Anno 1387. the tenth yeere of the raigne of King Richarde the second Ex Chron. Monast Albon At the same time Anne the kings wife had the Gospels in English The K. wife hath the Gospel in English with the foure Doctors vpon the same She was a Bohemian borne Sister of Vincelaus king of Boheme which care of knowledge in her Thomas Arundell Archbishoppe of Yorke preaching at her funerall the 18. yéere of the Kinges raigne greatly commended and praised for hauing them in the mother tongue and blamed sharply the negligence of the Cleargy Notwithstanding this Tho. Arūdel Tho. Arundell after this sermon became the most cruell eniury that could be against English bookes and the authors therof for shortly after the death of the Quéene he with the B. of London Robert Braybrock crossed the seas into Ireland there desired the kings aide against the heresie of Wickliffe Anno 1393. at Westminster was called a Parlement by the Kinges commaundement to that purpose in which parlement certaine articles were put out in the behalfe of the gospel to the number of twelue were fastned vpon the Churchdoore of Paules at London Articles in the be halfe of the Gospel and also at Westminster 1. The first was against the appropriations and pride of the Cleargie 2. Against Papisticall priesthoode 3 Against singlenes of Priestes 4 Against Transubstantiation Against exorcismes and blessings of priests 6 Against ciuill iurisdiction of Ecclesiasticall persons 7 Against masses for the dead 8 Against pilgrimages and oblations 9 Against auricular confession 10 Against the purchasing of indulgences and pardons a poena culpa by Lords vnto such as doe helpe their armies to kil Christians in forraine Countreyes for temporall gaine 11 Against Nunnes and widowes which vow a single life 12 Against multitude of artes not necessarie Multitude of artes not necessarie vsed in the Church To these articles were adioyned reasons in reproofe of the practise of the Church of Rome therein And vnto the articles these verses were thus adioyned The English Nation doth lament of Sodomites their sinne Which Paul doeth plainly signifie by Idols to begin But Gersitis full ingrate from sinfull Simon sprong This to defend though priestes in name make Bulwarkes great and strong Rime against popish priests After these articles were thus set foorth the King not long after returned out of Ireland and at his returne called certaine Nobles vnto him Richard Sturie Lewes Clifford Fauourers of the gospel Thomas Latimer Iohn Montacute c. Whō he did sharplie rebuke and terriblie threaten for that he heard them to be fauourers of that side and tooke an oath of Richard Sturrie that he should neuer fauour any such opinions swearing that he should die a shamefull death if he brake his oath Ex Chron. D. Alb. Now Pope Vrban was dead sixe yeares before P. Boniface 9. whom succéeded Boniface the ninth that laboured by all meanes against the Gospell and had written sundrie times to King Richard as wel for the repealing of actes of Parlement against his prouisions Quare impedit and premunire facias as for the persecuting of the professors of the truth which letter he wrote to the king anno 1396. which was the yere before the death of William Courtney Archbishop of Canterburie after whom succéeded Th. Arundel brother to the Earle of Arundel first B. of Elie then archb of Yorke and Lord Chancellor of England and lastly archb of Canterb. about the yere 1397. Anno 1398. the ninth yere of the Pope K. Richard 2. wrote a certaine letter to the Pope full of vertuous instruction to the quieting of the schisme and a godlie admonition very pithilie The K. writeth a christian admonition to the P. and copiouslie in the ende whereof the rest being of like sort he beséecheth him to receiue his councel effectuallie that in doing thus the waters may returne to the places from whēce they came and so the waters may begin to be made sweete with salt least the axe swimme on that water and the wood sinke and least the fruitfull Oliue degender into a wilde Oliue and the leprosie of Naaman the Nobleman cleaue continuallie to the house of Gehezie and least the Pope and the Pharisies crucifie Christ againe Christ the spouse of the Church which was wont to bring the chiefe bishop into the holiest place increase your Holinesse or rather restore it being lost c. Ex lib. cuiusdam Dunelmen But the Popes being little moued with good councell neither of them would geue ouer to the quiet of the Church but prosecuted their titles to the vttermost Notes of certaine Parlementes holden in the reigne of K. Richard 2. making against the Pope Parlements holden against the P. IN the first yere at Westminster that first fruites be no more paid to the P. Item that no prouision be made from Rome to procure any Benefice That none farme any Ecclesiasticall liuing of a stranger In which bill it was rehearsed that Frenchmen had six thousand pound a yéere that way in England Against the Popes reseruations of dignities electiue in the second yéere agaynst Aliens who had the greatest part of Church dignities in their hands Item that the benefices of rebels to Pope Vrbane should be seised into the kings hands That Vrbane was true pope and who soeuer fought for any prouision but from Vrbane should be out of the Kings protection In the third yéere the Prelates and Clergie made a protestation against a certaine new graunt to wit their extortion But the King notwithstanding their protestation would not stay to graunt to his Iustices in all cases as was vsed to be doone in times past c. In the 4. yéere against the popes collectors that all priors aliens might be remooued and Englishmen placed in their roomes In the ninth yéere that redresse might be had against such religious persons as vnder licence to purchase 10. pound a yéere doo purchase 80. or an 100. That clerkes should pay to the king first fruites as they doo to the Pope The 11. yéere against impositions gathered of the popes Buls of Volumus Imponimus and that they might be bestowed vpon the kings wars against the Schismatikes of Scotland that such as bring into the realme such may be reputed for traitors In the 13. yéere that the Popes collector should be commanded to auoid the land within 40. daies or else to be taken for the kings enemy and that euery such collector from henceforth should be an Englishman and sworne to execute the statutes made in this parlement c. and in the 14 15 17 20 21 25. Decrées were made agaynst some one point or other of the Popes authoritie and power in England and abuses of the Clergie In the fiue and twentith yéere Thomas Arundell archb of Canterburie in the parlement was proued a traitor Tho. Arundell proued a traytor in that he procured the Earles of Arundell Warwicke
the L. Graie Sir George Carew and Sir Richard Greenfield who purged the town of the slander although for a time they were in displeasure yet wtin a while after they came into greater fauor then before and were rewarded with xx l. a yéere a péece at the least Rockwood one of the fearcest persecutors fell into dispaire Rockwood a persecutor despaireth Gods iudgements and at the last breath cried he was vtterly damned for that he said malitiously he sought the death of such good men The Vndermarshall also another persecutor suddenly fell downe in the counsell chamber and neuer spake worde and the rest of the persecutors had the reuenging hand of God following after them Adam Damlip Adam Damlip taken againe who before escaped lay hid in the West-country teaching a schoole about a yéere or two by the miserable inquisition of the six articles was againe taken and brought vp to London where he was by St. Gardiner commanded to the Marshalsea there lay the space of other two yéeres where thinking he had béene forgotten he in the Latine tongue wrote an epistle to the B. of Winchester wherin he said he would write his obedience submission for said he I had rather die then here to remaine and not to be suffered to vse my talent to Gods glorie This he said to M. Marbecke then prisoner in the Marshalsea This epistle he deliuered to his kéeper about Saturday in the morning which was about the ij wéeke before Whitsontide desiring him to deliuer it at the court to the B. of Winchester which he did The B. made such quicke dispatch that the kéeper came home at night very late brought with him a precept for the executiō of Adam Damlip So vpon munday early in the morning the kéeper other of the knight Marshals men cōueied Adam vnto Calice vpon the Ascension euen there cōmitted him to the Maiors prison because they could not burthen him with any thing within a sufficient cōpasse of time to condemne him they laid to his charge he had receiued a French crowne of cardinall Poole at Rome where before his first comming to Calice he was requested to read thrée lectures a wéeke in Cardinall Pooles house therefore they condemned him and executed him for treason Adam Damlip put to death which death he most méekely and hartely tooke Iohn Butler and sir Daniell the curate before mentioned after ix moneths imprisonment were with much labour permitted to returne to Calice againe William Steuens aboue mentioned who had remained all this time in the Tower was condemned also of treason with his guest Adam Damlip pardoned by the king Adam Damlip had sometimes béene a great papist chaplaine to Fisher B. of Rochester after the death of his maister trauelled France Dutchland and Italie and came to Rome where he would not for the wickednes of the place abide to remaine though cardinall Poole offered him maintenance to read iij. lectures a wéeke in his house which he refused for receiuing onely a French crowne he was condemned and executed for treason he receiued it at the Cardinals hand to drinke and beare some charge of expence By the preaching of Adam Damlip in Calice among others there was a poore mā whose name is not yet certainly knowne who was conuerted to the truth therfore condemned by one Haruey there being cōmissarie whom this Haruey in time of his iudgement called Hereticke and said he should die a vile death the poore man aunswered againe and said that he was no hereticke but was in the faith of Christ and whereas thou saidest said he that I shall die a vile death thou thy self shalt die a viler death and that shortly And so it came to passe for within half a yéere after Haruey was hanged Gods iudgement drawne and quartered for treason in the same towne of Calice After the burning of this poore man there was also a certaine other schooler coūted to be a dutchman named Dodde who comming out of Germany was there taken with certaine Germane bookes about him being examined standing stoutly to the doctrine of the gospell he was burned A little before this time Will. Bolton alias Crosbowmaker for saying the Pope wanted Charitie if he could and would not release soules out of Purgatorye by Doctor Darlie parson of our Ladies Church in Calice then Commissarie for Archbishoppe Warham was made to beare a fagotte and lost his wages which was vi pence a day who complaining thereof to the king and declaring vnto his maiestie the cause sent him to Calice againe and after that gaue him viij pence a day As for the vi articles many good men were put to death so for the Popes supremacie diuerse suffered And about this time Larke a priest of Chelsey for the supremacie and Germine Gardiner néere kinseman to Stephen Gardiner and his secretarie for practising for the Pope against the King were put to death By an act of parlament holden An. 1544. 1544. The rigour of vi articles mitigated the rigour of the vi articles was asswaged a little at the first time it was permitted that they which offended against them might recant which if they refused to doe and offended againe they should beare a fagot and should be admitted to abiure if the third time they offended then they should sustaine punishment according to law Notwithstanding this Parlament had thus mittigated the rigor yet remained the poison and all manner of bookes bearing the name of Williām Tindall or what other booke soeuer contained any thing against the vi articles were debarred In this Parlament also it was permitted onely to noblemen and gentlemen Noblemen and Gentlemē permitted to reade the scripture to reade the scriptures to their edifying so they did it without discussing or vrging therevpon In this Parlament also it was permitted to the party detected to trye his cause by witnesses as many or more in number as the other which deposed against him Anno 1545. 1545. Sixe articles more qualified the vi articles were yet much more qualified by Act of Parlament whereby it was also decréed that the king should haue full power to appoint 32. persons to wit sixetéene of the Cleargie and sixetéene of the temporaltie to peruse and ouersée examine the Canons constitutions and ordinances of the canon law aswell prouinciall as synodall and so according to their discretions to establish an order of ecclesiastical lawes such as should be thought by the king most conuenient This yeere 1544. Iohn Heywood recanted the Popes supremacie and Iohn At h the trueth of the sacrament About the yeere 1546. 1546 Saxy hanged one Saixe a priest was hanged in the porters lodge of Stephen Gardiner not without the consent of the Bishop as it is supposed there was also a seruant in Colchester named Henrie burned for the testimony of the trueth Henry burned This yeere 1546. One Kerby Kerby was
yéeres ago this people is said to come out of the coūtry of Piedmount to inhabit in Prouence in certaine villages destroyed by warres and other desert places wherein they vsed such labour and diligence that they had aboundance of corne wine oyle almondes with other fruits They had of long time refused the Bishoppe of Romes authoritie and obserued euer a more perfect kind of doctrine then others deliuered vnto them from the Father to the sonne euer since the yéere 1200. In the yéere 1530. vnderstanding that the Gospel was preached in certaine townes of Germany and Switzerland they sent thither two learned men that is Georgius Maurellus Georgius Maurellus borne in Delph and Petrus Latomus P. Latomus a Burgundian to conferre with the learned ministers in the doctrine of the Gospell Which done as they returned through Burgundie Petrus Latomus was taken at Dyion and cast into prison Maurellus escaped and returned to Merindoll with bookes and letters which he brought with him from the churches of Germanie Whereby they being instructed sent for the moste auncient brethren and chéefest in knowledge in all Calabria and Apulia to consult with them touching the reformation of the Church Whereby the Bishops were so mooued that they raged greatly against them Among other there was one Iohn de Roma a Monk who was most cruell A cruel monk and among other his cruelties he vsed to examine them thus he filled bootes with boyling greace and put the bootes vpon their legges tying them backeward to a forme with their legges hanging downe ouer a small fire and so examined them thus he tormented very many and in the end most cruelly put them to death The first whom hée thus tormented were Michellotus Serra Michellotus Serra and William Melius Wil. Melius The vengeance of God with a number mo But Gods vengeance fell heauily vpon him for first he was condemned for this crueltie by the high court of parlement of Prouence and auoiding that sentence by flying to Auinion he was stroken with such a horrible disease that no man durst come nigh him aliue or dead He did so horribly stinke whē he was dead there was none would come néere him to burie him but a yoong nouice newly come to his order caught hold with an hooke vpon his stinking carrion and drew him into a hole which was made for him harde by While he was in tormēts and anguish he cried out oftentimes in great rage oh Despaire who will deliuer me who will kill me and rid me out of these intollerable paines which I know I suffer for the euils oppressions I haue doone to the poore men c. After the death of this monster the B. of Aix by his officiall Perionet continued the persecution by the hands of the ordinary iudge called Meiranus a cruell tyrant who without forme of law such as the iudge had pronoūced to be heretikes he put to death with most cruell torments In the time of Bartholmew Cassanus presidēt of the parlement of Aix a most cruell tyrant they of Merindoll in the person of 10. were cited personally to appéere before the kings atturney But they hearing that the court had determined to burne them without order of law durst not appéere at the day appointed A cruell sentence against the people of Merindoll for which cause the court awarded a most cruell sentence against Merindoll condemned all the inhabitants to be burnt both men and women sparing none no not the little children and infants the towne to be rased and their houses beaten downe to the ground also the trées to be cut downe as well Oliue as other and nothing to be left to the end it should neuer be inhabited but remaine as a wildernesse This sentence against the Merindolians The harlot of the B. of Aix laboureth against Merindoll the concubine of the Bishop of Aix laboured greatly to haue executed especially because as the Bishop of Aix told her they held that all Bishops pastors and priests ought eyther to be married or gelded for which she said she hated them to the very death and would employ goods and fréends to worke their destruction The Archbishop of Arles the Bishop of Aix diuers Abbots and Priors consulted how to execute the arrest with all spéede and by the aduice of the Bishop of Aix they went to Auinion there with other Prelates to intreat of the matter in which assembly they made a generall composition confirmed with an oth that euery mā should endeuor himselfe that the arrest of Merindoll should be executed with al expedition euery man offering to furnish out men of warre according to his ability the charge wherof was giuen to the B. of Aix After this councell holden the next day they banketted at the house of the Bishop of Rieux to which banket all the fairest women of Auinion were called to solace these good Prelates after they had dined they fell to dauncing dicing and such other pastimes which béeyng ended they walked abroade to solace themselues till supper as they passed the stréete euery one leading his minion vppon his arme they saw a man which sold bawdy pictures and ballades all which the Bishops bought vp being as many as a mule could well carrie and if any sentence were obscure in the rime the Bishops did expound it with great delight and laughter In the same place walking along they found one that sold certaine bibles in French Latine which when the prelats perceiued they greatly raged against the man who answered thē is not the bible as good as these goodly pictures which you haue bought for these gētlewomen He had scarse spokē these words when the B. of Aix said I renoūce my part of paradise if this mā be not a Lutheran so he was laid hold on and on the next morow after brought before the iudges The martyr burned with 2. bibles about his necke in presence of the Bishops condemned immediatly to bée burned with two bibles hanging about his necke the one before the other behind This sentence was executed the same day and thervpon proclamatiō made against al books in the french tongue intreating of the scriptures vnder pain of death to all them that would not bring them in After this the B. of Aix goeth to the president Cassaneus and laboureth him to put the arrest in execution who being perswaded therto the drum was sounded vp through out al Prouence the captains were prepared with their ensignes displaied and a great number of footmen and horsmen begā to set forward marched out of the towne of Aix in order of battel wel horsed and furnished against Merindoll to execute the arrest The inhabitants of Merindol hearing therof commended themselues and their cause to God by prayers The manner of of Gods children in affliction making themselues ready to the slaughter In this while the Lord of Alence a man wise and learned
thereof fel madde The yéere 1556. the ministers of the valley of S. Martins preached openly At that time certaine Gentlemen of the valley of S. Martin took a good mā Bartholomew a book-binder prisoner as he passed by the valley who they sent by by to Turim and there with a maruellous cōstancy after he had made a good confession of his faith he suffered death And moreouer they of the Parlement of Turim sent one named the President of S. Iulian associating vnto him one named de Ecclesia and others to hinder their enterprise admonishing them in the Kinges name and the Parlament of Turim to returne to the obedience of the Pope vpon paine of losse of goods and life and vtter destruction of their town withal he recited vnto thē the pitiful destructiō of Merindoll and Cabriers and other Townes néere about in the Countrey of Prouence To whom they answered that if it were shewed in anie point by the worde of God wherin they erred they were ready to be reformed so remained constant notwithstanding they receiued great vexatiōs frō the president insomuch that they with one accord presented a briefe confession of their faith with an answere to certaine interrogations made by the president touching the Masse Auricular confession Purgatory Councels c. requiring that séeing it is permitted to Turkes Saracens and Iewes to dwell quietly in the fairest citties of Christendome they might be suffered to inhabite the desolate mountaines and valleis hauing their whole religion founded vpon the true word and Gospell of Iesus Christ These articles returned to the Kings court where they remained a whole yéere without any answere made during which time they of the valleys liued in great quietnesse whereby the number of the faithfull so increased that throughout the valleies Gods word was truely preached and his sacraments duly administred and no masse saide in Angroign nor in diuers places The yere following the president of S. Iulian returned with his associates to Pigneroll sent for thither the chief rulers of Angroign and of the valley of Lucerne that is for 6. of Angroign for two of euery parish beside saying vnto them that their confession was found to be heretical that therfore the K. commanded them to returne to the obedience of the church of Rome vnder paine of losse both of life goods enioyning them moreouer to giue him answere within 3. daies from thence he went to the vallie of Lucern threatned them greatly But this notwithstanding they persisted constant and desired that their confession might be amēded by the word of God if any fault were and they would yeld thereunto With which answere the President was not cōtent Now at the same season the princes of Germanie certain of the Switzers Suitzers sue for the valley sent vnto the French K. desiring him to haue pitie of those churches so that from that time for 3. yeres after the people were not molested by any of the K. officers but yet they were sore vexed by the monks of Pigneroll and the gentlemen of the valley of S. Martin At the same time a Minister of Angroign named Geffrey Variala Geffrey Variala was taken at Berge going to visite those churches and from thence carried to Turin and there put to death A few daies after a minister of the valley of Luserne was taken prisoner at Suse and soone after sent to Turin where he was condemned to be burnt but the hangman at the time of the execution fained himselfe sicke and conueied himselfe away and so did another serue them wherevpon the minister was committed againe to prison where after long and painefull endurance seing the prison dore open he escaped and returned to his cure Now foure yéeres being past Anno 1559. there was a peace concluded betwéene the French king and the king of Spaine wherevpon the countrie of Piedmount certain towns excepted were restored to the Duke of Sauoy vnder whose regiment the foresaid Churches and all other faithfull people of Piedmont continued in great quietnesse the Duke himself being contented they should vse their former religion But the Pope and his Cardinals coulde not beare it and the popes Legat who followed the Court perswaded the Duke by all meanes not to suffer this people the people foreséeing their danger wrote to the Duke with cōmon consent shewing that the cause why they were so hated was their religion which they desired to be tried by the word of God but it is not certaine whether this aduertisement were deliuered to the Duke or not for in the moneth of March following there was great persecution raysed among the poor Christians which were at Carignon among whom there were certaine godly persons taken burnt within 4. dayes after Persecution that is to say one Mathurine and his wife and Iohn de Carquignan dwelling in the Valley of Lucern taken prisoner as he went to the market of Pigneroll Many at that time fled away others fearing the crueltie returned to the church of Rome Within few dayes after the Churches of Lelarch Meroun Meane and Suse were woonderfully assaulted The minister of Suse and Mean among others were taken who was put to death in the fire Of Larch and Meroun some were sent to the galleyes other some yealded Those that yelded more cruelly handled then those that were constant and some fled away It is certainly knowen that such as yelded were more cruelly handled than they that continued constant The beginning of this horrible persecution rose of Proclamations made in al places that none should resort to the sermons of the Lutherans but should liue after the custome of Rome vpon paine of the forfeyture of their goods and to be condemned to the Gallies for euer or to lose their liues Thrée of the most cruell persons that could be found were appointed to execute this commission The first was one Thomas Iaconel a Sodomite and a monster against God and nature He was a Monke an Inquisitor of the Romish faith and a false Apostata The second was Collaterall Corbis who after their refusals of going to masse vsed to burne them within 3. daies But it is certainly reported that séeing the constancie and hearing the confession of the poor martirs féeling a remorse and torment in his conscience he gaue ouer and protested he would meddle no more The 3. was the Prouost de la Iustice a cruel and crafty wretch In that season one named Charles de Comptes of the Valley of Luserne and one of the Lords of Angroigne did write vnto the Commissioners that they shoulde vse some lenitie towardes them of the Valley of Luserne by reason whereof they were a while more gently entreated then the rest but the Monkes of Pigneroll with certaine ruffians about them did torment and burne and sent to the gallies such as were of the churches néere vnto them The gentlemen of the Valley of S. Martin intreated their tenants very roughly
incontinent after the suffering of Quéene Anne the king within iij. daies after married Ladie Iane Seimer About this time Paule iij. Bishop of Rome appoynted a generall counsell at Mantua in Italie requiring all kinges and princes to be there present in person or to sende their Ambassadours pretending to suppresse heresies to reforme the Church and to warre against the Turke To this Councell the king refused either to come The king refuseth the general counsel at Mantua or to send Ambassadour and made his protestation against the sea of Rome A litle before the death of Quéen Anne there was a parlament at Westminster wherein was giuen to the king by generall consent of the Abbots all such houses of religion as were vnder iij. hundred marks Certaine houses of religion giuen to the king which did prognosticate what would befall the rest Shortly after the marriage of the king with the Ladie Iane Seimer in the moneth of Iune during the continuance of the Parlament by the consent of the Cleargie in the Conuocation house in Paules Church a booke was set out containing certain Articles of religion necessarie to be taught to the people Articles of religion to be taught the people wherein they treated specially but of thrée sacraments baptisme penance and the Lordes supper where also diuers things were published concerning alteration of certaine points of religion and certaine holie daies forbidden many Abbeies agréed on to be suppressed For the which cause a Monke named Doct. Mackrell naming himself Captain Cobler stirred vp to rebell the number of xxvi thousand in Lincolne shire Rebellion suppressed which was quietly suppressed Also he raysed an other of xl thousand Yorkshire men by stirring vp of Monkes and priestes They called their rebellion an holy pilgrimage which was also by the great prouidence of God quieted without bloodshed At that time diuers priests which were stirrers vp of the people were executed Anno 1537. 1537 Prince Edward borne Queene Iane dieth The moneth of October was borne Prince Edward shortly after whose birth Quéene Iane his mother the second day after died in childbed and left the king a widower who so continued the space of two yéeres together By reason of the kings departure from the pope the Emperour the French king and Scottes beganne to ruffle against him but hearing of the byrth of Prince Edwarde and vnderstanding of the death of Quéene Iane whereby the king was a widower Ruffelings against the K. easily calmed and the bruite béeing that hée would matche with the Germanes they began to be calme againe Anno 1536 The king began with a little booke of articles The K. articles for the instruction of the people bearing this title Articles deuised by the kings highnes to stablish christian quietnesse vnitie among the people It contained the Créede iij. sacraments how images might safely be worshipped and how saints departed ought to be reuerēced that the parsons should teach their people that Christ is their only mediator how the ceremonies of holy water holy bread candles c. shoulde without superstition bée vsed It tooke away also the abuses which rose vpon the imagination of Purgatory as Masses for soules departed pardons c. Not long after these Articles certaine other Iniunctions were also geuen out about the same yere Whereby a number of holidayes were abrogated A number of Holidaies abrogated and especially such as fel in haruest time After these Iniunctions other mo followed afterward geuen out by the king concerning Images Reliques and blinde miracles For abrogating of Pilgrimages deuised by superstition and mainteined for lucres sake Scripture in English Also for the Lords prayer beléefe and tenne commaundements and the Bible to be had in English Anno 1538. yet againe other Articles were set out whereby both the Parsons of Churches and the Parishes together were bound to prouide in euery Church to buye a Bible in English Also for euery Parishioner to be taught by the Minister to vnderstand say the Lordes prayer and Créede in their owne vulgar tongue with other necessarie and most fruitfull Iniunctions As for the frée preaching of the word of God against Images pilgrimages for a Register booke in euery Church A Register booke in euerie Church against Beckets day knelling Auies Suffrages of Saints c. This yere was Frier Forrest burned quicke hanging in chaines in Smithfield He denied the kinges supremacie and was conuict of diuers other damnable articles He was an obseruant Frier With this Forrest was Daruell Gatheren an abhominable Idoll of wales burned and it fulfilled a blinde prophesie that it should set a Forrest on fire He tooke his death very vnpatiently In the moneths of October Nouember the same yere the religious houses by the speciall motion of the L. Cromwell were from the very foundations rooted vp Religious houses from the foundation rooted vp Immediatly after the ruine and destruction of Monasteries the same yere in the moneth of Nouember followed the condemnation of Iohn Lambert the faithfull seruant of Iesus Christ This Lambert Ioh. Lambert being borne and brought vp in Norfolke was first conuerted by Bilney and studied in the Vniuersitie of Cambridge from whence through the violence of the time he departed to the partes beyonde the Seas to Tindall and Frith and there remayned the space of a yere and more being Preacher to the English house at Antwerpe till he was disturbed by Sir Thomas Moore and through the examination of one Barlowe was carried from Antwerpe to London where he was brought to bee examined First at Lambeth then at the Bishops house at Oxforde before Warham Archbishop of Caunterbury and other aduersaries hauing 45. Articles layde against him 45. Articles against Lābert concerning the Sacraments of orders of penance of confession cōcerning vnwritten verities purgatorie prayer to Saintes pilgrimage lent fast Images praying for soules departed preaching without licence of Bishops the Popes excommunication Scripture in the mother tongue iustification by faith onely concerning the Councell of Constance the number of Sacraments the power of Peter the power of the pope c. Whereto Iohn Lambert made a large and learned answere and constantly testified the trueth of the same points agréeable to the Scriptures He was moreouer required to bewray his fellowes which hee refused to doe with great boldnesse These answeres of Lambert were deliuered to Doctor Warham Archbishop of Canterburie about the yere 1532. at what time he was in custodie in the Bishops house at Oxford from whence the next yere through the death of the Archbishoppe he was deliuered After Warhā succéeded D. Crāmer Lambert in the meane time being deliuered returned to Lond. taught childrē about the Stocks Anno. 1538. It happened that Lambert was present at a Sermon in Saint Peters Church in London preached by Doctor Taylor who after was a Cōfessour of Iesus Christ with whom after the Sermon Lambert went and talked
prelates in which the sixe articles were concluded touching matters of religion which were commonly called the whippe with sixe strings The first article was concerning transubstantiation 2 Against the communicating in both kindes 3. That priestes might not marry after the order of priesthood receiued 4. that the vowes of chastity made aboue 21. yéeres of age of widowhood aduisedly made should be obserued 5. The establishing of priuate masses 6. Auricular confession to be expedient The punishment for breach of the first article was burning without any abiuration with losse of all goods lands as in case of treason Treason Felonie the default against the other fiue articles was fellony without any benefit of cleargy c. Against these articles only D. Cranmer Cranmer disputeth against the vi articles Archbishop of Canterbury stood vp and thrée daies disputed against them with such strength of reason that the king who euer bare especall fauour vnto him well liking his zelous defence onlie willed him to depart out of the parlament house vnto the Counsell chamber for a time for safegarde of his conscience till the Act shoulde passe and bée graunted which hée notwithstanding with humble protestation refused to doe After the parlament was finished the king sent the Lord Cromwell who in few dayes after was apprehended the twoo Dukes of Norfolke and Suffolke and all the Lordes of the parlament house to dyne with the Archbishoppe at Lambith and to comfort him and within few daies also vpon the same required that hee woulde giue a note of all his doings and reasons in the said parliament which Cranmer eftsoones accomplished accordingly and sent the copie thereof to the king Besides these sixe Articles in the same parliament was ordained that if Priestes were taken in Adultery or Fornication and duely conuict for their not Caste nor Caute at first tyme they shoulde forfaite their goods Against adultery and fornication of priests and for the second faulte be taken and executed as fellons this was brought in by the Lord Cromwels aduise Who if he might haue had his will the firste crime of these concubinarie Priestes aswell as the second no doubt had béene punished with death but so Gardiner did barre that article with his shifts that the first was losse of goodes and the second death and the next yéere he so prouided that the paine of death by Act of parlament was cleane repealed So that by this statute it was prouided Death for adulterie repeated for all such votaries as liued in whordome and adultery For the first offence to lose his goodes and all his spiritual promotions except one For the second to forfeite all that he had to the king For the third conuiction to sustaine continual imprisonment Anno 1541. The eight and twentith day of Iuly the noble lord Cromwell the maule of the Pope and Papists in this land and the great fauourer of the gospell was put to death at Tower hill 1541. Cromwell the maule of the P. put to death The crimes obiected against him were first heresie and that he was a supporter of Barnes Clarke and many other whom by his authoritie and letters written to Sheriffes and Iustices in diuers Shires he had discharged out of prison Also that hee did disperse bookes of heresies among the kinges Subiects Item that he caused to be translated into English diuers bookes that conteined matter against the Sacrament c. Besides all this there were brought in certaine witnesses which charged him with wordes that he should speake against the king in the Church of S. Peter the poore in the xxx yere of the kings reigne In the moneth of Iuly during the Parliament being in the Counsell chamber he was sodainly attainted and carried to the Tower the xix of the moneth of Iulie the xxviij day put to death He was borne of a simple parentage at Putney or there abouts being a Smiths sonne his mother married after to a Sherman Cromwell The life of L. Cromwell being ripe of yéeres was at Antwerp retained to be secretarie to the merchants there From whence being procured by Geffery Chambers with another companion whom the men of Boston sent to Rome for the renewing of their priuiledges to go to Rome and aid them in their suite he departed and accompanied the Boston mens Ambassadours to Rome where he aduised with himselfe how he might haue best accesse vnto the pope and best dispatch of his busines and hauing knowledge how that the popes holy tooth greatly delighted in new fangled strange delicates it came into his mind to prepare certaine fine dishes of gelly made after our countrey maner here in England which to them of Rome was not knowen nor séene before This done Cromwell obseruing his time as the pope was newly come from hunting into his pauiliō hée with his companions approched with his English presents brought in with a thréemans song as we call it in the English tongue and all after the English fashion The pope sodainly marueiling at the strangenes of the song and vnderstanding that they were Englishmen and that they came not emptie handed willed them to be called in Cromwel there shewing his obedience and offring this iolie Iunkets such as kings Princes onely vsed said he in the Realm of Englande to féede on desired that to be accepted in good part which he his companions as poore Suters vnto his Holinesse had there brought and presented as Nouelties méete for his recreation Pope Iulius so liked their Iunkets that he desired to know the making of their daynties And vnderstanding their suites without any more adoe stamped both their pardons both the greater and the England the king also wrote in like manner to Boner his Ambassadour to assist the doers thereof in all their reasonable suites whereto the king of Fraunce gaue licence Boner shewed himselfe very diligent about the worke The Bible in English printed at Paris So the booke was printed euen to the last part then was quarrels picked to the printer who was sent for to the inquisitors of the faith there charged with certaine articles of heresie Then were sent for the Englishmen that were at the cost charge therof Richard Grafton and Whitchurch the corrector Miles Couerdale but hauing warning what would follow the Englishmen posted away leauing behind them their Bibles to the number of 2500. called the Bibles of the great volume and neuer recouered any of them sauing the Lieuetenant criminal sold foure great dryfats of them to an Haberdasher to lap in caps and those were brought again but the rest were burnt at the place called Maulbert in Paris But notwithstanding the losse after they had recouered some part of the foresaid books and were comforted and incouraged by the L. Cromwell the same men went agayne to Paris and there got the presses letters and seruants of the foresaid printer and brought them to London and there they became
had where Doctor Barnes continued halfe a yéere at length was deliuered and committed to be frée prisoner at the Austen friers in London Where being vndermined and complained of it was determined he shoulde be remoued to the Austine friers in Northampton there to be burned he himselfe knowing nothing thereof but by the aduise of Maister Horne who brought him vp he made escape came to London and by long Seas went to Antwerpe and so to Luther D. Barnes escapeth out of prison and there fell to studie till hée had made answere to all the byshoppes of the Realme and had made a Booke entituled Acta Romanorum Pontificum Acta Romanorum pontificum and another Booke with a supplication to King Henrie And such fauour God gaue him in fight of the Duke of Saxonie and the King of Demarke that the king of Denmarke sent him with the Lubeckes as Ambassadour to King Henrie the eyght and was lodged with the Lubeckes Chancellour at the Stillyarde Syr Thomas Moore the Chauncellour would faine haue entrapped him but the king woulde not suffer him For Cromwell was his great friend and ere he went the Lubeckes and he disputed with the Bishoppes of this Realme in defence of the trueth and so departed with them agayne without resistaunce and afterwarde hauing set forward in Germanie his woorkes in print that hée had begunne hée returned againe in the beginning of the reigne of Quéene Anne and after that was sent Ambassadour by king Henrie the eight to the Duke of Cleue for the marriage of the Ladie Anne of Cleue betwéene the King and her and was well accepted therefore vntill the time that Stephen Gardiner came out of Fraunce after which time neyther religion prospered nor the Queene nor Cromwell nor the Preachers for not long after Doctour Barnes with his brethren were apprehended and carryed before the Kinges maiestie at Hampton Court and there was examined Where the Kinges maiestye séeking the meanes of his safetie and desirous that Winchester and he might agrée graunted him leaue to go home to conferre with the Bishop but they not agréeing through certaine complaints Barnes and his fellowes were inioined to make thrée sermons the next Easter following at the spittle In which not satisfying the Prelates they were sent for to Hampton Court again D. Barnes sent to the tower and from thence to the Tower by Sir Iohn Gostwicke from whence they came not out til they came to their death And thus much concerning Doctor Barnes About the yéere 1526. Maister Garret Curate of Honie lane in London came to Oxforde and dispersed there certaine Bookes in Latine not agréeable to the Romish superstition with Tindalles Testament and had not long béene there but hée was searched for in London to bée apprehended for an Heretike and afterwarde a priuie searche was made in Oxforde whereof Garret béeyng warned by Maister Cole of Magdalene Colledge who after was crosse bearer to Cardinall Wolsey he departed out of Oxforde in the morning before Shrouetide towards Dorcetshyre where hee woulde haue for a time hidde himselfe But altering his mynde on the Friday night next hée returned to Oxforde and laye in Radlies house where by the priuie searche the same night hee was taken and kept prisoner in Doctour Cotfords chamber maister of Lincolne Colledge then being Commissary of the Vniuersitie from whence when the Commissary and his company was at Euensong Garret putting backe the locke of his doore with his finger escaped againe and chaunging his apparrell by the helpe of Anthonie Delaber scholer of Alborne hall departed but afterward was againe taken by maister Cole or his men going Westward at a place called Hincksey a little beyonde Oxeford and so being brought back agayn was committed to ward that done hee was conuented before the Commissarie Doctor London and doctor Higden Deane of Frisewides now called Christes Colledge into Saint Maries Church where they compelled him to carrie a Fagot in open Procession and Delaber with him and after were sent to Osney there to be kept in prison till further order was taken Yet againe after this M. Garret flying from place to place Barnes Garret and Hierom burned together escaped till the time he was apprehended and burned with Doctor Barnes with whom also W. Hierome sometime Vicar of Stepney was likewise drawne into Smithfield and together with them endured constantly martyrdome in the fire This Hierome for preaching at Paules the 4. Sundays in Lent and saying that all that were of the Fréewoman Sara were freely iustified for preaching that wee are not bound to princes lawes further than according to the word of God and that workes are no part of our saluation was committed to the Tower and the xxx of Iulie two daies after the death of the Lorde Cromwell An vniust proceeding not comming to any answere nor yet knowing any cause of their condemnation without any publike hearing processe being made out against them by the kings Counsel in the Parlament time Barnes Hierome and Garret were brought together from the Tower into Smithfield and by constant suffering the rage of the fire they gaue testimonie to the trueth After they had made confession of their faith and prayed there was one asked Doctor Barnes if the Saintes prayed for vs he said he would referre that vnto God and if they did then I trust said he to pray for you within this halfe houre M. Sheriffe and asked the Sheriffe if he had any Articles against him for which he was condemned The Sheriffe answered no Then said he is there any man els that knoweth wherefore I die or that by my preaching hath taken any errour let them now speake and I will make them aunswere And no man answered So praying earnestly for his persecutors hee gaue himselfe to suffer and required master Sheriffe to haue him commended vnto the king and to shew him that he required of his grace foure requestes First Doctor Barnes his 4. requestes to the king that he would bestowe parte of the Abbey possessions on the reliefe of the poore Secondly that he woulde sée matrimone to be had in more reuerence Thirdly that swearers might be punished Fourthly that he woulde set vp Christes true religion The same yere and day and in the same place were foure Papistes executed for denying the kings Supremacie Foure papists executed for denying the knigs supremacie which brought the people to a marueylous admiration Their names were Powell Fetherstone and Abel All 3. drawen hanged and quartered It fell out thus by reason the kings Counsell was deuided in Religion the one side hastening the execution of the Papistes and the other of the Protestants The fauourers of the trueth in king Henries dayes The patrones of poperie in those dayes The fauourers of the trueth were these Caunterburie Suffolke Vicount Beauchampe Vicount Lisle Russell Treasourer Paget Sadler Awdeley The fauourers of the Papistes Winchester Duresme Norfolke Southhampton Anthonie Browne William
be put in practise beyng not directly against the Statutes and Lawes of the Realme 2. That no Bishop or Prelate doo vse the clause Regia authoritate fulcitus 3. That no sacramentarie be admitted to benefice 4. That all Bishoppes do labour especially in the Clergie to suppresse heresies 5. Against bookes writings 6. Against priests mariages and that such as would depart from their wiues should be vsed more fauourably and admitted to the same function But in another place and for want of priests that one priest should serue two places That processions be vsed that holy daies and fasting daies be frequented that the ceremonies be vsed confirmation of children be put in practise and the like prescript also with articles was sent from the Quéene to the Lord Maior of London About the same yéere and time when Doctour Boner set foorth this prescript there came from the Quéene a Proclamation against straungers such as professed the Gospel Vpon this Proclamation not onely the strangers in King Edwardes time receiued into the Realme for religion among whom Peter Martir Iohn Alasco vncle to the king of Poleland but many Englishmen fled some into Frizeland some to Cleueland some to high Germanie wel neare to the number of 800. persons Neare 800. persons flie beyond the seas In the same moneth of March the Lord Courtney whō the Quéene at her first entrie deliuered out of the Tower and Ladie Elizabeth also the Quéenes sister were both in suspition to haue béene of Wiats conspiracie Lady Elizabeth and Lord Courtney sent to the Tower and for the same this March were apprehended and committed to the Tower And although Wiat at his death cleared them both as vnacquainted with the matter yet Gardiner practised to bring them both within the compasse of the same and the Lord Shandoys ioyned therein with him Not long after this a parliament was holden at Westminster in Aprill where the Quéene propounded concerning her marriage to king Phillip and restoring the Popes supremacie Her marriage was agréed vppon but the supremacie would not be obtained as then The Popes supremacie wold not be obteyned The same time when this parliament was summoned the Quéene summoned a conuocation of Bishops writing vnto Boner whom she made Vicegerent in stead of Cranmer being in the Tower after the manner of a new stile leauing out supreme head Likewise Boner giuing her certificate vpon the same leaueth out Authoritate illustriss legitime suffultus which parcels both at the length were taken away at that Parlement In this Conuocation Boner extolling the office of priesthood breaketh out into such an hyperbolicall prayer Boners commendation of Priesthood that they were to be honoured before all kinges of the earth Princes and nobles for said he a Priest is higher then a king happier then an Angell maker of his creatour c. and in some sort like to the virgin Marie for as by speaking sixe wordes fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum shee did conceiue Christ so the Priest by the wordes of Consecration doeth chaunge the bread into the body of Christ Anno. 1554. The x. of March a letter was sent to the Léeftenant of the Tower to deliuer the bodies of Master Doctor Cranmer the Archbishop of Caunterburie Master Ridley and M. Latimer to Sir I. Williams to be conueied by them both to Oxford The xxvj of March there was a letter sent to sir Henrie Doel and one Foster to attach the bodies of D. Taylor parson of Hadley and of Henrie Askew and to sende them vp to the Counsell About the tenth of Aprill Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie Ridley Bishop of London and Hugh Latimer sometime B. of Worcester Cranmer Ridley and Latimer sent prisoners to Oxford were cōueied as prisoners from the Tower to Windsor and from thence to the Vniuersitie of Oxford there to dispute with the Diuines and learned men of both Vniuersities about the presence substance and sacrifice of the Sacrament Their names were these Disputers at Oxford Of Oxford D Weston Prolocutor D. Tresham Doctor Cole D. Oglethorpe D. Pie D. Harpsfielde M. Fecknam Of Cambridge Doctor Yong. Vicechauncellour D. Glinne D. Seaton D. Watson D. Sedgewick D. Atkinson The questions whereon they should dispute Questions to be disputed of were these 1. Whether the naturall bodie of Christ be really in the sacrament after the wordes of consecration be spoken by the Priest 2. Whether any substance doe remaine after the words sauing the bodie and bloud 3 Whether the Masse be a sacrifice propiciatorie On Saterday being the xiiij of April after dinner the Commissioners and Disputers went all to Saynt Maries church in Oxford and there after a short consultation in a Chappel they came all into the quire and sate all on seats before the Altar to the number of 33. persons 33. Commissioners Cranmer brought before the Commissioners Vnitie with Veritie And first they sent to the Mayor that he should bring in D. Cranmer whō he brought with a great number of rustie Bilmen And being come the Prolocutor exhorted him to vnitie To whom the Archb. modestly answered he would embrace it gladly so it were ioyned with veritie And after a discourse of the same in fewe words the Prolocutor caused the questions to be propounded vnto him and required him to subscribe thereunto Which the Archb. refusing the Prolocutor first willed him to write his minde of them that night and saide moreouer he should dispute on them and caused a copie of the Articles to be deliuered vnto him assigning him to answere thereunto on munday next and so charged the Maior with him againe to be had to Bocardo where he was kept before Then was D. Ridley Ridley appeareth brought who hearing the articles read vnto him answered without any delay and said they were all false and being asked whether he would dispute he answered that as long as God gaue him life they should not onely haue his heart but also his mouth and Penne to defende his trueth But hée required to haue time and bookes They sayde he coulde not And that he should dispute on Thursdaye and till that time he shoulde haue Bookes Then gaue they him the Articles and bad him write his minde of them that night and so he did Then they commanded the maior to haue him from whence he came M. Latimer appeareth Last of all came in Master Latimer who after his deniall of the Articles had Wednesday appoynted for disputation He alleadged age sicknesse disease and lack of bookes wherefore he refused to dispute but he sayd he would declare his minde in wryting or by woordes and woulde stande to all that they coulde laye vpon his back complayning that hee was permitted neither to haue penne nor Inke Neither the Masse nor maribones nor sinowes therof in the scripture nor any Booke sauing the new Testament in his hand which he said he had read ouer seuen times deliberatelie and yet
succéeded Felix Felix in the first yéere of Probus the Emperour about the yéere 280. who gouerned that Church 5. yéeres and died as Platina saith a martyr After him followed Entuchianus Entuchianus and then Gaius Gaius both martyrs as the histories of some doe record About the time of these Bishoppes Theodorus Bishop of Neocesarea liued otherwise called Gregorius magnus Gregor magn whom Nicephorus calleth the worker of miracles After the captiuity of Valerian with whom he reigned 7. yéeres he ruled the monarchy alone about 9. yéeres with some peace to the Church After Galienus succéeded Claudius Claudius a quiet Emperour although Vincentius saith he moued persecution vnder whō he maketh mention of 262 martirs 262. martyrs that should suffer This Claudius raigned but 2. yéers after whom came Quintilianus Quintilianus his brother a quiet Prince who continued but seuētéen dayes and had his successor Aurelianus Aurelianus vnder whom was moued the ninth Persecution The ninth Persecution The tyrant terrified THis Aurelianus rather intended then mooued persecution for as the edict was a subscribing with his hande hée was terrified with lightening and not long after about the fifth or sixth yeere of his reigne hee was slaine betwixt Bizans and Heraclea Anno 278. Vincentius and Orosius notwithstanding reckon vp a great Catalogue of martirs which shoulde suffer vnder him in France and Italie Amnis Next vnto Aurelianus succeeded Publius Annius Tacitus Tacitus who reigned but sixe moneths after him succéeded his brother Florianus Florianus who reigned but thréescore daies And after him succéeded M. Aurelius Aurel. Probus surnamed Probus vnder whom was moued no persecution and after he had reigned sixe yéeres foure moneth by reason he kept his souldiers occupied where no occasion of war was offred he was slaine Anno 284. Next him succéeded Carus Carus with his two sonnes Carinus Carinus and Numerianus Numerianus who continued but 3. yeres Of these Numerianus killed Cerillus Cerillus martyred because hee would not suffer him to enter into the congregation of the Christians hee beeing their bishop This Numerianus was slaine of his father in law Aper After these succéeded Dioclesian Dioclesian in whose time till the 19. 19. yeeres quiet in the church yéere of his reign the Church was quiet the whole time of the quietnes of the Church might séeme to continue about 44. 44. yeres quiet The Church groweth yéeres In which time the Church grew mightily and the chiefe of them were in fauour with the Emperour as Dorotheus and Gorgoneus and diuers mo Church dissolute The Church hauing now obtained peace outwardly beganne to be deuided with controuersies and to waxe wantō with their peace Large temples builded which was so great multituds so increased that then they began to builde large churches for their congregatiōs The x. persetion but their dissolutenes brought on them the 10 persecution which although it passed through the hands of diuerse tyrants yet it beareth the name of Dioclesian The tenth Persecution THis Dioclesian flue Aper who flue Numerianus and in the first beginning of his raigne chose for his Colleague Maximianus Maximianus surnamed Herculeus father to Maxentius which two also chose two other to them Galerius and Constantius whom they called Cesars Cesars Dioclesian all the while he abstained from persecuting obtained diuerse victories wherewith beyng puffed vp he would néeds after a solemne triumph be woorshipped as a God saying he was brother to the sunne and moone Dioclesian would be worshipped as a God Churches burned Scriptures destroyed and would néeds inioyn that people to kisse his féete and in the 19. yere of his raigne hee mooued persecution In the moneth of March when the feast of Easter was nigh at hande hée commaunded all the Churches of the Christians to bee destroied and the scriptures to be burned and put of from magistracie all such as were Christians and constrained all with torments to offer to Idols At the first comming of the cruel edicts into Nicomedia after the Proclamation made was set vp there ran a Christian a noble man borne openly rent and tare it in pieces notwithstanding two of the Emperors were then in the citie for which act he was put to most bitter death These Tyrants parted the execution of their crueltie among them Dioclesian in the East Maximianus in the west Dioclesian began first in his owne Campe with the Christian Souldiers willing such as would not agrée to him to lay away their weapōs and geue ouer their charges which they did willingly At Tyre in Phenicia Miracle there were certaine Christians geuen to the beares most cruel wilde beastes preserued miraculously from hurt although they were kept hungrie for the purpose and raged against those that brought the christians and those they could catch they deuoured but the Christians were beheaded with the sword after throwne into the sea At that time was martyred the B. of Sidon But Siluanus Siluanus the bishop of Gazensis with 39. other were slaine in the mettall mines of Phenicia Then also was Pamphilius Pamphilus an elder of Casarea the glory of that congregation martyred of whom Eusebius hath written in a seuerall booke In Syria all the teachers bishops Elders and Deacons were committed to pryson Tirannion Tyrannion was made meat for the fishes of the sea and Arnobius Arnobius a very good phisition was slaine with brickbats Some to auoyd sacrificing to idols drowned themselues as two maides in Antioch Two maides of Antioch of a worshipful parentage Siluanus Siluanus the Bishop of Emissa together with certaine others was throwne to wilde beasts In Mesopotamia the Christians were hanged by the féete and choaked with a smoake of small fire with diuers other torments In Cappadocia the martyrs had their legs broken There were also martyrs in Tarsus of Cilicia Tharatus Tharatus Probus Probus and Andronicus Andronicus But the martyrs of Pontus suffered most grieuous torments and so outragious was the beginning of the persecution in Nichodemia Bithinia that he refrayned not from the slaughter of Emperors children nor the chéefest Princes of his Court whom not long before he had estéemed as his owne children Among whom was Peter of the household Peter of the Houshold who after diuers cruell torments as whipping to the bones and powdering with salt vinager was rosted with a soft fire which Dorotheus Dorotheus and Gorgonius Gorgonius séeing reprooued the Emperour and confessed themselues to be Christians Wherefore notwtstanding they were in great authoritie vnder him they were almost tormented as Peter was and after strangled Afterward Anthonius Anthonius Bishoppe of Nicomedia and a great companie of Martirs with him were beheaded And so was Lucianus Lucianus the Elder of the Congregation at Antioch after hee had made
nothing was said thereto But vpon the necke of this ensued the condemnation of the Duchesse and within six yeres after the destruction of the Duke himselfe Anno 1445. H. Chichesly Archb. of Canterbury died by whom the Ladie Eleanor the Duchesse was condemned in S. Steuens Chappel at Westminster Pennance for penāce to beare a taper through Chepesyde thrée sundry times and afterward outlawed to the I le of Man vnder the custodie of Sir Iohn Standley knight This Henrie Chichelesley builded in his time 2. Colledges in Oxford the one called Alsoln colledge Alsoln and Bernard Colledge of Oxford and the other called Bernard colledge About the yeare 1447. Henry Bewford Cardinall and William de la poole duke of Suffolke with the Quéen conspired duke Humfreyes death deuised how to trappe him and for the more speedy furtherance thereof a parliament was sommoned to be kept at Berry far from the citizens of London whither resorted all the Péeres of the Realme and amongest them the Duke of Glocester who on the second day of the Session was by the Lord Beumond high constable of England being accompanied with the duke of Buckingham and others arested apprehended Duke Humf. imprisoned and put in prison and vpon the same all his seruauntes put from him of whom 32 of the principall being also vnder the arrest were dispersed into diuers prisons After this arrest thus done and the duke put into ward the night after saith Hall sixe nightes saith Fabian and Polychronicon he was found dead in his bedde the twenty fourth of February D. Humfrey found dead in prison and his Bodie shewed vnto the Lordes and commons as though hée had béene taken naturally with some suddaine disease This was the end of the good Duke after he had politikely by the space of 25. Good Duke Humfrey yéeres gouerned this realme The next day after the Cardinall died an 1448. in great impatiencie saying fie will not death be hyred nor will mony doo nothing c. The desperate Cardinall Mary Magdalens colledge in Oxford After the Cardinall succéeded William Wainfleet in the Bishopricke of Winchester who founded the colledge of Mary Magdalene in Oxford Anno 1450. William de la Poole beyng accused of treason to the land and indeuouring to flie into Fraunce was encountred with a ship of warre belonging to the tower whereby hée was taken and was brought into Douer rode and there on the side of a shipboat one strake off his head and this ende had the other of the good Dukes enimies The yéere 1450. printing was first inuented by one Ioh. Faustus a goldsmith dwelling first at Argentine afterward a Citizen of Mentz Printing inuented who perceiuing the inuention to come wel to passe made one Iohn Guttemberg Peter Scafford of his counsell binding them by oath to kéepe silence for a while After fiue yéeres Iohn Guttemberg Copartner with Faustus beganne then first to broch the matter at Strasborough Vlricus Han in Latin called Gallus first brought it to Rome This printing was after the inuention of gunnes which were inuented in Germanie an 1380. 130. yeres Printing later then gunnes 130. yeres Anno 1453. Constantinus Paleologus being Emperour of Constantinople the great Citie of Constantinople was taken by the Turke Mahumet after the siege of 54. dayes which siege began in the beginning of Aprill Within the citie beside the Citizens were but onely 6000. Constantinople taken by the Turkes rescuers of the Gréekes and 3000 of the Venetians Genowayes Against these Mahumet broght an army of 400000. collected out of the Countries and places adioyning néere about as out of Grecia Illyrica Wallachia Dardanis Triballis Bulgaris out of Bithinia Galatia Lidia Cicilia and such other which places had yet the names of Christians thus one neyghbour for luker sake helped to destroy another One neighbor destroyeth an other for gayne The Emperour Palaeologus séeing no way but to flée making toward the gate either was slayne or troden downe with multitude The citie beyng thus got the Turkes sacking and ranging about the streetes houses and corners did put to the sword most vnmercifully whosoeuer they found Cruelty of the Turkes both aged and yoong matrons virgins children and infants sparing none the Noble matrons virgins were horribly rauished the goods of the citie and treasures in houses the ornaments in Churches were all sacked and spoyled the pictures of Christ opprobriously handled in despite of Christ The spoile and hauocke of the citie lasted thrée dais together These things thus being done and the tumult ceassed after thrée daies Mahumetes the Turke entereth into the Citie and first calling for the heads and ancients of the Citie such as he found to be left aliue he cōmanded to be mangled and cut in pieces It is also saide as the authour reporteth that in the feasts of the Turkes honest matrones and virgins and such as were of the kings stocke after other contumelies were hewen and cutte in pieces for their disport This end had the noble Citie Constantinople which continued before flourishing equallie with Rome 1120. yeres Ex. Hist Wittenberg Peucer After the death of Henrie Chichesley next succéeded Ioh. Stafford an 1445. who continued 8. yeres After him came Iohn Kemp anno 1453. who sate but thrée yeres Then succéeded Thomas Bursther In the time of which archbishop Raynolde Peacock bishop of Chichesley was afflicted by the Popes Prelates for his faith and profession of the Gospel and being cited vp to Lambeth was caused to recant these points That we are not bound by necessitie of Faith to beléeue that our Lord Iesus Christ after his death descended into hell That it is not necessarie to saluation to beléeue in the catholike church That it is not necessarie to saluation to beléeue the communion of Saints That it is not necessary to saluation to affirme the body materially in the Sacrament That the vniuersall Church may erre in matters which pertaine to faith That it is not necessary for the Church to hold that which euery generall councell shall ordaine With this Pecocke were diuerse mo condemned for heretikes and notwithstanding his recantation he was deteyned still in pryson where some say he was priuily made away by death Pope Nicholas 5. made Felix who renounced his Popedome vnto him a cardinall crowned Fredericke for working the feat and confirmed him to be full Emperour The Emp. not Emp. but king of the Romans before the pope confirmed him for before they be confirmed by the Popes they are not Emperours but are called kings of the Romanes This Pope for to get great summes of mony appointed a Iubile A Iubile in the yéere 1450. Also in his time one Math. Palmerius wrote a booke De Angelis in defending whereof hée was condemned by the Pope and burned at Crona Anno 1448. Ex Tritemio After him succéeded Calixtus 3. P. Calixtus who amongst diuers other things ordained both at noone
put downe in England In this Parlament also the decrées and prouinciall constitutions were committed to be examined of 32. persons chosen by the king out of the higher and lower house and at their discretions to be abrogated or to stande in strength Also it was decréed that the Cleargie of this Realme submitting themselues to the king should and did promise in verbo Sacerdotij neuer to assemble their Conuocations without the kings writte No Conuocations without the kings writ nor to enact or to execute such constitutions without his Royall assent Moreouer that no person should appeale prouoke or sue to the Court of Rome vnder paine of prouisures prouisure or premunire Item that no Annuales and first fruites of Bishops and Archbishops should be paid to Rome for any Bulles Bréeues Palles c. Item that the king should nominate the person to be elected into any Ecclesiasticall dignitie and so the Prior and Couent Deanrie Chapter of those Cathedrall Churches where the Seate was vacant by the vertue of the kings letters missiues shoulde within 12. dayes choose that person nominated by the king c. Moreouer it was decréed against all intollerable exactions of the Bishop of Rome in pensions Peterpence procurations fruites c. And finally in this Parlament it was consulted concerning the lawfull succession of the Crowne in ratifying it to the heires of the kings body and Q. Anne In which Parlament also the degrées of marriage were plainly set out according to the word of God Not long after the king required an oath of the Spiritualty to be made vnto him abolished that which they were woont to make to the Pope In which only they acknowledged the king to be Supreme head Which oath Sir Thomas Moore misliking was enforced to resigne vp his Chauncellorship The oath of the Cleargie to the Pope abolished Moore resignth the Chauncellourship and to deliuer vp the great Seale of England into the K. hands After whom succéeded Sir Th. Awdley knight who fauourably inclined to the doctrine of the Gospell Not long after the king procéeded to marrie the Ladie Anne Bulleine who was a speciall fauourer of the gospell The K. renoūceth the Pope and so was diuorced both from the Lady Dowager and the Pope together The Princesse Dowager after the diuorce procured from the Pope an interdictment of the king and the whole Realme Anno 1533. 1533. Lady Elizabeth borne Quéene Anne was crowned and not long after her coronation the 7 of September she was brought a bed and deliuered of a faire Ladie named at the Font Elizabeth the Archbishop of Caunterburie being Godfather and the olde Dutches of Norfolke and the olde Marchionesse of Dorcet widowes Godmothers After this the Monkes and Friers and other euill disposed persons feigned that God had reueyled to a Nunne Elizabeth Barton whom they called the holy maid of Kent The holy maid of Kent that if the king procéeded in that diuorce he should not be K. of this Realme one moneth after and in the reputation of God not one day nor houre This dissimulation was found out by the diligence of the Archbishoppe of Caunterburie the Lord Cromwell and Master Hugh Latimer and she condemned and put to death with certaine of her counsell in the moneth of Aprill anno 1533. as Henrie Golde Bacheler of diuinitie Richard Master Parson of Aldington Edwarde Bocking Monke of Caunterburie Iohn Dearing Monke of Caunterburie Hugh Ritch Frier Warden of the Graye friers of Caunterburie Richarde Risbie attaint of treason by acte of Parlament and so put to death Others of the same conspiracie as Fisher bishop of Rochester Thomas Golde Thomas Laurence Edward Thwates Iohn Adeson and Thomas Abell being conuicte and attainted of mesprision were condemned to prison and forfeyted their goods and possessions to the king This yere 1533. one Pauier or Pauie Towneclarke of the Citie of London a notorious enemy of Gods trueth and a verie busie fellow about the burning of Rich. Bayneham hanged himselfe Gods iudgement he saide rather than he woulde sée the scripture in English to be read of the people he would cutte his owne throate but hee made his choise rather of an halter About this time also died Doctor Foxforde Chauncellour to the B. of London a common butcher of Gods saints who was the condemner of all those which were put to death troubled or abiured vnder Stokesley throughout all the Dioces of London He died sitting in his chaire sodainlie his belly being burst his guttes falling out before him About the same time also died Wil. Warham Archbishop of Canterburie whom succeeded Th. Cranmer Tho. Cranmer Archbishop of Canterburie This yere at Dunkirke in Flaunders a writte of Excommunication was set vp against the king for the diuorce which beeing knowen vnto the king hee caused to be discharged a great sort of the princesse Dowagers seruaunts and they that remained still were sworne to serue her as a Princesse onely and not as Quéene and because she refused to be serued of such she remained with a very few liuing after this sort the space of two yéeres An. 1534. Vpon the iij. of February the parliament was assembled againe wherein was made an act of succession whereto euery person should be sworne Preaching against the popes supremacie During this parlament time euery Sunday preached at Paules crosse a bishop which declared the pope not to be head of the Church Iohn Fisher bishop of Rochester sir Thomas Moore and Doctor Nicholas Wilson parson of S. Thomas Apostles in London refused the oath to the Act of succession made then wherfore they were sent to the Tower In the end the Doctor was content to dissemble the matter and so escaped but the other two remained obstinate The third of Nouember this parliament was again assembled in which the Pope and Cardinals with his pardons and indulgences were wholly abolished The Popes pardons wholly abolished to the abolishing whereof and to the ratifying of the kings title of supreme head Stephen Gardiner gaue his othe so did Iohn Stokesley B. of London likewise Edward Lee Archbishop of Yorke Cuthbert B. of Duresme and all the rest of the Bishops in like sort to this title agréed also the sentence of the Vniuersitie of Cambridge Also Ed. Bonner then Archdeacon of Leicester Gardiners booke de obedientia with Bonners notes was of the same iudgemēt and prefixed his preface to Steuen Winchesters booke de obedientia of the same argument To this also agreed the whole Cleargie of the Church of England and subscribed with the handes of the Bishoppes and other learned men to the number of 46. doctors of diuinitie and of both lawes Anno 1535. Fisher the Bishop of Rochester and Sir Thomas Moore were executed for refusing the oath of supremacie which all the other Bishoppes and Cleargie yéelded vnto one was executed the xxij of Iune the other the vj. of Iulie The ruine of Religious houses