Christ. 63 Examination of Stephen Gratwicke Martyr with his aunsweres 1977.1978 Exam Battayle with the successe thereof 713 Example notable of a souldiour biting off his tongue and spitting it in the face of an harlot 63 Examples of Gods plagues vpon the deniers of his sacred trueth 64 Example of Peter slaying of Ananias and Saphira falsely wrested by the Papistes 490 Exaltation of the Pope aboue kinges and princes 782 Excommunicatiō of Henricus the Emperor by Hildebrand 179 Excommunication the seconde of Hildebrand agaynst the Emperour 180 Excommunication was in the olde time the greatest punishment in matters of fayth and conscience that could be 1854 Excommunication how to be feared and when 612 Excommunication requireth consent of the church 1113 Excommunication abused by the papistes manifolde wise 19.193 Excommunication in the Churche of Rome abused 860 Exeter Colledge built 372 Execution at Norwich 339 Exiles in Queene Maryes tyme for religion how many 800 Exorcising of Priestes 497 Extreame vnction reproued 725 F. A. FAbian chosen bishop of Rome miraculously 60. Fathers their testimonies against Images 2130.2131 Fabianus martyr .60 hys ordinances suspected ibid. Fachell geueth iudgement agaynst faynting of certaine Christians 46. Fayth recouereth that which was lost by the law .22 Fayth why it onely iustifieth 22.977 Fayth in Christ what it is 977. Fayth of the godfathers and godmothers sanctifieth not the child but theyr dilligence may helpe in seeing him catechised 1995. Fayth the meane wherby we are known to be elected .1658 what it is .1656 whereof it taketh his force and strength ibid. Faith planted in Rome in the days of Tiberius before Peter came there .1758.1803 faith the foundation of the church ibid. not grounded on the ciuill Law 1802. Fayth of the Pope hangeth vppon the multitude .1805 was neuer vniuersall 1804. Fayth ought not to be compelled 1817. Fayth wherein it consisteth 1824. Fayth sometimes to bee couered with loue 1933. Fayth onely iustifieth 26.21.22.1116.1117.1658 Fayth in Souldiers notable 78. Fyyth defined 677.1659 Fayth first planted in Englande whether it came from Rome or not 106 Fayth came out of Britayne not from Rome 480. Fayth of the Turkes Iewes and Papistes 22. Fayth of the olde Romaynes good 20. Faith iustifieth 3. maner of wayes 23. Fayth not babtisme in water saueth 1994. Fayth cause of good workes 26. Fayth and iustification falsly applied by the Papistes 25.26 Farrar Bishop hys tragicall story with articles agaynst hym exhibited .1544 hys aunswere to the same .1546 hys condemnation and Martyrdome .1555 hys letters 1556 Famyne and death in Englande 369. Fast to be perswaded not coacted 1110. Fayrefaxe scourged for the Gospel 2058.2059 Fathers how farre they ought to be followed 1823. Faustinus Martyr 41. Fasting straight of Alcibiades corrected 50. Faustus Martyr 73. Faukes de breut rebelleth agaynst king Henry 258. F. E. Feast of the speare of the nayles 393. Feastes ordayned by the Pope 557 Feast of Corpus Christi by whome inuented 507. Feastes of all soules Alhallowes by whome 1404. Feete of the Pope kissed of the Emperoures 129. Feare of sinne death and distrust in Gods promises two pellettes wherwith the Deuill assaulteth Gods seruauntes .1925.1926 the remedies therof 1926. Fetties wife strocken by Gods hād for persecuting of his saints 2103. Feare of God consisteth in three thinges 357. Fecknam hys talke with the Lady Iane. 1419. Felicitas with her 7. Children martyred 44. Felix B. of Rome Martyr 75 Felix 5. Pope hys coronation royaltie valuation of hys Crowne 690. Ferdinandus king of Hungary .748 hys decree at Spires 872. Fetty with the martyrdome of hys childe 2055.2056 Fewrus Martyr hys story martirdome 914. F I. Fire in hell whether materiall or not 1741. Fire thought to be in S. Maries Church in Oxford 1208. Figuratiue speache howe to bee knowne .1393 what it is 1950. Filmer Testwood Marbeck and Bennet their story 1219. Fisher Bishop of Rochester persecutor hys end 2101 Filmer hys trouble and persecution .1213 his wife her suite for hym .1217 hys death 1220. Finall Martyr his story and martyrdome 1970. First fruits brought in by the pope 352. denied to be paid vnto him ibid. First fruites and impropriations brought in by the pope and abused 5. Fishcock Martyr his story martyrdome 1980.1981 Fish Author of the booke called the supplication of beggers 1013 1014 Fisher Bishop of Rochester an enemy to Christes Gospell .1068 beheaded 1069 Fifte parte of all the goodes of the Cleargy graunted to the Pope 285. Fitziames Bishop of London hys death 804 Fiue Martyrs burnt at Canterb. 1708 Fiuetene Martyrs and confessors imprisoned at one time in Caunterbury for the truth .1954 fiue famished ibid. F L. Flauia a Consuls daughter banished for the Christian fayth 48 Flying in time of persecution whether it be lawfull or not 1781 1782 Florence a Turner his trouble and displing 656 Flower Martyr his story and persecution .1574 his communicatiō with Robert Smith ibid. Articles agaynst him .1575 his condemnation and martyrdome 1577 Floyd Martyr his story 2037.2038.2039 F O. Foreman Martyr 1949 Formosus .1 Pope of Rome 145 Forme of prayers appoynted by Constantine to his souldiours 104 Forret Martyr his story with other his companions 1206 Forrest Martyr 982 Fortune his story 1918.1919 Forme of disgrading an Archbyshop after the maner that the papistes vse it 2133.2134.2135 Fonte halowing after the maner of the Papistes 1405 Foster Martyr famished for the Gospell 1954 Foster Lawyer of Suffolke with Iohn Clearke of Hadley Papistes 1519 Foster Martyr his story persecucution and cruell Martyrdome 1917.1918 Foure thinges considered in the church of Rome title iurisdictiō life and doctrine 1 Foure thinges to bee considered of all men vnder affliction of the Crosse. 1646 Foxford Doctor and Chauncellor to Byshop Stokesley hys sodeyne death 2101 Fox Byshop of Herford .1183 his Oration to the Byshops ibid. Foure Martyrs at Mayfield 1953 F R. Frances the French K. his death 2112 Franciscus 2. burned at Auinion 391 Frances San Romaine Martyr his godly story .928.929 his cōstant death and martyrdom 930 France interdicted and why 200 Frebarne his trouble and persecution 1184 French kyng a persecuter slayne in iustyng by Montgomery 2110 Frebarnes wyfe her story who beyng with child longed for a piece of meat in Lent cast into pryson for eatyng thereof with her husband also their extreme misery in the prison 1184. Friers in France their tragicall history 1291 Frederike the Emperour relieueth the French army 293.265 Frederike cursed of the Pope but God blesseth hym 204.2947 Frederike 2. his contention wyth Honorius 3. Pope .298.299 hys voyage towardes Ierusalem to warre agaynst the Turke .300 hys sicknesse .301 he is excommunicate by the Pope purgeth hymselfe writeth to the kyng of England and is crowned kyng of Ierusalem 301.302 Fredericus 1. called Barbarossa holdeth the Popes stirrop and is blamed for holdyng it on the left side 202.789.174 Frederike 2. Emperor crowned in Ierusalem .302 hys letter to all the world agaynst the
tribulations that being founde constant to the end he may crowne his owne giftes in them in heauen highly reward thē Whether I trust to goe before looking for you to followe my faythfull frend that we maye sing perpetuall praise to our louing Lord God for victory ouer Sathan and sinne won for vs by Iesus Christ God and man our onely and sufficient Sauiour and Aduocate Amen Farewell and pray in fayth Yours Thomas Whittell Minister and nowe condemned to dye for the Gospels sake 1556. Ianuary 21. ¶ All my felowes salute you Salute all our faythful brethren with you ¶ To my deare frend and brother Iohn Went and other his prison felowes in Lollardes Tower HE that preserued Ioseph prisoner in Egypt fed Daniel in the Lions denne and deliuered Paul Peter and the Apostles out of prison vouchsafe of his goodnes to keep feed and deliuer you my good brother Went with the other our felow souldiors your prison felowes as may be most to his glory to your consolatiō and the edification of his Church I cannot but praise God most earnestly when I heare of your constancy in the fayth and ioye in the crosse of Christ which you now beare and suffer together with many other good members of Christ which is a token that by Christ you are counted worthy the kingdome of God as Paule sayth And though the world counteth the yoake and crosse of Christ as a most pernicious and hurtfull thing yet we which haue tasted how frendly the Lord is cannot but reioice in this persecution as touching our selues in as much as the cause for the which we suffer is the Lordes cause and not ours at whose hand if we endure to the end we shall receiue through his liberall promise in Christ not onely a greate reward in heauen but also the kingdome of heauen it selfe also in the meane season be sure to bee defended and cared for so that we shall lacke no necessarye thinges neither a heare of our heades shall perishe without his knowledge Oh what is he that would mistrust or not gladly serue so louing a father O how vnhappy are they that forsake him and put theyr trust in man But how blessed are they that for his loue and for his holy woordes sake in these troublesome dayes doe committe theyr soules and bodyes into his handes with wel doing counting it greater happines and riches to suffer rebuke with Christ and his Church thē to enioy the pleasures of this life for a litle short seasō This crosse that we nowe beare hath bene common to all the faythfull from Abell hitherto and shal be to the end because the Deuill hauyng great wrath agaynst God and his Christ can not abide that hee should for his manifolde mercies bee lauded and magnified and Christ to be taken and beleued vpon for our onely and sufficient redemer Sauiour and aduocate and therefore because we will not deny Christ nor dissemble with out fayth but openly protest and professe the same before the world he seeketh by all meanes to styrre vp his wicked members to persecute and kill the bodies of the true Christians as S. Iohn sayth the Deuill shall cast some of you into prison And Dauid sayth I beleued and therfore haue I spoken but I was sore troubled This notwithstanding goe forward deare brethren as ye haue begon to fight the Lords battel considering Christe the Captayne of your warre who will both fight for you geue you victorye and also highlye rewarde your paynes Consider to your comfort the notable and chiefe shepheardes and souldiours of Christe whiche are gone before vs in these dayes I meane those learned and godly Bishops Doctours other ministers of Gods word whose fayth and examples we that be inferiours ought to folowe as S. Paule sayth Remember them that haue declared vnto you the worde of God the ende of whose conuersation see that ye look vpon and folow theyr faith The grace blessing of God with the ministery of his holy Angels be with you for euer Amen All my prison felowes greete you From the Colehouse this 4. of December By your poore brother Thomas Whittell an vnworthy Minister of Christ nowe his prisoner for the Gospels sake Amen ¶ To all the true professors and louers of Gods holy Gospell within the City of London THe same faith for the whiche Abraham was counted righteous and Mary blessed the Lorde GOD encrease and make stable in your hartes my deare and faithfull brethren sisters of London for euer and euer Amen Dearely beloued be not troubled in this heat which is now come amongest you to try you as though some straunge thing had happened vnto you but reioyce in as much as ye are partakers of Christes passions that when his glory appeareth ye may be mery and glad c. Out of these wordes of S. Peter I gather most specially these 4. notes First the persecution happeneth to Christes Church for their triall that is for the probation and proofe of their fayth Which fayth like as it is knowne with God in the depth of our hartes so will he haue it made manifest to the whole worlde through persecution that so it may euidently appeare that hee hath such a Churche and people vpon earth which so trusteth in hym and feareth his holy name that no kinde of persecution paynes nor death shal be able to seperate them from the loue of hym And thus was Abraham tried and Iob tempted that their fayth whiche before laye hid almost in their hartes might bee made knowne to the whole world to be so stedfast and stronge that the deuill naturall loue nor no other enemie coulde bee able to bereaue them thereof Whereby also GOD was to be magnefied who both tryeth his people by many tribulations and also standeth by them in the middest of their troubles to deliuer them by lyfe or death as he seeth best like as he assisted Loth and deliuered hym out of his enemies handes Ioseph out of the handes of his Brethren and out of Prison Paule from his enemies in Damasco and the Apostles out of the Stockes and Prison These with many mo he deliuered to lyfe And also he deliuered Abell Eleazar Steuen and Iohn Baptist with other manye by deathe and hathe also by the tryall of their fayth made them good presidentes and examples to vs and all that come after to suffer affliction in the like cause as Saynt Iames sayeth Take my brethren sayth he the prophets for an ensample of suffering aduersity and of long pacience which spake vnto you in the name of the Lord beholde we count them happy which endure Y◠haue heard of the pacience of Iob and haue knowne what end the Lord made with him for the Lord is very pitifull and mercifull Also the Lorde tryeth vs to let vs see our owne hartes and thoughtes that no Hypocrisy or Ambitiō deceiue vs that the strong
the Sea The summe of his money cast into the Sea restored him agayne An other 〈…〉 that 〈…〉 Seas 〈…〉 vpon a 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 â—hippe 〈◊〉 dayes 〈◊〉 two 〈◊〉 in the Sea May. 31. 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 Beâ—ch 〈…〉 in 〈…〉 〈◊〉 6. â— Martyrs 〈…〉 Eâ— Regist. Aâ—â—swere 〈◊〉 Thomas â—arland Aunswere of Iohn Oswald Iune 23. 2. Martyrs burnt at Lewes Iune 23. William Adhâ—rall Iune 25. Iohn Clement Iune 26. A marchaunteâ— seruaunt Iune 27.13 Martyrs suffering at Stratford the Bowe Aunswere to their articles Aunswere to the 2. article Aunswere to the 3 article Aunswere to the 4. article Aunswere to the .5 article Aunswere to â—he 6. article Aunswere to the 7. Article To the 8. article heir answeares To the 9. article their aunsweres Henry 〈◊〉 W. Hallâ—â—well Rafe Iackson Laurence Pernam Iohn Derisall Edmund Hurst Thomas Bowyer George Searles Lion Cauch Henry Adlington Anno 1556. 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Ex Regist. A letter or Apologye of the Martyr purging themselues of the false sclaunder of M. Fecknam Vniforme agrement in ther fayth The profession of their Baptisme Sacramentes of the Church The visible Church The Sea of Rome The Masse Transubstantiation denyed 13. of these were Martyrs as is before sayd Iune 14. Rafe Bane B. of Couentrye and Lichfield a cruell persecuter Marying in Lent punished Iune 26. Thomas Iohnson for swearing by the holy Masse did pennauce Thomas Flyer slayne in Gods quarrell Iune 27. Thomas Parret Iune 26. Martyn Hunt Iohn Norice Confessours Iune 30. Roger Bernard Martyr Roger Bernard refuseth auricular confession Note the Catholicke charitye of this prelate An other examinatioÌ„ of Roger Bernard One of the Garde taketh Bernard to schoole A wholesome company of Caterpillers Roger Bernard condeÌ„ned by the Bishop of Norwich Bernard taken by Tamages men Iune 30. Adam Foster Martyr George Reuet Thomas Mouse Syr Iohn Tyrrell persecutors Gods stroke vpon wilful persecutors A youngâ— man 〈…〉 Clarke agaynst his conscience Anno 1556. Iuly 〈…〉 straunge token 〈◊〉 dyed 〈◊〉 strange 〈◊〉 The Lordes 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 〈…〉 Martyr Robert Kereth a persecutor 〈…〉 of 〈◊〉 Bernard Adam Foster Robert Lawson at Bâ—ry Anno 1â—â—6 Iune â—◠〈◊〉 examiâ—â—â—ion of 〈…〉 before â— Parker 〈◊〉 M. Foâ—â—er The Sacrament of the Aultar M. Foster threatneth Iohn Fortune to be whipped Psal. 49. The Pope likened to a Belwether or a Master Bee Poysoned Popes Ceremonyes of the Church Math. 15. Gal. 4. Math. 15. It is pitty that popish prelates cannot lye An other examination of Iohn Fortune Sacrament of the Aultarr Catholicke prelates obsequious to higher powers so long as they make for their dignity but when they do otherwise then they excommunicate them Heb. 10. Dan. 11. Other talke betweene Iohn Fortune and the B. of Norwich Iohn 6. The B. of Norwich charged with periâ—ry The death of Iohn Fortune Iuly 1. The death of Iohn Careles prisoner in the Kinges Bench. Iohn Careles examined before D. Martyn The effect of Iohn Careles examination How Iohn Careles was brought to the Kinges Bench. Iohn Careles examineâ— vpon predestinatâ—â—n Doct. Marâ—â—â— declareth his Commission Why Doct. Martyn woulde not 〈…〉 the Sacrament Careles opinion of Gods election Doctour Martyn 〈◊〉 Careles iudgement of Godâ— election A wrong fayth of Predestination beleeâ—â—ng to be elected in respect of good 〈◊〉 D. Martyn pretendeth fauor to Careles More variety in the Popes 〈◊〉 Church then is amongest the Protestantes Doctour Martin taketh his leaue gently of Careles Iohn Careles dyed in prison and was buryed in the fieldes A letter of Iohn Careles to M. Philpot. 1. Reg. 1. Iohn Careles raysed vp by the Lord out of great heauines This comfort receaued of M. Philpot read in M. Philpots letters pag. 1726. Ierem. 10. Ierem. 26. Ierem. 1. Ierem. 1â— Math. 7. The circumspect behauiour of M. Philpot Iohn Careles aduise to M. Philpot Psal. 68. I. Careles care turned into ioy Gods gracious worke through M. Philpots letter Iohn Careles drunken with ioy of the spirite 2. Reg. 6. Careles accused to the Councell by certayne backe friendes in Couentrye Note how comfortably the Lord worketh in 〈◊〉 prisoned Saintes Gods prouidence towad his people An other 〈◊〉 of Iohn Careâ—â—â— to his wyfe Here is a 〈◊〉 marke 〈…〉 Chriâ—â—â—an forsaâ—iâ—g wyfe 〈◊〉 childreÌ„ 〈◊〉 Christes 〈◊〉 Math. 10. Good counâ—â—â—â— geuen 〈…〉 wyfe 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 vpon 〈◊〉 Lord. The 〈◊〉 duety 〈◊〉 â—ringing 〈…〉 chilâ—â—en A sweete letter of Iohn Careles to M. Bradford a little before his Martirdome He mourneth for the losse and lacke of M. Bradford in the Church He reioyceth for the honour of M. Bradfords Martyrdome Iohn Careles taketh his leaâ—e of M. Bradford Testimony of Gods spirite Iohn Careles doth Gods message to Master Bradford Power and practise of the keyes of the Gospell A comfortable letter of M. Bradford to Iohn Careles Practise of the keyes of the Gospell An other letter of Iohn Carles to the constant brethren in Newgate condemned Example of true loue charitye among the Martyrs The enemyes not able to withstand the wisedome of God in his Saintes but compelled to bydde them hold their peace Iohn Careles longeth to dye a Martyr in the Gospells causâ— Of the Martyrs 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Tyms read before pag 1895. 〈…〉 both the Spurges 〈◊〉 in the 〈◊〉 pag. â—â—â—◠〈◊〉 â—19 Psal. 103. Triumph of Martyrs Gen. 3. Apoc. 11. An other letter of Iohn Careless wherein he doth animate Grene Whittell and the rest of that company vnto their Martyrdome Apoc 11. To dye in the Lord and for the Lord. Of this Barthelet Grene read before pag. 1846. Luke 12. Of this Thomas Whittell read before pag. 1833. Luke 21. Apoc. 16. Of Ioane Warner read before pag. 1850. He meaneth Elizabeth Foster pag. 1750. Math. 25. Iohn 5. B. Boner called the slaughter slaue of England Psal. 60. 4. Reg. 2. An other letter of Iohn Careles priuately written to his bâ—dfellow W. Tyms Gods children neuer tempted aboue their strength He confirmeth W. Tyms being condemned to the day of his Martyrdome It is the nature of Gods children to be tempted Math. 4. Sathans tempting tooles 2. Cor. 2. Two principal pelletâ— of Sathan whereby he assaulteth Gods seruauntes 1. Feare of sinne and death and infâ—delity of Gods 〈◊〉 Remedy agaynst feare and infideâ—â—tye Anno 1556. Iuly The second 〈…〉 Remedy agaynst the â— Peller Eâ—ay 64. An other 〈◊〉 of Iohn Careâ—â—â— to M. Coâ—ton a faythfull 〈◊〉 and fauourer of the Gospel Gods great 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Note how God sometyme geueth comfort by weaker vessels Iohn Careles nothing touched with feare of death or of the fire but onely of his sinnes An other letter of Iohn Careles wherein he comforteth the afflicted minde of a certayne good brother mourning for lacke of Gods feeling Psalm 57. Psalm 45. Comfort for a sicke conscience Math. 9. Psalm 42. Gods loue goeth not by our deseruinges but by fayth in Iesus Christ onely is the cause why his father loueth vs. Why God somtyme hydeth himselfe from vs. Heb. 12. Eccle.
thee and I will send my wrath vpon thee vpon thee I say O Englande and punish thee according to thy wayes and rewarde thee after all thyne abhominations Thou hast kindled the fire of Gods wrath and hast stirred vp the coales For thou waste once lightned and hadst tasted of the heauenly gifte and wast become partaker of the holy ghost haddest tasted of the good word of God Yea it is yet in thy mouth sayth the Prophet Alas O Englād thou knewest thy Lorde and maisters wil but diddest nothing thereafter Thou must therefore sayeth hee suffer many stripes and many sharpe strokes and walke on in the glittering and hot flame of thine owne fire and in the coles that thou hast kindled This commeth to thee from my hande saith the Lorde namely That thou shalt sleepe in sorrowe yea euen so thou shalt The plain truth telleth the tale the immutable iustice of the euerliuing God and the ordinarie course of his plagues from the beginning confirmeth the same The ioy of our heart sayeth Ieremie is gone oure glory is fallē away our mery singing is turned into mourning the garland of our head is fallen Alas and weale away that euer we sinned so sore Wo worth all abhominations and wickednesse wo woorth cloked hypocrisie woe worth our carnall liberty wo worth our most cursed idolatrie For because of these things sayth the Lorde ye shall perish with sword hunger and pestilence Wherfore let all the wicked enemies of Christe and all the vnbeleuers look to be tormented and vexed with al hellish furies and cleane wythout hope at Gods accompting day which know not God in Christ to be their very righteousnesse their life their onely saluation alone sauiour nor beleeue not in him They must sayth S. Iohn needes abide and pearish wyth their sinnes in death and in eternall damnation But we be the children of Saintes as the elder Toby did aunswer and looke for an other life which God shall geue to all them which chaunge not theyr faith nor shrinke not from him Reioyce therefore ye Christian afflicted brethren for they can not take our soules and bodies out of the handes of the almighty which be kept as in the bosome of our most swete and louing father and if we abide fast in Christ and turn not away like weathercocks surely we shall liue for euer Christ affirmeth the same saying My sheepe heare my voyce I knowe them they hearken vnto me and to no straungers and I geue them euerlasting life for they shall not be lost nor no manne shall plucke them oute of my handes no nor yet this flattering world with all his vaine pleasures nor any tyranne with his great threates stout bragges can once mooue them oute of the way of eternall life What consolation and cōfort may we haue more pleasant and effectuous then thys God is on our side fighteth for vs he suffereth he smarteth and is afflicted wyth vs. As the world can doe nothing against his might neyther in taking away or diminishing of his glory nor putting him from his celestiall throne so can it not harme nor hurte any one of hys children without his good will For we are members of his body oute of hys fleshe and of hys bones and as deare to him as the apple of his eye Let vs therefore with an earnest faith set fast hold and sure feeling vpon the promises of God in the gospell let vs not be sundred from the same by any temptation tribulation or persecution Let vs consider the verity of God to be inuinsible inuiolable immutable Promising and geuing vs his faithfull souldiours life eternal It is he onely that hath deserued it for vs it is his onely benefite of his only mere mercy vnto him only must we render thāks Let not therefore the vaine fantasies and dreames of men the foolish gauds and toyes of the world nor the crafty delusions of the deuil driue and separate vs from our hope of the crowne of righteousnes that is layd vp in store for vs against the last day Oh that happy and merry last day I meane to the faithfull when Christ by his couenaunt shall graunt and geue vnto them that ouercome and keepe hys woordes to the ende that they may ascend and sitte in seate with him as he hath ascended sitteth on throne with hys father The same body and soule that is now wyth Christ afflicted shall then be with Christ glorified now in the butchers hands as shepe apoynted to die then sitting at Gods table with Christ in his kingdom as Gods honorable and deare children where we shall haue for earthly pouertie heauenly riches for hūger and thirst saturitie of the pleasant presence of the glory of God for sorrowes troubles and colde yrons celestiall ioyes and the company of aungels and for a bodely death life eternal Oh happy soules Oh precious death and euer more blessed right dear in the eyes of God to you the spring of the Lord shal euer be florishing Then as sayth Esay the redeemed shal returne and come againe into Sion praising the Lorde and eternall mercies shal be ouer their heads they shall obtaine mirth and solace sorrowe and woe shal be vtterly vanquished yea I am he sayeth the Lord that in all things geueth you euerlasting consolation To whom with the Father and the holy Ghost be glory and praise for euer Amen Robert Samuel An other letter wrytten to the Christian congregation by Robert Samuel wherein he declareth the confession of his faith The beliefe of the hert iustifieth and the knowledge with the mouth maketh a man safe Rom. 10. Feare not the curse of mē be not afraid of their blasphemies and reuilings for wormes and mothes shal eat them vp like cloth and woolle but my righteousnesse shall endure for euer and my sauing health from generation to generation Esay 51. COnsidering with my selfe these pearillous times pearishing daies and the vnconstante and miserable state of man the decay of our faith the sinister reporte and false sclaunder of Gods most holy word these vrgent causes in conscience do constraine me to confesse and acknowledge my faith and meaning in Christes holy Religion as S. Peter teacheth me saying be readye alwayes to geue an aunswere to euerye man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you and that with meekenes and feare hauing a good conscience that when they backbite you as euill doers they may be ashamed for asmuche as they haue falsly accused your good conuersation in Christ. As touching my doctrine for that little talent that God hath geuen mee God I take to recorde mine owne conscience and mine auditorie knoweth that I neither in doctrine nor maners willingly taughte any other thinge then I receiued of the holye Patriarckes Prophetes Christe and hys Apostles For it were not onely sinne but also the verye parte of a cursed miscreant to
now that counsels haue sometime erred it is manifest How many counsels were there in the East partes of the world whiche condemned the Nicene councell and all those which would not forsake the same they called by a sclaunderous name as they thought Homonsians Was not Athanasius Chrysostome Cyril Eustachius men very well learned and of godly lyfe banished and condemned as famous heretickes and that by wicked councels How many thinges are there in the Canons and constitutions of the councels which the papists themselues do much mislike But here peraduenture one man wil say vnto me We wil graunt you this in prouinciall councels or councelles of some one nation that they may sometimes erre for asmuch as they do not represent the vniuersall churche but it is not to be beleued that the generall and full councelles haue erred at any tyme. Here if I had my bookes of the councels or rather suche notes as I haue gathered out of those bookes I coulde brynge something which shoulde serue for this purpose But now seeing I haue them not I will recite one place onely out of sainct Austen which in my iudgement may suffise in this matter in stead of many Who knoweth not sayth he that the holy scripture is so set before vs that it is not lawfull to doubt of it and that the letters of Byshops may be reproued by other mens wordes and by councelles and that the councels themselues whiche are gathered by prouinces and countries do geue place to the authoritie of the generall and full councels and that the former and generall councels are amended by the latter when as by some experience of thinges eyther that which was shut vpp is opened or that which was hid is knowne Thus much of Augustine But I wil plead with our Antonian vpon matter confessed Here with vs when as Papistry raygned I pray you how doth that booke whiche was called the Byshops booke made in the tyme of king Henrye theight wherof the byshop of Winchester is thought to bee eyther the first father or chiefe gatherer Howe doth it I say sharpely reproue the Florentine counsell in whiche was decreed the supremacy of the Byshop of Rome and that with the consent of the Emperor of Constantinople and of the Grecians So that in those dayes our learned auncient fathers and byshops of Englande did not sticke to affirme that a generall councell might erre But me think I heare an other man despising all that I haue broughte forth and saying these which you haue called councels are not worthy to be called councels but rather assemblies conuenticles of heretickes I praye you sir why doe you iudge them worthye of so slaunderous a name Because sayth he they decreed thinges hereticall contrary to true godlines and sounde doctrine and agaynst the faythe of christian religion The cause is waightye for the whiche they ought of right so to be called But if it be so that all counsels ought to be despised which decree any thing contrary to sound doctrine and the true word which is according to godlines forasmuch as the Masse such as we had here of late is openly agaynst the word of God forsoothe it must follow of necessitie that all such councelâ— as haue approoued such masses ought of right to be 〈◊〉 â—nd despised as conuenticles and assemblies of men 〈◊〉 stray from the truth An other man alleadgeth vnto me the authoâ—ity of the Bishop of Rome without which neither â—â—nne the Counsells sayth he be lawfully gathered neyâ—her being gathered determyne anye thinge concerning Religion But this obiection is only grounded vpon the ambytious and shameles maintenance of the Romish tirranny and vsurped dominion ouer the Clergy which tyrranny we Englishe men long agoe by the consent of the whole Realme haue expulsed and abiured And how rightely we haue done it a little booke set forth de vtraque potestate that is of both the powers doth clearely shew I graunt that the Romish ambition hath gone about to challenge to it self to vsurpe such a priuiledge of old time But the counsell of Carthage in the yeare of our Lord 457. did openly withstand it and also the councell at Milenite in the whiche S. Augustine was present did prohibite any appellations to be made to Byshops beyond the sea S. Augustine sayth the good men are not to be forsaken for the euill but the euill are to be borne with all for the good Ye will not say I trow that in our congregations all be euill I speake nothing of the goodnes or euilnes of youre congregations but I fight in Christes quarrel against the Masse which doth vtterly take away and ouerthrowe the ordinaunce of Christ. Let that be taken quite awaye and then the partition of the wall that made the strife shall be broken down Now to the place of S. Austen for bearing with the euill for the goodes sake there ought to be added other words which the same writer hath expressedly in other places that is if those euill men do cast abroad no seedes of false doctrine nor lead other to destruction by their example It is perillous to attempt any new thing in the Church which lacketh example of good men How much more perillous is it to commit any act vnto the whiche thexample of the prophetes of Christ and of thapostles are contrary But vnto this your facte in abstayning from the Churche by reason of the masse the example of the Prophetes of Christ and of thapostles are cleane contrarye Therefore c. The first part of the argument is euident and the second part I proue thus In the times of the prophetes of Christ and his Apostles all things were most corrupt The people was miserably geuen to superstition the priestes despised the law of God and yet notwithstaÌ„ding we neither read that the prophets made any schismes or diuisions and Christ himselfe haunted the temple and taught in the temple of the Iewes Peter and Iohn went vp into the temple at the 9. houre of praier Paule after the readyng of the lawe being desired to say something to the people did not refuse to doe it Yea further no man can shewe that eyther the prophetes or Christ and his Apostles did refuse to pray together with others to sacrifice or to bee partakers of the Sacramentes of Moses law I graunt the former part of your argument and to the second part I saye that although it contayne manye true thinges as of the corrupt state in the times of the Prophetes of Christ and the Apostles and of the temple being haunted of Christ and his Apostles yet notwithstanding the second part of your argument is not sufficientlye prooued For ye ought to haue proued that eyther the prophetes eyther Christ or hys Apostles did in the temple communicate with the people in any kind of worshipping which is forbidden by the lawe of God or repugnaunt to word of
Isaac and Iacob Peter and Paule and all the heauenly company of the Aungels in heauen through Iesus Christ our Lord. As yet there was neuer learned man nor anye scholer or other that visited vs since we came into Bocardo which nowe in Oxforde may be called a Colledge of Quondams For as ye know wee be no fewer then three and I dare say euery one wel contented with his portion which I do reckē to be our heauenly fathers fatherly good and gracious gift Thus fare you well We shal by Gods grace one day meete together and be merry The day assuredly approcheth apace The Lorde graunt that it maye shortly come For before that daye come I feare me the world will waxe worse and worse But then all our enemies shal be ouerthrowne and troden vnder foote righteousnes and truth then shall haue the victory and beare the bell away whereof the Lorde graunt vs to be partakers and al that loueth truely the truth We al pray you as ye can to cause all our commendations to be made to all such as ye know did visite vs and you when we were in the Tower with their frendly remembraunces and benefites Maistresse Wilkenson and maistresse Warcup haue not forgottē vs but euer since we came to Bocardo with their charitable and frendly beneuolence haue comforted vs not that els we did lacke for God be blessed he euer hitherto hath prouided sufficiently for vs but that is a great comfort and an occasion for vs to blesse God when we see that he maketh them so frendly to tender vs whom some of vs were neuer familiarly acquaynted withall Yours in Christ Nich Ridley ¶ Letter of mayster Ridley sent to a Cosin of his GOds holy spirite be with you now and euer Amen When I call to remembraunce beloued Cosin the state of those that for feare of trouble eyther for losse of goods wil do in the sight of the world those thinges that they know and are assured are contrary to the wyll of God I can do no lesse but lamēt theyr case being assured the end thereof will be so pittifull without speedy repentaunce that I tremble and feare to haue it in remembraunce I would to God it lay vpon some earthly burden so that freedome of conscience might be geuen vnto them I wrote as God knoweth not of presumption but onely lamenting the state of those whome I thought now in this dangerous time should haue geuen both you and me comfortable instructions But alas in steade thereof we haue instructions to folow I lament me to rehearse it superstitious Idolatrye Yea and that woorst of all is they wil seeke to proue it by the Scriptures The Lord for his mercy turne their hartes Amen Commend me c. Yours Nicholas Ridley ¶ To Mayster Bradford BRother Bradford I wishe you and your company in Christ yea and al the holy brotherhood that now with you in diuers prisons suffereth and beareth paciētly christes crosse for the mayntenance of his Gospell grace mercy and peace from God the father and from our Lord Iesus Christ. Sir considering the state of this chiualrie and warfare wherin I doubt not but we be set to fight vnder Christes banner and his crosse agaynst our ghostly enemy the deuill and the old serpent Satan me thinke I perceiue 2. things to be hys most perilous and moste daungerous engynes whiche he hath to impugne Christes veritie hys gospell and hys fayth and the same two also to be the most massy postes and most mightye pillers whereby hee mayntayneth and vpholdeth his Satanical sinagogue These two sir are they in my iudgement the one his false doctrine idolatrical vse of the Lordes supper and the other that wicked and abhominable vsurpation of the premacy of the See of Rome By these two Satan seemeth to me principally to mayntayne and vphold hys kingdome by these two he driueth downe mightily alas I feare me the third parte of the stars in heauen These two poysonfull rotten posts he hath so paynted ouer with such a pretense and colour of Religion of vnitie in Christes Churche of the Catholicke fayth and such like that the wily serpent is able to deceiue if it were possible euen the elect of God Wherfore Iohn sayd not without great cause If any know not Satans subtleties and the profundities thereof I will wishe him no other burden to be laden withall Syr because these be hys principall and mayne postes whereupon standeth all his falsehoode crafte and trechery therfore according to the poore power that God hath geuen me I haue bended mine artillary to shoote at the same I knowe it to be but little God knoweth that I can doe and of my shotte I knowe they passe not Yet I will not God willing cease to doe the best that I can to shake those cankered and rotten postes The Lorde graunt me good successe to the glory of hys name and the furtherance of Christes Gospell I haue now already I thanke God for this present tyme spent a good parte of my ponder in these scriblinges wherof this bearer shal geue you knowledge Good brother Bradford let the wicked surmise and say what they list know you for a certaintie by GODS grace without all doubt that in Christes Gospelles cause agaynst and vpon the foresayd Gods enemies I am fully determined to liue and dye Fare well deare brother and I beseeche you and al the rest of our brethren to haue good remembraunce of the condemned heretiques as they call them of Oxford in your prayers The bearer shall certifie you of our state Farewell in the Lorde From Bocardo Yours in Christ Nicholas Ridley * An other letter of Mayster Ridley vnto Mayster Bradforde and other his prison fellowes An. 1555. DEarely beloued I wish you grace mercy and peace According to your minde I haue runne ouer all your papers and what I haue done which is but small therein may appeare In two places I haue put in two loose leaues I had muche adoe to read that was written in your great leaues and I weene some where I haue altered some words because I could not read perfectly that which was written Sir what shall best be done with these thinges now ye must consider for if they come in sight at this time vndoubtedly they must to the fire with theyr father and as for any safegard that your custody can be vnto them I am sure you looke not for it For as you haue bene partner of the worke so I am sure you looke for none other but to haue and receiue like wages and to drynke of the same cup. Blessed be God that hath geuen you liberty in the meane season that you may vse your penne to hys glory and the comforte as I heare say of many I blesse God dayly in you and all your whole company to whom I beseeche you commend me hartily Nowe I loue my country man in deed
heart as I graunt I haue fealt sometimes before O good brother blessed be God in thee and blessed be the time that euer I knewe thee Farewell farewell Your brother in Christ Nicholas Ridley Brother farewell To the brethren remaining in captiuitie of the flesh and dispearsed abroad in sundry prisones but knit together in vnity of spirit and holy Religion in the bowels of the Lorde Iesu. GRace peace mercye be multiplied among you What worthy thankes can we render vnto the Lorde for you my brethren namely for the great coÌ„solation which through you we haue receiued in the Lorde who notwithstanding the rage of Sathan that goeth about by all maner of subtill meanes to beguile the worlde and also buâ—lâ— laboreth to restore and set vp his kingdome againe that of late began to decay and fall to ruine ye remaine yet stil 〈◊〉 as men surely grounded vpon a strong rocke And nowe albeit that sathan by his souldiors and wicked ministers daily as we heare draweth numbers vnto hym so that it is sayd of him that he plucketh euen the very starres out of heauen whiles hee driueth into some men thâ— feare of death and losse of all their goods and sheweth and offereth to other some the pleasaunt baites of the worlde namelye richesse wealth and all kinde of delightes and pleasures faire houses great reuenues â—at benefices and what not and all to the intent they should fall downe worship not the Lorde but the Dragon the olde Serpent whych is the deuil that great beast and his image and should be inâ—iced to commit fornication with the strompet of Babilon together wyth the kings of the earth wyth the lesser beast and with the false Prophetes and so to reioyce and be pleasant wyth her and to be drunken wyth the wine of her fornication yet blessed be God the Father of oure Lorde Iesus Christe which hath geuen vnto you a manly courage and hath so strengthened you in the inwarde man by the power of his spirite that you can contemne as well all the terrours as also the vaine flatteringe allurementes of the worlde esteeming them as vanities mere trifles things of nought Who hath also wroughte planted and surely stablished in your hearts so stedfast a fayth and loue of the Lorde Iesus Christe ioyned with such constancie that by no engines of Antichriste be they neuer so terrible or plausible yee will suffer any other Iesus or any other Christ to be forced vpon you besides him whom the Prophetâ— haue spoken of before the Apostles haue preached the holy Martyrs of God haue coÌ„fessed and testified with the effusion of their bloud In thys Faith stand ye fast my brethren and suffer not your selues to be brought vnder the yoke of bondage and superstition any more For ye know brethren howe that our sauiour warned his beforehand that such shoulde come as would poynt vnto the world an other Christ and woulde set him out wyth so many fals myracles and with such deceiueable and subtill practises that euen the very electe if it were possible should be therby deceiued such strong delusion to come did our Sauiour geue warning of before But continue ye faithful and constant and be of good comfort remember that our graund captaine hath ouercome the world for he that is in vs is stronger then he that is in the world and the Lorde promiseth vnto vs that for the elects sake the daies of wickednes shall be shortned In the meane season abide ye endure with patience as ye haue begun endure I say and reserue your selues vnto better times as one of the heathen Poetes said cease not to shew yourselues valiant Soldiours of the Lorde and helpe to maintaine the trauelling faith of the Gospell Yee haue neede of patience that after ye haue done the wil of God ye may receiue the promises For yet a very litle while and he that shall come will come and wil not tarie and the iust shall liue by faith but if anye withdrawe him selfe my soule shall haue no pleasure in him sayth the Lorde But we are not they which doe withdrawe oure selues vnto damnation but beleeue vnto the saluation of the soule Let vs not suffer these woordes of Christ to fall out of our hearts by any manner of terrours or threatnings of the worlde Feare not them which kil the body the rest ye know For I wryte not vnto you as to menne which are ignoraunt of the truth but which know the truthe and to this ende onely that we agreeing together in one faith may take comfort one of an other and be the more confirmed and strengthened thereby We neuer had a better or more iust cause either to contemne our life or shed our bloud we can not take in hande the defence of a more certaine cleare and manifest truthe For it is not any ceremonie for the which we contend but it toucheth the very substance of our whole Religion yea euen Christ him selfe Shall we either can we receiue and acknowledge any other Christe in steade of hym who is alone the euerlasting sonne of the euerlasting Father and is the brightnesse of the glory and liuely image of the substaunce of the Father in whome onely dwelleth corporally the fulnesse of the Godhead who is the onely waye the truth and the life Let such wickednesse my brethren lette such horrible wickednesse be farre from vs. For althoughe there be that are called Gods whether in heauen either in earth as there be many Gods and many Lordes yet vnto vs there is but one God which is the Father of whome are al things and we in him and one Lord Iesus Christ by whome are all things and wee by him but euery man hath not knowledge This is life eternal sayth S. Iohn that they know thee to be the onely true God and whome thou haste sent Iesus Christ. If any therfore would force vpon vs any other GOD besides him whom Paule and the Apostles haue taughte let vs not heare him but let vs flee froÌ„ him and hold him accursed Brethren ye are not ignorant of the deepe and profouÌ„d subtleties of Satan for he will not cease to raunge about you seking by all meanes possible whom he may deuour but play ye the men and be of good comfort in the Lorde And albeit your enemies and the aduersaries of the truth armed with all worldly force and power that may be doe set vppon you yet be not ye faynt harted nor shrinke not therfore but trust vnto your Captayne Christ trust vnto the spirit of truth trust to the truth of your cause which as it may by the malice of satan be darckened so can it neuer be cleane put out For we haue high prayse be geuen to God therfore most playnely euidently and clearely on our side all the Prophets all the Apostles and vndoubtedly all the auncient Ecclesiastical writers which haue writtan vntill
whore in the fornication of her whorish dispensations pardons Idolatrye suche like abhominations so shall ye drinke with her except ye repent betime of the cuppe of the Lordes indignation and euerlasting wrath which is prepared for the beast his false prophetes and all theyr partakers For he that is partner with them in theyr whoredome and abhominations must also be partner with them of theyr plagues and on the latter day shall be throwne with them into the lake burning with Brimstone and vnquenchable fire Thus fare ye wel my Lords all I pray God geue you vnderstanding of his blessed will and pleasure and make you to beleue and embrace the truth Amen * An other farewell to the Prisoners in Christes Gospelles cause and to all them whiche for the same cause are exiled and banished out from theyr owne countrey choosing rather to leaue all worldly commodity then theyr mayster Christ. FArewell my dearely beloued brethren in Christ bothe ye my felow prisoners and ye also that be exiled and banished out of your countryes because ye will rather forsake all worldly coÌ„modity then the Gospell of Christ. Farewell all ye together in Christ farewell and be mery for ye know that the triall of your fayth bringeth forth patience and pacience shall make vs perfecte whole and sound on euery side and such after triall ye knowe shall receiue the crowne of lyfe according to the promise of the Lorde made to his dearely beloued let vs therefore be pacient vnto the comming of the Lord. As the husbandmanne abideth pacientlye the former and latter rayne for the encrease of his croppe so let vs bee paciente and plucke vp our hartes for the comming of the Lord approacheth apace Let vs my deare brethren take example of pacience in tribulation of the Prophetes which spake likewise Gods word truely in his name Let Iob be to vs an example of pacience the end which the Lord suffered which is full of mercy and pitty We know my brethren by Gods worde that our fayth is muche more precious then any corruptible golde and yet that is tryed by the fire euen so our fayth is therfore tried likewise in tribulations that it may be found when the Lord shal appeare laudable glorious and honorable For if we for Christs cause do suffer that is gratefull before God for thereunto are we called that is our state and vocation wherewith let vs be content Christ we know suffered for vs afflictions leauing vs an example that we shoulde folow his footesteps for he committed no sinne not was there any guile found in his mouth when he was rayled vpon and all to reuiled he rayled not agayne when he was euill entreated he dyd not threaten but committed the punishment therof to hym that iudgeth a right Let vs euer haue in freshe remembraunce those wonderfull comfortable sentences spokeÌ„ by the mouth of our Sauior Christ Blessed are they which suffer persecution for righteousnes sake for theirs is the kingdome of heauen Blessed are ye when men reuile you persecute you speake all euill against you for my sake reioyce and be glad for great is your reward in heauen for so did they persecute the Prophets which were before you Therfore let vs alway beare this in our mindes that if any incommodity doe chaunce vnto vs for righteousnes sake happy are we whatsoeuer the world doth thinke of vs. Christ our mayster hath tolde vs before hand that the brother should put the brother to death the father the sonne and the children should rise agaynst their pareÌ„ts and kill them and that Christes true Apostles should be hated of all men for his names sake but he that shall abide paciently vnto the end shal be saued Let vs then endure in all troubles paciently after the example of our Mayster Christ and be contented therewith for he suffered being our mayster and Lord how doth it not then become vs to suffer For the disciple is not aboue his mayster nor the seruaunt aboue his Lord. It may suffice the disciple to be as his maister and the seruaunt to be as his Lord. If they haue called the Father of the family the Mayster of the householde Belzebub howe much more shall they call so them of his householde Feare them not then sayth our Sauiour for all pâ—iuityes shall be made playne there is nowe nothing secret but it shall bee shewed in light Of Christes wordes let vs neither be ashamed nor afrayd to speake them for so Christ our mayster commaundeth vs saying that I tell you priuily speake openly abroade and that I tell you in your eare preach it vpon the house toppe And feare not them which kill the body for the soule they cannot kill but feare hym which can cast both body and soule into hell fire Know ye that the heauenly Father hath euer a gracious eye and respect towarde you and a Fatherly prouidence for you so that without his knowledge and permission nothing canne doe you harme Let vs therefore cast all our care vpon him and hee shall prouide that whiche shall be best for vs. For if of two small sparrowes whiche both are sold for a mite one of them lighteth not on the grounde without your father and all the heares of our head are numbred feare not them sayth our Mayster Christ for yee are more worth then many small sparrowes And let vs not sticke to confesse our Mayster Christe for feare of daunger whatsoeuer it shal be remeÌ„bring the promise that Christ maketh saying whosoeuer shall confesse me before men him shall I confesse before my father whiche is in heauen but whosoeuer shall denye me him shall I likewise denye before my father which is in heauen Christ came not to geue vnto vs here a carnall amity and a worldly peace or to knitte his vnto the world in ease and peace but rather to separate and deuide them from the world and to ioyne them vnto himselfe in whose cause we must if wee will bee his forsake father and mother and sticke vnto him If wee forsake him or shrinke from him for trouble or deathes sake which hee calleth his crosse he will none of vs we cannot bee hys If for his cause we shall lose our temporall liues here wee shall finde them agayne and enioy them for euermore but if in his cause we will not be contented to leaue nor loose them here then shall we loose them so that we shall neuer finde them again but in euerlasting death What thoughe our troubles here bee paynefull for the time and the sting of death bitter and vnpleasaunt yet we know that they shall not last in comparison of eternity no not to the twinckling of an eye that they pacieÌ„tly taken in Christes cause shall procure and gette vs vnmeasurable heapes of heauenly glory vnto the which these temporall paines of death and troubles compared are not to be estemed but to be reioyced vpon Wonder
not sayth S. Peter as though it were any straunge matter that ye are tryed by the fire he meaneth of tribulation which thing sayth he is done to proue you nay rather in that ye are partners of Christes afflictions reioyce that in his glorious reuelation ye may reioyce with mery hartes If ye suffer rebukes in Christes name happy are ye for the glory and spirit of God resteth vpon you Of them God is reuiled and dishonored but of you he is glorified Let no manne be ashamed of that he suffereth as a Christian and in Christes cause for nowe is the time that iudgement and correction must beginne at the house of GOD and if it begin first at vs what shall be the end of those thinke ye which beleue not the Gospell And if the righteous shall bee hardlye saued the wicked and the sinner where shall he appeare Wherefore they which are afflicted according to the wil of God let thē lay downe and commit theyr soules to him by well doing as to a trustye and faythfull maker This as I sayde maye not seeme straunge to vs for we know that al the whole fraternity of Christes Congregation in this worlde is serued with the like and by the same is made perfect For the seruent loue that the Apostles had vnto their maister Christ and for the great commodities and increase of all godlines which they felt by theyr fayth to insue of afflictions in Christes cause thirdly for the heapes of heauenly ioyes which the same doe get vnto the godly which shall endure in heauen for euermore for these causes I saye the Apostles of their afflictions did ioy and reioyced in that they were had and accounted worthy to suffer contumelies rebukes for Christes name And Paul as he gloried in the grace fauor of God whervnto he was brought stoode in by fayth so he reioyced in hys afflictions the heauenlye and spirituall profites which he numbred to rise vpon them yea he was so farre in loue wyth that that the carnall man lothed so much that is with Christes crosse that he iudged himselfe to know nothing els but christ crucified he will glory he sayth in nothing els but in Christes crosse yea and he blesseth all those as the onely true Israelites elect people of God with peace and mercy whiche walketh after that rule and after none other O Lord what a wonderfull spirit was that that made Paule in setting forth of himselfe agaynst the vanity of Satans Pseudopostles and in his clayme there that he in Christes cause did excell and passe them all what wonderfull spirite was that I saye that made him to reckon vppe all his troubles his laboures hys beatinges his whippinges and scourginges his shippewrackes his daungers and perilles by water and by land his famine hunger nakednesse and colde with many moe and the dayly care of all the congregations of Christ among whom euery mans payne did pearce his heart and euery mannes griese was grieuous vnto him O Lord is this Paules primacye whereof hee thought so much good that he did excell other Is not this Paules sayinge vnto Timothy his owne scholer and doth it not perteyn to who so euer will be Christes true souldiours beare thou sayth he affliction like a good souldiour of Iesu Christ This is true if we dye with him he meaneth Christ we shall liue with him if we suffer with him we shall raigne with him if we deny him he shall denye vs if we be faythlesse he remayneth faythfull he cannot denye himselfe This Paule would haue knowne to euery bodye for there is none other way to heauen but Christ and his way all that will liue godly in Christ shall sayth S. Paule suffer persecution By this way went to heauen the Patriarches the Prophets Christ our Mayster his Apostles his Martyrs and all the godly since the beginning And as it hath bene of olde that hee which was borne after the flesh persecuted him which was born after the spirite for so it was in Isaacks time so sayde S. Paule it was in his time also And whether it be so or no now let the spirituall man the selfe same man I meane that is indued with the spirit of almighty God let him be iudge Of the crosse of the Patriarches as ye may read in theyr storyes if ye reade the booke of Genesis ye shall perceiue Of other S. Paule in few wordes comprehendeth much matter speaking in a generality of the wonderfull afflictions death and tormentes which the men of GOD in Gods cause and for the truth sake willingly and gladly did suffer After much particuler rehearsall of many he sayeth other were racked and despised and would not be deliuered that they might obteyne a better resurrection Other agayne were tried wyth mockinges and scourginges and moreouer with bondes imprisonment they were stoned beweene asunder tempted fell were slayne vpon the edge of the sword some wandred to fro in sheepes pilches in goates pilches forsaken oppressed afflicted such godly men as the world was vnworthy of wandring in wildernesse in mountaynes in caues and in dennes and all these were commended for theyr fayth And yet they abide for vs the seruauntes of God and for those theyr brethren which are to bee slayne as they were for the word of Gods sake that none be shut out but that we may all go together to meete our Mayster Christ in the ayre at his comming and so to be in blisse with him in body and soule for euermore Therefore seing we haue so muche occasion to suffer and to take afflictions for Christes names sake paciently so many commodities thereby so waighty causes so many good examples so great necessitye so pure promises of eternall life and heauenlye ioyes of him that cānot lye Let vs throw away whatsoeuer might let vs all burden of sinne and all kinde of carnality and paciently and constantly let vs runne for the best game in this race that is set before vs euer hauing our eyes vpon Iesus Christ the ringleader Capitayne and Perfiter of our fayth which for the ioye that was set before him endured the crosse not passing vpon the ignominy and shame thereof and is set now at the right hande of the throne of GOD. Consider this that he suffered such strife of sinners agaynst himselfe that yee shoulde not geue ouer nor faynt in your mindes As yet brethren we haue not withstand vnto death fighting agaynst sinne Let vs neuer forget deare Brethren for Christes sake that Fatherly exhortation of the wise that speaketh vnto vs as vnto his children the Godlye wysedome of God saying thus My sonne despise not the correction of the Lord nor fall not from him when thou art rebuked of hym for whom the Lord loueth him doth he correct and scourgeth euery childe whom he receiueth What childe is he whom the father doth not chasten If ye
thing but for present death and yet hee that rayseth the dead to lyfe agayne did bring him out of all hys troubles taught him all other that be in troubles for christes cause not to trust to theÌ„selues but in almighty God Of Gods gracious ayde in extreeme perilles toward them that put theyr truste in hym all Scripture is full bothe olde and new What daungers were the Patriarcks ofteâ— brought vnto as Abraham Isaac and Iacob but of all other Ioseph and how mercifully were they deliuered agayne In what perilles was Moises when he was fayne to flye for the sauegard of hys life And when was he sent agayne to deliuer the Israelites from the seruyle bondage Not before they were brought into extreme misery And when did the Lorde mightely deliuer his people from Pharao hys sword Not before they were broughte into such straightes that they were so compassed on euery side the mayne sea on the one side and the maine hoste on the other that they could looke for none other yea what did they els in deede looke for but eyther to haue bene drowned in the sea or els to haue fallen on the edge of Pharao his sword These iudges whiche wrought most wonderfull thinges in the deliuerye of the people were euer geuen when the people was brought to most misery before as Othoniel Aioth Saugar Gedeon Iephthe Samson And so was Saull indued with strength and boldnes froÌ„ aboue agaynst the Ammonites Philistines and Amalechites for the defence of the people of God Dauid lykewise felt Gods helpe most sensibly euer in his extreme persecutions What shall I speake of the Prophetes of GOD whome God suffered so oft to be broughte into extreame perilles and so mightely deliuered them agayne as Helâ—as Ieremy Daniell Micheas and Ionas and many other whome it were but to long to rehearse and set out at large And did the Lord vse his seruauntes otherwise in the new lawe after Christes incarnation Read the Actes of the Apostles and you shall see no. Were not the Apostles cast into Prison and brought out by the mightye hande of God Dyd not the Aungell deliuer Peter out of the stroÌ„g prison and bryng hym out by the yron gates of the Cittie and set hym free And when I pray you Euen the same night before Herod appoynted to haue broughte him to iudgement for to haue slayne hym as he had a little before killed Iames the brother of Iohn Paule and Silas wheÌ„ after they had bene sore scourged and wer put into the inner prison and there were layde fast in the stockes I pray you what appearaunce was there that the Magistrates should be glad to come the next daye themselues to them to desire them to be content and to depart in peace Who prouided for Paule that hee shoulde bee safely conducted out of all daunger and brought to Felix the Emperoures Deputie when as both the hygh Priestes the Phariseis and rulers of the Iewes had conspired to require iudgement of death agaynst hym he being fast in prison and also more then xl men had sworne eche one to an other that they would neuer eate nor drynke vntill they hadde slayne Paule A thing wonderfull that no reason could haue inueÌ„ted or man could haue looked for God prouided Paule hys owne sisters sonne a younge man that disapoynted that conspiracie and all theyr former coniuration The maner how the thing came to passe thou mayst read in the xxiii of the Actes I will not be tedious vnto thee here with the rehearsall thereof Nowe to descend from the Apostles to the Martyrs that followed next in Christes Churche and in them likewise to declare how gracious oure good God euer hathe bene to worke wonderfully with them which in his cause haue bene in extreme perilles it were matter enoughe to write a longe booke I will here name but one manne and one woman that is Athanasius the greate clarke and godly man stoutely standing in Christes cause against the Arrians and that holy woman Blandina standinge so constantly in all extreme paynes in the simple confession of Christe If thou wilt haue examples of moe looke and thou shalt haue both these and a C. moe in Ecclesiastica historia of Eusebius and in Tripartita historia But for al these examples both of holy scripture and of other historyes I feare me the weake man of God incombred with the fraylty and infirmitie of the fleshe wil haue now and then such thoughtes and quawmes as they call them to run ouer hys hart and to thinke thus All these thinges which are rehearsed out of the scripture I beleue to be true and of the rest truely I do thinke well can beleue theÌ„ also to be true but all these we must needes grauÌ„t were speciall miracles of God which nowe in our dayes are ceased we see and to require them at Gods handes were it not to tempt God Welbeloued brother I graunt such were great wonderfull workes of God and wee haue not seene many of such myracles in our tyme eyther for that our sight is not cleare for truely God worketh with hys his parte in all tymes or els because we haue not the lyke faythe of them for whose cause God wrought suche thinges or because after that he had set forth the truth of his doctrine by such miracles then sufficiently the time of so many myracles to bee done was expired withall Which of these is the most speciall cause of all other or whether there be any other God knoweth I leaue that to God But knowe thou this my welbeloued in God that Gods hand is as strong as euer it was he may do what his gracious pleasure is hee is as good and gracious as euer he was Man changeth as the garment doth but God our heauenly father is euen the same now that he was and shal be for euermore The world without doubt this I do beleue and therfore I say draweth towardes an end and in al ages God hath had hys owne maner after hys secrete and vnsearchable wisedome to vse hys electe sometimes to delyuer them and to keepe them safe and sometymes to suffer theÌ„ to drinke of Christes cuppe that is to feele the smart and to feele of the whip And though the fleshe smarteth at the one and feeleth ease in the other is gladde of the one and sore vexed in the other yet the Lorde is all one towardes them in both and loueth them no lesse when hee suffereth theÌ„ to be beaten yea to be put to bodily deathe then when he worketh wonders for theyr marueilous deliuery Nay rather he doth more for them wheÌ„ in anguish of the torments he standeth by them strengthneth them in theyr fayth to suffer in the confession of the truth his fayth the bitter panges of death then when he openeth the prison dore and letteth them go lose for here hee doth but respite theÌ„ to an other time leaueth theÌ„ in
sent to be our Byshop and also our Sacrifice he was sent from the Trinitie to be our Mediatour betwene God and vs and to reconcile ve to the fauour of God the Father he was the Byshop that offered for our sinnes and the Sacrifice that was offred and as he is our Byshop so is he our meane to pacifie God for vs for that was the office of a Byshop to sacrifice for the sinnes of the people and to make intercession for the people and as he was our Sacrifice so was he our reconciliation to God agayne But we must confesse and beleeue hym throughly I say for as he was our Byshoppe then so is it hee that still keepeth vs in fauoure with GOD and lyke as his Sacrifice then made was sufficient for vs to delyuer vs from our sinnes and to bryng vs in fauour with GOD so to continue vs in the same fauoure of GOD he ordeyned a perpetuall remembraunce of hym selfe he ordeyned hym selfe for a memory of hym selfe at his last Supper when he instituted the Sacrāment of the Aulter not for an other Redemption as though the worlde needed a new Redemption from sinne but that we myght throughly remember his most holy Passion he instituted this Sacrament by his most holy worde saying This is my body which worde is sufficient to proue the Sacrament and maketh sufficiently for the substaunce thereof And this dayly Sacrifice he instituted to be continued amongest Christian men not for neede of an other Redemption or Satisfaction for the sinnes of the worlde for that was sufficiently perfourmed by his Sacrifice of his body and bloud done vppon the Crosse neyther that he is nowe our Byshoppe for neede of any further Sacrifice to be made for sinne but to continue vs in the remembraunce of his Passion suffered for vs to make vs strong in beleeuyng the fruite of his Passion to make vs diligent in thankesgeuyng for the benefite of his Passion to establyshe our fayth and to make it strong in acknowledgyng the efficacie of his death and Passion suffered for vs. And this is the true vnderstandyng of the Masse not for an other Redemption but that we may be strong in beleeuyng the benefite of Christes death and bloud shedding for vs vppon the Crosse. And this it is that wee must beleeue of Christ and beleeue it throughly and therfore by your pacience as Peter made his confession so wyl I make confession wherein by your Maiesties leaue and sufferaunce I will playnly declare what I thinke of the state of the Church of Englande at this day how I like it and what I thinke of it Where I sayd of the Masse that it was a Sacrifice ordeyned to make vs the more strong in the fayth and remembraunce of Christes Passion and for commendyng vnto GOD the soules of such as be dead in Christe for these two thynges are the speciall causes why the Masse was instituted the Parliament very well ordeyned Masse to be kept and because we shoulde be the more strong in the fayth and deuotion towardes GOD it was well done of the Parliament for mouyng the people more and more to deuotion to ordeyne that the Sacrament shoulde bee receiued in both kindes Therefore I say that the Acte of Parliament for receiuing of the Sacrament of the Alter in both kindes was well made I say also that the Proclamation whiche was made that no man should vnreuerently speak of the Sacrament or otherwise speake of it then Scripture teacheth them was well made For this proclamation stoppeth the mouthes of all suche as will vnreuerently speake of the Sacrament for in Scripture is there nothing to be found that maketh any thing agayng the Sacrament but all maketh with it Wherefore if they were the children of obedience they would not vse any vnreuerent talke agaynst the Sacrament nor blaspheme the holy Sacrament For no worde of the Scripture maketh any thing agaynst it But here it may be sayde vnto mee Why Syr is this your opinion It is good you speake playnelye in this matter and halt nothyng but declare your mynde playnelye without any coulouryng or couert speakyng The Acte for the dissoluyng and suppressing of the Chauntries seemeth to make agaynst the Masse howe lyke you that Acte What say you of it or what woulde you say of it if you were alone I will speake what I thynke of it I wyll vse no coulourable or couert woordes I wyll not vse a deuised speeche for a tyme and afterwarde goe from it agayne If Chauntries were abused by applying the Masse for the satisfaction of sinne or to bryng men to heauen or to take away sinne or to make men of wicked iust I lyke the Acte well and they myght well be desolued for the Masse was not instituted for any suche purpose yet neuerthelesse for them that were in them I spake nowe as in the cause of the poore it were well done that they were prouided of lyuinges The Acte doth graciously prouide for them duryng thier lyues and I doubte not but that your Maiestie and the Lordes of your most honorable Counsell haue willed and taken order that they should be well looked vnto but yet howe they shall be vsed at the handes of vnder officers God knoweth full hardly I feare But as for the Chauntries them selues if there were any suche abuse in them concerning the Masse it is no matter if they be taken away Kyng Henry the eyght a noble and wyse Prince not without a great payne maynteined the Masse and yet in his doctrine it was confessed that Masses of Scala Coeli were not to be vsed ne allowed because they dyd peruert the right vse of and institution of the Masse For when men adde vnto the Masse an opinion of satisfaction or of a newe redemption then doe they put it to an other vse then it was ordeyned for I that allow Masse so well and I that allowe praying for the dead as in deede the dead are of Christian charitie to bee prayed for yet can agree with the Realme in that matter of putting downe Chauntries But yet ye woulde say vnto me there be fewer Masses by puttyng away the Chauntries So were there when Abbeyes were dissolued so be there when ye vnite many Churches in one But this is no iniury nor preiudice to the Masse it consisteth not in the number nor in the multitude but in the thing it selfe so that the decay of the Masse by takyng away of the Chauntries is aunsweared by the Abbeyes But yet I woulde haue it considered for the persons that are in thē I speake of the poore mens liuinges I haue nowe declared what I thinke of the Acte of Parliament made for the receyuing of the Sacrament of the body and bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christe in both kyndes Ye haue my mynde and opinion concernyng Proclamation that came foorth for the same Acte and I haue shewed my
be Pray I beseech you that I may be stil careles in my careful estate as you haue cause to be carelesse in your easier condition Be thaÌ„kful and put away all care and then I shall be ioyfull in my straite present care Commend me to all our brethren and desire them to praye for me that I may ouercome my teÌ„ptations for the deuil rageth against me I am putte in the stockes in a place alone because I would not answer to such articles as they would charge me wtall in a corner at the bishops appoyntment and because I did not come to Masse when the bish sent for me I will sic all the dayes of my life in the stockes by Gods grace rather then I wil consent to the wicked generation Praise God be ioyfull that it hath pleased him to make vs worthy to suffer somwhat for his names sake The deuil must rage for 10. daies Commend me to maister F. and thanke him for his lawe bookes but lawe neither equitie wil take any place among these bloud thirsty I would for your sake their vniust dealing were noted vnto the parlament house if it might auaile God shorteÌ„ these euil daies I haue answered the bish meetely plaine already and I said to him if he wil cal me in open iudgement I wil answer him as plainly as he will require otherwise I haue refused because I feare they will condemne me in hugger mugger The peace of God be with you my dear brother I canne wryte no more for lacke of light and that I haue wrytten I can not reade my selfe and God knoweth it is wrytten farre vneasily I pray God you may picke out some vnderstanding of my minde towards you Wrytten in a Colehouse of darkenesse oute of a paire of paynefull stockes by thine owne in Christ. Iohn Philpot. An other letter of M. Philpot to certaine godlye women forsaking their owne countrey for the Gospell full of frutefull precepts and lessons for all good women THe spirite of truthe reuealed vnto you my dearely beloued by the Gospell of oure Sauiour Iesus Christe be continually abiding with you and augmented into a perfect building of you into the liuely temple of God through the mighty operation of hys power Amen I reade in the Euangelistes of certaine Godly women that ministred vnto Christ folowing him in the daies of his Passion and neuer forsoke him but being dead in his graue brought oyl to annoynt him vntill that he had shewed himselfe vnto them after his resurrection and bidden them shewe vnto his Disciples which at his Passion were dispearsed and tell them that he was riâ—en and that they shoulde see him in Galile To whome I may iustly compare you my louinge Sisters in Christe who of late haue seene him suffer in his meÌ„bers and haue ministred to theyr necessity annoynting them with the comfortable oyle of your charitable assistance euen to the death and now since yee haue seene Christ to liue in the ashes of them whome the tyrans haue 〈◊〉 he willeth you to go away vpon iust occasion offred you and to declare to our dispearsed brethren and sisters that he is 〈◊〉 and liueth in his electe members in Englande and by death doth ouercome infidelitye and that they shall see him in Galile which is by forsaking this world and by a faithful desire to passe out of this world by those waies which he with his holy Martyrs hath gone on before God therfore entire sisters directe your way as he did Abraham Tobias vnto a strange land God geue you health both of body and soule that ye may go from vertue to vertue and grow from strength to strength vntil yee may see face to face the God of Syon in his holy hil with the innumerable companye of hys blessed Martyrs and Saintes Let there be continuall ascensions vnto heauen in your hearts Let there be no decrease of any vertue which is already planted in you Be as the light of the iuste such as Salomon saith increaseth to the perfect day of the Lord. Let the strength of God be commended in your weake vessels as it is Be examples of faith and sobrietie to al that ye shal come in company with all Let your godly conuersation speake where your toung may not in the congregation Be swift to heare and slow to speake after the counsell of S. Iames. Be not curious about other mens doings but be occupied in praier and coÌ„tinual meditation with reuerent talking of the word of God wythout contention amongst the Saintes Lette your faith shine in a straunge countrey as it hath done in youre owne that your father which is in heauen may be glorified by you to the ende This farewel I send you not as a thing nedefull which know already what your duety is be desirous to performe the same but as one that would haue you vnderstand that he is mindeful of your godly conuersation wherof he hath had good experieÌ„ce and therfore wryteth this to be as a perpetual memorial betwixt you and him vntil our meeting together before God where we shall ioy that we haue here louingly put one an other in memory of our duetie to performe it Farewell againe mine owne bowels in Christ and take me with you where soeuer you goe and leaue your selues wyth me that in spirite we may be present one with an other Commende me to the whole congregation of Christe willing them not to leaue their countrey without witnesse of the Gospell after that we al be slaine which already be stalled vp and appoynted to the slaughter and in the meane season to praye earnestly for our coÌ„stancie that Christ may be glorified in vs and in them bothe by life and death Farewel in the Lord. Yours for euer Iohn Philpot. An exhortation to his owne sister constantly to sticke to the truth which she had frutefully professed GOd the eternall Father who hath iustified you by the bloud of his sonne Iesus Christ and called you to hallow his name through a good conuersation and profession of life he sanctifie you with daily encrease of vertue faith by his holy spirit that you may appeare a vessell of sanctification in the middest of this wicked peruerse generation to the laud and praise of the Gospel Amen I haue occasion mine owne deare sister to praise God in you for 2. causes the one that to your habilitie you are ready to shew your self a naturall louing sister to me your poore afflicted brother as by your geÌ„tle tokens you haue eftsoones testified being absent as also presently visiting me which wel declareth that you be a very naturall sister in dede and to be praised in this behalfe But in the other that you be also a sister to me in faith after Christes Gospell I am occasioned to thanke God so muche the more howe much the one excelleth the other and the spiritual consanguinitie is more perdurable then that which is of flesh bloud
neither the women in the holy Scriptures yet they are comprehended and vnderstood in the same Also the Scripture euidently telleth vs that the Apostles baptised whole families or households But the children bee comprehended in a familie or householde as the chiefest and dearest part thereof Therefore we may conclude that the Apostles dyd baptise Infantes or children and not onely men of lawfull age And that the house or houshold is taken for man woman and chyld it is manifest in the 17. of Genesis and also in that Ioseph doth call Iacob with all hys house to come out of the land of Chanaan into Egypt Finally I can declare out of auncient writers that the Baptisme of Infantes hath continued from the Apostles tyme vnto oures neyther that it was instituted by anye Councels neyther of the Pope or of other men but commended from the Scripture by the Apostles themselues Origene vpon the declaration of S. Paules Epistles to the Romaines expoundyng the vj. chapter sayeth That the Church of Christ receyued the Baptisme of Infants from the very Apostles S. Hierome maketh mention of the Baptisme of Infantes in the third booke agaynst the Pelagians and in hys Epistle vnto Leta Saint Augustine reciteth for this purpose a place out of Iohn Bishop of CoÌ„stantinople in hys first booke agaynst Iulian chap. 2. and he agayne writyng to S. Hierome Epist. 28. sayth That Saint Cyprian not makyng any newe decree but firmely obseruyng the fayth of the Church iudged with hys fellowe Bishops that as soone as one was borne he might bee lawfully baptised The place of CypriaÌ„ is to be seene in his Epistle to Fidus. Also S. Augustine writyng agaynst the Donatists in the 4. booke chap. 23. and 24. sayth That the Baptisme of Infantes was not deriued from the authoritie of man neyther of Councels but from the tradition or doctrine of the Apostles Cyrill vpon Leuiticus chap. 8. approoueth the Baptisme of children and condemneth the iteration of Baptisme These authorities of men I do alledge not to tie the Baptisme of children vnto the testimonies of men but to shew how mens testimonies do agree with Gods word and that the veritie of antiquity is on our side that the Anabaptists haue nothyng but lyes for them new imaginations which fayne the Baptisme of children to be the Popes commandement After this will I aunswer to the summe of your argumentes for the contrary The first which includeth all the rest is It is written Goe ye into all the worlde and preach the gladde tidynges to all creatures He that beleeueth and is baptised shall bee saued but hee that beleeueth not shall bee damned c. To this I aunswer that nothyng is added to Gods word by the baptisme of children as you pretend but that is done which the same word doth require for that children are accounted of Christ in the gospell among the nuÌ„ber of such as beleeue as it appeareth by these words He that offendeth one of these little babes which beleeue in mee it were better for hym to haue a myllstone tyed about hys necke to be cast into the bottome of the sea Where plainly Christ calleth such as be not able to confesse their fayth beleuers because of his meere grace he reputeth them for beleeuers And this is no wonder so to be taken sithen God imputeth fayth for righteousnes vnto meÌ„ that be of a riper age for both in men and children righteousnes acceptation or sanctification is of meere grace and by imputation that the glory of Gods grace might be praysed And that the children of faythfull parents are sanctified and among such as doe beleeue is apparant in the 1. Cor. 7. And where as you doe gather by the order of the wordes in the sayd commaundement of Christ that childreÌ„ ought to be taught before they be baptised and to this ende you alledge many places out of the Actes proouyng that such as confessed their fayth first were baptised after I aunswer that if the order of wordes might weigh anye thyng â—o this cause we haue the Scripture that maketh as well for vs. For in S. Marke we read that Iohn dyd baptise in the desert preachyng Baptisme of repentaunce In the which place we see baptising go before preaching to follow And also I wyll declare this place of Mathew exactly considered to make for the vse of baptisme in children for S. Mathew hath it written in this wyse All power is geuen me sayth the Lord in heauen and in earth therefore going forth 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 that is Disciple ye as I may expres the signification of the word that is make or gather to me Disciples of all nations And followyng he declareth the way how they should gather to hym Disciples out of all nations baptising them and teachyng by baptising and teachyng ye shall procure a Church to me And both these aptly and briefly seuerally he setteth foorth saying Baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Sonne and the holy Ghost teachyng them to obserue all thyngs whatsoeuer I haue commaunded you Now then Baptisme goeth before doctrine But hereby I do not gather that the Gentiles which neuer heard any thyng before of God and of the sonne of God and of the holy Ghost ought to be baptised neyther they would permit themselues to bee baptised before they knew to what end But this I haue declared to shew you vpon how feeble foundation the Anabaptistes bee grounded And playnly it is not true which they imagine of this text that the Lord dyd onely commaund such to bee baptised whome the Apostles had first of all taught Neyther here verily is signified who onely be to be baptised but he speaketh of such as bee not of perfect age and of the first foundations of fayth and of the Church to bee planted among the Gentiles which were as yet rude and ignorant of religion Such as be of age may heare beleue and confesse that is preached and taught but so cannot infants therfore we may iustly collect that he speaketh here nothing of infants or children But for al this they be not to be excluded from Baptisme It is a generall rule He that doth not labour must not eate But who is so barbarous that might thinke hereby that children should be famished The Lord sent hys Apostles at the beginnyng of the settyng vp his true religion vnto al nations vnto such as were both ignorant of God and were out of the couenant of God and truly such persons it behooued not first to bee baptised and afterward taught but first to be taught and after baptised If at this day we should go to the Turkes to conuert them to the faith of Christ verily first we ought to teach them and afterward baptise such as would yeeld to be the seruants of Christ. Likewyse the Lorde hymselfe in tymes past dyd when first he renewed the couenaÌ„t with Abraham and ordeyned
and the authoritie of the Church of Rome To the fift article they aunswered the same to be true accordyng to the contents thereof Tho. Whittle addyng moreouer that he had swarued gone away not in whole but in part not from the whole Catholike Church but frō the church of Rome in speakyng agaynst the masse the sacrifice thereof and the Sea of Rome Ioane Lashford aliâs Ioane Warne grauntyng with the other the sayd Article addeth moreouer that she neuer hitherto swarued or went awaye nor yet doth from any part of Christs catholike faith and religion but saith that from the tyme she was xj yeres of age shee hath misliked the sacrifice of the masse the sacrament of the altar and the authoritie of the See of Rome with the doctrine thereof because they be agaynst Christes catholike church and the right fayth of the same Bartlet Greene answering with the other to this Article addeth saith that he swarued not from the Catholike fayth but only from the church of Rome c. ¶ Concernyng the sixt article that they refuse to be reconciled to the vnitie of the sayd Church of Rome To the 6. article they aunswer and confesse the same to be true rendering the cause thereof because say they the same church and doctrine therein set forth and taught disagreeth from the vnitie of Christes word and the true catholike fayth c. Whereunto Bartlet Greene answered that he is contented to be reconciled to the vnitie of Christes Catholike church but not of the church of Rome In lyke maner added also Iohn Went. ¶ Concernyng the seuenth Article that they refuse to come to heare Masse and to receyue the sayde Sacrament callyng it an Idol c. To the seuenth Article they aunswer and confesse the contents thereof to be true geuyng withall the reason and cause of this their so doyng for that the masse with the sacrament thereof as it was then vsed and set foorth in the Church of England is dissonant to the word teachyng of the Gospell c. Iohn Went furthermore said as concerning the masse that he beleueth no lesse but the masse which he calleth the supper of the Lord as it is now vsed in the realm of England is naught full of Idolatry and against gods worde so farre as he seeth it howbeit he sayd that since the Queens coronation by chance he hath bene present where the Masse hath bene sayd whereof he is sory Isabel Foster also answering to the sayd articles with the other before confessed moreouer that since Queene Maries raigne she hath not heard Masse nor receiued the sacrament but hath refused to come in place where it was ministred for she knoweth no such sacrament to bee And beyng demanded of her beliefe in the same she sayth that there is but onely materiall bread and material wine and not the substance reall of the body of Christ in the same sacrament for so she hath bene taught to beleue by the preachers in the tyme of K. Edward whom she beleeueth to haue preached the truth in that behalfe ¶ Concerning the 8. Article that they were sent by the Commissioners to the B. to be examined and imprisoned To the 8. Article they grant the same and the contents thereof to be so Thom. Whittle addyng and affirmyng that the Lord Chancellor that then was sent hym vp to the Bish. there present Bartlet Greene added that he was sent vp to the sayd B. but for no offence herein articulate Iohn Went sayd that D. Story Quene Maries commissioner examined hym vpon the Sacrament because he denied the reall presence he presented this Examinate to the bishop Iohn Tudson likewise examined by M. Cholmly and D. Story vpon the same matters and for not commyng to the Church and accused by the same because he would not agree to them was sent to the B. Tho. Browne also sayde that he for not commyng to the church of S. Brides was brought by the Constable to the B. c. Ioane Warne confessed that she was sent by Doctour Story to the Bishoppe of London about twelue weekes agoe since which tyme shee hath continued with the sayd Bishop ¶ Concernyng the 9. Article To the 9. Article they confesse and say that as they beleeue the premisses before by them confessed to be true so they deny not the same to be manifest and that they bee of the iurisdiction of London And thus hauyng expressed their Articles with their answers iointly made vnto the same yet remayneth further more fully now to discourse the stories handlyng of all the 7. aforesayd Martyrs seuerally and particularly by themselues first beginning with Tho. Whittle ⧠The history of all these 7. Martyrs particularly described in order here followeth first of Tho. Whittle who first recanting then returning agayne with great constancy and fortitude stoode to the defence of Christes doctrine agaynst the Papists to the fire IN the story of M. Philpot mention was made before of a maried Priest whom he found in the Colehouse at hys first commyng thither in heauines of mynd and great sorow for recantyng the doctrine which hee had taught in K. Edwards dayes whose name was Thom. Whittle of Essex and thus lyeth his story This Tho. Whittle after he had bene expulsed from the place in Essex where he serued went abroad where he might now here and there as occasion was ministred preachyng and sowyng the Gospel of Christ. At length beyng apprehended by one Edmund Alabaster in hope of reward promotion whiche he miserably gaped after he was brought first as prisoner before the B. of Winchester who then was fallen lately sicke of his disease whereof not long after hee dyed most straungely But the apprehender for his profered seruice was highly checked rated of the B. askyng if there were no man vnto whome he might bring such Rascals but to him Hence quoth he out of my sight thou varlet what doest thou trouble me with such matters The gredy cormorant beyng thus defeated of his desired pray yet thinking to seek and to hunt further caried his prisoner to the B. of London with whom what an euill messe of hādling this Whittle had and how he was by the B. all to beaten buffeted about the face by this his owne narration in a letter sent vnto his friend manifestly may appeare Upon Thursday which was the x. of Ianuary the B. of London sent for me Thom. Whittle minister out of the porters lodge where I had bene all night lying vpon the earth vpō a pallet where I had as painful a night of sicknes as euer I had God be thanked And when I came before hym he talked with me many thyngs of the sacrament so grossely as is not worthy to be rehearsed And amongst other thynges he asked me if I would haue come to masse that mornyng if he had sent for me Whereunto I answered that I would haue come to
Then Whittell in the middest of the ceremonies whē he saw them so busy in disgrading him after theyr father the Popes Pontifical fashion sayd vnto them Paule and Titus had not so much ado with theyr priestes and bishops And farther speaking to the bishop he sayd vnto him My Lord your Religion standeth most with the church of Rome and not with the catholicke church of Christ. The Bishop after this according to his accustomed formall procedinges assayed him yet agayne with words rather then with substantiall arguments to conforme him to his Religion Who then denying so to doe sayd As for your religion I cannot be perswaded that it is accordyng to Gods worde The Bishop then asked what fault he found in the administration of the Sacrament of the Aultar Whittell aunswered and sayde it is not vsed according to Christes institution in that it is priuately and not openlye done And also for that it is ministred but in one kinde to the lay people which is agaynst Christes ordinaunce Farther Christ commaunded it not to be eleuated nor adored For the adoration and eleuation cannot be approued by Scripture Well quoth Boner my Lords here and other learned men haue shewed great learning for thy cōuersion wherfore if thou wilt yet returne to the fayth and religion of the catholicke Church I will receiue thee thereunto and not cōmit thee to the secular power c. To make short Whittell strengthened with the grace of the Lord stood strong vnmoueable in that he had affirmed Wherfore the sentēce being readde the next day folowing he was committed to the secular power and so in few dayes after brought to the fire with the other sixe aforenamed sealing vp the testimony of his doctrine with his bloud which he willingly and chearefully gaue for witnes of the truth ¶ Letters of Thomas Whittell ¶ A letter of Thomas Whittell to Iohn Careles prisoner in the kinges bench THe peace of God in Christ bee with you continuallye dearely beloued bother in Christ with the assistaunce of Gods grace and holy spirit to the working and perfourming of those thinges which may comfort and edefye hys Churche as ye dayly doe to the glory of his name and the encrease of your ioye and solace of Soule in this lyfe and also your reward in heauen with Christ our Captain whose faythfull Souldiours ye are in the life to come Amen I haue greatly reioyced my deare hart with thankes to God for you since I haue hearde of your fayth and loue which you bare towardes God and his Sayntes wyth a most godly ardent zeale to the verity of Christs doctrine and religion which I haue heard by the report of manye but specially by the declaring of that valiaunt captayne in Christes church that stout Champion in Gods cause that Spectacle to the worlde I meane our good brother Philpot who now lyeth vnder the Aultar and sweetly enioyeth the promised reward And specially I and my cōdemned fellowes gene thankes to God for your louyng and comfortable Letter in the deepenesse of our trouble after the flesh sent vnto vs to the consolation of vs al but most specially to me most sinnefull miser on mine own behalfe but happye I hope through Gods louing kindnesse in Christ shewed vnto me who suffered me to faynt fayle through humaine infirmity by the working of the Archenemy in his sworne Souldiours the Bishops and Priestes In whom so liuely appereth the very visage shape of Sathan that a man if it were not preiudice to Gods word might well affirme them to be Deuils incarnate as I by experience do speake Wherefore who so shall for cōscience matters come in theyr handes had need of the wylynesse of the Serpent to saue his head though it be wyth the wounding of his body and to take diligent heede how he consenteth to theyr wicked writings or setteth his hād to theyr conueyances Sore did they assault me and craftely tempt me to their wicked wayes or at least to a denegation of my fayth and true opinions though it were but by colour and dissimulation And alas something they did preuaile Not that I did any thing at all like theyr opinions and false papisticall religion or els doubted of the truth wherein I stand but onely the infirmity of the fleshe beguiled me desiring liberty by an vnlawfull meanes GOD lay it not to my charge at that daye and so I hartely desire you to praye Howbeit vncertayne I am whether more profite came therby profite to me in that God suffered Sathan to buffet me by his foresayd minister of mischiefe shewinge me myne infirmity that I should not boast nor reioyce in my selfe but onely in the Lord who whē he had led me to hell in my conscience through the respect of his feareful iudgementes agaynst me for my fearefulnes mistrust and crafty cloking in such spirituall and weighty matters in the which mine agonye and distresse I founde this olde verse true Non patitur ludum fama fides oculus yet he brought me from thence agayne to the magnifiyng of his name suspecting of flesh and bloude and consolation of mine owne soule or els that I might feele disprofite in offending the congregation of God which peraduenture wil rather adiudge my fall to come of doubtfulnesse in my doctrine and religion then of humaine imbecility Well of the importune burden of a troubled conscience for denying or dissembling the knowne verity I by experiēce could say very much more which perhaps I will declare by writing to the warding of other if God graunte time For now am I and my felowes ready to go hence euen for Christs cause Gods name be praysed who hath hitherto called vs. Pray I pray you that we maye ende our course with ioy at your appoynted time you shall come after But as the Lorde hath kept you so will he preserue your life still to the intent you should labour as you do to appease and conuince these vngodlye contentions and controuersies which now do too much raygn brawling about termes to no edificatiō God is dishonored the church disquieted occasiō to speake euill of the gospel ministred to our aduersaries But such is the subtlety of sathan that whom he cannot winne with grosse Idolatry in open religion thē he seeketh to corrupt and deceiue in opinions in a priuate profession But here I will abruptly leaue lest with my rude simple veyne I should be tedious to you desiring you my louing brother if it shall not seeme grieuous vnto you to write vnto me my fellowes yet once agayne if you haue leysure and we tune to the same Prouide me M. Philpots 9. examinations for a friend of mine and I shall pay you therefore by the leaue of almighty God our heauenly Father who correcteth all hys deare children in this world that they should not be damned with the world and tryeth the fayth of his Saynctes through many
sake we suffer whose cause we defend and what glorious reward we shall haue at the day of our victory then doubtles the consolation of these things will make sweete all our suffringes soone swallowe vp all the sorrowes that we are sowâ—ed in for Gods sake I coulde recite diuers textes of the Scriptures to confirme this pointe But I neede not for I am well assured that you do knowe them most perfectly alreadye The Lorde geue you strength and assist you with his holy spirite that you may continually walke in all pointes according to your godly knowledge And then shall you not doe as the moste parte of our Gospellers doe nowe adaies the more is the pitie There are a greate manye in Englande that doe perfectlye knowe that the Idolatrous Masse is abhominable Deuelishe and detestable in the sight of God And yet alasse they be not afrayde to pollute and defile theyr bodyes whych oughte to be the temples of the holy Ghoste with being present at it so sinning against God and theyr owne conscience But dere sister K. do you flie from it both in body soule as you would flie from the very Deuill himselfe Drinke not of the whore of Babylons cuppe by no meanes for it will infecte the body and poyson the soule Be not partakers of her sinnes sayth the Aungell least you be partakers of the plagues that shortly shall be powred vppon her O what an aray is this that so many that know Gods truth wil nowe tourne againe and defile them selues in the filthy puddle of antichristes stinking religion They goe about to saue theyr liues wyth their dowble dissimulation but doubtlesse they shall loose euerlastinge life by it if they doe not repent in time and tourne vnto the Lorde But deare sister my trust is that you doe vtterly abhorre the comming to anye such thyng I hope that you wil not by any meanes turne backe into Egypt nowe but that you will boldly venter throughe the wildernesse of trouble and persecution that you may come into the lande that floweth with all kinde of heauenly pleasures and ioyfull delectations and possesse the same for euer Lette vs consider howe that euery one of vs doeth owe vnto God a death by nature and howe soone the Lord wil require it of vs we knowe not O howe happye are we then if God of hys goodnesse appoynt vs to pay natures dette wyth sufferyng for hys trueth and Gospels sake and so making vs his faithfull witnesses wyth the Prophetes Apostles Martyrs and Confessours yea wyth his dearely beloued sonne Iesus Christe to whome he doeth heere begin to fashion vs lyke in suffering that we myght be like hym also in glory Thus my dearely beloued sister I haue ben bold to trouble you a little with my rude simple letter being made in hast as it doth appeare Yet I desire you to take it in good woorthe as a token of my poore zeale vnto you and to accept my good will And if it please God to spaâ—e me life and libertye I trust heereafter to wryte vnto you more largely Fare yee well deare sister E.K. the Lorde blesse you and all yours and powre vpon you the heauenly dewe of his grace The Lorde endue you wyth plentifull knowledge of hys verity and fill you with hys holy and mighty spirite that you may continuallye reioyce in the comfortes of the same nowe and euer Amen Pray pray pray with stedfast faith Your daily Oratour Iohn Careles prisoner of the Lord. ¶ In the letters of William Tymmes ye heard before page 1897. much mention made of Agnes Glascock Thys Agnes Glascocke through infirmity and her husbandes perswasion was allured to goe to Masse For whyche cause shee falling in great sorrow and repentance was raised vppe againe by the comfortable Letters of William Tymmes and Iohn Careles as before you maye reade and after that was constante in the syncere profession of the verity and in danger for the same of persecution vnto whome Iohn Careles wryteth therefore thys letter as followeth A letter of Careles to Agnes Glascocke THe euerlasting peace of God in Iesus Christ the continuall aide strengthe and comfortes of his moste pure holye and mighty spirite be with you my deare faithfull sister Glascock to the good performance of that good woorke which God hath so graciously begun in you to his glory the commoditye of hys poore afflâ—cted Churche and to your owne eternall comfort in hym Amen In our Lorde I haue my most humble and hearty commendations vnto you my deare sister most faithfull mother Glascocke with all remembrance of you in my daily prayers geuing God most hearty laude praise and thankes for you and on your behalfe in that he of his great mercye hath hetherto so mightely strengthened you constantly to cleaue vnto youre Captayne Christ notwithstanding the great assaultes and manifold temptations that you haue had to the contrary Doubtles deare heart it can not be expressed what ioy and comfort it is vnto my very soule to see howe mightely the Lorde hathe magnified hym selfe in you and other his deare electe darlings whome hee will shortly glorify with himselfe as he hath done other of his sweete Sainctes that are gone before you Reioyce therefore be glad for verilye you haue good cause if you diligentlye consider the great dignitie that God hath called you vnto euen now in your olde age to be one of his woorthy witnesses vnto the worlde and I thinke you shall wyth mee and other youre brethren in bonds seale the Lords verity with the testimony of your bloud Surely sweete sister this is the greatest promotion that God caÌ„ bring you or any other vnto in this life and an honour that the highest aungel in heauen is not permitted to haue Therefore happye are you Oh faithfull daughter of Abraham that the Lorde will nowe preferre you before many other yea or any other of your age that I doe know in Englande Oh faithfull and vertuous matrone which wilt not be moued from the sure rocke Christe vppon whome you haue so firmely built your house that neither stormes nor tempestes neither yet bell gates or any other temptations shall euer be able once to preuaile against it Full wel doeth it appeare by your constant continuance that you haue played the parte of a wise builder in counting the cost afore hand belonging to the finishing of your tower And I doubt not but through Gods gift you haue sufficient to the performaunce thereof that the hypocrites of theyr parte shall haue no iuste cause to triumphe againste you or to mocke you saying loe thys woman beganne to builde but is not able to make an ende Therefore goe on boldlye and feare not for God is faithfull as S. Paule sayeth which will not suffer you to be tempted aboue your strength but eyther will hee geue you grace and strength to stande vnto the death whych is the gate and entraunce into
theyr skinnes to be pluckt of for the Gospels sake Notwithstanding the Bishops afrayd belike of the nuÌ„ber to put so many at once to death sought meanes to deliuer them and so they did drawing out a very easy submission for them or rather suffring them to draw it out theÌ„selues notwithstanding diuers of theÌ„ afterward were takeÌ„ againe suffered as hereafter ye shall heare God willing declared Such as met them by the way coÌ„ming vp saw them in the fieldes scattering in such sort as that they might haue easily escaped away And when they entred into the townes their keepers called them againe into aray to go two two together hauing a band or line going betweene them they holding the same in theyr handes hauing another corde euery one about his arme as though they were tied And so were these fourteene men eight women caried vp to London the people by the way praying to God for them to geue them strength At the entring into London they were pinioned so came into the city as the Picture here shortly after folowing with their names also subscribed doth describe But first let vs declare concerning their taking and their attachers conteined in the Commissaryes letter written to Boner then the Indenture made betwene the commissioners and the popish coÌ„missary The letter of the Commissary is this ¶ The Letter of the Commissary called Iohn Kingston written to Bishop Boner AFter my duety done in receiuing and accoÌ„plishing your honorable and most louing letters dated the 7. of August Be it knowne vnto your Lordship that the 28. of August the Lorde of Oxenford Lord Darcy H. Tyril A. Brown W. Bendlowes E. Tyrill Ric. Weston Roger Apleton published their coÌ„missioÌ„ to selfe landes and tenements goodes of the fugitiues so that the owners should haue neither vse nor commodity thereof but by InueÌ„tory remaine in safe keeping vntill the cause were determined And also there was likewise proclaimed the queenes graces warrant for the restitution of the Church goods within Colchester the hundredes thereabout to the vse of Gods seruice And then were called the parishes particularly the hereticks partly coÌ„mitted to my examination And that diuers persons should certify me of theyr ornamentes of theyr Churches betwixt this and the Iustices next appearaunce which shal be on Michaelmas euen nexte And that parish which had presented at two seuerall times to haue all ornamentes with other thinges in good order were exonerated for euer til they were warned againe others to make theyr appearaunce from time to time And those names blotted in the Indenture were indited for treason fugitâ—ues or disobedients and were put foorth by M. Brownes commaundement And before the sealing my Lord Daâ—cy said vnto me apart and M. Bendlowes that I should haue sufficient time to send vnto your Lordship yea if need were the heretickes to remayne indurance till I had an answere from you yea to the Lord Legates graces Commissioners come into the Country And mayster Browne came into my Lord Darcyes house parlour belonging vnto M. Barnaby before my sayd Lord and all the Iustices and laid his hand of my shoulder with a smiling couÌ„tenaunce and desired me to make his harty commeÌ„dations vnto your good Lordship and asked me if I would and I said Yea with a good will Wherefore I was glad and thought that I should not haue bene charged with so sodeine carriage But after dinner the Iustices councelled with the Bayliffes and with the Gaolers and then after tooke me vnto them and made collation of the Indentures and sealed and then Mayster Browne commaunded me this after noone being the 30. of August to go and receyue my prisoners by and by And then I sayd it is an vnreasonable commaundemeÌ„t for that I haue attended of you here these three dayes and this Sonday early I haue sent home my men Wherefore I desire you to haue a conuenient time appoynted wherein I may know whether it will please my Lord my maister to sende his Commissioners hither or that I shall make carriage of them vnto his Lordship Then M. Browne We are certified that the Councell hath written vnto your mayster to make speed and to rid these prisoners out of hand therefore go receiue your prisoners in haste Then I Sir I shall receiue them within these tenne dayes Then M. Browne The limitation lyeth in vs and not in you wherfore get you hence Syr ye haue indited and deliuered me by this Indenture whose fayth or opinions I know not trusting that ye will grauÌ„t me a time to examine them least I should punish the Catholicks Well sayd Maister Browne for that cause ye shall haue time betwixt this and Wednesday And I say vnto you maister Bailiffes if he do not receiue them at your handes on Wednesday set open your doore and let them go Then I My Lord and maisters all I promise to discharge the towne and countrey of these heretickes within ten dayes Then my Lord Darcy sayd CoÌ„missary we do and must all agree in one Wherfore do you receiue them on or before Wednesday Then I My Lord the last I carryed I was goyng betwixte the Castell and Sayncte Katherines Chappell two howres and an halfe and in great preasse and daunger Wherefore thâ—s may be to desire your Lordship to geue in commaundement vnto my Mayster Sayer Bayliffe here present for to ayd me thorough his liberties not onely with men and weapons but that the Towne clarke may bee ready there with his booke to write the names of the most busie persons and this vpon three houres warning all whiche both my Lorde and M. Browne commaunded And the 31. of August William Goodwin of Muchbirch husbandman this brynger and Thomas Alsey of Copforde youre Lordships Apparitour of your Consistory in Colchester couenaÌ„ted with me that they shoulde hyre two other men at the leaste whereof one should be a Bowman to come to me the next day about two of the clocke at after noone so that I might recite this bargayne before M. Archdeacon and pay the money that is 46. shillinges 8. pence Wherefore they should then go foorth wyth me vnto Colchester on Wednesday before three of the clock in the morning receiue there at my hand within the Castell and Motehall fourteen men and eight women ready bound wyth giues and hempe and driue cary or lead and feede with meat drinke as heretickes ought to be found continually vnto suche time that the sayd William and Thomas shall cause the sayde 22. persones for to be deliuered vnto my Lord of Londons Officers and within the safe keeping of my sayd Lorde and then to bring vnto me againe the sayd Giues with a perfect token of or from my sayd Lord and then this couenant is voyde or els c. Maister Bendlowes sayde vnto mee in my Lorde of Oxenfordes Chamber at the kinges head after I had sayd Masse before the Lordes that on
that great Idolatry is sprong out of the carnall vnderstanding of the word of Christ This is my body yet dayly springeth to the great dishonour of God so that men worship a peece of bread for God yea and hold that to be their maker After this confession of their fayth and doctrine being written and exhibited they also deuised a letter withall in maner of a short supplication or rather an admonition to the Iudges and Commissioners requiring that Iustice and Iudgement after the rule of Gods worde might be ministred vnto them The copye of whiche theyr letter I thought here also to shew vnto the reader in forme as followeth * A letter or supplication of the prisoners to the Iudges TO the right honourable audience before whome these oure simple writinges and the confession of our fayth shall come to be read or seene we poore prisoners being fast in bandes vpon the tryall of our faythe whiche wee offer to bee tryed by the scriptures pray most hartily that for asmuch as God hath geuen you power and strength ouer vs as concerning our bodyes vnder whom we submit our selues as obedient subiects in al things due ye being officers and rulers of the people may execute true iudgement keepe the lawes of righteousnesse gouerne the people according to right and to heare the poore and helplesse in truth and to defend their cause God for his sonne Iesus Christes sake geue you the wisedom and vnderstanding of Salomon Dauid Ezechias Moyses wyth diuers others most vertuous rulers by whose wisedome most godly vnderstanding the people were iustly ruled and gouerned in the feare of God all wickednesse was by them ouerthrowne and beaten downe and all godlinesse and vertue did florish and spring O God whiche art the most hyghest the creator maker of all thinges and of all men both great and small and carest for all alike which doest try all mens workes and imaginations before whose iudgement seate shal come both high and low rich and poore we most humbly beseeche thee to put into our rulers heartes the pure loue and feare of thy name that euen as they theÌ„selues would be iudged and as they shall make aunswere before thee so to heare our causes to iudge with mercy and to read ouer these our requestes and confessions of our fayth with deliberation and a godly iudgement And if any thing here seemeth to your honourable audience to be erroneous or disagreeing to the scripture if it shall please your Lordship to heare vs patiently whiche doe offer our selues to the scriptures thereby to make aunswere and to be tryed in so doyng wee poore subiectes being in much captiuitie bondage are most bound to pray for your noble estate and long preseruation The request of these men being so iust and theyr doctrine so sound yet all this could not preuayle with the Bishop and other Iudges but that Sentence shoulde haue proceeded agaynst them incontinent had not the goodnes of the Lord better prouided for his seruauntes then the Bishoppe had intended For as they were now vnder the edge of the axe ready to be condemned by sentence it was thought otherwise by the Cardinall and some other wiser heades fearing belike least by the death of so many together some disturbance might rise peradueÌ„ture among the people and so was decreed among themselues that rather they shuld make some submission or confessioÌ„ such as they would themselues â—nd so to be sent home agayne as they were in deed howbeit diuers of them afterward wer apprehended and put to deathe But in the meane space as touching their submission which they made this it was as in forme here followeth ¶ The submission or confession of these aforesayd prisoners BEcause our sauiour Christ at his last supper took bread and when he had geuen thankes he brake it and gaue it vnto his Disciples and sayde Take eate this is my bodye whiche is geuen for you this doe in the remembraunce of me Therefore according to the wordes of our sauioure Iesus Christ we do beleue in the sacrament to be Christes body And likewise he tooke the cup gaue thankes and gaue it to his Disciples and sayd This is my bloud of the newe Testament which is shed for many Therefore likewise we do beleue that it is the bloud of Christ according as Christes Churche dothe minister the same Unto the whiche Catholicke Church of Christe we do in this like as in all other matters submit oure selues promising therein to liue as it becommeth good chrystian men and here in this realme to vse our selues as it becommeth faythfull subiectes vnto our most gracious king and Queene and to all other superiours bothe spirituall and temporall according to our bounden dueties The names of them which subscribed to this submission were these Iohn Atkine Alyn Symson Richard George Thomas Firefanne William Munt Richard Ioly Richard Gratwicke Thomas Winsley Richard Rothe Richard Clerke Stephen Glouer Robert Colman T. Merse William Bongeor Robert Bercocke Margaret Hide Elyn Euryng Christian Pepper Margaret feld Alyce Munt Ioane Winesley Cysly Warren Rose Alyn Anne Whitelocke George Barker Iohn Saxebye Thomas Locker Alyce Locker ¶ A story of fiue other godly Martyrs burned at one fire in Smithfield the 12. daye of Aprill TO proceede further in this story of persecuted martyrs next in order followe fiue other burned at London in Smithfield in the foresayd yeare of the Lord. 1557. April 12. whose names were these Thomas Loseby Henry Ramsey Thomas Thyrtell Margaret Hyde and Agnes Stanley Who being some by the Lord Riche some by other Iustices of peace and Constables their own neighbours at the first accused and apprehended for not comming to their parish Churches were in the end sent vnto Boner Bish. of London and by hys commaundement the 27. day of Ianuary were examined before Doctour Darbyshyre then Chauncellour to the sayd Bishop vppon the former generall Articles mentioned pag. 1672. Aunsweres to the Articles WHose aunsweres thereunto were that as they confessed there was one true Catholick church wherof they steadfastly beleeued and thought the Churche of Rome to be no part or member so in the same Churche they beleued there were but two sacraments that is to say Baptisme and the supper of the Lorde Howbeit some of them attributed the title and honour of a sacrament to the holy estate of Matrimony which vndoubtedly was done rather of simple ignoraunce then of anye wilfull opinion and are thereof to be adiudged as before is admonished Moreouer they acknowledged themselues to be Baptised into the fayth of that true Church as in the thyrd article is specified And here in reading as wel of these Articles as also of the rest marke I beseech you the crafty subteltie of these Catholicke Champions who intermitting certayne poyntes of faith and of the true Church with the Idolatrous and superstitious mametry of theyr romyshe Sinagogue cause the poore and simple people
these examinations thus had and commensed betwene Richard Woodman and the Bishops he was as is afore told iudged by sentence of cōdēnation and so depriued of his life with whom also was burned 9. other to wit fiue men and foure women which were takē not past two or three dayes before theyr iudgement The names of all which being also before expressed here agayne folow in this order Richard Woodman George Steuēs William Maynard Alexander Hosman his seruant Thomasine a Wood his mayde Margerye Moris Iames Moris her sonne Denis Burgis Ashdownes wife Groues wife These persons here aboue named and blessed martyrs were put to death at Lewes the xxij of Iune ¶ The burning of x. Martyrs at Lewes Of the which number the viij last were apprehend as is sayd either the same daye or the second or third day before and so with the sayd Woodman and Steuēs were together committed to the fire in which space no writ could come downe from London to the Iustices for theyr burning Wherfore what is to be said to such Iustices or what reckoning they wil make to God and to the lawes of this Realme I referre that to them that haue to do in the matter The like whereof is to be found also of other Iustices who without any lawfull writte of discharge or order of law haue vnlawfully and disorderly burnt the seruantes of Christ whhose bloud the lawe both may and also ought to reuenge especially at Salisbury and also at Canterbury and Garnesey But concerning these matters though mans law do wincke or rather sleep at them yet they shall be sure Gods law wil find such murderers out at length I pray God the doers may repent betime ¶ One Ambrose dyed in Maydstone prison AFter these x. aboue named burnt at Lewes aboute the same time and moneth one Ambrose dyed in Maydstone prison who els should haue bene burned in the like cause and quarell as the other were The condemnation and Martyrdome of Richard Lush IN the Registers of Gilbert Bishop of Bathe Welles I finde a certificate made to K. Philip and Q. Mary of one Richard Lush there condemned geuen to the secular power to be burned for the cause of heresy whose affirmations in the sayde certificate he expressed in tenour and effect as foloweth FIrst for denying the verity of the body bloud of christ in the Sacrament of the Aultar 2 Item for denying auricular confessiō to be made to the Priest 3 Item for affirming onely to be three sacramēts to wit of baptisme of the supper and of matrimony 4 Item for refusing to call the Lordes Supper by the name of the Sacrament of the aulter 5 Item for denying Purgatory and that prayer almes profite not the dead 6 Item that Images are not to be suffered in the church and that all that kneele to Images at the Church be Idolators 7 Item that they which were burnt of late for religiō died Gods seruants and good Martyrs 8 Item for condemning the single life of Priestes and other votaries 9. Item for denying the vniuersall and catholicke church meaning belike the Church of Rome For these assertions as there are expressed he was cōdemned and committed to the Sheriffes and also a certificat directed by the Bishop aforesayd to the king and Q. Whereby we haue apparantly to vnderstand that the said Richard Lush thus condemned by Bishop Borne was there burnt and executed vnlesse peraduenture in the mean season he dyed or was made away in the prison wherof I haue no certeinty to expresse A note of Iohn Hullier Minister and Martyr burned at Cambridge COncerning the story of Iohn Hullier Martyr partly mentioned before pag. 1864. for the more ful declaratiō of the death and martirdome of that good man because the story is but rawly and imperfectly touched before for the more perfetting thereof I thought thereunto to adde that which since hath come to my hand as foloweth First Iohn Hullier was brought vp at Eaton colledge and after according to the foūdation of that house for that he was ripe for the vniuersitye he was elected scholer in the kinges colledge where also not tarying full the 3. yeares of probation before he was felow of the Colledge he after a litle season was one of the x. Conductes in the kinges colledge which was an 1539. Then at length in processe of time he came to be Curate of Babrame 3. miles from Cābridge and so went afterward to Linne where he hauing diuers conflictes with the papistes was from thence caried to Ely to D. Thuriby then bishop there who after diuers examinations sent him to Cambridge Castle where he remayned but a while From thence he was conueyed to the town prison cōmonly called the Tolboth lying there almost a quarter of a yere while at lēgth he was cited to appeare at great S. Maries on Palmsonday euē before diuers Doctors both Diuines Lawyers amongest whō was chiefest Doctor Shaxton also Doct. Young D. Sedgewike Doct. Scot Mitch and others Where after examination had for that he would not recant he was first condemned the sentence being read by D. Fuller Then consequētly he was disgraded after their popish maner with scraping crowne and handes When they had disgraded him he sayd cherefully this is the ioyfullest day that euer I saw and I thank ye all that ye haue deliuered and lightened me of all this paltry In the meane time whilest it was doyng one standing by asked Hullier what book he had in his hand Who aunswered a testamēt Wherat this man in a rage tooke it and threw it violently frō him Thē was he geuen ouer to the secular powers Brasey being Maior who carying him to prison agayne took from him all his bookes writinges papers On Maundy Thursday comming to the stake he exhorted the people to pray for him after holding his peace and praying to himselfe one spake to him saying the Lord strenthē thee Wherat a Sergeant named Brisley stayed bad him hold his toung or els he should repent it Neuerthelesse Hullier answered and sayd either thus or very like the effect was all one frende I truste that as God hath hitherto begon so also he will strengthen me finish his work vpō me I am bidden to a Maundy whether I trust to goe there to be shortly God hath layd the foundation and I by his ayd will end it Then goyng to a stoole prepared for hym to sit on to haue his hosen plucked of he desired the people to pray for him agayne and also to beare witnesse that he dyed in the right faith and that he would seale it with his bloud certifying them that he dyed in a iust cause and for the testimony of the verity and truth that there was no other rocke but Iesus Christ to builde vpon vnder whose banner he fought and whose souldiour he was and yet speaking he turned
many promoters and vnneighborly neighbors to help them forwards By which kinde of people it is not vnlike these two godly yokefellowes were accused and taken and being once deliuered into the pitiles haÌ„dling of Boner their examinations ye may be sure were not long deferred For the 16. day of Iuly 1557. they were brought before him into hys palace at London Wher first he demaÌ„ded of the said Iames Austoo amongst other questions where he had bene confessed in Lent and whether he receiued the sacrament of the altare at Easter or not To whom he answered that in dede he had ben confessed of the curate of Aâ—halowes Barking â—e to the tower of London but that he had not receiued the sacrament of the altar for he defied it from the bottome of his heart Why quoth the Bishop doest thou not beleeue that in the sacrament of the altare there is the true body bloude of Christ. No sayd Austoo not in the Sacrament of the altar but in the Supper of the Lorde to the faithfull receiuer is the very body and bloud of Christ by faith Boner not well pleased with this talke asked then the wife how she did like the religion then vsed in this courâ—h of England Shee answered that shee beleeued that the same was not according to Gods word but false and corrupted and that they which did goe thereunto did it more for feare of the law then otherwise Then hee againe asked her if shee woulde goe to the Churche and heare Masse and pray for the prosperous estate of the king being then abroad in his affaires Whereunto she said that she defied the Masse with all her heart and that she would not come into any Churche wherein were Idols After this the Bish. obiected vnto them certaine articles to the number of 18. The tenor whereof because they touch only such common trifling matters as are already mentioned in diuers sondry places before I do here for breuitie sake omit and passe ouer geuing you yet this much to vnderstand that in the maters of faith they were as souÌ„d and answered as truly God be therfore praised as euer any did especially the woman to whom the Lord had geuen the greater knowledge and more feruentnes of spirit Notwithstanding according to the measure of grace that God gaue them they both stood most firmly vnto the truthe And therefore to conclude the 10. day of Sept. they were with Rafe Allerton of whoÌ„ ye haue heard brought againe before the bishop within his chappell at Fulham where he speaking vnto them said first on this wise Austoo doest thou knowe where thou art nowe and in what place and before whom and what thou hast to doe Yea quoth Austoo I knowe where I am For I am in an idols temple After which wordes their articles being againe red their constancie in faith perceiued Boner pronounced against either of them seuerally the sentence of coÌ„demnation and deliuering them vnto the sheriff there present did rid his hands as he thought of them but the Lorde in the ende will iudge that to whome I referre his cause It so happened vpon a night that as this Margerie Austoo was in the bishops prisone which prison I suppose was his dogge kennel for it was as is reported vnder a paire of staires by the bishops procurement there was sent a stoute champion as appeared about 12. of the clocke at nighte who suddenly opened the doore and with a knife drawen or ready prepared fell vppon her to the intent to haue cut her throte Which she by reason of the clearnes of the Moone perceiuing and calling vnto God for helpe he but who it was she knewe not geuing a grunt and fearing belike to commit so cruel a dede departed his waies without any more hurt doing The next night following they caused a great rumbeling to be made ouer her head which semed to her to haue bene some great thuÌ„der which they did for to haue feared her out of her wittes but yet thanks be to God they missed of their purpose Richard Roth. IN the godly felowship of the forenamed three Martyrs was also this Rich. Roth as is alreadye specified Who being apprehended and brought vp vnto the bish of London was by him examined the 4. day of Iuly at what time the bish did earnestly trauel to induce him to beleeue that there were 7. sacraments in Christes churche and that in the sacrament of the altar after the words of consecration duely spoken there remained the very substance of Christes body and bloud and none other Wherunto at the present he made only this aunsweare that if the scriptures did so teach him and that he might be by the same so perswaded he would so beleue otherwise not But at another examination which was the 9. day of Sept. he declared plainly that in the said sacrameÌ„t of the altar as it was then vsed there was not the very body and bloud of Christ but that it was a dead God and that the Masse was detestable and contrary to Gods holy woorde and will from the which faith and opinion he would not goe or decline The next daye being the 10. day of the same moneth of September the Bishop at his house at Fulham by waye of an article laid and obiected against him that he was a comforter and boldener of hereticks and therefore hadde wrytten a letter to that effect vnto certaine that were burned at Colchester the copie whereof ensueth A letter wrytten by Rich. Roth vnto certaine brethren and sisters in Christ condemned at Colchester and ready to be burned for the testimonie of the truth O Deare brethren and sisters how much haue you to reioyce in God that he hath geuen you such faith to ouercome thys bloud thirsty tyrants thus far and no doubt he that hathe begon that good worke in you wil fulfil it vnto the end O deâ—◠〈…〉 in Christ what a crowne of glory shall ye receiue with Christe in the kingdom of God Oh that it had bene the good will of God that I had ben ready to haue gon with you For I lie in my 〈◊〉 little ease in the day and in the night I lie in the Colehouse froÌ„ Rafe Allerton or any other and we loke euery day wheÌ„ we 〈◊〉 be condemned For he said that I shoulde be burned wythin 〈◊〉 daies before Easter but I lie still at the pooles brinke and euery man goeth in before mee but we abide paciently the lordes lâ—isure with many bandes in setters and stockes by the whiche we haue receiued great ioy in God And nowe fare you well deare brethren and sisters in this worlde but I trust to see you in the heauens face to face Oh brother Munt with your wife and my deare sister Rose how blessed are you in the Lord that God hath found you worthy to suffer for his sake with all the rest of my deare brethren sisters knowen vnknowen O be ioyful euen
in his wagon with his wife and a gentlewoman waiting on her and his foole As soone as the Wagon was come without the gate of the citie called Croneborgh gate vpon the wooden bridge beyng at that tyme made for a shifte with railes or barres on both sides for more safetie of the passengers halfe a mans heighth more the horses stood still and would by no meanes go forward whatsoeuer the guider of the wagon could do Then he in a drunken rage cried out to him that guided the wagō saying Ride on in a thousand deuils name ride on Wherat the poore man answered that he could not make the horses to goe forward By and by whyle they were yet thus talking sodenly rose as it were a mighty hurlewynd with a terrible noyse the wether beyng very faire no wynd stirring before tost the wagon ouer the barre into the towne ditch the ropes whereat the horses had bene tied beyng broken a sunder in such sort as if they had bene cut with a sharp knife the wagon also being cast vpsidedowne with the fore end thereof turned toward the towne agayne and he drowned in the mire and when he was taken vp it was found that his necke also was broken His wife was taken vp aliue but died also within three dayes after But the Gentlewoman and the foole by Gods mighty prouidence were preserued had no harm The foole hearing the people say that his Maister was dead sayd was not I dead was not I dead too This was done an 1553. Witnesse hereof not onely the Printer of the same story in Dutch dwelling then in Andwerpe whose name was Fraunces Fraet a good man and afterward for hatred put to death of Papistes but also diuers Dutchmen here now in England and a great number of English merchants which then were at Antwerpe are yet alyue Of the sodaine death of Bartholomeus Chassaneus or Cassanus persecutor read before pag. 943. Of Minerius the bloudy persecutor or rather tormētor of Christes saints how he dyed with bleeding in hys lower partes ye heard before pag. 953. And what should I speake of the iudge which accompanied the sayd Minerius in his persecution who a little after as he returned homeward was drowned and three mo of the same company killed one another vpon a strife that fell amongst them pag. 953. Ioannes de Roma cruell Monke whom rather wee may call a hell hound then persecutor what hellishe tormentes hee hadde deuised for the poore Christians of Angrongne the cōtents of the story before doth expresse pag. 216. Agayne with what like torments afterward that doublefold the Lord payd him home agayne who in hys rottyng and stinking death neither could find any enemy to kill hym nor any friend to bury him who neither could abide his owne stinking carion nor any man els to come neare hym Hereof read also in the same page and plate aboue specified Such a like persecutor also the same tyme was the lord of Reuest who likewise escaped not the reuenging hand of Gods iustice being striken after his furious persecution with a like horrible sicknes and such a furie and madnesse that none durst come neare him and so most wretchedly died Whereof read before pag. 943. Touching the like grieuous punishment of God vpō one Iohn Martin a persecutor read pag. 955. Erasmus in an Epistle or Apologie written in defence of his Colloquies inferreth mention of a certayne noble person of great riches and possessions who hauyng wyfe and children with a great familie at home to whom by S. Pauls rule he was bound in conscience principally aboue all other worldly thyngs to attend had purposed before his death to go see Ierusalem And thus all thyngs beyng set in order this Noble man about to set foreward on his iourny committed the care of his wife whom he left great with childe and of his Lordshippes and Castles to an Archbishop as to a most sure and trusty father To make short it happened in the iourney this Noble man to dye Whereof so soone as the Archbishop had intelligence in stead of a father he became a thiefe and robber seising into his owne handes all his Lordshippes and possessions And moreouer not yet contented with all this he layed siege agaynst a strong fort of his vnto the which his wife for safegard of her selfe did flee where in conclusion shee with the child that she went withall pitifully was slaine and so miserably perished Which story was done as testifieth Erasmus not so long before his tyme but that there remayned the nephews of the said Noble man then aliue to whom the same inheritance should haue fallen but they could not obtaine it What commeth of blynd superstition when a mā not conteining himselfe within the compasse of Gods worde wandereth in other bywayes of his owne and not contented with the religion set vp of the Lord wyll binde his conscience to other ordinaunces prescriptions and religious deuised by men leauyng Gods commaundements vndone for the constitutions and preceptes of men what ende and reward I say commeth thereof at length by this one example beside infinite other of the like sort men may learne by experience and therefore they that yet will defend Idolatrous pilgrimage and rash vowes let them well consider hereof It is rightly sayd of saint Hierome to haue bene at Hierusalem is no great matter but to lyue a godly and vertuous lyfe that is a great matter in very deede In the yeare of our Lord 1565. there was in the town of Gaunt in Flanders one William de Weuer accused imprisoned by the Prouost of S. Peters in Gaunt who had in his Cloister a prison and a place of execution and the day when the sayd William was called to the place of iudgement the Prouost sent for M. Gyles Brackleman principall aduocate of the Counsaile of Flaunders Borough maister and Iudge of S. Peters in Gaunt wyth other of the rulers of the towne of Gaunt to sit in iudgement vpon hym and as they sate in iudgement the Borough maister named M. Gyles Brackleman reasoned with the sayd William de Weuer vpon diuers articles of his fayth The one whereof was why the sayd William de Weuer denied that it was not lawfull to pray to Saintes and he aunswered as the report goeth for three causes The one was that they were but creatures and not the creator The second was that if he should call vpon them the Lord did both see it and heare it therefore he durst geue the glory to none other but to God The third and chiefest cause was that the creator had commaunded in his holy word to call vpon him in troubles vnto which commaundement he durst neither adde nor take from it The Borough maister M. Gyles Brackelman also demaunded whethere he did not beleeue that there was a Purgatory which he should go into after
the publike state of your Realme well ordered For in what body gods word lacketh the vnitie and charitie that ought to bee among the members thereof and which knitteth them together is soone extincted Where the youth is neglected there can no good successe bee hoped no more then the husbandman can look for a good crop where he sowed no good seed And where iustice is not truely and rightly ministred there the more laws and statutes together be heaped the more they be contemned And surely if this thing could not without exceeding charges be compassed as God forbid that charges should be weyed be they neuer so great where Gods glory and the wealth of the realme may be furthered yet ought it not to be neglected What charges did K. Dauid the father king Salomon his sonne employ to build the stony house of God Howe much more charges should a christian prince employ to build set vp the liuely house of God But verily I am fully perswaded that it shall not be chargeable to do this No a great deale of superfluous charges which otherwise your grace shall be forced to sustaine shal thus be cleane cut away and so your reuenues by a meane most profitable to no good person hurtfull encreased Wherefore for Gods sake noble Queene let not the oportunitie now by God offered be by your Grace omitted A Phisition can in nothing so much declare his good will and cunnyng nor purchase hymselfe so great estimation as when he findeth his pacient thoroughly sicke and weakened and doth restore hym to his perfect health and perfection Likewyse if a Prince should desire of God a thyng whereby he might declare the zeale that he beareth to GOD or whereby hee myght winne fame and glory he could desire nothyng so much as to come into a state corrupted as this Realme of England at this present is not to destroy it as did Caesar but to make it as did Romulus If your grace can bring this to passe as I am out of all doubt ye may quickly Ye shall doe more then any of your progenitours did before you All men shall confesse that you are not onely for proximitie of bloude preferred but rather of God specially sent and ordeined And as the Queene of Saba came from farre of to see the glory of K. Salomon a woman to a man Euen so shall the Princes of our tyme come men to a woman and Kinges maruell at the vertue of Queene Elizabeth Thus shall wee your subiects be most bound to prayse God and to thinke our selues most happy that beyng so sodainly from the worse be forthwith preferred to the best rid from extremest calamitie and brought to the greatest felicitie and it shall be besides an example for all euil Princes to leaue their persecution of Christ and his members to cease from their tiranny wherewith they continually oppresse theyr poore subiectes And so all people not onelye wee of this your Realme but of all other nations shall haue iust cause to pray for your graces health and ancrease of honour This Oration of M. Hales beyng premised now let vs prosecute the Lord willing that which we promised concernyng the Disputation or Conference had at Westminster The copy whereof here followeth ⧠The Conference or Disceptation had and begun at Westminster the last of March vpon certaine Questions or Articles of Religion proposed and also of the breaking vp of the same by the Papistes default at the first beginning of Queene ELIZABETH SO it pleased the Queenes most excellent maiestie hauyng heard of diuersitie of opinions in certaine matters of religion amongst sundry of her louyng subiects and beyng very desirous to haue the same reduced to some godly and Christian concord by the aduise of the Lordes and others of the priuy Counsaile as well for the satisfaction of persons doubtfull as also for the knowledge of the very truth in certaine matters of difference to haue a conuenient chosen number of the best learned of eyther part and to conferre together their opinions and reasons and thereby to come to some good and charitable agreement And hereuppon by her Maiesties commaundement certaine of her priuy Counsaile declared this purpose to the Archbishoppe of Yorke beyng also one of the same priuy Counsaile and required hym that he would imparte the same to some of the Bishops and to make choise of viij ix or x. of them and that there should be the like number named of the other part And further also declared to hym as then was supposed what the matter should be And as for the tyme it was thought meet to be as soone as possible might be agreed vpon And then after certaine dayes past it was signified by the sayd Archbishoppe that there was appointed by such of the Bishops to whome hee had imparted this matter eight persons that is to say 4. Bishops and 4. Doctours The names of whom here follow vnder written c. * The Papistes The B. of Winchest The B. of Lich. The B. of Chest. The B. of Carlile The B. of Linc. D. Cole D. Harpsfield D. Langdale D. Chedsey * The Protestants D. Scory B. of Chich. D. Coxe M. Whitehed M Grindall M Horne M Doct. Sands M. Gest. M. Aelmer M. Iuell Who were content at the Queenes Maiesties commaundement to shewe their opinions and as the sayde Archbishop termed it render accompte of their fayth in those matters which were mentioned and that especially in writyng although he sayd they thought the same so determined as there was no cause to dispute vppon them The matter which they should talke vpon was comprehended in these three propositions here vnder specified 1. It is agaynst the worde of God and the custome of the auncient Church to vse a tongue vnknowen to the people in common prayer and the administration of the Sacraments 2. Euery Church hath authoritie to appointe take away and change ceremonies and Ecclesiasticall rites so the same be to edification 3. It cannot be prooued by the worde of God that there is in the Masse offered vp a sacrifice propitiatorie for the quicke and the dead It was hereupon fully resolued by the Queenes maiestie with the aduise aforesayd that according to their desire it should be in writing on both partes for auoyding of much alteration in wordes and that the sayd Bishops should because they were in authoritie of degree superiours first declare their myndes and opinions to the matter with their reasons in writyng And the other number beyng also viij men of good degree in schooles and some hauyng bene in dignitie in the church of England if they had any thing to say to the contrary should the same day declare their opinions in lyke manner and so eche of them should deliuer their writings to the other to bee considered what were to bee improoued therein and the same to declare agayne in writyng at some other conuenient day and the like order to bee kept in all the rest
of the matters All this was fully agreed vpon with the Archb. of Yorke and so also signified to both parties And immediately hereupon diuers of the Nobilitie and states of the realme vnderstanding that such a meting and conference shoulde bee and that in certaine matters whereupon the Courte of Parliament consequently followyng some lawes might be grounded They made ernest meanes to her Maiestie that the parties of this conference might put and read their assertions in the English tongue and that in the presence of them of the Nobilitie and others of her Parliament house for the better satisfaction and enabling of their owne iudgements to treat and conclude of such lawes as might depend hereupon This also beyng thought very reasonable was signified to both parties and so â—ully agreed vpon and the daye appoynted for the first meetyng to bee the Friday in the forenoone beyng the last of March at Westminster church At which foresayd day and place both for good order for honour of the conference by the Queenes maiesties commandement the Lordes and others of the priuy counsaile were present and a great parte of the nobilitie also And notwithstanding this former order appoynted and consented vnto by both partes yet the Bishop of Winchester his Colleagues alledging they had mistaken that their assertions and reasons should be written and so onely recited out of the booke sayd their booke was not ready theâ—â— written but they were ready to argue and dispute and therefore they would for that tyme repeate in speache that which they had to say to the first probation This variation from the former order and specially from that which themselues had by the sayde Archbishop in writyng before required adding thereto the reason of the Apostle that to contend with wordes is profitable to nothyng but to subuersion of the hearer seemed to the Queenes maiesties counsaile somewhat strange and yet was it permitted without any great reprehension because they excused themselues with mistakyng the order and agreed that they would not faile but put it in writing and accordyng to the former order deliuer it to the other part and so the sayd Bishop of Winchester and hys Colleagues appoynted Doctour Cole Deane of Paules to be the vtterer of their myndes woo partly by speech onely and partly by readyng of authorities written and at certaine tymes beyng enformed of his Colleagues what to say made a declaration of their meanynges and their reasons to their first proposition which being ended they were asked by the priuy Counsaile if any of them had any more to be sayd and they sayd no. So as the other parâ—e was licenced to shewe their myndes which they dyd accordyng to the first order exhibityng all that whiche they ment to be propounded in a booke written which after a prayer and inuocation made most humbly to almightye God for the enduyng of them with his holy spirite and a protestation also to stand to the doctrine of the Catholike Church builded vpon the Scriptures and the doctrine of the Prophets and the Apostles was distinctly red by one Robert Horne Bacheler in Diuinitie late Deane of Duresme and after Bishoppe of Winchester The Copye of which their Protestation here followeth accordyng as it was by him penned and exhibited with their preface also before the same as is here expressed FOrasmuch as it is thought good vnto the Queenes most excellent Maiesty vnto whom in the Lord all obedience is due that we should declare our iudgement in writyng vpon certaine propositions we as becommeth vs to doe herein most gladly obey Seeâ—ng that Christ is our onely maister whome the father hath commaunded vs to heare and seyng also hys worde is the truth from the which it is not lawfull for vs to depart not one haire bredth and against the which as the Apostle saith we can do nothing we doe in all thinges submitte our selues vnto this truth and doe protest that we will affirme nothyng agaynst the same And forasmuch as we haue for our mother the true and catholike Church of Christ which is grounded vpon the doctrine of the Apostles and Prophetes and is of Christ the head in all things gouerned we do reuerence her iudgement we obey her authoritie as becommeth children and we do deuoutly professe and in all points follow the faith which is conteined in the three Creedes that is to say of the Apostles of the Councell of Nice and of Athanasius And seyng that we neuer departed neither froÌ„ the doctrine of God which is contained in the holy Canonicall Scriptures nor yet from the fayth of the true and catholike church of Christ but haue preached truely the worde of God and haue sincerely ministred the sacraments accordyng to the institution of Christ vnto the which our doctrine and fayth the most part also of our aduersaries did subscribe not many yeares past although now as vnnaturall they are reuolted from the same wee desire that they render accompt of their backsliding and shewe some cause wherefore they do not only resist that doctrine which they haue before professed but also persecute the same by all meanes they can We do not doubt but through the equitie of the Queenes most excellent maiesty we shall in these disputations be entreated more gently then in yeres late past when we were handled most vniustly scantly after the common maner of men As for the iudgement of the whole controuersie we referre vnto the most holy scriptures and the catholike church of Christ whose iudgement vnto vs ought to be most sacred notwithstanding by the catholike church we vnsterstand not the Romish church whereunto our aduersaries attribute suche reuerence but that which S. Augustine other fathers affirme ought to be sought in the holy scriptures and which is gouerned and led by the spirite of Christ. It is against the worde of God and the custome of the Primitiue Church to vse a tong vnknowen to the people in common praiers administration of the sacraments By these words the word of God we meane only the written word of God or canonicall scriptures And by the custome of the primitiue church we meane the order most generally vsed in the church for the space of 500. yeres after Christ in which times liued the most notable fathers as Iustine Ireneus Tertullian Cyprian Basill Chrysostome Hierome Ambrose Austine c. This assertion aboue written hath two partes Fyrst that the vse of the tongue not vnderstanded of the people in common prayers of the Church or in the administration of the Sacramentes is agaynst Gods worde The second that the same is agaynst the vse of the primatiue Church The first parte is most manifestly prooued by the 14. chapiter of the Epistle to the Corinthians almost thorow out the whole chapter In the whiche chapter Saynt Paule intreateth of this matter ex professo purposely And although some do cauel that Saint Paule speaketh not in that chapter of praying but
did preuayle A practise of Prelates to conuey their owne proclamations vnder the kinges name and authoritye He meaneth of the Pope which went about to driue K. Henry out of his kingdome and that not without some adherentes nere about the king The cause of insurrections is falsly layed vpon English bookes but rather is to be lyed vpon the Popes pardoÌ„s Extortioners Bribers theeues be the greatest enemyes to the Gospell to be in Englishe The froward lyfe of the Gospellers is not to be layd to the Gospel Lacke of good Curates is the cause of all mischiefe in the Realme 〈…〉 to Gods word By Nathan we may learne not 〈…〉 to call 〈◊〉 our wâ—rdes when we 〈◊〉 Gods pleasure to 〈…〉 The Popes 〈◊〉 geuen to K. Henry Defender of the â—ayth no 〈◊〉 title for man The â—ayth of Christ is 〈…〉 by man 〈…〉 but 〈◊〉 Christ 〈…〉 〈…〉 of M. Latimer to the 〈◊〉 to be coâ—â—idered The heauenly courage of M. Latimer in discharging his conscience The King well pleased with the playnnes of M. Latimer Example for Bishops and alâ— good Pastors to follow Warning to Iustices of peace A letter of M. Latimer to a certayne gentleman i. God turne â—â— to good I refuse no iudgement Let vs accuse one another that one of vs may amend an other in the name of the Lord. Let iustice proceede in iudgement i. I cannot chuse but much alow such diligence i. And then will I gladly geue place confessing my fault humbly as one conquered with iust reasons As may wel appeaâ—e by his letter sent to the King before i. To rebuke the world of sinne i. Which thing vndoubtedly is the peculiar office of the holy ghost in the church of God so that it be practised by lawfull Preachers i. vnlesse perhaps to rebuke sinne sharpely be now to lacke all charitye friendship and truth M. Latimer flattereth no man i. Among al meÌ„ eyther frendes or enemyes according to Paules precept not esteemed of the children of this world hate you sayth he that which is euill and cleaue to that which is good And let vs not at any tyme for the fauour of men call good euill and euill good as the children of this world are commonly wont to doe as it is euery where to be seene Bolstring of falsehood and iniquitie Brother ought not to beare with brother to beare down right and truth especially being a Iustice. i. The Lord himselfe saying in the mouth of two or three c. i. Corrupte tenantes i. But God is yet aliue which seeth all and iudgeth iustly Were not here a good sorâ—e of Iustices trow you Iustices turned to Iugglers Partaking Iustices i. O good God i. Of a double nature sound corrupte That was full of Iustice This vnlesse it be restored abideth alwayes vniust bringing forth the fruites of wickednes one after an other i. Of which sorte we haue fewer amongest vs then I would i. To vicinity of bloud 〈◊〉 〈…〉 of 〈…〉 and 〈◊〉 also be 〈◊〉 aâ—â—ording to the 〈…〉 of their 〈…〉 wealth which tâ—ouble vs when they 〈◊〉 to â—elpe vs 〈◊〉 this 〈…〉 Vexation 〈◊〉 vnderstanding 〈◊〉 good O â—ord that thou hâ—mâ—â—eâ— me 1. After this 〈◊〉 bind 〈◊〉 Asses with â—riâ—le and sâ—aâ—le 〈◊〉 they approch not 〈◊〉 vnto thee 〈◊〉 will not such 〈◊〉 cause â—â—yther wil communicate with other mens 〈…〉 deteâ—â—ble pride 〈…〉 â— What is to oppresse to defraud your brother in his 〈◊〉 â— The sinne is not forgeuen except the thing be restored agayne that iâ— taken away i. Of thinges gotteÌ„ by fraude guile deceite as of thinges gotten by open theft and robbery Godly threates of M. Latimer to saue the soule of his friend M. Latimers Newyeares gift sent to K. Henry B. Ridley and M. Latimer brought forth to examination October 1. M. White B. of Lincolne M. Brokes B. of Glocester the Popes deputies The last examination of M. Ridley and M. Latimer The effect of the Cardinalls Commission sent downe to Oxford D. Ridley and M. Latimer ascited to appeare the last of September B. Ridley putteth on his cap at hearing of the Popes name The wordes of the Bishop of Lincolne to D. Ridley for not putting of his cappe Answere of D Ridley to the B of Lincolne D. Ridley reuerenceth the person of the Cardinall but not his Legacye D. Ridley oâ—eth no reuerence to the pope D. White Bishop of Lincolne replyeth agayne Putting of caps at the naming of the Pope D. Ridley answereth The vsurped supremacye of Rome defied D. Ridleys cap pluckâ—â— of perforce * Though the 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 yet the doctrine 〈◊〉 Rome is straunge * * The words of D. Ridley falsly repoâ—ted The Bishop of Lincolne perswadeth D. Ridley 〈◊〉 tâ— the Popes Church Answere 〈◊〉 D. â—idley to the B. of Lincoâ—â—e â— Pointes 〈◊〉 in the B. of Lincolnes Oration 2 The sea of Rome conâ—â—med by old Doctours 3. D. Ridley once of the same sea The church not builded vpon Peter The church builded vpon faithâ— not vpon any person The wordes of Christ to Peterâ— Math· 16. expounded Fayth is the foundation of the Church Lineall discent of the Bishop of Rome Why the Bishops of Râ—me haue bene more esteemed then the Bishops of other cities The prerogatiue that the Doctours geue to the sea of Rome and for what cause The sea of Rome so long as it continued in sound doctrine was worthy to be reuerenced The Bishop of Rome proued to be Antichrist The place of S. Austen aunswered 4. Patriarches in the Church in Austines tyme. Countreys beyond the sea subiect to Rome how and in what respect Rome may be mother of churches and yet no supreme head of Churches D. Ridley falsly charged to preach transubstantiation at Paules Crosse. D. Ridley mistaken in his Sermon Lincolne againe replyeth D. Ridley agaynâ—â—â—â—swereth 〈◊〉 the wordâ— of Austen Lincolne returneth agayne to his oration * And why then do you alligate it to the city of Româ— 2. Powers of the keyes and of the sword England how subiect to the King and how to the Pope B. Ridley exhorted to submitte himselfe to the Pope Feare of punishment set before him * But that office you your selues haue assigned vnto them Aâ—â—were to D. Ridley to Lincolne * He meaneth in which no generall errour can be â—â—nally The church 〈◊〉 to no 〈◊〉 〈…〉 doe 〈◊〉 the Church to â—â—certayne place and that onely 〈◊〉 Rome The 〈…〉 bind the Church to no one 〈…〉 what Church to 〈…〉 infected with the Church of 〈◊〉 and 〈…〉 * Articles ioyntly and seuerally ministred to D. Ridley and M. Latymer by the Popes deputies B. Ridley examined vpon the Articles aforesayd The Catholicke promise fayre but they performe nothing The hie Priestes had not power to put Christ to death but they had power to commit him to Pilate neyther would they suffer him to abâ—solue Christ. D. WestoÌ„ shooteth his bolte The protestatioÌ„ of D. Ridley D. Ridley cannot be suffered to speake The reall
and thing sigâ—â—â—fied Both the sigâ—â— and the thing signified in 〈◊〉 respectes 〈◊〉 the Sacrament Ye say ye seekâ— not his lyfe and yet ye 〈◊〉 to aunswere 〈◊〉 that ye aske 〈◊〉 be his death The protestatioÌ„ of Iohn Philpot before the Lordes Two thinge wherein the Clergy deceâ—ueth the whole realme The Papistes haue neytherâ— the Sacrament of the Lordes body nor the true Church Papistes vnto 〈◊〉 vsurpe the name of the Church M. Philpot offereth himselfe to stand against 10. of the best learned in the realme in proofe of his cause The Popes Catholickes when they haue no iust reason wherewith to perswade they fall to rating to charge men with stubbernes Psalme 8. Scriptures alledged How the letter killeth and whom 2. Cor 3. Iohn 6. 1. Cor. 6. 1. Cor. 2. M. Philpots request to the Lordes Iohn Philpot wil not be iudged by his aduersaryes but by the hearers so far as they shall iudge by Gods worde The true order of iudgement vsed in the primatiue Church B. Boner bewrayeth his owne ignoraunce B. Boner dare not fetch out his booke â— Boner â—â—â—â—pheth 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 a Iudge 〈…〉 law 〈…〉 the â—earing of 〈◊〉 oâ—â—â—â—wise 〈◊〉 â—greeâ—â—â—â— to the wordâ—s so 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 no power to â—dge the â—â—aning of Gods word â—â—â—trary to ◠〈◊〉 â—â—â—ection of the Lord 〈◊〉 why the wordes 〈◊〉 the scripâ—â—â— aâ—e not 〈◊〉 be taken â—his is my body Aunswere to B. Boners â—â—iâ—ction The place 〈…〉 â—he bread 〈◊〉 I will true is my 〈◊〉 c Aâ—nswere 〈◊〉 the Lord â—iches obâ—â—ction Papistes â—ater cosins â—â— the Capemaiâ—es 〈◊〉 hath neyther 〈…〉 150. B. Bonerâ— vnâ—euerent and blasphemous speaking of God The omnipotâ—â—cye pretended in vayne Christ in the Sacrament really present to the receauer What he calleth really B. Boner to weake for Iohn Philpot. The Lordes fall to drinking Lord Rich biddeth M. Philpot drinke Chadsey beginneth to dispute with M. Philpot. * 1. Vntruth * 2. Vntrth. 4. Vntruthes of Chadsey at onâ— clappe * 3. Vntruth * 4. Vntruth M. Philpot answereth D. Chadsey Iohn Philpot interrupted in his aunswere Prayse be to the Lord for so he hath Chadsey proueth the Sacrament by the 6. of Iohn * So is there twise Ego too and yet but one naturall body Iohn Philpot aunswereth with protestation A question of Iohn Philpot. Blasphemy to say that these wordes onely this is my body make a reall presence Cypri lib. â— Epistol 3. These wordes blesse take and eate be as substanciall pointes of the Sacrament as this is my body Hereof reade more in the examinations of M. Bradford M. Doctor taken with the maner The wâ—rds of Chrâ—â—â— this is 〈◊〉 body â—â—â—cept a 〈◊〉 speake 〈…〉 body Sacraments without their vse be no Sacramentes The Sacrament of the Lords body without receauing is no Sacrament As Baptisme â—â— no baptisme but to the child 〈◊〉 is 〈◊〉 and not 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 by so 〈◊〉 Sacrament of the body is no Sacrament but to them that worthely receaue My Lor◠〈◊〉 better 〈…〉 Capon 〈◊〉 in 〈◊〉 Sacraâ—â—â—â— M. Philpot standeth vpon his conscience the feare of God B. Boner proceedeth Ex officio with Maister Philpot. 2. Vntruthes in the Bishops articles Iohn Philpot chalengeth the priuiledge of his ordinary ryght Spiritual things are not subiect to temporall powers and therefore the temporall commissioners had no power to remoue him into an other mans dioces A man is not baptised into his godfathers fayth nor his godmothers fayth but into the fayth of Christes church Iohn Philpot proueth his church to be from Christ. No rule better then Antiquity Vniuersalitie Vnitie to proue the true fayth Church of the Protestantes Because you dare not S. Cyprian meaneth euery church to haue his owne gouernour not all churches to be vnder one Cypri lib. 1. Epist. 3. The place of S. Ciprian explaned The Bishop of Rome no more head of the Church then the B. of LondoÌ„ Peter had no more authoritye ouer the church then euery one of the Apostles Peter beareth but a figure of the Church B. Boners diuinity lieth much in the ciuill lawe Cyprian The place of Cyprian expounded B. Boner goeth to the Parlament M. D. 〈◊〉 The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Peter 〈◊〉 my 〈◊〉 In Nice counsell 〈◊〉 B. o◠〈◊〉 was no 〈…〉 The scholer of Oxford shrinketh away The 〈◊〉 side notable to proue the Church to be the holy catholick church 3. Blind coniectâ—â—â— out of 〈◊〉 epistle of Austen to 〈◊〉 prouing the Sea of Rome to be supreaâ—e head The 〈…〉 Bishop from 〈…〉 tyme. The 〈…〉 may be cal The â—cope of S. Augustines argument is 〈…〉 the Church of Rome therfore 〈…〉 in the doctrine because it hath 〈…〉 Bishops from the Apostles but 〈…〉 Donatistes to be schismatickes 〈…〉 Churche of Rome continuing 〈…〉 the doctrine of the Apostles 〈◊〉 still succession of 〈◊〉 the Apostles tyme yet they 〈…〉 the vnitye of that Churche 〈…〉 other Churche of their owne The Argument is this 〈…〉 from that Churche which 〈◊〉 succession of Bishops 〈…〉 Apostles and keepeth the 〈◊〉 still in fayth and doctrine is 〈◊〉 the vnitye of the Churche and to 〈…〉 The Donatistes doe so from the Church 〈◊〉 hauing no iust cause of doctrine 〈◊〉 to doe 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 〈…〉 to their dinner afterward as they haue as iâ— they had eaten neuer a bit of meate before Iohn Philpot refuâ—eth to aunswerâ— but in open iudgement Iohn Philpot commaunâ—ed to be set in the stockes in the Colehouâ—e An other dayes talke of the Bishop with Iohn Philpot and other prisoners Iohn Philpot denyeth to come before the Bishop for feare of some priuy practise Iohn Philpot brought to the Bishop by violence Note here the iust dealinges of these Bishops This Bishop of Lincolne was D. White Iohn Philpot being Archdeacon excommunicated B. White for preaching falâ—ed doctrine Matter made of a knife sent to Iohn Philpot in a Pigs belly Articles agayne put to Iohn Philpot. B. Boner of mere power and authoritye pronounceth himselfe to be Philpots Ordinary False articles fayned aâ—aynst Iohn Philpot. B. Boner taken with an vntruth Other prisoners called in to beare witnes agaynst Iohn Philpot. The prisoners refuse to be sworne agaynst M. Philpot. B Boner agayne doth agaynst the lawe Note how the Bishops make Anabaptistes B. 〈◊〉 seeketh 〈◊〉 An other priuate talke or coÌ„ference betweene him and the Bishop B. Boner vewing his Colehouse He meaneth SteueÌ„ Gardiner Bishop of Winchester Good couÌ„sell geuen to B. Boner Iohn 〈…〉 a cloâ—e tower ioyning to Paules Church The 8. 〈◊〉 of â— Philpot. Articles 〈◊〉 Philpot 〈…〉 M. Philpot. B. Boner doth without order oâ— lawe The 9. examination of Iohn Philpot before the Bishop and his Chapleyns Iohn Philpot still standeth to his former plea to aunswere before his owne Ordinary Iohn Philpot will not heare his articles read Talke of the Sacrament This argument in the 2 figure concluding affâ—â—matiuely doth not holde by Logyke The Bishop being brought to a narrow straite
to continue and to stand fast Math. 1â— Apoc. 3. The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 1. Pet. 1. Heb. 2. Iohn 16. Luke 2â— Luâ—e 2â— The fruite that commeth by bearing of the Crosse. The delightes of the world nothing comparable to them that are to come Consideration of the ioyes to come The note of a true christian 1. Tim 2. Psal. 3. He exhorâ—eth tâ— be 〈…〉 in 〈◊〉 To be patiâ—â—â— and not murmure 〈◊〉 Gene. 22. How to sacrificâ— our Isaac to God Remedyes agaynst the temptations of the Deuill and the world Christes temptations mistically applyed An other letter of Iohn Philpot to M. Harrington his friend Iohn 21. Reward greater then the price Godly Matrimony how to be vsed He bewayleth the state of England Plagues prophesied to England though the Gospell be restored agayne Good lucke forshewed in restoring agayne the Gospell Philpoâ— Scarffe Experience of Gods comfortâ— in the tiâ—â— of affliction 〈◊〉 wheâ— thâ—y prison mens bodies they set their souleâ— at libertyâ— An other letter of M. Philpot to a certayne godly Lady Agaynst faint harted Gosspellers 〈◊〉 16. Perfect ioy 〈◊〉 ComparisoÌ„ 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 this 〈◊〉 Gods Saintes shal 〈…〉 ludâ—es agaynst 〈…〉 The Gospel triumpheth by the death of Martyrs An other 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Philpot to the Lady Vane Lady Vane 〈◊〉 benefactor to Gods 〈◊〉 Marke 9. A perfect Christen man how he is knowen Rom. 8. The tyme of tribulation better for a Christian then the tyme of ioy An other letter of M. Philpot to the same Ladye Experience of Christ comforting his Saintes in their persecution An other letter of M. Philpot. By this Senacharib he meaneth the death of the Bishop of Winchester He expresseth the great ioy which Gods prisoners feelâ— in ther suffringes Iohn Philpot neuer so mery in all his lyfe before A letter of M. Philpot stablishing A certaine brother in the matter of baptising of infantes 1 Cor. 11. Prooâ—e by testimonyes and Scriptures Baptisme of infantes of olde Antiquity in the Church Euery thing abused in the Popes Church is not to be reiected but the Antiquity therof to be searched and to be reduced agayne to the same The people of God is to be iudged by his free promise not by their confession Gene. 17. Math. 5 Math. 10. Math. 19. Math. 18. Math. 28. Argumentes pâ—ouing the baptisme of children to be of God and that the Apostles baptised childreÌ„ Actes 10. An other Argument 1. Cor. 1. 1. Cor. 1. An other Argument In Sacramentes 2. thinges to be considered Actes 20. An other reason Another reason Rom. 8. Another reason Math. 10. Obiection Iohn 4. Another reason Coloss. 2. Another reason Iosua 5. Another reason Another reason Arguâ—â—â—â— of 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Origen who was 200. yeares after Christ. S. Austen S. Hierome 400. after Christ. Verba Iohannis CoÌ„stantinopol 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Cyprian 250. after Christ. August contra Donatiâ—â— aâ— Cyrillus Math. 18. Righteousnes and acceptation is onely by imputacion and mere grace 1. Cor. 7. * Marke 1. Math. 28. The place of Mathew 28. he that beleeueth and is baptised opened In the fiâ—st câ—â—uerting of â—â—fidels beleeuing ought to 〈◊〉 before baptiâ—ing but where 〈◊〉 the pâ—rceiued Gods grace and Sacramentes goe 〈◊〉 by age but as well be children of the faithâ—â—â—â— receaâ—â—â—â— at the fathers 〈◊〉 childâ—eâ— of chrisâ—â—â—â— paâ—ents be receaued 〈◊〉 baptisme Cathecumenius a much to say 〈◊〉 Nouecies beginners in Christes fayth 2. Cor. 14. Concerning the party to whom this letter was written note that he was conuerted and afterward dyed in the same faith as this letter did perswade him Your deedes declare and beare witnes to the same Sacrifice of the Masse Sea of Rome Sacrament of the Altar Aunswere to the 1. article To the 2 article To the 3 article To the 4. arâ—icle The fayth which they were baptised in was in the name of the Father the Sonne and the holy Ghost beleeuing the articles of the Creede with promise made to abrenounce the Deuill the flesh and the woâ—ld of the which sayth their godfathâ—rs and godmothers were suretyes for them and in this fayth they continue still As for other ceremonyes abuses of the Church they neuer made any promise in their baptisme To swarue from the corruptions of the Sea of Rome and Sacrifice of the Masse is not to goe from the Catholicke Church of Christ. To the 6. article The Catholicke Church and the church of Rome are 2. thinges To the 7. article The Masse dissonant from the word of the Gospell The Masse full of Idolatry Iohn Went repenteth his going to Masse To the 8. article Of this Ioane Warne read before pag. 1878. To the 9. article Thomas Whittell Martyr Edmond Alabaster after a promoter and persecuter Tho. Whittell reporteth of the maner of his handling with B. Boner Tho. Whittell beaten on the face by Boner Episcopum non perâ—â—â—sorem esse oporteâ— Tit. 1. Tho. Whittell conuented before D. Harpsfield A letter of M. Harpsfield declaring how Tho. Whittell rent his subscription out of the Bishops Register He meaneth of the returne agayne of Tho. Whittell This young woman was Ioane Warren otherwise named Ioane Lashford who was burned also with the same Whittell An other letter of Iohnson touching the sayd Tho. Whittell Touching Ioane Lashford The last examination of Tho. Whittell EleuatioÌ„ of the SacrameÌ„t cause of Idolatry B. Boners argument He was baptised in the fayth of the Catholicke Church Ergo he was baptised in the fayth of Rome Tho. Whitell degraded Whittelâ— words to B. Boner Causes why the administration of the Popish Sacrament is to be reproued A letter of Tho. Whittell written to Iohn Careles His iudgement and experience of Popish Prelates The burden of a troubled conscience He writeth 〈◊〉 the examinations of M. Philâ—â—◠〈◊〉 16. 1. 〈◊〉 1. 1. Peter 2. Math. 10. 1 Peter 4. 〈◊〉 11. Apoc 12. 〈◊〉 can 〈…〉 to 〈◊〉 persecuted 〈◊〉 onely 〈◊〉 〈…〉 this 〈◊〉 Apoâ— 2. 〈◊〉 115. 〈◊〉 13. A letter of 〈◊〉 Whittell to the true professorâ— of the Citye of London Rom. 4. Luke 1. 4 Notes Rom. 8. Gene. 22. Iob. 1. Rom. 9. 2. Corin. 11. Actes 16. Genesis 4. 2. Machab. 6. Actes 7. Math. 17. Iames. 5.4 Psalm 6. Luke â— The crosse trieth the good people from the bad Lirach 2. Preach 12. Coloss. 3. Philip. 3. The 2. note Persecetion no strange thing in the Church 3. Regum 4. Regum 2. Mac. 6.7 Act. 14. Iohn â— Romans 8. 1. Cor. 15. Example of Gods Martyrs going before Iohn 10. Heb. 13. 2. Peter 2. 1. Tim. 4. 2. Tim. 3. Iude. 1. Exod. 10. 1. Iohn 5. 2. Cor. 10. Math. 4. Where Sathan could not bring Christ to fall downe and worship him he 〈◊〉 the Phariseys 〈◊〉 kill him Iames. â— Math. 1â— Apo. 13 14. Apoâ— 18. â— Cor. â— Psal. 126. The 3. 〈◊〉 Act. â— Col. 1. Math 6 Phil. 3. Gal. 6. The 4. none Luke â— * 1. Cor. â— * Heb. 2. 1. Peter 1. Phiâ— 1. Iohn 14. Math.
childe 〈◊〉 Baptiâ—me So the word bread and the receauer 〈◊〉 the Sacrament of the Lordes body The fayth of the receiuer maketh it the body If Iudas did eate the body of Christ theÌ„ must he be saued Whether bread remayne in the Sacrament The true confession of Richard Woodman touching the Sacrament Sap. â— The zeale of Gods spirite in Richard Woodman D. Story commeth in D. Story commaundeth Richard WoodmaÌ„ agayn to the Marshalsey The third examination of Richard Woodman before D. Langdale and M. Iames Gage May. 12. False lyes and lewde reportes Woodman warned to appeare Woodman taketh his leaue of his fellowes Woodman deliuered to one of the Lord Mountagues men Religion esteemed by auncitors Grandfathers and by place Multitude not to be followed in doing euill To doe as most men doe and to doe as a man ought to doe are two things Hard trusting any man in thiâ— world Woodmanâ— blamed foâ— aunswerinâ— with Scriptures D. Langdales talke with Richard Woodman vpon what occasion by whose procurement Woodman charged with his owne hand writing Richard Woodmans writing â—et vpon the the Church dore vpon what occasion Woodman required of M. Sheriffe and other his frendes to talke with D. Langdale D Langdale Paâ—â—on of Buxsteede where Woodmanâ— father dwelt Woodmans friendes desirous to heare him and D. Langdale talke together 〈◊〉 Byâ—hop was 〈◊〉 Christoâ—â—erson Wâ—odman 〈…〉 D. Langdale to 〈…〉 â—â—odman 〈◊〉 without 〈◊〉 cause 〈◊〉 childreÌ„ 〈◊〉 â—â—mned 〈◊〉 Doctour â—â—â—â—dale 〈…〉 â—â—ptisme 〈◊〉 childreÌ„ 〈…〉 by D. Langdale 〈◊〉 be 〈◊〉 Richard Wood-mad chargeth D. Langdale with ignorance in the scriptures Fayth not Baptisme saueth Not lacke of Baptisme but lacke of fayth condemneth Baptising of water is not the cause of fayth The Catholicks do hold the contrary A Catholicke paradoxe The purpose of Gods election standeth by grace and not by reason of workes Doctor Langdales ArgumeÌ„t Children dying without Baptisme may be saued Ergo children haue no originall sinne Absurde doctrine Aunswere This righteousnes by Iesus Christ commeth vpon all men not in taking away imperfections of nature but in not imputing the imperfections of man to damnation We are made free by the death of Christ not from falling but from damnation due by the lawe for our falling Originall sinne Iohn 3. Psal. 23. Perfect doctrine Iames. 1. Iohn 3. Phil. 2. Adams free will nothing Fayth was before baptisme D. Langdale seemeth to be put to silence Children dying without baptisme are not therefore damned speaking absolutely Children beare not the offences of their fathers 1. Pet. 3. Gene. 6 * Nay rather in the fayth of their Parentes Neyther is it the fayth of the Godfathers and Godmothers that sanctyfieth the child but their dilligence may helpe him in seeing him catechised False doctrine of D. Langdale Fyrste where he sayth the keeping of the law is altogether Secondly that the keping of the lawe standeth in the outward signes Thirdly that children dying before Baptisme are damned Fourthly that childreÌ„ be baptised in the fayth of their Godfathers and Godmothers c. Many called but fewe chosen Luke 12. Gods elecâ—â—on stanâ—eth not by 〈◊〉 most 〈◊〉 but by the fewest â—ath 7. Luke 12. 〈◊〉 3. Math. 2. 〈◊〉 Argumentes 〈…〉 to be 〈…〉 taketh 〈◊〉 agaynst â—â—odman 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Iames 〈…〉 talke with Woodâ—â—n D. Langâ—â—le comâ—â—â—ayneth to 〈◊〉 Gage of Woodman causeles Woodman falsely beâ—â—ed D. Langdale denieth originall sinne yet accuseth Woodman for the which he is culpable himselfe Woodman knoweth no Sacrament of the Aultar vnlesse they take Christ to be the Aultar Woodmans iudgement of the Sacrament D. Langdale seeketh a knot in a rushe Whether the Sacrament be be the body of Christ before it be receaued Luke â—2 Eating goeth before the wordes of consecrating D. Langdale driuen to his shiftes D. Langdale afrayd to aunswere to Richard Woodman The Catholicks hold that Iudas did eate the body of Christ. Argument Who so euer eateth the fleshe of Christ hath euerlasting lyfe Iohn 6. Iudas did eate the fleshe of Christ Ergo Iudas hath euerlasting lyfe S. Paules words misalleaged by D. Langdale 1. Cor. 11. Making no difference of the Lordes body expounded * Christ speaketh of eating his fleshe simply without any determination of vnworthynes that is simply who soeuer beleueth in Christ he shal be saued neyther is any vnworthines in beleeuing in Christ. Note well the working of this mans charitye to doe for a man more at request then for any compassion of the partye Lewde tales and false lyes raysed vpon Woodman The 4. examination of Richard Woodman before the Byshop of Winchester c. This olde Byshop of Chichester was Doct. Daye Vntrue For B. Boner deliuered him of his owne accorde at the burning of Philpot vpon other causes False and vntrue Syr Edward Gage Shrieffe of Sussex Woodman charged with false matter Winchester 〈◊〉 in iâ—dging Richard Woodman cleareth himselfe of recantation The honest dealing of B Boner with Woodman herein This was Doct. Day The cause and maner how Woodman was â—eliuered by B. Boner Wherefore Woodman appealed to his Ordinary The cause why Woodman was first apprehended Rich. Woodman and his fellowe prisoners falsely accused and belied of the B. of Winchester in the pulpit Speaking to the curate in the pulpit made heresie Woodman cleareth himselfe from breach of the Statute Note the prety shift of this Catholick Prelate WoodmaÌ„ falsly taken to speaâ—e agaynst Priestes mariage A Priest keping his wyfe yet would needes hold agayne with Papistry A Priest keping his wyfe yet would needes hold agayne with Papistry Richard Woodman sauing him selfe from his enemyes by theyr owne lawe The fift examination of Richard WoodmaÌ„ before the B. of Winchester and diuers other Iune 15. Anno. 1557. The wordes of the statute No breach of this Statute why The Priest scannetâ— vpon the meaning of Woodman See how neerly these men seeke matter agaynst him whereby to trap him Luke â—â— Wâ—odman charged with his aunsweres before the Commissioners at his last examination D. White B of Winchester bent to haue the bloud of Woodman Richard Woodman appealeth from the B. of Winchester to his owne Ordâ—nary Woodman refuseth to sweare or aunswere before Winchester being not his Ordinary * The Bishops Argument The deuill is maister in helâ— Woodman felt a burning hell in his 〈◊〉 Ergo the deuill was Woodâ—â—â— Maister * Aunswere Hell is takeÌ„ in Scripture two wayes 〈◊〉 for the place where damned spiâ—â—â— and soules be tormented for euer 〈…〉 this lyfe or els for Gods correcâ—â—â— and anguish of the soule in this life 〈◊〉 somtime is felt so sharpe that it â—â—â—embled to hell it selfe As where 〈◊〉 The Lord bringeth to hell and 〈◊〉 out agayne c. Tob. 13. The 〈◊〉 of hell haue found me c. Psal. â—â— 1. Cor. â— Rich. Woodman agayne refuseth to sweare or aunswere before the Bishop being not his Ordinary A charitable commaundemeÌ„t of a Catholicke Prelate vnder paine of excommunication no man to say God strengthen him The