free will and minde without any question or Inquyry to him made by the sayd Alen Moreouer the sayde Alen sayth that all that euening Graundger was in great feare ¶ The Deposition of Richard Horsnayle Bayliffe of the Sanctuary Towne called Goodesture in Essex THe sayd Richard sayeth that friday before Christmas day last past that one Charles Ioseph Somner to my Lord of London became a Sanctuary man and the aforesayd Friday he registred his name the sayde Charles saying it was for the sauegard of his body for there be certein men in London so extreame agaynste him for the death of Richard Hunne that he dare not abide in London Howbeit the sayd Charles sayth he knowledgeth himselfe guiltlesse of Hunnes death for he deliuered the keyes to the Chauncellour by Hunnes life also the sayd Bayliffe sayth that Charles payd the duty of the sayd Regestring both to him and syr Iohn Studley Uicar ¶ The Copy of Richard Fitziames Letter then Bishop of London sent to Cardinall Woolsey I Beseeche your good Lordshippe to stand so good Lord vnto my poore Chauncellour nowe in Warde and indighted by an vntrue quest for the death of Richard Hunne The letter of the B. of London to Cardinall Woolsey vpon the onely accusation of Charles Ioseph made by payne and duraunce that by your intercession it may please the kinges grace to haue the matter duely and sufficiently examined by indifferent persons of hys discreete counsell in the presence of the parties ere there be any more done in the cause and that vpon the innocency of my sayde Chauncellour declared it may further please the kinges grace to award a Plackard vnto his Attorney to confesse the sayde Enditement to be vntrue when the time shall require it for assured am I if my Chauncellour be tryed by any twelue men in London they be so maliciously set In fauorem hereticae prauitatis that they will cast and condemne any Clerke though he were as innocent as Abel Quare si potes beate pater adiuua infirmitates nostras tibi imperpetuum deuincti erimus Ouer this in most humble wise I beseech you that I may haue the kinges gracious fauour whom I neuer offended willingly and that by your good meanes I might speake with his grace and you and I with all mine shall pray for your prosperous estate long to continue Your most humble Oratour R.L. Lastly nowe remayneth to inferre the sentence of the questmen which foloweth in like sort to be seene and expēded after I haue first declared the wordes of the Byshop spoken in the Parliament house ¶ The wordes that the B. of London spake before the Lordes in the Parliament house MEmorandum that the bishop of London said in the parliament house that there was a bil brought to the parliament to make the Iury that was charged vpon y e death of Hunne true men and sayde and tooke vpon his conscience that they were false periured Caytiffes and sayd furthermore to all the Lordes there then being For the loue of God look vpon this matter for if you do not I dare not keepe mine owne house for heretiques And sayde that the sayd Richard Hunne hanged himselfe and that it was his owne deed and no mans els And furthermore sayde that there came a man to his house whose wife was appeached of heresy to speake with him he sayd that he had no mind to speake with the same man which man spake and reported to the seruauntes of the same Bishoppe that if his wife would not hold still here opinion he would cut her throat with his owne handes with other wordes ¶ The sentence of the Inquest subscribed by the Crowner THe inquisition intended and taken at the city of Londō in the Parish of S. Gregory in the ward of Baynard Castle in London the sixt day of December in the 6. yeare of the raigne of K. Henry the 8. before Thomas Barnewel Crowner of our souereigne Lord the king within the city of London aforesayd Also before Iames Yarford and Iohn Mundey Sheriffes of the sayde City The sentēce of the Inquest vpon the sight of the body of Richard Hunne late of London Taylour which was found hanged in the Lollardes tower and by the oth and proofe of lawfull men of the same warde and of other three wardes next adioyning as it ought to be after the custome of the city aforesayd to inquire how in what maner wise the sayd Richard Hunne came vnto his death and vpon the oth of Iohn Bernard Thomas Stert William Warren Henry Abraham Iohn Aborow Ioh. Turner Robert Alen William Marler Ioh. Burton Iames Page Thomas Pickehill William Burton Robert Brigewater Thomas Busted Gylbert Howel Richard Gibson Christopher Crafton Iohn Eod Richard Holt Iohn Pasmere Edmunde Hudson Iohn Arunsel Richard Couper Iohn Tyme the which saide vpon theyr othes that where the sayd Richard Hunne by the commaūdement of Richard Bishop of London was emprisoned and brought to holde in a prison of the sayd Bishops called Lollardes Tower lying in the Cathedrall Church of S Paule in London in the parish of S. Gregory in the ward of Baynard Castle aforesayd William Horsey of London Clerke Richarde Hūne cleared by the Inquest not to haue hāged himself otherwise called William Heresye Chauncellou◠to Richard Bishop of London and one Charles Ioseph late of London Sumner and Iohn Spalding of London otherwise called Iohn Belringer feloniously as felons to our Lord the king with force and armes agaynst the peace of our soueraigne Lord the king dignity of his crowne the fourth day of December the sixt yeare of the raygne of our soueraigne Lord aforesayd of theyr great malice at the parish of S. Gregory aforesayde vpon the sayde Richarde Hunne made a fray and the same Richard Hunne felonously strangled and smodered and also the necke they did breake of the sayde Richard Hunne and there feloniouslye slue him and murdered him and also the body of the sayde Richard Hunne afterward the same fourth day yere place parish and ward aforesayd with the proper gyrdle of the same Richard Hunne of silke blacke of coulor of the value of 12. d. after his death vpon a hooke driuen into a piece of timber in the wall of the prison aforesayd made fast and so hanged him agaynst the peace of our Soueraigne Lord the king and the dignity of his crowne and so the sayd Iurye hath sworne vpon the holy Euangelistes that the sayd W. Horsey Clerke Charles Ioseph and Iohn Spalding of theyr set malice then and there felonously killed and murdered the sayd Richard Hunne in maner and forme aboue sayd agaynst the peace of our soueraign Lord the king his crowne and dignity Subscribed in this maner Thomas Barnewel Crowner of the City of London After that the 24. had geuen vp theyr verdict sealed and signed with the Crowners seale The Parlament iudging with Richarde Hunne y e cause was thē brought into the Parliament house where the
it may be to the health and saluation of thy soule and to the extirpation feare terrour and conuersion of al other heretickes vnto the vnitie of the Catholike faith This our finall decree by this our sentence definitiue we haue caused to be published in forme aforesaid Monday the xx of Nouember 1531. In the Queere of the Cathedrall Church of S. Paul before the saide Iohn Byshop of London iudicially sitting Anno. 1531. being assisted with Iohn Abbot of Westminster and Robert Abbot of Waltham Nicholas Prior of Christes Church in London these honorable Lordes being also present Henry Earle of Essex Richard Gray brother of the Marques of Somerset Iohn Lambert Maior of London Richard Gresham and Edward Altam Shrieffes the which Maior and Shriues were required to be there present by the Byshop of Londons letters hereafter written Of this statute read before and by vertue of a statute of king Henry the fourth king of Englande also in the presence of diuers Chanons the Chauncellour Officiall and Archdeacon of London with the Byshops Chaplaines and a great number both of the Clergie and Laitie Mathew Grefton the Register beyng also there present M. Rich. Bayfild aliâs Somersam was brought forth by Thomas Turnor the Aparator hys keeper M. Rich. Bayfild agayne brought before the â—yshop in whose presence the transumpt of the Apostolicke Bull of Pope Leo the x. vpon the condemnation of Martine Luther and his adherentes was brought foorth and shewed sealed with the seale of Thomas Wolsey late Legate de Latere and subscribed with the signe and name of M. Robert Tunnes publike Notary and also the decree vpon the condemnation of certain bookes brought in by him sealed with the seale of the Archbyshop of Canterbury and subscribed by three Notaries Then the Byshop of London repeated in effecte before him his abiuration which he had before made and other hys demerites committed and done beside his abiuration and the sayde Baifield saide that he was not culpable in the articles that were obiected against hym and desired that the heresies contained in the bookes whiche he brought ouer might be declared in open audience Then the Byshop after certeine talke had with the saide Bayfield as touching the desert of his cause asked hym whether he could shewe any cause why he should not be deliuered ouer vnto the seculer power and be pronounced as a relaps and suffer punishment as a relaps The sayd Baifield declared or propouÌ„ded no cause but said y t he brought ouer those bookes for lacke of money and not to sowe any heresies And incontinent the sayd Bayfield with a vehement spirite as it appeared sayde vnto the Byshop of Lond. the life of you of the spiritualtie is so euill that yee be heretickes and ye doe not onely liue euill The saying of Rich. Bayfilde to the Byshop of London but doe maintaine euill liuing and also do let that what true lyuing is may not be knowen saide that their liuing is agaynst Christes Gospell and that their beliefe was neuer taken of Christes Church Then the sayde Byshop after long deliberation had for so much as the sayd Rich. Bayfield he sayd could shew no cause why he should not be declared as relaps he read the decree and sentence against him by the which amongest other thinges he condemned him as an heretike and pronounced him to be punished with the punishment due vnto such as fall againe into heresie and by his wordes did disgrade him Sentence against Rich. Bayfilde and also declared that hee shoulde be actually disgraded as is more at large conteined in the long sentence The foresayd sentence being so read by the Byshop of London he proceeded immediatly to the actual solemne disgradyng of the sayd Richard Bayfild aliâs Somersam and there solemnely and actually disgraded him before the people the which thing being done he dismissed him by the sentence aforesayd from the Ecclesiasticall Court Wherupon the secular power being there present receiued him vnto their iurisdiction without any writte in that behalfe obtained but only by vertue of the Byshops letters by the statute of kyng Henry the .4 in that behalfe prouided and directed vnto them vnder the Bishops seale The tenour oâ— which letters here after folow * The Letters of requirie directed to the Maior and Shiriffes of the Citie of London that they should be present that day when the sentence should be giuen to receiue the heretike as they called him that was condemned IHon by the permission of God Byshop of London vnto our dearely beloued in Christ The letterâ— of â—â—quiry to the 〈◊〉 and Shiriffes of London the right honourable Lord Maior of the Citie of London and the Shiriffes of the same health grace and benediction Whereas we haue already by our Vicar general proceeded in a certaine cause of heresie and relaps into the same against one Richayd Bayfilde alias Somersam and intende vpon Monday next beeing the xx day of this present moneth of Nouember to giue a sentence definitiue against the saide Richard Bayfild alias Somersam and to leaue and deliuer him ouer vnto the secular power We require you the Lord Maior and Shiriffes aforesaid the Kinges Maiesties Vicegerentes euen in the bowels of Iesu Christ that according to the forme and effect of the statute of our most noble and famous prince in Christ our Lord the Lord Henry the fourth by the grace of God late King of England that you will be personally present in the Queere of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paule with your fauourable ayde and assistance in this behalfe the day that the sentence shall be giuen and to receiue the said Richard Bayfild aliâs Somersam after his sentence so giuen to discharge vs and our Officers and to doe further according to the tenour and effect of the saide statute as farre as shal be required of you according to the Canonical Sanctions and the laudable custome of the famous kingdome of England in this behalfe accustomed In witnesse whereof wee haue set our seale vnto this present Dated the 19 day of Nouember An. 1531. and in the first yeare of our consecration On Monday the xx day of Nouember in the yeare aforesaid in the Queere of the Cathedrall Church of Saint Paule the byshop of London calling vnto him Iohn Abbot of Westminster Robert Abbot of Waltam Nicholas Prior of Christes Church of the Citie of London maister Iohn Coxe Auditor and Uicare generall to the Archebyshop of Canterbury Peter Ligham Official of the Court of Caunterbury Thomas Baghe Chauncellour of the Church of S. Paules William Clief Archdeacon of London Iohn Incent Chanon residentary of the same William Brytton Robert Birch and Hugh Aprice Doctours of both lawes in the presence of vs Mathew Grefton Register Antony Hussy Richard Martin and Thomas Shadwall publicke Notaries and Scribes appoynted in this behalfe briefly rehearsed the aunsweres of the same Bayfild in effect and his abiuration other
they intended at one place to be the meane how to compasse this their trayterous deuilish deuise And therefore laying their studyes together how they mighte finde out more companye to ioyne with them in that detestable purpose and so set forward to sturre The deuise of the rebels how to compasse their purpose thys deuise they framed to sturre in two places the one distant seuen myles from the other and at the first rush to kill and destroy such gentlemen and men of substaunce about them as were fauourers of the kinges proceedinges or which would resist them But first of all for the more speedy raysing of men they deuised to burne Beacons and therby to bring the people together as though it were to defend the Sea coastes and hauing the ignoraunt people assembled Anno 1549. then to poure out theyr poyson first beginning with y e rudest and poorest sorte suche as they thought were pricked w t pouertie and were vnwilling to labour and therefore the more ready to followe the spoyle of rich mens goodes blowing into their heades that Gods seruice was layd aside and newe inuentions neither good nor godly put in place and so feeding them with fayre promises False lyes forged of Gods true religion to reduce into the Church agayne their olde ignoraunce and Idolatry thought by that meanes soonest to allure them to rage ruÌ„ne with them in this commotion And furthermore to the entent they would geue the more terrour to the gentlemen at their first rising least they shoulde be resisted they deuised that some should be murdered in Churches some in theyr houses some in seruing the king in commission other as they might be caught and to pick quarrels to theÌ„ by alteration of seruice on the holy dayes And thus was the platforme cast of their deuice according as afterward by their confession at their examinations was testified and remayneth in true recorde Thus they being together agreed Ombler and Dale and other by their secret appoyntment so laboured the matter in y e parish of Semer Wintringeham y e townes about that they wer enfected with the poyson of this confederacy in such sorte that it was easie to vnderstaÌ„d wherunto they would encline if a commotion were begun The accomplishmeÌ„t wherof did shortly folow For although by the words of one drunken felow of that conspiracie named Caluered The conspiracye of the rebels vâ—tered in dronkennes at the alehouse in Wintringham some suspition of that rebellion beganne to be smelled before by the Lord President and Gentlemen of those parties and so preuented in that place where y e rebels thought to begin yet they gaue not ouer so but drewe to another place at Semer by the Sea coaste and there by nighte roade to the Beacon at Staxton and sette it on fire and so gathering together a rude route of rascals out of the townes neare about beyng on a sturre Ombler Thomas Dale Barton and Robert Dale hasted foorthwith with the rebels to maister Whytes house to take him who notwithstandinge being on horsebacke minding to haue escaped theyr handes Dale Ombler and the rest of the rebelles tooke him and Clopton hys wiues brother Foure men cruelly murthered by the rebels in the North one Sauage a marchant of Yorke and one Bery seruaunt to sir Walter Mildmay which foure without cause or quarel sauing to fulfil their seditious Prophecie in some part and to geue a terror to other gentlemen they cruelly murdered after they had caried them one mile from Semer towardes the Wolde and there after they had stripped them of their clothes and purses leaft them naked behind them in the plain fields for crowes to feede on vntill Whites wife and Sauages wife then at Semer caused them to be buried Longe it were and tedious to recite what reuell these Rebelles kept in their raging madnesse who raunging about the countrey from towne to towne to enlarge theyr vngratious and rebellious bande taking those with force whyche were not willing to goe and leauing in no towne where they came The rebels in Yorkeshire gathered to three thousand persons any man aboue the age of 16. yeres so encreased this number that in shorte time they had gathered three thousande to fauour theyr wicked attempts and had like to haue gathered moe had not the Lordes goodnesse through prudent circumspection haue interrupted y e course of theyr furious beginning For firste came the kinges gratious and free pardone discharging and pardonyng them and the rest of the Rebels of all treasons The kinges free pardon sent to the rebels murders felonies and other offences done to his Maiestie before the 21. of August Anno 1549. Whyche pardone although Ombler contemptuously refused Ombler refused the kinges pardon persisting still in hys wilfull obstinacie disswadynge also the rest from the humble accepting the kinges so louing and liberall pardon yet notwithstanding wyth some it did good Ombler captaine of the rebels taken To make shorte it was not long after thys but Ombler as he was riding from towne to towne twelue miles from HuÌ„manby to charge all the Constables and inhabitantes where he came in the kings name to resort to Hunmanby by the way he was espied and by the circumspecte diligence of Ihon Word the yonger The names of the rebels taken and executed at Yorke Iames Aslaby Rafe Twinge and Thomas Constable Gentlemen hee was had in chase and at last by them apprehended and brought in the night in sure custodie vnto the Citie of Yorke to answere to his demerites After whome within short time Thomas Dale Henrye Barton the first chiefetaines and ringleaders of the former commotion with Iohn Dale Robert Wright W. Pecocke Wetherell Edin Buttry busie sturrers in thys seditioÌ„ as they trauailed from place to place to draw people to theyr faction were likewise apprehended committed to warde Ex actis iudiciarijs registro exceptis notatis lawfully conuicted and lastly executed at Yorke the 21. of Septemb. An. 1549. Ex actis Iudicij publici registro receptis notatis To these pestiferous commotions raised vppe against kyng Edwarde by his owne subiectes in this yeare aforesaide wythin the Realme The stirring and rising of the French King against King Edward I might also adioyne the busie sturring and raging of the French king against our yong and innocent Prince without the Realme Who hearing of these tumultes and violent insurrections of the kinges subiectes in diuers and sundrye quarters of the Realme supposing to take the time for his most aduantage thought likewise for hys parte not to be vnoccupied Who after hee had by his ambassadour made open breche with the kinge immediately after the reuocation of the sayde ambassadour from hence entending to anoy the king and make his first inuasion against the Iles of Iersey and Gernsey thought to haue surprised our shippes and the said Iles with a certaine number of his ships and Galleys
the publique coÌ„sent and authority of the church Popish beliefe and doctrine goeth by time now seing the authority of the church of Rome hath established the same it oughte not to be contraried nor can wythout daungerous disobedience In all mens actions diligent respect of time must be had That whych bindeth not at one time afterward the same by law being ratified may binde at an other Ibid. Finally for the number and multitude on the contrary side thus they answer for themselues Verity coÌ„sisteth not in number of voyces Not victory in multitude of soldiers as we nowe in these our daies likewise in defence of the truth may wel answere against the Pope and all his popish Friers turning their owne weapons against them selues Multitude say they ought not to mooue vs. Uictorie consisteth not in number and heapes but in fortitude and hearts of souldiours yea rather fortitude and stomacke commeth from heauen and not of man Iudas Machabeus wyth a little handfull ouerthrewe the great armye of Antiochus Strong Sampson wyth a poore Asses bone slew a thousand Philistines Dauid had no more but a seely sling a few stones and with these stroke downe terrible Goliath the Gyaunt c. Lib. eod cap. 13. With these and such other like reasons the gray Franciscans voided their aduersaries defending the coÌ„ception of the virgine Mary to be vnblemished and pure from all contagion of Originall sinne Contrariwyse the Blacke gard of the Dominike friers for theyr partes were not all mute but laide lustily from them agayne hauyng greate authorities and also the Scripture on theyr side But yet the other hauing the sea Apostolicall w t them had the better hande The Popes side stronger theÌ„ the scripture and in fine gate the victorye triumphantly ouer the other to the high exaltation of theyr order For Pope Sixtus as I sayd by the authoritie Apostolicall after hee had decreed the coÌ„ception day of the virgin perpetually to be sanctified and also with his terrible Bull had condeÌ„ned for heretiques al them which withstoode the same the Dominicke Friers wyth authoritie oppressed were dryuen to two incoÌ„ueniences the one was to kepe silence the other was to geue place to their aduersaries the Franciscanes All be it where the mouthe durste not speake yet the heart would worke and though the tongue were tied yet theyr good will was ready by all meanes possible to maintaine their quarel and their estimation Whereupon it happened the same yeare of our Lorde 1509. after this dissention betwene the Dominike Friers Anno. 1509. the Franciscanes that certaine of the Dominickes thinking by subtile sleight to worke in the peoples heades Ex Casparo Peucero Chron. lib. 5. Ex Sebast. Munster Cosmog Lib. 3. that which they durst not atchieue with opeÌ„ preaching deuised a certaine Image of the Uirgine so artificially wroughte that the Friers by priuie gins made it to stirre to make gestures to lament to complaine to weepe to grone to geue answers to them that asked in somuch that the people therwith were brought in a maruelous perswasion til at length the fraude being espied 4 Friers burned at Berne the Friers were taken condemned and burned at Berne the yere aboue mentioned 1509. Ex Peucer Sebast. Munstero Carione alijs In the Centuries of Iohn Bale I finde their names to be Ioannes Vetter Franciscus Vliscus Stephanus Bolizhorst and Henricus Steinegger In the storie of Ioh. Stumfius this story aforesayde doth partly appeare but in the Registers and Recordes of the Citie of Berne the order and circumstance therof is more fully expressed and set foorth both in meter and prose and is thus declared Ex Histor. Ferâ—ensi conscripta vulgari et latino sermone In the Citye of Berne there were certaine Dominike friers to the nuÌ„ber chiefly of 4. principall doers and chieftaines of that Order who had inueigled a certaine simple poore frier who had newly planted himselfe in the cloister whome the foresayd Friers had so infatuated wyth sundry superstitions fained apparitions of S. Maria S. Barbara and S. Catherina and w t their inchauntments and imprinting moreouer in hym the woundes of S. Fraunces that he beleeued plainely that the Uirgine Mary had appeared to hym and had offered to hym a red hoost consecrated with the bloud also of Christ myraculous whych blessed virgin also had sent him to the senatours of Berne with instructions declaring vnto them from the mouth of the virgine y t she was conceiued in sinne that the Franciscane friers were not to be credited nor suffered in the city which were not yet reformed from that erroneous opinion of her conception He added moreouer that they shuld resort to a certaine image there of y e virgine Mary whych image the Friers by engines had made to sweat should do their worship make their oblations to the same c. This fained deuise was not so soone forged by the Friers but it was assone beleued of the people so that a great while the red coloured host was takeÌ„ vndoubtedly for the true body and bloud of Christ and certain coloured drops therof sent abroad to diuers noble personages and estates for a great relique and that not wythout great recoÌ„pence Thus the deceiued people in great number came flocking to the image and to the red host and coloured bloud with manifolde giftes and oblations In briefe the Dominike friers so had wrought the matter and had so swept all the fatte to their owne beardes from the order of the Franciscanes that all the almes came to their boxe The Franciscanes seeing their estimation to decay and their kitchen to waxe colde and their panches to be pinched not able to abide that contumely being not ignorant or vnacquainted with suche counterfaited doings for as the Prouerbe sayeth It is il halting before a creeple eftsoones espied theyr craftye iuggling and detected theyr fraudulent myracles Wherupon the 4. chiefe captaines aboue named were apprehended and put to the fire of whom the Prouinciall of that order was one And thus much touching the beginning ende of this tumultuous and popish tragedy wherin euidently it may appeare to the Reader howe neither these turbulent friers could agree among themselues Friers neither can agree with themselues nor yet do disagree but in vaine trifles and yet in what friuolous trifles they wrangled together But to let these ridiculous friers passe w t their trifling phantasies most worthy to be derided of all wise men in the meane time this is to be lamented to beholde the miserable times of the Churche in which the deuil kept the minds of Christes people so atteÌ„tiue and occupied in such frierly toyes that nothing els almost was taught or heard in the church but only the commendation and exaltation of the virgin Mary The miserable blindnes of the time considered But of our iustification by faith of grace and the promises of God in
thou wilt The martyrdom of Hen. Sutphē Then another treading vpon his brest bounde his necke hard to a step of the ladder that the bloud gushed out of his mouth and nose This was done to strangle him withall for they saw that for all his sore woundes he would not die After he was bound to the ladder he was set vpright Then one running vnto him set his halbard for the ladder to leane against for those countreymen vse no commō hangman but euery mā exerciseth the office without difference but the ladder slipping awaye from the point of the halbard caused that the halbard strake him through the body Then they cast this good man with ladder and all vpon the wood which tumbling downe light vpon the one side Then Iohn Holmeus ranne vnto him strake him with a mace vpon the brest till he was dead and stirred no more Afterward they rosted him vpon the coles for the wood as aftē as it was set on fire would not burne out And thus this godly preacher finished his martyrdome Ex Epist. Mart. Lut. which was ann 1524. Ex Epist. Mart. Luth. About the same time many other godly persons such as feared God for the testimonie of the Gospell were throwne into the riuer of Rhene and into other riuers where their bodies afterward were found Diuers Martyrs secretly drowned in riuers Iohn of Diethmar Martir and taken vp Also in the saide Towne of Diethmar another faithfull Saint of God named Iohn suffered the like martirdome Thus these two blessed and constant Martyrs as two shining lights set vp of God in testimonie of his truth offered vp the sacrifice of their confession sealed with their bloud in a sweete odor vnto God At the Towne of Hala likewise another preacher named M. George for ministring in both kindes M. George of Hala preacher in Saxony Martyr was martired and slaine of a like sort of cutchrotes set vp by monks and friers to murther him neere to the towne called Haschemburge Ex Crisp. Pantal. At Prage also in Bohemia another for changing hys Monkerie into Matrimonie did suffer in like maner Ex Lud. Rab. Furthermore in the same yeare of our Lord aboue mentioned 1524. and 22. of Octob. the Towne of Miltenberge in Germany was taken and ransackt The towne of Miltenberge and diuers of the inhabitants there slaine and many imprisoned for mainteining and keeping with them Carolostadius to be theyr preacher Ex Raba Pantal. In the same catalogue of holy Martirs likewise is to be placed Gaspar Tamber Also another called Georgius Gasper Tābar George a Scriuener of Vienna Martirs a Scriuener which both wer burned at Uienna in Austria ¶ The lamentable martyrdome of Iohn Clerke of Melden in Fraunce MElden is a citie in Fraunce x. miles distant from Paris where Iohn Clerke first was apprehēded takē Ioh. Clerke of Melden Martir ann 1523. for setting vp vpon the Church dore a certayne Bill against the Popes pardons lately sent thyther from Rome in which Bill he named the Pope to be Antichrist For the which his punishment was this Ioh. Clerke scourged for calling the Pope Antichrist that three seueral days he should be whipped afterward haue a marke imprinted in his forehed as a note of infamy His mother being a christiā womā although her husband was an aduersary when she beheld her sonne thus pitiously scourged and ignominiously deformed in the face Ioh. Clerke marked in the forehead cōstantly boldly did encourage her sonne crieng with a loude voice Blessed be Christ and welcome be his printes and markes After this execution and punishment susteined the sayd Iohn departed that towne and went to Roisie in Bry from thence remoued to Metz in Lotharing where he remained a certaine space applyeng his vocation beyng a Wollecarder by his occupation Wheras he the day before that the people of that city should go out to the suburbs to worship certaine blind idols neere by after an old vse and custome amongst them receiued being inflamed with the zeale of God went out of the Citie to the place where the Images were and brast them all downe in peeces The next morow after when y e Canons Priestes Monkes keping their old custome had brought with them the people out of the Citie to the place of Idolatry to worship as they were wont they found all their blocks and stocks almighty lye broken vpon the ground At the sight whereof they being mightely offended in theyr mindes set all the Citie on a gog to search out the author thereof Who was not hard to be found for so much as this foresayde Clerke besides that he was noted of them to be a man much addicted that way he was also seene somewhat late in the euening before to come from the same place into the Citie Wherfore he being suspected and examined vpō the same at first confessed the fact rendring also the cause Ioh. Clerke taken for casting downe Images which moued him so to do The people hearing this and being not yet acquainted with that kinde of doctrine were moued marueilously against him crieng out vpon him in a great rage Thus his cause being infourmed to the Iudges wherin he defended the pure doctrine of the sonne of God he was condemned and led to the place of executiō where he susteined extreme tormēts The greeuous tormentes of Ioh. Clerke For first his hand was cut off from his right arme then his nose with sharp pinsons was violently pluckt from his face after that both his armes and his pappes were lykewise pluckt and drawne with the same instrument To all them that stoode looking vpon it was an horrour to behold the greeuous and dolefull sight of his paines againe to behold his pacience or rather the grace of God geuing him the gift so to suffer The Constancye of this blessed Martyr it was a wonder Thus quietly and constantly he endured in his torments pronouncing or in a manner singing the verses of the 115. Psal. Simulacra eorum sunt argentum aurum c. Their Images be syluer and golde the woorke only of mans hand c. The residue of his life that remayned in his rent body was committed to the fire and therewith consumed which was about the yeare of our Lord 1524. Ex Plant. Crisp. Iohn Castellane THe yeare next ensuing Iohn Castellane Doctour Martyr which was 1525. mayster Iohn Castellane borne at Tourney a Doctour of Diuinitie after that he was called vnto y e knowledge of God and became a true preacher of his word and had preached in Fraunce in a place called Barleduc also at Uittery in Partoise at Chalon in Champaine and in the towne of Uike which is the Chamber and Episcopall Seate of the Bishop of Metz in Loraine after he had laide some foundation of the doctrine of the Gospell in the towne of Metz in returning from thence he
he answered The constaÌ„t behauiour of George Carpenter at his death this shall be my signe and token that so long as I can opeÌ„ my mouth I wil not cease to call vpon the name of Iesus Behold good reader what an incredible coÌ„stancy was in this godly man such as lightly hath not bene sene in any man before His face countenaunce neuer chauÌ„ged colour but chearefully he went vnto the fire In the middest sayth he of the towne this day will I coÌ„fesse my God before the whole world When he was layd vpon the ladder and that hangman put a bagge of gunnepouder about his necke he sayd let it so be in the name of the Father and of the Sonne The death and martyrdome of George Carpenter and of the holy Ghost And when as the two hangmen lifted him vp vpon the ladder smiling he bad a certayne Christian farewell requiring forgeuenes of him That done the hangman thrust him into the fire He wyth a loud voyce cryed out Iesus Iesus Then the hangman turned him ouer and he agayne for a certayne space cryed Iesus Iesus and so ioyfully yelded vp his spirite ¶ Leonard Keyser HEre also is not to be passed ouer the maruellous coÌ„staÌ„cy of M. Leonard Keyser of the countrey of Bauaria The history of Leonard Keyser who was burned for the Gospel This Keyser was of the towne of Rawbe .4 miles froÌ„ Passaw of a famous house This man being at his study in WytteÌ„berge was sent for by his brethren which certified him that if euer he woulde see his father aliue he should come with speed which thing he did He was scarsly come thither when as by the commaundement of the Bishop of Passawe he was taken by his mother his brethren The Articles which he was accused of for y e which also he was most cruelly put to death shed his bloud for the testimony of the truth were these That fayth onely iustifieth That workes are the fruites of fayth That the Masse is no sacrifice or oblation Item for confession satisfaction the vow of chastitye Purgatory differeÌ„ce of daies for affirming only two Sacramentes and inuocation of Sayntes He also mayntayneth 3. kindes of confession The first to be of fayth which is alwayes necessary Articles against Leonard Keyser The second of charity which serueth when any man hath offended his neighbour to whom he ought to reconcile himselfe agayne as a man may see by that which is written in Math. 18. The third which is not to be despised is to aske counsel of the auncient Ministers of the Church And for so much as all this was contrary to the bull of Pope Leo Vid. su pag. 844.845 and the Emperours decree made at Wormes sentence was geuen agaynst him that he should be disgraded and put into the hands of the secular power The persecuters that sate in iudgement vppon him Persecutors were the Byshop of Passaw the Suffragans of Ratisbone of Passaw also Doctour Eckius being garded about with armed men His brethren and kinsfolkes made great intercession to haue his iudgement deferred and put of that the matter might be more exactly knowne Also Iohn Fridericke Duke of Saxony and the Earles of SchauueÌ„burge and of Schunartzen wrote to the Byshoppe for him but could not preuayle After the sentence was geuen he was caryed by a company of harnessed men out of the Citty agayne to Schardingham .13 of August Where Christopher Frenkinger the ciuile Iudge receiuing him Hasty iudgemeÌ„t against Leonarde Keyser had letters sent him from Duke William of Bauaria that forthwith tarying for no other iudgement he should be burned aliue Whereupon the good and blessed Martyr early in the morning being rounded and shauen and clothed in a short gowne and a blacke cappe set vpon his head all cutte and iagged so was deliuered to the officer As he was led out of the town to the place where as he should suffer he boldly and hardily spake in the Almayne tongue turning his head first on the one side and then on the other saying O Lord Iesu remayne with me sustayne and helpe me and geue me force and power The martyrdome of Leonard Keyser Then the woode was made ready to be set on fire and he began to cry with a loud voyce O Iesus I am thine haue mercy vpon me and saue me and therwithall he felt the fire begin sharply vnder his feet his hands and about his head and because the fire was not great enough the hangman plucked the body halfe burnt with a long hooke from vnderneath the wood Then he made a great hoale in the body through the which he thrust a stake and cast him agayne into the fire and so made an end of burning This was the blessed end of that good man which suffered for the testimony of the truth the 16. day of August in the yeare of our Lord. 1526. Ex 6. Tomo operum Lutheri Wendelmuta widow and Martyr IN Holland also the same yeare .1527 was Martyred and burned a good and vertuous widow Wâ—ndelmuta widow Martyr named Wendelmuta a daughter of Nicholas of Munchendam Thys widow receiuing to her hart the brightnes of Gods grace by the appearing of the Gospell was therfore appreheÌ„ded and committed to custody in the Castle of Werden shortly after from thence was brought to Hage the 15. day of Nouember there to appeare at the general sessions of that country Where was present Hochstratus Lord PresideÌ„t of the sayd countye who also sat vpon her the 17. day of the foresayd moneth Diuers Monkes were appoynted there to talke with her to the end they might conuince her and wyn her to recant but she constantly persisting in y e truth wherin she was planted would not be remoued Many also of her kindred other honest womeÌ„ were suffred to persuade w t her AmoÌ„g whoÌ„ there was a certein noble matroÌ„ who loued and fauored dearely the sayd wydow beyng in prison This matron comming and commoning with her in her talke sayde My Wendelmuta why doest thou not keepe silence thinke secretly in thine hart Religion would be professed as wel with touÌ„ge as with hart Rom. 10. these thynges which thou beleuest that thou mayest prolonge here thy dayes and life To whom she aunswered agayne Ah sayd she you know not what ye say It is written With the hart we beleue to righteousnesse with toung we confesse to saluation c. And thus she remayning firme stedfast in her beliefe and confession the 20. day of Nouember was condemned by sentence geuen as agaynst an heretick to be burned to ashes and her goodes to be confiscate she taking the sentence of her condemnation mildely and quietly After she came to the place wher she should be executed Wodden Gods not to be worshipped and a Monke there had brought out a blinde Crosse willing her many times to kisse and worship her God I worship sayd she
that they sought hys bloud Among whō was one Doctour Hasardus whiche asked hym if he did not seeme to hymselfe more wicked nowe then euer he was before but he setting the Fryer at light bad him auaunt Fryer saying that he had to talke wyth the Senate and not with him The Senate then began to examine him of certain Articles of Religion To whom as be was about to aunswere boldly and expresly to euery poynte they interrupting him bad hym say in two wordes eyther yea or nay Then sayde he if ye will not suffer me to aunswere for my selfe in matters of such importaunce then send me to my prison agayne among my todes and frogs whiche will not interrupt mee while I talke with my Lord my God The boldnes of whose spirit and courage as it made some to gnash theyr teeth so some it made to wonder and ministred to some great confirmation There was also one Bergiban the same tyme in prison who had bene a foreward man a great doer in the Gospell before the comming downe of Brulius Who being also sought for at the takyng of Brulius and beyng then not found at home eyther by chaunce not knowing or els because hee conueyed himselfe out of the way for feare conceaued thereof such sorrowe in hys minde y e afterward neyther hys wife nor children nor any frend els could staye hym but he woulde needes offer hymselfe to the Iudges saying to the ruler being asked why he came The Magistrates came to seeke mee sayd he and now I am come to know what they would Wherupon the ruler beyng sory of hys comming yet notwithstanding committed hym to prison where he remayned constant a certayne while But after the Commissioners had threatned hym with cruell tormentes and horror of death he began by little and little to wauer shrinke from the truth At the fayre wordes of the false Friers and Priestes to haue hys punishment changed and to be beheaded he was fayne to graunt vnto theyr biddinges and requestes Whereupon the aduersaries taking theyr aduauntage came to Miocius and told hym of Bergibans retractation wylling him to doe the like But he stoutly persisting in the truth endured to the fire where he hauing pouder put to hys brest was so put to death and dispatched The Fryers hearing the cracke of y e pouder vpon hys brest told the people that the deuill came out of him and caried away hys soule Ex Rabo alijs A certayne Prince in Germany about Hungary or the partes of Pannonia A priest of Germany Iohannes Gastius Conuiual Serm. lib. 2. writeth of a certayne Prince The Martyrdome of a good priest but doth not name hym which put out y e eyes of a certayn Priest in Germanye for no other cause but for that he sayd y e masse to be no sacrifice in y t sence as many priestes do take it Neither did the cruell prince immediatly put him to death but first kept hym in prison a long time afflicting him with diuers tormentes Then he was brought forth to be degraded after a barbarous and tyrannous maner First they shaued the crowne of hys head then rubbed it hard with salt that y e bloud came running downe hys shoulders After that they rased and pared the toppes of hys fingers wyth cruell payne that no sauour of the holy oyle myght remayn At last the patient and godly martyr foure dayes after yealded vp hys lyfe and spirite Ex. Ioan. Gastio lib. 2. Alphonsus Diazius a Spanyard Petrus de Maluenda the popes prolocutor at Ratisbone a Spanyard The Emperours confessor a blacke Fryer a Spanyard Marquina Ioannes Diazius a Spanyard martyr killed of his own brother at Neoberg in Germany An. 1546. The cruell murthering of Iohn Diazius Of this Iohn Diazius the full proces and historye is set foorth in Latine wherein the whole circustaunce is debated at large wher of briefe sūme is this Iohn Diazius a Spanyarde borne first being at Paris 13. yeares from thēce remoued to Geneua then to Basill after to Strausburgh from whence he was sent Ambassadour with Bucer and other to the Councell of Ratisbone where he talking with Peter Meluenda hys countreyman the Popes factour so declared his Relygyon vnto hym that Maluenda wrote to the Fryer whiche was the Emperours confessour touching the sayd Iohn Diazius The Emperours confessour at the opening and reading of whiche letters one Marquina an other Spanyarde was present Upon this it followed Alphonsus Diazius come from Rome to kyl hys brother whether by this confessor or by Marquina that Alphonsus Diasius brother to Iohn Diazius which was one of the Popes Lawyers in Rome had knowledge geuen hym of hys brother Iohn When the communication of Ratisbone was dissolued broken vp Iohn Diazius from Ratisbone went to the City of Neoberg within the Dominion of Otto Henry Pallatine about the expedition of Bucers booke there to be printed As Iohn Diazius was there occupyed it was not long but Alphonsus hys brother was come frō Rome to Ratisbōe where Maluenda was bringing with him a pestilent cut-throate a notorious ruffian or homicide belonging to y e City of Rome Maluenda Alphonsus consulting together about y e dispatch of theyr deuilish purpose first laboured to hūt out by y e frends of Diazius wher Diazius was Wherof Alphon. the homicide hauing knowledge by certayne of hys secret friends pretending great matters of importaunce came to Neoberg where Diazius was printing of Bucers booke where after long debating of matters of religion betwene the two brethren Alphonsus seing the hart of his brother Iohn to be so constantly planted on the sure rocke of Gods truth that by no wyse he could eyther be remooued from his opinion or perswaded to ride in his company being otherwise coūsailed by Bucer and hys friendes feyned him selfe frendly to take his leaue of his brother and to depart but shortly after secretly with his ruffenly murderer he returned agayne and by the waye they bought a certein hatchet of a carpenter This done Alphonsus sendeth his man beyng disguised with letters vnto his brother he himselfe following after As Iohn Diazius in the mornyng was risen out of his bed Iohn Diazius slaine by his owne brother to read the letters y e wretched hangman wyth the hatchet cloue his head vnto the braynes leauing the hatchet in his head and so hee with Alphonsus tooke them to theyr horse which stoode without the Cittie gate with as much speede as they might They of Neoberge hearing of the horrible acte sent out certaine horsemen making great iournyes after them Who comming to Augusta and hearing y e murderers to be past before were out of hope to ouertake them and so returned One in the cōpany more zelous then the rest God will haue murther knowen woulde not returne but pursued them still and in the Cittie of Oeniponte caused them to be stayed and put in
this Peter Peter Gaudet Knight sometimes of Rhodes An. 1533. This Peter being at Geneua with hys wyfe was trayned out from thence by his vncle Peter Gaudet Martyr and put in prison for defence of the Gospel and after long tormentes then sustained was burned vide Crisp.  Quoquillard An. 1534. At Bezanson in the countye of Burgundy Quoquillard Martyr this Quoquillard was burned for the confession and testimony of Christes gospell Ex Ioan Crisp.  Nicolas a Scriuener Iohn de Phoix Stephen Burlet An. 1534. These three were executed and burned for the like cause of the Gospell Nicholas a Scriueâ—er Ioan. de Poix Steuen Burlet Martyrs in the Citty of Arras namely Nicholas a Scriuener Iohn de Poix Stephen Burlet Ex Ionne Crisp. A Gray Frier in the City of Rochell Mary Becandella At Fountaynes· An. 1534. This Mary beyng vertuouslye instructed of her maister where she liued Mary Becaudella Martyr and being afterward at a Sermon where a Frier preached after the SermoÌ„ found faulte with hys doctrine and refined the same by Scryptures Whereat he disdayning procured her to be burned at Fountaynes Ibidem  Iohn Cornon An. 1535. Iohn Cornon Martyr Iohn Cornon a husband man of Masâ—oÌ„ and vnlottered but to whom God gaue such wisedome that hys iudges were amazed when he was condeÌ„ned by theyr sentence and burned Ex Crisp. George Borell Iaylor The Procurator of the Citty of Grenoble in Fraunce The Inquisitour Martin Gonyn In Dolphyne An. 1236. Martyn Gonyn Martyr This Martin being taken for a spye in the borders of Fraunce towarde the Alpes was committed to prison In his going out hys Iaylour espyed about hym letters of Farellus and of Peter Uiret Wherefore being examined of the kinges Procuratour and of the Inquisitor touching his fayth after he had rendered a sufficient reason thereof he was cast into the riuer and drowned Ex Ioan Crisp. The kinsfolkes and frendes of this Claudius Mosinus an Officer Cladius Paynter a Goldsmith At Paris An. 1540. Claudius Paynter a Goldsmith Martyr Claudius going aboute to conuert hys frendes and kinsfolks to hys doctrine was by them committed to Morinus a chiefe captayn who condemned him to be burned but the hygh Parliament of Paris correctyng that sentence added moreouer y t he shoulde haue hys tongue cut out before and so to be burned Ex Ioan Crisp. Gasper Augerius the Bishops Renter Domicellus a Franciscane and Inquisitour Stephen Brune a husbandman At Rutiers An. 1540. Stephen Brune was persecuted of Augerius Stephen Brune Martyr who after his confession geuen of hys fayth was iudged to be burned Which punishment he tooke so constantly that it was to them a woÌ„der Hys aduersaryes commauÌ„ded after his death to bee cryed that none should make any more mention of him vnder payne of heresy Pantalion addeth moreouer that at the place of hys burnyng called Planuol the wynde rose and blewe the fyre so from hym as he stoode exhortyng the people that hee there continued about the space of an houre in maner not harmed or scarce touched with any flame so that all y e woode being wasted away they were compelled to begin the fire agayne with new fagottes The Martyr not harmed with the fire vessels of oyle and such other matter and yet neither could he wyth all this be turned but stood safe Then the hangman tooke a staffe and let driue at his head To whome the holy Martyr being yet aliue sayde When I am iudged to the fire doe ye beate me with staues like a dogge With that the hangman with his pike thrust him through the belly and the guttes and so threw him downe into the fire burned his body to ashes throwing away his ashes afterward with the wind Ex Ioan Crisp.  Constantinus a Citizen of Rhone wyth three other An. 1542. These foure for defence of the Gospell Constantine Northman with three other Martyrs being coÌ„demned to be burned were put in a doungcart Who thereat reioysing sayd that they were reputed here as excrements of this worlde but yet theyr death was a swet odour vnto God Ex Ioan Crisp.  Iohn du Beck Priest An. 1543. For the doctrine of the Gospell he was disgraded Iohn Du Beck Martyr and coÌ„stantly abode the torment of fire in the chiefe Citty of Champaigne Ex Ioan Crisp. The Parish Priest of the towne of S. Fayth in Angeow Also other Priestes of the same country Riueracus and his seruaunt Aymond de Lauoy Bordeaux An. 1543. This Aymonde preached the Gospell at S. Faythes in Angeow Aymondus a Via Martyr where he was accused by the Parishe Priest there and by other Priestes moe to haue taught false doctrine to the great decaye of theyr gaynes Whereupon when the Magistrates of Bordeaux had geuen commaundement and had sent out theyr Apparitour to apprehende hym he hauing intelligence thereof was willed by his frendes to flye and shyfte for himselfe but he would not saying that he had rather neuer to haue bene borne then so to doe The office of a good shepheard to stand by hys flocke It was the office of a good Shephearde he sayd not to flye in tyme of perill but rather to abide the daunger least the flocke be scattered or els least peraduenture in so doing he should leaue some scruple in theyr mindes thus to thinke that he had fedde them with dreames and fables contrary to the word of GOD. Wherefore beseeching them to moue him no more therein he tolde them Act. 21. that he feared not to yelde vp both body and soule in the quarrell of that trueth which he had taught saying with S. Paule that he was ready not onely to be bound for the testimony of Christ in the Citty of Bordeaux but also to dye To contract the long storye hereof to a briefe narration the Sumner came and was in the City three daies during which tyme Aymondus preached three Sermons The people in defence of theyr Preacher sâ—ew vppon the Sumner to delyuer hym out of hys handes But Aymond desired them not to stoppe hys Martyrdome seyng it was the will of God that he should suffer for him he would not sayd he resist Then the Consuls suffered the Sumner and so Aimond was caryed to Bordeaux Where many witnesses the most part being Priestes came in agaynst him with M. Riuerack also and his seruaunt Whiche Riueracke had sayde oftentimes before that it should cost him a thousand crownes but he woulde burne him Many exceptions he made agaynst hys false witnesses but that would not be taken Al their accusation was onely for denying Purgatory About ix monethes he remayned in prison wyth great misery bewayling exceedingly his former life albeit there was no man that could charge him outwardly with any crime Then came downe letters wherupon the iudges began to proceede to his condeÌ„nation and he had greater fetters put vpon him which he tooke for a
of Sainct Iustice. I aske mercye sayth he of God and hys Iustice but the Uirgine blessed S. Mary I neuer offended nor did that thinge for the whiche I should aske her mercy From thence he passed forward to the Churche of S. Legia preaching still as he went Then spake one of the souldiours to the driuer or carter Iohn 8. Filioli custodite vos a simulachris 1. Iohn 5. willyng him to driue a pase for here is preaching sayd he enough To whō sayd Aymond He that is of God heareth the wordes of God c. In passing by a certain Image of our Lady great offence was taken agaynst him because he alwayes called vpon Christ Iesus onely and made no mention of her Whereupon hee lifted his voyce to God praying that he woulde neuer suffer him to inuocate any other sauing him alone Comming to the place where he should suffer he was tumbled out of the cart vpon y e groūd testifying to the Magistrates to the people standing by y t he dyed for the Gospell of Iesus Christ for his word More he would haue spoken but he coulde not be suffered by y e tumultuous vexing of the officers crying dispatch dispatche him let him not speake Thē he speaking a few wordes softly in y e eare of the litle Carmelite whō he had conuerted was bid to stepp vp to y e stage Where the people beginning to geue a litle audiēce thus he said O Lord make hast to helpe me tary not do not despise the woorke of thy handes The wordes of Aymond to the studentes And you my brethren y e be students scholers I exhort you to study and learne the Gospell for the word of God abideth for euer labour to knowe the will of God and feare not them that kill the body but haue no power vpon your soules And after that my fleshe sayde hee repugneth merueilously against the spirit but shortly I shall cast it away My good maysters I beseech you pray for me O Lord my God into thy hands I commend my soule The death and martyrdome of Aymondus As he was oft repeting the same the hangman tooke and haled him vpon the steppes in such sort that he strangled hym And thus y e blessed Sainct gaue vp his life Whose body afterwarde was with fire consumed  Fraunces Bribard An. 1144. Fraunces Bribard was sayde to be the secretarye of the Cardinal of Bellay Fraunces Bribard Who being also for the Gospel condemned after hys tongue was cutte off did with like constācie susteyne the sharpenes of burning Ibidem The high Court of Roan A widowe keeping a vitailing house in the suburbes of Roan William Husson an Apothecary At Roan An. 1544. William Hussan Apothecary William Husson Martyr comming frō Bloys to Roan was lodged with a certaine widow in the suburbs of the Cittye Who asking of her at what tyme the Counsayle or Parliament did ryse she sayd at x. of y e clock About whiche tyme houre hee went to the Pallace and there scattered certayne bookes concernyng Christian doctrine and the abuse of mens traditions Whereat the counsayle was so mooued that they commaunded all the gates of the Cittye to be locked and dilligent search to be made in all Innes and hostles to finde out the authour Then the widow told of the partye which was there and asked of the rising of the Counsayle shortly vpon the same took hys horse and rode away Thē were postes set out thorough all quarters so that the sayd William was taken by the waye riding to Diepe and brought agayne to Roan Who there being examined declared hys fayth boldly and howe became of purpose to disperse those bookes in Roan and went to do the like at Diepe The boldnes of a constant Martyr The weeke ensuing hee was condemned to be burned aliue After the sentence geuen he was brought in a cart accompanyed with a Doctor a Carmelite Frier before the great churche who puttynge a torche in hys hand required hym to doe homage to the Image of our Lady Custodite vos a simulachris Iohn 5. which because he refused to do his tongue was cut out The Fryer then making a Sermon when he spake any thing of the mercies of God the sayd William harkened to hym but when he spake of the merites of Sayntes and other dreames he turned awaye his head The Fryer looking vppon the countenaunce of Husson lifte vpp his hand to heauen saying with great exclamation that he way damned and was possessed with a deuil When the Fryer had ceased hys Sermon this godly Husson had his handes and feete bound behynde his backe with a pully was lifted vp into the ayre and when the fire was kindled Crueltie of the aduersaries he was let down into the flame where the blessed Martyr with a smyling and cheerefull countenaunce looked vp to heauen neuer mouing nor styrryng till he let down his head and gaue vp hys spirite All the people there present were not a little astonyed thereat and were in diuers opinions some saying that he had a deuill other mayntayned the contrary saying if hee had a deuill he should haue fallen into dispayre This Carmelite Fryer abouesayde Frier Delāda conuerted was called Delanda which after was conuerted and preached the Gospell Ex. Gallie hist. Ioan. Crisp. Lib. 2. Three popish priests The Duke of Loraine· Iames Cobard a Scholemaster and many other taken the same time An. 1545. This Iames scholemaister in the Citty of Sainct Michael in the Dukedom of Barens in Loraine Iames Cobard Martyr disputed with three priests that the sacrament of Baptisme and of the Supper dyd not auayle vnlesse they were receaued with fayth which was as muche to saye as that the Masse dyd profite neither y e quick nor the dead For the which and also for hys confession which he being in prison sent of hys owne accorde by hys mother vnto the Iudge hee was burned and most quietly suffered Ex. Ioan. Crisp. The Franciscan Friers The Doctours of Sorbone and others Peter Clerke brother to Iohn Clerke burnt before Stephanus Manginus Iames Bouchbeck Iohn Brisebar Henr. Hutinote Tho. Honorate Iohn Baudouinus Iohn Flesch Iohn Picquere Peter Piquere Io. Matheston Philippe Little Michaell Caillow Fraunces Clerke Couberon a Weauer At Meaux An. 1546. These xiiij dwelt at Melda Xiiij. Martyrs a Cittye in France x. myles from Paris Where William Briconetus beyng there Bysh. did muche good Pet. Clerke Ioh. Clerke brethrē and Martyrs brought to them the light of the Gospell and reformed the Church Who straightly beyng examined for the same relented but yet these with many other remained constāt Who after the burning of Iames Pauane before mentioned and seeing superstition to grow more and more Xiiij. blessed martyrs at Meaux began to congregate in Mangins house to set vp a churche to themselues after the example of the French Churche in Strausburgh A
martyrdome where no kinde of crueltie was sacking which the innocent Martyrs of Christ Iesus were wont to be put vnto Ex Henr. Pantal. hist Gallic The names of his persecutours in the story be not expressed Stephen Polliot Martyr Stephen Polliot At Paris An. 1546. Stephen Polliot comming out of Normandy where he was borne vnto Meaux taryed not there long but was compelled to flye went to a town called Fera where hee was appreheÌ„ded and brought to Paris and there cast into a foule and darcke prison In whiche prison he was kept in bands and fetters a loÌ„g space where he saw almost nolight At length being called for before the Senate and his sentence geuen to haue his tongue cut out and to be burned aliue his satchell of bookes hangyng about his necke O Lord sayd he is the world in blindnes and darckenes still For he thought being in prison so long that the world had ben altered from his olde darckenes to better knowledge At laste the worthye Martyr of Iesus Christ hauyng his bookes about his necke was put into the fire where he with much pacience ended this transitory lyfe Ex Henr. Pantal. The high Senate of Paris Iohn Englishe An. 1547. He was executed burned at Sens in Burgundy Ioh. Englishe martyr being condemned by the hygh Courte of Paris for confessing y e true word of God Ex Crisp. Adrian  Michaell Michelote a Taylour An. 1547. This Taylour beyng apprehended for y e gospels sake Michaell Michelot martyr was iudged first if hee woulde turne to be beheaded and if hee woulde not turne then to be burned aliue Who beyng asked whether of these two he woulde chuse aunswered that hee trusted that hee which hath geuen him grace not to denye the truth woulde also geue him pacience to abide the fire He was burned at Werden by Turney Two false brethren Leonardus de Prato An. 1547. This Leonard goyng from Dyion to Bar Leonardus de Prato martyr a towne in Burgundy with two false brethren and talkyng with them about religion was bewrayed of theÌ„ and afterward burned  Iohn Taffingnon Vij Martyrs Ioan his wife Symon Mareschall Ioan his wife W. Michant Iames Boulerau Iames Bretany An. 1547. Al these 7. beyng of the Cittie of Langres for the word and truth of Christ Iesus were committed to the fire wherein they dyed w t much strength comfort But especially Ioanne which was Simons wife being reserued to the last place because she was y e yongest confirmed her husband and al the other with words of singular consolation declaring to her husband that they shoulde the same daye be maryed to the Lorde Iesus to liue with him for euer Ex. Pantal. Crisp. alijs The Senate of paris Mischaell Maâ—eschall Ioh. Cam. Great Iohn Camus Iohn Serarphin An. 1547. These also the same yeare and about the same tyme for the lyke confession of Christes Gospell wer condemned by the Senate of Paris in the same Cittye also with the like cruelty were burned Ex Pantal. Crisp. The host of Octouien at Lyons Gabriell of Saconnex Presenteur Octonien Blondell a Marchaunt of precious stones At paris An. 1548. This Octouien as he was a great occupyer in al fayres countryes of Fraunce Octouien martyr and well knowne both in Court els where so was he a singular honest man of great integritie and also a fauourer of Gods word Who beyng at his hostes house in Lyons rebuked the filthy talk and superstitious behauiour whiche there he heard saw Wherfore the host bearing to him a grudge chanced to haue certayne talke with Gabriell of Sacconex Presenteur concerning the riches and a sumptuous coller set with riche iewels of this Octouien Thus these two coÌ„sulting together dyd suborne a certayn person to borowe of hym a certayne summe of crownes Which because Octouien refused to lend the other caused hym to be apprehended for heresie thinking thereby to make atachment of hys goodes But such order as was taken by Blondels friendes that they were frustrate of their purpose Then Blondell being examined of hys fayth gaue a playne and ful confession of that doctrine which he had learned for the whiche he was committed to prison where he dyd much good to the prisoners there For some y t were in debt he payd theyr creditors and loosed them out To some he gaue meate to other rayment Faith ioyned with good workes At length thorough the importune perswasions of his parents and frendes he gaue ouer and chaunged hys confession Notwithstanding the Presenteur not leauyng so appealed hym vp to y e high court of Paris There Otouien beyng asked agayne touching hys fayth which of hys two confessions he woulde stick to he being before admonished of his fal and of the offence geuen thereby to the faithfull said he would liue dye in his first confession which he defeÌ„ded to be consonaÌ„t to the verity of Gods word Which done he was coÌ„demned to be burned and so hast was made to his execution least his frendes in the court might come betweene and saue his life Ex Ioan. Crisp. Lib. 6.  Hubert Cheriet Martyre Hubert Cheriet alias Burre a yong man a Taylour At Dyion An. 1549. Hubert beyng a young man of the age of xix yeares was burned for the Gospell at DyioÌ„ who neyther by any terroures of death nor allurementes of hys parentes coulde be otherwyse perswaded but constantly to remayne in the truth vnto death Ibid. peter Lisetus president of the Counsaile of paris and other Sorbonistes M. Florent Venote Florent Venote martyr priest At paris An. 1549. This Florent remayned in prison in Paris 4. yeares and 9 hours During which tyme there was no torment which he did not abide and ouercome Among al other kindes of torments he was put in a narrowe prisoÌ„ or brake so strait that he coulde neyther stand nor lye whiche they call the hoase or boote ad Nectar Hippocratis because it is strait beneath and wyder aboue like to the instrument where with Apocatheries are wont to make their hipocras In this he remayneth 7. weekes where the tormentors affirme that no thiefe nor murderer coulde euer endure xv dayes but was in daunger of lyfe or madnes At last when there was a great shew in Paris at the kings comming into the Citty and diuers other Martyrs in sondry places of the Cittye were put to death he hauing hys tongue cut off was brought to see the execution of them all and last of all in y e place of Maulbert was put in the fire and burned the ix of Iuly at after noone Ex Ioan Crisp.  Anne Audebert an Apothecaryes wife and wydow At Orleance An. 1549. She going to Geneua was taken brought to Paris Anne Audebert martyr and by the Counsayle there iudged to bee burned at Orleance WheÌ„ y e rope was put about her shee called it her wedding girdle wherwith she
Cardinall Wolsey Nixe Byshoppe of Norwich Fryers of Ipswich Thomas Bilney Bacheler of both lawes Fryer Byrd Fryer Hogekins Doctour Stokes Sir Thom. Moore Fryer Brusyerd Fryer Iohn Huggen Prouinciall of the Dominikes Fryer Geffrey Iulles Fryer Iugworth M. William Iecket gentleman William Nelson Thomas Williams Thomas Bilney Arthure which abiured At Norwiche Ann. 1531. In the story aboue passed of Cardinall Wolsey Anno. 1531. mention was made of certayne Thomas Bilney Martyr whome the sayde Cardinal caused to abiure as Bilney Geffrey Lome Garret Barnes and such other of whome we haue nowe the Lorde directing vs specially to entreate This Thom. Bilney was brought vp in the Uniuersitie of Cambridge euen from a child profiting in al kind of liberal science euen vnto the profession of both lawes But at the last hauing gotteÌ„ a better schoolemaister euen the holy spirit of Christ who enduing his hart by priuie inspiration with y e knowledge of better more wholesome things he came at the last vnto this point that forsaking y e knowledge of maÌ„s lawes he coÌ„uerted his studye to those things which tended more vnto godlynes then gaynefulnes Finally as he hymselfe was greatly inflamed with the loue of true religion godlines euen so agayne was in hys hart an incredible desire to allure many vnto the same desiring nothing more then that hee might stir vp incourage any to the loue of Christ sincere Religion Neyther was his labors vayne for he conuerted many of hys felowes vnto the knowledge of the Gospell amoÌ„gst which number was Thomas Arthur and M. Hugh Latimer which Latimer at that time was crossekeeper at Cambridge bringing it forth vpon procession dayes At the last Maister Latimer Crossekeeper in the Vniuersitye of Cambridge Bilney forsaking the Uniuersitie went into many places teaching preaching being associate with Arthur whiche accompanied him from the Uniuersitie The authoritie of Thom. Wolsey Cardinall of Yorke of whome ye heard before at that time was great in England but his pompe pride much greater which did euidently declare vnto all wise men the manifest vanitie not only of his life but also of all the Byshops and Cleargie Whereupon Bilney Bilney against the pride of the Pope and of his Cardinalls with other good men maruelling at the incredible insolencie of the Cleargie which they could now no longer suffer or abide beganne to shake and reprooue this excessiue pompe of the Cleargie and also to plucke at the authoritie of the Byshop of Rome Then it was time for the Cardinall to awake and speedily to looke about hys busines Neyther lacked he in this poynt any craft or subtiltie of a serpent for he vnderstood well enough vpon how slender a foundation theyr ambitious dignitie was grounded neyther was he ignoraunt that theyr Luciferous and proude kingdome could not long coÌ„tinue against the manifest word of God especially if the light of the Gospell should once open the eyes of men For otherwise he did not greatly feare the power and dipleasure of Kings and Princes Only thys he feared the voyce of Christ in his Gospell least it should disclose and detect their hypocrisie and deceites and force them to come into an order of godly discipline wherefore he thought good speedily in time to withstand these beginnings Whereupon he caused the sayd Bilney and Arthur to be apprehended and cast in prison as before yee haue heard After this the xxvij day of Nouember in the yeare of our Lord 1527. the sayde Cardinall accompanyed wyth a great number of Byshops Cardinall Wolsey with his complices agaynst Bilney and Arthur as the Archbyshop of Caunterbury Cuthbert of London Iohn of Rochester Nicholas of Ely Iohn of Exeter Iohn of Lincolne Iohn of Bathe and Welles Harry of Saint Asse with many other both Diuines and Lawyers came into the Chapterhouse of Westminster where the sayd Maister Thomas Bilney and Thomas Arthur were brought before them and the sayd Cardinall there enquired of M. Bilney whether he had priuately or publiquely preached or taught to the people the opinions of Luther or any other condemned by the Church contrary to the determination of the Church Whereunto Bilney answeared that wittingly he had not preached or taught any of Luthers opinions or any other contrary to the Catholique Churche Then the Cardinall asked him whether he had not once made an othe before that he should not preach rehearse or defende any of Luthers opinioÌ„s but should impugne the same euerywhere He answered that he had made such an othe but not lawfully which interrogatories so ministred and answeares made the Cardinall caused hym to sweare to aunsweare playnely to the articles and errors preached and set foorth by him as well in the Citie and dioces of London as in the dioces of Norwich and other places and that he shuld do it without any craft qualifying or leauing out any part of the truth After he was thus sworne and examined the sayd Cardinal proceded to the examination of M. Thomas Arthur there present causing him to take the like othe Thomas Arthur examined that M. Bilney did Which done he asked of him whether he had not once told sir Tho. More knight y t in the Sacrament of the altar was not the very body of Christ Which interrogatory he denied Then the Cardinal gaue him time to deliberate til noone and to bring in his answeare in writing After noone the same daye what tyme the examination of the foresayde Thomas Arthur was ended the Cardinall and Byshops by theyr authoritie Ex officio did call in for witnesses before Mayster Bilney certayne men namely Iohn Huggen chiefe Prouinciall of the Friers preachers throughout all England Geffrey Iulles and Richard Iugworth professours of Diuinitie of the same order Also William Iecket Gentleman William Nelson and Thomas Williams which were sworne that all fauour hate loue or rewarde set aparte they shoulde without concealing of any falsehoode or omitting anye truth speake theyr myndes vpon the Articles layde agaynst them or preached by hym as well within the Dioces of London as the Dioces of Norwich and because he was otherwise occupyed aboute the affayres of the Realme he committed the hearing of the matter to the Byshop of London and to other Byshops there present or to three of them to proceede agaynst all men as well spirituall as temporall as also against schedules writings and bookes set forth and translated by Martin Luther lately condemned by Pope Leo the tenth and by all maner of probable meanes to enquire and roote out their errors and opinions and all such as were found culpable to compell them to abiuration according to the lawe or if the matter so required to deliuer them vnto the secular power and to geue them full power and authoritie to determine vpon them The xxvij of Nouember in the yeare aforesayde the Byshop of London Bâ—â—ney and Aâ—tâ—ure bâ—â—â—ght befâ—re â—uÌ„â—tall biâ—hop of Lâ—ndon with the Byshop of Ely and
and poyntes thereto belonging testified not by some sayes by heareseyes as M. More vseth but truely witnessed Doct. Parker Archb. of Canterbury present witnesse at the burning of Bilney and faythfully recordeth by one who as in a place and degree surmounteth the estate of M. More though he were Lord Chauncellour so beyng also both a spirituall person and there present the same time comming for the same purpose the day before to see his burning was a present beholder of things there done 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of Martyrdom whose credite I am sure will counterpease with the credite of M. More The order of which martyrdome was this as followeth Thomas Bilney after his examination and condemnation before Doct. Pelles Doctour of law and ChauÌ„cellour first was degraded by Suffragan Underwoode according to the custome of ther popishe maner by the assistaunce of all the Fryers and Doctours of the same sute Whiche done he was immediately committed to the â—aye power and to the two Sheriffes of the Cittie of whome Thomas Necton was one This Tho. Necton was Bilneys speciall good frend and sory to accept hym to such execution as followed But such was the tyrannye of y e tyme and dread of the Chauncellour and Fryers that he coulde no otherwise doe but needes must receiue him Who notwithstanding as he could not beare in his conscience himselfe to be present at hys death so for the time that he was in hys custody hee caused hym to be more friendly looked vnto and more holesomely kept concerning his dyet then he was before A description of the godly constancy of Thomas Bilney who being in prison oftentimes prooued the fire with his finger The Saterday next following when the Officers of execution as the maner is with their gleaues and halbardes were ready to receaue hym and to leade him to the place of execution without the Citty gate called Byshops gate in a low valley commonly called the Lollards pit vnder S. Leonards hyl enuironed about with great hylles whiche place was chosen for the peoples quiet sitting to see the executioÌ„ at the comming forth of the sayd Thomas Bilney out of the prison doore Constant Bilney exhorted to constancye one of hys frendes came to hym with few wordes as he durst spake to hym prayed him in Gods behalfe to be constant and to take his death as paciently as he could Whereunto the sayd Bilney aunswered with a quyet and milde countenance Ye see when the Mariner is entred hys shyp to sayle on the troublous Sea how he for a while is tossed in the byllowes of y e same but yet in hope that he shall once come to the quyet hauen he beareth in better comforte the perils whiche he feeleth So am I now toward this sayling what soeuer storms I shall feele yet shortly after shall my ship be in the haueÌ„ as I doubt not therof by the grace of God desiring you to help me w t your prayers to the same effect And so he going forth in the streetes geuing much almes by the way by the handes of one of his frendes accompanyed with one D. Warner Doct. of Diuinity and parson of WintertoÌ„ whom he did chuse as his olde acquayntaunce to be with him for his ghostly comfort came at the last to the place of execution and ascended downe from the hill to the same apparelled in a lay mans gowne with his sleues hanging downe his armes out his heare being pitiously mangled at his degradation a litle single body in person but alwaies of a good vpright countenaunce and drew neare to the stake prepared somewhat tarying the preparation of the fyre he desired that he might speak some wordes to the people and there standing thus he sayd Good people I am come hyther to dye and borne I was to liue vnder that condition naturally to dye againe and that ye might testify that I depart out of this present life as a true Christian man in a right beliefe towardes almighty God I will rehearse vnto you in a fast fayth the Articles of my Creede and then began to rehearse them in order as they be in the common Creede with oft eleuating his eyes and handes to almighty God and at the Article of Christes incarnatioÌ„ hauing a litle meditation in himselfe comming to the word Crucified he humbly bowed himselfe and made great reuerence and then proceeding in the Articles and comming to these wordes I beleue the Catholicke Church there he paused and spake these wordes Good people I must here confesse to haue offended the Church in preaching once agaynst the prohibition of the same at a poore Cure belonging to Trinity hall in Cambrige where I was felow Tho Bilney pâ—t to death 〈…〉 earnestly intreated thereunto by the Curate and other good people of the parish shewing that they had no Sermon there of loÌ„ng time before so in my conscieÌ„ce moued I did make a poore collation vnto them and therby ranne into the disobedience of certaine authority in the Church by whom I was prohibited howbeit I trust at the generall day charity that moued me to this acte shall beare me out at y e iudgement seat of God M. More proued a lyer by witnes present at Bilneys death so he proceeded on without any maner of wordes of recantation or charging any man for procuring him to his deth This once done he put of his gowne and went to the stake and kneelyng vpon a litle ledge comming out of the stake wheron he should afterward stand to be better sene he made his priuate prayer w t such earnest eleuation of his eyes and handes to heauen and in so good quiet behauior that he seemed not much to coÌ„sider the terror of his death and ended at the last Tho. Bilney praying at the stake Psal. 143. his priuate prayers with the 143. Psalme beginning Domine exaudi orationem meam auribus percipe obsecrationem meam c. That is Heare my prayer O Lord consider my desire the next verse he repeated in deepe meditation thrise Et ne intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo Domine i. And enter not into iudgement with thy seruaunt for in thy sight shall no man liuing be iustified and so finishing that Psalme he ended his priuate prayers After that he turned himselfe to the officers asking theÌ„ if they were ready and they answered yea Whereupon he put of his iacket and doublet and stoode in his hose shirt and went vnto the stake standing vpon that ledge and the chayne was cast about him and standing theron the sayd D. Warner came to him to bid him farewell D. Warner taking his faâ—ewell of Tho. Bilney which spake but few wordes for weeping Upon whom the sayd Tho. Bilney did most gently smile inclined his body to speak to him a few wordes of thankes and the last were these O Maister Doctor Pasce gregem
trust not in his holynesse To this he aunswered take ye it as ye will I will take it well enough Item Almes whom and how farre it profiteth now seest thou what almes meaneth and wherfore it serueth He that seeketh with his almes more then to be mercifull to be a neighbour to succour his brothers need to do his duty to his brother to geue his brother that he ought him the same is blind seeth not Christes bloud Here he answereth God to be serued and worshipped onely as he commaundeth otherwise not that he findeth no fault throughout all the booke but all the booke is good and it hath geuen him great comfort and light to his conscience Item that ye do nothing to please God but that he cōmaunded To that he answereth and thinketh it good by his truth Item so God is honored on all sides in that we coūt him righteous in all his lawes and ordinaunces And to worship him otherwise then so it is Idolatry To that he answered that it pleaseth him well The examination of these Articles being done the Bishop of London did exhort the sayd Iohn Tewkesbery to recant his errors abouesayde and after some other cōmunication had by the Bishop with him the sayd Bishop did exhort him again to recant his errors and appoynted him to determine with himselfe against the next Session what he would do Iohn Tewkesbery submitteth himselfe IN this next Session he submitted himselfe and abiured his opinions and was enioyned penaunce as foloweth which was the 8. of May. In primis that he should keepe well his abiuration vnder payne of relaps Secondly that the next Sonday folowing in Paules Church in the open procession he should cary a Fagot and stand at Paules Crosse with the same That the Wednesday folowing he should cary the same Fagot about Newgate market and Chepeside That on Friday after he should take the same fagot agayne at S. Peters church in Cornehill and cary it about the market of Ledenhall That he should haue 2. signes of Fagots embrothered one on his left sleue the other on his right sleue which he should weare all his life time vnles he were otherwise dispensed withall That on Whitsonday euē he should enter into the Monastery of S. Bartholomew in Smithfield and there to abide and not to come out vnles he were released by the bishop of London That he should not depart out of y e city or dioces of London without the speciall licence of the B. or his successors Which penance he entred into the 8 day of May. an 1229. And thus much concerning his first examinatiō which was in the yeare .1529 at what time he was inforced thorow infirmitye as is before expressed to retract and abiure his doctrine Tewkesbery returned againe to the truth Notwithstāding the same Iohn Tewkesbery afterward cōfirmed by the grace of God and moued by y e example of Bayfild aforesayd that was burned in smithfield did returne and constantly abide in the testimonye of the truth and suffered for the same Who recouering more grace better strength at the hand of the Lord two yeares after being apprehended agayne was brought before Syr Thomas More and the Bishop of Londō where certaine Articles were obiected to him the chiefe wherof we intēd briefly to recite for the matter is prolixe In primis that he confesseth that he was baptised and intendeth to keepe the Catholicke fayth Articles agayne obiected to Tewkesbery Secondly that he affirmeth that the abiuration othe subscription that he made before Cutbert late Byshop of London was done by compulsion Thirdlye that he had the bookes of the obedience of a Christian man and of the wicked Mammon in his custody and hath read them since his abiuration Fourthly that he affirmeth that he suffered the two fagots that were embrothered vpon his sleue to be taken frō him for that he deserued not to weare them Fiftly he sayth that fayth onely iustifieth which lacketh not charity Sixtly he sayth that Christ is a sufficient Mediator for vs therfore no prayer is to be made vnto any Sayntes Wherupon they layd vnto him this verse of the Antheme Salue Regina aduocata nostra c. To the which he aunswered that he knew no other Aduocate but Christ alone Seuenthly he affirmeth that there is no Purgatory after this life Christ is our Purgatorye but that Christ our Sauior is a sufficient purgation for vs. Eightly he affirmeth that the soules of the faythful departing this life rest with Christ. Ninthly he affirmeth y t a priest by receiuing of orders receiueth more grace if his fayth be increased or els not Tenthly and last of all he beleueth that the sacrament of the flesh bloud of Christ is not the very body of Christ in flesh bloud as it was borne of y e virgin Mary Whervpon the Byshops Chauncellor asked the sayd Tewkesbery if he could shew any cause why he should not be takē for an hereticke falling into his heresy agayne and receiue the punishment of an hereticke Wherunto he aunswered that he had wrong before and if he be condemned now he reckoneth that he hath wrong agayne Then the Chaūcellor caused the articles to be read opēly with the aunsweres vnto the same the which the sayde Tewkesbery confessed therupon the Bishop pronounced sentence agaynst him deliuered him vnto the Shyriffes of Londō for y e time being who were Rich. Greshā Edward Altam who burned him in Smithfield vpō S. Thomas euen being the 20. of Decēber in the yeare aforesayd the tenor of whose sentence pronounced agaynst hym by the Bishop doth here ensue word for word IN the name of God Amen The deseruinges and circūstances of a certein cause of hereticall prauity falling again thereunto by thee Iohn Tewkesbery of the Parish of S. Michaels in the Querne of the City of Londō of our iurisdiction appearing before vs sitting in iudgement being heard seene vnderstand fully discussed by vs Iohn by the sufferance of God bishop of Londō because we do find by inquisitions manifestly enough that thou didst abiure freely voluntarily before Cutbert late Bishop of Londō thy ordinary diuers sundry heresies errors damnable opinions contrary to y e determination of our mother holy church as well speciall as generall that since and beside thy foresaid abiuration thou art agayne fallen into y e same damnable heresies opiniōs errors which is greatly to be lamēted the same doest hold affirme beleue we therfore Iohn the Bishop aforesayd the name of God first being called vpon the same only God set before our eyes with the coūsell of learned men assisting vs in this behalfe with whō in this cause we haue cōmunicated of our definitiue sentence finall decree in this behalfe to be done do intēd to proceed do proceed in this maner Because as it is aforesayd we do finde thee
him the tenour whereof here ensueth ¶ The sentence geuen against Iohn Frith IN the name of God Amen We Iohn by the permission of God Byshop of London lawfully and rightly proceeding with all godly fauour by authoritie and vertue of our office against thee Iohn Frith of our iurisdictiō Sentence against Iohn Frythe before vs personally here present being accused and detected and notoriously slaundered of heresie hauinge hearde seene and vnderstande and with diligent deliberation wayed discussed and considered the merites of the cause all thinges being obserued which by vs in this behalfe by order of law ought to be obserued sittyng in our iudgement seate the name of Christ being first called vppon and hauing * As they had which crucified Christ. God onely before our eyes because by y e actes enacted propoūded and exhibited in this matter and by thine owne confession iudicially made before vs we do finde that thou hast taught holden and affirmed and obstinately defended dyuers errours and heresies and damnable opinions contrarie to the doctrine and determinatiō of the holy Church and specially agaynst the reuerende Sacrament and albeit that we following the example of Christ which woulde not the death of a sinner but rather that he should conuert and lyue haue oftentimes gone about to correct thee and by al lawfull meanes that we coulde and moste wholesome admonitions that we did knowe to reduce thee againe to y e true fayth and the vnitie of the vniuersall Catholique Churche notwithstanding wee haue founde thee obstinate and stiffe necked willingly continuing in thy damnable opinions heresies and refusing to returne againe vnto the true faith and vnitie of the holy mother Church and as the childe of wickednesse and darkenesse so to haue hardened thy harte that thou wylt not vnderstande the voyce of thy sheapeheard which with a fatherly affection doth seeke after thee nor wilt not be allured with his godly and fatherly admonitions We therefore Iohn the Bishop aforesaid not willyng that thou whiche arte wicked shouldest become more wicked and infecte the Lordes flocke wyth thy heresye which we are greatly afrayde of do iudge thee and definitiuely condemne thee the sayde Iohn Frith thy demerites and faultes beyng aggrauate through thy damnable obstinacie as gyltie of most detestable heresies and as an obstinate vnpenitent sinner refusing penitently to returne to y e lappe and vnitie of the holy mother Church and that thou haste bene and arte by Lawe excommunicate and pronounce and declare thee to be an excōmunicate person also wee pronounce and declare thee to bee an heretique to be cast out from the Church and left vnto the iudgement of the secular power and nowe presentlye so do leaue thee vnto the secular power and their iudgement moste earnestly requiring them in the bowels of our Lorde Iesus Chryst that this execution and punishment worthily to be done vppon thee maye so bee moderate that the rigour thereof be not too extreme nor yet the gentlenesse too muche mitigated but that it may bee to the saluation of thy soule to the extirpation terrour and conuersion of heretiques to the vnitie of the Catholique fayth Moderation pretended but none shewed by this our sentence definitiue or finall decree which we here promulgate in this fourme aforesayde This sentence thus readde the Byshop of London directed hys letter to Syr Steuen Pecocke Mayor of London Iohn Fryth deliuered to the secular handes and the Sheriffes of the same Citie for the receyuyng of the foresayde Iohn Frith into their charge Who being so deliuered ouer vnto them the fourth daye of Iulie in the yeare aforesayde was by them caryed into Smithfield to be burned and when he was tyed vnto the stake there it sufficiently appeared with what constancye and courage he suffered death The constant death of Iohn Fryth for when as the fagots and fire were put vnto hym hee willingly embraced the same therby declaring with what vprightnesse of mynde he suffered hys death for Christes sake and the true doctryne whereof that daye hee gaue with his bloud a perfect and firme testimonie The wynde made hys death somewhat the more longer which bare away the flame from him vnto his felowe that was tyed to his backe but hee had established hys minde with such pacience God geuinge hym strength that euen as though he had felt no paine in that long torment he seemed rather to reioyce for his felow thē to be careful for himselfe This truely is the power and strength of Christ stryuing vanquishing in his Saintes who sanctifye vs together with them and direct vs in all thinges to the glory of his holy name Amen This day before the burning of these worthye men of God the Bishop of London certified king Henry the eight of his worthy ye rather wooluish proceeding against these men the tenour whereof for as muche as it proceedeth as the other do before we therefore omit it referryng the reader to the same ¶ Andrewe Hewet burned with Maister Frith ANdrewe Hewet borne in Feuersham in the county of Kent Andrew Hewet Martyr a yong man of the age of foure and twenty yeres was apprentise with one maister Warren Taylor in Watlyng streete And as it happened that hee went vppon a holy daye into Fleete streate Anno. 1533. towarde Saint Dunstanes he met with one William Holt which was foreman with the kyngs Taylour at that present called maister Malte and beynge suspected by the same Holt which was a dissemblyng wretche to be one that fauoured the Gospel after a litle talke had with hym he went into an honest house about Fleete Bridge whiche was a bookesellers house Then Holt thynking he had founde good occasion to shew foorth some fruit of his wickednesse Andrew Hewet apprehended sent for certaine offycers and searched the house fynding the same Andrew apprehended hym and caryed hym to the Byshops house where he was cast into yrons The man that gaue him this file was Valentine Freese the Painters brother who was afterward with his wyfe burned in Yorke and being there a good space by the meanes of a certaine honest man he had a File conueyed vnto hym wherewith he fyled of his yrons when he spyed his tyme he got out of the gate But being a man vnskilfull to hyde hym selfe for lacke of good acquaintance he went into Smythfielde and there mette with one Wythers whych was an hypocrite as Holt was Which Wythers vnderstandynge howe he had escaped and that hee knewe not whyther to goe pretendyng a faire countenāce vnto hym willed hym to go wyth him promysing that he shoulde bee prouyded for and so kept hym in the countrey where he had to do from Lowe Sunday til Whitsuntide and then brought him to London to y e house of one Iohn Chapman in Hosier lane beside Smithfielde and there left him by the space of two dayes Then he came to the layde Chapmans house againe and brought Holt with
Alane Cope and Abell amoÌ„gest other which dyed in kyng HeÌ„ries dayes in the like Popish quarell that is for the like treason agaynst their Prince beyng in all to the number of 24. extolleth theÌ„ not onely in wordes but with miracles also vp to the height of heaueÌ„ amoÌ„g the crowned Martyrs Traytors made Martyrs Saints of God To the whiche Cope because in this hast of story I haue no laysure at this present to geue attendauÌ„ce I shall wayt atteÌ„dauÌ„ce the Lord willing an other tyme to ioyne in this issue with him more at laysure In the meane time it shall suffice at this present to recite the names onely of those 24. rebelles whom he of his Popish deuotioÌ„ so dignifieth with the pretensed title of Martyrs The names of which Monkish rebels be these here folowyng Iohn Houghton Robert Laurence Aug. Webster Reynald of Syon Iohn Hayle Iohn Rochester Iac. Wannere Iohn Stone 24. neither good martyrs to god nor good subiects to the king Iohn Trauerse William Horne Powell Fetherstone Abell Beside these were other ix Cartusian Monkes which dyed in the prison of Newgate To the whiche number if ye adde M. More and the Byshop of Rochester the summa totalis commeth to 24. whom the sayd Cope vniustly crowned for Martyrs But of these more shall be sayd the Lord willyng hereafter Thus hauyng discoursed the order of the vi Articles with other matter likewise folowyng in the next Parliament concernyng the condemnation of the Lord Cromwell of Doct. Barnes and his felowes c. Let vs now proceedyng further in this history coÌ„sider what great disturbaunce and vexation ensued after the settyng forth of the sayd Articles through the whole Realme of EnglaÌ„d especially amongest the godly sorte Wherein first were to be mentioned the straite and seuere commissions sent forth by the kynges authoritie to the Byshops Chauncelors Officials to Iustices Maiors Bailiffes in euery shyre Great disturbaÌ„ce in England after the 6. articlâ—â— and other Commissioners by name in the same commissions expressed and amongest other especially to Edmund Boner Byshop of London to the Maior Shiriffes and Aldermen of the same to enquire diligently vpon all hereticall bookes and to burne them also to enquire vpon such persons whatsoeuer culpable or suspected of such felonies heresies contemptes or transgressions or speakyng any wordes contrary the foresayd Act set forth of the sixe Articles Read before pag. 1101. The tenour of whiche Commissions beyng sufficiently expressed in auncient Recordes and in the Bishoppes Registers and also partly touched before pag. 1101. therfore for tediousnesse I here omit onely shewyng forth the Commission directed to EdmuÌ„d Boner Byshop of London to take the othe of the Maior of London and of others for the execution of the Commission aforesayd The tenour wherof here foloweth ¶ The Commission for takyng the othe of the Maior of London and others for the execution of the Acte aforesayd HEnry the eight by the grace of God kyng of England and of Fraunce defender of the fayth Lord of Ireland and in earth supreme head of the Church of England vnto the Reuerend father in Christ Edmund Boner Byshop of London Commission directed to Edm. Boner bishop of London from the king and to his welbeloued the Byshops Chauncellour health Know ye that we haue geuen you ioyntly and seuerally power and authoritie to receaue the othes of William Roche Maior of London Iohn Allen Knight Raffe Warren Knight Rich. Gresham Knight Roger Chomley Knight Sergeant at Law Iohn GreshaÌ„ Michael Dormer Archdeacon of London the Byshops CoÌ„missary and Officiall Robert Chidley Gwy Crayford Edward Hall Robert Broke and Iohn MorgaÌ„ and euery of them our CoÌ„missioners for heresies and other offences done within our Citie of London and Dioces of the same accordyng to the tenour of a certaine schedule hereunto annexed And therfore we commauÌ„de that you receiue the othes aforesayd and when you haue receaued them to certifie vs into our Chauncery vnder your Seales returnyng this our writ T. meipso at Westminster the 29 of Ianuary in the 32. yeare of our reigne What the othe was of these Commissioners whereunto they were bounde read before pag. 1101. * A note how Boner sat in the Guildhall in Commission for the vi Articles And of the condemnyng of Mekins VPon this commission geuen vnto EdmuÌ„d Boner he commyng to the Guildhall with other CoÌ„missioners The story of Rich. Mekins condemned by Boner to sit vpoÌ„ the Statute of the vi Articles begaÌ„ eftsoones to put in execution his authoritie after a rigorous sort as ye shall heare And first he charged certaine Iuries to take their oth vpon y e Statute aforesaid who being sworne had a day appointed to geue their Uerdicte At the which day they indited sundry persons which shortly after were apprehended brought to Ward who after a while remaynyng there were by the kyng his Counsaile discharged at the Starre chaÌ„ber without any further punishment Not loÌ„g after this Syr Wil. Roche being Maior Boner with other CoÌ„missioners sat at the Guildhall aforesayd before whom there were a certaine number of Citizens warned to appeare and after the Commission read the sayd parties were called to the booke and when v. or vi were sworne one of the sayd persoÌ„s beyng called to the booke Boner seemed to mislike and sayd Stay a while my Maisters quoth he I would ye should consider this matter well that we haue in hand whiche concerneth the glory of God the honor of the kyng and the wealth of the Realme and if there be any here amoÌ„g you that doth not consider the same it were better that he were hence then here TheÌ„ commoned the Commissioners with Boner about that man so that at length he was called to the booke and sworne not all together with his good will When the ij Iuries were sworne Boner taketh vpon him to geue the charge vnto the Iuries and began with a tale of Anacarsis by which example he admonished the Iuries to spare no persons Rich. Mekins presented by Boner of what degree soeuer they were And at the end of his charge he brought forth to the barre a boy whose name was Mekins declaryng how greuously he had offended by speaking of certaine wordes agaynst the state and of the death of Doct. Barnes produced into the sayd Court ij witnesses which were there sworne in the face of y e Court So a day was assigned vpoÌ„ which the Iuries aforesayd should geue vp their Uerdict at which day both the Commissioners the sayd Iuries met at Guildhall aforesayd Then the Clarke of the peace called on the Iuries by their names when their appearaunce was taken W. Robins Iurer Boner bad them put in their presentmentes TheÌ„ sayd the foreman whose name was W. Robins of that Iury. My Lord with a low curtesy we haue found nothyng At which wordes he fared as one in an agony sayd Nothyng haue ye
called Captayn Borthwike Who being accused of heresy as the papistes call it and cited therefore an 1540. and not appearing and escaping out into other countryes was condemned for the same being absent by the sentence of Dauid Beaton Archbishop of S. Andrewes and other Prelates of Scotland and all his goodes confiscate and his picture at last burned in the open market place Whose story with his articles obiected agaynst him and his confutations of the same here ensueth in processe vnder expressed as followeth * The Act or Processe or certayne Articles agaynst Syr Iohn Borthwike Knight in Scotland with the aunswere and confutation of the sayd Borthwike whose preface to the reader here foloweth BY the helpe of a certayne frend of mine there came certayne articles vnto my hand for the which the Scottish Cardinal and such other like of his sect and affinity did cōdemne me as an hereticke Captaine Borthwick◠And for so much as this condēnation should not lacke his cloke or defence they gathered together a great number of witnesses where as besides the bare names of the witnesses they alledged none other profe at all Wherefore I thought good to bestow some labour in refelling these articles which they could not proue partly that I might take awaye from all true Christians the occasion of all euill suspition as though that I beyng vanquished or ouerthrowne by theyr threatnings would deny Christ and partly that theyr errours being thereby made manifest they should euen for very shame repent or els hereafter y e lesse abuse y e furor or madnesse of such wytnesses to shed bloud Therefore I will first confirme by euident testimonyes of the Scriptures those things whiche in times past I haue taught and afterwarde I will refell theyr vayne Sophistication wherby they go about to subuert the trueth of God SYr Iohn Borthwike knight commonly called Captain Borthwike being accused suspected slaundered and convicte by witnesse without all doubt of greater estimation then he himselfe in the yeare of our Lord. 1540. the 28. day of May in the cloister of S. Andrewes in the presence of the most reuerēt Fathers Gawine Archbishop of Glasquene Chauncellour of Scotland William Bishop of Aburdin Henry of Candicatia Iohn Bishop of Brecknock and William of Dumbar Byshoppes Andrew of Mellrowes George of Dunerueling Iohn of Paslet Iohn of Lōdorse Rob. of Rillos Wil. of Rulrose Abbots Mācolalyne of Quiterne and Iohn of Pettin vaim Pryors Mayster Alexander Kalfour Uicar of Kitman Rector of Lawe officiall of Sayncte Andrewes Iohn Winton Suppriour Iohn Anand and Thomas Eminghame Chanons of Saynt Andrewes Iohn Tompson with vniuersity of Saynt Andrewes and Mayster Iohn Maior and Peter Capelland Batchelers of Diuinity and doctours Martine Ballfour Batcheller of Diuinitye and of his fellow Pryour of the Fryers Augustynes of the same Cittye Iohn Tulidaffe Warden of the Fryers Mynors and Iohn Paterson of the same Couent and also in the presence of the most noble mighty and honourable Lords George of Huntelo Iames of Arrain William Marshal William of Monnetros Erles Malcolme Lord of Flemming Chamberlaine of Scotland Iohn Lord of Linsey Iohn L. of Erskine George L. of Seton Iames Hamelton of Finwart Water L. of S. Iohn M. Iames of Colinton Clarke to the Kings Register with diuers other Lordes Barons and honest persons beyng called desired together for witnes that he did hold publish and openly teach these errors followyng The first Article That our holy father the Pope as Christes vicar hath not neither can exercise greater autoritie ouer Christians here on earth then any other bishop or prelate Borthwike These holy ones do magnify their Lord by like title as common theeues and robbers are accustomed to preferre the captaines and ringleaders of their robberies and mischiefs calling them in euery place the most honest good men where as likewise it is euidēt y t in the whole world there is no man more geuen to riot which more greedily doth seeke after all kynde of delicatenes and wantonnesse and finally aboundeth with all kynde of vice as treason murder rapine and all kynd of such euils Furthermore where as they affirme him to be the vicar of Christ here in earth it shall be easily conuinced when as it shall be made manifest that he hath not nor cannot exercise more power or autoritie ouer christians then any other bishop or prelate For vnto that office of beyng vicar they referre that great autoritie the which they do so greatly boast and brag of which beyng taken away the office of vicar doth also fall and decay But now to attempt the matter I wil first demand of the mainteiners of this preheminence and autority whereupon they wil ground the same I know that they will aunswer vnto me that Peter had power autority ouer the other Apostles and consequently ouer the vniuersall church the which power by succession is translated vnto the bishops of Rome But how vnshamefastly they do lye herein any may easily perceiue which hath but any small sparke of iudgement in him When as he shal heare the testimonies of the scriptures which we will alleage to confirme this our opinion For Peter in the xv of the Actes In the counsell doth declare what is to be done and admonisheth vs what of necessitie we ought to doe And he there did also heare other speake and did not onely geue them place to say theyr myndes but also permit and receiue their iudgement and where as they decreed hee followed and obeyed the same Is this then to haue power ouer others Furthermore where as in his first epistle he writeth vnto bishops and pastors he doth not commād them as a superior or head ouer them by power and authoritie but maketh them his fellowe companions and gently exhorteth thē as is accustomed to be done betweene equals of degree for these are his wordes I beseech and desire the bishops and pastors which are amongst you for so much as I my selfe am also a bishop and a witnesse of the afflictions of Christ and also a partaker of the glorye which shall be reuealed that they do diligently feede the flocke of Christ which is committed vnto them Why then do they so chalenge vnto them the autority of Peter which he neuer acknowledged in himselfe Truly I do not dout but if that Peter were here present he would with like seueritie rebuke their folly and madnes as Moses in times past did vnto Iosua which burned with too earnest a zeale towards hym I doubt not but that many in this fayned authoritie of Peter do seeke out more vayne helps to maintaine and vpholde the tiranny of Popes rather then to make him ruler and gouernour ouer all other For where as in the 8. chapiter of the Acts he is commaunded by hys fellowes to go with Iohn into Samaria he did not refuse so to do In so much then as the apostles do send him they declare thereby that they doe not count him
Sir Iohn Borthwike called captaine Borthwike beinge suspected infamed and accused of the errours and heresies before said and wicked doctrines manifoldly condeÌ„pned as is aforesayd by lawfull prooues against hym in euery of the premisses had being conuicte and lawfully cited and called not appearing but as a fugitiue runne away and absent euen as though hee were present to be an heretike and is and hath bene conuict as an heretike And as a conuicte heretike and heresiarche to be punished and chastened with due punishment and afterward to be deliuered and left vnto the secular power Moreouer we confiscate and make forfette and by these presents declare and decree to be confiscated and made forfette all and singular his goodes mooueables and vnmooueables howe so euer and by what so euer title they be gotten and in what place or partie so euer they be and all his offices what so euer he hath hetherto had reseruing notwithstanding the dowrye and such part and portion oâ— his goodes Thomas Forret Priest The picture of Borthwick curâ—ed and condemned as by the law custome and right of this Realme vnto parsones confiscate ought to appertaine Also we decree that the picture of the said Iohn Borthwike being formed made and painted to his likenesse be caried thorow this our citie to our Cathedral church and afterward to the market crosse of the same citie and there in token of maledictioÌ„ and cursse and to the terror and example of others and for a perpetual remembraunce of his obstinacie and condemnation to be burned Likewise we declare and Decree that notwithstanding if the sayd I. Borthwike be here after apprehended or takeÌ„ y t hee shall suffer suche like punishment due by order of lawe vnto heretikes without any hope of grace or mercye to be obtained in that behalfe Also we plainly admonishe and warne by the tenour of these presentes all singular faithfull Christians both menne and women of what dignitie state degree order condition or preheminence so euer they be or with what so euer dignitie or honour ecclesiasticall or temporall they be honoured with all that from thys day forwarde they doe not receiue or harbour the said sir Iohn Borthwike commonly called captaine Borthwike being accused conuict and declared an hereticke and Archeheretike into their houses hospitals castels Cities Townes villages or other cottages what so euer they be or by anye manner of meanes admit him thereunto either by helping him wyth meate drinke or victualles or any other thynge what so euer it be they do shewe vnto him any manner of humanitie helpe comforte or solace vnder the paine and penaltie of greater and further excommunication confiscation and forfeitures and if it happen that they be founde culpable or fautie in the premisses that they shal be accused therefore as the fauourers receiuers defenders maintainers and abetters of heretikes and shall be punished therfore according to the order of law and with such paine and punishment as shal be due vnto men in such behalfe And nowe to prosecute such other as followed beginning first in order wyth Thom. Forret and his fellowes Their storie is this Persecuters Martyrs Their Causes Dauid Beton Bishop and Cardinall of S. Andrewes George Treichton Bishop of Dunkelden Tho. Forret priest Frier Iohn Kelowe Fryer Benarage Duncane Sympson priest Rob. Foster a gentlemaÌ„ with three or foure other men of Striuelyng Martyrs NOt longe after the burning of Dauid Stratton and maister Gurlay aboue mentioned in the daies of Dauid Beaton bishop and Cardinall of S. Andrewes George Treichton B. of Dunkelden a canon of Saint Colmes Inche and vicar of Dolone called Dean Thomas Forret preached euery sonday to hys parishners the Epistle or Gospell as it fell for the time which then was a great nouelty in Scotlande to see any man preach except a blacke frier or a gray frier and therefore the friers enuied him and accused him to the Bishop of Dunkelden in whose diocesse he remained as an heretike and one that shewed the mysteries of the Scriptures to the vulgare people in English to make the Clergie detestable in the sighte of the people The bishop of Dunkelden mooued by the friers instigation called the said Deane Thomas George Treichton 〈◊〉 of Dunkelden and persecutâ—r and said to him my ioy Deane Thomas I loue you wel and therfore I must geue you my counsel how you shal rule and guide your selfe To whom Thom. said I thank your Lordship hartily Then the B. began his counsaile on this maner My ioy Deane Thomas Tho. Forret preacheth and will take no mortuary nor Clâ—iâ—ome of hys parishioners Ergo he is an â—ereticke against the Popes Catholicke church I am enfourmed that you preache the Epistle or Gospell euery Sonday to your Parishners and that you take not the kowe nor the vpmoste cloth from your Parishners which thing is very preiudiciall to the church men and therefore my ioy Deane Thomas I would you tooke your kow and your vpmost cloth as other church men do or els it is too much to preach euery sonday for in so doing you may make the people thinke that wee shoulde preache likewise But it is enoughe for you when you finde any good Epistle or any good gospell that setteth foorth the libertie of the holy churche to preache that and let the rest be Thomas answeared My Lorde I thinke that none of my parishners wil complaine that I take not the kowe nor the vppermost cloth but will gladly geue me the same together with any other thinge that they haue and I will geue and communicate with them anye thing that I haue and so my Lord we agree right wel and there is no discord among vs. And where your Lordshippe sayeth it is too muche to preache euery Sonday in deede I thinke it is too little It is to much in the popes Church to preache euery sonday The Bishop of Dunkelden was not ordayned to preache and also woulde wishe that your Lordship did the like Naye nay Deane Thomas sayeth my Lorde let that be for we are not ordained to preache Then sayde Thomas when your Lordship biddeth me preache when I finde any good Epistle or a good Gospell truely my Lorde I haue reade the newe Testament and the olde and all the Epistles and the Gospels and among them all I could neuer finde any euil Epistle or any euil Gospell but if your Lordship will shewe me the good Epistle and the good Gospell and the euill Epistle and the euill Gospell then I shall preache the good and omit the euill Then spake my Lord stoutly and saide I thanke God that I neuer knewe what the olde and newe Testamente was A prouerbe in Scotland and of these wordes rose a Prouerbe which is common in Scotland Yee are like the Bishop of Dunkeldene that knewe neither newe nor olde lawe therefore Deane Thomas I will knowe nothing but my Portous and my Pontifical Go your way and let
be all these fantasies for if you perseuer in these erroneous opinions ye wil repent it when you may not mende it Thomas saide I trust my cause be iust in the presence of God Thomas Forret Fryer Iohn Kelow fryer Benerage Dunkane Simpson Priest Rob. Foster gentleman with 3. or 4. other of Striueling Martyrs and therefore I passe not muche what doe followe thereupon and so my Lorde and he departed at that tyme. And soone after a Summons was directed from the Cardinall of S. Andrewes and the sayde Bishop of Dunkelden vpon the saide Deane Thomas Forret vpon 2. blacke Friers called frier Iohn Kelowe and an other called Benarage and vpon one priest of Striueling called Duncane Sympson and one Gentleman called Robert Foster in Striuelyng with other three or foure wyth them of the towne of Striuelyng who at the day of their appearaunce after their summoning were coÌ„demned to the death without any place of recantation because as was alleged they were heresiarkes or chiefe heretikes and teachers of heresies and especially because manye of them were at the bridall and marriage of a Priest who was vicar of Twybodye beside Striuelynge and did eate fleshe in Lent at the said bridal and so they were altogether burnt vpon the castle hill of Edenbrough where they that were first bounde to the stake godly and marueilously did comfort them that came behinde Heere foloweth the manner of persecution vsed by the Cardinall of Scotland against certaine persons in Perth Persecuters Martyrs Theyr Causes Dauid Beton Byshop and Cardinall of S. Andrewes Robert Lambe William Anderson Iames Hunter Iames Raueleson Iames FouÌ„leson Hellen Stirke hys wife FIrst there was a certaine Acte of Parlamente made in the gouernement of the Lorde Hamleton Earle of Arran Anno. 154â— and Gouernour of Scotlande geuinge priuiledge to all men of the Realme of Scotlande to reade the Scriptures in their mother tongue and language secluding neuerthelesse all reasoning conference conuocation of people to heare the Scriptures reade or expounded Proclamation in Scotland permitting the priuâ—te â—eading of Scripture Which liberty of priuate reading being granted by publike proclamation lacked not hys owne â—ruite so that in sondrie partes of Scotland therby were opened the eies of the elect of God to see the truthe and abhorre the Papistical abhominations Amongest the which were certaine persones in S. Iohnston as after is declared At thys time there was a Sermone made by Fryer Spense Blasphemous doctriâ—e of a Papist Robert Lambe Martyr in saint Iohnston aliâs called Perth affirmynge prayer made â—o saintes to be so necessarye that wythoute it there coulde be no hope of saluation to man Whyche blasphemous doctrine a Burges of the sayd towne called Robert Lambe could not abide but accused hym in open audience of erroneous doctrine and adiured hym in Gods name to vtter the trueth The which the Frier being striken with feare promised to doe but the trouble tumulte and sturre of the people encreased so that the Frier coulde haue no audience and yet the sayde Roberte wyth greate daunger of his life escaped the handes of the multitude Robert Lambe in great daunger namely of the women who contrary to nature addressed them to extreme cruelty against him At this time in the yeare of our Lorde 1543. the ennemies of the truth procured Iohn Chartuous who fauoured the truthe and was Prouost of the saide citie towne of Perth to be deposed from his office by the sayde Gouernours authoritie A papist set in office and a Papist called Maister Alexander Marbecke to be chosen in his roume y t they myght bring the more easily their wicked enterprise to an ende Robert Lambe Will. Anderson Iames Hunter Iames Raueleson Hellen Styrke his wyfe cast in prison After the deposing of the former Prouost and election of the other in the moneth of Ianuary the yere aforesayde on saint Paules day came to sainte Iohnston the Gouernour the Cardinall the Earle of Argile Iustice sir Iohn Campbell of Lunde knighte and Iustice Deâ—orte the Lorde Borthwyke the Bishop of Dumblane and Orkeney with certaine other of the Nobilitie And althoughe there were manye accused for the crime of heresie as they terme it yet these persones were onely apprehended vppon the sayde sainte Paules day Robert Lambe William Anderson Iames Hunter Iames Raueleson Iames Founleson and Hellen Stirke his wife and cast that night in the Spay tower of the sayde Citie the morowe to abide iudgement Uppon the morrowe when they appeared and were brought foorth to iudgement in the towne was said in generall to all their charge the violating of the Acte of Parliament before expressed and their conference and assemblies in hearing and expoundinge of scripture againste the tenour of the sayde Acte Robert Lambe was accused in speciall for interrupting of the Frier in the pulpit whyche he not onely confessed but also affirmed constantly that it was the duetie of no manne whych vnderstood and knewe the trueth to heare the same impugned wythoute contradiction and therefore sundry which there were presente in iudgement who hidde the knowledge of the truth shoulde beare their burden in Gods presence for consenting to the same The sayde Robert also wyth William Anderson and Iames Raueleson were accused for hanging vp the image of S. Fraunces in a corde Lambe Anderson Raueleson for hanging S. Fraunces in a corde Iames Hunter for vsing suspect company nailing of Rammes hornes to his head and a Cowes rumpe to hys taile and for eatinge of a goose on Alhalow euen Iames Hunter being a simple man and wythout learning and a Fletcher by occupation so that hee coulde be charged wyth no greate knowledge in Doctrine yet because he often vsed the suspect companye of the rest he was accused The woman Hellen Stirke was accused for that in her childbed she was not accustomed to cal vpon the name of the virgine Mary Hellen Styrke for calling vpon Iesus and not our Lady in childebed being exhorted thereto by her neyghbours but onely vpon God for Iesus Christes sake and because she said in like maner that if she her selfe had beene in the time of the virgin Mary God might haue looked to her humilitie and base estate as hee did to the virgines in making her the mother of Christe thereby meaninge that there was no merites in the virgine whyche procured her that honour to be made the mother of Christe and to bee preferred before other women but Gods only free mercy exalted her to that estate Whiche woordes were counted moste execrable in the face of the Clergie and whole multitude Iames Raueleson aforesayde building a house set vppon the round of his fourth staire the 3. crowned diademe of Peter carued of tree which the cardinal tooke as done in mockage of his Cardinals hat and this procured no fauor to the sayd Iames at theyr handes These forenamed persones vppon the morrowe aftâ—â— sainte Paules day were condemned and iudged
of all faithfull and true christen people fearing God and desiring the aduauncement of the truth 5. Item that where the saide Latimer and Hoper in their said pretensed denunciation amongst other things do vntruly deduce that they haue made their said pretensed denunciation not moued of any malice or euill will but for the good tranquilitie and gouernaunce of this Realme which as they pretend in their gay and glorious proheme they would beseeme to haue a great care and sollicitude of where in very deede they and suche as they are by sondry wayes and specially by their corrupt doctrine and hereticall naughtie preaching and infecting of the Kings Maiesties people haue disturbed and greatly inquieted the good tranquilitie and gouernance of thys Realme as euidently and notoriously it is well knowne the truth is that this their saying is euident and playne false for notorious it is and lawfully shall be prooued that the said Hooper conspiring with the said Latimer and other Heretikes of their factions sect and damnable opinion did the first day of September last past after that I the said Bishop of London had made the sermon at Paules crosse assemble maliciously vncharitably and vnlawfully a great rabblement of such as himselfe is within my dioces and iurisdiction and vnder the colour of reading dyd openly and manifestly rayle and inuay against me the sayd Byshop for my sayd Sermon not for any suche matter pretence or cause as is falsly and vntruly surmised in the said pretensed denunciation but only and chiefly for that I the sayd Byshop as became a christen man and especially him that had and hath cure and charge of his flocke faithfully and truely to teach them did taking occasion of the communion not frequented nor reuerenced but neglected and contemned confesse and declare my faith and beliefe openly before my audience touching the blessed Sacrament of the altar ministred in the same Communion affirming as the catholike Church affirmeth and teacheth That in the blessed sacrament of the altar there is the very true bodye of our sauiour Christ the selfesame in substaunce that hanged vpon the crosse and the very true bloud of our sauiour Christ But what and where were your proues the selfesame in substance that was shed vppon the crosse Against which affirmation and assertion being Catholike and true the sayd Iohn Hooper albeit now colourably and falsely and foolishly pretendeth another matter more plausible in his opinion and iudgement in sondry places of the Citie of London and suburbes of the same hath since that time maliciously inuayed and taught learning and teaching his audience heretically being many in number and assembling in great routes to reprooue As though he could not both confute your errour then and also saye the truth now without all malice or affection contemne and despise the sayde blessed Sacrament of the aultar and not to haue a true and faithfull beliefe of it as hetherto alwayes the catholike Church hath euer had the sayd William Latimer and the rabblement of his complices conspiring and agreeing in points therein and inducing other to do the same not making any such pretence at all as they in their sayd pretensed denunciation do falsely surmise and deduce but onely and chiefly offended for my said assertion Euer that is since Pope Innocentius 3. his time 400. yeares agoe and affirmation of the veritie of Christes body and bloud in the sacrament of the altare Item that where the sayd William Latimer and Iohn Hooper in their said pretensed denunciation do further deduce and falsly surmise that I the sayd Bishop of London had deliuered to me from the Kings maiestie by the hands of the Lorde Protectors grace and the rest of the Kyngs Maiesties Counsaile certayne Iniunctions with articles to be insinuated and preached to the Kings Maiesties subiects at a certayne day limited and after such sorte forme and manner as is in the said pretensed denunciation surmised vntruly and deduced It is notorious and euident as well by the tenour and continue of that writing which was to me the saide Byshop of London deliuered by the handes of Sir Thomas Smith Knight one of the two principall Secretaries to the Kings Maiestie as otherwise Though the bil of articles bare no seale or signet yet you be but a cauillere knowing that you were sent for and in the presence of the Lord Protector in the councell chamber receaued the copy of the iniunctions with the articles promised to be sent vnto you in writing as they 〈…〉 that the said surmise in such sort and fashion as it is deduced and made is not true in this behalfe referring me to the tenour of the sayd writing which neyther was signed with the Kings Maiesties hand nor sealed with any his Maiesties seale or signet ne yet subscribed by any of the sayde Counsayle or deliuered after such sort as is alleaged and pretended as more euidently heereafter shall appeare and sufficiently be proued for my lawfull and necessary defence in this behalfe Item that in case any such Iniunctions with articles after such forme and fashion had so bene deliuered vnto me as is surmised and pretended yet false and vntrue it is that I the sayd Bishop either left out or refused to declare the same for any suche cause or causes falsly and vntruly surmised in the sayd pretensed denunciation or else so peruersly and negligently did as likewise in the sayd pretensed denunciation is deduced whiche thing may well appeare in the discourse of my said Sermon where in substance and effect I declared faithfully truly these points specially following it is to witte that all such as rebell against their prince get vnto them damnation and those that refuseth the high power resisteth the ordinaunce o◠God and he that dyeth therefore in Rebellion is by the word of God vtterly damned and so loseth both body and soule alleaging for this purpose the xiij Chapter of S. Paule to the Romaines and it at large declaring vnto the audience furthermore speaking of the Rebels in Deuonshire Cornewale Northfolke and elsewhere within this Realme standing in doubt whether I might put them in the place of those that put trust in themselues and despised all other or in the place of both dooing as they dyd forgetting God not duely considering the Kings Maiestie theyr supreme head next and immediately vnder God forgetting theyr wiues theyr children theyr kinsfolke theyr alliance acquaintance and frends yea themselues and theyr natiue Countrey and most vnnaturally rebelling agaynst their soueraigne Lord and King whom by Gods lawe they were bound to loue serue and faithfully obey I did to the best of my power to disswade Rebellion and exhort the audience vnto true obedience say that obedience being thus commaunded and all rebellion forbiddē vnder paine of eternall damnation all these Rebels in Cornewal Deuonshire Northfolke or elsewhere who take vpon them to assemble a power and force against their King and Prince against the lawes
kings Maiesties person his realme and subiectes No worde hetherto sent from the Lords to the Lord Protector what they required of him to doe Reasonable coÌ„ditions offered by the Lord Protector you shall finde vs agreeable to any reasonable conditions that you will require For we doe esteeme the kings wealth and tranquillitie of the realme more then all other worldly things yea more then our owne life Thus praying you to send vs your determinate answer heerein by M. Secretarie Peter or if you will not let him go by this bearer we beseeche God to geue both you and vs grace to determine this matter as maye be to Gods honour the preseruation of the king and the quiet of vs all which may be if the fault be not in you And so we bid you most heartily fare well From the kings maiesties Castle of Windsore the 7. of Octob. 1549. Your Lordships louing frend E. Somerset After these letters receiued and the reasonable condition of the Lorde Protectour and yet not much regarded of the Lordes they persisting still in their pretended purpose tooke this aduise first to keepe themselues in the Citie of London as strong as they might and therfore calling vpon the Maior and the Aldermen they willed them in any case to prouide a good and substantiall watch by nyght A solemne watch commauÌ„ded in London and a good warde by day for the safegard of their Citie and the portes and gates thereof which was consented vnto and the CoÌ„panies of London in theyr turnes warned to watch and warde accordingly Then the sayd Lordes and Counsailours demaunded of the Lorde Maior and hys brethren 500. menne to ayde them to fetche the Lorde Protectour out of Windsore from the king but therunto the Maior answeared The Citye of London pressed with 500. mâ—n to fetch the L. Protector The aunswere of the Lorde Maior to the Lordes The Lordes assembled in the L. Maiors house that he could graunt none aide without the assent of the common Counsaile of the citie wherupon the next day a common councell was warned But in this meane time the said Lordes of the Counsaile assembled theÌ„selues at the Lorde Maiors house of London who then was Syr Henrye Amcottes Fishmonger and W. Locke Mercer and sir Iohn Aileph Sheriffes of the said citie and there the said Counsaile did agree and publishe a Proclamation foorthwith agaynst the Lorde Protector the effect of which Proclamation was as followeth 1 First The effect of the proclamation seâ— out agaynst the Lord Protector that the Protector by his malitious and euill gouernment was the occasion of all the sedition that of late happened within the realme 2 The losse of the kings peeces in France 3 That he was ambitious and sought his owne glorye as appeared by building of most sumptuous costly houses in the time of the kings warres 4 That hee esteemed nothinge the graue Counsell of the Counsailours 5 That he sowed diuision betwene the Nobles the gentlemen and the commons 6 That the Nobles assembled themselues together at LondoÌ„ for none other purpose but to haue caused the protectour to haue liued wythin limites and to haue put such order for the suretie of the kings maiestie as appertained whatsoeuer the Protectours doinges were whyche they sayd were vnnaturall ingrate and traiterous 7 That the Protectour sclaundered the Counsaile to the king and did that in him lay to cause variaunce betweene the king and the nobles 8 That hee was a great traitor and therefore the Lordes desired the citie commons to aid them to take hym from the king And in witnes and testimonie of the contents of the said Proclamation the Lordes subscribed theyr names whych were these The Lorde Rich Lord Chauncellour The Lord S. Iohn Lord great maister president of the Counsaile The Lord Marques of Northampton The Earl of Warwike Lord great Chamberlaine The Earle of Arundel L. Chamberlaine The Earle of Shrewsburie The Earle of South-hampton Wriothesley Sir Thomas Cheyney knighte treasurer of the kings house and Lord Warden of the Cinque portes Syr Iohn Gage knight Constable of the Tower Syr Wil. Peter knight Secretarie Syr Edwarde North knight Syr Edwarde Montague chief Iustice of the common place Syr Rafe Sadler Syr Iohn Baker Syr Edw. Wootton Doctour Wootton Deane of Cant. Syr Rich. Southwell After the foresaide Proclamation was Proclaimed the Lordes or the most parte of them continuing and lying in London came y e next day to the Guild hal during the time that the Lord Maior and their brethren sate in their Court or inner chamber The Lordes comming into the Guild hall and entred and communed a long while with the Maior and at the last the Maior and his brethren came foorth vnto the common Counsaile where was read the kings letter sent to the Maior and citizens commaunding them to aid him with a thousand wel appoynted men out of their citie and to send the same with all speede to his Castle at Windsore Thys Letter by name was directed to Syr Henrye Amcottes knighte Lorde Maior to Syr Roulande Hyll knight Maior electe and to the Aldermen and common Counsaile of the Citie of London The daye and Date of the Letter was the sixte of October in the thirde yeare of his raigne being assigned with the hand of the King and of the Lorde Protectour the contentes of which letter for the satisfaction of the reader are heere to be seene in maner and forme as followeth EDWARD By the King TRustie and welbeloued we greete you wel Wee charge and commaunde you most earnestly to geue order with all speede for the defence and preseruation of that our citie of London for vs The Copy of the kinges letter sent to the L. Maior Aldermen and Citizens of LoÌ„don in the behalfe of the L. Protectour and to leuy out of hande and to put in order as many as conueniently you maye well weaponed and arraied keeping good watch at the gates and to sende vs hither for the defence of oure person one thousand of that our Cittie of trustie and faithfull men to attend vpon vs and our most entirely beloued vncle Edward Duke of Somerset Gouernour of our person and Protector of our Realmes dominions and subiects well harnessed and with good and conuenient weapon so that they do make their repaire hither vnto vs this night if it be possible or at the least to morow before noone and in the meane time to doe what as appertaineth vnto your duetie for ours and our sayd vncles defence against all such as attempt any conspiracie or enterprise of violence against vs our sayd Vncle as you knowe best for our preseruation and defence at thys present Geuen vnder our Signet at our Honor of Hampton Court the sixte of October the thirde yeare of oure raigne You shall farther geue credite to our trustie and welbeloued Owen Cleydon the bearer heereof in all such things as hee shall further declare vnto you
on the behalfe of vs and our said vncle the Lord Protectour Edward Somerset This Letter of the king and of the Lorde Protectoure was not so secretely deuised nor so speedily sente but the Lordes keeping at London had knowledge immediately thereof by the meanes as some suppose of the Lorde Paget who was then with the King and the Protectour but the truth the Lorde knoweth being there ready furnished with their owne â—andes of seruing men and other souldiours and men of armes Who forthwith vpon the same addressed their letters in sâ—mblable wise to the sayd Lorde Maior and Aldermen in the kings name not onely for supportation of armed men to serue their purposes and for a sufficient watche to fortifie their Citie but also that they should not obey any suche letters Proclamations or Iniunctions sent to them from the Duke Which letter of the Lordes at the same instante came likewise to the Lorde Maior and his brethren the 6. day of the sayde moneth of Octob. The tenour and copie of which letter heere ensueth To our very good Lord the Lord Maior Aldermen and Citizens of London AFter our right hearty commendations vnto your good Lordshippe The letter of the Lordes sent to the L. Maior CouÌ„cell of London agaynst the Lord Protector knowing your heartie fauour and earnest zeales to the preseruation of the person of the kings Maiestie of this realme and other his maiesties realmes and dominions we haue thought good to aduertise you that notwithstanding all the good aduice aod Counsell that wee coulde geue to the Duke of Somerset to staye him selfe wythin reasonable limites and to vse hys gouernement nowe in the tender age of hys Maiestie in suche sorte as myght tende to his highnesse suretie to the conseruation of hys estate and to his honour the sayde Duke neuerthelesse still continuing in his pride couetousnes and ambition ceaseth not daily by all the waies and meanes he can deuise to enriche him selfe without measure and to impouerish his Maiestie Hee buildeth in foure or fiue places moste sumptuously and leaueth the poore souldiours vnpaide of their wages vnuictualled and in all things so vnfurnished as the losses lately susteined Crimes layd to thâ— Lord Proâ—tectour by the Lordâ— to the greatest dishonor that euer came to the king this realme doe declare Hee soweth daily diuision betweene the Nobles and Gentlemen and the Commons Hee rewardeth and entertaineth a number of those that were Captaines of the Commons in these late insurrections and finally in suche wise subuerteth all lawes iustice and good order as it is euident that putting hys trust in the Commons and perceiuing that the Nobles and Gentlemen shoulde be an impediment to him in his deuilish purposes hee laboureth first to haue them destroyed and thinketh after easily enough to atchieue his desire which it appeareth plainly is to occupie the kings Maiesties place For his doings who soeuer list to beholde them doe manifestly declare that hee mindeth neuer to render account to his Maiestie of his proceedings These thinges with many moe too long to recite considered wee pondered wyth our selues Iuste iudiâ—cate filij hominuâ— that either wee muste trauaile for some reformation or wee must in effecte as it were consent with him to the destruction of oure soueraigne Lorde and Countrey Whereuppon laying apart all respectes and resting onely vppon our dueties wee ioyned in Counsell and thought quietly to haue treated the matter with him Who perceiuing that we ioyned for the king and woulde haue suche order as might be for the suertie of his Maiesties persone and the common wealth straite put him selfe in force and resteth at plaine poynt as it appeareth eyther to goe through with his detestable purpose in sorte as hee hathe done or to trie it by the sworde Nowe for as much as we see presently that vnlesse there be a reformation the personne of the kings Maiestie is in moste certaine daunger and this Realme our naturall Countrey lyke to be destroyed wyth all our posterities like as we haue againe fully resolued wyth Gods helpe eyther to deliuer the kings Maiestie and the realme from this extreeme ruine and destruction or to spend our liues for the declaration of our faithfull hearts and dueties so knowing your heartie good willes and trouth to his Maiestie and therefore nothing doubting of your readinesse to ioyne with vs in our godly purpose wee thoughte good to lette you knowe the very trouth of our enterprise and in the kings Maiesties behalfe to require you not onely to putte good and substantiall order for watche and warde but also to haue an earnest continuall regarde to the preseruation within your City of all harneis weapons and munitions so as none be suffered to be conueyed to the sayde Duke nor any others attending about him and besides that you from hencefoorth obey no letters proclamations nor other commandements to be sent from the sayd Duke And thus we bid your Lordship most heartily fare well From London the sixt of October Your Lordships assured louing frendes Will. Saint Iohn W. Northampt. Iohn Warwike Arundell Th. Southampton William Peter Edward North. Iohn Gage Rich. Southwell After the receiuinge of these two Letters aboue mentioned the one from the King the other from the Lordes The City of Londoâ— vrged wiâ—â— two conâ—trary letteâ— at one instant whyche came both at one instaunte wyth contrarye commaundement to the Lorde Maior and Citizens of London the case seemed harde to them and very doubtfull as it was in deede what waye to take and what were best for the Citizens to doe On the one side the name and authority of the king was much on the other side the power and garrisons of the Lordes lyinge then in London was not little which seemed then to be suche as would haue no repulse The case thus standing perplexedly first by the mouth of the Recorder it was requested The Recâ—â—â—der speaketh for 〈◊〉 Lordes that the Citizens would graunt their aide rather vnto the Lords for that the Protectour had abused both the kings maiestie and the whole Realme that without he were taken from the king and made to vnderstande his follie this Realme was in great hazard and therfore required that the citizens would willingly assent to ayd the Lordes with 500. men Hereunto of a great parte of the Common Counsaile was no other answeare made but silence But the Recorder who at that time was M. Brooke still cryed vppon them for aunswere The graâ—â— Oration oâ— a discrete Citizen speaking for the kiâ—â— whose name was George Stadlow 〈◊〉 Parliament man Deuision betweene the 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 At the last stepped vp a wise and a good Citizen named George Stadlowe and sayde In thys case it is good for vs to thinke of things past to auoyde the daunger of thynges to come I remember sayeth he in a storie wrytten in Fabians Chronicle of the warre betweene the King and his Barons which was in the
God in whom our whole affiaunce is shall send vs. Wherefore my Lordes we require you and charge you and euery of you that euery of you of your allegeance whyche you owe to God and vs and to none other for our honour and the surety of our parson onely employ your selues forth with vpon receit hereof cause our right and title to the Crowne and gouâ—rnement of this Realme to be proclaymed in our Citty of London and other places as to your wisedomes shall seeme good and as to this case apperteineth not fayling hereof as our verye trust is in you And thus our Letter signed with our hande shal be your sufficient warrant in this behalfe Yeuâ—n vnder our Signet at our Manor of Kenyngall the ninth of Iulyâ— 1553. To this Letter of the Ladye Marye the Lordes of the Counsell make aunswere agayne as foloweth ¶ Aunswere of the Lordes vnto the Lady Maryes Letter MAdame A letter of the Counsaile aunswâ—ring agayne to the Lady Mary we haue receiued your letters the ninth of this instant declaring your supposed title which you iudge your self to haue to the Imperiall crowne of this Realm all the dominions thereunto belonging For answere whereof this is to aduertise you that forasmuch as our soueraign Lady Quene Iane is after the death of our soueraign Lord Edward the sixt a prince of most noble memorye inuested and possessed with the iuste and right title in the Imperiall Crowne of this Realme Lady Iane inuested in possession of the crowne by king Edwards will and assent of the whole couÌ„saile not onely by good order of olde aunciente lawes of this Realme but also by our late soueraigne Lordes Letters patentes signed with his own hand and seâ—led with the greate seale of Englande in presence of the most parte of the Nobles Counsellours Iudges with diuers other graue and sage personages assenting subscribing to the same We must therfore as of most bouÌ„d duety and allegeance assent vnto her sayde Grace and to none other except wee shoulde which faythfull subiectes can not fall into greeuous and vnspeakeable enormities Wherefore we can no lesse do but for the quiet both of the realme and you also to aduertise you that forasmuch as the diuorce made betwene the king of famous memory K Henry the 8. the Lady Katherine your mother was necessary to be had both by the euerlasting lawes of God and also by the Ecclesiasticall lawes by the most part of the noble learned Vniuersities of Christendome and confirmed also by the sundry actes of Parliamentes remaining yet in theyr force and therby you iustly made illegitimate and vnheritable to the crown Imperiall of this realme and the rules and dominions and possessions of the same Lady Mary recounted illegitimate you will vpon iust consideration hereof and of diuers other causes lawfull to be alledged for the same for the iust inheritaunce of the right line and godlye order taken by the late king our souereigne Lord king Edward the sixt and agreed vpon by the Nobles and greatest personages aforesayd surcease by any pretence to vexe and molest any of our soueraigne Ladye Queene Iane her subiectes from theyr true fayth and allegeance due vnto her grace assuring you that if you will for respect shew your selfe quiet and obedient as you oughte you shall finde vs all and seuerall ready to doe you any seruice that we with duety may and be glad with your quietnes to preserue the coÌ„mon state of this realme wherin you may be otherwise greuous vnto vs to your selfe and to them And thus we bid you most hartily well to fare from the Tower of London this 9. of Iuly 1553. Your Ladyships frendes shewing your selfe an obedient subiect Thomas Caunterbury The Marques of Winchester Iohn Bedford Wil. Morthhampton Thom. Ely Chauncellour Northumberland Henry Suffolke Henry Arundell Shrewesbury Pembrooke Cobham R. Riche Huntington Darcy Cheyney R. Cotton Iohn Gates W. Peter W. Cicelle Iohn Cheeke Iohn Mason Edward North. R. Bowes All these aforesayd except onely the Duke of NorthuÌ„berland and syr Iohn Gates afterward were either by especiall fauor or speciall or generall pardon discharged After this aunswere receiued and the mindes of the Lordes perceiued Lady Mary keepeth her selfe from the Citty of London Lady Mary speedeth her selfe secretlye away farre of from the City hoping chiefly vpon the good will of the Commons and yet perchaunce not destitute altogether of the secret aduertisementes of some of the Nobles When the Counsell heard of her sodiene departure and perceiued her stoutnesse that all came not to passe as they supposed they gathered speedily a power of meÌ„ together appointing an army and first assigned that the Duke of Suffolke shoulde take that enterprise in hand so haue the leading of the Bande The Duke of Northumberland sent forth agaynst Lady Mary But afterwarde alterynge their mindes they thought it best to seÌ„d forth the Duke of Northumberland with certaine other Lords and Gentlemen and that the Duke of Suffolke shoulde keepe the Tower where the Lord Gilford and the Lady Iane the same time were lodged In the which expedition y e Gard also albeit they were much vnwilling at the first therunto yet notwithstanding through the vehemeÌ„t perswasions of the Lord Treasurer M. Chomley other they were induced to assist the duke and to set forward with him These thinges thus agreed vpon and the Duke nowe being set forwarde after the best array out of London hauing notwithstanding his times prescribed and hys iourneys appoynted by the Counsell to the entent he woulde not seeme to do any thing but vpon warrant Mary in the meane while tossed with muche trauell vp and downe to worke the surest way for her best aduauntage withdrewe her selfe into the quarters of Northfolke and Suffolke Pollicie of the Lady Mary where she vnderstood the Dukes name to be had in muche hatred for the seruice that had ben done there of late vnder king Edward The Lady Mary taketh Fremingham castle in subduing the rebels and there gathering to her such aid of the commons in euery side as she might keepeth her selfe close for a space within Fremingham Castle To whom first of al resorted the suffolke men who being alwayes forward in promoting the procedinges of the Gospell The Suffolk meÌ„ gather to the Lady Maryes side promised her theyr ayd helpe so that she would not attempt the alteration of the religion which her Brother king Edward had before established by lawes and orders publickely enacted and receiued by the consent of the whole Realme in that behalfe To make the matter short vnto this condition she eftsoones agreed with suche promise made vnto them that no innouatioÌ„ should be made of religioÌ„ The Lady Mary promiseth faithfully that she would not alter religion Breach of promise in Queene Mary as that no maÌ„ would or could then haue misdoubted her Whiche promise if shee had as
behaue her selfe in the time of her wydowhoode THe grace of God and the comfort of his holy spirite be with you and all them that vnfaynedly loue hys holy Gospell Amen I thanke you deare sister for your most louing remembrance and although I can not recompence the same yet do I wish with all my hart that God would do it requiring you not to forget your duty towards God in these perilous dayes in the whiche the Lorde will trie vs. I trust you do encrease by reading of y e scriptures the knowledge you haue of God and that you diligently apply your selfe to folow the same for the knowledge helpeth not except the life be according thereunto Further I do hartily pray you to consider the state of your wydowhoode and if God shall put in your minde to change it remember the saying of Saint Paule 1. Corinth 7. 1 Cor. â— It is lawfull for the wydow or mayden to marry to whome they list so it be in the Lord that is to saye to suche a one as is of Christes Religion Dearely beloued in Christ remember these words for you shall fynde thereby great ioy and comfort if you chaunge your state Whereof I wyll when I haue better leysure as now I haue none at all further aduertise you In the meane time I commend you to God and the guiding of his good spirit who stablish and confirme you in all well doing and keepe you blamelesse to the day of the Lorde watch and pray for this day is at hand Yours assured in Christ Iohn Hooper ¶ To all my deare breethren my relieuers and helpers in the Citie of London THe grace of God be with you Amen I haue receaued froÌ„ you dearely beloued in our Sauiour Iesus Christ by the hands of my seruaunt William Downton An other letter of M. Hooper to his frienâ—es in London your liberalitie for the which I do most hartely thanke you and I prayse God hyghly in you for you who hath mooued your hartes to shewe this kyndnes towardes me praying him to preserue you from all famine scarcitie and lacke of the truth of his worde whiche is the liuely foode of youre soules as you preserue my body from hunger other necessities which should happen vnto me were it not cared for by y e beneuolence and charitie of godly people Such as haue taken all worldly goodes and lands from me spoiled me of all that I had haue imprisoned my body and appointed no one halfe peny to feede or relieue me withal but I do forgeue them and pray for them dayly in my poore prayer vnto God The christian charitie of M. Hooper to his enemies and from my hart I wishe their saluation and quietly patiently beare their iniuries wishing no farther extremitie to be vsed towards vs. Yet if it seeme contrary best vnto our heauenly father I haue made my reckening fully resolued my selfe to suffer the vttermost that they are able to do against me M. Hooper 〈◊〉 resolued to suffer yea death it selfe by the aide of Christ Iesu who died the most vile death of y e crosse for vs wretches miserable sinners But of this I am assured y t the wicked world w t all his force power shal not touch one of y e heares of your heads without leaue liceÌ„ce of our heauenly father whose wil be done in all things If he will life life be it if he will death death be it Onely we pray that our willes may be subiect vnto his will then although both we all the world see none other thing but death yet if he thinke life best we shal not die no although the sword be drawen out ouer our heades as Abraham thought to kill his sonne Isaac yet when God perceaued that Abraham had surrendred his will to Gods will and was content to kill his sonne God then saued his sonne Dearely beloued if we be contented to obey Gods will and for his commandements sake to surrender our goods and our selues to be at his pleasure Gods will 〈◊〉 be obeyâ—â— in all â—â—inges it maketh no matter whether we keepe goodes and lyfe or lose them Nothyng can hurt vs that is taken from vs for Gods cause nor nothing can at length do â—s good that is preserued contrary vnto Gods commaundement Let vs wholy suffer God to vse vs and ours after his holy wisedome and beware we neither vse nor gouern our selues contrary to his will by our own wisedome for if we do our wisedome will at length proue foolishnes It is kept to no good purpose y t we keepe contrary vnto his commandements It can by no meanes be taken from vs that he would should tary w t vs. He is no good Christian that ruleth himselfe his as worldly meanes serueth for he y t so doth shall haue as many changes as chaÌ„ceth in the world To day with y e world he shall like and prayse the truth of God Difference betweene the true christian and the worldling to morow as the world will so will he like and prayse the falshood of man to day with Christ and to morow with Antichrist Wherefore deare brethren as touching your behauiour towards God vse both your inward spirites and your outward bodyes your inward and your outward man I say not after the meanes of men but after y e infallible word of god Refraine from euill in both and glorifie your heauenly father in both For if ye thinke ye can inwardly in the hart serue him Both the inward man and outward man must concurre in the honour of God and yet outwardly serue with the world in externall seruice y e thing that is not God ye deceaue your selues for both the body and the soule must together concurre in the honour of God as S. Paule plainly teacheth 1. Cor. 6. For if an honest wife be bound to geue both hart and body to fayth and seruice in mariage and if an honest wiues fayth in the hart cannot stand with an whorishe or defiled body outwardly muche lesse can the true fayth of a Christian in the true seruice of Christianitie stand with the bodely seruice of externall Idolatry for the mistery of mariage is not so honorable betweene man and wife as it is betweene Christ euery christian man as S. Paule saith Therefore deare brethren pray to the heauenly father that as he spared not the soule nor the body of his dearely beloued sonne but applyed both of them with extreame payne to work our saluation both of body and soule so he will geue vs al grace to apply our bodyes and soules to be seruauntes vnto him for doubtles he requireth as wel the one as the other and cannot be miscontented with the one and well pleased with the other Either he hateth both or loueth both he deuideth not his loue to one and his hatred to the other Let not vs therfore good brethren deuide
same gift and knowledge of true fayth wherein the Apostles the Euangelistes and all Martyrs suffered most cruell death thanke him for his grace in knowledge and pray vnto him for strength and perseuerance that through your owne fault you be not ashamed nor afeard to confesse it Ye be in the truth and the gates of hell shall neuer preuaile against it nor Antichrist with all his impes proue it to be false They may kill and persecute but neuer ouercome Be of good comfort and feare more God then man This life is short and miserable happy be they that can spende it to the glory of God Pray for me as I do for you and commende me to all good men and women 22. December 1554. Your brother in Christ Iohn Hooper ¶ To my dearely beloued sister in the Lord Maistres Anne Warcop An other letter written to one Maisteries Warcop by Maister Hooper THe grace of God be with you Amen I thanke you for your louing token I pray you burden not your selfe too much It were meete for me rather to beare a payne then to be a hinderaunce to many I did reioice at the comming of this bearer to vnderstand of your constancie and how y t you be fully resolued by Gods grace rather to suffer extremitie then to go froÌ„ that truth in God which you haue professed He that gaue you grace to begin in so infallible a truth will folow you in the same vnto the end But my louing Sister as you be traueling this perilous iourney take this lesson with you practised by wise meÌ„ wherof ye may reade in the second of S. Mathewes Gospell Such as traueled to finde Christ followed only the starre and as long as they saw it they were assured they were in the right way and had great mirth in their iourney But when they entred into Ierusalem where as the starre led them not thether but vnto Bethelem and there asked the Citizens the thing that the starre shewed before as loÌ„g as they taried in Hierusalem and would be instructed where Christ was borne The surest way is eueâ— to follow the Starâ—e they were not only ignorant of Bethelem but also lost the sight of the starre that led them before Whereof we learne in any case whiles we be going in this life to seeke Christ that is aboue to beware we loose not the starre of Gods word that onely is y e marke that sheweth vs where Christ is and which way we may come vnto him But as Ierusalem stood in y e way Ierusalem signifieth the vision of peace and was an impediment to these wise men so doth the sinagogue of Antichrist that beareth the name of Ierusalem which by interpretation is called the vision of peace and amoÌ„gst the people now is called the Catholicke Church stand in the way that pilgrimes must go by thorough this world to Bethelem the house of saturitie and plentifulnes Bethelem signifieth 〈◊〉 much as thâ— house of bread or of saturitie and is an impediment to all Christian trauellers yea and except the more grace of God be will keepe the pilgrimes still in her that they shal not come where Christ is at all And to stay them in deede they take away y e starre of light which is Gods word that it can not be sene as ye may see how the celestial star was hid froÌ„ the wise men wheÌ„ they asked of the Phariseis at Hierusalem where Christ was borne Ye may see what great dangers hapned vnto these wise men whiles they were a learning of liers where Christ was First they were out of their way and next they lost their guide conductour the heauenly starre Christ is mounted froÌ„ vs into heauen there we seeke him as we say let vs therfore go thetherward by the star of his word beware we happen not to come into Hierusalem the Church of men and aske for him If we do Christ is not to be sought not asked for but onely by the scripâ—tures we go out of the way lose also our coÌ„ductour and guide that only leadeth vs straight thether The Poets write in fables that Iason when he fought with the Dragon in the I le of Colchis was preserued by the medicines of Medea and so wan the golden fleese And they write also that Titan whome they faine to be sonne and heyre of the high God Iupiter would needes vpon a day haue the conduction of y e sunne round about y e world but as they faine he missed of the accustomed course wherupon wheÌ„ he went too high he burned heaueÌ„ Example of Iason and Titon and when he went too low he burned the earth the water These prophane histories do shame vs that be Christian men Iason against the poyson of the dragon vsed only the medicine of Medea What a shame is it for a Christian man against the poyson of the deuill heresie sinne to vse any other remedy then Christ his word Titan for lacke of knowledge was afeard of euery signe of the Zodiacke that the Sunne passeth by wherfore he now went too low now to high and at length fell downe and drowned himselfe in the sea Christian men for lacke of knowledge and for feare of such daungers as christian men must needes passe by go cleane out of order and at length fall into the pit of hell Sister take heede you shall in your iourney towardes heauen meete with many a monstrous beast Letters in the way to the kingdome of heauen haue salue of Gods word therfore ready You shal meete husbaÌ„d children louers and frends that shall if God be not with them as God be praysed he is I would it were with all other alike be very lettes and impedimentes to your purpose You shall meete with sclaunder and coÌ„tempt of the world and be accoumpted vngracious vngodly you shal heare meete with cruell tiranny to do you all extremities you shall now and then see the troubles of your own coÌ„science and feele your owne weakenes you shall heare that you be cursed by the sentence of the Catholicke Church wyth such like terrours but pray to God and follow the starre of his word and you shall ariue at the port of eternall saluation by the merites only of Iesus Christ to whome I commend you and all yours most hartily Yours in Christ Iohn Hooper ¶ Unto these letters of Maister Hooper heeretofore recited we thought not inconuenient to annexe also another certaine Epistle not of Maister Hoper but writteÌ„ to hym by a famous learned man Henry Bullinger chiefe superintendent in the Citie of Zuricke Of whose singulare loue and tender affection toward Maister Hooper ye heard before in the beginning of Maister Hoopers life discoursed Now how louingly he writeth vnto him ye shall heare by this present letter as followeth ¶ To the most reuerend father M. Iohn Hooper Byshop of Worcester and Glocester and now prisoner for the
turne from his errour and come to the vnitie of their Church To whome he sayde No I would ye should recant for I am in the truth and you in errour Well quoth the Byshop if ye will returne I will gladly receiue you No sayd Higbed I will not returne as you wyll haue me to beleeue in the sacrament of the altar your God M. Causton M. Higbed condeÌ„ned and seÌ„t to Newgate Whereupon the Byshop proceeded and gaue iudgement vpon him as he had done before vpon Tho. Causton When all this was thus ended they were both deliuered to the Sheriffes and so by them sent to Newgate where they remained by the space of xiiij dayes praysed be God not so much in afflictions as in consolations For the encrease whereof they earnestly desired all their good brethren and sisterne in Christ to pray that God for his sonnes sake would go forth with that great mercy which already he had begon in them so that they might perseuere vnto the ende to the prayse of the eternall God and comfort of all their brethren These xiiij dayes after their condemnation once expired M. Causton and Maister Higbed brought froÌ„ Newgate into Essex they were the xxiij day of this moneth of March fetched from Newgate at foure of the clocke in the morning and so led through the Citie vnto Algate where they were deliuered vnto the Sheriffe of Essex and there beeing fast bound in a cart were shortly after brought to their seuerall appointed places of burning that is to saye Thomas Higbed to Horneden on the hill March 26. and Thomas Causton to Rayly both in the Countrey of Essex where they did most constantly The constaÌ„t Martirdome of M. Thomas CaustoÌ„ and Maister Higbed Martyrs the xxvj day of the same moneth seale this their faith with shedding of their bloud by most cruell fire to the glory of God and great reioysing of the godly At the burning of whiche Mayster Higbed Iustice Browne was also present as is aboue specified and diuers Gentlemen in the shiere were commaunded to be present for feare belike least they should be taken from them And thus much touching the apprehension examination confession condemnation and burnyng of these two godly and constant Martyrs of God William Pigot Steuen Knight and Iohn Laurance with their exanation and constant martirdome IN the Story before of Thomas Tomkins and his fellowes March 28. mention was made of sixe whiche were examined and condemned together by bishop Boner the ninth day of February W. Pigot Ste. Knight Iohn Laurence Martâ—â—s Of the which sixe condemned persons two which were Tomkins and William Hunter as ye heard were executed the one vppon the 26. of February and the other vppon the 26. day of March Other three to witte William Pigot and Steuen Knight suffered vpon the eight and twenty day and Iohn Laurence the nine and twenty of the sayd month of march Touching the which three Martyrs now something to say of their examinations it was first demaunded of them what their opinioÌ„ was of the sacrament of the Aultar Whereunto they seuerally answered and also subscribed that in the sacrament of the aultar vnder formes of bread and wine there is not the very substaunce of the body and bloud of our sauiour Iesus Christ but a special partaking of the body and bloud of Christ the very body and bloud of Christ being onely in heauen and no where els This answere thus made the bishop caused certayne articles to be read vnto them tending to the same effect as did the articles before of Tomkins and of M. Causton The tenour whereof here followeth * Articles or interrogatories obiected by the bishop of London to Willlam Pigot Steuen Kight and Iohn Laurence the 8. of February 1555. WHether do you thinke and steadfastly beleeue that it is a catholicke Articles obieâ—ted to W. Pigot 〈…〉 faithfull christian and true doctrine to teach preach and say that in the sacramentes of the aultar vnder y e formes of bread wine there is w tout any substance of bread wine there remayning by y e omnipotent power of almightye God his holy worde really truely and in very deede the true and natural body and bloud of our Sauiour Iesus Christ the selfe same in substaunce though not in outward forme and appearaunce whiche was borne of the Uirgine Mary and suffered vppon the crosse yea or nay Whether doe you thinke Beliefe of their forelders and steadfastly beleeue that your Parentes kinsfolke frendes and acquaintance here in this realm of England before your birth a great while and also after your Birth professing and beleuing the said doctrine and fayth concerning the sayd sacrament of the aultar had a true christian fayth and were faythfull and true christen people or no Whether do you think and steadfastly beleue that your Godfathers and Godmother Beliefe of their godfathers and godmothers professing and beleuing the said Doctrine and faith concerning the sayde Sacrament of the aultar had a true christen fayth and were faythfull and true christen people or no Whether do you think and steadfastly beleue that your own self in times past being of the age of 14. yeares Beliefe of their young age and aboue did thinke and beleue concerning the sayd sacrament of the aulter in all poyntes as your sayde parentes kinsfolke friendes acquaintaunce godfathers and godmother did then thinke and beleue them or no Whether doe you thinke and steadfastly beleeue that oure Soueraignes the king and the Queene of thys Realme of England and all the Nobilitie Clergie and Laitie of this Realm professing and beleuing the said doctrine and fayth as other christian Realmes doe concerning the sayd sacrament of the altar haue a true christian fayth and beleeue as the Catholicke and true Churche of Christ hath alwayes beleued preached and taught or no Whether do ye thinke and steadfastly beleeue that our sauiour Christ and his holy spirite hath bene is Beliefe of the king and Queene the Nobilitie and shal be with his Catholicke churche euen to the worldes end gouerning and ruling the same in all thinges especially in the necessary poyntes of Christian Religion not suffering the same to erre or to be deceiued therein Whether it is true that you being suspected or infamed to be culpable Beliefe of the pretensed Catholicke church and faultie in speaking agaynst the sacrament of the Aultare and agaynst the very true presence of Christes naturall body and the substaunce thereof in y e sayd sacrament and thereupon called before mee vppon complaynt made to me agaynst you haue not bene a good space in my house hauing freely meate and drinke and also diuers times instructed and informed The reall presence and transubstantiation as well by one being our Ordinary as also by my chaplaines and dyuers other learned men some wherof were bishops some Deanes and some Archdeacons and euery one of them learned
them the Chancellor offred the Queenes mercy if they would agree and be conformable c. To this they both made such an answer as the Chancellor with his fellow Commissioners allowed them for catholike Whether they of weakenes so answered or heâ—of subtletie would so vnderstand their answer â—â—rlow and Cardmaker â—cceptable 〈◊〉 Wincheâ—â—er as Catholickes that he might haue some forged example of a shrinking brother to lay in the dish of the rest which were to be examined it may easily be perceiued by this that to all them which followed in examination he obiected the example of Barlow Cardmaker commending their sobernes discretion lerning But whatsoeuer their answer was yet notwithstandyng Barlow was led againe to the Fleete from whence he afterward beyng deliuered M. Barlow exiled for the truth did by exile constantly beare witnes to the truth of Christes gospell Cardmaker was conueyed to the Counter in Breadstreete the B. of London procuring it to be published that he should shortly be deliuered after that he had subscribed to Transubstantiation and certaine other articles To the same prison where Cardmaker was LaureÌ„ce Sanders was brought after the sentence of excommunication and condemnation was pronounced against hym where these two prisoners had such christian conference that whatsoeuer the breath of the bishops blustred Conference â—etweene 〈…〉 〈◊〉 Cardâ—aâ—er the tickle cares of the people too lightly beleued in y e end they both shewed themselues constant confessors and worthy martyrs of Christ as of Laurence Sanders it is already written After whose departure Cardmaker remayned there prisoner to be baited of the Papistes which would needes seeme to haue a certayne hope that Cardmaker was become theirs Continuall and great conference diuers of them had with hym with reasonyngs perswadyngs threatnyngs and all to none effect To the end that their doyngs might appeare hee required them to put their reasons in writyng and promised by writyng to answer them Doctor Martin who bare also a part in those pageants D. Martyn wryteth 〈◊〉 Cardmaker tooke vppon hym to be the chiefe doer by writyng whose long vnsauery letters and simple reasons for TraÌ„substantiation and such papisticall trash this Cardmaker answered largely learnedly substantially confuting the same openyng the falsehood of his arguments and deliueryng the sentences of the Fathers which Martin abused for his purpose to their true vnderstanding which his answers I would had come to our hands Thus constantly aboade this man of God all the enemies doyngs as he did also the death which he suffred in Smithfield in London Wherof ye shall heare more anone but first we will suruey the matter and maner of his articles obiected against him by B. Boner with his answers annexed to the same as consequently here vnder followeth ¶ Articles obiected by Boner against Ioh. Taylor aliâs Cardmaker with hys aunswers vnto the same FIrst I Edmund B. of London obiect against thee Sir Iohn Taylor aliâs Cardmaker May. 24. Articles ministred agaynst Iohn Cardmaker by the B. of London Iohn Cardmaker first an obseruant Fryer that thou wast and art of the citie and Dioces of London and so of the iurisdiction of me Edmund B. of London Item that thou in tymes past diddest professe the rule of S. Fraunces and diddest by vow promise to keepe pouertie chastitie and obedience according to the rule of S. Frances Item that thou in tymes past didst receyue all the orders of the church then vsed to wit tam maiores quam minores Item that thou after thy said entrie into religion and profession and orders aforesaid Iohn Cardmaker maryed didst take to wife a widow and with her hadst carnal copulation and didst get of her a woman child breaking therby thy vow and order also the ordinance of the church Item that thou hast beleued and taught and so doest beleue that in the sacrament of the aultar vnder the visible signes there that is to say The beliefe of the Popes Catholicke church vnder the formes of bread and wyne there is really and truly the true and very naturall body and bloud of our sauiour Iesus Christ. Item that the beliefe of the catholike church is To speake naturally of the naturall body of Christ these two cannot staÌ„d together at one tyme vnles we graunt Christ to haue 2. bodyes that in hauing the body and bloud of Christ really and truly conteined in the sacrament of the altar is to haue by the omnipotent power of almighty God the body and bloud of Christ there inuisibly and really present vnder the said sacrament and not to make thereby a new God or a newe Christ or a new body of Christ. Item that it may stand wel together so is the fayth of the Catholike church that the body of Christ is visibly and truely ascended into heauen and there is in the visible forme of his humanitie and yet the same body in substaÌ„ce is inuisibly and truely conteyned in the sayde Sacrament of the aulter Item that Christ at his last supper takyng bread into his hands blessing it breakyng it geuyng it to his apostles and saying Take eate this is my body did institute a Sacrament there * That Christ neuer willed neyther can the Scriptures beare it willyng that his body really and truly should be conteyned in the sayd sacrament no substance of bread and wyne there remainyng but onely the accidents thereof ¶ Aunswers of Cardmaker to the articles aforesayd TO the first article he answereth and confesseth the same to be true in euery part therof Iohn Cardmaker aunswereth to the articlâ—â— To the 2. article he aunswereth and confesseth that he beyng vnder age did professe the said order and religion afterward by the autoritie of K. Henry the 8. he was dispensed with for the same religion To the 3. he aunswereth and confesseth the same to bee true in euery part thereof To the 4. he aunswereth and confesseth the first part therof to be true and to the second part of the same article he answereth and saith that in mariage he brake no vow because he was set at liberty to mary both by the lawes of this realme and also by the lawes and ordinaunces of the Church of the same To the 5. he answereth confesseth th thâ— hath beleeued taught as it is conteined in this actiâ—e but he doth not now so beleue nor teach To the 6. he answereth that he doth not beleue y e same to be true in any part therof To the 7. he aunswereth that he doth not beleeue the same to be true in any part thereof To the 8. he answereth and doth beleeue videlicet that it is true that is to say The first parte of this article is true the second is false that Christ takyng breade at hys last supper into hys handes blessyng it breakyng it geuyng it to his disciples and saying Take eate this is my body did
institute a sacrament there And to the other part of this article videlicet willyng that his bodye really and truely should be conteyned in the sayd sacrament no substance of bread and wyne there remayning but onely the accidents thereof he answereth that he doth not beleeue the same to be true By me Iohn Cardmaker M. Cardmaker calling to mynd afterwards the redy cauillings of the papists and thinking himself not to haue fully and according to his true meaning answered the latter part of the last eight article did the next day after the foresaid answers exhibite vnto the Bish. in a schedule this here after followyng Where in my answer to your articles I deny the presence of Christ in the Sacrament I meane not his sacramentall presence for that I confesse but my deniall is of his carnall presence in the same But yet further because this word is oftentymes taken of the holy fathers A more full answere to the second part of the eight article not only for the bread and wyne but also for the whole administration and receiuyng of the same accordyng to Christes institution so I say that Christ is present spiritually too and in all them which worthily receiueth the Sacrament Sacramentall presence in the Sacrament Carnal presence in the SacrameÌ„t denyed so that my deniall is still of the reall carnall and corporall presence in the sacrament and not of the sacramentall nor spirituall presence This haue I thought good to adde to my former aunswer because no man should misunderstand it By me Iohn Cardmaker Next to these articles of M. Cardmaker I thought best to inferre the articles and answers likewise of Iohn Warne his martyr fellow in maner as followeth ¶ Articles ministred agaynst Iohn VVarne Vpholster of the parish of S. Iohn in Walbrooke with his answers to the same Articles agaynst Iohn Warne vpholster in Walbroke FIrst that thou Iohn Warne beyng of the age of xxix yeres of the parish of S. Iohn of Walbrooke in London hast beleeued and doest beleeue firmely and stedfastly that in the Sacrament commonly called the SacrameÌ„t of the aultar there is not the very true and naturall body of our Sauiour Christ in substaunce vnder the formes of bread and wyne Item that thou hast beleued and doest beleue that after the words of consecration spoken by the priest Agaynst transubstantiation there is not as the church of England doth beleue and teach the body of Christ but that there doth only remayne the substance of material bread as it is before the consecration or speaking of the wordes of consecration and that the sayd bread is in no wyse altered or changed Item that thou hast sayd and doest beleeue that if the Catholike church do beleue and teach Agaynst the sacrifice of the Masse that there is in the masse now vsed in England and in other places of Christendome a sacrifice wherein there is a sacrament conteinyng the body and bloud of Christ really and truly then that beliefe and fayth of the church is naught and agaynst Gods truth and the scripture Item that thou hast said that where about a twelue moneths agone more Heresye for laughing at a Spaniell shorne on the head a great rough water Spaniell of thyne was shorne in the hed had a crowne like a Priest made in the same thou diddest laugh at it like it though thou didst it not thy selfe nor knowest who did it Item that thou neither this Lent last past nor at any tyme since the Queenes Maiesties raigne hast come into the church or heard masse or bene confessed or receiued the sacrament of the aultar and hast said that thou art not sory that thou hast so done but thou art glad because thou hast not therewith defiled thy conscience which otherwise thou shouldest so haue done Upon all which articles Iohn Warne being examined by the said Boner in presence of diuers witnesses the 23. of May ann 1555. did confesse and beleue the same subscribe hereunto his name with his owne hand By me Iohn Warne Also it was obiected against the said Iohn Warne by the B. aforesayd as followeth A nother addition of Articles Item that thou Iohn Warne wast in tyme past here in the city of London conuented in the Guildhal for heresie against the sacrament of the aultar according to the order of the lawes of this Realme of England in the time of king Henry the 8. and when Alderman Barnes was shirife the Thursday after that Anne Askew was burnt in Smithfield Iohn Warne about the tyme of Anne Askew was condemned to be burned and had his pardon and therupon thou wast sent as a prisoner to Newgate to whom Edmond B. of London did repayre with his chaplens to instruct thee in y e true faith of Christ touchyng the said Sacrament of the aultar to bring thee from thy error which was that in the Sacrament of the altar there is not the body of Christ nor any corporal preence of Christes body bloud vnder the formes of bread wyne but that in the sayd sacrament there is onely materiall bread wyne without any substance of Christs body and bloud at all because thou wouldst not leaue for sake thy sayd heresie therin but persist abide obstinately and wilfully therein thou wert according to y e said lawes condemned to death â—â—hn Warne â—â—rdoned by K. Henry 8. to be burnt and thereupon labour beyng made for thee to the king and other in the Courte thou hadst a pardon of king Henry the 8. and so thereby didst saue thy lyfe Neuerthelesse in thy heart conscience and mynd thou didst both then and also afore beleeue no otherwyse then at this present thou doest beleeue that is to say that in the Sacrament of the aultar there is neyther the very true body or bloud of Christ Iohn 〈◊〉 denye◠〈◊〉 transubâ—tâ—ation nor no other substace but the substaunce of materiall bread and wyne and to receiue the sayd materiall bread and wyne and to breake it and to distribute it among the people onely is the true receiuyng of Christes body and no otherwise so that thy fayth and beliefe is that in the sayd sacrament there is no substance of Christes material body and bloud but all the thyng that is there is materiall bread and the receiuyng thereof as afore and that the substance of the natural and true body of Christ borne of the Uirgine Mary is only in heauen and not in the sacrament of the aultare In which thine opinion thou hast euer hitherto since continued and so doest continue at this present thou confessing all this to be true and in witnes therof subscribing thy name thereunto as followeth By me Iohn Warne Iohn Warne beyng examined vpon these foresaid articles by the Bish. before certaine witnesses The 〈◊〉 aunsweâ—â— Iohn 〈◊〉 to the 〈◊〉 whose names were Iohn Boswel Iohn Heywood Robert Rauens the
it with our blouds For I thought this night that I had bene sent for because at a 11. of the clocke there was such rapping at the dore Then answered a mayd and sayd why theÌ„ I perceiue you were afrayd Brad. M. Bradford nothing afrayd of death Ye shall heare how fearefull I was For I considered that I had not slept and I thought to take a nap before I went and after I was a sleepe these men came into the next chamber and sang as it was tolde me and yet for all my fearefulnes I heard theÌ„ not therfore belike I was not afrayd that slept so fast Seru. Do you lacke any thing toward your necessity Brad. Nothing but your prayers I trust I haue them and you mine Seru. I saw a priest come to you to day in the morning Brad. Yea he brought me a letter from a Fryer and I am writing an answere Seru. Then we let you therefore the liuing God be wyth you Brad. And with you also and blesse you Seru. Amen sayd we and gaue him thankes departed M. Bradford had from the Counter to Newgate by night THus still in prison continued Bradford vntill the moneth of Iuly in such labors suffrings as he before alwayes had susteyned in prison But when the time of hys determined death was come he was sodeÌ„ly conueyed out of the Counter where he was prisoner in the night season to Newgate as afore is declared froÌ„ thence he was caried the next morning to Smithfield where he constantly abiding in the same truth of God which before he had confessed earnestly exhorting the people to repent to return to Christ sweetly comforting the godly yong springall of 19. or 20. yeares old which was burned with him chearefully he ended his paynefull life to liue with Christ. ¶ Iohn Leafe burnt with M. Bradford Iohn Leafe fellow Martyr with M. Bradford WIth whoÌ„ also was burnt one Iohn Leafe an appreÌ„tice to Humfrey Gawdy Tallow Chaundlor of the parish of Christs church in London of the age of 19. yeres and aboue borne at Kirkeby Moreside in the Countye of Yorke who vpoÌ„ the friday next before Palme sonday was coÌ„mitted to the Counter in Breadstreete Iohn Leafe of the parish of Christ church by the Alderman of that warde committed to prison by an Alderman of London who had rule charge of that warde or part of the City where the sayd Leafe did dwell After he coÌ„myng to examination before Boner gaue a firme Christian testimony of his doctrine profession answering to such articles as were obiected to him by the sayd Bishop First as touching his beliefe fayth in the sayd sacrament of the aultar Iohn Leafe examined before B. Boner The aunsweres of Iohn Leafe concerning his fayth in the Sacrament he answered that after y e words of consecration spoken by the priest ouer the bread wine there was not the very true naturall body bloud of Christ in substance and further did hold and beleue that the sayd sacrameÌ„t of the aultar as it is now called vsed beleued in this realme of EnglaÌ„d is idolatrous abhominable also sayd further that he beleued that after the words of coÌ„secration spoken by the Priest ouer the material bread and wine there is not the selfe same substance of Christes body bloud there coÌ„teined but bread wine as it was before and further sayd that he beleued that when the priest deliuereth the said material bread wine to the coÌ„municants he deliuereth but onely * Onely as touching the substance but not as concerning the effect thereof Auricular confession He meaneth after the Popish maner of remitting c. material bread and wyne and the communicants do receiue the same in remeÌ„brance of Christes death and passion and spiritually in fayth they receiue Christs body and bloud but not vnder the formes of bread and wine and also affirmed that he beleued auricular confession not to be necessary to be made vnto a priest for it is no poynt of soule health neither that the Priest hath anye authority geuen him by the Scripture to absolue and remit any sinne Upon these his answeres and testimony of his fayth he at that time being dismissed was bid the Monday next being the x. of Iune to appere again in the said place there and then to heare the sentence of his condemnatioÌ„ who so did At what time the foresayd Bishop propounding the sayd articles again to him as before assaying by al maner of wayes to reuoke him to his owne trade that is from truth to error notwithstanding all his perswasioÌ„s threates and promises found him the same man still so planted vpon the sure rocke of truth that no wordes nor deedes of men could remoue him Then the bishop after many wordes to and fro at last asked him if he had bene M. Rogers scholler Iohn Leaâ—e M. Rogeâ—â— scholler To whoÌ„ the foresayd Iohn Leafe answered agayne graunting him so to be and that he the same Iohn did beleue in the doctrine of the sayd Rogers and in the doctrine of Bishop Hooper Cardmaker and other of their opinion which of late were burned for the testimony of Christ and that he would dye in that doctrine that they dyed for And after other replications agayne of the Bishop mouing him to returne to the vnity of the Church he with a great courage of spirite answered agayne in these words My Lord quoth he you cal mine opinioÌ„ heresy it is the true light of the word of God and agayne repeating the same he professed that he would neuer forsake his stayed well grounded opinion while y e breath should be in his body Wherupon the Bishop being too weake eyther to refute his sentence or to remoue hys constancy proceeded consequently to read the Popish sentence of cruell condemnatioÌ„ Sentence read agaynst Iohn Leafe wherby this godly constant young man being coÌ„mitted to the secular power of the shiriffes there present was theÌ„ adiudged not long after suffered the same day with M. Bradford confirming w t hys death that which he had spoken and professed in his life It is reported of the said Iohn Leafe by one that was in the Counter the same time and saw the thing Iohn Leafe sealed the bill of his confessions with his bloud that after his examinations before the Bishop when two bils were sent vnto him in the CouÌ„ter in Bredstreet the one conteyning a recantation the other his confessions to knowe to which of them he would put to his hand first hearyng the Byll of recantation read vnto him because he coulde not read nor write hymselfe that he refused And when the other was read vnto him which he well liked of in stead of a pen he tooke a pinne and so pricking his hand sprinckled the bloud vpon the sayd bill willing the reader thereof to shew the Bishop that he had sealed the same
ye are goyng I meane heauen then ye nowe finde and are like to doe Foule 〈◊〉 and foulâ— weather the kingdome of heauen excepte ye wyll with the worldlinges which haue theyr portion in this life 〈◊〉 still by the way til the stormes be ouerpast and then eyther night will so approch that ye can not trauell eyther the doores will be sparred before ye come and so ye shall lodge without in wonderfull euill lodginges Read Apocal. 22. Begin at Abel come from him to Noe Abraham Isaac Iacob Ioseph the Patriarches Moses Dauid Daniell and all the Sayntes in the olde testament and tell me whether euer any of them found any fayrer way then ye now finde If the olde Testament will not serue The 〈◊〉 of all 〈◊〉 Saincteâ— both in olde and new tesâ—â—â—ment 〈◊〉 bene thoâ—rough aâ—â—fliction I praye you come to the new and beginne with Mary and Ioseph and come from them to Zachary Elizabeth Iohn Baptist and euery one of the Apostles and Euangelistes and search whether they all founde anye other way into the Citty we trauayle towardes then by many tribulations Besides these if ye shoulde call to remembraunce the primatiue Churche Lord GOD ye shoulde see many to haue geuen chearefully theyr bodyes to most greuous tormentes rather then they woulde be stopped in theyr iourney that there is no day in the yeare but I dare say a thowsand was the fewest that with great ioy lost theyr homes here Read thâ— story of primitiâ—â— Church â—â—boue 〈◊〉 but in the Cittye they went vnto haue found other maner of homes then mans minde is able to conceiue But if none of all these were if ye had no company now to go with you as ye haue me your poore brother and bondman of the Lord with many other I trust in GOD if ye had none other of the Fathers Patriarches Kynges Prophettes Apostles Euangelistes Martyrs and other holy saincts and children of God that in their iourney to heauenward found as ye now finde and are lyke to finde if ye go on forwarde as I trust ye will yet ye haue your Mayster and your Captayne Iesus Chryst the deare dearlyng and onely begotten and beloued sonne of God Christ Ieâ—â—s the 〈◊〉 leader â—f all Gods 〈…〉 in whome was all the fathers pleasure ioy delectation ye haue him to goe before you no fayrer waye but muche fouler into this our Cittye of Ierusalem I neede not I trust to rehearse what manner of waye he found Beginne at his birth and till ye come at his buriall yee shall finde that euery foote and stryde of his iourney was no better but much worse then yours is now Wherfore my dearely beloued in the Lorde be not so deintie as to looke for that at Gods handes your deare father which the Fathers Patriarckes Prophetes Apostles Euangelistes Martyrs Sainctes and his owne sonne Iesus Christ dyd not finde Hetherto we haue had fayre way I trow and fayre weather also now because we haue loytered by the waye and not made the speede we shoulde haue done our louing Lorde and sweete father hath ouercast the weather and styrred vp stormes and tempestes that we might with more hast runne out our race before night come and the doores be sparred The Deuill standeth now at euery Inne doore in his Citie and Countrey of this world crying vnto vs to tary and lodge in this or that place tyll the stormes be ouerpast not that he woulde not haue vs wet to the skinne but that the tyme might ouer passe vs to oure vtter destruction Therfore beware of his entisementes Cast not your eyes on thinges that be present how this man doth and howe that man doth But cast your eyes on the gleue ye runne at or els ye will lose the game Ye know that he which runneth at the gleue doth not looke on other that stande by and go this waye or that way but altogether hee looketh on the gleue and on them that runne with him that those which be behynde ouertake hym not and that he may ouertake them which be before euen so shoulde we doe leaue of lookyng on those which will not runne the race to heauen blisse by the pathe of persecution with vs and cast our eyes on the ende of our race and on them that goe before vs that wee may ouertake them and on them which come after vs that we may prouoke them to come the faster after Hee that shooteth will not cast his eyes in his shootyng on them that stand by To looke to the marke or ryde by the wayes I trowe but rather at the marke he shooteth at for els he were lyke to wynne the wrong way Euen so my dearely beloued let your eyes be set on the marke ye shoote at euen Christ Iesus who for the ioye set before hym did ioyfully cary his Crosse contemning the shame and therefore he now sitteth on the right hande of the throne of God Let vs follow him for this did he that wee shoulde not be fayntharted For we may be most assured that if we suffer wyth him we shall vndoubtedly raygne with hym but if wee denye him surely he will deny vs for he that is ashamed of me saythe Christ and of my Gospell in this faythles generation I wyll be ashamed of him before the Angels of God in heaven Oh howe heauy a sentence is this to all suche as knowe the Masse to bee an abhominable idoll 〈…〉 to the 〈…〉 masse full of idolatrye blasphemye and sacriledge agaynst God and his Christ as vndoubtedly it is and yet for feare of men for losse of lyfe or goodes yea some for aduauÌ„tage and gayne will honest it with theyr presence dissemblyng both with God and manne as their owne harte and conscience doth accuse them Better it were that such had neuer known the truth then thus wittingly and for the feare or fauoure of man whose breath is in his nosethrels to dissemble it or rather as in deeede it is to deny it The end of such is like to be worse then their beginning Such had neede to take heed of the two terrible places to the Hebrewes in the sixt and tenth Chapiters 〈◊〉 2. 〈◊〉 2. â—eb 6 10. least by so doyng they fall therein Let them beware they playe not wily begile themselues as some doe I feare me whiche go to Masse and because they worship not nor kneele not nor knocke not as others doe but sit still in theyr pues therefore they think they rather do good to others then hurte But alas if these men woulde loooke into their owne consciences there shoulde they see they are very dissemblers and in seeking to deceiue others for by this meanes the Magistrates thinke them of theyr sorte they deceiue themselues They think at the eleuation tyme all mennes eyes are set vppon them to marke howe they doe They thinke others hearyng of suche men goyng to Masse do see oâ— enquire of theyr
you and euery of you that yee and euery of you Articles layd to Diricke Caruer anâ— Iohn Launder beinge within the sayde prisone of Newgate and within this sayde Citie of London are of my iurisdiction being Bishoppe of London and subiecte vnto the same offending and trespassing wythin the sayd prison and Citie in matters of Religion and concerning the Catholicke faith and beliefe of the Churche in any wise 2. Item I doe obiect against you and euery of you that yee and euery of you Sacramentes of pennance and of the aultar since your first comming and entring into the sayde prisone and during your abode there bothe there and in sundry places wythin this Citie and Dioces of London haue holden maintained and defended sundry opinions against the Sacraments of the Church especially against the Sacrament of penance and also against the Sacrament of the aultar 3. Item I do likewise obiect that yee and euery of you in all or in some of the said places Reall presence haue as concerning the sacrament of the aultar holden mainteined and defended to the best of your power that in the sayde sacrament of the aultar there is not the very substaunce of the body bloud of our Sauiour Christ but that in the Sacrament there is onely the substaunce of naturall breade and wine and no other substaunce The Latin Masse 4. Item I do likewise obiect that you and euery of you in all or some of the said places haue concerning the masse in Latine nowe vsed in the Church and the sacrifice of the same holden maintained and likewise defended that the sayde Masse is not good or profitable and that there is no sacrifice in the same Ceremonyes 5. Item I do likewise obiect that you and euery of you in all or some of the places haue concerning y e ceremonies of the Church holden mainteined and likewise defended that the saide ceremonies are not profitable to a Christian man but hurtfull and euill Auricular confession 6. Item I do likewise obiect that you and euery of you in all or some of the sayd places haue concerning the Sacrament of penaunce holden mainteined and likewise defended that auricular confession being a part thereof albeit it may be made vnto a good Priest for counsaile yet the absolution of the Priest laying hys hand vpon any mans heade and doing as is nowe vsually done in the Churche is nothing profitable to any mans saluation that therefore yee neither haue bene confessed to the Priest after the vsuall maner of the Churche nor yet receiued the sayd Sacrament of the aultar since the coronation of the Queenes Maiestie whyche is more then the space of one yeare and a halfe 7. Item I do likewise obiect The 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 of the Churâ—â— Englaâ—â— that ye and euery of you in all or some of the sayd places concerning the faith and religion now taught set foorth vsed and beleued in the church of this Realme of Englande and the doctrine of the same haue holden beleeued and sayde that it is not agreeable to Gods woord but cleane contrary to the same 8. Item I do likewise obiect that ye and euery of you in all or some of the sayd places haue beleued spoken sayd Defenâ—â— of Hooper Cardmaâ—â—â— Rogerâ— and to your power vpholden mainteined sayd that byshop Hooper Cardmaker Rogers and others of theyr opinion which of late wythin this realme were burnte for heresie were good Christian men in speaking and holding against the said Sacrament of the aultar and that they did preache nothing but the true doctrine of Christe shedding their bloud for the maintenance of the sayd doctrine 9. Item I do likewise obiect that yee and euerye of you haue earnestly laboured and traueiled to the best and vttermost of your power English serâ—uice to haue vp againe the English seruice and the Communion in all poyntes as was vsed in the latter daies of king Edward the sixt here in this realm of Englande 10. Item I do likewise obiecte that ye and euery of you haue thought and doe thinke firmely and stedfastly Defeâ—â—â— the 〈◊〉 vsed 〈◊〉 Edwâ—â—â— tyme and so haue and do beleeue that the faith religion doctrine setfoorth in the 〈…〉 of the foresaid king Edward was in all poyntes 〈…〉 godly containing in it the true Faith and Religio◠〈…〉 in euery part 11. Item 〈…〉 likewise obiect and say that ye and euery of you for your misbelief offence transgression and misbehauiour in the premisses and for that also that you wold not come to your seuerall parish churches and heare your diuine seruice there as other Christian people did and do but absent your selfe from the same and haue your priuate seruice in your houses especiallye in the house of Diricke Caruer were sent vp vnto the King and Queenes Maiesties priuie counsaile and by them or some of them sente afterward vnto the prison of Newgate aforesayd hauing thereby their authoritie remained as prisoners during all the time ye haue bene there 12. Item I do likewise obiect and say that I the sayd byshop of London If theâ—◠〈◊〉 to death 〈◊〉 not 〈◊〉 by 〈◊〉 why 〈◊〉 you 〈◊〉 it If it 〈◊〉 lawfull why doe 〈◊〉 so at 〈…〉 was commaunded by the authority of the sayd Counsaile to make processe against you and euery of you so that it was not my procuring or searching that yee should be commaunded or called before me in this matter of heresie but partly your owne demerites and partly the sayde commandement enforced me to cal and send for you to make aunsweare heerein and heereof to shewe you the sayde letters Their answeres to the Articles VPon Monday being the sayd tenth day of Iune these two persons with others were brought by the keper vnto the bishops Consistorie as it was before commaunded at one of the clocke in the after noone where the Byshop first beginning with the sayde Diricke Caruer caused his confession with the Articles and Aunsweres to be openly read vnto him which order he kept at the condemnation of euery prisonner asking hym whether he would stand to the same To whom the sayd Diricke answeared that he would for your doctrine quoth hee is poyson and Sorcerie If Christe were heere you would put him to a woorse death then he was put to before You say that you can make a God ye can make a pudding as well The 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 Boner Your Ceremonies in the Churche be beggery and poyson And farther I say that auricular confession is contrary to Gods word and very poyson wyth diuers other such woordes The Bishop seeing this constancie that neyther hys accustomed flatteries nor yet his cruell threatnings could once moue this good man to encline to their idolatry pronounced his vsuall and general blessing as well towards this Diricke as also vppon the sayde Iohn Launder although seuerally Who after the like manner of processe vsd with him remained in
all meanes do prouide how to stop the course of the word and because they see themselues too weake to bring theyr purpose about they flie to the ayde of Kings and Princes For the necessary remedie whereof if they shall thinke good to ioyne their consent there shall nothing be lacking in their behalfe what they are able eyther in counsayle or goodes to do in the matter declaring moreouer that this should haue bene seene too long before Which being so they praied and desired them to accept in good parte and diligently to expend this that they did write As for theyr owne parte they required nothing else more then peace both betweene them and all men Neither was it euer their intent to stirre any thing that should be preiudiciall against their league and bande agreed vpon betweene them But in this cause which concerneth their eternall saluation they can do no otherwise but as they haue done vnlesse their errour by learning might be proued and declared vnto them Wherefore as they did before so now they desire againe that if they thinke this their doctrine to be repugnant to the holy Scripture The Tygurines will be iudged by the scriptures they will gently shew and teach them their errour and that before the end of the moneth of May next ensuing for so long they will abide wayting for an aunswere as wel from them as from the Bishop of Constance and also from the Uniuersitie of Basill And thus much conteineth the aunswere of the Tigurines vnto the letter of their other colleagues of Heluetia In the meane time as this passed on and the moneth of May aboue mentioned was now come The B. of Constance aunswereth the Tygurines by wryting the Byshop of Constance with the aduise of his Councell about him did aunswere the Tigurines as he was requested of them to do in a certaine booke first written and afterward printed wherin he declareth what Images and pictures those were which the prophane Iewes and Gentiles in the old time did adore and what Images be these which the Churche hath from time to time receaued and admitted and what difference there is betweene those Idols of the Iewes Gentiles and these Images of the Christians A Popishe distinction betweene the Images of the Gentiles and Images of of the Christians Ex Ioan. Sled lib. 4. The conclusion hereof was this that where as the Scripture speaketh against Images and willeth them not to be suffered that is to be vnderstand of such Images and Idols as the Iewes and Idolatrous Gentiles did vse yet neuerthelesse such Images pictures which the Church hath receaued are to be vsed and reteined From this he entreth next into the discourse of the Masse where he proueth by diuers and sondry testimonies both of the Popes Canons and Councels the Masse to be a sacrifice and oblation This booke being thus compiled and wrytten hee sent it vnto the senate of Zuricke about the beginning of Iune willing and exhorting them by no manner of meanes The booke of the Byshop of Constance written to the Senate of Zuricke in defence of the Masse and Images The aunwere of the Tigurines to the Byshops booke to suffer their images or the masse to be abrogated and shortly after he published the said booke in Print sent it to the Priests and Canons of the Minster of Zuricke requiring them to folow the custome of the Church receaued and not to suffer themselues otherwise to be persuaded by any mā The Senate againe answering to the Bishops booke about the middle of August did write vnto him first declaring that they had read ouer ouer againe his booke with all diligence The which booke for somuch as the Byshop had diuulged abroad in printe they were therof right glad because the whole world thereby might iudge betwene thē the better After thys they explaned vnto hym the iudgement and doctrine of their ministers and preachers and finally by the authoritie testimonies of the Scripture conuinced his opinion and prooued the doctrine of his booke to be false But before they sent their answer to him about the 13. day of Iune they commanded al the images as wel within the Citie as throughe their dominion to be taken downe and burned quietly and without any tumult Images abolished within all the dominiō of Zuricke A few monethes after an order was taken in the sayde Citie of Zuricke betweene the Canons of the churche and citie for disposing the landes and possessions of the Colledge It would grow to a long discourse to comprehend all things by order of circumstance Certaine Pages or townes of the Suitzers complayne against the Tigurines that happened amōg the Heluetians vpō this new alteration of religion but briefly to contract and to runne ouer the chief specialties of the matter heere is first to be noted that of the Heluetians which were confederate together in 13. Pages chiefly sixe there were which most disdained and maligned thys religion of the Tigurines to witte Lucernates Urani Suitenses Unterualdij Tugiani Friburgenses These in no case could be recōciled False matter of accusation laide against the Tigurines by the other Pages The rest shewed thēselues more fauourable But the other which were their ennemies conceiued great grudge raised many sclaunderous reportes and false rumours against them and laide diuers thinges to their charge as first for refusing to ioyn theyr consent to the publique league of the other Pages with Frances the french king then for dissenting from them in religion and thirdly for refusing to stand to the Popish decree made the yeare before at Ratisborne by Ferdinandus and other bishops aboue mentioned pag. 838. They layd moreouer to their accusation for aiding the Uualsutenses theyr neyghbors against Ferdinandus their Prince which was false Also for ioyning league secretly with other Cities wythout their knowledge which was likewise false Item that they should intende some secrete conspiracie against them and inuade them with warre which was as vntrue as the rest What slaūnderous tongues can doe Many other quarels besides they pretended againste the Tigurines which were all false and cauilling sclaunders as that they should teach and preache that Mary the mother of Christ had mo sonnes that Iames the younger the Apostle did die for vs and not Christe hymselfe Against these and such other vntruthes being meere matters of cauillation and sclaunder The Tigurines aunswer againe to the complaint of the Pages the Tigurines did fully and amply purge and acquite themselues by wryting and did expostulate vehemently with them not onely for these false and wrongfull suspitions of theyr partes vndeserued but also for other manifolde iniuries receiued and borne at theyr handes among which other wrongs and iniuries thys was one that the Burghmaster of Turegia had apprehended a certaine preacher Iohn Oxlinus a preacher apprehended for religion named Ioannes Oxlinus and led him home as prisoner vnto his house
beyng taken wythin the precinct and limites of the Citie of Zuricke coÌ„trary to lawe and order Finally after much discoursing wherein they in a long letter declared their diligence and fidelitie at all times in keeping their league and maintaining the libertie and dignitie of their country as touching the cause of religion if that were all the matter of their offence they offered themselues willing to heare and more glad to amende if anye could prooue any errour in them by the Scripture Otherwise if none so could or would proue wherin they did erre by the worde of God they coulde not they sayd alter any thing in the state of that Religion wherein their consciences were already staide by the woorde of God and setled what soeuer pearill or daunger should happen to them for the same Although here was no cause why these Pages or Cantons which were so confederate together in the league of peace What loue and hatred doth among men should disagree among themselues yet heerein may we see the course and trade of the worlde that when difference of religioÌ„ beginneth a litle to breake the knot of amitie by and by how friends be turned to foes what suspitions do rise what quarels and grudge do folow howe nothing there liketh men but euery thing is taken to y e worst part smal â—otes are made mountaines vertues made vices and one vice made a thousand and all for lacke only of a litle good wil betwixt party party For as loue charity commonly among men either couereth or seeth not the faultes of their frendes so hatred and disdaine taking all things to blame can finde nothyng in their foes that they can like And thus did it happen betweene these good men of Zuricke and these other Suitzers aboue named These letters of the Tigurines to the other Cantons were written vpon the occasion of theyr apprehending the preacher Ioan. Oxlinus aboue named the 4. day of Ianuary Anno 1525. and in the moneth of Aprill next following The Masse with all his ceremoâ—eâ— put downe in Zuricke the maiestrates and Senate of the sayd Citie of Zuricke commanded the Masse with all his ceremonies and appurtenaunce therto belonging to be put downe as wel wythin the City as without throughout all their iurisdiction and in steade thereof was placed the Lordes Supper the reading of the Prophets prayer and preaching A law in Zurick made against adulterers Also a lawe was made against whoredome and adulterie and iudges ordained to heare the causes of matrimony Anno. 1525. Ex Comment Sled lib. 4. All this while the Gospel was not as yet receiued in any other Page of Heluetia but only in Zuricke Disputation at BadeÌ„ in Heluetia Wherfore y e other 12. pages or townes appoynted among themselues concerning a meting or a disputation to be had at Baden Where were present amoÌ„g other diuines Ioannes Faber Eckius Murnerus aboue mentioned The bishops also of Lucerna Basill Curiake Lausanna sent thither theyr legates The conclusions there propounded were these That the true body and bloud of Christ Theames or propositions propounded in the disputation at Baden is in the Sacrament That the masse is a sacrifice for the quicke and deade That the blessed virgine and other saintes are to be inuocated as mediatours and intercessours That Images ought not to be abolished That there is a purgatorie Which conclusions or assertions Eckius tooke vppon him stoutly to defend Eckius defeÌ„ded Against him reasoned Oecolampadius who was then chiefe preacher at Basill wyth certaine other moe Zuinglius at that time was not there present but by wrytinge confuted the doctrine of Eckius Oecolampadius against Eckius· declaring withall the causes of hys absence whych were for that he durst not for feare of his lyfe committe himselfe to the handes of the Lucernates Urani Suitij Unterualdij and Tugiani his enemies and that hee refused not to dispute but the place onely of the disputation Zuinglius excuseth himself for not comming to the disputation excusing moreouer y t he was not permitted of the Senate to come neuertheles if they would assigne the place of disputation either at Zuricke or at Berna or at Sangallum thether he woulde not refuse to come Briefly the conclusion of the disputation was this that all should remaine in that Religion which hetherto they had kept and should follow the authoritie of the Councell neither should admit any other newe doctrine within theyr dominions c Thys was in the moneth of Iune the sayd yeare aboue mentioned As the time proceded and dissention about religion encreased it folowed the next yere after The disputation at Berne An. 1527. in the moÌ„th of December that the Senate people of Berne whose power amongst al the Suitzers chieflye excelleth considering how neither they could haue the Actes of the disputation of Baden communicated vnto them and that the variance about religion still more more encreased Disputation at Berne in Heluetia assigned an other disputation within their owne Citie and sending forth wrytings therof called vnto the same al the bishops bordering nere about them as the Bishops of Constance Basill Sedune Lausanna warning them bothe to come themselues and to bring their diuines wyth them or else to lose all such possessions which they had lying within the boundes of theyr precinct After this they appoynted oute certeine Ecclesiasticall persons of their iurisdiction to dispute prescribing and determining the whole disputation to be decided only by the authority of the old and new TestameÌ„t Godly lawes of a disputation To all that would come thether they grauÌ„ted safeconduict Also they appoynted that all things there should be done modestly without iniurie and brauling woordes and that euery one shoulde haue leaue to speake his minde freely and with such deliberation that euery mans saying might be receiued by the notarye penned with this prouiso made before that what soeuer there shoulde be agreed vpon the same should be ratified and obserued through al their dominions and to the intent meÌ„ might come thether better prepared before they propounded in publike wryting 10. conclusions in the sayde disputation to be defended of their ministers by the scriptures which ministers wer Franciscus Colbus and Bertholdus Hallerus The theames or conclusions were these 1. That the true Church whereof Christ is the head riseth out of gods word Theames to be disputed and persisteth in the same and heareth the voice of no other 2. That the same Church maketh no lawes without the worde of God 3. That traditions ordeined in the name of the Church doe not binde but so farre foorth as they be consonante to Gods worde 4. That Christ only hath made satisfactioÌ„ for the sinnes of the world and therefore if any man say that there is any other way of saluation or meane to putte away sinne the same denieth Christ. 5. That the body bloude of Christe
foorth his fruite so did it appeare by thys man Antichristians are those which are against Christ. For he daily seeing the glorye of God to be so blasphemed idolatrous religion so embraced and maintained that most false vsurped power of the Bishop of Rome so extolled was so greeued in conscience and troubled in his spirite that he could not be quiet till he did vtter his minde therein Wherefore dealing priuately with certaine of his frendes he did plainely open and disclose howe blasphemously and abhominably God was dishonoured his worde contemned and hys people whom he so dearely bought were by blinde guides caried headlong to euerlasting damnation and therefore hee coulde no longer endure but muste needes and would vtter theyr abhominations and for his owne parte for the testimonie of his conscience and for the defence of Gods true religion The godly zeale of Tho. Benet would yeelde hymself moste patiently as neare as God woulde geue him grace to die and to shedde hys bloude therein alleaging that his death shoulde be more profitable to the Churche of God and for the edifying of his people then his life shuld be To whose perswasions when hys friendes had yeelded they promysed to pray to God for hym that hee myght be strong in the cause and continue a faithfull souldiour to the ende Which done he gaue order for the bestowing of such bookes as he had and very shortlye after in the moneth of October hee wrote his minde in certaine scrolles of Paper whyche in secreate maner he set vp vpon the doores of the Cathedrall churche of the Citie in which was wrytten The Pope is Antichrist and we ought to worshippe God onely The Pope is Antichrist and no Saintes These bils being found there was no smal adde and no litle search made for the inquiry of the heretike that should set vp these bils Benet setteth vp billes against the Pope and the Maior his officers were not so busie to make searches to find this heretike but the bishop and all his doctors were as hote as coales enkindled as though they had bene stong w t a sort of waspes Wherefore to kepe y e people in their former blindnes order was taken that the doctors should in hast vp to the pulpit euery day and confute this heresie Neuerthelesse this Thom. Benet keping his own doings in secret went the sonday folowing to the cathedral church to the Sermon and by chaunce sate downe by 2. men which were the busiest in al the city in seking searching for this heretike and they beholding this Benet sayd the one to the other Surely thys fellowe by all likelyhoode is the heretike that hath set vp the billes and it is good to examine him Benet almost tak◠in the church Neuertheles whē they had wel behelde him and saw the quiet and sober behauiour of the man his attentiuenes to the preacher his godlinesse in the Church being alwayes occupied in hys Booke which was a Testament in the Latine tongue were astonied and had no power to speake vnto him The storyes a little vary touching the taking of Benet but departed left hym reading in his booke As touching this poynte of Benets behauior in the Church I finde the reportes of some other a litle to vary and yet not much contrary one to the other For in receiuing the letters and wrytings of a certain minister whych at the same time was present at the doynge hereof in Exeter thus I finde moreouer added concerning the behauiour of this Thomas Benet in the Church At that time sayth he as I remember doct Moreman Crispin Caseley wyth suche other bare the swinge there Beside these were there also preachers there Doctors friers in Exeter one Doctour Bascauild an vnlerned doctor God knoweth and one D. Dauid as wel learned as he both Gray friers and doctor I know not who a Blacke frier not much inferiour vnto them Gregory Bassed Fryer of Exeter Moreouer there was one Bacheler of Diuinitie a Gray frier named Gregory Bassed in deede learned more then they all but as blinde and superstitious as he whych was most Whych Gregorie not long before was reuolted from the way of righteousnes to the way of Beliall for in Bristowe sayth the author he lay in prison long almost famished for hauing a booke of M. Luther called his questions which he a long time priuily had studied for teaching of youth a certaine Cathechisme To be shorte the braines of the Canons and Priests the officers and commons of that Citie were very earnestly busied howe or by what meanes suche an enormious heretique whyche had pricked vp those billes might be espied and knowen but it was long first At last the Priestes founde out a toye to curse him what soeuer he were with booke bel and candle which curse at that day seemed most fearefull and terrible The maner of the curse was after this sort One of the Priestes apparelled all in white ascended vp into the pulpit The priestes curse they cannot tell whom The other rabblement wyth certaine of the two orders of Friers and certaine superstitious Monks of S. Nicholas house standing round about and the Crosse as the custome was being holdē vp with holy candles of waxe fixed to the same he began his sermon w t this Theame of Iosue Est blasphemia in Castris There is blasphemie in the armie and so made a long protestation but not so long as tedious and superstitious and so concluded that that foule and abominable heretike which had put vp such blasphemous billes was for that his blasphemie damnably accursed and besought God our Lady S. Peter Patrone of that church with all the holy companie of martyrs confessors and virgines that it might be knowen what hereticke had put vp such blasphemous billes that Gods people might auoide the vengeance The maner of the cursing of the sayd Benet was maruelous to beholde for as muche as at that time there was fewe or none The manner of the popes blacke curse with booke bell and candle vnlesse a Sherman or two whose houses I well remember were searched for billes at that time and for bookes that knew any thing of Gods matters or how God doeth blesse theyr curses in such cases Then sayde the Prelate by the authoritie of God the father almighty and of the blessed virgin Mary of S. Peter and Paule and of the holy Saints we excommunicate we vtterly curse and banne commit and deliuer to the deuill of hell him or her what soeuer he or shee be that haue in spite of God and of S. Peter whose church this is in spite of all holy saintes and in spite of our most holy father the Pope Gods vicare heere in earth Here is colde charitye and in spite of the reuerend father in God Iohn our Diocesane and the worshipfull Canons Maisters and Priestes and Clarkes which serue God daily in this Cathedrall Church
fixed vppe with waxe such cursed and hereticall Billes full of blasphemie vppon the doores of thys and other holy Churches wythin this Citie Excommunicate plainely be hee or shee plenally or they and deliuered ouer to the deuill as perpetuall malefactors and schismatiques Accursed might they be and geuen body soule to the deuill Cursed be they he or shee in Cities and townes in fieldes in wayes in pathes in houses out of houses and in all other places standing lying or risinge walking Blesse and curse not saith the Lorde Curse blesse not saith the Pope running waking sleeping eating drinking and what so euer thing they doe besides Wee separate them him or her from the thresholde and from all the good praiers of the church from the participation of the holy masse from all Sacraments Chappels and aultars from holye bread and holy water from al y e merites of Gods priests and religious men and from all their Cloisters from all their pardones priuileges grauntes and unmunityes whych all the holy fathers Popes of Rome haue graunted to them and we geue them ouer vtterly to the power of the feend and let vs quench their soules if they be dead thys night in the paines of hell fire as this candle is nowe quenched Marke the apishe pageantes of these Popelinges and put out and wyth that he put out one of the candles and lette vs praye to God if they be aliue that their eyes may be put out as this candle light is so he put out the other candle and lette vs pray to God and to oure Lady and to S. Peter and Paule and all holye Saintes that all the senses of their bodies maye faile them and that they may haue no feeling as nowe the light of this candle is gone and so he putte out the thirde candle except they hee or shee come openly nowe and confesse their blasphemie and by repentaunce as muche as in them shall lye make satisfaction to God our Ladye S. Peter the worshipfull companie of thys Cathedrall Church and as thys holy Crosse staffe nowe falleth downe so myghte they except they repent and shewe them selues and one firste taking away the Crosse the staffe fell downe But Lorde what a shoute and noyse was there what terrible feare what holding vp of handes to heauen that cursse was so terrible Now thys fond foolish phantasie and mockerie beyng done and played which was to a Christian heart a thynge ridiculous Benet could no longer forbear Tho. Benet laugheth at their cursinge but fel to great laughter but within him selfe and for a great space coulde not cease by the which thing the poore manne was espyed For those that were next to him wondryng at that greate curse and beleeuing that it coulde not but light on one or other asked good Benet for what cause he should so laugh My frendes sayd he who can forbeare seeing suche merie conceites and enterludes plaid of the priestes Straitway a noyse was made Heere is the heretike heere is the heretike holde him fast holde him fast With that there was a greate confusion of voyces and much clapping of handes and yet they were vncertain whether he were the heretike or no. Some say Tho. Benet setteth vp newe billes that vppon the same he was taken and apprehended Other report that his ennemies being vncertaine of him departed and so he wēt home to his house Where hee being not able to digest the lies there preached renewed his former billes and caused his boy early in the morning following to set the sayd billes vpon the gates of the Churchyarde As the boy was setting one of the sayde billes vpon a gate called the little stile it chaunced that one W.S. going to the Cathedral church to heare a Masse called Bartons Masse whych was then daily sayd about 5. of the clocke in the morning founde the boye at the gate and asking him whose boy he was Tho. Benet taken by meanes of his boy setting vp his Billes did charge him to be the heretike which had set vp the billes vpon the gates wherefore pulling downe the bill he broughte the same together with the boy before the Maior of the citie and thereuppon Benet being knowen and taken was violently committed to warde On the morow began both the Canons and heades of the citie ioyned w t them to fal to examination Tho. Benet willingly confesseth With whom for y e day he had not much communication but confessed said to them it was euen I that put vp those bils The cause why Benet set vp his billes and if it were to doe I would yet doe it againe for in them haue I written nothing but that is very truth Couldste not thou said they as well haue declared thy mind by mouth as by putting vp billes of blasphemie No sayd he I put vp the billes that many should read and heare what abominable blasphemers ye are and that they might the better knowe your Antichrist the Pope to be the Bore out of the woode which destroyeth throweth downe the hedges of Gods church for if I had ben heard to speake but one woorde I should haue bene clapped fast in prisone and the matter of God hidden But now I trust more of your blasphemous doings will thereby be opened and come to light for God wil so haue it and no longer will suffer you The next day after he was sent vnto the bish who first cōmitted him vnto prison called the bishops prison Tho. Benet sent to the Byshops prison where he was kept in stocks strong yron with as much fauour as a dog shuld find Then the B. associating vnto him one D. Brewer his chancelor other of his leude cleargy and friers began to examine him burden him Articles layd against Benet that cōtrary to the catholike faith he denied praying to the saints and also denied y e supremacie of the Pope Whereunto he answered in such sober maner so learnedly proued defended hys assertions that he did not only confound and put to silence his aduersaries but also brought thē in great admiratiō of him the most part hauing pitie compassion on him The friers tooke great paines with him to perswade hym from his erronious opiniōs to recant acknowledge his fault touching the billes but they did but dig after day for God had appoynted him to bee a blessed witnesse of hys holye name and to be at defiance withall their fals perswasions To declare here with what cruelty the officers searched his house for bils and bookes how cruelly and shamefully they handled his wife charging her w t diuers enormities it were too long to write But she like a good woman tooke all thyngs patiently that they did to her like as in other things she was contented to beare the crosse with hym as to fare hardly with him at home and to liue wyth course meate and drinke that they myght be the
vsed in the church of England The vse and Sacrifice of the Latin Masse denyed he beleueth that there is no sacrifice in the sayde Masse and that there is in it no saluation for a christian man except it should be said in the mother toung that he might vnderstand it and coÌ„cerning the ceremonies of the Church he sayth and beleeueth that they be not profitable to a Christian man Item Auricular confession and absolution of the Priest reiected being examined concerning auriculare confession he answeareth that he hath and doth beleeue that it is necessary to goe to a good Priest for good counsaile but the absolution of the Priest laying his hand vppon any mans head as is nowe vsed is nothing profitable to a Christian mans saluation And further he sayth that he hath not ben confessed nor receiued the sacrament of the aulter since the coronation of the Queene that now is Item concerning the faith religion now taught setfoorth beleeued in the church of England he answeareth and beleueth that the faith and doctrine nowe taught setfoorth and vsed in the sayd Church of Englande is not agreable to Gods word And furthermore he sayth The fayth of the Church of England in Quene Maryes tyme reproued that bishop Hooper Cardmaker Rogers other of their opinion which were of late burned were good christian men did preach the true doctrine of Christ as he beleeueth and sayth that they did shed theyr bloude in the same doctrine which was by the power of God as he sayth beleeueth And further being examined saith y t since the Quenes coronation he hath had the Bible and Psalter in English red in his house at Brighthamsted diuers times and likewise since hys comming into Newgate but the Keeper hearing thereof did take them awaye and sayeth also that about a twelue moneth now past he had the English procession sayd in his house with other English praiers Iueson Launder and Veisâ—e imprisoned for hearing the Gospell And further sayeth that Thomas Iueson Iohn Launder and William Ueisey being prisoners with hym in Newgate were taken with this examinat in his house at BrighthaÌ„sted as they were hearing of the gospel then read in English a litle before Alhollowne day last past and brought to the Court and being examined thereuppon by the Counsaile were committed by them to prison in Newgate The confession of Iohn Launder before Boner bishop of London IOhn Launder husbandman of the Parish of Godstone in the Countie of Surrey of the age of xxv yeres Iohn Launder his confession borne at Godstone aforesayde being examined doth confesse and say that about two dayes next before Allhollonâ—ide nowe last past this Examinate and one Diricke Caruer Thomas Iueson William Ueisie with diuers other persons to the number of twelue being all together in their prayers and saying the seruice in English set foorth in the time of King Edwarde the sixte in the house of the sayde Diricke situate at Brighthamsted in Sussex were apprehended by one maister Edwarde Gage and by him sent vppe hether to London to the Kinge and Queenes Counsaile and by them vpon his examination committed to Newgate where he with his said other felowes hath euer since remained in prison And further being examined he doeth confesse and say that the occasion of his comming to the sayde Brighthamsted The cause of the apprehensioÌ„ of Iohn Launder was vpon certaine busines there to be sped for his father and so being there and hearing that the saide Diricke was a man that did much fauour the Gospel this Examinate did resorte to his house and companye whome before that time hee did neuer see or know and by reason of that hys resorte hee was apprehended as before And further doth confesse and beleeue that there is heere in earth one whole and vniuersall Catholicke Churche whereof the members he dispersed through the world and doth beleue also that the same Church doeth set foorth and teache onely two Sacraments videlicet the Sacrament of Baptisme Two Sacramentes onely and the Sacrament of the Supper of our Lord. And who soeuer doth teach or vse any more Sacraments or yet any ceremonies he doth not beleeue that they be of the Catholicke Churche but doth abhorre them from the bottome of his heart And doth further say and beleue that all the seruice Ceremonyes abhorred sacrifices and ceremonies now vsed in thys Realme of England yea in all other partes of the world whych ben vsed after the same maner be erroneous and naught contrary to Christes institution and the determination of Christes Catholicke church whereof he beleeueth that he him selfe is a member Also hee doeth confesse and beleeue that in the Sacrament The reall presence of Christs body vnder the formes of bread and wine denyed nowe called the sacrament of the aultar there is not really and truly contained vnder the formes of bread and wine the very naturall body and bloude of Christe in substaunce but his beliefe and faith therein is as followeth Videlicet that when he doth receiue the material bread and wine he doeth receiue the same in a remembrance of Christes death and passion and so receiuing it he doth eate and drinke Christes body and bloude by faith and none other wayes as he beleeueth And moreouer he doth confesse say and beleue that the Masse now vsed in the Realme of Englande The Masse abhominable or els where in all Christendome is nought and abhominable and directly against Gods worde and his Catholicke Churche and that there is nothing sayd or vsed in it good or profitable For he saith that albeit the gloria in excelsis the Creede Sanctus Pater noster Agnus and other partes of the Masse bene of themselues good and profitable yet the same being vsed amongest other things that be naught and superfluous in the Masse the same good things do become nought also as he beleeueth Auricular confession not necessary Also he doth beleeue and confesse that Auriculare confession is not necessary to be made to any Priest or to anye other creature but euery persone oughte to acknowledge confesse hys sinnes onely to God and also that no person hath any authority to absolue any man froÌ„ his sinnes and also beleeueth that the right and true way according to the Scripture after a man hathe fallen from grace to sinne to arise to Christe againe is to be sorie for his offences to doe the same or the like no more and not to make any auricular confession of them to the priest either to take absolution for them at the Priests handes All whyche hys sayde opinions hee hathe beleeued by the space of these seuen or eight yeares past and in that time hath diuers and many times openly argued and defendeth the same as hee sayeth c. Articles obiected by Boner Bishop of London against Diricke Caruer and Iohn Launder 1. FIrste I doe obiect against