was well done but he rebuked it therefore you are deceiued Chich. Who shall iudge betwixt vs in the matter I said the word as it is in the 12. of Iohn And S. Peter saith the Scriptures haue no priuate interpretation but one scripture must be vnderstood by another then he said if you vnderstand it one way I another who shal be Iudge the true Church of God is able to discusse all doubts He said the Church of God doth allow the sacrament of the Altar VVood. What doe you offer now vpon the Altar Chich. We offer vp the body of Christ to pacific the wrath of God in the blessed Sacrament and there withall all put off their caps vnto the abhominable Idoll Wood. S. Paul saith in the tenth to the Hebrewes wee are sanctified by the offering of the body of Christ vpon the Crosse once for all and euery Priest is dayly ministring and offering one manner of sacrifice which can neuer take away sins and that it is the offering that you vse to offer as farre as I can see you be Priests after the order of Aaron that offer vp sacrifice for their owne sinnes and the sinnes of the people Chich. Aarons sacrifice was with bloud which signified the death of Christ but we are Priests after the order of Melchisedech which offered bread to the King in remembrance and signified the giuing of Christs body in bâ—ead Wine at his last supper which Christ gaue vnto his Disciples and commanded to be vsed vnto the end of the world VVood. Me thinke you haue made the matter very plaine that as Christ was the end of the sacrifices so he was the beginning of the Sacraments willing them to be vsed in remembrance of him vnto the end of the world Chich. The word saith Take eate this is my body it is not the signe onely but the thing it selfe how say you it is not his body after the words be spoken by the Priest VVood. If you say the words ouer the water if there be no child is there true Baptisme He said there must be the Water the Word the Child Then I said if the Child be baptized in the name of â—he Father the Sonne Is it true Baptisme He said it must be baptized in the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost Then I said there may be nothing added or diminished Chich. How say you Take eate this is my body is not this Christs body as soone as it is said VVood. As the water the word and the Child altogether make Baptisme so the bread the wine the word make the sacrament the eater eating it in true faith maketh it his body so it is not Christs body but by the faithfull receiuer For hee said Take eat this is my body He calleth it not his body before before eating And S. Augustine saith crede manducasti beleeue and thou hast eaten And S. Iohn saith he that beleeueth in God dwelleth in God and God in him Wherefore it is impossible to please God and to eat his body without true Faith Priest If the Faith of the receiuer maketh it his body and not his word what did Iudas eat VVood. He eat the Sacrament of Christ and the Diuell with all Priest He eate the body of Christ vnworthily as S. Paul saith Wood. S. Paul speaketh not of eating his body vnworthily but of the sacrament vnworthily For he saith whosoeuer eateth of this bread and drinketh of this cup vnworthily eateth drinketh his own damnation because he maketh no difference of the Lords body and not because hee eateth the Lords body if Iudas had eaten Christs body he must needs be saued For Christ saith in the 6. of Iohn Whosoeuer eateth my flesh and drinketh my bloud hath eternal life Chich. Do you not beleeue that after the words be spoken that there remaineth neither bread nor wine but the very body of Christ really Wood. I haue told you my mind without dissimulation more you get not of me except you wil talk by the scriptures then I wil proue it more plaine 3. or 4. waies Then they made a great laughing and said this is an heretick indeed it is time he were burned Then I said as you iudge me you shall be iudged your selues for I serue God truely with that which you call heresie as you shall well know when you are in hell and haue bloud to drinke and shall say in paine this was thâ— man we iested on and whose talk we thought foolishnes and his â—nd without honour now we may sée how he is counted amongst the Saints of God and wee are punished these words shall you say being in hell if you repent not with speed if you consent to the shedding of my bloud Priesâ—â— You were at Baxell a tweluemonth agone and sent for the Parson and talked with him in the Church-yard and would not goe into the Church for you said it was the Idols temple Story came in pointing at me with his finger I can say nothing to him but an heretick I haue heard you talke this houre and a halfe and can heare no reasonablenes in him Wood. As you iudge me you shall be iudged your selfe Story What be you a preaching you shall preach at a stake shortly with your fellowes Kéeper carry him to the Marshalsey againe and let no body come to speake with him The fourth examination before Doctor LANGDAL LAngd Your childe was not Christned in a fortnight or in thrée wéekes after it was borne and then the chifest of the Parish were faine to fetch it out of your house against your will which declareth that you allow not Baptisme of Children and if the childe had died it had beene damned because it was not Christned and you should haue beene damned because you were the let thereof Wood. It was baptized as soone as it was borne by the Midwife and the cause I blamed my neighbour was because they fet my childe out of my house without my leaue and did more to it then need was the which was not well done And where you said if a childe die and be not baptized it is damned be all damned that receiue not the outward signe of Baptisme Lang. Yea that they be For Christ saith And baptise them in the name of the Father the Sonne and the Holy Ghost And he that beleeueth and is baptized shall be saued And he that beleeueth not shall be damned Wood. Then by your saying baptizing bringeth faith and all that be baptized in the water shall be saued Lang. Yea if they dye before they come to discretion they shall be saued euery one of them and all that be not baptized shall be damned Wood. You vnderstand not the Scriptures but as farre as naturall reason can comprehend the Scriptures are plaine that they which beleeue not shall be damned But it saith not in any place that they that are not baptized shall be damned And where you say Faith commeth by
bee truely ministred according to Christs institution If I come in Faith that Christ was borne for me and that he suffered death for the remission of my sinnes and that I shall bee saued by his death and eate the Bread and drinke the Wine in remembrance of him Then I receiue whole Christ God and Man mystically by Faith The fat Priest What afoole thou art canst not tell what mystically is Wood. God hath chosen such fooles as I am to confound such a wise thing as you are Winch. Answere the Sacrament of the Altar whether it bee not the body of Christ before it be receiued and whether it bee not the body of Christ to whomsoeuer receiueth it tell me or else I will excommunicate thée Wood. I will not answere you you are not mine Ordinarie Then Chichester said I am not consecrated No said I yours bee all Cow Calues meaning therby that hee had not his Bull from Rome Thâ—â— they called me all to naught and said I was madde Then I said so Festus said to Paul when hee spake sober words and truth of the Spirit of God as I doe but you be your selues as you iudge mee you will all goe to hell if you condemne me if you haue not especiall grace to repent with spâ—câ— Winch. We goe about to saue thy soule if thou wilt be ruled Wood. No man can saue my soule for Christ hath saued it already euen before the foundation of the world was laid The Fat Priest Here is another heresie thou canst not tell what thou saist was the soule saued before it was Wood. I say the truth looke in the first to the Ephesians and there you shall find it where S. Paul saith God hath chosen vs in Christ before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him through loue and thereto we were predestinated The Fat Priest S Iames saith Faith without workes is dead and we haue free-will to doe good workes Wood. I doe not disallow good workes for a good faith cannot be without good workes yet not of our selues but it is the gift of God as S. Paul saith it is God that worketh in vs both the will and the deed euen of his good will VVinch Make and â—nd answere to me My Lord Cardinall hath appointed the Archdeacon of Canterbury thine Ordinary he can appoint whom he will before the Bishop is consecrated and so they all affirmed Wood. I will beleeue neuer a one of you all for you be turne coates changelings and wauering minded neither hote nor cold therefore GOD will spuâ— you out For in King Edwards time you taught the Doctrine that was set sorth then and now you teach the contrarie which words made the most part of them quake VVinch He is the naughtiest varlet and heretick that euer I knew I wil reade sentence against him but I spared them not but spake freely they that stood by rebuked me saying you cannot tell whom you speake vnto Wood. They be but men I trow I haue spoken to better men then they for anything I see except they repent with speed Then I told the Bishop of Winchester if you condemne me you will be condemned in hell if you repent not for I am not afraid to die for Gods sake Winchest For Gods sake nay for the Diuels sake neither was Iudas afraid to die that hanged himselfe as thou wilt kill thy selfe because thou wilt not be ruled How say you will you confesse that Iudas receiued the body of Christ vnworthily VVood. If you can prooue in all the Bible that any man euer eat the body of Christ vnworthily then I will be with you in all things Then a Priest said S. Paul saith in the 11. of the first to the Corinthians He that eateth this bread drinketh this cup vnworthily eateth and drinketh his own damnation because he maketh no difference of the Lords body Wood. He saith not who so eateth this body vnworthily nor drinketh this blood vnworthily But he saith who so eateth this bread and drinketh this cup vnworthily eateth and drinketh his oâ—ne damnation because hee maketh no difference of the Sacrament which representeth the Lords body and other bread and drink here good people you sée they are not able to proue their sayings true Wherefore I cannot beléeue them in any thing they do Then Winchester read sentence of excommunication against me when hee had done I would haue spoken but they cried away with him The third examination Chich. HOw say you to the Sacrament of the Altar I said he ment the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ and not of the Altar of stone He said yes that he did How vnderstand you the Altar otherwise Wood. It is written in the 18. of Mathew wheresoeuer two or three be gathered together in Christs name he is in the middest of them whatsoeuer they aske in earth shall be granted in heauen And in the 5. of Mat. When thou commest vnto the Altar and remembrest that thy brother hath ought against thee leaue thine offering and be first reconciled to thy brother and then offer thy gift In these two places of Scripture I proue Christ is the true Altar whereon euery one ought to offer his gifts First Christ being in the middest of them that are gathered together in his name there is the Altar so we may be bold to offer our gifts if we be in Charitie if we be not we must leaue our gift and be first reconciled vnto our Brother Some will say how shall I agrée with mine aduersary when he is not néere by 100. miles may I not pray vntill I haue spoken with him if thou presume to pray in the congregation and thinke euill vnto any thou askest vengeance vpon the selfe Therefore agrée with thine aduersarie that is make thy life agréeable to Gods Word resolue in thy heart that thou aske God the world forgiuenes intending neuer to affend them more all such may be hold to offer their gift Chichest I neuer heard any vnderstand it so no not Luther that great hereticke that was condemned by a generall Councell and his picture burned I will shew you the true vnderstanding of the Altar and the offering wee haue an Altar said Paul that you may not eat off meaning that no man might eat of that which was offered vpon the Altar but the Priest For in Pauls time all the liuing that the Priests had the people came and offered it vpon the Altar mony or other things and when the people came to offer it and remembred that they had any thing against there Brother then they left their offering vpon the Altar and went and were reconciled vnto their Brother and came againe and offered their gift and the Priest had it this is the true vnderstanding of it VVood. That was the vse of the old law Christ was the end of it and though it were offered in Pauls time that maketh not that it
themselues to be Christians whereat the Iudges and their Assistants were greatly amased and the Christians imboldened and they departed glad for the testimony they had giuen Ischrion often moued of his Master to doe Sacrifice and refusing he runne him through with a speare In this time many wandred in wildernesse suffered hunger colde danger of wilde beasts Clerimon Bishop of Nilus an olde man with his wife flying to the mountaine of Arabia could neuer be found againe Dionisius Alexandrinus suffered much aâ—flâ—ction and had strange deliuerances First the messenger was struckâ—n blinde could not finde his house after which three daies God had him flye after comming to Ierusalem he was taken the Keeper was from home when he was brought to Prison and the Keeper returning home and finding diuerse runne away he ranne away himselfe and tolde the matter to one he met going to a Mariage who tolde it to them at the wedding who in the night rushed towards the priâ—oners with great shouting they that kept the prisoners were afraid and left them then the company willed them to depart and they tâ—â—ke Dionisius set him vpon an Asse and conueyed him away In this time suffered one Christopherus a Cananite 12. cubits high also Meneates a Florentine and Agatha a holy virgine in Sicily who suffered imprisonment was beâ—ten racked famished rayled on tormented with sharpe shels and 〈◊〉 coâ—es and her breasts were cut from her body Amongst others also suffered 40. virgines by diuerse kâ—nds of deathes Triphon a very holy and constant man of Nice after much torments suffered death by the sword Decius erected a Temple at Ephesus and compelled all the citie to dee Sacrifice 7. of his Souldiers refused and they hiâ— themselues in Mount Celius in caues the Emperour caused them to be rammed vp with stones and so they wâ—re Martired Hieronimus writeth of a godly Souldier which could not be brought from his Faith was brought into a pleasant Garden laid vpon a soft bed and an Harlot sent to allure him she offering to kisse him he bit off her tongue and â—pit it in her face Theodora a virgine was commanded to the Stewes a young man a Christian caused her to change garments with him and conuey herselfe away and offering himselfe to their violence being found a man he confessed himselfe a Christian and was condemned to suffer Theodora offered herselfe to the Iudge and desired that the other might be discharged he commanded them both to be beheaded and cast into the fire Agathon was condemned to lose his head for rebuking them that derived the dead bodies of Christians One Paulus and one Andreas were scourged drawne through the citie and aftrer troden to death vnder the féete of people also Iustinus a Priest of Rome and Nicostratus a Deacon and Portius a Priest of Rome which is reported to haue conuerted the Emperour Phillip were all Martyred Secundarius as he was led to the Iaile Verianus Marcellinus asked whether they led the innocent whereupon they were taken and after torments and beatings with waisters were hanged with fire put to their sides but the Tormentors some fell sodainly dead others were possessed with euill Spirits Beza registers these to suffer in this Tyrants time Hipolitus Concordia Hierenius Abundus Victoria a virgin being Nobles or Antioch Belias Bishop of Apollinia Leacus Tyrsus and Galmetus Nazaâ—zo Triphon Phillas Bishop of Philocomus Philocronius Bishop of Babilon Thesiphon Bishop of Pamphilia Nestor Bishop of Corduba Parmeuius Priest Circensis Marianus and Iacobus Nemesianus Felix Rogatianus Priest Felicissimus Iouinius Basilius Ruffina and Secunda virgins Tertullianus Valerianus Nemesius Sempronianus Olimpiadus Teragone Zeno Bishop of Cesaria Marinus Archinius Priuatus Bishop Theodorus Bishop of Pontus Pergentius and Laurencius children suffered Persecution in Tuscia Many reuolted as Serapion Nichomachus in the middest of his torments Euaristus Bishop of Africa Nicoftratus a Deacon diuerse of them were punished by Gods hand some with euill spirits some with strange diseases At this time rose the heresie of Nouatus he disturbed Cyprian Bishop of Carthage and Cornelius Bishop of Rome he was assisted with Maximus Vrbanus Sidonius and Celerius but they forsooke him after he allured three simple Bishops in â—taly to lay their hands on him to make him Bishop of Rome with Coruelius whom by all meanes he sought to defeate and made the people that came to receiue the Eucharist sweaâ—e they would stand with him Two young men Aurelius which was twise tormented and Mapalicus in the middest of his torments told the Proconsull to morrow you shall see the running for a wager meaning his Maâ—tyrdome Decius the Emperour raigned but two yeares and with his sonne was slaine of the Barbarians presently God sent a pleâ—ue 10 yeares together which made diuerse pâ—aces desolate especially where the Persecution most raigned the Christians comforted and ministred vnto their sicke brethren the Infidels forsooke their neighbours and friends and left them destitute of succour vpon this Plague Ciprian wrote his Booke De mortalitate Vibias Gallus and Volusian his sonne by treason succeeded Decius Gallus at the first was quiet anone after published Edicts against Christians Cyprian Bishop of Carthage was banished others were condemned to the Mines as Nemisianus Fex Lucius with their Bishops Priests and Deacons to whom and to Seagrius and Rogatianus Cyprian wrote consolatory Epistles Lucius Bishop of Rome was banished whom Cornelius succeeded but a while after hee returned againe to his Church and Stephanus succéeded him and sate 7. yeares 5. monethe and died a Martyre betwixt him end Cyprian fell a contention about rebaptizing of Hereticks Emilianus slew the former Emperours and succéeded himselfe after 3. moneths he was slaine and Valerius and Galienus his sonne succeeded him Valerius 3. or 4. yeares was so cutâ—eous to Christians as no Emperour before him that his Court was full of Christians but he was seduced by an Egyptian Magitian finding himselfe hindred by them from the practising of his charmes hée brought the Emperour to Idols he Sacrificed Infants and reised the eight Persecution ¶ The eight Persecution CIprian was an African borne in Carthage an Idolater and giuen to Magicke he was conuerted to the Faith by Ceciâ—a Priest by hearing the Prophet Ionas as sOOne as he was conuerted he gaue his goods to the poore not long after he was Priest he was bishop of Carthage he had the gouernment of the whole East Church and Church of Spaine he was called the Bishop of Christian men he loued to read Tertullian and called him his Master In the time of Decius and Gallus he was banished in the time of Valerianus he returned againe but after he was found in a Carden and his head stricken off At this time Zistus Bishop of Rome with sixe of his Deacons more beheaded one Laurence a Deacon seeing the bishop goe to execution cryed to him Deare Father whether goest thou without thy deare sonne He answered within three daies thou shalt suffer in
childe after cruell torments he was whipped to the bones powdered with salt and vineger and â—ofled with a fire Dorotheus and Gorgonius séeing it reproued the Emperour and confessed they were Christians wherefore though they were in great authoritie they were almost tormented as he and strangled Anthonius Bishop of Nicomedia and Lucianus and a great company of â—artyrs were beheaded Dioclesian beheaded his owne wife Serena Elampia Agapen Irenea Cronia and Anastachia were burned 2000. Christians were burned in one Temple In Arabia many Martyres were slaine with â—xes Iâ— Phrigia a whole Citie of Christians compassed set on fire and burned In Melitina the Bishop and Elders were cast into prison A Sheriffe in doing execution vpon the Christians was conuerted and confessed himselfe a Christian and after diuerse strange torments was burned Eugenius Auxentius Marderius were Martyred In Egypt Pelus and Nilus Bishops were Martyred the rage was great in Alexandria the Bishop thereof and Elders Faustus Didius Ammonius Phildas Hefichius and Theodorus with many other were Martyred 6660. Souldiers being Christians vnder the Christian Captaine Mauritius lying at 〈◊〉 in Egypt refusing to worship Images died altogether constant in the Faith Ascla Phremon Apolinius with diuerse Christians were martyred at Anteno in Scilia were 79. put to death in Calcedon Euphenea was martired in Rome Iohn Crispus Priests at Babemâ— Agricola and Vitalis at Aquilia the Emperour commaunded 〈◊〉 man to kil the Christians where Felices and Fortunatus was killed Victor suffered at 〈…〉 Beluaâ—ns Lucian suffered In Spaine was great persecution as at Emerita Eulalia Adula Vincensia Sabina and Christiana suffered Leucadia virgin Augusta and 18. besides were martyred Where was such Persecution at â—reâ—â—rs by the riuer Mosella that â—he blood of Christians 〈◊〉 like a little Brooke and coloured by Riuer Horsâ—men 〈…〉 to kill the Christians Agripina and Augusta were 〈…〉 In 〈◊〉 all the Christians were destroyed no tongue 〈…〉 the deathe and 〈◊〉 that this Tyrant vsed hanging them by one hand 〈…〉 them and 〈…〉 but not to death but euery day Eusebius saith he saw the the 〈◊〉 of the pesecutors blunt with often slaughter themselues for wearinesse sit downe and 〈◊〉 but the Martyres nothing 〈◊〉 were patient for Chrâ—sts sake Miletus Bishop of 〈◊〉 gaue backe wherefore Peter Bishop of 〈…〉 so did Marcellus Bishop of Rome whâ—refore he was 〈…〉 and was Martyard In 30. dayes were 〈◊〉 17000 Martyres besides many that 〈…〉 There were Mariyâ—â—d at Alexandria 300. 〈…〉 120. more Martyres This Persecution endured vntill about the 7. yeare of Constantius at length being out of hope to exâ—inguish them the slaughter ceased yet they 〈◊〉 many and put 360. Regmus 〈◊〉 the eyes of 〈◊〉 and condemned many to the 〈◊〉 After Dioclesian and Maximiâ—anus had raigned about 〈◊〉 yeares thâ—yâ—â—â— vp the Empier and the Empire remained with Constantius and Galâ—â—ius Maxeminus Maxeminus presecuted the Persecution about 7. yeares vntâ— the years 318. but Constantius â—ather â—auoured the Christians â—and to try 〈◊〉 Courâ—iers he â—eigned in Sacrifice to 〈◊〉 and commaunced his Houshold so to dâ—e and finding a number that constantly refused â—e cherished them and 〈◊〉 them to great places and refused the backâ—â—ders Maximinus vsed great cruceltie in the East Churches 〈◊〉 God stayed his rage by sending him 〈◊〉 a bothe as puâ—â—â—fied his â—â—trals from whence came inumerable multitudes whereupon he published Edicts of Peace to the Christians and desired them to pray for him but 6. monethes after he set out conâ—rary of 〈◊〉 and 〈◊〉 them to be◠〈…〉 so Persecution rose againe as great as before Siluanus Lucianus Petrus Bishop Querinus Bishop Marcellus Tâ—mothe Victorianus Symphocrianus Castorius Castâ—us Cesarius Meâ—â—â—ous Nobilis Dorotheus Gorgamus Petâ—us vnto inumerable Martyris Iuliana Cosmus Damanus Basileus with â—eauen others Dorathca Theophilus Theodosia Vitaâ— is Agricola â—â—cha Philemon Hireneus Januarius Festus Diâ—iderius Grigorius Spolitanus Agapâ—â—s Croâ—ia Hirenea â—â—heodora with 270. others Florianus Prinius Feliciaâ—â—â— Vitus Modestus Crescentia Aâ—binus Rogatianus Donatianus 〈◊〉 Catharina Margareta Lucia 〈◊〉 Aâ—theus the King with 3700. Simplicius Faustâ—â—â—s Beatrix Panthaleon Grigorâ—ns Iustus Leocandia Anthonia with infirâ—â— Felix Victor with his parents Lucia widdowe Germinianus with 79. others Anastacia Câ—â—â—ogonus Felix Audactus Adrianus Nathalia Agnes of 13. yeares olde these 〈◊〉 many other were then Martyred The Emperour in his Edict declared what plently they enioyed when they adored their 〈◊〉 As 〈◊〉 as that Persecution began there was a miserable Fâ—mine aâ—d Pestilence wherein the Christians to their power reâ—â—ued the Gentiles whereby grewe some yeare 〈…〉 a Christian woman whose husband they had killed to satisfie the filthy desire of the Emperour shee killed her selfe rather then she would so doe He banished a Noble woman of Rome because she gaue her goods to the Church The people of Rome wearied with the vilâ—any of Maxentius â—â—quired aydâ— Constantine he gathered an Armie in Fraunce and Britaâ—ne and being in 〈◊〉 looking vp to Heauen about the going downe of the Sunne he sawe a brightnesse like acrosse with Starres of equall bignesse with this inscription In hoc vince Eusebius Pamphilus reporteth he heard Constaâ—tine often affirme it In the 〈…〉 Christ appeared vnto him with the signe of the same Crosse bâ—â—ding â—im make the figure thereof and carry it before him in his warres and he should hauâ— vâ—ctory whereupon he 〈◊〉 towards Maxâ—ntius who not being able to sustaine Constantines â—orce and 〈◊〉 â—o the Câ—tie was ouerthrowne of his horse in the floud and â—â—owned and so ended thâ— last Persecution he gaue liâ—ertie by Proclâ—mation to Christians â—o prolesse their Religion Diâ—clesian heaâ—ing herâ—of dyed for sorrâ—w some say he poysoned 〈…〉 Licinius first â—oyned with Constanâ—â—ne and â—onquâ—red Maximinus a great 〈◊〉 in the West who killed his Charmâ—rs that 〈◊〉 him â—o warre and 〈…〉 with a disease he glorified the God of the Christians and made a Lawe for their 〈◊〉 Licinius called Learning the poyson of the common wealth and said it was a 〈◊〉 for a Prince to be learned he said the Christians prayed for Constantâ—â—◠〈◊〉 and not for him therefore he persecuted them first in his owne Court them in the 〈◊〉 he rased many Churches to the ground he hanged Theodorus on a Crosse thrâ—st nayles into his aâ—me pits then strucke off his head He put to death Basilius Bishop Niclâ—olaus Bishop Grigâ—râ—us of Armenia the great Paul of 〈◊〉 whose â—ands were 〈◊〉 off â—ith a â—earing Iron in Sebastâ—a he drowned 40. Souldiers in a horse Pond the wiues of these 40. with Ammones a Deacon after inumerable torments were slaâ—â—e with thâ— sword Diuerse bâ—tâ—els were sought betwéene Licinius and Constantine first in Hungary where he was ouâ—r throwne in Macedonia where he fled and â—epâ—yred his Armâ—â— and being vanquished by Sea and Land he yeelded to Costantine and was commâ—â—â—â—dâ—â— liue a priuate life but he was killed by the Souldiers in the yeare 324. Constantius â—he father of Constantine dyed in the
Cadwalader 2076. yearâ—s vnder an hundred and two Kings and they receiued the Christian Faith in the yeare of Christ 162. In the time of Lucius their King Elutherius being Pope who sent thither Fagamus and Damianus Preachers who ordained in the realme 28. Bishops with two Archbishopes Theonus Archbishop of London and Theodosius Archbishop of Yorke so it continued 300. yeares vntill the Saxons being Infidels subdued the Realme and diuided it into seauen Kingdome and so it continued vntill Gregory sent hither Austin to conuert the Realme who was after made Archbishop of Canterbury and it was Gregories purpose to reduce the new Church of the Saxons to the order that was in the old time amongst the Britaines vnder the two Metropolitaines of London and Yorke yet hée gaue Austen this prerogatiue during his life time to haue the Iurisdiction aboue all the Bishops and Priests in England but after his decâ—ase London and Yorke to ouersée the charge and he willed no distinction of Honour to be betwixt London and Yorke but that he that had béene longest Bishop of the place should be preferred Upon this it was decréed that Yorke should be subiect to Canterbury and that wheresoeuer Canterbury would hold a Councell Yorke with his Bishops should come thither and be obedient to his Decrées and when Canterbury should decease Yorke should come to Duer to consecrate the new Archbishop but if Yorke decease his successor should resort to Canterbury and where the Bishop of Canterbury should appoint to receiue his consecration swearing obedience In the 9 yeare of King Williams reigne another Counsell was holden at London wâ—ere was decreed that the Bishop of Yorke should sit on the right hand of Canterbury and London on the left and in his absence Winchester and that Bishops should translate the Seas from vâ—â—lages to cities that Monks should haue nothing propper and if any so had he dying vnconfâ—ssed should not be buried in the Churchyard that no Clarke or Monke should be retained in another Diâ—cesse without Letters testimoniall that none should speake in the Councell without leaue but Bishops and Abbots that none should buy or sell any â—ffice in the Church that neither Bishop Abbot nor any of the Clergie should be at the Iudgement of any mans death or dismembring At this time diuerse good Bishops displaced Monkes and restored maried Priests againe the Bishop of Winchester placed aboue 40. Canons in stead of Monkes for his part but this godly enterprise was stopped by Lanfranke the Archbishop of Canterbury he plucked downe the old Church of Canterbury and builded vp the new After the death of the Pope Hildebrand succéeded who was surnamed Gregory the 7. he was a Sorcerer and the principal cause of all the perâ—urbation that hath beene since in the Church for before he wrought his feats setting vp and displacing what Bishops he listed setting them against Emperours and destroying Matrimony vnder colour of chastiâ—ie the Chuch was in some order and Popes quietly ruled vnder Christian Emperours and were defended by them He first contemning the authoritie of the Emperor thrust in himselfe to be Pope vanting himselfe to haue both the Ecclesiasticall and the Temporall sword committed to him of Christ and full power to binde and loose what he lifted he challenged all the Dominion both of the East and West Church he set at light Kings and Emperours who raigned but at his godamercie Bishops and Prelates as his vnderlings he kept in awe suspending cursing and chopping off their heads He â—â—irred vp warres releasing Othes Fidelitie and due allegiance of Subiects to their Princes To this scope tended chiefly all his practises to abolish the mariage of Priests and to translate the authoritie Emperiall vnto the Clergy as appeared before in the Councell of Laterâ—n for though he was not then Pope in name yet was he Pope indéed and ruled the Pope as he listed In a Councell which he held at Rome he enacted that no Priest hereafter should mary that those that were maried should be Diuorced and that none hereafter should be admitted Priest but should sweare perpetuall Chastitie The Clergie of France resisted this Decree and said it was repugnant to the word of God that the Pope should take from Priests that which God and Nature had giuen them and against the Doctrine of Saint Paul I haue no commaundement of God touching Virginitie and he that cannot liue continent let him mary And that it was against the Canons of the Apostles and the Nicen Councell and that thereby would be opened a pernicious window to vncleanesse and fornication and concludâ—d they had rather giue vp their benefices then forsake their lawful wiues against the word of Christ. Likewise the Priests of Germany were as stout against the Pope but at last this gréedinesse of Liuings in weake Priests made them to yéeld vp their godly libertie to wicked tyranny He preached in a great assembly that the Emperour should die before Saint Peters day next and should be so deiected that he should not be able to gather together aboue sixe knights and that if this prophesie were not fulfilled they should plucke him from the Altar and he would be no more Pope And when he had gone about diuerse waies to murder the Emperour and yet God preserued him beyond the appointed time them subtily he turned his tale and said he ment of the soule of the King About the time Hildebrand was made Pope there was great warres betwixt Otho Duke of Saxony and the Emperour which was a fit occasion for the Pope to worke his seats First he excommunicated all that receiued Spirituall liuings of Lay-men and all the giuers thereof which he called symony whereupon he sent Legats to the emperour to appeare before him at the Councell of Lateran The Emperour appeared not whereupon hee threatned him excommunication and to depriue him of his Crowne If he would not renounce the heresie of Symony which was giuing of Spituall Liuings Wherefore Centius a Romaine Captaine caught the Pope and shut him vp into a Tower the next day the citizens plucked downe the Tower and deliuered the Pope and cut off the noses of the men of Centius but he escaped to the Emperour The emperour being moued with this arrogancie called a Councell at Wormes where all the Bishops of Germany deposed Hildebrand The Pope in his Councell of Lateran excommunicated and depriued as many as tooke the Emperours part and excommunicated the emperour depriued him of his empire and all his subiects of their Oath of alleagiance As soone as he rose out of his papal seat to excommunicate the Emperour the seat being but new and of strong tymber suddenly shiuered and rent vs pieces The princes of Almany all concluded to forsake Henry and choose another emperour except he would submit himselfe and obtaine the Popes pardon The Emperour with his wife and young sonne all hauing forsaken him laying apart his regall ornaments in sharpe winter came bare fooâ—â—d to the
in knowne this Bishop not elected of God but intruded himselfe by fâ—aud and money subueâ—ted Ecclesiasticall order disturbed the gouernment of the Empire â—â—nacing death of bodie and soule vnto our peaceable king set vp a perâ—ured king making discorâ—s amongst friends and brethren Diuorcements amongst the maried for he tooke away the marriage of Priests as Henricus Mutius witnesseth therfore we heere in the name of God congregated doe procéede in Canonicall Iudgement against Hildebrand a man most wicked preaching Sacriledge and burning maintaining periurie and murders calling in question the Catholike Faith of the body and bloâ—d of Christ following of Diuinations and dreames a manifest Nigromancer a Sorcerer infected with a Pithâ—nical spirit We adiudge him to be deposed and expelled and vnlesse he depart vpon the hearing hereof to be peâ—pstually condemâ—â—d This beâ—ing sent to Rome they elected Guibertus Archbishop of Rauenna which was deposed by Hildebrand as aforesaid in his place and named him Clement the 3. And because Hildebrand would not giue ouer his hold the Emperour with an Army came to Rome to depose him and Hildebrand sending to the Countesse Mathilda before mentioned required her in remission of all her sinnes to withstand the Emperour and so she did but the Emperour besieged the Citie all the Lent and after Easter got it and comming into the Temple of Saint Peter placed Clement in his Papacie Hildebrand â—â—ed into Adâ—ans Tower where being besieged he sent for Robert Guischardus a Normaine who with his Army when the Emperour was gone burst in at one of the gates of the Câ—â—y spoyled it and deliuered Hildebrand and caried him to Campania where not long after he dyed in exile In the meane time whilst the Emperour was at Rome the Abbot of Cluniake and the people of Rome exhorted Hildebrand to Crowne Henry Emperour at Lateran and they would â—ause the Empâ—rour to depart with his Armâ— to whom he answered he would so the Emperour would submit himselfe aske pardon amend and promise obedience The Emperour not agréeing to the conditions departed and tooke the new Pope with him The Emperour was wont to pray in the Temple of Saint Mary Hildebrand knowing by spies the place where he was wont to pray hired one to cary vp stones to the roofe of the Church to let them fall vpon his head when he was at prayers the hireling â—aying his stones in order fell downe and was slaine The Romaines vnderstanding the truth drew him thrée dayes by the legs through the streets for example but the Emperour of his méekenesse commaunded him to bâ— buried Hildebrand being a dying bewailed his faults and sent a Cardinall to the Emperour to desire him forgiuenesse and to pardon the Emperour and all his parâ—akers quicke and dead of the danger of excommunication From this Pope sprang all mischéefe pride pompe and tyranny which since raigned in his successors hence was the subiection of Temporall Regiment to the Spirituall and the suppression of Priests mariages héere came in the authoritie of both Swords to the Spiritualty so that the Magistrates could doe nothing in giuing of Bishoprickes benefices in calling of Counceis in correcting the excesses of the Clergie but the Pope must doe all Nor no Bishop nor Passor in his owne Parish could excommunicate or vse any 〈◊〉 discipline against his flocke but it was onely the Popes Prerogatiue In him was the first example of persecuting Empeâ—ours and kings with rebellion and excommunication then Victor the third was made Pope who likewise shewed himselfe staut against the Emperours but God gaue the shrewde cowe short hornes some say hee was poysoned in his Chalice and raigned but one yeare and a halfe Notwithstanding the Popes followed still the steps of Hildebrand as the Kings of Israell Ieroboam in the time of this Victor began the Order of Monkes of the Charterhouse Next him Vâ—banus the 2. was Pope which confirmed the Acts of Hildebrand and gaue new Decrees against Henry the Emperour and against Clement the Pope hee held two Councels one at Placâ—â—tia the other called Synodus Claromontana wherein he caused all Christian Princes â—o warre against the Saâ—â—cens for recouering Ierusalem whereupon 30000. were appointed for the same businesse by the said Vrbanus The King of Galacia with the whole Diâ—ces of Saint Iames was excommunicated for the prisoning of a certaine Bishop About this time the King of England fauoured not much the Sea of Rome for their pride and exactions and would not suffer his subiects to giue to Rome saying The followed not Petâ—rs steps that hâ—nted for rewards nor had Peters power which had not his holinesse The order of Cisteriâ—ns was first estâ—blished in Burgundia by the same Vrbanus the seauen Canonical houres were first instituted in the Church By him the order of the Cartusâ—an Mâ—nkes was confirmed Hee Decreed no Bishop to be made but vnder the name of some place he Decreed that Maâ—â—ens and houres of the â—ay should euery day be said and that the Masse of our Lady should bee said euery Saturday and the Clergy that had wiues should be depriued of their Order and that it was lawfull for subiects to breake the Oath of Alegiance with such Princes as were excommunicated and that it was not lawfull for a man and his wife both together to Christen a childe with many moe matters After him followed Pascalis the 2. he putting on a purple Uesture and a tyre on his head was brought vpon a white Palfrey into Lateran where a Scepter was giuen him and a girdle about him which hauing seauen Keyes with seauen Seales to token the seauen powers by the seauen graces of the holy Ghost of binding loosing shutting openning sealing resigning and Iudging which the Emperour Henry the 4. hearing of thought to come to Italy to salute the new Pope but vnderstanding the Popes minde against him changed his purpose This Pascalis dâ—posed all such Abboâ—s and Bishops as the Emperour had set vp and banished many that striued at that time for the Papacie and made an Armie against Clement whom the Emperour made Pope as aforesaid and being put to flight not long after dâ—â—d About the same time the Bishop of Fluence began to teach and Preach of Antichrist then to bée borne as Sabeliâ—us 〈◊〉 Pascalis put to silence the said Bishoppe and condemned his Boâ—kes by a Councell which hée assembled at Treâ—as Maried Priests in this Councell were condemned for Nicholaitans All Lay-men that gaue Spirituall Dignities were condemned of Symony The Statuâ—e of Priests Tythes was renewed counting the selling thereof sinne against the holy Ghost Hée renewed the excommunication of Hildebrand against Henry the Emperour caused cerâ—aine Bishoppes to depriue him of his Crowne and to place his sonnâ— Henry the 5. in his Fathers roome these Bishops required of the Emperour his Diademe Pâ—â—ple â—ing and other ornaments of his Crowne when the Emperour would know the reason they aleadged the Popes pleasure and for selling
the fight of Beckets Church he lighted went barefoote to his toombe whose steps were found bloudy by the roughnâ—sse of the stones and receiued a whip with a rod of euery Monke of the Cloister whereby thou maist see the lamentable superstition and ignorance of those dayes and the slauery that Kings and Princes were brought too vnder the Popes Clergy the same yeere almost the whole Citie of Canturbury was consumed with fire and the said Minster church cleane burnt The next yeare in a conuocation of Bishops Abbots and other of the Clergie at Westminster there was great discention betwixt the two Arch-bishops whether Yorke must beare his Crosse in the Dioces of Canterbury and whether the Bishopricks of Lincoln Chichester Worcester and Hereford were of the sea of York Wherefore the one appealed the other vnto the presence of the Pope How much better had it beene if the Supremacie had remained in the King whereby much trauell and great wastfull expences had bin saued and there cause morâ— indifferently and more spéedily decided Diuers of Glocester in the Dioces of York were excommunicated by the Archb. of Canterbury because being summoned they refused to appeare a Cardinall by the Kings procurement was sent from Rome to make peace by the meanes of the King it was agreed that Canterbury should release his claime to Glocester and absolue the Clarks thereof the bearing the crosse and other matters was referred to the other Bishops and a league of truce for fiue yeares betwixt them The next yeare Henry the second denided the Realme into six parts ordained thrée Iustices of assise on euery part to the first Norfolk Suffolk Cambridge shire Huntingdon-shire Buckingham-shire Essex Hereford-shire to the second Lincoln-shire Nottingham-shire Derby-shire Stamford-shire Warwick-shire Northampton-shire Leicester-shire Thirdly Kent Surry South-hampton-shire Sussex Berk-shire Oxford-shire Fourthly Heriford-shire Glocester-shire Worcester-shire Salop-shire Fiftly Wilt-shire Dorcester-shire Sommerset-shire Deâ—â—n-shire Cornwall Euerwick-shire Richmond-shire Lancaster Copland Westmâ—r-land Northumberland Cumberland In this yéere the Archbishop of Canterbury made thrée Arch-deacons where there was but one and the K. granted the pope that no Clarke should be called before a temporall Iudge except for his offence in the Forrest or his lay-fée that he holdeth and that no Bishopricke or Abbey should remaine but one yeere in the Kings hands without great cause This yeare there was great controuersie betwixt the Archbishop of Canterbury and the Abbot of S. Austen he being Elect whether the Bishop should come to his house to consecrate him or he to come to the Metropolitan church of Canterbury to be consecrated The â—bbot appealed to the audience of the Pope and went thither with a fat purse procured letters to the Bishop of Worcester to command the Arch-bishop to consecrat him in his Monastery because it did properly belong to the Iurisdiction of Rome should do so likewise to his successors without exception of obedience if the â—rchb refuse to doe it then he should doe it the Archb. vnderstanding it loth to yéeld vsed policy he watched a time when the Abbot was froÌ„ home came to the Monastery with all things appointed for the busines called for the Abbat to be consecrated the Abbot not being at home he fained himself not a little gréeâ—ed wherevpon the Abbot was disappointed faine to fill his purse a new make a new course to Rome to the Pope of whom he receiued his consecration This yéere a Cardinal was sent into England as few yéeres there was not one sent to get mâ—ny he was to make peace betwixt the Archbishops of York Canterbury who kept a Councel at Westminster to which all the chiefe of the Clergy resorted with great confluence Yorke thinking to preuent Canterbury came first and placed himselfe on the right hand of the Cardinall Canterbury seeing the first place taken refused to take the second Yorke alledged the old Decree of Gregory by whom this order was taken betwixt these two Metropolitans that he that should be first in election should haue the preheminence in dignity and goe before the other From words they went to blowes Canterbury hauing more seruants was to strong for Yorke plucked him from the right hand of the Cardinall treading on him with their feet that it was well hee escaped aliue his Robes were all rent from his back this Noble Romane Cardinall which should haue ended the strife committed himselfe to flight the next day Yorke shewed his Rochet to the Cardinall to testifie his wrong and appealed and cited the Archbishop of Canterbury and certaine of his men to the Pope The kingdome of England in the Henry this second his time extended so farre as hath not béen seene The King of Scots with all the Lords spirituall and temporal did him homage for them and their successors Ireland England Normandie Aquitane Gaunt c. Unto the mountaine of Pireni in the vtmost parts of the Ocean in the Brittish sea protector of France and offered to bée King of Ierusalem by the Patriarke and Master of the Hospitall there which he refused alledging his great charge at home and it might be his sonnes would rebell in his absence The fame of his wisedome manhood riches was so renowned through all quarters that messengers came from the Emperor of Rome and from the Emperour of Constantinople and from many great Kings Dukes and other great men to determine questions of strife and aske councell of him he raigned thirty fiue yéeres and hauing great warres yet neuer set tribute or taxe vpon his subiects nor first fruits nor appropriations of benefits vpon the Clergy yet his treasure beeing weighed by King Richard his Sonne after his death weighed 900000. pounds besides Iewels and Houshold-stuffe of which 11000. pounds came by the death of Robert Arch-bishop of Yorke for hee had procured a Bull of the Pope that if any Priest dyed without Testament he should haue all his goods His Sonne Henry whom he ioyned with him in his Kingdome and at his Coronation serued him as a Steward and set the first dish at the Table renouncing the name of King the Archbishop of Yorke sitting at the right hand of the young King he told him he might greatly reioyce being no King had such an Officer as he had the young King disdaining his words said My Father is not dishonored for I am a King and a Quéenes Sonne and so is not he He tooke Armes with the French King against his Father and persecuted him but after hee had raigned a few yeares died in his youth by the iust iudgement of God After his death his Sonne Richard called Cor-de-Lyon rebelled against his Father and Iohn his youngest Sonne did not degenerate from his Brothers steps the said Richard brought his Father to such distresse of body and minde that for thought he fell into an Ague and within fouâ—e daies dyed Richard méeting his Corps beginning to wéepe the bloud burst out of the
wounded for obeying their liege King came and were absolued of their owne Bishops but the Spirituall men were compelled to séeke their absolution of the Pope Some of the Clergie were not pleased that the King should be absolued vntill the King had payed all which any of the Clergie should demaund and complained of the Popes Legate that he was too partiall for the King in the matter of restitution and because he went with the Kings Officers to the Cathedrall Churches Abbyes Priories and other Churches vacant and appointed two Iucumbants to euery place one for the King and the other for the parties and commonly compelled the election to passe vpon him whom the king nominated The Archbishop called a Councell at Oxford some would not tary séeing the confysion thereof others reuiled the king most spiâ—efully behinde his backe saying he ought to bée taken for no Gouernour of theirs that it grew to a grieuous tumult and most grieuous commotion In this years Pope Inocent held the Councell at Rome called Lateran it was pretended to be for the râ—formation of the Church Uniuersall and to haue the holy Land recouered from the Turtes but it was because the Doctrine of the Truth which they call Hereâ—â—â— begin to 〈◊〉 very high by reason whereof the Empâ—rour Otho and many other Priestes and their Countries were excommunicated In this Councell he established by publique Deerce that the Pope should haue the correction of all Christian Princes and that no Emperour should bee admitted except he were sâ—orne to him and Crowned of him Item that whosoever spake euâ—il of the Pope should be punished in Hell with eternall damnation Item Transubstantiation was first inuented brought in and a Pix ordâ—ined to couer the bread and bell to be rung bâ—fore it when it went abroad and the Masse to bée made equall with Christs Gospell Item the Act was established and ratified of compelling Priests to abiure lawfull mâ—â—iage Marke how the Priests and their adherents were plagued for handling king Iohn so Stephen Lancton Archbishop of Canterbury in this Councell was excommunicated of Pope Inocent with all thâ—se Bishops Preâ—lates Priests Barons and Commons which had béene of Councell with him in the former Rebellion and when the Archbishop had 〈◊〉 instant sute to be absolued the Pope answered I sweare by Saint Peter thou shalâ— not so soone obtaine thy absolution for thou hast hurt the king of England and iniured â—uch the Church of Rome He was also suspended from Church saying Masse or exercising other Ecclesiasticall Office because he would not execute the Popes curse vpon the said Rebellious Barons and cursed all the other rebels with bâ—ll bookâ— and candle and they appealed to the generall Councell In the same yeare many were summoned to Rome because they would not consent to the Kings deposing and submitting to the Pope Thus the whole Realme was miserably deuided into two factious some Lords and Gentlemen a great number followed the King and loued his doings Others fled to the French King desiring of him his eldest sonne Lodowicke and they would elect him their King and that he would send with him a mightie Armie to subdue the King but as certaine Lords and Barons were chusing Lodowicke for their king the Pope sent a Cardinall to stop their rash and cruell attempts charging the French king vpon his alegiance with all possible power to â—auour and deâ—end King Iohn of England his Feodaâ—y or Tenant Tho French king answered The Realme of England was neuer yet part of Peters patrimony neither now is nor euer should be No Prince may pledge or giue away his Kingdome without the lawfull consent of his Barons If the Pope shall seâ— vp such a president he shall at his pleasure bring all Christian Princes and their Kingdomes to naught Though he be my aduersary I much lament that he â—â—th brought the noble ground and Quéene of Prouinces vnder miserable 〈◊〉 The chiefe of his Lords standing by cryed by the bloud of God in whome we hope to be saued we will sticke in this Article to the loosing of our heads that no King may put his â—and vnder tribute and make his Nobilitie captiue seruants Lodowicke 〈◊〉 that his purposed iourney might not vs let for the Barons haue elected mee and I will not loose my right but fight for it to death and I haue friâ—ndes there to which the King answered not belike doubting somewhat because he saw all 〈◊〉 of the Priests that they might liue licentiously in wealth frée from the Kings yoake The same time a such treasons and conspiracies were wrought by Clergie men that the King knew not where to finde trustie friends At length he went to Douer looking for ayde from other quarters to whom resorted a wonderful number of men from Flanders 〈◊〉 Holland and many other parts It was reported the Pope writ to them to aâ—de him First bâ—cause he submitted his kingdome to his protection and he had taken vpon him the 〈◊〉 of the white Crosse to winne againe Ierusalem Thirdly because he had gotten by him England and Ireland and was like to loose both Upon the Aâ—â—â—nciation day of our Lady hee â—ooke vpon him his voyagâ— againâ—â—â—he Turkes to recouer Ierusalem He told his seruants 〈◊〉 did prospeâ—â— with him since he submitted himselfs and his kingdomes to the Church of Rome In this yeere one Simon Langton was chosen 〈◊〉 of Yorke but he was deposed by the Pope because he was brotheâ— to Stephen â—rchbishop of 〈◊〉 wâ—â—m the Pope hated hauing brought him vp of naught and â—ound him so 〈◊〉 and he places the Bishop of 〈◊〉 in his â—oome The 〈◊〉 night the Pope renewed his curse vpon the king of France his 〈◊〉 for vsurping vpon king Iohn and against the said Simon Langton and Geruas Hobruge for prouoking him to the same with wonâ—erfull 〈◊〉 cousing the â—els to ring caâ—les to be â—â—ghted and doores opened the 〈…〉 to be red committing them wholy to the Deuâ—l and communded the â—ishops and 〈◊〉 to poblish it through the whole Realme to the â—errour of all subiects The 〈◊〉 Simon and Geruais derâ—â—â—d him and appealed vnto the 〈◊〉 all Councell for Lodowicke and themselues The Magestrates and citizens of London did likewise 〈…〉 at the Popes commandements and kept company with the excommunicated at â—able and Church in contempt of the Pope and 〈◊〉 Lodowicke at 〈◊〉 taking himselfe king made Simon Langton higâ— Chancellour and Geruais Hobruge his chiefe Preacheâ— vy whose daily Preaching the Barâ—â—â— and Citizens bring excommunicated caused all the Church doores to be opened and 〈◊〉 sung and Lodowicke was sit for them in all paints About this time Cardinall Pandulphus was made Bishop of Norwich for gathering Peter 〈◊〉 an old â—illage of the Pope other great labours â—one by him for the Pope About this time one Uicont of Meinn a 〈◊〉 man which came ouer with Lodowicke felll â—â—cke and called to him certaine English Baronâ— and said I pittie the
twentie yeares he was deposed and being in prison was striken in with a hot Spit After whom succeeded Edward the third in whose raigne Calis was first wonne and after the French King taken Prisoner and brought into England and ransomed for 3000000. Florens At which time happened the great conflict betwixt the Townes-men of Oxford and the Uniuersitie whereof a remembrance remaineth to this day In whose raigne two Friers Minorites were burned in Auignion and in his raigne was Maister Iohn Wiclife Reader of Diuinity in Oxford THE FIFT PART OF THE ECCLESIASTICALL History containing the Actes of Martyrs ALthough the Holy Ghost raised vp many before Wickliffe to vanquish the great errors which daily did preuaile in the world as Berengarius Bruno of Aniow Oklens the second Valden Marsilius of Padoâ— Iohn of Gandauo Okchammus with diuers others of that schoole yet because they were not very famous nor notable we will begin at Wickliffe at whose time the furious fire of persecution seemed to take his originall In those great and troubelous times and horrible darknes of ignorance what time there séemed in a manner to bee no one so little sparke of pure doctrine remaining this foresaid Wickliffe by Gods prouidence sprang vp throgh whom the Lord would first waken and raise vp againe the world which was ouermuch drowned in the déepe streames of humane traditions when hee had long time professed Diuinitie in Oxford and perceiuing the true doctrine of Christs Gospel to bee adulterate with so many filthy inuentions of Bishops sects of Monkes and dark errors first he began to touch the Sacrament of the body and bloud of Christ in which he tooke much paines protesting in open schoole that it was his purpose to call back the Church from her Idolatry in this point but this sore could not bee touched without the great griefe of the whole world first the whole glut of Mâ—nkes and Fryers were mad with him fighting for their altars panches and bellies after them the Priests after them the Bishops took the matter in hand at last when there power seemed not sufficient to withstand the truth which then was breaking out they ran whollâ— to the thunder-bolts of the Bishop of Rome against them all this valiant Wickliffe happely maintained the cause of the Sacrament prouing it by Scriptures and the ancient Doetors hee refused the Doctors since the thousand yeares after Christ saying that after these yeares Satan was loosed and the life of man hath been most subiect to errors and that the simple and plaine truth doth appeare and consist in the Scriptures when all humane traditions must be referred he proued most stoutly in the Sacrament the substance with bread the accident not to be present As long as King Edward the third liued he was well enough defended by him against all there woluish cruelty yet in the last yeare of his raigne hee was taken by the Bishop of Canterbury at the instigation of the Pope and put to silence in presence of the Duke of Lancaster and the Lord Henry Piercy yet after by the fauour of certaine Noble-men he kept not long silence but King Edward being dead Pope Gregory neuer ceased to moue King Richards minde by his Letters Bishops and Bulles to persecute Wickliffe and his adherents by this meanes the examination of Wickliffe being at hand before the Bishops of Canterbury and London a certaine Noble man called Lewis Clifford comming in amongst the Bishops commanded them that they should not proceede with any definâ—tiue sentence against Wickliffe wherewith they were so amazed and their combes so cut that they had not a word in their mouthes to answere and when the Bishops and Wickliffe were come together in the Archbishops Chappell at Lambeth the Citizens and common people of London by force brake in vpon them and disturbing the Session were not afraid to intreat in the cause of Wickliffe by which meanes he escaped after hee had made a short protestation to be a true Christian and to professe and defend the law of Christ as long as hee breathed and if hee should erre hee would aske God forgiuenes and submit himselfe to the correction of our holy Mother the Church and that hee wouâ—d set forth in writing the Articles hee was now accused for the which to death hee would defend which all Christians especially the Pope and all Priests â—ught to defend for vnderstand the conclusions after the sence of the Scriptures and holy Doctors and I am ready to expound them if they seeme contrarie to the faith The first conclusion of IOHN WICKLIFFE exhibited in the Conuocation of certaine Bishops at Lambeth 1 THat none but Christ was ordained and not Peter and all his off-spring politiquely to rule ouer the world for euer for in the 1 Cor. 15. Then shall the end come when he shall deliuer vp his kingdome to God his Father when hee shall haue made voide all princely dominion it seemeth probable that they defraud her of her reward and vniustly defer to take vengeance vpon the body of the diuell which he hath deserued 2 The substance of the second was that by no power any writing was to be canonized contemning the Scripture this was spoke to one that commended mans writing and contemned the Scripture 3 That euery man in grace iustifying hath not onely right to all things but aboue all the good things of God as appeareth by the 24. of Mathew verily hee shall make him ruler ouer all his goods and in the eight to the Romans God spared not his Sonne but gaue him for vs how then did hee not giue vs all things with him this allureth vs to loue God that hath chosen vs to so many great and true riches 4 None can giue any temporall Dominion or gift but as the Minister of God the Apostle saith Iesus Christ was a Minister let not his Uicar then which should be a seruant of seruants be ashamed to vse the ministerie of the Church for his pride of seculer Dominion with his worldly stile seemeth blasphemie and the aduancement of Antichrist especially where they repute the Scriptures as cockle and the determination of all controuersies of Scripture in themselues 5 As sure as God is the Temporall Lords may lawfully and meritoriously take away the riches from the Church when they doe offend yet I say that it is not lawfull to doe it by the authoritie of the Church and for lacke of some spirituall gouernour and in case when the Ecclesiasticall Minister being strayed from the Catholique faith is to be corected and punished 6 The Uicar of Christ is not able by his Buls of himselfe not by the consent of his colledge to make a man the more able or disable a man that ought to procéed of God but he onely in the Name of God to notifie to the Church whom God hath enabled else he is as presumptuous as Lucifer for in the 1. Cor. 3. All our sufficiency commeth of God 7
was Anno 1415. if wee count from this yeare vnto the yeare one thousand fiue hundred and sixtéene in which yéere Martine Luther first began to write against the Pope wee shall finde the number of an hundred yéeres fully complete When as the Newes of the barbarous cruelty exercised against Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage was reported in Boheme their Disciples assembled and celebrated a memoriall of their deaths decréeing it to be holden yéerely and after they obtained certaine Churches of the King to preach and minister the Sacraments in then they suppressed diuers Monasteries and Pharasaicall and Idolatrous Temples driuing the vicious Priests and Monkes out of them or compelling them to a better order whereby their number augmented vnder the conduct of one Nicholas a Noble man and comming againe to the King for more Churches the King told Nicholas thou hast begun a Web to put me out of my Kingdome and I will make a rope of it wherewith I will hang thée Wherevpon Nicholas departed and the king went to a new Castle which he had builded and sent Ambassadours vnto the Emperour his brother for ayde The Protestants being assembled at Prage the King sent his Chamberlain with thrée hundred horsemen to run vpon them but he was faine to fly for fears of his life at this newes the King and all about him were amazed but his Cup-bearer said I knew these things would thus come to passe the King in a rage caught him threw him downe and would haue slaine him with his Dagger but béeing let with much adâ—e he pardoned him immediately the King fell sick of a Palsie and within eightéene daies died when he had marked the names of them which hée would haue put to death before the Princes which he had sent to for ayde were come when he had raigned 55. yeares and was 57. yéere old Immediatly after whose death a Noble man named Zischa minding to reuenge the iniuries of Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage gathered a number of men of Warre and subuerted the Monasteries and Idolatrous Temples breaking in péeces the Images driuing away the Priests and Monkes which hée said were kept vp in their Cloisters like Swine in their fat sties a fatting his army increased to fortie thousand men hée went to Pelzina where hee knew hée had many friends of his faction and tooke the Towne and fortified it strongly and some of his company tooke the Castle of Uissegard then the Quéene sent Letters to the Emperour Sygismond and other Nobles requiring ayde in the meane time the Quéene raised an armie with the treasure of the King which could not preuaile against them Then the Protestants sent Letters throughout the whole Realme that they should not let the Emperour enter who was an enemy to Boheme had bound the ancient Citie of the Prutenians vnto order by pledges put the Marques of Brandenburge from the Bohemian Crowne and not onely suffred but procured Iohn Hus and Ierome of Prage to be burned and with all his endeuour doth impugne the Doctrine which they taught Zisca was twise assaulted of his enemies but was alway victor after he went to Ausca a towne out of which the Papists had cast many Protestants he tooke the towne and set it on fire the chéefe Papists fled to the Castle Lytius but he took the Castle and put them all to sword saue one then he chose a place by a riuer which was fenced by nature this place he compassed in with walles and commanded euery man to build them houses and named it Thaber and his companions Thabarites as if they had seene the transfiguration of Christ in the mount the way to it by land was scarse thirty foot broad for it is almost an Iland they had no horsemen vntill the Emperour sent Nicholas Maister of the Mintes with a thousand horsemen to withstand the Thaborites vpon whome Zisca came in the night and tooke away all his horses and armour In this time one Picardus comming out of the Low Countries into Boheme by inchantments got credit with the people and allured a number of men and women vnto him whom hee commanded to goe naked calling them Adamits and possessing a certaine Iland he called himselfe the Sonne of God they had no respect of marriage yet it was against the Law for any man to know a woman without the leaue of Adam but when any desired a woman hee must leade her in his hand to him and say I am inflamed to this woman and he answereth goe and multiply and replenish the earth he affirmed that they and their posteritie were free and all other bondmen on a time forty of this sect came out of the Iland anâ— slew two thousand husbandmen whom they called the children of the diuell Zisca hearing hereof and detesting their abominable doings let his army against them and subdued the Iland and slew them all sauing two of whom hee might vnderstand the superstition of the people In the meane time the Emperour with a great armie entered Boheme and got Cencho with large gifts and promises to render vp vnto him the Castle of Prage and there placed himselfe to anoy the towne the Cittizens of Prage sent for Zisca who speeded thether with his Thaborites and receiued the Citie vnder his gouernance the Castle was so strong it could not be conquered but by famine therefore they stopped all the passages that no victuals should bee carried in but the Emperour opened the passages by force and gaue them in the Castle all things necessarie and besieged the Citie and was crowned in the Metropolitane house in the Castle Zisca planted a strong Garrison vpon a high hill neere the Towne of Prage with whom the Emperours host skermishing hauing gotten the top of the hill were driuen back into a corner Some were slaine and some falling headlong from the hill were destroyed wherevpon the Emperour raised his siege and Zisca and his company returned to Taber they of Prage strongly besieged the Castle then they were compelled to eate horse-flesh and except the Emperour did ayde them by such a day they promised to yeeld it vp the Emperour was present before the day but entering into a strait vnder the Castle was sodenly set vpon by the Souldiers of Prage had a great ouerthrow and so leauing his purpose vndone returned back againe and the Castle was deliuered vnto them Zisca subuerted and burned fiue Monasteries in Pelâ—â—na and pitched himselfe at the Monastery of Saint Clare thither came the Emperour with his army but when Zisca brought his armie against him hee fled and shortly after left Boheme Then Zisca wonne Commitauia a famous Citie and burnt all the Priests therein and hauing but one eye in the siege of Raby hee lost that eye and was blind yet still he tooke the charge of his army After the Garisons of Prage went to Uarona where was a great garison of the Emperours and tooke it by force and tooke many other townes and holds After
Iacobus Lutherianus he was forced to recant but his mind renewed by the holy Ghost and he fled to Luther A Scholler borne at Abbevile in King Lewis his Pallace tooke away the Host from the Priest at Masse and brake it in peeces and trode it vnder his feete He was burned in the Swine-market the peeces of the Host and the pauement whereon it was trodden were gathâ—red and laid vp amongst the Treasures of the Pallace After Adrianus the sixt who succeeded Iulius came Pope Clement 7. whose life is in one verse described Bellorum hic fomes cunctorum lerna malorum he was poisoned with diuers of his Cardinals familiars with the smoak of torches In his time wroâ—e Nicholas Michiauellus who proueth that through y â— ambition of Popes procéedeth almost all euils wars amongst Christian men and that before the yeare 500. in all politick affaires the Bishop of Rome euer obayed the Emperors and Kings that the Cardinals in the first beginning of them were nothing but Popish Priests but after they inuaded the Temporall and Spirituall Iurisdiction vsurping aboue Kings and Emperors By thrée manner of waies the Romain Bishops did créep vp by excommunications by indulgences and force of Armes In this yeare the Turk wrote to the maister of the Rhodes to deliuer vp the Isle as followeth Solimanus Tsaccus King of Kings and Lord of Lords most mighty Emperor of Constantinople and Trapezuntis c. Unto the Reuerend Father Philip Vilerius Liladamus great Maister of the Rhodes to his Knights and the Communalty there The pitty of my afflicted people and your extreame iniuries moue me I command your speedy surrender of your Ile of Rhodes you may obtaine Our Grace to depart with your riches or if you will remaine in our Dominion your liberty shall not be diminished either in Religion or paying of tribute if you be wise preferre peace before cruell war if you be ouercome looke for extreame cruelty from which neither your force forraigne ayde nor your wals shall defend you I sweare by God the Maker of Heauen and Garth by the foure Histoâ—â—ographers of the Euangelicall Histories by the 8000. Prophets that came from Heauen and by our mighty God Mahomet aboue all others to be worshipped and the Spirits of my Father and Grand-Father and by this my Sacred Royall and Imperiall Head from our Palace at Constantinople The very same yeare the Island of Rhodes was lost and yéeleâ—d to the Turke to the great hindrance of all Christendome Henry Sudphen was desired of the Cittizens of Breame to come thither to preach when they had heard him they hyred him to bee their Preacher when the religious rout vnderstood thereof they desired of the Senate that such an Heretike might be banished the Towne which preached against the Catholike Church The Senate sent for the head men of the Parish and shewed them the complaint of the religious men They answered They knew no other but that hee was a learned honest Preacher yet if they can proue that he taught any thing contrary to the Word of God they will be ready with them to persecute him otherwise wee will not suffer him of malice to be driuen away The Senate certified the religioâ—s of this answer then they certified the Byshop thereof who sent two of his Councel to Breame for the Preacher they receiued this answere of the Senators That being he was hyred of the Church-wardens and was not conuicted of Heresie they could not obtaine of the Cittizens that he should be carried away Wherefore they desired the Byshop that he would send his learned men to dispute with him and if he were conuinced he should be punished else heâ— should not depart After when newes came that he preached more and more haynous maâ—ter against the religious Then they admonished the Cittizens of Brâ—ame into what ieoperdy their Common-wealth might fall by their Preachers preaching contrary to the decrées of the Pope and Emperour Further they said the Preacher was the Prisoner of the Lady Margaret and got Letters of her to require her Prisoner but all would not serue Then the Byshop decreed a prouinciall councell to be holden at Breamâ— which was accustomed to be at Bucksted whereunto this Henry was called but the Cittizens detained him at home Then Henry gathered a summe of his Doctrine into a few Articles and sent it with his Letters vnto the Archâ—bishop offering if he were conuicted of any error by the Word of God he would bee readiâ— to recant But shortly after the religious set vpon the Church-porch the Bull of Pope Leo the tenth and the Decrée of the Emperour made at Wormes notwithstanding he procéeded daily in preaching the Gospell The Papists sent their Chaplaines to euery Sermon to trap him in his wordes whereby many of them were conuerted and the greater part of those that were sent did openly witnesse his doctrine was Gods truth against which no man could contend and such as in all their liues they had not heard and that they must beléeue the same if they would be saued At last this Henry was sent for by Letters by the parishoners of Mâ—ldrophe to preach the Gospell to them and deliuer them out of the boâ—dage of Antichrist and because he had preached two yeare at Breame and that there were men sufficiently instructed in the Gospell to build further and that the Papists there were for the most part vanquished and that their folly was knowne euen to women and children and that Diedmar liued without a Pastor in the midst of Wolues he could not with a safe conscience deny their requests When he came thither he was ioyfully recâ—iued of the Parish-priest and others The Papists hearing hereof before he had preached stormed and fumed especiallie the Prior of the Black Monastery who went to the Officiall to take councell what was to be done least they lose their Kingdome they tooke councell to withstand the beginning that he might not haue leaue to preach least their crafts and wickednesses being laid open it were folly after to resist remembring what happened at Breame The next day early in the morning the Prior with the Chancelor went to the forty eight Presidents being vnlearned men and perswaded them what a seditious Fellow was come from Breame and there-withall if they would put him to death what fauour they should haue of the Byshop of Breame whereupon they decréed he should be put to death Further they had Letters from the forty eight Presidents vnto the parish-Parish-priest commaunding him vnder great paine that heâ— should send away the said Henry without preaching The Priest maruelled at their meddling in such matters being it belonged not to them but the Parish-Priest onely to receiue and put out a Preacher and shewing this to Henry hee said he was sure hee must dye for the Gospell and it was as neare to Heauen to dye there as in another place and being he was sent for and was sure it would be
constantly that not onely many ignorant people were thereby drawne to the knowledge of the verity but a number which had some taste thereof were greatly confirmed Iohn Oecolampadius reporteth how a Prince murdered a good Pastor for preaching of the Gospell pretending hee was in a commotion hee sent a câ—uell Gentleman with a number of men to hang this Priest they came to the Priestes house and saluted him The Priest made them a great banquet and bad them eate and drinke chéerefully After dinner the Gentleman told his followers they must hang the Priest They said God forbid we should doe such a crime to hang one that hath intreated vs so gently his good chéere not yet disgested in vs The Priest desired them rather to carry him to prison to there Prince and propounded vnto him the gentlenes that he had alwaies vsed to the Gentlemen of the Countrey in spending his goods to entertaine them and aduertised him of the eternall toâ—ments which would follow an euill conscience protesting he had faithfully taught the Gospell and the cause hee had the ill will of some was for sharpely and openly reprouing the horrible vices of the Gentlemen The Gentleman told him he should gaine nothing by preaching in such sort for the Prince had commaunded him to hang him whose fauour hee would not loose to saue his life so they put him to death Oecolampadius reporteth of another godly Priest that when he came to the true vnderstanding of the Gospell O God said he who would haue thought it that so many learned and holy men haue wandred out of the right way and haue so long time béen wrapped in errors or that the holy Scriptures had been defiled with such horrible abuses for hee neuer vnderstood before that the Gospell was the vertty of God because it containeth much matter touching the crosse persecution ignomy after this good Pastor began to preach the Gospell there but many which repined that the Gospell should be freely preached caused him in the night to be taken by certaine souldiours which bound him hand foot and set him vpon a horse and led him vp down by a great rope before his wife and children were not moued with their grieuous sighes and teares after they had kept him long in prison that he had indured most terrible torments as well by his priuy members as other parts they iudged him to deth hauing no other cause against him but that he had maried a wife when the Fryers troubled him about Confession he said he had already confessed his sins vnto the Lord Iesus nothing doubting but that hee had receiued absolution of his sins and I said he shall this day be an acceptable sacrifice vnto my Sauior Iesus Christ for I haue done nothing for which I am condemned displeasing to God which giueth me a a quiet conscience and let them which thirst after blâ—ud consider that they offend him who truely iudgeth the harts of men who saith vengeance is mine and I will punish I desire to die I doe not much shorten my time for I am so leane that my skin is scarce able to couer my bones and I reioice in nothing but the Crosse of Christ Iesus Some could not abide these exhortations and made signes to the hangman to cast him into the Riuer after he was cast downe the Riuer was red which was a token that innocent bloud was shed they that were present were greatly amazed therat and returned home pensiue An other History by Oecolampadius an honest man when hee had wrongfully suffered most intollerable torments for being in a commotion and was condemned A Frier being brought vnto him when he was taken out of the dungeon and see the Frier Hée cryed with a loude voice O miserable wretch that I am now am I betrayed my last houre is at hand The dreame which I dreamed this night will come to passe The Frier plucking out a woodden crosse said poore man confesse thy sinnes in mine eare and after thou hast receiued absolution at mine hands doubt not but this day thou shalt goo straâ—te to the Kingdome of Heauen Who answered thou wicked Frier get thée away from me for I haue long bewailed my sinnes before the face of Christ who hath forgiuen me I haue no need of thy absolution which thou thy selfe doest not vnderstand Thou shouldest long since haue amended thy wicked and hâ—pocriticall life I know what thou art thou playest the Ape with mee thou hast a subtle heart which hath deceiued much people if thou hast any comfort out of the Gospell let mee haue it if not get thée away with thy portas whereat the Frier was confused The hangman wiser then the Frier bid him reade him something of the Passion whereat he would take great pleasure The foolish Frier had no other consolation but to hold the Crucifix of wood before him saying bâ—hold thy Sauiour which died for thée Looke on him and thou shalt bee comforted Hee answered get thee from mee thou naughty person this is not my Sauiour my Sauiour dwelleth in Heauen in whom I trust that he will not deliuer my soule to eternall death The Frier crossed himselfe and departed The Bishop of Constance caused Iohn Howghly a priest to bee burned at Merspurge for that he would not allow the Popes Doctrine in all points Iohn Frederick heyre to the Prince and Elector of Saxony was contracted by writings to the Lady Katherine the Emperours Sister But when Religion was altered in Saxony they swarued from their Couenants and the Empeâ—rorâ— Ambassador said there was no promise to be kept with hereticks In this yeare beeing the seuentéenth yeere of King Henry the eight his raigne there was great commotion in Suffolke and Norfolke by reason the Cardinall had sent commission in the Kings Name that euery man should pay the sixt part of his goods but it was appeased by the Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke and the paiment released by the King This yeare the Cardinall tooke vpon him as the Kings chiefe Councellor Hee reformed the house and made new Officers in the house of the Duke of Richmond Also hee established a Councell and established another hâ—ushold for the Lady Mary then being Princes of the Realme Hee made the King beléeue hee need take no paines insomuch that the charge of all things was committed vnto him he gaue the King the Lease of the Mannor of Hampton Court and the King licenced him to lye in his Mannor of Richmond which K. Henry 7. loued so well whereat some grudged saying sée a Butchers Dogge lye in the Mannor of Richmond His pride was so high he regarded no man and was hated of all men Hee came to Paules the eleuenth of Ianuary a number of Bishops Abbots and Doctors attended him there hee sate in his Cloth of Estate of rich Cloth of Gold and Frier Barnes for heresie and two Marchants for eating flesh on Friday bare Faggots before him And this day
to Scotland he was not able to suffer the filthinesse and blindnesse of the Countrey he was accused of Heresie and after disputed constantty with the Cardinall and his Band he confessed Christ to be his onely Aduocate excluding the merits of Saints acknowledged frée â—ustification by the merits of Christ and denied Purgatory At last he was condemned and the same day after dinner burned The King being but a Child by the Testimonie of his bloud hee left the verity oâ— of God fixed in the hearts of many William Tindal in his Apology against Moore maketh mention of Thomas Hitten a preacher at Maidstone in Kent whom the Bishops of Canterbury and Rochester kept long in prison and tormented him with diuers torments yet he continued constant and at the lasâ— they burned him at Maidestone for the constant testimony oâ— Iesus Christ and of his frée grace and saluation Thomas Bilâ—ey of the Uniuerâ—itie of Cambridge a man of excellent constancy Cambridge taking roote in him after long barrennes did begin to flourish He conuerted many of his fellowes to the Gospell amongst whom was Thomas Arthur and Maister Hugh Latimer who was Crosse-kéeper of Cambridge bringing it on procession daies at last he forsooke the Uniuersitie and went to diuers places preaching associated with Arthur the authoritie of Cardinall Woolsey was then great but his pride â—reater which declared the vanity of his life and of the liues of the Bishops and Clergy Bilney with others maruelling at the incredible insolency of the Clergy which they could no longer suffer they began to preach against this dignity and against the Pope Then the Cardinall which did not greatly feare any power of Kings but onelie feared the Gospell of Christ to be preached least it should detect their Hypocrisie and deceits Whereupon he caused the said Bilney and Arthur to bee cast into prison then they were brought before the Cardinall and â— number of Bishops into the Charter-house of Westminster then the Cardinall required of them wherefore they had taught the people the opinions of Luther which are condemned and whether he had not once made an oath not to preach or defend any of Luthers opinions but to impugne the same He said He had made such an Oath but not lawfullie After hee was sworne to make true answere and not to reueale his examinations 1 It was laid against him that he preached though Preachers bee restrained now adaies yet he had warranty by the Word of God where he said Goe iâ—to all the world and preach the Gospell By which authority euery man that hath the gift may preach and the Pope nor any other can make any law to the contrary which he confessed 2 That he said when crosses were set vp against Walls in London that men should not pisse there When there were but few men did reuerence them but when in euerie corner there was a Crosse of necessitie men pissed vppon the Crosses So that when there were but few Lawes in the Church then men were afraid to offend them after ward they made many lawes whereof some are pecuniall as they call them and them they doe obserue those that are not pecuniall they call palea and regard them not To this or the like effect he confessed he spake 3 If I should suffer persecution for the Gospell yet there are seuen thousand more that would preach the Gospell as I doe now therefore good people thinke not much if these tyrants put a man to death for preaching the Gospell This Article he confessed 5 That euery Christian man is a Priest so offer vp sacrifice of prayer and if they murmured against Priesthood they murmured against themselues and that we should not pray to Saints nor worship Images 6 That he should preach at Cambridge that a Bachelor of Diuinity or any other knowing the Gospell should be let from preaching by no man and if any Bishop did accurse them for so doing their curses should returne to themselues All these hee confessed Master Luther did recant and submit himselfe vnto the punishment and iudgement of the Church but these Interrogatories were ministred vnto Master Bilney Whether hee beléeued the assertions of Luther impugned by the Bishop of Rochester were detestable Whether generall Councells and Constitutions where or ought to be obserued of all men euen for conscience whether the Popes Keyes were noâ— profitable or against Gods word whether the Catholikâ— Church may erre or whether it may bee demonstrated or poynted out or else whether it is a spirituall Church knowne to God whether Images of Saints ought to bee worshipped of all true Christianâ— whether a man may beléeue that there is not yet any Iudgement giuen vppon the souâ—es departed whether a man may beléeue that our Lady remained not alwayes a Uirgine whether Holy dayes and fasting dayes may without 〈◊〉 bee broken by any priuate man whether we are bound to be obedient to Bishoppes and Kings as vnto Parents whether the Church doo godly in praying to Saints whether all true Christians bee Priests and haue the Keyes of binding and loosing whether faith may bee without workes and charity whether it is more agreable vnto faith that the people should pray in their owne tongue or in a learned and vnknowne tongue whether children should be taught the Lords prayer without the salutation of the Uirgine whether beades be to be denied or no whether Scriptures ought to bee translated into English or no whether Organs and all maner of songs ought to bee in the Churches whether a Bishoppe haue any Temporall power whether it bee a godly Constitution that no man should preach in an others Dioces without lycence of the Bishop whether vowes of priuate men commeth of the spirit of God whether we should pray for the dead or that there is a Purgatory whether Morall philosophy helpe the vnderstanding of the Scriptures whether the Popes pardons are to be â—eiected whether there may bee any Morall verâ—ues without the gracâ— of Christ whether Saluation and damnation come of necessity and nothing to bee in our owne wills whether Images ought to be taken out of the Churches whether preachers should exhort men to Pilgrimage or to the worshipping of reliques hee in a maner confesseth them all Hee answereth that he did beléeue the assertions of Luther and that men were not bound to beléeue Councells and Constitutions and St. Augustine in his timâ— marnailed that we could liue in safety amongst so many snares of Constitutions when Adam and Eue could not obserue one Fourthly he sayd that the Catholike Church cannot erre in fayth for it is the whole Congregation of the Elect knowne onely to God otherwise no man could be assured of his owne or anothers saluation for it is written no man knoweth whether â—e be worthy of hatred or loue yet I may truely say of the generall Councell congregated by the holy Ghost Behold here the Catholike Church denominating the whole by the most worthy part and hee affirmed
Cardinall signifying that he would drowne himselfe and to leaue his clothes there and another Letter to the Mayor of the Towne to search for him in the water because he had a Letter written in parchment wrapt in wax about his neck for the Cardinal which would teach all men to beware of him vpon this they were seuen daies a searching for him but he went to London in a poore mans apparell and thence to Anwerpe to Luther and there answered all the Bishops of the Realme and made a Booke called acta Romanorum pontificum and another Booke with a supplication to King Henry When it was told the Cardinall he was drowned he said perit memoria eius cum sonitu but this lighted vpon himselfe for shortly after he poyso-himselfe In the beginning of the Raigne of Quéene Anne he and others came againe into England and continued a faithfull Preacher in the Citie of London and in her Graces time well entertained and promoted and after sent by King Henry the eight Ambassador to the Duke of Cleaue for the marriage of the Lady Anne of Cleaue betwéene the King and her and was well accepted vntill Gardiner came out of France but then neither Religion nor the Queene prospered nor Cromwell nor the preachers Then followed alteration in marriage vntill hee had grafted the marriage into another stocke by the â—ccasion whereof hee began his bloudy worke Soone after Doctor Barnes and his Brethren were carried to the King to Hampton Court to be examined But the King seeking meanes of his safety bad him goe home with Gardiner and confer with him they not agréeing Gardiner sought opportunitie to dispatch Barnes and the rest as he had done by the Queâ—ne the Lady Anne of Cleue and the Lord Cromwell and he appointed them three to preach thrée Sermons at the Spittle which were baites to minister iust occasion of their condemnations A hen they were sent for to Hampton Court and from thence carried vnto the Tower and came not thence but to their deathes Then the Protestants went beyond Sea Priests were diuorced from there Wiues certaine Bishops deposed and other good men denied Christ and bore Faggots then they were put to dâ—ath without iudgement a Papist and a Protestant were laid vpon one hurdle and drawn to Smithfield This was Winchesters deuise to colour his tyrany Then Barnes hid the Sheriffe beare him witnes he died Christianly and Charitably and prayed them all to pray for him and if the dead may pray for the quick we will pray for you so they forgaue their enemies and kissed one another and stood hand in hand at the stake vntill the â—â—re came and so rested in Christ. The same day one Powell Fetherstone and Abel were hanged drawne and quartered in the same place for denying the Kings Supremacie and maintaining the Kings marriage with the Lady Katherine Dowager The reason was because as one halfe of the Councell being Papists called vpon Barnes Garet and Hierome to be executed so the other part of the Councell called vpon these thrée Papists to be executed In this yéers a Boy one Richard Mekins but fiftéene yeares old was burned in Smithfield for speaking somewhat against the Sacrament of the Altar In like manner Richard Spencer Priest leauing his papistry married a Wife and got his liuing by day-labour Hee was burnt in Salisbury because hee was thought to hold opinion against the Sacrament and one Andrew Hewet was burned with him About this time Cardinall Poole Brother to the Lord Mountegew was attainted of high treason and fled to Rome where he was made Cardinall of Saint Mary Cosmoden where he remained vntill Quéene Maries time Stokely Bishâ—p of London and Tunstone Bishop of Duresme writ to him to perswade him to abandon the Supremacy of the Pope and to conforme himselfe to the Religion of his King which Letter thou maist reade in the Booke at large which sufficiently proueth the Pope not to be supreme head of the Church but because this Doctrine is as sufficiently proued in other places I omit to abridge it In this yeere the King by the aduice of his Councell sent forth a Decree for the setting vp the Bible in the great volume in euery parish Church in England This yeare Iohn Porter a Taylor a lusty yong man was by Bonner Bishop of London cast into Newgate for reading in the Bible in Paules Church where he was miserably famished to death About this time Iohn Longland Bishop of Lincolne burned two vpon one day one Thomas Barnard and the other Iames Morton the one for teaching the Lords Prayer in Englâ—sh and the other for kéeping the Epistle of Saint Iames in English In this yeare the Kings Maiestie vnderstanding that all Idolatry and vainâ— pilgrimages were not vtterly abolished within these Dominions directed his Letters vnto the Archbishop of Canterbury for the spéedy amendment of the same Anthony Pierson Priest Robert Testwood singing man Henrie Finmore Taylor and Iohn Marbeck singing man were burned at VVindsor THese Articles were obiected against Pierson that he had said Euen as Christ once hanged betweene two theeues so when he is holden vp betwixt the Priests handes he hangs betwixt two theeues except the Priest sincerely preach Gods word That he preached that Christ should not be eaten as he did hang vpon the Crossâ— with his flesh torne and the bloud running about their mouthes but he was to be eaten this day that we might also feed on him to morrow and next day and continually and that he was of more power after his resurrection then he was before That Christ sitting amongst his Disciples commended the Scriptures vnto them when he said This is that bread this is that body of Christ so when hee brake bread and bade them deuide it amongst them and eate it for it was his bodie and likewise the cup saying This is my bloud hee signified to vs that wee should receiue the Scriptures and distribute them vnto the people It was obiected against Finmore that he had said that the Sacrament of the Altar was but a similitude and that if it were God he had eaten twenty Gods in his life He condemned Testwood for iesting with the Priest when he lifted vp the host saying Ho take héed that he fall not That Marbeck with his owne hands had writ notes out of certaine Authors which were repugnant to the masse and sacrament of the Altar and that he said The Masse was impure and defiled with much vngodlinesse and it spoyleth God of his honour and that the eleuation of the sacrament represents the Calues of Ieroboam and is worse Idolatrie then those were and that therein Christ was counted a mocking-stock There was a fift man named Bennet vnto whose charge it was laid that hée should say the daily Masses vsed in the Church were superfluous and that it were sufficient the seuenth day were kept holy Bennet and Marbeck were pardoned by the King the other thrée stoutly suffered
nor old Law therefore said the Bishop I will know nothing but my portous and my pontificall if you forgoe not these fantasies you shall repent it Thomas said my cause is iust before God and I passe not what followeth thereon After he was summoned by the Cardinall of Saint Andrewes and the said Bishop of Dunkelden and with him were summoned Frier Iohn Kellow Frier Beuarage Duncane Simson Priest Robert Foster a Gentleman with thrée or foure other men of Striueling who at theiâ— day of apparance were condemned to death without any place of recantation because they were chiefe hereticks and teachers of heresies and because many of them were at the marriage of the Priest of Twybody and eate flesh in Lent at their Bridall and they were all together burnâ—d vpon the Castle Hill of Edenbrough where they comforted one another merueilously The Persecution of certaine in the towne of Perth THere was an Act of Parliament in the gouernment of the Earle of Arrai giuing priuilege to reade the scriptures in their mother tongue but secluding al conference thereof wherby y â— eyes of the elect of God were opened to sée the truâ—h and abhorre Papisticall abhominations at which time Fryer Spencer preached that Prayers made to Saints were necessary and without it no hope of saluation Then Robert Lambe a Burges of Perth accused him opâ—nlâ— in the Church of erronious Doctrine and adiured him in Gods name to vtter the truth whereupon trouble and tumulâ— of people arose so that the said Robert with great danger of his life escaped euen the Women addressed themselues to great cruelty against him Shortly after the Cardinall and the Earle of Argile sat about the matter before these persons were brought Robert Lambe William Anderson Iames Hunter Iames Rauelson Iames Fouleson and Hellen Sirke his Wife and the next day were condemned to death by an Assize for violating the foresaid Act of Parliment by conferring together of the Scripture and for that the said Robert Lambe William Anderson and Iames Raueleson hanged the Image of Saint Francis in a cord nayling Rammes hornes to his head and a Cowes rump to his taâ—le and for eating a Goose of Alhollow Eue and Iames Hunter for kéeping company with thâ—m Heâ—len Sirke for saying Mary merited not by workes to be the Mother of Christ and to be preferred before other Women but Gods free mercy â—xalted her to that estate Iohn Raueleson for setting vp in his house a triple Crowne of Saint Peter which the Cardinaâ—l tooke to be done in mockage of his Cardâ—nals haâ— At the place of execution Robert Lambe exhorted the people to feare God and to leaue the leauen of Papisticall abhominations and prophesied of the ruine of the Cardinall which after came to passe and comforting one another that they should sup together in the Kingdome of heauen The Woman desired to die with her Husband but was not suffered then she kissed him saying We haue liued together ioyfull daies but this day is most ioyful because we must haue ioy for euer I will not bid you God night for we shall all this night méete with ioy in heauen The condemnation of GEORGE VVISHARD Gentleman and his Articles before the Cardinall of Scotland and others 1 TOuching Preaching when he was forbidden hee answered I haue read in the Acts of the Apostles that it is not lawfull to desist from preaching the Gospell for menaces of men therefore it is written wee must rather obey God then men and I beléeue that the Lord will turne your cursings of mee vnto blessings and as in the second of Malachy I will curse your blessings blessâ— your cursings 2 He affirmed the mouing of the body outward of the Priest at Masse without the inward mouing of the heart is but the playing of an ape and not the seruing of God who must be honored in spirit and verity 3 That auriculer confession hath no promise of the Euangell and therefore it cannot be a Sacrament but there are many testimonies of confession made to God 4 As none will make marchandise with one of a strange Language except that he doe vnderstand the promise made by the Stranger So I would that we vnderstood what wee promise in the Name of the Infant to GOD in Baptisme then saide one Bleiter a Chaplaine Theâ— hast the Deuill and Spirit of errour then said a Child the Deuill cannot speake such words as he doth 5 The lawfull vse of the Sacraments is most acceptable vnto God but the great abuse is very detestable vnto him I once met with a Iew as I was sayling on the Sea I inquired of him what was the cause of his pertinacy that he did not beléeue the true Messias was come being that he saw the prophesies of him fulfilled and the Prophesies and the Scepter of Iuda was likewise takâ—n away He answered me When the Messias commeth he shall restore all things and he shall not abrogate the Law giuen vnto our fore-fathers as yee doe for we sée the poore almost ready to perish for hunger amongst you and you pitty them not and amongst vs Iewes though we are poore there are no beggars found And it is forbidden by the Law to faine an Image of any thing in Heauen or Earth but onely to honour God but your Churches are full of Idols and ye adore a péece of Bread baked vpon the ashes and that it is your God then the Bishops shooke their heads and spitted on the earth 6 He reproued coniurings and exorcismes of holy Water and said that they were contrary to Gods word 7 Saint Peter saith God hath made vs Kings and Priests and againe hee hath made vs a kinglie Priest-hood therefore I affirme that any man cunning in the Word of GOD and the Faith of Christ he hath power from God by the Word of God to binde and lose and a man that is not conuersant in Gods Word nor constant in Faith what estate or order soeuer he be of hath no power to binde or lose being he wanteth the word of God the instrument to binde and lose with 8 Touching fréewill he said as many as firmely beléeue in Christ haue liberty as in the 8. of Iohn If the Sonne make you free then verily shall you be free but as many as beleeue not in Christ are bond seruants of sinne he that sinneth is bond to sinne 9 Touching praying to Saints he said it is certaine in Scripture that we should worship and honour one God but for honouring of Saints it is doubtfull whether they heare our inuocation made to them therefore I exhort all men that they would leaue the vnsure way and follow that way which our Maister Christ taught vs He is our onely Mediator and maketh intercession for vs hee is the doore he that entreth not in by this doore but climbeth in another way is a Theefe and a Murderer he is the verity and life he that goeth out of this way is fallen into the mire 10
Latine VVALTER MILL AMongst the rest of the Martirs of Scotland the constancy of Walter Mill is not to be passed in silence out of whose Ashes sprang thousands of his opinion who chose rather to dye then to bee any longer ouer-trodden with the cruâ—â—l beastly and ignorant Byshops Abbots Monkes and Fryers and scone after his Martyrdome the Congregation began to debate true Religion against the Papists He climbing vp into a Pulpet to be examined before the Bishops they séeing him so weake partly by age and partly trauell and euill intreatment that hee could not climbe vp without helpe they thought they should not haue heard him but when he spake he made the Church sound with great stoutnesse that the Christions reioyced and the Aduersaries were ashamed At first hee knéeling praying long and was commaunded to rise and answere his Articles calling him Sir Walter Mill He said he ought to obay God more then Men and where you call me Sir Walter call me Walter for I haue bin ouer long one of the Popes Knights Oliphant What think you of Priests marriage Mille. I hold it a blessed band for Christ made it free to all men but you abhorre it and take other mens wiues and daughters you vow chastitie and breake it Paule hade rather marrie then burne the which I haue done for God neuer forbade marriage to any estate or degrée Oliph Thou sayest there is not seuen Sacraments Mille. Giue me the Lords Supper and Baptisme and take you the rest and if there be seuen why omit you one of them to wit marriage and giue your selues to whoredeme Oliph Thou art against the blessed Sacrament of the Altar Mill. If a King bid many to a feast and when they sit downe to eate he turn his back to them and eate vp all himselfe doth he not mock them euen so do you mock the people eating and drinking the Sacrament and giuing them none the Sacrament of God is not to be taken carnally but spiritually and stands in faith onely Your masse is wrong for Christ was once offered vpon the Crosse for mans trespasse and will neuer be offered againe Oliph Thou deniest the office of a Bishop Mill. I affirme those which you call Bishops doe not the workes of Bishops but liue after their sensuall pleasures and take no care for the flocke nor yet regard the word of God but desire to be honoured and called Lords Oliph Thou speakest against pilgrimages Mill. I say it is not commaunded in Scripture and that there is no greater whoredom in no places then at your pilgrimages except in common Brothell-houses Oliph Thou preachest priuatly in houses and openly in fields Mill. Yea man and in the Sea also sayling in a ship Oliph If thou wilt not recant I will pronounce sentence Mill. You shall know that I will not recant for I am corne and not chaffe I will not be blowne away with the winde nor burst with the flaile but I will abide both When sentence was pronounced and he to be deliuered to the temporall Iudge his constancie so moued the hearts of many that the Prouost of the Towne Patricke Learmond though he were Steward of the Bishops regalitie refused to bee his temporall Iudge and the Bishops Chamberlaine being therewith charged would not take vpon him so vngodly an office the Bishops seruants could get neuer a cord in the whole towne for money to tye him to the stake withall nor a Tarre barrell to burne him when he came to the stake He said to Oliphant Put me vp with thy hands and take part in putting me to death for by Gods law I am forbidden to lay hands on my selfe Then he put him vp with his hands and he ascended gladly saying Introibo ad altare Dei and desired he might speake to the people which was denied him they saying he had spoken too much already Then some of the yong men committed the burners and the Bishops their Masters to the Diuell and bade him speake what he pleased Then after he had prayed standing vpon the coales said I die onely for the defence of the faith of Christ for the which the faithfull Martyrs haue offered themselues gladly before being assured after the death of their bodies of eternall felicitie And I praise God he hath called me of his mercie amongst the rest of his seruants to seale vp his truth with my life therefore as you will escape eternall death be not seduced with the lies of Priests Monks Friers and the rest of that Sect but depend onely vpon the death of Iesus Christ and his mercie that you may in the time to come be deliuered from condemnation All the while the multitude greatly mourned perceiuing his mighty patience constancie and boldnesse whereby their hearts were so much enkindled and inflamed that he was the last Martyr that died in Scotland euer after for religion After this by Gods iust iudgement in the same place where Walter Mill was burned the Images of the great Church of the Abbey which passed in number and costlines were burned in time of reformation Heere followeth in the booke of Martyrs the names of diuers which were omitted by him in King Henrie the eighth his time and an instrument of the Popes definitiue sentence against Henrie the eighth for his diuorse with Katharine Dowager and the instrument of the Bull of Pope Leo against Martin Luther and his answer to it in which for breuitie sake I leaue thee to the booke at large if thou be disposed to see them and also the last Will and Testament of King Henry and the manner of his death A Storie of certain Friers in France in the Citie of Orleance in the yeare 1534. THe Mayors wife of the Citie prouided in her Will that she should be buried without any pompe or solemnitie for the Bell did vse to warne euery one to pray for the dead corps and when it is carried forth all or the most part of the begging Friers goe before it with Torches and Tapers and the more pompe is vsed the greater is the concourse of people but this woman would none of this gears the which buriall of hers her husband performed according as she required in her Will. Then one Colman and Steuen Arras Doctors of Diuinitie and the first a Coniurer set a young man which was a nouice ouer the Uault of the Church and when they came according to their vse to Mattins at mid-night he made a wonderfull noyse and shrieking then this Colman went to crossing and coniuring but the other aboue would not speake and being charged to make a signe whether he were a dumbe spirit or no hee ratled and made a great noyse againe Then they tolde some of the chiefest of the Citie what a heauie chance had happened and intreated them to come to their seruice at night When they were there and the seruice begunne he aloft made a great noyse being demaunded what he would he made signes he could not speake
the booke of Iulianus Apostata wherein Christ and Pilate were the speakers which Sermon was learnedly confuted in writing by Maister Couerdall About this time a Priest of Canterbury said Masse on the one day and the next day he came into the Pulpit and desired all the people to forgiue him for he said hee had betrayed Christ but not as Iudas as Peter and made a long Sermon against the Masse In February one thousand fiue hundred fifty and foure before the comming of King Philip vpon the fifteenth day about nine of the clock in the forenoone there was séene two Sunnes both shining at once and that time was also seene a Raine-bow turned contrary and a great deale higher then it was wont About this time at Saint Pancrase in Cheape the Crucifixe with the Pixe were taken out of the Sepulchre before the Priest rose to the resurrection so that when he put his hand into the Sepulchre said very deuoutly surrexit non est hic he found his words true for he was not there indéede wherevpon being dismaide and debating amongst themselues whom they thought likest to doe it they layed it to one Marsh which a little before had beene put from that parsonage because he was married but when they could not proue it being brought before the Mayor they burdened him to haue kept company with his wife since they were diuorced He answered that the Queene had done him wrong to take from him both his liuing and his wife wherevpon he and his wife were committed seuerall Counters About this time there was a Cat hanged vpon a Gallowâ—s at the Crosse in Cheape apparelled like a Priest ready to say Masse with a shauen Crowne her two fore-feete were tyed ouer her head with a round paper like a Wafer Cake put betweene them where on rose great euill will against the Citie of London the Quéene and the Bishops were very angry and there was a proclamation in the afternoone that whosoeuer could bring forth the party that hanged vp the Cat should haue twenty Nobles which after was increased to twenty Markes but none would â—arâ—e it the occasion of this was because the Bishop of Winchester had preached before the Queene for the straite execution of Wyats Souldiours Wherevpon there was twenty Gibbets and Gallowes set vp in and about the streets of London which there remained for the terrour of others from the 13. of February vntill the fourth of Iune and at the comming of King Philip were taken downe One Maister Walter Mantell one of them which rose with Wyat being prisoner in the Tower the Quéene sent vnto him Doctor Bourne to conuert him he answered Bourne that he beleeued in the holy Catholick church of Christ grounded vpon the Prophets and Apostles but he tooke exception to the Antichristian popish Church and hee said hee thought the Masse not fit both for the occasion of Idolatry and also the cléere 〈◊〉 of Christs institution and said it was not a propitiatory sacrifice for sinne for the death of Christ was onely that sacrifice and certaine Collects therein are blasphemous Then said the Doctor see how vaine-glory toucheth you then I found fault it was not a Communion Yes said he one Priest saying Masse heere and another there and the third in an other place is a Communion Then he desired God to receiue him to his mercy that he might die vndefiled in his truth at vtter defiance with all papisticall and Antichristian Doctrine and to defend all his chosen from the tyrany of the Pope and Antichrist and from his subtilties at his first casting off the Gallowes the rope broke then they would haue had him reâ—ant and receiued the Sacrament of the Altar and then he should haue the Queenes Pardon but Master Mantell like a worthy gentleman refused their serpentine Councell and chose rather to die then to liue for dishonouring of God Maister Bradford Maister Sanders and diuers other good preachers hearing that they should be brought vnto a Disputation at Cambridge sent a Declaration out of prison to the effect as followeth That they did not purpose to dispute otherwise then by writing except it be before the Queenes Highnes her Councell and before the Parliament houses because we shall dispute against the things which already they haue determined whereby it appeareth they seeke not the derity but our destruction and their glory otherwise they would haue called vs to shew our consciences before their lawes were so made and againe the Censors and Iudges are manifest enemies of the truth before whom Pearles are not to be cast by the commandement of Christ and by his example and because some of vs haue been in prison eight or nine monethes where we haue had no Bookes paper nor Inke and because we shall bee stopped of our Arguments as the Bishops were at Oxford and because the Notaries that shal write our Arguments shal be such as either doe not or dare not fauour the truth therefore must write to please them or else they will put to or take from at their pleasure as it appeared at Oxford Yea if any man was seene there to write he was sent for and his writings taken from him If they will write we will answere by writing and proue by the word of God and most ancient Fathers this our faith euery péece thereof and we are ready to seale it with our liues First we confesse beléâ—ue all the Canonicall bookes of the Old Teâ—â—ament and the New to bee truth written by the Spirit and to bee the Iudge of all Controuersies of Religion and we beléeue the Catholike Church is the Spouse and beloued Wife of Christ and to imbrace the doctrine of these bookes in all matters of Religion and therefore to bee heard accordingly and those that will not heare her are Heretickes and Schismaticks according to the saying He that will not heare the Church let him be an Hereticke and wee beléeue the Symbols of the Créede of the Apostles and of the Councels of Nice Constantinople Ephesus Chalcedon and of Toletum before the foure hundred fifty foure yeare and the Symbols of Athanasius Ireneus Tertullian and of Damasus which was in the yeare thrée hundred seauenty sixe We beléeue that Iustification commeth onely from the mercy of GOD through Christ and it is had of none of discretion but by Faith which Faith is a certaine perswasion wrought by the Holy Ghost and as it lightneth the mind so it suppleth the heart to submit it selfe to the will of God By this we disalow Papisticall Doctrines of free will of workes of supererogation of merits of the necessity of auriculer confession and satisfaction And we beléeue that the exterior seruice of God ought to be according to the word in such a tongue as may be most to edifie and not in Latine where the people vnderstand not the same And we beléeue that God onely by Iesus Christ is to bee prayed vnto and we disalow inuocation to
euill to bring England thither againe Yorke He read a Paper of Common places how many things held Saint Augustine in the Church consent of people and Nations authority confirmed with Miracles nourished with hope increased with Charity established with antiquity the succession of Priests from Peters Seat to this present Bishop lastlie the verie Name of a Catholique doth hold me in Paint me but your Church thus Brad. This maketh as much for me as for you but all this if they had béene so firme as you would make them might haue béene alledged against Christ and his â—postles for there was the Law and the Ceremonies consented on by the whole people confirmed with Miracles Antiquity and continuall succession of Bishops from Aaron Cich You make to much of the State of the Church before Chrsâ—s comming Brad. Therein I do but as Peter teacheth and Paul very often you would gladly haue your Church héere very glorious and as a most pleasant Lady but as Christ saith so may the Church say Blessed are they that are not offended at me Yorke You thinke none is of the Church but such as suffer persecution Brad. Paul saith All that will liue godly in Christ must suffer persecution sometime Christs Church hath rest heere but commonly it is not so especially towards the end her forme will be more vnséemly York Where is your Church that hath consent of people and Nations as S. Augustine saith Brad. Euen all people and Nations that bee Gods people haue consented with me and them in the Doctrine of Faith Yorke Saint Augustine speaketh of succession from Peters Seat Brad. That seat then was nothing so much corrupt as it is now York Well you alwaies iudge the Church Brad. No my Lord Christs shéepe discerne Christs voyce but they iudge it not so they discerne the Church but not Iudge her yet full well may wee iudge the Romish Church for she obeyeth not Christs voyce and Christs true Church doth He asked me wherein I said in Latine Seruice and robbing the Laity of Christs Cup in the Sacrament and many other things in which it committeth most horrible sacriledge Yorke Latine Seruice was appointed to be sung and had in the Quire where onely were those that vnderstood Latine The people sitting in the body of the Church praying their owne priuate prapers and this may well be yet séene by making of the Chancell and the Quire so that the people could not come in or heare them Brad. In Chrysostomes time and S. Ieromes time all the Church did answere with a loud voyce Amen Whereby we may sée that the prayers were made so that the people both heard and vnderstood them York We léese our labour you seeke to put away all things that are told you for your good your Church no man can know I said yes that you may He said I pray whereby Brad. Chrysostome saith onely by the Scriptures and this he speaketh very oftentimes as you know York That is or Chrysostome In opere imperfecto which may bee doubted of the thing which the Church may be best knowne by is succession of Bishops Brad. Lira well writeth vpon Mathew that Ecclesia non consistit in homiâ—â—bus ratione potestatis secularis aut ecclesiasticae sed in hominibus in quibus est notitia vera confessio fidei veritatis And Hilarius writeth to Auxentius that the church is rather hid in Caues then eminent in chiefe seats then after they had been there thrée houres they were called away Iohn Leafe burned with Maister Bradford THis Iohn was an Apprentice with a Chandler in Christ-Church in London eighteene yeares old borne in Kirkley Mâ—â—eside in the County of Yorke hee was examined before Bonner he said that after the words of consecration in the Sacrament of the Altar ouer the Bread and Wine there was not the true and naturall body and blood of Christ in substance and as it is now vsed and beleeued in the Realm of England it is abhominable Idolatry And he beleeued that after consecration it remaineth Bread and Wine as it was before and it is receiued in the remembrance of the death and passion of Christ and so spiritually in Faith they receiue Christs body and blood And he affirmeth that Auriculer confession is not necessary to be made vnto a Priest and it is no point of soules health to beléeue that the Priest hath any authority by the Scriptures to remit sins And being asked if he had béene Maister Rogers his Scholler he graunted it so to be and he did beléeue the Doctrine of the said Rogers and the Doctrine of Byshop Hooper Cardmaker and others of their opinion which of late were burned for Christ and that he will die in that Doctrine and the Bishoppe moouing of him to vnitie of the Church He said My Lord you call mine opinion Heresie it is the true light of the Word of GOD and hee would neuer forsake his well grounded opinion whilst breath was in his bodie Whereupon he was condemned When these two came to the stake in Smithfield to be burned Maister Bradford lay prostrate on the one side of the stake and the young man on the other praying a space vntill the Sheriffes man bad Maister Bradford arise then they both rose Maister Bradford desired the Sheriffe that his man might haue his apparell which he granted him When he was vnready he said O England England repent thee of thy sinnes beware of Idolatry beware of false Antichrists that they deceiue thée not Then the Sheriffe bad tye his hands if he would not be quiet He said I am quiet God forgiue you this One of the Officers that made the Fire said If you haue no more learning then that you are but a foole and were best to hold your peace Then Maister Bradford answered no more but asked the world forgiuenesse and forgaue all the world and prayed the people to pray for him and â—id the young man be of good comfort for we shall haue a merry Supper with the Lord this night then he imbraced the Réeds and said Straight is the way and narrow is the gate that leadeth to eternall saluation and few there be that finde it In the Booke at large thou maist sée many godly Letters of his This Maister Woodroffe Sheriffe as he would not suffer Maister Bradford to speake but bad his hands to be tyed so or worse he serued Maister Rogers and all that were burned where the other Sheriffe would weepe at their burning he would laugh at it and would restraine and beat the people who were desirous to take them by the hand In fine the foresaid Maister Woodroffe after the burning of Maister Bradford as soone as he came home was taken lame both arme and legge so that after hee could neuer stirre out of his house nor scarse mooue himselfe WILLIAM MINGE THe next day after Bradfords death William Minge Priest died in Maidstone Iayle being in bonds for Religion and had suffered martyrdome
principle part of the Sacrament Take ye eat ye which you do not in your Masse wherefore it can be no Sacrament because it wanteth Christs institution Cosins Wee forbid none to come to it but as many as list may be partakers thereof with vs at Masse if they require it Phil. Nay you will minister but one kind vnto them which is not after Christs institution ye ought to exhort them that be present to make a sacrifice of thanksgiuing for Christs Passion and to bee partakers with you and by preaching shew the Lords death which you do not mass-Masse-priest If the Sacrament of the Masse be no Sacrament vnlesse all doe receiue it because Christ saith Take ye eate ye then the Sacrament of Baptisme is no sacrament where there is but one baptized because Christ said to his Apostles Go preach the Gospell to all creatures baptizing all Nations Phil. Baptizing all Nations is meant of all sorts of Nations and to exclude none that beléeue whether Iew or Gentile not meaning all at once for that were impossible and Christ alone was baptized of Iohn and the Eunuch baptized Phillip with many moe such like but you haue no such example of the body and blood of Christ but S. Paul commendeth to vs to vse it in a Communion and participation of many together in the sixt to the Corinthians As oft as you come together to eate the Lords supper tarry one for another And the Minister speaketh to all in Christs behalfe to communicate with him saying Take ye eat ye therfore all that be present do not communicate break Gods commandements he is no iust minister that doth not distibute the Sacrament as Christ did to al that are present where Gods word is transgressed Christ is not present and therefore no Sacrament Harps Will you haue it no Sacrament except it be a Communion Phil. Gods words teacheth so Chrysostome vpon the Epistle to the Ephesians saith The oblation is in vaine where none doth communicate with the Priest therefore your Masse where none eateth thereof but the Priest alone is a vaine Oblation and a vaine standing at the Altar I pray tell me what the Pronoune This in the words This is my body doth demonstrate Harps It doth demonstrate the substance of bread which by the omnipotency of God and the words of the Priest is turned into the substance of Christs body Phil. Why then Christs body receiueth daily a great increase of many 1000. pieces of bread into his body his body is become that which it was not before so you would make an alteration in Christs glorified body which is a wicked thing to do Harps The substance of bread after the words spoken by the Priest is vanished away by the omnipotency of God Phil. This is another song heere you may sée how contrary you are vnto your selues your schoolemen hold that the very substance of bread is really turned into the substance of Christs body and now of late you perceiue the inconuenience of that opinion you imagine a new shift and say the substance of bread is euacuated contrary to that your Church hath beléeued and taught and all is to deface the sincere truth Harps Is not God omnipotent and can he not doe as he hath said Phil. But his omnipotency will not do contrary to his word and honour it is not Gods honour to include him bodily in a péece of bread and of necessity tye him therto and for to make a péece of bread God and man which you sée before your face doth putrifie after a time God is as able to giue his body with the Sacramentall bread and it is contrary to the Scripture which calleth it bread many times after consecration you take away the substantiall parts of the Sacrament as Take ye eat ye drinke ye all of this doe this in remembrance of me and place in their stéeds heare ye gase ye knock ye worship yee offer ye sacrifice ye for the quick and the dead Is not this blasphemy to God and his Sacraments and contrary to the mind of all ancient Writers and contrary to the example of Christ and his Apostles and this is the substance of all his examinations and Arguments Hee did often tell them they were blind guides of the blind and as I am bound to tell you you are very Hypocrites tyrannousâ—y persecuting the truth your owne Doctors and euidences you bring be directly against you you must beare with me sâ—â—ing I speake in Christs cause and because his glory is defaced and his people cruelly and wrongfully slaine by you because they will not consent to the dishonour of God and to hypocrisie with you if I told you not your fault it should be required at my hands in the day of iudgement therefore know you ye Hypocrites that it is the Spirit of God that telleth you your sin I passe not I thanke God of all your crueltie God giue you grace to repent Being brought to New-gate after he was condemned when Alexander the kéeper came in Ah said Alexander Hast thou not done well to bring thy selfe hither Maister Philpot said I must be content it is Gods appointment and I shall desire you to haue your gentle fauour for you and I haue béene of old acquaintance Well said Alexander if you will recant I will shew you any pleasure that I canâ— Nay said Maister Philpot I will neuer recant that which I haue spoken for it is most certaine truth in witnesse whereof I will seale it with my blood Then hâ—s commaunded him to be set vpon the blocke and as many Irons put vpon his Legs as he might beare Then the Clarke told Alexander that Maister Philpot had giuen his Man Money Alexander said to his man what mony hath he giuen youâ— And he searched him and tooke money from him Then said Maister Philpot Good M. Alexander be so much my friend that these Irons may be taken off He said Giue me my fées and I will take them off if not thou shalt weare them still Then said he what is your fées He said foure pounds Ah said Maister Philpot I haue not so much if you will take twenty shillings I will send my man for it or I will lay my Gowne to gage for the time is not long I am sure that I shall be with you then Alexander commaunded him to be had into Limbo and so he was Then his man tooke an honest man with him and went and shewed the Sheriffe one Maister Michaell how maister Philpot was handled in Newgate then the Sheriffe tooke his Ring from his finger and deliuered it vnto the honest man which came with Maister Philpots man and bad him commaund the Kéeper by that token to take off his Irons and handle him more gently and to giue his man againe that which he tooke from him when they told their message to Alexander he saide I perceiue Maister Sheriffe is a bearer with Hereticks to morrow I will shew
it to his betters yet he went to Maister Philpot at ten of the clocke and tooke off his Irons and gaue his man that which he tooke from him He gaue God thanks when newes came he should be burned the next day when the Sheriffe called him to goâ— to execution he came downe most ioyfullie when he came to Smithfield the way was soule so two of the Officers tooke him vp and carried him vnto the stake Then he said merrily what will you make me a Pope then he kissed the stake and said Shall I disdain to suffer at this stake séeing my Redéemer suffered vile death vpon the Crosse for me in the midst of the flames hee yéelded vp his soule vnto Almighty God and like a Lamb gaue vp his breath Thomas Whittle Priest Bartelet Greene Gentleman Iohn Tudson and Thomas Went Artificers Thomas Browne Isabell Foster wife Ioane Warren alias Lashford Maid THe Papists hauing this last years murdred the learned and princiâ—all members of Christs Church whereof there were now very few which either were not consumed with fire or compelled to flie their Countrey they continued this yeare likewise no lesse cruelty towards the inferior sort of people whereof these seuen were burned in Smithfield the 27. day of Ianuary at one fire and they were condemned all in one day vpon one manner of Articles the speciall points were for denying the Sacrament of the Altar and the Masse This Thomas Whittle was the Priest that Philpot maketh mention of where you may sée how he recanted and then became desperate and could not be at quiet in conscience vntill he had gotten to sée the Bill againe which he had subscribed and torne off his name wherefore Boner buffeted him and plucked off a peece of his beard but after he had torne it he was in great peace of conscience and stood out manfully for the faith and sealed to the truth with his martyrdome In an Epistle of his he calleth the Bishops and Priests the sworne Souldiours of Sathan the arch-enemies in whom so liuely appeare the very visage and shape of Sathan that a man may well affirme them to be Diuels incarnate as I by experience do speak wherefore who so shall for conscience matterscome into their hands had neede of the wilinesse of the Serpenâ—â—e saue his head and to take heed how hee consenteth to their wicked writings sore did they assault me and craftily tempt mee to their wicked wayes Bartlet Greene was borne in the Parish of Bassinghall in London being a Student in Oxford at the first he was an vtter enemy to the truth vntill God of his mercy opened his eyes by comming vnto the Lectures of Peter Martire Reader of the Uniuersity Lecture in the said Uniuersity wherof when he had once tasted it came vnto him as the Fountaine of liuing Water so that he neuer thirsted any more but had a Well springing vnto eternall life and though he were called by his Friends from the Uniuersity vnto the Temple in London to study the Common Lawes yet bee continued in his earnest study and profession of the Gospell He writing a Letter vnto one Goodman who was fledde beyond the Sea for Religion containing a report of certaine Articles of questions which were cast abroad in London and an answere to a Letter that Goodman wrote vnto him in which he required to haue the certainty whether the Quéene were dead as it was reported beyond-sea Whereupon Greene answered that she was not dead The bearer of this letter and many other letters from others was apprehended by the way and the letters brought to the Councell These words The Queene is not yet dead seemed heynous to some of the Councell yea they would haue made treason of them if they could by Law but when they could not make it treason they examined him vpon poynts of Religion and after they had long detained him in prison as well in the Lower as elsewhere they sent him at last to Bonner to be dealt withall according to the Ecclesiasticall Lawes And being presented to Bonner his Arch-deacon and diuers others sitting at the Table with him who demanded of him the cause of his imprisoning which when he had shewed him he asked him if he had not since written or spoken against the naturall presence in the Sacrament Then he desired to be charged according to the order of the Law to heare his accusers Then Doctor Chadsey was sent for who reported that before him M. Mosly and the Lieuetenant of the Tower hee spake against the reall presence and the Sacrifice of the Masse and affirmed our Church to be the Church of Antichrist which he confessed and said he would continue therein and maintaine it Then M. Welâ—h arose and desired to talke with mee alone and hauing taken mee into another Chamber he said he was sorry for my troubles and would be glad to see me at liberty and he maruailed that I being a yong man should stand against all the learned men of the Realme against the determination of the Catholique Church from Christs time I promise you quoth he I haue read all Peter Martyrs and Cranmers and all the rest of their Bookes and haue conferred them with the contrary as Roffensis and the Bishop of Winchester and the rest and could not perceiue but that there was one continuall truth which from the beginning had beene maintained and those that any time seuered from this vnity were answered and answered againe This was the summe of his talke which lacked neither wit nor eloquence I answered I am yong and lacke both wit and learning but God is not bound to time wit or knowledge but rather chuseth the weake things of the world to confound the strong neither can men appoint bounds to Gods mercy For he saith I will haue compassion on whom I will Hee hath no respect of persons whether old or yong rich or poore wise or foolish Fisher or Basket-maker God giueth knowledge of his truth through his free grace to whom he listeth Iames. 1. And I beleeue Christ hath his vniuersall Church his Spouse scattered through many Realmes where hee list the Spirit inspireth where it will he is no more adicted to any one place then to the person and quality of any one man of this Church I know I am a member trusting to bee saued by the faith that is taught therein But how this Church is knowne is the end of all Controuersies the true markes of this Church is the true preaching of his Word ministring of his Sacraments these markes were sealed by the Apostles and confirmed by the ancient Fathers vntill the wickednesse of Men and the Diuell these markes were sore worne and almost taken away but God hath â—enued the Print that his Church may bee knowne in many places I would all that were of contrary opinion would seeke the knowledge of the truth with prayer and teares as I haue done Now I am brought before a many of Bishops and
body a sacrifice to God the price of my redemption by that onely sacrifice all the faithfull are sanctified and he is our onely aduocate mediatour and he hath made perfect our redemption without any of your dadly oblations Doctor Bridges You take wel the litterall sence but as Christ offered his body vpon the Crosse which was a bloody sacrifice and a visible sacrifice so likewise we doe offer vp the selfe same body that was offered vpon the crosse but not bloudy and visible but inuisible vnto God I said then Christs sacrifice was not perfected but Christ is true when all men be liers then he saide Thou shalt not feare him that hath power to kill the body but thou shalt feare him enterpreting him to meane the Church which hath power to kill body and soule Christ said We should feare him and not them the hath power to cast body and soule into hel meaning God and not the Church and if you will presume to offer Christs body dayly then your power is aboue Christs power then he was condemned and with patience and constancie entred his blessed martyrdome at whose burning one Thomas Carman was apprehended for words praying with him and pledging him at his burning One Frier and the sister of George Eagles THese suffered the like martyrdome by the vnrighteous Papists whose tyranny the Lord of his mercy abate and cut short turning that wicked generation to abetter minde They were burned at Rochester IOHN CVRD HE was a Shoomaker of Sisam in Northamptonshire hée was imprisoned in Northampton castle for denying the Popish transubstantiation for the which William Bruâ—ter Chancelour vnto the Bishop of Peterborrow did pronounce sentence of death against him a popish priest standing by when he was to bee burned one Iohn Rote vicar of S. Giles in Northampton shewed him if he should recant he was authorised to giue him his pardon he answered he had his pardon by Iesus Christ. Cicelie Ormes SHe suffered at Norwich she was taken at the death of Symon Miller and Elizabeth Cooper for that she said she would pledge them of the same cup they dranke of one master Cobet of Sprowson tooke her and sent her to the Chancelour he asked her what she said vnto the Sacrament of Christs body and what is that the Priest holdeth ouer his head she answered it was bread and if you make it better it is worse so she was sent to prison after she was called and examined before the Chancelour and master Bridges the Chancelor offered her if she would go to Church kéep her tongue she should be at libertie and beléeue as she would but she tould him she would not consent to his wicked desire therein and if shée should God would plague her then he tolde her he had shewed more fauour vnto her then euer he did vnto any and when he could not preuaile he condemned her she was borne in East Derrham and was daughâ—er vnto one Thomas Hawood Tailor she was taken a twelue-moonth before and recanted but was neuer after quiet in conscience she had gotten a letter written to be deliuered to y e Chancelor to let him know she repented her recantation would neuer do the like againe as long as she liued but before she exhibited her bill she was taken and imprisoned as before when she was at the stake she told the people I would you should not report of me that I beléeue to be saued in that I offer my selfe here to death for the Lord cause but I beléeue onely to be saued by the death of Christs passion and this my death is and shall be a witnesse of my faith vnto you all good people as many of you as beléeue as I doe pray for me then she kissed the stake and sayd welcome swéet crosse of Christ aftâ—â— the fire was kindled she said My soule doth magnifie the Lord and my spirit doth reioyce in God my Sauiour and so yéelded her life vnto the Lord as quietly as if she had béene in a slumber or as one féeling no paine so wonderfully did the Lord worke with her Mistresse Ioyce Lewis SHe was the wife of Thomas Lewis of Mancetter in the beginning of Quéene Maries time she went to Church and heard Masse vntill the burning of Laurence Saunders in Couentry then she inquired of such as she knew feared God the cause of his death and when she knew it was because he refused to receiue the Masse she began to be troubled in conscience she reforted to master Iohn Glouer a very godly man of whom mentioned is made before and desired him to tell her the faults that were in the Masse who instructed her in the wayes of the Lord approuing vnto her out of Gods holy word that the Masse with al other papistical inuentions was odious in Gods sight so she began to hate the Masse being compelled by her husband to come vnto Church â—when the holy water was cast she turned her backe towards it wherupon she was accused vnto the Bishop and a citation was sâ—nt for her and her husband the Sumner deliuered the citation to her husband who willed him to take the citation away with him or else he would make him eate it and in the end he made the Sumner eate the citation by setting a dagger vnto his brest and then he caused him to drinke and so sent him away but after they were commanded to appeare before my Lord her husband desired my Lord to be good vnto him my Lord was content to receiue his submission so that his wife would submit her selfe likewise but she told the Bishop that she had neyther offended God nor his lawes in refusing holy water the Bishop gaue her a moneths respite binding her husband in a hundred pound to bring her to him at the moneths end When the moneth was almost expired her husband was aduertised by the said M. Glouer and others not to carry his wife to the Bishop but to séeke some way to saue her and if the worst should come to be content to forfeit the Band rather then to cast his wife into the fire he answered he would not forfeit any thing for her sake but carried his wife vnto the Bishop who found her more stout then she was before so she was sent to such a stinking prison that a maid that was appointed to kéep her company did sound in the said prison She was often examined and euer found stout at length she was pronounced an heretick When the Bishop asked her why she would not come vnto the masse and receiue the sacraments and sacramentals of holy Church she answered because she could not find them in Gods word he said if thou wilt beléeue no more then is in the scriptures concerning matters of religion thou art in a damnable case she told my Lord his words were vngodly and wicked After her condemnation she continued a year in prison Wherâ— the Writ came to burn her she said
as for the feare of death I do not greatly passe when I behold the amiable countenance of Christ my deare Sauiour the vgly face of death doth not greatly trouble me In the which time she reasoned most comfortably out of Gods word of election and reprobation in the euening before she should die two Priests came to her to heare her confession for they would be sorie they said she should die without it She sent them word she had made her confession vnto Christ at whose handsâ— she was sure to haue forgiuenes of her sins for the cause for which she should die she had no cause to repent but rather to praise God that he made her worthy to suffer death for his word and the absolution that they were able to giue her by the authority of the Pope she defied it Well said the Priests to morrow her stoutnes will be tried All the night she was wonderfull cheerefull and merry About thrée of the clock in the morning Sathan began to stirre himselfe busily questioning with her how she could tell that she was chosen to eternall life and that Christ died for her I grant he died but that hee died for thée how canst thou tell She being troubled with this suggestion they that were about her counsailed her to follow the example of S. Paule to be faithfully perswaded that Christ loued her and gaue himselfe for her for S. Paule was perswaded that Christ loued him and her calling and true beléefe and knowledge of Gods word was a manifest token of Gods loue towards her and the operation of the spirit of God in working in her a loue and a desire to please God by these perswasions and the comfortable promises of Christ brought out of the Scripture Sathan was put to flight and she comforted in Christ. When she came to the stake she prayed to God most instantly to abolish the vile masse at which prayer all the people said Amen then she tooke a cup of drinke that was brought vnto her and drunk vnto all them that vnfainedly loued the Gospell of Christ and wished for the abolishment of papistry a great number of the women of the towne pledged her When the fire was kindled about her she neither strugled nor stirred the Papists had appointed some of theirs to raile vpon her and reuâ—le her openly as she went to execution and whilst she was at the stake amongst others there was an old priest which had writing tables and noted the names of the women which drunke with her and caused Processe to be sent for them but God defended them from the hands of the Tyrants Ralph Alerton Iames Awstoo Margery Awstoo and Richard Roth. ON the 17. of September these foure were burned at Iâ—â—ington néere London Ralph Alerton comming to his parish Church of Bently and séeing the people sitting there idle exhorted them that they would fall to prayer and meditation of Gods word wherevnto they consented after prayer he read vnto them a chapter out of the New Testament and departed In which exercise he continued vntill Candlemas and then being informed that he might not doe so by law because he was no Priest he left off and kept himselfâ— close in his house vntill Easter after he was constrained to forsake his house and liue in woods and such places vntill he was apprehended After his Examination my Lord Darcy sent him vp vnto the Councell who sent him to Boner who tempted him openly to recant at Paules Crosse and set him at liberty which after wrought such a terrour in his conscience but the Lord with his fauourable chastisement did raise him vp againe with Peter giuing him vnfained repentance and a most constant boldnes to professe his name and glorious Gospell Wherefore at the procurement of Thomas Tye Priest hee was apprehended againe and sent to Boner before whom he was diuers times examined which examinations written with his owne hand in bloud for lack of Inke hereafter follow His first Examination Boner AH Sirra how chanceth it that you are come hether againe in this fashion Rafe Forsooth if your Lordship remember I set my hand vnto a writing the Contents thereof as I remember was that I did beléeue all things as the Catholique church teacheth in the which I did not disburse my mind but shamefully dissembled because I made no difference betwixt the true church vntrue Church Boner Which is the true Church doest thou call the heretiques Church the true Church or the Catholiques Church Rafe I vtterly abhorre the hereticks Church as abhominable before God with all their enormities and heresies the Church Catholique is it that I onely imbrace whose doctrine is sincere pure and true Boner By S. Augustine that is well said Then a Priest said to my Lord you know not what Church it is which he calleth Catholick Then hee said by Saint Mary he might a deceiued me Sirra which is the Catholick Church Rafe That which hath receiued the wholesome sound spoken of by Esay Dauid Malachy Paul with many others mâ—e the which sound as it is written hath gone throughout all the earth in euery place and to the end of the world Bon. Yea thou saist true before God for this is the sound that hath gone foorth throughout all Christendome and he that beléeueth not this Church as S. Cyprian saith doth erre Hee saith whosoeuer is out of the Church is like vnto them that are out of Noahs ship when the floud came vpon the whole world for the Church is not alone in Germany or here in England in the time of the late schismes as the hereticks doe affirme for then were Christ a lyar for he promised the holy Ghost should come vnto vs and leade vs in all truth and remaine with vs vnto the end of the world So if we wil take Christ for a true sayer then the way that is taught in France Spaine Flanders Italy Denmarke Scotland and all Christendome ouer must needs be the true Catholick Church Raâ—e I spake of all the world and not of all Christendome onely for the Gospell hath been preached and persecuted in all Nations First in Iury by the Scribes and Pharisies And since by Nero Dioclesian and such like and in our daies by your Lordship knoweth whom your church is no more catholick then was figured by Cain Ieroboam Ahab Iezabel Nabuchadonosor Antiochus Herod with ennumerable more the like and Daniel and Esdras prophesieth of these last daies and that there shall come greeuous wolues to deuoure the flocke is affirmed by Christ and his Apostles Boner Hee is the rankest hereticke that euer came before mee by Alhallowes thou shalt be burned thou whorâ—on varlet and Pricklouse the prophecie is of you what is the saying of Esdras that you speake of Rafe He saith the heate of a great multitude is kindled ouer you and they shall take away certaine of you and feed the Idols with Idols and he that consenteth not to them shall be
him but in them whom hee both oft and earnestly exhorted vnto the same beeing not a little greeued with them for that they laboured onely vpon the yong and little springs and twigges whereas they should haue striken at the roote cleane haue rooted it out and he said that he was once at the burning of an herewigge at Uxbridge meaning Maister Denley where he tossed a Fagget at his face as hee was singing of Psalmes and set a bush of thornes vnder his feete and he named Sir Philip Hobby and another Knight in Kent with such other of the richer and higher degree whom his Councell was to pluck at wherein if they had followed my aduice they had done wisely In this Parliament through the goodnes of the Lord the true cause of the Gospel had the vpper hand the papists hope was frustrated their rage abated The proceedings in K Edwards time was reuiâ—â—d and the bloudy statutes of Q. Mary repealed The old Bishops were deposed for refusing the othe in renouncing the Pope and not subscribing vnto the Queenes lawfull supremacy In the place of Cardinall Poole succeeded Doctor Mathew Parker Archbishop of Canterbury In the place of Heath succeeded Doctor Yong Insteed of Boner Edmund Grindall was Bishop of London For Hopton Thurleby Tunstall Pates Christopherson Peto Coats Morgan Feasie White Oglethorpe were placed Doctor Iohn Parkust in Norwich D. Cox in Ely Iuell in Salisbury Pilkinton in Duresme D. Sands in Worcester Benton in Couentry and Lichfield Downam in Westchester Dauid in S. Dauids Ally in Exeter Horne in Winchester Story in Lincolne Scamler in Peterborough Bartlet in Bathe Gest in Rochester Barlow in Chichester The seuere punishment of God vpon persecutors and blasphemers STephen Gardiner the Arch persecutor whom the Lord tooke away in the middest of Queene Maries Raigne of whose poisoned life and stinking end mention is made already He said in his death-bed I haue denied my Master with Peter but neuer repented with Peter Bishop Morgan who condemned Master Farrar Bishop of Saint Dauids and vsurped his roome not long after he was striken in such a strange sort that the meate he eat would not goe downe but rise vp againe sometimes at his mouth sometimes blow out of his nose most horrible to behold and so continued vnto his death Also when Doctor Leyson the Sheriffe had fet away the said Bishops cattell diuers of the Cattell would neuer eate meat but lay bellowing and roaring and so dyed One Richard a Priest of Carmarthen a little after the martyrdome of the said B. Farrar standing vpon the top of a stayre in one Maister Downings house iesting at the death of the said B. Farrar fell downe suddenly and brake his neck Iustice Morgan after he had set vpon the death of the Lady Iane fell mad and so died hauing euer in his mouth Lady Iane Lady Iane. Doctor Dunning the cruell Chancellor of Norwich was striken wish sodaine death as he sate in his chayre Berry the wicked Comissary of Norfolke foure daies after Queene Maries death made a feast and had one of his Concubines therein the afternoone comming from Euensong he fell downe by the way and neuer sâ—irreâ— Bishop Thorneton Suffragan of Douer who was a most cruell tyrant hee fell in a palsey as he looked vpon his men playing at Bowles and so was had to bed he was willed to remember God yea so I doe said he and my Lord Cardinall and so he dyed After him succeeded another Bishop or Suffragan who was Suffragan before vnto Boner he brake his neck downe a payre of staires in the Cardinals chamber at Greenewich as he had receiued the Cardinals blessing The Parson of Crundall in Kent hauing receiued the Popes Pardon hee exhorted the people to receiue remission of sinnes as he had done And hee said that he stood now as cleere in conscience as when he was first borne and cared not if he should die the same houre in so saying he was suddenly striken in the pulpit and leaning back he was found dead Not long after the death of Queene Mary dyed Doctor Capon Bishop of Salisbury and the cruell Chancellor of Salisbury Doctor Geffrey about the same time in the middest of his buildings was suddenly taken with the mighty hand of God and so ended his life The day before he departed hee had appointed to call before him 90. persons to examine them by inquisition Cruell Maister Woodroofe Sheriffe of London which reioyced at the death of the Saints of Christ A weeke after he was out of his office the one halfe of his body was striken by the hand of God that hee was bedrid and not able to moue himselfe and so he continued seuen or eight yeares vntill he dyed Rafe Sardine that betrayed George Eagles was attached himselfe arraigned and hanged Maister Swingefield an Aldermans Deputy in Thames stréet vnderstanding a Midwife which absented her selfe from the Church to bee at the labour of one Mistris Walter at Crooked Lane end he apprehended her being great with child and carried her vnto Boner who sent her vnto Lolards Tower where for feâ—re she was deliuered of a child could haue no woman to help her after she had lien there fiue wéekes she was deliuered vpon sureties Doctor Story hearing thereof charged her with felony and sent her vnto Newgate shortly after the said Master Swingfield and three more that came to take her died One Burton a Bayliffe of Crowland in Lincolneshire who made shew to be a great friend of the Gospel in King Edwards time but in Quéene Maries time he moued the parish to shew themselues the Queenes friends and set vp Masse speedily and he called on them still in the Queenes name and when hee saw his words were not regarded he got him to Church vpon a Sunday morning when the Curate began to say seruice according vnto King Edwards time he came to him and said Sirra will you not say Masse buckle your selfe to Masse you knaue or by Gods bloud I will sheath my Dagger in your shoulders The poore Curate for feare setled himselfe vnto Masse But not long after riding from home with one of his neighbours as he returned home a Crow flew ouer his head singing after her wonted manner knauâ— knaue and dunged vpon his nose which ranne downe vpon his mouth beard The poisoned sauour thereof so annoyed his stomack that he neuer ceased vomiting vntill he came home whereof within few daies he dyed without any toâ—en of â—epentance As Iames Abbes was a leading to be burned poore people asking almes hee pulled off all his apparell vnto his shirt and gaue it amongst them to some one thing and to some another and he exhorted them to stand stedfast in the truth of the Gospel which hee with Gods help would seale with his bloud in their sight Then a seruant of the Sheriffes cryed out beléeue him not good people he is an heretick a mad man and it is heresie that he saith
3 Bâ—zaes Register of Martyrs vnder Decius 11 Boniface the forerunner of Antichrist 24 Beda Priest wrote 37. vollums 27 Boniface an Englishman Archbishop of Mentz and Martir Ibid. Bohemians suppresse Idolatrous Temples 127 Basill besiedged by the Dolphiâ— of France 145 Barnes a Fryer beares Fagots for eating flesh on a Fryday 166 Bilney a great Preacher of the truth his articles abiuration and martyrdome afterwards 177 Bayfield a Monke of Berry a valiant Martyr his cruell vsage and martyrdome 179 Baynham a Lawyer whipt rackt and martyred for maintaining the truth 181 Bartrucke a Scottish Knight confutes certaine Articles of the Papists for which he is condemned and his picture burried 193. 194. 195. Byble at large set vp in euery Church 200 Bonners examination his pride before the Commissioners 225 His vnreuerent and forward words his imprisonment and depriuation 226 Bâ—ner compares Priests to the virgin Mary 240 Bradfords declaration of the manner of disputaon he meant to hold 244 Beckets Image twice set vp at Mercers Chappell and throwne downe 256 Bishoppe of Chester who condemned George Marsh burned with a harlot dies therof 268 Barlow for bearing witnesse of the truth sent to the Fleet. 269 Berd the Promoter his cruelty to Iames Treuisam and other Professors 281 Bartlet Greene Gent. in trouble for writing the Queene is not yet dead meaning Queene Mary and afterwards for denying the Sacrament of the Altar condemned burnt 313 Blind Boy martyred at Glocester 323 Bloudy Commission granted by King Philip and Queene Mary to prosecute the poore members of Christ whereupon 22. are brought before Bonner out of Essex 330 Barbara Final burned at Canterbury 332 Bradbregs widow burned at Canterbury Ibid Bends wife burned at Canterbury Ibid Berry a Priest and Commissary a Persecutor of the faithfull his suddaine and fearefull end 356 Bate a Barber a persecutor of the faithfull his suddaine death 362 C CAligula Caesar. 2 Commodus Son to Verus Emperor 7 Contention between the East West Church for the obseruation of Easter day Ibid Constantine the Emperor borne in Brittaine 18 His prayers to his Souldiers Ibid. His immunity to the ministry his prouision for liberall sciences 19 Constantine with the helpe of three legions of Souldiours out of Brittany obtains the peace of the vniuersall Church 20 Councell at Sternhalt for the obseruation of Easter 25 Councell of Constance 26 Carolus Magnus proclaimed Emperor 25 Cambridge erected by Sigisbert 29 Chester built 33 Cloud halfe blood halfe fire seene in England 39 Canutus succeeds Siranus and erects the monastery of S. Edmonsbury 40 Councell at Vercellis 43 Councell at Mentz vnder Pope Leo 9. Ibid. Councell at Latteran Ibid. Councell at Mantua against Priests marriages Ibid. Controuersie betweene Canterbury and Yorke for the Primacy 45 Calixtus the second Pope 50 Complaints of sundry abuses in the Church 51 Contention betweene the Bishop of Yorke and Canterbury 68 Conclusions put vp to the Parliament 93 Councell of Constance for pacifying a schisme betwixt 3. Popes in which Iohn the Pope was deposed proued to be an hereticke a murtherer a Sodomite and many others in the 8. Session Iohn Wickliff and his forty Articles were condemned 112 Councell of Basill send Ambassadors to the Bohemians with their answers 130 Councell of Basil begun 137 Contention between two Popes 145 Constantinople taken 146 Clement the seuenth Pope his wicked life and death 162 Collins for holding vp a little Dogge when the Priest was at Masse burned and the Dogge with him 190 Cowbridge after he was almost starued martyred at Oxford 191 Cardinall Poole attainted of high treason flyes to Rome 200 Commotions in Oxfordshire Yorkshire Norfolke and Suffolke 222 Commotions in Oxford and Buckingham appeased by the Lord Grey 224 Commotion in the North. ibid. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury offers to defend the book of common-prayer 235 Communication between Doctor Ridley and Secretary Bourne in the â—ower 240 Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury sent to Oxford to dispute 242 Cat apparelled like a Priest hanged at the Crosse in Cheapside 244 Cardinal Pools Oration in the Parlament-house 246 Christianus king of Denmark his Letters to Q. Mary for Miles Câ—uâ—rdale 256 Causon of Thunderst in Essex for maintayning the truth burned at Kayley 262 Christopher Wade burned at Dartford for denying the reall presence in the Sacrament 281 Cornelius Burgie burned 295 Cranmer Archbishop of Canterbury his parentage and education hee is sent Ambassador to the Emperour he is sent Ambassadour to the Pope he seekes to banish Popish errors and to reforme the Church he is charged with heresie for denying the Popes power he is condemned and disgraded by Bonner Bonners Oration in disgrace of him he is allured to recant by fair promises and entreaty his martyrdome from fol. 315. to 32â— Christopher Liâ—â—er burned 322 Cisley Ormes burned 343 Cuthbert Simpson Martyr 354 Christian George burned 357 Christopher Browne burned at Canterbury 365 D. DEscription of the Primitiue and later times of the Church 1 Domitius Caesar. 2 Dâ—cius tyrannie against Christians 11 Danes enter England and burn the I le of Sheppey in Kent 30 Danes take Yorke 32 Dunston Abbot of Glastenbury banished by Eâ—â— wine 36 Danes arriue and do much spoile 39 Danes suddenly slaine vpon S. Brices day 40 Danes begin to be Christians 41 Diuers Popes at one time 52 Dominicans or black Fryers order instituted 78 Diuorce of K. Henry the eighth and Q. Katharine 174 Duke of Norfolk committed 201 Destruction of Merindall Cabriers in Fr. 202 â—od alias Scot burnt at Callice 206 Daâ—id Beaton Archb. and Cardinal in Scotland his miserable end and buriall in a dunghill 215 Duke of Sommerset protector his history proclamation against him sent to the Tower discharged againe committed to the Tower again arraigned at Westminst and condemned beheaded at Tower-hill 230 231 232 Duke of Northumberland beheaded 235 Dagger throwne at the Preacher at Paules crosse ibid. Disputations in the Conuocation house about the Sacrament 256 Duke of Suffolk brought to the Tower ib. Duke of Suffolke beheaded at the Tower-hill 239 Derick Caruer condemned 281 Dunstone Chittenden famished in the Castle of Canterbury 329 Denis Burges Martyred at Lewis 332 Denis Brigs martyred 349 Dunning the cruell Chancellors sudden death 356 E. EVstachius a Captain with his wife family martyred 4 England troubled only with the tenth persecution 16 Ethelbert King of Kent 21 Edwine conuerted by Paulinus and christened at Yorke 25 Ethelwood conuerts the people of South-sax 26 Empire translated from the Grecians to the Frenchmen 28 Egbert sole King 30 Ethelwolph Bishop of Winchester succeedes K. by the Popes dispensation his superstition ibib Edw. the elder subdues Wales and Scotland and is alwaies victorious 35 Edmund expels the Danes and is slaine at Glassenbury 36 Edwine crowned at Kingstone ibid. Edward succeds Edgar and is murthered 39 Egelred King ibid. Elphegus Bishop of Canterbury put to death at Grenwich 40 Eldred driues out Canutus ibid. Edmund sirnamed Ironside
place more then in England as shall be declared In the yeare 1517. one Cardinall Campeius was sent as Ambassador into England to gather money for warre against the Turke the Cardinall of Yorke caused him to send to Rome that hee might be ioyned in Legacie with him and sent him red cloth for his seruants that he might come moâ—e gloriously at euery towne hee was receiued with procession accompanied with Lords and Gentlemen at Black heath the Duke of Northfolke with a number of Prelates Knights and Gentlemen met him richly appareled and in the way hee was brought into a Tent of cloth of gould where bâ— put on his Cardinalls Robes and tooke his Mule towards London this Cardinall had eyght Mules laden the Cardinall of Yorke thinking them not sufficient for his State sent him twelue mules more w t empty Coffers couered with red the next day these twelue Mules were led through the Citty as though they had beene laden with treasure and other necessaries to the great admiration of all men but passing through Cheapeside the people pressing to behold them one of the Mules broke his coller and ranne vppon the other Mules and they running together ouerthrew diuers of their burthens and so there shewed the Cardinalls treasure with great laughter and scorne oâ— many and the boyes and girles gathered vp peeces of meate and bread and rosted egges horse showes and old store of such baggage crying out behold here is my Lord Cardinalls treasure and the Mulers greatly ashamed gathered vp their treasure as well as they could and went forward then hee was brought to the Cardinall of Yorke and then to the King this Cardinall of Yorke at all times at dinner and supper was serued with his Seruitoures kneeling and many Noble men of England wayted vppon him such was his monstrous pride Such as were forced to abiure in King Henry the eyght his raigne after the first begining of Luther because there is a great many and nothing but their bare name ricited I referre thee to the booke at large IHon Coines alias Laueland was detected for contemning the Sacrament of the Altar and because he receaued not at Easter who after died at St. Martins Robert Ward Shoomaker of St. Brids Parish in Fleetstreet detected by thrée wittnesses for holding opinions against the Sacrament of the Altar died in the Counter of â—redstreet Mathew Ward Marchant-venturer committed to the Counter in Breadstreet for that he being Priest was married and kept company with his wife and because he was a Sacramentary and despised auriculer confession and priuate Masses and defended the Communion to bee ministred to the Lay people in both kinds and maintaining that Priests ought to haue wiues Herman Peterson and Iames Gossen Taylers Duch-men were committed to the Counter in Breadstréete because the said Iames was not confessed in Lent nor receiued at Easter which he said came by the counsell of the said Herman which councelled him rather to giue thrée or foure pence to the poore then to be shrieuen Thomas Lancaster imprisoned in the Counter in the Poultry for bringing in prohibited bookes Iohn Wilcocke a Scottish Frier committed to the Fléete for preaching against Confession and Holy-water against praying to Saints and against Purgatory that Priests might haue wiues and that the people ought not to pray for soules departed Also Iohn Goodale was prisoner there Nicholas South committed to Newgate for not being shrieuen in Lent nor receiued at Easter There was apprehended for heresie in Couentry Robert Hatchets Shomaker one Wrigsham a Glouer one Lansdâ—ll a Hosier with thrée others and one Mistris Smith a Widdow because they taught their children and families the Lords praier the Beleefe and the ten Commandements in English they were imprisoned some in places vnder-ground some in Chambers and other places after they were sent to Blackstocke Abbey where they were imprisoned whilst they were there their Children were sent for before one Stafford Warden of the Gray-Fryers in Couentry who examined them of their beleefe and what errors their Fathers had taught them charging them vpon paine of death which their Fathers should suffer that they no waies meddle with the Pater-noster Creede and ten Commandements in English which is heresie After their Fathers were brought againe to Couentry where foure yeares before they had borne Faggots in the Church and Market The Bishops and Doctors they and the said Gentlewoman before them who told them they should weare Faggâ—ts portraied in their cloaths to signifie they were hereticks Robert Hatchets answered we desire no more but the Lords prayer ten Commandements and Creed in English which I am sure euery Christian ought to haue Wherupon they were iudged all to be burned except the Gentlewoman who was pardoned and because it was euening and her sight dim the Somner offered to go home with her as he led her he heard somewhat rattle in her sleene and taking it from her and looking vpon it he found it was the Lords Prayer the Creed and ten Commaundements in English so he brought her backe againe to the Bishop where she was presently condemned and burned with the sixe before There was another in Couentry called Robert Silkes which escaped from taking and two yeares after was taken in Kent and sent to Couentry and burned Then the Sheriffes went to their houses and tooke all their goods and Chattels to their owne vse leauing their wiues and children nothing to liue by Henry Voz and Iohn Escy two yong Austen Fryers were disgraded because they would not deny the doctrin of the Gospel called Lutheranisme they thanked God for deliuering them from that abhominable priesthood and making them Priests of his holy order and that he had receiued them as a sacrifice of a sweet odor The greatest error they were accused of was that men ought only to trust in God because meÌ„ are Lyers They went ioyfully to the place of execution protesting they died for the glory of God and the Gospell beleeuing in the Sonne of God saying This is the day we long desired being in their shirts they ioyfully imbrased the stake praysing God singing Psalmes and making testimony of their Faith A Doctor seeing their iolity bid them take heed so foolishly to glorifie themselues they answered God forbid we should glory in any thing but the Crosse of Christ Another councelled them to haue God before their eies they answered We trust we carry him truly in our hearts When the fire was kindled at their feete one of them said me thinkes you strew Roses at my feete Henry being demaunded whether Luther had seducâ—d him Yea said he as Christ seduced his Apostles He said also that it was contrary to Gods Law that the Cleargy should be exempt from the iurisdiction of the Christian Magistrate and that Byshops haue no power but only to preach the word of God They were burned at Bruxels after their death their Monastery was dissolued at Antwerp Their President was called