causes are pleaded in iudgement before an Ecclesiasticall iudge Lay matters brought into the spirituall court for money either for rauishyng of virgins or for children vnlawfully borne out of wedlocke or for seruants wages or any other matters touching widowes the Ecclesiasticall iudges being called vpon by the superiors of the laitie which do contend they will neyther deferre that iudgement or by any meanes wil be intreated to remit them to theyr ordinarie iurisdiction The gaine that riseth to the Clergie by false sclaunders and rumours Scoulding matters brought to the spiritual court for gayne and lucre IT happeneth oftentimes that men and women through sinister and false reports sclanders are brought before the Official or Ecclesiasticall iudge as men gilty and shall not be declared innocēt before they haue cleared thēselues by an othe Whych purgation so made they are restored again to their former estimation And albeit that the damages costes ought to be repaide againe vnto such as be so falsly accused yet notwithstāding the innocents thēselues are forced to pay two gildernes and a quarter for their letters of absolution And this is the cause why that the Officials other Ecclesiastical iudges do so greedely folowe the action of such vnlawful false slanderous accusatiōs chalenging the hearinge thereof onelye vnto them selues which thyng no doubt redoundeth to the great and most singular hurt and detriment of all men For oftentimes it happeneth that women falling together in cōtention thorowe anger hatred or some other affection do speake euill or slaunder one an other and outrage somuch that the one oftentimes accuseth the other either of adoultry or witchery Which thinge being brought before the Officiall shee which throughe her anger had so slaundered the other is forced by an othe to excuse and purge her selfe that whatsoeuer iniurious or slanderous word she had spoken came not of any deliberate purpose or intent but through wrath and displeasure In like maner the other whiche is accused either of adoultrie or sorcerie is commaunded by an othe to declare her innocencie that shee is not guiltie of those factes so that it is euident vnto all men that in such cases whether they be guiltie or not guiltie they must sweare if they will keepe theyr good name and fame Whereby not onely the vnlawfull luker of gaine and money is soughte but also wilful periurie forced and the seculare power and iudges letted from the punishment therof so that contrary to all reason offences do remaine vnpunished Complaint against spirituall iudges taking Seculare causes from the Ciuile Magistrate ALl be it there be many causes so indifferent to both iurisdictions The wrasting of temporall causes vnto the spirituall court for gayne of money that they may be pleaded and punished as wel by the ciuill Magistrate as ecclesiasticall iudge notw tstanding it happeneth oftentimes that when as the ciuill Magistrates would exercise their office and iurisdiction in this behalfe they are forbidden and letted by the Ecclesiastical iudges vnder paine of excōmunication Which thing if it should long continue and be suffred the Ecclesiasticall iudges would shortly take away all maner of causes from the ciuil Magistrate his iurisdiction which is vntolerable and derogatorie both vnto the Emperors maiesty and other states of the Empire And albeit that by the common lawes manifest periuries adulteries withcrafts and such other like may indifferently be punished by Ecclesiastical or ciuil iudges for the time being so that preuention in this behalfe taketh place notw tstanding the Ecclesiasticall iudges goe about to vsurpe vnto themselues and theyr iurisdiction all suche maner of causes which burthen and greuance the ciuill iurisdiction and power ought not to suffer A complaint against Ecclesiastical iudges intermedling with cases of the secular Court but will not suffer their cases once to be touched of the other MOreouer the Ecclesiasticall iudges saye The clergy may deale in ciuill causes but the ciuill magistrate must not deale in theirs that in suche case it is lawful for them to take prophane matters in to their hands if the ciuil magistrate be found negligent in executing of iustice but contrariwise they will not suffer y t the like order shoulde be kept with them neither will they permit that in Ecclesiasticall matters any man may complaine vnto the ciuil Magistrate for lack of iustice and require the administration of iustice at his hand Albeit they do define all lawes generally common determine howe the Canon lawes may help and assist the ciuil and contrariwise the ciuil lawes the Canon Complaint against certaine misorders of the Cathedral Churches for vsing double punishment for one offence against the lawe FOrsomuch as it is forbidden both by gods law mans Certaine orders of Cathedrall churches reproueable y t no man shuld be beaten with 2. rods that is to say be punished with 2. kinds of torments worthely therefore do all wise men detest abhorre the odious statutes of diuers cathedral churches wherby murtherers both men women other as wel light as greuous offenders haue ben hetherto vexed tormented for hetherto it hath bene accustomed y t such as wer gilty of murther such other crimes which they cal cases reserued vnto the bishops after they had made their auricular confession were cōpelled to their great ignominy shame to do penaunce in the sight of all the people which penāce were not so much to be disalowed hearing some semblance of the institution of the primatiue churche if so be it these busie officials being contente therew t wold not extort more and greater summes of money then were right and lawful and so punish those offenders with double punishment wherew tall it is to be marueiled how many be offended and greeued Howe wicked a thynge thys is and howe farre it differeth from Christes instititution we will referre it to euery good conscience to iudge Complaint of Officials for mainteining vnlawfull vsuries Officials taking pensions of priestes for keeping concubines FUrthermore the Officials being allured thoroughe the greedy and vnsatiable desire of money do not only not forbid vnlawful vsuries and gaines of mony but also suffer and maintaine the same Moreouer they taking a yerely stipend and pension do suffer the Clergy and other religious persons vnlawfully to dwel with their concubines and harlots and to beget children by them Bothe whych things howe great pearil offence and detriment they doe bring bothe vnto body and soule euery man may plainely see so that it neede not to be rehearsed except he wil make himselfe as blinde as a mole Complaint of Officials permitting vnlawfull cohabitation with other when the husband or wife are long absent FUurthermore where it so happeneth as it doeth oftentymes that either the good manne or the good wife by meanes of warre or some other vowe hath taken in hande some long iourney and so tarieth longer then serueth the appetite of the other the Officiall
rehearsed Besides these two there was none els in all king Edwardes raigne Tho. Dobbe inprisoned and in prison dyed that dyed in any maner cause of religion but that one Thom. Dobbe who in the beginning of this kinges raigne was apprehended for speaking agaynst the idolatry of the masse and in the same prison died as in story here ensueth to be sene This Thomas Dobbe being a studeÌ„t and a maister of Arte in Cambridge was brought vp in the colledge called S. Iohns Colledge and felowe of the same where he increased in the studye of good letters among his equals very forward of nature and disposition simple and modest of zeale toward God ferueÌ„t pacient in iniuries Doues as Philosophers naturally do write haue no gall iniurious to no man of much like sort condition as in Doues which without all bitternes of gal are more apt to receiue iniury then to worke wrong to any At length this godly man intending with himselfe and addicting hys mynde to the Christian state of Matrimony resorted to a certayn mayden not farre of where he dwelt For the whiche cause he was greatly molested and wickedly abused by iij. of that Colledge whose names were Hutchinson Pindare and Tailer who with theyr malicious handlyng scornful dealing opprobries rebukes and coÌ„tumelies so much vexed the vertuous simplicity of y e man that they neuer left him till at length they weryed him out of the Colledge Who there hauing no rest nor quietnes by reasoÌ„ of the vnreasonable and viruleÌ„t handling of his aduersaries was compelled to seek some other place wherin to settle himself Up on the occasion wherof comming vp to LoÌ„don it chauÌ„ced him to passe through Paules Church wheras it happned that at the Southside of the Churche at the same tyme there was a Priest at Masse more busy then wel occupied being at the eleuation as he passed by The yong man repleat with godly zeale pitying the ignorance and idolatry of the people in honoring that so deuoutly which the priest lifted vp was not able to forbeare but opening his mouth turning to the people he exhorted them not to honor the visible bread as God which neither was God nor yet ordeined of God to be honored c. with such other wordes mo of christian information For which cause straight way he was apprehended by the Maior and after accused to the Bishop of CauÌ„terbury was committed to the CouÌ„ter theÌ„ in Bredstreete where he not long continued but fallyng into a sicknes how or wherupon I can not tell shortly vp on the same chauÌ„ged this mortall life Whose pardoÌ„ notw tstanding was obteined of the Lord Protector and shoulde haue bene brought him if he had coÌ„tinued And thus much concerning Thomas Dobbe and other Ouer and besides I finde that in the first yeare of the raygne of King Edward which was an 1547. there was one Iohn Hume seruaunt to Maister Lewnax of Wresell apprehended accused and sent vp to the Archbish. of CauÌ„terbury by the sayd M. Lewnax his Mayster Margaret Lewnax his mistres for these Articles 1 First for denying the Sacrament as it was then called of the aultar to be the reall flesh and bloud of Christ. 2 For saying that he would neuer vale his bonet vnto it to be burned therefore 3 For saying that if he shoulde heare Masse he shoulde be damned For this was he sent vp by his maister and mistres aforesayd with speciall letters vnto the Archbishop requiring him seuerally to be punished by the law for the same But because I finde no execution folowing thereupon I therfore passe ouer this story of him These thinges premissed when this vertuous godly yong prince endued as you haue heard with speciall graces from God was now peaceably stablished in his kingdome and had a couÌ„sell about him graue wise and zelous in Gods cause especially his vncle y e duke of Somerset he then most earnestly likewise desired as well the aduauncement of the true honor of almighty God and the planting of his sincere religion as also the vtter suppressioÌ„ and extirpation of all idolatry superstition hipocrisy and other enormities and abuses throughout his realmes and dominions therefore folowing as is afore expressed the good example of king Iosias he determined forthwith to enter into some reformation of Religion in the Church of England And forasmuch as at his first entry notwithstanding his fathers good beginning in abolishing the vsurped power of Antichrist he yet fouÌ„d most of his lawes greatly repugning agaynst this his zealous enterprise he therefore purposed by the aduise of his sayd wise honorable Counsell of his owne regall power and authority somewhat to prosecute his godly purpose vntill such time as by consent of the whole estate of parliameÌ„t he might establish a more free perfect and vniforme order therin Wherupon intending first a generall visitation ouer al the bishopricks within his realm therby as wel to vnderstaÌ„d Order 〈◊〉 by K. 〈◊〉 for 〈…〉 â—â—â—ligion as also to redresse the abuses in the same he chose out certayn wise learned discrete and worshipful personages to be his Commissioners in that behalfe and so deuiding them into seuerall companies Learneâ— preacheâ— appoynâ—â—â— by King Edwarâ— assigned vnto them seueral Diocesses to be visited appoynting likewise vnto euery company one or two godly learned preachers which at euery Session shoulde in theyr preaching both instruct the people in the true doctrine of the Gospell of Christ in all loue and obedience to the same and also earnestly dehorâ—e them from theyr olde superstition and wonted Idolatrye And that they might be more orderly directed in this their Commission there were deliuered vnto them certayn Iniunctions ecclesiasticall orders drawne out by the kings learned counsell the which they should both enquyre of also commaund in his maiesties behalfe to be thenceforth obserued of euery person to whoÌ„ they did seuerally appertayne within theyr sondry circuites In the which amongst other things it was first enioined that all Ecclesiasticall persons should themselues obserue and cause to be obserued of other Ecclesiaâ—â—â—â—call 〈◊〉 must 〈◊〉 against 〈◊〉 Popes 〈…〉 all such Statutes as were made for the abolishing of the Bishop of Romes vsurped power and establishing of the kings supreme authority and that they should euery one foure times in the yeare at the least in theyr publick sermons declare vnto y e people that the one being most arrogaÌ„tly vsurped against the word of God was now iustly taken away and the other according to y e very true meaning of the same worde was of most loyall duety onely to be obeyed of all his graces subiectes And agayne that euery the aforesayd ecclesiastical person hauing cure shoulde preach Sermonâ— quarterâ—â— be made or cause to be preached w t in theyr seueral cures one sermon euery quarter of y e yere In the which they should sincerely set forth the woorde of God exhort the people vnto
doubtes ambiguities hath and may arise As whether you by the tenour of the sayd Commission may proceed not onely at the denunciation but also of mere office And also whether ye may aswell determine as heare the sayd cause For further declaration whereof we doe now interpret and declare that our full minde and pleasure by the aduise aforesayd was by our CoÌ„mission and now is that you should proceede aâ—well by mere office as also by the way of denuÌ„ciatioÌ„ by either of them or any other wayes or meanes at your discretioÌ„s wherby the truth and merites of the cause may be most speedely and bâ—st knowne and that ye might and may aswell finally determine as heare the sayd matters in all your orders and doinges cutting away all vayne and superfluous delayes hauing respect to the onely trueth of the matter And this our declaration we send vnto you of our sure knowledge and meere motion by the aduise aforesayd supplying all default ceremony and poynt of the lawe which hath shall or maye arise of your doinges by reason of anye default of wordes in our sayde former Commission or any parte thereof any law statute or act to the contrary notwithstanding and therfore we will and commaund you to proceed in the sayde matters accordingly aswell to our foresayd Commission as thys our declaration and so faile ye not In witnesse whereof we haue made these our letters patentes At Hampton Court the xvij day of September ¶ The fourth Session agaynst Boner Byshop of London before the kinges Commissioners in the great Hall at Lambeth the eight of September AFter this declaration being sent downe and receyued from the Kyng the Byshop of London according to the Commissioners assignement the Monday before appeared agayne before them vpon Wednesday the xviij of September in the great Hall at Lambeth Where vnder his wonted Protestation The 4. â—â—pearing 〈…〉 â—oner â—â—â—â—ore the kings Commissioners first he declared that althoughe he had already sufficiently aunswered all thinges yet further to satisfy the terme assigned vnto him to shewe cause why he ought not to be declared pro confesso vpon the Articles theretofore ministred agaynst him and to the which he had not fully aunswered he had then a matter in writing to exhibite vnto them Boner 〈…〉 why brought â—ut to be declareâ— pro coÌ„fesso Causes alleaged of Boner why he ought not to obey the Commissioners assignation why he ought not so to be declared which he read there openly Wherin first vnder his accustomed vnreuerent termes of pretensed vniust vnlawfull processe and assignation he said he was not bound by the law for good reasonable causes to obey the same especially theyr assignation And first for that the same was onely pronounced by Syr Thomas Smith one of the pretensed Commissioners without the consent of his pretensed Colleagues or at the least he as a Commissioner did prescribe the Actuary what to write whiche he ought not to haue done because by law he ought not to haue intermedled therein for that his Colleagues did the first day begin to sit as Iudges agaynst him the Bishop without the presence of the sayde Syr Thomas Smith And secondly because his aunsweres aswell vnto the pretensed denounciation The secâ—nd cause as also vnto all the articles theretofore obiected agaynst him were as full and sufficient as the law required or at least wyse there was nothyng good in law apparant to the contrary and therfore he was not enforced by lawe farther to aunswere without farther allegation The third cause And because also that all theyr procedings therto were so extraordinarily done that they had confounded all maner of lawfull processe sometimes proceding ad denuncianduÌ„ sometimes ex officio mero The Popes 〈◊〉 and sometimes ex officio mixto contrary vnto the kinges Ecclesiasticall lawes and coÌ„trary also vnto theyr Commission in that behalfe And likewise because diuers of the Articles pretensed were superfluous and impertineÌ„t not reuealing though they were proued The fourth cause conteyning in them vntruth and falsity some obscure and vncertaine some depending vpon other articles either denyed or at the least qualified some captious and deceitfull to bring the aunswere into a snare and some also beyng Articles of the lawe in such sort as by the Ecclesiasticall lawes of this Realme the kinges subiectes were not bound to make aunswere thereunto The Popes lawe And lastly because that Syr Thomas Smith Secretary to the kinges Maiesty The fifte cause when that the Byshop was last with the Counsell in the Counsell Chamber at White Hall after the departure of the Lorde Protectour and the rest of the counsell did himselfe alone without any other write certayne Articles or IniuÌ„ctions amongest the whiche was that of the kinges authority in his minority and afterward did copy the same at a table within the sayd couÌ„sell Chamber and so himselfe did deliuer them vnto hym By reason whereof that is not true which in the CoÌ„mission denunciation and Articles was deduced and obiected agaynst him The intoleâ—â—ble 〈…〉 Boner 〈…〉 When these fonde and friuolous obiections were thus read the archbishop seing his inordinate and vntollerable contempt towardes them charged him very sharply saying My Lord of LondoÌ„ if I had sitteÌ„ here onely as Archbishop of Canterbury it had bene your part to haue vsed your selfe more lowly obediently reuerently towardes me then ye haue but seing that I with my Colleagues sit here now as Delegates from the kinges Maiesty I must tell you plaine you haue behaued your selfe to to much inordinately For at euery time that we haue sitteÌ„ in coÌ„mission you haue vsed such vnseemely fashions without all reuerence and obedience geuing tauÌ„tes and checkes aswell vnto vs with diuers of the seruants and Chaplaynes as also vnto certayn of the auncientest that be here The wordes of the Archbishop to Boner calling theÌ„ fooles and Dawes with such like as that you haue geuen to the multitude an intolerable exaÌ„ple of disobedieÌ„ce And I ensure you my Lord there is you and one other Bishop whoÌ„ I could name that haue vsed your selues so conteÌ„ptuously disobediently as the like I think hath not before bene heard of or sene whereby ye haue done much harme At which wordes Boners scorneful aunswere to the Archbishop the grosse Byshop a Beast a man might iustly terme him sayd scornefully to the Archbishop you shew your selfe to be a meete Iudge The Archbishop then proceeding â—ayde to his charge how vndiscreetly the last day in the Chappell he had called all the the people Woodcockes The Archbyshop Whereunto he aunswered that the last Session William Latimer one of the denouncers beyng there present Boner had practised with the audience that when he lifted vp his hand to them they shoulde and did as it were by a token geuen them say as he sayd and doe as he did as one tyme vpon the lifting vp of
conuented and compelled to make aunswer against his will I therefore Edmond Bishop of London hauing perceiued and felt by all the sayings proceedings and doyngs of you sir Thomas Smith Knight one of the two principall Secretaries to the kings Maiestie in this matter attempted and mooued agaynst me that ye haue bene and yet continually are a notorious and manifest enemy of me the sayd Edmond and much offended that I should in any wyse alledge and say or vse any such things for my most defence as the law geueth me licence and libertie to do yea hearyng most fauourably and effectually my denouncers and enemies with both eares in any thyng that they shall alledge purpose attempt or do agaynst me though their persons in lawe are not in any wyse to be heard or admitted ne yet their sayinges true and not hearing me so much as with one eare in my lawfull saiengs and doinges in this behalfe but contrarywise openyng your mouth at large ye haue sundry tymes against good wisedome and reason outraged in wordes and deedes against me the sayd Edmond saying among other wordes that I did as theeues murtherers and traytors are woont to doe beyng my selfe as ye vntruly did say inward in deed culpable and yet outward otherwyse vnable to defend the matter against me but onely by takyng exceptions and making friuolous allegations agaynst my Iudges and Commissioners and that I haue bene and am as sturdye wilfull and disobedient as may be in your iudgement and opinion maintaining and vpholding the rebels and their opinions and that I shall aunswer by mouth or els smart and doe worse or els ye will send me to the Tower there to sit and be ioyned with Kette and Humfrey Arundell the Rebels ouer and besides diuers other threatnings and comminatorie wordes by you pronounced and vttered vnseemely and far vnmeet to proceed out of the mouth of you that are in such rowme and place as ye be in And moreouer increasing your malice euil will and grudge borne agaynst me ye haue amongest other thynges vntruly surmised written alledged and sayd that a certayne booke of Articles and Iniunctions by the Lord Protectours Grace in the full counsayle after a certayne prescribed fashion and fourme in the denunciation commission and Articles which de facto were induced brought in and obiected agaynst me Here Boner most proudly shametâ— not to belye the kinges Secretary and one of his Maiesties CouÌ„saile charging him with alteâ—ing adding vnto the Counsailes Iniunctions was deliuered vnto me and moreouer of an euill will and vngodly intent purpose contrary to the truth ye haue withdrawen added altered and qualified diuers thynges in the same otherwyse then they were spoken or done and yet ye are not ashamed to alleadge write and say that all is true and one consonant and agreeable in all poyntes with the other where in deede it is not so And ye haue further de facto agaynst the law and agaynst the Commission to you directed and agaynst my iust and lawfull allegations saiengs proceeded vnlawfully vniustly agaynst me atteÌ„pting many things agaynst me vnlawfully vniustly as appeareth ni the acts of this matter to the which I do referre me so far forth as they make for me Anno 1550. and be expedient by me and for me to bee alledged and referred vnto your selfe also vnlawfully and vniustly de facto with your Colleagues the which without you had begun the sayd matters proceedyng where by the law ye so ought not to haue done in deede but abstained there from as heretofore sondry tymes I haue alleaged appearyng in the actes of this Court doe vpon these iust and reasonable causes accordyng to the order of the Kings Maiesties Ecclesiasticall lawes refuse The popes lawes termed by the name of the kinges Ecclesiasticall lawes decline and recuse you the sayd Sir Thomas Smith as an vncompetent vnmeete and suspect Iudge agaynst me in this behalfe and decline your pretensed iurisdiction in this matter for causes aforesayd desiring nothyng but Iustice and offeryng my selfe prompt and ready to prooue them so farre as I am bound and accordyng to the order of the Kings Maiesties Ecclesiasticall lawes of this Realme in this behalfe as tyme place and otherwyse shall require This recusation ended the Secretary told him plaine that that notwithstandyng he would proceed in his Commission and would be still his Iudge The reply of Secretary Smith to Boners allegations vntill he were otherwise inhibited and sayd vnto him farther My Lord where as you say in your recusation that I sayd that you did like thieues murtherers and traytors in deed I sayd it and may and will so say agayne since we perceiue it by your doings Whereunto the Bishop in a great and stoute rage replied Boner saying Well sir because you sit here by vertue of the Kings Commission and for that ye be Secretary to hys maiestie and also one of his highnes counsail I must and do honour and reuerence you but as you be but sir Thomas Smith say as ye haue said that I do lyke theeues murtherers Boner in a pelting chafe agaynst Syr Tho. Smyth The Archb. and traytors I say ye lye vpon me in that case I defie you and doe what ye can to me I feare you not and therfore quod facis fac citius Whereat the Archbishop with the other Commissioners said vnto him that for such his vnreuerent behauior he was worthy imprisonment Boner Then the Bishop in more mad fury then before sayd againe vnto them A Gods name ye may do de facto send me whether you will and I must obey you and so wil except ye send me to the deuill for thether I will not go * I pray God ye gâ—e not for your selfe for you Three things I haue to wit a small portioÌ„ of goods a poore carcase and myne owne soule the two first ye may take though vniustly to you but as for my soule ye get not quia anima mea in manibus meis semper Secretary Smyth Well sayd then the Secretary ye shal know that there is a kyng Yea Sir saith the Bishop but that is not you neither I am sure Boner will you take it vpon you No Sir sayd agayne the Secretary but we will make you know who it is Secretary Smyth and with that the Commissioners commanded the bishop and all the rest to depart the chamber vntill they called for him agayne Now in the meane whyle that the Commissioners were in consultation the Bishop with Gilbert Bourne his chapleine Rob. Warnington his Commissary Rob. Iohnson his Register were tarying in a quadrant voyde place before the dore of the same chamber Where the Bishop leanyng on a cupboord and seyng his Chapleins very sad Boners talke to his Chapleins in the quadrant place before the chamber of presence at Lambeth sayd vnto them in effect as followeth Syrs what meane you Why
the sayd Archbishop and hys Colleagues and dyd except agaynst their iurisdiction as suspect and they therby vnmeete persons to proceed against hym and therefore accordyng to his former appeale he intended to submit himselfe vnder the tuition protection defence of the Kings Maiestie for whose honour and reuerence sake he sayd they ought not to proceed any further against hym Boner still sticketh to his former protestatioÌ„s prouocations but quietly suffer hym to vse the benefite of all his recusations prouocations and other lawfull remedies before alledged wyth other superfluous words at large to be read and seen as followeth The second recusation made by Edmund Boner Bishop of London IN the name of God Amen For as much as both naturall reason and all good pollicies of lawes especially of this Realme of England do admit and suffer hym that is conuented before an vncompetent and suspect Iudge to refuse hym and to decline hys iurisdiction in as much as the lawe and reason on the one side willeth processe to run vprightly and iustly and that in corruption and malice and the other side earnestly laboureth to the contrary and needeth therefore to bee brideled And for because ye my Lord of Caunterbury with your Colleagues in this behalfe deputed as ye say Commissioners agaynst me neither haue obserued your sayde Commission neyther yet proceeded hetherto agaynst me after any laudable lawful or any good fashion of iudgement but contrarywise contrary to your Commission and agaynst the law good reason and order haue at sundry tymes and in sundry actes attempted and done many things agaynst me vnlawfully vnseemly and vniustly and suffer the like to be attempted and done by other not reformyng and amendyng the same as appeareth in diuers and sondry thinges remayning in your actes And moreouer because you my sayd Lord wyth your sayd Colleagues both haue in myne absence beyng let with iust causes of impediment which accordyng to the lawes of this realme I haue fully alledged Anno 1550. and very sufficiently and iustly prooued accordyng to the order of the Kinges Ecclesiasticall lawes iniuriously and much to the hinderaunce of my name person tytle dignitie and state and also otherwyse specially in my presence agaynst all lawes good order and reason without good cause or grouÌ„d attempted and done many thinges against me especially touching myne imprisonment sending me to strait ward and yet commaunding me to make answer as appeareth in your vnlawfull actes I for these causes and also for that ye my sayde Lorde and your sayde Colleagues proceedyng with Syr Thomas Smith Knight whom vpon iust and lawfull causes I haue refused recused and declined and fauoured ye haue maintayned supported and borne in hys vnlawfull and euill doings do also refuse recuse and declyne you my sayd Lorde wyth the rest of your sayde Colleagues agreeyng and ioynyng wyth you and doe accept agaynst your proceedyngs doynges and iurisdiction as suspect and thereby vnmeete personnes to proceede herein agaynst me And further do alledge that hauyng bene prouoked to the Kings most excellent Maiestie as appeareth by the tenor of my prouocation remainyng in your actes wherein I doe protest that I intend to adheare and cleaue vnto submitting my selfe vnto the tuition protection and defence of hys sayd Maiestie in this behalfe ye in any wyse ought not if ye regard the person and authoritie of hys graces royall power as ye ought to doe to proceede here in agaynst me especially for the honour and reuerence ye ought to haue vnto hys Maiestie in this behalfe And because it appeareth that ye doe not duely and circumspectly consider the same as ye ought to do but more and more do grieue me that not considered I both here to all purposes repeat my former recusation prouocation and all other remedies that heretofore I haue vsed and mentioned in your sayd actes And also do by these presentes refuse recuse and decline you my sayd Lord and your sayd Colleagues and your iurisdiction vpon causes aforesayd offering my selfe prompt and ready to prooue all the same afore an arbiter and arbitors accordyng to the tenure and forme of the law herein to be chosen requiryng you all for that honour and reuerence ye ought to beare to our sayd soueraigne Lorde and his lawes allowed and approoued in this behalfe that ye doe not attempt or doe ne yet suffer to be attempted or done any thyngs in any wyse against me or vnto my preiudice but suffer me to vse and enioy the benefit of my said former and this recusation prouocation allegation and other lawfull remedies mentioned in your sayd acts And in case ye doe de facto where ye ought not to deiure attempt or suffer any thynges to be attempted or done agaynst me in any wyse herein I protest herewith and hereby of my great griefe and hurt in that behalfe that not onely I doe intend to appeale from you but also accordyng to the kynges Ecclesiasticall lawes to accuse and complayne vpon you as iustly and truly I both may and ought to doe Notwithstandyng these recusations and former appellation the Archbishop with the rest tolde hym playne that they would be styll hys Iudges and proceed agaynst hym accordyng to the Kings Commission vntil they dyd receiue a Supersedeas which if he did obtayne they would gladly obey Then the Bish. seyng that they would still proceede agaynst hym An other appellation of Boner to the king did there likewise intimate an other appellation vnto the Kings Maiestie expressing therein in effect no other matter but such as is already alleaged in the two former recusations and appeale sauyng that he requireth that letters dimissories or appellatories might be geuen him accordyng to law Boner standing vpon his recusations and appellations denyeth to make answer and that for his better safegarde he did submit himselfe vnder the protection of the kyng The Commissioners for all this stucke stil vnto theyr Commission and would not in any case deferre but vrged him straitly to make a more full aunswer to his Articles then he had done To whom the Bishop sayd that he would stand vnto his recusations and appellations before made and would not make other aunswer Then the Delegates demaunded of him what cause he had to alledge why he ought not to be declared pro confesso vpon the Articles wherunto he had not fully answered the B. still answering as before that he would adhere vnto his appellation and recusation Wherupon the Archb. with consent of the rest seeyng his pertinacie pronounced hym Contumax Boner declared Câ—â—â—tumaâ— pro conâ—eâ—â—so that 〈◊〉 gilty and in payne thereof declared him pro confesso vpoÌ„ all the articles which he had not aunswered This done Maister Secretary Smith shewed foorth a Letter which the Byshoppe of London had before that tyme sente vnto the Lorde Mayor and the Aldermen of the Citie of London the tenour whereof ensueth as followeth ¶ To the ryght honourable and my very good
of August an 1511. and being at that time brought before D. Smith B. of Lincolne was by him examined vpon dyuers and sundry articles the effect wherof are these 1. First that he had spoken against auricular confession and denyed the corporall presence of Christes body in the sacrament of the altar 2. Item that he beleued that al holy men of his sect were onely priestes 3. Item that he had affirmed that the father of heauen was the altar and the second person the sacrament The articles of Thomas Man that vppon the Ascension day the sacrament ascended vnto the altar and there abideth still 4. Item that he beleued not aright in the sacrament of extreme vnction 5. Item that he had called certaine priestes meanely arrayed pyld knaues 6. Item that he had sayd that pulpits were priestes lying stooles 7. Item that he had beleued that images ought not to be worshipped and that he neyther beleeued in the Crucifixe nor yet would worship it 8. Item that he had affirmed that he heard say the word of God and God to be al one and that he worthily receiueth the word of God receiueth God 9. Item that he had sayd that the popish Churche was not the church of God but a sinagogue and that holy men of his sect where the true church of God For these and suche like matters was he a long time emprisoned and at last through frailtie and feare of death was contented to abiure yeld himselfe vnto the iudgement of the Romish Church and thereupon was enioyned not only to make hys open recantation but also from thencefâ—rth to remayne as prisoner within the monastery of Osney besides Oxford Thomas Man sent to the monastery of Osney and so to beare a fagot before the first crosse at the next generall Procession within the Uniuersitie Howbeit not long after the Bishop hauing neede of the poore mans helpe in hys housholde busines tooke him out of the said Monastery and placed him with in his owne house vntill his busines was ended and then hys turne once serued hee appoynted D. Wilcockes his vicar generall that in hys next iudicial Session within the sayd Priorie of Frideswide at Oxforde Thomas Man sent to the monastery of Frideswyde he shoulde assigne him to remayne within the sayd Priorie and not to depart thence without licence of the Prior for the tyme being vpon payne oâ— relapse and vpon lyke payne he also enioyned him to weare the signe of a Fagot vnder his vppermost garment vntill he were dispensed withall for the same Al which notwithstanding he beyng belike both sory for hys offence in denying the trueth and also weary of his seruile and prisonlike bondage bethought hymself how he might best escape their cruell handes and therefore after a while seyng good opportunitie offered him Thomas Man fledde out of the monastery he fled the dioces and iurisdiction of Lincolne and secking abroad in other couÌ„tryes for worke thereby to susteine his poore lyfe he most commonly abode sometime in Essexe sometime in Suffolke where also he associated and ioyned himselfe vnto such godly professors of Christes Gospel as he there could heare of But within fewe yeares after such is the cruell rage of Sathan and hys wicked members whiche neuer suffer the godly long to continue vntroubled he was againe accursed of relapse Thomas Man the second time apprehended by the inquest of the inquisition of London and therupon was apprehended brought vnto Rich. Fitziames then Bish. of Lond. the 9. day of February an 1518. he was examined by D. Hed the Bishops vicar generall within his pallace at Lond. where the sayde Hed iudicially assisted with diuers of his complices declared first vnto man that for as much as he was since hys first abiuring againe detected and accused by certayne credible and honest persons of the same heresies which he had once before recanted and further contrary to the order of penaunce enioyned hym by the late Byshop of Lincolne he had departed the Priorie of Sainct Frideswide and the Dioces of Lincolne without leaue The cause of hys martyrdome eyther of the Byshop or Prior and was now also found within y e dioces of LoÌ„don and that without hys badge assigned hym by y e sayde bishops vicar generall he therefore as Chauncellour and vicar generall vnto the bish of Lond. deputed for that purpose did then meane to proceede agaynst hym as a relapse by order of Ecclesiasticall lawes in that behalfe prouided Wherfore he appoynted hym to appeare agayne in the coÌ„sistory of Pauls the 12. day of February next after there to answere vnto such articles as then should be propounded agaynst him At which day and place the Chauncellor first reciting the causes before mentioned why he did then proceede against him obiected vnto him these articles folowing Articles againe obiected against Thomas Man 1. First that he was of the Dioces of London 2. IteÌ„ that he was a Christen man professed Christes Fayth and the determinatioÌ„s of holy Church concernyng the seuen Sacramentes and other articles of the Catholicke fayth 3. Item that it was not lawfull for any man especially a lay man erroneously and obstinatly to hold teach or defend any opinion contrary vnto the determinations of the sayd church and that the person so doing is an hereticke 4. Item that within one of the 12. monthes of the yeare of our Lord. 1511. he had bene detected before the Bishop of Lincolne that then was Against the reall presence in the Sacrament of diuers poyntes of heresie as that he had affirmed that the very body and bloud of christ was not in the sacrament of the altar but materiall bread and wine and that he had receiued it at Easter as holye bread and likewise had affirmed that the crucifixe other Images in the Church were not to be worshipped and also that confession made vnto a priest was of none effect with diuers other like opinions and heresies 5. Item that for these and such like poyntes of heresie he had bene abiured in S. Mary church at Oxford before D. Wilcockes Chauncellour vnto the sayde Byshop of Lincolne in the month of October in the yeare last abouesayd and there dyd renounce them and all other promising no more to fal into the like 6. Item that there also he had taken a solemne oth to do such pennaunce as should be enioyned him by the authoritie of the sayd Bishop 7. Item that then he was enioyned to abide within the monastery of Osney by Oxforde and also there to beare a fagot before the first Crosse in the generall Procession 8. Item that after a certayn tyme that he had bene within the monastery of Osney the Byshop of Lincolne for certayne causes tooke him into his owne house and seruice respiting his pennaunce for a time 9. Item that afterwardes which was the 9. day of October anno 1512. the sayd Bishops Chauncellour iudicially sitting
honour which notoriously will be disteined The 3. cause if they which most excell in nobility and authority among the Germaines shall not bend all theyr power to expell these heresyes First for that they shall appeare to degenerate from theyr progenitors who being present at the condemnatioÌ„ of Iohn Hus of other heretickes are sayd some of theÌ„ with theyr owne hands to haue led Iohn Hus to the fire Secondly for that they or the greater part of theÌ„ approuing with theyr authority * This edict of the Emperor aboue touched pag. 827. was deuised and set out not knowing to diuers of the Princes there And semeth chiefly to be brought about by the Pope and his flatterers about him Looke more hereof in the story of Sledan Lib. 3. the emperiall edict set forth of late in coÌ„demnatioÌ„ of M. Luther now except they shall folow the execution of y e same shall be noted inconstant or may be thought to fauor the same seing it is manifest that they may easily exterminate him if they were disposed The fourth cause is the iniury wrought by Luther to them their parentes The 4. cause and progenitors for as much as their fathers progenitors and themselues also haue alwayes holden the same fayth which the catholick church of Rome hath appoynted contrary to which fayth Luther with his sectaryes now doeth holde saying that many thinges are not to be beleued which theyr foresaid aunceters haue holden to be of fayth it is manifest therfore that they be condeÌ„ned of Luther for infidels and hereticks and so consequeÌ„tly by Luthers doctrine all theyr foreelders progenitors which haue deceased in this our fayth be in hell for errour in fayth importeth damnation The fift cause to moue them is that they should wel aduise consider the end The 5. reason or cause whereunto all these Lutherians do teÌ„d * The doctrine of Luther tendeth against the vsurped power of the Sea of Rome Ergo the doctrine of Luther dissolueth all obedience due to Magistrates This consequent is to be denied for the power of Magistrates is of God and he that resisteth them resisteth God So is not the vsurped power of the Pope which is that vnder the shadow of Euangelicall liberty they may abolish all superiority and power For although at the first beginning they pretended onely to adnul and represse our power ecclesiasticall as being falsely tyrannously vsurped agaynst the Gospell yet for as much as liberty is all theyr foundation and pretence by the which liberty the seculer power and magistrates can not binde men by any commaundementes be they neuer so iust or so reasonable * If the Pope doe say that no preceptes of Magistrates do oblige vnder paine of mortall sinne he sayth not true if hee say that Luther so teacheth he belyeth Luther who teacheth al men to be subiects vnto Magistrates no man more to obey theÌ„ vnder paine of mortall sinne it is manifest that theyr scope is to enfeeble and infringe as much or more the seculer state also although couertly they pretend to salue it to the end that when the seculer Princes shall beleue this theyr working not to be directed against them but onely agaynst the vsurped domination of the church and churchmeÌ„ then the laity which commonly hath bene alwayes agaynst men of the Church holding with them shall suffer the Church-men to be deuoured Which done no doubt but * Who so coÌ„sidereth the doctrine of Luther De Libertate Christiana shal finde this to be a false slaunder For how is it like that he meaneth any rebellion who describing a Christian calleth him a seruant and an vnderling to all men they will afterward practise the like vpon the secular Princes and potestates which now they attempt agaynst our ecclesiasticall iurisdiction The sixte cause to mooue and perswade them agaynst Luther is this for them to consider the fruites which folow of that sect The 6. cause as slaunders offences disturbaunce robberyes murders * The cause why the Pope doth charge the Lutherians with sedition dyd ryse vpon this because one Franciscus Sickyngus a valiant man and a great fauourer of Luther dyd warre agaynste the Archbyshop of Triers for 〈◊〉 two certain persons froÌ„ 〈◊〉 which should haue 〈◊〉 and by his meanes did not seditions dissentions which this sect hath and dayly doth styrre vp through whole Germany Also blasphemyes * As for sclaunderous words 〈◊〉 tauntes with what face 〈◊〉 Pope charge Luther being 〈◊〉 so impudent and bytter as in 〈◊〉 his present letter is manifest to 〈◊〉 seene wherein he sheweth himâ—â—â—â— in his own colours what he is slaunderous wordes scoffing iestes and bitter tauntes whiche are euer in theyr mouthes Agaynst which vnles that they shall finde a present remedy it is to be feared least the desolation of Gods wrath will fall vpon Germany being so diuided or rather vpoÌ„ the Princes of Germany who hauing the sword geuen of God into theyr hands for the suppression of malefactors suffer such enormities amongst theyr subiectes Ier. 48. Cursed is he sayth the Prophet which doth the worke of the Lorde negligently and holdeth backe his sworde from the bloud of wicked doers The seuenth reason is The 7. cause or reason that the princes should consider how Luther vseth the same way of seducing the people of Christ as hath the venimous vyper * If the doings properties of Mahumet be rightly considered 〈◊〉 should be found so aptly to resemâ—lâ— hym as the pope him self He decâ—â—neth from the word of God seâ—teth vp an other lawe so doeth 〈◊〉 Pope Hee killeth and sleyeth 〈◊〉 contrary part so doth the Pope He holdeth Saluation by workes of 〈◊〉 law so doth the Pope And if Mahumet giue liberty of flesh so 〈◊〉 not Luther but the Pope both â—â—keth it and also dispenseth with 〈◊〉 same Mahumet would not haue 〈◊〉 Religion reasoned vpon no 〈◊〉 will the Pope Briefly as the 〈◊〉 Mahumet is deuided into many suâ—dry sorts of Religion and of Religâ—ous meÌ„ so hath the sect of the pope hys Friers Monks Nunnes Hermâ—â— and other swarmes of an infinite varietie Mahumet practised in deceiuing so many thousands of soules in permitting to them the libertye of those thinges which flesh desireth and afterward in exempting them from such thinges as be more sharp in the law but that Luther a litle more temperately handleth the matter whereby he may deceiue more effectually For Mahumet geueth licence to haue many wiues and to diuorce and mary other at their pleasure This Luther to drawe vnto him the fauor of nunnes monks and priests such as be lasciuious in flesh preacheth that vowes of perpetuall continencye be vnlawfull much lesse to be obligatory and therfore permitteth vnto theÌ„ that they may mary forgetting by the way what the Apostle writeth of youÌ„g widowes saying 1. Tim. 5. That when they waxe wanton agaynst Christ then will they marrye hauing
his offence in such like maner as other malefactours are with the punishment apoynted by the common lawes of the Empire which thing without doubt wil please the true ministers of the church such as are honest and learned that they will not thincke their power and authoritie thereby in any case diminished By this meanes it shall be brought to passe that suche as are of the Clergie onely by name and otherwise naughty wicked men through the obedience due vnto their magistrates shal be compelled to liue more honestly and al sedition and priuie hatred betwene them and the laitie shall be put away and finally thereby the laitie shall be the more mooued and stirred to loue and reuerence such of the Clergie as be of a sounde life ¶ Complaint of excommunication abused ITem at Rome and in other places many Christiās are excōmunicate by the Archbyshops Byshops or by their Ecclesiastical iudges for prophane causes through the desire and couetousnes of money lucre Excōmunication abused in the church of Rome The cōsciences of men which are weake in fayth thereby are burthened and brought vnto desperation and finally for money luker a matter of no importaūce is made to tend to the destruction both of body soule contrary both to the law of God and mā for somuch as no mā ought to be excommunicate but onely for heresie or for some haynous fact perpetrate nor to be counted as separate frō the Christian Catholicke Church as the Scriptures do witnes Therfore the princes nobles states layty of the Sacred Empire desire require the Popes holynes that as a faythful Christian louyng father he will remoue the sayd burthen of excommunication vsed both in the sea of Rome also in the seas of all other Archbyshops and Ecclesiasticall Iudges and finally decree that no man shall hereafter be excommunicate but onely for a manifest conuict crime of heresie For it is to wicked a thyng that faythfull Christians for euery light offence touchyng any temporall goodes or gayne or for any other worldly matter but onely for obstinacie of heresie or some great enormitie should be excluded from almighty God and the Catholicke congregation ¶ The Churche burdened with number of holy dayes MOreouer the common people are not a litle oppressed with the great nūber of holy dayes for that there are now so many holy dayes that the husbādmē haue scarcely tyme to gather y e frutes of y e earth which they haue brought forth with so great labour trauayle The nūber of holydaies to be diminished beyng often in daūger of hayle rayne and other stormes which fruites notwithstandyng if they were not letted with so many holy daies they would gather bring home without any losse Besides that vpon those holy daies innumerable offences are committed done rather then God honoured or worshipped Which thing is so manifest that it nedeth no witnes For that cause the estates of the sacred Empire thinke it best most profitable for the Christian common wealth that this great nūber of holy dayes should be diminished whych ought rather to be celebrate in spirite veritie then wyth the externall worship and be better kept with abstinence from sinne Suspending and halowing of Churchyardes gainfull to the Pope and chargeable to the people FUrthermore if it happē that 2. or more do fight without any weapon in a Churchyard onely with their fists Hallowing of Churchyardes abused for money or by the heare that there be neuer so litle bloud shed by by y e clergy haue recourse to enterdiment doe not suffer any more Christen burials there to be done before that all the citizens with great pomp expenses do cause it to be consecrated halowed againe with no lesse charge then when at the first of a prophane place it was halowed for burial all which things do redound to the charges costes of the laity And though the churches or chapels be neuer so litle which are so hallowed yet the suffraganes do burden and oppresse the simple poore housholdes be they neuer so bare or nedy with superfluous expenses and require moreouer gifts of the people which is not for theyr ease to geue Also the suffragans haue inuēted that no other but only themselues may baptise belles for the lay people Baptising of Belles Wherby the simple people vpō the affirmation of the suffragans do beleue that such belles so baptised wil driue away euill spirits and tempests wherupon a great number of godfathers are appoynted especially such as are riche which at the time of the baptising holding the rope wherwithal the bel is tied the suffragan speaking before them as is accustomed in the baptising of young children they altogether do answere Bells weare coates A question whether these gossips which christen Belles may marry togeather by the Canon law geue the name to the bell The bell hauing a new garment put vpon it as is accustomed to be don vnto the Christians after this they go vnto sumptuous bākets wherunto also the gossips are biddē that therby they might geue the * Spoyling of the people by baptising of Belles greater reward and the suffraganes with their chaplaines and other ministers are sumptuously fed Yet doth not this suffise but that the suffragane also muste haue a rewarde which they doe call a small gifte or present whereby it happeneth oftentimes that euen in small villages a 100. florens are consumed and spent in such christnings which is not onely superstitious but also contrary vnto Christian religiō a seducing of the simple people and mere extortion Notwithstanding the Bishops for to enriche their Suffraganes doe suffer these things and other farre worse wherefore such wicked and vnlawfull things ought to be abolished Complaint against Officials and other Ecclesiasticall iudges THe Officials also of Archbishops for the most part are vnlearned vnable men Against Officials besides that men of euil conditions taking thought for nothing but onely for money Also howe corruptly they liue and continue in notorious crimes transgressions it is daily sene Wherby the laity whom they ought to correct and punish for their offences instruct in Christian godlinesse are not in any poynt by them amēded but rather by them encouraged and confirmed in their offences Besides this the laitie are miserably robbed spoiled of their goodes by these light vile officials In whose conscience there is no sparke of christian pity and godlines but only a wicked desire couetousnesse Which thing the archbishops and bishops if they were in dede such as they are called that is to say the pastours and shepheards of Christ without doubt they would no lōger suffer or commit Christes flocke to such wicked and offensiue pastors to be fed and nourished Howe the Ecclesiasticall iudges do annexe certaine special causes being lay matters vnto their owne iurisdiction and will by no meanes release the same WHensoeuer any
was taken prisoner by the Cardinall of Loraines seruants by whome he was caryed from Gorze to the Castell of Nommeny Doctor Castellane carriâ—d to the Castell of Nommenye The zelous affection of the CitezeÌ„s of Metz toward their preacher wherupon the citizens of Merz tooke no little displeasure and greeuance who being greeuously offended to haue their preacher so to be apprehended and imprisoned within short space after tooke certaine of the Cardinalles subiectes and kept them prisoners so long vntill the Abbot of S. Antonies in Uiennois called Theodore de Chaumont vicar generall as wel in causes spirituall as teÌ„porall through the iurisdiction both of the Cardinall and Bishopricke of Metz Tollouse and Uerdune being furnished with a letter commission from the See of Rome came to the saide towne of Metz and after diuers declarations made to the Prouost and the other Iustices and Counsellers of the Citie he so wrought and brought to passe that immediately the sayde subiectes of the Cardinall were set at libertie But Iohn Castellane was kept still prisoner in the Castell of Nommeny Whosoeuer escape the Christians are sure to suffer and was most cruelly handled from the time of the fourth day of May vntill the twelfth day of Ianuary during all which time he perseuered constant in y e doctrine of the sonne of God Wherupon he was carried from Nommeny Doctor Castellane constant in his doctrine to the towne and Castell of Uike alwaies perseuering constantly in the profession of the same doctrine so that they did proceed vnto the sentence of his degradation that he might be deliuered ouer vnto the secular power according to the custome and manner And for so much as the fourme and manner of the sentence and processe of disgrading is notable and hath bene reported vnto vs word for word we haue thought good heere to annexe the same to declare the horrible blasphemies ioined with grosse and brutish subtiltie in those high misteries which the enemies of the truth do vse in their processe against the children of God whereby euery man euen the most ignoraunt may euidently perceaue the horrible blindnes that these vnshamefast Catholiques are blinded withall The sentence of the degradation The senteÌ„ce of his degradation Ex actis episcopalibus COncerning the processe inquisitorie fourmed and geuen in fourme of accusation against thee Iohn Castellane priest and religious man of the fryer Eremites of the order of S. Austine vnderstanding likewise thy confession which thou hast made of thine owne good will mainteining false and erroneous doctrine and marking also besides this the godly admonitions and charitable exhortations which we made vnto thee in the towne of Metz which thou like vnto the serpent Aspis hast refused and geuen no eare vnto also considering thine answeares made and reiterate vnto our interrogatories by meanes of thine othe in the which diuelishly thou hast hydden and kept backe not onely the truth but also following the example of Caine hast denyed to confesse thy sinnes and mischeuous offence and finally hearyng the great number of witnesses sworne and examined agaynste thee theyr persons and depositions diligently considered and all other things woorthy of consideration beeing iustly examined the reuerende mayster Nicholas Sauin doctour of diuinitie and inquisitour of the fayth assistaunt vnto vs hath entred processe agaynst thee and geuen full information thereof this our purpose and intent being also communicate vnto diuers Maysters and Doctours both of the Ciuile and Canon lawes heere present which haue subscribed and signed heereunto whereby it appeareth that thou Iohn Castellane hast oftentimes and in diuers places openly and manifestly spread abroade and taught manye erroneous propositions full of the heresie of Luther contrary and against the Catholique faith and the veritie of the Gospell and the holy Apostolique see and so accursedly looked backe turned thy face that thou art founde to be a lyer before Almighty God It is ordeyned by the sacred rules of the Canon lawe that such as through the sharpe dartes of their venemous tongue doo peruert the Scriptures and go about with all their power to corrupt and infect the soules of the faithfull should be punished and corrected with most sharpe correction to the ende that others should be afrayde to attempt the like and apply themselues the better to the study of Christian concorde through the examples set before their eyes as well of seuerity as of clemency For these causes and others rising vpon the saide processe by the Apostolique authoritie and also the authoritie of our sayde reuerende Lorde the Cardinall whych we doo vse in this our sentence definitiue whiche wee sitting in our iudgement seate declare in these writinges hauing God onely before our eyes and surely considering that what measure we do meat vnto other the same shal be measured to vs againe True you say for your measure is death definitiue and therfore looke you for the same measure agayne at Gods hand we pronouÌ„ce and declare senteÌ„tially and diffinitiuely thee Iohn Castellane beyng here present before vs and iudge thee because of thy desertes to be excoÌ„municate with the most great excoÌ„munication and therewithall to be culpable of treason against the diuine maiesty and a mortall enemy of the Catholicke fayth and veritie of the Gospell also to be a manifest hereticke a folower partaker of the execrable * If Luther be to be noted of cruelty which teacheth all meÌ„ and killeth no man what then is to be noted in the Pope which killeth all Gods children and teacheth none crueltie of Martin Luther a stirrer vp of old heresies already coÌ„demned and therfore as thou oughtest to be deposed and depriued of all Priestly honor and dignitie of all thy orders of thy shauing religious habite also of thy Ecclesiasticall benefices if thou hast any and from all priuilege of the Clergy so we here presently do depose depriue and seperate thee as a rotten member from the communion and companie of all the faythfull and beyng so depriued we iudge that thou oughtest to be actually disgraded that done we leaue thee vnto the secular powers committyng the degradation and actuall execution of this our sentence vnto the reuerend Lord and Byshop here present with the authoritie and commaundement aforesayd This senteÌ„ce beyng thus ended with their Catholicke Sermon also the sayd Byshop of Nicopolis sittyng in his pontificalibus in the iudgement seate beyng Suffragan of Metz with the clergy nobles and people about him proceeded to the disgradyng as they call it of the sayd maister Iohn Castellane Thus the sayd maister Iohn Castellane being made ready to his degradation by the officers of the sayd Byshop was apparelled in his Priestly attyre and afterward brought forth of the Chappell by the Priestes which were therunto appointed with al his priestly ornamentes vpon him and holdyng his handes together he kneeled downe before the Bishop Doc. Castellane disgraded Then the officers gaue him the chalice
wished and greatly groned for in tymes past of many godly learned men so much more ought wee nowe to reioyce and geue God thankes seeyng these dayes of reformation which God hath geuen vs. If Iohn Husse or good Hierome of Prage or Iohn Wickliffe before them both or William Brute Thorpe Swynderby or the Lord Cobham if Zisca with all the company of the Bohemians if the Earle Raymundus with all the Tholossians if the Waldoys or the Albingensis with infinite other had bene eyther in these our times now or else had seene then thys ruyne of the Pope and reuealing of Antichrist which the Lord now hath dispensed vnto vs what ioye and triumph would they haue made Wherefore now beholding that thyng which they so long tyme haue wished for let vs not thinke the benefite to be small but render therefore most humble thankes to the Lorde our God Who by his mightie power and brightnes of his word Antichrist longe hyd and now reueled hath reuealed this great enemie of his so manifestly to the eyes of all men who before was hid in the Church so coulourably that almost few Christians could espye him For who would euer haue iudged or suspected in hys mynde the Byshop of Rome commonly receyued and beleeued almost of all men to be the Vicare and Vicegerent of Christ heere in earth to be Antichrist and the great aduersary God whome S. Paule so expresly prophesieth of in these latter dayes to be reuealed by the brightnes of the Lords commyng as all men now for the most part may see is come to passe Wherefore to the Lord and Father of lightes who reuealeth all things in hys due tyme be prayse and glory for euer Amen The ende of the seauenth Booke The eyght Booke continuing the hystorie of English matters appertayning to both states as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill and Temporall Martyrs of Couentrye Persecuters Martyrs The Causes Symon Mourton the bishops Somner The bishop of Couentry Frier Stafford Warden Maistres Smith Rob. Hatchets Archer Haukins Tho. Bond. Wrigsham Landsdale Martyrs Maistres Smyth widow Rob. Hatchets a shomaker Archer a shomaker Hawkins a shomaker Tho Bond a shomaker Wrigsham a Glouer Landsdale an Hosier At Couentry An. 1519. THE principall cause of the appreheÌ„sion of those persons was for teaching their children and familie the Lordes prayer and tenne Commaundementes in English for which they were vpon Ashwednesday taken and put in prison some in places vnder the grounde some in chambers and other places about till Friday following Then they were sent to a Monasterye called Mackestocke Abbey sixe miles from Couentry During which time their children were sente for to the Gray friers in Couentry before y e Warden of the sayd friers called Frier Stafford Who straitly examining them of their beliefe and what heresie their fathers had taught them charged theÌ„ vppon payne of suffering suche deathe as their fathers should in no wyse to meddle any more with the Lords prayer The Lordes prayer in Englishe foâ—byddeÌ„ of the Papists the Creede and Commaundements in English Which done vpon Palmesonday the fathers of these children were broughte backe agayne to Couentry and there the weeke next before Easter were condemned for relapse because most of them had borne fagots in the same Citie before to be burned Onely Maistres Smith was dimissed for that present and sent away And because it was in the euenyng beyng somewhat darke as she should go home the foresayd Symon Mourton the Somner offered him selfe to goe home with her Now as he was leadyng her by the arme and heard the rattelyng of a scrole within her sleeue yea sayth he What haue ye here And so tooke it from her espyed that it was the Lordes prayer the Articles of the fayth Maistres Smith coÌ„deÌ„ned for hauing the Lords prayer in Englishe the x. Commaundementes in Englishe Which when the wretched Somner vnderstood ah serrha sayd he come as good now as an other tyme so brought her backe agayne to the Byshop where she was immediately condemned and so burned with the vj. men before named the fourth of Aprill in a place thereby called the litle parke An. 1519.  Robert Silkeb At Couentry An. 1521. IN y e same nuÌ„ber of these CoueÌ„try men aboue rehearsed was also Robert Silkeb Anno. 1521. who at the apprehension of these as is aboue recited fled away Robert Silkeb Martyr and for that tyme escaped But about two yeares after he was taken agayne brought to the sayd Citie of Couentry where he was also burned the morowe after hee came thether whiche was about the xiij day of Ianuary An. 1521. Thus when these were dispatched immediatly the Sheriffes went to theyr houses and tooke all their goodes and cattell to theyr owne vse not leauyng their wiues and children any parcell therof to helpe themselues with all And for somuch as the people began to grudge somewhat at the crueltie shewed and at the vniust death of these innocent Martyrs the Byshop with his Officers and Priestes caused it to bee noysed abroad by their Tenauntes seruantes and fermers y t they were not burned for hauyng the Lordes prayer and commaundementes in English but because they did eate fleshe on Fridayes and other fastyng dayes Which neither could he proued either before their death or after nor yet was any such matter greatly obiected to them in their examinations Testimony of this storye The witnesses of this history bee yet aliue whiche both saw them and knew them Of whom one is by name mother Halle dwelling now in Bagington two myles from Couentry By whom also this is testified of them Note how these Martirs holding with the popish sacramentes yet were burned of the papists only for a few Scriptures in English that they aboue all other in Couentry pretended most shew of worshyp and deuotion at the holdyng vp of the Sacrament whether to colour the matter or no it is not knowen This is certain that in godlinesse of life they differed from al the rest of the Citie Neither in their occupying they would vse any oth nor could abyde it in them that occupyed with them Iames BetoÌ„ Archb. of S. Andrew M. Hew SpeÌ„s dean of diuinity in the vniuersitie of S. Andrew M. Iohn Weddell Rector of the vniuersitie Iames Symson Officiall Tho. Ramsay Chanon and Deane of the Abbey of S. Andrewes Allane Meldrum Chanon Iohn Greson Principall of the Blacke Friers Iohn Dillidaffe Warden of the Gray Friers Martin Balbur Lawyer Iohn SpeÌ„s Lawyer Alexander Yong The godly zeale of M. Hamelton towardes his countrey bacheler of Diuinitie Chanon Iohn Annand Chanon Frier Alex. Chambell Priour of the Blacke Friers c. Patricke HalmentoÌ„ At Saint Andrewes in ScotlaÌ„d An. 1527. PAtricke Hamelton a Scottish man borne of an hygh and noble stocke and of the kynges bloud Anno. 1527. young and of flourishyng age and excelleÌ„t towardnesse of xxiij yeares called Abbot of Ferme
benefices by preuention in disturbance of mens inheritance and diuers other open causes in the Premunire accordynge to the kings licence constituted Iohn Scute Edmonde Ienny Apprentises of the lawe his attourneys whych by his owne warrant signed w t his hand confessed all thyngs concerning the said suit for they were too open to be cloked or hidden and so iudgement was geuen that hee shoulde forfeite all his landes tenements goodes and cattels and shoulde be put oute of the kings protection but for al that the king sent him a sufficient protection and of hys gentlenes left to him the bishoyprikes of Yorke and Winchester and gaue to hym plate and stuffe conuenient for hys degree Doctour Tunstall Byshop of Duresme Iohn Stokesly made Byshop of London and the Bishoprike of Duresme he gaue to Doctour Tonstall Bishop of London and the Abbey of S. Albones he gaue to the Priour of Norwich and to London he promoted Doctour Iohn Stokesley then Ambassadoure to the vniuersities for the marriage as you hearde before For all this kindnesse shewed to the Cardinall yet still hee maligned against the king as you shal hereafter perceiue but first we will proceede in the course of these matters as they passed in order The next yeare following whych was Anno. 1530. Anno 1530. in the moneth of Nouemb. was summoned a generall parlament to be holden at Westminster In the which yeare about the 23. day of October A parliameÌ„t called the king came to his manor of Grenwich and there much consulted wyth his Counsaile for a meete man to be his Chauncelour so that in no wise he were no man of the Spiritualtie and so after longe debate the king resoluted him selfe vpon sir Thomas Moore knight Chauncelor of the Duchy of Lancaster Syr Thomas More made lord ChauÌ„celour of England a man wel learned in the tonges and also in the common law whose wit was fine and full of imaginations by reason whereof hee was a litle too muche geuen to mocking more then became the person of M. More and then on the Sonday the 24. day of the same moneth the king made him his Chauncelor and deliuered him the great seale which Lord Chancelor the next morow after was ledde into the Chancerye by the two Dukes of Norffolke and Suffolke and there sworne and then the Mace was borne before him Of this fall of the Cardinall and of the placing of Syr Thomas More in the Chauncelorship Erasmus in an Epistle to Iohn Uergera thus wryteth The Cardinall of Yorke hath so offended the kings minde Ex Eras. that he being turned out of his goodes and all his dignities is coÌ„mitted not into prison but into a certaine Lordshippe of his with 30. seruaunts or kepers to geue attendance vpon him Many and sundry complaintes are coÌ„menced against him so that he is not like to escape with his life Such is the daliaunce of fortune of a scholemaister to be made a king For so hee raigned more like a king then the king him selfe Hee was dreaded of all men he was loued but of a fewe almoste of none A litle before he was appreheÌ„ded he caused Richard Pacie to be cast in the towre Also he threatned my Archbishop of Canterburie Salomon sayeth By this Archbyshop he meaneth William Warham That before the fall of man his spirite shall be eleuated The Archb. of Caunterbury was called or restored to be chosen Lord Chancellor which is the chiefest office in all that realme but he excused himselfe by his age as being not able to weld such a function Wherefore the sayde office was bestowed vpon Tho. More no les to the reioycing of many then the other was displaced from it These newes my seruaunt brought me out of England c. Ex Epist. Erasm. ad Ioan Vergeram You heard before A parliameÌ„t summoned in Nouemb. anno 1530. how a counsaile of the Nobles was appoynted by the king in the moneth of October to assemble in the Starre chamber aboute the Cardinals matter and also how a parliament was summoned to begin in the moneth of Nouember in the yeare following An. 1530. At the beginning of which Parliament after that M. Moore the newe Chauncelour had finished hys oration the commons were commaunded to chuse them a Speaker Thomas Audely speaker of the Paâ—liament Sixe greuaÌ„ces of the commons agaynst the clergye who was Thomas Audeley Esquire and attorney of the Duchie of Lancaster Thus the Parlament being begun the 6. day of the foresaid month of Nouember at Westminster where the king with all the Lordes were set in the Parlament chamber the commoÌ„s after they had presented their speaker assembling in the nether house began to common of their grieues wherwith the spiritualtie had before time greeuously oppressed them contrary both to all righte and to the lawe of the realme and especially were sore mooued with these 6. great causes ¶ Greeuances against the Cleargie of Englande 1. THe first for the excessiue fines which the Ordinaries tooke for probate of Testaments 〈…〉 of testamentes in so much that Sir Henry Guilford Knight of the Garter and Comptrollour of the Kings house declared in the open Parliament of his fidelitie that he and other being executours to Syr William Compton Knight payed for the probate of hys will to the Cardinall and the Archbishop of Canterbury a thousand marke sterling After this declaration were shewed so many extortions done by Ordinaries for probates of willes A thousand 〈◊〉 for 〈◊〉 probate 〈…〉 testaâ—â—â—t The vnreasâ—â—â—ble 〈◊〉 of the clergye for Mortuaries that it were too much to rehearse 2. The second cause was the great poling extreame exaction which y e spirituall men vsed in taking of corps presents or Mortuaries for the childreÌ„ of the dead should all die for huÌ„ger and go a begging rather then they would of charitie geue to theÌ„ the sely cow which the dead maÌ„ ought if he had but onely one such was the charitie of them 3. The third cause was that Priestes being Surueyers Stuards Fâ—rmes and Granges in Priestes handes and officers to Byshops Abbots and other spirituall heads had and occupied Farmes Graunges and grasing in euery Countrey so that the poore husbandmen could haue nothing but of them and yet for that they shuld pay dearely 4. The fourth cause was that Abbots Priors and spirituall men kept Tannehouses Monkes and priests marchauntes and bought and sold wooll cloth and all maner of Marchaundise as other temporall Marchaunts did 5. The fift cause was because the spirituall persons promoted to great benefices Beneficed men take of their flocke but geue nothing and hauing their liuing of theyr flocke were lying in the Court of Lords houses and tooke all of their parishioners and nothing spent on them at all so that for lacke of residence both the poore of the parishe lacked refreshing and vniuersally all the parishioners lacked preaching and true instruction of Gods
of Testamentes Mortuaries which Bylles were so reasonable Redresse of the greeues of the commons that the spirituall Lordes assēted to them all though they were sore agaynst their myndes and in especiall the probate of Testamentes sore displeased the Byshops and the Mortuaries sore displeased the Parsons and Uicares After these Actes thus agreed the commons made an other Act for pluralities of benefices none residence buying and sellyng and takyng of fermes by spirituall Parsons which Act so displeased the spiritualtie that y e priests rayled on the commōs of the lower house and called them heretickes and schismatikes for the which diuers Priestes were punished This Act was sore debated aboue in the Parliament chamber and the Lordes spirituall would in no wise consent The third bill of the cōmons for pluralities c. Wherfore the kyng perceiuyng the grudge of his cōmons caused viij Lordes viij of his Commons to mete in the starre chamber at an afternoone and there was sore debatyng of the cause in so much that the tēporall Lordes of the vpper house which were there tooke part with the Commons agaynst the spirituall Lordes and by force of reason caused them to assent to the Bill with a litle qualifiyng which Bill the next day was wholy agreed to in the Lords house to the great reioysing of the lay people and to the great displeasure of the spirituall persons And thus much concerning these Bylles agaynst the Cleargy by the way Now to returne to the Cardinall agayne during the time of the said Parliament there was brought downe to the Commons the booke of Articles which the Lords had put vp to the King against the Cardinall The chiefe Articles were these 1 FIrst that he without the Kings assent had procured to be Legate Articles against the Cardinall by reason whereof he tooke away the right of all Byshops and spirituall persons 2 In al writings that he wrote to Rome or to any other Prince he wrote Ego rex meus I and my King as who would say that the King were his seruaunt 3 That he slaundered the Church of England to y e court of Rome for his suggestion to be Legate was to reforme the Church of England which as he wrote was Facta in reprobum sensum 4 He without the Kings assent caried the Kings great Seale with him into Flaunders when he was sente Ambassadour to the Emperour 5 Without the Kings consent he sent commission to Sir Gregory de Cassalis Knight to conclude a league betweene the King and the Duke of Ferrarie 6 That he hauing the French pockes presumed to come and breathe on the King 7 That he caused the Cardinalles Hat to be put on the Kings coyne 8 That he had sent innumerable substance to Rome for the obteining of his dignities to the great impouerishmēt of the Realme with many other things which are touched more at large in Chronicles These articles with many moe being read in the cōmon house were confessed by the Cardinal and signed with his hand Also there was shewed an other writing sealed with his seale by the which he gaue to the Kyng all his moueables and vnmoueables You haue heard hytherto declared how y e Cardinall was attainted in the Premunire how he was put out of the office of the Chauncelour lay at Asher which was in the yeare of our Lord 1530. Anno. 1530. The next yeare after in the Lent season the king by the aduice of his counsayle licenced him to go into his dioces of Yorke and gaue hym commandemēt to keepe him in his dioces and not to returne Southward without the Kings speciall licence in writing So he made great prouision to go Northward apparelled his seruants newly and bought many costly things for his houshold but diuers of his seruaunts at this tyme departed from him to the Kings seruice and in especiall Thomas Crumwell one of his chiefe counsaile and chiefe doer for him in the suppression of Abbeys After that all things necessary for his iourney were prepared he tooke his iourney Northward til he came to Southwell which was in his dioces and there he continued that yeare euer grudging at his fall as you shall heare heereafter but the sands which he had geuen to his Colleges in Oxford and Ipswich were now come to the Kings hands by his attainder in the Premunire and yet the King of his gentlenes and for fauour that he bare to good learning erected againe the Colledge in Oxford and where it was named the Cardinalles Colledge he called it the Kings College and endued it with faire possessions and ordeined newe statutes and ordinances The Cardinalls Colledge now called Christes College in Oxforde and for because the Colledge of Ipswich was thought to be nothing profitable therefore he leaft that dissolued Notwithstāding that the Cardinall of Yorke was thus attainted in the Premunire as is aboue mentioned yet the King being good vnto him had graunted him the Bishopricks of Yorke and Winchester with great plentie of substance had licenced him to lye in his dioces of Yorke where he so continued the space of a yeare But after in the yeare folowing The Cardinall complayneth to the Pope of the king which was 1531. he being in his dioces wrote to the Court of Rome and to diuers other Princes letters in reproch of the King and in as much as in him lay he stirred them to reuenge his cause against the King and his Realme in so much that diuers opprobrious words against the King were spoken to Doctor Edward Keerne the Kings Oratour at Rome and it was sayd to him that for the Cardinalles sake the King should haue the woorse speede in the suite of his matrimonie The Cardinall also would speake faire to the people to winne their harts and declared euer that he was vniustly and vntruely ordered which faire speaking made many men beleeue that he sayd true and to Gentlemen he gaue great giftes to allure them vnto him and to be had in more reputation among the people The Cardinalls proud◠iourneie toward 〈◊〉 he determined to be installed or inthronised at Yorke with all the pompe that might be and caused a throne to be erected in the Cathredral Church in such an height and fashion as was neuer seene and sent to all the Lords Abbots Priors Knightes Esquiers and Gentlemen of his dioces to be at his Manor of Cawood the sixt day of Nouember and so to bring hym to Yorke with all maner of pompe and solemnitie The King which knew his doings and priuie conueyance all this yeare dissembled the matter to see what hee would do at length till that he saw his proud hart so highly exalted that he would be so triumphātly installed without making the king priuie yea and in manner in disdaine of the King thought it not meete nor conuenient to suffer him any longer to cōtinue in his malitious proud purposes and
into theyr handes wherefore it is manifest it can not be of Christ Christ submitted himselfe vnder temporall gouerment The cause touched why the Popes clergy will 〈◊〉 let the 〈◊〉 Testamâ—â—â— goe abâ—â—â—d the mother tonguâ— for he gaue more to the temporall kingdome he himselfe payd tribute to Cesar he tooke nothing froÌ„ him but taught that the high powers should be alwaies obeied yea he himself although he were most free Lord of al innoceÌ„t was obedient vnto y e high powers vnto death This is the great skabbe why they will not let y e new testameÌ„t go abroad in your mother toung least men should espye that they by theyr cloked hypocrisy do translate thus fast your kingdome into their haÌ„des that they are not obedient vnto your high power that they are cruell vncleane vnmercifull and hâ—pocrites that they seeke not the honor of Christ but theyr owne that remission of sinnes are not geuen by the Popes Pardon but by Christ for the sure fayth and trust that we haue in him Here may your grace well perceiue that except you suffer their hipocrisy to be disclosed all is like to runne into theyr handes and as long as it is couered so long shal it seme to euery man to be a great impiety not to geue them * For this I am sure your grace thinketh as the truth is I am as good a man as my Father why may I not as well geue them as much as my father did And of this minde I am sure are all the Lordes knightes squires gentlemeÌ„ yeomen in England yea and vntill it be disclosed all your people will think that your statute of Mortmaine was neuer made with no good coÌ„science seing that it taketh away the liberty of your people in that they may not as lawfully buy their soules out of Purgatory by geuing to the spiritualty as theyr predecessors did in times past Wherfore if you will eschew the ruine of your crowne dignity let theyr hipocrisy be vttred that shal be more speedefull in this matter then all the lawes that may bee made be they neuer so strong For to make a law for to punish any offender except it were more for to geue other meÌ„ an ensample to beware how they commit such like offence what should it auayle Of Doctour Alen the Cardinalls Chauncellour read before pag. 986. Of this Doct. Horsey the biâ—h of Londons Chauncellour read before pag. 807. Did not Doct. Alen most presumptiously now in your time agaynst al his allegiance all that euer he could to pull froÌ„ you the knowledge of such plees as belong vnto your high Courtes vnto an other Court in derogation of your crown and dignity Did not also D. Horsey and his complices most heinously as al the world knoweth murder in prison that honest Marchaunt Rich. Hunne for that he sued your writ of Premunire agaynst a priest that wrongfully held him in plee in a spiritual court for a matter whereof the knowledge belonged vnto your high Courtes And what punishment was there done that any man may take example of to beware of like offence Truely none but that the one payd 500. pound as it is sayd to the building of your chamber when that paymeÌ„t was once passed the Captaynes of his kingdome because he fought so manfully agaynst your crowne and dignity haue heaped to him benefice vpon benefice so that he is rewarded 10. tymes that is 10. times as much as he had in 〈◊〉 before not as he payde to the king And althoughe these murtherers of Hunâ—e were not recompensed with 10. times or withe 4. tymes as much which More denieth yet can he neuer be able to denie the substance of the story that is that Hunne by these was broughte to hys death that they being put to their fines wer afterward sufficiently recompeÌ„sed with benefices vpon benefices x. times as much The other as it is sayd payd 600. pound for him hys complices which for because that he had like wise fought so manfully against your crown and dignity was immediately as he had obteyned your most gracious pardon promoted by the captaynes of his kingdome wyth benefice vpon benefice to the value of foure times as much Who can take example of punishment to beware of suche like offence Who is he of their kingdome that will not rather take courage to commit like offence seing the promotions that fell to these men for theyr so offending so weake and blunt is your sword to strike at one of the offenders of this crooked and peruerse generation And this is by the reason that the chiefe instrument of your law Vnconuenient 〈…〉 spirituall man to be Lord Chauncellour yea y e chiefe of your Councell and he which hath your sword in his hand to whom also all the other instrumentes are obedient is alwayes a spirituall man which hath euer such an inordinate loue vnto his own kingdome that he will maintayne that though all the teÌ„porall kingdomes and common wealthes of the world should therefore vtterly be vndone Here leue we out the greatest matter of all least that we declaring such an horrible caren of euill agaynst the ministers of iniquity should seeme to declare the one onely fault or rather the ignorance of our best beloued minister of righteousnes which is to be hid till he may be learned by these small enormities that we haue spoken of to know it playnly himselfe But what remedy to releue vs your poore sicke lame and sore bedemen To make many hospitals for the reliefe of the poore people Nay truely The moe the worse for euer the fat of the whole fouÌ„dation hangeth on the Priestes beardes Diuers of your noble Predecessours kinges of this realme haue geuen landes to Monasteries to geue a certeine summe of mony yearely to the poore people wherof for the auncienty of the time they geue neuer one peny They haue likewise geuen to them to haue a certayne of masses sayd dayly for them wherof they say neuer one If y e Abbot of Westminster shold sing euery day as many masses for his founders as he is bound to do by his foundatioÌ„ a thousand Monkes were to few Wherefore if your grace will build a sure hospitall that neuer shall sayle to releeue vs all your poore bedemen then take froÌ„ theÌ„ all these thinges Set these sturdy loubies abroad in the world to gette theÌ„ wiues of their owne to get theyr liuing with theyr labor in the sweat of their faces according to the commaundement of God Gen. 1. to geue other idle people by theyr example occasion to go to labor Tye these holy idle theues to the cartes to be whipped naked about euery market Towne 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 to the 〈◊〉 by putting out 〈◊〉 Frâ—ers and 〈◊〉 till they fall to labour that they by theyr importunate begging take not away the almes y t y e good christeÌ„ people wold geue vnto vs
chapter of Iohn there speaking of the wordes of Christ spoken vnto Peter Cyrillus in vlt. cap. Ioannis Feed my sheepe c. thus vnderstandeth the same That because Peter had thrise denyed Christ whereby he thought himselfe he had lost his Apostleship Christ to comforte him agayne and to restore him to his office that he had lost asked him thrise Pasce oues meas maketh nothing for the Popes vniuersall pastoralitye whether he loued him and so restored hym agayne to his office which els he durst not haue presumed vnto saying vnto him Feed my sheep c. With which exposition the auncient holy expositors of that place do likewise agree So that by these wordes of feeding Christes sheep the Bishop of Rome can take no aduauntage to maintein his vniuersall pastoralty ouer all Christian dominions Act. 20. Agayne where as the Bishoppe of Rome sayth that Peter by these wordes of Christ spoken to him hath a preheminence aboue the other S. Paule Actes 20. proueth the contrary 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 where he speaking to the Bishops assembled at Milete sayth to them Take heed to your selues and to all your flocke in which the holy Ghost hath put you to gouerne c. And Peter himselfe likewise 1. Pet. 5. sayth Ye that be Priestes feed the flocke of God amongest you c. So that by these Scriptures conferred together it may appeare that neither the 16. Chapiter of Mathew nor the 21. of Iohn do proue that Peter had power Scriptures wrongfully alleaged for the Popes supremacye authority or dignity geuen him of Christ ouer all the other that they should be vnder him and yet notwithstāding his primacy in that he first of all the Apostles confessed Christ to be the Sonne of the liuing God with the which confession all the other Apostles did consent and also preached the same standeth still· Which confession first by Peter made al other that will be saued must follow also and be taught to confesse the same And thus the Bishop of Romes power ouer all which he would proue by those places wrongfully alledged for his purpose vtterly quayleth and is not proued And thus much for the Scriptures and Doctors Now farther proceding in this matter the sayd Tonstall commeth to Councels and examples of the primitiue Church as foloweth Faustinus Example◠of the primitiue Church against the Popes supremacy Legate to the Byshop of Rome in the v◠Councell of Carthage alledged that the Bishop of Rome ought to haue the ordering o◠all great matters in all places by his supreme authority bringing no Scripture for him for at that time no Scripture was thought to make for it but alledgeth for him and that vntruely the fyrst Councell of Nice to make for his purpose After this whē the booke was brought forth The supremacye of of Rome reproued by the Councell of Nice and no such article found in it but the contrary yet the Counsell at that time sent to Constantinople Alexandria and Antioche where the Patriarchall seas were to haue the true copy of the Councell of Nice which was sent vnto them And an other copy also was sent from Rome whether also they sent for y e same purpose After that the copy was brought to them and no such Article found in it but in the fift chapter therof the contrary that all causes Ecclesiasticall should either be determined within the Dioces or els if any were greued then to appeale to the Counsell Prouinciall and there the matter to take full end The 〈◊〉 of Nice falsified by Faustinus the Popes Legate so that for no such causes men should goe out of theyr Prouinces the whole Counsell of Carthage wrote to Celestine at that time beyng Byshop of Rome that since the Counsell of Nice had no such article in it as was vntruly alledged by Faustinus but the cōtrary they desired him to abstein after to make any more such demaūd denouncing vnto him that they would not suffer any cause great or small to be brought by appeale out of theyr country and thereupon made a law that no man shall appeale out of the country of Aphrike vpon payne to be denoūced accursed Wherewith the Bishop of Rome euer after held him content and made no more busines with them seeyng he had nought to say for himselfe to the contrary And at this Counsell S. Austen was present and subscribed the same Read more herof pag 10. It was determined also in the sixte Article of the sayde Counsell of Nice The 6. article of Nicene coūcell The 4. chiefe Patriarches equall in power that in the Orient the Bishop of Antioche should be chiefe in Egypt the Bishop of Alexandria about Rome the Bishop of Rome and like Wise in other countryes the Metropolitanes should haue theyr preheminence so that the bishop of Rome neuer had medling in those countryes And in the next Article following the Byshop of Hierusalem which City before had bene destroyed and almost desolate was restored to his old prerogatiue to be y e chiefe in Palestine and in the countrey of Iury. By this ye see howe the Patriarch of Rome duryng al thys tyme of the primitiue Churche Pope Agatho subiected to the Emperour had no such primacye preeminēt aboue other Patriaches much lesse ouer kinges and Emperors as may appeare by Agatho Byshoppe of Rome long after that in whose tyme was the sixt Councell generall Whiche Agatho after his election sent to the Emperor thē beyng at Constantinople to haue his electiō allowed before he would be consecrate after y e old custome at that time vsed In like sort Pope Vitalianus subiecte to the Emperour 63. Dist. Agatho 63. Dist. cum longè an other Bishop of Rome called Uitalianus did the same as it is written in the Decrees in the 63. Distinct. cap. Agatho The like did S. Ambrose and S. Gregory before thē as it is written in the chap. Cum longè in the same Distinct. During al which time the byshops of Rome folowed wel the doctrine of S. Peter and S. Paule left vnto them to be subiectes and to obey theyr Princes Thus after that Byshop Tonstall playing the earnest Lutheran both by scriptures and auncient Doctours Byshop Tōstall a righte Lutheran◠also by examples sufficient of the primitiue church hath proued and declared how the Byshops of Rome ought to submit thēselues to theyr higher powers vnder whom God hath appoynted euery creature in this world to obey now let vs likewise see how the sayd Byshop Tonstall describeth vnto vs his disobedience intollerable his pride incomparable and his malignant malice most execrable And first speaking of the disobedience of Adam Eue then of the pride of Nabugodonosor of Lucifer The disobedience the pride the malice of the Pope described at length he compareth the Bishops of Rome to them all Who fyrst for disobedience refuse to obey Gods commaūdement but contrary to
receiued and made thys answere againe to them as followeth The kings answere to the rebels FIrst we begin and make answere to the fourth and sixt articles The kinges aunswere to the rebels because vpon them dependeth much of the rest Concerning choosing of Counsailours I neuer haue red heard nor knowen that Princes Counsailours and Prelates should be appoynted by rude and ignorant common people nor that they were persons meete or of habilitie to discerne and choose meete and sufficient Counsailours for a Prince How presumptuous then are ye the rude coÌ„mons of one shire and that one the most base of y e whole realme and of the least experience to finde fault with your Prince for the electing of his Counsailours and Prelates and to take vpon you contrary to Gods lawe and mans lawes to rule your Prince whom ye are bouÌ„d by al law to obey and serue with both your liues landes and goodes and for no worldly cause to withstand As to the suppression of religious houses Monasteries we wil that ye and al our subiects should wel know For suppression of religious houses that this is graunted vs by all the nobles spirituall temporall of thys realme and by al the commons in the same by Acte of Parlament and not set foorth by any Counsailour or Counsailours vpon their mere wil and fantasy as ye full falsely would perswade our realme to beleeue And where ye alleage that the seruice of God is muche diminished the trueth thereof is contrary for there bee no houses suppressed where God was well serued but where most vice mischiefe and abomination of liuing was vsed and that doth well appeare by their owne confessions subscribed wyth their owne handes in the time of their visitations and yet we suffred a great many of them more then we needed by the Acte to stand wherin In these visitations of religious houses horrible it is to read what wickednes and abomination was there founde and regystred by the vysitors if they amend not their liuing we feare we haue more to aunswere for then for the suppression of all the rest And as for the hospitalitie for the reliefe of the poore we wonder ye be not ashamed to affirme that they haue bene a great reliefe of poore people when a great many or the most parte hath not past foure or fiue religious persons in them diuers but one which spent the substaunce of the goodes of their houses in nourishing of vice and abhominable liuing Nowe what vnkindnes and vnnaturalitie may we impute to you and all our subiects that be of that minde which hadde leuer suche an vnthriftie sorte of vicious persons shoulde enioye suche possessions profites and emoluments as grow of the sayd houses to the maintenance of their vnthriftie life then we your naturall Prince soueraigne Lorde and King whych doth hath spent more in your defences of our owne then sixe times they be woorth As touching the acte of vses we maruaile what madnes is in your braine The acte of vses or vpon what ground ye wold take authority vpon you to cause vs to breake those lawes and statutes which by all the noble Knightes and Gentlemen of this Realme whom the same chiefly touched hath bene graunted and assented too seeing in no maner of things it toucheth you the base commons of our realme Also the groundes of all those vses were false and neuer admitted by law but vsurped vpon the prince contrary to all equitie and iustice as it hath bene openly both disputed declared by all the well learned meÌ„ in the Realm of Englande in Westminster Hall whereby yee may well perceiue howe madde and vnreasonable your demaundes be both in that and in the rest and howe vnmeete it is for vs dishonorable to graunt or assent vnto and lesse mete and decent for you in such a rebellious sort to demande the same of your Prince As touching the fifteene which yee demaunde of vs to be released thinke yee that we be so faint hearted The acte of fiftene that perforce ye of one shire were ye a great many mo could compell vs with your insurrections such rebellious demeanour to remitte the same or thinke yee that any man will or may take you to be true subiects that first make shewe a louing graunt and then perforce would compel your soueraigne Lord and King to release the same The time of paiment whereof is not yet come yea and seeing the same will not counteruaile the tenth peny of the charges whych we haue and daily do susteine for your tuition safegarde make you sure by your occasioÌ„s of these your ingratitudes vnnaturalnes and vnkindnes to vs now administred ye geue vs cause which hath alwayes bene asmuche dedicate to your wealth as euer was King not so muche to set our study for y e setting forward of the same seing how vnkindly and vntruly ye deale now wyth vs wythout any cause or occasion And doubt yee not though you haue no grace nor naturalnes in you to consider your duetie of allegiaÌ„ce to your king soueraigne Lord the rest of our Realm we doubt not hath we and they shall so looke on thys cause y t we trust it shal be to your confusion if according to your former letters you submit not your selues As touching the first frutes we let you to witte it is a thing graunted vs by Acte of Parlament also The acte of first fruites for the supportation of part of the great and excessiue charges which we support beare for the maintenaunce of your wealthes and other our subiects and we haue knowen also that yee our commons haue much complained in times passed that the most part of our goodes landes and possessions of the Realme were in the spirituall mens handes and yet bearing vs in hande that yee be as louing subiectes to vs as may be yee can not finde in your hearts that your Prince and soueraigne Lord should haue any part therof and yet it is nothing preiudiciall vnto you our commons but doe rebel and vnlawfully rise against your Prince contrary to the dueâ—y of allegiaunce Gods commaundement Syrs remember your follies and traiterous demeanours and shame not your natiue country of England nor offend no more so greuously your vndoubted king natural prince which alwayes hathe shewed him selfe most louinge vnto you and remember your duetie of allegiance and that yee are bound to obey vs your king both by Gods commandement and lawe of nature Wherfore we charge you eftsoones vppon the foresayde bondes and paines that yee wythdrawe your selues to your owne houses euery manne and no more to assemble contrary to our lawes and your allegiaunces and to cause the prouokers of you to thys mischiefe to â—e deliuered to our Lieutenaunts handes or ours and you your selues to submitte you to suche condigne punishment as wee and our nobles shal thinke you worthy for doubt you not els
aforesaid we theÌ„ folowing the doctrine of the apostle which teacheth vs to auoyd an heretical person after the first and second correction as wel now as before and as wel before as now declaring by our authoritie the said Martin his abettors fautors adherents mainteiners and receyuere as withered braunches not remainyng in Christ but teaching and preaching contrary doctrine repugnaunt to the Catholike faith slaunderous and damnable to the great offence of Gods maiestie to the detriment and slaunder of the vniuersal church and catholike faith and despising the keyes of the church to be and to haue bene notorious and obstinate heretikes do condemne the same for such by the tenor hereof willing and commanding them to be holden and taken for such of all christen people aforesayd Ouer and besides we forbid vnder the incurring of all and singular the penalties afore expressed in so doing All the bookes of Luther both good and badde coÌ„deÌ„ned 〈◊〉 the Pope that no man presume by any maner of way directly or indirectly secretly or expresly priuily or apertly to read holde preach praise print publish or defend either by theÌ„selues or by any other the sayd bookes and writings not onelye those wherein the errors aforesayd are conteined but also all others whatsoeuer haue bene or shall be set forth written or made by the sayd Martin vehemently suspected as a pernitious enemy of the Catholike faith to the intent y t his memory may vtterly be rooted out from the fellowship of all christian people or rather with fire to consume them as is afore declared We admonish moreouer al and singular Christes faithful people vnder the said payne of the great curse to auoid or cause to be auoided so much as in them doth lie the foresaid heretikes not obedient to our commandements and to haue no fellowship or any conuersation or communion with them or with any of them neither to minister to theÌ„ things necessary And moreouer to the more confusion of the said Martin with his abettors adherents and retainers aforesayd Apocal 〈◊〉 And he 〈◊〉 haue 〈◊〉 coÌ„mauâ—â—dement vâ— euery coâ—â—pany anâ— people a tongue a nation â— thus being declared and condemned as heretikes after the expiring of the terme aforesayd we command all and singular Christes faithfull people both men and women as Patriarchs Archbishops Prelates of Churches eyther Patriarchall Metropolitane and other Cathedrall Collegiate and other inferiour Churches to Deanes Chapters and other Ecclesiasticall persons secular and of all other orders euen of the begging Friers also namely of that congregation where the sayd Martin is professed The Popâ— here dreaâ—meth of â— drye Sumâ—mer thinâ—â—ing all thâ— world to subiecte vâ—â—to him· or hath his abode also to regular exempt and not exempt Item to all and singular Princes what dignity or calling so euer eyther Ecclesiasticall or Temporall they be of to Kings Princes Electors Dukes Marquesses Earles Barons Captaynes Conductors Seruitours Comminalties Uniuersities Dominions Cities Landes Castles and places or the Citizens and inhabitauntes thereof and briefly to all and singular other aforesaid through the Uniuersall world dispersed specially in Almany that they and euery of them vnder all and singular penalties aforesayd doe personally apprehend the sayd Martin hys abettors adherents receyuers and fautours and to retaine them being apprehended at our instance and to send them vnto vs who in so doyng for their good worke shal receiue of vs and the Sea Apostolike condigne reward and recompence or at least that they vtterly driue them and euery one of them out of their Metropolitane cathedrall Collegiate and other Churches Houses Monasteries Conuents Cities Dominions Uniuersities Comminalties Castles Landes and places respectiuely as well the Clergy men as the regular and lay men all and singular aforesayd Those cities dominions landes castles villages comminalties holdes townes and places where so euer they be situate respectiuely Metropolitane Cathedrall Collegiate and other Churches Monasteries also Priories Couents and religious and deuout places or what order so euer as is aforesaid vnto the which it shall chance the sayd Martin to come so long as he or they shall there remayne and three dayes after their departing from thence we here geue ouer to the Ecclesiasticall interdiction And that the premisses may be knowen to all men we commaund moreouer all Patriarches Archbishops Bishops Prelates of Patriarchall Metropolitane other cathedral collegiate churches to Deanes and Chapters and other persons ecclesiastical of what order els soeuer aforesaid to regular brethren religious monkes exempt not exempt aforesaid wheresoeuer they dwell and especially within Almany that they and euery of theÌ„ vnder like censures and paynes do publikely denounce cause and commaund to be denounced of others the said Martin w t all and singular his foresaid adherents which shall not obey our commandements and monitions within y e terme aforesayd vpon euery sonday and other Festiuall dayes within their churches when as the greatest concourse of people shal resort to diuine seruice to be declared and condemned for heretikes and that all Christes faithful people shall auoid them vnder the said censures and penalties as be afore expressed and that they do set vp these presents or cause to be set vp or the transcript of them made vnder the forme hereafter ensuing in their churches Monasteries houses Conuents and other places there openly to bee seene and read Item we do excommunicate and curse all and singuler persons of whatsoeuer state degree condition preheminence dignitie or excellencie they be which shal procure or cause to be procured by themselues or other priuily or apertly directly or indirectly secretly or expressely wherby these presents or the copies transcript or the examples of them can not be read set vp and published in their landes and dominions c. Let no man therefore be so bold to dare to infringe or with rash presumption to contrary this writyng of our damnation reprobation reiection decree declaration inhibition will commandement exhortation beseching request admonition assignation graunt condemnatioÌ„ subiection excommunication curse And if any person persons dare presume to attempt the same let him know and be sure that he shall incurre the indignation of almightie God and of his blessed Apostles Peter and Paule Geuen at Rome at S. Peters an 1520.17 Calend. Iulij and of our Popedome the viij yeare Although it was somewhat long before this Bull aforesaid of Pope Leo being sent dispersed through all other places abroad â— Luther â—â—swering 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Popes 〈◊〉 could come to the hands of Luther yet so soone as he by meanes of his friendes might get a sight thereof he shaped againe an answer to the same in such sort as I am sure the Pope himselfe wil say that his Bull was neuer so baited and so welfauoredly shaken in al his days 〈◊〉 Popes â—â—bayting as by the handling of the matter and reading of his answer may euidently appeare The contentes
vppon IN most humble wise sheweth vnto your Maiestie William Latimer and Iohn Hooper that where of late The deâ—â—â—tiation of W. Latimâ—â— and Iohn Hooper dâ—â—nounceâ—â—â—â—gaynst Boner as we be certainely infourmed froÌ„ your maiestie by the hande of the right highe and noble Prince Edwarde Duke of Somerset Gouernour of your Royal person and Protectour of al your highnes realmes dominions and subiects and the rest of your priuie Counsaile there was certaine Iniunctions geuen to the Byshop of London that nowe is with Articles to be insinuated and preached vnto youre subiectes at a certaine daye limitted the whyche Iniunctions and articles did onely tende to the honour of GOD and the better instructions of your highnes people to obedience and hatred of rebellion and mutinie wherewith of late this your Maiesties Realme hath bene marueilously vexed to the daunger of your highnes person and the state of the whole Realme and thereâ—ore a thinge at thys time most necessary to be taught vnto y e people that they myght knowe their duetie vnto your maiestie and vnto almighty God and especially to acknowledge your Maiestie in these yeares age to be a perfect high and soueraigne Lord and king and supreme head whose lawes proclamations and commaundementes we are bounde to obey as wel as any princes subiects are bounde to obey the lawes proclamations and commaundementes of their naturall and soueraigne Lord notwithstanding that nature hath not yet giuen vnto your person suche age as we trust he shall nor so many yeares which we wish to be so many as any Prince euer hadde the whych yeares doe not make you Kynge or Prince but the righte of your birthe Yeares anâ— age doe 〈◊〉 make a kinâ— but the right of succession and lawfull succession what soeuer it be so that we all must as well acknowledge your maiestie to be our Kinge and Prince at these yeares as if you were of the age of 30. or 40. yeares and your lawes and statutes no lesse to be feared obeyed theÌ„ if your highnes were 50. or 100. yeres olde the whyche thing not onely is most certainely true but also at this time most necessarily to be taught especially when diuers rebelles haue openly declared that they woulde not obey your highnesse lawes nor acknowledge the Statutes made by your Maiestie to be auailable til ye come to the age of 20. yeres and this not only being so Anno 1549 but the same thing being commanded by your sayd Maiestie amongst other Iniunctions Articles geuen in wryting to the sayde Edmund Boner to be preached in his last sermon as by the same Iniunctions maye appeare of the whiche the true copie we haue when neede is to be shewed yet al this notwithstanding the said Boner of what zeale or minde we cannot tell whether fauoring the opinion of the saide rebels or contemning your highnesse commaundement declared to him Boner left out of his Sermon 〈◊〉 article of the kinges authority hath not only left out to declare the sayd Article which we most chiefly expected and looked for but also in all the rest of his Sermons did not so fully and apertly declare the sayd Iniunctions and Articles as to our iudgement did appeare they ought to haue bene declared and was of no lyght grounde loked for intreating of other farre distant and diuers from the Articles vppon the which he was commaunded to entreat and such as most should moue and stirre vp the people to disorder and dissension willingly leauing oute those things which should haue made quiet obedience Wherefore not mooued of any malice grudge enuie or euil will to the person of the bishop but constreined by the loue zeale which we beare towards your highnes of our duty and allegeance to your maiesty whose honour and sauety with tranquilitie quietnesse and good gouernaunce of this your Realme we do most desire and for y e discharge of our most bounden dueties to auoyde all the daungers that might ensue of the concealement thereof we most humbly do denounce and declare the same to your highnes to the intent that your Maiestie by the aduise aforesayd may if it please your highnes at this our humble denuntiation call the sayd Byshop to aunswere to the premisses the which we are ready to auowe and proue and then your highnes to take further order heerein as to your Princely wisedome shall seeme most conuenient whose long life and most prosperous gouernement God almighty long continue for the which we shall pray during our liues The Kings Maiestie hauing thus by the information of these two credible persons perfect intelligence of the coÌ„temptuous peruerse negligence of this Bishop in not accomplishing his highnes commaundement geueÌ„ him by Iniunction thought it most necessary with all conuenient speede for the auoiding of farther inconueniences to loke more seuerely vnto the due punishment of such dangerous rebellious obstinacie and therfore by the aduise of the Lord Protectour CommissioÌ„ directed downe by the King against Bonner and the rest of his honorable Counsaile immediatly he directed forth his commission vnder his broad Seale vnto the Archbishop of Canterbury the Bishop of Rochester and to other graue and trusty personages and Counsellers appointing authorising all theÌ„ or certain of them by vertue of the same to call before them as well the Bishop of London Commissioners appoinâ—â—d as also the foresaid denouncers vpoÌ„ due examination proofe of y e premisses or any other matter otherwise to be obiected farther to proceed against him suâ—â—arely de plano according to law and Iustice either to suspension excoÌ„municatioÌ„ committing to prison or depriuation if the qualitie of the offence so required or otherwise to vse any other censure Ecclesiasticall which for the better hearing and determining of that cause myghte to their wisedomes seeme more pertinent as appeareth more amply by the tenour of the Commission heere ensuing * The copie of the Kings Commission sent downe vpon the denunciation aforesayd for the examination of Boner Byshop of London EDward the sixt c. To the most reuerent father in God Thomas Archbyshop of Canterbury Metropolitane and Primate of all England The Copye of the Kingâ— Commission for Bonners examination the right reuerend father in God Nicholas Byshop of Rochester our trusty and right welbeloued Counsellers Syr William Peter and Syr Thomas Smith Knightes our two principall Secretaries and William Maye Doctour of the Law Ciuile and Deane of Paules greeting It is come to our knowledge that where we by the aduise of our most entirely beloued Vncle Edward Duke of Somerset gouernour of our person and Protectour of all our Realmes dominions and subiects and the rest of our priuy Counsayle did giue to the right reuerend father in God Edmund Byshop of London vpon certayne complaynts before made vnto vs and other great considerations certayne Iniunctions to be folowed done and executed and in a Sermon appointed to him
to preach by vs with certaine articles and for the more sure knowledge keeping and obseruing did exhibite the same in writing vnto him by the hands of our sayd Vncle in the fulfilling of our Counsell all this notwithstanding the said Bishop hath in contempt of vs as it may appeare ouerslipped and not obserued certeine of the said things so by vs enioyned and other so peruersely and negligently done that the things minded of vs to reformation for a good quiet of our subiects and our whole realme be conuerted by the wilfull negligence or peruersitie of him to a great occasion of sclaunder tumult and grudge amongst our people as it hath bene denounced to vs in writing by certeine honest and discrete persons otherwise called The which things if they be so we tendring the wealth quietnes good order and gouernement of our people haue not thought conuenient to be let past vnpunished and vnreformed and therefore by the aduise aforesayd haue appointed you fiue foure or three vppon whose fidelities wisedomes dexterities and circumspections we haue full confidence to call before you as well the denouncers of the sayd faultes as also the sayd Byshop and with due examinations and processe according to the law and Iustice to heare the said matter and all other matters of what kind nature or condition so euer they shall be that shall be obiected against the said Byshop summarely de plano or otherwise as to your discretions shall be thought most meete with full power and authoritie to suspend excommunicate commit to prison or depriue the said Bishop if the offence shal so appeare to merite or to vse any other censure Ecclesiasticall which for the better hearing and determining of the cause shall be requisite and apperteine any lawe statute or acte to the contrary notwithstanding In witnes wherof we haue caused these our letters to be made patentes Witnes our selfe at Westminster the viij of September in the third yeare of our reigne This commission being sealed with the kinges broad seale The Commission deliuered was by his highnes Counsaile forthwith deliuered at the Court vnto the archb of Caunterbury and the rest of the Commissioners mentioned in y e same being there al together present Who vpon the receipt therof determined by vertue of the same to sit at the archbishoppes house at Lambeth the Wednesday thâ—n next ensuing Which was y e tenth day of that present month of September and therefore appoynted the Bishop oâ— London to be sommoned to appeare before them as at that time and place The maner of whose behauiour at his appearaunce because it both declareth the froward nature and stubborne condition of the person and also what estimatioÌ„ and authoritie he thought the commissioners to be of I thought not vnmeete fyrst before I enter into the processe somewhat to note and describe vnto you At his first entry into the place within the Archbishops house at Lambeth The stubborne behauiour of Boner before the Commissioners where the Archbishop and other of the Commissioners sate he passed forth directly by them wyth his cap vpon his head making as though hee sawe them not vntil one plucking him by the sleeue willed him to do reuerence vnto the Commissioners Wherat he laughingly turned himselfe spake vnto the archb on this wyse what my Lord are you here By my trouthe I sawe you not No sayde the Archbishop you woulde not see Well quoth he you sent for me haue you anye thinge to say to me Yea sayd the Commissioners we haue here authority from the kinges highnes to call you to accompte for your Sermon you made lately at Pauls crosse for that you did not there publishe vnto the people the article whiche you were commaunded then to preach vpon At which words the bish either for that he did not greatly delite to heare of this matter or els because he would make his friends beleue that hee was called to accompt onely for his opinion in religion as afterwardes in the sequell of this processe it more playnly appeareth began to turne his talke vnto other matters and saide vnto the archbishop Boner speaketh for the Masse In good fayth my Lord I would one thing were had in more reuerence theâ— it is What is it sayd the Archbishop The blessed masse â—â—oth he The Archbishop You haue written very well of the sacrament I merueile you doe no more honour it The Archbishop of Cant. therwith perceiuing his subtiltie and seing his grosse blindnes to commend that which was vtterly contrary to his opinion sayd vnto him agayne Boner If you thinke it wel it is because you vnderstand it not The other then adding vnto his former grosse ignoraunce an obstinate impudencie aunswered The Archbishop I thinke I vnderstand it better then you that wrote it Unto which woordes the Archbishop replyed truely I wil easily make a childe that is but ten yeares old vnderstand therein as much as you but what is this to the matter Anno 1549. Moreouer at what time as they began to enter the Iudicial prosecuting of theyr commission and had called forth the denouncers to propound such matter as they hadde to obiect agaynst him he hearing them speake Boner falleth to scorning and taunting of his denouncerâ— fel to scorning and taunting of them saying to the one that he spake lyke a Goose and to the other that he spake like a Woodcocke vtterly denying theyr accusations to be true Wherupon y e Archbishop seeing his peenish malice agaynst the denouÌ„cers asked him if he would not beleeue them whether hee woulde credite the people there present and therewithall because many of them were also at the Bishops Sermon at Paules he stode vpp and read the article of the kinges authoritie during his young age saying vnto them Boners iudgement of the people howe say you my maysters did my Lord of London preach thys Article Whereunto they aunswered no no. At which wordes the Bishop turning himselfe about deryding sayd wil you beleue this fond people Besides this Boner full of his pretenses Dawes Woodcockes Fooles and such lyke at al his appearings he vsed many irreuerent vncomely obstinate and froward wordes and behauiours towards the Commissioners and others in defacing their authoritie with the termes of pretensed Commissioners pretensed witnesses and vniust vnlawfull and pretensed proceedinges with recusation of some and terming others Dawes Woodcockes fooles and such lyke which I wil here omitte for they doe more manifestly appeare in the sequele of the story in the tyme and place as they happened Adding yet this much by the way that although suche stoutnes of hart and will if it had bene in a cause true and rightfull might haue perchaunce seemed in some mens iudgement to be somewhat sufferable Boners demeanour not tolerable for his calling though meete for his byrth yet to say the truth in what cause so euer it be being unmoderate as this
me downe the hangman sayd no Madame Then tyed she the kerchefe about her eyes and feeling for y e block she sayd what shall I doe where is it where is it One of the standers by guiding her thereunto she layd her head downe vpon the blocke and then stretched foorth her body and sayd Lord into thy handes I commend my spirit and so finished her life in the yeare of our Lord God 1553. the 12. day of February ¶ Certayne prety verses written by the sayd Lady Iane with a pinne Non aliena put es homini quae obtingere possunt Sors hodierna mihi tunc erit illa tibi Iane Dudley Deo iuuante nil nocet liuor malus Et non iuuante nil iuuat labor grauis Post tenebras spero lucem ¶ Certaine Epitaphes written in commendation of the worthy Lady Iane Gray De Iana Graia Ioan. Parkhursti Carmen Graia being her surname signifieth in Latina Grecyan Miraris Ianam Graio sermone valere Quo primum nata est tempore Graia fuit In historiam Ianae I. F. Tu quibus ista legas in certum est lector ocellis Ipse equidem siccis scribere non potui De Iana D. Laurentij Humfredi decastichon Iana iacet saeuo non aequae vulnere mortis Nobilis ingenio sanguine martyrio Ingenium latijs ornauit foemina musis Foemina virgineo tota dicata choro Sanguine clara fuit regali stirpe creata Ipsaque Reginae nobilitata throno Bis Graia est pulchrè Graijs nutrita camaenis Et prisco Graiûm sanguine creta ducum Bis Martyr sacrae fidei verissima testis Atque vacans regni crimine Iana iacet Thus the xij day of February as I sayd was beheaded the Lady Iane February 12. Lady Iane and L. Gylforde Dudley beheaded and with her also the Lord Gilford her husband one of the Duke of Northumberlands sonnes two innocēts in comparison of them that sate vpon them For they did but ignorantly accept that which the others had willingly deuised and by open Proclamation consented to take from others and geue to them Touching the condemnation of this Lady Iane heere is to be noted that the Iudge Morgan who gaue the sentence of condemnation against hir A wonderfull example vpon Morgan the Iudge who gaue sentence agaynst the Lady Iane. shortly after he had condemned her fell madde and in his rauing cried out continually to haue the Lady Iane taken away from hym and so ended his life And not long after the death of the Lady Iane vppon the xxj of the same moneth was Henry Duke of Suffolke her father also beheaded at the Tower Hill the iiij day after his condemnation about which time also were condemned for this conspiracie many Gentlemen and Yeomen February 21. whereof some were executed at London and some in the Countrey Henry D. of Suffolke beheaded L. Thomas Gray apprehended and executed In the number of whome was also Lorde Thomas Gray brother to the sayde Duke being apprehended not long after in North Wales and executed for the same Sir Nicholas Throgmorton very hardly escaped as ye shall heare the Lord willing in another place The xxiiij of the same moneth the yeare of our Lorde 1554. Boner Bishop of London sent downe a Commission directed to all the Curates and Pastors of his dioces for the taking of the names of such as would not come the Lent following to auriculare confession February 24. and to the receyuing at Easter the copie of which monition heere followeth ¶ A monition of Boner Byshop of London sent downe to all and singular Curates of his Dioces for the certifying of the names of such as would not come in Lent to Confession and receiuing at Easter EDmund by the permission of God Byshop of London to all Parsons A monition of Boner B. of London to all ministers of his Dioces Vicares Curates and Ministers of the Church within the Citie and Dioces of London sendeth grace peace and mercy in our Lorde euerlasting For as much as by the order of the Ecclesiasticall lawes and constitutions of thys Realme and the lawdable vsage custome of the whole Catholicke Church by many hundreth yeares agone duely and deuoutly obserued and kept all faithfull people beeing of lawfull age and discretion are bounde once in the yeare at least except reasonable cause excuse them to be confessed to theyr owne proper Curate and to receaue the Sacrament of the aultar with due preparation and deuotion and for as much also as we be credibly enformed that sundry euill disposed and vndeuout persons geuen to sensuall pleasures and carnall appetites following the lusts of their body and neglecting vtterly the health of their soules do forbeare to come to confession according to the sayd vsage Comming to confession and to receaue the Sacrament of the aulter accordingly geuing therby pernicious and euill example to the yonger sort to neglect and contemne the same we minding the reformation heereof for our owne discharge Receiuing the sacrament of the aultar and desirous of good order to be kept and good example to be geuen do will and commaund you by vertue heereof that immediately vpon the receipt of this our commaundement yee and euery ech of you within your cure and charge do vse all your diligence and dexteritie to declare the same straightly charging and commaunding all your parishioners being of lawfull age and discretion to come before Easter next comming to confession according to the sayd ordinaunce and vsage and with due preparation and deuotion to receiue the sayd Sacrament of the aulter and that ye do note the names of all such as be not confessed vnto you and do not receiue of you the sayd Sacrament certifying vs or our Chauncellour or Commissary thereof before the sixt day of Aprill next ensuing the date heereof so that we knowing thereby who did not come to confession and receyuing the Sacrament accordingly may proceede agaynst them as beeyng persons culpable and transgressours of the sayd ecclesiasticall lawe and vsage Further also certifying vs or our sayd Chauncellour or Commissary before the day aforesayde whether ye haue your aultars set vp chalice booke vestiments and all things necessary for Masse and the administration of sacraments and sacramentals with procession and all other diuine seruice prepared and in readines according to the order of the Catholike Church and the vertuous and godly example of the Queenes Maiesties and if ye so haue not yee then with the Churchwardens cause the same to be prouided for signifying by whose faulte and negligence the same want or faulte hath proceeded and generally of the not comming of your parishioners to Church vndue walking talking or vsing of themselues there vnreuerently in the tyme of diuine seruice and of all other open faults and misdemeanours not omitting thus to doo and certifie as before as you will answere vpon your perill for the contrarye Geuen at London the 23. of
February in the yeare of our Lord 1554. The next moneth following which was the moneth of March and the 4. day of the sayd moneth there was a letter sent from the Queene to Boner Bishop of London with certaine Articles also annexed to be put in speedy execution conteining as heere followeth ¶ Articles sent from the Queene to the Bishop of London by him and his officers at her commaundement to be put in speedy execution with her letter to the sayd Byshop before prefixed RIght reuerend Father in God right trusty and welbeloued we greete you well A letter oâ— Q. Mary 〈◊〉 B. Boner Causes deâ—clared March 3. And wheras heretofore in y e time of the late raigne of our most dearest brother K. Edward y e 6. whose soule god pardon dyuers notable crimes excesses and faults with sundrye kindes of heresies sâ—â—â—ny adultery other enormities haue bene committed w tin this our Realme and other our dominions the same continuing yet hitherto in like disorder since the beginning of our raigne without any correction or reformation at all the people both of the laitie and also of the clergye chiefly of the clergy haue bene geuen to much insolency vngodly rule greatly to the displeasure of almighty God very much to our regret euill contentation to no litle slander of other Christen realmes and in a maner to the subuersion cleane defacing of this our realme and remembring our duety to almighty god to be to foresee as much as in vs may be y t all vertue and godly liuing shoulde be embraced florish increase and therewith also y t all vice vngodly behauiour shuld be banished and put away or at y e least wise so nigh as might be so bridled and kept vnder that godlines and honesty might haue y e ouer hand vnderstanding by very credible report and publike fame to ouâ— no smal heauines and discomfort that within your dioces as well in not exempted as exempted places the like disorder and euill behauiour hath bene done vsed like also to continue and increase vnlesse due prouision be had and made to reforme y e same which earnestly in very deede we do mind intend to the vttermost all y e waies we can possible trusting of Gods furtherance and helpe in y t behalfe For these causes and other most iust coÌ„siderations vs mouing we send vnto you certayne articles of suche speciall matter as among other thinges be most necessary now to be put in execution by you your officers extending to the end by vs desired and the reformation aforesaide wherein ye shall be charged with our speciall commaundement by these our letters to the intent you and your officers may y e more earnestly and boldly proceed therunto without feare of any presumption to be noted on your part or danger to be incurred of any such our Lawes as by our doinges of that is in the said articles conteined might any wise greue you whatsoeuer be threatned in any such case And therfore we straightly charge and commaund you and your sayde officers to proceede to the execution of the said Articles w tout all tracte and delay as ye will answere to the contrary Geuen vnder our signet at our Palace of Westminster the 3. day of march the first yeare of our raigne Articles sent from the Queene vnto the Ordinary and by him and his Officers by her commaundement to be put in execution in the whole dioces FIrst that euery Byshop and his Officers with all other hauing Ecclesiasticall iurisdiction shall with all speede and diligence and all maner of waies to them possible put in execution all such Canons and Ecclesiasticall Lawes heeretofore in the time of King Henry the eyght vsed within this Realme of England and the dominions of the same nor being directly and expresly contrary to the lawes and statutes of this Realme Item that no B. or any his Officer or other person aforesayd heereafter in any of their ecclesiasticall writings in processe or other extraiuditiall actes doe vse to put in this clause or sentence Regia authoritate fulcitus Item that no Byshop or any his officers or other person aforesaid do hereafter exact or demaund in the admission of any person to any ecclesiasticall promotion order or office any oth touching the primacy or succession as of late in few yeares passed hath bene accustomed and vsed Item that euery B. and his officers with all other persons aforesayd haue a vigilant eie and vse speciall diligeÌ„ce and foresight that no person be admitted or receiued to any ecclesiasticall function benefice or office being a sacramentary infected or defamed with any notable kinde of heresie or other great crime and that the said B. do stay and cause to be stayed as much as lieth in him that benefices and Ecclesiasticall promotions do not notably decay or take hinderaÌ„ce by passing or coÌ„firming of vnreasonable leases Item that euery Bishop and all other persons aforesayde For punishing â—eâ—esies 〈◊〉 they call them do diligently trauaile for the repressing of heresies and notable crimes especially in the Cleargie duely correcting and punishing the same Item that euery B. and all the other persons aforesayd do likewise trauell for the condemning and repressing of corrupt and naughty opinions vnlawfull bookes ballades and other pernitious and hurtfull deuices engendring hatred amongst the people and discord amongst the same And the Scholemaisters Preachers and Teachers do exercise and vse their offices and duties without teaching preaching or setting foorth any euill and corrupt doctrine and that doing the contrary they may be by the Bishop and his said officers punished and remoued Item that euery B. and all the other persons aforesayd proceding summarely with all celerity speed may and shall depriue or declare depriued and amoue according to their learning discretion all such persons froÌ„ their benefices ecclesiasticall promotioÌ„s who coÌ„trary to the state of their order the laudable custome of the church haue married vsed women as their wiues or otherwise notably and slaunderously disordered or abused themselues sequestring also during the said proces the fruites and profites of the said benefices and Ecclesiasticall promotions Item that the said B. and all other persons aforesayd do vse more lenity and clemency with such as haue married whose wiues be dead then with other whose women do yet remayne aliue And likewise such Priestes as with the consents of their wiues or women openly in the presence of the B. do professe to abstaine Prouision 〈◊〉 priestes which reâ—â—unce their 〈◊〉 to be vsed more fauourably In which case after penaunce effectually done the Bishop according to his discretion and wisedome may vpon iust consideration receiue and admit them agayne to their former administration so it be not in the same place appointing them such a portion to liue vpon to be payde out of their benefice whereof they be depriued by
haue dedicate themselues vnto Christ in fayth to liue purely and chastly then let them so remayne without any fable and stronglye stedfastly abide the rewarde of virginitye But if they will not abide or els cannot abide then it is better to mary then for to fall into the fire of concupiscence And let theÌ„ geue to the brethren sisterne none occasion of sclaunder c. ¶ Saynt Augustine in his booke De bono coniugali ad Iulianum CErtayne men doe affirme those men to be aduouterers that doe marry August de Bono coniugali ad Iulianum after that they haue vowed chastity But I do affirme that those men do greuously sinne the whiche do separate them c. ¶ Ambrose 32. Quest. 1. Cap. Integritas The Pope his Byâ—hops commaundeth and counselleth not to mary yea to burne men for marying CHastitye of the bodye ought to bee desired of vs the whiche thing I do geue for a counsell and do not commaund it imperiously For Virginity is a thing that alonelye ought to be couÌ„selled but not to be commaunded it is rather a thing of voluntary will and not a precept ¶ A briefe recapitulation out of Doctour Taylours causes afore touched for the Reader more euidently to see how the Papistes do agaynst their own knowledge in forbiddinge Pristes Mariage THe Popes Clergy forbidding Ecclesiastical persons to mary do against their conscience knowledge as may well be proued by these causes hereunder folowing 1. First they know that Matrimony in the old testament De iure institutionis is indifferently permitted to all menne without any exception 2. Secondly they know that in the old Testament De facto both Priestes Leuites Prophets Patriarches and al other had theyr wiues 3. Thirdly they know that Matrimony was permitted instituted of God for two principall endes to wit for procreation and auoyding of sinne 4. Fourtly they know that in the old testameÌ„t God not onely instituted and permitted Matrimony to be free but also induceth appoynteth meÌ„ to mary and take wiues in these wordes It is not good for a man to be alone c. 5 Fiftly they know that in the new testament S. Paule permitteth the state of Matrimony free to all men hauing not the gift of continency and forbiddeth none 6. Sixtly they know that in the new Testament the sayd S. Paule not only permitteth but also expressely willeth chargeth men hauing not the gift to mary saying For auoyding fornication let euery man haue his wife c. 7. Seuenthly they know that in the new Testament the sayd S. Paul not onely permitteth and commauÌ„deth but also commendeth and prayseth the state of Matrimonye Hebr. 13. Calling it honorable and the bedcompany to be vndefiled c. 8. Eightly they know that in the new testament Christ himselfe not onely was not conceiued nor borne of the virgine before she was espoused in matrimonye but also that both he and his blessed mother did beutify and honour the state of matrimony with their presence yea in the same began his first miracle 9. Ninthly they know both by the old testament new that mariage is no impediment to walke in the obedieÌ„ce of Gods commandement for both Abraham caryed into the land of Canaan his old yea and barrayne wife the vertuous woman Sara with him also to Isaac Iacob Moses Dauid and other their mariage was no impedemeÌ„t to them to talk with God neither to other Leuites bishops and Priestes in the time both of the old testament of the new Agayne neither was it a let to Peter Philip other both to haue their wiues with them and also to supply the office of Apostleship 10. Tenthly they know both by the old testameÌ„t new y t sinnefull fornicatioÌ„ adultry depriueth man of Gods fauor graces of the holy Ghost which graces especially be requisite in men of the Church 11. Eleuenthly they know in theyr owne secret conscience by experience that neither they which enioyne this vow of chastity nor they which take it doe obserue the vowe of chastity Whereupon rise inconueniences more then can be expressed but the Lord aboue knoweth all besides the secret murders peraduenture of many a poore infant c. 12. Twelfthly they knowe by S. Cyprian Epist. 11. and S. Augustine Lib. De bono coniugali ad Iulianum that a vowe is no impediment sufficient to let Matrimony or to diuorce the same 13. Thirtenthly they know that Chrysostome affirmeth it to be an heresy to say that a byshop may not haue a wife 14. Fourtenthly they know that S. Ambrose 32. q. 1. Integritas will haue no commaundement but counsel onely to be geuen touching the obseruing of virginity 15. Fiftenthlye they knowe that before the time of Pope Hildebrand that is during that time of 1000. yeares after Christ mariage was neuer restrained by any forceable necessity of vow from men of the Church 16. Sixtenthly they know that S. Paul calleth it the doctrine of deuils to forbid meates and maryage which God hath left free with thankes geuing for necessity of man and woman After that Doct. Taylour thus with great spirite and courage had aunswered for himselfe and stoutly rebuked his aduersaries for breaking their oth made before to king Henry and to king Edwarde his sonne and for betraying the realme into the power of the Romain bishop they perceiuing that in no case he could be styrred to their wils and purpose that is to turne with them from Christ to Antichrist committed him therupon to prison againe where he endured till the last of Ianuary * D. Taylour the fourth tyme with M. Bradford and M. Saunders brought before Winchester and other Byshops VPon which day yeare aforesayd Gardineâ— Hopton Boner Capon Tonstall D. Tailour and M. Bradford and M. SauÌ„ders were agayne called to appeare before the byshop of Winchester the bishop of Norwich of London of Salisbury and of Duresme and ther were charged agayne with heresy schisme and therfore a determinate answere was required whether they woulde submit themselues to the Romayne byshop abiure there errors or els they would according to theyr lawes proceed to theyr condemnation When D. Taylour and his felowes M. Bradford and M. Saunders heard this they answered stoutly and boldly The conâ—â—cye of thâ— men that they would not depart froÌ„ the truth which they had preached in king Edwards dayes neither would they submit themselues to the romish Antichrist but they thanked God for so great mercy that he would cal them to be worthy to suffer for his word and truth When the Bishops saw them so boldly constanly and vnmoueably fixed in the truth Sentence death 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 they read y e senteÌ„ce of death vpon them which wheÌ„ they had heard they most ioyfully gaue God thankes and stoutly sayde vnto the Byshops We doubt not but God the righteous Iudge will require our bloud at your handes and
in the supper of Christ which the Sacramente of the aultar as the Papists call it and vse it doth vtterly ouerthrow is a true and very presēce of whole Christ God and man to the fayth of the receiuer but not to the stander by looker vpon as it is a true very presence of bread wine to the sences of men to beleue this I saye will not serue and therfore as an herericke I am condemned and shal be burned whereof I aske God hartily mercy that I do no more reioyce then I do hauing so great cause as to be an instrument wherein it may please my deare Lorde God and Sauiour to suffer For albeit mo manifold sinnes euen sithen I came into prison haue deserued at the handes of God not onely this tēporal but also eternall fire in hell much more then my former sinful life which y e Lord pardō for his Christes sake as I knowe he of his mercy hath done neuer will lay mine iniquities to my charge to condēnation so great is his goodnes praised therfore be his holy name althogh I say my manifold and greeuous late sinnes haue deserued most iustly all the tyranny that mā or deuill can do vnto me and therfore I confesse that the Lorde is iust that his iudgements be true and deserued on my behalfe yet y e Bishoppes and Prelates do not persecute them in me but Christ himselfe his worde his trueth and Religion And therfore I haue great cause yea most great cause to reioice that euer I was borne and hetherto kept of the Lord that by my death which is deserued for my sinnes it pleaseth y e heauenly father to glorifie his name to testifie hys truth to confirme his veritie to repugne his aduersaries Oh good God and mercifull father forgeue my great vnthākfulnes especially herein And you my dearely beloued for the Lord Iesu Christes sake I humbly and hartily in his bowels bloude do now for my last Vale and farewell in this present lyfe beseeche you and euerye of you that you will consider this worke of the Lord accordingly First by me to be admonished to beware of hipocrisie and carnall securitie professe not the Gospell with tongue and lippes onely but in hart veritie frame and fashion your liues accordingly beware Gods name be not euill spoken of and the Gospell lesse regarded by your conuersation God forgeue me that I haue not so hartily professed it as I shoulde haue done but haue sought much my selfe therein The Gospell is a new doctrine to the old man it is new wyne and therfore cannot be put in old bottels without more great hurt thē good wine to the bottels If we will talke with y e Lorde we must put of our shoes and carnall affections if wee will heare the voyce of the Lorde we must wash our garmentes and be holy if we will be Christes disciples wee must deny our selues take vp our crosse and follow Christ we cannot serue two maysters If we seeke Christs kingdome we must also seeke for the righteousnes thereof Christian profession requireth Christian conuersation To this petition Let thy kingdome come we must ioyne Thy will be done done on earth as it is in heauen If wee will not be doers of the worde but hearers of it onely we sore deceiue our selues If wee heare the gospell and loue it not we declare our selues to be but fooles and builders vpon the sand The Lordes spirite hateth fayning deceitfulnes the Lord abhorreth if we come to him wee must beware that we come not with a double hart for then may chance that God will aunswere vs according to the blocke which is in our heart and so we shall deceiue our selues and others To fayth see y t we couple a good conscience least wee make a shipwracke Fayth would be coupled euer with a good conscience To the Lord we must come with fear and reuerence If we will be gospellers we must be Christes if we be Christes we must crucifie our flesh with the lustes and concupiscences therof if we wil be vnder grace sinne must not beare rule in vs. We may not come to the Lord and draw nigh to him with our lips and leaue our hartes els where least the Lordes wrath waxe hot He exhorteth to repentance and he take from vs the good remayning In no case can y e kingdome of Christ approch to them that repent not Therfore my dearely beloued let vs repent and be hartily sory y t we haue so carnally so hipocritically so couetously so vaynegloriously professed the gospell For all these I confesse my selfe to the glory of God that he may couer mine offences in the day of iudgement Let the anger plagues of God most iustly fallen vpon vs be applyed to euery one of our desertes that from the bottome of our hartes euery of vs may say It is I Lord that haue sinned agaynst thee it is my hipocrisie my vaynglory my couetousnes vncleanes carnalitie securitie idlenes vnthankfulnes selfeloue Our sinnes prouoke persecutiō and such like which haue deserued the taking away of our good king of thy word and true religion of thy good ministers by exile prisonmēt and death it is my wickednes that causeth successe and increase of authoritie and peace to thine enemies Oh be mercifull be mercifull vnto vs. He exhorteth to pray how to pray with repentance Turne to vs agayne O Lorde of hostes turne vs vnto thee correct vs but not in thy furie least we be consumed in thyne anger chastice vs not in thy wrathful displeasure reproue vs not but in the middest of thine anger remember thy mercy For if thou marke what is done amisse who shall be able to abide it But with thee is mercifulnes that thou mightest be worshipped Oh then be mercifull vnto vs y t we might truely worship thee Helpe vs for the glorye of thy name be mercifull vnto our sinnes for they are great O heale vs and help vs for thine honor Let not the wicked people say where is their God c. On this sort my right dearely beloued let vs hartilye bewayle our sinnes repent vs of our former euil life hartily and earnestly purpose to amēd our lyues in all things continually watch in prayer diligently and reuerently attend heare and reade the holy scriptures labour after our vocation to amend our brethren Praying hearing reading the holy scriptures Let vs reproue the workes of darckenes Let vs flee frō al Idolatrye Let vs abhorre the Antichristiā and romish rotten seruice detest the popishe Masse abrenounce their Romishe God prepare our selues to the crosse be obedient to all that be in authoritie in all thinges that be not agaynst God and his word for then aunswere with the Apostles It is more meete to obey God then man Howbeit neuer for any thinge resiste Obedience to magistrates in all that is not agaynst Gods word
wolues were so prosperous y t then there were but few theeues yea theft was at that tyme so rare that Caesar was not compelled to make penalty of death vpon felony as your grace may well perceiue in his institutes There was also at that time but few poore people and yet thei did not begge The cause of so many beggâ—â—s theeues and idle people in England but there was geuen them enough vnasked for there was at that time none of these rauenous wolues to aske it from them as it appeareth in the Actes of the Apostles Is it any maruell though there be now so many beggers theues and â—ole people Nay truely What remedy make lawes agaynst them I am in doubt whether ye be able The popeâ— clergy stronger in Parliâ—mente â—hen 〈◊〉 as hath appeared by thâ—ir cruell lawes against the poore Gospellers Are they not stronger in your owne Parliament house then your selfe What a number of Bishops Abbots and Priors are Lordes of your Parliament Are not all the learned men of your realme in fee with them to speake in your Parliament house for them agaynst your crowne dignity and common wealth of your realme a few of your owne learned Counsell onely excepted What lawe can be made agaynst them that may bee auayleable Who is hee though he be greued neuer so sore that for the murther of his auncester No lawe nor remedye against the clergie rauishmeÌ„t of his wife of his daughter robbery trespasse manne debt or any other offence dare lay it to theyr charge by any way of action and if he do then is he by and by by theyr wyknes accused of heresy yea they will so handle him ere he passe that except he will beare a Fagot for theyr pleasure he shal be excommunicate then be all his actions dashed So captiue are your lawes vnto them that no man whom they list to excommunicate All lawes and actions captiue 〈◊〉 the clergy men may be admitted to sue any actioÌ„ in any of your Courts If any man in your Sessions dare be so hardy to indite a Priest of any such crime he hath ere the yeare go out such a yoake of heresye layd in his necke that it maketh him wish that he had not done it Your grace may see what a worke there is in LondoÌ„ Of Richard Hunne read before pag. 806 how the Bishop rageth for inditing of certayne Curates of extortion incontineÌ„cy the last yere in the Wardmote quest Had not Richard Hunne commenced action of Premunire against a Priest he had bene yet aliue and no heretick at all but an honest man Did not diuers of your noble progenitors The statute of Mortmayne seeyng theyr crowne and dignity runne into ruine and to be thus craftily translated into the handes of this mischieuous generatioÌ„ make diuers statutes for the reformation thereof among which the statute of Mortmayne was one to the intent that after that time they should haue no more geuen vnto them But what auayled it haue they not gotten into theyr handes more landes since theÌ„ any Duke in England hath Halfe the profite of the realme in the clergies handes the statute notwithstandyng Yea haue they not for all that translated into theyr handes from your grace halfe your kingdome throughly the onely name remayning to you for your auÌ„ceters sake So you haue the name and they the profit Yea I feare if I should wey all thinges to the vttermost they would also take the name vnto them and of one kingdome make twayne the spirituall kingdome as they call it for they will be named first and your temporall kingdome And which of these 2. kingdoms suppose you is like to ouergrow the other yea to put y e other cleare out of memory Truly the kingdome of the bloudsuppers for to them is geuen daily out of your kingdome and that that is once geuen them commeth neuer from them agayne Such lawes haue they that none of them may neither geue nor sell nothing What law can be made so strong agaynst theÌ„ that they either with mony or els with other pollicy will not breake or sette at nought What kingdome can endure that euer geueth thus froÌ„ him and receiueth nothing agayne Oh how all the substaunce of your realme your sword power crowne dignity obedience of your people runneth headlong into the insatiable whirlepole of these gredy goulfes to be swallowed and deuoured Neither haue they any other colour to gather these yearely exactions into their handes The most good that the Popes clergye doth in England is to pray 〈◊〉 soules out of Purgatorye but that they say they pray for vs to God to deliuer our soules out of the paynes of Purgatory without whose prayer they say or at least without the Popes pardon we coulde neuer be deliuered thence Which if it be true then it is good reason that we geue theÌ„ all these things although it were a huÌ„dred times as much But there be many men of great litterature and iudgement that for the loue they haue vnto the trueth and vnto the common wealth haue not feared to put theÌ„selues into the greatest infamy that may be in abiection of all the world yea in peril of death to declare theyr opinion in this matter which is that there is no Purgatory but that it is a thing inuented by the couetousnes of the spiritualty Purgatory denyed onely to translate all kingdomes from other princes vnto theÌ„ and that there is not one word spokeÌ„ of it in all holy Scripture They say also that if there were a Purgatory and also if that the Pope with his pardons for money may deliuer one soule thence he may deliuer hym as well without mony if he may deliuer one he may deliuer a thousaÌ„d if he may deliuer a thousand he may deliuer them al and so destroy Purgatory and then heâ—s a cruell tyrant without all charity if he keepe them there in prison and in payne tyll men will geue him money If the Pope may deliuer soules â—ut of Purgator◠〈◊〉 money hee may then as 〈◊〉 deliuer them without 〈◊〉 if it pleased him Agayne if he deliuerâ—â— he can deliuer a thousanâ—â— he can deliuer a thousanâ—â— can deliuer all and so maâ— gaâ—â—e deliuerie and a 〈◊〉 dispatch of all 〈◊〉 if hee woulde and if he wâ—ll not wheÌ„ he may theÌ„ is there no charitye in him Likewise say they of all the whole sort of the spiritualtye that if they will pray for no man but for theÌ„ that geue theÌ„ money they are tyrants lacke charity suffer those soules to be punished and payned vncharitably for lacke of theyr prayers This sorte of folkes they cal hereticks these they burne these they rage agaynst put to open shame and make them beare Fagots But whether they be heretickes or no well I wot that this Purgatory the popes pardons are all the cause of the translatioÌ„ of your kingdome so fast