is the mount Sion here I am already in heauen it selfe Here standeth first Christ Iesus in the fronte About him stande the olde fathers Prophetes and Euangelistes Apostles and al the seruauntes of God Of whō some do embrace cherish me some exhort me some open the Sacramentes vnto me some comfort me other some singing about me And how then shall I be thought to be alone among so many such as these be The beholding of whome to me is both solace and example For here I see some crucified some slayne some stoned some cut a sonder and quartared some rosted some broyled some put in hoat caulderns some hauing theyr eyes bored thorough some their tongues cut out some their skinne plucked ouer theyr heades some theyr handes and feete chopt off some put in kilnes and furnaces some cast downe headlong and geuen to the beastes and foules of the ayre to feed vpon It woulde aske a long time if I should recite all To be short diuers I see with diuers and sundrye tormentes excruciate yet notwithstanding all liuing and all safe One playster one salue cureth al their woundes which also geueth to them strength life so that I susteyne all these transitory anguishes smal afflictions with a quiet mind hauing a greater hope layd vp in heauen Neither do I feare mine aduersaries which here persecute me and oppresse me For he that dwelleth in heauē shal laugh them to scorne and the Lord shall deride them I feare not thousands of people which compasse me about The Lord my God shal deliuer me my hope my supporter my comforter who exalteth vp my head He shall smite al thē that stand vp against me without cause shal dash the teeth iawes of sinners a sunder for he only is all blessednes and maiestie The rebukes for Christes cause make vs iocant for so it is writtē If ye be rebuked scorned for the name of Christ happy be you for the glory and spirite of God resteth vpon you 1. Pet. 4. Be you therefore certified that our rebukes which are layd vpon vs redound to the shame and harm of the rebukers In this world there is no mansion firme to me and therfore I trauaile vp to the new Ierusalem which is in heauen which offereth it selfe vnto me without paying anye fine or Income Behold I haue entred already in my iourny wher my house standeth for me prepared and where I shall haue riches kinsfolks delites honours neuer fayling As for these earthly thinges here present they are transitory shadowes vanishing vapours and ruinous walles Briefly all is but very vanitie of vanities where as hope and the substance of eternitie to come are wanting Which the mercifull goodnes of the Lord hath geuen as companions to accompany me and to comfort me and now doe the same begin to worke and to bring forth fruites in me I haue trauayled hetherto laboured and swette early and late watching day and night and now my trauailes begin to come to effect Dayes and houres haue I bestowed vpon my studyes Behold the true countenaunce of God is sealed vpon me the Lord hath geuen myrth in my hart And therefore in the same will I lay me downe in peace and rest Psal 4. And who then shall dare to blame this our age consumed or say that our yeares be cut off What man can nowe cauill that these our labours are lost which haue followed founde out the Lord and maker of this worlde and whiche haue chaunged death with lyfe My portiō is the Lord sayth my soule therfore I will seek wayt for him Now then if to dye in the Lord be not to die but to lyue most ioyfully where is this wretched wordly rebell which blameth vs of folly for geuing away our liues to death O how delectable is this death to me to taste the Lords cup whiche is an assured pledge of true saluation for so hath the Lord himself forewarned vs saying The same that they haue done to mee they will also do vnto you Wherfore let the doltish worlde with hys blynd worldlings who in the bright sun shine yet goe stumblyng in darcknes being as blinde as betels cease thus vnwisely to carp against vs for our rash suffering as they count it To whome thus we aunswere agayne with the holy Apostle That neyther tribulation nor anguish nor hunger nor nakednes nor ieoperdy nor persecution nor sworde shal be able euer to seperate vs from the loue of Christ. We are slain al the day long we are made like sheep ordayned to the shābles Rom. 8. Thus do we resemble Christ our head which said That the Disciple cannot be aboue his master nor the seruant aboue his Lord. The same Lord hath also commanded that euery one shall take vp his crosse and followe him Luc. 9. Reioyse reioise my deare brethrē fellow seruants be of good cōfort when ye fal into sondry tentations Let your pacience be perfect on all parts For so is it foreshewed vs before is writtē That they which shall kill you shal think to do God good seruice Therfore afflictiōs death be as tokens sacraments of our election life to come Let vs then be glad sing to the Lord whē as we being cleare frō al iust accusation are persecuted geuen to death For better it is that we in doyng well do suffer if it so be the will of the Lord then doing euil 1. Pet. 3. We haue for our example Christ and the prophets whiche spake in the name of the Lord whom the children of iniquitie did quell and murder and now we blesse and magnifie them that then suffred Let vs be glad and ioyous in our innocencie and vprightnes The Lord shall reward them that persecute vs let vs referre all reuēgement to him I am accused of foolishnes for that I do not shrink frō the true doctrine knowledge of God do not rid me selfe out of these trobles whē with one word I may O the blindnes of man which seeth not the sunne shyning neither remēbreth the Lords words Consider therfore what he sayth You are the light of the world A city builded on the hil cannot be hid Neither do men light a candle put it vnder a bushell but vppon a candlesticke that it may shyne and geue light to them in the house And in an other place he sayth you shal be led before kinges rulers feare ye not them which kill the body but hym whiche killeth both body and soule Who soeuer shall confesse me before men him will I also cōfesse before my father whiche is in heauen And hee that denyeth me before men him will I also deny before my heauenly father Wherfore seing the words of the Lord be so playne how or by what authoritie will this wise counseller thē approue this hys counsayle which he doth geue God forbid that I shuld relinquish the commaundements of God and folowe the counsailes
whole world and doeth contrary to all that euer Christ ordained or commaunded What sayde they if he do all things after Gods ordinance and cōmandement should he then be his vicare Then saide he wold I beleue hym to be a good bishop at Rome ouer hys owne Diocesse and to haue no further power And if it pleased God I would euery bishop did this in their diocesse What inconuenience followeth that al Bishops should be ruled by man then should we liue a peaceable life in the Church of Christ and there should be no such seditions therein If euery Bishop would seke no further power then ouer his owne diocesse it were a goodly thing Nowe because all are subiecte to one all must doe and cōsent to al wickednes as he doth or be none of his This is the cause of greate Superstition in euerye kyngdome And what Bishoppe soeuer he be that preacheth the Gospel mainteyneth the truth is a true Bishop of y e church And doth not sayd they our holye father the pope mayntaine the Gospell Yes sayd he I thinke he doth read it peraduenture beleue it so do you also but neitheir he nor you do fixe the anker of your saluatiō therin Besides that ye beare such a good wil to it that ye keepe it close that no man may reade it but your selues when you preach god knoweth how you handle it in somuch that the people of Christ knoweth no Gospel wel neare but the popes Gospel so the blynd leade the blind both fall into y e pit In the true Gospell of Christ confidence is none but onely in your popish traditions and phantasticall inuentions Thē said a black Fryer to him God knoweth a blockhead doe we not preach the Gospell dayly The Popes gospell Benet weary of the Fryers talke Yes sayde he but what preaching of the Gospell is that when therwyth ye extoll superstitious thinges and make vs beleue y t we haue redemption through pardons and buls of Rome à poena culpa as ye terme it and by the merites of your orders ye make many brethren and sisters ye take yearly money of them ye bury them in your coates and in shrift ye beguile them yea and do a thousand superstitious thinges more a man may be weary to speake of them I see sayd the Fryer that thou art a damned wretche I will haue no more talke with thee Then stept to hym a gray fryer a doctor God knoweth of small intelligence layd before hym great and many daungers I take God to record sayd Benet my lyfe is not deare to me I am content to depart from it for I am weary of it seing your detestable doings to y e vtter destructiō of gods flock for my part I can no longer forbeare I had rather by death which I know is not far of depart this life y t I may no longer be partaker of your detestable idolatries superstitions or be subiect to Antichrist your pope Our pope said the Fryer is the vicar of God our waies are the wayes of God I pray you sayd Benet depart frō me tell not me of your wayes He is onely my way which saith I am the way the truth and the life In hys way will I walke his doinges shall be my example not yours nor your false popes His truth will I embrace not the lyes and falshood of you and your Pope His euerlasting life wil I seeke y e true reward of all faithful people Away frō me I pray you Uexe my soule no lōger ye shall not preuayle There is no good exāple in you no truth in you no lyfe to be hoped for at your hands Ye are all more vaine then vanitie it selfe If I should heare folowe you this day euerlasting death should hang ouer me a iust rewarde for all them that loue the life of thys worlde Away from me your company liketh me not Thus a whole weeke nighte and day was Benet applied of these and such other hypocrites It were an infinite matter to declare all things done saide to him in the time of his imprisonment and y e hate of the people y t time by meanes of ignorance Tho. Benet pacient cōstant was hote against him notwithstanding they could neuer mooue his patience He aunsweared to euery matter soberly and that more by the aid of Gods spirite then by any worldly studie I thinke he was at the least 50. yeres olde Being in prison his wife prouided sustenance for him when shee lamented he comforted her and gaue her many good and godly exhortatiōs and prayd her to mooue him nothing to apply vnto his aduersaries Thus when these godly Canons priestes wyth the monkes friers had done what they could and perceiued y t he would by no meanes relent Sentence read against Tho. Benet Tho. Benet deliuered to the secular power then they proceding vnto iudgement drewe out their bloudy sentence against hym condemning him as the maner is to be burned Whyche being done and the wryt which they had procured De comburendo being brought from London they deliuered hym the 15. of Ianuary 1531. vnto sir Tho. Denis Knyght then sherife of Deuonsh to be burned The milde martyr reioycing his ende to approche so neare as the sheepe before the shearer yelded himselfe w tall humblenes to abide and suffer the crosse of persecution And being brought to his execution in a place called Linerie dole without Exeter hee made his most humble confession and praier vnto almighty God and requested all the people to do the like for him whom he exhorted with such grauitie and sobriety wyth suche a pithie oration to seeke the true honouring of God Tho. Benet brought to the place of execution and y e true knowledge of him as also to leaue the deuises fantasies and imaginations of mans inuentions that all the hearers and beholders of him were astonied in great admiration In so much that the moste part of the people as also the Scribe who wrote the sentence of condemnation against him did pronounce and confesse that hee was Gods seruaunt and a good man The burning of Thomas Benet To whom the sayde Thomas Benet wyth an humble and a meeke spirite most patiently answeared Alas Syr trouble me not And holding vp his handes sayde Pater ignosce illis Whereuppon the Gentlemen caused the woode and furses to be set a fire The constāt ende and Martirdome of Tho. Benet and therewith this godly manne lifted vp his eyes and hands to heauen saying O Domine recipe spiritum meum and so continuing in his prayers did neuer stirre nor striue but most patiently abode the cruelty of the fire vntil his life was ended For the which the Lord God be praised and send vs his grace and blessing that at the latter day we may with hym enioy the blesse and ioye prouided and prepared for the elect children of
Queene Mary and her childe turned out of Latin into Englishe and ineuitable malediction and hast enioyned them that they should conceiue in sinne and beyng conceiued should be subiect to many and grieuous tormentes and finally be deliuered with the danger and ieopardy of their lyfe We beseech thee for thine exceeding great goodnes and bottomlesse mercy to mittigate the straightnes of that law Asswage thine anger for a while and cherish in the bosome of thy fauour and mercye our most gracious Queene Mary beyng now at the poynt of her deliuerance So helpe her that without danger of her lyfe she may ouercome the sorow and in due season bring forth a chyld in body beautifull and comely in mynd noble and valiant So that afterward she forgetting the trouble may with ioy laude prayse the bountifulnesse of thy mercy Anno 1554. Ianuary and together with vs praise and blesse both thee and thy holy name world withouten ende This Oh Lord we desire thee we beseeche thee and most hartily craue of thee Heare vs oh Lord and graunt vs our petition Let not the enemies of thy faith and of thy Church say Where is theyr God ¶ A solemne prayer made for king Phillip and Queene Maries childe that it may be a male chylde welfauoured and wittie c. A deuout prayer made by the Catholickes for Q Mary being great quicke with childe O Most mighty Lord God which regardest the prayer of the humble and despisest not their request bowe downe from thine high habitation of the heauens the eies of thy mercy vnto vs wretched sinners bowing y e knees of our hartes and with many and deepe sighes bewayling oure sinnes offences humbly with eyes intent hands displayed praying beseeching thee with the shield of thy protection to defend Mary thy seruant and our Queene who hath none other helper but thee and whom through thy grace thou hast willed to be conceiued with chyld and at the time of her trauaile graciously with the helpe of thy right hand deliuer her and from all danger with the child in her conceiued mercifully preserue It hath seemed good in thy sight mercifull Father by thy seruaunt Mary to worke these woÌ„ders that is to say in her hands to vanquish and ouerthrow the stout enemy to deliuer vs thy people out of the hands of * The Papistes call the Protestantes hereticks and enemies to the crosse of Christ euen as Achab called Elias the disturber of â—sraell when he was onely the disturber himselfe heretikes Infidels enemies to thee and to the crosse of thy beloued sonne Iesus Christ that of thy seruaunt thou mightest speake in farre countreys Therefore for these wonderfull workes which thou doest to thy seruaunts thou art magnified Lord God for euer and we thy people blesse thee the God of heauen which hast wrought vpon vs this great mercy and hast excluded from vs the heretike the enemy of truth the persecuter of thy church We know we know that we haue grieuously Lord sinned that we haue bene deceiued by vanitie and that we haue forsaken thee our God Our iniquities be multiplied on our head and our sinnes be increased vp to heauen and we our selues haue offended and our princes our priests for these our sinnes haue deserued an hypocrite to our prince our sinnes haue deserued a Tyrant to our Gouernour that should bryng our lyfe to bitternes We be not worthy to haue so gentle and mercifull a Queene so godly a ruler finally so vertuous a prince at the very beginning of whose raigne a new light as it were of Gods religion seemed to vs for to spring rise Q. Mary compared of the Papistes to Q. Iudith The Iews did blesse y e widow Iudith with one voice saying Thou art the glory of Ierusalem thou art the ioy of Israell thou art the honor of our people for that thou hast loued chastity and thou shalt be blessed for euer And we the English people with one agreeable consent do cry Make how forgetting his prayer he falleth to the praysing of Q Mary Thou Mary art the glory of England our ioy the honour of thy people for that thou hast embraced chastitie thine heart is strengthened for the hand of our Lord hath comforted thee and therfore thou shalt be blessed for euer But bow downe O most mercifull Father thine eare and open thine eyes and behold our affliction and our humble confession Thou knowest Lord that against Phillip not by humane but by thy ordinaunce our king and against thy seruaunt Mary by thy prouidence our Queene the restorers and maintainers of thy Testament of the faith most constaÌ„t defenders of thy church thou knowest I say that against these our two gouernors the enimies of thy holy * The TestameÌ„t setteth vp onely the glory of Christ. Testament of the Church thy spouse be most ranke Rebels and spitefull murmurers walking after their lustes whose mouth speaketh wordes of pride to the end they may set vp the kingdome of heretikes schismatikes By the power of their handes they would * If the chaunging of Gods promises destroying his inheritance stopping the mouthes of Gods people if contentions warres and schismes be tokens of heretickes who so great heretickes as the papists be chaunge thy promises and destroy thine inheritaunce and stop and shut vp the mouthes of them y t praise thee and extinguish the glory of thy catholike Church and aultar It is manifest and plaine how many contentioÌ„s how many conspiracies and seditions how great wars what tumults how many how great troublesome vexations how many heresies schismes for these be the most ready deuises and euident tokens of heretickes for our sinnes do hang ouer vs if thy seruant be taken from this life for we acknowledge that our Lord is omnipotent who hath pitched his dwellyng place in the midst of his people to y e intent to deliuer vs out of y e hands of our enemies Turne therfore thy countenance vnto vs shew vnto vs O Lord thy face Punish vs for our sinnes according to thy will pleasure onely now deliuer vs. We bowing the knees of our hart beseech thee that thou wilt not reserue vnto vs punishment for euer we shall prayse thee all the days of our life Heare our cry and the praier of thy people open to them the treasure of thy mercy thy gracious sauour the spring of liuely water Thou that hast begon make in the hand of the seruaunt a perfect worke Suffer not we pray thee the * Cry 〈◊〉 lowder 〈◊〉 Priest◠〈…〉 your God a sleepe The Lordâ— gaue a 〈◊〉 to Sâ—â—ra 〈◊〉 Eliâ—zabeth so did he noâ— to Q Maâ—â— faythlesse rebels to say of thy seruaunt and her Counsellours that they haue deuised matters which they cannot performe And graunt vnto thy seruant an happy and an easie trauail For it is not impossible to thy power nor indecent to thy
shoulde shortly dye feed wormes in his graue which meditation if all our Bishops spirituall men had vsed they had not for a litle worldly glory forsaken the word of God truth which they in king Edwardes dayes had preached and set forth nor yet to mayntaine the Bishop of Romes authority haue committed so many to the fire as they did But let vs returne to Doctor Taylour who at Chelmesford was deliuered to the Shiriffe of Suffolke and by him conducted to Hadley where he suffered When they were come to Lanham the Shiriffe staid there two daies and thither came to him a great number of GentlemeÌ„ and Iustices vpon great horses which all were appointed to ayde the Shiriffe These Gentlemen labored Doctor Tailor very sore to reduce him to the Romish religioÌ„ promising him his pardoÌ„ which said they we haue here for you They promised him great promotions yea a Bishopricke if he would take it but all theyr labor flattering wordes were in vayne For he had not built his house vppon the sand in perill of falling at euery puffe of wynde but vpon the sure and vnmoueable rocke Christ. Wherfore he abode constant and vnmoueable vnto the end After two dayes the Shiriffe his company led Doctor Taylour towardes Hadley D. Taylour 〈…〉 and comming within a two mile of hadley he desired to light of his horse to make water which done he lept and set a friske or twain as meÌ„ commonly do in daunsing Why Maister Doctour quoth the Shiriffe how do you now An other 〈…〉 of Dâ—â—tour Taylour He aunswered Well God be praysed good Mayster Shiriffe Neuer better for now I know I am almost at home I lacke not past two stiles to go ouer and I am euen at my fathers house But mayster Shiriff sayd he shall not we go through Hadley Yes sayd the Shiriffe you shall go through Hadley The sayd he D Taylour 〈…〉 O good Lord I thanke thee I shall yet once ere I dye see my flocke whom thou Lord knowest I haue most hartely loued and truly taught Good Lord blesse them keep them stedfast in thy word and truth WheÌ„ they were now come to Hadley and came riding ouer the bridge 〈…〉 confâ—rted D. Taylour at the bridgefoote waited a poore man with fiue small children who when he saw D. Taylour he and his children fell down vpon theyr knees and held vp their handes and cryed with a loud voice and sayd O deare father and good shepheard Doctour Taylour God helpe succour thee as thou hast many a time succoured me and my poore children Such witnes had the seruant of God of his vertuous charitable almes geueÌ„ in his life time For God would now the poore should testify of his good deeds to his singuler comfort to the example of others and confusion of his persecutors and tyrannous aduersaryes For the Shiriffe and other that lead him to death were wonderfully astonied at this and the Shiriffe sore rebuked the poore man for so crying The streets of Hadley were beset on both sides the way with men and women of the towne and countrey who wayted to see him whome when they beheld so led to death w t weeping eyes and lameÌ„table voyces they cryed saying one to another ah good Lord there goeth our good shepheard from vs The people lament D. Taylour that so faythfullye hath taught vs so fatherly hath cared for vs so godly hath gouerned vs. O mercifull God what shal we poore scattered Lambes do What shall come of this most wicked world Good Lord strengthen him and comfort him with such other most lamemtable and pitious voyces Wherefore the people were sore rebuked by the Shiriffe and the Catchpoles his men that led him And Doct. Taylour euermore sayde to the people I haue preached to you Gods word truth and am come this day to seale it with my bloud Comming agaynst the Almes houses which hee well knew he cast to the poore people money which remayned of that good people had geuen him in time of his imprisonment As for his liuing they tooke it from him at his fyrst going to prison so that he was susteined all the time of his imprisonment by the charitable almes of good people that visited him D. Taylour liued 〈…〉 and gaâ—e â—lmes Therfore the money that now remayned he putte in a gloue ready for the same purpose as is sayd gaue it to the poore AlmesmeÌ„ standing at theyr dores to see him And comming to the last of the almes houses and not seing the poore that there dwelt readye in theyr dores as the other were he asked is the blinde man and blinde woman that dwelt here aliue It was aunswered yea they are there within Then threw he gloue and all in at the window so rode forth Thus this good father and prouider for the poore now tooke his leaue of those for whom all his life he had a singuler care and study For this was his custome once in a fourtnight at the least to call vpoÌ„ Syr Henry Doyll and others the rich Clothmakers to go with him to the almes-houses and there to see howe the poore liued what they lacked in meat drinke clothing bedding or any other necessaries The like did he also to other poore men that had many children or were sicke Then would he exhort coÌ„fort them and where he found cause rebuke the vnruely and what they lacked that gaue he after his power and what he was not able he caused the rich and wealthy men to minister vnto them Thus shewed he hymselfe in all thinges an example to his flocke worthy to be folowed taught by his deede what a great treasure almes is to all such as cherefully for Christes sake do it At the last comming to Aldam Common the place assigned where he should suffer Aldam Common and seing a great multitude of people gathered thither hee asked what place is this what meaneth it that so much people are gathered hyther It was answered It is Aldham CoÌ„mon D. Taylour is come home the place where you must suffer and the people are come to looke vpoÌ„ you Then sayd he thanked be God I am euen at home and so light from his horse and with both his handes rent the hood from his head Now was his head notted euilfauoredly and clypped much like as a man would clippe a fooles head which cost the good Bishop Boner had bestowed vpon him B. Boners cost and liberalitye vpon D. Taylour when he disgraded him But wheÌ„ the people saw his reuerend and auÌ„cient face with a long white beard they burst out with weeping teares and cryed saying God saue thee good D. Taylor Iesus Christ strengthen thee and helpe thee The holy Ghost comfort thee with such other like Godly wishes Then would he haue spoken to y e people The people wisheth God to helpe him but the yeomen of
iustice nor vnwoonted to thy mercy It is well knowen vnto vs how maruelously thou diddest worke in Sara of the age of xc yeares and in Elizabeth the barren and also far striken in age for thy counsel is not in the power of men Thou Lord that art y e searcher of harts thoughts thou knowest that thy seruaÌ„t neuer lusted after man neuer gaue her selfe to wanton coÌ„pany nor made her selfe pertaker w t them that walk in lightnes but she consented to take an husband with thy feare not with her lust Thou knowest that thy seruaunt tooke an husband not for carnal pleasure but only for the desire loue of posteritie wherein thy name might be blessed for euer and euer Geue therfore vnto thy seruaunts Phillip our king and Mary our Queene a male issue which may sit in the seat of thy kingdome Geue vnto our Queene thy seruant a little infant in fashion and body comely beautifull in pregnant wit notable and excellent Graunt the same to be in obedience like * It is not best such one to be graunted vnto you 〈◊〉 being lyke Abrahamâ— Ioseph Moses and Salomon hâ— may chauÌ„â—â— to smel oâ— your corrupt doctrine and detest yoâ— bloudy tyranny c. Abraham in hospitalitie like Loth in chastitie and brotherly loue lyke Ioseph in meekenes myldnes like Moses in strength valiantnes like Sampson Let him be found faythful as Dauid after thy hart Let him be wise among kings as the most wise Salomon Let him be like Iob a simple and an vpright man fearing God eschewyng euill Let hym finally be garnished with the comelynes of all vertuous coÌ„ditions and in the same let him waxe old and lyue that he may see his childrens children to the third fourth generation And geue vnto our soueraigne Lord and Lady K. Phillip and Queene Mary thy blessing and long life vpoÌ„ earth And graunt that of theÌ„ may come kings Queenes which may stedfastly continue in faith loue and holynesse And blessed be their seed of our God that all nations may know thou art only God in all the earth which art blessed for euer and euer Amen ¶ Another prayer for Queene Mary and her conceiued chyld O Almighty father which diddest sanctifie the blessed Virgine and mother of Mary in her conception and in the byrth of Christ our sauiour thy onely sonne also by thy omnipotent power didst safely deliuer the prophet Ionas out of the Whales belly Defend O Lord we beseech thee An other prayer for the same thy seruaunt Mary our Queene with child conceyued and so visite her in and with thy godly gift of health that not onely the child thy creature within her conteined may ioyfully come from her into this worlde and receyue the blessed Sacraments of Baptisme and Confirmation enioying therwith dayly encrease of all princely and gracious gifts both of body soule but that also she the mother thorowe thy speciall grace and mercy may in tyme of her trauaile auoyde all excessiue dolour and payne and abide perfect and sure from all perill and danger of death with long and prosperous life thorough Christ our Lord Amen It followeth now further in processe of the story that vpon the Tuesday being the x. of Ianuary xix of the lower house of the Parliament with the Speaker Ianuary 1â— came to the White Hall to the kyng and there offred him the gouernment of the realme and of the Issue if the Queene should faile which was confirmed by act of Parliament within ten dayes after Upon Wednesday folowing Ianuary â—â— beyng the xxvi of Ianuary the Parliament was cleane dissolued In this Parliament among other things the bishop of Rome was established and all such lawes as were made against hym since the xx yeare of K. Henry the 8. were repealed also cardinall Poole bish Pates The Pope supremacy establisheâ— by Parlament Matters coÌ„â—cluded in the Parlaâ—ment Lilly other were restored to their bloud Also there was an acte made for speakyng of words that whosoeuer should speake any thyng agaynst the king or Queene or that might mooue any sedition or rebellion at the first tyme to haue one of his eares cut of or to forfeit an C. markes and at the second tyme to haue both his eares cut off or els to forfeit an C. pounds who so euer should write cipher or print any of the premisses to haue their right hand cut off Three statutes agaynst heretickes reâ—uiued Also in this Parliament three statutes were reuiued for triall of heresie one made in the fift yere of Richard the 2. an other in the 2. yeare of Henry the 4. and the third in the 2. yeare of Henry the 5. Also the doyng of M. Rose and the other that were with him was communed of in this Parliament and vpon that occasion an acte was made that certaine euill prayers should be treason agaynst the Queenes highnes The prayers of these men were thus God turne the hart of Queene Mary from Idolatrie or els shorten her dayes Wherof read the statute Ann. 1. 2. Reg. Phil. Mariae Cap. 9. As touching the taking of M. Rose his felows word was brought therof to M. Hooper being theÌ„ in the Fleete Whereupon the said M. Hooper sendeth aunswer againe with a letter also of consolation sent to the sayd prisoners the copie wherof I thought here not to ouerpasse ¶ The aunswer of M. Hooper to a letter sent vnto him concerning certaine prisoners taken in Bowe churchyard 〈◊〉 aunâ—â—re to a 〈…〉 sent 〈◊〉 him THe grace of God be with you Amen I perceiue by your letter how that vpon Newyeres day at night there were taken a godly company of Christians whilest they were praying I doe reioyce in that men can be so well occupied in this perilous time and flee vnto God for remedy by prayer as well for theyr owne lackes and necessities as also charitably to pray for them that persecute them So doth the worde of God commaund all men to pray charitably for them that hate them and not to reuile any Magistrate with wordes or to meane him euill by force or violence They also may reioyce that in well doyng they were taken to the prison Wherfore I haue thought it good to send them this little writing of consolation praying God to send them pacience charitie constancie in the truth of his most holy word Thus fare you well and pray God to send his true word into this Realme againe amongest vs which the vngodly Bishops haue now banished Ianua 4. ann 1555. ¶ A letter of consolation sent from M. Hooper to the godly brethren taken in Bow churchyard in prayer and layd in the Counter in Breadstreat THe grace fauor consolation and ayd of the holy ghost be with you now and euer So be it Dearely beloued in the Lord euer sithens your imprisonment A letter of 〈◊〉 Hooper 〈◊〉 of most â—eauenly â—onsolatioÌ„ I haue
of his hatt and sayd to the people that stood there looking on him D. Taylour taketh his leaue of his sonne Thomas and Iohn Hull good people this is mine owne sonne begotteÌ„ of my body in lawful matrimony and God be blessed for lawful matrimony Then lift he his eies towardes heauen prayed for his sonne layd his hat vpon the childes head blessed him and so deliuered y e child to Iohn Hull whoÌ„ he tooke by the hand sayd farewell Iohn Hull A good testimony for all seruants to marke the faythfullest seruaunt y t euer man had And so they rod forth the Shriffe of Essex with foure yeomen of the Gard and the Shriffes men leading him When they were come almost at Burntwood one Arthur Faysie Arthur Faysie a man of Hadley who before tyme had bene Doctour Taylours seruaunt met with them and he supposing him to haue bene at liberty sayd Mayster Doctor I am glad to see you agayne at liberty and came to him tooke him by the hand Soft Syr quoth the Shiriffe he is a prisoner what hast thou to do with him I cry you mercy sayd Arthur I knewe not so muche and I thought it none offeÌ„ce to talk to a true man The Shyriffe was verye angry with this and threatned to cary Arthur with him to prison notwithstaÌ„ding he bad him get him quickely away so they rode forth to Burntwood A close hoode made for Doct. Taylour that no man should know him where they caused to be made for D. Taylour a close hood with two holes for hys eyes to looke out at a slit for his mouth to breath at This they did that no man should know him nor he speak to any man Which practise they vsed also with others Theyr owne consciences told them that they lead innocent laÌ„bes to the slaughter Wherefore they feared least iâ— the people should haue heard them speake or haue seene them they might haue bene much more strengthened by theyr godlye exhortatioÌ„s to stand stedfast in Gods word and to â—ye the superstitions and Idolatries of the Papacy All the way Doct. Taylour was ioyfull and mery aâ— one that accounted himselfe goyng to a most pleasant banquet or bridall D. 〈…〉 his 〈◊〉 He spake many notable things to the Shiriffe and Yeomen of the Gard that conducted him and ofteÌ„ moued them to weepe through his much earnest calling vpon them to repeÌ„t and to amend theyr euill and wicked liuing Oftentimes also he caused them to wonder and reioyce to see him so coÌ„stant and stedfast voyd of all feare ioifull in hart glad to dye Of these yeomeÌ„ of the gard Home◠〈…〉 D. Taylâ—â—â— three vsed D. Tailour frendly but the fourth whose name was Homes vsed him very homely vnkindly and churlishly At Chelmesford mette them the Shiriffe of Suffolke there to receiue him and to carye him forth into Suffolke The Sâ—â—â—riffe of â—â—â—sex labâ—â—â—eth D. Taylouâ— returne Papisâ—â— And being at supper the Shiriffe of Essex very earnestlye labored him to returne to the Popish Religion thinkyng with fayre words to perswade him and sayd good mayster Doctor we are right sory for you coÌ„sidering what losse is of such one as ye might be if ye would God hath geueÌ„ you great learning and wisedome wherefore ye haue bene in great fauor and reputation in times past with the Counsell and highest of this realme Besides this The Shâ—â—riffes 〈◊〉 to D. Tâ—â—â—lour ye are a maÌ„ of goodly personage in your best strength by nature like to liue many yeares and without doubt ye should in time to come be in as good reputation as euer ye were or rather better For ye are well beloued of all men as well for your vertues as for your learning and me thinke it were great pity you shoulde cast away your selfe willingly so come to such a paynfull and shamefull death Ye should do much better to reuoke your opinions and returne to the Catholicke Church of Rome acknowledge the Popes holinesse to be the supreme head of the vniuersall church reconcile your selfe to him You may do well yet if you will doubt ye not but ye shall finde fauor at the Queenes handes I all these your frends will be suters for your pardon which no doubt ye shall obteine This councell I geue you good Mayster Doctor of a good hart a good will towarde you and thereupon I drinke to you In like maner sayd all the yeomen of the Gard vpon that condition Maister Doctor we will all drinke to you When they had all dronke to him the cup was come to him he stayed a litle D· Tayloâ—â— maketh â— iest of death 〈◊〉 a meete â—â—â—swere foâ— such Doâ—â—tours anâ— Counceâ—â—lours as one studying what aunswere he might geue At the last thus he aunswered and sayd Maister Shiriffe and my Maysters all I hartely thanke you of your good will I haue harkened to your wordes and marked wel your councels And to be playne with you I do perceiue that I haue bene deceiued my self and am like to deceiue a great many of hadley of their expectatioÌ„ With that woorde they all reioyced Yea good Mayster Doctour quoth the Shiriffe Gods blessing on your hart holde you there still It is the comfortablest word that we heard you speake yet What should ye cast away your selfe in vayne Play a wise mans part I dare warrant it ye shall finde fauour Thus they reioyced very much at the worde and were very mery At the last good Mayster Doctor quoth the Shiriffe what meant ye by this that ye sayd ye thinke ye haue bene deceiued your selfe and thinke ye shâ—â— deceiue many one in Hadley Would you know my meaning plainly quoth he Yea quoth the Shiriffe good Mayster Doctour tell it vs playnely Then sayd Doctour Taylour I will tell you how I haue bene deceiued and as I think I shall deceiue a great many I am as you see a man that hath a very great carkase A 〈…〉 Doctoâ—â— Taylour which I thought should haue bene buried in Hadley Churchyarde if I had dyed in my bed as I well hoped I shoulde haue done but herein I see I was deceyued and there are a greate number of wormes in Hadley Church-yard which should haue had ioly feeding vpon this carioÌ„ which they haue looked for many a day But now I know we be deceiued both I and they for this carkase must bee burnt to ashes and so shall they lose theyr bayt and feding that they looked to haue had of it When the Shiriffe and his company heard him say so they were amased and looked one on another maruelling at the mans constaunt minde that thus without all feare made but a iest at the cruell torment and death now at haÌ„d prepared for him Thus was theyr expectation clean disapoynted And in this appeareth what was his meditation in his chiefest wealth prosperity namely A good meditatâ—â—â— that he
ad illam in periculis vestris flagellum non appropinquabit tabernaculo vestro Fructus gratiae inueniet qui sperauerit in illa porta paradisi reserabitur ei Who so dwelleth in the helpe of the Mother of God shall dwell in the shadow of her protection c. Cry vnto her in your daungers and the scourge shall not come nere your tabernacle The fruite of Grace shall be to hym who so trusteth in her and the gate of Paradise shall be open to hym 95 Venite exultemus Dominae nostrae c. Suscipe in fine animas nostras introduc nos in requiem aeternam c. Come let vs reioyce to our Ladye c. Receyue our soules at our last ende and bryng them into euerlastyng rest c. 105 Confitemini Dominae nostrae inuocate nomen eius Abhominable blasphemy c. Salus sempiterna in manu tua Domina c. Prayse our Lady and call vpon her name c. Euerlasting saluation is in thy hand O Lady c. 110 Dixit Dominus Dominae nostrae sede mater mea a dextris meis c. The Lord sayd vnto our Lady The Deuill and the Pope sayth so and not God sit here my mother on my right hand c 114 In exitu animae meae ex hoc mundo occurre ei Domina suscipe eam c. Esto illi scala ad regnum coelorum iter rectum ad paradisum Dei c. In the passing of my soule out of this world come and meete it O Lady and receyue it c. Be to it a ladder vnto the kingdome of heauen and a right way to the Paradise of God c. 119 Miserationibus tuis plena est terra ideo viam iustificationum tuarum exquisiui c. Concupiscam in aeternum laudare te Domina cum docueris me * Blasphemy iustificationes tuas c. The whole earth is full of thy mercies and therfore I will search out the way of thy iustifications c. I will couet for euer to praise thee O Lady when thou shalt teache me thy iustifications c. 125 Qui confidunt in te mater Dei Blasphemy non timebunt à facie inimici c. They that put their trust in thee O mother of God shal not be afraid of the face of their enemy c. 127 * Blasphemy Nisi Domina aedificauerit domum cordis nostri non permanebit aedificium eius Except our Lady shall build the house of our hart the building therof shall not continue c. 128 Beati omnes qui timent Dominam nostram beati omnes qui sciunt facere voluntatem tuam c. Blessed is euery one that feareth our Lady and blessed be all they which know to do her will c. 130 De profundis clamaui ad te Domina * Idolatrous inuocation Domina exaudi vocem meam Fiant aures tuae intendentes c. Out of the deepe I haue called vnto thee O Ladye O Lady heare my voyce c. 132 Memento Domina Dauid omnium inuocantium nomen tuum c. O Lady remember Dauid and all them that call vpon thy name c. 134 Ecce nunc benedicite Dominam omnes qui * False trust speratis in nomine sancto eius c. Behold and blesse now our Lady all ye that put your trust in her holy name 136 Super flumina Babylonis c. Blasphemy Non inuenietur propitiatio sine illa c. At the flouds of Babylon c. There is no propitiation to be found without her c. 140 Eripe me Domina ab omni malo Gods office appoynted to our Ladye ab hoste inferni defende me c. Deliuer me O Lady from all euill and from the infernall enemy defend me c. 145 Oculi nostri sperant in te Domina Mitte nobis cibum escam delectantem Laudationem tuam loquitur lingua mea benedicam te in seculum seculi Our eyes looke vp and trust in thee do thou sende vs meate and food conuenient c. My toung shall speake thy prayse and shall blesse thee for euer 148 Lauda Hierusalem Dominam glorifica illam etiam ô Sion Ipsa enim construit muros tuos filios tuos benedicit Gratia sua te impinguat pacemque donat terminis tuis Prayse thou our Lady O Hierusalem and glorify her also O thou Sion for she buildeth vp thy wals Idolatrye and blesseth thy children her grace maketh thee fat geueth peace vnto thy coastes c. I could also recite other things moe of like blasphemy following immediately after this Psalter of our Lady in the Seraphicall doctor aforesayd as these Ecce Domina Saluatrix mea fiducialiter agam in te Horrible Blasphemye non timebo c. Quia fortitudo mea es tu c. Et facta es mihi in salutem i Behold O Lady my Sauiour I will be bolde in thee and will not feare c. Because thou art my strength c. And art become my saluation c. Exulta totum genus humanum quia talem dedit tibi mediatricem dominus Deus tuus i. Reioyce O all mankynde because the Lord thy God hath geuen vnto thee such a Mediatrix c. Blasphemye Confitebor tibi domina quia abscondisti haec à sapientibus reuelasti ea paruulis i. I will confesse to thee O Lady The scripture abused because thou hast hid these things from the wyse and hast reuealed them to the little ones c. Generatio praua atque peruersa agnosce Dominam nostram salutricem tuaÌ„ Nunquid ipsa est mater tua quae possidet te in fide generauit te i. O thou wicked and peeuish generation knowledge our Lady thy sauiour Is not she the mother that hath possessed thee and in fayth hath begotten thee O benedicta in manibus tuis reposita est nostra salus i. O thou blessed Cursed blasphemye in thy hands is layd vp our saluation c. I nomine tuo omne genu flectatur coelestium c. In thy name let euery knee bend in heauen and earth and in hell Quemadmodum infans sine nutrice non potest viuere ita nec sine Domina nostra posses habere salutem i. Like as the inâ—ant cannot lyue without the nurse so neither canst thou haue saluation without our Lady Quicunque vult saluus esse ante omnia opus est vt teneat de Maria firmam fidem Quam nisi quisque in integram inuiolatamque seruauerit absque dubio in aeternum peribit i. Who so will be saued before all thyngs he must needes hold his beliefe of our Lady which beliefe vnles euery one shal hold perfect and sound shall perish without doubt for euer Moreouer after these so horrible things vntolerable to be heard consequently in the next tractation followeth the rosary or
with you Here Weston began to aske Bradford of his imprisonment and condemnation and so Bradford told him altogether how he had bene handled Whereat Weston seemed to wonder yea in playne wordes he sayd that Bradford had bene handled otherwise theÌ„ he had geueÌ„ cause so shewed Bradford how that my Lord of Bath reported that he had deserued a Benefite at the Queenes hande and at all the Counsell In this kinde of talke they spent an houre almost and so as one weery Bradford arose vp and Weston called to the Keeper and before him he bad Bradford be of good coÌ„fort and sayd that he was out of all perill of death Keeper Syr quoth the keeper but it is in euers mannes mouth that he shall dye to morow West Wherat Weston seemed halfe amazed and sayde hee would go say EueÌ„song before the Queene The vayâ—â— promiseâ— Weston speake to her in his behalfe But it is to be thought that the queene had almost supped at that preseÌ„t for it was past 6 of the clocke Brad. Before the Keeper Bradforde tolde Weston agayne that still he was one man and euen as he was at the first and till he should see matter to teach his conscience the coÌ„trary he sayd he must needes so continue Keeper The keeper desired Bradford to harken to maister Doctors counsell and prayd M. Doctour to be good vnto him and so after they had dronke together M. Doct. with most gentle wordes tooke his leaue for 3. dayes Now when he was gone the Keeper tolde Bradford that Mayster Doctour spake openly how that he sawe no cause why they should burne him Whiche sentence for the ambiguity of the meaning made him somewhat sory least he had behaued himselfe in any thing wherin he had gathered any conformablenes to them in theyr doctrine whyche God knoweth sayeth Bradforde I neuer as yet did God our father blesse vs as his children and keepe vs from all euill for euer Amen ¶ An other talke or conference betwene M. Bradford and Doctour Weston VPon the fifth day of April came M. Doctor Weston to the Counter about two of the clocke in the afternoone An other talke or conferencâ— betweene M. Bradfoâ—â— Doctoâ—â— Weston D. Weston withstandeth the Monkes comming into Weâ—â—â—minster who excused himselfe for being so long absent partlye by sicknes partly for that Doctour Pendleton tolde him that he would come vnto him and partly for that quoth he I withstood certayne Monkes whiche woulde haue come agayne into Westminster telling him moreouer howe that the Pope was dead also declared vnto him how he had spoken to the Queene in his behalfe and howe that death was not neare vnto him Weston Last of all he excused himselfe for not aunswering his argumentes agaynst Transubstantiation because my comming to day quoth he was more by fortune then of purpose Brad. I woulde gladly M. Doctor if it please you see your aunsweres to my argumentes Bradford argumenâ— not aunswered West Why you haue remeÌ„bred some thing what I spake to you when I was last with you Brad. No Syr. I neuer called them in maner to mynde sythen that tyme as well because I hoped you woulde haue written them as also for that they seemed not to be so materiall West In good fayth I can not see any other or better way for you then for to submit your self to the iudgement of the Church Brad. Mary so will I Syr if it so be by the church you vnderstand Christes Church West The Papists will not haue the church 〈◊〉 Lo you take vpon you to iudge the Church Brad No sir that do I not in taking vpon me to discerne I do not iudge the Church West Yes that you do and make it inuisible Brad. I do neither West Why who can see your Church Brad. Those Syr that haue spirituall eies wherwith they might haue discerned Christes visible conuersation here vpon earth The churche 〈◊〉 but 〈…〉 Vnity Antiquitye Câ—â—â—ent 〈◊〉 Antiquitye Consent as well 〈◊〉 the 〈…〉 as to Christes Church West Nay Christes Church hath three tokens that all meÌ„ may looke well vpon namely vnity antiquity consent Brad. These three may be as wel in euil as in good as wel in sin as in vertue as well in the deuils church as in gods church As for ensample Idolatry amongst the Israelites had all those three Chrysostome telleth plainely as you well know that the church is well known TantuÌ„modo per scripturas alonely by the scriptures West In good fayth you make your Church inuisible wheÌ„ you will haue it knowne alonely by the scriptures Brad. No Sir the Scriptures doe playnely set forth to vs the church that all meÌ„ may well enough therby know her if they liâ—t to looke West The Church is like a Tower or towne vpon a hill that all men may see Brad. True Syr all menne that be not blinde Uisible enough is the church but mens blindnes is great Impute not therfore to the Church 〈◊〉 the 〈◊〉 is 〈…〉 commeth in 〈◊〉 with his Antiquitye The church iâ— tyed to no place â—ut to the word that which is to be imputed to mens blindnes West Where was your Churche fourtye yeares agoe or where is it now except in a corner of Germany Brad. Forsoothe Syr the Churche of Christ is dispersed and not tyed to this or that place but to the word of God so that where it is there is Gods Churche if it be truely taught West Loe is not this to make the church inuisible poynt me out a Realme a hundred yeres past which mainteined your doctrine Brad. Syr if you will or would wel marke the state of the Church before Christes coÌ„ming The church is not alwaâ—s to be poynted out by realmes countries The Church in Helias 〈◊〉 was 〈…〉 with it now as S. Paule and Peter willeth vs I thinke you woulde not looke for such shewes of the Churche to be made as to poynt it by Realmes You know that in Helias time both in Israell and els where Gods Church was not poyntable therfore cryed he out that he was left alone West No mary did not God say that there was 7000. whiche had not bowed theyr knees to Baal Loe then 7000. shew me seuen thowsande a hundred yeares agoe of your Religion Brad. Syr these 7000. were not knowne to men for then Helias would not haue sayde that he had bene left alone And it is plain enough by that which the text hath namely that God saith Reliqui mihi I haue reserued to me 7000. Marke that it sayth God saw the Church 〈…〉 himselfe did not 〈◊〉 so is 〈◊〉 God had reserued to hymselfe to his owne knowledge as I doubt not but a hundreth yeres agoe God had his 7000. in his proper places though men knew not therof West Well Mayster Bradford I will not make your case worse then for transubstantiation although I know that we agree not in other matters
substaunce of bread and wine and is receiued of the wicked The 〈◊〉 of his coâ—â—demnaâ—ioâ— declared yea of dogges mise Also I am excommunicated and counted as a dead menber of Christes Church as a rotten braunche and therefore shall be cast into the fire Therefore ye ought hartily to reioyce with me and to geue thankes for me that God the eternall father hath vouched safe our mother to bring vp any childe in whom it would please him to magnifie his holy name as hee doth A great mercy of God to turne the death of â— saintes 〈◊〉 deseruâ—â— to serue a confirmâ—â—tion of his owne glorâ— and I hope for his mercye and truthes sake will do in me and by me Oh what such benefite vppon earth can it be as that that which deserued deathe by reason of my sinnes should be deliuered to a demonstration a testification and confirmation of Gods veritie and trueth Thou my mother the Vniuersitie hast not onely had the truth of gods word playnely manifested vnto thee by reading disputinge and preaching publickely and priuately but now to make thee altogether excuselesse and as it were almost to sinne agaynst the holy Ghost if thou put to thy helpyng hand with the romysh route to suppresse the veritie and set out the contrary thou hast my lyfe and bloud as a zeale to confirme thee if thou wilt be confirmed or els to confound thee and beare witnes agaynst thee if thou wilt take part with the prelates and Clergye Cantabriâ—â—ense◠〈…〉 moniti which nowe fill vp the measure of their fathers which slew the Prophetes and Apostles that all righteous bloud from Abell to Bradforde sued vpon the earth may be required at theyr handes Of this therefore I thought good before my death as tyme and libertie woulde suffer me for loue and duetye I beare vnto thee to admonishe thee good mother and my sister the Towne that you would call to minde from whence you are fallen and study to do the first workes You know if you wil these matters of the Read before the letter Cambridâ—â— to K. Henâ—â— 8. pag. 1104. Romish supremacy and the Antichristian transubstantiation whâ—â—â—by Christes supper is ouerthrowne his priesthoode euacuatâ— his sacrifice frustrate the ministery of his word vnplaced repentaunce repelled fayth faynted godlines extinguished the Masse mayntayned idolatry supported and all impietie cherished you know I say if you will that these opinions are not onely besides Gods word but euen directly agaynst it and therfore to take part with them is to take part agaynst God agaynst whome you cannot preuayle Therefore for the tender mercy of Christ in his bowels and bloud I beseeche you to take Christes collyrium and eye salue to annoynt your eyes that you may see what you doe and haue done in admitting as I heare you haue admitted yea alas authorised and by consent confirmed the Romish rotten rags whiche once you vtterly expelled Oh be not canis reuersus ad vomitum be not * The 〈◊〉 returned to his owne â—omitte Sus lota reuersa ad volutabrum coeni Beware least Satan enter in with seuen other spirites and then postrema shal be worse then the first It had bene better yee had neuer knowne the truth then after knowledge to runne from it Ah woe to this world and the thinges therein * The soâ—â— that was washed returned to 〈…〉 in the â—ite 2. Pet. 1. which hath nowe so wrought with you Oh that euer this dirt of the deuill shoulde daube vpp the eye of the Realme For thou oh mother art as it were the eye of the Realme If thou be light and geue shyne all the body shall fare the better But if thou the light be darcknes alas how great will the darckenes be What is man whose breath is in his nostrels that thou shouldest thus be afrayde of him Oh what is honour and life here Bubbles What is glorye in this worlde but shame Why art thou afrayde to carrye Christes Crosse Wilt thou come into hys kingdome and not drynke of his cup Doest thou not know Rome to be BabiloÌ„ The glory of this world is a vaine thing Babylon hath Iuda in captiuity doest thou not know that as the olde Babilon had the children of Iuda in captiuitie so hath this Rome the true Iuda that is the confessours of Christ Doest thou not know that as destruction happened vnto it so shall it do vnto this And trowest thou that God will not deliuer his people now when the time is come as hee did theâ— Hath not God commaunded hys people to come out from her and wilt thou geue ensample to the whole Realme to runne vnto her Hast thou forgotten the woe that Christ threatneh to offence geuers Wilt thou not remember that it were better that a Mylstone were hanged about thy necke and thou throwe into the sea then that thou shouldest offend the little ones And alas how hast thou offended yea and howe doest thou still offend The church â—â—ndeth 〈◊〉 in the outward shew Wilt thou consider thinges according to the outward shew Was not the Synagogue more seemely and like to be the true Church then the simple flocke of Christes Disciples Hath not the whore of Babilon more costly aray and rich apparell externally to set forth her selfe then the homely housewyfe of Christ Where is the beautie of the kinges daughter the Churche of Christ without or within Doth not Dauid saye wythin Oh remeÌ„ber that as they are happy which are not offended at christ so are they happy whiche are not offended at hys poore church Can the Pope and his prelates meane honestly whiche make so much of the wife and so little of the husband The Churche they magnifie but Christ they contemne If this Church were an honest woman that is Christes wife except they woulde make much of her husband Christ and his worde shee woulde not be made much of them When Christ and hys Apostles were vppon earth who was more like to be the true Church they or the Prelates Byshops Synagogue If a man should haue followed custome vnitie antiquitie or the more part shoulde not Christ and his companye haue bene cast out of the dores Therfore bade Christ Search the scriptures And good mother shall the seruaunt be aboue his master shall we looke for other entertaynment at the handes of the world then Christ and his deare Disciples found who was taken in Noes tyme for the Church Poore Noe and his familie or others Who was taken for Gods Churche in Sodom Lot or others And doth not Christ say As it was than so shall it goe now towardes the comming of the sonne of man What meaneth Christ when he sayth Iniquitie shall haue the vpper hand doth not he tell that charitie shall waxe colde And who seeth not a wonderfull great lacke of charitie in those whiche woulde nowe be taken for Christes Church All that feare GOD in thys Realme truely can