitable instruction whereof otherwise they would be vtterly ignorant It is said Iustines Abridgement lost Trogus Pompeius Trogus peraduenture is lost but whether through Iustines Abridgement that hardly can be proued and had it not beene for Iustine we had lost with Trogus the history too The case is far otherwise since printing was knowen for who would lose a leafe of Liuie for any Abridgement Before it may be charge of written Copies might be some cause why the large volumes were not so vniuersall And I pray thee if the Author him self the fittest of all men being an History so meet euen for the meanest Christian especially in these times and conteyning recordes of such things as are els no where to be had had takē it in hand had it not byn thanks-woorthy Yet so had beene greater danger in decaying the booke at large in regard of the more sufficient performance of the worke than by this of mine I trust the matter needeth no An Abridgement of the first volume of the Ecclesiasticall history of Acts and Monuments of Martyrs The History is deuided into fiue partes 1 The first is of the suffering time of the Church 300. yeere after Christ 2 The growyng and florishing time of the same other 300. yeeres 3 The declining time other 300. vntill the losing of Sathan about the thousand yeere after Christ 4 The time of Antichrist which cōtinued in full swinge 400. yeeres 5 The time of reformation these later 288. yeeres IN the 17. of the raigne of Tiberius Nero Tiberius Nero. Christ Christ suffered the 34. yéere of his age Tiberius raysed no further persecutiō yet liued he seuen yéeres after the death of Christ and raigned in all 23. yéeres Him succéeded C. Caligula C. Caligula hée commaunded his Image to be set vp in the temple at Ierusalem and to be worshipped And after him succéeded C. Nero C. Nero. D. Nero. D. Nero. Claudius raigned 13. yéeres Domitius 14. In the latter end of whose raigne Peter Paule Peter and Paule were put to death for the faith of Christ Anno 69. About this time an 73. and 40. yéeres after the passiō of Christ the 3. yéere after the suffering of Peter and Paule the Iewes were destroied Titus Vespasian Iewes destroyed by Titus and Vespasian his father who succéeded Nero to the number of eleuen hundred
thousand besides a great number Vespasian slue in subduing Galile seuentéene thousands mo that were sold for slaues Stephen Stephen the Deacon was the first martyr put to death at Ierusalem and stoned by the Iewes After Stephen suffered Iames Iames. the brother of Iohn whom Herod Herod slew with the sword and with him the partie that was cause of his persecution who beyng moued in conscience as Iames went to execution confessed himselfe to be a Christian also and were both beheaded together The same day that Stephen suffered Nicanor Nicanor one of the 7. deacons with 2000. 2000. other christians suffered for the faith Simon Simon one of the deacons and afterward bishop of Bosrum in Arabia was there burned and Parmenas Parmenas also an other of the Deacons suffered for the faith Thomas Thomas who preached to the Parthians Medes Persians Germans Heraconies Bactries and Magies suffered in Calamina a citie in Iudea beyng slaine with a dart Simon Zelotes Simon Zelotes who preached in Mauritania and in the countrie of Aphrike and in Britaine was crucified Iudas Iudas brother of Iames called Thaddeus and Lebeus who preached to the Edissens and to al Mesopotamia was slaine vnder Augarus Augarus king of the Edissens in Berito Simon Simon brother to Iude and Iames the yoonger which were sonnes of Mary Cleopha and of Alpheus called Cananeus bishop of Ierusalem after Iames as Dorotheus recordeth was crucified in a citie of Egipt in the time of Traianus Traianus Emperour but as Abdias writeth he was slaine with his brother Iude by a tumult of the people of Suanir a citie of Persidis Marke the Euangelist first B. of Alexandria preached the Gospel in Egypt and there being drawn with ropes to the fire was burned and afterward buried in a place called there Bucolus vnder the reigne of Traianus the Emperor Bartholomeus Bartholomeus is said to haue preached to the Indians and to haue conuerted the Gospel of S. Mathew into their tongue where he continued a great space doing many miracles At last in Albania a citie of great Armenia after diuers persecutions he was beaten downe with staues then crucified and after being excoriate hee was at length beheaded Iohan. de monte regali Andrew Andrew the Apostle and brother of Peter was crucified at Patris a citie in Achaia by the Gouernour Egeas Egeas embracing the crosse and ioying therein the day before the Kalends of December Matthew Matthew otherwise called Leui first a publicane then an Apostle after that he had conuerted to the faith Ethiopia and all Egypt Hircanus Hircanus their king sent one to runne him through with a speare Iohan. de monte regali Matthias Matthias also after that he had preached to the Iewes was stoned and beheaded by them Philip the Apostle Philip and his daughters after he had much laboured among the barbarous nations was crucified and stoned to death in Hierapolis a citie of Phrygia where he was buried and his daughters with him Isodor Iames Iames. being required of the Iewes to disswade the people from the faith of Christ Other and that he should stand speak from the battlements of the temple that he might more conueniently be heard The Iewes he contrary to their expectation preaching Christ was throwne downe from the battlementes headlong and stoned and one being present tooke a Fullers instrument wherewith they beate cloth and smote him on the head whereof he died and was buried in that place At which time also other were put to death among the Iewes for the testimony of Christ The first Persecution THe first was stirred vp by Nero Domitius Nero Domit. the 6. Emperour about the yere 67. Whose cruelty was such against Christians that he had neither regarde of sexe condition of life or age so that open stréetes were spread with the dead carkases of Christians He caused persecution throughout al the prouinces of the Romaine empire and endeuoured vtterly to abolish the name of Christians In that persecution Peter Peter was crucified his head downward himselfe requiring it should be so as vnworthy to be in all manner executed like Christ Iesus The cause was thought to be the reuenge of the death of Simon Magus Simon Magus who pretending to the people of Rome to flée from the mount Capitolinus vp into heauē by the praier of Peter was brought headlong downe wherwith his legges ioynts being broken he died At that time also Peters wife Peters wife suffered béeing much encouraged by the words of her husband Peter whiles he hanged vpon the crosse Vnder the same Nero Paul Paul was beheaded in the 14. yéere of Nero the same day that Peter was crucified and was buried in the way of Ostia But others as Prudentius in his Peristephano writeth that they were put to death in one day but Paule a yeere after Peter The second Persecution THe Church hauing had some rest vnder Vespasian Domitian Domitian brother to Titus moued not long after the 2. persecution He put to death al the nephews of Iuda Nephewes of Iuda called the Lords brother and caused to be sought out and slain al that could be found of the stock of Dauid as Vespasian also did before him least yet he were to come of the stocke of Dauid that should enioy the kingdome In the time of this tirant Simeon Simeon Bishop of Ierusalem after other torments was crucified to death whom Iustus Iustus afterward succéeded in that bishoprick This Tyrant exiled Iohn Iohn the Apostle and Euāgelist into Pathmos an 97. And vnder Pertinax he was released and came to Ephesus anno 100. where he continued vntill the time of Traianus and there gouerned the Church in Asia where also he wrote his gospel And so liued til the yere 68. which was the yere of his age 99. Euseb Flauia Flauia daughter to Flauius Clemens one of the Roman Consuls suffered for the name of the Lord Iesus and was with many other banished out of Rome into the I le Pontia Euseb lib. 3 A remnant of the flock of Dauid as yet remayned who being brought to Domitian to be slaine and hee percyuing them to be poore and vnderstanding from them that the kingdome of Christ should not be a worldly but an heauenuenlie kingdome let them goe and staied the persecution They being dismissed had afterwarde the gouernment of Churches and so continued in peace till the time of Traianus Egesip Euseb lib. 3. cap. 20. In these persecutions no kind of torment was omitted that could be deuised against the Christians The 2. persecution and no kinde of slaunder kept back that might empaire their credite their bodies after death not being suffered to be buried and yet the Church did dayly more and more encrease Euaristus Euaristus Bishop of Rome next to Clement succéeded in the
brethren in a Citie of Spaine called Complutum Likewise Symphronissa the wife of Getulus the martyr with her seuen children Symphronissa and her seuen children is said about the same time to suffer who first was much and often beaten and scourged afterward hanged vp by the haire of the head At last hauing an huge stone fastned about her necke was cast into the riuer And after that her seuen children with sundrye and diuers kindes of punishments were martyred by the Tyrants Getulus or Getulius was a minister or teacher in the Citie of Tibur who with Cerdelis Amantius and Primitiuus by the commaundement of Adrian were condemned to the fire The names of the seuen sonnes of Symphronissa were Crescens Iulianus Nemesius Primitiuus Iustinus Stateus and Eugenius who by the commaundement of Adrian were tied to seuen stakes and so racked with a pulley and last of all thrust through Crescens in the neck Iulianus in the breast Nemesius in the heart Primitiuus about the nauell Iustinus cut in euery ioynt of his body Stateus runne through with speares Eugenius cut asunder from the brest to the lower partes and then cast into a déepe pit hauing the name by their idolatrous Priests entituled Ad septem Biothanatos After the death of whom Symphronissa the mother did likewise suffer Getulus The children of Symphorosa Crescens Iulianus Nemesius Primitiuus Iustinus Stateas Eugenius Cerdelis Amantius Primitiuus Sophia and her two children Sophia with her two children Serapia and Salma did suffer vnder some tyrant about the the yéere 130. While Hadrian the Emperour was at Athens he purposed to visite the citie of Elewsina which he did where he sacrificing to the Gentiles gods gaue frée libertie to kill the Christians whosoeuer would Wherevpon Quadratus Quadratus Bishoppe of Athens and Aristides Aristides a philosopher of Athens and another Serenus Gramus Serenus a man of great nobilitie wrote Apologies for the Christians vnto the Emperour with such eloquence and learning laying out their innocencie that he directed his letters to Minutius Fundanus Proconsul of Asia Persecution asswaged in Asia willing him from hencefoorth to exercise no more crueltie vpon the Christians nor to condemne them for that cause Thus the Christians had some quiet for a time After Hadrian succéeded Antoninus Pius Anton. Pius who although he moued no persecution against the Christians yet the tumultuous rage of the heathen did not ceasse to disquiet the people of God The Emperours affection might appeare by a letter or edict of his to the Commons of Asia to stay their rage against Christians except they had committed anie thing against the lawes of the Empire willing them to consider the Christians patience in their tormentes and boldnesse in times of Earthquakes Persecution ceasseth and tempestes when as other tremble and quake for feare This edict was proclaimed at Ephesus in the publike assemblie of all Asia So by this meanes the tempest of persecution in those dayes began to be appeased After Antoninus Pius M. Antoninus Verus M. Antoninus verus succéeded with his brother Lucius Lucius about the yéere 162. These were sharp and fierse against the Christians and after Nero moued the fourth persecution The fourth Persecution IN Antoninus Verus time suffered many Christians with diuerse kinds of torments namely at Smyrna some of thē were whipped that the inward arteries veines appeared euen their very intrailes and bowels were séene after that were set vpon sharpe shels taken out of the sea edged sharp and certain nailes thorns laid for the martirs to go vpō sharpned pointed called obelisci And lastly were they thrown to beasts to be deuoured Among whō one Germanicus Germanicus very cōstantly suffred to the admiration of the enimies But most famous aboue the rest was the martirdom of Polycarpus Polycarpus disciple to the Apostles and 86. yéeres of age who had serued in the ministery about the space of 70. yéeres and was placed of S. Iohn in Smirna whose disciple he was He suffered about the yéere of our Lord 170. and in the 7. yéere of Antoninus Verus The manner of his death and martyrdome was thus These persecutions being begun in Smyrna Polycarpus was perswaded by certaine that were about him to conuey himselfe away and to hide him in a Village not farre from the Citie which hee did and there abiding with a fewe more of his companie was night and day in supplication for the peace of the Congregation Three daies before his apprehension hee sawe in a vision by night the bed set on fire vnder him and sodainly to be consumed And when he waked he interpreted it that he should suffer martirdome by fire At the last being found by the pursuers vnderstanding that they were armed he came frō the chamber where he was entertained thē with chéerful countenaunce and made them dine and required that hée might haue one houres respite to make his prayers which being grāted him he did it in such sort as they which heard him were astonied His prayers being ended they brought him to the citie vpon an Asse on a solemne feast day there met him Irenarchus Irenarchus Herodes Herodes and his father Nicetes Nicetes which causing him to come vp into the chariot where they sat perswaded him to do sacrifice Which when he refused with rough wordes they molested him and thrust him going downe the chariot that he might hurt or breake his legs but he went merily on to the place appointed To whome there came a voice from heauen that comforted him bad him be of good chéere as he was going to the place of iudgement Whither when hee came the Proconsul disswaded him from the faith and willed him to say with him and the rest Destroy these naughty men Then Polycarpus beholding with constant countenance the whole multitude and giuing a great sigh looked vp to heauen and said Thou thou it is that wilt destroy these wicked men meaning the Lord. Then the proconsul thus being earnest with him said vnto him take thine oath and I will discharge thée Deste Christ Polycarpus answered 86. yéeres haue I béen his seruant yet in all this time hath he not so much as once hurt me how then may I speake euil of my soueraign Lord and king which hath thus preserued me Then the Proconsul vsed al maner of threatnings against him which when they could not preuaile Policarpus still denying with great constancie Philip the Gouernor of Asia was commaunded to let lose the Lion to Policarpus who made answere that he might not so doe because he had his pray alredy Then the people required with one voice that he would burn Policarpus aliue Which was perfourmed And hauing made himselfe readie to the stake they would haue nayled him thereto with Iron hoopes but he said let me alone as I am for hee that hath geuen mee strength to suffer and
the chief doers were Optimus the vnderconsul Secundianus Verianus Marcellinus c. In the time of Decius Alexander Alexander was B. of Hierusalem where he continued a very aged man about the terme of xl yeres till the 1. yere of Decius At what time being brought from Ierusalem to Cesarea he died in prison After whom succéeded Mezananes Mezananes the xxxvj Bishop of that citie after Iames the Apostle Vnder this Decius Babylas B. of Antioch who succéeded zebinus died in prison which followed after Philetus an 232. and sate xij yeres Which Philetus succéeded Asclepiades after Serapion an 214 and sate vij yeres Babilas because he resisted a certaine Emperour who had most cruelly slaine against his promis a kinges sonne whom he receiued in Hostage and woulde not suffer him to enter the tēple of the christians was by him put to death In the raigne of Constantinus afterward Gallus then made ouerseer of the East parts caused the body of Babylas to be translated into the suburbes of Antioch called Daphnes where was an oracle of Apollo which after the bringing in of the body of Babylas ceassed to giue answere alleging his body to be the cause and so it continued til the time of Iulianus who therefore caused it to be remoued away by the Christians which was no sooner departed the temple but the temple was consumed with fire This Babylas is mentioned of Chrysostom who is like to be another diuerse from him that died In Decius time Nicephorus in his fifth booke maketh mention of an other Babylas besides this that was Bishoppe of Nicomedia and suffered vnder Decius In these times in the Citie of Antioch suffered fourtie Virgins xl Virgins in the daies of Decius In Phrigia suffered one Peter Peter in the Towne of Lampsur vnder Optimus the Proconsul In Troada also other martyrs suffered whose names were Andrew Andrew Paul Paul Nichomachus Nichomach and Dionisia Dionysia a Virgin Also in Babylonia diuers Christian Confessors were founde by Decius and were ledde away into Spaine there to be executed In the Countrie of Cappadocia at the citie of Cesarea Germanus Germanus Theophilus Theophilus Cesarius Cesarius Vitalis Vitalis suffered martirdome Likewise Polichronius Polychronius Bishop of Babylon and Nestor Nestor in Pāphilia Bishop of the same place At Persida in the Towne of Cardala suffered Olimpiades Olympiades and Maximus Maximus In Tyrus Anatolia Anatolia a Virgin and Audax Audax gaue their liues for the faith In these times diuers suffered diuersly in Alexandria a whole yeare before any Proclamation by reason of a Soothsayer Soothsayers which stirred vp the people Who first flying vpon a Priest called Metra Metra apprehended him and layde vpon him with staues and clubbes and with sharpe réedes pricked his face and eyes and afterwarde in the Suburbes stoned him to death Then tooke they Quinta a faithfull woman and bound her féete and drew her through the stréetes vpon the harde stones And so dashing her against the milstones and scourging her with whips slue her in the Suburbes of the Citie This done they spoyled all the Christians who auoided the City and tooke the losse patiently Among other that were taken there was one Apollonia Apollonia an auncient Virgin whom they brought forth and dashing al her téeth out of her iawes made a great fire before the Citie threatning to cast her into the same except she would denie Christ Whereat she staying a while as one that would take a pause sodainly leapt into the middest of the fire and so was burned They also tooke one Serapion Serapion in his owne house whō hauing broken almost all the ioyntes of his bodie they cast him downe from an vpper lofte and so he died Thus raging against the Christians at last they fell at debate among themselues and so for a time the furie staied which was so great that no place could hide the Christians from the rage of the heathen Shortly after this came the Edict of the Emperour against the Christians whereupon the persecution grew in all places more grieuous thā before In so much that some reuolted voluntarilie Reuolt some by imprisonment tormēt Other continued constant to the death of whom one was Iulianus Iulianus a man diseased with the gout not able to go but was caried by two men of whom the one quickly denied the other Cronion Cronion surnamed Eunus Eunus with Iulianus the olde man were laide vpon Camels and there scourged at length cast into the fire for the testimonie of Iesus When the aforesaide were going to martirdom there was a souldier A souldier tooke parte with them and so was presentlie apprehended beheaded Likewise was one Macer Macer a Lybian burned aliue for his confessing of Christ After these suffered Epymachus Epimachus and Alexander Alexander which hauing suffered bonds torments with rasors and scourges were burned with iiij other womē Likewise Ammonarion Ammonarion a holy virgin and an aged matrone named Mercuria Mercuria with another called Dyonisia Dionysia being a mother of many faire children after many tormēts were slaine by the sword Ammonarion suffered before the rest after Heron Heron. and Isidorus Isodorus Egyptians and with them Dioscorus Dioscorus of the age of xv yeres With whom the Iudge first began and could not preuaile either by perswasions or torments The rest after grieuous torments he caused to bée burned and respited Dioscorus for his tender age being astonied at his graue answeres and constancie Nemesian Nemesian also an Egyptian was first accused to be a cōpaniō of theues but being purged thereof before the Cēturion was thē accused of christianity Wherfore being more gréeuously scourged thā the other théeues he was burned with them There were standing before the Tribunall seat certaine warriors or knights whose names were Ammon Ammon Zenon Zenon Ptolomeus Ptolomeus Ingenius Ingenius and with them a certaine aged man called Theophilus Theophilus who séeing a certain Christian fainting and fearful to confesse his faith emboldned him by signes gaue him courage Which being noted the stāders by readie to lay hands on them they preased vp of their own accord professing themselues to be Christians Wherat the Iudge and his assistants were greatly amazed and the Christians emboldened to suffer So they departed glad for the testimonie they had geuen of their faith Also one Ischrion Ischrion being oftentimes moued by his master to do sacrifice and he refusing was of him run through with a pike and slaine In these times infinite numbers wādred in wildernesses suffering hunger colde danger of wilde beastes in the number of whom was Cheremon Cheremon Bishop of a towne called Nilus an aged man who with his wife flying to the mountain of Arabia could neuer
hundred and thréescore 271. of the Nobilitie of England slaine by the Saxons Which miserie fell vpon them for couetousnes and oppression in their Princes wickednes in the Iudges slouthfulnes of the Bishops in neglecting their dueties of preaching and ryot and wantonnes of the people as saith Gildas in his chronicle This fell out in anno 469. The Captaines of the Saxons were Hengistus and Horsus Now the first persecution in this Lande began vnder Dioclesian an 210. The first persecution in England by Dioclesian The second by Gnauius and Melga The second was by the inuading of Gnauius Melga whereof the first was Captaine of the Hunnes and the other of the Pictes Which two Tyrants after the slaughter of Vrsula Vrsula and 11000. noble Virgins 11000. Virgins made their rode into Britaine At what time they made a miserable murther of Christians spoyling and rasing Churches without regarde either of women or children The third by Hengist The third by Hengest and the Saxons who destroyed like raging wolues the silie shéepe till Aurelius Ambrosius came Aurelius Ambrosius restoreth the churches and restored againe the Churches destroyed The fourth was by Gurmundus Gurmundus a pagā king of the Affricans who ioyning with the Saxons wrought much mischiefe against the Christians In so much that Theonus B. of London and Thaodiceus of Yorke with the rest of the people did pack away some into Cornewall some into the mountaines of Wales an 550. and remayned till the time of Ethelbert Ethelbert king of Kent an 589. In whose reigne the faith was first receiued of the Englishmen Gospell receiued of the Englishmen Austen sent into England by Gregory B. of Rome by meanes of Gregorie bishop of Rome who in the yere 598. sent Austen into England and with him about xl Preachers to instruct and conuert the people The occasion was offered by séeing certain children of the land to be sold at Rome where considering their beautie he had compassion on them thereupon when the Bishorick of Rome fell vnto him next after Pelagius he sent Austen with the other Preachers Who passing on their iourney were greatly afraid and discouraged considering the barbarousnes of the people But being comforted by Gregorie and perswaded they went on their iorney and came to the I le of Tenet I le of Tenet on the Eastside of Kent Néere vnto which lāding place was the Palace of the K. not farre from Sandwich which the Inhabitants of the I le thē called Richburgh whereof some part of the ruinous walles is yet to sée The king that raigned at that time was Ethelbert the fifth king of that prouince who at that time had married a Frenchwoman Christened whose name was Berda Berda whom hée had of that condition that shée should with her bishop Lebardus Lebardus inioy the faith By meanes whereof he was the more flexible to embrace the preachyng of the faith of Christ Now the king hearing of Austines arriuall within few dayes after and hauing receaued message from Austine of the cause of his comming commeth to the place where hée was to speake with him To whom Austine preached the word of God The king at the first was not perswaded yet for so much as he came for his benefit he both ministred vnto him necessaries and gaue him libertie to preach and conuert his people which hée did in Canterbury where the king gaue him a mansion place and baptized people on the Eastside of the cittie in the old Church of Saint Martine where the Quéene was woont to resort till time that the king himselfe was conuerted to the faith which he was at length by the godly conuersation of Christians myracles Godly conuersation and miracles that were wrought He was conuerted an 586. and the 36. yéere of his raigne who beyng conuerted the number grew innumerable whom he specially embraced None compelled to beleeue The Abbey of S. Peter and S. Paule in Canterbury but compelled none Then he gaue to Austin a place for his bishops sea at Christ church in Canterbury and builded the Abbey of S. Peter and Paule in the Eastside of the citie where after Austin and all the kings of Kent were buried and that place is now called S. Austin In this while Austin sailed into Fraunce to the bishop of Arelatensis called Ethereus by him to be consecrated archbishop by the commandement of Gregory and so was He sent moreouer to Rome one of his company Laurentius to shew Gregory how they had sped and also to be resolued concerning nine or ten questions The first how the B. should vse himselfe towards his clarke Questions resolued from Rome and of oblations what diuidens were to be made For the first Gregory referreth him to the Epistle of Paule to Timothie touching the second he telleth him the order of the church of Rome is to make foure parts Bishops liuings how to be bestowed the one for the B. hospitalitie in receauing commers in the other to the Clergie the third to the poore the fourth to repairing of churches And because he saith Austine could not liue from his clarkes he would haue in their societie all common The second whether Clarkes that can not containe may marry and then marrying whether they are to returne to their secular estate againe or no Clarkes may marrie to whom hée answereth they might marry and also obtaine their stipends The third seing the faith is but one how commeth it to passe Diuerse ceremonies that the ceremonies and customes be so diuerse as one manner of Masse at Rome and an other in France To which he answered that without respect of place he should chose out of many churches the best orders The fourth what punishment should be laid on him that pilfereth out of the church This he referreth to his discretiō consideration being had of the necessitie of the stealer the abilitie to make recompence without any gaine Whether two brethren may marry two sisters being far of from any part of kindred To this he answereth affirmatiuely to what degrée of kindred matrimony may extend and whether it is lawfull to marry with the stepmother Degrees for marriage her kinsfolkes The answere he referreth to the law of God and denieth the lawfulnesse of such marriages or with the kinsfolke but in the third degrée Whether such as be coupled in such vnlawfull mariage ought to be separated and denied the Communion to which he answereth that such as haue béene so maried in time of their ignorance should not therefore be separated from the Communion but admonished to do so no more and such as professe the faith and so couple themselues he willeth they should be denied the Lords body After what manner he should deale with the Bishops of France and Britain To these he answereth that the Bish in Fraunce are not to submit to him but onely his iurisdiction
Law the other the tradition of Peter and Paul of Rome with other reasons Wilfride spake for Aigelbert because he could vtter his mind more plainlie in the English tongue Now when Wilfride had shewed that Peter was the chiefe of the Apostles and that the Lord had said to him I will giue thée the keies of the kingdome of heauen c. The King said to Colman is it true that the Lord spake these things to S. Peter and Colman answered yea Then said the King can you declare any thing that the Lord said to Columba who was a reuerend Father whom Colman alledged to follow Colman answered No. Then quoth the King doo you both agrée on this matter They both answered yea Then concluded the king for asmuch as S. Peter is dore kéeper of heauen I will not gainesay him but in that I am able I will obey his order in euery point least when I come to the gates of heauen he shut them against me Vpon this simple and rude reason of the king A rude reason of the king the multitude consented and with them Cedda was contented to giue ouer onely Colmannus the Scot being then Archb of Yorke departed into Scotland carrying with him the bones of Aidanus The bones of Aidanus After the decease of Oswin Egfride his sonne was king after him in Northumberland fiftéene yéeres By this Egfride Cuthbert was promoted to the Bishopricke of the yle of Farne and Wilfride which before had béene Archbishop of Yorke was displaced through the meanes of Theodore Archbishop of Canterbury and Cedda possessed that Sea Wilfride when he was put out went to Agathon Bishop of Rome and complained to him and was well allowed in some things But the king and Theodorus had there such Proctors and friendes that he returned without spéeding of his cause Wherefore hee returned vnto the Southsaxons and buylded an Abbey in Silisey and preached vnto the Southsaxons xv yeres The king of the Southsaxons was then Ethelwolde to whom Wolferus king of the Mercians gaue the I le of Wight Southsex conuerted vpon condition that he should be a Christian Wherefore Wilfride being now licenced by Ethelwolde the king preached vnto his Nobles and people of Southsex and conuerted them to Christ In the time of whose baptizing the raine that lacked before thrée yéeres was giuen them plentifully whereby their countrie was made fruitfull and their famine stayed Great famine which was such that the people penured with famine would go 40. togither and throw themselues into the Sea Moreouer the same Wilfride taught them first the art of fishing The art of fishing taught whereof they were ignorant before After Egfrid who was slaine in the straights of Scotland succéeded Alfride his brother and bastard sonne to Oswin raigned 18. or 19. yéeres in Northumberland Wilfride restored This Alfride restored againe the foresaid Wilfride to the sea of Yorke whom his brother had before expelled put in Cedda Not withstanding the same king within 5. Wilfride expulsed againe yéeres after expulsed Wilfride again so he went to Rome But at lēgth by Oswrick his successor he was restored againe Cedda was ordained by Theodorus archbishop of Cāterbury who by the authority of the Sinod holdē at Hatfield did after deuide Mercia into fiue bishoprikes one to Chester the 2. to Worcester the third to Lichfield the fourth to Caderna in Lindsey the fifth to Dorcester which was after translated to Lincolne Néere vnto this time in the yéere 666. began the detestable set of Mahomet which wel agreeth with the number of the beast signified in the Apocalips χξς that is 666. Of him came the kingdome of Agarens whom he after named Saracens to whom he gaue sundry lawes Mahomet beginneth patched of many sectes and religions together He taught them to pray euer to the South to kéepe the Friday as we doo the Sunday He permitted thē to haue as many wiues as they were able to maintaine to haue as many concubines as they listed to abstaine from the vse of wine except vpon certaine solemne daies in the yéere to worship onely one God omnipotent saying that Moyses and the Prophetes were great men but Christ was greater and greatest of all the Prophets as being borne of the virgin Mary by the power of God without mans séede and at last was taken vp into heauen but was not slain Turkes conquered the Saracenes but another in his likenes c. At length this kingdome of the Saracens was conquered by the Turkes In this meane season Theodorus Theodorus was sent from Italie into England by Vitellianus the Pope to be Archbishop of Canterbury and with him diuerse other monkes of Italie to set vp here in England Latine seruice Latine seruice and masse first brought into England The archbishop plaieth Rex Masses Ceremonies Letanies with such other Romish ware being archbishop he began to play Rex placing and displacing bishops at his pleasure he thrust out Cedda Wilfride archbishop of Yorke pretending they were not lawfully cōsecrated Wilfride went vp to Rome but could haue no redresse An. 680. In the time of this Theodorus by the meanes of him a prouinciall Synod was holden at Thetford A prouinciall Synode at Thetford the principall points were these 1. That Easter should be vniformly kept on the full moone in the moneth of March 2. That no B. should intermeddle with the dioces of an other 3. That monasteries should be exempt from the authoritie of Bishops 4. That monks should not stray frō one monastery to an other without licence of his Abbot 5. That no clergy man should forsake his B. be receiued in another place without letters commendatorie of his owne B. 6. That forren bishops clergy men should be contented onely with such hospitalitie as should be offered thē without any further intermedling wtout licence 7. That prouinciall synodes should be kept within the realme at least once a yéere 8. That no B. should prefer himselfe before an other but obserue the time order of his consecration 9. That the number of bishops should be augmented as the people increased 10. That no marriage should be admitted but such as was lawfull and no man put away his wife The sixt generall councell at Constance Marriage forbidden The first Latin masse at Constantinople but for fornication The next yéere following was the sixt generall councell kept at Constance where Theodore was also present vnder Pope Agathe where marriage was permitted to the Gréeke Priestes and forbidden to the Latine In this councell the Latine masse was first openly said by Iohn Portēsis the Popes Legate before the patriarch and princes of Constantinople in the temple of S. Sopry After the decease of Alfride king of Northumberland succéeded his sonne Oscadus raigned 11. yéers after whō raigned Kenredus 2. yéeres and next after him Osricus 11. yéeres In the time
monethes died K. Edw. dieth and was buried in the Monasterie of Westminster which he had greatly augmented and repayred Diuers lawes were before in diuers Countryes of this land vsed as the Law first of Danwallo Molunicius with the lawes of Mercia called Mercinelega then the lawes of West-saxon kings as of Iue Offa Alfrede c. which was called Westsaxonilega The thirde were the lawes of Canutus and of Danes called Danelega Of al these lawes K. Edward compiled one vniuersal and common law K. Edwarde beginneth the coÌ„mon law for all the people through his land which were called King Edwards Lawes so iust and seruing the publike weale of all Estates that the people did long after rebell against their heads to haue the same lawes againe being takeÌ„ froÌ„ them but could not obteine them For though Duke William did sweare to the maintenance of them yet he forsware himselfe and abrogating them brought in much worse more obscure yet was he compelled through the clamor of the people to take some of Edwards Lawes The law at this day Duke W. contrarie to his oath ouerthroweth the lawes but omitted the most part contrarie to his oath at his coronation placing the most of his own lawes in his owne Language to serue his purpose and so they remaine to this day Harold the second sonne of Earle Godwin tooke on him through force and might to succéede Edward notwithstanding his oath to Duke William of Normandie an 1066. wherof he hearing sent Embassadors admonishing him of couenants which Harold refused to performe WhereupoÌ„ D. William prepared to inuade and sent to Rome to Pope AlexaÌ„der touching his title and voiage into England The Pope confirmeth the same and sent vnto him a Banner willing him to beare it in the shippe wherein hee him selfe should sayle So he tooke shipping at the hauen of saint Valeria and landed at Hastings in Sussex From whence he sent a monke to Harold and offered him thrée conditions Conditions of peace offered by D. Wil. to Harold 1 Either to render vnto him possession of the land and so to take it againe of him vnder tribute raigning vnder him 2 Or els to stand to the Popes arbitrement betwéen them 3 Or els to defend his quarrell in his owne person against the Duke without any further bloudshed All which conditions he refused and ioyning battayll with the Normans was shotte into the left eye with an arrowe and died after he had reigned ix moneths and so was he the last that reigned of the Saxons Which reckoning from Hengistus first reigne in Kent was the space of 591. yeres And if it be reckoned from the yeres of the West-saxons Saxons ende after 591. or 560. yeres then it endured the space of 565. yeres Now after Elfegus whom the Danes stoned at Gréenwich Liningus succéeded in the Sea of Canterburie Archb of Canterburie and after him Egelnothus then Robertus a Norman after whoÌ„ Stigandus as they say inuaded the Sea by Simonie being both Archbishop of Canterburie bishop of Winchester and Abbotte of another place Where hee continued a long space till Duke William cast him into prison there kept him placing in his roome Lanfrancus a Lombard borne About the yere of our Lord one thousand lacking one or two Siluester the second succéeded after Gregorie the fift in the Sea of Rome This Siluester was a Sorcerer and compacted with the deuill to be made Pope He sate four yeres one moneth and eight dayes Siiuester couenanteth with the deuil for the popedome He vpon a certaine time demaunded of the deuill an answere how long he should enioy the Popedome to whoÌ„ hée answered againe vntill thou say masse at Ierusalem thou shalt liue At length the fourth yere of his Popedome saying Masse in the Lent time at the temple of the holy crosse being then called Ierusalem there he knew the time was come that he must die whereupon being stroken with repentance he confessed his fault before the people desiring them to cut his bodie in péeces which he before had vowed to the deuil Siluester is deceiued by the deuil and so being heweÌ„ in péeces they would lay it on a cart and burie it there where the horses would stay of their owne accord So the horses stayed at the church of Lateran there he was buried wheras commonly by the ratling of his bones within the tombe The ratling of Syluesters bones is portended the death of Popes as the common report goeth Iohannes Stellas After Siluester succéeded Iohannes 19. by whom was brought in the feast of Alsoules The feast of Alsoules as Volaterane saith Anno 1004. Through the meanes of one Odilo abbot of Cluniake to be celebrated next to the feast of Alsaints Not long after came Iohannes 20. and Sergius the 4. after whom succéeded Benedictus the eight then Iohn 21. who beyng promoted by arte Magicke through Theophilact his Nephew Gratianus Brazutus and other sorcerors brought in first the fast of the éeuen of S. Iohn Baptist and and S. Laurence after him Benedictus the 9. by magick also who resisting the Emperour Henricus the 3. son to Conradus The Popedom solde and placing in his roome Petrus the king of Hungary with this verse Petra dedit Romam Petra dedit c Petro tibi Papa coronam after for feare of Henricus preuailing in battell hee was faine to sel his seate to his successour Gratianus called Gregorius 6. for 1500. pounds At which time were thrée Popes together in Rome one raging against another Benedictus 9. Siluester 3. Gregorius 6. Three Popes together For the which cause Henricus surnamed Niger the Emperour comming to Rome displaced these 3. monsters at one time placing for them Clemens the 2. and therevpon enacted that no Pope thencefoorth should be chosen without confirmation of the Emperour No P. without the Emperor The Romans also made an oath to the Emperor that they would not intermeddle in the election of the Bishoppes further then the Emperors assent should agree withall But within ix moneths after they forgat their oth and poysoned the B. Which fact some impute to Steuen his successor called Damasus the second some to Brazutus who as histories record wtin xiij yeres poisoned 6. popes One poysoneth sixe popes ClemeÌ„s the secoÌ„d Damasus 2 Leo 9 Victor 2 Steph. 9 Nicolaê° 2. Damasus entred neither by consent of the people nor election of the Emperor but by plain inuasioÌ„ and wtin 23. daies being poisoned An. 1049. much contention was at Rome about the papall sea so that the Romanes by consent of the Cardinals desired the Emperour to giue them a Bishop which he did one named Bruno an Almaigne and Bishop of Collen afterward named Leo the ninth who comming from the Emperour to Rome in his Pontificalibus was met of the Abbot of Cluniake and Hildebrande a monke that al to rated him because he would take his authoritie of the Emperour
William of York Hée was poysoned in his chalis Archb. poysoned in his chalice by his Chaplains In the xvi yere of the reigne of this king Theobaldus Archbishoppe of Canterburie and Legate to the Pope held a Councell at London wherein was concluded appellations from Councels to the Pope found out by Henry Bishop of Winchester In the time of King Steeuen died Gracianus a Monke of Bononia who compiled the booke called The Popes decrées also his brother Petrus Lombardus Petrus Lombardus Bishop of Paris Maister of Sentences wrote his foure bookes of Sentences These two were the greatest doers in finding out that the similitude onely of bread and wine remained in the sacramentes Some write that Petrus Comestor Petrus Comestor the writer of the Scholasticall history was the third brother In this time also liued Hildegard the Nunne and prophetisse Hildegard the nunne and prophetisse in Almaigne By this K. was builded the abbey of Feuersham where his sonne and he were buried He builded the monasterie of Finerneys and of Fomitance Much about the same time came vp the order of the Gilbertines Gilbertines by one Gilbert sonne to Iacoline a knight of Lincolnshire Theobald Priests no rulers in worldly matters the Archb. of Canterb. among other matters decréed that priests should not be rulers of worldly matters and that they should teach the Lords praier Créed in english Mattheus Parisiensis writeth how Stephen K. of England reserued to himselfe the bestowing of spiritual liuings and inuesting of prelats ann 1133. At which time also Lotharius the Emperour began to doe the like had not Bernardus giuen him contrary councel Then came into the Church the manner of cursing with booke bell and candle Booke bel and candle deuised in the Councell at London holden by William B. of Winchester vnder P. Celestinus who succéeded after Innocentius an 1142. Also Lotharius who succéeded after Innocentius an 1142. Also Lotharius succéeded in the Empire Conradus the nenew of Henricus 5. an 1138. Who onely among the Emperors is founde not to haue receaued the Crowne at the popes hand In the dayes of this Emperour who reigned fiftéene yeares were diuers Popes as Celestinus 2. Lucius 2. Eugenius 3. Betwixt P. Lucius Lucius and the Romanes was great strife for the Romanes would haue recouered their auncient libertie in choosing their consuls and Pope Lucius in the fight was well beaten and liued not long after Pope Eugenius Eugenius after him followed the same course An. 1145. and compelled them to abolish their consuls and to take such Senators as he should assigne Then followed Anastasius Anastasius the 4. And after him Adrianus the 4. an Englishman Adrianus pope an Englishmā by his name called Breake speare belonging once to S. Albons He likewise kept great stur preuailed against the Romanes for the former causes and thundered against Fredericus the Emperour Hildegardis a Nunne and as many iudged euen the papistes themselues a Prophetisse liued anno 1146. and prophecied against the whole rowte of Romish prelats and of the fal of that Church especially against the senior Friers and such other bellies of the same In a certain place she hath these wordes And now is the law neglected among the spirituall people Hildegard prophecieth against the kingdome of the Pope which neglect to teach and to doe good things The maister likewise and the Prelates doe sleepe despising iustice and laying it aside c. And in another place Then shall the crowne of Apostolicall honour be deuided because there shal be no religion among the Apostolicall order and for that cause shall they despise the dignitie of that name shall set ouer them other men and other Archbishops In so much that the Apostolike sea of that time by the diminution of his honor shall haue scarce Rome and a fewe other Countreyes thereabout vnder his dominion And these things shall come to passe partly by incursiō of warres and partly by a common Councell Iustice flourish when the Pope is ouerthrowen and consent of the Spirituall and Secular persons Then shall Iustice flourish so that in those dayes men shall honestly applie themselues to the ancient customes and discipline of auncient men and shal obserue them as men in times past haue done c. Shee prophecied also of the Friers In those dayes shall rise a senselesse people proud gréedie without faith and subtill which shall eate the sinnes of the people holding a certain order of foolish deuotion vnder the fained cloke of beggery c. But this order shall be accursed of all wise men and faithfull Christians they shall cease from all labour and giue themselues ouer to idlenesse choosing rather to liue by flattery and begging hauing familiaritie with women teaching them how to deceiue their husbandes by their flattery and deceitfull wordes and to robbe for them for they will take all these stolen euill gotten goods and say giue it vnto vs we will pray for you so that they beyng curious to hide other mens faults do vtterly forget their owne And alas they will receiue all things of rouers pickers spoilers théeues sacrilegious persons vsurers adulterers heretikes schismatikes apostataes whores and bawdes of noblemen periurers merchants false iudges souldiers tyrants princes of such as liue contrary to the law and of many peruerse and wicked men following the perswasion of the Diuell the swéetnesse of sinne a delicate and transitorie life and fulnes euen vnto eternall damnation c. Henry the 2. sonne of Ieffrey Plantagenet and of Mawd the Empresse and daughter of king Henry the first raigned after Stephen and continued 35. yéeres Within a yéere or twaine after the entry of his raigne he made Thomas Becket Thomas Becket Lord Chauncellor of England About the yéere of our Lord 1158. Gerhardus and Dulcinus Nauarrensis did earnestly preach agaynst the Church of Rome mainteyning Gerhardus against the church of Rome that prayer is not more holie in one place then in another that the Pope is Antichrist Pope Antichrist that the Clergie and Prelates of Rome were reiect and the very whore of Babilon Whore of Babilon prefigured in the Apocalips c. These two Anno one thousand one hundred and fiftie eight brought with them thirtie into England who by the king and prelates were burned in the forehead and so sent out of the realme And after as Illyricus writeth were put to death by the Pope Put to death by the Pope The Emperour Fredericus successor to Conradus marched vp to Italy to subdue there certaine rebels The Pope hearing thereof came to méet him with his Cardinals at Sutrium the Emperour seing the Bishop alighted of his horse to receyue him The Emp. holdeth the popes stirrop on the wrong side holding the stirrop on the left side whereat the Pope shewed himselfe somewhat agréeued but the next day with holding the right stirrop
in one day by the P. did holde that euery day was frée for eating of flesh so it be done soberly Also that they did wickedly which restrayned Ministers from their lawfull wiues For which cause this Pope and his Bishops caused an hundred of them to be burned in one day Nauclerus reporteth that at the same time many were in the Citie of Millan of the said doctrine which vsed to sende Collects vnto the foresaid Saints of Alsatia The Rablement of Religious Orders in the Popish Church AVstinians Ambrosians two sortes 490 Antonians heremites 324 Austines heremites 498 Austines obseruants 490 Armenians sect Ammonites and Moabites Basilius order 384 Benets order 324 Bernardes order 1120 Barefooted friers 1222 Brigets order 1370 Beghart or white Spirites 1399 Brethren of Ierusalem 1103 Brethren of S. Iohn de ciuitate black friers 1220 Brethren of wilful pouertie Cluniacensis order 913 Canons of S. Augustine 7080 Charterhouse order 1086 Cistercian order 1098 Crossebearers or Crossed friers 1216 Carmelites or white friers 1212 Clares order 1225 Celestines order 1297 Camaldulensis order 950 Crostarred brethren Constantino politanish order Crosse-bearers Chapter monkes Duch order 1216 Dominick black friers 1220 Franciscans 1224 Grandmontensis order 1076 Gregorian order 594 Georges order 1407 Guilhelmites 1246 Gerundinesis order Galileans Heremites Helenes brethren Humiliati 1166 Hospitall brethren Holy Ghost order Ieroms order two sorts 1412 Iohns heremites Iustines order 1432 Iohannites or knights of the Rhodes 380 Iniesuati 1308 Ieromes heremites 1365 Iosephs order 490 Iacobites sect Iames brethrens order Iames brethren with the sword Indians order Katherin of Senes order 1455 Keyed mōks K. of the Rhodes Lazarites or Marimagdalins or our Ladies brethren 1034 Lords of Vngarie Minorires which be deuided into Conuentuales Obseruants Reformate Collectane De Capucio De Euangelio Amedes Clarini c. Minorites 1224 Maries seruants 1304 Monks of mount Oliuet 1046 Marouinies sect Monorites sect Monache Monachi Morbonei Merestei Menalaish Iasonish sect New chanons of S. Austin 1430 Nestorini Nalhart brethren New order of our Ladie Nazarei Paules heremites 345 Premonstratensis order 1119 Preachers order or black friers Peter the Apostles order 1009 Purgatorie brethren Rechabites Sarrabites Sambanites 1199 Scourgers the first sect 1266 Souldiers of Iesus Christ 1323 Scopenites or saint Saluators order 1367 Specularii or Glasse order Sepulchres order Shere order Swerds order Starrid monkes Starrid friers Sclauonie order Scourgers the second secte called Niniuites Stoole brethren Scotland brethren order Sicarii S. Sophis order Templars order 1110 Templar knights 1120 The vale of Iosaphats order Vallis Vmbrosae 1400 Waldensis sect Wentzelaus order Wilhelmes order White monkes of mount Oliuet 1406 Zelotes order IN the daies of pope Innocent the 3. began the two sects of Friers one called the Preachers order Dominicks Minorits friers or blacke friers of S. Dominicks the other called the Minorits of S. Francis The Preachers order began of one Dominicke a Spaniard about the partes of Tholouse who after he had laboured 10. yéeres in preaching against the Albingenses afterward comming vp to the Councell with Fulco B. of Tholouse desired the pope to haue his order of preaching cōfirmed which the pope a great while refused till at length thorough a dreame he dreamed he perswadeth the Pope His dreame was that Laterane Church was ready to fall he with his shoulders was faine to hold it wherevpon Dominick had his petitition granted The rule which they folow séemeth to be taken out of S. August Their profession stādeth vpō 3. special point 1. Hauing charity 2 Holding humility 3. Possessing wilful pouerty their habit clothing is blacke The minorities descend from one Francis an Italian of the citie of Assissium who hearing that Christ sent forth his disciples to preach thought to imitate the same in himselfe his disciples and so left of shoes had but one coate The perfection of the Gospel and that of a coorse cloth in stéed of a latchet to his shoe and a girdle tooke a Hempen cord and apparrelled his disciples teaching them as he said the perfection of the Gospel to apprehend pouerty and to walke in the way of holy simplicity He left in wryting to his Disciples and followers his rule which he called the Rule of the Gospell He was very seuere in outward chastising of him selfe so that in Winter he couered his bodie with I se and snowe He called pouertie his Ladie He kept nothing ouer night So desirous he was of martirdome that he went into Siria to the Souldan who receiued him honorablie for he tolde him not the trueth as Iohn Baptist did to Herod Many sectes of Franciscans The Franciscans be deuided into many Sectes some goe in tréene shooes or pattins some barefooted some regular Frāciscās or obseruāts some minors some minimi other of the gospel other de caputio About the same time sprang vp the Crooched friers Crooched friers taking their originall of Innocent the 3. who raised vp an army signed with the crosse on their brest to fight against the Albingenses whom the Pope and his sect accompted for heretiks about the part of Tholouse The Albingenses denied the Popes authoritie and his traditions they were against Images pardons purgatorie and chiefly they were abhorred of the Pope because they set vp a contrary pope against him in the coastes of Burgarorum Of these Albingenses were slaine at times and burned a great multitude by the meanes of the Pope and Simon de monte forti with other more About this season or not not much before died Pope Innocent the third in the 19. yéere of his Popedome to whose custody Fredericus the nephew of Fredericke Barbarossa being yong was committed by the empresse his mother After this Innocent succéeded Honorius 3. and after Honorius when he had gouerned ten yéeres followed Gregorius 9. which popes were in the raigne of Henry 3. About the yéere 1218. Becket 50. yeeres after his death was taken vp and shrined for a new Saint made of an olde rebel Becket shrined after his death to whose shrining came such resort of people of England and France that the countrey of Kent was not sufficient to sustaine them About the yeare 1220. the young king was the seconde time crowned againe at Westminster About which time was begun the new building of our Lady Church at Westminster By reason the Realme through king Iohn was made tributarie to the Pope the exactions vpon all estates from the Sea of Rome especiallie vpon beneficed men Incredible exactions from Rome and such as held any thing of the church were incredible so that certaine of the Nobles assented with the king to make a restraint of such rents and exactions The Pope required by Cardinall Otho of all the churches two prebends one for the bishops part one for the chapter also of the monasteries where be diuerse portions The Popes request in England one for the Abbot another for
vnder paine of hanging to the Sheriffes of Hartford and Essex that in their owne persons with the strength of both Shires they should watch and compasse about the Chappell and sée that Hubert in no wise should escape In the meane time Lucas Archb of Dublin true frend to the L. Hub. he continued in praier night and day and Lucas Archb. of Dublin his true and almost onely friend ceased not to pray and wéepe to the King for him desiring him at the least to participate vnto him what he purposed to doe with Hubert Whereupon the King answering said of thrée things he should choose whether he would First either to forsweare the Realme of England for euer or to be condēned to perpetuall imprisonment or els to confesse him selfe openly to be a traytor Hard choice offered to L. Hubert But hereunto Hubert made answere that he would choose none of these as who was neither guiltie nor worthie of any such confusion But to satisfie somewhat the minde of the King he would be content to depart the Realm for a season but to abiure the realm he would not so doe In this meane time Radulphus Earle of Chester and Lincolne which was one of the greatest enemies he had died Hubert yet continued enclosed in the Chappell vntill his two seruaunts which ministred vnto him were taken from him by the kings commandement Then Hubert séeing no other remedie but there to be starued with hunger offered him selfe of his owne accorde vnto the Sheriffes who by the K. commandement brought him againe to the Tower Not long after the K. hearing that Hubert had committed his treasure to the Templars in Lōdon sent to thē to deliuer it into his hands who refusing so to do the king cōmaunded Hubert to cause the treasure to be deliuered which he did most willingly and yéelded both himselfe his treasures all that euer he had vnto the kings wil and pleasure The enemies of Hubert herevpon cried out against him saying that he was a théefe had stolen the treasure from the king had deserued to be hanged and thus cried the accusers daily in the kings eares but the king now somewhat appeased satisfied answered that there was no néed so straitly to deale with him who frō the time of his youth first serued his vncle K. Richard then his father K. Iohn in whose seruice as he heard say he was driuen to eate his horse c. and that he had rather be counted a king foolish simple then to he iudged a tyrant toward such as haue serued him and his ancestors in so many dangers faithfully waying more the fewe euils which yet be not proued then so many good desertes of his euident and manifest seruice done both to him The K. somewhat appeased towards Lord Hubert and the whole realme And thus the king somwhat relented to poore Hubert his old seruant and graunted to him such lands as he had giuen by king Iohn his father and whatsoeuer he had els by his owne purchase Thus Hubert had some chéering Hubert somewhat cheered and with the fauour of the king the nobles began to bée satisfied and foure Earles namely Richard the kinges brother William Earle of Warren Richarde Earle Marshall and William Earle of Ferries became Sureties for him vnto the King Vpon which Sureties he was translated to the Castle of Diuisis Whereupon the Bishoppe of Winchester commeth craftely to the King and desireth the custodie of that Castle Craft of a Bishop making no mention of Hubert to the intent that by the kéeping thereof he might the sooner dispatch him Hubert hearing thereof openeth the matter vnto two of his seruāts who cōueyed him by night vpon their backs fettered as he was his kéepers being a sléep into the parish church of the town there remained with him The kéepers after search found him in the Church and with violence drew him into the castle againe whereof the Bishop of Sarum vnderstanding came to the castle where Hubert was and requireth that he might be brought to the church againe from whence he was taken which when the kéepers denied to doo the bishop gaue sentence of excommunication against them and that doone with the bishop of London and other bishops goeth and complaineth to the king of the iniurie doone to Hubert and contumely against the church neyther would they leaue the king Great reuerēce of the church before they had obtained that he should bée brought againe into the Church and so he was but not long after the king commaunded to kéepe him with watch The king hard to L. Hubert againe till either he came forth or perished by famine In the meane season great dissention arose betweene the King and his Nobles by meanes whereof Hubert was taken by Richard Earle marshall into Wales and there remained til the King at length was reconciled with his nobles L. Hubert receiued into the kings fauour and so receiued with the rest Hubert againe into his fauour As Hubert was vexed for emptying the Popes barnes so likewise Roger Bishop of London being suspected for the same was inforced to trauell to Rome there to purge himselfe before the Pope Caursini Italian vsurers This Roger after his returne from Rome laboured to expell out of his Dioces the Italian Vsurers called Caursini and they withstanding him procéedeth to the sentence of excommunication against them But they so wrought with the Pope that they caused the Bishoppe of London being both aged and sicklie to be cited beyonde the Seas there to make answere vnto such obiections as were inferred against him And so the bishop was compelled to let the cause fall The Popes visitation generall The same yere the Pope to recouer his losses proclaymed a generall visitation thorough all religious houses exempt and not exempt vniuersallie pertayning to his iurisdiction where by the cruell dealing of the visitors many were compelled to trauell appeale to Rome to the great expenses of their mony and filling of the popes coffers And as Parisiensis saith the visitatiō tended not to any reformation so much as to the deformation of the vniuersall order while all they which before through all parts of the world folowed onely the rule of Benedict A deformation no reformation Benedict order now through new deuised constitutions are found so deuided diuers that of al the monasteries and other churches of religion scarse may two be found which do agrée in one rule and institution of life In the time that Hubert was secluded frō the king none bare sway vnder him but Peter B. of Winchester Peter bishop of Winchester by whose counsell the naturall seruitours of the king were remooued and straungers placed in greatest offices To him were ioyned Peter de Riuallis his coosin who had cōmitted to him all the great holds munitions of the realme Stephen Segraue who succéeded Hubert Robert Passelew who had the kéeping of
the vttermost and wasteth all the countrie about Rome The pope dieth for anger wherewith the Pope was so dismaide that beyng in dispaire to obtaine his purpose hée died for very anger and thought This Gregory brought into the Church much horrible impietie blasphemy wickednes among others brought in that most detestable Canticle Salue Regina brought into the Church Salue Regina in which hée attributeth the honour and worshippe onely due to Iesus Christ vnto the virgin his mother This is hée in whose name the booke of the Decretals The decretals was set out a sinke of folly and impietie Pope Celestine Pope dieth After this Gregory was placed Celestine borne in Mediolanum among the Castellians who as Blondus declared by fained promises offered a league with Fredericke and the 18. day after he was created he died Now Fredericke thinking himselfe void of feare lenieth an army against the Tartarians An army against the Tartarians for the reliefe of the Christians who hearing of the comming of the Emperour returned another way by the riuer Danubius to Tanricia and so through the fennes of Meotida and by the riuer Tanaum into Sarmatia Asiatica After Celestine the cardinals made choyse of Simbaldus a Genouais for pope whom they called Innocentius the 4. Innocentius 4. which election Fredericke was well pleased with as hée signified by letters and Legates gratulatorie to the pope The legats of Frederick with the furtherance of Baldronius Emperour of Constantinople laboured very diligently for conclusion of promised peace but all in vaine for while the Emperours legats attended for answer of peace Ramerus the Cardinall went secretly and tooke Viterbium which was on the Emperours part The Emperour notwithstanding there séemed no hope of peace doubted not but if he might himselfe speake with the Pope he vpon reasonable conditions should well inough accord with him wherefore he desired him by his legats to appoint a place where the Emperour might speake with him The Emperour seeketh peace The Pope will none The Pope séemed to be content therewith but on a sudden went to Lyons and called a councell and with a lowd voice sommoneth Frederick and appointing him a day commaunded him there personally to appeare to pleade his cause The Emperour agréed but required conuenient time to trauaile thether The pope would not so much as graunt 3. dayes but being both iudge and accuser Pope iudge accuser condemneth him before he could come thether without proofe of any crime or his cause suffered to be pleaded But Gods iudgement failed him not for the writers of the annals accord that when Frederick the Emperour and Conradus his sonne were dead and the pope gaping for the inheritance of Naples and Sicil and thinking by force to subdue the same coming to Naples with a great armie of men there was heard manifestly in the Popes court a voice pronouncing these wordes Thou wretch come to receiue thy iudgemēt A voice heard Thou wretch come and receiue thy iudgement And the next day the pope was found dead all blacke and blew as though he had bin beaten with battes When the Emperour had vnderstanding of this cruell sentence he signified the iniurie to all Christian Princes by his letters and prouided euery way to withstand the P. and his confederats and after diuers aduenturs variablenes of thinges The Emp. dieth hee came into a certaine castle of his in Apulia called Florentinum where hee fell sicke of an ague and died Hauing had purpose as Pandolphus Colonuthius writeth of some maruellous exploite great attempt Frederike died willingly and gladly in the yéere 1240. the 13. day of December the 57. yéere of his age and 37. of his raigne and was buried at Panorium The pope counted him an enemie of the Church and so both Innocentius the fourth pronounced him and the same sentence haue other Popes registred in their 6. Booke of decretals and established the same for a law that he ought to bee taken for no lesse In the Countrey of Sueuia about the time of Frederike the second anno 1240. or néere about the same were manie preachers Preachers bold against Pope which preached fréely against the Pope preached that he was an heretike and that his bishops Prelats were Simoniakes and heretikes and that the inferiour priestes had no authoritie to binde and loose but were seducers and that such cities and countries as were then vnder the popes curse might notwithstanding lawfully resort to the receiuing of the sacrament as wel as before Item that Friers Dominick Franciscan did subuert the church with their preaching c. And not long after these rose vp Arnoldus de noua villa Arnoldus de noua villa was condemned a Spaniard a man famously learned a great writer ann 1250. whom the pope condemned amōg heretikes for holding and writing against the corrupt errors of the popish church His teaching was that christiā people are led by the pope into hel Item that cloisterers are voyd of charitie and denyed that masses are not to be celebrated that they ought not to do sacrifice for the dead c. And as this Arnoldus was condemned so likewise the same time Iohannes Seneca Iohannes Seneca appealeth from the pope to a Councell the glosewriter of the popes decrées and prouost of Halberster was excommunicated and depriued of of his prouostship for resisting Pope Clement the fourth gathering certaine exactions in Germanie and therefore hée appealed from the Pope to a generall Councell and had manie great fauourers on his side till at last both the Pope and he died After this folowed Guilielmus de sancto amore G. de sancto amore against the Pope a Master of Paris and a chiefe Ruler then of that Vniuersitie Al testimonies of Scripture that make against Antichrist he applyeth them against the cleargie of Prelates and against the popes spiritualtie The same Guilielmus is thought to be the author of the Booke which is attributed to the Schoole of Paris and intituled De periculis ecclesiae De periculis Ecclesiae where he proueth by thirtie and nine arguments that friers be false Apostles 39. arguments that Friers be false Apostles Hee was by Antichrist and his rablement condemned for an heretike exiled and his bookes burned In the dayes of this Guilielmus there was a most detestable and blasphemous booke set foorth by the Friers mētioned also in Matthias Parisiensis which they called Euangelium aeternum Spiritus sancti Euangelium aeternum spiritus sancti the euerlasting Gospell or the Gospell of the holie Ghost In which booke many abhominable errors of the Papistes were conteyned so that the Gospel of Iesus Christ was vtterly defaced Which sayde booke was not to be compared to this euerlasting Gospel no more then the shell was to be compared to the kernel The shell to the kernell or the darkenesse to light c.
condemned and burned for the trueth at Tower hil so that since the time of Richard the 2. Iohn Goose martyr there was no king hitherto in whose raigne some godly man or other had not suffered the paines of fire for the testimonie of Christ This godlie man being entertained in the Sherifes house before he wēt to execution desired some meate and eating he said to those about him I eat now a good and competent dinner for I shall passe a little sharpe shower before I go to supper And hauing dined he gaue thanks and requested that he might shortly be led to the place where he should yelde his spirit to God Ex Polychro Anno 1437. died Sigismund the Emperor in Morania after whom succéeded Albert D. of Austrich who in the second yere of his reigne died After whom succéeded Fredericus 3. Duke of Austria an 1440. After Fred. vnto whome the Germanes complayned in vain of the oppressions of the P. succéeded his sonne Maximiliā An. 1476. the B of Herbipolis condemned and burned for an heretike one Iohn a neat-heard I. a neat-heard because he held that the life of the clergie was abhominable before God Ex Munst An. 1479. one Ioh. de Wesalia was forced to reuoke these articles being greatly hated by the Thomistes I. de Wesalia recanteth That men he saued fréelie thorough méere grace by faith in Christ That frée will is nothing That only the word of God is to be beléeued and not the glosse of any man or fathers That the word of God is to be expounded by comparing weying one place with another That Prelates haue no power geuen them to expound Scriptures by any peculiar right more than another That mens traditions as fastings pardons feasts c. are to be reiected That extreme vnctiō cōfirmatiō are to be reiected That confessiō with satisfaction is to be reprehended That the primacie of the P. is vaine c. He was complained of by the Thomistes who were reals and greatly hated the nominals vnto Diethrus Nominais Reals archb of Mentz His articles being examined by the Diuines of Heydelberge and Colen were condemned and he compelled to recant Ex Ost Grat. An. 1484. died P. Sixtus the fourth a very monster of nature of whom writeth Platina that vniustlie he vexed all Italie with warre and dissention Agrippa wryting of him saith that among all the Baudes of these other later dayes which were buylders of Brothelhouses this Sixtus 4. surmounted all other who at Rome erected Stewes of double abhomination not only of women but also c. Whereupon no small gaine redounded to his cofers for euery such common harlotte in Rome paid to him a Iulie péece Reuenes of the Pope from the stewes of Rome the sum wherof grew in the yere somewhile to 20000 at length to 40000. duckets He was a man rather borne to war then to religion as saith Carion for he warred against Vitelius Tiphernates against the Florentines Venetiās whom he excommunicated and absolued not till he died Also against Colonienses against Ferdinandus K. of Apulia and Duke of Calabria also against other nations and princes Ex Ioh. Laziardo This Sixtus was a speciall Patrone of begging Friers Begging friers granting them to enioy reuenewes in this world and in the world to come euerlasting life Among which Friers there was one named Alanus de Rupe Alanus de Rupe a black frier which made the Rosarie of our Ladies Psalter The Rosarie of our Ladies Psalter and erected a new fraternitie vpon the same called Fraternitas Coronariorum Fraternitas coronariorum pertayning to the order of the Dominikes of which order Iacobus Sprenger one of the condemners of Iohannes de Wesalia was a great aduauncer and especially this Sixtus the fourth who gaue vnto the saide Fraternitie large Priuiledges Concerning the institution of this Rosarie there was a booke set forth about the yere 1480. In the beginning whereof it is declared The institution of the Rosarie that the blessed virgin entered into the Cell of Alanus and was so familiar with him that she did there espouse him for her husbande and kissed him with her heauenly mouth opened vnto him her Pappes and poured great plentie of her owne milke into his mouth For the confirmation whereof the saide Alanus did sweare déepelie cursing himselfe if it were not thus as he had made relation This booke being in Latine printed beareth this title Rosareae Augustissimae Christiferae Mariae Corona And in the front it sheweth the name of Iodocus Bisselenis a noble man of Aquine After that this pope Sixtus had vnderstanding that Hercules Estensis duke of Ferraria had ioined peace with Venetians against his will he was so gréeued thereat Sixtus dieth for anger Platina a shamefull flatterer of the Popes that for rancor of mind within fiue daies after he died About which time also died Platina a shameful flatterer and bearer with the wicked liues of the Popes Anno 1483. Edward 4. died after he had raigned two and twentie yéeres whom succéeded Edward 5. who with his brother Richard was slaine by one Iames Tyrell Iohn Dighton and Miles Forest Richard 3. the vsurper by the suborning of Richard the third vsurper who proclaimed himselfe King Anno 1483. in the moneth of Iune the sixt of Iuly was crowned Richard raigned but two yéeres and two moneths being ouerthrowne of Henry 7. who succéeded him an 1485. Henry 7. king and raigned 23. yéeres and eight moneths Anno 1494. died Frederike who had raigned 53. yéeres after whom succéeded Maximilian his sonne who raigned seuen yéeres wit his father Frederike This Maximilian set vp the vniuersitie of Wittemberg Maximilian the founder of the vniuersitie of Wittēberg and was excellently well learned himselfe was the cause why diuerse gaue themselues to learning namely to searching out of Histories whereto the Emperor was giuen himselfe wrote diligently in the Latine toonge his owne acts as did Iulius Caesar The men who florished by his meanes were Cuspinianus Nauclerus Cōradus Pentingerus Learned men flourished in Maximilianus time Mātius others In that age also excelled Baptista mantuanus Angel Politianus Hermolaus Barbarus Picus Mirandula and Franciscus his cosin Rodulphus Agricola Pontanus Philippus Beroaldus Marsilius Ficinus Volaterranus Georgius Valla with infinite other Amongst whom also is to be numbred Veselus Groningensis otherwise named Basilius who was not long after Iohn de Wesalia both much about one time and both great fréends together This Veselus died anno 1490. he was so notable and so worthy a man that of the people he was called Lux mundi Veselus a learned man called Lux Mundi the light of the world he did disallow the popish doctrine of confession and satisfaction in the matter of repentance likewise he did disproue both at Rome and at Paris purgatorie supererogation of workes and pardons and Popes Indulgences hée disalowed
1527. deuers persons were compeleld to abiure for denying to worship the Crucifix for transubstantiation holy daies pilgrimages Abiuration adoration of images speaking against the immoderate riches of Churchmen the reading of English bookes for denying a priest to haue two benefices c. Ann. 1511. the 18. of October William Sweeting Iohn Banister who before had recanted receiuing farther strēgth from God William Sweeting and Iohn Banister martyrs were burned in Smithfield for the testimony of the trueth which was concerning the reall presence Ann. 1517. one Ioh. Brown who had born a fagot before in the daies of K. Henry 7. was burned at Ashford for the profession of the truth Iohn Browne martyr condemned by Archb. Warrham first hauing had his féet burned to the bones by Warrham Fisher bishops to compell him to deny the trueth Ann. 1514. one Richard Hunn merchant tailor in the city of London was priuily made away and hanged in the Lollards tower Rich. Hunn for the trueth and after his death to make him more odious they picked certaine articles against him out of the preface of his English Bible This was done by one Doct. Hedd The 20. of Decemb. the dead corps of Richard Hunn was burned in Smithfield first hauing condēned it of heresy after they had hanged him in prison secretly is bodie was burned 16. daies after his murdering But the matter hauing bin fully examined by the councel iudges and iustices of the realme it was found by good proofe and sufficient euidence that D. Horsey the Chancelor D. Horsey the Chancelor Charles Ioseph the Summer and Iohn Spalding the hel-ringer had committed the murther But by the suited of the Bishop of London vnto the Carinall Woolsey at the gaole deliuery the next Sessions the kings attourney pronoūced the iudgement against Horsey to be fales and him not to be guilty of the murther An. 1518. the 24. of September Iohn Stilman who had before recanted 11. yéeres past was apprehended brought before Richard Fitz-Iames B. of London and the 25. Iohn Stilman burned of October was condemned for a relapse and burned in Smithfield Doctor Hedd vicar generall reading the sentence It was obiected that he spake against pilgrimages that he vsed to read bookes of Wickliffe at his wicket c. That he called the Pope Antichrist c. and that the inferiour were the synagogue of Sathan c. The same yéere the 29. of March Thomas Man martyr Tho. Man was burned in Smithfield who had before abiured ann 1511. the 14. of August against auricular confessiō the sacramē of extreme vnction against worshipping of images that the popish church was not the church of God c. Doct. Hedd pronoūced likewise sentence against him deliuered him to the sheriffe of London to be presently burned Pilate washeth his hands with this protestatiō made before that he might not consent to the death of any therfore he desired the sheriffe not to punish him with rigour This yere was the great abiuration at Amersham The great abiuration at Amecsham 700. conuerted by T. Man Knowne men Iustfast men Tho-Man confessed of himself as it appeareth by the register that he had conuerted 700. from popery to the trueth In those dayes those that were professors of the trueth were called knowne men and Iustfast men After T. Man was Robert Cosin also condemned and burned at Buckingham for holding against pilgrimages confession to priests and worshipping of Images c. Anno 1511. William Sweeting alias Clerke was condemned and burned for a relapse He was taken at Chelsith where he kept the Towne beasts and was their Netheard His articles were against Pilgrimages reall presence worshipping of Images He had dwelt 16. yeres and more with the prior of Saint Osich named George Lawne where hée so turned the Prior that hée was afterward compelled abiure which also William himselfe through frialtie had doone before Hée beyng asked what cause hée had why he should not be iudged as relapse said he had nothing else but onely that hée committed himselfe to the mercie of God With William Sweeting was also condemned the same time Iames Brewster of the parish of Saint Nicholas in Colchester Anno 1505. He had béene abiured by William Warham Archbishop of Canterbury They were burned togither in Smithfield at one fire the 18. of October his Articles were against images pilgrimages worshipping of Images the sacrament of the altar c. Anno 1518. Christopher Shoomaker Christopher Shoomaker was burned at Newbery for like articles afore For then the Churche of Rome was chiefely withstoode for Pilgrimages adoration of Saintes the Scripture in English and real presence William Smith Bishop of Lincolne died an 1515. who builded the Colledge of Brasen-nose in Oxford Colledge of Brasen-nose in Oxford after whō succéeded Iohn Longland a Frier and cruell vexer of poore Christians who propounded such captions interrogatories that he forced one brother to detect another One brother detecteth another the husband the wife c. the husband the wife the brother the sister the son the father Yet notwithstanding all crueltie the number did so encrease that the B. séeing the matter almost paste his power was faine to require ayde of the king for the suppressing of them Whereto the king graunted and sent downe his letters to the Sheriffes Baylifes Officers c. to ayde the Bishop in that behalfe Whereupon a great number abiured anno 1521. in the Dioces of Lincolne and did sharpe panaunce Among which there were certain A great number abiure who because they had abiured vnder Bishop Smith were now condemned for relapse and were burned T. Bernard burned whose names are these Thomas Bernarde Iames Morden Robert Raw Iohn Scriuener Ione Norman and Thomas Holmes which had detected many of the brethren yet escaped hee not the relapese Iohn Scriueners owne children were compelled to set fire to their Father Vnnaturall crueltie as Ione Clarke was before compelled to doe to her Father William Tilsworth About this time D. Collet D. Collet was troubled of B. Fitziames Bricot and Standish but found fauor with the king Paules schole builded He erected the Schoole of Paules The firste Schoolemaster of his Schoole was W. Lilius This Collet was very lerned He died anno 1519. After Pope Iulius 2. succéeded Leo 10. who vnder pretēce of warring against the Turkes sent a Iubile with his pardons through all Christian Regions Dominions whereby he gathered innumerable riches and treasures The gatherers whereof perswaded the people that whosoeuer would geue x. s̄ should at his pleasure deliuer one soule out of purgatorie but if it were one iotte then then shillings Pardonous sold they preached that it would profit them nothing Ex Christ Mess li. 20. Chro. This filthie marchandise was brought into Germanie by a Dominike Frier called Tecellius whereupon Tecellius Frier Luther a Frier Augustine then
in the Scriptures and in the ciuil law altered againe the presidents mind and so the commission was called barke and the army retired which was come within a mile a half of the town of Merindol to do the execution God heareth their praiers The Merindolians hearing therof gaue thankes to God and determined to subiect thēselues vnto Gods will and to endure whatsoeuer affliction should be layd vpon them The fame of them and also of the arrest came to the king Francis eares who gaue commandement to the noble vertuous Lord monsieur de Langeay at that time his Lieutenant in Thurim a citie of Piedmount diligently to enquire the trueth of the matter who sent 2. deputies to enquire the which deputies made report of the vertue diligence of the poore Merindoliās in such sort that they had by their labour fructified Merindol that wheras before it was taxed but at 4. crowns before the destruction oppression which it suffered paid yeerly to the Lord 350. crowns besides other charges they declared also the great oppression which they had suffered Besides they had good testimonie giuen of their neighbors of Prouence what they held also also against the popes religion was truly reported and the copye of the arrest brought whereof the king was aduertised by monsieur de Langeay who vnderstanding these things King Frauncis pardoneth the Merindoliās sent letters to them of grace and pardon not to those onely which were condemned for lacke of appearance but also for all the rest of the countrey of Prouence which were accused and suspected in like case commanding the Parlement that they should not hereafter so procéed but if there were any that could be proued by sufficient information to haue swerued from christian religion that then hee shoulde haue demonstration made vnto him by the word of God out of the old and new testament so by gentlenes bée reduced to the church of God cōmanding also that those which were conuicted of heresie should abiure that all prisoners should be set at libertie which either were accused or suspected of Lutheranisme By vertue of which commandement letters of the king they were permitted to declare their cause Whervpon A confession of the Merindolians faith they made a cōfession of their faith which was presented first to the court of parlement afterward more at large with articles therunto annexed it was deliuered to the B. of Cabillon and to Cardinall Sadolet About this time the yéere 1542. the vicelegate of Auinion assembled a great number of men of war at the request of the B. of Cauailon to destroy Cabriers 1542 Cabriers when the army was come within a mile of Cabriers the Cardinall Sadolet went with spéede vnto the Vicelegate and shewed the articles of the confession of Cabriers Sadolet helped Cabriers and how they offered to bée informed wherin they had erred by the word of God whervppon at that time the army retired Afterward it was ordained by the court of Parlement that according to the kings letters Ioh. Durand counseller of the court of parlement with a secretary and the Bish of Cauaillon with a Doctor of diuinitie should goe vnto Merindoll and there declare vnto the Inhabitants the heresies which they knew to be cōteined in their cōfession to make them apparant by good and sufficient information And hauing so conuicted them by the word of god they should make them renounce and abiure the said heresies c. Whereupon Durandus signified the day that he woulde be present at Merindol that none of the Inhabitants might be absent At the day appointed the parties aboue mentioned came vnto Merindoll whereas also were present diuers Gentlemen and men of vnderstanding of all sortes There was called foorth Anthonie Mailard Examination of the Merindolians Bailiffe of the towne of Merindoll Ienon Romane and Michelin Maynard Sindiques Iohn Cabrie and Iohn Palenc Ancients of Merindoll and Iohn Brunerol vnder-bayliffe who requiring that they might because they were vnlearned answere by Aduocate were denyed either to answere by Aduocate or by wryting but only in their owne persons who notwithstanding did by Gods assistance so answere that the aduersaries were ashamed and durst put in no information of heresie against their articles But the B. spake a lōg tale in the Cōmissioners day and would declare nothing and the Doctor made a long tale in latin and would geue no otherwise any information against them Many that came thether to heare this disputation were much touched and moued to require copies of their confession and answeres Whereupon many were conuerted to the faith namelie 3. doctors who went about to disswade the Merindolians from the trueth whose ministerie God vsed afterwarde in the preaching of the Gospel Of whom one was D. Comband Prior of S. Maximinie afterwardes Preacher in the territorie of the Lords of Bern another was D. Semanti who was also a preacher in the Bayliwike of Touon the other was D. Herandi pastor and minister in the Countie of Newcastle After this the Inhabitantes of Merindoll were in quiet for a time vntill Iohn Miniers an excéeding bloudy tirant began a new persecution This Miniers being Lord of Opedie néere to Merindol first began to vexe the poore Christians by polling and extortion getting from them what he could to inlarge his own Lordshippe which before was very base For this cause he put 5. or 6. of his owne Tenants into a Cistern vnder the ground and cloasing it vp there kept them till they died for hunger pretēding that they wer Lutherans to haue their goods and possessions By this and such other practises this wretch was aduāced in a short space to great wealth and dignitie and at lēgth became the Kings Lieutenant generall in the Countrey of Prouence in the absence of the L. Grigitane then being at the Councell of Wormes in Germanie this wretch impudently and falsly geueth the king to vnderstand that they of Merindoll and Snatre about the number of twelue or fiftéene thousande were in the field in armour with Ensigne displayde entending to take the towne of Marcelle to make it one of the Cantons of the Suitzers By which lie he obteined the kings letters patentes and through the helpe of the Cardinal of Tournon commanded the sentence of the former arrest to be executed against the Merindoliās After this he gathered all the Kings armie which was then in Prouence ready to go against the Englishmen and tooke vp all besides that were redy to beare armour in the chéefe townes of Prouence and ioyned them with the army which the popes Legate had leuied for that purpose in Auinion and all the Countrey of Venice and employed the same to the destruction of Merindoll and Cabriers and of other Townes and Villages to the number of 22. geuing commission to his Souldiers to spoile ransacke burn destroy al together and to kil man woman child without al pity
bring them into order againe and yet no creature followed them On the saturday morning the army mustered in the medow ground néere to Angroign they of Angroigne had sent certaine to kéepe the passages and stop the army that they should not enter if it were possible the number was but few who perceiuing their enemies prepared to fight prayed first of all to God to assist them When they perceyued their enemies comming toward them the combat began and endured a long time in the passages of Angroigne At length the Waldois perceyuing themselues oppressed with the multitude of their enemies retyred to the toppe of the mountaines where they defended themselues till night When they had found a place where they might withstand their enemies still pursuing them they turned themselues and slue diuerse of them and hurt many When the euening came the enemies rested went about to encāp thēselues there to rest al night Which things when the Angroigniās perceiued they fell to praier but the enemies flouted them then the people deuised a policie to send a drum into the valleis hard by as they were making their praier vnto God the drum sounded in the valley the Lord of Trinitie caused his souldiers which were about to encāpe themselues to remoue thence which was a great refreshing to the poore people Many of the enemies that day were slaine many hurt of the which very few escaped of the Angroignians that day were but thrée slaine one hurt who was after healed well againe The L. of Trinitie after ward placed garisons there much molested the Angroigmans after they had cōmended thēselues to god by praier they sent vnto them of Perouse of S. Martin and of Pragella for aid sent them all the helpe that they were able The next day after there came letters to Angroigne frō the L. of Trinitie in which he excused the outrage that was doone and required them to shew themselues obedient to the Duke They againe cōplaining of their wrongs offered thēselues with all obedience to be reformed by the word of God where they had erred beséeching him and all the Lords of Piedmont to be their intercessors to the duke in this behalf Vpon Munday being 4. of Nouember the L. of Trinitie sent his army to Villers Tailleret the lesser cōpany ascended toward Villers the people séeing their enemies approch after they had with praier cōmēded thēselues to God strongly withstood them slue many many also were hurt some fled The other cōpany ascended toward Tailleret although they of the place were but few in nūber that part of the army greater yet making their praiers commending their cause to God they likewise defended thēselues valiātly In the meane season they of Villers emboldned by their late victory came to assist their neighbors being assembled together couragiously pursued their enemies put them to flight In this pursuit it chaunced that this poore people by an ambush of their enimies which came another way were suddenly enclosed and like to be destroied but yet by Gods helpe they all escaped and onely thrée hurt which were soone cured again on the enemies side there were so many slaine that they lay together by cartlodes The same day also 17. of Roccapiata put to flight a great number of the inhabitants of Sanson néere to Roccapiata that went thether and spoiled a rich man there of all that he had After that the L of Trinity had receiued the request and letters of the Angroignians he sent his secretary Gastant to moue the people to prosecute a supplication to the Duke promising that he would returne with his armie In which while they of Angroign perceiued that a part of the armie ascended the hil of Tailleret and the other part had already gottē the way which led to the medow of Tower by which meanes they of Angroign might easily be enclosed they sent certain to kéep the way who encountering with their enimies obtained the victorie not one of them being so much as hurt that day This trechery the Lord of Trinity excused putting the fault in them of Tailleret who had slain certaine of his men in the high way The 9. of Nouember he vsed the like communication as before touching an agréement sending for certaine of Angroign to that intent as he pretended whom he perswaded in token of obedience to laye downe their armour c. Which when they had done he falsified his promise his soldiers in the meane time spoiling their armour A few daies after he sēt his secretary Gastāt to Angroign to make a ful resolution of the agréement that the people of Angroign shold sue for grace to the Duke in that they had taken vp armour for their defence that they should humbly beséech him to giue thē liberty to continue in their religion they professed c. Whervnto they of S. Ioh of Roccapiata of S. Bartholomew of Perouse with other of the valley of Perouse agréed Now while they were treating of this agréement the L. of Trinity vexed cruelly them of Tailleret pretending the cause for that they came not to this agréement for which cause his souldiers spoyled and sacked most lamentably diuers daies together Al which being done the L. of Trinity caused the chiefe of the people to assemble together and demanded 20000. crowns toward the charges of the Dukes maintenāce of his army against thē in time past But by the means of his secretary Gastant who was promised an 100 for a bribe 4000. were cut of so they graunted 16. thousand whereof the Duke released the one halfe The poore people being required to pay the 8000. presently were faine to sell that they had for a little to make a summe and although the money were paide yet the army retired not but demāded anew forced them to promise the payment of 8000. crownes which the Duke released This done he went about to slea their ministers but chiefly the minister of Angroign whom when they could not gette they spoiled his house and burnt his bookes and spoiled 40. houses in Angroign broke their milles and carried away the corn and meale which they found there and to be short the practises of cruelty shewed vpon the poore people continually was very strange as for example they tooke at Tailleret Odul Gemet Odull Gemer a man of sixtie yéers of age and put him to a cruel death for when they had bound him they tooke a kind of thing called in French Escarboth and put them to his nauell couering them with a dishe which within short space pearced into his bellie and killed him The messengers which were sent to the Duke after they had béene detained there 6. wéeks and cruelly handled notwithstanding the miseries sustained before brought a new commaundement that al must go to masse wherevppon they sent and declared their distresse to them of the same profession in Daulphin who hearing therof ioyned themselues
make fortresses all the country ouer which when they vnderstood they made request vnto her againe that these conditions might be moderated with certaine other demaunds for their libertie and aboue all they beséeched her to take pittie on them and that they might not be compelled to doo any thing against their conscience c. After which supplication viewed and read of the Duches Libertie granted to the Waldois she so perswaded the Duke that answere was made according to their mind preaching permitted with frée libertie their goods restored and fréedoms liberties general and particular restored Yet so that Masse should be said in all the parishes of these Valleis no man compelled to come to the same the captiues were also restored that were sent to the gallies and reasonable ransome taken for the prisoners of the Waldois and so through the meanes of the Duchesse the poore Waldois haue béene quiet vntil this day Anno 1526. a certaine Iew in Constantinople was conuerted to the faith which when the Turkes knew they slue him and cast out his dead body not suffering it to be buried which lay 9. or 10. daies incorrupt keping colour and freshnes as if it had not béene dead with a pleasant delectable sauour which when the Turkes behelde they buried the bodie themselues being greatly astonied thereat The end of the seuenth Booke The Abridgement of the second volume of the Ecclesiasticall historie of the Actes and monuments of Martyrs from the time of King Henrie the eight to Queene Elizabeth our gracious Ladie now reigning ANno 1519. Mistresse Smith widowe Robert Harchets shoomaker Archer Shoomaker Thomas Bond Shoomaker Wrigsham a Glouer Lansedall a hosier were on Ashwednesday taken and put in prison and the weeke nexte before Easter were condemned for relapse because most of them had borne fagottes in the same Citie before to bee burned at Couentrie Burned at Couentrie the principall cause of their apprehension was that they taught their familie the Lordes praier and tenne commaundements in English Mistresse Smith onely was dismissed for that present and sent away but as Mourton the Somner was leading her home because it was somewhat darke in the euening by the arme hearing the ratling of a scrol within her sléeue yea said he what haue you here and finding that it was the Lordes praier the beléefe and the tenne commaundements in English Ah syrah said he as good nowe Mistresse Smith as another time come and so he brought her backe againe to the Bishop where she was immediatly condemned and so burned with the sixe before mentioned the fourth day of Aprill in a place thereby called the little Parke Anno 1521. Robert Sylkes 1521 Robert Sylkes who was one of the former companie and by flight escaped was brought to Couentrie two yeeres after and burned the morrow after he came thither which was about the 13. day of Ianuary These Martyrs being thus dispatched the Shiriffes took their goods and cattle to their owne vse their wiues and children being left destitute Anno 1527. Patricke Hamleton 1527 Patricke Hamleton a Scotchman borne of a noble house the first day of March was condemned for the testimonie of the trueth and burned at Saint Andrews in Scotland he at the Vniuersitie of Marpurge in Germanie by conference with Franciscus Lambertus did so grow in knowledge and zeale that hée first there set vp conclusions to be disputed of concerning faith and workes Patrickes articles The articles wherefore hee was condemned were these 1. Man hath no frée will 2. Man is iustified by faith in Christ 3. A man so long as hée liueth is not without sinne 4. He is vnwoorthie to bée called a Christian which beléeueth not that hee is in grace 5. Good woorkes doe not make a good man though a good man doth good workes 6. An euill man bringeth foorth euill workes which being repented of doe not make an euill man 7. Faith hope and charitie cannot bée seuered in one man in this life For the condemnation and burning of this man the diuines of Louane by letters gaue thankes vnto the Archbishoppe of Saint Andrewes and the Diuines of Scotland This Patricke Hamleton cited the blacke Frier called Cambell who accused him to appeare before God to aunswere the innocencie of his death and named a certayne daie when before which time the Frier died without remorse of conscience Patricke Hamelton wrote a Treatise of diuinitie called Patrickes places Patrickes places and they were translated out of Latine wherein he wrote them into Englishe by Iohn Frith A few yéeres after the Archbishoppe of S. Andrewes burned Henrie Forrest Henry Forest who had taken orders of Bennet and Collet for saying Maister Patricke was a martyr and his opinion good He was betraied by Walter Long a Fryer to whom he confessed himselfe He suffered death at the North Church stile of S. Andrewes Within a yéere after the martyrdome of Henry Forest or there about Iames Hamleton Iames Hamleton the brother of Patrick Hamleton the martyr was called in question for mainteining the opinions of his brother but the king Iames the 5. gaue him counsell to depart and not appeare which if hee did he could not helpe him for the Bishops had perswaded him that the cause of heresie did not appertaine vnto the king So he fled and was condemned as an heretike and all his goods confiscate Catherine Hamleton his sister and Aunt to the king Recant recanted her opinion touching iustification without respect of woorkes béeing thereto perswaded by the king and so escaped At the same time also an honest woman of Lieth for crying in her trauell Christ helpe me when the mydwife bad her say Our Lady helpe me was caused to recant Recant About the same time Maister Norman Gurley Norman Gurley because he denied purgatorie and said the Pope was Antichrist and would not recant was condemned by Iames Hay Bishop of Rose commissioner of Iames Beton Archbishop of S. Andrewes and burned vpon the gréenes side betwixt Lieth and Edenburgh With him was burned Dauid Straton Dauid Straton for saying there was no purgatory but the passion of Christ and tribulations of this world he was also falsly accused to haue said no tithes were to be paid for that he casting his fishes to the Vicar of Eglisgrige some fell into the Sea Anno 1532. Thomas Harding Harding who with his wife before had abiured after lōg penance was burned as a relapse being condemned by Iohn Longland Bishoppe of Lincolne at the North ende of the towne of Chesham in the Dell going to Botley when they had set fire on him there was one that dashed out his brayns with a billet It was supposed of them that they might haue fourtie dayes of pardon that shoulde carrie wood to his burning on hope whereof manie people caused their children to beare billets and fagottes to the burning of Martyrs He was burned on the euen
of Corpus Christi day béeing of the age of threescore yeeres and aboue About the same time diuerse others suffered trouble for the doctrine of the trueth as vnder Doctour London Maistresse Alice Dolie béeing accused of her mayde Elizabeth Wighthill for holding against Purgatorie agaynst Images for the articles of the Créede in English this was about 1520. Anno 1525. Frier Hackman for holding frée saluation by grace Anno 1525 Also Robert West priest of S. Andrewe vnder shaft for commending Martin Luther c. for which he was abiured ibid. Father wife and sisters against the Christians Anno 1530. Iohn Ribourne was accused by both his sisters his owne wife and of his owne father who were compelled by Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne to depose against him concerning meates Purgatorie pilgrimage prayer in the English tongue c. Iohn Eaton and Cecill his wife of the parish of Spure were detected by Richarde Ryburne for holding downe their heades at the sacring time and when the belles did ring at the feast of exaltation of the holie crosse betweene Mattines and Euensong for saying What a clampering of belles is here Tho. Lounde Thomas Lounde priest who had beene with Luther two yeeres béeing afterwarde cast in the Fleete at London was a great instructer of Iohn Ribourne afore mentioned At the same time vnder Iohn Longland Bishoppe of Lincolne Iohn Simonds was molested for denying Purgatorie for denying singlenes of priestes it was also testified against him that he conuerted eight priests had holpen two or thrée friers out of their orders Vnder the same Bishop about that time Abiured were these persons following examined excommunicated and abiured for being together in Iohn Taylors house of Hichenden and there hearing Nicholas Fielde of London to reade a parcell of Scripture in Englishe to them and expounde to them many thinges against images offerings prayer in the Latine tongue against the Sacraments of the Altar purgatorie c. Their names were these William Wingraue Thomas Haukes of Hichenden Robert Hawes of West Wickam Iohn Taylor Iohn Hawkes Thomas Herne of Colshill Nicholas Fielde Richard Deane Thomas Clarke the yonger William Hawkes of Chesham Vnder Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne Simon Wisdome of Burford was molested for the Gospell the Psalter the summe of holie Scripture in English so Iames Alger or Aliger because he sayde euerie Christian man liuing after the lawes of God is a Priest hee woulde no dole for his soule and denyed Purgatorie c. He had not of long time beene confessed and for denying the Priestes power of absolution with the other before was compelled to seeke reconcilement in the Church and to abiure the trueth Anno 1526. Pope Clement the seuenth absolueth the othe made of the French king to the Emperour and ioyneth together a confederacie of the Venetians and other Princes against the Emperour whereof the Duke of Burbone and other of the Emperours Captaynes hauing intelligence gathered their armies together and after muche fighting and bloudshed about Millan Hawde and Cremona at length they approched and bent their siege against Rome and after thrée sharpe assaults obtained the Cittie with the whole spoyle thereof Rome spoiled and the Pope taken prisoner Where he besieged the foresaied Pope with his Cardinals in the mount of Adrian and tooke him prisoner Anno 1527. In the Castell of saint Angell at which tyme Rome suffered more spoyle then of the Goathes and Vandalles the Souldiours that dayly laie at the siege of the Castell made iestes of the Pope Rimes made of the Pope sometime they had one riding like the Pope with a whore behinde him sometimes hée blessed and sometime he cursed and sometime they would with one voice call him Antechrist c. When the Cardinall Wolsey here in England heard how his father of Rome was taken prysoner he laboured to the Kinge to fight against the Emperour for the deliuerie of the Pope whiche the Kinge refused by his owne person or his people to doe but yéelded to the Cardinall of his treasure to take what himselfe thought conuenient who therevpon made out of the Kinges treasure twelue score thousand pounds 220000. li. out of the kings tresure to fight against the Emperour and caried it ouer the sea with him whiche when he came to the kinges court at Amiens he conuerted to the hiring of Souldiours and furnishing out the French kinges armie appointing also certaine Englishe Captaines in the king of Englands name to goe agaynst the Emperour to restore the Pope all whiche armie was paide with the kinge of Englandes mony The cause why the Cardinall bare the Emperour this malice after some wryters appeareth to be this At what tyme as Pope Clement was taken prysoner the Cardinall wrote vnto the Emperour that hée shoulde make him Pope but when he had receiued an aunswere that pleased him not he waxed furious madde and wrote manie menacing letters vnto the Emperour that if hee would not make him Pope hee woulde make suche a ruffeling betweene Christian princes as was not this hundred yéeres before Proude Prelats yea though it should cost the whole Realme of England Whose ambitious endeuour the king himselfe did also fauour as it appeareth by instructions giuen of the King to his Ambassadours at Rome to that effect that Wolsey might be placed in the papacie after the death of Pope Clement to the ende hée might compasse his cause of diuorce To the end the king might compasse his cause of diuorce While the Ambassadours were trauelling at Rome for the aduauncement of the Cardinall to bee Pope if Clement were dead hee played héere the Persecutour at home First hée caused Fryer Barnes an Augustine Fryer to beare a fagotte for certaine pointes which hée called heresie hée caused two marchauntes of the Still yeard to beare fagottes for eating fleshe on Friday This was about Anno 1526. Anno 1528. The Cardinall caused Arthur Bilney Geffery Lound and Garret to be abiured for speaking against the Popes authoritie and his pompous pride Anno 1529. The Cardinall was cast in a Premunire 1529 The proude Cardinal cast in a Premunire and execution performed vppon him hee forfeited all his Landes Tenementes goodes and cattell and should haue beene put out of the Kinges protection The K. gracious to the Cardinall but the king sent him a sufficient protection and of his gentlenesse lefte to him the Bishoprickes of Yorke and Winchester and gaue vnto him plate and stuffe conuenient for his degree Anno 1530. 1530. A Parliament In the moneth of Nouember was summoned a generall parliament to be holden at Westminster in which Syr Thomas Moore succeedeth in the Lorde Chauncelourship vnto the Cardinal The Commons in this Parliament propounded their griefes against the spiritualtie Griefe of the communalty against the spiritualtie which were especially sixe First the excessiue fynes that the Ordinaries tooke for probate of Testaments as a thousande markes
paide for the will of Syr William Compton knight as Syr Henrie Guilforde knight one of the executors declared in open Parliament The second cause the great polling which the spirituall men vsed in taking of corpes presents or mortuaries The thirde that priestes being surueyors stewards and officers to Bishops Abbots c. had and occupied farmes graunges and grasing in euery countrey The fourth cause was that Abbots Priors and spirituall men kept Tannehouses and bought and solde wooll cloth and all manner of marchandise as other temporall marchants did The fift cause was their non residencie from their flocks and residencie in the court of Lords houses The sixt was that vnlearned priestes had tenne or twelue benefices and learned scholers in the vniuersities wanted both benefice and exhibition all which grieuances were redressed the same parliament During the same parliament there was brought downe to the commons the booke of Articles which the Lordes had put vp to the king against the Cardinall the chiefe whereof were these First that hée without the Kinges consent had procured himselfe to bée Legate Articles against the Cardinall 2. In all writinges that hee wrote to Rome he wrote I and my King 3. That hée slaundered the Church of Englande to the Court of Rome I and my king which hée saide was facta in reprobum sensum 4. Hée without the Kinges assent carried the great seale with him into Flaunders when hee was sent Embassadour to the Emperour 5. Without the kinges consent hee sent commission to Iohn Gregorie de Cassalis Knight to conclude a league betweene the king and the Duke of Ferrarie 6. That he hauing the Frenchpockes presumed to come and breath on the king The Cardinall had the Frēchpocks The Cardinal confesseth the Articles 7. That hee caused the Cardinals hatte to bee put on the kinges coyne 8. That hee had sent innumerable substance to Rome for the obtayning of his dignities to the impouerishing of the Realme These Articles were confessed all of the Cardinall and assigned with his hand Anno. 1531. Notwithstanding the kings goodnesse towardes him the Cardinall being in his Dioces The Cardinal vnthankfull to the king wrote to the Court of Rome and to diuers other Princes letters in reproche of the king and endeuoured to winne fauour of the people with pompe and great gifts to the Gentlemen which the king although he knew his doings dissembled all that yeare till he saw his heart so lifte vp with pride that hee thought it not conuenient to suffer him any longer so he directed his letters to the Earle of Northumberland The Cardinall arrested and prisoned willing him with all diligence to arrest him and to deliuer him to the Earle of Shrewsburie which was accordingly done and the vi day of Nouember he was conueied from Cawood to Sheffielde Castle and there deliuered to the Earle of Shrewesburies keeping When the Cardinall was thus arrested the king sent Sir William Kingstone knight Captaine of the Garde and Constable of the Tower of London to fetch the Cardinall to the Tower when the Cardinall saw the Captain of the Garde he was so sore astonished that shortly after hee became sicke men said he willingly tooke such quantitie of a strong purgation that his nature was not able to beare it and the matter that came from him was so blacke that the stayning thereof could not be gotten out of the Blankettes by any meanes By easie iourneies he was brought to the Abbey of Leicester the xxvij day of Nouember where for very feeblenesse of nature The Cardinall dieth caused by purgations and vomits he died the second night following and there lyeth buried It is testified by one yet liuing in whose armes the Cardinall died that his bodie being dead was blacke as pitche and was so heauie that sixe could scarce beare him and furthermore did so stincke aboue the ground The Cardinals bodie did stinke aboue ground that they were constrayned to hasten the buriall thereof in the night season before it was day At the which buriall such a tempeste with such a stinke there arose that all the Torches went out and so he was throwen into the Tombe This Cardinall founded a new Colledge in Oxford for the furniture whereof he had gathered together all the best learned he could heare of amongst which number were these Clarke Tyndall Sommer Frith and Tauerner with other mo Which holding assemblie together in the Colledge were counted to be Heretikes and thereupon were cast into a prison of the Colledge where was kept Saltfish through the stinke whereof the most part of them were infected and Clarke thereof died being young and tender and a man of singular learning among them all And other in other places in the Towne also of the same infection deceassed In the time of the Cardinall Master Humfrey M. Humfrey who was a right godly and sincere Alderman of London was troubled and put in the Tower for the Gospel of Christ and for the mainteyning of them that fauoured the same but at length he was forced to abiure Abiure and after was made knight by the king and Sheriffe of London Anno 1530. Thomas Hitten 1530. Tho. Hitten Martyr a Preacher at Maidstone after long torments sundry imprisonments by Wil. Warham Bishop of Caunterburie and Fisher Bishop of Rochester was burned at Maidston for the testimonie of the trueth Anno 1531. Thomas Bilney 1531. Tho. Bilney of Cambridge professour of both Lawes conuerted Thomas Arthur and M. Hugh Latimer then Crossebearer at Cambridge on procession daies and preached against the intollerable pride of the Cleargie and the authoritie of the Bishop of Rome being associate with Arthur whereof the Cardinall hearing cast him into prison and anno 1527. accompanied with a great number of Bishops as Caunterburie Cutbert of London Iohn of Rochester c. came into the chapterhouse at Westminster where Bilney Arthur were brought before them Where the Cardinall demaunded whether Bilney had preached any of the opinions of Luther contrarie to the Catholike Church Whereto Bilney answered negatiuely being asked againe of the Cardinall whether he had not taken an oath not to preach or defend any of the opinions of Luther he graunted he had so sworne but not lawfully Which Interrogatories so ministred and answere made the Cardinal caused him to sweare to answere plainly to the Articles and errours preached and set foorth by him Who hauing béene thus sworne and examined the Cardinal procéeded to the examination of M. Arthur there present causing him to take the like oath Then the Cardinall and the Bishops by their authoritie ex officio did call for witnesses against M. Bilney Iohn Huggen chéefe Prouinciall of the Fryers Preachers throughout all England Geffrey Iulles and Richard Iugwoorth Professors of diuinitie of the same order Also W. Ierkett Gentleman William Nelson and Thomas Williās and so the Cardinall because he was otherwise occupied in the affaires
ledge of the stake certaine Friers Doctors Priors being present at his examination degradation praied him to cleare them to the people least they should withdraw their almes from them which he did according to their request Then by reason of the great wind the fire thrise departed and had recourse before it coulde be sharpe enough to consume him In the which til he gaue vp the Ghost he knocked his brest sometime crying Iesus sometime Credo and so gaue witnes to the truth and slept in the Lord. About Anno 1527. Simon Fish who fled ouer the seas as Tindall for feare of the Cardinal whom he had offended in playing a parte against the Cardinal in a plaie made the booke of the Supplication of the beggers The Supplication of beggers and the next yéere sent it to the Lady Anne Bulleine which booke her brother séeing in her hand tooke and read it and gaue it her againe willing her to giue it to the King which thing she so did About Anno 1528. The king vnderstanding who made it and how for feare of the Cardinall he had fled ouer seas kept it in his bosome iij. or iiij daies which Fishes wife vnderstanding and hauing encouragement of certaine about the King that signified tokens of the kings good liking shée made suite to the king for the safe returne of her husbande whereto he most gratiously graunted Whervpon after two yéeres and an halfe of absence he returned and was of his wife brought vnto the king about the yéere 1530. who embraced him with most louing countenaunce and after iij. or iiij howers talke as they were riding on hunting dismissed him and gaue him his protection The king giueth Fish his protection About the same time also M. Moddis the kings footman being in talke with the king of religion and of new bookes that were come frō beyond seas said if his grace would pardon him such as he would bring to his grace he should sée such a book as was maruelous to heare of The king demanded who they were he said ij of your merchaunts George Eliot George Robinson The king appointed a time to speake with them so did caused one of them G Eliot to read the book vnto him Which being read the king made along pawse and then said if a man should pull downe an old stone wall begin at the lower part the vpper part therof might chance to fal on his head And then he tooke the booke and put it into his deske and commanded them vpon their allegiance not to tell to any that he had séene the booke Against the supplication of the beggers sir Thomas Moore wrote vnder the title of poore séely soules pewling out of purgatorie Poore seely soules pewling out of Purgatory to whiche Iohn Fryth made a pithie and effectuall replie When the Cardinall and Prelates vnderstood of the supplication of beggers and other English bookes they gaue out a commission against reading of English bookes A Commission against English bookes and namely the booke of Beggers and the new Testament of Tindals translation which was done out of hand by Cutbert Tunstall bishop of London and a short time after they had procured an inhibition by the kinges proclamation Anno 1529. both against English other in the Latine tongue which contained ought against their superstition whervpon ensued great persecution and trouble whereof first tasted Thomas Bilney aforesaid Anno 1529. came foorth the New testament of Tindals translation The testament of Tindals translation which Tunstall and Moore deuised to suppresse through the counsell of Augustine Packington Augustine Packington a Mercer and Tindals fréend by buying all the copies for which he gaue verie largely and so furnished Tindall with monie that he corrected them and set them foorth againe in greater plenty then before being reléeued with the Bishops mony wherewith the bishop being gréeued declared vnto Packington how they swarmed more then before to whom said he my Lord you were best to buie the stampes too and so shall you be sure at which answere the bishop smiled and so the matter ended The same yéere that Bilney suffered Anno 1531. the moneth of Nouember Richard Bayfield Richard Bayfield suffered for the testimonie of the truth and was burned in Smithfield he was sometime a moonke of Surrie and conuerted by Doctor Barnes and two godly men of London brickmakers Maister Maxwell and Maister Stacie Wardens of their companie He so profited in the doctrine of Christe in twoo yéeres that by the Moonkes of this house he was caste into prison and there endured sore whipping with a gagge in his mouth and then stocked and so continued in the same torments thrée quarters of a yéere before Doctor Barnes could get him out which at length he did by the meanes of one doctor Ruffani of the same house From thence Doctor Barnes carried him to Cambridge where he greatly profited in good letters and neuer returned to his Abbie but went to London to Maxwell and Stacie who kept him secréetly a while and after caried him beyond the seas Doctor Barnes being then in the Fléete for Gods woorde where he was beneficiall vnto Tindall and Fryth and at the last returning to London to Maisters Smiths house in Bucklers burie there was he bewrayed dogged to his bookebinders in Marke-lane where he was taken and caried to Lollards tower and from thence to the Colehouse by reason that one parson Patmore parson of much Haddaine in Essex that lying in Lollards tower was confirmed by him in the doctrine of Christ who after abiured and was condemned to perpetual prison but deliuered againe by the kinges pardon But Richard Bayfield continued constant in the Colehouse was worse handled then before in Lollardes tower for there he was tied bothe by necke middle and legges and standing vpright by the walles diuerse times manicled to accuse others that had bought his bookes He was thrise in the Consistorie at Paules put to his triall whether he would abiure or no but he standing to his triall by disputation to the confounding of his aduersaries Bayfield condemned by Stokesly then his iudge with the assistaunce of Winchester and other Bishops he continuing constant in the cause of Christ was condemned the twentie daie of Nouember Anno 1531 in the quéere of Paules and disgraded After which the Bishop tooke his Crosier staffe Cruelty and smoote him on the brest that he threw him downe backwardes and brake his head that he souned When he came to himselfe againe he thanked God that he was deliuered from the malignant church of Antechrist Anon after he was ledde through the quire to Newgate and there rested aboute an hower in prayer and so went to the fire in his apparell ioyfullie and there for lacke of a spéedy fire was half an hower aliue and when the left arme was in the fire and burned he rubbed it with his right
home where he had scarce abode a moneth but he bewayled his fact and was neuer quiet in conscience til he had asked God and the world forgeuenesse before the congregation in those dayes in a warehouse in Bowe lane And immediatly the next Sunday after he came to S. Austines with the new Testament in his hand in English and the obedience of a Christian man in his bosome and stoode vp there before the people in his pewe and there declared which wéeping teares that he had denied God and prayed the people to forgeue and to beware of his weakenes Besides hée wrote certaine letters to the Bishop to his brother and to others so that shortly after he was apprehended and committed to the Tower of London and after thrée appearanrances the 19. of April the 20. and the 26. of the same moneth before Master Iohn Foxforde Vicar generall of the Bishoppe of London in the presence of Mathew Grifton Register Nicholas Wilson and William Phillips c hée was condemned to be burned and so was hée deliuered to sir R. Gresham shiriffe then being present who caused him by his officers to be carried to Newgate Iames Baynā burned was burned in Smithfield the last day of Aprill at iij. of the clocke in the afternoone After he had indured great torments stockes and irons in prison before as he was in the middest of the flaming fire and his armes and legges halfe consumed therewith The courage of a worthy martyr he spake these wordes Oh ye papists behold ye looke for myracles here now may yée sée a myracle for in this fire I féele no more paine then if I were in a bed of downe but it is as swéete to mée as a bedde of roses About this present time or not long before Iohn Benet Iohn Benet a tailor dwelling in a village called Vrchuant was burned in the towne of Deuies within the Countie of Wiltshire for the denying of the Sacrament of the Altar And much about the same time was one Traxnell burned in a towne called Brodford within the same County The same yéere 1532. Robert King Nicholas Marsh and Robert Garner men of Dedham Robert Debnam of Estbergholt had ouerthrowne and burned the roode of Douercourt The Idoll of Douercourt ten miles of Dedhā of which Idoll a brute was blowne that no man had power to shut the doore where hée stood wherefore the doore was alwaies kept open for which fact halfe a yéere after they were hanged in chaines Kinge in Dedham at Burchet Debnam at Cattawaie Cawsie Marshe at Douercourt Gardiner escaped and fledde The same yéere and yéere before many Images were caste downe and destroyed in many places Many images cast downe as the Crucifixe by Cogshall in the highwaie Saint Petronell in the Church of great Horksleigh S. Christopher by Sudbury S. Petronell in a Chappell by Ipswich also Iohn Seward of Dedham ouerthrew a crosse in Stoke parke and tooke two Images out of a chappell in the same parke and cast them into the water An. 1533. Iohn Frith was first a student in Cambridge and after one of those whome Cardinall Wolsey gathered together of the choise learned men to furnish his Colledge which he gaue the name of Saint Frideswide nowe called Christes Colledge He that yere the xx day of Iune Christes Colledge in Oxford was condemned by the Bishop of London to be burned and the sentence read he was deliuered to Sir Steeuen Peacock Mayor of London and the Sheriffes of the same Citie and the fourth day of Iulie was burned in Smithfield who at the stake chearefully embraced the Fagottes and fire which was put vnto him and seemed to reioyce for his fellowe that was burned with him Iohn Frith burned rather than to bee carefull for himselfe though by reason the winde bare awaye the flame from him hee was somewhat long in burning After the death of certaine whom the Cardinall had before imprisoned in the caue of his Colledge where Saltfish was vsed to be layde Frith with other were dismissed vppon condition not to passe aboue tenne miles out of Oxforde But Frith after the hearing of the examination of Dalaber and Garret which bare the fagottes went ouer Sea and after two yeres came againe for exhibition of the Prior of Reading as is thought and had the Prior ouer with him Being at Reading he was there taken for a vagabonde and was set in the stockes and through the meanes of one Leonarde Coxe Scholemaster of the Towne who woondered at his excellent learning was againe set at libertie but his safetie continued not long Sir Thomas Moore Sir T. Moore pursueth Frith then Lorde Chauncellour did so deadly pursue him both by Lande and Sea And at last being traiterouslie taken he was sent to the Tower of London Where he had many conflictes with the Bishops but especially in writing with Sir T. Moore The occasion wherof was a Treatise which he made and communicated it with W. Holte a Taylor of Londō that caried it to Moore the chācellor who endeuoured to confute it The pointes of Frithes treatise Frithes treatise were First that the controuersie of the Sacrament is no necessarie Article of fayth vnder paine of damnation 2. That Christ is not in two places at once 3. that Christes woordes in the institution of the Sacrament are to bee vnderstoode according to the phrase of speech comparing phrase with phrase according to the analogie of Scripture 4. That the order and institution of Christ is to be reteined although the order of the priestes doe neuer so much differ from it The copie of which answere Frith got by meanes of friends and answered A treatise of these poyntes Frith did write and it was carried by Holt vnto Moore which hee answered him againe out of prison omitting nothing belonging to the perfect handling of the matter Hée wrote also a Treatise of Purgatorie in which quarrell hee withstood the violence of the moste obstinate enemies Rochester Moore and Rastall and conuerted Rastall to his part who was Moores sonne in lawe After he had sufficiently contended in writing with those men he was at last carried to Lambith first before the Bishop of Canterburie and after vnto Croydon before Winchester and last of all before a common assembly of Byshoppes at London where continuing constant in his righteous cause was condemned With Frith Frith condemned was Andrewe Hewet Andrew Hewet burned hee was borne at Feuersham in the Countie of Kent of the age of foure and twentie yeeres and was apprentice with one Maister Warren Taylor in Watlingstréet he was betraied by the false Iudas William Holt and cast into prison in the Bishoppes house from whence hauing fyled off his yrons hée escaped but was bewrayed againe by one Withers a false hypocrite as Holt was and with him were taken Iohn Tibauld who was banished from his owne house by an iniunction and had béene foure times in prison for
Christes sake and Iohn Chapman in whose house they were who al were carried to the Bishops house but Hewet they sent to Lollardes Towre and kepte Chapman and Tibauld asunder watched with two priestes seruauntes The next day Bishoppe Stokesley came from Fulham and committed Chapman to the stockes and shutte vp Tibauld in a close chamber but by Gods prouidence hee was deliuered out of prison albeit hée coulde not enioy house nor lande because of the Bishoppes iniunction but was fayne to sell all that hee had in Essex Chapman after fiue wéekes imprisonment whereof three hée sate in the stockes by much suite made to the L. Audley who was then Chancellour was deliuered but Andrew Hewet after long and cruell imprisonment was condemned to the fire with Frith after that he had giuen testimony to the trueth Anno 1531. The fiftéenth of Ianuarie Thomas Benet a Schoolemaister of fiftie yéeres of age borne in Cambridge was deliuered vnto Sir Thomas Dennis knight to be burned in Exceter He hid himselfe sixe yeres in Deuonshire but kindeled with zeale he resolued to aduenture his life for the testimonie of Iesus and in the moneth of October he did set vppon the Cathedrall church doore of Exceter scrolles in which were written The Pope is Antichrist and wée ought to worshippe God onelie and no Sayntes the Authour of which billes coulde not bée founde At the last the priestes fell to curse with booke bell and candle the Authour of the same Bennet béeing by who fell into a laughter within himselfe for a great space and coulde not forbeare Whereby some saie hee was bewrayed and taken other that his enemies beeing vncertaine whether it were he or not suffered him to depart home And not beeing able to digest the lyes which were preached sent his boye with other scrolles as before hee had done who béeyng examined confessed whose boye hee was and so Bennet was knowen and taken and committed to warde and béeing called to examination before the heads and cannons of the Citie confessed the fact and after muche disputing with the Friers especially one Gregorie Basset who had lien in prison at Bristow for the trueth and reuolted béeyng threatened hée shoulde haue his handes burned off with a panne of coales which was brought readie at his examination Thomas Bennet martyr hée was condemned to death and burned At whose burning Iohn Barnehouse Esquier béeing present tooke a fyrre bush vpon a pyke beyng sette on fire and thrust it vnto his face because hée woulde not saie Sancta Maria ora pro nobis But he answered Pater ignosce eis and so fire being put to him patiently he ended his life By reason of the rigorous proclamation aboue specified procured by the Bishops great persecution ensued so that a great number were troubled and either burned or constrained to abiure Thomas Cornwell or Austy Anno 1530. for not kéeping his fagot vpon his shoulder after his abiuration was condemned to perpetual prison in the house of S. Bartholomew from whence he afterward fled and escaped Anno 1530. Thomas Philips made his appeale from the B. to the king and would no otherwise abiure then generally all heresies for which the B. did excommunicate him and denounced him contumax and what after became of him it is vncertaine A litle before this time William Tracie William Tracie a woorshipfull Gentleman of Glocestershyre and then dwelling at Toddington made in his will that hée would haue no funerall pompe at his buriall neyther passed hée vppon Masse and saide hée trusted in GOD onelie and hoped by him to bée saued and not by anie Saynt This Gentleman dyed and his sonne his executour brought the Will to the Bishoppe of Canterburie to prooue which hée shewed to the Conuocation and then most cruelly they iudged that he shoulde bée taken out of the ground and bée burnt as an heretike Anno 1532. Wherof the King hearing the Chancelour was fayne to fine thrée hundreth pounds to haue his pardon of the king Anno 1531. Henry Tomson taylor notwithstanding he submitted himselfe to the Bishop yet therewith sentence condemned him to perpetuall prison His cause was the denying of the host to be God The same yéere was Thomas Patmore parson of Hadham in Hartfordshire a godly man and painefull teacher persecuted by Richard FitzIames bishop of London who was desirous to preferre another to the good mans benefice and so hardly was he dealt withall that in the end he submitted himselfe and abiured and was notwithstanding committed to perpetuall prison Howbeit one of his brethren made such suite vnto the king by the meanes of the Quéene that after thrée yéeres imprisonment hée was both released out of prison and also of the King obteyned a Commission vnto the Lord Audley then Lord Chancellour and to Cranmer Archbishoppe of Canterbury and to Cromwel then Secretarie with others to enquire of the vniust dealinges of the Bishoppe and his Chauncellour agaynst Patmore but what was the ende thereof it is vncertaine Anno 1531. Christopher a Dutch man of Antwerp was put in prison at Westminster for selling new Testaments in English and there died The same yer a boy of Colchester or of Norfolk for deliuering a buget of bookes to Richard Bayfield was layed in the prison of Master Moore Chauncellour and there dyed From the yere 1533. during the time of Quéene Anne During the time of Queen Anne no great persecution no great persecution nor abiuration was in the Church of England sauing that x. Anabaptistes were put to death in sundrie places of the Realme And anno 1535. tenne other repented and were saued whereof two were pardoned after sentence geuen which was contrary to the popes law After the Cleargie had with great crueltie vexed Christs flock anno 1534. 1534. Commons against the Cleargie a parlament was called by the king about the 15. daye of Ianuarie in which the Commons renued their old gréefes complaining against the Prelates and Ordinaries for calling men before them ex officio Answere to which requestes the king at that present did delay After the Cardinal had béene cast into a premunire anno 1530 about the yéere 1532 the king made a restraint that nothing should be purchased from Rome Nothing to be purchased from Rome and procéeded further against all the Prelates for supporting the Cardinall by reason whereof they also were entangled with premunire For the releasement whereof they offered the king 118840. poundes which was accepted with much adoe In this submission the king was called of the Cleargie Supreame head Supreme head The motion of the Commons to the king touching their gréeuances from the Cleargy in the prorogation of the parlament tooke good successe Wherein the king prouided remedies and enacted in the same Parlament that no man should be troubled for speaking any thing against the vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome or his lawes not grounded on the law of God The vsurped power of the Pope
and vttered his diuerse argumentes where hée desired to be satisfied The matter was concerning the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ Tailor desired him to deferre the matter till another tyme and to wryte his minde whiche hée did and at last it brake out to bée a publicke matter so that he was sent for by the Archbishop of Canturbury and was forced to defend his cause openly In that disputation it is said that Lambert did appeale from the Bishops to the king and the rumour of the disputation was spred to the court Now at this time Stephen Gardiner then bishop of Winchester A wicked persuasion was in authoritie among the kinges Counsellours and perswaded the kinge by the burning of Lambert to quiet the people who grudged at diuerse of his dooinges bothe touchyng his diuorce and pullinge downe the Popes pride and thereby to declare how stoutly he would resist Heretikes whereby the people might take some contentment So by these perswasions a day was set Lambert brought forth where besides he had the kings fierce countenance against him Lambert disputeth he had x. disputers against him frō xij of the clocke till v. at night among which were the archbishop Stephen Gardiner Tunstall B. of Durham Stokesley bishop of London In fine through Winchesters perswasion to gratifie the people the king himselfe condemned Lambert and commanded Cromwell the chiefe friend of the gospellers to read the sentēce The king condemneth Lambert Cromwell readeth the sentence against Lambert Cromwell craueth pardon of Lambert Vpon the day that was appointed for this holy martyr to suffer he was brought out of the prison at viij of the clocke in the morning vnto the house of the L. Cromwell so caried into his inner chamber where as it is reported of many Cromwell desired him of forgiuenes for that he had doone from thence he was brought into the hall and so into Smithfield where he suffered most terrible torments for after his legges were burned vp to the stumps that the wretched tormentors had withdrawē the fire from him so that but a small fire was left vnder him two that stood on each side of him with their halbards pitched him vpon their pikes as farre as the chaine would reach then he lifting vp such handes as he had and his fingers euer flaming with fier cried vnto the people in these wordes Lambert a worthy martyr None but Christ none but Christ and so beyng let downe againe from their Halbards he fell into the fire yéelded vp the ghost Lamberts treatice of the Sacrament During the time that he was in the Archbishops house he wrote a treatise to the king touching the Sacrament wherein he prooued that the bodie could be but in one place and that the Sacrament was a mysticall matter The same yéere 1538. Robert Packington Mercer brother of Austen aboue mentioned because he little fauoured the clergie being a man of courage and a burges of the parliament house for the Cittie and was thought to haue had some conference with the king to the disaduauntage of the clergie at fiue of the clocke in the morning as he was woont going from his house in Cheapside to prayers at a church called S. Thomas of Acres but nowe Mercers chappell he was slaine with a gun by an Italian Robert Packington slaine going to prayers whome D. Incent Deane of Paules had hired for lx crownes to doo that feat as he himselfe afterward on his death bed confessed The same yéere was Collins a mad man and his dogge burned Collins his dogge burned together because as the priest lifted his God so Collins in the Church at the same time lifted his dogge ouer his head his dogge was burnt also with him Likewise another mad man called Cowbridge Cowbridge was burned at Oxford the same yéere who what euer his madnesse was before yet in the middes of the flame he lifting vp his hand to heauen soberly and discréetly called vpon the name of the Lord Iesus and so departed About the same time and yéere Putdewe Putdewe was put to death for saying merily to a priest after he had drunke the wine he blessed the hungrie people with the emptie Chalice At the same time also was condēned W. Letton Williā Letton a moonke of Aye in the Countie of Suffolke was burned at Norwich for speaking against an idoll that was vsed to be carried in procession at Aye and for holding that the Sacrament ought to bée ministred in both kindes Somewhat before the burning of these men Nich. Peke Nicholas Peke was burned at Ipswich and when the firres were set on fire he was so scorched that he was as blacke as pitch Doctor Reading standing there before him with Doctor Heirre and Doctor Springwell hauing a long white wande in his hand did knocke him vpon the right shoulder and sayde Peke recant and beléeue in the Sacrament The notable courage of the martyr to whom Peke answeared I defie thée and it also and with greate violence hee spatte from him blood which came by reason the veynes brake in his bodie for extreme anguish Which when hée saide Doctor Reading graunted by the authoritie of the Bishoppe of Norwich fourtie dayes of pardon to so many as should cast a sticke to burne the heretike wherevpon Baron Curson Sir Iohn Audley knight and others were moued so to do and cutte downe boughes and threw them into the fire This yéere the king was againe required by the Emperour and other States to be a sender to the generall Counsell at Vincence For the Duke of Mantua woulde suffer none there The king againe refuseth the Counsell except the pope would with a sufficient armie gard this city The king again refused and sendeth his protestation in way of defence for himselfe to the Emperour and other Christian princes which he concludeth with this farewell Thus mighty Emperour fare yée most heartely wel and you Christian princes The kings farewell to the princes Anno Reg. the pillers and stay of Christendome fare ye heartily wel also you what people soeuer you are which doe desire that the Gospel and glory of God may flourish fare ye heartily well As Thomas Cromwell fauoured the Gospel so Stephan Gardiner B. of Winchester practised all he coulde against the same and wrought so with the king that the yéere 1539. seuere Iniunctions were set out by the kinges authoritie against English scripture bookes without examination against translations Search iniunctions without the authors name were put to it against sacramentaries that no man should dispute of the sacrament with the rest the canon of Becket rased c. and in fine so was he nusled by Winchester that Anno 1540. 1540. The king nusled by Winchester The whippe with vi strings The vi Articles He summoned a parlament to be holden at Westminster the xxviij of Aprill also a synode of
had where Doctor Barnes continued halfe a yéere at length was deliuered and committed to be frée prisoner at the Austen friers in London Where being vndermined and complained of it was determined he shoulde be remoued to the Austine friers in Northampton there to be burned he himselfe knowing nothing thereof but by the aduise of Maister Horne who brought him vp he made escape came to London and by long Seas went to Antwerpe and so to Luther D. Barnes escapeth out of prison and there fell to studie till hée had made answere to all the byshoppes of the Realme and had made a Booke entituled Acta Romanorum Pontificum Acta Romanorum pontificum and another Booke with a supplication to King Henrie And such fauour God gaue him in fight of the Duke of Saxonie and the King of Demarke that the king of Denmarke sent him with the Lubeckes as Ambassadour to King Henrie the eyght and was lodged with the Lubeckes Chancellour at the Stillyarde Syr Thomas Moore the Chauncellour would faine haue entrapped him but the king woulde not suffer him For Cromwell was his great friend and ere he went the Lubeckes and he disputed with the Bishoppes of this Realme in defence of the trueth and so departed with them agayne without resistaunce and afterwarde hauing set forward in Germanie his woorkes in print that hée had begunne hée returned againe in the beginning of the reigne of Quéene Anne and after that was sent Ambassadour by king Henrie the eight to the Duke of Cleue for the marriage of the Ladie Anne of Cleue betwéene the King and her and was well accepted therefore vntill the time that Stephen Gardiner came out of Fraunce after which time neyther religion prospered nor the Queene nor Cromwell nor the Preachers for not long after Doctour Barnes with his brethren were apprehended and carryed before the Kinges maiestie at Hampton Court and there was examined Where the Kinges maiestye séeking the meanes of his safetie and desirous that Winchester and he might agrée graunted him leaue to go home to conferre with the Bishop but they not agréeing through certaine complaints Barnes and his fellowes were inioined to make thrée sermons the next Easter following at the spittle In which not satisfying the Prelates they were sent for to Hampton Court again D. Barnes sent to the tower and from thence to the Tower by Sir Iohn Gostwicke from whence they came not out til they came to their death And thus much concerning Doctor Barnes About the yéere 1526. Maister Garret Curate of Honie lane in London came to Oxforde and dispersed there certaine Bookes in Latine not agréeable to the Romish superstition with Tindalles Testament and had not long béene there but hée was searched for in London to bée apprehended for an Heretike and afterwarde a priuie searche was made in Oxforde whereof Garret béeyng warned by Maister Cole of Magdalene Colledge who after was crosse bearer to Cardinall Wolsey he departed out of Oxforde in the morning before Shrouetide towards Dorcetshyre where hee woulde haue for a time hidde himselfe But altering his mynde on the Friday night next hée returned to Oxforde and laye in Radlies house where by the priuie searche the same night hee was taken and kept prisoner in Doctour Cotfords chamber maister of Lincolne Colledge then being Commissary of the Vniuersitie from whence when the Commissary and his company was at Euensong Garret putting backe the locke of his doore with his finger escaped againe and chaunging his apparrell by the helpe of Anthonie Delaber scholer of Alborne hall departed but afterward was againe taken by maister Cole or his men going Westward at a place called Hincksey a little beyonde Oxeford and so being brought back agayn was committed to ward that done hee was conuented before the Commissarie Doctor London and doctor Higden Deane of Frisewides now called Christes Colledge into Saint Maries Church where they compelled him to carrie a Fagot in open Procession and Delaber with him and after were sent to Osney there to be kept in prison till further order was taken Yet againe after this M. Garret flying from place to place Barnes Garret and Hierom burned together escaped till the time he was apprehended and burned with Doctor Barnes with whom also W. Hierome sometime Vicar of Stepney was likewise drawne into Smithfield and together with them endured constantly martyrdome in the fire This Hierome for preaching at Paules the 4. Sundays in Lent and saying that all that were of the Fréewoman Sara were freely iustified for preaching that wee are not bound to princes lawes further than according to the word of God and that workes are no part of our saluation was committed to the Tower and the xxx of Iulie two daies after the death of the Lorde Cromwell An vniust proceeding not comming to any answere nor yet knowing any cause of their condemnation without any publike hearing processe being made out against them by the kings Counsel in the Parlament time Barnes Hierome and Garret were brought together from the Tower into Smithfield and by constant suffering the rage of the fire they gaue testimonie to the trueth After they had made confession of their faith and prayed there was one asked Doctor Barnes if the Saintes prayed for vs he said he would referre that vnto God and if they did then I trust said he to pray for you within this halfe houre M. Sheriffe and asked the Sheriffe if he had any Articles against him for which he was condemned The Sheriffe answered no Then said he is there any man els that knoweth wherefore I die or that by my preaching hath taken any errour let them now speake and I will make them aunswere And no man answered So praying earnestly for his persecutors hee gaue himselfe to suffer and required master Sheriffe to haue him commended vnto the king and to shew him that he required of his grace foure requestes First Doctor Barnes his 4. requestes to the king that he would bestowe parte of the Abbey possessions on the reliefe of the poore Secondly that he woulde sée matrimone to be had in more reuerence Thirdly that swearers might be punished Fourthly that he woulde set vp Christes true religion The same yere and day and in the same place were foure Papistes executed for denying the kings Supremacie Foure papists executed for denying the knigs supremacie which brought the people to a marueylous admiration Their names were Powell Fetherstone and Abel All 3. drawen hanged and quartered It fell out thus by reason the kings Counsell was deuided in Religion the one side hastening the execution of the Papistes and the other of the Protestants The fauourers of the trueth in king Henries dayes The patrones of poperie in those dayes The fauourers of the trueth were these Caunterburie Suffolke Vicount Beauchampe Vicount Lisle Russell Treasourer Paget Sadler Awdeley The fauourers of the Papistes Winchester Duresme Norfolke Southhampton Anthonie Browne William
iudged as periured persons to weare papers in Windsor and Ockam to stande vpon the Pillorie at Newberie where he was borne False Iudges and accusers punished The iudgement of the thrée was to ride about Windsor Reading and Newberie with papers on their heads and their faces turned to the horsetailes and so to stande vpon the Pillorie in euerie of those Townes for false accusation of the forenamed Martyrs and for periurie Anno 1539. There was commission sent to Calice to enquire of heresie through a complaint made of the entertainement and accepting of Adam Damlip alias George Bucker who there for xx dayes or more preached euery day at vii of the clocke He preached very godly sermōs against Transubstantiation and adoration of the sacrament Damlip by this Commission was cited and appeared before the Archb. of Canterbury Winchester Chichester and diuers others before whom constantly he mainteined the trueth of the sacrament and being dismissed for that time enioyned to appeare the next day Adam Damlip by the secret warning of the archb of Cant. he stept aside into the West countrey while great trouble was kindled against Gods people in Calice namely against sir W. Smith curate a zelous preacher T. Brook R. Hare sir I. Butler then Commissarie Iames Cocke alias Coppē Persecution in Calice D. Lane I Barber and others Of the which persons T. Brooke R. Hare Coppen D. Lane I. Barber were apprehended and sent ouer and committed to prison in Westminster gate and then commaunded to appeare before the Archb. Winchester Chichester and ten other appointed by the kings maiestie Sir W. Smith preacher and I. Butler by commandement were apprehended in Calice and boūd by suretie not to passe the boundes of Calice Sir William Smith was accused to preach against our ladie and praying to saints good works c. Brooke for speaking against the sacrament Rafe Hare for speaking against holy bread holy water Butler was charged to haue mainteined Adam Damlippe for which he was dismissed of his Commissariship And it was determined that sir W. Smith Rafe Hare Iames Cock and Iames Barber should be sent to Calice and there to abiure and do penance where sir Williā Smith was enioyned to make the sermon R. Hare I. Cock and Iames Barber there standing with fagots vpon their shoulders sauing because he dwelled there Barber was enioyned to beare his fagot iiij miles of Calice on the market day where sir W. Smith preached also as before and so ordered the matter in his sermon that in effect he denied nothing he had taught before His accuser was one R. Long a man at armes in Calice who falsly swore that he had eaten flesh in Lent at Brookes house after which oath he hauing taken displeasure some way ran out of his house and in the eyes of a number of people went drowned himselfe After this commission which was executed by M. Greenfield sir I. Butler the K. mason others through the rage of the enimy and complaint to the king that the commons were in perill through dissention of opinions there were sent ouer new commissioners the earle of Sussex lord great Chamberlaine the lord S. Iohn sir Iohn Gage knight sir Iohn Baker knight M. Layton clerke of the closet and D. Currin with speciall instructions besides signed with the kings owne hand so that if God had not taken compassion there had an hundreth béene burnt or hanged shortly after but it hapned far otherwise for of the number of those accusors iiij were by the cōmissioners sent ouer into England to wit Clement Philpot seruant to the L. Lisle sir Edmund curate of our Ladies church Thomas Towchet a postmaister Peter Requet Gods iudgement and deliuerance of his people of the which Philpot and the Curat were drawne hanged and quartered at London and contrarily of them that were accused not one lost an haire of his head Inquisition being made Thomas Brooke aforementioned was committed to ward and so were Anthony Pickering Gent. Henry Turney gentleman Sir George Darby priest Iohn Shepheard William Pellam William Reuerdall Iohn Whitewood Iohn Boote Robert Clodder Copen de Lane Mathew de Lound sent to close prison William Stephens likewise who was Adam Damlips host The L. Lisle dieth in the Tower was sent into England and clapt in the Tower and after him the L. Lisle deputie who died in the Tower The seconde day after Easter Thomas Brooke was sent for and committed to close prison in the maiors gaole and George Brodway was suborned by the Counsel of Calice who threatened him greatly if he woulde not burthen Brooke with some concealementes which he at length by straite imprisonment threats did and set to his hand that Brooke had for a long time concealed foure groates euery day for his Clarkes wages for which after a while Brodway being gréeued in his conscience with a knife wēt about to cut his owne throte had not the gaoler preuēted him who heard him grone with the pain he felt of the woūd after through guilt of conscience and shame he fell out of his wittes Gods iudgement vpon a false accuser Of this dealing with Brooke his wife gaue intelligence to the lord Cromwell wherein shée desired the lord Cromwell to be a meanes to the king that the afflicted and their causes might be heard in England which he with spéed did accomplish and wrote to the Commissioners in the kings name that Brooke and xij or xx of his complices should be sent ouer into England with their accusers Now by the time that the Commissioners had receiued these letters they had made out precepts for viij or ix score honest men more to be cast in prison but these Letters appalled and staied them notwithstanding they banished the men before named out of the towne for an hundreth yeres and sent them back to prison staying them there vpon hope that the Lord Cromwell should sooner come into captiuitie then he did but at last they sent xiij prisoners with Brook who within xxiiij houres were at anker before the Tower wharfe whom when the Lord Cromwell vnderstood to be come he commanded their yrons to be smote off at the tower wharfe and the prisoners to be brought vnto him whom hee greatly comforted After that they were sent to the Fleete and whiles they were in the Fleete and William Steuens in the tower the xix day of Iuly Anno 1541 the Lorde Cromwell their great fauourer was beheaded at Tower hill so that all hope seemed to them to haue beene vtterly lost of any deliuerance but the Lord had them in remembrance and stirred vp the Lord Awdley L. Awdley a friend to the afflicted Lord Chauncellour of England without further examination to deliuer them And at length two yeres after he deliuered William Steeuens also by the kings owne motion The vniust Coūsellers who charged the Towne with sedition and heresie fell afterward into the kings displeasure and
the L. Graie Sir George Carew and Sir Richard Greenfield who purged the town of the slander although for a time they were in displeasure yet wtin a while after they came into greater fauor then before and were rewarded with xx l. a yéere a péece at the least Rockwood one of the fearcest persecutors fell into dispaire Rockwood a persecutor despaireth Gods iudgements and at the last breath cried he was vtterly damned for that he said malitiously he sought the death of such good men The Vndermarshall also another persecutor suddenly fell downe in the counsell chamber and neuer spake worde and the rest of the persecutors had the reuenging hand of God following after them Adam Damlip Adam Damlip taken againe who before escaped lay hid in the West-country teaching a schoole about a yéere or two by the miserable inquisition of the six articles was againe taken and brought vp to London where he was by St. Gardiner commanded to the Marshalsea there lay the space of other two yéeres where thinking he had béene forgotten he in the Latine tongue wrote an epistle to the B. of Winchester wherin he said he would write his obedience submission for said he I had rather die then here to remaine and not to be suffered to vse my talent to Gods glorie This he said to M. Marbecke then prisoner in the Marshalsea This epistle he deliuered to his kéeper about Saturday in the morning which was about the ij wéeke before Whitsontide desiring him to deliuer it at the court to the B. of Winchester which he did The B. made such quicke dispatch that the kéeper came home at night very late brought with him a precept for the executiō of Adam Damlip So vpon munday early in the morning the kéeper other of the knight Marshals men cōueied Adam vnto Calice vpon the Ascension euen there cōmitted him to the Maiors prison because they could not burthen him with any thing within a sufficient cōpasse of time to condemne him they laid to his charge he had receiued a French crowne of cardinall Poole at Rome where before his first comming to Calice he was requested to read thrée lectures a wéeke in Cardinall Pooles house therefore they condemned him and executed him for treason Adam Damlip put to death which death he most méekely and hartely tooke Iohn Butler and sir Daniell the curate before mentioned after ix moneths imprisonment were with much labour permitted to returne to Calice againe William Steuens aboue mentioned who had remained all this time in the Tower was condemned also of treason with his guest Adam Damlip pardoned by the king Adam Damlip had sometimes béene a great papist chaplaine to Fisher B. of Rochester after the death of his maister trauelled France Dutchland and Italie and came to Rome where he would not for the wickednes of the place abide to remaine though cardinall Poole offered him maintenance to read iij. lectures a wéeke in his house which he refused for receiuing onely a French crowne he was condemned and executed for treason he receiued it at the Cardinals hand to drinke and beare some charge of expence By the preaching of Adam Damlip in Calice among others there was a poore mā whose name is not yet certainly knowne who was conuerted to the truth therfore condemned by one Haruey there being cōmissarie whom this Haruey in time of his iudgement called Hereticke and said he should die a vile death the poore man aunswered againe and said that he was no hereticke but was in the faith of Christ and whereas thou saidest said he that I shall die a vile death thou thy self shalt die a viler death and that shortly And so it came to passe for within half a yéere after Haruey was hanged Gods iudgement drawne and quartered for treason in the same towne of Calice After the burning of this poore man there was also a certaine other schooler coūted to be a dutchman named Dodde who comming out of Germany was there taken with certaine Germane bookes about him being examined standing stoutly to the doctrine of the gospell he was burned A little before this time Will. Bolton alias Crosbowmaker for saying the Pope wanted Charitie if he could and would not release soules out of Purgatorye by Doctor Darlie parson of our Ladies Church in Calice then Commissarie for Archbishoppe Warham was made to beare a fagotte and lost his wages which was vi pence a day who complaining thereof to the king and declaring vnto his maiestie the cause sent him to Calice againe and after that gaue him viij pence a day As for the vi articles many good men were put to death so for the Popes supremacie diuerse suffered And about this time Larke a priest of Chelsey for the supremacie and Germine Gardiner néere kinseman to Stephen Gardiner and his secretarie for practising for the Pope against the King were put to death By an act of parlament holden An. 1544. 1544. The rigour of vi articles mitigated the rigour of the vi articles was asswaged a little at the first time it was permitted that they which offended against them might recant which if they refused to doe and offended againe they should beare a fagot and should be admitted to abiure if the third time they offended then they should sustaine punishment according to law Notwithstanding this Parlament had thus mittigated the rigor yet remained the poison and all manner of bookes bearing the name of Williām Tindall or what other booke soeuer contained any thing against the vi articles were debarred In this Parlament also it was permitted onely to noblemen and gentlemen Noblemen and Gentlemē permitted to reade the scripture to reade the scriptures to their edifying so they did it without discussing or vrging therevpon In this Parlament also it was permitted to the party detected to trye his cause by witnesses as many or more in number as the other which deposed against him Anno 1545. 1545. Sixe articles more qualified the vi articles were yet much more qualified by Act of Parlament whereby it was also decréed that the king should haue full power to appoint 32. persons to wit sixetéene of the Cleargie and sixetéene of the temporaltie to peruse and ouersée examine the Canons constitutions and ordinances of the canon law aswell prouinciall as synodall and so according to their discretions to establish an order of ecclesiastical lawes such as should be thought by the king most conuenient This yeere 1544. Iohn Heywood recanted the Popes supremacie and Iohn At h the trueth of the sacrament About the yeere 1546. 1546 Saxy hanged one Saixe a priest was hanged in the porters lodge of Stephen Gardiner not without the consent of the Bishop as it is supposed there was also a seruant in Colchester named Henrie burned for the testimony of the trueth Henry burned This yeere 1546. One Kerby Kerby was
the racking of Anne Askew was greatly displeased therewith The day of her executiō being appointed she was brought into Smithfield in a chaire because she could not go on her féete by reason of her racking and was girded by the middle with a chaine that might hold vp her bodie and so was shée with her fellowes a witnesse of the truth and sealer of the same with her bloud Anne Askew hauing letters of pardon offered her at the stake by Wrisley lord Chancellour if shée would recant she refused so much as to looke on them They were there also offered to the rest The martyrs had pardon at the stake but they by her example were confirmed and likewise refused the same About the same time and yéere Doctor Ripse bishop of Norwich did incite the old duke of Northfolke against Rogers in the countie of Northfolke who was condemned and suffered for the cause of the sixe Articles An. 1546. Winchester practized against Q. Catherine Parre the last wife to king Henry who was very zealous towardes the Gospell Winchester practiseth against the life of the Queene and had perswaded with the king to make a perfect reformation and so farre he preuailed with the king persuading him of the factious disposition of the gospellers and of the daungerous example of the Quéene his wife that before that he and the L. Chancellor and others who conspired together against her departed the king had giuen out cōmandement with warrant to certaine of them made for that purpose to consult together about drawing of certaine articles against the Quéene wherein her life might be touched which the king by their persuasions pretended not to spare hauing any rigor or colour of law to coūtenance the matter With which cōmission they departed that time from the king resolued to put their pernitious practise in executiō first determined to deale with those whō they knew were great about her as the Lady Harbert afterward the Countesse of Penbrooke and sister to the Quéene and chiefe of her priuie chamber the lady Lane being of her priuie chamber and also her cosin Germane the lady Terwit beyng of her priuie chamber It was deuised that these thrée should first of all haue béene accused brought to answere to the six articles and vpon their apprehension in the court their closets and coffers should haue béen searched that somewhat might haue béene found whereby the Quéene might be charged which being found she her selfe presently should haue béene taken likewise caried by barge in the night to the Tower To all this the king séemed to giue his assent and afterward opened all the matter to D. Wendy his Physicion charging him withall vpon perill of his life not to vtter it to any person Now the time drawing nigh when they minded to put their mischéefes in practise the bill of articles drawne out against the Quéene and subscribed with the Kinges owne hand falling from the bosome of one of those wicked counsellours was found and taken vp of some godly person and brought immediatly to the Quéene who séeing the same fell into a marueilous perplexitie almost to the perill and daunger of her life whereof the king hearing he sent his Phisition Wendie and came also himselfe to comfort her to whom she delared her griefe but the king gaue her most comfortable wordes and so when he had tarried an houre with her he departed Shée afterwardes being recouered came to the King and founde suche fauour with him and had so satisfied him in those thinges The king much altered concerning their practises against the Queene for which the Prelates conspired against her that his minde was fully altered and detested in his heart the bloudie conspiracie of those Traytours who yet notwithstanding the next day determined to haue carried the Quéene to the Tower and at the houre appointed the Lord Chauncellour with fourtie of the garde at his héeles commeth into the garden where the Quéene was with the King and those thrée Ladies in pleasaunt communication fully determining from thence to haue taken the Quéene and those thrée Ladies and to haue carried them to the Tower whom the King stearnely beholding and breaking of his myrth with the Quéene stepped aside and called him knaue arrant knaue beast and foole The Queene deliuered from her daunger and commaunded him presently to auoide out of his presence So departed the Chauncellour with his train and all his deuises brought to naught and the subtletie of Gardiner discouered who was alwayes a cruell enimie against the Gospell and professors of the same Gardiner not onely practised in England against reformation but also when the King was minded to reforme in England he being Ambassadour beyond the seas for the agréement of a league betwéene England Fraunce and the Emperour he wrote vnto the king and perswaded him that if he procéeded to alter any whit in England in matters of religion the league would not go forwarde whereby the Kinges determinate purpose for that time was altered although before he had commanded the Archb. Cranmer to cause two letters in his name to be drawne for the abolishing of Roodlofts and ringing on allhallow night After this Anno 1546. The matter of reformation beganne to be reuiued and the French king and the king of England did agrée to make a perfect reformation The kings of England and France agree to make a perfect reformatiō of religion and were so fully resolued therein that they meant also to exhort the Emperour to doe the same in Flaunders and other his countries or else to breake off from him And herein the king commaunded the Archbishop Cranmer to penne a forme thereof to bée sent to the French king to consider of but by the death of these Princes that purpose was cut off About this time Sir Hugh Cauerley knight maister Litleton falsly accused Sir George Blage one of the kings priuie chamber the sunday before Anne Askew suffered before Wriseley Lord Chauncellour Sir George Blage condemned to be burned the next day he was carried to Newgate from thence to the guild hall where he was condemned the same day and appointed to be burned the wednesday after They laid to him that he shold say that if a mouse did eate the bread they should by his consent hang vp the mouse with other such light matters When the King vnderstood hereof hée was sore offended with their doinges and sent him his pardon and so was he set at liberberty Who comming after to the kings presence ah my pig said the king to him for so he was wont to call him Yea said he if your maiestie had not béene befter vnto me then your Bishoppes were your pigge had béene rosted ere this time After the death of Anne Askew the Prelates made out straight proclamation against English bookes of scripture and whatsoeuer might giue any light to the word and drew out a number of heresies as they call them out
Bishop sent Robert Iohnson his register to the Commissioners sitting at Lambith and attending his appearaunce to signifie to them hee was sicke and so could not come The twentieth of September hée appeared nowe the fift time and hauing made a slender and doubtfull answere refused Syr Thomas Smithes iudgement because hée sawe him sharper bent agaynst him then the rest and made also his appeale to the King and withall verye vnreuerently behaued himselfe towardes the Commissioners For which cause Maister Secretarie Smith commaunded the Marshalles deputie to take Boner Prisoner and to keepe him that no man might come vnto him and assigned him to be brought before them againe on Mundaye nexte before noone betwéene seuen and nine of the clocke At which time hée appeareth and maketh a generall refusall of all the commissioners and sticketh to his former prouocations and protestations Then the Commissioners séeyng his pertinacie pronounced him Contumax and declared him pro confesso vpon all the articles which hée had not answered Boner pronoūced contumax pro confesso and determined to continue this case in state as it was vntill Friday then next following betwéen eight and nine before noone assigning Boner to be there before them at Lambith to heare a finall decrée of that matter Vpon which Friday for diuers vrgent causes the Commissioners coulde not sitte but deferred it till Tuesday the first of October next ensuing Vpon which day they offered yet fauour to Boner if hée woulde make more direct answere but hée persisting in his contumacie with euill spéeches the Archbishoppe with the consent of the rest of the Commissioners read the sentence of depriuation Boner depriued and committed him againe to his kéeper where he remained prisoner till the death of the King Nowe béeing prisoner in the Marshallsea he writeth vnto the Lorde Chauncellour and to the rest of the Counsell that through the enmity that the Duke of Somerset and Sir Thomas Smith bare him hée coulde not haue hearing of his suites to the King and Counsel He directeth also a supplication to the kings maiestie and desired his Graces letters of supersideas against the Commissioners and that the matter might be heard before the Counsell Whervpon the the K. committeth the examination of the whole processe vnto certaine noble personages and skilfull in the lawe as the Lorde Riche Lord Chauncellour the Lorde Treasurer the Lord Marques Dorset the Bishop of Eli the Lorde Wentworth c. which founde Boner in great fault of contumacy the procéedings being al iust and the sentence rightly giuen With the depriuation of Boner fell out the trouble of the Lord Protector L. protector wherevpon the people thinking the abrogating of poperie was his onely dooing bruted abroad that now they should haue their old Latine seruice againe with other superstitious trumperie Which caused the king his Counsell to direct letters to all Bishops to take away all Massals Grailes Processionals Manuals Legendes Portuases Iournals c. which might be any let to the English prayer Booke Also the Bishops were enioyned to punish all those that refused to giue to the charge of Bread and Wine for the Communion This was ahout the latter end of December 1549. In the next yéere following Altars were taken downe Altars taken downe by the kings commaundement and the Communion table placed in stéed thereof in forme of a table not of an altar as most agréeable to the institution of Christ About this time certaine of Ladie Maries Chaplaines had saide masse contrary to the lawes for which she being admonished of the Counsell tooke the matter very hardly and writeth to the Counsell sharpe letters tending to blame them as taking too much vpon them in the kings authoritie and iustifying her owne popish causes Lady Maries popish practises restrained Diuers letters passed to and fro from her and the Counsel as also from and to the king And in fine such order was taken that shée was restrained of her practises of popish religion and the offenders punished As Bonner behaued himselfe stubbornly againg the K. procéedings so Steeuen Gardiner B. of Winchester was not behinde in all disobedience and practises against the same for which he was imprisoned before the depriuation of Boner but was not deposed till anno 1551. He was first for his misdemeanour cast into the Fléete where after hée had remayned a time in much ease vpon promise of his cōformitie he was set at libertie and licensed to repaire to his owne Diocesse at his pleasure Where breaking hys promise he againe practised against the kings procéedings whereupon being sent for before the Counsell he promised againe the second time a conformation was left at libertie in his owne house in London where he yet againe began to ruffle against the kings godly procéedinges and to meddle in matters wherein he neither had commission nor authoritie part whereof touched the kings maiestie Wherof being yet once againe admonished by the king and of the counsell not onely promised to conforme himselfe with like of the kings procéedings but also offered to declare vnto the world his conformation in an open sermon on such articles as should be thought good to that end in which sermon cleane contrary to his promisse he did not onely neglect that that was enioyned him but also very seditiously behaued himselfe Gardiner behaueth himselfe seditiously Wherefore he was committed to the Tower and carried thither by sir Anthony Wingfield Gardiner sent to the Tower certaine doores of his house as was thought méete being also sealed vp At the tower certain of the Counsel by the kings appointment had accesse vnto him to perswade with him as the Duke of Somerset the L. Treasurer the Lord priuie seale the L. great Chamberlaine and Secretary Peter Who repairing to him the tenth day of Iune Anno 1550. he desired to sée the kings booke of procéedings vpon the sight whereof he would make a full answere whereas indéede before his answers were but delaies and cauilles séeming to be willing in al things to conforme himselfe therevnto and promising if any thing offended his conscience he would open it to none but to the Counsell But Winchester hauing perused the book saide he could make no direct answere vnlesse he were at liberty In the end the Lords seing his answeres always doubtful it was determined that he should be directly examined whether he would conforme himselfe to the kings procéedinges or not and articles drawen to that end To the which Winchester in a manner subscribed sauing the Article of submission which he said because he had neuer offended the K. he would not subscribe vnto To the kinges Supremacie his authoritie of appointing holy dayes and fasting daies to his booke of procéedings his authoritie in his tender yeres the abrogating of the sixe articles to his iurisdiction and authoritie in correcting of Ecclesiastical persons he subscribed only he would make no submission to the king And in
the ende being found peruerse and stubborne and not able to iustifie himselfe or his doings after he had taken exceptions and cauilled against the witnesses he was depriued of his Bishopricke by the authoritie of the king and sentence geuen by the Archbishop of Canterburie Winchester depriued among other bishops and Iudges appointed for the cause From this sentence Gardiner appealeth to the king but all in vayne As S. Gardiner was the professed enemie of the Gospell so was Doctor Redman Doctor Redman a fauourer of the gospell in those dayes for his learning famous a fauourer of the same and at his death which was anno 1551. made profession thereof in the presence of M. Yong and others Anno 1552. W. Gardiner a Marchants seruant of Bristow the first day of September in the very solemnization of a marriage betwixt the sonne of the king of Portingall and the Spanish kings daughter in the presence of the princes and Cardinals and Bishops determined to haue stepped to the Cardinall at the Altar and to haue wroong the chalice out of his hands and to haue defaced their popish God but that the prease of people did hinder him So the next sunday where like pompe was vsed and no lesse Idolatry than before W. Gardiner W. Gardiner in the presence of the king and all his Nobles and Citizens with the one hand snatched away the cake from the priest and trode it vnder his féete and with the other ouerthrew the chalice which made them all amazed Then one drawing out his dagger gaue him a great wound in the shoulder and as he was about to haue stricken him againe to haue slaine him the king twise commaunded to haue him saued So by that meanes they abstained from murther After the tumult was ceased he was brought to the K. by whom he was demaunded of his Countrey and how hée durst doe such a déede To whom he declared that he was an Englishman and that for gréefe to sée such Idolatrie hée could not abstaine When they heard that he was an Englishman they were more earnest to know the Procurour The Idolatrie he answered wherwith they prophaned the Lords Supper only procured him They not content therewith vrged him with torments and caused a linnen cloth to be sowed round like a ball the which they with violence put downe his throte vnto the bottom of his stomach tyed with a small string which they helde in their hands and when it was downe they pulled it vp againe with violence so plucking it vp and downe They cast also into prison all the rest of the Englishmen amongst whom one Pēdegrace Pendegrace because he was his bedfellowe was gréeuously tormented and examined more then the residue and scarcely was deliuered after two yeres imprisonment the other were much sooner set at libertie by the intercession of a certaine Duke At the last when al torments and tormentors were weried they asked him whether he did not repent his déede He answered as touching the déed if it were to do he should do it againe But he was sorie it was done in the Kinges presence to the disquiet of his minde After they had vsed al kinde of torments and saw there could be nothing more gathered of him and also that through his wound and paines he could not long liue they brought him thrée dayes after to execution And first of all bringing him vnto the Vestrie cut of his right hand which he taking vp with his left hand kissed Execution done vpon W. Gardiner with all manner of crueltie Then he was brought into the Market place where his other hand was cut of which he knéeling downe vpon the ground also kissed These things thus done his armes being bound behinde him and his féete vnder the horse bellie he was carried to the place of execution where there was a certaine engine from the which a great rope cōming downe by a Pulley was fastened about the middle of the Christian martyr which first pulled him vp then was there a great pile of wood set on fire vnderneath him into the which he was by little and little let downe not with his whole bodie but so that his féete onely felt the fire in which fire the more terribly he burned the more feruently hée praied At last when his féete were consumed the tormentors asked him if he did not repent exhorting him to call vpon our Lady and the Saints whereto he answered that he had doone nothing to repent of and that when Christ did cease to be our Aduocate then he would pray to our Lady The marueilous constancie of William Gardiner said Eternall God father of all mercies I beséech thée looke downe vpon thy seruant c. And when they sought by all meanes to stop his praying he cried out with a loud voice rehearsing the 34. Psalm Iudge me O Lord and defend my cause against the vnmercifull people He was not come to the latter end of the Psalme when the rope being burnt asunder he fell into the fire and so gaue ouer The very same night one of the kings ships was burned in the hauen being set on fire by a sparke of Gardiners fire driuen thither with the winde and the kings sonne who then was married died within halfe a yéere after the death of William Gardiner Anno 1552. 1552 Protector put to death for fellonie the 22. of Ianuarie in the sixt yéere of the reigne of Edward the Duke of Somersette Lord Protector was executed on Tower hill for felonie being accused and quitte of treason And the next yere after deceassed the king him selfe about the moneth of Iune Anno 1553. A Prince of such towardnesse as the worlde neuer had the like before by whom the remnants of Popish Idolatrie and superstition were abolished and the church restored to her sinceritie which died again with him and popery restored in the time of Mary who succéeded him The end of the ninth Booke The tenth Booke WHat time King Edward began to appeare more féeble and weake during the time of his sicknesse a marriage was concluded and also shortly also vpon the same solemnized in the moneth of Maie betwéene the lord Gilford sonne to the duke of Northumberland and the Lady Iane L. Gilford and Lady Iane maried together the duke of Suffolkes daughter whose mother then being aliue was daughter to Marie king Henries second sister And when no hope séemed of recouery of the King it was brought to passe by the consent not onely of the nobility but also of the chiefe Lawyers of the Realme that the King by this Testament did appoint the aforesaid Lady Iane to be Inheritrice to the crown of England passing ouer his two sisters Marie and Elizabeth To this order subscribed all the Kinges Counsell and chiefe of the nobilitie the Mayor of the citie of London almost all the iudges and chiefe Lawyers of this Realme sauing onely Iustice Hales of Kent Iustice
sherife Master Woodrooffe which so cruelly handled M. Bradforde Gods iudgement that his right side being stricken with a palsey hee so remayned till his dying day eyght yeres together Master Bradford wrote a whole volume of Letters Bradfordes Letters to sundrie persons out of prison And greatly strengthened and comforted many to the Citie of London to Cambridge into Lankesshire and Chesshire to the towne of Walden with a nūber other to priuate persons The next day after M. Bradford Iohn Leafe did suffer in Smithféeld Williā Munge préest died in pryson at Maidstone being there in bondes for religion like to haue suffered if he had liued Vpon the iij. of Iulie Anno 1555. died one Iames Treuisam in the parish of S. Margaret in Lothberie and was borne vpon a table without coffin or any thing else into Moore-féeld and there buried The same night the body was cast vp aboue the ground and his sheete taken from him and he left naked After this the owner of the field seeing him buried him again The dead body summoned to appeare to answere And a fortnight after the sumner came to his graue and summoned him to appeare at Paules before his ordinary to answere such thinge as should be laide against him The 13. of Iuly Iohn Bland parson of Adesham in Kent I. Frankesh Nicholas Sheterden and Humfrey Middleton were all foure burned together at Canterbury Foure martyrs in Canterbury for one cause whereof Frankesh and Bland were ministers and preachers He was twise before put in prison for the Gospell and by suite of friends deliuered but because he coulde not kéepe silence in his liberty but preach vnto the people he was the third time imprisoned The xiij or xiiij of Februarie he was sent to Canterburie gaole where he lay x. wéekes and then was bayled and bound to appeare at the next Sessions at Canterburie But the matter being exhibited to the Spirituall Court there it was heard So that the xviij of May he was examined by Harpsfielde and againe the xxi And from them tossed to the Sessions at Gréenewich the xviij and xix of Februarie And after much reasoning with the Commissarie and other of the Spirituall Court he was condemned the xxv day of Iune by the S. of Douer R. Thornton sometimes a Professor assisted by the Commissarie Robert Cellius and the archdeacon Nicholas Harpsfield The same day were the rest afore named condemned and suffered ioyfully together at Canturburie the xij of Iuly at two stakes al in one fire The same moneth of Iuly next after the suffering of the Kentishmen aboue named Nicholas Hall bricklayer and Christopher Wade Nicholas Hall Christopher Wade martyrs of Dartford suffered were condemned by Maurice B. of Rochester about the last day of the moneth of Iune Nicholas Hall was burned at Rochester about the xix of Iuly In which moneth of Iuly thrée other more were condēned by Maurice whose names were Ioane Breach widow Iohn Horpoll of Rochester and Margerie Polley Christopher Wade of Dartford in the Countie of Kent lynen draper was appointed to be burned at Dartford About x. of the clocke the Shiriffe bringeth Wade pinioned and by him one Margerie Polley Margerie Polley comforteth Wade of Tunbridge both singing a Psalme Which Margerie so soone as shée spied a great multitude gathered about the place where she should suffer wayting her comming she said vnto Wade very lowde and chéerefully you may reioyce Wade to sée such a company gathered to celebrate your mariage this day Wade cōming to the stake tooke it in his armes embracing it kissed it and being setled thereto his handes and eies lift vp to heauen He spake with a chéerefull and lowde voice the last verse of the 86. psalme Shew some good tokē vpon me O Lord Wades praier that they which hate me may sée it and be ashamed because thou Lord hast helped me comforted me Néere vnto the stake approched a Frier intēding some matter while Wade was a praying Whom when he spied he cried earnestly to the people to beware of the doctrine of the whore of Babylon with such vehemencie that the Frier withdrew himselfe without speaking any word Thē réeds being set about him he pulled embraced them in his armes alwaies with his hands making a hole against his face that his voice might be heard which they perceiuing that were his tormentors alwaies cast faggots at the same hole Which he notwithstanding stil as he could put off his face being hurt with the end of a faggot cast thereat Then fire being put to him he cried vnto God often Lord Iesus receiue my soule And beyng dead and altogether rosted his handes were held ouer his head as though he had béene staied with a prop. The 22. of Iuly was burned at Lewes within the countie of Sussex one Dyrick Caruer Dyrick Caruer Béerebrewer in the parish of Bright-hamstéed in the same countie the next day was also burned at Steining Iohn Lander Iohn Lander late of Godstone in the county of Surrie Which two mē with others about the end of the moneth of October were apprehended by Edw. Gage gentleman as they were at praier in the house of Dyrick by him were sent vp to London to the Counsell who after examinatiō sent them to Newgate there to attend the leisure of Boner From whence they were brought the viij of Iune next after into the B. chāber in his house at Londō Where being examined earnestly perswaded with and no hope to peruert thē after diuerse examinations they were condēned the x of Iune of the B. in his cōsistorie at Paules afterwards were conueyed to the places afore mentioned where they gaue their liues chéerfully and gladly for the testimonie of the truth Dyrick was a man blessed with tēporall riches which notwithstanding were no clog to him during his imprisonment although he was well stricken in yéeres as it were past the time of learning yet he so spent his time that being at his first apprehensiō vtterly ignorāt of any letter of the booke yet could he before his death read any printed English In his praier at the stake he vttered these words oh Lord my God thou hast writtē he that will not forsake wife childrē house and all that euer he hath take vp thy crosse follow thée is not worthy of thee Dyrick Caruers words at the stake but thou Lord knowest that I haue forsaken all to come vnto thée Lord haue mercy vpō me for vnto thée I commend my spirit my soule doth reioyce in thée These wordes were the last that hée spake till the fire was put vnto him And after the fire came to him he cried Lord haue mercy vpon me and so died At Chichester about the same moneth was burned one Tho. Iueson Tho. Iueson of Godstone in the county of Surrey Carpenter after perswasion in vaine to recant When he had said
to giue him entertainment in Duresme house and to furnish him with Bookes and necessaries méete for the busines who prouided for him accordingly So doctor Cranmer wrote his minde concerning the kinges question adding to the same besydes the authoritie of Scripture of general counsails and auncient fathers also his owne opinion that the Pope could not dispence with the word of God Wherupon the king sent certaine learned mē abroad to the most part of the Vniuersities in Christendome to dispute the question Embassage to Rome concerning the kings diuorce as also in Oxford Cambridge wher the vnlawfulnes of the matrimonie was concluded so that the K. prepared a solemne embassage sent to the B. of Rome then lying at Bononie whither went the Earle of Wiltshire Doctor Cranmer Doctor Stokesley Doctor Corne Doctor Bennet and diuers other learned men and gentlemen who when they came before the Pope hee sitting in the chaire of estate offered his foot but none would kisse it sauing a great spaniell of the Earle of Wiltshires who ran tooke the P. by the great toe None would kisse the Popes foot but a great spaniel of the Earle of Wiltshires ran to take the Pope by the toe Cranmer goeth to the Emperour Cranmer satisfyeth Cornelius Agryppa caused him to pul it in in hast In the end the Embassadours were dismissed without disputation D. Cranmer gratified with the office of a penitenciariship Wherupon the Earle and the other commissioners returned againe into England but D. Cranmer went to the Emperour being in his iourney towardes Vienna against the Turke there to answere such men of his court as could say any thing on the contrary part Where he fully satisfyed Cornelius Agrippa an high officer in the Emp. court for which cause Cornelius fel into such displeasure with the Emp his M. that he was committed to prison where for sorow he ended his life From the Emper. court he departed as he returned he satisfied diuers learned men in Germany in that question In the meane space while the matter thus prospered B. Warrham the Arcb. dieth and the Archbishopricke was bestowed immediatly on Cranmer Cranmer made Archb. by the kings gift In which place he behaued himselfe with great liking to the king who would heare no accusation against him and all good men After the death of king Henry in the raign of king Edw. his godsonne K. Edward godsonne to Cranmer his estate was more aduanced Before which time of King Edward it séemed that Cranmer was scarce throughly perswaded in the right knowledge of the Sacrament til being instructed by Ridley he grew so ripe that he tooke vpon him the whole defence of the cause against the popish deuises To whose booke concerning that matter Stephen Gardiner answereth and M. Cranmer replieth learnedly and copiously to him againe Of this Archb. doing was also the booke of the reformation Bookes of Cranmer the Catechisme with the booke of Homilies Also there was a confutation against 88. articles deuised by the Conuocation house of his doing but not receiued in the time of king Henry the 8. King Edward now not like to liue bequeathed the succession of the Realm to the Lady Iane niece to to king Henry the 8. by his sister with the consent of the Counsel Lawyers fearing least Mary should alter religion but Cranmer Cranmer not brought to it against his cōscience wald hardly be brought to assent til he was informed by the lawyers that he might subscribe therevnto King Edward being now dead and Quéene Mary in possession of the crowne she excepted Cranmer out of all pardon and would not so much as vouchsafe to sée him but committed him to the tower yet pardoned him of treason and caused him to be accused of heresie The papists had raised a slaunder that the Archbishoppe had promised to saye a Dyrge masse for King Edwardes funeral to curry fauour of the Quéene which he endeuouring to stay gaue forth in writing his purgation and was challenged of the Quéens cōmissioners for his bil To whō he said he was sory it passed him so as it did for he graunted a copie to Doctor Story who did disperse it for his meaning was to haue made it more at large and to haue set it on Paules Church doore and on the doores of all the Churches in London with his seale set thereto At which words they for the time dismissed him At length it was determined that Cranmer shoulde bée remoued from the Tower to Oxford there to be disputed with for colour sake although they had determined what to do with him before Forasmuch as the sentence giuen against Ridley and Latimer by D. Weston was voide because the authority of the Pope was not yet receiued into the land there was a new commission sent from Rome and a new processe framed for the conuiction of Ridley Latimer Cranmer In the which commission was D. Iames Brooks B. of Glocester the popes subdelegate with Doctor Martin and Doctor Story commissioners in the king and Quéenes behalfe These commissioners being set in place in the Church of S. Mary in Oxford one of the Popes Proctors or els his D. called saying Tho. archb of Canterbury appeare here make answere to that shal be laide to thy charge that is to say for blasphemy contumacie and heresie and make aunswere here to the B. of Glocester representing the Popes person He being brought néerer the scaffold where the Bishoppes sate Cranmer wold do no reuerēce to the Popes subdelegate gaue reuerence to the Quéenes proctors but would not to the Bishop who represented the Pope alleaging he had taken an oath neuer to consent to his authority again When after many meanes vsed the Archb. would do no reuerence the Bishop fell to declare vnto him the cause of their comming and their commission exhorting him with a long Oration to returne to the Popish church Who hauing finished his Oration D Martin beginneth and declareth vnto him as much Who hauing also finished doctor Cranmer after he had knéeled downe on both his knées towardes the West and saide the Lordes praier and rising vp had repeated the Articles of the beléefe began to make profession of his faith vnto them and protested against the popes authoritie and chalenged the B. of periurie for admitting the Pope contrarie to his oath After Glocester had done D. Story then entereth to vexe the seruant of God and laboureth to vphold the Popes Supremacie and required the Bishoppe to make a directe answere to the Articles After he had played his part Doctor Martin taketh him in hand and laboureth to prooue his oth made to the king against the Pope vnlawfull In the end the Iudges willed him to answere directly to certaine Articles Whereto after the Archbishop had answered the Bishop Brookes concludeth his examination with an Oration to satisfie the people geuing the Archbishop vp hee said as an abiect and outcast
taken in the night by maister Tamages men because hée woulde not goe to Church Adam Foster Adam Foster of the age of sixe and twentie yeres husbandman dwelling in Mendlesham in Suffolke was taken at his owne house by the Constables of the Towne George Kiuert and Thomas Mouse and carryed to Syr Iohn Tyrrell aforesaid knight who sent him to Aye dungeon and from thence to Norwich where hée was condemned of the Bishoppe Hopton Robert Lawson Rob. Lawson a single man of thirtye yeeres a linnen Weauer was apprehended in the night by one Robert Keerich at the commaundement of Sir Iohn Tyrrel aforesaid and sent to Norwich and then was there condemned of the Bishop These 3. were after they were condemned had to Berrie where they chéerefully and ioyfully suffered for the testimony of Iesus Bernard being threatned at Norwich of the priests whipping burning stocking and such like to terrifie him when flattery would not serue said vnto them Friends I am not better then my maister Christ and the prophets which your fathers serued after such sort and I for his names sake am content to suffer the like at your hands A worthy answere of the martyr if God shall so permit trusting that he will strengthen me in the same according to his promise in spite of the Diuell and all his ministers The 20. of Aprill the same Bishop had before him one Iohn Fortune otherwise called Cutler of Hintlesham in Suffolke a blacke smith a man in spirit zealous and ardent in the scriptures ready in Christes cause stoute valiant in his answeres maruellous patient in suffering and constant in the doctrine of the Gospel Him the B. of Norwich very likely condemned also after diuers examinations Whether he died in the fire or otherwise was preuented by death it is vncertaine But his sentence of condemnation was drawne and registred About this time the first of Iuly died one Iohn Careles Iohn Careles a worthy confessor of Couentry a weauer in the Kings bench after long imprisonment the space of two yéeres In which captiuity first being in Couentry gaole he was there in such credite with his kéeper that vpon his worde onelie hée was let out to plaie in the Pageant about the Cittie with other his companions and that done keeping trueth with his keeper returned agayne into prison at his houre appointed After that béeing brought vp to London hée shewed such patience and constant fortitude that hee longed for nothing more earnestly then to come to the promotion to dye in the fire for the profession of his fayth but hee was preuented by death in the prison through sicknes and was buried on a dunghill in the fieldes In the mean time that he was in the kings bench he was in great perturbation of minde and conscience wherevppon hée wrote to maister Philpot then beeing in the Cole-house and receyued from him a comfortable letter Hée had béen examined of Doctor Martin who vrged him to detect his fellowes and reasoned with him about Predestination cauilling and scoffingly Hée was a man of a most heauenly spirite and wrote diuers letters to sundry afflicted then for the Gospel Iohn Careles letters as to Philpot to Bradford to maister Greene maister Whitle M. Timmes Henry Adlington c. a great number The same moneth of Iuly suffered at Newbery 3. godly and constant martirs of Christ Iulius Palmer Iohn Guin Thomas Askine Iulius Palmer Iohn Guin Th. Askin Iulius Palmer was sometime a Student and felow of Magdalen Colledge in Oxford and afterward Schoolemaster in the Towne of Reding He was borne in Couentrée and before his calling to the knowledge of the trueth a great aduersarie to the Gospel and a contemner of the ministers of the trueth In so much as hee was expelled his Colledge in the end of king Edwards daies for popery Iul. Palmer expulsed his Colledge in K. Edwardes time for poperie So that for his maintenance he was faine to apply himself to teach children in the house of Sir Fraunces Knolles In which trade he continued til the comming of Q. Marie In whose daies he was restored againe to his place by her Visitors Where being placed a while and vnderstanding the cruell dealing of the Papistes against the seruantes of God and séeing their constancie in the hearing of diuers of his friends he burst out into these words or such like Oh raging crueltie O tirannie tragicall and more then barbarous From that day forward he studiously sought to vnderstand the trueth and seriously studied P. Martires Commētaries vpon the first to the Corinthians And at length grew vp in such ripenes of the trueth that he spared not to declare certaine sparkes thereof in his outward behauiour and doings Wherefore being abhorred of diuers especially of M. Cole the President which were before his friends hée addressed himselfe to depart the house And being demaunded by a friend of his how he woulde liue answered The earth is the Lords and the fulnes thereof c. After the geuing ouer of his Felowship he was placed by Patent Schoolemaster at Reding and there was accepted of those that feared God But there hee remayned not long For certain dissembling Hipocrites who pretending zeale to the Gospel crept into familiaritie with him and in his absence spared not to rifle his Studie and writings Among which was his Replication to Meruines verses touching Winchesters Epitaph and other Arguments both in Latine and English against the Popes procéedings and especially against their brutish tyrannie towardes the seruants of God Which these companions hauing found did threaten him that except he would geue vp his schoole to a friend of theirs Thomas Thackam Th. Thackam a false dissembling hipocrite a false dissembling knaue and a chéefe woorker of his death they woulde deliuer those his writings to the Counsell Whereupon for sauegarde of his life he was forced to depart vpon the sodaine and tooke his iorney towardes Euesham where his mother dwelt Hoping to receiue of her certaine Legacies by his Fathers will due vnto him certaine yeares before Who so soone as he came to his mother and asked her blessing she cursed him vpbrayding him with his forsaking of Oxforde and his comming from Reding She threatning him fire and fagagotte The mother threatneth her sonne Iulius Palmer with fire and fagot in steade of his Legacies So being destitute of all worldly helpe he aduised himselfe to goe closely to Reading there to receiue his quarters stipende which he lefte vnreceiued at his departure and to conuey from thence his stuffe Which he did not so secretly but that he was espied and there by meanes of one Master Hampton a false hypocrite vnder pretence of friendshippe he was betrayed and within short space was taken at the signe of the Cardinals hatte in Reading and was put into a vile stinking and blinde Dungeon Where tenne dayes he hanged by the handes and féete so high that welnéere no part of
Carewe to Bruxels with king Philips safe conduct to passe and repasse by the meanes of the Lorde Paget and Sir Iohn Mason who pledged for his safe conduct king Philippes fidelitie But in his returne when hee had brought the Lorde Paget on his way from Bruxels towarde England he with Sir Peter Carewe was taken by the prouost-marshall spoyled of their horses and clapped into a Carte their legges armes and bodies tied with halters to the bodie of the Carte And so shipped being blindfolded vnder the hatches and brought to the Tower of London Where at the length Sir Iohn Cheeke Sir I. Cheeke was brought to recant and was drawen vnwares to sitte in place where the poore Martirs were brought before Boner and other Bishops to be condemned The remorse whereof wrought such effect in him that not long after he left this mortall life repenting him greatly of his fall before his death The ende of the eleuenth Booke The twelfth and last Booke CArdinall Poole thrée yéeres after his returne into England aduised himselfe of the reforming of the Vniuersitie of Cābridge The vniuersitie of Cambridge to be reformed To performe which charge were chosen Cutbert Scot not long before cōsecrated B of Chester Nicholas Ormanet an Italian archpriest of the people of Bodalon in the dioces of Veron professed in both lawes bearing the name of Lord Pope his Datary T. Watson elected B. of Lincoln Iohn Christophorson elected B. of Chichester and Henrie Cole prouost of the Colledge of Eaton The 9. of Ianuary Anno 1556. Inquisitors came to Cambridge The inquisitors aforesaid came to Cambridge took vp their lodgings all of them in Trinity colledge with M. Christophorson maister of the Colledge The next day after their comming they interdicted two Churches namely S. Maries Q. Maries and S. Michaels Churches were interdicted where Martin Bucer and S. Michaels where Paulus Phagius was buried now thrée or foure yéeres past During which time vnto that day the Priests neuer ceassed to celebrate masses and other ceremonies in these Churches and that without scruple till the comming of these Commissioners Who commaunded hereafter that the assemblies which should be made for executing of holy ceremonies should be remoued to the kings Chappell On the xj day the Vicechancellor of the Vniuersitie with the Masters of houses and the rest of the Graduates were commanded to appeare before the Commissioners in their habites so did in the gatehouse of Trinitie colledge which was adorned for the Commissioners Where the vicechācellor aforesaid hauing on a tissue cope sprinkeled the Commissioners with holy water and purposed to cense thē but they refused it there Which notwithstanding afterward in the Quéenes Colledge and elswhere they refused not There M. Iohn Stokes oratour of the Vniuersitie welcomed them with an oration whereto the B. of Chichester answered with thankefull acceptation of the curtesie of the vniuersitie and so declared the cause of their commission From thence they were brought to the kinges Colledge where was songe a masse of the holy Ghost From thence they went to the interdicted Church of saint Maries wher Pecocke preached against heresie and heretickes naming Bylney Cranmer Latimer Rydley c. That being ended they procéeded to their visitation which Robert Brassey maister of kings Colledge a worthy aged man woulde not admit in his colledge Kings colledge refuseth the inquisitors because the visitation of his house was wholly reserued to the B. of Lincolne Which exception they tooke all in great displeasure The 12. of Ianuary they resorted to kings colledge for that Colledge time out of mind had béen counted neuer to be without an heretike or twaine The M. of that Colledge maister Brassey K. colledge neuer without an heretike Robert Brassey a good old man maister of K. Colledge maketh his exception againe to their visitaon but it would not serue In that Colledge some there were that refused to take their oath because they had giuen it to their Colledge before and also would not be brought thereby to accuse themselues yet at the length with much a doe they were contented to be sworne Thrée daies long lasted the Inquisition There after this it was aduised that the Vniuersitie should themselues first decrée against Bucer and Phagius and after make Supplication to the Commissioners for the confirming of this decrée So the Vniuersitie authorised their Vicechancellour to be the common factor for the Vniuersitie Which Supplication being put vp to the Commissioners the xiij day was of them graunted and afterwarde confirmed by the whole consent of the Vniuersitie and signed with the common seale the fourtéenth day by the Vice-Chaunceller by Doctor Yong Doctor Haruey Swineborne Marpetide c. After they had all dyned together at master Bacons maister of Gonwell hall by and by they carried it to the Commissioners to their Lodging Their condemnation being openly read then was it desired to send out processe to cite Bucer and Phagius to appeare or any other that would take vpon thē to plead their cause against the next mūday So the next day processe went out to cite the offenders But when neither of the parties accused would appeare at the time appointed although they might at the first haue condemned them yet a second processe was published and sentence deferred till the 26. of the same moneth On which day the Maior was also warned with his bretheren to bée present to behold what should bée determined When they had taken their places there was exhibited to the commissioners the processe that was lastly published to cite them This being done the B. of Chester maketh a spéech reciteth the sentence out of a scroll and condemned Bucer Phagius Bucer and Phagius digged out of their graues of heresie After sentence thus read he commaunded their bodies to be digged out of their graues first to be disgraded from holy orders he deliuered them to the secular power All this being ended they dispatch a purseuante to aduertise the Cardinall what they had done and required the writ de comburendo And while he went on his message they willed all suspected bookes to be brought for to be burned with the corps of Bucer and Phagius The purseuante being returned with the writ vpon the receipte thereof they appointed the 6 day of Februarie for the accomplishment of the matter So the Vicechanceller on that day taking with him Marshall the common notarie went first to saint Michaels church where Phagius was buried there he calleth foorth Andrew Smith Henry Sawyer and Henry Adams men of the same parrish and bound them with an oth to digge vp Phagius bones and to bring them to the place of execution Marshall tooke their othes receyuing the like of Roger Smith and William Hasell the towne Sergeants and of Iohn Capper warden of the same Church for doing the like with Bucer Their cofins being taken vp they were lincked with a chaine to a post on the market
down vpon his knées hauing his booke by him reading singing psalms continually without ceassing for 3. daies and 3. nightes together refusing meate and other talke to the great wonder of many Then one Iohn Crowch his next neighbour went to the Constables Robert Marsham and Robert Lawes in the night to certifie them thereof For Berrie the Vicar of the Towne did commaund openly to watch for him and the Constables vnderstanding the same tooke him by breake of day The two and twenty of Aprill when Hudson sawe them come in he saide nowe mine houre is come welcome friendes welcome You bee they that shall leade me to life in Christ Note I thanke GOD therefore and the Lorde enable mée thereto for his mercies sake So they ledde him to Berry the Commissary who wrote vnto the Bishop letters against him and sent him to Norwich bound like a théefe whither hee went with ioy and singing chéere In prison he was a moneth where hee did continually reade and inuocate the name of God After they had all thrée béene chained to the stake Thomas Hudson immediatly commeth foorth from them vnder the chaine fell downe vpon his knées and praied vehemently vnto the Lord for comfort for he was at the very stake distressed thē rose he with great ioy as a man new chaunged from life to death and said now I thanke God I am strong passe not what man can doo vnto me Note so with his fellowes gaue testimony to the truth in the flames of fire Somewhat before this time was one mother Seaman mother to Wil. Seaman persecuted for the gospell being of the age of 66. and was glad to liue sometimes in groues in bushes c. After she was dead the Lord taking her away by sicknesse one M. Simonds the commissary dwelling at Thornden gaue commaundement she should not come in Christian buriall so she was buried in a pit vnder a moats side Likewise one mother Bennet of the towne of Wetherset after her departure this life was laide in a graue by the high way side The 26. of May suffered at Colchester William Harris W. Harris Rich. Day Rich. Day Christian Gorge Christ Gorge a wife whose husband had another wife burnt before this Christian whose name was Agnes Gorge that suffered with the 13. at Stratford the Bow After the death of Christian he maried an honest godly woman and in the end being taken with his wife with her he remayned in prison till the death of Q. Marie was deliuered by our most gratious Quéene Elizabeth A sharpe proclamation against godly bookes In the moneth of Iune came forth a Proclamation very sharpe against godly bookes by the king and Quéene On the backside of the town of Islingtō were assembled xl godlie persons men and women vertuouslie applying thēselues in prayer and reading the worde Wherof 22. were by Sir Roger Cholmeley and the Recorder sent prisoners to Newgate where they lay eight dayes before they came to examination Of these xxij thirteene were burned seuen in Smithfield and six at Brainford In prison two died in Whitson wéeke the names of whom were Mathew Withers and T. Taylor Seuen of them which remained escaped with their liues hardly without burning whose names were these Iohn Milles Thomas Hinshaw Robert Bayly wolpacker Robert Willers Hudleys Thomas Ceast haberdasher Roger Sandey The 7. that suffered were brought before Boner the 14. of Iune to make answere to such articles as should be obiected Which when they constātly did according to the truth of the Gospell they were by Boner condemned and the 17. day of Iune were sent againe to Newgate where they remained til the 27. day On which day they chéerfully suffered in Smithfield in the fire Their names were these Henrie Pond Henry Pond Raynold Eastland Rain Eastland Robert Southam Rob. Southam Mathew Richarby Mat. Richarby Iohn Floyd Iohn Floyd Iohn Holiday Iohn Holiday Roger Holland Rog. Holland This Holland was a merchant taylour in London sometimes apprentice with one maister Kempton at the blacke boy in Watlingstréet Hee was before his conuersion a Papist and a very lewd yong man and was brought to the knowledge of the trueth by the exhortation of a sober maide that was seruant in the same house whom afterward he did marry and liued vertuously together til such time as the cruell Papists made separation by fire The same day they suffered Proclamation was made that none should be so bolde to speake or talke any word vnto them A straight Proclamation or receiue any thing of them or to touch them vpon payne of imprisonment without eyther Baile or mainprise Notwithstanding the people cryed out desiring God to strengthen them and they likewise prayed for the people the restoring of the word of God R. Holland at the stake At length Roger embracing the stake and the Réedes said these wordes Lorde I most humbly thanke thy maiestie that thou hast called me from the state of death vnto the light of thy heauenly word and now vnto the felowship of thy Saintes that I may sing and say Holy holy holy Lord God of Hostes and Lord into thy hands I commit my spirit Lord blesse the people saue them from idolatrie And so with the rest of his felowes ended his life lauding and praysing God The fourtéenth day of Iuly suffered other sixe at Brainforde seuen miles from London Their names were these Robert Milles R. Milles. Steeuen Wight S. Wight a Tanner Steeuen Carton S. Carton Iohn Slade I. Slade Robert Denis R. Denis and William Pikes W. Pikes or Pikers They were condemned by the Bishops Chauncellour D. Darbishire in the presence of Sir Edward Hastinges and Sir Thomas Cornwalles and suffered ioyfully for the testimonie of Iesus Of the sixe of that companie which escaped burning two were scourged by Bishoppe Boner in his Garden Thomas Hinshawe about the age of ninetéene or twentie yeares being Apprentice and dwelling in Paules Churchyarde with one M. Puggeson and Iohn Milles a married man on whom he spent two roddes and on Hinshaw one Hinshaw was deliuered by reason he fell sicke of a burning ague Boner not thinking he would liue when he had béene a yere in prison In which space Quéene Marie died and hee shortly after recouered health Iohn Milles was a Capper a right faithfull seruant of God The cause why he was scourged was because when Boner asked him what time he crept to the crosse he answered not since he came to the yeres of discretion nor woulde not but rather bée torne in péeces with wilde horses Boner ofttimes speaking to Iohn Milles would say they call me bloudie Boner a vengeance on you all I would fain be rid of you but you haue a delight in burning but if I might haue my will I would sowe your mouthes and put you into sackes and drowne you On a day
Oskitellus hauing his sea in the Cathedrall Church there of S. Peter after he had first assaied the Canons and priests by faire meanes to become monkes and not preuailing néere to the same Church of S. Peter in the Churchyard he builded another Church of our Lady which when he had replenished with monks there he continually frequented and so the people left the other Church naked Wherevpon the priests did eyther become monks or depart from the place So did Ethelwold driue out the Canons and priests from the new monasterie in Winchester afterward called Hida and placed his monks The cause was pretēded for that they were thought slacke and negligent in their Church seruice and set in Vicars in their stéed Then the K. gaue to the same Vicars the land which belonged before to the Prebendaries who also not long after shewed them selues as negligent as the other Wherefore king Edgar by the consent of Pope Iohn voyded cléerelie the Priestes and ordeyned there Monkes Which Monkes did greatly differ and doe at this day disagrée with the auncient Monkes of olde time that were Lay men onely The new mōks differ from the olde who were lay men and were forbidden by the Councell of Chalcedon in any sorte to deale with matters of the Church and were such as by the Tyranny of Persecution were either constrained to hide themselues in solitarie places or els of their owne voluntarie deuotion withdrewe themselues from company hauing nothing proper of their owne or all things common with other Afterward Bonifacius the fourth made a decrée Anno 606. that Monkes might vse the office of preachyng of baptizing and hearing confession and assoiling them of their sinnes and in processe of time they so incroched vpon the office of ministers that at length priestes were discharged out of their cathedrall Churches and Monkes placed in their roomes King Edgar a mainteiner of learning King Edgar was a great mainteiner of religion and learning To auoid excessiue drinking by the example of the Danes which dwelt in diuerse places of the realme he ordained certaine cups with pinnes or nailes set in them adding thereto a law that what person did drinke past that mark at one draught should forfeite a certaine pennie the halfe part whereof should fall to the accuser the other to the ruler of the towne where the offence was done He was a noble Prince wise and victorious but fauoured the monkish superstition ouermuch and is reported by some to haue builded so many monasteries for them as there are Sundaies in the yéere or as Edmer reporteth 48. 48. monasteries builded by K. Edgar Notwithstanding he was much giuen to adulterie and fornication and vsed among others Egelfleda or Elfleda called the white daughter of Duke Odorere of whom he begate Edward in bastardie for the which he was enioyned by Dunstan seuen yeres penance and kept back from his Coronation so long till the one and thirtie yere of his age anno 974 although he began his Raigne at sixtéene His penance appoynted by Dunstane The K. enioyned penance by Dunstan was that he should weare on his head no crowne for the space of seuen yeares that he should fast twise in the wéeke that he should distribute the tribute left him by his ancesters liberally vnto the poore that he should build a Monasterie of Nuns at Shaftsburie Moreouer he should expell Clarkes of euill life meaning such Priestes as had wiues and children out of Churches and places couents of Monkes c. He raigned sixtéene yeeres was crowned onely thrée yeeres He adopted to succéede him Edward that was borne of the harlot Among other lawes of this king he ordained that the Sunday should be solemnized from Saturday at nine of the clocke till Munday morning The Saboth to be solemnised from Saturday nine of the clocke till Munday morning By reason of the displacing of the Priestes before there arose a great contention after Edgars death one part standing with them so that they called also the crowne in question another part fauouring Edward Great strife betwixt priests and monkes the other Egfride the lawfull sonne in which sturre Dunstan Archbishop of Canterburie and Oswald of Yorke with diuerse other Bishops Dukes and Lordes assembled a Councell where Dunstan comming with his crosse in his hand and bringing Edward with him so perswaded the Lordes that Edward was receiued king whom Dunstan hoped would become a patron of Monkery and aduaunce that estate but it fell out contrary to his expectation For shortly after the coronation Duke Alferus of Mercia droue out the Monkes from the Cathedrall Churches and restored the Priestes with their wiues In the end vpon this controuersie was holden a Councell of Bishops and other of the Clergie first at Winchester where the greater part of nobles commons iudged the Priests to haue great wrong and sought by all meanes to redresse it anno 977. Yet notwithstanding the strife ceased not in so much that a new assembly of clergy men other was appointed afterward in a place called the stréete of Calue where the Councell was kept on an vpper loft where diuerse cōplaints were made against Dunstan but he preuailed notwithstanding Not long after about the fourth yéere he was slaine with a dagger drinking on horsebacke by the procurement of the mother of Egelred whom he came to visite his brother her sonne Egelred He was buried not beyng knowne who he was at the towne of Warham thrée yéeres after was taken vp by Duke Alfere and with honor was remooued to the Minster of Shaftsbury there bestowed in the place called Edwardstow This Edward they hold for a martyr and say that the Quéene in repentance of her fact builded after two nunneries one at Amesbury by Salisbury the other at Werewell where she kept her selfe in continuall repentance all the dayes of her life Him succéeded Egelredus his brother Pope Iohn the thirtinth of whom Dunstan Archbishop of Canterbury receiued his pall is noted to be monstrously vitious A monsterous vitious pope he was an whoremaster adulterous incestuous libidinous a gamester an extorcioner periured a fighter a murtherer cruell and tyrannous of his Cardinals some he put out their eies from some he cut out their tounges some their fingers some their noses c. In a generall councell before Otho the first Emperour of the Germanes these obiections were articulate against him first that he neuer said his seruice that in saying his Masse he did not communicate that he ordained Deacons in a stable that hée committed incest with two of his sisters that playing at dice he called for the Diuell to help that for mony he made boies bishops that he defloured virgins and straungers that of the palace of Laterane he made a stewes that he lay with Stephana his fathers concubine likewise with Ramera and with Anna and her néece that he put out the eies of bishop Benedict that he caused houses to
be set on fire that he broke open houses that he dranke to the Diuell that hée neuer crossed himselfe c. For the which causes he was deposed by the consent of the Emperour and the Prelates and Pope Leo placed in his roome But after thorough the harlots of Rome Pope restored by harlots and their great promises hée was restored againe and Leo put out At length about the tenth yéere of this Pope he being found without the citie with another mans wife was so wounded of her husband that within eight dayes after he died Pope killed in adultery After him the Romans elected Pope Benedictus the fift without the consent of the emperor whervppon Otho besieged Rome and set vp Pope Leo againe the eight of that name Which Leo to gratifie him again crowned Otho for Emperor and entituled him Augustus also the power which Carolus magnus gaue to the Cleargy and people of Rome touching the election of the B. of Rome this Leo by a synodall decrée gaue to the Emperour and his successors The election of the Pope giuen to the Emperour by the Pope The Emperour againe restored to the Sea of Rome al such possessions which Carolus magnus tooke from the Lombards and gaue to them After Pope Leo had raigned a yéere and thrée moneths succéeded Pope Iohn the 14. Against whom for holding with the Emperor Petrus the head captain of the citie with two Consuls and twelue Aldermen diuers other nobles gathering their power together laid handes vppon him in the Church of Laterane and clapt the pope in prison eleuen moneths The Pope put in prison Whereof the Emperour hearing sped him to Rome and did execution vpon the offenders and committed Petrus to the Popes arbitrement The cruell reuenge of the Pope whom he caused first to be stript naked then his beard being shauen to be hanged by the haire a whole day together after that to be set vpon an Asse his face turned backward and his handes bounde vnder the Asses tayle to be led through the Citie that done to be scourged with roddes and so banished the citie And thus the holy father loued his enemy according to the rule of the Gospel From this Pope procéeded first the christening of bels The christning of belles 971. After him followed Pope Benedictus the 6 who was in like maner apprehended by Cinthius a captain of Rome and cast in prison where he was strangled The Pope strangled or as some say famished for lacke of meat Then came Pope Donus the 2 after whom Bonifacius the 7. was pope who was constrained to hide himselfe for feare of the Citizens conspiracie séeing no place for his safety tooke the treasure of Saint Peters Church so priuily stole to Constantinople in whose stéed the people set vp Pope Iohn the fiftéenth Not long after Boniface returning againe from Constantinople by his money procured a garrison to take his part by whose meanes Pope Iohn was taken his eies put out and so throwen in prison The popes eies put out he famished in prisō where he was as some say famished some say he was slaine by Feruchus Neither did Boniface liue many daies after but sodainly died whose carkas after his death was drawne by the féete through the stréetes of Rome The dead body of the Pope drawn through the streets the people shriking and exclaiming against him An. 276. Next Pope after him was Benedictus the seuenth by the consent of the Emperour Otho the second and raigned 19. yéeres In the time of this Pope Hugh Cappet the French king tooke Charles the right heire to the crowne by treason of the Bishop of Laon and when he had imprisoned him hée also imprisoned Arnoldus Archbishoppe of Rames and placed in his roome Gilbertus a Necromancer who was Schoolemaister to D. Robert the kings sonne but Pope Benedictus calling a councel at Rhemes restored Arnoldus againe and displaced Gilbertus After Benedictus succéeded in the sea of Rome Pope Iohn the 16. and died the 8. moneth of his papacie next to whom came Iohn the seuentéenth and after him Gregory the fift ann 995. This Gregory called before Bruno was a Germaine borne and therefore more maliced the Cleargie and people of Rome Whervpon Crescentius with the people and cleargy agréeing against the same Gregory set vp pope Iohn the 18. wherevpon Gregory went to Otho the third who vpon his complaint came to Rome tooke in the city of Rome both Crescentius the consul Iohn the pope Which Iohn hauing his eies put out The popes eies put out was after depriued of his life Crescentius the Consul was set vppon a wilde horse hauing his nose and eares cut of Crueltie and so was ledde through the Cittie his face turned to the horse tayle and after hauing his Members cutte off was hanged vpon a Gibbet Pope Gregorie being thus restored to his former state raigned foure yeres in his Papacie although some say but two yeares During which time he assembled a Councell at Rome A Councell at Rome wherein to establish the Empire in his owne coūtrey by the consent and councell of Otho he ordeyned seuen Princes of Germanie to be Electors of the Emperor The seuen Electors of the Empire thrée Bishoppes and thrée Princes the Palatine the Duke of Saxony and the Marques Brandenbourge vnto whome was added the king of Boheme to geue a casting voice if néede so required The Bishoppes were of Magunce of Treuers and of Colone This constitution being first begun in the yere of our Lord nine hundred ninetie seuen was afterward established in Germanie by Otho the Emperor an 1002. Now concerning king Egelred or Elred the sonne of Alfrith He raigned 38. yeres Our English Cronicles report his raigne to be vngracious in the beginning A strāge reign of a king wretched in the middle and hatefull in the end There fell a variance betwixt this king and the Bishop of Rochester so that he made warre against him besieged the Citie till the Bishop offered him an C.l. of golde which he receiued and so departed The Danes in the time of this king did much molest the Lande in so much that the King was gladde to graunt vnto them great summes of money for peace Peace bought for money of the Danes For the assurance of which peace Analeffe the Captaine of the Danes became a Christian and so departed the Countrey About the xi or as some say the ix yere of this kings reign died Dunstan after whome succeeded Ethelgarus or as Iornalensis saith Stilgarus After him Elfricus as sayeth Guilielmus lib. 1. de Pontif. But as Polidorus saith Sirifius After him Elfricus came but after the minde of Williā lib. 1. Siricius But Polidorus saith Aluritius then Elphegus c. About the same time Anno 995. Aldwinus Bishoppe translated the bodie of Saint Cutbert from Chester which first was in a Northerne Iland then