the king seemed not very well to like of their so extreme handlyng of the woman and also graunted to the Lieftenant his pardon willing him to returne and see to hys charge Great expectation was in the meane season among the Warders and other officers of the Tower waiting for his returne Whom when they saw come so cheerefully declaring vnto them how he had sped with the king they were not a little ioyous and gaue thanks to God therfore ¶ Anne Askews aunswer vnto Iohn Lacels letter OH friend most dearely beloued in God I meruaile not a litle what should mooue you to iudge in me so slender a fayth as to feare death which is the ende of all misery in the Lord I desire you not to beleeue of me such wickednes The 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 Askew to M. Lacel◠〈◊〉 For I doubt it not but God will performe his worke in me like as he hath begun I vnderstand the counsaile is not a little displeased that it should be reported abroad that I was racked in the tower They say now that they did there was but to feare me whereby I perceyue they are ashamed of their vncomely doyngs and feare much least the kings Maiestie should haue information thereof Wherefore they would no man to noyse it Well their crueltye God forgeue them Your hart in Christ Iesu. Farewel and pray The purgation or aunswer of Anne Askew against the false surmises of her recantation I Haue read the processe whiche is reported of them that knowe not the truth to be my recantation An. Askew answering to the false suspicion of her recanting But as the Lord liueth I neuer ment thing lesse then to recant Notwithstanding this I confesse that in my first troubles I was examined of the Bishop of London about the Sacrament Yet had they no graunt yf my mouth but this that I beleeued therein as the word of God did bynd me to beleeue more had they neuer of me Then he made a Copie whiche is nowe in print and required me to set thereunto my hand But I refused it Then my ij sureties did wyll me in no wise to sticke thereat for it was no great matter they sayd Then with much ado at the last I wrote thus I Anne Askew do beleue this if Gods word do agree to the same and the true catholike church Then the B. beyng in great displeasure with me An. Askew falsely suspected to recant and vpon what occasion because I made doubtes in my writing commaunded me to prison where I was a whyle but afterwards by the meanes of frendes I came out againe Here is the truth of that matter And as concerning the thing that ye couet most to know resort to the sixt of Iohn and be ruled always thereby Thus fareye well Anne Askew The confession of the faith which Anne Askew made in Newgate before she suffered I Anne Askew of good memory although my merciful father hath geuen me the bread of aduersitie The confession of An. Askew going to her execution and the water of trouble yet not so muche as my sinnes haue deserued confesse my selfe here a sinner before the throne of hys heauenly maiestie desiring his forgeuenes and mercye And for so much as I am by the law vnrighteously condemned for an euill doer concerning opinions I take y e same most mercifull God of myne which hath made both heauen and earth to record that I hold no opinions contrary to hys most holy word And I trust in my mercifull Lord which is the geuer of all grace that he will graciously assist me agaynst all euill opinions which are contrary to his blessed veritie For I take him to witnes that I haue done wil do vnto my lyues end vtterly abhorre them to the vttermost of my power But this is the heresie which they report me to holde that after the Priest hath spoken the wordes of consecration there remaineth bread still They both say The matter and cause why Anne Askew suffered death also teach it for a necessary article of fayth that after those wordes be once spoken there remayneth no bread but euen the selfe-same body that hoong vpon the crosse on good Friday both fleshe bloud and bone To this belief of theirs say I nay For then were our common Crede false which saith that he sitteth on the right hand of God the father almighty from thence shall come to iudge the quicke and dead Loe this is the heresie that I holde and for it must suffer the death But as touâ—hing the holy and blessed supper of the Lord I beleue it to be a most necessary remembraunce of his glorious suffrings and death Moreouer I beleue as much therein as my eternall and onely redeemer Iesus Christ would I should beleue Finally I beleue al those scriptures to be true which he hath confirmed with his most precious bloud Yea as s. Paul saith those scriptures are sufficient for our â—erning saluatioÌ„ that Christ hath left here with vs so that I beleue we nede no vnwritten verities to rule his church w t. Therfore looke what he hath sayd vnto me with his owne mouth in his holy Gospell that haue I with Gods grace closed vp in my hart and my full trust is as Dauid saith that it shal be a lanterne to my footsteps Psal. xxviij There be some do say that I deny the Eucharist or sacrament of thankes geuyng but those people do vntruly report of me For I both say and beleue it that if it wer ordered lyke as Christ instituted it and left it a most singular comfort it were vnto vs all But as coÌ„cerning your masse as it is now vsed in our daies I do say and beleue it to be the most abhominable Idoll that is in the world The Masse 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 Idoll For my God will not be eaten with teeth neyther yet dieth he agayne And vpon these wordes that I haue now spoken wyll I suffer death O Lord I haue mo enemies now then there be haires on my head The prayer of Anne Askew Yet Lord let them neuer ouercome me with vaine words but fight thou Lord in my stead for on thee cast I my care With all the spite they can imagine they fall vpon me which am thy poore creature Yet sweete Lord let me not set by them which are against me for in thee is my whole delight And Lord I hartily desire of thee that thou wilt of thy most mercifull goodnes forgeue them that violence which they do and haue done vnto me Open also thou their blynd hartes that they may hereafter doe that thing in thy sight which is only acceptable before thee and to set forth thy veritie aright without all vaine fantasies of sinnefull men So be it O Lord so be it By me Anne Askew ⧠The order and maner of the burning of Anne Askew Iohn Lacels Iohn Adams Nicholas Belenian with certayne of the Councell
it to renue disputation of thinges so long time past condemned by y e church and Councels vnlesse it should be necessary to geue a reason to euery man of euery thing that is concluded Nowe were it so that this should be permitted to euery one that gaynestandeth the determination of the Church and councels that he may once get his aduauntage The Papistes stande onely vpon their church and councels to be conuinced by the Scriptures we shall haue nothing certayne and established in Christendome And this is the cause wherefore the Emperours maiesty requireth of thee a simple aunswere either negatiue or affirmitiue whether thou mindest to defend all thy works as Christian or no Then Luther turning to the Emperour and the nobles besought them not to compell him to yeelde agaynst his conscience confirmed with the holy Scriptures wythout manifest argumentes alledged to the contrary by hys aduersaryes I haue declared and rendred sayd he myne aunswere simply and directly neyther haue I any more to saye vnlesse mine aduersaryes with true and sufficient probations grounded vpon the Scripture can reduce and resolue my minde and refelle mine errours which they lay to my charge I am tyed as I sayde by the Scriptures neither may I or canne with a safe conscience assent vnto them For as touching general Councels Generall councels haue erred and haue bene coÌ„trary to them selues with whose authority onely they presse me I am able to proue that they haue both erred and haue defined many times things contrary to themselues and therefore the authority of them he sayd not to be sufficient for the which he should call back those thinges the verity wherof standeth so firme and manifest in the holy Scripture that neyther of him it ought to be required neither could he so do without impiety Wherunto the Official agayne answered denying that any man could proue the CouÌ„cels to haue erred But Luther alledged that he coulde and promised to proue it and now night approching the Lordes rose and departed And after Luther had taken his leaue of the Emperour diuers Spaniardes scorned and scoffed the good man in the way going toward his lodging halowing and whoping after him a long while Upon the friday folowing when the Princes electors Dukes and other estates were assembled the Emperour sent to the whole body of the councell a certaine letter conteining in effect as foloweth ¶ The Emperours letter OVr predecessours who truely were Christian princes The Emperours aunswere against Luther were obedient to the Romish Churche which Martin Luther presently impugneth And therfore in as much as he is not determined to call backe his errors in any one poynt we cannot without great infamy and stayn of honor degenerate from the examples of our elders but will mayntayne the auncient fayth and geue ayde to the see of Rome And further we be resolued to pursue Martin Luther and his adherentes by excommunications and by other meanes that may be deuised to extinguish his doctrine Neuerthelesse we will not violate our fayth which we haue promised him but meane to geue order for safe returne to the place whence he came THe Princes electors Dukes Consultation vpon the Emperours letter and other estates of the Empire sate and consulted vpon this sentence on fryday al the after noone and saterday the whole daye so that Luther yet had no aunswere of the Emperour During this time diuers Princes Earles Barons Knightes of the Order Gentlemen Priestes Monkes with other the laitie and common sort visited him Al these were present at al houres in the Emperours Courte and could not be satisfied with the sight of him Also there were bylles set vp some against Luther and some as it seemed with him Notwithstanding many supposed and especially such as wel conceiued the matter that this was subtilly done by his enemies that therby occasion might be offered to infringe the safe conduct giuen him the which the Romane Ambassadours with all diligence endeuoured to bring to passe The Monday following before supper the Archebyshoppe of Triers aduertised Luther Great resort to Martyn Luther that on Wednesdaye nexte hee shoulde appeare before hym at nine of the clocke before dynner and assigned hym the place On Sainte Georges daye a certaine Chapleine of the Archebishop of Triers about supper tyme came to Luther by the commaundement of the Byshop signifying that at that houre and place prescribed he must the morowe after haue accesse to his maister The morow after saynt Georges day Luther obeying the Archbishops commaundement Luther appeareth before the Archb. of Tryers entred his palace being accompanyed thither with his sayd chaplayne and one of the Emperours Heraldes and such as came in his company out of Saxony to Wormes with other his chiefe frendes where as Doctour Voeus the Marques of Bades chaplein began to declare and protest in the presence of the Archbishop of Triors Doct. Veus his oration to Martin Luther Ioachime Marques of Brandeburge George Duke of Saxonye the bishops of Ausburge and Brandeburge the Earle George Iohn Boâ—ke of Strasburge Uerdcheymer and Peutinger Doctours that Luther was not called to be conferred with or to disputation but onely that the princes had procured licence of the Emperors maiesty through Christian charity to haue liberty graunted vnto them to exhort Luther beningly brotherly He sayd further that albeit the Councels had ordeyned diuers thinges For the authoriti of Councells yet they had not determined contrary matters And albeit they had greatly erred yet theyr authority was not therefore abased or at the least not so erred that it was lawful for euery man to impugne theyr opinions inferring moreouer many thinges of Zacheus and the Centurion Also of the constitutions and traditions and of Ceremonies ordeyned of men affirming that all these were established to represse vices according to the qualitye of tymes and that the Church could not be destitute of human constitutions It is true sayde he that by the fruites the tree may be known yet of these lawes and decrees of men many good fruites haue proceeded This he spake of Luthers words who denied any good fruites to come of their lawes and sainct Martin saint Nicholas and many other Sayntes haue bene present at the Councels Moreouer that Luthers bookes would breede a great tumult and incredible troubles and that he abused the coÌ„mon sort wich his booke of Christian liberty encouraging them to shake of theyr yoke and to confirme in them a disobedience that the world nowe was at another stay then when the beleuers were all of one hart and soule and therfore it was requisite and behouefull to haue lawes It was to be considered sayde he albeit he had writteÌ„ many good thinges and no doubt of a good mind as De Triplice iustitia and other matters yet howe the deuill now by craftye meanes goeth about to bring to passe that all his workes for euer should be condemned for by
thy selfe to be the seruaunt of the sheepe and not theyr Lorde for I haue not geuen the sheepe for the shepheard but the shepheard for the sheepe He that sitteth downe is greater then he that doth minister and serue vnto hym Whiche thinge was well knowen of hym which truely sayde Wee are your seruauntes for Christes cause But for what purpose haue I geuen thee vnto y e house of Israell That thou shouldest onely minister the Sacramentes consecrate wood stoones churchyardes this I take God to witnesse with great sighes and grones I write vnto you Pastouâ—s seruauntes to the congregation for Christes cause and not maisters pouring out before you the griefe of my hart No truely What then First followeth the office of the byshop Thou shalt heare the word of God out of my mouth This is but a short lesson but suche as all the world cannot comprehende without they bee inwardly taught of GOD. And what els meaneth this The true office of pastors well described out of Ezechiell Out of my mouth thou shalt heare the word but that thou shalt be taught of God Therfore as many as are not taught of God althoughe they be neuer so well exercised in the Scriptures by manns helpe yet are they not watchmen geuen by God and muche â—â—ue they which do not vnderstand and know the Scriptures And therfore such as these be least they should keep silence and say nothing are alwayes harping vpon the traditioÌ„s and doctrines of men that is lyes for hee that speaketh of himselfe speaketh lyes Of this it is written 1. Tim. 1. They would be doctours of the lawe not vnderstandyng what they speake neyther of whome they speake Such of necessitie they must all be who speake that with theyr mouth which they doe not beleue because they are not inwardly taught of God neither are perswaded in their harts that it is true and therefore they are to be accompted as sheepe although they boaâ—â—e themselues to be shepheardes But contrariwise touchyng the true and learned Pastors geuen by God it may be truly said we speake that which we know 1 Iohn 1. The propertie of true pastors and that whiche we haue seene euen with the infallible eyes of our fayth we doe witnesse and these are neyther deceyued neither do deceiue Moreouer the deceiuers proceede to worse and worse erring themselues and bringing others also to errour and because they are of the worlde the worlde doth willingly heare them 1. Iohn 4. They are of the worlde saith S. Iohn and therefore they speake those thinges whiche are of the worlde and the world geueth eare vnto them Behold reuerent father this is the touchstone of oure daily preaching Hath not the world geuen eare vnto theÌ„ now a long tyme with great pleasure and delite But the flesh could neuer suffer y e preaching of the crosse nor yet the wisedome of the flesh which is enemy vnto God neyther is subiect vnto hys law nor cannot be And why then are they accused to be heretickes and Schismatickes A true note of sincere doctrine whiche will not seek to please men but onely to theyr edifying beyng mindfull of that place of Scripture God hath dispearsed the bones of them whiche please men saying vnto them speake vnto vs pleasaunt thinges But nowe setting these matters passe wee will come vnto the second poynt Esay 30. wherein you aske how a man should preach better Forsooth if wee had heard of him whoÌ„ the father spake saying This is my dearly beloued sonne in whome I am well pleased heare hym An information to preachers to preach rightly Who also speaking of hymself said it was meete that Christ should suffer and rise agayne the third daye from death and that in his name repentaunce and remission of sinnes should be preached vnto all people What other thing is that theÌ„ the same which the other Euangelists do write Goe ye into the whole world preach the Gospell vnto euery creature he that beleueth and is Baptised Math. 28. shal be saued What can be more pleasaunt sweete or acceptable vnto afflicted consciences being almost in despayre then this most ioyfull tidinges But here whether Christ haue bene a long time heard I know not for that I haue not heard all the preachers of England and if I heard them yet till it was within thys yeare or two I could not sufficiently iudge of them But this I dare be bolde to affirme that as manye as I haue heard of late preach I speake eueÌ„ of the most famous they haue preached suche repentaunce that if I had heard suche preachers of repentaunce in tymes past I shoulde vtterly haue bene in despayre The preaching after the popes church is all to beate downe and not to lyft vp And to speak of one of these famous men not vttering hys name after he had sharpely inueyed against vyce wherein he pleased euery godly man for so much as it could not be sufficiently cryed out vpon hee concluded behold sayd he thou hast lyen rotten in thyne own lustes by the space of these 60. yeares euen as a beast in hys own doung and wilt thou presume in one yeare to go forward toward beauen and that in thyne age asmuch as thou wentest backwardes from heauen towardes hell 60. yeares Is not this thinke you a goodly argument Is this the preaching of repentaunce in the name of Iesus By this one you may see what all the rest are or rather to tread downe Christ with Antichristes doctrine for what other thing did he speake in effect theÌ„ that Christ dyed in vayne for thee He will not be thy Iesus or sauior thou must make satisfaction for thy selfe or els thou shalt perish eternally Then doth S. Iohn lye which sayth Beholde the Lambe of God whiche taketh away the sinnes of the worlde And in other place Marke the maner of the common preaching of the papistes 1. Iohn 1. His bloud hath cleansed vs from all our sins And agayne He is the propitiation for the sinnes of the whole world Besides an infinit nuÌ„ber of other places What other thing is this then that which was spoken by the holy Ghost by the mouth of Peter saying There shall be false teachers that shall deny the Lord Iesus which hath redemed them And what followeth vppon such doctrine of Deuils speaking lyes thorough hipocrisie a conscience dispayring and without all hope and so geueÌ„ ouer vnto al wicked lustes 〈…〉 and 〈…〉 popes 〈…〉 according to the saying oâ— S. Paule After that they be come to this poynt that they sorow no more they geue theÌ„selues ouer vnto wantonnes to commit all kinde of filthines euen with a greedy desire For seeing that it is impossible for them to make satisfaction to GOD either they murmure agaynst God or els they doe not beleue hym to be so cruell as they do preach and declare him to be The want of paper wyll not suffer
or see there This tale was no sooner brought to Doct. London by William Symons Filmers vtter ennemie but he sent for the poore man home to his house 〈◊〉 London 〈◊〉 broâ—â—â— agâ—ynst â—â—â—ther where he chearished hym with meat and money telling him he shoulde neuer lacke so long as he liued that y e seely poore man thinking to haue had a daily frend of D. London was content to do and say whatsoeuer he and Symons would haue hym say or do against his owne brother And when D. London had thus won the pore man he retained him as one of his houshold men vntill the court day was come and then sent him vp to witnes this foresaid tale against his brother Which â—ale Filmer denied vtterly saying that D. London for a little meat and drinke sake had set him on and made him to say what his pleasure was â—â—â—mers own â—â—â—ther 〈◊〉 agaynst 〈◊〉 wherfore my Lord quoth Filmer to the bishop I beseeche your Lordship weigh the matter indifferently 〈◊〉 witnes stand is aâ—â—â—nst the 〈◊〉 for as muche as there is no man in all thys towne y t can or will testifie with him that euer he heard any such talke betwene him and me and if he can bring forth any that wil witnes the same with him I refuse not to die But say what he could it would not preuaile Then Filmer seeing no remedy but that hys brothers accusemeÌ„t shuld take place he sayd Ah brother what cause hast thou to shew me this vnkindnes I haue alwaies ben a naturall brother vnto thee and thine and helped you all to my power from time to time as thou thy selfe knowest and is this a brotherly part 〈◊〉 cast 〈◊〉 by his 〈…〉 thus to rewarde me nowe for my kindnesse God forgeue it thee my brother geue thee grace to repent Then Filmer looking ouer his shoulder desired some good body to let him see the booke of statutes Hys wife being at the end of the hall and hearing her husband call for the booke of statutes ran downe to the keper and brought vp the booke gat it conueied to her husbaÌ„d The Bishop seeing the booke in his hand starte hym vp from the bench in a great sume 〈◊〉 Bishops â—â—â—demne 〈◊〉 not one without 〈◊〉 but 〈…〉 that â—â—ould not 〈…〉 by 〈…〉 the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 do the 〈…〉 say that 〈◊〉 did 〈◊〉 but by 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of 〈◊〉 iust 〈…〉 a 〈◊〉 accuser 〈◊〉 his 〈◊〉 demanding who had geueÌ„ the prisoner that booke commaunding it to be taken from him and to make searche who had brought it swearing by the faith of hys body he should go to prison Some sayd it was his wife some sayd the keeper Like inough my lord quoth Symons for he is one of the same sort as worthy to be heere as the best if he were rightly serued But howsoeuer it was the truthe would not be knowen and so the Bishop sate him downe againe Then sayd Filmer O my Lord I am this day iudged by a lawe why should not I see the lawe that I am iudged by The law is I should haue two lawfull witnesses and here is but one which would not doe as he doeth but that he is forced thereunto by the suggestion of mine ennemies Nay quoth Bucklayer the kynges atturney thyne heresie is so heinous and abhorteth thine owne brother so much that it forceth him to witnesse against thee which is more then two other witnesses Thus as ye see was Filmer brought vniustly to hys death by the malice of Symons and D. London who had enticed that wretched caitiffe his brother to be their minister to worke his confusion But God which is a iust reueÌ„ger of all falsehode wrongs would not suffer that wretch long to liue vppon earth but the next yeare followyng he beyng taken vp for a labourer to goe to Bullaine had not bene there three daies ere that in exonerating of nature a Gunne tooke him and tore him all to peeces And so was these woordes of Salomon fulfilled A false witnesse shall not remaine vnpunished Iohn Marbecke THen was Marbecke called and hys Inditement read The inditement of Marbecke whiche was that he shoulde say That the holy Masse when the Priest doeth consecrate the body of our Lorde is poluted deformed sinnefull and open robbery of the glory of God from the which a Christian hart ought both to abhorre and flee And the eleuation of the Sacramente is the similitude of the setting vp of Images of the calues in the Temple builded by Ieroboam and that it is more abhomination then the sacrifices done by the Iewes in Ieroboams temple to those calues And that certaine and sure it is that Christ himself is made in the masse mans laughing stocke To thys hee aunswered and sayde Marbecke aunswereth to his inditement that these woordes wherof they had indited him were not his but the wordes of a learned man called Iohn Caluine and drawn out of a certaine Epistle which the sayd Caluine had made whych Epistle he had but onely wrytten out and that long before the 6. Articles came foorth so that nowe he was discharged of that offence by the kings generall pardon desiring that he might enioy the benefite thereof Then was the Iurye called which were all Farmers belonging to the Colledge of Wyndsore Partiall dealing in calling the Iurye whereof fewe or none had euer sene those men before vppon whose life and death they went Wherfore the prisoners counting the farmers as partial desired to haue the Townes men or such as did know them and had sene their daily conuersations in the place of the Farmers or els to be equally ioyned w t them but that would not be for the matter was otherwise foreseene and determined Now when the Iury had taken theyr oth and al Bucklayer the kynges atturney began to speake Buclayer the kinges atturney a persecuter and first he alledged many reasons against Anth. Person to prooue him an hereticke Whych when Anth. woulde haue disprooued the Bishop sayd let him alone Syr he speaketh for the K. so went Bucklayer foorth with his matter making euery mans cause as hainous to the hearers as he coulde deuise And when he had done and sayd what he would then Sir Humfrey Foster spake to the Quest in the fauor of Marbecke on thys wise Maisters quoth hee Syr Humfrey Foster speaketh for Marbecke yee see there is no man here that accuseth or layeth any thyng to the charge of this poore man Marbecke sauing he hath written certaine things of other mens sayings with his owne hand wherof he is discharged by the kings generall pardon therfore ye ought to haue a conscience therin Then start vp Fachel at the lower ende of the benche and sayd Fachell a persecuter What can we tel whether they were wrytten before the pardone or after They may as well be wrytten since as afore for any thing that we
Papistes who will needes be both accusers and also â—â—dges in their owne opinions and causes and be not iudges your selues of your owne phantasticall opinions and vayne expositions for in such high causes ye may lightly erre And although you be permitted to reade holy scripture and to haue the worde of God in your mother tongue you must vnderstand that it is licenced you so to do onely to informe your owne conscience and to instruct your children and family and not to dispute and make scripture a rayling and a taunting stocke agaynst priestes and preachers as many light persons do I am very sory to know and heare how vnreuerently that most precious iewel the word of God is disputed rymed How are they 〈◊〉 to 〈◊〉 Gods word when none 〈…〉 to â—ead it vnder the degree of a Gâ—nâ—leman song iangled in euery Alehouse and Tauerne contrary to the true meaning and doctrine of the same And yet I am euen as muche sory â— Hierom wisheth the Scriptures not onely to be read of all men but also to be song of women at their rockes of plowmen at the plow of 〈◊〉 at their loome c. that the readers of the same folow it in doing so faintly coldly For of this I am sure that charity was neuer so faynt amongest you vertuous * Godly liuing though it encrease not with the Gospel so much as we wisheâ— yet the defecte thereof is not to bee imputed to the Gospel And if we well coÌ„pare tyme with time we shall find by vewing the bookes of the old Warmot questes of 〈◊〉 and baâ—des and wicked liuers 〈◊〉 presented to one nowe besides 〈◊〉 the common stues godly liuing was neuer less vsed nor god himselfe amongest Christians was neuer lesse reuerenced honored or serued Therfore as I sayde before be in charitye one with an other like brother and brother Loue dread and serue God to the which I as your supreme head and soueraigne Lord exhort and require you and then I doubt not but that loue and league that I spake of in the beginning shall neuer be dissolued or broken betwene vs. And as touching the lawes which be now made and concluded I exhort you the makers to be as diligent in putting them in execution as you were in making furthering the same or els your labour shall be in vayne your coÌ„mon wealth nothing relieued Notes vpon the foresayd exhortation The kinges Oration expeÌ„ded with notes vpon the same PRinces which exhort to concorde and charitie doe well but Princes which seeke out the causes of discord reforme the same do much better The papist and protestant Hereticke and Pharisee the old Mumpsimus and the newe Sumpsimus be teâ—mes of variance and dissention and be I graunt Symtomata of a sore wound in the commoÌ„ wealth but he that will amend this wound must first beginne to search out the causes and to purge the occasion thereof otherwise to cure the sore outwardlye whiche inwardlye doth fester and ranckle still it is but vayne The roote and ground of al this greeuance riseth here of the prelates and clergy of Rome seeking as it seemeth altogether after riches pompe honour of this world to mayntayn y e same vnder pretence of religion doe in verye deed subuert religioÌ„ vnder y e title of the church they bring into the churche manifest errours absurdities intollerable who pretending to be fathers of the churche if they transgressed but in maners and lightnes of life or neglygence of gouernement they might be borne withall for peace concords sake and here modesty ciuillitie quietnes vnitie charitie might haue place amongst modest natures But now they obscure the glory of the sonne of God which in no case ought to be suffered they extinct the light grace of the Gospell they clogge mens consciences they set vp Idolatry mayntayn Idols they bring in false inuocation they restrayne lawfull matrimonye whereby groweth filthy pollution adultery and whoredome in the Church vnspeakable they corrupt the sacramentes they wrast the scripture as worldly purposes they kill and persecute Gods people Briefly theyr doctrine is damnable theyr lawes be impious their doinges are detestable And yet after all this they crept craftely into the hartes of princes vnder the title of the Church coulor of concord making kinges and princes beleue that all be heretickes and schismatickes which will not be subiect to their ordinary power Now almighty God who is a ielous God not suffering the glory of his sonne to be defaced nor his truth to be troden vnder foot stirreth vp againe the harts of his people to vnderstaÌ„d his truth to defend his cause WhervpoÌ„ of those two partes as two mighty flintes thus smiting together coÌ„meth out the sparcle of this diuisioÌ„ which by no wise can be quenched but that one part must nedes yeld geue ouer There is no neutrality nor mediatioÌ„ of peace nor exhortation to agremeÌ„t that will serue betwene these two contrary doctrines but either the Popes errors must geue place to Gods word or els the veritye of God must geue place vnto them Wherefore as the good intent and plausible Oration of the king in this behalf was not to be discommended in exhorting his subiectes to charity so had he much more deserued commendation if he hadde sought the right way to worke charity to helpe innocency amongst his subiects by taking away the impious law of the 6. articls the mother of all diuision and manslaughter For what is this to the purpose to exhort in wordes neuer so much to charity and in deed to geue a knife to the murtherers hand to run vpon his naked brother which neither in conscience can leaue his cause nor yet hath power to defend himselfe As by experience here foloweth to be seene what charity ensued after this exhortation of the king to charity by the racking and burning of good Anne Askew with 3. other poore subiectes of the king within halfe a yeare after whereof shortly you shall heare more declared When these Chauntries and colledges thus by Acte of ParliameÌ„t wert geuen into the kings hands as is aboue remembred which was about the moneth of DeceÌ„ber an 1545. the next Lent following D. Crome preaching in the Mercers chappel among other reasons and persuatioÌ„s to rouse the people from the vayn opinion of Purgatory inferred this grounding vpon the sayd act of parliameÌ„t that if Trentals and Chauntry masses could auayle the soules in Purgatory then did the Parliament not wel in geuing away Monasteryes Colledges chauÌ„tries which serued principally to that purpose But if the parliament did wel as no maÌ„ could deny in dissoluing them D. Cromes Dilemma agaynst priuate masses and bestowing the same vpon the king then is it a playne case that such Chauntries and priuate masses do nothing conferre to relieue them in Purgatory This dilemma of D. Crome no doubt was insoluble D.
their mother helde taught and communed of the sayd errours within their house diuers times by the space of those three yeares past as well on holy dayes as working dayes affirming and teaching that the saide opinions were good and lawfull and to be holden and maintained and agreemente was made amongst them that none of them should discouer or bewray eyther of these beliefes in any wise Finally that they neuer heard their sayd father and mother holding nor reaching any other opinions then be the said errours against the Sacrament of the altar and pilgrimages offerings worshipping of Saints and Images as farre as they could remember c. Ex verbis Regist. Heere hast thou Christian reader before thine eyes an horrible spectacle of a singular yea of a double impietie first of an vnnaturall husband Example of an vnnaturall husband and of vnnaturall children witnessing against his own wife and of as vnnaturall children accusing and witnessing against their owne naturall mother Which although they had so done the cause being of it selfe iust and true as it was not yet had they done more then nature woulde haue led them to do Now the case being such as which by Gods word standeth firme sound and perfect what impietie were it for men to accuse a poore innocent in case of heresie which is no heresie Now besides all this the husband to come in against his owne wife and the children to bring in the knife wherewith to cut the throate of theyr owne naturall mother that bare them that nourished theÌ„ that brought them vp what is this but impietie vpon impietie Great impiety of the husband toward the wife prodigious and horrible for all Christian eares to heare And yet the greatest impietie of all resteth in these pretensed Catholickes and Clergiemen which weare the authors and causers of all this mischiefe The cause why this good woman so stood as she dyd in the deniall of these foresaid articles obiected Greater impiety in the children against the mother was thys for that she neuer thought that her husband and her owne children who onely were priuie of her Religion would testifie agaynst her Whom notwithstanding after she perceaued to come in and to depose this agaynst her denying stil as she did before that she did euer hold such maner of errours Greatest impiety of all in the Clergy men the authors hereof and being now destitute of all frends and comfort brast out in these woordes openly as the register reporteth that she repented the time that euer she bare those children of her body And thus the Archb. with his Doctours hauing now the thing that they sought for albeit she was ready to deny all errours Ex Regist. W. Warrham Fol. 177. and to conforme her selfe to theyr religion yet notwithstanding they refusing her readines and conformitie proceeded to theyr sentence and so condemned her to death Agnes Grebell condemned by the sentence of the Archb. Robert Harrison examined W. Carder Agnes Grebyll Robert Harison Martyrs After whose condemnation next was brought to examination Rob. Harrison whom in like maner because he stoode in his deniall contrary witnesses agaynst him were produced to wit Christofer Grebyll W. Rich W. Olberd Agnes Iue who a litle before had bene abiured and therfore were so much the more apt and appliable to serue the Bishops humour for daunger of relapse After the deposition conuiction of which witnesses although he submitted himselfe to repentaunce and conformitie yet notwythstanding it would not be receaued but sentence was read he condemned with the other two aforesayd vnto y e fire And thus these three were condemned and burned certificate geuen vp of them together to the king froÌ„ Warrham the Archbishop vpon the same An. 1511. Maij. 2. Ex Regist. Cant. Ouer and besides these three godly martyrs aboue recited I finde in the foresayd Registers of W. Warrham Io. Browâ—â— Edward Walker Martyrs ij other godly like martirs also in the same yeare and for the same xij articles aboue specified to be condemned vpon y e depositions of certayne witnesses brought in agaynst theÌ„ to wyt Tho. Harwod Phillip Harwod Witnesses agaynst these two Martyrs Stephen Castelyn W. Baker Rob. Reynold Ioh. BaÌ„pton Rob. Bright W. Rich. c. whereupon they were adiudged likewise for heretickes to be burned the yeare aforesayd 1511. y e names of which two martyrs were Iohn Brown and Edward Walker Ex Regist. W. Warrh fol. 179. Nowe as you haue heard the names of these blessed Martyrs with their articles recited let vs also heare the tenor of the Bishops sentence by the which they were condemned one after an other Their sentence contayneth one vniforme maner of wordes in forme as followeth * The tenour of the sentence IN nomine Dei Amen Nos Willielmus permissione diuina Cantuariensis Archiepis totius Angliae primas Apostolicae sedis Legatus The 〈◊〉 nation of these 〈◊〉 aforesayd martyrs in quodam negotio hereticae prauitatis contra te Willielmum Carder de Tenterden nostrae Cant. Dioceseos laicum ac nostro imperio notoriè subditum subiectum coram nobis in iudicio personaliter comparentem nobis super heretica prauitate huiusmodi detectum delatum ac per nostram Diocesim Cantuariae antedictae notoriè publicè in ea parte apud bonos graues diffamatum ex officio mero ritè canonicè precedentes auditis intellectis visis cognitis rimatisque ac matura deliberatione discussis ponderatis dicti negotij meritis seruatisque in omnibus per omnia in eodem negotio de iure seruandis ac quomodo libet requisitis pro tribunali sedentes Christi nomine inuocato solum Deum prae oculis habentes Quia per acta actitata deducta probata exhibita coram nobis in eodem negocio inuenimus te per probationes legitimas coram nobis in hac parte iudicialiter factas nonnullos varios errores haereses damnatas opiniones iuri diuino ecclesiastico obuiantes contrarios repugnantes contra fidem orthodoxam determinatam obseruatam tenuisse credidisse affirmasse predicasse dogmatizasse presertim contra Sacramenta altaris seu eucharistiae poenitentiae ordinis alia Sacramenta sanctae matris Ecclesiae dogmata Et quamuis nos Christi vestigijs inhaerendo qui non vult mortem peccatoris sed magis vt conuertatur viuat sepenumero conati fuimus te corrigere ac vijs modis licitis canonicis quibus potuimus aut sciuimus ad fidem orthodoxam per vniuersalem Catholicam Apostolicam Ecclesiam determinatam obseruatam ac ad vnitatem eiusdem sanctae matris Ecclesiae reducere tamen inuenimus te adeo durae ceruicis quòd tuos errores haereses huiusmodi nolueris sponte incontinenti confiteri nec ad fidem Catholicam vnitatem sanctae matris Ecclesiae antedictas debitè reuerti
this blessed Martyr ended his life in peace anno 1511. This story the sayd Elizabeth Browne his wife did oft times repeate to Alice her daughter who dwelling yet in the parish of S. Pulchers testified the narration heereof vnto me and certayne other vppon whose credible information I haue recorded the same Witnes to thys story Furthermore it is to be noted that the sayde Iohn Browne bare a fagot seauen yeares before this in the dayes of King Henry the seauenth Whose sonne also named Richard Browne for the like cause of Religion was imprisoned at Caunterbury Rich. Browne escaped burning by the comming in of the Queene Elizabeth likewise in the latter tyme of Queene Mary and should haue bene burned with two mo besides himselfe the next day after the death of Queene Mary but that by the proclaiming of Queene Elizabeth they escaped Amongst other iniunctions and letters of king Henry the eight written and set forth for reformation of religion he wrate one letter to Edmund Bonner for abolishing of Images pilgrimages shrines and other monuments of Idolatry Which letter being before expressed pag. 1229 we should also haue annexed to the same the letter or mandate of Bonner directed in latin to Richard Cloney hys Somner appertayning to the due execution therof Which letter because we haue omitted before the defect thereof I thought heere in this vacant space to supply The letter written to Cloney in latin thus beginneth Bonners letter to Cloney keeper of the Cole-house for the abolishing of Images EDmundus permissione Diuina Lond. Episc. Dilecto nobis in Christo Richardo Cloney literato Apparitori nostro generali salut grat benedictionem 〈…〉 Latine 〈◊〉 yet 〈◊〉 read 〈…〉 yet here 〈◊〉 is called 〈◊〉 Cum nos 13. die mensiâ— instantis Octob. circa noctem literas serenissimi c. The same in English FOr asmuch as the 13. day of this present we haue receyued the letters of our soueraigne Lord by the grace of God King of England c. to vs diâ—ected and conteyning in them the commaundement of his Maiestie by vs to be executed in tenour of words which heere I send vnto you we therefore willing and desiring according as our duty bindeth vs to put the same in execution with all diligence possible according to the effect and tenour thereof Had 〈◊〉 none to 〈◊〉 these 〈◊〉 thinges but 〈◊〉 the keepeâ— of the 〈◊〉 house do charge and straightly commaund you by the tenour heereof in the Kings behalfe and for the fidelitie whych we haue in you assuredly approued that you incontinent vpon the receite heereof do effectually warne all and singular Parsons and Vicars of this Citie of London and of all our dioces that they immediately vpon the sight and intimation of these present Articles and interrogatories heere vnder written do cause diligent and effectuall inquisition thereof to be made to witte Whether there be vsed or continued any superstition hypocrisie or abuse within any their parishes or Cures contrary to anye ordinaunce iniunction or commaundement geuen or set foorth by the Kings Maiestie or by his authoritie Item whether they haue in their Churches or within theyr parishes any shrines couerings of shrines tables of fayned myracles pilgrimages Images and bones resorted and offered vnto and other monuments and things wherewith the people haue bene illuded or any offering or setting vp of lights or candles other then be permitted by the Kings Maiesties Iniunctions or whether the said Iniunctions be duely obserued and kept in their Parishes or Cures or else transgressed and broken and in what part And further after the sayd Inquisition thus by them and euery of them respectiuely being made that you do certifie vs or our Vicare generall what is done in the premisses vpon the euen of Simon and Iude or thereabout vnder the perill thereof following Dat. 14. die Octob. an 1541. nostrae translat 2. The ende of the eyght booke Edward 6. ¶ The Ninth Booke containing the Actes and thinges done in the Reigne of King EDWARD the sixt NExt after the death of K. Henry succeded king Edwarde his sonne being of the age of 9. yeres He began his raigne the 28. day of Ianuary and raygned 6. yeares and 8. monethes and 8. dayes and deceased ann 1553. the 6. day of Iulye Of whose excellente vertues singuler graces wrought in him by the gift of God although nothing canne be sayd enough to his commendation yet because the renowmed same of such a worthye prince shall not vtterlye passe our story without some gratefull remembraunce I thought in few wordes to touch some litle portion of his prayse taken out of great heapes of matter which might be inferred For to stand vppon all that might be sayde of him it would be to long and yet to say nothing it were to much vnkinde If kinges and Princes which haue wisely and vertuously gouerned haue fouÌ„d in all ages writers to solemnise and celebrate theyr Actes and memory such as neuer knew them nor were subiect vnto theÌ„ how much theÌ„ are we English men bound not to forget our duety to K. Edward a prince although but tender in yeres yet for his sage and mature rypenes in witte and all Princely ornamentes as I see but few to whom he may not be equal Commendation of K. Edward so agayne I see not many to whom he may not iustly be preferred And here to vse the example of Plutarch in comparing kings and rulers the Latines with the Greekes together if I should seek with whom to match this noble Edward I finde not with whom to make my match more aptly theÌ„ with good Iosias For as the one began his raigne at eight yeares of his age so the other beganne at 9. Neyther were their acts and zelous procedings in Gods cause much discrepant For as milde Iosias pluckt downe the hil altars cut downe the groues Anno. 1547. and destroyd all monuments of Idolatry in the temple the like corruptioÌ„s drosse and deformities of Popish Idolatry crept into the Church of Christ or long time this Euangelicall Iosias king Edwarde remoued Comparison betwene King Iosias and King Edward 6. purged the true temple of the Lorde Iosias restored the true worship of God in Ierusalem and destroid the Idolatrous priestes King Edward in England likewise abolishing Idolatrous Masses and false inuocation reduced agayne religion to a right sincerity more would haue brought to perfection if life and time had aunswered to his godly purpose And though he killed not as Iosias did the idolatrous sacrifices yet he put them to sileÌ„ce and remoued them out of theyr places Moreouer in king Iosias dayes the holy Scripture booke of Gods word was vtterly neglected and cast aside whiâ—h he most graciously repayred restored agayne And did not K. Edwarde the like with the selfe same booke of Gods blessed worde and with other wholesome bookes of Christian doctrine which before were decayed and
abuses we haue thought good to geue you these Iniunctions following 1 First ye shall preach at Paules Crosse in London Certayne priuat Articles inioyned to Boneâ— by the Counsaile Boner admonished to preach euery quaâ—ter at Paules Crosse. in proper person the Sonday after the date hereof iij. weeks and in the same Sermon declare and set forth the Articles hereunto annexed and ye shall preach hereafter once euery quarter of the yere there exhorting in your Sermon the people to obedience prayer and godly liuyng and ye shall be present at euery sermon hereafter made at Paules Crosse if sickenesse or some other reasonable cause doe not let you 2 Secondly you your selfe in person shall from hencefoorth euery day which heeetofore was accounted in this Church of England principall feast or Maius duplex and at all such tymes as the Bishops of London your predecessours were woont to celebrate and sing high masse now celebrate and execute the Communion at the hygh aultare in Paules for the better example of all other except sickenes do let 3 Thirdly ye shall your selfe according to your duetie the office of a bishop cal before you all such as do not come vnto and frequent the Common prayer and seruice in the Church or do not come vnto gods boord and receyue the Communion at the lest once a yeare or whosoeuer do frequent or go vnto any other rite or seruice then is appointed by our booke either of Mattins Euensong or masse in any church Chappell or other priuate places within your Dioces and ye shall see all such offenders conuented before you and punished accordyng vnto the Ecclesiasticall lawes with seuere and strait punishment therfore Lykewise ye shall see one onely order vsed in your Diocesse according to our sayd booke and none other 4 Fourthly ye shall both by your selfe and all your officers vnder you search out conuent before you more diligently then heretofore ye haue done as appertaineth to your office all adulterers and see the same punished according to the ecclesiastical lawes and to the authority geuen you in that behalfe 5 We haue heard also complaintes that the Churche of Paules and other Churches of London are of late more neglected as wel in reparation of the glasse as other buildings and ordinaunces of the same then they were heretofore woont and that diuers and many persons in the citie of malice denyeth the payment of their due tith to their Curates wherby the Curates are both iniured and made not so well able and in maner discouraged to do theyr dueties The which thyng also our will and commaundement is ye shall diligently looke vnto and see redressed as appertaineth 6 And forasmuch as al these complaints be made as most done committed in London Boner Bishop of LondoÌ„ commaunded to keepe his owne house to the intent you may looke more earnestly better and more diligently to the reformation of them our pleasure is that you shal abide and keepe residence in your house there as in the citie sea and principall place of your Dioces and none other where for a certaine tyme vntill you shal be otherwise licensed by vs. And thus hauing brought B. Boner home to his own house there to leaue hym a while to take his ease in hys owne lodging til we returne to him againe we wil in the meane tyme make a little intercourse into Cornewall and Deuonshire to discourse some part of the disordered and disloyall doings of those men against their so meeke and excellent a prince The rebels in Cornewall and Deuonshyre hauing no cause ministred therunto yea hauyng cause rather to yeld prayse and thanks to the lord for such a quiet and peaceable prince in his mercy geueÌ„ vnto them But such is the condition of vnquiet natures that they cannot skill of peace And where due discretioÌ„ lacketh there lewd disposed persons cannot tel when they be wel againe some be so crooked and so peruersly geuen that the more curteously they be intreated the worse they are and when by honest diligence they lift not to get their liuyng by publike disturbance of common weales they thinke to thriue And so seemed it to fare with this seditious people of Cornewall and Deuonshire who hauyng so good and vertuous a kyng that if they should haue sought hym as Diogenes they say did seeke for a man with a candle a meeker and better soueraigne they could not haue found a crueller they well deserued yet were they not with him contented but contrary to al order reason nature and loialtie aduaunced themselues in a rebellious conspiracie against hym and agaynst his proceedings through the pernitious instigation first as it seemeth of certaine popish priestes who grudgyng and disdainyng agaynst the Iniunctions and godly order of reformation set forward by the king Popishe priestes first stirrers of this rebellion and specially mourning to see their olde popishe Church of Rome to decay ceased not by all sinister subtile meanes first vnder Gods name and the kings vnder coulour of religion to perswade the people then to gather sides and to assemble in companies to gather Captaines All wickednes first beginneth vnder faire pretenses and at last to brast out in ranke rebellion Neither lacked there amongst the lay sort some as seditiously disposed as they to mischiefe and madnesse as well Gentlemen as other Of whom the chiefe Gentlemen Captains were Humfrey Arundell Esquire gouernour of the Mount Iames Rosogan Iohn Rosogan Iohn Payne Thomas Underhil Captaines of the rebelles in Deuonshyre Iohn Soleman William Segar Of priests which were principall stirrers and some of them gouernours of the Camps and after executed were to the number of 8. whose names were Rob. Bochim Iohn Tompson Roger Barret Priestes rebelles and traytors against the king Iohn Wolcoke Wil. Asa Iames Mourton Iohn Barow Rich. Benet besides a multitude of other popish priests which to the same faction were adioyned The number of the whole rebellion speakyng with y e lest mounted litle lesse then to the summe of ten thousand stout traitors These hearing first of the commotions which began about the same tyme in other parts to broyle as in Oxfordshire Diuers Commotions in K. Edwardes tyme suppressed Yorkeshire and especially in Northfolke Suffolk began to take therin some courage hoping that they shold haue well fortified the same with quarell But afterward perceiuyng how the mischieuous mutterings and enterprises of their conspiracie did sodenly fayle eyther beyng preueÌ„ted by tyme or repressed by power or that their cause beyng but onely about pluckyng down of enclosures and enlarging of commons was deuided from theirs so that eyther they would not or could not ioyne their ayde together then began they againe to quayle and their courage to debate Notwithstanding for so much as they had gone so far that they thought there was no shrinking back they fell to new deuises and inuentions for the best furtherance of
inprimis charos à moerore ac sollicitudine ad spem atque expectationem certae â—alu is vocare sacere noÌ„ potuimus quin gratias sereni vestrae pro taÌ„ proÌ„pta ac benigna voluÌ„tate non modo huius beneficij sed etiaÌ„ perpetuae inter nos ac regna nostra conseruandae ac colende amicitiae ageremus quantum in nobis esset quod ad applectanda persequendaque haec auspicata initia pertineret nihil praetermitteremus Neque vero nobis de clementia ac moderatione Sere vestrae vnquam dubium fuit quam deus opt max. ad gloriam sui nominis fructum pub vtilitatis vt magis ac magis efflorescere velit ex animo optamus Proinde cum ob rationes aerarias neque aliud grauius delictum D. Couerd teneri Sere vestra scribat est sanè vt ipsius causa laetemur eoque minus ambigamus liberationem incolumitatemque eius nostris precibus liberaliter donati Nam accepimus ipsum episcopatu cuius nomine aerario obstrictus fuerat cessisse vt inde satisfactio peteretur maxime cum neque diu eo potitus fuisse neque tantum emolumenti inde percepisse dicatur Quinetiam si qua rationum perplexitas aut alia forte causa reperiri posset tamen sollicitudinem ac dubitationem nobis Serenitatis vestrae tam amice atque officiose defereÌ„tes literae omnem exemerunt vt existimemus Sere vestraÌ„ quoad eius fieri posset magis honorem nostrum quam quid ab eo exigi possit consideraturam Itaque Sere vestram repetitis precibus vrgere non constituimus sed potius testatum facere quam accepta nobis Sere vest gratificatio sit cuius ralem euentum omnino speramus vt ipse Couerd coram vobis suae incolumitatis à Sere vest exoratae beneficium propediem repraesentare possit Illud vero imprimis Seren. vest vicissim persuasum esse cupimus nos non solum referendae gratiae sed etiam stabilendae proueheÌ„dae que inter nos ac regna vtrinque nostra amicitiae ac necessitudinis mutuae occasionem aut facultatem nullam esse praetermissuros Deus opt max. Sere vest diu foeliciter ac beate incolumem esse velit Datae ex oppido nostro Ottoniensi 24. Septembr Anno 1554. Vester frater consanguineus Christianus The same in English ¶ Christierne by the grace of God King of Denmarke Norway Gotland and of the Vandales Duke of Sleswike Holston Stormar and Detmarsh Earle of Oldenburgh and Delmenhorst c. To the most noble princesse Lady Mary Queene of England Fraunce and Ireland defender of the fayth c. Our most dearely beloued sister and cosin wisheth prosperitie with good and luckie successe of all thyngs WE haue receiued your Maiesties letters whereby auÌ„swere is rendred The same epistle in Englishe that very graciously vnto our petitioÌ„ which we made for the safegard of maister Couerdall late called bish of Exon. So that we perceiue though he be in dauÌ„ger for an other cause then was signified vnto vs afore yet your maiestie will so regard our intercession that Couerdale him selfe shall vnderstand it to haue done him good To the which regall promise seyng we as reason is we should do attribute so much that trusting vnto y e same we doubt not where as he beyng in captiuitie his frendes whom we specially tender are therfore in heauinesse and care your good promise doth call them from such sorow solicitude to the hope expectation of his assured welfare we could not do otherwise but reÌ„der thaÌ„kes vnto your maiesty for such your ready gracious good will not onely in respect of this benefite but also of the coÌ„seruation keping of perpetuall amitie betwene vs our realmes so as much as in vs lyeth to omit nothing that to the norishing coÌ„tinuance of these fortunate beginnings might appertaine Neither had we euer any doubt coÌ„cerning the clemeÌ„cie moderation of your goodnes whom we hartily beseech almighty God euer more and more prosper vnto the glory of his name profite of the coÌ„mon weale Wherfore seyng your Maiestie writeth that maister Couerdale is in dauÌ„ger for certaine accomptes of money not for any other more greeuous offence we haue cause on his behalfe to reioyce therfore we doubt so much the lesse that at our request he shall graciously haue his deliueraÌ„ce geueÌ„ him and be out of daunger For as touching the Byshoprike by reason whereof he came in debt we vnderstaÌ„d he yelded it vp that paymeÌ„t might thereof be required specially seing he is reputed neither to haue enioyed it loÌ„g neither to haue had at any time so great coÌ„modity of it More ouer though it be possible to finde some perplexitie in the accoÌ„pt or happily some other cause yet your maiesties letters offering such fauour and benignitie haue taken from vs all carefulnesse and doubt In so much that we thinke your maiestie as much as may be will haue more respect vnto our honour then vnto that whiche might of hym be required And therefore wee purpose not to trouble your Maiestie by repeting of our petition but to declare howe greatly we esteeme it that your maiestie would gratify vs herein whereof we plainely hope for such an end that Couerdale him selfe shall shortly in our presence make declaration concerning the benefite of his welfare obtayned of your maiestie And of this wee desire your maiestie to be specially assured agayne that wee will not onely omit no occasion or oportunitie to requite this benefite but also to establish and amplifie our mutual loue amitie betweene vs and our realms on either side Almighty God preserue your maiestie in prosperous health and felicitie Geuen at our Citie of Otton the 24. of Septemb. Ann. D. 1554. To these letters it was a great while before the queene would aunswere At length through great sute made the next yeare the 18. of February she aunswered agayne in this wise ¶ Sereniss principi D. Christiano Dei gratia Daniae c. Regi Sleswici c. Duci Comiti in Oldenburgh c. fratri amico nostro charissimo MAria dei gratia Regina Angliae Franciae Neapolis February 18. The answere of Queene Mary to the King of Denmarkes letter M. Couerdale deliuered and 〈◊〉 sent to the King of Denmarke Hierusalem Hyberniae c. Serenissimo principi Christiano eadem gratia Daniae Noruegiae Gothorum Vandalorum Regi Slesuici Holsatiae Stormariae Ditmersiae Duci Comiti in Oldenburgh Delmenhorst c. fratri amico nostro chariss salutem prosperumue rerum incrementum Cum intellexerimus ex Serenitatis vestrae literis quas hic nuntius nobis attulit desyderium vestrum obtinendi â nobis pro M. Couerdalo subdito nostro exeundi è regno nostro ad vos proficiscendi facultatem facile quidem in V. Serenitatis gratiam hanc illi facultatem concessimus Et quanquam