sacrament had stande in the open confession therof according to the auncient veritie of the doctrine receaued in the Churche before he was so handled by certaine malignaunt superstitious monks that what by euill entreatie and what for feare of deathe such is the weake frailty of man he began to shrinke and afterward did in deede recant the truth Of these malicious ennemies againste Berengarius the chiefest troubler was Lancfranke Abbot of Codune afterward Archbishop of Canterbury Guimond monke likewise first of the abbey of Leufrede afterward Archb. of Auersane Algerius also monke of Corbein Fulbertus also monke and byshop and Hildebrand sometime monke of Cluniake and then Archdeacon of Turon afterward Bishop of Rome By these and such other monkes of the like fraternitie the errour and heresie of transubstantiation began firste to be defended and partes publikely in wryting to be taken about that matter Lancfrancke a persecutor of Berengarius Of the which sides and partes the firste that began to set vp that faction by wryting seemeth to be Paschasius who was a little before Berengarius aboute the time of Bertrame and likewise Lancfrancke the firste that brought it into England Paschasius the first beginner of the faction of transubstantiation On the contrary side againe the firste that was openly impugned and troubled for denying transubstantiation was this Berengarius with whom Lancfranck also was supposed at the first beginning to holde and take part but afterward to cleare himselfe he stoode openly against hym in the Councell and wrote against him It foloweth then in the Acte of the Councel that when the Synode of Archbishops Bishops Abbots and other Prelates were together assembled y e greater number saith the storie did holde that the breade and wine were turned substantially into the body and bloud of Christ. Notwithstanding sayeth he diuers there were in the sayde Councel whych helde the contrary wyth Berengarius Ex W. Malmesb but at laste were driuen to geue ouer Berengarius amonge the rest after he had long stand in the constant defence of the truth at last relented to their willes confessing his errour where none was and desired pardon of the Councell And thys was as seemeth to W. Malmesb. hys firste geuing ouer Who afterwarde returning to hymselfe agayne after the death of Pope Leo The story recantation of Berengaâ—ius declaâ—â—d by W. Malmesb. De gestis Anglorum Lib. 3. and prickte with the stinge of conscience was driuen againe to recognise the truthe whych he before had denied The Pope sayeth Malmesb. perceauing this would not leaue him so but sent into Fraunce Hildebrande hys Cardinall Chaplaine as meete a mate for such a feate as was in all Satans courte and made him with a wany and to come againe coram nobis who so handled Berengarius and bringing hym before the face of the Councel bolden at Turon that he made him to say erraui once again against whome stoode vp in that Councell Lanfrancus and Guimundus aforesaid impugning his assertion And thus staÌ„deth the narration of W. Malmesbery But by the actes of y e Councel of Rome appeareth an other declaration which is that thys latter recantation of Berengarius shoulde be at Rome vnder Hildebrand being then Pope The order of his recantation declared Ex actis Romani Concilij in the yere of our Lord. 1076. and in the moneth of February and that in the sayde Councell holden in Ecclesia Saluatoris thys recantation of Ego Berengarius was made and he enioyned by the sayd Pope Hildebrand vpon hys oth neuer hereafter to teache or dispute contrary to that faith of the Sacrament there holden c. Againe Henry Bullinger in his booke The order of the sayd recantation reported out of Henr. Bulling De origine erroris cap. 10. De origine erroris following belike some other authour expresseth the order of the foresayd recantation after thys sorte and sayeth that in the time of Pope Leo. 9. Anno. 1051. there was a Romane Councell holden at Uercellense in the whyche Councell Lanfrancke beinge then present the Booke of Ioh. Scotus was openly read and there condemned Also Berengarius was sent for Concilium Vercellenâ—e who seeing the preiudiciall proceeding of that Councell refused himselfe to come but sent two Clerkes which openly there defended hys cause and quarell and were for the same committed vnto prison Such is the freedome of the Popes generall Councels w t prisons and violence to defend their verities Against the doings of this Councel notwithstanding the French men stoode stiffe both at Angew and Turon ioyning and consenting wyth Berengarius Not long after this died Pope Leo and after him succeeded Pope Uictor Concilium Florentinum by whom an other Synode was kept at Florence where the Actes and doings of the foresayde Councel of Uercellense were confirmed and a Legate also appointed to be sent to Turon in Fraunce This legate was Hildebrand aboue mentioned Concilium Turonense who calling the clergy of Fraunce together in a Synode fell there in hande wyth the cause of the Sacrament Berengarius not being ignoraunt of these Romaine Councels so kept himselfe that in all his action he would geue none other answere but that he beleeued and consented with the faith of the Catholicke Churche so for that time did frustrate the purpose of the councel rather deluding the preteÌ„ses of his ennemies then freely confessing the simple truth Againe Concilium Romanum â—ub Nicol. 2. after Uictor came Pope Nicholas 2. who congregating an other Councell at Rome An. 1058. sent for Berengarius there to appeare who being present argued what he could for the iustnesse of his cause but all woulde not serue In the Popes generall Councels such a stroke and mastership beareth authoritie aboue veritie Berengarius being thus borne downe on euery side by might superioritie when no remedye woulde serue Might beareth downe right but hee muste needes recant againe for the law of relapse was not yet in season he desired to know what other confession of the sacrament the Pope woulde require of him The last recantation of Berengarius Humbertus author of the decree Ego Berengarius besides y t whych hee hadde there confessed Then Pope Nicolas committed that charge to Humbart a Monke of Lotharinge and after a Cardinall y t he should draw out in formable wordes the order of his recantatioÌ„ after the prescription of Rome whych hee shoulde reade and publickely professe before the people The forme of which words is registred in the Decrees De consecrat dist 2. Ego Berengarius c. The effecte whereof is thys That hee pretendeth with heart and mouth to professe that he acknowledging the true catholicke De consecra Dist. 2. cap. Ego Berengarius and Apostolicall faith doth execrate all heresie namely that wherewyth hee hath lately bene infamed as holding that the bread and wine vpon the Altare after the
the second to the Duches The Angronians send forth three supplication and the third to y e dukes counsell wherein they briefly declared what their religion was and the poyntes thereof whych they and their aunciters had of a long time obserued being wholy grounded vpon the pure word of God and if by the same worde it should be proued that they were in errour they would not be obstinate but gladly be refourmed and embrace the trueth After this the persecution seemed to be somewhat asswaged for a litle while In the ende of Iune next following the Lorde of Raconis and the Lorde of Trinitie came to Angrogne there to quallifie as they sayde the sore persecution and caused the chiefe rulers and ministers to assemble together propoundinge diuers poyntes of Religion concernyng Doctrine the callyng of Ministers the Masse and obedience towardes Princes and Rulers and furthermore declared vnto them that their confession was sent to Rome by the Duke and daily they looked for aunsweare The confession of the Angronians sent to the Pope To all these poynts the Ministers answered After this they demaunded of the chiefe rulers if that the Duke would cause Masse to be song in their parishes whether they woulde withstand the same or no. They answered simply that they would not Then they demanded of them if that the Duke would appoynt them Preachers whether they would receiue them They answered Demaundes put to the Angronians that if they preached the word of God purely they would heare them Thirdly if y t they were content that in the meane time their ministers shuld cease and if they whiche shoulde be sent preached not the worde of God sincerely then theyr ministers to preache againe If they would agree to thys they were promysed that the persecution should cease and the prisoners should be â—estored againe To thys question after they had conferred with the people they aunswered that they could by no meanes suffer that theyr Ministers shoulde forbeare preaching The two Lordes not contented with thys aunswere commaunded in the Dukes name that all the Minysters whyche were straungers shoulde oute of hande be banished the countrey saying that the Duke woulde not suffer them to dwell wythin his dominion for that they were his enemies demaunding also whether they would foster and maintaine the Princes ennemies wythin hys owne lande againste his owne decree and expresse commaundement To the whyche answeare was made by the chiefe Rulers that they coulde by no meanes banish them vnlesse they were afore conuicted of some heresie or other crime for their part The Angronians deny to put away their ministers they had alwaies founde them to be men of pure and sound doctrine and also of godly life and conuersation Thus done immediatly Proclamations were made and the persecution began on euery syde to be more furious then it was afore Amongest others the Monkes of Pignerol at that tyme were most cruell for they sent out a company of hyred Ruffians The Monks of Pignerol cruel against the Angronians which dayly spoyled and ransackt houses and all that they could lay hands of tooke men women and children and led them captiues to the Abbey where they were most spitefully afflicted and tormented At the same time they sent also a band of the sayde ruffians by night to the Ministers house of S. Germain in the valley of Perouse The minister of S. Germain betrayed taken being led thither by a traytour which knew the house and had vsed to haunt thether secretly who knocking at the dore the Minister knowing his voyce came foorth immediately and perceiuing hymselfe to be betrayed fledde but he was soone taken and sore wounded and yet notwithstandyng they pricked him behynde wyth theyr halbards to make hym hasten hys pace At that tyme also many they slue many they hurt and many also they brought to the Abbey and there kepte them in prison and cruelly handled them The good Minister endured sore imprisonment Barbarous cruelty shewed against the good minister of S. Germain and after that a most terrible kind of death with a wonderfull constancie For they rosted him by a small fire and when halfe his body was burnt he confessed and called vpon the Lorde Iesus with a loude voice The Inquisitour Iacomel with his Monkes and the Collaterall Corbis amongest other shewed one practise of most barbarous crueltie against thys poore man Who when he should be burnt Two womeÌ„ compelâ—ed to 〈◊〉 fagots to burne their pastor caused two poore women of S. Germain which they kept in prison to cary fagots to the fire and to speake these wordes to their Pastour take thys thou wicked hereticke in recompence of thy naughty doctrine which thou hast taught vs. To whome the good Minister aunswered Ah good women I haue taught you well but you haue learned ill To be briefe they so afflicted and tormented those poore people of Saint Germain and the places thereabout that after they were spoyled of their goodes and driuen from theyr houses they were coÌ„pelled to flie into y e mountaine to saue their liues So great was the spoyle of this poore people that many which before had bene men of much wâ—alth and with their riches had ministred great succour and comfort to others were now brought to such miserie that they were compelled to craue succour and reliefe of other Now for as much as the sayde Monkes with theyr troupes of ruffians which were counted to be in number about three hundred made such spoyle and hauocke in all the countrey Whether it be lawfull for the persecuted people of christ to stand to their owne defence that no man could there liue in safetie it was demaunded of the Ministers whether it was lawfull to defend themselues against the insolencie and furious rage of the sayde Ruffians The Ministers aunswered that it was lawfull warning them in any case to take heede of bloudshed This question being once dissolued they of the valley of Luserne and of Angrongne sent certayne men to them of S. Germain to ayde them against the supporters of these Monkes In the moneth of Iune the haruest being then in Piemont diuers of the Waldoys were gone into y e countrey to reape and make prouision for corne for very litle groweth vpon their mountaines the which were all taken prisoners at sundry times and places not one knowing of another Mirabilia Dei but yet God so wrought that they all escaped out of prison as it were by a myracle Whereat the aduersaries were maruelously astonished At the same time there were certayne other also which had susteyned long imprisonment looking for nothing else but death and yet they after a wonderfull sort by Gods mercifull prouidence were likewise deliuered In the moneth of Iuly they of Angrongne beeyng in a morning at haruest vpon the hill syde of S. Germain perceyued a company of souldiours spoylyng them of S. Germaine doubting least they would go
articles where he with great daunger of his life did very much good Henry taketh his iourney to Meldorph Finally they should promise to the congregation in his name that when he had perfourmed his enterprise he woulde straight returne againe They being perswaded with these words cōsented vnto him stedfastly hoping that they of Diethmar should be conuerted vnto the true faith which people aboue all other haue alwaies bene most geuen to Idolatrie Hauing prepared all things toward his setting foorth the xxij day of October he tooke his iourney and came to Meldorphe whither he was sent for wheras he was ioyfully receiued of the parish priest and other as soone as he was come thither Albeit he had not yet preached the Diuell with his members by and by began to freat and fume for anger Aboue all other one Augustine Torneborch Prior of the Blacke friers began to fume who went out of hand vnto maister Iohn Swicken his companion and Commissary to the Officiall of Hamburge to take counsell what was to be done least they should loose their kingdome The Prior of of the Blacke Fryers with the 48. Presidentes conspireth the death of Henry Finally it was decreed by them aboue all things to withstand the beginnings that he should not haue licence to preach for if by any meanes it happened that he preached and the people should heare him it was to be feared that the wickednes and craft of the Priestes and Monkes should be opened which being made manifest they knew plainely that it would be but a folly to resist remembring what had happened lately before in Breme This determination had the Prior the next day early in the morning for he had not slept well all night for cares wente wyth great speede vnto Heyda to speake with the 48. Presidēts of the countrey vnto whome with great complaintes he shewed how that a seditious felow a Monke was come from Breme which would seduce all the people of Diethmar as he had done the Bremers The chiefe doers of thi◠conspiracye There was moreouer that did assist this Prior maister Gunterus Chauncelour of that countrey and Petrus Hannus both enemies vnto the Gospell These two stoutly assisted the Prior perswading the other 46. being simple and vnlearned men that they should obteine great fauour and good will of the Bishop of Breme if they would put this hereticke monke to death When these poore vnlearned men heard these words they decreed that this Monke shoulde be put to death neither heard nor seene much lesse conuict Furthermore this Prior obteined letters from the 48. Presidents vnto the parish priest commanding him vnder great penaltie that he shoulde put the Monke out of his house and commaunde him to depart without preaching With these letters he came speedily vnto Meldorphe Nicolas Boyes parish priest of Meldorph commaūded to put away Henry and deliuered the letters ouernight vnto the parish Priest trusting that by their threatnings and commandement the sayd Henry should be feared from preaching diligently watching whether he did preach or not When as the parish priest had read ouer the letters he marueyled not a little at that proud commaundement for that it had not bene heard of before that the xlviij Presidents should meddle with Ecclesiasticall matters and that it had bene of long time vsed that the ruling therof should be in the hands of the parish priest and long time before it was decreed by the whole prouince and customably vsed that in euery church y e parish priest should haue free libertie to receiue or put out the preacher These letters the parish priest deliuered vnto Henry which when he had diligently looked ouer he answeared that for so muche as he was come being sent for by y e whole cōgregatiō to preach the Gospell of Christ he would satisfie that vocation because he saw it would be acceptable vnto the whole cōgregation and that he ought rather to obey the word of God then mā Also y t if it pleased God that he should lose his life in Diethmar there was as neare a way to heauen The constācy of Henry in his vocation as in any other place for that he doubted nothing at all y t once he must suffer for y e Gospels sake Upon this courage and boldnes the next day Henry went vp into the Pulpit and made a Sermon expounding the place of Paul which is Rom. 1. Testis est mihi Deus c. That is God is my witnes and the Gospell of the day After the Sermon was done the whole congregation being called together the Prior deliuered the letters that were sent by the 48. Presidents the tenor whereof was this that they of Meldorph should be fined with a fine of a thousand gildrens if they suffered the Monke to preach and commaunded moreouer that they should send ambassadours vnto Heida with full power and authoritie When they heard these letters read they were much moued because they were so charged contrary to the custome of the countrey for so much as euery parish priest hath alwaies had authority according to his discretion to choose or put away the preacher Briefly they all determined with one voice to keepe Henry for their preacher and to defend him for when they had heard the Sermon they were greatly offended with the Prior. After dinner Henry preached againe Henry preacheth at Meldorph The Citizens of Meldorph write in defence of their preacher expoūding y e place of S. Paule Rom. 15. Debemus nos qui potentes sumus c. We ought which are strong c. The next day the Citizens of Meldorphe sent their messengers vnto Heyda offering to aunsweare in all causes before all men for their preacher whome they had receiued Besides that the messengers declared what christian godly Sermons they heard him preach The parish priest also wrote letters by the said Legates vnto the 48. rulers wherin he excused himselfe that it was neuer his mind nor the intent of the said Henry to moue sedition but only sincerely to preach y e word of God and offred himselfe ready to answer for the said Henry to al mē whensoeuer he should be called most earnestly desiring them not to geue credite vnto y e Monks which being blinded with hatred auarice had fully determined to oppresse y e truth saieng moreouer that it was against all reason that a man should be condemned before the truth be tried out and his cause declared and if after due inquisitiō had he should be cōuict then he should suffer cōdigne punishment This submission with y e publique testimoniall was nothing esteemed or regarded neither was there any answeare geuen therunto but euery man repined murmured thereat Last of all one Peter Dethleues one of the Seniors answered Good counsaile of Peter Dethleues that albeit there were diuers dissensions in euery place about the Christian faith and that they as men ignorant could not redresse the same yet this
their sentence should be holden and ratified which was that the iudgement of determining this dissension should be reserued to the next Councell which by the report of maister Chauncelour was now in hand to be called and gathered Also vntill all discord and dissension should be appeased whatsoeuer was receiued and beleeued by theyr neighbours he promised in the name of the rest that they would willingly receiue and beleeue the same So that if the word of God hath not hitherto bene clearely and sincerely preached as they said vnto y e people and that there be now some which can teache and preach the same more sincerely it is not their mind or intent to withstand or resist their good doings but that the presidents would wish this one thing diligently to be taken heede of that there be no occasion geuen by any man to moue sedition and in the meane time he commaunded all men quietly to geue ouer all matters vntill Easter nexte and by that time it shoulde be made euident what shoulde be receiued and what left vndone With this answere they were all very well contented and the messengers returned againe to Meldorphe with great ioy and gladnes declaring to the whole congregation what answere was made cōceiuing a sure hope that the matter would shortly come to passe Upon S. Nicholas daye thys Henry preached twise first vpon the Gospell Homo quidam nobilis c. A certaine noble man Luke 19. c. Secondly vpon this text Plures facti sunt sacerdotes c. There are many made Priestes c. with suche a spirit and grace Heb. 7. that all men had him in admiration praieng God most earnestly that they might long haue such a preacher Upon the day of the conception of our Lady he also made two Sermons vpon the first chapter of Mathew expounding the booke of the generation wherein he rehearsed the promises made by God vnto oure forefathers and vnder what faith our fathers that then were had liued adding also that all respect of works being set apart we must be iustified by the same faith All these things were spoken with such boldnes of spirit that al mē greatly maruelled at him geuing thankes to God for his great mercy that had sente them such a Preacher desiring hym moreouer that he would tarrie with them al Christmas to preach for they feared least he should be sent for to some other place In the meane space the Priour and maister Iohn Schinke were not idle The Prier and the Monkes againe conspired against the Gospell for when the Prior perceiued that his malitious enterprise tooke no good successe he adioyned vnto him a companion William a Doctour of the Iacobines and so went vp to Laudanum to the Monks Franciscanes and Minors for helpe and counsaile For those kindes of Friers aboue all other are best instruct by their hypocrisie to deceiue the poore and simple people These Friers streightwaies sent for certaine of the rulers which had all the rule and authoritie and specially Peter Hannus Peter Swine and Nicholas Roden vnto whome they declared after their accustomed maner with great complaintes what an heretique Monke had preached and how he had obteined the fauour almost of all the simple people which if they did not spedily prouide for and withstand the beginnings and put the heretique to death it would come to passe that shortly the honour of our Lady and all Saints together with the two Abbeys shoulde vtterly come to ruine and decay When these simple ignorant men heard these wordes they were greatly moued Whereunto Peter Swine aunswered thus that they had before written vnto the parish priest to Henry what was best to be done notwithstanding if they thought good they would write againe No said y e Prior this matter must be attempted another way for if you write vnto the heretike he wil by and by answer you againe And it is to be feared least the contagion of his heresie do also infect you being vnlearned men for if you geue him leaue to speake and to answere there is no hope that you shall ouercome him The death of Henry conspired by the Monkes and Friers Wherefore they finally determined to take this Henry by night and burne him before the people should know it or he come to his defence to answere This deuise pleased all mē but specially the Franciscane Friers Petrus Hannus the Priors chiefe frend willing to get the chiefe praise and thankes of this matter by the help of maister Gunter did associate vnto him certaine other rulers of the townes neere adioining whose names are heere not to be hidden because they so much affected praise and glorye The names of the conspirators persecutors The names of the Presidentes were these Petrus Hannus Peter Swines sonne Hennicke Lūdane Iohn Holneus Laurence Hannemanus Nicholas Weslingbourgus Ambrose Iohn Brenthusius Marquardus Kremmerus Henstedanus Ludekus Iohānes Weslingus and Petrus Grossus President of Himmigstate All these Presidentes all other that were of Councell to this pretēce assembled together in the Parish of the new Church in the house of maister Gunter where also the Chauncelour was consultyng together with thē how they might burne the sayd Henry secretly comming vpon him without any iudgement or sentence They concluded the next day after the conception of our Lady to meete at Hennyng which is v. myle frō Meldorphe with a great band of husbādmen This determination this made they layd scoutes in euery place that there should no newes of their pretēsed mischiefes come vnto Meldorphe cōmaundyng that as soone as it began to waxe darke they should all gather together There assembled aboue v. C. mē of the countrey vnto whom was declared the cause of their assemble also they were instructed what was to be done for before no mā knew the cause of the assemble but onely the Presidentes When the husbandmē vnderstood it they would haue returned backe agayne refusing to do such a detestable and horrible deede The Presidentes with most bitter threates kept them in obedience A droncken murther to the intent they should be the more couragious they gaue them three barrels of Hamborow beere to drinke About midnight they came in armour to Meldorphe The Iacobines and Monkes prepared torches for them that Henry should not slip away sodēly in the darke They had also with them a false betrayer named Hennegus Hennegus the betrayer of the preacher by whose treason they had perfect knowledge of all thynges With great violēce they burst into the house of the Parish Priest breakyng spoylyng all thynges as the maner of that dronken people is If they found either gold or siluer they tooke it away When they had spoyled all things they violently fell vpon the Parish Priest with great noyse cried out kill the theefe kill the theefe The parish priest violently taken in his house by night Some of
to his brethren all the poynts of hys commission and opened vnto them how many and great errours they were in into the which their olde Ministers whome they called * These were their ministers for lacke of better vntill they came to more sincere knowledge which enstructed thē most commonly by night abroade in caues and quarries for feare of persecution Of these Calabrians Vide infra Barbes that is to say Uncles had broughte them leading them from the right way of true Religion When the people heard this they were moued with such a zeale to haue their Churches reformed that they sent for the moste ancient brethren the chiefest in knowledge and experience of all Calabria Apulia to consult wyth them touching the reformation of y e Church This matter was so handled that it stirred vp the bishops priests monkes in all Prouince Ioan. de Roma a wretched persecutor with greate rage against them Amongest other there was one cruel wretch called Iohn de Roma a monke who obtaining a commissiō to examine those that were suspected to be of y e Waldois or Lutheran profession forthwith ceased not to afflict the faithful with all kinde of cruelty y t he could deuise or imagine Amongest other most horrible torments The cruelty of a Papist this was one which he most delighted in and most commōly practised He filled bootes with boiling grece put them vpon their legs tying them backeward to a forme with their legges hanging downe ouer a small fire and so he examined them Thus he tormēted very many and in the ende most cruelly put them to deathe Michelottus Serra W. Melius Martirs The first whome hee thus tormented were Michelottus Serra and W. Melius with a number moe Wherfore Fraunces the French king being informed of the strange and outragious cruelty of this hellish monke sent letters to the high Courte or Parlament of Prouince y e foorthwith he should be apprehended by forme of proces and order of law he should be condemned aduertisement sent vnto him w t all spede or his condemnation The monke being aduertised heereof by his frendes conueyed himselfe to Auinion where hee thought to enioy the spoylings which he like a notorious thefe had gotten by fraud extortion from the pore Christians But shortly after he which had so shamefully spoiled other was spoiled of altogether by his owne houshold seruants Wherupon shortly after he fell sicke of a most horrible disease straunge and vnknowen to any Phisition The iust iudgement of God against a cruell persecutor So extreme were the paines torments wherwith he was continually vexed in al his body that no oyntment no fomētation nor any thing els could ease him one minute of an houre Neither was there any man that could tary neare about him ne yet wold any of his owne frendes come neare to him so greate was the stinch that came from him For the which cause he was caried from the Iacobines to an hospitall there to be kepte But the stinche infection so encreased that no man durst there come neare him no nor he himself was able to abide the horrible stinch that ishued from his body full of vlcers and sores and swarming with vermin and so rotten that the flesh fell away from the bones by peecemeale Whiles he was in these torments and anguish he cried out oftētimes in great rage Oh who wil deliuer me who will kill and rid me out of these vntolerable paines which I know I suffer for the euils and oppressions that I haue done to the poore men And he himselfe went about diuers times to destroy hymselfe but hee had not the power In these horrible torments and anguish and fearfull dispaire A spectacle to all persecutors this blasphemer and most cruel homicide moste miserably ended his vnhappye daies and cursed life as a spectacle to all persecutors receiuing a iust reward of his crueltye by y e iust iudgement of God When he was dead there was no man y t would come nere him to bury him but a yong nouice newly come to his order in steade of a more honorable sepulture caught hold w t a hooke vpon his stinking carian drew him into a hole hard by which was made for hym After the death of this cruell monster the bishop of Aix The Bishop of Aix Perionet his Officiall Meiranus cruell persecutors by his Officiall Perionet continued the persecution put a great multitude of them in prison of whom some by force of torments reuolted from the truth the others which cōtinued constant after he had condemned thē of heresy were put into the hands of the ordinary iudge which at y ◠time was one Meiranus a notable cruel persecutor who with out any forme of proces or order of law such as the Official had pronoūced to be heretikes he put to death with most cruell tormēts But shortly after he receiued a iust reward of his crueltie in like maner After the deathe of the good President Cusinetus An other exāple of Gods terrible iudgement vppon a persecutor the Lord of Reuest being chief President of the Parliament of Aix put many of the faithful to death Who afterwarde being put out of his office returned to his house of Reuest where he was stroken with such an horrible sicknesse that for the fury and madnes which he was in hys wife or any that were about him durst not come neare him and so hee dying in this fury and rage was iustly plagued for his vnmercifull and cruell dealing After him succeded Barthol Cassaneus likewise a pestilent persecutor An other exāple of Gods iudgement vpon Cassaneus a bloudy persecutor whom God at length stroke with a fearful sodeine death In the time of this tyran those of Merindol in the persone often were cited personally to appeare before y e kings atturny But they hearing that y e court had determined to burn them w tout any further processe or order of law durst not appeare at y e day apointed For which cause the court awarded a cruel sentēce against Merindol A bloudy decree against the Merindolians condemned al the inhabitants to be burned both men women sparing none no not the litle children infantes the towne to be rased their houses beaten downe to the groūd also the trees to be cut down as wel oliue trees as al other and nothing to be left to the entent it shuld neuer be inhabited again but remaine as a desert or wildernesse This bloudye arrest or Decree seemed so straunge and wonderfull that in euery place throughout all Prouince there was great reasoning and disputation cōcerning the same especially among the aduocates and men of lerning vnderstanding in so muche that many durst boldly openly say that they greatly marueiled how that Court of parlamēt could be so mad or so bewitched to giue out such an arrest so
wished and greatly groned for in tymes past of many godly learned men so much more ought wee nowe to reioyce and geue God thankes seeyng these dayes of reformation which God hath geuen vs. If Iohn Husse or good Hierome of Prage or Iohn Wickliffe before them both or William Brute Thorpe Swynderby or the Lord Cobham if Zisca with all the company of the Bohemians if the Earle Raymundus with all the Tholossians if the Waldoys or the Albingensis with infinite other had bene eyther in these our times now or else had seene then thys ruyne of the Pope and reuealing of Antichrist which the Lord now hath dispensed vnto vs what ioye and triumph would they haue made Wherefore now beholding that thyng which they so long tyme haue wished for let vs not thinke the benefite to be small but render therefore most humble thankes to the Lorde our God Who by his mightie power and brightnes of his word Antichrist longe hyd and now reueled hath reuealed this great enemie of his so manifestly to the eyes of all men who before was hid in the Church so coulourably that almost few Christians could espye him For who would euer haue iudged or suspected in hys mynde the Byshop of Rome commonly receyued and beleeued almost of all men to be the Vicare and Vicegerent of Christ heere in earth to be Antichrist and the great aduersary God whome S. Paule so expresly prophesieth of in these latter dayes to be reuealed by the brightnes of the Lords commyng as all men now for the most part may see is come to passe Wherefore to the Lord and Father of lightes who reuealeth all things in hys due tyme be prayse and glory for euer Amen The ende of the seauenth Booke The eyght Booke continuing the hystorie of English matters appertayning to both states as well Ecclesiasticall as Ciuill and Temporall Martyrs of Couentrye Persecuters Martyrs The Causes Symon Mourton the bishops Somner The bishop of Couentry Frier Stafford Warden Maistres Smith Rob. Hatchets Archer Haukins Tho. Bond. Wrigsham Landsdale Martyrs Maistres Smyth widow Rob. Hatchets a shomaker Archer a shomaker Hawkins a shomaker Tho Bond a shomaker Wrigsham a Glouer Landsdale an Hosier At Couentry An. 1519. THE principall cause of the appreheÌ„sion of those persons was for teaching their children and familie the Lordes prayer and tenne Commaundementes in English for which they were vpon Ashwednesday taken and put in prison some in places vnder the grounde some in chambers and other places about till Friday following Then they were sent to a Monasterye called Mackestocke Abbey sixe miles from Couentry During which time their children were sente for to the Gray friers in Couentry before y e Warden of the sayd friers called Frier Stafford Who straitly examining them of their beliefe and what heresie their fathers had taught them charged theÌ„ vppon payne of suffering suche deathe as their fathers should in no wyse to meddle any more with the Lords prayer The Lordes prayer in Englishe foâ—byddeÌ„ of the Papists the Creede and Commaundements in English Which done vpon Palmesonday the fathers of these children were broughte backe agayne to Couentry and there the weeke next before Easter were condemned for relapse because most of them had borne fagots in the same Citie before to be burned Onely Maistres Smith was dimissed for that present and sent away And because it was in the euenyng beyng somewhat darke as she should go home the foresayd Symon Mourton the Somner offered him selfe to goe home with her Now as he was leadyng her by the arme and heard the rattelyng of a scrole within her sleeue yea sayth he What haue ye here And so tooke it from her espyed that it was the Lordes prayer the Articles of the fayth Maistres Smith coÌ„deÌ„ned for hauing the Lords prayer in Englishe the x. Commaundementes in Englishe Which when the wretched Somner vnderstood ah serrha sayd he come as good now as an other tyme so brought her backe agayne to the Byshop where she was immediately condemned and so burned with the vj. men before named the fourth of Aprill in a place thereby called the litle parke An. 1519.  Robert Silkeb At Couentry An. 1521. IN y e same nuÌ„ber of these CoueÌ„try men aboue rehearsed was also Robert Silkeb Anno. 1521. who at the apprehension of these as is aboue recited fled away Robert Silkeb Martyr and for that tyme escaped But about two yeares after he was taken agayne brought to the sayd Citie of Couentry where he was also burned the morowe after hee came thether whiche was about the xiij day of Ianuary An. 1521. Thus when these were dispatched immediatly the Sheriffes went to theyr houses and tooke all their goodes and cattell to theyr owne vse not leauyng their wiues and children any parcell therof to helpe themselues with all And for somuch as the people began to grudge somewhat at the crueltie shewed and at the vniust death of these innocent Martyrs the Byshop with his Officers and Priestes caused it to bee noysed abroad by their Tenauntes seruantes and fermers y t they were not burned for hauyng the Lordes prayer and commaundementes in English but because they did eate fleshe on Fridayes and other fastyng dayes Which neither could he proued either before their death or after nor yet was any such matter greatly obiected to them in their examinations Testimony of this storye The witnesses of this history bee yet aliue whiche both saw them and knew them Of whom one is by name mother Halle dwelling now in Bagington two myles from Couentry By whom also this is testified of them Note how these Martirs holding with the popish sacramentes yet were burned of the papists only for a few Scriptures in English that they aboue all other in Couentry pretended most shew of worshyp and deuotion at the holdyng vp of the Sacrament whether to colour the matter or no it is not knowen This is certain that in godlinesse of life they differed from al the rest of the Citie Neither in their occupying they would vse any oth nor could abyde it in them that occupyed with them Iames BetoÌ„ Archb. of S. Andrew M. Hew SpeÌ„s dean of diuinity in the vniuersitie of S. Andrew M. Iohn Weddell Rector of the vniuersitie Iames Symson Officiall Tho. Ramsay Chanon and Deane of the Abbey of S. Andrewes Allane Meldrum Chanon Iohn Greson Principall of the Blacke Friers Iohn Dillidaffe Warden of the Gray Friers Martin Balbur Lawyer Iohn SpeÌ„s Lawyer Alexander Yong The godly zeale of M. Hamelton towardes his countrey bacheler of Diuinitie Chanon Iohn Annand Chanon Frier Alex. Chambell Priour of the Blacke Friers c. Patricke HalmentoÌ„ At Saint Andrewes in ScotlaÌ„d An. 1527. PAtricke Hamelton a Scottish man borne of an hygh and noble stocke and of the kynges bloud Anno. 1527. young and of flourishyng age and excelleÌ„t towardnesse of xxiij yeares called Abbot of Ferme
dayes who kepte her maides and suche as were about her so occupyed in sowing and woorking of shirts smockes for the poore The good order of the Court in Queene Annes tyme. that neither was there sene any idlenes then amoÌ„gst them nor any leisure to followe such pastimes as daily are seene now a daies to raigne in princes courtes Thus the king being deuorced from the lady Dowager his brothers wife maried this gracious Lady makyng a prosperous and happy change for vs The king diuorced from Lady Catherine froÌ„ the Pope both at one tyme. being diuorced from the foresaide Princesse and also from the Pope both at one time Notwythstanding as good and godly purposes are neuer without some incommoditie or trouble following so it happened in this diuorcement that the sayde Princesse procuring from Rome the Popes curse caused both the king and the realme to be interdited wherof more is hereafter to be spoken In the meane time Quene Anne shortly after her mariage Anno 1533 being great with childe the next yeare followynge which was 1533. after the first diuorcement publikely proclaimed Queene Anne crowned Queene Elizabeth borne was crowned wyth high solemnitie at Westminster and not long after her Coronation the 7. day of September she was brought a bed and deliuered of a faire Lady for whose good deliueraunce Te Deum was songe in all places and great preparation made for the Christening The Maior and his brethren with 40. of the chiefe Citizens were commaunded to be present withall the nobles and Gentlemen The kings Pallace and all the wals betweene that and the Friers was hanged with Arras and the Friers Churche Also the Fonte was of siluer stoode in the midst of the Churche three steppes high whych was couered with a fine cloth and diuers Gentlemen wyth aprons and towels about their neckes gaue attendance about it Ouer the Fonte hong a faire Canapy of crimosine Satten fringed wyth Golde About it was a raile couered wyth saie Betweene the Quire and the body of the church was a close place with a pan of fire to make the childe ready in These things thus ordered the childe was brought into the Hall and then euery man set forward First the citizens 2. and 2. Then the gentlemen Esquiers and Chapleins Next after folowed the Aldermen and the Maior alone Next the Maior folowed the kings Councell Then the kings Chappel Then Barons Bishops and Earles Then came the Earl of Essex bearing the couered Basons gilte After him the Marques of Exeter wyth the taper of Uirgin waxe Next him the Marques Dorset bearynge the Salte Behinde him the Ladie Marie of Northfolke bearing the Chrisome which was very riche of Perle and stone The olde Duchesse of Northfolke bare the childe in a Mantle of Purple Ueluette with a longe traine Furred with Ermine The Duke of Northfolke with hys Marshal rod went on the right hand of the sayde Duchesse and the Duke of Suffolke on the left hande Before them went the Officers of armes The Countesse of Kente bare the long traine of the childes mantell Betwene the Countesse and the child went the Erle of Wilshire on the right hand and the Erle of Darby on the left hand supporting the said traine In the middest ouer the childe was borne a Canapie by the Lord Rochford the Lord Hussey the Lord William Haward and the Lord Thomas Hawarde the elder In this order they came vnto the Churche dore where the Bishop of London mette it with diuers Abbots and Byshops and began the obseruances of the Sacrament The Archbishop of Caunterbury was Godfather and the olde Duchesse of Northfolke and the old Marchionesse of Dorset widowes were Godmothers and the childe was named Elizabeth After all thinges were done at the Churche doore the child was brought to the Fonte Christened This done Cranmer godfather to Queene Elizabeth Garter the chiefe king of armes cryed aloud God of his infinite goodnes send prosperous lyfe and longe to the high and mighty princesse of England ELIZABETH Then the Trompettes blew and the childe was brought vp to the aultare and immediately confirmed by the Archbishop the Marchionesse of Exceter beyng Godmother Then the Archbishop of Caunterbury gaue to the Princesse a standing cup of Gold The Duchesse of Northfolke gaue to her a standing cup of Golde fretted with Pearle The Marchionesse of Dorset three gilte boles pounced with a couer The Marchionesse of Exceter three standing boles gilt grauen with a couer And so after a solemne bancket ended with Ipocras Wafers and such lyke in great plenty they returned in like order agayne vnto the Courte wyth the Princesse and so departed At the Maryage of this noble Lady as there was no small ioy vnto al good and godly men and no lesse hope of prosperous successe to Gods true Religion so in like maner on the contrarye parte the papistes wanted not theyr malicious and secret attemptes as by the false hipocrisie and fayned holynesse of a false fayned hipocrite this yeare before espyed found out may sufficiently appeare what theyr deuilishe deuises and purposes were For certayne Monks Friers other euill disposed persoÌ„s of a deuilish intent had put into the heades of many of the kinges subiectes that they had reuelation of God and hys sayntes y t he was highly displeased w t king Henry for y e diuorcement of the Lady Katherine and surmised amongst other thyngs that God had reuealed to a Nunne named Elizabeth Barton whome they called the holy maide of Kente that in case the Kinge proceeded in the sayde deuorce The maide of Kent with her false fained hipocrisie appreheÌ„ded hee should not be king of this realme one moneth after and in the reputation of God not one day nor hour This Elizabeth Barton by fals dissimulation practised and shewed to the people marueilous alteration of her visage and other partes of her body as if she had bene rapt or in a traunce in those fained traunces by false hipocrisie as though shee had bene inspired of God she spake many words in rebuking of sinne and reproouing the Gospell whiche shee called heresie and among them vttered diuers thyngs to the great reproch of the king and Quene to the establishing of Idolatrie Pilgrimage and the derogatioÌ„ of Gods glory whych her naughtines being spied out by the great labour and diligence of the Archbishop of Caunterbury the Lord Cromwell and Maister Hugh Latimer shee was condemned and put to death with certeyne of her affinitie and Councell in the moneth of Aprill Elizabeth 〈◊〉 with her 〈◊〉 coÌ„spirâ—tâ—rs an 1533. The names of which conspiratours with her were these Edwarde Bocking Monke of Canterbury Richard Master Person of Aldington Iohn Dering Monke of Canterbury Hugh Riche Frier Warden of the Gray Friers of Canterbury Richard Risby Henry Gold bacheler of Diuinitie and Person of Aldermary Fisher Byshop of Rochester Iohn Adeson Priest his Chapleine Thomas
wreaked During the time of these sixe articles aforesayd which brought many good men vnto death yet so it happened by another contrary acte sette forth before for the kinges supremacy as ye haue heard that the contrary sect also of the Papistes was not all in quiet For besides the death of Moore and the Bishop of Rochester and the other Charterhouse Monkes Friers and Priestes aboue specified about this yeare were also condemned and executed by the same law two other Larke Priest of Chelsey Germaine Gardine traytors agaynst◠the kings supremacye of whom one was a Priest of Chelsey named Larke which was put to death at London for defending the B. of Romes supremacy aboue the kynges authority The other was Germine Gardiner nere kinsman to Steuen Gardiner and yet more neare to his secret coūsell as it is supposed who likewise in practising for the Pope agaynst the kings iurisdiction was taken wyth the maner and so brought vnto the Gibbet Upon the detection of this Germaine Gardiner being Secretary to Gardiner bishop of Winchester his kinsman it semed to some Suspitiō against Steuē Gardiner and so was also insinuated vnto the king not to be vnlike but that the sayd Germain neither would nor durst euer attempt any such matter of popery without some setting on or consent of the Bishop he being so nere vnto him to all his secrets as he was Wherby the king began somewhat more to smell and misdoubt the doinges of the Bishop but yet he so couertly and clearely conueyed his matters playing vnder the boord after his wonted fetches in such sort as I can not tel how still he kept in with the king to the great inquietatiō of the publick state of the Realme and especially of Christes Church In declaring the dreadfull lawe before set forthe of the sixe ayticles which was an 1540. ye heard what penaltye was appoynted for the breach of the same in like case as in treason felony so that no remedy of any recātatiō would serue Stat. an 35. Reg. Henr. 8. This seueritye was a little mitigated by an other Parliament holden afterward an 1544. by the which parliament it was decreede that such offenders which were conuict in the sayd articles for the first time should be admitted to recant and renounce their opinions And if the party refused to recant in such forme as should be layd vnto him by his Ordinary or after his recantation The rigour of the 6. articles a little aswaged if he eftsoones offended agayne then for the second time he should be admitted to abiure and beare a fagot Which if he denyed to do or els being adiured if he the third time offended then he to susteine punishment according to the Lawe c. Although the straitnes rigor of the former act was thus somewhat tempered as ye see and reformed by this presēt Parliament yet notwithstanding the venome and poison of the errors and mischiefe of those articles remayned still behind not remoued but rather confirmed by this Parliament aforesayd By the which Parliament moreouer many thinges were prouided for the aduauncement of Popery vnder the coulor of religion so that all maner of books of the old and new Testament bearing the name of Will Tindall or any other hauing Prologues or conteining any matters annotations preambles wordes or sentēces contrary to the sixe articles were debarred In like maner all songs playes and Enterludes with all other books in English conteining matter of religion tending any way agaynst the sayd articles were abolished In the which Parliament furthermore it was prouided that the text of the new Testament or of the Bible being prohibited to all women artificers prentises iourneimen seruingmen yeomen husbandmen and laborers yet was permitted notwithstanding to noble men and gentle men gentlewomen to read and peruse to their edifying so that they did it quietly without arguing discussing or expounding vpon the Scripture Ouer and besides Qualification of the acte of the 6. articles wheras before the offender or defendaunt might not be suffered to bring in any witnesses to purge and try himself In this Parliament it was permitted to the party detect or complayned on to try his cause by witnesses as many or mo in nūber as the other which deposed agaynst him c. Other qualifications of the acte of the sixe Articles AFter this Parliament moreouer folowed an other parliament an 1545. wherein other qualifications more speciall of the sixe articles were prouided That where as before the cruell statute of the sixe articles was so strayt y t if any of the kinges subiectes had bene cōplayned of by any maner of person as wel being his enemy as otherwise he should be indicted presently vpon the same without anye further examination or knowledge geuē to the party so accused so thereupon to be attached committed and in fine to be condemned it was therfore by this parliamēt prouided that all such presentmentes and indictmentes shoulde not be brought before the Commissioners otherwise then by the othes of xij men or moe of honesty and credit with out corruption or malice accordingly Item that no such indictmentes or presentmentes should be taken but within one yeare of the offences committed eyther els the sayd indictmentes to stand voyd in the law Item that no person accused vpon any such offence agaynst the sixe articles should be attached or committed to ward before he were therof indicted vnlesse by speciall warrant from the king c. Item by the authority of the sayd Parliament it was considered and enacted that if any preacher or reader for any word spoken supposed to be agaynst the sixe articles shoulde be accused not within the space of 40. dayes of the sayd his reading or preaching then the partie accused to be acquited Item that the Iustices or inquirers of suche presentmentes should haue full power to alter and reforme all panelles of inquirie returned before them in like maner as the Iustices of peace may do in theyr Sessions vpon any other inquiries Item that the party so accused or indicted vppon his tryall may haue all manner of chalenges peremptory onely excepted as other persons arraigned for felony may haue by the lawes of this realme Stat. anno 1545. R. Hen. 8. By these qualifications moderatiōs of the 6. articles it may appere that the king begā somwhat to grow out of fauor with Ste. Gardiner to discredit his doings wherby he was y e more forward to incline somewhat in furthering the desolate cause of religiō as may appeare both by these premisses also by other prouisions determinations of the foresayd parliament an 1545. wherein it was decreed by act of parliamēt A Statute for examination of tha Canon law y t the king should haue full power authority to appoynt 32. persons to wit 16. of y e clergy 16. of the tēporalty to peruse ouersee examine the Canōs cōstitutions ordinaūces
because that could not be proued and that they could not preuayle by reason they vsed theyr wil in place of reason sometime dispitefull and iniurious talke As Fryer Scot being asked of one to whoÌ„ he shuld say the Pater noster hee aunswered saying say it to the deuill knaue So the Councel perceauing they could profite nothing by reasoning they were compelled to passe * That is to the numbring of voyces The Fryers and Prelates could not agree amoÌ„g themselues about saying the Pater noster voting But then incontinent they that were called ChurchmeÌ„ were found deuided and repugnaunt among themselues For some Bishop with the Doctours and Friers consented that the Pater noster should be sayde to sayntes but the Byshops of S. Andrewes Caitnesse and Atheins wyth other moe learned men refused vtterly to subscribe to the same Finally with consent of both the parties Commission was geuen by the holy churche to Dane * This Winrame is now become a godly minister in the Church of God and a maried man Walter Myllâ— Martyr Iohn Winrame then Suppriour of S. Andrewes to declare to the people how and after what maner they shoulde praye the Lordes prayer Who accepting to the commission declared that it should be sayd to God with some other restrictions which are not necessary to be put in memory And so by litle and little the brute and tumulte ceased Ex testimonio è Scotia allato * The martyrdome of the blessed seruant of God Walter Mille. AMong the rest of the Martirs of Scotland y e marueilous constancie of Walter Mille is not to be passed ouer w t silence Out of whose ashes sprang thousands of his opinion and religion in Scotland who altogether choose rather to dye then to be any longer ouertroden by the tyranny of the foresayd cruell ignorant and beastly byshops Abbots Monkes and Fryers and so began the congregation of Scotland to debate the true Religion of Christ agaynst the Frenchmen and Papists who sought always to depresse and keepe down the same for it began soone after the Martyrdome of Walter Mille of the which y e forme here after followeth In the yeare of our Lorde 1558. in the tyme of Marye Duches of Longawayll Queene Regent of Scotland the sayd Iohn Hamelton being bishop of S. Andrewes Walter Mylle contrary to his Popishe vow maried Walter Mylle first suspected of heresie Walter Mylle taken by two Popishe prestes George Straqwhen and Syr Hugh Turrye and Primate of Scotland this Walter Mille who in hys youth had bene a papist after that he had bene in Almaine had heard the doctrine of the Gospell he returned again into Scotland and setting aside al papistry and compelled chastitie maryed a wyfe whiche thing made him vnto the Byshops of Scotland to be suspected of heresie and after long watching of him he was taken by 2. Popish Priestes one called sir George Sâ—raqwhen and the other sir Hugh Turry seruauntes to the sayd byshop for the tyme wythin the towne of Dysart in Fiâ—â—e and brought to s. Andrewes and imprisoned in the castell therof He being in prison the Papistes earnestly trauayâ—ed and laboured to haue seduced him and threatned him with death and corporall tormentes to the intent they woulde cause him to recant and forsake the trueth But seeing they coulde profit nothing thereby and that he remained still firme and constant they laboured to perswade him by faire promises and offered vnto him a Monkes portion for all the dayes of his life in the Abbay of Dunfermeling so that hee woulde denie the things he had taught and graunt that they were heresie but he continuing in the truth euen vnto the end despised their threatnings and faire promises Concilium malignantium Then assembled together the Bishops of S. Andrewes Murray Brechin Caitnes and Atheins the Abbots of Dunfermeling Landors Balindrinot Towper with Doctors of Theologie of S. Andrewes as Iohn Greson blacke Frier and Dane Iohn Uymame suppriour of S. Andrewes William TraÌ„ston Prouost of y e old Colledge with diuers others as sondry Friers blacke gray These being assembled and hauing coÌ„sulted together he was taken out of prison brought to y e Metropolitane Church where he was put in a Pulpit tofore the Bishops to be acused Walter Mylle for age could scarse clyme to the pulpit God geueth strength contrary to mans expectation the 20. day of Aprill Being brought vnto y e Church and climing vp to the Pulpit they seeing him so weake feeble of person partly by age and trauaile partly by euil intreatment that without help he could not clime vp they were in despaire not to haue heard him for weakenesse of voyce But when he began to speake he made the Church to ring and sound againe wyth so great courage stoutnes that the Christians which were present were no lesse reioyced Andrew Oliphant the Archbishops Chaplaine then the aduersaries were confounded and ashamed He being in the Pulpit and on his knees at Prayer sir Andrew Oliphant one of the Byshops Priestes commaunded him to arise and to answere to his Articles saying on this maner Sir Walter Mille arise and aunswere to the Articles for you hold my Lord heere ouer long To whome Walter after he had finished his prayer aunswered saying We ought to obey God more then men I serue one more mightie euen the omnipotent Lord and where you call me sir Walter they call me Walter and not sir Walter I haue bene ouerlong one of the Popes Knightes Now say what thou hast to say These were the Articles whereof he was accused with his aunsweres vnto the same OLiphant What thinke you of Priests mariage Mille. Oliphant Mylle I hold it a blessed band for Christ himself maintained it and approued the same and also made it free to al men but ye thinke it not free to you ye abhorre it and in y e meane time take other mens wiues and daughters wil not keepe the band that God hath made Ye vow chastitie breake the same S. Paul had rather marry then burne the which I haue done for God forbad neuer mariage to any man of what state or degree so euer he were Olip Oliphant Mylle Thou sayest there is not seauen sacraments Mille. Geue me the Lords supper and Baptisme and take you the rest part them amoÌ„g you For if there be vij why haue you omitted one of them to wit mariage and geue your selues to sclaunderous and vngodly whoredome Oliph Oliphant Thou art against the blessed sacrament of the aultar and sayest that the Masse is wrong and is Idolatry Mille. Mylle A similitude aptely applyed A Lord or a King sendeth calleth many to a diner and when the diner is in readinesse he causeth to ryng a bell and the men come to the hall and sit downe to be partakers of the diner but the Lord turning his backe vnto them eateth all himselfe and
that saueth the Christian man in Christe and doubtlesse the scarcitie of Faith is nowe more and will I feare encrease then it was in the time of the greatest tyrannes that euer were and no marueil why Faith more scarser now then in the old time vnder Tyrauntes Read ye the 6. chap. of s. Iohns Reuelation and ye shall perceiue amongest other thinges y t at the opening of the fourth Seale came out a pale horse and hee that sate vpon him was called death and hell followed hym This horse is the time wherin hipocrites and dissemblers entred into the Churche vnder the pretence of true Religion The pale horse in the Apocalips chap. 6. what it meaneth Mo soules slaine by Monkes and Fryers c. then bodyes by Tytantes as Monkes Friers Nounes Massing Priestes wyth suche other that haue killed moe soules with heresie and superstition then all the tyrannes that euer were killed bodies w t fire sword or banishment as it appeareth by hys name that sitteth vpon y e horse who is called death for all soules that leaue Christe and trust to these hypocrites liue to the deuill in euerlasting paine as is declared by him that foloweth the pale horse which is hell These pretensed and pale hypocrites haue stirred the earthquakes The 6. chapt of the Apocalips opened that is to witte the Princes of the worlde against Christes church haue also darkened the Sunne and made the Moone bloudy and haue caused the Starres to fal from heauen that is to say haue darkned with mists and daily doe darken as ye heare by theyr Sermons the cleare sunne of Gods most pure worde the Moone which be Gods true Preachers whych fetche onely lighte at the Sunne of Gods word are turned into bloud prisons and chaines that theyr light can not shine vnto the worlde as they woulde whereuppon it commeth to passe that the Starres that is to say Christian people fall from heauen that is to wit from Gods most true woorde to hypocrisie most deuilish superstition and Idolatrie Let some learned man shew you al the articles of your beliefe monuments of Christian faith from the time of Christ hitherto and yee shall perceiue that there was neuer mention of suche articles as these hypocrites teach God blesse you and pray for me as I do for you Out of the Fleete by your brother in Christ Iohn Hooper To maister Ferrar Bishop of S. Dauies D. Tailor M. Bradford and M. Philpot prisonners in the kings benche in Southwarke THe grace of God be with you Amen I am aduertised by diuers An other letter of M. Hooper as well such as loue the truthe as also by suche as yet be not come vnto it that ye and I shal be caried shortly to Cābridge there to dispute in the faith and for the religion of Christ which is most true that we haue and doe professe I am as I doubt not ye be in Christ readie not only to goe to Cambridge but also to suffer by Gods helpe Commission geuen out for M. Hooper and other to dispute at Cambridge death it selfe in the maintenaunce thereof Weston and his complices haue obtained foorth the commission already and spedily most like he wil put it in execution Wherfore deare brethren I doe aduertise you of the thing before for diuers causes The one to comfort you in the Lorde that the tyme draweth nigh and is at hand that we shall testifie before Gods enemies Gods truth The next that ye shoulde prepare your selues the better for it The third to shew you what wayes I think were best to vse our selues in this matter and also to hear of euery one of you your better aduise if mine be not good Ye knowe such as shall be Censors and Iudges ouer vs breath and thirst our bloud and whether we by Gods help ouercome after the word of God or by force and subtiltie of our aduersaries be ouercome this will be the conclusion our aduersaries wil say they ouercome and ye perceiue howe they reporte of those great learned men and godly personages at Oxforde Wherefore I minde neuer to aunsweare them except I haue bookes present The counsell of M. Hooper how and vpon what cautions to dispute with the aduersaries because they vse not onely false allegation of the Doctors but also a peece of the Doctors against the whole course of the Doctors minde The next that we may haue sworne Notaries to take things spoken indifferently which will be very harde to haue for the aduersaries will haue the ouersight of all thinges and then make theirs better then it was our worse then it was Then if we see that two or three or more will speake together or with scoffes and tauntes illude and mocke vs I suppose it were best to appeale to be hearde before the Queene and the whole Counsaile and that would much set foorth the glory of God For many of them knowe already the truthe many of them erre rather of zeale then malice and the others that be indurate shoulde be aunsweared fully to their shame I doubte not althoughe to oure smart and bloudshedding For of this I am assured that the Commissioners appoynted to heare vs and iudge vs meane nothynge lesse then to heare the cause indifferently for they be ennemies vnto vs vnto our cause and be at a poynt already to geue sentēce against vs so that if it were possible with S. Stephen to speak so that they could not resist vs or to vse suche silence pacience as Christ did they will proceede to reuenging Wherefore my deare brethren in the mercy of Iesus Christe I would be glad to knowe your aduise this day or to morowe for shortly we shall be gone and I verily suppose that we shall not cōpanie together but be kept one abroade from an other They will denie our appeale yet let vs chalenge the appeale and take witnesse thereof of suche as be present and require for indifferencie of hearing and iudgement to be heard either before the Queene and the Counsaile or els before all the Parliament as they were vsed in king Edwardes dayes Further for my part I will require both bookes and time to answere Wee haue bene prisoners now three quarters of a yeare and haue lacked oure bookes and oure memorie by close keeping and ingratitude of their partes be not as present and quicke as theirs be I trust God will be with vs yea I doubt not but he will and teache vs to doe all thinges in hys cause godly and cōstantly If our aduersaries that shal be our iudges may haue their purpose we shall dispute one day be condemned the next day and suffer the third day Note how◠the Papist◠proceed agaynst all order and law And yet is there no law to condemne vs as farre as I knowe and so one of the Conuocation house sayde this weeke to Doct. Weston To whome Weston made this answere It forceth not quoth