taught heresie And hee desired all them present to beare him witnesse that he tooke the Traditions and Religion of the Pope to bée most erronious false and against the doctrine of holy Scriptures which hee had often proued by preaching and writing and the Pope to bee very Antichrist so often preached by the Apostles and Prophets in whom most euidently doth concurre all the signes and tokens whereby hee was painted vnto the world to bee knowne by for hee aduanceth himselfe aboue all Emperours and Kings of the world whom he affirmeth to hold of him and to be at his commandement and the stories make mention of his intollerable pride and tyranny vsed to them as no King would haue done to his subiects nor a good maister to his seruants setting his féet vpon Emperours necks and making others to hold his stirrops and remoued others from their Empires hath not onely occupied the highest places in the world aboue Kings but hath presumed to fit in the seat of Almighty God which is the conscience of man to kéepe the possession thereof he hath promised forgiuenesse of sins he hath brought in Gods of his own framing and inuented a new religion full of lucre quite contrary to the Scriptures only for maintaining of his kingdome displacing Christ from his glory holding his people in miserable seruitude of blindnesse to the losse of a number of soules which God at the latter day shall exact at his hands boasting in his Canons decrées that he can dispense against Peter Paul the old Testament New that in his fulnesse of power he can do as much as God If any man can be aduanced aboue him let him be iudged Antichrist This enemy of God and our redemption is so euidently painted out in the Scriptuers with such manifest tokens which all sée clearely appeare in him that except a man will shut his eyes and heart against the light hee cannot but know him therefore I will neuer giue my consent to the receiuing of him into the Church of England and my Lord sand you that be here examine your own consciences you are sworne against him you are learned and can iudge the truth I pray God you be not wilfully blind I haue discharged my conscience to the world I will write my mind to her grace which letter you may sée in the book at large Storie and Martine diuers times interrupted him saying he spake blasphemy and would faine haue the Bishop put him to silence who notwithstanding suffered him to end his spéech Then they charged him that he was sworne vnto the Pope when he was made Archbishop but he denied it and said It appeareth that he did not by the record of the countrey which one of them confessed Many maruelled that in so perilous a time he had so sincerely proceeded choosing rather to venture the losse of his life and all his glorious pompe then to do any thing that might spill his conscience Then they obiected that he was married which he confessed Doctor Martine said his children were bond-men to the Sea of Canterbury At which he smiled saying If a benificed Priest had a Concubine and had bastards by her they are not bond-men to the benifice I trust you wil make my childrens cause no worse Then D. Martine demanded of him who was the supreme head of the Church he said Christ Martine said you made K. Henry supreme head of the Church He said of the people of England Ecclesiasticall Temporal and not of the Church for Christ is the onely head of the Church and of the Faith and Religion of the same The Articles of religion touching the Sacrament denying transubstantiation the Sacrifice of the Masse and the reall presence he affirmed as he taught in his Booke Then they cited him to appeare 80 daies after at Rome and then sent him to prison where thou maist sée their visored face of Iustice as though the Court of Rome would condemne no man before hee answered for himselfe but the same time the Pope sent letters executory vnto the King and Queene to disgrade and depriue him which was done before twenty dayes were done And though he were kept in prison at the end of the 80 dayes hee was decreed Contumax and thereupon condemned Upon S. Valentines day next after the Archbishop was disgraded and condemned by Bonner Thurlby Bishop of Ely who sometimes was Cranmers Chaplaine and preferred by him at which time Bonner which a long time had borne great malice towards him and reioyced greatly see this day wherein he might triumph ouer him at his pleasure made an Oration to the people in this sort This is the man who hath euer despised the Popes holinesse and now is to be iudged by him this is the man that hath pulled downe so many Churches and now is come to be iudged in a Church this is the man that contemned y â— blessed Sacrament of the Altar and now is come to be condemned before the said Sacrament hanging ouer the Altar this is the man that like Lucifer sate in the place of Christ vpon an Altar to iudge others and now is come before the Altar to bee iudged himselfe Thus he continued halfe an houre heaping vp a number of lies together beginning euery one with This is the man so lothsomly that he made euery man weary When they had disgraded him they stript him of his gowne put vpon him a poore yeoman Bedles gowne thrid-bare and as ill-fauouredly made as could be and a Townsmans cap vpon his head and so deliuered him to the secular power in this filthie gowne he was carried vnto prison The Queene Bishops hauing kept the Archbishop now almost three yeares in prison seeing by no means they could preuaile with him all this while to turn him from his religion they suborned certaine men which should by intreaty and faire promises or any other means allure him to recantation so the wily Papists flocked about him labouring to draw him from his former sentence to recantation especially Henry Sidall and Frier Iohn a Spaniard they shewed him how acceptable it would be to the Kings Queene and how gainfull it would be both bodily spiritually they added that the Councell Noble-men bare him good wil promising him both his life ancient dignity saying the matter was but small the setting of his hand to a few words but if hee refused there was no hope of pardon for the Queene was purposed that shee would haue Cranmer a Catholique or else no Cranmer at all By these and such like prouocations they at last wâ—nne him to subscribe It may bee supposed that it was for hope of life and better dayes to come But it appeareth by a Letter of his to a Lawyer that the most cause why hee desired his life to bee delayed was that hee might make an end of a Booke against Marcus Antonius a Papist which hee had begun but it is manifest
it is easie to know the tree by the fruit not by the blossomes often repeating in his Oration that this admonition was giuen of singular good will and great clemâ—ncie in the shutting vp of his Oration he added menasings that if he would abide in his purposed intent the Emperour would exterminate him his Empire Luther answered to this effect That the Councell of Constance had erred in condemning this Article of Iohn Hus That the Church of Christ is the communion of the predestinat and that we ought rather to obey God then man There is an offence of faith and an offence of charitie the slander of charity consisteth in manners and life the offence of faith and doctrine consisteth in the word of God and they commit this offence which make not Christ the corner stone And if Christs sheepe were fed with the pure pasture of the Gospell and the faith of Christ sincerely preached and if there were good Eclesiasticall Magistrates who duely executed their office wee should not néede to charge the Church with mens traditions And that hee knew and taught that wee ought to obay the higher powers how peruâ—rsly soeuer they liued so that they inforce vs not to deny the word of God Then they admonished him to submit himselfe to the Emperour and the Empires Iudgment hee answered hee was well content so that this were done with authority of the word of God and that he would not giue place except they taught sound Doctrine by the word of God and that St. Augustine writeth hee had learned to giue honor onely to the Canonicall bookes of the Scripture and touching other Doctors though they excell in holinâ—sse and learning hee would not credit them vnlesse they pronouced truth and St. Paule saith proue all things follow that which is good and againe if an Angell teach otherwise let him bee accursed finally hee meekely besought them not to vrge his conscience captiued in the bands of the word of God to deny that excellent word After the Arch-bishop sent for Luther to his Chamber and tould him for the most part that at all times holy Scriptures haue ingendred errors and went about to ouerthrow this proposition that the Catholike Church is the communion of Saints presuming of cockle to make wheate and of bodily excrements to compact members Martin Luther and one Ierome Schuâ—ffe his companion reproued their follies Hee was oftentimes assayled to reforme the censure of his bookes vnto the Emperour and Empire or to the Generall Councell which he was content to doe so they would iudge them according to the word of God otherwise not aleaging the words of the Prophet trust you not in Princes nor in the children of men wherein is no health also cursed be hee that trusteth in men and when newes came hee should returne home hee sayd euen as it hath pleased God so it is come to passe the name of the Lord be blessed and sayd hee thanked the Emperour and Princes that they had giuen him gracious audience and graunted him safe conduct to come and returne and said hee desired in his heart they were reformed according to the sacred word of God and sayd hee was content to suffer any thing in himselfe for the Emperour but only the word of God he would constantly confesse vnto the latter end About a yeare after this Luther dyed when hee had liued almost thrée score and thrée yeares and had béene Doctor thrée and thirty yeares hee sayd at his death O heauenly eternall and mercifull Father thou hast manifested in mee thy deare Sonne Christ I haue taught and knowne him I loue him as my life health and redemption whom the wicked persecuted maligned and iniured drawe my soule to thée and saâ—d thrise I commend my spirit into thy hands thou hast redéemed me God so loued the world that hee gaue his onely Sonne that all that beleeue in him should haue eternall life and so he dyed whose death was much lamented In the yeare 1516. the aforesaid French King receaued from Pope Leo a Iubile and pardons to be sould and so in England vnder the pretence of warre against the Turke they perswaded the people that whosoeuer would giue tenne shillings should deliuer his soule from the paine of Purgatory but if it lacked any thing of tenne shillings it would profit them nothing at that time Martin Luther was in Germany who vehemently inueyed against these indulgences agaâ—nst whom Iohn Eckius put forth himselfe they disputed before the people at last eyther of their arguments were sent to Paris to bee iudged by the Sorbonists the iudgment was long protracted In the meane time Pope Leo condemned Luther for Heresie and excommunicated him he appealed to the next Councell Pope Leo commanded Luthers bookes to bee burned openly Luther also burned the Popes decrees and Decretalls in the Uniuersity of Wittenberge In the yeere 1517. the Pope hauing creaâ—ed one and thirty Cardinalls thunder and lightening so strake the Church where the Cardinalls were created that it stroke the little child Iesus out of the lappe of his mother and the keyes out of St. Peters hands being Images in the Church of Rome In the yeare 1519. newes was brought to Pope Leo at supper that the Frenchmen were driuen out of Italy hee reioycing said God hath giuen me thrée things I returned from banishment with glory to Florence I haue deserued to bee called Apostolike and thereby I haue driuen the Frenchmen out of Italy as soone as he had spoken hee was stricken with a suddaine feuer and dyed shortly after What Godly man hath there euer beene for this fiue hundred yeares either vertuously disposed or excellently learned which hath not disproued the misordered and corrupt examples of the Sea and Bishop of Rome from time to time vntill the comming of Luther yet none euer could preuaile before the comming of this man the cause to bee supposed is this other men spake but against the pompe pride whoredome and auarice of the Pope Luther went further with him charged him with his Doctrine not picking at the rine but plucking vp the roote charging him with plaine Heresie as resisting against the blood of Christ for whereas the Gospell leadeth vs to bee iustified onely by the worthinesse of Christ and his bloud the Pope teacheth vs to séeke our saluation by mans merits and deseruings by workes whereupon rose all the Religious sects some professing one thing some another euery man seeking his owne righteousnes but Luther opened the eyes of many which before were drowned in darkenesse to behold that glorious benefit of the great liberty frée iustification set vp in Christ Iesus but the more glorious this benefit appeared to the world the greater persecution followed the same and where the Elect tooke most comfort of saluation the aduersaries tooke most vexation according as Christ sayd I came not to send peace but a sword therefore so great persecutions in all the world followed after Luther but in no
communed with him and was afraid to goe home the King deliuered him his Signet for a Token to deliâ—er to the Cardinall that he should not trouble him The Cardinall answered Though this discharged him yet he had no discharge for his Wife and sent for her and had troubled her if herâ—Daughter had not béene sicke of the plague of which sicknesse the said Fish within halfe a yeare after dyed and she marryed one Baynham which after was martyred as followeth in this Story To preuent the spreading abroad of this Libell there was a prohibition sent out â—y the Bishop of London for calling in this the New Testament and diuers other Books translated into English the names whereof because they are many I omit and leaue you to the booke at large King Henry about the twentith yeare of his raigne made an Oration vnto his Commons that though it had pleased God to send him a faire Daughter of a Noble woman and of him begotten to our great comfort and ioy yet it hath beene told vs by diuers great Clarks that neither she is Our lawfull Daughter nor her Mother Our lawfull wife but that we liue together abhominably in open adultery and when our Ambassadors were last in Fraunce motion was made that the Duke of Orleans should marry our said Daughter One of the chiefe Councellors said it were well done to know whether she be his lawfull Daughter or no because hee begat her on his brothers Wife which is directly against Gods Law Thinke you my Lords that these words touch not my body and soule and that it doth not daily and hourely trouble my Conscience I doubt not but euery one of you would seek remedy when the perill of your soule and losse of your inheritance is laid vnto you For this cause I haue asked Councell of the greatest Clarkes in Christeâ—dome and for this cause I haue sent for this Legate as a man indifferent to know the truth and settle my conscience and if the Queene be adiudged by the Lawe to bee my lawfull Wife it would be the most acceptable thing in my life both to cleere my conscience and for the good qualities which I know to bee in her besides her Noble parentage as almost this twenty yéeres I haue tried so that if I went to mary againe the mariage lawfull I would choose her before all women if the marriage proue vnlawfull I shall sorrow the departing from so good a Lady and louing a companion but much more lament that I haue so long liued in Adultery and haue no true heyre of my body to inherit this Realme Therefore I require you to make our minde knowne to our Subiects that they may pray for vs. The Quéene hearing thereof answered it was a great maruell that they would make question of this now after they had béene married twenty yeares and no question in the meane time and that all the learned at the time of the marriage did conclude it was lawfull and that both their fathers being so wise did not foresee it if there had béene any such doubt and the King my father sent to Rome and with great costs obtained a dispensation that I beeing one brothers wife procarâ—ally knowne might without scruple of conscience marry with the other brother lawfully which licence vnder lead I haue yet to shewe but I may thanke you my Lord Cardinall onely for this trouble this is of malice because I haue wonâ—red at your high pride and abhorred your voluptuous liuing and little regarded your tâ—ranny and for the malice you beare to my Nephew the Emperour because he would not make you Pope by force and the Quéene appealed to the Pope The King to try out the matter sent first to the Pope then to most part of alâ— Uniuersâ—ties first the Pope sent his two Legats Wolsey and Campeius to hearâ— and decide the Case they cited the King and Quéene personally to appeare or else by Proctors at the day the Legats with their crosses axes and pillers were set the King was ready to heare the determination requiring to haue an end notwithstanding from month to month they detracted the matter vntill August the King not taking it well to bee so vsed sent the Dukes of Northfolke and Suffolke vnto the Legats requiring them to hasten an end and to deferre no longer it is the manner of Rome about the beginning of August during the Dogge dayes to haue a solemne vacation in which neither Schooles bee vsed nor any Terme kept Cardinall Campeius pretending the order of Rome whereof he was a member answered hee neither could nor would goe against the ordinance thereof and before October he would procéed no further in the cause tâ—e Dukes séeing their pretended excuses and that by no wayes they would be intreated burst out in open defiance the Duke of Suffolke clapping his hands on the table sware by the Masse there neuer came Legate or Cardinall from Rome to doe good in England so in anger they departed from the Cardinall the King for quietnesse was content to tarryâ— vntill October but before October came Campeius was called home by letters frâ—m the Pope so the matter was left vndiscussed the King seeing himselfe thus deluded sent againe to Pope Clement desiring to hâ—ue an answere of the cause the Popâ— would take a pause and after send him word Twelue Uniuersities agreed in one consent that the mariage was vnlawfull and repugnant to the word of God and that no man is able to dispence with it but nothing was heard of from Rome wherefore the King assembling his Parliament sent the Lord Chancellour with twelue of the vpper house to notiâ—â—e the determinations of the Colleages as afore said vnto the lower house And the same yearâ— the King sent out a Proclamation for the abollishing of the Pope and establishing of the Kings Supremacy and hee brake off with the Cardinall and caused him to be attainted in Premuâ—ire and to bee apprehended and the Clergy maintaining thâ— power Legatiue of the Cardinall incurred the like premunire wherefore the Spirituall Lords were called by processe into the Kings Bench to answere but beforâ— the day of appearence they submitted themselues to the King offered him an hundred thousand pounds to pardon them by Act of Parliament and offered him the Title of Supreme head of the Church of England which they would neuer confesse beâ—ore whereby the Pope by the prouâ—dence of God lost his whole Iurisâ—iction anâ— Supremacy in England Patricke Hamelton a Scottish man hee was of the Kings bloud and family beeiâ—â— of the most ancient and Noble stocke and name in Scotland was of the Uniuersity of Marpurge in Germany he openly procéeding so intreated and iudged of matters of the Church with such praise as passed the expectation of his age that he made the common people and learned to admire him Francis Lambert in his Preface Dâ—â—icatory maketh mention of him then he tooke a companion with him and retâ—â—ned home
flée from him as Cain and that wée are damned by Nature as a Toade and a Serpent are so by Nature Item Loue in Christ putteth no difference betwixt one man and another Item The sects of Saints Francis Saint Dominick others be damnable Then the Bishop asked him whether he would renounce these heresies and he prayed the Bishop to reforme himselfe Then the Bishop gaue him respite and when hee came before him againe First he affirmed that Christ all his merits were his and that he was knit to him so inseperably that he could not be damned except Christ were damned He that séeketh by his almes more then to be mercifull and to succor his brotherâ— and neighbours need he is blind and seeth not Christs bloud so God is honoured on all sides in that we count him righteous in all his lawes and to worship him otherwise is Idolatry he concluded to them all he found no fault throughout all the booke but it is all good and hath giuen him great light of conscience The next Sessions he was intised to recant but shortly after he was moued by the example of one that was burned in Smithfield and after did constantly abide in the testimonie of the truth and suffered in Smithfield Lastly for these Articles he was condemned 1 THat Faith onely iustifieth which lacketh not Charitie 2 That Christ is a sufficient Mediator for vs therefore no prayer to beâ— made to Saints 3 That Christ is our sufficient purgatory and that there is no purgatory after this life 4 That the soules of the faithfull departing this life rest with Christ. 5 That a Priest receiuing orders receiueth more grace if his Faith be increased or else not Lastly hee beléeueth that the bloud and flesh of Christ is not in the Sacrament wherevpon he was condemned and burnt as aforesaid IOHN RANDALL THis IOHN RANDALL was of Christs Colledge in Cambridge and for the loue that he had to the Scriptures and sincere Religion hee was suspected and hated the yong man being studious and about one twenty yéeres old was long lacking of his companions and through the stench of his corps his study doorâ— being broken vp he was found hanged with his owne girdle within the study in such maner that he had his face looking vpon the Bible and his finger pointing to a place of Scripture whereas predestination was intreated of surely this matter lacked no singular policie of some old naughty man that it should seeme for feare of predâ—stination he was driuen to despaire that it might keep their yong men from the study of the Scriptures as a thing most perilous In this yeare an old man in the County of Buckingham for eating of Bacon in Lent was condemned to the fire and burned EDWARD FRESE EDward Frese a Painter was hired to paint certaine cloaths for the new Inne in Colchester and in the vpper boarder of the cloaths he wrote certaine sentences of the Scripture then some of the Towne which had seene his worke apprehended him and brought him to London to the Bishop where he was cruelly imprisoned with others of Essex One Iohnson and his wife and one Willy his wife and his son and one Father Bate of Rowshedge they were fed with fine Manchet made of saw-dust or the most part therof the said Frese being at the Bishops at Fullam his wife being desirous to see him came to the gate being big with Childe the Porter kicked her on the belly that on the same she died and the childe died immediatly after for writing against the wall his hands were manacled that the flesh of his armes were higher then the Irons and they kept him thrée daies without meat when he should come to his answer he could say nothing but looked on the people like a wilde man and if they asked him any question he could say nothing but my Lord is a good man anâ— when they had spent his body and wits they sent him to Bearsie-Abby but hee would not tarry there but he neuer came to his wits againe vntill his death And his brother Valentine Frese was burned for the testimony of Christ in Yorke Also the wife of the aforesaid Father Bate made a Supplication to the King and deliuered it vnto him who appointed her to go to one M. Seliard of him she gat a letter to the Bishop she hoped some good should come to her Husband but some of her friends would néeds sée the contents of her letter which was to this effect look what you can gather against Father Bate send me word that I may certifie the Kinges Maiesty but shortly after he gat out of prison in a darke night and was caught no more In this yeare Fryer Roy was burned in Portugale what his doctrine was may easily be gathered by his testimony that he left here in England The History of Maister IAMES BAYNHAM a Lawyer THis Maister Baynham was accused to Sir Thomas Moore Chancelor arested with a Sergeant at Armes and carried out of the middle Temple to his house at Chelsey when he saw he could not preuaile with him he whipped him at a trée in his garden then racked him at the tower before himselfe vntill they had almost lamed him because he would not accuse Gentlemen of the Temple nor tel where his bookes lay and because his wife denied they were at his house she was sent to the fléet and his goods confiscate When they had often vsed him vpon the tortures then he sent him to the Bishop of London who cast him into Lolards tower vntill he had bin diuers times before him examined and they were not able to resist him He was both mighty in Scriptures and Arguments that he was able to confound them with their owne Arguments so he condemned him and the Bishop sent one Doctor Symons to peruert him and waite vpon him to the stake after much communication betweene the Doctor him he prayed the Sheriffes to deliuer him from Satan for he was content to confirme his faith with his blood At the stake he lay down flat and prayed then rising vp he imbraced the stake then he said Good people I am come hither accused and condemned for an hereticke these be the Articles I dye for I say it is lawfull for euery man or woman to haue Gods booke in their Mother tongue That the Pope is Antichrist that he knoweth no other Keyes of heauâ—n gate but the preaching of the word and that theâ—e is no other purgatory then the purgatory of Christs blood and that the soules of the faithfull imediatly go to heauen râ—st with Christ for euermore That Thomas Becket was no Saint but a Traytor and a shedder of innocent blood thâ—n one M. Pauey answered Thou liest thou heretick thou deniest the blessed Sacrament of the altar He answered I do not deny the Sacrament as it was instituted of Christ and vsed of his Apostles but I deny transubstantiation and your
to the Catholike Church 〈…〉 all the Realme and receiue mercy Rog. Before I could not tell what this mercie meant but now 〈…〉 it is a mercy of the Antichristian Church of Rome which I vtterly refuse and your rising from error which you speak of is a very falling into error I can proue the doctriâ—e which I preach by the Scriptures and the fathers that liued vntill foure hundred years after Christ he answered I was a priuate man and was not to be heard nor to be permitted to proue whether the whole realme had done right or wrong when the Parlament had concluded a thing I answered no lawes of man must rule the word of God but they all must be iudged therby and obey therto and neither my conscience nor any Christian mans conscience could be satisfied with such lawes as did disagree from that word Then I was asked of the reall presence in the Sacrament I said I could not vnderstand really and substantially but corporally and corporally Christ is only in heauen aâ—d cannot be corporally in the sacrament also When definitiue sentence was read against him the Lord Chancellor sayd I was in the great curse what a vengable dangerous matter it were to eate and drink with vs accursed or to giue vs any thing for they that so did should be partakers of the same great curse Well my Lord quoth I I neuer willingly taught false doctrine and therefore haue a good conscience before God and men and I shall be found a true member of the Catholike Church of Christ and euerlastingly saued you néed not excommunicate me from your Church the Lord be thanked I haue not been in â—t this twentie yeares now you haue done what you can I am sure you and I shall appeare before Christ and then I shall be as good a man as you Then I earnestly desired my wife might com to me whilst I liued for we haue ten children and â— would counsaile her what is best for her to do which he would not grant saying that she was none of my wife Then I haue tried all your charity said I you make your selfe highly displeased with marriage of priests but you maintaine open whoredome in Wales euery Priest hath his whore openly and so the Pope suffereth all the Priests in the Low-countries and France to do the like He prophesied truly of the destruction of Papistrie shortly in England and the dispersed English flock of Christ shall be brought againe into their former estate or better then in K. Edwards time and the bloudy Babylonicall Bishop and the whole crown-shorn company brought to vtter shame and destruction for God wil not suffer their abominable lying and false doctrine bloud-thirst whordom idlenes and poysoned stomacks which they beare towards poore and miserable Christians some of them shall haue their iudgement in this world and they that doe escape in this world shall not escape in the world to come euerlasting damnation this shall be your sauce O yee wicked Papists make merry as long as you may and hee exhorted the faithfull to be carefull then to displace Papists and to put good ministers into cures or else your end will be worse then ours As he came to the fire he sang Miserere by the way all the people wonderfully reioyced at his constancy whilst he was burning he wash his hands in the flame his pardon was brought him at the stake which he refused he was the first martyr in Quéen Maries time that gaue first aduenture vpon the fire The martyrdom of Laurence Sanders HEe was parson of All-hallowes in Breadstrâ—et and being minded to giue ouer another Church which he had in Leicester-shire called Churchlangton about that time came the broile about the clayme that Q. Mary made to the crown by reason whereof he could not accomplish his purpose In this trouble he preached at Northampton boldly vttered his consciâ—nce against popish doctrine and Antichrists damnable errors which were like to spring vp again in England as a iust plage for the litle lâ—ue which the English nation did bear to Gods word which had béene so plentifully offered vnto them the Quéens men which were there heard were highly displeased with him for his Sermon and kept him amongst them as a Prisoner but for the loue of his Brethren and Friends which were chéeâ—e doâ—rs for the Quéene and because there yet was no Law against him they dismissed him He being inflamed with the fire of godly zeale preached with diligence at both his Benifices as time could serue him vntill the Proclamation was put forth as aforesaid at which time he was at his Benefice in the Countrey where contrarie to the proclamation he â—aught diligently Gods truth confirming the people therein and arming them against false Doctrine vntill he was commaunded to cease and with force reâ—â—sted then he returned towards London to visite the flock which he had there in charge and as he was comming nigh to the Citty Sir Iohn Mordant a Counceller to Queene Mary ouertooke him and asked him whether hee went I haue said Sanders a Cure in London and I go to instruct my people according to my duty If you will foâ—low my councell quoth Maister Mordant let them alone and come not at them Sanders answered How shall I then bee discharged before GOD Did not you quoth Mordant preach such a day in Breadstreete Yes said he That is my Cure I heard you quoth Mordant and it please you said he you shall heare me againe in the same place to morrow where I will affirme by the authority of Gods word all that I then said and whatsoeuer I haue formerly taught them I would counsaile you not to preach sayd he If you can or will forbidde me by law I must obey Nay quoth he I will not forbid you but giue you counsaile and so they departed Mordant tolde Bonner that Saunders would preach in his cure the next Sonday One that was about Saunders perceiuing by him that he was troubled asked him how he did indeede sayd he I am in prison vntill I be in prison meaning he was vnquiet vntill he had preached and then hee should be in quiet though he were put in prison The next day he preached vpon the second to the Corinthians and the eleuenth Chapter I haue coupled you a pure Virgin to Christ but I feare as the Serpent beguiled Eue so your wills should be corrupted from the singlenesse which you had toward Christ Iesus He reioyced in the summe of that true doctrine whereby wee are coupled so Christ and saued by free iustification by his bloud he compared the papisticall doctrine to the Serpents deceauing and left they should be deceiued by it he made a comparison betwixt the voyce of Christ and the popish Serpent wherein he shewed the difference betwixt the Seruice set forth by King Edward in the English tâ—ng and the popish seruice then vsed in the Latine tong And that the first was good
and leauing one Richard Yeoman a godly Priest in his cure which after was burned at Norwich He tooke his iourney with one Iohn Hull his seruant There was in the towne of Hadley one Alcocke who after Richard Yeoman was driuen away vsed dayly to reade a Chapter out of the Bible and to say the English Letany in Hadley Church they sent him vp to London and there he died being in prison in Newgate When Gardiner saw Doctor Taylor according to his custome hee called him knaue traytor hereticke with many villanous reproches My Lord quoth he I am neither Traytor nor Hereticke but a true Subiect and faithfull Christian My Lord you are but a Mortall man I trow if I should be affraid of your Lordly looks Why feare you not God How dare you look any Christian man in the face séeing you haue forsaken the truth denyed Christ and his word contrary to your owne oath and writing With what countenance will you appeare before the Iudgement seat of Christ to answere your oaths to Henrie the eight and Edward the sixt Gardiner answered that was Herods oath vnlawfull and therefore worthy to bee broken I haue done well in breaking it and I thanke God I am come home vnto our Mother the Catholike Church and the Pope hath dispenced with me and so I would thou shouldst do Taylor Should I approue those lies errors superstitions and Idolatries that the Pope and his company this day approued nay God forbid let the Pope returne to Christ and his word and leaue Idolatry and then will we turne to him the Pope nor no man else can assoyle you of that oath I sée quoth Gardiner thou art a very knauish foole Taylor said leaue your reyling my Lord it is not séemely for you That art a married man quoth the Bishop Taylor said I thanke GOD that I am and I haue nine Children and I thanke GOD for the ordaining of Matrimonie that wee should not liue in Aduâ—tery Gardiner Thou wouldst not suffer Masse in Hadley Taylor I am parson of Hadly and it is against law and reason that any should infect my flocke with Popish Idolatrous Masse Then said the Bishop thou art a blasphemous heretick to blaspheme the blessed Sacraments and put off his Cap and against the Masse which is a Sacrifice for the quick and the dead Taylor Christ dyed for our Redemption which is a sufficient propitiatory Sacrifice vnto saluation for al beléeuers and no Priest can any more offer him and we néed no other propitiatory sacrifice therefore the Fathers called the Communion Eucharistia which signifieth thankes-giuing Then said the Bishop thou shalt confesse it a Sacrifice propitiatory for the quick and the dead ere thou and I haue done and commaunded him to bee sent to the Kings Bench. Then Taylor knéeled downe and saide Good Lord I thanke thee and from the tyrannie of the Pope and all his detestable errors Idolatries and abhominations good LORD deliuer vs and GOD be praysed for King Edward so he was carried vnto the Kings Bench where hee lay in Prison almost two yeares Being in Prison he spent his time in Prayer Preaching and Writing withâ—in few daies after were diuers learned and godlyâ—men in sundry Connâ—rieâ— in England committed to prison for Religion so that almost all the Prisons in England were right Christian schooleâ— and Churches so that there was no greater comfort to Christian harts then to come to the Prisons Now were placed in Churches blind Masse-mâ—ngers with their Lattine babling and apish ceremonies who like cruell Wolues spared not to murder all such that did but whisper against Popery the godly Preachers were other fled or committed to Prison where as Lambes they waited when the Butchers should call them to slaughter Maister Bradford that deuout and vertuons Preacher who was a miracle or our time was in the Kings Bench Taylor exhorted him to constant perseuerance vnto the end Maister Bradford praised God he had such a comfortable Prison-fellow Taylor told his Friends that came to sée him that GOD had graciouslie prouided for him for to send him where he found such an Angell of God to bée his comforter After Taylor had lyne in Prison a while hee was sent for and depriued because he maintained Priests marriage and would not bee separated from his Wife And after a yeare and thrée quarters when they had gotten the lawes put down that were made by King Henry the eight and King Edward against the Pope They sent for Taylor before my Lord Chancellor and either Commissioners the effect of whose communication with him he described himselfe as followeth First my Lord Chancellor said you amongst other are sent for to enioy the King and Queenes mercie if you will rise againe with vs from the fall which we geâ—erallie haue receiued in this Realme from the which we are deliuered miraculousliâ— If you will not you shall haue Iudgement To this I answered That so to rise should bee the greatest fall that euer I could receiue for I should fall from Christ vnto Anti-christ I will not decline from the Religion which was in King Edwards daiâ—s which is according to the word of God as long as I liue My Lord Chancellor asked me whether I had read his â—ooke vpon the Sacrament I said I had read it He asked mee how I liked it My Lord said I there are many things farre 〈◊〉 from GODS truth in that Booke then he cal'd me varlet I said that was as bad as foole then he called me ignorant Béelebrow I said My Lord you wrote a Booke De vera obedientia I would you had béen constant in that for you neuer did declare a good conscience as I heard of but in that Booke How like you that said my Lord I wrote against Priests mariage but y â— pleaseth not such as thou art I answered their procéedings now against Priests mariages is against naturall Law Ciuill Law Canon Law generall Councels Canons of the Apostles ancient Doctors and Gods Lawes Then because I would not turne I was sent to prison againe After Doctor Taylor Maister Bradford and Maister Sanders were called to appeare before my Lord Chancellor and other Commissioners where because they would not yéeld to papistry they were condemned and sentence was read against Taylor They reioyced that they were worthy to suffer for Christe Word and truth and they stoutly said vnto the Bishops GOD the righteous Iudge will require our bloud at your handes and the proudest of you all shall repont this receiuing againe of Antichrist and the tyranny you shew against Christes flocke So Taylor was sent to the Clinke hee said vnto the people that flocked about to sée him as he was going GOD bée praised good people I am come away from them vndefiled and will cenfirme the truth with my â—â—oud And at night hee was carryed vnto the Counter in the Poultrey where hee lay seauen nights Bonner came to the prison to him to disgrade him he said Maister
will needs haue it put it to the vse that Christ did Harps Admit your childe die vnchristned you are in a heauie case your childe being damned and you also séeing you would not christen him when you might for he is borne in originall sinne Haukes The deliuerance of sinne standeth in the faith of the parents he asked me how I proued it Paule in 1. Cor. 7. saith The vnbeleeuing man is sanctified by the beleeuing woman and the vnbeleeuing woman by the beleeuing man els were your children vncleane Harps Your great learned men at Oxford in whom you put your trust will be against you I said if they doe it by the Scriptures I would beléeue them Bonner Recant recant for Christ saith Except you bee baptized you cannot be saued Haukes I aâ—ked him whether Christianity did stand in outward ceremonie He said partly it doth I said S. Pet saith Not the washing of water that purgeth the filth of the flesh but a good conscience consenting vnto God is acceptable to him Bonner How say you to the masse sirra Haukes It is detestable abâ—minable and profitable for nothing Then he said what say you to the Epistle and Gospell I said it was good if it were well and rightly vsed Bonner What say you to the Consiteâ—r Haukes It is abominable and detestable and a blasphemie against God and his sonne to call vpon any to trust in any or to pray to any saue onely to Christ Iesus Bonner To trust to any we bid you not to pray to them wee bid you for you pray to God by them as you cannot speake to the King and Quéene but by the meanes of one of the priuiâ— chamber Haukes You say we must not trust in them and S. Paule saith How should I call on them in whom I trust not Bonner Would you haue no body pray for you when you are dead I said so long as we are aliue the prayers of the righteous are aâ—ailable but when we are dead they profit not for Dauid faith No man can deliuer his brother from death and Ezechiel â—aith Though Noe Daniel and Iob dwelt amongst them yet can they exceed no further then them selues Then he said to Harpsfield you sée this man hath no need of our Lady nor of any blessed Saints An old Bishop that lost his liuing for â—arrying a wiâ—e came to Bonner with a gift and he sent for me and tolde him how that I had a childe and would not haâ—e it christned I said I deâ—ie not baptisme Then he said angerly Thou â—oole thou cannâ—st not tell what thou wouldst haue I said a Bishop must be 〈…〉 not giuen to anger Thou iudgest me angrie 〈◊〉 by my faith I am not Then said the old Bishop Alas yâ—ng man you must be taught by the Church and by your ancients and doe as your fathers haue done Bonner No no he will haue nothing but Scripture he will haue no ceremonies in the Church But what say you to holy water Haukes I say to it as to the rest No said he that is proued by the Scripture in the booke of Kings when Elizeus threw salt into the water I said the waters were corrupt and by this he made them sweete and good so when our waters be corrupt if you by putting in salt can make them sweet cleere and wholsom we wil the better beleeue your ceremonies Bonner How say you to holy bread I asked what scripture haue you for it he said Christ sed fiue thousand men with fiue loaâ—es and three fishes Haukes Will you make that holy bread there Christ dealt fish with his holy bread then he said looke how captions he is and I said Christ did not this miracle because you should do the like but to cause vs to credit and beléeue his word and doctrine Bonner You will beleeue no doctrine but that which is wrought by miracles I said no for Christ saith these tokens shall follow them that beleeue me they shall speake new tongues and cast out diuels and if they drinke poyson it shall not hurt them Then he asked with what new tongues we speake Haukes When I knew not Gods word I was a blasphemer and filthâ—e talker but since I knew Gods word I haue giuen laude praise and thankes to God with the same tongue Then he said how cast ye out Diuels I said whosoeuer doth credite and beleeue Gods word shall cast out Diuels Then he asked me if euer I dranke any deadly poyson I said yea forsooth I haue drunken of the pestilent traditions and ceremonies of the Bishop of Rome Bonner Thou art an Hereticks and thou shalt be burned if thou continuest this opinion you thinke we are affraid to put you to death there is a brother-head of you but I will breake it I warrant you Haukes Christ nor his Apostles neuer killed any for their Faith he said Paule did excommunicate I said There is difference betwixt excommunicating and burning he said Peter destroyed the Man and his Wife in the Acts. I said They lied against the Holy Ghost which serued nothing for his purpose Then he saide well you graunt one I said If you will haue vs grant you to be of God then shew mercy for he requireth mercy so he went to dinner The next day Fecknam talked with me Feck Are you hee that will not haue your child christned but in English and will haue no Ceremonies I said I refuse not that which the Scripture commandeth he said Cerâ—monies are to be vsed by the Scriptures how say you to Paules breaches Hauks I haue read that there went Partlets and Napkins from Pauls body is it that you meane he said yes what say you to those Ceremonies I say nothing to the Ceremonies for the Text saith It was God that wrought and not the Ceremonies Feck How say you to the woman that touched the hem of Christ vesture did not her disease depart by that ceremonie I said there went vertue from Christ as himselfe said whether was it his vertue or his besture that healed the woman He said both I said then is not Christ true For hee said Thy Faith hath made thee whole Feck How say you Sirrha Christ tooke bread and brake it and said Take eate this is my body is it not so I said I doe not vnderstand it so Then hee said Christ is a lyer I said I thinke you will prooue him so for euery word that Christ spoke is not to bee vnderstood as hee spoke it For hee said I am a Doore a Vine a King a Way c. Hee said hee spake this in parables Haukes No forsooth then Christ would haue said I am like vnto a Doore to a Uine to a King to a Way He said these plaâ—es make nothing for you but I perceiue you build vpon Latimer Cranmer and Ridley I said they be godly learned men Feck Wilt thou trust to such dolts one of them hath written in his booke that the reall presence is in the
well for Paul writ to the Corinthians to haue the man excommunicated that had lien with his Fathers wife Smith As the Church of Corinth was manifest to God and Paule so is this Church in England else you could not persecute it as you do I being conuayed into the Garden Doctor Dee being one of the Bishops Chaplaines came to me and after much adoe about his God I compelled him to say that it must needs enter into the belly and so fall out â—nto the draught then hee said What derogation was it to Christ when the Iewes spit in his face and I answered If the Iewes his enemies did but spit in his face and wee being his friends throw him in the draught which of vs haue deserued the greater damnation Doctor Then he would haue Christs humanitie incomprehensible bringing to serue his turne which way Christ came amongst his Disciples the doores being close shut Smith I haue as much to proue that the doores opened at his comming as you haue to proue that he came thorow the doores for God that opened the prison doores for his Disciples was able to doe the like for Christ but that maketh not for your purpose for they saw heard and felt him and so cannot you do in your sacrament Then I was called for before Bonner and my Lord Mayor was with him and my articles were read then said Bonner Bonner My Lord they call me bloudie Bonner where I neuer sought any mans blood I haue stayed him from the Consistory this day whither I might haue brought him iustlie and heere before you I desire him to turne and I will with all spéed dispatch him out of trouble Smith Why do you put on this visard before my Lord Mayor to make him beléeue you séeke not my blood Haue not you burned my Brother Tomkins hand most cruelly and after burned his body and the bodies of a number more of Christs faithfull members Then he questioned with me about the Sacrament and I said as the body is dead if the blood be gone so their Sacrament is a dead God because they take away the blood of Christ from his body being the Cup is taken from the Layty for if the Brâ—ad be his body the Cup must bee his blood Then Bonner rose and my Lord Mayor desired me to saue my soule I said mine was saued by Christ desiring him to pittie his owne soule and remember whose sword hee carried so with many foule farewels we were sent to New-gate againe and Boner gaue the Keeper charge to lay me in Limbo The second Examination Boner THou saést there is no Catholick Church on earth I said I haue answered you the contrarie and it is written he said yea but I must aske you this Question Smith Must you begin with a lye it seemeth you determine to end with the same but no lyer shall enter into the kingdome of God I haue conâ—essed a church of God as well in earth as in heauen and yet all one Church and one mans members euen Christ Iesus Boner Well what saist thou by auricular Confession Smith It is needfull in Christs Church but if it be needfull in your Church it is to pick folkes purses and such pickâ—purse matters is the whole rabblemene of your ceremonies for all is but money matters that you maintaine he said thou maist be ashamed to say so I said I speake by experience for I haue heard seene the fruits of Confession it hath béene a betrayer of Kings secrets and others who bâ—ing glad to be discharged of their sinnes haue giuen to Priests great summes of money to absolue them and sing Masses for their soâ—les health Boner By the Masse if the Queene were of my minde you should not talke before any man but should be put in a Sâ—ck and a Dog tyed vnto the samâ— you should be throwne into the water Smith You and your predecessors haue sought by all meanes to kill Christ secretly as appeareth by Master Hunne whom your predecessor caused to be thrust into the nose with hoâ—e burning needles and then hanged him and said he hanged himselfe and another of your predecessors when he could not ouercome an innocent man by Scripture he made him priuily to be snarled and his flesh to be torne away with pincers and told the people the rats had eaten him Bonner Then came in M. Mordant and then he said How sayest thou Smith to the seuen Sacraments Smith I beleeue that in Gods Church there be but two Sacraments Baptisme and the Lords Supper as for your Sacrament of the Altar and all your other Sacraments they may well serue your Church but Gods Church hath nothing to do with them Bonner Why is Gods order changed in baptisme Smith Yes in hallowing the water in coniuring of the same in baptising children with annointing and spitting in their monthes mingled with salt and with many other lewd ceremonies then be said by the masse I was the shamelest hereticke that euer he heard speake I said well sworne my Lord you keepe a good watch Bonner Well Mâ—ister Controller you catch me at my words but I will watch thée as well I warrant you then quoth Mordant I neuer heard the like in my life I pray my Lord marke well his answer for Baptisme he disaloweth therein holiâ— oyntment salt and other lawdable ceremonies Smith It is a shamefull blasphemy against Christ to vse such mingle mangle in Baptisme Boner I beléeue if a child die without Baptisme he is damned Smith You shaâ—l neuer be saued by that beléefe I pray are we saued by water or by Christ he said by both I said then the water died for our sinnes and must you say that the water hath life and it being our seruant and created for vs it is our Sauiour This is a good doctrine is it not Bonner How vnderstand you these words Except a man bee borne of Water and the Spirit and Christ saith Suffer little Children to come vnto me and if thou wilt not suffer them to be baptised according to the lawdablâ— order thou lettest to come vnto Christ. Smith Paul to the Galathians asheth whether they recâ—iued the Spirit by the deeds of the law or by the preaching of faiâ—h and concludeth that the Holy Ghost accompanieth preaching of faith and with the word of faith entereth into the heart so if Baptisme preach vnto me the washing in Christs bloud the holy Ghost doth accompanie it and Christ saith Suffer little children to come vnto me and not vnto water then if you suffer them not to com to Christ without the necessity of water but condemne them if they die before baptisme you condemne both the merits and the words of Christ. Bonner Thou makest the water of noâ—â— effect and then thou mayest put away water Smith Peter saith It is not the washing away of the filth of the flesh but in that a good conscience consenteth vnto God and onely water bringeth not the Holy Ghost for Simon
saying he that leaueth father or mother praueth our pilgrimage with many moe Many dangerous hazards he suffered amongst the Popes friends and Gods enemies for the Gospell sake When there was a Proclamation set forth for the calling in of the Bible in English and many other good bookes he hazarded himselfe to write to King Henry the eight to disswade him therefrom which Letter thou mayest see in the booke at large at length by the means of Doctor Butts and of good Cromwell he was made Bishop of Worcester and continued so a few yeares instructing his Diocesse according to a diligent Pastor but as before both in the Uniuersitie and at his Benefiee he was tossed and turmoyled by the wicked so in his Bishopricke some sought his trouble insomuch that he was accused to the King for his Sermons Thus he continued in this laborious function of a Bishop for certaine yeares vntill the comming vp of the sixe Articles and altering of Religion so when he could not keepe his Bishopricke with a good conscience of his owne free will he resigned the same at which time Shaxton Bishop of Salesburie resigned also with him his Bishopricke These two remained a great space vnbishopped keeping silence vntill the time of King Edward A little after Latimer had renounced his Bishopricke hee was sore bruised with the fall of a tree and comming to London for remedy hee was troubled of the Bishops and at length was cast into the Tower where he continued prisoner vntill the Raigne of King Edward then the golden mouth of this preacher shut vp long before was opened againe and beginning a fresh to set forth his plough againe and continued all the time of the said King labouring in the Lords haruest most fruitfully hee preached for the most part twice euery Sunday to no small shame of vnpreaching prelates which occupied great rome to doe little good he did most euidently prophesâ—e of all these kinde of plagues which after ensued so plainely that if England euer had a Prophet he might seeme to be one and he did euer affirme that the preaching of the Gospel would cost him his life and he was certainely perswaded that Winchester was kept in the Tower to be his death which fell out right for after the death of King Edward and Queen Mary proclaimed a Purseuant was sent down vnto him by the doing no doubt of Winchester Latimer had warning thereof six houres before the Purseuant came whereby he might haue â—scaped but he prepared himselfe towards his iourney before the Purseâ—ant came who maruelled to sée him so prepared for his iourney he told the Purseuant he was a welcome guest and be it knowne vnto you and the whole World that I goe as willingly to London at this present being called of my Prince to giue a reckoning of my Faith and Doctrine as euer I was to goe vnto any place in the world and I doubt not but that God which hath made me worthy to preach to two most excellent Princes so he will able me to witnesse the same to the third either to her comfort or discomfort eternally When the Purseuant had deliuered his Letters he departed affirming that hee was not commaunded to tarry for him whereby it appeared they would not haue him appeare but rather to haue fled out of the Realme they knew his constancy would deface them in Popery and confirme the godly in the truth When he came through Smithfield he said merrily Smithfield bad long groned for him after he had béene before the Councell hee was sent to the Tower and from thence he was transported to Oxford with Cramer Arch-bishop of Canterbury and Ridley Bishop of London there to dispute as before is said Of the order of the disputations and bow they were condemned thou maist sée before where they continued vntill this time in continual prayer godly conference and writing Latimer sometimes continued so long knéeling at prayer that hee was not able to arise without helpe three thinges especially he prayed for in his Prayers First as God hath appointed him to preach his Word so hee would giue him grace to stand to the same vntill his death Secondly that God would restore his Gospel vnto England againe once more which once more hee inculcated oftentimes into the eares of the LORD as if he had spoken vnto him face to face Thirdly hee prayed for the preseruation of Queene ELIZABETH then but Lady ELIZABETH whom with â—eares he still named desiring God to make hee a comforter to this comfortles Realme the Lord most graciously granted al these things which he requested The twentith day of September a Commission was sent from the Cardinall to the Bishops of Lincolne Glocester and Bristow to examine Doctor Ridley and Maister Latimer vpon the points they were condemned for at Oxford and if they would not recant there opinions to disgrade them c. The first point was whether the reall presence of Christ was in the Sacrament D. Ridley first appeared before them when the Commission was read he standing bare-headed assoon as he heard the Cardinall named and the Popes Holines he put on his cap the Bishop of Lincolne reprehended him for it and told him if he would not of himselfe put off his cap another should doe it for him He answered that it was not done for any contumacy that he bare vnto their own persons nor for any derogation of the Cardinall in that he was borne of the Bloud Royall was indued with much leâ—rning excellent vertues â—ut in that he is Legate to the Pope and with that he put on his cap whose vsurped supremacie I vtterly renounce which I will not onely denounce in words but in gesture beâ—auiour and all my doings expresse the same wherevpon by the commandement of the Bishop of Lincoln his cap was taken off he appeared twice and thus he did at both times their answeres were both to one effect in substance First they made their protestation that notwithstanding their answers it should not be taken thereby that they would acknowledge any authority of the Pope but that they answered as subiects to the king and Queene to the first point they did confesse that in the sacrament by spirit and grace is the very body and bloud of Christ because that euery man receiuing bodily the bread and wine in the Sacrament spiritually receiue the body and bloud of Christ and thereby is partaker of the merits of his passion but they denied the naturall body and bloud of Christ to be really in the outward sacrament The second question was whether after consecration of the sacrament of the Altar there did remain any substance of bread and wine to that they answered there was such a change in the bread and wine as no man but God can make being the bread had that dignity to exhibit Christs body yet the bread is still bread and the wine still wine for the change is not in the nature but in the
Lord he renounced the false coloured Religion of the Romish Sea wherein many a good man hath beene drowned he was burned at Northampton Thrée in the Castle of Cicester being in like bonds for the like cause of Christs Gospell died in Prison and were buried in the fields who had béene burned if the cruell handling of Papists had not made them away before John Clarke Dunstone Chittenden vncondemned William Foster of Stone Allice Potkins of Staplehurst Iohn Archer of Cranbroke VVeauer THe first of Nouember these fiue were macerate and pined to death by famine in the Castle of Canterbury they answered all to this effect that they beleeue the Articles of the Creed but they beleeue no more Sacraments but two that praiers to Saints or soules in purgatory profit not that faith only iustifieth they denied the Popish ceremonies in the Church that it was as good to carry a Dungfork as Candles on Candlemas day and that it is as necessary to carry the Gallowes about if ones father were hanged as to cary the Crosse that they could not come to Church with a safe conscience There was fifteene of them in prison and it seemeth the Bishops and Priests had appointed to starue them al had not a Certificate of the manner of their cruell handling bin throwne out of the Castle window wherby their doings were made manifest so the other ten were burned as after appeareth In the Months of September Nouember and December there was a great persecution in Couentry and Lichfield the cruell Bishop Radulph Bane and his cruell Chancellor Doctor Draycot and nine Priests and a number of others were compelled to recant and one Hoke was burned at Chester as thou mayst see in the Booke at large THE TVVELFTH BOOKE OF the Acts of the Church TOuching the processe and whole discourse concerning the condemning taking vp and burning the bones and bookes of Bucer Paulus Phagius by the commaundement of Cardinall Poole with all the rites and ceremonies therunto appertaining with all the ridiculous procéeding of the Commissioners whilst they were at Cambridge and also the Oration of M. Acworth Orator of the Uniuersitie at the restitution of Martine Bucer and Paulus Phagius in Quéene Elizabeths time and also the dispitefull handling and madnesse of the Papists towards Peter Martires Wife at Oxford taking her vp from her grauâ— at the commandement of Cardinall Poole and after buried in a Dunghil Concerning the processe of these things I refer thee if thou béest disposed to sée them to the booke at large The 18. of Ianuary the ten that remained of the aforesaid fiftéene that were in prison in the Castle of Canterbury whereof fiue of them were starued the â—ther ten were burned for the same points of Religion in effect as the other fiue held as before is expressed the names of these ten follow Iohn Philpot of Tenderden William Waterer of Bedingdy Stephen Kempe of Norgate William Hay of Hith Thomas Hudson of Sellenge Mathew Bradbridge of Tenderden Thomas Stephens of Bedingham Nicholas Finall of Tenderden VVilliam Lowicke of Cranbroke VVilliam Prowting of Thorneham The 8. of February a most bloody Commission was giuen forth by King Philip and Quéene Marie to prosecute the poore members of Christ. Whereupon twenty two were apprehended in Essex and brought vp to London at once to Bonner all of them tyed to a rope by two and two and so lead in a rope through the stréetes to Bonner Now the Bishops and Councell perceiuing the number and fearing to put them to death being so many together least I some disturbance might rise vpon the same they bad them make their submission and confession as they would themselues that they might make a colour of recantation wherupon they were discharged for their names I referre thée to the Booke at large Thomas Loseby Henry Ramsey Tho Thyrtell Margaret Hyde Agnes Stanley THe twelfth of Aprill these were burned at one fire in Smithfield Bonner framed now Articles vnto them and confessing these points of his Articles they were condemned 1 For speaking against the Faith Religion and Ecclesiasticall seruice especially concerning the Masse and the seauen Sacraments saying they agréed not wâ—th Gods word 2 For being perswaded that the English seruice in King Edwards time was godly and Catholike 3 That they did not thinke themselues bound to come to Church to heare the Mattins Masse and Euening song 4. That they did not thinke themselues bound to go a Procession nor to beare Tapers and Candles at Candlemas nor take Ashes vpon Ashwednesday nor beare Palmes vpon Palme-sunday nor to créepe to the Crosse vpon daies accustomed not to receiue and kisse the Paxe at Masse time not to receiue holy water or holy bread nor to except or allow the Ceremonies and vsages of the Church as they are vsed in this Realme 5 For thinking they were not bound to confesse their sinnes vnto a Priest nor to receiue absolution at his hand nor to receiue the Sacrament of the Altar 6 For thinking prayers to Saints or prayers for the dead are not lawdable profitable not allowed by Gods Word and that the soules departed goe straight waies to Heauen or Hell so that there is no Purgatory 7 For thinking all those that were burned in King Henry the eights time and in Quéene Maries time as Heretickes were no Heretickes but faithfull and good people and for approuing their opinions and misâ—iking their condemnations 8 For thinking the Sacrament of the Altar to bee an Idoll and to reserue it to be honoured to be Idolatry and likewise of the Masse and â—lâ—uation of the Sacrament After this they were conuented againe before the Bishop in the Conâ—â—story where these being asked what they had to say against iudgement Thomas Losâ—by said God giue me strength to stand against you and your 〈◊〉 your Lawâ—s a deâ—ouring Law I perceiue there is no way with me but death except I will beléeue in that Idoll the Masse Thomas Thirtle said If you make me an Heretick then you make Christ and al the twelue Apostles Hereticks for I am in the true faith and I will stand to it for I know I shall haue eternall life Râ—msey said my opinion is the very truth which I will not goe from There are two Churches and we the Martyrs of Christ are the true Church and yee be not Margaret Hide affirmed shee was in that true Faith and would neuer forsake it Agnes Stanly said if euery haire of her head were neuer so much worth I had rather they were reburned then I will for sake my true faith Then they were put off vntill the afternoone then as Loseby his answere was reading mention being made of the Sacrament Boner put off his Cap and Loseby put on his hat and he said I trust I haue the Spirit of truth which you detest for the wisedome of God is foolishnesse vnto you whereupon they had iudgement Margaret Hide saide My Lord I will not depart from my sayings till I be
the vse of the materiall water in Baptisme whether was Iocab baptised before he had faith Paul saith in the ninth to the Romans ere euer the children were borne ere euer they had done good or bad that the purpose of God which is by election might stand not by reason workes but by the grace of the Caller The elder shall serue the yonger Iacob haue I loued and Esau haue I hated This proueth that Faith is before Baptisme For Circumcision was before Baptisme And Saint Peter fetcheth the proofe of Baptisme from Noes flood saying Whilst the Arke was a preparing wherein but eight persons were saued by water like as baptisme now saueth vs not in washing away the filth of the flesh but in that there is a good conscience consenting to good But you said if they be baptised with water if they die before yeares of discretion they be all saued the which S. Peter is cleane against vnlesse you grant that Children haue faith before they bee baptized but what consent of conscience haue Infants you say they beléeue not before they bee baptized Lang. The children are baptized in the God-fathers and God-mothers faith and that is the good conscience that Saint Peter speaketh of and the Christning is the kéeping of the Law that S. Paul speaketh of saying Neither is Circumcision or vncircumcision any thing but the keeping of the Law is altogether like as Circumcision was the keeping of the old law so is Baptisme the keeping of the new Law VVood. You confesse that neither circumcision nor vncircumcision auaileth not which you haue coupled with baptisme prouing that none of them preuaile but the kéeping of the law which law you say is kept by outward signes which is nothing so for Abraham beléeued God and that was imputed vnto him for righteousnesse and this was before he was circumcised so the children beléeue before they be either circumcised or baptized according to my first saying Iacob haue I loued and Esau haue I hated This sheweth that Iacob had faith in his mothers wombe Also Iohn Baptist was sanctified in his mothers wombe therfore it was counted vnto him for righteousnesse and I am sure if they had died before they had either receiued circumcision or baptisme concerning the outward déede they had béene saued for Gods gifts and calling are such that hee cannot repent him of but by your saying he doth repent and change for you say kéeping of the outward law is all in all and where you say they be baptised in the Godfathers Godmothers faith what if they be vnbeleeuers In what faith then is the childe baptized Lang. If one amongst the thrée God-fathers God-mothers that baptize the childe be not a beleeuer you would count that there were bery few beleeuers If you would haue none beléeuers but them that be of your mind then were Christs flocke a very little flocke VVood. In the 12 of Luke Christ saith his flocke is a little flocke and where you make a question of one amongst thrée there is not one amongst three hundred as farre as I can sée else there would not be so many which would séek their neighbours goods and liues Lang. If Christs flocke bee such a little flocke tell mee how many there bee of them VVood. First the Prophet saith Follow not a multitude to do euill for the most go the wrong way and Christ saith Math. 7. The way is brode and the gate wide that leadeth to destruction and many there be that goe in thereat And straight is the gate and narrow the way that leadeth to life and few there be that finde it And in the 12 of Luke Christ saith Come you little flocke it is your Fathers will to giue you a kingdome And in the 3 of Mark and 7 of Mathew Christ saith The tree is kowne by his fruits a good tree bringeth forth good fruits and a bad tree bad fruits And euery tree that bringeth not forth good fruits shall be â—ewne downe and cast into the fire Christ meaneth into hell and your fruites declare you to be one of them Lang. It was time such a fellow as you were taken indéed such a one is enough to trouble a whole Countrey you deny Originall sin and Frée-will Wood. What frée-will hath a man to do good of himselfe Lang. All men haue as much frée-will as Adam had before his fall for as by the meanes of Adam all became sinners so by the obedience of Christ all men became righteous and were set as free as they were before their fall Wood. What an ouer-throw haue you giuen your selfe here in Originall sinnâ— and yet cannot sée it for in prouing we haue free-will you haue denyed originall sinne For if we be set as free by the death of Christ as Adam was before his fall I am sure Adam had no originall sinne before his fall If wee bee so frée now as hee was then I maruell why Saint Paul complained thrice to God to take away the sting of it GOD making him answere My grace is sufficient for thee This proueth originall sinne but not that it shall hurt Gods elect but that his grace is sufficient for his But you say in one place it is not without baptisme and in another place you put it away quite by the death of Christ. And you haue spoken truer then you be aware of for all that beleeue in Christ are baptized in his blood and yet I say with Dauid in the 51 Psalme I was borne in sinne and in sinne hath my mother conceiued me but no such sinne as shall be imputed because I am borne of God by faith as saith Saint Iohn therefore I am blessed as saith the Prophet because the Lord imputeth not my sinne and not because I haue no sinne not of mine owne deseruing but of his free mercy hee saueth vs. Where is now your free-will If we haue free-will our saluation commeth of our owne selues and not of God and his word Saint Iames saith Euery good and perfect gift commeth from the Father of light of his owne will begat he vs. For the winde bloweth where it listeth and wee heare the sound thereof saith Saint Iohn but wee cannot tell from whence it commeth nor whither it goeth Euen so it is with euery one that is borne of God For Saint Paul saith It is God that worketh the will and the deede euen of his good will therefore our owne will is nought at all except it be to wickednesse After these and other Examinations wherein there is no other materiall point of Religion handled he was called forth to his condemnation and so was depriued of his life with the other nine aforesaid which were taken but the same day or the day before AMBROSE HE died in Maidstone goale who else should haue beene burned for his conscience in the truth as the other were Simon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper SImon dwelt at Linne he came to Norwich where he standing in the prease
Scottish man and therefore since he had forgotten to drink to his Maiesty or sit with his guests and entertayne them his maiesty would drink to him his own welcom desiring him to take it forth and drink to the rest of the company and in his Maiesties name to make them welcome Whereupon as he went forth his Maiesty rose from the table and desired M. Alexander to bring Sir Thomas Erskine with him who desiring the K. to goe forward with him and promising that he should make any one or two follow him that he pleased to call for desiring his Maiesty to commaund publikely that none should follow him Thus the K. accompanied only with the said M. Alexander comes forth of the chamber passeâ—h through the end of the hall where the Noblemen and his Maiesties seruants were sitting at their dinner vp a Turnepeck and through three or foure Chambers the sayd Master Alexander euer locking behinde him euery doore as he passed and then with a more smiling countenance than hee had all the day before euer saying he had him sure and safe enâ—ugh kept vntill at the last his Maiesty passiâ—g thorow three or foure sundry houses and all the doores locked behinde him his Maiesty entred into a little studie where he saw standing with a very abased countenance not a bond-man but a free man with a dagger at his girdle but his Maiesty had no sooner entred into that little study and Master Alexander with him but Master Alexander locked to the study doore behinde him and at that instant changing his countenance putting his hat on his head and drawing the Dagger from that other mans girdâ—e held the point of it to the Kings breast auowing now that the King be hoouâ—d to be in his will and vsed as hee list swearing many bloody oths that if the king cryed one word or opened a window to look out that the dagger should presently go to his heart affirming that he was sure that now the kings conscience was burthened for murthering his father His Maieâ—â—y wondring at so sodaine an alteration standing naked without any kinde of armour but his hunting horne which he had not gâ—â—ten leysure to lay from him betwixt these two traytors which had conspired his life the said maister Alexander standing as is said with a dagger in his hand and his sword at his side but the other trembling and quaking rather like â—ne condemned than an executioner of sâ—ch an enterprise His Maiesty begun then to â—ilate to the said M. Alexander how horrible a thing it was for him to meddle with his Maiesties innocent blood assuring him it would not be left vnreuenged since God had giuen him children and good subiects and if they neither yet God would raise vp stocks and stâ—nes to punish so vile a deed Protesting before God that he had no burthen in his conscience for the execution of his father both in respect that at â—he tiâ—e of his fathers execution his Maiesty was but a minor of age and guided at that time by a faction which ouer-ruled both his Maiesty and the rest of the countrey as also that whatsoeuer was done to his fathâ—r it was done by the ordinary course of Law and iustice Appealing the saide Master Alexander vpon his conscience how wâ—ll hee all times since had deserued at the hands of all his race not onely hauing restored them to their lands and dignities but also in now ishiâ—g and bringing vp of two or three of his sisters as it were in his own bosâ—me by a continuall attendance vpon his Maiesties dearest bed-fellow in hâ—r â—riuie chamber Laying also before him the terrors of his conscience especially that he made profession according to his education of the same religion which his Maiesty had euer professed and namely his Maiesty râ—membred him of that holy man Mast. Robert Rollocke whose scholler he was assuring him that one day the said Master Roberts soule would accuse him that he had neuer learned of him to practise such vnnatural cruelty his Maiesty promising to him on the word of a Prince that if hee would spare his life anâ— suffer him to go out againe he would neuer reueale to any one liuing what was betwixt them at that tâ—me nor neuer suffer him to inâ—ur any harm or punishment for the same But his Maiesties feare was that he could hope â—or no sparing at his hands hauing such cruelty in his looks and standing so irreuerently couered with his â—at on which forme of rigorous behauiour could prognosticate nothing to his Maiesty but present extremity But at his Maiesties perswasiue language he appeared to be somewhat amazed and vncouering his head againe swore and protested that his Maiesties life should be safe if he would behaue himselfe quietly without making any noyse and that he would only bring in the Earl his Brother to speak with his Maiesty whereupon his Maiesty enquiring what the Earle would doe with him since if his Maiesties life were safe according to promise they could gaine little in kéeping such a prisoner His answere onely was that he could tell his Maiesty no more but that his life should be safe in case he behaued himselfe quietly the rest the Earle his brother whom he was going for would tell his Maiesty at his comming With that as he was going forth for hiâ— brother as he affirmed he turned him about to the other man saying these words vnto him I make you here the Kinges kéeper tul I come backe againe and see that you keepe him vpon your owne perill and therewithall said to his Maiesty you must content your selfe to haue this man now your keeper vntill my comming backe With these words he passeth forth locking the doore after him leauing his Maiesty with that man he found there before Of whom his Maiesty then enquired if he were appointed to be the murtherer of him at that time and how farre he was vpon the â—oâ—nsel of that conspiracy whose answer with a trembling and astonished voice and behauiour was that as the Lord should â—â—dge him he was neuer made acquainted with that purpose but that he was put in there perforce the doore lockt vpon him a little space before his Maiesties comming as indeed all the time of the said M. Alexanders menacing his maiestie he was euer trembling requesting him for Gods sake and with many other attestations not to meddle with his maiesty nor to doe him any harme But because M. Alexander had before his going forth made the King sweare he should not cry nor open any window his maiesty commanded the said fellow to open the window on his right hand which he readily did so that although he was put in there to vse violence on the King yet God so turned his hart as he became a slaue to his prisoner While his maiesty was in this dangerous estate none of his owne seruants nor â—raine knowing where he was as his Maiesties train was arising in the Hal from