was Schoolemaster to one Master Welch and for translating certain religious books into English and for arguing with a certain Priest that often vsed to his Masters house and confounding diuers points of their religion by the word of God he was pursued glad to go out of the Realme into Germany and there translated the Bible into English compiled diuers other books sâ—nt them into England wherby the dore and light vnto the Scriptures was daily more and more opened which before was many years closed in darknesse from thence he went to Aâ—twarp and had his abiding there and was lodged about a yeare in the house of one Thomas Poynets an English man which kept a house of English Merchants then came thither one Henry Philips hauing a seruant waiting on him M. Tindall became acquainted with him and had great confidence in him and had him often to dinner and supper with him and got him a lodging in M. Poynets house At length Philips wâ—nt to the high Court of Bruxelles to betray M. Tindall and procured to bring from thence with him the Procurator generall with othâ—r Officers which was not done with small charges from whom soeuer it came After Philips returning would haue M. Tindall to dine with him then hee desired M. Tindall to lend him fortie shillings which he did he told Philips he could not diâ—e with him for he was bid forth to dinner and he should goe with him And going forth to dâ—nner Philips hauing appointed the officers in the way he gaue them a signe that this was he they should apprehend then they took him and brought him to the Procurator generall who sent him to the Casâ—le of Filford and the Procurator generall went to Poynets house and sent away all that was there of M. Tindals The said Poynets and certain Merchants went ouer into England and got letters from the Coâ—ncell for M. Tindals deliuery vpon the deliuery wherof to the Councel of Bruxelles M. Tindall should haue bin deliuered vnto him which when Philips vnderstood he accused Poynets â—o be an heretick and a receiuer of such caused him to be apprehended kept 13. or 14. wéeks in prison but he escaped by night and got into England but M. Tindall was condemned and the same morning as he was had to the fire he deliuered a letter to the chiefe Kéeper of the Castle which the Kéeper himselfe brought to Poynets house who compared him to be fellow to the Apostles being in prison both for his conuersation and conuerting and preaching to the peoâ—le M. Tindall hearing by certaine Merchants what wonderfull feats a Iugler did he desired thâ—m that he might be present also at supper to see him play his parts accordingly the supper was appointed and the Merchants with Tindall were there present The Iugler being desired to vttâ—r his cunning shâ—wed all that he could do but all was in vaine at last with his labour sweating and toyle he saw nothing would go forward he confessed there was some man present at supper which disâ—urbed his doings For his letters that he wrote I refer thée to the book at large if thou dispose to sée them The Lord Cromwell keeper of the Kings priuie Seale Uicegerent of all the Kings iurisdiction ecclâ—siasticall sent out certaâ—n iniuncâ—ions by the Kâ—ngs authoritâ— for the preaching thâ— word of God for the bâ—tter publishing of the kings supremaâ—â—â— against idols 〈◊〉 on pilgrimage trusâ—ing in saints and to abrogate diuers holy-daies and for reformation to be had in diuers othâ—r ecclesiastical matters In the begiâ—â—g of this year the most noble and worthy Lady Queen Anne of Bullen after she had liued Qâ—â—â—ne three â—ears was cast into the Tower together with her brother the Lord Rochford and diuers others which shortly after were executed The words of the Queene at the time of her death Good Christian people I ame come hither to die I am iudged therto by the law therefore I will not speake against it I pray God preserue the King for there was neuer a gentler Prince and to me he was euer a good soueraigne and I râ—quire euery one to iudge the best of my cause so â— take my leaue of the world and of you all desiring you to praâ—â—or me Then she kneeled down and said Into thy hands I commend my soule Iesus receiue my soule diuers times vntill her head was striken off Fiue burned in Scotland SEauen years after Patrick Hamelton aforesaid there were fiue burned in Edenborough the chief Citie in Scotland two were Dominican Friers one Priest one Cannon and one Gentleman adiudged by the Archbishop of S. Andrewes Petrus Chappeâ—anus and the Franciscan Friers whose labour is neuer wanting in such matters The murther of ROBERT PACKINGTON HEe was a rich Mercer dwelling in Cheap side and was one of the â—urgesses of the Parliament for the Citie of London and had spoken against the couetousnesse and cruelty of the Clergie wherefore he was had in contempt with them therfore one Doctor Vincent Deane of Paules hired a stranger for sixtie crownes to kill him which he did in this manner this Packington vsed by foure of the clocke euery morning to go to a Church neare Cheap-side and in a mistie morning tâ—e hyred stranger shot him and killed him with a gunne as he crossed the street This could not be knowne vntill the death of the Deane then he repented the fact at his death and confessed it to his ghostly father In this yeare the Kings Maiestie by his Uicegerent the L. Cromwell sent out againe certaine Iniunctions vnto the Spiritualty for the reformation of religion for the maintenance of reading the Bible in English and for taking downe of Images with such other like The history of Iohn Lambert alias Nicolson BEing beyond Sea by reason of the persecution here he returned hoping the time had bin amended by the means of Quéen Anne and Cromwell and the abolishing of the Pope he became a Schoolemaster and being present at a Sermon preached by Doctor Taylor one that was a Bishop in K. Edwards time and died in the Tower in Queen Maries time after the Sermon hee vttered diuers arguments to the Preachers and desired to be resolued Taylor alledged businesse and desired him to write his minde which he did The first was vpon The cup is the new Testament and if these words doe not change neither the cup nor the wine into the new Testament by like reason the words spoken of the bread should not turn it corporally into the body of Christ. The second it is not agreeable to a naturall body to be in â—wo or more places ot one time therfore Christ hauing a naturall bodie cannot be in heauen on the right hand of his father and in the Sacrament Thirdly a naturall body cannot be without his forme and conditions as he cannot be without substance iâ— the Sacrament there is no forme and condition of the body of Christ no not
say his prayers in English and when he had said them in Latine he died Luke Kirbie William Filbie Thomas Cottom and Lawrence Richardson THese were executed at Tyburne vpon the thirtéenth day of May they were brought from the Tower of London vnto the place of execution first William Filbie was brought vp into the Cart being asked whether he would acknowledge the Quéen supreme head of the Church of England no quoth he I will acknowledge no other head of the Church then the Pope onely He prayed that God wold incline the Quéens heart to be mercifull towards the Catholikes of which societiâ— he was one They opening his bosome â—ound two crosses in it which were holden vp and shewed vnto the people and besides that his crown was shauen so after a few Latin prayers the Cart was drawne away The next was Luke Kirbie one charged him that when he was at Rome he deliuered him certaine silke pictures which he said were hallowed by the Pope and you told me what indulgences were allowed by thâ—mâ— one of them which was a Crucifix you gaue mee the other you willed mee to deliuer vnto your friends at Reimes and in England and you gaue me two Iulios to goe into the Citie to buy more and when I had bought them you tooke thrée or foure of the fairest from me promising to get them hallowed at the next benediction which he confessed to be true he affirmed that the Pope had power to depose any Prince from his Kingdome if he fall by infidelitie He would not repent and aske the Quéene pardon though vpon that condition he might haue bin discharged he would not pray in English the preacher desired him to say a prayer after him and if he could find any fault therein he should be resolued O quoth he you and I be not of one faith therefore I should offend God if I should pray with you so saying his Pater noster in Latin he ended his life Then Lawrence Richardson was brought vp to be executed he confessed himselfe a Catholike and that he would beléeue in all things as the Catholike Church of Rome did and he allowed the only supremaâ—ie vnto the Pope and after certain Latin prayers said he died Then was Cottom brought vp he looking vpon the bodie of Lawrence Richardson lift vp his eyes and hands and said O blessed Lawrence pray for me thy blessed soule Lawrence pray for me The Preachers and people rebuked him saying that he ought to pray vnto none but God he answered he was assured that Lawrence will pray for him he denied to repent and aske pardon of the Quéen When he had said his Pater noster and an Aue Maria he ended his life As before is declared the rebellions in England by the seducing of wicked spirits so not long after followed an open rebellion in Ireland they tooke armes and came into the field against her Maiesâ—ie and her Lieutenants with their forces vnder banners displayed inducing many simple people to follow them in their trayterous actions being bent to haue deposed the Quéens Maiestie from her crowne and to haue trayterously set into her place some other whom they liked yet by Gods power giuen vnto her Maiesty they were quickly vanquished some few of them suffered by order of the law but the greateâ—t part vpon confession of their faâ—lts were pardoned some of the principall escaped into forreine countries These notable Traytors and Rebels informed many Kings Princes and States especially the Pope from whom they all had first secretly their comfort to rebell that the cause of the flying was for the religion of Rome and maintenance of the Popes authoritie whereas the most of them before they rebellâ—d liued notoriously euill out of England fled Charles Neuill Earle of Westmerland who was vtterly wasted by loosenes of life and how afterward his body was eaten with vlcers of lewd causes all his companions did see Out of Ireland ran Thomas Stukely a defamed person thorough out all Christendome he fled out of England for Pâ—racies and out of Ireland for treason these two were the first ring-leaders to the rest of the rebells the one for England the other for Ireland yet it liked the Pope to fauour their treasons and to animate them to continue their wicked purposes to wit to inuade Queen Elizabeths Realme with forren forces hee thundred out Bâ—lls excommunications other publike writings denouncing her not to be the Queene of the Realme commanding her subiects vnder paine of excommunication to depart from their alleageanâ—es authorizing and prouoking all persons within both her realmes to rebell and vpon this vnâ—hristian warrant all those that were fled and such as had forsaken their natiue countrey haue many yeares runne vp and downe from countrey to countrey to gather forces and money for forces and to 〈◊〉 Princes to make warre vpon their natiue countrey some practising secretly to murther the Quéene and very many with publike infamous Libels full of poysoned lyes did séeke to vphold that Antichristian warrant of the Popes Buls And for better furtherance of these intentions they deuised to erect certaine schooles which they called Seminaries to nourish persons disposed to sedition that they might become séedmen in the â—illagâ— of sedition and to send them secretly into England and Ireland vnder secret maskes some of priesthood some of other inferior orders of the meaner sort being called Seminaries and the â—ancor sort Iesâ—ites bringing with them hallowed Wax their Agnus Dei many kind of beades and such like labouring secretly to perswade the people to allow of the popes foresaid Buls and of his absolute authoritie ouer all Princes Countreyes And if this trayterous and crafty course had not by Gods goodnes been espied and stayed there had followed horrible vprores in the Realmes for as many as should be perswaded to obey the Popes warrant must needs bâ—e secret traytors there should haue wanted nothing but power and opportâ—nitie to be open traytors but God of his gooâ—nes discouered some of these seditious seedmen of rebellions and when they could not be moued to repent of their trayterous determinations they were iustly condemned for adhering vnto the capitall enemy of her Maiestie and her crowne The Pope who hath not only been the cause of two rebellions already in England and Ireland but in Ireland did manifestly maintaine his owne people Captaines and souldiers vnder the banner of Rome against her Maiestie And further those Traytors prouoke newly other seditious persons secrâ—tâ—y to enter into the Realme to reuiue the execution of the Popes Bulles pretending when they are apprehended that they came into the Realme onely by the commaundement of their Superiors the heads of the Ieâ—uits to whom they are bound by Ooth against either King or Country and that their comming is to informe and reforme mens conscience from errors in some points of Religion as they shall thinke meete but it is manifestly prooued that their labour is secretly to win
dignity because that which was common bread hath the dignitie to exhibit Christs body for now it is an holy bread sanctified by Gods word The third question was whether the masse were a liuely and propitiatorie sacrifice for them aliue and for them that be dead this article they denied to be true because Christ made one perfect sacrifice for the whole world neither can the Priests offer vp Christ againe for the sinnes of man neither is there any propitiation for our sins but his Crosse only And because neither for feare nor flatterie they could be made to recant at their second sitting they were condemned disgraded and deliuered to the secular power Upon the North-side of the towne of Oxford in the ditch ouer against Baliol Colledge the place of execution was appointed Doctor Ridley came vnto the stake in a faire black gowne such as he was wont to weare when he was Bishop with a tippet of sables about his neck M. Latimer came in a poore frize frock in one they might behold the honor they sometimes had in the other the calamitie whereunto they were now descended after Doctor Ridley had prayed seeing the chéerfulnes of M. Latimer he ran vnto him imbraced him and kissed him saying be of good heart brother for God will either asswage the fury of the flame or else strengthen vs to abide it Then Doctor Smith began his Sermon vpon 1. Co. 13. If I giue my body to the fire to be burned and haue not charity I shall gaine nothing thereby wherein he alledged that neither the holinesse of the person nor the manner of the death but the goodnes of the cause made a martyr this he prâ—ued by the example of Iudas and many others which then might be counted righteous because they desperatly sundred their liues from their bodies as he feared these men that stood before him would do and still he cried vnto the people to beware of them for they were hereticks died out of the Church at last he exhorted them to recant and come home again vnto the Church saue their liues and soules which else were condemned They would haue answered him but some ran to them stopt their mouthes with their hands would not suffer them to speak Then Doctor Ridley said Heauenly father I giue thée most hearty thanks that thou hast called me to be a professor of thée euen vnto death I beséech thée be mercifull to this Realme of England and deliuer the same from all her enemies When the fire was kindled he cried Into thy hands I commit my spirit Lord receiue my spirit crying often Lord Lord receiue my spirit M. Latimer crying as vehemently on the other side O Father of heauen receiue my soule Latimer died quickly but Ridley was long a 〈◊〉 by reason of the bad making of the fire yet he remained constant to the end The death of Stephen Gardner IN Nouember the next moneth after the burning of Ridley and Latimer in which moneth the Quéen died thrée years after Stephen Gardner a man hated of God and good men ended his wretched life He was borne in Berry in Suffolk and brought vp in Oxford his wit capacity and memory were excellent if they had bin well applied he was high-minded flattering his own conceit too much towards his superiours he was politick and pleasant to his inferiors fierce against his equals stout and enuious if they any thing withstood him in iudgment it was constantly reported that the nayles of his toes were crooked and sharp downward like the clawes of a beast his death happened so opportunely that England hath a great cause therefore to praise God not so much for the great hurt it had done in times past in peruerting his Princes in bringing in the sixe Articles in murthering GODS Saints and in defacing Christs most true Religion but especially for that he had thought to haue murthered our noble and religious Quéene Elizabeth for hee was the cause of all her danger and if it bee certaine which we haue heard that a Writ came downe from certaine of the Councell to the Tower where the Lady Elizabeth was for her execution it is sure this vile wily Winchester was the only Dedalus and framer of that Ingine but M. Brigs Lieutenant of the Tower certified the Quéen of the matter and there by preuented Achitophels bloudy deuices as Bonner Storie Thornton Harpsfield Downing with others were occupied in putting the branches to death so Gardner bent his deuices in assaying the root in casting such a plot to build vp his Poperie as he thought it should stand for euer whether he died with his tongue swolne out of his mouth as Arundell Bishop of Canterburie did or whether he stunke before he died as Cardinall Wolsey did who after he had vsed coniuration before so after he had poysoned himselfe by the way at his buriall he was so heauie that they let him fall and he gaue such a sauor that they could not abide him with such a suddaine tempest about him that all the Torches went out and could beare no light or whether he died in dispaire I referre all this vnto their reports of whom I heard it A great doer about Winchester reported that the Bishop of Chichester comming vnto Gardner began to comfort him with Gods promises and with frée Iustification in the bloud of Christ he said what my Lord will you open that gap now then farewell altogether to me and such other you may speake it but open this window to the people and then farewell altogether Iohn Web Gentleman George Roper and George Parke THese were condemned by the Bishop of Douer and Harpsfield for deâ—ying the reall presence in the sacrament of the Altar and were burned in one fire at Canterburie abiding most patiently their torments and counting themselues blessed that they were worthy to suffer for the Gospell William Wiseman and Iames Gore THis Wiseman died in Lollards Tower being there for religion the holy Catholike Church cast him out into the fields and commaunded that no man should burie him according as their deuout manner is to all that die in that sort whom they account not worthy of buriall but to be cast to dogges and birds yet good men buried him in the night Iames Gore being in the prison at Colchester for the truth of Gods word died much about this time IOHN PHILPOT HEe was Sir Peter Philpots sonne in Hampshire brought vp in new Colledge in Oxford going from Oxford into Italy comming from Uenice to Padua he was in danger through a Franciscan Frier accompanying him in his iourney who comming to Padua accused him of heresie In King Edwards time he had diuers conflicts with Gardner Bishop of Winchester after he was made Archdeacon of Winchester where he continued during King Edwards time to no small profit of those parts in Quéen Maries time he being one of the Conuocation with a few other sustained the cause of the Gospell manfully
it reioyced and the next day suffered with an 100. more Pusices séeing an old Father shrinke in the sight of the Martyrâ— said shut thine eies be strong and shortly thou shalt sée God wherefore the King caused an hole to be made in his necke and thereout pulled his tongue and so he was put to death and his Daughter a Uirgine died with him in Christs cause the number of them that were martyred in Persia was 15000. This comming to Constantines eares mooued him he graunted Sapores his Ambassadors all they requested thinking thereby to mooue him to fauour the Christians and wrote to them to take compassion on the Innocents and shewed how the hand of God had béene against Tyrants of the Church Beniamin for preaching Christ was thrust vnder the nailes with twenty sharpe prickes when hee laughed at it a sharpe Réede was thrust into his yard and a long thorny stalke vp into his body vntill hee died Under Iulianus Apostata Emilianus was burned Domitius was slaine in his Caue Theodorus singing a Psalme was tormented from morning to night hardly escaped with life and being asked how hee could abide the torments said at first I felt some paine but after there stood a young man by me who so refreshed me that it greeued me more when I was let down from the Ingine then before The Arethusians of Syria tooke a company of Uirgines Christians whom first they set sorth naked to bee scorned of the multitude then shaued them then couered them with draffe and caused them to bee deuoured of Swine their cruelty was the greater because Constantine restrained them from defiling Uirgines and destroyed the Temple of Venus Marcus Arethusius because at the commaundement of Constantine he pulled down a Temple of Idols and builded a Church for Christians in the place they stripped him naked and beat him gréeuously then put him in a filthy sincke then they caused Boyes to thrust him in with sharpe stickes then they annointed him with Hony and Broath and hung him in the Sunne as meat for Waspes and Flyes then they required somewhat towards the building of the Temple againe he answered it were as great impiety to conferre one halfe-peny to a matter of impiety as a great summe Constantine raigned about thirty yeares he was borne in Brittaine his Mothers name was Helena Daughter of King Coilus hee trauailed greatly for the peace of Christians he set peace amongst the Byshops at dissention hee made prouision for Preachers and caused all to bee restored vnto the Christians that was taken from them by Persecutors He wrote to his chéefe Captaine that Ministers should be fréed from all publique duties and burthens He wrote to Eusebius for the edifying of new Churches and after he had gathered the Nicene Councel for the vnity of the Church he writeth to Alexander and Arius for the same intent He inioyned a Prayer to his Souldiers in stead of Catechisme We knowledge thee onely to be our GOD we confesse thee onely to bee our King we call vpon thée our onely helper by thée we obtaine our victories by thee we vanquish our enemies to thee be attributed whatsoeuer commodities we presently enioy by thee we hope for good thinges to come vnto thee we direct all our sutes and petitions most humbly befeeching thee to keepe Constantinus our Emperour and his Noble Children to continue in long liâ—e and to giue them victory ouer their enemies through Iesus Christ our Lord Amen He graunted great immunities vnto the Ministers that they might appeale from the ciuill Iudge to their Byshop whose sentence was of as great value as if the Emperor had pronounced it He prouided maintenance for liberall Sciences and Arts for the Prosessors there Wiues and Children and gaue them great immunities He wrote to Eusebius Byshop of Nicomedia to procure fifty Uolumes of Parchment well bound and cause to bee written out of the Scripture therein in a leageable hand such things as were profitable for the instruction of the Church allowed him two Ministers for the businesse he was a Father to the Church and inforced himselfe euery way to set forth the Gospell and to suppresse the contrary The end of the tenth Persecution THE SECOND BOOKE Containing the next 300. yeares BY these Persecutions hitherto we may vnderstand that what the fury of Sathan and rage of men could deuise to do by death or torments all was to the vtmost attempted to extinguish the Name and Religion of Christ yet notwithstanding the wisedome of the world and the strength of men Christ hath the vpper hand as thou seest Now because the tying vp of Sathan giueth the Church rest we will leaue the affaires of the Uniuersall Church and prosecute the Histories of our Country of England and Scotland beginning with King Lucius with whom the Faith began first in this Realme The Papists doe earnestly contend that the Faith of Christ was first brought and receiued into England from Rome both in the time of Eleutherius their Byshop in the yeare 180. and also in the time of Augustine whom Gregory sent hither in the yeare 600. but it is proued otherwise by these seauen Arguments 1 Gildas affirmeth that Brittain receiued the Gospel in the time of Tyberius the Emperor vnder whom Christ suffered saith farther that Ioseph of Arimathia was sent of Philip the Apostle from France to Brittaine in the yeare 63. and remained héere all his time and founded the Faith amongst the Brittaines 2 Tertullian liuing about the time of Elutherius testifieth how the Gospell was dispersed by the Apostles reckoneth Brittany amongst the Countries conuerted by them 3 Origen before the daies of Elutherius said the Brittaines consented to Christianity 4 Bede affirmeth that 1000. yeares after Christ Easter was kept in Brittaine after the manner of the East Church on the fouretéenth day after the full Moone what day soeuer it was and not on sunday as we doe whereby is gathered the first Preacher came from the East rather then from Rome 5 Nicephorus Lib. 2. Cap. 4. saith Simon Zelotes spread the Gospell in Brittany 6 Petrus Cluniensis saith that the Scots in his time celebrated Easter after the manner of the Gréekes and as the Brittaines were not vnder the Romain order nor vnder their Legate in the time of Gregory nor would admit any primasie of the Byshop of Rome aboue them 7 By the Epistle of Elutherius to Lucius it appeareth that Lucius had receiued the Faith before he wrote to Elutherius for the Romaine Lawes Elutherius might help some-thing to conuert the King and to increase the Faith but was not the first that planted it but if it were so it maketh nothing for them for he challenged no such Supremacy as they doe and was farre from their errours and superstitions The Chroniles write that about the yeare 180. King Lucius Sonne of Coylus which builded Colchester hearing of the myracles of Christians in his time writ to Elutherius Bishop of
Rome to receiue the Faith the good Bishop sent him certaine Preachers which conuerted the King of the Brittaines and baptized them there were the twenty eight Priests called Flamines which they turned to twentie eight Bishoppes and thrée Arch-Flamins to thrée Arch-bishops to wit London Yorke and Glamargan by Wales Thus all the Realme setled in good order Lucius sent againe to Elutherius for the Romaine Lawes thereby likewise to gouerne the Realme Unto whom Elutherius wrote againe we may reprooue the Law of the Romaines but the Law of GOD wee cannot reprooue you haue with you both partes of the Scriptures out of them by Gods grace with the councell of your Realme take yea Law and rule your kingdome of Brittaine for you are Gods Uicar in your kingdome The Faith thus receiued of the Brittaines continued and flourished 216 yeares vntill the comming of the Saxons who then were Pagans whilst Brittaine had thus receiued the Faith the Emperors of Rome were Infidels wherefore much trouble wos sought against them as it was against all parts of Christendome Lucius after he had raigned about 77. yeares died without issue whereupon followed great misery and ruine to the Realme for sometime the idolatrous Romaines and sometimes the Brittaines raigned as violence and victory would serue one King murdering another vntill at length the Saxons depriued them both Some write but falsely that King Lucius after he was baptized forsooke his kingly Honor and the Land and became a Preacher in France and Germany and other places and was made Doctor and Rector of the Church of Cureac where hee was martyred but this fansie is contrary to all our English Stories which doe agrée that he hauing founded many Churches and giuen great liberalities to the same deceased in great tranquility in his owne Land and was buried at Glocester Betwéene the time of King Lucius and the entring of the Saxons there raigned after Lucius Seuerus a Romaine after him Bassianus a Romaine after him Cerausius a Brittaine after him Alectus a Romaine after him Asclepiodotus a Brittaine after him Coilus a Brittaine after him Constantius a Romain after him Constantinus a Brittain by Helena his Mother the Daughter of King Coilus and Wife of Constantius Constantine first made the wals of London and Colchester when the Romaines ruled it it was ruled by Infidels and when the Brittains ruled by Christians yet no persecution was raised in it vntill the tenth persecution which was so cruell that all our English Chronicles report that all Christianity almost in the whole land was destroyed Churches subuerted and the Scriptures burned as before is shewed It is worthy to be noted that Constantine that worthy Emperor was not onely a Brittaine borne but his Mother Helena Daughter of King Coilus a Brittaine but also by the helpe of the Brittaines Army which Constantine tooke with him with great victories he obtained the peace of the Uniuersall Church hauing thrée legions with him out of this Realme of chosen Souldiers After Maximinian tooke all the power that was left of fighting Men to subdue France and after sent for 100000. Souldiours more at once at which time Conanus his Partner sent for 11000. Uirgines out of Brittaine which were drowned and spoyled by the way by Infidels because they would not pollute themselues with them Thus Brittaine being destitute of strength had béene oppressed by Guanus and Melga had not Guethlâ—â—us Arch-bishop of London and Constantinus Brother to Aldranus defended the Realme and State of Religion Then came Vortigerne who murdred Constance his Prince and inuaâ—ed the Crowne and fearing Constance his two brothers he sent for ayde of the Saxons and married with the Daughter of Hengist but not long after he was dispossessed of his kingdome by the said Hengist and the Saxons beeing all Infidels and the Brittaines were driuen out of the Country Two hundred seuenty one of their Nobles at one méeting at Almesbury being subtilly slain by the Saxons or at a place cald Stonehenge by the Monument of which Stones there hanging it séemeth the Noble Brittaines were there buried I passe ouer the fabulous Story of the Welchmen of bringing these Stones from Ireland by Merlin Some Stories record they were slaine being bid to a banket Thus came the Angles and Saxons fiâ—st into this Realme being yet Infidels about the yeare 469. they were diuers times driuen out by Aurelius Ambrosius and his Brother Vter but they returned againe and at length possessed all and droue the Brittains into Wales Hengistus raigned 43. years and dyed in Kent Galfridus saith he was taken in the warre of Aurelius Ambrosius and beheaded in the 39. yeare of his raigne His Sonne Offa succeeded him twenty foure yeares Octa and Imericus his sons succéeded him 53. yeares and were slaine by Vter Pendragon The Saxons deuided the Realme into sâ—auen Kingdomes to the first Kent to the second Sussex and Surrey the third West-sex the fourth Eastâ—sex the fifth Cambridgeshire Norffolke and Suffolke the sixt the Countries of Lincolne Leicester Huntingdon Northampton Oxford Darby Warwicke the seauenth was King of Northumberland they continued so a while with great Warres amongst themselues at length all came to the possession of the West-Saxons This â—ingdome began in the yeare 522. and continued vntill about the comming of William the Conqueror which was 554. yeares Saint Paules Church in London was builded by Ethelbert King of Kent and Sigebert King of Essex when Ethelbert turned vnto the Faith Malmsburie writeth that Mauricius the Kinges Chancellour then Byshoppe of London did first begin this famous building of Paules and after Richard his Successour bestowed all the rents of his Byshoppricke vpon the same and it may be the first Church was ouerthrowne by the Danes and re-edified by these Byshops These Kings of the Brittaines raigned in Wales and Cornewall Vortiger Vortimer Vortiger againe Aurelius Ambrosius Vter Pendragon Arthur Constantius 3. Aurelius Conanus Vortiperius Malgo Carecius The sinnes of the Brittaines was the cause of the iust iudgement of God against them as out of an old Authour and partly out of Gildas doth appeare These bee the words of the Authour There following Constantinus and others aboue named out of the Realme all the Nobility when the rascall sort had gotten their places and through aboundance of riches were surprised with pride they fell into so great Fornication as neuer was heard of and vnto all manner of wickednesse that mans Nature is inclined vnto hating the truth louing lyes regarding euill in stead of goodnesse receiuing the Deuill in stead of an Angell of light choose such for their Kings as were most cruell and if any seemed to bee humble and fauour the truth they hated and backbited him as a destroyer of Brittaine and not onely the seculer men did thus but also the Byshoppes and Teachers therefore it was no maruell that such a people should loose their Country which they had so defiled As there were many wicked Kinges among the Saxons so there were some
him buried in Christian buriall at length by perswasion of his kinred he was buried in Christian buriall Ater the death of Sythericus King of Northumberland King Adelstone seazed that Prouince into his hands and put out his sonne Alanus who fled into Scotland maried the daughter of Constantine King of Scots by whose stirring gathered a company of Danes Scots and others and entred the North of Humber with a strong Nauie of 615. shippes King Adelstone and his people ioyned in fight with them at a place called Binford where fighting with them from morning till night after a terrible slaughter on both sides the like hath not béene seene in England King Adelstone had the victorie fiue vnder kings were slaine in that battell with Constantine King of Scots and twelue Dukes with the most part of the strangers that were there Then King Adelstone subdued the Brittaines and forced them to grant to him yearely tribute 20. lib. of gold 300 lib. of â—iluer 2500. heads of neate with a certaine number of hawkes and dogs King Adelstone caused his guiltlesse brother Edwine through sinister suggestion of his Cup-bearer to be set in an old rotten bote in the broad sea onely with one Esquire with him without any tackling where the tender Prince dismaiâ—e with the â—age oâ— Windes and Flouds weary of his life cast himselfe into the Sea the Esquire shifâ—ed for himselfe and recouered the body of his maister and brought it to Sandich were it was buried The reason the King the more doubled of his brother was because he was by his mother of a base bloud and begotten before wedlocke for King Edward his Father comming into his Nurses house was rauished with the beautie of one Edwina a beautifull maide begat that night of her King Adelstone and afterward married her after the King was stricken with great repentance for the death of his brother by the space of seauen yeares at length the Cup-bearer his accuser bearing the Cuppe vnto the King stumbled with one foote and recouering himselfe with the other saying Thus one brother helpeth another These words so moued the king that forthwith he commaunded the false accuser of his brother to bee had out to execution and he builded two Monasteries of Middleton and Michlenes for his brothers Soule Whereby it appeareth what was the speciall cause of building of Monasteries to wit for releasing of sinnes for them departed and them aliue which is contrarie to the grace and veritie of Christs Gospell He deuised diuers good and wholsome lawes as well of the state Ecclesiasticall as Seculer which thou maist see in the booke at large whereby it is to bee vnderstoode that the vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome did not then extend or derogate from the authoritie of Christian Princes but that euery one in â—is owne Dominion had the doing of all causes whether they were spirituall or temporall he raigned 16. yeares and because he had no Issue his brother Edmond succéeded him This Edmond expelled the Danes Scots Normanes and all forraine enemies out of the Land and recouered such Cities as were in their hands from them then the King set his minde to building of Monasteries and furnishing of Churches with possessions in his time Monks were dispersed out of the Monastery of Esham and Canons substituted in their place At the first Religious houses were replenished with Priests and Canons which were Clergie men after Monkes succéeded they professed Chastitie that is to 〈◊〉 vnmaried for so they defined Chastitie in those blinde daies the Priests and Canons liued more frée from Monkish rules and obseruations were commonâ—y marieâ— and in their life came néerer to seculer Christians so there was great enmitie betweene them one â—uer sought to expell the other Thus Monkes first beganne about the time of this King Edmond when straitnes of life with superstition was had in veneration which men either to haue publike fame with men or merit of God gaue themselues to leade a strict life There was a Monastery in Fraunce called Floriake of the rule of Benedict from whence came our English Monkes for after they were professed there returning into England they daily congregated men to their profession and for their outward holinesse and straite life weâ—e in great admiration not onely with the rude sort but with Kings and Princes who founded them Houses maintained their rules and inlarged them with possessions After King Edmund had raigned 6. yeares and a halfe he was slaine and buried at Glastenbury leauing bebing him two children Edwine and Edgar but because they were vnder age Edred brother to King Edmund gouerned as Protector nine yeares with great moderation and fidelity to the young children Edwine eldest sonne of King Edmond was crowned at Kingstone the day of his Coronation he forsooke his Nobles and went into a Chamber to a woman whom he inordinately had retained Dunstone Abot of Gâ—astenbury followed the King into the Chamber and brought him out by the hand and accused him to Odo Archbishop causing him to be separated from her company for which â—act Odo suspended the king out of the Church The king being displeased banished Dunstone who went into Flanders where hée was in the Monastery of Aâ—andus about that time the order of Benedict Monkes or blacke Monkes beganne to multiply in England so that Priests and Canons were put out in many places and Monkes put in their 〈◊〉 but King Edwine for the displeasure he bare to Dunstone so vexed all the Order of the said Monkes that in Malmesbury Glastenbury and other places he thrust out the Monks and set seculer Priests in their steed Edwine being hated of his Subiects for his misdemeaners was remoued from his kingly honour and his brother Edgar receiued in his stéede yet one raigned ouer all on the one side of the Thâ—mes and the other on the other side of the Thames but Edwine after hee had raigned 4. yeares dyed leauing no Heire wherefore all fell to Edgar Edgar at the age of 16 yeares began to raigne but was not crowned vntill 14. yeares after He sent for Dunstone home againe whom Edwin had exiled he was made Bishop of Woster and after of London and not long after of Canterbury By his intreâ—tie to the King Oswoldus was made Bishop of Woster and by his meanes also Ethelwaldus Abbot of Abendon was made Bishoppe of Winchester By the meanes of these thrée Bishoppes the multitnde of Monkes began first to swarme in this Realme of England By the meanes of them King Edgar builded 40. Monasteries and by the instigation of them King Edgar in diuerse great houses and Cathedrall Churches where Prebends and Priests were before displaced them and set in Monkes and many seculer Priests being put to their choyce whether they would change their habit or leaue their roomes departed out of their houses After Oswaldus was made Archbishop of Yorke and then they had their minde and when he by no perswasion could make
could when the King see her hee was not so much inflamed with loue of her as with hatred to her husband and sending for him to hunt with him runne him through with his sword and killed him Wherefore Elfrida builded a Monastery of Nunnes in remission of her sinnes Hee was incontinent and lasciuious in deflowring Maids hee deflowred Wilfrida a Dukes Daughter being a Nunne and had a daughter named Editha by her and he comming to Andiuer thinking to haue his pleasure of a Dukes Daughter the mother grieuing to haue her daughter a Concubine conâ—eyed another beautifull maid into his bed in stead of her Daughter which the King perceiuing made the Maid Mistresse of both her Master and Mistresse He had another Concubine Edelfâ—â—eda daughter to Duke Ordmere a professed Nunne of whom hee begat Edward But his greatest offence was in that he was the first and chiefest cause of this Monkery for lying with this Ethelfleda Dunstone held him from Coronation seauen yeares and had seauen â—â—eres penance inioyned him After he had raingned 16. yeares he dyed and was buried at Glastenbury His penance was to weare no Crowne seauen yeares to fast twise a wéeke to giue his treasure to the poore and to build a Monastery of Nunnes at Shaftsbury as he had robbed God of one Uirgine so he should restore many and that he should expell Priests and Canons and place Monkes in their place As for the lying Miracles that all were healed of any disease that prayed at the Tombe of this Ethelfleda and how Saint Dunstone hunted the Deuill away with dogs and caught him by the nose with a hote paire of tongues and many other myracles of this Dunstone with many other lying myracles before in this Treatise I haue omitted thinking them not worthy to be abridged referring thée therein to the Booke at large Edward succéeded Edgar being his bastard sonne by Ethelfleda the Nunne by the meanes of Dunstone and the other Bishoppes onely to maintaine their Monkery and Egelâ—ed the lawfull sonne of Edgar was put backe then they supposed they had established the Kingdome of Monkery for euer Yet Alferus Duke of Mercia folowing the Quéenes minde with other great men drouâ— the Monkes out of the Cathedrall and other Churches and set in the Priests with their wiues againe there were great contentions about the matter and two Councels In the first Councell they being almost all against Dunstone he turned them by making a Crucifixe speake on his side which most likely was the voice of some Monke through a Cane And in the second Councell the roofe of a Chamber brake where they were all assembled and all fell downe sauing Dunstone which stood vpon a beame which did not fall this was likely done to by policie vpon this the matter ceased and Dunston had all his will King Edward after hee had raigned almost 4. yeares was murdered and Egelred his brother succeeded him the Queene being consenting to his murder in repentance of her fact builded two Nunneries one at Amesbury the other at Weâ—ewell this was Edward the Martyr After Pope Agapetus the 2. succeeded Pope Iohn the 13. he is noted to bee an Adulterer Incestuous and Tyrannous of some of his Cardinals he put their eyes out of some he cut out their tongues of some their fingers of some their noses In a generall Councell before Otho the first Emperour of the Germaines it was Articled against him that he neuer said Seruice that in saying Masse hee did not Communicate that he committed Incest with two of his Sisters that at Dice he called for the Diuell to helpe him wherefore he was deposed and Pope Leo substitute in his place but after the Emperour was gone by the Whoores of Rome and their great promises he was restored againe and Leo deposed In the tenth yeare of his Popedome he was sâ—â—nd with a mans wife and so wounded by her husband that in eight dayes he dyed After him the Romaines elected Benedictus the first without the Emperour Because they had put downe Leo and chosen another without his consent the Emperour came with his Army and set vp Pope Leo the eight againe wherefore Leo Crowned Otho for Emperour and intituled him Augustus and what Carolus magnus had giuen to the Sea and people of Rome he by a Synodall Decre granted to the Emperour and his successors The Emperour againe restored to the Sea of Rome all such donations and possessions as Constantine as they falsly pretend or which Carolus Magnus tooke from the Lumbards and gaue to them After him succéeded Iohn the 14. against whom for holding with the Emperour Petrus the chiefe Captaine of the Citie with two Consuls and twelue Aldermen and other Nobles laide hands vpon the Pope and imprisoned him eleuen monethes the Emperour came to Rome with his Armie executed the chiefe doers of the fact But he committed Petrus to the Popes arbitrement he caused him to bee stripped naked his beard to bee shauen and to be hanged by the heire of the head a whole day then to be set vpon an Asse his face turned backeward his hands bound vnder the Asses tayle and so to be ledde through the Citie then to bee scourged with rods and banished the Citie from this Pope procéeded first the Christning of Bels. Benedictus the 6. succéeded him who was imprisoned by Cinthius a Captaine of Rome and there slaine Then came Pope Donus the 2. after whom Bonifacius the 7. was Pope he 〈◊〉 the citizens of Rome to conspire against him tooke the treasure of Saint Peters Church and stâ—le to Constantinople The Romaines set vp Iohn the 15. Pope Boniface by his treasure procured a Garison to take his part and returned to Rome he tooke Pope Iohn put out his eyes threw him in prison and famished him but he not long after sodainly died The Romaines drew his carkeasse about the streets by the feete after his death in despitefull manner the people exclaiming against him Pope Benedictus the 7. succeeded him by consent of the Emperour Otho the second and raigned 19. yeares After him succeeded Iohn the 16. after him Iohn the 17. after him Gregory the 1. Crescentius with the people of Rome and the Clergy conuenting against him set vp Pope Iohn the 18. Wherefore the Emperour Otho the 3. sent an Armie into Italy got the citie and tooke Crescentius the Consull and Pope Iohn he put out the eyes of Pope Iohn and then killed him he set Crescentius vpon a vile Horse his nose and eares cut off his face turned to the horse taile and after his members were â—nt off and he hanged vpon a gibbit Hee assembled a Councell at Rome where he established the Empire in his owne Contry and by the consent of Otho ordained seauen to be Electors three Bishops three Princes to wit Prince Palatine the Duke of Saxony the Marquesse of Brandenburge to whom was added the King of Boheme to giue the odde voyce if the eauen voyces could not
cause Henricus surnamed Niger the Emperour displaced these three monsters placing for them Clement the second and Enâ—cted that no Pope shouâ—d be chosen without the consent of the Emperour and the Romanes made an Oth to the Emperour to that effect But the Emperâ—ur being gone they forgot their Oath and poysoned the Pope which 〈◊〉 some impute to Damasus the 2. his successor and some to Erazutus which poysoned six Pâ—pâ—s Damasus within 23. daies after he was Pope was poysoned â—hen the Romaines and Cardinals sent to the Emperour for a Pope who gâ—ue them Leo the 9. He kept two Councels one at Uercellis where the Doctrine of Beriâ—garius against the Real presence was condemned the other was kâ—pt at Moguntia where amongst many decrees Priâ—sts were vtterly excluded from mariage and that no â—ay man â—ight giue â—eniâ—â—ce Bishopricke and Spirituall promoâ—ion Leo being at Wormes with the Emperour on Christmas day hee excommunicaâ—ed the Subâ—eacon for not reading the Episte in Latine the Archbishop being at Masse staid and would goâ— no further vnlesse his Subdeacon were restâ—red whereupon the Pope released him Leo was poysoned by Brazutus the first yeare of his Popedome Victor the â— succeeded him hee kept a Councell at Florence hee deposed diuerse Bishops and Priests for Simony and Fornication of Simony because they were tooke their liâ—ing of Secular mâ—n for moneyâ— for fornication because they were maried In his â—econd yeare he was poysoned also by the said Brazutus by the procurement of Hildebrand his master Stephanus the 9. succéeded him hee was chosen without the Emperour hee accused the Emperour of Heresie for deminishing the authoritie of the Romaine Sea Hée likewise called it Symony for secular men to present to a Spirituall Liuing He sent Cardinall Hildebrand with Commission to reforme the matter in the meane time he tasting Brazutus cup dyed After him the Romaines set vp Benedictus the tenth Pope but Hildebrand perswaded the Clergie to choose Nicolaus the second who by force caused the other Pope to vnpope himselfe Nicolas called the Councell of Lateran in which hée vnderminded the Emperours â—urisdiction and gaue the full authoritie or choosing the Pope vnto a fewe Cardinals and certaine Catholike persons and against such as be Popes without the full consent of the Cardinals he thundreth terrible blasts of excommunication accursing them and their children with denils giuing power to Cardinals with the Clergie and 〈◊〉 to depose such person and call a generall Councell where they will against them In this Councell Beringarius was forced to recant his Doctrine against the Reall presence in the Sacrament and the terme of transubstantiation was there first deuised Hée displaced the right Heire of the Dukedome of Apâ—â—lia and placed Robertus Quistardus to bée Duke and generall Captainâ— of Saint Peters land but it standeth not with the Gospell a Bishop with outward armes to conquer christian men and countries After hee had raigned three yeares and a halfe he met with Brazutus cup and turned vp his héeles Then the Emperour set vp Coralus Pope but Hildebrand set vp Alexander the second who ouercame Coralus Then there was a Councell kept at Mâ—ntus where Alexander was declared Pope and it was concluded that Priests should haue no wiues and those that had wiues should say no Masse no Benefices to bee bought for money Alleâ—uia to bee suspended in Lent that no â—pirituall man should enter into any Church by a Secular man that the Pope should be elected onely by the Cardinals this Alexander being at Masse as hee was preaching vnto the people told them he would not sit in the place except he had the licence of the Empeâ—our which strucke Heldebrand into such a furis that as soone as Masse was done he forced him into a Chamber and beat him with his 〈◊〉 rating him that he would séeke fauour of the Emperour and kept him in Custodie allâ—wing him but twenty pence a day and Heldebrand incroched all the reuenewes of the Church vnto himselfe At lâ—st Alexander vnder this miserable indurance died hauing béene Pope 11. yeares and a halfe THE FOVRTH BOOKE Containing other 300. yeares from WILLIAM the Conquerour to the time of IOHN WICKLIFFE WILLIAM the Conquerour was the base 〈◊〉 of Robert Duke of Normandy Nephew to Kiâ—g Edward after the 〈◊〉 said Uictory against Harald he was receiuer King ouer England and was Crowned vpon Christmas day The yeare before his comming was a great blasing Starre the space of seauen daies he made the Englishmen pay for euery twentie Acres of land 6. â— yearely wherefore many rebelled but he conquered them many of his Lords departed into Scotland wherefore hee kept them that â—aried the straiter Hee gaue the Nomaines the chiefest possessions of the Land hee changed all the temporall Lawes of the Realme and set straite Lawes vpon the Spiritualtie Hee builded foure strong Castles two at Yorke one at Nottingham and another at Lincolne In the 3. yeare of his raigne Harald and Canutus sonnes of Swanus King of Denmarke came into the North Contry but after much spoyle King William chased them to their Ships and he was so displeased with the Inhabitants for fauouring them that he destroyed the Land from Yorke to Duâ—ham so that nine yeares after the Prouince lay waste and vnmanâ—red In the 4. yeare of his raigne Malcoline King of the Scots entred into Northumberland and destroyed the Contry and slew men women and children but within two yeares King William made such warre with the Scots that hee forced Malcome their King to doe him Homage In the same 4. yeare of this King there was holden a Councell of the Clergie at Winchester at which was present two Cardinals from the Pope and the King was there present diuerse Bishops Abbots and Priors by the meanes of the King were depriued without any euident cause that the Normaines might bee proferred vnto the rule of the Church as his Knights were to the rule of the Temporalty Oâ—â— Thomas a Normaine was preferred vnto the Archbishoprick of Yorke and one Lanfranckus an Italian was made Archbishop of Canterbury betwixt them grew a contention about giuing and taking the Othe of obedience but the King appeased it and the Bishop of Yorke builded the Minster of Yorke and gaue possessions thereto But when these two Archbishops came to Rome for their Pale the contreuersie renewed betwixt them for the Primacie the Pope not disposed to decide the matter sent them home to haue their matter determined so the matâ—er came before the King and Clergie at Windsor the Archbishop of Canterbury said Since the time that Austin conuerted this Land to Christianitie and was made Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of all England by Popâ— Gregory the Primacie hath succéeded there euer since and being Yorke tooks the Christian Faith from thence it was reason it should bee subiect thereto The Bishop of Yorke answered that the Britaines the fiâ—st possessors of this Kingdome which indured from Brutus to
gate of Canossus where fasting from morning to night humbly he desired to be absolued and to come in and speake with the Pope Thus he continued and could not be let in in thrée daies the fourth day being brought to the Pope he surrendred his Crowne and princely ornaments vnto him desiring he might be forgiuen and he would neuer doe against him againe He told him he would not absolue him but vpon condition he should doe such penance as hee should enioyne him and appeare at the Councell when he should send for him and answere there all obiections laid against him and stand to his pleasure whether hee should haue his Kingdome restored or loose it and should doe nothing as a King vntill the cause were tryed and vpon his Oath for performance hereof he was absolued For all this the Pope sent to France for their consents that Rodulphus should be Emperor Then there was sent to Rodulphus bâ—ing Duke or Swâ—â—ia a crowne from the pope with this verie Petra dedit Petro Petrus Diadema Rodulpho Then he gaue in commaundement to the Archbishop of Ments and of Cullen to elect Rodulphus emperour and annoint him King and defend him with all their strength Whilst this conspiracie was in hand the Emperour was absent and the Popes Ambassadors with him and vnknowne to him Rodulphus was elected Emperour the Bishop of Stasbrough 〈◊〉 Henry the emperour thereof who seeing the Saxons so bent against him marched forward with his Souldiers to defend his right but first sent to Rome requiring the Pope to excommunicate Rodulphus But he minding nothing lesse sent word that he would not condemne any person without hearing the cause so vnder colour of Lawe disappâ—inted Henry who being forsaken on euery side with his men attempted battell with Rodulphus there was great slaughter on both sides but no victory so yet both chalâ—nged the Empire Then they both sent to Rome for the Popes determination to whether of them the Empire appertained the Pope willed them to breake vp their Aâ—mies promising shortly to call a Councell where this matter should be disputed but before the messengers returned they had another conflict but no victory So both being wearied in warre the Romish beast being the cause therof and the Pope perceiuing these warres would be to the great calamitie not onely of Germany but to other Nations deuised another way to helpe Rodulphus sent a Commission to the Archbishop of Treuers and others giuing them in charge to call a Councell to sit at Almany to determine â—he right promising what they determined he by the auâ—horitie of God omnipotent and of Saint Peter and of Sant Paul would ratifie the same but Henry the Emperour would not permit a Councell to be had in Germany except they would first depriue Rodulphus The Legatâ— perceiuing that was against the Popes drift returned The Pope hearing his purpose disappointed drue another excommunication against Henry the Emperour hereauing him of his Kingdome sending them through all places thinking thereby to further Rodulphus part biginning his excommunication with these words Blessed Saint Peter Prince of the Apostles and thou Paul also teacher of the Gentiles giue eare vnto me a little I beseech you and gently heare me c. I take this matter in hand that my brethren whose saluation I seeke may the more obey me and knowe that I trust vpon your defence next to Christ and his mother and thereby resist the wicked and am ready to helpe the faithfull I entred this Seat against my will with teares thinking my selfe vnworthy to occupy so high a Throne I chose not you but you chose me and â—ayd this great burden vpon Our shoulders Then reciting the whole matter of the Story before concludeth therefore â— trusting in the Iudgement and mercie of God and in the supportation of the blessed Uirgin and bold vpon your authoritie meaning S. Peter S. Paul do lay the sentence of Curse vpon Henry his adherents And againe I take his regall Gouernment from him discharging all Christian men of their Oathes to him and forbidding them hereafter to obey him in any thing but to take Rodulphus for their King c. Therefore O blessed Princes of the Apostles confirme this your authoritie that all may know as you haue power to binde and loose in Heauen you haue also power on earth to giue and take away Empires Kingdomes Principaâ—ities and whatsoeuer belongeth to mortall men on earth For if you haue power to Iudgâ— of matters of God how much more of prophane things and if you can Iudge the Angels which rule proud Princes how much more the princes Let all Kings and princes by this example know your power that they may feare to contemne the commaundement of the holy Church Exercisâ— quickly this Iudgement vpon Henry that all may see him fall from his Kingdom not by chance but by your onely worke notwithstanding this I would craue of you that he being brought to repentance through your intercession yet in the day of Iudgement may finde grace with the Lord. Pope Hildebrand further deposed the Archbishop of Rauenna for taking his part commaunding all priests not to obey him and sent another with full authoritie thither Upon this Henry and Rodulphus tryed the matter with sword with much bloud whereas Henry with Gods fauour against the Iudgement of Hildebrand had the victory Rodulphus greatly wounded was carried to Herbipolis where he commanding the Bishops and doers of this conspiracie to be brought to him and lifting vp his right hand which was deadly wounded said This hand gaue the Oath to Henry my prince and hath so often fought against him by your inâ—â—igation but in vaine goe and performe you Oath and alegiance to him your King for I must go to my Fathers and so dyed Henry after his enemy subdued and warres ceased in Germany remembring the iniuries of Hildebrand by whom he was twise excommunicated expulsed from his Kingdome and making sute thrée daies in sharpe winter and could finde no fauour and by him his enemy was incited and ayded against him assembled a Councell of 1083. Bishops at Brixiencâ— where hee purged himselfe and accused Hildebrand of diuerse câ—imes to be an vsurper periured a Nigromaâ—cer a Sorcerer a sower of discord and that his Father had set in diuerse Popes in Rome by his assignement without other election and now this Bishop contrary to his Oath thrust in himselfe without the will and knowledge of him being their King and Magistrate For in the time of Henry the third his Father this Hildebrand and others had tooke a corporall Oath that during the life of him and this Henry his sonne now king they should noâ— presume themselues norsuffer any other to aspire to the Papall Seat without the approbation of the said Emperours Wherefore the aforesaid Councell with one agréement condemned this Gregory that he should be deposed ¶ The Sentence of the Councell of Brixia against Hildebrand BEcause it
receiued with much sauour through the helpe of Phillip the french king The Emperour hearing thereof came with great power to Italy where he destroyed great cities and came to Rome required the Citizens that the cause betwixt the 〈◊〉 Popes might be decided and hee that had the bestright to be taken for Pope and then he would restore to them that which he had taken Alexander doubting his part and the wils of the Citizens hauing ships prepared fetâ—hed a course about to Uenis The Emperour required the Uenetians to send him but they would not wherefore Fredericus sent thither his Sonnâ— Otho with men and ships well appointed charging him to attempt nothing before his comming notwithstanding he ioyned with the Uenetians in battell and was ouercome taken and brought into the Citie The farther to redeeme his Sonne was compelled to submit himselfe to the hope and intreat peace To the Emperour comming to Uenis at S. Markes Church where the Pope was there to take his absolution was hid to knéels downe at the popes féete the proud Pope set his foote vpon the Emperours neck and said Super aspidem basilicum ambulabis concultabis leonem et Draconem â—e anâ—iâ—â—red Non tibi sed Petro. The Pope againe Et mihi Petro. The Emperour fearing more quarreling held his peace and peace was made betwixt them First that hée should receiue Alexander for true Pope then that he should restore to the Church of Rome all that he tooke from it thus he obtained his sonne Alexander was Pope â—1 yeares he kept sondry Councels at â—urd and Latâ—ran whâ—re he confirmed the proceedings of Hildebrand and other his predecessors In this time spung vp the Doctrine of the Waldenses which was of one Waldus a chiefe Senator of Lionâ— in France The aforesaid Gratianus master of Decrees and Petrus Lumbardus at this time did much maintaine proud Prelacie after whom followed two as euill or worse Franciscus and Dominicus maintaining as much blinde hypocrisie Iâ— pleased God to raise vp the Waldenses against their Doctrine of Pride and hypocrisie Thus we neuer see any great corrupâ—iâ—n in the Churcâ— but sâ—me sparke of the true lighâ— of the Gospell by Gods prouidence doth remaine howsoeuer their aduersariâ—◠〈◊〉 them yet by the Iudiciall â—â—aying their Articles thou shalt finde that they maintained nothing else but the same doctrine whâ—â—h we now defend yet I suppose the Papist did gather thâ—m and wrest them otherwiâ—e then they were ment as they did them of Wiclife and Hâ—s It chanced that certaine of the chiefe of the citie of Lions went a walking with the aforesaid Waldus of whome came the Waldenses was one one of them fâ—ll downe suddainly dead the sight whereof smoâ—e this Waldus with a â—eepe and inward repentance with a carefull study to reforme his life First he began to giue large almes to the needy Secondly to instruct his family and himselfe with the knowledge of Gods word Thirdly to exhort all that resorted to him to repâ—ntance and vâ—râ—uous life by his almes and diligent teaching more resorted to him dayly to whom he gaue certaine rudiments of the Scripture The Bishops and Prelates seeing him so meddle with Scripture and to haue such a resort about him though it were but in his owne house moued with great malice against him threatned to excommunicate him if he did not leaue so to doe He neglecting the threatnings of the wicked said God must be obeyed more then man and was the more diligent to set forth the Doctrine of Christ against the errours of Antichrist When they saw their excommunication dispised they ceased not with prison with sword and banishment to prosecute till they had driuen the said Waldus and all his fauourers out of the city Here followeth their Articles they held 1 That the holy Scripture is to be beleeued in matters pertaining to saluation and no man besides 2 All things contained in holy Scripture necessary to saluation and nothing to bee admitted in Religion but what onely is commaunded in the word of God 3 To be but one onely Mediator other saints to be made in no wise Mediators to be inuocated 4 That there is no Purgatory but all men either by Christ are Iustified or without Christ condemned besides these two neither thre nor foure places 5 That all Masses sunge for the deads are wicked and to be abrogated 6 All mens traditions to be reiected at least not to be reputed necessary to saluation therefore singing and superflueus chaunting in the Chaunâ—ell to be left constraiâ—ied and prefixed â—aste bound to dayes and times differences of meats varieties of â—egres and orders of Priests Fryers Monkes Nunnes superâ—luous holy dayes so many bene dictions and hallowing of creatures vowes Pilgrimages with all the rablement of Ceremonies brought in by men to be abolished 7 The supremacie of the Pope vsurping aboue all Churches and especially aboue all pollitiâ—ue Realmes and Gouernments or for him to occupie and vsurpe the Iurisdiction of both swords to be denyed neither that any other degree is to be receiued in the Church but only Priests Deacons and Bishops 8 The Communion of both kinds to be necessary to all people according to the institution of Christ. 9 I â—â—â—m the Church of Rome to be the very Babilon spoken of in the Reuelation and the Pope to be the fountaine of all error and the very Antichrist 10 They reiect the Popes pardons and indulgences 11 The mariage of Priâ—sts and ecclesiasticall persons to be Godly and necessary in the Church 12 Such as heare the word of God and haue a good Faith to bee â—he right Church of Christ and to this Church the Keyâ—s of the Church to be giuen to driue away wolues and to institute true Pastors to preach the word and institute the Sacraments these were their principall Articles Being exiled they dispersed in diuerse places of whom many remained long after in Bohemia Eâ—eas Syluius in the Bohemian Histories writeth that these Articles they held The Bishop of Rome to be equall with other Bishops no difference of degrées amongst Priests no Priest to bee reputed for the dignitie of his Order but for the worthynesse of his life No Purgatory as before in vaine to pray for the dead a thing onely â—ound out for the luâ—â—ee of Priests The Image of God as of the Trinitie and of Saints to be abolished The hallowing of â—â—ater and palmes a ridicâ—e The religious of begging Friers to be found out by the Diuell That Priests shoâ—lâ— not incroâ—h riches but bee content with their Tythes and mens deuotions The preaching of the Word to be frée to all men called thereunto No deadly sinne to be tollerated for what respect soeuer of greater commodity to ensue thereby Confirmation of Bishops with oyle and extreame vâ—â—tion none oâ— the Sacraments Auriculâ—r confession but a toy Baptisme to bee ministred onely with pure water without mixture of holy oyle The Maiestie of God not to bee restrained
Pope the whole matter to whom the Pope writeth againe wee are not a little disquieted in our spirits for your sake being our most déere Brother remember that the Apostles departed away reioycing from the face of the Councell receiue consolation that wâ— may reioice with you in the Lord who hath preserued you in this distresse to the corroboration of the Catholick verity and God through his punishment of afflicâ—ions hath wiped away the blot of your offences that they might not be called to account in the day of Iudgement bee not greeued that you are appealed to the Apostolike Sea which to vs is gratefull and accepted draw not you backe spare not to follow the appeale for the authoritie of the Church of Rome tendreth your constancie our diligence shall bee to preserue the right and preheminence of your Church to you as one working for the Church a constant and valiant Champion I thought good especially to premonish you neither for aduersitie nor whatsoeuer happens renounce not the right and dignitie of your Church The Archbishop sitting with his Crosse in his hand as before was not abashed at al that was the King sent for him presently to render account for thirty thousand markes and fruits and reuenewes of the Realme in the time when he was Chancellor he answered the King knew how often hee had made reckonings of those things and that Henry his Sonne and heyre with all the Barrons and the Lord chiefe Iustice of England told him was frée and quit to god and holy Church from all receipts computations on the Kings behalfe and so taking his discharge entred into his office for other accounts he would make none when his answere was brought to the King he required the Barons to doe their office who adiudged him to be apprehended and laid in prison the King sent the Earl of Cornwall and Deuonshire and the Earle of Leicester to shew him his Iudgement to whom he said heare my Sonne and good Earle how much the soule is more precious then the body so much ought you to obey me rather then your terrene King no Law doth permit the child to condemne their Father wherefore to auoide all your iudgements before you all I appeale to the Sea Apostolicke and as for you my fellow Bishops which rather obey man then God you also I call and claime to the Iudgement of the Pope and I doe depart from you as from the enemies of the Catholick Church and of the authoritie of the Apostolicke Sea whilst they returned this answere to the King the Archbishop passed through the throng and tooke horse holding the bridle in one hand and his Crosse in the other the Courtiers followed saying tarrie Traytor and héere thy Iudgement the vtmost gate being locked one of his seruants found a bunch of Keyes trying them found the right and opened the gate he went to the house of the Cannons where hee did lie and calling to him the poore where they could be found after supper he caused a bed to be made him betwixt two Altars but whilst the King was at supper he changed his garments and named himselfe Derman and made an escape to the Sea and taking ship sayled into Flanders and thence iournied vnto France the King sent the Bishop of London and the Earle of Arundell vnto the King of France to require him not to receiue the Archbishop nor retaine him in his Dominion and that he would be a meanes to the Pope not to shew any familiaritie vnto him but the French King contrarie to the Kings Letters and request not only harboured and cherished him but writ to the Pope intreating him vpon all loues as euer he would haue his fauour to tender the cause of the Archbishop Becket The King sent another ambassage to Pope Alexander by the Archbishop of York the Bishops of London Winchester Chichester Exeter with other Doctors and Clarkes with the Earle of Arundel with certaine moe Lords and Barrons they were friendly accepted at the Popes Court the next day following the Pope sitting in the Consistorie with his Cardinals when the Ambassadours were called for the hearing of Beckets matter and the Bishops euery one in order had made his Oration the Pope did not accept some of their spéeches and disdained some wherefore the Earle of Arundell disdained in this manner spake Though I am vnlettered and cannot vnderstand what these Bishops haue said neither can vtter my minde in that tongue which they haue done yet I must declare the cause of my sending as well as I may which was not to contend with or iniury any man especially in presence of such a one at whose beck all the world doth stoope but our Legacie is to present in the presence of the whole Church of Rome the deuotion and loue of our King which hee euer had and still hath towards you and that it might the better appeare to your excellencie hee hath appointed for the furniture of this Legacy his greatest and cheefest subiects of such worthines and parentage that if hee could haue found greater in his Realme hee would haue sent them for the reuerence of your person and holy Church of Rome I might adde more which your Sainctitude hath already proued the harty fidelity of our King towards you who at the entrance to his Kingdome submitted himselfe and all his wholly to your will and pleasure and wee beleeue there is none more faithfull in Christ then he nor more deuout to God nor more moderate in kéeping the vnity of peace neither doe I deny touching the Archbishop of Canterbury a man not vnfurnished with gifts in his calling being both sage and discréete sauing that hee seemeth to some more quick and sharpe then needeth if this blot had not beene the King and he had not discented then both the temporaltie and spiritualty might haue flourished one with the other in much peace vnder so worthy a Prince and so vertuous a pastor therefore our message and supplication to your vigilant prudence is that through your fauour and wisedome the neck of this discention may be broken and reformation of vnitie and loue by some good meanes may be sought But the Pope would not condiscend to their sute which was to haue two Legates sent from his popish side into England to examine and take vp the controuersie betweene the King and the Archbishop but because Becket was absent hee willed them to tarry his comming vp for hee being absent hee would in no case procéede against him but they alledged there time appointed to be ended and hauing other lets they could not waite for the comming of Becket and so returned back there cause frustrated without the Popes blessing to the King Within foure dayes after Becket commeth to the Popes Court offered the pope a scroule of the custome and ordinances of the King the Pope condemned and cursed the most part of them and blamed Becket for so much yeelding to them at the beginning yet
because he was repentant hee was content to assoile him for the same and the rather because he had suffered so great troubles for the liberties of the Church The next day the Pope and his Cardinals beeing assembled in his secret chamber Becket made an Oration to them to this effect he confessed with griefe the cause of these perturbations was because hee entred into the sould of Christ not by the doore of Christ because the King made him Bishop not the Pope and if I had resigned it to the King againe at his commandement I had left a dangegerous example vnto the Catholique Church therfore now recognising my ingresse not to be Canonicall and my abilitie not sufficient for such a charge therfore I render into your fatherly hands the Archbishoprick heere of Canturbury and putting his Ring from his finger offered it to the Pope and desired a Bishop to be prouided for the Church of Canturbury and so with teares ended This done hee was bid stand a part after consultation they concluded being he had ventred his goods dignity and authoritie and his life for the liberties of the Church if he should now be depriued at the Kings pleasure it would be an examplâ— to others hereafter none to resist his Prince in like case and so weaken the Catholick Church and derogate the Popes authoritie and his cause being maintained it would bee a president to others to doe the like so hee receiued his Pastoraâ—l Office at the Popes hand againe with commendation and much fauour and â—he Pope sent him vnto the Abbey of Pontiuiacke in France with a Monkes habit where he was two yeares thence he remoued to Senon where he was fiue yeares so he was in exile seuen yeares The King beeing certified by his Ambassadors that the Pope inclined more to Becket then vnto him was wrathfull and sayling into Normandie sent ouer certaine iniunctions against the Pope and the Arch-bishop to this effect 1 Whosoeuer brought any interdict or curse from the Pope or Becket so bee apprehended and executed as a Traytor 2 That no Clarke Monke or conuert of any other countrey without the Iustice and Kings Letters to passe ouer or returne into the Realme otherwise to be imprisoned 3 None to appeale to the Arch-bishop or bring any transcript from them 4 No Decrée from them to stand in force or be receiued in England vpon paine of imprisonment 5 If any person shall keep the sentence of their interdict they shall bee exiled with all their kindred and take none of their goods with them and be bound without speciall licence not to resort where the Arch-bishop was 6 All the possessions and goods of such as fauoured the Pope or Arch bishop to be confiscate for the King 7 All such of the Clergy as were out of the Realme to bee warned in euery Sheere within three monethes to repayre home or else their rents and goods to â—eturne to the King 8 That the Peter pence shall be no more paid vnto the Apostolick Sea but to be reserued vnto the Kings Coffers The Arch-bishop writ to a friend of his to write to him with speed what was done touching the Kings Decrees heere set out which are these that all Hauens be diligently kept that no interdict or curse be brought in if the bringer bee a religious man his feet to be cut off if a Priest to loose his prâ—uy members if a lay-man to bee hanged if a Leper to be burned if a Bishop will depart for feare of the Popes Interdict let him haue nothing with him but his Staffe and that aâ—l Schollers and Students beyond the Seas shaâ—l repaire home or loose their Benefices and if they remaine still to loose the libertie of all returning if any Priest for the Popes interdict wil refuse to sing to loose his priuy members In summe al such Priests as shew themselues Rebels to the King to bee depriued of their Benefices Further it was proclaimed that all of the kindred of Thomas Becket should bee exiled with their goods with them and sent to him which was no little vexation to him to behold Moreouer the King writ to the Abbot of Pontiuiack where he lay not to retaine him in his house or else he would driue out of his Realme all the Monkes of his Order wherevpon hee remoued by the French Kings appointment to Senon as aforesaid and found of him fiue yeares In the meane time messengers went daily from the King to the Pope and from the Pope to the King and betwixt the Archbishop and others where I finde onely rehearsals of matters which are declared sufficiently in the History whereof if the Reader be desirous to see let him resort to the booke at large After these Letters sent too and fro in the 15. yéere of Henry the second the King misdoubting that the Archbishop would procéed in excommunication against his own person made his appeale to the presence of the Pope requiring to haue certaine Legates sent from Rome from the Popes side to take vp the matter betwixt the Archbishop and him requiring also that they might be absolued that were interdicted wherevpon two Cardinals sent from the Pope with Letters from the Pope came into Normandie where they appointed the Bishop to meete before the King but the Arch-bishop delayed his comming vntill eight daies after neither would come any further then Grisorsium where the two Cardinals and the Archbishop with other Bishops conuenting together had a treatie of reconciliation which came to no conclusion The two Cardinals writ to the Pope to this effect comming to England we found the controuersie more vehement then we would for the King and the greater part about him said the Arch-bishop stirred vp the French King against him and made the Earle of Flanders his open aduersarie and after the King had receiued your Letters and brought forth other Letters diuers and altering from them receiued of vs be was moued with no little indignation saying that since wee came from you the Archbishop receiued of you other coâ—trarie Letters wherby he was exempted from our Iudgement Moreouer the King and the Bishops there did affirme that the complaint that was made vnto you of the ancient customes of his progenitors for the most paâ—t was false affirming farther to vs that if there were any customes and lawes in his time that seemed prâ—iudiciall to the Statutes of the Church he would willingly reuoke and disanull the same therefore we other Bishops and Abbots of the land hearing the King so reasonable laboured by al meanes that the King should not breake from vs but incline to vs and to haue the matter brought before vs betwixt him and the Archbishop Wherevpon we sent our owne Chaplains with Letters to him appointing him the time and place where safely hee might meete with vs yet he made his dilatories till eight dayes after which â—tirred the Kings heart more then is to be thought thus when hee refused to
the fight of Beckets Church he lighted went barefoote to his toombe whose steps were found bloudy by the roughnâ—sse of the stones and receiued a whip with a rod of euery Monke of the Cloister whereby thou maist see the lamentable superstition and ignorance of those dayes and the slauery that Kings and Princes were brought too vnder the Popes Clergy the same yeere almost the whole Citie of Canturbury was consumed with fire and the said Minster church cleane burnt The next yeare in a conuocation of Bishops Abbots and other of the Clergie at Westminster there was great discention betwixt the two Arch-bishops whether Yorke must beare his Crosse in the Dioces of Canterbury and whether the Bishopricks of Lincoln Chichester Worcester and Hereford were of the sea of York Wherefore the one appealed the other vnto the presence of the Pope How much better had it beene if the Supremacie had remained in the King whereby much trauell and great wastfull expences had bin saued and there cause morâ— indifferently and more spéedily decided Diuers of Glocester in the Dioces of York were excommunicated by the Archb. of Canterbury because being summoned they refused to appeare a Cardinall by the Kings procurement was sent from Rome to make peace by the meanes of the King it was agreed that Canterbury should release his claime to Glocester and absolue the Clarks thereof the bearing the crosse and other matters was referred to the other Bishops and a league of truce for fiue yeares betwixt them The next yeare Henry the second denided the Realme into six parts ordained thrée Iustices of assise on euery part to the first Norfolk Suffolk Cambridge shire Huntingdon-shire Buckingham-shire Essex Hereford-shire to the second Lincoln-shire Nottingham-shire Derby-shire Stamford-shire Warwick-shire Northampton-shire Leicester-shire Thirdly Kent Surry South-hampton-shire Sussex Berk-shire Oxford-shire Fourthly Heriford-shire Glocester-shire Worcester-shire Salop-shire Fiftly Wilt-shire Dorcester-shire Sommerset-shire Deâ—â—n-shire Cornwall Euerwick-shire Richmond-shire Lancaster Copland Westmâ—r-land Northumberland Cumberland In this yéere the Archbishop of Canterbury made thrée Arch-deacons where there was but one and the K. granted the pope that no Clarke should be called before a temporall Iudge except for his offence in the Forrest or his lay-fée that he holdeth and that no Bishopricke or Abbey should remaine but one yeere in the Kings hands without great cause This yeare there was great controuersie betwixt the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Abbot of S. Austen he being Elect whether the Bishop should come to his house to consecrate him or he to come to the Metropolitan church of Canterbury to be consecrated The â—bbot appealed to the audience of the Pope and went thither with a fat purse procured letters to the Bishop of Worcester to command the Arch-bishop to consecrat him in his Monastery because it did properly belong to the Iurisdiction of Rome should do so likewise to his successors without exception of obedience if the â—rchb refuse to doe it then he should doe it the Archb. vnderstanding it loth to yéeld vsed policy he watched a time when the Abbot was froÌ„ home came to the Monastery with all things appointed for the busines called for the Abbat to be consecrated the Abbot not being at home he fained himself not a little gréeâ—ed wherevpon the Abbot was disappointed faine to fill his purse a new make a new course to Rome to the Pope of whom he receiued his consecration This yéere a Cardinal was sent into England as few yéeres there was not one sent to get mâ—ny he was to make peace betwixt the Archbishops of York Canterbury who kept a Councel at Westminster to which all the chiefe of the Clergy resorted with great confluence Yorke thinking to preuent Canterbury came first and placed himselfe on the right hand of the Cardinall Canterbury seeing the first place taken refused to take the second Yorke alledged the old Decree of Gregory by whom this order was taken betwixt these two Metropolitans that he that should be first in election should haue the preheminence in dignity and goe before the other From words they went to blowes Canterbury hauing more seruants was to strong for Yorke plucked him from the right hand of the Cardinall treading on him with their feet that it was well hee escaped aliue his Robes were all rent from his back this Noble Romane Cardinall which should haue ended the strife committed himselfe to flight the next day Yorke shewed his Rochet to the Cardinall to testifie his wrong and appealed and cited the Archbishop of Canterbury and certaine of his men to the Pope The kingdome of England in the Henry this second his time extended so farre as hath not béen seene The King of Scots with all the Lords spirituall and temporal did him homage for them and their successors Ireland England Normandie Aquitane Gaunt c. Unto the mountaine of Pireni in the vtmost parts of the Ocean in the Brittish sea protector of France and offered to bée King of Ierusalem by the Patriarke and Master of the Hospitall there which he refused alledging his great charge at home and it might be his sonnes would rebell in his absence The fame of his wisedome manhood riches was so renowned through all quarters that messengers came from the Emperor of Rome and from the Emperour of Constantinople and from many great Kings Dukes and other great men to determine questions of strife and aske councell of him he raigned thirty fiue yéeres and hauing great warres yet neuer set tribute or taxe vpon his subiects nor first fruits nor appropriations of benefits vpon the Clergy yet his treasure beeing weighed by King Richard his Sonne after his death weighed 900000. pounds besides Iewels and Houshold-stuffe of which 11000. pounds came by the death of Robert Arch-bishop of Yorke for hee had procured a Bull of the Pope that if any Priest dyed without Testament he should haue all his goods His Sonne Henry whom he ioyned with him in his Kingdome and at his Coronation serued him as a Steward and set the first dish at the Table renouncing the name of King the Archbishop of Yorke sitting at the right hand of the young King he told him he might greatly reioyce being no King had such an Officer as he had the young King disdaining his words said My Father is not dishonored for I am a King and a Quéenes Sonne and so is not he He tooke Armes with the French King against his Father and persecuted him but after hee had raigned a few yeares died in his youth by the iust iudgement of God After his death his Sonne Richard called Cor-de-Lyon rebelled against his Father and Iohn his youngest Sonne did not degenerate from his Brothers steps the said Richard brought his Father to such distresse of body and minde that for thought he fell into an Ague and within fouâ—e daies dyed Richard méeting his Corps beginning to wéepe the bloud burst out of the
destruction that is comming towards you and your Realmâ— Prince Lodowicke hath sworne a great oath and sixtéene of his Earles and Nobâ—es are of 〈◊〉 with him that if he obtaine the Crowne of England he will â—anish and depriue of their Lands and goods all that hâ— now findeth to goe against their leach King and are Traytors to him vpon my Faith nâ—w lying at Gods mercie I was one that was 〈◊〉 to the same and with teares he said take héede in time your King for a 〈◊〉 hath kept you vnder but if Lodowicke preuaile he will put you from all hee had them kéepe his counceâ—l and so he dyed This trobled the Barons and seeing withall 〈◊〉 Prince Lodowicke obtained by warres he gaue to French men in spite of them saying they were but Traytors They at length concluded to submit themselues 〈…〉 neuer drunke before I trust this Wassell shall make all England glad and dranke a great draught thereof the king pledged him the Munke went away and 〈◊〉 buâ—st out and hee dyed and had euer after thrée Monkes to sing continually Masse for his Soule confirmed by their generall Chapter I would you would see how religiously they bestow heir confessions absolutions and Masses King Iohn feeling himselfe not well asked for Symon the Monke they answered he was dead then the tooke his Chariot and departed and dyed within three dayes He admonished that his Sonne Henry would learne by his example to be genâ—le and leuing to his natiue people He being imbalmed his bowels were burâ—â—ed in Crompton Abbey his Soldiers â—olded his Corps triumphantly in Armour and honourably buried him in the Cathedrall Church or Worcester hauing raigned 17. yeares 6. monethâ— and odde daies After whose death the Princes Lords Barons and strangers that were on the kings part with the Councell of the Legate Gualdo proclaimed Henry his sonne king and at Gloster with the Earle there they annointed and Crowned him King bâ— the Legate Gualdo assisted with the Bishops of Winchester and Bath and called him Henry the third The Pope sent with all spéede that they should mightily stand â—ith the young king being but ten yeares old and defend England with Armâ—ur and his thundring curses against Lodowicke Hée confirmed his Legat Gualdo and committed to his discretion all that appertained to his Office none to appeale from him Hee compelled the Prelates to bée sworne to the young King and punished them which refused Thâ— Bishop of Winchester laid a heauie talke vpon his beneficed men to helpe the king in his warres Gualdo left not one beneficed man vnpunished that had taken part with the French King In this yeare Gualdo was sent for home to Rome for by this time he had welfaâ—oredly vnladen the purses of the Clergie men and returned with all his bags well stuffed leauing Cardinall Pandulfe behind him to supply his Baliwicke The Bishop of Lincolne not long before paid 1000. markes for recouery of his Office and an hundred markes to the Legate for his goodwill so were other holy Prelates and Priests taught by his example Inocentius Pope condemned Almeriâ—us a worthy Bishop for an hereticke for teaching and holding against Images also he condemned the Doctrine of Ioachim Abbas as before for heresie He brought in first the paying of priuie tyâ—hes and the receiuing once at Easter and the reseruation of the Sacrament and the going before it with a bell and a light He stirred vp Otho against Phillip the Emperour because he was elected without his will whereupon followed much slaughter in Germany and against Otho which he had made Emperour he set vp Fredericke king of Ciâ—le and caused the Archbishop of Mayence to excommunicate him and depose him of his Empire for which cause the Princes of Germany did inuade his Bishopricke and burned his possession all was because Otho held certaine Cities Townes and Câ—stles which the Pope said belonged to him In his time came the order of Blacke Friers called the Preaching Fryers it began of one Dominicke a Spaniard who after he had Preached ten yeares against the Albigenses and others that held against the Pope comming to Lateran desired to haue his Order of Preaching Fryers confirmed which the Pope refused vntill hee dreamt that the Church of Lateran was readie to fall vntill Dominicke came and propped it vp with his sholders and so preserued it The Pope waking called Dominicke to him and grâ—nted his request Dominicks mother being great with child dreameâ— she had a wolfe in her wombe which had a burning torâ—ch in his mouth the which dreame the Preachers of that order aduance to their glory In his time came vp the order of the Minorits of one Frances an Italian hee left off shooes had but one cote of vile cloth and an hempen cord about his middle and so apparelled his Disciples teaching them to fulfill the perfection of the Gospell walke in pouertie and holy simplicitie this rule was confirmed by Pope Innocent Many Nobles and others in Rome builded manflons for him and his disciples he was likewise strâ—â—t to his flesh leauing clothes in winter he 〈◊〉 himselfe in Ice and snow he called pouerty his Lady he kept nothing ouer night he was so desirous of Martyrdome that he went to Siria to the Soldaâ— who receiued him honourably it is written that Christ and his Saints marked him with fiue wounds These Franciscans or begging Fâ—â—ers though they haue but one Rule they haue many Orders there by 101. seueral sorts of Friers and Nunnes which the reader if he be disposed may see in the booke at lâ—rge with their names Fol 70. Hildegardis a Nunne a Prophetesse liued in the yeare 1170. She reprehendeth grieuously the abhominations of the lâ—ues of the Spiritual Papists the contempt of their Office and destruction of Gods children with these words Now is the Law neglected amongst the Spirituall which neglâ—ct to Preach and to doe good things The masters and Prelates sleepe and neglâ—ct Iustice. The Church appeared to her in the shape of a 〈◊〉 her face 〈◊〉 with dirt and her 〈◊〉 rent complaining that the Priests did not shine ouer the people neither in Doctrine not example but contrary did driue the innocent lambe from them that Ecclesâ—asticall order grew worse and worse and Priests destroyed the law of God and did not teach it and prophâ—â—eth to them Gods heauie wrath and punishments She prophesieth likewise of the reformation of Religion and saith it shall be most godly saying Then shall the Crowne of the Apostolicall honour bee deuided because there shall be found no religion amongst them and the name of that dignity shall bée despised and they shall sâ—t ouer them other men and other Archbishops and the Apostolicall order shall haue scarce Rome and a â—ew other Countries thereabout vnder his Crownâ— and this shall be done partly be warâ—es and partly by a common consent of Spirituall and Seculer persons then Iustice shall florish and men shall honestly apply themselues to the
authority of thy word to be knit and made one in truth faith and stedfast hope in perfect charitie Amen ¶ Another Treatise of the said WILLIAM THORPE CHrist in Saint Matthew likeneth them that heare his word and kéepe it to a wise man that buildeth his house vppon a stone this house is mans Soule in which Christ desireth to dwâ—ll if it bee stablished in Christes liuing and teaching adorned with his faire Uertues and chiefly Charitie without â—edling of any â—rrour vppon none other ground none may make any building or house but vpon the teaching and liuing of Christ as Saint Paule teacheth to the Corinthians and to comfort these Saint Paul writeth to the people of Ephesus Now ye are not strangers guests nor comelings but Citizens and of the houshold of God builded vpon the foundation of the Apostles and Prophets in which foundation euery building that is builded it increasâ—th to a holy Temple This is the stable Stone Christ fast holding together two wals for through him â—he Father is pitious and mercifully ioyned and made one together to mankinde and through dread so offend God and feruent loue to please him men bee inseparably made one to God â—nd â—â—â—ended surely vnder his protection This stone Christ was figured by the square Stones of the Temple for wheresoeuer a square stone is laid it abideth stedfâ—st so Christ and euery faithfull member of his Church by example of him abideth â—â—ably in true Faith and in all heauenly vertues in all aduersities that they suffer in this valley of â—eares When these â—quared stones were laid in the wals and Pillars of Gods Temple no noyse or stroke of the workemen was heard this â—lence signifieth Christ and his faithfull members which haue béene are and euer shall bee meeke and patient in euery aduersâ—tie and no sound of grudgiâ—g perceiued in them This Stone and ground of all vertues proud beggers reproued Christ suffered it most méekely in his owne person to giue example of méekenesse to his faithfull followers This world is now so full of proud beggers called Priests but are farre from such as Christ approueth Priests â— For from the highest to the lowest they doe all to please the World and the Flesh since I had discretion all the Popes Cardinals Bishoppes and all the contagious flocke of the Priest-hoode haue increased damnably 〈◊〉 sinne to sinne â—â—oud Hereticks couetous Symoners desouled Adulterers abusing the Sacramâ—ntes especially the Sacrament of the Altar the highest Priests occupie vnlawfully Temporall Lordships for fauour and gaine they sell Benefices to vnworthy and vnable persons Their Somnâ—rs sell sinne suffering men and women so lye in diuerse vices The Priestes sell the Sacramentes full deare to the people and thus the Priest-hoode is blowne vp into pride and vaine-glory of their dignitie that they disdaine to follow Christ in meekenesse holinesse and busie Preaching of his worde and to take their liuing at the peoples hands as pure almes and if they Preach not to labour for their liuing And they inforce that all holy Scripture should bee expounded according to their manners Therefore all Kings and Rulers that knowe the trueth of this Testimony of Priesthoode and will not inforce themselues to withstand these enemies and Traitors of Christ and his Church all these striue with Antichrist against Iesus and they shall beare the indignation of God Almightie without end if in conuenient time they amend them not and repent doing due mourning and sorrow For through the presumptuousnesse and negligence of the Prelates wicked men are wrongfully named Hermits and haue leaue to defraude the poore and liue by their false winnings and begging in sloth and other vices and the copper nosed Prelates are suffered to liue in pride and hypocrisie and to defile themselues bodily and Ghostly Also by the sufferance of these Prelates there bee vaine brotherhoodes and Priesthoodes full of pride they are cause of much dissention and exercise themselues in eating and drinking vnmeasurably and out of time and they are of one cloathing and holde together and in all vnlawfull doings they are Partners medlers and Councellers Also Prelates admit Pardoners and strange beggers with flatterings to beguile the people against true beliefe and to increase diuerse vices in them and thus the viciousnesse of Prelates haue beene are and shall bée cause of Warres within this Realme and without and cause of Pestilence of men and murren of beastes and barrennesse of earth and all other mischiefes vntill the Lords and Commons able them with grace accordring to Gods will to redresse this foresaid Priesthood vnto the innocent â—eaching and liuing of Christ and his Apostles Therefore all that know the viciousnesse that now raigneth cursedly in these Priestes and in their learning let them pray for the health of his Church and abstaine from these indurate enemies of Christ and his people and from all their Sacraments which are fleshly and false Saint Ciprian and other great Doctors witnesse That not onely vitious Priests but they which fauour and consent to them shall perish with them as they perished that consented to Dathan and Abiram for nothing were more confusion to them then refusing their Sacraments which are most vnlawfull and none needs to â—eace to dye without taking any Sacrament of these Christs enemies since Christ himselfe will not faile to minister all healthfull Sacramentes to all them that are in true Faith Hope and Charitie But some madde fooles to eschewe slaunders will bee shrieued once a years of their propper Priest though they knowe him defouled with slaunderous vices no doubt these are culpable of great sinne since Saint Paule witnesseth that Not onely they that doe euill are worthy of damnation but they that consent to euill doers And the vicious Priestes despise and cast from them heauenly wisdome that is giuen of the Holy Ghost Therefore the Lord throweth such dispisers from him so that they doe no Priesthoode vnto â—im Therefore they that tooke or consent that any other should take any Sacrament of any sâ—ch Priest sinneth against the Trinitie and are vnable to any Sacrament of health And that this Sentence is â—rue and in the hope of the remission of all my sins trusting stedfastly in the mercie of God I offâ—â— to him my Soule and to proue that this is true I suffer méekely and gladly my wrâ—tched body to be tormented to his praise and the edification of the Church And I wretched caiâ—â—â—e shall now through the spirituall grace of God make him a pleasant Sacrifice with my most sinfull body I beseech all that reade or heare this my Testament that they iâ—deauour by all meanes to vnderstand truely and kéepe faithfully the commaundements of God and to pray deuoutly to â—he blessed Trinitie that I may haue grâ—ce and wisdome from aboue to ende my life for his cause in a true and liuâ—ly faith stedfast hope and perfect charitie A Handicrafts man dyed constantly in the opinion that it was not the
therefore there bee so fâ—w to learne the word of GOD to be Preachers because there is no gaines therein Chrysostome saith Parents care for the bodies of their Childrenâ— but not for their soules they desire their welfare in this world but they passe not what they shall suffer in another they will sore bewaile the hurt of their bodies but they reckon not much of the health of their soules they are moued for their pouerty but not for their sin hereby they shew that they begot the bodies but not their soules To returne to Priests there is now great abhominations in the Church Priests come into Christs fold not at his calling but to make themselues rich which is cause of many errors In the Booke of mourning the Prophet saith The enemy hath put his hand to all things he would for he hath seene a lawlesse people in the Sanctuary of which thou saidst they should not enter The enemy is Sathan for in what plenty is pride enuy wrath and couetousnesse and wherefore but because such are entred into the Temple which cannot kéepe the Law of God themselues nor teach others And Osea saith to them Because thou hast put away the knowledge of Gods will I haue put thee away from vsing Priest-hood to me The second question how hast thou ruled Gods flock committed to thy cure for the good of the sheep or for hire as a father or a wolfe whom hast thou turned from their cursed liuing by thy preaching and good example whom hast thou taught the law of God he that is ignorant the fatherlesse Children and thy flocke shall greeuously accuse thee that thou hast liued by their labour and done nothing therefore but let them go astray S. Barnard saith Priests be in place of Saints and they doe wickedly not being content with necessary wages but ouer-plus that the needy should liue by they wast in houses of pride and lechery beware thou shalt giue an account to the last farthing thinkest thou that thou shalt not be disalowed for nourishing young men idly taught as in a schoole to blaspheme God in all euill liuing for féeding of fat palfries of hounds and of haukes and of lecherous women Heare what is said of such they lead their daies in vanity and wealth and in a moment go downe to hell The third question what light hast thou shewed and what myrror hast thou béen vnto the people in thy liuing It is wonder to sée how the life of Priests is changed they be cloathed like Lords they speake as dishonestly as any Ribold or Harlet No Marchant more couetous for gaine they ride like Princes and all is of poore mens goods they be blinded with to much shining of riches they make houses as bigge as Churches superfluously abounding with all things they paint their Chambers with pictures and cloath their Images with Silkes of diuers colours but the poore for want of cloathing and with an empty womb cryeth at their doores and oftentimes the poore be robbed to cloath stockes and siones thou occupiest the place of Peter and the Apostles no otherwise then Iudas and Simon Magus as a candle newly quenched that stinketh ouer the house in stead of light and as smoake that blinds ones eyes in stead of fire they shall haue an hard iudgement because they haue misentred and harder because they haue misruled and the hardest because they haue cursedlie liued The second that shall make account for himselfe and others is Kings and other temporall rulers Hast thou entred thine office to profit the people to destroy sinne and further the truth or for worship and riches Some desire such estate to be rich aâ—d to oppresse such as they hate and to take bribes for sparing to punish sinne and make themselues partners of other sinnes and for bribes worke all things Many in high office thinke they are of higher kind of nature then others not knowing they are poore mens brethren and seruants for the good of the Common-wealth and that their glory is vanity Of whom the Prophet Osea saith They haue raigned but not by me so was Roboam when he answered the people My little finger is bigger then my Fathers Rib-bone my Father greeued you somewhat but I will adde more which made the people rebell and the kingdome neuer came wholy together again wherefore it is good for Rulers to take sober councell to eschew eare-rounders and to haue an eye of loue vnto the Commons for be they neuer so high they shall come before an higher Iudge to giue a reckoning The second question how hast thou ruled Hast thou not beene the harder to the poore for his pouerty nor fauored the rich for his riches what abuse is now amongst Officers if a rich man plead with a poore euery Officer is ready to further the rich man and the poore man shall haue so many delaies that though his right be neuer so good for default of spending hee shall be constrained to let his cause fall And I haue heard say of them that haue proued both Courts that the Court that is called most Spirituall is most cursed therefore it is truly said a guift out of the bosome subuerts right Iudgement but the words of Christ be to be feared As you iudge you shall be iudged The third question how hast thou liued Thou that punishest other for sinne must not sinne thy selfe else thou condemnest thy selfe in doing the thing thou damnest in others and when any standeth before him in Iudgement hee must take héede before what Iudge hee must stand himselfe but it is to be feared that it fareth with some as with the two false Priests that would haue put Susanna to death because shâ—e would not consent to their Lechery and of the most worthy to bee hanged damne the lesse worthy Socrates being demaunded why hee laughed saide Because I sée great Théeues lead a little Theese to hanging who is the greater Theefe he that taketh House and Land from one and his Heires or he that stealeth a Sheepe The third Bayly is euery Christian that shall reckon to God for the goods he hath had of him First how haue you entred heere to your goods if by extortion stealth vsury or deceit woe shall it be to you at this dreadfull day as S. Augustine saith if hee shall be in hell that hath not giuen of his goods well gotten what shall become of him that stealeth others goods desire of honour and feare of pouerty be the causes that maâ—e men liue by the rape of other mens goods the vengeance of this couetousnes is discribed by the pot in the sixt of Zachary wherein sat a woman named Impiety into which the Angell threw a waight of Lead and two women like Spirits with winges carryed it betwixt Heauen and Earth vnto the Land of Sinear as a pot with a wide mouth so Couetousnesse gapeth for riches and honour and as liquor in a pot profiteth not the pot but them that draw it out so
six women with the Lord of the place to be condemned for Hereticks because they said since Peter none was true Uicar of Christ but they onely which followed the pouerty of Christ. Hee condemned of heresie George the King of Boheme and depriued him made his whole stocke to be reiected and gaue his Kingdome to Mathias King of Panonia Pope Alexander the sixt succéeded him Hee receiued two thousand Florens for poisoning Gemen the Turkes brother at Rome Hee sent for help of the Turkes against the French King He was vngratefull to the Cardinals that chose him He commanded Marcinellus one of them to haue his hands and tongue cut off for speaking against his vices After sitting with his Cardinals and the rich Seâ—ators of Rome at dinner his man vnawares bringing a wrong Bottle vnto him he with his Cardinals about him were poisoned In his time the Angel which stood on the top of the Popes Church was beaten down with thunder which thing seemed to declare the ruine of the Pope-dome Pius the third succéeded Pope after him Iulius the second passing all other in iniquitie as he was going to warre he cast the keyes of S. Peter into the riuer Tybris saying being the keyes of Peter would not serue him to his purpose he would take himselfe to the sword of Paul By this Iulius partly with warre partly with cursings in seuen yeares 200000. Christians were destroyed he got many Citties out of Princes hands by bloudshed when he was made Pope he tooke an oath to haue a Councel within two yeares but breaking his Oath he was occupied in warres whervpon nine of his Cardinals departed from him and appointed a Councell at Pâ—sa they alledged the cause for that the Pope was forsworne and that they had diuers other crimes to accuse him of purposing to remooue him from his seate which hee had obtained through bribes and ambition Iulius commanded vnder great paine that none obeyed them the next yéere he called a Councell The French King seeing the Pope take part with the Uenetians against him called a Councell at Thurin in which Councell they agréed that the Pope ought not to war against any Prince without cause and that it was lawfull for the King to defend himselfe against him and that vniust excommunications were not to bée feared After the King sent to the Pope the decrées of the Councell who accursed the French King with all his Kingdome and the next yeare after this warlike Pope dyed The lamentable handling of RICHARD HVN who was priuily murdered in Lolards Tower in London HVN had a Child died in his house the Curate claiming the bearing-shéet for a Mortuarâ— Hun answered The Infant had no property therein whereupon he was cited to the Spirituall Court he sued the Curate in a Premunire and then the Priests of mallice accused him of heresie and brought him to Lolards Tower where he was found dead hanging by the necke in a girdle of silke The Bishop of London called Richard Fitziames and Doctor Horsey his Chancelor said â—e hanged himselfe and the Temporalty said he was murdered The Coronor summoned a Iury and viewed the body and many times they were with the Kings Councell and heard their opinions but in the mean season the Bishop burnt the dead carkase in Smithfield to the abhomination of the people but after the matter had beeâ—e heard by the Kings Iudges and after by the Kings Councell the King being present at lasâ— Doctor Horsey the Chancelor and one Charles the Bel-ringer of Pauls anâ— Ioseph the Bishops Somner were indicted of murder and the said Charles being in the Tower of London of his owne frée will said that Maister Chancelor deuised and wrote with his own hand all the heresies that were laid to Huns charge and that when Richard Hunne was slaine Iohn Bell-ringer bare vp a Waxe Candle and I went next to him and Maister Chancelor came vp last and Hunne was lying in his bed and Maister Chancelor said Lay hands on the Theefe and so all we murdered him and I put the girdle about his necke and Iohn Bell-ringer and I did heaue him vp and maister Chancelor pulled the girdle ouer the staple and so Hun was hanged The said Charles told Iulian Little his maid he killed him by putting a Wyer vp into his nose Before that time the Chanceller commaunded to be put vpon Huns necke a great coller of Iron with a great Chaine which is to heauy for any man or beast to weare and long to endure And before Huns death the Chanceller came into the Lolards Tower and kneeled downe before Hunne holding vp his hands and asked him forgiuenesse of all he had done and must doe to him And on the Sonday before the night in which he was destroyed he caused the Penitentiary of Paules to go to Hun and say a Gospell and make for him Holy Water and Holy bread and giue him which was done The Bishop did all he could by word or writing to the King and Cardinals and the Councell to smother the matter affirming that he hanged himselfe and that the Iury was forsworne and that the said Charles spoke that which he had done as before by reason of durance of imprisonment and that if the King and Councel should fauour this matter he should not be able to goe abroad for Heretickes and by the meanes of him and the spiritualty and money the Chancelor caused the Kinges Atturney to confesse on his arraignement him not to be guilty so he escaped to Excester and for shame neuer durst after come to London The Historie of Doctor VVESALIANVS THis Wesalia was complained vpon to Piorherus Archbishop of Mentz by the Thomists which is an Order holding of Thomas de Aquino The Bishop made him answer he should giue vp all his workes and writings which he had made and preached This being done they deuided them amongst themselues that euery man might finde out what errours and heresies they could His Articles and opinions were these That all men be saued fréely and through méere grace by faith in Christ Iesus frée-will to be nothing only that we should beléeue the word of God and not the glosse of any man or fathers that the word of God is to be expounded by the collation of one place with another that Prelats haue no authoritie to make lawes or expound the Scriptures by any peculiar right more then another that mens traditions as Fastings Feasts long prayers Pilgrimations and such like are to be reiected Extream vnction and confirmation to be reproued confession and satisfaction to be reprehended the primacy of the Pope he also affirmed to be nothing Upon which Articles this Wesalia by a generall assembly was condemned and his books to be burned He bring required of the Councell what he thought of the Uicar of Christ in earth He said he beléeued that Christ left no such Uicar in earth for ascending into heauen hee said Behold I am with you c. By
communed with him and was afraid to goe home the King deliuered him his Signet for a Token to deliâ—er to the Cardinall that he should not trouble him The Cardinall answered Though this discharged him yet he had no discharge for his Wife and sent for her and had troubled her if herâ—Daughter had not béene sicke of the plague of which sicknesse the said Fish within halfe a yeare after dyed and she marryed one Baynham which after was martyred as followeth in this Story To preuent the spreading abroad of this Libell there was a prohibition sent out â—y the Bishop of London for calling in this the New Testament and diuers other Books translated into English the names whereof because they are many I omit and leaue you to the booke at large King Henry about the twentith yeare of his raigne made an Oration vnto his Commons that though it had pleased God to send him a faire Daughter of a Noble woman and of him begotten to our great comfort and ioy yet it hath beene told vs by diuers great Clarks that neither she is Our lawfull Daughter nor her Mother Our lawfull wife but that we liue together abhominably in open adultery and when our Ambassadors were last in Fraunce motion was made that the Duke of Orleans should marry our said Daughter One of the chiefe Councellors said it were well done to know whether she be his lawfull Daughter or no because hee begat her on his brothers Wife which is directly against Gods Law Thinke you my Lords that these words touch not my body and soule and that it doth not daily and hourely trouble my Conscience I doubt not but euery one of you would seek remedy when the perill of your soule and losse of your inheritance is laid vnto you For this cause I haue asked Councell of the greatest Clarkes in Christeâ—dome and for this cause I haue sent for this Legate as a man indifferent to know the truth and settle my conscience and if the Queene be adiudged by the Lawe to bee my lawfull Wife it would be the most acceptable thing in my life both to cleere my conscience and for the good qualities which I know to bee in her besides her Noble parentage as almost this twenty yéeres I haue tried so that if I went to mary againe the mariage lawfull I would choose her before all women if the marriage proue vnlawfull I shall sorrow the departing from so good a Lady and louing a companion but much more lament that I haue so long liued in Adultery and haue no true heyre of my body to inherit this Realme Therefore I require you to make our minde knowne to our Subiects that they may pray for vs. The Quéene hearing thereof answered it was a great maruell that they would make question of this now after they had béene married twenty yeares and no question in the meane time and that all the learned at the time of the marriage did conclude it was lawfull and that both their fathers being so wise did not foresee it if there had béene any such doubt and the King my father sent to Rome and with great costs obtained a dispensation that I beeing one brothers wife procarâ—ally knowne might without scruple of conscience marry with the other brother lawfully which licence vnder lead I haue yet to shewe but I may thanke you my Lord Cardinall onely for this trouble this is of malice because I haue wonâ—red at your high pride and abhorred your voluptuous liuing and little regarded your tâ—ranny and for the malice you beare to my Nephew the Emperour because he would not make you Pope by force and the Quéene appealed to the Pope The King to try out the matter sent first to the Pope then to most part of alâ— Uniuersâ—ties first the Pope sent his two Legats Wolsey and Campeius to hearâ— and decide the Case they cited the King and Quéene personally to appeare or else by Proctors at the day the Legats with their crosses axes and pillers were set the King was ready to heare the determination requiring to haue an end notwithstanding from month to month they detracted the matter vntill August the King not taking it well to bee so vsed sent the Dukes of Northfolke and Suffolke vnto the Legats requiring them to hasten an end and to deferre no longer it is the manner of Rome about the beginning of August during the Dogge dayes to haue a solemne vacation in which neither Schooles bee vsed nor any Terme kept Cardinall Campeius pretending the order of Rome whereof he was a member answered hee neither could nor would goe against the ordinance thereof and before October he would procéed no further in the cause tâ—e Dukes séeing their pretended excuses and that by no wayes they would be intreated burst out in open defiance the Duke of Suffolke clapping his hands on the table sware by the Masse there neuer came Legate or Cardinall from Rome to doe good in England so in anger they departed from the Cardinall the King for quietnesse was content to tarryâ— vntill October but before October came Campeius was called home by letters frâ—m the Pope so the matter was left vndiscussed the King seeing himselfe thus deluded sent againe to Pope Clement desiring to hâ—ue an answere of the cause the Popâ— would take a pause and after send him word Twelue Uniuersities agreed in one consent that the mariage was vnlawfull and repugnant to the word of God and that no man is able to dispence with it but nothing was heard of from Rome wherefore the King assembling his Parliament sent the Lord Chancellour with twelue of the vpper house to notiâ—â—e the determinations of the Colleages as afore said vnto the lower house And the same yearâ— the King sent out a Proclamation for the abollishing of the Pope and establishing of the Kings Supremacy and hee brake off with the Cardinall and caused him to be attainted in Premuâ—ire and to bee apprehended and the Clergy maintaining thâ— power Legatiue of the Cardinall incurred the like premunire wherefore the Spirituall Lords were called by processe into the Kings Bench to answere but beforâ— the day of appearence they submitted themselues to the King offered him an hundred thousand pounds to pardon them by Act of Parliament and offered him the Title of Supreme head of the Church of England which they would neuer confesse beâ—ore whereby the Pope by the prouâ—dence of God lost his whole Iurisâ—iction anâ— Supremacy in England Patricke Hamelton a Scottish man hee was of the Kings bloud and family beeiâ—â— of the most ancient and Noble stocke and name in Scotland was of the Uniuersity of Marpurge in Germany he openly procéeding so intreated and iudged of matters of the Church with such praise as passed the expectation of his age that he made the common people and learned to admire him Francis Lambert in his Preface Dâ—â—icatory maketh mention of him then he tooke a companion with him and retâ—â—ned home
for that being besides his wits by chance he came into a Church where a Priest was saying masse and was come to the holding vp and shewing the Sacrament Collins in like manner took vp a little Dogge holding it ouer his head shewing him vnto the people wherefore hee was condemned and burned and the Dogge with him LEYTON and PVTTEDVE LEyton was a Monke of Aye in Suffolke and was burned at Norwich for speaking against a certaine Idoll which they of Aye were wont to carry about in processions and for affirming both kindes in the Sacrament and Puttedue comming into a Church merily taunted the Priest that after he had drunke vp all the wine alone he blessed the hungry people with the empty Chalice wherefore hee was condemned and burned Cowbridge THis Cowbridge came of a good stocke his auncestors euen from Wickliffes time hetherto had been alwaies fauourers of the Gospell and addicted to the setting sorth thereof in English Hee was borne in Colchester his Father was head Bayly thereof hee was burned at Oxenford for affirming that euery poore Priest being neuer so poore and needy being of a good conâ—ersation hath as great power and authoritie in the Church of God and ministration of the Sacraments as the Pope or any other Bishops they almoststerued him whilst hee was in prison in Bocardo and a little before his examination they promised him meate if at his execution he would say such things as they would minister vnto him which he promised to do whereupon he was well cherished and recouered some part of his sense When he was come to execution contrary to their expectation often times calling vpon the Name of the Lord Iesuâ— with great quietnesse and méeknesse he yéelded his spirit into the hanâ—s of the Lord. This yeare one Peter a Germaine and another with him constantly indured death by the fire at Colchester for the Lords Supper Fryer Forrest hanged for Papistry HE was an obseruant Fryer and had secretly in confessiâ—ns declared to certaine of the Kings Subiects in confessions that the King was not supreame head of the Church and being examined how he could say the King was not supreme head being sworne to the contrary he answered he took his oath with his outward man and his inward man neuer consented thereto he was further accused of diuers damnable Articles conuicted after he was hanged in Smithfâ—eld aliue in chaines by the arme-holes and middle and fire made vnder him and so he was consumed to death There was a scaffold prepared for the Priuy Cauncell and the Nobles to sit on to graunt him pardon if he repented there was also a Pulpit where Mâ—ster Hugh Latimer Bishop of Worcester declared his errours and conâ—uted them by Scripture with many exhortations to repent but he would neither heare nor speak A little before the execution a great Image was brought out of Wales to the gallows which was called Daruell Gatheren whom the Welch-men much worshipped and had a prophesie amongst them That this Image should set a whole Forest on fire which took effect for he set this Forest on fire consumed him to nothing When the Frier saw the fire comming vnto him he took hold on the ladder and would not let it goe but died so vnpatiently as neuer did any that put his trust in God Certaine Iniunctions giuen out in the thirtieth yeare of King HENRIES raigne AGainst printing and bringing from beyond Sea any books and offering to sell them without acquainting the King or some of his Councell first vpon paine of forfeyting their goods and chattels and their bodies to be imprisoned at the Kings pleasure That there shall none argue about the Sacrament of the Altar vpon paine of death and loosing their goods except it be the learned in Diuinity in their schooles and appoyâ—ted places for such matters And that holy bread holy water and procession creeping to the Crosse setting vp of lights before the Corpus Christi bearing of candles on Candlemas day Puriâ—â—cation of women deliuered with childe offâ—ring of Chrisomes kéeping of the foure offering dayes paying their Tithes these to be obserued vntill the King doe abrogate any of them Married Priests to be counted Laymen and loose their Spirituall promotion That all Cleargy men should diligently in their cures preach and teach the people the glory of God and the truth of his word declaring the difference betwixt the things that God commands and the rightes and ceremonies then vsed least the people thereby grow into further superstition And that Thomas Becket was a trayâ—or and not a saint his Images to be plucked downe in euery place and his holy dayes not to bee kept and that the Anthiphens Collects and prayers to him be not read but raced out of the bookes Launcelot Iohn a Painter Gyles Germaine Iohn Painter and Gyles Germaine were accused of Heresie and whilst they were 〈◊〉 examination at London before the Bishoppe and other Iudges by chance there came one of the Kings guarde one Launcelot a tall man and of as goodly a mind hee standing by séemed by his gesture to fauour the cause and the poore men whereuppon he was apprâ—hended examined and condemned with them and the next day at â—â—ue of the clocke in the morning was burned in St. Giles in the fields Sir Iohn Bortrucke a Scotish Knight his confutation of certaine Arcicles vpon which hee was condemned by the Cardinall and most of the Nobles and chiefe of Scotland FIrst touching the Popes Supremacy these holy ones magnisse their Lord as common theâ—ues preâ—erre their Captaines calling them euery where most honest men for it is euident that none in the whole world is giuen to more ryot noâ— séeketh more gréedily to all kind of delicates and wantonnesse and aboundeth with al vices as treason murther rapine and all kind of such euills as He. And where they affirme him to bee Christ Uicar on earth it shall appeare that he cannot exercise more power then other Bishops for whereas they say Peter had power ouer the Apostâ—es and consequently ouer the whole Church the which power succéeds to the Bishop of Rome but by the Scriptures wee may easily sée how 〈◊〉 they lie in the Councell in the 15. of the Acts Peter heard them speake theiâ— minds receaued their Iudgment and followed their decree is this to haue powâ—r ouer others and in his first Epistle writting to the Bishops and Pasâ—ors he saith â— beséech the Bishops and Pastors which are amongst you for so much as I my selfe 〈◊〉 also a Bishop and witnesse of the afflitions of Christ partaker of the glory which shall be reuealed that they diligently feed the flocke committed vnto them why then doe they challenge the authority of S. Peter which he neuer acknowledged in himselfe I doubt not but it Peter were here he would rebuke their madnes as Moses did Iosua which was so zealous towards him And in the eight of the Acts he is
to be troubled with externe decrées and outward Elements And by the 23. of Mathew The Scribes and Pharises sit in Moses Chaire whatsoeuer they command to obserue keep but do not after their doings Christ taught his Disciples that he saw nothing in the doing of the Scribes and Pharises to be followed yet they should not refuse to do those things which they did teach by the word but not what they taught of their owne head Being accused for hauing the New Testament and other Books of heresie he called them blasphemers and Romish Swine and their stomacks rankered and tongues most venomous which durst note the New Testament of heresie as they were the greatest murderers that murdered Christ so these men filled the measure of all other Heretickes and blasphemies how shall these Serpents and sâ—â—cke of Uipers escape the iudgement of eternall fire And being accused that he was so obstinate that none of his friends could perswade him he said he knew not why he should call them friends which so greatly laboured to conuert him nor will more estéeme of them then of the Madianits which called the Children of Israell to do sacrifices to their Idols Then they condemned him for an Hereticke and his goods to be forfeited and because they could not apprâ—hend him they made a picture of him and burned it cursed euery one that should shew any intertainment fauour or helpe towards him and their goods likewise to be confiscated The sixe Articles agreed vpon in the Parliament-house 1 THe blessed Sacrament of the Altar by the efficacy of Christs words being spoken by the Priest is present really vnder the forme of Bread and Wine the naturall body and blood of Christ conceiued of the Uirgine Mary and that there remaineth no substance of bread and wine but onely the substance of Christ God and Man 2 Secondly that the Communion in both kinds are not necessary ad salutem vnto all persons and it is to be beléeued that in the flesh vnder forme of Bread is the very blood and with the blood vnder forme of wine is the very flesh aswell apart as both together 3 That Priests after orders may not marry by the Law of God 4 That vowes of Chastity or widdowhood by man or woman made to God aduisedly ought to bee obserued by the Law of God and that it exempteth them from other liberties of Christian people which without that they might enioy 5 That it is méete that priuate masses be continued as whereby good people ordering themselues accordingly doe receiue both godly and goodly consolations and benefits and it is agréeable to Gods Law 6 That auriculer confession is necessary to be retained and vsed in the Church of God Then they caused it to be enacted that if any the Kings Subiects after the 12. of Iuly next comming by word writing or any otherwise preach argue or hâ—ld any opinion against the reall presence as aforesaid or against the Sacrament vnder one kind as aforesaid they and their assistants to be condemned for hereticks and to be burned without any abiuration and Clergy of Sanctuary to be allowed them and all their goods and lands forfeited vnto the King as in case of high treaso The like offence against any of the other Articles to be fellony The History of THOMAS CROMVVELL Earle of Essex THomas Cromwell became the most secret and deare Councelor vnto the King after he was made Earle of Essex He alone through the singular dextâ—ritie of his wit and Councell brought to passe that which no Prince or King throughout all Europe dare or can bring to passe For whereas Brittany was most superstitious of all Nations he brake off and repressed all the poliâ—ies and malice of the Frâ—ers Monâ—es and Religions and subuerted there houses throughout all the Realme and brought the Arch-bishops and Bishops yea Cranmer and the Bishop of Winchester to an Order though he were the Kings chiefe Councelor preuenting thâ—ir enterprises and complaints specially in those things which tended to the decay of good men which fauoured the Gospell vnto whom Cromwell was euer a shield against the pestiferous enterprises of Winchester betwéenâ— whom there was continuall emulation both being great with the King one much feared th' other beloued but Winchester séemed such a man to be borne onely for the destruction of the good and Cromwell by thy Diuine prouidence appointed a help to preserue many it were to tedious to declare how many good men through this mans help haue béen reléeued whereof a great nâ—mber beeing depriued of their patron by his fall perished and many yet aliue which are witnes of these things Iehu the sharpe punisher of superstitious Idolatry was not much vnlike this man For this purpose this man seemed to be raised vp of God to subuert the dens of sloth and idlenes where if they had remained the Pope could not be excluded out of England for there was an incredible number of Monasteriâ—s in England There riches and possessions were so great that they vpbraided euen vnto Kings and Noâ—les beggery and there houses were no lesse sumptuous which for the most part were plucked down to the ground and their reuenues and substance the King partly conuerted vnto his own Coffers and partly distributed amongst his Nobilitie but many reprâ—hend the subuersion of these Abbies say they might haue béen conuerted to other good vses which indéed would haue béen good and godly if in this Kingdome there should bee continually a succession of good Princes but if it should happen to be a King of a contrarie Religion it would haue been otherwise as we may see by the example of Quéene Mary If the Monasteries had been left standing vntill her superstitious daies they should haue been restored againe and filled with Monkes and Fryers For if the goods and possessions of the religious being in the hands of the Dukes and Nobility could scarce withstand the Quéenes power how should the meaner sort haue retained them Wherefore no doubt Gods great prouidence did fâ—resée these things in this man Wherevpon as often as he sent any man to suppresse any Monastery hee would charge them that they should subuert their houses from there foundation When the Pope was abolishâ—d out of England and that there was diuers tumults about Religion and it séemed good to the King to appoint a Conuoâ—ation to which Cromwell came and found all the Bishopâ— attending his comming and all did obeysance vnto him as to their Uicar generall and he saluted them euery one in their degrée and sate downe in the highest place Then Cromwell in the name of the King spake words to this effect The King thankes you â—o your diligence the cause why he hath willed you to assemble is that you should estabâ—sh certaine controuersies touching the state of Faith and Christian Religion which are now in controuersiâ— not onely in this Realme but also amongst all other Nations of the world for he willeth not that there
martyrdom We will passe ouer the Priest which was hanged in the Porters lodge of Gardener Bishop of Winchester and one Henrie his seruant burnt at Colchester and one Kerby a Taylor burnt at London because we haue no certainty of the time Doctor London Prebend of Windsor and one William Simonds which were the accusers of the foresaid fiue of Windsor they went about to trouble foure Gentlemen of the Kings priuie Chamber that they forced theÌ„ to plead their cause in open Court they declared to the King what danger they were in wherupon they themselues were called in question being conuicted of manifest periurie they were adiudged to weare papers signifying their periuries in the open market of Windsor then they were cast in prison at London where the said Doctor London died About this time was one Rogers a Lay-man of Northfolk burned by the Duke of Northfolke for the true affirmation of the Sacrament halfe a yeare after the Duke lost his eldest sonne and himselfe was committed to prison who then acknowledging his errour became more méeke to such kind of men Iohn Athee was indicted for saying He would not beleeue that which the knaue Priest made and Longs wife sold meaning the Host. And when it was told him God could make it flesh and bloud he said He might put into it a Chicks legge This yeare Iohn Heywood was attached for treason for denying the Kings supremacy but he recanted and confessed to the people that the Pope had no more authority then other Bishops and that the King was supreame head by the Law of God The destruction of Merindall and Cabriers IN the yeare 1218. as is aforesaid God raised vp one Waldo a rich Merchant of Lyons in France which hauing attained perfect knowledge by the word of God discouered the naughtines of the Ecclesiastical Ministers many ioyned themselues vnto them which were called Waldenses and being by persecution dispersed into diâ—ers Countries there were two towns remaining of their Religion in France to wit Merindall and Gabriers Certaine of the cheefe of Merindall were commanded to appeare at the Parliament of Prouence they would haue retained Aduocates to answere for them who told them it was not lawfull for them to giue councell to them because they were but Lutherans but one told them secretly That they should not appeare before the said Court except they were fully determined to be burned by a little fire made of Chaffe without any further iudgement for the Court had already determined the matter against them whereupon and because they had séene many good men serued so hauing no other cause of condemnation but that they were reported to be Lutherans for these causes they did not appeare at the day appointed wherevpon the Parliament gaue out an arrest whereby not onely they of Merindal that were appointed to appeare were condemned to be burned as attainted of heresie and high Treason and their goods confiscate vnto the King but also all the inhabitants of Merindall wherein was fourescore houses to be burned men women and children the towne to be rased and the trées cut vp 500. paces round about A little after there was a great banquet at Ayx at which was the president Cassane and many Counsellors and Nobles and the Archbishop of Arles and the Bishop of Aiâ— with their Ladies and Gentlewomen One that was the Bishop of Aixis Concubine said My Lord president will you not execute the arrest that is giuen out against the Lutherans of Merindall And she recited the manner of it forgetting nothing the Lord Alenson said Gentlewoman you haue learned this of them that would haue it so or else it was giuen out by a Parliament of women Then the L. of Senas said it is true you do not well to call the parliament a Parliament of women he answered he did not beléeue it for it is a thing that the â—ueliest tyrants of the world would iudge most inhumane detestable many of Merindal which séem to me to be very honest men theÌ„ the gentlâ—woman lifting vp her eyes with a great chafe said O that it pleased God that all Lutherans had hornes growing on their foreheads Then said my Lord Bewieu I would all Priests harlots chattered like Pies she said My L. you ought not to spâ—ak against our holy mother the Church for there was neuer any dogge that barâ—ed against the crosse but he waxed mad the Bishop of Aix laughed and clapt her on the back saying By my holy orders my minion you haue don me great pleasure remember me the lesson she hath taught you The Lord answered I will not learn of her nor of thée neither honesty nor honour for the most part of the Bishops and Priests are Adulterers Deceiuers Theeues Seducers I should not speake against the holy Church but I speake against a flocke of Wolues Dogges and abominable Swine Then said the Archbishop My L. you must giue account of these words in time and place he answered I would it were now for I wil be bound to proue more naughtines in Priests then I haue spoken When Christ called the Priests deceiuing Hypocrits blinde Seducers and robbers did he them any wrong They answered no for the most part of them were so Then said my Lord Bewieu Euen so is it with the Bishops and Priests for they are such kinde of men and worse Then he said Aâ—ant thou Herodias thou vnshamefac't and dishonest harlot is it thy part to speak in this coÌ„pany thou shouldst not desire the innocent bloud to be shed then she sayd if I were a man I would offer you combat to proue that I desire not to shed innocent bloud do you call the bloud of these wicked men of Merendoll innocent bloud I do desire and offer with my whoâ—e power that such as they should bee destroyed from the greatest to the least and to sée the beginning of this worke I haue not beene wanting to imploy all my credit and frienâ—â— and doe not spare neither body nor goods to make the vtter ruine and destruction of them and to deface their memory from amongst men I had rather méet ten diâ—els then one Lutheran After the Bishops and Clergy met againe to consult about the executing of the sayd Arest and they had a banket at the Bishops house of Ruda to this banket the â—ayrest and best Ladies of Aâ—inion were inuited to solace these good Prelates after they had dined danced and vsed their pastime they walked vntill supper and as they passed the stréets leading euery one a Gentlewoman vpon his arme they saw a man that sould dishonest Images to stirre vp the people to whoredome and knauery and all these pictures the Bishops bought which were as many as a Mule could carry a little further a Booke-binder had set out Bibles of lattin and french to seâ—l then the Bishops sayd who hath made thée so hardy to set forth these Marchandise to sell dost not thou know these Bookes
then he was commaunded to answere Intergatories by signes and when any question was asked he strook vpon the Table so that he might be heard then he was demaunded whether he was any that were buried there then they reckoned vp diuers and at last the Mayors wife here he made a signe that he was the spirit of that woman then he was asked whether he was damned for Couetousnesse Pride Lecherie or not doing workes of Charitie or else for Lutheranisme then by striking twise or thrise vpon the Table gaue them to vnderstand that Luthers heresie was the cause of her damnation and being asked whether the bodie buried in holy ground should be digged vp and carried â—hence he made signes it should be so then the Friers desired the Citizens to set their handes to a writing testifying that which they had séene but for feare of the Mayor they refused to subscribe then the Friers took the Pixe with the Host and the Lords body and all the reliques of Saints and carried them to another place and there they said their masses then the officiall came thither and would faine haue seene the spirit coniured and one should go into the vault and sée if any spirit appeared but he could not get them to disturb the spirit any more â— Then the Mayor informed the King of the whole matter and the King sent certaine to know whether it were so or no then they put the dâ—ers thereof into seuerall Prisons and examined them apart and a great while they would confesse nothing at length the Iudges promising the nouice that he should haue no harme nor come no more into the Fryers hands he declared to them the whole matter in order wherupon they were committed to Orleance to prison And it was certainly reported that the King would haue plucked down the House but euen at the same time chanced a persecution against the Lutherans and they feared the punishment of these men should haue bin a reproch vnto the Order and a cause of much reioycing to the Lutherans These were Francisâ—an Fryers A Storie of certaine Monks of Sueuia GVnrame a noble Baron in the yeare 1130. builded an Abbey in Sueuia called Salmesuille of Cistercian Monks Amongst many Benefactors to the said House the Earles of Montfort had bestowed vpon that Monasterie many new Liberties and Priuiledges vpon condition that they should receiue with frée hospitalitie any stranger Horse-man or Foot-man for one night but this hospitalitie did not long continue through a subtile deuise of one of the Monks who would counterfeit the Diuell ratling and raging in chaynes at the lodgings where the strangers should lie and so continued this a long space At length an Earle of the house of Montfort was lodged at the Monasterie when the Earle was at his rest in the night the Monke after his wonted manner began to play the Diuell roring thundering spitting of fire and making a noyse the Earle hearing thereof tooke a good heart and taking his sword slew the Monk And thus the Diuell of the Abbey was coniured which stopped the guests from comming to the House Who lift to see more and worse pranks of Friers and Monks played in their Houses Cloysters let them resort to the Epistle of Erasmus and he shall find ynough to infect the aire IOHN BROVVNE a blessed Martyr burned at Ashford in the second yeare of Henrie the eighth Anno 1511. THe said Iohn Browne passing to Graues-end in a Barge a Priest began to swell and stomack that he should sit so neere him at length said Doest thou know who I am thou fittest so neere me and vpon my clothes No sir said the other I tell you said he I am a Priest What sir are you a Parson or Uicar or some Ladies Chaplain No said he I sing for a Soule I pray you said the other where find you the Soule when you go to Masse I cannot tel said he I pray where do you leaue it when you haue done Masse I know not said the Priest How then said the other can you saue the Soule I perceiue thou art an Heretick said the Priest Within three daies after by vertue of a Warrant â—rom the Archbishop with a Baylife and two of the Bishops men they came suddenly into the house of the said Browne as he was carrying a dish of meat to his guests for his wife was that day Churched they layd hands on him and carried him to Canterburie where they kept him fortie dayes in which time he was so pitifully entreated by Warram the Archbishop and Fisher Bishop of Rochester that he was set bare-footed vpon hote burning coales to make him denie his Faith which he bare patiently and continued in maintaining the Lords quarrell vnremoueable then he was sent to Ashford where he dwelt the next day to be burned where he was set in the Stocks all night his wife sate all the while by him to whom he declared the whole Tragedie of his handling how they burned his â—eâ—t to the bones that he could not set them to the ground to make him denie his Lord here which if I should haue done he would denie me hereafter therefore good wife continue as thou hast begun and bring vp thy children in the feare of God where the next day he was burned This Iohn Browne bare a Faggot seuen yeares before this whose sonnâ— named Richard Browne for the like cause of Religion was imprisoned at Canterburie in the later time of Queene Marie and should haue beene burned with two more but the next day after Queene Marie died and they escaped by the Proclamation of Queenâ— Elizabeth THE NINTH BOOKE CONtayning the Acts and things done in the Raigne of King EDVVARD the sixt AFter the death of Henrie the eight succeeded King Edward the sixt his sonne being of the age of nine yeares Touching his commendations I leaue you to the Booke at large who because he was so young and tender was committed to sixtéene Gouernours amongst whome especially the Lord Edward Semer Duke of Somerset his vncle was assigned as Protector of him and the Commonwealth a man of noble vertues especially for his fauour to Gods 〈◊〉 throâ—gh the industrie of whom that monstrous Hydra with sixe heads the 〈◊〉 Articles which deuoured so many were abolished whereby the proceedings of Gardner began to decay who storming thereat wrote to the Lord Protector in the cause thereof He restored the Scriptures to the Mother tongue and extinguished Masses and by little and little greater things followed in the reformation of Churches such as fled for the danger of the Truth were againe receiued to their Countrey the most part of Bishops were changed dumbe Prâ—lates were compelled to giue place to such as would Preach and learned men were sent for out of other Countries as Peter Martyr Martin Bucer Paulus Phagius the first of whom taught at Oxford and the other two at Cambridge with great commendations Bonner Bishop of London was committed to the Marshalsie
the same and there ended The principall doers thereof were William Ombler Thomas Dale with one Steuenson They intended to stirre in two places at one instant seuen miles from the other and at the first rush to destroy such Gentlemen and men of substance as fauoured the Kings proceedings and to set the Beacons on fire to bring the people together and hauing the ignorant people assembled then to poure out their poyson beginning with such as they thought were pinched with pouerty and vnwilling to labour therefore the more readie to follow the spoyle of rich mens goods blowing in their eares that Gods seruice was now quite laide aside and new inuentions neither good nor godly put in their stead feeding them with faire promises to reduce into the Church againe their olde ignorance and abominable Idolatrie Putting this practise in execution they took one M. White and one Clopton and one Sauage a Marchant of Yorke and one Bery and cruelly murdred them and tookâ— away all that was about them then they ranged from Towne to Town and inlarged their â—and leauing in no towne any men aboue the age of 16. yeares vntill they had gathered about 3000. Then came the Kingâ— pardon to them which Ombler conâ—umelioâ—sly refused and perswaded others so to dâ—e and some excepted thereof but shortly after Ombler as he was riding from towne to towne to charge all the Constables and Inhabitants in the Kings Namo to resort to Humumby hee was taken and imprisoned at â—orke After him Thomas Dale and Henry Barton Iohn Dale Robert Wright William Peacocke Wetherell and Edmund Buttry busie stirrers in this sedition as they trauelled from place to place to draw people vnto their faction were likewise apprehended and committed to Ward and after executed at Yorke The King of France bearing of the Insurrections of the Kings Subiects in diuers places supposing to take the time he made inuasion against the Iles of Iersey and Gernesey and thought to haue surprised the Kings Ships in the said Iles with his shippâ—s and Gallies but he was so hotly saluted with the Kings Ships in the Iland that the French-men lost at least a thousand men and their Shippes and Gallies were so spoyled as they were forced to returne home and not able to come out againe and they brought into one Towne in one vessell at least sixty Gentlemen to be burned and the King gaue out a speciall inhibition that none should speake of the successe of that iourney so the arme of God mercifully fought for King Edward his Seruant to defend and deliuer him from so many hard dangers all in one yeare which is worthy of all posterity to be noted The examination of Bonner THE King sent forth his Commission vnder his broad Seale to the Byshop of Canterbury and the Bishoppe of Rochester and other trusty personages and Councelors appointing and authorising them to examinine the Bishoppe of London and to procéed against him according to law and Iustice either to suspention excommunication committing to prison or depriuation if the qualitie of the offence so required At Bonners first entring into the place within the Arch-bishops house at Lambeth where the Arch-bishop and the other Commissioners sat to be examined hée kept his hat on his head making as though he saw them not vntill one bad him reuerence the Commissioners then laughingly he said What my Lords are you there by my troth I saw you not No said the Archbishop you would not sée well quoth he you sent for me haue you any thing to say to me Yea said the Commissioners we haue authority to call you to account for your Sermon you made lately at Pauls Crosse because you did not preach to the people the Articles you were commanded to preach vpon Then said Bonner In good Faith my Lord I would one thing were had in meâ—ereuerence then it is What is that said the Archbishop The blessed Masse quoth he you haue written well of the Sacrament I maruell you doe no more honour it The Arch-bishoppe said If you thinke I haue wrote well of it it is because you vnderstand it not Bonner said I thinke I vnderstand it better then you that wrote it The Archbishop replyed he would easily make a Childe of ten yeares old vnderstand therein as much as you And when they had called forth Maister Latimer and Iohn Hooper Preachers to propound such matter as they had to say against him he hearing them speake fell to scorning and taunting them calling one Goose and the other Woodcocke and denying their accusation to be true Whereupon the Arch-Byshop asked him whether hee would credit the people there present and because many of them that were there were at his Sermon The Arch-Bishoppe stood vp and read the Article of the Kinges authority during his young age saying vnto them How say you my Maisters did my Lord of London preach this Article they answered No no Then Bonner deridingly said Will you beléeue this fond people Then was shewed forth a â—ill of Complaint exhibited vnto the King by the said Maister Latimer and Iohn Hooper which was read Then Bonner prayed that the Bill of Complaint should be deliuered vnto him which when he had pervsed he said it was so generall as hee could not directly answere vnto it The Arch-bishop said the speciall cause was because he had transgressed the Kinges commaundement in not setting forth in his last Sermon at Paules Crosse the Kinges Hignesse Royall power in his minority and for the proofe thereof hee called Maister LATIMER and IOHN HOOPER to whom BONNER saide As for this Merchant Latimer I haue wincked at his euill doings a great while but I haue â—ore to say to him héereafter But as touching this Merchant Hooper I haue not séene him before howbeit I haue heard much of his naughtie preaching Then he said Ah my Lord now I sée the cause of my trouble is not for the matter you pretend but because I did preach in my late Sermon the true presence of the most blessed body and blood of our Sauiour Iesus Christ to bée in the Sacrament of the Altar And as for these my accusers they are notorious euill persons and notable Hereticks and Seducers especially touching the Sacrament of the Altar and most of all this Hooper for whereas I preached that after consecration of the Sacrament there is the selfe same body and blood of Christ in substance that was hanged vpon the Crosse hee in the afternoone hauing a great rabblement with him of his damnable Sect did preach to the people erroniouslie against it and vntruely expounded my wordes for whereas I said the same substance that was hanged vpon the Crosse hee like an Asse as he is an Asse indéede turned the word That into As saying That I said as it hanged vpon the Crosse Then the Arch-Bishoppe demaunded of him whether Christ were in the Sacrament Face Nose Mouth Eyes Armes and Lips with other lineaments of the bodie whereat Bonner shooke
life is the gift of God The historie of VVILLIAM GARDNER an Englishman who constantly suffered in Portingall for the Truth HEe was borne at Bristow and gaue himselfe vnto the trade of Merchandise he was sent into Spaine by Master Paget being sixe and twenty yeares old the ship arriued by chance at Lishborne the chiefe Citie of Portugall he tarrying there about merchandise became a profitable seruant to his Master and others yet he reserued his religion in that popish countrey there were also besides him diuers good men in the same Citie neither lacked he good books nor the conference of good and honest men to whom he would often bewaile his weakenesse that he was not sufficiently touched with the hatred of his sinnes nor inflamed with the loue of godlinesse There was a solemne marriage celebrated betwéen two Princes the sonne of the King of 〈◊〉 and the daughter of the King of Spain to which marriage there was great resort of nobles and there lacked no Bishops with Miters nor Cardinals with Hats to set out this royall wedding William Gardner was there when they went forward to the celebrating of the Masse for that alone did serue for all purposes the Cardinall did execute it with much singing and Organ-playing the people stood with great deuâ—tion and silence praying looking knéeling and knocking their minds fully bent vpon the external sacrament which did grieuously prick and moâ—e this young man to sée so many noble personages and others so seduced with this Idolatriâ— that if the prease of people had not hindered him he would that day haue done some notable thing in the Kings presence he came home and made vp all his accounts of that was due to him and that which was owing to others that no man could aske any thing of him he fell to prayer and meditation of the Scriptures The Sunday came againe to be celebrated with like pompe and solemnitie The said William was early present and stoode as neere the Altar as he could When the King with all his Nobles were come the Masse began which was solemnized by a Cardinall when hee began to â—osse the Host too and fro round about the Chalice making certaine circles The said William Gardiner not able to suffer any longer hee ran to the Cardinall in the presence of the King Nobles and Citizens with the one hand hee snatched away the Cake and trâ—de it vnder his féet and with the other hand ouerthrew the Chalice Wherevpon rose great tumult and one wounded him with a Dagger in the soulder The King commanded to saue him whereby they abstained from murdering him When he was brought before the King he demanded what country man he was and how hee durst worke such a contumacie against his Maiestie and the Sacraments of the Church Hee answered hee was an English man by birth and Religion and am come hither for traffick of Marchandize and when I saw in this famous assembly so great Idolatry committed my conscience neither ought nor could any longer suffer but must needs doe that you haue séene me doe which was not done for any contumacy of your Maiestie but of purpose as before God I do confesse to séek the saluation of this people then vnderstanding that king Edward had restored Religion in England and thinking he had beene set on by some others they would know who set him on He answered he was not mooued thereto by any man but by his owne conscience but that hee owed this seruice first vnto God and secondly vnto their saluation and they ought to impute the act onely to themselues which so vnreuerently vsed the holy Supper of the Lord vnto so great Idolatry to the perill of their owne soules except they repented He was like to faint with the aboundance of blood that ranne out of his wound and Surgeons were sent to cure it then all English-men were committed vnto Prison and one Pendigrace because that he was his Bed-fellow was greeâ—ously tormented and examined and scarse deliuered after two yeares imprisonment Then they caused a Linnen Cloath to bee sowed round like a Ball which they violently put downe his throat to the bottome of his belly tyed with a small string which they held in their handes and when it was downe they pulled it vp againe with violence so plucking it too and fro through the meat pipe When all torments and tormentors were wearied they asked him if he did not repent his wicked deed he answered if it were to doe againe he thought he should doe it but he was sorie it was in the presence of the King the fault ought to be ascribed to the King and not to him in that he hauing power would not prohibit so great Idolatrie vsed amongst his people Three dayes after they brought him to execution when they had vsed all kind of torments against him then they cut off his right hand which he tooke vp with his left and kissed it then they cut off his other hand which he kneeling downe kissed and so he was carried to the place of execution where was an Engine from the which a great rope comming downe by a pullie was fastened about this Christian which first pulled him vp then there was a great pile of wood set on fire beneath him into the which he was by little and little let downe not with the whole body but so that his feet only felt the fire then he was hoysed vp and so let downe againe in the which torment he continued with a constant spirit and the more terribly he burned the more vehemently he prayed When his feet were burned the tormentors asked him whether he did not yet repent and exhorted him to call vpon our Ladie and other Saints he answered he had done nothing whereof he did repent and needed not our Ladies nor Saints help and what torments soeuer they vsed hee remained alwaies one desiring them to leaue off such vanities and follies for when Christ ceased to bee our Aduocate then he would pray our Lady to be his Aduocate and when they sought to stop his prayers he said Iudge mee O Lord and reuenge my cause against the vnmercifull people before he had ended the Psalme pulling him vp downe in the fire for the more torment the rope was burned hee fell into the middest of the fire where he changed his Temporall paines for eternall quietnes Thus GOD by this message did prouoke the Portugales to the sincere knowledge But this cruelty was not vnreuenged for with a sparke from the fire of his burning one of the Kings Shippes was burned and the Kings Sonne that was married died halfe a yeere after and the next yeare the King himselfe dyed The Clergy appointed a solemne Fast certaine daies for penance to purge that fact there be some yet as I haue heard diuers report out of whose remembrance this constant Martyr can neuer be pulled and is so fresh yet amongst them as if it were but lately done his
death as fruitfull seede hath taken such fruit in some that it is yet a linely and diligent preaching vnto some against superstition and Idolatry vsed in their Churches The tragicall History of the worthy Duke of Sommerset KIng Edward had three vnckles by his mothers side Edward Thomas Henry Semer Edward was made protector of the Realme and Thomas was made high Admirall of the same so long as they were ioined together in amitie they preserued themselues and the King and the Common-wealth Sir Thomas Semer high Admirall married Queene Katherine late wife of King Henry as you haue heard betwixt the said Queene and the Dutchesse of Somerset there fell great displeasure And therevpon in the behalfe of their wiues grudge began betweene the brethren after it was laid vnto the Lord Admirals charge that hee purposed to destroy the yong Kingâ— and transâ—ate the Crowne vnto himselfe and for the same he was attainted and condemned and did suffer at Tower Hill the twentith of March one thousand fiue hundred forty and nine many reported that the Duchesse of Sommerset had wrought his death whereby it came to passe whether by Gods iust iudgement or no In October after that there was great consultation amongst the Lords in the house of Maister Yorke and at Baynards Castle and in the Lord Mayor of Londons house against the Lord Protector remaining then with the King at Hampton Court The King with his Councell hearing thereof first Secretary Peter with the Kings message was sent vnto them whom the Lords retained still with them making no answer wherevpon the Lord Protector writ vnto them that the King was informed of your assembly wherefore we sent Maister Secretary Peter vnto you His Maiestie and wee of his Councell héere doe not a little maruell that you stay héere â—he said M. Peter and haue not answered his Maiesty and we are sory to sée your doings bent with violence to bring the King and vs to these extremities which if you will take no other way we intend with violence to defend with death and to put it in Gods hand who giueth victory as it pleaseth him as touching priuate matters â—o auoide the effusion of Christian bloud and to preserue the Kings Maiesties person his Realme and Subiects you shall finde vs agréeable to any reasonable conditions that you will require for wee esteemâ— the Kings wealth and tranquilitie of the Realme more then other worldly things yea then our life praying them to send their determinate answere by Maister Peter or some other Notwithstanding this Letter the Lords persisted still in their purpose and took aduice to kéep themselues in the Citie of London as strong as they might and willed the Mayor and Aldermen to prouide a substantiall watch by night and by day for the safegard of the Citie and gates Then they demanded fiue hundred men to ayde them to fetch the Lord Protector out of Windsor from the King and they published a Proclamation against the said Protector to this effect First that the Protector by his euill gouernment was the cause of all the sedition that of late happened within the Realme and of the losses of the Kings ordinance in France and that it appeared by the building of his sumptuous houses in the time of the Kings warre that he sought his owne glory that he esteemed nothing the graue counsell of the Councellors that he had sowed diuisions betwéen the Nobles Gentlemen and Commons That the Nobles assembled themselues only to cause the protector to haue liued within limits to haue put such order for the surety of the King as was fit That the protector slandered the Councell vnto the King and that hee was a great traytor and therefore the Lords defired the Citie Commons to ayde them to take him from the King Then the King sent a Letter vnto the Mayor and Citizens commanding them to ayde him with a thousand men out of their Citie well armed and to send them with all speed vnto the Castle of Windsor These contrary commandements comming both at one instant vnto the Mayor Citizens of London it séemed very doubtfull to them which way to take at the last stepped vp a Citizen George Studlaw and said I remember in the time of Henry the third the Barons as the Lords doe now demanded ayde of the Mayor and Citizens of London and the Citie ayded them against the King and it came to an open battell and the Lords preuailed against the King and took the King and his son prisoners and vpon certaine conditions the King his Son were restored againe and the King openly granted his pardon to the Lords and Citizens it was ratified by Act of Parliament but it was neuer forgotten during the Kings life the Liberties of the Citie were taken away and strangers appointed to be our gouernors and the Citizens giuen away body and goods and from one persecution vnto another were most miserably afflicted such it is to enter into the wrath of a Prince for Salomon saith the wrath of a Prince is death Therefore I would councell the Lords with vs to make sute to the King that he would please to heare the complaints that may be iustly proued against the L. Protector and I doubt not but this matter will be pacified and that the King nor yet the Lords haue cause to seeke for further ayde neither we to offend any of them both Then the Lords sent Sir Philip Hobby with their Letter of credence vnto the King beséeching him to giue credit to that which he should say who so handled the matter that the Lord Protector was commanded from the Kings presence and shortly committed to warde in the Castle of Windsor The same day the Lords of the Councell resorted vnto the King and the next day they brought the Lord Protector vnto the Tower Shortly after the Lords resorted vnto the Tower and there charged the Lord Protector with sundry Articles the effect of them is contained in the proclamation aforesaid and although these purposes of man intended the spilling of his life and the Lord so ordered the matter by the meanes of the Kings so laboring for his vnkle that in short while he was let out of the Tower and continued at liberty two yeares and two daies After he was againe apprehended committed againe to the Tower after hee was brought to Westminister Hall to be arraigned and there was charged with felony treason he put himselfe to be tried by his Péeres who discharged him of treason but they accounted him guilty of Felony for purposing the death of the Duke of Northumberland and others and was returned vnto the Tower againe When he was brought to his execution vpon tower Hill he came with the same gesture which he vsed changing neither voice nor countenance and knéeling down he commended himselfe to God and his prayers ended he turned toward the people as it were with a certaine fatherly loue to children and said Dearely
Therefore much more where there is so great a multitude but in generall Councels Masse hath been approued and vsed therefore it is good Ridley It is true that where so many be gathered together in Christs name it is not credible but two or three be gathered together in his name but if there be an hundreth good two hâ—ndreth bad being the Decrees Ordinances goe according to most voices what can the lesse number of voices preuaile It is a common prouerbe often the greater part ouercommeth the better but it is impossible that any such Councell of good men allowed such a Masse as ours was of late in a strange tongue and stuffed with so many absurdities errors and superstitions for as there is no agreement betwixt light and darknes Christ and Beliall so superstition and sincere religion will-worship and pure worship in spirit and truth can neuer agree together Latimer Touching generall Councels I refer you to your owne experience in our Parliaments and Conuocations the most part in my time did bring forth the six Articles because then the King would so haue it After the most part did repeale the same because our good Iosias would so haue it The same Articles now again the most part hath restored because the Queene will haue it after this sort most commonly are mens proceedings Anto. If in generall Councels men should not folow most voâ—ces then should the church haue no certaine rule to determin waighty matters but it is not to be beléeued that Christ would leaue the Church destitute of so necessary a help Rid. Christ the most louing spouse of his espouse the Church did giue vnto it abundantly all things necessary to saluation but so that the Church should kéep her selfe within the obedience of his commandements and not to séek any thing as necessary to saluation which he teacheth not and for determination of all controuersies in Religion Christ hath left vnto the Church Moses and the Prophets which he willeth the church to aske councell of and all the New Testament that which is hard in Moses and the Prophets is reuealed in them so that wee haue no need to say who shall clime vp to heauen or who shall goe downe into the deepe to tell vs what is needfull to be done Christ hath done both and commanded 〈…〉 〈◊〉 the word of Faith and if we walke diligently therein by his spirit we shall 〈…〉 out the truth and obtaine euerlasting life As in Esay 8. Shall men-aske 〈…〉 of the dead for the liuing Let them goe vnto the Law the Testament 〈…〉 Christ Ioh. 5. biddeth vs Search the Scriptures And Hierom saith Ignorance 〈…〉 scriptures is mother of errors vpon the 25. of Mathew and in another place he saith the knowledge of the scriptures is the food of euerlasting life and we read not that Christ in any place hath â—aid so great a burden vpon the members of his Church that he hath commanded them to go vnto the vniuersal Church it is true that Christ gaue vnto his Church some Apostles and some Prophets some Euangelists some Shepheards and Teachers to the edifying of the Saints vntill we all come vnto the vnity of Faith But that all out of all parts of the world should méet together in Councell to define the Articles of faith it is not commanded of Christ. Lat. There is diuersitie betwixt things pertaining to God or Faith and politick and ciuill matters for in the first we must stand only to the scriptures which are able to make vs perfect vnto saluation if by study and prayer we vnderstand them and the most prudent men of the world are least apt to vnderstand them but in ciuill matters being wee know not otherwise how to maintaine common peace and quiet they doe ordaine that the most part shall take place Anto. It is perilous to attempt any new thing in the Church vnto which the example of the Prophets of Christ and of the Apostles are contrarie for in their time all things were most corrupt the people were miserably giuen to superstition the Priests despised the law of God yet we neuer read that the Prophets made any schismes and Christ haunted the Temples and taught in them daily Peter and Iohn went into the Temple at the ninth houre of prayer Paule after the reading of the law desired to say some thing vnto the people neyther Christ nor his Apostles did refuse to pray with others to sacrifice or be partaker of Moses law Ridley The Prophets Christ nor the Apostles did not communicate with the people in any kind of worshipping forbidden by the law or repugmant to the word Saint Augâ—stine in his Epistle Ad Ianuarium speaking of the ceremonies of the Iewes he saith They were burdens of the law which were deliuered by the word of God and not by the presumptions of men but now the ceremonies are of men and contrary to the word of God and therefore not to be borne In the story of Tobias when all other went to the golden calues of Ieroboam to worship hee alone went to the Temple of the Lord to worship In the third of Kings the man of God threatned terrible plagues to the Priest of Bethell and to the Altar which Ieroboam had made which came to passe by King Iosias The Prophets vehemently rebuked the people still for going a whoreing with their Hill-Altars and this was the chiefe cause wherefore the false Prophets ceased not to maligne the true Prophets therefore they beate them and banished them How otherwise can you vnderstand the saying of S. Paul What concord hath Christ with Beliall the beleeuer with the Infidel the temple of God with Idols for we are said to be Gods temple because God dwelleth in vs wherfore we are bidden to come out seperat our selues from them and to touch no vncleane thing and God will receiue vs and be our Father and we shall be his Sonnes and Daughters In the 12. of Iudith she would not defile her selfe with the meats of the wicked The Machabees died manfully in the defence of the Law S. Augustine saith If we praise the Machabees for their stoutnesse for the Law of Moses how much more ought we to suffer all things for our baptisme and the Lords supper which the Masse vtterly abolisheth and corrupteth Anto. I perceiue you are so obstinatly wedded vnto your owne opinion that no wholsome counsels can draw you to a better mind therefore you must be handled by the lawes and be either compelled thereto or suffer the punishment of the Law he that refuseth to obey the lawes of the realme is an enemy to his Country This is the readiest way to stir vp ciuill wars it is better you should beare your owne â—â—nne then the common quiet to bee disturbed how can you say you will bee the Quéenes subiects when you openly professe you will not kéepe her lawes Ridl It is true he that will not obey the Gospell must be
principle part of the Sacrament Take ye eat ye which you do not in your Masse wherefore it can be no Sacrament because it wanteth Christs institution Cosins Wee forbid none to come to it but as many as list may be partakers thereof with vs at Masse if they require it Phil. Nay you will minister but one kind vnto them which is not after Christs institution ye ought to exhort them that be present to make a sacrifice of thanksgiuing for Christs Passion and to bee partakers with you and by preaching shew the Lords death which you do not Masse-priest If the Sacrament of the Masse be no Sacrament vnlesse all doe receiue it because Christ saith Take ye eate ye then the Sacrament of Baptisme is no sacrament where there is but one baptized because Christ said to his Apostles Go preach the Gospell to all creatures baptizing all Nations Phil. Baptizing all Nations is meant of all sorts of Nations and to exclude none that beléeue whether Iew or Gentile not meaning all at once for that were impossible and Christ alone was baptized of Iohn and the Eunuch baptized Phillip with many moe such like but you haue no such example of the body and blood of Christ but S. Paul commendeth to vs to vse it in a Communion and participation of many together in the sixt to the Corinthians As oft as you come together to eate the Lords supper tarry one for another And the Minister speaketh to all in Christs behalfe to communicate with him saying Take ye eat ye therfore all that be present do not communicate break Gods commandements he is no iust minister that doth not distibute the Sacrament as Christ did to al that are present where Gods word is transgressed Christ is not present and therefore no Sacrament Harps Will you haue it no Sacrament except it be a Communion Phil. Gods words teacheth so Chrysostome vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians saith The oblation is in vaine where none doth communicate with the Priest therefore your Masse where none eateth thereof but the Priest alone is a vaine Oblation and a vaine standing at the Altar I pray tell me what the Pronoune This in the words This is my body doth demonstrate Harps It doth demonstrate the substance of bread which by the omnipotency of God and the words of the Priest is turned into the substance of Christs body Phil. Why then Christs body receiueth daily a great increase of many 1000. pieces of bread into his body his body is become that which it was not before so you would make an alteration in Christs glorified body which is a wicked thing to do Harps The substance of bread after the words spoken by the Priest is vanished away by the omnipotency of God Phil. This is another song heere you may sée how contrary you are vnto your selues your schoolemen hold that the very substance of bread is really turned into the substance of Christs body and now of late you perceiue the inconuenience of that opinion you imagine a new shift and say the substance of bread is euacuated contrary to that your Church hath beléeued and taught and all is to deface the sincere truth Harps Is not God omnipotent and can he not doe as he hath said Phil. But his omnipotency will not do contrary to his word and honour it is not Gods honour to include him bodily in a péece of bread and of necessity tye him therto and for to make a péece of bread God and man which you sée before your face doth putrifie after a time God is as able to giue his body with the Sacramentall bread and it is contrary to the Scripture which calleth it bread many times after consecration you take away the substantiall parts of the Sacrament as Take ye eat ye drinke ye all of this doe this in remembrance of me and place in their stéeds heare ye gase ye knock ye worship yee offer ye sacrifice ye for the quick and the dead Is not this blasphemy to God and his Sacraments and contrary to the mind of all ancient Writers and contrary to the example of Christ and his Apostles and this is the substance of all his examinations and Arguments Hee did often tell them they were blind guides of the blind and as I am bound to tell you you are very Hypocrites tyrannousâ—y persecuting the truth your owne Doctors and euidences you bring be directly against you you must beare with me sâ—â—ing I speake in Christs cause and because his glory is defaced and his people cruelly and wrongfully slaine by you because they will not consent to the dishonour of God and to hypocrisie with you if I told you not your fault it should be required at my hands in the day of iudgement therefore know you ye Hypocrites that it is the Spirit of God that telleth you your sin I passe not I thanke God of all your crueltie God giue you grace to repent Being brought to New-gate after he was condemned when Alexander the kéeper came in Ah said Alexander Hast thou not done well to bring thy selfe hither Maister Philpot said I must be content it is Gods appointment and I shall desire you to haue your gentle fauour for you and I haue béene of old acquaintance Well said Alexander if you will recant I will shew you any pleasure that I canâ— Nay said Maister Philpot I will neuer recant that which I haue spoken for it is most certaine truth in witnesse whereof I will seale it with my blood Then hâ—s commaunded him to be set vpon the blocke and as many Irons put vpon his Legs as he might beare Then the Clarke told Alexander that Maister Philpot had giuen his Man Money Alexander said to his man what mony hath he giuen youâ— And he searched him and tooke money from him Then said Maister Philpot Good M. Alexander be so much my friend that these Irons may be taken off He said Giue me my fées and I will take them off if not thou shalt weare them still Then said he what is your fées He said foure pounds Ah said Maister Philpot I haue not so much if you will take twenty shillings I will send my man for it or I will lay my Gowne to gage for the time is not long I am sure that I shall be with you then Alexander commaunded him to be had into Limbo and so he was Then his man tooke an honest man with him and went and shewed the Sheriffe one Maister Michaell how maister Philpot was handled in Newgate then the Sheriffe tooke his Ring from his finger and deliuered it vnto the honest man which came with Maister Philpots man and bad him commaund the Kéeper by that token to take off his Irons and handle him more gently and to giue his man againe that which he tooke from him when they told their message to Alexander he saide I perceiue Maister Sheriffe is a bearer with Hereticks to morrow I will shew
taught heresie And hee desired all them present to beare him witnesse that he tooke the Traditions and Religion of the Pope to bée most erronious false and against the doctrine of holy Scriptures which hee had often proued by preaching and writing and the Pope to bee very Antichrist so often preached by the Apostles and Prophets in whom most euidently doth concurre all the signes and tokens whereby hee was painted vnto the world to bee knowne by for hee aduanceth himselfe aboue all Emperours and Kings of the world whom he affirmeth to hold of him and to be at his commandement and the stories make mention of his intollerable pride and tyranny vsed to them as no King would haue done to his subiects nor a good maister to his seruants setting his féet vpon Emperours necks and making others to hold his stirrops and remoued others from their Empires hath not onely occupied the highest places in the world aboue Kings but hath presumed to fit in the seat of Almighty God which is the conscience of man to kéepe the possession thereof he hath promised forgiuenesse of sins he hath brought in Gods of his own framing and inuented a new religion full of lucre quite contrary to the Scriptures only for maintaining of his kingdome displacing Christ from his glory holding his people in miserable seruitude of blindnesse to the losse of a number of soules which God at the latter day shall exact at his hands boasting in his Canons decrées that he can dispense against Peter Paul the old Testament New that in his fulnesse of power he can do as much as God If any man can be aduanced aboue him let him be iudged Antichrist This enemy of God and our redemption is so euidently painted out in the Scriptuers with such manifest tokens which all sée clearely appeare in him that except a man will shut his eyes and heart against the light hee cannot but know him therefore I will neuer giue my consent to the receiuing of him into the Church of England and my Lord sand you that be here examine your own consciences you are sworne against him you are learned and can iudge the truth I pray God you be not wilfully blind I haue discharged my conscience to the world I will write my mind to her grace which letter you may sée in the book at large Storie and Martine diuers times interrupted him saying he spake blasphemy and would faine haue the Bishop put him to silence who notwithstanding suffered him to end his spéech Then they charged him that he was sworne vnto the Pope when he was made Archbishop but he denied it and said It appeareth that he did not by the record of the countrey which one of them confessed Many maruelled that in so perilous a time he had so sincerely proceeded choosing rather to venture the losse of his life and all his glorious pompe then to do any thing that might spill his conscience Then they obiected that he was married which he confessed Doctor Martine said his children were bond-men to the Sea of Canterbury At which he smiled saying If a benificed Priest had a Concubine and had bastards by her they are not bond-men to the benifice I trust you wil make my childrens cause no worse Then D. Martine demanded of him who was the supreme head of the Church he said Christ Martine said you made K. Henry supreme head of the Church He said of the people of England Ecclesiasticall Temporal and not of the Church for Christ is the onely head of the Church and of the Faith and Religion of the same The Articles of religion touching the Sacrament denying transubstantiation the Sacrifice of the Masse and the reall presence he affirmed as he taught in his Booke Then they cited him to appeare 80 daies after at Rome and then sent him to prison where thou maist sée their visored face of Iustice as though the Court of Rome would condemne no man before hee answered for himselfe but the same time the Pope sent letters executory vnto the King and Queene to disgrade and depriue him which was done before twenty dayes were done And though he were kept in prison at the end of the 80 dayes hee was decreed Contumax and thereupon condemned Upon S. Valentines day next after the Archbishop was disgraded and condemned by Bonner Thurlby Bishop of Ely who sometimes was Cranmers Chaplaine and preferred by him at which time Bonner which a long time had borne great malice towards him and reioyced greatly see this day wherein he might triumph ouer him at his pleasure made an Oration to the people in this sort This is the man who hath euer despised the Popes holinesse and now is to be iudged by him this is the man that hath pulled downe so many Churches and now is come to be iudged in a Church this is the man that contemned y â— blessed Sacrament of the Altar and now is come to be condemned before the said Sacrament hanging ouer the Altar this is the man that like Lucifer sate in the place of Christ vpon an Altar to iudge others and now is come before the Altar to bee iudged himselfe Thus he continued halfe an houre heaping vp a number of lies together beginning euery one with This is the man so lothsomly that he made euery man weary When they had disgraded him they stript him of his gowne put vpon him a poore yeoman Bedles gowne thrid-bare and as ill-fauouredly made as could be and a Townsmans cap vpon his head and so deliuered him to the secular power in this filthie gowne he was carried vnto prison The Queene Bishops hauing kept the Archbishop now almost three yeares in prison seeing by no means they could preuaile with him all this while to turn him from his religion they suborned certaine men which should by intreaty and faire promises or any other means allure him to recantation so the wily Papists flocked about him labouring to draw him from his former sentence to recantation especially Henry Sidall and Frier Iohn a Spaniard they shewed him how acceptable it would be to the Kings Queene and how gainfull it would be both bodily spiritually they added that the Councell Noble-men bare him good wil promising him both his life ancient dignity saying the matter was but small the setting of his hand to a few words but if hee refused there was no hope of pardon for the Queene was purposed that shee would haue Cranmer a Catholique or else no Cranmer at all By these and such like prouocations they at last wâ—nne him to subscribe It may bee supposed that it was for hope of life and better dayes to come But it appeareth by a Letter of his to a Lawyer that the most cause why hee desired his life to bee delayed was that hee might make an end of a Booke against Marcus Antonius a Papist which hee had begun but it is manifest
body a sacrifice to God the price of my redemption by that onely sacrifice all the faithfull are sanctified and he is our onely aduocate mediatour and he hath made perfect our redemption without any of your dadly oblations Doctor Bridges You take wel the litterall sence but as Christ offered his body vpon the Crosse which was a bloody sacrifice and a visible sacrifice so likewise we doe offer vp the selfe same body that was offered vpon the crosse but not bloudy and visible but inuisible vnto God I said then Christs sacrifice was not perfected but Christ is true when all men be liers then he saide Thou shalt not feare him that hath power to kill the body but thou shalt feare him enterpreting him to meane the Church which hath power to kill body and soule Christ said We should feare him and not them the hath power to cast body and soule into hel meaning God and not the Church and if you will presume to offer Christs body dayly then your power is aboue Christs power then he was condemned and with patience and constancie entred his blessed martyrdome at whose burning one Thomas Carman was apprehended for words praying with him and pledging him at his burning One Frier and the sister of George Eagles THese suffered the like martyrdome by the vnrighteous Papists whose tyranny the Lord of his mercy abate and cut short turning that wicked generation to abetter minde They were burned at Rochester IOHN CVRD HE was a Shoomaker of Sisam in Northamptonshire hée was imprisoned in Northampton castle for denying the Popish transubstantiation for the which William Bruâ—ter Chancelour vnto the Bishop of Peterborrow did pronounce sentence of death against him a popish priest standing by when he was to bee burned one Iohn Rote vicar of S. Giles in Northampton shewed him if he should recant he was authorised to giue him his pardon he answered he had his pardon by Iesus Christ. Cicelie Ormes SHe suffered at Norwich she was taken at the death of Symon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper for that she said she would pledge them of the same cup they dranke of one master Cobet of Sprowson tooke her and sent her to the Chancelour he asked her what she said vnto the Sacrament of Christs body and what is that the Priest holdeth ouer his head she answered it was bread and if you make it better it is worse so she was sent to prison after she was called and examined before the Chancelour and master Bridges the Chancelor offered her if she would go to Church kéep her tongue she should be at libertie and beléeue as she would but she tould him she would not consent to his wicked desire therein and if shée should God would plague her then he tolde her he had shewed more fauour vnto her then euer he did vnto any and when he could not preuaile he condemned her she was borne in East Derrham and was daughâ—er vnto one Thomas Hawood Tailor she was taken a twelue-moonth before and recanted but was neuer after quiet in conscience she had gotten a letter written to be deliuered to y e Chancelor to let him know she repented her recantation would neuer do the like againe as long as she liued but before she exhibited her bill she was taken and imprisoned as before when she was at the stake she told the people I would you should not report of me that I beléeue to be saued in that I offer my selfe here to death for the Lord cause but I beléeue onely to be saued by the death of Christs passion and this my death is and shall be a witnesse of my faith vnto you all good people as many of you as beléeue as I doe pray for me then she kissed the stake and sayd welcome swéet crosse of Christ aftâ—â— the fire was kindled she said My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit doth reioyce in God my Sauiour and so yéelded her life vnto the Lord as quietly as if she had béene in a slumber or as one féeling no paine so wonderfully did the Lord worke with her Mistresse Ioyce Lewis SHe was the wife of Thomas Lewis of Mancetter in the beginning of Quéene Maries time she went to Church and heard Masse vntill the burning of Laurence Saunders in Couentry then she inquired of such as she knew feared God the cause of his death and when she knew it was because he refused to receiue the Masse she began to be troubled in conscience she reforted to master Iohn Glouer a very godly man of whom mentioned is made before and desired him to tell her the faults that were in the Masse who instructed her in the wayes of the Lord approuing vnto her out of Gods holy word that the Masse with al other papistical inuentions was odious in Gods sight so she began to hate the Masse being compelled by her husband to come vnto Church â—when the holy water was cast she turned her backe towards it wherupon she was accused vnto the Bishop and a citation was sâ—nt for her and her husband the Sumner deliuered the citation to her husband who willed him to take the citation away with him or else he would make him eate it and in the end he made the Sumner eate the citation by setting a dagger vnto his brest and then he caused him to drinke and so sent him away but after they were commanded to appeare before my Lord her husband desired my Lord to be good vnto him my Lord was content to receiue his submission so that his wife would submit her selfe likewise but she told the Bishop that she had neyther offended God nor his lawes in refusing holy water the Bishop gaue her a moneths respite binding her husband in a hundred pound to bring her to him at the moneths end When the moneth was almost expired her husband was aduertised by the said M. Glouer and others not to carry his wife to the Bishop but to séeke some way to saue her and if the worst should come to be content to forfeit the Band rather then to cast his wife into the fire he answered he would not forfeit any thing for her sake but carried his wife vnto the Bishop who found her more stout then she was before so she was sent to such a stinking prison that a maid that was appointed to kéep her company did sound in the said prison She was often examined and euer found stout at length she was pronounced an heretick When the Bishop asked her why she would not come vnto the masse and receiue the sacraments and sacramentals of holy Church she answered because she could not find them in Gods word he said if thou wilt beléeue no more then is in the scriptures concerning matters of religion thou art in a damnable case she told my Lord his words were vngodly and wicked After her condemnation she continued a year in prison Wherâ— the Writ came to burn her she said
he affirmed that he had beene twice at Rome and there hee had seene that which he had many times heard of before that the Pope was the verie Antichrist for he saw him carried vpon mens shoulders and the false named Sacrament borne before him yet was there more reuerence giuen vnto him then vnto it which they accounted their God Then Bonner rose vp making as though â—e would haâ—e torne his garments saying Hast thou seene our holy father and doest thou blaspheme him thus and flying vpon him hee plucked off a piece of his beard and after made speedy hast to his death He wrote this Letter to confirme the brethren the same day that hee was condemned The comfort of the holy Ghost make you able to giue consolation to others in these dangerous dayes when Sathan is let loose to the triall of the chosen to sift the wheate from the Chaffe whosoeuer denyeth Christ before men hee will deny him before his Father and the Angels and to saue the life corporall is to lose the life eternall and he that will not suffer with Christ shall not raigne with Christ Therefore I haue giuen ouer the flesh with the fight of my Soule and the Spirit hath the victory The flesh ere it bee long shall leaue off to sinne the spirit shall raigne eternally I haue chosen death to confirme the truth which I haue taught What can I doe more pray that I may continue vnto the end I haue in all my assaults felt the present ayde of my GOD bee not ashamed of Christs Gospell nor of the bonds that I haue suffered for the same The holy ones haue beene scaled with the same marke It is no time for the losse of one man for the campe to turne back vp with mens harts and blow downe the dawbed walles of heresies let one take the banner and another the Trumpet and I meane not to make corporall resistance but pray and you shal haue Elias his defence and Helizeus his company to fight for you the cause is the Lords Pray for me and salute one an other with an holy kisse the peace of God râ—st with you all Amen Margery Mearing said that the Masse was abhominable in the sight of GOD and all Christian people and that it is the plaine câ—p of fornication and the whore oâ— Babylon and shee beleeued that there was no such Sacrament as the Sacramâ—nt of the Altar in the Catholike Church and she said she vtterly abhorred the authoritie of the Pope with all the Religion obserued in the same Antichrists Church and that â—he neuer meant to come vnto the Church during these Idolatrous dayes And being demaunded whether shee would stand to these answers I will quoth shee stand to them vnto the death for the very Angells in heauen doe laugh you to scorne to seâ— your abomination that you vse in the Church wherupon shee was condemned They were burned both together in Smithfield where they most ioyfully and willingly gaue their liâ—es for the profession of the Gospell of Christ. Master Rowgh had excommunicated this Margerie Mearing but the Sonday before he was taken yet hee being in prison in the Gate-house at Westminster where none of his friends could come vnto him to visit him she gother a Basket and put a cleane Shirt in it and fayning her selfe to be his sister got into the prison vnto him and did him no small comfort then shee went to one Sergeants house who betrayed Master Rowgh and asked whet her Iudas that betrayed Christ dwelt not there and she seeing Cluny come vnto her house she went home and asked him whom he sought he said for you you must go with me she said she would go with him the Bishop cast her into prison and the wednesday after she was burned with Master Rowgh Cutbert Simpson Hugh Foxe and Iohn Deuenish SImpson was Deacon of the said godly Congregation in London he was faithfull and zealous vnto Christ and his true flocke the Friday at night before M. Rough the Minister of the Congregation was taken he dreamed that he saw two of the Gard leading Cutbert Simpson that he had a book about him wherin was the names of all them which were of the Congregation so he told his Wife and made her light a Candle and fell to reading and falling asleepe again he dreamed the like dreame Then he said to his Wife that his brother Cutbert was gone and as Maister Rough was ready to go to see Maister Cutbert he came in with the Booke containing the names and accounts of the Congregation then M. Rough told him his dreame and bade him carrie the booke no more about him so he left the booke with M. Rowghs wife the next night M. Rowgh dreamed that be himselfe was carried vnto the Bishop and that the Bishop plucked off his beard and cast it into the fire saying Now I may say I haue had a piece of an hereticke burned in my house and so accordingly it came to passe for shortly after they were both taken at the Saracens head in Islington as before Here followeth the storie of his sufferings vpon the racke and otherwise for the Congregations sake as he wrote it with his own hand I was called before the Constable of the Tower and the Recorder of London they commanded me to tell them whom I willed to come to the English seruice I answered I would declare nothing whereupon I was set in a racke of Iron three houres then they asked if I would tell them I answered as before the Sonday after they examined me againe and I answered them as before then they bound my two fore-fingers together and put a small arrow betwixt them and drew it thorow so fast that the bloud followed and the arrow brake then they racked mee twice and so I was carried vnto my lodging againe Ten dayes after the Lieutenant asked me if I would not confesse I answered I had said as much as I wold fiue wéeks after he sent me vnto the high Priest where I was greatly assaulted at whose handes I receiued the Popes curse for bearing witnesse of the resurrection Bonner in his Consistorie gaue this testimony of Cutbert Sampson ye sée said he what a personable man he is and concerning his patience I say vnto you that if he were not an hereticke he is a man of the greatest patience that euer came before me he hath béene thrice racked in one day in the Tower and in my house hee hath felt some sorrow yet did I neuer see his patience broken They all thrée answered Bonner that the Church is grounded vpon the Apostles and Prophets Christ being the head corner stone and in that Church there is the true faith and religion of Christ that there is but two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper they said that they haue and will speake against the sacrifice of the Masse the Sacrament of the Altar and the authoritie of the Sea of Rome and Iohn Deuenish
Liset Chiefe President of the said Court and one of the Authors of the said burning Chamber fell mad and was put from his office Iohn Morin after he had beene the death of many Christians was striken with a disease in his legs called the Wolues wherewith he lost the vse of them and died out of his wits denying and blaspheming God Iohn Andrew the Booke-binder of the Pallace became a spy to find out Protestants died in madnesse The Inquisitor Iohn de Roma in Prouence his flesh fel from him by péece meal and so stinking that no man might come neere him Iohn Minerius of Prouence which was the death of a great number of men women and Children at Cabriers and Merindoll died with bléeding in the lower parts the fire hauing taken his belly blaspheming and dispising of God Thus farre out of the Letter Henry the second the French King notwithstanding the aforesaid examples might giue him sufficient warning yet would he not surceaâ—e his cruell persecution against Gods Children but being at the Parliament house which was kept at the Fryer Augustines in Paris because the Pallace was a preparing â—or â—he marriages of his Daughter and his Sister and hauing heard the opinion in Religion of Anne du Bourg an eloquent and learned Councellor he caused him and Loys du Faur another Councellor to bee committed Prisoners vnto the Count Mongomery The King said to the said Anne du Bourg These eyes of mine shal sée thee burned and a day was appointed for the hearing the cause at which day the King employed all the morning in examining as wel the Presidents as Councellors of the said Parliament against the Prisoners and other their Companions that were charged with the same Doctrine then they went to dinner after dinner the King went to running at the Tilt and brake many staues as well as could be whereupon he was highly commended of the Lookers â—n and being inflamed with hearing his yraise he would néedes runne with Montgomery who knéeled downe and asked pardon not to runne with him the King commaunded him vpon his Alleagiance to runne and himselfe put his staffe into his hand and as the King and he met the vizard of his helmet suddenly fell downe whereby the King was stricken in one of his eyes so that his braines perished and it so â—estered that no remedy could be found so that the eleauenth day after hee dyed He said he feared he was stricken for casting poore Christians wrongfully in Prison but Cardinall Lorraine said that it was the enemy that tempted him to think so By this meanes the hall that was prepared for a place of ioy and gladnes was now a place to keepe the dead Corps beeing hanged with mourning-cloath and there was heard mourning for the space of forty daies In the yeare 1561. there were certaine Gentlemen put to death at Amboyse for taking â—rmes against the house of Guise The last that was put to death thrust his hands into the blood of the others which were beheaded and lifting them vp vnto heauen cryed with a loud voyce Lord behold the blood of thy Children thou wilt in time and place reuenge it Not long after Councellor Oliueâ— the condemner of them through great remorce of conscience fell sicke and shriked vpon a suddaine with an horrible cry and said to the Cardinall of Lorraine O Cardinall thou wilt make vs all to be damned and shortly after died Francis the second succéeded his Father Henry the second in the Kingdome of France he at the perswasion of the Cardinall of Lorraine and others assembled the Estates of the Realme in Orleance to maintaine the Papall Sea to the ouerthrow of those that should liue after the Gospell but being sicke of a Feauer thorow an Impostume in his left care he died The Emperor Charles the fift being an enemy and a great terror vnto the Gospell was cut off from doing any more hurt vnto the Church Anno 1558. but thrée months before the death of Quéene Mary and ten months before the death of Henry the second Not long after Anne du Bourgs death the President Minard who was a sore Persecutor and the Condemner of the said Anne du Bourg as hée returned from the Councell Chamber vnto his owne house was flaine with a Dagge and it was neuer knowne who did it The King of Nauarre Brother vnto the Prince of Condie after a while maintained the Gospell hee was perswaded by the Duke of Guise and the Cardinall of Lorraine his Brother in hope to haue his Lands restored againe which the King of Spaine detained from him to be â—entented to alter his Religion and to ioyne side with the Papists and being in Campe with the Duke of Guise at the siedge of Roane he was shot in with a Pellet after which wound he did vehemently repent his back sliding from the Gospel promising earnestly vnto God that if he might escape that hurt hee would bring to passe that the Gospell should be preached freely throughout al France notwithstanding within fiue or six daies he dyed And the Duke of Guise himselfe the great Arch-enemy of God and his Gospell with the whole Triumuirat of France that is three the greatest Captaines of Popery were cut off for doing any more hurt The Duke of Guise before Orleance the Constable of France before Paris the Marshall of Saint Andrew before Drewx THE ABRIDGEMENT OF A Christian Dialogue called PASQVINE in a Trance THE Author of this Treatise was called Caelius Secundus Curio an Italian a zealous godly learned man by whom vnder the witty and pleasant inuention of Pasquines going to Heauen Purgatorie and Hell the whole packe of the Popes pedlary wares is laid open that we may sée what stuffe it is It was written in the time of pope Paule the third the cheefe substance whereof breefely followeth Superstition and Hypocrisie are the diuels Rhetorick by which Friers make the world beleeue so many falsehoods and toyes for by nothing else can Faith so easily be ouerthrowne The apparell of the Fryers was deuised of the Deuill that by these shéeps skins they might not séeme Wâ—olues but by the strangenesse thereof to make the simple people to thinke them holy Their Monasteries are a true representation of the qualities of the World their raigneth nothing but passions in euery one to aduance themselues and driue out others their pictures of Saints being Gods of stone very much differ from that which they were when they were vpon earth The Uirgin Mary was not honored with so many chaines bracelets perfumes gold siluer and wax as she is now vpon the Altar with paintings on her face and on her head crownes full of Iewels She is attired with costly and many sorts of garments like a yong gyrle they make her most couetous and niggardly and to giue nothing to the poore but to bestow all that is giuen her which is aboundance vpon Cardinals and Hipocrites to be bestowed vpon Whores Dogs and Horses The