Pope the whole matter to whom the Pope writeth againe wee are not a little disquieted in our spirits for your sake being our most déere Brother remember that the Apostles departed away reioycing from the face of the Councell receiue consolation that wâ— may reioice with you in the Lord who hath preserued you in this distresse to the corroboration of the Catholick verity and God through his punishment of afflicâ—ions hath wiped away the blot of your offences that they might not be called to account in the day of Iudgement bee not greeued that you are appealed to the Apostolike Sea which to vs is gratefull and accepted draw not you backe spare not to follow the appeale for the authoritie of the Church of Rome tendreth your constancie our diligence shall bee to preserue the right and preheminence of your Church to you as one working for the Church a constant and valiant Champion I thought good especially to premonish you neither for aduersitie nor whatsoeuer happens renounce not the right and dignitie of your Church The Archbishop sitting with his Crosse in his hand as before was not abashed at al that was the King sent for him presently to render account for thirty thousand markes and fruits and reuenewes of the Realme in the time when he was Chancellor he answered the King knew how often hee had made reckonings of those things and that Henry his Sonne and heyre with all the Barrons and the Lord chiefe Iustice of England told him was frée and quit to god and holy Church from all receipts computations on the Kings behalfe and so taking his discharge entred into his office for other accounts he would make none when his answere was brought to the King he required the Barons to doe their office who adiudged him to be apprehended and laid in prison the King sent the Earl of Cornwall and Deuonshire and the Earle of Leicester to shew him his Iudgement to whom he said heare my Sonne and good Earle how much the soule is more precious then the body so much ought you to obey me rather then your terrene King no Law doth permit the child to condemne their Father wherefore to auoide all your iudgements before you all I appeale to the Sea Apostolicke and as for you my fellow Bishops which rather obey man then God you also I call and claime to the Iudgement of the Pope and I doe depart from you as from the enemies of the Catholick Church and of the authoritie of the Apostolicke Sea whilst they returned this answere to the King the Archbishop passed through the throng and tooke horse holding the bridle in one hand and his Crosse in the other the Courtiers followed saying tarrie Traytor and héere thy Iudgement the vtmost gate being locked one of his seruants found a bunch of Keyes trying them found the right and opened the gate he went to the house of the Cannons where hee did lie and calling to him the poore where they could be found after supper he caused a bed to be made him betwixt two Altars but whilst the King was at supper he changed his garments and named himselfe Derman and made an escape to the Sea and taking ship sayled into Flanders and thence iournied vnto France the King sent the Bishop of London and the Earle of Arundell vnto the King of France to require him not to receiue the Archbishop nor retaine him in his Dominion and that he would be a meanes to the Pope not to shew any familiaritie vnto him but the French King contrarie to the Kings Letters and request not only harboured and cherished him but writ to the Pope intreating him vpon all loues as euer he would haue his fauour to tender the cause of the Archbishop Becket The King sent another ambassage to Pope Alexander by the Archbishop of York the Bishops of London Winchester Chichester Exeter with other Doctors and Clarkes with the Earle of Arundel with certaine moe Lords and Barrons they were friendly accepted at the Popes Court the next day following the Pope sitting in the Consistorie with his Cardinals when the Ambassadours were called for the hearing of Beckets matter and the Bishops euery one in order had made his Oration the Pope did not accept some of their spéeches and disdained some wherefore the Earle of Arundell disdained in this manner spake Though I am vnlettered and cannot vnderstand what these Bishops haue said neither can vtter my minde in that tongue which they haue done yet I must declare the cause of my sending as well as I may which was not to contend with or iniury any man especially in presence of such a one at whose beck all the world doth stoope but our Legacie is to present in the presence of the whole Church of Rome the deuotion and loue of our King which hee euer had and still hath towards you and that it might the better appeare to your excellencie hee hath appointed for the furniture of this Legacy his greatest and cheefest subiects of such worthines and parentage that if hee could haue found greater in his Realme hee would haue sent them for the reuerence of your person and holy Church of Rome I might adde more which your Sainctitude hath already proued the harty fidelity of our King towards you who at the entrance to his Kingdome submitted himselfe and all his wholly to your will and pleasure and wee beleeue there is none more faithfull in Christ then he nor more deuout to God nor more moderate in kéeping the vnity of peace neither doe I deny touching the Archbishop of Canterbury a man not vnfurnished with gifts in his calling being both sage and discréete sauing that hee seemeth to some more quick and sharpe then needeth if this blot had not beene the King and he had not discented then both the temporaltie and spiritualty might haue flourished one with the other in much peace vnder so worthy a Prince and so vertuous a pastor therefore our message and supplication to your vigilant prudence is that through your fauour and wisedome the neck of this discention may be broken and reformation of vnitie and loue by some good meanes may be sought But the Pope would not condiscend to their sute which was to haue two Legates sent from his popish side into England to examine and take vp the controuersie betweene the King and the Archbishop but because Becket was absent hee willed them to tarry his comming vp for hee being absent hee would in no case procéede against him but they alledged there time appointed to be ended and hauing other lets they could not waite for the comming of Becket and so returned back there cause frustrated without the Popes blessing to the King Within foure dayes after Becket commeth to the Popes Court offered the pope a scroule of the custome and ordinances of the King the Pope condemned and cursed the most part of them and blamed Becket for so much yeelding to them at the beginning yet
constantly that not onely many ignorant people were thereby drawne to the knowledge of the verity but a number which had some taste thereof were greatly confirmed Iohn Oecolampadius reporteth how a Prince murdered a good Pastor for preaching of the Gospell pretending hee was in a commotion hee sent a câ—uell Gentleman with a number of men to hang this Priest they came to the Priestes house and saluted him The Priest made them a great banquet and bad them eate and drinke chéerefully After dinner the Gentleman told his followers they must hang the Priest They said God forbid we should doe such a crime to hang one that hath intreated vs so gently his good chéere not yet disgested in vs The Priest desired them rather to carry him to prison to there Prince and propounded vnto him the gentlenes that he had alwaies vsed to the Gentlemen of the Countrey in spending his goods to entertaine them and aduertised him of the eternall toâ—ments which would follow an euill conscience protesting he had faithfully taught the Gospell and the cause hee had the ill will of some was for sharpely and openly reprouing the horrible vices of the Gentlemen The Gentleman told him he should gaine nothing by preaching in such sort for the Prince had commaunded him to hang him whose fauour hee would not loose to saue his life so they put him to death Oecolampadius reporteth of another godly Priest that when he came to the true vnderstanding of the Gospell O God said he who would haue thought it that so many learned and holy men haue wandred out of the right way and haue so long time béen wrapped in errors or that the holy Scriptures had been defiled with such horrible abuses for hee neuer vnderstood before that the Gospell was the vertty of God because it containeth much matter touching the crosse persecution ignomy after this good Pastor began to preach the Gospell there but many which repined that the Gospell should be freely preached caused him in the night to be taken by certaine souldiours which bound him hand foot and set him vpon a horse and led him vp down by a great rope before his wife and children were not moued with their grieuous sighes and teares after they had kept him long in prison that he had indured most terrible torments as well by his priuy members as other parts they iudged him to deth hauing no other cause against him but that he had maried a wife when the Fryers troubled him about Confession he said he had already confessed his sins vnto the Lord Iesus nothing doubting but that hee had receiued absolution of his sins and I said he shall this day be an acceptable sacrifice vnto my Sauior Iesus Christ for I haue done nothing for which I am condemned displeasing to God which giueth me a a quiet conscience and let them which thirst after blâ—ud consider that they offend him who truely iudgeth the harts of men who saith vengeance is mine and I will punish I desire to die I doe not much shorten my time for I am so leane that my skin is scarce able to couer my bones and I reioice in nothing but the Crosse of Christ Iesus Some could not abide these exhortations and made signes to the hangman to cast him into the Riuer after he was cast downe the Riuer was red which was a token that innocent bloud was shed they that were present were greatly amazed therat and returned home pensiue An other History by Oecolampadius an honest man when hee had wrongfully suffered most intollerable torments for being in a commotion and was condemned A Frier being brought vnto him when he was taken out of the dungeon and see the Frier Hée cryed with a loude voice O miserable wretch that I am now am I betrayed my last houre is at hand The dreame which I dreamed this night will come to passe The Frier plucking out a woodden crosse said poore man confesse thy sinnes in mine eare and after thou hast receiued absolution at mine hands doubt not but this day thou shalt goo straâ—te to the Kingdome of Heauen Who answered thou wicked Frier get thée away from me for I haue long bewailed my sinnes before the face of Christ who hath forgiuen me I haue no need of thy absolution which thou thy selfe doest not vnderstand Thou shouldest long since haue amended thy wicked and hâ—pocriticall life I know what thou art thou playest the Ape with mee thou hast a subtle heart which hath deceiued much people if thou hast any comfort out of the Gospell let mee haue it if not get thée away with thy portas whereat the Frier was confused The hangman wiser then the Frier bid him reade him something of the Passion whereat he would take great pleasure The foolish Frier had no other consolation but to hold the Crucifix of wood before him saying bâ—hold thy Sauiour which died for thée Looke on him and thou shalt bee comforted Hee answered get thee from mee thou naughty person this is not my Sauiour my Sauiour dwelleth in Heauen in whom I trust that he will not deliuer my soule to eternall death The Frier crossed himselfe and departed The Bishop of Constance caused Iohn Howghly a priest to bee burned at Merspurge for that he would not allow the Popes Doctrine in all points Iohn Frederick heyre to the Prince and Elector of Saxony was contracted by writings to the Lady Katherine the Emperours Sister But when Religion was altered in Saxony they swarued from their Couenants and the Empeâ—rorâ— Ambassador said there was no promise to be kept with hereticks In this yeare beeing the seuentéenth yeere of King Henry the eight his raigne there was great commotion in Suffolke and Norfolke by reason the Cardinall had sent commission in the Kings Name that euery man should pay the sixt part of his goods but it was appeased by the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke and the paiment released by the King This yeare the Cardinall tooke vpon him as the Kings chiefe Councellor Hee reformed the house and made new Officers in the house of the Duke of Richmond Also hee established a Councell and established another hâ—ushold for the Lady Mary then being Princes of the Realme Hee made the King beléeue hee need take no paines insomuch that the charge of all things was committed vnto him he gaue the King the Lease of the Mannor of Hampton Court and the King licenced him to lye in his Mannor of Richmond which K. Henry 7. loued so well whereat some grudged saying sée a Butchers Dogge lye in the Mannor of Richmond His pride was so high he regarded no man and was hated of all men Hee came to Paules the eleuenth of Ianuary a number of Bishops Abbots and Doctors attended him there hee sate in his Cloth of Estate of rich Cloth of Gold and Frier Barnes for heresie and two Marchants for eating flesh on Friday bare Faggots before him And this day
then he was commaunded to answere Intergatories by signes and when any question was asked he strook vpon the Table so that he might be heard then he was demaunded whether he was any that were buried there then they reckoned vp diuers and at last the Mayors wife here he made a signe that he was the spirit of that woman then he was asked whether he was damned for Couetousnesse Pride Lecherie or not doing workes of Charitie or else for Lutheranisme then by striking twise or thrise vpon the Table gaue them to vnderstand that Luthers heresie was the cause of her damnation and being asked whether the bodie buried in holy ground should be digged vp and carried â—hence he made signes it should be so then the Friers desired the Citizens to set their handes to a writing testifying that which they had séene but for feare of the Mayor they refused to subscribe then the Friers took the Pixe with the Host and the Lords body and all the reliques of Saints and carried them to another place and there they said their masses then the officiall came thither and would faine haue seene the spirit coniured and one should go into the vault and sée if any spirit appeared but he could not get them to disturb the spirit any more â— Then the Mayor informed the King of the whole matter and the King sent certaine to know whether it were so or no then they put the dâ—ers thereof into seuerall Prisons and examined them apart and a great while they would confesse nothing at length the Iudges promising the nouice that he should haue no harme nor come no more into the Fryers hands he declared to them the whole matter in order wherupon they were committed to Orleance to prison And it was certainly reported that the King would haue plucked down the House but euen at the same time chanced a persecution against the Lutherans and they feared the punishment of these men should haue bin a reproch vnto the Order and a cause of much reioycing to the Lutherans These were Francisâ—an Fryers A Storie of certaine Monks of Sueuia GVnrame a noble Baron in the yeare 1130. builded an Abbey in Sueuia called Salmesuille of Cistercian Monks Amongst many Benefactors to the said House the Earles of Montfort had bestowed vpon that Monasterie many new Liberties and Priuiledges vpon condition that they should receiue with frée hospitalitie any stranger Horse-man or Foot-man for one night but this hospitalitie did not long continue through a subtile deuise of one of the Monks who would counterfeit the Diuell ratling and raging in chaynes at the lodgings where the strangers should lie and so continued this a long space At length an Earle of the house of Montfort was lodged at the Monasterie when the Earle was at his rest in the night the Monke after his wonted manner began to play the Diuell roring thundering spitting of fire and making a noyse the Earle hearing thereof tooke a good heart and taking his sword slew the Monk And thus the Diuell of the Abbey was coniured which stopped the guests from comming to the House Who lift to see more and worse pranks of Friers and Monks played in their Houses Cloysters let them resort to the Epistle of Erasmus and he shall find ynough to infect the aire IOHN BROVVNE a blessed Martyr burned at Ashford in the second yeare of Henrie the eighth Anno 1511. THe said Iohn Browne passing to Graues-end in a Barge a Priest began to swell and stomack that he should sit so neere him at length said Doest thou know who I am thou fittest so neere me and vpon my clothes No sir said the other I tell you said he I am a Priest What sir are you a Parson or Uicar or some Ladies Chaplain No said he I sing for a Soule I pray you said the other where find you the Soule when you go to Masse I cannot tel said he I pray where do you leaue it when you haue done Masse I know not said the Priest How then said the other can you saue the Soule I perceiue thou art an Heretick said the Priest Within three daies after by vertue of a Warrant â—rom the Archbishop with a Baylife and two of the Bishops men they came suddenly into the house of the said Browne as he was carrying a dish of meat to his guests for his wife was that day Churched they layd hands on him and carried him to Canterburie where they kept him fortie dayes in which time he was so pitifully entreated by Warram the Archbishop and Fisher Bishop of Rochester that he was set bare-footed vpon hote burning coales to make him denie his Faith which he bare patiently and continued in maintaining the Lords quarrell vnremoueable then he was sent to Ashford where he dwelt the next day to be burned where he was set in the Stocks all night his wife sate all the while by him to whom he declared the whole Tragedie of his handling how they burned his â—eâ—t to the bones that he could not set them to the ground to make him denie his Lord here which if I should haue done he would denie me hereafter therefore good wife continue as thou hast begun and bring vp thy children in the feare of God where the next day he was burned This Iohn Browne bare a Faggot seuen yeares before this whose sonnâ— named Richard Browne for the like cause of Religion was imprisoned at Canterburie in the later time of Queene Marie and should haue beene burned with two more but the next day after Queene Marie died and they escaped by the Proclamation of Queenâ— Elizabeth THE NINTH BOOKE CONtayning the Acts and things done in the Raigne of King EDVVARD the sixt AFter the death of Henrie the eight succeeded King Edward the sixt his sonne being of the age of nine yeares Touching his commendations I leaue you to the Booke at large who because he was so young and tender was committed to sixtéene Gouernours amongst whome especially the Lord Edward Semer Duke of Somerset his vncle was assigned as Protector of him and the Commonwealth a man of noble vertues especially for his fauour to Gods 〈◊〉 throâ—gh the industrie of whom that monstrous Hydra with sixe heads the 〈◊〉 Articles which deuoured so many were abolished whereby the proceedings of Gardner began to decay who storming thereat wrote to the Lord Protector in the cause thereof He restored the Scriptures to the Mother tongue and extinguished Masses and by little and little greater things followed in the reformation of Churches such as fled for the danger of the Truth were againe receiued to their Countrey the most part of Bishops were changed dumbe Prâ—lates were compelled to giue place to such as would Preach and learned men were sent for out of other Countries as Peter Martyr Martin Bucer Paulus Phagius the first of whom taught at Oxford and the other two at Cambridge with great commendations Bonner Bishop of London was committed to the Marshalsie
two children Serapia and Salma were likewise martired Hadriana at Eleusina in Athens sacrifising to the gentiles Gods gaue all men liberty to kill the Christians wherevpon Quadracus Bishop of Athens and Aâ—stydes â— Philosopher Serenus Granus a great Noble man wâ—ote Apologies for the Christians so lâ—arnedly laâ—ing out their innocency that the Emperour wrot to the Proconsull of Asia henceforth to exercise no more cruelty vpon the Christians thus for a time they had some quiet Antonius Pius succeeded Hadrian the rage of the Heathen ceased not to persecute the Chrâ—stians but the Emperours affection toward them appeared by an Edict of his to the Commons of Asia to â—ay the rage against the Christians exâ—eâ—t they offended the laow of the Empire willing them to consider their patience in torments and bouldnesse in Earthquakes and Tempests when others quaked This Edict was proclamed at Ephesus in the publicke assembly of all Asia which applased the tempest of perâ—ecution in his dayes The fourth Persecution AFter him succéeded M Antonius Verus many Christians in his time suffred diuers torments at Smirna some were whipped that their â—eines appeared and their bowels were seene and after they were set vpon sharpe shelles taken out of the Sea and nayles and thornes set for them to goe vppon and then throwne to beasâ—s to be deuoured amongst whom Germanicus suffred so constantly that they admirâ—d him Policarpus a Disciple to the Apostles 86. yeares a preacher 70. yeares placed by St. Iohn in Smirna these persecutions beeing begunne hee hid himselfe with a few of his company and continued night and day in supplication for the peace of the congregation .3 dayes before his apprehension he dreamed his bed was suddenly consumed with fire vnder him which hee interpreted that hee should suffer martirdome by fire and beeing found by the pursuers hee intertained them cheerfully made them diâ—e and desired an houres respit to pray which he did in such sort that they which heard him were astonied then they brought him to the Citty vppon an Asse where Irenarcus Herodes and his father Nicetes met him caused him to come into their Chariot and perswaded him to doe sacrifice but when hee would not they gaue him rough words and thrust him downe the Chariot that he might breake hiâ— legs but he went merrily to the place appoynted where there came a voyce from Heauen to comfort him the Proconsull disswaded him from the faith and willed him to say with them destroy these naughty men who with constant countenance beheld the whole multitude looking vp to heauen said thou thâ—â— it is that will destroy these wicked men then the Proconsuâ—l was â—arneâ—â— with him and said take thine Oth and defie Christ I will discharge thee who answered these foure score and sixe yeares I haue béene his seruant and hee hath not hurt me how then may I speake euill of my Lord and King which hath thus preserued me and when they could not preuaile by perswasions nor threatnings he was commanded to be cast to the Lion but because the Lion had his prey already the people with one voyce required that he might be burned and when they would haue nayled him to the stake with iron hoopes he said hee that hath giuen me strength to abâ—de the fire shall also giue me power that I shall not stirre in this fire which when they onely bound him hee praysed God and testified his faith the fire seemed to the beholders to compasse the body like a vayle which seemed like gold and siluer and yéelded a plesant smell the fire not consuming his body one thrust him in with a sword whereby so much blood issued out of his body that it quenched the fire after the body was taken and burned At that time suffred twelue that came from Philadelphia with diuers other as Metrodorus a Minister and Pionius a worthy man who after grieuous torments were burned and Carpus Papylus and Agothonica a woman were put to death at Pergamopolis in Asia Felicitas with her seauen Children suffred at Roome the first was whipped and prest to death the second and third had their braines broken out the fourth was cast downe head-longe and had his necke broken the other thré were beheaded and left the mother slaine with the sword At this time Iustinus the learned Piilosopher suffred who wrote appologies to the Senate of Rome the Emperour and Liefetenant of the Citty for the Christians hee preuayled so much with Antonius Pius that he stayed the persecution in Asia he vanquished Crescens a Philosopher in reueng whereof hee procured his death Under this Tyrant also suffered Ptolomeus and Lucius for confessing Christ in Alexandriaâ—in Egyptâ— a vicious infidell whose wife was vicious but conuerted by Ptolameus and departed from her vicious husband wherefore in reuenge hee suborned a Centurion to accuse him who beeing brought before Vrbanus hee condemned him to death and Lucius a Christian blaming the Iudge therefore was with him also martired also Concordus a Minister of Spoletum because hee would not sacrifice to Iupiter but spate in his face after sundry torments hee was beheaded Diuers other martires suffred vnder this tyrant as Symetricus Florellus Pontianus Alexander Caius Epipodus Victor Corona Marcellus and Valerian who were killed because they would not sacrifice to Idols Under this Tyrant suffred diuers Martirs at Uienna and Lions in France amongst whom Vetius Zacharias Sanctus Maturus Attallus Blandina Alexander and Alcibiades are chiefly renowned Vetius Epagathus for reprouing the cruell sentence of the Iudge against the Christians and making an apology for them was martired hee was called the aduocate of the Christians At that time Photinus Deacon to the Bishop of Lyons about 90. yeares old was first beaten then cast into prison where hee dyed within two dayes Blandina was fastened to a stake and cast to beasts to bée deuoured but none would touch her so they put her in Prison vntill another time Attalus was brought forth with one Alexander a Phrigian Phisition who because hee encouraged the Christians before the Iudge died most patiently broyled in an iron chaire After Blandina and one Ponticus but fifteene yeares ould was brought forth the child dyed with extremity of torments Blandina after whipping gridirons and beasts was cast into a nette and throwne vnto a wild Bull and so gored to death they would not suffer the dead bodies to bee buried the causes why these Persecutions were so sharpe was because the Ethnicks being seruants to the Christians by threatning for feare said the Christians kept the feast of Thiestes and incest of OEdipus with other haiuous crimes Meleto Bishop of Sardis and Claudius Apolinaris Bishop of Hierapolis exhibited Apologies vnto these Emperours for the Christians so did Athenagoras a Philosopher and Legate of the Christians whereby the persecution for the same time was stayed others thinke that if was by a miracle in the Emperours Campe for when the soldiers wanted water fiue dayes and
hee 〈◊〉 toither and tooke possession thereof and returned and maried Emmalate wife of Egelred by whom he had a sonne called Hardyknight He held a Parliament at Oxford where it was agreed that Englishmen and Danes should hold the Lawes made by King Edgar Then the Danes begun to be Christians and Canutus went to Rome and returned He gouerned the Lâ—nd 20. yeares and left two sonnes Harold and Hardeknight which was made King of Denmarke in his Fathers time Harold called Harefore for his swiftnesse succéeded him hee banished his Stepmother Emma and tooke away her goods and Iewels Hardeknight King of Demmarke succéeded him and when he had raigned two yeares being merry at Lambeth he was suddenly strucke dumbâ— and died being the last king of the Danes that raigned in England In the time of these Danish Kings there was one Godwine an Earle in England when the aforesaid two sâ—nnes of King Egelred Alfred and Edward came from Normandy to England to visit their mother Emma and brought with them a great company of Normaines this Godwine hauing a Daughter named Godith whom he thought to haue maried to Edward and made him king Hee perswaded the king Hardeknight that the Normaines should be slaine and gat authoritie to order the matter himselfe Wherefore hée met them at Guildowne with a company of English Souldiers slewe almost all the Normaines winding their gots out of their bellyes and put out the eyes of Alfred the eldest brother and sent him to the Abby of Elie where hée fed him with bread and water vntill shorty after hée dyed Edward escaped to his mother who fearing Godwine sent him againe into Normandy This cruell fact to the Normaines séemeth to bée the cause why the Iust Iudgement of God shortly after Conquered the English Nation by the Normaines After the death of king Hardeknight last king of the Danes the Lords sent into Normandy for the aforesaid Edward yonger sonne of Quéen Emma to take possession of the Realme who came with a few Normaines and was crowned at Winchester He maried Godith Daughter of Earle Godwine hee ruled with much wisdome and 〈◊〉 24. yeares In his time his mother Emma was accused to be too familier with Alwine Bishopâ—â— Winchester by the councell of Godwine they were committed to prison many of 〈◊〉 Bishops laboured for them to the King but Robert Archbishop of Canterbury stoppâ—â— their suâ—e saying How dare you defend her shée hath defâ—med her sonne the 〈◊〉 and taken her lerâ—erous Lemman the Bishop she is accused to bee consenting to â—he death of her sonne Alfred and procured poyson for her sonne Edward it she will 〈◊〉 bare footed for her selfe foure steps and for the Bishop fiue vpon nine 〈…〉 if she escape harmelesse they shall be afâ—oyled she agreed theris then the â—ing and many Nobles being present she was led blindfold to the place where Irons lay burning hote and passed the nine shares vnhurt when they opened her eyes and she sâ—e her selfe past the paine she kneeled downe and gaue thankes to God then the King asked her forgiuenesse but the Archbishop fâ—ed into Normandy The said cruell 〈◊〉 Godwine tooke bread and eate it in witnesse that he was not guilty of the death of Alfred the Kings brother but as soone as hee had receiâ—ed the bread he was choked at the table before the king at Winsor and he was conueyed to Winchester and buried Harold the second sonne of Godwine succeeded Edward who was the last King of the Sâ—xâ—ns Then the Kings soâ—ne of Denmarke came into England with 300. ships who entred the North and claymed the Land the Lords of the country rose against them but the Danes had the victory then Hâ—rold gaue them a great battell and got the victory and slew the King of Denmarkes sonne After this victory Harold waxed proud and couetous and would not diuide the prâ—y to his Knights but kept it to himselfe Whereas Harold had sworne to William Duke of Normandy after the death of King Edward to take possession of the Kingdome of England to his vse according to the will of King Edward that the Duke of Normandy should succéede him The Duke sent to him admonishing him of the Couenants that were agréed vpon betwixt them Harald answered thus That such a nice foolish promise ought not to be holden concerning the Land of another without the consent of the Lords of the same especially because neede and dread compelled him thereto Whereupon Duke William prepaired his Armie and sent to Pope Alexander concerning his Title and â—oiage the Pope confirmed him in the same and sent him a Banner And they tooke shipping with a great company and landed at Hastings in Sussex the Normans and Harald ioyned battell in the place where afâ—ter was builded the Abby of Battell in Sussex where the Normaines obtained the victory through the Iust Prouidence of God where Harold was wounded in the left eye with an arrowe and incontinently dyed when hee had raigned nine yeares and was buryed at Walâ—ome This Duke William and King Edward were by the Fathers side Cosen Germaynes After this Gregory the first succeeded Siluester the second he sate 4. yeares 〈◊〉 moneth and 8. dayes Pope By the testimony of Stella Benno and Platina and many others he was a Sorceâ—er and was exalâ—ed to the Papacy by the Deuill vpon this condition that after his death he should giue himselfe to the Deuill He demaunded of the Deuill how long he should â—nioy his Popedome Hee answered Untill thou say Masse in Ierusalem thou shalt liue At length the Pope in Lent saying Masse in the Temple of the Holy Crosse which Church vnknowne to him was called Ierusalem then hee knewe hee should dye then repenting hee confessed his fault before all the people â—fâ—er him succeeded Iohn the 19. which brought in the Feast of All-Soules to bee celebrated next after All-Saints day by the meanes of Odilo Abbot of Clâ—nake This Abbot thinking that Purgatory should bee in Mount Eâ—na dreamed vppon a time that hâ—e by his Masâ—es had dâ—liuered diuerse Souâ—es from thence saying that hee heard the voyces and lamentatious of Dâ—uils crying out for that the Soules were taken from them by Masses and Dirges funâ—rall Pope Iohn the 20. succeeded him and after him Sergius the 4 after him Benedictus the 8. then Iohn the 12. who was prâ—moted by Arte Magicke of diuerse Sorcerers He brought in the fast of Saint Iohn Baptist eauen and of Saint Laurence After him followed Pope Benedictus the 9. aspiring to his Papacie by Magicke practising Inchaâ—tments and Conâ—â—rations in words he resisted the Emperour Henricus the third sonne of Conradus and placed in his roome Peâ—â—us King of Hungary After for feare of Henricus he was faine to sell his Seaâ— so Gratianus called Gregorie the sixt for 1500. lib. at which time there was three Popes in Rome together raigning one against another Benedictus the 9. Siluester the 3. Gregorius the 6. for which
authority of thy word to be knit and made one in truth faith and stedfast hope in perfect charitie Amen ¶ Another Treatise of the said WILLIAM THORPE CHrist in Saint Matthew likeneth them that heare his word and kéepe it to a wise man that buildeth his house vppon a stone this house is mans Soule in which Christ desireth to dwâ—ll if it bee stablished in Christes liuing and teaching adorned with his faire Uertues and chiefly Charitie without â—edling of any â—rrour vppon none other ground none may make any building or house but vpon the teaching and liuing of Christ as Saint Paule teacheth to the Corinthians and to comfort these Saint Paul writeth to the people of Ephesus Now ye are not strangers guests nor comelings but Citizens and of the houshold of God builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets in which foundation euery building that is builded it increasâ—th to a holy Temple This is the stable Stone Christ fast holding together two wals for through him â—he Father is pitious and mercifully ioyned and made one together to mankinde and through dread so offend God and feruent loue to please him men bee inseparably made one to God â—nd â—â—â—ended surely vnder his protection This stone Christ was figured by the square Stones of the Temple for wheresoeuer a square stone is laid it abideth stedfâ—st so Christ and euery faithfull member of his Church by example of him abideth â—â—ably in true Faith and in all heauenly vertues in all aduersities that they suffer in this valley of â—eares When these â—quared stones were laid in the wals and Pillars of Gods Temple no noyse or stroke of the workemen was heard this â—lence signifieth Christ and his faithfull members which haue béene are and euer shall bee meeke and patient in euery aduersâ—tie and no sound of grudgiâ—g perceiued in them This Stone and ground of all vertues proud beggers reproued Christ suffered it most méekely in his owne person to giue example of méekenesse to his faithfull followers This world is now so full of proud beggers called Priests but are farre from such as Christ approueth Priests â— For from the highest to the lowest they doe all to please the World and the Flesh since I had discretion all the Popes Cardinals Bishoppes and all the contagious flocke of the Priest-hoode haue increased damnably 〈◊〉 sinne to sinne â—â—oud Hereticks couetous Symoners desouled Adulterers abusing the Sacramâ—ntes especially the Sacrament of the Altar the highest Priests occupie vnlawfully Temporall Lordships for fauour and gaine they sell Benefices to vnworthy and vnable persons Their Somnâ—rs sell sinne suffering men and women so lye in diuerse vices The Priestes sell the Sacramentes full deare to the people and thus the Priest-hoode is blowne vp into pride and vaine-glory of their dignitie that they disdaine to follow Christ in meekenesse holinesse and busie Preaching of his worde and to take their liuing at the peoples hands as pure almes and if they Preach not to labour for their liuing And they inforce that all holy Scripture should bee expounded according to their manners Therefore all Kings and Rulers that knowe the trueth of this Testimony of Priesthoode and will not inforce themselues to withstand these enemies and Traitors of Christ and his Church all these striue with Antichrist against Iesus and they shall beare the indignation of God Almightie without end if in conuenient time they amend them not and repent doing due mourning and sorrow For through the presumptuousnesse and negligence of the Prelates wicked men are wrongfully named Hermits and haue leaue to defraude the poore and liue by their false winnings and begging in sloth and other vices and the copper nosed Prelates are suffered to liue in pride and hypocrisie and to defile themselues bodily and Ghostly Also by the sufferance of these Prelates there bee vaine brotherhoodes and Priesthoodes full of pride they are cause of much dissention and exercise themselues in eating and drinking vnmeasurably and out of time and they are of one cloathing and holde together and in all vnlawfull doings they are Partners medlers and Councellers Also Prelates admit Pardoners and strange beggers with flatterings to beguile the people against true beliefe and to increase diuerse vices in them and thus the viciousnesse of Prelates haue beene are and shall bée cause of Warres within this Realme and without and cause of Pestilence of men and murren of beastes and barrennesse of earth and all other mischiefes vntill the Lords and Commons able them with grace accordring to Gods will to redresse this foresaid Priesthood vnto the innocent â—eaching and liuing of Christ and his Apostles Therefore all that know the viciousnesse that now raigneth cursedly in these Priestes and in their learning let them pray for the health of his Church and abstaine from these indurate enemies of Christ and his people and from all their Sacraments which are fleshly and false Saint Ciprian and other great Doctors witnesse That not onely vitious Priests but they which fauour and consent to them shall perish with them as they perished that consented to Dathan and Abiram for nothing were more confusion to them then refusing their Sacraments which are most vnlawfull and none needs to â—eace to dye without taking any Sacrament of these Christs enemies since Christ himselfe will not faile to minister all healthfull Sacramentes to all them that are in true Faith Hope and Charitie But some madde fooles to eschewe slaunders will bee shrieued once a years of their propper Priest though they knowe him defouled with slaunderous vices no doubt these are culpable of great sinne since Saint Paule witnesseth that Not onely they that doe euill are worthy of damnation but they that consent to euill doers And the vicious Priestes despise and cast from them heauenly wisdome that is giuen of the Holy Ghost Therefore the Lord throweth such dispisers from him so that they doe no Priesthoode vnto â—im Therefore they that tooke or consent that any other should take any Sacrament of any sâ—ch Priest sinneth against the Trinitie and are vnable to any Sacrament of health And that this Sentence is â—rue and in the hope of the remission of all my sins trusting stedfastly in the mercie of God I offâ—â— to him my Soule and to proue that this is true I suffer méekely and gladly my wrâ—tched body to be tormented to his praise and the edification of the Church And I wretched caiâ—â—â—e shall now through the spirituall grace of God make him a pleasant Sacrifice with my most sinfull body I beseech all that reade or heare this my Testament that they iâ—deauour by all meanes to vnderstand truely and kéepe faithfully the commaundements of God and to pray deuoutly to â—he blessed Trinitie that I may haue grâ—ce and wisdome from aboue to ende my life for his cause in a true and liuâ—ly faith stedfast hope and perfect charitie A Handicrafts man dyed constantly in the opinion that it was not the
resorted great number of people to Rome more then at any time before were seene there At which time as there were a great sort of people going to Mount Uaticane to behold the Image of our Sauiour which they had there to shew to Pilgrims a Mule of the Cardinals of Saint Marke comming that way the people for multitude being not able to voyde the way one or two falling vpon the Mule there was such a throng that two hundred men and thrée horses were strangled vpon the bridge and many fell ouer into the water and were drowued wherefore the Pope caused the small houses to bee plucked downe to make the Bridge broader In the yeare 1453. Constantinople was taken by the Turkes In the yeare one thousand foure hundred fifty fiue when the death of Pope Nicholas was published the Germaines bewayling their miserable estate perswaded the Emperour that he should be no longer vnder the Popes obedience except they first obtained certaine thinges touching the Charter of Apeales shewing that they were in worse case then eyther the French-men or Italians and as it were their Seruants and especially of the Italians that they alone had not the vse of their Lawes and that the French Nation had not made their sute in vaine vnto their King against the exactions of the Popes by whom they were defended which also prouided decrées for the liberty of his people The Emperour promised hee would prouide for them no lesse then the King of Fraunce had done for the French-men But Aeneas Siluius brake off the matter saying Though there bee variance amongst Princes in waighty matters yet peace may be made againe but betweene the Prince and the Common people there is alwaies mortall hatred and because he should be Successour vnto the Pope hee concluded he thought it better to accord to the Pope then to follow their desires whose minds are led with couetousnesse rather then by reason and the Emperour chose him Ambassadour to Pope Calixtus to sweare vnto him in his Name and to promise the absolute obedience of all Germany Thus twice Fridericke of Austrich contemned and derided the Germaines frustrating them of their natiue ordinances and brought them into subiection vnder the Pope which was the cause that seauen yeares before his death he caused his Sonne Maximillian to bee crowned King of the Romaines least after his death the Empire should be transported vnto another Familie as it afterwards came to passe Whereupon Germany being in this miserable pouerty and greeuous subiection of the Popes tyranny and polling with teares and sighes lamenting their estate continued so almost vnto Luthers time as those Histories hereafter doe testifie The Ambassadour of the Arch-bishop of Maydenburge Henry Token writeth that in the Councell of Basill the Arch-bishop of Lyons did declare that in Pope Martines time there came out of Fraunce to the Court of Rome nine millions of Gold which was gathered by the Byshops and Prelats besides the poore Clergy which daily without number runne vnto the Court of Rome carrying with them all their whole substance The Arch-byshoppe of Turonne said also at Basill that three Millions of Gold in his time came to Rome in foureteene yeares of the Prelates besides the poore Cleargy which daily runne to that Court. Let the man which feareth God iudge what a deuouring Gulfe this is a million containeth ten hundred thousand Sir Roger Ounley followed the Lord Cobham and Sir Roger Acton being a Knight of like Nobility and Order and pertaker of the like cause a man endewed with like valiantnesse and godlinesse whom we reade in certaine Annals to be hanged for the truth 1441. Although there haue beene many Women which haue followed their spouse Christ by torments banishment and death yet the first that commeth to our handes is Elinor Cobham a Woman nothing degenerating from her stocke kindred and name albeit wee can finde no other thing of her but for suspition of heresie that is to say for the loue and desire of the truth she was by the papists banished into the Iâ—e of Man whom a fewe yeares after there followed a woman who for her constancy and vertue was greatly to be praised being mother of the Lady Yong she perseuered vnto the fire with a stout and manly courage for the profession of the Gospel and was burned Hieronimus Sauonarola being singularly well learned and a Monke in Italy preached sore against the euill life of the spiritualtie especially of his owne order saying they were the springs of all mischiefes and by the help of certaine learned men began to seeke reformation in his owne order The Pope fearing him being in great reputation amongst all men least hee should diminish his authoritie hee ordained his Uicar to reforme this matter But the said Hierome withstood him alwaies wherefore hee was accursed yet he left not off preaching but threatned Italy with the indignation of GOD and prophesied that the Land should bee ouerthrowne for the pride and wickednesse of the people and for the vntruth and hypocrisie of the Clergy which came to passe when King Charles came to Rome and besieged Pope Alexander that hee was forced to make composition with him Because the said Hierome would not leaue preaching hee was commanded to appeare before the Pope to giue account of his new learning but hee went not Then was hee againe forbidden to preach and his learning condemned as false and seditions whereby he left off preaching But when the people â—ore hungred for Gods Word and were instant vpon him that hee would preach againe hee beganne againe to preach in Florence many exhorted him to the contrarie but he regarded it not but went forward freely When the Pope and his Shauellings heard thereof they were greatly inflamed against him and cursed him as an obstinate heretick yet hee proceeded in teaching the people saying men ought not to regard such curses which is against the true doctrine and the common Prophets for by preaching wée should be learned and amended Christs Kingdome inlarged and the Kingdome of the Diuell ouerthrowne He desired to teach no other thing then the pure word of God often protesting that all men should certifie him if they heard him teach any thing contrary therunto for in his conscience he knew nothing which he had taught but the pure word of God What his doctrine was may easily be iudged by his books he wrote After that he was taken with two Friers with him which fauoured his learning named Dominick and Siluester and carried to prison where he wrote a godly meditation vpon the most comfortable one and fiftieth Psalme wherein hée excellently described the strife betwixt the flesh and spirit The Popes Legats came to Florence and called forth these thrée good men threatning them maruellously but they continued still constant Then they gathered Articles against them whereuppon they were condemned and were first hanged vp openly in the market-place after burned to ashes and the ashes
death as fruitfull seede hath taken such fruit in some that it is yet a linely and diligent preaching vnto some against superstition and Idolatry vsed in their Churches The tragicall History of the worthy Duke of Sommerset KIng Edward had three vnckles by his mothers side Edward Thomas Henry Semer Edward was made protector of the Realme and Thomas was made high Admirall of the same so long as they were ioined together in amitie they preserued themselues and the King and the Common-wealth Sir Thomas Semer high Admirall married Queene Katherine late wife of King Henry as you haue heard betwixt the said Queene and the Dutchesse of Somerset there fell great displeasure And therevpon in the behalfe of their wiues grudge began betweene the brethren after it was laid vnto the Lord Admirals charge that hee purposed to destroy the yong Kingâ— and transâ—ate the Crowne vnto himselfe and for the same he was attainted and condemned and did suffer at Tower Hill the twentith of March one thousand fiue hundred forty and nine many reported that the Duchesse of Sommerset had wrought his death whereby it came to passe whether by Gods iust iudgement or no In October after that there was great consultation amongst the Lords in the house of Maister Yorke and at Baynards Castle and in the Lord Mayor of Londons house against the Lord Protector remaining then with the King at Hampton Court The King with his Councell hearing thereof first Secretary Peter with the Kings message was sent vnto them whom the Lords retained still with them making no answer wherevpon the Lord Protector writ vnto them that the King was informed of your assembly wherefore we sent Maister Secretary Peter vnto you His Maiestie and wee of his Councell héere doe not a little maruell that you stay héere â—he said M. Peter and haue not answered his Maiesty and we are sory to sée your doings bent with violence to bring the King and vs to these extremities which if you will take no other way we intend with violence to defend with death and to put it in Gods hand who giueth victory as it pleaseth him as touching priuate matters â—o auoide the effusion of Christian bloud and to preserue the Kings Maiesties person his Realme and Subiects you shall finde vs agréeable to any reasonable conditions that you will require for wee esteemâ— the Kings wealth and tranquilitie of the Realme more then other worldly things yea then our life praying them to send their determinate answere by Maister Peter or some other Notwithstanding this Letter the Lords persisted still in their purpose and took aduice to kéep themselues in the Citie of London as strong as they might and willed the Mayor and Aldermen to prouide a substantiall watch by night and by day for the safegard of the Citie and gates Then they demanded fiue hundred men to ayde them to fetch the Lord Protector out of Windsor from the King and they published a Proclamation against the said Protector to this effect First that the Protector by his euill gouernment was the cause of all the sedition that of late happened within the Realme and of the losses of the Kings ordinance in France and that it appeared by the building of his sumptuous houses in the time of the Kings warre that he sought his owne glory that he esteemed nothing the graue counsell of the Councellors that he had sowed diuisions betwéen the Nobles Gentlemen and Commons That the Nobles assembled themselues only to cause the protector to haue liued within limits to haue put such order for the surety of the King as was fit That the protector slandered the Councell vnto the King and that hee was a great traytor and therefore the Lords defired the Citie Commons to ayde them to take him from the King Then the King sent a Letter vnto the Mayor and Citizens commanding them to ayde him with a thousand men out of their Citie well armed and to send them with all speed vnto the Castle of Windsor These contrary commandements comming both at one instant vnto the Mayor Citizens of London it séemed very doubtfull to them which way to take at the last stepped vp a Citizen George Studlaw and said I remember in the time of Henry the third the Barons as the Lords doe now demanded ayde of the Mayor and Citizens of London and the Citie ayded them against the King and it came to an open battell and the Lords preuailed against the King and took the King and his son prisoners and vpon certaine conditions the King his Son were restored againe and the King openly granted his pardon to the Lords and Citizens it was ratified by Act of Parliament but it was neuer forgotten during the Kings life the Liberties of the Citie were taken away and strangers appointed to be our gouernors and the Citizens giuen away body and goods and from one persecution vnto another were most miserably afflicted such it is to enter into the wrath of a Prince for Salomon saith the wrath of a Prince is death Therefore I would councell the Lords with vs to make sute to the King that he would please to heare the complaints that may be iustly proued against the L. Protector and I doubt not but this matter will be pacified and that the King nor yet the Lords haue cause to seeke for further ayde neither we to offend any of them both Then the Lords sent Sir Philip Hobby with their Letter of credence vnto the King beséeching him to giue credit to that which he should say who so handled the matter that the Lord Protector was commanded from the Kings presence and shortly committed to warde in the Castle of Windsor The same day the Lords of the Councell resorted vnto the King and the next day they brought the Lord Protector vnto the Tower Shortly after the Lords resorted vnto the Tower and there charged the Lord Protector with sundry Articles the effect of them is contained in the proclamation aforesaid and although these purposes of man intended the spilling of his life and the Lord so ordered the matter by the meanes of the Kings so laboring for his vnkle that in short while he was let out of the Tower and continued at liberty two yeares and two daies After he was againe apprehended committed againe to the Tower after hee was brought to Westminister Hall to be arraigned and there was charged with felony treason he put himselfe to be tried by his Péeres who discharged him of treason but they accounted him guilty of Felony for purposing the death of the Duke of Northumberland and others and was returned vnto the Tower againe When he was brought to his execution vpon tower Hill he came with the same gesture which he vsed changing neither voice nor countenance and knéeling down he commended himselfe to God and his prayers ended he turned toward the people as it were with a certaine fatherly loue to children and said Dearely
and feare and beware that you turne not to this abhominable papistry against the which I shalll anoâ—e by Gods grace giue my bloud Let not the murthering of Gods Saints be any cause for you to relent but take occasion thereby to be stronger in the Lords quarrell and I doubt not but hee will bee a mercifull father vnto you and then I kissed them all and was carried vnto the fire When he came to the stake hee kissed it and then hee said so my Lord Rich beware beware for you doe against your conscience herein and without you repent the Lord will reuenge it for you are the cause of my death Thomas Osmond Fuller William Bamford alias Butler Nicholas Chamberlain Iohn Ardley and Iohn Simpson THese were sent out of Essex vnto Boner to be examined they had the same Articles ministred vnto them and agreed all in the same answeres in substance that Thomas Wats next aforesaid made and when by no meanes they could be perswaded from their constancie being many times sent for they were at last condemned and burned in seuerall places in Essex Chamberlain at Colchester Thomas Osmond at Maning-tree William Bramford at Harwidge Iohn Ardley told Boner my Lord neither you nor any of your Religion is of the Catholick Church for you are of a false Faith and shall bee deceiued at length beare as good a face as you can you will kill the innocent bloud and you haue killed many and oâ— gee about to kill more if euery hayre of my head were a man I would suffer death in the Faith that I am in At â—he Examination of Simpson and Ardley there were a great multitâ—de of people assembled in the Church of Paules round about the Consistory The Bishop being angry with their bold answeres cryed alowd haue him away haue him away Whâ—n the people in the Church heard these words thinking the prisoners had their iudgements they seuered themselues to make way which caused such a noise in the Church that they in the Consistory were amazed The Bishop asked what was the matter The standers by said there was like to be some tumulâ— for they were together by the eares The Bishop with the rest of the Court ranne away to the doore that goeth into the Bishops house but the rest being lighter footed then the Bishop recouered the doore first and throâ—ging hastily to get in kept the Bishop out and cried saue my Lord saue my Lord whereby they gaue the standers by good matter to laugh at whereby thâ—se were a little while stopped of 〈◊〉 Iudgement but not long after they were called to the fire Iohn Simpson suffered at Rochford and Iohn Ardley at Rayby IOHN BRADFORD HE was borne at Manchester in Lanâ—aster On the 13. day of August in the first yeare of Quâ—ene Mary Master Bourne Bishop of Bathe made a beastly Sermon at Paules Crosse to set vp popery as before is said Boner being present the people were ready to pull him out of the Pulpit and a Dagger was hurled at him and being put from ending his Sermon he intreated Bradford being with him to speake and appease the people when hee came into the place of the Preacher all the people cryed Bradford Bradford God saue thee Bradford And after they heard his godly exhortation they left off their raging Bourne thought himselfe not yet sure of his life vntill hee was safely housed thâ—ugh the Sheriffe and Mayor were ready to help him Wherefore hee desired Bradford not to depart from him vntill hee was in safety and â—radford went at his backe shaddowing him with his Gowne Amongst whom one Gâ—ntleman said Ah Bradford Bradford thou sauest him that will helpe to burne thee I giue thee his life for if it were not for thee I would runne him through with my sword within three dares after Bradford was sent for to the Tower and there the Councell charged him with sedition for this matter and committed him to the Tower and from the Tower to the Kings Bench in Southwarke and after his condemnation vnto the Counter in the Poultry whilst hee remained in these two prisons he preached twice a day continually almost two yeares After he was brought with Bishop Farrax as aâ—oresaid before the Lord Chancellor and the Queenes Commissioners after the Lord Chancellor had laid vnto his charge the aforesaid sedition at Paules and Boner had bore witnes against him and Bradford had shewed his innocency and affirmed that notwithstanding Boners seeing and saying yet the truth I haue told as at the day of Iudgement wiâ—l appeare in the meane time because I cannot be beleeued I am ready to suffer what God will licence you to doe to me Chan. To leaue this matter wilt thou returne againe and doe as wee haue done and thou shalt receiue the Queenes mercy and pardon Brad. My Lord I desire mercy with Gods mercy but mercy with Gods wrath God keepe me from Well said he if thou wilt not receiue mercy offred vnto thée know for a truth that the Queene is minded to make a purgation of all such as thou art Bradford answered I would be glad of the Queenes mercy to liue as a subiect without a clogge of Conscience otherwise the Lords mercy is better to me then life and I commit my life into his hands that will keep it that none can take it away without his pleasure There are twelue houres in the day as long as they last no man shall haue power thereon therefore his good will be done Life in his displeasure is worse then death and death in his true fauour is true life And after he had béen thrée times called before the Lord Chancellor at all which times there was no arguments of diuinitie but about transubstantiation For denying whereof and affirming that the wicked doe not receiue Christ though they receiue the Sacrament he was condemned after this the Archbishop of York and the Bishop of Chichester came to him and argued this point and after them two Spanish Friers and diuers others at other times The summe of his Doctrine herein followeth Reasons against Transubstantiation gathered by IOHN BRADFORD 1 TErtullian saith that which is former is true that which is later is false Transubstantiation is a late Doctrine for it was not generally definâ—d vntill the Councell of Laterane about the yeare one thousand two hundred and fifteene vnder Innocent 3. before it was free to beleeue it or not beleeue it Ergo the Doctrine of Transubstantiation is false 2 That the words of Christs Supper be figuratiue the Circumstances of the Scripture the proportion of the Sacraments the sentences of all holy Fathers For a thousand yeares after Christ doe all teach It followeth there is no Transubstantiation 3 The Scriptures doe witnes that the Lord gaue bread to his Disciples and called it his body He took bread in his hands hee gaue thankes ouer bread he brake bread and gaue bread to his Disciples As Ireneus Tertullian Origene Cyprian Epiphanius
receiued water but would haue giuen money for the Holy Ghost and Iohn had the Holy Ghost in his mothers wombe before Baptisme and Cornelius Paule the Queen of Candaces seruant with many others receiued the holy Ghost before baptisme and although your generation haue set at naught the word of God and turned it vpside downe yet must his Church keepe the same order which he left them which his Church dareth not breake and to iudge children daâ—â—ed dying without baptisme is wicked Bonner What say you to the Sacrament of Orders Smith You must call it the Sacrament of misorders for all orders are appointed of GOD but your shauing annointing greasing poling and rounding no such things are appointed in Gods book and my Lord if you had grace or intelligence you would not so disfigure your selfe as you do Boner What say you to holy bread and holy water the Sacrament of annointing and the rest of such Ceremonies of the Church Smith They be bables for fooles to play withall and not for Gods children then Boner and Mordant departed then certaine Doctors baited me halfe an houre of whom I asked where were all you in the daies of King Edward that you spake not that which you speake now they said they were in England I said but then you had the faces of men but now you haue put on Lions faces you haue for euery time a visar if another King Edward should arise you would then say down with the Pope for he is Antichrist and so are all his Angels then I was all to reuilâ—d Doctor You allow not Auriculer confession I said it is because the word of GOD alloweth it not He said it is written Thou shalt not hide thy sinnes I said no more doe I when I confesse them to God Hee said you cannot hide them from God therefore you must vnderstand it is spoken to bee vttered vnto them that do not know them Smith Then must the Priest confesse himselfe to me as I to him for I know his faults no more then â—e knoweth mine but if you confesse to a Priest and not to God you shall haue the reward that Iudas had for hee confessed himselfe to the Priest and yet went and hanged himselfe and those that acknowledge not there faults to God are said to hide them Doctor What did they that came to Iohn Baptist I said that they confessed to God he said and not to Iohn I said if it were vnto Iohn as you cannot proue yet it was to God before Iohn and the whole congregation he said Iohn was alone in the wildernes Smith Yet hee made many Disciples and many Saduces and Pharisies came vnto his Baptisme therefore if they confessed themselues to Iohn it was vnto all the congregation as Paul confessed openly in his Epistle to Timothy that hee was not worthy tâ— bee called an Apostle because hee had been a tyrant but as for eare Confession you neuer heard it allowed by the Word of God For as Dauid saith I will confesse my sinnes vnto the LORD so all his Children doe and euer did Then they called mee Dogge and said I was damned Then I said you are Dogges because you will â—â—ay your friends for offering vnto you all things I may say with Paul I haue fought with beasts in the likenes of men for I haue béene baited this two daies of my Lord and his great Buls of Basan and in the hall I haue béene baited with the rest of his band Bonner Then he came and asked the Doctors whether they had done him any good and they said no. And I said How can an euill Tree bring forth good fruit He said Wilt thou neither heare me nor them Thou shalt bee burned in Smithfield Smith And you shall burne in hell if ye repent not I perceiue you and your Doctors will not come vnto me and I am not determined to come to you then with many rayling sentences I was sent away The last examination Smith THen I with my Brethren were brought into the Consistory before Bonner the Lord Mayor and the Sheriffes Bonner By my faith my Lord Mayor I haue shewed as much fauour as any man liuing might do but I perceiue all is lost â—n him and all his company I said My Lord you must not sweare then he said I was Maister Controller and pointed to my Brother Tankerfield and said This is Maister speaker Mayor Thou speakest against the blessed Sacrament of the Altar Smith I deny it to be any Sacrament and I stand here to make probation of the same if my Lord or any of his Doctors can proue the name or vsage of the same I will recant then Then spake my Brother Tankerfield and defended the probation which they call heresie Bonner By my troth Maister speaker you shall preach at a stake Then I said well sworne my Lord you kéepe a good watch he said well Maister Controller I am no Saint Smith No my Lord nor yet a good Bishop a Bishop saith Saint Paul Should be faultlesse and a dedicate vessell to God and are you not ashamed to sit in iâ—dgment and be a blasphemer condemning Innocents My Lord Mayor I would require you in Gods Name that I may haue Iustice we are heare to day a great many of Innocents wrongfullie accused of heresie I require but the fauour that Festus and Agrippa Heathen men shewed to the Apostle which gaue him leaue to speake for himselfe and heard the probation of his cause then the Lord Mayor hanging downe his head said nothing Bonner Thou shalt preach at a stake and so Sheriffe Woodroffe cried with the Bishop away with them Thus came I in foure timâ—â— before them desiring Iustice to be heard but could haue none at length my Friends required with onâ— voyce the same and could not haue it so we were condemned because they all ten held the same opinions in effect Smith When the sentence began to be read in Dei nomine I answered he began in a wrong name for he could not finde in Scriptures to giue sentence of death against any man for his conscience He was burned at Uxbridge when hee was come to the stake he mightily comforted the people and told them he doubted not â—ut God will shew you some token that I die in a good cause at length he being â—ell-nigh halfe burned all blacke with fire clustered together in a lump like a black â—â—le all men thinking him dead suddenly he arose vpright lifting vp the stumpes of his armes clapping them together declaring a reioycing heart to them and so diâ—d He also wrote many godly Letters as you may sée in the Booke more at laâ—ge Stephen Harwood was burned at Stratford and Thomas Fust was burned at Ware When William Hayle of Thorpe in Essex was condemned O good people said he â—eware of this Iâ—olater and Antichrist pointing to Bonner He was burned at Barâ—et George King Thomas Leyes and Iohn Wade sickned in Prison and dyed and were
dignity because that which was common bread hath the dignitie to exhibit Christs body for now it is an holy bread sanctified by Gods word The third question was whether the masse were a liuely and propitiatorie sacrifice for them aliue and for them that be dead this article they denied to be true because Christ made one perfect sacrifice for the whole world neither can the Priests offer vp Christ againe for the sinnes of man neither is there any propitiation for our sins but his Crosse only And because neither for feare nor flatterie they could be made to recant at their second sitting they were condemned disgraded and deliuered to the secular power Upon the North-side of the towne of Oxford in the ditch ouer against Baliol Colledge the place of execution was appointed Doctor Ridley came vnto the stake in a faire black gowne such as he was wont to weare when he was Bishop with a tippet of sables about his neck M. Latimer came in a poore frize frock in one they might behold the honor they sometimes had in the other the calamitie whereunto they were now descended after Doctor Ridley had prayed seeing the chéerfulnes of M. Latimer he ran vnto him imbraced him and kissed him saying be of good heart brother for God will either asswage the fury of the flame or else strengthen vs to abide it Then Doctor Smith began his Sermon vpon 1. Co. 13. If I giue my body to the fire to be burned and haue not charity I shall gaine nothing thereby wherein he alledged that neither the holinesse of the person nor the manner of the death but the goodnes of the cause made a martyr this he prâ—ued by the example of Iudas and many others which then might be counted righteous because they desperatly sundred their liues from their bodies as he feared these men that stood before him would do and still he cried vnto the people to beware of them for they were hereticks died out of the Church at last he exhorted them to recant and come home again vnto the Church saue their liues and soules which else were condemned They would haue answered him but some ran to them stopt their mouthes with their hands would not suffer them to speak Then Doctor Ridley said Heauenly father I giue thée most hearty thanks that thou hast called me to be a professor of thée euen vnto death I beséech thée be mercifull to this Realme of England and deliuer the same from all her enemies When the fire was kindled he cried Into thy hands I commit my spirit Lord receiue my spirit crying often Lord Lord receiue my spirit M. Latimer crying as vehemently on the other side O Father of heauen receiue my soule Latimer died quickly but Ridley was long a 〈◊〉 by reason of the bad making of the fire yet he remained constant to the end The death of Stephen Gardner IN Nouember the next moneth after the burning of Ridley and Latimer in which moneth the Quéen died thrée years after Stephen Gardner a man hated of God and good men ended his wretched life He was borne in Berry in Suffolk and brought vp in Oxford his wit capacity and memory were excellent if they had bin well applied he was high-minded flattering his own conceit too much towards his superiours he was politick and pleasant to his inferiors fierce against his equals stout and enuious if they any thing withstood him in iudgment it was constantly reported that the nayles of his toes were crooked and sharp downward like the clawes of a beast his death happened so opportunely that England hath a great cause therefore to praise God not so much for the great hurt it had done in times past in peruerting his Princes in bringing in the sixe Articles in murthering GODS Saints and in defacing Christs most true Religion but especially for that he had thought to haue murthered our noble and religious Quéene Elizabeth for hee was the cause of all her danger and if it bee certaine which we haue heard that a Writ came downe from certaine of the Councell to the Tower where the Lady Elizabeth was for her execution it is sure this vile wily Winchester was the only Dedalus and framer of that Ingine but M. Brigs Lieutenant of the Tower certified the Quéen of the matter and there by preuented Achitophels bloudy deuices as Bonner Storie Thornton Harpsfield Downing with others were occupied in putting the branches to death so Gardner bent his deuices in assaying the root in casting such a plot to build vp his Poperie as he thought it should stand for euer whether he died with his tongue swolne out of his mouth as Arundell Bishop of Canterburie did or whether he stunke before he died as Cardinall Wolsey did who after he had vsed coniuration before so after he had poysoned himselfe by the way at his buriall he was so heauie that they let him fall and he gaue such a sauor that they could not abide him with such a suddaine tempest about him that all the Torches went out and could beare no light or whether he died in dispaire I referre all this vnto their reports of whom I heard it A great doer about Winchester reported that the Bishop of Chichester comming vnto Gardner began to comfort him with Gods promises and with frée Iustification in the bloud of Christ he said what my Lord will you open that gap now then farewell altogether to me and such other you may speake it but open this window to the people and then farewell altogether Iohn Web Gentleman George Roper and George Parke THese were condemned by the Bishop of Douer and Harpsfield for deâ—ying the reall presence in the sacrament of the Altar and were burned in one fire at Canterburie abiding most patiently their torments and counting themselues blessed that they were worthy to suffer for the Gospell William Wiseman and Iames Gore THis Wiseman died in Lollards Tower being there for religion the holy Catholike Church cast him out into the fields and commaunded that no man should burie him according as their deuout manner is to all that die in that sort whom they account not worthy of buriall but to be cast to dogges and birds yet good men buried him in the night Iames Gore being in the prison at Colchester for the truth of Gods word died much about this time IOHN PHILPOT HEe was Sir Peter Philpots sonne in Hampshire brought vp in new Colledge in Oxford going from Oxford into Italy comming from Uenice to Padua he was in danger through a Franciscan Frier accompanying him in his iourney who comming to Padua accused him of heresie In King Edwards time he had diuers conflicts with Gardner Bishop of Winchester after he was made Archdeacon of Winchester where he continued during King Edwards time to no small profit of those parts in Quéen Maries time he being one of the Conuocation with a few other sustained the cause of the Gospell manfully
against the aduersary part as is before recited wherefore he was called to account before Gardner and examined by him and then hée was remoued to Bonner and other Commissioners with whom he had diuers conflicts as in his examinations hereafter following may appeare when he had lien a yeere and a halfe in the Marshalsey being twice examined but no point of Religion handled then hee was committed to the Bishop of Londons Cole-house where he found a married Priest of Essex named Thomas Whittle This Minister greatly lamented his owne infirmitie for that through imprisonment hee was constrained by writing to yeelde to the Bishop of London and was set at liberty and after felt such an hell in his conscience that hee could scarce refraine from destroying himselfe and could not bee at quiet vntill he hauing got the Bishops register to see his Bill hee tore it in peeces and after he was as ioifull a man as any could be When Boner heard thereof be sent for him and buffeted him and plucked off a peece of his Beard but now he is ioyfull vnder the crosse He was thirtéene or fourtéene times in priuate and publikely examined his answeres that concerne any point of Religion heere follow The third examination Boner YOu must be of the Church for there is but one Church Phil. I am sure I am in the Church I know by the Scriptures that there is but one Doue one Spouse one beloued congregation out of the which there is no saluation This Church is builded vpon the word of God Bon. You are not in the same Faith in which you were baptized Phil. I was baptized into the Faith of Christ which I now hold Bon. You were twenty yeares agone of another Faith Phil. I was then of no Faith a wicked liuer neither hote nor cold Bon. Doe you not think we are of a true Faith Phil. I am sure Gods word throughly with the primitiue Church and all ancient writers doe agree with this Faith that I am â—ff Bon. I maruell you are so merry in prison singing and reioycing in your naughtines you should rather lament Phil. The mirth we make is but singing of Psalmes as S. Paul willeth vs to be merry in the Lord singing together in Hymnes and Psalmes wee are in a darke comfortles place therefore it becommeth vs to be merry as Salomon saith least sorrowfulnes eate vp our hearts Then I was carried to the Cole-house where I with my six fellowes rouse together in the straw as cheerefully we thank God as others doe in their Doune beds The fourth Examination Worcest BEfore he beginneth to speak it is best for him to call to God for grace to open his heart that he may conceaue the truth Phil. Then I fell vpon my knees and said Almighty God the giuer of wisedom I beséech thée of thine infinit goodnes in Christ to giue me most vile sinner the spirit of wisedome to speake and make answer in thy cause to the content of the hearers and to my better vnderstanding if I be deceiued in any thing Boner May my Lord of VVorcester you did not well to exhort him to prayer for they haue a singular pride heerein they are heerein like certaine hereticks that Pliny maketh mention off they did â—ing dayly praises to God before the dawning of the day Phil. God make me and you such hereticks for they were right Christians with whom the tyrants of the world were offended for their well doing Col. Where can you proue that the Church of Rome hath erred at any time Eusebius saith the Church was established at Rome by Peter and Paul and Peter was Bishop there 25. yeares Phil. I know Eusebius saith so but if you compare him with Saint Paul to the Galathians it will appeare manifestly to the contrarie He liued not past fiue and thirty yeares after he was called to be an Apostle and S. Paul maketh mention of his abiding aboue eighteene yeares and I am able to proue by Eusebius and others that the Church of Rome hath manifestly erred because shee agreeth not with that which the primitiue Church did vse according to the Gospel in their time as they write there need no other proofe but compare the one with the other Bon. Ought we to dispute with you of our Faith Iustinian in the Law hath a Title De fide Catholica to the contrarie Phil. That is true but our Faith must not depend vpon the ciuill Law Ambrose saith not the Law but the Gospell hath gathered the Church together Worcest You are to blame you cannot be content to be of the Church which hath euer been of that Faith full of Antiquitie Phil. I haue been at Rome where I saw your Lordship Worcest I am sory you haue been there for the wickednes which you saw there peraduenture causeth you to doe as you doe Phil. I am taught otherwise by the Gospell not altogether to refuse the Minister for his euill liuing so that hee bring forth Doctrine according to Gods word Worcest Doe you thinke the vniuersall Church may be deceiued Phil. Saint Paul prophesieth that there shall be an vniuersall falling away from the Faith in the later times Col. That is not ment of Faith but of th' empire the Greeke word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 so signifieth Phil. The word 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 is properly a departing from the Faith and thereof commeth Apostata which signifieth one that departeth from the Faith Worcest I am sory you should be against the Christian world Phil. The world commonly and such as be called Christians for the multitude hated the truth and be enemies vnto the same Worcest Doe you thinke the vniuersall Church hath erred and you onely to be of the truth Phil. The Church that you bee of was neuer vniuersall for two parts of the world Asia and Africa neuer consented to the supremacie of the Bishop of Rome not to this day neither follow his Decrees Glo. Yes in Florentines Councell they did agree Phil. It was so said by false report after they were gone home it was not so indeed as the sequell of them all hitherto doth proue the contrary Glo. By whom will you bee iudged in matters of controuersie which happen dayly Phil. By the Word of God For Christ saith in S. Iohn the word that hee spoke shall be Iudge in the latter day Glo. What if you take the word one way and I another way who shall bee Iudge Phil. The Doctors of the Primitiue Church Glo. What if you take the Doctors in one sence and I in another Phil. Then let that be taken which most agreeth to Gods Word Worcest It is wonder how he standeth with a few against a great number Phil. We haue almost as many as you We haue Asia Africa Germany Denmarke and a great part of France dayly the number of the Gospel doth increase and a multitude doth dayly come out of France through persecution that the cities of Germany are scarce able to
the aduersaries therof should be neuer able to resist and by this wee know wee are of the truth because neither by reasoning nor writing your Synagogue of Rome is able to answere one of the learned Ministers of Germany who hath disclosed your counterset Religion which of all you is able to answere Caluins institutions Then Doctor Story came in to whom I said you haue done me great iniury without Law you haue imprisoned me more like a dog then a man and you promised mee I should be iudged the next day after Story I am come now to kéep my promise with you was there euer such a fantasticall man as he is may he is no man but a beast yea these hereticks bee worse then beasts for they will take vpon them to be wiser then all men being very asseheads not able to maintaine that which they stand in Phil. I am content to abide your rayling Iudgement God forgiue you yet I am no heretick neither you nor any other can proue that I hold any iot against the Word of God Story The Word of God whom wilt thou appoint to be a iudge of the word Phil. The word it selfe Story Doe you not sée the Ignorance of this beastly Heretick hee willeth the word to be iudge of the word can the word speake Phil. Christ saith in S. Iohn The word which I haue spoken shall Iudge in the last day therefore much more it ought to iudge our doing now and I am sure I haue my Iudge on my side which shall absolue and iustifie me in another world howsoeuer you iudge me and other vnrighteously sure I am in another World to iudge you Story What you purpose to be a stinking Martyr and to sit in iudgment with Christ at the last day to iudge the twelue Tribes of Israell Phil. Yea I doubt not thereof I haue the promise of Christ if I die for righteousnesse sake which you haue begun to persecute in me Story When the Iudge in Westminster hall giueth sentence doth the word giue sentence or the Iudge tell me Phil. Ciuill men haue authority by the word of God to be Iudges of ciuill matters but the word of God is not subiect to mans iudgement but ought to iudge al the wisedome thoughts and doings of men therefore your comparison disproueth nothing which I haue said nor answereth thereto Story Wilt thou not allow the interpretation of the Church vpon the Scripture Phil. Yes if it be according vnto the word of the true Church Story And not wee in possession of the Church and haue not our fore-fathers this many hundred yeares taken this Church for the Catholike Church and if we had no other proofe this were sufficient for presumption of time maketh a good title in Law Phil. You doe well to alleadge prescription for it is all that you haue to shew for your selues but you must vnderstand that presciption hath no place in matters appertaining vnto GOD as I can shew you by the testimonie of many Doctors Story Well Sirs you are like to go after your Fathers Latimer and Ridley who had nothing to alledge for himselfe but that he had learned his heresie of Cranmer where I came vnto him with a poore Bacheler of Art he trembled as though he had had the Palsie as these hereticks haue alwaies some token of feare whereby a man may know them as you may sée this mans eies to tremble in his head but I dispatched them and I tell thée that there hath yet béen neuer a one burned but I haue spoken with him and béene a cause of his dispatch Phil. You haue the more to answer for you shall féele it in another world howsoeuer you do now triumph thereof Story I will neuer be confessed thereof I cannot tarry to speake with my Lord I pray one of you tell my Lord my comming is to signifie vnto him that hee must put of hand rid this Hereticke out of the way and going he said vnto me I tel thée thou must thank no other man but me for this Phil. I thanke you with all my heart and God forgiue you Story What dost thou thanke me if I had thée in my study halfe an houre I thinke I should make you sing another song Phil. No I stand vpon to sure a ground to be ouerthrowne by you now The ninth examination Harps MY Lord hath sent you S. Augustine to looke vpon I will read you an Epistle where you may heare the celebration of the Masse Phil. Héere is nothing that maketh for the proofe of the Masse Saint Augustine meaneth of the celebration of the Communion and the true vse of the Sacrament of the body and blood of Christ and not of your priuate Masse which you lately haue erected in the stead thereof for this word Masse hath bin an old terme attributed to the Communion euen from the Primitiue Church I pray you tell me what Missa doth signifie I thinke many that say Masse cannot tell but then Cousins and the Masse-Priests were dumbe Harps You think it commeth of the Hebrew word Massah as though none were séene in the Hebrew but you Phil. I take the communion to be called Missa a mittendo of such things as were sent by the rich to the reléefe of the poore alwaies when the communion was celebrated for this cause was it called Missa as learned men do witnes at the which celebration of the Masse all that were present did communicate vnder both kinds according to Christs institution as they did in S. Augustines time so being you cannot proue the Masse vsed at that time as you now vse it you can neuer proue it a Sacrament by the name of the Masse which name was giuen to the communion Harps What do you deny the Masse to be a Sacrament it is a sacrifice which is more then a Sacrament Phil. You can neuer make it a sacrifice but first you must make it a Sacrament for of the Sacrament you deduce your Sacrifice Harps Doth not Christ say This is my body and doth not the Priest pronounce the same Phil. The pronuntiation of the words is not enough except they be applied vnto the vse that Christ appointed them for though you speake the words of Baptisme ouer the water yet if there be none baptized it is no Baptisme Harps That this is not like for this is my body is an Indicatiue proposition shewing the worke of God in the substance of bread and wine Phil. It is not only an Indicatiue proposition but an Imparatiue or commaunding for he that said This is my body said also take ye eate ye and except it bée taken and eaten the words This is my body can haue no verification Masse Chapl. Will you make the Sacrament to stand in the receiuing and that the receiuing maketh it a Sacrament Phil. I say the common receiuing must néeds be concurrant with the true Sacrament without which it cannot be a Sacrament because Christ hath made this a
principle part of the Sacrament Take ye eat ye which you do not in your Masse wherefore it can be no Sacrament because it wanteth Christs institution Cosins Wee forbid none to come to it but as many as list may be partakers thereof with vs at Masse if they require it Phil. Nay you will minister but one kind vnto them which is not after Christs institution ye ought to exhort them that be present to make a sacrifice of thanksgiuing for Christs Passion and to bee partakers with you and by preaching shew the Lords death which you do not Masse-priest If the Sacrament of the Masse be no Sacrament vnlesse all doe receiue it because Christ saith Take ye eate ye then the Sacrament of Baptisme is no sacrament where there is but one baptized because Christ said to his Apostles Go preach the Gospell to all creatures baptizing all Nations Phil. Baptizing all Nations is meant of all sorts of Nations and to exclude none that beléeue whether Iew or Gentile not meaning all at once for that were impossible and Christ alone was baptized of Iohn and the Eunuch baptized Phillip with many moe such like but you haue no such example of the body and blood of Christ but S. Paul commendeth to vs to vse it in a Communion and participation of many together in the sixt to the Corinthians As oft as you come together to eate the Lords supper tarry one for another And the Minister speaketh to all in Christs behalfe to communicate with him saying Take ye eat ye therfore all that be present do not communicate break Gods commandements he is no iust minister that doth not distibute the Sacrament as Christ did to al that are present where Gods word is transgressed Christ is not present and therefore no Sacrament Harps Will you haue it no Sacrament except it be a Communion Phil. Gods words teacheth so Chrysostome vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians saith The oblation is in vaine where none doth communicate with the Priest therefore your Masse where none eateth thereof but the Priest alone is a vaine Oblation and a vaine standing at the Altar I pray tell me what the Pronoune This in the words This is my body doth demonstrate Harps It doth demonstrate the substance of bread which by the omnipotency of God and the words of the Priest is turned into the substance of Christs body Phil. Why then Christs body receiueth daily a great increase of many 1000. pieces of bread into his body his body is become that which it was not before so you would make an alteration in Christs glorified body which is a wicked thing to do Harps The substance of bread after the words spoken by the Priest is vanished away by the omnipotency of God Phil. This is another song heere you may sée how contrary you are vnto your selues your schoolemen hold that the very substance of bread is really turned into the substance of Christs body and now of late you perceiue the inconuenience of that opinion you imagine a new shift and say the substance of bread is euacuated contrary to that your Church hath beléeued and taught and all is to deface the sincere truth Harps Is not God omnipotent and can he not doe as he hath said Phil. But his omnipotency will not do contrary to his word and honour it is not Gods honour to include him bodily in a péece of bread and of necessity tye him therto and for to make a péece of bread God and man which you sée before your face doth putrifie after a time God is as able to giue his body with the Sacramentall bread and it is contrary to the Scripture which calleth it bread many times after consecration you take away the substantiall parts of the Sacrament as Take ye eat ye drinke ye all of this doe this in remembrance of me and place in their stéeds heare ye gase ye knock ye worship yee offer ye sacrifice ye for the quick and the dead Is not this blasphemy to God and his Sacraments and contrary to the mind of all ancient Writers and contrary to the example of Christ and his Apostles and this is the substance of all his examinations and Arguments Hee did often tell them they were blind guides of the blind and as I am bound to tell you you are very Hypocrites tyrannousâ—y persecuting the truth your owne Doctors and euidences you bring be directly against you you must beare with me sâ—â—ing I speake in Christs cause and because his glory is defaced and his people cruelly and wrongfully slaine by you because they will not consent to the dishonour of God and to hypocrisie with you if I told you not your fault it should be required at my hands in the day of iudgement therefore know you ye Hypocrites that it is the Spirit of God that telleth you your sin I passe not I thanke God of all your crueltie God giue you grace to repent Being brought to New-gate after he was condemned when Alexander the kéeper came in Ah said Alexander Hast thou not done well to bring thy selfe hither Maister Philpot said I must be content it is Gods appointment and I shall desire you to haue your gentle fauour for you and I haue béene of old acquaintance Well said Alexander if you will recant I will shew you any pleasure that I canâ— Nay said Maister Philpot I will neuer recant that which I haue spoken for it is most certaine truth in witnesse whereof I will seale it with my blood Then hâ—s commaunded him to be set vpon the blocke and as many Irons put vpon his Legs as he might beare Then the Clarke told Alexander that Maister Philpot had giuen his Man Money Alexander said to his man what mony hath he giuen youâ— And he searched him and tooke money from him Then said Maister Philpot Good M. Alexander be so much my friend that these Irons may be taken off He said Giue me my fées and I will take them off if not thou shalt weare them still Then said he what is your fées He said foure pounds Ah said Maister Philpot I haue not so much if you will take twenty shillings I will send my man for it or I will lay my Gowne to gage for the time is not long I am sure that I shall be with you then Alexander commaunded him to be had into Limbo and so he was Then his man tooke an honest man with him and went and shewed the Sheriffe one Maister Michaell how maister Philpot was handled in Newgate then the Sheriffe tooke his Ring from his finger and deliuered it vnto the honest man which came with Maister Philpots man and bad him commaund the Kéeper by that token to take off his Irons and handle him more gently and to giue his man againe that which he tooke from him when they told their message to Alexander he saide I perceiue Maister Sheriffe is a bearer with Hereticks to morrow I will shew
day night for now my foule is turned vnto her old rest again hath taken a swéet naâ— in Christs lap I haue cast my care vpon the Lord which will care for mee and will be careles according vnto my name as soon as I had read your comfortable Letter my sorrowes vanished away as smoke in the wind I am sure the spirit of God was aâ—thor of it Good M. Philpot thou art a principal Pot indéed filled with most precious liquor Oh pot most happy of the high Potter ordained to honour which doest containe such heauenly treasure in the earthen vessell Oh pot most happy in whom Christ hath turned water into wine and that of the best whereof the Master of the Feast hath fiâ—led my cup so full that it hath made mee drunken in the ioy of the spirit When martyrdome shall breake thee oh vessell of honour the fragrant sauour of the precious ointments will much reioyce the heaâ—y hearts of Christs true members Iohn Gwinne Askin Iulines Palmer THe 16. of Iuly these thrée godly and constant martyrs were burned at Newbery in Barkshire Iulines Palmer had been student in Magdalen Colledge in Oxford and was Schoolemaister of Redding all King Edwards daies hee was an obstinate Papist abhorring all godly prayer and sincere preaching and was abhorred and put out of the Colledge for the same yet after in Quéene Maries time suffered a most cruel death at the Papists hands He was born in Couentry his father had sometimes béene Mayor of the Citty When Quéene Mary came to her raign he was receiued into the fellowship of the Colledge again but his mind was â—o far altered that hee would not come to prayers for feare of suspition but when he should kéepe his bowing measures at the Confiteor in turning vpward downeward and knocke his breast with Idolatrous adoration at the lifting vp of the Sacrament his heart rose against it that hee would get him out of the Church wherefore he left the Colledge and became Schoolemaister in Redding and béeing vexed with the consideration of the cruelty that was then shewed to the Christians he made a testimony of his Faith and deliuered it to Doctor Geffery in his visitation who reading the same put him in Prison and within a fortnight after burned him as before where he yéelded vp as ioyfull a Soule to God as euer any did Katherine Cauches mother and Paratine and Guillimiue her Daughters THE said Katherine was a Widdow they were of the Isle of Garnesey the 10. of Iuly they were there burned for herâ—ticks for professing the truth Paratiue being great with childe and ready to bee brought a bed the wombe of the said Paratine being buâ—ned there issued from her a goodly man Child which by the officer was taken vp and after most spitefull manner throwne into the fire and most cruelly burned with her seely mother The cause was thiâ— a woman had stollen a cup and pawned it to this Katherine for six pence she perceiuing whose cup it was thought to haue carried it home In the meane time the owner of the cup missed it and charged ber with it that stole it who confessed it and brought the owner of the cup to the Widdow who deliuered him the Cup shortly after the Bayliffâ—s hearing thereof searched her house they finding one Platter which had no marke and another that had the mark scraped out Whereupon they brought her and her two Daughters to the Iustices who committed them vnto prison and the Bayliffs seized vpon all their goods and when they could proue nothing against them the Bayliffs accused them of heresie and caused them to be committed againe and the Bayliffs wrote to Iaques Amy Deane of the I le aforesaid to desire him to proceed against them in the cause of heresie whereupon the said Deane assisted by the Curats there did make an inquirie of the said widdow and her daughters and condemned them for hereticks the widdow and her daughters neuer hearing therof and deliuered it to the Bayliffs and Iurats whereupon when the Bayliffs did know that the said Deane and Curats had not examined the woman they would not sit in iudgement that day but ordained that the women should first be examined of their Faith before the Deane and Curats wherefore the women were presented before the said Deane and Curats who answered that they would obeâ— the Ordinances of the King and Queene and the commandements of the Church notwithstanding they were condemned and thereupon burned and the Bayliffs had all their goods as before but in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths raigne the Gernâ—â—y men and one Matthew Cauches brother to â—he said two Sisters presented a supplication to the Quéenes Commissioners touching that matter who sitting vpon the cause found the matter probable and commitâ—ed the Deane to prison and dispossessed him of all his liuings and possessions Thomas Dungate Iohn Forman Mother Tree THe 18 of Iuly these gaue themselues to the fire for righteousnes sake patiently abiding what the rage of man could say or doe against them they were burned at Grinsted in Sussex Ioane Wast was of the Parish of Alhallowes in Darby shee was condemned by Radulph Bane Bishop of Couentry and Lichfield his Chancellor and others for that she did hold the Sacrament of the Popish Altar to be but a representation of Christs body and materiall bread and wine and not his naturall body vnlesse it were receiued and that it ought not to be reserued from time to time ouer the Altar but immediatly to be receiued She was burned at the aforesaid Darby when she suffered she made her prayer to the Lord Iesâ—s to assist and strengthen her and being bound to the stake with flames about her she suffered with ioy and triumph as though she had rather béene going to a banket then to yéeld vp her life Edward Sharp was an aged man borne in Wilshire he was condemned the 8. of September where hee constantly and manfully persisted in the iust quarrell of Christs Gospell for misliking renouncing the ordinances of the Romish Church He was tryed as pure gold and made a liuely sacrifice in the fire Iohn Hart Tho Rauensdale and two whose names we haue not the one a Shomaker the other a Coriar THese foure were burned at Mayfield in Sussex the 24. of September being at the place where they should suffer after they had made their Prayer they constantly and ioyfully ended their liues for the testimony of the glorious Gospell of Iesus Christ. The next day a yong man a Carpenter whose name we know not was burned for the Testimony of Christ at Bristow he died with much ioy constancy and triumph Thomas Horne and a woman THe 25. of September thâ—se two godly Martirs were consumed by the fire at Watton Underhedge in Glocestershire who died very gloriously in a constant Faith to the terror of the wicked and comfort of the godly A Shoemaker was a true Witnesse and Disciple of the
he affirmed that he had beene twice at Rome and there hee had seene that which he had many times heard of before that the Pope was the verie Antichrist for he saw him carried vpon mens shoulders and the false named Sacrament borne before him yet was there more reuerence giuen vnto him then vnto it which they accounted their God Then Bonner rose vp making as though â—e would haâ—e torne his garments saying Hast thou seene our holy father and doest thou blaspheme him thus and flying vpon him hee plucked off a piece of his beard and after made speedy hast to his death He wrote this Letter to confirme the brethren the same day that hee was condemned The comfort of the holy Ghost make you able to giue consolation to others in these dangerous dayes when Sathan is let loose to the triall of the chosen to sift the wheate from the Chaffe whosoeuer denyeth Christ before men hee will deny him before his Father and the Angels and to saue the life corporall is to lose the life eternall and he that will not suffer with Christ shall not raigne with Christ Therefore I haue giuen ouer the flesh with the fight of my Soule and the Spirit hath the victory The flesh ere it bee long shall leaue off to sinne the spirit shall raigne eternally I haue chosen death to confirme the truth which I haue taught What can I doe more pray that I may continue vnto the end I haue in all my assaults felt the present ayde of my GOD bee not ashamed of Christs Gospell nor of the bonds that I haue suffered for the same The holy ones haue beene scaled with the same marke It is no time for the losse of one man for the campe to turne back vp with mens harts and blow downe the dawbed walles of heresies let one take the banner and another the Trumpet and I meane not to make corporall resistance but pray and you shal haue Elias his defence and Helizeus his company to fight for you the cause is the Lords Pray for me and salute one an other with an holy kisse the peace of God râ—st with you all Amen Margery Mearing said that the Masse was abhominable in the sight of GOD and all Christian people and that it is the plaine câ—p of fornication and the whore oâ— Babylon and shee beleeued that there was no such Sacrament as the Sacramâ—nt of the Altar in the Catholike Church and she said she vtterly abhorred the authoritie of the Pope with all the Religion obserued in the same Antichrists Church and that â—he neuer meant to come vnto the Church during these Idolatrous dayes And being demaunded whether shee would stand to these answers I will quoth shee stand to them vnto the death for the very Angells in heauen doe laugh you to scorne to seâ— your abomination that you vse in the Church wherupon shee was condemned They were burned both together in Smithfield where they most ioyfully and willingly gaue their liâ—es for the profession of the Gospell of Christ. Master Rowgh had excommunicated this Margerie Mearing but the Sonday before he was taken yet hee being in prison in the Gate-house at Westminster where none of his friends could come vnto him to visit him she gother a Basket and put a cleane Shirt in it and fayning her selfe to be his sister got into the prison vnto him and did him no small comfort then shee went to one Sergeants house who betrayed Master Rowgh and asked whet her Iudas that betrayed Christ dwelt not there and she seeing Cluny come vnto her house she went home and asked him whom he sought he said for you you must go with me she said she would go with him the Bishop cast her into prison and the wednesday after she was burned with Master Rowgh Cutbert Simpson Hugh Foxe and Iohn Deuenish SImpson was Deacon of the said godly Congregation in London he was faithfull and zealous vnto Christ and his true flocke the Friday at night before M. Rough the Minister of the Congregation was taken he dreamed that he saw two of the Gard leading Cutbert Simpson that he had a book about him wherin was the names of all them which were of the Congregation so he told his Wife and made her light a Candle and fell to reading and falling asleepe again he dreamed the like dreame Then he said to his Wife that his brother Cutbert was gone and as Maister Rough was ready to go to see Maister Cutbert he came in with the Booke containing the names and accounts of the Congregation then M. Rough told him his dreame and bade him carrie the booke no more about him so he left the booke with M. Rowghs wife the next night M. Rowgh dreamed that be himselfe was carried vnto the Bishop and that the Bishop plucked off his beard and cast it into the fire saying Now I may say I haue had a piece of an hereticke burned in my house and so accordingly it came to passe for shortly after they were both taken at the Saracens head in Islington as before Here followeth the storie of his sufferings vpon the racke and otherwise for the Congregations sake as he wrote it with his own hand I was called before the Constable of the Tower and the Recorder of London they commanded me to tell them whom I willed to come to the English seruice I answered I would declare nothing whereupon I was set in a racke of Iron three houres then they asked if I would tell them I answered as before the Sonday after they examined me againe and I answered them as before then they bound my two fore-fingers together and put a small arrow betwixt them and drew it thorow so fast that the bloud followed and the arrow brake then they racked mee twice and so I was carried vnto my lodging againe Ten dayes after the Lieutenant asked me if I would not confesse I answered I had said as much as I wold fiue wéeks after he sent me vnto the high Priest where I was greatly assaulted at whose handes I receiued the Popes curse for bearing witnesse of the resurrection Bonner in his Consistorie gaue this testimony of Cutbert Sampson ye sée said he what a personable man he is and concerning his patience I say vnto you that if he were not an hereticke he is a man of the greatest patience that euer came before me he hath béene thrice racked in one day in the Tower and in my house hee hath felt some sorrow yet did I neuer see his patience broken They all thrée answered Bonner that the Church is grounded vpon the Apostles and Prophets Christ being the head corner stone and in that Church there is the true faith and religion of Christ that there is but two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper they said that they haue and will speake against the sacrifice of the Masse the Sacrament of the Altar and the authoritie of the Sea of Rome and Iohn Deuenish
And in his seuenth Booke page 734. he sayth The fulnesse of the Apostolike Power hath declared the said Elizabeth an Hereticke and a fauourer of Heretickes and that such as adhere vnto her haue incurred the Sentence of Anathema And that she is depriued of her Right of her Kingdome and of all her Dominion Dignitie and Priuiledge and that the Nobles People and Subiects of the Realme and all others that haue made Oath vnto her are assoyled for euer from such Oath and all dutie of Allegeance Fidelitie and Obedience by the Authoritie of the Popes Sentence whereby he hath depriued her of her Kingdome and forbidden all the Nobles People and Subiects and others aforesaid that they be not so bold to obey her or her Lawes and whosoeuer doth otherwise hee hath bound with like Sentence of Curse And Bristow in his sixt Motiue fol. 31. They miserably forget themselues who feare not the Excommunications of Pius the fift in whom Christ himselfe hath spoken and excommunicated with as great power as S. Paul excommunicated and Christ hath done Miracles by him euen as S. Paul did Miracles And in his 40. Motiue he sayth When the Pope doth duly discharge vs from subiection and the Prince offender from Dominion he doth it with such griefe of heart as if a man should cut off from his bodie to saue the wholesome most principall but rotten part thereof And Sanders lib. 7. fol. 744. he calleth Felton an honorable Martyr for he was led with the loue and zeale of the Catholike Faith when hee saw that the desperate health of his Country could not be restored but by some most bitter medicine would not suffer the sentence of the Pope should be hidden from his Countrymen And there he calleth Doctor Story a noble Martyr saying When he was arraigned of high Treason for conspiring with certaine of Antwarpe against the Quéene attempting to change the schismaticall Religion which now raigneth in England vnto the Catholike Religion being brought vnto the Barre he onely pleaded vnto the Iurisdiction of the Court denying that the English Iudges had any power ouer him being no Subiect to the English Queene but rather to the King Catholike and hee expounds his meaning to be because hee very well knew that the Queene of England by the declaratorie Sentence of the Pope was for manifest Heresâ—e depriued from all Right of Kingdome and that therefore no Magistrate created by her or adhering vnto her could be acknowledged by him least himselfe also should be bound with the same Curse And further there were many Seminarie Priests which laboured by all persuasions that might be to iustifie the foresaid Excommunication of Pope Pius and to withdraw the Quéenes subiects hearts from their true obedience of whom manie of them were taken and committed vnto Prisons as follow Edmund Campion EDmund Campion was a chiefe champion for the pope he was committed vnto the Tower he would neither deny nor confesse the Quéenes supremacy nor iustiâ—â—e neither deny the power iustice of the popes excoÌ„munication nor commend nor discommend the doctrine of Sanders Bâ—istow as before but answered so cunningly that nothing could be made thereof He was after disputed withall touching all points of Religion by the Deame of Paules and the Deane of Windsor and diuers other diuines but because all their arguments and reason in this book before are moresuffâ— câ—ently handled many times I referre the Reader vnto the booke of the report thereof Thomas Forde Iohn Shert Robert Iohnson Priests THese were executed at Tyburne the 28. of May because they were sent as instruments for and in the behalfe of the Pope in the aforesaid disloyall trayâ—erous cause they were drawne vpon hurdles from the Tower vnto the place of execution when they were come beyond Saint Giles in the field there approched vnto the hurdle one of their fect a Priest as himselfe hath confessed who said vnto the prisoners O Gentlemen be ioyfull in the blond of Iesus Christ for this is the â—ay of your triumph and ioy and further he said vnto the prisoners I proâ—ounce a pardon vnto you yea I pronounce a full remission and pardon vnto your soules Wherevpon he was apprehenâ—â—d and thâ— Sheriffe asked him what he was he answered that he was the voice of a cryer in the wildernes and that hee was sent to prepare the Lords way whâ—revpon hâ— was carried to Newgate where he confessed himselfe a priest and that he had long so dissembled and that he would now doe so no more When they were brought vnto the place of execution Thomas Ford was first brought vp into the Cart He said he did acknowledge the Queenes Maiesties supremacie in all things temporall but as concerning Ecclesiasticall causes I deny her that onely belongeth vnto the Uicar of Christ the Pope Hee granted to nothing but shewed himselfe an impious and obstinate Traytor he refused to pray in the English tongue mumbling a few Latine prayers and desired those that were ex domo Dei to pray with him and so died Iohn Shert was brought from the â—urdle vnto the gallowes as Ford hanged there he held vp his hands vnto him and said O swéet Tom O happy Tom O blessed Tom Then Ford was cut downe and brought vnto the place where hee should be quartered Then looking downe from the Cart vnto the dead body hee knéeled down held vp his hands vnto it saying againe O blessed Tom O happy Tom thy swéet soule pray for me O deere Tom thy blessed soule pray for mee Then the Sheriffe had him aske the Quéene forgiuenes and he might receiue her princely mercy He answered what M. Sheriffe shall I saue this fraile vile carkasse and damne mine own soule No no I am a Catholick in that faith I was born in that faith I will die heare shal my bloud â—eale it Then said M. Sheriffe is this the fruits of your religion to knéele vnto the dead body of thy fellow desire his soule to pray for thee What can it profit or hinder thee pray to God hee will help thee he answered this is the true Catholick religion and whosoeuer is not of it is damned I desire his soâ—le to pray for mee The most glorious Uirgine Mary pray for me and all the holy company in heauen to pray for mee Then the people cryed away with the Traytor Then the Sheriffe said O Sherte forsake the whoore of Rome that wicked Antichrist with all his abhominable blasphemies and trâ—acheries and put thy whole confidence in Iesus Christ Then he said O Master Sherife you little remember the day when as I and you shall stand both at one Barre and I shall witnesse against you that you call that holy and blessed Uicar of Christ Whore of Rome then he said his prayers in Latine and the Cart was drawne away Robert Iohnson likewise would not aske the Quéen pardon affirmed the Pope to be the head of the Catholike Church and would not
which the Lord hath appointed him supreme head next vnder his Sonne Iesus Christ ouer all causes spirituall and temporall being that he maintaineth and defendeth the very same Doctrines and no other which Christ the Apostles and the Priâ—â—itiue Church taught as the Lord hath most wonderfully blessed and pâ—ospered them by the hands of Queen Elizabeth and his Maiestie this many yéeres so vndoubtedly his wings of most safe preseruation shall be still ouer this realme so long as no Idolatry is in Israel I meane maintained by the Lawes of the Realme For though there bee many Idolatrous Papists yet the Law is against them and though there bee many sinnes and wickednesses in England yet the Lawes of the Realme are most strict against them therefore the Realme is holy and righteous because the lawes bee holy and righteous and although there bee aboundance of wicked and abhominable people in this Realme yet there bee as many both holy and righteous men and women as euer were in them Therefore certainely the LORD will not destroy or plague this Realme for their sakes that bee wicked and prophane iâ— them but most surely still blesse and preserue them for their sakes that be righteous and holy therein as hetherto hee hath done wherefore vnto him bee all honour praise glory power and Dominion of all the inhabitants of this Realme and of all his Church world without end The last but not the least vse of these precedent Stories is therein diligently to mark the vnspeakeable cruelty tyranny and most subtill and wicked practises of Papists in many ages before Queen Mary but then it was at the heigth and then papists shewed their hearts truely without dissimulation and from them haue come all the treacherous practises against Queene Elizabeth and all the treacherous practises against our dread Soueraigne K. Iames onely Gowries treason excepted but they neuer deuised a more vngodly and inhumane tragedy most abhominable to God and odious in the iudgment of all men as their most diuellish practise to blow vp the Parliament house with Gunpowder to the destruction of his Maiestie his Queene and all his Royal issue with all the Nobilitie Bishops Iudges and chiefe of the Commons of this Realm with many thousands besides to the vtter vndoing of this most noble Kingdome Their cruelty in Spaine LIkewise of this their cruelty which no tongue is able to expresse sufficient testimony would appeare by the most cruell murders vpon Gods Saints committed from time to time in innumerable abundance both vpon our country men there own and others by the most diuelish and cruell inquisitoâ—s of the Spaniards but these serpents are become so wise and subtill that there is no certaine record to bée found in any writer of their doings therein since the booke of Martyrs but for all their subtilty they cannot hide it from Christ Iesus at the day of Iudgement The cruell practises of the Papists in France LIkewise there helâ—ish cruelty hath been declared in no place in the world so plainely as it hath been in France by the innumerable massacres and murders of Gods Saints that they haue there committed I will onely recite one massacre and the death of their two last Kings of France for by these and other such like crueltyes alreadie declared out of the Booke of Martyrs it is easily séene that they are the Brothers of Caine and Children of the Deuill In the yeare one thousand fiue hundred seauenty two the Duke of Guise by the aduice of the French King Charles the ninth came with a great company of Souldiours at midnight into the stréetes of Paris to massacre the Protestants the marke of the Executioners should be a hankerchéefe tyed about their Armes with a white Crosse in their Hats and the Pallace Bell ringing at the breake of the day should giue the Signall they beganne by knocking at the Admirals Gate who was a Protestant they stabbed him that came to open the Gate then they entred the Admirals Chamber one thrust him through the body and striketh him on the head another shot him thorough with a Pistoll another wounded him in the legs and euery one of them giue him a blow then the Duke of Guise commanded them to cast him to him out of the Widdow then the Duke spurned him with his foote and going into the stréete said Courage Companions we haue begunne happily let vs procéede to the rest the King commaunds it One carried the Admiralls head vnto the King and Queen his Mother who sent it imbalmed vnto the Pope and the Cardinall of Lorraine for assurance of the death of their Capitall enemy one cut off his head another his priuy members and three daies they dragged his carkase with all indignity thorough the streetes then they hanged it vppe by the feete They murdered all his Seruants and Gentlemen in his quarter with like fury they murdred all the other Protestants throughout the Citty and Subburbs of all ages conditions and Sexes Men Women and Children rich and poore There was heard in Paris a lamentable cry of people going vnto death a pittifull complaint of such as cryed for mercy the streete were strewed with carkases the pauements market place and riuer was died with blood they destroyed that day aboue ten thousand of innocent Protestants Henry the Third HENRIE the third King of France of the house of Valois a milde and tractable Prince courteous wittie eloquent and graue but of easie accesse deuout louing learning aduancing good wits a bountifull rewarder of men of merit a friend to peace and a Prince who deserued to be placed amongst the worthiest of that Monarchy was trayterously murdered by a deuillish Monke on this manner When as the Suisses and Lansquenets of Sansie and Pontoise were by force reduced to the Kings obedience The Duke of Longuevill gathered an Army of twenty thousand men and ioyned with them Whereupon the Kings forces being about fortie thousand men lodged about Paris and tooke Saint Cloud and made the Parisians ready to yeelde Whereat the Popish Monkes and Priests of that Citty were so much displeased that they vowed reuenge thereof And one Iames Clement a Monke an excrament of hell a Iacobine by profession of the age of twenty two or twenty thrée years old vowes to kill the Tyrant and to deliuer the Citty besiedged This damnable proiect he imparts to Doctour Bourgâ—ing Prior of his Couent to Father Commolet and other Iesuits and to the heads of the League to the cheefe of the sixeteene and to the forty Councellors at Paris All encourage him to doe this happy designe they promise him Abbaies and Byshopprickes and if hee chance to be made a Martyr no lesse then a place in heauen aboue the Apostles They caused the Preachers to perswade the people to patience seauen or eight daies for before the end of the weeke they should see a notable accident which should set all the people at libertie The Priests of Orleance Rouan and Amiens